Campus Confidential

By Adam Abramson

I've sat near scouts during college football games before and I've always walked away thinking the same thing: They're meticulous.

Knowing this, it made me laugh to see Colt Brennan say he lost millions by staying an extra year at Hawaii and falling to the No. 186 overall pick by the Washington Redskins.

Brennan stayed an extra year in paradise to throw 20 fewer touchdowns and 1,200 fewer yards. But his final year in Honolulu garnered him Heisman looks, a sweet tan and living on the beach. More importantly, he stayed to front a campaign that solidified my argument that the Hawaiis of the world generally fare little chance in BCS games.

Scouts, GMs, coaches and owners don't draft numbers. While Brennan regressed on the stat sheet, he didn't regress in intangibles and skill set.

After Brennan's decision following his junior campaign, The Honolulu Advertiser ran a piece about Brennan passing up the big bucks with the following passage:

UH head coach June Jones said Brennan would have been selected between the 10th and 20th pick in the first round. Matt Leinart, Brennan's high-school teammate, was the 10th pick in last year's draft. He signed a six-year contract worth up to $51 million.

Couple of things to point out:

1. Matt Leinart is a 6'5", 230-pound stud who ran a pro-style offense at Southern California. He won a Heisman Trophy and National Title manning a program that ranks near the Miami Dolphins in talent. Colt Brennan is 6'3 and weighs 205 in a rain storm. He put up monster numbers in a division that fooled linebackers my size (6'1, 200, for the record). The two's college careers are not comparable.

2. Brady Quinn was the second quarterback drafted in the 2007 draft, at No. 22. There's ZERO chance Brennan would have been drafted before Quinn. The two quarterbacks drafted after Quinn, Kevin Kolb (No. 36) and John Beck (No. 40), would have likely been drafted ahead of Brennan as well.

I'm not saying Brennan can't succeed at the NFL level, but he'll definitely earn any playing time he gets. While Leinart is being groomed to lead the Cardinals in the future, the Redskins are focusing on Jason Campbell and have their fingers crossed Brennan will contribute on some level.

There were several high profile names not drafted this weekend.

I came across this interesting piece from Rivals. I wish I had time to do this kind of research.

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=802409

Any omissions?

By Adam Abramson

The NFL Draft came and went this weekend and here's how my "Draft This Guy" prospects fared.

Joe Flacco -- Drafted in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens. No. 18 overall.

Dustin Keller -- Drafted in the first round by the New York Jets. No. 30 overall.

Jeremy Zuttah -- Drafted in the third round by Tampa Bay Buccaneers. No. 83 overall.

Chevis Jackson -- Drafted in the third round by the Atlanta Falcons. No. 68 overall.

Ryan Mundy -- Drafted in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. No. 194 overall.

Marcus Monk -- Drafted in the seventh round by the Chicago Bears. No. 248 overall.

Micah Rucker -- Undrafted. Signed by the Steelers to a free agent contract as soon as the draft ended.

Also, keeping tabs on a player feature we did in the midst of last season, Xavier Omon was drafted on Sunday.

Xavier Omon -- Drafted in the sixth round by the Buffalo Bills. No. 179 overall.

Given a little more time, I would have crafted a piece about Jamaal Charles from Texas. The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Charles, 5'10 200 lbs. in the third round, No. 73 overall. While he'll play behind Larry Johnson, he's going to turn out to be a steal in the third round.

And Limas Sweed to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round is hilarious. Mike Tomlin had a great draft this weekend.

I sat down with our NFL columnist Bob Glauber to talk about this year's NFL Draft. Some guy I work with, this La Monica fella, filmed it for me.

And all the college knowledge you hear B-Glaubs drop, yeah, that's me talking. I'm his Quato.

By Adam Abramson

I've found my sleeper: Micah Rucker.

Eastern Illinois wide receiver. Perfect measurables. Great numbers. Impressive human being.

