Northman
12-05-2007, 09:50 AM
Obviously, some of these names wont make it because of their high draft status but you never know. Something to ponder.
Some Draft prospects at LB.
Xavier Adibi, Virginia Tech
Height: 6-2. Weight: 226.
40 Time: 4.57.
Projected Round: 1-2.
Xavier Adibi has registered three sacks each of the previous two seasons.
Erin Henderson*, Maryland
Height: 6-3. Weight: 233.
40 Time: 4.58.
Projected Round: 1-2.
A major reason Maryland made a late run to close the 2006 season. Registered 18 tackles in a crucial game against Clemson. Has tremendous speed for his size.
Prospects at RB
Kevin Smith*, Central Florida (12/1)
Height: 6-1. Weight: 211.
40 Time: 4.47.
Projected Round: Top 20 Pick.
Talk about literally carrying a team - through the beginning of November, Kevin Smith has 1,448 rushing yards, 17 receptions and 19 total touchdowns. His 40 time is solid considering his size. Don't look at his weak conference either; Smith gashed Texas for 149 yards and two scores on 27 carries.
Felix Jones*, Arkansas
Height: 6-0. Weight: 200.
40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round: Top 20 Pick.
The team that drafts Felix Jones will be getting an excellent running back and kick returner. Gained an amazing 7.6 yards per carry in 2006. Jones should wait until Darren McFadden's gone and he's the sole ball-carrier to enter the NFL Draft, even though he had a higher yards-per-carry average than his teammate.
Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech
Height: 6-1. Weight: 205.
40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round: 2.
Tashard Choice looked great against Notre Dame, compiling 196 yards and two touchdowns on just 26 carries. Choice's size-40 combination is better than Mike Hart's and Ray Rice's.
Lance Ball, Maryland
Height: 5-9. Weight: 225.
40 Time: 4.42.
Projected Round: 6.
Certainly has the size and speed to make it in the NFL, assuming he can match the 40 time I have. Ball, who splits carries with Keon Lattimore, led the team in rushing with 815 yards and 8 TDs in 2006.
Prospects at WR
Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech
Height: 5-10. Weight: 184.
40 Time: 4.38.
Projected Round: 3-4.
A return specialist, as you should be able to tell by his exceptional 40. Never had more than 31 receptions in a single season, but could that just be a product of the woeful offense he plays in?
Greg Carr*, Florida State
Height: 6-6. Weight: 205.
40 Time: 4.49.
Projected Round: 4.
Greg Carr caught 12 touchdowns but only 34 receptions in 2006. A nice end-zone target at 6-6.
Maurice Purify, Nebraska (9/29)
Height: 6-4. Weight: 210.
40 Time: 4.56.
Projected Round: 5.
Maurice Purify may have redeemed himself a bit, catching seven passes for 80 yards against USC.
There's no question that Maurice Purify's talented - he had 34 receptions for 630 yards and seven touchdowns last year - but he's had too many legal incidents the past year for my liking.
Prospects at FS
Jamie Silva, SS, Boston College
Height: 5-11. Weight: 208.
40 Time: 4.56.
Projected Round: 7.
A hard-hitter who picked off four passes in 2006 despite missing some time with a knee injury.
Prospects at CB
Brandon Flowers*, Virginia Tech
Height: 5-10. Weight: 190.
40 Time: 4.42.
Projected Round: 2.
Labeled as Virginia Tech's next star NFL-bound corner, following in the footsteps of DeAngelo Hall and Jimmy Williams. Brandon Flowers notched 3.5 sacks and three interceptions in 2006, earning a spot for himself on the All-ACC First Team.
Terrence Wheatley, Colorado
Height: 5-10. Weight: 170.
40 Time: 4.39.
Projected Round: 2-3.
Terrence Wheatley picked off three passes against Texas Tech.
Started all 12 games last year. Went through wrist surgery this winter.
Prospects at DE
Chris Long, Virginia
Height: 6-4. Weight: 284.
40 Time: 4.78.
Projected Round: Top 5 Pick.
Chris Long, who can play end in the 4-3 and possibly nose guard in the 3-4, had 57 tackles and five sacks in 2006. Son of former NFL star and current FOX analyst Howie Long.
Prospects at DT
Glenn Dorsey, LSU
Height: 6-2. Weight: 299.
40 Time: 5.12.
Projected Round: Top 5 Pick.
Glenn Dorsey has established himself as the premier defender in college football, capable of dominating the line of scrimmage every single week. He'll be one of the first three players taken in the 2008 NFL Draft. A strong, quick defensive tackle that can play in just about every scheme. Glenn Dorsey would have been a top-10 pick in the 2007 Draft.
Dre Moore, Maryland (9/14)
Height: 6-4. Weight: 298.
40 Time: 4.82.
Projected Round: 2.
Dre Moore played out of his mind against West Virginia. Steve Slaton simply couldn't run in Moore's direction, as the senior defensive tackle was in the Mountaineers' backfield the majority of the plays. He really improved his draft stock.
That 4.82 is not a misprint. Moore, who excels at stopping the run and getting to the quarterback, is a workout warrior. He'll bench 225 pounds at least 30 times. He has also notched a 34-inch vertical in the past. An expected, excellent combine may get Moore into the first round.
