blacksaint

Name Pos Ht Wt College


Allen, Steve ILB 6'1" 236 West Texas AM
*Brown, Titus OLB 6'3" 239 Mississippi State*
Butler, Ezra OLB 6'2" 248 Nevada
Clermond, Joe LB 6'3" 260 Pittsburgh
Crooks, Andy LB 6'3" 258 Wisconsin
Doggett, Derrick LB 6'3" 212 Oregon State
Dunbar, Jo-Lonn OLB 6'1" 228 Boston College
*Gatewood, Curtis LB 6'2" 248 Vanderbilt*
Guyton, Gary LB 6'2" 245 Georgia Tech
Hall, Vince ILB 6'0" 238 Virginia Tech
*Henderson, Erin OLB 6'3" 244 Maryland*
*Highsmith, Ali OLB 6'0" 226 LSU*
Johnson, Rodrick LB 6'2" 254 Oklahoma State
Lansanah, Danny OLB 6'1" 251 Connecticut
Leman, Jeremy LB 6'2" 240 Illinois
Mapp, Durell OLB 6'2" 228 North Carolina
McClain, Jameel LB 6'1" 253 Syracuse
McCullough, Ronnie LB 6'0" 229 Bethune-Cookman
*Moffitt, Ben OLB 6'1" 234 South Florida*
Myles, Lamar OLB 6'0" 220 Louisville
Octavien, Steve OLB 6'0" 238 Nebraska
Ogletree, Brandon OLB 6'3" 227 Idaho
Poppinga, Kelly OLB 6'2" 240 BYU
Renkart, Brandon OLB 6'2" 236 Rutgers
Richardson, Marcus OLB 6'0" 235 Troy
Simmons, Shane LB 6'1" 228 Western Washington
Watkins, Nick OLB 6'1" 219 Clemson
Woodyard, Wesley OLB 6'1" 227 Kentucky

"I don't understand how players like Highsmith,Moffet, Henderson, and Gatewood can go undrafted. My favs are in bold asterick."

saint4life
(504)

jtsaints

Guyton could be special too 4.33 in the forty at his size.

blacksaint

Name Pos Ht Wt College


*Abdullah, Husain DB 6'0" 204 Washington State*
*Castille, Simeon CB 6'0" 190 Alabama*
Franks, Stanley CB 5'9" 177 Idaho
Grant, Michael DB 5'10" 186 Arkansas
Johnson, Kelin DB 6'0" 195 Georgia
Lewis, Jamal DB 6'0" 200 Georgia Tech
McKinney, Justin CB 5'10" 188 Kansas State
Parker, D.J. CB 5'11" 192 Virginia Tech
Phillips, Al DB 5'11" 195 Wagner
Richardson, Matterral CB 6'0" 192 Arkansas
Sharpe, Glenn CB 6'0" 186 Miami
Tate, Davanzo CB 5'10" 186 Akron
Terrell, Darnell CB 6'2" 203 Missouri
Walker, Marcus CB 5'11" 191 Oklahoma
*Williams, Bobbie CB 6'0" 214 Bethune-Cookman*
Williams, Travis CB 5'9" 180 East Carolina
Wolfe, D.J. CB 5'11" 207 Oklahoma
*Zenon, Jonathan CB 6'0" 180 LSU*

"My favs are in bold."

saint4life
(504)

triman

I was shocked to find out that one out of five players in the NFL are UDFAs Wish we could find a Defensive Pierre Thomas.

blacksaint

Name Pos Ht Wt College


Bennett, Cole TE 6'4" 246 Auburn
Bishop, Adam TE 6'5" 245 Nevada
Brown, Chris TE 6'1" 249 Tennessee
Bugg, Tim TE 6'0" 255 Indiana
DeVree, Tyson TE 6'4" 247 Colorado
Finley, J.J. TE 6'6" 258 Oklahoma
Haynos, Joey TE 6'8" 262 Maryland
Kapanui, Kolo TE 6'3" 268 West Texas AM
Moore, Evan TE 6'6" 233 Stanford
Peterson, Mike TE 6'2" 247 Northwest Missouri State
Sherry, Matt TE 6'4" 255 Villanova
Strong, Darrell TE 6'5" 260 Pittsburgh

"I really don't have a fav TE. LSU's TE Keith Zingler was drafted 25 overall in the 7th rd (232)."

saint4life
(504)

jeanpierre

Saints better fly these guys in right now and sign as FA...

