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Florida Holds #1 Ranking in Draft Insiders’ Poll

Photo – Ben Tate - Auburn

Top 25 Rankings
1. Florida (3-0) – Gators won their 13th game in a row vs Tennessee this week.
2. Texas (3-0) – Longhorns got their revenge vs Texas Tech last Saturday.
3. Mississippi (2-0) – Rebels might not be tested until the Bama game.
4. Penn St (3-0) – Nittany Lions taking care of soft opponents.
5. Alabama (3-0) – Tide is crushing easy foes.
6. LSU (3-0) – Tigers are prepping for bigger fish in October.
7. California (3-0) – Bears get a huge test at Oregon this week.
8. Boise St (3-0) - Broncos offense is exploding in the early action.
9. Oklahoma (2-1) – Sooners get bye week before big games with Miami and Texas in October.
10. Southern Cal (2-1)– Young Trojans were surprised by Huskies on Saturday.
11. Ohio St (2-1) – Buckeyes drilled Toledo. Face Illinois at home this week.
12. Miami (2-0) – Canes face Va. Tech and Oklahoma next on schedule.
13. North Carolina (3-0) – Tar Heels won big vs East Carolina.
14. Virginia Tech (2-1) – Tech hoping to move into top ten with win over Miami this week.
15. Cincinnati (3-0) - Cats won a big matchup with Oregon St.
16. Kansas (3-0) - Jayhawks are showing maturity at key positions.
17. Pittsburgh (3-0) – Panthers go on the road the next two weeks.
18. Auburn (3-0) – Tigers won a big game vs W Va last Saturday.
19. Florida St. (2-1) – Seminoles won impressively over BYU last week.
20. Oregon (2-1) – Ducks impressed in win over Utah.
21. BYU (2-1) – Cougars need to recover from thrashing by Florida St.
22. Texas Christian (2-0) – Horned Frogs face a good Clemson club on the road Saturday.
23. Utah (2-1) – Utes lost a tough matchup vs Oregon.
24. Oklahoma St (2-1) – Cowboys better find a defense to stay in Top 25.
25. Michigan (3-0) – Wolverines are hungry to get back in national rankings.

Frank Coyle is a longtime Member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for the Super 16 College Team Polls throughout the season that will present Grantland Rice award to the national champion in January 2010. He is also a voter for Players of the Week and for the FWAA All-American teams at the conclusion of each season.

Pro Prospect NFL Draft 2010 – Draft Insiders Preview Available Now

Pro Prospect Eric Norwood - South Carolina

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Photo - DE Eric Norwood - South Carolina

Defender Eric Norwood of South Carolina is one of the highly regarded senior prospects for the NFL Draft 2010. He is off to a great start with several dominant performances that has commanded double teaming in most key situations. He has helped SC to a 2-1 record while registering 4 sacks and 4 tackles for losses despite special attention by offenses often. Currently, he is on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List and will probably be added to all the front seven defensive award lists over the next few months. He was our on first pro prospect list for the Senior Bowl committee this month.

Pro Prospect NFL Draft – Draft Insiders' Preview Scouting Report
Eric Norwood - 6’ 265 lbs. - South Carolina
Aggressive senior edge defender opened the season with a huge performance vs N.C. St. As a junior, he had a strong performance especially as a pass rusher. He combines quickness, instincts and toughness to battle through blockers and make the big play. His relentless approach earned him many tackles on sheer toughness and guile. His production this fall and the postseason will determine how high he will be selected in the NFL Draft 2010. He was a first-team SEC pick last fall and has impact talent to be a difference maker once again this fall.

Pro Prospect - Runner C.J. Spiller - Clemson

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Photo – C.J. Spiller - Clemson

Running back C.J. Spiller of Clemson is one of the premier pro prospects this season. Over his first two games this season, he has rushed for over 100 yards on 24 carries and added 4 recepitons for 69 yards including a 63 yard TD. Over his first three seasons, he rushed for 2335 yards and 20 TDs, in addition to 87 receptions for another 7 TDs He will be the primary feature back this fall and should get the most rushing attempts of his career that shoud enabe him to break the 1000 yard rushing mark for the first time. His big play abiity is what ranks him among the top runing backs this year with the upside potential to be the #1 prospect at this vital position.

