Pro Day Rewind With Andrew Garda

It was another busy week of Pro Day workouts with some big prospects vying for positioning in April’s Draft. I attended two of these days – California’s and San Jose State’s. Let's take a look at my in-depth observations for both of those events.

MONDAY

Florida State: The Seminoles kicked off this week’s group of Pro Days and drew 26 coaches and scouts. Everette Brown, the second ranked defensive end on many analysts’ boards, put in good positional drills and added a 31-inch vertical and a 9’9” broad jump. He could be a conversion linebacker in a 3-4 scheme and many think he hasn’t reached his full potential. Certainly, the presence of linebacker coaches from the Dolphins, Jaguars and Eagles leads one to believe there is some interest in doing just that. Another player of note on Monday was cornerback Michael Ray Garvin. Garvin is primarily a kick returner and set the school record for kicks returned (35) and kick return yards (697) in one year in 2007. He ran a pair of fantastic 40s (4.24 and 4.28) and added a 36 vertical and 10’8” broad jump. A guy who can wreak havoc in the return game has some value, probably as a second day pick.

LSU: LSU's was the other big Monday event and 24 teams came–including the entire New Orleans Saints coaching staff. Defensive and offensive lines, linebacker and defensive back coaches were among the 15 position coaches who came by to watch the workout. Among the defensive players was defensive end Tyson Jackson, who by and large let his NFL Scouting Combine numbers stand. He did do the bench press (20 reps) and all the position drills. Jackson is another guy who can play tackle or end, a versatility that will make him intriguing for many teams during the first three rounds. You could tell the hard work was paying off on Monday. Offensive guard Herman Johnson has begun to get some notice and drew interest in Baton Rouge. The huge 356 pounder jumped a 26 _ vert and benched the 225 bar 24 times. Johnson needs to prove that he can put forth the consistent effort needed to succeed and it’s hard to say when he’ll go in April. Linebacker Darry Beckwith did position drills and ran the 40, turning in times of 4.63 and 4.70.

Finally, wide receiver Demetrius Byrd ran a 4.47 and a 4.5 in the 40 and added a 35 _ vertical. Byrd has great playmaking ability but he has to sharpen his route running and get stronger. It’s telling that he didn’t lift either at the Combine or Monday’s Pro Day.

TUESDAY

Boise State: Tuesday saw Boise State, a school with several interesting players, have its day in the sun. Wide receiver Vinny Perretta, who may not be big at 5’9” and just 186 pounds, showed he might have the skills to succeed anyway by putting in a great workout. His 4.48 and 4.43 times in the 40, 36-inch vertical and 10’6” broad jump were part of an impressive day in front of the 12 scouts who came, and it may be enough to get him a shot as either a late second day pick or a street free agent.

Both Perretta and fellow receiver Jeremy Childs had good days, but currently remain later round prospects who will have to get into camp and fight for a shot at a roster spot.

Another guy whose day was worth noting was running back Ian Johnson. If that name is familiar to you, it’s probably because at the end of the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, Johnson scored the winning 2-point conversion and then–because that wasn’t big enough–proposed to his girlfriend on camera right after the game. Johnson is more than just a cute story, though. While he has been tracking to go somewhere late on the second day, in part because of a lackluster senior year where he split carries with Jeremy Avery, he had a good Combine and an even better Pro Day. While he stood on most of his Combine numbers, Johnson looked good in drills and caught the ball well. He also ran a 4.24 short shuttle and a 6.86 three-cone, continuing his climb up the draft boards. Scouts will have to look closely to make sure they feel secure with his size and reasons for the Senior year dip in numbers, but those who saw him Tuesday must have left with fewer questions.

WEDNESDAY

Florida: The Florida Gators kicked off a full Wednesday of Pro Days and the top Gator of interest was wide receiver Percy Harvin, without a doubt. He did not disappoint the huge crowd of scouts, position coaches and several higher level team personnel. According to NFL.com, some of the big names in attendance included Vikings VP of player personnel Rick Spielman, Panthers GM Marty Hurney and from the Bucs, GM Mark Doninik and head coach Raheem Morris.

While Harvin stood on most of his speed drill numbers from the Combine, he did jump a 37 _ inch vertical, a 10’1” broad jump and then benched the 225 bar 20 times for good measure. And then he went out and just killed the position drills. He showed good hands, and showed very good explosion off the line. Harvin is vying for the top wide receiver slot behind Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree and definitely threw the gauntlet down with this performance.

Someone less heralded is tight end Cornelius Ingram, who missed last season because of a serious knee injury. Ingram looked like he was completely recovered, running a 4.72 and a 4.69 in the 40, and jumping a 9’6” in the broad jump. Ingram also looked solid in position drills.

Some other athletes who performed well were wide receiver Louis Murphy, who ran a 4.45 shuttle and looked good in his position drills, and a pair of offensive tackles in Phil Trautwein and Jason Watkins. Watkins is a player who should get drafted somewhere on the second day of the draft (though his stock has been slipping of late) and he performed well in position workouts. Trautwein is more likely a street free agent, but put in a good day in Gainseville.

California: Out west, while Florida’s day was wrapping up, California’s was just getting started and I was happy to be among the credentialed media in attendance. Thirty teams were represented by 50 scouts and team officials at California's Memorial Stadium. Six were offensive line coaches.

Most of them were there for top center prospect Alex Mack and he was well worth the wait. Mack looked very good in position drills and I thought looked pretty nimble in his shuttle (5.17/5.23 times) and three-cone (7.31 time) drills. He lifted the bench 20 times which isn't great, but isn't bad either, considering his very long arms. Mack did nothing to dissuade any of his fans amongst the scouts and media present. After his position drills, Mack was escorted into a film room with representatives from three teams who broke down film and did chalk talk with him for about two hours. I know how long it was because I was waiting to interview him afterwards. He wasn’t saying who the teams were, but he told me they were quite thorough and had very specific questions for him. It also sounded like they were happy with his answers. Many there believe that Mack will not last past the first round and should be the top center off the board. Mack was very clear in telling the media present that he was willing and able to play guard as well as center. Actually, what he said was that he would pretty much do anything they wanted him to do–heck, he said he’d run routes or shag punts if they asked. That versatility and willingness will go a long way to boosting his stock, if that’s possible at this point.

Unfortunately, aside from Mack, not too many guys stood out. Linebacker prospect Zach Follett was sidelined with a bad hamstring, so only did the bench press (he racked it 21 times, one more than Mack). I saw him talking to folks from the Chiefs, Browns and Colts, and he told me the Raiders were definitely interested. While he was disappointed not to have a chance to best his Combine times, he should have a chance in private workouts. Fellow linebacker Anthony Felder also had his day cut short, as he pulled his hamstring on his first 40 attempt. While frustrated, he had already set up a workout with the Seahawks before he left.

Tight end Cameron Morrah looked great in his position drills, showing very good hands and running well, but his biggest problem may his lack of blocking skills. He said he was speaking with some teams, but declined to name anyone specifically. He also ran a 4.61 and a 4.63 in the 40, but kept the rest of his numbers from Indianapolis.

The last rookie prospect I watched closely was quarterback Nate Longshore. Longshore looked sharp in his drills, showing a nice touch and good accuracy. In a year where the quarterback class is filled with projects, Longshore could find a team willing to give him a shot and based on Wednesday, he looked like he could make it stick if they did.

Illinois: Illinois ran its Pro Day inside on FieldTurf . Offensive tackle prospect Xavier Fulton was not there, as he is still recovering from dual shoulder surgeries. While he’s still a prospect teams are interested in, there is no word on when he might schedule a workout. Cornerback Vontae Davis looked well cut and ran an outstanding 4.40 in the 40 and a 6.80 in the three cone. He also had a 37 _ inch vertical and looked very good in position drills. Defensive end Will Davis ran a 4.86 and a 4.89 in the 40, a 4.40 shuttle, a 7.15 three cone and jumped a 34 inch vertical.

