Alabama is currently 3-0 and has cruised through its three match up’s against San Jose State, Penn State, and Duke. They have looked great on defense and even better on offense. The combination at tailback with Mark Ingram and sophomore back, Trent Richardson, has been unstoppable and has shown why they have the most dangerous backfield in all of college football. Quarterback Greg McElroy is playing great and has thrown the ball with exceptional accuracy and has shown great poise in the pocket. Julio Jones is showing why he is one of the nation’s best wide receivers and has been very hard to stop throughout the first three games. As somewhat of a surprise, Darius Hanks and Marquise Maze are both averaging over 18 yards per catch and are getting a ton of separation from the cornerbacks in the secondary. All this and I haven’t even mentioned their defense. Marcell Dareus is back and ready to wreak havoc in the Arkansas backfield and sources say that Nico Johnson is about to reclaim his starting job at linebacker. The Alabama defense really doesn’t even need to be mentioned because you know what you get when they take the field… greatness.

Arkansas is also 3-0 and is coming off an impressive win over the Georgia Bulldogs, with their other two victories coming over Tennessee Tech and Louisiana-Monroe. The defense has been solid, although they won’t win many games when giving up 24 points to a young, average offense like Georgia’s, especially when star wide receiver AJ Green is ineligible. Nonetheless, I expect the defense to play well and force McElroy to try and beat them through the air. They need to stack the box and can’t allow Ingram and Richardson to dominate them on the ground. If they lose and give up 250 yards on the ground, it will prove that Patrino and company were just simply out coached by Nick Saban. Stack the box and force ‘Bama to throw the football.

Speaking of throwing the football, Ryan Mallett, the 6’7, 250 pound quarterback for Arkansas, can really sling it around the field and can make all the throws. He will be a first round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and with a good season, he will be tough to pass on with the first overall selection. Mallett has a huge arm and has improved his accuracy this off-season. He has already thrown for over 1,000 yards in 3 games, to go along with 9 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. This kid has big time potential and will make NFL general mangers drool.

Last year, when the Florida Gators were ranked #1 in the country, Arkansas and them on the ropes. If not for a few blown calls and a few balls not bouncing their way, they could have pulled off the upset. This year, we could see more of the same. Arkansas will keep it very tight and to be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if they led at halftime, but Nick Saban is a football genius and will make the appropriate adjustments to keep his team undefeated. I expect Alabama to win this game 34-24, but the game should be a lot closer than the score appears, I’m just sayin’.

1) Ryan Mallett – Arkansas

The 6’7, 240 pound junior quarterback is considered by many to be the best quarterback in the country and the top overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He has incredible size and has a true cannon of an arm. Some question his mental aspect of the game and some have gone as far as comparing him to Ryan Leaf. I have to disagree. I think Mallett has all the tools, both physically and mentally, to be an outstanding quarterback at the next level and he will show everyone what Leaf should have done in the NFL. If the Razorbacks can make some noise in the SEC and sneak into a BCS game, it will most likely be due to Heisman-like season from Mallett.

2) John Brantley – Florida

Brantley is a prototypical passer that throws, quite possibly, the nicest ball in college football. He gets a ton of zip on the ball and was, simply put, born to be a starting quarterback. He has very good size at 6’3, 220 pounds, but he will look quite different from Tim Tebow behind center. He will work from the shotgun, as well as under center, although most of his work will continue to be from the spread. Although he is a much more polished passer than Tebow, Brantley has some wheels. He can beat a lot of teams with his legs due to his deceptive speed. Most know how well Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder can run and Brantley is very similar to Ponder. Most will miss Tebow now that he is a Denver Bronco, but at least wide receiver Deonte Thompson will be happy to have a “real quarterback” for this first time in his career as a Gator.

3) Stephen Garcia – South Carolina

Garcia has had many up’s and down’s since he signed with the Gamecocks a few years back. He can’t seem to put it all together on or off the field, to be quite honest. I think things finally come together for the 6’3, 220 pound signal caller in his junior season. I don’t expect him to shock the world and be one of the best quarterbacks in the country, but I do expect him to control the clock, make good decisions, and limit his turnovers, which is a far cry from the last few seasons. He will have an older offensive line, that was considered very young last year and that will give him more time in the pocket to improve on his 17 touchdown, 10 interception performance in 2009. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Garcia have 20 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions all season; that is as long as he stays eligible all year long…

4) Cameron Newton – Auburn

For those who have been out of the college football scene for a few years… yes, this is the same Cameron Newton that was the backup quarterback for the Florida Gators. Newton dealt with some “issues” and after a year at Blinn College, where he won a National Championship, he finds himself back in the SEC among the nation’s elite. Newton was being groomed to takeover for Tebow this season and would fill the role perfectly. He has exceptional size at 6’6 240 pounds and has “Ryan Mallett-like” arm strength. He, like Tebow, will run over you, not around you, when he breaks the pocket. Newton could skyrocket up this list to #2 with a strong season, but I am just unsure if he has enough weapons around him. However, with some great recruiting, look for Newton to be one of the nation’s best in the 2011 season as a senior.

5) Greg McElroy – Alabama

Manage the game. Don’t turn the ball over. Control the clock. Hand the ball off to Mark Ingram. No, that is not a direct quote from head coach Nick Saban to McElroy, but it sure sounds about right. The four keys to winning a National Championship and McElroy was successful at all four. This year will have to be a little different in Alabama plans on repeating as National Champions. Defenses will surely stack the box and force McElroy to beat them. He will have to take more chances, because he will be given more opportunities. He will be a senior and its time for him to takeover and make some plays. He has a solid wide receiver core led by Julio Jones and needs to show that he can make all the throws if he plans on playing on Sunday’s. I expect the offense to go through Ingram and Trent Richardson, but when the chips are down, I think Saban can count on McElroy to make smart, successful throws in crunch time.

6) Aaron Murray – Georgia

Like Cameron Newton, Murray is a wild card that could be much higher on this list based on potential. He doesn’t have the size of a big time quarterback at 6’1, 210 pounds, but he has the arm of a 6’5, 230 pound quarterback. To be quite honest, Murray has a rocket. He has pinpoint accuracy and can fire the ball with great zip. Georgia had two elite quarterbacks in Murray and Zach Mettenberger, but Mettenberger was dismissed from the team this off-season, which made Murray the starter by default. Murray can make all the throws and uses his mobility to get outside the pocket and create more time. A very good comparison, in my opinion, would be Drew Brees. Vertically challenged… check. Big arm… check. Smart… check. Accurate… check. Look for Murray to have a stellar season under quarterback guru Mark Richt.

7) Jordan Jefferson – LSU

Most will have Jefferson higher in their top 10, but I am not very high on LSU’s signal caller. I think he has a ton of upside, but I don’t see it panning out. To be quite honest, if Jimbo Fisher was still running the offense, the development would be there, but he is not, so it will not. The LSU offense has been on a downward spiral since Fisher left down and I don’t see that changing this season. Jefferson has a big arm, but he is not very accurate. He is very mobile and quick, but he rarely runs at the right times. Again, I think Jefferson has a ton of potential and he will show flashes of greatness this year, but as a 6’5, 220 pound junior quarterback with his kind of speed, I need to see more to be impressed.

8) Chris Relf – Mississippi State

Relf, similar to Jefferson, can beat you with his arm, as well as his legs. He ran for over 500 yards last year and has that aspect of the position down to a science, but he needs to develop as a passer. He has the potential to be big time and to be honest, I expect him to jump Jefferson on this list by season end. I think he will have a much better season throwing the ball and will go for about 700 yards or more on the ground.

