NFL DRAFT 2008

Carson-Newman junior WR James Banks will forgo his senior season and enter the 2008 draft. Banks was a originally a heralded recruit at Tennessee but was dismissed from the team for repeated disciplinary offenses after two seasons. In his sophomore season Banks led the Vols with 42 catches for 621 yards and six touchdowns. Because of his chequered past, Banks is not likely to be drafted, but could get a look as an undrafted free agent by a team intrigued by his natural athleticism. Meanwhile, two current Tennessee underclassmen are believed to be leaning toward entering this year’s draft. MLB Jerod Mayo, who led the team with 140 tackles this fall, for example, is expected to for ego his senior season after being projected as a possible late second- or early third-round pick by the NFL’s special draft advisory committee. Junior RB Arian Foster is reportedly undecided about his immediate future but is also thought to be leaning towards going pro. Foster was rated as a possible second rounder by the committee after he ran for almost 1,200 yards last fall....

as expected, Rutgers junior RB Ray Rice will skip his senior year to enter the 2008 NFL draft. Rice’s decision comes three days after he ran for 280 yard and scored four touchdowns in a 52-30 victory over Ball State in the International Bowl. Where Rice ends up in the draft though will be one of the interesting questions this coming April. No question that Rice, who rushed for almost 5,000 career yards including over 2,000 in 2007, can scoot, but he’s not overly big at under 200 pounds. Meanwhile, Auburn DT Pat Sims has also announced that he will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft. The 315-pound Sims was a first-team All-SEC pick this season after making 11.5 tackles for loss including 4.5 sacks. Sims would appear to be an early to mid second round prospect at this point but in something of a down year at the position could conceivably work his way into the late first round area. Another SEC star, Tennessee junior MLB Jerod Mayo, whose 140 total tackles led the SEC this season, has also decided to enter the upcoming NFL draft. Mayo graded out as a late second early third round prospect by the NFL’s special draft advisory committee....

Missouri junior QB Chase Daniel and star junior TE Chase Coffman were among 5 Tigers who reportedly considered entering the 2008 draft, but will return for their senior season instead. The other Missouri juniors to have gotten draft grades from the NFL’s special draft advisory committee were FS William Moore, DE Stryker Sulak and DT Ziggy Hood.....

Boise State junior CB Joe Scandrick has become the second Bronco to enter this years’ draft. The 5-11, 190-pound Scandrick, who reportedly runs in the 4.45-4.50 range for the 40, joins star BSU Ryan Clady in the 2008 draft field. Scandrick is projected as an early-to-mid-second day pick this coming April. And if Michigan junior WR Mario Manningham doesn’t enter the 2008 drat, he may have to find another college to play at. New Michigan head coach Rich Rodriquez said Manningham, who has yet to announce his plans for the upcoming draft, is off the team after missing the Wolverines first team meeting under the new regime....

While Oklahoma junior QB Bobby Reid announced several days ago that was 'preparing' for the 2008 NFL draft, subsequent reports indicate that he may still be exploring the option of transferring to a D1AA school so he can play out his senior season. Reid, though, needs to find a loophole in NCAA rules. Players who transfer to a Division I-AA program must have two years eligibility remaining and Reid, who red shirted in 2004, has only year of eligibility remaining. There is an exception though in that a player with one year eligibility can transfer to a I-AA program if the new school offers a major that wasn't available at his previous school. Reid was considered one of the top young QBs in college football but lost his job to Zac Robinson this all and then gained some unwanted national exposure when Cowboys' head coach Mike Gundy came to his defense in that now famous rant at a reporter in mid-season.....

The State, South Carolina’s main newspaper is reporting that both of Clemson juniors RB James Davis and DE Phillip Merling are close to announcing their intention to enter the 2008 drat, while a third, WR WR Aaron Kelly is also considering a jump to the pros this winter.....

Michigan junior WR Adrian Arrington has formally announced that he will be entering the 2008 NFL draft. The 6-2, 190-pound Arrington, who runs in the 4.55 range for the 40, caught 67 passes for 882 yards and 8 TDs this fall; he projects as a possible late second or early third round prospect for the upcoming draft, although he may also get pushed down a tad as there is just so much depth in this year’s receiver class. Meanwhile, there is till no official word from fellow Michigan WR Mario Manningham whether as expected he intends to follow suit. Incoming head coach Rich Rodriquez has already indicated Manningham is no longer part of the team after he missed the Wolverines’ first team meeting under the new coaching regime. At the same time, Michigan freshman QB Ryan Mallett, one of the top recruits in the country last season, may be headed to Tennessee although UCLA, Texas A&M and Arkansas are all still reportedly to be possibilities. Mallett, a pure pocket passer, opted to transfer as his style likely won’t suit what is expected to be a run-oriented offense under Rodriquez....

Clemson junior RB James Davis is the latest underclassmen to announce that he will be leaving school early and entering the 2008 draft. Davis was projected as a third-round pick by the NFL special draft advisory board. The 5-10, 210-pound Davis ran for almost 1,100 yards in 2007 while splitting carries with sophomore C.J. Spiller. The better news for Clemson is that junior WR Aaron Kelly, who had been thinking about entering the draft has decided to return for his senior season next fall.