Over the course of my time in college football, I’ve had the pleasure of evaluating a multitude of high school, junior college, and transfer portal prospects. Trying to project how teenagers (mostly) are going to make the leap in competition has proven difficult, but I wanted to shine some light on the jump four prospects have made to the next level based on their high school or junior college evaluations from my time at Liberty University-and what their NFL potential may look like.
Marquez Cooper, RB (Kent State)
At 5’7″, 184 pounds per the team’s website, Cooper is undersized by NFL standards. Despite his size limitations, Cooper has played in all 18 of Kent State’s games the last two seasons and by all accounts avoided serious injuries. Cooper was a dynamic prospect out of Quince Orchard High School in Maryland that we recruited during my time at Liberty University, setting school records for career rushing yards and touchdowns.
Having registered 297 carries for 1,487 yards (5.0) and 16 TDs with 11 receptions for 109 yards over the last two seasons, Cooper has developed into one of the top backs in the MAC. He’s a tough-nosed runner who doesn’t shy away from contact between the tackles and can pinball off of contact at the second and third levels. Cooper’s 35 explosive carries last season, per PFF, also highlights his elusiveness.
His NFL future, however, is unclear: since 2000, only 12 backs to have measured in at 5’7” have been drafted. It also remains to be seen if he will declare with multiple seasons of eligibility remaining. Nevertheless, Cooper will be a name to remember for the 2022 season and a bright spot during the November mid-week #MACtion.
Tavion Thomas, RB (Utah)
Thomas’ road to Utah, which began at Cincinnati as a true freshman in 2018, hasn’t been easy. In two seasons at Cincinnati, the Ohio native tallied 689 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground before entering the transfer portal following the 2019 season. He found a home at Indepdence Community College (KS) where the 2020 season was played in the spring of 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Despite a shared backfield at Indy, Thomas turned his 50 carries into 347 yards (6.9) and five touchdowns.
Since 2018, the 6’2”, 238-pounder has improved his weaknesses and developed his strengths. His 21 rushing touchdowns last season were third in the FBS and he forced a missed tackle on nearly a third of his carries per PFF. Thomas is an instinctive runner who marries his feet and eyes to feast in Utah’s zone-heavy scheme, all before making one cut to get charging downhill. His burst to the second level often resulted in unsuccessful attempts to bring him down on first contact.
Thomas is certainly the least under-the-radar prospect named in this article, yet it felt as though his name was hardly mentioned amongst college football’s best (Thomas’ 1,108 yards also ranked third in the Pac-12). Some hip-tightness is present, but I expect Thomas to develop into a Day 2 prospect pending a number of “ifs” (production, health, caliber of the class, positional value, etc.).
Tiyon Evans, RB (Louisville)
Rounding out the trio of running backs is Evans the South Carolina native. Following a stellar 2019 season at Hutchinson Community College (KS) in which he posted a 61-538-9 rushing stat line with another 608 yards and two scores as a kick returner, Evans’ 2020 campaign was postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. He chose to sign with Tennessee and enroll for the 2021 season as opposed to playing at Hutch in the spring of 2021.
After watching Evans in October 2019, it was evident he was going to be highly recruited. He was listed at 5’9”, 225 pounds on Hutch’s website as a back with an impressive blend of thickness and running traits that consistently generated explosive plays. That’s always going to generate serious recruiting buzz.
Injuries derailed a fast start for Evans this past season at Tennessee, limiting him to 81 carries for 525 yards (6.5) and six touchdowns. His 6.5 yards per carry paced the team for players with more than a single carry and his six rushing scores were the second-most, all while finishing fourth in carries amongst the Volunteers. It’s evident his season would have looked much different had he stayed healthy.
Evans transferred to Louisville in the off-season and joins a rather crowded room, but has proven himself to be a quality Power 5 running back. The traits and the skillset are there to warrant another breakthrough season and NFL attention, though his next-level radar may be another year away.
Alfahiym Walcott, DB (Baylor)
Hailing from North Carolina, Walcott gained notoriety for his pick-six against Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl this past season. Walcott’s third and final interception of the season put an exclamation point on a Baylor campaign in which he found his stride as a player after beginning his career at Butler Community College (KS).
Walcott’s tape at Butler was notably entertaining because of how talented he truly was. There wasn’t much he couldn’t do when evaluating all parts of his skillsets and his athletic traits at his size, 6’1”, 190 according to Butler at the time, immediately stood out. He stopped flying under the radar not long after this evaluation, choosing Baylor over other Power 5 suitors Auburn and West Virginia.
His first season at Baylor in 2020 was a limited role before becoming a key cog in the Bears’ defense this past season; in 12 games, Walcott finished with 30 tackles, one TFL, three INTs, and 5 PBUs along with a positive 80.4 grade against the run from PFF. After playing corner in his early Bears career, Walcott has beefed up to 219 pounds and has been featured as Jalen Pitre’s replacement at the STAR position as fall camp begins.
Said STAR position is arguably the most valuable in head coach Dave Aranda’s defense due to its demands: STAR defenders are tasked with playing multiple coverages, handling blitz responsibilities, and making key run fits. We could see a similar ascension for Walcott should he earn the starting STAR role.