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WHO TO WATCH IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL THIS WEEKEND
Championship Weekend; December 5-6, 2008
MAC Championship; Ball State (12-0) versus Buffalo (7-5); 8 PM ET Friday; Detroit; ESPN2... Ball State was one of three non-BCS programs to go unbeaten this fall, but unlike Utah and Boise State, the other two non-BCS teams with unblemished records this season, the BSU Cardinals never received much national attention. To bad, because Ball State actually has its share of intriguing prospects for the NFL draft. Junior QB Nate Davis (#, the MAC Offensive Player of the Year this season, for example, is one of the most efficient passers in the country, although he likely lacks the pure arm strength and prototype mechanics to rate as an elite prospect. Still, Davis completed 67% of his pass attempts this fall for over 3,000 yards and 25 TDs against just 6 interceptions and showed great leadership intangibles along the way. Davis also gets plenty of support from emerging junior scatback MiQuele Lewis (#33, 5-6, 185) who ran for over 1,600 yards this season and big-play TE Darius Hill (#88, 6-5, 240) who averaged almost 17 yards per catch this season. The Cardinals‘ offense also features on of the better bookend OT combinations in the nation in Robert Brewster (#71, 6-4, 310) and Andre Ramsey (79, 6-4, 305). The Cardinals aren’t as talented on the other side of the ball, but do have several decent ate round/free agent type prospects in CBs B.J. Hill (#3, 5-7, 180), who doubles as an electrifying punt returner, Trey Lewis (#12, 5-11, 190) and Trey Buice (#8, 5-9, 175), along with OLB Bryant Haines (#49, 6-4, 225). In the end, though, Ball State’s best prospect could be P Chris Miller (#35, 6-2, 210), who didn’t get all that much work this fall, but has as strong a leg as any kicker in the country.
Buffalo lacks the overall depth of Ball State, however, the Bulls have as many as three of the best players in college football nobody other than pro scouts has either seen or even heard of. QB Drew Willy (#16, 6-2, 210), for example, is another very efficient passer who figures to be something of a sleeper at the draft, while juniors James Starks (#19, 6-1, 210), the NCAA’s 6th leading rusher this fall with over 1,200 yards on the ground, WR Naaman Roosevelt (#18, 5-10, 185) who also finished in the top ten D1A receivers with 86 receptions. Meanwhile, fellow WR Ernest Jackson (#21, 6-1, 215), along with OT Ray Norell (#70, 6-5, 300) and OG Jeff Neidemier (#75, 6-2, 310) should get some free agent attention if they aren’t selected in the late rounds.
ACC Championship; Boston College (9-3) vs. Virginia Tech (9-3); 1 PM ET Saturday; Tampa; ABC… Suppose they scheduled the ACC Championship and a Big East game broke! Indeed, Saturday’s ACC title match-up between Boston College and Virginia Tech features two of the three teams that migrated over from the Big East a few years back. Ironically, there’s no sign of Miami, the third former Big East team to move to the ACC and the one the conference really wanted team in Tampa, Indeed, for a while it appeared that nobody really wanted to be in the ACC championship game and the BC-Va Tech pales in comparison to today’s other major conference games. Still, there’s plenty of reason to watch, especially if one is interested in physical. Boston College, for example, has one of the toughest defensive front sevens in the country anchored by massive DTs B.J. Raji (#90, 6-1, 325), a first-day prospect for the 2009 draft, and Ron Brace (#60, 6-3, 325), while emerging junior OLB Mark Herzlich (#94, 6-3, 230), who had 98 tackles and 6 interceptions this fall, leads a very active LB crew which also includes junior MLB Mike McLaughlin (#34, 6-0, 250) and WLB Robert Francois (#35, 6-2, 255). Meanwhile, TE Ryan Purvis (#80, 6-4, 260) is one of the better two-way prospects at the position, while OG Clif Ramsey (#73, 6-5, 305) is a late bloomer on the offensive line.