Penn State: The Nittany Lions who went to the Combine left quite an impression, so teams made sure to come by and see if they were for real. Aaron Maybin is already a guy likely to go on the first day of the draft and he only added to that lofty status with his workout. Not only did he significantly improve upon his Combine 40 time by running a 4.64, he added two inches to his vertical (jumping 40) and six inches to his broad jump (10’10”). While he weighed the same as he did in Indy, he definitely performed much better with it. Wide receiver Derrick Williams, who is looking at a slot on the second day, ran a 4.47 and 4.50 in the 40, had a 9’ 7” broad jump, a 4.21 shuttle, and a 6.96 three-cone drill. Wide out Deon Butler kept everything from the Combine save his short shuttle, which he ran at 4.23. Other notables included a third wide receiver in Jordan Norwood (4.58/4.63 in the 40, 10ft broad jump), cornerback Lydell Sargeant (4.48/4.50 in the 40) and offensive tackle Gerald Cadogan, a prospect projected to go in the second or third round, bested his broad jump from the Combine with a 8’3” effort.

THURSDAY

Georgia: One of the stories of the day was quarterback Matthew Stafford, who showcased a very strong arm and pinpoint accuracy. Every team was represented in Athens, including Detroit Lions QB Coach Jeff Horton and GM Martin Mayhew, and Seahawks GM Tim Ruskell. Reports are that 70 scouts and coaches were in attendance. Stafford threw about 50 passes in his workout and apparently threw nearly all of them with a great deal of accuracy. While the workout was scripted, it had a little of everything and Stafford handled it all well, and did so in windy conditions.

Stafford wasn’t the only one performing in less than ideal conditions. Running back Knowshon Moreno was recovering from some form of illness and reportedly looked a little weak because of it. He ran a 4.60 40-yard dash and kept the rest of his workout numbers from the Scouting Combine. He looked very good in position drills, including catching the ball, and spent a bunch of time working out with Bengals coach Jim Anderson. He also reportedly solidified a workout date with the San Diego Chargers for March 30th.

Other players of note: Wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi ran a 4.51/4.54 in the 40, jumped a 10’7” broad jump and caught the ball well in his position drills. Defensive end Jarius Wynn ran a 4.94/4.97 40, a 4.66 shuttle and a 7.27 three cone drill while defensive tackle Corvey Irvin ran a 4.99/5.01 in the 40, 4.66 in the shuttle and 7.60 in the three cone. Irvin did not do the bench press, but Wynn lifted the bar 21 times.

Virginia: The most notable player at Virginia’s Pro Day was offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, widely regarded as one of the top picks–if not THE top pick–in next month’s draft. Monroe stood on all of his Combine numbers, instead just doing position drills. Still, he looked as good as advertised in the drills run by Bengals O-line coach Paul Alexander. Two other line coaches were there to see him as well. The other prospect of note would be running back Cedric Peerman who only added the shuttle to his total stats, running it in 4.47 and doing position drills. Peerman also tracks as a kick returner and might land a place on a team on the strength of that skill.

FRIDAY

Arizona State: Tempe welcomed scouts from 12 NFL teams to their workout where quarterback Rudy Carpenter ran a 4.89 and a 4.93 in the 40, while guard Paul Fanaika pulled a hamstring during his 40-yard dash. He did run the shuttle (4.92) and three cone (8.06) but how indicative it is of his skill on a bad wheel is unknown.

San Jose State: As was the case for California’s Pro Day on Wednesday, I made the trip to San Jose to attend the Spartans’ workout. It was a very efficiently run day, a credit to both the excellent staff at San Jose State and the NFL scouts in attendance. I counted 20 teams there, represented by about 35 scouts and player personnel. On top of that, both Carolina Head Coach John Fox and new Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan were there. That’s quite an achievement for a program that not that long ago was fighting to stay alive.

The day was split into two halves, the earlier portion dedicated to players from San Jose State itself, while the latter was given over to visiting players from Cal-Poly, UC Davis, Sacramento State and a few other small schools. The biggest name on the docket for the late workout was Cal-Poly wide receiver Ramses Barden, and we will touch on him momentarily.

For the Spartans, there were several notable workouts. First off, by now you have likely heard that Ryan spent a good deal of his time running the defensive line drills, focusing primarily on defensive end Jarron Gilbert. Gilbert paid very close attention to the former Ravens defensive coordinator (and his enormous Super Bowl ring) and Ryan watched him very, very carefully. Gilbert ran a 4.76 and a 4.83 in the 40, a 4.46 shuttle and a 7.60 three cone. He also had a 37 inch vertical and a 10’7” broad jump. The jump was a huge increase over his Combine jump, which he told me later was in part because he couldn’t land his jumps well in Indy. He said he was hitting 10’3” at the Scouting Combine, but kept falling. When he finally stuck it, it was a mere 9’11”. Overall, Gilbert looked very good in all aspects of his workout and more than one team representative came away impressed.

Another athlete who seemed to be a player of interest for the Jets head coach was cornerback Christopher Owens. Once Ryan was finished with the D-line drills, he headed over to where the other Jets representative stood watching Owens and fellow Spartan corners Coye Francies and safety Kyle Flynn work out. After the workout, Ryan made a point of chatting with Owens and it was clear they had talked before. It could be that if Gilbert is unavailable with the Jets’ second round pick, Owens may be a target.

As for their workouts, both Francies and Owens looked good. Each player tracked the thrown balls well and showed good hands. I thought Francies looked good flipping his hips and turning to move upfield to get under a long ball, while Owens excelled in his overall tracking, looked really smooth and didn’t miss a beat when he had to catch a ball over either shoulder. Owens had the better workout drill numbers, running a 4.41 and a 4.40 in the 40, jumping a 35 in the vertical and an even 10 feet in the broad jump.

Francies had a slight ankle injury and struggled in the 40, unable to get a clean start multiple times in both runs. Once you stumble a time or two, it gets you out of your rhythm and unfortunately, Francies’ 40 time suffered. On top of that, the scouts seemed to have a very wide range of speeds for him, some having him as fast as 4.59 or as slow as 4.69. Francies plays faster than that and I think the tape on him shows him to be a capable defender. We all get caught up in 40 times, but hopefully the scouts saw what was happening and took that for what it was. It was also a cool morning and a few people pulled muscles or cramped up and the temperature might have contributed to Francies’ blown 40 starts. All three defensive stars for the Spartans should find a home draft weekend, and I think they could all be gone on day one. Each of them captured the interest of multiple teams and should see some private workouts soon.

One player not on many radars who caught my eye was defensive end Jeff Schweiger. A transfer from USC after the 2006 season, Schweiger made the most of the attention brought to San Jose State by the top three prospects. The 6'4", 275-pound end ran a solid 4.71/4.74 in the 40, a 4.58 in the shuttle and looked very smooth in his drills. He’s likely a late second day pick or street free agent, but he’s getting attention and had already worked out for the Atlanta Falcons.

The second half of the day featured a very good workout for Cal-Poly wide receiver Ramses Barden. Barden smoked his Combine 40 time with a 4.5/4.58 and had a good effort of 10’2” in the broad jump. Barden, watched closely by Panthers Coach John Fox, looked good in all his workout drills and caught the ball very well in his position workout. Another player I am curious about after his workout was Montana State running back Demetrius Crawford. Crawford looked awfully quick in his 40 with a 4.44/4.45 (I clocked him at a 4.39) and overall looked solid in his drills. While he is likely going to find it difficult to catch on in the Draft, he might carve himself out a spot late in the Draft or as a street free agent. If he gets that chance, I think he could surprise some people, though I have to look at the film on him now that I have seen him live, albeit in shorts not pads.

Tennessee State: Twenty teams sent representatives to the workout. Center Cecil Newton had a decent day, running a 5.24 and a 5.13 in the 40, a 7.55 in the three cone, and a 4.15 in the shuttle while also doing 25 reps on the bench press, jumping a 25 _ vertical and a 8’2” broad jump. Running back Javarris Williams looked good in position drills, ran a 4.73 shuttle and a 7.26 three cone, but stood on his Combine numbers for everything else.

Of course we aren’t quite done yet, with another two weeks of Pro Days to track before the Draft and of course, that doesn’t cover the private workouts, which are going on constantly. Here are just a very few of the upcoming Pro Days we’ll be keeping an eye on this week.

Wake Forest (March 23): Aaron Curry looks to be the top linebacker taken in the NFL Draft and can probably seal the deal with a good position drill.

UCONN (March 25): Running back Donald Brown has rocketed up some draft boards. Whether he can surpass either Moreno or Wells may depend upon his performance on Wednesday.

Texas (March 25): None other than top defensive end Brian Orakpo will be working out on Wednesday, but perhaps more intriguing is wide receiver prospect Quan Cosby, whose size and age (26) are issues that could be forgotten with a good position workout.

Louisville (March 26): In a draft with this many quarterback projects, Hunter Cantwell might get someone to fall in love with him if he has a solid Pro Day and could sneak into the late part of the Draft.

Mississippi (March 26): Michael Oher will be in the running to be one of the top offensive tackle in the Draft. A good day here could make a huge difference for a group of teams in the top half of the draft who could use O-line help.

All that and more awaits us with yet another week of Pro Day action as we close in on another NFL Draft. For the latest updates, make sure you stay here...on NFLDraftbible.com.

Photo Credit: College Press Box, SEC Sports Media, College Press Box (Florida St., Wake Forest), Illinois Sports Information, Matt Brown Photography, University of California

SENIOR BOWL – NORTH PRACTICE NOTES

Quarterback: Of all the quarterbacks, Rhett Bomar has the most potential, but he needs a lot of work in terms of his mechanics and consistency. Don’t expect him to be an instant impact rookie a la Joe Flacco regardless of the similarities. Like Flacco, Bomar transferred from a FBS school (Oklahoma) to a FCS school (Sam Houston St.) before earning a Senior Bowl invite. (Flacco ended up at Delaware after starting his college career at Pittsburgh) In addition to having the best arm of this group, Bomar is the most athletic quarterback of the North threesome. He had some issues taking the ball from under center, making the transition from a shot-gun quarterback.

Going under center, Graham Harrell did a nice job dropping back and talking the ball. He didn’t look like a quarterback who spent his entire career (high school and college) in shot-gun spread offenses. Too bad he wasn’t as impressive when asked to throw the football – his ball flutters. Even on the rare occasion when he threw a tight spiral, Harrell simply didn’t have the arm on the deep comeback throws.

Nathan Brown had some issues under center and fumbled a couple of snaps. He is short and doesn’t have the strongest arm, which makes his lack of crisp mechanics and side-arm delivery even more concerning. Like Harrell, Brown didn’t show the arm strength to make sideline throws. Brown looks his best in “game situations” – in the 11-on-11 he was able to settle in and make some solid throws. Thursday was Brown’s best day as he ran the 11-on-11 very well.

Running Backs: Jeremiah Johnson stood out among this group. He has very good lateral quickness – simply put, he can make you miss. Coming out of the backfield, this former Duck is a tough cover and while he is not a feature back, he will make somebody very happy with his ability as a number two.

Cedric Peerman looks like a natural route runner. He should land somewhere as a third down back.

Syracuse product Tony Fiametta had a stellar week. Fearless and physical as a blocker, he also looked good as a receiver coming out of the backfield. At this point, he is the odds-on favorite to be the first fullback off the board come April.

Wide Receivers: Brian Robiskie has terrific hands, maybe the best of this group. He also has no peers in terms of his route running skills. A true technician who plays like his father is a receiver’s coach in the NFL…which he is (Terry Robiskie coaches wide receivers for he Minnesota Vikings).

Ramses Barden had trouble adjusting to playing against a higher level of competition. Even with his big school size, Barden had some trouble getting off jams at the line of scrimmage.

Juaquin Iglesias showed good quickness and the ability to change direction. He plays faster than his 40-time.

None of these defensive backs on the North – and there were some good ones – were able to stay with Derrick Williams in terms of his speed/quickness. After making most of his yardage at Penn St. on screen and junk passes, Williams showed he can in fact run routes and get down the field.

Before he was injured, UNC’s Brooks Foster flashed the ability to stretch the field, but he can also be pushed around. He needs to get tougher and more physical.

In addition to displaying skills as a pass catcher, Brandon Gibson laid an impressive crack back block on defensive end Will Davis in 11-on-11 drills. Gibson showed great hands and could not be held in check – he always found a way to get open.

Malcolm Johnson was a late (injury) addition but quickly became a favorite target of the North quarterbacks, seeing a lot of action in 11-on-11, flourishing in the Red Zone.

Tight End: Brandon Pettigrew pushed Scott McKillop out with relative ease in one-on-one blocking drills. He is a man at tight end, one of the few legitimate in-line blockers at the position.

Big man John Phillips is known as much for his blocking as he is his pass catching, if not more so, but he displayed excellent hands in 11-on-11 drills. He doesn’t necessarily get a lot of separation so he won’t be an explosive pass receiver but appears to be a safe/reliable option.

Offensive Tackles: One of the more intriguing prospects is UConn tackle William Beatty. He needs to do a better job of keeping his back upright and bending his knees, but you have to love the upside he possesses. He got better as the week went on, which is how his pro career will likely go. He needs to put on weight or he’ll be vulnerable to a bull rush, but he has the frame to do so and he’s got the athleticism and footwork to protect the quarterback’s blindside.

Early on, the weakest offensive tackle on the North team was Illinois product Xavier Fulton, who was beaten pretty regularly in one-on-one situations. I did like that he improved throughout the week, rather than hanging his head after his early struggles.

Phil Loadholt was very inconsistent in one-on-one pass blocking drills. The problem is his footwork and lack of lateral mobility. When he gets his hands on pass rusher, it’s game over. The size and length (excellent wingspan) are there for him to play left tackle, but in all likelihood his lack of footwork will prevent him from playing the marquee position. He will shift to the right side on Sundays. Against some of the lesser talent, Loadholt was able to block them, but when he had to block the premier pass rushers on the North, he couldn’t handle them – yet another sign he belongs on the right side.

Guards: Wisconsin guard Craig Urbik was the most consistent interior lineman all week. How do you not love this guy? While most of the centers and guards were getting outplayed by a strong group of defensive tackles, Urbik held his own on almost every snap. He anchors well and even showed excellent footwork when the opposition changed direction. You're not going to overpower Urbik

Andy Levitre is making the move inside after playing tackle at Oregon St. He simply lacks the length to play in the perimeter as his short arms prevent him from pushing linemen away and knocking them off their moves. Levitre had trouble when asked to block speed rushers but has good technique and uses his hands well.

Centers: Max Unger had some trouble handling the faster/quicker players and powerful linemen. When matching up with a noseman like Ron Brace, he was pushed right back into the pocket – the same happened when he was asked to block B.J. Raji. He does a better job when the opposition tries to out-quick him – he’s more athletic than your typical center.

Alex Mack is tougher than Unger, but he had troubles with Ziggy Hood’s spin moves. He was also overpowered by B.J. Raji (in 11-on-11), putting in doubt whether he will be able to handle premier defensive tackles one-on-one. Mack has a nasty streak and does a good job of maintaining leverage.

Defensive Tackles: At his best, B.J. Raji was dominant, pushing around most guards and centers throughout the week. He displayed both the quickness to get around offensive linemen as well as the strength to overpower them. Raji can be so disruptive – at one point breaking up a hand-off in 11-on-11, pushing Alex Mack back into the quarterback.

The other Boston College defensive tackle, Ron Brace, is a one-trick pony. He’s not trying to trick anybody – it’s a straight power bull rush every time. At times he comes out of his stance too high, a no-no for man expected to make his living over the center. It was disappointing to see Brace get handled on back-to-back plays by Virginia Tech’s Ryan Shuman, a borderline draftee. He easily had the most false starts in one-on-one drills. Brace will get solid push from time-to-time, but rarely will flat out beat his blocker.

If you’re looking for moves, Mizzou’s Ziggy Hood had the O-Line baffled with his spin move. While he typically put the offensive linemen through the spin cycle, Hood also busted out an occasional swim move to beat his man. He is tough to block one-on-one.

Mitch King blew by several offensive linemen using his quickness on inside moves, as well as speed off the edge. He also uses hands well. The one-on-one scenarios play to his strengths. When he tried to use a power move, he was cut off at the path – he had no chance to get into the backfield. He is explosive, but simply lacks the size NFL teams are looking for, which doesn’t mean he can’t create a niche for himself as a role player at the next level.

Alex Magee who was added to the roster on Tuesday, exploded by Andy Levitre, using his hands to get by the former Beaver. Magee displayed a speed rush and showed a nice combination move when he powered outside to set up with spin move back inside. I really like his quickness.

Defensive Ends: Larry English showed some glimpses as an edge pass rusher. It looks like he put on some weight for Senior Bowl week, but has he robbed himself of some quickness? He picked up his play as the week went on, displaying a variety of pass rush moves, which is how he’s going to make his money on the next level. English looked solid when asked to cover. He is an ideal candidate to move to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

Tim Jamison had some moments, but often goes too wide, always trying to beat his man on the perimeter. He looks like a ‘tweener – to small to play on the line of scrimmage, not long enough to be an outside pass rusher.

Cody Brown plays a little too upright. He could not get by Phil Loadholt on numerous one-on-one opportunities. Brown responded later in the week, at times attacking the blocker – he knocked both Xavier Fulton and college teammate William Beatty on their rear ends.

After spending most of his time at tight end, Connor Barwin did get an opportunity to show what he could do as a pass rusher. He was able to drop his inside shoulder and go around the pass blocker and also showed his natural instincts and quickness setting up linemen with a hesitation move.

Linebackers: Tyrone McKenzie, out of USF, looks like a solid three-down linebacker. He’s not very explosive but he can cover and there is something to be said for not having to leave the field. He did a great job sticking with Brandon Pettigrew and knocked some balls away.

Marcus Freeman had trouble shedding blockers, although he did avoid Brandon Pettigrew in 11-on-11 as the former Cowboy was trying to block him. He will be a productive pro, but is likely limited to being a weakside linebacker in a 4-3 defense. Freeman is at his best playing in space, whether he is trying to avoid a block or make a tackle. He may be the best linebacker in coverage – so smooth and natural when dropping back.

Clint Sintim is trying to prove he can play in a 4-3 defense after flourishing in a 3-4 system at Virginia. He might be able to play the strongside, but is probably better suited to be a rush linebacker. On that note, he struggled in one-on-one coverage when asked to stay with running backs.

Cornerbacks: Darius Butler displayed good footwork throughout the week. He’s a little undersized, but his hips are as fluid as any corner playing this week. At times, Butler disappointed a bit with his speed – does his 40-time translate to the field? For a corner who lacks ideal size, he needs to show more closing speed. He did impress with his physical play at the line of scrimmage, at one point spinning Brooks Foster completely around right at the line. He looks like he has the skills to play bump-and-run.

Coming out of Oregon St. Kennan Lewis is a physical corner, not at all afraid to mix it up.

I believe Macho Harris had a better week than he’s being given credit for. He’s never going to be an on the island corner, but will find a place in the NFL. He was very physical with Ohio St.’s Brian Robiskie, simply not allowing the former Buckeye to go where he wanted to go (by most accounts, Robiskie was one of the tougher receivers to cover). He also showed the ability to play off-man coverage, which is not his strength.

Safeties: William Moore lacks the fluid hips to be effective in coverage, which is why some scouts are speculating he may have to make the move to linebacker, like Oklahoma’s Nic Harris. He seemed to get pushed back step-by-step by Brandon Gibson in coverage and then was completely turned out of position.

Coming out of Western Michigan Louis Delmus also struggled as a coverman. On one drill, he gave Derrick Williams a ton of cushion only to see the Penn St. product run right by him anyway. This Bronco is at his best running down hill and will flourish against the run. Delmus will get caught peeking into the offensive backfield on play-action.

One safety who was solid when asked to cover wide receivers one-on-one was Oregon’s Patrick Chung, who surely helped his stock this week.

Photo Credit: Mizzou Media Relations; OU Athletics Department; David Knachel, Virginia Tech Athletics Communications; USF Athletics Communications; OSU Athletics; Sam Houston State Athletics, College Press Box

Player Anatomy: C Alex Mack, Cal

By MATT MILLER

Mack is arguably the top center in college football since Nick Mangold (Pro Bowler with the New York Jets); an extremely powerful player whose biggest strength is in-line run blocking. However, he needs to develop his technical skills, but good coaching at the next level should allow him to do so. He was a first-team all-conference performer as a sophomore, junior and a senior. Not all brawn, Mack possesses brains, taking home the 2008 Draddy Trophy, the academic Heisman. He possesses the tools to become a top-line starter in the NFL.

Character / Leadership Ability: He has no known character flaws and was the unquestioned leader of Cal’s offense. He was a mentor to Cal’s younger offensive linemen.

Competitive Nature / Work Ethic: He never stops competing, even when a play is halfway down the field—he plays with a lot of intensity. Mack returned to school because he wanted to get the program back on the right track.

Football Intelligence: He’ll end his career, barring injuring, as a three-year starter. He can be a little slow at times to read and react and will really benefit from being just a full-time football player.

Size: He’s fairly tall for a center, and his arms aren’t especially long. Mack has a bulky build throughout his frame but probably can’t hold much more mass.

Athletic Ability: He’s incredibly athletic and agile for a big, powerful center—He was a former high school wrestler and can actually do splits. He’s also very strong and moves to the second level quickly.

Toughness / Durability: He’s been durable throughout his career and plays with a lot of grit and desire.

Pass Blocking: Mack plays better against the run although he’s sometimes slow to react and some worry about his lack of awareness. He doesn’t move well laterally and can have trouble reacting and neutralizing speed rushers charging the A-gap.

Movement / Space: He’s an attacker at the second level who seeks out opponents instead of letting them come to him. Mack is also a really good cut blocker.

Quickness: Mack has great snap quickness to get the ball off and get into his stance. He doesn’t have much speed, though and kind of lumbers to get to opponents on the second level.

Run Blocking: He’s a mauling run blocker who uses his powerful lower body to push back tackles. He is an incredibly adept cut blocker and a gifted trap blocker. Mack is also a really good finisher.

Strength: Possesses great base strength—he registered a program-record power clean of 374 pounds. He has especially strong legs.

Technique: He tends to get too tall in his stance and needs to keep better balance, especially on the move. His base has to get wider or he could have some trouble facing players stronger than him.

Photo Credit: University of California

Emerald Bowl: Miami vs. California

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

December 27, 2008 * 8:00 * ESPN
AT & T Park * San Francisco, California

After a one-year hiatus from going bowling, the ‘Canes are back and second year headman Randy Shannon is looking for his first bowl win at the helm. Miami is not all the way back, but this youthful squad is full of potential and a bowl win could provide a solid building block. The Golden Bears start eight freshmen or sophomores themselves, but have a veteran core leading the way with the likes of center Alex Mack on offense and three senior starters at linebacker on defense.

When the Bears Have the Ball

After an overall disappointing season, the Golden Bears will have the opportunity to end on a high note. They have to be salivating over a Miami defense, which collapsed in its last two games and surrendered 691 yards on the ground. Jahvid Best will certainly be eager to continue his outstanding season (1,394 yards and 13 TDs) against that defense and California coach Jeff Tedford will likely test Miami early on the ground. However, the Hurricanes do have some very fast linemen and can adjust on the fly. On top of that, the Golden Bear offensive line has struggled due to injury and has had problems opening lanes for Best as well as protecting whichever quarterback is behind center. Both senior Nate Longshore (starter) and sophomore Kevin Riley took some snaps in the last game but neither one has been prolific the last few games. Riley has been the lead horse in this stable but has turned the ball over in four of the last five games. Often the California pass game will throw for no more than 100 yards so it is hardly surprising that they have no marquee wide receivers, utilizing instead a group of solid athletes who can catch the ball, run crisp short routes and help move the chains. But their ability is limited both by who they are as well as by the problems at the quarterback position. If Best stalls running the pigskin the Golden Bears could very well struggle to move the ball.

When the ‘Canes Have the Ball

Like California, Miami has flopped quarterbacks to little effect. Neither Robert Marve nor Jacory Harris has played particularly well. Marve, who has more yards but has also thrown 13 interceptions, is suspended for the contest. Meanwhile Harris has thrown 10 touchdown passes but has only barely crossed the 1,000-yard mark. Overall the Hurricanes have turned the ball over a stunning amount and rank 101st in the nation in turnovers. This could be a major problem – Miami throws interceptions and the Golden Bears are ranked third in the nation in interceptions with 23 and are second in the Pac-10 in defensive scoring. With the turnover problems, Miami may be best served by handing the ball off to their tandem of Graig Cooper and Javarris James. Neither of the tailbacks is in Best’s category in terms of game-breaking ability, but when the Hurricanes can get them going, it helps the offense stay moving. Both backs can move the chains and would keep the defense honest.

Final Analysis

Another potential factor could be the long trip to the Bay Area from Florida. California only has to hop a bus to the stadium while Miami must fly across the country. After completing the regular season with a two-game skid, the Hurricanes could struggle to get going after the long trip.

Inside the Numbers – Pass, Run & Catch

Miami Hurricanes (7-5, 4-4)
Pass: Jacory Harris – 1,001 yards, 10 TDs
Run: Graig Cooper – 778 yards, 4 TDs
Catch: Aldarius Johnson – 321 yards, 3 TDs

California Golden Bears (8-4, 6-3)
Pass: Kevin Riley – 1,360 yards, 14 TDs
Run: Jahvid Best – 1,394 yards, 13 TDs
Catch: Nyan Boateng – 412 yards, 5 TDs

The CFI Prediction: California 27, Miami 17

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images, University of Miami Sports Media Relations Office

NFF: Chalk Talk

News and Notes From Around College Football for Dec. 15, 2008

Cal Center Alex Mack Named 2008 Draddy Trophy Recipient

Center Alex Mack of California captured the 19th annual Draddy Award at the 51st annual NFF Awards Dinner at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York. He earned the 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. $277,000 was awarded to Mack and the other 14 Draddy Trophy finalists, who each claimed $18,000 scholarships for postgraduate educations.

Mack already has graduated magna cum laude from Cal with a 3.61 GPA and a bachelor's degree in legal studies. The projected first-round NFL Draft pick was a two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection, two-time Rimington Trophy finalist, and a four-time Academic All-Pac-10 selection. He will lead the Golden Bears against Miami (Fla.) in the 2008 Emerald Bowl on Dec. 27.

NFF Appoints New Board Members

The NFF & College Hall of Fame has added four exceptional individuals, who all played college football before going onto stellar business careers, as members of its national board of directors. Joining 43 other active members of the prestigious board are James A. Haslam II, founder and chairman of the Pilot Corporation; Ronnie Lott, founder HRJ Capital and a College Football Hall of Famer from Southern California; John J. Mack, chairman and chief executive officer of Morgan Stanley; and George Pyne, president IMG Sports & Entertainment.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl to Honor 2008 College Football Hall of Fame Class

The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl will celebrate the 2008 College Football Hall of Fame Class during pregame ceremonies on Jan. 5, when No. 10 Ohio State faces No. 3 Texas in Glendale, Ariz. Highlights include the traditional on-field recognition prior to kickoff and participation in the 38th annual Fort McDowell Yavapai National Fiesta Bowl Parade on Jan. 3, 2009. The 2008 class members include: Coaches John Cooper and Lou Holtz, who captured a national championship at the Fiesta Bowl with Notre Dame in 1988; Troy Aikman, UCLA; Billy Cannon, LSU; Jim Dombrowski, Virginia; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern; Wilber Marshall, Florida; Rueben Mayes, Washington State; Randall McDaniel, Arizona State; Don McPherson, Syracuse; Jay Novacek, Wyoming; Dave Parks, Texas Tech; Ron Simmons, Florida State; Thurman Thomas, Oklahoma State; and Arnold Tucker, Army.

Voting Has Reopened for Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award

College football fans can visit www.CoachoftheYear.com from now until December 22 to cast their vote for the 2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award. On the site fans can review bios and testimonials supporting each of the 25 finalists before they make their selection.

The finalists - 10 from the Football Bowl Subdivision and five each from the Football Championship Subdivision, Division II and Division III - are now in the running for an award that includes $50,000 towards civic and charitable activities, $20,000 in scholarship donations for their schools' alumni associations, and permanent recognition in the College Football Hall of Fame.

They were determined by a combination of hundreds of thousands of fan votes at www.CoachoftheYear.com and an objective scoring model endorsed by the College Football Hall of Fame. The scoring model considers such criteria as wins, team penalties, academic achievement by student-athletes, and civic and philanthropic commitments.

After this season, the total Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year charitable and scholarship contributions since 2006 will reach $680,000.

Bowl Notes

A record 68 teams are lined up for 34 FBS postseasons contests, starting Dec. 20 with the inaugural EagleBank Bowl in Washington, D.C. There were 72 bowl-eligible squads for the 68 contracted FBS postseason positions.

Cincinnati is the 43rd different school to play in a BCS contest... Southern California has played in a record seven-consecutive BCS contests... The 2009 Konica Minolta Gator Bowl between Clemson and Nebraska is the first meeting of the two schools since the Tigers edged the Huskers 22-15 in the 1982 Orange Bowl for CU's only national championship.

NCAA/NAIA Championships

FCS (formerly Division I-AA) - Friday, Dec. 19: Montana vs. Richmond in Chattanooga, Tenn. (ESPN2)

Division II - Saturday, Dec. 13: Minnesota- Duluth def. Northwest Missouri State in Florence, Ala.

Division III - Saturday, Dec. 20: Mount Union (Ohio), led by NFF Draddy Trophy finalist Greg Micheli vs. Wisconsin- Whitewater in Salem, Va. (ESPN2)

Russell Athletic NAIA Championship - Saturday, Dec. 20: Carroll (Mont.) vs. Sioux Falls (S.D.) in Rome, Ga. (CBS College Sports Network)

NFF News

The NFF Northern Ohio Chapter has been renamed the Mike Cleary Chapter, in honor of the longtime executive director of the National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and lifetime NFF member. The surprise announcement was made at last Tuesday's NFF Chapter Luncheon at the Waldorf=Astoria.

Worldwide membership now is at 12,000-plus in 119 chapters.

For the weekly College Football Insiders newsletter, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announcements and more information on the NFF and college football, please visit www.footballfoundation.com.

Two-Minute Drill

Coach Lou Holtz appeared on "Regis and Kelly" last Tuesday prior to his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame that evening... Oklahoma has set a modern FBS record (and counting) with 702 points in 13 games this season... Southern California has won or tied a record seven consecutive Pacific-10 Conference football crowns... Harvard won or shared its first back-to-back Ivy League titles since 1982-83... Grambling downed Jackson State 41- 9 for the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship last week in Birmingham, Ala.... Texas Tech's Graham Harrell, 2008 NFF Draddy Trophy finalist, joined head coach Mike Leach in a private White House tour last Saturday and meeting with President George W. Bush... Rutgers' football program was mentioned prominently in Sports Illustrated's year-end issue as one of the leaders and key volunteer groups for Special Olympics... Tulsa football student-athletes visited Tulsa's Sequoyah Elementary School to emphasize staying in school and general academics on the day before the Conference USA championship... Wake Forest athletics' team members participated in a Santa's Helpers toy and gift drive for underserved youngsters... USF student-athletes and administrators gathered over 1,200 pounds of food for local pantries and holiday disbursement... Michigan State hosted a special Team for Toys event to help fill the stockings of area children... The Southern Conference raised over $18,500 for the Komen Foundation Dig for the Cure cancer research fund... The Ball State-Buffalo Marathon MAC Championship contest at Ford Field in Detroit drew a Mid-American Conference all- time-high national rating of 1.7 on the Nielsen scale.

The Rutgers Board of Governors formally approved $102 million to expand the school's stadium to 54,000 and add other amenities... TCU began work on another phase of Amon Carter Stadium expansion and renovation.

Auburn named Gene Chizik as its new head coach... Gary Andersen has taken over as head coach at Utah State... Dave Clawson accepted the top spot at Bowling Green... Dan Mullen has been named head coach at Mississippi State... Doug Marrone has received the new nod at Syracuse... David Yost has become Missouri's new offensive coordinator... Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin has been given a contract extension... Former Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer will remain on campus as assistant to the university's president.

National individual award recipients: Heisman - Sam Bradford, Oklahoma; Davey O'Brien - Bradford; Maxwell - Tim Tebow, Florida; Walter Camp National Player of the Year - Colt McCoy, Texas; Bednarik - Rey Maualuga, Southern California; Biletnikoff - Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech; Lou Groza - Graham Gano; Ray Guy - Matt Fodge, Oklahoma State; Outland - Andre Smith, Alabama; Jim Thorpe - Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State; Doak Walker - Shonn Greene, Iowa; Home Depot Coach - Nick Saban, Alabama; NCFAA Contributions to College Football - Bobby Bowden (2006 NFF co-Gold Medal recipient, 2006 Hall of Fame inductee); Lott - James Laurinaitis, Ohio State; Rimington - A.Q. Shipley, Penn State; Bronko Nagurski and Rotary Lombardi - Brian Orakpo, Texas; Butkus - Aaron Curry, Wake Forest; Johnny Unitas Golden Arm - Graham Harrell, Texas Tech; John Mackey - Chase Coffman, Missouri... The Harlon Hill NCAA Division II Player of the Year Award went to Abilene Christian's Bernard Scott.

2008 Hall of Fame inductee Pat Fitzgerald of Northwestern was named 2008 Coach of the Year by the Columbus (Ohio) Touchdown Club... 2008 NFF Draddy finalist Georgia Tech DT Darryl Richard earned the ACC's 2008 James E. Tatum Award, as top senior student-athlete in football... For the first time in football history, the SEC selected tri-Coaches of the Year - Alabama's Nick Saban, Mississippi's Houston Nutt and Vanderbilt's Bobby Johnson... Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo has been selected as NCAA FBS Independent Teams 2008 Coach of the Year... Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson captured the Frank Broyles Award as top FBS assistant coach in '08... Former New York mayor and presidential candidate Rudy Guiliani has been denoted as the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) 2009 Tuss McLaughry Award recipient... The Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame inducted five football standouts: Tony Hill (Stanford), Arthur James (East Texas State), Aaron Wallace (Texas A&M), Richmond Webb (Texas A&M) and Kevin Williams (Miami, Fla.).

Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster and AD Joel Maturi joined Kansas head coach Mark Mangino and AD Lew Perkins in presiding over the opening bell of the NASDAQ Monday in New York. It was part of a special promotion for Insight Enterprises and the Insight Bowl... Georgia Tech is providing free, three-day shipping for athletics' gear and football bowl apparel for holiday gifts and special pricing for Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl souvenirs with the custom Yellow Jackets' logos... Utah's fan demand for online ticket purchases for the Allstate Sugar Bowl was so heavy last week that the server had to be closed down for part of last Friday. Orders were taken by phone and in person... The 2008 Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl has sold out its ticket allotment. College Football Hall of Famer Joe Theismann will be the headline speaker at the bowl's Kickoff Luncheon... Ole Miss is playing in its first AT&T Cotton Bowl since 1956, as the Rebels and Texas Tech meet in the 73rd and final Classic at Dallas' Cotton Bowl Stadium. Pat Summerall and Brian Baldinger will call the game from the booth... Analyst Tim Ryan will call the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl with Matt Vasgerian.

Tom Dillon, 65, voice of Arizona State athletics from 1973-97 and a lead announcer for Sports USA Radio football contests in recent years, died in Phoenix, Ariz.

NFF Delivers Another Night of Magical Football Memories

By NFF Correspondent Bo Carter

The 51st National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame Annual Awards Dinner celebrated many milestones in the collegiate game at the Waldorf=Astoria Tuesday night.

Besides the induction of 13 all-time collegiate stalwarts and head coaches John Cooper and Lou Holtz, the NFF audience of just under 1,600 received rousing renditions of the national anthem and "God Bless America" by "America's Beloved Tenor" Daniel Rodriguez.

2008 inductees included Troy Aikman of UCLA, Dr. Billy Cannon of LSU, Jim Dombrowski of Virginia, Pat Fitzgerald of Northwestern, Wilber Marshall of Florida, Rueben Mayes of Washington State, Randall McDaniel of Arizona State, Don McPherson of Syracuse, Jay Novacek of Wyoming, Dave Parks of Texas Tech, Ron Simmons of Florida State, Thurman Thomas of Oklahoma State; Arnold Tucker of Army, and coaches John Cooper (Tulsa, Arizona State and Ohio State) and Lou Holtz (William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and South Carolina).

Major award winners included U.S. Senator John Glenn, accepting the NFF Gold Medal as an outstanding American who has demonstrated integrity and honesty, achieved significant career success; T. Boone Pickens, who claimed the NFF Distinguished American Award, which is presented on special occasions when a truly deserving individual emerges; Collegiate Licensing Co. and former Tennessee football coach Bill Battle, earned recognition as the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award; and Ohio State's Gene Smith who took home the The John L. Toner Award given annually to a director of athletics who has demonstrated superior administrative abilities. The Outstanding College Football Official Award for 2008 was presented to Thomas Robinson of the Western Athletic and Mountain West Conferences, and Bob Curtis of Idaho and the late Dick Galiette of Yale were recognized as the co-recipients of the NFF Chris Schenkel Broadcaster of the Year Award.

Longtime National Football Foundation allies and retiring commissioners Tom Hansen of the Pacific-10 Conference, Jeffrey Orleans of the Ivy League and Mike Tranghese of the Big East Conference were honored with NFF Legacy Awards for their service to college athletics, especially football.

California center Alex Mack received the coveted 19th Draddy Award, known as the "academic" Heisman for college seniors, among a sterling 15-person field of National Scholar-Athletes. The All-Pacific-10 Conference center and starter for the Emerald Bowl- destined Golden Bears became the first Pac-10 scholar to claim the trophy. He already has graduated with a bachelor's degree and is working towards a Master's degree in business.

"I'm just very thankful to the National Football Foundation for this honor," Mack said, "and I am grateful for schools such as California for allowing us to excel. The university gave me the opportunity to excel on the field and in the classroom as well as offering time for community service."

CBS College Sports Network and several national media outlets offered extensive coverage of the day's events. Some 37 returning NFF College Hall of Fame, seven NFF Gold Medal recipients, six NFF Distinguished American awardees, and six Heisman Trophy Winners returned for the event, which has been a staple of the college football season since the first NFF Awards Dinner at the Astor Hotel on Oct. 25, 1958. Responders for the honorees expressed delight in being able to represent a sport that has given them so much.

"I worked for one of the best directors of athletics in the world in Gene Corrigan at Notre Dame, and it is ADs like this who give you the best chance to perform leadership in football. Rev. (Theodore) Hesburgh once told me that titles come from above, and players determine the leadership abilities of any coach. You have to care for one another and set values and standards."

"Everyone in the audience should look at the 15 people (National Scholar-Athletes) behind me when something negative happens to an individual in college athletics and remember the accomplishments of these young men," added Syracuse quarterback and 2008 Hall of Fame inductees' spokesman Don McPherson. "You leave your own legacy and tradition in football, and you learn what it takes to make a team a team."

"You always recall the people who have the most impact on your lives," said NFF National Scholar- Athlete responder Casey Gerald, who was reared by relatives other than his birth mother and father. "I'm eternally grateful to the game of football. I have lived that game at Yale, and it gives the chance to live your dreams,"

The Foundation's 2008 Gold Medal recipient and famed astronaut/Senator John Glenn noted the benefits of the game.

"Football gives young people the chance to get in shape, be fit and work as a team - tenets that have helped to strengthen America for many years." The national group also acknowledged 20 years of board of directors' service by retiring member John L. Toner and was gearing up for board meetings in New York later this week.

"We want to express out thanks to John Toner for 20 great years of service on the National Football Foundation board," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "I also want to commend Bob Mulcahy (Rutgers director of athletics) and the awards committee for some very extensive research and an outstanding group of finalists and honorees for the 2008 Awards Dinner."

Photo Credit: National Football Foundation, Gene Boyars

Cal Center Alex Mack Named 2008 Draddy Trophy Winner

Mack becomes first Pac-10 winner of the NFF's top scholar-athlete award, as $277,000 in scholarships is distributed to the 2008 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class

NEW YORK, December 9, 2008 - Alex Mack, an All-America center from the University of California, became the 19th recipient of the Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth, at The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame's Annual Awards Dinner in New York City tonight.

The Draddy Trophy is one of college football's most sought after and competitive awards, recognizing an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. The award comes with a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. A total of $277,000 was awarded to Mack and the other 14 Draddy Trophy finalists, who each claimed $18,000 scholarships for their post-graduate educations.

"We are extremely proud to award this year's Draddy Trophy to Alex," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose son Peyton claimed the 1997 Draddy Trophy. "He represents the best of the best in collegiate academics and athletics and epitomizes the leadership qualities learned playing our great sport."

Having already graduated magna cum laude with a 3.61 GPA and a bachelor's degree in legal studies, the 2008 Pac-10 Scholar-Athlete of the Year for football is a four-time Academic All-Pac-10 selection currently pursuing a master's in education. In an article by Eric Gilmore of CalBears.com, several of Mack's teammates concurred that it has come to be expected to see the two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District pick "walking around with a book all the time," and acknowledge that Mack "puts in the time to succeed" when it comes to school and football.

Equally impressive, the projected first round NFL Draft pick is a two-time All-Pac-10 pick, one of only three players to be named a unanimous 2007 First Team All-Conference selection en route to earning the Morris Trophy as the conference's top offensive lineman. Named a First Team All- America by The Sporting News in 2007, the Santa Barbara, Calif., native is a finalist for the Rimington Trophy and the leader of an offensive unit that allowed the fewest sacks (24) in the Pac-10 in 2006 and '07. Mack will lead the Golden Bears to face Miami (Fla.) in the Emerald Bowl on Dec. 27.

A member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Mack was the literal poster boy for Cal's "Dancing with the Stars" fundraising event, which raised money for underprivileged children in the San Francisco area. He was selected as a summer guest columnist for the Sporting New Today and has participated in an after-school program with local elementary schools.

Mack follows Je'Rod Cherry (1995) and Donald Pat Newell (1959) as NFF National Scholar-Athletes for the Golden Bears.

Launched in 1959, the NFF scholar-athlete program became the first initiative in history to credit a player for both academic and athletic accomplishments. The centerpiece to the NFF's scholar-athlete program, which has awarded $8.9 million to 708 top athletes, the Draddy Trophy, first awarded in 1990, honors Manhattan College quarterback and former NFF Chairman Vincent dePaul Draddy.

"The NFF mission is to build leaders through football, and the 2008 NFF National Scholar-Athlete class members stand as a testament to that creed," said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "We look forward to supporting the bright futures of each of these fine young men, and we take great pride in holding them out as examples of football's unique ability to build tomorrow's leaders."

Candidates must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

The 2008 Class of NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients and Draddy Finalists includes:
Andrew Berry - CB, Harvard University
Ryan Berry - QB, South Dakota State University
Chase Daniel - QB, University of Missouri
Brian Freeman - OT, Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.)
Casey Gerald - CB, Yale University
Graham Harrell - QB, Texas Tech University
Quin Harris - LB, Louisiana Tech University
Jeff Horinek - LB, Colorado State University
Ryan Kees - DE, St. Cloud State University (Minn.)
Alex Mack - C, University of California
Ryan McDonald - OL, University of Illinois
Greg Micheli - QB, Mount Union College (Ohio)
Darryl Richard - DT, Georgia Tech
Brian Robiskie - WR, Ohio State University
Louie Sakoda - K/P, University of Utah

Listed in chronological order, past Draddy winners, counting two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, and a Heisman Trophy winner, include:
Chris Howard (Air Force, 1990 - Leader in Higher Education)
John B. Culpepper (Florida, 1991 - Attorney)
Jim Hansen (Colorado, 1992 - MIT Professor)
Thomas Burns (Virginia, 1993 - Ph.D. Nuclear Engineer)
Robert Zatechka (Nebraska, 1994 - Physician)
Bobby Hoying (Ohio State, 1995 - Real Estate Developer)
Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1996 - Nonprofit Director)
Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997 - NFL Player)
Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1998 - Television Broadcaster)
Chad Pennington (Marshall, 1999 - NFL Player)
Kyle Vanden Bosch (Nebraska, 2000 - NFL Player)
Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami, 2001 - Entrepreneur)
Brandon Roberts (Washington University in St. Louis, 2002 - Medical Student)
Craig Krenzel (Ohio State, 2003 - Real Estate Investment Analyst)
Michael Munoz (Tennessee, 2004 - Nonprofit director and political candidate)
Rudy Niswanger (Louisiana State University, 2005 - Medical Student)
Brian Leonard (Rutgers University, 2006 - NFL Player)
Dallas Griffin (University of Texas, 2007 - MBA Candidate)

Photo Credit: National Football Foundation, Gene Boyars

15 Finalists Vie for National Football Foundation's Draddy Trophy

Winner to be announced Tuesday, December 9 at approximately 8:40 p.m. ET

DALLAS, December 4, 2008 - As the 2008 college football season comes to a close, the 15 NFF Draddy Trophy Finalists will head to New York City next week, where each will claim an $18,000 scholarship, while the nation's top scholar-athlete from among the finalists will be announced as the 19th recipient of the coveted NFF Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth.

The Draddy Trophy is one of college football's most sought after and competitive awards, recognizing an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.

