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Two of the fastest and most explosive offensive players in college football in 2007 – East Carolina All-American running back Chris Johnson and New Mexico receiver Marcus Smith will play in the 2008 Senior Bowl contest.

Photo - East Carolina running back Chris Johnson

The Senior Bowl 2008 continues to announce new player additions weekly as they assemble the best college talent for the nation’s premier All-star game. Two of the nation’s fastest and most explosive offensive performers – East Carolina All-American running back/kick returner Chris Johnson and New Mexico’s All-MWC wide receiver Marcus Smith will attend the 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl, officials announced just prior to Christmas. Both players were highly recommended and on our list of top senior prospects for the NFL Draft ’08.
Chris Johnson ranks as the nation’s active leader in career all-purpose yardage and kickoff return yardage. He leads Conference USA in kickoff return average at 28.5 per game, and has set or tied 11 school records and two CUSA marks for kickoff returns and KOR yardage during the season. Johnson combines tremendous breakaway speed, quickness and elusiveness that has enabled him to become one of the top senior running back prospects in this year’s draft. He has rushed for 1,200 yards and 16 TDs, caught 34 passes for 496 yards and 5 more TDs, and returned 30 kickoffs for 856 yards and a TD to account for 2,552 all-purpose yards during the regular season. In the EC huge bowl win over Boise St., he was instrumental in their 41-38 victory over highly ranked Boise St. Johnson ran for 223 yards, caught three passes for 32 yards and returned six kickoffs for 153 yards. Over his senior season, he also had the top three all-purpose yardage performances in college football this season, topped by a 408 yard effort vs Memphis that saw him rush for 301 yards. The 5-11, 200 lb. athlete was a 1st team All-CUSA selection as both a running back and kick returner this season and completed his career with over 6,000 all-purpose yards. We scouted him since his junior season at EC and he has been one of our premier playmakers despite little national attention. We have ranked him in the top five running backs and his athleticism could move him up with a strong week at the Senior Bowl and an expected big workout at the NFL Combine.

Senior Bowl Features Seven from Southern Cal

Talented group of outstanding draft prospects includes four first-team All-Americans, the Mackey Award winner, the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s NFL Draft.

Photo - Lawrence Jackson - DE - Southern Cal

Seven outstanding NFL draft prospects from USC’s 2007 Pac-10 Champions – defensive linemen Sedrick Ellis and Lawrence Jackson, linebacker Keith Rivers, tight end Fred Davis, offensive lineman Sam Baker, running back Chauncey Washington and quarterback John David Booty – have accepted invitations to play in the 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl, officials have announced.

Frank Coyle is a scouting consultant annually for the Senior Bowl.

The talented group includes four first-team All-Americans (Ellis, Rivers, Davis and Baker), the Mackey Award winner (Davis), the Pac-10’s Defensive Player of the Year (Ellis), and one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s NFL Draft (Booty).

East Coast All-Star Game Starts Off Postseason for '08 Pro Prospects
Frank Coyle is a consultant for the East Coast Game

Thanksgiving All-Star Game Tradition - All-Star Game Rosters

The East Coast Bowl game is an annual college All-Star football game that is played the first Saturday following Thanksgiving in Petersburg, Virginia. The East Coast Bowl VII will be played this year on November 24, 2007 at Historic Cameron Field with kickoff scheduled to be around 12:00 noon.
The East Coast Bowl game has quickly become the Thanksgiving ritual in Petersburg. The East Coast Bowl Committee gathered more than 250 nominations for this year’s game, that were narrowed down to the top 70 Division I-FCS (formerly Division I-AA), Division II, Division III and NAIA athletes. Players reported to Petersburg the day before Thanksgiving and spend the holiday with community members that are less fortunate, including visits to community centers, and children’s hospitals. The game itself is set-up as a scholarship event, with all of the revenue generated going into a fund for a local high school senior who plans on attending a non-Division-I college.

