WR Draft Profiles.....

[hawaiianboy]

Someone was kind enough to share this with me... I'm pretty sure it's a Premium content thing so please do not clip it without permission... Thanks....


*Calvin Johnson

College: Georgia Tech Number: 21
Height: 6-4 Weight: 228

Overview

Regarded by many as the premier receiver in college football, Calvin has that rare blend of size, strength and quickness that saw him immediately develop into the Yellow Jackets' most dangerous offensive weapon. A starter since arriving on campus, he ranks fifth in school history in receiving yards (2,151) and receptions (121) and third in touchdown catches (20) in just 28 games at Tech. During that span, he amassed over 40% of the team's passing yardage and hauled in 20 of the squad's 38 passing touchdowns.

The two-time All-American (freshman team in 2004) and All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team selection has drawn heavy praise from his coaching staff, opponents and the media. Georgia Tech head coach Chan Gailey says, " I've never had one like him. Not in college, not in the NFL. I've never had another receiver that big and that fast with that kind of hand-eye coordination." ESPN.com's Bruce Feldman calls Johnson, "The most gifted wideout in the country. He is worth the price of admission by himself. Just ask Miami, whose top-ranked pass defense had no answers for the sophomore this season. I think he's a bigger, faster version of Larry Fitzgerald and will be a sure-fire Pro Bowler."

Chris Fowler of ESPN College Gameday chimed in, stating, "Calvin Johnson's the most impressive wide receiver, from field level, I've ever seen in college football." Fowler's ESPN partner, Kirk Herbstreit, calls Calvin, "Physically one of the most dynamic players in the country. Great in the classroom, incredibly humble, just a total package. He is the most humble superstar I have ever met. Every player on this team loves Calvin Johnson."

Even his opponents heap praises on Johnson. Virginia cornerback Marcus Hamilton says,
"You've just got to do your absolute best to try and contain him because he does so many things well. Even when he's not catching the ball, if a running back's running behind him, he's so strong he can block you." Miami linebacker linebacker Jon Beason calls Johnson,
"Quiet and humble and easygoing. You [saw] him as a freshman emerging as a star. When it's crunch time, they went to him. Now, it's at the point where there's not a situation he hasn't been in. It's fourth down, he knows the ball's coming to him. I don't believe that he is nervous because he's done it before. He's just developed into a dependable guy."

Calvin was one of the nation's most highly sought recruits coming out of Sandy Creek High School, where he ranked among the top ten prep receivers, according to virtually every recruiting service. He was named to the Super Southern 100 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Rivals 100 by Rivals.com, TheInsiders.com Hot 100, the Super Prep All-American 275 and the Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team. He was rated the third-best player in Georgia, and 37th-best prospect in the nation by Rivals.com.

Johnson also earned first-team All-State Class AAAA accolades from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after he caught 40 passes for 736 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior. He added 34 receptions for 646 yards and ten scores as a junior for two-year totals of 80 catches for 1,479 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The true freshman immediately earned a starting job at flanker for Georgia Tech in 2004. He was a Freshman All-American and Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Tech freshman and eleventh in league history to earn first-team All-ACC recognition. He ranked second in the conference with an average of 69.75 yards per game receiving and third with an average of 4.0 catches per game. Calvin led the team with 48 receptions for 837 yards (127.4 avg) and seven touchdowns, adding 10 yards and a score on three reverses and made a solo tackle. Fifteen of his grabs were for 20 yards or longer.

In 2005, Johnson garnered All-American first-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association, becoming the 48th player in school history and first since offensive tackle Chris Brown (2000), to pick up first-team accolades. He was the first Tech receiver since Billy Martin in 1963 to attain All-American recognition. Calvin finished second in the ACC with an average of 74.0 yards per game receiving. He again led the team with 54 catches for 888 yards (16.4 avg) and six touchdowns. Fourteen of his grabs were for 20 yards or longer and he also delivered two solo tackles.

Through the first five games of the 2006 campaign, Johnson leads the ACC with an average of 5.0 receptions and 85.2 yards per game receiving. He made 25 catches for 426 yards (17.0 avg) and seven touchdowns while also gaining 21 yards on a reverse. Six of his receptions were for 20 yards or longer.

Johnson has started every game (29) during his Yellow Jackets career. He has 127 catches for 2,151 yards (16.9 avg) and twenty touchdowns. 35 of his receptions gained at least 20 yards. He carried four times for 31 yards (7.8 avg) and a touchdowns, adding three solo tackles and returning one punt for a 7-yard loss.



Analysis

Positives: Has a tall, thick frame, with long arm, large hands, thick thighs and calves and a big bubble…His long legs let him ride up on the defender quickly while looking effortless in his stride…Shows good closing speed running under sideline throws and the quickness to get into his routes without being impeded…Good power receiver on crossers and side-line throws, using his strength and size to shield the ball from defenders…Has strong hands to secure the ball before running (no fumbles) and the second gear to turn a short pass into a long gainer…Very physical in his initial step off the ball, but he also has the quickness to immediately defeat the press…Best when operating along the sidelines where he can build to top speed and maintain it throughout his route…Knows how to use his body and has a knack for finding the open spots in the zone…In man coverage, he is very adept at using his burst to separate consistently…Has the long arms and body control to go over people to get to the ball and is doing it with regularity in 2006 than he did in the past (see Virginia and Virginia Tech games).

Knows how to get open and understands sticks and boundaries, doing a nice job of keeping his feet in bounds…Big target who can't be rerouted by a strong hand push and is learning how to use his long arms to go over defenders (did not have any passes deflected through five 2006 games, compared to 21 during the first 24 games of his career)…Can be very explosive in his rise and shows natural hand extension to reach and pluck away from the frame…Generates a strong jolt with them to defeat the press and works hard with his hands to sustain when blocking in-line…It is rare to see him use his body to field the ball, as he is perfectly capable of extending for the pass at its high point…Terrific load to bring down after the catch…Strong open field runner who will drag defenders when fighting for extra yardage… Even though there is not a lot of shake in his hips and he is a bit of a long strider, he runs with the power needed to break tackles consistently…Uses his hands with force to lock on and sustain and can generate devastating cut blocks in the open (see 2006 Troy and Virginia games)…Can dominate smaller defensive backs and shows good angles getting out to neutralize second level defenders…Stays low in his pads and shows good intent when delivering his hand punch vs. the bull rush.

Negatives: Has good overall body control, but sometimes does not play up to his timed speed…Even though he has good leaping ability, his timing is sometimes off, as he doesn't win as many jump ball battles as you would expect from a player of his size and arm extension…Demonstrates good toughness battling for the ball, but he has also left quite a few passes on the field, perhaps due to poor passing precision from the quarter-back position, but he has caught only 127 of 271 passes thrown to him…For a player over 6:04 and with his jumping skills (45 inches) along with his long reach, it is hard to imagine the smaller cornerbacks having success in batting away 21 of those passes thrown to him the last two-plus years…Better down field than on deep routes, as he tends to lose sight of the ball over his head…Has some hip stiffness when trying to change direction and this will sometimes prevent him from making sharp cuts (takes wasted steps)…Needs to show better hip sink on his cuts…Tends to lose concentration working in a crowd, leading to several missed opportunities (hears defender's footsteps)…Gets his feet down properly when working along the side-lines, but must be more alert to the quarterback scramble.

 

[hawaiianboy]

*Dwayne Jarrett

College: Southern Cal Number: 8
Height: 6-5 Weight: 210






Overview


One of the best playmakers in the collegiate ranks, Jarrett has been very good at using his size to create mismatches vs. the smaller cornerbacks the Trojans have faced. While he lacks blazing speed, Jarrett has garnered most of his success because of his field awareness, size and timing his leaps to get to the ball at its high point.

Even though he opted to test his wares in the pro ranks after only three seasons at USC, he finished his career as the Pac-10 Conference's all-time leader with 41 touchdown catches and as the school's career record holder with 216 receptions.

Before attending Southern California, Jarrett was a 2003 Parade, Super Prep and Prep Star All-American selection. He added Super Prep Elite 50, Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team, Super Prep All-Northeast Offensive MVP, Prep Star All-East and New Jersey Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior wide receiver and defensive back at New Brunswick High School.

Jarrett scored 26 touchdowns (including all three in New Brunswick's 21-14 state title victory), with five of the scores coming on his 15 punt returns (for a 48.0-yard average) in 2003. As a junior in 2002, he had 40 receptions for 956 yards (23.9 avg) with 17 touchdowns on offense and recorded 24 tackles with six interceptions on defense. He also played basketball at New Brunswick.

He enrolled at Southern California in 2004, making an immediate impact. Jarrett earned Freshman All-American honors from the Football Writers Association, The Sporting News, College Football News and Rivals.com. He was also an All-Pac-10 Conference honorable mention and a member of The Sporting News Freshman All-Pac-10 first-team. Jarrett appeared in 13 games, taking over as the starting split end in the final eight contests. He caught 55 passes for 849 yards (15.4 avg) and 13 touchdowns (fifth-most scores in a season by a Trojans receiver).

Jarrett was one of three finalists for the 2005 Biletnikoff Award (nation's top receiver). He won the Touchdown Club of Columbus' Wide Receiver of the Year Award and was named to the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers, Walter Camp, The Sporting News, The NFL Draft Report, Sports Illustrated and College Football News All-American first teams. He joined Mike Williams as the only USC sophomore wide receivers to win All-American honors.

That season, he ranked 12th nationally in receptions (7.0, second in Pac-10) and 13th in receiving yards (98.0, fourth in Pac-10). His 91 catches were good for third on USC's single-season record list. His 16 touchdown catches were the most in the nation in 2005 and put him third on the Pac-10 single-season record chart (tying Williams' USC season record). He had a touchdown catch in nine different games and five 100-yard receiving games. With 1,274 receiving yards, he was the Trojans' ninth receiver to break the 1,000-yard barrier in a season.

Jarrett was hampered by injury problems that began in fall camp in 2006. A quadriceps strain in mid-August would linger throughout the early stages of the season. He suffered a left shoulder separation vs. Arizona that forced him to miss one game and see limited action in two others. He later suffered a concussion on a 25-yard touchdown catch against California. Still, he earned the Associated Press and Walter Camp All-American first-team accolades, making him USC's first-ever two-time All-American first-team wide
receiver. Jarrett finished the season with 11 starts in 12 games, grabbing 70 passes for 1,015 yards (14.5 avg) and 12 touchdowns.

In 38 games at Southern California, Jarrett started 31 times. He set the school career record with 216 receptions and the Pac-10 Conference all-time mark with 41 touchdown catches, gaining 3,138 yards (14.5 avg), joining Johnnie Morton (3,201) and Kareem Kelly (3,104) as the only players in school history to gain more than 3,000 receiving yards in a career.





Analysis


Positives: Has long arms and legs with a frame that can carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk...Plays with only adequate quickness, but shows very good ball concentration and aggressiveness going after the ball...Has very good timing and leaping ability to get to the ball at its high point...Needs to add more bulk and upper body power to run through the press, but once he gets into his route, he is able to build his acceleration nicely...Has quick hands and the ability to uncover working underneath...Very consistent extending for the ball and builds to top acceleration nicely if he is able to beat the press...Has only adequate timed speed, but does a fine job of tracking the ball in flight and has outstanding ball adjustment skills...Uses his tall frame to create mismatches vs. the smaller defenders competing for the jump balls and is never affected by traffic in his quest to get under the pass...Not the fastest you will find on linear routes, but shows good cutting agility to separate after the catch...It is rare to see Jarrett glide out of his breaks like most bigger receivers tend to do...With Jarrett's low pad level and ability to open his hips, he is very effective at getting in and out of his breaks without having to throttle down...Does a good job going deep and is alert to pocket pressure, making a conscious effort to come back for the ball. Quite effective at keeping his feet in bounds along the sidelines...Excels at making the tough catch inside the red zone, especially on corner and fade routes...Might not be able to overpower a defender going through the seams, but he has the flexibility to turn to the off-target balls and catch outside his frame...Finds the path of the ball quickly to settle underneath it, compensating for a lack of timed speed...The thing you see on film is his ability to reach and snatch the ball over a defender's head...Has only adequate speed and acceleration, but he has the loose hips to avoid tackles and maintain balance through his running stride...Good at taking a shallow crossing pass into big yardage when he makes a conscious effort to escape rather than try to run over the defender...Uses his hands well to shade, mirror and control edge rushers on contact and won't hesitate to get physical... Good position blocker in attempts to seal off and takes good angles to deliver a solid cut block vs. second level defenders.

Negatives: Lacks the timed speed to get down field in a hurry, but has the body control and ability to catch outside his frame to adjust and compete for the ball in flight...Has adequate ability to retain plays, but does need several reps...Alert to coverages, but will get a little sloppy and run right into spots at times...Consistently works back to the ball and while he can adjust on the move, he is not going to be the type who can handle multiple position assignments...Was almost ruled ineligible in June for violating NCAA rules by not paying enough rent for the apartment he shared with former Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart...There is a lot of the brash Keyshawn Johnson and the flippant Mike Williams attitude in this kid...Plays hard until the whistle, but will look lackadaisical at times and goes through the motions in practice and needs some structure there...While he will compete for the ball in a crowd, he will struggle vs. strong press coverage and gets frustrated at times when he can't separate from the speedier cornerbacks...Lacks the overall strength to defeat a strong jam and doesn't demonstrate the blazing speed or suddenness getting into his routes...Looks sluggish with his burst off the snap and relies more on his size mismatches than speed to get under the ball...A long strider rather than a receiver who takes short, quick steps...When he tries to lower his shoulder to run over a defensive back, that is when he gets into trouble, as he doesn't have the brute strength to break tackles.

