saintswhodi

Irish eyes smiling on Big BoardBy Mel Kiper Jr.
Special to ESPN.com
Archive

Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn remains the top player on my 2007 Big Board of the nation's Top 25 senior prospects, and he likely will reside at the top when the upcoming season begins.


There will be some changes to the Big Board even at this time of the year, and this week two new players are in my Top 25, including one of Quinn's teammates.

Overall, 10 to 12 additional seniors received strong consideration for my Big Board, an indication that the 2007 draft will provide the NFL with a lot of quality talent. Furthermore, a host of high-profile juniors will have the option in mid-January of declaring for the draft.


Remember, this is the time of year when I spend countless hours evaluating prospects from games that were played over the last two years. So even though it's the offseason, there will be changes to the board between now and the start of the season.


The next update to my Big Board is slated for July 18.


1. Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame (6-4, 231) | previous: 1
2005: 64.9 completion pct., 3,919 passing yards, 32 TDs-7 INTs


2. Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin (6-8, 306) | previous: 3
2005: First team All-Big Ten


3. Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson (6-5, 260) | previous: 2
2005: 9½ sacks, 15 tackles for loss


4. Quentin Moses, DE, Georgia (6-5, 250) | previous: 5
2005: 11½ sacks, 20½ tackles for loss


5. Drew Stanton, QB, Michigan St. (6-3, 230) | previous: 11
2005: 66.5 completion pct., 3,077 yards, 22 TDs-12 INTs


6. Levi Brown, OT, Penn St. (6-5, 324) | previous: 14
2005: First team All-Big Ten


7. Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn St. (6-2, 229) | previous: 4
2005: Team-high 116 tackles, 3 sacks


8. Jeff Samardzija, WR, Notre Dame (6-4, 231) | previous: 7
2005: 78 receptions, 1,274 yards, 15 TDs


9. Michael Bush, RB, Louisville (6-3, 250) | previous: 6
2005: 1,143 rushing yards, 23 TDs


10. Kenny Irons, RB, Auburn (5-11, 200) | previous: 12
2005: 1,293 rushing yards, 13 TDs


11. Quinn Pitcock, DT, Ohio St. (6-3, 295) | previous: 21
2005: 28 tackles, 3 tackles for loss


12. LaMarr Woodley, DE, Michigan (6-2, 268) | previous: 13
2005: 7 sacks, 14 tackles for loss


13. LaRon Landry, DB, LSU (6-2, 204) | previous: 8
2005: All-SEC for third straight year


14. Tim Crowder, DE, Texas (6-4, 270) | previous: 9
2005: First team All-Big 12


15. Brandon Meriweather, DB, Miami (6-0, 188) | previous: 10
2005: Led team with career-high 115 tackles


16. Ryan Harris, OT, Notre Dame (6-5, 288) | previous: 17
2005: Started all 12 games (32 straight starts)


17. Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno St. (6-1, 200) | previous: 15
2005: 1 INT, 7 pass breakups


18. Leon Hall, CB, Michigan (5-11, 193) | previous: 20
2005: Team-high 4 INTs


19. Michael Griffin, DB, Texas (6-0, 205) | previous: 16
2005: 3 INTs, team-high 124 tackles


20. Zack Bowman, CB, Nebraska (6-1½ 198) | previous: unranked
2005: 2 INTs, 11 pass breakups


21. Tom Zbikowski, S, Notre Dame (5-11, 202) | previous: unranked
2005: Team-high 5 INTs, 71 tackles


22. Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska (6-6, 280) | previous: 18
2005: 9½ sacks, 17 tackles for loss


23. Doug Free, OT, Northern Illinois (6-7, 302) | previous: unranked
2005: First team All-MAC; started 36 straight games


24. Justin Blalock, OT, Texas (6-4, 329) | previous: even
2005: First team All-Big 12


25. Jason Hill, WR, Washington St. (6-1, 210)
2005: 62 receptions, 1,097 yards, 13 TDs


Dropped
Rufus Alexander, LB, Oklahoma (6-1, 231) | previous: 19
2005: 17 tackles for loss; team-high 102 tackles


Victor Abiamiri, DE, Notre Dame (6-4, 260) | previous: 22
2005: Team-high 8 sacks, 15 tackles for loss


Patrick Willis, LB, Mississippi (6-2, 230) | previous: 25
2005: Led SEC in tackles per game (12.8)


http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/insid...CMP=ILC-INHEAD

saintswhodi

Top 5 seniors by positionBy Mel Kiper Jr.
Special to ESPN Insider
Archive

The lists of the top five seniors at each position are reflective of game footage I have watched in the offseason. Last year, Notre Dame had one of the top tight ends (Anthony Fasano) and fullbacks (Rashon Powers-Neal). In 2006, the Irish will have two of the top skill-position players again: QB Brady Quinn and his favorite target, wide receiver Jeff Samardzija.

