2010 NFL Mock Draft – Rounds 1-3

Round 1

1.    Tennessee Titans: Jake Locker, QB, Washington

The Titans badly need a franchise quarterback that can help turn their team around.  Lucky for them there’s a talented qb out there with the ability to take a bad team and beat some great teams.  Locker is just the type of player they need: a competitor with a strong arm and amazing wheels.  Although Locker had a sub-par game against Oregon last Saturday, Locker appears to have arrived as a top quarterback in this year’s draft.

2.    St Louis Rams: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

Clausen is another quarterback who’s surprising people with a great season.  Like Locker, Clausen is a great leader playing well in big games.  He has lead Notre Dame in some comebacks and nearly had comebacks against Michigan and USC.  If Clausen comes out early, he could be the top qb taken.  He is a very polished quarterback with great decision making and strong mechanics.  He also possesses a strong arm and can throw one of the best deep balls in all of college football.  Clausen could be the type of leader to turn the Rams around.

3.    Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

The Bucs are targeting Suh because he can help in their run game as well as their pass game.  Suh is one of the most physically gifted linemen in the country.  He has raw strength and is probably one of the fastest linemen in recent history.  Suh has a great motor when going after the QB and uses his quick feet to beat offensive linemen.  He’s exactly the type of player the Bucs can build their defense around.

4.    Kansas City Chiefs: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

Matt Cassell may be the quarterback of the future for the Chiefs, but they need to protect their investment with a left tackle in this year’s draft.  Okung is the top left tackle in the college ranks and projects well to the NFL.  He has ideal size at 6-6 305 and really knows how to use his size to engulf smaller defenders.  He dominates defenders with his lunge and at times it seems as if he is trying to tackle the defensive lineman.

5.    Detroit Lions: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

Defensive tackle is a big need for the Lions.  Lucky for them, 2010 is a great year for d-tackles.  McCoy is one of the top interior defensive lineman in the college ranks and has really been opening eyes in Oklahoma.  He has great leadership ability and excels at both stuffing the run as well as rushing the passer.

6.    Cleveland Browns: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

The Browns need a good safety to help them in the passing game.  Considered one of the top safety prospects in a long time, Tennessee safety Eric Berry is considered by some the top player in this draft.  He is excellent in coverage, hits like a ton of bricks, and is a game changer in the secondary.  He has game changing speed so if he gets his hands on a pick, don’t expect anyone to stop him.  His speed could also allow him to return punts, making him an even more valuable prospect

7.    Oakland Raiders: Taylor Mays, S, USC

This should be a no-brainer considering Davis’ fetish for freak athletes with great 40 times.  Mays is simply a beast at safety.  He has been timed at under 4.3 in the 40 and possesses the strength and toughness to deliver bone-jarring hits to ball carriers.  He is excellent in run support as well as in coverage.  This athletic freak will strike fear in players who dare to cross the middle for years in the NFL.

8.    Seattle Seahawks: Earl Thomas, S, Texas

Thomas is fairly small but is a feisty defender.  He likes to hit and is always around the ball.  He has excellent coverage skills and has great hands.  He has great vision against the deep ball, making him valuable as either a corner or free safety.  Because of his size and playing ability, many people compare Thomas to current NFL safety Bob Sanders.

9.    Buffalo Bills: Terrance Williams, OT, Oklahoma

Trent Williams is a versatile lineman who can play multiple spots along the offensive line.  He is very big (6-5 300) but is very athletic.  He has surprisingly good feet for a player his size.  He doesn’t give up an inch to the defensive line.  He gets up in the face of the linemen and plays till the whistle.

10.    Washington Redskins: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

Bradford’s draft position will no doubt change in the months leading to the draft.  His injury and his ability to recover from it will no doubt determine where he lands.  For now, a team like the Redskins in need of a big-name qb could draft Bradford in the top ten.  Despite the injury, he has all the tools to make it in the NFL.  Bradford possesses elite arm strength, tremendous accuracy, and footwork.

11.    San Francisco 49ers(from Carolina): Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa

The niners need to upgrade their tackles to really reach the next level.  Since they have two first round picks, they should use one on a talented tackle. At 6-6 315, Bulaga is somewhat of a physical specimen.  Bulaga, like last year’s top tackle Jason Smith, is a former tight end who knows how to move.  Bulaga is an excellent all-around player who could excel in the zone-blocking scheme.  He plays hard on every down and plays with a nasty streak that coaches love.

12.    Miami Dolphins: Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama

The Dolphins could use a linebacker in the middle of their defense who can help them stuff the run.  McClain is a talented prospect with tons of potential.  He should excel inside in a 3-4 defense, making McClain a perfect match for the Dolphins.

13.    San Diego Chargers: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

Dez Bryant has run into some legal problems but he is still the most talented receiver in the draft.  The Chargers could use a receiver next year and would love to have a talent like Bryant.  He is a big time playmaker, much like Percy Harvin except bigger.  He has big time speed that allows him burn defenders and possesses terrific hands.  He is a true #1 receiver who has dominated in the college ranks.

14.    Jacksonville Jaguars: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

Tebow has a high bust rate, but this would be a great pick for the Jaguars.  He would fit well in Jack Del Rio’s system.  He has tremendous leadership ability, great running ability, and a good arm.  He’s also a fierce competitor who motivates teammates.  But a big reason this is a good pick for the jags is because Tebow’s a local boy and could help fill the stadium.

15.    Houston Texans: Joe Haden, CB, Florida

This is a great pick for the Texans at a position of need.  Haden is another freak of an athlete.  At just 190 pounds, Haden can bench press 400 pounds.  He also has a 38 inch vertical jump and possesses excellent speed and quickness.  He has average instincts but makes up for it with his physical ability.

16.    Baltimore Ravens: Devin Ross, CB, Arizona

At 5′11 175 pounds, Ross has the size and athletic ability to play at the next level. He also has the skill. Ross was 2nd team all pac 10 last year and is looking great so far this year. Ross is a hard worker with solid fundamentals and no real weaknesses. Ross should be a household name come draft time.

17.    New York Jets: Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois

The Jets and Mark Sanchez could use a talented receiver.  Benn is big (6-2 220), fast, and can pick up yards after the catch.  He is one of the most physical wide receivers in the college ranks and makes ridiculous catches.  On top of that, he can really make people miss in the open field.  He is extremely agile and possesses the physical talent to be a combine darling.

