How are the 2010 rookie rankings looking now? Your top 10 (1 Viewer)

[gianmarco]

This is crunch time in the NFL season and for our fantasy seasons, but for some it's time to look to next year. Now that the college season has pretty much fully unfolded and some guys have moved up and down, how are rookie drafts looking next year?

--What's your top 10 look like?

--Where's the cutoff on the top picks?

--Which is the ideal pick to own?

--How does this class compare to others recently? Top heavy? More depth?

As trade deadlines approach and some teams consider trading future picks, it's much easier to start assigning players to those picks at this time of the year. Whatcha got?

 

[Stewy]

Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahome State

Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech

CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson

Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford

Jahvid Best, RB, California

Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

Damian Williams, WR, Southern California

Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois

Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame

 

[gianmarco]

So, I'm not the biggest college guru at all and go by a few friend's opinions before I try and sit down and watch some of these guys more myself....i.e., grain of salt here:

1. Bryant

2. Benn

3. Spiller

4. Damian Williams

5. Dwyer

6. Gresham

7. J. Best

8. Tebow

9. Danario Alexander

10. Bradford

 

[EBF]

I'm not too excited about this group, but I haven't had a chance to see many of the small school prospects yet. I'm sure there will be some late risers like Greg Jennings, Chris Johnson, and Hakeem Nicks. In particular I need to see more of the second and third tier WRs. Based on the guys I'm familiar with I would rank them:

Sam Bradford, OK - Accuracy and decisions are a plus. Mobility and durability are not. Still the best passer available.

Jake Locker, WA - Potential outweighs production at this point. Part Boller. Part Cutler. Someone will take a chance on him.

Jimmy Clausen, ND - Not sure if he's for real, but it's hard to argue with the stats and pedigree.

Jahvid Best, CAL - Like a faster Warrick Dunn. Small, but electric. Needs to prove he can stay healthy.

Jonathan Dwyer, GA TECH - The only top back in this draft with conventional every down size.

CJ Spiller, CLEM - Similar to Best, but bigger and not as elusive. Home run threat because of speed. Lacks power and leg drive.

Ryan Matthews, FRST - Productive runner with good speed and decent size. Durability is an issue.

Stafon Johnson, USC - Strength and quick feet should translate well to the pro game if he can get healthy.

Toby Gerhart, STAN - Poor man's Jamal Lewis. North-south runner with surprising speed. Limited jukes. Takes a beating.

Montario Hardesty, TEN - Like a bigger Glen Coffee. Lean runner with decent quicks.

Dez Bryant, OKST - Only can't-miss player in this draft. Like a better Dwayne Bowe.

Demaryius Thomas, GA TECH - Big target with good strength and mobility. 1st round potential.

Damian Williams, USC - Good production and straight line speed. Bit of a long strider.

Golden Tate, ND - Possession WR in the mold of Josh Reed. Not sure if he's explosive enough for the next level.

Mardy Gilyard, CIN - Pretty good mobility and coordination, but thin build. 40 time will be important. Probably not a #1 in the NFL.

Dexter McCluster, MISS - Similar to Eddie Royal and DeSean Jackson, but even smaller and less proven as a WR.

Anthony McCoy, USC - Complete TE who runs pretty well. Could be like Todd Heap in the passing game.

Combined I would rank the top 10:

1. Bryant

2. Thomas

3. Best

4. Dwyer

5. Spiller

6. Bradford

7. Matthews

8. Johnson

9. Williams

10. Locker

I think the top 5-6 picks will end up being pretty strong, although there aren't as many sure things as in past seasons. I'm waiting for some of the second tier WRs to step up and show me something. Right now I don't see much to get excited about beyond Bryant and Thomas. I was previously pretty high in Gilyard, but I think I had him somewhat overrated.

 

[gianmarco]

No love for Benn?

