Emerald Bowl: Prospect Watch

By Justin Van Fulpen

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

Boston College:

C Matt Tennant – One of the better all around centers in college football, Tennant has a chance to be the first center drafted in the 2010 NFL Draft and should be picked in the 2nd or 3rd round.

LB Mike McLaughlin – McLaughlin has decent size and athleticism, but many expected him to play better this season. He had an underwhelming performance and is now is a free-agent type.

S Marty Bowman – Bowman has great size for a safety at 6'2" and 225 pounds, but just hasn’t made enough plays to look at him as anything more than a free-agent at this point.

USC:

WR Damian Williams – Williams is a big athletic wide receiver who is expected to declare for the 2010 NFL Draft and should be a first round pick. USC has had a number of high draft pick wide receivers not live up to the hype, but many think that Williams will be different.

OT Charles Brown – Brown is an athletic left tackle that NFL teams love and should be a late first round pick because of it.

OG Jeff Byers – Byers is a hard working offensive guard who is a good, but not great player. He lack athleticism, but still could be a late draft pick.

OG Alex Parsons – Parsons isn’t as good as Byers but is still a player that will get a chance to play in the NFL; more of a free-agent type.

DE Everson Griffen – Griffen is a junior that many people believe will declare early and could end up being a first round pick because he has the size and athleticism to be a great player at the next level.

CB Kevin Thomas – Thomas has good size at 6'1" and 190 pounds, but he has taken that physical ability and turned it into big-time plays on a consistent basis. He could be a late round pick or priority free-agent.

S Taylor Mays – What else is there to say about Mays? He is just a phenomenal physical talent that should light up the combine and could end up being a top 10 overall pick.

S Josh Pinkard – Pinkard is a good player in the secondary that has played both cornerback and safety at USC, but knee injuries will be a question mark around draft time. Nevertheless, he should hear his name called around the 5th round.

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

Photo Courtesy of College Press Box

College Football Insiders Radio - Week 10

The voice of college football is here as CFI Founder Daniel Mogollon brings you coast-to-coast coverage of all the football action from across the nation, every Thursday at 5:00pm ET. 60 min.

Special Guests:

* RB Jahvid Best, California - Talks about choosing California and the legacy of Golden Bear running backs.

* DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina - Talks about overcoming a brain tumor in his senior year of high school to become one of the nation's top pass rushers.

* Editor Kirk McNair of 'BAMA Magazine - Joins us LIVE to talk Alabama Crimson Tide football and preview the upcoming game against the LSU Tigers.

* Super Scout Kelron Sykes - The former Oregon State Beaver will tell us what happened to USC, how good Oregon is and preview this weekend's big games coming out of the Pac-10.

* Those topics and more in this week's edition of College Football Insiders Radio.

CLICK TO LISTEN

Call-in Number: (347) 945-6275

Photo Courtesy of Alabama Media Relations

College Football Insiders Preview: Pac-10

The Pac-10 conference looks to bounce back after what was an extremely disappointing season as a whole. The lone bright spot, USC, shouldn’t be the only team shining in 2009. Several other teams look poised to having promising years and are looking to be crowned the new Pac-10 champs. This conference is loaded with talent and should be an exciting conference to watch this upcoming season.

The Favorite: USC: No surprise here. USC has been the perennial powerhouse of the Pac-10 for years and has not finished second in the conference standings since 2001. That will likely not change this year even though the Trojans will have a couple of tough conference contests. They play all of the other contending teams, Cal, Oregon, and ASU away from the Coliseum. They also have to travel to Columbus to play the Buckeyes on September 12th and South Bend on October 17th to play Notre Dame. Even though they lost many key players in the draft last season, notably Mark Sanchez, Clay Matthews, Rey Maualuga, and Brian Cushing, they seem to always have a new crop of incredible athletes to replace them. Pete Carroll is the best in the business at recruiting players that will fit nicely into his system. He is always thinking ahead and this season’s group will be the poster child of that concept. He has only nine seniors on offense and defense combined, but just about every position seems to be stacked with talent. Tailback, for example, has Stafon Johnson as the starter. But if he needs to be spelled or replaced due to performance then he can bring in Joe McKnight, who is like trying to catch lightning in a bottle. Therefore, injuries shouldn’t be too much of a factor for this Trojan team. The offense will be run by true freshman Matt Barkley, who was the prize quarterback coming out of high school. He has made great strides in learning the intricacies of the offense and was rewarded with the starting job. The fact that a true freshman is running the offense may worry some, especially after Jimmy Clausen came to Notre Dame and had little success in his first season. But one must remember that Notre Dame didn’t have the same talent surrounding Clausen as Barkley now has with the Trojans. He should be able to settle in nicely and utilize the weapons he has on offense. On the other side of the ball, their stout defense shouldn’t miss a step. Taylor Mays, arguably the best defensive back in the country, will control the secondary while defensive linemen Everson Griffen and Averell Spicer will look to control the line of scrimmage. The only way the Trojans don’t win the conference is if they have a collective mental lapse, but with Pete Carroll running the show, that would be a stunner.

The Contender: California: California looks to be the top contender to knock off the mighty Trojans this season. Tailback Jahvid Best may be the top playmaker in the country and will be a vital part of the Golden Bears’ offensive success. The Trojans have had a tough time dealing with smaller tailbacks, shown last season when Oregon State’s Jacquizz Rodgers tore up USC’s defense for 186 yards and two scores in the Beavers’ upset victory. Senior wide out Nyan Boateng will be the primary receiver for quarterback Kevin Riley and that could be the combination needed to slice up the strong Trojan secondary. Cal does have more experience than the Trojans, with seven returning starters on offense and eight on defense. This could play a large role if their October 3rd matchup with USC becomes a tight contest. If Cal truly wants to play the dark horse of the conference and upend USC, they need to get the running game going with the best back in the conference. They would then end the Trojans’ seven-year run as Pac-10 champs.

The Sleepers: ASU & Oregon: ASU is a veteran squad that could be the surprise of the conference. With 14 returning starters on both offense and defense experience runs deep with the Sun Devils. The entire offensive line is back from 2008 and should be able to protect quarterback Danny Sullivan long enough to keep him from forcing the ball and making mistakes. They have good possession receivers in Kyle Williams and Chris McGaha and should be able to control the clock and tempo of the game. But their defense will have to step up for them if they are to make a move in the conference. Having only five seniors on defense and five players getting their first full-time gigs could prove costly, but if they can force turnovers and have their offense hold on to the ball, ASU could be the ones to take the title away from USC. This year’s Oregon squad looks ready for the challenge. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back LeGarrette Blount could prove to be the lethal dose that downs the Trojans. Blount is built like Brandon Jacobs, at 6’2” and 229 pounds he can absorb contact and run over just about any defender that gets in his path. Masoli started settling in nicely toward the end of last season, throwing for 572 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in his final two regular season games. The veteran defense knows what is expected of them and they should be one of the most solid units in the conference. If all these pieces come together, this will be a team no one wants to deal with.

Offensive Player of the Year: RB Jahvid Best (California) vs. RB LeGarrette Blount (Oregon): Everyone loves a good running back battle and this conference brings one, featuring two of the best college football has to offer. One back offers speed and finesse, while the other offers brut power and a downhill running style. The different style of these two backs is what makes this matchup so appealing. Fans will get to see which (if either) can take down mighty USC. Jahvid Best is a complete back in a small package. He managed 1,580 yards on just 194 carries—that’s a tremendous 8.1 yards per carry. He also grabbed 27 catches for 246 yards, showing he can be a receiving threat out of the backfield. He will be the player defenses key in on, but may end up leaving them with one mighty headache. LeGarrette Blount played back-up to Jeremiah Johnson last season, but still managed 1,002 yards rushing on just 137 attempts. He also served as the Ducks’ goal line back, scoring 17 touchdowns. He takes over the starting role this season and will showcase his skills as a punishing runner, one who never shies away from contact and requires several players to bring him down. Both backs can get yardage and score with ease, but the question here is—which style is best suited to take down a giant? If one back can have their way with the Trojan defense like Rodgers did a year ago, then they will be the front runner of this matchup.

