Merk
August 28th, 2006, 2:21:28 PM
Top 5 QB’s for 2007
Strength of class: Very Good
1.Brady Quinn (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95165), N.D.
Senior
6’4, 232
Notes: Brady is widely rated as the top prospect for the 2007 draft. He has a strong accurate arm (65%comp) and has proven to be great under pressure. He really improved last year on the mental parts of the game, such as reading defenses and checking off plays. He also had a good TD to INT ratio, almost 5 to 1. He'll need to build on his solid 2005 season to prove he is more than a one year wonder.
2.Drew Stanton (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95168), Michigan State
Senior
6’3, 228
Notes: Has all of the physically tools you look for in a QB. He has tons of mobility and toughness about him. He has a strong arm and can make plays when everything breaks down. His biggest downside is his decision-making is suspect and is injury prone because of his style of play.
3. Brian Brohm (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94787), Louisville
Junior
6’4, 212
Notes: He might not come out in 2007 but if he does he will be a high 1st rounder. He compares favorably to Quinn in many ways. Brohm has a strong arm and is very accurate. He also has a nice sense in the pocket. He needs to improve his ability to read defenses and could use some time to grow. He is also coming off an ACL tear
4. Jordan Palmer (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94786), UTEP
Senior
6’4, 225
Notes: Jordan is Carson Palmer’s Brother. Is very Tech sound, has good arm strength and great accuracy. He has a nice feel for the game. Palmer has had a very productive career so far at UTEP with 7,489 and 62 TD’s to his credit. He can be inconsistent at times and tends to force a lot of balls that lead to INT’s
5. Troy Smith (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94885), OSU
Senior
6’1, 215
Notes: Very mobile QB who can make plays w/ his feet. He had 27 TD’s in 2005 (16 passing 11 running). Has good arm strength w/ a quick release. Has shown good leadership skills. He is a playmaker on what should be a potent OSU offense in 2006. His downside is his lack of command of an offense, he needs to go through his progressions at a better pace
Others to keep an eye on: Drew Tate, Iowa; Kyle Wright, Miami (Fla); Chad Henne (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?p=1381559#post1381559), Michigan; Tyler Palko, Pittsburgh; Trent Edwards, Stanford; John Beck, BYU; Chris Leak (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=97265), Florida; Sam Kellar, Arizona State; Brandon Cox, Auburn; JaMarcus Russell, LSU
Top Running Backs for 2007
Strength of class: Above Avg, very top heavy
1.Adrian Peterson (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94886), Oklahoma
Junior
6’2, 210
Notes: Good size for a RB. Has great vision, cutback ability, and quick feet. He is everything the scouts look for in a RB. Was runner up for the Heisman Trophy his freshman year (1,925, 19td’s). His downside is he has had some nagging shoulder injuries
2.Michael Bush (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94888), Louisville
Senior
6’3, 233
Notes: This guy is a load at RB. He scored 23 TD’s his junior year. Coming out of high school he was highly touted and one of the top quarterbacks in the entire country, also while in high school he astonishingly was All-State at (5) different positions on his football team. He is deceptively fast for his size and has quick feet and good vision. He also is a very underrated WR out of the backfield. The down side is he needs to work on his conditioning.
3. Kenny Irons (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94889), Auburn
Senior
5’11, 203
Notes: Possesses the speed to out-run defenders and the power to run through poor tackles. Good hands out of the backfield. He is a very tough runner for his size and is not afraid of contact. His downside is his size doesn’t fit his style. He's listed at 203lbs but some scouts have said he's more like 190. With the way he likes to run through defenders this could lead to some injury concerns
4.Ken Darby (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94892), Alabama
Senior
5’11, 205
Notes: Darby is a shifty back who excels at running between the Tackles but has the speed to bring it outside. He has good lower body strength to run through tackles. He reminds me of a faster T.Henry.He has decent to good hands out of the back field. His downside is that he has trouble picking up the blitz and sometimes can dance too much behind the OL
5.Mike Hart (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94893), Michigan
Junior
5’9, 195
Notes: Hart is a 3 down RB that posseses great balance and leg drive. He stays low to the ground and is very hard to arm tackle. He has good but not great speed and is extremely quick. He also is a great reciever out of the backfield. The downside w/ Hart is he has an injury history b/c he likes to play bigger than he is
Other RB’s to keep an eye on: Marshawn Lynch, California (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95534); Lorenzo Booker, Florida State; Thomas Brown, Georgia; Tyrone Moss, Miami(Fla); DeShawn Wynn, Florida; Darius Walker, Notre Dame; Courtney Lewis, Texas A&M; Tony Hunt, Penn State; Yvenson Bernard, Oregon State (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95532).
