Buckrock's 2008 Draft Rankings & Prospect Analysis

[Buckrock101]

It's a month before the NFL draft, and I've got my Positional Rankings and Big Board ready for public viewing.

I have done a few player profiles already, but I will be adding more as I do them.

To begin with...
MY 2008 BIG BOARD

1. Jake Long (Michigan) -OT
2. Darren McFadden (Arkansas) -RB
3. Glenn Dorsey (Louisiana State) -DT
4. Chris Long (Virginia) -DE/OLB
5. Vernon Gholston (Ohio State) -DE/OLB
6. Sedrick Ellis (Southern California) -DT
7. Jonathan Stewart (Oregon) -RB
8. Ryan Clady (Boise State) -OT
9. Dan Connor (Penn State) -LB
10. Brian Brohm (Louisville) -QB
11. DeSean Jackson (California) -WR
12. Mike Jenkins (South Florida) -CB
13. Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois) -RB
14. Matt Ryan (Boston College) -QB
15. Chris Williams (Vanderbilt) -OT
16. Kenny Phillips (Miami Fl.) -S
17. Felix Jones (Arkansas) -RB
18. Leodis McKelvin (Troy) -CB
19. Derrick Harvey (Florida) -DE/OLB
20. Phillip Merling (Clemson) -DE
21. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Tennessee State) -CB
22. Antoine Cason (Arizona) -CB
23. Pat Sims (Auburn) -DT
24. Sam Baker (Southern California) -OT
25. Keith Rivers (Southern California) -OLB
26. Malcolm Kelly (Oklahoma) -WR
27. Aqib Talib (Kansas) -CB/S
28. Phillip Wheeler (Georgia Tech) -LB
29. Chris Johnson (East Carolina) -RB/WR
30. Trevor Laws (Notre Dame) -DT
31. James Hardy (Indiana) -WR
32. Brandon Albert (Virginia) -OG/OT
33. Curtis Lofton (Oklahoma) -ILB
34. Devin Thomas (Michigan State) -WR
35. Calais Campbell (Miami Fl.) -DE
36. Tracy Porter (Indiana) -CB
37. Limas Sweed (Texas) -WR
38. Quentin Groves (Auburn) -DE/OLB
39. Reggie Smith (Oklahoma) -CB/S
40. Godser Cherilus (Boston College) -OT
41. Jeff Otah (Pittsburgh) -OT
42. Lawrence Jackson (Southern California) -DE
43. Patrick Lee (Auburn) -CB
44. Craig Steltz (Louisiana State) -S
45. Erin Henderson (Maryland) -OLB
46. Ray Rice (Rutgers) -RB
47. Jamaal Charles (Texas) -RB
48. Colt Brennan (Hawaii) -QB
49. Kevin Smith (Central Florida) -RB
50. Carl Nicks (Nebraska) -OT
51. Jerod Mayo (Tennessee) -LB
52. Shawn Crable (Michigan) -OLB
53. Ali Highsmith (Louisiana State) -OLB
54. Kentwan Balmer (North Carolina) -DT/DE
55. Chilo Rachal (Southern California) -OG
56. Cliff Avril (Purdue) -OLB/DE
57. Marcus Howard (Georgia) -OLB/DE
58. Brandon Flowers (Virginia Tech) -CB
59. Jason Jones (Eastern Michigan) -DE
60. Earl Bennett (Vanderbilt) -WR
61. Matt Forte (Tulane) -RB
62. Anthony Collins (Kansas) -OT
63. Fred Davis (Southern California) -TE
64. Charles Godfrey (Iowa) -CB
65. Terrell Thomas (Southern California) -CB/S
66. Adarius Bowman (Oklahoma State) -WR
67. Mario Manningham (Michigan) -WR
68. Chad Henne (Michigan) -QB
69. Jordy Nelson (Kansas State) -WR
70. Tashard Choice (Georgia Tech) -RB
71. Joe Flacco (Delaware) -QB
72. DaJuan Morgan (North Carolina State) -S
73. Jermichael Finley (Texas) -TE
74. Dre Moore (Maryland) -DT/DE
75. Jeremy Thompson (Wake Forest) -DE/OLB
76. Wesley Woodyard (Kentucky) -OLB/S
77. Jeremy Leman (Illinois) -ILB
78. Thomas DeCoud (California) -S
79. Kendall Langford (Hampton) -DE/DT
80. Marcus Harrison (Arkansas) -DT/DE
81. Quintin Demps (Texas El-Paso) -S
82. Jonathan Goff (Vanderbilt) -ILB
83. Early Doucet (Louisiana State) -WR
84. Oniel Cousins (Texas El-Paso) -OT/OG
85. Tyvon Branch (Connecticut) -CB
86. Steve Slaton (West Virginia) -RB
87. Ahtyba Rubin (Iowa State) -DT/NT
88. Brian Johnson (Gardner Webb) -OLB/DE
89. Justin King (Penn State) -CB
90. Roy Schuening (Oregon State) -OG
91. Eric Young (Tennessee) -OG
92. Justin Forsett (California) -RB
93. Barry Richardson (Clemson) -OT
94. D.J. Hall (Alabama) -WR
95. John Carlson (Notre Dame) -TE
96. Beau Bell (Nevada-Las Vegas) -OLB/ILB
97. Andre Woodson (Kentucky) -QB
98. Mike Hart (Michigan) -RB
99. Heath Benedict (Newberry) R.I.P.
100. Josh Barrett (Arizona State) -S
101. Josh Johnson (San Diego) -QB
_________________