Honorable Mention: QB Jeremiah Masoli (Oregon), QB Jake Locker (Washington), RB Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon State), RB Stafon Johnson (USC)

Defensive Player of the Year: S Taylor Mays (USC) vs. CB Syd’Quan Thompson (California): Two of the most exciting defensive backs in college football will go head to head for this honor. Both have incredible speed, athleticism, and playmaking ability that have opposing quarterbacks aware of their presence on nearly every play. Taylor Mays is considered by many to be the best overall defensive player in the country. He had 53 tackles and eight pass deflections last season, but failed to register an interception. This year, with all of the defensive stars of 2008 gone to the NFL, he should thrive in the secondary and feast on shorter pass plays. Syd'Quan Thompson is considered to be one of the best shut-down corners in football. He totaled 70 tackles to go along with four interceptions and two sacks. If teams get smarter this season, they will stay away from Thompson at all costs. Both players will be stars in the secondary, but total team defense and their head-to-head matchup will be the determining factors on who brings home this award.

Honorable Mention: DE Dexter Davis (Arizona St.), DE Everson Griffen (USC), LB Reggie Carter (UCLA), Alterraun Verner (UCLA), CB Walter Thurmond (Oregon)

Breakout Seasons: RB Jeremiah Masoli (Oregon), RB Joe McKnight (USC), QB Matt Barkley (USC): Jeremiah Masoli will be let loose this season after playing a more conservative role in 2008. He is a dual-threat quarterback with great instincts, gaining 718 yards on the ground last season. His ability to throw an accurate ball or tuck it and run makes Masoli a nightmare for opposing defenses. During the final four games of last season, he totaled 14 touchdowns (rushing and passing), only one interception, and posted a 170.75 efficiency rating. He has the offensive skill set and the smarts to be a top quarterback in the conference and will likely turn the tables on an abysmal 2008 season. Joe McKnight is a speedster with good change of direction. He will play the backup role to Stafon Johnson, but that doesn’t mean he won’t get his touches. Pete Carroll likes a two-back system (think Reggie Bush and LenDale White), especially when he has runners with two different styles. McKnight can be utilized as a third-down back thanks to his pass catching ability. He has totaled 44 receptions for 396 yards and two touchdowns in his short two-year career. He has yet to crack the 100 carry mark in his two seasons with the Trojans, but look for that to change in 2009 and for McKnight take full advantage of the increased workload. Matt Barkley steps in as USC’s starting quarterback after the departure of Mark Sanchez. He is a true freshman running one of the most prestigious programs in football, but the Trojans’ coaching staff is great at turning good quarterbacks into great ones. He also has good wide receivers and a two-headed monster in the backfield to work with so he will not be short of offensive weapons. Barkley will have to become the leader of the group immediately, but should pick up where seemingly all recent USC quarterbacks have left off…leading his team toward a national title.

Best Pro Prospect: S Taylor Mays (USC): At 6’3” and 235 pounds, Mays possesses the size NFL teams would kill for at the safety position. He is one of the best, if not the best, defensive playmakers…and that was said about him in 2008. Now he will have another season to fine tune an already-potent skill set. He has incredible closing speed and hits like a Mack truck. It is his lack of interceptions that worry some, but when you have played on a dominant defense that is so good at getting to the quarterback, there is really not much you can do when the opportunities aren’t there. Those skills will be there when the NFL comes knocking, and if they aren’t then that is why there are coaches and practices. Either way, he was NFL-ready last season so there shouldn’t be many questions remaining about him when he enters the 2010 draft.

College Football Insiders' Picks:

Conference Champion: USC Trojans: (Yawn)…Yes the Trojans will win another Pac-10 title this year to make it eight straight. There is too much talent and athleticism here to go with a different team in a conference that was criticized a year ago for being weak. The fact that a true freshman will be running the show on offense shouldn’t scare you, mainly because Pete Carroll knows what he is doing and if things start to get dicey, he has two very capable quarterbacks waiting in the wings. It may not look as easy for them this year, but the ending is inevitable.

Offensive Player of the Year: RB Jahvid Best, California: Jahvid Best is too quick to defend and always seems to make something out of nothing. This year will be no different, except the size of his workload. He will receive more touches on offense, thus eclipsing his stats from 2008.

Defensive Player of the Year: S Taylor Mays, USC: Whoever didn’t see this one coming must have skipped this entire preview…or been hiding under a rock for the past year.

