California Junior WR DeSean
Jackson has
decided to forgo his Senior season, and enter the 2008 Draft. To be
sure, the only concern that NFL Scouts and GM’s have with Jackson is
his rather small frame (5’11,” 172 lbs.). In all other respects,
Jackson rates as an elite-level prospect who will likely be the first
WR chosen in this year’s Draft. Blessed with extraordinary speed (which
should result in a 40-yard dash time in the 4.27-4.35 range), Jackson
will be a versatile player for the team that drafts him, providing
regular contributions not only in the receiving department, but also in
the Punt and Kick Return areas, as well as the occasional end-around
carry. Jackson is a potent deep-threat TD machine who left opposing
DB’s in the dust numerous times over his 3 years as a Golden Bear, and
he possesses reliable hands to boot. Jackson’s all-around athletic
ability is readily apparent, as he has had notable success playing
baseball both in high school and while in college. In a Draft quite
deep at WR, it is a bit difficult to predict exactly when the first NFL
team in the market for a wideout will “pull the trigger,” but the odds
are in favor of Jackson being off the board by pick #20.
University of Oklahoma Junior CB Reggie Smith has become the
third Sooner underclassman to leave school early and enter this year’s
Draft. The 6’0,” 196 lb. Smith is a good cover corner who brings a
physical style of play to the field. Logging 78 tackles to go along
with 3 interceptions and a fumble recovery returned for a TD this past
season, Smith’s overall performance was good enough to earn him
consensus First-Team All-Big 12 honors. Smith has also contributed on
Punt and Kick Returns, demonstrating very good open-field explosiveness
in the process. If the toe injury that kept Smith out of the Fiesta
Bowl heals in enough time for the Sooner DB to participate in pre-Draft
workouts at full speed, Smith stands a good chance to record a 40-yard
dash time in the 4.40-4.45 range, and such a mark, when coupled with
Smith’s excellent leaping ability, may very well result in an early
Round 2 selection for the Oklahoma native.
University of Oklahoma Junior LB Curtis Lofton will follow his
teammate, Junior WR Malcolm Kelly, out of Norman and into the NFL. The
highly-recruited home-grown product exploded in 2007 with a whopping
157 tackles, earning consensus All-American Honors as a result. Lofton
set an all-time school record with 9 double-digit tackle games this
past season, including a remarkable 18 tackle performance against
Missouri during his team’s first meeting with the Tigers in ‘07. Though
only 6’0,” Lofton has a well-built frame at 238 lbs., and possesses
outstanding sideline-to-sideline speed. What stood out to me most this
past season was the ease with which Lofton shed blockers while moving
up the field. Lofton’s tackling technique is fundamentally sound, and
if fully motivated, the Sooner LB looks like he could be a future Pro
Bowler as an ILB. The prediction here is that Lofton will be chosen in
Round 2 of this year’s Draft.
Florida State Juniors, QB/Athlete Xavier Lee and DT Letroy Guion, will
both forgo their Senior seasons and enter the 2008 Draft. Once a
big-time in-state recruiting coup for the Seminoles, the 6’4,” 235 lb.
Lee has not lived up to expectations as a QB for a variety of reasons,
most notably the fact that he did not receive/earn consistent playing
time with soon-to-be Senior QB Drew Weatherford atop the team’s depth
chart. When he was given significant playing time, the athletic,
multi-talented Lee was reasonably successful at generating offense for
his team both through his strong arm, and especially his speedy legs.
During his time in the program, Lee had a knack for creatively scoring
TD’s after leading his team into the Red Zone, and his presence in the
huddle seemed to positively affect Junior RB Antone Smith. While it is
unlikely that Lee will ever play QB in the NFL, his raw speed (which
could very well be in the sub-4.4 range) and athletic ability will
likely earn him a Draft selection in Rounds 4-6, with the team that
drafts Lee expected to utilize his play-making abilities in the return
game on special teams, and possibly in a WR role as well.
The 6’4,” 295 lb. Guion had 31 tackles this past season, including 6.5
for a loss. Academic struggles appear to have played a major role in
Guion’s decision to leave school early, and while the 2008 Draft is
very deep at both the Defensive Tackle and Defensive End positions,
Guion does have good size and enough “upside” to merit a look from NFL
teams sometime during the middle rounds.
