03-06-2021, 09:27 AM
Taken from an article in "The Athletic". I know you have to have a subscription so I just copied and pasted...you wont get the video links, but good stuff...Enjoy!
Since the early 2000s, I’ve written about the biggest Freaks in college football around this time of year. The idea: Spotlight the guys who generate buzz inside their programs by displaying the type of rare physical abilities that wow even those folks who are used to observing gifted athletes every day.
Last year’s top guy, Iowa offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs, more than backed up our hype by exceeding many of those eye-popping numbers at the NFL combine. His performance was similar to many other super-sized No. 1 Freaks from over the years, from SMU’s Margus Hunt to Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett to South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney to Penn State’s Saquon Barkley.
This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many college football teams haven’t had much time for off-season training or testing of their players, but conversations with numerous coaches, staffers and scouts have helped provide the clearest picture possible.
1. Kwity Paye, Michigan, defensive end
Freakiest attribute: Speed in the 3-cone drill
The Wolverines have a few special athletes on their defensive line (Aidan Hutchinson also possesses impressive agility for his size), but the 6-4, 271-pound Paye (50 tackles, 12.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks) has generated a lot of buzz among the NFL scouting community for some remarkable wheels. He clocked the second-best 3-cone time on the team at a blistering 6.37 seconds, which would have topped anyone at the 2020 combine. Paye’s 40 is also moving at 4.57, with a solid 34-inch vertical and 30 reps on the bench press. Paye’s 40 time and 4.15 pro shuttle time are better than any D-lineman or edge player who tested at the 2020 combine. His 11.3 time in the 60-yard shuttle is also elite.
Paye, a former high school running back who reported to Ann Arbor at 228 pounds, was a member of a state championship 4×100 meter relay team in high school and also won a state title in the long jump, going 21 feet, 5 inches as a junior. He has a rare blend of strength, control and balance and his change of direction is probably even better than former Wolverine Freak Rashan Gary.
2. Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest, defensive end
Freakiest attribute: Pick one
One of the best-kept secrets in college football, Basham is a dominant player with 31 career TFLs and 15.5 sacks. He made first-team All-ACC in 2019 with 18 TFLs and 11 sacks. Basham’s measurables stack up well with any of the Freak D-linemen that Clemson or NC State have produced in recent years. The 6-3½, 280-pounder benches more than 400 pounds and squats more than 700. Even more impressive, he’s vertical jumped more than 36 inches and clocked a 4.21 in the short shuttle, which would eclipse any time by a guy his size at this year’s NFL combine. The dude runs so well that Wake even has him on its kickoff team.
3. Jalen Virgil, Appalachian State, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Speed
A repeat honoree, the 6-1, 210-pound senior has run a 10.29 100 for the App State track team and vertical jumped 40.5 inches, broad jumped 10-11 and bench pressed 405. Virgil caught 24 passes for 383 yards and four touchdowns in 2019 and also added to his Freaks résumé with a close-grip bench press of 345 pounds and box squat of 600 pounds.
Appalachian State WR Jalen Virgil (Mary Holt / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
4. Jayson Oweh, Penn State, defensive end
Freakiest attribute: Speed
On a team with a lot of Freaks, this is the most explosive one of the bunch. The 6-5, 257-pound edge rusher didn’t get to go through winter workouts, but he’s in the top five based on his previous numbers and the word from inside the Nittany Lions program. Oweh (five sacks in 2019) has run a jaw-dropping 4.33 40, according to Penn State coaches. He also has vertical jumped 36 inches and broad jumped 10-7 to go with a pro agility time of 4.46, a 380-pound bench press and a 365-pound power clean. His body fat is 4.9 percent.
And, as we’ve said before, you can scoff at some of these amazing numbers, but previous Penn State players (Saquon Barkley, Mike Gesicki, Troy Apke and John Reid, among others) have backed it up at the NFL combine.
5. Boye Mafe, Minnesota, defensive line
Freakiest attribute: Vertical leap
Last year Minnesota was represented by offensive tackle Daniel Faalele, the biggest man in the sport. This year, the Golden Gophers’ biggest Freak is one the other side the line of scrimmage. Inside the Gophers’ program, they’re expecting a big year from Mafe, who had flashed some of his potential in 2019 (3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks). Very few guys his size can jump the way the 6-4, 260-pounder can. His vertical is 40½ inches. That’s 4½ inches higher than any defensive lineman at the NFL combine this year. He can touch the top of the square on a basketball backboard.
But it’s not just his vertical. All of his numbers that are head-turning. Mafe has broad jumped 10-6. He has run a 4.57 40. His 10-yard split is 1.58. His short shuttle is 4.3. He can power clean 400 pounds and squats 653. It’s just a whole lot of wow stuff.
Minnesota defensive lineman Boye Mafe (Douglas DeFelice / USA Today)
6. Tutu Atwell, Louisville, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Speed, but it’s close
He’s coming off a breakout season where he caught 70 passes for 1,276 yards and 12 TDs. Atwell is 5-9, 190 but he can squat triple his body weight, he can bench press double his body weight and he has blinding speed with a 4.26 40 and a 3.9 short shuttle.
7. Master Teague III, Ohio State, running back
Freakiest attribute: Explosiveness
J.K. Dobbins got most of the spotlight in 2019, but this big back from Tennessee quietly put together an outstanding debut season, rushing for 789 yards and four touchdowns on his way to earning third team All-Big Ten honors. Longtime Buckeyes strength coach Mickey Marotti has developed a bunch of remarkable athletes, but few as big as the 5-11, 228-pound Teague have been this explosive. Teague’s testing numbers at Ohio State: he’s vertical jumped more than 40 inches, broad jumped more than 11 feet and clocked a 4.35 40.
Ohio State running back Master Teague III (Joe Maiorana / USA Today)
8. Racey McMath, LSU, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Speed
This is the top freak on a team full of freaky athletes. The Tigers staff is expecting a breakout season from the senior this year with Justin Jefferson having left for the NFL and opening up a starting spot. Prior to this season, McMath proved to be a special teams demon and a solid backup, catching 17 passes for 285 yards and three TDs in 2019. At 6-3, 224 he is exceptionally fast and strong, benching almost 400 pounds to go with a 4.39 40.
9. Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame, safety
Freakiest attribute: Vertical leap
The rangy DB from Atlanta had a splashy debut for the Irish, picking off four passes. Notre Dame is really, really excited about his potential, and the 6-4 Hamilton is up 20 pounds since last year to 221. His top-end GPS speed was almost 21 miles per hour, but it’s his vertical — 42.3 inches — that earned him a spot this high on our list. Hamilton’s explosiveness and athleticism with that kind of height and length is rare.
10. Anthony Schwartz, Auburn, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: World-class speed
The fastest man in college football. The 6-0, 180-pound junior has the track credentials to back it up, too. In 2017, he set a world youth record with a 10.15 100 meters in the Florida Relays, and he also won the Florida Class 2A 100m (10.07) and 200m (20.41) titles in record times. His ability to accelerate for such a length of time and distance wows coaches.
Schwartz is usually tied up with track competitions away from the football season, but he was able to train with the football strength and conditioning program for an extended time this off-season and has increased his vertical jump three inches. On the field, Schwartz has been a playmaker for the Tigers, catching 41 passes in 2019. He displayed his world-class wheels when he outran Texas A&M’s defense on a 57-yard touchdown rush on the opening drive of their road win. He averaged 10.7 yards per carry on 11 rushes last season, with two going for touchdowns.
11. Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech, cornerback
Freakiest attribute: Speed
The 6-2, 207-pounder led the ACC in passes defended with 16 and was tied for second in the league with four INTs en route to earning first-team All-ACC honors. Farley had back surgery after the season, so he didn’t have much chance to boost his testing numbers, but his Freaks card is stamped after clocking a blazing 24.16 mph on his GPS tracker against Notre Dame.
Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley (Brett Davis / USA Today)
12. Robert Rochell, Central Arkansas, cornerback
Freakiest attribute: Bounce
Get to know this dude. He’s a former track stud from Louisiana who has really blossomed at Central Arkansas. NFL scouts are really intrigued by him. He’s a shade under 6-1 (6-0 7/8) and weighs 197 pounds. His coach Nathan Brown says he’s broad jumped 11-8 (!!) and has vertical jumped 41 inches. His 40 time is 4.38, and his short shuttle is 3.98. His 60-yard shuttle time is 10.98. Those are all big-time numbers. In 2019, he broke up 18 passes and intercepted five others.
“He was really light coming out of high school and very raw,” Brown said. “He played more WR than DB also. We loved his length and speed and thought we could bulk him up, and we were able to do that.”
13. Micah Parsons, Penn State, linebacker
Freakiest attribute: Agility
As freaky as Oweh is, the 6-3, 245-pound Parsons rivals his crazy numbers. Parsons’ 40-time was a bit slower but still flying at 4.43 but his change of direction is even better, timing a 4.24 in the pro agility test. Parsons also squats 575. On the field, the guy is a wrecking ball. Last season, Parsons made 109 tackles, 14 TFLs and had four forced fumbles.
14. Kyler Gordon, Washington, cornerback
Freakiest attribute: Flexibility
The Huskies keep cranking out standout DBs, and head coach Jimmy Lake calls Gordon the most athletic one he’s had. The 6-0, 195-pound sophomore, who has a background in dance, kung fu and ballet, has crazy flexibility and jumping ability. Gordon has the best vertical on the team at 42.5 and also has run fast times in the 3-cone (6.52) and pro agility (3.87 seconds) drills. On the field, Gordon made honorable mention All-Pac-12 last season after making 32 tackles and breaking up four passes.
Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon (Jeff Halstead / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
15. Journey Brown, Penn State, running back
Freakiest attribute: Speed
He came to Happy Valley with a hefty track résumé having broken a Pennsylvania state 100-meter mark set in 1985 by U.S. Olympian Leroy Burrell. Brown has continued to make big strides in his development. He’s up to 216 pounds and still clocked a 4.29 40 in off-season testing. As part of a stacked backfield, he still ran for 890 yards and 12 TDs last season. His game has taken off as his confidence level has grown.
16. Trill Williams, Syracuse, defensive back
Freakiest attribute: Velocity
His teammate Andre Cisco is the guy who gets more of the headlines in their secondary, but Williams (38 tackles, three forced fumbles in 2019) has emerged as quite a talent too. Atrilleon (his given name) is a big, rangy dude at 6-2, 215 pounds. He vertical jumped 40 inches and has been clocked at a laser-timed 4.34 in the 40. Williams, up about 20 pounds since last year, also has benched pressed 225 pounds 17 times.
17. Marcelino Ball, Indiana, defensive back
Freakiest attribute: Upper body strength
The baby brother of former Georgia Tech QB Reggie Ball is back on the Freaks list for a second time. The 6-0, 220-pound senior produced 47 tackles, three TFLs and six QB hurries in 2019 and has been a starter since his freshman year. Ball has topped out at almost 23 mph and run an electronically timed 4.41 40. He also bench presses over 400 pounds and power cleaned 365.
18. Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa, offensive tackle
Freakiest attribute: Chiseled size
NFL scouts are very intrigued by the towering FCS O-lineman who’s 6-9, 325. The former tight end bench presses 500 pounds (despite 35-plus inch arms) and squats 600 pounds, going below parallel, says his position coach Ryan Clanton. “His flexibility and speed at his size is unmatched,” the former Oregon offensive lineman said. “He’s got Kyle Long’s big, lean frame mixed with Mike McGlinchey’s height. My favorite thing about Spencer is that he wasn’t just born with it. This kid is from Lenox, Iowa, population 1,400. Farm kid, eight-man football tight end in high school at about 230 pounds. … He’s currently 325 pounds and ripped. Work ethic is unmatched, love for the game is through the roof and has a crazy high ceiling. No fat on him.”
Northern Iowa offensive tackle Spencer Brown (Courtesy Spencer Brown)
19. Ja’Marr Chase, LSU, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Separating strength
The Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation’s top wideout, Chase has incredibly strong hands and a powerful lower body, which make him virtually uncoverable. Just ask Clemson. He has continued to get much faster since coming to LSU, clocking a 4.40 at 6-0, 208 pounds. He’s also power cleaned 330 pounds this off-season. “He’s special,” LSU coach Ed Orgeron said. “He’s such a stud. He has worked his butt off. He is so strong and the way he can come in and out of his breaks, running full speed, putting his foot in the grass, turning and catching the ball, guys have never seen someone do it like he can.”
20. Ben Cleveland, Georgia, offensive guard
Freakiest attribute: Generational strength
One of the building blocks the Dawgs will lean on as they try and replace a bunch of starters up front, the 6-6, 330-pounder (16 career starts) is one of the strongest men in football. That’s something Georgia strength coach Scott Sinclair showed off early on in the big man’s career when he tweeted video of Cleveland repping out single-arm dumbbell presses with 160 pounds. NFL personnel folks say they expect Cleveland to make a serious push down the road at the combine bench press record of 49. Cleveland also runs surprisingly well for his mammoth size and is expected to run the 40 in the 5.0 range.
21. Trevor Reid, Louisville, offensive tackle
Freakiest attribute: Flexibility
Out went one Freak O-lineman in Mekhi Becton and in comes another in the 6-6, 320-pound Reid, who back-flipped his way into the Cards’ hearts this summer.
The junior college transfer has gained 30 pounds since coming to Louisville in the winter. He benches more than 400 pounds but in addition to his agility and coordination, Reid’s speed is another very eye-popping aspect of his toolbox. Cards strength coach Mike Sirignano thinks Reid can run the 40 in the 4.85 range, especially after he’s had more time in the Louisville training program. Expect Reid to vault up this list in 2021.
22. Osa Odighizuwa, UCLA, defensive end
Freakiest attribute: Explosiveness
A bright spot for the Bruins’ defense in 2019, Odighizuwa tied for the team lead with 10 TFLs and 46 tackles. The 6-2, 279-pound senior is a former three-time state wrestling champ in Oregon. He has squatted more than 700 pounds, benches more than 420, has a 32-inch vertical, 15-percent body fat and has eclipsed 20 mph on his GPS.
23. Ar’Darius Washington, TCU, safety
Freakiest attribute: Strength
He may not have ideal size, but he was as productive as any DB in the Big 12 in 2019 as a redshirt freshman. According to Pro Football Focus, Washington allowed only five catches out of 265 snaps in coverage — that’s as many balls as he picked off. The 5-8, 179-pound safety bench presses more than double his weight (370) and squats more than triple it (640). He also cleans 370 pounds and makes up for his lack of height with a 39-inch vertical.
