Freshman Orientation: Potential Hobby Stars of the 2021 NFL Draft
Need a primer on who the best players are in the 2021 NFL Draft and who will likely help drive football cards in the year ahead? Here are the players to watch for and what they will bring to their new teams.
Elite/Can’t Miss
These prospects are franchise-makers, instant starters, and the type of talent collectors shell out top-dollar for. They are as can’t-miss as you can get.
Attributes: Leadership, experience, consistency, instant starters
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
The surest thing in this rookie class, Trevor Lawrence has been the face of college football for the past three years. With a 34-2 college record and a national championship on his résumé, he’s still just 21-years old. Most quarterback prospects his age have just one full year of experience. While other QBs have bigger stats, Lawrence seemed NFL ready as a freshman. Still, he amassed more than 10,000 yards and accounted for 108 touchdowns during his time at Clemson. He’s also a dangerous runner.
Lawrence is undoubtedly the top rookie to collect. His earliest cards include Leaf’s Pro Set special direct-to-customer cards that sold more than 57,000 copies plus an autographed version numbered to 99. Topps did a special 50-card box set that features artistic creations from Lawrence’s brother and sister-in-law plus several Topps football designs from the past. Early info from Panini indicates that Lawrence cards will be part of nearly all rookie inserts and autograph programs in products releasing in the next few months.
Micah Parson, ILB, Penn State
An elite star who chose to sit out in 2020, Micah Parsons is a tackling machine in the mold of Khalil Mack despite playing mostly inside linebacker. He can stuff the run and cover the middle. He moves like a defensive back, but even though he missed an entire season, Parsons still totaled 191 tackles with 18 tackles for loss through his freshman and sophomore seasons. He’s a leader and could instantly become the top tackler on many NFL defenses.
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Many people saw Jaylen Waddle as Alabama’s top receiver heading into the 2020 season, but an injury and the incredible rise of teammate DeVonta Smith put Waddle on the backburner. Still, he might be the best receiver in this class. Even though he played in just six games, he totaled 591 yards, four touchdowns while averaging more than 20 yards per catch. Waddle has shared the field with now-NFL starters Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy, but still shined. He’s not as big as other top rookie receivers, but his route running skills and ability to get yards after the catch might be the best in the class.
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Ja’Marr Chase won the Biletnikoff Award as college football’s best receiver in 2019. He was just a sophomore, but totaled more than 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns in LSU’s record-setting offense. It was his only year as a starter since he opted out of the entire 2020 season. Missing that much time likely won’t hurt his draft position, but could cause some delays once the season starts. Chase is an elite combination of speed, elusiveness and size. He knows how to expose defenses and turn routines plays into catch-and-run touchdowns. He can be a top receiver for any team. His college teammate Justin Jefferson certainly shined as a rookie, so collectors will jump on Chase early expecting similar results.
Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Tight ends aren’t supposed to run as fast as running backs, but Kyle Pitts can. His 40-yard dash time was clocked at 4.46 seconds at Florida’s pro day. Standing 6-6, he’s a matchup nightmare nearly everywhere on the field. He can out-body defenders in the middle and out-jump defensive backs in the red zone or on the sideline. Pitts scored 17 total touchdowns the past two seasons, including 12 in eight games in 2020. At nearly 18 yards per catch, he was regularly used as a down-field threat. He’s a top-10 prospect on most draft boards.
DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
DeVonta Smith was not only college foot-ball’s best receiver in 2020, he was the nation’s best player. He became the first receiver in 30 years to win the Heisman Trophy, and just the fourth overall. Smith delivered eye-popping numbers in his senior season hauling in 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns. He finished just shy of 4,000 career yards. He displayed incredible hands and reliability. Smith is used to being a go-to option, so he could make an impact right away. He’s a thinner build much like 2019’s top-drafted receiver Marquise Brown, but he certainly plays bigger than he is.
Reliable/Solid
You know what you’re getting with these prospects. These low-risk proven talents may be low on flash, but they’re high on reliability.
Attributes: Leadership, experience, consistent, trustworthy
Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
Najee Harris is just shy of elite status, coming from the program that produced Josh Jacobs and Derrick Henry. The former No. 1 high school prospect in the country, Harris joined a crowded backfield in college, but emerged as a top dual-threat back with nearly 1,900 total yards and 30 touchdowns in his senior season. He consistently averaged around 6 yards per carry each of his four seasons. He should be a fit in any offense that needs balance and a trustworthy option anywhere on the field.
Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
Another Alabama star, Jones flashed his talent last season filling in for the injured Tua Tagovailoa. He followed it up with a tremendous junior season completing 77.4 percent of his passes (better than Joe Burrow’s 2019 percentage) with 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns to just four interceptions. He’s a pocket quarterback who excels at accurate deep passes, which was Justin Herbert’s best attribute last year.
Michael Carter, RB, North Carolina
Standing at just 5-8, Michael Carter is a quick-burst runner with great vision. He attacks the line of scrimmage and reaches top speed quickly. His size could be an issue in the NFL. Having played in a zone-read offense in college, he often went untouched until he got past the defensive line. Carter can be an exciting runner that collectors love to jump on. He could be a terrific fit in an offense that has a bruising runner (think Derrick Henry at Tennessee).
Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State
Tylan Wallace has been one of the most consistent receivers in college football over the last three years. He makes big-time catches in crucial situations, and always draws the defense’s best player. He totaled more than 3,000 yards over the last three seasons. Wallace could have entered the draft last season, but projects to go between the late second to mid-third round this year. He could quickly become a team’s second option, brining leadership, experience and reliability.
