Draft Spotlight: Quarterback

How Many First Round Picks?

Three, and this one is pretty close to a slam-dunk. Matthew Stafford (Georgia) is the number one guy, which is why he is the only signal caller in the conversation for the number one overall pick. If you ever watched a full Stafford game as a Bulldog, you thought at least once or twice, “No one in else in college football could have made that throw”. Of course, that doesn’t guarantee anything at the next level. He didn’t always make the best decisions, but always seemed to be dealing with slippery-handed pass catchers and an inexperienced offensive line. Georgia football coach Mark Richt compares Stafford to NFL legends John Elway and Dan Marino.

“He is very strong and durable, he is very agile,” Richt adds. “His arm is unquestioned in its strength, but he can also make any throw you would want a guy to make. He is highly intelligent. He loves the game. He’s a humble guy who wants to put the team first; he’s exactly what everyone is looking for. I think he will be a very high pick, if not the first pick.”

As for number two, it’s a toss up. Before you put Mark Sanchez (USC) in the top ten, could you find one person who called him a first round pick before his Rose Bowl performance? Didn’t think so. Sanchez has potential, but is a borderline first-round talent who will get over-drafted.

Finally, we come to the brick-house named Josh Freeman out of Kansas St. Yes, he is raw, but he has more potential than Sanchez and maybe as much as Stafford. I like Freeman more than I liked JaMarcus Russell coming out…the difference? Freeman didn’t have Dwayne Bowe, Buster Davis and Early Doucet to throw to or a defense stocked with future NFL talent constantly giving him the ball back.

Who Are the Top Senior QBs?

No senior quarterback will approach the first round and they all may have to wait until day two to hear their name called. The candidates include Pat White (West Virginia), Curtis Painter (Purdue), Thomas Brandstater (Fresno St.), Stephen McGee (Texas A&M) and Brian Hoyer (Michigan St.).

White is the most likely to go in the second round, but that has more to do with his “slash” potential than his ability to go under center in 2009. Hoyer appears to be a rising player on some people’s draft boards despite the fact he struggled to complete 50 percent of his passes as a senior.

The upside that Painter, Brandstater and McGee bring shouldn’t be underestimated. Don’t be surprised if one or more of this trio outperforms one or two of the big three as pros. It happens all the time. Quarterback coach Bob Johnson, who worked with Sanchez, Painter, Brandstater, White and Nathan Brown had especially high praise for the former Boilermaker.

“Curtis Painter is going to surprise people and end up starting in this league,” Johnson told the NFL Draft Bible in a radio interview. Brandstater and McGee may not have the arm strength of Painter, but provide a little more in terms of mobility.

What Happened to So-and-So?

“Sometimes your senior year doesn’t go quite the way it’s supposed to and maybe his didn’t, but there are a lot of things to be said about that whether it was protections or receivers or a new coordinator, whatever it was.”

That was Coach Johnson on Curtis Painter, but he easily could have been talking about Hunter Cantwell (Louisville), Cullen Harper (Clemson), Rudy Carpenter (Arizona St.) or Todd Boeckman (Ohio St.). Of this quartet Cantwell and Boeckman have the best arms. Cantwell is inexperienced and spotty, but if a team can be patient and coach him up, he possesses the raw tools. Boeckman was a victim of circumstance at OSU—after their National Championship hopes vanished, it was time for the Terrelle Pryor era to begin. Boeckman is a statue in the pocket, but he has a pro arm and could be a Free Agent bargain.

Coming out of the Big XII, Graham Harrell (Texas Tech) and Chase Daniel (Missouri) were as productive as anyone in this class of quarterbacks, but they simply don’t stack up physically. Yes, people have questioned the fact they are coming out of spread offenses, but scouts wouldn’t be as worried about the “system” label if Daniel was three or four inches taller and Harrell had a stronger arm.

John Parker Wilson (Alabama) is a solid game manager who led the Crimson Tide to an 11-win season, but he doesn’t offer much potential.

Who Could Be This Year’s Joe Flacco?

If you’re looking for someone who is going to step in as the starter and win a playoff game, the answer is “nobody”. The top small school candidate is Rhett Bomar (Sam Houston St.), who has the size, arm and athleticism to start under center in the League. Like Flacco who began his college career as a Pitt Panther (before transferring to Delaware), Bomar started at the Bowl Subdivision level, leading the Oklahoma Sooners to their last bowl victory before moving on to Sam Houston St. Accuracy is the biggest question make with this small school stud.