Despite graduating 8 players selected at the 2008 draft, Virginia Tech is back in the ACC title game, however, the Hokies aren’t quite as talented this year. Veteran CB Victor Macho’ Harris, though, is as productive as any corner in the country, although he may lack the extra gear to rate as a elite prospect, while DE Orion Martin (#90, 6-2, 255) is a decent edge rusher. The Hokies’ best prospect this coming April, though, could be junior OG Sergio Render (#70, 6-3, 325) if he decides to leave school early.
SEC Championship; Alabama vs. Florida; 4 PM ET Saturday; Atlanta; CBS… The game of the week features the unbeaten and #1 rated Crimson Tide against the once-beaten Gators with a pretty much automatic bid to the BCS title game on the line. While Alabama comes in as the top-rated team in the country, Florida is actually the favorite, if not the heavy favorite with a lineup loaded with speed. Pro scouts, though, will be using the SEC title game to further try and figure out whether Gators’ QB Tim Tebow (#15, 6-3, 222), who is in the running to win his second straight Heisman Trophy, is a true potential elite QB prospect or just a great athlete playing QB. Tebow, in act, is just one of a number of Florida juniors including WR Percy Harvin (#1, 5-10, 180), MLB Brandon Spikes (#51, 6-2, 245) and DE Jermaine Cunningham (#49, 6-3, 245) with at least first-day potential for the upcoming draft should any decide to school early. Harvin, though, who has often hasn’t been healthy in his Florida career and will be a game time decision on Saturday. Meanwhile, Florida’s best, and maybe only top senior prospect for the upcoming draft is speedy WR Louis Murphy (#9, 6-0, 195). Florida’s best prospect, though, could be sophomore DE Carlos Dunlap (#8, 6-5, 290). In the end, though, the best prospect on the field on Saturday for the 2009 draft could ultimately be Alabama junior OT Andre Smith (#71, 6-5, 340) who has outstanding athleticism for someone that size. Meanwhile, Saturday’s game will also be a test for emerging Alabama junior DT Terrence ’Mount’ Cody (#62, 6-4, 365), a mountainous - he’s listed at 365 but could actually weigh as much as 385 pounds - junior college transfer who has been almost unblockable through the regular season. Meanwhile, Smith anchors a very good offensive line that also features C Antoine Caldwell (#59, 6-3, 295), while QB John Wilson Parker (#14, 6-2, 215) is a very efficient college QB. The Tide, though, prefer to the run the ball with junior Glen Coffee (#38, 6-0, 200) and fresman Mark Ingram (#22, 5-9, 215) carrying the mail. Also keep an eye on Alabama freshman WR Julio Jones (#8, 6-3, 210) and sophomore MLB Rolando McClain (#25, 6-3, 250), while junior CB Jaiver Arenas (#28, 5-9, 195) is one of the most dangerous punt returners in the country.
Big XII Championship; Oklahoma vs. Missouri; 8 PM ET Saturday; Kansas City; ABC… Whether Oklahoma or Texas or even Texas Tech should actually be representing the Big XII South is one of those great endless - and ultimately useless - debates that has added a lot of spice to what looks to be a potential blow out as the #3 rated Sooners look to cement a spot in the BCS title game against 9-3 Missouri. No question, though, that Oklahoma redshirt sophomore QB Sam Bradford (#14, 6-4, 220) of Oklahoma is arguably the best player at the position in college football and could ultimately be the top pick at the 2009 draft if he opts to leave school early. Bradford, though, is Oklahoma’s only top prospect; indeed, whether Bradfod comes out this winter or not, the Sooners should be one of the major players at the 2009 draft starting with a huge, experienced offensive line anchored by OT Phil Loadholt (#79, 6-7, 340) and OG Duke Robinson (#72, 6-4, 340), a pair of legitimate first round prospects for the upcoming draft. Both are massive road graders, although Loadholt may lack the agility to play LT at the next level; indeed, Robinson, who has great feet and a solid work ethic, may ultimately be the better prospect. The Sooners also have plenty of talent at the skill positions including emerging junior TE Jermaine Gresham (#18, 6-5, 265), a huge target with WR speed and quickness. Gresham combines with veteran WRs Manuel Johnson (#1, 5-11, 185) and Juaquin Iglesias (#9, 5-11, 205) to give the Sooners a true big-play receiver corps. On the other side of the ball, Oklahoma is led by physical SS Nic Harris (#5, 6-2, 230) yet another big man who can run, along with an emerging pass-rush star in junior DE Auston English (#33, 6-2, 255) and a pair of rugged DTs in junior DeMarcus Granger (#96, 6-2, 305) and sophomore Gerald McCoy (#93, 6-3, 295).
