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By Scott Wright
October 8, 2007
As anyone who follows the NFL Draft knows positive or negative momentum can play a big role in determining where a player is ultimately drafted. The following is a look at players who have that buzz at the moment as well as some who do not. Please keep in mind that this is just a weekly snapshot of football's hottest prospects and is not a replacement or an update to the positional rankings or mock draft. For example, a player could be #1 on this list but that might only mean he has gone from a 7th round pick to a 5th rounder. Here are the guys with helium:
1. Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College Others might have made bigger leaps up the draft board but nobody has entered the rarified air that Matt Ryan has which is why he takes the top spot. Heading into his senior season Ryan was a fringe first rounder who certainly had a lot of fans in the scouting community but he was also coming off an injury-riddled junior campaign and many were waiting to see if he was finally healthy and how he would perform. Well, we got our answer. Ryan has been fantastic in '07 and as a result he's in the mix to be a Top 10 overall pick and would be on the verge of giving Brian Brohm and André Woodson a run for their money to be the first QB selected.
2. Dennis Dixon, QB, Oregon No prospect has seen his draft stock rise as much as Dixon this season, who has gone from a late rounder or undrafted free agent to a potential Day One selection in the matter of about a month. The talk of him being a poor-man's Vince Young is a bit of an exaggeration but he certainly has become the type of dynamic dual-threat that will remind you of Young during his days with the Longhorns. Dixon is still more of an athlete than a passer but he has made major strides this year and showed everyone that he is a legitimate NFL prospect.
3. Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida The South Florida Bull program has emerged as a national contender this year and that is no fluke because there is a lot of talent on that team. Mike Jenkins is without question their top pro prospect for the 2008 NFL Draft and is really soaring up draft boards right now. Jenkins definitely has the size (6-0) and bulk (200 lbs.) that you look for and if he can manage to run better than the projected 4.5's then the first round is not out of the question. This is a real weak crop of senior cornerbacks but Jenkins is now among the best available.
4. Shawn Crable, OLB, Michigan Since coming to Ann Arbor as a very highly-touted prep recruit Crable had failed to live up to expectations but with David Harris, Prescott Burgess, LaMarr Woodley, and Leon Hall gone he was expected to step up as a senior and fulfill that vast potential and so far that's exactly what he's done. A great physical specimen at 6-5 and 241 lbs. with 4.65 speed, Crable is a bit of a OLB / DE hybrid who would appear to be a perfect fit for a 3-4 scheme at the next level. He's not yet a finished product but Crable is a playmaker who is on the rise.
5. Fred Davis, TE, USC When he signed with the Trojans Davis was viewed as an elite wideout recruit but he converted to tight end as a freshman and hasn't looked back. For the first few years of his collegiate career Davis did an okay job but didn't really stand out, although when you factor in the talent that he was competing with for touches (Reggie Bush, LenDale White, Dwayne Jarrett, Steve Smith, Dominique Byrd, etc.) it is tough to blame him. However, as a senior he's emerged as the Trojans top pass catching threat and is one of the top tight ends available.
6. Tony Hills, OT, Texas There are others who get a lot more attention but don't be surprised if Hills is chosen before a guy like Barry Richardson on Draft Day. A former tight end who took over the starting left tackle job from Jonathan Scott in 2006, Hills is a fantastic athlete with great feet but he doesn't really play with a nasty demeanor and may be a little soft. He won't be a perfect fit for every team but he could excel in a scheme that emphasizes finesse over power. In some ways Hills is similar to Tony Ugoh so the late 1st or early 2nd round is a real possibility.
7. Harry Douglas, WR, Louisville Good things can come in small packages and even though he doesn't have the ideal bulk that you look for at only about 170 lbs. Douglas has still emerged as one of the premier senior wideouts available. A big play threat who is tougher than his size would indicate, Douglas has been sensational in the Cardinals offense as a senior as Brian Brohm's main target and is moving up draft boards. His draft potential will always be limited by his size but Douglas has put himself in contention for a spot in the late first round or early second round.
8. Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC On a defense that is absolutely loaded with future pro talent Sedrick Ellis has emerged as the cream of the crop this year and as a result his draft stock is on the rise. A classic 3-technique who would be a perfect fit in the popular Tampa 2 defensive scheme, Ellis is a better prospect than Mike Patterson and Shaun Cody were coming out and he could find himself off the board in the top half of round one. Glenn Dorsey is clearly the top defensive tackle available but there isn't any more debate as to who is in the #2 spot. It's Sedrick Ellis.
9. André Woodson, QB, Kentucky It may be a surprise to see him this low on the list after all of the accolades he has received this year but the reason I put him down this far is because he was already considered to be a Top 10-15 prospect beforehand and thus hasn't necessarily made a huge leap up draft boards. That's not to take anything away from André though because he's carried that momentum he generated as a junior right into the 2007 season and been pretty amazing for the Wildcats. Don't be surprised if Woodson ends up being the first signal caller selected.
10. Jonal Saint-Dic, DE, Michigan St. This is the "Where Did He Come From?" portion of the list. Saint-Dic (pronounced saint-DEEK) was not totally off the radar coming into his senior season in '07 but he was close to it, although that's certainly not the case anymore after logging 10 TFL and 7 sacks in the Spartans first six games. He is still not an elite prospect by any stretch of the imagination and at just 6-1 and 255 lbs. some may be looking at him as a 3-4 OLB at the next level but Saint-Dic has gone from a complete afterthought to a draftable prospect in a very short time.
The Not-So-Hot List Tommy Blake, DE, T.C.U. Coming into the year Blake graded out as a first round pick and some felt he might even have a shot at the Top 10 overall but that could now be a distant memory. For the second time this season Blake has taken a leave of absence from the team for what had initially only been described as a medical leave for undisclosed reasons before Blake himself confirmed the reason as his being "overwhelmed with stress". So what happens if he again becomes overwhelmed during an NFL season? Or before a big playoff game? Or before the Super Bowl! Playing in the NFL is inevitably going to be a lot more stressful than being the big man on campus in college is so questions about his ability to handle a pro career are legitimate and very real. Needless to say a team might have a hard time investing a top pick and millions of dollars on a guy who could, for lack of a better term, flake out on them at any time. Tommy will face a lot of difficult questions in predraft interviews.
October 8, 2007
As anyone who follows the NFL Draft knows positive or negative momentum can play a big role in determining where a player is ultimately drafted. The following is a look at players who have that buzz at the moment as well as some who do not. Please keep in mind that this is just a weekly snapshot of football's hottest prospects and is not a replacement or an update to the positional rankings or mock draft. For example, a player could be #1 on this list but that might only mean he has gone from a 7th round pick to a 5th rounder. Here are the guys with helium:
1. Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College Others might have made bigger leaps up the draft board but nobody has entered the rarified air that Matt Ryan has which is why he takes the top spot. Heading into his senior season Ryan was a fringe first rounder who certainly had a lot of fans in the scouting community but he was also coming off an injury-riddled junior campaign and many were waiting to see if he was finally healthy and how he would perform. Well, we got our answer. Ryan has been fantastic in '07 and as a result he's in the mix to be a Top 10 overall pick and would be on the verge of giving Brian Brohm and André Woodson a run for their money to be the first QB selected.
2. Dennis Dixon, QB, Oregon No prospect has seen his draft stock rise as much as Dixon this season, who has gone from a late rounder or undrafted free agent to a potential Day One selection in the matter of about a month. The talk of him being a poor-man's Vince Young is a bit of an exaggeration but he certainly has become the type of dynamic dual-threat that will remind you of Young during his days with the Longhorns. Dixon is still more of an athlete than a passer but he has made major strides this year and showed everyone that he is a legitimate NFL prospect.
3. Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida The South Florida Bull program has emerged as a national contender this year and that is no fluke because there is a lot of talent on that team. Mike Jenkins is without question their top pro prospect for the 2008 NFL Draft and is really soaring up draft boards right now. Jenkins definitely has the size (6-0) and bulk (200 lbs.) that you look for and if he can manage to run better than the projected 4.5's then the first round is not out of the question. This is a real weak crop of senior cornerbacks but Jenkins is now among the best available.