Not far behind is D-III standout Jason Boltus (Hartwick), who throws an impressive fastball. He's an intriguing prospect and it’s amazing that someone with his kind of arm slipped through so many cracks. Two other names to keep an eye on are Michael Reilly (Central Washington) and Nathan Brown (Central Arkansas).

Who Are Some Sleepers?

His stock may have dropped more than any other quarterback's throughout the evaluation process, but there is still a lot to like about Nate Davis (Ball St.), namely his rocket arm. His did not put his best foot forward on his way out the door, playing his worst two games of 2008 in his final two games as a collegian, but if you can snag him anytime after the third round, he could end up being a steal. Another strong-armed mid-major quarterback who could surprise is David Johnson (Tulsa). A one-year starter, Johnson did the most with his opportunity and proved himself to be capable threat. Unlike most spread offenses, the Golden Hurricane stretched the football field and not many throw a prettier deep ball than Johnson. Willie Tuitama (Arizona), like Davis, is short, stocky and athletic with a good arm, while Chase Patton (Missouri) hopes to be the next Matt Cassell and overcome zero college starts before embarking on an NFL career.

Who Are the Stars of Tomorrow?

If you heard enough of Pat White and what position he should play on Sundays…wait till next year! Everyone and their mother will have an opinion on Mr. Tim Tebow (Florida). Is he a quarterback? Tight end? H-Back? Fullback? Maybe even a linebacker? If he does stay “under center”, he will be asked to do very different things on Sundays than he does as the Gators' star. Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan), Zac Robinson (Oklahoma St.) and Juice Williams (Illinois) are three more dual threats, with Colt McCoy (Texas) coming out of the Texas spread. And keep an eye on 6’ 5 mid-major quarterbacks Tim Hiller (Western Michigan) and Rusty Smith (Florida Atlantic).

Red-shirt junior Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) will be the favorite to go number one overall heading into the season, but don’t sleep on former Longhorn Jevan Snead (Ole Miss), with Jake Locker (Washington), Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame), Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) and Pat Devlin (Delaware) all talented juniors.

No one looks the part of the old school prototypical pocket passer more than the 6’5/255 pound sophomore Ryan Mallett (Arkansas), while fellow second-year studs Terrelle Pryor (Ohio St.) and Robert Griffin (Baylor) are 100 percent new school.

Part I of an VIII Part Series - Tomorrow: Running Backs

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media, College Press Box (Louisville), Sam Houston State Athletics, Walt Beazley, University of Tulsa, Purdue University Sports Information

Player Profile: Josh Freeman QB Kansas St.

Pros: Freeman has the size, athletic ability, and the type of huge arm NFL teams salivate over. At close to 6’6’’ and 250 pounds, he is the biggest quarterback among the top quarterbacks in this class. For being as big as he is, he moves very well when there is space in front of him. He is tough for defenders to bring down and will break arm tackles. Besides his running ability, Freeman is impressive throwing the ball. He has the arm to make all of the NFL throws. He improved a lot between his sophomore year and junior year. Durability was not an issue in college and he has the size of a classic pocket passer.

Cons: Freeman definitely has the physical ability, but what isn’t as obvious as his cannon arm is whether or not he also possesses the intangibles needed to be consistent or great at the NFL level. He make some poor decisions and forced throws as a Wildcat. He also needs to work at his ability to read coverages, his touch and be more consistent with his accuracy. Freeman is very raw and will need coaching up when it comes to his mechanics, at times failing to do simple things like set his feet or square his shoulders when throwing. If these problems aren’t corrected, turnovers will be an issue at the next level.

Scouts take: It’s easy to fall in love with Freeman’s big frame and huge arm—he possesses arguably the most upside of any signal caller in this draft. He is viewed as one of the top three quarterbacks in the class and considering he has yet to hit his full potential as a game manager, he could end up at the head of the class when all things are said and done. But Freeman is nowhere ready to start for an NFL team. If he is thrown out on the field next year he could really struggle and it could hurt his ability for the future. One more year at K-State to work on his mechanics wouldn’t have hurt his future as a pro at all. Freeman is not a “product of the system” he played in, unlike most Big XII teams, the Wildcats didn’t rely on the spread alone and he wasn’t surrounded by the same type of weapons that a Graham Harrell or Sam Bradford were. Freeman lined up under center and in shotgun. Despite only playing three years, he has a lot of experience having played virtually since day one and has showed enough potential to land in the first round. Freeman is far from ready to lead an NFL offense, however no less so than 2007 No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell was when he came into the league following his junior season.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Kansas St.)