"The Draddy represents excellence in all aspects of one's life," said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "Past recipients have gone on to become lawyers, doctors and some of the best players in the NFL. Football truly does build leaders, and this year's 15 finalists are no exception."

The announcement will be made between 8:15 - 9 p.m. during the NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Waldorf=Astoria on Tuesday, December 9.

The class members combine to average a 3.71 GPA, and all have been named Academic All-Conference athletes. Twelve serve as team captains, while ten have been named to All-Conference teams and four have been chosen as All-America picks. Six have been named Academic All-Americas, including one Rhodes Scholar finalist. Seven finished the season as members of nationally ranked teams.

The centerpiece to the NFF's scholar-athlete program, which has awarded over $8.9 million to 708 top athletes, the Draddy Trophy honors former NFF Chairman Vincent dePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who developed the Izod and Lacoste brands. The award, college football's most prestigious academic honor, comes with a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy and increases the winner's scholarship by $7,000 to $25,000.

Launched in 1959, the NFF scholar-athlete program became the first initiative in history to credit a player for both academic and athletic accomplishments. The Draddy, first awarded in 1990, adds to the program's mystique. Past Draddy winners, including two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, a Heisman winner and a 3.7 average GPA, are: Chris Howard (Air Force, 1990 - Leader in Higher Education); John B. Culpepper (Florida, 1991 - Attorney); Jim Hansen (Colorado, 1992 - MIT Professor); Thomas Burns (Virginia, 1993 - Ph.D. Nuclear Engineer); Robert Zatechka (Nebraska, 1994 - Physician); Bobby Hoying (Ohio State, 1995 - Real Estate Developer); Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1996 - Nonprofit Director); Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997 - NFL Player); Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1998 - Television Broadcaster); Chad Pennington (Marshall, 1999 - NFL Player); Kyle Vanden Bosch (Nebraska, 2000 - NFL Player); Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami, 2001 - Entrepreneur); Brandon Roberts (Washington University- Mo., 2002 - Medical Student); Craig Krenzel (Ohio State, 2003 - Real Estate Investment Analyst); Michael Munoz (Tennessee, 2004 - Nonprofit director and political candidate); Rudy Niswanger (LSU, 2005 - NFL Player); Brian Leonard (Rutgers, 2006 - NFL Player); and Dallas Griffin (Texas, 2007 - MBA Candidate).

Listed in alphabetical order, the 2008 Draddy Finalists are:

Andrew Berry, CB - Harvard: Named First Team All-Ivy League corner for third year, amassing 43 tackles, three interceptions and six pass breakups in 2008... Led Crimson to 2008 Ivy League title... Named a John Harvard Scholar, ranking among Harvard's top five percent in grade point average... One of five finalists (among all college athletes) for the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup... Director of the Cambridge Youth Enrichment Program.

Ryan Berry, QB - South Dakota State: Leads Missouri Valley Conference in total offense (3,009) and passing yards (3,106)... Set SDSU career marks for completions (477) and touchdowns (52)... Two- time Academic All-Great West Football Conference selection... Named to ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District Team in 2008... Member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has participated in reading programs at local elementary schools.

Chase Daniel, QB - Missouri: Led Missouri to back-to-back Big 12 North Division titles... Holds 27 school records and was a 2007 Heisman Trophy finalist... Named a 2008 finalist for the Manning Award, Wuerffel Trophy and the Unitas Golden Arm Award, completing 331 passes for 3,880 yards and 34 touchdowns this season... Two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection... Volunteered for hospital visits and the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids Sake charity.

Brian Freeman, OT - Carnegie Mellon (Pa.): Named to All-University Athletics Association First Team for second straight year... Vital part of CMU offense that has led the UAA on the ground for the third straight season, amassing 223.3 yards per contest... Three-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America selection... Member of the Chemical Engineering Association and the Student Athlete Advisory Council.

Casey Gerald, CB - Yale: Rhodes Scholar finalist and Gates Millennium Scholar... Named 2008 Honorable Mention All-Ivy League, recording 25 tackles, one interception, three pass breakups and four pass deflections this season... Recipient of the New England Football Writers Association's Jerry Nason Award for senior achievement... Co-founder and president of the Yale Black Men's Union, establishing a mentoring program for young men.

Graham Harrell, QB - Texas Tech: Nation's leading passer and the NCAA's active career leader in passing yards (15,429) and passing touchdowns (130)... Named a 2008 finalist for the Manning Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, Maxwell Award, Wuerffel Trophy and Unitas Golden Arm Award... Academic All- Big 12 selection, graduating in only three-and-a-half years... Participated in visits to local children's hospitals and nursing homes.

Quin Harris, LB - Louisiana Tech: Named a 2008 finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy... Registered a perfect 4.0 GPA five of his last six quarters of his undergraduate studies, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in kinesiology last May... Team captain and four-year starter, garnering Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-Louisiana Team recognition in 2006 and '07... Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the three-year vice president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Jeff Horinek, LB - Colorado State: Led CSU to its first bowl-eligible season in three years... Started 37 consecutive games for the Rams, one of the nation's longest streaks... Tallied 84 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks this season... Two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection... Three-time Academic All- Mountain West pick... Four-year participant in the Ram Jam Children's Community Event and has tallied numerous hours of service at Timberline Church.

Ryan Kees, DE - St. Cloud State (Minn.): Ranks fourth in SCSU history with 34.5 career tackles for loss and is tied for sixth with 15 career sacks... Two-time First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District pick... Named to 2008 NSIC North Division All-Conference First Team... Member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) and volunteers for a youth football program on Saturday mornings.

Alex Mack, C - California: Graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in legal studies... Four-time Academic All-Pac-10 selection.... One of only three players to be named a unanimous 2007 First Team All-Pac-10 selection, earning the Morris Trophy as the conference's top offensive lineman... Named First Team All-America by The Sporting News in 2007 and a projected first-round NFL Draft pick... Member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Ryan McDonald, OL - Illinois: Named Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2008, while tying the school record for career starts (48)... Two-time First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America selection... Honors graduate of Illinois' prestigious aerospace engineering program, which is ranked among the top five in the country... Four-year starter... Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and organized a team for the 2008 MS Walk, raising$1,500 for the charity.

Greg Micheli, QB - Mount Union (Ohio): Named First Team All-Ohio Athletic Conference pick for second straight year... Led Mount Union to outright OAC title and No. 1 ranking in Division III... Named the 2008 ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-American of the Year... Division III's top-rated QB, throwing only two interceptions in 179 completions (215.77 passer rating)... Member of the Physics Society and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Darryl Richard, DT - Georgia Tech: Led Georgia Tech to No. 15 national ranking and upset of intrastate rival Georgia... 32 career tackles for loss ranks 12th in school history... Three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection... Three-year starter and team captain, registering 34 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and four sacks this season... President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board and selected to the university's Presidential Search Committee and the NCAA Certification Committee.

Brian Robiskie, WR - Ohio State: Led Buckeyes to a share of the 2008 Big Ten title... OSU's leading receiver for the second year, catching 37 passed for 419 yards and eight touchdowns... Two- time First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All- America selection... One of three male finalists for the 2008 Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar Award... Active in projects through the Student-Athlete Activities Board, and participates in hospital visits and speaks to local elementary and middle school students.

Louie Sakoda, K/P - Utah: Only second player in history to be named a finalist for both the Ray Guy and the Lou Groza awards... Led Utes to an undefeated 2008 regular season and No. 6 national ranking... Only dual punter/kicker in the country ranked in the top 10 nationally in both punting average (41.72 yards) and field goal percentage (91.0)... Three-time MWC Special Teams Player of the Year... 2008 First Team Academic All-America selection... Organizes recess activities for at-risk children.

Photo Credit: Mizzou Media Relations, OSU Athletics