Top WR’s for 2007
Strength of Class: To dependant on underclassmen to gauge yet
1.Calvin Johnson (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94912), Georgia Tech
Junior
6’4, 225
Notes:One word can describe C.Johnson and that is "Unreal". He is IMO the best player in the draft if he decides to enter. He has everything you want in a WR Size, Speed(good but not great), Agility, and leaping ability. He has very soft hands and attacks the ball when it’s in the air. He is GT's only offensive weapon and opposing defenses know this and they still cant stop him. Johnson has the skills to have a Randy Moss type impact as a rookie. The only thing he lacks right now is experience
2. Dwayne Jarrett (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94921), USC
Junior
6’5, 200
Notes: Jarrett is a very athletic WR w/ good measurable. He runs solid routes and has a nose for the End zone. He has soft hands and nice route running ability considering he is a junior. He has a lot of game breaking ability and that will be put to the test this year, as he becomes the focal point of the USC offense. His downside right now is he isn’t very good in the YAC and isn’t very good at breaking tackles
3.Teddy Ginn Jr (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94924), OSU
Junior
6’0, 180
Notes: To say Ginn Jr is fast would be the understatement of the year. He doesn’t just have speed he has world-class speed. He has a rare speed where there are very few if any college players that can catch him once he is gets a step on them. He is an impact player that already has shown what he can do on Special Teams and his feel for the WR position is getting better every day. The downside is he is a very raw WR that needs work on route running and catching.
4.Sidney Rice (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94925), South Carolina
Junior
6’3, 200
Notes: Rice is a lot like Calvin Johnson but more raw. He has nice speed and always finds a way to get to the ball and make the tough catch. He had a nice statistical year last year under new coach Steve Spurrier w/ 70 Rec for 1143 yards and 13 TD’s. Rice is also tough as nails and not afraid to go over the middle. The things he needs to work on in 2006 is route running and getting off the LOS. If improved in those areas with a similar statistical year Rice could jump to the #2 spot and make a run at the #1 spot for WR’s
5.Jeff Smardzija (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94926), Notre Dame
Senior
6’5, 220
Notes: Had a break out year last year and became B.Quinn’s got to guy in many situations. He has great athletic ability and size to place defenders at a disadvantage. He also has great hands and is more physical than given credit for. Has a great feel for making catches along the sidelines. His downside is that he really doesn’t posses top end speed
Other WR’s to keep an eye on: Jason Hill, Washington State (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95533); Steve Breaston, Michigan; Courtney Taylor, Auburn; Robert Meachem, Tennessee; Early Doucet*, LSU; Steve Smith, USC; Lance Leggett, Miami; Johnnie Lee Higgins, UTEP; Paul Williams, Fresno State; Andre Caldwell, Florida; Dwayne Bowe, LSU; Dorien Bryant, Purdue; Chansi Stuckey, Clemson; David Clowney, Virginia Tech; Alex Watson, Northern Arizona Jr (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?p=1361881#post1361881).
Top TE’s for 2007
Strength of Class: Average right now w/ the potential to be Very Good
1.Greg Olsen (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94927), Miami (Fla)
Junior
6’5, 252
Notes: Looks to be another good TE in a long line of ones from Miami. Olsen is very comparable to J.Shockey of the New York Giants but w/ better blocking and a little less speed. He has a knack for finding the soft spots and zones and is a blocker on the LOS. He is a very well rounded TE. His biggest downfall is he is still a little raw and could use some more polish on his deeper routes
2.Zack Miller (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94928), Arizona State
Junior
6’5, 253
Notes: He is very comparable to Todd Heap. Very good receiving TE w/ great hands. He is Sam Kellars’ favorite target on a very good Arizona State offense. He has a knack for finding the soft spots in zone and is a very polished route runner for a TE. His downside is that he is injury prone.
