|
2004 KAC NFL DRAFT PROFILES (arrows indicate RISING or FALLING stock)  HOT!! 2003 NFL DRAFT FIRST ROUND REVIEW SENIOR BOWL GAME NOTES  REX HADNOT (6�2� 310) C HOUSTON � Anchor of the largest offensive line in all of college football in 2003, checking in at an average weight of 325 lbs, more than four pounds more than their nearest rival. And I think Rex comes in at a bit more than 310, very big for his position � especially in the lower body. Very powerful and aggressive who does his best work in the run-block game. Experienced player with a non-stop motor, gets his hands up and drives his opponent, sometimes with an extra shot thrown in after the whistle (no wonder Hawaii had enough by the end of their bowl game!!). A good anchor that is very hard to move. Was credited with 122 �ESPN� blocks in 2002 alone, guess that�s kind of like a metro-rail. Pass-block abilities do not grade as high, but gets good marks for his snapping ability from the shotgun (although he did biff two of those in the bowl game). Did line up with the field goal unit early in his UH career. Main questions surrounding Hadnot concern lack of height as well as conditioning, some scouts also feel his size would be better suited at guard. Rex will also not be able to manhandle NFL opposition like he�s been used to with C-USA competition. A fun player to watch who should go somewhere in Rounds 4-5. ANTONIO HALL (6�5� 302) OT KENTUCKY � Kind of the Kwame Harris personality of this draft. A unique individual who plays the piano as well as singing in church and school choirs. Considered a high-quality individual who participates in many community programs. Is a cousin of former Lions coach Wayne Fontes. Perhaps the most experienced player at his position, has started at right tackle for the Wildcats since day one as a freshman following a decorated high school career that saw him garner first and second-team All American honors. By 2002 Hall was an All-SEC selection. Has gotten high grades for his pass-protection skills and is also decent as a run-blocker. Athletic for his position but not considered the most powerful tackle around. Since he was protecting the blind-side for left-handed Jared Lorenzen for most of his career, he could project as a left tackle for a right-handed QB in the pros. Hall is also kind of smallish for tackle, so a move to guard is also possible. Some have Hall as high as the #3 tackle on the board (behind Gallery and Andrews) but for sure he is a top-ten tackles who should go in the latter stages of Round 3. DEANGELO HALL (5�11� 195) CB VIRGINIA TECH � Last spring DeAngelo reportedly ran a 4.15 in the 40, a school record. Although the 40-times that come from the VaTech SID tend to be over-hyped, it�s still a noteworthy feat when compared to the timings recorded by Michael Vick (4.25) along with RB�s Lee Suggs (4.27) and Kevin Jones (4.30) in recent years. DE Keith Burnell held the previous school record of 4.21 before transferring to Division-1AA Delaware two years ago. A tremendous athlete, Hall started turning heads as an immediate starter as a true freshman in 2001, and has ranked in the top seven nationally in punt returns over the past two seasons. Also saw time on offense this past year, seeing 86 snaps as a wide receiver, catching seven passes for 86 yards. Big game of the season saw Hall return two punts for scores v. Syracuse as well as a third score on a 24-yard reverse. Forced and returned a fumble for Hokie�s first score in their 31-7 upset of Miami. His final return as a Hokie was a beauty, an electrifying 52-yard score that tied the game v. California at 49-49 before losing. Averaged 10 yards per touch as a senior in high school while recording over a 100 tackles including 16 TFL�s. Arguably the best corner in this years draft, Hall makes up for his lack of height with a 38-inch vertical, closes nicely, and does well in run support. Very confident, but can play too aggressively and overpursue. Was suspended for the first-half of a critical matchup with Pittsburgh�s Larry Fitzgerald for fighting with Miami�s Antrell Rolle. Was touched up a bit by Fitzgerald for three catches during a final game-winning drive. Also, Hurricane Andre Johnson went off for nearly 200 yards on Hall in a game last year. Still a great tools player who teams will covet in the first round, with an outside chance at a top-10 selection. UPDATE: Hall has gotten an official invite from the league to fly to New York for the draft proceedings, a sure sign that he is expected to be one of the first picks.JOSH HARRIS (6�3� 238) QB BOWLING GREEN � Definitely opened some eyes with his bowl game performance, going 38-50 for 386 yards and three scores as well as rushing for 68 yards in BGSU�s come-from-behind victory over Northwestern. Threw 493 times on the season (as opposed to 353 in two less games in 2002), improving his completion percentage from 56.1 to 65.8 percent and throwing 27 TD�s v. 12 INT�s. Harris finished his college career with a fine 23-7 won/loss record. The son of a ten-year NFL veteran, Harris appears to be a very mature individual with great leadership skills. Started his college career as a running back and kick-returner before becoming the starting QB late in 2001. Many are pegging Harris as a poor-man�s Donovan McNabb/Steve McNair, and does have the best credentials as a running QB in this draft, rushing over 700 yards in each of the last two years. Be aware though that Harris� 40-time only falls in the 4.7 � 4.8 range, so he won�t be able to take over games by scrambling alone at the next level, and you can also drop him from receiver or running back consideration. Harris also faces a major adjustment as he took virtually all of his snaps out of a shotgun-spread formation at BGSU, so scouts are anxious to see how he does taking snaps under center and dropping back. Is inconsistent on the middle-range to long passes, and his delivery could use some refinement. Sometimes locks down on his primary receiver, which can lead to defenders jumping the route. His size should be an advantage, is also tough and will take a hit. He does get the occasional pass knocked down however. I think he showed enough late in the season with his leadership and arm that he should get a late-Round 3 call.TOMMIE HARRIS (6�3� 289) DL OKLAHOMA � The humble, hardworking son of a preacher, Harris claims that he has to give 110 percent, claiming that �he isn�t very good�. The scary thought is what if he was good, as it is Harris was a first-team High School All-American, and in three years at OU ascended to being voted as the best defensive lineman in college ball, and second to teammate Teddy Lehman as the best overall defensive player. Harris also runs a 4.7 (paranormal for his size) and lifts the bar 29 times � like he says he�s no good. But I�ll go on anyways, Harris started as a true freshman for one of college balls best defensive units, and immediately produced racking up 17 TFL�s in 2001. Statistically, Harris has regressed a little since 2001, being slowed by a groin problem as a sophomore and only putting up modest stats in 2003, thanks in large part to being double-teamed in numerous situations. Still the battle is on between Harris and Vince Wilfork as who will be the first tackle off the board. While Wilfork is strictly an interior lineman, Harris is better utilized as a three-technique (lining up between the offensive guard and tackle) and his pass rush skills are good enough that he could even be moved to end in a 3-4 scheme. Unless he gains weight, Harris projects as a one-gapper. In one-on-one situations he is near impossible to contain. Is considered among the select few players who are likely to make an immediate impact in 2004. Most mocks have Harris going #8 overall to Atlanta, Washington (#5) and Houston (#10) are the other possibilities.DEVERY HENDERSON (5�11� 191) WR LSU � It is one of the most stunning final plays in college football history. After the opposing coach had already gotten a �victorious� Gatorade bath, Devery Henderson caught a dramatic, deflected Hail-Mary pass in which he turned into a 75-yard touchdown at Kentucky in 2002, crossing the goal-line into the teeth of Wildcat fans already celebrating the would-be upset as a final score of �Kentucky 30, LSU 27� inadvertently flashed on the TV screen. The kicker was that was one of Henderson�s first catches as a wide receiver at any level. Henderson came to Baton Rouge as one of the more highly touted running back recruits in the region, rushing for over 2,800 yards and 33 TD�s in his final two prep years. Devery only recalls catching �two or three� passes during that period. DH got 70 carries in spot duty his first two years at LSU before his transformation into a game-breaking receiver. More than one-quarter of Henderson�s 73 catches the past two years went for scores, and five of his 11 TD�s in 2003 came from 45-yards and farther. Henderson is an impressive physical specimen (benches and squats 350), and was a member of LSU�s championship outdoor track team, participating in both the 4 X 100 relay and the 60-yard dash where he holds the second best time (6.72) in school history. DH is capable of outrunning nearly any defensive back, although zones tend to give him problems. Route-running can use refinement and Henderson also occasionally takes a play off. A decent blocker and not afraid to go down the middle. Has nice hands, but has been known to put the ball on the ground after the catch on occasion. Does not have the greatest size and also had a broken arm at the end of 2002, but neither seem to be much of a concern. By all accounts, Henderson is known as a quiet, easy-going guy off the field. DH has one of the fastest 40-times (4.41) of anyone at the position and should be a mid-second round pick.MARQUISE HILL (6�7� 288) DE LSU � The biggest defensive end in this draft (has weighed in at above three bills at times), and is considered more of a power end than a pass rusher. Hill is potentially the best run-defender in this class. Entered the draft at the last minute after it was determined that Hill had enough contact with an agent that he would probably not be eligible as a collegian this year. Was considered the best defensive lineman nationally coming out of high school in 2000. Great athleticism for his