Friday, January 11, 2008

NFL DRAFT 2008



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 redshirted 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.....

Florida State junior LB Geno Hayes has confirmed that he will in fact be entering this year’s draft. The 6-2, 220-pound Hayes, who run in the 4.65 range for the 40, is a tad undersized by NFL OLB standards but he has been very disruptive over his career; this year, for example, Hayes had 17.5 tackles or loss including 5 sacks. Hayes, though, was also had some off-field problems in the past which won't help his draft status.....

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....

Record-setting Vanderbilt junior WR Earl Bennett has announced that he will be entering the 2008 draft. Bennett is already the SEC's career receptions leader. Bennett is 6-1, 205 with reported 4.5 speed. He reportedly received a late third round grade by the NFL's special draft advisory committee but could move up dramatically if he can lower that 40 time at the combine....

Illinois junior RB Rashard Mendenhall will skip his senior year and enter the 2008 draft after rushing for a school-record 1,681 yards while leading the Illini on an unexpected run to the Rose Bowl. Mendenhall could be the second back off the board at this April's draft after fellow junior Darren McFadden of Arkansas....

Clemson junior DE Phillip Merling became the second Tiger to announce that he will pass up his senior season to enter the 2008 draft in the past two days. RB James Davis announced yesterday that he will be foregoing his final year of eligibility to test the draft waters this coming April. The 6-5, 272-pound Merling who times in the low-to-mid 4.7 range for the 40, had 7 sacks and 17 tackles for loss in 2007; he projects as a possible second round pick this year....

Central Florida junior CB Joe Burnett will not be entering the 2008 draft after all. Burnett, in fact, had shown up on several lists of underclassmen entering the upcoming draft as he was known to be flirting with the idea of leaving school this winter to join good buddy Kevin Smith in preparing for the draft. Smith announced his decision to enter the draft earlier in the week.

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