1962 NAAF Draft

1962 NAAF Draft

1st Round

1 - Indiana Victors - OL Jean-Baptiste Desjardins - Gatineau, QC
There were several options for the Indiana Victors at the top of the draft, however, when it came down to it the team would look to find a solution to their biggest problem. It certainly is not a flashy pick, but it is a necessary one as Desjardins will be able to step in immediately and make an impact on the O-line. 

Cameron Gordon’s Scouting Report
A passionate player, Desjardins is a great addition for any team. He gives it his all as long as he has a goal in mind. He wants to be the best and wants to win. He will do what it takes, however, if he’s in a bad situation, he can get a bit discouraged. Desjardins is pumped to be heading into the NAAF, just hope that the Victors can start finding some success.

2 - The Athletics - DL Pat Butler - Manchester, NH
The game plan for the Athletics was to simply pick the best available. When Larry Larson stepped into the GM role, the scouting system was all over the place. He would have to rely a lot on his own knowledge and the Gains Report. They had a couple of options at #2, but Larson would decide to add on the DL with Butler after getting a strong LB prospect in the Scotty Williams trade.

Johnny Singleton’s Scouting Report
While he is undersized, the young DL is strong as ever. He makes up for the height with an ability to bring people down with his strength and mobility. His smaller size does allow him to have greater mobility on the field. He knows how to bring the pressure with his agility and ability to get around guys with speed. On top of his skill, he is a hard worker that will do what it takes to be at his best, which is a great building block in the true reset of the Athletics. 

3 - Long Island Raiders - DB Lauri Hayha - Fort Drum, NY (Born in Helsinki, FN)
The Raiders would come up to bat with the 3rd pick of the draft. With the loss of DB Slay Mitchell, GM Wayne Tillman thought they had to go with DB here. He would take his shot on the potential dark horse pick in DB Lauri Hayha. With the team grabbing DB Rutherford Winters in last year’s draft, they are starting to develop a strong secondary once again. 

Lawrence Gainsborough’s Scouting Report
The Finnish-born DB had only appeared on the radar over the past year. He had a breakout year during his senior year of college. Coming out of the smaller Oneida College near Syracuse, Hayha hasn’t gotten a lot of attention, however, Hayha broke through with a conference-leading 15 Interception season. He seemed to always be where the ball was going and that type of skill is hard to come by. Along with that, he is fast and agile which makes for a serious threat all over the field. The question will be if he was at too low of a level in college, and will he be able to translate his performance to the professional level. 

4 - Ottawa Royals - RB Corbyn Knight - Hamilton, ON
The Royals would follow up the Raiders with their highest draft pick since 1952 when the team had the 4th pick and traded up to take RB Alexei Volkov at 2. It would end up being a repeat from that early pick with the Royals taking an RB once again. Corbyn Knight had been expected to be headed to the OFU, but he ended up deciding the NAAF was a better option. He will remain in Ottawa as the Royals look to the future of the franchise. 

Lawrence Gainsborough’s Scouting Report
Many would overlook Corbyn Knight at first, due to being what is considered undersized, however, once he steps on the field, there is no catching him. The speedster is one of the fastest RB to come into the NAAF draft. He will likely match players like RB Dareion Fields and Clifford Russell in speed if he isn’t already faster. He also has strength that can be deployed when he needs it. The Royals might have fallen onto another great piece that can lead to more success in the future. 

5 - Buffalo Blue Wings - LB Orion Carter - Pawtucket, RI
The Blue Wings had LB Orion Carter at the top of their board heading into the draft. In fact, there were rumblings that new GM Reginald McMahon was talking to several of the top teams about a potential trade-up just to get him. However, the rest of the teams were pretty set on who they wanted. It would work out for the Blue Wings in the end as Carter fell to them at the #5 pick. 

Ivan di Marco’s Scouting Report
Carter is a passionate player that really gets into the game, while that has been an issue at times, he still remains a strong piece for the Blue Wings to add to the defence. Carter’s specialty is stopping plays coming out of the backfield. He is a great tackler and will find a way to the RB if he ever breaks through a hole. He does lack in coverage ability but makes up for it as a key piece to add pressure. A comparable would be LB Rusty McVee for Orion Carter, who will look to make an immediate impact in Buffalo. 

6 - Providence Gold Stars - WR Owen Paisley - Bangor, ME
The Gold Stars took a while to make their pick at 6. To no surprise, it was due to the team aiming to make a trade down from the pick since their top pick in Orion Carter had already gone. With QB Michael Benedict, being the top pick they thought they would be able to bring in a trade partner, but no one bit so they took WR Owen Paisley to add another weapon to the offence heading into this season.