Missouri will be looking to avenge last year's two losses - the Tigers’ only blemishes in an otheriwse fairy-tale season in 2007 - to Oklahoma. If the Tigers are to stay with the Sooners they will need a big agme from ultra-productive QB Chase Daniel (#10, 6-0, 225), who may lack the size and arm strength to be a top draft pick, but has been as any QB in the country thte past few years. Daniel also has a couple of outstanding receivers in draft-eligible super sophomore WR Jeremy Maclin (#9, 6-0, 200) and TE Chase Coffman (#45, 6-5, 245), who has the potential to be one of the first TEs off the board at the 2009 draft. The Tigers’ best overall prospect for the upcoming draft, though, could be FS William Moore (#1, 6-0, 230) who hits like a LB, but still has CB speed and quickness. Meanwhile, other Tigers that NFL personnel will be looking at include OT Colin Brown (#61, 6-7, 325), DT Ziggy Hood (#94, 6-3, 295), DE Stryker Sulak (#38, 6-4, 250), LB Brock Christopher (#34, 6-1, 235), safety Justin Garrett (#8, 6-1, 200), and PK Jeff Wolhert (#99, 6-2, 185).
Have a great weekend!
Championship Weekend; December 5-6, 2008
MAC Championship; Ball State (12-0) versus Buffalo (7-5); 8 PM ET Friday; Detroit; ESPN2... Ball State was one of three non-BCS programs to go unbeaten this fall, but unlike Utah and Boise State, the other two non-BCS teams with unblemished records this season, the BSU Cardinals never received much national attention. To bad, because Ball State actually has its share of intriguing prospects for the NFL draft. Junior QB Nate Davis (#, the MAC Offensive Player of the Year this season, for example, is one of the most efficient passers in the country, although he likely lacks the pure arm strength and prototype mechanics to rate as an elite prospect. Still, Davis completed 67% of his pass attempts this fall for over 3,000 yards and 25 TDs against just 6 interceptions and showed great leadership intangibles along the way. Davis also gets plenty of support from emerging junior scatback MiQuele Lewis (#33, 5-6, 185) who ran for over 1,600 yards this season and big-play TE Darius Hill (#88, 6-5, 240) who averaged almost 17 yards per catch this season. The Cardinals‘ offense also features on of the better bookend OT combinations in the nation in Robert Brewster (#71, 6-4, 310) and Andre Ramsey (79, 6-4, 305). The Cardinals aren’t as talented on the other side of the ball, but do have several decent ate round/free agent type prospects in CBs B.J. Hill (#3, 5-7, 180), who doubles as an electrifying punt returner, Trey Lewis (#12, 5-11, 190) and Trey Buice (#8, 5-9, 175), along with OLB Bryant Haines (#49, 6-4, 225). In the end, though, Ball State’s best prospect could be P Chris Miller (#35, 6-2, 210), who didn’t get all that much work this fall, but has as strong a leg as any kicker in the country.
