2009 draftnikking

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://profootballexperts.scout.com/2/751003.html

Some cat named Steuber lists his top 19 (either a number he found in a fortune cookie or the number of fingers on all three hands combined) draft prospects for 2009. You need to play cursor games in order to read the one line blurbs which all start with the witty "Steuber says..." :whip2:

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://profootballexperts.scout.com/2/752884.htmlScout Q&A: Keeping Up With Michael Crabtree

By Chris Steuber
Scout.com NFL Draft Analyst
Posted May 6, 2008

After a spectacular freshman campaign, Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree looks to continue his dominance in college football this season. Scout.com’s Chris Steuber spoke with Crabtree and asked him about his days at Dallas Carter, what WRs he patterns his game after and if there's a chance he may leave school early for the NFL.

Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree enjoyed one of the finest freshman campaigns in the history of college football and went on to be a unanimous first team All American and the winner of the Biletnikoff and Paul Warfield Award, which is given to the nation’s top college receiver.

As a redshirt freshman, Crabtree amassed 134 receptions for 1,962 yards and 22 touchdowns, which is unheard of. But in a pass-oriented offense where the receiver’s production is crucial, Crabtree was the beneficiary of many Graham Harrell passes and flourished.

With Crabtree’s spectacular freshman season behind him, Scout.com’s Chris Steuber asked him about his playing days at Dallas Carter and why he decided to attend Texas Tech, what receivers he patterns his game after and if there’s a chance this draft-eligible player declares for the NFL Draft after this season.

Chris Steuber: I remember watching Friday Night Lights, and in the championship game, Odessa Permian played Dallas Carter. You attended Carter High School – what was that like?

Michael Crabtree: It was pretty cool. It was a great football environment to play in.

CS: Is Texas high school football portrayed correctly in the movies, or is it different?

Crabtree: It’s really competitive where I’m from. In the Carter area, there are a lot of people supporting the team. It’s a great place to play, and it’s really exciting.

CS: You played multiple positions at Carter, but primarily at quarterback. How did you wind up becoming a wide receiver?

Crabtree: I was a receiver my sophomore year [at Carter]. I was basically a receiver my whole life; I played quarterback and receiver. When I left high school and attended Tech, I wanted to play receiver.

CS: Did you like one position over the other?

Crabtree: I prefer being a receiver. It’s a real fun position, and I’ve learned a lot.

CS: What went into your decision to go to Texas Tech?

Crabtree: They throw the ball, and I wanted to be a receiver. They say that this system only has system players. It doesn’t matter what the system is, if you’re a football player, you can ball.

CS: Was there another school that you were strongly considering?

Crabtree: Kansas was the other school, but everyone was saying that Kansas wasn’t good. Everyone was telling me that Kansas is just a basketball school; don’t go there, don’t do that.

CS: They finished 12 – 1 last year and won the Orange Bowl.

Crabtree: Yeah, I know.

CS: How would you describe your relationship with Coach Leach? He seems to have a lot of confidence in your abilities for you to go out there and put up the numbers you did last season.

Crabtree: Yeah, definitely; Coach and I are really cool. He’s really good with the plays, and he’s all business on the field. He jokes around a little, but on the field he tells you what he wants to see. If you don’t do it, then you don’t play. I just do whatever he wants me to do.

CS: Last year, as a freshman, you had 134 receptions for 1,962 yards and 22 touchdowns; that’s video game-like numbers. How much are those numbers based on the system you’re in compared to the talent you have?

Crabtree: I think it’s just based on hard work. It’s not the system. As a football player, you just go out and play, and that’s what I did.

CS: After a season like that, you proved that you’re a true playmaker, but are there some aspects of your game that still need to be improved?

Crabtree: There are still aspects of my game that I have to improve. I have to improve some of the physical things like my speed and strength. Plus, I’m trying to get smarter on the field and to understand the game better. The more you know the game, the easier it is.

CS: What was your favorite game from last season? It doesn’t have to be a game where you had a career day, although you only had two games where you didn’t record 100 yards receiving. But was there one game that you got pumped up for?

Crabtree: I’d say the Oklahoma State game, even though we lost. It was the game where I missed the game-winning catch. That was probably the roughest game I played in.

CS: Why was that your favorite game?

Crabtree: We were just going back and forth. It was just a classic shootout. That was probably one of the best games I played in.

CS: How is your relationship with your quarterback, Graham Harrell? He seems to have a lot of confidence in you, and you always seem to be in the right position to make a play.

Crabtree: Yeah, we’re real cool. We talk even if I don’t get a ball thrown to me the whole day. We have a good relationship like that. We can just talk and be cool. Our relationship is pretty good.

CS: How would you describe your game? Is there a player or players you pattern your game after?

Crabtree: I’d say I’m like Jerry Rice with a little T.O., mix a little Chad Johnson in there, and top it off with a bit of Randy Moss. That’s my game.

CS: Now that’s what I call a wide receiver.

Crabtree: No doubt. I’m trying to do what they do and more. I’m trying to put a little running back into my game too. I’m trying to get more physical, more strength; that way I would be harder to tackle. I have a lot of stuff coming out, you’ll see.

CS: I came across an interesting music video entitled, “Crank that Crabtree” on the Internet. What’s that all about?

Crabtree: They do that to get crunk; to get the crowd going.

CS: So do you have your own fan club at the games?

Crabtree: I guess you can say that; it’s crazy. I couldn’t even explain it to you. You will have to come to a game and see it one time.

CS: Do they do some kind of crab dance?

Crabtree: They’re all dancing, and they got the crab claws; they got everything.

CS: Do you get in on it? Do you do a little dance in the endzone?

Crabtree: I do what I feel at the moment, but I do it with them sometimes on the sideline. I try to get everyone crunk.

CS: Do you talk a lot on the field?

Crabtree: Yeah, I talk, but I really don’t talk unless somebody else starts it up. It usually starts when somebody starts with me, and then I’ll start talking from then on.

CS: Do most of the players you go up against talk trash?

Crabtree: Yeah, they do, and I just tell them to be quiet. They all talk noise and make you mad. I get mad, and it makes me want to beat them. It just makes me go that much harder.

CS: You mentioned that you’d like to understand the game better. How do you think your route running is at this time?

Crabtree: I think my route running is good, but I can always get better… [Pause]… I think it’s pretty good right now.

CS: Is there a particular route that you like to run the most?

Crabtree: I don’t really have a favorite route, but if I had to choose I’d say a fade route; just throw it up and I’ll get it.

CS: What is your best attribute as a player?

Crabtree: I’d say my hands.

CS: Your hands led you to one of the most prestigious awards last year. What was it like to win the Biletnikoff Award?

Crabtree: It was great. It was a great experience being up there with all of the All Americans, joking around, and seeing who was going to win. It was a great time, and it was cool to win the award.

CS: If you keep posting numbers like you did last season, a Heisman Trophy may be in your future. Do you ever think about being a Heisman Trophy winner?

Crabtree: Yeah, I think about winning the Heisman. I think about it, but I try not to dwell on it. I’m thinking about my team this year. We’re trying to win every game this year.

CS: That will definitely help your Heisman credentials if you guys win every game.

Crabtree: That’s what I’m saying, it will fall in place if we win every game and I do what I’m supposed to do. But if I don’t do what I have to do, then I don’t deserve it.

CS: Even though you just finished your first year playing ball at Texas Tech, after being redshirted your first season, you’re eligible for the NFL Draft after this year. Have you given any thought to your future at the next level?

Crabtree: Yeah, I’d be lying if I said I haven’t, but I try not to think about it. When that time comes I’ll make that decision.

CS: Do a lot of people ask you about it?

Crabtree: [Sigh]… Yeah, I get asked that question everyday.

CS: Well, pretty soon you will be taking the field everyday at practice. Looking ahead to this upcoming season, what are your goals and what do you want to accomplish?

Crabtree: I’m looking to do great things. I’m going to work as hard as I can this summer, and get ready for this season and give it all that I got. Whatever the results are, that’s what they are, but I want to get us to a BCS game.

[shirtsleeve]

http://profootballexperts.scout.com/2/751003.html

Some cat named Steuber lists his top 19 (either a number he found in a fortune cookie or the number of fingers on all three hands combined) draft prospects for 2009. You need to play cursor games in order to read the one line blurbs which all start with the witty "Steuber says..." :whip2:

Isn't 19 really a big Zero in Cribbage?:shrug:

[Box_O_Rocks]

Isn't 19 really a big Zero in Cribbage?:shrug:At least it's not jailbait. :coffee:

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=407958NFL Draft Dish: Top 10 prospects for 2009

Posted: May 4, 2008

Although the 2008 NFL draft just finished, fans and scouts alike already are looking ahead to the '09 draft. We'll be breaking down tons of film in the summer, but as we sit here today, here is a quick look at the top 10 prospects for next year's draft:

1. Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois, 6-0/205. Many would expect the younger brother of San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis to live in Vernon's shadow, but by this time next year NFL fans will be referring to Vernon as "Vontae's brother." Vontae, a junior this fall, has rare size, speed and athleticism. A number of NFL scouts told us that he would have been the No. 1 cornerback selected in the '08 draft had he been eligible and might've been selected in the top five overall. He is a rare athlete with excellent competitiveness, instincts and consistently produces at the level of his talent.

2. Brian Cushing, OLB, USC, 6-4/245. Cushing has not received the media attention of fellow USC linebacker Ray Maualuga (No. 7 on this list) but is regarded as a better NFL prospect. Cushing has shown the versatility and athleticism to start at defensive end and outside linebacker in college. He is a smooth and fluid athlete and has the elite speed (4.55 seconds in the 40-yard dash) to chase plays down all over the field. He is a major pass-rush weapon when playing defensive end. If his '08 season is as good as his junior campaign, Cushing could be the No. 1-overall pick.

3. Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State, 6-1/210. Jenkins almost entered the '08 draft and likely would have been a first-round pick if he had. Still, returning for his senior season will enable him to round out his game and challenge to be the No. 1 cornerback drafted. He is tall and athletic but must do a better job of playing the ball instead of focusing on making the tackle after the catch. Jenkins' draft status could be hindered by the fact Ohio State could have five or six players drafted in the '09 first round, so scouts could knock him as looking better than he is because he is surrounded by such elite talent.

4. Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss, 6-5/320. Oher made the correct decision to return to school for his senior season. He is no doubt a premier athlete with rare footwork and athleticism. He was the subject of the Michael Lewis book, "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game," and was reported to have trouble learning -- the book was the worst thing that could have happened to Oher's football career. Oher now has a big hurdle to overcome during pre-draft interviews with NFL coaches and GMs. That said, he has the athletic ability, size, strength and competitive streak to become a franchise NFL left tackle.

5. Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State, 6-6/260. Pettigrew didn't enter the '08 draft because he received some erroneous feedback saying he would've been a second-round pick. Most scouts who have evaluated him on him say he is/was a sure-fire first-round pick, some going as far to say he could be the best tight end to enter the NFL in a decade. Pettigrew is huge with natural hands, great athleticism and deceptive speed to make plays after the catch. He got into some off-field trouble in the spring and must prove that it was a one-time incident.

6. Andre' Smith, OT, Alabama, 6-5/340. Smith, a junior to-be, has fast become one of the best offensive linemen in college football. He has the size, strength, athleticism and competitiveness to be a high pick in the '09 draft. He must avoid falling prey to what gets many big offensive linemen -- eating himself out of the first round because few elite left tackles are 330-plus pounds. If he improves in '08 and shows up at the NFL Scouting Combine in good shape and under 340 pounds, Smith should be a high pick.

7. Ray Maualuga, ILB, USC, 6-3/250. Maualuga has been the center of attention since, as a freshman, taking senior Oscar Lua's job and then blowing up ballcarriers all over the field. Maualuga is super strong with rare competitiveness and uncommon speed; he flies around the field with reckless abandon, delivering a ton of big hits. To be a top-10 pick, he must stay under control and tackle more consistently and ease NFL teams' concerns about some off-field concerns.

8. Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma, 6-5/350. Robinson shocked us when he did not enter the '08 draft because he widely was viewed as the No. 1 guard prospect. He is huge and plays with rare aggressiveness, physically dominating defensive linemen once he gets a hold of them. Weight is a big issue for offensive tackles, but it's not as big a deal for guards so long as they keep dominating defensive tackles.

9. James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State, 6-3/245. Laurinaitis will be amongst a large number of Ohio State players drafted in the first round of the '09 draft. Unlike many players who receive a ton of publicity early in their college careers, Laurinaitis actually lives up to the hype on film. Laurinaitis lacks Cushing's elite athleticism but is just as productive. Laurinaitis will start early in his NFL career.

10. Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU, 6-5/292. Jackson is not as good as ex-teammate Glenn Dorsey (No. 5-overall pick this year) but is highly regarded. Jackson is not an explosive edge rusher along the lines of a Dwight Freeney but has the size, strength, athleticism and competitiveness to be a good strongside end in a 4-3 defense or play either end spot in any 3-4 scheme.

Former NFL scout Russ Lande evaluates college players for the Sporting News' Pro Football War Room and GM Jr. Scouting LLC.