size, runs in the low 4.9�s, only ran in the 5.2�s on Pro Day but was hampered by a bad hamstring. Does about 22-23 reps, presses 425 and squats 525. Hill recorded six sacks, 10 � TFL�s and 24 hurries on the #1 defensive team in the nation. Gets good grades for his hand use along with bull rushing technique. Scouts would like to seem him utilize his speed too often along with playing at a lower pad level. Decent (not great) tackler who never stops hustling. Stamina late in games is sometime an issue. In a weak year for defensive ends, Hill makes the late first round in many mock drafts and appears most often as Green Bay�s potential selection.ISAAC HILTON (6�5� 250) DE/OLB HAMPTON � Numbers that have been reported are absolutely freakish. Runs the 40 in under 4.5, benches 440-lbs, does 32 reps at 225-lbs, and has a 39 inch vertical leap. If he can repeat those numbers in front of the pro scouts his value should go up dramatically. Hilton also stars in track, has won the conference title in the shot-put twice and finished fourth in the decathlon at the conference meet. Grew up in a tough neighborhood - was originally set to follow in his older brother�s footsteps at North Carolina after being named the South Carolina Athlete of the Year, but changed his mind upon being impressed on a visit to the historically black college located in Virginia. Talks openly about getting into business after his playing days are through and owning a Fortune 500 company. Had 13 sacks as a Junior, but only 4.5 this year � although Hilton did have 19 TFL�s. Considered to be very explosive off the ball, Hilton had six sacks in a single game in 2002 and also had a big game playing against Marques Ogden (sixth-round NFL pick) where he recorded four sacks. However that only leaves three sacks for the rest of the 2002 season - along with the 4 � this year, which raises red flags on consistency. A opposing tackle who was not invited to an NFL camp held him to a single tackle in one game. Decent, but not as strong against the run, also appears not to go full-tilt on every play. Also does not figure to get any bigger, so Hilton may project as a situational outside backer in a 3-4 scheme in the pros. Grades out at 5.6 on a scale between 1.00 and 8.00 from the National Scouting services. There is a lot of info out there already on this 1-AA star, check out his work in the All-Star games and combines.STEVEN JACKSON (6�3� 233) RB OREGON ST � Kevin Jones may be the most explosive back in this draft, but Jackson will be the most complete package available. The son of a Las Vegas pit boss, Jackson is a Ricky Williams-type back who runs effectively inside, doesn�t hesitate, shows a great burst, decent speed (4.45), takes on and punishes defenders, change directions, and pulls out a great stiff arm. Closed out his Beaver career with 1,545 rushing yards, including five TD�s in a Las Vegas bowl romp over New Mexico. His prep career was so prolific that he was named first team All-American and had his number retired. Was not utilized much as a receiver as a collegian, but a 34-yard TD reception in the bowl game was a testament that he can handle that as well. Blocking is identified as a weak spot, but has the size needed to improve on that. Jackson figures to see plenty of eight-man fronts in the pros, since stopping him behind the L.O.S seems to be the best, and only way to slow him down. A trimmed down Jackson had a great on-campus workout, running a 4.55 on FieldTurf along with a 37½ vertical, solidifying his status as the #1 back available.MICHAEL JENKINS (6�5� 215) WR OHIO ST � Best bet if you are looking for top flight talent along with the optimal measurables. Came to Columbus as the #2 athlete in the state of Florida, playing receiver, running back, linebacker, and defensive back. For good measure Jenkins also played hoops along with participating in the 200, 400, and triple jump in track. Best remembered for two memorable catches in the Buckeyes 2002 National Championship drive, first a 37-yard TD reception on a late fourth-quarter 4th and 1 that gave his team a 13-10 late-season victory at Purdue. Then Jenkins saved the season again with a 17-yard sideline grab on 4th and 14 during overtime in the Fiesta Bowl v. Miami. His stock went down during most of the regular season, as his numbers ultimately dropped from 61/1076/17.6 to 55/834/15.2. Many questioned his toughness and concentration while saying he tended to disappear in big games. Some felt that Jenkins needed to take up the slack for the absence of TB Maurice Clarett, when in actuality his absence allowed defenses to key more on Jenkins. Re-established his draft standing with a strong bowl game performance 5/96/2 TD along with being the most talked about player among scouts during Senior Bowl workouts. In Mobile, Jenkins made receptions all over the field while running smooth routes. There was also a play in the Fiesta Bowl that impressed me when Jenkins acted as he were going to block, then sped up and caught a TD pass over the middle. Runs in the 4.5�s, along with a great leaping ability that provides a perfect target, and makes him open even when he�s not. It�s