City of Petersburg Prepares for Thanksgiving All-Star Game Tradition
The East Coast Bowl game is an annual college All-Star football game that is played the first Saturday following Thanksgiving in Petersburg, Virginia. The East Coast Bowl VII will be played this year on November 24, 2007 at Historic Cameron Field with kickoff scheduled to be around 12:00 noon.
The East Coast Bowl game has quickly become the Thanksgiving ritual in Petersburg. The game last year, won by the North 26-24, featured top seniors from 25 different states and 20 athletes that signed NFL contracts. The East Coast Bowl Committee will gather more than 250 nominations for this year’s game, which will be narrowed down to the top 70 Division I-FCS (formerly Division I-AA), Division II, Division III and NAIA athletes. Players will report to Petersburg the day before Thanksgiving and spend the holiday with community members that are less fortunate, including visits to community centers, convalescent homes, and children’s hospitals. The game itself is set-up as a scholarship event, with all of the revenue generated going into a fund for a local high school senior who plans on attending a non-Division-I college.

’07 Senior Bowl Buzz
Practices Jan 22 thru 26 * Injured and will not play

The Complete Evaluation of Senior Bowl Week ’07 – Practices and Game
will be in Draft Insiders’ February Newsletter ‘07

Quarterbacks
Chris Leak of Florida had a quick delivery and good mechanics. He was very impressive on the 7-on-7 drills. He came in at an 1//8 under 6 feet tall and impressed throughout the week with his presence and passing skills. * Brady Quinn of Notre Dame opted out of the practices and game due to a minor knee problem. He should be ready for the NFL Combine, though may decide to workout at Notre Dame in March. Troy Smith of Ohio St displayed fine accuracy and arm strength. He moved well in the pocket and took command of the offense and had a good week in general. QB Drew Stanton of Michigan St threw the ball well most of the week. He can make all the throws with nice consistency and accuracy. He also moves well in the pocket with the ability to throw on the run with fine accuracy. Tyler Palko of Pittsburgh showed only adequate arm strength but he displayed fairly good accuracy and mobility. Kevin Kolb of Houston threw the ball well with good velocity and accuracy. He moved well in the pocket and made sound decisions under pressure.

UNDER ARMOUR SENIOR BOWL TO FEATURE 15 ACC PLAYERS

MOBILE, Ala. – Fans of ACC football will see plenty of familiar faces in the 2007 Under Armour Senior Bowl, as bowl officials announced on Thursday that 15 players from conference schools would play in January 27 contest.

Included in the group are four new players named to the roster on Friday – a trio of stars from North Carolina State – All-ACC defensive tackle DeMarcus “Tank� Tyler, offensive lineman Leroy Harris and defensive back A.J. Davis, and Georgia Tech offensive lineman Mansfield Wrotto.

Bowl officials had previously announced other ACC players such as Florida State’s All-American linebacker Buster Davis and running back Lorenzo Booker, named MVP of the Emerald Bowl; Boston College All-American offensive lineman Josh Beekman; Clemson wide receiver Chansi Stuckey and offensive lineman Dustin Fry; Maryland punter Adam Podlesh and defensive back Josh Wilson; Miami defensive back Brandon Meriweather and defensive lineman Kareem Brown; Virginia Tech safety Aaron Rouse, and Wake Forest’s All-ACC safety Josh Gattis, would also play in the game.

BUCCANEERS, 49ERS STAFFS TO COACH 2007 SENIOR BOWL TEAMS

Head coaches Jon Gruden and Mike Nolan will lead teams of top NFL draft prospects in the 58th annual Under Armour Senior Bowl, set for January 27 in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium

MOBILE, Ala. – Coaching staffs from the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers will coach the two squads of top NFL draft prospects which will participate in the 58th annual Under Armour Senior Bowl, game officials announced on Friday.

Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden and his entire Bucs staff will coach the Senior Bowl’s North team, while 49ers head coach Mike Nolan and his staff will handle coaching duties for the South squad in the January 27, 2007, contest in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium.