1955 Draft Preview

 AACA Top 20:
1) Oklahoma - 10-0
2) Chicago Christian - 8-1
3) Calvert - 10-0
4) Los Angeles State - 9-1
5) Ohio - 7-2
6) Southwestern Christian - 9-1
7) Mississippi - 8-1-1

8) Georgia A&M - 8-1-1
9) St. Joseph’s - 8-2
10) Alabama A&M - 9-1
11) U. Kansas City - 7-3
12) Michigan - 7-2
13) ULA - 6-4
14) Miami State - 6-3
15) U. Cleveland - 9-0
16) Brooklyn College - 6-3-1
17) Texas State - 7-2-1
18) Army - 6-2-1
19) Monongalia State - 8-2
20) Navy - 6-3

AACA Bowls:
Tournament of Roses Bowl (Los Angeles, CA) - (16) Brooklyn College 14-17 (4) Los Angeles State
Palm Bowl (Miami, FL) - (3) Calvert 20-6 (10) Alabama A&M
Magnolia Bowl (Houston, TX) - (6) Southwestern Christian 14-13 (1) Oklahoma
Columbian Bowl (Chicago, IL) -  (2) Chicago Christian 7-0 (9) St. Joseph’s
Gold Bowl (San Francisco, CA) - (5) Ohio 34-14 (13) ULA
Cigar Bowl (Tampa, FL) -  (11) U. Kansas City 25-13 (12) Michigan
Syrup Bowl (New Orleans, LA) - (7) Mississippi 33-20 (15) U. Cleveland
Sun Bowl (El Paso, TX) - (19) Monongalia State 21-14 (17) Texas State
Orange Bowl (Orlando, FL) - (8) Georgia A&M 7-6 (14) Miami State

AFL
1) OL Chris Cutchen - Iowa A&M - Waldorf Florus - Wallflower
2) LB Duane Ackerman - Oklahoma - Waldorf Florus - Wallflower
3) QB Richard “Rocco” Vanthourenhout - University of Kansas City - Sidney Boggs - DireBear
4) LB Bob Jessup - St. Joseph’s - Sidney Boggs - DireBear
5) WR Justin Harris - Minnesota State - Bernard King - Kingsfan11
6) RB Arthur Busch - University of Cleveland - Sidney Boggs - DireBear
7) LB Cade Masters - Chicago Christian - Johnny Armando - Stickman
8) OL Stevie Cockburn - Ohio - Jimmy Jones - Dan O’Mac
9) DB Sammy Weems - Ohio - Waldorf Florus - Wallflower
10) TE William Hunter - University of the Tri-Cities - Jimmy Jones - Dan O’Mac
11) S Jackson Jones - University of Buffalo - Waldorf Florus - Wallflower
12) S Quinn Keeley - Alabama A&M - Isaac “Deuce” Martin - idm
13) OL Toby Killigan - Michigan A&M - Johnny Armando - Stickman
14) DB Jeff Brother - Wisconsin State - Jimmy Jones - Dan O’Mac
15) WR Al Cannon - Calvert - Isaac “Deuce” Martin - idm
16) DL Martin Stark - Idaho - Sidney Boggs - DireBear
17) DB Jason Brother - Wisconsin State - Isaac “Deuce” Martin - idm
18) QB Sam Eagleburger - Chicago Christian - Isaac “Deuce” Martin - idm
19) DB Ray Furness - University of Cleveland - Sidney Boggs - DireBear
20) DL Leroy Brockhaus - Chicago Christian - Waldorf Florus - Wallflower

Oklahoma once again claimed a piece of the national title after another 10-0 season, even after moving from the Red River Conference to the Missouri River Valley Conference. In their second straight undefeated regular season, they claimed another national title thanks to an incredibly stout defense led by LB Duane Ackerman among others. The captain of the defense was the only player who declared for the AFL, as the other seniors in that defense were scooped up by the PAFC in their rookie signing window. They played in the Magnolia Bowl for the third straight year, and their hopes of the mythical national championship were ruined by former conference mate Southwestern Christian, who had a turnaround season and upset the Tornadoes on a late touchdown to ruin any chances of a national title. The team that ended up gaining a larger claim of the title was Calvert, who also put together their second undefeated season in 3 years and were selected to play in the Palm Bowl against Southern Conference winner Alabama A&M. The Terriers easily disposed of their competition, with WR Al Cannon overpowering the smaller S Quinn Keeley for a 2 touchdown game. The Roses Bowl once again featured Brooklyn College and Los Angeles State, though neither at the same level that they were both at last year. Brooklyn finally regressed though still won the ECC, while Los Angeles State lost their undefeated season to Idaho thanks to DL Martin Stark shutting down the Bulldogs’ offense. The Terriers kept with the Bulldogs for the entire game, though failed to convert on a field goal that would have tied the game and gave LA State the bowl game for the 2nd time in 3 years. Chicago Christian topped the CAC, sporting the next-best defense to Oklahoma and a solid QB-WR combo of Sam Eagleburger and Isaiah Morris. They hosted the Columbian Bowl against the equally defensive St. Joseph’s, whose LB Bob Jessup became the first defensive-only player to receive votes for the Bernheim Trophy, and managed to finish a surprising second place. In a defensive battle for the ages, Chicago Christian came up on top 7-0 on a forced fumble from the overpowering DL Leroy Brockhaus and returned by LB Cade Masters for the touchdown. DB J.T. Marteau would get the game-sealing interception late in the 4th to finish the lowest-scoring Columbian Bowl since its inception. The player that would end up winning the Bernheim Trophy would be UKC QB Richard “Rocco” Vanthourenhout, who almost single-handedly won the Yellow Jackets a conference title if not for a close loss to Oklahoma. Vanthourenhout torched Michigan in the Cigar Bowl 25-13, and looks to be the top QB prospect that teams (specifically Tri-Cities) will need to start a turnaround. Finishing third in voting for the Bernheim was UCleveland RB Arthur Busch, a bruising back that plowed through defenders to keep himself going. He effectively carried the Wildcats to a Great Lakes Conference title, thus earning a bowl bid to the Syrup Bowl against Mississippi. Strong play by DB Ray Furness in the secondary and Busch on the ground was not enough for Mississippi intercepting QB Mick Casey three times and the Wildcats’ underdog season ended in a 33-20 loss. The Gold Bowl was another rematch between Ohio and ULA, and for a second straight year the Buckeyes would run over the Aztecas 34-14. DB Sammy Weems would boost his draft stock by intercepting two passes and returning them both for touchdowns. In the other two bowls not featuring AFL talent, Monongalia State proved to be worldbeaters once again by taking down Texas State 21-14 in the Sun Bowl, while Georgia A&M and Miami State fought a rough defensive battle in the Orange bowl with the former narrowly taking a 7-6 win in unpleasant conditions.

