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NFL draft
State prospects
By Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Apr. 11, 2009
Related Coverage
Hartford's Brunner hoping to get call from NFL
State prospects
2009 NFL Mock Drafts
Whom will the Packers select in the first round? It's early, but here's how some of the notable mock drafts on the Web see it:
National Football Post
Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn St.
Last update: March 30
AP
Ohio State defensive back Malcolm Jenkins makes a catch as he runs a drill at the NFL scouting combine on Feb. 24.Players from Wisconsin colleges or high schools who have been evaluated by NFL teams and have a legitimate chance of being drafted or signed as free agents:
Rhyan Anderson, DE, New Mexico State: 6 feet 4 inches, 283 pounds, 40-yard dash of 4.61 seconds. Played in high school at Oak Creek. . . . Top recruit from state in 2004 and rated No. 51 nationally by one recruiting firm. . . . After redshirting, played nine games for Miami Hurricanes in 2005 and one in '06 before being dismissed, according to one personnel director. . . . Surfaced at New Mexico State, starting in 2007 (one sack) and most of '08 (one sack). . . . "He sure didn't play well when I saw him," an NFC scout said. "They had him standing up some and they'd put him down.". . . . Worked out like a phenom last month, including a vertical jump of 38 feet and one-half inch, a broad jump of 10-5 and 25 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press. . . . Scored 15 on the Wonderlic intelligence test. . . . Green Bay has talked to him because his size fits the 3-4 defense. . . . Considered a character risk by some teams. . . . "You talk about a guy that had all the athleticism. He should have been dominating those guys he played against and he didn't," another scout said. . . . Has had two major shoulder operations. . . . Late pick or free agent.
Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin: 6-3, 240, 4.61. Played at Oak Creek. . . . Third in receptions (159) and receiving yards (2,149). . . . "Kind of a flex guy," one scout said. "He never blocks anybody. He's got all kinds of talent. He's a tweener to me. Not fast enough for a wide receiver and not physical enough for tight end.". . . . Came back for his senior year but suffered a fractured fibula in Week 8. . . . "He's more competitive as a blocker than (Dustin) Keller last year," another scout said. "He's fast. Really good athlete. They can't cover him no matter where they line him up." . . . Vertical jump of 38½, broad jump of 9-10, bench of 28 (high among TEs at the combine) and Wonderlic of 16. . . . Can be hard to coach. . . . Second- to third-round pick.
Brian Brunner, QB, Central Michigan: 6-1½, 225, 4.98. Played at Hartford. . . . Started just four games in four years. . . . "Bright guy," one AFC scout said. "He has intangibles. Rejected by the combine as a non-starter lacking arm strength, production, instincts. Camp guy. Maybe." . . . Completed 98 of 156 passes for 1,371 yards, eight TDs and three interceptions. . . . "He had some starts but I didn't even write him," another AFC scout said. . . . Vertical jump of 31, broad jump of 9-7 and Wonderlic of 34. . . . "He lacks down-the-field accuracy," an NFC scout said. "He'll get to a minicamp (for a tryout), at worst." . . . Possible free agent.
Jonathan Casillas, OLB, Wisconsin: 6-1, 229, 4.51. Played at New Brunswick (N.J.) . . . Underwent arthroscopic knee surgery for cartilage damage and sat out the bowl game, the Senior Bowl and combine. . . . Has notified teams that he will try to work out April 20. . . . "Like him a lot," one scout said. "He can run and knock hell out of you. He has some personal issues that aren't real good." . . . Cited for operating a moped while under the influence in August 2008 (still pending) and for disorderly conduct in 2006. . . . "Talent-wise, he's an NFL starter," a third scout said. "You've seen him when he's healthy. He knocks the crap out of people. But there's a lot of factors that will hurt him on draft day. He's going to be shocked. People are probably telling him he's second round. No. He's going to slide like a lead balloon." . . . Bench of 24, Wonderlic of 21. . . . Mid-round pick.
Jason Chapman, DT, Wisconsin: 6-2, 281, 5.11. Played at Bedford Heights (Ohio). . . . Played well in 2006 before injuries began to take their toll. . . . Finished with 11½ sacks and 20 tackles for loss. . . . Vertical jump of 30½, broad jump of 9-3 and Wonderlic of 13. . . . "Just a guy," one scout said. . . . Possible free agent.