Rucker played his high school ball on the West Coast of Florida, receiving several high profile offers. He chose The University of Minnesota.

For Rucker, it was almost a blessing and a curse.

The blessing: He found the woman of his dreams, Rebecca Fissehastion Yacob.

The curse: Minnesota had tons of talent at running back and used it often.

Rucker transferred to Eastern Illinois, Tony Romo's alma mater. In two seasons he pulled in 104 catches for 1,743 yards and 22 touchdowns. However, with the chance to showcase his talent came unthinkable pain.

Rucker's girlfriend, whom he met and fell in love with at Minnesota, was killed by a drunk driver. Rucker responded by creating a campus organization, Respect for Youth, to fight drunk driving. A far cry from the character issues attached to so many names of college prospects.

I talked to Rucker about his past and this weekend's draft.

Campus Confidential: Take me from your days as a big time prospect in Florida to today. What has all of this been like for you?
Micah Rucker: Man, going back to five years ago there has been so much ... I don’t know where to start. It's really just a blessing to be still playing football and getting the opportunity to play professionally! I am truly blessed. There have been many ups and downs, but my parents have led me to where I am today. I will be graduating on May 4, so all is well. Hard work is the key to anything.

CC: Guys like Devin Thomas, Limas Sweed, DeSean Jackson and Malcolm Kelly have been names thrown around in the first round. Have you seen tape of them? Are they a good representation of the class? How do you feel about this WR draft class top to bottom?
MR: Well, there are a bunch of good receivers out there. My Pro Day numbers speak for themselves [Rucker worked out at the Illinois Pro Day]. My biggest question was speed. 4.47 changed that. So, now they've got to find something else to talk about. I have better Pro Day numbers top to bottom than any wideout out there this year. 4.47 40-yard, 42" vertical, 11.3 broad jump, 20 reps on the bench, 11.2 sixty ... God has a great plan for me. I just want the opportunity and we can go from there!

CC: Why did you leave the University of Minnesota?
MR: I wanted to go somewhere where my talents could be biggest and where I could make plays. So Eastern gave me a great opportunity that I am thankful for.

CC: What does it mean to see guys like Terrell Owens and Tony Romo – "small school guys" – succeed in the league?
MR: The League is an equal opportunity employer! If you can play, you can play, it doesn't matter where your from. Marques Colston, [Tony] Romo, Joe Horn ... Hard work can really do wonders and talent can't be stopped. I'm happy to represent Eastern Illinois, it is a great place.

CC: If you could go back and do everything over, would anything change?
MR: I would change nothing. You know, I have learned and met a lot of great people along the way. ... Minnesota taught me a lot. I met the woman of my dreams there who eventually passed away, but I had a great time learning about football and life. ... When I speak to kids I let them know about what I've been through and what it takes. Right is better then wrong and I preach that.

CC: What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
MR: Size, speed, strength, raw ability. I just need to learn and listen, which I love doing. Route running is key for me and having someone teach me to stay low during routes. I want to learn and take everything in and all will be OK.

CC: Sell yourself to an NFL GM in 30 words.
MR: Everyone has talent at the NFL level. Hard work and desire are what pay off. Heart is something I have and hard work is what I pride myself on. I love learning and I love the game of football. Fear of failure is key for me, so I work day and night to help my team. I love working with people and hate to lose.

By Adam Abramson

I'm pretty sure Paris Hilton could figure out Louisiana State won a national title large-in-part to its fantastic defense if she watched a little film.

Everyone, including Campus Confidential, was quick to give praise to the Tigers' fierce front seven. But when you have guys like Glenn Dorsey and Ali Highsmith, you'd be crazy for not giving them their due.

However, the entire defensive unit was deserving, from top to bottom. Jonathan Zenon, Craig Steltz, Jai Eugene and Chevis Jackson were part of a secondary that ranked No. 9 in the country last season against the pass. Sure, much of this can be credited to that front seven's rush, but those guys couldn't have pinned their ears back if smart, physical backs weren't roaming around behind them.

