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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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| NBA | |
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Prospects On Center Stage NBA Preview 2008/09: Final Call
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Top Prospects 2009: Week 7 By Ron Jumper The weekend not only offered big matchups of teams, but also intriguing matchups of prospects. Namely, the OU-Texas and LSU-Florida matchups. Even the Wake Forest-Clemson game was eye opening for me. Also, I have expanded the Big Board from 5 to 12 now that more prospects have established themselves in my eyes as elite. I'll expand it to 15 prospects before the season ends. Let’s get started. Looking closer at Wake Forest, I have been all over Aaron Curry and Alphonso Smith. However, watching them Thursday night, I can’t help but rank them even higher now. Aaron Curry is better than James Laurinaitis or Rey Maualuga. Yes, I just said it. Curry is the real deal. He doesn’t miss tackles and is just so dominating that he stands out. In the secondary, Alphonso Smith is such a big time playmaker. When the game was hanging in the balance, it was Smith who made a crucial interception for the Demon Deacons. I’m not sure how two elite NFL prospects are at Wake Forest at the same time but, trust me, these guys are going to be Pro Bowlers some day. Mark my words. Phil Loadholt has received much praise as an elite offensive lineman. However, he was simply no match for Brian Orakpo against Texas. Orakpo made a statement and proved he is one of the elite pass rushing prospects in this draft. Likely, he will become this season’s Gaines Adams or Vernon Gholston that goes very high in the draft. Again, mark my words. With Tim Tebow and all the LSU defensive prospects receiving most of the attention, it was Brandon Spikes who grabbed the scouts and my attention. He had two interceptions and returned one for a score. On the season, he has been pretty solid as he leads the Gators in tackles. Spikes doesn’t get the headlines with Curry and all the other linebackers, that doesn’t mean he isn’t a big time talent. It just means this a great class of linebackers, much like last season had an incredible group of running backs. The Big Board: 1. WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech His team may be overrated, but Crabtree is as good as advertised. 2. DE George Selvie, South Florida Healthy and hoping to wreak havoc on Syracuse. 3. LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest As I’ve said, he is the real deal. 4. OT Michael Oher, Ole Miss Maintaining elite status. 5. LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State Still great, I’m just officially on the Curry bandwagon. 6. LB Rey Maualuga, USC Everyone seems to love him, I’m just not convinced yet. 7. FS Otis Wiley, Michigan State His name is unknown by most, but he is very good. 8. QB Juice Williams, Illinois Potential. Upside. Raw talent. 9. CB Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest This isn’t news, Smith has been good for a long time. 10. OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia His team keeps him out of the spotlight. 11. DE Brian Orakpo, Texas Creating quite a buzz with his play of late. 12. CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State Not getting the headlines, but is playing very well. October 14, 2008 |
| 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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