3.Matt Spaeth (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94929), Minnesota
Senior
6’6, 270
Notes: Spaeth is a tough player to really get a read on because the TE is really not a heavily used position in the Minnesota offense. Spaeth is a player that embodies the phrase “is good at everything but not great at any one thing”. The best thing about Spaeth is that he is a throwback player. He is tough to bring down when he has the ball and always gives 100% every play. He is an excellent blocker and is good at keeping the chains moving in the passing game. His biggest drawback is that he does not posses the physical tools (speed) that most pro teams want in a TE
4.Clark Harris (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94969), Rutgers
Senior
6’6, 255
Notes: Harris is a hard-nosed player who doesn’t mind going over the middle. He is very reliable option to the QB in dump off routes and he keeps the chains moving. Does not have great speed but makes up for it with good feet and has good short area quickness. He is a very good blocker in both the running and passing games. His biggest downside is he lacks the down the seem speed teams look for.
5.Martez Milner (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94970), Georgia
Senior
6’4, 250
Notes: Milner was a back up to L.Pope last year on a talented Georgia team. His playing time was limited but when he did get in he made the most of his opportunity. He has the speed teams are looking for in a TE, his agility is good but not anything great. He has good hands and is great after the catch. His biggest downside right now is w/ his blocking but it will be hard to judge him on it until he gets some starts under his belt
Other TE’s to keep an eye on: Joe Newton, Oregon State; Jonny Harline, BYU; Jason Goode, Maryland; Ben Patrick, Delaware; Matt Herian, Nebraska; Scott Chandler, Iowa;
Top OT’s for 2007
Strength of Class: Great
1.Joe Thomas (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94978), Wisconsin
Senior
6’8, 310
Notes: Thomas is rated by many to be the top LT and OL on the board in 2007. Athletically he is everything you would want in a LT prospect. He also has shown good Tech through his 25 strait starts for the Badgers. He flirted with leaving early in 2006 but decided against it after suffering a knee injury while playing DT in the Capital One Bowl against Auburn. The knee injury also happens to be his biggest downside. There are questions on whether he can return to form before the season starts in 2007 and it will affect his draft status if he can’t.
2.Sam Baker (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94979), USC
Junior
6’5, 311
Notes: Considered by many to be the top O-Linemen on a very talented USC OL in 2005 that had such names as Justice, Lutui, and Matua. He is in my opinion the best LT prospect in the draft in 2007. He is very explosive and is strong in both run and pass blocking. He moves well and has quick feet. He is also known to be a very hard worker that is always looking to get better. His only downside is he has had problems keeping his weight up which is rare for an OL.
3.Levi Brown (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94980), Penn St.
Senior
6’5, 326
Notes: For the last 4 years Brown has been anchoring the PSU front line and been doing it at a pretty high level. He has a great combination of size speed and strength. He can handle both speed and bull rushers and is quick to get to the second level on run plays. His downside is that his Technique needs some work and because of this he often relies too much on his athletic ability to get buy. With improved technique many think he could be the first OL off the board in 2007
4.Justin Blaylock (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94981), Texas
Senior
6’4, 328
Notes: Blalock has been solid throughout his college career. He has 30 consecutive starts for the Longhorns, a national title, and 2 first team All Big 12. Like many Texas Tackles before him he is a very strong run blocker. He is a road grader that likes to mix it up in the trenches. His biggest downside is that he really is all that athletic and because of this he has problems with speed rushers and may have to be moved to the inside at the next level.
5. Jake Long (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94982), Michigan
Junior
6’7, 338
Notes: Like most Michigan OL Long is a very good run blocker. He has above avg athletic ability and shows great toughness in the trenches. He compares very well to Jon Jansen of the Washington Redskins. His biggest downside at this point is he is still a little raw as far as technique goes.
Other OT’s to keep an eye on: Barry Richardson, Clemson; Kirk Barton, Ohio State; Doug Free, Northern Illinois; Mike Jones, Iowa; Aaron Sears, Tennessee; Daniel Inman, Georgia; Andrew Carnahan, Arizona State; Ryan Harris, Notre Dame; Andrew Cameron, California; Mike Otto, Purdue.
