Some new on draft choices from Yahoo

[elsid13]

LSU senior running back/fullback Jacob Hester used the prime-time stage against Florida to prove that he should now be evaluated as more of a one-back or running back than at his former fullback position.

Hester powered to 106 yards on 23 carries, including the game-winning touchdown on Saturday. Through six games, he is leading the Tigers in rushing with 433 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 5 yards per carry. At 6-foot, 228 pounds, he has better-than-advertised straight-line speed and has shown the durability to be an every-down back. He is a blue-collar kid with a high character and work ethic, but needs to show better hands out of the backfield to impress scouts down the stretch.

BRENNAN HURT

Hawaii senior quarterback Colt Brennan was knocked out of the Warriors' win against Utah State not once, but twice. He was banged up after being crushed following a first-half completion, but returned before re-injuring his right ankle on the first series of the second half. Brennan walked off the field, but was favoring his right leg. Senior backup Tyler Graunke stepped in and powered the Warriors to an exciting 52-37 win, completing 9 of 11 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns. Graunke added another TD on the ground. Brennan tried to wear a brace on his right ankle this week, but the ankle swelled. Some wonder if the success his backup had in running the offense means Brennan's big numbers might be a product of Hawaii's system.

BRADFORD'S BIG CATCH




Stanford senior wide receiver Mark Bradford opted to return this season after suffering torn ligaments in his right foot. A long rehab process allowed him to come back at full strength and the 6-1, 210-pounder became an instant folk hero when he hauled in the game-winning touchdown against USC. Bradford is second on the Cardinal with 21 catches for 252 yards and two touchdowns. He has played both football and basketball, but is now proving to pro scouts that he has the durability and pass-catching skills to earn a possible late-round draft grade.

BOOK ON HAUGABOOK

Troy senior quarterback Omar Haugabook has raised his level of play the past few weeks. A tremendous all-around athlete who runs in the 4.4 range, Haugabook is roughly 6-foot, 210 pounds. He accounted for 259 yards of total offense and a pair of touchdowns in Troy's win over Florida International. Haubabook had his best effort (371 yards passing, TD) in the Trojans' upset of Oklahoma State on Sept. 14. He has also benefited from the fact that senior running back Kenny Cattouse, senior defensive back/return man Leodis McKelvin and senior linebacker Marcus Richardson have earned greater looks from area scouts.

BOOTY TO BENCH?

USC senior quarterback John David Booty might have seen his national championship and Heisman Trophy dreams end after the Trojans' loss to Stanford. What's worse is that he could also lose his hold on the starter's job. Booty played the second half with a broken bone in the middle finger of his throwing hand. He made more than a few poor decisions that led to four interceptions. The injury could open the door for red-shirt sophomore Mark Sanchez to replace him when the Trojans face Arizona this week. It is unlikely that coach Pete Carroll would bench his starter for the rest of the season, but if Sanchez were to get on a roll, it could present a quandary for the coach since the younger passer was also a prized in-state recruit. Booty is a native of Louisiana.

RISING LION

Penn State senior running back Rodney Kinlaw had never played more than eight games or carried the ball more than 39 times in a season entering his final year of eligibility. He saw himself behind fellow senior Austin Scott and freshman Evan Royster when the season began. But he waited patiently and produced when given the ball. Last weekend against Iowa, he carried 28 times for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Kinlaw (5-9, 205 pounds) is a good student and has earned his opportunities.

MEDICAL REPORT

• Georgia senior running back Thomas Brown could miss up to six weeks after suffering a broken collarbone in his team's loss to Tennessee. Brown, who also missed the end of last season with a knee injury, is hopeful that he can return sooner. Fellow senior running back Kregg Lumpkin, who just returned from thumb surgery, is likely to see his carries increase.

• UCLA senior running back Chris Markey ended up sitting out the Bruins' loss Saturday against Notre Dame with a nagging turf toe injury. He hopes to return to the field for their next game, but has clearly become the No. 2 option in the team's ground attack.

• California junior quarterback Nate Longshore should be at-or-close to 100 percent following a week off to prepare and rehab his injured right ankle. He was placed in a walking boot for most of the team's bye-week, but said that he could have continued playing had the Bears needed him in their win over Oregon. After suffering the injury, he missed a few plays but returned to the field. Longshore continues to make strides in many areas. This weekend's game against Oregon State will give Longshore another opportunity to show his leadership and bolster a potential run at the Heisman.

SMALL SCHOOL PATROL

• McNeese State senior defensive end/outside linebacker Bryan Smith has continued to impress scouts with his natural instincts as a pass rusher. He has 24 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in five games. Smith is being evaluated for a possible conversion to outside linebacker. The 6-3, 220-pound All-Southland Conference defensive end is under-sized to remain among the front four at the next level. He is an excellent pass rusher who can make tackles in the open field. It has been hard to judge if his speed and athleticism will work in pass coverage.