Running Back
C.J. Spiller - 5’10” 190 lbs. - Clemson
Electrifying tailback returns after an outstanding ’08 performance in the ACC. He is an imposing back who is very quick initially with an excellent burst of speed through the hole. He has good change of direction skills to create running lanes and the breakaway speed to go the distance every time he touches the ball. He explodes thru the hole that allows him to get to the 2nd level consistently and break tackles and outrun defenders. He shows good sure hands as a receiver with the ability to make things happen after the reception. He needs some further work as a route runner. He has natural openfield running skills to makes him a threat to hit the home run regularly, in addition to surprising power to run inside and carry the game to game load. He could one of the nation’s best players and capable of being one of the super blue chip prospects for the NFL Draft 2010.

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DraftInsiders.com and ProFootballDraftNetwork.com will be collaborating on a weekly article (posted every Wednesday during the college football regular season) to review the prior weeks most notable performances from a 2010 NFL Draft perspective.

NFL Draft Prospects - Week 2

Photo - DE Jerry Hughes - TCU

Frank Coyle - www.draftinsiders.com
Draft Insiders’ Digest –19th Season

DE Jerry Hughes - 6’3” 255 lbs. - Texas Christian
Explosive edge rusher has displayed impact ability over his MWC career and had a dominant effort vs Virginia. Hughes had a career high and team-best 11 tackles, including 2.5 TFL with 1.5 sacks in TCU opening win. He makes big plays off the edge, relying on a quick first step and technique to separate from blockers. He has the upfield speed to sack the QB with the frame to fill out further to be an every down defender. His ability to apply pressure off the edge has drawn rave reviews from scouts and he will be watched closely over his critical final season.

QB Daryll Clark - 6’2”230 lbs - Penn St.
Athletic senior QB had a fine effort in the PSU win over Syracuse. He was very accurate hitting on 70% of his throws, including 3 TDs. He has good size and arm strength with quick compact delivery and fairly good touch to make all the throws. His mobility is an added feature that scouts love in a starting QB. He looks to improve on a good effort as a junior and show further development on all the key areas for this position. He looks to take another step to land in a major All-star game this postseason.

QB Dan LeFevour - 6’3” 220 lbs. – Central Michigan
Savvy senior passer had a huge performance in the CM win over Michigan St. This came on the heels of a disappointing opening loss to Arizona. LeFevour was the key difference in the MSU win throwing for over 300 yards and 3 TDs making many clutch plays. He has a good arm and makes most of the critical throws accurately. He is fearless in the pocket, showing toughness and good decisions when under a heavy pass rush. He gets the ball down the field with fine accuracy and touch with good ball security. He continues to make fast improvement that has him ranked among the top senior passers in this class.

* RB Joe McKnight - 6’ 190 lbs. - Southern Cal
Smooth junior tailback was instrumental in the USC game winning drive vs Ohio St. He is a highly rated prospect who has flashed impact ability at times, but also periods of inconsistency that included mistakes, injuries and academic issues. He combines good size, speed, agility and hands along with his fine level of development that makes him valuable for the pro game. He displays a well developed skill set for the position to be a factor in many roles in the backfield. He could be one of the top junior playmakers in this overall draft class.

DE Lindsey Witten - 6’4” 250 lbs. - Connecticut
Explosive pass rusher has been a dominant defender over the early season. He has the quick first step to gain a fast advantage in matchups. He has shown the talent to make big plays off the edge and displays more consistency in that role. He has the upfield speed to get after the QB and has the frame to fill out further. His ability to fill out over 255 lbs. will determine his ability to be an every down pro defender. He is on every NFL teams watch list this fall.

Denis Krusos - Editor
Pro Football Network
www.profootballdraftnetwork.com

S Taylor Mays, Senior, USC- the Trojans’ free safety led his team with 8 tackles in USC’s 18-15 victory over Ohio State. Mays is big, strong, fast and a ferocious hitter. However, he still has to prove that he has the top pass coverage instincts that the elite safeties possess to be a worthy high 1st round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. What makes Pittsburgh’s,Troy Polamalu, so devastating at safety is he is a ballhawk in pass coverage and like an extra linebacker in run support. Mays misread a pass play and compounded the error by taking a poor angle on Dane Sanzenbacher’s 56-yard catch and run early in the game. The big play set-up Ohio State’s 1st touchdown. Is Mays another Polamalu or a Roy Williams, the former Cowboys’ safety, who became a liability in pass coverage? PFDN will be keeping a close eye on this issue.

