CHAMPIONSHIP MONDAY

We aren’t big fans of the BCS, however, the tonight’s national championship game between #1 Ohio State and #2 Florida should be a good one with the best from the Big 10 battling the top team from the SEC. Both teams also have plenty of stars for pro scouts to be checking over in anticipation of the 2007 draft.....

January 8

BCS Championship Bowl, Phoenix; 8 PM ET; FOX

Florida (12-1) vs Ohio State (12-0)
Short of a real playoff, it probably doesn’t get much better than the best in the Big 10 versus the best in the SEC for the national championship. And both teams should also be well represented in the early rounds of the 2007 draft. The best draft storyline of tonight’s game, though, may involve veteran QBs Troy Smith (#10, 6-1, 215) of Ohio State and Florida’s Chris Leak (#12, 6-0, 212), who have both been terrific college QBs, but have yet to convince pro scouts that they can translate their skills to the next level. Smith, for example, ran away with this year’s Heisman Trophy, but still isn’t necessarily considered to be a top draft prospect, although he is close; same story for the Gators’ Leak, a four-year starter who doesn’t grade out all that well as a pro prospect because he lacks prototype pocket size and arm strength.

In fact, both teams probably have better pro prospects at other positions. Ohio State DT Quinn Pitcock (#90, 6-3, 295), for example, is a solid mid- to late first-round prospect for the upcoming draft, while explosive junior WR Ted Ginn (#7, 6-0, 180) could go even higher though he has had an up-and-down year to date. Indeed, Ginn was outproduced at times this fall by fellow junior WR Anthony Gonzalez (#11, 5-11, 195), although he lacks Ginns’ overall athleticism. Meanwhile, LB John Kerr (#52, 6-0, 235); DEs Jay Richardson (#99, 6-6, 275) and DE David Patterson (#97, 6-2, 285), FS Brandon Mitchell (#32, 6-3, 205); WR Roy Hall (#8, 6-2, 240); C Doug Datish (#50, 6-4, 295) and OG TJ Downing (#72, 6-4, 305) will all get some late-round consideration. As well, many of Ohio State’s better prospects though are underclassmen including juniors RB Antonio Pittman (#25, 5-10, 200) and OT Kirk Barton (#74, 6-5, 310) and sophomores like LB James Laurinaitis (#33, 6-3, 245), OT Alex Boone (#75, 6-8, 325), DE Vernon Gholston (#50, 6-4, 250), CB Malcom Jenkins (#2, 6-1, 200) and LB Marcus Freeman (#1, 6-2, 245)

Florida also has a potential top 10-15 prospect for this year’s draft in FS Reggie Nelson (#1, 6-0, 200), who should be one of the first defensive players off the borad this coming April if as expected he enters this year’s draft. Meanwhile, several other Gators including OLB Earl Everett (#30, 6-1, 235), junior MLB Brandon Siler (#40, 6-2, 235), DEs Ray McDonald (#95, 6-2, 285) and junior Jarvis Moss (#94, 6-6, 255), CB Reggie Lewis (#22, 5-9, 185) and WRs Dallas Baker (#81, 6-2, 205) and Andre Caldwell (#5, 6-0, 200), all have later first-day potential for the upcoming draft, while junior RB DeShawn Wynn (#21, 5-10, 232) had something of a breakout year after underachieving much of his career. The Gators also have one of the better punters in the country in Eric Wilbur (#0, 6-1, 205) who gets great air time. And for good measure, the Gators also have two of this year’s biggest impact freshman in college football in backup QB Ted Tebow (#15, 6-3, 230) and speedy WR Percy Harvin (#8, 5-10, 185).

As of today, underclassmen have just over a week to apply for admission to the 2007 draft as papers must be filed with the NFL by Monday, January 15th. And while a number of underclassmen announced yesterday, including juniors Jamarcus Russell of LSU and Arkansas DE Jamaal Anderson and South Carolina sophomore WR Sidney Rice, several top name juniors who are expected to have a big impact at this year’s draft are still to be heard from including QBs Brian Brohm of Louisville and Hawaii’s Colt Brennan; WRs Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech and Southern Cal’s Dwayne Jarrett; Arizona State TE Zach Miller; DTs Alan Branch of Michigan and Glenn Dorsey of LSU; and CBs Darrelle Revis of Pitt and Arizona’s Antoine Cason. There are also several underclassmen in tonight’s BCS title game who won’t announce until after this evening’s game including Ohio State junior WRs Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez and FS Reggie Nelson and LB Brandon Silar of Florida....



The mother of LSU junior QB JaMarcus Russell is denying published reports that her son has decided to forego his senior season and enter the 2007 NFL draft. At the same time, though, the school has reportedly scheduled a press conference for Wednesday afternoon for the formal announcement that Russell will indeed be headed to the draft where he could be in the mix to be the #1 player selected after leading the Tigers to a 41-14 victory against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. As well, Russell has also reportedly already signed with agent an agent, although Eric Metz, the agent in question, has reportedly not confirmed that arrangement. Mreanwhile, there still is no indication whether Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino’s move to Atlanta of the NFL will have any impact one way or another on the decision of Cardinals’ QB Brian Brohm, yet another junior who could be a very high pick at the upcoming draft, whether to return to school next fall or enter the 2007 draft. It certainly has given Brohm a little something extra to think about however. Brohm’s father, for example, is being quoted as saying that the move by Petrino complicates the decision for his son. “It’s a variable that we weren’t really counting on” says Oscar Brohm. “It’s something we weren’t anticipating, but obviously something that will need to be taken into consideration. We have been talking about it this weekend, but no decision was made. We were hoping to make a decision early this week. But I’m just not sure now. I don’t know really what to expect about anything any more.” Indeed, reading between the lines it sounds like Brohm was at least leaning toward returning to school but now is rethinking. Stay tuned!


Oklahoma State junior WR Adarius Bowman, who had reportedly been considering entering the 2007 NFL draft, reportedly has joined the Cowboys’ basketball squad. The 6-4, 220 pound Bowman was named All-Big 12 first team on the football field last season after racking up 1,181 yards and 12 touchdowns.....


Miami junior LB Jon Beason has opted to enter the 2007 draft as has Arkansas junior CB Chris Houston. The 6-0, 225-pound Beason who has good speed could figure into the late opening day mix at this year's draft, while Houston is more a later round prospect.....

Atlanta has reportedly signed Louisville coach Bobby Petrino to a five-year, $24 million deal to coach the Falcons. Pertino replaces Jim Mora who was fired last week. What isn’t clear at this time is what, if any, will be the impact Petrino’s leaving on the decision several Cardinals’ underclassmen, including QB Brian Brohm, RB Michael Bush and WR Mario Urritia, are contemplating regarding entering the upcoming draft. Underclassmen have until next Monday to file paperwork with the NFL to be included in this year’s draft class.....

We incorrectly reported in an earlier story that former Texas RB Ramonce Taylor, who announced this weekend that he would be foregoing his final two years of college eligibility to enter the 2007 draft, had to serve some jail time prior to the draft after pleading guilty to a marijuana possession charge. In fact, Taylor is on a work release program and will not have to serve any jail time.....


South Carolina sophomore WR Sidney Rice reportedly is giving up his final two seasons to enter the NFL draft. In two seasons, Rice caught 23 TDs to set the school's career mark.