LKelley67

Keep these names in mind as you watch games. The draft will be here before you know it LOL

Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
5-11, 195 pounds, Sr.

Hall has been called Michigan's top cornerback since Heisman winner Charles Woodson. A veteran of 37 career games and 24 starts, Hall has broken up 25 passes and hauled in nine interceptions, both leading all current Wolverines. He has earned Big Ten honors after each of the past two seasons and could be in line for All-America honors in 2006.

Hall has shown the ability to play both zone and man coverage, but is clearly at his best when on an island -- one-on-one against the receiver. Hall's speed, quickness and anticipation separate him from the other cornerbacks on this list. He can blanket receivers, but also shows the big-play potential when the ball is up for grabs that could make him an elite prospect for the next level. He enters 2006 having earned postseason accolades after each of his first three seasons.

Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno State, 6-1, 198, Sr.

In last year's preview series, I described Fresno State cornerback Richard Marshall as perhaps the "top cornerback on the West Coast." Marshall went on to become the 58th overall pick by Carolina, but he might not have been the top cornerback on his own team. McCauley emerged from Marshall's shadow to develop into one of the elite defensive backs in the entire country.

Until last season, McCauley had been viewed as an exceptional athlete, but still a raw player. A veteran of 11 starts, he had proven to be a dangerous alternative for quarterbacks hesitant to throw against Marshall, but McCauley had not yet fully established himself. Then he leaped to the forefront, stringing together a far more consistent and reliable season than his more heralded teammate.

McCauley's great size and estimated 4.40-second speed in the 40-yard dash make him intriguing enough, but only through film work can one begin to appreciate the grace and instincts of his play

Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona, 6-0, 185, Jr.

Considered by some to be the top cornerback prospect in the country despite being only a junior, Cason has established himself as a shut-down performer in a conference known for producing dynamic passing numbers. Even with receivers like Dwayne Jarrett and Mike Hass in the Pac-10, most offenses chose to pass away from Cason, whose blend of size, speed and quickness has earned comparisons to Derrick Strait, a stalwart at Oklahoma under then-defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, now Arizona's head coach.

Cason has earned Pac-10 accolades after each of the past two seasons and has good bloodlines -- his father, Wendell, and cousins Ken-Yon Rambo and Aveion Cason played in the NFL.

Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh, 6-0, 190, Jr.

Revis is an exciting young cornerback who established himself as a quality prospect almost immediately. He earned freshman All-American honors in 2004, starting all 11 games and finishing with 14 passes broken up. Opponents learned not to test Revis last season, instead choosing to pass against future sixth-round pick Josh Lay. Revis was the only sophomore to earn first-team Big East honors, coming through with four interceptions and nine passes broken up. He also became one of the better young return specialists, averaging 11.6 yards per punt return.

Revis not only has the size teams like, but his short-area burst, vertical speed and flair for the dramatic are noteworthy. Like Arizona's Cason, Revis has NFL bloodlines. His uncle is former Pitt defensive tackle Sean Gilbert, who went on to play for four teams in the NFL.

Revis next to Lay? See McCauley and Cason in Tiger Stadium this year

LKelley67

Overview: What could have been; or was...! The 2007 draft was going to be something special at CB, however, it got moved up a year when a small army of junior CBs including first rounders Antonio Cromartie of Florida State and Johnathan Joseph of South Carolina, along with later first-day picks Richard Marshall of Fresno State and Ohio State's Ashton Youboty left school early and entered last April's draft. That really thinned out the potential senior class for the upcoming draft, although veterans like Fred Bennett of South Carolina, Daymeion Hughes of California, Michigan's Leon Hall and underrated DeAndre Jackson of Iowa State still should get long looks late in this year's opening round. If a CB is to break into the top 15 picks this coming April, though, it will likely be a junior like Antoine Cason of Arizona, Darrelle Revis of Pitt or former USC star Eric Wright who is now at UNLV.