9) Nathan Stanley – Mississippi

I am sure head coach Houston Nutt wishes he has Jevan Snead back for one more year. Someone gave Mr. Snead some bad advice this year. It is not smart to leave for the draft as a junior and go undrafted. Nonetheless, the Rebels move on without their former quarterback and turn the ball over to Nathan Stanley. Again, like most quarterbacks from this conference, he has great size at 6’5 220 pounds, but doesn’t have the huge arm that the others have. He has a solid arm and can make most of the throws, but the coaches like his knowledge of the game most of all. He won’t be the quarterback who turns the ball over three or four times a game, but he won’t pass for 500 yards either. Hopefully, for Mississippi’s sake, he gives you 200-250 yards a game with a 2:1 touchdown to interception ratio. That would equal success for the Rebels.

10) Matt Simms – Tennessee

His father Phil was a Super Bowl winning quarterback and his brother Chris was an NFL quarterback (although he never panned out after high school like most thought he would). Matt went to El Camino Community College after a year at Louisville and now as much more experience than most 1st year SEC quarterbacks. Simms was very highly recruited out of high school, but things didn’t work out as planned at Louisville, where he was 4 for 10 for a stellar 39 yards and 1 interception. Now as a junior, Simms needs to perform well before he runs out of eligibility. He has two years under newly hired head coach Derek Dooley to prove his worth, but to be honest, if he doesn’t perform well early, look for freshman sensation Tyler Bray to get the nod.

Tom Loy - You were hired as the “Head Coach-In-Waiting” and spent the last few years as the offensive coordinator. What has been the biggest change in the transition from offensive coordinator to head coach?

Coach Fisher – Time allotment has been the biggest change. Making sure I get to all facets of the program and touching all parts. The administrative duties are also quite time consuming.”

Tom Loy - This off-season you brought in a new defensive coordinator (Stoops), defensive ends coach (Eliott), linebackers coach (Hudson), running backs coach (Gran), quarterbacks coach (Craig) and a workout/weight room/nutrition guru (Viloria). What is it that separates your new staff from those at other universities across the country?

Coach Fisher – We have a great coaching staff that consists of terrific coaches. Not only are they great coaches, but also great recruiters and all have a relentless work ethic.

Tom Loy - Bobby Bowden and Florida State are one in the same. You have already done a great job of making this program your own. What is the biggest difference with the program now, compared to when you first got to Florida State?

Coach Fisher – To be honest, there is not much of a difference in the program. We just really want to focus on our players and create a big support system and make sure that they know we are here if they ever need anything, on or off the field.

Tom Loy - Christian Ponder went from a skinny, athletic, three star recruit from Texas to a bulked up, strong-armed, Heisman trophy contender. What are your thoughts on your senior quarterback and his growth over the last few years as a person and a player?

Coach Fisher – Wow. Christian is a heck of a guy. He has a ton of talent and he is great with all facets of the game. He has extreme physical talent, toughness, and leadership. To be honest, he is the exact same way off the field. His biggest thing, however, is that he is a team guy and the players rally around him.

Tom Loy - You have worked on Nick Saban’s staff in the past and some believe that he laid the ground work for how you do things at Florida State. How close are you still to coach Saban and is he someone you would like to model your program after?

Coach Fisher – To be honest, we don’t model our program after anyone in particular. We model our program after what our staff believes and how we feel it should be run. In regard to coach Saban, we talk often, or as much as we can talk. We are still very good friends.

Tom Loy - Most know how close you and coach Bowden have been throughout most of your life and at times, I’m sure it’s bittersweet to see him step down as you take over. What was one of the final pieces of advice coach Bowden said to you before you took over?

Coach Fisher – He really just said to do things my own way, be my own man, and most importantly, just be myself at all times.

Tom Loy - Recently, Terrell Buckley and yourself won a celebrity golf tournament that featured the head coaches from North Carolina (Butch Davis), Virginia Tech (Frank Beamer), South Carolina (Steve Spurrier), and Georgia Tech (Paul Johnson), among others. When did you first pick up the game and what is your low round ever?

Coach Fisher – To be honest, I rarely play. I am lucky to get out 4 of 5 times a year. I picked up the game when I was 27 years old, but I just don’t play often enough. I shot in the low 80′s a few times and I think my low round was an 83 or 84.

Tom Loy - Your passion, fire, and love for the game of football makes it seem like you were born to be a head coach. What or who was the major influence on you getting into coaching?

Coach Fisher – My father. He and I were always around the game of football. He always said “learn to beat people with your head, don’t beat them physically.” He always felt that you could be successful beating people with your mind and I guess that turned me on to coaching.

Tom Loy - I was at the Spring Game this year and I watched you casually walk out of the tunnel and onto the field, before any of the players, and headed to the sideline. What was the feeling like when the 51,000 fans in attendance gave you a standing ovation and cheered extremely loud for you?

Coach Fisher – That was an incredible moment. It was shocking to be quite honest. It really was a great feeling. It feels really good to know that everyone seems satisfied with the fact that I am leading  the program and the direction it is headed. It was a very humbling experience.

Tom Loy - Any final comments to the Seminole fans out there that are highly anticipating the 2010 football season?

Coach Fisher – You think the fans are anticipating the season? You should see our staff and players! We are all anticipating this season. We didn’t get into this situation over night and we didn’t fix this situation over night. Everyone should expect a competitive, well disciplined, and exhilarating season.

***Coach Fisher, thank you for your time. I really appreciate you taking a few moments out of your day to give the fans an inside look on how things are going at Florida State University. Good luck to you and your team in the upcoming season.

Pete Carroll is giving the NFL another shot with the Seattle Seahawks. How good will USC be this season under former Tennessee Volunteers head coach Lane Kiffin?

Tom Loy - USC doesn’t rebuild, they reload. They lose star players to the NLF and when they next season comes, those guys are replaced with future NFL stars. This should work the same with this new coaching staff. Carroll was a players coach and everyone loved him. Kiffin was his understudy a few years back. Kiffin recruits better than most coaches in the country and will continue to bring in the nation’s best players. Matt Barkley will have a stellar 2nd season at Southern Cal and will be of the Heisman front runners going into his junior season. The defense will be stronger and deeper than last year’s team and the offense will be another year older. Most think that USC will not win the Pac-10, but I see another Rose Bowl in their future next season.

Warren Lent - Hate on Lane Kiffin all you ant, but he knows how to run a program. He has finally been able to reach his dram job after a few volatile stops along the way. The attitude in and around the team has not changed too much because it feels like a reunion tour. Monty Kiffin, Ed Orgeron, and Lane Kiffin will all be back in their comfort zone and they have the ability to rebuild USC and become the constant national championship threat we had seen from them in the past decade.

Drew Gatewood - Hopefully for USC’s sake he keeps his mouth shut this year. USC needs to have a 10 win season this year, considering they’ll be under sanction by the NCAA soon, in my opinion. I expect them to lose out on bowl eligibility for a few seasons and perhaps lose some scholarships. Kiffin needs to keep his nose clean right now and just win games. He has the talent on the roster to do that and a weak Pac-10 this year will be play right into his hands.

Tim Tebow was the man in Gainesville for 4 years, but now he is off to Denver to start his NFL career with the Broncos. How will quarterback John Brantley fair in his 1st season as starter for the Florida Gators?

Tom Loy - John Brantley is a prototypical pocket passer. In the correct words of Gator wide receiver Deonte Thompson, he is a “real quarterback”. He has incredible accuracy and throws a terrific ball. He gets a lot of zip on the ball and can make all the throws. He is very athletic, but it will be a major change from what Tebow brought to the table. Brantley will quickly remind Urban Meyer of Alex Smith, when he was at the University of Utah. Florida will not win the SEC this year, but Brantley will have a terrific year and set himself up to be one of the favorites for the Heisman in his 2nd season as the Gator starting quarterback.

Warren Lent - The general sentiment around Gainesville is that Brantley has always been destined for the position. With a tear still left in their eyes after the departure of Time Tebow, I believe that Gator fans across the country will have tears of joy come from within during this season. Brantley had been slightly used last season and even though it was during garbage time, he looked like a legitimate quarterback. He received compliments from his receivers throughout the spring practices and seem to be embracing him as their quarterback. He has been taught well and will lead the Gators to another successful season.