TCU safety Ar’Darius Washington (right) (Kevin Jairaj / USA Today)
24. Simi Fehoko, Stanford, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Speed
The Cardinal had a rough 2019, but Fehoko really came on in the second half of the season. After going on a two-year LDS mission to Seoul, South Korea, after high school (2016-18), he emerged with 22 of his 24 catches (and all 6 TDs) coming over the Cardinal’s final seven games. Going into the season, the Stanford staff was very excited about his potential. At 6-4, 220 (up about 15 pounds from when he returned from his mission), Fehoko was clocked at 4.39 in the 40. Those wheels were evident in his big-play ability, setting a school record for yards per catch at 23.6.
25. Andre Cisco, Syracuse, safety
Freakiest attribute: Speed, but he’s sneaky strong too
Cisco is one of the best defensive backs in college football. In 22 games, he has 125 tackles, 12 INTs; 16 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. That’s a ton of production and shows he has a real nose for the football. Like his teammate Trill Williams, Cisco also has dazzling athleticism. At 6-0, 210, he’s run a 4.33 laser-timed 40, clocked a 4.1 in the shuttle, vertical jumped 36 inches and benched 225 17 times.
26. Chandon Herring, BYU, offensive tackle
Freakiest attribute: Complete specimen
He is 6-7, 310 and is very lean with low body fat. Herring bench presses 410, cleans 380 and snatches 285, but he also can really move, having clocked a 4.9 40 as well. Herring started every game last season and had a dominant performance in BYU’s win over Tennessee. “Him and Frank Ragnow are the freakiest I’ve ever seen,” said Cougars offensive line coach Eric Mateos, who worked at Arkansas and LSU prior to BYU.
BYU offensive tackle Chandon Herring (Christian Peterson / Getty Images)
27. Dee Eskridge, Western Michigan, wide receiver/cornerback
Freakiest attribute: Explosiveness
Eskridge came to the Mid-American Conference as a decorated track athlete and has excelled for the Broncos, starting on both sides of the ball in 2019 before suffering a season-ending clavicle injury in Week 4. The 5-9, 190-pounder clocked a laser-timed 4.33 40 as a sophomore and has continued to get stronger and more explosive in his college career. He benches 350 and squats 505 to go with a 37.5-inch vertical and a very good short shuttle time of 4.08.
28. James Wiggins, Cincinnati, safety
Freakiest attribute: Strength
This is the one-time Miami commit’s third appearance on the Freaks list. He suffered a torn ACL two days before the Bearcats’ 2019 season opener, and coaches say he had the fastest recovery from that injury they’ve ever seen. He probably could have played in their bowl game — and he wanted to. The 5-11½, 205-pounder has run an electronic 4.44 and vertical jumped 35 inches, and he has retained all of that athleticism after his knee injury. Wiggins, whose body fat has been measured at just 4.2 percent, squats 725 and has benched 225 for 18 reps.
He’s also quite a playmaker. In 2018, he had four game-winning interceptions for the Bearcats as Luke Fickell turned that program around. Coaches obviously love his athleticism, but they say they also value his instincts and confidence because even when he takes chances, he knows he’s going to make the play.
29. Dareke Young, Lenoir-Rhyne, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Leaping ability
Kyle Dugger wasn’t the only Freak at this Division II school in North Carolina. Last year, Young ran for 335 yards and four touchdowns and also caught 25 passes for 515 yards and eight more TDs. Dugger himself said his own teammate definitely belongs on here especially because of his freaky jumping ability. Prior to spring ball the 6-3, 215-pound Young vertical jumped 42 inches in team testing and broad jumped 11-2. He also did 10 reps of 225.
30. Caleb Smith, Towson, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Leaping ability
His backstory is as good as anyone’s on this list. As a high school sophomore in 2013, Smith got hurt in a junior varsity game. He was taken to a nearby hospital and learned that he had suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee, which doctors determined later required a meniscus transplant. They told him the injury was going to end his football career.
But he wanted to stay around the game, and Smith’s dad Rodney was a former standout defensive lineman at Towson and teammate of current Tigers head coach Rob Ambrose. The younger Smith began with the Towson program as a student manager, holding the first down marker every day at practice. After the season, Ambrose promised to give him a chance to try out for the team. Smith made it and has since gone from walk-on to scholarship receiver to potential pro prospect.
At 6-1, 195 pounds, Smith has packed on 20 pounds since 2018 and has blossomed into a remarkable athlete. He’s broad jumped 10-10 and vertical jumped almost 41 inches. Last season he made 35 catches for 570 yards.
“One of the most driven, hard-working and coachable kids I have ever worked with,” Ambrose said. “Complete freak and a great kid. Couldn’t happen for a better kid.”
31. K.J. Britt, Auburn, linebacker
Freakiest attribute: Endurance
A first-team All-SEC pick and two-year starter for the Tigers, Britt is a true leader for Auburn. His workout/testing numbers are very strong: the 6-0, 244-pounder (69 tackles, 10 TFLs) has done a max chin-up with 55 pounds hanging from his waist, runs the 40 around 4.6, has a 35-inch vertical and shuttle of 4.22 and a 7.20 3-cone drill. But his coaches say it’s really his endurance and ability to replicate it after that rep through training that makes him such a Freak.
“There are few people that I’ve worked with who are more focused than K.J.,” Tigers strength coach Ryan Russell said. “He’s a guy who has developed himself as a tremendous all-around athlete, and he’s done it through hard work every day. He plays much faster than he tests, and he is super consistent every day. Other guys stick around just to watch him work. Your mind can will you into freakish performance levels if you train it and mold it with focus, and K.J. is an awesome example of that.”
Auburn linebacker K.J. Britt (Chuck Cook / USA Today)
32. Alim McNeill, NC State, defensive tackle
Freakiest attribute: Explosive strength
Thanks to some smart evaluations and the efforts of Wolfpack strength coach Dantonio Burnette, aka Coach Thunder, State has produced a bunch of Freak D-linemen of late. Meet the next one, a powerhouse 326-pound former four-star recruit who had 28 tackles, 7.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks last year. McNeill, despite his massive size, vertical jumped 32 inches. Don’t be surprised if the junior runs in the 4.9s by the time he’s ready for the NFL combine. He also benches 445 pounds and squats 640.
33. Trevon Moehrig, TCU, safety
Freakiest attribute: Strength
The latest in a long line of Gary Patterson’s standout DBs. The junior was the highest-graded safety in FBS last season by Pro Football Focus and produced four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. At 6-2, 208, Moehrig is a super strong DB, bench pressing 400 pounds, squatting 600 and power cleaning 420. He also vertical jumps 38 inches.
34. Damone Clark, LSU, linebacker
Freakiest attribute: Speed/strength combo
JaCoby Stevens is another big athlete in the middle of the LSU defense who timed really well in the 40 and could have made the list this year. I went with Clark, who at 6-3, 245, is even bigger yet still ran a 4.50 in the 40. The junior also bench presses 405 pounds, squats 600 and cleans 352. Clark (22 tackles in 2019) is one of those guys the Tigers staff expects to have a breakthrough season in 2020. They’ve gushed about his smarts, work ethic and athleticism for a while now.
35. Jalen Camp, Georgia Tech, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Explosiveness
He wears No. 1, which might give you an idea of his body fat percentage. The 6-3, 223-pound Camp, a former two-star recruit, is one jacked wideout. He bench pressed 225 for 30 reps and has maxed out at 405. He has 20-inch biceps, but also has a lot of speed too, having clocked a 4.4 40 and vertical jumped 37 inches. In 2019, Camp had seven catches for 134 yards and a TD in five games in a season shortened by injury.