Flashy/Exciting
These are the explosive ones—the prospects who wow fans and collectors. They can command attention every week, and can turn a game around in one play.
Attributes: Speed, elusiveness, elite athleticism, diversity, big-play ability
Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
A BYU quarterback hasn’t been drafted in the first round since Steve Young in 1984. Zach Wilson will end that streak this year. His big arm and ability to make explosive plays will catch collectors’ eyes. He plays with a fire that exudes natural leadership. Wilson’s also a smart passer who easily picks up defenses. He has 30 games under his belt, but the 2020 season was his breakout year passing for 3,692 yards and accounting for 43 touchdowns.
Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
Justin Fields exploded in 2019 after transferring from Georgia. He made Ohio State one of the best offenses in the country, passing for more than 3,200 yards and 41 touchdowns. He also added nearly 500 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground, proving his all-around ability. Fields displays tremendous deep-ball accuracy, which NFL teams likely will love most about him. The 2020 season was a short eight games, but he was on pace to pass for more yards than he did in 2019. Collectors might be a bit skeptical of Fields given the dismal recent history of Buckeye quarterbacks in the NFL (remember Troy Smith, Terrelle Pryor and Dwayne Haskins).
Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
Arguably college football’s most dynamic running back the past three years, Travis Etienne decided to stay in school for his senior season. He amassed more than 6,000 yards and 78 touchdowns rushing and receiving in four years. His open-field quickness would be a great fit in any offense, even if it already has a No. 1 running back. He can stretch a 3-yard run into a 65-yard touchdown. Either he or Najee Harris should be the top RB drafted.
Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU
The absence of Ja’Marr Chase and the departure of Justin Jefferson to the NFL opened the door for Terrance Marshall to shine in 2020. The former five-star recruit was LSU’s third-leading receiver in 2019 and emerged as the team’s best last season with 731 yards and 10 touchdowns in just seven games. He has the size to win close battles and the dynamic ability to leave defenders in the rear-view mirror. He’s ideal for a vertical offense that needs a lead receiver to stretch the field.
Wildcards
These prospects have great upside, but a few question marks. It’s boom or bust. Collectors could take a gamble on them that could pay off big-time.
Attributes: Boom-or-bust, versatility, toughness, potential
Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
Trey Lance is this year’s Jordan Love—both playmakers from small programs. Both risky but with big upside. Lance might be the biggest wildcard in this entire draft class. He threw just 318 passes in college and played just one full season, but that season was near perfect with 28 touchdowns to no interceptions. He hails from mighty North Dakota State—winners of eight Division I FCS national titles since 2011, including three straight from 2017 to 2019. Lance is a versatile offensive talent who plays with a fiery competitiveness, but he never faced an FBS program.
Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
Last year’s wide receiver rookie class was one of the best and deepest in years, and this 2020 group is certainly elite at the top. Rashod Bateman might not be a first-round pick, but he has the talent and big-play ability to end up being the top receiver in this class. Some mock drafts predict the Jaguars picking up Trevor Lawrence with the first overall pick and snagging Bateman in the second round. He played two and a half seasons in college and averaged more than 20 yards per catch in 2019.
Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
Rondale Moore might stand just 5-9, but he’s flashed some of the most impressive open-field plays of anyone in this rookie class. Even as a freshman in 2018, he exploded with 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns. He added more than 800 total yards rushing and returning kicks. However, Moore has played in just seven games the past two seasons. So, some NFL teams see him as a big risk. He certainly possesses the explosive ability collectors love.
Underrated/Potential
Collectors love capitalizing on overlooked rookies who suddenly explode. These guys might not get a lot of playing time early in the season, but they certainly can’t be dismissed.
Attributes: Intangibles, heart, confidence
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State
Chubba Hubbard led the nation in rushing in 2019 with 2,094 yards and 21 touchdowns. For 2020, he opted out of the remainder of the season in December, and his production dropped in the seven games he played in. Hubbard combines toughness and explosiveness. He’s not a great receiver, but will fit in an NFL backfield that could use a smart, explosive runner between the tackles.
Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina
The second North Carolina running back who could be drafted within the first three rounds, Javonte Williams rushed for fewer yards than teammate Michael Carter but doubled his total touchdowns with 22. Williams is a bit bigger, but also brings elusiveness and the ability to shed one-on-one tackles. If he’s picked up by a team that doesn’t have an elite running back, he could surprise collectors when he gets enough chances to prove himself.
Kyle Trask, QB, Florida
Kyle Trask likely won’t be one of the top-five quarterbacks drafted, but in a hobby that values QBs above all other positions, his cards could be terrific pick-ups at low prices unless he ends up starting in his rookie season. With a Ben Roethlisberger-build and similar playing style, Trask shot up draft boards in 2020 passing for more than 4,000 yards and 43 touch-downs. He’s a prototypical pocket passer who’s not afraid to make the tough throws in coverage.
Trey Sermon, RB, Ohio State
An Oklahoma transfer, Trey Sermon was Ohio State’s top running back for his senior season. He averaged an impressive 7.5 yards per carry—an efficiency mark recent Buckeye back J.K. Dobbins never reached. Sermon likely won’t be drafted to be a team’s top rusher, but he certainly could emerge as one. He never had more than 164 carries in any one season in college, so teams could have questions about his endurance.