* Click To Read CFI’s ACC Preview
* Click To Read CFI’s Big East Preview
* Click To Read CFI's Big Ten Preview
* Click To Read CFI's Big XII Preview

Photos Courtesy of GoldenSports.com and College Press Box

Pro Day Rewind: That's A Wrap

We wrap up the Pro Day season with a week that, while it had fewer workouts, also contained one of the biggest of the year—USC’s Pro Day.

I was fortunate enough to attend two last week—USC’s outstanding workout as well as the sometimes overlooked, but no less important, Hawaii Pro Day, which was held in Carson, California.

But before we talk about the big dogs and my Los Angeles trip, let’s talk about some of the other schools and workouts.

TUESDAY

UCLA: Head Coach Rick Neuheisel is a long way from stealing any luster from the Bruins’ crosstown rivals. There aren’t too many players who will go in the NFL Draft and even then, they're not likely to go early.

Running back Kahlil Bell is one player who hopes to crack the second day. Bell stood on most of his Combine numbers, though he ran the 40 and jumped both the vertical and broad jumps. He ran a 4.75 and a 4.76, jumped a 32 inch vertical and a 9’5” broad. He looked solid in position drills, and that may get him onto a team. From there, he’s going to have to put his nose down and earn his spot. I think he could stick as a backup, but that may also be his ceiling.

Defensive tackle Bringham Hartwell didn’t get any all-star invites or an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine, but he didn’t let that stop him from putting his best foot forward. Hartwell benched 225 pounds 36 times, one short of the top amount benched by a lineman at the Combine. He also ran the 40 in 5.14 seconds. Like Bell, Hartwell has a long way to go to get picked up in the Draft.

Unfortunately, Bruin quarterback Ben Olson was unable to workout due to a foot injury. Their other quarterback, Patrick Cowan, is still recovering from ACL surgery and only did position drills where he threw passes.

WEDNESDAY

USC: On Wednesday, I was happy to be one of the credentialed media attending USC’s Pro Day. It was the second year in a row I have been at USC for this event and as always, it was a well-run and exciting day. As you can imagine, it was heavily attended by NFL personnel, including Saints coach Sean Payton who, with his defensive staff, took a hard look at ‘The Triplets’ – Rey Maualuga, Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing. Also present was 49ers head coach Mike Singletary, Lions head coach Jim Schwartz (who was fresh off a trip to Georgia where he watched Matthew Stafford on Tuesday), Vikings coach Brad Childress and multiple members of teams like Arizona, Carolina and Seattle. Very few teams were absent though some, like Denver, did not make the trip.

The workouts we all witnessed were impressive across the board. Not only for the potential four first round picks – quarterback Mark Sanchez joined the aforementioned Triplets – but also folks like Safety Kevin Ellison, wide receiver Patrick Turner and oft-forgotten, but still solid linebacker Kaluka Maiava.

Still, any discussion about USC starts with Sanchez. After the excellent performances Matthew Stafford put on at Georgia’s Pro Day and for the Lions on March 31st, Sanchez had to have a fantastic day to remain in the conversation for top quarterback in the 2009 Draft.

He did not disappoint. Sanchez threw upwards of 80 passes over about 45 minutes, the majority of which were scripted. However, at the end of his workout he took requests from the Detroit Lions to throw a few different ways. The former Trojan responded beautifully and without hesitation. Sanchez threw long passes, short passes, passes on the run, passes with a three-step drop, a five-step drop, against the wind, with the wind, and across the wind. He threw with perfect accuracy, tremendous velocity, and with a sense of purpose that was palpable as you watched his workout.

Of course, you cannot put to rest the one big question mark about Sanchez at a Pro Day, and that’s experience. Still, after having seen him in person and watching tons of tape, I have become less and less worried that the experience (or lack thereof) is a huge problem. Sanchez has all the tools and the intangibles (leadership, personality and work ethic) to be a success in the NFL. Is he better than Stafford? It's debatable. But I think he could develop into a fantastic quarterback and given that he had dinner with Jacksonville quarterback coach Mike Shula and was closely watched by everyone during his workout, I’m not the only one. In the right system, or with a team who can bring him along slowly (for instance, if he sat behind David Garrard for a year), the sky is the limit for him.

The other story on Wednesday was the outstanding workouts by the linebacking trio of Cushing, Matthews and Maualuga. Of the three, perhaps the biggest impression was made by Matthews.