Georgia Tech wide receiver Jalen Camp (Courtesy Geoff Collins)
36. Sadarius Hutcherson, South Carolina, offensive guard
Freakiest attribute: Leaping ability
The Gamecocks starting left tackle for most of last season isn’t only one of the strongest men in the SEC, but the 320-pounder also has impressive athleticism as reflected by his 31.5-inch vertical jump. Hutcherson, a former high school tight end, also benches around 450 pounds and squats more than 600.
37. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame, linebacker
Freakiest attribute: Explosiveness
He’s coming off a breakthrough season where he led the team with 80 tackles and 13.5 TFLs to go with 5.5 sacks. He arrived in South Bend weighing 198 but is now a rock-solid 220 at 6-1½. His explosiveness is reflected by his 39-inch vertical, a 10-3 broad jump and an equally impressive 20.4 mph on his GPS. Owusu-Koramoah also notched 42 pull-ups in off-season training and back squatted 555 pounds.
38. Frank Darby, Arizona State, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Velocity
He may have the best nickname of anyone on this list — “Stuuupid Swole” — and put it on a T-shirt himself. Teammates and coaches love his energy and attitude. The 6-1, 200-pound New Jersey native has topped out at 23 mph on GPS. He also has squatted 500 pounds. “He’s our best worker,” says ASU strength coach Joe Connolly. Darby is averaging almost 22 yards per catch in his career at ASU and had 28 catches for 597 yards with eight TDs last season.
Arizona State wide receiver Frank Darby (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
39. Riley Cole, South Alabama, linebacker
Freakiest attribute: Strength
This is a terrific player at the Group of 5 level. Cole was recruited by Alabama, but the Tide wanted him to grayshirt. So he ended up at South Alabama, where he plays his butt off, according to NFL scouts, and figures to be a special teams maniac at the next level at the very least. At 6-2, 233, Cole (59 tackles, 9 TFLs in 2019) is a beast in the weight room, benching 430 and squatting 520. He has only 10 percent body fat. He did 32 reps at 225 on the bench and 40 pull-ups this off-season to go with a 33-inch vertical, 10-foot broad jump and 4.72 40.
40. Marquez Stevenson, Houston, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Speed
This might be one of the three fastest men in football. Just ask SMU about him. The 6-0, 190-pound senior led Houston with 52 receptions and 907 receiving yards and nine receiving TDs to go with two more touchdowns that came on kickoff returns. Cougar coaches say Stevenson’s top-end speed is as good as they’ve ever seen. He clocked 23-plus mph on his GPS last season and is expected to run the 40 in the 4.30 range.
41. Tony Poljan, Virginia, tight end
Freakiest attribute: Agility
For a moment last week, I thought I might have “The Portal” listed as the school for this player, but then the former Central Michigan standout committed to Virginia as a grad transfer. Poljan, a 6-7, 260-pound former QB, caught 33 passes for 496 yards and four touchdowns last year. He is big, strong (a 375-pound bench and a 515-pound squat) and very nimble, clocking a 1.6 10-yard split to go with a 4.7 40 and a 9-7 broad jump.
42. Tommy Togiai, Ohio State, defensive tackle
Freakiest attribute: Strength
There are some other Buckeyes who also are deserving (speedy, long DL Zach Harrison and LB Baron Browning come to mind) but we’ll go with the powerhouse from Idaho, a 6-2, 300-pound junior who might be the strongest player the Buckeyes have had since Mickey Marotti has been in Columbus, which runs a decade of impressive dudes. Togiai (16 tackles, 2 TFLs in 2019) bench presses more than 500 pounds and squats more than 650.
43. DeAngelo Malone, Western Kentucky, defensive end
Freakiest attribute: Speed
Malone was the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 after racking up 21 TFLs and 11.5 sacks. Scouts are very high on the big-play man from Atlanta. Not bad for a former two-star recruit who only had one other FBS scholarship offer out of high school (Buffalo). At 6-4, 232, Malone has hit 21 mph on GPS and clocked a 4.25 shuttle time. In addition, he has vertical jumped 36 inches and broad jumped 10 feet. In addition, his coaches say he has a non-stop motor and great hands playing against the run.
44. Mike Martinez, UCLA, tight end
Freakiest attribute: Everything from his fingertips to shoulders
Martinez’s arms are so long that it seems like he could tie his shoes while standing up. The 6-6, 262-pound sophomore’s actual arm length is 36 inches, and his wingspan is 86 inches. The really freaky thing about him though is he has some of the biggest mitts college football has ever seen, measuring in at 12½ inches across. Anything more than 10½ is usually considered huge. Four years ago, DeForest Buckner tied an NFL combine record for hand size established by former Boston College offensive lineman Gosder Cherilus at 11¾. Martinez is almost a full inch bigger than that. He caught three passes for 39 yards in his rookie season but also established himself as a very good blocking tight end who runs well for his size.
Mike Martinez’s hand against one of his size-19 shoes. (Courtesy Michael Martinez)
45. Austin Watkins Jr., UAB, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Strength
Sammy’s first cousin is quite a receiver too. The 6-3, 205-pounder had 57 catches for 1,092 yards and six touchdowns last year, including a career-high 167 receiving yards at UTSA and 10 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown in the New Orleans Bowl against Appalachian State. This Watkins has run a 4.47 40, bench presses 365 and squats 500 pounds.
46. Jaquan Brisker, Penn State, safety
Freakiest attribute: Explosiveness
There are many stud athletes in the Nittany Lion secondary (Tariq Castro-Fields is another guy who drew serious consideration for a spot here), but Brisker (32 tackles, two INTs) is the biggest freak. The 6-1, 205-pounder bench presses 355 pounds, has broad-jumped 10-7 and done a triple broad jump of 32-5.
47. Nico Collins, Michigan, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Agility
Josh Gattis has produced a bunch of big-time receivers over the past decade, and Collins is the latest in the pipeline. Last season the Alabama native caught 37 passes for 729 yards with a team-leading seven touchdowns and 19.7 yards per catch. The 6-4, 222-pound senior is a very dynamic athlete, running the 40 in the 4.4s, and his coached rave about his toughness and body control.
48. Liam Dobson, Maine, offensive line
Freakiest attribute: Agility
The Canadian import was an FCS All-America candidate thanks to a ton of power but at 6-3, 340, he also moves surprisingly well. He’s vertical jumped 29 inches, which is eye-popping given his dimensions, and his broad jump is 8-6.5. His shuttle time was 4.84 and his 3-cone drill was 8.03. He also has no trouble dunking a basketball.
49. Avery Williams, Boise State, defensive back
Freakiest attribute: Strength
The 5-9, 190-pound former walk-on started his college career with a bang, scoring a touchdown on a punt return in his first college play. For three years in a row, Williams has been the pound-for-pound strongest player on the team. He hang cleans 370, benches 350 and vertical jumps 36.5 inches.
50. Reed Blankenship, Middle Tennessee, safety
Freakiest attribute: Explosiveness
NFL scouts really like how fluid Blankenship is in his movement on the back end of the defense. The 6-1, 196-pound senior made 58 tackles, two INTs and blocked two kicks last season in seven games and earned second-team All-Conference USA honors. Blankenship has displayed plenty of athleticism in the MTSU strength program as well, vertical jumping 38 inches and broad-jumping 10 feet to go with a 4.5 40.