Zach Davidson, DE-LB, Western Michigan: 6-2, 239, 4.72. Played at Racine Park. . . . Undersized DE who started for 3½ years. . . . Second-team all-Mid American Conference in 2007 and '08. . . . Finished with 19½ sacks and 178 tackles (38 for loss) in 48 games (41 starts). . . . Vertical jump of 30½ , broad jump of 9-2 and bench press of 26. . . . Possible free agent.
Kole Heckendorf, WR, North Dakota State: 6-2, 191, 4.49. Played at Mosinee. . . . Redshirted, then started four seasons. . . . Finished with school-record totals in receptions (178) and yards (2,732). . . . Has been compared to Bill Schroeder. . . . "He ran extremely well at his pro day and has really good hands," one scout said. . . . Vertical jump of 38, broad jump of 10-4, bench press of 14 and Wonderlic of 14. . . . Older brother, Keith, is offensive coordinator and QB coach at Western Carolina. . . . "Kind of a frail kid," another scout said. . . . Late pick or free agent.
P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin: 5-10, 220, 4.61. Played at Poly Prep (Brooklyn, N.Y.). . . . Has drunk driving charges pending in Wisconsin and Arizona. . . . "What a fool," one scout said. "He killed himself." . . . Lost about 15 pounds working out in Arizona since end of season. . . . Ranks third in UW history with 3,802 yards; declared a year early. . . . "I had him as a mid-round to late-round pick, but I can't touch him now," another scout said. "He had two DUIs recently. . . .He blew it totally." . . . Vertical jump of 37, broad jump of 10-2, bench of 16 and Wonderlic of 15. . . . Late-round pick or free agent.
Jim Johnson, S, Minnesota-Duluth: 6-2, 216, 4.64. Played at Little Chute. . . . Recruited by some schools as an option QB but went to UMD and started last three seasons. . . . Finished with 12 interceptions, 17 passes defended and 276 tackles. . . . "He's like a low-tier free agent at best," one scout said. . . . Vertical jump of 30½ , broad jump of 9-4, bench of 15 and Wonderlic of 28. . . . Possible free agent.
Andy Kemp, G, Wisconsin: 6-4½, 306, 5.39. Played at Menasha. . . . It's a poor year at guard and that helps Kemp, who started 36 games at LG. . . . "He's a typical Wisconsin power football player," one scout said. "Good kid. He won't be a starter but he'll be a good backup." . . . Vertical jump of 27½ , broad jump of 7-11, bench of 23 and Wonderlic of 21. . . . "Limited athlete," another scout said. . . . Mid- to late-round pick.
Joe Lardinois, DE-OLB, North Dakota State: 6-4 ½, 264, 4.81. Played at Green Bay Notre Dame. . . . Three-year starter with 20 sacks, six forced fumbles and 143 tackles. . . . "He played left end there but I guess for most teams he'd probably project like a 3-4 outside backer rush guy," one scout said. "He does flash some pass-rush ability. Just not a real consistent player." . . . Vertical jump of 34½ , broad jump of 9-4 and bench of 15. . . . "Good numbers, but they don't translate to how he plays," the scout said. "Average toughness.". . . . Free agent.
DeAndre Levy, OLB, Wisconsin: 6-2, 235, 4.53. Played at Milwaukee Vincent. . . . Three-year starter on the strong side. . . . "He's not a real bulky guy but he can run and he's athletic," one scout said. "Levy has a chance of doing stuff like (Lawrence) Timmons did for the Steelers. They also put his hand down and rushed him. He did it OK." . . . Finished with 15 sacks, six fumbles forced, six fumbles recovered and 211 tackles (28 for loss) . . . . "I think he's a little robotic in his movement," another scout said. "He's got great work ethic. Has a high motor.". . . . Wonderlic of 21. . . . Third- to fifth-round pick.
Mike Newkirk, DT, Wisconsin: 6-1½, 285, 5.22. Played at Ladysmith. . . . Rotational player in 2005 and '06, started at DE in '07 and at DT in '08 when he made all-Big Ten second team. . . . "He's nothing," one scout. "Tiny. Not very good." . . . Finished with 10 sacks and 208 tackles (29 for loss). . . . "Hell of a football player, but what do you do with him?" another scout said. "I thought he might be a (middle) backer. Rutgers had one like him last year (Eric Foster) who went to Indy and played a lot. Same size. But he has to fit a defense. He can't fit in a 3-4 and you can't play him at nose. Is he going to fight you? Absolutely. But he will lose more than he wins." . . . Vertical jump of 30, broad jump of 9-4 and bench of 35. . . . Free agent.