[Hawg73]

I'm glad that Tyson Jackson got a mention, because two-way defensive ends are pretty rare these days and that is what Jackson is. A great athlete, but I admit I don't know anything about his work habits etc.,etc. All I know is every time I watched LSU to check out Glenn Dorsey, I saw Tyson doing some good stuff. He is NFL ready now.

That whole DL is loaded again with a kid named Marlon Favorite and another name Ricky Jean-Francois who can play. Throw in Darry Beckwith, who might not be huge, but can play him some linebacker and a huge safety named Harry Coleman who is ridiculous.

Expect a half dozen or so Tigers to be top defensive prospects when they are draft eligible. They might not have a QB at the moment, but that team is loaded everywhere else.

[ctpatsfan77]

5. Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State, 6-6/260. Pettigrew didn't enter the '08 draft because he received some erroneous feedback saying he would've been a second-round pick. Most scouts who have evaluated him on him say he is/was a sure-fire first-round pick, some going as far to say he could be the best tight end to enter the NFL in a decade. Pettigrew is huge with natural hands, great athleticism and deceptive speed to make plays after the catch. He got into some off-field trouble in the spring and must prove that it was a one-time incident.


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:D

[Box_O_Rocks]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

:DYou know you want it. >):dbanana:

[patsin°°]

Bump


get this thing going again.

[Dwight Schrute]

It's in our NCAA football fans hands now.

Keep us informed of some future Pats!

[mooseontheloose]

Unless I missed it, he's retarded for not having Vontae Davis in the top 19.

[Box_O_Rocks]

From Fresno State

http://www.fresnobee.com/336/story/799746.htmlHIGHLIGHTS

Doing his best impersonation of New England Patriots slot receiver Wes Welker, shifty Bulldogs receiver Devon Wylie maneuvered his way into the heart of the defense for a 10-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brandstater during 11-on-11 drills.

At 5 feet, 9 inches and 183 pounds, Wylie is almost the same size as Welker (Wylie is 2 pounds lighter). He also has a bit of Welker's shiftiness.

Wylie is hoping to show he has the NFL receiver's sure-handed ability, too.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/ci_10209538UCLA football wants to be special

By Brian Dohn, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/15/2008 12:00:00 AM PDT

UCLA's defense is expected to be strong, but scoring doesn't figure to come easy for the Bruins.

So when first-year coach Rick Neuheisel put together his coaching staff, he bucked a college football trend. Whereas most college programs assign a position coach to coach special teams as well, Neuheisel hired Frank GanszJr., whose sole responsibility is to coach special teams. And the Bruins are concentrating heavily on special teams during training camp.

"I thought (special teams) could be a place where we can make a difference," Neuheisel said. "I thought that our games are going to be close if we play well, and in close games those special teams plays are huge.

"We're going to have to play very, very intelligently with the field position, and hopefully our fans will have a keen appreciation for special teams because it helps win games."

UCLA had strong special teams last season, with placekicker Kai Forbath making 25 of 30 field goal attempts and Matt Slater, now with the New England Patriots, returning three kickoffs for touchdowns.

Punter Aaron Perez tied a school record last season with 91 punts, and had 35 downed inside the 20-yard line, and the coverage teams were adequate.

But Gansz, who spent the past two seasons working with Neuheisel on the Baltimore Ravens' coaching staff, is transforming the attitude of UCLA's special teams players.

"Before, people didn't want to be on special teams, but now they want to
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get out there," Forbath said. "His meetings are really focused and he has everyone's attention. If you (aren't focused), then he'll pick you out. He checks people all the time. Everyone is paying attention a lot more in these meetings than in the past."

And if someone blows an assignment on special teams?

"You'll be yelled at and you'll have to give a reason why you did what you did, and why it was wrong and what is the correct thing," UCLA safety and special teams player Aaron Ware said. "And you have to use all the correct vocabulary words. It's like an L-SAT class. It's crazy."

Oregon State is the only other Pacific-10 Conferernce school with a coach devoted only to special teams.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nilesstar.com/articles/2008/08/16/sports/ndsports2.txtWestern Michigan tight ends tall and talented


Friday, August 15, 2008 5:31 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO - Wide receivers work on routes, whether it is alone with their quarterback, one-on-one with a defensive back or in a team drill but this corps is not the lone option for a signal caller, especially in today's game. When you talk about receivers, you have to include tight ends as well.

Blocking is an important aspect of a tight end's game, but it is not the only aspect.

A tight end pulls double duty in an offensive scheme. They must, at times, sell the block before releasing into their pattern. Usually it is a linebacker that picks up the tight end in the flat or on the edge. Tight ends in the passing patterns cause mismatches due to their size.

That is definitely the case at WMU. There is not one tight end below 6-feet-2. The tallest is freshman Jeff Zipfel at 6-6. Four Bronco tight ends come in at 6-5, including John Mackey Award Nominee Branden Ledbetter.

Coming in right behind Ledbetter is junior Matt Stevens at 6-4. Ledbetter and Stevens can be seen conversing on the sidelines between drills, usually with one another directly.

"Usually we talk about coverages and compare notes from play to play. If Branden is on the field on a play I will look at his technique and then we talk about it when he comes off the field. He does the same for me. When we are both on the sideline we look at what the freshmen are doing and then help out any way we can after the drill," commented Stevens after practice.

The WMU wide receivers have an important role and it doesn't just encompass catching the ball. On running plays a receiver must still run a crisp, clean route to sell the defender and bring him with the receiver down the field. That opens the field for the ball carrier.When it is a pass play, the receiver has the responsibility to get to where the quarterback is throwing the ball.The QB has the responsibility to get the ball to a certain spot but it is the receiver who must be at that spot.

The way to do that is work on route running day in and day out. Do the little things to prepare for the big moment. This was something that former NFL All-Pro wide out Irving Fryar spoke to the WMU receivers about after Monday's practice at Bronco Field on Davis Street. Despite being in "The League" for nearly two decades, most notably with the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, the all-pro receiver's last name should be familiar to Bronco fans for yet another reason. He is the father of senior cornerback and Jim Thorpe Award nominee Londen Fryar.

"He spoke to us about being physical and about how he worked against a defensive back while running routes," recalled senior wideout Jamarko Simmons. "He said how it was not abnormal to have a bad day at practice but when you do to lean on your support system, like your family, your teammates and your friends. He told us to be the best in every aspect of the game from practice to studying film. He says that it will pay off and he is a great example of how continuing to do those little things and working hard pays off."

Western Michigan will held its first preseason scrimmage on Thursday afternoon at Waldo Stadium.

It will be one of just two for the Broncos before camp breaks and the team boards a plane bound for Lincoln, Neb.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=430181SN's team previews: No. 50 Connecticut

Posted: July 2, 2008
Pete Williams
For Sporting News

Sporting News is counting down its top 50 teams in college football, one by one, from early July until kickoff of the season in late August. Here's a preview of the No. 50 Connecticut Huskies.

After winning just three Big East games in 2005-06, Connecticut engineered perhaps the most remarkable turnaround in college football last season, finishing with a 9-4 record and going 5-2 in the Big East.

The Huskies were ranked in the Top 25 for the first time, climbing as high as No. 13 in the national polls. They won their first share of a Big East title, played in their second bowl game, tied the school record for most wins and defeated Louisville, USF and Rutgers in succession at home.

Still only in their seventh year of Division I-A competition, the Huskies return 17 starters from a team that began last season 8-1, losing only a 17-16 struggle at Virginia. Were it not for an embarrassing 66-21 loss at West Virginia to close the season, coach Randy Edsall's squad would have ranked second in the nation in scoring defense.

Senior Tyler Lorenzen is an efficient, dual-threat quarterback who threw just six interceptions last season. That's mostly because the former Junior College All-American averaged less than seven yards an attempt and did not often challenge defenses downfield. He'll have to go deep more often to take pressure off junior tailbacks Andre Dixon and Donald Brown, the latest rushing duo to fuel Edsall's double-barreled running attack.

The Huskies return four of five starters on the offensive line. Junior Mike Hicks is a massive cog (6-6, 329 pounds) and could shift from guard to tackle. Senior left tackle William Beatty (6-6, 300) is also a formidable presence. Center Keith Gray, like Hicks and Beatty, started all 13 games last season.

Lorenzen's inability to stretch the field last season wasn't entirely his fault, as the Huskies lacked big-play receivers. Last season's leading receiver, Terence Jeffers, transferred, so this should again be a challenge for the Huskies. Returning starters D.J. Hernandez and speedy junior Brad Kanuch are possession wideouts. Tight end Steve Brouse is also back. Edsall must find a way to open up his offense to avoid a repeat of last year's Virginia game, when a strong defensive unit was able to capitalize.

Eight Huskies are back on defense, including ends Cody Brown (16.5 tackles for loss) and Julius Williams (8.5 sacks). Edsall has shuffled some players around, hoping to replace departed stars such as lineman Dan Davis, linebacker Danny Lansanah and cornerback Tyvon Branch.

Linebacker Scott Lutrus (107 tackles) was a Freshman All-American and could be more productive as a sophomore, moving from the outside to the middle. Dahna Deleston will move from strong safety and replace Lutrus on the strong side. Redshirt freshman Jarrell Miller, the school's only four-star recruit in recent years, will move to defensive tackle after earning Parade All-America honors as a middle linebacker at the prep level.

The defense should have time to gel with a weak early non-conference schedule. The Huskies won't sneak up on anyone this season but have the building blocks to contend in the Big East.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=430607SN's team previews: No. 49 Georgia Tech

Posted: July 3, 2008
Ken Tysiac
For Sporting News

Sporting News is counting down its top 50 teams in college football, one by one, from early July until kickoff of the season in late August. Here's a preview of the No. 49 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

At least twice during spring practice, new coach Paul Johnson stepped into Georgia Tech's huddle and demonstrated why he has supreme confidence in his offense.

"You want a touchdown?" he'd ask the quarterback.

Uh, yeah.

OK, so Johnson would call a play.

"Sixty-yard bomb," recalls offensive tackle Andrew Gardner. "Touchdown. Failing here is not even in his mind or in the coaching staff's mind. There is no scenario other than success."

Johnson is different from his predecessor, Chan Gailey, who was fired after coaching Georgia Tech to six straight seasons of seven wins or more but going 0-6 against rival Georgia.

Gailey had an NFL background. He used a pro-style offense and was laid-back with his players. Johnson will run the option as he did at Navy and isn't afraid to get in faces.

"Coach Johnson's more of a throwback, college/high school-type coach in the regard that he stays on top of the guys," Gardner says.

Johnson inherited some talent that should fit well into his scheme. For years, Gardner says, the Yellow Jackets' offensive linemen have been dismissed as "undersized."

Those smaller, quicker linemen are ideal for running the option under Johnson. Though Tashard Choice has moved on to the NFL, sophomore running back Jonathan Dwyer appears ready to carry a big load in the option attack.

Josh Nesbitt, who's a likely starter but hasn't cemented the starting job, is a dual-threat quarterback who should be able to make plays with his feet.

"The majority of the kids have a great attitude," Johnson says, "and we've got to the point where just about everybody has bought in and we're ready to go."

The defense will continue to use zone blitzes, though not as many as under former coordinator Jon Tenuta. But the Yellow Jackets should be so good on the defensive line they won't have to blitz much.

Vance Walker, a first-team All-ACC player, and Darryl Richard return at defensive tackle, and end Michael Johnson projects as a possible first-round pick in next year's NFL draft.

Paul Johnson still faces plenty of challenges. Linebacker Shane Bowen and cornerback Jahi Word-Daniels are the only returning starters on their units.

The wide receivers need a leader after James Johnson quit the team in the spring. And Ray Guy Award-winning punter Durant Brooks and kicker Travis Bell are gone off the ACC's best special-teams unit from 2007.

But Gardner says his new coach has done a good job building confidence. The players are adjusting well to an unusual offense that will cause opponents fits when they have only one week to prepare.

And when Johnson steps into the huddle and calls his shot, the players' belief in him grows.

"He inherited the type of linemen he needs and wants, the type of skill players he needs and wants, and I think he made some wise decisions," Gardner said. "I think we'll catch some people off guard."http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=430612Two-minute drill: No. 49 Georgia Tech

Posted: July 3, 2008
Derek Samson
Sporting News

Sporting News is counting down its top 50 teams in college football, one by one, from early July until kickoff of the season in late August. Here's a quick look at the No. 49 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Burning question: Can the option offense still work in a BCS conference? New coach Paul Johnson ditched the pro-style offense the Yellow Jackets attempted to run under former coach Chan Gailey in favor of the option attack Johnson installed at Navy.

Top player: Defensive tackle Vance Walker. He had 8.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss last year. But the fact that the top player is a defensive tackle should tell you something about the Yellow Jackets at their skill spots.

Keep an eye on: Running back Jonathan Dwyer. The sophomore steps out from behind Tashard Choice's shadow and will have plenty of carries in Johnson's offense.

Must step up: The offensive line. The belief (or hope) is that this undersized bunch will benefit from all the quick movement necessary in an option offense. We'll see. Teams that ran the option to near perfection -- think Nebraska in the 1990s -- didn't have undersized linemen.