18.    San Francisco 49ers: Colt McCoy, QB, Texas

The niners are in need of a talented quarterback to take them to the next level.  Texas’ Colt McCoy has fallen a bit this year has the potential to be a star at the next level.  He has tremendous running ability for such a good passer.  McCoy, who has the ability to run a 4.6 40, has a decent arm that could use work.  In addition, being a 4-year starter, McCoy has the experience to start right away if need be.  His confidence and work ethic will help him succeed in the NFL.

19.    Arizona Cardinals: Greg Hardy, OLB, Ole Miss

The Cardinals are starting to play well but their defense could use a punishing pass rusher.  Hardy is one of the top 3-4 rush linebackers in college.  Hardy is a great pass rusher with excellent athleticism.  The one knock on Hardy is his motor, which could get him into trouble come draft time.  Regardless, Hardy has a ton of potential and could excel in Arizona.

20.    Philadelphia Eagles: Navorro Bowman, OLB, Penn State

Bowman is one of the top linebackers in this draft, which happens to be a position of need for the Eagles.  Bowman has great instincts and plays with a lot of passion.  He can also cover ground in an instant.  He is a bit undersized, but his talent is enough to potentially land him in the first round.

21.    Dallas Cowboys: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

This is probably a bit high for Campbell, but he’s got a ton of potential.  He is a physical specimen who moves well for a player his size.  The Cowboys could definitely use a talented hard working tackle to anchor their line.  Campbell has been injured this year but he will have an awesome combine.

22.    Denver Broncos (from Chicago): Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU

LaFell has good size (6-3 200) and decent speed (sub 4.5) which he uses to his advantage.  He also plays very physical.  Despite being a good college receiver, he’ll need to work on using his size and increasing his speed if he wants to move up in the draft.

23.    Green Bay Packers: Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas

Texas’ Sergio Kindle could easily be this year’s best linebacker.  After injuries slowed down his first couple of seasons at Texas, a healthy Kindle showed why he was so highly regarded out of high school.  Kindle is excellent at rushing the passer.  He is great at shedding blocks and his 4.6 speed allows him to get to the QB in a flash.  If he can improve his instincts, the sky’s the limit for Kindle.

24.    New England Patriots: Arthur Jones, DE, Syracuse

The Patriots could use a defensive end for their 3-4 defense and could land a great one in Arthur Jones.  He has good size for a defensive end and can move well for a player his size.  He plays hard thru the whistle and has great power.  He could work on his pass rush moves but he has enough skill to get after the quarterback.

25.    Pittsburgh Steelers: Terrance Cody, DT, Alabama

Cody has the potential to be a great player and the Steelers could draft him to start at NT in a few years.  What stands out with Terrence Cody is his amazing size.  He is a mammoth of a man at 6-6 370 and can really move.  He is a beast against the run and can move well laterally.  The one problem with large players like Cody is that they can either shine or eat themselves out of the league faster than anyone else in the draft.  It will take a lot of hard work and dedication from Cody to really play up to his potential.

26.    Cincinnati Bengals: Jahvid Best, RB, California

Jahvid Best from California is arguably the most electrifying player in college football.  His highlight reels are among the best around.  He was a highly regarded track athlete in high school, where he ran a 10.32 100 and was the state’s top 100 meter runner.  But he is much more than a track star.  He has amazing agility, balance, and quickness to go along with his world class speed.  If he can harness his natural ability, he will be a star in the NFL.

27.    Atlanta Falcons: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida

At 6-6 290, Dunlap is a monster coming off the edge.  He can beat a lineman either with his agility or pure brute strength.  He has excellent pass rushing skills but needs to work on his technique a little more.  The best part about Dunlap is that he has a boatload of potential.  The big knock on Dunlap that is starting to hurt his stock is his effort level.  Regardless, he is ultra talented and should land in the first round.

28.    New York Giants: Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida

Brandon Spikes is another player who could have come out early and been drafted in the first round last year.  The Giants could use Spikes to add youth to their defense.  What separates Spikes from other defensive prospects is his instincts and toughness.  Those two skills alone will help him succeed at the next level.  He also has great speed and strength which help him dominate on defense.

29.    New Orleans Saints: Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina

The Saints need a defensive player that they can plug in the middle of their defense.  Austin has all the god-given talents a player could ask for.  If he can work more on his technique and feet, Austin can truly be an elite prospect.  At this point, however, he is very raw.  He needs to work hard to make it big in the NFL.

30.    Indianapolis Colts: Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri

Weatherspoon is a solid prospect with good instincts and speed.  He is a good blitzer and is able to cover receivers.  He may not be the biggest or fastest linebacker around, but Weatherspoon can flat out play.

31.    Minnesota Vikings: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

The Vikings need a pass rusher to help their defense.  Morgan is a tremendous athlete coming off the edge.  He plays with great intensity and his motor never stops running.  He has good size for a defensive end (6-4 270) to go along with his amazing athleticism.

32.    Seattle Seahawks(from Denver): Jevan Snead, QB, Ole Miss

The Seahawks really need a quarterback who can lead their team.  Snead is struggling this year and his draft stock is plummeting, but he is very talented.  He has a quick release, which gives him some extra time in the pocket, as well as elite arm strength.  He had some accuracy problems early on, but has since worked on it and shown he is a quick learner.

Round 2

1.    New England Patriots(from Tennessee): Jerry Hughes, OLB, TCU

Hughes is another pass rushing specialist who should play outside linebacker in the 3-4. The Patriots could use him to help their aging defense.  His blend of size and speed make him a valuable prospect.  He moves well and is very disciplined.  If he can improve his motor, he should be a first round prospect.

2.    St Louis Rams: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan

The Rams could use help along the defensive line across from Chris Long.  Graham is a big time threat coming off the edge. His athleticism allows him to attack the quarterback with ease. Because of his size (6-2 270) and speed (4.6 40), Graham may be better suited as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Graham is a freak of an athlete and has the tools to punish offenses in the NFL.

3.    Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Damien Williams, WR, USC

The Bucs will need a playmaker at wide receiver next year.  Williams is a safe bet to succeed in the NFL.  He may not have as high a ceiling as Dez Bryant or Arrelious Benn, but he can flat out play.  He is a great route runner, has sure hands, good speed, and is a smart player.

4.    Kansas City Chiefs: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

Gresham is one of the top tight ends to come out of the college ranks.  Gresham is big (6-6 260), athletic, and has solid hands.  To top it off, he is an excellent blocker for such an outstanding pass-catching tight end.  Not many tight ends with the pass-catching ability of Gresham are willing to lay their bodies on the line but Gresham likes to deliver the crushing blocks.

