26th September 2007

Early Heisman Leaders

 

Matt Ryan

Credit: Greg Drzazgowski/Icon SMI

Four weeks of the college season are in the bag, and several Heisman candidates are out of the running due to their team’s early failures. I’m looking at you Brian Brohm and Chad Henne. Still, at this juncture, the best performers are likely not to be there at the end of the season due to their team’s suffering losses in conference play.

So who is still alive? USC is still undefeated, as expected, and John David Booty has put up solid, if not spectacular numbers. He has been very efficient, but is averaging just 213 yards per game. Booty still remains the favorite in my eyes, due the USC having the best chance of running the table.

LSU and Oklahoma do not have true stars on the offensive side of the ball, which probably cancels them out. Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin have been terrific for Florida, and if they can manage to go undefeated in the SEC, both would get consideration. However, it is almost impossible for a true sophomore to win th award.

The West Virginia duo of Steve Slaton and Pat White have been phenomenal and will likely continue to shine. If WVU can defeat South Florida this week, the Mountaineer players take a big step forward, but still run the risk of “splitting” the vote

Cal’s Desean Jackson has gotten a lot of hype and looked good in the national game against Tennessee. However, his receiving stats leave something to be desired. The game against USC will determine his fate.

Wisconsin’s P.J. Hill has been solid, but is likely to run into some bias of a weak Big Ten conference. If Rutgers can win the Big East, Ray Rice looks like a shoe in for the top 5 in voting. Hawaii’s Colt Brennan is putting up video game numbers, but missing last week’s game with a sprained ankle pushes him off of the top five for now.

However the two biggest risers in the early season at the QBs for a pair of undefeated teams - Andre Woodson and Matt Ryan. Woodson has led the Wildcats up to #14 in the polls and has received a lot of attention. A victory over LSU or Florida would catapult Woodson to the top of the pack.

Boston College’s Matt Ryan has really impressed me so far this season. He is a much better player than I ever thought. NFLdraftdog’s Robert Bryant has always loved Ryan, but the Golden Eagles look to have a strong chance in the ACC and he has blossomed under coach Jeff Jagodzinski’s system.

If Ryan can run the table in the ACC - no easy task with games at Clemson and Virginia Tech, he might just bring the Heisman back to Boston College for the first time in 23 years.

A pair of QBs off to hot starts also join our top five - Oregon’s Dennis Dixon has 11 TDs and 0 INTs, while Purdue’s Curtis Painter is invoking memories of Drew Brees with an incredible 16 TD to 1 INT for the undefeated Boilermakers.

While Desean Jackson is getting a lot of attention, the best WR so far this season has been Texas Tech wide out Michael Crabtree, who is on pace for a record season. Like many of the top players so far, Crabtree’s success is going to be tied to his team’s. Crabtree also lacks the pre-season hype typically needed to win the award.

The Week 4 Heisman top five:

1. Matt Ryan, BC, QB
2. Andre Woodson, Kentucky, QB
3. Curtis Painter, Purdue, QB
4. Dennis Dixon, Oregon, QB
5. Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech, WR

posted in Andre Woodson, Matt Ryan, Chad Henne, Desean Jackson, 2008 NFL Draft, Darren McFadden, College Football | 4 Comments

18th September 2007

Week 3 College Football Roundup

 

Andre Woodson

The college football season continues to roll on and after week #3 is in the books, the landscape of the collegiate ranks is beginning to come into focus. We are now beginning to separate our ‘contenders’ from the ‘pretenders’. Sure the Big Ten is still an awkward mess and the South Carolina’s and Hawaii’s of the world are still unbeaten and in the top 20, but they are not national championship contenders, let’s just be realistic shall we. After awakening from the stupor I was in on Saturday night after watching my arch-nemesis the Michigan Wolverines trounce my beloved Notre Dame Fighting Irish I came to one realization—that every team in the nation has a fatal flaw that they can’t overcome—except for a selected seven teams that I feel have LEGIT national championship aspirations. Those seven in no particular order are: USC, LSU, Oklahoma, Florida, West Virginia, California, and Texas. And there in lies the beauty that is college football, there is at least one major elimination game each and every weekend. Don’t get me wrong, I would absolutely love a ‘tournament’ style playoff system for college football, but while that doesn’t appear to be on the immediate horizon, you have to appreciate what college football is offering currently. Of the top seven teams listed above, USC will have to square off with California, LSU and Florida will have to battle it out for the SEC crown, and the annual celebration that is Oklahoma vs. Texas will also take place in a couple weeks. West Virginia doesn’t have it easy by any means, they will have to play Louisville as well as Rutgers. I just hear this hyperbole that there will be several undefeated teams at the end of the regular season, and I know better than to join these bold conclusions, at the end of the day, there will only be two undefeated teams remaining (if were lucky, hopefully it’s not one because that would open up a whole new can of worms) and those two teams are going to be the USC Trojans and the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Now that this week’s rant is complete, let’s move on to “The Prospect Stock Market”:

RISING:

USC Trojans: The Trojans were absolutely dominant on Saturday night against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. They were impressive in several fashions, but their offensive line stood out more than most. Anchored by potential 1st round prospect Sam Baker the Trojans were opening up monstrous holes for their running back by committee to run through. The Trojans are already #1 in the polls so they can’t rise there, but their overall perception should rise in the minds of college football fans everywhere.

LSU Tigers: Once again they did not play the greatest competition in Middle Tennessee, but the LSU defense is flat out scary. With star defenders Glenn Dorsey and Ali Highsmith leading the way, this team might be on their way to the SEC crown.

Florida Gators: Their offense is high octane, and hanging 59 point on the Tennessee Volunteers, down year or not, is always impressive. I still worry about this team’s defense and wonder if it will lead to their downfall eventually, however, they have been really impressive and their chance for back to back championships are much more legit than originally thought.

Andre Woodson QB Kentucky: I mentioned in this very segment two weeks ago that eventually there would be debates in draft circles whether Andre Woodson or Brian Brohm would be the top QB selected in the 2008 NFL Draft. Well, after Kentucky’s upset of Louisville on Saturday night…let the debate begin.

Matt Ryan QB Boston College: How impressive have Matt Ryan and the Boston College Eagles been so far in 2007? Three consecutive wins over ACC opponents, including knocking off last years ACC Champion Wake Forest as well as a very impressive win this past weekend at #15 ranked Georgia Tech. Last week I wanted to see how Ryan did against better defenses, point proven Matt Ryan. His stock is climbing significantly as many scouts see a Matt Schaub comparison in Ryan. Don’t look now folks, but the Boston College Eagles will most likely be favored in every game they have the rest of the regular season and could be crashing the national championship party.

Justin Forsett RB California: Forsett will never be an every down back at the next level, but he’s got some abilities and with the NFL utilizing more and more running backs out of the backfield as receiving options, Forsett might be able to get some interest from NFL scouts.

Jonathan Stewart and the Oregon Ducks: The momentum just continues to build for the Ducks as they rolled over the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday 52-21. Their offense is prolific and WRR favorite Jonathan Stewart is extremely quick for a man his size and could make a perfect fit for an NFL Franchise at the next level. 165 yards on just 17 carries with two touchdowns fully displays his talents for the first time this season.

STATUS QUO:

Colt Brennan QB Hawaii: Colt Brennan displayed a new element to his game late Saturday night when he RAN for 3 touchdowns. He’s not much of a scrambler, but I just thought it was something of note. His accuracy is better than advertised going 26 of 32, 81% completion percentage. Colt Brennan is the pure definition of status quo for me, at this point, I just want to see how he does in the workouts following the season.

Darren McFadden RB Arkansas: In a losing effort against the Alabama Crimson Tide Darren McFadden ran for 195 yards and two scores. Week in and week out he puts on a show, and is as solid a player there is in college football. As the game wore on the ‘Bama defenders wore down and McFadden took advantage. His performances have been very solid considering the Razorbacks have no passing game to speak of and teams game plan to stop McFadden week in and week out. There is one concern, rumor has it that in the crunch time on Saturday night he took himself out of the game ala Scottie Pippen. I am not sure if this is the case or not, but it has been rumored.

Texas Longhorns: Yes, they are winning ball games right now, but they are doing it in a sloppy fashion. If they play against Oklahoma like they have the past two weeks the Sooners will walk the dog on the Longhorns.

PJ Hill RB Wisconsin: Before I receive any ‘hate mail’ regarding PJ Hill, I will mention the Wisconsin RB once again this week. While the stat line of 168 yards and 4 touchdowns line may be impressive, it was against the Citadel and they were struggling with them in the first half. Hill is a very good collegiate RB, I have never doubted this, I am just not sure if he will make it as an every down back at the next level, and nothing I have seen has changed my mind, like Colt Brennan, all my interest is in the individual workouts whenever Hill decides to turn pro.