The trusty Tiger back GMs should keep an eye on in April is Jackson. Playing for two different coaches in college, Jackson has played it all. In the clip, you see he can handle the zone, but that's not really a question about him.

After slow times at Combine (over 4.6), many are wondering if he can run down field in man coverage and give support in run game. The answer is yes to the first, and I'd be surprised if he couldn't to the second.

While his 0-40 speed was slow in Indianapolis, Jackson has showed fluidity in drills during the Senior Bowl (where he received rave reviews) and even at the Combine. Jackson followed up with another 4.6s at LSU's Pro Day, pretty much locking him into that speed, but his athleticism cannot be questioned with a 10-foot broad jump and a 40" vertical.

This is a class that's chock-full-o defensive backs, so GMs could shy away from Jackson in favor of big names like Mike Jenkins, Antonio Rodgers-Cromartie, Leodis McKelvin and Aqib Talib.

But as quarterbacks pine for taller receivers, they're going to need taller cornerbacks to cover these guys. Jackson is one of the taller corners in the class. While he doesn't possess the DeAngelo Hall speed, the explosiveness he displayed during Senior Bowl week makes it very possible a team like San Francisco drafts him at No. 39 if those aforementioned names drop off the board, as they should. Anything after the second round and you're getting good value if you pick Jackson.

Note: I played phone tag with Jackson's agent for a good two weeks. But, again, the Spitzer scandal -- amongst other big news stories -- kept me bogged down and I ended up missing that boat. My apologies.

Also, draft these guys:
Marcus Monk
Joe Flacco
Dustin Keller
Jeremy Zuttah Ryan Mundy

By Adam Abramson

I've talked about depth for many positions in the 2008 NFL Draft, but I found one group lacking a lot of value on paper.

Safeties. Both free and strong.

You'll likely see just one safety taken in the first round, and he's a very good one. His name is Kenny Phillips. The University of Miami Hurricane stepped on campus and provided immediate impact expected of him coming out of high school. Philips is the real deal and should be a stud in the NFL.

Otherwise, there are some names you might hear later on the first day, such as DaJuan Morgan, Simeon Castille, Tom Zbikowski and Quintin Demps.

One name you won't hear is Ryan Mundy.

He's bigger than Morgan and less than a step slower, bigger and faster than Castille and Michael Griffin of Texas, yet he wasn't invited to the Combine and might slip off draft boards. Why?

Well, he began his career at Michigan and started 18 of 35 career games. However, a good portion of his time in Ann Arbor (including one full season) was spent on the sidelines courtesy of injury.

When Mundy, right in the picture, graduated, he wanted to pursue his Master's degree in a field Michigan didn't offer, so he exercised an NCAA rule allowing him to transfer without losing eligibility.

He landed at West Virginia where he played alongside Eric Wicks, leading a secondary that was instrumental in WVU's season that resulted in a Fiesta Bowl victory. Mundy finished fourth on the team in tackles, including 11 in the win over Oklahoma. He also picked off three passes and recovered three fumbles. This wasn't a big surprise for Mundy, who played well for Lloyd Carr when he was healthy.

He's used to playing with top talent, against superb competition and in different schemes. The fact he was able to immediately step in and be a top contributor in West Virginia's unorthodox defensive scheme, against brand new opponents, says a lot about his willingness to learn and adapt.

Mountaineers coach Bill Stewart has been public about Mundy's contributions, all positive of course. (I put a call into Stewart, but they're all out for Spring Break this week.)

Mundy did work out in a Pro Day and did well for himself. One scout told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "It was a good day for Ryan Mundy to show what he can do. He didn't go to the Combine, and I thought that was a slight to him."

Injury-prone is a very tricky word. Every player is injury-prone. It's football. Mundy has proven he is a legitimate safety when given the chance. Teams should take notice of him and should not shy away from drafting him the second day.

