Spoiler alert: no WMU signees were taken this round.
Sorry about there being a hiccup yesterday without this being published. I thought that we could all use a little break at halftime and reflect on the first eight rounds of this bad boy. Now it's time to see if we continued our ways of being more defensive-oriented, or if we start getting more aggressive about putting #points up on the board instead.
105. Eastern Michigan Eagles
S- Jeremiah Dadeboe (Buffalo signee). York, PA (Central Catholic). 247Sports: 84 (0.8400)
Without Pudge Cotton on the roster, I'm going to need some depth in the name category. Lion King can't hold the torch forever. Jeremiah Dadeboe is going to be the most fun last name that I'll have to read, write, say and type for the next four to five years. I'm banking on him playing in a limited role as a true freshman, and then I'll just create my own ways of getting him included in some discussions.
D-A-D-E-B-O-E
Only offered by Buffalo, Dadeboe could end up being a real steal, or at the very least blend in with the rest of the potential productive safeties from the 2015 classes. If we go back to the first round, I picked the best corner in Justin Tranquill to better the offense. I knew I could get a solid pick in a safety in these middle rounds without missing out on too much. Like I said, Cotton's already had his senior season and the Eagles are going to need more than just Jason Beck at safety for years to come. Beck had a promising freshman year last year, so maybe Dadeboe would be able to follow suit. -Alex Alvarado
Both courtesy of Hudl, below is his career football highlights and HERE are his volleyball highlights:
106. Kent State Golden Flashes
QB- Mylik Mitchell (Kent St. signee). Cleveland, OH (John Hay Campus). 247Sports: 82 (0.8200)
I have a weak spot for southpaw, dual-threat quarterbacks and that's exactly what Mitchell is. Mitchell has a big arm to go with his size (he's 6-foot-4) and running ability. After there was a huge run on QB's early on, I figured not many teams would be taking QB's later in the draft so I knew I could wait to get Mitchell. Mitchell will have some solid young receivers to throw to down the line as the Golden Flashes took speedy WR Antwan Dixon to go with a more prototypical WR in Steven Lee. The exciting part for Kent State fans is that Mitchell and Dixon will actually get the opportunity to team up in real life at Kent State. -Mike Karpinski
Check out Mitchell's highlights courtesy of Hudl:
107. Miami RedHawks
OT- Jack Driscoll (UMass signee). Madison, CT (Daniel Hand). 247Sports: 79 (0.8013)
Offensive tackle Jack Driscoll, apparently not to be confused with the author of Coach Potatoes Sprout and The World of a Few Minutes Ago Jack Driscoll, only stands at 6'5", 250 lbs., but has the frame to bulk up and really make his presence felt on an offensive line that was decent last year. While his measurables are pretty small for a prospect of his position, he is a beast in the weight room, where he benches 275 and squats 375. I've said this a thousand times already, but college will present an opportunity for him to bulk up and grow into his true frame.
After all, it was Driscoll's size that was a deterrent to most schools, as UMass and Army were his only D1 offers, certainly an indication of such thought. However, Driscoll's technique is sound, and he has enough of a first step to make his match-up hesitate. Driscoll has played other positions on both lines, so if tackle isn't his forte, then surely he can transition to another position and still contribute. -James Jimenez
108. UMass Minutemen
K- Michael Caggiano (UMass signee). Englishtown, NJ (Manalapan). 247Sports: 73 (0.7300)
Did I wait too long to take a kicker for UMass? Probably. If I had taken a kicker eight rounds earlier no one would have blinked an eye after the ineptitude of the position last year. While I missed out on the two three star kickers I think I found great value in Caggiano.