5.    Detroit Lions: Brian Price, DT, UCLA

Price, the top young d-tackle in the league, has been turning heads with his remarkable play at UCLA.  Price is extremely quick off the ball and has natural brute strength to go along with his athleticism.

6.    Cleveland Browns: CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson

The Browns need an explosive back to help their offense.  Spiller is a good big-play back who has been lighting it up in the college ranks.  Spiller has excellent quickness and can be a good return man.  If Spiller runs a good 40 at the combine, look for many teams to show interest in the talented back.

7.    Oakland Raiders: Charles Brown, OT, USC

The Raiders are desperate for a tackle and Brown could be perfect for their zone blocking scheme.  Brown is a former tight end so you know he can really move. He played left tackle for the Trojans and played admirably.  His run blocking could improve but his athleticism allowed him to be a good pass protector.

8.    Seattle Seahawks: Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech

Jonathan Dwyer is a beast on the football field who could be the future of the Seahawks offense.  He is more of a power back who has excellent speed.  His power allows him to run through tackles.  Although he has all the physical tools, he needs to work on his vision and instincts.  He is the best all around back in this draft but needs to work on some things to be truly dominant.

9.    Buffalo Bills: Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati

The Bills could use a qb so they could take a look at Cincinnati’s Tony Pike.  Pike is a solid pocket passer with decent accuracy and good decision making.  He is also mentally tough, bouncing back from a broken arm.  He has the tools to do well in the NFL but has a lot to work on.

10.    Washington Redskins: Ciron Black, OT, LSU

For a player his size (6-5 320), Black can really move.  He has the ability to run a 5.2 40 and excels in pass blocking.  His talent makes the players around him better.  What separates Black, however, is his character.  Much like center Eric Wood charmed scouts in interviews, Black will impress scouts with his high character and intelligence.

11.    Carolina Panthers: Bruce Carter, OLB, North Carolina

The Panthers have many other needs but Bruce Carter could be too good to pass up at this point.  This former high school quarterback has developed into a good looking linebacker at North Carolina, using his superior athleticism to stop offenses.

12.    Miami Dolphins: Ricky Sapp, OLB, Clemson

Sapp is one of the top pass rushers in this draft.  He is very explosive when attacking the quarterback and moves well in space.  He also does a decent job shadowing receivers when asked to do so.  He can add some power to his game but should be a top prospect at OLB.

13.    San Diego Chargers: Evan Royster, RB, Penn State

The Chargers need an every down back who can move the chains.  Penn State’s Evan Royster has great speed and instincts with great quickness.  He is a threat to score with the ball in his hands.

14.    Jacksonville Jaguars: Mike Johnson, OG, Alabama

The Jags could use some help on the interior of their offensive line.  Mike Johnson is a tough offensive guard who excels as a run blocker.  He also played some left tackle when needed.

15.    Houston Texans: Vince Oghobaase, DT, Duke

For a player his size (6-6 300), Oghobaase can sure put pressure on quarterbacks.  He is surprisingly agile.  He has great footwork and is good at stuffing the run.  With his size and athleticism, he could also be looked at as an end in the 3-4.

16.    Baltimore Ravens: Jason Pierre-Paul, OLB, South Florida

The Ravens could use a pass rusher and could find a sleeper in Jason Pierre-Paul.  Formerly a juco transfer, Pierre-Paul is relentless in his pursuit of the quarterback.  He is quick off the snap and quick around the edge.  He uses his hands well and plays with a tremendous motor.  He isn’t getting as much press as teammate George Selvie, but with continued success Pierre-Paul could land high in the draft.

17.    New York Jets: Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State

The Jets need a tough player to anchor their defense.  Odrick is another big, strong and agile tackle.  His ability to stop the run and cause pressure in passing plays has caused teams to look at Odrick.  He has the potential to be the type of player teams can build their defense around.

18.    San Francisco 49ers: George Selvie, OLB, South Florida

The niners could use an OLB who can rush the passer.  Selvie is a talented pass rusher and could excel as a 3-4 rush linebacker.  He led the nation in tackles for loss a few years ago and really knows how to disrupt the offense in the backfield.  He plays with great effort but needs to be more fluid in space to truly be a great OLB.

19.    Arizona Cardinals: Kristopher O’Dowd, OC, USC

The Cardinals need interior lineman and would love to add O’Dowd to their line.  This young prospect is arguably the best interior lineman in the country.  After starting as a true freshman at USC, O’Dowd has really opened eyes.  He plays with good leverage, has good feet, and plays with aggression.

20.    Philadelphia Eagles: Nate Allen, S, South Florida

Allen possesses good size and speed.  He roams center field waiting to make plays.  He is excellent in both coverage and against the run.  Allen is also very instinctual and could move up even more with continued success.

21.    Dallas Cowboys: Mike Williams, WR, Syracuse

Mike Williams has good size and speed for a receiver.  He gets good separation on his routes and does a good job catching the ball.  He isn’t the most elusive or quick player but is very productive.

22.    New England Patriots(from Chicago): Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State

Patrick Robinson has all the tools to make it in the NFL as a shutdown corner.  He has great speed, has great hands, and really plays the ball well in the air.  He blankets receivers and has great closing speed so QB’s are reluctant to throw in his direction.  He needs to work on his discipline, but that will come with experience.

23.    Green Bay Packers: Jason Fox, OT, Miami

The Packers need a talented tackle to protect Rodgers.  Fox is a talented but raw prospect that a team could take a chance on during the first day.  He has good size for a tackle and has played both left and right tackle.

24.    New England Patriots: Darrell Stuckey, S, Kansas

Stuckey doesn’t have excellent height but he possesses good speed and bulk.  He works hard and tries to model his game after fellow short safety Bob Sanders.  Like Sanders, Stuckey is a solid open field tackler and possesses good coverage skills.

25.    Pittsburgh Steelers: Eric Norwood, OLB, South Carolina

Norwood is a good sized end who is skilled at rushing the passer.  He racked up 9 sacks last season and could excel in the 3-4.  He had a chance to be drafted last season but returned to school to work on his stock.

26.    Cincinnati Bengals: Jon Asamoah, OG, Illinois

Asamoah moves well for an interior lineman and excels in both run and pass blocking.  He plays with a mean streak and exerts top effort from snap to whistle.  He does a good job in short pulls and does a good job staying in front of lineman.

