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2008 NFL Combine Watch List
The 2008 NFL Scouting Combine opens in Indianapolis tomorrow with more than 300 prospects scheduled to work out for pro scouts and font-office personnel in the RCA Dome. The Combine opens Thursday and runs through Tuesday, Feb. 26. The Combine is one of the critical final phases of the player evaluation process.

Photo - TE John Carlson - Notre Dame

Here are some players to watch with explanations why the NFL Combine is so critical to their professional futures:

RB Ray Rice, 5-9, 200, Rutgers
This strong and compact tailback left after his junior season. He must show that he can run a sub-4.5 time in the 40-yard dash. Rice is a chiseled athlete with natural running skills. A good time in the 40 will solidify an early selection in the draft.

RB Felix Jones, 5-11, 200, Arkansas
Jones is an explosive junior tailback and return man. He has the speed and athleticism to light it up this weekend. He could outperform his highly acclaimed college teammate, tailback Darren McFadden. If he does outperform McFadden, they could both be first-round selections in April.

TE John Carlson, 6-5, 255, Notre Dame
This athletic senior tight end hopes to impress in workouts after missing Senior Bowl week due to illness. He has recovered most of the weight he lost when he was sick. Now, Carlson needs to show he is ready to perform his positional drills.

Draft Insiders - All-Rookie Team

Offensive Player of the Year
Adrian Peterson - RB - Minnesota Vikings

Defensive Player of the Year
Patrick Willis - LB - San Francisco 49ers

Offense
Quarterbacks
Trent Edwards - Bills
Troy Smith - Ravens

Running Backs
Adrian Peterson - Vikings
Marshawn Lynch - Bills
Ahmad Bradshaw - Giants
Selvyn Young - Broncos

Underclassmen Group Improves Class of Pro Prospects for the NFL Draft ‘08

Photo - DE Calais Campbell - Miami

Underclassmen have made a huge impact on the NFL Draft over the past two decades and this year they will once again have a strong presence in the player process especially in the early rounds. Over 50 underclassmen declared for the NFL Draft ’08 by the Jan 15th deadline. They will then have three additional days to rescind their decision and regain their college eligibility. Over recent years, the NFL Draft added anywhere from 30 to 50 additional pro prospects from the underclassmen ranks. The NFL has provided an experienced advisory committee that evaluates an underclassmen for the draft process and helps a collegian make the decision. The Advisory Board gives a player an approximate placement in the draft that is based on evaluation by NFL scouts, though it is only their subjective opinion. The Advisory committee has advised over 75 players this year since early December ’07 to assist college players. Players must be three years removed from high school to be eligible to the NFL Draft. Third year sophomores are eligible to declare for the pros but true sophomores are ineligible as a result of an NFL rule that a court decision upheld a few years ago that denied Ohio St’s running back Maurice Clarett of Ohio St. from entering the NFL Draft ‘04.

For Complete & Detailed Underclassmen Report – Jan. Newsletter – this week

They Will Play on Sundays

Highly Rated Underclassmen who entered NFL Draft ‘08

RB Darren McFadden - Arkansas
Super blue chip feature back is probably the best player in the NFL Draft ’08 with the complete package to be a top pro feature back. He has a strong chance to be an immediate impact performer in the NFL in the right setting.

Draft Insiders.com 2008 Pro Bowl Team
Patriots’ QB Tom Brady - MVP Award

NFL Awards
MVP Award - Tom Brady - QB - Patriots
Defensive Player of the Year - Bob Sanders - S - Colts
Rookie of the Year - Adrian Peterson - RB - Vikings
Comeback Player of the Year - Ben Roethlisberger - QB - Steelers

Draft Insiders.com ‘08 Pro Bowl Team
Pro Bowl Game - Sunday, February 10 in Honolulu
x - Rookie y - injured and replaced
Projected starters listed first

NFC Team
Offense

Quarterbacks
Brett Favre, Green Bay
Tony Romo, Dallas
Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle

DraftInsiders.com 2007 All-American Team

Offense
Pos - Player - Class - School

QB: Tim Tebow - Soph. - Florida
RB: Darren McFadden - Jr. - Arkansas
RB: Kevin Smith - Jr. - Central Florida
FB: Jacob Hester - Sr. - LSU
WR: Michael Crabtree - Fr. - Texas Tech
WR: Malcolm Kelly - Jr. - Oklahoma
WR: James Hardy - Jr. - Indiana
TE: Fred Davis - Sr. - Southern Cal
OL: Jake Long - Sr. - Michigan
OL: Ryan Clady - Jr. - Boise St.
OL: Gosder Cherilus - Sr. - Boston College
OL: Steve Justice - Sr. - Wake Forest
OL: Alex Mack - Jr. - Cal
PR: Kevin Robinson - Sr. - Utah St.

2007-08 College Bowl Season

Matchups and Schedule
Date - Time ET) - Bowl - Site - Conferences - Matchup

Dec. 20 - 9 p.m. - Poinsettia - San Diego - Mountain West vs. At-large - Utah vs. Navy
Dec. 21 - 8 p.m. - New Orleans - New Orleans - Sun Belt vs. Conf USA - Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis
Dec. 22 - 1 p.m. - Papajohns.com - Birmingham, Al. - Big East vs. Conf USA - Cincinnati vs. Southern Miss
Dec. 22 - 4:30 p.m. - New Mexico - Albuquerque, N.M. - Mountain West vs. WAC - New Mexico vs. Nevada
Dec. 22 - 8 p.m. - Las Vegas - Las Vegas - Mountain West vs. Pac-10 - Brigham Young vs. UCLA

NFL Rookies of the Week - Rams' RB Brian Leonard & Panthers' LB Jon Beason

St. Louis RB Brian Leonard and Carolina LB Jon Beason were named winners of Draft Insiders Rookie of the Week for their fine performance last weekend.
Leonard was chosen in the 2nd round by the Rams, the 50th overall pick last spring. He carried 18 times for 102 yards and added 33 yards on 5 receptions vs
the Arizona Cardinals but was not able to help the Rams’ to their first victory of the season.
Carolina LB Jon Beason was selected late in the first round, the 25th player chosen in April. He led all rookie tacklers with 13 stops to help the Panthers retain the top stop in the competitive NFC South. Their win also kept the overrated New Orleans Saints winless with a 16-13 victory.