Dave Peck, LS, Wisconsin: 6-4, 245, 5.14. Played at Wallingford (Pa.) Strath Haven. . . . Handled snapping duties for three seasons. . . . "He has a chance but he will really have to improve his velocity," one special-teams coach said. "Right now it's borderline. That's kind of what's stopping him. His accuracy, for the most part, is pretty good. He's got nice size. Got a little bit of a hitch, but not bad. Good blocking skills." . . . Free agent.
Chris Pressley, FB, Wisconsin: 5-11, 257, 4.97. Played at Woodbury (N.J.). . . . Played off and on for four seasons, sitting out '06 with a leg injury. . . . "He's always hurt," one scout said. "He has a little bit of skill." . . .  Finished with 25 rushes and only two receptions. . . . "Just a blocking fullback," another scout said. "Like a tight end in the backfield." . . . Vertical jump of 31½, broad jump of 8-11, bench of 32 and Wonderlic of 21. . . . Possible free agent.
Bill Rentmeester, FB, Wisconsin: 5-11½, 247, 4.81. Played at Beaver Dam. . . . Redshirted in 2004 and played off and on from 2005-'08. . . . "Just a tough guy," one scout said. "Just a guy.". . . . Finished with 26 rushes and four receptions. . . . "Rentmeester was the real tough guy there," another scout said. . . . Vertical jump of 31½ , broad jump of 9-4 and bench of 18. . . . Free agent.
Nic Schommer, S, North Dakota State: 6-0, 201, 4.60. Played at Prescott. . . . After redshirting, started 41 games over last four seasons. . . . "He's a good player," one scout Johnny Meads said. "He knows where to go, hustles and runs well. Maybe he can sneak into late-round status.". . . . Vertical jump of 34½, broad jump of 9-10, bench of 11 and Wonderlic of 21. . . . Late pick or free agent.
Matt Shaughnessy, DE-OLB, Wisconsin: 6-5, 263, 4.87. Played at Norwich (Conn.) Free Academy. . . . Started for 3½ seasons. . . . "We looked at him at pro day standing up and he doesn't have that agility," one scout said. "He's probably going to be a standup defensive end.". . . . Other teams insist he can play LB. . . . Finished with 15 sacks and 212 tackles (41½ for loss). . . . "Little straight-line and stiff," another scout said. "Got some speed. Competitive guy. Struggles against the run just because he can't leverage and he plays so tall.". . . . Vertical jump of 30½, broad jump of 9-4, bench of 24 and Wonderlic of 18. . . . Mid-round pick.
Carl Sims, WR, Western Illinois: 5-11½, 194, 4.65. Played at Milwaukee Custer. . . . After redshirting, played extensively in 2005, made honorable mention all-Gateway Conference in '06 and '07 before playing in just seven games in '08. . . . Ranks third in school history in receptions (136), fourth in yards (1,724) and tied for ninth in TDs (11). . . . "He had some major off-the-field issues that kind of had everybody there a little sour on him," one scout said of Sims, who was suspended the first two games of 2008 and eventually was dismissed from the team. "They actually thought he had some talent.". . . . Vertical jump of 36½, broad jump of 10-3, bench of 7 and Wonderlic of 18. . . . Possible free agent.
Kraig Urbik, G, Wisconsin: 6-5, 328, 5.29. Played at Hudson. . . . Started 50 games, including 34 at RG and 16 at RT. . . . "He's better than Kemp," one scout said. "He's still a bit of a plodder." . . . Vertical jump of 25½, broad jump of 8-2, bench of 29 and Wonderlic of 28. . . . Second- to fourth-round pick.
Jose Valdez, T, Arkansas: 6-4½, 317, 5.23. Played at St. Francis. . . . Starting LT in 2007 and on the strong side in '08. . . . "We got him low," one scout said. "Big, competitive guy. Uses his hands well. But not strong, not athletic, bad balance." . . . Bench of 16, Wonderlic of 14. . . . "His body hasn't matured and he's got some strength issues," another scout said. . . . Extremely hard worker. . . . "I thought he really struggled any time he had to change direction at all," a third scout said. . . . Late pick or free agent.
Scott Witte, C, UW-River Falls: 6-5, 328, 5.4. Played at Cedarburg. . . . It was such a thin year in the WIAC that league coaches declined the opportunity to send players to work out at UW pro day. . . . The Falcons' starting center for 3½ years. . . . "He's a quick learner and likes being physical," River Falls coach John O'Grady said. . . . Weighed about 360 as a freshman before getting into shape. . . . Possible free agent.