 

[EBF]

I will take another look at Benn later in the season. He's certainly someone who could occupy that WR2-3 spot when it's all said and done, but my first impression was that he's an overrated prospect still living off his high school hype. He's not exceptionally explosive. His movements aren't very precise. I don't see what the fuss is about. It doesn't help that he has become the invisible man this year after posting solid numbers in 2008. Maybe the bad supporting cast hides his talent, but I never thought he warranted the hype he was getting in the first place.

 

[gianmarco]

I will take another look at Benn later in the season. He's certainly someone who could occupy that WR2-3 spot when it's all said and done, but my first impression was that he's an overrated prospect still living off his high school hype. He's not exceptionally explosive. His movements aren't very precise. I don't see what the fuss is about. It doesn't help that he has become the invisible man this year after posting solid numbers in 2008. Maybe the bad supporting cast hides his talent, but I never thought he warranted the hype he was getting in the first place.

You realize he's been hurt the majority of the year, right?

 

[EBF]

That's probably been a factor, but if he's really hurt then he shouldn't be suiting up every week.

It's kind of a moot point. I wasn't that impressed with him last season either.

I'll give him an extended look if/when he enters the draft, but as of right now I'm not that optimistic.

Sometimes players who have a big reputation coming out of high school are overrated in draft circles even when their on-field performance is spotty. We're seeing a similar phenomenon with Terrelle Pryor and Julio Jones.

 

[offdee]

1. Bryant2. Thomas3. Best4. Dwyer5. Spiller

A top 5 pick is what you should be shooting for and believe the above to be the top 5 as well....with Ryan Mathews on the cusp.My top 6 would be:1) Dez Bryant2) Jonathan Dwyer3) Demaryius Thomas4) Jahvid Best5) CJ Spiller6) Ryan MathewsPretty big drop off after this

 

[Balco]

Tough group to grade. I think, barring injury, Dez Bryant is a can't miss prospect. He drops the ball a little too much, but he is the total package at WR.

In no particular order:

Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma: THat injury is a huge issue to me. AS I have said before, before his injury, BRadford was head and shoulders above the other draft eligible qbs. A Peyton Manning like impact. Just a great passer, throws a very catchable ball, and does a great job reading defenses. The clear cut # 1 overall NFL draft pick before his injury, it will be interesting to see how far he drops due to concerns regarding his throwing shoulder.

Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State: Stood out on the field every game he played. Just an explosive player. Had a case of the drops this year, but there is so much to like about Bryant. Best receiver on the board.

Demaryius Thomas, WR Georgia Tech: Well, you know he is a great blocker playing in Georgia Tech's offense, but he truly is a solid receiver. He has a good chance of being snatched in the 1st round of the NFL draft, the 2nd round at worst. Big and physical, he also has underrated speed. Great body control when the ball is in the air. He might need a little experience running in a pro style offense, but he has star potential.

Jonathan Dwyer, RB Georgia Tech: Powerful runner, plays fullback in Paul Johnson's option offense. I saw enough of him as a reshman backing up Tashard Choice to know he can thrive as a tailback in an I formation. Very good inside runner, shows a lot of power.

Ryan Matthews, RB Fresno State: The total package. One thing that really stands out to me is his vision. Guy has no wasted motion and reads his blockers well. Also a very good receiver. Right now, he is my # 1 running back. He has had some durability issues throughout his career, but he is the real deal.

CJ Spiller, RB Clemson: Speed, Speed and more Speed. His return ability alone will get him drafted no later than the early second round. THe guy has jets. One of the better receivers to come out from the college ranks in years. Get him in the open field and he is gone. I like him alot. But there are a couple questions: 1. Can he block? He rarely, if ever, was asked to block. 2. Can he run inside? Huge question.

Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame: I really want to not like him, really. But he is a solid qb prospect who can make all the throws. He has been playing behind a porous O Line, but has shown when given time, he can make plays. Could end up being a 1st rounder.