Top Interior OL for 2007
Strength of Class: Above Average
1.Ryan Kalil (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94983), USC (C)
Senior
6’3, 296
Notes: Is in most people’s opinion the best Center in college football in 2007. He has a 26 game starting streak and is very refined as far as technique goes. Is very good in short area quickness, on pulls, and getting to the second level. His only downside is he could use some more bulk and he sometimes has problems with bigger DT’s
2.Dan Mozes (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95035), West Virginia (C/G)
Senior
6’4, 300
Notes: Is valuable in that he has played and been successful at all 3 interior OL positions (he is the starting Center in 2006 as he was in 2005). Mozes is as tough as they come. He is a very smart and gritty player who will make his presence known on a football field w/ his intensity and great instincts. His only downside is that he has a small injury history and could use some work on pulling.
3.Mark Fenton (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95036), Colorado (C)
Senior
6’4, 300
Notes: His best asset is his strength. He rarely get pushed back into the pocket and can usually handle other teams best DT’s 1 on 1. He is also very old school like in the way he plays OL. Has very good nasty streak about him and will attack DL. The biggest downside with Fenton is he is not overly athletic and has problems with stunts sometimes
4.Kyle Young (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95038), Fresno State (C/G)
Senior
6’4, 322
Notes: Like Fenton Young’s biggest asset is his strength. He has decent mobility for a guy his size. He is very smart and has good technique. He is also very aggressive and gets to the second level at a good pace. His size is his only Question mark and because of that I think he will be a guard at the next level in the NFL
5.Josh Beekman (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95039), Boston College (G)
Senior
6’2, 318
Notes: Very tough Guard who has good strength. He has decent technique and uses leverage very well against opposing DL. He is decent on pulling but could get better. His biggest downfall is that he should be more consistent than he has been.
Other Interior OL to keep an eye on: Samson Satele, Hawaii; Kasey Studdard, Texas; Manuel Ramirez, Texas Tech; Kirk Elder, Texas A&M; Brian Daniels, Colorado; Will Arnold, LSU; Ben Grubbs, Auburn; Tim Duckworth, Auburn; Dan Stantucci Notre Dame; John Sullivan, Notre Dame; Anthony Wollschlager, Miami-Fla.; David Ligon, Tennessee; Dustin Fry Clemson; Leroy Harris, NC State
Strength of class: Very Good
1.Brady Quinn (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95165), N.D.
Senior
6’4, 232
Notes: Brady is widely rated as the top prospect for the 2007 draft. He has a strong accurate arm (65%comp) and has proven to be great under pressure. He really improved last year on the mental parts of the game, such as reading defenses and checking off plays. He also had a good TD to INT ratio, almost 5 to 1. He'll need to build on his solid 2005 season to prove he is more than a one year wonder.
2.Drew Stanton (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95168), Michigan State
Senior
6’3, 228
Notes: Has all of the physically tools you look for in a QB. He has tons of mobility and toughness about him. He has a strong arm and can make plays when everything breaks down. His biggest downside is his decision-making is suspect and is injury prone because of his style of play.
3. Brian Brohm (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94787), Louisville
Junior
6’4, 212
Notes: He might not come out in 2007 but if he does he will be a high 1st rounder. He compares favorably to Quinn in many ways. Brohm has a strong arm and is very accurate. He also has a nice sense in the pocket. He needs to improve his ability to read defenses and could use some time to grow. He is also coming off an ACL tear
4. Jordan Palmer (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94786), UTEP
Senior
6’4, 225
Notes: Jordan is Carson Palmer’s Brother. Is very Tech sound, has good arm strength and great accuracy. He has a nice feel for the game. Palmer has had a very productive career so far at UTEP with 7,489 and 62 TD’s to his credit. He can be inconsistent at times and tends to force a lot of balls that lead to INT’s
5. Troy Smith (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94885), OSU
Senior
6’1, 215
Notes: Very mobile QB who can make plays w/ his feet. He had 27 TD’s in 2005 (16 passing 11 running). Has good arm strength w/ a quick release. Has shown good leadership skills. He is a playmaker on what should be a potent OSU offense in 2006. His downside is his lack of command of an offense, he needs to go through his progressions at a better pace
Others to keep an eye on: Drew Tate, Iowa; Kyle Wright, Miami (Fla); Chad Henne (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?p=1381559#post1381559), Michigan; Tyler Palko, Pittsburgh; Trent Edwards, Stanford; John Beck, BYU; Chris Leak (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=97265), Florida; Sam Kellar, Arizona State; Brandon Cox, Auburn; JaMarcus Russell, LSU
Top Running Backs for 2007
Strength of class: Above Avg, very top heavy
1.Adrian Peterson (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94886), Oklahoma
Junior
6’2, 210
Notes: Good size for a RB. Has great vision, cutback ability, and quick feet. He is everything the scouts look for in a RB. Was runner up for the Heisman Trophy his freshman year (1,925, 19td’s). His downside is he has had some nagging shoulder injuries
2.Michael Bush (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94888), Louisville
Senior
6’3, 233
Notes: This guy is a load at RB. He scored 23 TD’s his junior year. Coming out of high school he was highly touted and one of the top quarterbacks in the entire country, also while in high school he astonishingly was All-State at (5) different positions on his football team. He is deceptively fast for his size and has quick feet and good vision. He also is a very underrated WR out of the backfield. The down side is he needs to work on his conditioning.
