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NFL DRAFT
Versatility has Lynch a lock for first round
By Charean Williams
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
SPOTLIGHT: RUNNING BACKS
Marshawn Lynch was a quarterback until he was beaten out by his cousin, Josh Johnson. Johnson passed for 1,900 yards and 22 touchdowns his senior season at Oakland Tech High School, while Lynch rushed for 2,097 yards.
Johnson now is the starting quarterback at the University of San Diego, where, as a junior, he earned third-team All-America honors in Division I-AA. Lynch, who bypassed his senior season, is a first-round draft prospect after becoming only the fourth player in Cal history to rush for more than 3,000 yards.\
But Lynch still brags about his arm, claiming he can throw 70 yards. In his college career, he completed 3 of 4 passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns.
It is one of the things that make him the most complete back in the draft and likely the second running back selected behind Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson.
"I catch the ball well," Lynch said. "I can run inside and out; I can get to the edge, catch out of the backfield, line up at receiver, line up in that slot; and I'll throw that 70-yard pass downfield."
In 35 games, Lynch gained 3,230 yards and scored 29 touchdowns on 490 carries. He also caught 68 passes for 600 yards and six scores and added 744 kickoff return yards.
"I think he's a good player," New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese said. "... He'll get drafted somewhere early, and people will be happy they got the guy."
Lynch could end up in Buffalo or Green Bay, but wherever he goes, his mother will go with him. Lynch has a "Mama's Boy" tattoo that goes from shoulder blade to shoulder blade. He said he will buy her a house in the city of the team that drafts him.
"I'm a Mama's Boy at heart, and I ain't afraid to show it," Lynch said. "... My mom raised me by herself with no help, basically. She worked three jobs for me, and it's not just what she did for me, but my older brother and for my younger siblings. She made it to each and every one of our games. That was kind of hard, because I'm playing, my little brother had a game and probably later that night, my sister might have a basketball game, and [his mother Delisa] would still manage to go and be able to feed us and clothe us and pay the bills. She's just my Superwoman."
Overview
The 11 junior running backs have made this class. Five are potential first-day picks, with Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch headlining the group. Peterson is the top-rated running back, but Lynch's receiving ability makes him the more complete back. Rutgers' Brian Leonard and Arizona's Chris Henry are intriguing prospects. Leonard wants to be a tailback, and he is versatile. He could play in a one-back set or as a fullback. Henry started only four games in college, but he ran a 4.40 at the Scouting Combine, had a 36-inch vertical leap and bench-pressed 225 pounds 26 times.
Cowboys' needs
The Cowboys started Julius Jones, who produced his first 1,000-yard season with 1,084 yards on 267 carries in 2006. But Marion Barber got plenty of work, especially on third downs and on the goal line. Barber had 654 rushing yards, 196 receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns on 158 touches. With Jones in the final year of his contract and Tyson Thompson returning from a season-ending ankle injury, the Cowboys might want to draft a running back as insurance. Owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys hope to draft a fullback, a position the team plans to utilize more.
Top 5
1Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma, 6-2, 217, 4.40 With three major injuries in three seasons, the Palestine product's only question mark is his durability.
2Marshawn Lynch, Cal, 5-11, 215, 4.46 Lynch's 3,230 rushing yards and 600 receiving yards have turned him into a first-round pick.
3Antonio Pittman, Ohio State, 5-11, 207, 4.40 Projected as a second-round pick, Pittman lost only two fumbles in 557 rushing attempts.
4Kenny Irons, Auburn, 5-11, 203, 4.45 Irons followed in a long line of successful Auburn runners with 2,366 yards and 18 touchdowns in his career.
5Brian Leonard, Rutgers, 6-2, 226, 4.52 He arguably is the best fullback to come out since William Floyd.
Sleeper
Alonzo Coleman, Hampton, 5-10, 207, 4.49 Coleman is only the eighth player in NCAA history with four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Texas ties
Jackie Battle, Houston, 6-2, 235, 4.42 Battle, who was tackled behind the line only six times in his career, has seen his stock rise.
Selvin Young, Texas, 5-11, 207, 4.58 Young was a complementary back in college (1,702 career yards), which is what scouts project in the pros.
Courtney Lewis, Texas A&M, 5-11, 190, 4.51 Injury history, a poor senior season and a so-so 40 time leave him likely going the free-agent route.
Ramonce Taylor, Texas College, 5-10, 195, 4.46 The former UT star could get a chance despite his off-field problems.
Source: Heights, weights and 40 times were compiled from NFL Draft Scout.
2007 NFL draft
April 28-29
Radio City Music Hall in New York City
TV: Saturday (Rounds 1-3), ESPN 11-7; ESPN2 7-9; NFL Network 9-10
Sunday (Rounds 4-7), ESPN 10-5, NFL Network 11-6
Cowboys' picks
Round pick overall Round pick overall First 22 22 Sixth 21 195 Second 21 53 Sixth 26 200 Third 24 87 Seventh 2 212 Fourth 23 122 Seventh 25 234 Fifth 22 159 Seventh 27 237
Versatility has Lynch a lock for first round
By Charean Williams
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
SPOTLIGHT: RUNNING BACKS
Marshawn Lynch was a quarterback until he was beaten out by his cousin, Josh Johnson. Johnson passed for 1,900 yards and 22 touchdowns his senior season at Oakland Tech High School, while Lynch rushed for 2,097 yards.