Noel Devine, RB West Virginia: Will probably get some flak for this, but I like Devine more than Jahvid Best. Guy can move and is deadly in the open field. Has surprising power and balance in the games I have seen. I see a heavy part Darren Sproles, with a little bit of MJD in there.

Jahvid Best, RB Cal: It is weird. Guy has ridiculous stats, but the games I have broken down, I just don't see his skills transitioning to the next level. I know I am in the minority here. I just have not been impressed. I read somewhere that he runs with power? I just don't see it.

Austin Pettis, WR Boise State: Big target with solid hands. He has impressed me with his skills. Will be interesting to see if he declares.

 

[awesomeness]

My early list:

1) Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma St.

2) Jonathon Dwyer, RB Georgia Tech

3) Ryan Mathews, RB Fresno St.

4) CJ Spiller, RB Clemson

5) Demaryius Thomas, WR Georgia Tech

6) Jahvid Best, RB Cal

7) Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame

8) Dezmon Briscoe, WR Kansas

9) Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois

10) James Starkes, RB Buffalo

I really like the WRs in this draft.

 

[FUBAR]

My early list:

1) Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma St.

2) Jonathon Dwyer, RB Georgia Tech

3) Ryan Mathews, RB Fresno St.

4) CJ Spiller, RB Clemson

5) Demaryius Thomas, WR Georgia Tech

6) Jahvid Best, RB Cal

7) Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame

8) Dezmon Briscoe, WR Kansas

9) Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois

10) James Starkes, RB Buffalo

I really like the WRs in this draft.

Are you a Big XII guy? Birscoe seems underrated everywhere else. I honestly don't know that I'd put him in my top 10 but I like the kid a lot. He'll probably make me wish I hadn't dealt my late 1sts in most leagues. IMO, there's Bryant and Dwyer then a mess that will be sorted out in the combine and by where they end up, WRs especially.

 

[awesomeness]

My early list:

1) Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma St.

2) Jonathon Dwyer, RB Georgia Tech

3) Ryan Mathews, RB Fresno St.

4) CJ Spiller, RB Clemson

5) Demaryius Thomas, WR Georgia Tech

6) Jahvid Best, RB Cal

7) Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame

8) Dezmon Briscoe, WR Kansas

9) Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois

10) James Starkes, RB Buffalo

I really like the WRs in this draft.

Are you a Big XII guy? Birscoe seems underrated everywhere else. I honestly don't know that I'd put him in my top 10 but I like the kid a lot. He'll probably make me wish I hadn't dealt my late 1sts in most leagues. IMO, there's Bryant and Dwyer then a mess that will be sorted out in the combine and by where they end up, WRs especially.

I'm a ND fan, so as far as conferences go i'm unaffiliated. Some things i like about him: good size and athleticism, dynamic after the catch, and most importantly for me is he's a hands catcher. Although Briscoe's 40 time is bad, he's got good game speed and excellent quickness for a guy his size. In the end, with his mix of size, ability to catch, and to break arm tackles i think he's going to be successful in the NFL.

 

[Football Jones]

We could see a lot of underclassmen declare due to the uncertainty of the CBA. More will be known later, but this class looks like it's going to be really deep. Its strength might be in the 15-25 range when all is said & done (2nd round of FF drafts). I believe there will be good talent available in the 3rd round of FF drafts, as well.

It's going to be a strong FF class, IMO. Maybe a little light at the top, but the number of quality prospects will make up for it. I'll have a better idea as I finalize my evaluations this spring.

 

[awesomeness]

We could see a lot of underclassmen declare due to the uncertainty of the CBA. More will be known later, but this class looks like it's going to be really deep. Its strength might be in the 15-25 range when all is said & done (2nd round of FF drafts). I believe there will be good talent available in the 3rd round of FF drafts, as well.

It's going to be a strong FF class, IMO. Maybe a little light at the top, but the number of quality prospects will make up for it. I'll have a better idea as I finalize my evaluations this spring.