Finley, J.J. TE 6'6" 258 Oklahoma

Peterson, Mike TE 6'2" 247 Northwest Missouri State

hagan714

OLB

Ezra Butler, Nevada, 6016, 240, 4.51

Butler has excellent size with long arms, well built and Very fast for a linebacker. He hasn't really been used as a classic outside linebacker, as the "Bandit" position he played is more like a 5-tech rush end. He is agile and moves well and has quick change of direction, moves well in traffic. Butler plays sideline to sideline and can really get after it when he is engaged. He closes quickly on ball carriers and very explosive when he gets into the offensive backfield. Big hitter. Physical, aggressive and plays with a mean streak. He will truly deliver a cannon-type blow. Does his best work in attack mode. Good build for LB duties, thick legs and wide frame. A terrific pass rusher. He can run with any tight end and most receivers and possesses good hands for interceptions. He gets a good deep drops on zone coverage. Plays with a nasty edge and having a good team around him will only make him better. Great special teamer. He is more polished than some of the other OLB prospects on this draft class. 3 year starter.

Although big and strong, Butler seems to wear down when run at. Can be too aggressive at times. He must avoid biting on play action fakes, because sometimes he tends to gamble. Gets reckless in his pursuit, out-running the play and then struggles to get back into the action. Needs to refine his technique. Needs to play with better leverage. Has some troubling shedding blocks needs to use his hands better and relies too much on his speed as a pass rusher. Tries to over-power blockers rather than slip past or avoid. He is just average in coverage. He needs to get a quicker read on the quarterback in pass coverage and show better awareness to handle switch-off activity in zone coverage.doesn't always play up to his measurables.

Butler is the kind of athlete who can change a game around and made difference-making plays. Has all the physical tools you look for and could be a fit for either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme at the pro level. Workout Warrior with a lot of potential

Violation of team policies resulted in a one-game suspension in 2007

Ali Highsmith, L.S.U., 5116, 230, 4.70 (MLB/OLB)

Highsmith does the one thing all NFL scouts love -- he finds a way to get to the ball. Also, scouts love his versatility, with him capable of filling any linebacker role. His leadership skills also enhance his value. He's able to go sideline to sideline and is a very solid player in coverage. He shows good hip flip in coverage and has the burst to break on the ball. He shows a good understanding of the offense and knows where he should be. As a tackler, he shows good effort and form, and delivers a surprising pop.Solid blitzer and pass rusher. Real active and has a non-stop motor. Good leader. Excellent special teamer.

His lack of size and straiaght line speed will be a concern, since he has trouble at times getting off blocks. Highsmith is often overpowered by offensive linemen and even fullbacks and tight ends. He will need to get stronger. If they can get into his body, he's washed out of the play too easily. Has trouble taking on and shedding blockers. His best asset, unbounded aggression, can also work against him at times. He needs to be more disciplined. Highsmith sometimes runs himself right out of the play, taking poor angles and leaving his feet to dive at the ballcarrier. He'll also fall for misdirection and play action, counting too heavily on his athleticism to allow him to recover. His reaction to the ball is a little slow. Marginal instincts and he is often late to react.

Most scouts expect him to thrive as a weakside linebacker. Classic weakside prospect who is equally effective against the run as well as in coverage and could excel in the right. Might be best suited for a scheme like the Colts or Bucs employ.


Curtis Johnson, Clark Atlanta, 6025, 242lbs, 4.64 40

Johnson wasn’t considered a prospect by the NFL’s scouting services last spring, however, his play in 2007 and the East-West Shrine Game opened the eyes of all 32 NFL teams and he earned an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine. This past year he finished as a consensus All-American with 13.5 sacks and 27 tackles for loss. Johnson is expected to make the move from end to linebacker and has the athleticism to do it. It will take some time before he is ready to contribute on more than special teams, however, he is a project worth taking on in the mid rounds. Johnson should come off the board in the 5th to 6th round range.

Strengths:
Excellent natural athlete...Good speed and quickness...Strong and powerful...An explosive tackler and hitter...Well-built with a solid frame...Great pass rusher...Big special teams potential..Productive and dominated his level..Still has some upside.

Weaknesses:
'Tweener who will probably have to make a position change...Did not play against top competition...Lacks great size and bulk...Marginal instincts / awareness...Raw and he has a ways to go technique-wise (footwork, hand use, etc.)...Intelligence?

Notes:
Brother, J.R., played at Syracuse and bounced around the NFL for a while...Played defensive end in college but will probably be a outside linebacker in the pros..Had some academic issues out of high school and ended up at Morrisville St...Received a lot of DI interest and was slated to attend Morgan St. but changed his mind and chose Clark-Atlanta instead..Had a strong showing at the East-West Shrine Game and showed promise standing up...A top DII sleeper and developmental prospect.


Marcus Richardson Troy 6-3 225 4.55

Richardson was redshirted in 2005, playing in seven games (but seeing limited action in each of them). In 2006, Richardson started all of the team's eleven games at strong side linebacker. He recorded 59 tackles (seven for loss) and broke five pass attempts. He played eleven of the team's thirteen games during his sophomore season. But he missed two games due to a broken collarbone, yet still recording 40 tackles with 4.5 for loss and registered 1.5 sacks. In 2007, he started all of the school's twelve games, finishing the season with 60 sacks (5.5 for loss) and also registering 2.5 sacks. He also lettered on the school's track and field team, competing in the 100 meter dash and the triple jump.

Richardson is a natural, fluid athlete. He is quick and fast (4.56-40) with great range, who is able to move well laterally. He can run with any back or tight end out of the backfield and will also go toe-for-toe with some wide receivers. Adjusting well when the ball is in the air, his great leaping ability (registered 39' vertical jump) enables him to batter many balls. Richardson is a willing run stopper and his long arms help him rap ball carriers well. But, he is undersized and needs to add weigh. His production is below his athletic level and his pass recognition needs work. Occasionally, he will bite on some play fakes and is overly aggressive, not playing with consistency.

Richardson is an above average athlete who has a lot of football ability. His consistency and lack of production will downgrade his stock and his size is also concern. All that said, Richardson will probably be selected late in the draft. He should make a pro roster and could produce immediately on special teams. In time and with coaching, he could make a contribution on defense.

OLB/DE Vincent Redd, Liberty, 6060, 263, 4.50

More than a dozen scouts lined the field for Liberty’s pro-day workout today and former Virginia transfer Vince Redd came away the big winner.

An all-Conference selection last season, the outside linebacker measured 6-feet 6-inches, weighed 263 pounds then turned in an outstanding workout.

Redd timed his forty’s in the mid-4.5 second area, with some stopwatches reading as fast as 4.48 seconds. He posted a 39-inch vertical jump and 9-foot-10-inch broad jump.

The only stain on his otherwise outstanding performance was the bench press, where he was able to only complete 13 reps.

Erin Henderson Maryland 6-23/4 244 4.73 ILB/OLB


Linebacker Erin Henderson has great size and speed and one of the top LB’s in the nation that should be one of the top linebackers on most draft boards. He is quite instinctive and will always be around the ball and deliver some big time hits. He reads the action quickly, and is athletic and strong enough with his hands to get through blocks on his way to the ballcarrier. Can beat the running back to the edge. Has decent range and does a nice job in pursuit. Will thump ball carriers. Great instincts and awareness. Protects his knees and avoids the trash while keeping his head up. Real aggressive and plays with a nasty demeanor. Can hold his own in zone coverage. Sees crossing routes well and is very instinctive. Very good change of direction skills. Chiseled frame with room for additional growth. Has shown the ability to bounce back from major surgery with no loss of speed or aggression. Versatile, Hard worker, Excellent intangibles and Nice bloodlines. Brother, E.J. starting linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings

His injuries are the biggest concern, including a torn ACL suffered a couple years back. Henderson does not have the best cover skills around and would prefer to go after the ball, but he has enough speed and skills to develop his coverage ability if necessary. Plays too tall and is not overly stout at the point. Has trouble taking on and shedding blockers. Relies too much on his athleticism to evade blocks, rather than physically confronting them. Does not have elite speed or athleticism and looks stiff. Lacks fluid hips and has trouble matching up in coverage. Still needs to work some on cover skills. Has to get stronger

Henderson only missed one game last year and remained extremely productive despite the injuries. He is a tough player and will not allow any minor injuries to get in his way. He is not as physically gifted as some of the other linebackers, but he is no slouch either. His superior instincts will have many teams who are looking for a linebacker fighting over his services in the second round of the draft.