The best player in the draft, OL Chris Cutchen from Iowa A&M, should be able to anchor the offensive line no matter where he goes. It would be surprising if he does not get picked within the first two picks, as both New York and Boston need his size and strength to become decent teams in the league. The other two offensive linemen rated in the top 20 will also make great immediate starters, with Ohio’s Stevie Cockburn providing great physical prowess on the line while Michigan A&M’s Toby Killigan is more of a well-rounded lineman. This draft class may not be the best in terms of high-end wide receiver talent, with Justin Harris from Minnesota State and his excellent route-running and catching abilities making him a projected top 5 pick. Besides him, there is no consensus next best after him, meaning that the later rounds will be a wash in terms of who is best at that position. On the other hand, the defensive back position is incredibly deep. Including names already mentioned such as Sammy Weems, J.T. Marteau, and Ray Furness, sibling DB's Jason and Jeff Brother join them near the top. Both were shutdown players while at Wisconsin State, providing a lone bright spot on a down season for that team. Included in the talks for best players in the secondary available is S Jackson Jones from the University of Buffalo. He is able to track down and take down the ball carrier with great ease, though he is getting put lower on teams’ draft boards due to his lack of muscle, relying on other methods to take players down. There’s really only one excellent player coming from west of the Mississippi, that being Idaho DL Martin Stark, a player that has turned heads in more ways than one. He bullied players on the offensive line just by using his size and stature, and looks like a clear lock to be a starter if he can adapt to the pros. However, his attitude issues are a major red flag for all teams, as he assaulted another high schooler after a football game and was suspended for a majority of his junior year for starting a benches-clearing brawl against Montana State. If any of his anger can be tempered by any team, then he would be a surefire top 10 pick, but teams aren’t willing to take the risk if they bring a character like Stark to their team.

Rocco Vanthourenhout is an easy lock to go within the top 5, while Sam Eagleburger and Mick Casey might follow shortly after for any team looking to reach for a QB. Vanthourenhout is larger than average for a QB, allowing him to stay in the pocket for longer and find the receiver he can throw to, able to sling it pretty much anywhere downfield. Eagleburger is more of the prototypical deep passer compared to Vanthourenhout, though he gets dropped down a step for trying to force plays too often and potentially ruin offensive drives. Casey was the QB that Cleveland needed to support its run game, and as such may not be drafted until a team that utilizes the run needs someone like him. The rest of the remaining available QB’s are a mixed bag. Wyoming State’s Dwayne Dessena has incredible football smarts but lacks some of the physical talents needed to be an effective QB. He’s a great leader when under center, but may need some time to develop and learn the offense before getting any sort of starting time. Any quarterback from Ohio would usually be getting more of the spotlight, but Gil Stacy had trouble throwing deep when his primary attribute is having a cannon for an arm. Although he is able to throw it pretty much anywhere on the field, more often than not it’s either too deep or underthrown and in the arms of the secondary. He will also be a project while improving his accuracy under the current starter of whatever team takes him. Massachusetts State’s Salvatore Saab can be seen on equal footing to Stacy, though he seems more starter-ready.

Draft Picks/Needs:

1 - New York Lions
Picks: 1, 11, 21, 31
Needs: RB OL WR DL LB DB S P

2 - Boston Dragons
Picks: 2, 22, 32, 44
Needs: WR TE DL LB S

3 - Tri-Cities Hawks
Picks: 3, 13, 33, 43, 49
Needs: QB RB WR TE DL LB DB

4 - Detroit Knights
Picks: 4, 12, 14, 20, 24, 34, 42
Needs: QB OL WR LB DB

5 - Pittsburgh Shamrocks
Picks: 5, 25, 35, 45
Needs: OL WR TE DL LB DB

6 - Cincinnati Rivermen
Picks: 6, 16, 26, 36, 46
Needs: RB OL TE LB DB S

7 - Buffalo Hammers
Picks: 7, 17, 27, 37, 47
Needs: QB OL WR DL LB

8 - Washington Federals
Picks: 8, 18, 28, 38, 48
Needs: OL TE DL LB

9 - Cleveland Crows
Picks: 15, 19, 29, 39
Needs: OL WR TE LB

10 - Chicago Hogs
Picks: 9, 10, 23, 30, 40, 41, 50
Needs: RB OL DL LB DB S