Compares To: KEYSHAWN JOHNSON-Carolina...While his work ethic and lack of speed remind some of Detroit's Mike Williams, Jarrett's ability on fade and corner routes and timing on his leaps for the jump ball rival that of another former USC receiver. Jarrett is much better at keeping his feet in bounds than Johnson, and he has some of the more natural hands you will find out there. However, he needs to show that he is maturing off the field and must improve his overall strength and hand usage, as he will struggle vs. physical press coverage

 

[hawaiianboy]

*Sidney Rice

College: South Carolina Number: 4
Height: 6-4 Weight: 205



Overview


The Gamecocks have featured several speedy wide receivers who have gone on to professional careers in recent years, but not since Sterling Sharpe (1983-87) and Robert Brooks (1988-91) has the school been able to boast such a big-play specialist like Rice. Even though he spent only two seasons with the Gamecocks, Rice made his mark in the school record books, including becoming the first player in the program's history to produce consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

Among active Southeastern Conference players, Rice's two-year total of 2,233 yards receiving ranks third in the league, topped only by Dwayne Bowe of Louisiana State (2,403 yards on 154 catches, 2003-06) and Dallas Baker of Florida (2,236 yards on 151 catches, 2003-06), and it took those two players four years to accomplish their totals. Rice's 23 touchdown catches in 24 games rank second among the conference's active players, topped only by Marcus Monk of Arkansas (24 in 36 games, 2004-06).

Rice was regarded as the best receiver in the state of South Carolina during his senior year at Gaffney High School. He was named to the High School Sports Report Statewide All-State team and selected Offensive Player of the Year. He ended his career with 138 receptions for 2,500 yards and 25 touchdowns.

In 2003, Rice caught 57 passes for 897 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior. He had 38 catches for 735 yards and 11 touchdowns his junior campaign. He also excelled in basketball, earning 2002-03 Class 4A basketball Player of the Year after helping lead Gaffney to the state championship. That season, he averaged 18 points and seven rebounds per game as the Indians finished the basketball season 28-0.

Rice was the last high profile recruit of the Lou Holtz era at South Carolina, choosing the Gamecoacks in 2004 over offers from Florida, Miami, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Syracuse. He spent his first season with the Gamecocks' scout team after suffering a hyper-extended left knee in warm-ups before the Georgia game.

Rice's collegiate debut was delayed one game in 2005 after he suffered a broken finger during August camp that would sideline him for the season opener vs. Central Florida. He got back on the field for the second game vs. Georgia and started the final 10 games. Rivals.com named Rice the National Freshman of the Year, as he led the team with 70 receptions for 1,143 yards (16.3 avg) and 13 touchdowns. He also posted four tackles (3 solos) and caused one fumble on special teams. His average of 103.91 yards per game receiving led the Southeastern Conference and ranked fifth nationally.

Rice followed up that banner rookie season with All-American recognition, as he again led the team and ranked third in the Southeastern Conference with an average of 5.54 catches per game. He paced the Gamecocks with 72 receptions for 1,090 yards (15.1 avg) and 10 touchdowns to become the school's first two-time 1,000-yard receiver. He also had a six-yard reverse that set up a touchdown drive.

In 24 games at South Carolina, Rice started 23 times. He finished his career with 142 catches for 2,233 yards (15.7 avg) and 23 touchdowns. He rushed once for six yards, attempted one pass, scored 138 points and recorded four tackles (3 solos) with a forced fumble.





Analysis


Positives: Has a tall frame with adequate muscle development, long arms and legs...Has deceptive speed to get downfield, showing good body flexibility, good balance and body control to adjust to the ball in flight...Quick to find openings or come back for the ball, and has no trouble working in unison with the quarterback...Good crack blocker who will compete for the ball deep...Shows good quickness and a deceptive stride, where he can suddenly put on the second gear to eat up the defender's cushion... Doesn't have ideal strength to fight through a powerful jam, but when he is able to avoid it, he gets into his route quickly...It is evident that he has natural ball skills to adjust to the ball in flight and play it deep...Builds to top speed nicely with no wasted motions and takes long strides to compensate for a lack of blazing speed...Can run a lethargic defender off the line of scrimmage and plays the ball well with nice adjustment skills...Shows nice acceleration throughout his routes and has an array of moves to set up the defender...Will sometimes round up field routes, but has the body control to adjust and get under the thrown ball without having to break stride...Seems to be better on linear routes, as he can build his acceleration and make cuts to separate...Has the functional speed and decent burst to get deep and threaten, but needs to be more crisp adjusting on underneath routes...Plays with a very good feel for the ball in flight...Shows the ability to adjust and get in position to snatch the long ball over his outside shoulder without having to throttle down...Very good working the sidelines and keeping his feet in bounds...Does a good job of adjusting to deep coverage and can get open and settle on deep throws better than he can going over the middle...Has outstanding ball skills to adjust to the thrown ball, looking natural with his body control to get in position and make plays over his shoulder...Able to extend and pluck the ball outside his frame and while his concentration lapsed at times, he was very good at securing the ball and protecting it before heading up field...Has enough elusive moves to take a short crossing pass for a long distance, but needs to have room to operate in order to be successful...Has to be creative in his moves to compensate for some tight hips, but shows the vision to make the big play if he finds the crease.

Negatives: Has the leaping ability to compete for the ball in the air, but needs to do a better job of timing those leaps...Has some hip tightness, but still shows shifty moves on long routes (less in shorter routes)...Whether it is timing or an unwillingness, he will struggle to compete for the ball in a crowd and despite a 35-inch vertical jump and his 6-3 frame, defenders were able to deflect 17 passes out of his hands in 2006 and he failed to run under 23 other throws...Will need to add more bulk and strength in order to beat the press at the next level...Has the size and vertical jump to go up and make the catch over the middle, but you sometimes wonder if he has the strength to take a pounding there...Needs to improve on short routes, as like most tall receivers he struggles to drop his weight and gain separation...Going over the middle, he looks affected by close coverage at times and seems to be too aware of traffic.

Compares To: DEMETRIUS WILLIAMS-Baltimore...Rice has excellent hands, catching almost every ball thrown to him. He has deceptive speed and fine leaping ability, but lacks the bulk to compete for the ball in a crowd. He can turn a short crossing pass into a big gain if he spots the crease, and does a good job securing the ball before turning up field. He needs route refinement and has some tightness in his hips, but working down the sidelines, he will make the plays deep in the opponent's secondary.

 

[hawaiianboy]

*Robert Meachem

College: Tennessee Number: 3
Height: 6-3 Weight: 210

Overview

Not since the days when Carl Pickens (1989-91) and Alvin Harper (1987-90) terrorized opposing defenses have the Volunteers had a player at the receiver position that can change the tide of the game better than Robert Meachem. The unheralded talent is making the most of his first opportunity to be a full-time starter at Tennessee, producing 27 first downs, including converting nine third-down plays while snatching eleven passes for over 20 yards and coming up with big plays that set up ten touchdown drives and two more that resulted in field goals while making 34 catches through the first six games of the 2006 season.

The Booker T. Washington product was a Parade and Super Prep All-America selection as a senior. He was rated the second-best wide receiver prospect in nation by Super Prep and earned Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year honors. Robert was ranked as the best overall prospect in Oklahoma, the nation's third-best receiver and the eighth-ranked player in the Midlands region by Rivals.com. He was the eight-ranked receiver by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report and nominated for the Jim Thorpe Award.

As a senior, the All-State first-team choice racked up 543 receiving yards and ten touch-downs and rushed for 531 yards and eight more scores, guiding the team to a 13-1 record and a runner-up finish in the state AAAAA championship. He also played point guard on school's two-time state basketball championship team.

Tennessee won a fierce recruiting battle for Meachem's services, much to the chagrin of the University of Oklahoma, who was hot on the trail of their local star. However, a knee injury in fall camp forced Robert to spend his 2003 season with the Volunteers on the sidelines as a medical hardship after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on August 16th to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

"Meachem was as far along as any freshman we've had since I've been here that I can remember,'' head coach Phil Fulmer said. The surgical procedure revealed the tear and the decision was made to repair it and accept the longer recovery period. "That's a good thing in the long run,'' said Fulmer, "but not in the short run because he will miss the season now. We'll always take the interest of the athlete first. It would be real easy to be selfish and just fix it short term, but Robert has a bright future and repair was the right thing to do as an athlete.''

Meachem returned to action in 2004. Despite not starting any of the thirteen games he appeared in, Robert ranked third on the Vols with 25 receptions and led the team with 459 yards and an 18.4-yard average. He also added four touchdowns and was the only player on the team to produce a 100-yard receiving effort in 2004. Perhaps showing Tennessee fans of what a bright future that lied ahead for him, Robert's first career reception was good for a 35-yard touchdown vs. Nevada-Las Vegas. He also added four tackles on special teams.

Robert lined up at split end in 2005, starting vs. Alabama-Birmingham and Memphis. Despite only two starts, he led the team with 29 receptions for 383 yards (13.2 avg) and two touchdowns while playing in eleven contests. He also returned two kickoffs for 41 yards (20.5 avg).

The 2006 season has become Meachem's breakout year. He moved to flanker and ranks second in the nation with an average of 112.5 yards per game receiving, third with a total of 675 yards and ranks second in the Southeastern Conference with an average of 5.67 catches per game. He leads the team with 34 receptions, with six of those grabs good for touchdowns. He also carried twice for 8 yards and returned one kickoff for 16 yards.

In thirty games at Tennessee, Meachem started eight times. He made 88 catches for 1,517 yards (17.2 avg) and twelve touchdowns, adding 8 yards on five carries (1.6 avg). On special teams, he recorded four solo tackles and returned three kickoffs for 57 yards (19.0 avg).



Analysis

Positives: Rangy athlete with good arm and leg length and a frame that is built for speed…Has a tight abdomen and waist with good calf and thigh thickness…Has great size and initial explosion for this position, showing the flexibility to get in and out of his cuts instantly in attempts to separate…His speed and arm extension are his best qualities, but his leg strength is evident by the way he generates RAC…Shows the change of direction agility to go along with his speed to be a breakaway threat with the ball in his hands…Has very good field awareness to settle in the zone's soft spot and can adjust to situations in attempts to make the play…Can out-distance himself from the crowd or press with his strength and quickness…Gets off the snap cleanly and uses his hands with force to prevent from being rerouted…Can threaten the deep secondary immediately, especially vs. off coverage and has no problems getting a clean release vs. the jam…Has the breakaway speed and loose hips to separate and elude.

Physical type with the ability to maintain his stride through his route progression…Hard to knock off his patterns and shows smooth body adjustments to catch the ball in stride…Because of his size, you would expect Robert to look lanky in his routes, but he has the short pitter-patter steps and burst to look effortless through route progression…Has the balance and feet, along with explosive acceleration and excellent body control out of his cuts to gain valid yardage after the catch…Has the ability to leverage, plant and cut…Very good at staying in stride after the catch and is very effective at making the tough grabs outside the frame, whether the pass is high, low or behind…Gets very good lift and rise going for the jump balls and shows good ball adjustment skills and balance to make the tough grabs and keep his feet in bounds when working along the sidelines.

Negatives: Needs to improve his slide in the open zone, as he will sometimes get too narrow when accelerating out of transition cuts…You hope he would get more deep ball opportunities than he has, but he demonstrates excellent hand/eye coordination…Will misjudge the ball occasionally (see 2006 Georgia and 2005LSU games), but has the skills to adjust to the ball when working underneath…Shows some inconsistency tracking the ball in flight during the 2006 Georgia game in the first half, but rectified it to come up with five big plays in second half action…Physical blocker when working in-line, but needs to get lower in his pads in attempts to sustain…Demonstrates good effort and a strong hand punch to jolt, but when he gets high in his pads, he can be pushed back into the pocket.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Jeff Samardzija


College: Notre Dame Number: 83
Height: 6-5 Weight: 216




Overview

The multi-talented athlete excelled at playing for both the Notre Dame football and base-ball teams and hopes to duplicate that process in the professional ranks in 2007. The standout receiver and pitcher signed a five-year, $7.25 million contract with the Chicago Cubs in 2006 after he was selected in the fifth round of the major league baseball draft. He went on to compile a 1-2 record with a 2.70 earned run average in seven games, striking out seventeen batters while walking twelve in thirty innings in Class A ball before leaving the baseball organization for Notre Dame August camp.

A tall, lanky receiver in the Joe Jurevicius (Cleveland Browns)/Ed McCaffery (ex-Denver Bronco) mold, Jeff's excels at making the tough catch in traffic. He is a classic possession receiver with the long arms and leaping ability, along with good timed speed, to turn a short play into a big gainer. A true competitor and hard worker, he never missed a spring football practice in his Irish career, despite juggling football work with baseball and academic obligations.

