Let me first note that my idea of a "pet cat" is a player who's not really highly ranked (say, top 100 talent)... but that's just me, and this list will reflect that:
QB-- I agree with Hos about
Matt Nichols, he has a pro arm and some mobility... I also like
Nick Graziano from Arkansas Tech, and
Bradley George from Texas State, both of whom will almost certainly go undrafted... Graziano is a little short for the position, just 6-1, but he's kinda Romo-esque; he passed for nearly 360 yards per game this season, with 38 TDs and 12 ints, and he shows some mobility too, rushing for 455 yards on 76 carries with 7 more TDs... I wonder if Jerry's Arkansas connections have him clued in to Nick... as for George, he's a pure dropback passer, a statue in the pocket, but he's 6-6, and has passed for over 9500 yards and 91 TDs in his college career...
RB--
Mikell Simpson, Virginia, and
William Ford, South Carolina State... Simpson played for a rather bad UVa offense, but he can play RB or WR, he can return kicks, and NFLDS even suggests he might be converted to CB... Ford is a little waterbug, who will run a sub-4.4 40 this offseason... he rushed for nearly 2900 yards his last 2 seasons, 4650 in his career... again, neither one is likely to be drafted...
FB-- got a real Super Sleeper Special here, another likely undrafted rookie free agent name of
Jameson Konz from Kent State... he converted from linebacker while in college (suggesting he has a pretty physical nature), and I think he could even be a good back in a one back offense... he goes 6-3, weighs 230 pounds, and runs the 40 in right around 4.45 seconds... that's right, I said 4.45 seconds... some scouts even project him to WR, but I think he could bulk up to around 240, and still run a sub-4.5... which would make him a dangerous receiver out of the backfield...
TE--
Michael Hoomanawanui, Illinois... I like to include one player whose name is tough to spell every year, LOL... he goes 6-4, 265 pounds, and will run the 40 in around 4.75 seconds... he has good hands and runs good routes, but his blocking needs a little work (he has the size to develop in that area, though)... Michael might be drafted, but no earlier than the 6th or 7th round... there are a pair of likely undrafted rookie free agents at this position that I like too--
Greg Boone from Virginia Tech, and
Jeff Cottam from Tennessee... Boone is a converted quarterback who goes 6-3, 280 pounds (he even ran some "wild turkey" for the Hokies), while Cottam is the younger brother of NFL player Brad Cottam... Jeff goes 6-8, 260 pounds, runs a 4.65 40, and is more of a receiving threat than a blocking threat...
WR--
David Gettis from Baylor (6-4, 216 pounds, 4.45 second 40),
Jeff Moturi from UTEP (6-0, 190 pounds, 4.45 second 40) and
Kelton Tindal from Newberry (6-2, 200 pounds, 4.25 second 40) are three intriguing late round, UDFA prospects... Gettis has impressive size-speed numbers, Moturi was a home run hitter for UTEP, and Tindal played at a very low level, but look at that speed...
C-- I'd be all in favor of investing a late round pick in
Erik Cook from New Mexico (6-6, 320 pounds, 5.3 second 40) whose brother Ryan is already in the NFL... after the draft, I'd look at
Sean Allen from East Carolina (6-3, 310 pounds, 5.2 second 40) and
Garrett Anderson from South Carolina (6-4, 310 pounds, 5.1 second 40)... all three players might factor in at guard too...
OG--
Marshall Newhouse from TCU would look good in the 5th or 6th round (6-3, 325 pounds, 5.0 second 40), and
Thomas Austin from Clemson intrigues me in the 7th round (6-3, 316 pounds, 5.1 second 40, he can play some center too)... after the draft, I like
Joe Hawley from UNLV (6-3, 316 pounds, 5.15 second 40)...
