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Draft spotlight: Tight ends
SPOTLIGHT | TIGHT ENDS
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Olsen continues a Hurricane tradition
Greg Olsen started his college football career at Notre Dame and went through summer workouts and two-a-days in South Bend, Ind., in 2003. But his brother, Christian, left for Virginia before the season, and Greg followed soon after, leaving for the University of Miami.
It was a good move.
UM has become Tight End U.
"The track record of tight ends they produce is unmatched at the college level," Olsen said. "...I know coming out in the draft as a Miami tight end is not like coming out as a tight end from other schools just because of the history that school brings at that position. It's something I take a lot of pride in and something I look forward to continuing."
Olsen follows Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow II. Franks was the 14th overall choice of the Packers in 2000; Shockey went 14th to the Giants in 2002; and Winslow was the sixth pick of the Browns in 2004.
Olsen solidified his standing as this draft's top tight end when he ran a 4.51 in the 40-yard dash, did 23 reps in the 225-pound bench press and had a 35 1/2 vertical jump at the combine. He could go as early as 14th overall to Carolina.
"I don't see him getting out of the first round," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said last week. "...The one concern is his in-line blocking."
Though he admits he still needs work on his blocking skills, Olsen calls himself "well-rounded." In 33 games at UM, including 26 starts, Olsen had 87 receptions for 1,215 yards and six touchdowns.
"A well-rounded tight end has a lot of value in the NFL," Olsen said. "Being able to go out from the line of scrimmage, go in the backfield, be able to block, catch the ball. I think being able to do all the things a well-rounded tight end can do is something I bring to the table for whatever team drafts me."
Overview
The class overall is thin, and if juniors Greg Olsen and Zach Miller hadn't declared, it would be weaker than weak. NFL.com draft analyst Gil Brandt calls it "the leanest crop" in more than 10 years. Olsen should be drafted in the first round, and Miller could go in the second. There is a chance, though, that they could be the only first-day picks. Delaware's Ben Patrick and Iowa's Scott Chandler, a Southlake Carroll graduate, are hoping to be second- or third-round choices.
Cowboys' needs
The Cowboys used a second-round choice on Anthony Fasano last year after deciding to play a lot of two-tight-end sets. With Fasano and Pro Bowler Jason Witten, a third-round pick in 2003, the Cowboys are set at the position, even with third tight end Brett Pierce coming off knee surgery. Witten (64) and Fasano (14) combined for 78 catches, 880 yards and a touchdown. However, the Cowboys still could draft a blocking tight end on the second day.
Top 5
1Greg Olsen, Miami, 6-6, 254, 4.51. Another in a long line of UM tight ends to go in the first round, following Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow.
2Zach Miller, left, Arizona State, 6-5, 256, 4.87. Miller caught a pass in 33 of his 35 games, earning a comparison to ex-ASU player Todd Heap.
3Scott Chandler, below, Iowa, 6-7, 270, 4.78. The Carroll graduate could go on the first day after catching 117 passes for 1,467 yards and 10 touchdowns.
4Ben Patrick, Delaware, 6-3, 252, 4.74. After four seasons at Duke, Patrick transferred to Delaware, where he made 64 catches for 639 yards and six touchdowns.
5Matt Spaeth, Minnesota, 6-7, 270, 4.83. Projected as an early second-day pick, he caught 109 passes for 1,291 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career.
Sleeper
Kevin Boss, Western Oregon, 6-7, 252, 4.78. Scouts love Boss, who caught 134 passes for 1,590 yards and 19 touchdowns in his career.
Texas ties
Rodney Hannah, Houston, 6-6, 245, 4.85. Hannah, a former power forward, played only one year of college football, but he could get a camp invite.
Source: Heights, weights and 40 times were compiled from NFL Draft Scout.
2007 NFL DRAFT
Saturday-April29
Radio City Music Hall, New York
TV: Saturday (Rounds 1-3), ESPN 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; ESPN2 7-9 p.m.; NFL Network 9-10 p.m.
