2013 NCAA FB Season / 2014 NFL draft

[BINGO]

At this way-too-early point, trading up for either Marqise Lee or Bradley Roby makes the most sense IMO. If I had to pick right now I'd go with Lee because of Roby's off-field issue. Although it's tough to go wrong with a top CB pick from Ohio St.

I would not like Lee over Watkins.

 

[BINGO]

Sammy Watkins - WR - Tigers

Draft insider Tony Pauline believes Clemson junior Sammy Watkins has the makings of a No. 1 WR in the NFL.

Watkins is a "tremendous receiver prospect destined to be an early pick in the draft," according to Pauline. "Quick in all aspects, possesses soft, supple hands and dangerous running after the catch. Has the makings of a number one receiver in the NFL and scheme diverse." Many will debate Watkins versus USC's Marqise Lee, but the former is more explosive in and out of his breaks and with the ball in his hands in space.
Source: TFY Draft Insider

Aug 19 - 12:17 PM

 

[NinerSickness]

I'm starting to come around a little on Jason Verrett CB from TCU. Doesn't exactly look like an upgrade at CB right away like Roby, but he could end up being the 3rd CB taken if his combine numbers are good enough.

 

[clyde_carbon]

I would not like Lee over Watkins.

I concur.

And I've been on the Roby train for over a year.

 

[BINGO]

Taylor Lewan - T - Wolverines

Michigan senior T Taylor Lewan could earn a top 10 grade from teams prior to May's draft, according to CBS Sports' Rob Rang.

Lewan is "an imposing figure cut from the same cloth as" Jake Long, per Rang. "Lewan's athleticism and aggression could earn him a spot in the top 10 come May. If so, he'd be the first Big Ten player since Long to earn this distinction." Our own Josh Norris considers Texas A&M's Jake Matthews and Alabama's Cyrus Kouandjio superior prospects at the position, but there might be room for Lewan since three of the top four picks last April featured offensive tackles. Still, he might be a bit overrated at this point.
Source: CBS Sports

Aug 21 - 11:35 AM

 

[Crimsoncrew]

Thought this was a good place to post this:

49ers' final cuts will not run as deep | CSN Bay Area

Kind of love that we've got several guys tucked away. I'd prefer it if they were playing right now, or see them return during the season, but I love that we'll have guys like Lattimore, Carradine, Dial, and Marquardt who will jump into the mix next year with what should be another large, deep draft class.

 

[BINGO]

Jadeveon Clowney - DL - Gamecocks

Three NFL scouts believe South Carolina junior DE Jadeveon Clowney took too many plays off last season, according to the NY Times' Greg Bishop.

South Carolina defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward shared the sentiment with the NFL evaluators. Apparently Clowney did too, since he worked all summer to improve his conditioning. We think this is nitpicking a bit, honestly. The majority of defensive linemen have their motor questioned at some point during the draft process, but we look forward to seeing how Clowney plays once in better shape.
Source: NY Times

Aug 22 - 1:01 PM

 

[BINGO]

Aaron Murray - QB - Bulldogs

SEC coaches named Georgia senior Aaron Murray All-SEC first team QB.

Texas A&M redshirt sophomore Johhny Manziel was named to the second team, and Alabama senior A.J. McCarron fell to the third squad. SEC media voted Manziel to the first team last month. We aren't surprised to see Murray top the list, but we wonder if some coaches are expecting Manziel to miss game action.
Source: CollegeFootballTalk on NBC Sports

Aug 22 - 11:59 AM

 

[BINGO]

NFL exec: OLB Mack is the real deal, 1st rder

One NFL personnel director told NFL.com's Gil Brandt that Buffalo senior OLB Khalil Mack is "the real deal" and sees him as a first-rounder.

This is obviously high praise, and the executive made the statement quickly after watching Mack. We were surprised to see the MAC pass rusher return for his senior season, since he dealt with off field issues last season that included missing game action due to a suspension. He plays behind three and four man fronts, so Mack could impress teams who run multiple alignments.
Source: Gil Brandt on Twitter

Aug 22 - 10:53 AM

 

[BINGO]

QB Golson not enrolled at ND this fall

Former Notre Dame redshirt sophomore QB Everett Golson will not be enrolled at Notre Dame during the fall semester.