Game to watch: Nov. 29 at Georgia. Johnson could immediately endear himself to fans by beating Georgia, which owns a seven-game winning streak in the series that contributed to Gailey's firing.

[tehmackdaddy]

No DT's rated in the Top 19 after two were drafted in the Top 10 last season.

[Dwight Schrute]

No DT's rated in the Top 19 after two were drafted in the Top 10 last season.

Pre-season.

Someone will climb into the top 10. The position is far too valuable.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.draftdaddy.com/ranks/top10_OT.htm

Michael Oher ~ Ole Miss

Eugene Monroe ~ Virginia

Jamon Meredith ~ Illinois

Jason Smith ~ Baylor

Augustus Parrish ~ Kent State

Andrew Gardner ~ Georgia Tech

Phil Loadholt ~ Oklahoma

Alex Boone, Ohio State

Jason Watkins ~ Florida State

Fred Roland ~ Duke

[Dwight Schrute]

http://www.draftdaddy.com/ranks/top10_OT.htm

Michael Oher ~ Ole Miss

Eugene Monroe ~ Virginia

Jamon Meredith ~ Illinois

Jason Smith ~ Baylor

Augustus Parrish ~ Kent State

Andrew Gardner ~ Georgia Tech

Phil Loadholt ~ Oklahoma

Alex Boone, Ohio State

Jason Watkins ~ Florida State

Fred Roland ~ Duke


Curious, and lazy, about their positions.

[Box_O_Rocks]

Curious, and lazy, about their positions.:huh: That was the OT top 10 ranking from DD, or am I misunderstanding your question? :blink:

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2008/09/top-100-prospects/By Michael Lombardi
Posted September 20, 2008
Top 100 Prospects

It’s never too early to start thinking about next season and with that in mind, the National Football Post presents to you our Top 100 college prospects for the 2009 NFL Draft, as compiled by our very own Michael Lombardi and Wes Bunting. The National Football Post is proud to now serve as the source of NFL Draft information for Rivals.com. We will be providing a different subject every week during the season and leading into the offseason. As the ultimate source for NFL news and opinion, we are glad to assist Rivals.com in evaluating future NFL stars. Let us know what you think!

1. Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss
Oher has a rare blend of size, athleticism and girth. He entered the 2008 NFL draft, then pulled out a few days later even though he was considered a first-round pick. New coach Houston Nutt is glad he stayed. This time around, Oher – now a senior – could be the first player taken in the draft. He is No. 1 on the Rivals.com list of the top 100 pro prospects and could be the second consecutive offensive tackle chosen No. 1 overall; the Miami Dolphins took Michigan’s Jake Long with the No. 1 pick earlier this year.

2. Andre Smith *, OT, Alabama
A massive tackle with great feet, in the mold of former first-round pick Shawn Andrews.

3. Matthew Stafford *, QB, Georgia
The most natural pocket passer in the nation. He has a skill set similar to Carson Palmer’s.

4. DeMarcus Granger *, DT, Oklahoma
An explosive three-technique tackle who makes a living in the opponent’s backfield.

5. Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
Displays a rare first step for his size. He can be an absolute terror off the edge with his combination of length and body control.

6. Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
A nimble tackle who re-directs well. He needs to add bulk and power to his lower half.

7. Michael Crabtree *, WR, Texas Tech
The total package – size, speed, burst and hands – and is the best receiver prospect since Calvin Johnson.

8. Jeremy Maclin *, WR, Missouri
Excellent size and speed, with the ability to break tackles. He is dangerous with the ball in his hands.

9. Vontae Davis *, CB, Illinois
A rare athlete with fluid hips and burst out of his breaks. He’s instinctive in man coverage.

10. Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
He’s a more physically dominant version of Seahawks MLB Lofa Tatupu, another former USC standout.

11. Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
Showcases an explosive first step off the edge, with the ability to dip and turn the corner consistently.

12. Knowshon Moreno *, RB, Georgia
He is the most “natural” running back in the nation, with a combination of vision, quickness and balance. He has a good burst and a second gear.

13. Chris Wells *, RB, Ohio State
A powerful back with a thick frame and quick feet. He can make a defender miss and churn out yards after contact.

14. James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State
A fluid, athletic linebacker with a nose for the ball in both the pass and run game.

15. William Moore, FS, Missouri
A physically well-built safety with the athleticism and body control to do it all.

16. Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas
The best center prospect we have seen in the past five years.

17. Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
An instinctive corner with good range and ball skills in zone coverage, but he lacks a second gear.

18. Ricky Jean-Francois *, DT, LSU
Was the quickest and most disruptive LSU defensive lineman in the national championship game last season and, yes, that includes Glenn Dorsey.

19. LeSean McCoy *, RB, Pittsburgh
He has struggled running though tackles this year. He’s not quite as instinctive as Knowshon Moreno but has excellent body control for his size and possesses a nice combination of quickness and strength.

20. Jermaine Cunningham *, DE, Florida
A compact, powerful end with speed, power and change-of-direction skill on the edge.

21. Xavier Fulton, OT, Illinois
May have the best feet of any offensive lineman in the country. He needs to continue to add strength and girth to his overall frame.

22. Herman Johnson, G, LSU
He’s an amazing physical specimen at 6 feet 8 and 360 pounds who can move and re-direct in space. He’s fluid and agile for a man his size.

23. Percy Harvin *, WR, Florida
An explosive athlete in space who can make a play any time he has the ball.

24. Taylor Mays *, FS, USC
A physically imposing safety who can run and cover or play at the line of scrimmage.

25. Duke Robinson, G, Oklahoma
A massive guard with an intriguing blend of raw power and athleticism.

26. Darrius Heyward-Bey *, WR, Maryland
A tall, lean receiver with great speed and the burst to get down the field. He’s a big-time jump-ball threat.

27. Mark Sanchez *, QB, USC
Has a big-time arm and is accurate down the field. He makes quick decisions but needs to work on his touch underneath.

28. Myron Rolle *, SS, Florida State
Smart, instinctive safety with a strong build. He has the range to play the center-field role.

29. Jermaine Gresham *, TE, Oklahoma
A big, physical athlete with great burst and speed down the seam. He can separate at all levels in man coverage.

30. Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
A gifted run-and-hit linebacker. He has sideline-to-sideline range but needs to improve his awareness.

31. Tim Tebow *, QB, Florida
A dual run/pass threat who has all the intangibles. He can buy time in the pocket but needs to learn to read defenses more consistently in the passing game.

32. Geno Atkins *, DT, Georgia
Another explosive SEC three-technique defensive tackle. He will get a lot more attention from opposing linemen with the season-ending injury to Bulldogs DT Jeff Owens.

33. Maurice Evans *, DE, Penn State
Explosive athlete with a quick first step and powerful punch. He does a nice job beating blocks both inside and out.

34. James Davis, RB, Clemson
A one-cut back who has good vision and gets north to south quickly. He also is comfortable in the passing game.

35. Derek Pegues, FS, Mississippi State
He is built and runs like a corner, but is a ballhawk as a safety.

36. Rico McCoy *, LB, Tennessee
Undersized but has the most impressive fluidity and range of any linebacker in the draft. He should really rise up draft boards.

37. Mike Mickens, CB, Cincinnati
Long, rangy corner with good ball skills. He plays a bit high and struggles losing speed in his transition.

38. Nic Harris, SS, Oklahoma
Built like a linebacker and is strong attacking the line of scrimmage. He is fluid in zone coverage and has a nose for the ball.

39. Ciron Black *, OT, LSU
Displays a compact stance and moves well laterally. He can re-direct and has the quickness to reach the corner.

40. Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
A physically imposing tight end with good power in the blocking game. He has impressive body control, and goes up and gets the ball as well as any receiver in the country.

41. Terrance Taylor, DT, Michigan
A two-gap plugger who can clog running lanes inside. He has good quickness off the snap and can push the pocket.

42. Josh Freeman *, QB, Kansas State
A physically impressive quarterback with rare arm strength and feel in the pocket. He’s in the JaMarcus Russell/Daunte Culpepper mold.

43. Pat White, WR, West Virginia
He’s one of the best playmakers in college football. He will be asked to make the transition from quarterback to wide receiver in the pros.

44. Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest
Has all the tools you look for in an NFL corner except size (he’s 5-9). He is as fluid as any corner in college football.

45. C.J. Spiller *, RB, Clemson
Lightning in a bottle. He has the quickness to make a man miss and the burst to separate, and he does a great job making cuts at full speed.

46. Max Unger, C, Oregon
He’s a former left tackle with good feet and lateral mobility for a center. He plays a bit high but is an ideal fit for a zone-blocking scheme.

47. Greg Hardy *, DE, Ole Miss
His long limbs and speed make him difficult to block. He has the quickness to beat tackles outside or inside off the snap.

48. Brandon Spikes *, LB, Florida
A powerful linebacker who showcases good instincts inside, and does a nice job stacking and shedding versus the run.

49. George Selvie *, DE, South Florida
An ultra-productive end who exhibits good quickness and technique. Has a good motor and closes on the ball quickly.

50. Ziggy Hood, DT, Missouri
Plays with good leverage and power inside. He makes as many plays as any defensive tackle in the nation.

[Box_O_Rocks]

51. Alex Boone, OT, Ohio State
Has slimmed down and looks more fluid out on the edge. Has a powerful upper body. When he locks on, it’s over.

52. B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
A powerful defensive tackle who can push the pocket and get off blocks. Powerful and tough to move inside.

53. Louis Murphy, WR, Florida
Showcases great deep speed and is a constant vertical threat. Is a raw route runner and lacks consistent hands.

54. Courtney Greene, FS, Rutgers
A long, rangy safety with a nose for the ball. Has good first-step quickness, and covers a lot of ground in the deep half.

55. Brian Cushing, LB, USC
A versatile athlete who can play a variety of positions but is at his best rushing the passer.

56. Alex Mack, C, California
Displays good toughness and power inside. He plays with a natural bend and has the technique and quickness to start from Day One.

57. Jamon Meredith, OT, South Carolina
A smooth tackle who can handle speed off the edge. He is coordinated re-directing but needs to improve his technique.

58. Antoine Caldwell, C, Alabama
Has a great combination of power and athleticism. He is natural in space and gets a good push as an in-line run blocker.

59. Sam Young *, OT, Notre Dame
A tall, long athlete with the feet and coordination to protect a quarterback’s blind side. He needs to develop more of a mean streak.

60. Cullen Harper, QB, Clemson
He displays a quick release and good athleticism. He is accurate with the ball and has a strong arm, but needs to make quicker decisions.

61. Vince Oghobaase *, DT, Duke
At 6 feet 6 and 303 pounds, Oghobaase plays with great bend and flexibility for his size. He coils up well at the snap and has an explosive first step.

62. Greg Middleton *, DE, Indiana
An explosive athlete. Has the body control to beat blocks.

63. Trevor Canfield, G, Cincinnati
A throwback guard who loves to finish blocks and plays with good hand placement and technique in the running game. He’s a better athlete than most think.

64. Dannell Ellerbe, LB, Georgia
A sideline-to-sideline athlete who has a nose for the ball and makes plays all over the field.

65. Ricky Sapp *, DE, Clemson
An undersized pass-rushing specialist who uses his burst to reach the corner. He needs to add more of a pass-rush repertoire and power to his game.

66. Fili Moala, DT, USC
Has a great first step for his size, but doesn’t play with the power his frame would indicate.

67. Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State
The most technically sound wide receiver in the county. While he lacks any kind of burst, he looks like an ideal possession guy at the next level.

68. Sen’Derrick Marks *, DT, Auburn
A big-bodied tackle who can eat up space on the inside, and shows the power to push the pocket and anchor versus the double-team.

69. Mitch Petrus, G, Arkansas
Ideal for a zone-blocking scheme. He displays great feet and body control, and can really get out to the second level.

70. Marcus Freeman, LB, Ohio State
A bit of an afterthought on Ohio State’s star-studded defense, but he does everything well and will be an NFL starter.

71. Victor Harris, CB, Virginia Tech
A physical, in-your-face corner who can close quickly on the ball. He plays a bit high and lacks great make-up speed.

72. Darry Beckwith, LB, LSU
Has a big, strong frame and is powerful attacking downhill. He has the athleticism to run sideline-to-sideline.

73. Javon Ringer, RB, Michigan State
Short, compact back with good balance, burst and change-of-direction skills.

74. Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri
A strider who is sudden out of his breaks and does well going up and attacking the ball.

75. Anthony Parker, G, Tennessee
He’s thickly built, with a compact frame. Has smooth lateral mobility and a strong punch, showcases good body control and never over-extends.

76. Derrick Williams, WR, Penn State
A better athlete than football player. He could really blossom in the NFL with the right coaching staff.

77. Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut
Possesses great recovery speed and quickness out of breaks. He is rail thin but shows the toughness scouts love.

78. Keiland Williams *, RB, LSU
Dynamic with the ball in his hands, but lacks the girth and instincts to be successful between the tackles.

79. Michael Hamlin, SS, Clemson
A big, rangy safety with good wheels once he gets going. He can cover a lot of ground but struggles re-directing.

