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NFL Mock Draft 2009 Draft of 2009 Lacks Star Power NFL Draft 2009: Getting Started Super Bowl Well Worth Tuning In For
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Prospects On Center Stage NBA Preview 2008/09: Final Call
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Taking An Early Look At 2008 By R.C. As part of our goal to always try to be a step ahead of the game, we felt it was time to examine the 2008 NFL Draft Class. We give you the Top 15 prospects as of now, and will update the list regularly throughout the season. 1) Darren Mcfadden (RB – Arkansas) Mcfadden is head and shoulders the best player in the country. The thing that makes him so good is that he has no weakness, and he does all of the little things well. He's got good enough hands that he lines up at WR every now-and-then, he destroys blitzing linebackers, and is versatile enough to line up at QB and throw 3 touchdowns with only one interception. On top of that, he's probably the fastest player in the country regardless of position. It frustrates me when I hear the "experts" refer to him as a power back. He's not. He is powerful, of course, as you can see every time he runs over yet another linebacker (it's especially fun to watch him run over corners). But, he's primarily a speed back. He showed this when LSU's LaRon Landry, who ran a 4.3 forty at the NFL combine, ended up on his face after trying to catch Mcfadden from behind. If you don't believe me, go hit up YouTube. 2) Brian Brohm (QB – Louisville) Anyone who is rating Colt Brennan above Brohm has lost their brain. Brohm has the build of a prototypical QB, and has shown an ability to dissect defenses and has the leadership intangibles that you want in a QB. He's got a strong arm and is deadly accurate. If he comes back from injury like I expect him too, he'll be right there in the Heisman race and in the top 5 of the NFL draft. On top of the numbers he should put up this year, he will get even more credit because of the transition period the Cardinals will be going though this year. 3a) Sam Baker (OT – USC) This two-time first team All-American is exactly the kind of OT that teams love to build around. He's huge at 6'6'' and over 300 lbs, yet is still extremely mobile and has the ability to crush defensive ends. Some quarterback will be smiling come draft day next year when his team calls Baker's name. 3b) Jake Long (OT – Michigan) Same type of player as Sam Baker, in fact, instead of being redundant just go re-read Baker's description. 4) Glen Dorsey (DT – LSU) He's a very powerful player that can provide a plug in the middle against any offensive line. You won't hear as much about him as you did Omobe Okoye, but he's just as good if not better than Okoye (he's just not 12 years old, hence the lack of media attention). 5) Early Doucet (WR – LSU) Some will think I'm crazy, but he'll be a better player than his two WR teammates that were drafted in the first round this year. He simply had to serve his dues the last two years, but still put up pretty good stats. Matt Flynn will love throwing to this guy this year, as LSU continues to be insanely talented. Look for Doucet to have a huge year. 6) Derrick Harvey (DE – Florida) He put everyone on notice with an impressive performance in the national championship game in January. He's got the speed to get to the quarterback and the size to be strong against the running game. 7) Steve Slaton (RB – West Virginia) This is a guy that I think has some very good NFL potential. He's got break-away speed and is a pretty versatile player. Next to Mcfadden, he is the class of the running backs this year. 8) Matt Ryan (QB – Boston College) If he has a good year and works out well, he could end up being a top 5 pick in the NFL draft. He's built like an NFL quarterback, and put up good numbers last year despite fighting a nagging injury. Teammates say he's calm in the huddle and provides a sense of confidence in pressure situations. 9) Kenny Phillips (S – Miami) Coaches at Miami have said he's a mix between two players they've seen before: Sean Taylor and Ed Reed. On top of that, they say he has the best aspects of each of those players: Sean Taylor's physical ability and Ed Reed's instincts and smarts. Not much else needs to be said about Phillips; he'll be a Pro Bowler in the next five years. 10) DeaSean Jackson (WR – California) Very similar to Ted Ginn, Jr. in the sense that he has game breaking speed and is dangerous in the return game. He's a threat to score everytime he touches the ball, as can be seen by his five punt returns for touchdowns and 16 receiving touchdowns. 11) Paul Oliver (CB – Georgia) He showed his potential last year when he helped hold Calvin Johnson to zero touchdowns and 13 yards receiving on 2 receptions in their game last year. Now, of course, some of that is due to the pathetic QB play of Reggie Ball, but some credit has to go to Oliver. 12) Dan Conner (LB – Penn State) He's big, strong, and fast enough. On top of that, he comes with a mean streak and a great work ethic. He's what many would call a "throwback" player, and that's exactly what you want in any LB. 13) Limas Sweed (WR – Texas) He's huge – 6'5'' and 220 lbs – and has enough speed to get separation from defensive backs. I think he's probably better than Dwayne Jarrett right now, and Jarrett is expected to start in the NFL this year. 14) Calais Campbell (DE – Miami) He's fast enough to get to the quarterback off the edge, and he's big enough to play defensive tackle. I expect a huge year out of him; he has the potential to vault himself into some very high draft territory if he plays well this year. 15) Felix Jones (RB – Arkansas) This guy would start for any other team in the country except maybe West Virginia. Some people will scoff at that, but he is really that good. He's got blazing speed and is a good receiver out of the backfield. On top of that, he's probably the best kick return man in the country. When he gets on the edge, he's gone. The reason he's not one of the top 5 players is because he's not consistent in making it through first contact. As for the rest... Many of you will notice that I left off QB Colt Brennan(Hawaii), and, yes, I did this on purpose. Even if this was a list of the top 50 players, he still would not be on it. Sure, he's got a quick release. Who cares? He plays in a gimmick offensive system and we wouldn't know his name otherwise. I also left of Chad Henne, and I really struggled with that one. Sometimes I really like the guy, but a lot of times I think he's really overrated. I'll readily admit I'll be extremely interested in how this guy pans out in the next 5-10 years, because I don't know what to expect. There are a lot of players out there that could easily be on this list, and many will no doubt earn there way into the top 15 after just a few weeks into the college football season. Check back and we'll update the top 15 players from week-to-week once the action gets rolling this fall. ************* Can't get enough NFL or NBA Draft talk? Try DC Pro Sports Report June 6, 2007 |
| NCAA Football | |
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Be Careful What You Wish For
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| NCAA Basketball | |
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Jumpology: My Bracket Jumpology: Scouting The Heavyweights Jumpology: Reviewing The Bracket
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