State prospects
By Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Apr. 11, 2009
Related Coverage
Hartford's Brunner hoping to get call from NFL
State prospects
2009 NFL Mock Drafts
Whom will the Packers select in the first round? It's early, but here's how some of the notable mock drafts on the Web see it:
National Football Post
Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn St.
Last update: March 30
AP
Ohio State defensive back Malcolm Jenkins makes a catch as he runs a drill at the NFL scouting combine on Feb. 24.Players from Wisconsin colleges or high schools who have been evaluated by NFL teams and have a legitimate chance of being drafted or signed as free agents:
Rhyan Anderson, DE, New Mexico State: 6 feet 4 inches, 283 pounds, 40-yard dash of 4.61 seconds. Played in high school at Oak Creek. . . . Top recruit from state in 2004 and rated No. 51 nationally by one recruiting firm. . . . After redshirting, played nine games for Miami Hurricanes in 2005 and one in '06 before being dismissed, according to one personnel director. . . . Surfaced at New Mexico State, starting in 2007 (one sack) and most of '08 (one sack). . . . "He sure didn't play well when I saw him," an NFC scout said. "They had him standing up some and they'd put him down.". . . . Worked out like a phenom last month, including a vertical jump of 38 feet and one-half inch, a broad jump of 10-5 and 25 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press. . . . Scored 15 on the Wonderlic intelligence test. . . . Green Bay has talked to him because his size fits the 3-4 defense. . . . Considered a character risk by some teams. . . . "You talk about a guy that had all the athleticism. He should have been dominating those guys he played against and he didn't," another scout said. . . . Has had two major shoulder operations. . . . Late pick or free agent.
Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin: 6-3, 240, 4.61. Played at Oak Creek. . . . Third in receptions (159) and receiving yards (2,149). . . . "Kind of a flex guy," one scout said. "He never blocks anybody. He's got all kinds of talent. He's a tweener to me. Not fast enough for a wide receiver and not physical enough for tight end.". . . . Came back for his senior year but suffered a fractured fibula in Week 8. . . . "He's more competitive as a blocker than (Dustin) Keller last year," another scout said. "He's fast. Really good athlete. They can't cover him no matter where they line him up." . . . Vertical jump of 38½, broad jump of 9-10, bench of 28 (high among TEs at the combine) and Wonderlic of 16. . . . Can be hard to coach. . . . Second- to third-round pick.
Brian Brunner, QB, Central Michigan: 6-1½, 225, 4.98. Played at Hartford. . . . Started just four games in four years. . . . "Bright guy," one AFC scout said. "He has intangibles. Rejected by the combine as a non-starter lacking arm strength, production, instincts. Camp guy. Maybe." . . . Completed 98 of 156 passes for 1,371 yards, eight TDs and three interceptions. . . . "He had some starts but I didn't even write him," another AFC scout said. . . . Vertical jump of 31, broad jump of 9-7 and Wonderlic of 34. . . . "He lacks down-the-field accuracy," an NFC scout said. "He'll get to a minicamp (for a tryout), at worst." . . . Possible free agent.
Jonathan Casillas, OLB, Wisconsin: 6-1, 229, 4.51. Played at New Brunswick (N.J.) . . . Underwent arthroscopic knee surgery for cartilage damage and sat out the bowl game, the Senior Bowl and combine. . . . Has notified teams that he will try to work out April 20. . . . "Like him a lot," one scout said. "He can run and knock hell out of you. He has some personal issues that aren't real good." . . . Cited for operating a moped while under the influence in August 2008 (still pending) and for disorderly conduct in 2006. . . . "Talent-wise, he's an NFL starter," a third scout said. "You've seen him when he's healthy. He knocks the crap out of people. But there's a lot of factors that will hurt him on draft day. He's going to be shocked. People are probably telling him he's second round. No. He's going to slide like a lead balloon." . . . Bench of 24, Wonderlic of 21. . . . Mid-round pick.
Jason Chapman, DT, Wisconsin: 6-2, 281, 5.11. Played at Bedford Heights (Ohio). . . . Played well in 2006 before injuries began to take their toll. . . . Finished with 11½ sacks and 20 tackles for loss. . . . Vertical jump of 30½, broad jump of 9-3 and Wonderlic of 13. . . . "Just a guy," one scout said. . . . Possible free agent.