[Buckrock101]

QB:
1. Brian Brohm (Louisville)
Ht: 6’3”, Wt: 230

Brohm has been underrated to a degree prior to this draft. Matt Ryan is getting all the hype, and will probably end up being the first quarterback taken, but I certainly feel that Brohm is the #1 QB in this class. He considered coming out after his junior season, but decided to go back and had his best season in his final year. He may have had an even better season and possibly a Heisman trophy if he had a better supporting cast to work with.
Brian Brohm’s mechanics, arm and intangibles are reminiscent to me of Peyton Manning. Like Manning, he has a great football mind, is excellent at reading a defense and makes great decisions with the ball in hand. He can also move his feet when he needs to, and ran an outstanding 4.67 at his pro day. That, plus the way he handles himself in the pocket are both further comparisons to Peyton.
I give him a solid Top Ten grade, and I think would be perfect to go to Baltimore at #8. However I can see him getting passed up ALA Brady Quinn last year, and may slip as far as the late 20’s in the first round. I don’t think he will get much further than this, as some team will likely trade back and pick him up. I say he goes #14 to the Bears, or if he slips past them then #20 to the Bucs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxC2WrG8cuQ

2. Matt Ryan (Boston College)
3. Colt Brennan (Hawaii)
Ht: 6’2”, Wt: 207

Colt is one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. He has a lot going for him, but he has a few question marks. One of the biggest debating points about him is his throwing action. He has a very quick release, but it is slightly sidearm which, at 6’2”, may lead to a lot of knocked down passes in the NFL. His size and build have also come into question. His height is adequate, but with his peculiar action he may be an inch or so too short. He is also seen to be slightly frail, and may be unable to withstand an NFL beating.

My take: I am one of the biggest Colt fans out there. He has solid arm strength, and outstanding accuracy; he seems to have the ball on a string at times. He has had a lot of stick for his throwing motion, but he gets the ball out very quick, and his mobility can offset the sidearm nature of it. He is not a classic drop-back passer, but he excels in moving around, then stepping up and making the throw. As for the size issue, I personally don’t see his height as a problem, and he has bulked up considerably since the senior bowl which gives me more confidence now in his durability.
Another perceived con of his is that he is a product of the Hawaii system. Be that as it may, he has still put up extraordinary numbers even for a system QB. He has also been successful in this system; his Hawaii Warriors went 13-0 this year before losing their bowl game to Georgia. Also, when looking at his numbers you have to take into consideration the surrounding talent he has had to work with. None of his offensive weapons he had this year are projected as high picks, Davone Bess may be the most highly rated teammate of his, at around the 5th-6th round. Colt’s best season came in 2006, when he had senior Samson Satele blocking for him. With a solid offensive line, he should flourish in the pros.
Great arm and great stats aside, Colt’s greatest asset is his leadership and charisma. He has the ability to lift those around him, and to succeed with the mediocre talent he has had around him at the University of Hawaii. This is something that bodes well for the NFL, as he has the capability to lead a team; which is exactly the Quarterback’s job.
Finally, he has a minor character concern, as he was kicked off the Colorado team as a freshman. He was convicted of criminal trespass and burglary, however he has put that behind him and I do not see that as a problem at all.
Taking all that into consideration, I really can’t give a sure projected round for him. It depends which way NFL scouts look at his cons. I give him a mid 2nd round- mid 3rd round grade. In reality though he will probably end up going anywhere from the late 3rd, to possibly as late as the 5th. He is a great fit for a team that runs the West Coast Offense, and three teams I can see targeting him are Tampa Bay, San Francisco (Mike Martz worked with him extensively at the senior bowl) and Green Bay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMCHSWW2sH4