Golson will instead work with famed QB guru George Whitfield Jr., the private coach of Andrew Luck and Cam Newton. Whitefield has also worked with college stars Johnny Manziel, Tajh Boyd and Logan Thomas. Notre Dame suspended Golson for the 2013 season due to academics. Golson has said that his goal is to return to Notre Dame this winter with the intention of suiting up for the Irish in 2014.
Source: Dennis Dodd on Twitter

Aug 22 - 2:20 PM

 

[BINGO]

Johnny Manziel - QB - Aggies

CBS Sports' Bruce Feldman reports Texas A&M redshirt sophomore QB Johnny Manziel met with the NCAA on Sunday and denied allegations he received payment for autographs.

The meeting reportedly took five and a half hours and "much of the NCAA's inquiry with Manziel... was focused on the quarterback's financial records." Head coach Kevin Sumlin and the rest of the Texas A&M program have apparently taken a vow to act like Manziel does not exist leading up to the opener, refusing to comment on the quarterback. We obviously expect Manziel to suit up against Rice. ESPN first reported Sunday's meeting.
Source: CBS Sports

Aug 27 - 9:06 AM

 

[BINGO]

The suprising thing here is seeing my boy Mariota already climbing the draft boards:

Jadeveon Clowney - DL - Gamecocks

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah predicts 16 teams would select a quarterback over a pass rusher if they possessed the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL draft.

He didn't specify which quarterback or pass rusher, but we can guess the two prospects are Louisville junior Teddy Bridgewater and South Carolina pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, although Oregon redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcus Mariota cannot be ruled out. The 50-50 split may surprise some, but it just shows how paramount having a franchise passer on the roster. With that said, a quarterback might be taken No. 1 overall, but it is doubtful he earned the top grade in the class with Clowney on the board.
Source: NFL.com

Aug 26 - 5:52 PM

 

[BINGO]

Silas Redd - RB - Trojans

USC senior RB Silas Redd has been ruled out for the season opener against Hawaii with a knee injury.

"Gonna hurt to not travel with my squad [today]," Redd wrote, "but I know y’all gonna handle business in a few day! I’m working to get back 100 percent" Redd missed the end of spring workouts with a knee injury, and head coach Lane Kiffin recently said he wasn;t sure if the running back would play in the opener. Tre Madden and Justin Davis were listed as co-starters on the school's most recent depth chart.
Source: Silas Redd on Twitter

Aug 27 - 9:00 AM

 

[BINGO]

I think this guy is by far the best RB in the nation:

Isaiah Crowell - RB - Hornets

Alabama State junior RB Isaiah Crowell believes a dismissed weapons charge will help his NFL prospects.

"When I knew (the charges) were dismissed, I was happy," said Crowell. "Really happy, because the NFL would know that it got dismissed. I knew all that was over and done with. That was the main thing." Crowell was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2011 but was dismissed from Georgia shortly after his arrest. He is up to 227 pounds and has been clocked this offseason running the 40-yard dash between the high 4.3s and low 4.4s. Crowell rushed for 843 yards and 15 touchdowns with the Hornets last season. As a player three years removed from high school, Crowell will have the option of declaring early for the 2014 draft.
Source: NFL.com

Aug 26 - 3:25 PM

 

[BINGO]

Johnny Manziel - QB - Aggies

NFLDraftScout.com analyst Rob Rang called Texas A&M redshirt sophomore QB Johnny Manziel's "average arm strength" a "potentially critical flaw."

In a discussion with NFLDraftScout.com colleague Dane Brugler, Rang likened Manziel to Jeff Garcia, while Brugler made the standard comparison to Doug Flutie. Brugler believes Johnny Football "probably won't get out of the top 50 picks" if he at least matches his play from last season. When asked to compare Manziel to higher-rated QB prospects Teddy Bridgewater and Tajh Boyd, Rang mentioned the obvious differences in size and strength, but also pointed out that both Bridgewater and Boyd "have shown more consistent velocity and are asked to make more NFL-caliber throws to be successful in their respective offenses."
Source: CBS Sports

Aug 27 - 12:19 PM

 

[BINGO]

Fake Injuries

ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit warns to look for fake injuries on the defensive side of the ball, with teams attempting to slow down the opposing offense's tempo.