27.    Atlanta Falcons: Rod Muckelroy, OLB, Texas

What makes Muckelroy so special is his instincts.  He is one of the best in the college ranks at diagnosing plays.  He is a tough worker both on and off the field but lacks good speed.  His lack of speed can be an issue with fast backs, but he does have some room to grow into a middle linebacker.

28.    New York Giants: Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia

Dowling is a good sized corner at 6-2 200.  He also has good speed and athleticism that allows him to match up to any receiver he lines up against.  He is a very talented shut down corner who should move up with a good junior campaign.

29.    New Orleans Saints: Selvish Capers, OT, WVU

The Saints need a tackle who can protect the passer.  Capers is a solid pass protector who’s starting to turn heads.  He can shut down solid pass rushers but needs to work on his technique.

30.    Indianapolis Colts: Gene Atkins, DT, Georgia

Atkins is a bit undersized at 6-1 290, but his speed and quickness allow him to make plays. He has the ability to run under 4.8 in the 40 and can get to the quarterback. His athleticism could allow him to play in the Tampa 2 or play as a defensive end in the 3-4.

31.    Minnesota Vikings: Dan LeFevour, QB, Central Michigan

The Vikings will need to look for the future past Brett Favre and draft a talented quarterback for the future.  One of the bright young quarterbacks that they could find in the second round is Dan LeFevour.  He has great poise, accuracy, and can save himself some time with his feet.

32.    Denver Broncos: Sean Lee, ILB, Penn State

Lee is a solid linebacker from Penn State who killed his stock with a knee injury.  Regardless, he is a talented prospect who has first round talent.  A team could decide to take a chance on him and draft him on the first day.

Round 3

1.    Tennessee Titans: Corey Wooton, DE, Northwestern

Wootton is another talented d-end with good size and tons of upside.  He has tons of room to add weight and could excel as a 3-4 end.  He is very quick to the ball and should move further up draft boards.

2.    St Louis Rams: Joe McKnight, RB, USC

McKnight will likely be drafted as an athlete. He is dangerous with the ball in his hands, whether it’s taking a pitch or catching a pass lined up as a receiver. He is much like former Trojan Reggie Bush, except not as fast or elusive.

3.    Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tony Washington, OT, Abilene Christian

What is impressive about Washington is his pass protection.  He rarely gets beat by quick pass rushers and plays with good leverage against the bull rush.  He plays with a tough mean streak and is a tough run blocker.

4.    Kansas City Chiefs: Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati

Mardy is a great prospect from the Big East.  He has solid hands and is a terrific athlete with outstanding speed.  He is able to stretch the field with his speed and is also a premiere return man.  If he can add weight, look for Gilyard’s stock to sky rocket.

5.    Detroit Lions: Syd‘Quan Thompson, CB, California

Thompson is a short corner at only 5’9 but he plays with a lot of heart.  After getting torched in his first start by former Vol receiver Robert Meachem, Thompson turned up his game and became a premier corner.  He is fierce in run support and tackles ball carriers with everything he has.  He can also return punts if need be.

6.    Cleveland Browns: Tim Hiller, QB, Western Michigan

Hiller has some durability issues, but he is tough as nails and possesses intangibles to make him a good prospect.  Hiller is extremely smart (4.0 gpa) and possesses an amazing arm.  He has a cannon of an arm and throws with great accuracy.  He has been having knee problems but again is a tough competitor.

7.    Oakland Raiders: Micah Johnson, ILB, Kentucky

Johnson is just the type of linebacker the Raiders need.  He has good speed, which we all know is a prerequisite for the Raiders defense.  He is also tough against the run and is a solid open field tackler.

8.    Philadelphia Eagles(from Seattle): Melvin Williams: S, North Carolina

Melvin Williams from North Carolina is an up and coming safety prospect.  He was a highly regarded juco transfer before ending up in North Carolina.  Upon arrival, scouts took note of Williams’ ball hawking ability and physical ability.

9.    Buffalo Bills: Greg Matthews, WR, Michigan

Greg Mathews is a terrific athlete with seemingly unlimited star potential. His statistics don’t reflect his remarkable play because the poor quarterback situation for Michigan. If Michigan manages to find a way to get Mathews the ball, expect to see his draft stock soar. Mathews has all the intangibles to be a superior NFL receiver. At 6’3 and 210 pounds, he already has the frame to make it in the NFL.

10.    Washington Redskins: Anthony McCoy, TE, USC

McCoy is a talented and productive tight end for the Trojans.  He has good size and speed and possesses good hands.  He needs to work on his route running and blocking skills to be effective in the NFL.

11.    Carolina Panthers: Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA

In a Pac-10 loaded with talented corners and safeties, Verner was a 1st team all pac 10 cornerback as just a junior. Verner was able to do this despite having little help around him at UCLA, shutting his man down even though he was targeted almost every possession. Verner has blazing speed and could also be a great return man at the pro level.

12.    Miami Dolphins: Montario Hardesty, RB, Tennessee

There’s nothing flashy about Hardesty, but he is a solid back.  He is a bit unknown but is looking to break out.  Hardesty runs hard every play and is capable of breaking a big play, but he isn’t known as a big play back.

13.    San Diego Chargers: Antonio Coleman, OLB, Auburn

Coleman projects best as a 3-4 olb.  He has good size and speed for the position and possesses numerous tools to disrupt the quarterback.  He needs to work on his motor but he has a ton of potential.

14.    Jacksonville Jaguars: Willie Young, DE, NC State

Willie Young doesn’t possess ideal bulk but has room to grow.  Young is a solid pass rusher who flashes potential to play linebacker in a 3-4, but seems to lack the coverage ability and instincts to do so.  Could make a living as a situational pass rusher.

15.    Houston Texans: Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford

The Texans need a back who can pound it into the end zone.  Lucky for them, Gerhart is one of the best in college at doing so.  Gerhart is powerfully built and rarely goes down after first contact.  He isn’t very affective outside the tackles but his ability in short yardage situations should get him drafted.

16.    Baltimore Ravens: D’Anthony Smith, DE, Louisiana Tech

Smith primarily played DT in college but I actually like Smith as a defensive end in the 3-4.  Smith has some experience playing end.  He has great athleticism for a player his size and can rush the quarterback.  He is also very coachable, making such a move easy.

17.    New York Jets: Tyson Alualu, DE, California

There’s nothing flashy about Alualu but he makes plays at d-end.  He is good against the run and has experience in the 3-4.  He can also put some pressure on the QB despite being doubled.