During his career at Valparaiso (Ind.) High School, Jeff lettered in football, baseball and basketball, starting in each sport during his final three seasons. A durable athlete, he never missed a start in either sport, spanning 160 games. He finished second in voting for Mr. Football in Indiana and was named the state's top receiver. He also earned honorable mention on the Detroit Free Press "Best of the Midwest" team, was named an All-American as a junior, three times garnered All-State honors and was twice named the grid team's Most Valuable Player. As a senior, he added Associated Press Indiana Class 5A All-State first-team accolades. After his final season, Jeff was chosen to play in the Indiana All-Star game.

In 2002, Samardzija caught 50 passes for 1,044 yards (20.9 avg) and nine touchdowns. He also threw for two touchdowns and scored on a 65-yard run, helping his team go 12-2 that year to earn a state semifinals berth. He also recorded 40 tackles and three interceptions at free safety that season. Jeff caught 55 passes for 1,197 yards (21.8 avg) and ten touch-downs as a junior, helping his team reach the Indiana Class 5A state title game.


Samardzija enrolled at Notre Dame in 2003, appearing in twelve games with the gridiron team, including eleven contests as a reserve receiver. He made 75 appearances on special teams and caught seven passes for 53 yards (7.6 avg).


Jeff continued to dominate on the baseball diamond in 2005, delivering several clutch outings as both a starter and reliever. He led the staff in wins (8-1; fourth among Big East pitchers) and strikeouts (56), also ranking second on the team in starts (10) and innings per outing (5.1), third in innings (78.2) and groundouts (90) and fifth in ERA (3.89).

2005 was also Jeff's breakout season on the football field. He took over "Z" receiver duties and was a consensus first-team All-American selection. He was one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to college football's top receiver and shared the team MVP award with quarterback Brady Quinn. Samardzija set a school season-record for yards receiving (1,249) and touchdown catches (15), becoming the first Irish receiver since 1970 (Tom Gatewood) and the third Irish pass catcher ever to gain 1,000 yards receiving in a season (one of four in Notre Dame history), catching 77 balls.

The 2006 Notre Dame baseball season saw Jeff lead the staff in innings pitched (97.2) and games started (15) while ranking second in wins (8-2), third in strikeouts (61) and strike-outs "looking" (20), and fifth in appearances (15). He also had 37 walks and allowed 101 hits with three home runs. He was one of three Irish players drafted in the 2006 major league baseball draft, signing with the Chicago Cubs after being chosen in the fifth round. He compiled a 1-2 minor league record in seven games for the Cubs minor league Class A teams.

Samardzija returned to Notre Dame in time for August football camp. Through the team's first seven games, he grabbed 42 passes for 487 yards (11.6 avg) and seven touchdowns. In 43 games at Notre Dame (42 as a receiver), Jeff made 143 catches for 2,063 yards (14.4 avg) and 22 touchdowns. He recorded four tackles (3 solos) with two pass break-ups and also carried ten times for 18 yards (1.8 avg) and a score. Jeff took one direct snap from center in 2005, but was sacked for a 2-yard loss and attempted one pass in 2006. He also gained 2 yards on a punt return.



Analysis

Positives: Shows good extension going for the off-target throws and smooth change of direction agility working underneath…Uses his body well to shield defenders from the ball and has the long stride to run up on a defender when going up the seam…Despite lacking great speed, Jeff's long legs get him into his patterns smoothly…Presents a nice sized target on slants, hitches and other short routes…Has enough functional strength to get a decent push off the opponent and shows outstanding concentration looking the ball in, especially when working in a crowd…Has the loose hips and body contortion agility to maintain balance and somehow find the soft areas on the field…Because of his instincts and long stride, he is able to run up on the defenders…Old timers might liken his acceleration to that of former New York Jets great, Don Maynard, as Jeff might not have the foot speed to be a home run threat, but brings savvy and balance, along with a tall frame to make the acrobatic catches and then gain valid yardage after hauling the ball in… Is more of a long strider, but he builds to the acceleration needed to get into the deep secondary…Certainly a deceptive runner, whose long stride and "Gumby" like moves usually see him escape the jam and gain valid yardage after the catch.

Won't win foot races in the open field, but has the loose hip wiggle to separate…Long strider who can stick, weave and leverage the defender effectively to gain leverage…Without that sudden burst to separate, Jeff relies more on foot quickness in transition to get open, combining that with good weave and leverage to move defenders and create space…Never seems to have concentration lapses and he does a fine job of tracking the ball in flight…Uses his size well to shield defenders from the ball and knows depth on his routes…Quick to recognize coverages and hot routes…With his size, he gets to the ball at the high point quite well, despite just adequate leaping ability (20.5-inch vertical jump, but times his leaps well)…Can extend and reach the ball at its high point and does a fine job of adjusting to the ball, whether high, low or behind him…Has large, natural hands and very good arm extension to get to the high throws…Most of the balls thrown to him hit him in stride, but you won't see him get careless and try to run without securing the ball first…Shows good forward body lean in his stride and has the wiggle to separate after the catch…Just a slippery runner whose body contortions make it tough to grab him cleanly (the best way to stop Jeff is to wrap tackle him in order to bring him down).

Negatives: Has a tall, angular frame with marginal muscle tone…Appears to be too slender in his chest and shoulders, doubting if his frame could carry additional bulk without losing some of his quickness…Has a small bubble, tight waist, some calf definition, but thin thighs…With his lean, linear frame, he appears more bulk for being a pitcher rather than a slot receiver…Lacks explosiveness to elude or be a deep threat, but has excellent concentration and natural hands to secure the ball before turning up field…Lacks the vertical speed to be an NFL deep threat, but is a long limbed athlete who knows how to settle in the soft spot of coverages…His decision to attempt to play both football and baseball is commendable, but he has to realize that going through with that plan will scare off more than a few teams. With football becoming more of a 24/7 job in the off-season, by undertaking the task to play both sports will eliminate needed practice and classroom time with his respective grid team.

He will need to convince the NFL GMs that he is fully dedicated to football before a team can chance using a very early pick on him during draft day…Is a self-starter, but possibly due to his baseball commitments, has not put in the needed hours in the weight room to add bulk to his lanky frame…Could use additional bulk and improve his strength, but he uses his hands effectively to defeat the jam…Won't be capable of putting on the afterburners to leave defenders grasping at air, so he compensates with his long stride and hip snap to separate…Even though he has a smooth running stride, he will need to add more strength and improve his overall speed in order to separate consistently vs. the speedier NFL cornerbacks…His size gives him an advantage vs. jump balls, but his vertical jump (30.5-inches) is only adequate…More of a pester-type blocker, but will get walled off and walked back into the pocket when trying to block in-line…His lack of power prevents him from sustaining or finishing…Willing blocker and tries to get after second level defenders to cut, but his tall, lanky frame lacks power behind his hits and he needs to sink his pads better to not making just glancing blocks in the open.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Dwayne Bowe

College: LSU Number: 80
Height: 6-2 Weight: 220

Overview

With the departure of tailback Joseph Addai, the Tigers put more emphasis on the passing game in 2006. The combination of quarterback JaMarcus Russell and Dwayne, along with fellow receiver, Craig Davis, has seen Louisiana State have tremendous success with this new philosophy. The tandem of Russell-to-Bowe has produced eighteen touchdowns during their career, making them the best scoring duo in school history, behind the 21 scoring tosses from QB Tommy Hodson (1986-89) to Wendell Davis (1984-87) nearly two decades ago.

Bowe was regarded as one of the nation's elite receivers during his playing days at Norland Senior High School. He was a Class 6A All-State first-team selection, adding Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100, Fox Sports Net South's All-South second-team and first-team Miami-Dade County honors. He was rated the 13th-best receiver in the prep ranks by College Football News.

Dwayne did not compete in football until his junior year. He caught 32 passes for 624 yards (19.5 avg) and two touchdowns that year, adding three scores on kickoff returns. He hauled in 40 passes for 822 yards (20.6 avg) and 14 touchdowns his senior year, despite suffering a bruised foot that limited his play in the last four games. He continued his terrific season into the playoffs, catching eight passes for 195 yards and three touch-downs in three games as Norland finished the season as the Class 6A state champion for the first time in school history.

Bowe enrolled at Louisiana State in 2003, playing in thirteen games as a true freshman. He was the team's fourth receiver, managing only nine catches for 106 yards (11.8 avg), but six of those grabs were good for first downs, including three that converted third-down plays.

Dwayne took over "Z" receiver duties, starting ten of twelve games in 2004. He finished second on the team with 39 receptions for 597 yards (15.3 avg) and five touchdowns. 31 of his catches resulted in first downs, as he converted 5-of-15 third-down plays and made five grabs that were 20 yards or longer.

A nagging early season ankle injury saw Dawne start only nine of twelve games in 2005. He still managed to lead the team with 41 catches for 710 yards (17.3 avg) and nine touch-downs. He totaled 32 first downs, converted 9-of-21 third-down plays involved in and had twelve receptions for longer than 20 yards in 2005.

With the team opening up their aerial attack in 2006, Dwayne has managed to haul in 37 passes for 620 yards (16.8 avg) and seven touchdowns through eight games, starting the last seven. He amassed 28 first downs while converting 11-of-14 third-down plays. He also equaled his season-high with twelve grabs for 20 yards or longer.

In 45 games at Louisiana State, Bowe started 26 times. He caught 126 passes and became only the sixth player in school history to gain over 2,000 aerial yards (2,033). His 21 touch-down receptions tied a school career record. Dwayne also gained 2 yards on one reverse.



Analysis

Positives: Has a well-built physique with long arms, large hands, good bubble and thick chest muscles…Has a frame that can carry at least another ten pounds of bulk with no drop-off in speed…Physical player who uses his long arms and power to defeat the jam and get into his route progression…Best when working underneath in attempts to gain separation…Long strider who runs crisp routes and does a good job of shifting his weight in and out of his cuts…Too strong for defensive backs to attempt to reroute…Knows how to find the seams and keeping his feet in bounds working along the sidelines…More of a tackle-breaker than a receiver who can elude in the open, but it is very rare to see him get neutralized in one-on-one situations…Not afraid to go over the middle and compete for the ball in traffic…Has large, natural hands and knows how to extend and pluck away from his frame…Shows very good timing getting to the ball and is alert enough to locate the zone's soft areas…There is no flinch to him in attempts to extend and get vertical for the ball when working underneath…Even with his long stride, he has enough acceleration (needs to build to top speed though) to get under the deep throws…Has the body control and balance to go up for the ball in a crowd, but is more effective in the short-to-intermediate areas than when going deep…Has the lower body power to break tackles…Aggressive up field blocker who attacks and neutralizes second level defenders consistently.

Negatives: Has good timed speed, but because of his long stride, he needs room to build acceleration…Lacks the suddenness to explode off the line, but gets to the receiving point once he gets into gear…Shows the ability to drop his weight, but will struggle a bit to get to the low throws…Has to rely on his power and forward body lean to gain separation rather than elude…Has natural hands, but looks to run with the ball before securing it, leading to costly drops or the ball bouncing off his frame for an interception (see 2006 Florida game)…Better on short-to-intermediate routes, as he needs too much time in attempts to gobble up the cushion and separate on deep routes…Needs to improve his ability to look the long ball in over his outside shoulder (will get turned around some and lose sight of the ball).

Compares To: Arnaz Battle-San Francisco-Like Battle, Bowe doesn't explode off the line of scrimmage, but he uses his strength to avoid the jam and get into his route progression

 

[hawaiianboy]

Craig "Buster" Davis

College: LSU Number: 3
Height: 6-1 Weight: 200


Overview

With tailback Joseph Addai having graduated, the Tigers decided to put more emphasis on their passing game in 2006. Led by Davis and fellow receivers Dwayne Bowe and Early Doucet, they were joined by quarterback JaMarcus Russell to give LSU opponents a look at a very dangerous weapon- the long ball. Davis is a well-built target who runs precise routes and many experts consider him to have the best hands of any receiver in the Southeastern Conference.

A tireless worker, he spent part of the 2006 summer running routes and catching passes from Peyton and Eli Manning at the annual Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, Louisiana. That time with the pro quarterbacks was beneficial, as he continues to add to his string of 31 consecutive games with at least one reception, the longest streak of any receiver in the South.

Davis was rated the state of Louisiana's best receiver at O. Perry Walker High School. He Earned National blue chip honors and was a Super Prep All-American pick as a senior. Rivals.com rated him the 12th-best receiver in the country and Craig added the Orlando Sentinel All-Southern Team, The Times-Picayune's Top 25 Blue-Chip and The Shreveport Times' Top 20 honors.

Known for his versatility, Buster competed as a split end, quarterback, place-kicker and punter during his final season. He caught 82 passes for 1,171 yards (14.3 avg) and sixteen touchdowns that year, leading the Chargers to the Class 4A state championship game.
He also rushed for 93 yards and passed for 483 yards in 2002. As a junior, Davis caught 46
passes, 15 of those for touchdowns and served as the backup quarterback for the Class 4A runner-up squad.

The talented receiver enrolled at Louisiana State in 2003. He appeared in nine games, including six on offense, as he sat out several contests with a broken bone in his right elbow. He finished his first campaign with seven catches for 63 yards (9.0 avg). He played in twelve games as a sophomore, starting eight times at the "X" receiver position. Davis caught at least one pass in every contest, finishing with a team-high 43 receptions for 649 yards (15.3 avg) and a touchdown. He also made two tackles and gained 5 yards on a reverse.

