Let's switch gears for a second here. I realized earlier that after the third round I really don't know much about this draft. Anyone got any names they want to toss around as possible round 4-7 gems?
Bruce Davis, UCLA Height: 6-3. Weight: 237. 40 Time: 4.67. Projected Round: 3-4. It's hard not to call Davis a tweener, given his lacking size and tremendous speed. I'd like to see him put on 10 pounds this year while maintaining his 40. He has first-round production: a whopping 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2006. Curtis Gatewood, Vanderbilt Height: 6-3. Weight: 245. 40 Time: 4.57. Projected Round: 3-4. A 245-pound linebacker running in the 4.5s? Scouts will be all over Curtis Gatewood, who notched seven sacks in 2006.
Kendall Langford, Hampton Height: 6-6. Weight: 294. 40 Time: 4.92. Projected Round: 3-4. Recorded eight sacks in 2006. Can play defensive end in a 3-4 as well. Caleb Campbell, SS, Army Height: 6-2. Weight: 223. 40 Time: 4.47. Projected Round: 3-4. You have to love the 40 that comes with Caleb Campbell's size. Given his background, I think we can assume that he has a great work ethic.
Jabari Arthur, WR, Akron Height: 6-4. Weight: 224. 40 Time: (who knows?) I would guess 4.6 Projected Round: Again, I guess 7-UDFA Was 6th overall pick in 2007 CFL draft, but opted to return to school. Had 86 receptions, 1171 yards, and 10 TDs for a team with a very anemic offense(only 2200 passing yards, 15 passing TDs total). Ranked as the #53 WR on nfldraftscout.com, says he'll run a 4.65 http://www.nfldraftscout.com/rating...ear=2008&sortby=tsxpos&order=ASC&startspot=50
Darius Hill*, Ball State Height: 6-6. Weight: 233. 40 Time: 4.67. Projected Round: 4. This is amazing: In just 10 games, Darius Hill caught 42 passes for 741 yards and 10 touchdowns. A product of a weak conference? Think again - he had six receptions for 119 yards at Purdue. Obviously undersized but very quick. Ben Moffitt, South Florida (9/28) Height: 6-2. Weight: 235. 40 Time: 4.68. Projected Round: 3-4. Ben Moffitt returned an interception for a touchdown in South Florida's upset victory over West Virginia. Moffitt seemed to be in the right place at the right time on every single play. Led South Florida with 112 tackles in 2006. Darnell Terrell, Missouri Height: 6-3. Weight: 205. 40 Time: 4.39. Projected Round: 3-4. One of the tallest corners in this class, Darnell Terrell's speed at his size is pretty remarkable.
Here's a player I put in another thread. Tony Burks, 6-4, 219, Mississippi State University, Sr. Year-Catches-Yds-YPC-TD 2006 35 850 24.3 6 2007 33 444 13.5 3 I saw him in the bowl game, only caught 1 pass, and had a couple of end-arounds, looked fast and smooth running, but that team is a running team so most of what he did was block, but apparently not afraid to go across the middle for a pass, block, essentially do all the dirty work. Seems like a WR with potential that could be gotten in the 7th round of the draft. Definitely under the radar. The kicker is that Parcells and MSU HC, Sylvester Croom, have a relationship. Croom told Parcells about F. Kitchens, who ended up being hired as the Cowboys TE coach. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSLDOVuNfwo[/ame]
Marcus Monk, Arkansas Height: 6-6. Weight: 222. 40 Time: 4.64. Projected Round: 3-4. A massive receiver but probably needs to run in the 4.5s. Had 50 receptions and 11 TDs despite playing with the SEC's worst quarterbacking corps. Colton Brennan, Hawaii Height: 6-3. Weight: 196. 40 Time: 4.84. Projected Round: 4-5. If you want an NFL comparison, I'd say Chad Pennington. Needs to prove he's not a system quarterback. Struggled to throw in the wind vs. Oregon State. Compiled a mind-boggling 58 TDs in 2006. A bit small for an NFL quarterback. Will be 25 years old before the 2008 season even starts. Matt Flynn, LSU Height: 6-3. Weight: 228. 40 Time: 4.62. Projected Round: 5. Will have the opportunity to prove himself with JaMarcus Russell out of the picture. Threw 7 TDs and only one pick in 2005. Has the ability to scramble effectively.
