1952 NAAF Draft

1952 NAAF Draft

The draft took place between all the team’s management at a hotel in Ottawa. Many of the players who were expected to go early on were at the ceremony. After opening remarks by commissioner Ryan Jameson, they allowed teams an hour before the clock started to prepare and possibly talk with other teams about moves. After the hour was up the Worcester Athletics had the first pick of the draft. 

1ST ROUND

1 - Worcester Athletics - LB Scotty Williams - Erie, PA
Scotty Williams was looked at as the best player in the draft and would go within the first couple picks whether to Worcester or Toronto. While the top QB Riley Keirnan was also rumoured to go to the Athletics first, they decided they couldn’t pass up on the top tier player. 

Johnny Singleton Scouting Report:
One of the hardest workers you’ll find. He has put his hours into practice and workouts and it’s paying off. Despite being a top prospect he doesn’t let the stardom blind him and continues his grueling work ethic.Due to his intense work ethic he is one of the strongest players in collegiate football. His strength allows him to be a fantastic tackler and hard hitter. His biggest weakness is his coverage skills as he is pretty poor in that area but he makes up for it with it for his outstanding tackling ability.  

TRADE ALERT!
Just moments after the Athletics selection was made a trade was announced between the Toronto Tigers who held the 2nd overall pick and the Ottawa Royals. The Tigers and Royals had been in talks all season about the possibility of either QB Jean Matieau or QB Duane Logan would be available. Toronto was by far the front runner for either quarterback all season as they had the assets to trade for them. As the draft approached Ottawa was starting to set their eyes on a player to draft and had decided they wanted to go with Jean Matieau moving forward. Because, Matieau’s contract was up and they didn’t want him walking they need to move Logan as soon as they could. 

Toronto Tigers get:
QB Duane Logan
OTT 1952 1st Round Pick (4th) 

Ottawa Royals get:
TOR 1952 1st Round Pick (2nd)
DL Edgar Olsen
OL Jumonville Isabelle
TOR 1953 3rd Round Pick 

Toronto gets their new QB and only moves down two spots while giving away some depth and prospects, while Ottawa gains the 2nd pick and some depth and they can focus on Matieau moving forward. 

2 - Ottawa Royals (via Toronto) - RB Alexei Volkov - New York City, NY
The Royals were in desperate need for a RB after Ray Middleton retired, guessing Hartford (picking 3rd) was also targeting the back, they made the push to move up and grab him at 2.Volkov should add lots of speed to an already powerful offense. 

Lawrence Gainsborough Scouting Report:
Volkov is a speedy running back, quick on his feet and if he finds an open field he is gone. He will draw many comparisons to Marchal in Montreal with his speed. He lacks a bit in size compared to RBs like Joel Bonner and Laurent Brazeau but he makes up for it in speed.Volkov is also a quiet player as well, doesn't talk too much, lets the game show his emotions.  

3 - Hartford Hawks - DB Slay Mitchell - Providence, RI
The Hawks were looking out for Volkov initially but with the surprise move they are left with their second option. The aging secondary in Hartford needed an injection of youth and they grabbed it here at 3. The Hawks will hope the corner becomes the leader in the secondary as their rebuild continues. 

Johnny Singleton Scouting Report: 
A big time DB that likes to talk to his opponent during the game. A big personality guy that likes to be a menace to whoever he is defending. A very tight coverage DB. Likes to get in the face of the WR and very physical. He does lack in speed but is able to make up for that with his big play ability and coverage skills. 

4 - Toronto Tigers (via Ottawa) - LB Aengus Lynch - Charlestown, MA
Lynch was the next best LB behind Scotty Williams and some would say the next best player. The Tigers made a smart move trading down as they still would have gotten the same player at 2. Lynch adds a huge defensive anchor in the middle of the defense for the Tigers as they look to become a competitive force in the North Division. 

Lawrence Gainsborough Scouting Report:
Lynch is like a military leader on the field, keeps people in line. He is focused and competitive bringing a great leadership energy. He also can see the game well at times seems to know what’s coming. He also plays heavy and physical. Hitting guys left and right and getting right into the thick of the action. Lynch draws many comparisons to LB Quinton Brewer of Montreal. 

TRADE ALERT!
The Gold Stars who were not needing anything high in the draft decided to move back and traded the 5th pick to Worcester. They drop down to 9th and pick up a possible DL in Harvey Franklin. Worcester also gets to move up and grab another player they were targeting. 

Providence Gold Stars gets:
WOR 1952 2nd Round Draft Pick (9th)
DL Harvey Franklin 

Worcester Athletics get:
PRO 1952 1st Round Pick (5th) 

5 - Worcester Athletics (via Providence) - QB Riley Kiernan - Annapolis, MD
The Athletics get their QB at 5. If they had not taken Williams first many were expecting them to take the gunslinger. Worcester was looking at moving up as well with the possibility a team like Boston with an aging QB would take Kiernan at 7. Kiernan is expected to be the starter going into the next season over Adrian Little. 