Since the early 2000s, I’ve written about the biggest Freaks in college football around this time of year. The idea: Spotlight the guys who generate buzz inside their programs by displaying the type of rare physical abilities that wow even those folks who are used to observing gifted athletes every day.
Last year’s top guy, Iowa offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs, more than backed up our hype by exceeding many of those eye-popping numbers at the NFL combine. His performance was similar to many other super-sized No. 1 Freaks from over the years, from SMU’s Margus Hunt to Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett to South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney to Penn State’s Saquon Barkley.
This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many college football teams haven’t had much time for off-season training or testing of their players, but conversations with numerous coaches, staffers and scouts have helped provide the clearest picture possible.
1. Kwity Paye, Michigan, defensive end
Freakiest attribute: Speed in the 3-cone drill
The Wolverines have a few special athletes on their defensive line (Aidan Hutchinson also possesses impressive agility for his size), but the 6-4, 271-pound Paye (50 tackles, 12.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks) has generated a lot of buzz among the NFL scouting community for some remarkable wheels. He clocked the second-best 3-cone time on the team at a blistering 6.37 seconds, which would have topped anyone at the 2020 combine. Paye’s 40 is also moving at 4.57, with a solid 34-inch vertical and 30 reps on the bench press. Paye’s 40 time and 4.15 pro shuttle time are better than any D-lineman or edge player who tested at the 2020 combine. His 11.3 time in the 60-yard shuttle is also elite.
Paye, a former high school running back who reported to Ann Arbor at 228 pounds, was a member of a state championship 4×100 meter relay team in high school and also won a state title in the long jump, going 21 feet, 5 inches as a junior. He has a rare blend of strength, control and balance and his change of direction is probably even better than former Wolverine Freak Rashan Gary.
2. Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest, defensive end
Freakiest attribute: Pick one
One of the best-kept secrets in college football, Basham is a dominant player with 31 career TFLs and 15.5 sacks. He made first-team All-ACC in 2019 with 18 TFLs and 11 sacks. Basham’s measurables stack up well with any of the Freak D-linemen that Clemson or NC State have produced in recent years. The 6-3½, 280-pounder benches more than 400 pounds and squats more than 700. Even more impressive, he’s vertical jumped more than 36 inches and clocked a 4.21 in the short shuttle, which would eclipse any time by a guy his size at this year’s NFL combine. The dude runs so well that Wake even has him on its kickoff team.
3. Jalen Virgil, Appalachian State, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Speed
A repeat honoree, the 6-1, 210-pound senior has run a 10.29 100 for the App State track team and vertical jumped 40.5 inches, broad jumped 10-11 and bench pressed 405. Virgil caught 24 passes for 383 yards and four touchdowns in 2019 and also added to his Freaks résumé with a close-grip bench press of 345 pounds and box squat of 600 pounds.
Appalachian State WR Jalen Virgil (Mary Holt / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
4. Jayson Oweh, Penn State, defensive end
Freakiest attribute: Speed
On a team with a lot of Freaks, this is the most explosive one of the bunch. The 6-5, 257-pound edge rusher didn’t get to go through winter workouts, but he’s in the top five based on his previous numbers and the word from inside the Nittany Lions program. Oweh (five sacks in 2019) has run a jaw-dropping 4.33 40, according to Penn State coaches. He also has vertical jumped 36 inches and broad jumped 10-7 to go with a pro agility time of 4.46, a 380-pound bench press and a 365-pound power clean. His body fat is 4.9 percent.
And, as we’ve said before, you can scoff at some of these amazing numbers, but previous Penn State players (Saquon Barkley, Mike Gesicki, Troy Apke and John Reid, among others) have backed it up at the NFL combine.
5. Boye Mafe, Minnesota, defensive line
Freakiest attribute: Vertical leap
Last year Minnesota was represented by offensive tackle Daniel Faalele, the biggest man in the sport. This year, the Golden Gophers’ biggest Freak is one the other side the line of scrimmage. Inside the Gophers’ program, they’re expecting a big year from Mafe, who had flashed some of his potential in 2019 (3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks). Very few guys his size can jump the way the 6-4, 260-pounder can. His vertical is 40½ inches. That’s 4½ inches higher than any defensive lineman at the NFL combine this year. He can touch the top of the square on a basketball backboard.
But it’s not just his vertical. All of his numbers that are head-turning. Mafe has broad jumped 10-6. He has run a 4.57 40. His 10-yard split is 1.58. His short shuttle is 4.3. He can power clean 400 pounds and squats 653. It’s just a whole lot of wow stuff.
Minnesota defensive lineman Boye Mafe (Douglas DeFelice / USA Today)
6. Tutu Atwell, Louisville, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Speed, but it’s close
He’s coming off a breakout season where he caught 70 passes for 1,276 yards and 12 TDs. Atwell is 5-9, 190 but he can squat triple his body weight, he can bench press double his body weight and he has blinding speed with a 4.26 40 and a 3.9 short shuttle.
7. Master Teague III, Ohio State, running back
Freakiest attribute: Explosiveness
J.K. Dobbins got most of the spotlight in 2019, but this big back from Tennessee quietly put together an outstanding debut season, rushing for 789 yards and four touchdowns on his way to earning third team All-Big Ten honors. Longtime Buckeyes strength coach Mickey Marotti has developed a bunch of remarkable athletes, but few as big as the 5-11, 228-pound Teague have been this explosive. Teague’s testing numbers at Ohio State: he’s vertical jumped more than 40 inches, broad jumped more than 11 feet and clocked a 4.35 40.
Ohio State running back Master Teague III (Joe Maiorana / USA Today)
8. Racey McMath, LSU, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Speed
This is the top freak on a team full of freaky athletes. The Tigers staff is expecting a breakout season from the senior this year with Justin Jefferson having left for the NFL and opening up a starting spot. Prior to this season, McMath proved to be a special teams demon and a solid backup, catching 17 passes for 285 yards and three TDs in 2019. At 6-3, 224 he is exceptionally fast and strong, benching almost 400 pounds to go with a 4.39 40.
9. Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame, safety
Freakiest attribute: Vertical leap
The rangy DB from Atlanta had a splashy debut for the Irish, picking off four passes. Notre Dame is really, really excited about his potential, and the 6-4 Hamilton is up 20 pounds since last year to 221. His top-end GPS speed was almost 21 miles per hour, but it’s his vertical — 42.3 inches — that earned him a spot this high on our list. Hamilton’s explosiveness and athleticism with that kind of height and length is rare.
10. Anthony Schwartz, Auburn, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: World-class speed
The fastest man in college football. The 6-0, 180-pound junior has the track credentials to back it up, too. In 2017, he set a world youth record with a 10.15 100 meters in the Florida Relays, and he also won the Florida Class 2A 100m (10.07) and 200m (20.41) titles in record times. His ability to accelerate for such a length of time and distance wows coaches.
Schwartz is usually tied up with track competitions away from the football season, but he was able to train with the football strength and conditioning program for an extended time this off-season and has increased his vertical jump three inches. On the field, Schwartz has been a playmaker for the Tigers, catching 41 passes in 2019. He displayed his world-class wheels when he outran Texas A&M’s defense on a 57-yard touchdown rush on the opening drive of their road win. He averaged 10.7 yards per carry on 11 rushes last season, with two going for touchdowns.
11. Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech, cornerback
Freakiest attribute: Speed
The 6-2, 207-pounder led the ACC in passes defended with 16 and was tied for second in the league with four INTs en route to earning first-team All-ACC honors. Farley had back surgery after the season, so he didn’t have much chance to boost his testing numbers, but his Freaks card is stamped after clocking a blazing 24.16 mph on his GPS tracker against Notre Dame.
Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley (Brett Davis / USA Today)
12. Robert Rochell, Central Arkansas, cornerback
Freakiest attribute: Bounce
Get to know this dude. He’s a former track stud from Louisiana who has really blossomed at Central Arkansas. NFL scouts are really intrigued by him. He’s a shade under 6-1 (6-0 7/8) and weighs 197 pounds. His coach Nathan Brown says he’s broad jumped 11-8 (!!) and has vertical jumped 41 inches. His 40 time is 4.38, and his short shuttle is 3.98. His 60-yard shuttle time is 10.98. Those are all big-time numbers. In 2019, he broke up 18 passes and intercepted five others.
“He was really light coming out of high school and very raw,” Brown said. “He played more WR than DB also. We loved his length and speed and thought we could bulk him up, and we were able to do that.”
13. Micah Parsons, Penn State, linebacker
Freakiest attribute: Agility
As freaky as Oweh is, the 6-3, 245-pound Parsons rivals his crazy numbers. Parsons’ 40-time was a bit slower but still flying at 4.43 but his change of direction is even better, timing a 4.24 in the pro agility test. Parsons also squats 575. On the field, the guy is a wrecking ball. Last season, Parsons made 109 tackles, 14 TFLs and had four forced fumbles.
14. Kyler Gordon, Washington, cornerback
Freakiest attribute: Flexibility
The Huskies keep cranking out standout DBs, and head coach Jimmy Lake calls Gordon the most athletic one he’s had. The 6-0, 195-pound sophomore, who has a background in dance, kung fu and ballet, has crazy flexibility and jumping ability. Gordon has the best vertical on the team at 42.5 and also has run fast times in the 3-cone (6.52) and pro agility (3.87 seconds) drills. On the field, Gordon made honorable mention All-Pac-12 last season after making 32 tackles and breaking up four passes.
Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon (Jeff Halstead / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
15. Journey Brown, Penn State, running back
Freakiest attribute: Speed
He came to Happy Valley with a hefty track résumé having broken a Pennsylvania state 100-meter mark set in 1985 by U.S. Olympian Leroy Burrell. Brown has continued to make big strides in his development. He’s up to 216 pounds and still clocked a 4.29 40 in off-season testing. As part of a stacked backfield, he still ran for 890 yards and 12 TDs last season. His game has taken off as his confidence level has grown.
16. Trill Williams, Syracuse, defensive back
Freakiest attribute: Velocity
His teammate Andre Cisco is the guy who gets more of the headlines in their secondary, but Williams (38 tackles, three forced fumbles in 2019) has emerged as quite a talent too. Atrilleon (his given name) is a big, rangy dude at 6-2, 215 pounds. He vertical jumped 40 inches and has been clocked at a laser-timed 4.34 in the 40. Williams, up about 20 pounds since last year, also has benched pressed 225 pounds 17 times.
17. Marcelino Ball, Indiana, defensive back
Freakiest attribute: Upper body strength
The baby brother of former Georgia Tech QB Reggie Ball is back on the Freaks list for a second time. The 6-0, 220-pound senior produced 47 tackles, three TFLs and six QB hurries in 2019 and has been a starter since his freshman year. Ball has topped out at almost 23 mph and run an electronically timed 4.41 40. He also bench presses over 400 pounds and power cleaned 365.
18. Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa, offensive tackle
Freakiest attribute: Chiseled size
NFL scouts are very intrigued by the towering FCS O-lineman who’s 6-9, 325. The former tight end bench presses 500 pounds (despite 35-plus inch arms) and squats 600 pounds, going below parallel, says his position coach Ryan Clanton. “His flexibility and speed at his size is unmatched,” the former Oregon offensive lineman said. “He’s got Kyle Long’s big, lean frame mixed with Mike McGlinchey’s height. My favorite thing about Spencer is that he wasn’t just born with it. This kid is from Lenox, Iowa, population 1,400. Farm kid, eight-man football tight end in high school at about 230 pounds. … He’s currently 325 pounds and ripped. Work ethic is unmatched, love for the game is through the roof and has a crazy high ceiling. No fat on him.”
Northern Iowa offensive tackle Spencer Brown (Courtesy Spencer Brown)
19. Ja’Marr Chase, LSU, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Separating strength
The Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation’s top wideout, Chase has incredibly strong hands and a powerful lower body, which make him virtually uncoverable. Just ask Clemson. He has continued to get much faster since coming to LSU, clocking a 4.40 at 6-0, 208 pounds. He’s also power cleaned 330 pounds this off-season. “He’s special,” LSU coach Ed Orgeron said. “He’s such a stud. He has worked his butt off. He is so strong and the way he can come in and out of his breaks, running full speed, putting his foot in the grass, turning and catching the ball, guys have never seen someone do it like he can.”
20. Ben Cleveland, Georgia, offensive guard
Freakiest attribute: Generational strength
One of the building blocks the Dawgs will lean on as they try and replace a bunch of starters up front, the 6-6, 330-pounder (16 career starts) is one of the strongest men in football. That’s something Georgia strength coach Scott Sinclair showed off early on in the big man’s career when he tweeted video of Cleveland repping out single-arm dumbbell presses with 160 pounds. NFL personnel folks say they expect Cleveland to make a serious push down the road at the combine bench press record of 49. Cleveland also runs surprisingly well for his mammoth size and is expected to run the 40 in the 5.0 range.
21. Trevor Reid, Louisville, offensive tackle
Freakiest attribute: Flexibility
Out went one Freak O-lineman in Mekhi Becton and in comes another in the 6-6, 320-pound Reid, who back-flipped his way into the Cards’ hearts this summer.
The junior college transfer has gained 30 pounds since coming to Louisville in the winter. He benches more than 400 pounds but in addition to his agility and coordination, Reid’s speed is another very eye-popping aspect of his toolbox. Cards strength coach Mike Sirignano thinks Reid can run the 40 in the 4.85 range, especially after he’s had more time in the Louisville training program. Expect Reid to vault up this list in 2021.
22. Osa Odighizuwa, UCLA, defensive end
Freakiest attribute: Explosiveness
A bright spot for the Bruins’ defense in 2019, Odighizuwa tied for the team lead with 10 TFLs and 46 tackles. The 6-2, 279-pound senior is a former three-time state wrestling champ in Oregon. He has squatted more than 700 pounds, benches more than 420, has a 32-inch vertical, 15-percent body fat and has eclipsed 20 mph on his GPS.
23. Ar’Darius Washington, TCU, safety
Freakiest attribute: Strength
He may not have ideal size, but he was as productive as any DB in the Big 12 in 2019 as a redshirt freshman. According to Pro Football Focus, Washington allowed only five catches out of 265 snaps in coverage — that’s as many balls as he picked off. The 5-8, 179-pound safety bench presses more than double his weight (370) and squats more than triple it (640). He also cleans 370 pounds and makes up for his lack of height with a 39-inch vertical.