4. Chad Henne (Michigan)
5. Joe Flacco (Delaware
6. Andre Woodson (Kentucky)
7. Josh Johnson (San Diego)
8. Erik Ainge (Tennessee)
9. John David Booty (Southern California)
10. Dennis Dixon (Oregon)
11. Kevin O’Connell (San Diego State)
12. Paul Smith (Tulsa)
13. Bernard Morris (Marshall)
14. Ben Mauk (Cincinnati)
15. Matt Flynn (Louisiana State)
16. Adam Tafralis (San Jose State)
17. Alex Brink (Washington State)
18. Anthony Morelli (Penn State)
19. Ricky Santos (New Hampshire)
20. Omar Haugabrook (Troy)
21. Marc Nicolet (Hillsdale)
22. Taylor Tharp (Boise State)
23. Nick Hill (Southern Illinois)
24. Xavier Lee (Florida State)
25. Willie Copeland (Valdosta State)

Overrated: Joe Flacco
Underrated: Ben Mauk, Colt Brennan
Sleeper: Willie Copeland
_________________

[Buckrock101]

RB:
1. Darren McFadden (Arkansas)
2. Jonathan Stewart (Oregon)
Ht; 5’10”, Wt: 235

An elite prospect at RB, Stewart can do it all. He has great size and bulk, but unlike some “Big Backs”, he has great speed and quickness to go along with it. One fault could be his lack of top end agility and explosiveness. He offsets that with his hard-running style.
He shows great vision in his running; he knows when to make his cuts. When he does, he attacks the line hard and is tough to bring down. When he gets into the second level he is a dangerous home-run threat; hard for defensive backs to bring down and has good long-range speed. Stewart is also a great receiver, a good blocker, and an excellent return man.
He does have some minor durability concerns. He has had several minor injuries over his college career, particularly to do with his ankles. He also recently underwent surgery for a turf toe injury, and could be out 4-6 months. This may dent his rating as a prospect, as he has a battle in order to be ready for the beginning of the regular season. He did put up excellent numbers at the NFL scouting combine with his injury however, so in my eyes his stock is not hurt at all. He also hasn’t been the sole ball carrier for his whole college career, so he has a lot of mileage left on his tires.
I compare him to Shaun Alexander in his prime, the way that he is a big RB still with great athleticism. I give him a Top 10 first round grade, although he will probably end up going in the middle of the first round. I could foresee almost any team taking him from New Orleans at #10 to Seattle at #25. I’m going to say that he Seattle trades up to somewhere between #10 and #15 to select him prior to the “rush” on running backs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwSKFOfc04Q&feature=related

3. Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois)
4. Felix Jones (Arkansas)
5. Jamaal Charles (Texas)
5. Ray Rice (Rutgers)
6. Kevin Smith (Central Florida)
7. Matt Forte (Tulane)
8. Chris Johnson (East Carolina)
9. Tashard Choice (Georgia Tech)
10. Steve Slaton (West Virginia)
11. Justin Forsett (California)
12. Mike Hart (Michigan)
13. Thomas Brown (Georgia)
14. Jalen Parmele (Toledo)
15. Yvenson Bernard (Oregon State)
16. Cory Boyd (South Carolina)
17. Chauncey Washington (Southern California)
18. Chad Simpson (Morgan State)
19. Xavier Omon (Northwest Missouri State)
20. Dantrell Savage (Oklahoma State)
21. Marcus Thomas (Texas El-Paso)
22. Allen Patrick (Oklahoma)
23. Anthony Alridge (Houston)
24. Calvin Dawson (Louisiana-Monroe)
25. Tony Temple (Missouri)
26. Danny Woodhead (Chadron State)
27. Jacob Hester (Louisiana State)
28. Kalvin McRae (Ohio)
29. Tim Hightower (Richmond)
30. Rodney Kinlaw (Penn State)