These guys all might go in 3, but Monk intrigues me. I would like a receiver with size....in the vein of what we used to get out of Oronde Gadsden.
My dream D line fore a 3-4 is get Isaac Sopoaga in FA then draft Chris Long in the first and Kendall Langford in the fourth Chris Long, Virginia Height: 6-4. Weight: 284. 40 Time: 4.73. Projected Round: Top 5 Pick. Chris Long, who can play end in the 4-3 and possibly nose guard in the 3-4, had 57 tackles and five sacks in 2006. Son of former NFL star and current FOX analyst Howie Long. Kendall Langford, Hampton Height: 6-6. Weight: 294. 40 Time: 4.92. Projected Round: 3-4. Recorded eight sacks in 2006. Can play defensive end in a 3-4 as well. Isaac Sopoaga from the 49'ers in FA
Almost forgot Taj Smith, Syracuse Height: 6-1. Weight: 188. 40 Time: 4.37. Projected Round: 4-5. Taj Smith has declared for the 2008 NFL Draft. Smith single-handedly destroyed Louisville in Syracuse's inexplicable 38-35 upset. Smith, who led the team in receiving going into the game, had four catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns.
Jason Shirley DT Fresno State Had a great jr year, suspended for the large part of his senior yr for grades and a car wreck. Matthew Harper FS Oregon Juco transfer, played ST well for the Ducks and then became a solid starter whose INT ended Oregon's upset of USC. Brandon Isaacs SS south carolina. Kellen Davis te/de Michigan State...6'6 guy who can play De or Te.
Xavier Omon, NWMSU Height: 5-10. Weight: 220. 40 Time: 4.55. Projected Round: 4th to 5th round. Trevor Laws, Notre Dame Height: 6-1. Weight: 295. 40 Time: 5.00. Projected Round: 4th to 5th round.
Copied from my earlier mock draft thread but here's what I had and will be looking at come draft day. Bruce Davis, DE/OLB, UCLA – A homer pick for me. Teams will knock him for his size and that would be a big mistake. Just ask the QB’s who have eaten turf served by Davis. Bruuuuuuuce will get to the QB one way or the other. He emulates JT and considers him his idol. So why not let him be JT’s understudy? If you see him play, you’d think JT himself was donning that #44 jersey. Heck, squint and they look like long-lost brothers. He’s a fierce competitor with lots of leadership and energy. Like Taylor, can be versatile, speedy, will not back down, can get teammates and fans pumped up, gives 110%, and performs better than his physical attributes would suggest. Backs up his brash talk with big play. Has great pedigree too (Father was 11 year vet as OT for Raiders/Oilers). Alternatives: Geoff Schwartz, OT, Oregon (has blocked well and a sleeper OT); Frank Morton, DT, Tulane (great size and pretty good at getting to QB) Best Case Scenario NFL Comparison: Jason Taylor Round 5, Pick 1: Traded to Kansas City for QB Concussion Green. Round 6, Pick 1: Shannon Tevaga, OG, UCLA - This is somewhat wishful thinking. Tevaga could’ve been a 3rd rounder easily had it not been for an injury and so-so performance this year by the offense. He’ll likely be overlooked since our offense was putrid in more ways than one. But this guy is the ideal Houck OG. Mobile, strong, tough, and most importantly, Samoan. Alternatives: Curtis Gatewood, OLB, Vanderbilt (can really get to the QB) Best Case Scenario NFL Comparison: Chris Kemoeatu Round 7, Pick 1: Mike Klinkenborg, ILB, Iowa – An okay ILB but a solid leader with decent specs. Lacks a bit in coverage but can make the tackles. Would at least be a good STer. Alternatives: Bo Ruud, OLB, Nebraska (similar to Klinkenborg but less accomplished and less physically talented), Justin Tryon, CB, Arizona State (project with fair potential and big play ability) Best Case Scenario NFL Comparison: Chad Brown UDFA's Chauncey Washington, RB, USC - Average back right now but will get the job done when healthy. I've seen what he can do up close and personal. Ran 1000+ yards under a poor high school OL (we started a girl at LG for a few games) and ran me over in practice day after day. Good receiving skills and punishing runner with pretty good agility. Probably a better pro player than college player. Was really held back by his academic issues (coming from an academically strong high school, it was a shocker for me) and injuries. He's the type of grinding RB Parcells would like. Listed at 6'0 but I think he's shorter than that. I'm 6'1 and he still doesn't look 6'0. But he's a good guy (gave me free Rose Bowl tix though not too big a fan of $C). Frank Morton, DT, Tulane - Big body and quality run stuffer. Can also get to the QB. Will get questions on level of competition but he's a good project. Geoff Schwartz, OT, Oregon - Underrated OT prospect who really played a big role in run blocking. Could be a quality run-blocking RT in the future.