University of Arkansas Junior RB Felix Jones will follow his
teammate, Junior RB Darren McFadden, out of Fayetteville and into the
2008 Draft. The 6’0,” 205 lb. Jones has been very productive over his
3-year collegiate career despite surrendering the majority of his
team’s rushing attempts to McFadden. In both 2006 and 2007, Jones
recorded over 1,160 yards rushing while averaging a very impressive 7.6
yards/carry and 8.7 yards/carry in each respective season. Furthermore,
Jones nearly doubled his rushing TD total in 2007 (11) from that in
2006 (6), while also increasing his total receiving yardage, and
maintaining his characteristic success on special teams in the return
game. Jones’ most impressive performances this past season include a 12
carry, 133 yard output against Kentucky, 166 yards on 13 carries to go
along with 3 TD’s against South Carolina, and a 9 carry, 85 yard
performance at LSU. While securing the football is an area which Jones
could improve on, the Razorback rusher’s versatility and open-field
speed give him a good chance to be chosen as high as the tag end of
Round 1.
University of Arkansas Junior
RB Darren McFadden has decided to leave school early, and enter
the NFL
Draft. This decision has obviously been anticipated for quite some time
now, ever since the conclusion of McFadden’s ground-breaking Sophomore
season, which saw the home-grown phenom rush for well over 1,600 yards
(at 5.8 yards/carry) and 14 TD’s. Included within these statistics were
several 50-80 yard runs, wherein McFadden showcased unbelievable raw
speed and open-field explosiveness that quickly caught the eyes of NFL
Scouts and GM’s alike. Amidst heightened expectations, McFadden
followed his 2006 campaign with a 2007 season to remember, recording a
school-record 1,830 yards rushing (at 5.6 yards/carry) to go along with
16 TD’s. McFadden’s characteristic 50-80 yard runs were abundantly
present once again this past season, and he leaves the Razorback
football program with, amongst other things, the all-time school record
for career rushing yards, as well as two straight Doak Walker Awards
(given annually to the nation’s top RB), and consecutive 2nd place
finishes in voting for the Heisman Trophy. At 6’2,” McFadden possesses
an elite-level frame for a tailback, and his versatility at the RB
position is almost unparalleled in recent collegiate memory. Indeed,
aside from taking handoffs, McFadden has proven extraordinarily
effective at catching passes out of the backfield, taking direct snaps
from center, and returning kickoffs. What is even more amazing about
McFadden’s productivity and all-around play is the fact that he has
ceded a considerable number of carries over the last 3 seasons to his
talented teammate, Junior RB Felix Jones (who may still declare for the
2008 Draft himself). As a heady and team-oriented football player,
McFadden is sure to garner rave reviews during the pre-Draft process,
while standing a very real chance to record a 40-yard dash time in the
4.35 range, if not better. While both trade possibilities and ongoing
front-office personnel and coaching changes make the top of the 2008
Draft a difficult one to forecast, make no mistake about it folks:
Darren McFadden is one of the top-3 prospects available in this year's
Draft
Penn State Junior CB Justin King has,
as expected, declared for the NFL Draft. King established himself as a
shutdown cover corner during the 2006 season, and expectations were
justifiably high for the heralded Pittsburgh native at the outset of
this past season. Though King gave up more than a few TD’s in 2007, his
overall performance was good enough to earn first-team all-Big Ten
honors, and he leaves the Nittany Lion football program with 3
interceptions, 23 pass breakups, and 24 passes defensed in his career.
King possesses solid size for a CB at 6’0,” but what really stands out
is his speed and athletic ability. King stands a very good chance to
record a sub-4.4 40-yard dash time, and his leaping ability should
catch the attention of NFL GM’s and coaches in pre-Draft workouts as
well. Good workouts would likely land King a Round 2 Draft grade, while
below-average performances will probably result in a Round 3 selection.
West Virginia University Junior RB Steve
Slaton will follow his teammate, Junior Darius Reynaud, out of
Morgantown and into the 2008 Draft. While the start of the 2007 season
brought with it the expectation that Slaton would definitely declare
for this year’s Draft, a lackluster Junior year combined with an
incredibly deep 2008 RB class led to some doubt in recent days/weeks as
to whether or not Slaton would leave school early. Nevertheless, Slaton
has decided that now is indeed the time to embark upon his professional
career, and the decision to do so comes with great intrigue, to say the
least. There is no doubt that Slaton possesses terrific open-field
speed to go along with sleek receiving skills out of the backfield;
however, many NFL Scouts and GM’s express concern over the fact that
Slaton is not very adept at shedding tacklers or breaking through
stacked coverage in the defensive Front-7. In the eyes of many, the
rather skinny Slaton is the product of an innovative collegiate
blocking scheme which cleared huge holes at the line of scrimmage for
the Mountaineer RB to attack, leading to many 30-50 yard runs in the
process. In pre-Draft workouts (and in the NFL), Slaton will have to
prove that he can be an effective runner while operating in a
traditional pro-style blocking scheme which puts much of the
responsibility for success in the rushing department on the individual
tailback, and his ability to make plays in the face of contact.