• Central Washington senior defensive back/linebacker Chris Hemphill is making a name for himself after his transfer from Washington. He has eye-opening size (6-4, 235) to go along with 4.5-range speed and the ball skills to remain at safety. He has 23 tackles, a team-leading four interceptions and one forced fumble. Hemphill was moved around the field at Washington, playing mostly free safety and special teams. He flashes big-play potential, but has not always made the right decisions. This kid has an NFL body and skills, so the postseason will be his chance to impress.

• Bethune-Cookman senior linebacker Ronnie McCullough is leading his team with 63 tackles, eight tackles for loss and two sacks. His play over the past two weeks has opened eyes as he has recorded a total of 34 tackles, including 20 against Norfolk State. He currently lines up at weak-side linebacker, but the South Florida transfer has also played inside linebacker during his career. At just over 6-foot, 235 pounds, he has a solid upper body, makes quick reads off the snap and promises a 40 time in the mid-4.6 range.

• Hofstra senior running back/return man Kareem Huggins is turning heads. The speedy all-purpose back leads the Pride in rushing with 597 yards and six touchdowns, while also averaging more than 30 yards per kickoff return. He has scored a pair of special teams touchdowns, including a 92-yard kickoff return in last week's win over Maine. In that game, he also had a 71-yard rushing touchdown. Huggins has gained 130 or more yards rushing in his last three games, but his return skills are starting to make scouts take notice.



John Murphy is Yahoo! Sports' NFL personnel and college prospect evaluator. Murphy's seventh annual NFL Draft Bible package for the upcoming 2008 NFL Draft coverage is now available. Learn more at www.nfldraftbible.blogspot.com (http://www.nfldraftbible.blogspot.com)
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_ylt=AsQLfjscLvhAd9J.746KngFDubYF?slug=jm-prospect100907&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

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http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_ylt=Aokkq1jn0uD9SnLClgNWjcguatAF?slug=jm-tes100507&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

conference-by-conference look at the top senior NFL tight end prospects.

ACC

Joey Haynos, Maryland – A former walk-on who has turned himself into a bona fide NFL prospect thanks to his size, improved receiving skills and ability to get off the line and into his blocks. Haynos is a self-made player who has just seven catches for 64 yards, but provides a huge target at over 6-foot-7, 260 pounds. Scouts like that he is a hard worker who has steadily improved over each of the past two years. He should continue to get stronger, but his overall upside potential is average at best.

Marcus Stone, N.C. State – Stone was originally a highly recruited quarterback prospect who played his first few years at that position before converting to tight end last season. He does not have great height, but is a solid athlete who has shown positive results as a receiver and could develop into a quality H-Back type.

Big East

Darrell Strong, Pittsburgh – Of all the prospects at this position that I graded outside of the top 5, this is the one guy who could make the biggest leap. Strong has very good speed and athleticism for his size, but has found a way to get into the coaches' or team's doghouse on more than one occasion. He leads the team in receiving with 14 catches for 180 yards despite the fact the team has used three different quarterbacks over the first five games. His body type, long dreads and athletic frame will remind you of Vernon Davis, so while he might not run 4.4's like Davis, he has the skill set to run in the 4.6's at 265 pounds.

Gary Barnidge, Louisville – He has raised his level of play to the point where he could now be considered as a possible mid-to-late round prospect. Barnidge has scored touchdowns in three of five games this season and showcased his ability to get downfield against Middle Tennessee State. His frame (235 pounds) will allow him to bulk up over time. He can find the open hole in zone coverage and can outrun most linebackers in 1-on-1 situations.

Big Ten

Dustin Keller, Purdue – Keller continues to be one of the most productive tight ends in the country. He is among the Big Ten leaders with 20 catches for 319 yards and five touchdowns. He lacks great size in terms of being a firm blocker at the line of scrimmage, but can get the job done if asked to get off the ball and block downfield. His ability to get downfield works very well for today's NFL game.

Kellen Davis, Michigan State – Davis looks the part, caught seven touchdowns as a junior and has a ton of natural ability. But there have been times when he looked completely out of place and made poor decisions. He was suspended for violating team rules last year. Davis seems back on track this season, but scouts will want to interview him in the postseason.

Big 12

Martin Rucker, Missouri – One of the most productive players at his position, Rucker has taken full advantage of his decision to come back for his last year of eligibility. He has 29 catches for 330 yards and a touchdown. A well-built, tough-to-take-down receiver with good, but not great speed, he is the younger brother of former NFL All-Pro defensive end Michael Rucker. He lacks the swiftness of a Kellen Winslow, Jr., but has enough skills to be a starter at the next level.

Joe Jon Finley, Oklahoma – A big kid who can play physical at times, but is by no means a finished product. Finley can catch the short to intermediate routes, but lacks enough foot speed to be considered a primary-type target at the next level. At 6-6, 260 pounds, he has the tools to further develop, but does not have much in terms of upside potential.