80. Hunter Cantwell, QB, Louisville
Displays a great skill set with all the tools you’d want in an NFL quarterback. He just needs more playing experience.

81. Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
Former tight end has good athleticism and body control on the edge. He needs to continue to add girth and work on his technique.

82. Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
Possesses great size, length and suddenness off the edge. He needs to play with more power and more of a mean streak.

83. Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin
A one-dimensional player who is a mismatch nightmare for any defense in the passing game. But he couldn’t block the chair you’re sitting in.

84. Augustus Parrish, OT, Kent State
Smaller-school prospect with the quickness, size and body control of an NFL left tackle.

85. Aaron Kelly, WR, Clemson
Smooth route runner who uses his body well to shield defenders from the ball. He’s a No. 2 receiver at the next level.

86. Pannel Egboh, DE, Stanford
Possesses great size (6-6/280) length and body control. But he is too much of a finesse player at this stage.

87. Brandon Gibson, WR, Washington State
Well-built receiver with good balance and burst as route runner. He shows the ability to get consistent separation on all levels.

88. Matt Shaughnessy, DE, Wisconsin
Good athlete off the edge. He plays with a great motor, but needs to add more power to his upper body and punch.

89. Domonique Johnson, CB, Jackson State
Explosive, quick-twitch corner with good size (6-2/200) who has dominated his competition. Johnson, a Texan who began his career at Missouri, has a nose for the ball.

90. Keegan Herring, RB, Arizona State
Undersized back with a great first step and home-run speed. He has a tendency to bounce too many plays outside.

91. Keenan Lewis, CB, Oregon State
Tall, physical corner with good body control and balance. He does a nice job in press coverage.

92. Ryan Purvis, TE, Boston College
Won’t wow you as an athlete but knows how to get open. He catches the ball in traffic and loves to block.

93. Bruce Johnson, CB, Miami
An undersized, explosive corner with great recovery speed. He loves to play physical at the line, but struggles with instincts in zone.

94. Arian Foster, RB, Tennessee
Possesses great size and quickness through the tackles, but tries to run like a scatback too often and doesn’t lower his head and drive for tough yards.

95. Kevin Barnes, CB, Maryland
A long, lean track star who is developing into an instinctive corner. He has improved significantly since his sophomore season.

96. Nathan Brown, QB, Central Arkansas
Small-school quarterback showcases a strong arm and accuracy from the pocket. He makes quick decisions under pressure.

97. Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma
Has good quickness and decent deep speed. He reminds some of former LSU wide receiver Early Doucet.

98. Tyrone McKenzie, LB, South Florida
Showcases great burst and closing speed toward the ball. He plays with reckless abandon and flies around the field.

99. Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
A well-built receiver who does a nice job getting out of his breaks and separating at all levels. He’s physical after the catch.

100. Terrence Cody *, DT, Alabama
Displays amazing athleticism for a man who weighs 370 pounds. He could really soar up draft boards with a strong season._

[Hawg73]

22. Herman Johnson, G, LSU
He’s an amazing physical specimen at 6 feet 8 and 360 pounds who can move and re-direct in space. He’s fluid and agile for a man his size.

Herman is one of my favorite guys to watch at the college level just because he is such a titanic moose, but the guy that claims he is fluid and agile for his size has rocks in his head.

Johnson is pretty slow and has poor technique. He can't get low and makes a living in college pushing guys down from a standing position. I'd love to see him succeed, simply because he is the biggest overall guy I've ever seen in a football uniform.

22 is way too high, but somebody will draft him and find him a size XXXXXLLLLHolyJesus uniform.

[Dwight Schrute]

I'm not a huge college football guy. I like it, but there's just far too many games and teams for someone with limited time to follow.

That being said, EVERY time I'm home and flipping through the channels and come across a LSU game I keep it there for a while to see Big Herman! The man is a carnival act out there! MASSIVE!

[Hawg73]

I'm not a huge college football guy. I like it, but there's just far too many games and teams for someone with limited time to follow.

That being said, EVERY time I'm home and flipping through the channels and come across a LSU game I keep it there for a while to see Big Herman! The man is a carnival act out there! MASSIVE!

I caught a little of their game as well and focused on Herman. From what I could see he does look a little more nimble of foot and a little less like Herman Munster, but he is far from being a polished OL.

Thing is, he might not really need to be polished to be a good one.

Biggest guy I've ever seen in cleats. He was something like 18 pounds when he was born. Biggest baby in Louisiana history. His mother's hoo-hoo must have looked like a catcher's mitt when she was done calving that beast.

[Dwight Schrute]

If he can pass block worth a lick you have to figure on the rt side of the line being able to run block with him in there at 4 yds a clip anyways!

[ctpatsfan77]

I caught a little of their game as well and focused on Herman. From what I could see he does look a little more nimble of foot and a little less like Herman Munster, but he is far from being a polished OL.

Thing is, he might not really need to be polished to be a good one.

Biggest guy I've ever seen in cleats. He was something like 18 pounds when he was born. Biggest baby in Louisiana history. His mother's hoo-hoo must have looked like a catcher's mitt when she was done calving that beast.

I'm not sure which structure is the "hoo-hoo," but for his mother's sake, I sincerely hope she had a C-section. Otherwise . . . OMG

[Box_O_Rocks]

This is more of a 2008 draftnikking, but WTH.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2008/09/tuesday-two-a-days-3/2. RB Le’Ron McClain seems to have wrestled the #2 job away from Ray Rice. Against the Browns he lead the team with 66 yards on the ground and two TDs.B-more can cut Ray or trade him to the Pats for a 7th round pick next offseason if they like. I wanted Ray to learn to be Kevin Faulk Jr. behind Kevin Faulk Sr.

[Box_O_Rocks]

Players to watch from the Cincinnati/Marshall game:

Cincinnati - Mike Wright U.

Seniors:
- Lamonte Nelms 6'3" 255 DE - disciplined player showed good strength setting the edge.
- Mike Mickens 6' 190 CB - 2 time 1st team Big East, Playboy All American. One int with another dropped while I was watching - he ran the route better than the WR. Good speed.
- Torry Cornett 6'2" 235 - DE moved to ILB in the Spring, showed up with some speed and some big hits. Looked bigger than 235.
- Adam Hoppel 6'2" 300 DL - Lunch pail type who eats blockers. May be worth a UDFA offer.
- Trevor Canfield 6'5" 305 OL - Mobile and hostile RG, projected as a Day One pick, he looked very good.
- Khalil El-Amin 6'4" 312 OL - The entire Cincy O-line was mobile, at RT El-Amin may have been the least athletic looking of the bunch, but he wasn't bad and could be a decent late round/UDFA flyer.
- DeAngelo Smith 6' 190 CB - Marshall was forced to use their TE to create mismatches in the passing game, Mickens and Smith were shutting down the outside.
- Kevin Huber 6'1" 200 P - Cincy reportedly is one of the national leaders in net punting average. Huber seems to be a BB type Punter who works with the coverage.

Juniors:
- Jacob Ramsey 6' 230 RB - Surprised the announcer/color team with his shake and bake, considered a one cut downhill runner.
- Chris Jurek 6'2" 290 OC - Mobile and hostile. Can shotgun snap.
- Jeff Linkenbach 6'6" 313 OT - Watch this kid. Starting LT, he is also on the punt coverage team. Very mobile and hostile, looked good run blocking, if he stays another season he may be a Day One if not round one candidate.

Marshall - was dominated by Cincy and didn't have the players stand out as much.

Seniors:
- Chubb Small 5'9" 198 RB/PR - Excellent at making tacklers miss and gaining positive yardage in a negative looking situation. Looked faster than Faulk with similar quicks. Nice punt return to catch my eye. May be worth a late round/UDFA flyer.

Juniors:
- Albert McClellan 6'2" 252 DE/OLB - Play maker. Was getting compared to Suggs of B-more for his versatility which allows the DC to shift from 4-3 to 3-4 on the fly.

Long Term: Their lefty Red Shirt Freshman QB Cann has the size (6'4" 238) and composure, keep an eye on him.

[ctpatsfan77]

Players to watch from the Cincinnati/Marshall game:

Cincinnati - Mike Wright U.

BTW . . . anyone else find it at least a little ironic that at Cincinnati, Wright was a criminal justice major? ROFL

Seniors:
- Khalil El-Amin 6'4" 312 OL - The entire Cincy O-line was mobile, at RT El-Amin may have been the least athletic looking of the bunch, but he wasn't bad and could be a decent late round/UDFA flyer.

For a second, I thought you said Khalid El-Amin. :)

- Kevin Huber 6'1" 200 P - Cincy reportedly is one of the national leaders in net punting average. Huber seems to be a BB type Punter who works with the coverage.

I'm still holding out hope for Dragosavich.

[Box_O_Rocks]

BTW . . . anyone else find it at least a little ironic that at Cincinnati, Wright was a criminal justice major? ROFLNope, good planning on his part. ;)For a second, I thought you said Khalid El-Amin. :)His twin brother.I'm still holding out hope for Dragosavich.Depends on where he's gone for advanced footwork.

[LVent*]

What are your guys thoughts on Scott McKillop?

[Box_O_Rocks]

What are your guys thoughts on Scott McKillop?I've been distracted a bit this season, where do I go to watch him?

[LVent*]

I've been distracted a bit this season, where do I go to watch him?

He is the "mike" lb for pitt. He avg like 12ish tackles per game last year, and I believe is on pace for the same this year. I only really know about him since he went to hs in the area and because of pitt. Obviously he isnt on many radars though :p

[OSUBuckeye]

A guy that's been getting my attention the past few weeks is Jordan Shipley from Texas. He is a perfect slot wr for the NFL. A lot like Welker & Brandon Stokley but a little taller & much faster. He is also a very good in the return game. He's going to be a player at the next level.

[Box_O_Rocks]

Boise State's Perrata (sp?) is a good looking WR for slot duty too.

[Box_O_Rocks]

I caught the South Florida @ Cincinnati game tonight, this time Cincy was playing a nationally ranked team and their defense was impressive against USF. George Selvie of USF was his usual bad self, but no one else stood from their team tonight as Cincy owned them.

I reported on Cincy and Marshall below, well I missed the most intriguing player from a Patriots perspective: DE Connor Barwin.

Barwin was a TE for his first three seasons, with 30+ catches last season. This season he's a DE leading the Big East in sacks with 7. He and Nelms were all over the place on D making plays and pressuring Matt Grothe. Then he comes in as a TE on the goal line and makes a nice TD catch. NFLDraftScout.com have him as the #11 DE with a climbing arrow, projected as a 5th round pick. He's reported to be 6'4" 255. This kid is could be the #3 TE/STs player while he transitions to OLB in NE. He also plays basketball for Cincy, so I think he is a very interesting prospect for NE who could pick up coverage responsibilities reasonably quickly with his TE/basketball experience to help him.

Nelms had a much stronger game against USF, and he wasn't too bad against Marshall. He's listed as the #120 DE by NFLDraftScout.com at 6'3" 255. He may be worth a look as a UDFA.

Mickens and DeAngelo Smith were studs at CB again. Mickens is projected to round 1 by NFLDraftScout while Smith is projected to the 6th round.

The Cincy O-line was solid, opening up holes in the run game and giving their QB time to make plays with his arm. They lost their starting Center to injury, moved the LG to C and brought in a Freshman and never missed a beat.

DT Adam Hoppel got his name called for good lane discipline blowing up a reverse by staying home and forcing the ball carrier wide into the pursuit for a loss.

WRs Dominique Goodman and Mardy Gilyard made some nice plays - Gilyard in particular made me proud when he just missed on a TD toss into the end zone and his momentum carried him into the crowd where he ran into a 7 year old fan knocking him down. He picked the kid up, took off his helmet and gave him a big hug while talking to him, before handing him over to an adult in the crowd and returning to the game. I love the way he handled that incident then went back out and caught a TD. The kid got to be a hero, giving out his autograph to fans in the crowd and getting to touch Erin Andrews when she interviewed him - I'd let Gilyard run me over and hug me for that kind of opportunity. :D

Watch Cincy's Junior QB Pike, he's got the size, mobility, and arm.

Players to watch from the Cincinnati/Marshall game:

Cincinnati - Mike Wright U.

Seniors:
- Lamonte Nelms 6'3" 255 DE - disciplined player showed good strength setting the edge.
- Mike Mickens 6' 190 CB - 2 time 1st team Big East, Playboy All American. One int with another dropped while I was watching - he ran the route better than the WR. Good speed.
- Torry Cornett 6'2" 235 - DE moved to ILB in the Spring, showed up with some speed and some big hits. Looked bigger than 235.
- Adam Hoppel 6'2" 300 DL - Lunch pail type who eats blockers. May be worth a UDFA offer.
- Trevor Canfield 6'5" 305 OL - Mobile and hostile RG, projected as a Day One pick, he looked very good.
- Khalil El-Amin 6'4" 312 OL - The entire Cincy O-line was mobile, at RT El-Amin may have been the least athletic looking of the bunch, but he wasn't bad and could be a decent late round/UDFA flyer.
- DeAngelo Smith 6' 190 CB - Marshall was forced to use their TE to create mismatches in the passing game, Mickens and Smith were shutting down the outside.
- Kevin Huber 6'1" 200 P - Cincy reportedly is one of the national leaders in net punting average. Huber seems to be a BB type Punter who works with the coverage.

