Big risks, but big rewards in the NFL draft pool

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With the NFL draft approaching on April 28, every talent evaluator across the league is searching for hidden gems. USA TODAY and NFLDraftScout.com have teamed up to identify a roll call of players whose talent is undervalued and who could become a draft-day surprise.

Some of these players slipped under the radar because they went to a small



college; some got mislabeled and don't get a chance to show off their most productive skills; others had their on-field talent obscured by off-field problems. All of them are worth a look:

DO YOU DARE? These players will slide further than their talent indicates they should because of a variety of on- and off-field issues. They could be value picks if they get their acts together.

• Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami: He has first-round talent and was consistently impressive at the Senior Bowl but has to answer significant off-field questions.

• Marcus Thomas, DT, Florida: Off-field problems, including a suspension for a failed drug test last year, plague Thomas, but on the field, at 6-3, 314 pounds, he is among the draft's best run-stuffers.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: NFL | Michael | Rutgers | CB | DT | Draft | Senior Bowl | OFFENSE | Nfldraftscout | Brandon Meriweather | Anthony Waters | Marcus Thomas | Eric Wright | Joe Anoai

• Brian Leonard, RB, Rutgers: Leonard needs to overcome the misconception by some teams that he is a fullback. At 6-2, 226 pounds and running a 4.52 40, Leonard could be a great fit for a one-back offense as a featured runner.

• Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno State: McCauley was better in 2005 than his teammate, eventual second-round pick Richard Marshall, but teams want to know why McCauley struggled throughout last year and in the Senior Bowl.

• Drew Stanton, QB, Michigan State: Like McCauley, Stanton appeared on his way toward being a first-round pick, but scouts wonder why he did not improve the Spartans' play as they lost eight of their final nine.

• Eric Wright, CB, Nevada-Las Vegas: Originally a standout at Southern California, Wright transferred amid allegations of rape. All charges eventually were dropped, but Wright has to answer the NFL's jury now.

• Michael Bush, RB, Louisville: After missing nearly all of his junior season because of a broken leg, Bush had a second surgery in late March and continues to slide. Originally graded as a second-round prospect, he will not be able to run or prove his health before the draft and could fall into the second day.

• Anthony Waters, LB, Clemson: The top returning tackler in the ACC last year, Waters' 2006 season last only lasted 38 plays before tearing his ACL. If he can prove his knee is healing, somebody will get a late-round steal.

OFF THE RADAR: Not every draft-worthy player gets invited to the February scouting combine in Indianapolis and launches onto the NFL radar. Here are a few who missed out on the combine but who still are worth being selected:

• Brandon Myles, WR, West Virginia: The primary downfield option on a run-oriented team, Myles should have locked up a spot at the combine after a strong performance at the Senior Bowl. Instead, he tops this list.

• Joe Anoai, DT, Georgia Tech: Related to several professional wrestlers, Anoai's combination of size, strength and quickness make him an intriguing late-round prospect.

• Courtney Brown, CB, Cal Poly: He broke the Division I-AA record with seven interceptions in 2005, but scouts stayed away from him as much as opponents did in 2006. He erased concerns about his lack of athleticism at his pro day and will be one of top non-combine players drafted.

• Tim Mixon, CB, California: Mixon entered last season ranked by some higher than teammate Daymeion Hughes but missed all of last season to an ACL injury. When healthy, he is a talented cornerback and was an all-conference returner.

• Alan Ball, CB, Illinois: A four-year starter, Ball's combination of size (6-2, 183 pounds) and speed (4.53 40) makes him a draftable commodity.

• Justice Hairston, RB, Central Connecticut State: Hairston transferred after being a three-time letter winner at Rutgers and then led the country with 1,847 rushing yards. He averaged 199.8 total yards per game and impressed scouts at the Hula Bowl.

• Robert Turner, G, New Mexico: He is not a physical standout and likely would not have helped himself in a combine-type environment. But he started 48 games in college and stepped up his play at the East-West Shrine Game.


http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/draft/2007-04-04-risks-and-rewards_N.htm

[BombsOverBaghdad]

I have a couple more names to add (to the hidden gems):

WR Jacoby Jones - Lane College. Has NFL size at 6-4 218 and is very explosive. Needs work on his pass catching.

Athlete Issiah Stanback - U of Washington. Size, 6-3 220; finished 5th in the Pac 10 100 meters last year -- played QB in college

LB Zac DeOssie - Andover Academy. Has the size you want at 6-4 & 240, knock on him is his speed.

[Rohirrim]

I have a couple more names to add (to the hidden gems):

WR Jacoby Jones - Lane College. Has NFL size at 6-4 218 and is very explosive. Needs work on his pass catching.

