DYNASTY: Top 2013 College Prospects (1 Viewer)

[Multiple Scores]

How do the late firsts stack up to other years (picks 8-12)???

 

[moderated]

This class is so awful at the top for 2013 rookie drafts. Anyone with perceived top picks should dump them to suckers who don't realize it yet.

 

[moderated]

How do the late firsts stack up to other years (picks 8-12)???

Pretty similar to most years, there are decent prospects, just no elite FF prospects at RB/WR.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

Why does Austin never get any love amongst draft guys? All he does is produce in short, intermidiate, and deep routes. He's an amazing kick returner. All of that and nobody thinks he's mor ethan a second rounder.

Most likely because he's 5'9 175lbs. Not a lot of NFL WR's fit that description and are fantasy relevant. I'm pretty sure there hasn't been a WR that small who has drafted in the first round in the last 20 years. Chances are he'll be a 2nd rounder.

 

[HAM]

Why does Austin never get any love amongst draft guys? All he does is produce in short, intermidiate, and deep routes. He's an amazing kick returner. All of that and nobody thinks he's mor ethan a second rounder.

Most likely because he's 5'9 175lbs. Not a lot of NFL WR's fit that description and are fantasy relevant. I'm pretty sure there hasn't been a WR that small who has drafted in the first round in the last 20 years. Chances are he'll be a 2nd rounder.

Closest 'comp' to size of 1st rounders I can think of is ted ginn which doesn't do him any good.

 

[cstu]

Pretty poor game by Geno Smith, to put it mildly. 29/55, 275 yards, 5.0 YPA, 1 TD.

I had a feeling he was going to have trouble in this game, but he still doesn't have a pick. Smith is in tough position every week being forced to put up 50 points a game just to win. If WV gets down early it's going to be tough for them to come back.

 

[cstu]

The regular posters in this thread know a lot more than I do about evaluating talent but it seems even the big names (Justin Hunter, Keenan Allen, Rashaun Woods, Lattimore) have questions marks about whether or not they'll even be adequate pros. I am going to try and move my picks, I just don't know whether the time is now or during draft season. Normally you can get more the closer you wait until the draft but with improving draft coverage nowadays I'm afraid all the draft gurus will be telling everyone about how weak these skill positions. I'd rather try to move the picks to teams who lose their playoff hopes and start thinking about next year asap.

seems like a tough spot to be in next year if you are truely rebuilding. If you area contender, Id be looking to move picks for sure right now

I feel pretty good about Allen, Geno Smith and Lattimore (assuming he keeps getting better). The top picks have less value than most years but I think it's a good enough year if all the underclassmen declare like I expect they should.

 

[SSOG]

The regular posters in this thread know a lot more than I do about evaluating talent but it seems even the big names (Justin Hunter, Keenan Allen, Rashaun Woods, Lattimore) have questions marks about whether or not they'll even be adequate pros. I am going to try and move my picks, I just don't know whether the time is now or during draft season. Normally you can get more the closer you wait until the draft but with improving draft coverage nowadays I'm afraid all the draft gurus will be telling everyone about how weak these skill positions. I'd rather try to move the picks to teams who lose their playoff hopes and start thinking about next year asap.

I had 4 picks in next year's draft, and I've been very quietly working behind the scenes to move them for 2014 firsts, instead. A lot of times, you can sneak a move like that through as an "upgrade" for the other owner to give them a little bit extra to push through a trade they're on the fence about. I've already gone from 4 2013s and 1 2014 to 2 2013s and 4 2014s, and I'm working on moving one more of the 2013s. I'll hold on to the last one, because I think the odds are it'll be a high one, and I think the value will be higher near draft time (or, who knows, there might even be a prospect I've fallen in love with by then).

 

[Team ROFLCOPTERS]

Why does Austin never get any love amongst draft guys? All he does is produce in short, intermidiate, and deep routes. He's an amazing kick returner. All of that and nobody thinks he's mor ethan a second rounder.

Most likely because he's 5'9 175lbs. Not a lot of NFL WR's fit that description and are fantasy relevant. I'm pretty sure there hasn't been a WR that small who has drafted in the first round in the last 20 years. Chances are he'll be a 2nd rounder.

Size will scare people but he isn't as big a risk as that size number would say. Austin has an uncanny ability to make people miss or not get hit in a clean fashion. I mean the guy doesn't even get tackled cleanly returning kicks. He will make a very good second rounder.

 

[Faust]

NFL draft risers, sliders: Week 7

Tony Pauline

Week 7 in the college football season was highlighted by the play of several offensive lineman and a pair of outstanding linebackers. Underrated players at the receiver and tight end positions also impressed NFL scouts. For a trio of highly regarded defensive prospects, the news was not so good (* - underclassmen).

Risers

• Taylor Lewan*/T/Michigan: Lewan is the first of three offensive linemen rising up draft boards and an underclassman who continues to impress scouts. He looked outstanding in all areas against the athletic Illinois defense. His skills in pass protection were outstanding as Lewan had no problem controlling defensive ends or oncoming blitzers. Watching the big left tackle easily move down the field blocking in motion was especially impressive. There's a very good chance Lewan will be the first offensive tackle selected if he enters the 2013 NFL Draft.

• Travis Frederick/OL/Wisconsin: The Badgers offensive line has recently seen a resurgence and Frederick is leading the way. The athletic blocker moved to center this season after spending his sophomore campaign at guard and was a one-man wrecking crew against Purdue. Frederick dominated on the line of scrimmage, opening large holes in the middle of the field for the running game. He also displayed terrific skill in motion, annihilating linebackers on the second level. Frederick looks NFL ready and will be a top-75 choice if he enters the draft.

• Lane Johnson/T/Oklahoma: Johnson was dominant during the Sooners' lopsided victory over Texas, manhandling a pair of talented Longhorns defensive ends. Johnson is known for his pass protection skills, yet he has displayed improved run-blocking strength and also showed great ability blocking in motion. His play was responsible for several long gainers early in the game which set the tone for Oklahoma. Johnson entered the season with middle-round grades yet has moved into the draft's second day and now ranks as a top-100 choice.

• Manti Te'o/ILB/Notre Dame: Te'o was criticized by some after bypassing the NFL draft last April, yet no one is questioning his decision anymore. The intense defender came into his senior season lighter and quicker, which has only enhanced his play. Te'o has shown improved skills in coverage, which complements his legendary intensity. His 11 tackles against Stanford included a goal-line stop in overtime, which helped keep Notre Dame undefeated. Te'o is NFL ready and offers the skills to quickly start at the next level. Expect him to break into the top half of round one next April.

• Brandon Coleman*/WR/Rutgers: Coleman is in the midst of a breakout season and the big-play threat is making scouts take notice of his talents. He's a big bodied wide out (6-foot-5, 215 pounds) who is becoming more consistent. Coleman turned in his most productive game of the year during the victory over Syracuse, with six catches for 104 yards (17.3 average). In six games this season Coleman has averaged 15.4 yards on 18 receptions, five of which resulted in scores. He possesses the physical skills to line up as a No. 1 wide out in the NFL and his game comes with great upside potential.

• CJ Mosley*/LB/Alabama: The versatile linebacker has shown improvement in every area of the game and is becoming one of the leaders of Alabama's dominant defense. He led all Tide defenders during the victory over Missouri with 12 tackles and two sacks. His 51 tackles in six games this season is almost double the total of any teammate. Mosley did more than just stuff the run against Missouri as the athletic junior excelled in coverage, shutting down the Tigers passing game in the middle of the defense. Mosley offers potential at a number of linebacker spots and now carries a top-60 draft grade.



• Jordan Poyer/CB/Oregon State: Poyer, one of the most underrated cornerbacks from the senior class, continues to play stellar football. Coming off a three-interception performance against Washington State, he once again stood out in the victory over BYU. Poyer broke up a pass late in the game as the Cougars were driving for the go-ahead score, then later picked off a pass which sealed the victory. He's a tough, feisty corner with great ball skills and a feel for the game. Poyer lacks elite cornerback speed, but will do well at the next level as a nickel back in zone coverage.

• Zach Sudfeld/TE/Nevada: Scouts took a wait-and-see approach toward Sudfeld entering the season after the big tight end sat on the sidelines for much of last year with a leg injury. Thus far, Sudfeld has given NFL decision makers a lot to think about with his play in 2012. The athletic prospect offers the size (6-5, 255 pounds), speed (4.75 in the 40) and skill to play at the next level and he's slowly rounding into form. His totals after seven games include 25 receptions for 276 yards with five scores. Sudfeld impresses scouts as both a pass catcher and in-line blocker. He's moved into the late rounds and projects as a productive No. 2 tight end for the next level.

• Christian Jones*/OLB/Florida State: The Seminoles seem to offer the NFL a never-ending stream of talented linebackers and Jones is destined to be next. He's an athletic prospect with the speed necessary to go sideline-to-sideline defending the run and pass. His eight tackles in the victory over Boston College topped all Seminole defenders. Jones continues to develop in all areas of his game and has scouts believing he'll be a top-60 choice once he enters the draft.

Sliders

• Kawann Short/DT/Purdue: Short was almost non-existent during the loss to Wisconsin, a game in which the Badgers totaled 467 yards rushing and 21 first downs on the ground. He was regularly handled in one-on-one blocking and at times struggled to find the ball. Justifiably ranked as a first-round pick entering the season, Short must quickly turn it around or he'll fall into the draft's second day.



• Michael Buchanan/DE/Illinois: Buchanan entered the season graded as a potential top-75 pick but his pedestrian play this year may push him out of the draft's second day. He's totaled just 2.5 sacks this season and posted only four tackles in the blowout loss to Wisconsin. Buchanan previously displayed the skills necessary to line-up as a starter at the next level but has disappointed scouts during his season.

• Kevin Reddick/LB/North Carolina: In the past Reddick, has been a dominant defender who regularly imposed his will on opponents. This year, it's been a different story as the senior has been minimally productive and seems very slow to react on the field. Reddick has moved from a potential third round choice into the later rounds of the draft.

Notes

• After playing uninspired football for most of the season's first half, Wisconsin running back Monteé Ball seems to have gotten his mojo back. Against Purdue, the potential first-round pick amassed 247 rushing yards on 29 carries. Next weeks game against Michigan State, a team that boasts one of the best run defenses in the Big Ten, will be a better test to gauge Ball's comeback.

• Iowa cornerback Micah Hyde, who was arrested last weekend for public intoxication and interference with official acts, returned to the field with a vengeance against Michigan State. The middle round pick posted seven tackles and shut down Spartan receivers during Iowa's overtime victory.

 

[Faust]

Weekly Rewind: Mizzou's Richardson stars while WVU's Smith stumbles

By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

Each week, we rewind the game film to highlight the star-worthy performances that could impact the 2013 draft rankings.

Little went right for Missouri in a rain-soaked SEC showdown Saturday vs. No. 1 Alabama.

One relative ray of sunshine for Gary Pinkel's team was the stellar play of redshirt junior defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson.