Also, draft these guys:
Marcus Monk
Joe Flacco
Dustin Keller
Jeremy Zuttah
Chevis Jackson

Why draft Jeremy Zuttah?

The Rutgers offensive tackle clocked the fastest time for his position (4.99!) at the Combine and was second strongest, only behind Jake Long.

Sounds like reason enough for me. And it doesn't even end there: Apparently he blew GMs away during the interview process. What I'm trying to say is Zuttah was a gigantic beneficiary of this year's Combine. Also, watch the highlight -- if you question his athletic ability, you're crazy (side note: the guy who "tackled" him is in a lot of trouble.)

So why is he ranked No. 14 among offensive tackles by NFLDraftscout.com and No. 9 among offensive guards by NFLDraftcountdown.com?

Well, my guess is that he's considered a "tweener" along the offensive line (a term usually designated for guys on the defensive side of the ball). This year's Pro Bowl tackles were Flozell Adams (6'7, 340), Chad Clifton (6'5, 320), Walter Jones (6'5, 325), Chris Samuels (6'5, 310), Jonathan Ogden (6'9, 345), Marcus McNeil (6'7, 336) and rookie Joe Thomas (6'6, 315).

What do all of those guys have in common? They're all taller and heavier than Zuttah. All of them.

At the Combine, Zuttah checked in at 6'4, 303. But, I left out a name from that list of Pro Bowlers: Matt Light. The man in charge of keeping Tom Brady's backside covered is 6'4, 305. Eerily similar sizes.

Zuttah was a four year starter along a line that plowed massive holes for Ray Rice. Many think he'll have to slide inside to guard, which would require a lot of beefing up. One GM at the Combine said they could see him as a center, as well.

What a great problem to have: A guy who projects at three different positions. All the more.

Yet many consider him a second-day pick. I disagree. Zuttah is at least worthy of a selection in the third round.

Also, draft these guys:
Marcus Monk
Joe Flacco
Dustin Keller
Ryan Mundy
Chevis Jackson

By Adam Abramson

I had a good chat with a friend who knows a lot of people in the league. The subject? Safety valves for quarterbacks.

The importance of having a reliable tight end is undervalued, especially with a young quarterback. Long gone are the days of a tight end's duty consisting of lining up next to a tackle and sending a running back his way. Teams are looking for guys who can run a 12-yard in on a critical third down and convert with a high success rate.

And there may not be a better guy at doing this than Purdue's Dustin Keller. He showed it at the Combine with a 4.53 40 and 38" vertical, both tops at his position.

Coming into the Combine, scouts were a little thrown by Keller's size (6'2, 242), but that's the whole give-and-take of the new tight end. While I'm sure every GM wants a Jason Witten (6'5, 265, 96 catches) or an Antonio Gates (6'4, 260, 75 catches), there just isn't a stockpile of humans that size who can move like Witten and Gates do.

But Keller's size isn't going to hurt him terribly in the NFL. Chris Cooley and Kellen Winslow, both Pro Bowl selections, aren't much bigger. And with legit 4.5 speed, he's moving faster than some wide receivers.

Watch the video. The first thing you will notice is the speed at the snap. He gets into his routes at a breakneck rate.

The more I look at this class, the more I begin to like the offensive side of things. Again, I see a lot of depth at the front end of this position. Looking over the list, I see 10 guys that I would draft as a GM. I'm sure there are a few surprises here and there, as well.

The last four years of the Draft have 54 tight ends drafted. In 2007, 13 had their name called (Greg Olsen being the only first rounder at 31). 2006 had 16 (two first rounders), 2005 had nine (one first rounder) and 2004 also had 16 (two in the first round).

