Top Defensive Linemen: Part 2
Posted by James Rowe on May 18, 2011 – 6:15 pm in: 2012, NFL DraftThe last decade has given the NFL some superstar type DE’s through the NFL draft. Players like Mario Williams and Julius Peppers are looked at the prototypical DE prospects, but are there any in the upcoming 2012 draft? As of right now I would say no. Sure there are some productive pass rushers from last season, but we will see if anyone will step their game up to an elite level. Here are my top 5 prospects that I think have a chance to become elite DE’s in the NFL
1 Quinton Coples DE UNC- This is the top Senior DE prospect one most everyone’s board. At 6’6 270lbs, Coples has NFL ready size and his play for the Tar Heels shows it. Last season Coples was able to sack the QB 10 times, and having a career 16 sacks while at UNC. He is a diverse player, lining up at DE and sometimes at DT, which is always a plus. He is more of a power rusher compared to a speedy guy, so he will likely play LDE in the NFL, which could hurt his stock. Coples joins the recent success of UNC defensive linemen to have 1st round grades, in fact he isn’t the only one on this list!
2 Devin Taylor DE South Carolina*- Even though Taylor may not be the best DE prospect on his team(that goes to #1 recruit Jadeveon Clowney), Taylor is still a very respectable player. At 6’7 250lbs, he has the height to gain atleast 15-20lbs and still be a freak athlete. Coming off a 7.5 sack season, I expect Taylor to explode onto the scene as one of the best pass rushers in the SEC. Having Clowney play opposite should allow Taylor to see 1 on 1’s, which should result in an increase in sack totals. I can see Taylor as a RDE in a 4-3, but also wouldn’t be surprised to see a 3-4 team draft him to be a stand up pass rusher.
3 Vinny Curry DE Marshall- The only small school prospect on the list, Curry has played some of his top games against schools like Ohio State and West Virginia(4sacks in those 2 games). He put up great stats last year, with 12 sacks after only 3 the year before. At 6’5 245lbs, he will need to gain some weight in the pre-season if he wants to be considered a 4-3 DE prospect. Curry gets to the QB with power and speed moves, and I think if he puts up good numbers like in his junior year, he should be an instant impact type player in the NFL. Right now he looks to be a 3-4 OLB prospect, but if he gets stronger he can be a 4-3 DE in the NFL. 
Tags: Brandon Jenkins, Devin Taylor, Donte Paige-Moss, Quinton Coples, Vinny Curry
Prospects with the most to prove next season before the 2012 draft.
Posted by Ozzy on May 18, 2011 – 5:29 pm in: 2012, NFL DraftThis is a list of a few prospects that have a lot to prove next year before the 2012 NFL Draft. Most of the players including on this list are seniors and are coming off of poor junior campaigns, a few juniors are also including in the list. With all of these prospects they are going to have to improve their football skills, their effort on the field and their production has to increase greatly if they hope to improve their draft stock or even be drafted at all.
Terrelle Pryor SR QB Ohio State: Even if Ohio State did not have all of the off the field issues they have had this summer, people would still be questioning the legitimacy of Terrelle Pryor as a NFL quarterback. An always gifted athlete, and proven on the field leader, it is still up in the air if he can make the accurate throws necessary in the NFL. To make matters worse he will not even be able to show his abilities on the field because of the suspensions early in the year. He has a lot of work to do, and unlike last year with Cam Newton. Who won the hearts of America, showed great ability to perform in the clutch and made big time NFL throws capturing the Heisman trophy, Pryor will not get that same opportunity with the suspension.
Jack Crawford SR DE Penn State: A big physical and imposing defensive end, looks tough, looks the part but last year he really laid an egg. Very unproductive season getting after the quarterback and he did not make as many plays on the football field as he should have. A big disappointment last year and he will have to make a complete 360 this year if he hopes to be drafted come draft time.
Jacory Harris SR QB Miami FL: Quite possibly no player in the country has to improve his performance move off of last year than Jacory Harris. A once considered promising composed young quarterback is now to many a lackadaisical, unemotional andinaccurate quarterback. He has this year to turn it around, and what was once interpreted as calm under pressure is clearly not the case because he did not perform that well under pressure last season and his physical frailness is a major issue as well.