Johnson now is the starting quarterback at the University of San Diego, where, as a junior, he earned third-team All-America honors in Division I-AA. Lynch, who bypassed his senior season, is a first-round draft prospect after becoming only the fourth player in Cal history to rush for more than 3,000 yards.\
But Lynch still brags about his arm, claiming he can throw 70 yards. In his college career, he completed 3 of 4 passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns.
It is one of the things that make him the most complete back in the draft and likely the second running back selected behind Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson.
"I catch the ball well," Lynch said. "I can run inside and out; I can get to the edge, catch out of the backfield, line up at receiver, line up in that slot; and I'll throw that 70-yard pass downfield."
In 35 games, Lynch gained 3,230 yards and scored 29 touchdowns on 490 carries. He also caught 68 passes for 600 yards and six scores and added 744 kickoff return yards.
"I think he's a good player," New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese said. "... He'll get drafted somewhere early, and people will be happy they got the guy."
Lynch could end up in Buffalo or Green Bay, but wherever he goes, his mother will go with him. Lynch has a "Mama's Boy" tattoo that goes from shoulder blade to shoulder blade. He said he will buy her a house in the city of the team that drafts him.
"I'm a Mama's Boy at heart, and I ain't afraid to show it," Lynch said. "... My mom raised me by herself with no help, basically. She worked three jobs for me, and it's not just what she did for me, but my older brother and for my younger siblings. She made it to each and every one of our games. That was kind of hard, because I'm playing, my little brother had a game and probably later that night, my sister might have a basketball game, and [his mother Delisa] would still manage to go and be able to feed us and clothe us and pay the bills. She's just my Superwoman."
Overview
The 11 junior running backs have made this class. Five are potential first-day picks, with Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch headlining the group. Peterson is the top-rated running back, but Lynch's receiving ability makes him the more complete back. Rutgers' Brian Leonard and Arizona's Chris Henry are intriguing prospects. Leonard wants to be a tailback, and he is versatile. He could play in a one-back set or as a fullback. Henry started only four games in college, but he ran a 4.40 at the Scouting Combine, had a 36-inch vertical leap and bench-pressed 225 pounds 26 times.
Cowboys' needs
The Cowboys started Julius Jones, who produced his first 1,000-yard season with 1,084 yards on 267 carries in 2006. But Marion Barber got plenty of work, especially on third downs and on the goal line. Barber had 654 rushing yards, 196 receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns on 158 touches. With Jones in the final year of his contract and Tyson Thompson returning from a season-ending ankle injury, the Cowboys might want to draft a running back as insurance. Owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys hope to draft a fullback, a position the team plans to utilize more.
Top 5
1Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma, 6-2, 217, 4.40 With three major injuries in three seasons, the Palestine product's only question mark is his durability.
2Marshawn Lynch, Cal, 5-11, 215, 4.46 Lynch's 3,230 rushing yards and 600 receiving yards have turned him into a first-round pick.
3Antonio Pittman, Ohio State, 5-11, 207, 4.40 Projected as a second-round pick, Pittman lost only two fumbles in 557 rushing attempts.
4Kenny Irons, Auburn, 5-11, 203, 4.45 Irons followed in a long line of successful Auburn runners with 2,366 yards and 18 touchdowns in his career.
5Brian Leonard, Rutgers, 6-2, 226, 4.52 He arguably is the best fullback to come out since William Floyd.
Sleeper
Alonzo Coleman, Hampton, 5-10, 207, 4.49 Coleman is only the eighth player in NCAA history with four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Texas ties
Jackie Battle, Houston, 6-2, 235, 4.42 Battle, who was tackled behind the line only six times in his career, has seen his stock rise.
Selvin Young, Texas, 5-11, 207, 4.58 Young was a complementary back in college (1,702 career yards), which is what scouts project in the pros.
Courtney Lewis, Texas A&M, 5-11, 190, 4.51 Injury history, a poor senior season and a so-so 40 time leave him likely going the free-agent route.
Ramonce Taylor, Texas College, 5-10, 195, 4.46 The former UT star could get a chance despite his off-field problems.
Source: Heights, weights and 40 times were compiled from NFL Draft Scout.
2007 NFL draft
April 28-29
Radio City Music Hall in New York City
TV: Saturday (Rounds 1-3), ESPN 11-7; ESPN2 7-9; NFL Network 9-10
Sunday (Rounds 4-7), ESPN 10-5, NFL Network 11-6
Cowboys' picks
Round pick overall Round pick overall First 22 22 Sixth 21 195 Second 21 53 Sixth 26 200 Third 24 87 Seventh 2 212 Fourth 23 122 Seventh 25 234 Fifth 22 159 Seventh 27 237