a crowded field at wideout this year, but the post-season workouts may just get Jenkins back into the tail-end of the first round.GREG JONES (6�1� 255) RB FLORIDA ST � Opened eyes at Senior Bowl workouts by merely taking off his pads and shirt. Reportedly he is one of the most impressive looking physical specimens you will find anywhere. Jones game is compared to Stephen Davis and Jamal Lewis (not bad company), a between-the-tackle runner who will take multiple defenders for a ride after initial contact, his 40-time has also been recorded in the low 4.40�s � a pretty good power-speed combo although some feel that he doesn't quite play up to that speed. Most of the concern with Jones stems from a torn ACL suffered late in the 2002 season. Before the injury, Jones carried 161 times that season for 938 yards � an impressive 5.8 average. This past season Jones rushed 144 times for 618 yards, an average dropoff to 4.3. However, the old adage of taking two years to recover from an ACL injury must be taken into consideration. The injury has not taken away much from Jones straight-line speed. Also don�t read much into Jones being thrown into a three-back rotation late in 2003, one of the backs he was splitting time with, Leon Washington, is an impressive sophomore who came out of high school ranked as one of the top ten players overall in the country. That�s part of life being in the program of a perennial powerhouse. Don�t look for Jones to cut outside or to be involved much in the receiving game � barring drastic improvement he will probably be pulled on third downs at the NFL level. While his blocking is considered adequate, many feel it could be much better given his size. Despite the impressive physique some are concerned that Jones gets a bit sloppy when it comes to being fit, he admits to liking the dinner table. Jones would had been a top-ten overall pick last year had he come out and not gotten hurt. As it is, Jones has a shot at really improving his stock in the pre-draft workouts and perhaps end up being the #3 back (better than Chris Perry) taken behind Stephen Jackson and Kevin Jones.JULIUS JONES (5�10� 210) RB NOTRE DAME � After throwing the ball a very un-Irish like 62 times in an early season loss at Purdue, coach Ty Willingham decided that it was time for Notre Dame to go back to it�s roots. The results were immediate in a much-needed upset over nationally ranked Pittsburgh where Jones rushed for 262 yards, setting a new single-game school record � besting the likes of Ricky Watters, Jerome Bettis and Allen Pinkett among other Irish legends. Jones would go on to record two more 200-yard days (218 v. Stanford, 221 v. Navy) along with a 161 yard, 3 TD outing v. BYU. The huge rushing totals were even more astounding considering that Jones was virtually all the offense the Irish had in 2003. It also marked the triumphant end to an often turbulent career in South Bend, which included a one year hiatus in 2002 for academic reasons. Considered not to have a good work ethic prior to his suspension, it is said that Jones pushed himself hard under the guidance of his older brother and current NFL back Thomas Jones (7th overall pick, 2000). In addition to his rushing prowess, Jones was also among the nations leading kickoff/punt returners, eventually surpassing Tim Brown in regards to all-time return yards. Along with nice 4.5 speed, Jones is a punishing runner (turning the lights out on Guss Scott at the Senior Bowl quickly comes to mind). Was not used much as a pass-catcher but word is he grades out wells there, blocking is a potential question mark. Projects best into a West Coast system. Thought to be a projected fourth-rounder just a few months ago, Jones stock is absolutely soaring in the pre-draft workouts. Expect Jones to be tabbed before the likes of Michael Turner and Maurice Clarrett, and perhaps even challenge Chris Perry as the third back taken � expect a second round selection.KEVIN JONES (6�0� 221) RB VIRGINIA TECH � Outside of fourth-rounder Domanick Davis, 2003 was really a dry year for running backs making an immediate NFL impact. That should change drastically this year, beginning with one of the first juniors to declare his intentions to come out. Jones was undoubtedly the most prized recruit in VaTech history as several publications ranked him as the #1 national recruit at any position in the entire nation after rushing for nearly 5,900 yards and scoring 84 TD�s. Even as a prep, his speed was legendary and once was clocked at 4.26 at a summer camp. Also has a 41 � vertical leap and is also no slouch in the weight room, bench pressing 360 and squatting 560. For the most part, Jones is trained by his dad who pushes him very hard during the summer, especially when it comes to lifting, speed, and speed training. Also spends a ton of time in the filmroom learning how his lineman block and how the opposition keys on him. Despite his impressive resume, Jones still had to bide his time behind Lee Suggs his first years as a Hokie, although Jones still managed to rush for 957 and 871 yards in part-time duty, and also unselfishly contributed on special teams. In 2003, Jones