This class looks perfectly fine to me, if anything i'd consider it above average rather than below average. What the RBs lack in superstars, they make up for in depth.

 

[gianmarco]

We could see a lot of underclassmen declare due to the uncertainty of the CBA. More will be known later, but this class looks like it's going to be really deep. Its strength might be in the 15-25 range when all is said & done (2nd round of FF drafts). I believe there will be good talent available in the 3rd round of FF drafts, as well.

It's going to be a strong FF class, IMO. Maybe a little light at the top, but the number of quality prospects will make up for it. I'll have a better idea as I finalize my evaluations this spring.

This class looks perfectly fine to me, if anything i'd consider it above average rather than below average. What the RBs lack in superstars, they make up for in depth.

Yeah, but is that a good thing? There's only so many spots to get playing time in the NFL and a lot of them are saturated with pretty solid talent as is.

 

[awesomeness]

We could see a lot of underclassmen declare due to the uncertainty of the CBA. More will be known later, but this class looks like it's going to be really deep. Its strength might be in the 15-25 range when all is said & done (2nd round of FF drafts). I believe there will be good talent available in the 3rd round of FF drafts, as well.

It's going to be a strong FF class, IMO. Maybe a little light at the top, but the number of quality prospects will make up for it. I'll have a better idea as I finalize my evaluations this spring.

This class looks perfectly fine to me, if anything i'd consider it above average rather than below average. What the RBs lack in superstars, they make up for in depth.

Yeah, but is that a good thing? There's only so many spots to get playing time in the NFL and a lot of them are saturated with pretty solid talent as is.

I'm sure by the time the season/combine is completed, some of what is now considered 'depth' will turn into quality prospects. Just like it does every year.

 

[belljr]

LaGarrette Blount will be my top ten sleeper.

Everyone will write him off because of his suspension issue, he'll have a good combine get taken 2nd day and come out of nowhere.

 

[Bruno2]

Jahvid Best, RB Cal: It is weird. Guy has ridiculous stats, but the games I have broken down, I just don't see his skills transitioning to the next level. I know I am in the minority here. I just have not been impressed. I read somewhere that he runs with power? I just don't see it.

I'm with you on Best. I've watched him play quite a bit living out west, and he's definitely a quick runner with some elusiveness but I've yet too see anything special that would make me say, "Wow, he's gonna be a great pro." There's a couple other PAC-10 RBs I like better.Jaquizz Rodgers-OSU- A little mighty-mite, he seems like a cross between Sproles and MJD, don't think he has the size to be an every down RB, but with the trend in the NFL leaning towards shorter RBs, if he's got the skills some team will find a way to get him the ball.Toby Gerhart-Stan- He's been discussed enough lately. He could be the next Alstott or end up a fringe special teams plyer like Brian Leonard, not a flashy runner, more of a straight ahead grinder. He's an interesting prospect, I think a lot will depend on who drafts him and how they plan to use him.LaMichael James-Ore- A redshirt freshman for the Ducks, averaging 7 yards a carry. This kid has serious speed and could possibly be the best of the bunch, if not in the country. He's only 5'9" 180 lbs, but he's young so I'm sure he'll put on some weight. I seriously doubt he'll enter the 2010 draft though.

 

[Bruno2]

LaGarrette Blount will be my top ten sleeper. Everyone will write him off because of his suspension issue, he'll have a good combine get taken 2nd day and come out of nowhere.

I agree, he has NFL size and speed, if he could have controlled his temper everyone would be talking about him going in the first round.

 

[EBF]

The only thing Gerhart has in common with Leonard is his skin color. He's much thicker in the lower body and much stronger. I have watched him more than any other college RB this season. That dude is a TANK. He does not go down on the first hit and almost always pushes tacklers for extra yardage. He's a throwback to the old days of smashmouth football. He's not very nifty behind the line of scrimmage and not very dangerous in the passing game, but if all you want to do is line up and punish the defense then he's pretty skilled in that department.