Drew Gatewood - Depending on how Urban Meyer runs the offense this season will directly translate to how much time Brantley see’s next season. If Meyer does got to a dual threat quarterback like he claimed a mont ago, don’t be surprised to see a disgruntled Brantley going into December. Brantley has the tools to put up some Ryan Mallett like numbers this season, unfortunately for him, he doesn’t play in that type of offense.

Long time head coach Bobby Bowden finally decided to retire after a terrific run at Florida State University. Can Jimbo Fisher lead the Seminoles to an ACC title in his 1st year as head coach?

Tom Loy - Jimbo Fisher is the headliner of the revamped coaching staff in the post Bobby Bowden era, but he is far from the only reason I think Florida State gets to a BCS game this year. New running backs coach Eddie Gran, who came over from Tennessee, will do some terrific things with the FSU running attack and that will allow, Heisman hopeful quarterback Christian Ponder, to make even more plays this season. Running backs Jermaine Thomas and Lonnie Pryor will have their best years at FSU and will really turn the FSU running game into one of the nation’s best. The offensive line, which is lead by All-American guard Rodney Hudson, will be terrific and should be the top unit in the ACC by year’s end. Newly hired defensive coordinator Mark Stoops and his zone based defense, combined with Greg Reid, Jacobbi McDaniel, and Nigel Bradham, will remind people of the FSU defenses of years past. FSU gets back to the BCS bowl game this season.

Warren Lent - Jimbo Fisher was able to rally his troops and FSU looks to have a standout season this year. Christian Ponder is returning, as well as many other offensive threats. The big question entering the 2010 season will be the defense. The defense down in Tallahassee was dreadful last year, to say the least. Fisher was able to reel in some of the finest defensive recruits in the land (and Germany). The question will be whether or not the young defense will hold up against the strong competition in the ACC. I believe it will take another year for each and every impact player to grow, therefore I do not believe they will be able to win the ACC outright this season.

Drew Gatewood - Jimbo Fisher had a huge recruiting class on defense this winter. I’d expect to see FSU begin that climb back to those late 90′s teams. He’s basically been running the show for the last few seasons, but now he really gets to step out of a huge shadow. He’s been waiting for this opportunity and will run with it. Virginia Tech, Miami, Georgia Tech, and North Carolina will all be roadblocks but every game is winnable for the Seminoles this season. If he does win an ACC title this season, it may be his one and only as FSU seems destined to go to the SEC if they expand.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford will be entering training camp with their respected squads this year. Who will have the better season between Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert and Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones?

Tom Loy - Gilbert was a very highly rated quarterback coming out of high school and was supposed to be the starter in year #2, with little “big game” experience under his belt. Little did he know that he was going to play, just about, the entire National Championship game against Alabama and their vaunted defense. Landry Jones was a very highly rated quarterback coming out of high school and was supposed to the starter after Sam Bradford left for the NFL this season. Sound eerily familiar? Jones got thrown into the fire when Bradford got hurt and played very well at times. He showed Oklahoma fans that there is nothing to worry about once the Sam Bradford era is over. Jones has more talent around him, offensively, and should put up the bigger numbers, in turn, having the more successful season. As the rest of their careers unfold, Gilbert will mold himself into a 1st round pick and be the higher rated quarterback coming out of college.

Warren Lent - Landry Jones was nearly able to see a full season’s worth of action last year, but I think that Garrett Gilbert will be the quarterback with the better record when it is all said and done. The weapons at Texas this year are immense to say the least and are subsequently able to take a good amount of pressure off of the sophomore quarterback. By the way, when Gilbert was coming out of high school, analysts agreed that he would be the quarterback in his class most likely to hoist a National Championship Trophy in the near future. Just some food for thought heading into the season.

Drew Gatewood - Gilbert impressed me in the BCS Title game. He will never have that kind of pressure on him again and because of that he’ll have some added confidence. Having said that, Landry Jones played almost a full season last year and has a leg up on Gilbert. Jones did not always play well but he played, something Gilbert did not. This will translate into fewer mistakes and more production as the season progresses.

“Mr. Everything” CJ Spiller is in Buffalo trying to single handedly turn around the Buffalo Bills franchise. Who will step in and takeover the Clemson Tigers rushing attack… Andre Ellington or Jamie Harper?

Tom Loy - Jamie Harper was the higher ranked running back coming out of high school, but as I predicted a few years back, Harper will not have nearly the career that Spiller or James Davis had while at Clemson. Ellington is the more complete back and with his combination of speed and agility, he will create a bunch of highlights throughout the season. Ellington is electric and will takeover as the #1 running back and never look back. With quarterback Kyle Parker, most likely, being a 1st round pick in this years Major League Baseball Draft, young quarterback Tahj Boyd will need a terrific running game to take some pressure off the passing game. Boyd will struggle at times, but it won’t be due to the running game, which will be terrific all year long. Ellington will be one of the better backs in the ACC this season.

Warren Lent - Both Ellington and Harper are amazingly talent running backs, so it will be a very difficult decision for Dabo Swinney when the season begins. That being said, I personally believe that Andre Ellington has the ability to be a lighter version of CJ Spiller for the Tigers this season. He proved his playmaking talents time and time again this past season when Spiller needed a breather, and I think he could be one of the most influential breakout players in the ACC.

Drew Gatewood - This race is neck and neck, and I don’t think it will be solved until a few games into the season. Neither player has distinguished himself as a clear-cut favorite. For Clemson fans this is a good thing, because if they players split time, that should equate into fewer injuries and fresh legs going into the end of season. If I had to pick one, I’d say Andre Ellington by a hair right now.

Dillon Baxter was the top recruit for the 2010 USC Trojans recruiting class. A long time commit to coach Pete Carroll, Baxter never waivered and stuck with his commitment after finding out Lane Kiffin would replacing Pete Carroll as head coach at USC. Baxter attended Mission Bay highschool in California and was a star quarterback and running back throughout his 4 years in highschool. Did I mention he thew for 1,922 yards and had a 61% completion percentage during his senior year? Oh, needless to say, he had an additional 25 touchdowns through the air to bring his total to an astonishing 75 touchdowns on the season.

Let me breakdown the attributes of Dillon Baxter. Take the agility and quickness of Reggie Bush, the upright, yet, excellent running style of Chris Johnson, the hands of Frank Gore, and the personality of Clinton Portis. These 4 players give you all that makes up Dillon Baxter. I’m not saying that he is NFL ready right now, but he is pretty close. He has great size at 6’0 and 215 pounds and will get taller, stronger, and fast over the next 3 years at USC. By the time he enters the league, he will be, roughly, 6’2, 230 pounds, and still run a 4.5 forty-yard-dash.

Baxter will not come in and start as a true freshman. USC has great depth at running back, but the fact that he enrolled early and is already on campus, will only help his cause. Allan Bradford, Marc Tyler, and CJ Gable were all top recruits when they got on campus at USC and will make it very tough for Baxter to get playing time, but Baxter is too good to keep off the field. Whether it be at running back, wide receiver, or kick returner, Baxter will get plenty of opportunities to show what he can do and he will definitely leave his mark on this football team early and often. I will go out on a limb and say that Baxter is going to be the number 1 back on the roster by the time the season ends.

Way too early prediction… Dillon Baxter is the next USC recipient of the Heisman Trophy. By the time Baxter finishes up his third year, he will win a Heisman trophy. CJ Spiller was a terrific runner, receiver, and special teamer for the Clemson Tigers… Baxter will shatter his numbers. Plus, Baxter is playing on a much better team and the publicity of playing for a top knotch school will only help him get the national recognition necessary to make it to New York for the ceremony. There is no way, barring any freak injury, that Baxter will remain at USC for all 4 years. He will play as a true freshman, start as a sophomore, and leave after his junior year.

I have high hopes for this young man and I have a feeling that he will exceed all my expectations. He will make a lot of people look foolish on the field, but off the field, I won’t be one of those people. College football fans, be sure to keep your eyes on Dillon Baxter, because if you blink, you just might miss him and be stuck looking at the back of his #28 jersey… I’m just sayin’.