3. Kenny Irons (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94889), Auburn
Senior
5’11, 203
Notes: Possesses the speed to out-run defenders and the power to run through poor tackles. Good hands out of the backfield. He is a very tough runner for his size and is not afraid of contact. His downside is his size doesn’t fit his style. He's listed at 203lbs but some scouts have said he's more like 190. With the way he likes to run through defenders this could lead to some injury concerns
4.Ken Darby (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94892), Alabama
Senior
5’11, 205
Notes: Darby is a shifty back who excels at running between the Tackles but has the speed to bring it outside. He has good lower body strength to run through tackles. He reminds me of a faster T.Henry.He has decent to good hands out of the back field. His downside is that he has trouble picking up the blitz and sometimes can dance too much behind the OL
5.Mike Hart (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94893), Michigan
Junior
5’9, 195
Notes: Hart is a 3 down RB that posseses great balance and leg drive. He stays low to the ground and is very hard to arm tackle. He has good but not great speed and is extremely quick. He also is a great reciever out of the backfield. The downside w/ Hart is he has an injury history b/c he likes to play bigger than he is
Other RB’s to keep an eye on: Marshawn Lynch, California (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95534); Lorenzo Booker, Florida State; Thomas Brown, Georgia; Tyrone Moss, Miami(Fla); DeShawn Wynn, Florida; Darius Walker, Notre Dame; Courtney Lewis, Texas A&M; Tony Hunt, Penn State; Yvenson Bernard, Oregon State (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95532).
Top WR’s for 2007
Strength of Class: To dependant on underclassmen to gauge yet
1.Calvin Johnson (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94912), Georgia Tech
Junior
6’4, 225
Notes:One word can describe C.Johnson and that is "Unreal". He is IMO the best player in the draft if he decides to enter. He has everything you want in a WR Size, Speed(good but not great), Agility, and leaping ability. He has very soft hands and attacks the ball when it’s in the air. He is GT's only offensive weapon and opposing defenses know this and they still cant stop him. Johnson has the skills to have a Randy Moss type impact as a rookie. The only thing he lacks right now is experience
2. Dwayne Jarrett (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94921), USC
Junior
6’5, 200
Notes: Jarrett is a very athletic WR w/ good measurable. He runs solid routes and has a nose for the End zone. He has soft hands and nice route running ability considering he is a junior. He has a lot of game breaking ability and that will be put to the test this year, as he becomes the focal point of the USC offense. His downside right now is he isn’t very good in the YAC and isn’t very good at breaking tackles
3.Teddy Ginn Jr (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94924), OSU
Junior
6’0, 180
Notes: To say Ginn Jr is fast would be the understatement of the year. He doesn’t just have speed he has world-class speed. He has a rare speed where there are very few if any college players that can catch him once he is gets a step on them. He is an impact player that already has shown what he can do on Special Teams and his feel for the WR position is getting better every day. The downside is he is a very raw WR that needs work on route running and catching.