I don't think he's a slam dunk featured back in the NFL. He's not elusive enough and not very versatile. His best value would be as a committee back getting 10-15 carries per game. No-nonsense power running. Somewhere between LenDale White and Brandon Jacobs. Durability will be a factor because of his running style and his history (torn ACL). He might be able to start in certain systems, but I would like to see him as a power complement for a team like Tennessee, Jacksonville, Philadelphia, or Houston.

There's a pretty thorough highlight package here. The run starting at 1:01 displays why he might actually have a shot as a pro. He's not just some big slug. He has some bounce and some deceptive change of direction skills.

 

[Redmen62]

The only thing Gerhart has in common with Leonard is his skin color. He's much thicker in the lower body and much stronger. I have watched him more than any other college RB this season. That dude is a TANK. He does not go down on the first hit and almost always pushes tacklers for extra yardage. He's a throwback to the old days of smashmouth football. He's not very nifty behind the line of scrimmage and not very dangerous in the passing game, but if all you want to do is line up and punish the defense then he's pretty skilled in that department.

I don't think he's a slam dunk featured back in the NFL. He's not elusive enough and not very versatile. His best value would be as a committee back getting 10-15 carries per game. No-nonsense power running. Somewhere between LenDale White and Brandon Jacobs. Durability will be a factor because of his running style and his history (torn ACL). He might be able to start in certain systems, but I would like to see him as a power complement for a team like Tennessee, Jacksonville, Philadelphia, or Houston.

There's a pretty thorough highlight package here. The run starting at 1:01 displays why he might actually have a shot as a pro. He's not just some big slug. He has some bounce and some deceptive change of direction skills.

This is the very first I've seen of him, but from this tiny sample size I don't see the power you're referring to, at least not in a way that I see translating to the NFL level. Most of the tackles he breaks seem to be primarily due to poor tackling, and secondarily due to his sheer size+momentum. I was looking for a run where he would run behind his pads (think of Michael Turner) and deliver a blow to the defender (think of Brandon Jacobs), but mainly just saw outmatched defenders bouncing off of him and failing to wrap up. In my time watching college players move to the NFL, it's the very rare runner whose success in this manner translates to the NFL, where everybody is big and fast, and the tackling is at least adequate. If I hadn't read your opinion, I would have a hard time seeing him even in a meaningful RBBC role.Keep in mind that this is based on watching six minutes of the guy on youtube- which doesn't exactly compete with your exposure to the guy. I defer to your expertise. But for my own part, I got excited reading your description of his running style, and the guy I saw in the youtube clips left me disappointed.

 

[EBF]

No one's saying Gerhart is a lock for pro success. In my view he's a 4th round value in the NFL draft. Someone who won't break the bank if he busts, but could end up a steal like Marion Barber or Brandon Jacobs. He will be highly scrutinized leading up to the draft in part because of his race and in part for the reasons you mentioned. He's not a nifty runner. He's not a flashy athlete. He doesn't make "wow" plays like Jahvid Best or CJ Spiller. As I said earlier, he's a throwback to the earlier eras of power football. He excels at hitting the crease, lowering his shoulder, and punishing the defense. Some teams will be interested in that. Some teams won't.

I think it would be an error to write him off though. He's the all-time leading high school rusher in the state of California. He's putting up monster stats in one of the top college football conferences in the country. Look at the game logs:

9/5 @Washington State 23 carries, 121 yards, 5.3 YPC

9/12 @Wake Forest 17 carries, 82 yards, 4.8 YPC

9/19 San Jose State 24 carries, 113 yards, 4.7 YPC

9/26 Washington 27 carries, 200 yards, 7.4 YPC

10/3 UCLA 29 carries, 134 yards, 4.6 YPC

10/10 @Oregon State 20 carries, 96 yards, 4.8 YPC

10/17 @Arizona 28 carries, 123 yards, 4.4 YPC

10/24 Arizona State 27 carries, 125 yards, 4.6 YPC

11/7 Oregon 38 carries, 223 yards, 5.9 YPC

11/14 @USC 29 carries, 178 yards, 6.1 YPC

That's pretty insane stuff. He hasn't been held below 4 YPC in a single game this season. Over the last two weeks he faced the two most athletic defenses in the conference (Oregon and USC). He rushed for 401 yards at 5.99 YPC.