Despite often facing double-teams from Alabama center Barrett Jones, the reigning Outland Trophy winner and right guard Anthony Steen, Richardson recorded a game-high 14 tackles, including the sack of Tide quarterback A.J. McCarron that caused every Alabama fan to hold their breath while their star signal-caller was helped to the sideline.

While Bama faithful might have locked onto McCarron as team doctors looked closely at his right knee on the training table, the 6-foot-3, 295-pound Richardson whose efforts captured the attention of talent evaluators.

Demonstrating a unique combination of size, strength and agility, Richardson was a constant burr in the side of McCarron, showing the flexibility and technique to "get skinny" through gaps and pressure the quarterback, as well as force Alabama's running backs to adjust shortly after getting the handoff.

With star quarterback James Franklin sidelined (sprained knee), everything had to go perfectly for Missouri to be able to give Alabama a competitive game. The Tigers hardly got that, fighting the typically dominant size, strength and athleticism from the Crimson Tide, as well as a torrential rain and lightning storm that led to the game being delayed 38 minutes in the second quarter. Even with Richardson's stellar game, Alabama rushed for 362 yards in this contest, often by rushing up the middle.

To do so, they had to trick Richardson, who often lined up in the A-gap between Jones and Steen and consistently beat them with his quickness. The Tide's veteran duo allowed him to do so, at times, giving him a free rush upfield before sealing him off and even occasionally knocking him to the ground with effective trap blocks. Often, however, Richardson bounced back up and pursued hard laterally and downfield, helping to ease some of the concerns scouts have held about his consistency.

With so much attention being heaped upon talented defensive tackles Johnathan Hankins and Star Lotulelei (among others), Richardson has quietly played just as well this season and he's doing it against SEC competition.

A year ago, the combination of pass rush ability and impressive performances against top SEC offensive lines helped Fletcher Cox emerge as the top defensive tackle in the 2012 NFL draft. Richardson could be poised for a similar leap up draft boards.

Quick-hitters:

*As dramatic as Geno Smith's ascent up the Heisman and NFL draft board had been over the course of West Virginia's first five games in 2012, the balloon certainly popped Saturday in the No. 5 Mountaineers' humbling 49-14 loss to Texas Tech. Smith, who entered the game completing a staggering 81.4 percent of his passes and averaging 12.02 yards per throw this year, saw less than 52.7 percent (29 of 55) of his throws caught for a total of 275 yards in this contest. He did not throw an interception, continuing his streak of not giving the ball up to the opposing defense all season long, but also threw only one touchdown. Smith's previous low for the season was the three he had tossed in a 31-21 win over Maryland Sept. 22. Perhaps most disconcerting for scouts is that Smith and his West Virginia teammates struggled against a defense that frankly isn't blessed with a great deal of future NFL talent. Nevertheless, Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville and defensive coordinator Art Kaufman created a superb game plan that resulted in Smith consistently being forced up and out of the pocket with his receivers struggling to find free lanes, as they'd so easily over the first month and a half of the year.

*Considering that he is the reigning Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Rutgers' linebacker Khaseem Greene hasn't generated the national attention that he deserves. After a dominant performance against Syracuse and their legitimate NFL caliber quarterback Ryan Nassib, however, that may be about to change. Greene was dynamic in this contest, almost single-handedly giving the undefeated Scarlet Knights their sixth victory of the year, posting 14 tackles, three forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery in the 23-15 win. Statistics, however, only tell part of the story. The way in which Greene made his plays is what will have NFL scouts paying close attention. Greene showed some savvy as a pass rusher, coming off the edge to sack Nassib and force one fumble, as well as closing speed on a delayed A-gap blitz to hit the Syracuse quarterback and force another. Greene's versatility was demonstrated in the third quarter on the interception, getting a nice initial shove to knock senior tight end David Stephens to the ground before dropping off to step in front of another senior, wideout Alec Lemon's well-run post route. If Lemon didn't hustle back to tackle Greene from behind 25 yards later, the linebacker may have returned the interception for a touchdown, as he'd successfully weaved through the masses and was breaking into the open field.

*The quarterbacks earned virtually all of the national hype leading up to the USC-Washington game, but Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian created some local buzz prior to kickoff with his praise of cornerback Desmond Trufant. Sarkisian announced that he'd been told by NFL scouts that Trufant, a senior starting his 41st consecutive game, was being rated among the top "two or three" cornerbacks in the country. While NFLDraftScout.com currently ranks the younger brother of Seattle Seahawks' Marcus and the New York Jets' Isaiah Trufant as the No. 4 senior corner in the country, it was easy to see against the Trojans why talent evaluators are so high on the 5-11, 190 pounder. Lining up against both halves of the Trojans' dynamic duo of Marqise Lee and Robert Woods, Trufant demonstrated the agility, fluidity and closing speed to help keep the high-octane USC passing attack largely under wraps. Under new defensive coordinator Josh Wilcox, Trufant has been allowed to play more bump and run, maximizing the athletic ability that some close to him believe is even better than that of either of his brothers. When Trufant was beaten Saturday night it was largely when he bailed out and USC's receivers were able to work themselves free on drag routes across the middle. Scouts appreciate Trufant's coverage skills but furthermore acknowledge that his grade has risen this year because he's been more physical as a run defender. Taking advantage of the national stage, Trufant contributed on special teams in this game, as well, blocking a USC field goal in the third quarter.

*When a team is beaten as soundly as the Texas Longhorns were by Oklahoma in this year's version of the Red River Romp err. ... Rivalry, it is easy to cast blame. Three turnovers by Texas quarterback David Ash certainly didn't help, especially since Oklahoma senior Landry Jones was as accurate on deep and intermediate passes as he's been all season long. The Longhorns' inability to slow the Sooners' ground game, however, played the most critical role in their 63-21 defeat. Typically, when a team struggles to defend the run, the blame can be centered on their front seven. When Texas defense coordinator Manny Diaz reviews the tape what will stand out -- especially by sophomore free safety Mykkele Thompson (No. 2) -- is shoddy open-field tackling on the back end.

It resulted in many of Oklahoma's biggest plays. Thompson was simply run over by the Sooners' Tim Tebow clone, Blake Bell, on his first of four rushing touchdowns on the game. Bell's physicality may have sapped Thompson of his confidence throughout the rest of the contest, as he was tentative when attempting to make open-field tackles throughout the rest of the game. He was in position to make the open field tackle on running back Damian Williams' 95-yard touchdown jaunt in the first quarter but failed to do so and was repeatedly left grasping at air by Sooners' fullback Trey Millard.

 

[Faust]

Risers and Fallers - Dane Brugler -- (Updated 10/10/2012)

 

[Xue]

Why does Austin never get any love amongst draft guys? All he does is produce in short, intermidiate, and deep routes. He's an amazing kick returner. All of that and nobody thinks he's mor ethan a second rounder.

Most likely because he's 5'9 175lbs. Not a lot of NFL WR's fit that description and are fantasy relevant. I'm pretty sure there hasn't been a WR that small who has drafted in the first round in the last 20 years. Chances are he'll be a 2nd rounder.

Size will scare people but he isn't as big a risk as that size number would say. Austin has an uncanny ability to make people miss or not get hit in a clean fashion. I mean the guy doesn't even get tackled cleanly returning kicks. He will make a very good second rounder.

Tavon Austin = Jerrel Jernigan.

 

[KellysHeroes]

This class is so awful at the top for 2013 rookie drafts. Anyone with perceived top picks should dump them to suckers who don't realize it yet.

no matter what the class looks like, during draft time those picks will be worth a lot more than they are now and if you still feel that way then draft time is the time to move them. Besides, no matter the out look theres always studs to be found in a rookie draft

 

[CalBear]

Keenan Allen update:

It was only Washington State, but Allen continued his Man Against Boys act with 11/166 and a TD. The TD was a thing of beauty, with a great plant and cut on a box-in route, then two moves in the open field to beat defenders, and outrunning the rest of the team to the end zone. (Like I said, it's only WSU, but still).

Three others to follow on Cal:

CJ Anderson (15/122/2TD today): Anderson is the most traditional NFL-style back the Bears have had in a while. He's big and strong with good moves and body lean. He's not eligible this year but he'll be talked about next year.

Brandon Bigelow (8/59 today): Bigelow's speed and moves are almost as good as Jahvid Best's. But he doesn't have the desire for contact that Best did, which might limit him at the NFL level. Tonight he had a number of good plays, but one where he totally stopped running because he was anticipating a hit; that never happened for Best. Also not eligible this year.

Richard Rogers (TE): Not much tonight, but he's a huge target (6'4" 265) who seems to be in the Gronkowski mold. Also will have to wait for 2014.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

Why does Austin never get any love amongst draft guys? All he does is produce in short, intermidiate, and deep routes. He's an amazing kick returner. All of that and nobody thinks he's mor ethan a second rounder.

Most likely because he's 5'9 175lbs. Not a lot of NFL WR's fit that description and are fantasy relevant. I'm pretty sure there hasn't been a WR that small who has drafted in the first round in the last 20 years. Chances are he'll be a 2nd rounder.

Size will scare people but he isn't as big a risk as that size number would say. Austin has an uncanny ability to make people miss or not get hit in a clean fashion. I mean the guy doesn't even get tackled cleanly returning kicks. He will make a very good second rounder.

I think that's very possible too, especially if he runs in the 4.3s at the combine like nfldraftscout is predicting. I like his pass catching ability a lot more than that of DeSean Jackson who's been a relatively successful small 2nd round WR himself based on speed alone.

 

[JAA]

Why does Austin never get any love amongst draft guys? All he does is produce in short, intermidiate, and deep routes. He's an amazing kick returner. All of that and nobody thinks he's mor ethan a second rounder.

Most likely because he's 5'9 175lbs. Not a lot of NFL WR's fit that description and are fantasy relevant. I'm pretty sure there hasn't been a WR that small who has drafted in the first round in the last 20 years. Chances are he'll be a 2nd rounder.

Size will scare people but he isn't as big a risk as that size number would say. Austin has an uncanny ability to make people miss or not get hit in a clean fashion. I mean the guy doesn't even get tackled cleanly returning kicks. He will make a very good second rounder.

I think that's very possible too, especially if he runs in the 4.3s at the combine like nfldraftscout is predicting. I like his pass catching ability a lot more than that of DeSean Jackson who's been a relatively successful small 2nd round WR himself based on speed alone.

Huge WVU and Eagles homer hereHe is small, very small, smaller than DJax. He will get knocked around hard in the NFL. I could see him as a Devin Hester type, but I dont know how he could be a Welker in the NFL, just too small IMHO and I love Tavon

 

[doowain]

Gio Bernard with another big game. Saw this one. Very impressed with him. Seems to do everything really well. His balance and vision seem to be top notch. Also will stay on the field on 3rd down. Was the best player on the field yet again.

Another guy I was impressed with in this game was UNC TE Eric Ebron. Big, fast, athletic. HUGE catch radius. Saw Renner just throw it up to him on a 20 yard out and he just skied above everyone to bring it down. Looks big enough to block in the NFL as well.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

Why does Austin never get any love amongst draft guys? All he does is produce in short, intermidiate, and deep routes. He's an amazing kick returner. All of that and nobody thinks he's mor ethan a second rounder.