4.Sidney Rice (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94925), South Carolina
Junior
6’3, 200
Notes: Rice is a lot like Calvin Johnson but more raw. He has nice speed and always finds a way to get to the ball and make the tough catch. He had a nice statistical year last year under new coach Steve Spurrier w/ 70 Rec for 1143 yards and 13 TD’s. Rice is also tough as nails and not afraid to go over the middle. The things he needs to work on in 2006 is route running and getting off the LOS. If improved in those areas with a similar statistical year Rice could jump to the #2 spot and make a run at the #1 spot for WR’s
5.Jeff Smardzija (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94926), Notre Dame
Senior
6’5, 220
Notes: Had a break out year last year and became B.Quinn’s got to guy in many situations. He has great athletic ability and size to place defenders at a disadvantage. He also has great hands and is more physical than given credit for. Has a great feel for making catches along the sidelines. His downside is that he really doesn’t posses top end speed
Other WR’s to keep an eye on: Jason Hill, Washington State (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95533); Steve Breaston, Michigan; Courtney Taylor, Auburn; Robert Meachem, Tennessee; Early Doucet*, LSU; Steve Smith, USC; Lance Leggett, Miami; Johnnie Lee Higgins, UTEP; Paul Williams, Fresno State; Andre Caldwell, Florida; Dwayne Bowe, LSU; Dorien Bryant, Purdue; Chansi Stuckey, Clemson; David Clowney, Virginia Tech; Alex Watson, Northern Arizona Jr (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?p=1361881#post1361881).
Top TE’s for 2007
Strength of Class: Average right now w/ the potential to be Very Good
1.Greg Olsen (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94927), Miami (Fla)
Junior
6’5, 252
Notes: Looks to be another good TE in a long line of ones from Miami. Olsen is very comparable to J.Shockey of the New York Giants but w/ better blocking and a little less speed. He has a knack for finding the soft spots and zones and is a blocker on the LOS. He is a very well rounded TE. His biggest downfall is he is still a little raw and could use some more polish on his deeper routes
2.Zack Miller (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94928), Arizona State
Junior
6’5, 253
Notes: He is very comparable to Todd Heap. Very good receiving TE w/ great hands. He is Sam Kellars’ favorite target on a very good Arizona State offense. He has a knack for finding the soft spots in zone and is a very polished route runner for a TE. His downside is that he is injury prone.
3.Matt Spaeth (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94929), Minnesota
Senior
6’6, 270
Notes: Spaeth is a tough player to really get a read on because the TE is really not a heavily used position in the Minnesota offense. Spaeth is a player that embodies the phrase “is good at everything but not great at any one thing”. The best thing about Spaeth is that he is a throwback player. He is tough to bring down when he has the ball and always gives 100% every play. He is an excellent blocker and is good at keeping the chains moving in the passing game. His biggest drawback is that he does not posses the physical tools (speed) that most pro teams want in a TE
4.Clark Harris (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94969), Rutgers
Senior
6’6, 255
Notes: Harris is a hard-nosed player who doesn’t mind going over the middle. He is very reliable option to the QB in dump off routes and he keeps the chains moving. Does not have great speed but makes up for it with good feet and has good short area quickness. He is a very good blocker in both the running and passing games. His biggest downside is he lacks the down the seem speed teams look for.
5.Martez Milner (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94970), Georgia
Senior
6’4, 250
Notes: Milner was a back up to L.Pope last year on a talented Georgia team. His playing time was limited but when he did get in he made the most of his opportunity. He has the speed teams are looking for in a TE, his agility is good but not anything great. He has good hands and is great after the catch. His biggest downside right now is w/ his blocking but it will be hard to judge him on it until he gets some starts under his belt
Other TE’s to keep an eye on: Joe Newton, Oregon State; Jonny Harline, BYU; Jason Goode, Maryland; Ben Patrick, Delaware; Matt Herian, Nebraska; Scott Chandler, Iowa;
Top OT’s for 2007
Strength of Class: Great
1.Joe Thomas (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94978), Wisconsin
Senior
6’8, 310
Notes: Thomas is rated by many to be the top LT and OL on the board in 2007. Athletically he is everything you would want in a LT prospect. He also has shown good Tech through his 25 strait starts for the Badgers. He flirted with leaving early in 2006 but decided against it after suffering a knee injury while playing DT in the Capital One Bowl against Auburn. The knee injury also happens to be his biggest downside. There are questions on whether he can return to form before the season starts in 2007 and it will affect his draft status if he can’t.