Lawrence Gainsborough Scouting Report:
Kiernan draws comparisons to Angelo Medina, but with a stronger arm. He can get the ball deep and he has the mobility in the pocket, willing to take off if he needs to. Kiernan has the potential to become a superstar in this league and he fully expects to get there. He has a bit of a flashy personality, loves to showboat. He also loves being at the party and having fun so there may be some character issues with the QB but you can’t pass up on the talent. 

6 - Buffalo Blue Wings - S Fraizer Brooks - Bristol, CT
The Blue Wings snag the top Safety at the 6th pick. While the team had traded a safety last offseason and going all in on S Marvin Tillman, it appears that they may be going in a different direction already. Brooks is still a no miss safety that the Blue Wings couldn’t pass up especially in a position that has been inconsistent at times. 

Johnny Singleton Scouting Report: 
Intelligent and consistent safety and a great leader. All of his coaches say that he’ll make a fantastic coach when he retires from the game.An intelligent safety that is great at play recognition. He also is known to extensively study his opponents QBs and their tendencies and what not and knows exactly where they’ll throw. He is also a great open field tackler. No one in the league compares to the playing style that Brooks employs, he is a top tier talent. 

7 - Boston Independents - TE Richard Stewart - Ashfield, MA
The Independents most direly needed a TE as it is their weakest position. Richard Stewart and Johnny Mantle IV were both available at 6 but they went with the local kid which they had scouted in greater detail. With the addition Boston gets a stronger front line and make their team, once again, a threat to make it back to the McCallister Cup 

William Moen Scouting Report:
While he can get hot-headed on the field, he is normally a cool, collected person off the field.While he may not be the fastest Tight End out there, he makes up for it in power. When he's not the target of a pass, he acts almost like a 6th Offensive Lineman. 

8 - Hartford Hawks (via Montreal) - TE Johnny Mantle IV - Niagara Falls, ON
The Hawks took the other top TE with the final pick of the first round. There was not much information on Mantle but they expect him to be a decent passing threat as well as a solid blocking TE for the Hawks rebuild.  

2ND ROUND
9 - PRO (via WOR) - OL Chad Austin - London, ON
10 - TOR - QB Christian Stewart - Kitchener, ON
11 - HAR - DB Will Atkinson - New York City, NY
12 - OTT - TE Jervonte Howell - Philadelphia, PA
13 - PRO - OL Wilfred Gibson - Peterborough, ON
14 - HAR (via BUF) - RB Johnie Stafford - Geneseo, NY
15 - BOS - K Johnnie Berg - Lancaster, PA
16 - MTL - DL Sam Laframboise - Montreal, QB 

The second round started with Providence grabbing an OL with their first pick and would take another at 13. Toronto took a local quarterback in Christian Stewart at 10 even after trading for Duane Logan earlier. 

Scouting Report on Christian Stewart: 
Quiet leader off the field, a fierce competitor on the field. Game manager and smart decision-maker, but lacks the explosive arm strength that Kiernan has.  Buffalo and Hartford also made a trade for the Blue Wings to move down and acquire a young linebacker. The Hawks pick up a couple picks. 

Buffalo Blue Wings get: 
LB Ben McCray
HAR 1952 3rd Round Pick (19th) 

Hartford Hawks get:
BUF 1952 2nd Round Pick (14th)
BUF 1952 4th Round Pick (30th)
DB Neil Reid 

The Hawks would take a DB at the 11th spot and then finally grab their RB at 14 with Johnie Stafford. Finally, Montreal decides to go with local talent with their first pick, taking Sam Laframboise. 

3RD ROUND
17 - WOR - S Shawn Jensen - Toledo, OH
18 - TOR - OL Shawn Lawrence - Hamilton, ON
19 - BUF (via HAR) - LB Lloyd Mathis - Hamilton, ON
20 - OTT - S Neari Charles - Saratoga Springs, NY
21 - WOR (via PRO) - WR Christian Venegas - New York City, NY
22 - BUF - RB Lawrence Sharp - Toronto, ON
23 - WOR (via BOS) - DL Erik Cohen - Manchester, CT
24 - MTL - DB Jontray Cox - Baltimore, MD 

The most notable pick was Shawn Jensen at 17, as the safety was expected to go at around 8th overall, but after Brooks was taken there wasn’t a team in need of a safety until Worcester was back on the board in the 3rd round. So they have the early steal in the draft. The other note would be Buffalo’s trade down may have backfired as the Tigers snagged OL Shawn Lawrence just before them. 

4TH ROUND
25 - WOR - TE Duane Halloway - Huntington, WV
26 - TOR - S Jumon Cobb - Toronto, ON
27 - HAR - WR Nathan Green - Richmond, VA
28 - OTT - OL Bravon Covington - Montreal , QB
29 - PRO - LB Daevion Shelton - Norfolk, VA
30 - HAR (via BUF) - LB Jim Daniels - Pittsburgh, PA
31 - BOS - QB Alex Agramonte - Charlotte, NC
32 - HAR (via MTL) - RB Maurice Ferguson - Richmond, VA 

The only note in the fourth round is Boston taking a quarterback in Agramonte, not expected to be a superstar by any means, but maybe a solid back up.