TCU safety Ar’Darius Washington (right) (Kevin Jairaj / USA Today)
24. Simi Fehoko, Stanford, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Speed
The Cardinal had a rough 2019, but Fehoko really came on in the second half of the season. After going on a two-year LDS mission to Seoul, South Korea, after high school (2016-18), he emerged with 22 of his 24 catches (and all 6 TDs) coming over the Cardinal’s final seven games. Going into the season, the Stanford staff was very excited about his potential. At 6-4, 220 (up about 15 pounds from when he returned from his mission), Fehoko was clocked at 4.39 in the 40. Those wheels were evident in his big-play ability, setting a school record for yards per catch at 23.6.
25. Andre Cisco, Syracuse, safety
Freakiest attribute: Speed, but he’s sneaky strong too
Cisco is one of the best defensive backs in college football. In 22 games, he has 125 tackles, 12 INTs; 16 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. That’s a ton of production and shows he has a real nose for the football. Like his teammate Trill Williams, Cisco also has dazzling athleticism. At 6-0, 210, he’s run a 4.33 laser-timed 40, clocked a 4.1 in the shuttle, vertical jumped 36 inches and benched 225 17 times.
26. Chandon Herring, BYU, offensive tackle
Freakiest attribute: Complete specimen
He is 6-7, 310 and is very lean with low body fat. Herring bench presses 410, cleans 380 and snatches 285, but he also can really move, having clocked a 4.9 40 as well. Herring started every game last season and had a dominant performance in BYU’s win over Tennessee. “Him and Frank Ragnow are the freakiest I’ve ever seen,” said Cougars offensive line coach Eric Mateos, who worked at Arkansas and LSU prior to BYU.
BYU offensive tackle Chandon Herring (Christian Peterson / Getty Images)
27. Dee Eskridge, Western Michigan, wide receiver/cornerback
Freakiest attribute: Explosiveness
Eskridge came to the Mid-American Conference as a decorated track athlete and has excelled for the Broncos, starting on both sides of the ball in 2019 before suffering a season-ending clavicle injury in Week 4. The 5-9, 190-pounder clocked a laser-timed 4.33 40 as a sophomore and has continued to get stronger and more explosive in his college career. He benches 350 and squats 505 to go with a 37.5-inch vertical and a very good short shuttle time of 4.08.
28. James Wiggins, Cincinnati, safety
Freakiest attribute: Strength
This is the one-time Miami commit’s third appearance on the Freaks list. He suffered a torn ACL two days before the Bearcats’ 2019 season opener, and coaches say he had the fastest recovery from that injury they’ve ever seen. He probably could have played in their bowl game — and he wanted to. The 5-11½, 205-pounder has run an electronic 4.44 and vertical jumped 35 inches, and he has retained all of that athleticism after his knee injury. Wiggins, whose body fat has been measured at just 4.2 percent, squats 725 and has benched 225 for 18 reps.
He’s also quite a playmaker. In 2018, he had four game-winning interceptions for the Bearcats as Luke Fickell turned that program around. Coaches obviously love his athleticism, but they say they also value his instincts and confidence because even when he takes chances, he knows he’s going to make the play.
29. Dareke Young, Lenoir-Rhyne, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Leaping ability
Kyle Dugger wasn’t the only Freak at this Division II school in North Carolina. Last year, Young ran for 335 yards and four touchdowns and also caught 25 passes for 515 yards and eight more TDs. Dugger himself said his own teammate definitely belongs on here especially because of his freaky jumping ability. Prior to spring ball the 6-3, 215-pound Young vertical jumped 42 inches in team testing and broad jumped 11-2. He also did 10 reps of 225.
30. Caleb Smith, Towson, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Leaping ability
His backstory is as good as anyone’s on this list. As a high school sophomore in 2013, Smith got hurt in a junior varsity game. He was taken to a nearby hospital and learned that he had suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee, which doctors determined later required a meniscus transplant. They told him the injury was going to end his football career.
But he wanted to stay around the game, and Smith’s dad Rodney was a former standout defensive lineman at Towson and teammate of current Tigers head coach Rob Ambrose. The younger Smith began with the Towson program as a student manager, holding the first down marker every day at practice. After the season, Ambrose promised to give him a chance to try out for the team. Smith made it and has since gone from walk-on to scholarship receiver to potential pro prospect.
At 6-1, 195 pounds, Smith has packed on 20 pounds since 2018 and has blossomed into a remarkable athlete. He’s broad jumped 10-10 and vertical jumped almost 41 inches. Last season he made 35 catches for 570 yards.
“One of the most driven, hard-working and coachable kids I have ever worked with,” Ambrose said. “Complete freak and a great kid. Couldn’t happen for a better kid.”
31. K.J. Britt, Auburn, linebacker
Freakiest attribute: Endurance
A first-team All-SEC pick and two-year starter for the Tigers, Britt is a true leader for Auburn. His workout/testing numbers are very strong: the 6-0, 244-pounder (69 tackles, 10 TFLs) has done a max chin-up with 55 pounds hanging from his waist, runs the 40 around 4.6, has a 35-inch vertical and shuttle of 4.22 and a 7.20 3-cone drill. But his coaches say it’s really his endurance and ability to replicate it after that rep through training that makes him such a Freak.
“There are few people that I’ve worked with who are more focused than K.J.,” Tigers strength coach Ryan Russell said. “He’s a guy who has developed himself as a tremendous all-around athlete, and he’s done it through hard work every day. He plays much faster than he tests, and he is super consistent every day. Other guys stick around just to watch him work. Your mind can will you into freakish performance levels if you train it and mold it with focus, and K.J. is an awesome example of that.”
Auburn linebacker K.J. Britt (Chuck Cook / USA Today)
32. Alim McNeill, NC State, defensive tackle
Freakiest attribute: Explosive strength
Thanks to some smart evaluations and the efforts of Wolfpack strength coach Dantonio Burnette, aka Coach Thunder, State has produced a bunch of Freak D-linemen of late. Meet the next one, a powerhouse 326-pound former four-star recruit who had 28 tackles, 7.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks last year. McNeill, despite his massive size, vertical jumped 32 inches. Don’t be surprised if the junior runs in the 4.9s by the time he’s ready for the NFL combine. He also benches 445 pounds and squats 640.
33. Trevon Moehrig, TCU, safety
Freakiest attribute: Strength
The latest in a long line of Gary Patterson’s standout DBs. The junior was the highest-graded safety in FBS last season by Pro Football Focus and produced four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. At 6-2, 208, Moehrig is a super strong DB, bench pressing 400 pounds, squatting 600 and power cleaning 420. He also vertical jumps 38 inches.
34. Damone Clark, LSU, linebacker
Freakiest attribute: Speed/strength combo
JaCoby Stevens is another big athlete in the middle of the LSU defense who timed really well in the 40 and could have made the list this year. I went with Clark, who at 6-3, 245, is even bigger yet still ran a 4.50 in the 40. The junior also bench presses 405 pounds, squats 600 and cleans 352. Clark (22 tackles in 2019) is one of those guys the Tigers staff expects to have a breakthrough season in 2020. They’ve gushed about his smarts, work ethic and athleticism for a while now.
35. Jalen Camp, Georgia Tech, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Explosiveness
He wears No. 1, which might give you an idea of his body fat percentage. The 6-3, 223-pound Camp, a former two-star recruit, is one jacked wideout. He bench pressed 225 for 30 reps and has maxed out at 405. He has 20-inch biceps, but also has a lot of speed too, having clocked a 4.4 40 and vertical jumped 37 inches. In 2019, Camp had seven catches for 134 yards and a TD in five games in a season shortened by injury.
