Radio: Draft Digest - 1.17.09

Join NFL Draft Bible President Daniel Mogollon, Executive Editor Ralph Mancini and draft guru Justin VanFulpen as we talk...what else...NFL Draft. From the All-Star games, the NFL Scouting Combine and school pro days, every week we will bring you players to watch and the latest news from the leading authority on the NFL Draft.

When: Sunday January 17

Show Time: 10:00 AM Eastern

Length: 1 Hour

Call In Number: 1.347.945.6275

To Listen Live, Replay or Download - Click Here

Hot Topics:

* The Underclassman List
* Who Should Have Stayed?
* Who Should Have Come Out?
* Our Big Board Top 10
* East-West Shrine Player Watch

Photo Courtesy of Dennis Hubbard

UFA's Joe Haden Declares

Junior cornerback Joe Haden is the first of many Gators who are contemplating making the jump the NFL to make it official. The Fort Washington, Maryland native announced earlier today that he will enter 2010 NFL Draft.

Haden became the first true freshman cornerback to start the season opener at Florida and has started all 40 games in his stellar career. After a somewhat rocky inagural campaign, Haden has been among the top cornerbacks in the nation and was a finalist for the Thorpe Award this season, which is given to the nation's top defensive back. He was a first team All-SEC performer and first team All-American as a junior.

Haden is a lock first round pick, who some believe could even crack the top five, in addition to being the favorite to be the first cornerback off the board come April. Not only is this Gator a lockdown cover man (4 interceptions, 10 pass break ups this season), he is an all-around defender–he’s very capable versus the run and an excellent blitzer (68 tackles, 3 sacks).

Photo Courtesy of College Press Box

Draft Watch: Sugar Bowl

Here are the following players to keep your eye for the 2010 NFL Draft in the SUGAR BOWL.

Cincinnati Bearcats:

QB Tony Pike - Pike is a pocket passer, who needs to get stronger, but could end up being a starting quarterback in the NFL. Right now he has a 2nd round grade.

WR Mardy Gilyard – Gilyard is a physical big play receiver who lacks great straight line speed, but seems to make plays whenever he gets his hands on the ball. Right now has a 2nd round grade.

DE Alex Daniels – Daniels should play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defensive, he has good size at 6'3" and 259 pounds and is a good overall athlete who can rush the passer. Right now has a 6th round grade.

Florida Gators:

QB Tim Tebow - Tebow is one of the best college football players of all time, but NFL teams have mixed reviews on his skills for the next level. His grade right now is a 2nd round grade.

WR Riley Cooper - Cooper is a solid all-around football player and will make a good third or fourth receiver at the next level. His grade right now is a 5th round grade.

TE Aaron Hernandez (JR) - Hernandez is a very good receiving tight end, but needs to improve his blocking. Most likely will declare for the 2010 NFL Draft. His grade right now is a 2nd round grade.

C Maurkice Pouncey (JR) - Pouncey is an impressive athlete with good strength and the ability to the next level with his blocks. His grade right now is a 2nd round grade.

OG Michael Pouncey (JR) - Pouncey isn’t the athlete that his bother Maurkice is, but is still a very good offensive linemen. His grade right now is a 4th round grade.

CB Joe Haden (JR) - Haden most likely will declare and be the first cornerback drafted in the 2010 NFL Draft. He has very good ball skills and is a willing tackler. His grade right now is a 1st round grade.

DE Carlos Dunlap (JR) - Because of a DUI ticket he received he not play in the SEC Championship game. Dunlap has all the physical tools to be a great defensive end in the NFL, but just needs to be more consistent. His grade right now is a 1st round grade.

DE Jermaine Cunningham - Cunningham is a good pass rusher and is a good overall athlete which some think that he could be a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. His grade right now is a 3rd round grade.

LB Brandon Spikes - Spikes is a very good tackler and has the ability to make plays all over the field. His grade right now is a 1st round grade.

S Ahmad Black (JR) - Black does a very good job of supporting the run and there is some thought that he will declare for the 2010 NFL Draft. He doesn’t have great size but is a productive player. His grade right now is a 4th round grade.

S Major Wright (JR) - Wright is a very good free safety and has the ability to play the run as well as cover a receiver man to man. His grade right now is a 4th round grade.

For more NFL, NFL Draft news, you can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jvanfulpen

Photo Courtesy of Dennis Hubbard, College Press Box

Eric Berry Named Jim Thorpe Award Winner

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry was named winner of the 2009 Jim Thorpe Award during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show Thursday night at the Walt Disney World Resourt.

The announcement was made by Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby. The official presentation will take place at a banquet February 8, 2010, in Oklahoma City.

As a sophomore last year, Berry was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, a consensus First Team All-American and a finalist for the 2008 Jim Thorpe Award. This year, he again is a consensus First Team All-American and winner of the Thorpe Award over Florida's Joe Haden and Texas' Earl Thomas.

The 2009 award marks the 23rd anniversary of the trophy, first presented in 1986 to Baylor’s Thomas Everett. Last year’s winner was Ohio State University’s Malcolm Jenkins, now playing for the New Orleans Saints.

Thorpe Award winners are selected for performance on the field, athletic ability and character.

The Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s official Web site, www.NCFAA.org.

Photo Courtesy of Elizabeth Olivier, UTSports.com

Draft Watch: Florida vs. Georgia (Jack, FL)

10.31.09 @ 3:30 PM Eastern on CBS

1) Tim Tebow: Stock Up/Stock Down – There’s no question Tebow’s stock is down, although no one can question his talent—he is an amazing college football player who could break Herschel Walker’s all-time SEC rushing touchdown record this coming Saturday in Jacksonville, ironically against the Dawgs. Even though Walker did it in just three seasons, it’s impressive for a quarterback to surpass the legendary runner regardless of how many more games he’s played. But we’ve seen great college quarterbacks do little to nothing playing on Sundays, and Tebow could fall under that category. He is not a polished passer. Sure he completes some nice passes; he isn’t awful, but he simply doesn’t look like an NFL passer. This season his numbers have taken a major dip, and he is coming off a game where two of his passes were returned for touchdowns by the Mississippi St. Bulldogs’ defense.

2) First Gator defender off the board – Depending on who decides to leave early, senior MIKE Brandon Spikes could be the third Gator defender to hear his name called in April. The most talented Florida defenders are defensive end Carlos Dunlap and cornerback Joe Haden. At 6’ 6” and 290 pounds, Dunlap is an absolute beast coming off the edge. His combination of size and athleticism at the end position is unparalleled in college football, which is why many scouts will have Dunlap rated as the top defensive end if he declares. The same could be said of Haden should he decide he is ready for the NFL once his junior season is over—the 5’ 11” Maryland native is as talented as any cornerback in the nation. Haden took his lumps as a true freshman, but has developed into one of the game’s top cover corners. Spikes, who is listed as “probable” after leaving the Arkansas game with a groin injury and sitting out last week’s contest versus Mississippi State, still figures to go in the first round, but it will more than likely be in the bottom half.

3) Georgia’s best defense prospect is – There are several names to choose from, starting with defensive tackles Jeff Owens and Geno Atkins, followed by linebacker Rennie Curran, cornerback Brandon Boykin and safety Reshad Jones. Right now, neither Owens nor Atkins has been their most productive interior lineman—that would be Kade Weston. Boykin is just a sophomore, while Jones is still a better athlete than he is a football player. That leaves us with Curran, Georgia’s stellar outside linebacker. He is undersized and is limited to playing in a four-three defense where he can be protected by his defensive line. Nevertheless, he is an outstanding football player and his speed, recognition skills and tackling ability don’t need protecting. Curran’s 72 tackles are 29 more than Jones, who is second on the team. Curran may not have the upside of Atkins or Jones, but he is certainly a good enough football player to play at the next level.

Photos Courtesy of SEC Sports Media