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Wake Forest vs UConn; Meineke Car Care Bowl; 1 PM ET; ESPN… The Meineke Car Care Bowl match-up between Wake Forest and UConn sounds like somebody scheduled a bowl and a basketball game broke out! Don’t be fooled, though, as both teams appear to be very much on the upswing, although neither likely will have a major impact at the 2008 draft. The Demon Deacons, who proved that last year’s Cinderella trip to the BCS was no fluke winning another 8 games this season, though, has at least a couple of solid mid-round prospects in veteran C Steve Justice (#74, 6-3, 285) and DE Jeremy Thompson (#98, 6-4, 265), while WR Kenneth Moore (#21, 6-0, 205)b and OT Louis Frazier (#78, 6-3, 315) should get some late round/free agent interest. The Deacons best prospects, though, may be juniors Alphonso Smith (#2, 5-8, 190), a ball-hawking junior CB who had 8 picks this year, and junior OLB Aaron Curry (#59, 6-2, 240). UConn also has a very good LB in underrated MLB Danny Lansanah (#48, 6-0, 250), while OG Donald Thomas (#55, 6-3, 300) is a technically sound interior offensive lineman and CB Tyvon Branch (#29, 5-11, 200) a speedy cover corner who doubles as a top kick returner. Like Wake, though, UConn’s best prospects are underclassmen like junior QB Tyler Lorenzon (#4, 6-5, 225) and sophomores RB Andre Dixon (#2, 6-0, 190), OG Mike Hicks (#79, 6-5, 335), OT Dan Ryan (#6-7, 305) and safety Robert Vaughn (#33, 5-11, 190). Watch Punt Returner (#24) who has 3 career TD's on punt returns.
Mississippi State vs Central Florida; Liberty Bowl; 4:30 PM ET; ESPN… The theme for the appropriately named Liberty Bowl could be “free Kevin Smith.” Smith (#24, 6-0, 212), the sensational junior RB whom almost no one other than amily and friends – and pro scouts – saw this season is within reach of Barry Sanders all-time single-season rushing mark after piling up 2,448 yards so ar this fall. The NFL may have to wait for Smith, though, as he has indicated that he will be returning to school for his senior season next fall. Smith runs behind a solid offensive line anchored by OT Josh Sitton (#70, 6-3, 325), C Kyle Smith (#79, 6-2, 305) and blocking TE Mike Merritt (#85, 6-3, 270). The UCF defense features a couple of very serviceable linemen in DE Leger Douzable (#91, 6-3, 305) and DT Keith Shologan (#74, 6-4, 275), both of whom may get get long looks from teams using 3-4 schemes. The Knights best defensive prospects, though, are junior DBs Joe Burnett (#19, 5-10, 185) and SS Sha’ref Rashad (#29, 5-11, 200).
Unfortunately for Smith and 10-3 UCF, Mississippi State is probably not the elite opponent that is going to draw much national attention. The Bulldogs, though, are a nice story themselves winning 7 games this season, including victories over Auburn, Kentucky and Alabama, after years on the college football scrapheap. As such, don’t expect MSU to make much of an impact at the 2008 draft, although DE Titus Brown (#54, 6-3, 255) could get some attention from 3-4 teams looking for an explosive edging rushing OLB, while veteran WR Tony Burks (#4, 6-4, 215) is a decent receiver who would be much more productive if the Bulldogs had anyone who could consistently get them the ball. In fact, the Bulldogs best players are underclassmen including juniors such as OT Mike Brown (#77, 6-4, 300), CB Derek Pegues (#3, 5-9, 195) and LB Jamar Chaney (#22, 6-1, 235).
Penn State vs Texas &M; Alamo Bowl; 8 PM ET; ESPN… Not a bad way to wrap up today’s triple header with a match-up between Penn State and Texas A&M in a game that features one of the top 2-3 individual prospects in the pre-January 1st games in Nittany Lions’ LB Dan Connor (#40, 6-2, 236). Connor, a finalist for the this year’s Butkus Award, had 136 tackles including 14 for loss this fall when he also broke up 7 passes. Connor teams with junior LB Sean Lee (#45, 6-1, 235) to give the Lions arguably the top 1-2 LB combo in the country, although Lee has already indicated he’ll be back at school next fall. Connor though could be joined in this year’s opening round by junior CB Justin King (#1, 5-11, 200) who has the physical skills of an elite shut down corner although he hasn’t always played like one. Meanwhile, for future reference, keep an eye on PSU sophomore DE Maurice Evans (#48, 6-2, 270).