Buffalo lacks the overall depth of Ball State, however, the Bulls have as many as three of the best players in college football nobody other than pro scouts has either seen or even heard of. QB Drew Willy (#16, 6-2, 210), for example, is another very efficient passer who figures to be something of a sleeper at the draft, while juniors James Starks (#19, 6-1, 210), the NCAA’s 6th leading rusher this fall with over 1,200 yards on the ground, WR Naaman Roosevelt (#18, 5-10, 185) who also finished in the top ten D1A receivers with 86 receptions. Meanwhile, fellow WR Ernest Jackson (#21, 6-1, 215), along with OT Ray Norell (#70, 6-5, 300) and OG Jeff Neidemier (#75, 6-2, 310) should get some free agent attention if they aren’t selected in the late rounds.
ACC Championship; Boston College (9-3) vs. Virginia Tech (9-3); 1 PM ET Saturday; Tampa; ABC… Suppose they scheduled the ACC Championship and a Big East game broke! Indeed, Saturday’s ACC title match-up between Boston College and Virginia Tech features two of the three teams that migrated over from the Big East a few years back. Ironically, there’s no sign of Miami, the third former Big East team to move to the ACC and the one the conference really wanted team in Tampa, Indeed, for a while it appeared that nobody really wanted to be in the ACC championship game and the BC-Va Tech pales in comparison to today’s other major conference games. Still, there’s plenty of reason to watch, especially if one is interested in physical. Boston College, for example, has one of the toughest defensive front sevens in the country anchored by massive DTs B.J. Raji (#90, 6-1, 325), a first-day prospect for the 2009 draft, and Ron Brace (#60, 6-3, 325), while emerging junior OLB Mark Herzlich (#94, 6-3, 230), who had 98 tackles and 6 interceptions this fall, leads a very active LB crew which also includes junior MLB Mike McLaughlin (#34, 6-0, 250) and WLB Robert Francois (#35, 6-2, 255). Meanwhile, TE Ryan Purvis (#80, 6-4, 260) is one of the better two-way prospects at the position, while OG Clif Ramsey (#73, 6-5, 305) is a late bloomer on the offensive line.
Despite graduating 8 players selected at the 2008 draft, Virginia Tech is back in the ACC title game, however, the Hokies aren’t quite as talented this year. Veteran CB Victor Macho’ Harris, though, is as productive as any corner in the country, although he may lack the extra gear to rate as a elite prospect, while DE Orion Martin (#90, 6-2, 255) is a decent edge rusher. The Hokies’ best prospect this coming April, though, could be junior OG Sergio Render (#70, 6-3, 325) if he decides to leave school early.
SEC Championship; Alabama vs. Florida; 4 PM ET Saturday; Atlanta; CBS… The game of the week features the unbeaten and #1 rated Crimson Tide against the once-beaten Gators with a pretty much automatic bid to the BCS title game on the line. While Alabama comes in as the top-rated team in the country, Florida is actually the favorite, if not the heavy favorite with a lineup loaded with speed. Pro scouts, though, will be using the SEC title game to further try and figure out whether Gators’ QB Tim Tebow (#15, 6-3, 222), who is in the running to win his second straight Heisman Trophy, is a true potential elite QB prospect or just a great athlete playing QB. Tebow, in act, is just one of a number of Florida juniors including WR Percy Harvin (#1, 5-10, 180), MLB Brandon Spikes (#51, 6-2, 245) and DE Jermaine Cunningham (#49, 6-3, 245) with at least first-day potential for the upcoming draft should any decide to school early. Harvin, though, who has often hasn’t been healthy in his Florida career and will be a game time decision on Saturday. Meanwhile, Florida’s best, and maybe only top senior prospect for the upcoming draft is speedy WR Louis Murphy (#9, 6-0, 195). Florida’s best prospect, though, could be sophomore DE Carlos Dunlap (#8, 6-5, 290). In the end, though, the best prospect on the field on Saturday for the 2009 draft could ultimately be Alabama junior OT Andre Smith (#71, 6-5, 340) who has outstanding athleticism for someone that size. Meanwhile, Saturday’s game will also be a test for emerging Alabama junior DT Terrence ’Mount’ Cody (#62, 6-4, 365), a mountainous - he’s listed at 365 but could actually weigh as much as 385 pounds - junior college transfer who has been almost unblockable through the regular season. Meanwhile, Smith anchors a very good offensive line that also features C Antoine Caldwell (#59, 6-3, 295), while QB John Wilson Parker (#14, 6-2, 215) is a very efficient college QB. The Tide, though, prefer to the run the ball with junior Glen Coffee (#38, 6-0, 200) and fresman Mark Ingram (#22, 5-9, 215) carrying the mail. Also keep an eye on Alabama freshman WR Julio Jones (#8, 6-3, 210) and sophomore MLB Rolando McClain (#25, 6-3, 250), while junior CB Jaiver Arenas (#28, 5-9, 195) is one of the most dangerous punt returners in the country.