George Stefanakis’ Scouting Reports
Paisley is a tall, big body WR who is really good over the middle being able to use his size to make his own space. He also has a solid blocking ability which means he can step into the TE position if needed. He is also a very genuine kid, who is easy-going and many of his teammates like him. An overall solid pick for the Gold Stars.

TRADE ALERT
Louisville was in the same situation as the Providence from the pick before, they really didn’t see much for them at the 7th pick. With QB Michael Benedict still on the board, it was expected that a team in need of a QB would make a move. However, when it was announced that the Blue Wings were the ones trading up, there were some heads scratching. The Blue Wings already had a young QB in Charles Lemieux. 

Louisville took the trade for the main reason of getting QB Stanislav Ovechkin on a reduced salary. The team felt like they needed a backup for QB Leonidas Dumont if they were going to be able to truly compete. This comes from QB Christian Stewart stepping in for Riley Kiernan in 1960 to get them to the final, and seeing Connor O’Rourke’s injury for the Gold Stars being a big reason they struggled early on. They would also receive the 15th overall pick as well.

7 - Buffalo Blue Wings (via Louisville Thunder) - WR Julius Drake - Grand Rapids, MI
Following their trade, the speculation about the Blue Wings’ move was all over the place, where they going to replace Lemieux? Or are they gambling on something else? In the end, the Blue Wings just wanted a strong WR and they were not going to get Julius Drake at 15th overall. 

Brad Cumberland’s Scouting Report
Drake is similar to Owen Paisley, who went one pick above. A tall and strong WR that can dominate the middle. Drake has a bit more vertical potential to go down the field rather than just be over the middle. He had leadership qualities and has a desire to win, though he can get frustrated if he doesn’t have a chance to do that. Overall, with the changes the Blue Wings have made, he might be in the right position. 

8 - The Athletics (via Montreal Rouge) - QB Michael Benedict - Dowagiac, MI 
Up next, with the pick they received for OL Cliff Strautzenberger in the 1961 season, the Athletics would aim to set up the future with a pick at QB. Larson was a bit hesitant to take a QB, but seeing Benedict there at 8, he felt like it was the right time and choice for the team. 

Dick Dingleberry’s Scouting Report
Statue-like mobility is how I describe him, he doesn’t move a lot, he has a wicked cannon that can get the ball off really quickly. He’s got accuracy to back it up and good decision-making. Some may say he’s not too dissimilar to Larry Larson himself, as an accurate passer with not too much mobility. He has lots of talent, however, he is likely to face a lot of pressure with the Athletics, so it could be a tough first season. 

9 - London Tigers - OL Jeffery Uduike - Moncton, NB
The Tigers would look to find a replacement for OL Kazimir Smirnov with their first pick taking New Brunswick native, Jeffery Uduike. 

Cameron Gordon’s Scouting Report
Uduike is a big guy that is going to be able to stand his ground. He’s got great pass blocking which is going to be important on a Tigers team that likes to throw the ball. He does lack some mobility which makes him weaker in run blocking, but with some more training, he could be a solid all-around OL for the Tigers. 

10 - Boston Independents - DL Sammy Pickett - Sydney, NS
With the final pick of the 1st round, the Independents would reach into the second round and grab DL Sammy Pickett. The Independents have continuously been looking for more pieces on the DL and Pickett was the best available to meet that need.

Dewey Thomas’ Scouting Report
Pickett is a strong leader on and off the field. He keeps his teammates up and fighting. Along with that, he has a strong IQ that helps him figure out where the play is going on the line. He also has a knack for getting into the backfield and creating havoc for the QB on blitzes. Pretty much a prototypical DL that any team would want. However, he does lack some of the fundamental moves to get past better O-linemen, and some have concerns about him jumping into the more difficult league. 

1962 NAAF Draft

2nd Round
The second round would kick off with the Victors taking their second OL of the draft in Elias McCarren. They are in desperate need on the line so they are more than happy to take multiple players. The Athletics would follow up by taking a new RB in Ronald O'Sullivan, a smaller back that tends to run through people. 

The next two picks would be a little more significant with QBs going back-to-back. The Raiders would be the ones with the choice and they ended up going with the Allentown native, Joshua Nolan. Nolan has size that makes him tough to bring down, and he is able to deliver the ball quite well. The Royals would then take the other QB in Landon Ross. Ross is a little more of an all-around pocket passer that is able to use accuracy and strong decision-making to make plays. Both teams still have their starters, so it’s likely the two will take some time to develop yet. 