Anyway, those are some names that Denver should look out for.
Some Draft prospects at LB.
Xavier Adibi, Virginia Tech
Height: 6-2. Weight: 226.
40 Time: 4.57.
Projected Round: 1-2.
Xavier Adibi has registered three sacks each of the previous two seasons.
Erin Henderson*, Maryland
Height: 6-3. Weight: 233.
40 Time: 4.58.
Projected Round: 1-2.
A major reason Maryland made a late run to close the 2006 season. Registered 18 tackles in a crucial game against Clemson. Has tremendous speed for his size.
Prospects at RB
Kevin Smith*, Central Florida (12/1)
Height: 6-1. Weight: 211.
40 Time: 4.47.
Projected Round: Top 20 Pick.
Talk about literally carrying a team - through the beginning of November, Kevin Smith has 1,448 rushing yards, 17 receptions and 19 total touchdowns. His 40 time is solid considering his size. Don't look at his weak conference either; Smith gashed Texas for 149 yards and two scores on 27 carries.
Felix Jones*, Arkansas
Height: 6-0. Weight: 200.
40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round: Top 20 Pick.
The team that drafts Felix Jones will be getting an excellent running back and kick returner. Gained an amazing 7.6 yards per carry in 2006. Jones should wait until Darren McFadden's gone and he's the sole ball-carrier to enter the NFL Draft, even though he had a higher yards-per-carry average than his teammate.
Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech
Height: 6-1. Weight: 205.
40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round: 2.
Tashard Choice looked great against Notre Dame, compiling 196 yards and two touchdowns on just 26 carries. Choice's size-40 combination is better than Mike Hart's and Ray Rice's.
Lance Ball, Maryland
Height: 5-9. Weight: 225.
40 Time: 4.42.
Projected Round: 6.
Certainly has the size and speed to make it in the NFL, assuming he can match the 40 time I have. Ball, who splits carries with Keon Lattimore, led the team in rushing with 815 yards and 8 TDs in 2006.
Prospects at WR
Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech
Height: 5-10. Weight: 184.
40 Time: 4.38.
Projected Round: 3-4.
A return specialist, as you should be able to tell by his exceptional 40. Never had more than 31 receptions in a single season, but could that just be a product of the woeful offense he plays in?
Greg Carr*, Florida State
Height: 6-6. Weight: 205.
40 Time: 4.49.
Projected Round: 4.
Greg Carr caught 12 touchdowns but only 34 receptions in 2006. A nice end-zone target at 6-6.
Maurice Purify, Nebraska (9/29)
Height: 6-4. Weight: 210.
40 Time: 4.56.
Projected Round: 5.
Maurice Purify may have redeemed himself a bit, catching seven passes for 80 yards against USC.
There's no question that Maurice Purify's talented - he had 34 receptions for 630 yards and seven touchdowns last year - but he's had too many legal incidents the past year for my liking.
Prospects at FS
Jamie Silva, SS, Boston College
Height: 5-11. Weight: 208.
40 Time: 4.56.
Projected Round: 7.
A hard-hitter who picked off four passes in 2006 despite missing some time with a knee injury.
Prospects at CB
Brandon Flowers*, Virginia Tech
Height: 5-10. Weight: 190.
40 Time: 4.42.
Projected Round: 2.
Labeled as Virginia Tech's next star NFL-bound corner, following in the footsteps of DeAngelo Hall and Jimmy Williams. Brandon Flowers notched 3.5 sacks and three interceptions in 2006, earning a spot for himself on the All-ACC First Team.
Terrence Wheatley, Colorado
Height: 5-10. Weight: 170.
40 Time: 4.39.
Projected Round: 2-3.
Terrence Wheatley picked off three passes against Texas Tech.
Started all 12 games last year. Went through wrist surgery this winter.
Prospects at DE
Chris Long, Virginia
Height: 6-4. Weight: 284.
40 Time: 4.78.
Projected Round: Top 5 Pick.
Chris Long, who can play end in the 4-3 and possibly nose guard in the 3-4, had 57 tackles and five sacks in 2006. Son of former NFL star and current FOX analyst Howie Long.
Prospects at DT
Glenn Dorsey, LSU
Height: 6-2. Weight: 299.
40 Time: 5.12.
Projected Round: Top 5 Pick.
Glenn Dorsey has established himself as the premier defender in college football, capable of dominating the line of scrimmage every single week. He'll be one of the first three players taken in the 2008 NFL Draft. A strong, quick defensive tackle that can play in just about every scheme. Glenn Dorsey would have been a top-10 pick in the 2007 Draft.
Dre Moore, Maryland (9/14)
Height: 6-4. Weight: 298.
40 Time: 4.82.
Projected Round: 2.
Dre Moore played out of his mind against West Virginia. Steve Slaton simply couldn't run in Moore's direction, as the senior defensive tackle was in the Mountaineers' backfield the majority of the plays. He really improved his draft stock.
That 4.82 is not a misprint. Moore, who excels at stopping the run and getting to the quarterback, is a workout warrior. He'll bench 225 pounds at least 30 times. He has also notched a 34-inch vertical in the past. An expected, excellent combine may get Moore into the first round.
Anyway, those are some names that Denver should look out for.