OT Sam Young, Senior, Notre Dame- the Irish right tackle had a solid performance in Notre Dame’s narrow 34-38 defeat to Michigan. He helped pave the way for a balanced Irish attack that gained 490 yards of total offense (154 yards on the ground (5.1 per carry) and 336 passing yards). Notre Dame quarterback, Jimmy Clausen, was not sacked and often had time to locate his receivers. Young has excellent experience as a pass protector and keeps filling out his 6’ 7” frame.

QB Jake Locker, Junior, Washington- the Huskies’ first win in almost two years was led by their athletic quarterback. Locker is taking nicely to Steve Sarkisian’s pro-style offense and Washington is putting points on the board. Locker is an exceptional athlete who can make plays with his legs and arm. He is starting to rely less on his legs and distributed the ball efficiently to 9 different receivers in Washington’s 42-23 victory over Idaho. The junior quarterback (17 of 25 (68%) for 253 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions against Idaho) is learning to go through his reads and deliver the ball accurately. USC presents a far tougher test, but Locker is an intriguing NFL prospect in either 2010 or 2011.

OLB Sean Lee, Senior, Penn State- Lee clearly is all the way back after tearing his acl last season in his right knee. The quick and instinctive outside linebacker was all over the field in Penn State’s easy 28-7 victory over Syracuse. Lee paced the Lions’ defense with 13 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 1 sack. His return to health and consistently productive play has him rising up draft boards.

QB Jarrett Brown, Senior, West Virginia- Brown backed up Pat White for three years and finally is the Mountaineers’ starting quarterback. He opened some eyes in West Virginia’s 35-20 victory over East Carolina. Brown put on an impressive performance and finished the day 24 of 31 (77%) for 334 yards, 4 touchdown passes and 1 interception. He also displayed his athleticism and strength in rushing for 73 yards on 10 carries. Brown was decisive on where to throw the ball and was accurate on a couple of NFL-caliber deep balls. He has not been sacked this season and that is partly due to he is difficult to bring down with his combination of size, strength and athletic ability.

Florida Holds #1 Position
Photo – Dezmon Briscoe - Kansas

1. Florida (2-0) – Gators face a dangerous Tennessee club this week.
2. Texas (2-0) – Longhorns looking for revenge vs Texas Tech this week.
3. USC (2-0) – Young Trojans won a huge game vs Ohio St on Saturday.
4. Mississippi (1-0) – Rebels had an early bye week.
5. Penn St (1-0) – Nittany Lions winning vs soft part of their schedule.
6. BYU (2-0) – Cougars offense is smoking hot.
7. Alabama (2-0) – Roll Tide is feasting on soft opponents.
8. LSU (2-0) – Tigers playing up to potential in early games.
9. Boise St (2-0) - Broncos are a hungry club this season.
10. California (2-0) – Bears are rolling over early opponents.
11. Georgia Tech (2-0) - Yellow Jackets face big test vs Miami this week.
12. Utah (2-0) – Utes get a huge matchup at Oregon this Saturday.
13. Oklahoma (1-1) – Sooners looking to string a few wins together here
14. Ohio St (1-1) – Buckeyes can up just short vs Southern Cal last week.
15. North Carolina (2-0) – Tar Heels just got by UConn last week.
16. Pittsburgh (2-0) – Panthers meet a tough Navy club on Saturday.
17. Virginia Tech (1-1) – Tech hoping to jump on Nebraska at home Saturday.
18. Cincinnati (2-0) - Cats clash with Oregon St in key intersectional matchup.
19. Kansas (2-0) - Jayhawks taking advantage of a soft early schedule.
20. Texas Christian (1-0) – Horned Frogs jumped on Virginia in their opener.
21. Oklahoma St (1-1) – Cowboys better find a defense to stay in Top 25.
22. Nebraska (2-0) – Huskers face a real test playing at Va Tech this Saturday.
23. Miami (1-0) – Canes had time to get ready for Ga Tech this Thursday.
24. Oregon St (2-0) – Scrappy club gets Cincinnati at home this week.
25. Iowa (2-0) – Hawkeyes hoping to surprise in the balanced Big Ten.