After the pair of QBs, there was the second trade of the draft that had the Thunder and Gold Stars swapping the 15th and 16th overall picks. The Gold Stars really wanted a LB and Victor Falknesteig was there, however, several teams were interested so Providence made a strong offer to make sure they didn’t miss out. The Thunder would also get a 3rd rounder from next year. 

The draft would continue on the defensive train with the Thunder, Athletics, and Rouge all taking defensive pieces in DL Jordan-Eugene White, DB Ole Snurlson, and DB Ty Boone respectively. The Tigers would snag the first TE of the draft in Tranquille Rousseau and Boston would close out the second round with WR Evan Clanton. 

2nd Round Picks
11 - IND - OL Elias McCarren - Satan’s Kingdom, MA - Darknes
12 - ATH - RB Ronald O’Sullivan - Providence, RI - Kingsfan11
13 - LI - QB Joshua Nolan - Allentown, PA - Rugrat
14 - OTT - QB Landon Ross - Cincinnati, OH - ZO82
15 - PRO (via BUF from LOU) - LB Victor Falkensteig - Gary, IN - Wallflower 
16 - LOU (via PRO) - DL Jordan-Eugene White - Boston, MA - ItDoesntMatter
17 - ATH (via LOU) - DB Ole Snurlson - Portland, ME - JamHeronArk
18 - MTL - DB Ty Boone - Augusta, ME - Captrain Mort 3D
19 - LDN - TE Tranquille Rousseau - Saguenay, QC - ZO82
20 - BOS - WR Evan Clanton - Rome, NY - ProsecutorMilesEdgeworth

3rd Round
The third round began with the Victors taking a potential new safety in Calvin Hobbes, then the Athletics and Thunder would take back-to-back WRs to add to their offence. Following the picks, the Royals would trade back from the 24th pick to grab OL David Alexander and the 31st pick from Indiana. The Victors would also get the 34th pick in the trade. They would then select LB Tyrone Butler.

Later on in the round, the Blue Wings made another trade moving up to the 27th pick for the 35th pick and next year’s fourth. They would end up taking QB Charles Lemieux’s younger brother RB Théodore Lemieux with the pick to go along with DB Nick Ulbach from 2 picks earlier. 

One of the more odd moments was OL Ross Guillebeaux who left his bowl of Grape-Nuts to go meet the Rouge coaching staff. 

3rd Round Picks
21 - IND - S Calvin Hobbes - Cincinnati, OH - Rugrat
22 - ATH - WR Aaron Hamur - Baltimore, MD - Scratch
23 - LOU (via LI) - WR Julian Santiago - Queens, NY - QCS
24 - IND (via OTT) - LB Tyrone Butler - Brooklyn, NY - Stickman
25 - BUF - DB Nick Ulbach - Chicago, IL - JamHeronArk
26 - PRO - DL Steve Hamm - Albany, NY - QCS
27 - BUF (via LOU from ATH) - RB Théodore Lemieux - Quebec City, QC - Kingsfan11
28 - MTL - OL Ross Guillebeaux - Montreal, QC - JamHeronArk
29 - LDN - LB Caruso Robinson - London, ON - JamHeronArk
30 - BOS - DL Brian Alvagardo - Chester, PA - TargetToad

4th Round
The Royals had moved back in hopes of grabbing LB Caruso Robinson, but the Tigers would take him at 29. So the team would settle with OL Xavier Villeneuve to shore up the OL. Many thought the Victors would be taking a QB earlier in the draft, but they skipped out and went for Jimm Kidd in the 4th. With the final pick of the draft, the Boston Independents would take DB Ross McCurtry, who they wanted to take earlier, but ended up getting him with the final pick. 

4th Round Picks
31 - OTT (via IND) - OL Xavier Villeneuve - Gatineau, QC - Kingsfan11
32 - ATH - OL Wolfgang Vander Waal - Providence, RI - Dan O’Mac
33 - LI - WR Larry Mossholder - Hastings-on-Hudson, NY - Dan O’Mac
34 - IND (via OTT) - QB Jimm Kidd - Indianapolis, IN - Scratch
35 - ATH (via BUF) - LB Kelly Walsh - Boston, MA - Darknes
36 - LI (via PRO) - S Nick Dixon - Queens, NY - ItDoesntMatter
37 - LDN (via LOU) - RB Aaron Walken - Brooklyn, NY - JamHeronArk
38 - BUF (via MTL) - OL Jonah Lucas - Paducah, KY - Jayhawk
39 - LDN - DL Peter Mongoose - Erie, PA - QCS
40 - BOS - DB Ross McCurtry - Kalamazoo, MI - TigerFan93