Rolle did not leave Florida State University after his 3rd year and enter the 2009 NFL Draft; he continued his education at the prestigious, Oxford University. On November 22, 2008, Rolle and the Florida State Seminoles had a big Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) matchup with the Maryland Terrapins. That same night, however, Rolle had his final interview for the Rhodes Scholarship, that he so desperately wanted to win. After the interview, a private plane flew Rolle to College Park, Maryland just in time for the 2nd half of a game that Florida State was dominating. Upon arrival, Rolle received the phone call that would change his life. He found out that his interview went extremely well and he had been chosen as the recipient of the Rhodes Scholarship, which is given to the “elite of the elite”. Rolle stepped in and played the 2nd half against Maryland, in which Florida State won 37 – 3, but clearly that finished 2nd on his accomplishments for the evening. He didn’t win a super bowl, but once his teammates found out he had earned the Rhodes Scholarship, they gave him his first Gatorade shower of his life (not to mention it was about 15 degrees outside during that game). Rolle was destined for greatness and through his hard work and determination, he truly earned everything that was coming to him. Rolle went on and spent the rest of 2008 and most of 2009 over in England studying at Oxford, but he still had the passion to play football and now the 2010 NFL Draft was approaching.

With 1 year of eligibility remaining, Rolle decided to turn pro and enter the 2010 NFL Draft. He could have returned for a season at Florida State and improved his draft stock, but that wasn’t even a thought for Rolle. My question… was turning pro the right decision?

Florida State had a completely new coaching staff since Rolle was last on campus. In regard to Rolle and his position at safety, they brought in former University of Arizona Defensive Coordinator Mark Stoops to run the defense. Before Arizona, Stoops coached at Miami and was the main reason Ed Reed and Sean Taylor became so dominant in the NFL. Long time Defensive Coordinator Mickey Andrews had been coaching the defense while Rolle was at FSU and his scheme became outdated and running a man-to-man defense just wasn’t working anymore in college football. Stoops brings a different scheme and mixes in a man-to-man defense, while primarily running a zone defense. The zone defense, if run properly, should create more turnovers and bigger plays for the secondary. Rolle had 1 career interception at FSU and that number would definitely increase in one season under coach Stoops. Let’s assume that Rolle comes back to FSU, has a solid season, and has 6 interceptions on the season. Rolle’s draft stock would skyrocket and he would be a hot commodity by NFL teams.

Rolle was just selected with the final pick in the 6th round of the 2010 NFL Draft and that was without playing at all this past season. Rolle will probably earn around $300,000 a year for the first few years, before he is able to restructure his contract and get paid the big bucks. If Rolle came back and was a 1st or 2nd round pick, he would earn somewhere between $1.5 million to $5 million per year. The reason the money is important is because he wants to open up hospitals all around the world to help children. The more money he can make and raise, the less money that will come out of the pockets of the those who truly need the medical attention and can’t afford it.

Therefore, after 5 successful years in the NFL, Rolle may make, roughly, 2 to 3 million dollars. If he came back to school and played college football for one more year, Rolle could have made that same 2 to 3 million dollars in his 1st season. I don’t see Rolle playing more than 10 years in the league because he has such big goals and dreams that he wants to make happen. He wants to do things that are much bigger than the NFL, to which I applaud him. However, I think that coming back to play football at FSU for one more season would have been in his best interests financially and would have increased his ability to achieve his future goals in a shorter period of time.

Don’t get me wrong; Myron Rolle is an outstanding human being, football player, and person. I have had the pleasure of meeting him and his family and let me tell you, they are an incredible group of individuals. I applaud him for his efforts to make the world a better place and know that he will be successful in anything that he strives to do with his life. I just feel that this was not the smartest decision this Rhodes Scholar could have made and if he sacrificed one more year to the game of college football, he would have the money for his hospitals, medical facilities, and future research after receiving his signing bonus… I’m just sayin’.

1) Philadelphia trades up to #13, but passes on a future star with selection of Brandon Graham.

Philadelphia gave up more big plays than any team in the NFL last year and had the opportunity to get the best safety in the draft, not named Eric Berry. Texas safety Earl Thomas was there for the taking at #13 and the Eagles shocked everyone when they selected Michigan defensive end / linebacker hybrid Brandon Graham. Five minutes later the Seattle Seahawks ran to the podium and selected the future star safety. Graham had a solid career at Michigan, but he will never be a pro bowler in the NFL. He is a solid football player, but there is nothing about his game that strikes fear in the opposition or that makes me say “wow”. Thomas, however, has the potential to be elite and the Eagles front office will regret this move for years to come.

2) Jimmy Clausen is still available at the start of round 2.

At one point today, Clausen was rumored to go #4 to Washington, #6 to Seattle, #7 to Cleveland, #8 to Oakland, #9 to Buffalo, #10 to Jacksonville, # 11 to San Francisco, #14 to Seattle, #17 to San Francisco. So where did he end up going? That is still yet to be determined. Clausen slipped all the way through the 1st round and now sits as the best player still available at the start of round 2. However, I don’t think he will be unemployed long, especially with Cleveland and Buffalo ready to select early in round 2. Looks like Clausen should have stayed in school and been a top 10 pick next year. Either way, some team will be getting a steal come Friday evening.

3) Cleveland reaches at #7 with Joe Haden, but gets necessary secondary help.

Most Cleveland fans hoped that Eric Berry would slip to #7, but knew that it was not that realistic. Most Cleveland fans hoped that Earl Thomas would be the selection, but to their dismay, Thomas was skipped over for Florida cornerback Joe Haden. Before you get upset “Brownies”, let me tell you what you are getting in Haden. You are getting a physical, fast, hard-nosed cornerback that will bring some swagger to that Cleveland secondary. This kid has the mentality that he is going to be elite and I have no reason to doubt him. He has started since he was a true freshman in Gainesville and he has made plays since day 1. Eric Berry won’t be making plays near the “dawg pound”, but Joe Haden will be a name you will grow to love.

4) San Francisco uses top 2 picks to solidify offensive line.

When a team selects an offensive lineman in the 1st round most casual fans roll their eyes at the pick because it’s not flashy and glamorous. How about when a team selects two offensive linemen in the 1st round? 49ers fans should be ecstatic with these two monsters that the San Francisco front office brought in. Anthony Davis from Rutgers and Mike Iupati from Idaho are both raw, but have potential to be elite. Both these guys could step in from day 1 and start. They will both have their rough moments and occasionally miss a block and Alex Smith will get hit, but by the start of the 2011-2012 season, there will not be a stronger offensive line in all of football. I expect these two linemen to become very solid and make a few pro bowls by the time they hang up their spikes.  Draft some secondary help in round 2 and this draft will get an “A” grade by most experts.

5) Oakland actually makes a solid, safe selection.

This may be the shocker of the draft. Oakland could have drafted Bruce Campbell, who gained 1st round steam after a freakish’ performance at the combine, or Tim Tebow to replace JaMarcus Russell, or even Sam Bradford. Yes, even a player who was already selected 7 picks earlier could have been accidentally drafted by the Raiders… it’s what they do. Nothing Al Davis does anymore surprises me. Nonetheless, they took the best defensive player on the best defensive team, in Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain and received cheers from the Oakland faithful who attended the New York City draft Thursday night. I felt that they should have drafted Earl Thomas, Bryan Baluga, or even Derrick Morgan, but McClain is a “heady” football player and will be solid year in and year out.

6) Buffalo passes on franchise quarterback and add running back depth.

The Bills have a solid running game with Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson, but lack a solid quarterback and offensive line. So what position do they address with the 9th overall pick? Running back…obviously. Buffalo drafted CJ Spiller in hopes that he turns into the next Chris Johnson. I do have one question for the Bills draft team. How is he going to be Chris Johnson while he carries the ball 5 times a game? This was the worst selection of the draft in my opinion. Spiller is a phenomenal athlete, that is not in question, but the Bills have far too many holes to take a running back. They had their franchise quarterback in Jimmy Clausen just sitting there, waiting to be taken and they passed on him. They had a franchise tackle in Bryan Bulago sitting there as well and yet, they pass on him as well. I just want to offer a personal “good luck” to newly hired head coach Chan Gailey. I hope you catch on after your stop in Buffalo because this isn’t off to a good start.

7) Jacksonville passes on franchise quarterback and add defensive tackle depth.

Deja vu much? Byron Leftwich was solid for about 2 years and David Garrard gave you about 6 really promising games. Quarterback is a big position of need for the Jaguars and filling the stands is kind of a big deal in the NFL. The perfect scenario came up for the Jaguars at pick #10. Jimmy Clausen is sitting there, ready to be drafted and I can see the season ticket sales growing already. Jacksonville will be back in the thick of things in just a few years now that they have their franchise quarterback. Uh oh. Looks like Jacksonville accidentally sent the wrong selection up to Commissioner Goodell because there is no way they would intentionally pass on Clausen for a defensive tackle named Tyson Alualu. Tyson, no disrespect because you were solid all season for California and I thought you would go to Jacksonville in the second round, but in the 1st round? Over Jimmy Clausen? Or even Tim Tebow for that matter? Not a good decision Jacksonville. Oh well, I guess you can draft Ryan Mallett or Jake Locker next year, but then again, I hear there is quite the strong fullback class coming in 2011. Why don’t you just be safe and hold off until 2012 to get a quarterback.

8 ) Demaryius Thomas gets drafted ahead of Dez Bryant.

Dez Bryant has been disrespected a great deal over the last few months. People have called him lazy, a diva, egotistical, and did I mention lazy? Demaryius Thomas is clean cut, has a positive image, but just had some questions regarding his route running. Thomas getting drafted by Denver two spots before Dallas grabbed Bryant doesn’t surprise me at all, but it doesn’t make it the right decision. Dez Bryant is a big time playmaker and was successful while he played at Oklahoma State, but had some off the field issues that were not necessarily something he could control. Jerry Jones made a great move by selecting Bryant. He is going to make Roy Williams better, Myles Austin better, and free up more room for the running game. Dallas got a top 10 talent with the 24th pick in the draft. Thomas will be respectable, but he won’t be Dez Bryant. Thomas runs average routes, lacks veteran leadership in Denver to help him grow, and the fact that he struggles against bump coverage, will combine to get him labeled a “bust” after 2-3 years.

9) Jahvid Best, Jermaine Gresham, and Sam Bradford bounce back from bad injuries and go in 1st round.

On a serious note, I want to offer a personal congratulations to Jahvid Best, who bounced back strong after one of the scariest injuries I have ever seen. He looked paralyzed at one point, as he was motionless on the field, but worked hard and got himself drafted at the end of round 1. Jermaine Gresham and Sam Bradford were probably top 5 picks in last years draft, but chose to come back and compete for a National Championship. Bradford injured his shoulder twice, but ended up being the #1 overall player selected this year. Gresham, Bradford’s teammate at Oklahoma, tore his ACL before this season and somehow was able to get drafted in the 1st round. I am glad that none of these injuries were serious enough to take away their hopes and dreams of playing at the next level. In the end, these are 22 year old kids who almost had their dreams taken away from them and it’s good to see them fight through the tough times and reach their goals.

10) Denver surprises most and drafts Tim Tebow in late 1st round.

Late in the 1st round it looked like “superman” was going to get selected in the 2nd round and all would be right in the world. Not so fast says Denver coach Josh McDaniels. McDaniels snagged the lefty with the “brand new, polished, flawless release” with the 25th pick in the draft. He will definitely get a shot to be a starter at some point over the next year or two because the Broncos have a rough quarterback depth chart (Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn), so I don’t think he could have asked for a better situation. Mel Kiper said it best when he said, “when the bullets start flying around him, muscle memory takes over.” Tebow will resort back to his poor habits when the ball is snapped in a real game. His release will be long and he will look poor like he did in the Senior Bowl. He will struggle under center and he will be begging McDaniels to move to the spread (which wouldn’t be a bad idea). Tim, I wish you good luck and hope you keep your surgical gloves handy because your future is not at quarterback…I’m just sayin’.

1)St. Louis Rams
QB – Sam Bradford
- The Rams have plenty of holes to fill, but they have a glaring hole at quarterback. They let Mark Bulger go this offseason and need to attempt to open up some holes for Steven Jackson. They went defensive line (Chris Long) and offensive line (Jason Smith) in the 1st round of the last two
years and you can’t spend that much money on three lineman in a row. Take your shot with Bradford, as he has big time potential. Passing on the former Heisman winner could set the franchise back for a few years.
Other options – Ndamukung Suh or trading down.

2)Detroit Lions
DT- Gerald McCoy
- It is pretty well known that the Lions prefer McCoy over Nebraska’s Ndamukung Suh, but nobody has come out and said it. They even have a little leverage here and if they choose to select Suh, they could turn around and offer him to the Buccaneers in exchange for the 3rd overall pick and an extra 3rd rounder. The Lions clearly have other needs, but McCoy is very close to a “can’t miss prospect” and will really improve their defense as a rookie. If the shock everyone and don’t choose a defensive tackle, look for Eric Berry to hear his name called.
Other options – Ndamukung Suh, Russell Okung, Eric Berry

3)Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DT – Ndamukung Suh
- Whether they get him at #2 or #3, the Buccaneers will believe they got the best player in the draft and would be ecstatic to pick up Suh. They have a glaring hole on the defensive line and Suh, the best defensive player in all of college football last year, fills that hole with great size, speed, and power. Suh is #2 on my “can’t miss prospect list”.
Other Options – Gerald McCoy, Eric Berry, Dez Bryant

4)Washington Redskins
OT – Russell Okung
- Newly hired head coach Mike Shanahan went out and got former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and now protecting him is key. Okung is a monster and could be an elite tackle for years to come. He is not as agile as Oklahoma offensive lineman Trent Williams, but should
flourish in Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme. I truly believe they will go out and sign Terrell Owens this offseason, so I don’t think Dez Bryant will be in play here, but it’s a possibility.
Other Options – Trent Williams, Dez Bryant

5)Kansas City Chiefs
S – Eric Berry
- I am going against the grain on this, but I’ll take my chances… Eric Berry is my #1 “can’t miss prospect”. He has the potential to be everything that Ed Reed has been in the league. He is a ballhawk in the secondary, a head hunter, and has terrific speed and range to cover a ton of ground.
Berry will improve the pass defense and run defense a great deal this season and for years to come. The Chiefs need an offensive lineman to protect Matt Cassel, but unless Okung slips, I don’t see them passing on Berry.
Other Options -  Russell Okung, Bryan Bulaga, Dez Bryant

6)Seattle Seahawks
OT – Bryan Bulaga
- I believe Pete Carroll would love to snatch up Eric Berry, but with him off the board, they fill the need for the future after Walter Jones. Carroll’s USC teams always had a great offensive line and he will attempt to re-create that in Seattle. They get a stud offensive lineman in Bryan Bulaga. He will man the left tackle position for a long time in Seattle and within a year or two, will make people forget about the loss of Jones. Carroll has a great relationship with former Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, so don’t be surprised if he makes a shocking pick and selects the young signal caller,
but chances are he will attempt to grab Clausen at #14 when the Seahawks select again.
Other Options – Eric Berry, Jimmy Clausen

7)Cleveland Browns
S – Earl Thomas
- The Browns are drooling over Sam Bradford, but the price to move up to #1 is just too high for Mike Holmgren to make that move. The #2 player on their board is Eric Berry, who would start from day 1. Remember when the Browns allowed the Detroit Lions and Matt Stafford to pass at will against them earlier in the season? That wouldn’t have happened if a respectable, rangy safety was in town. Berry is off the board so they go with the next best thing in Texas safety Earl Thomas. They lost linebacker Kamerion Wimbley and wide receiver Braylon Edwards, but for the #7 pick, defensive end / linebacker Derrick Morgan and/or wide receiver Dez Bryant shouldn’t be selected over a big time, playmaking safety. Also, Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace are not the answers at quarterback, so keep an eye on Jimmy Clausen, who spent three season’s in a pro style offense.
Other Options – Eric Berry, Derrick Morgan, Jimmy Clausen

