Loyal reader Jeremy wants to know who will be the top prospects for the 2008 NFL Draft. While that's a valid and important question, I wanted to expand on it some and go into the guys we'll be talking about the most come August as we gear up for the season.
I'll go position by position. Now, it seems natural for me to start at quarterback, which I did, but I can't find the file I was working on (I assume it's on my home computer). I also did running back in this file, so it's imperative that I find it (getting nervous). I'll start with wide receivers.
Any good, eligible receiver bolted to the NFL this year, so we'll see who I can dig up.
Jarrett Dillard, Rice - He had 21 touchdowns last season. That's a solid number for a college career. Yeah, he plays for Rice, but I don't care. Jerry Rice (pun intended) played for Mississippi Valley State. I say the bigger knock is that he's 5'11, but there's plenty of good receivers under 6'. I'm making it a point to watch him as many times as possible in the fall, even if it means I'll have to watch the rest of the Rice Owls.
DeSean Jackson, Cal - Another smaller guy, but he can flat out fly (he weighs about 165 pounds, someone get this kid over to the bench press!). He pretty much owned teams in a very Dante Hall-esque fashion with an 18.2 yards per punt return (best in the country). If Nate Longshore continues to improve, so will Jackson's already impressive receiving numbers. He might be one of the best players with the ball in his hands this fall.
Greg Carr, Florida State - What a menace for cornerbacks. He's 6'6, probably can broad jump a school bus and probably sleeps in one of the Doak Campbell end zones during the off season. First and goal from the one-yard line? I'd seriously consider throwing three straight fades to him (and likely a fourth if FSU's playing Miami…don't need any field goal debacles). I hope to make it to Blacksburg to see him in action this fall against one of the great cornerbacks of the game (Brandon Flowers).
Early Doucet, LSU - Craig Davis is out. Dwayne Bowe is out. Doucet is the man. Coming out of high school, this guy was the truth at quarterback. He's fast and tough to bring down (about 35 pounds heavier than Jackson). He's as go-to as can be for a college team this year. Don't be surprised if he has 80-90 catches this year. Plus his name rules (say it Do-say if you want to sound like an LSU fan).
Pat Turner and Vidal Hazelton, Southern Cal - These guys have been patiently waiting for Jarrett and Smith to move on to the NFL (Turner longer than Hazelton). Both were No. 1 WRs in the country coming out of high school. Hazelton, a Staten Island product, only had one catch last year as a freshman, but I think it's a safe bet to say he'll be a playmaker. Turner, from Tennessee, has the skill set to be better than his predecessors. If they get him 60 balls and 10-12 TDs, he should go pro. I love how both of these kids are from the East Coast (as was Jarrett) and go to USC. It's great to be the king.
Other guys you need to be watching at Penn State's Derrick Williams, assuming the Nittany Lions' passing offense is better, Percy Harvin at Florida, Mario Manningham at Michigan and the trio of Josh Morgan/Justin Harper/Eddie Royal at Virginia Tech.
Check back Friday morning for quarterbacks. Hopefully I won't have to work too hard on it.
Comments (2)
You must have forgot about Marcus Monk at Arkansas.
It is flabbergasting that you actually forgot to mention Earl Bennett of Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt you ask? Well he is a junior who is on pace to break the ALL TIME RECEPTIONS mark in SEC history this year. One more time, as a junior he will become the #1 receiver in SEC history. And he is not on your list. It is a shame. Go look at his numbers. He has better numbers than all of the receivers on your list. By far better than Early Doucet who is in the same conference. Shame.