Alfie Dogs Midseason 2025 top 10

Ruben Bain

Edge - Miami

• Nuclear first-step explosion that consistently beats tackles' hands to the punch, creating immediate angles that collapse pockets before quarterbacks finish their drops.
• Heavyweight knockout power in his hands that jolts blockers backwards on contact, establishing leverage advantages that make recovery nearly impossible for offensive linemen.
• Relentless pursuit motor that treats fourth quarter reps like first series snaps, chasing down scrambling quarterbacks and tracking ball carriers from the backside.
• Technical arsenal featuring a devastating swim move, overwhelming bull rush, and improving counter game that he's begun chaining together with veteran savvy.
• Elite flexibility and bend for a 270-pound frame, allowing him to corner at extreme angles while maintaining balance and speed through contact.
• Natural leverage generator at 6'3" who consistently wins the pad level battle, turning taller tackles into turnstiles by attacking their chest plates.
• Instinctive run defender who diagnoses plays quickly, maintains gap discipline, and shows surprising range when scraping down the line of scrimmage.
• Scheme versatility to align from wide-9 through 5-technique and kick inside over guards, maintaining effectiveness regardless of alignment or assignment

Fernando Mendoza

QB - Indiana

• Outstanding accuracy and ball placement shine brightest on layered throws into the red zone, where he consistently drops passes over linebackers and under safeties with precise trajectory control.
• Processes information quickly pre-snap and post-snap, diagnosing blitz packages before they arrive and immediately identifying vulnerable matchups in coverage - his 63.5% completion rate versus pressure speaks volumes.
• Phenomenal pocket presence allows him to stand tall against incoming rushers, keeping his eyes downfield and delivering strikes even when protection crumbles around him.
• Quick-twitch release gets the ball out rapidly on RPOs and timing routes, enabling him to operate Indiana's system with ruthless efficiency despite lacking elite arm talent.
• Toughness isn't questioned after absorbing relentless punishment at Cal, where he took hit after hit behind a turnstile offensive line yet kept coming back for more.
• Excels versus the blitz by anticipating unblocked rushers and exploiting man coverage, throwing 15 touchdowns without an interception against seven-man pressures over two seasons.
• Natural feel for manipulating coverage with his eyes and pump fakes, creating throwing windows that shouldn't exist and trusting receivers to win contested situations.
• Functional mobility extends plays when structure breaks down, showing enough scrambling ability to climb the pocket and find checkdowns rather than forcing into coverage

Makai Lemon

WR - USC

• Lightning-quick acceleration off the line with piston-like leg drive that devours defensive cushion before corners can properly react or adjust their positioning.
• Technical route craftsman who manipulates defender leverage through subtle tempo changes and precise break points that create consistent windows for his quarterback.
• Nuanced understanding of zone coverage concepts allows him to consistently locate soft spots between levels and present reliable targets in traffic.
• Natural ball-plucking ability with excellent hand-eye coordination that enables him to secure catches away from his frame even through contact.
• Exceptional change-of-direction skills in open space that transform routine completions into explosive gains with ankle-breaking lateral cuts and sudden direction changes.
• Advanced spatial awareness and route-running intelligence despite his young age, showing veteran-like understanding of how to exploit defensive positioning and leverage.
• Impressive body control at the catch point allows him to contort mid-air and make difficult grabs on throws outside his optimal catching radius.
• Valuable special teams contributor with natural vision and burst as a returner, demonstrating ability to set up blocks and create opportunities

Mansoor Delaney

CB - LSU

• Processed spatial relationships at an elite level, showing rare ability to anticipate route combinations before they materialize - was routinely a step ahead in zone assignments.
• Changes direction like his cleats are on swivels - shows exceptional fluidity when flipping his hips and exploding out of his pedal without gathering steps.
• Brings cornerback quickness with a safety's mentality against the run - will trigger downhill with conviction and wrap tackle through the thighs with surprising pop.
• Plays with controlled aggression at the catch point, displaying veteran timing when attacking the receiver's hands without drawing flags.
• Demonstrates remarkable mental processing speed - diagnoses screens and misdirection plays almost instantly, rarely takes false steps against window dressing.
• Brings valuable position versatility having cross-trained at boundary corner, nickel, and deep safety - possesses football intelligence to handle multiple roles.
• Shows natural instincts reading quarterbacks' intentions in zone coverage - consistently baits throws and jumps passing lanes with calculated timing.
• Brings legitimate scheme versatility - thrived in both Virginia Tech's zone-heavy system and LSU's more man-oriented approach without missing a beat.

Carnell Tate

WR - Ohio State

• Advanced route technician who sinks his hips with purpose and creates consistent separation at the stem - his smooth, efficient movement and ability to sell vertical then break with explosion demonstrates elite understanding of zone coverage manipulation.
• Displays exceptional body control when adjusting to off-target throws; contorts mid-air with remarkable flexibility while maintaining tracking and concentration through the catch point, finding soft spots instinctively when plays break down.
• Technical hands catcher who plucks away from his frame with confident fingers, rarely allowing the ball to reach his body and showing natural mitts in traffic with reliable hands (3 drops, 5.4% rate).
• Routes have veteran-level tempo variation and he understands how to set up defenders with subtle head fakes that create crucial separation windows, working back to quarterbacks excellently in scramble situations.
• Thrives in the intermediate area where timing matters most; shows uncanny awareness of soft spots in zone coverage and when to sit down versus when to continue moving with professional-level understanding.
• Deep ball tracking is artistic - consistently positions his body between defender and ball, tracks over either shoulder, and maintains speed through the catch process.
• Plays with controlled aggression after the catch; won't dance unnecessarily but shows enough wiggle to make the first man miss before getting north-south with purpose, maximizing yards after catch efficiently.
• Outstanding blocker with professional-level technique who understands leverage, body positioning, and sustaining contact - competitive as hell in contested situations with toughness

David Bailey

Edge - Texas Tech

• First-step explosion borders on elite - consistently the first defender moving at the snap, allowing him to disrupt plays before they develop and dictate tempo against slower-footed tackles.
• Possesses rare athletic traits evidenced by making Bruce Feldman's 2025 Freak List - Bailey bench pressed 405 pounds and squatted 550. He has rare speed for a guy at 6-3, 250, having hit 22.16 mph. His new teammate Romello Height is almost as Freaky, having clocked 21.82 mph at 240 pounds.
• Shows exceptional bend and ankle flexibility around the edge that can't be taught - maintains speed through his turns and shows ability to flatten to the quarterback without losing momentum.
• Coverage instincts surpass most edge defenders, displaying natural feel in zone drops with proper depth and spatial awareness, giving him three-down potential at the next level.
• Demonstrates violent hands when engaging blockers - quick to disengage with effective swipe, rip, and club techniques that maximize his leverage advantages against taller tackles.
• Motor runs scalding hot with relentless backside pursuit - plays through the whistle with urgency and shows the dog mentality coaches covet when chasing down plays from behind.
• Scheme versatile weapon who projects effectively in multiple fronts - can play with hand in dirt as 4-3 end or stand up as 3-4 outside linebacker depending on defensive call.
• Consistent tackler with impressive strike zone - wraps up with authority and doesn't rely on arm tackles, generating significant stopping power through his lower half when finishing plays.

Cashius Howell

Edge - Texas A&M

• Shows advanced hand-fighting technique for his experience level, consistently winning the leverage battle with active hands and violent swipes.
• Motor runs hot from snap one to the final whistle, pursuing plays across the formation with relentless energy.
• Demonstrates impressive scheme versatility, dropping into coverage against tight ends while maintaining awareness in run fits.
• Length plays as a weapon both rushing the passer and setting the edge, using long arms to control blockers.
• Football intelligence shines in complex situations, rarely fooled by misdirection or caught sleeping on RPO action.
• Natural bend around the arc allows him to flatten the corner and threaten the quarterback's back shoulder consistently.
• Developed multiple pass-rush moves including an effective inside counter that keeps tackles guessing on their sets.
• Lightning-quick first step creates immediate separation from tackles, with the ankle flexibility to bend around the edge like a whip

Kayden McDonald

DI - Ohio State

• Elite space-eater who routinely occupies double teams and still makes plays through multiple blockers
• Devastating anchor strength allows him to hold the point against any center-guard combination in football
• Collapses the pocket from inside with sheer power, creating nowhere for quarterbacks to step up
• Shows incredible play strength to literally throw 315-pound centers aside like they're blocking sleds
• Tracks the football exceptionally well through traffic and knows when to shed blocks for tackles
• Surprisingly nimble feet for his size allow him to slant and stunt effectively across formations
• Wins leverage battles consistently with low pad level and tremendous leg drive through contact points
• Brings championship pedigree and proven ability to perform when the stakes matter most in January

Chris Bell

WR - Louisville 

• Built like a linebacker playing receiver at 220 pounds with the frame to punish smaller defensive backs
• 4.4 speed creates a devastating size-speed combination that defensive coordinators constantly have to account for
• Shows advanced release package with mixed tempo footwork that gets corners turning their hips prematurely
• Tracks deep balls with natural feel and concentration, maintaining focus through contact at the catch point
• Transforms into a running back after the catch with acceleration that erases pursuit angles from secondary defenders
• Uses physicality and surprising deceleration to create separation on comeback routes and curl patterns effectively
• Stacks press-man corners with consistency when given free releases, threatening to run by defenders vertically
• Dense frame makes him nearly impossible to arm tackle, requiring multiple defenders to bring him down consistently

A.J. Haulcy

Safety - LSU

• Coverage instincts in zone schemes are outstanding, reading quarterback progressions and breaking on throws with anticipation that consistently puts him in position to make plays on the football.
• Ball skills translate to turnovers with seven interceptions and 18 passes defended across his final two Houston seasons, showing proper timing and reliable hands when attacking the catch point.
• Diagnostic ability allows him to play fast without gambling, maintaining proper depth in coverage while trusting his preparation to jump routes when the opportunity presents itself clearly.
• Positional versatility provides defensive flexibility, having logged significant snaps at free safety, strong safety, and in the box across three different programs and schemes without looking lost.
• Competes with consistent edge and intensity, playing through the whistle and hunting the football on every snap regardless of score or situation throughout the game.
• Experience level separates him from most prospects, having played over 2,100 defensive snaps across Mountain West, Big 12, and SEC competition that exposed him to diverse offenses and accelerated his development.
• Takes intelligent pursuit angles and shows the discipline to maintain gap integrity in run defense, understanding his role within the structure rather than freelancing for highlight plays.
• Built solidly at 222 pounds with functional strength to hold up against physical slot receivers and contribute in run support without getting washed out of plays