carried the load rushing for 1494 yards and 20 TD�s, and has a 5.5 rushing average for his career. Had eight 100-yard games in a nine-game span. His two best runs included an 80-yard TD v. Pittsburgh, where Jones� breakaway speed down the sideline was exhibited. Two weeks later, Jones scored from 62 yards out v. Boston College after spinning away at the line of scrimmage. Not only does Jones have pure straight-line speed, but also changes directions at full speed and also moves well laterally. Going into this season, scouts wanted to see more from Jones running between the tackles. At the collegiate level, Jones is such a threat getting to the outside that the inside running wasn�t really a necessity, but Jones has the power to get that job. Blocking, holding onto the ball, and pass-catching are also identified as areas to be improved on. Jones did come on in the receiving department with six catches for 98 yards in the Hokies final two games. Reportedly works his tail off in that area as well, catching over 100 balls a day in practice. Should be a top-ten pick and the best 'home run' hitter in this draft. UPDATE: Always beware of those 40-times that come out of the V-Tech publicity department, Jones only ran in the 4.6 range at both the combines and at his on-campus workout. Still, I don't see Jones going past #21 or #22, where Dallas and New England pick. SEAN JONES (6�2� 212) S GEORGIA � A tremendous athlete, Jones was an honorable high school All-American who played quarterback as well as the secondary, passing for nearly 2,500 yards and 31 TD�s as well as rushing for over 800 yards and 11 more scores on the ground in his senior season alone. Excellent height for his position with good hands and is a physical big-time tackler who can also be used in blitz packages. This past season, the junior had 111 tackles along with five INT�s and was a menace on special teams, blocking three kicks. Jones also became the Bulldogs all-time blocked kick leader, surpassing the likes of Boss Bailey and Kendrell Bell. Rangy and can cover the field sideline-to-sideline, changes directions well � but if he were a racecar it would be said that he loses too much speed in the turns. Or I can just say he doesn�t have the most fluid hips in the world. Has nice field awareness and does well in skills such as breaking up passes and attempting to force fumbles. Along with his kick blocking, Jones also filled in on punt returns on occasion during his career. An impressive 40-inch vertical leap measured at the combine should help his cause immensely. Aside from a broken foot in 2001, Jones has a clean bill of health and is also said to be of high character. In the mix as the #2 safety on the board (after Sean Taylor) and I don�t seem him lasting through Round 2.BRANDON KENNEDY (5�10� 312) DT NORTH TEXAS ST - One good thing about a backwater program like North Texas opening their year at #1 Oklahoma is that it provided an opportunity for Kennedy to show his skills on a national cable TV stage. Was described by the color analyst as �two technique�, but Kennedy spent much of this game over the center (which would be a zero) as opposed to over the guard (two). As of now, most have Kenndy pegged as a one-gap tackle. A super quick player with non-stop motor who on one occasion blew past the center to clip OU�s quarterback in very short order. Also posesses a very wide and powerful lower body. Reigning conference player of the year (overall and defensive) who is on every watch list imaginable. Recorded 10 sacks and 25 TFL�s last year, tremendous numbers for an inside player. Before playing Arizona, Wildcat coach John Mackovic said Kennedy �is as good as anyone we will see this year�. The big problem of course, is height. 6�4�/6�5� is considered optimal for NFL defensive tackles, although the likes of Warren Sapp, Chris Hovan, and Gilbert Brown run in the 6�2� range. Last year�s #4 overall pick Dwayne Robertson is listed at 6�1�. That only puts Kennedy 3-4 inches of, but may be enough to keep personnel types away from considering him early, much like how it kept Kennedy from landing at a major college program. Is the younger brother of the Broncos Kinnoy Kennedy. As of Septemb.ROBERT KENT (6�4� 220) QB JACKSON ST � Not to be confused with the old All-Star Wrestling announcer, this small school sleeper is beginning to open some eyes as one of the more intriguing second-day prospects with his combination of speed and arm-strength. A former basketball player, Kent did not play quarterback until his senior year in high school. However, he got a chance to step in for the Tigers in his third game as a freshman and has not looked back. Likened to a poor-man�s Steve McNair, Kent runs the 40 in the 4.6 area and can also hit a receiver 60 yards downfield, but has troubles on some of the shorter throws. Despite his nice size, Kent has a somewhat low release point which gets some passes batted down. There is talk of �revamping� his delivery, which always sounds scary. Like Josh Harris at Bowling Green, Kent has operated out of the shotgun for much of his college career, with Kent taking a lot of designed runs out of the