Ohio State Buckeyes and Penn State Nitney Lions: I am still not blown away by either team. I know that someone has to win the Big Ten, but that someone appears to be Wisconsin in 2007. I expect both the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions to have 2 or 3 losses when all things are said and done.

Rutgers, South Carolina, and Clemson: They beat up on inferior opponents…nothing else to see here.

FALLING:

Oklahoma State offense: Outside of the Michigan Wolverines, the so-called “Greatest Offense in the World” hailing from Oklahoma State, the trio of Bobby Reid, Adarius Bowman, and Dantrell Savage have been the most over-hyped entity that college football has to offer. Neither Reid nor Savage even played in Week #3 and Bowman was average at best in their embarrassing loss to Troy.

Brian Brohm QB Louisville: If I am going to slam the duo of Chad Henne and Mike Hart for coming back for their senior season to compete for a National Championship and then lay a goose egg, I have to slam Brian Brohm as well. Brian Brohm doesn’t play on defense, where the Cardinals have their biggest issues, however, being out-dueled by cross-state Kentucky gun-slinger Andre Woodson is not a good thing to have happen during your senior season. On Saturday is conceivable that Brohm lost his chance at the Heisman Trophy, a National Championship, and the #1 overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft.

UCLA Bruins: The Bruins got stomped Saturday night by un-ranked Utah 44-6. It is a jaw-dropping result, trust me, I wasn’t able to watch the game and when I saw the score, my jaw literally dropped. Bigger things were expected from this team and now you have to wonder if this is even the 4th best team the Pac 10 has to offer with California and Oregon continuing to win impressively. QB Ben Olsen did not have a terrible game statistically, he just made several costly errors with the three interceptions.

Nebraska Cornhuskers: I know Nebraska fans that you may not know what that buzz-saw was that hit you on Saturday night…it was the USC Trojans, and yes, they are that good.

Any senior playing for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Now I’m just self-loathing…

posted in Colt Brennan, Andre Woodson, Glenn Dorsey, Brian Brohm, 2008 NFL Draft, Darren McFadden, College Football | 0 Comments

6th September 2007

2008 NFL Draft - Week One Offensive Roundup

Brian Brohm

Week #1 of the College Football season is in the books and Matt MacCoy, War Room Report Analyst and Lead Offensive Scout takes a look back at the noteworthy performances from this past weekend’s games and who’s stock might be “rising”, “falling”, or who’s stock remains “status quo”:

RISING:
Brian Brohm QB Louisville: The early favorite to be the #1 overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft didn’t disappoint in his 2007 debut. Displaying accuracy and the ability to make the big play he turned his 16 completions into a whopping 375 yards and seems to be making a smooth transition to any changes that may have been made in the coaching switch from Bobby Petrino to Steve Kragthorpe. I understand the performance was against Murray State, so we shouldn’t go overboard with excitement, but to see Brohm in mid-season form and showing no residual effects from his injury last season is an excellent sign.

Colt Brennan QB Hawaii: I realize that Northern Colorado may not have a Division I caliber defense, but throwing for 416 yards and 6 TDs—virtually of which was in the first half is still stunning. Look, I get the arguments, the guy is from a pass-happy offense and he is on the smallish side…duly noted. Colt Brennan isn’t Timmy Chang, and he isn’t David Klinger or any other pass-crazy, non pro-prospect reference you want to throw out there. He is freakishly accurate with his passes, displayed by his 34 of 40 performance on Saturday night…yes that is an 85% completion percentage. He needs to bulk up, and needs to show he can take snaps under center and still remain as accurate, but you are looking at a 1st rounder in the 2008 Draft at this point.

DeSean Jackson WR California: The kid needs to bulk up…that is all. He is as an electrifying a player that college football has to offer and for per touch excitement, only Reggie Bush and Devin Hester come to mind when explaining how skilled Jackson is. He’s not a kick returner playing wide receiver ala Ted Ginn Jr., he is a wide receiver with breathtaking abilities as a return man. As the draft approaches I’m sure we will here the critics break him down due to his size, and their fear that he won’t hold up at the next level. The fears are legit, but drafting DeSean Jackson gives you a Steve Smith or Santana Moss type player on offense RIGHT NOW.