Here’s a couple of big men I think have huge (ha ha) upside. All later round picks (usually for a reason) but sometimes a guy just needs to get into the NFL and get some good coaching to rise to the next level. That’s what we’re looking for, I guess… OT Thaddeus Coleman, Mississippi Valley State 6-8 310 and still growing! Not quite flying under the radar… King Dunlap OT Auburn 6-8 312 His father played in the NFL, for all you fans of Howie Long’s son… Brad Cottam TE 6-8 270 Tennessee. Low numbers due to a wrist injury. If a 6-8 guy can be a sleeper, he’s it. Quarterback that might not get drafted… Anthony Morelli QB Penn State 6-4 232 If you like those Pittsburg quarterbacks with Italian names in Dolphins uniforms… He won the punt pass kick competition with a fifty yard pass. When he was ten years old. This is going to be fun until April, guys!
My girlfriend loves the Tenn. Vols so I see a lot of their games. This guy has the measureables, including decent speed, in fact, Cutcliffe, his offensive coordinator and ex-HC of Univ. of Mississippi during Eli Manning's college career, said this about him..."He’s got exceptional speed’’ ... "He can stretch the field as well as anyone I’ve been around at tight end...". The problem is he seems to be an injury waiting to happen, 5 surgeries in 4 yrs. He's been injured so much, his career numbers are only 26 catches for 466 yds. Maybe a extra 7th rd pick type and hope he's over the bad luck. Need to add that I saw a lot of TE pro bowler Jason Witten when he was at Tenn., and we thought he looked so slow when he was running after the catch, Cottam didn't give us that impression.
Excellent Swamp on Caleb Campbell, never seen Langford but he reads like he has some skills and potential...I would add OG Kerry Brown from App. State. I am in WNC so I have seen a bit of Brown and he has very good potential ..uses his hands well, very good size at 6-3-6-4 and between 300-320, good AA, plays well is space.... Also....being from the area, word is ...he ain't all there......the elevator stops at the first floor etc.....in this case it means he really like and enjoys beating guys to a pulp. He has a Logan Mankins mentality...and actually may be even a little more on the nasty side. I would watch his Wunderlik score...i.e...is he not to bright or just a guy that wants to knowck people into next Tuesday?????? Skills wise he is a round 3 type guy IMHO......might fall though because of comeptition although he manhandled the Meat Chicken DL and pretty much everyone else he faced all year. Also probably not underrated but under the radar is Cory Boyd..Phins do not need RB's but Boyd has "enough" speed ...probably a 4.5-4.6 guy with good vision and some inside power with good hands....he would make a very functional back for a 49er or Lion type system. I am on the record as saying 2 of my favorite QB's are Matt Flynn and Paul Smith so I would add those two. 2 OL I personally see as players are Tyler Luellen of Mizzou and Fernando Velasco of Georgia...and I am way intrigued as to why King Dunlap cannot seem to play up to his physical gifts, and I was very impressed with Adam Kraus albeit in 1 game...... DL...Keith Shologan of UCF comes to mind as well as Chris Harrington of Texas A/M. Glen Sharp if he is healthy.....Martel Van Zant of Okie State is great story being deaf...but he can actually play a bit...and Brian Witherspoon needs to be checked because of that reported speed, although I have never/will never see Spillman College play.....
I've been looking at this kid as well. Cannot believe his speed with that size. He could be a steal late in the draft. Others I am watching: Caleb Campbell Andrew Bain (BIG OG from the U with decent speed for his size) Kory Robertson (NT prospect out of VaTech) Stanford Keglar (OLB from Purdue . . . 3-4 prospect, good special teams guy) Justin Harper (WR from VaTech . . . tall and fast)