8)Oakland Raiders
OT – Trent Williams
- You never know which direction the Al Davis circus will go to next, but one thing I do know is that the Raiders won’t mess this pick up. Well…scratch that, they might. Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams is still on the board in this mock draft and he is a very big, agile, franchise-type left tackle. He will be in the league a long time and have great success. If the Raiders can somehow end up with Williams, I will lock them into a B+ grade for the entire draft because he is a big time player. If the Raiders can somehow wheel and deal their way into getting Eric Berry or Earl Thomas, I will be even more impressed. However, if the Raiders pass on Williams and select Jimmy Clausen or even the combine freak (similar to Darius Heyward-Bey last year), offensive tackle Bruce Campbell, I will not be shocked and it will just prove to me that there is no direction in Oakland and the team will forever be in shambles.
Other Options – Jimmy Clausen, Taylor Mays, Bruce Campbell, Anthony Davis

9)Buffalo Bills
OT – Anthony Davis
- Chan Gailey is taking over a Bills squad that was rough to watch all season long. Terrell Owens left in the offseason so wide receiver could be a commodity for them, but far from their biggest need. Jimmy Clausen is a great possibility, plus he has played in the cold weather while in South Bend.
I think Gailey is going to focus on getting the most out of Trent Edwards this year and if that doesn’t work out, he can make a run at Jake Locker, Ryan Mallett, or Christian Ponder in the 2011 draft. Their offensive line was hideous all year long and they need to protect Edwards and open up some
holes for the running game if they plan on being successful next year. Anthony Davis out of Rutgers has great size and is just barely outside of what I consider an elite offensive lineman in this draft (Okung, Bulaga, and Williams). This is a very strong offensive line class and if not for Okung, Bulaga, and Williams, Davis could find himself in the top 5, but 9 is not too shabby either.
Other Options – Jimmy Clausen, Dez Bryant

10)Jacksonville Jaguars
QB – Jimmy Clausen
- Byron Leftwich never panned out after a few promising seasons and David Garrard lacks consistency to be an elite quarterback, hence, it’s time to start over. There is a lot of “hoopla” going around about the Jaguars trading back in the first round and selecting Tim Tebow or even selecting him 10th overall, but I think it is all just speculation and rumor. Although Tebow would put some fans in the seats, once they start losing again no good will come of it. Clausen spent three years in a pro style system, has very good accuracy, and can make all the throws. He has proven that all the hype from his highschool days was warrented and he has matured over the three years at Notre Dame. I think selecting Clausen can still put fans in the seats, while improving the quarterback situation with a player that has big time, franchise quarterback potential. I think he would truly be a steal at #10, since he is a top 5 talent.
Other Options – Dez Bryant, Tim Tebow, Joe Haden

11)Denver Broncos
WR – Dez Bryant
- Losing Brandon Marshall hurts the Denver Broncos. If you were to ask Coach McDaniels, I’m sure he would beg to differ, but we all know how productive Marshall was on the field. Drafting him at #11 is a definite reach, especially for a player who was not on the field much in 2010 due to the
fact that he was ruled ineligible. Nonetheless, the Broncos need a wide receiver and he is the best wide receiver in this year’s draft. Brady Quinn is the quarterback of the future for the Broncos and they need to put talent around him if they are going to be successful. If they don’t go wide
receiver, they could go after Joe Haden, since Alphonso Smith has bust written all over him and they could also look at guard Mike Iupati and center Maurkice Pouncey to really boost the offensive line.
Other Options – Joe Haden, Mike Iupati, Maurkice Pouncey

12)Miami Dolphins
DT – Dan Wiliams
- Monte Kiffin and Ed Orgeron worked wonders with this kid. A career underachiever, Williams really came on strong this year and will reap the benefits for his hard work. With Jason Ferguson coming off an injury and getting up there in age, Williams could step right in this year and learn a great deal, while preparing himself to take over as a starter a year from now. I am slightly confused on Williams because he could go very early or very late in the 1st round, but I don’t think Miami will regret taking him this early. If they go another direction, look for them to go after one of the star
safeties in the draft or even a linebacker.
Other Options – Eric Berry, Earl Thomas, Rolando McClain

13)San Francisco 49ers
CB – Joe Haden
Nate Clements is getting up there in age and may be moved to safety to fill another hole in the secondary. Joe Haden is one of the better true cover corners to come out in a few years. He is very physical and really makes up for his lack of size with his toughness. He has Darrelle Revis potential,
in the fact that he has the potential to lockdown one side of the field. If he pans out and plays well in San Francisco, in addition to moving Clements to safety, this defense will be even stronger in 2010. CJ Spiller could potentially be the choice here as well, but with Seattle, New York, and
Tennessee all having bigger needs than running back, the 49ers can make the smart choice and get both players, with them choosing again at # 17. If they choose Spiller at #13, Haden will be gone to either Seattle or Tennessee in the next three picks. Offensive tackle is a major need for the 49ers, but the quality of the linemen that should be available at pick 13 is just not there with offensive tackles that remain. With Okung, Bulaga, Williams, and Davis already gone, the 49ers are not going to reach for Bruce Campbell or Mike Iupati. If Williams or Bulaga slip to #13, look for one of them to be the choice.
Other Options – CJ Spiller, Trent Williams, Bryan Bulaga

14)Seattle Seahawks
DL – Derrick Morgan
I really think that Pete Carroll wants to make a splash so I have a hard time thinking he will draft Morgan, but he definitely fills a major need at defensive end and linebacker. He is in the hybrid mold and could be successful at both positions. I think he will have a solid career, but he will need 2 years before he makes an impact. It is a very good possibility that Carroll tries to get a new Reggie Bush type player in Spiller, but I just don’t see them using a 1st round pick on a running back when they have Julius Jones and Justin Forsett. It also wouldn’t surprise me if they gave up some picks to move up again and go after Jimmy Clausen.
Other Options – Jimmy Clausen, CJ Spiller

15)New York Giants
LB – Rolando McClain
- This is exactly the player that the Giants were hoping would fall to them. McClain was quite possibly the best defensive player on the best defense in college football last year. Nick Saban knows how to make defensive players great and he worked wonders with McClain. If he slips to #15, the Giants will wait all of 1 minute to get that paper up to the podium and select the
Alabama linebacker. If he is gone before the Giants pick, Derrick Morgan could be the selection or they could reach a little and select Sean Weatherspoon out of Missouri.
Other Options – Derrick Morgan, Sean Weatherspoon

16)Tennessee Titans
DE – Jason Pierre-Paul
- “JPP” is the definition of a project. He has tremendous agility, athleticism, and has a great frame to turn into a big time defensive end, but he only played one year of division 1 college football. He had grade issues and couldn’t get into Florida, Miami, or Florida State, but clearly, going to South
Florida worked out for him. I think he will “boom” rather than “bust”, but I to be honest, it’s 50-50 at this point. If “JPP” is not the selection, would Tennessee match up Chris Johnson with his clone in CJ Spiller? Doubt it, but it would be fun to watch! As I stated above, if available, Joe Haden would be the choice, but if he is not around, maybe they will reach for Patrick Robinson or Kyle Wilson.
Other Options – Kyle Wilson, Mike Iupati, CJ Spiller

17)San Francisco 49ers
RB – CJ Spiller
Frank Gore has been lucky to remain relatively healthy since entering the league, but he has had injury issues since his high school days. The 49ers are wondering how long till he breaks down for good. Glen Coffee is a respectable backup running back, but he is no CJ Spiller. Spiller can be a
great complement to Gore and the solid 49er running game. He can really change the pace of the game and is a threat to score everytime he touches the ball. He could be the NFC version of Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson. If Spiller is around, like Michael Crabtree in 2009,
the 49ers will probably select him, as he will be the best player available. If they decided to reach a little bit at 17, Bruce Campbell, offensive lineman out of Maryland, or Mike Iupati, guard out of Idaho, may be the choice, but I see them addressing the offensive line in round 2.
Other Options – Bruce Campbell, Mike Iupati