He's ripping the entire conference a new #####. Part of it is the offensive line (they're great) and part of it is the quarterback (Andrew Luck might be the best NFL QB prospect in the country), but at some point you have to consider the possibility that Gerhart is a legitimate NFL RB prospect.

I think where I have him rated is fair. He's not in my top 10 overall and he's only the third best Pac-10 RB on my list. He's nowhere near a slam dunk for NFL success, but there's enough here to warrant some optimism. We'll see how he tests at the combine and we'll see how early a pro team is willing to roll the dice on him. Those will be important variables.

 

[Bruno2]

No one's saying Gerhart is a lock for pro success. In my view he's a 4th round value in the NFL draft. Someone who won't break the bank if he busts, but could end up a steal like Marion Barber or Brandon Jacobs. He will be highly scrutinized leading up to the draft in part because of his race and in part for the reasons you mentioned. He's not a nifty runner. He's not a flashy athlete. He doesn't make "wow" plays like Jahvid Best or CJ Spiller. As I said earlier, he's a throwback to the earlier eras of power football. He excels at hitting the crease, lowering his shoulder, and punishing the defense. Some teams will be interested in that. Some teams won't. I think it would be an error to write him off though. He's the all-time leading high school rusher in the state of California. He's putting up monster stats in one of the top college football conferences in the country. Look at the game logs:9/5 @Washington State 23 carries, 121 yards, 5.3 YPC9/12 @Wake Forest 17 carries, 82 yards, 4.8 YPC9/19 San Jose State 24 carries, 113 yards, 4.7 YPC 9/26 Washington 27 carries, 200 yards, 7.4 YPC 10/3 UCLA 29 carries, 134 yards, 4.6 YPC 10/10 @Oregon State 20 carries, 96 yards, 4.8 YPC10/17 @Arizona 28 carries, 123 yards, 4.4 YPC 10/24 Arizona State 27 carries, 125 yards, 4.6 YPC11/7 Oregon 38 carries, 223 yards, 5.9 YPC 11/14 @USC 29 carries, 178 yards, 6.1 YPCThat's pretty insane stuff. He hasn't been held below 4 YPC in a single game this season. Over the last two weeks he faced the two most athletic defenses in the conference (Oregon and USC). He rushed for 401 yards at 5.99 YPC. He's ripping the entire conference a new #####. Part of it is the offensive line (they're great) and part of it is the quarterback (Andrew Luck might be the best NFL QB prospect in the country), but at some point you have to consider the possibility that Gerhart is a legitimate NFL RB prospect. I think where I have him rated is fair. He's not in my top 10 overall and he's only the third best Pac-10 RB on my list. He's nowhere near a slam dunk for NFL success, but there's enough here to warrant some optimism. We'll see how he tests at the combine and we'll see how early a pro team is willing to roll the dice on him. Those will be important variables.

I'm with you on Gerhart (I posted a topic on him Sunday moring that went into a little more depth). The Leonard analogy was more about his NFL career, which I hope won't be the case, than running style. He's definitely tearing up the PAC-10, but how his skills will translate to the NFL is a mystery to me. He's a big back 6'1" 235 lbs, but not as big as Jacobs and I may be wrong but I think Alstott was a little bigger (240's to 250 range). Also Gerhart was known to never fumble but the past two games he's coughed it up, he's gotta fix that part of his game for sure, but it also could be an abberation.

 

[EBF]

Austin Pettis, WR Boise State: Big target with solid hands. He has impressed me with his skills. Will be interesting to see if he declares.

