BOSSHOGG30
04-18-2008, 12:58 PM
The Rocky has watched the videos, crunched the numbers, surveyed scouts and personnel executives throughout the league over the past six months to determine the top 100 prospects, regardless of position or team needs in the selection order, available in this year’s draft. Here are the top 10. Look for Nos. 11-100 by 4 p.m. today.
1. Glenn Dorsey
DT, Louisiana State
Height: 6-11/2; Weight: 297
Some have concerns about an old stress fracture in his right leg, but he still collected most of the trophies on defense in ’07, played 52 career games with 31 starts and dominated in virtually all of those. A captain on a national championship team who played hurt and beat enough double- and triple-teams for back-to-back 60-tackle seasons. Even on a sore knee in ’07 — he was chop-blocked illegally by an Auburn guard – he was simply unblockable at times. Dorsey won the Nagurski and Lott awards and the Outland and Lombardi trophies in 2007.
“You want to be that guy that gets his name called first,” Dorsey said. “You want to set yourself up to go as high as possible. That would be a dream. That is the ultimate goal.”
2. Vernon Gholston
DE, Ohio State
Height: 6-3; Weight: 266
Speed — a 4.67 40 electronically timed — and power — he benched 225 pounds 37 times to lead all defensive linemen at the combine — make him the best pass rusher on the board. Had 211/2 sacks in last two seasons combined.
3. Chris Long
DE, Virginia
Height: 6-3; Weight: 272
The Atlantic Coast Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in ’07 with 14 sacks. Has been groomed by father — Hall of Famer Howie — and his technique, especially his hands to free himself from blockers, is the best in the class.
4. Jake Long
T, Michigan
Height: 6-7; Weight: 313
Won Big Ten offensive lineman of the year award in back-to-back seasons, even beating Joe Thomas and Levi Brown — both top five picks — to do it in ’06. Surrendered just two sacks in last 25 starts and played both tackle spots for Wolverines. A few teams have him as the No. 1 player on the board.
5. Darren McFadden
RB, Arkansas
Height: 6-1 1/4; Weight: 211
There are some off-the-field concerns and a toe injury — it was hanging by tendons before an ’06 surgery — has probably been underestimated by some. But explosive on the field, with the kind of big-play potential that will make someone take the plunge early.
McFadden is the top player on several teams’ boards around the league.
“I feel like I’m a very versatile player,” McFadden said. “I can go out there and line up at receiver, I can line up in the backfield and block, line up back there and run, I can throw a pass if you need me to. But like if I had to, I could play defense.”
6. Sedrick Ellis
DT, Southern Cal
Height: 6-0 1/2; Weight: 309
Coveted because he plays a big-man game with small-guy quickness. Dominated at the Senior Bowl workouts and had 81/2 sacks to go with 121/2 tackles for loss in ’07 playing from the inside. Understands how to get rid of blockers and has the speed to close things down when he does.
7. Keith Rivers
LB, Southern Cal
Height: 6-2 1/4; Weight: 241
Easily at the top of what is a weak class overall at the position. Has had surgery on each ankle, so that concerns some, but sees the play well and closes to ball with a fluid stride. Not a remember-when hitter, but a sure tackler who gets the guy on the ground.
8. Jonathan Stewart
RB, Oregon
Height: 5-10 1/4; Weight: 235
Recent toe surgery should cause some to take pause, but if he recovers as expected this is a potential rushing champion. Ran consistent 4.4s in his 40s despite being one of the biggest backs on the board. Bench-pressed 410 pounds at Oregon, the program’s best ever for a running back.
9. Rashard Mendenhall
RB, Illinois
Height: 5-10 1/8; Weight: 225
If a 79-yard TD run to go with a dump-off pass he turned into a 55-yard play can launch a guy into the top 10, then he did just that by running away — on both plays — from several NFL-worthy defenders with Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl.
10. Brian Brohm
QB, Louisville
Height: 6-2 7/8; Weight: 230
No, it’s not a misprint, this is the best pro-QB-in-waiting in this class. The difference is accuracy. Brohm hits guys in stride and in a catch-and-run league that’s how a quarterback moves the chains and gets an offense down the field. He puts the ball in frame and never completed fewer than 63.6 percent of his passes in his career.