18.    San Francisco 49ers: EJ Wilson, DE, North Carolina

Wilson is a big and athletic defensive end from North Carolina who’s putting together a great season.  His physical ability alone would get him noticed but Wilson has really stepped up his game and his skills are helping his draft stock.

19.    Arizona Cardinals: Garrett Graham, TE, Wisconsin

Nothing flashy about Graham.  Has good hands but his size, strength, and speed are average at best.  He isn’t overly explosive and isn’t the best blocker, but tries hard and has good technique.

20.    Philadelphia Eagles: AJ Jefferson, CB, Fresno State

Jefferson has great size and speed for a corner.  He can shut down receivers and force quarterbacks to look the other way.  Jefferson is also one of the best return specialists in the country.  Jefferson is a threat to score every time he has the ball in his hands.

21.    Dallas Cowboys: Morgan Burnett, S, Georgia Tech

Burnett is having a great season so far for Georgia Tech.  He is creating turnovers and making plays all over the field.  Although Burnett isn’t yet well known, he has the potential to continue rising in the draft with a great finish to the year.

22.    Chicago Bears: CJ Wilson, DE, East Carolina

Wilson has good size for a d-end but can move well for a player his size (6-3 275).  He recorded 10.5 sacks as a junior, proving he can get after the QB.  He could improve his straight line speed but he looks good as an every down end.

23.    Green Bay Packers: Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest

Ghee possesses good size and speed for a corner.  He has fluid hips but needs to work on his footwork and instincts to really be successful.  He is starting to get noticed by scouts, but needs to work on his technique to continue rising.

24.    Oakland Raiders(from New England): Brandon Deaderick, DT, Alabama

Deaderick is another player the Raiders could use to help their ailing defense.  Deaderick is fairly athletic for such a big player, making him a great player in Al Davis’ book.  He is also one of the toughest players around.  Just days after getting shot in the arm, Deaderick recovered quick and played the following game.

25.    Pittsburgh Steelers: John Jerry, G, Ole Miss

Jerry is a huge guard prospect from Mississippi.  The younger brother of Falcon’s DT Peria Jerry, John Jerry is surprisingly agile for a player his size.  He can struggle with smaller defenders, but he really shows potential as a guard.

26.    Cincinnati Bengals: Ed Dickson, TE, Oregon

Dickson possesses good size and speed for a tight end.  He has many strength records at Oregon, proving he has a good work ethic.  He also possesses strong hands, but needs to polish his route running.

27.    Atlanta Falcons: Jerome Murphy, CB, South Florida

Murphy is a solid cover corner from South Florida.  He has good physical tools and has some good coverage skills, but needs to work on his technique.  Isn’t great in run support but plays aggressively.

28.    New York Giants: Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho

Iupati is a big guard with good blocking ability.  The big knock is his awareness and experience.  He needs to work on recognizing stunts and blitzes before he gets to the NFL, but he is a great run and pass blocker.

29.    New Orleans Saints: Jacoby Ford, WR, Clemson

Ford’s size will hurt his stock, but he possesses great speed.  Desean Jackson has shown how effective a smaller receiver can be.  Ford is as shifty and quick as they come.  Also possesses great hands and good route running ability.

30.    Indianapolis Colts: Kyle Calloway, OT, Iowa

Calloway had some trouble with the law earlier this year, but he is a solid right tackle.  He is a better run blocker than a pass blocker but is a good athlete who can stop pass rushers.

31.    Minnesota Vikings: Dennis Pitta, TE, BYU

Pitta is a good receiver but needs to work on his blocking.  He has soft hands and catches everything thrown his way.  He just needs to work on his blocking and his speed.

32.    Denver Broncos: Jordan Shipley, WR, Texas

Shipley’s having a remarkable season but scouts aren’t super high on the receiver because of his height.  He could make a great slot receiver and make a living returning kicks but don’t expect much more.

By Brian Ishida

Lead NFL Draft Analyst for ScoutingTheSports.com

ScoutingTheSports.com Exclusive Content

Athlete Blog: Lorrenzo Wade

I’m back! The latest stop for me on my BBall tour in Kavala, Greece. It has to be one of the most beautiful places that I’ve ever seen. I am very happy here. My team is a second year team in the first division. It’s comprised of three Americans and nine European players. I feel as though we can really turn some heads this year. We just need to work on building great team chemistry. The game itself is totally different from the United States, especially when it comes to physicality. The game here really comes down to how tough you are physically. Let’s just say that I’m making the adjustment. LOL We play one game a week and practice twice a day (killer!), but I have a good coach that understands the game and his players. We are now in the second week of the season and our record stands at 0-1. We lost to Maroussi which is a Euro-team by 20 points. The game was closer than the scoreboard showed. I had 11pts, 5rebs, a sick block, and a steal in 25 mins. Not bad, but not good enough by any means because we still got the loss. This weekend we play our first home game against a team that is new to the A1 division. They had money to spend in the offseason though so they have a good team. As always though, this is a must win! Besides the basketball part. Life is good. I’m a pro now and I’m able to provide for my family. There’s not too much more I can ask for right now, besides maybe an In and out burger! In the meantime be safe, be smart, and be accountable.

And you can follow me on Twitter – ZoWade31 is the name…

By: Lorrenzo Wade

This is an exclusive ScoutingTheSports.com Athlete Blog

NBA Preview – Eastern Conference

The Eastern Conference has solid teams at the top without much else behind it.  A lot of the teams here made moves, but most have done little to actually improve.  After researching the Western Conference earlier, I cannot believe how much deeper and more talented the west is, with teams in the double digits who would be clear-cut playoff teams in this conference.  My picks at the top remain the same as last year, with slight but insignificant changes throughout the conference.  While in the west I was amazed with the amount of talent down the line, in the East I am shocked at just how many teams lack anything close to depth.  The top three are obviously set in stone, but I find little separation from 5-10 simply because they all have stars with nothing resembling talent behind them.

1) Cleveland Cavaliers – This is obviously the sexy pick, but also the clearly right pick.  Lebron James hasn’t even hit his prime yet.  Think about that.  He is going to be better this year than he was last year, and that is why his team will be the number one seed for the next few years almost regardless of where he ends up next season.  You can complain about his supporting cast, and how old Shaq is, but at the end of the day, Shaq puts up numbers every year (see 17 points and 8 rebounds a game last season).  Mo Williams will continue to improve in the presence of King James, and this team will be impossible to stop, especially given the relative ease with which they will plow through their schedule.