Tags: Jack Crawford, Jacory Harris, Miami FL, NFL Draft 2012, Ohio State, Penn State, prospects with the most to prove, Terrelle Pryor, Underachieving prospects, USC
Big Ten Players to Know for the Draft: Part Two
Posted by Jordan Finley on May 18, 2011 – 4:40 pm in: 2012, NFL DraftAll of the teams from the Big Ten, from a consensus standpoint, were aligned equally with the conference powerhouses not being one sided. Like any other college football conference, the first place teams from each division will face each other in a Big Ten Championship which will occur in Indianapolis, home of the NCAA Headquarters. Let’s take a look at the comparison of teams real quick.
Legends Division- Nebraska- Michigan Michigan State- Minnesota- Iowa- Northwestern
Leaders Division- Ohio State Wisconsin- Indiana- Illinois- Purdue- Penn State
Tags: Big Ten, Ohio State, Wisconsin
Big Ten Players to Know for the Draft: Part One
Posted by Jordan Finley on May 15, 2011 – 7:33 pm in: NFL DraftWho’s the new family down the block? Oh, that would be Bo Pelini and his Nebraska Cornhuskers who are beginning their Big Ten stint in 2011 as they continue their search for a BCS National Championship. With the addition of the former Big 12 contenders, the Big Ten has decided to align their teams in to two divisions, the Legends and the Leaders. Regardless of how horrible these names are, it’s still a very good aspect to add to a conference that has had a single team be the champion for so many straight years, that due to the fact that Ohio State has been a “Co-Champion” for four of their six straight Big Ten titles going back to 2005. Why does the phrase “Co-Champion” even exist?
Tags: 2012 NFL Draft, Big Ten, Nebraska Cornhuskers
Top Defensive Linemen: Part 1
Posted by James Rowe on May 15, 2011 – 4:24 pm in: 2012, NFL DraftOver the past 2 drafts, there has been a bunch of elite talent on the defensive line. Names like Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, Gerald McCoy and Marcell Dareus have been highly regarded as elite DT prospects, but at this point there isn’t one prospect that stands out in the 2012 draft. Here is a list of 5 prospects who I can think have a good chance at becoming elite DT prospects in the upcoming draft.
1 Jared Crick DT Nebraska- Super production prospect from Nebraska, who has still played at a high level, even with Suh gone. Crick has a career 18.5 sacks from his 3 years(2 starting) for the Cornhuskers and actually improved his sack total last year without Suh next to him. At a reported 6’6 290lbs, Crick profiles to be a UT in a 4-3 defense, and a DE in a 3-4 defense, which give him more value to more teams. He still need to keep adding weight and strength for the NFL, but if he keeps his production at the same level as the previous seasons, I find it hard for him not be valued somewhere in the top 10-15 picks.
2 Jerel Worthy DT Michigan State*- Despite having just average stats, Worthy has been able to catch the attention from scouts and is thought of as the top junior DT in college football. Worthy has a quick first step, which allows his 6’3 305lbs body to make an impact for the Spartans defense and helped Michigan State earn a top 15 ranking and a BCS bowl bid. He still needs to refine his technique and improve the use of his hands, but I would not be surprised to see Worthy have a breakout season statistically this year.
3 Marcus Forston DT Miami*- Another underclassmen who has top 10 potential is Marcus Forston from Miami. Forston at 6’3 305lbs has ideal size to play UT in a 4-3 in the NFL. Forston is a disruptive pass rusher who has the ability to blow up pass plays with his quickness. Like Worthy, Forston has yet to put up eye popping stats, but still stood out as a difference maker on tape and has a lot of potential. Forston could follow the path of another former Miami DT Warren Sapp, and become one of the best pass rushing DT’s in football.
Tags: Jared Crick, Jerel Worthy, Kheeston Randall, Marcus Forston, Mike Martin
Miami RB’s- Lamar Miller and Mike James
Posted by Jim Abruzzo on May 13, 2011 – 7:08 pm in: 2012, NFL DraftThe University of Miami has a rich history of pumping running backs into the NFL. Since 2001, ten different ‘Canes have lined up in the backfield of NFL teams. Edgerrin James, Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee and Frank Gore just to name a few. Two current Miami Hurricanes, Lamar Miller and Mike James hope to add their names to the long list.
This coming fall, Lamar Miller will be a redshirt sophomore. Standing at 5-11 and weighing in at 212 pounds,
Lamar Miller
Miller possesses good size for a running back. Lamar’s best attribute is his speed. He is a guy who can take it to the house anytime he gets his hands on the ball. Many speed backs can’t run in between the tackles but that is not the case with Lamar Miller. Miller has great vision and can find the cutback lanes. In that aspect of the game, he reminds many of Clinton Portis. When Miller comes out, he can certainly be a 1st round pick.
Mike James (Junior) is expected to be the teams #2 running back this season. He is a bit bigger than Miller, standing at 5-11 and weighing 222 pounds. Mike is more of a traditional back, being more of a north/south runner. As a freshman in 2009, he took a lot of snaps at FB because of an injury to Patrick Hill. Mike showed versatility by proving to be a capable blocker. He also showed a great ability as a receiver out of the backfield. In 2010, he had a bigger role in the offense, carrying the ball 70 times for 387 yards. Mike showed great ability to break tackles and pick up yards after contact. I’m expecting a nice 2011 season out of Mike James. The NFL is in his future.
Also look out for sophomore RB Storm Johnson. He’s a playmaker with great speed who can score any time he touches the ball. If you don’t know his name now, you will by the end of the 2011 season.
Tags: 2012 NFL Draft, Lamar Miller, Miami Hurricanes, Mike James
Early Top 32 for the 2012 NFL Draft
Posted by Ozzy on May 11, 2011 – 10:14 pm in: 2012, NFL Draft
This is a very early ranking of a potential top 32 prospects for the upcoming 2012 NFL draft. Much can change once the season starts clearly, but hypothetically, if certain players decide to come out this is how I think the player rankings could turn out. Sure a linebacker going that high in the draft as a inside linebacker rarely happens, but in terms of prospect value, like many have pointed out next years draft is potentially stacked at linebacker, especially if you compare it to this years draft. Running backs do not always go that high, but there are some very good ones in there potentially with LaMichael James, Kniles Davis and especially Trent Richardson, he could explode this year.
Luck is the clear cut #1, everyone knows that, but I think if Barkley finally plays up to his potential, he has everything one would be looking for in a quarterback. All he has to do is back it up on the field with his performance. Because he has the arm strength, and possible leadership qualities, he just has to be a little more gritty on the field and lead the football team and be more productive. If he has that breakout year and plays up to his potential he could be an extremely high pick as well.
Many could argue Jeffery is a better receiver than AJ Green in terms of going after a jump ball, and if he works on his conditioning and his open field speed expect him to be just as high of a draft selection. At safety there are a lot of good players as well with Moody, Iloka and Barron but just like this years draft, for whatever reason safeties fall like rocks at times. But these prospects should not see that happen but I guess stranger things have occurred.
Top 32
1 Andrew Luck QB Stanford RS JR
2 Matt Barkley QB USC JR
3 Vontaze Burfict ILB Arizona State JR
4 Alshon Jeffery WR South Carolina JR
5 Riley Reiff OT Iowa RS JR
6 Jared Crick DT Nebraska
7 Stephon Gilmore CB South Carolina JR
8 Quenton Coples DE UNC
Tags: 2012 NFL Draft, Alshon Jeffery, Andrew Luck, Boston College, Florida State, Iowa, Jared Crick, LaMichael James, luke kuechly, Mati Te'o, Matt Barkley, Matt Kalil, Michael Floyd, NFL Draft, Potential 2012 1st round prospects, Quenton Coples, Riley Rieff, Stephon Gilmore, Top 32, Trent Richardson Alabama, USC, vontaze burfict
2012 NFL Draft: Potential breakout prospects.
Posted by Ozzy on May 11, 2011 – 5:17 pm in: 2012, NFL DraftRyan Tannehill SR QB Texas A&M: Already had a partial breakout season last year coming out of no where to become the starting quarterback for the Aggies. Is a very consistent football player, clearly knows the game of football, has ideal size for the position and makes very smart decisions on the football field. As a potential quarterback prospect, with a solid season this upcoming year I would not be surprised if he is in the group of the top 5 quarterbacks taken in the 2012 NFL draft.