Davis missed two games in 2005 due to a concussion and plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He started five of eleven games he appeared in, ranking second on the team with 35 grabs for 559 yards (16.0 avg) and a pair of touchdowns. In 2006, he started the team's first eight games, leading the squad with 41 receptions for 595 yards (14.5 avg) and two scores. He also gained 108 yards with a touchdown on six punt returns (18.0 avg).

In 40 games at Louisiana State, Craig started 21 times. He ranks tied with Dwayne Bowe for seventh on the school's all-time record list with 126 receptions and could become the seventh player in LSU annals to gain over 2,000 yards receiving in a career (1,866 yards, 14.8 avg). Five of his catches produced touchdowns. He also returned six punts for 108 yards (18.0 avg) and a score, posted two tackles and carried four times for 12 yards.



Analysis

Positives: Has added needed upper body muscle tone during the 2006 off-season…Is a very quick open field runner who gets under the ball instantly, making good body adjustments to be in position to make the catch…Aggressive blocker who does a nice job of locating and stalking second level defenders…Plays with good lower body strength and explosion to break tackles and separate…Uses his arms well to get a clean release off the line and has the lateral agility to slip past and avoid the jam…Utilizes an effective swim move in his release and a stutter-step to shake off the cornerback…Explodes coming out of his breaks and knows how to use his burst to ride up on a defensive back in attempts to gobble up the cushion…Knows how to set the defender up with his head fakes and change of direction agility…Does a good job of making body adjustments when working in the red zone…Uses his size well to shield defenders from the ball…Very effective at getting low for the underneath throws and has the ability to pluck the ball away from his frame…Can easily separate from a lethargic cornerback when running into the deep secondary to get under the ball…His leg drives lets him consistently break tackles and he has the loose hips and juking moves to make the initial tackler miss…Once he finds the crease, he can gain valid yardage with the ball…Effective position blocker with the ability to sustain, rather than just get in the way and pester.

Negatives: Still developing his frame and has a small bubble with adequate calf muscle definition…Despite his frame and aggression as a blocker, he seems hesitant at times to work in a crowd and compete for jump balls…Needs to be more alert on the field, as he does a poor job of coming back for the ball when the quarterback is pressured…Even with his above average timed speed, he doesn't demonstrate a quick thrust coming off the line to challenge the defensive back…tends to make soft angle cuts and is slow to regain his acceleration when he has to stop, catch and then run with the ball…Has natural hands to catch the low and chest-high balls, but will struggle some with his timing and elevation going for the high throws…Gives a poor effort, keeping his arms short and lets the ball come into his body rather than extend for it when working through a crowd (has some upper body stiffness that limits him in adjusting to the ball at its highest point)…Will throttle down and take plays off when he is not involved in the action.

Compares To: Robert Ferguson-Green Bay-Like Ferguson, when Davis' head is in the game, big things can happen. He just needs to run consistent routes and needs to be more alert when his quarterback is flushed out of the pocket, as it is rare to see him come back for the ball. He also must show better courage going for the ball in a crowd.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Steve Smith

College: Southern Cal Number: 2
Height: 6-0 Weight: 195


Overview

When Southern California fans look up the word of "playmaker" in Webster's Dictionary, they are sure to find Steve Smith's picture next to its description. A playmaker might be putting it mildly when describing his Herculean effort during his senior year. When injuries depleted the Trojans receiving unit earlier in the year, Smith stepped to the forefront as the team's go-to target, despite battling through a nagging ankle sprain that had limited his practice sessions throughout the year. But, when it came time to play the game, Smith quickly forgot about his own ailments to dish out a little punishment of his own to opposing defenses.

Smith chuckles when he hears scouts call him underrated. "My mom always says, 'Don't worry about what everybody says. What matters is you and what you're doing.' I know my skills and abilities. That's why I was brought here. I'm excited by what I've done so far," replied the standout flanker. When those same scouts question his speed, Steve is quick to respond, "The way I run is deceiving. When people run next to me, I have speed." Asked about his favorite athlete, Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, Smith smiles and says, "I've probably got eighty pairs of Air Jordans. I've been buying Jordans since my eight grade and I haven't missed many pairs."

Others are also quick to heap praises on Smith's playing ability. Head coach Pete Carroll recently stated, "Steve just does all the little things that turn into big things. He's fast, runs great routes and makes tough catches. And he's such a natural athlete." Former teammate, Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush chimed in, "It doesn't look like he runs fast until someone's on him." Another former teammate, tailback LenDale White said, "Nobody seems to realize it because he's so quiet, but I'm convinced he's the most explosive receiver in the country."

Born in Alaska, Smith moved to California as a youngster. At Taft High School, he earned 2002 Parade All-American (and top wide receiver), USA Today All-USA first-team, Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, Student Sports All-American first-team, Tom Lemming All-American and The Insiders.com All-American second-team honors. He was a member of the Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team, The Sporting News Hot 100, FOX Sports 50, Tom Lemming Top 100, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, Tom Lemming All-West, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West first team (unanimous), Tacoma News Tribune Western 100 and Orange County Register Fab 15 first-team.

Smith was also named Cal-Hi Sports All-State Wide Receiver MVP, All-L.A. City Defensive MVP, Los Angeles Times All-Star first-team, Los Angeles Times All-San Fernando Valley first-team and Los Angeles Daily News All-Area first-team as a senior wide receiver and defensive back. In 2002, he caught 86 passes for 1,362 yards (15.8 avg) and eleven touch-downs on offense and had 48 tackles, five interceptions and thirteen pass deflections on defense (he did all this despite missing two games with an ankle sprain). Taft advanced to the L.A. City final for the second consecutive year in 2002.

As a junior in 2001, he was a Student Sports All-West first-team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Wide Receiver MVP, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Junior MVP, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass first-team, All-L.A. City MVP, Los Angeles Times All-Star first-team, Los Angeles Times All-San Fernando Valley Back MVP, Los Angeles Daily News All-Area MVP and All-League pick. He had 92 receptions for 1,612 yards (17.5 avg) and thirteen touchdowns in 2001, plus twelve interceptions (tops in California) despite missing two games with a shoulder injury.

As a sophomore in 2000, he was named to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State first-team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomore MVP, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass first-team, All-L.A. City first-team, Los Angeles Times All-San Fernando Valley first-team and Los Angeles Daily News All-Area Offensive MVP. He grabbed 93 passes for 1,597 yards (17.2 avg) and eighteen touchdowns, plus had had interceptions in 2000. In his three-year varsity career, he caught 271 passes for 4,545 yards (16.8 avg), both California state records.


The Public Policy major enrolled at Southern California in 2003 and immediately became a part of their receiving unit rotation. As the first receiver off the bench, he accounted for 319 yards and two touchdowns on seventeen receptions (18.8 avg) and carried the ball once for an 8-yard gain.

In 2004, Smith started seven of eight games he played in, missing five contests after suffering a left leg fracture vs. California. He finished with 42 catches for 660 yards (15.7 avg) and six touchdowns. He also caused a fumble and made one solo tackle. His seven grabs for 113 yards vs. Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl earned Steve a spot on the CBS Sportsline.com's All-Bowl team.

Smith was one of fifteen semi-finalists for the Biletnikoff Award in 2005, given to the nation's top receiver. The All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention started eight of thirteen games at flanker. He ranked second on the squad with 60 receptions for 957 yards (15.9 avg) and five touchdowns, adding eleven yards on a pair of reverses. Steve had thoughts of applying for the 2006 NFL Draft, but decided to return to school in 2006 to improve his draft status.

Despite an almost season-long ankle problem, he ranks third in the Pac-10 and fourteenth in the nation with an average of 87.3 yards per game receiving. He has caught a team-high 42 passes for 698 yards (16.6 avg) and seven touchdowns while also recovering one fumble. What makes those totals even more remarkable is that he is working with an inexperienced quarterback (John David Booty) and faced constant double coverage, especially during the absence of fellow receiver, Dwayne Jarrett (shoulder) from the lineup for several games.

In 41 games at Southern California, Steve started 22 times. He ranks eighth in school history with 161 receptions, good for 2,634 yards (16.4 avg) and twenty touchdowns. During their career together, Smith and Jarrett have accounted for 56 of the team's touchdown catches and both caught a touchdown pass in the same game eight times. Smith also boasts eight 100-yard performances for his career.



Analysis

Positives: Has good upper body muscle definition with and adequate bubble, thick calves, tight waist and abdomen…Has good initial quickness and builds to top speed smoothly, using proper hand technique to defeat the jam and prevent from being rerouted…Runs with good balance and displays loose hips to change direction…Is a student of the game, putting in the extra hours after practice and in the film room…Has shown marked improvement in his training habits, adding needed strength and bulk to his frame prior to his senior year…Tough athlete who will play through pain (see 2006 Oregon State and Washington State games)…Shows a smooth running stride and the plant-&-drive agility to cut quickly…Has the loose hips to deliver good shake-&-bake moves in attempts to elude…Uses an effective veer move to get into his patterns and is alert to find the soft spots in the zone to settle under…Glides in and out of his breaks…Has the vision to recognize coverages and is alert to sideline markers.

Does a good job of working back to the ball when the quarterback is pressured…Used mostly on hitches, out patterns and underneath, as he has the body control to adjust to the ball in flight, especially when being used on hitches and curls…Has good knee bend coming out of his breaks to get to his catch point and despite average speed, he can get down the seam smoothly (see 2006 Washington State and Oregon State and 2005 Hawaii and Stanford games)…Has made some improvement in extending his arms to catch away from his frame…Best when used on controlled routes, where he can better use his agility to scoop up the low throws and make the tough grab…Tracks the ball well in flight and is effective at looking the ball in with a defender behind him…Relies more on his leg drive to break tackles and separate rather than an explosive second gear…Better blocker upfield, as he can sink his weight, keep his pads down and attack second level blockers.

Negatives: Quick off the line, but does not have that explosive second gear needed to elude in the deep secondary…Has shown improvement in 2006, but needs to maintain consistency using his hands to escape the jam (struggled in the past when he failed to get his arms up to push off the defensive back)…Best on sidelines and curls, as he does not have the power to prevent from getting bounced around when trying to compete for the ball in a crowd over the middle…Rounds and gathers on cuts at times…Has made strides in extending for the ball away from his frame, but when he body catches, he will double catch or drop the ball, especially when going over the middle…Shows good veer in his route, but has yet to display that second gear needed to instantly separate from the defender…Good second level blocker, but does not have the "sand in the pants" to sustain when asked to block along the line.

Compares To: BOBBY ENGRAM-Seattle-neither player is known as a speed burner, but if a lethargic defender gives Smith any space to create, more than likely, Steve will come up with the big play. Both are the type that plays with a blue-collar work ethic, but given more than a few touches, they will move the chains with regularity

 

[hawaiianboy]

Johnnie Lee Higgins

College: Texas-El Paso Number: 21
Height: 6-0 Weight: 184

Overview

With each passing game, it become quite apparent that not even the El Paso utilities company can provide as much electricity in the Sun Bowl (Miners' home field) like Higgins can. Possibly the fastest player in the collegiate ranks, Johnnie Lee has that blue-collar work ethic and highly competitive nature that has made him a favorite of UTEP fans and a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators, who have yet to figure out how to contain him.

Since moving into the starting lineup as a sophomore, Johnnie Lee has had at least two receptions in 22 of those 27 contests. His big play ability is evident by the fact that he has set up 36 touchdown drives and one other that ended in a field goal during his career. Is it any wonder that he is aptly nicknamed, "The Real Deal?"

The cousin of San Diego Chargers cornerback Quentin Jammer, Higgins was an Honor Roll student at Sweeny High School. He was named to the Texas Top-300 list by Dave Campbell's Texas Football and earned first-team All-State honors from the Associated Press as a senior. He was also selected the District 24-3A Offensive MVP, adding first-team All-District and All-Brazoria County accolades.

Johnnie Lee was also chosen the team's Offensive MVP after collecting 48 catches for 918 yards (19.1 avg) and ten touchdowns while also rushing 16 times for 113 yards (7.1 avg) with three scores in 2001. He had a 38-yard interception for a touchdown and added a 75-yard kickoff return for a score that year. On defense, Higgins recorded 55 tackles, three interceptions and a fumble recovery.

As a junior, Johnnie Lee made 24 catches for 448 yards (18.7 avg) and eight touchdowns. He lined up at wide receiver, cornerback and quarterback in both his junior and senior seasons, seeing playing time at cornerback and halfback as a sophomore. Higgins led Sweeny High to an 18-8 record his last two seasons, as the squad captured two district titles. He lettered in basketball, earning team MVP, first-team All-District and second- team All-Brazoria recognition. He also competed in the high jump and triple jump for the Sweeny track team.

Higgins enrolled at Texas-El Paso in 2002, spending the season on the scout team while red-shirting. He appeared in thirteen games as a reserve receiver in 2003, but still managed to finish third on the team with 25 receptions for 362 yards (14.5 avg), including big plays that set up three touchdown drives. He also added 32 yards and a touchdown on eight carries (4.0 avg) and recorded one solo tackle.

In 2004, Higgins took over at flanker, earning All-Western Athletic Conference second-team honors. He ranked second in the WAC with an average of 58.3 yards per game receiving and was the team's second-leading pass catcher with 34 grabs for 700 yards. His ten touchdown catches rank fourth on the school's season-record list and his 20.6-yard average per catch rank second. He also returned fourteen kickoffs for 310 yards (22.1 avg), recorded one solo tackle and recovered a fumble.

