Draft Watch: Sugar Bowl

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

Cincinnati Bearcats:

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

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

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

Florida Gators:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Courtesy of Dennis Hubbard, College Press Box

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

10.31.09 @ 3:30 PM Eastern on CBS

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

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

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

Photos Courtesy of SEC Sports Media

CFI Countdown: #1 Florida Gators

2008 Record: 13-1 (SEC: 7-1)
Bowl Game: Won BCS Championship Game vs. Oklahoma 24-12
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Stadium: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548)
Head Coach: Urban Meyer
Overall: 83-17 (9th season)
@ Florida: 44-9 (5th season)
Link to UF Football Page

The last time the Gators and Urban Meyer tried to repeat as BCS Champs, they ended up with a four-loss season. Don’t count on a repeat. Tim Tebow was there in 2007, but he has grown as a leader and they didn’t have all 11 starters back on defense two years ago either. Florida is pretty much the consensus number one team in the country, making them the popular pick to repeat. They fully deserve the accolades.

When the Gators Have the Ball

Offensive Coordinator: Steve Addazio (1st season)
Scheme: Spread Option
Starters Returning: Six
Key Losses: WR Percy Harvin, WR Luis Murphy, TE Cornelius Ingram, OT Jason Watkins, OT Phil Trautwein

According to inside sources, the Gators have constructive a set of plays in which Tim Tebow throws to…himself. Just kidding (obviously), but Tebow’s importance to the Gators’ offense cannot be overstated. What’s more important? Is it his passing skills, his leadership, or his will to win? Or could it be his ability to lower his shoulder and run over a defense? It’s tough to choose because Tebow can do it all. There are reports that he will see more time under center, which could help his stock as a pro prospect, but it’s unclear if it will benefit the Gators. Something that clearly would help the team is finding a legitimate number one tailback, something Meyer has yet to do as the Gator headman. Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps are explosive home run hitters, dangerous runners that must be accounted for…but neither brings the size to carry the load. In the passing game, they replace speedsters Percy Harvin and Luis Murphy with Riley Cooper and Davis Nelson, who provide more size but less big play potential than their predecessors. The man expected to take on the duties of Harvin was supposed to be true freshman Andre Debose, but he could miss significant time with a hamstring injury that may require surgery. Tight end Aaron Hernandez is an emerging weapon who has the knack of finding himself open when the Gators need him most. He is especially effective in the red zone. Other than Tebow, the strength of the offense is on the interior of the offensive line where all three starters return led by the Pouncey brothers—Maurkice handles the center duties and Mike is at one guard spot. However, they must replace both tackles from last season’s championship run, which is a major concern.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) QB Tim Tebow (SR), 2) TE Aaron Hernandez (JR), 3) C Maurkice Pouncey (JR)

When the Other Team Has the Ball

Defensive Coordinator: Charlie Strong (7th season)
Scheme: 4-3
Starters Returning: Eleven
Key Losses: None

Where do we start? The best secondary in the nation, the All-American middle linebacker, or the bookend pass rushing demons? Let’s start in the defensive backfield and work our way up. In junior Joe Hayden and sophomore Janoris Jenkins—a pair of future first-round picks—they have not one, but two lockdown corners. Backing them up are stellar safeties Major Wright and Ahmad Black, a pair of juniors. Wright has speed and is a ferocious hitter, while Black is among the most instinctive defenders in the game. Senior corners Wondy Pierre-Louis and Markihe Anderson were once starters and provide experienced depth. At safety, sophomore Will Hill is simply too talented not to push for playing time. The leader of the entire defense is Brandon Spikes. What Tebow is for the offense, Spikes is to the defense, which is why his return to Gainesville for one more season was almost as significant as Tebow’s. Spikes’ understanding of the game continues to grow each season and he is a solid tackler with the speed to cover ground sideline-to-sideline. Their outside linebackers are good, not great, but they do have four players who can get the job done. Up front, the defensive ends are special. Junior Carlos Dunlap, who checks in at 6’ 6” and 290 pounds, is a man-child who can just as easily run over offensive linemen as use his quickness to jet around them—he simply cannot be blocked one-on-one. Opposite him is senior Jermaine Cunningham, an impressive athlete and accomplished pass rusher in his own right. They are not as set at tackle, although junior Lawrence Marsh has the ability to be a force. Inconsistency in the middle of the line is their lone vulnerability.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) DE Carlos Dunlap (JR), CB Janoris Jenkins (SO), 3) LB Brandon Spikes (SR)