Frank Coyle is a longtime Member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for the Super 16 College Team Polls throughout the season that will present Grantland Rice award to the national champion in January 20109. He is also a voter for Players of the Week and for the FWAA All-American teams at the conclusion of each season.

DraftInsiders.com 2009 NFL Predictions
Giants Edge Chargers in Super Bowl Forecast

Photo - QB Peyton Manning - Colts

NFC
EAST
NEW YORK GIANTS - 12-4 - Eli looks to take another step up this season and directs this potent attack. Their veteran defense is one of the top five in the league.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - 11-5 - Eagles are among the best in the league again. They are capable of winning the East and going to the show with McNabb and Vick giving them a unique tandem.
DALLAS COWBOYS - 9-5 – With no T.O. this season, QB Tony Romo might struggle more than expected. Defense is good, but not near the top two in this division.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS - 8-8 – Skins face the acid test this season with young QB Jason Campbell the main performer under the microscope. Skins might again struggle to make .500 in the best division in the game.

NORTH
CHICAGO BEARS - 11-5 - Bears can win this division with new QB Jay Cutler. The defense is the best in this division that could spell the difference over the course of the season.
GREEN BAY PACKERS - 10-5 - Aaron Rodgers is the Man here and Packers may be the best club in the division.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS - 10-5 - Vikes look to veteran Brett Favre to be the difference maker on an erratic club that is capable of big wins or total self destruction.
DETROIT LIONS - 0- 16 – Please keep the streak alive. What a joke this organization is.

SOUTH
CAROLINA PANTHERS - 10-6 - Panthers are the best in this division, but they face a very tough schedule that either makes or breaks them.
ATLANTA FALCONS - 9-7 - Falcons are thinking title but they face a very tough schedule that might be the equalizer.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - 7-9 – This organizations can not get the defense right and a .500 record might be the best to expect despite high production from QB Drew Brees and his big play weapons.
TAMPA BAY BUCS - 5-11 - Bucs are a disaster in the making. This club won 9 games the past two seasons, but they may not be able to register more than 6 wins this fall.

WEST
ARIZONA CARDINALS - 9-7 - Cards looking to repeat in the weakest division in the NFL.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - 9-7 – Seahawks look to rebound after a poor 4-12 season, but only if veterans return to former levels. Young defense will determine if they can make the playoffs.
ST. LOUIS RAMS - 6-10 - Rams look to potent offense to help them to return to respectability. Their changing defense is still not up to playoff levels at this point.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS - 4-12 – Despite HC Mike Singletary, this club is still struggling to find an identity. They will struggle to even approach the .500 mark.

Divisional Champs
N.Y. Giants, Chicago, Carolina and Arizona
Wild Card Clubs s
Philadelphia & Minnesota

NFC Championship
N.Y. Giants over Carolina – G Men go to the Big Show.

NFL Draft 2010 Prospects - Week 1 Play

DraftInsiders.com and ProFootballDraftNetwork.comwill be collaborating on a weekly article (posted every Wednesday during the college football regular season) to review the prior weeks most notable performances from a 2010 NFL Draft perspective.

Photo - TE Jermaine Gresham - Oklahoma

Frank Coyle - www.draftinsiders.com
Draft Insiders’ Digest –19th Season

* QB Sam Bradford - 6’3” 215 lbs - Oklahoma
Athletic fourth year junior QB had an auspicious debut that ended quickly with a throwing shoulder injury. He will miss at least 2 to 4 weeks, but no surgery is necessary currently. He had an incredible early career with the Sooners that included winning the Heisman award last season. He is the prototypical NFL passer with a strong arm, quick compact delivery and good touch and accuracy to make all the throws. This puts his pro aspirations on the sidelines as well as his chances of repeating as the Heisman winner. He should be back for the Red River Rivalry vs Texas’s Colt McCoy in a head to head classic matchup that may determine his decision about turning pro. Teammate TE Jermaine Gresham - 6’5” 255 lbs. is an athletically gifted senior tight end who has been shelved with a knee injury that required a scope procedure on Tuesday. He was rated as the premier prospect at the position with excellent receiving skills and the speed to be a huge factor in the deep game. He will miss the entire 2009 season due to the knee surgery. He will be missed by QB Sam Bradford after forming one of the games’ most potent tandems last season.