Andre Woodson QB Kentucky: His stock is going to continue to rise until his name is mentioned in debate around draft circles whether a team would be better off drafting him or Brian Brohm. Andre Woodson needs to solidify such hyperbole by showing up in the big games in the SEC, and some wins in these games wouldn’t hurt, but 20 of 29 for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns to no interceptions is a good start.

Ben Olsen QB UCLA: Now is the time for the former prep star to realize his potential. If he can stay away from injuries he can lead this team to some big wins. He has the attributes the NFL scouts covet, and throwing 5 touchdowns in his 2007 debut put everyone in the Pac 10 on alert. I would like to his completion percentage escalate to some degree, but right now, I’m nitpicking.

Steve Slaton RB West Virginia: He is not a complete back quite yet, and he will need some work at the next level, as well as to bulk up a little bit, that being said, he is the most exciting RB in the country Darren McFadden included. Every time Steve Slaton touches the ball your on the edge of your seat thinking he is going to go the distance, and on many occasions he does just that. If he can display improvement in catching the football out of the backfield, he will rival McFadden for the top selection of a RB in the 2008 Draft.

STATUS QUO:
John David Booty QB USC: The Heisman favorite had a ho-hum 206 yards passing and 3 touchdowns against Idaho on Saturday. Nothing to get too excited about, but if you were USC would you get that excited about playing Idaho? His overall performances will get better, but he remains the favorite for the Heisman and a first-day selection.

Darren McFadden RB Arkansas: With a 151 yards rushing and a TD plus a 42-yard TD pass, Darren McFadden made the country well aware that he is the most versatile back in the country and still second to none at the position when it comes to his draft status. Steve Slaton may be on his heels, but with performances like this, McFadden will keep him at bay.

Ray Rice RB Rutgers: 25 carries for 184 yards and 3 touchdowns. Ray Rice is the workhorse for the Rutgers offense, this is well known. After his tremendous sophomore campaign it is tough to impress. He may not be as dynamic or talented as Darren McFadden or Steve Slaton, but Ray Rice gives you steady production at the position, and in this class, 3rd RB is no slap in the face.

Matt Ryan QB Boston College: Matt Ryan has displayed a complete control of the Boston College offense. 408 yards and 5 touchdowns are pretty impressive considering they were against defending ACC Champion Wake Forest. I’m not sure how high Ryan’s ‘ceiling’ is as far as his draft potential goes, but with consistent performances in 2007 his name will be in the mix as the 4th-5th QB to come off the board.

Erik Ainge QB Tennessee: Some scouts are down on Erik Ainge entering the 2007 season, but I am not one of them. His performance on Saturday was a solid outing. With a running game that is below par and wide receiver options that are unfamiliar Ainge still managed to go 32 of 47 for 271 yards with 3 touchdowns to no interceptions in a hostile Golden Bear crowd, all with a broken finger. I know he has less mobility than the Statue of Liberty, but the kid can throw from the pocket and he is accurate and can make all the throws you could want. This might be high praise, but at the end of the day I see more Carson Palmer then Byron Leftwich in Erik Ainge.

Ian Johnson RB Boise State: As far as college running backs go this guy is a stud. His off-season workouts, especially speed and agility drills are going to be of great importance to Ian Johnson. He is tough as nails, and there is a lot to like about the guy, but again, just not sure how high his potential ‘ceiling’ is.

Felix Jones RB Arkansas: 12 rushes for 129 yards and a TD. Another 10 yard+ average game for Jones, but he remains overshadowed by teammate Darren McFadden. I am afraid people don’t realize how good Jones is.

FALLING:
Michigan Wolverines: After the stunning defeat vs. Appalachian State the Wolverines have seen the 2007 season go down in flames and now some of their potential high round picks are going to have their abilities questioned. Jake Long and Mike Hart had solid performances so their stock should remain about where it was prior to the game. However, I’m concerned about Chad Henne and Mario Manningham. Henne connected on only 51.4% of his passes vs. Appalachian State? This sends up ‘red flags’ for me. You expect in his senior season your QB to step up and save the day in such a situation, and Henne played well in the 4th quarter, but it was too little too late for me. Manningham had only 3 catches for 66 yards, and 1 was the 46-yarder that came in that desperation heave. The Wolverines need to bounce back, and bounce back quick.