Juniors:
- Jacob Ramsey 6' 230 RB - Surprised the announcer/color team with his shake and bake, considered a one cut downhill runner.
- Chris Jurek 6'2" 290 OC - Mobile and hostile. Can shotgun snap.
- Jeff Linkenbach 6'6" 313 OT - Watch this kid. Starting LT, he is also on the punt coverage team. Very mobile and hostile, looked good run blocking, if he stays another season he may be a Day One if not round one candidate.

Marshall - was dominated by Cincy and didn't have the players stand out as much.

Seniors:
- Chubb Small 5'9" 198 RB/PR - Excellent at making tacklers miss and gaining positive yardage in a negative looking situation. Looked faster than Faulk with similar quicks. Nice punt return to catch my eye. May be worth a late round/UDFA flyer.

Juniors:
- Albert McClellan 6'2" 252 DE/OLB - Play maker. Was getting compared to Suggs of B-more for his versatility which allows the DC to shift from 4-3 to 3-4 on the fly.

Long Term: Their lefty Red Shirt Freshman QB Cann has the size (6'4" 238) and composure, keep an eye on him.

[ctpatsfan77]

I caught the South Florida @ Cincinnati game tonight, this time Cincy was playing a nationally ranked team and their defense was impressive against USF. George Selvie of USF was his usual bad self, but no one else stood from their team tonight as Cincy owned them.

I reported on Cincy and Marshall below, well I missed the most intriguing player from a Patriots perspective: DE Connor Barwin.

Barwin was a TE for his first three seasons, with 30+ catches last season. This season he's a DE leading the Big East in sacks with 7. He and Nelms were all over the place on D making plays and pressuring Matt Grothe. Then he comes in as a TE on the goal line and makes a nice TD catch. NFLDraftScout.com have him as the #11 DE with a climbing arrow, projected as a 5th round pick. He's reported to be 6'4" 255. This kid is could be the #3 TE/STs player while he transitions to OLB in NE. He also plays basketball for Cincy, so I think he is a very interesting prospect for NE who could pick up coverage responsibilities reasonably quickly with his TE/basketball experience to help him.

Nelms had a much stronger game against USF, and he wasn't too bad against Marshall. He's listed as the #120 DE by NFLDraftScout.com at 6'3" 255. He may be worth a look as a UDFA.

Mickens and DeAngelo Smith were studs at CB again. Mickens is projected to round 1 by NFLDraftScout while Smith is projected to the 6th round.

The Cincy O-line was solid, opening up holes in the run game and giving their QB time to make plays with his arm. They lost their starting Center to injury, moved the LG to C and brought in a Freshman and never missed a beat.

DT Adam Hoppel got his name called for good lane discipline blowing up a reverse by staying home and forcing the ball carrier wide into the pursuit for a loss.

WRs Dominique Goodman and Mardy Gilyard made some nice plays - Gilyard in particular made me proud when he just missed on a TD toss into the end zone and his momentum carried him into the crowd where he ran into a 7 year old fan knocking him down. He picked the kid up, took off his helmet and gave him a big hug while talking to him, before handing him over to an adult in the crowd and returning to the game. I love the way he handled that incident then went back out and caught a TD. The kid got to be a hero, giving out his autograph to fans in the crowd and getting to touch Erin Andrews when she interviewed him - I'd let Gilyard run me over and hug me for that kind of opportunity. :D

Watch Cincy's Junior QB Pike, he's got the size, mobility, and arm.


A DE who can play TE? :cop:

[ctpatsfan77]

Boise State's Perrata (sp?) is a good looking WR for slot duty too.

Vinny Perretta. Not bad, IIRC; more a not-quite-rich man's Welker than anything else.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2008/11/nfl-draft-surprising-prospects-pop-up/By National Football Post
Posted November 1, 2008
NFL Draft: Surprising Prospects Pop Up

Every season, prospects come out of nowhere to become some of the country’s brightest stars and potential highly rated prospects. Mike Lombardi, Andrew Brandt and Wes Bunting of Nationalfootballpost.com take a look at the year’s top surprises for our NFL Draft Partner, Rivals.com.

1. RB Donald Brown, Connecticut
THE BUZZ: Brown entered Connecticut as a 5-foot-10, 180-pound scatback with 4.3 speed. Since then, Brown – now a junior – has added more than 20 pounds of bulk and muscle and is carrying one of the heaviest workloads in the country. He is second in the nation with 235 carries and has accounted for a bit more than 47 percent of UConn’s total offense. Brown still possesses excellent speed and is quick to hit the hole. He has good first-step quickness and a devastating jump cut that allows him to bounce against the grain and attack the cutback lane. He needs to continue to work on running with a lower pad level and becoming more elusive at top speed. Brown is extremely productive, with 1,436 total yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

2. DT Terrence Cody, Alabama
THE BUZZ: We had Cody, a junior, in our top-100 prospect list to start the year and took some grief. But his combination of size (6-5/367) and power simply was too much to overlook. Now, scouts are jumping all over this mammoth nose tackle, who has single-handedly made Alabama one of the toughest units to run against in the nation. Cody is an ideal run-stuffer who has the body control and agility to play in a 3-4 or a 4-3 defense. He looks like a real difference-maker and is the type of player you can build a defense around at the next level. After his tremendous play during the first half of the season, we are willing to bet he doesn’t get past the first 10 picks come draft time.

3. DE Aaron Maybin, Penn State
THE BUZZ: Maybin, a third-year sophomore, was viewed as only a pass-rushing specialist coming into the season. But a suspension to Maurice Evans put Maybin in the starting lineup. He is second in the nation with 11 sacks and first in the Big Ten with 15 tackles for loss. Maybin possesses a long, angular frame with great first-step quickness, and he has the closing speed to turn the corner. He still needs to add more girth and power to his 242-pound frame, because he still struggles to hold the point of attack against the run. But he plays with good leverage, and when he does add more base strength, Maybin could take his game to the next level. One of the nation’s most-feared pass rushers looks to be the next in line of top-flight defensive ends to come out of Penn State.

4. DT Roy Miller, Texas
THE BUZZ: Going into the season, Miller – a senior – was considered by many as a fringe draft prospect. But he has been the top-ranked Longhorns’ most disruptive interior lineman. Miller is a stout, penetrating tackle who gets off the snap quickly and displays the lower-body strength and leverage to get into the backfield. Miller never will be a star at the next level because of his lack of size and overall athleticism. But his ability to hold the point of attack inside and penetrate upfield on passing downs has him moving up draft boards, and he now looks like a mid-round selection.

5. OT Jason Smith, Baylor
THE BUZZ: Every year, former tight ends make the transition to tackle and mature into some of the nation’s best offensive line prospects. That is the case for Smith, a senior who was recruited as a tight end and didn’t move to tackle until before his sophomore season. Scouts had taken note of his potential and upside, but he possibly has become the best senior tackle in the nation. Smith had been able to get by on sheer athleticism, but he has become a real technician and looks to have added a lot more upper-body strength. Add that to his rare blend of quickness and body control, and you have the most dominant offensive tackle in the Big 12. Smith will continue to improve with better coaching in the NFL, and there is no way this guy doesn’t go in the top 25.

6. DE Stryker Sulak, Missouri
THE BUZZ: Sulak is a tall, thin-framed pass rusher with a great first step and a nose for the ball. Sulak, a senior, has destroyed Big 12 competition all season with his sub-4.7 speed and never-ending motor. He has 10.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, five quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles and a blocked kick. He is being viewed as a potential pass-rush specialist or 3-4 outside linebacker, and now warrants a mid-round grade. Sulak plays with passion and relentlessness. He still needs to add a wider array of pass-rush moves, but he’s the kind of player you can count on when you need a play on third down.

7. RB Shonn Greene, Iowa
THE BUZZ: Greene, a junior, returned to Iowa this season after spending 2007 in junior college working on his academics. Greene (5-11/235) is a big, physical back who is third in the nation in rushing (144.3 ypg). He has run for 100 yards in each of his first eight games. Scouts love his blend of quickness and power between the tackles. He has the ability to churn out yards after contact and knows how to move the chains against eight- and nine-man fronts. Greene has good vision and short-area quickness, and becomes stronger as the game progresses. There isn’t much flash to his game, but he certainly looks like the kind of workhorse back who has the power to carry the ball 20-25 times a game.

8. QB Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston State
THE BUZZ: Bomar, a senior, was the starting quarterback at Oklahoma before being dismissed for NCAA violations. He has thrown for 1,790 yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions in six games. NFL teams are becoming more and more comfortable drafting FCS (i.e., Division I-AA) quarterbacks, and Bomar looks to be the next in line. Furthermore, with the senior quarterback class currently in shambles, don’t be surprised to see Bomar go a lot higher than most scouts thought. He has better physical skills than most of his senior counterparts, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he ends up becoming the first senior quarterback off the board in April.

9. WR Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma
THE BUZZ: Iglesias, a senior, was the Sooners’ most productive wide receiver last season on a team that included second-round pick Malcolm Kelly. But NFL scouts wanted to see how Iglesias would perform this season without Kelly on the other side. Iglesias has done nothing but impress. He leads the high-powered Sooners in receptions with 44, including a 12-catch, 191-yard performance against Kansas. Iglesias possesses nice size (6-0/205), with good deep speed (4.45 in the 40). But it’s his ability to snap off routes quickly and get separation on all levels of the field that is most impressive. Iglesias has become a precise route-runner and knows how to separate against press coverage, a skill that few college wide receivers possess. Iglesias ranks as one of the top two receiver prospects in the senior class.

10. DT Ziggy Hood, Missouri
THE BUZZ: Hood was considered one of the nation’s top 10 senior defensive tackle prospects heading into the season, but he has consistently outplayed the completion and looks like one of the most explosive three-technique tackles in the draft. He has 36 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks and nine quarterback hurries. His ability to be disruptive off the snap has allowed his teammates to make plays, too. Hood has good first-step quickness and the lateral mobility to beat blocks and explode upfield. He plays with a good pad level inside and knows how to hold the point of attack against the run. Hood has been rising up draft boards and looks like a potential second-round pick.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2008/11/nfl-draft-top-offensive-linemen/By National Football Post
Posted November 15, 2008
NFL Draft: Top Offensive Linemen

The 2008 class of offensive lineman set the bar high. Seven tackles were selected in the first round, and 14 linemen overall were taken in the first three rounds of the NFL draft. The offensive line always is a premium position. Mike Lombardi, Andrew Brandt and Wes Bunting of Nationalfootballpost.com analyze this season’s top offensive linemen for our NFL Draft partner, Rivals.com.

1. T Andre Smith, Alabama
THE BUZZ: Smith is a physically imposing left tackle with a thick lower half and impressive overall girth for his frame. Smith, a junior, has great length for his 6-foot-4 frame as well as excellent body control and foot quickness on the edge. He displays a quick first step off the snap that allows him to get around on reach blocks and seal the edge. He possesses the length and power to lock out and drive defensive ends out of the picture on running plays. Smith shows good initial pop off the ball and can really jar defenders at the point of attack. He’s a bit top-heavy, and his weight always will be a concern; he needs to make sure he doesn’t eat himself out of the NFL. He plays low and with good leverage, consistently getting under defensive linemen and driving his legs through contact. Some think he is best suited for the right side because of his height, but he is so athletically gifted and has the footwork and lateral mobility to defend the NFL’s top speed rushers.

2. T Michael Oher, Ole Miss
THE BUZZ: Oher is a naturally gifted senior with rare physical skills for a man of his dimensions. He does a great job in space. He plays low with good flexibility and leverage, has a powerful lower half and good overall base strength. Oher comes out of his stance low and can really jolt defenders with his strong initial punch. He does a nice job holding the point of attack when bull-rushed. Oher is blessed with huge hands and long arms, but he needs to work on his hand placement; he has a tendency to get impatient and will lunge at times. He has great feet and can slide laterally and mirror defenders with ease. He demonstrates elite explosion out of his stance and change-of-direction skills in pass protection, and has the feet to consistently reach the corner and cut off speed rushers. He needs to continue to work on his technique, but his overall athleticism, foot quickness, power and flexibility make him a first-round pick.

3. T Jason Smith, Baylor
THE BUZZ: Smith, a former tight end, still is learning the position, but as a senior, he is starting to play with better bend and technique in pass protection. All the athletic and physical tools are there. Smith possesses great straight-line speed and is natural out on the edge, pulling and trap blocking on the outside. He is fluid in the open field and does a great job getting downfield on screens and opening up holes at the second level. He’s a gifted run blocker and might be best suited for a zone-blocking scheme. He shows a bit of a mean streak and isn’t afraid to drive his man into the ground. Smith has the foot speed and quickness to reach the edge against speed rushers. He has come a long way in terms of pass protection from his junior year; he lacked patience last season, which caused him to lose his balance too often. He could still stand to add some more bulk and power in his upper and lower body, and he needs to do a better job working his hands to maintain position. But Smith has been flying up draft boards and has really developed as a technician in the past season.

