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Ranking the top non-FBS players, By Bruce Feldman, ESPN
1. Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
2. Charles Deas, DT, Shaw (N.C.)
3. Brad Sorensen, QB, Southern Utah
After high school, the California native served a two-year LDS mission in Spain before beginning his college career at BYU. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder redshirted in 2009, then transferred to San Bernardino Valley College and started to blossom. He completed 60 percent of his passes and had a 17:4 TD-to-INT ratio.
But it’s been at Southern Utah where Sorensen has started to turn some heads, as he made big strides over the final six games of the season for the Thunderbirds, connecting on over 76 percent of his passes and recording a 14:3 TD-to-INT mark while throwing for a school-record 3,231 yards for the Great West Conference champs. Southern Utah offensive coordinator Paul Peterson has a pretty interesting perspective on the quarterback after having started ahead of a similarly sized quarterback at Boston College: Matt Ryan.
“They’re actually very similar,” says Peterson. “Brad’s got terrific arm strength and the same quick release and he’s probably a little bit better athlete.” Peterson said the key for his protege is to continue to get better at taking what the defense gives him.
4. Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State
5. Trumain Johnson, CB, Montana
At 6-foot-3, 198 pounds, Johnson has intriguing size for a corner. The former high school QB also has displayed some uncanny playmaking skills as evidenced by his 13 career INTs. In 2010, he had four INTs and took two of those back for touchdowns.
6. Brandon Williams, DT, Missouri Southern
7. Brent Russell, DT, Georgia Southern
8. Rishaw Johnson, OG, Cal (Penn.) University
9. Asa Jackson, CB, Cal Poly
A four-year starter whose 4.40 40-time at Cal Poly’s NFL Junior Day in the spring was the fastest time on the team, Jackson is one of those guys that makes you wonder how the bigger schools missed on him.
He was an outstanding quarterback in high school at Christian Brothers High in Sacramento. He had legit speed, having qualified for the state in the 400-meter and 4x400-meter relay. Grades? He made the honor roll seven times. Background? Both of his parents are doctors and, according to his bio, he nurses abandoned and injured penguins back to health through the Arctic ASPCA.
Umm, OK.
He took a visit to Notre Dame and Georgetown, but both trips were for track. He reportedly thought about walking on at those schools for track before a Cal Poly assistant sold him on their football program. That’s worked out pretty well for the Mustangs. His coach at Cal Poly, Tim Walsh, has told reporters that Jackson is the best cornerback he’s ever had in 25 years. The 5-foot-11, 189-pounder is also a terrific punt returner, averaging almost 13 yards per return in 2010.
10 (tie). Andrew Pierce, RB, Delaware
10 (tie). Bo Levi Mitchell, QB, Eastern Washington
The former SMU QB no longer has standout running back Taiwan Jones in the backfield, but he still has a good offensive line and three very big wideouts, led by 6-foot-5 Brandon Kaufman, to pile up some big offensive numbers. The 6-foot-2 Texan had a strong first season at EWU, throwing for almost 3,500 yards to go with 37 TDs. His team will get tested early with three consecutive road games to start the year, including the opener at the Washington Huskies
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