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Texas vs Nation All-Star Classic 2008
Completes Postseason Games

Photo - Bruce Hocker - WR - Duquesne University

Texas vs the Nation All-Star Classic
Feb. 2, 2008 El Paso, Texas

The second annual Texas vs the Nation Classic will be played in El Paso this Saturday to conclude the postseason All-Star action. Despite its limited two year history, the Texas vs the Nation game has become a fine contest for pro prospects with some very interesting players again this year. Wideout Bruce Hocker of Duquesne University is one of the players to watch. He finished as Duquesne’s career record holder in receptions (162) and 2nd on the school’s all-time list for receiving yards (2,595) and touchdowns (33) while earning All-American honors as a junior and senior. He is the first player in school history to play in the Hula Bowl this year and caught a TD pass for the East squad. He hopes to have a big game in the Texas/Nation contest to improve his stock entering the NFL Combine.
A fine Division 1 sleeper to watch is DE Ervin Baldwin of Michigan State. He is a very underrated defender who has shown the ability to play anywhere along a front line and in either pro scheme. He is a good pass rusher who combines power and quickness and could be one of the real surprises in this game. He is a rising prospect at a position in high demand for the pro game and is a player to watch in late February at the NFL Combine 2008.

QB Matt Ryan Favorite for #1 Overall Pick in NFL Draft '08

Photo - QB Matt Ryan - Boston College

The Miami Dolphins theoretically are on the clock for the 2008 NFL Draft, and don’t be surprised if they select Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan with the top overall choice.

Ryan was the nation’s most improved player this season, and his performance caused him to move up on draft boards. He ranks among the top three prospects in this class, and he is a player the Dolphins have begun exploring strongly.

Arkansas's Dynamic Duo - Darren McFadden and Felix Jones Declare for the NFL Draft 2008

Photo - RB Felix Jones - Arkansas

Arkansas’ junior tailbacks All-American’s Darren McFadden and Felix Jones announced that they will enter the NFL Draft 2008. They formed the most explosive running tandem in recent college history while operating in the versatile Hog offense.
McFadden departs Arkansas as the school’s all-time leading rusher with 4,590 yards over a 38-game career. The two-time Doak Walker Award winner, two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up and two-time consensus All-American ranks second in Southeastern Conference history in rushing and holds the single-season record for all-purpose yardage with 2,310 in 2007.
“For the past three years I have been blessed with the opportunity to attend the University of Arkansas, play football for the Razorbacks and be a part of something truly special,� McFadden said. “When I was growing up, I dreamed of playing for the Hogs and the fans of the state, and I have had a chance to live that dream. Now the time has come to pursue another dream of mine – playing in the National Football League.
“After consulting with my family, I feel that entering my name for the NFL Draft is the right decision for me,� McFadden said. “I’m looking forward to the new challenge and am excited to get started.�

Oregon runner Jonathan Stewart enters NFL Draft '08

Photo - Oregon's Jonathan Stewart

Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart has announced that he will pass up his final year of collegiate eligibility to enter the NFL Draft ‘08. Stewart is a powerful junior tailback who ranks with the premier runners in the nation after another impressive performance. He is a strong runner at 5’11� and 230 lbs. who completed his junior season ranked 7th in the nation in rushing (132.5 avg.) while setting the Ducks’ single-season school record with 1,722 yards. In his career finale, he established the Sun Bowl’s all-time mark with 253 yards on the ground in a 56-21 win over South Florida. It was the 2nd time this season he went over 250 yards rushing in a game, after a fine 251 yard effort earlier this year at Washington. Those two game rushing totals rank him 2nd and 3rd, respectively, on the school’s single-game rushing chart.

BCS Title Game - Ohio St. vs LSU - Pro Prospects
Jan. 7, 2008 - New Orleans, La.

Photo - LB Ali Highsmith - LSU

Pro Prospects May Decide National Title Game
It is no surprise that college football’s BCS title game features two clubs loaded with NFL prospects, many of them underclassmen. Both Ohio St and LSU have supplied many players to the NFL over recent years with most of them elite prospects for the pro game. This title matchup could turn out to be a classic game and one that provides as many as eight 1st round selections and over a dozen prospects chosen in the top 100 picks this spring. No school has been hurt by the loss of underclassmen to the NFL more than Ohio St, but that has not hindered the Buckeyes from annually fielding a championship caliber club. The LSU Tigers have become a favorite of NFL scouts in the Southern region with many top selections for the NFL Draft over the past decade. As many as eight current LSU defensive starters carry NFL starting grades with most of them senior prospects who will play for pay next fall.

Offensive Players

FB Jacob Hester - 6’ 225 lbs. - LSU
Athletic versatile senior completed a fine performance last fall as both a receiver and runner. He is suited for a one back offense that features his versatility and athleticism. He is a strong inside runner who gets every yard possible and has shown great ball security over his career. He also has fine hands as a pass catcher and will pressure the OSU linebackers as an outlet receiver. He has performed brilliantly in big game situations and gets a final chance to shine on the season’s biggest stage vs the Buckeyes.

First Round Mock Draft for the NFL Draft ‘08
Jan. 5 - Selection order during the NFL Playoffs Opponents are ranked in combined W-L records

Photo - DE Chris Long - Virginia

x - Coin flip at NFL Combine in Feb. will decide exact order
y - Final position will be determined by playoffs
* - Underclassmen

1st Round
1. Miami - 1-15 - Glenn Dorsey - DT - LSU
Dorsey is a dominant inside force who will impress Bill Parcells on film.

2. St. Louis - 3-13 - Chris Long - DE - Virginia
The Rams defense needs a tenacious playmaker up front.

Draft Insiders & Blesto Scouting Service
Top 10 Senior Pro Prospects

Photo - Glenn Dorsey - DT - LSU

Blesto Scouting Service has come out with their top 10 senior pro prospects for the ’07 regular season. Blesto is one of two NFL scouting services, along with National Scouting that has been established for years, though we rarely agree with their overall final assessment. The two services and other media NFL outlets have published their top rankings of senior pro prospects for this season and once again we deviate with their rankings. After twenty years of scouting college and NFL talent, we have learned to trust what we see and scout rather than the evaluation of inexperienced scouts and media writers. The two NFL services rate small college talent with a tough grading system that it does not apply to major Division 1 prospects, a glaring mistake over the past decade. That’s why they miss totally on prospects like Tony Romo and Marques Colston, two small college players we absolutely loved when they entered the NFL in recent years. Both players had average workouts, a major blind spot of NFL scouts when it comes to a players’ final evaluation. Romo is one of the rising NFL stars and was a player scouts crushed after a subpar NFL Combine performance. The truth of the matter is NFL scouts did a poor job scouting Romo over his final two seasons and failed to do their homework and due diligence related to his final grade. Romo would be a major MVP candidate this season if not for the incredible performance by the Patriot’s QB Tom Brady. These are the same scouts that criticized Romo, pounded the table on QBs like J.P. Losman and Patrick Ramsey who were selected in the first round and among many other early round busts at the position over the past decade.