Slaton’s projected 4.4 speed should still land him a Round 2 selection
this year.
Ohio State Junior DE Vernon Gholston has
become the first Buckeye underclassmen to leave for the 2008 Draft. At
6’4,” 265 lbs., Gholston is an incredible physical specimen, and
rumblings amongst some NFL Scouts (backed up by the size & tone of
Gholston’s arms) suggest that the Buckeye pass-rusher may very well be
the single strongest player in this year’s Draft. Gholston burst onto
the scene during his Sophomore season, racking up an impressive 15
tackles behind the line of scrimmage (totaling 86 yards in losses) in
addition to 7.5 sacks. Ohio State coaches predicted that Gholston’s
2007 campaign would be one of the best in school history, and they were
right. Gholston was absolutely dominant off the edge this past year,
surpassing current New England Patriots LB Mike Vrabel for first
all-time in school history with 14 sacks in a single season! Even more,
3 of those sacks came against school rival Michigan, as Gholston
shockingly made top Draft prospect Jake Long (LT) look very beatable in
pass protection. A sure bet to impress in workouts, Gholston may soon
be able to claim that he is no worse than the second-best DE in this
year’s Draft, even ahead of standout Juniors Calais Campbell (Miami
(Fla.)) and Derrick Harvey (Florida), as well as Seniors Lawrence
Jackson (USC) and Quentin Groves (Auburn). Gholston is a lock to be
selected in Round 1 of the Draft, possibly as high as pick #15, where
his hometown Detroit Lions lay waiting.
University of Oregon Junior RB Jonathan Stewart has, as
expected, entered the NFL Draft. From a physical standpoint, Stewart
ranks amongst the most impressive prospects in this year’s Draft at
5’10,” 230 lbs. When combined with his elite open-field speed,
Stewart’s muscular frame has made him immensely difficult to tackle the
last two years. During a 2006 Sophomore campaign which saw him finish
with a 5.4 yards/carry average and just under 1,000 yards rushing,
Stewart showed ability which convinced myself and others that he was
very close to becoming a truly great back. Expectations were realized
in 2007 when Stewart exploded for 1,722 yards rushing (6.2 yards/carry)
and 11 TD’s, to go along with 145 yards receiving on 22 catches and 2
TD’s! To be sure, Stewart’s game-day efforts in 2007 stood out more
than a few times. Twice this past season, against Washington and South
Florida, Stewart amazed with 250+ yard rushing performances, while also
recording 163 yards on the ground against school rival Oregon State,
and 103 yards (and 2 TD’s) against the vaunted USC defense. Despite a
loaded RB class in this year’s Draft, Stewart is making a sound
decision by leaving school early. He will surely impress in a variety
of pre-Draft workouts, including repetitions in the 225 lb. bench
press, along with shuttle and 40-yard dash times. In the latter run,
Stewart stands a very good chance to record a 4.40 time or better, and
when Draft day arrives, expect the Ducks’ superstar to be off the board
by pick #25 at the latest.
Southern California Junior OG Chilo Rachal will enter the NFL
Draft. The 6’5,” 315 lb. Rachal proved to be a versatile recruit for
Trojans head coach Pete Carroll, moving from Tackle early in his career
to Right Guard, where he started in 2006 and 2007 (earning
all-conference honors by league coaches this past season). Rachal’s
size as a Guard projects very well to the professional level, and
Trojan lineman selected in the Draft during the last few years have
done quite well for themselves in the NFL. Good workouts could land
Rachal as high as a late-Round 2/early Round 3 grade. Rachal is the
first of what could be more Trojan underclassmen to declare for this
year’s Draft.
Louisville Junior LB Lamar Myles will enter the 2008 Draft.
Along with his teammate, Senior LB Malik Jackson, Myles stood out on an
otherwise disappointing Cardinals defense, leading the team with 128
tackles (including an impressive 22 tackles against Kentucky), while
also forcing and recovering 3 fumbles. The 6’1,” 220 lb. Myles is a
hard-hitter who brought a refreshing level of consistency to the field
in 2007. In what projects to be a solid draft at the LB position, Myles
faces the prospect of having to wait until the 3rd Round or later to be
selected.