Titus Young could also figure into the equation at some point in the future. I think he's eligible this year, but I don't know if his stock would be high enough for him to declare.

 

[Redmen62]

No one's saying Gerhart is a lock for pro success. In my view he's a 4th round value in the NFL draft. Someone who won't break the bank if he busts, but could end up a steal like Marion Barber or Brandon Jacobs. He will be highly scrutinized leading up to the draft in part because of his race and in part for the reasons you mentioned. He's not a nifty runner. He's not a flashy athlete. He doesn't make "wow" plays like Jahvid Best or CJ Spiller. As I said earlier, he's a throwback to the earlier eras of power football. He excels at hitting the crease, lowering his shoulder, and punishing the defense. Some teams will be interested in that. Some teams won't. I think it would be an error to write him off though. He's the all-time leading high school rusher in the state of California. He's putting up monster stats in one of the top college football conferences in the country. Look at the game logs:9/5 @Washington State 23 carries, 121 yards, 5.3 YPC9/12 @Wake Forest 17 carries, 82 yards, 4.8 YPC9/19 San Jose State 24 carries, 113 yards, 4.7 YPC 9/26 Washington 27 carries, 200 yards, 7.4 YPC 10/3 UCLA 29 carries, 134 yards, 4.6 YPC 10/10 @Oregon State 20 carries, 96 yards, 4.8 YPC10/17 @Arizona 28 carries, 123 yards, 4.4 YPC 10/24 Arizona State 27 carries, 125 yards, 4.6 YPC11/7 Oregon 38 carries, 223 yards, 5.9 YPC 11/14 @USC 29 carries, 178 yards, 6.1 YPCThat's pretty insane stuff. He hasn't been held below 4 YPC in a single game this season. Over the last two weeks he faced the two most athletic defenses in the conference (Oregon and USC). He rushed for 401 yards at 5.99 YPC. He's ripping the entire conference a new #####. Part of it is the offensive line (they're great) and part of it is the quarterback (Andrew Luck might be the best NFL QB prospect in the country), but at some point you have to consider the possibility that Gerhart is a legitimate NFL RB prospect. I think where I have him rated is fair. He's not in my top 10 overall and he's only the third best Pac-10 RB on my list. He's nowhere near a slam dunk for NFL success, but there's enough here to warrant some optimism. We'll see how he tests at the combine and we'll see how early a pro team is willing to roll the dice on him. Those will be important variables.

Yeah, there's more than enough on his resume to warrant an extended look at the guy. And 178 yards vs. USC says an awful lot- wish I'd seen that game to see how he got those yards vs. a defense full of future NFL players. The combine will definitely be big for Gerhart- I'll be particularly interested in his cone drills and 10-yard split.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

And 178 yards vs. USC says an awful lot- wish I'd seen that game to see how he got those yards vs. a defense full of future NFL players.

Didn't USC lose almost their entire defense from last year? I mean, they just gave up 27, 36, 47, and 55 points in four of their last five games, and they rank 53rd in the nation against the run. Let's be realistic here, just because USC's defense has been great historically doesn't mean they're even above average this year.

 

[EBF]

And 178 yards vs. USC says an awful lot- wish I'd seen that game to see how he got those yards vs. a defense full of future NFL players.

Didn't USC lose almost their entire defense from last year? I mean, they just gave up 27, 36, 47, and 55 points in four of their last five games, and they rank 53rd in the nation against the run. Let's be realistic here, just because USC's defense has been great historically doesn't mean they're even above average this year.

Valid point. They got schooled against Oregon and haven't played that well this season.Nevertheless, they probably have more NFL prospects on their D than any other team in the conference.

 

[Bruno2]

And 178 yards vs. USC says an awful lot- wish I'd seen that game to see how he got those yards vs. a defense full of future NFL players.