On The Clock: Minnesota Vikings

Record: 10-6, 1st In the NFC North
General Manager: Rick Spielman (VP of Player Personnel), Head Coach: Brad Childress (4th Year), Offensive Coordinator: Darrell Bevell (4th Year), Defensive Coordinator: Leslie Frazier (3rd Year)

Offense Rankings: No. 17 Overall, No. 12 Scoring, No. 25 Passing, No. 5 Rushing
Defense Rankings: No. 6 Overall, No. 13 Scoring, No. 18 Passing, No. 1 Rushing

Last Five Years: 41-39; Last Playoff Appearance: 2008; Last Playoff Victory: 2004 (31-17 Over the Green Bay Packers)

2008 Draft: (2-43) S Tyrell Johnson, (5-137) QB John David Booty, (5-152) DT Letroy Guion, (6-187) C John Sullivan, (6-193) WR Jaymar Johnson

Top Picks Last Five Years:
2008 – (2-43) S Tyrell Johnson, Arkansas St.
2007 – (1-7) RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
2006 – (1-17) LB Chad Greenway, Iowa
2005 – (1-7) WR Troy Williamson, South Carolina & (1-18) DE Erasmus James, Wisconsin
2004 – (1-20) DE Kenechi Udeze, USC

Booms: RB Mewelde Moore (4th Round 2004), DE Ray Edwards (4th Round 2006), LB Chad Greenway (1st Round 2006), RB Adrian Peterson (1st Round 2007), DE Brian Robison (4th Round 2007)

Busts: LB Dontarrius Thomas (2nd Round 2004), DE Darrion Scott (3rd Round 2004), WR Troy Williamson (1st Round 2005), DE Erasmus James (1st Round 2005), OG Marcus Johnson (2nd Round 2005), DB Dustin Fox (3rd Round 2005), RB Ciatrick Fason (4th Round 2005), QB Tarvaris Jackson (2nd Round 2006)

Additions:
WR Glenn Holt (Free Agent)
QB Sage Rosenfels (Trade)
CB Karl Paymah (Free Agent)

Subtractions:
C Matt Birk (FA-Baltimore)
LB Vincenzo Ciurciu (Released)
QB Gus Frerotte (Released)
RB Maurice Hicks (Released)

Keepers:
LB Heath Farwell
DB Charles Gordon
DE Otis Grigsby
DT Jimmy Kennedy
TE Jim Kleinsasser
DE Jayme Mitchell
DB Benny Sapp
FB Naufahu Tahi (Matched Offer Sheet)

2009 Picks:
Round 1, Selection 22
Round 2, Selection 22
Round 3, Selection 22
Round 5, Selection 22
Round 7, Selection 12 (From Washington)
Round 7, Selection 22

Team Needs – Players of Interest (Day One):
1. Quarterback: Mark Sanchez, USC; Josh Freeman, Kansas St.
2. Offensive Tackle: Andre Smith, Alabama; Eben Britton, Arizona; William Beatty, UConn; Jamon Meredith, South Carolina
3. Wide Receiver: Percy Harvin, Florida; Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland; Kenny Britt, Rutgers; Hakeem Nicks, UNC; Brian Robiskie, OSU; Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma; Mike Thomas, Arizona
4. Middle Linebacker: Rey Maualuga, USC; James Laurinaitis, Ohio St.; Darry Beckwith, LSU
5. Center: Alex Mack, California; Max Unger, Oregon; Eric Wood, Louisville
6. Fullback: None.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media, UNC Athletic Communications

On The Clock: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Roster: 9-7, 2nd In the NFC South
General Manager: Mark Dominik, Head Coach: Raheem Morris (1st Year/7th Year With the Buccaneers), Offensive Coordinator: Jeff Jagodzinski (1st Year), Defensive Coordinator: Jim Bates (1st Year)

Offense Rankings: No. 14 Overall, No. 19 Scoring, No. 11 Passing, No. 15 Rushing
Defense Rankings: No. 9 Overall, No. 10 Scoring, No. 4 Passing, No. 19 Rushing

Last Five Years: 38-42; Last Playoff Appearance: 2007; Last Playoff Victory: 2002 (48-21 Over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl)

2008 Draft: (1-20) CB Aqib Talib, (2-58) WR Dexter Jackson, (3-83) OG Jeremy Zuttah, (4-115) DT Dre Moore, (5-160) QB Josh Johnson, (6-175) LB Geno Hayes, (7-238) RB Corey Boyd

Top Picks Last Five Years:
2008 – (1-20) CB Aqib Talib, Kansas
2007 – (1-4) DE Gaines Adams, Clemson
2006 – (1-23) OG Davin Joseph, Oklahoma
2005 – (1-5) RB Cadillac Williams, Auburn
2004 – (1-15) WR Michael Clayton, LSU