Audie Cole SR OLB NC State: A very athletic and very gifted outside linebacker for the Wolfpack. I love his size at 6-5 240, and he is not just a rush defensive end type of prospect. He can drop back in coverage and has the speed to cover a lot of ground at linebacker. His versatility and size make him a great prospect in the NFL and do not be surprised to see his name rise up the draft boards.
Kyle Wilber SR DE Wake Forest: He is a very tall and lengthy defensive end for the Demon Deacons. Wilber has really long arms and does a great job getting around the edge and attacking the quarterback. He needs to gain some strength and be more solid at the point of attack, but if one is just focusing on pass rushing potential he could be a real breakout star this season.
Tags: 2012 breakout prospects, 2012 NFL Draft, Audie Cole, Deangelo Peterson, Devon Kennard, Donnie Fletcher, Garrick Williams, Jeff Allen, Kyle Wilber, LaRon Byrd, Latavius Murray, Miami FL, Ryan Tannehill, UCF, USC
Buckeyes Busted: What Now?
Posted by Jordan Finley on May 10, 2011 – 10:29 pm in: 2012, NFL DraftAsk anyone and their mother what the biggest storyline was of this past off-season in college football and they’ll have to answer with the catastrophe that has become the Ohio State University football program. Just when the average follower or even beat writer thinks that this horrendous publicity could be over, another leak seems to burst through the fundamental piping of the program.
With five essential players (QB Terrelle Pryor, RB Daniel “Boom” Herron, WR DeVier Posey, OT Mike Adams and DE Soloman Thomas) and ultimately the most important person to the program, head coach Jim Tressell being suspended for the first five games, the program is bound to run into some trouble on the field, for once. Now with word coming out of media outlets here in Columbus that some players may have even received cars as extra benefits, the team may see even more players being suspended or sanctions handed out depending on the fallout within the next couple of weeks.
However, that’s not what we’re here to talk about. We’re here to discuss how these suspensions will affect the five players upcoming draft stocks. These five players (regardless of whether or not they did the wrong thing) ultimately had the repercussions of this wrongdoing happen at the ironically perfect time. The fact that they’ll miss the first five games before their respective senior seasons does not bid well at all for their chances of being taken any earlier than they were projected before the scandal. Let’s take a look at the prospects and where they go from here, shall we?
Tags: 2012 NFL Draft, Mike Adams, Ohio State, Terrelle Pryor
2012 Draft- Year of the Quarterback V.2
Posted by Zach Clanton on May 8, 2011 – 10:27 pm in: 2012, NFL DraftIn the last version of this blog I talked about my top 3 Quarterback prospects for the 2012 NFL draft in Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley, and Landry Jones. While I feel those guys are a lock for the first round, and quite possibly the top 10-15 picks, there are several names that I can see sneaking into the first round and making some noise come draft time.
Ryan Lindley Senior SDSU- Lindley is the type of guy that a ton of people may not know about, due to the fact that
Ryan Lindley hopes to go from "under the radar" to first round stud
he played at San Diego State, and they are not your traditional football power. However, at 6’4″ Lindley has the size and everything else you look for in a big time Quarterback prospect. He has the arm to make all the throws, and throws a pretty deep ball. He has been playing in a pro style offense under Brady Hoke over the last couple seasons, so he has been preparing to take that next step into the National Football League. With a big senior season I could Lindley being the 4th Quarterback off the board in 2012.
Lindley has the make up and the abilities of a big time Quarterback, but he does not play against the best competition. Being from the Mountain West he has very few opportunities to impress against NFL style talent, so he needs to make them count when he gets the chance.
Junior Season: 243-421 3830 YDS 57.7% 28 TD 14INT 149.4 RTG
Tags: EJ Manuel, Nick Foles, Ryan Lindley