Most likely because he's 5'9 175lbs. Not a lot of NFL WR's fit that description and are fantasy relevant. I'm pretty sure there hasn't been a WR that small who has drafted in the first round in the last 20 years. Chances are he'll be a 2nd rounder.

Size will scare people but he isn't as big a risk as that size number would say. Austin has an uncanny ability to make people miss or not get hit in a clean fashion. I mean the guy doesn't even get tackled cleanly returning kicks. He will make a very good second rounder.

I think that's very possible too, especially if he runs in the 4.3s at the combine like nfldraftscout is predicting. I like his pass catching ability a lot more than that of DeSean Jackson who's been a relatively successful small 2nd round WR himself based on speed alone.

Huge WVU and Eagles homer hereHe is small, very small, smaller than DJax. He will get knocked around hard in the NFL. I could see him as a Devin Hester type, but I dont know how he could be a Welker in the NFL, just too small IMHO and I love Tavon

Although DJax is bigger, he doesn't use his height to his advantage at all, he plays like someone who's 5'8 150lbs. And Tavon is only about 1 inch smaller and 10 lbs lighter than Welker, so I think it's possible he could put on some weight and be similar size to Welker; although I think even then his fantasy relevance will be highly dependent on what team ends up drafting him.

 

[Faust]

This class is so awful at the top for 2013 rookie drafts. Anyone with perceived top picks should dump them to suckers who don't realize it yet.

no matter what the class looks like, during draft time those picks will be worth a lot more than they are now and if you still feel that way then draft time is the time to move them. Besides, no matter the out look theres always studs to be found in a rookie draft

The combine and pro days leading up to the draft do wonders to boost the stock of a lot of players and the hype that goes on during this time period often pumps up the value of your rookie draft picks.

 

[BigTex]

Gio Bernard with another big game. Saw this one. Very impressed with him. Seems to do everything really well. His balance and vision seem to be top notch. Also will stay on the field on 3rd down. Was the best player on the field yet again. Another guy I was impressed with in this game was UNC TE Eric Ebron. Big, fast, athletic. HUGE catch radius. Saw Renner just throw it up to him on a 20 yard out and he just skied above everyone to bring it down. Looks big enough to block in the NFL as well.

Gio is very under-rated, will be in the top 3 in his draft class.

 

[EBF]

A few other draft-eligible guys doing well this year:

RB Ladarius Perkins, Missipppi State - One of the most productive backs in the SEC so far and appears to have decent pro potential.

RB Silas Redd, USC - Not my favorite back, but he has a decent all-around skill set and could be a stopgap starter at the next level. I could see him going as high as the 2nd-3rd round range.

WR Marcus Davis, Virginia Tech - Was on my radar going into this season because of his size/speed metrics. Seems to have finally put it together.

WR Quinton Patton, Louisiana Tech - Liked this guy a lot coming into the season. Natural football player. Only question is measurables. Could be a 2nd or 3rd round pick and end up something like Nate Burleson or Stevie Johnson in the NFL.

WR Markus Wheaton, Oregon State - Bumping up his stock with a solid year. Doesn't look like a lock to become a starter at the next level, but certainly has enough ability to get drafted. I'm guessing he's a 3rd-4th round pick.

WR Chad Bumphis, Missippi State - The school's all-time leader in receptions reminds me a little bit of Stevie Johnson. Solid possession receiver with a little more athletic ability than his measurables would indicate.

WR Ace Sanders, South Carolina - More of a return man than anything, but has dynamic skills with the ball in his hands like Andrew Hawkins.

I think this will be a decent rookie class outside the top 5 picks. There's not a single player in this class I'd feel good about using a top 5 pick on, but there are definitely some talented players out there and some good sleeper candidates who could have solid careers out of the rounds 2-4 range of the NFL draft.

 

[bengalbuck]

This is a better skill position draft than many here are giving it credit for. Should be about average. I like Geno, Lattimore, Allen, Bernard, etc. I also think with so many guys coming off of injuries last season (Hunter, Graham, Woods, Lattimore), the class could look better by the combine and Senior Bowl as guys slowly re-gain some of that lost burst. There aren't any AJ Greens or Andrew Lucks, but those guys don't come around that often. I actually am more worried about the 2014 rookie group than the 2013 group. RB and QB look especially weak in 2014. Watkins and Lee look like the only sure things at WR and even those guys will have holes poked in their games the same way we've seen with Woods and Allen this year. 2014 looks like it'll be an above average WR class, but below average everywhere else.

Obviously a long ways to go, but this freshman class of RBs looks really good and 2015 should be the best RB class in a little while.

It's always tough to judge these things ahead of time though. Not many had guys like Stephen Hill, AJ Jenkins, Josh Gordon, Isaiah Pead, etc. on the radar at this time last year.

 

[pacman_fl]

WR Quinton Patton, Louisiana Tech - Liked this guy a lot coming into the season. Natural football player. Only question is measurables. Could be a 2nd or 3rd round pick and end up something like Nate Burleson or Stevie Johnson in the NFL.

I like this call EBF.

 

[Faust]

Tigers' trench play sparks LSU to victory

Posted Oct. 14, 2012 @ 6:35 p.m. ET

By Nolan Nawrocki

LSU faced a must-win situation to keep hopes of competing for a national championship alive and was entering Death Valley with a makeshift offensive line to take on Steve Spurrier’s high-octane No. 3 ranked South Carolina squad, featuring college football’s most feared pass rusher, Jadeveon Clowney.

Behind the strength of an offensive line with two freshmen starting and the power of junior wrecking-ball FB J.C. Copeland, LSU rallied to a 23-21 victory, holding Clowney without a sack and set the tone in the run game, with powerful freshman Jeremy Hill plowing through one of the nation’s most talented defenses.

Most impressive was the performance of LSU’s star-studded defensive line, which held South Carolina junior RB Marcus Lattimore to 35 yards on 13 carries (including a key stuff on 3rd-and-2), controlled the line of scrimmage and kept Gamecocks QB Connor Shaw out of rhythm and forcing the ball.

LSU junior DE Sam Montgomery, a South Carolina native who served as captain for the Tigers, came out playing with emotion from the outset and ratcheted up two sacks on the day, including one on a critical 3rd-and-11 situation with barely six minutes remaining in the game. With juniors DE Barkevious Mingo, DT Bennie Logan and sophomore Anthony Johnson also rushing hard, Shaw never looked comfortable in the pocket.

The turning point of the game came when junior WR Ace Sanders slipped along the sideline and Tigers junior FS Eric Reid intercepted the errant throw, setting up the Tigers for the go-ahead score early in the fourth quarter. Reid is not an elite athlete, but his instincts against the run and pass are outstanding and he has shown a knack for being in the right place at the right time throughout his career.

Coming off a 14-6 upset loss to Florida last week and without senior ORT Alex Hurst, who was a no-show for the South Carolina contest amid speculation that he left the team earlier in the week, LSU showed the resolve to overcome a halftime deficit and stay in the race.

The most spectacular big play for the Gamecocks came on a 50-yard punt return by Sanders, who shows superb vision, agility and burst to become an impact returner at the next level.

• In a 59-57 loss to Texas A&M, Louisiana Tech senior WR Quinton Patton stole the show, grabbing 21-233-4, after only one 10-yard grab coming in the first quarter. Most of the 6-0 1⁄8, 201-pound receiver’s production came after the catch on lateral tosses. He’s not a refined route runner, but he catches everything thrown his way, is slippery after the catch and has a passion for the game that could allow him to thrive in an NFL offense featuring a lot of speed cuts where he creates most of his separation.

• After a slow start this season, Wisconsin senior RB Montee Ball returned to form against Purdue, breaking the Big Ten record for career TDs (he now has 72) while rushing for a career-high 247 yards on 29 carries. The Badgers’ ground game has taken time to get started after new OL coach Mike Markuson was replaced by graduate assistant Bart Miller in the second week of the season, but Ball is finding his own ways to create yardage, as he did shaking two tacklers for a 67-yard run early in the second half. Despite his struggles, he has received first-round grades from NFL evaluators passing through Wisconsin this fall and still might be able to overcome a rough offseason.

• The Geno Smith hype machine has been in full force since he rewrote the record books against an awful Baylor defense, but the balloon was deflated against Texas Tech, who followed the lead of Texas last week and brought an array of pressure to confuse the Heisman Trophy front-runner while slamming the short-passing game where Smith has made his biggest mark. The result — the West Virginia QB threw nearly as many incompletions in this game as he previously had all season, finishing with 29-of-55 passing (52.7-percent clip) in a 49-14 Red Raiders rout.

• Stanford senior RB Stepfan Taylor ran hard on four consecutive tries in overtime against Notre Dame and by some angles, appeared to score on his final try, but referees ruled that he was down before the ball crossed the goal line, giving the Irish a 20-13 victory to remain undefeated. Taylor, a tough, downhill runner who carries Stanford’s offense, had little room to run against a stout ND defensive line that controlled the line of scrimmage.

• Notre Dame and Stanford have established a solid pipeline of tight ends entering the NFL, with Coby Fleener (34th overall in 2012) and Kyle Rudolph (43rd in ’11) being the first selected in recent years. The top receivers from each program, Notre Dame’s Tyler Eifert and Stanford’s Zach Ertz, could contend for the distinction as the top pass-catching tight end in the 2013 NFL draft if both underclassmen declare as anticipated. Eifert and Ertz aren’t the only tight ends at the schools worth mentioning. There’s talented Stanford senior Levine Toilolo and ND sophomores Ben Koyack and Troy Niklas (a converted rush ’backer).

 

[EBF]

It's always tough to judge these things ahead of time though. Not many had guys like Stephen Hill, AJ Jenkins, Josh Gordon, Isaiah Pead, etc. on the radar at this time last year.

An important point to remember. I'd venture to guess that roughly half of all eventual first round NFL picks aren't touted as such until their final college season. People knew about guys like RG3, David Wilson, Doug Martin, and Kendall Wright going into last year, but they were seen as middle round prospects and not obvious locks for the first round. There are late risers every season. We're seeing a little bit of that this year with guys like Geno Smith and Marcus Davis, and there might be more to come. I've traded one 2013 1st for a 2014 1st, but it's not something that I'll be looking to do in every league. I think the perceived value of these 2013 picks is going to go up in the coming 4-5 months as people realize there are actually some talented players in this draft.

 

[Faust]

Notre Dame's Manti Te'o: College football's best defensive player

By Bucky Brooks

Analyst, NFL.com and NFL Network

Manti Te'o is the best defensive player in college football, and it's not even close.

While fans of Georgia's Jarvis Jones, South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney and several others might take umbrage with that statement, I will not back down from my assessment after watching the Notre Dame star dominate another game from his linebacker position.