2) Orlando Magic – They made it to the finals last season, and they will definitely be better this season.  Vince Carter will be more explosive than Turkoglu was last season, and his presence will allow Rashard Lewis to take a bigger part in the offense than he held last season.  The biggest asset is the return of Jameer Nelson, who missed almost the whole second half of last season due to injury, who was a huge weapon while healthy.  Dwight Howard will continue to improve, and hopefully develop at least one move to go along with, well, okay, he doesn’t have any other moves.  Hopefully he gets one.

3) Boston Celtics – I bet you couldn’t have guessed this team after reading my picks for numbers one and two.  If you think the Artest experiment is interesting, I submit to you the Rasheed Wallace experiment.  The Boston Celtics are easily the least likable team in the NBA (sorry Denver).  No one likes Rasheed or KG, and it’s hard to imagine Paul Pierce has many friends around the league, so needless to say this team will be circled on the schedule every time they come to an arena near you.  Regardless of all this, the team is loaded with talent, it just happens to be really old talent.

4) Atlanta Hawks – It is hard to believe that the Atlanta Hawks are becoming a force in the Eastern Conference.  This team is almost a more mature version of the Oklahoma City Thunder, made up of a lot of young, athletic, exciting talent.  Josh Smith and Joe Johnson are two of the young stars in this league, and with Mike Bibby and Jamal Crawford along side of them, this team will definitely score some points on a nightly basis.  I feel like this team still sneaks up on people because they are the Hawks, but people need to get used to seeing this team succeed, because they might be here for a while.

5) Washington Wizards – Hard to believe a team could go from last in the conference to fifth, but with Gilbert Arenas back, I think that is a real possibility.  Gilbert, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison comprise one of the best trios in the entire league, but the problem has always been who they are surrounded with.  I think Nick Young is destined to become a solid option for this squad, and will be enough to push this team into the playoffs, where they could make quite the splash.

6) Chicago Bulls – Every NBA fan remembers how good the Bulls looked in the playoffs last season and would like to think they are poised to make a run.  Then remember they lost arguably their best player (Ben Gordon) to free agency, and the six spot becomes a bit more realistic.  Josh Salmons and Brad Miller were great acquisitions at the end of last season, and give this team a real chance to thrive this season.  Derek Rose will continue to develop into one of the league’s best point guards, while Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah provide one of the most athletic, high-energy front lines in basketball.  This will be a fun team to watch, and one that could challenge the upper tiers of the conference, I just think they need a little more experience before they can do so consistently.

7) Toronto Raptors – Jose Calderon, Hedo Turkoglu, and Chris Bosh all on the same team.  Not a bad start.  The problem is that’s about it.  DeMar DeRozan is listed as the starting shooting guard which is about as bad a sign as possible for an NBA franchise.  Turkoglu was a great addition over the offseason, however the lack of depth will eventually be the team’s downfall.  I think the three stars are enough to carry this team to the playoffs, but won’t go any further.

8) Philadelphia 76ers – If Elton Brand is healthy, I am placing this team far too low, however that is an enormous if.  Andre Iguodala is a star in the league, and Thaddeus Young has all of the tools needed to follow suit, which could make for a lethal combination into the future.  Like the rest of the conference, this team lacks great depth, with a rag-tag group of reserves headlined by former Raptor Jason Kapono.

9) Miami Heat – Dwayne Wade might be the second best player in the NBA, but even he couldn’t lead this group of scrubs to the playoffs.  Wade averaged 30/7.5/5 last season, but with the group surrounding him, Wade might need to triple those numbers.  Jermaine O’Neal used to be a great big man, but has been everything but over the past few years, while Michael Beasley doesn’t seem to have the mental makeup capable of succeeding in this league.  Unless both of these guys turn it around, while guys like Mario Chalmers accelerate their development, this team will find themselves on the outside looking in come playoff time.

10) Charlotte Bobcats – Here is a team with some young talent that could finish anywhere from the eight spot to the twelve spot.  Felton, Bell, Wallace, and Diaw have all proven in spurts that they can produce in this league, and if Larry Brown can make it all work while getting production from Tyson Chandler, this team could be in business.  With DJ Augustin and Valdimir Radmonovic coming off the bench, this team has enough depth to make up for their lack of star power on the front line.  I like this squad a lot, but I just feel like the makeup of the organization could keep this team from reaching the heights they are meant to reach.

11) Detroit Pistons – Signing Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva both look like great pickups on paper.  Until you realize that the Pistons don’t need a shooting guard, and that Villanueva doesn’t solve their biggest need in a center.  Those duties will be left to….wait for it…..wait for it….Ben Wallace and Kwame Brown.  No, seriously, those are their two centers.  Now the number ten pick makes sense, doesn’t it? I am a huge Prince, Hamilton, Gordon, Stuckey, Villanueva fan, but none of them matter as long as Kwame and Big Ben are starters.

12) Indiana Pacers – I have to admire a GM that puts together the white boy all-stars, but I just cannot see this squad getting it done this year.  Danny Granger is another one of these stars who no one likes to talk about, despite the fact he fills up the stat sheet in every imaginable category.  Jeff Foster at center is nearing Detroit Pistons status, and unless TJ Ford, Troy Murphy, and Mike Dunleavy become major contributors, this team will fail to make the playoffs once again.

13) New York Knicks – Mike D’Antoni is a great coach, and with the amount of talent this organization has assembled, it is hard to imagine them remaining in the cellar for long.  Nate Robinson and Chris Duhon won’t give D’Antoni the Nash he had in Phoenix, but both are capable lead men to go alongside Al Harrington and David Lee in Madison Square Garden.  All of these guys seem capable of running the high tempo offense D’Antoni loves to run, and with another year under his reign, I have to believe this team wins more than the 32 they won last season.

14) Milwaukee Bucks – I would love to think the return of Michael Redd could turn this franchise around, but for that to happen, the organization would need to actually care about winning.  That means not giving up on their two best players last season, in Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions, like they did.  There is no way they thought Brandon Jennings and Kurt Thomas were valuable replacements, meaning one thing: they don’t care.  Michael Redd will be shooting a lot this season, and that won’t necessarily be a good thing for Buck fans (you exist right?).