An actual UMass recruit, he was one of the best kickers to come out of the northeast this year. He has a very good leg for an incoming freshman and can handle kickoff and even punting duties if need be. UMass might have went to bowl game last year had they had just a decent kicker instead of a dumpster fire. -Max Moore
109. Akron Zips
OG- Bryce Harris (Toledo signee). Dayton, OH (Firestone). 247Sports: 74 (0.8031)
Akron has been keeping up with Bryce Harris for years, since he is literally in our backyard (Firestone HS is within 5 minutes of Akron's stadium and campus). Harris has the kind of explosiveness and power to make a big impact on the offensive line. -Russ Johnson
110. Buffalo Bulls
S- Jamil Sabbagh (CMU signee). Dearborn, MI (Fordson). 247Sports: 78 (0.8115)
Jamil Sabbagh is a safety. At this pick I was pretty much going BPA, and considering I was between Sabbagh and Stanback last round I was happy to have him still available here. He'll play in college as a free safety but got plenty of action on the offensive side of the ball at Fordson High, which helps him quickly recognize plays and make decisions on defense. He's the type of safety who's comfortable getting into the backfield but athletic enough to recover from lining up closer to scrimmage, and is excellent one he has the ball in his hands. He would be a valuable addition to special teams as a gunner and returner.-Matt Gritzmacher
Just how good is Sabbagh? Check out his highlights courtesy of Hudl:
111. Ball State Cardinals
DE- Michael Danna (CMU signee). Warren, MI (Warren De La Salle). 247Sports: 76 (0.8015)
He flew under the radar, and the three-star DE originally landed at Central Michigan. The Chippewas' coaches must have seen something from him to make sure not to pass him up. To me, he brings good size and helps with the fact that'll we'll need to start replacing our DL and OL after this season. He's another value pick that we hope pays off down the road. -Sam Barloga
112. Ohio Bobcats
QB- Conner Krizancic (Ohio signee). Mentor, OH (Minnesota). 247Sports: 79 (0.8029)
Conner Krizancic was a 3-star wide receiver coming out of college in the class of 2014 when he signed with Minnesota, but he transferred to get an opportunity to play quarterback again. Tall, lanky and quick on his feet, Krizancic is the type of mobile quarterback that carves up MAC defenses. Combined with James Morgan, Ohio suddenly has some dynamite talent at this position. -Sam Smucker
What was Krizancic like before he went to Minnesota? Check out his highlights courtesy of Hudl:
113. Central Michigan Chippewas
LB- Nick Faulkner (Kent St. signee). Canton, OH (McKinley). 247Sports: 76 (0.7881)
Faulkner received a lot of interest from P5 schools, so it's quite a boon for the MAC that he winded up in our conference. Faulkner played defensive end, tight end and outside linebacker in high school, but his size and stronger defensive ability indicates that he will likely end up at linebacker in college. Faulkner is one of the better pass defending linebackers in this draft class, and his ability to cover quite a bit of the field gives time for pass rushes to get to the quarterback. Faulkner also shows a propensity to escape blocks, and his tackling ability has consistently improved. Faulkner doesn't strike me as the type of player to see the field immediately, but given time and proper development he could make a big impact sooner than later. -Max Lowe
114. Western Michigan Broncos
TE- Alexx Zielinski (Miami signee). Brighton, MI (Brighton). 247Sports: 82 (0.7919)
Here's where my head was at when I made this pick:
"I want to improve the passing game. I want to improve the blocking game. Screw it, I'll get a tight end."
Zielinski made headlines on National Signing Day when he was Central Michigan commit, but announced that he'd be signing with the Miami RedHawks instead. Coming in at a 6-foot-5, 230 pound frame, bulking up about 10 pounds before he comes to campus. Obviously, having a good receiving option down in the red zone or on the goal line is absolutely necessary. The way I see it, there's no time like the present for the Broncos this season. They're riding a really good high from their impressive 8-win season last year, and with most of their offensive weapons returning, I'm going all-in with this draft (while being responsible about the future potentials). Even if Zielinski participated in a minor role for the Broncos, he's not the kind of guy you'd look back on and say "yeah, he definitely should've been redshirted." -Alex Alvarado
Check out his highlights courtesy of Hudl:
115. Toledo Rockets
OG- Ryan Mullen (Miami signee). Lake Villa, IL (Lakes Community). 247Sports: 81 (0.8008)
Mullen was a top 40-player in the state of Illinois, and a 3-star recruit. He committed to Miami over offers from Ball State, UConn and Western Michigan. Rare to see someone actually tell Fleck no and sign elsewhere in the MAC. -Russ Johnson
116. Bowling Green Falcons
DT- Nico Lautanen (BGSU signee). Mentor, OH (Mentor). 247Sports: 74 (0.7874)
Offense is pretty, but if you want to win in the Mid-American Conference you'd better have a dominating defense that can get after the quarterback. Bowling Green proved that in 2013. Well, defensive lineman Nico Lautanen should continue that tradition for the Falcons.