But this isn't an essay about where all tight ends should be drafted, just where Dustin Keller should be drafted. I believe the Combine backed up what we all saw in college: The dude can get it done when he has the ball in his hands. Why did I know this before the Combine? Well, in Joe Tiller's pass-happy offense, Keller had 68 catches for 881 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Keller is right in the mix with names like Fred Davis (USC), Martellus Bennett (Texas A&M, athletic freak) and Brad Cottam (Tennessee, 6'8, 270). Teams with solid wide receiving corps might look to take a Bennett or Cottam before Keller, but if you're a team like Buffalo, Cincinnati or Denver, Keller might be a good option in the second round. Or if the Jets can snag him early in the third, you would be getting a steal.

He's exactly what a young quarterback (like Losman, Cutler or Clemens) needs.

Also, draft these guys:
Marcus Monk
Joe Flacco
Jeremy Zuttah
Ryan Mundy
Chevis Jackson

By Adam Abramson

Way back in 2003 there was a kid from Audubon, New Jersey who completed 83% of his passes his senior year. That's right, 83%.

The 6'6" kid, who received serious looks from baseball scouts according to his coach, chose the University of Pittsburgh over Rutgers.

That was just the beginning for Joe Flacco, who will likely be a first-day draft pick after a monster combine last weekend.

Flacco, who chose the Panthers largely because of former coach Walt Harris, spent two years hanging out in the city's Shadyside before leaving for the University of Delaware -- a popular landing spot for D-IA (or FBS) transfers. His first year at Pitt was spent with a redshirt, his second was spent behind Tyler Palko on the depth chart. There was no third year.

2005 was spent on the bench because of transfer rules (Flacco was not released from his scholarship in Pittsburgh, so he had to sit out a year, despite dropping down to the FCS). 2006 was a decent campaign, considering it was his first in three years. But 2007 is where he came into his own, leading the Blue Hens to a national title berth, only to fall against powerhouse Appalachian State. He lead the FCS in attempts and yards, while throwing just 5 INTs. Less than one percent of his attempts landed in the hands of a defender.

Flacco has the physical tools. He just needed some stages to display them. In a top-heavy class, Flacco is maybe No. 3 on my board and I don't think it would be crazy to take him in the first round. I only slot Brian Brohm ahead of him. I'd say guys like Matt Ryan and John David Booty are about even.

I'm totally one for taking college competition into consideration (see yesterday's piece about Marcus Monk), but it's not a make-or-break indicator. See Ben Rothleisberger, Tony Romo, David Garrard, Byron Leftwich, Tavaris Jackson, JP Losman, Jeff Garcia, etc.

Flacco didn't have a Sam Baker, Jake Long or Gosder Cherilus protecting his behind. He didn't have a Chauncey Washington, Joe McKnight or Mike Hart to give the ball to. And he certainly wasn't throwing to Mario Manningham, Patrick Turner or Vidal Hazelton. The dude made plays surrounded by talent that won't be making millions of dollars when their college days are over.

Watching his film, I see him throwing with a three-quarter motion on a lot of attempts (something I'm seeing more of). So that's obviously something to keep an eye on. But his passes have great zip and he leads receivers on every kind of route, including that challenging deep-out. He also won the deep ball contest, tossing the ball 74 yards during a skills competition. That's 74% of a football field (61% if you include both end zones).

Flacco can also make some things happen in space and he can move the pocket. He ran a 4.84, but claims he can run faster. You can watch some of his better runs in the video.

I don't know that a GM will jump at the gun to make Flacco their future centerpiece of the franchise, but I do like his chances of succeeding in the league.

Draft this guy early.

Also, draft these guys:
Marcus Monk
Dustin Keller
Jeremy Zuttah
Ryan Mundy
Chevis Jackson

By Adam Abramson

It's time for me to start combing through the 2008 NFL Draft Class to find value where other Web sites haven't...to this point. Now would be a good time for GMs to bookmark Campus Confidential.

I'm starting with Marcus Monk.

I said last week that I see a lot of value in the wide receiver crop, but that's not an opinion shared by all. It's because they're overlooking guys like Monk.