NC State Junior S DaJuan Morgan will also enter the NFL Draft.
The 6’1,” 200 lb. Morgan was quite productive for the Wolfpack this
past season, leading the team with 97 tackles while adding 3
interceptions and 6 pass breakups. Morgan is versatile, having played
both Safety positions in college, although he will probably be a Free
Safety in the NFL. Outstanding workouts could propel Morgan to the 3rd
Round of the Draft, but in all likelihood, he will hear his name called
somewhere in the middle rounds.
University of Oklahoma Junior WR Malcolm
Kelly has, as expected, declared for the 2008 Draft. The 6’4,”
220 lb. Kelly is truly one of the elite prospects in this year’s Draft.
In addition to possessing reliable hands, Kelly is very adept at
shedding tacklers and is an absolute weapon in the Red Zone. During a
2007 season that saw him constantly face double-coverage while fighting
nagging injuries, Kelly still managed to average almost 17 yards/catch,
while recording 9 TD’s in the process (his 21 career TD catches rank
him 2nd on the Sooners’ all-time list, behind current Baltimore Ravens
WR Mark Clayton). It is worth noting that towards the end of this past
season, Kelly suffered a deep thigh bruise which, in addition to
forcing him out of the Fiesta Bowl against West Virginia, may delay
Kelly’s ability to participate in substantive pre-Draft workouts until
the latter part of March. Nevertheless, NFL GM’s will tell you that
players with Kelly’s talent don’t come around often, and thus, the
Sooner wideout solidly projects as a 1st Round pick.
Vanderbilt University Junior WR Earl Bennett will forgo his
Senior season to enter the Draft. The once lightly-recruited Bennett
has made himself quite a football player in the ultra-competitive SEC,
and he leaves school with the all-time SEC record for receptions (236).
At the conclusion of the 2007 season, Bennett became the only wideout
in conference history to record at least 75 receptions in each year of
play, and his career totals in yards receiving (2,852) and TD catches
(20) stand out as well. Bennett has the size, at 6’1,” 200 lbs., to be
effective as a #2 possession receiver in the NFL. Bennett’s 40-yard
dash time will be important toward determining his Draft grade, but the
prediction here is that Bennett will be selected by the end of Round 3.
West Virginia University Junior WR Darius Reynaud will not
return to school for his 5th year, instead opting to enter the 2008
Draft. Reynaud is obviously on the small side at only 5’10,” but he
does have very good speed, and may become an effective slot receiver in
the NFL. While running routes in Rich Rodriguez’s spread-option
offense, Reynaud found himself wide open in gaping holes between loose
Safety coverage many times, leading to a good number of long TD
catches. Reynaud is a solid bet to impress with his 40-yard dash time,
but he must prove to GM’s and NFL coaches alike that he can run routes
as a #3 receiver at the professional level. Reynaud must also learn to
catch the ball with his hands more, rather than cradling balls thrown
to him with his arms/chest. As of now, Reynaud looks like a mid-round
Draft prospect.
Clemson University Junior DE Phillip Merling has declared for
the NFL Draft. Physically-gifted, the 6’5,” 280 lb. Merling really came
into his own this past season, leading the Tigers with 17 tackles for a
loss and 7 sacks. During his first two seasons of play, Merling was
understandably in the shadow of star Clemson DE Gaines Adams, but the
fact that the Tigers were able to maintain a consistent (if not
explosive) pass rush at the line of scrimmage in 2007 is largely
attributable to Merling’s efforts. Had he come back for his Senior
season, Merling would have stood a solid chance to work his way into
the 1st Round of the 2009 Draft. Nevertheless, as young and healthy as
Merling is, good workouts could put him anywhere from late-Round 2 to
late-Round 3 this year.
University of Hawaii Junior WR Ryan Grice-Mullins has followed
his co-wideout Davone Bess out the door early from Hawaii and into the
2008 Draft. Just like Bess, Grice-Mullins was outrageously productive
in June Jones’ “Run & Shoot” offense, recording 106 receptions for
a team-high 1,372 yards and 13 TD’s in 2007 alone. Just like Bess,
Grice-Mullins is on the small side, barely checking in at 5’11.” Just
like Bess and Senior QB Colt Brennan, Grice-Mullins will have to prove
that his fate in the NFL will be different than that of past players
from the Warrior football program. And just like Bess, Grice-Mullins is
a “wild-card” prospect who will likely find himself selected in the
middle rounds on Draft day.