Overrated: Rashard Mendenhall (Still worthy of a first rounder, but he is being hyped a bit too much)
Underrated: Yvenson Bernard, Rodney Kinlaw
Sleeper: Tim Hightower

FB:
1. Peyton Hillis (Arkansas)
2. Owen Schmitt (West Virginia)
3. Jacob Hester (Louisiana State)
4. Jehuu Caulcrick (Michigan State)
5. Carl Stewart (Auburn)
6. Jerome Felton (Furman)
7. Brandon McAnderson (Kansas)
8. Chris Brown (Tennessee)
9. Mike Cox (Georgia Tech)
10. Jed Collins (Washington State)
_________________

[Buckrock101]

WR:
1. DeSean Jackson (California)
Ht: 5’10”, Wt: 170

Jackson is one of the most exciting players in this year’s draft, although he has been falling down draft boards due to small build and lack of size overall. On the field he makes up for this with sick moves and raw explosiveness. He has elite speed, and only takes a couple of steps to get to top speed. He is dangerous in the open field, and can make people miss with his sick moves. When he gets the ball he plants his foot and is gone.
The widest misconception about Jackson is that he is a return man only, and a sub-par receiver. This is not true, he is a very polished receiver, and he understands the position well. He has good hands, and makes some tough catches. He has had solid, yet not spectacular stats catching the ball, although an injury in his junior season hampered him slightly. He is also not used as a pure WR all the time, is moved around and used on reverses etc.
Jackson is a very good WR, but what makes him a top end prospect is all the other ways he is utilized in the game. He is a threat to score whenever he touches the ball, whether a reception, carry or return. One of the top returner prospects in this draft.
In my opinion DeSean has the most upside out of anyone in this draft, but with the question mark over his size and inconsistency at times I give him a Top 15 grade, although I rate him as better than Ted Ginn Jr, who went at #9 last year to the Dolphins. In reality he could go almost anywhere in round one, the highest I could see him being picked is #12 to the Broncos, and the lowest I think he could possibly fall is to #29 to the 49ers. I feel he will end up in the 20s somewhere, if Matt Ryan and Brian Brohm are gone then #20 to the Buccaneers, or if one of them is still available then #24 to the Titans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPfEkWSEhcY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COVag2MzZqk&feature=related

2. Malcolm Kelly (Oklahoma)
3. James Hardy (Indiana)
4. Devin Thomas (Michigan State)
5. Limas Sweed (Texas)
6. Andre Caldwell (Florida)
7. Earl Bennett (Vanderbilt)
8. Adarius Bowman (Oklahoma State)
9. Mario Manningham (Michigan)
10. Jordy Nelson (Kansas State)
11. Early Doucet (Louisiana State)
12. D.J. Hall (Alabama)
13. William Franklin (Missouri)
14. Lavelle Hawkins (California)
15. Jerome Simpson (Coastal California)
16. Dorien Bryant (Purdue)
17. Darius Renaud (West Virginia)
18. Donnie Avery (Houston)
19. Keenan Burton (Kentucky)
20. Pierre Garcon (Mount Union)
21. Eddie Royal (Virginia Tech)
22. Harry Douglas (Louisville)
23. Marcus Smith (New Mexico)
24. Adrian Arrington (Michigan)
25. Dexter Jackson (Appalachian State)
26. Steve Johnson (Kentucky)
27. Marcus Henry (Kansas)
28. Arman Shields (Richmond)
29. Kenneth Moore (Wake Forest)
30. Davone Bess (Hawaii)
31. Jason Rivers (Hawaii)
32. Clyde Edwards (Grambling State)
33. Maurice Purify (Nebraska)
34. Ryan Grice-Mullen (Hawaii)
35. Josh Morgan (Virginia Tech)

Overrated: Dexter Jackson, Limas Sweed
Underrated: D.J. Hall, Darius Renaud, DeSean Jackson
Sleeper: Kenneth Moore