formation. However, JSU revamped it�s offense in 2003 to more of a pro-style formation, which should help Kent in the long run. When taking off is very capable of getting away from linebackers and defensive backs, but can also cough up the football on occasion. Has taken a lot of hits, but did not miss a game in his career. Coachable and a very good student (3.5 GPA). Make no mistake, Kent is a project and will have to be patient while holding a clipboard for a few years, also I�m sure coaches will be persuading him to stay in the pocket longer before taking off. However, the potential upside will be much higher than most of the QB�s selected on the second day. Look for a fourth or fifth round selection at the very latest. NICK LECKEY (6�4� 285) C KANSAS ST � A starter for his final 40 games as a Wildcat, Leckey successfully made the transition from left guard to center for his senior season. Very quick and athletic for his position, Leckey is an experienced tactician who makes few mistakes, plays aggressively with great awareness, and gives his all. An all Big XII selection in 2003, very impressive with Oklahoma�s Vince Carter in the conference. He appears to be pumped-up at his current weight, it is uncertain that he will be able to develop much more mass/muscle with what is thought to be a limited frame. Could end up being bullied around by mammoth NFL interior linemen. Leckey also could only lift the bar 18 times at the combines, which adds to that concern. Scouts would also like to see how Nick handles pass-blocking assignments, considering that K-State is traditionally a running team. Although not tall enough to play tackle, Leckey has enough versatility playing guard and center to help him on draft day. Some feel he could be a first-rounder, but that is usually a reach for a center. Expect Leckey to go in the latter stages of Day One. JEREMY LESUEUR (6�1� 201) CB MICHIGAN � Although Marlin Jackson made the most headlines in the Michigan secondary, it was Lesueur who in fact was the unit�s best player in 2003. The route to becoming a first-day draft prospect was a winding one however. Was forced to redshirt as a freshman in 1999 after tearing his ACL/MCL in practice. That was followed by being humbled by two years worth of struggles, falling well short of expectations after being a highly touted prep recruit out of Mississippi. The lowest point was a late personal foul penalty against Michigan State�s Charles Rogers which cost the Wolverines a game in 2001. The following off-season LeSueur was suspended from the team briefly following a solicitation charge. LeSueur finally got a chance to return to the starting lineup late in 2002, and also emerged as the teams primary kick returner. The coaching staff suddenly was confident enough in LeSueur that they moved Marlin Jackson (2002 All-Conference) to safety. LeSueur specialized playing in man-coverage and did well knocking down passes in particular. Was beaten a couple times in a high-profile situation against Keary Colbert in the Rose Bowl, but quickly rebounded to be the best player scouted on either side at the Senior Bowl workouts. Scouts were impressed across the board with LeSueur, whether it was his cover skills, blocking, tackling, and footwork. Negatives are a 40-time that only registers in the mid-4.60�s, and is also considered a corner/safety tweener by some. Projections have Jeremy has at least contributing as a nickel-back immediately, and also contributing heavily on special teams. LeSueur is very close to his younger brother, who is developmentally disabled. Look for a middle-to-late second round selection.J.P LOSMAN (6�2� 210) QB TULANE � Are you impressed watching Patrick Ramsey in the pros on Sunday??? Well, Losman had Ramsey beat out as the Green Wave�s starting QB early in 2001 before missing five games with a MCL injury. Since Ramsey�s graduation Losman has taken over the starting duties for good and has established himself into a bona-fide top ten overall prospect. Has opened 2003 with four consecutive 300-yard games, and is second in the nation in total offense while completing 64 percent of his passes. In the fourth quarter of those games alone (equivalent of one full game) Losman threw for 615 yards with a 74 percent completion rate. In 2002, Losman threw for 2,468 yards with 19 TD�s v 10 INTs. The California native was originally a UCLA recruit before transferring due to the Bruins crowded QB situation. Losman is not only mobile (4.65 � 4.70 along with a 35� vertical) in the pocket, but has a gun for an arm capable of throwing 30-35 yards passes on a rope. Also adept at touch-passing and is equally deadly on the run left or right and capable of setting up in 3, 5 and 7-step drops. Is willing to stand in and take a hit, and is also strong - benches 375 and squats 460. A great student of the game who is an honor student in the classroom and is well respected by his teammates. You can read much more on Losman on his own web site. UPDATE: The Steelers appear interested in Losman, whether they would actually pick him over Philip Rivers at #11 is debatable.ELI MANNING (6�5� 218) QB MISSISSIPPI � Based on the obvious