15) New Jersey Nets – I am pretty sure this starting lineup might be a joke.  Devin Harris and Brook Lopez are both good, but Courtney Lee’s success last season was nothing more than the product of the Orlando system, where teams left him wide open to double team the real threats in Lewis and Turkoglu.  The reason they’re last is because this same Courtney Lee is their third best player, just edging out  Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons for the honors, both of whom are starters.  Nets fans cannot wait until this Russian Billionaire starts buying talent, because this season might just be the bottom.

NBA Preview – Western Conference

There is no doubting the west is extremely deep, and it is especially evident when compared to the top-heavy eastern conference.  There are about 10 teams I could see making the playoffs this season, and a couple of them are teams we haven’t seen playing in the playoffs in years, if not decades.  I cannot remember a season in which I looked across the rosters of so many teams and was shocked with the amount of talent on every one of them, as all but the bottom three in my rankings are capable of making the playoffs this season.

1) Los Angeles Lakers – They won it all last year.  And then got better.  I’m not buying all the concerns about Artest and the claims he will hurt the Lakers this season.  Artest is a veteran who desperately wants a shot at a title and  is now playing with arguably his best friend in the NBA (Lamar Odom), giving him the most stability of his entire career.  Artest is a huge upgrade over Ariza on the court as well, because the offensive firepower he adds on nights Kobe doesn’t have it will be crucial to the Lakers success.  Did I mention that the Lakers got nothing from Farmar, Shannon Brown, or Bynum last season? Expect Derek Fisher’s role to diminish and the Lakers to get significantly better than last season.

2) San Antonio Spurs – Parker, Ginobli, and Richard Jefferson are all healthy and ready to compliment Tim Duncan, making this pick a no-brainer.  As much as I hate saying this, I also think the Spurs may have dropped the boring label with the departure of Bruce Bowen and the addition of Richard Jefferson.  Jefferson has flown under the radar almost his entire career in New Jersey, but this guy can do it all, and reminds me a lot of Shawn Marion (back when he was good).  He is probably as good defensively as Bowen was towards the tail-end of his career, but is infinitely better offensively.  The Spurs are scary this year, and could be the only team that might challenge the folks in la-la-land.

3) Portland Trailblazers – This team is freakishly young and freakishly talented.  Brandon Roy and Lamarcus Aldridge are two of the best-kept secrets in the NBA, providing a poor man’s Kobe Bryant-Pau Gasol tandem up in the northwest.  I have never been on the Greg Oden bandwagon (to say the least), but he has put together a few stretches this preseason that just might be leading me to believe that he is here for real.  I’m not expecting much from him, but if he can play stellar defense and give the Blazers 12.0 ppg and 8 rebounds, the sky is the limit for this team.  Andre Miller was a good addition to help players like Oden establish themselves offensively, however GM Kevin Pritchard really missed the boat on potential additions of Gerald Wallace, Richard Jefferson, and Hedo Turkgolu (not Pritchard’s fault) over the end of last season and the off-season.  If this team can build the chemistry they have been severely lacking this pre-season, they could be the surprise team of 2009-2010.

4) Dallas Mavericks – Could this be the year that Dirk and the boys put everything together and become a real threat out west?  A squad of Jason Kidd, Dirk, Josh Howard, Shawn Marion, and Jason Terry will score a lot of points, but defense will again be the real question.  I think this season will be Jason Kidd’s last hurrah, as well as Shawn Marion’s comeback party and that will make the Mavs competitive, however in a deep western conference it will all be for naught.

5) Utah Jazz – Deron Williams is the most underrated player in the NBA.  This guy is the real deal, and yet is overlooked in every “top players in the NBA” conversation.  Everyone talks about CP3 as the second best player in the league, yet D-Will was only three points a game behind him with the same assist numbers last season.  Carlos Boozer is getting told he’s past his prime, but I’m not buying that at all, so I’m expecting him to put up some big numbers this season.  Eric Maynor coming off the bench has the potential to be an absolute stud, while the supporting cast of Okur, Brewer, Millsap, and AK47 give the Jazz the depth they need to make a season-long run.  The ceiling isn’t nearly as high for this team as others in the conference, but they remind me so much of the Spurs in their consistency and lack of general public appeal that I’m picking them to be right in the middle of the pack down the stretch.

6) New Orleans Hornets – Chris Paul is a relatively decent basketball player.  To say the least.  Okay, so he’s the most exciting point guard I have seen in my lifetime, and is the only guy outside of Kobe in the west capable of carrying his team to the playoffs.  David West is another guy who everyone looks over, despite the fact that he averaged 21/9 last season, his third consecutive season averaging over 18/8.  The addition of Emeka Okafor was huge, as they traded a guy who was contributing nothing (Tyson Chandler) for a guy who still has the ability to prove he was worthy of the top draft pick when paired with the best point guard in the league.  Peja Stojakovic is still capable of lighting it up from outside, along with Morris Peterson and James Posey coming off the bench adding some depth and toughness.  After looking over their roster, I was tempted to move them up a couple of spots, but I’ll keep them here for now.  Write this down: this will be the most improved playoff team from last season, and they might even make a playoff run.

7) Denver Nuggets – Needless to say I’m not drinking the same cool-aid as many other NBA experts.  I got to see this team a couple weeks ago in Portland, and everything I saw scared me.  Carmelo Anthony is a punk.  George Karl doesn’t seem to care or have any control over this team.  The team is extremely thin outside of about seven players, and none of them would be considered model citizens capable of keeping an even keel through tough times.  The talent on this team will get them into the playoffs, however I am expecting a huge drop from last season’s performance.  If this team disappoints, things could get ugly with the attitudes of Carmelo, Kenyon Martin, and JR Smith.

8) Los Angeles Clippers – I cannot remember the last time this squad would have cracked my playoff list, and the only reason they aren’t higher is because Mike Dunleavy is the worst coach in the league.  Think about how much talent they have.  Baron Davis is just a couple years removed from an All-Star level of play, and when he got back in shape this off-season, he began making a statement as to where he sees this team going this season.  Eric Gordon and Al Thornton are two young players many people haven’t heard about, but Gordon has the potential to become a 25 ppg scorer and Thornton has the athletic ability to become a freak in this league.  All this is combined with the presence of two of the top fifteen centers in the league in Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby makes the Clippers a solid team across the board.  The best part of all of this is the fact that Blake Griffin won’t have to carry this team by himself, but will have time to settle in and grow before he takes over like everyone is expecting him to.