Matthews has had to fight his way through his college career. Starting as a walk-on, he eventually became an important part of the USC team, especially on special teams. But as of the Pro Day, we can stop focusing on the walk-on story and start discussing his NFL prospects, which looks to be bright.

Matthews looked great in drills, showing good smoothness and fluidity as well as solid ball skills. He caught the ball nicely in drills and overall had a great workout. He added a 4.57 in the 40 to his day and that's not too shabby. In an interview with Matthews, he told me he was on his way to a workout with Atlanta on Saturday, then flying to meet with Denver, Cleveland and Tennessee.

Cushing also had an outstanding day. Cushing, to me, is a safe pick...a guy whose versatility and consistency could make him a contributor from day one on any defense. Cushing looked explosive and quick in his position drills, though he was a tad stiff in the hips at times. He made some great catches as well, including an eye-popping effort during which he had to fully extend his body to make a great catch, then landed and ran out the rest of the drill without missing a beat.

The New Jersey native also ran a 4.70 in the 40, though I saw some times from scouts at 4.68 and a 4.75. In speaking with Cushing, I was also impressed with his decision to head back home and his reasoning that he wanted to go back to work with his high school coach whom he said, “…really made me the player I am today”.

While I think Maualuga might have more playmaking upside and Matthews more untapped potential, Cushing will enter the NFL as an impact player immediately, an outstanding linebacker I would not be shocked to see in Pro Bowls shortly.

The final linebacker of the trio was Maualuga. Maualuga pulled a muscle at the Combine during his first 40 and was unable to do any position drills in Indianapolis. That was very much on his mind Wednesday as he ran his 40 yard dash after he did all the other drills. He told me that he wanted to make sure scouts and coaches saw everything he couldn’t show them in Indianapolis.

Maualuga may not have had the dynamic day Matthews and Cush did, but that doesn’t mean he performed badly. While he looked a little stiff at times, I thought he had a very solid workout.

By the way, that 40 clocked in at a 4.69 according to my stopwatch and looked very respectable next to his 4.43 shuttle and 7.22 three-cone. There were some concerns that while rehabbing Maualuga might gain some weight, which is really all about questions people (mostly media) have about his attitude and work ethic.

I say just because the guy moves to the beat of his own drummer doesn't mean he can't march. Maualuga can flat out play. In my opinion, he's a guy who will need to adjust in the Pros—go less for the big play and more for the basics during his initial year in the league. It will be a few years before teams turn him loose, which is similar to another standout USC defensive player from back in the day by the name of Junior Seau.

Seau used to make huge plays at USC...and whiffed on them at times as well. I'm not saying El Rey is Seau, but he could be and if Seau could adjust, so could Maualuga. In the right system (perhaps one involving Mike Singletary?) I think he could develop into a monster. Maualuga mentioned visiting with Atlanta and having several other teams on tap for visits and workouts.

All three of the linebackers should go in the first round and with Sanchez, April 25th could be a huge day for USC.

Other players of note: Safety Kevin Ellison has been battling the perception he isn’t quick enough to be a safety at the next level and that he might have to convert to linebacker. That may still be some teams’ perception, but several scouts I heard talking about him felt his 4.70 in the 40 along with a 4.15 short shuttle, 7.32 cone, and solid position workout will keep him at the safety spot. With the Triplets at linebacker getting all the glory, it’s easy to forget Kaluka Maiava, but teams shouldn’t. Maiava had a solid positional workout, showing his athleticism and range, as well as running a 4.68. Finally, wide receiver Patrick Turner had an outstanding workout, shagging balls for Sanchez and improving his draft stock considerably. Turner, who started off by running a 4.63 in the 40, made some very nice catches, including a great one at the sideline where he tiptoed along the line to make sure he completed the catch in bounds. He ran good routes and while he may not be a high draft pick, he will find a home and get a chance to catch on in camp. I think Turner could become a very solid receiver going forward.

Overall, it was yet another in a long line of well-attended, well-executed, and successful Pro Days for USC.

Thursday

Hawaii: The second stop in this week’s Pro Day tour was down in Carson, California for the University of Hawaii’s workout. While not the size of USC's, the day was still a well-attended, well-run event with several players whom scouts were keenly interested in.

Held at the Home Depot Center, Hawaii’s Pro Day was attended by about 30 scouts from teams such as Carolina, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Seattle and both New York teams.