18)Pittsburgh Steelers
OG – Mike Iupati
- Iupati is a hard nosed, smash mouth, angry offensive lineman that would fit in perfectly with the mentality in Pittsburgh. He plays with good  technique, while striking fear in his opponents hearts. He would step right in at the guard position and with proper coaching, he could develop into a
franchise left tackle, but chances are he stays at guard. Mike Pouncey, center for Florida, could be selected here as well. The Steelers traded away Santonio Holmes this offseason… I wonder if they are hoping Dez Bryant free falls to #18?
Other Options – Maurkice Pouncey, Dez Bryant

19)Atlanta Falcons
C – Maurkice Pouncey
- Pouncey is one of the best center prospects I have seen in a long time. It’s odd to draft a center in the 1st round, but like I mentioned with Berry, Suh, and McCoy, Pouncey is up there on my “can’t miss prospect” list. If he keeps his head in the game and stays focused, he has the potential to be an elite center within 2-3 years. He is very agile and quick off the ball and shows great power in his run blocking technique. “JPP” could be in play, as they could use some help on the defensive line, as well as linebacker Sergio Kindle, but I think you go with the sure thing in Pouncey.
Other Options – Jason Pierre-Paul, Sergio Kindle, Brandon Graham

20)Houston Texans
CB – Kyle Wilson
- Dunta Robinson is now in Atlanta and they need to replace him. Kyle Wilson had a great seasonand really burst onto the scene as one of the nation’s elite cornerbacks. He is a little undersized, but really plays with terrific technique. Patrick Robinson, cornerback out of Florida State, is very
underrated coming into the draft and could end up being a steal this late in the draft. I’m giving the nod to Wilson at this point, due to production on the field this year. If they don’t choose to replace Robinson in round 1, look for them to pick up Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews to complement Steve Slaton.
Other Options – Patrick Robinson, Devin McCourty, Ryan Mathews

21)Cincinnati Bengals
LB – Sergio Kindle
- I remember seeing Kindle coming out of highschool. He was a genetic freak. Some thought he could play running back, linebacker, or even safety. He played a lot of defensive line and linebacker in college, but never produced as well as most thought he would. Nonetheless, he was one of the Longhorns best players on one of the nation’s best defenses. Match him up with Rey Maualuga in Cincinnati and you can see some great things in the Bengals defensive future. Carson Palmer could use another weapon and Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham would have been a top 10 pick if he didn’t get hurt this year.
Other Options – Jermaine Gresham, Patrick Robinson, Maurkice Pouncey

22)New England Patriots
WR – Demaryius Thomas
- Demaryius Thomas looks like Calvin Johnson, jumps like Calvin Johnson, went to the same school as Calvin Johnson, but doesn’t run routes like Calvin Johnson. That is the big knock on Thomas, in comparison to his old teammate at Georgia Tech. I think Thomas has big time potential and if
drafted by New England, he could learn how to run routes by Wes Welker and Torry Holt and learn how to use his speed and size like Randy Moss. Patriots could create a monster if they give Thomas a chance.
Other Options – Jermaine Gresham, Jerry Hughes, Sean Weatherspoon, Taylor Mays

23)Green Bay Packers
DE/LB – Brandon Graham
I am not very high on Brandon Graham, but you can’t argue against on-field production. The kid made plays throughout his career and was one of the lone bright spots on a Michigan defense that has been average at best over the last few years. One person that Graham reminds me of his current Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lamaar Woodley. They play very similar and if Graham could end up playing like Woodley, the Packers would be stoked to match him up with Clay Matthews at linebacker. If they can’t get a linebacker or defensive end that they feel is worthy of the #23 pick,
look for a cornerback to come off the board.
Other Options – Patrick Robinson, Devin McCourty, Kareem Jackson

24)Philadelphia Eagles
S – Taylor Mays
- The Eagles had an elite offense last year and made a ton of big plays throughout the season, but the problem was that they gave up more big plays to the opposition last year. They gave up way too many big plays in the passing game, which is very unlike a Philadelphia defense. This is one
pick that I guarantee is used on a player in the secondary. I think they really want to package some of the picks that they have and trade up to get Eric Berry, Earl Thomas, or Joe Haden, but trades are tough to project so I’m going to leave them at #24 and choose the best prospect available in the secondary. Mays is a monster and a physical freak. He runs like a running back, hits like a linebacker, and can jump like a wide receiver. I do have one knock on him, that separates him from Thomas and Berry; he doesn’t have the range and instincts that it takes to become an elite safety. I think he ends up being a big time linebacker at the NFL level, but for now, the Eagles
give him a shot to play safety and see if he can make some plays using his freakish athleticism.
Other Options – Patrick Robinson, Devin McCourty, or trade up for Eric Berry or Earl Thomas

25)Baltimore Ravens
TE – Jermaine Gresham
If the Ravens can bring in Gresham, Joe Flacco will be smiling for weeks. The Ravens already brought in Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth in the offseason and now they bring in a top 10 talent at tight end in Gresham. Match up those three deep threats with the running game of Willis McGahee
and Ray Rice and you could be looking at one of the best offenses in football. I already thought that the Ravens were going to win the AFC North, but now with adding all those weapons, it looks like Ray Lewis could get Super Bowl ring #2. If Gresham is off the board, look for them to boost the secondary or defensive line.
Other Options – Patrick Robinson, Taylor Mays, Jared Odrick

26)Arizona Cardinals
CB – Patrick Robinson
Former Miami Hurricanes cornerback Antrel Rolle heads from Arizona to New York and they bring in Florida State cornerback Patrick Robinson as a potential replacement. Florida State struggled on defense this year, but it wasn’t because of “P-Rob”. He was often left in one on one coverage and
had to cover wide receivers for up to 10 seconds. You will not be successful if you have to do that all game. The defensive line for the Seminoles couldn’t get any pressure on the quarterbacks and that made it look like Robinson couldn’t stop anyone. Robinson is a terrific cornerback and before the season started, some projected Robinson to be a top 10 pick. He was a shutdown cornerback as a junior and will be in the NFL. Arizona would be getting a major steal at #26 and could create a terrific tandem for years to come if they match him up with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
Robinson has good size (6’2) and runs a legit 4.4. I think they stick with cornerback if Robinson is off the board and will either take Devin McCourty from Rutgers or Kareem Jackson from Alabama.
Other Options – Kareem Jackson, Devin McCourty

27)Dallas Cowboys
OT – Bruce Campbell
- Jerry Jones, like Al Davis, likes to make a splash with his 1st round picks and will be more than willing to take Campbell in hopes that his freakish athleticism translates into a career as a perennial pro bowler. The Cowboys have a great team, top to bottom, and do not have many holes to fill,
therefore they can take the best player available and add depth. With that said, they may go after defensive linemen Jared Odrick or Terrence Cody or linebackers Sean Weatherspoon or Jerry Hughes, just for added depth.
Other Options – Jared Odrick, Sean Weatherspoon

28)San Diego Chargers
RB – Ryan Matthews
- If you have been living under a rock for the last few months, then you didn’t hear that the San Diego Chargers got rid of LaDanian Tomlinson. He had a great run in San Diego, but it was time to move on and will be a great addition to an already stout New York Jets running game. Darren Sproles, all 5’7″ of him, is all that is left in San Diego so addressing the running game is a must in this years draft. Ryan Matthews had a great season for Fresno State and adds a nice combination of power and speed, to complement Sproles shiftyness, agility, and quickness. If they want to go another direction other than Matthews, Jahvid Best from California should be available and drafting him in the 1st round would definitely be acceptable in my opinion. If they don’t go running back all together, Terrence Cody could be the run stopping force that they have lacked in recent years.
Other Options – Jahvid Best, Terrence Cody

