Another Risers/Fallers list

ct · 04-09-2007, 01:28 PM

Don't see a date for this, but here goes anyway...

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10103978

Risers and Fallers
By Rob Rang
Special to CBS SportsLine.com

Pro Day season is winding down, but two prospects scouts have been eagerly waiting to see work out did so this past week. Southern Cal wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett was the main attraction. He performed in front of representatives from every team in the league on March 28. A day later, Hawaii defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis put on a show in front of dozens of scouts at the Home Depot Center. A look at Jarrett, Alama-Francis and others who attempted to improve their draft stock with Pro Day performances in this week's Risers & Fallers.

This week's Risers & Fallers:

Risers

1. Ikaika Alama-Francis, DE, Hawaii: Alama-Francis was unable to participate at the Combine as he was still rehabbing the torn right pectoral muscle suffered during the Hula Bowl. Scouts are excited about Alama-Francis' potential, as he didn't start playing football until college and has made significant improvements throughout the past four years. Scouts will certainly like Alama-Francis' Pro Day results. After measuring in at 6-feet-5, 276 pounds, Alama-Francis ran a pair of fast 40-yard dashes (4.85 and 4.88 seconds) and showed intriguing explosiveness with a 35-inch vertical jump. The vertical was the best of anyone 275 pounds or more tested at Combine, regardless of position. Scouts also noted that he stood out in defensive line and linebacker drills. The Chiefs, one of a handful of teams interested in Alama-Francis as a tight end, were impressed with his performance in these drills. A strong effort throughout the day has Alama-Francis, regardless of which position the scouts are ranking him, moving up the board.

2. Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville: With Okoye and Michigan's Alan Branch in a virtual dead heat in the race to be the first defensive tackle selected, Okoye needed a strong performance at his Pro Day. He accomplished just that, weighing in at 301 pounds and still posting a 4.88 40-yard dash and 4.44 short shuttle. Okoye's numbers appear all the better considering Branch's well documented struggles during his March 16 Pro Day.

3. Steve Smith, WR, USC: The scouts may have come to the USC Pro Day to watch Jarrett, but they left talking about Smith. Smith didn't run after posting a pair of 4.4 times at the Combine, but he put on a show during the receiver drills. Smith impressed scouts with quick feet, smooth route-running and strong hands. It would be a surprise -- but no longer a shock -- to see Smith picked ahead of his more recognized teammate.

4. Garrett Wolfe, RB, Northern Illinois: Despite starting 27 games over his career and leaving the MAC as the only player in to lead the conference in rushing, all-purpose yardage and scoring three consecutive seasons, Wolfe needed a strong Pro Day performance to help scouts look past his 5-7, 183-pounder frame. A 4.39 40 certainly helped. Wolfe, who missed only four games over his collegiate career due to injury, nonetheless was lumped into the "too small category" after a pulled hamstring knocked him out of the Senior Bowl practices early and he elected not to work out at the Combine. Wolfe, who had never tried his hand as a returner before the Senior Bowl, also looked very good in positional drills.

5. Nate Harris, OLB, Louisville: One of the weaker positions in the 2007 draft may have received a boost with Harris' Pro Day performance. After measuring in at 231 pounds, Harris ran 4.46 and 4.48 40s and also posted a 36-inch vertical jump. Harris isn't considered the most instinctive linebacker, but his rare athleticism has scouts intrigued.

Fallers

1. Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC: With Calvin Johnson, Robert Meachem and Dwayne Bowe, among others, putting together strong workouts, the pressure was on Jarrett to work out well for scouts. The pressure was increased when he chose not to perform at the Combine, instead waiting until USC's March 28 Pro Day. Those expecting fast times from the 6-4, 220-pounder had to be disappointed with Jarrett's 4.67 and 4.62 40 times. Perhaps of more concern, however, was the lack of quickness Jarrett showed in his route-running. Observers noted that it was easy to forecast which routes he was running because the angular receiver lacks true explosiveness. After this rather pedestrian performance, Jarrett's status as a first-round lock is in question.

2. Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina: With wide receiver arguably this draft's deepest and most talented position, a poor workout can lead to a severe tumble down the board. It appears that's why Rice elected not to run for scouts at his March 28 Pro Day, despite numerous reports earlier in the week stating that he planned to. Rice, whose times at the Combine ranged from 4.51 to 4.59, warmed up in preparation to run for scouts. However, a few alarmingly slow warm-up 40 later, the decision was made to not run in front of scouts. The dozens of scouts who attended the workout specifically to watch Rice run left angry and balked at the excuse used by his agent that the field conditions weren't up to par. Rice isn't an explosive receiver. To be successful at the next level, he'll have to be a standout route-runner and allow his greatest asset -- his hands -- to do the work. Whether Rice would have run slow or not, in the NFL Draft, perception is reality. Rice's Pro Day performance, or rather lack thereof, has his stock dropping.

3. James Marten, OT, Boston College: The Eagles are well known for producing quality offensive linemen, and Marten proved with a strong Senior Bowl that he deserved to be considered among the next quality blockers from the university. Characterized by some as one of the most physical and aggressive pure right tackles in the 2007 draft, scouts have to be a little concerned with his surprisingly weak bench press numbers. News that a right shoulder bruise would keep Marten from lifting at the Combine generated a few raised eye brows. Now, roughly a month later, Marten's 25 repetitions of 225 pounds at his Pro Day was considered a bit of a disappointment as well.

4. Syvelle Newton, WR, South Carolina: Acknowledged by many as one of the draft's top all-around athletes, scouts unfortunately will have to go to the film to project Newton's "real" speed after another disappointing 40. Newton, who many projected as a high 4.4 to low 4.5 runner, instead produced times at the Combine ranging from 4.64 to 4.72. It was expected that the do-everything athlete would be considerably faster if given another chance, but citing a tight right hamstring injury Newton only ran once for scouts at South Carolina's Pro Day and was clocked at a disappointing 4.77 seconds.

5. Tarell Brown, CB, Texas: Brown was charged with a misdemeanor marijuana possession on March 24, the second time in the past seven months he has been charged with a misdemeanor. Brown was charged with a misdemeanor gun and drug charge in September, though the drug charge was ultimately dropped. Brown's attorney, Jamie Balagia of Austin, notes that Brown was a passenger in the car and the marijuana was not in his possession. Williamson County (Texas) law requires that all passengers in a car found with drugs be charged.

