Signing Day Focus: My Favorite FCS Signees

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The transfer portal has flipped the CFB world upside down. It's impacts on the game have trickled down to each level of college football. This means we have FBS and maybe even P5 graded guys sliding down to the FCS ranks. Here are some FCS signees who I am watching over the next few years. I am expecting these guys to contribute. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["400853"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='400853' first='Kyle' last='Vaka'] had several FBS offers, but he is headed to Eastern Kentucky where he could make an immediate impact. Early in his career, Vaka was a long, lanky speed threat at WR who could fire down the seam and be a threat in the deep passing game. As he started to grow and fill out his frame, he developed into a well-rounded WR prospect. Vaka isn't the twitchiest WR off the snap or at the top of his route, but he does a great job of creating deception against DBs and sells the vertical route nicely, which sets up some in-breaking routes. When he has leverage against defenders downfield, he does a good job of settling down in soft spots of the defense and boxing out DBs from his catch point. He is a natural pass catcher who can track the ball over his shoulder and reel in the ball in a crowd. He spends plenty of time playing both outside and in the slot, which should help him get on the field quickly. Keep an eye on Vaka, he has improved every year.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["404021"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='404021' first='Preston' last='Bird'] is a smaller WR at 5'9 165, but he makes up for his smaller stature with outstanding explosiveness and speed. Bird can track the deep ball and can take a screen and shake off defenders as he trots to the endzone. With the ball in his hands, Bird has the quick, sudden movements to pick his way through traffic and find grass. Once he opens up his stride, he hits another gear and has the speed to completely beat angles and climb away from chasing tacklers. This gives him upside as a kick returner as well. In the downfield passing game, Bird is exceptionally quick and explosive getting in and out of his breaks, turning and stopping on a dime and then quickly getting back up to full speed. Bird is a true YAC WR with kick returning upside. Due to his sheer explosiveness with the ball in his hands and the ability to create separation, Bird could grow into a contributor at Samford.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Bam Williams ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Creekside","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Williams is a big, violent OL prospect that played on both lines of scrimmage for Creekside during his senior season. However, it looks like he will settle in on the offensive front for Jackson State, and likely at guard. Listed at around 6'3 300, Williams is built from the ground up and is proportional in his frame. He already has the size and strength profile to hold his own at the college level, and will only get stronger in a college weight room. His game is based upon being violent. He is often pulled and gets out in the open field as a blocker. Against smaller defenders, he can completely decleat them and knock them off their feet. He does the same thing in pass protection, anchoring down and hitting rushers with his heavy hands to stop them in their tracks. While he is a highlight reel blocker in the open field, he is also able to maintain good pad-level off the snap and drive defenders out of running lanes. Simply put, Williams is a violent blocker who will finish plays in the dirt. However, he doesn't let it impact his mechanics and technique.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["321461"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Neal was a productive corner for Buford, lining up against good competition seemingly every week. The transition from Buford to Florida Au0026amp;M should be relatively smooth. Neal looks the part, checking some of the height/weight/length boxes at 6'0 180. He is a physical corner who disrupts WRs at the line by aggressively pressing and disrupts timing at the top of their routes by tying them up and getting them off-balanced. When the ball is in the air, Neal does an excellent job of working through the catch point of the WR and pressing routes against the sidelines, squeezing the amount of space WRs have to reel in the football. When he does get initially beat off the snap, he does a good job of working back and sticking to the front hip of the WR to remain in phase. From there, he can get his head back around and try to make a play on the football. Neal might need to adjust to the speed of the game, but there is plenty of reason to suspect he will contribute once he does.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Myles Cunningham","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Greater Atlanta Christian ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Myles Cunningham has been one of my favorite CB evals in the 2024 class dating back to this past offseason. Fast forward to now, and Cunningham will be playing D1 ball at Bucknell. I like the measurables for Cunningham, coming in at a long, lanky 6'1. He isn't super physically imposing, but he is not afraid to get right up on receivers and use his length to be disruptive. He spends most of his time lined up with cushion against WRs as he is smooth getting into his backpedal and transitioning downhill. He is an instinctual player that quickly breaks on the ball and arrives at the WR at seemingly the same time as the ball. If he doesn't, he does a good job of settling down his feet and tackling off a firm base. Cunningham is seemingly always making a play on the ball, working through the hands of the WR and doing so without tugging or holding on a jersey. His play style translates, which is why I like this addition for Bucknell.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65871db9ae6ce"} /-->