Big XII Championship; Oklahoma vs. Missouri; 8 PM ET Saturday; Kansas City; ABC… Whether Oklahoma or Texas or even Texas Tech should actually be representing the Big XII South is one of those great endless - and ultimately useless - debates that has added a lot of spice to what looks to be a potential blow out as the #3 rated Sooners look to cement a spot in the BCS title game against 9-3 Missouri. No question, though, that Oklahoma redshirt sophomore QB Sam Bradford (#14, 6-4, 220) of Oklahoma is arguably the best player at the position in college football and could ultimately be the top pick at the 2009 draft if he opts to leave school early. Bradford, though, is Oklahoma’s only top prospect; indeed, whether Bradfod comes out this winter or not, the Sooners should be one of the major players at the 2009 draft starting with a huge, experienced offensive line anchored by OT Phil Loadholt (#79, 6-7, 340) and OG Duke Robinson (#72, 6-4, 340), a pair of legitimate first round prospects for the upcoming draft. Both are massive road graders, although Loadholt may lack the agility to play LT at the next level; indeed, Robinson, who has great feet and a solid work ethic, may ultimately be the better prospect. The Sooners also have plenty of talent at the skill positions including emerging junior TE Jermaine Gresham (#18, 6-5, 265), a huge target with WR speed and quickness. Gresham combines with veteran WRs Manuel Johnson (#1, 5-11, 185) and Juaquin Iglesias (#9, 5-11, 205) to give the Sooners a true big-play receiver corps. On the other side of the ball, Oklahoma is led by physical SS Nic Harris (#5, 6-2, 230) yet another big man who can run, along with an emerging pass-rush star in junior DE Auston English (#33, 6-2, 255) and a pair of rugged DTs in junior DeMarcus Granger (#96, 6-2, 305) and sophomore Gerald McCoy (#93, 6-3, 295).
Missouri will be looking to avenge last year's two losses - the Tigers’ only blemishes in an otheriwse fairy-tale season in 2007 - to Oklahoma. If the Tigers are to stay with the Sooners they will need a big agme from ultra-productive QB Chase Daniel (#10, 6-0, 225), who may lack the size and arm strength to be a top draft pick, but has been as any QB in the country thte past few years. Daniel also has a couple of outstanding receivers in draft-eligible super sophomore WR Jeremy Maclin (#9, 6-0, 200) and TE Chase Coffman (#45, 6-5, 245), who has the potential to be one of the first TEs off the board at the 2009 draft. The Tigers’ best overall prospect for the upcoming draft, though, could be FS William Moore (#1, 6-0, 230) who hits like a LB, but still has CB speed and quickness. Meanwhile, other Tigers that NFL personnel will be looking at include OT Colin Brown (#61, 6-7, 325), DT Ziggy Hood (#94, 6-3, 295), DE Stryker Sulak (#38, 6-4, 250), LB Brock Christopher (#34, 6-1, 235), safety Justin Garrett (#8, 6-1, 200), and PK Jeff Wolhert (#99, 6-2, 185).
Have a great weekend!