Derek Fine, Kansas – Fine has good size, while showing improvement as a receiver. He is coming off the best game of his season, recording seven catches for 70 yards against Florida International. Has good hands, but lacks great speed, so he is seen as more of a role player who could become a solid No. 2 or No. 3 tight end at the next level.

Pac-10

Craig Stevens, California – A very interesting athlete who can be as good of a blocker as receiver. He did not record a catch against Tennessee, but played a solid game. Stevens runs very well for his size (255 pounds) and would be more of a weapon in an offense that did not have players like DeSean Jackson and Justin Forsett.

Fred Davis, USC – A good-looking athlete and pass catcher who has worked to become a better blocker. Davis is a downfield threat who runs well for his size and has become a focal point of the offense. He is averaging more than 15 yards per catch and has 13 catches for 196 yards and two scores over the past two weeks.

SEC

Brad Cottam, Tennessee – A left wrist injury has kept Cottam out. He has ideal size (6-7, 270 pounds), runs very well and was a proven pass catcher before the injury. His longer-than-expected rehab process has made some Volunteers insiders believe that he might request a sixth year of eligibility rather than play just one or two games. He has used his redshirt season, so the chances are slim that the NCAA would provide him with another year.

Jacob Tamme, Kentucky – Tamme will be considered as more of an H-Back or motion tight end for the NFL as he lacks the pure bulk/strength to block most opposing defensive ends. But he runs good routes, shows soft hands and has been a reliable weapon for the Wildcats' offense.

OTHER CONFERENCES

John Carlson, Notre Dame – Carlson was among the top prospects a year ago, but opted to return after suffering a right knee injury toward the end of the season. He seems to have lost a step as a receiver, plus the inconsistent play of the team's quarterbacks has him with just 12 catches for 93 yards. Scouts were already split on whether he was more than a solid backup for the next level and this season is not helping his draft status.

Adam Bishop, Nevada – Bishop has eight catches for 153 yards and five touchdowns. He split time as a junior with Anthony Pudewell, who was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Bishop has good, but not great size (6-5, 245), but has room to develop more strength as a blocker, especially if he keeps showing big-play potential as a receiver. He has had some injury issues. Bishop can deep snap.

Kris Kasparek, Akron – Kasparek has excellent size, shows good ability as a blocker and continues to show improvement as a receiver. He is drawing attention in a conference that is producing a steady flow of NFL prospects. His ability to catch the ball in traffic and defeat opposing defenders off the snap on run blocks should help him see a rise in his final grade.

Chris Hopkins, Toledo – A top receiving threat over the past two years, he is on pace to earn All-MAC honors for the third straight season. Hopkins has very good size (6-4, 255) and has shown the ability to break tackles after the catch. He has improved as a blocker, but is not as strong as you would like to see.

Sean O'Drobinak, Bowling Green – A former tight end who has converted to defensive tackle the past two years. O'Drobinak will likely be evaluated as a blocking tight end. He has average size for an interior defender (6-4, 270), so he will have the best chance to impress if converted back to the offensive side of the ball.

SMALL SCHOOLS

Mike Peterson, NW Missouri State – An interesting athlete who could be converted to either fullback or H-Back since he is undersized (6-2, 245). He runs well (4.55) and has shown the ability to get downfield as a receiver and make big plays. Peterson is a smart, hard-working, determined athlete. His athleticism and versatility will make him a quick favorite of coaches in the postseason.

Kolo Kapanui, West Texas A&M – The Hawaiian native was originally recruited to USC. He has become a dangerous weapon, especially after the catch thanks to his nearly 6-4, 270-pound frame. Scouts say that he has the tools to contend for a spot at the next level, but needs to keep his weight under control and prove more durable. He has scored four times on just 11 catches.

Drew Atchison, William & Mary – A terrific athlete for his size, he has become a downfield threat with big-play ability. Atchison is averaging more than 17 yards per catch and has a pair of 100-yard games. He runs in the 4.70 to 4.75 range at 6-5, 248 pounds. He could be invited to next year’s NFL Combine.

Joseph Tuineau, SE Missouri State – A former New Zealand rugby and basketball player with ideal physical size (6-6, 272) and speed. Tuineau has not played the game long. He was born in Fiji before moving with his family to New Zealand. Has flashed promise as a receiving threat and runs fairly well. He can be a little upright in some of his routes and blocking assignments, but overall is a good long-term project.

Chris Wagner, South Dakota State – A pretty good-looking athlete, especially in terms of his skills as a receiver. The former two-sport star (basketball) has refined his game over the past year and a half, but still needs to get stronger. He does enough things well to earn a free-agent shot, especially if the 6-4, 250-pounder can improve his workout numbers in the postseason.



John Murphy is Yahoo! Sports' NFL personnel and college prospect ev

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Kellen Davis also plays DE on passing downs he has 3-4 sacks.

[Elway777]

Leodis Mckelvin is leading NCAA in punt returns and would make a good 7 round pick. Mckelvin is also a good tackle and decent in coverage. Ronnie McCullought also sounds like a good late round draft pick.