Penn State will face a disappointing Texas A&M team that started the year with high expectation but lost 4 of its final 6 games to finish 7-5. That won’t stop pro scouts from watching DT Red Bryant (#85, 6-5, 325) and junior TE Martellus Bennett (#13, 6-6, 265) very closely tonight. Both certainly have the physical skills to be among the first players off the board at their respective positions, although Bryant had a somewhat up-and-down career on the field. Bryant lines up next to a couple of decent second-tier prospects in fellow DT Henry Smith (#95, 6-3, 310) and DE chris Harrington (#92, 6-5, 265). The Aggies also have plenty of experience at LB in veteran MLB Misi Tupe (#37, 5-10, 255) and Mark Dodge (#50, 6-1, 225), while CB Marquis Carpenter (#13, 5-11, 180) leads the secondary. Texas A&M also has a more than solid offensive line anchored by All-America C Cody Wallace (#70, 6-4, 295) while OG Kirk Elder (#64, 6-4, 310) and OT Corey Clark (#54, 6-5, 310) are solid as are veteran WR Earvin Taylor (#2, 6-2, 235) and FB Chris Alexander (#92, 6-5, 265).
Mississippi State vs Central Florida; Liberty Bowl; 4:30 PM ET; ESPN… The theme for the appropriately named Liberty Bowl could be “free Kevin Smith.” Smith (#24, 6-0, 212), the sensational junior RB whom almost no one other than amily and friends – and pro scouts – saw this season is within reach of Barry Sanders all-time single-season rushing mark after piling up 2,448 yards so ar this fall. The NFL may have to wait for Smith, though, as he has indicated that he will be returning to school for his senior season next fall. Smith runs behind a solid offensive line anchored by OT Josh Sitton (#70, 6-3, 325), C Kyle Smith (#79, 6-2, 305) and blocking TE Mike Merritt (#85, 6-3, 270). The UCF defense features a couple of very serviceable linemen in DE Leger Douzable (#91, 6-3, 305) and DT Keith Shologan (#74, 6-4, 275), both of whom may get get long looks from teams using 3-4 schemes. The Knights best defensive prospects, though, are junior DBs Joe Burnett (#19, 5-10, 185) and SS Sha’ref Rashad (#29, 5-11, 200).
Unfortunately for Smith and 10-3 UCF, Mississippi State is probably not the elite opponent that is going to draw much national attention. The Bulldogs, though, are a nice story themselves winning 7 games this season, including victories over Auburn, Kentucky and Alabama, after years on the college football scrapheap. As such, don’t expect MSU to make much of an impact at the 2008 draft, although DE Titus Brown (#54, 6-3, 255) could get some attention from 3-4 teams looking for an explosive edging rushing OLB, while veteran WR Tony Burks (#4, 6-4, 215) is a decent receiver who would be much more productive if the Bulldogs had anyone who could consistently get them the ball. In fact, the Bulldogs best players are underclassmen including juniors such as OT Mike Brown (#77, 6-4, 300), CB Derek Pegues (#3, 5-9, 195) and LB Jamar Chaney (#22, 6-1, 235).
Penn State vs Texas &M; Alamo Bowl; 8 PM ET; ESPN… Not a bad way to wrap up today’s triple header with a match-up between Penn State and Texas A&M in a game that features one of the top 2-3 individual prospects in the pre-January 1st games in Nittany Lions’ LB Dan Connor (#40, 6-2, 236). Connor, a finalist for the this year’s Butkus Award, had 136 tackles including 14 for loss this fall when he also broke up 7 passes. Connor teams with junior LB Sean Lee (#45, 6-1, 235) to give the Lions arguably the top 1-2 LB combo in the country, although Lee has already indicated he’ll be back at school next fall. Connor though could be joined in this year’s opening round by junior CB Justin King (#1, 5-11, 200) who has the physical skills of an elite shut down corner although he hasn’t always played like one. Meanwhile, for future reference, keep an eye on PSU sophomore DE Maurice Evans (#48, 6-2, 270).
Penn State will face a disappointing Texas A&M team that started the year with high expectation but lost 4 of its final 6 games to finish 7-5. That won’t stop pro scouts from watching DT Red Bryant (#85, 6-5, 325) and junior TE Martellus Bennett (#13, 6-6, 265) very closely tonight. Both certainly have the physical skills to be among the first players off the board at their respective positions, although Bryant had a somewhat up-and-down career on the field. Bryant lines up next to a couple of decent second-tier prospects in fellow DT Henry Smith (#95, 6-3, 310) and DE chris Harrington (#92, 6-5, 265). The Aggies also have plenty of experience at LB in veteran MLB Misi Tupe (#37, 5-10, 255) and Mark Dodge (#50, 6-1, 225), while CB Marquis Carpenter (#13, 5-11, 180) leads the secondary. Texas A&M also has a more than solid offensive line anchored by All-America C Cody Wallace (#70, 6-4, 295) while OG Kirk Elder (#64, 6-4, 310) and OT Corey Clark (#54, 6-5, 310) are solid as are veteran WR Earvin Taylor (#2, 6-2, 235) and FB Chris Alexander (#92, 6-5, 265).