It was held at two different locations on the Home Depot Center property. The timing and workout portion was held on a small, side field covered in Field Turf with a small tent set up for lifting weights. The positional drills were held a short distance away on a field also used, so the signs said, for David Beckham’s soccer camp.

We started out in a small meeting room where UH head coach Greg McMackin and associate head coach Rich Miano showed the scouts some highlight videos featuring the various players who would soon be working out. After that, the players’ heights and weights were recorded and we adjourned outside for the vertical, broad jump, and timing drills.

Defensive lineman David Veikune was certainly one of the main attractions for scouts on Thursday. While he stood on most of the results of his Combine performance, he did re-run the 40-yard dash. He ran a 4.80/4.81 in the 40, with 10-yard and 20-yard splits of 1.64/1.71 and 2.82/2.78 respectively.

Veikune also did positional drills and since there is some question as to just where he will fit in at the pro level, he drilled as an outside linebacker and worked some coverage as well. The scouts wanted to take a hard look at his footwork which was another reason he worked out as a linebacker.

Veikune may have to make the switch to a linebacker, especially if he ends up in a 3-4 scheme. What he showed on Thursday had scouts saying he could indeed make the switch.
Scouts and teams are just going to try to find a way to get this playmaker on the field because on tape, all Veikune does is make plays. He’ll need to learn how to work out of a two-point stance, work in coverage and other things, but he’s smart enough and a hard enough worker to get the job done and still cause havoc in the backfield when they need him to.

Another player scouts were itching to see was cornerback Ryan Mouton. Mouton had pulled a hamstring at the Combine and was hoping to make an impression this time out.

He began his day on a very high note with an outstanding 11-foot broad jump. He chose to stand on his bench and vertical from the Combine and got set to run the 40.

Unfortunately, he pulled up lame again in the 40 on Pro Day. Mouton said later he felt it at about the 20-yard mark and was clearly in pain when he crossed the finish line. Still, he ran an impressive 40 time (especially considering). Various scouts had him at anywhere from 4.42 to 4.48. I had him timed at 4.46.

And he did that while clearly pulling up in the last leg. Imagine how he might have timed had it not happened.

The injury looked worse than it turned out to be, as he sat in the corner of the practice area for some time. Still, he was out for the day and there were more than a few disappointed scouts and that tells me he was—and likely still is—very much on the radars of several teams. In fact, he already has a meeting with Jacksonville according to the Honolulu Advertiser.

Several other players are worth talking about as well. Defensive lineman Josh Leonard benched a fantastic 41 times, ran a 4.97 in the 40, had a 31 1/2 vertical and looked solid in drills. Another Leonard, linebacker Adam Leonard, had a so-so 40, but that was due, in part, to some bad starts.

As I saw in San Jose State with corner Coye Francies, once you stumble a few times, it can get in your head. It certainly affected Leonard and probably contributed to his slower than expected 40 time. But his film and other drills will keep him hopping and he will have the chance to show his stuff at team visits and private workouts. He looked good in position drills, so while the 40 time might drop him, how far is a subject for debate.

Finally, I want to talk about long snapper Jake Ingram. That’s right, I’m writing about a long snapper, and I loved what I saw in Ingram.

Ingram was a guy the staff talked about during the film session as a perfectionist and a hard worker—the first guy at practice and the last one to leave. The tenacity and hard work paid off as Ingram did every drill he could, ran a 4.90/4.86 in the 40, showed a 30 1/2 vertical, a 9'9" broad jump, benched 18 times and ran a 4.59 short shuttle.

I wasn't the only one impressed. I saw Bengals special teams coach Darrin Simmons talking at length, and a lot of it was shop talk. Of course, a snapper has to do more than snap the ball so teams will take a long look at a guy like Ingram to make sure he can cover and block. Ingram looked good whenever he was asked to do something and came off as personable and as a nose-to-the-grindstone type of guy.

It's not often I spend much time talking about long snappers, but Ingram had a very solid day.

And so ended another road trip and the final Pro Day. Now the hard part comes for analysts and scouts— to take every scrap of info from Pro Days, the Combine, and tons of game film then rank where each and every player goes on their big boards.

Photo Credit: Long Photography, College Press Box (USC)