Te'o finished with 11 tackles and a ton of teeth-rattling hits, helping Notre Dame notch a 20-13 overtime win against Stanford on Saturday. While he didn't come up with a game-changing turnover or force Stanford to lose any yards, Te'o was an integral part of a defense that controlled the line of scrimmage against a Cardinal squad that routinely overwhelms opponents with its physical running game.

Closely watching Te'o throughout the game, I came away impressed with his athleticism, aggressiveness and instincts. He flowed quickly to the ball and delivered punishing shots on runners in the hole. Most importantly, Te'o was the pivotal player on the game-clinching goal-line stand that kept Stanford's Stepfan Taylor from reaching the end zone on four consecutive plays inside the Irish 5-yard line. I broke down that four-play sequence; Te'o was in the middle of the action throughout. He repeatedly finished off Taylor before he could get the ball across the plane. Te'o's willingness to lay big hits on the runner kept the Cardinal star from reaching paydirt with the game on the line.

Te'o's standout production against Stanford can be added to an impressive senior résumé that includes superb performances against Navy (eight tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception), Michigan (eight tackles and two interceptions) and Michigan State (12 tackles). It's hard to find many issues or concerns about Te'o's ability to develop into a difference maker at the next level.

WORD ON THE STREET

The proliferation of the tight end in the NFL has forced scouts to covet safeties with cornerback-like skills. Prior to the season, Texas' Kenny Vaccaro and LSU's Eric Reid were considered the top safeties in the country due to their impressive physical dimensions, athleticism and playmaking ability. However, both guys have shown inconsistencies in their play, and scouts aren't sure if they would be immediate difference makers at the next level.

In speaking with an AFC South personnel director, he cited Vaccaro's tackling as a primary concern, following his disappointing performance against Oklahoma State a few weeks back. The scout told me that he still believes Vaccaro is the top hybrid safety in the college game, but would need to show more physicality in his play to earn high marks as a prospect. In discussing Reid's game, the scout called him a "box area" player with the tenacity and physicality that you look for at the position. But he also expressed concerns about Reid's ability to play in space. With several NFL teams utilizing tight ends as No. 1 targets in the passing game, safeties become integral pieces on Sunday. It is important for both of these players to show continued improvement in many areas.

STOCK UP

Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama

Alabama is quickly becoming known as Tailback U. Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson parlayed collegiate success into first-round selections in the NFL Draft. And there doesn't seem to be any drop-off with Lacy and Yeldon, who both put on a show on Saturday night in Columbia, Mo. Against Missouri, the duo combined for 321 rushing yards on 36 attempts with five rushing touchdowns. Lacy, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound redshirt junior with a hard-nosed running style, paved the way with 177 yards on a variety of punishing runs between the tackles. Yeldon, a 6-2, 216-pound true freshman with an exceptional combination of speed, strength and power, did the majority of his damage on an assortment of off-tackle runs that allowed him to get to the perimeter quickly. With the deadliest combination of runners in college football, it is not surprising the Crimson Tide have little difficulty dispatching opponents with suspect defenses.

Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M

If you haven't paid close attention to the Aggies, you've missed out on one of college football's most electrifying playmakers in Manziel. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound freshman has torched the SEC with his impressive skills as a dual-threat quarterback, and few opponents have discovered the right formula for limiting his impact on the game. Against an overmatched Louisiana Tech defense, Manziel displayed his full arsenal of skills while amassing 565 yards of total offense (an SEC record). Although the numbers are certainly impressive on their own merit, it was the way Manziel generated his production that stood out the most in my mind. He completed 24 of 40 passes for 395 yards and three touchdowns, and added 191 rushing yards on 19 attempts with another three scores. Those numbers are impressive in every aspect and reflect the significant impact Manziel makes with the ball in his hands. Although many have anointed West Virginia's Geno Smith as the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, Manziel should start to garner some attention as one of college football's top players.

Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU

The Tigers' dynamic defensive-end tandem was expected to dominate the SEC with crazy athleticism and pure talent, but the duo had been relatively quiet for most of the year. However, Montgomery and Mingo brought their "A" game in a 23-21 win over South Carolina, combining for seven tackles and three sacks. Each flashed exceptional speed and quickness off the edge, while also displaying the athleticism and movement skills to dominate isolated matchups. With Montgomery and Mingo wreaking havoc off the edges, LSU was able to harass Connor Shaw into a dismal performance that put a damper on the Gamecocks' national championship dreams.

Damien Williams, RB, Oklahoma

The Red River Rivalry is routinely a showcase of NFL-caliber talent, and it certainly didn't disappoint this year, with Williams enjoying a breakout performance against Texas. Williams ran 22 times for 167 yards, including a 95-yard touchdown that broke open the game in the first quarter. In helping the Sooners run roughshod over the Longhorns, Williams displayed a mix of speed, quickness and power that enabled him to be effective on an assortment of off-tackle runs. Most importantly, he showed the ability to make defenders miss at the second level, turning short runs into big gains in the open field. Given Williams' explosiveness, burst and big-play ability, the Sooners finally have a balanced attack that can present problems for Big 12 foes.

Markus Wheaton, WR, Oregon State

Lost amid the big-name receivers in the Pac-12 is a burgeoning playmaker in Corvallis, Ore., with exceptional hands and running skills. Wheaton has emerged as a legitimate No. 1 receiver for the Beavers, and his ability to anchor the passing game has helped the team overcome the loss of starting quarterback Sean Mannion. Against BYU, Wheaton put on a spectacular performance that showcased his versatility as a difference maker. Wheaton finished with five receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns, adding a 12-yard touchdown on an incredible end-around run. With Oregon State quietly climbing up the charts and into national championship contention behind Wheaton's impressive play, it won't be long before scouts flock to see his game up close and personal.

STOCK DOWN

Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

After enjoying a sensational start to the 2012 season, Smith delivered a lackluster performance against Texas Tech in a 49-14 loss on Saturday. Smith completed just 29 of 55 passes for 275 yards and one touchdown, failing to get the Mountaineers' high-powered offense going against the Red Raiders' defense. Although Smith avoided turning the ball over, he was off the mark on several routine tosses and never looked comfortable throwing from a collapsing pocket. Smith's performance ultimately will not cost him significantly in the race for the Heisman Trophy, but it did allow scouts to see some of his flaws in a big game.

 

[Faust]

Sorry for the poor formatting:

SCOUTS INC.'S TOP 32

Player Pos. School Grade

1. Jarvis Jones* OLB Georgia 95

2. Star Lotulelei DT Utah 95

3. Geno Smith QB W. Virginia 95

4. Matt Barkley QB USC 94

5. Barkevious Mingo* DE LSU 94

6. Chance Warmack G Alabama 94

7. Johnathan Jenkins DT Georgia 93

8. Manti Te'o ILB Notre Dame 93

9. Bjoern Werner* DE Florida St 93

10. Alec Ogletree* ILB Georgia 92

11. Justin Hunter* WR Tennessee 92

12. Johnathan Hankins* DT Ohio State 92

13. Corey Lemonier* DE Auburn 92

14. Jonathan Cooper OG N. Carolina 92

15. Sam Montgomery* DE LSU 92

16. Sylvester Williams DT N. Carolina 91

17. Dee Milliner* CB Alabama 91

18. Bennie Logan* DT LSU 90

19. Dallas Thomas OT Tennessee 90

20. Robert Woods* WR USC 90

21. Johnthan Banks CB Miss. St 89

22. Luke Joeckel* OT Texas A&M 89

23. Kawann Short DT Purdue 89

24. Logan Thomas* QB Va. Tech 89

25. Ricky Wagner OT Wisconsin 88

26. Marcus Lattimore* RB S. Carolina 88

27. Shawn Williams S Georgia 88

28. Keenan Allen* WR California 88

29. Jesse Williams DT Alabama 88

30. Matt Elam* S Florida 87

31. Shariff Floyd* DT Florida 87

32. Tyler Wilson QB Arkansas 87

* Denotes draft-eligible non-senior

 

[JPeso]

It's always tough to judge these things ahead of time though. Not many had guys like Stephen Hill, AJ Jenkins, Josh Gordon, Isaiah Pead, etc. on the radar at this time last year.

An important point to remember. I'd venture to guess that roughly half of all eventual first round NFL picks aren't touted as such until their final college season. People knew about guys like RG3, David Wilson, Doug Martin, and Kendall Wright going into last year, but they were seen as middle round prospects and not obvious locks for the first round. There are late risers every season. We're seeing a little bit of that this year with guys like Geno Smith and Marcus Davis, and there might be more to come. I've traded one 2013 1st for a 2014 1st, but it's not something that I'll be looking to do in every league. I think the perceived value of these 2013 picks is going to go up in the coming 4-5 months as people realize there are actually some talented players in this draft.

Of course every year there are guys that "come on" during their eventual final college season and/or at the combine, but this class isn't top heavy at all. Every draft since I've been in dynasty had better TOP TIER options. Sure, there will be some very nice players out of this draft, but even so, it's weak as compared.

 

[EBF]

It's always tough to judge these things ahead of time though. Not many had guys like Stephen Hill, AJ Jenkins, Josh Gordon, Isaiah Pead, etc. on the radar at this time last year.

An important point to remember. I'd venture to guess that roughly half of all eventual first round NFL picks aren't touted as such until their final college season. People knew about guys like RG3, David Wilson, Doug Martin, and Kendall Wright going into last year, but they were seen as middle round prospects and not obvious locks for the first round. There are late risers every season. We're seeing a little bit of that this year with guys like Geno Smith and Marcus Davis, and there might be more to come. I've traded one 2013 1st for a 2014 1st, but it's not something that I'll be looking to do in every league. I think the perceived value of these 2013 picks is going to go up in the coming 4-5 months as people realize there are actually some talented players in this draft.

Of course every year there are guys that "come on" during their eventual final college season and/or at the combine, but this class isn't top heavy at all. Every draft since I've been in dynasty had better TOP TIER options. Sure, there will be some very nice players out of this draft, but even so, it's weak as compared.

Completely agree. I think this draft is weak through the first 5 or 6 picks. But after that I'd say it's pretty comparable to an average draft class. Bad if you need a can't-miss prospect in the top 5. Decent class if you're just mining for gold in the 6-25 range.

 

[Faust]

Big Board: Utah's Lotulelei leads parade of linemen earning first-round grades

By Rob Rang | NFLDraftScout.com

Oct. 17, 2012 11:32 PM ET

As is a matter of course, the hype entering the 2013 NFL Draft will focus on the quarterbacks and other skill-position players.

But NFL teams needing help along the line of scrimmage will be thrilled with the quality and quantity of the behemoths in next year's rookie class.

Star Lotulelei and Johnathan Hankins have proven worthy of their preseason grades as top-five-caliber athletes, but breakout performances by a trio of SEC defensive tackles -- Georgia's Jonathan Jenkins, Missouri's Sheldon Richardson and Alabama's Jesse Williams -- are causing pro talent evaluators to alter their rankings. The emergence of these run stuffers is hardly the only story. Offensive and defensive linemen make up six of my top nine prospects and 18 of the top 30 overall prospects who could be available in the 2013 draft.

