NFLdraftbible.com: TOP SMALL-SCHOOL PROSPECTS FOR 2009

[Tribal Warfare]

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TOP SMALL-SCHOOL PROSPECTS FOR 2009
Written by Josh Buchanan
Wednesday, 28 May 2008 08:30

Small School Insider Josh Buchanan previews the top-ranked prospects for the 2009 NFL Draft.

1. Nicholls State SS Lardarius Webb projects to corner due to lack of size at 5’11, 173 but has 4.4 speed and brings the type of ball skills you want in a corner. He transferred from Southern Miss before last season and earned 1st team All-America honors and Southland Newcomer of the Year after picking off five passes and breaking up eight. He is a hard hitter who needs work but has a chance to make a Tyrell Johnson type rise up boards. He probably enters the season as a mid-round prospect with 2nd round potential.

2. Cal Poly WR Ramses Barden measures in at 6’6, 225 and has 4.5 speed. He provides a physical mismatch scouts are looking for at the position and his production isn’t too bad either. He has earned 1st team All-Great West honors each of his three seasons and earned All-America honors as a junior. He is an ideal possession type receiver who adjusts well in the air, has good hands, and great intelligence. I have him as a 4th round pick now but feel he could move into the 2nd or 3rd round.

3. Former Pittsburgh transfer Rashad Jennings landed at Liberty and has become one of the best running backs in the FCS ranks. He measures around 6’1 ½ 238 pounds and reportedly ran in the low 4.4 range at his pro day. He is a downhill runner who is not great in space but is tough to bring down and has huge hands and a 37-inch vertical. He is the type of workout warrior who probably brings a 4th or 5th round grade into the postseason and comes out as an expected 2nd or 3rd round pick as long as his numbers hold up.

4. Hampton CB Jackie Bates, a former Oregon transfer, never thought about leaving school early but put his name in to the NFL Advisory Board in January and received a 6th-7th round grade. Since then he has measured in at 5’9, 177, and ran in the 4.3 range for NFL scouts. With past Hampton exposure to the NFL Bates is expected to have a 5th-6th round grade entering the season with a chance to go in the 3rd or 4th round due to his speed and ability to shut down opponents. Before he can move past the mid-late round range he will have to work on dropping INTs and prove he is over a past hamstring injury.

5. Western Illinois OLB Jason Williams lacks ideal size at 6’1 235 but makes up for it with 4.5 speed and instincts. He is very good against the run and shedding blocks but needs to polish his game. Last season he tallied 107 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks showing his explosiveness and ability to get to the quarterback. He earned AFCA All-America honors as a junior, something that is very tough to do. Expect him to enter the season as a late round projection with the potential to move into the 4th-5th round range.

6. North Dakota State RB Tyler Roehl measures at 5’10, 235, and runs in the high 4.4 to low 4.5 range. He catches the ball well, proven by his 20 receptions in 2007 and 22 in 2006. He does have past medical issues but his production (1,431 yards, 21 touchdowns) is something you can’t ignore. I have him as a 5th-6th round projection at this point.

7. RB Bernard Scott of Abilene Christian is one of the better kept secrets in the nation after living in the shadows of Xavier Omon and Danny Woodhead last year but probably translates to the NFL better than both did. His 4.4 speed, downhill running style, and production have attracted the attention of NFL scouts as he ran for 2,165 yards and 35 touchdowns on an incredible 8.6 yards per carry last season. The reason he seemed to come out of nowhere is due to him transferring from Blinn JC before last season and previously playing at Central Arkansas. He is a late round projection on my board at this point but has a chance to move much higher.

8. This next player is a surprise to many due to lack of accolades and past injury questions but has Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie type tools at 6’2, 180, and 4.4 speed. Jackson State CB Domonique Johnson finished his junior season with 5 interceptions and 14 pass breakups and a dominating performance in the SWAC Championship game to earn MVP honors. He transferred from Missouri after starting 4 games in 2006 and has shown that he can dominate. He brings the ideal physical tools, can cover the slot, will hit you, and has track in his background. I have him in the 6th round on my current board but he has a chance to move much higher with a solid senior season and if he can run 4.3 in the 40, something that many think he can do.

9. Hampton has another prospect high on the NFL radar this season with WR/return man Jeremy Gilchrist after he transferred from Virginia Tech. He measures in at 5’10, 180 and shows his 4.4 speed on tape as he earned AP 1st team All-America honors after catching 69 passes for 1,043 yards and seven touchdowns while returning three punt returns for touchdowns and averaged 19 yards per return. He must work on his blocking but is explosive and motivated and should enter the season with mid-late round grades.

10. Last in my top ten is Central Washington QB Mike Reilly who is one of the best personalities of the group. He measured in at 6’3, 211, and ran in the 4.7 range for NFL scouts to solidify himself as a draft able player this spring after he passed for 3,386 yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior. He has earned All-NCC or All-GNAC honors every year since transferring from Washington State after his redshirt season. He has a strong arm, is smart, can make deep throws but does need polishing. He is a 6th round projection on my current board.

OTHER NAMES OF INTEREST

Eastern Illinois DE Pierre Walters has great size at 6’5 254 and runs in the 4.6 range. He has yet to post big production but the coaches have still named him All-OVC each of the last two years.

UC Davis DT John Faletoese is about 6’3, 290 and has been a dominate force in the FCS ranks. If he can overcome an ankle sprain from last year and stay healthy he could put up double digit sacks. Some scouts believe he could go in the 3rd or 4th round when all is said and done.

West Liberty State has two former FBS transfers in CB Darren Banks and RB Branden Ore. Banks had 13 interceptions last season and Ore was a 1st team All-ACC selection in 2006.

Furman OT Joel Bell measures in at 6’7, 308 and could be the FCS version of Jake Long. He earned All-SoCon honors each of the last two seasons and could make a major move up draft boards because of his mammoth size.

South Dakota State WR JaRon Harris has good size at 6’1, 190 and has 4.4 speed. One thing many don’t know is that he is cousins with Jerry Rice. If he can have a breakout year on the field he has a chance to move up boards.

Hampton CB Sam Pope transferred from South Carolina and actually led Hampton with five interceptions last season to earn 1st team All-MEAC honors. His size/speed combination of 6’0, 200, and 4.4 speed has attracted the attention of NFL scouts.

Delaware didn’t get to the FCS Championship game solely because of Joe Flacco. TE Robbie Agnone, a former QB, finished the year with 38 catches for 484 yards and has great size at 6’5 ½ 259 pounds.

Missouri Western OG Roger Allen is probably the best in the D2 ranks among linemen at 6’4, 318 pounds and has earned 1st team All-MIAA honors each of the last two seasons.

POTENTIAL RISERS

Three others to keep an eye on who could rise up boards if their speed checks out are West Texas A&M DE Brandon Swain who had 24.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks last year, Idaho State CB D.J. Clark who is 6’1 200 pounds and has earned All-Big Sky honors each of his three years, and last but not least is D3 standout CB Pete Ittersagen of Wheaton who earned All-America honors as a CB and return man with three INTs, 18 pass breakups, and two punt returns for touchdowns last season.

[milkman]

I don't know about the rest of these guys, but that Cal Poly, Barden was stud last year.

Opposing coaches in interveiws on the local talk show would talk about having to find ways to defend him.

Supposed to have great hands.