Lautanen comes from one of the most successful high school in Ohio at Mentor. The Cardinals finished a runners-up in Ohio last year in the big schools division. At 6'4" and 265 pounds, Lautanen has the physical ability to come in a play as a true freshman. Scout had him rated as the 84th best defensive tackle prospect in the entire country. -Randy Carpenter
Check out Lautanen's highlights courtesy of Hudl:
117. Northern Illinois Huskies
DE- Anthony Johnson (Kent St. signee). Pasadena, CA (Pasadena City College). 247Sports: 74 (0.7533)
Sleeper alert! Johnson is a guy who can help bolster a young and undersized defensive line. Johnson is a JUCO transfer, however he'll have three years of eligibility remaining and is a guy who can make an immediate impact for the Huskies. At this stage in the draft, unless you're drafting a kicker/punter, it's rare to be able to draft a guy who is capable of making an immediate impact. -Mike Karpinski
Will Johnson be an immediate impact in the MAC? You be the judge and check out his highlights courtesy of Hudl:
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Wow, no Broncos taken this round, eh? Their streak of having players selected in each round has come to an end, but Miami's streak continues with a pair of players taken in Round 9 to up their overall total up to 13 while WMU stays in the lead with 15. Ohio had one player taken in this round, so they'll stay at second place with 14 players taken.
Led with three players from their signing class taken this round, Kent State had three after having only seven players selected through the first seven rounds and pick-less in the eighth. CMU, UMass and Miami all had a pair of players drafted while BGSU (first since the third round), Buffalo, Ohio and Toledo had one player from their classes had their names called.
As far as which side of the ball these players will be playing, it was about as even as it gets. Six of us went offense, six of us went defense, and UMass had to take a kicker because, well, you know.
Round x Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Justin Tranquill
Darrion Landry
Nick Dillon
Abdallah Jaffal
Ruben Carter
Michael Yerardi
Alex Grace
Michael Oliver
Jerimiah Dadeboe
Kendrell McFadden
Antwan Dixon
John Keenoy
Eric Assoua
Steven Lee
London Cloud
Donte Horton
Jeff Hill Jr.
Mylik Mitchell
Brandon Childress
BoBo Jones
Kezio Snelling
Lou Grigoletti
Quinn Calcagno
Jordan Steckler
Romello Ross
Josh Corcoran
Jack Driscoll
Eilar Hardy
Chris Green
Nathon Trawick
Reche Thomas
Carlos Pickett
Elijah Ball
Jordon Hardwick
Derek Smith
Michael Caggiano
Deontai Williams
Delano Madison
Aaron Covington
Jeff Christian Jr.
Jon Wassink
LeVante Bellamy
Louie Zervos
Dean Lemon
Bryce Harris
Kwanii Figueroa
Mitch Guadagni
Torey Hendrick
Morgan Hagee
Ian Leever
Joe Anderson
Marcus Kelly
Brandon Stanback
Jamil Sabbagh
Juantez McRae
Wesley French
Shemar Moss
Riley Neil
Keith Key
Cameron Lewis
Jonathan Hawkins
Tyler Taafe
Mike Danna
James Morgan
Armani McNulty
Maxwell Howell
Sutton Smith
Chandler Cotterman
Conor Brumfield
Javon Hagan
Clayton Glasco
Conner Krizancic
Billy Bahl
Carter Masek
Shadid Bellamy
Matt Skibinski
Obbie Jackson
Breck Turner
Daniel Crawford
Mayne Williams
Nick Faulkner
Kadeem Goulbourne
Antonyo Sotolongo
Chase Van Hoef
Ulysees Gilbert
Sam McKnight
Ryan Mullen
Nick Potts
Jake Johnson
Alex Zielinski
Tyree Jackson
Davontae Ginwright
DJ Brown
Cameron Bell
Sam Franklin
Demetrius Colbert
Jim Jones
Jake Hilva
Ryan Mullen
Spencer Tears
Junior McMullen
Matt Domer
Sekai Lindsay
Nathan Veloz
James Pensyl
Paul Engram
Justin Spencer
Nico Lautanen
Kevin Thurman
Rolan Milligan
James Gardner
Kyle Pugh
Vincent Hughes
James Gilbert
D'Andre Smart
Marcus Jones
Anthony Johnson