2.Sam Baker (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94979), USC
Junior
6’5, 311
Notes: Considered by many to be the top O-Linemen on a very talented USC OL in 2005 that had such names as Justice, Lutui, and Matua. He is in my opinion the best LT prospect in the draft in 2007. He is very explosive and is strong in both run and pass blocking. He moves well and has quick feet. He is also known to be a very hard worker that is always looking to get better. His only downside is he has had problems keeping his weight up which is rare for an OL.
3.Levi Brown (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94980), Penn St.
Senior
6’5, 326
Notes: For the last 4 years Brown has been anchoring the PSU front line and been doing it at a pretty high level. He has a great combination of size speed and strength. He can handle both speed and bull rushers and is quick to get to the second level on run plays. His downside is that his Technique needs some work and because of this he often relies too much on his athletic ability to get buy. With improved technique many think he could be the first OL off the board in 2007
4.Justin Blaylock (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94981), Texas
Senior
6’4, 328
Notes: Blalock has been solid throughout his college career. He has 30 consecutive starts for the Longhorns, a national title, and 2 first team All Big 12. Like many Texas Tackles before him he is a very strong run blocker. He is a road grader that likes to mix it up in the trenches. His biggest downside is that he really is all that athletic and because of this he has problems with speed rushers and may have to be moved to the inside at the next level.
5. Jake Long (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94982), Michigan
Junior
6’7, 338
Notes: Like most Michigan OL Long is a very good run blocker. He has above avg athletic ability and shows great toughness in the trenches. He compares very well to Jon Jansen of the Washington Redskins. His biggest downside at this point is he is still a little raw as far as technique goes.
Other OT’s to keep an eye on: Barry Richardson, Clemson; Kirk Barton, Ohio State; Doug Free, Northern Illinois; Mike Jones, Iowa; Aaron Sears, Tennessee; Daniel Inman, Georgia; Andrew Carnahan, Arizona State; Ryan Harris, Notre Dame; Andrew Cameron, California; Mike Otto, Purdue.
Top Interior OL for 2007
Strength of Class: Above Average
1.Ryan Kalil (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=94983), USC (C)
Senior
6’3, 296
Notes: Is in most people’s opinion the best Center in college football in 2007. He has a 26 game starting streak and is very refined as far as technique goes. Is very good in short area quickness, on pulls, and getting to the second level. His only downside is he could use some more bulk and he sometimes has problems with bigger DT’s
2.Dan Mozes (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95035), West Virginia (C/G)
Senior
6’4, 300
Notes: Is valuable in that he has played and been successful at all 3 interior OL positions (he is the starting Center in 2006 as he was in 2005). Mozes is as tough as they come. He is a very smart and gritty player who will make his presence known on a football field w/ his intensity and great instincts. His only downside is that he has a small injury history and could use some work on pulling.
3.Mark Fenton (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95036), Colorado (C)
Senior
6’4, 300
Notes: His best asset is his strength. He rarely get pushed back into the pocket and can usually handle other teams best DT’s 1 on 1. He is also very old school like in the way he plays OL. Has very good nasty streak about him and will attack DL. The biggest downside with Fenton is he is not overly athletic and has problems with stunts sometimes
4.Kyle Young (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95038), Fresno State (C/G)
Senior
6’4, 322
Notes: Like Fenton Young’s biggest asset is his strength. He has decent mobility for a guy his size. He is very smart and has good technique. He is also very aggressive and gets to the second level at a good pace. His size is his only Question mark and because of that I think he will be a guard at the next level in the NFL
5.Josh Beekman (http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=95039), Boston College (G)
Senior
6’2, 318
Notes: Very tough Guard who has good strength. He has decent technique and uses leverage very well against opposing DL. He is decent on pulling but could get better. His biggest downfall is that he should be more consistent than he has been.
Other Interior OL to keep an eye on: Samson Satele, Hawaii; Kasey Studdard, Texas; Manuel Ramirez, Texas Tech; Kirk Elder, Texas A&M; Brian Daniels, Colorado; Will Arnold, LSU; Ben Grubbs, Auburn; Tim Duckworth, Auburn; Dan Stantucci Notre Dame; John Sullivan, Notre Dame; Anthony Wollschlager, Miami-Fla.; David Ligon, Tennessee; Dustin Fry Clemson; Leroy Harris, NC State