University of Michigan Junior Wide
Receivers Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington both intend to
declare for the 2008 NFL Draft. These two decisions have been in the
works for a few weeks now, ever since new head coach Rich Rodriguez was
hired in mid-December. To be sure, these declarations are sound ones,
as Manningham and Arrington have accomplished all that they can in Ann
Arbor, and a return to school by either of the two for their Senior
year would likely be a frustrating experience, given the immediate
installation of Rodriguez’s spread-option offense, as well as a new QB
commanding the huddle.
The 6’0,” 180 lb. Manningham is the more naturally talented of the two
receivers, possessing very, very good deep speed and efficient
route-running ability. What impresses me most about Manningham is the
competitive manner in which he goes after the football when close to
making a catch. Manningham recorded numerous multi-TD games for the
Wolverines, and finishes his career with 27 total TD catches.
Manningham will likely time the 40-yard dash in the 4.37-4.45 range,
setting himself up to be chosen anywhere from the latter part of Round
1 through the middle of Round 2.
The 6’3,” 195 lb. Arrington is the more physically-gifted of the two
wideouts, though the former Iowa prep track star also showcases good
speed and soft, reliable hands. After an injury-plagued 2005 season,
Arrington burst onto the scene in 2006 opposite Manningham, giving QB
Chad Henne an effective possession receiver and red-zone threat to
throw to. Never lacking for confidence on the field, Arrington’s
performance improved even more in 2007, as he virtually cut out dropped
passes from his repertoire while becoming a very good (and unheralded)
down-field blocker in the process. Arrington caught 8 TD’s this past
season, including 2 in a 9 reception, 153 yard performance against
Florida in the Capital One Bowl. The pool of WR’s in the 2008 Draft is
yet to be determined given some prominent Juniors who will likely
declare, but Arrington is one prospect to keep an eye on during the
pre-Draft process. Good workouts and interviews could land Arrington as
high as a late Round 2 Draft grade.
University
of Tennessee Junior LB Jerod Mayo has, as expected, entered the
NFL Draft. The hard-nosed Mayo led the SEC in tackles this past season,
recording an incredible 62 stops in his last four games alone! In
addition to possessing very good size at 6’2,” 230 lbs., Mayo is
versatile, having played both OLB and ILB for the Vols, the latter this
past season. When Mayo is healthy, he brings a non-stop motor to the
field, and his teammates feed off of his intensity very well. Indeed,
as the focal point of a defense, Mayo can virtually dominate a game,
flustering opposing offensive coordinators and head coaches in the
process. With Mayo, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and though
he almost surely will be selected by the end of Round 2, good pre-Draft
workouts and interviews could propel Mayo into the tag end of Round 1.
My kind of football player!
Rutgers
Junior RB Ray Rice will enter the 2008 Draft. Rice has been
arguably the most productive RB in the nation over the last two
seasons, and he leaves the Scarlet Knight football program having just
concluded an incredible 2007 campaign in which he joined a very select
club of collegiate RB’s to record over 2,000 rushing yards in a single
season. The 5’9” Rice possesses great breakaway speed, and combines
good field vision with a low running posture that makes him difficult
to bring down between the tackles. Rice has recorded many 30-40 yard
runs over the last two seasons, and though some will assert that his
production came against below-average Big East defenses, Rice’s
consistency game-to-game coupled with his knack for finding the end
zone are hard to overlook. Rice should perform well in pre-Draft
workouts, and is a virtual lock to be selected by the end of Round 2.
Florida
State Junior LB Geno Hayes has declared himself eligible for the
NFL Draft. A highly-regarded recruit from the Class of 2005, Hayes
really came into his element this past season, finishing first on his
team in tackles for a loss with 17.5 (94 tackles total). The 6’2,” 220
lb. Hayes brings a sleek, efficient approach to the LB position, taking
narrow angles towards ball carriers while rarely over-pursuing. Hayes’
speed and athleticism make him an ideal candidate for the weak-side LB
position in the NFL, where Hayes’ play-making abilities would surely
stand out. Bound to impress GM’s and coaches in his pre-Draft workouts,
Hayes has a good shot at being selected sometime in Round 2.
Auburn
University Junior DT Pat Sims will also enter the NFL Draft.
Though overshadowed by his co-lineman, Senior DE Quentin Groves, the
6’4,” 315 lb. Sims had a breakout year in 2007, earning first-team
all-SEC honors while finishing second on the Tigers with 11.5 tackles
for a loss and 4.5 sacks. Sims was crucial to an Auburn defense that
finished sixth nationally in both scoring defense and total defense in
2007. Sims is a load inside, and for a player whose primary task
revolves around drawing double-teams in the trenches, Sims was quite
effective at getting penetration into the backfield. In a very deep NFL
Draft at Defensive Line, Sims’ draft grade is a bit difficult to
predict. With average workouts, Sims may be a mid-round selection,
although a 3rd Round grade is not out of the question.
University of Texas Redshirt Sophomore TE
Jermichael Finley has become the first non-Junior to declare
for this year’s Draft, and the first player ever from the Longhorn
football program to leave for the NFL with two years of eligibility
left. Although he possess good height at 6’5,” Finley’s decision comes
as a bit of a surprise given the potential for him to both further
develop his yet-lean 235 lb. frame, and polish his pass receiving and
blocking skills in college. Finley showed very good progress during his
two playing years in Austin, finishing his career with 947 yards
receiving on 76 catches, along with 5 TD’s. In an increasingly crowded
TE Draft pool, Finley’s current confidence level will have to carry
over into, and through his pre-Draft workouts and interviews in order
to secure a draft spot anywhere from late-Round 2 through the end of
Round 4.
University of Kansas Junior CB Aqib Talib has, as expected,
declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft. Talib came into the 2007
campaign with high expectations given his breakout Sophomore season,
one in which he recorded a whopping 22 pass breakups along with 6
interceptions. Though he was beaten for several TD passes in 2007,
Talib was good enough this past season to earn first-team All-American
status, having recorded 13 pass breakups and 5 interceptions, two of
which were returned for TD’s. The brash Talib possesses great size for
a CB at 6’2,” and has demonstrated very good instincts at his position,
most notably in jumping quick-pass sideline routes. He is also athletic
enough to contribute on kick and punt returns. While it will be
interesting to see his 40-yard dash time, the prediction here is that
Talib will be selected in Round 1 of the 2008 Draft.
Also leaving Kansas with Talib will be Junior
OT Anthony Collins. The 6’6,” 310 lb. Collins was likewise named
a first-team All-American in 2007, and currently projects as a Round 3
selection who could easily move up on NFL teams’ Draft boards.
University of Wisconsin Junior CB Jack Ikegwuonu has declared
for the 2008 Draft. Ikegwuonu had an up-and-down 2007 season, wherein
he performed substantially better against top-notch Big Ten offenses
than against sub-par ones. The once lightly-recruited Madison, WI
native finished the season strong (recording a particularly impressive
performance against the Michigan Wolverines), and leaves the Badger
football program with 6 interceptions and 35 passes defensed in his
career. Ikegwuonu has very good size for a CB at 6’1,” and his physical
style of play has many NFL scouts and GM’s thinking that he could
alternatively be an effective Safety at the professional level.
Ikegwuonu is sure to impress with his work ethic, but in order for him
to solidify a late-Round 2/early Round 3 grade, a 4.45 40-yard dash
time (or better) is vital.
University of Central Florida Junior RB
Kevin Smith has made an abrupt about-face on his future, and
now intends to declare for the 2008 Draft. While this decision will
definitely catch many by surprise given Smith’s previous declared
intention to remain in school for his Senior season, the
extraordinarily productive Smith did not have much reason to return to
school aside from the opportunity to set yet more school and (possibly)
NCAA records. In other words, Smith has accomplished all that he can on
his path toward the NFL, and a return to school would only open him up
to the risk of an injury that could both depress his Draft stock and
adversely affect his ability to succeed in the NFL. It is true
that Smith faces very, very steep competition at the RB position in
this year’s Draft, and as of now, stands virtually no chance to be a
1st Round pick. Smith does not appear to possess great open-field
speed, and his gaudy statistics were for the most part recorded against
below-average Conference USA competition. Smith does have good field
vision and cutting ability, but his Draft grade will largely be
determined by his 40-yard dash time. If Smith runs a 4.5 time or
better, he stands a solid chance to be selected by the end of Round 2.
Virginia Tech Junior CB Brandon Flowers has, as expected,
declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft. Flowers has had a
tremendous career, earning back-to-back All-American status these past
two seasons while breaking up 27 passes and recording 8 interceptions
(including 5 in 2007) in the process. Motivation is a real factor for
Flowers, as his on-field play is noticeably more explosive when he
plays with passion. In addition to possessing good instincts at his
position, Flowers has the necessary physical tools to succeed in the
NFL, though his listed 5’10” height will generate some concern amongst
NFL scouts and GM’s. Good pre-Draft workouts and interviews will
solidify Flowers’ status as a 2nd Round pick. Of benefit to Flowers is
the past and present NFL success of DB’s from the Hokie football
program.