Booms: LB Barrett Ruud (2nd Round 2005), OG Davin Joseph (1st Round 2006), OT Jeremy Trueblood (2nd Round 2006), OG Arron Sears (2nd Round 2007), DB Tanard Jackson (4th Round 2007), LB Geno Hayes (6th Round 2008)

Busts: WR Michael Clayton (1st Round 2004), RB Carnell "Cadillac" Williams (1st Round 2005), TE Alex Smith (3rd Round 2005), WR Maurice Stovall, Notre Dame (3rd Round 2006), CB Alan Zemaitis (4th Round 2006)

Additions:
WR Kelly Campbell (Free Agent)
LB Angelo Crowell (Free Agent)
LB Niko Koutouvides (Free Agent)
TE Anthony Mix (Free Agent)
K Mike Nugent (Free Agent)
RB Derrick Ward (Free Agent)
TE Kellen Winslow (Trade)

Subtractions:
K Shane Andrus (Released)
LB Derrick Brooks (Released)
CB Phillip Buchanon (FA-Detroit)
RB Warrick Dunn (Released)
WR Joey Galloway (Released)
DT Jovan Haye (FA-Tennessee)
RB Noah Herron (FA-Cleveland)
WR Ike Hilliard (Released)
OLB Cato June (Released)

Keepers:
S Will Allen
WR Antonio Bryan (Franchised)
WR Michael Clayton
WR Cortez Hankton
QB Luke McCown
SS Jermaine Phillips
DT Ryan Sims
TE Jerramy Stevens
WR Paris Warren

2009 Picks:
Round 1, Selection 19
Round 3, Selection 17
Round 4, Selection 20
Round 5, Selection 19
Round 6, Selection 18
Round 7, Selection 8 (From Jacksonville)
Round 7, Selection 24 (From Baltimore)

Team Needs – Players of Interest (Day One):
1. Quarterback: Mark Sanchez, USC; Josh Freeman, Kansas St.
2. Defensive Tackle: Peria Jerry, Ole Miss
3. Wide Receiver: Percy Harvin, Florida; Darrius Hayward-Bey, Maryland; Kenny Britt, Rutgers; Hakeem Nicks, UNC
4. Outside Linebacker: Brian Cushing, USC; Clay Matthews Jr., USC
5. Fullback: None.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Kansas, Kansas St.)

Pro Day Rewind: Week Four

A very busy week has passed us and there was a tremendous amount of news and notes to sift through, so I’ve taken the liberty of boiling it down for your perusal once again. We’ll of course hit the louder points (Andre Smith, Pat White) but there was also a lot of noise made by players in a more positive light.
Let’s take a look at the week that was.

Alabama: While the press has mostly been talking about Andre Smith’s divisive Pro Day, he wasn’t the only one working out who made an impression. For example, take safety Rashad Johnson. The 5'11, 200-pound former walk-on continued to generate heat after his solid Scouting Combine workout with some excellent positional drills. Johnson kept his general workout numbers from the Combine but that didn’t stop scouts from leaving with his name on their tongues.

Also making their mark were quarterback John Parker Wilson and center Antoine Caldwell, both of whom stayed with their Combine numbers while running positional drills. Wilson showed some good touch and strength in his throws while Caldwell really shined in his drills. Two tight ends of note also worked out, doing both workout and positional drills. Travis McCall was slower in his 40 and shorter in his vert than Nick Walker, but was faster in both the shuttle and three-cone drills by about three-tenths of a second in both, and lifted 20 bench press reps to Walker’s 14.

Smith continues to add to the concern in some corners that he lacks the attitude and work ethic necessary to excel in the NFL. On one hand, he had lackluster numbers in many of the workout drills—slow 40 times, an unimpressive 19 lifts in the bench press, and mediocre shuttle and cone times. He took his shirt off and looked physically overweight, not cut at all, and flabby. On the other hand, reports are he did very well in positional drills and some teams–most notably the San Francisco 49rs who pick tenth–reportedly came away impressed.

Smith will likely need to prove himself yet again in individual workouts over the next few weeks.

Boston College: The Boston College Eagles welcomed representatives from 15 NFL teams to Alumni Field last week, and the folks who showed up got another look at why B. J. Raji is the top defensive tackle in the 2009 Draft and one of the marquee defensive linemen overall. Raji stood on his Combine numbers but looked agile and deadly in his positional drills, gliding across the turf with a smoothness which belied his 6’ 2”, 337-pound frame.

