Declared Underclassmen (as of Jan. 16) – I’ll be updating the list with more info about the prospects, and I’ll also try to include videos of as many as possible. If you have a highlight video that you want to link, feel free, and I’ll add it.
Note (Jan. 16): Michael Oher (OT, Ole Miss) withdrew his names from the list, and Bobby Reid is heading to Texas Southern instead of entering the draft.
Offense
QB
Xavier Lee, 6’4, 235, Florida St.
2007 stats: 66 of 124, 972 yards, 5 TD, 5 INT
+/-: Both of the underclassmen QBs entering the draft early are big, strong-armed, mobile quarterbacks who lost their starting jobs at some point in 2007.
Lee has all of the physical tools, that’s not an issue. Sadly, physical tools are only half of the requirements for being a successful QB.
Consistency isn’t Lee’s strong point, but then again, that could be said for any FSU QB post-Chris Weinke. If there’s anything to question, it’s his attitude, which got him in hot water a few times.
Some team could, and likely will, take a chance on him, may it be late in the draft or in free agency, because of those dazzling physical attributes, and the fact that he can be a serious playmaker when he’s got his head right.
You can’t necessarily fault him for leaving FSU, when Drew Weatherford is pretty entrenched as the starter, there wasn’t much of a future for Lee there, and I suppose instead of going to a 1-AA school (he already used his redshirt year), he figured he’d take his shot at the pros, smartly or not.
RB
Jamaal Charles, 6’1, 205, Texas
2007 stats: 1,619 yards, 18 TD, 17 catches, 199 yards
+/-: Charles has three gears – fast, faster, and fastest. On the flip side, he has had issues with consistency and holding on to the ball, but he showed marked improvement on both as the ‘07 season progressed, which is why he finished so strong.
James Davis, 5’11, 205, Clemson
2007 stats: 214 carries, 1,064 yards, 5.0 avg., 10 TD, 12 catches, 51 yards, 2 TD
+/-: Had back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons and 3,130 yards and 36 touchdowns in three seasons despite sharing carries in each season. As productive as he can be one game, however, he can turn around and disappear the next.
Felix Jones, 6’0, 200, Arkansas
2007 stats: 1,162 yards, 11 TD, 16 catches, 176 yards, TD, 18 kick returns, 564 yards, 31.3 yard average, 2 TD
+/-: If Jones was anywhere else but Arkansas, he would have been a starter. But, when he gets the ball in his hands, something good happens most of the time (6.3, 7.6, and 8.7 yards per carry in his three seasons), may it be as a runner, a receiver, or a kick returner, the last of which has earned him both conference and national accolades in his career.
While McFadden might be more of the power back, Jones’ bread and butter is not only his blistering speed, but his ability to make moves that leave you looking at his heels.
The main question about Jones is how he’ll produce if he’s the focal point of the offense. He had 20 carries or more in a game only once in three seasons in Fayetteville, against South Carolina in 2006 (53 yards on 21 carries).
He would have gotten a chance to show that by staying in school for his senior year, but with his status as a first-rounder pretty secure, you can’t really blame him for coming out, though he could have been the first back taken in 2009 had he stayed.
Darren McFadden, 6’2, 210, Arkansas
2007 stats: 325 carries, 1,830 yards, 16 TD, 21 catches, 164 yards, 1 TD,
+/-: McFadden’s the total package – speed, size, power, moves, versatility. There’s not much that can be said that hasn’t already. He proved this season that he could carry the load and produce while doing so – 34 carries, 321 yards vs. South Carolina, and 32 carries, 206 yards, 3 TD vs. LSU. When the chips are down, this guy makes big things happen. And hey, if the starting QB gets injured, he can fill in!
On the negative side, he did havea couple of subpar performances in 2007 (43 vs. Auburn, 61 vs. Tennessee, 88 vs. Mississippi St.), but then again, who doesn’t have a bad game every now and then? The one real negative when it comes to McFadden is that he’s had a couple of bar incidents in the past couple of years, one that resulted in a toe injury that could have been a lot more serious, and the most recent one resulted in him being in handcuffs.
He’s not a misfit or a troublemaker, but he could simply benefit from being careful about the scrapes he gets into. It only takes one little thing to ruin a promising career.
Rashard Mendenhall, 5’11, 224, Illinois
2007 stats: 1,681 yards, 17 TD, 34 catches, 318 yards, 2 TD
+/-: Has serious big-play ability, as he had a 79-yard run and a 55-yard reception against USC. Great vision, great moves, tries to get the most out of every run, and has the speed to break the big one. Inside and outside runner, not just one or the other. Also a quality receiver as well. Only concern about him is how he can perform against the best, though his performance against USC might help dispel some of those doubts.