Torn ACL in his left knee caused him to miss the entire 2005 season
Missed only one game, but was held out of practice (only playing on Saturday) in many more games this season after tearing the meniscus and spraining the ACL in the same knee

2/28 Update: Erin Henderson did what he could to show off his instincts at the Combine, but he put up some decent numbers across the board as well. He did not do anything to drop his status below the second round and everybody has to like his ball hawking ability that can only be seen on game tapes.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

beauchristopher

Abdullah Husain and Usama Young would make a great terrorizing defensive tantrum.

blacksaint

Name Pos Ht Wt College


Bakhtiari, Eric DE 6'3" 259 San Diego
Blake, Tommy DE 6'3" 272 TCU
Booker, Barry DT 6'4" 284 Virginia Tech
*Chukwu, George DT 6'1" 312 Rice*
Dingle, Johnny DE 6'2" 265 West Virginia
*Dixon, Marcus DE 6'4" 284 Hampton*
Dykes, Keilen DE 6'4" 306 West Virginia
Foster, Eric DE 6'2" 277 Rutgers
*Geathers, Jeremy DE 6'2" 256 UNLV*
Gilberry, Wallace DE 6'3" 263 Alabama
Gray, Derrick DE 6'4" 266 Texas Southern
Hardie, Rudolph DE 6'2" 270 Howard
Holmes, Louis DE 6'4" 263 Arizona
Hout, Kurt DT 6'1" 280 Ferris State
Johnson, Curtis DE 6'3" 239 Clark Atlanta
Lokey, Derek DL 6'2" 288 Texas
Marquardt, Michael DE 6'3" 298 Arizona State
Mattison, Bryan DE 6'3" 290 Iowa
McClinton, James DT 6'0" 289 Kansas
*McDuffie, Chris DT 6'4" 330 Clemson*
Murray, Maurice DT 6'3" 334 New Mexico State
*Nwagbuo, Ogemdi DT 6'3" 298 Michigan State*
Oliver, Adamm DE 6'4" 268 Georgia Tech
Ortiz, Chase DE 6'2" 249 TCU
Redd, Vincent DE 6'6" 263 Liberty
Robertson, Darrell DE 6'5" 245 Georgia Tech
Smith, Dorian DE 6'2" 264 Oregon State
Smith, Henry DT 6'2" 310 Texas A&M

"My favs are in bold, I'm seating here wondering why didn't anybody draft Jeremy Geathers (Jumpy's nephew)?"

saint4life
(504)

hagan714

SS

Michael Eubanks, Delta State, 5112, 193lbs, 4.55 40

Eubanks has been an undersized linebacker with great explosion, speed, and quickness that will perhaps turn him into a solid special teamer and backup as strong safety in the NFL. His highly decorated D2 career was highlighted by three-time All-America honors and two-time Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Year accolades. His 2007 campaign was the best of all as he finished the season with 90 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks on his way to finishing the season as a Harlon Hill Trophy Finalist. He capped his illustrious career with MVP honors at the 2008 Cactus Bowl after posting 6 tackles, a force fumble, and interception return for a touchdown. His hard-hitting play, good speed, and lack of linebacker size makes him an ideal position change to strong safety. He should come off the board in the 6th or 7th round but changing positions could possibly drop him to an undrafted free agent signing.

FS

Dennis Keyes, UCLA, 6020, 203, 4.56, 15

Keyes is an ultra-athletic, lightening quick safety prospect. Although he has some trouble reading routes from his defensive safety position, he has good enough speed to recover. UCLA's defense has been somewhat of a disappointment this year, but Keyes has been a steady performer. Keyes is another prospect that does not do any one thing great, but he is such a great athlete that many teams will be intrigued. He has stepped up his run support very well in comparison to 2006. Keyes' range makes him very likeable and he will contribute on special teams immediately upon entry into the league. Although this is one of the weakest safety classes in years, Keyes is one of the more athletic prospects at the safety position in this year's draft. He ran well at the combine with a 4.59 forty yard dash. In spite of having a decent combine, he still does not project as a first day pick. Keyes is a developmental player and will likely not contribute early in his career, but with coaching and practice could develop better instincts and has the athletic ability to develop into a superstar.