Fellow defensive tackle Ron Brace also had a good workout, running the 40 again and improving his time from the 5.4 he ran in Indy to something in the 5.0 to 5.2 range. While not as athletic and nimble as Raji, Brace also did well in positional drills and should fetch a spot somewhere in the second round. Both tackles looked very good and shouldn’t last past the first day of the Draft.

Thirty-six other players attended the Pro Day, including linebacker Brian Toal. Toal had missed his whole senior year of play due to a broken leg and was happy to be able to show off for scouts, since the lack of playing time limits their ability to watch him on film. He did everything scouts asked of him, including offensive and special teams work, along with defensive drills. Toal’s biggest question marks may come from teams who are worried about his injury-plagued career at BC, but Toal functioned at 100 percent and certainly made it known that he was willing to do whatever it takes.

Ohio State: Multiple players from the Ohio State Buckeyes were looking to set their draft status right. Chris Wells, James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins all had questions post-Combine, while wide receiver Brian Robiskie was looking to prove that his Combine performance was no fluke. Twenty-nine teams came by to watch the workout, so the pressure was certainly on for all involved.

OSU’s track is known for being very fast, so much so that scouts have said that one needs to add anywhere from .07 to .1 of a second to times. Still, Wells’ 4.34 and 4.46 were an improvement over his combine times. Of course, one of the biggest knocks against Wells has been durability, but he looked in fine shape and has clearly been working very hard to not only shave off seconds of his 40 time, but make sure he is sharp in all aspects of his game.

Unfortunately, the same improvements were not evident in some of the other Buckeye athletes. Jenkins ran a 4.46 and a 4.53, which left both observers and Jenkins feeling as if he is likely to convert to safety at the pro level. On a positive note, Jenkins seemed to accept this and appears to be willing to make the switch in order to make a team.

Laurinaitis also lacked a vast improvement in his 40 time, running a 4.68 and a 4.78. Laurinaitis has battled questions this off-season about whether he had topped out during his early college career, with people pointing to his mediocre senior year. There seem to be some splits amongst analysts as to whether the former Buckeye linebacker can achieve what was originally expected of him at the pro level. Unfortunately, he was unable to answer those questions on this day.

Robiskie ran a 4.47 in his 40 and performed well enough throughout the day to continue intriguing scouts, solidifying his position as a potential second round pick.

Oregon: Almost two dozen teams (as well as six coaches) were represented at and around Autzen Stadium as former Duck players turned out for their chance to make an impression.

Several players stood out from the crowd. Safety Patrick Chung was impressive in position drills, though he let his Combine numbers stand for everything else. DE/LB prospect Nick Reed, who was not invited to the Combine, gave people second thoughts about that omission. His workout drills stacked up very favorably next to some of the numbers others at his position put up at the Scouting Combine. His 40 times (one with the wind, one against) would have ranked him fourth among the defensive linemen and sixth among linebackers. His 4.28 short shuttle would have been second best and his 6.96 three cone would have placed him third in the defensive line group (Stats thanks to GoDucks.com). While workout numbers aren’t everything, these were certainly worth noting and scouts came away impressed. Reed is open to a transition to linebacker, and other college defensive linemen have made the change successfully.

Other players who stood out were running back Jeremiah Johnson—who improved on his Combine 40 times with a 4.57 and a 4.61—and wide receiver Jaison Williams, who blew his Combine numbers away with a 4.47 in the 40 (4.63 at the Combine), a 6.94 three cone (7.37 at the Combine), and improved his vertical by an inch, bringing it to 36.5. Williams’ problem, however, has been his inconsistency and while he looked fine in drills, he will need to prove he can be relied upon if he is to make it in the NFL.

Maryland: Along with 50 scouts at Maryland’s Pro Day were quite a few receiver coaches, all there to see what former Terrapin wide out Darrius Heyward-Bey could do in position drills. Heyward-Bey performed admirably, looking smooth and confident running his drills. Heyward-Bey chose to let his outstanding Combine numbers stand.

Auburn: Every NFL team was present for Auburn’s Pro Day, and while there was a big barbecue afterwards, I’m pretty sure they were there for the players. Cornerback Jerraud Powers looked very good in positional drills and ran 4.43 and 4.45 40s, which vastly improved his time from the Combine. Defensive lineman Sen’Derrick Marks did well in his position drills and added several drills he didn’t do in the Combine, such as the bench press (16 reps) shuttle and three cone.

West Virginia: The biggest draw here was, of course, Pat White, whose coach announced he would not be running wide receiver drills prior to the workout. White had said he would be doing pass routes early, then wide out drills upon request. However, many scouts left after he threw and there appears to be confusion as to whether he was really available, but nobody asked if he was really interested in those drills. White once again looked sharp throwing the ball and stood on his results from the Scouting Combine for his running and weight drills.