family history, Manning is one of the safest QB prospects you will see coming out. Manning is a near-finished project capable of starting for an NFL franchise in 2004 � and has been groomed for that role literally since his high school days. The question is just where. Among the current NFL bottom feeders, Arizona and possibly Oakland seem to be the most ideal fits � with Green Bay a more remote possibility where he would learn on the bench for a year or two. J.P. Losman of Tulane is the only other QB that ranks with Manning as the possible first signal-caller selected. Like his older brother, Manning�s biggest attributes are leadership, poise, and a natural knack for the game. Had a tremendous TD to INT ratio of 31/9 as a sophomore but slipped to 21/15 last year. To his defense, Mississippi had very little of a ground game to work with. Signature game of this year was a 391-yard, three TD performance in leading the Rebels to a 43-40 win over South Carolina. Another great performance was a 313-yd, 0 INT game in vanquishing Nebraska in the 2002 Independence Bowl. His career stats run just slightly behind his older brother, through mid-2003 Peyton had a 136 rating compared to Peyton�s 143.40 at Tennessee. Falls a little short in throwing the real deep ball and is not a scrambler at all. Is said to be more laid back than his brother. Father Archie asked the University not to promote Eli in regards to the Heisman Trophy race. UPDATE: It appears Eli will be #1 overall, whoever selects him is in question however, the Giants trading up with San Diego is a definite possibility.DARRELL MCCLOVER (6�2� 223) OLB MIAMI � He is known as �The Quiet Storm�, and there are many value boards where you won�t find his name, as until very recently was simply lost in the shuffle among his more ballyhooed teammates (Jon Vilma, D.J. Williams) in the Hurricane linebacking corps. Despite being ranked as the 73rd best player in Florida coming out of High School, McClover was buried on the Miami depth chart until injuries during training camp in 2003 finally got him on the field on a regular basis. McClover only had 37 tackles on the year, compared to 127 for Vilma and 82 for Williams. But even that was misleading, as McClover was often pulled in favor of an extra defensive back as the opposition was often playing from behind playing in spread formations. It has been in the pre-draft workouts, where McClover has gotten to compare himself to his teammates, where he�s really made an impression. McClover was clocked at the workouts at 4.46, which was actually above some previous clockings. McClover is also very well sculpted and some observers considered him �the best athlete among all the Hurricanes�. Needless to say that�s very heavy praise. McClover�s play has been considered graceful, showing a combination of both finesse and strength, and is one of the more cerebral players you will find - sometimes overthinking himself to a fault. Besides not being able to start, McClover never got much publicity because he never called attention to himself, and according to Coach Larry Coker is the most �quiet player� he�s ever been associated with. Should be a great special teams performer, best remembered in 2003 for blocking a punt that led to a score at Rutgers. Definitely needs more game experience, but don�t be surprised when McClover gets drafted MUCH earlier than projected, perhaps as early as the tail end of Day 1.LUKE MCCOWN (6�4� 215) QB LOUISIANA TECH � Pedigree is definitely on his side, older brother Josh is the new starting QB for the Arizona Cardinals while Randy McCown is quarterback for Texas A & M. The only problem all three of them have is that they all get confused with Chicago Bears Bust Cade McNown. Seriously though, Luke has put up some big time numbers in Ruston, throwing for 12,666 yards in his career, sixth on the all-time NCAA list. McCown came out of high school as the fourth best prep QB in the nation and has been Tech�s starter from Day One. Best remembered for throwing 72 passes as a freshman in a 42-31 loss to the Miami Hurricanes. Also had a pair of 400+ yard days v. Auburn including a 47-65 433 yard effort which at the time ranked the second highest single-game total for an Auburn opponent, next to a 484 yard game Alabama�s Scott Hunter once had (that would had been about five games worth in Hunter�s Packer career). Other highlights of McCown�s career include directing upset wins over Michigan St and Oklahoma St., as you can tell LaTech does not shy away from taking on the big boys. Like his older brother, Luke is said to be very athletic (think of Josh�s scramble on that final play v. the Vikings) and runs anywhere between a 4.6 and 4.8 along with a 36� vertical. For some reason though Luke did not gain a lot of yards on the ground the past two years. McCown possesses good mechanics, studies hard in the film room, and is good at running no-huddle and two-minute offenses, but some of his decision making comes into question, as McCown threw 33 picks the past two years to go along with 38 TD�s. Makes most of throws, but many feel that his total arm strength is a bit lacking. McCown followed