9) Oklahoma City Thunder – Maybe this is more a pick with my heart than my head, but how can any NBA fan not be excited about this team?  Kevin Durant is just a few years away from placing himself among the league’s best players ever, and now he has been surrounded by a lot of young supporting talent to compliment him.  If Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, and James Harden can all contribute and grow this season this team could challenge for the final playoff spot, however I still feel they are a year (if not more) away from being a real threat in the west.

10) Houston Rockets – There is not a single guy on this roster capable of making an NBA All-Star team, and yet no one would be surprised if they made the playoffs.  Trevor Ariza was a great acquisition, however he is a great role player, whereas in Houston he will be expected to be the focal point of this offense.  I think the combination of Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry will provide a lot of firepower from the point guard spot, but this team will need to find a lot more sources of offense in order to be successful.  When Luis Scola is your best returning player, the future cannot look bright, and yet the Rockets always seem to make it work.

11) Phoenix Suns– This shows how deep the West is this season.  The Suns are a six-seed at worst in the East, and here I have them three spots out of the playoffs.  This team will score a lot, but play zero defense, and I cannot see that as a recipe for success.  Steve Nash is still one of the best players in the league, but Amare seems checked out and old, while Jason Richardson and Leandro Barbosa are not players capable of carrying the Suns back to the playoffs alongside Nash.  When Channing Frye is your starting center, a guy who was about the last guy off the bench last season in Portland, things aren’t looking promising.  Alvin Gentry doesn’t last the season in Phoenix, while Steve Kerr starts reconsidering the offense-only approach the team has held for the past decade.

12) Golden State Warriors – When your best player is Stephen Jackson, and when Stephen Jackson starts doing his best Ron Artest impression, YIKES.  Stephen Curry is going to be thrown right into the fire this season, but this is a team built just like Phoenix with even less talent and less defense across the board.  Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins are both young stars in this league, but until they get out of Oakland, or this team is remodeled, their ceilings are significantly lower than they should be.  Don Nelson should have lost this job years ago, and until the atmosphere here changes significantly, or Stephen Jackson is traded for two good-guy all-stars, this team will continue to look up at the playoffs.

13) Minnesota Timberwolves – Al Jefferson is destined to become the next Kevin Garnett.  He’s the only guy on a terrible Minnesota team, and with the disaster that was the draft last season, things aren’t getting any better.  Kevin Love will start the season injured, but alongside Al Jeff, this could develop into one of the top frontlines in the league.  Ramon Sessions could have a breakout year this season, but the talent outside of those three is just not there for them to be good anytime soon.

14) Memphis Grizzlies – There is no question about the amount of talent here.  The problem is whether there is enough room in the state of Tennessee for the egos of Zach Randolph, Allen Iverson, and OJ Mayo.  I just cannot possibly see this working, and the problem is that things aren’t getting any better anytime soon.  They wanted Zach Randolph, and then signed AI even though they are loaded at the point guard position.  The management might be worse than the chemistry in this organization, and they should simply be thankful they aren’t last.

15) Sacramento Kings – The lack of talent here is mind-blowing.  Kevin Martin is good, but shouldn’t be the best player on any team, anywhere.  Tyreke Evans is my pick for Rookie of the Year, because he has the size and athleticism to be a star in this league, not to mention he’s the second best player on a team with no hope of succeeding.  The starting lineup is rounded out by three guys who would be fighting for roster spots on any of my playoff teams above.  My how things have changed since a decade ago and the glory days of C-Webb, Bibby, and Peja.

Recap of Spokester’s Three Pack

1-2 on the week but only 2 seconds away from Michigan State pulling an amazing upset.

# 13 Penn State def Michigan

35-10

Michigan looked to continue its dominance at home against Penn State on Saturday, as PSU hadn’t won in Ann Arbor since 1996, but on Saturday Michigan was the one that ended up getting dominated. Penn State came into this game on a tear, as the offense had been in beast mode recently, averaging 510 yards of offense over the last three games coming into this one. On Saturday the impressive play continued, as Penn State Qb Darryl Clark went (16/27 with 230 yards and 4 td’s), and just might have played himself back into Heisman consideration. As I said coming into this game, the real bright spot for PSU had been their stellar and consistent defensive play all season, and on Saturday the Wolverine offense and defense was downright atrocious. The Wolverines coughed up 4 turnovers and lost the overall turnover battle 4-0. I don’t know what I was thinking when I took Michigan to pull the upset, and have officially jumped off the bandwagon for the rest of the year. Go ahead and put a nail in that coffin.

#6 Iowa def Michigan State

15-13

I came into this one expecting a low scoring, defensive grudge match that would come down to costly turnovers, ball possession, and special teams, and that is exactly what transpired on Saturday. I went out on a limb, calling the Spartan upset and I was literally 2 seconds away from that reality. Iowa Qb Rick Stanzi connected with Marvin McNutt for a 7 yard TD pass as time expired and Iowa escaped with the victory. Iowa came into the game having never started a season with 8 consecutive wins in their 120 years of existence, but the Hawkeyes changed all that with a win at Michigan State on Saturday. The Hawkeyes control their destiny and with this huge win, they became one step closer to wrapping up the conference title and assuring themselves a BCS bowl berth. With 12 consecutive victories dating back to last year, the Hawkeyes have the second longest winning streak in the nation, right behind Florida’s 17 in a row. It was a hell of a game, and you have got to feel for the Spartans, whose four losses this year are by a combined 15 points.

#8 TCU def # 16 BYU

38-7

As I said on Thursday, this was not exactly a marquee match up, but definitely a showcase game for two teams that were looking to make a statement why they deserve a BCS bowl berth. Last season TCU dealt BYU its first loss, essentially knocking BYU out as a potential BCS buster, and once again TCU came out as the victors, ruining BYU’s season once more. On Thursday I mentioned that it was going to be a battle of strengths, as TCU’s defense came into the game ranked 4^th and BYU’s offense ranked sixth in the nation. TCU has stuffed the run game this year allowing just three rushing Td’s all season, and on Saturday they asserted their dominance with 5 sacks. The Horned Frogs captured their ninth straight victory, and also snapped the Cougars conference record 13 game home winning streak. As I stated, a good defense usually finds a way to beat a good offense, and this was certainly the case in this one.

AP top 5

Florida

Alabama

Texas

USC

Cincinnati

Make sure to tune in next Thursday for more of my NCAA and NFL predictions.

By: Morgan Spokny

Be sure to check out the BLSS. Every Tues 6 pac, Thurs 6 pac, and Sun 4 pac

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