The Schedule

The out of conference schedule is not intimidating, especially early on when they play Charleston Southern and Troy, although it should be noted that Troy does have some players and had the LSU Tigers on the ropes last season before falling short. One match-up that could provide a challenge is their season finale against Florida St. It’s a home game, but this could be a better Seminoles team than the Gators have seen in a couple of years. The game everyone is anticipating is their week three contest with the Tennessee Vols. Florida gets that one at home and it should be a heated affair. That’s the sexy match-up, but the two biggest games come in October with a trip to Baton Rouge and the neutral site tug-of-war with the Georgia Bulldogs.

Pivotal Point

More is less when it comes to Tebow, and we’re not talking about the media backlash Tebow spoke about when he fell short of his second Heisman. Think of it more in an on-the-field, football sense. Let’s take a look at the raw numbers. In 2007, Tebow threw the ball 350 times and ran it 210 times. Those numbers dropped to 298 pass attempts and 176 carries in 2008, which saw his passing yards drop by 540 yards, his rushing yards by 222 yards, and his total touchdowns fall from 55 as a sophomore in his Heisman season to 42 in his National Championship season. Do you get the picture? (Yes, improved defense played a major role). It should come as no surprise that as the offense became more balanced (they threw for 739 more yards than they ran in 2007, in 2008 they ran for 240 more yards) and they spread the ball around more (Tebow accounted for 34 percent of the rushing yards in 2007, 21 percent in 2008), they became a better team.

CFI Final Analysis

Repeating as BCS Champs is no easy task. We saw powerhouse squads just as stocked with talent as Florida is go down when the Miami Hurricanes fell to Ohio St. in overtime and the USC Trojans saw Vince Young skate into the end zone in the waning seconds of their loss to Texas. Florida has the team to repeat, but it is easier said then done as each season brings new challenges. Who knew they would fall to Ole Miss last season? Who knows if they will repeat? One thing we do know is that Meyer will have his team in the middle of the race for the National Championship, and the Gators deserve to start that race on the inside post, atop the rankings.

College Football Insiders Top 25 Countdown:
The Next 25 (26-50) Plus 18 Bowl Teams
#25 West Virginia Mounainteers
#24 Tennessee Volunteers
#23 Clemson Tigers
#22 Pittsburgh Panthers
#21 Michigan St. Spartans
#20 Utah Utes
#19 Oregon Ducks
#18 Florida St. Seminoles
#17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
#16 Boise St. Broncos
#15 North Carolina Tar Heels
#14 Penn St. Nittany Lions
#13 Mississippi Rebels
#12 Oklahoma St. Cowboys
#11 California Golden Bears
#10 Iowa Hawkeyes
#9 Virginia Tech Hokies
#8 Georgia Bulldogs
#7 USC Trojans
#6 LSU Tigers
#5 Ohio St. Buckeyes
#4 Alabama Crimson Tide
#3 Texas Longhorns
#2 Oklahoma Sooners
Photos Courtesy of SEC Sports Media

College Football Insiders Preview: SEC

For the third straight year, the National Championship winner came out of the SEC and it was the second title victory in three seasons for the Florida Gators. The SEC also sent two teams to a BCS bowl game for the third year in a row—no other conference is having that sort of post-season success. It may be hard to believe but the SEC is going to be better this year than last. The two teams that met in last season’s conference title game return nearly their entire team, contenders LSU and Ole Miss are talented and now more experienced, and Georgia is healthy. It’s going to be hard to predict an order of finish, but it’s safe to say whichever team is left standing after the conference title game will be in the National Title discussion.