29)New York Jets
DE – Jared Odrick
- The Jets have made terrific moves all offseason and have addressed most of their major needs via free agency. They brought in Antonio Cromartie for the secondary, Santonio Holmes for receiving, and as mentioned above, LaDanian Tomlinson for the running game. You win games in the trenches
so drafting a stud defensive lineman is in order. Jared Odrick is that man. Odrick had a very good career at Penn State and I love his work ethic and burst off the ball. He never takes plays off and should be successful in the NFL because of that mindset. If Terrence Cody is around, they will have a tough selection on their hands.
Other Options – Terrence Cody, Jerry Hughes, Taylor Mays

30)Minnesota Vikings
DT – Terrence Cody
- Minnesota has to draft Brett Favre’s replacement in the first round right? He won’t be around forever right? Well, that’s not going to be 350 pound defensive tackle Terrence Cody. Cody was the anchor to the great Alabama defense and will do great things in Minnesota, where year in and year out they seem to have the best defensive line. Defensive line coach Karl Dunbar is the best in the business at what he does and will love to work with Cody and his incredible size. If Odrickis still available, like the Jets, they will have a tough choice to make. If they don’t go defensive line, look for them to take the best cornerback available.
Other Options – Devin McCourty, Patrick Robinson, Kareem Jackson

31)Indianapolis Colts
LB – Jerry Hughes
If Jerry Hughes lasts till pick #31, the Colts staff will be very happy. This is a kid that some people have listed as a top 10 talent and was the best player on that incredible TCU defense from this past season. Obviously he is doing something right. This is a case where the rich get richer. His size is a concern, but not for the Colts and not with the 31st pick. I think the Colts go with the best player available between the linebacker position and cornerback position and I believe that they will have Hughes higher on their board than Missouri linebacker .
Other Option  – Sean Weatherspoon, Devin McCourty

32)New Orleans Saints
LB – Sean Weatherspoon
Weatherspoon may be keeping the black and gold that he wore in college after all. If the Saints get Weatherspoon with the 32nd pick the draft, they will be getting him about 12 picks later than he should have been taken. He is an incredible tackler and plays with a mean streak. He hits well, but
chooses to wrap up rather than go for the kill shot, which means that he shows composure and is a “heady” football player. Weatherspoon isn’t the biggest, fastest, or even strongest, but he is an all around solid football player that will give you 100% at all times. To sum it up, he is the type of
player that any coach would want. The Saints can add depth at any position and make a good pick, so if they sway from getting a linebacker, they may reach for Morgan Burnett, safety from Georgia Tech, who is just a playmaker in the secondary and has a nose for the football.
Other Options – Taylor Mays, Morgan Burnett, Kareem Jackson

Enjoy the draft ladies and gentlemen! I hope your favorite teams get all your favorite players. As long as you stay away from Joe Haden and CJ Spiller… I’m just sayin’

The Butler Bulldogs have had an incredible run, but the season comes to an end here (well, I guess that happens win or lose, but you get my point). Nolan Smith has put this team on his back and is playing his best basketball of the season. Jon Scheyer never seems to miss when I am watching him play. Kyle Singler bounced back from a horrendous performance in the elite 8, to play really well last night against West Virginia. The Plumlee brothers and Brian Zoubek are really making things difficult for opposing teams down low in the pain. This cast of players will be the toughest that Butler may have faced all year.

Butler plays great defense, works hard for an entire 40 minutes, and can really shoot the rock. That won’t be enough against Duke. Duke can score in too many ways and there is too much “star power” on this roster, must more-so than against any team they have seen in this tournament up to this point. Secondly, I do not like the fact that they have had so many close games. The Bulldogs average margin of victory in this last 4 games is 3.75 points. Too many close games are stressful and I am sure that Duke has a lot more left in the tank that Butler does. The Bulldogs will need a huge game, potentially the best game of his career, from Gordon Hayward. I just don’t see that happening against the Blue Devils defense. Hayward will get his points because you can’t completely shutdown great talent, but he won’t have that great game that Butler needs. As a major college basketball fan, I would love to see a great game with a buzzer beater that is replayed over and over for the next 20 years, but I just don’t see that happening this year. Looks like another title for the Cameron Crazies and back to back titles for the ACC, after North Carolina won last year. OK, I know, shameless plug to my UNC boys, but this season was depressing. Two words, Harrison – Barnes… I’m just sayin’.

Final Score Prediction – Duke 76 Butler 66

Let’s get some predictions on the Sweet 16 matchups for this week.

Northern Iowa vs Michigan State

Northern Iowa is a very scrappy team that can really shoot the rock. Michigan State is, quite possibly, the best coached team that is still in the tournament (yes even over Coach K and Duke). Michigan State landed a huge blow when guard Kalin Lucas was deemed out for the rest of the season. Coaching can only take you so far, but Northern Iowa just doesn’t have the talent to hang with the Spartans. Northern Iowa could win this game with an effective three ball, hopefully by PARUKMANESH (love that name) and move on to the elite 8, but chances are Sparty will be moving on.

Tennessee vs Ohio State

Evan Turner, need I say more? This kid is the real deal and will be the 1st or 2nd player taken in the upcoming draft (either him or John Wall). He is a playmaker and has great size and athleticism. I’m not really high on the Big 10, which makes this a tough pick, but I am more of a non-believer of Tennessee. They come back to reality this week and lose to the Buckeyes.

Syracuse vs Butler

Wesley Johnson is a freak. He, alone, will lead Syracuse to a win over Butler. Butler is competitive in the tournament year in and year out but they don’t have an answer for all that Johnson brings to the table. This Syracuse team is really tenacious on defense and will cause havoc for the “Aj Graves-less” Butler offense. If Johnson has an off night, Butler could take it, but I really think Syracuse moves on to the next round.

Xavier vs Kansas State
Jacob Pullen has played very well for Kansas State all season and that play has continued in the tournament. They are playing great defense and Pullen is handling things on the offensive end of the court. Jordan Crawford, best known for a summer league game dunk on Lebron James, has been outstanding as well. He really turned it on last game against Pittsburgh. Kansas State squeaks one out against a tough Xavier team.

Kentucky vs Cornell

Cornell, I hate to break it to you, but you are not ready for what you are about to run into. Cornell shoots the ball well and has some size downlow but they are clearly overmatched in this one. Pick your poison. John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, Patrick Patterson or DeMarcus Cousins. They can all go for 30 points on any night and all are playing great right now. Bledsoe and Wall have way too much speed for the Cornell backcourt. This game will be over early. Great run Cornell, now hit the books.

Washington vs West Virginia

I think I am the only believer in Washington. I thought that they would make a decent run in the tournament and so far, they have proven me right. Isiah Thomas and Quincy Pondexter are both NBA players and could step into the league at this point and contribute well. West Virginia, like Michigan State, just lost a key contributor for this game in guard Darryl Bryant. I smell an upset in this game. Look for Washington to sneak into the Elite 8.

Duke vs Purdue
Purdue’s Robbie Hummel is one of the best players in the country and the fact that he is injured will finally hurt the Boilermakers. There is just far too much talent on this Duke squad for Purdue to pull of the upset. Jon Scheyer, Brian Zoubek, the Plumlee brothers, Nolan Smith, and Kyle Singler. Who do you want to lose to? There is a lot of NBA talent on this team, which is different from year’s past. This is a complete team with a lot of quality off the bench. Duke cruises into the elite 8.

Baylor vs Saint Mary’s

Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn. Most may not know these two guards, but you really need to start watching these two play. This is one of the better backcourts in the country. Dunn can flat out score and Carter can really run the show. Saint Mary’s will compete, especially with the quality play of Omar Samhan, but he won’t be able to do enough. Maybe if Patty Mills were still around, he could contain Dunn or Carter, but nonetheless, he is not. Baylor moves on to play Duke in the next round with an easy win over Saint Mary’s.