Zach Davidson, DE-LB, Western Michigan: 6-2, 239, 4.72. Played at Racine Park. . . . Undersized DE who started for 3½ years. . . . Second-team all-Mid American Conference in 2007 and '08. . . . Finished with 19½ sacks and 178 tackles (38 for loss) in 48 games (41 starts). . . . Vertical jump of 30½ , broad jump of 9-2 and bench press of 26. . . . Possible free agent.
Kole Heckendorf, WR, North Dakota State: 6-2, 191, 4.49. Played at Mosinee. . . . Redshirted, then started four seasons. . . . Finished with school-record totals in receptions (178) and yards (2,732). . . . Has been compared to Bill Schroeder. . . . "He ran extremely well at his pro day and has really good hands," one scout said. . . . Vertical jump of 38, broad jump of 10-4, bench press of 14 and Wonderlic of 14. . . . Older brother, Keith, is offensive coordinator and QB coach at Western Carolina. . . . "Kind of a frail kid," another scout said. . . . Late pick or free agent.
P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin: 5-10, 220, 4.61. Played at Poly Prep (Brooklyn, N.Y.). . . . Has drunk driving charges pending in Wisconsin and Arizona. . . . "What a fool," one scout said. "He killed himself." . . . Lost about 15 pounds working out in Arizona since end of season. . . . Ranks third in UW history with 3,802 yards; declared a year early. . . . "I had him as a mid-round to late-round pick, but I can't touch him now," another scout said. "He had two DUIs recently. . . .He blew it totally." . . . Vertical jump of 37, broad jump of 10-2, bench of 16 and Wonderlic of 15. . . . Late-round pick or free agent.
Jim Johnson, S, Minnesota-Duluth: 6-2, 216, 4.64. Played at Little Chute. . . . Recruited by some schools as an option QB but went to UMD and started last three seasons. . . . Finished with 12 interceptions, 17 passes defended and 276 tackles. . . . "He's like a low-tier free agent at best," one scout said. . . . Vertical jump of 30½ , broad jump of 9-4, bench of 15 and Wonderlic of 28. . . . Possible free agent.
Andy Kemp, G, Wisconsin: 6-4½, 306, 5.39. Played at Menasha. . . . It's a poor year at guard and that helps Kemp, who started 36 games at LG. . . . "He's a typical Wisconsin power football player," one scout said. "Good kid. He won't be a starter but he'll be a good backup." . . . Vertical jump of 27½ , broad jump of 7-11, bench of 23 and Wonderlic of 21. . . . "Limited athlete," another scout said. . . . Mid- to late-round pick.
Joe Lardinois, DE-OLB, North Dakota State: 6-4 ½, 264, 4.81. Played at Green Bay Notre Dame. . . . Three-year starter with 20 sacks, six forced fumbles and 143 tackles. . . . "He played left end there but I guess for most teams he'd probably project like a 3-4 outside backer rush guy," one scout said. "He does flash some pass-rush ability. Just not a real consistent player." . . . Vertical jump of 34½ , broad jump of 9-4 and bench of 15. . . . "Good numbers, but they don't translate to how he plays," the scout said. "Average toughness.". . . . Free agent.
DeAndre Levy, OLB, Wisconsin: 6-2, 235, 4.53. Played at Milwaukee Vincent. . . . Three-year starter on the strong side. . . . "He's not a real bulky guy but he can run and he's athletic," one scout said. "Levy has a chance of doing stuff like (Lawrence) Timmons did for the Steelers. They also put his hand down and rushed him. He did it OK." . . . Finished with 15 sacks, six fumbles forced, six fumbles recovered and 211 tackles (28 for loss) . . . . "I think he's a little robotic in his movement," another scout said. "He's got great work ethic. Has a high motor.". . . . Wonderlic of 21. . . . Third- to fifth-round pick.
Mike Newkirk, DT, Wisconsin: 6-1½, 285, 5.22. Played at Ladysmith. . . . Rotational player in 2005 and '06, started at DE in '07 and at DT in '08 when he made all-Big Ten second team. . . . "He's nothing," one scout. "Tiny. Not very good." . . . Finished with 10 sacks and 208 tackles (29 for loss). . . . "Hell of a football player, but what do you do with him?" another scout said. "I thought he might be a (middle) backer. Rutgers had one like him last year (Eric Foster) who went to Indy and played a lot. Same size. But he has to fit a defense. He can't fit in a 3-4 and you can't play him at nose. Is he going to fight you? Absolutely. But he will lose more than he wins." . . . Vertical jump of 30, broad jump of 9-4 and bench of 35. . . . Free agent.