The next update won't be until the middle of July. Once August arrives, you can expect weekly updates for each position as well as for the Top 25 Big Board.



Quarterbacks
1. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
2. Drew Stanton, Michigan State
3. Kevin Kolb, Houston
4. Troy Smith, Ohio State
5. Jordan Palmer, UTEP


Running Backs/Fullbacks
1. Michael Bush, Louisville
2. Kenny Irons, Auburn
3. Brian Leonard, Rutgers (fullback)
4. Kenneth Darby, Alabama
5. Lorenzo Booker, Florida State


Wide Receivers
1. Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame
2. Jason Hill, Washington State
3. Steve Breaston, Michigan
4. Paul Williams, Fresno State
5. Courtney Taylor, Auburn


Tight Ends
1. Matt Spaeth, Minnesota
2. Clark Harris, Rutgers
3. Martrez Milner, Georgia
4. Jonny Harline, BYU
5. Joe Newton, Oregon State


Offensive Tackles
1. Joe Thomas, Wisconsin
2. Levi Brown, Penn State
3. Ryan Harris, Notre Dame
4. Doug Free, N. Illinois
5. Arron Sears, Tennessee


Offensive Guards
1. Justin Blalock, Texas
2. Josh Beekman, Boston College
3. Manuel Ramirez, Texas Tech
4. Samson Satele, Hawaii
5. Robert Turner, New Mexico


Centers
1. Kyle Young, Fresno State
2. Ryan Kalil, USC
3. Dan Mozes, West Virginia
4. Mark Fenton, Colorado
5. Dustin Fry, Clemson


Defensive Ends
1. Gaines Adams, Clemson
2. Quentin Moses, Georgia
3. LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
4. Tim Crowder, Texas
5. Adam Carriker, Nebraska


Defensive Tackles
1. Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State
2. Kareem Brown, Miami
3. Marcus Thomas, Florida
4. Brandon Mebane, California
5. Justin Harrell, Tennessee


Inside Linebackers
1. Patrick Willis, Mississippi
2. H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh
3. Anthony Waters, Clemson
4. Desmond Bishop, California
5. Nate Harris, Louisville


Outside Linebackers
1. Paul Posluszny, Penn State
2. Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma
3. Juwan Simpson, Alabama
4. Prescott Burgess, Michigan
5. Quincy Black, New Mexico


Cornerbacks
1. Marcus McCauley, Fresno State
2. Leon Hall, Michigan
3. Zack Bowman, Nebraska
4. Fred Bennett, South Carolina
5. Daymeion Hughes, California


Safeties
1. LaRon Landry, LSU
2. Brandon Meriweather, Miami
3. Michael Griffin, Texas
4. Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame
5. Eric Weddle, Utah


Place-Kickers/Punters
1. Mason Crosby, Colorado
2. Justin Medlock, UCLA
3. Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor, (Punter)
4. Adam Podlesh, Maryland (Punter)
5. Mike Barrow, Idaho

http://proxy.espn.go.com/ncf/insider...CMP=ILC-INHEAD

BlackandBlue

thomas is that kid they were talking about that had he declared this past year, would have been drafted shortly after ferguson.

i think we should tke a long, hard look at Landry in the 1st round next year (J/K!!!!!!!!!) :P

saintswhodi

I remember Thomas. He was ranked the second best T. I kept think we could look at him if we traded down, then found out he didn't declare. He must be a beast.

And you didn't know, Landry is already atop our board.

neugey

Tough to argue w/ the name Landry 8)

AllSaints

Paul Posluszny with a name like that we cant go wrong.....

maximkat

I'm a Penn State fan, so I've seen my fair share of games. This kid is a monster, would love to see him in black and gold.