The Favorites: Florida & Alabama: They both return a tantalizing, talented, and deep defense. Florida brings back the most experience in the conference and from top to bottom, they have no weaknesses. They have pass rushers, fast linebackers, and a secondary full of future NFL draft picks. Last year’s SEC sack leader, Carlos Dunlap, teams up with senior Jermaine Cunningham to form a lethal defensive-end combo. Those two, along with middle-linebacker and vocal leader Brandon Spikes, will strike fear in the hearts of their SEC opponents. That being said, the best unit of the team might be the secondary. They are physical and will create turnovers, led by safeties Ahmed Black and Major Wright, as well as cornerback Joe Hayden and Janoris Jenkins—four of the conference’s best. On offense, it’s all about Tim Tebow. The Heisman winner from 2007 is a get-it-done type of player who is improving his throwing ability. The break-out star this year for Florida will be tight-end Aaron Hernandez, who possesses good hands and will be the go-to guy around the red zone. The only causes for concern are how well the new offensive-line gels, and how to replace dynamic playmaker Percy Harvin. Their toughest conference matchups will be a trip to Baton Rouge and the game against Georgia, which will take place on a neutral field. The Crimson Tide shares the same uneasiness about losing starters on the offensive line, especially since they’re breaking in Greg McElroy as the new starting quarterback. Despite the O-line concerns, the Tide’s cast of running backs and sophomore receiving sensation Julio Jones give them the offensive weaponry necessary to win the conference. The defense, led by massive Terrance Cody, Lorenzo Washington and linebackers Rolando McClain and Dont'a Hightower, is strong up the middle and can stop the run with the best of them. Their big play guy is Javier Arenas, and Kareem Jackson is ready to have a breakout season. Alabama will have to be on point to start the year as they will face Virginia Tech in their opener. They also have tough games at Ole Miss and against LSU.

The Contenders: LSU & Ole Miss: LSU was a disappointment in 2008. They were a five-loss team with a dreadful passing game and a defense that let up too many big plays through the air. This year, Jordan Jefferson is the new quarterback. He performed well in LSU’s bowl game last season and his mobility will help the Tigers’ offense. But it’s all about Charles Scott, the physical number one back. He’s last year‘s conference touchdown leader and the offensive star who could carry LSU to a title game. A big part of the offense is the play of electric receiver Brandon LaFell. The senior is experienced and has good hands. The defense will be better than a year ago-junior safety Chad Jones is the guy to keep an eye on, he should have a big season. They’re going to need Rahim Alem to continue to be a sack machine, and for Pep Livingston to step up. If those two things happen, the LSU front will be more than difficult to contain. They play what is arguably the toughest conference schedule in the SEC, facing all the top teams-trips to Ole Miss, Georgia, and Alabama plus Florida at home. Nevertheless, they’re contenders along with the new kids on the block, the Mississippi Rebels. The edge that Mississippi has over any SEC West team is at quarterback. Jevan Snead is the top returning passer of the conference and shows no signs of slowing down. Even though they lost deep threat Mike Wallace, the Rebels return Shay Hodge, who caught everything (including eight touchdowns) last season. Wide receiver Dexter McCluster was second in the SEC in all-purpose yards, racking up receiving yards and big rushes out of the “Wild Rebel” formation. Because they bring back some dazzling ball-carriers, the offensive line could be the difference between the team being mediocre and playing for a SEC title. The departure of Michael Oher is a big loss and with only two returning starters back the lack of experience could end up catching up to them. If the line does hold up, expect big things from sophomore Brandon Bolden. He excelled down the stretch of last season, averaging 5.5 yards a carry and five touchdowns.

The Sleeper: Georgia: The Bulldogs have a chance to be a better team despite losing Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno. The reason—they’ll have a healthier team. Yes, Georgia was a top team last year but injuries really set them back at times, especially in the trenches. The defense will greatly benefit from healthier players. Returning from injury is senior Jeff Owens, who along with Geno Atkins gives them two All-Conference tackles. They missed Owens last season, and struggled to stop teams who played smash-mouth football. The team’s leading tackler, linebacker Rennie Curran, returns, as does playmaker Akeem Dent. The offensive line also suffered from injuries last year. The unit is the strong suit of the offense and will be able to block for Moreno’s replacement, most likely Richard Samuel. If quarterback Joe Cox has the intangibles as described and can get the ball to A.J Green, the Bulldogs could surprise some people.

Offensive Player of the Year: QB Tim Tebow (Florida) vs. QB Jevan Snead (Ole Miss): Tim Tebow is the returning SEC offensive player of the year and without question, the favorite to win the award again. Last year he was in the top ten in the conference in both passing and rushing. Tebow’s duel threat ability puts him in a class of his own, but his stats could go down in 2009—his carries diminished last year and replacing Harvin will be no easy task. That’s why Jevan Snead must be mentioned as a top contender for the award. He was overshadowed last year by Tebow and Matthew Stafford and his overall numbers suffered because of a suspect start to the season. This year Snead will come out of the gate strong, and with an array of receivers around him, he’ll be airing it out plenty.