Some other Pro Days worth noting:

Fresno State: As reported early last week, quarterback prospect Tom Brandstater did not work out for scouts due to a torn lat muscle. He has set up a private workout on April 11th. Meanwhile, tight end Bear Pascoe improved on all his Scouting Combine numbers and continued to look good to scouts.

Oklahoma State: Tight end Brandon Pettigrew had to tell everyone he couldn’t work out, but also let the scouts know his agent would set up a time in a few weeks to make up for it. Aside from that, high winds made it nearly impossible for players to do positional drills and all other drills were done indoors on a rubber track. Defensive back Jacob Lacey was the standout of those who did drills, his highlights included a 4.50 and 4.45 in the 40 and a 41-inch vertical jump.

Arizona: The marquee player here was of course Eben Britton, who drew eight offensive line coaches among the crowd of 50 scouts. Britton continued to look good in position drills and looks to be a first day–maybe a first round–selection. Also standing out was quarterback Willie Tuitama. Tuitama, who was not invited to the Combine, reportedly threw the ball very well in positional drills and could be an intriguing late-round pick or street free agent. A Wildcat who really opened new eyes to his ability was safety Nate Ness, who ran a 4.46 and a 4.49 in the 40, had a 36-inch vertical jump and certainly made scouts take a look at him after being somewhat unknown outside of Tucson prior to this Pro Day.


Kansas State: Quarterback Josh Freeman attracted a bunch of quarterback coaches to the March 14th Pro Day, including ones from Tampa Bay, Detroit, Minnesota, St. Louis and Seattle. Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will be on hand Monday with a board to diagram plays and new Head Coach Rex Ryan and GM Mike Tannenbaum will be on hand for a private workout Tuesday, while Jacksonville QB Coach Mike Shula will come by on March 23. Freeman looked accurate and on point during positional drills and it’s clear he is drawing interest from many teams.

Oregon State: Cornerback Keenan Lewis came to Corvalis 17 pounds lighter than he weighed in Indianapolis. Apparently, prior to the Combine, Lewis was taking Creatine to increase his weight. While his 40 time remained the same, Lewis improved his vertical by five inches (to 38.5), his broad jump by seven inches (to 10'10"), ran a 4.42 in the short shuttle and a 6.89 in the three cone, both of which he chose not to do in Indianapolis.

Purdue: Twenty-three teams were represented, including Seahawks D-line coach Dan Quinn. Quinn was definitely here to get another look at defensive tackle Alex Magee, who kept his bench press numbers from Indy, but re-ran everything else, dropping his 40 time to 4.82 and 4.85, his shuttle to 4.42 and performing well in positional drills. Quarterback Curtis Painter showed off his arm in positional drills, but still looks to be a project at the next level.

Northwestern: While there were several players to watch here, most intriguing was the presence of linebacker coaches from the Eagles and Bucs who came to see Western Illinois' Jason Williams, who had worked out at W. Illinois’ Pro Day on a wooden gym floor. On a decent surface, Williams turned in sharp 40 times of 4.49 and 4.44. Of the Northwestern players there, wide receiver and special teams player Eric Peterman stood out with his 4.48 and 4.50 40 times and a nice 31 inch vertical.

Abilene Christian: The story here continues to be wide receiver Johnny Knox, who drew a trio of receivers coaches. In all, 15 teams showed up and were not disappointed. Knox not only has incredible speed, but can catch the ball and looked rock solid in his position drills.

Texas Tech: Michael Crabtree was, of course, sidelined because of his recent foot surgery. Quarterback Graham Harrell, once a Heisman hopeful, continues to slide on draft boards. While he did run a 4.95 in the 40, Harrell had some issues in his position drill and struggled with some of his throws. On a sad note, offensive tackle Rylan Reed was having a great Pro Day (41 bench reps!) when he injured his knee on his first 40 run. Reed had to be taken to a hospital and the NFL Draft Bible join many others in wishing him a speedy recovery.

Nebraska-Omaha: Twenty teams came to the Pro Day and were treated to an outstanding effort by tight end Zach Miller. Miller ran a 4.53 and a 4.54 in the 40, had a 37.0 vertical, a 10 foot 4 inch broad jump and just crushed his positional drills despite a torn tendon in his hand. He certainly left scouts talking.
Last week's Pro Days could fill 50 pages, and the same is true of this week's. Here are just a few of the Pro Days and athletes worth noting in the coming week.

