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WHO TO WATCH IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL THIS WEEKEND
December 1, 2007
Its championship weekend in college football this weekend along with several traditional rivalry games to wrap up the regular schedule. The game attracting the most national attention, of course, is the Missouri-Oklahoma Big XII title game (Saturday; 8 PM ET; ABC) with a spot in the BCS title game awaiting the surprising Tigers if they can knock off the Sooners. Pro scouts, though, will likely be focused in on Oklahoma, as the Sooners have a bunch of juniors who could very much be on the first round radar if they entered the upcoming draft including WR Malcolm Kelly (#4, 6-4, 220), OG Duke Robinson (#72, 6-4, 330), OT Phil Loadholt (#79, 79, 6-8, 350), S/CB Reggie Smith (#3, 6-0, 200) and LB Curtis Lofton (#40, 6-0, 240). Scouts will also be keeping an eye on OU CB Marcus Walker (#24, 5-10, 195), a late first-day prospect with 4.4 speed. RB Allen Patrick (#23, 5-11, 195) is also as quick and fast as they come.
The Sooners’ defense will have its hands full trying to stop a prolific Missouri offense that features perhaps the best QB in the country. Junior QB Chase Daniel (#10, 6-0, 225) is the guy pulling the trigger, while, NFL teams looking to upgrade at TE this coming off-season will be trooping to this game to see Tigers’ senior Martin Rucker (#82, 6-5, 255), however, junior TE Chase Coffman (#45, 6-5, 245) won’t play. Meanwhile, the Tigers have a number of other intriguing prospects for the 2008 draft including big-play WR Will Franklin (#2, 6-1, 205), RB Tony Temple (#22, 5-9, 200), rugged C Adam Spieker (#77, 6-3, 305), athletic OT Tyler Luellen (#79, 6-6, 305), super quick DT Lorenzo Williams (#99, 6-1, 295), and CB Darrell Terrell (#3, 6-2, 205).
Among the other conference championship games, the most interesting, at least from the perspective of the 2008 draft, may be the ACC title game between Boston College and Virginia Tech (Saturday; 1 PM ET; ABC). BC QB Matt Ryan (#12, 6-5, 235), for example, is one of the real rising stars of the 2008 draft class; indeed, there are teams around the league that would make the Ryan the first player off the board at the position ahead of the likes of Louisville’s Brian Brohm and Andre’ Woodson of Kentucky. And Ryan could very well be joined in this year’s opening round by rugged OT Gosder Cherilus (#77, 6-6, 320) and CB DeJuan Tribble (#27, 5-9, 190), while the RB duo of Andre Callender (#32, 5-10, 205) and L.V. Whitworth (#30, 5-11, 222), MLB Jolonn Dunbar (#40, 6-0, 225) and DB Jamie Silva (#44, 5-11, 205) are solid. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech also features at least one late first round prospect of its own in OLB Xavier Adibi (#11, 6-2, 225), while WRs Eddie Royal (#4, 5-9, 185), Justin Harper (#81, 6-3, 205) and Josh Hyman (#19, 5-10, 180); OT Duane Brown (#76, 6-5, 310); DTs Carlton Powell (#99, 6-2, 295) and Barry Booker (#59, 6-3, 285), MLB Vince Hall (#9, 5-11, 240) and S D.J. Parker (#25, 5-10, 195) are solid mid-to-late round prospects. The Hokies’ 2008 draft prospects could be even stronger if either of junior CB Brandon Flowers (#18, 5-10, 190), the latest in what seems like a never-ending line of top Tech prospects at the position, or junior RB Branden Ore (#28, 5-10, 205), opt to leave school early and turn pro this winter, while sophomore OG Sergio Render (#70, 6-2, 320) is one of the better young offensive linemen in the country.
The SEC final between LSU and Tennessee (Saturday; 4 PM ET; CBS) could still be a coronation for the Tigers, who spent a good part of the year ranked among the top 2-3 teams in the country, however, there won’t be any invitation to LSU for the BCS title game in New Orleans in the mail after last week’s upset loss to Arkansas. Still, the Tigers offer as much talent for the 2008 draft as any program in the country. DT Glenn Dorsey, for example, could very well be the first player selected this coming April, while WR Early Doucet (#9, 6-0, 205), junior DE Tyson Jackson (#93, 6-5, 292), and OLB Ali Highsmith (#7, 6-0, 225) have early first day grades. Meanwhile, CBs Jonathan Zenon (#19, 5-11, 175) and Chevis Jackson (#21, 5-11, 195) and hard-hitting SS Craig Stetz (#6-1, 205) head arguably the country’s best secondary while rugged RB Jacob Hester (#18, 5-11, 230) is nothing but versatile.
For its part, Tennessee is just happy to be in the SEC title game with a shot at a BCS bowl after something of an up-and-down season. The Vols are led by steady second-tier QB Eric Ainge (#10, 6-5, 220), while S Jonathan Hefney (#33, 5-9, 185), who may get a shot at CB at the next level, is the Vols’ top positional prospect.
There also should be plenty of interest from pro teams in the USC-UCLA battle for the football championship of Los Angeles (Saturday; 4:30 PM ET; ABC). In fact, folks at Southern Cal will tell you that the Trojans are still the best team in the land. Sure, USC lost two games this fall, but both came when starting QB John David Booty (#10, 6-3, 210) was sidelined with an injury. And the Trojans will be represented at the 2008 draft where DT Sedric Ellis (#49, 6-1, 295) and OLB Keith Rivers (#55, 6-3, 225) are among the top 1-2 players at their respective positions, while DE Lawrence Jackson (#96, 6-5, 265) is close. Meanwhile, CB Terrell Thomas (#28, 6-0, 200) and TE Fred Davis (#83, 6-3, 260) are later first day prospects.
UCLA doesn’t have quite the talent of Southern Cal, but has a number of solid second-tier type prospects including SS Chris Horton (#14, 6-0, 210), FS Dennis Keyes (#11, 6-1, 195), CB Trey Brown (#23, 5-9, 185), LB Christian Taylor (#33, 5-10, 220), DT Kevin Brown (#75, 6-2, 295), RB Chris Markey (#28, 5-10, 205) and OG Shannon Tevaga (#71, 6-3, 315). The Bruins best known player, though, is DE Bruce Davis (#44, 6-2, 237) who had 22 sacks the past couple of seasons.
Bonus coverage… It is barely a blip on the national radar but the Conference USA title matchup between Tulsa and Central Florida (Noon ET; ESPN) features two of the better players in the country few people outside pro scouts have seen this fall in Tulsa QB Paul Smith (#12, 6-2, 195) and UCF junior RB Kevin Smith (#24, 6-0, 212). Smith, in fact, leads D1A rushers with almost 2,200 yards this fall and 25 TDs. Meanwhile, the athletic Smith threw for over 4,300 yards and 39 TDs this season, while adding another 12 on the ground.
December 1, 2007
Its championship weekend in college football this weekend along with several traditional rivalry games to wrap up the regular schedule. The game attracting the most national attention, of course, is the Missouri-Oklahoma Big XII title game (Saturday; 8 PM ET; ABC) with a spot in the BCS title game awaiting the surprising Tigers if they can knock off the Sooners. Pro scouts, though, will likely be focused in on Oklahoma, as the Sooners have a bunch of juniors who could very much be on the first round radar if they entered the upcoming draft including WR Malcolm Kelly (#4, 6-4, 220), OG Duke Robinson (#72, 6-4, 330), OT Phil Loadholt (#79, 79, 6-8, 350), S/CB Reggie Smith (#3, 6-0, 200) and LB Curtis Lofton (#40, 6-0, 240). Scouts will also be keeping an eye on OU CB Marcus Walker (#24, 5-10, 195), a late first-day prospect with 4.4 speed. RB Allen Patrick (#23, 5-11, 195) is also as quick and fast as they come.
The Sooners’ defense will have its hands full trying to stop a prolific Missouri offense that features perhaps the best QB in the country. Junior QB Chase Daniel (#10, 6-0, 225) is the guy pulling the trigger, while, NFL teams looking to upgrade at TE this coming off-season will be trooping to this game to see Tigers’ senior Martin Rucker (#82, 6-5, 255), however, junior TE Chase Coffman (#45, 6-5, 245) won’t play. Meanwhile, the Tigers have a number of other intriguing prospects for the 2008 draft including big-play WR Will Franklin (#2, 6-1, 205), RB Tony Temple (#22, 5-9, 200), rugged C Adam Spieker (#77, 6-3, 305), athletic OT Tyler Luellen (#79, 6-6, 305), super quick DT Lorenzo Williams (#99, 6-1, 295), and CB Darrell Terrell (#3, 6-2, 205).