TE:
1. Fred Davis (Southern California)
2. Jermichael Finley (Texas)
3. John Carlson (Notre Dame)
4. Martin Rucker (Missouri)
5. Martellus Bennett (Texas A&M)
6. Kellen Davis (Michigan State)
7. Dustin Keller (Purdue)
8. Brad Cottam (Tennessee)
9. Jacob Tamme (Kentucky)
10. Gary Barnidge (Louisville)
11. Joe Jon Finley (Oklahoma)
12. Mike Peterson (Northwest Missouri State)
13. Joey Haynos (Maryland)
14. Tom Santi (Virginia)
15. Marcel Reece (Washington)

Overrated: Dustin Keller
Underrated: Jermichael Finley
Sleeper: Marcel Reece
_________________

[Buckrock101]

OT:
1. Jake Long (Michigan)
2. Ryan Clady (Boise State)
3. Chris Williams (Vanderbilt)
4. Gosder Cherilus (Boston College)
5. Jeff Otah (Pittsburgh)
6. Carl Nicks (Nebraska)
7. Sam Baker (Southern California)
8. Anthony Collins (Kansas)
9. Oniel Cousins (Texas El-Paso)
10. Barry Richardson (Clemson)
11. Heath Benedict (Newberry) (Deceased, 3/26. http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=391986)
12. Duane Brown (Virginia Tech)
13. Geoff Schwartz (Oregon)
14. Kirk Barton (Ohio State)
15. William Robinson (San Diego State)
16. Tony Hills (Texas)
17. Breno Giacomini (Louisville)
18. Brandon Keith (Northern Iowa)
19. King Dunlap (Auburn)
20. Corey Clark (Texas A&M)

Overrated: Tony Hills, King Dunlap
Underrated: Geoff Schwartz
Sleeper: Brandon Keith

OG:
1. Brandon Albert (Virginia)
2. Chilo Rachal (Southern California)
3. Roy Schuening (Oregon State)
4. Eric Young (Tennessee)
5. Robert Felton (Arkansas)
6. Chad Rinehart (Northern Iowa)
7. Mackenzey Bernadeau (Bentley)
8. Mike McGlynn (Pittsburgh)
9. John Greco (Toledo)
10. Drew Radovich (Southern California)
11. Kerry Brown (Appalachian State)
12. Jeremy Zuttah (Rutgers)
13. Donald Thomas (Connecticut)
14. Shannon Tevaga (UCLA)
15. Jordan Grimes (Purdue)
16. Adam Kraus (Michigan)
17. Mike Gibson (California)
18. Chris McDuffie (Clemson)
19. Shawn Murphy (Utah State)
20. James Blair (Western Michigan)

Overrated: Kerry Brown
Underrated: Jordan Grimes, Robert Felton
Sleeper: Mackenzey Bernadeau

C:
1. Steve Justice (Wake Forest)
2. John Sullivan (Notre Dame)
3. Mike Pollak (Arizona State)
4. Kory Lichensteiger (Bowling Green)
5. Doug Legursky (Marshall)
6. Fernando Velasco (Georgia)
7. Jamey Richard (Buffalo)
8. Cody Wallace (Texas A&M)
9. Matt Spanos (Southern California)
10. Brennan Carvalho (Portland State)

Overrated: Mike Pollak
Underrated: Steve Justice
Sleeper: Brennan Carvalho
_________________

[Buckrock101]

DE:
1. Chris Long (Virginia)
2. Vernon Gholston (Ohio State)
3. Derrick Harvey (Florida)
4. Phillip Merling (Clemson)
5. Calais Campbell (Miami Fl.)
6. Lawrence Jackson (Southern California)
7. Quentin Groves (Auburn)
8. Jason Jones (Eastern Michigan)
9. Cliff Avril (Purdue)
10. Jeremy Thompson (Wake Forest)
11. Kendall Langford (Hampton)
12. Brian Johnson (Gardner-Webb)
13. Chris Ellis (Virginia Tech)
14. Johnny Dingle (West Virginia)
15. Rudolph Hardie (Howard)
16. Chris Harrington (Texas A&M)
17. Wallace Gilberry (Alabama)
18. Kenny Iwebema (Iowa)
19. Trevor Scott (Buffalo)
20. Darrell Robertson (Georgia Tech)
21. Tommy Blake (Texas Christian University)
22. Jeremy Geathers (Nevada-Las Vegas)
23. Bruce Davis (California-Los Angeles)
24. Titus Brown (Mississippi State)
25. Chase Ortiz (Texas Christian University)
26. Bryan Mattison (Iowa)
27. Eric Foster (Rutgers)
28. Kroy Bierman (Montana)
29. Joe Clermond (Pittsburgh)
30. Louis Holmes (Arizona)
31. Eric Bakhtiari (San Diego)
32. Dorian Smith (Oregon State)
33. Marcus Dixon (Hampton)
34. Adamm Oliver (Georgia Tech)
35. Derrick Gray (Texas Southern)
36. Rob Jackson (Kansas State)
37. Alex Hall (St Augustine)

Overrated: Louis Holmes
Underrated: Johnny Dingle
Sleeper: Brian Johnson, Rudolph Hardie, Kendall Langford, Alex Hall

DT:
1. Glenn Dorsey (Louisiana State)
2. Sedrick Ellis (Southern California)
3. Pat Sims (Auburn)
Ht: 6’3”, Wt: 310

Pat Sims is a physical beast in the middle, and has the ability to be a force. He gets off the line quick, and anticipates quickly when playing both the pass and the run. Not the strongest Lineman, but is still quite powerful and can bull rush effectively. Also a solid tackler, but what I really like about him is the speed and quickness he has for a big guy. He has the full package physically of athleticism, size and strength.
The biggest thing that will keep Sims from being a high pick is the character side of things. He comes off in interviews as cocky and slightly up himself, and his effort and love for the game has been questioned. Sims may project to a “lone wolf” kind of guy. He also quit the team two games into the 2005 season. This may cause some teams to red flag him, and he may be passed over because of that.
Taking his character and effort into consideration, I give him a top 20 value, but because of his upside he may be taken a bit higher. The highest I can see him going is #9 to the Bengals, and I could also see New Orleans, Denver, Detroit and Chicago targeting him around there. It’s quite hard to project exactly where he will go, as different GMs will have a different opinion on how risky he may be. To pick two teams, though, I say he would be a good fit in Denver and Tennessee, and they could do well with his services.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJW0l4ziNsM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Ver84Vxm4&feature=related

4. Trevor Laws (Notre Dame)
5. Kentwan Balmer (North Carolina)
6. Dre Moore (Maryland)
7. Marcus Harrison (Arkansas)
8. Ahtyba Rubin (Iowa State)
9. Red Bryant (Texas A&M)
10. Frank Okam (Texas)
11. Letroy Guion (Florida State)
12. DeMario Pressley (North Carolina State)
13. Carlton Powell (Virginia Tech)
14. Nick Hayden (Wisconsin)
15. Barry Booker (Virginia Tech)
16. Andre Fluellen (Florida State)
17. Frank Morton (Tulane)
18. Keilen Dykes (West Virginia)
19. Jason Shirley (Fresno State)
20. George Chukwu (Rice)

Overrated: Kentwan Balmer
Underrated: Pat Sims, Marcus Harrison
Sleeper: Jason Shirley

_________________

[Buckrock101]

OLB:
1. Dan Connor (Penn State)
2. Keith Rivers (Southern California)
3. Phillip Wheeler (Georgia Tech)
4. Erin Henderson (Maryland)
5. Shawn Crable (Michigan)
6. Ali Highsmith (Louisiana State)
Ht: 6’, Wt: 230

Ali Highsmith ran a 5.02 over 40 yards at the combine. For that reason he is being struck from draft boards all over the place. To me, that means jack squat. I have seen him play, and anyone that has seen him play can’t argue with the fact that he is very athletic, and is a sideline-to-sideline defender. He plays with good speed on the field and is excellent in pursuit and coverage. He is aggressive on the field and can make the big play, though at times he can be too aggressive.
All together with his great athleticism, solid tackling and great coverage skills I give him a 2nd round grade, and he really shouldn’t fall past the Colts in the second. In reality he may go as far as the sixth even, due to him running almost the same 40 time as DT Glenn Dorsey. This is a travesty, and some team is going to get a big steal in him.
I compare Highsmith to a poor-man’s Ernie Sims, size and strength is an issue for Ali but he is still a very good weakside prospect and will excel in the right situation. Slot him in a Cover 2 system and he will fill the same role as Cato June, thus would be a great fit in Indianapolis.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/draft-preview-ali-highsmith/120403278

7. Jerod Mayo (Tennessee)
8. Cliff Avril (Purdue)
9. Beau Bell (Nevada-Las Vegas)
10. Xavier Adibi (Virgina Tech)
11. Geno Hayes (Florida State)
12. Gary Guyton (Georgia Tech)
13. Tavares Gooden (Miami Fl.)
14. Wesley Woodyard (Kentucky)
15. Gary Guyton (Georgia Tech)
16. Bryan Kehl (Brigham Young)
17. Marcus Howard (Georgia)
18. Ezra Butler (Nevada)
19. Quentin Groves (Auburn)
20. Steve Octavien (Nebraska)
21. Jordon Dizon (Colorado)
22. David Vobora (Idaho)
23. Stanford Keglar (Purdue)
24. Larry Grant (Ohio State)
25. Robert James (Arizona State)
26. Bruce Davis (California-Los Angeles)
27. Curtis Johnson (Clark-Atlanta)
28. Alvin Bowen (Iowa State)
29. Marcus Richardson (Troy)
30. Vincent Redd (Liberty)
31. Curtis Gatewood (Vanderbilt)

Overrated: Keith Rivers
Underrated: Ali Highsmith
Sleeper: Vincent Redd

ILB:
1. Dan Connor (Penn State)
2. Curtis Lofton (Oklahoma)
Ht: 6’, Wt: 246

I have a good feeling about Lofton. He is an aggressive tackler, with a knack for the big hit. Lofton has great bulk to play in the middle, and he has pretty good speed and explosiveness for his size. He has good instincts and awareness, and is solid in coverage. He was also very productive in his senior season, racking up 157 Tackles, 10.5 for a loss and 3 Interceptions.
An issue is his blitzing ability, making just 1 sack in his 3 years at Oklahoma. He is also pretty raw, only seeing extensive playing time in one season. He can also get beaten in man coverage, but his real value will come in playing the run. He forces fumbles and raps up nicely. Lofton’s versatility is nice, as he can slot in at ILB in either 4-3 or 3-4 defensive schemes, or he could even play SLB in a 4-3. He is a hard worker and tough guy as well, who will be an asset to any organization.
He gets a late 1st round grade from me, and if he had stayed for one more year in college he would’ve probably been top ten value, although he would have struggled to be taken highly with Laurinaitis, Maualuga and Brinkley in the draft. I compare him to Lofa Tatupu in the NFL; I think Lofton will be drafted in a similar position and have a similar career in the pros.
He could anywhere from Detroit’s pick in the first, the latest to Detroit’s pick in the second. My pick for him is Miami with pick #32, he will fit their scheme very well and he’s an excellent guy to replace Zach Thomas in the middle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_x4WvWEJO4

3. Phillip Wheeler (Georgia Tech)
4. Jerod Mayo (Tennessee)
5. Jeremy Leman (Illinois)
6. Jonathan Goff (Vanderbilt)
7. Ben Moffitt (South Florida)
8. Red Keith (Central Michigan)
9. Jameel McClain (Syracuse)
10. Spencer Larson (Arizona)
11. Vince Hall (Virginia Tech)
12. Rodrcik Johnson (Oklahoma State)
13. Jolonn Dunbar (Boston College)
14. Joe Mays (North Dakota State)
15. Shane Simmons (Western Washington)
16. Danny Lasanah (Connecticut)
17. Ronnie McCullough (Bethune-Cookman)

Overrated:
Underrated: Jeremy Leman
Sleeper: Red Keith, Joe Mays
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[Buckrock101]

CB:
1. Mike Jenkins (South Florida)
Ht: 5’10”, Wt: 197

Jenkins is my top defensive back prospect for this year’s draft. He is athletic, with great speed, fluid hips and a burst in coverage. Jenkins is a true playmaker in the secondary, and although he has a shaky technique he is a natural in man coverage. He is aggressive and will make plays on the ball, resulting in a lot of picks.
One downside to drafting Jenkins is that he is raw; wherever he goes he will require a bit of development. This is often the case with young corners heading to the NFL however, and with a bit of help he has the ability to be a top 5 CB in the NFL. I compare him to Asante Samuel in the pros, and I believe he will have a similar career to the new Eagles CB as well.

2. Leodis McKelvin (Troy)
3. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Tennessee State)
4. Antoine Cason (Arizona)
5. Aqib Talib (Kansas)
6. Tracy Porter (Indiana)
7. Patrick Lee (Auburn)
8. Reggie Smith (Oklahoma)
9. Brandon Flowers (Virginia Tech)
10. Charles Godfrey (Iowa)
11. Terrell Thomas (Southern California)
12. Tyvon Branch (Connecticut)
13. Justin King (Penn State)
14. Orlando Scandrick (Boise State)
15. Terrence Wheatley (Colorado)
16. Chevis Jackson (Louisiana State)
17. Jack Williams (Kent State)
18. Dwight Lowery (San Jose State)
19. Antwaun Molden (Eastern Kentucky)
20. Trae Williams (South Florida)
21. Darnell Terrell (Missouri)
22. Zack Bowman (Nebraska)
23. Jonathan Zenon (Louisiana State)
24. DeJuan Tribble (Boston College)
25. Justin Tryon (Arizona State)
26. Isaiah Gardner (Maryland)
27. Jonathan Wilhite (Auburn)
28. Glen Sharpe (Miami Fl.)
29. Jack Ikegwuonu (Wisconsin)
30. Simeon Castille (Alabama)
31. Wilrey Fontenot (Arizona)
32. Brian Witherspoon (Stillman)
33. Davanzo Tate (Akron)
34. Jerrid Gaines (Miami Ohio)

Overrated: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Underrated: Mike Jenkins
Sleeper: Davanzo Tate, Brian Witherspoon, Zack Bowman

S:
1. Kenny Phillips (Miami Fl.)
2. Reggie Smith (Oklahoma)
3. Craig Steltz (Louisiana State)
4. DaJuan Morgan (North Carolina State)
5. Thomas DeCoud (California)
6. Quintin Demps (Texas El-Paso)
7. Josh Barrett (Arizona State)
8. Tyrell Johnson (Arkansas State)
9. Jonathan Hefney (Tennessee)
10. Tom Zbikowski (Notre Dame)
11. Jamar Adams (Michigan)
12. Marcus Griffin (Texas)
13. D.J. Parker (Virginia Tech)
14. Michael Grant (Arkansas)
15. Simeon Castille (Alabama)
16. D.J. Wolfe (Oklahoma)
17. Caleb Campbell (Army)
18. Nehemiah Warrick (Michigan State)
19. Nate Lyles (Virginia)
20. Joe Fields (Syracuse)
21. David Roach (Texas Christian University)
22. Dominique Barber (Minnesota)
23. Jamie Silva (Boston College)
24. Corey Lynch (Appalachian State)
25. Hussain Abdullah (Washington State)
26. Bobbie Williams (Bethune-Cookman)
27. Pig Brown (Missouri)
28. Chris Horton (California-Los Angeles)
29. Michael Eubanks (Delta State)
30. Eric Wicks (West Virginia)

Overrated: Reggie Smith
Underrated: Craig Steltz, Jonathan Hefney
Sleeper: Caleb Campbell, Michael Eubanks, Hussain Abdullah
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[khodder]

Great work so far keep it going I know I have never been able to keep my draft threads going due to a lack of motivation.

BTW Where in NZ are you from?
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ATD4, The Chicago Hornets
Fitzgerald youngest man in NFL history to 7000 receiving yards.

[Buckrock101]

[khodder]

[Buckrock101]

Woops, #2-#12 got cut off when I put the Scouting Report on there . Got it sorted now.


Yeah I've been to Wellington before, I have to say I loved it there. I love the big city part of it, and the waterfront as well. Just loved it.
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[holt_bruce81]

Great job man. Keep up the good work!
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Got Oshie?
Sean Weatherspoon 2009 stats:
Tackle: 111
Tackles for Loss: 15.0
Sacks: 4.5
Interceptions: 1
Forced Fumbles: 1

[Buckrock101]

Thanks! I'll probably be looking at getting some scouting reports on there for at least one WR and DL prospect before the weekend.
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[SadLionFan00]

great job.

jerod mayo is a little low dontcha think? he could be a 1st rounder ahead of Wheeler and mabye even Dan Connor, o well we'll see.
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