1962 Draft Preview

1962 Draft Preview

Leading up to the 1962 draft, there was a major prospect that made the decision to join the NAAF. RB Corbyn Knight, a Hamilton native, has been heavily watched by the OFU. The Hamilton Steelers specifically have been keeping their eyes on him since he was in high school. Knight was expected to eventually become the next great RB for the Steelers, however, the recent downturn the OFU has taken and the rapid growth of the NAAF has shifted Knight to the bigger league. The OFU at this point is certainly starting to see the end with a move like that. 

While Knight remains the big story coming in there are some other strong players in the first round. OL Jean-Baptiste Desjardins will be a superb option for any team’s O-line. Then, LB Orion Carter could be a big threat to the backfield, many are comparing him to LB Rusty McVee. DL Pat Butler is a small, but powerful DL that will be looking to stop many teams in their tracks. DB Lauri Hayha, a Finnish-born player, seems to be a dark horse that many are high on, and could be a strong addition to the secondary.

As for gunslingers, QB Micheal Benedict is looked at as the best option coming out of this draft. A true pocket-passer, who doesn’t move very much, Benedict makes up for it with a strong arm that can really open up the field for an offence. A bit further back there are a pair of QBs in Landon Ross and Joshua Nolan who both have made their own case to be drafted into teams looking for a new QB option. 

Overall, the draft class is relatively stronger than usual, and there will be plenty of good players to pick from. 

Now a little side note: I have done the draft class a little differently this season. Since I had upwards of 70+ prospects, I decided that I would be keeping this year's pool at 50 (and for years into the future) because of the high amount since I don't want to have 30 prospects go undrafted. With that, I decided to also showcase all 50 prospects for this year's draft. I typically only show the top 25 but felt like it would be nice for everyone to have clarity on which players would be here. Also, the final prospect K Ryan Perch is in his own category due to kickers having a slightly different value that is hard to place (and honestly kickers don't often get drafted at this point). I was noted that some may prefer to only see the top 25, but if some prefer this then let me know!

The Gains Report - 1962 Draft Class Preview
1 - OL Jean-Baptiste Desjardins - Cameron Gordon - QCS
2 - LB Orion Carter - Ivan di Marco - ItDoesntMatter
3 - DL Pat Butler - Johnny Singleton - Captain Mort 3D
4 - RB Corbyn Knight - Lawrence Gainsborough - Darknes
5 - DB Lauri Hayha - Lawrence Gainsborough - Darknes
6 - QB Michael Benedict - Dick Dingleberry - Stickman
7 - WR Julius Drake - Brad Cumberland - DireBear
8 - WR Owen Paisley - George Stefanakis - Dan O’Mac
9 - OL Elias McCarren - Lawrence Gainsborough - Darknes
10 - OL Jeffery Uduike - Cameron Gordon - QCS
11 - TE Tranquille Rousseau - Barry Williams - ZO82
12 - DL Sammy Pickett - Dewey Thomas - Rugrat
13 - RB Ronald O’Sullivan - Vincent Dejardins - Kingsfan11
14 - QB Landon Ross - Barry Williams - ZO82
15 - QB Joshua Nolan - Dewey Thomas - Rugrat
16 - LB Victor Falkensteig - Wally Flowers - Wallflower
17 - DB Ole Snurlson - James Herr O’Nark - JamHeronArk
18 - RB Théodore Lemieux - Vincent Dejardins - Kingsfan11
19 - S Calvin Hobbes - Dewey Thomas - Rugrat
20 - DB Ty Boone - Johnny Singleton - Captain Mort 3D
21 - DL Jordan-Eugene White - Ivan di Marco - ItDoesntMatter
22 - WR Julian Santiago - Cameron Gordon - QCS
23 - WR Aaron Hamur - Roger Roy - Scratch
24 - WR Evan Clanton - Travis Ronnigen - ProsecutorMilesEdgeworth
25 - DB Nick Ulbach - James Herr O’Nark - JamHeronArk
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26 - LB Tyrone Butler - Dick Dingleberry - Stickman
27 - DB Ross McCurtry - Allen Cohn - TigerFan93
28 - WR Larry Mossholder - George Stefanakis - Dan O’Mac
29 - OL Ross Guillebeaux - James Herr O’Nark - JamHeronArk
30 - DL Steve Hamm - Cameron Gordon - QCS
31 - LB Caruso Robinson - James Herr O’Nark - JamHeronArk
32 - DL Brian Alvagrado - Jimmy Franklin - TargetToad
33 - OL Wolfgang Vander Waal - George Stefanakis - Dan O’Mac
34 - RB Aaron Walken - James Herr O’Nark - JamHeronArk
35 - S Nick Dixon - Ivan di Marco - ItDoesntMatter
36 - QB Jimm Kidd - Roger Roy - Scratch
37 - OL Jonah Lucas - Jay Hawkins - Jayhawk
38 - DL Philip Klein - George Stefanakis - Dan O’Mac
39 - LB Kelly Walsh - Lawrence Gainsborough - Darknes
40 - OL Xavier Villeneuve - Vincent Desjardins - Kingsfan11
41 - DL Peter Mongoose - Cameron Gordon - QCS
42 - TE Wayne Bruce - Ivan di Marco - ItDoesntMatter
43 - WR Connor Kyle - Ivan di Marco - ItDoesntMatter
44 - TE Davis Langer - Allen Cohn - TigerFan93
45 - OL Barry Florence - Wally Flower - Wallflower
46 - OL Tom Grady - Perry Matthews - Sevsdast
47 - OL Marvin Lindsey - Vincent Desjardins - Kingsfan11
48 - WR Gera Maksimov - Barry Williams - ZO82
49 - QB Andrew Muffin - Vincent Desjardins - Kingsfan11

K - K Ryan Perch - Ivan di Marco - ItDoesntMatter

Needs and Picks
1 - Indiana Victors - OL, DL, LB, QB, RB
Picks: 1, 11, 21, 31
2 - The Athletics - Everything - Best Available
Picks: 2, 8, 12, 17, 22, 27, 32
3 - Long Island Raiders - DB, WR, DL, OL, QB
Picks: 3, 13, 33, 36
4 - Ottawa Royals - OL, RB, DB, LB, DL, QB
Picks: 4, 14, 24, 34
5 - Buffalo Blue Wings- LB, WR, DB, OL
Picks: 5, 15, 25, 35, 38
6 - Providence Gold Stars - DB, OL, LB, S, QB
Picks: 6, 16, 26
7 - Louisville Thunder - DL, LB, QB
Picks: 7, 23
8 - Montreal Rouge - DB, DL, WR, OL
Picks: 18, 28
9 - London Tigers - DL, LB, RB, WR, QB
Picks: 9, 19, 29, 37, 39 
10 - Boston Independents - DL, DB, WR
Picks: 10, 20, 30, 40

Love to hear thoughts and potential mock drafts, or even who are the Victors taking first?