The Miners switched leagues in 2005, but Johnnie Lee continued to excel. He started ten games, ranking seventh on the school's season-record list with 1,468 all-purpose yards. He led the team with a career-high 49 receptions for 837 yards (17.1 avg) and nine touch-downs, adding 13 yards on eight carries (1.6 avg) and a solo tackle. He returned 18 punts for 170 yards (9.4 avg) and 20 kickoffs for 448 yards (22.4 avg) to garner second-team All-Conference USA accolades.

Higgins seems to be establishing himself among the nation's elite as a senior. Through the first two games of the 2006 campaign, he leads the NCAA Division 1-A ranks with an average of 126.0 yards per game receiving and is second nationally with an average of 10.0 catches per game. His average of 168.5 all-purpose yards places him fifth in the country. Despite playing with a quarterback (Jordan Palmer) who has thrown six interceptions and misfired on 26 of his 80 pass attempts, Higgins has proven to be very capable of covering for his passer's mistakes. He has 20 receptions for 252 yards (12.6 avg) and three touchdowns on offense. He also gained 85 yards on four kickoff returns (21.2 avg) and recorded one solo tackle.

In 39 games at Texas-El Paso, Higgins started 23 times. He hauled in 128 passes for 2,151 yards (16.8 avg) and 22 touchdowns, adding 45 yards and a score on sixteen carries (2.8 avg). He returned 38 kickoffs for 843 yards (22.2 avg), gained 170 yards on 18 punt returns (9.4 avg) and recorded four solo tackles with a fumble recovery. He has handled the ball 200 times, totaling 3,209 all-purpose yards with 23 touchdowns.



Analysis

Positives: Has a lean, angular frame, with minimal body fat…His strong legs let him break tackles and his explosiveness will generally see him win foot races in the open field… Demonstrates excellent athleticism for his position, as few opposing defenders can mirror him on deep routes due to his speed…Has a sudden burst off the snap and maintains his stride throughout the routes, demonstrating superb balance, especially when working along the sidelines…Even with his blazing speed, do not confuse him for a sprinter, as he shows no hesitation going for the ball in traffic…Has a rapid running stride and quick feet and is very elusive after the catch…When Higgins gets a free lane, he is explosive coming off the snap, immediately getting into his routes…Shows the acceleration to stem on the route and the quick feet to explode down the sidelines…Flashes very quick cutting ability to get in-&-out of his breaks, playing at a low pad level to generate even more speed in his stride.

Especially effective on jailbreak screens, hitches and slants because of his ability to adjust to the ball and out-run coverage…Most people with his speed rely more on their burst to separate, but Johnnie Lee likes running up on the defensive back and then executing a sharp cut to break free…Does a fine job of stabbing and stemming to set up the defender and knows how to shift gears to change the pace in his running stride…Has a great feel for sticks, especially when working back to the ball and plays with good instincts, keeping his feet in bounds when operating along the sidelines…Will contort and sacrifice his body to get to the off-target passes and even when he is caught in traffic, protecting the ball is his highest priority…With his track expertise as a jumper, Higgins has no problems getting vertical, even over the much taller defenders…Outstanding leaper who shows the proper timing to go up and get the ball at its high point.

Negatives: Must be more aggressive with his hands, as he struggles a bit vs. physical press coverage, but has the burst to recover…Earlier in his career, he would turn and eye the quarterback too long and this would result in taking soft angle cuts…His timing is a bit off when opponents get physical and try to jam and reroute him, but he has the moves to elude…For some reason, Higgins appears much quicker making cuts in a crowd than when working along the perimeter…Needs to continue improving his ability to get depth in his routes, but he is alert to pocket pressure and works back quickly to the ball…Can snatch the ball away from the body's frame, but will sometimes revert to body catches when working underneath (must improve consistency)…Will struggle at times when a defender is able to lock on and disrupt his route progression…When asked to block at the line of scrimmage, he is sometimes slow to fit and when this happens, he can be run over by the bull rusher…Has a good attitude and fights hard in the trenches, but just lacks the sand in his pants to face up with consistency when asked to block for the running game.

Compares To: JOEY GALLOWAY-Tampa Bay-Iin his prime, Galloway was a terror for defensive backs due to his explosive acceleration after the catch. Higgins is still working on getting better depth in his routes, but he has few peers with his pull-away burst to gain separation.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Chansi Stuckey


College: Clemson Number: 2
Height: 5-11 Weight: 185

Overview

The heart and soul of the Tigers' offense, Chansi Stuckey is an excellent all-around athlete who has not only proven to be a breakaway threat as a receiver, but also has the explosiveness and strength to break tackles and separate from the pile when handling the reverse. Few college receivers possess the sure hands that Stuckey has and he also displays a powerful arm for the option pass, thanks to his days as a one of the nation's premier prep quarterbacks.

At Northside High School, Stuckey was rated the 15th-best athlete in the nation by Rivals.com, earning four-star status from that recruiting service. The All-State product threw for 1,286 yards and thirteen touchdowns as a senior, leading Northside High to the Class AAAAA state title game. He also rushed for 1,008 yards and ten scores that year.

Clemson won a heated recruiting battle over Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, and Tennessee for Stuckey's services. He spent the 2002 season performing on the scout team as a quarterback.

Chansi appeared in seven games behind Charlie Whitehurst at quarterback in 2003. He also saw action with the receiving unit, shifting to that position the following year. As a redshirt freshman, he completed 11-of-21 passes (52.4%) for 97 yards and two touch-downs. He added 136 yards and a pair of scores on seventeen carries (8.0 avg) and caught two passes for 10 yards.

Stuckey appeared nine games in 2004, starting eight contests at flanker while also seeing action as a slot back. A left ankle fracture forced him to miss two games and see limited playing time the second part of the season. He finished with 25 receptions for 280 yards (11.2 avg) and no touchdowns. Chansi gained 13 yards on ten carries, attempted two passes and gained 17 yards on a kickoff return. He produced three tackles and blocked two punts, picking up 30 yards on four punt returns.

In 2005, Chansi became the first Tiger underclassman since Terrance Roulhac in 1984 to earn All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team accolades. He started all year at flanker, leading the ACC with an average of 5.33 receptions per game. He paced the Tigers with 64 catches for 770 yards (12.0 avg) and four touchdowns, tacking on 78 more yards on thirteen carries (6.0 avg). He attempted two passes, returned a kickoff 22 yards and had 27 punt returns for 199 yards, amassing 1,069 all-purpose yards in the process.

2006 was supposed to be Stuckey's All-American season. The speedy receiver was well on his way to attaining that goal, but in a non-contact drill on October 3rd, he suffered a right foot fracture, undergoing surgery the next day that forced him to miss three games. He still managed to lead the team throughout his absence, compiling 359 yards and three scorers on 28 catches (12.8 avg) in six starts at the "A" receiver position. He also rushed twice for 23 yards and recovered a fumble.

In 34 games at Clemson, including 27 as a receiver, Stuckey started 26 times. He ranks tenth in school history with 119 receptions for 1,419 yards (11.9 avg) and seven touch-downs. Chansi added 227 yards and two scores on 40 carries (5.7 avg) and completed 11-of-25 passes (44.0%) for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He gained 229 yards on 31 punt returns (7.4 avg), including a score and picked up 39 yards on two kickoff returns. He also accounted for 1,937 all-purpose yards on 194 touches, an average of 56.97 yards per game.



Analysis

Positives: Has a well-built and developing frame, with muscular arms, a very tight abdomen and hips, split high with tapered muscles in the lower body…Built for speed, but has above average power for his physique…Dangerous open field runner with the valid speed to threaten the deep secondary…Smooth open field runner with the explosive acceleration off the line to avoid the jam…Has that sudden burst needed to eat up the defensive back's cushion…Very tough competitor who plays with a nice effort and will not hesitate to combat for the jump balls…Willing to cross over the middle and give up his body in order to get to the ball…Has the plant-&-drive agility crispness to get in and out of his cuts…Has no problems digesting a complicated playbook and is very alert to coverages and boundaries…Emotional leader who takes pride in his mentoring of the team's younger players.

Spends countless hours in the film room and after practices preparing for his upcoming opponent…Runs with a short, pitter-patter style that lets him run up on a lethargic cornerback in an instant…If he gets a clean release off the snap, his explosion will get him into his route progression in an instant…Shows very sharp change of direction agility coming out of his breaks and uses his size well to fight off the jam…Does a good job of dropping his weight and sinking his hips to maintain acceleration in route progression…Has that second gear needed to consistently separate after the catch…Shows no concern for his body and knows how to reach and extend for the ball at its highest point…Runs nice short area routes, doing a good job in attempts to uncover…His natural hands come into play with his over-the-shoulder grabs and on bubble screens…Has very good deep ball skills, maintaining eye contact on the ball in flight.

Has the body flexibility to get low for the shoestring catches (especially on screens) and does a great job timing his leaps for the jump ball…Runs good downfield routes and looks very comfortable attacking the deep zone…Excellent cut blocker who keeps his shoulders square and sinks his hips to attack the second level defenders' lower body…Has a quick kick slide and uses his hand placement properly when blocking for the ground game…Has valid arm strength for the option pass and with roster consideration, could effectively be an emergency quarterback…Demonstrates very good arm-over action to escape the press.

Negatives: Has all the tools you look for in a playmaker, but needs to do it with more consistency (will throttle down at times when not involved in the play)…Will need to add more bulk to his frame to combat the physical cornerbacks at the next level, but he does not have much more room on his frame for that added weight without having to sacrifice some of his quickness…Has no flinch going over the middle, but sometimes eyes the defender too long, losing his concentration on the ball in flight…Despite his speed, he is not a valid returner, as he needs to show more patience waiting for his blocks to develop.

Compares To: Deion Branch-Seattle-Both players rely on the exceptional speed to gain an instant advantage over a lethargic defender. Stuckey runs with a short pitter-patter style that lets him get a clean release with excellent explosion.

 

[007]

With Gonzo, Ginn and Steve Smith in as well, this is a VERY deep class.

We're talking a star could be had in round 3 type draft.

Any of Higgins, Williams, Jason Hill, Chansi Stuckey and Dallas Baker could essentially be there in the late third-early fourth round, when they in many years carry a second round grade.

They'll get pushed by the likes of Shark, Meachem, Bowe, Gonzo, and Rice.

We could snag a starter by then...

 

[hawaiianboy]

Ted Ginn Jr.


College: Ohio State Number: 7
Height: 6-0 Weight: 180


Overview

A standout return specialist and defensive back during his high school playing days, Ginn teamed with his roommate, Troy Smith, to give the Buckeyes one of the most dangerous pass/catching combinations in the collegiate ranks. "Here is guy who came to us as a return specialist and defensive back and has developed into a very good receiver," head coach Jim Tressel said. "He has always had great hands and he has become a very good route runner. With his speed, he is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball."

The son of renowned Glennville High School head coach Ted Ginn, Sr., the younger Ginn and Troy Smith were his prize pupils. Ginn was selected as the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year and was also a Parade All-American. Super Prep named him as its National Defensive Player of the Year and he was the Most Valuable Player of the U.S. Army All-America game his senior year.

Ginn also played quarterback, wide receiver and running back for Glenville and returned punts and kickoffs. He intercepted eight passes as a senior, returning five of them for touchdowns. One of his interception returns went for a state-record 102-yard touchdown, while another went for a 97-yard score. He also passed for 932 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 845 yards and 17 scores.

Ginn was named one of Ohio's three Division I Offensive Players of the Year as a junior. He returned four punts and one kickoff for touchdowns that season. In track, he was the national champion in the 110-meter high hurdles as a junior and recorded the best time in the nation as a senior when he won the state title for the second consecutive year. He also clocked a personal-best 10.5 seconds in the 100 meter dash.

The talented youngster enrolled at Ohio State in 2004. He spent most of the preseason working with the defense, but was moved to offense just before the start of the schedule. He was used sparingly early in the year as he learned the system, but was a key factor in the Buckeyes' late-season success. Ginn caught passes in the last seven games of the season and had 18 receptions in the last four games, finishing with 25 grabs for 359 yards (14.4 avg) and two touchdowns.

That season, he gained 113 yards with two scores on 13 carries (8.7 avg), but it was as a punt returner that he gained national media attention. His four punt returns for touch-downs set a school and Big Ten Conference season-record and at the time tied the NCAA mark. He averaged 25.6 yards per punt return, leading the nation and setting another OSU record in that department. He scored on punt returns of 65 yards (Wisconsin), 67 yards (Penn State), 60 yards (Michigan State) and 82-yard (Michigan). The latter broke the game open and was one of the most spectacular runs in Ohio State history.

In 2005, Ginn settled in as the team's starting flanker. He finished second on the squad with 51 receptions for 803 yards (15.7 avg) and four touchdowns. He totaled 83 yards with a score on 12 carries (6.9 avg) and gained 532 yards on 18 kickoff returns, including a touchdown. His kickoff return average of 29.56 yards ranked fourth in the nation. He also returned 25 punts for 250 yards (10.0 avg) and a score. He became the first Buckeye to ever register receiving, rushing, punt returns and kickoff return touchdowns in the same season.