April 29 (Rounds 4-7), ESPN 10 a.m.-5 p.m., NFL Network 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
SPOTLIGHT | TIGHT ENDS
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Olsen continues a Hurricane tradition
Greg Olsen started his college football career at Notre Dame and went through summer workouts and two-a-days in South Bend, Ind., in 2003. But his brother, Christian, left for Virginia before the season, and Greg followed soon after, leaving for the University of Miami.
It was a good move.
UM has become Tight End U.
"The track record of tight ends they produce is unmatched at the college level," Olsen said. "...I know coming out in the draft as a Miami tight end is not like coming out as a tight end from other schools just because of the history that school brings at that position. It's something I take a lot of pride in and something I look forward to continuing."
Olsen follows Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow II. Franks was the 14th overall choice of the Packers in 2000; Shockey went 14th to the Giants in 2002; and Winslow was the sixth pick of the Browns in 2004.
Olsen solidified his standing as this draft's top tight end when he ran a 4.51 in the 40-yard dash, did 23 reps in the 225-pound bench press and had a 35 1/2 vertical jump at the combine. He could go as early as 14th overall to Carolina.
"I don't see him getting out of the first round," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said last week. "...The one concern is his in-line blocking."
Though he admits he still needs work on his blocking skills, Olsen calls himself "well-rounded." In 33 games at UM, including 26 starts, Olsen had 87 receptions for 1,215 yards and six touchdowns.
"A well-rounded tight end has a lot of value in the NFL," Olsen said. "Being able to go out from the line of scrimmage, go in the backfield, be able to block, catch the ball. I think being able to do all the things a well-rounded tight end can do is something I bring to the table for whatever team drafts me."
Overview
The class overall is thin, and if juniors Greg Olsen and Zach Miller hadn't declared, it would be weaker than weak. NFL.com draft analyst Gil Brandt calls it "the leanest crop" in more than 10 years. Olsen should be drafted in the first round, and Miller could go in the second. There is a chance, though, that they could be the only first-day picks. Delaware's Ben Patrick and Iowa's Scott Chandler, a Southlake Carroll graduate, are hoping to be second- or third-round choices.
Cowboys' needs
The Cowboys used a second-round choice on Anthony Fasano last year after deciding to play a lot of two-tight-end sets. With Fasano and Pro Bowler Jason Witten, a third-round pick in 2003, the Cowboys are set at the position, even with third tight end Brett Pierce coming off knee surgery. Witten (64) and Fasano (14) combined for 78 catches, 880 yards and a touchdown. However, the Cowboys still could draft a blocking tight end on the second day.
Top 5
1Greg Olsen, Miami, 6-6, 254, 4.51. Another in a long line of UM tight ends to go in the first round, following Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow.
2Zach Miller, left, Arizona State, 6-5, 256, 4.87. Miller caught a pass in 33 of his 35 games, earning a comparison to ex-ASU player Todd Heap.
3Scott Chandler, below, Iowa, 6-7, 270, 4.78. The Carroll graduate could go on the first day after catching 117 passes for 1,467 yards and 10 touchdowns.
4Ben Patrick, Delaware, 6-3, 252, 4.74. After four seasons at Duke, Patrick transferred to Delaware, where he made 64 catches for 639 yards and six touchdowns.
5Matt Spaeth, Minnesota, 6-7, 270, 4.83. Projected as an early second-day pick, he caught 109 passes for 1,291 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career.
Sleeper
Kevin Boss, Western Oregon, 6-7, 252, 4.78. Scouts love Boss, who caught 134 passes for 1,590 yards and 19 touchdowns in his career.
Texas ties
Rodney Hannah, Houston, 6-6, 245, 4.85. Hannah, a former power forward, played only one year of college football, but he could get a camp invite.
Source: Heights, weights and 40 times were compiled from NFL Draft Scout.
2007 NFL DRAFT
Saturday-April29
Radio City Music Hall, New York
TV: Saturday (Rounds 1-3), ESPN 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; ESPN2 7-9 p.m.; NFL Network 9-10 p.m.
April 29 (Rounds 4-7), ESPN 10 a.m.-5 p.m., NFL Network 11 a.m.-6 p.m.