Athlete Issiah Stanback - U of Washington. Size, 6-3 220; finished 5th in the Pac 10 100 meters last year -- played QB in college

LB Zac DeOssie - Andover Academy. Has the size you want at 6-4 & 240, knock on him is his speed.

DeOssie makes up for it by his smarts. He sees the play before it develops. That's worth a few ticks on a stop watch, IMO.

[Drek]

I have a couple more names to add (to the hidden gems):

WR Jacoby Jones - Lane College. Has NFL size at 6-4 218 and is very explosive. Needs work on his pass catching.

Athlete Issiah Stanback - U of Washington. Size, 6-3 220; finished 5th in the Pac 10 100 meters last year -- played QB in college

LB Zak DeOssie - Andover Academy. Has the size you want at 6-4 & 240, knock on him is his speed.

DeOssie did actually graduate from Brown with a 3.2 GPA FYI, I'd say thats a bit more impressive than attending Andover.

Also, he measured in at 6045, 250 pounds at the combine where he ran a 4.58 40. He's got plenty of speed, having ran in the 4.4's at other times when he was around 240, but the big question was if he had the strength for linebacker. He answered many of those concerns with 26 reps of 225.

He's a hell of an athlete, his dad played pro, and he's smart as hell. I think he'll come off the board higher than a lot of people suspect, probably to a 3-4 team looking for an OLB. Could very well be the Pats, his dad played for them and Zak was their ball boy for two years in high school, during which BB took enough of an interest in the kid to break down his passing mechanics and give him pointers (he was a high school QB).

Personally I think Antwan Barnes might just be the most physically impressive sleeper LB in this class, but DeOssie, Justin Durrant, and Quincy Black are all very impressive as well. I'd be happy to land any one of them on our roster, though I think Durrant is more of a Will, so he'd be the least desirable.

[Mediator12]

It's nice to see Waters get some love as I think he is the best MLB outside of Willis in this draft. Both have to overcome coverage issues, but Willis and Waters are old school MLB's with speed. Where are the Clemson homers?

Barnes is getting a good grade as he just might be a DE in a one gap scheme even though he is LB weight right now. He has been worked out by several teams recently as a DE and shown a lot of versatility.

[Mediator12]

I have some GT tape that I got to study Johnson and Kenny Scott before I drafted them. I had heard from several sources that Anoai is a tough DT, just undersized. So I put on the tape and loved what I saw as an UT type. He might be light, but he is a mean, relentless SOB. He was extremely disruptive to any inside runs, played better laterally than what I read previously, and uses his hands real well especially on Double teams right at him.

I probably could have gotten him in UDFA in the OM mock, but he really fits that system and to see him available there it was a no brainer.


Mewriweather got a lot of love from Mobile, but I really think he and Griffin struggled in their zone coverage more than reported. Both have CB ability to cover man to man on WR's in the slot and Griffin is a natural run supporter. However, I kept seeing mental lapses in Merriweathers run and pass games during Scrimmages and during the game. He will make plays, he is just not as consistent as I would want a First round graded FS to be.

[chaz]

It's nice to see Waters get some love as I think he is the best MLB outside of Willis in this draft. Both have to overcome coverage issues, but Willis and Waters are old school MLB's with speed. Where are the Clemson homers?



agree with this completely...really like waters and actually wouldnt be surprised if shanahan has his eye on him if indeed al is gone...he always loves getting someone a few rounds later b/c of an injury.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Where's the love for Marcus Mason?

[BombsOverBaghdad]

DeOssie did actually graduate from Brown with a 3.2 GPA FYI, I'd say thats a bit more impressive than attending Andover.

Also, he measured in at 6045, 250 pounds at the combine where he ran a 4.58 40. He's got plenty of speed, having ran in the 4.4's at other times when he was around 240, but the big question was if he had the strength for linebacker. He answered many of those concerns with 26 reps of 225.

He's a hell of an athlete, his dad played pro, and he's smart as hell. I think he'll come off the board higher than a lot of people suspect, probably to a 3-4 team looking for an OLB. Could very well be the Pats, his dad played for them and Zak was their ball boy for two years in high school, during which BB took enough of an interest in the kid to break down his passing mechanics and give him pointers (he was a high school QB).

Personally I think Antwan Barnes might just be the most physically impressive sleeper LB in this class, but DeOssie, Justin Durrant, and Quincy Black are all very impressive as well. I'd be happy to land any one of them on our roster, though I think Durrant is more of a Will, so he'd be the least desirable.

Drek, what do you think of Issaih Stanback from Washington? With his size and speed, I think that he could be tried at several positions -- if he would not turn out to be our 3rd QB. I would like to him as a 7th round pick.

Regarding DeOssie, nice background info -- I had not read about him anywhere else and thought he looked intriguing. From your write up I am even more impressed.