in the footsteps of Tim Rattay, who was a seventh round pick of the 49ers in 2000 and is now pushing for a starting job. As far as Luke is concerned, he should go in the fourth round at the very latest and could well sneak into the latter stages of the first day.JERIS MCINTYRE (6�0� 198) WR AUBURN � Finally found his niche as the Tigers go-to receiver in his senior year after moving from the slot to wide receiver. McIntyre�s favorite pro player is Terrell Owens, and teammates refer to Jeris as �David Boston Jr�, another star receiver known for his YAC abilities. Signature game of Jeris� Senior season was two-tackle breaking TD receptions in a 45-7 win over Vanderbilt. McIntyre gets low after the catch, much like how a running back would. That should make sense, especially considering father Secdrick was a star running back in the Tiger program during the mid-1970�s. Jeris has good hands, runs crisp routes, and runs a 4.37. Is a great team player with a very positive attitude who does well blocking downfield as well as being a gunner on special teams. Right now, Jeris� potential NFL value is limited by his size, as well as the fact that he was only a part-time player his first three years in the program. It also must be noted that Auburn has always been a run-heavy team, in fact the Tigers were dead-last in the SEC in passing this year. Even though he led the team in receiving yardage, McIntyre still caught only 38 passes for 547 yards. Keep in mind however that Jeris was a highly recruited player coming out of high school so the potential has been there. The combines and post-season All-Star games will be even more for McIntyre than other pro prospects. Look for him to be a late round pick with a good chance to stick as a special-teamer/third down slot receiver.DEMARCO MCNEIL (6�2� 291) DT AUBURN � Yet another of the endless candidates to potentially be this years DeWayne Robertson while zooming up the draft board. National Football Scout rated McNeil as a 6.5 going into season, which translates into a borderline first rounder by the organization. Other projections have McNeil as anywhere from a second rounder all the way down to mid-round status. Enters this season as a fourth-year starter after a prep career which included being the first lineman ever to be named Mr. Football in Alabama. Burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman with 67 tackles and 13 TFL�s earning not only All-Conference but Freshman All-American honors. McNeil�s development was shunted some the past two years do to a surgically repaired knee, and it was said that he played at only 70 percent effectiveness in 2002. Offenses also started keying on McNeil more due to losses elsewhere in the Auburn defensive line. However McNeil came on strong towards the end of last year and had a strong performance in the Citrus Bowl helping to hold Penn State�s Larry Johnson to just 72 yards rushing. Gets strong grades for technique as well as standing his ground, and is almost impossible to get out of the way. Also can be very quick (4.90) and capable of blowing up plays in the backfield. Besides the knee, height as well as a relatively short wingspan are of some concern. McNeil is very intelligent and is a studies very hard in the film room � is also reported to have lost 10 pounds this past off-season. DeMarco�s draft status not only depends on staying healthy in 2003, but also shining in the All-Star games as well as the combines.MEWELDE MOORE (6�1� 210) RB TULANE � One of the more impressive backs at the NFL Combine, Moore was a four year starter who has spent his summers as an outfielder in the San Diego Padres chain, Mewelde has now sworn off baseball in preparation for his first NFL training camp. Holds school and conference records in rushing yards, and is 11th in the NCAA all-time in all purpose (6,505) yards. Also third in school history in passes caught (189) and the first player in NCAA history to run for 1,250 yards while catching at least 60 passes (2001). Probably the best third-down back prospect in this draft and should work well in a West Coast type system. Performed in Tulane�s spread offense, where Moore was lined up in a variety of positions and also took inside draw carries out of the shotgun. Has nice upper body strength despite being small in stature, and uses the stiff arm effectively and slashes to the outside. Besides soft hands, Moore changes hands well avoiding fumbles in the process. Not only does Moore catch passes, but will catch them in heavy traffic like a receiver. 40 times fall into the 4.45 � 4.50 range. Moore should develop further now that he will be spending his summers working on football strength as opposed to the flexibility needed in baseball. There is actually some concern that Moore may be too used up due to the heavy workload over the past four years. Has an outstanding work ethic, as excelling in two sports can attest. A broken hand ended the final three games of his Green Wave career but should have no effect heading into the draft. Thanks to his versatility and wide assortment of skills, look for Moore to be a first day selection. |
2003 NFL DRAFT PROFILES