04-09-2007, 01:28 PM	Topic Starter
ct u b illian Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: DooDah Casino cash: $10009436	Another Risers/Fallers list Don't see a date for this, but here goes anyway... http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10103978 Risers and Fallers By Rob Rang Special to CBS SportsLine.com Pro Day season is winding down, but two prospects scouts have been eagerly waiting to see work out did so this past week. Southern Cal wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett was the main attraction. He performed in front of representatives from every team in the league on March 28. A day later, Hawaii defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis put on a show in front of dozens of scouts at the Home Depot Center. A look at Jarrett, Alama-Francis and others who attempted to improve their draft stock with Pro Day performances in this week's Risers & Fallers. This week's Risers & Fallers: Risers 1. Ikaika Alama-Francis, DE, Hawaii: Alama-Francis was unable to participate at the Combine as he was still rehabbing the torn right pectoral muscle suffered during the Hula Bowl. Scouts are excited about Alama-Francis' potential, as he didn't start playing football until college and has made significant improvements throughout the past four years. Scouts will certainly like Alama-Francis' Pro Day results. After measuring in at 6-feet-5, 276 pounds, Alama-Francis ran a pair of fast 40-yard dashes (4.85 and 4.88 seconds) and showed intriguing explosiveness with a 35-inch vertical jump. The vertical was the best of anyone 275 pounds or more tested at Combine, regardless of position. Scouts also noted that he stood out in defensive line and linebacker drills. The Chiefs, one of a handful of teams interested in Alama-Francis as a tight end, were impressed with his performance in these drills. A strong effort throughout the day has Alama-Francis, regardless of which position the scouts are ranking him, moving up the board. 2. Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville: With Okoye and Michigan's Alan Branch in a virtual dead heat in the race to be the first defensive tackle selected, Okoye needed a strong performance at his Pro Day. He accomplished just that, weighing in at 301 pounds and still posting a 4.88 40-yard dash and 4.44 short shuttle. Okoye's numbers appear all the better considering Branch's well documented struggles during his March 16 Pro Day. 3. Steve Smith, WR, USC: The scouts may have come to the USC Pro Day to watch Jarrett, but they left talking about Smith. Smith didn't run after posting a pair of 4.4 times at the Combine, but he put on a show during the receiver drills. Smith impressed scouts with quick feet, smooth route-running and strong hands. It would be a surprise -- but no longer a shock -- to see Smith picked ahead of his more recognized teammate. 4. Garrett Wolfe, RB, Northern Illinois: Despite starting 27 games over his career and leaving the MAC as the only player in to lead the conference in rushing, all-purpose yardage and scoring three consecutive seasons, Wolfe needed a strong Pro Day performance to help scouts look past his 5-7, 183-pounder frame. A 4.39 40 certainly helped. Wolfe, who missed only four games over his collegiate career due to injury, nonetheless was lumped into the "too small category" after a pulled hamstring knocked him out of the Senior Bowl practices early and he elected not to work out at the Combine. Wolfe, who had never tried his hand as a returner before the Senior Bowl, also looked very good in positional drills. 5. Nate Harris, OLB, Louisville: One of the weaker positions in the 2007 draft may have received a boost with Harris' Pro Day performance. After measuring in at 231 pounds, Harris ran 4.46 and 4.48 40s and also posted a 36-inch vertical jump. Harris isn't considered the most instinctive linebacker, but his rare athleticism has scouts intrigued. Fallers 1. Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC: With Calvin Johnson, Robert Meachem and Dwayne Bowe, among others, putting together strong workouts, the pressure was on Jarrett to work out well for scouts. The pressure was increased when he chose not to perform at the Combine, instead waiting until USC's March 28 Pro Day. Those expecting fast times from the 6-4, 220-pounder had to be disappointed with Jarrett's 4.67 and 4.62 40 times. Perhaps of more concern, however, was the lack of quickness Jarrett showed in his route-running. Observers noted that it was easy to forecast which routes he was running because the angular receiver lacks true explosiveness. After this rather pedestrian performance, Jarrett's status as a first-round lock is in question. 2. Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina: With wide receiver arguably this draft's deepest and most talented position, a poor workout can lead to a severe tumble down the board. It appears that's why Rice elected not to run for scouts at his March 28 Pro Day, despite numerous reports earlier in the week stating that he planned to. Rice, whose times at the Combine ranged from 4.51 to 4.59, warmed up in preparation to run for scouts. However, a few alarmingly slow warm-up 40 later, the decision was made to not run in front of scouts. The dozens of scouts who attended the workout specifically to watch Rice run left angry and balked at the excuse used by his agent that the field conditions weren't up to par. Rice isn't an explosive receiver. To be successful at the next level, he'll have to be a standout route-runner and allow his greatest asset -- his hands -- to do the work. Whether Rice would have run slow or not, in the NFL Draft, perception is reality. Rice's Pro Day performance, or rather lack thereof, has his stock dropping. 3. James Marten, OT, Boston College: The Eagles are well known for producing quality offensive linemen, and Marten proved with a strong Senior Bowl that he deserved to be considered among the next quality blockers from the university. Characterized by some as one of the most physical and aggressive pure right tackles in the 2007 draft, scouts have to be a little concerned with his surprisingly weak bench press numbers. News that a right shoulder bruise would keep Marten from lifting at the Combine generated a few raised eye brows. Now, roughly a month later, Marten's 25 repetitions of 225 pounds at his Pro Day was considered a bit of a disappointment as well. 4. Syvelle Newton, WR, South Carolina: Acknowledged by many as one of the draft's top all-around athletes, scouts unfortunately will have to go to the film to project Newton's "real" speed after another disappointing 40. Newton, who many projected as a high 4.4 to low 4.5 runner, instead produced times at the Combine ranging from 4.64 to 4.72. It was expected that the do-everything athlete would be considerably faster if given another chance, but citing a tight right hamstring injury Newton only ran once for scouts at South Carolina's Pro Day and was clocked at a disappointing 4.77 seconds. 5. Tarell Brown, CB, Texas: Brown was charged with a misdemeanor marijuana possession on March 24, the second time in the past seven months he has been charged with a misdemeanor. Brown was charged with a misdemeanor gun and drug charge in September, though the drug charge was ultimately dropped. Brown's attorney, Jamie Balagia of Austin, notes that Brown was a passenger in the car and the marijuana was not in his possession. Williamson County (Texas) law requires that all passengers in a car found with drugs be charged.
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