LKelley67

(italics mine)
--------------
My rule of thumb for pro prospects is this: If your game relies purely on speed, come out. Every football player needs speed to some degree, but a receiver, running back and defensive back only has so many years of blazing speed in them. Any slippage in that top gear, and you're out of the league. Running backs can only take so many shots and should come out as soon as humanly possible. Everyone else should stay in school unless they're a sure-fire first or second round pick. Here are the early entries so far.

Marion Barber III, RB Jr. - Minnesota
Projected: 3rd to 4th round
Good or bad move? He said before the Music City Bowl he'd be coming back, but he ripped through the Alabama defense and his stock will likely never be higher. While he has a great nose for the goal line, he'll need a brilliant workout to be assured of going on the first day.

Darryl Blackstock, LB Jr. - Virginia
Projected: 2nd round
Good or bad move? Blackstock has been a steady force on the Cavalier defense and could sneak into the first round if his workouts are out of this world. He has the size, the speed and talent to be a ten-year pro.

Brandon Browner, CB Soph. - Oregon State
Projected: late 1st round to early 2nd
Good or bad move? Browner will be too good to pass up. He's 6-4 with excellent speed and the size and strength to hang with the bigger NFL receivers. He'll likely go mid-first round.

Josh Bullocks, S, Jr. - Nebraska
Projected: late 2nd round to early 4th
Good or bad move? Bullocks is a big hitter with a great nose for the football. He isn't huge, but he'll be a late first day steal for someone.

Channing Crowder, LB Soph. - Florida
Projected: 1st round, possibly top 15
Good or bad move? Maturity is the only issue as some consider Crowder the SEC's best linebacker over the last two years. He's big and very physical with a bi of a nasty streak. Think Ray Lewis-lite.

Thomas Davis, S/LB Jr. - Georgia
Projected: late 1st round to early 2nd
Good or bad move? The only reason to return would be to work a bit more on his cover skills. He projects as a super-fast outside linebacker if he can bulk up another ten pounds.

Ciatrick Fason, RB Jr. - Florida
Projected: 2nd round to early 3rd
Good or bad move? One of college football's underutilized talents, Fason will flourish at the next level with his combination of quickness and power.


Frank Gore, RB Jr. - Miami
Projected: 4th round and up
Good or bad move? If it were any other back this wouldn't make sense, but Gore's knees might not have another year of college ball in them. He hasn't shown nearly the same flash and cutting ability he displayed before his knee problems when he was considered so good that Willis McGahee was relegated to backup status.

Chris Henry, WR Jr. - West Virginia
Projected: 3rd to 4th round
Good or bad move? Henry is a top-flight deep threat, but he's also a top-flight pain in the butt. On talent he's a first round pick and now he has to prove to everyone he's ready to be a steady NFL playmaker.

Adam Jones, CB Jr. - West Virginia
Projected: mid to late 1st round
Good or bad move? Jones can be a top punt returner as well as top cover-corner. There are few better hitting corners in the draft who have the same speed.

Matt McCoy, LB Jr. - San Diego State
Projected: 3rd round or higher
Good or bad move? It'll be an interesting study to see where McCoy falls in comparison to the more hyped Kirk Morrison. Morrison was the better college player, but McCoy has the skills to creep into the first two rounds with a top workout. His tackling skills and range are more than good enough to be a top pro.

T.A. McLendon, RB Jr. - NC State
Projected: 4th round or lower
Good or bad move? Bad move. He should've come back to prove he could stay healthy. There's no denying his talent, but he hasn't been able to stay on the field for any appreciable length of time.

Shawne Merriman, DE Jr. - Maryland
Projected: 1st round, possibly top 15
Good or bad move? While Merriman could turn out to be an NFL linebacker, his future is on the end with a freakish combination of strength, quickness and all-around athleticism. He's being hailed as the next Dwight Freeney.

Heath Miller, TE Jr. - Virginia
Projected: 1st round, possibly top 15
Good or bad move? Easily the first tight end taken, Miller would've been a top 20 pick last year. He has the size, the athleticism and the hands to be another Todd Heap.

Justin Miller, CB Jr. - Clemson
Projected: 2nd to early 3rd round
Good or bad move? He's not nearly as good as he thinks he is, but he'll make plays when picked on and is lethal with the ball in his hands. His kick return talents will quickly move him up the charts.

Ryan Moats, RB Jr. - Louisiana Tech
Projected: late 2nd to 3rd round
Good or bad move? The possible steal of the draft, Moats was one of the nation's most productive runners over the last few years and has the potential to be every bit as productive as the higher ranked backs. While not lightning fast, he's tremendously quick and can be a workhorse.

Vernand Morency, RB Jr. - Oklahoma State
Projected: late 2nd to 3rd round
Good or bad move? It would've been crazy for him to stay. He's old (soon to be 25), but he's among the quickest and most productive backs to come out. He'll wrongly be compared to Tatum Bell since both went to Oklahoma State.

Damien Nash, RB Jr. - Missouri
Projected: 3rd round
Good or bad move? The question will be his attitude and personality after issues with the Missouri coaching staff. He's a great sized back with some of the best wheels in the draft. He'll be some team's deep sleeper and make several teams very excited after the second round.

Roscoe Parrish, WR Jr. - Miami
Projected: 2nd to early 3rd round
Good or bad move? Size is an issue but quickness and playmaking ability won't be. Some team will fall in love with his punt return talents and think about him late in the first round. This is a top heavy draft for tall, big receivers, but Parrish is a better fit for several NFL offenses.

Brodney Pool, S Jr. - Oklahoma
Projected: 2nd to 3rd round
Good or bad move? While not a huge hitter, he can tackle and has been a solid pick-off artist. However, the Orange Bowl wasn't his finest game and could've used another year to be assured of a top 50 pick..

Dante Ridgeway, WR Jr. - Ball State
Projected: 2nd to early 3rd round
Good or bad move? While not the most explosive receiver in the draft, Ridgeway has great hands and was solid as Ball State's only real offensive weapon for most of 2004. He'll flourish as a number two NFL receiver, but isn't a number one.

Aaron Rodgers, QB Jr. - Cal
Projected: top ten pick
Good or bad move? How are Jeff Tedford coached quarterbacks doing at the NFL level lately? Joey Harrington? Bust (so far). Kyle Boller? The jury is still out considering he hasn't had any receivers, but he hasn't been anything to get pumped up about. Akili Smith? Next. David Carr? Promising, but not worth the number one overall pick. Rodgers has everything but height barely clocking in at 6-2.

Steve Savoy, WR Soph. - Utah
Projected: 2nd to 3rd round
Good or bad move? Savoy is a top deep threat and all but tied in his decision to his quarterback. Once Alex Smith chose to turn pro, Savoy was gone. Can he be the next Steve Smith? Absolutely.

Ernest Shazor, S Jr. - Michigan
Projected: late 1st to 2nd round
Good or bad move? It'll all be up to how he times as a 4.5 would likely put him into the top 20. He hits like a linebacker, but he also covers like one. However, he's a great athlete and big enough to be a top intimidator.

Eric Shelton, RB Jr. - Louisville
Projected: 2nd to 3rd round
Good or bad move? At 6-3 and around 250 pounds with a nose for the goal line and excellent speed, Shelton could be one of the drafts high risers after workouts. Don't be shocked if some teams have him in their top 30 .... and pass anyway.

Alex Smith, QB Jr. - Utah
Projected: 1st round, possibly top 15
Good or bad move? He has everything but an arm. Smarts, mobility and uncanny accuracy should make him a sure-fire top 15 pick, but his mediocre arm strength could knock him down late into the first. He's not close to being a sure-thing.

Chris Spencer, C Jr.. - Ole Miss
Projected: 2nd to early 3rd round
Good or bad move? While not exactly the sexiest pick in the draft, Spencer could be the first center taken. Even so, it would've been interesting to see how he would've developed with a top-notch line man like Ed Orgeron as head coach.

Lofa Tatupu, LB Jr.. - USC
Projected: 3rd to 4th round
Good or bad move? Tatupu has a few question marks about how technically sound he is, but the guy can hit and will be a steal past the second round.

Odell Thurman, LB Jr. - Georgia
Projected: 2nd to 3rd round
Good or bad move? Thurman might end up being a bit disappointed on draft day, but he's more than ready and would be a steal after the first round. A solid all-around prospect, he isn't seen quite as the first round lock many originally predicted he might be earlier this season. Fellow Bulldog Thomas Davis projects to be a better linebacker.

Justin Tuck, DE Jr. - Notre Dame
Projected: late 1st round, early 2nd
Good or bad move? Tuck was talking about leaving ever since Ty Willingham got canned. A great pass rusher like Tuck could slip into the top half of the first round if everything breaks his way.

Rian Wallace, LB Jr. - Temple
Projected: 3rd-5th round
Good or bad move? Wallace will be an interesting call. He has the size and tackling ability, but he could use some coaching and needs a bunch of work. If a team can be patient, it'll have a gem.

Fabian Washington, CB Jr. - Nebraska
Projected: first day
Good or bad move? Washington is leaving a bit early, but word is he needs money for his family. He'll get drafted and should be gone without a problem on the first day. The top ball-hawker could quickly shoot up the charts with a big combine. Even though he's not huge, he has good size and is an excellent tackler.

Walter Washington, QB Jr. - Temple
Projected: 4th round or lower
Good or bad move? It depends on where he intends to play. He'd make for a big-time linebacker if a team wanted to spend the time and energy on teaching him and could instantly be a top-notch big running back. His passing skills need work, but if he could shine on a horrible Temple team, he'll be worth a flier at quarterback.

Troy Williamson, WR Jr. - South Carolina
Projected: 1st round
Good or bad move? It would've been fun to see him as Steve Spurrier's number one target for a year. He's 6-2, physical, and one of the fastest receivers in the draft

http://collegefootballnews.com/2005/...ving_Early.htm

baronm

i\'ve heard that browner will more than likely be a bust.

moats is the real deal..he lit up auburn when they played us.