1. Glenn Dorsey
DT, Louisiana State
Height: 6-11/2; Weight: 297
Some have concerns about an old stress fracture in his right leg, but he still collected most of the trophies on defense in ’07, played 52 career games with 31 starts and dominated in virtually all of those. A captain on a national championship team who played hurt and beat enough double- and triple-teams for back-to-back 60-tackle seasons. Even on a sore knee in ’07 — he was chop-blocked illegally by an Auburn guard – he was simply unblockable at times. Dorsey won the Nagurski and Lott awards and the Outland and Lombardi trophies in 2007.
“You want to be that guy that gets his name called first,” Dorsey said. “You want to set yourself up to go as high as possible. That would be a dream. That is the ultimate goal.”
2. Vernon Gholston
DE, Ohio State
Height: 6-3; Weight: 266
Speed — a 4.67 40 electronically timed — and power — he benched 225 pounds 37 times to lead all defensive linemen at the combine — make him the best pass rusher on the board. Had 211/2 sacks in last two seasons combined.
3. Chris Long
DE, Virginia
Height: 6-3; Weight: 272
The Atlantic Coast Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in ’07 with 14 sacks. Has been groomed by father — Hall of Famer Howie — and his technique, especially his hands to free himself from blockers, is the best in the class.
4. Jake Long
T, Michigan
Height: 6-7; Weight: 313
Won Big Ten offensive lineman of the year award in back-to-back seasons, even beating Joe Thomas and Levi Brown — both top five picks — to do it in ’06. Surrendered just two sacks in last 25 starts and played both tackle spots for Wolverines. A few teams have him as the No. 1 player on the board.
5. Darren McFadden
RB, Arkansas
Height: 6-1 1/4; Weight: 211
There are some off-the-field concerns and a toe injury — it was hanging by tendons before an ’06 surgery — has probably been underestimated by some. But explosive on the field, with the kind of big-play potential that will make someone take the plunge early.
McFadden is the top player on several teams’ boards around the league.
“I feel like I’m a very versatile player,” McFadden said. “I can go out there and line up at receiver, I can line up in the backfield and block, line up back there and run, I can throw a pass if you need me to. But like if I had to, I could play defense.”
6. Sedrick Ellis
DT, Southern Cal
Height: 6-0 1/2; Weight: 309
Coveted because he plays a big-man game with small-guy quickness. Dominated at the Senior Bowl workouts and had 81/2 sacks to go with 121/2 tackles for loss in ’07 playing from the inside. Understands how to get rid of blockers and has the speed to close things down when he does.
7. Keith Rivers
LB, Southern Cal
Height: 6-2 1/4; Weight: 241
Easily at the top of what is a weak class overall at the position. Has had surgery on each ankle, so that concerns some, but sees the play well and closes to ball with a fluid stride. Not a remember-when hitter, but a sure tackler who gets the guy on the ground.
8. Jonathan Stewart
RB, Oregon
Height: 5-10 1/4; Weight: 235
Recent toe surgery should cause some to take pause, but if he recovers as expected this is a potential rushing champion. Ran consistent 4.4s in his 40s despite being one of the biggest backs on the board. Bench-pressed 410 pounds at Oregon, the program’s best ever for a running back.
9. Rashard Mendenhall
RB, Illinois
Height: 5-10 1/8; Weight: 225
If a 79-yard TD run to go with a dump-off pass he turned into a 55-yard play can launch a guy into the top 10, then he did just that by running away — on both plays — from several NFL-worthy defenders with Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl.
10. Brian Brohm
QB, Louisville
Height: 6-2 7/8; Weight: 230
No, it’s not a misprint, this is the best pro-QB-in-waiting in this class. The difference is accuracy. Brohm hits guys in stride and in a catch-and-run league that’s how a quarterback moves the chains and gets an offense down the field. He puts the ball in frame and never completed fewer than 63.6 percent of his passes in his career.