Ginn was a second-team All-American choice in 2006. He led the team with 781 yards and nine touchdowns on 59 catches (13.2 avg), adding 17 yards on three carries. He threw a pass for a 38-yard score, returned 18 kickoffs for 440 yards (24.4 avg) and a touchdown and had 24 punt returns for 266 yards (11.1 avg), including a score. He finished the year with 1,504 all-purpose yards, an average of 115.7 yards per game.

In 37 games at Ohio State, Ginn started 31 times. He snatched 125 passes for 1,943 yards (15.5 avg) and fifteen touchdowns. He carried 28 times for 213 yards (7.6 avg) and three scores, adding another touchdown on 1-of-2 pass completions for 38 yards. He set the Big Ten Conference career-record with six touchdowns on 64 punt returns for 900 yards (14.1 avg) and gained 1,012 yards with two scores on 38 kickoff returns (26.6 avg). He scored a total of 156 points and registered three solo tackles. Ginn also averaged 109.95 all-purpose yards per game, totaling 4,068 yards.



Analysis

Positives: Has outstanding quickness, agility and balance…Gets to top speed in a hurry and maintains acceleration throughout his routes…Has that quick second gear burst as a returner to take the ball to the house consistently (six TDs on punt returns, two TDs on kickoffs)…Good team leader who responds to discipline and with his work ethic, you won't need to monitor him…Once he gets into his patterns, he is quick to gobble up the cushion…If given a free lane to operate, Ginn is certain to find the seams…On deep patterns, he has that extra burst needed to run by defenders and is very effective at making the over-the-shoulder grabs…The thing you see on film is his ability to get down the field rapidly…Can track, adjust and jump for the ball much better on long routes than he does when working in a crowd…Given a free lane, Ginn will immediately burst into his routes…Eats up the cushion in an instant and while his lateral agility could improve, he maintains stride on slants and screens…Best served on screens, quick flares, slants or bursting up the seam - anything that will take advantage of his explosive quickness.

Is very quick through transition and has a knack for avoiding second level defenders to find holes in the zone…Lacks double cut agility, but can accelerate suddenly when he drops his pads…Can instantly turn on a defensive back on a route, as he has that extra gear needed to pull away…When he sinks his hips, he transitions fast and accelerates through the cuts to burst away…Might not look fluid in and out of his breaks, but has the ability to separate thanks to a sensational second gear…Has the speed to stretch the field and separate, showing steady acceleration to uncover vs. man coverage…Has a knack for becoming available quickly on the blitz and does a good job of getting his feet down along the sidelines…Carries route depth, sliding to create lanes, but must do a better job of settling when working in traffic…Adjusts readily to man coverage and is alert to finding the soft spot in the deep zone…If given room to operate, he will simply race past a defender…Might not have the strength to break tackles or the lateral agility to redirect, but with his acceleration, he is a dangerous threat with the ball in his hands…His burst makes him too elusive in man coverage, as he always makes the first tackler miss.

Negatives: Has a wiry build with a lean frame, split high with long legs, lacking the bulk or strength to consistently beat press coverage…Plays with suddenness, but lacks the lateral agility to come out of his breaks cleanly and needs to improve his footwork, especially in stop-&-go action…Instinctive returner, but needs to vary his speed when running routes… While he is explosive in the open field, his concentration tends to be a bit inconsistent, as he hears the sounds of the defender's footsteps working over the middle…Must do a better job of securing the ball on receptions before turning up field (will drop a few when he tries to run before grasping the pigskin - see 2006 Cincinnati and Michigan games)… Lacks the strength to power his way through the press and needs to be more active with his hands on release…Must be more alert working underneath for when the quarterback is going to deliver the ball, but does a nice job of looking the throw in over his outside shoulder without having to break stride…Moves well left or right, but shows only adequate hip snap on his lateral moves…When he is up against the press, he tends to take false steps and cocks his arms before firing, but he has enough speed to compensate…But, sometimes that speed gets him into trouble, as he runs so fast, he might miss a cut or look sloppy trying to plant-&-drive…His cuts look too choppy and he looks tight in his hips making body turns…Looks a little too stiff in his hips when moving laterally, so I wouldn't label him as a great multiple cut runner…Shows very good vision to track the ball in flight, but will struggle some in tough-to-catch spots…Not much of a red zone threat, as he had only six passes thrown to him in that area through 37 games.

Compares To: DANTE HALL-Kansas City…Like Hall, Ginn appears to be a quality return specialist who can contribute some as a receiver and not a receiver who can contribute some as a return specialist. He is very effective on quick slants and screens and tracks the ball well over his head, but with his lack of strength and inability to defeat the press, he will struggle to get a clean release and into his routes at the next level. He seems hesitant to go over the middle as a receiver and the sound of the defender's footsteps tends to see him lose concentration. Still, he is an electrifying returner who could bring decent value in multiple receiver formations, as long as you don't ask Ginn to run lateral routes into a crowd.

 

[hawaiianboy]

*Anthony Gonzalez



College: Ohio State Number: 11
Height: 6-0 Weight: 195



Overview

The cat-quick receiver teamed with Ted Ginn Jr. in 2006 and Santonio Holmes in 2005 to give the Buckeyes one of the most explosive receiving units in college football. Tony has not only excelled on the football field, but has garnered numerous academic honors. A Rhodes scholar candidate, Gonzalez surprised the coaching staff when he decided to bypass his senior year to enter the 2007 NFL Draft.'

The Academic All-American and a National Football Foundation Scholarship nominee is a four-time Ohio State scholar-athlete. He received national attention away from the football field last summer. As part of his training regimen, he took part in Colorado Altitude Training, a company that employs an altitude tent as part of their training.

While the Buckeyes will be losing a talented receiver, several charities could reap benefits from Gonzalez' decision to enter the National Football League. He recently announced that he would said he'll donate a portion of his off-field income from autograph shows and endorsements to two charities -- the American Cancer Society and the Arrupe Neighbor-hood Partnership Program at St. Ignatius High School.

Gonzalez excelled on both offense and defense at St. Ignatius High School, leading the team to the state championship as a junior, earning MVP honors. He was a first-team All-Ohio choice as a senior and was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press and the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The split end totaled 71 catches for 1,873 yards and 21 touchdowns during his career and set a St. Ignatius single-season record for average yards per catch (27.3) as a senior. He also played basketball as a freshman and ran track for four years (relays). Gonzalez qualified for the state finals as a junior and senior, but was injured both years in the regionals and did not run in the championships.

Gonzalez redshirted in 2003 at Ohio State. He played in eight games and earned his first varsity letter in 2004, starting the Purdue, Michigan and Oklahoma State contests. He made eight catches for 179 yards (22.4 avg) and two touchdowns and earned OSU scholar-athlete accolades.

In 2005, Gonzalez was a reserve split end, but started twice as a slot receiver. He finished third on the team with 28 catches for 373 yards (13.3 avg) and three touchdowns. He gained 431 all-purpose yards, adding 8 yards on a reverse and 50 yards on five kickoff returns while also recording one solo tackle.

With Santonio Holmes having left for the National Football League, Gonzalez started twelve of thirteen games in 2006 as the Buckeyes' slot receiver. He earned All-Big Ten Conference first-team honors from the league's coaches and was an ESPN Academic All-American first-team choice. He hauled in a career-high 51 passes for 734 yards (14.4 avg) and eight touchdowns, adding 28 yards on two reverses. He returned six kickoffs for 85 yards (14.2 avg) and added 24 yards on a pair of punt returns for 871 all-purpose yards.

In 33 games at Ohio State, Gonzalez started 17 contests. He never fumbled the ball, as he snared 87 passes for 1,286 yards (14.8 avg) and thirteen touchdowns. He rushed three times for 36 yards (12.0 avg) and returned three punts for 24 yards (8.0 avg). He also had eleven kickoff returns for 135 yards (12.3 avg), scored 78 points and totaled 1,481 all-purpose yards.



Analysis

Positives: Has a slender, lean structure, but displays defined upper body muscle tone with defined thighs and calves…Has excellent straight-line speed and shows good explosion to transition and separate…Shows good short area lateral quickness to turn in and out of his patterns…Understands his role on offense and is a smart receiver who plays to his quarterback's strengths…Very good at converting patterns and coming back to the ball…Plays hard and gives good effort as a blocker…His track background makes him very capable of getting off the line of scrimmage with good suddenness…Has the hand/eye coordination to look the ball in over his outside shoulder…Shows good urgency in his initial burst off the snap and is quick to gobble up the cornerback's cushion…Has the lateral agility to escape the press…Has good hip shake to elude and makes good cuts, settling into the zone and can reroute if needed.

Weaves to leverage in attempts to set up the defensive back and has quick transition in and out of his breaks with crisp plant-&-drive agility…Very good at catching and tracking the ball along the sidelines…Shows the ability to adjust in his routes, demonstrating the body control to settle and break…Also has nice stab-&-stem ability to set up the defensive back…Will slip or slide into vacant spots working underneath…Gets out of his breaks cleanly to gain separation…Has the ability to get himself between the defender and the ball…Competes for the ball when covered and has the timing and leaping ability to go up in a crowd and make the play…Can adjust to frame the ball and does a nice job of slowing down and shielding the defender on over-the-shoulder grabs…Not a strong blocker, but gives the effort to stalk and get into position to occupy the opponent.

Negatives: Is sometimes a bit of a strider, but can compensate with his rare timed speed…Needs to have a free lane getting into his routes, as he needs to improve his hand technique vs. the press, as he struggles to get a clean release when impeded…Can catch outside the frame, but will let the ball into his body too much (double catches)…Adequate cut blocker, but lacks the strength to face up and get the job done when asked to block in-line or for the ground game…Despite his lateral agility and speed, he tends to drift in his patterns going deep (not used much going up the seam)…Can run down the overthrown ball, but will lose some concentration on the pass when attacking the deep zone (longest reception for his last two years was a 33-yarder in 2006)…Needs to use his moves to elude, as he doesn't have the strength to power through arm tackles and gain separation after the catch (doesn't appear shifty as you'd expect for a player of his speed and lateral agility)… More of a one-cut type of runner, but can explode moving up field, if given a free lane.

Compares To: DEVERY HENDERSON-New Orleans…Gonzalez has impressive explosion coming off the snap and is very alert working along the sidelines. He has the speed to gobble up the defensive back's cushion and uses that quickness to create separation rather than rely on crisp, precise footwork. He needs to improve his hand usage to get a clean release and must increase his strength, but in a multiple receiver formation, he can give decent value working in the slot.

 

[hawaiianboy]

David Clowney


College: Virginia Tech Number: 87
Height: 6-1 Weight: 184

Overview

David Clowney is a two-sport athlete who has excelled in track at Virginia Tech and is the lone senior on a young Hokies' receiving unit. The coaching staff was confident that David would take his place among college football's elite in 2006, but the speedy receiver under-went an emergency appendectomy in September that sidetracked his quest to lead Tech in its quest for a national title.

David was a Class 5A All-State honorable mention as a senior receiver at Atlantic High School, earning four letters on the gridiron. He also competed as a safety, leading the team to an undefeated regular season during his final year. Clowney garnered All-Palm Beach County honors from The Palm Beach Post Sun-Sentinel, as he totaled 25 catches for 576 yards (23.0 avg) and a county-best ten touchdowns in 2002. He returned three kickoffs for 245 yards (81.7 avg) and a pair of scores and also made one of the season's biggest plays, a 95-yard touchdown catch against Ely in the regional finals that year.

Clowney added 39 receptions as a junior, coming up with three receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns vs. Wellington High. He also lettered as a sprinter on the track team. He was a state finalist in the 200 meters and a regional finalist in the 100 meters. David added two more letters as a guard on the basketball squad.

He enrolled at Virginia Tech in 2003, seeing action in twelve games as a reserve receiver. David gained 67 yards on five receptions (13.4 avg) and a touchdown. He also recovered a fumble that season.

Despite starting only one of twelve games in 2004, Clowney ranked fourth on the team with 20 catches for 263 yards (13.2 avg) and two touchdowns. He gained 45 yards on a pair of kickoff returns, but lost 20 yards when he was tackled behind the line of scrimmage on a reverse. He also competed for the school's indoor track team. He posted a season-best 60-meter dash time of 6.87 in the Big East Conference Prelims and finished second in that event at the Virginia Tech Invitational.

Clowney started twelve games on the right side of the field in 2005, coming up with a team-high 34 receptions for 619 yards (18.2 avg) and three touchdowns. He also returned one kickoff for 30 yards. In outdoor track, David ran the 100- and 200-meter dashes and helped set a school indoor record with a time of 6.94 in the 60 meters at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships.

David started only three of seven games he played in during the first half of the 2006 campaign. David missed the Cincinnati clash after undergoing an emergency appendectomy on September 21st, but was back on the field nine days later. He has a team-high 25 catches for 301 yards (12.0 avg), but has yet to find the end zone. He had two kickoff returns for 44 yards and recorded two tackles.

In 44 games at Virginia Tech, Clowney started sixteen times. He hauled in 84 passes for 1,250 yards (14.9 avg) and six touchdowns. He gained 119 yards on five kickoff returns (23.8 avg), but was stopped for a 20-yard loss on a reverse. David also recorded two tackles and recovered one fumble.



Analysis

Positives: Blessed with the elusiveness and second gear to escape the initial tackler and separate in the open field…Shows fluid change of direction agility and despite his slight frame, he utilizes his explosion to defeat the jam…Does a nice job of gearing down and dropping his weight when working through a crowd…Has the plant-&-drive agility coming out of his breaks to get under the deep pass…Has the explosion to instantly gobble up the cushion and will win most foot races in the open…Stays in control getting in and out of his break point…Has the quick vertical burst and lateral agility to come back for the poorly thrown pass…Shows good awareness for locating the soft spots in the zone, dropping his weight to settle underneath…Can generate that second gear needed to make the over-the-shoulder grabs.

Uncovers and finds space when working in the short area and can drive off on the slant due to his quickness…Has large, natural hands and shows proper technique extending to catch outside his frame…does not hesitate going for the ball in a crowd (but lacks the size and strength to dominate)…Shows a steady stride and burst throughout his route progression…Even with his blazing speed, he knows how to regulate so he does not outrun the deep throws…His hard planting agility lets him separate from the crowd after the catch…Adequate cut blocker who uses his hands well vs. second level defenders.

Negatives: Has a slight frame with a small bubble, smooth skin, marginal chest thickness and little room for additional growth…Capable of retaining plays, but needs several reps to do so…Lacks the bulk to face up to defenders when blocking in-line, as he will generally be pushed back or run over…Needs to get a clean release off the line, as his lack of bulk and power can see him get rerouted by the more physical cornerbacks…Can get in and out of his break point, but then starts to coast too often, which lets the defensive back recover…Can outrun most defenders, but once the opponent latches on to him, the battle is over…Can get a little lazy in his stride, losing some of his elusiveness (only does this on occasion).

Compares To: Kevin Curtis-St. Louis-Clowney has few peers when it comes to gaining separation on deep routes. He might not have the bulk to be a physical type working underneath, but when he makes those over-the-shoulder grabs, he is almost certain to beat his man, thanks to his hard planting agility that lets him slide past the opponent to pick up positive yardage.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Aundrae Allison


College: East Carolina Number: 2
Height: 6-0 Weight: 197


Overview

Not since the days of Southern California's Keyshawn Johnson (1994-95), who attended West Los Angeles College (1992-93), has a junior college receiver stepped into the major college ranks and made such an impact on his time like Allison did in 2005. The explosive open field route runner was responsible for 43.6% of the team's first downs (110) passing, amassed 36.4% (1,024 of 2,816) of the Pirates' aerial yards, accounted for 50% (7 of 14) of East Carolina's touchdown catches and produced 37.8% of the team's big plays (14 of 37 catches for over 20 yards) en route to inking his name in the school record books.

Allison was an Associated Press All-State selection during his senior season at A.L. Brown High School, where he was the program's top receiver and return specialist. The two-time All-Conference choice earned Conference Offensive and Special Teams Player of the Year honors in 2001.

Aundrae hauled in 50 passes for 1,101 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior, despite missing two games due to an injury. That season was highlighted by his eleven catches for 202 yards and one touchdown against the South Point High Red Raiders, while also contributing additional scores on a punt and kickoff return. He also participated in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

Upon graduating from high school, Allison enrolled at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College in 2002, but did not compete in football. He transferred to Georgia Military College in 2003, going on to catch 33 passes for 410 yards (12.4 avg) and six touchdowns. He earned National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) All-American second-team and All-Region XVII first-team honors at Georgia Military in 2004, when he snared 37 passes for 455 yards (12.3 avg) and five scores.

Taking over a program that finished 2-9 in 2004, new head coach Skip Holtz needed all of his recruiting skills to lure Allison to the East Carolina Pirates in 2005. Even though the team finished with a 5-6 record, one could only imagine how Holtz would have fared in his first season without the services of Aundrae. The speedy split end would shatter the school's season-record for yards receiving (1,024), becoming the first player in ECU annals to gain over 1,000 yards in a campaign.

Allison became only the second player in school history to catch over 55 passes in a season, hauling down 83 balls, with seven of those catches resulting in touchdowns. He also completed 1-of-2 pass attempts for 41 yards, gained 65 yards on seven carries (9.3 avg) and totaled 33 yards on six punt returns. In 29 collegiate games, Aundrae has come up with 153 catches for 1,889 yards (12.3 avg) and eleven touchdowns. What is even more impressive is that 104 of his receptions have resulted in first downs.



Analysis

Positives: Has a good bubble, split high, with long legs, high calves and that explosive playing burst to easily gain separate after the catch…Shows above average lateral agility and balance when changing direction, doing an excellent job of extending for the ball and keeping his feet inbounds when working along the sidelines…Has loose hips and good feet to get in and out of his cuts. His quick first step lets him explode off the line…Also has the hip wiggle and head fakes to elude defenders after the catch…Even when his speed fails to elude the defensive back, he has the hip wiggle and shake needed to prevent from being rerouted…Might not look physical enough to fight off the jam, but knows how to use his arm-over action to separate when the defender attempts to press…Has the quickness to separate along the perimeter and the "make you miss" burst to get down field…His vertical speed is evident by his ability to consistently stretch the field and make good body adjustments to the ball.

Can uncover and free up from his man working in the short area (see 2005 Duke and Wake Forest games)…Demonstrates the ability to sink his hips and go low to grab the ball on shallow crossing routes…Has the burst to get under the ball and make the over-the-shoulder grab look routine…Is quick to gobble up the cushion, especially when working in the zone…Very quick off the line and has the suddenness to get to top speed instantly…You notice on film his ability to drop his weight, sink his hips and maintain body control in and out of his cuts when separating…By staying at a low pad level, he is very effective at rapidly accelerating to get under the ball…Shows the ability to keep his eyes on the ball, even when knowing the defender is about to deliver a viscous hit…Has a good feel for the sticks and chains and makes good body adjustments on the move to uncover…Excels at keeping his feet in-bounds working along the sidelines and slipping through tight coverage…Has a good working relationship with his quarterback and that timing and ability to stay in sync lets him come back when the pocket collapses.

Looks like a gazelle in the open field, showing a smooth stride that quickly gobbles up the cushion…Knows he doesn't have the brute power to break tackles, so he uses his change of direction and planting agility to elude the lethargic defender…He twists, turns and spins to slide away from contact and can use the defender's body well to push off and gain separation…Effective open field cutter because of his ability to attack the defender low and use his hands to mirror and sustain…A lethargic defender is soon surprised by Allison's quickness and explosion using his hands to lock on and steer.

Negatives: Needs to improve his upper body muscle definition…Like most junior college players, he still has not developed good weight room habits, but is improving…Is not a "first one to enter, last one to leave" type in the training room, but if he receives patient coaching, he will develop those traits…Does not have the brute strength to out-muscle the more physical defenders, but compensates with his long arms, good ball concentration and leaping ability to get to the balls thrown into a crowd.

Compares To: SANTONIO HOLMES-Pittsburgh-Like Holmes, Allison is very capable of surprising a defender with his explosive burst. He is simply a playmaker who is a threat anytime or anyway he touches the ball. Like Holmes, he's a big distraction for a defense, as he is perfectly capable of taking a handoff and either running with the ball or pulling up to unleash a perfectly-timed pass

 

[hawaiianboy]

Jason Hill

College: Washington State Number: 83
Height: 6-1 Weight: 204


Overview

Even though Southern California's heralded duo of Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith receive most of the press, if you ask any Pac-10 Conference defensive coordinator or defensive back which receiver they fear in most, they all say in unison one name - Jason Hill. Much like Rodney Dangerfield, Hill gets little respect from the media, but his ability to come up with the big plays and find the end zone on a regular basis has given more than a few opponents nightmares the last two seasons.

To truly appreciate Hill's big-play ability, one has to read further into his statistics. Since taking over split end duties, he caught 107 passes in 21 games. 80 of those receptions were good for first downs, as he converted 36 third-down plays and one more on fourth down. He made 25 scoring grabs, coming up with critical catches that set up 40 touch-down drives and five more that resulted in WSU field goals. Of his 107 receptions, 38 gained 20 yards or more. Even Ray Charles can see why any opponent dreads matching up against Hill.

One of six children of LaVerne Hawkins, Hill was a standout in both football and basket-ball at Sacred Heart Cathedral High School. He was the runner-up for the City of San Francisco Player of the Year Award as a senior, adding honorable mention All-Region accolades as a defensive back and wide receiver by the San Francisco Chronicle. He helped Sacred Heart clinch a win over St. Ignatius with an interception return for a touchdown in the oldest high school rivalry west of the Mississippi River, dating back to 1893. The team finished with a 9-1 record during his final campaign. As a junior, Jason garnered All-Bay Area honorable mention on the gridiron.

Hill earned All-Tournament honors at the Cactus Shootout and Gridley Tournament for the basketball squad, lettering three times in hoops. He helped the team rank second in the NorCal Division III ranks as a junior, as the squad compiled a 29-5 record. Jason also excelled in the classroom, three times earning academic honors while graduating with a 3.0 grade point average.

Jason was limited to special teams action as a true freshman at Washington State in 2003. Rather than pine away on the bench waiting for time with the offensive unit, he led the Pac-10 Conference players with twelve tackles (8 solos) on the coverage unit, blocking a punt that he returned 25 yards.

After winning a starting job in fall camp at split end, Hill went on to have a record-breaking season for the Cougars in 2004. The Pacific-10 Conference second-team pick and WSU MVP on offense, Jason ranked 17th in the nation and third in the conference in reception yards (91.55 ypg). He set a school season-record with twelve touchdown catches, leading the squad with 45 receptions and became the sixth player in school annals to gain over 1,000 yards receiving in a season, finishing with 1,007 yards. His average of 22.4 yards per catch, rank fourth on the school's annual record chart.

Despite suffering a quadriceps contusion vs. Oregon State that would sideline him for the Stanford clash, Hill earned All-American honorable mention from Sports Illustrated and All-Pac 10 Conference second-team accolades from the league's coaches. He ranked third in the nation with an average of 109.7 yards per game receiving, as he hauled in 62 passes (sixth-best season total in school history) for 1,097 yards (fourth-best total in WSU annals) and broke his own season-record with thirteen touchdown grabs.

In 33 games at Washington State, Hill started and played in 21 contests on offense. He made 107 catches for 2,104 yards (19.7 avg) and a school career-record 25 touchdowns. He carried once for a 4-yard loss, but scored 150 points. He also recorded 17 tackles (13 solos) with a blocked punt that he returned 25 yards.



Analysis

Positives: Has an angular frame with smooth muscle tone, developed chest, long arms, good bubble and tapered thighs and calves…Demonstrates superb hand/eye coordination to get to the ball at its high point and the size and body control to time his leaps and contort his body to get to the tough throws in a crowd…Has excellent balance adjusting to downfield passes and knows how to sink his hips and drop his weight to elude after the catch…Shows very good sideline vision, keeping his balance and feet in bounds and is fearless going for the ball in a crowd and very combative with his hands, whether to escape the jam or to lock on to a defender when blocking…Shows very good ball concentration going up for the jump ball and never flinches, even when kamikaze defenders try to attack his legs…Gets a good initial thrust off the line, using his hands with force to defeat the jam…More quicker than fast, but glides to top acceleration nicely… Uses his size well to slip through tight areas and has enough burst to gobble up the cushion…Does a very good job of adjusting to the coverage and even though he frequently catches in a crowd, he shows the fluid stride to not have to throttle down coming out of his breaks…Runs crisp routes and drops his hips and sinks his weight to separate out of his cuts…Very good settling underneath, making him a nice target in the short area.

His balance and good feet let him deal with operating in tight spaces…Does a great job of weaving through a crowd and has the power to leverage defenders to gain separation…Shows very good hip sinking agility and does a good job of getting depth in all of his routes…Uses his hands very effectively to gain separation after the catch, showing the loose hips, head fake and strong leg drive to break the initial tackle…Takes no wasted steps with his acceleration out of transition cuts and does a fine job on come-back routes…Does a good job of looking the ball in over his shoulder and can get open and settle in the soft spot of the zone…Can weave through traffic with the best of them, reminding some of the Bengals' Chad Johnson in that area…Will go for the ball with determination on crossing routes and shows outstanding concentration to get to the pigskin over the middle…Times his leaps well and will not hesitate to sacrifice his body to get to the ball in a crowd…Has the body control, balance and jumping skills to reach and pluck the ball away from his frame and at the high point…Possesses the ability to play the ball over his shoulder and make body adjustments to track the ball in flight…Attacks with aggression and stays with the play until the finish when blocking in the second level…Is very effective at getting low to chop down linebackers and safeties at their legs in run support…Played on all the special teams (punt return/coverage, kickoff return/coverage) and is also a proficient kick blocker.

Negatives: Has only adequate weight room strength, but plays stronger on the field and uses his hands well to escape the jam…Doesn't have that sudden explosion to leave defenders rocking back on their heels, but shows the savvy and hand usage to gain good separation coming off the snap….While he lacks a sudden burst, he stays square in his routes, especially when coming back to the ball, which he had to do often the last two years due to WSU's QB issues…Not the type to explode up the field after the catch, leaving defenders grasping at air, but he is a strong runner who powers through the initial tackle and is a load to bring down once he builds up to top acceleration…Needs to improve his overall strength to prevent from being pushed back into the pocket when working in-line though…Has the hand usage to sustain when he is able to lock on, but doesn't have the brute power to drag the defensive linemen down.

Compares To: REGGIE WAYNE-Indianapolis-Wayne, Cincinnati's Chad Johnson and Jason don't need to rely on blazing speed to be the dangerous threats they are. They all do it with a physical running strike and loose hips to weave through traffic, making them players that need to be accounted for every second they are on the field.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Paul Williams

College: Fresno State Number: 1
Height: 6-1 Weight: 200


Overview

Blessed with the exceptional athletic skills that his older brothers, J.D. (1990 first round pick by the Buffalo Bills), and the late Curtis (University of Washington) Williams, Paul is perhaps one of the biggest enigmas in the 2007 draft. With his impressive size, blazing speed and long arms, he looks like a natural fit as the prototype wide receiver, but he has failed to produce numbers that would warrant his lofty ratings in the eyes of pro scouts.

With his senior campaign sidetracked by knee and hip injuries, inconsistencies and lack of production, along with a perceived notion that he does not enjoy playing offense, Paul could be better served by returning to his original position in the defensive backfield. After his brother, Curtis, was paralyzed in the 2000 Stanford-Washington game and died nineteen months later from complications due to that injury, the youngest Williams sibling with definite big-play ability, might need to dig down deep inside to see if football might be his calling. Based on his recent performances, a change of positions might be one way to salvage what was to be a promising career.

A first-team All-Star selection as a defensive back by the Fresno Bee during his senior year at Avenal High School, Paul was named League Defensive Player of the Year in 2001. He intercepted thirteen passes that campaign and also excelled on offense, scoring eighteen touchdowns and gaining 953 yards receiving. He also returned three kickoffs for scores that season. The two-time All-League gridiron choice also garnered All-League accolades in basketball as a junior. He also starred on the track squad, reaching the Valley Finals in the 100- and 200-meter dashes during his final year.

Williams decided to enroll at Fresno State in 2002, choosing the Bulldogs over UCLA and Washington. He redshirted that year, performing on the scout team as a cornerback. Paul appeared briefly in seven games as a reserve receiver in 2003, making three catches for 20 yards (6.7 avg). He saw most of his action on the special team coverage units, registering ten tackles (8 solos).

Paul played in twelve games, starting twice at split end during the 2004 season. He came up with five receptions for 70 yards (14.0 avg) and scored his first career touchdown on a 43-yard reverse. He added 22 yards on a punt return and recorded seven tackles (5 solos).

The first-team All-Western Athletic Conference choice started all thirteen games at split end in 2005. He hauled in 43 passes for 729 yards (17.0 avg) and seven touchdowns while also picking up 83 yards on nine carries (9.2 avg). He blocked a punt that he recovered for a 25-yard touchdown return and delivered five tackles (4 solos) with a stop for a 6-yard loss.

Williams started four of five games in 2006, missing the Utah State and Hawaii contests due to knee and hip problems suffered vs. Colorado State. He caught nineteen passes for 207 yards (10.9 avg) and a touchdown. Paul rushed six times for 48 yards (8.0 avg) and returned one kickoff for 13 yards. He also posted two solo tackles and caused one fumble.

In 37 games at Fresno State, Williams started nineteen times. He caught 70 passes for 1,026 yards (14.7 avg) and eight touchdowns, adding 174 yards and a score on sixteen carries (10.9 avg). He gained 47 yards on two punt returns and 13 yards on one kickoff return. He also registered 24 tackles (19 solos) with a stop for a 6-yard loss, one forced fumble and a blocked kick.



Analysis

Positives: Has an athletic frame with very long limbs, large hands, solid upper and lower body muscle development and good weight room strength…Long strider who shows the explosive burst to separate after the catch…Shows the hip snap to change direction fluidly and the leaping ability to get to the ball at its high point…Good worker in practices and the weight room, serving well as a leader-by-example…Has a smooth stride that lets him quickly run up on a defensive back and eat up the cushion…Best on vertical routes, where he can use his size to shield the ball from the defender…Knows how to keep his feet in bounds working along the sidelines…Does a good job of settling into the soft spot of the zone…Has the large hands and good arm extension to extend for the ball in a crowd… Does a good job of maintaining acceleration after the catch…Will not back away from the crowd trying to get to the ball over the middle…Will round off some of his routes, but can get away with it at times due to his quickness…Demonstrates a good swim move and quick feet to escape the jam (needs to be more consistent though)…Gets down the seam quickly and follows the ball in flight well, especially over his outside shoulder…Uses his speed effectively as a gunner on special teams…Solid wrap-up tackler who might be a better fit at cornerback, where he can use his speed and long arms to combat receivers for the ball (acknowledges that he would prefer to play defense).

Negatives: Frame might be at maximum growth potential…Will compete for jump balls, but needs to play with better consistency and urgency, as he will throttle down when not involved in the play…Can retain plays, but needs several reps to digest…Despite his explosive speed, he seems to go through the motions at times and tends to not use his hands with consistency in attempts to escape the jam…When he glides off the ball, he will sometimes take false steps, which allow the defensive back to recover and mirror him throughout his route progression (see 2006 Oregon and Colorado State games)…Needs to use his weight room strength with more consistency, as he struggles at times to get a clean release vs. a physical press…Must develop better hand usage to prevent defenders from attacking his body and rerouting him…Must improve his route running, as he tends to make soft angle cuts, drifting too much in his hitch patterns…Lacks precise plant-&-drive agility to come out of his breaks cleanly…Lacks suddenness in transition and while he gets good elevation, he must improve his timing when competing for jump balls (had 24 of the 127 passes thrown to him deflected by the opposition during his career)…Has great open field acceleration, but doesn't show great head fakes or hip wiggle to elude, relying more on his strength to break tackles…Shows good blocking stance, getting his hands up quickly when keeping a wide base, but must work harder to sustain and finish…Must play with better focus, as he has been charged with a high amount of costly penalties (five in 2005, three in 2006).

Compares To: Ken Lucas-Carolina-Not impressed with Williams as a receiver, as you can plainly see he is not happy on offense. With his previous experience and family bloodlines on defense, he would be better served playing cornerback, but needs to sit down and do a gut-check to see if he has the heart to play the game.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Syvelle Newton


College: South Carolina Number: 13
Height: 6-2 Weight: 198



Overview

While several pro scouts feel that Newton is the best athlete among offensive players eligible for the 2007 NFL Draft, almost all state a known fact- Syvelle is the most invaluable player in the country, as the Gamecocks' success in 2006 relies upon his ability to more than capably handle any task asked from him, whether catching the ball, running with it or throwing it.

Asked about his extremely valuable and versatile athlete, head coach Steve Spurrier recently stated, "We (the coaches) try to use Syvelle whatever way we need to try to win a game. If we are struggling with a normal quarterback dropping back and throwing, then we may have to try Syvelle in there. Mississippi State has a couple of quarterbacks that are slated to play, one is sort of a passer and the other one can run and pass very well. We have to be ready for both types of quarterbacks and hopefully our opponents will have to spend some time on two different styles of quarterback. He's a dangerous threat as far as running with the ball in his hands; he looks very much like he did last year."

The brother of Atlanta Falcons safety, Cameron Newton, Syvelle was an All-State quarter-back at Marlboro County High School. He was rated the second-best prospect in the state of South Carolina by Rivals.com and the nation's fifth-rated quarterback by Super Prep. Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report rated Newton the seventh-best quarterback in the country. After his senior year, Syvelle was named the South's Most Valuable Player in the North-South All-Star Game.

During his final season, Newton rushed for 1,029 yards and fifteen touchdowns, as he also completed 63-of-143 passes (44.1%) for 933 yards and five more scores. He led the state in scoring his junior year and was fourth in rushing, as Newton passed for more than 1,700 yards and 23 touchdowns while gaining 1,923 yards and 24 scores on the ground in 2001.
Marlboro County head coach called Syvelle, "one of the best athletes I've ever seen. He is a very competitive player who has a great work ethic."

Few true freshman made an impact on their team the way Syvelle did at South Carolina in 2003. Recruited as a quarterback, he performed at that position during fall camp, but opened the season as a reserve wide receiver, starting vs. Mississippi. Despite no previous experience at that position, he finished third on the team with 22 receptions for 277 yards (12.6 avg), adding 44 yards on four reverses (11.0 avg). He completed 1-of-2 passes for 18 yards, gained 60 yards on three kickoff returns and recorded one solo tackle.

Newton began the 2004 season as the team's second-string quarterback, taking over as the team's starter for five games when Dondrial Pinkins was injured. He connected on 70-of-131 passes (53.4%) for 1,093 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions. Syvelle ranked third on the team with 262 yards and five scores on 104 carries (2.5 avg), finishing the season with 1,355 yards in total offense.

When Steve Spurrier took over as South Carolina's head coach in 2004, he saw in Syvelle a mult-faceted player who could line up in a variety of roles. Newton was utilized at split end, slotback, flanker, tailback and quarterback. He ranked second on the squad with 27 receptions for 297 yards (11.0 avg) and two touchdowns, despite playing in only seven games due to a torn left Achilles tendon. He finished third on the team with 150 yards and two scores on 21 carries (7.1 avg) and completed 4-of-5 passes (80.0%) for 47 yards and two touchdowns. He also gained 55 yards on three kickoff returns (18.3 avg) and recorded two solo tackles while averaging 71.7 all-purpose yards per game.

Fully recovered from his injury, Newton added close to twenty pounds of muscle to his frame during his rehabilitation. He lined up at flanker during the first two games of 2006 before shifting to quarterback for the Wofford contest. In three games during his senior campaign, Newton gained 70 yards on seven receptions and 56 yards on 16 rushing attempts (3.5 avg). He also totaled 250 yards with a touchdown and an interception on 13-of-19 throws (68.4%).

In 33 games at South Carolina, Newton appeared in 21 contests as a receiver. He caught 59 passes for 644 yards (10.9 avg) and two touchdowns and rushed 145 times for 512 yards (3.5 avg) and seven scores. He completed 88-of-157 throws (56.1%) for 1,408 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also gained 115 yards on six kickoff returns (19.2 avg) and recorded three solo tackles.



Analysis

Positives: Has good arm length, broad shoulders and good chest definition…Possesses a tight abdomen with developing thigh and calf muscles…Shows precise cutting ability coming out of his breaks and uses his size effectively to shield the defenders from the ball…Knows how to "get small" and settle into the soft spot of the zone…Has outstanding open field quickness and the above average hip snap that can rock the defensive backs on their heels, forcing his opponent to come out of their backpedal too early…More than capable of handling the mental aspect of the game, evident by the fact that he has grasped the playbook well enough to be comfortable at split end, flanker, slot receiver, quarterback or tailback.

Has a quick burst into his patterns and good arm-over action to get a strong push off the defender…Maintains acceleration throughout the route and shows good initial explosion…Does a very good job of dropping his hips and separating out of his cuts…His burst lets him get into his patterns instantly and he can fool a lethargic defensive back with his second gear (see 2005 Central Florida and Troy games)…Once he is in the open field, he has the leg drive to break tackles and the change of direction agility to elude…Keeps his pads low and has that sudden burst to easily separate from the crowd…Does a very good job of keeping track of the ball in flight, especially when making over-the-shoulder grabs (see 2005 Troy and Kentucky games)…The difference between Newton and former South Carolina receiver Troy Williamson is that Syvelle is not prone to drifting in his patterns. Williamson has better pure speed, but lacks the precision and field vision that Syvelle displays…Creates separation with his loose hips and explosiveness, keeping a good distance on the deep secondary players when bursting up the seam…Gets great elevation going up for the ball to catch it at its high point, but doesn't need to gather before turning and heading up field…Especially effective on bubble screens and crossing routes, as he will not hesitate to extend and pluck the ball away from the body's frame.

Has those short stutter-step moves to free himself from the slower defenders and is a big target for SC quarterbacks on crossers, using his hands with force to push off the opponent in attempts to get open…Shows good scoop agility to get down for the low throws and the natural hand extension and leaping ability to secure the pass at its high point…Has a very nice feel for boundaries, keeping his feet in bounds along the sidelines and that sudden burst after the pass is thrown to get under the ball on seam routes…His ability to torque his body when going vertical lets him snatch the ball with ease…His plant-&-drive agility lets him maintain body control and generate leg drive to break tackles after the catch…Shifty route runner who stays low in his pads, sinking his weight to separate… Has that natural spin balance to make the initial tackler grasp at air and uses his strength and second gear, along with good urgency to turn and head up field in an instant after securing the ball.

Negatives: Used to have an adequately muscled frame, but a product of his rehabilitation saw him add close to 20 pounds of bulk to his frame while reducing his body fat to the minimum…Earlier in his career, he was more of a soft angle cutter who would shuffle his feet and gather, but has now rectified those deficiencies…For some reason, South Carolina used him more on controlled routes early in 2006 rather than letting him go over the top, but even Ray Charles can see he has the pure speed to challenge deep…Shows a fluid kick slide and keeps his weight balanced when blocking at the line, but is more effective sustaining blocks in the open than in the trenches.

Compares To: MARTY BOOKER-Miami-Like Booker, Newton combines power and speed to be either an underneath receiver or a deep threat. Both college QBs also possess a dangerous arm for the option pass. Newton is much quicker and the additional bulk in 2006 allowed him to become more physical as a blocker.