Texas A&M Junior TE Martellus Bennett
has confirmed his intention to declare for the 2008 Draft. Having been
blessed with an NFL-caliber body since his early high school days, the
6’7,” 255 lb. Bennett came to College Station as a heralded Lone Star
state recruit in both football and basketball (and during the ’06 and
’07 basketball seasons, he contributed to the Aggies’ basketball team).
In now-deposed head coach Dennis Franchione’s spread-option offense,
Bennett has not been the recipient of as many throws as a TE of his
ability would like. Nevertheless, Bennett recorded impressive
performances against the Big 12’s best teams – 91 yards on 8 catches
against Kansas, 63 yards with 1 TD at Oklahoma, and a 2 TD performance
at Missouri. Indeed, with soft hands, sleek receiving skills, and very
good blocking ability to boot, Bennett rates as both the best Junior TE
(ahead of Missouri’s Chase Coffman), and the best overall TE in this
year’s Draft (ahead of Seniors Fred Davis (USC), Martin Rucker
(Missouri), John Carlson (Notre Dame), and Kellen Davis (Michigan
State)). Bennett is no doubt a Round 1 talent, but as last April’s
event indicates, being the Draft’s best TE can still mean a
sweaty-palmed experience on Draft day (see Greg Olsen).
Illinois
Junior RB Rashard Mendenhall will enter the NFL Draft. A
much-ballyhooed recruit from the Class of ’05, Mendenhall struggled to
gain consistent playing time during his first two years in the Illini
football program. Nevertheless, there was little doubt in his coaches’
minds that if he remained injury-free and was given the requisite
number of carries, Mendenhall’s explosiveness would translate into
substantial results for his team, providing the Illini with the feared
rushing threat that they have lacked for years. The 2007 season proved
to be Mendenhall’s breakout year, with the burly 225 lb. tailback
steamrolling over numerous Big Ten defenses, earning the Big Ten’s
Player of the Year award in the process. Mendenhall averaged almost 6.5
yards/carry, recorded two games of over 200 yards rushing, and four
more games of 150 yards rushing or more (including a 17 carry, 155 yard
performance against USC in the Rose Bowl). Mendenhall possesses
incredible open-field explosiveness and an almost uncanny ability to
turn a small hole at the line of scrimmage into a 40-50 yard gain. As
physically-gifted as Mendenhall is, he is very adept at shedding
tacklers. To be sure, Mendenhall possesses first-round talent; however,
with other notable RB’s yet to declare for the Draft, it remains to be
seen whether he will be taken amongst the first 31 selections in an
already-deep pool of offensive talent.
Indiana University Junior WR James Hardy
has declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft. Hardy will leave the
Hoosier football program as arguably the greatest wideout in school
history, owning several single-season and career receiving records. At
a whopping 6’7,” Hardy is a potent red zone threat who finished this
past season with 16 TD receptions while averaging an impressive 14.2
yards/catch. Hardy has proved his worth while being covered by the very
best Cornerbacks in the Big Ten, and his background as a Hoosier
basketball recruit has enabled him to maintain a reputation for being
very sure-handed. Never lacking for confidence, Hardy seems poised to
impress during pre-Draft workouts and interviews, thus standing a
chance to be selected as high as the late Round 1/early Round 2 range.
University
of Hawaii Junior WR Davone Bess will follow Senior QB Colt
Brennan out the door from Honolulu and into the NFL. To be sure, Bess
has racked up video game numbers in June Jones’ "Run & Shoot"
offense (including an eye-popping 108 catches), but historically,
players from the offensive side of the ball in the Warrior football
program (including WR’s Ashley Lelie and Chad Owens, and QB’s Nick
Rolovich and Timmy Chang) have struggled mightily making the transition
to some form of a pro-style offense in the NFL. At only 5’10,” the
diminutive Bess – and Brennan, for that matter – will have to prove
that they are different football players than their predecessors. Very
good workouts by Bess may land him a “wild-card” Draft spot anywhere
from Rounds 3-5. What may help Bess in the eyes of NFL GM’s and coaches
is his solid punt-returning ability.
Michigan
State University Junior WR Devin Thomas has, as expected,
declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft. The speedy Thomas burst
onto the scene in 2007 as multi-threat talent for new head coach Mark
Dantonio, racking up very impressive numbers both as a wideout (1,260
yards receiving, 8 TD’s) as well as a Kick Returner (1,135 yards,
29.1-yard average). Thomas repeatedly proved very valuable in enabling
his Spartan teammates to remain competitive late in games in which they
had been trailing by significant margins, and his season ended with
ownership of the Spartans’ single-season record for all-purpose yards
(2,590). Assuming Thomas checks in at his listed 6’2” height, and runs
the 40-yard dash at his projected 4.40 time, the former JUCO standout
is a virtual lock to be selected by the end of Round 2.
