By Josh Buchanan, JBScouting.com
College Fanz Sports Network Director of Relations Jason Dannelly announced the NAIA Super Six recently with the release of their 2010 NAIA Preview Magazine.
The Super Six is certainly that with many of the biggest names in NAIA, including some players getting NFL looks, highlighting the list.
Number one on the Super Six is Lindenwood running back Denodus O'Bryant who had a breakout freshman season rushing for 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. O'Bryant was named the HAAC Player of the Year after finishing third in the HAAC in rushing yards per game and boasting an impressive 9.6 yards per carry. Despite only playing one season O'Bryant proved he will be among the top players in NAIA for years to come and quickly became one of the most feared players in the NAIA ranks because of his speed, elusiveness, and home run ability.
Dannelly's number two player in NAIA is Northwest Oklahoma State running back Nate Guillory who lacks size at just 5'8 186 pounds but has big play ability and plays even faster than his 4.64 40 he ran for the scouts in the spring. Guillory showed the ability to turn a short yardage play into a big gain. Guillory was named a second team All-American and the CSFL Offensive Player of the Year with 1,679 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground with an impressive 7.1 yards per carry. The former Coffeyville CC transfer started his career at UAB and certainly shows why he was at a FBS program at one point with his quickness, vision, and big play ability.
McKendree (IL) tight end Byron Gettis was third on the Super Six after earning first team All-America honors last season and being named the MSFA Midwest Co-Player of the Year with 472 yards and six touchdowns last season. Gettis was a big play threat for McKendree and one of the most versatile athletes in the NAIA showing he can throw the ball going 1 of 2 for 35 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 93 yards on 12 carries. Keep an eye on Gettis as the senior this season as he is one of the best to come along the NAIA in recent memory.
Fourth on the Super Six is MidAmerica Nazarene linebacker Jake Duren who has attracted the attention of several NFL teams. Duren lacks prototype NFL size but is a very active, disruptive force from his linebacker position with 96 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks last season on his way to earning first team All-HAAC and AFCA All-America honors. Duren also picked off three passes and broke up two more showing that he can cover as well as stop the run effectively. There hasn't been a linebacker as talented as Duren in recent memory and he could possibly play on Sundays next fall.
Usually offensive linemen don't make lists such as these but Union (KY) offensive tackle Quinton Borders came in at fifth on the Super Six and he also boasts good size for the NFL at 6'5, 315 pounds with a body type that scouts look for. Borders is a three-time first team All-Mid-South East selection and earned Mid-South Offensive Player of the Year honors while being named to the AFCA All-America team as well last season. Borders played hurt for much of the season which made his play even more impressive at the fact he was rarely beat and showed dominance that makes him the top returning lineman in NAIA by far for 2010.
Last but not least on the Super Six is Saint Xavier quarterback Anthony Kropp whose 2009 campaign was one of the most impressive around that you will find. Kropp threw for 4,425 yards and a whopping 43 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions while connecting on 61.9 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 107 yards and six touchdowns and led them to a 13-1 record before losing to Sioux Falls in the semi-finals. Kropp was a first-team All-MSFA selection and a College Fan Sports Network honorable mention All-American last season for his impressive play.
These aren't the only big names in NAIA worth keeping an eye on with several outstanding athletes just missing out that deserve mention as well.
A few players who did not make the Super Six but are worth keeping an eye on include Carroll (MT) tight end Justin Bartlett, who is the number two tight end on the list but likely will transition to fullback or h-back in the NFL because of his lack of ideal size for a tight end but his ability to block, catch the ball out of the backfield, and pick up short yardage on the ground. Bartlett was an AFCA All-American with 805 yards and six touchdowns receiving last season.
One offensive duo to watch is Walsh running back Clinton Blossomgame and wide receiver Joe Morgan. Morgan's numbers aren't overly impressive with just 664 yards and four touchdowns but he is a big play threat with blazing 4.3 speed who has attracted heavy attention from NFL scouts. Morgan is a former Illinois transfer whose numbers would be off the chart if Walsh didn't have a primarily run first offense. Blossomgame was an honorable mention All-American with 1,315 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.
Wide receiver is another position that might lack big names but is certainly loaded with talent including Ottawa 's Clarence Anderson, Saint Xavier's Mike Maher, Lambuth's Roderick Jefferson, Belhaven's Cordario Calvin, and Sioux Falls' Jon Ryan.
Jefferson has attracted a lot of NFL attention this spring after catching 74 passes for 1,160 yards and 12 touchdowns since transferring from Northwest CC last season. He will transition to tight end at the next level due to his size and lack of ideal speed for receiver (4.83).
Another player attracting NFL attention is Belhaven (MS) wideout Cordario Calvin who boasts good size (6'2, 210), and speed (4.6) and was an instant star as a possession receiver since transferring from UL Monroe. Calvin hauled in 85 passes for 1,028 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.
The defensive line is also overflowing with talent with Black Hills State 's Wacey Coleman, William Penn's Dale Woods, and Montana Tech's Stephen Burns.
Coleman first team All-America honors and DAC Player of the Year honors with 61 tackles and nine sacks in 2009.
Woods earned second team All-America honors and MSFA Mid-West Co-Player of the Year with 74 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks last season.
Last but not least Burns was an AFCA All-American last season with 69 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 11.5 sacks last year. Burns, like the others, was a highly disruptive force and wreaked havoc in backfields all season long.