4. Shawn Crable, OLB, Michigan Since coming to Ann Arbor as a very highly-touted prep recruit Crable had failed to live up to expectations but with David Harris, Prescott Burgess, LaMarr Woodley, and Leon Hall gone he was expected to step up as a senior and fulfill that vast potential and so far that's exactly what he's done. A great physical specimen at 6-5 and 241 lbs. with 4.65 speed, Crable is a bit of a OLB / DE hybrid who would appear to be a perfect fit for a 3-4 scheme at the next level. He's not yet a finished product but Crable is a playmaker who is on the rise.
5. Fred Davis, TE, USC When he signed with the Trojans Davis was viewed as an elite wideout recruit but he converted to tight end as a freshman and hasn't looked back. For the first few years of his collegiate career Davis did an okay job but didn't really stand out, although when you factor in the talent that he was competing with for touches (Reggie Bush, LenDale White, Dwayne Jarrett, Steve Smith, Dominique Byrd, etc.) it is tough to blame him. However, as a senior he's emerged as the Trojans top pass catching threat and is one of the top tight ends available.
6. Tony Hills, OT, Texas There are others who get a lot more attention but don't be surprised if Hills is chosen before a guy like Barry Richardson on Draft Day. A former tight end who took over the starting left tackle job from Jonathan Scott in 2006, Hills is a fantastic athlete with great feet but he doesn't really play with a nasty demeanor and may be a little soft. He won't be a perfect fit for every team but he could excel in a scheme that emphasizes finesse over power. In some ways Hills is similar to Tony Ugoh so the late 1st or early 2nd round is a real possibility.
7. Harry Douglas, WR, Louisville Good things can come in small packages and even though he doesn't have the ideal bulk that you look for at only about 170 lbs. Douglas has still emerged as one of the premier senior wideouts available. A big play threat who is tougher than his size would indicate, Douglas has been sensational in the Cardinals offense as a senior as Brian Brohm's main target and is moving up draft boards. His draft potential will always be limited by his size but Douglas has put himself in contention for a spot in the late first round or early second round.
8. Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC On a defense that is absolutely loaded with future pro talent Sedrick Ellis has emerged as the cream of the crop this year and as a result his draft stock is on the rise. A classic 3-technique who would be a perfect fit in the popular Tampa 2 defensive scheme, Ellis is a better prospect than Mike Patterson and Shaun Cody were coming out and he could find himself off the board in the top half of round one. Glenn Dorsey is clearly the top defensive tackle available but there isn't any more debate as to who is in the #2 spot. It's Sedrick Ellis.
9. André Woodson, QB, Kentucky It may be a surprise to see him this low on the list after all of the accolades he has received this year but the reason I put him down this far is because he was already considered to be a Top 10-15 prospect beforehand and thus hasn't necessarily made a huge leap up draft boards. That's not to take anything away from André though because he's carried that momentum he generated as a junior right into the 2007 season and been pretty amazing for the Wildcats. Don't be surprised if Woodson ends up being the first signal caller selected.
10. Jonal Saint-Dic, DE, Michigan St. This is the "Where Did He Come From?" portion of the list. Saint-Dic (pronounced saint-DEEK) was not totally off the radar coming into his senior season in '07 but he was close to it, although that's certainly not the case anymore after logging 10 TFL and 7 sacks in the Spartans first six games. He is still not an elite prospect by any stretch of the imagination and at just 6-1 and 255 lbs. some may be looking at him as a 3-4 OLB at the next level but Saint-Dic has gone from a complete afterthought to a draftable prospect in a very short time.
The Not-So-Hot List Tommy Blake, DE, T.C.U. Coming into the year Blake graded out as a first round pick and some felt he might even have a shot at the Top 10 overall but that could now be a distant memory. For the second time this season Blake has taken a leave of absence from the team for what had initially only been described as a medical leave for undisclosed reasons before Blake himself confirmed the reason as his being "overwhelmed with stress". So what happens if he again becomes overwhelmed during an NFL season? Or before a big playoff game? Or before the Super Bowl! Playing in the NFL is inevitably going to be a lot more stressful than being the big man on campus in college is so questions about his ability to handle a pro career are legitimate and very real. Needless to say a team might have a hard time investing a top pick and millions of dollars on a guy who could, for lack of a better term, flake out on them at any time. Tommy will face a lot of difficult questions in predraft interviews.