This isn't a mock draft. There is no attention given to team needs or what order NFL teams might be selecting in April. It is simply a ranking of the 40 best potentially NFL draft-eligible prospects in the entire country.

Underclassmen are denoted with an asterisk (*).

1. Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah: With the Utes winless in three Pac-12 games so far, the dominant play of the senior defensive tackle has been easy to overlook. A highly celebrated performance against Southern Cal and NFLDraftScout.com's top-rated senior center Khaled Holmes on Oct. 4, however, showed just what a one-man wrecking crew Lotulelei can be. With "only" 24 tackles, including six tackles for loss and two sacks through six games, Lotulelei might not have the statistics to earn a great deal of headline buzz, but he's a must-see attraction for NFL scouts.

2. * Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State: Like Lotulelei, Hankins lacks the numbers to spark media and fan excitement. Scouts see a remarkably athletic defender who at 6-3, 320, can line up at nose guard, defensive tackle and even as a five-technique defensive end and command double teams.

3. Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia: In breezing through the first half of the regular season to post 24 touchdowns against zero interceptions, Smith appeared to have the inside track to the Heisman Trophy and the No. 1 overall pick of the 2013 draft. A shockingly pedestrian performance against lightly regarded Texas Tech proved just how difficult it is to maintain steady brilliance throughout an entire season. Smith and the Mountaineers won't have to wait long to get a chance at redemption with No. 4 Kansas State traveling to Morgantown on Saturday.

4. * Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia: With all due respect to Hankins, Jones has been even more impressive against better competition. What he hasn't been, however, is consistent. Jones is a natural pass rusher and much better versus the run and in coverage than he's often given credit for. He was largely shut down in highly anticipated matchups against Tennessee and South Carolina, and has already missed a game this season due to injury (Florida Atlantic). And don't forget, he transferred to Georgia (from Southern California) after suffering a neck injury.

5. Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame: It seems every year there is a high-profile defender who earns some buzz as a Heisman contender. A few years back, it was Ndamukong Suh. A year ago it was LSU's Tyrann Mathieu. This season, it is Te'o. With all due respect to Notre Dame's "skill-position" players, there is no question the Irish's playmaking middle linebacker is the team's best player and biggest reason for their impressive 6-0 start.

6. * Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU: I am as fascinated by Mingo's athleticism, flexibility, explosiveness and surprising strength (at 6-5, 240 pounds) as every other talent evaluator, but at some point all of those traits have got to start turning into big plays. Mingo's upside appears to be limitless but he has only two sacks in seven games. Perhaps his biggest test of the season will come this week when he faces the top duo of offensive tackles in the country in Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews.

7. * Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M: The baby-faced Joeckel might look young but in earning all-conference accolades at left tackle after each of his first two seasons in the Big 12, he has shown the patience and technique of an NFL veteran. The test could be tougher this season against SEC competition -- especially this week against LSU's Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo -- but if Joeckel is up to the challenge, he could join his former quarterback Ryan Tannehill as a top-10 pick.

8. Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama: Offensive linemen rarely get the limelight, but it might be even worse for Warmack than most. Not only do the "skill position" and defensive stars for 'Bama generate virtually all of the attention, Warmack is overshadowed even among the Tide's blockers. Athletic and powerful, he just might be the best pure guard in the country.

9. * Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M: Considering he is the son of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews of Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans fame, greatness has been expected of Jake Matthews his entire life. He has lived up to the lofty expectations, starting since his true freshman season at right tackle for the Aggies. While not as athletic as his teammate, left tackle Luke Joeckel, Matthews is the better and more physical run blocker of the two.

10. * Keenan Allen, WR, California: An exceptionally highly regarded prep prospect who originally was going to sign with Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide as a safety before joining his brother (quarterback Zach Maynard) at Cal, Allen possesses all of the physical characteristics to warrant a top-10 selection. Barring an upset, he will be the first receiver selected in the 2013 NFL Draft.

11. Matt Barkley, QB, Southern Cal: He'll likely be drafted high due to the value of the quarterback position and all of his intangibles. But the simple fact is that the 6-2, 220-pound Barkley does not possess elite physical traits. I believe he'll wind up being a successful starting quarterback in the NFL, but Barkley is far from the guaranteed top-five prospect he was touted as before the season. Some scouts are struggling to even give him a first-round grade, at all.

12. * Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU: Blessed with an unbelievable combination of speed and size (6-5, 260) Montgomery certainly looks the part of a top-10 pick. He has enjoyed better production thus far this season (21 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks) than his teammate, Mingo, but isn't as quick when changing direction. He'll face a stiff test Saturday against the Aggies' terrific tackle duo of Joeckel and Matthews.

13. Barrett Jones, OL, Alabama: Whether at tackle, guard or center, Jones has demonstrated he's dependable against the elite competition in college football. I'm not going to go as far as Nick Saban and mention the name of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews when making a case for listing the defending Outland Trophy and Jacobs Blocking Trophy award winner here, but ... oops, I guess I just did.

14. Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State: Eight of the 15 defensive backs drafted in the first round since 2010 have come from the SEC. The 6-1, 185-pound Banks certainly looks poised to continue that trend, especially if he keeps making big plays. Banks has 15 career interceptions, three of which he has returned for touchdowns.

15. * Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan: Arguably the most physically imposing player in the country, the 6-7, 302-pound Lewan looks like the second coming of Jake Long wearing No. 77 in the Michigan maize and blue. Lewan, who made the switch to offensive line as a senior in high school, is certainly behind the No. 1 overall pick of the 2008 draft in terms of development, but the size, athleticism and mentality are in place to resume the Wolverines' tradition of churning out quality NFL offensive linemen.

16. * Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama: It has almost become cliché to characterize the Alabama program under Nick Saban as a team that reloads rather than rebuilds. In the case of the true junior Milliner, who entered the 2012 season with 17 career starts and currently leads the country with an average of 2.8 pass breakups per game, Alabama appears to have yet another first-round talent.

17. Alex Okafor, DE, Texas: In today's NFL, defensive ends are largely graded on their ability to wreak havoc on the quarterback. Okafor does not possess the elite explosiveness off the snap that generally warrants top-20 consideration but his physicality and hand usage are top notch. He used these skills to register two sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked field goal in the showdown against Geno Smith and West Virginia. He'll need to be even better now with his counterpart Jackson Jeffcoat being lost for the season due to a torn pectoral muscle.

18. * Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee: At 6-4, 200 pounds, Hunter has the physical traits to warrant top-20 consideration. He is starting to show the same explosiveness he had possessed before tearing his ACL a year ago against Florida. Thus far, however, he has been much better against weaker opponents (averaging 117 yards receiving yards and two touchdowns) than he has versus SEC competition (61 yards, zero scores).

19. Jonathan Jenkins, DT, Georgia: At a massive 6-3, 358 pounds, Jenkins is the behemoth in the middle that gives a talented Bulldogs defense its biggest bite. Like most defenders of his size, Jenkins isn't going to post eye-popping statistics, but as the high draft selections of Dontari Poe (11), Phil Taylor (21) and Dan Williams (26) suggest, one dominant season on the inside can cause NFL teams to look past inconsistent production over a career.

20. * Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon: At a rangy 6-6, 243 pounds, Jordan's length and explosiveness off the edge makes him a matchup nightmare for opponents. The junior, who led the Ducks a year ago with 13 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, is earning high marks from scouts who believe he could be one of this year's most exciting "hybrid" prospects.

21. * Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia: A pair of JJs -- outside linebacker Jarvis Jones and the aforementioned nose guard Jonathan Jenkins -- receive most of the hype for Georgia's defense, but the play of Ogletree has been impressive since he returned from the four-game suspension that marred his season. At 6-3, 234, Ogletree perhaps projects better on the outside than he does at inside linebacker in Georgia's 3-4 alignment. He has the physicality and athleticism to play either role.

22. Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina*: Taking the ultra-talented SEC by storm two years ago as a true freshman, Lattimore has always demonstrated future NFL talent. While not the breakaway threat Trent Richardson was for the Crimson Tide, Lattimore plays with similar toughness and physicality. Even better, he seems to be regaining his lateral agility and acceleration -- traits that often take more than the year it has been since Lattimore tore his ACL against Mississippi State on Oct. 15, 2011.

23. Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri*: A highly regarded prep prospect who is only now coming into his own, Richardson was nearly unstoppable in a highly anticipated matchup against Alabama on Oct. 13. Despite often facing double teams, he registered a game-high 14 tackles, including the sack of A.J. McCarron that briefly sidelined the Tide's star quarterback.

24. * Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State: The German-born Werner started off the 2012 season on fire, recording multiple tackles for loss and sacks in each of his first three games. As the competition has increased, however, Werner's production has dropped significantly. Though he still ranks among the nation's leading big-play specialists at defensive end with 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, only one of them have come in the past four games. Scouts like his athleticism, motor and instincts, but there are whispers that perhaps he dropped too much weight in the off-season in an attempt to be more explosive. After playing last year at 6-4, 270 pounds, some believe he's closer to 250 now.

25. * Eric Reid, FS, LSU: Reid entered the 2012 season with plenty of fanfare but hasn't yet produced the game-changing plays that characterized a 2011 campaign in which some felt he was actually the most consistent member of a secondary that featured Morris Claiborne, Tyrann Mathieu and Brandon Taylor, a third-round pick by the San Diego Chargers (No. 73 overall). There is growing sentiment Reid lacks the fluidity and coverage skills to remain at free safety in the pass-heavy NFL.

26. Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama: With only 11 tackles so far this season (including only one solo stop), this native Australian has hardly provided an all-world performance thus far, statistically speaking. The 6-3, 320-pounder possesses phenomenal strength, even for Alabama (and Australia) standards. Capable of lining up inside at nose guard or moving outside as a five-technique defensive end, he's earning much more attention from NFL scouts than the national media.

27. Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan: While he lacks the name recognition of some of his peers, the 6-8, 305-pound Fisher ranks among the top senior offensive tackles in the country, performing well in showdowns against Iowa, Michigan State and in his most recent performance against Toledo on Oct. 6. Physical and athletic, Fisher will compete to be the first senior offensive tackle drafted come April.

28. Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame: While he doesn't have the elite breakaway speed that has helped Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski emerge as NFL stars, Eifert's 6-5, 252-pound frame and excellent ball skills make him a legitimate mismatch. That could be enough to earn a late first-round selection.

29. * Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M: At a relatively lean 6-4, 250, Moore possesses the frame to add muscle mass and boasts impressive acceleration to make big plays behind the line of scrimmage. He has used these traits to help rack up a gaudy 52 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks already this season; each of those totals lead the Aggies.

30. Kawann Short, DT, Purdue: Short entered the 2012 campaign having already established himself as one of the country's top defensive tackles after registering 54 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks a season as a junior. This season, the big plays have continued but Short has struggled against physical run blockers. Other than a blocked kick (his fourth of the year), Short and the Boilermakers were pushed around Oct. 13 against Wisconsin to the tune of 467 rushing yards.

31. Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas: No one is going to confuse the University of Kentucky with a top NFL defense, but it seemed as if the Wilson scouts were expecting to see this season had finally arrived Oct. 13 with a five-touchdown, zero-interception performance. Wilson has battled injuries and turnover around him this season, but scouts remain intrigued by his toughness and arm strength.

32. * Robert Woods, WR, Southern Cal: Woods has played a featured role in USC's dynamic offense since stepping onto the field two years ago as a true freshman. He is a reliable route runner who flashes the ability to make the highlight-reel reception, as well as the elusiveness and speed to be dangerous after the catch. Among Pac-12 receivers, he ranks a distant third (in my opinion) -- to his teammate, true sophomore Marqise Lee, and Cal's Allen -- as an NFL prospect.

Just missed the cut:

33. Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

34. * Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn

35. * Levine Toilolo, TE, Stanford

36. Oday Aboushi, OT, Virginia

37. Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor

38. Brennan Williams, OT, North Carolina

39. * Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida

40. * Da'Rick Rogers, WR, Tennessee Tech

 

[EBF]

Big Board: Utah's Lotulelei leads parade of linemen earning first-round grades

By Rob Rang | NFLDraftScout.com

Oct. 17, 2012 11:32 PM ET

As is a matter of course, the hype entering the 2013 NFL Draft will focus on the quarterbacks and other skill-position players.

But NFL teams needing help along the line of scrimmage will be thrilled with the quality and quantity of the behemoths in next year's rookie class.

Star Lotulelei and Johnathan Hankins have proven worthy of their preseason grades as top-five-caliber athletes, but breakout performances by a trio of SEC defensive tackles -- Georgia's Jonathan Jenkins, Missouri's Sheldon Richardson and Alabama's Jesse Williams -- are causing pro talent evaluators to alter their rankings. The emergence of these run stuffers is hardly the only story. Offensive and defensive linemen make up six of my top nine prospects and 18 of the top 30 overall prospects who could be available in the 2013 draft.

This isn't a mock draft. There is no attention given to team needs or what order NFL teams might be selecting in April. It is simply a ranking of the 40 best potentially NFL draft-eligible prospects in the entire country.

Underclassmen are denoted with an asterisk (*).

1. Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah: With the Utes winless in three Pac-12 games so far, the dominant play of the senior defensive tackle has been easy to overlook. A highly celebrated performance against Southern Cal and NFLDraftScout.com's top-rated senior center Khaled Holmes on Oct. 4, however, showed just what a one-man wrecking crew Lotulelei can be. With "only" 24 tackles, including six tackles for loss and two sacks through six games, Lotulelei might not have the statistics to earn a great deal of headline buzz, but he's a must-see attraction for NFL scouts.

2. * Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State: Like Lotulelei, Hankins lacks the numbers to spark media and fan excitement. Scouts see a remarkably athletic defender who at 6-3, 320, can line up at nose guard, defensive tackle and even as a five-technique defensive end and command double teams.

3. Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia: In breezing through the first half of the regular season to post 24 touchdowns against zero interceptions, Smith appeared to have the inside track to the Heisman Trophy and the No. 1 overall pick of the 2013 draft. A shockingly pedestrian performance against lightly regarded Texas Tech proved just how difficult it is to maintain steady brilliance throughout an entire season. Smith and the Mountaineers won't have to wait long to get a chance at redemption with No. 4 Kansas State traveling to Morgantown on Saturday.

4. * Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia: With all due respect to Hankins, Jones has been even more impressive against better competition. What he hasn't been, however, is consistent. Jones is a natural pass rusher and much better versus the run and in coverage than he's often given credit for. He was largely shut down in highly anticipated matchups against Tennessee and South Carolina, and has already missed a game this season due to injury (Florida Atlantic). And don't forget, he transferred to Georgia (from Southern California) after suffering a neck injury.

5. Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame: It seems every year there is a high-profile defender who earns some buzz as a Heisman contender. A few years back, it was Ndamukong Suh. A year ago it was LSU's Tyrann Mathieu. This season, it is Te'o. With all due respect to Notre Dame's "skill-position" players, there is no question the Irish's playmaking middle linebacker is the team's best player and biggest reason for their impressive 6-0 start.

6. * Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU: I am as fascinated by Mingo's athleticism, flexibility, explosiveness and surprising strength (at 6-5, 240 pounds) as every other talent evaluator, but at some point all of those traits have got to start turning into big plays. Mingo's upside appears to be limitless but he has only two sacks in seven games. Perhaps his biggest test of the season will come this week when he faces the top duo of offensive tackles in the country in Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews.

7. * Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M: The baby-faced Joeckel might look young but in earning all-conference accolades at left tackle after each of his first two seasons in the Big 12, he has shown the patience and technique of an NFL veteran. The test could be tougher this season against SEC competition -- especially this week against LSU's Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo -- but if Joeckel is up to the challenge, he could join his former quarterback Ryan Tannehill as a top-10 pick.

8. Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama: Offensive linemen rarely get the limelight, but it might be even worse for Warmack than most. Not only do the "skill position" and defensive stars for 'Bama generate virtually all of the attention, Warmack is overshadowed even among the Tide's blockers. Athletic and powerful, he just might be the best pure guard in the country.

9. * Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M: Considering he is the son of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews of Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans fame, greatness has been expected of Jake Matthews his entire life. He has lived up to the lofty expectations, starting since his true freshman season at right tackle for the Aggies. While not as athletic as his teammate, left tackle Luke Joeckel, Matthews is the better and more physical run blocker of the two.

10. * Keenan Allen, WR, California: An exceptionally highly regarded prep prospect who originally was going to sign with Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide as a safety before joining his brother (quarterback Zach Maynard) at Cal, Allen possesses all of the physical characteristics to warrant a top-10 selection. Barring an upset, he will be the first receiver selected in the 2013 NFL Draft.

11. Matt Barkley, QB, Southern Cal: He'll likely be drafted high due to the value of the quarterback position and all of his intangibles. But the simple fact is that the 6-2, 220-pound Barkley does not possess elite physical traits. I believe he'll wind up being a successful starting quarterback in the NFL, but Barkley is far from the guaranteed top-five prospect he was touted as before the season. Some scouts are struggling to even give him a first-round grade, at all.

12. * Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU: Blessed with an unbelievable combination of speed and size (6-5, 260) Montgomery certainly looks the part of a top-10 pick. He has enjoyed better production thus far this season (21 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks) than his teammate, Mingo, but isn't as quick when changing direction. He'll face a stiff test Saturday against the Aggies' terrific tackle duo of Joeckel and Matthews.

13. Barrett Jones, OL, Alabama: Whether at tackle, guard or center, Jones has demonstrated he's dependable against the elite competition in college football. I'm not going to go as far as Nick Saban and mention the name of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews when making a case for listing the defending Outland Trophy and Jacobs Blocking Trophy award winner here, but ... oops, I guess I just did.

14. Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State: Eight of the 15 defensive backs drafted in the first round since 2010 have come from the SEC. The 6-1, 185-pound Banks certainly looks poised to continue that trend, especially if he keeps making big plays. Banks has 15 career interceptions, three of which he has returned for touchdowns.

15. * Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan: Arguably the most physically imposing player in the country, the 6-7, 302-pound Lewan looks like the second coming of Jake Long wearing No. 77 in the Michigan maize and blue. Lewan, who made the switch to offensive line as a senior in high school, is certainly behind the No. 1 overall pick of the 2008 draft in terms of development, but the size, athleticism and mentality are in place to resume the Wolverines' tradition of churning out quality NFL offensive linemen.

16. * Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama: It has almost become cliché to characterize the Alabama program under Nick Saban as a team that reloads rather than rebuilds. In the case of the true junior Milliner, who entered the 2012 season with 17 career starts and currently leads the country with an average of 2.8 pass breakups per game, Alabama appears to have yet another first-round talent.

17. Alex Okafor, DE, Texas: In today's NFL, defensive ends are largely graded on their ability to wreak havoc on the quarterback. Okafor does not possess the elite explosiveness off the snap that generally warrants top-20 consideration but his physicality and hand usage are top notch. He used these skills to register two sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked field goal in the showdown against Geno Smith and West Virginia. He'll need to be even better now with his counterpart Jackson Jeffcoat being lost for the season due to a torn pectoral muscle.

18. * Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee: At 6-4, 200 pounds, Hunter has the physical traits to warrant top-20 consideration. He is starting to show the same explosiveness he had possessed before tearing his ACL a year ago against Florida. Thus far, however, he has been much better against weaker opponents (averaging 117 yards receiving yards and two touchdowns) than he has versus SEC competition (61 yards, zero scores).

19. Jonathan Jenkins, DT, Georgia: At a massive 6-3, 358 pounds, Jenkins is the behemoth in the middle that gives a talented Bulldogs defense its biggest bite. Like most defenders of his size, Jenkins isn't going to post eye-popping statistics, but as the high draft selections of Dontari Poe (11), Phil Taylor (21) and Dan Williams (26) suggest, one dominant season on the inside can cause NFL teams to look past inconsistent production over a career.

20. * Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon: At a rangy 6-6, 243 pounds, Jordan's length and explosiveness off the edge makes him a matchup nightmare for opponents. The junior, who led the Ducks a year ago with 13 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, is earning high marks from scouts who believe he could be one of this year's most exciting "hybrid" prospects.

21. * Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia: A pair of JJs -- outside linebacker Jarvis Jones and the aforementioned nose guard Jonathan Jenkins -- receive most of the hype for Georgia's defense, but the play of Ogletree has been impressive since he returned from the four-game suspension that marred his season. At 6-3, 234, Ogletree perhaps projects better on the outside than he does at inside linebacker in Georgia's 3-4 alignment. He has the physicality and athleticism to play either role.

22. Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina*: Taking the ultra-talented SEC by storm two years ago as a true freshman, Lattimore has always demonstrated future NFL talent. While not the breakaway threat Trent Richardson was for the Crimson Tide, Lattimore plays with similar toughness and physicality. Even better, he seems to be regaining his lateral agility and acceleration -- traits that often take more than the year it has been since Lattimore tore his ACL against Mississippi State on Oct. 15, 2011.

23. Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri*: A highly regarded prep prospect who is only now coming into his own, Richardson was nearly unstoppable in a highly anticipated matchup against Alabama on Oct. 13. Despite often facing double teams, he registered a game-high 14 tackles, including the sack of A.J. McCarron that briefly sidelined the Tide's star quarterback.

24. * Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State: The German-born Werner started off the 2012 season on fire, recording multiple tackles for loss and sacks in each of his first three games. As the competition has increased, however, Werner's production has dropped significantly. Though he still ranks among the nation's leading big-play specialists at defensive end with 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, only one of them have come in the past four games. Scouts like his athleticism, motor and instincts, but there are whispers that perhaps he dropped too much weight in the off-season in an attempt to be more explosive. After playing last year at 6-4, 270 pounds, some believe he's closer to 250 now.