Ray Rice, 5’9, 205, Rutgers
2007 stats: 2,012 yards, 24 TD, 25 catches, 239 yards, TD
+/-: Packs a lot of punch in a small frame, and has the speed to go with it. Has taken a good beating in college, but never missed a game. Unfortunately, his size may not sit well with some number-loving scouts. That shouldn’t make a difference, his production should tell the tale – 4,926 yards, 49 rushing touchdowns in three seasons.
Steve Slaton, 5’10, 200, West Virginia
2007 stats: 211 carries, 1,051 yards, 17 TD, 26 catches, 350 yards, TD
+/-: Once he gets by you, it won’t be easy to catch him, whether he goes up the middle and breaks free, or goes to the outside. The slightest opening for Slaton is enough to turn a five-yarder into a 50-yarder in about 3.9 seconds.
He didn’t end his junior season on the hottest of streaks, which could affect his standing right now, given that speed/power/versatile backs Jonathan Stewart, Rashard Mendenhall, and Ray Rice all improved their stock over the 2007 season. But, if a team’s looking to add a speedy back to their stable, he, Felix Jones, and East Carolina’s Chris Johnson are probably the three best options below Darren McFadden, who, well, isn’t going to be off the board past the first hour on draft day.
Kevin Smith, 6’1, 211, Central Florida
2007 stats: 2,567 yards (led nation), 29 TD, 24 catches, 242 yards, TD
+/-: Five 200+ yard games, including a 320-yard day against UAB. But, he also logged 450 carries in 14 games, with 33 or more carries in eight games, with highs of 41, 43, and 46 carries.
Jonathan Stewart, 5’11, 235, Oregon
2007 stats: 1,722 yards, 6.2 avg., 11 TD, 22 catches, 145 yards, 2 TD
+/-: Stewart’s not just some big fullback-type…he’s got serious speed (as low as a 4.38 40). Bringing him down is easier said than done, not only because he’s fast, but he’s got the moves and most of all, the strength to make a two into 20. He not only proved himself to be an excellent running back at Oregon, but also was a weapon in the passing game, and as a kick returner. He went over 250 yards twice in ‘07, and over 100 yards nine times in 13 games. Weaknesses? I’ll get back to you on that one. If Darren McFadden stays in school, Stewart would likely end up being the first back taken.
WR
Adrian Arrington, 6’3, 190, Michigan
2007 stats: 67 catches, 882 yards, 8 TD
+/-: Great size, and as shown by not one, but two one-handed grabs against Florida in the Capital One Bowl, great hands. Off the field issues could trip him up, as he was arrested in 2006 for a domestic violence charge. Currently projects a mid-to-late rounder, but his performance against the Gators certainly helps his stock.
James Banks, 6’3, 218, Carson Newman
2007 stats: 22 catches, 370 yards, 6 TD
+/-: Disciplinary issues got him dismissed from Tennessee, and he didn’t play football from 2004-2006. But, it appears that he’s gotten his life on track, and has put his past behind him. And, with time catching up on him (he’s 24), it’s time to try his luck in the pros.
Earl Bennett, 6’1, 205, Vanderbilt
2007 stats: 75 catches, 830 yards, 5 TD
+/-: Bennett is the SEC’s career leader in receptions, with 236 in three seasons, and is the only receiver in the conference’s history to record 75 catches in three different seasons. Though he hasn’t played on terrific teams, he’s excelled in a pro-style offense in a big-time conference.
Davone Bess, 5’10, 195, Hawaii
2007 stats: 108 catches, 1,266 yards, 12 TD
+/-: Put up big numbers at Hawaii (293 catches, 3,610 yards, 41 TD, school’s all-time leader in catches and scores), but the system stigma might trip him up. Not real big, and not blazing fast, but draft evaluators think enough of him to grade him as a second-rounder. Whether he actually gets drafted that high, we’ll see, because the draft is quickly filling up with underclassmen receivers declaring, and that doesn‘t include the still-undecided DeSean Jackson.
Ryan Grice-Mullen, 5’11, 183, Hawaii
2007 stats: 106 catches, 1,372 yards, 13 TD
+/-: Much like Bess in terms of size, speed, and productivity, though Bess is rated higher by some services. Could have become Hawaii’s career leader in all receiving categories if he’d stayed, but with Bess leaving, Colt Brennan and Jason Rivers out of eligibility, and coach June Jones now at SMU, there’s no telling what could happen in ‘08.
James Hardy, 6’7, 220, Indiana
2007 stats: 79 catches, 1,225 yards, 16 TD
+/-: At 6’7, he’s got a height advantage and then some over defensive backs. Basketball background, so he has both the size and athleticism to dominate opponents. Extremely productive at Indiana – at least 50 catches and 10 touchdowns in each of his three seasons. But, he’s just one of many in what stands to be a very, very deep receivers class, and the fact that he‘s not a burner isn‘t what could drop him – it‘s multiple off the field issues, including a battery charge related to his girlfriend and son in May 2006.
DeSean Jackson, 6’0, 166, California
2007 stats: 65 catches, 762 yards, 6 TD, 11 carries, 132 yards, TD, 12 punt returns, 129 yards, TD
+/-: After a huge sophomore season where he had 1,060 yards receiving and returned four punts for touchdowns, Jackson came into the season with hype, hype, and more hype. But, injuries limited his productiveness in 2007, and there weren’t as many highlight-reel plays from Jackson as in the last couple of seasons.
But, there’s no denying his speed and game-breaking ability, and that’s what will earn him an early call on draft day, though it likely won‘t be as a top 5 or 10 pick like many expected at the start of the 2007 season. .
Malcolm Kelly, 6’4, 219, Oklahoma
2007 stats: 49 catches, 821 yards, 9 TD
+/-: Kelly is considered by some as the most athletic receiver in the draft, and for a good reason, as he’s a showman on the field – few catches are impossible for him, just throw it high, throw it low, behind him, he’ll likely get it. His size is an asset, and so is the fact that he’s not afraid to go over the middle as well. But, after a monster start, with 301 yards and seven scores in the first three games, his numbers tailed off, as he had only one 100-yard game from that point. But what about his speed? He doesn’t run a 4.4, and frankly, he doesn’t have to in order to succeed, because the speed factor is overrated, as is being a 6’5 QB. But, if football doesn’t work out, he’s always got a fallback option.
Mario Manningham, 6’0, 185, Michigan
2007 stats: 72 catches, 1,174 yards, 12 TD, 19 carries, 119 yards
+/-: Manningham’s run of six straight 100-yard games during the season, when he also scored 10 of his 12 touchdowns, shows what he can do when he’s on his game. He was penciled in as a likely first-round pick before the season, and a big year shouldn’t do anything to change where he lands, though he could go anywhere from mid-first to early second, depending on who likes who. His size might be his only issue, in case someone is looking for a big receiver.
Darius Reynaud, 5’11, 205, West Virginia
2007 stats: 64 catches, 733 yards, 12 TD
+/-: In West Virginia’s run-first, run-second, pass-third offense, Reynaud was Pat White’s go-to guy, and made many a big play for the Mountaineers. With his speed, he could be an excellent slot receiver, and with the way he was used in Morgantown, also on reverses/end arounds and as a kick returner. He could have returned for another year because he was a partial qualifier in 2004, but because he’ll have his degree and he also has a daughter and fiancee to support.
Taj Smith, 6’1, 188, Syracuse
2007 stats: 44 catches, 822 yards, 5 TD
+/-: 18.7 yards per catch is an impressive statistic. May be a relatively unknown commodity, given that Syracuse isn’t in the national spotlight. But, at 24, you can’t fault him for moving on to the next level.
Devin Thomas, 6’2, 215, Michigan St.
2007 stats: 79 catches, 1,260 yards, 8 TD, 27 carries, 177 yards, 39 kickoff returns, 1,135 yards, 29.1 yard average
+/-: Dangerous both as a receiver and as a returner, and the occasional run as well. He could have benefited from another year of development though, as this was his first season as a starter. Will he end up being more Plaxico Burress or Charles Rogers?
Mario Urrutia, 6’6, 220, Louisville
2007 stats: 35 catches, 501 yards, 3 TD
+/-: Had a solid sophomore season, but saw his numbers drop drastically, due to injuries. Urrutia’s got great size, and the fact that he averaged 17.5 yards per catch shows that he can do a lot when he’s got the ball in his hands. But, he’s had issues with drops, consistency, and being level-headed on the field. But, the fact that he had those injury issues this past season helped push him to the NFL, albeit earlier than he should’ve.
TE
Martellus Bennett, Texas A&M
2007 stats: 49 catches, 587 yards, 4 TD
+/-: Size? Check. Hands? Check. Leaping ability? Check. Blocking skills? Check. I don’t think we’ve seen his best yet, both because of the offense that he was in when he was at A&M, and because he’s bursting with potential and still-raw talent.
Jermichael Finley, Texas
2007 stats: 45 catches, 575 yards, 2 TD
+/-: Finley is a receiver in a tight end’s body, and has great speed for his size. He could have benefited from another year, as he’s only a red shirt sophomore, and his draft evaluation reportedly returned only a fourth-round grade. But, his decision might be a financial one, as he has a child and another on the way.
Offensive Linemen
Brandon Albert, G, Virginia
Ryan Clady, T, Boise St.
Anthony Collins, T, Kansas
Franklin Dunbar, T, Middle Tennessee
Chilo Rachal, G, USC