That might not be the case after the combine, because Marcus Monk turned in a solid Combine performance. He measured in at 6'4, 222 pounds (a little different from the 6'6" he was listed in college). He didn't dust anyone with a 4.59 40-time, but he was on par for receivers his height.

Monk is recovering from a knee injury that made him miss much of his senior year. He did return to play in team's final six games, but did little.

Where he didn't do little was his junior year. 50 catches, 962 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 19.2 yards per catch obviously makes him a home run hitter. He has big hands and posted an impressive vertical. What I'm saying is this: The guy's measurables are playmaker-like. Watch some of his runs after the catch in the video (set to a great song).

Remember this: Monk's career was heavily overshadowed because of Darren McFadden and Feilx Jones. The two will are first-round running backs and dominated the offense for three years in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks were among the lowest-ranked passing teams in the country the last three years (their best ranking was 108/119). Put it this way: Monk's 50 catches in 2006 were 1/3 of the team's completions. So you can imagine the kind of attention he received from opposing SEC secondaries.

Is Monk first-round talent? Well, he could be. But there are obvious risks. If you're looking for a tall receiver, guys like Malcolm Kelly (Oklahoma) and James Hardy (Indiana) will look like wiser picks early on. But before this weekend, Monk was buried on most mock drafts.

This is a guy that has first-day value.

Also, draft these guys:
Joe Flacco
Dustin Keller
Jeremy Zuttah
Ryan Mundy
Chevis Jackson

By Adam Abramson

I'm back. I've been going through some serious transitions here at the office that have chewed up my time, in addition to Spring Training and the Giants. But it's Combine time, which means it's almost Spring Football time, which means it's almost NFL Draft time.

I'll be snowboarding all day tomorrow, but I'll be back before the Combine is over to follow up. Here's to me not breaking anything!

I came across this from tfydraft.com:

De'Cody Fagg, the Florida State WR, was pretty candid about his Seminoles. He said Florida State's troubles can be linked to the lack of a family atmosphere. He did say it came back this past season. Some new blood in the form of Jimbo Fisher likely helped on that front. Fisher's reputation alone is enough to get the players believing again.

Fagg went on to say he felt that FSU's quarterback situation really hurt the offense. While it's easy for me to say, and believe, that, it's another for a player just a season removed to say as much. With Xavier Lee out of the picture, things could be looking up on that front as well.

You have to think that things will get turned around in Tallahassee, especially considering the recruiting hasn't wavered any.

I'm standing by my belief that Brian Brohm will be the best QB in this class when we look back in 10 years. Brohm said in Indianapolis: "It is an NFL system based off Tom Coughlin's offense which Petrino learned in Jacksonville." The kid ran an impressive ship with a very talented pair of receivers.

Jehuu Culcrick, the Michigan State big back, said he had a good interview with the Bengals. He's actually bigger than Mike Alstott and could be very servicable for any NFL program. I do think Jonathan Stewart is going to be a great NFL player.

A lot of people are knocking this group of wide receivers, but I have to respectfully disagree. I see a lot of value in names like Limas Sweed, Marcus Monk (see 2006 stats) and Mario Urrutia. All check in at least 6'4", which has been a topic of discussion around the NFL lately.

Another 6'4" guy who could really boost his stock at the Combine is Justin Harper. I know, I know. Another Virginia Tech guy. But the dude can ball. He was on an offense that has made its bread and butter running the ball for the last decade, yet he still wowed everyone with his abilities. He runs a sub-4.5 and has great mitts. Just trust the kid on this one.

Can't leave without mentioning one more VT guy: Brandon Flowers. According to TFY, at least 10 GMs said Flowers is the best CB in the draft.

I read that after I had already told Bob Glauber that the Giants should draft Flowers instead of trade for DeAngelo Hall (another VT guy). Flowers is physical and is a great decision maker. In a class that has a solid set of DBs, Flowers could be indeed the best among them. I also think any team with a cornerback need would be foolish to pass on Aqib Talib from Kansas.