University
of Miami (Fla.) Junior DE Calais Campbell has declared himself
eligible for this year's Draft. The mammoth 6'8," 280 lb. Campbell was
tremendously productive during his Sophomore season, and came into the
2007 campaign with very, very high expectations which he did not fully
meet. Campbell showcased lackadaisical effort during much of this past
season, finishing with only 6 sacks. Given Campbell's size and enormous
potential, however, workouts do not figure to affect his Draft stock
too much - he is a virtual lock for the Top-20 picks of Round 1, and if
he does indeed have good workouts, could easily elevate himself into
the Top-10 of the 2008 Draft.
University
of Florida Junior DE Derrick Harvey has declared himself
eligible for this year's Draft. Harvey exploded about midway through
the Gators' 2006 National Championship season, concluding it with a
terrific all-around performance in the BCS Title Game against OSU. This
year, Harvey held his own in the face of dramatically increased
expectations, and despite his legitimacy at DE, he possesses the
necessary quickness and agility to fit into a 3-4 defensive scheme as a
speed-rushing OLB should an NFL coaching staff desire to use him in
such a manner. Harvey is solidly a 1st Round pick.
University
of Texas Junior RB Jamaal Charles has also declared himself
eligible for this year's Draft. Charles ranks very high amongst the
Longhorns' all-time rushing leaders, and complements his explosive
open-field rushing ability with terrific receiving skills out of the
backfield. Charles has proven himself to be a feared "home-run threat"
who bailed his Longhorn teammates out of very difficult
predicaments/4th quarter deficits many times this past season. Good
workouts leading up to the Draft would solidify Charles' status as a
1st Round pick; below-average workouts would likely land him a spot in
the upper-half of Round 2.
Boise
State University Junior OT Ryan Clady has declared himself
eligible for the Draft, becoming the first player in the Idaho school's
history to leave early for the NFL. The 6'6" Clady has been
consistently strong in the trenches for the Broncos, and as a projected
Top-15 selection this year, figures to likewise be the school's first
ever 1st Round NFL Draft pick! This projected achievement is yet one
more indication of the terrific progress that the Bronco football
program has made over the last 5 years.
Maryland
Junior LB Erin Henderson has declared himself eligible for the
NFL Draft. This declaration has been in the works for weeks, with many
inside the Terrapin football program speculating that Henderson was
eager to join his brother E.J., also a Maryland football product and
current LB for the Minnesota Vikings, in the NFL. Henderson has been
very productive on defense for the Terps, racking up over 130 tackles
(including 11 for a loss) this past season while fighting injuries.
Workouts and interviews will be very significant for Henderson, as they
could elevate his draft status to that of a 2nd Round pick. In any
case, Henderson should be selected by the end of Round 3.
University
of Miami (Fla.) Junior S Kenny Phillips has declared himself
eligible for the 2008 Draft. To be sure, Phillips, a physically-gifted
6'2" 215 lb. defender who continues the long line of wildly-talented
Hurricane DB's to leave school early for the NFL, has had one foot out
the door since arriving on campus as a freshman in 2005. With his
incredible closing speed and bone-jarring open-field hits, Phillips is
more than capable of playing either Safety position in the NFL.
Irrespective of his Draft workouts, Phillips will be the first Safety
selected in the 2008 Draft, and is a virtual lock to be taken by pick
#15 in Round 1.
Louisville
Junior WR Mario Urrutia has signed with an agent and entered
his name into the 2008 Draft. Urrutia is big - very big at 6'6" - and
has been quite productive for the Cardinals despite being hindered by
constant injuries and new Cardinals coach Steve Kragthorpe's dismal
offense. Urrutia has not been without fault; he is guilty of more than
a few dropped passes and lapses in concentration. Nevertheless, with
the graduation of QB Brian Brohm, the impending hire of a new offensive
coordinator, the lingering possibility of yet more injuries, and the
desire to provide for his infant son, Urrutia had good reason to leave
school early. Workouts will carry enormous weight towards determining
Urrutia's draft position; good performances could land Urrutia a
mid-round Draft grade, with the outside possibility of a 3rd Round
spot. Personally, I feel that this WR has a future in the NFL -
remember folks, he is 6'6."
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