Under The Radar: Draft Day Sleepers

College Football Insider Brian Vornsberg takes a look at some 2008 NFL Draft prospects flying under the radar.

Antoine Cason - CB, Arizona
Tougher than he looks, athletic, good stop-start instincts seem to make up for lack of speed...(if that’s even a true concern in the first place). The ball almost seems to find him and he has the hands to catch it -- unlike a lot of corners. His playmaking ability, which translates huge to NFL, extends to blitzing, as he is able to pass rush if needed and pressure quarterback. Cason went up against pass-happy offenses and good quarterbacks of the Pac-10 and he displayed the speed to keep up with receivers. The former ‘Cat has good feet to get in proper position when needed, the potential to be a great special teams player, and superb character.

Jordy Nelson - WR, Kansas State
A physical receiver who is surprisingly agile and quick in the open field, with the ability to make the first man miss on short catches and turn them into big plays. Nelson is also one of the best kick/punt returners in the 08' class and even threw two touchdown passes. He possesses deceptive speed and can make adjustments on the ball on deep throws. The former defensive back brings good size and he is fearless. Nelson projects as a possession receiver--he runs great short routes, has not fumbled once in the last three seasons and has terrific hands--passes which comes his way are sure to be caught. Another former ‘Cat, Nelson shined in his senior season.

Tashard Choice - RB, Georgia Tech
The former Yellow Jacket stays low when he runs, which allows him to take hits and keep going—he will break many tackles with his hard-nosed running style. While he doesn’t have the breakaway speed to make it to the outside past defenders, his stellar cuts in the middle of the field makes him tough to tackle. Choice will almost never go down at first contact, possessing a good stiff arm. Injuries plagued him early in his career, but the one time Sooner has been extremely productive over the last couple of seasons. He has decent but not great hands, good vision in traffic. Choice put up solid and maybe better than expected numbers at the combine (34" vertical, 4.52 speed).

Letroy Guion - DT, Florida State
He could’ve used another year at Florida State to refine his technique and add to his bulk. Guion has gained about five 5 pounds in the offseason, which is a good start. He did not prove as strong or athletic as expected during the combine as expected, however, he has a ton of potential once he gains some much-needed experience. He’s very competitive and his best football is still yet to come.

Jamar Adams - S, Michigan
A smart and seasoned safety prospect, Adams had a phenomenal end to his career at Michigan, with an outstanding game against Heisman winner Tim Tebow and Florida in the Capital One Bowl. He breaks on the ball well, is great at breaking up passes, with solid speed for his size. He’s also an outstanding blitzer from the defensive backfield...just ask Tim Tebow. While he isn’t quite big enough to be a major force against the run, the Michigan man excels in a variety of coverages.

Cameron Colvin - WR, Oregon
Underachieved throughout his college career at Oregon, but also had many other receivers to compete with, as well as a great running back in Jonathan Stewart. He still has a lot of upside. Colvin has been plagued with a rash of injuries the last couple of seasons and is very motivated to show teams what he is truly capable of. The former Duck has good size and adequate speed to get away from corners when need. He will end up getting a chance with a team due to his competitive edge, determination, and pure ball skills. History is also on his side with many good Duck receivers making it into the NFL in recent years.

Underrated Player Spotlight: Felix Jones - RB, Arkansas
Yes, some will say that Jones is not underrated. However, people overlook him due to the “McFadden Factor”. We should not forget about Jones, who might end up being an even better pro down the line than McFadden. He is one of the more versatile athletes to enter the draft in the last decade, with breakaway speed, explosive playmaking ability, great moves in the open field and solid hands as a receiver. He will do wonders for any team on special teams including his tremendous ability as a return man. Some question his pure strength and ability to handle a full workload. If put in the right system, he could be a Pro Bowler for the next decade.

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