Didn't USC lose almost their entire defense from last year? I mean, they just gave up 27, 36, 47, and 55 points in four of their last five games, and they rank 53rd in the nation against the run. Let's be realistic here, just because USC's defense has been great historically doesn't mean they're even above average this year.

Valid point. They got schooled against Oregon and haven't played that well this season.Nevertheless, they probably have more NFL prospects on their D than any other team in the conference.

I don't have the stats in front of me, but Oregon's defense was playing pretty well until they ran into the Gerhart buzzsaw when he had his best game of the season so far.

 

[BuckeyeArt]

Mardy Gilyard, CIN - Pretty good mobility and coordination, but thin build. 40 time will be important. Probably not a #1 in the NFL.

I know Gilyard is the higher rated guy in Cincy but in the games I've seen, Armon Binns has really stood out. He's a big red zone target and seems to have great hands. He didn't do anything his first two years but has broken out this year. I don't know where I'd rank him yet but I'm starting to think he'll make a better pro than Gilyard.

 

[Englishteacher]

 

[Balco]

Austin Pettis, WR Boise State: Big target with solid hands. He has impressed me with his skills. Will be interesting to see if he declares.

Titus Young could also figure into the equation at some point in the future. I think he's eligible this year, but I don't know if his stock would be high enough for him to declare.

Young is a lot faster than Pettis. I think he can be a solid # 3 at the next level. Going to have a tough time getting off the line. But I would think it would be a smart move to stay in school 1 more year for Young. Some off the field issues (believe he was suspended for most of last year). He should go back 1 year and keep his nose clean to help alleviate character issues.

 

[QUEZILLA]

I heard more underclassmen could declare this year due to talks of a rookie pay scale looming in 2010. Are there any guys who may come out that could change things around?

 

[awesomeness]

With Charlie Weis' firing imminent, his family selling their house in the area, and being punched in the face by a "fan", all signs point to Jimmy Clausen declaring at this point.

 

[Hoss_Cartwright]

You will get a lot more accurate information in June or late August after fantasy drafts. Owners know their leaguemates patrol this board, so why should they offer any meaningful information? A lot of dynasty leagues have their drafts in early May or early August.

Having said that, I'll take Dez Bryant in every PPR league if I can

 

[coolnerd]

I heard more underclassmen could declare this year due to talks of a rookie pay scale looming in 2010. Are there any guys who may come out that could change things around?

IMO, most significant eligible players declare for the draft, so I don't think that the top of the draft will be influenced a great deal. Many of the players being discussed already are underclassmen. The issue with current rookie wages is the very top also. My guess is that if anything the 2nd round and later will be increased under any new system (to justify desceasing the those top 10 to 15 picks).

 

[FUBAR]

You will get a lot more accurate information in June or late August after fantasy drafts. Owners know their leaguemates patrol this board, so why should they offer any meaningful information? A lot of dynasty leagues have their drafts in early May or early August.

Having said that, I'll take Dez Bryant in every PPR league if I can

FWIW I have a top pick in my main league, I'd take Bryant today if we could. Very little doubt in my mind that he'll be my pick.

 

[jeter23]

With Charlie Weis' firing imminent, his family selling their house in the area, and being punched in the face by a "fan", all signs point to Jimmy Clausen declaring at this point.

Kiper said that he expected Clausen and Golden Tate to declare.

 

[Cookiemonster]

So the Gerhart comparisons sound a lot like ancestor (in football, not blood) Tommy Vardell. Close? I haven't gotten to watch hardly ANY college football this year, but sold all my picks anyways so wasn't overly interested.

 

[coolnerd]

So the Gerhart comparisons sound a lot like ancestor (in football, not blood) Tommy Vardell. Close? I haven't gotten to watch hardly ANY college football this year, but sold all my picks anyways so wasn't overly interested.

You could do worse in terms of comparison, but I think he has a thicker build and a step or so more speed if my memory is correct. the slower Jamal Lewis stuff works best in my mind as I have not seen him doing any FB type actvities in college.