Oklahoma State: The supposed “Greatest Offense in the World” fell flat on its face on Saturday against Georgia. They looked out of sync for most of the ball game. Adarius Bowman had an ok performance and has the tools to succeed at the next level, so only slight concern surrounding him, but as far as Bobby Reid and Dantrell Savage goes, they need excellent 2007 seasons to impress the scouts, and they got off on the wrong foot on Saturday, another team that needs to turn it around in a hurry.

Early Doucet WR LSU: What I saw from the LSU Tigers offense in their first game I did not like. They seemed to have very conservative play calling, and in order to display the skills of a top WR like Doucet, they need to open up the playbook a bit more and have more down field passing. His end game numbers, 9 catches for 78 yards and a TD are ok, but just watching the offense, if the play calling remains the same, Doucet could be in for some poor performances in 2007.

Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon: A War Room Report favorite struggled out of the gates, having two teammates rush for more yards than him. I would personally like to see the Oregon coaching staff feature him more in 2007, give him more carries. He is a bruising tailback that should be able to wear down defenses by the time the 4th quarter rolls around, I’m just not sure if 14 touches a game is going to get it down. I would like to see his workload doubled.

Courtney Tennial RB Tulsa: The former Oklahoma product did not play in Week 1 and it was announced that he will miss the entire 2007 season with an ankle injury suffered in pre-season drills. Tennial has been a hard luck player since entering college, being stuck behind Adrian Peterson at Oklahoma and now suffering this injury. Despite the fact that he has only been a featured back for one year, Tennial will have to petition the NCAA for a 6th year of eligibility if he hopes to play in 2008.

OTHER PERFORMANCES OF NOTE:
Omar Cuff RB Delaware: Omar Cuff tied a Division I-AA record when he rushed for 7 touchdowns against William & Mary in the opener. He recorded 296 yards of offense to boot. He is a versatile, speedy back and could build momentum to a possible draft selection.

posted in Colt Brennan, Chad Henne, Andre Woodson, Omar Cuff, Desean Jackson, Jake Long, 2008 NFL Draft, Darren McFadden, Brian Brohm, NFL | 4 Comments

27th August 2007

Fantasy College Football

Through a partnership with U-sports.com, the War Room Report is running the first annual War Room Report Fantasy College Football League. We invited members of other top draft sites and recently conducted our draft. For those that have never played Fantasy College Football, be sure to check out U-sports. For those left to draft, here is a run down of the results.

Pick 1 - Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii
Rob Tribbett, War Room Report

Maybe a more obvious pick than even LaDainian Tomlinson, Brennan averaged an incredible 39 ppg last season and figures to post similar numbers this season.

Pick 2 - Chase Holbrook, QB, New Mexico State
Justin Davis, War Room Report

Last season’s #2 ranked player, Holbrook should flourish again in coach Hal Mumme’s system. WR Chris Williams gives Holbrook a reliable target.

Pick 3 - P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin
Shawn Dangerfield, RamsRevenge.com

After the top 2 passing friendly QBs go, Shawn Dangerfield takes P.J. Hill, who was explosive last season as a freshman and should be relied on even more this season with a new QB in Madison.

Pick 4- Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech
Matt Bilonti, DraftDaddy.com

Harrell averaged 28 ppg last season, but another year in Mike Leach’s system should benefit the former top recruit. Losing top WRs from last year in Joel Filani and Jarrett Hicks may hurt a little, but in the system, Harrell should be fine.

Pick 5 - Pat White, QB, West Virginia
Jared Donnelly, TheFootballExpert.com

White also averaged 28 ppg last year and there is little to suggest that the dual threat QB will regress in 2008.

Pick 6 - Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia
Matt MacCoy, War Room Report

White’s running mate, Slaton, is the 2nd RB off the board. Slaton and White should combine to terrorize Big East defenses in 2007.

Pick 7 - Andre Woodson, QB, Kentucky
Chris Otwell, War Room Report

The fast rising QB prospect surprises a bit as a first round pick, but he should put up huge numbers again as the Wildcat defense struggles to stop opponents. He has talent around him with Rafael Little, Keenan Burton, Dicky Lyons, and Jacob Tamme to make a big impact in 2007.

Pick 8 - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Robby Trail

The consenus #1 prospect for the 2008 NFL Draft, McFadden, due to splitting some carries with Felix Jones and concerns about the quality of his Arkansas team slides to 8.