25. * Eric Reid, FS, LSU: Reid entered the 2012 season with plenty of fanfare but hasn't yet produced the game-changing plays that characterized a 2011 campaign in which some felt he was actually the most consistent member of a secondary that featured Morris Claiborne, Tyrann Mathieu and Brandon Taylor, a third-round pick by the San Diego Chargers (No. 73 overall). There is growing sentiment Reid lacks the fluidity and coverage skills to remain at free safety in the pass-heavy NFL.

26. Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama: With only 11 tackles so far this season (including only one solo stop), this native Australian has hardly provided an all-world performance thus far, statistically speaking. The 6-3, 320-pounder possesses phenomenal strength, even for Alabama (and Australia) standards. Capable of lining up inside at nose guard or moving outside as a five-technique defensive end, he's earning much more attention from NFL scouts than the national media.

27. Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan: While he lacks the name recognition of some of his peers, the 6-8, 305-pound Fisher ranks among the top senior offensive tackles in the country, performing well in showdowns against Iowa, Michigan State and in his most recent performance against Toledo on Oct. 6. Physical and athletic, Fisher will compete to be the first senior offensive tackle drafted come April.

28. Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame: While he doesn't have the elite breakaway speed that has helped Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski emerge as NFL stars, Eifert's 6-5, 252-pound frame and excellent ball skills make him a legitimate mismatch. That could be enough to earn a late first-round selection.

29. * Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M: At a relatively lean 6-4, 250, Moore possesses the frame to add muscle mass and boasts impressive acceleration to make big plays behind the line of scrimmage. He has used these traits to help rack up a gaudy 52 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks already this season; each of those totals lead the Aggies.

30. Kawann Short, DT, Purdue: Short entered the 2012 campaign having already established himself as one of the country's top defensive tackles after registering 54 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks a season as a junior. This season, the big plays have continued but Short has struggled against physical run blockers. Other than a blocked kick (his fourth of the year), Short and the Boilermakers were pushed around Oct. 13 against Wisconsin to the tune of 467 rushing yards.

31. Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas: No one is going to confuse the University of Kentucky with a top NFL defense, but it seemed as if the Wilson scouts were expecting to see this season had finally arrived Oct. 13 with a five-touchdown, zero-interception performance. Wilson has battled injuries and turnover around him this season, but scouts remain intrigued by his toughness and arm strength.

32. * Robert Woods, WR, Southern Cal: Woods has played a featured role in USC's dynamic offense since stepping onto the field two years ago as a true freshman. He is a reliable route runner who flashes the ability to make the highlight-reel reception, as well as the elusiveness and speed to be dangerous after the catch. Among Pac-12 receivers, he ranks a distant third (in my opinion) -- to his teammate, true sophomore Marqise Lee, and Cal's Allen -- as an NFL prospect.

Just missed the cut:

33. Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

34. * Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn

35. * Levine Toilolo, TE, Stanford

36. Oday Aboushi, OT, Virginia

37. Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor

38. Brennan Williams, OT, North Carolina

39. * Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida

40. * Da'Rick Rogers, WR, Tennessee Tech

:X Horrible draft class. I think the smart strategy will be to trade down out of the top 5-6 picks and see if you can get some extra second rounders to take punts on some of the sleeper prospects who go in the rounds 2-4 range of the draft.

 

[Faust]

Risers and Fallers - Dane Brugler -- (Updated 10/18/2012)

 

[EBF]

Wouldn't be surprised to see

 

[Faust]

2013 NFL Draft Prospects: Quarterbacks

2013 NFL Draft: Running Back Rankings

2013 NFL Draft: Wide Receiver Rankings

2013 NFL Draft: Tight End Rankings

 

[Dawg Pound 69]

2013 NFL Draft Prospects: Quarterbacks

2013 NFL Draft: Running Back Rankings

2013 NFL Draft: Wide Receiver Rankings

2013 NFL Draft: Tight End Rankings

Logan Thomas as #10 QB seems way too low. A few exper mocks have him going in 1st round.Surprised to see Stedman Bailey is only 5'10" and 193. Looks bigger.

 

[EBF]

The WVU receivers just look like system players. I'm not really seeing it with Terrance Williams either.

I think Quinton Patton, Marcus Davis, and Marquess Wilson are probably the most promising second tier WRs in the draft. I'm calling right now that Davis will go a lot higher in the NFL draft than the current projections would indicate. It's not that he's a great player so much as it is that the NFL loves their size/speed types (see: Brian Quick, Stephen Hill). He is that guy this year. I also want to see how Chad Bumphis and Markus Wheaton do at the Senior Bowl and how he they run at the combine. Those guys look like decent players.

And of course Ace Sanders is a baller, but he's likely to turn into a Devin Hester/Dante Hall and not a great FF option.

 

[Xue]

The WVU receivers just look like system players. I'm not really seeing it with Terrance Williams either. I think Quinton Patton, Marcus Davis, and Marquess Wilson are probably the most promising second tier WRs in the draft. I'm calling right now that Davis will go a lot higher in the NFL draft than the current projections would indicate. It's not that he's a great player so much as it is that the NFL loves their size/speed types (see: Brian Quick, Stephen Hill). He is that guy this year. I also want to see how Chad Bumphis and Markus Wheaton do at the Senior Bowl and how he they run at the combine. Those guys look like decent players. And of course Ace Sanders is a baller, but he's likely to turn into a Devin Hester/Dante Hall and not a great FF option.

Tavon Austin is a system player, but Bailey is a very good pure WR. He can fit a vertical scheme or a WCO. One of the better route runners out there. Also effective in the red zone as his 3 TD's vs Texas were at the goalline on slants vs one of the top CB prospects, Carrington Byndom.

 

[Team ROFLCOPTERS]

The WVU receivers just look like system players. I'm not really seeing it with Terrance Williams either. I think Quinton Patton, Marcus Davis, and Marquess Wilson are probably the most promising second tier WRs in the draft. I'm calling right now that Davis will go a lot higher in the NFL draft than the current projections would indicate. It's not that he's a great player so much as it is that the NFL loves their size/speed types (see: Brian Quick, Stephen Hill). He is that guy this year. I also want to see how Chad Bumphis and Markus Wheaton do at the Senior Bowl and how he they run at the combine. Those guys look like decent players. And of course Ace Sanders is a baller, but he's likely to turn into a Devin Hester/Dante Hall and not a great FF option.

Tavon Austin is a system player, but Bailey is a very good pure WR. He can fit a vertical scheme or a WCO. One of the better route runners out there. Also effective in the red zone as his 3 TD's vs Texas were at the goalline on slants vs one of the top CB prospects, Carrington Byndom.

I completely disagree about Austin.

 

[EBF]

The WVU receivers just look like system players. I'm not really seeing it with Terrance Williams either. I think Quinton Patton, Marcus Davis, and Marquess Wilson are probably the most promising second tier WRs in the draft. I'm calling right now that Davis will go a lot higher in the NFL draft than the current projections would indicate. It's not that he's a great player so much as it is that the NFL loves their size/speed types (see: Brian Quick, Stephen Hill). He is that guy this year. I also want to see how Chad Bumphis and Markus Wheaton do at the Senior Bowl and how he they run at the combine. Those guys look like decent players. And of course Ace Sanders is a baller, but he's likely to turn into a Devin Hester/Dante Hall and not a great FF option.

Tavon Austin is a system player, but Bailey is a very good pure WR. He can fit a vertical scheme or a WCO. One of the better route runners out there. Also effective in the red zone as his 3 TD's vs Texas were at the goalline on slants vs one of the top CB prospects, Carrington Byndom.

Yea, maybe I was a bit harsh on Bailey. He is worth a 2nd-3rd rounder. Certainly a decent prospect.Austin is a good player too, but at 5'9" ~175 he will have to run like a deer to be anything more than Roscoe Parrish at the next level.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

The WVU receivers just look like system players. I'm not really seeing it with Terrance Williams either. I think Quinton Patton, Marcus Davis, and Marquess Wilson are probably the most promising second tier WRs in the draft. I'm calling right now that Davis will go a lot higher in the NFL draft than the current projections would indicate. It's not that he's a great player so much as it is that the NFL loves their size/speed types (see: Brian Quick, Stephen Hill). He is that guy this year. I also want to see how Chad Bumphis and Markus Wheaton do at the Senior Bowl and how he they run at the combine. Those guys look like decent players. And of course Ace Sanders is a baller, but he's likely to turn into a Devin Hester/Dante Hall and not a great FF option.

Marcus Davis could be an interesting prospect, not a tonne of stuff of him on youtube yet but he's someone to keep an eye on. As for Quinton Patton, it's hard to argue with his production and he's definitely a savvy player, but I don't see anything special in his game that makes me think he has WR1 potential. I'm sure he'll find a role on just about any NFL team that ends up drafting him, but I don't forsee a lot of fantasy relevance in his future; definitely not on Marquess Wilson's level as far as being an NFL prospect imo. I seem to be alone on this, but when I watch Marquess Wilson, he has 1st rounder written all over him. He has a lot of similarities with AJ Green, including being tremendously skinny.. but I digress. He plucks the ball out of the air, wins jump balls, out runs defenders, can make defenders miss, long arms, loose hips; he could definitely do with an added 20lbs on him but besides that there's not much more one can ask for imo. Maybe I'm missing something on the kid that the draft experts all know, but I got him comfortably in the first tier of 2013 WRs with Justin Hunter and Keenan Allen.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

Also want to mention that DeAndre Hopkins looks like a player as well.

 

[jurb26]

I seem to be alone on this, but when I watch Marquess Wilson, he has 1st rounder written all over him. He has a lot of similarities with AJ Green, including being tremendously skinny.. but I digress. He plucks the ball out of the air, wins jump balls, out runs defenders, can make defenders miss, long arms, loose hips; he could definitely do with an added 20lbs on him but besides that there's not much more one can ask for imo. Maybe I'm missing something on the kid that the draft experts all know, but I got him comfortably in the first tier of 2013 WRs with Justin Hunter and Keenan Allen.

You are not alone on M. Wilson. I fully agree with you. I love the kid. Enough that I drafted him last yearin a league where we can roster 1 college player. Here is what I said about Wilson back in May.

I think Allen compares favorably to Blackmon - taller, a little more speed - another season like last year and he's a top 10 pick. I have no doubt that Woods is an NFL player but my question is whether he's much more than AJ Jenkins. Marquess Wilson is a guy I'm not sold on yet - he's a lanky 6-3 and doesn't possess top speed (I'd guess high 4.4's) and shows inconsistent hands.

Blackmon is one of the more overrated prospects in several years IMO. He's a lot like Crabtree if you ask me. I'd easily take Woods or Allen ahead of him or anyone else from the 2012 class. Wilson needs to prove a bit more to me but I'd give him the slight edge. I think he's just a better overall athlete than Blackmon and he possess better size. The thing I dislike about Wilson most right now is that I feel he is too much of an overhand catcher. He needs to work on his basket/over the shoulder catching and he also needs to work on utilizing his size to shield DBs. This isn't a huge knock on him, I don't think he's been forced to work on those skills in college as he is easily able to create enough separation from DBs that it hasn't been a large issue for him. He will need to work on this if he is going to become a great NFL WR though. You're right, Wilson is not a burner. He's got plenty of speed to get behind defenses though and with his large frame and long arms I don't think he needs to have blazing speed. I still think he is faster than Blackmon. I just drafted Wilson in a dynasty league where we can roster one college player. I'll be watching him as closely as I can this year.

I see him as a top 5 WR in this class. I could move him up to 3 by seasons end or prior to the draft.

 

[Xue]

The WVU receivers just look like system players. I'm not really seeing it with Terrance Williams either. I think Quinton Patton, Marcus Davis, and Marquess Wilson are probably the most promising second tier WRs in the draft. I'm calling right now that Davis will go a lot higher in the NFL draft than the current projections would indicate. It's not that he's a great player so much as it is that the NFL loves their size/speed types (see: Brian Quick, Stephen Hill). He is that guy this year. I also want to see how Chad Bumphis and Markus Wheaton do at the Senior Bowl and how he they run at the combine. Those guys look like decent players. And of course Ace Sanders is a baller, but he's likely to turn into a Devin Hester/Dante Hall and not a great FF option.

Marcus Davis could be an interesting prospect, not a tonne of stuff of him on youtube yet but he's someone to keep an eye on. As for Quinton Patton, it's hard to argue with his production and he's definitely a savvy player, but I don't see anything special in his game that makes me think he has WR1 potential. I'm sure he'll find a role on just about any NFL team that ends up drafting him, but I don't forsee a lot of fantasy relevance in his future; definitely not on Marquess Wilson's level as far as being an NFL prospect imo. I seem to be alone on this, but when I watch Marquess Wilson, he has 1st rounder written all over him. He has a lot of similarities with AJ Green, including being tremendously skinny.. but I digress. He plucks the ball out of the air, wins jump balls, out runs defenders, can make defenders miss, long arms, loose hips; he could definitely do with an added 20lbs on him but besides that there's not much more one can ask for imo. Maybe I'm missing something on the kid that the draft experts all know, but I got him comfortably in the first tier of 2013 WRs with Justin Hunter and Keenan Allen.

Wilson can't be like Green if he isn't 6-4. Wilson looks much closer to 6-2, 6-1. He's more like a cross between Brandon Lloyd and Mike Wallace to me.

 

[jurb26]

The WVU receivers just look like system players. I'm not really seeing it with Terrance Williams either. I think Quinton Patton, Marcus Davis, and Marquess Wilson are probably the most promising second tier WRs in the draft. I'm calling right now that Davis will go a lot higher in the NFL draft than the current projections would indicate. It's not that he's a great player so much as it is that the NFL loves their size/speed types (see: Brian Quick, Stephen Hill). He is that guy this year. I also want to see how Chad Bumphis and Markus Wheaton do at the Senior Bowl and how he they run at the combine. Those guys look like decent players. And of course Ace Sanders is a baller, but he's likely to turn into a Devin Hester/Dante Hall and not a great FF option.

Marcus Davis could be an interesting prospect, not a tonne of stuff of him on youtube yet but he's someone to keep an eye on. As for Quinton Patton, it's hard to argue with his production and he's definitely a savvy player, but I don't see anything special in his game that makes me think he has WR1 potential. I'm sure he'll find a role on just about any NFL team that ends up drafting him, but I don't forsee a lot of fantasy relevance in his future; definitely not on Marquess Wilson's level as far as being an NFL prospect imo. I seem to be alone on this, but when I watch Marquess Wilson, he has 1st rounder written all over him. He has a lot of similarities with AJ Green, including being tremendously skinny.. but I digress. He plucks the ball out of the air, wins jump balls, out runs defenders, can make defenders miss, long arms, loose hips; he could definitely do with an added 20lbs on him but besides that there's not much more one can ask for imo. Maybe I'm missing something on the kid that the draft experts all know, but I got him comfortably in the first tier of 2013 WRs with Justin Hunter and Keenan Allen.

Wilson can't be like Green if he isn't 6-4. Wilson looks much closer to 6-2, 6-1. He's more like a cross between Brandon Lloyd and Mike Wallace to me.

Wilson's listed t 6'4" everywhere I've looked.To be honest, I can't think of any other player who will have more on the line based on his 40 time. Speed seems to be the only question mark surrounding him. I think he'll be a high 4.4 guy. He could vault into the top 20 picks with a great 40.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

The WVU receivers just look like system players. I'm not really seeing it with Terrance Williams either. I think Quinton Patton, Marcus Davis, and Marquess Wilson are probably the most promising second tier WRs in the draft. I'm calling right now that Davis will go a lot higher in the NFL draft than the current projections would indicate. It's not that he's a great player so much as it is that the NFL loves their size/speed types (see: Brian Quick, Stephen Hill). He is that guy this year. I also want to see how Chad Bumphis and Markus Wheaton do at the Senior Bowl and how he they run at the combine. Those guys look like decent players. And of course Ace Sanders is a baller, but he's likely to turn into a Devin Hester/Dante Hall and not a great FF option.

Marcus Davis could be an interesting prospect, not a tonne of stuff of him on youtube yet but he's someone to keep an eye on. As for Quinton Patton, it's hard to argue with his production and he's definitely a savvy player, but I don't see anything special in his game that makes me think he has WR1 potential. I'm sure he'll find a role on just about any NFL team that ends up drafting him, but I don't forsee a lot of fantasy relevance in his future; definitely not on Marquess Wilson's level as far as being an NFL prospect imo. I seem to be alone on this, but when I watch Marquess Wilson, he has 1st rounder written all over him. He has a lot of similarities with AJ Green, including being tremendously skinny.. but I digress. He plucks the ball out of the air, wins jump balls, out runs defenders, can make defenders miss, long arms, loose hips; he could definitely do with an added 20lbs on him but besides that there's not much more one can ask for imo. Maybe I'm missing something on the kid that the draft experts all know, but I got him comfortably in the first tier of 2013 WRs with Justin Hunter and Keenan Allen.

Wilson can't be like Green if he isn't 6-4. Wilson looks much closer to 6-2, 6-1. He's more like a cross between Brandon Lloyd and Mike Wallace to me.

As jurb26 mentioned, a lot of places have Marquess listed at 6'4, maybe it's more likely he'll prove to be 6'3 at the combine; but frankly he looks way too gangly to be any smaller than 6'3 if I had to bet on it. I can't imagine his height being an issue.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

The WVU receivers just look like system players. I'm not really seeing it with Terrance Williams either. I think Quinton Patton, Marcus Davis, and Marquess Wilson are probably the most promising second tier WRs in the draft. I'm calling right now that Davis will go a lot higher in the NFL draft than the current projections would indicate. It's not that he's a great player so much as it is that the NFL loves their size/speed types (see: Brian Quick, Stephen Hill). He is that guy this year. I also want to see how Chad Bumphis and Markus Wheaton do at the Senior Bowl and how he they run at the combine. Those guys look like decent players. And of course Ace Sanders is a baller, but he's likely to turn into a Devin Hester/Dante Hall and not a great FF option.

Marcus Davis could be an interesting prospect, not a tonne of stuff of him on youtube yet but he's someone to keep an eye on. As for Quinton Patton, it's hard to argue with his production and he's definitely a savvy player, but I don't see anything special in his game that makes me think he has WR1 potential. I'm sure he'll find a role on just about any NFL team that ends up drafting him, but I don't forsee a lot of fantasy relevance in his future; definitely not on Marquess Wilson's level as far as being an NFL prospect imo. I seem to be alone on this, but when I watch Marquess Wilson, he has 1st rounder written all over him. He has a lot of similarities with AJ Green, including being tremendously skinny.. but I digress. He plucks the ball out of the air, wins jump balls, out runs defenders, can make defenders miss, long arms, loose hips; he could definitely do with an added 20lbs on him but besides that there's not much more one can ask for imo. Maybe I'm missing something on the kid that the draft experts all know, but I got him comfortably in the first tier of 2013 WRs with Justin Hunter and Keenan Allen.

Wilson can't be like Green if he isn't 6-4. Wilson looks much closer to 6-2, 6-1. He's more like a cross between Brandon Lloyd and Mike Wallace to me.

Wilson's listed t 6'4" everywhere I've looked.To be honest, I can't think of any other player who will have more on the line based on his 40 time. Speed seems to be the only question mark surrounding him. I think he'll be a high 4.4 guy. He could vault into the top 20 picks with a great 40.

I don't think his speed will be much of an issue either. He's got about a dozen 50-60+ yard receptions in his career so far and I don't think I've ever seen him get caught from behind once he has a step on the defenders. I think he'll be somewhere in the 4.4s at the combine.

 

[Faust]

Video Links:

Where RBs should land in 2013 draft

SI.com's Andrew Perloff and NFL Draft Analyst Tony Pauline discuss whether any of this season's best college football running backs will be top 2013 NFL draft picks.

Tony Pauline's NFL Draft Watch: Alabama vs. Tennessee

SI.com's Andrew Perloff talks with NFL Draft Analyst Tony Pauline about the draft prospects of some of the top players from this week's Alabama vs. Tennessee matchup.

 

[EBF]

Marcus Davis could be an interesting prospect, not a tonne of stuff of him on youtube yet but he's someone to keep an eye on. As for Quinton Patton, it's hard to argue with his production and he's definitely a savvy player, but I don't see anything special in his game that makes me think he has WR1 potential. I'm sure he'll find a role on just about any NFL team that ends up drafting him, but I don't forsee a lot of fantasy relevance in his future; definitely not on Marquess Wilson's level as far as being an NFL prospect imo.

Yea, I don't really disagree with that take. That is the exact reason why I ultimately passed on Patton in my developmental drafts. He does not have the physical traits of a dominant NFL #1. However, I do think he has everything needed to potentially become a Nate Burleson or Stevie Johnson type of player. A guy with modest physical traits who has good initial quickness, hands, and route running ability. Not someone who can overwhelm with sheer size or speed, but someone who can put in a blue collar shift and earn his catches the tough way. The kind of gamble worth taking in the 20-30 range of a rookie draft when the players with obvious difference-maker potential are gone.

 

[EBF]

Rough day at the office for Geno Smith and the WVU receivers.

Not the case for Matt Barkley and the USC receivers. 19/20 passing for 298 yards and 6 TDs for Barkley. 100+ yards each for Woods and Lee, with Woods getting into the end zone 4 times.

Caught a bit of the LSU/A&M game. LSU's defense really exposed A&M's hyped up freshman phenom Johnny Manziel. Against a fast team like that, he didn't look like a special player.

Speaking of LSU, they have a pretty stacked group of tailbacks. 3-4 guys who might be able to make an NFL roster someday.

Looking into the future, some of the 2014-2015 running backs making some noise this season...

Johnathan Gray, Texas

Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska

Jeremy Hill, LSU

TJ Yeldon, Alabama

Jawan Jamison, Rutgers

These guys won't all end up as elite pro prospects when the dust settles, but at least there is some talent coming down the pipeline.