Husain Abdullah 5119, 204, 4.66

Strengths:
Adequate size and bulk...Good natural athleticism...Nice hands and ball skills..Real aggressive...Plays faster than he times..Makes a lot of big plays..Team leader and hard worker with solid intangibles...Has good special teams potential...Productive.

Weaknesses:
Does not have great timed speed...Not real quick or explosive and lacks a burst to recover...Questionable instincts and awareness..Mediocre tackler..Not very strong or physical...Lackluster in run support....Range is limited...Is not technically sound.

Notes:
Brother Hamza also played for the Cougars and he is currently in the NFL with the Denver Broncos...Was a three-year starter in the Pac-10...Bit of a 'tweener in that he isn't a typical centerfielder or in-the-box type...Profiles as a backup in the pros.


CB

Darnell Terrell, Missouri, 6016, 205 4.46, 15, 35 (CB/S/WR)
Terrell is former JUCO transfer that is flying under the radar as a pro prospect. He has excellent size-speed combination (long arms) with all the physical tools. Reacts quickly to cut receivers on quick passes or running backs on screens. Closes on a ball or receiver very well. He has a knack for getting a hand on the ball. Excels in zone coverage. Can quickly jump patterns when playing off his man and watching the quarterback. Nice instincts. He is aggressive with excellent range. Does a solid job versus the run and always will hustle to make tackles downfield. Darnell has the size to bring down bigger backs and receivers. He has the ability to play safety. Still has a decent amount of upside.
He does looks like a track star playing football at times. Shaky tackling sometimes, needs to learn to play a bit more within himself and would have to get tougher and tackle better in order to be a stand out at safety. Not super physical and just an average tackler. He still needs technique work and he does have some stiffness in his hips. Plays too tall. Poor footwork. Does not make a lot of big plays. Had more interceptions in his first year as a non-starter (two) than he did in two year as a starter (one). But he does get his hands on balls (nine passes broken up in 2007). Struggles to keep up with wideouts in man coverage. Much better when the play is in front of him, as he lacks fluid backpedal or hips to change directions quickly.
A two-year starter in Columbia, he has an excellent combination of size and speed that are everything NFL scouts want to see. but does not seem to be able to get interceptions. Intriguing physical specimen with outstanding triangle numbers. Terrell could be a Day 2 steal if he gets with the right team and developed properly either at cornerback or free safety.


Jonathan Zenon, L.S.U., 5117, 176, 4.56, (CB/S tweener)

Zenon established himself as a ball hawk his junior year with 16 passes defended -- the second most in the Southeastern Conference -- and four interceptions. He also made 27 tackles, with 17 solo. That had many experts anticipating Zenon would have a breakout campaign this past season and emerge as one of the best cover corners in the nation. He wasn't bad in 2007; He had 45 tackles -- 32 solo -- with three interceptions, nine pass breakups and one forced fumble. Unfortunately for Zenon, LSU's other corner, Chevis Jackson, had an even more impressive campaign that has overshadowed Zenon's work. Zenon's size is his greatest asset. He won't be over matched physically by NFL receivers. He has good instincts for the ball, capitalizing on his above-average quickness. He has good agility and the change-of-direction skills to close on receivers. He has good leaping ability.
The biggest knock on Zenon is he has been inconsistent covering receivers in tight man-to-man coverage due to a lack of explosiveness and speed. He runs a 4.58 in the 40-yard dash, which puts him at a distinct disadvantage against deep threats. That means he likely needs to be in a cover 2 scheme to be successful.
But in the right scheme, he has the tools to be a solid NFL corner.

Brian Witherspoon, Stillman, 5105, 180 4.25

Overview
Productive small college phenom who may be one of the fastest players available for the 2008 NFL draft. Stillman College is one of the better DII programs around, and their players are usually well coached.
Strengths
Decent size. Great athleticism and timed speed. Will pop you. Flexible hips. Turns and goes. Blankets receivers at this level. Nose for the ball. Good hands for the pick.
Weaknesses
Level of competition concerns are a major negative. Has not faced many elite receivers. Needs to be given time to develop at the next level--a luxury most teams are not willing to grant
Projection
All depends on whether or not he gets enough exposure in the post-season. Samford's Cortland Finnegan had a bit more to work with, but not all that much...so, DII defensive backs from the south DO occasionally have a shot...

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins