Scouting the Portal: Luke Altmyer, Devin Leary, and More

Steven's Projection:

He's got tools that you can get excited about in his mechanics and intangibles. I think he's shown he's worthy of being a starting QB at a few programs and the transfer to Illinois makes perfect sense to me. The job is by no means his but another year on the sidelines learning the intricacies of a college offense while still getting reps as the lead scout QB helps development more than people think. He's got 3 years of eligibility and will likely spend all 3 as the starter at Illinois but there's enough competition there to give him that little kick he needs to really turn the corner. If he can keep his turnovers down I truly think he'll surprise some people these coming years.

Devin Leary – QB

2022 Team: NC State

2023 Team: Kentucky

QB out of Timber Creek High School, NJ, is leaving NC State with one year of remaining eligibility left. Good frame with solid height and length. When in the pocket he shows good footwork and stays on the balls of his feet while keeping them moving. Shows good, quick release that he can utilize at a variety of different arm angles, while displaying good arm strength to make deep throws and long throws across the field due to his combined natural arm strength and transfer of weight through his hips. When throwing deep and intermediate routes near the sideline, he displays a good ability to put touch on the ball while creating more arc on it to prevent defenders from jumping the route. Shows good poise in the pocket and is able to maneuver to avoid pressure and create more time to operate. Shows good ball placement, velocity, and timing to put the ball where his receiver can make a play on it, while also getting it there fast and on time. Shows confidence in his ability to make throws at every level of the defense, both in the middle of the field and the outsides, while also not being afraid to fit the ball into tight windows.

Of the few negative plays he has, it is caused by him getting lazy with his eyes and staring down his receiver. Overall, he was one of the more consistent QBs to enter the transfer portal, which is why it comes at no surprise that he has committed to the Kentucky Wildcats for his last year of eligibility. He is someone that will just need to refine his progression through his pass plays and better understand how important the use of his eyes can be to creating big plays.

Steven's Projection:

Not much needs to be said here. Skill-wise he's the top QB to enter the portal with the downside of having a year of eligibility left. He'll be a big factor in Kentucky's plan to return to the level of their play during the 2021 season. Leary is a good fit for Kentucky's offense and should have no issues sliding in.

Cane Berrong – TE

2022 Team: Notre Dame

2023 Team: Coastal Carolina

Good frame and arm length. Shows solid muscle definition in his upper half along with broad shoulders. Only played in one game this season and came in to get a few snaps when the game was already out of reach. Shows solid bend when both in a 2-point stance when aligned at H-back and in a 3-point stance when aligned as an inline tight end on the ball. Displays good initial quickness and solid lateral agility when working to stay square in front of a rushing defender in both run and pass blocking situations. Also shows solid hands placement when attempting to slow or stall the defenders rush.

Does not have any clips of him running routes, which limits the ability to understand the full scale of his athletic ability. A mix of adequate hand timing and marginal grip strength allow defender to gain control of his chest and knock him back off the LOS. In the one game he played in, he faced adverse weather affects as there was a thin sheet of snow on the ground which lead to him becoming off balance and ending up on the ground when caught leaning into defenders. While he may not have much film to go off of, he does have the upside of having multiple years of eligibility left on his side which will intrigue a lot of teams. Still needs development in his 3^rd season at the collegiate level.

Steven's Projection:

A commitment to Coastal is nothing to scoff at- even with a new staff this is still one of the top programs in the G5 and could go toe-to-toe with plenty of Power 5 teams. He's got 3 years of eligibility left and likely would've sat another year had he gone to one of the Power 5 teams that offered him. He'll need to prove himself a bit as a pass-catcher but his athleticism and size will give him an edge on plenty of defenders he'll meet in the Sun Belt. A 300-yard season with a few touchdowns would be plenty of progress for the TE who's yet to have a career start at the second level.

Melquan Stovall – WR

2022 Team: Colorado State

2023 Team: Arizona State

Short, stocky frame with adequate length. Displays good acceleration when getting into his route stem when facing press and off-coverage. When facing press defenders, he uses his acceleration and solid bend to get to the edge of the defender, dip his shoulder and burst around the defender to get back onto his route stem. When getting to the top of his route and having to break it off, he is able to drop his hips and create separation. He can take the top off a defense with his good acceleration and top end speed. When the ball is thrown to him, he shows good, reliable hands that he uses to catch away from his body. He will catch with his body when he must and has shown that while it is not his first choice, he can still secure the catch. Displays good physical and mental toughness to elevate with his solid body control over the middle of the field and hold on to the ball while taking contact. Also asked to contribute in the screen game, both as a pass catcher and a blocker, which he shows a good willingness to do so.

When it comes to his ability to create after the catch, he becomes very limited. He does not display any suddenness or burst when attempting to create in short areas. While showing a willingness to block, he does not show the ability to do anything more than disrupt the angle at which the defender is taking to the ball carrier due to his adequate understanding of how to play with good leverage and adequate play strength to control the defender once he gets hands on. Overall, he is a reliable target with good linear athleticism that was underutilized at Colorado State. Has recently committed to Arizona State who felt they needed a receiver that has reliable hands, even though his abilities better translate to the Group of 5 level.

Steven's Projection:

Arizona State has had a big roster makeover since Kenny Dillingham came to town and they've taken so many players in the portal for a reason. Stovall isn't someone you want to be the first option in your pass concepts but he should carve out a role for himself as a reliable slot receiver. His size limits his ability to contribute as a blocker and gives some concern for durability but working exclusively out of the slot helps alleviate this and still put pressure on the defense to deal with him given his ability to run routes with sharp cuts. Might not light up the stat sheet but a good pickup for a program looking to retool their offense.