Honorable Mention: RB Charles Scott (LSU), RB Michael Smith (Arkansas), WR Julio Jones (Alabama), WR A. J. Green (Georgia)

Defensive Player of the Year: S Eric Berry (Tennessee) vs. DE Carlos Dunlap (Florida): Like the offensive award, the returning Defensive Player of the Year is back, too. Tennessee’s Eric Berry was awesome last year, winning the award as a sophomore. He led the conference in interceptions and led a very good Vols’ secondary. He was the team’s MVP, the one bright spot of their 5-7 season. The defense is better this year, and Berry will be as dangerous as ever. But he wasn’t the only sophomore defensive star in the conference. The Gators’ Carlos Dunlap led the SEC in sacks and was the defensive MVP of the title game. He’s relentless, finishes out plays, and is a great pass rusher.

Honorable Mention: DE Rahim Alem (LSU), DL Malcolm Sheppard (Arkansas), LB Joran Norwood (South Carolina), LB Rolando McClain (Alabama), LB Brandon Spikes (Florida)

Breakout Seasons: QB Jordan Jefferson (LSU) & RB Richard Samuel (Georgia): Jordan Jefferson’s performance against Georgia Tech in the Peach Bowl gave SEC fans a glimpse of what LSU could do if they had a decent quarterback. I think Jefferson will be more than just decent this year—he showed he had a good arm in the three games he started in 2008 and with a real good group of receivers, he has the tools around him. What Jefferson also has is mobility. The Bulldogs’ Richard Samuel had a fantastic summer after missing the spring with a wrist injury. He won the job over the favorite Caleb King and speedster Carlton Thomas, and with the Georgia offensive line now healthy, Samuel is poised for a great 2009 campaign.

Best Pro Prospect: Eric Berry, Tennessee: Eric Berry has a long list of accomplishments already. He’s won Defensive Player of the Year and All-American honors, and is a Nagurski Trophy candidate. He led the nation in interceptions and is 15 yards away from becoming the NCAA’s all-time leader in interception return yardage. Berry has no weaknesses and is playmaker of the highest caliber. He is a tremendous pass defender, always making things happen and getting to the ball, to the tune of 13 passes broken up last year. The Vol is a top prospect—he’s quick, skillful, and physical. In other words, he’s a complete player and a future NFL safety.

College Football Insiders Picks:

Conference Champion: Alabama Crimson Tide: Even though they have to break in a new quarterback, Alabama is a favorite in the conference and the pick to win it. Julio Jones is a star wide-out and one of the most dangerous offensive players in the nation. He will continue to thrive, making plays all over the field with the ball, plus running back Mark Ingram is primed for a break-out season. They’re good on offense and dominate on defense. There is nothing not to like about the big D; they have run stoppers and shut down players in the secondary. The team that was so close last year gets it done this year. Trust Nick Saban to make this prediction come true.

Offensive Player of the Year: QB Jevan Snead, Ole Miss: This is a long shot considering he’s going up against a Heisman trophy winner, but Jevan Snead’s going to beat out Tim Tebow for this award. There is a lot of pressure on Snead to have a big season and I believe he will respond and flourish. With his talent and the versatility and athleticism around him, he’s going to have a good year both in the win column and statistically. With another year leading this offense and learning Houston Nutt’s system, Snead is really going to be big. (Note: Yes, I filled this out myself and no, I will not be taking it back.)

Defensive Player of the Year: DE Carlos Dunlap, Florida: Returning sack leaders don’t usually put up the same numbers in their encore seasons, but Carlos Dunlap will be an exception to that trend. His skill, pass rushing, and production all improved throughout 2008 and I think he will continue that momentum into this year. Because Florida has a very good defensive line and is effective when blitzing, opponents won’t be able just key in on Dunlap. The more one-on-ones he receives as a result, the better his numbers will be. By the end of 2008, Dunlap was a different player. If he plays the whole year like he did in the title game, double-teams won’t even matter.

Photos Courtesy of SEC Sports Media