Coming later in the week, more draft notes!

posted in Andre Woodson, Colt Brennan, Darren McFadden, College Football, NFL | 0 Comments

7th May 2007

Top Ten Prospects for the 2008 NFL Draft

Darren McFadden

As the 2007 NFL Draft process wraps up, we are turning our attention to the class of 2008. During the off-season, we will be presenting our top prospects lists and juniors to watch list. Below is our early list of prospects, subject to change during the 2007-08 season.

  1. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas (Junior) - The 2006 Doak Walker Award winner, McFadden could enter the 2008 draft as a junior. McFadden’s combination of speed, size, and elusiveness, would rank him among the top running backs to enter the draft in history. He was the runner up for the Heisman Trophy in 2006, after rushing for 1,558 yards. McFadden is a big back at 6′2, weighing 210 lbs. He runs with a great deal of power and has yet to demonstrate any of the durability concerns that have plagued recent top prospects.
  2. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville - Brohm considered entering the 2007 NFL Draft, but decided to return to Louisville, despite a change in the coaching staff. Brohm has ideal size for a QB at a 6′4, 225, and one of the strongest arms in college football. Brohm has been extremely efficient at Louisville, completing over 63% of his passes in 2 years as a starter. Brohm has had thumb and knee injuries at Louisville, but has the size and quick release to remain healthy at the NFL level.
  3. Jake Long, OT, Michigan - Long could have been a top 10 pick if he had entered the 2007 NFL Draft. He decided to return for his senior season at Michigan. Long was the 2006 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, over top 5 picks, Joe Thomas and Levi Brown. Long has exceptional strength and is very technically sound. At 6′7, 313 lb, Long has the ability to add more weight to his already impressive frame.
  4. Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU - At 6′2, 299 lbs, Dorsey is an ideal 3 technique DT. He is another player who could have entered the 2007 NFL Draft and likely would be a high draft pick. He had 64 tackles last season while anchoring the LSU line. He needs to continue to improve his strength, but if he can have another standout season, he will be the top defensive lineman off the board in the 2008 Draft.
  5. Sam Baker, OT, USC - Baker also choose to return to school after considering declaring for the 2007 NFL Draft. Baker is a good athlete with outstanding mobility. He needs to add strength to his game, as he is a better pass blocker than a run blocker at this point. He has the athleticism to project to left tackle at the next level.
  6. Kenny Phillips, S, Miami (Junior) - Another in the long line of outstanding safeties from the “U”, Phillips has terrific size at 6′2, 202 and outstanding agility. He runs a sub 4.45 40 and unlike some other recent Miami safeties, he is a terrific student who really understands the game. Phillips intercepted 4 passes in 9 games last season and will be expected to step up his game following the departure of Brandon Meriweather.
  7. Desean Jackson, WR, Cal (Junior) - Jackson is among the best playmakers in college football. He has value in the return game and is an exceptional receiver. He has good hands and runs his routes well. He has scored 21 touchdowns in 24 career games, which demonstrates his playmaking ability. He had 59 receptions and over 1,000 yards for the productive Cal offense in 2006 and is likely to exceed that production in 2007. Jackson must add bulk - his 166 lb frame is too small for the NFL at this point.
  8. Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC - One of the most watched juniors during the 2006-07 season, Jackson regressed slightly after an outstanding sophomore campaign that saw him rack up 10 sacks and earn 1st team All Pac-Ten. Jackson is 6′5, 275 lb and has the frame to add weight without losing mobility. He has an explosive first step and if he can play with more consistency in the 2007-08 season, he will see his name called early in the draft.
  9. Dan Connor, LB, Penn State - Another great linebacker from “Linebacker U.”, Connor totaled 113 tackles in his junior season, including 9 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks. Connor will be entering the 2007 season has a four year starter and the top LB prospect in the country. He has the quickness to play sideline to sideline and could project to the NFL as a MLB or an OLB.
  10. Paul Oliver, CB, Georgia - Oliver has ideal size for a corner and has the ability both to play off coverage and press coverage. He had an outstanding junior campaign, regularly matching up against the top receiver on the other team. He held Calvin Johnson to only 13 yards and Sidney Rice to 31 yards receiving. He needs to display more consistency in his game, but he has the physical tools to be the top corner in the 2008 class. *** Update *** Oliver has declared for the 2007 NFL Supplemental draft after academics trouble at Georgia.

posted in Desean Jackson, Dan Connor, Kenny Phillips, Paul Oliver, Lawrence Jackson, Sam Baker, Darren McFadden, Brian Brohm, Glenn Dorsey, Jake Long, 2008 NFL Draft | 1 Comment