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Don't Call Me A One-Year Wonder
Written by Daniel Mogollon    Thursday, 24 April 2008 05:03    PDF Print E-mail
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Devin Thomas of Michigan St., Gary Guyton of Georgia Tech and Chris Johnson of East Carolina answer the one-year wonder question.

“I’m not a one hit wonder,” Gary Guyton flatly stated in a recent interview with the NFL Draft Bible. This former Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech recorded 29 tackles as junior and saw that number take a quantum leap to 78 as senior, including five sacks and 13.5 tackles for a loss.

The one-year wonder question is something several prospects must answer and it could affect their value this weekend at the NFL Draft in Radio City. Talent evaluators will poke and prod, looking for any chink in the armor, and the one-year wonder phenomenon is a legitimate concern. Teams want to see productivity and consistency—two factors that are a general managers’ security blanket. It’s riskier to take a guy who has had only one productive season. Not many fault Matt Millen for taking Mike Williams with the 10th pick in the 2005 Draft—just that the former Trojan was the third straight receiver he selected in the top ten. But no one questioned the “value” of selecting the record setting wide out from So-Cal.

One needs to look no further than Devin Thomas to see that this question is truly in the forefront of NFL teams’ minds.

“One of the biggest things they want to know is do I feel like I’m a one-hit wonder, a one-year wonder,” former Michigan St. Devin Thomas said when we asked what question has he heard the most when speaking with NFL teams. “Obviously with the performance I had this year, this past season was huge and I didn’t have much production, if any at all, the first year. I had to let people realize the coaching staff was different and I was behind three seniors (2006). So I really was put in a bad situation to be able to come in and play right away. I had to wait my turn and I did that. When I had my opportunity I really showcased my talents.”

Opportunity is a big theme from the player’s perspective.

“I had one year to do it,” Guyton said. “So, if you give a guy one year to do it and he does well at it...I think he’s bound for greatness.”

Even though Guyton started 12 games as a junior, he only played one season at the weakside linebacker position. It’s the position which best suits his speed and athleticism and is also where most NFL personnel people envision him playing at the next level. Guyton believes he is only scratching the surface and will only continue to improve.

“Being a WILL backer, you’re more involved in the play. Being at SAM, you have to deal more with the trenches…(offensive) tackles, tight ends, you have to deal with more people,” said the former Yellow Jacket. “Just being able to run freely at the WILL definitely jumped up my stats a lot.”

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Photo Credit: College Press Box (East Carolina)
Another four-year player who saw an astronomical jump in his numbers as a senior was running back Chris Johnson. The former East Carolina Pirate increased his rushing total from 314 yards as a junior to 1,423 in his final campaign, with 684 yards as sophomore his previous career-high.

“I feel this year the coaches believed in me more, gave me the ball more and I was able to show my talent,” Johnson explained. “The biggest thing was my offensive line really stepped up and opened some holes for me. I feel this was the first year I was able to show my talent.”

For those who may be wary of using a first round or even second round choice, I give you another running back named Johnson.

Before LJ rumbled for 2,087 yards and 20 touchdowns for the Nittany Lions, he languished in Happy Valley rushing for 337 yards on a mere 71 carries. Chris Johnson had 78 carries in his junior campaign.

“The one-year wonder thing is kind of funny to me, because I know I am going to continue to grow with my success and become an even better player than I am now,” Thomas said with a laugh. The players understand the criticism, but Thomas does admit to using it as motivation.

“That’s just something I am going to add to the fuel. I always keep a chip on my shoulder. I’ve had a long route getting here. Nothing has ever been given to me. I’ve had to fight for everything I’ve earned.”

The former Spartan, who was limited to just six receptions as a sophomore, his first in East Lansing, recorded 79 grabs for 1,260 yards and eight touchdowns in 2007—a whopping 1,300 percent increase. Thomas out-did Plaxico Burress, Desmond Mason, Andre “Bad Moon” Rison and former No. 2 overall selection Carlos Rogers with his junior performance.

Thomas believes that chip, that fuel, has already paid off and will continue to do so as he plays for pay this fall.

“It’s just like the situation I’m in now, maybe becoming the first receiver taken. When I came into the combine they didn’t have me top five (among receivers), so I really worked myself from the bottom to the top. I’m one of those guys that puts things on my shoulders—have a chip—I play with that aggression and that tenacity on the field. With the one-year wonder thing, I’m going to take that to the NFL and showcase my skills. Hopefully by the end of the year, with the accolades that come with that and the success of my team, I’ll show I’m not a one-year wonder.”

Guyton, Thomas and Johnson are three of the most physically gifted athletes in the 2008 NFL Draft, which is why it is no surprise that they all stood out among their peers at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Would it had have been nice to see them have more than one stellar campaign on their resumes? Sure, but that should not be held against them come draft day. All three have first round talent and could end up being better pros than they were collegians.

Fear not NFL—they are not the next Baha Men, Tag Team, Vanilla Ice or Right Said Fred—their best hits are yet to come.

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