Georgia Tech wide receiver Jalen Camp (Courtesy Geoff Collins)
36. Sadarius Hutcherson, South Carolina, offensive guard
Freakiest attribute: Leaping ability
The Gamecocks starting left tackle for most of last season isn’t only one of the strongest men in the SEC, but the 320-pounder also has impressive athleticism as reflected by his 31.5-inch vertical jump. Hutcherson, a former high school tight end, also benches around 450 pounds and squats more than 600.
37. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame, linebacker
Freakiest attribute: Explosiveness
He’s coming off a breakthrough season where he led the team with 80 tackles and 13.5 TFLs to go with 5.5 sacks. He arrived in South Bend weighing 198 but is now a rock-solid 220 at 6-1½. His explosiveness is reflected by his 39-inch vertical, a 10-3 broad jump and an equally impressive 20.4 mph on his GPS. Owusu-Koramoah also notched 42 pull-ups in off-season training and back squatted 555 pounds.
38. Frank Darby, Arizona State, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Velocity
He may have the best nickname of anyone on this list — “Stuuupid Swole” — and put it on a T-shirt himself. Teammates and coaches love his energy and attitude. The 6-1, 200-pound New Jersey native has topped out at 23 mph on GPS. He also has squatted 500 pounds. “He’s our best worker,” says ASU strength coach Joe Connolly. Darby is averaging almost 22 yards per catch in his career at ASU and had 28 catches for 597 yards with eight TDs last season.
Arizona State wide receiver Frank Darby (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
39. Riley Cole, South Alabama, linebacker
Freakiest attribute: Strength
This is a terrific player at the Group of 5 level. Cole was recruited by Alabama, but the Tide wanted him to grayshirt. So he ended up at South Alabama, where he plays his butt off, according to NFL scouts, and figures to be a special teams maniac at the next level at the very least. At 6-2, 233, Cole (59 tackles, 9 TFLs in 2019) is a beast in the weight room, benching 430 and squatting 520. He has only 10 percent body fat. He did 32 reps at 225 on the bench and 40 pull-ups this off-season to go with a 33-inch vertical, 10-foot broad jump and 4.72 40.
40. Marquez Stevenson, Houston, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Speed
This might be one of the three fastest men in football. Just ask SMU about him. The 6-0, 190-pound senior led Houston with 52 receptions and 907 receiving yards and nine receiving TDs to go with two more touchdowns that came on kickoff returns. Cougar coaches say Stevenson’s top-end speed is as good as they’ve ever seen. He clocked 23-plus mph on his GPS last season and is expected to run the 40 in the 4.30 range.
41. Tony Poljan, Virginia, tight end
Freakiest attribute: Agility
For a moment last week, I thought I might have “The Portal” listed as the school for this player, but then the former Central Michigan standout committed to Virginia as a grad transfer. Poljan, a 6-7, 260-pound former QB, caught 33 passes for 496 yards and four touchdowns last year. He is big, strong (a 375-pound bench and a 515-pound squat) and very nimble, clocking a 1.6 10-yard split to go with a 4.7 40 and a 9-7 broad jump.
42. Tommy Togiai, Ohio State, defensive tackle
Freakiest attribute: Strength
There are some other Buckeyes who also are deserving (speedy, long DL Zach Harrison and LB Baron Browning come to mind) but we’ll go with the powerhouse from Idaho, a 6-2, 300-pound junior who might be the strongest player the Buckeyes have had since Mickey Marotti has been in Columbus, which runs a decade of impressive dudes. Togiai (16 tackles, 2 TFLs in 2019) bench presses more than 500 pounds and squats more than 650.
43. DeAngelo Malone, Western Kentucky, defensive end
Freakiest attribute: Speed
Malone was the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 after racking up 21 TFLs and 11.5 sacks. Scouts are very high on the big-play man from Atlanta. Not bad for a former two-star recruit who only had one other FBS scholarship offer out of high school (Buffalo). At 6-4, 232, Malone has hit 21 mph on GPS and clocked a 4.25 shuttle time. In addition, he has vertical jumped 36 inches and broad jumped 10 feet. In addition, his coaches say he has a non-stop motor and great hands playing against the run.
44. Mike Martinez, UCLA, tight end
Freakiest attribute: Everything from his fingertips to shoulders
Martinez’s arms are so long that it seems like he could tie his shoes while standing up. The 6-6, 262-pound sophomore’s actual arm length is 36 inches, and his wingspan is 86 inches. The really freaky thing about him though is he has some of the biggest mitts college football has ever seen, measuring in at 12½ inches across. Anything more than 10½ is usually considered huge. Four years ago, DeForest Buckner tied an NFL combine record for hand size established by former Boston College offensive lineman Gosder Cherilus at 11¾. Martinez is almost a full inch bigger than that. He caught three passes for 39 yards in his rookie season but also established himself as a very good blocking tight end who runs well for his size.
Mike Martinez’s hand against one of his size-19 shoes. (Courtesy Michael Martinez)
45. Austin Watkins Jr., UAB, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Strength
Sammy’s first cousin is quite a receiver too. The 6-3, 205-pounder had 57 catches for 1,092 yards and six touchdowns last year, including a career-high 167 receiving yards at UTSA and 10 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown in the New Orleans Bowl against Appalachian State. This Watkins has run a 4.47 40, bench presses 365 and squats 500 pounds.
46. Jaquan Brisker, Penn State, safety
Freakiest attribute: Explosiveness
There are many stud athletes in the Nittany Lion secondary (Tariq Castro-Fields is another guy who drew serious consideration for a spot here), but Brisker (32 tackles, two INTs) is the biggest freak. The 6-1, 205-pounder bench presses 355 pounds, has broad-jumped 10-7 and done a triple broad jump of 32-5.
47. Nico Collins, Michigan, wide receiver
Freakiest attribute: Agility
Josh Gattis has produced a bunch of big-time receivers over the past decade, and Collins is the latest in the pipeline. Last season the Alabama native caught 37 passes for 729 yards with a team-leading seven touchdowns and 19.7 yards per catch. The 6-4, 222-pound senior is a very dynamic athlete, running the 40 in the 4.4s, and his coached rave about his toughness and body control.
48. Liam Dobson, Maine, offensive line
Freakiest attribute: Agility
The Canadian import was an FCS All-America candidate thanks to a ton of power but at 6-3, 340, he also moves surprisingly well. He’s vertical jumped 29 inches, which is eye-popping given his dimensions, and his broad jump is 8-6.5. His shuttle time was 4.84 and his 3-cone drill was 8.03. He also has no trouble dunking a basketball.
49. Avery Williams, Boise State, defensive back
Freakiest attribute: Strength
The 5-9, 190-pound former walk-on started his college career with a bang, scoring a touchdown on a punt return in his first college play. For three years in a row, Williams has been the pound-for-pound strongest player on the team. He hang cleans 370, benches 350 and vertical jumps 36.5 inches.
50. Reed Blankenship, Middle Tennessee, safety
Freakiest attribute: Explosiveness
NFL scouts really like how fluid Blankenship is in his movement on the back end of the defense. The 6-1, 196-pound senior made 58 tackles, two INTs and blocked two kicks last season in seven games and earned second-team All-Conference USA honors. Blankenship has displayed plenty of athleticism in the MTSU strength program as well, vertical jumping 38 inches and broad-jumping 10 feet to go with a 4.5 40.
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)
