Futures at Football Outsiders 
Futures: Baylor WR Terrance Williams
I like progress. Especially when that development is happening within a human being. With its high concentration of players to cover within a compressed period of practice time, one of the things sometimes lost in all-star game practice reports is the overarching performance that spans several days. If there was a player who showed progress… Read More ›
Futures: Houston LB Phillip Steward
There was another game of note played in the shadow of the Super Bowl this weekend: Texas vs. The Nation. In a case where truth is stranger than fiction, the last of the January-February college all-star games has a title that echoes the state government’s desire for seccession. It’s held at Eagle Stadium in Allen,… Read More ›
Futures: Central Michigan OT Eric Fisher
I spend most of my time at the Senior Bowl practices following skill players around the field. I don’t watch a lot of line play in Mobile. Even so, it was difficult not to hear about Central Michigan left tackle Eric Fisher. The 6-foot-7, 305-pound Fisher was one of the most praised players on… Read More ›
Futures: Tennessee Gunslinger Tyler Bray
We can talk the semantics of perceptions all we want, but there’s a palpable sense that the rookie quarterback class of 2012 has a viable chance to become the best in recent memory. While there are a myriad of things that can happen to alter the promising career paths of Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin, and Ryan Tannehill,… Read More ›
Futures at Football Outsiders: WR Martel Moore, NIU
Futures: Northern Illinois WR Martel Moore By Matt Waldman Sleeper. It might be my favorite word. If by some infinitesimal chance — or twisted act of fate — I somehow wind up on stage at Pace University’s New York City Campus and I’m sitting across the table from James Lipton, ‘Sleeper’ would be my answer…. Read More ›
Futures: WR Marquess Wilson
Futures: WR Marquess Wilson by Matt Waldman This week’s Futures is about more than Marquess Wilson. It’s about the dynamics of power within college football programs and the risks that come with questioning their authority. For most of us outside the situation, it’s about being willing to reserve judgment about a player’s decisions when we may never… Read More ›
Futures: Pittsburgh RB Ray Graham
Futures: Pittsburgh RB Ray Graham by Matt Waldman “I had the pleasure of coaching Barry Sanders, and Frank Gore is the best back I’ve been around since Barry Sanders.” -Former University of Miami Head Coach Larry Coker, July 26, 2004 College coaches are prone to hyperbole, but when the coach comparing Frank Gore to Sanders has not only coached the NFL Hall of Famer, but Thurman… Read More ›
Futures: FSU CB Xavier Rhodes
Last week I wrote about NC State corner David Amerson, who owns the record for interceptions in a season. I spent much of the piece contrasting Amerson’s style of play with Florida State’s Xavier Rhodes and Alabama’s Dee Milliner, two corners considered to be in the same tier to begin the year. After examining Amerson’s… Read More ›
Futures: NC State CB David Amerson
“Sure he was great, but don’t forget Ginger Rogers did everything he did backwards…and in high heels!” – Bob Thaves Cornerbacks don’t wear heels, but there’s a little bit of Ginger Rogers in every good one that has to line up and do the dance with a receiver. Much like Astaire’s underrated partner, there are… Read More ›
Futures: Texas FS Kenny Vaccaro
Studying football players is a solitary pursuit. So it feels good when a performance catches your attention and months later you learn that it did the same for another writer, scout, or talent evaluator. Everyone enjoys that kind of validation. One of those moments occurred last spring when I was watching Keenan Allen. As fun… Read More ›