Among the other conference championship games, the most interesting, at least from the perspective of the 2008 draft, may be the ACC title game between Boston College and Virginia Tech (Saturday; 1 PM ET; ABC). BC QB Matt Ryan (#12, 6-5, 235), for example, is one of the real rising stars of the 2008 draft class; indeed, there are teams around the league that would make the Ryan the first player off the board at the position ahead of the likes of Louisville’s Brian Brohm and Andre’ Woodson of Kentucky. And Ryan could very well be joined in this year’s opening round by rugged OT Gosder Cherilus (#77, 6-6, 320) and CB DeJuan Tribble (#27, 5-9, 190), while the RB duo of Andre Callender (#32, 5-10, 205) and L.V. Whitworth (#30, 5-11, 222), MLB Jolonn Dunbar (#40, 6-0, 225) and DB Jamie Silva (#44, 5-11, 205) are solid. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech also features at least one late first round prospect of its own in OLB Xavier Adibi (#11, 6-2, 225), while WRs Eddie Royal (#4, 5-9, 185), Justin Harper (#81, 6-3, 205) and Josh Hyman (#19, 5-10, 180); OT Duane Brown (#76, 6-5, 310); DTs Carlton Powell (#99, 6-2, 295) and Barry Booker (#59, 6-3, 285), MLB Vince Hall (#9, 5-11, 240) and S D.J. Parker (#25, 5-10, 195) are solid mid-to-late round prospects. The Hokies’ 2008 draft prospects could be even stronger if either of junior CB Brandon Flowers (#18, 5-10, 190), the latest in what seems like a never-ending line of top Tech prospects at the position, or junior RB Branden Ore (#28, 5-10, 205), opt to leave school early and turn pro this winter, while sophomore OG Sergio Render (#70, 6-2, 320) is one of the better young offensive linemen in the country.
The SEC final between LSU and Tennessee (Saturday; 4 PM ET; CBS) could still be a coronation for the Tigers, who spent a good part of the year ranked among the top 2-3 teams in the country, however, there won’t be any invitation to LSU for the BCS title game in New Orleans in the mail after last week’s upset loss to Arkansas. Still, the Tigers offer as much talent for the 2008 draft as any program in the country. DT Glenn Dorsey, for example, could very well be the first player selected this coming April, while WR Early Doucet (#9, 6-0, 205), junior DE Tyson Jackson (#93, 6-5, 292), and OLB Ali Highsmith (#7, 6-0, 225) have early first day grades. Meanwhile, CBs Jonathan Zenon (#19, 5-11, 175) and Chevis Jackson (#21, 5-11, 195) and hard-hitting SS Craig Stetz (#6-1, 205) head arguably the country’s best secondary while rugged RB Jacob Hester (#18, 5-11, 230) is nothing but versatile.
For its part, Tennessee is just happy to be in the SEC title game with a shot at a BCS bowl after something of an up-and-down season. The Vols are led by steady second-tier QB Eric Ainge (#10, 6-5, 220), while S Jonathan Hefney (#33, 5-9, 185), who may get a shot at CB at the next level, is the Vols’ top positional prospect.
There also should be plenty of interest from pro teams in the USC-UCLA battle for the football championship of Los Angeles (Saturday; 4:30 PM ET; ABC). In fact, folks at Southern Cal will tell you that the Trojans are still the best team in the land. Sure, USC lost two games this fall, but both came when starting QB John David Booty (#10, 6-3, 210) was sidelined with an injury. And the Trojans will be represented at the 2008 draft where DT Sedric Ellis (#49, 6-1, 295) and OLB Keith Rivers (#55, 6-3, 225) are among the top 1-2 players at their respective positions, while DE Lawrence Jackson (#96, 6-5, 265) is close. Meanwhile, CB Terrell Thomas (#28, 6-0, 200) and TE Fred Davis (#83, 6-3, 260) are later first day prospects.
UCLA doesn’t have quite the talent of Southern Cal, but has a number of solid second-tier type prospects including SS Chris Horton (#14, 6-0, 210), FS Dennis Keyes (#11, 6-1, 195), CB Trey Brown (#23, 5-9, 185), LB Christian Taylor (#33, 5-10, 220), DT Kevin Brown (#75, 6-2, 295), RB Chris Markey (#28, 5-10, 205) and OG Shannon Tevaga (#71, 6-3, 315). The Bruins best known player, though, is DE Bruce Davis (#44, 6-2, 237) who had 22 sacks the past couple of seasons.
Bonus coverage… It is barely a blip on the national radar but the Conference USA title matchup between Tulsa and Central Florida (Noon ET; ESPN) features two of the better players in the country few people outside pro scouts have seen this fall in Tulsa QB Paul Smith (#12, 6-2, 195) and UCF junior RB Kevin Smith (#24, 6-0, 212). Smith, in fact, leads D1A rushers with almost 2,200 yards this fall and 25 TDs. Meanwhile, the athletic Smith threw for over 4,300 yards and 39 TDs this season, while adding another 12 on the ground.