LSU kicks things off on Monday as several players will vie for the scouts’ attention. Tyson Jackson is one of the top defensive ends in the draft and could lock a first round slot up with a solid performance. Meanwhile, wide receiver Demetrius Byrd will try to move up draft boards and show that his hands and route running are not the problems some think they are.

On Tuesday, Cal-Poly puts on its Pro Day and of course Ramses Barden, the big Division II stud, will attempt to keep his status heating up and show he knows how to use that towering height.

Pittsburgh has their Pro Day and everyone wants to see if LeSean McCoy can respond to Chris Wells’ performance last week and hold off UConn’s Donald Brown for the third running back spot. Linebacker Scott McKillop has told the NFL Draft Bible that he will likely stand on most of his Combine numbers and do only the positional drills.

In North Carolina, Hakeem Nicks is a guy to watch, but fellow wide receivers Brooks Foster and Brandon Tate can also make a move on scouts’ note sheets with good position drill workouts.

On Wednesday, I’m hoping to see Zack Follett and Alex Mack with my own eyes at California’s Pro Day in Berkley. Follett plays like a beast and I am really looking forward to watching his position drills to see if he can match the aggressiveness he plays with on the field. Mack has shown me pretty much all he has to on film as well, but I’m anxious to see what he does in person. Position drills are very telling as are scout reactions just after a player participates.

Meanwhile, Florida Gator wide receiver Percy Harvin will work out in the hopes that he could overtake guys like Jeremy Maclin and Darrius Heyward-Bey for the number two receiver slot. It’s possible that whomever ends up number two could go first as there is a chance Michael Crabtree will fall a little to the Raiders, who are known to avoid receivers lacking in 40 times.

Penn State had several players run well at the Combine, but aside from Derrick Williams, none of them is sure to be drafted. So while Williams is likely to go late round two, guys like Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood will need to kill their drills to prove there is more to them than pure speed. Defensive end Aaron Maybin has something to prove and a faster timed speed would help and Maurice Evans has some work to do as well.

On Thursday, Georgia hosts its Pro Day and scouts will be there in full force to see several potential top draft picks. Matthew Stafford didn’t work out at the Combine so his position drill will make him the biggest person of interest for most team officials. Stafford won’t easily drop in most people’s estimations. Running back Knowshon Moreno has been going back and forth with Chris Wells in many analysts’ rankings and after Wells burned up a fast track, scouts will want to see how Moreno responds.

Missouri hosts its second Pro Day as well and will feature some offensive studs themselves. Quarterback Chase Daniel has to overcome questions about his height as well as concern about his working out of the spread so frequently. Receiver Jeremy Maclin has shot to the top ranks of the wide receivers and is another wide out who could jump ahead of Crabtree if the situation is right on draft day. A solid workout would bolster his case that with Crabtree hurt, it’s safer to go another way. Tight end Chase Coffman could help his cause with some speed and some solid positional drills.

Finally, on Friday, we have another Pro Day I hope to see with my own eyes—San Jose State. Players like defensive end Jarron Gilbert and cornerbacks Coye Francies and Christopher Owens aren’t as well known as their counterparts at the bigger schools, but they may make just as much of an impact. It will be intriguing to see which teams make the trip out to San Jose and who gets the most attention.

Of course, that’s not nearly everything...not even close. Each week will bring many more players to our attention and every Monday at the Pro Day Rewind, we’ll make sure you know who made the biggest impact during the previous week and what might be the next name on your lips by week’s end.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images, SEC Sports Media, College Press Box (Boston College, Maryland, Oklahoma St., Kansas St., Texas Tech, Penn St.), WVU Sports Communication, Purdue University Sports Information, Mizzou Media Relations

Between the Hashes: Mid-Season Report

Offensive MVP: Colt McCoy, QB, Texas: This was a toss up before last Saturday, but with McCoy beating Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford head-to-head and Chase Daniels’ three second half interceptions in Mizzou’s loss, the Longhorn signal caller is the clear cut choice. McCoy has thrown for 1,557 yards and 17 touch-downs (three interceptions), putting him on pace for 32 touchdowns and only six interceptions for the season (22-18 in 2007). The junior is completing passes at an impressive 79.4 percent clip, while at the same time averaging a career best 9.44 yards per pass attempt. Not only is he leading the ‘Horns in passing, but he is their top rusher as well with 348 yards. McCoy is averaging 5.9 yards per carry and has scored four times on the ground. Of course the most impressive stat is No. 1 in the country, which is where the 6-0 Longhorns sit in both polls.