4. T Eben Britton, Arizona
THE BUZZ: Britton is a big, long athlete who shows excellent body control and agility on slide-down blocks. He does a nice job staying engaged with linemen on the move and uses his length and feet to seal blockers to the outside. He has good athleticism and the straight-line speed to get downfield, but he seems to lumber a bit in space and struggles breaking down in the open field when trying to hit a moving target. Britton exhibits a powerful upper body and good punch, can really jolt defenders at the point of attack and demonstrates a good push as an in-line blocker. Britton is fluid sliding laterally in pass protection, with the ability to dip his hips and stay under linemen on the outside. Britton is a good athlete who plays with good bend in the pass game. He has the size and length to play left tackle in the pros.

5. T Eugene Monroe, Virginia
THE BUZZ: Monroe is a smooth, coordinated tackle with great feet and body control in pass protection. He has long arms, big hands and does a nice job engaging with defensive ends quickly and gaining inside position. He is natural out on an island and can reach the corner against speed rushers with ease. He has the feet and agility to mirror ends laterally. He has a long frame but needs to continue to add strength and bulk to his base. He lacks power and strength in his lower half and has trouble consistently holding the point of attack against a bull rush. He is a good run blocker because of his understanding of angles, but he doesn’t show much pop at the point of attack and isn’t going to get much push as an in-line guy. He is a natural left tackle who is confident in pass protection. Monroe looks like a clone of former Virginia tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, who was a first-round pick by the New York Jets in 2006.

6. T Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
THE BUZZ: Okung is an athletic and fluid tackle who has a great first step out of his stance and can consistently reach the corner against speed rushers. He is long and possesses a great wingspan, but he needs to add more girth and power to his overall frame, especially in his upper body. He lacks great power in his punch and struggles staying on blocks through contact. He doesn’t consistently come off the snap count on time and will allow defensive ends to get into his body quickly and allow them to slash across his frame. But he has great feet and body control, and he can slide laterally in pass coverage. He has an explosive first step out of his stance in the run game. He understands angles well and shows the ability to anchor in and seal inside running lanes. He’s not much of an in-line blocker and lacks great lower-body strength, but he has the length to turn defensive ends out of the play. He is at his best in space and out on the edge. Okung is a fluid lead blocker and looks comfortable pulling and getting downfield on plays toward the perimeter.

7. G Herman Johnson, LSU
THE BUZZ: To say this guy is massive is an understatement. At 6-7 and more than 350 pounds, Johnson possess great feet for his dimensions. Johnson exhibits a low stance and is flexible in the hips and isn’t simply a hulking offensive lineman; this guy is agile and can dip and bend. He has a huge wingspan and does a nice job keeping defensive linemen away from his body. He is strong at the point of attack and can anchor against even the strongest bull rushers. His strong, wide stance and powerful punch make him nearly impossible to get around in pass protection. He does a nice job breaking down in space and has the body control to hit and seal a moving target. He’s still a bit raw but has come a long way. We would like to see more leg drive from him through the block; he has a tendency to lean on people too much and does not consistently drive his legs through contact. He will lumber a bit downfield but is a force on screen passes. Johnson has a real chance to be something special; his size and athletic ability are unmatched at guard. He has unlimited potential in any power run scheme, and if put in the right situation, this guy could be scary.

8. C Alex Mack, California
THE BUZZ: Mack is an aggressive center who shows a nice blend of balance and foot quickness. He finishes his blocks with a strong leg drive and plays with a mean streak. Mack is good athlete who can pull and get to the second level. Once he gets out in space, he shows great body control and awareness to find and eliminate his man. He’s a master of the cut block, and he really flies into a pile and can eliminate a bunch of defenders, opening up massive holes downfield. Mack lacks some pop in his punch, but he does a good job locking on and steering defensive tackles out of the picture. A mauler who is effective in tight areas and out in space, he shows good awareness in pass protection and keeps his head on a swivel. Mack needs to consistently play low and not get too upright when he is engaged.

9. G Duke Robinson, Oklahoma
THE BUZZ: Robinson is a physical guard with the body of a road grader, but he has the feet and athleticism to excel in any scheme. Robinson possesses strong, powerful legs and drives through blocks well at the point of attack. He keeps working hard through blocks. When he locks on, the battle is over. Robinson sits into his stance well and has an explosive first step, which allows him to really fire out and into a defensive lineman. He can really seal a moving target and is impressive in space. Robinson has a tendency to get lazy at times and will stop moving his feet and allow defenders to gain leverage. At times, he will lunge and lose his balance. But when he is playing focused and with good technique, he is tough to beat.

10. C Max Unger, Oregon
THE BUZZ: Unger possesses the body of a tackle, with a long wingspan, and could move back to tackle in the pros. He has light, agile feet and shows the ability to snap and step quickly. He does a nice job getting out of his stance and set before most defensive linemen even have a chance to get into his body. He isn’t squatty and doesn’t have the girth or power in his lower half that NFL teams would like to see from a center. He lacks power and struggles getting much push in-line against bigger defensive tackles. Still, he is nearly unbeatable in pass protection. He does a nice job firing out of his stance and pulling around the corner; while he lacks the power to jolt defenders at the point of attack, he has the technique and hand placement to get inside and turn linemen out of the play. Unger is capable on slide-down blocks and makes everything look easy in space. He is by far the best pass-blocking center in the class.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2008/11/nfl-draft-falling-stock/By National Football Post
Posted November 8, 2008
NFL Draft: Falling Stock

There have been a number of well-known, highly rated prospects who have disappointed scouts with their poor play this season. Mike Lombardi, Andrew Brandt and Wes Bunting of the National Football Post take a look at what prospects have hurt their draft stocks the most in 2008 for our draft partner Rivals.com.

1. QB Cullen Harper, Clemson
Coming off a fabulous junior season, Harper was ranked atop the senior quarterback class and looked to be on his way toward a first-round grade. But after an opening-week beatdown at the hands of Alabama, Harper has yet to rebound. He has thrown 11 interceptions, five more than he threw last season, and has thrown for less than 200 yards in six games. Clemson is 4-4, and the ACC preseason favorite is struggling to simply gain a bowl bid. Harper still possesses good arm strength and does well moving in the pocket, but he seems to have lost his confidence. His accuracy and footwork have been spotty, and he’s really struggling to make good decisions under pressure. Harper now needs a strong postseason to secure his spot as a top-100 pick. If he doesn’t, he could see himself slide to the middle of the second day.

2. QB Curtis Painter, Purdue
Painter was considered one of the nation’s top quarterback prospects heading into the season. But he has yet to live up to the expectations. The Boilermakers are 3-6, and Painter has thrown six touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. To put that in perspective, Painter threw 10 touchdown passes in the Boilermakers’ first two games last season. He has completed at least 55 percent of his passes in only three games this season. Painter lacks great arm strength and struggles throwing the ball downfield; scouts knew that from last season. But what is so puzzling is that Painter’s accuracy – his greatest strength – has been off this season. He is lacking the precision from the pocket that he demonstrated in 2007. A shoulder injury has hindered him, which could be the reason for his struggles. But Painter has fallen considerably down the draft boards: There isn’t much room in the NFL for weak-armed quarterbacks who lack accuracy.

3. RB P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
Hill broke onto the scene as a freshman, rushing for 1,569 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2006. Since then, Hill’s numbers have been on the decline. He isn’t even on track for a 1,000-yard season in 2008. Hill has just one 100-yard game in his past six, and has scored just two touchdowns in that span. He is battling injuries, but looks slow to the hole and isn’t running with the same type of power he displayed as a freshman. Scouts are concerned about his longevity. If he is starting to show signs of wear and tear as a 20-yard-old junior, imagine what he will be like after a couple of seasons in the NFL.

4. DE Greg Middleton, Indiana
Middleton, the nation’s leading sack man a year ago with 16, has yet to find his groove this season. He has three sacks for minus-9 yards, and just 14 tackles total. So, what’s the problem? Middleton lacks a consistent motor on the outside. He is seeing more double-teams and is content to stop moving his feet and be blocked. NFL pass rushers consistently see some form of chip or double-team on every obvious passing down, so this is something Middleton needs to get used to. He has a long way to go and seems likely to return for his senior season. Middleton has all the physical tools you want in a pass rusher, but he needs to stop taking so many plays off - especially on key passing downs.

5. FB Jorvorskie Lane, Texas A&M
Lane entered the season as one of the more intriguing prospects in the nation. But after showing up to camp out of shape, coach Mike Sherman has used Lane sparingly - mostly as a short-yardage back. There is no questioning Lane’s quickness and body control for a man his size. He has excellent change-of-direction skills and runs with great power inside. But he lacks the burst to be anything more than a goal-line back in the NFL, unless he can prove to be a lead blocker. Lane has lined up as a lead blocker at times this season and showcases the body control and power to destroy linebackers in the hole. The question: Does he have the blue-collar mentality to do it full-time in the NFL?

6. WR Tiquan Underwood, Rutgers
Underwood had more receiving yards in his first game last season (248) than he has in eight games this season (247). He is a long, angular target who needs to add more muscle and girth to his overall frame. He is an explosive athlete who gets up to speed quickly for his size (6 feet 2/185 pounds), but he needs to become a more consistent receiver. Underwood lacks concentration and has yet to become a natural pass catcher. He has had at least one “bad” drop in every game he has played during the past two seasons. The talent is there, but in order for Underwood to become more than simply a speedy vertical threat, he needs to improve his concentration level and hands.

7. CB DeAngelo Willingham, Tennessee
Willingham (6-0/200) is a tall, physical corner who started the season among the top cornerback prospects in the nation. But he has struggled all season with SEC receivers and was torched by Alabama freshman Julio Jones. Willingham has good ball skills and is natural at the line bumping and re-routing receivers. But he lacks flexibility and struggles dipping his hips and turning to run. He doesn’t possess the straight-line speed needed to make up for a false step and will struggle out on an island at the NFL level. He is more of a cornerback/free safety ‘tweener and doesn’t warrant more than a mid- to late-round pick.

8. DT Ricky Jean-Francois, LSU
After blocking a field goal, recording six tackles and 1.5 sacks and being named defensive MVP of the national title game last season, the sky seemingly was the limit for Jean-Francois. But he has been somewhat of a disappointment. He has only one sack and has managed just 11 tackles this season. There is no questioning his first-step quickness or athleticism. He has the explosion to shoot gaps and consistently attack up the field. But too often he gets high in his pass rush and struggles playing with a low pad level at the point of attack. Jean-Francois needs to learn to play with more leverage and consistently show the same type of motor he displayed in the national title game last season. He remains a dynamic athlete, but looks to have slipped toward the back end of the first round or early portion of the second.

9. QB Todd Boeckman, Ohio State
After leading Ohio State to the national title game last season, expectations were high this season. But after solid start, which included a 65 percent completion percentage, Boeckman and the Buckeyes were destroyed on the road by USC. This opened the door for freshman quarterback Terrell Pryor to step into the starting role, and Boeckman hasn’t played in the past four games. Boeckman lacks great arm strength and athleticism, but is a sound decision-maker who doesn’t make many mental mistakes. He was never going to be a top selection in the draft or a difference-maker in the NFL, but going from one of the top 10 senior quarterbacks to a fringe draftable prospect is a mighty fall.

10. WR Aaron Kelly, Clemson
Harper isn’t the only Clemson player to see his draft stock take a substantial hit. Kelly had 88 catches for 1,081 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. This season, he is on a pace to catch 55 passes for 596 yards and four touchdowns. Kelly plays at one speed and doesn’t show any kind of second gear or burst in and out of his routes. He is a smooth route-runner who can find the ball and use his body to make plays. But he doesn’t have the speed to threaten secondaries deep and looks like more like a No. 3 or 4 receiver at the next level. Kelly needs to show well in the postseason and prove he can separate from more explosive corners down the field.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft09/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&id=3715700Virginia's Sintim, Indiana's Thigpen generating interest; Top 32 shuffled

By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.

Updated: November 21, 2008

This is the time of year when road-weary area scouts head for home base. Generally speaking, these few weeks in late November and early December are spent putting the finishing touches on senior prospect evaluations. This information is later fed from the college scout in each area to the team's director of college scouting, who digests it and spits it back out in the form of an initial 2009 draft board.

The term "finishing touches" can mean many different things. If often means a scout wants to take another long, hard look at a player whose production has significantly varied -- either positively or negatively -- during his senior season. While talking to several NFL scouts in recent weeks I've been able to compile a list of prospects whose play has earned them a spot on the "finishing touches" list. The following is a look at five players heading north, and check back next week for the southbound list:

1. Louis Delma, S, Western Michigan
Delma's high level of production has not wavered as a senior, but because it's unusual for a Western Michigan safety to grade out this high it's only normal for scouts to double- and triple-check the film before rubber-stamping his grade. However, by finishing the season as strong as he started Delma has made it easy for area scouts to stick to their guns. He has notched 28 total tackles in his last three outings, including 12 stops in the 23-17 victory over Illinois in early November. If he carries this momentum into postseason all-star play and individual workouts Delma could conceivably land a spot late on Day 1.

2. Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia
Sintim is thriving as a rush linebacker in Virginia's 3-4 defense and he's expected to play a similar role in the NFL. Like the rest of the team, Sintim started the season slowly and had just one tackle for loss and zero sacks in the first three games. In the seven contests since then, he's been an absolute terror with 14 tackles for loss and including nine sacks. Sintim should come off the board by the end of Day 1.

3. Marcus Thigpen, WR/RB/RS, Indiana
Thigpen is flying under the radar right now but his versatility and breakaway speed are intriguing to many NFL teams. He will never be an every-down back or receiver but Thigpen can contribute in both areas on offense and he shows enough explosiveness to make an impact in the return game as well. Thigpen could conceivably work his way into the fourth-round range if his pre-draft workout times meet high expectations.

4. Rulon Davis, DE/OLB, California
Davis has been through injury, illness, junior college and a tour of duty with the Marines to Iraq to reach this point. We fell in love with his potential while breaking down his pre-season tape last summer and he continued to flash special qualities early in 2008. Davis was inconsistent, though, and missed four games due to a foot injury, which only added to the list of concerns. However, he returned to the lineup two weeks ago and turned in a season-best performance versus Oregon State, which included a sack, forced fumble and a pass breakup. Considering his combination of size, power and speed, it won't be surprising if Davis shoots up a lot of draft boards between now and April.

5. Anthony Hill, TE, N.C. State
Hill had fallen off the map midway through the 2008 season, but after missing all of 2007 season with a torn ACL and four more games early this year due to a chest injury Hill has returned to make a surprising impact down the stretch. He has nine catches in the team's last three outings. More importantly, he has been flat-out overpowering defenders as a blocker at the point of attack. Hill's upside is limited due to his below-average speed and athleticism but NFL teams are now reconsidering the 6-foot-5, 275-pounder as a hybrid tight end/offensive tackle, possibly as early as the fourth round.

The Top 32
Below is a look at our updated rankings of the top 32 prospects for the 2009 NFL draft. The list has undergone big changes this week, beginning with TCU's Jerry Hughes and Penn State's Aaron Maybin debuting in the top 20. Missouri's Jeremy Maclin and Wake Forest's Aaron Curry have cracked the top 10, while Texas' Brian Orakpo dropped 15 spots to No. 25.

Underclassmen continue to dominate the list even with the announcement that Georgia DT Geno Atkins will return to school, and until the official decision date in mid-January we will continue to include in our top 32 and overall rankings all underclassmen we deem worthy of a first-day (Rounds 1 and 2) grade.

(Note: * denotes draft-eligible junior; ** denotes draft-eligible third-year sophomore)
Scouts Inc.'s Top 32 Prospects
Player Position School Height Weight Grade
1. Andre Smith* OT Alabama 6-4⅞ 341 98
2. Sam Bradford** QB Oklahoma 6-3½ 218 98
3. Matthew Stafford* QB Georgia 6-2½ 235 97
4. Michael Crabtree** WR Texas Tech 6-2½ 208 97
5. Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio State 6-0 195 97
6. Michael Oher OT Mississippi 6-5 330 97
7. Jeremy Maclin** WR Missouri 6-0⅝ 198 96
8. Vontae Davis* CB Illinois 5-11⅞ 203 96
9. Aaron Curry OLB Wake Forest 6-1¾ 247 96
10. Everette Brown* DE Florida State 6-4¼ 252 96
11. Sen'Derrick Marks*DT Auburn 6-0⅞ 289 96
12. Eben Britton* OT Arizona 6-5½ 310 95
13. Jerry Hughes** DE TCU 6-2 245 95
14. Mark Sanchez* QB USC 6-2½ 225 95
15. Chris Wells* RB Ohio State 6-1 235 95
16. Rey Maualuga ILB USC 6-1⅞ 260 95
17. Terrence Cody* DT Alabama 6-4½ 375 95
18. Aaron Maybin** DE Penn State 6-3½ 250 94
19. Knowshon Moreno** RB Georgia 5-10⅜ 207 94
20. Michael Johnson DE Georgia Tech 6-7 259 93
21. Eugene Monroe OT Virginia 6-5⅛ 310 93
22. Jermaine Gresham* TE Oklahoma 6-5 266 93
23. James Laurinaitis ILB Ohio State 6-2 240 92
24. LeSean McCoy** RB Pittsburgh 5-11 205 92
25. Brian Orakpo DE Texas 6-3½ 255 92
26. George Selvie* DE South Florida 6-3⅞ 240 91
27. Brian Cushing OLB USC 6-2¾ 253 91
28. Percy Harvin* WR Florida 5-10¾ 187 91
29. Brandon Pettigrew TE Oklahoma State 6-5⅝ 260 91
30. Taylor Mays* S USC 6-3½ 225 91
31. Russell Okung* OT Oklahoma State 6-5¼ 303 90
32. Darrius Heyward-Bey*WR Maryland 6-1⅞ 203 90

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&id=3707753Versatility powers Vanderbilt, Florida; defense lets down UNC, Georgia

By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.

Updated: November 17, 2008

The opportunity is there every week. Some players seize it; others let it slide away. Here's a look at the players who shone or slipped in Week 12:

Stock up
1. Vanderbilt CB D.J. Moore
The Commodores entered the weekend having lost the past 17 games they had played with bowl eligibility on the line, but Moore apparently decided enough was enough, and the team's most talented player took matters into his own hands versus Kentucky.

Moore put his playmaking ability to work on offense with his first two career receptions, both of which went for touchdowns in the first quarter. After giving Vanderbilt a 14-0 cushion on offense, Moore did the remainder of his damage with two key interceptions on defense. His first pick set up a score that gave Vandy a 21-7 lead, and his second interception was even more critical, as it stunted Kentucky's comeback with the Wildcats trailing by just seven (31-24) with 2:07 remaining.

2. Florida WR/RB/RS Percy Harvin
Freshmen speedsters Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps had been enjoying all the fun in Florida's backfield recently, but Harvin got in on the action in Florida's 56-6 throttling of South Carolina. The versatile junior made the most of his eight carries, slashing the Gamecocks' respectable run defense for 162 yards and two scores. South Carolina simply had no answer for Harvin's world-class speed when he broke through the line of scrimmage.

It also should be noted that Florida ILB Brandon Spikes' 12-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter proved to be an early tone-setter for the Gators' defense, although it was nothing new for the standout linebacker. Spikes also picked off a first-quarter pass in Florida's win over LSU and sent a message with a bone-jarring hit on RB Knowshon Moreno early in the blowout win over Georgia.

More Ups and Downs
Todd McShay takes a look at other big names rising and falling across college football after Week 12. Insider

• Boston College linebackers impressive
• Oregon State RB Rodgers shreds Cal
• Kansas offense stumbles in Texas
• Wake Forest QB Skinner inconsistent

Stock down
1. North Carolina QB Cameron Sexton
Coach Butch Davis' squad has shown a great deal of resiliency in overcoming injuries to key players such as QB T.J. Yates and WR/RS Brandon Tate, but the Tar Heels could not overcome Sexton's erratic passing performance against Maryland. He completed just 10 of 24 passes and threw an interception in the 17-15 loss to the Terps.

North Carolina's run defense didn't hold up its end of the bargain, either. After holding Virginia to minus-12 yards on the ground the week before, the Tar Heels allowed Maryland to churn out 195 rushing yards. The loss dropped North Carolina out of first place in the Coastal Division.

2. Georgia's defense
Ordinarily, allowing 13 points isn't such a bad effort, but Auburn's offense entered the weekend averaging just 13 points per game against SEC competition and the Tigers seemed to get well in a 17-13 loss to the Bulldogs. RB Mario Fannin accounted for a career-high 107 total yards, and QB Kodi Burns nearly pulled off the upset before a 66-yard, fourth-quarter drive stalled on the Georgia 14-yard line.

The Bulldogs were shredded for 49 points in the embarrassing loss to Florida and nearly surrendered 38 points a week later in the narrow victory over Kentucky, which ranks 102nd nationally in total offense.

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2008/11/nfl-draft-top-defensive-linemen/By National Football Post
Posted November 22, 2008
NFL Draft: Top Defensive Linemen

With the various defensive fronts NFL teams are using, big, athletic defensive lineman always are a need. Mike Lombardi, Andrew Brandt and Wes Bunting of The National Football Post break down this year’s top 10 defensive lineman for our NFL Draft partner, Rivals.com.

1. T Terrence Cody, Alabama
THE BUZZ: An absolute game-changer who single-handedly has turned around the Crimson Tide’s rush defense. Cody is a massive nose tackle who possesses an amazing blend of quickness and flexibility off the snap. He gets off the ball quickly and overpowers offensive linemen on contact. He is unblockable one-on-one and needs the attention of at least two blockers on every play. He has the base strength and girth to hold the point of attack against double-teams; he can push the pocket even against double-teams. He isn’t going to run an impressive 40-time but his initial 10-yard spilt is impressive and he closes well. He is limited as a pass rusher and is a bit raw technically. He needs to do a better job using his hands to shed blocks and play with more consistent leverage when driving linemen upfield. But Cody is the type of player you can build a defense around, and his power, strength and agility are unmatched by any defensive tackle to come out in the past decade.

2. T Sen’Derrick Marks, Auburn
THE BUZZ: Marks is a bit undersized but plays with good power and has a lot of strength in his lower half. He has great balance and body control off his initial pass rush. He likes contact inside and prefers to use his suddenness to get into offensive linemen quickly and use his array of pass-rush moves to disengage and explode upfield. He’s a polished pass rusher who has an array of moves (arm over, rip and swat) inside, which allow him to gain a step inside and close on the quarterback. A naturally squatty player who does a nice job playing with leverage and getting under guards. Marks isn’t the most powerful run defender and will struggle with double-teams. He has difficulty shedding blocks when he is trying to hold the point of attack. He plays with a great motor and never takes a snap off. He’s a maximum-effort player, no matter the situation.

3. E Brian Orakpo, Texas
THE BUZZ: He possesses a slender but muscular frame with good upper-body thickness. He demonstrates a good first step and excellent closing speed in pursuit of the ball. He also has the ability to bull rush and drive tackles back into a quarterback’s lap. He needs to do a better job using his hands and disengaging from blocks on the outside. He plays the run well for a smaller end and shows good power at the point to stack. Orakpo has a tendency to simply try to make tackles miss; he needs to play with better hand placement and work on disengaging on contact. He struggles when tackles get into his body and is often content to be blocked when they do. Orakpo has the burst and change-of-direction skills to be a 10-sack guy in the NFL if he can learn to play with better hand placement.

4. E Greg Hardy, Ole Miss
THE BUZZ: He’s an explosive athlete who does an excellent job firing off the ball. Hardy possesses good body control and balance on his outside pass push, and makes it difficult for tackles to get under him and stay on their blocks. He’s a hard worker with a motor that runs non-stop. He keeps pushing the pocket from the outside and re-directs well back toward the ball. He plays the run extremely well for his size, and has the length and lower-body strength to anchor in. But he lacks a great arsenal of moves and is limited to the speed rush. He needs to learn to use his hands better to shed blocks once he is engaged, but he has the power, burst and quickness to get after the passer and play the run at the next level.

5. E Everette Brown, Florida State
THE BUZZ: Brown displays an impressive combination of power and speed off the edge and makes it difficult for tackles to cue in on his pass rush. He has the first-step quickness and burst to get out of his stance and reach the corner consistently. Brown exhibits a strong punch and drive on his bull rush, and does a nice job mixing in the bull rush and speed rush to keep tackles off-balance. While he is aggressive and plays with a high motor, he needs to show more discipline and better instincts. He will run himself out of plays and lose containment on runs to his side. He rushes with power, speed and agility, and just needs to add more moves to his pass-rush arsenal. He has a lot of upside, and while he isn’t a finished product, all the physical tools are there.

6. E Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech
THE BUZZ: Johnson has an explosive first step off the snap and the ability to get up the field in a blink. He has a massive wingspan and great closing speed. He also has the athletic ability to drop off in zone-blitz situations. He disengages well from tackles, and uses his outside swat move as well as anyone in the country. He is agile and can change directions quickly. He needs to become a better all-around player. At times, Johnson will get washed out too easy in the run game. He needs to do a better job planting and holding at the point of attack. He comes out of his stance too high against the run and doesn’t show the fight or motor you want to consistently see. He needs to continue to work on his technique and hand placement in the run game, but has the power and length to be a good run stuffer. In addition, at times he gets lazy and doesn’t have the production you would expect from someone with his type of physical gifts.

7. T B.J. Raji, Boston College
THE BUZZ: Raji displays great lower-body strength and has the power to consistently get under interior linemen and drive them into the backfield. He does a nice job playing low while anchoring inside and is difficult to move off the ball. He has an impressive initial surge off the snap, and has the lower-body strength to overpower blockers. Raji does a nice job finding the ball and has enough closing speed to make a play in space. He struggles a bit when his initial surge is stalled and lacks the suddenness to shed blocks and explode upfield. But he has an intriguing combination of quickness and power off the snap.

