Chiefnj2
12-28-2009, 04:10 PM
INDEPENDENCE BOWL; Georgia versus Texas A&M; 5 PM ET; ESPN …
Warm up for the Monday night NFL game with an interesting SEC-Big XII dual between a couple of relatively young teams. Indeed, the only seniors on either team likely to have much of an impact on the upcoming draft are the Georgia DT trio of Geno Atkins (#56, 6-1, 290), who isn‘t all that big by current NFL standards, but is as quick as they come, Jeff Owens (#95, 6-2, 300), a prototype wide-body run-stuffer who came back nicely from an ACL injury that caused him to miss all but one quarter of the 2008 campaign, and Kade Weston (#91, 6-5, 315), another huge run-stuffer. The UGA defense, though, could have an even greater impact on the upcoming draft if either, or both, of juniors Rennie Curran (#35, 5-11, 220), a very active, albeit undersized OLB who likely would have to shift to SS at the next level, and true safety Reshad Jones (#9, 6-1, 205), a big hitter with some ball skills, opt to enter this year‘s draft. On the other hand, the UGA offense is very young with only one senior starter in QB joe Cox (#14, 6-1, 200), who is not considered to be more than a marginal prospect. The one Bulldog offensive star every NFL would like to get their hands on, though, is super soph WR A.J. Green (#8, 6-3, 190), one of the best young receivers in the game with a rare combination of size and speed, along with great hands and toughness, however, he won‘t be draft eligible until 2011.
Like Georgia, Texas A&M has a couple of outstanding junior prospects in QB Jerrod Johnson (#1, 6-4, 245) and edge-rushing DE/OLB Von Miller (#40, 6-2, 240). Johnson, for example, may just be the best kept secret in college football, although he’s still a little rough around the edges, but has the size to take a hit in the pocket, can make all the throws as well as run out of trouble. Johnson, who threw for over 3,300 yards and 28 scores this fall while tossing only six picks, though, seems to be indicating that he will return to A&M for his senior season next fall. Meanwhile, Miller was unblockable at times this past season as he led the country with 17 sacks. While juniors Johnson and Miller are easily the Aggies best prospects, A&M does have a decent offensive line featuring veteran OTs Lee Grimes (#74, 6-5, 340) and Michael Shumard (#76, 6-5, 305) and C Kevin Matthews (#63, 6-3, 315), while TE/FB/HB Jamie McCoy (#4, 6-3, 225) is a solid underneath outlet receiver.
Warm up for the Monday night NFL game with an interesting SEC-Big XII dual between a couple of relatively young teams. Indeed, the only seniors on either team likely to have much of an impact on the upcoming draft are the Georgia DT trio of Geno Atkins (#56, 6-1, 290), who isn‘t all that big by current NFL standards, but is as quick as they come, Jeff Owens (#95, 6-2, 300), a prototype wide-body run-stuffer who came back nicely from an ACL injury that caused him to miss all but one quarter of the 2008 campaign, and Kade Weston (#91, 6-5, 315), another huge run-stuffer. The UGA defense, though, could have an even greater impact on the upcoming draft if either, or both, of juniors Rennie Curran (#35, 5-11, 220), a very active, albeit undersized OLB who likely would have to shift to SS at the next level, and true safety Reshad Jones (#9, 6-1, 205), a big hitter with some ball skills, opt to enter this year‘s draft. On the other hand, the UGA offense is very young with only one senior starter in QB joe Cox (#14, 6-1, 200), who is not considered to be more than a marginal prospect. The one Bulldog offensive star every NFL would like to get their hands on, though, is super soph WR A.J. Green (#8, 6-3, 190), one of the best young receivers in the game with a rare combination of size and speed, along with great hands and toughness, however, he won‘t be draft eligible until 2011.
Like Georgia, Texas A&M has a couple of outstanding junior prospects in QB Jerrod Johnson (#1, 6-4, 245) and edge-rushing DE/OLB Von Miller (#40, 6-2, 240). Johnson, for example, may just be the best kept secret in college football, although he’s still a little rough around the edges, but has the size to take a hit in the pocket, can make all the throws as well as run out of trouble. Johnson, who threw for over 3,300 yards and 28 scores this fall while tossing only six picks, though, seems to be indicating that he will return to A&M for his senior season next fall. Meanwhile, Miller was unblockable at times this past season as he led the country with 17 sacks. While juniors Johnson and Miller are easily the Aggies best prospects, A&M does have a decent offensive line featuring veteran OTs Lee Grimes (#74, 6-5, 340) and Michael Shumard (#76, 6-5, 305) and C Kevin Matthews (#63, 6-3, 315), while TE/FB/HB Jamie McCoy (#4, 6-3, 225) is a solid underneath outlet receiver.