QB Tony Pike - 6’5” 215 lbs. - Cincinnati
Classic tall pocket passer is coming off a strong opening game where he blitzed a shocked Rutgers defense. This came on top of an impressive finish as a junior that has him ranked among the nation’s top passers. He makes all the throws and stands tall in the pocket, showing no fear when under a heavy pass rush. He gets the ball down the field with fine accuracy and velocity to pressure a defense. His fast improvement over his late career has him on every NFL club’s radar and one of the most improved prospects over recent seasons.

WR Mardy Gilyard - 6’1” 180 lbs. - Cincinnati
Smooth senior receiver combines good size, speed, agility and hands along with his fine level of development that makes him ready for the pro game. He had a strong opening game, displaying his well developed skill set for the position. His fine athletic ability allows him to be a factor as both a deep threat and intermediate receiver. His game is highly developed and ranks him at the top of senior receivers. He could be one of the top playmakers in this overall draft class.

* WR Mike Williams - 6’1” 205 lbs. - Syracuse
Athletic junior receiver returned to the field after missing the 2008 season due to academic issues. He had a strong opening game vs Minnesota where he showed the ability to get deep and hit the home run, in addition to working the intermediate routes. He combines fine size, hands and elite speed to be a legitimate NFL starter. He needs development in most areas for the position especially route running and reading coverage. He is just starting to develop at this point of his career and has begun to learn to use his fine size and speed to the fullest.

DE Greg Hardy - 6’4” 265 lbs. - Mississippi
Explosive pass rusher has shown dominant skills at times over his short SEC career. He has struggled with injuries over recent seasons and actually sustained more heel and leg injuries in the 2009 opener. Though he is capable of making big plays off the edge and displays consistency in that role when right, his repeated injury history will draw heavy scrutiny this season. He has the upfield speed to harass the QB and has the frame to fill out further. His ability to stay on the field and play every down will be watched closely over the critical ’09 season.

Denis Krusos - Editor - Pro Football Network
www.profootballdraftnetwork.com

QB “Juice” Williams, Senior, Illinois - The four-year starter at quarterback is looking for a big senior season to turn around a disappointing 2008 season for Illinois. Williams and the entire Illinois team did not play well in a lopsided 37-9 loss to a rebuilding Missouri. The dual-threat quarterback rushed for only 27 yards, was sacked 3 times and completed 18 passes in 28 attempts for only 179 yards with 1 interception. Williams and the offense appeared out of sync. The Illinois offensive leader has much to prove to NFL scouts regarding his consistency, accuracy and timing as a quarterback.

LB Eric Norwood, Senior, South Carolina - Norwood changed his mind at the last minute and decided not to enter the 2009 NFL Draft. If he keeps playing like he did against North Carolina State then he certainly will raise his draft stock. Norwood led the Gamecocks in a dominating defensive performance in a 7-3 win over the Wolfpack. The senior leader had 8 tackles and a pair of sacks. Norwood got off of blocks quickly and located the football all game.

LT Trent Williams, Senior, Oklahoma - The Sooners moved the massive Williams to the left side after playing right tackle last season. Williams made some poor decisions when faced with blitzes and BYU was able to unexpectedly put pressure on QB Sam Bradford. Oklahoma will have to clean up the communication problems along the offensive line. Williams and his offensive linemates also did not open up many holes for the running attack. Oklahoma rushed for only 118 yards in BYU’s 14-13 upset victory.

WR Eric Decker, Senior, Minnesota - Decker did what he does best, which is run good routes and catch the football. The Golden Gophers’ main pass receiving threat caught 9 passes for 183 yards (20.3 per) in Minnesota’s 23-20 overtime victory over Syracuse.

TE Cody Slate, Senior, Marshall - Slate had another highly productive game (9 receptions for 114 yards (12.6 per) and 2 touchdowns) in Marshall’s 31-28 opening game victory over a game Southern Illinois. Slate ran the slant well against Southern Illinois and came through when Marshall needed a play.