Top Players at Each Position

Being the best is something to be proud of. Players work their whole lives to maximize their ability so that their team can succeed. While a championship is the ultimate goal, individual recognition is always a plus. On this list I will rank the top payers at each position for the upcoming 2019 season. This is my opinion based on stats, game tape, and experience.

Quarterbacks

• Braydan Chmiel #13 NAVY

-722 passing yards 9td 5int 53% 659 rushing yards 8td

It was tough deciding between him and UPENN’s Eddie Jenkins, the reigning championship quarterback gets the nod here. Has a command of the offense but the most dangerous thing about him are his legs. When he runs he runs with authority fighting through contact to get extra yards. Can make all the throws but isn’t great at any particular level. With him at the helm Navy has a strong chance at repeating next season.

• Eddie Jenkins #12 QB UPENN

-947 passing yards 7td 4int 49.4%191 rushing yards 2td

It was a toss-up between Jenkins and Chimel for the #1 QB spot. I ultimately gave the nod to Chimel because of their Championship performance as well as an injury to Jenkins. Regardless Jenkins is Easily the best pure passer in the league next season. Jenkins also is a legitimate runner when his number is called. One of the stronger armed QBs in the league Jenkins isn’t afraid to throw it deep. The fire inside him should be lit as he didn’t have the season he would have liked due to injuries. With a bounce back year from him Penn should be as formidable as usual.

•   Mike Marino #12 CHC

-1205 passing yards 13td 5int 49.5%

The all-time passing leader at CHC Marino is looking to finish his career out with a bang. While primarily a pocket passer Marino has been known to skillfully evade oncoming defenders from time to time. His accuracy in the short and intermediate game will be needed more than ever as he lost 2 dominate offensive weapons to graduation. CHC will need big things from him in his senior year if they hope finish among the top 4 teams in the league.

•  Tajae’ Irby #5

-1269 passing yards 8td 9int 56.8%

While last season wasn’t exactly spectacular for Caldwell, there were a few bright spots one of them being starting QB Tajae’ Irby. A very good on the move passer Irby uses his legs to extend the play or to take off down field. He actually had the second most rushing yards gained among QB’s (234) , but due to struggles on the offensive line his season total ended up being negative. In his freshmen campaign he threw for the 2^nd most yards in the league, so If Caldwell can sure up the offensive line then they can really maximize their stars QBs talent.

Running backs

• Caleb Champion #1

-688 yards 5td 6rec 46 yards

Easily the best running back in the league Champion is the engine that drives the well-oiled machine that navy is. A good combination of strength and speed Champion is hard to get to the ground. His most dangerous ability is his vision, he often looks for cutback lanes either making the first guy miss or just flat out running him over. Champion is a big reason why Navy is optimistic about their chances at a repeat.

• Will Griffen #4

-184 rushing yards 3td 13rec 112receiving yards

Undoubtedly Cornell’s best offensive weapon, Griffen will be asked to do even more with the graduation of starting QB Conner Ostrander.  One of the most difficult backs to match up with Griffen moves all around the offense. He’s most dangerous in the back field but will move out to the slot. His numbers don’t tell the whole tale. A weaker offensive line and starting on both sides of the ball affected his overall numbers, but once you put on the tape you see that Griffen is a top 5 back.  

• Carlos Fernandez #8 STAQ

-235 yards 1td 11rec 139 receiving yards 1td

Arguably Staq’s most important offensive player last season , Fernandez is looking to build off of a strong freshmen campaign.  On top of being the teams leading rusher he is also very affective in the passing game. He’s a thick back even though he’s on the shorter side, but he uses his size as a asset. He disappears behind blockers then explodes once he sees open the field. One of only two freshmen on this list Fernandez will be a focal point of Staq’s offense for years to come

•  Sef Penson

-265yards 2td 1rec 13yards

Undoubtably the bell cow now at CHC Penson will be leaned on more than ever. Penson combines elite speed with deceptive strength making him one of the more balanced backs in the league. His pass protecting abilities are second to none as he is the best pass protecting back, I’ve seen. There will be a lot more carries for Penson with the graduation of senior back Reavon Flyod-Bennett. If the offensive line at CHC can stay healthy chances are Penson could have a historic season

• Jayden Walker #3 MANSFIELD

-245 yards 2td 8rec 105yards 1td

A transfer with high expectations Walker is looking to have an even better sophomore season. A balanced back with solid strength and vison Walker will have to be even more of a difference maker for the Mountaniers next season. His impact in the passing game declined as the season went on, but he ran the ball decently well throughout the season. Mansfield has a talented back on their hands but they will have to maximize the talent around Walker to get the most out of him.

Receivers

• Domoree Hill #88 CHC

-27rec 456 yards 6td

Without a doubt Hill is the most dangerous threat on the outside in the entire league. A matchup nightmare hill combines elite route running with great size and good speed. He’s been known to embarrass opposing DBs as he often gets multiple yards worth of separation on his routes. The 6’1 wideout is also very comfortable jumping over defenders to make plays. CHC all time leader in catches, yards , and touchdowns Hill will continue to be the focal point of the passing game. Hill is not only the best receiver in CHC history , but also one of the best receivers in CSFL history.

•    Carl Watson#1 Caldwell

           -43 rec 677 yards 5td 316 rushing yards 5td

           Watson is easily the most versatile offensive player in the league. Would be a top 5 running back if he played it full time but CU uses him at both wideout and running back. Watson possess explosive speed a quickness making him a difficult match up for defenders at all positions. Has a knack for making defenders miss which result in him getting more YAC.  Despite the team woes Watson stood out as a major bright spot. If CU can continue to develop the talent around him then the CU offense will be feared for many years to come.

•   DJ McLean #4  MANSFIELD

        -16 rec 264 yards 2td

    Injuries plagued Mclean during the 2018 season. His season totals were the lowest of his career, but you cannot deny that he is one of the most talented receivers in the game.  Mclean is one of the bigger receivers in the league, he uses that sizes to bully smaller DBs and impose his will on them. He’s not afraid to go inside but he does the most damage on intermediate and deep routes. If he can stay healthy, he is undoubtedly one of the best offensive weapons in the league

•    Tom Williamson #80 ARMY

              -35rec 416yards 10td

The true definition of “Go-to-guy” Williamson is a dominate wideout. He combines elite route running skills with sure hands making for a deadly combination. Developed a lot of trust with the quarterback and coaching staff as throughout the season. There are plenty of examples where they just throw it up to him and let him make the play. Williamson has a nose for the endzone as he had a league leading 10 receiving touchdowns. He is also very effective when being used as an extension of the run game when catching short screen passes. Williamson will yet again be Army’s go to guy as they chase another CSFL title.

•  Natia Chun #34 ARMY

        -35rec 418yards 1td

        The second part of the talented duo returning to army next year Chun is likely to have even more targets next season. Very clean at the top of his routes Chun is good at creating just enough separation. Consistently makes tough catches in traffic, this skill was highlighted in a regular season game against Penn in which Chun hauled in 14 catches. He’ll need to find the endzone more to truly be considered a dominate receiver, but nevertheless Chun is an important part of Army’s offense. 

There were many players to consider when I started compiling this list. I decided to lump all of the offensive line positions together since many off the linemen throughout the league are talented enough to play multiple positions. So no list just for tackles or guards but the offensive line position all together. On top of that there may be linemen who were on a better team but aren’t as vital to their team’s success as others. These five guys are tough talented players who are staples on their team’s offensive line and deserve to be recognized.

       O-Line

                                Matt Mcdermontt #71 PENN

                                Nick Parsell #59 CHC

                                Jim Kenneally #50 NAVY

                                Kyle Hamrock #52 ARMY

                                Saleem Bush #63 Caldwell

D-Line

• Navonte Dean #7 ARMY

-34tackles 11.5tfl 9sacks 3ff

Easily the best interior lineman in the league for the foreseeable future Dean is a force to be reckoned with on the inside. Opposing offensive linemen have a tough time moving him out of the gap and the same linemen have nightmares trying to protect their qb when pass blocking

•     Nick Scalise #98 NAVY

         -40 tackles 7tfl 2sacks 2fr

        Strong body inside for Navy’s defense Scalise is one of the best interior d-line men in the league. Navy’s defense is very fluid which can result in him lining up outside but the bulk of his damage is done in the interior. Strong with a great motor Scalise can just outwork opposing offensive linemen and make the play. Doesn’t have the best pass rush moves but he still gets the job done. Will be call upon to lead Navy’s d-line with the graduation of Gavin O’Donnell.

• Marcell Mitchel #43 CHC

        – 20 tackles 7tfl 5 sacks

   Mitchell has been a piece of the puzzle that made up an excellent dline at Chestnut Hill. But now Mitchell will have to take over and become the best player on the line. With Brian Layden, Josean Perez and Kyle Johnson-Hackett no longer supporting him Mitchell will have to learn how to become the focal point of the defense. Mitchell has a motor doesn’t stop, a big chunk of his best players are him running down a ball carrier or working overtime to get a sack. If he can improve his pass rush moves and keep that same effort that he’s known for then Mitchell should has a spectacular season. 

• Chase Moser #46 MANSFIELD

         -35 tackles 8.5tfl 4.5sacks 1ff 1fr

        Moser started every game in his freshmen season which is quite impressive. Already possess above average hands and good quickness. He lead his team in sacks as a freshmen and was top 5 in tackles. He’ll have to get stronger so he can be more reliable in the run game and add more moves to his arsenal . But if he does that then hell be a dominate force on the line. 

•  Colin Williams #84 CALDWELL

        -31 tackles 7tfl 4sacks

        Williams posses’ elite size and length which makes him difficult to match up with. When he explodes across the line of scrimmage, he’s hard to stop. He uses his length to alter passes even managing to knock some down. His biggest concern right now should be trying to become more consistent. To many times are there plays where he stands straight up or gets driven back. Routinely gets caught getting to far upfield. If he becomes more discipline and improves his arsenal of pass rush moves, then Williams could become a dominant force.  

LB

•  Troy Monroe #8 NAVY

          -28 tackles 12.5tfl 9sacks 3pbu

       Monroe is easily the most dominate outside force in the league. At 6’2 he is one of the tallest and longest defensive players in the league. He uses that length knock down passes at the line of scrimmage, hold down the edge, and disrupt passes when he drops into coverage. Navy’s defense calls for him to move around a lot, but this only shows how versatile Monroe truly is. He physically dominates tackles and uses his length to make crucial plays in the backfield. He can rely on his overwhelming physical attributes to a fault sometimes and one can never stop perfecting the craft of pass rushing, but regardless he is easily the best outside force and linebacker in the league. 

•     Tate Blessinger#31 ARMY

        -41 tackles 7.5ftl 0.5sacks

        A stud in the middle at army for the foreseeable future Blessinger is an elite inside backer. Violent would be the first word id use to describe Blessinger. He’s violent with his hands and at the point of attack , you don’t see him miss that many tackles either. His motor and instincts are as good as you can get impeccable. Isn’t an amazing blitzer but that gets masked because of his great d-line. Blessinger will be a top inside backer for the next 2 years as he looks to improve on a great sophomore campaign. 

• Bryton Barna #38LB MANSFIELD

-63 tackles 3.5tfl

Barna lead Mansfield in tackles as a freshman which is an impressive feat. He has a lot of room to grow but the production cannot be ignored. Fills the hole and has a motor that can compensate for anything that he may lack. Needs to get stronger and become more sound in the passing game but Barna should have a bright future if he keeps working hard.

• Royce Fransisco #3 CALDWELL

-44tackels 13.5tfl 4sacks

Fransisco jumps off the tape when you watch Caldwell. He’s an explosive athlete that brings the boom almost every time I watch him hit. He’s either the first or second best blitzing linebacker in the league. He was second on Caldwell in sacks and tackles showing how dominate he can be regardless of the lack of team success. Pretty sound all around but could stand to further improve his pass coverage. If Fransisco can come back even better, then maybe he can affect Caldwell in even more of a positive way which could result in more team success. 

• Aaron Johnson #34 UPenn

      -27 tackles 4.5tfl 2sacks 1ff 1fr

     UPenn has Johnson listed as a DB but he spends the majority of his time in the box so you could stretch the idea that he’s an in the box safety but I’m just going to give him the nod as a LB. Very athletic Johnson moves easily sideline to sideline. His versatility allows him to cover better than most other LB’s. He’s definitely a team player. You can see it in his game that he sacrifices for the betterment of the team because its plane as day that if his coaching staff put him in other positions, he would put up more impressive numbers. His pass rush is virtually nonexistent and over half of his tackles were assists, but he played a crucial role in UPenn’s smothering defense. Should be call upon to do more next year as a star Junior. 

Corners

•       Grant Hooper#3 NAVY

           -22 tackles 1ff 1fr 1int 5pbu

             Hooper was easily the best corner on a championship Navy team. You don’t see many corners as excited to tackle as he is. Hooper played a fantastic championship game, helping force Army QB Keegan West have a abysmal 42.5 completion percentage  in the title game. Fluid hips and good instincts keep him from getting beat deep more often than not. Only critique for him would be that the elite receivers in the league can get the better of him sometimes but that is the nature of the beats the is the Cornerback position. His return is one of the many reason Navy will be confident in their chances at repeating.

•      Nate Moser #14 DB CHC

         -10 tackles 1tfl 4int 8pbu

Probably the best ball hawk among all of the corners and safeties Moser is a game changer who was tied for 2^nd in the league in interceptions this past season. Possess the top-notch size and athleticism to match up with any elite receiver in this league. Often will bait the QB into making a throw that he shouldn’t and almost always makes a play on that ball. Moser comes downhill to get picks and pass breakups as well. Needs to be more discipline, his lack of awareness hurts him from time to time. Also needs to show more aggression and intensity when it comes to tackling. If he can improve those two facets of his game Moser could be the best corner in the league.

• Marcus Weeks #24 CORNELL

        -21 tackles 1tfl 9pbu

If it wasn’t for do it all athlete Will Griffith then Weeks would be Cornell’s best defensive player. Weeks is a package of good size mixed with great speed. Gets hip to hip with opposing receivers making it hard for them to make the catch. He’s not afraid to get in the scrum and make a tackle either. Cornell’s DC for whatever reason has Weeks playing off a lot which results in easy catches for the WR that he’s guarding, but when he’s allowed to play ball and get in the opposing players grill then you see a total different player.

•  Brandon Allen #20 Mansfield

      -25 tackles 1tfl 1fr 4int 5pbu

            Allen immediately made a splash when he came onto the scene this season being named the Newcomer of the Year. I was hesitant to put Allen on the list since he does the bulk of his work out of the slot but his immediate impact can not be ignored. More fluid then most freshmen corners Allen rarely gets beat bad. Has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Will throw his body in the madness to try and make a tackle but he could still use work in that area. The sky is the limit for Allen and if he plays his cards right I could see him becoming one of the best DB’s to ever play for Mansfield.

•    Terrell Bush #21 CHC

          -20 tackles 2int 2pbu

         My favorite DB to watch on film Bush brings a passion to the game that you have to admire. Has good height and speed but his length is elite. Bush also does something for Chestnut Hill that most other teams don’t do with their best corner, Bush will often shadow the other team’s best  Receiver. It takes a certain level of skill and confidence to do this but Bush makes it look easy. His lack of numbers is deceiving because when you watch the tape he often runs the route with the receiver so well that the pass will fly by over head or out of bounds. He does need to become more consistent, lesser receivers can get the better of him sometimes because he may not see them as being on his level. When Bush is locked he’s a nightmare for opposing receivers. Chestnut Hill has duo in him and Moser, if they can maximize their talents Offensive Coordinators wont be getting much sleep.   

Safeties  

•    Will Griffen #4 CORNELL

     -25 tackles 2int 8pbu

             One of the best athletes in the entire league Griffen makes his second appearance on this list. Along with being the star running back he is also a great safety. Shows no signs of deterioration even though he is asked to be dominant on both sides of the ball. He makes his mark when the ball is in the air. Griffen finished tied for 2^nd in the league in pass breakups with 8. Keeps everything in front of him and isn’t afraid to come down and make a tackle. Isn’t the best man cover safety but he isn’t asked to do that much for Cornell. Look for Griffen to have a big season on both sides of the ball

•    Dajuan Buie #2 MANSFIELD

      –  45 tackles 2ff 1fr 1pbu

       Another newcomer who made his presence felt in his first season Blue will be a capable safety for years to come. Was 2^nd on his team in tackles, you can see on the film that Blue is a very capable open field tackler. Like most young players one of his biggest issues is consistency. I’ve seen him not come down as hard as he could have a few times and the better open field offensive players would get the better of him. Mansfield DB core is looking promising for the foreseeable future. If they work hard and maximize their talent then the league should be on notice.

•     Haleem Woods #15 CALDWELL

        48 tackles 1ff 1pbu

       Woods popped during his first year at Caldwell  despite the lack of team success. Woods led his team in tackles which is quite an accomplishment as a freshmen. Shows a willingness to come down and make the tackle. Good athlete who uses his size and length at the safety position to cover ground at a rapid rate. His pass coverage skills need to improve his presence isn’t felt in the passing game. There plenty of time for woods to improve over the next few years. If he can improve then his play may lead to better team success for Caldwell.

• Ryan Jackman#22 CHC

  -26 tackles 1.5tfl 1int

    Another freshmen on the list Jackman has a bright future ahead of him. A hard nose safety Jackman brings the noise on almost every hit. Has quick feet like a corner but comes downhill like a linebacker. He’s also one of the best open field tacklers regardless of position or grade. This same aggressiveness can sometimes be his downfall as he has a tendency to miss  on tackles. If Jackman continues to improve he has a chance to become on of the best safeties in league history.