OT-- the depth is pretty fair at this position this year, good enough that you might be able to claim a
Jared Veldheer from Hillsdale in the 4th or 5th round (6-8, 325 pounds, 4.9 second 40), or big ol'
Chris Scott from Tennessee in the 5th or 6th round (6-5, 325 pounds, 5.3 second 40, he may be a better guard prospect than a tackle prospect), or in the 7th round, perhaps either
Will Barker from Virginia (6-7, 320 pounds, 5.3 second 40, he can play guard as well) or
Casey Knips from South Dakota State (6-8, 310 pounds, 5.15 second 40)... and after the draft, I like
J'Marcus Webb from West Texas A&M (a Texas transfer, he goes 6-7, 325 pounds and runs a 5.25 second 40), or
Carl Spitale from Florida Atlantic (6-6, 320 pounds, 5.3 second 40, he can play some guard too)...
DE-- talking pure 3-4 DEs here, the players who might project to OLB in the 3-4 will be considered a few sections down... in the 7th round range, there are 2 prospects who have caught my interest--
Clifton Geathers from South Carolina (6-7, 286 pounds, 4.85 second 40), and
Brandon Deaderick from Alabama (6-4, 295 pounds, 4.9 second 40)... after the draft, the Boys might want to look at
Greg Middleton from Indiana (6-3, 285 pounds, 4.8 second 40) or
Sean Lissemore from William & Mary (6-3, 286 pounds, 4.8 second 40)...
DT-- there's really not much here I like later in the draft, but
Jay Ross from East Carolina might make some sense in the 7th round (6-3, 316 pounds, 5.05 second 40), and after the draft, maybe
Ekom Udofia from Stanford (6-1, 325 pounds, 5.1 second 40)...
OLB-- there seems to be nice quality and nice depth in the later rounds of this draft at OLB, including
Cameron Sheffield from Troy in the 5th round range (6-3, 255 pounds, 4.75 second 40),
Danny Batten from South Dakota State in the 6th or 7th round (6-3, 250 pounds, 4.65 second 40),
Tim Knicky from Stephen F. Austin in that same range (6-4, 235 pounds, 4.6 second 40)... and after the draft is over, you might find
Jarvis Geathers-- the son of former NFL DE James "Jumpy" Geathers-- from Central Florida (6-3, 240 pounds, 4.6 second 40),
Junior Galette from Stillman (6-2, 255 pounds, 4.6 second 40) or
Larry Hunt from Central Arkansas (6-1, 250 pounds, 4.55 second 40)... all three of these likely UDRFAs were highly productive in college...
ILB-- not much here, but in the 4th or 5th I kinda like
Jamar Cheney from Mississippi State (6-1, 240 pounds, 4.6 second 40)... he might be able to play some OLB too...
CB-- I'm looking at mostly big corners who might factor in at free safety too, and many of the draftniks in here have already "discovered" my two biggest pet cats at this position--
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah from Indiana, Pa. (6-1, 205 pounds, 4.45 second 40) and
Chris Cook from Virginia (6-2, 210 pounds, 4.5 second 40)... both players look like 3rd or 4th round prospects at the moment... Owusu-Ansah can return kicks, too... in the 4th or 5th round range, I like
Brian Jackson from Oklahoma (6-0, 205 pounds, 4.5 second 40)... I think he'll make a nice press corner, and he offers something on special teams (coverage-wise)... after the draft, the Miner in me says take a run at
Cornelius Brown from UTEP, even if their defense was gawdawful this year... he's 5-11, 195 pounds, and will probably run a sub-4.4 40 at the combine... he'll be playing in the Texas Vs. The Nation game this weekend...
FS-- once again, Hos made a good call on
Robert Johnson from Utah (6-2, 195 pounds, 4.5 second 40)... this guy just makes plays, and often against the best competition... he projects as a 4th or 5th rounder at this point... after the draft, I'd look at
Scann Schillinger from Montana (6-0, 200 pounds, 4.4 second 40)...
SS-- the Cowboys have reportedly shown an interest in
Larry Asante from Nebraska (6-0, 210 pounds, 4.5 second 40), who grades out as about a 4th round pick at the moment... he sure was part of a really good defense... at one point, I would have included Myron Rolle on this list, but even though he performed well during the Senior Bowl practices, those critics who have said he didn't make many plays in college seem to have a point...
Disclaimer-- I haven't really gone into the DBs in great depth yet, I may yet uncover other pet cats there...
Please don't make fun of the fact I have over 40 pet cats... I'll keep the litter box clean until the draft, honest...