Dave Peck, LS, Wisconsin: 6-4, 245, 5.14. Played at Wallingford (Pa.) Strath Haven. . . . Handled snapping duties for three seasons. . . . "He has a chance but he will really have to improve his velocity," one special-teams coach said. "Right now it's borderline. That's kind of what's stopping him. His accuracy, for the most part, is pretty good. He's got nice size. Got a little bit of a hitch, but not bad. Good blocking skills." . . . Free agent.
Chris Pressley, FB, Wisconsin: 5-11, 257, 4.97. Played at Woodbury (N.J.). . . . Played off and on for four seasons, sitting out '06 with a leg injury. . . . "He's always hurt," one scout said. "He has a little bit of skill." . . .  Finished with 25 rushes and only two receptions. . . . "Just a blocking fullback," another scout said. "Like a tight end in the backfield." . . . Vertical jump of 31½, broad jump of 8-11, bench of 32 and Wonderlic of 21. . . . Possible free agent.
Bill Rentmeester, FB, Wisconsin: 5-11½, 247, 4.81. Played at Beaver Dam. . . . Redshirted in 2004 and played off and on from 2005-'08. . . . "Just a tough guy," one scout said. "Just a guy.". . . . Finished with 26 rushes and four receptions. . . . "Rentmeester was the real tough guy there," another scout said. . . . Vertical jump of 31½ , broad jump of 9-4 and bench of 18. . . . Free agent.
Nic Schommer, S, North Dakota State: 6-0, 201, 4.60. Played at Prescott. . . . After redshirting, started 41 games over last four seasons. . . . "He's a good player," one scout Johnny Meads said. "He knows where to go, hustles and runs well. Maybe he can sneak into late-round status.". . . . Vertical jump of 34½, broad jump of 9-10, bench of 11 and Wonderlic of 21. . . . Late pick or free agent.
Matt Shaughnessy, DE-OLB, Wisconsin: 6-5, 263, 4.87. Played at Norwich (Conn.) Free Academy. . . . Started for 3½ seasons. . . . "We looked at him at pro day standing up and he doesn't have that agility," one scout said. "He's probably going to be a standup defensive end.". . . . Other teams insist he can play LB. . . . Finished with 15 sacks and 212 tackles (41½ for loss). . . . "Little straight-line and stiff," another scout said. "Got some speed. Competitive guy. Struggles against the run just because he can't leverage and he plays so tall.". . . . Vertical jump of 30½, broad jump of 9-4, bench of 24 and Wonderlic of 18. . . . Mid-round pick.
Carl Sims, WR, Western Illinois: 5-11½, 194, 4.65. Played at Milwaukee Custer. . . . After redshirting, played extensively in 2005, made honorable mention all-Gateway Conference in '06 and '07 before playing in just seven games in '08. . . . Ranks third in school history in receptions (136), fourth in yards (1,724) and tied for ninth in TDs (11). . . . "He had some major off-the-field issues that kind of had everybody there a little sour on him," one scout said of Sims, who was suspended the first two games of 2008 and eventually was dismissed from the team. "They actually thought he had some talent.". . . . Vertical jump of 36½, broad jump of 10-3, bench of 7 and Wonderlic of 18. . . . Possible free agent.
Kraig Urbik, G, Wisconsin: 6-5, 328, 5.29. Played at Hudson. . . . Started 50 games, including 34 at RG and 16 at RT. . . . "He's better than Kemp," one scout said. "He's still a bit of a plodder." . . . Vertical jump of 25½, broad jump of 8-2, bench of 29 and Wonderlic of 28. . . . Second- to fourth-round pick.
Jose Valdez, T, Arkansas: 6-4½, 317, 5.23. Played at St. Francis. . . . Starting LT in 2007 and on the strong side in '08. . . . "We got him low," one scout said. "Big, competitive guy. Uses his hands well. But not strong, not athletic, bad balance." . . . Bench of 16, Wonderlic of 14. . . . "His body hasn't matured and he's got some strength issues," another scout said. . . . Extremely hard worker. . . . "I thought he really struggled any time he had to change direction at all," a third scout said. . . . Late pick or free agent.
Scott Witte, C, UW-River Falls: 6-5, 328, 5.4. Played at Cedarburg. . . . It was such a thin year in the WIAC that league coaches declined the opportunity to send players to work out at UW pro day. . . . The Falcons' starting center for 3½ years. . . . "He's a quick learner and likes being physical," River Falls coach John O'Grady said. . . . Weighed about 360 as a freshman before getting into shape. . . . Possible free agent.