8. E George Selvie, USF
THE BUZZ: Selvie is a long, lean athlete. He has an explosive first step and gets on a tackle’s outside shoulder quickly. Selvie also has the closing speed and quickness to turn the corner and get after the quarterback. He can get too high on his outside rush and can be pushed past the quarterback too easily. Selvie needs to add more moves to his pass-rush arsenal; he is too dependent on his speed rush and struggles shedding blockers when they get their hands on him. He lacks the bulk and lower-body strength to bull rush, and when he gets locked on, the battle is over. He can struggle against the run and physical run blockers, but he does have the burst and quickness to slide down the line and shoot gaps inside. He is raw in terms of technique and diversity in his pass rush, and may be best-suited to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme at the next level.

9. Geno Atkins, Georgia
THE BUZZ: Atkins is a short, undersized tackle who plays with natural leverage and pop. He has a powerful lower body and does a nice job driving his legs through contact and fighting off blocks on his pass rush. He plays extremely low and with natural leverage, and it’s difficult to move him off the ball. But he struggles finding the ball consistently. He will get a bit too upright on run plays in an attempt to find the ball and can get jacked backward at times at the point of attack. He has quick feet and good overall body control, and can regroup quickly and anchor in once he finds the ball. He struggles taking on double-teams and has a tendency to be washed out of plays too easily. He has a passion for the game and a non-stop motor.

10. E Corey Wootton, Northwestern
THE BUZZ: Wootton does an excellent job keeping blockers away from his body and shedding blocks at the point of attack. He does all the little things well. He has a vicious outside swat move and doesn’t seem to wear down against double-teams. He has good speed off the edge but lacks the burst and first step to consistently turn the corner. He is an aggressive run defender who can hold the point of attack against the run, but he has a tendency to over-run plays and doesn’t always do a great job finding the ball. Wootton could really move up draft boards once scouts see more tape.

[Box_O_Rocks]

I got around to watching the Clemson @ Virginia game I recorded:

Virginia
OLB Clint Sintim 6'3" 254 - looked very good as a 3-4 OLB.
ILB Antonio Appleby 6'4" 250 - looked worth a Day Two pick, he might be someone who can play either ILB or OLB.
CB Vic Hall 5'9" 190 (rJr.) was a stud against the run, I didn't really see much of him in the passing game to make an assessment - he's also a PR.
DE Alex Field 6'6" 267 - looked good against the run. He's a little light, we'll have to see what his Pro-Day numbers look like.

Clemson
SS Michael Hamlin 6'3" 206 - looked quite good, he was moved to FS after his counterpart was injured.
FS Chris Clemons 6'1" 210 - was injured early on a tackle, but looked good in very limited action. I've watched him in another game and like him for the SS role.

[Box_O_Rocks]

California @ Oregon State recording

California

NT Mika Kane, 6'2" 312 is clogging the middle nicely and playing down the LOS to make tackles. Worth considering as a UDFA, especially with so few big bodies for NT.

DE Tyson Alualu 6'3" 290 is showing good strength at DE. Probably not coming out this year, but a nice looking kid.

DE Rulon Davis, 6'5" 282 is worth watching. Another UDFA prospect - needs to bulk up a bit more and get stronger, but not bad.

OLB Zack Follett 6'2" 238 is a play maker at OLB in the 3-4. Will probably need to move inside.

ILB Worrell Williams 6'1" 248 takes on OL as an ILB, but he seems slow on his reads. He's highly rated by NFL Draft Scout, but doesn't seem to play downhill well. He reminds me of Oscar Lua.

ILB Anthony Felder 6'2" 238 plays much more instinctively at ILB and looks better stacking & shedding. He'll need to bulk up, but would be worth bringing in as a late round or UDFA signing.

CB Syd'Quan Thompson 5'9" 187 is a fine ball-hawking CB.


Oregon State

SS Al Afalava 5'11" 212 was playing FS and looked good in coverage with one PD. His speed needs to be checked, but against Cal he was covering the field.

LT Andy Levitre 6'2" 318 would be a good OG prospect for NE with very good next level blocking and strength at the point of attack.

SS Greg Laybourn, 5'10" 208 is a nice open field tackler and a good in the box S, though he may be a bit slow.

CB Keenan Lewis 6'1" 198 Cal avoided him.

[Box_O_Rocks]

FS Derek Pegues 5-10/195 (Mississippi State) looked good in their game with Alabama. He also returns kicks.

[Dwight Schrute]

Scout.com has the first mock I've seen up and has us selecting William Moore FS Missouri.

Thoughts Box?

[Box_O_Rocks]

Scout.com has the first mock I've seen up and has us selecting William Moore FS Missouri.

Thoughts Box?His stock is dropping, he might be there in the late 1st. I'd rather see James Sanders re-signed and grab a couple young Safeties Day Two:

NFL Draft Scout projects these kids on Day Two, any two of them would be nice additions to work with - I've watched them in at least one game and like

Louis Delmas, Western Michigan 6-0/196 4.52
Rashad Johnson, Alabama 6-0/190 4.49
Courtney Greene, Rutgers 6-1/214 4.52
David Bruton, Notre Dame 6-2/212 4.55
Brandon Underwood, Cincinnati 6-1/189 4.54
Chris Clemons, Clemson 6-1/210 4.60
Chip Vaughn, Wake Forest 6-2/214 4.52
Kevin Ellison, Southern Cal 6-1/228 4.58
Al Afalava, Oregon State 5-11/212 4.58

They project this kid as a UDFA, and he might turn out to be the best fit in the NE secondary (potential Rodney clone), he had a heck of a good bowl game against Boise State (no pushover).

Stephen Hodge, TCU 6-0/214 4.63

[Box_O_Rocks]

Declared Pos School Projected Measurables
Moreno, *Knowshon (RB) Georgia [1] 5-11/208, 4.48
Nicks, *Hakeem (WR) North Carolina [1-2] 6-1/210, 4.57
Stafford, *Matthew (QB) Georgia [1] 6-3/236, 4.78
Freeman, *Josh (QB) Kansas State [2-3] 6-6/248, 4.86
Moore, *D.J. (CB) Vanderbilt [1] 5-10/184, 4.45
Brown, *Everette (DE) Florida State [1] 6-4/252, 4.65
Greene, *Shonn (RB) Iowa [2] 5-11/235, 4.58
Heyward-Bey, *Darrius (WR) Maryland [1-2] 6-2/206, 4.37
Smith, *Andre (OT) Alabama [1] 6-4/340, 5.28
Brown, *Donald (RB) Connecticut [2-3] 5-10/210, 4.49
Casey, *James (TE) Rice [2-3] 6-4/235, 4.68
Davis, *Vontae (CB) Illinois [1-2] 6-0/204, 4.42
Cook, *Jared (TE) South Carolina [2-3] 6-5/240, 4.58
Britton, *Eben (OT) Arizona [1-2] 6-6/310, 5.09
Britt, *Kenny (WR) Rutgers [2] 6-4/215, 4.54
Marks, *Sen'Derrick (DT) Auburn [2-3] 6-1/295, 4.93
Munnerlyn, *Captain (CB) South Carolina [2-3] 5-09/185, 4.39
McRath, *Gerald (ILB) Southern Miss [5] 6-3/224, 4.62
Rolle, *Myron (SS) Florida State [6-7] 6-2/218, 4.52
Baker, *Chris (DT) Hampton [5] 6-2/308, 5.08
Powers, *Jerraud (CB) Auburn [5-6] 5-09/192, 4.49
Ogletree, *Kevin (WR) Virginia [6] 6-2/190, 4.50
Davie, *Andrew (TE) Arkansas [UDFA] 6-5/265

[Box_O_Rocks]

Prospect Pos School Projected Measurables
Baker, *Chris (DT) Hampton [5] 6-2/308, 5.08
Britt, *Kenny (WR) Rutgers [2-3] 6-4/215, 4.54
Britton, *Eben (OT) Arizona [1-2] 6-6/310, 5.09
Brown, *Donald (RB) Connecticut [2-3] 5-10/210, 4.49
Brown, *Everette (DE) Florida State [1] 6-4/252, 4.65
Casey, *James (TE) Rice [2-3] 6-4/235, 4.68
Coffee, *Glen (RB) Alabama [5] 6-1/204, 4.53
Collie, *Austin (WR) BYU [3] 6-2/206, 4.56
Cook, *Emanuel (SS) South Carolina [4] 5-10/205, 4.52
Cook, *Jared (TE) South Carolina [2-3] 6-5/240, 4.58
Crabtree, *Michael (WR) Texas Tech [1] 6-3/214, 4.54
Davie, *Andrew (TE) Arkansas [UDFA] 6-5/265
Davis, *Vontae (CB) Illinois [1-2] 6-0/204, 4.42
Freeman, *Josh (QB) Kansas State [2-3] 6-6/248, 4.86
Greene, *Shonn (RB) Iowa [2] 5-11/235, 4.58
Heyward-Bey, *Darrius (WR) Maryland [2] 6-2/206, 4.37
Hill, *P.J. (RB) Wisconsin [6-7] 5-11/236, 4.59
Isdaner, *Greg (OG) West Virginia [6-7] 6-4/322, 5.19
Maclin, *Jeremy (WR) Missouri [1] 6-1/200, 4.38
Marks, *Sen'Derrick (DT) Auburn [2-3] 6-1/295, 4.93
McRath, *Gerald (ILB) Southern Miss [5] 6-3/224, 4.62
Moore, *D.J. (CB) Vanderbilt [1] 5-10/184, 4.45
Moreno, *Knowshon (RB) Georgia [1] 5-11/208, 4.48
Munnerlyn, *Captain (CB) South Carolina [2-3] 5-09/185, 4.39
Nicks, *Hakeem (WR) North Carolina [1-2] 6-1/210, 4.57
Ogletree, *Kevin (WR) Virginia [6-7] 6-2/190, 4.50
Powers, *Jerraud (CB) Auburn [5-6] 5-09/192, 4.49
Rolle, *Myron (SS) Florida State [6-7] 6-2/218, 4.52
Smith, *Andre (OT) Alabama [1] 6-4/340, 5.28
Stafford, *Matthew (QB) Georgia [1] 6-3/236, 4.78
Wells, *Chris (RB) Ohio State [1] 6-1/237, 4.53

[chef]

CRABTREE DECLARDED?!
when did that happen?

[Box_O_Rocks]

chef
CRABTREE DECLARDED?!
when did that happen?

01/09/09 - Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree is expected to announce at a 3 p.m. ET news conference on Tuesday that he will enter the NFL draft, two people close to Crabtree said Friday. Crabtree had an ankle specialist determine that his high ankle sprain was properly diagnosed and treated. Crabtree is expected to attend the NFL scouting combine but is not expected to run a 40-yard dash. More likely, Crabtree will run at his own pro day. Crabtree has visited with Texas Tech coach Mike Leach twice already and will visit with him once more before the planned news conference. Leach has mentioned the possibility of the receiver returning to win a Heisman, but Crabtree, 6-foot-3, 214 pounds, has been told by multiple sources, including the NFL draft advisory committee, that he would be a first-round pick. Crabtree had 93 catches and 18 touchdowns in the regular season, averaging 94.6 yards per game. He won the prestigious Biletnikoff Award for the nation's top receiver. - Joe Schad, ESPN

As of this morning, the only news I can find to confirm this:
Texas Tech’s Crabtree headed to NFL: Michael Crabtree’s father says the Texas Tech receiver is going to the NFL, according to a newspaper report.

His father, also named Michael Crabtree, told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal that draft projections in the top 10 were too good to pass up.

[LVent*]

Pitt's McCoy will go to NFL draft
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

University of Pittsburgh star running back LeSean McCoy has decided to forego his remaining eligibility and enter the 2009 NFL Draft, ending months of speculation on the subject.

In a statement released by Pitt's Athletic Department, McCoy said, "During my two years at Pitt, I have received an overwhelming amount of love and acceptance, starting from my first visit to the university all the way through the end of this season. I have been treated with respect, class and consideration. For that I am incredibly grateful.

"I will always cherish the opportunity Pitt has given me. I wore number 25 with pride and tried to represent my coaches, teammates, staff and Panther fans with class. I would like to thank everyone involved with the Pitt football program for a wonderful two years in Pittsburgh."

In the same statement, head coach Dave Wannstedt said of McCoy, "When you have exceptionally gifted players, you realize the NFL can be a reality sooner rather than later. Certainly that is the case with LeSean and we worked to make sure he had all the information needed to make the best decision about his pro prospects.

"I know firsthand how enticing the NFL can be for young men, both financially and from the standpoint of realizing a lifelong dream of playing pro football. I told LeSean he would always have our support and we wish him only the very, very best."

[chef]

Taylor Mays is stay aswell as CJ Gable.
thats bad, i really wanted Mays

[chef]

edit: alright, som1 else can post it because it doesn't seem to come out right
had the list of all the declaring players.
harvin is going pro and spikes is staying which r a couple new 1s

[tb4u]

I have to say, this years draft is going to be good. I have a really good feeling about it. I think that we can use our first 3 picks in the first 2 rounds to pick up some solid defensive additions.

[Dwight Schrute]

Just checked CBS,Fox,and MSNBC latest mocks.

All 3 had us tabbing Alphonso Smith Wake Forest CB with the 23 pick.