If there is a good news aspect to the 2007CB draft class its that there is some solid depth at the position such that pro teams should be able to get a pretty good cover corner later on the opening from a strong second-tier group that includes John Talley of Duke, David Irons of Auburn, Marquice Cole of Northwestern, Marcus McCauley of Fresno State, Josh Wilson of Maryland, A.J. Davis of North Carolina, Joe Garcia of Nevada, Robert Herbert of Colorado State, Marcus Hamilton of Virginia and the Texas duo of Aaron Ross and Tarell Brown.

For good measure, there is also a relatively talented CB class outside the D1A programs across the country. The top lower lever cover corner appears to be Travarous Bain of Hampton, a former Miami Hurricane with the speed to attract some mid-round attention this coming April, although he needs to add some weight. Courtney Brown of Cal Poly, Codera Jackson of Youngstown State, Corey Graham of New Hampshire and Calvin Bannister of Hampton could also get a call in the later rounds this year, while Geoffrey Pope of Howard, who might very well be the fastest player in this draft, David Beverly of Idaho State, who returns after missing the 2005 season due to injury, Tuff Harris of Montana, Montavis Pitts of Jacksonville State, Fletcher Terrell of Washburn, Roger Brown of Delaware, Stephen McCoy of Texas A&M Kingsville, and Dennis Mitchell of Western Kentucky will get some free agent interest.

Sleeper file: Jonathan Wade of Tennessee just may be the fastest player D1A prospect in the 2007 draft class; indeed, Wade doubles as a national level track star where he has run under 10.2 seconds in the 100M. Wade is a former receiver who is still something of a work in progress at CB, but can run with anyone and has a nice break on the ball. In fact, the Volunteers’ secondary could field a world-class sprint relay team as Antwan Stewart has run a 10.4 100M of his own, although he missed all of the 2004 season after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery for a torn ACL and will actually likely play SS this fall, but may be best suited to CB at the next level.

Future file: Put either of sophomore CBs Justin King of Penn State and Joe Burnett of Central Florida in this year's draft class and 2007 suddenly would be that much stronger at the position. Both can really run. In fact, there are a number of quality emerging young cover corners across the country including Chevis Jackson of LSU, Malcolm Jenkins of Ohio State, Tony Carter of Florida State, Rod Council of Louisville, Kenneth Fontenette of Houston, Mike Mickens of Cincinnati, Antonio Smith of Bowling Green, Alphonso Smith of Wake Forest, and Darius Butler of UConn, along with freshman Antwine Perez of USC.

Top 20 CB Prospects
1
Antoine Cason 6-0, 185 Arizona JR
2
Fred Bennett 6-1, 200 South Carolina SR
3
Eric Wright 5-10, 190 UNLV JR
4
DeAndre Jackson 6-0, 195 Iowa State SR
5
Darrelle Revis 5-11, 190 Pittsburgh SR
6
Daymeion Hughes 6-2, 190 California SR
7
Leon Hall 5-11, 195 Michigan SR
8
John Talley 5-10, 180 Duke SR
9
Joe Garcia 6-0, 180 Nevada SR
10
David Irons 6-0, 190 Auburn SR
11
Marquice Cole 5-9, 185 Northwestern SR
12
A.J. Davis 5-9, 195 North Carolina SR
13
Tarell Brown 5-11, 200 Texas SR
14
Marcus McCauley 6-0, 205 Fresno State SR
15
Marcus Hamilton 5-10, 190 Virginia SR
16
Robert Herbert 6-1, 205 Colorado State SR
17
Aaron Ross 6-0, 195 Texas SR
18
Josh Wilson 5-10, 185 Maryland SR
19
Kenny Scott 6-1, 185 Georgia Tech SR
20
Tanard Jackson 6-0, 195 Syracuse SR



http://www.gbnreport.com/2007cbpreview.html

LSUJeremy

Wade is from LA, and played at Evangel. Saban wanted him, and he wanted to go to LSU. There was some problem caused by an Evangel coach that prevented it. Saban went up to Evangel to talk to the head coach during a "no contact" period with recruits (it was ok to talk to the coaches). Anyway, one of the Evangel coaches brings Wade in to the office, which was a recruiting violation. It was reported to the NCAA, and the penalty was that Wade was not allowed by the NCAA to accept a scholarship to LSU.

D24pick

Love the guy Leon Hall