1952 Draft Preview

 



AACA Top 25:

  1. Louisiana - 11-0

  2. Wisconsin State - 9-0

  3. Chicago Christian - 8-2-1

  4. Oklahoma - 8-0-2

  5. U. Los Angeles - 10-1

  6. Washington State - 9-1

  7. Brooklyn College - 9-1

  8. Georgia - 8-1-2

  9. Alabama A&M - 10-2

  10. Michigan - 7-2-1

  11. Texas - 8-2

  12. St. Joseph’s - 7-2-1

  13. Philadelphia State - 6-2-1

  14. New Jersey - 8-2

  15. Ohio - 6-3

  16. Pittsburgh State - 7-3

  17. Nebraska State - 8-1-1

  18. North Carolina - 8-2

  19. U. Kansas City - 6-3

  20. Rogers Clark - 5-3-2


AACA Bowls:

Tournament of Roses Bowl (Los Angeles, CA) - (5) ULA 7-0 (7) Brooklyn College

Palm Bowl (Miami, FL) - (9) Alabama A&M 17-6 (16) Pittsburgh State

Magnolia Bowl (Houston, TX) - (1) Louisiana 24-7 (14) New Jersey

Columbian Bowl (Chicago, IL) - (3) Chicago Christian 16-0 (13) Philly State

Gold Bowl (San Francisco, CA) - (6) Washington State 12-14 (12) St. Joseph’s

Cigar Bowl (Tampa, FL) - (8) Georgia 7-26 (20) Rogers Clark

Syrup Bowl (New Orleans, LA) - (15) Ohio 34-19 (18) North Carolina


AFL Top 20 Prospects:

  1. WR Paul Kent - Washington State - Sidney Boggs - DireBear

  2. RB Eugene "Rip" Rooney - Jimmy Jones - Dan O’Mac

  3. OL Phillip Lee - Pittsburgh State - Isaac “Deuce” Martin - idm

  4. QB Adrian Alfonso - Philadelphia State - Leroy Hannigan - Darknes

  5. RB Spike Roosevelt - Michigan - Leroy Hannigan - Darknes

  6. OL Charles Harvester - North Carolina - Isaac “Deuce” Martin - idm

  7. OL Greg Campbell - Pittsburgh State - Bernard King - Kingsan11

  8. OL Kelly Molesworth - Michigan - Waldorf Florus - Wallflower

  9. LB Barry Moore - Wisconsin State - Isaac “Deuce” Martin - idm

  10. OL Bart Pangle - Indiana Tech - Waldorf Florus - Wallflower

  11. S Carl Allyn - Chicago Christian - Waldorf Florus - Wallflower

  12. DL Larry Corn - Rogers Clark - Jimmy Jones - Dan O’Mac

  13. LB Barry Reynolds - Illinois - Waldorf Florus - Wallflower

  14. DL Gordon Spijker - University of Macatawa - Waldorf Florus - Wallflower

  15. DB Bobby Richmond - University of Cleveland - Sidney Boggs - DireBear

  16. WR Max Ausloos - University of the Tri-Cities - Jimmy Jones - Dan O’Mac

  17. TE Bill Danowski - Iowa A&M - Waldorf Florus - Wallflower

  18. QB Addison Golden - Nebraska State - Bernard King - Kingsfan11

  19. LB Howard Treadaway - University of Cleveland - Alonzo Smalley - ZO82

  20. RB Maxwell Starks - Ohio - Alonzo Smalley - ZO82


Three college teams each held a claim of the national title this year, with Louisiana, Wisconsin State, and Oklahoma all sharing a piece of the national championship pie. However, only Louisiana got to play in a bowl game this year, as Oklahoma and the rest of the Red River Conference barred themselves from postseason games, and Wisconsin State was ineligible from participating due their membership terms upon joining the Central Athletic Conference in 1950. Wisconsin State stormed to the top of the CAC, becoming conference champions in just their 3rd year with an amazing defensive unit, including duo LB Barry Moore and LB Stefan Stauer, S Tom Meltzger, and DL Dave Patricia leading the defense to new records in points against and turnovers in CAC. Because of only 1 of the undefeated teams made a bowl game, most saw Louisiana as having the most legitimate claim to a national title with a convincing win over #14 New Jersey in the Magnolia Bowl in Houston. History was made at the Tournament of Roses Bowl, as ULA’s narrow victory against Brooklyn College became the first college bowl game, and first college game in general, to be broadcast on national television, with NBC cutting a deal with the AACA to broadcast a select few games over the next 2 years. Neither of those 2 games had players that declared for the AFL, but the Columbian Bowl was the first game to have prime players with professional prospects. CCU had the most players in this contest, including Bernheim Trophy winner RB Eugene “Rip” Rooney, along with offensive weapons of QB O.J. DeMille, WR Jim Ferris, and RB Darnell Hodge as viable offensive options. Philly State was effectively carried by QB Adrian Alfonso, who finished third in Bernheim Trophy voting and helped the Maroons in a turnaround season. The Crusaders had other plans though, and shut out Philly State en route to a 16-0 victory. The player that finished second in voting though, came as a surprise when he committed to the AFL. Washington State WR Paul Kent came out of nowhere to help the Seawolves claim co-champions of the Pacific Coast Conference with the University of Los Angeles. Kent decided to pave the way for more western players to make it to the AFL, who some may say is already better than Rooney at a professional level. However, the #6 ranked Seawolves were beat in the Gold Bowl on a last second touchdown against #12 St. Joseph’s.  In other major bowl games this year, #9 Alabama A&M shut down the upstart #16 Pittsburgh State in the Palm Bowl in Miami, #20 Rogers Clark upset and convincingly beat #8 Georgia in the Cigar Bowl in Tampa, and #15 Ohio took down #18 North Carolina in the Syrup Bowl in New Orleans. 


Outside of the top teams in the nation, the remaining top players are a mixed bag. OL Bart Pangle from Indiana Tech ranks as the #5 offensive lineman, who some are saying is the best pass blocking lineman out of this class as he did not allow a single sack this year against him. The University of Cleveland produced two weapons for the AFL on defense, with DB Bobby Richmond as the best DB in the class with great speed and chase ability, and LB Howard Treadaway having similar speed in both coming off the edge and chasing down players. University of the Tri-Cities WR Max Ausloos was a workhorse for the Black Hawks, but has some work ethic issues that may cause him to slide down the draft. DL Gordon Spijker comes from the smallest school in the draft class, as he made some noise with the Macatawa State Orange, helping them win their first conference championship in school history.


Besides the top 3 QB’s of Adrian Alfonso, Addison Golden, and O.J. DeMille, there are still two other QB’s that are still viable options in this class. QB Steve Doerr put up some quiet numbers while at Kentucky Commonwealth, being able to sling it far down field and able to run out of the  pocket to evade pressure, but has some accuracy issues that puts him outside the top 3. QB Maurice Hawkins from Buffalo is at the bottom of the QB totem pole this year because of where he played, as Buffalo is a smaller independent in the AACA but is solid all-around but does not have a shining ability that puts him above the rest. 


Draft Picks/Needs:


1 - Detroit Knights:

Picks: 1, 4, 9, 17, 20, 25, 33

Needs: RB, OL, WR, DL, LB, DB


2 - Columbus Buckeyes:

Picks: 2, 10, 18, 26, 34

Needs: OL DL LB S


3 - Cleveland Crows:

Picks: 3, 11, 19, 27, 35

Needs: QB RB WR DL DB


4 - Tri-Cities Hawks:

Picks: 12, 28, 36

Needs: RB OL WR LB


5 - Pittsburgh Shamrocks:

Picks: 5, 21, 29, 37

Needs: QB RB DL LB DB


6 - Buffalo Hammers:

Picks: 6, 14, 22, 30, 38

Needs: QB RB OL DL LB DB S


7 - Cincinnati Rivermen:

Picks: 7, 13, 15, 23, 31, 39

Needs: WR DL DB


8 - Chicago Hogs:

Picks: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40

Needs: RB OL DL LB DB S

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