"No one is talking about this, but look for more fake injuries by the defense," Herbstreit said. "I've talked to defensive coaches. These guys are actually practicing faking injuries in practice." AL.com's Jon Solomon notes "plays from scrimmage increased from 67.7 per team in 2008 to 71.5 in 2012" at the FBS level. Players have faked injuries before at the college and NFL levels, but most have been obvious dives once reviewing replays. Actually practicing these injuries is taking it to the next level.
Source: AL.com

Aug 27 - 11:17 AM

 

[BINGO]

Loucheiz Purifoy - DB - Gators

Florida offensive coordinator Brent Pease confirmed that Florida junior CB Loucheiz Purifoy will play some offense in 2013.

This isn't breaking news -- Florida head coach Will Muschamp talked about Purifoy's double duties earlier this offseason -- but its something to keep in mind for both draftniks and college fantasy football players. "There'll be some things involved for him," Pease said. "There'll be a package a week devoted to him either throwing or running." NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah called Purifoy, one of the Gators' top corners, a "freaky athlete." Scouts Inc.'s Todd McShay wrote earlier this summer that Purifoy could be the next Joe Haden and "could possibly test better than Haden."
Source: Gator Country on Twitter

Aug 27 - 1:14 PM

 

[BINGO]

Malcolm Mitchell - WR - Bulldogs

ESPN's Mar Schlabach was told junior WR Malcolm Mitchell had the best camp of any Georgia player.

Mitchell started his career at cornerback, but shortly started working as a two way player for the Bulldogs. He's now Aaron Murray's top receiver and does his best work in the open field thanks to quickness. Mitchell did try a bit too hard last season, juking east and west rather than getting north and south, but we attribute that to his inexperience on the offensive side of the ball.
Source: Mark Schlabach on Twitter

Aug 28 - 8:49 AM

 

[BINGO]

Ed Stinson - DL - Crimson Tide

Draft insider Tony Pauline tagged Alabama senior DE Ed Stinson with a first- or second-round grade heading into the 2013 season.

Pauline says Stinson is a "developing two-gap end who flashes brilliance. Athletic, plays with great lean/leverage and easily makes plays in every direction. Has a burst and can run down tight ends in coverage. Comes with a huge upside." This makes Stinson sound like a more impressive player than former teammate Quinton Dial, who was selected in the fifth-round last April.
Source: TFY Draft Insider

Aug 28 - 1:21 PM

 

[BINGO]

Johnny Manziel - QB - Aggies

Texas A&M beat writer Billy Liucci reports redshirt sophomore QB Johnny Manziel will be suspended for the first half of the season opener against Rice.

We are surprised Manziel is suspended at all, mainly because of statements coming from Texas A&M's staff, namely Chancellor John Sharp. Head coach Kevin Sumlin has refused to comment on Manziel or the NCAA investigation the last few days, but obviously this didn't prevent him from taking action. "Still awaiting final resolution (confirmation from A&M or NCAA) but assuming suspension would involve secondary violation of by-law 12.5.2.2," Liucci added. That section involves the "use of a Student-Athlete's Name or Picture without Knowledge or Permission." Freshman Kenny Hill has seen the majority of second team reps in practice and will likely start in Manziel's place.
Source: Billy Liucci on Twitter

Aug 28 - 2:58 PM




Johnny Manziel - QB - Aggies

The NCAA has acknowledged Texas A&M redshirt sophomore QB Johnny Manziel did not accept money in return for autographs, according to ESPN's Brett McMurphy.

The one half Manziel will miss due to suspension reportedly "closes the book" on his autograph case. The suspension, handed down by A&M and NOT the NCAA, likely relates to NCAA by-law 12.5.2.2, which involves the "use of a Student-Athlete's Name or Picture without Knowledge or Permission." The large media networks will continue to mention this story throughout the season, but we should see Manziel on the field in every contest this year, potentially his last in College Station.
Source: Brett McMurphy on Twitter

Aug 28 - 3:26 PM