Defensive MVP: Terrence Cody: The juniors’ numbers don’t pop out by any means—15 tackles, 3.5 tackles or a loss, no sacks and one forced fumble. But a nose tackle is never measured by individual statistics—the entire defense’s production is what counts. The Crimson Tide are fourth in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing just 13.5 points per game (12th in the nation). They are second in total defense (10th overall) and where a stout nose man can make the biggest differ-ence, run defense, Nick Saban’s boys lead the SEC and are second in the country. In Coach Saban’s 3-4 defense, the nose man is the most important position, needing to be a force against the run while constantly occupying double teams, which is exactly what Cody does. The 365-pound junior college transfer represents an increase of about 80 pounds from last season at the nose. But make no mistake, this man in the middle isn’t only about girth—he can move. The Florida native has quickness and agility that belies his size, allowing him to penetrate the line of scrimmage to make plays himself or at least disrupt the play enough to allow his teammates to clean up. Without the addition of Cody, it is doubtful the Tide would have made the quantum leap so fast (No. 2 in the country after going 7-6 last season).

Best Question: Who is the top quarterback in the Big 12? Right now the answer is Colt McCoy, but in 48 hours that could change as Chase Daniel (2,055 yards, 16 touchdowns) gets a chance at a reprieve when the Texas native leads his Missouri Tigers into Austin to take on No. 1 Texas. What if Daniel outperforms McCoy? It’s back to the drawing board. In another North-South clash in the Big 12, Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford looks to “bounce back” from his five-touchdown perfor-mance in Dallas, against KU’s Todd Reesing (1,980 yards, 15 touchdowns), who has led the Jayhawks to a 17-2 record since the start of last season. Then there is duel threat Zac Robinson (1,250 yards, 12 touchdowns), whose Pokes upset Missouri last week, propelling Oklahoma St. into the top ten. Baylor’s freshman quarterback Robert Griffin (1,109 yards, nine touch-downs) is the conference’s most dangerous runner at the position, while Kansas St.’s 6’6” Josh Freeman (1,509 yards, 12 touchdowns) could be the best prospect of the bunch. Oops, almost forgot Graham Harrell (2,311 yards, 20 touchdowns) of Texas Tech, who has 109 scoring strikes in his career.

Best Answer: No, last season was not a fluke: Touted as a season for the ages, 2007 appears to have been simply a harbinger, which is a good thing. Two weeks ago nine ranked teams fell and last week the only top-four team who didn’t lose was Alabama—they didn’t play. Go ahead tell me who’s going to win this week—I double dare you.

Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department & University of Texas Athletics

O'Brien Quarterback Award Marquee Match-up for Week Six

FORT WORTH, Texas (October 1, 2008) – The 2008 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award® (The O'Brien) Match-ups for week six feature five O'Brien Watch List candidates. The O'Brien continues to highlight weekly match-ups featuring O'Brien candidates as they compete for the prestigious award honoring the nation's best quarterback in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Marquee Match-up: Texas Tech at Kansas State
Saturday, October 4 at 2:30 p.m. (CST) on ABC
Senior Graham Harrell leads the Red Raiders to the Little Apple to take on Josh Freeman and the Kansas State Wildcats in Saturday's match-up. At the helm of the dynamic Texas Tech offense, Harrell has thrown for 12 touchdowns and 1,573 yards this season, ranking second highest in the nation. His connection with wide receiver Michael Crabtree may give the Red Raiders the offensive edge to continue their undefeated 4-0 record. Freeman, a junior, hopes to direct the Wildcats to a victory at home in Saturday's match-up. Ranked eighth nationally in pass efficiency, Freeman has posted impressive numbers in his four games this season, throwing for 1,105 yards and 11 touchdowns, in addition to rushing for six. He now holds the record as Kansas State's all-time leading passer with 6,238 yards. The seventh-ranked Red Raiders will fight to keep their highest ranking in more than thirty years in this Big 12 conference season opener.

Head-to-Head O'Brien Match-ups (based on start times)
These O'Brien Watch List quarterbacks will clash in this week's games.

* Rutgers (Mike Teel) at West Virginia (Pat White)
Saturday, October 4 at 11 a.m. (CST) on ESPN360.com

About The O'Brien Fan Vote
Fans can now register and vote for The O'Brien Fan Vote online at www.VoteOBrien.org to show their support for their favorite college quarterback. Fans will be able to choose from any of the 119 FBS quarterbacks beginning on Tuesday, September 2, leaving room for the possibility of a quarterback who is not on the Watch List to win the award. The top three quarterbacks who garner the most votes will be added to The O'Brien Semifinalist List, and the Fan Vote will then count as 5% in determining the Finalists and Winner. The 2008 Winner will be announced during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show airing December 11 on ESPN. The recipient will be honored February 16, 2009, at the 32nd Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.