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FROM: Johnny (Savannah, GA)

Who is RB Rashad Jennings out of Liberty? I noticed you have him rated as your third-best senior RB, but I have never heard of him. Why do you think so highly of him over other seniors like Arian Foster and Jeremiah Johnson?

Don’t worry, a lot of people haven’t heard of this guy…yet. Rashad Jennings reminds me a lot of another non-FBS running back: Tim Hightower of Richmond who was a fifth round draft choice of the Arizona Cardinals in the 2007 Draft. So far this season, Hightower has proved to be more effective than Edgerrin James in the desert and took over the starting role, rushing for 264 yards and seven touchdowns thus far during his rookie season. If NFL teams could redo last April’s Draft, Hightower is more than likely drafted on the first day.

Jennings has an excellent combination of size (6-1, 230) and speed (4.52) and shows very good patience and burst through the hole. His lack of competition might be a concern, but he is actually a transfer from Pittsburgh where he rushed for 411 yards as a freshman in 2005. He made the move to Liberty prior to the 2006 season to be closer to his father who was battling diabetes. Jennings has good hands and is also dangerous as a receiver.

Liberty has had a their share of NFL players, most recently RB Samkon Gado who was an undrafted free agent, but had a breakout season in 2005 with the Green Bay Packers. While I am not confident that Jennings will remain as my third-best senior running back, I am more than confident that Jennings has the tools to make an impact in the NFL.

                                                                                                                                                                

FROM: Chris (Salem, OH)

John Parker Wilson appears to be a winner.  He's not flashy, but he gets the job done, and runs a fairly NFL friendly system.  Why does he not project so good as an NFL QB?

In a weak class of senior quarterbacks, John Parker Wilson has been able to take advantage, leading Alabama to a #1 ranking and at the same time helping his draft value. He entered the year as a late round draft choice and my 11th best QB, but has played his way into the middle rounds and my 5th best QB. He doesn't have the size that you like to see (listed at 6-2, but is probably 6-1), but is very athletic and can extend plays with his mobility.
 
Wilson has a good, not great arm and is a smart kid. He has been one of the biggest benefactors of the Crimson Tide's outstanding offensive line because they have kept him relatively upright and with a run game that averages 198.6 yards per game (second in the SEC behind Florida), the Alabama offense is far from one-dimensional.
 
Wilson is a gutsy kid, but doesn't always make the right decisions. Although he has played well this year, he has struggled with consistency throwing for under 50% completion percentage four times this season, which is why he entered the year as a late round draft choice. The pass he made to Julio Jones in overtime this past weekend was an NFL throw under pressure, but LSU also should have made a play on that throw.
 
Bottom line with Wilson is he does everything well, but nothing great. If I asked you what was your favorite John Parker Wilson moment, it is tough to really recall a moment where he made you go "wow". He is the type of quarterback who won't win the game for you and you hope he doesn't make a mistake to lose it for you either. I am anxious to keep watching Wilson to see more, but I project Wilson to be a middle round draft choice in the mold of John David Booty: average height, good arm, can move around in the pocket, but doesn't have the NFL skills to put a team on his shoulders and into the playoffs.

NOTE: John Parker Wilson has been chosen as one of five finalists for the 2008 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The award is given to the top senior quarterback each year. The other finalists are Chase Daniel (Missouri), Graham Harrell (Texas Tech), Brian Johnson (Utah), and Pat White (West Virginia). Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan, who was drafted third overall, won the award last season.

                                                                                                                                                                 

FROM: Steve (Kansas City, MO)

I know I am in the minority with this opinion, but I just have my doubts about WR Michael Crabtree at the next level. I see you have him rated as your fourth best underclassmen, but Texas Tech wideouts have been like their quarterbacks: despite putting up huge numbers in college, they fail to do the same in the NFL. Am I wrong?

With the exception of Wes Welker, you are right about Texas Tech receivers failing to make much of an impact in the NFL, but I couldn’t disagree more with your assessment of Crabtree at the next level. He is a game-changer and the best receiver (maybe overall player) in college football as only a sophomore. Crabtree looks a step ahead of everyone with his explosive athleticism and tremendous concentration, making almost every catch.

Although Crabtree is only a sophomore, he is draft-eligible because he redshirted in 2006, making him three years removed from high school. How did he fly under the radar out of high school? Crabtree was actually a quarterback at Carter High School in Dallas, TX and was considered an athlete in the recruiting process. Rivals.com ranked him as the 16th top athlete in the nation and 22nd best prospect in the state of Texas.

I fully expect Crabtree to declare for the draft because he has nothing left to prove or learn at the college ranks. Over the past five years, there are only two receivers that I graded higher coming out of college than Crabtree: Pittsburgh’s Larry Fitzgerald in 2004 and Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson in 2007. If he decides to come out after this season, Crabtree will no doubt be my top wideout available and will be in my top ten overall prospects, possibly in the top five.

So on paper, I understand why you might have your doubts about Crabtree in that Texas Tech offensive system, but watching him terrorize opposing defenses is simply special. I’ll put it this way, I compare Crabtree has a hybrid of Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. Scary.

                                                                                                                                                                

FROM: Kreig (Charleston, SC)

If Brandon Spikes were to declare for the draft, where would he fit in with the strong linebacker class led by Maualuga and Laurinaitis?

I expect Florida junior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes to declare for the draft and I have him graded as the third best MLB if he decides to do so behind Rey Maualuga and James Laurinaitis. Spikes is simply a playmaker, he has a nose for the ball and seems to be in on every tackle. He has good, but not great speed (listed at 4.70 in the 40) and has prototypical size for a middle linebacker at 6-3, 245. Although he is listed as an OLB, I also have Aaron Curry ranked above Spikes.
 
Spikes is fourth in the SEC with 66 tackles, including a team-best eight for loss. He is also tied for second on the team with two interceptions, one of which he returned for a score. He has shown the versatility to play the run or drop back against the pass.
 
I still have some unanswered questions about Spikes that I want to see such as his sideline-to-sideline range and can he pick through the garbage consistently. He looks like an NFL linebacker and carries a mean streak that he needs to contain and make sure it doesn’t carry over into a red flag character concern.
 
Right now, I project Spikes as late first rounder, but there is still much to scout on him to see if he will rise (similar to Tennessee’s LB Jerod Mayo did last year to 10th overall) or fall (similar to Florida’s LB Brandon Siler who fell to 240th overall when originally thought to be a first day pick in 2007).

                                                                                                                                                                 

FROM: Mike (Dallas, TX)

What is your prediction for the National Championship Game? If he won’t win his second Heisman, do you think Florida’s Tim Tebow can win his second National Title?

I am hesitant to answer this question because in the world of College Football, anything is possible, especially with everyone’s favorite computer system: the BCS (or BSC as Joe Paterno would say). But oh well, I’ll give my best BCS Bowl predictions. Remember this is what I think will happen, not who I think deserves to go to each game so this isn’t necessarily what I hope happens.

SUGAR BOWL   Alabama vs. Cincinnati (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Does the BCS have to give the Big East an automatic bid? Cincinnati, despite all their quarterback problems, has really impressed me this season, led by their defensive playmakers Mike Mickens, Connor Barwin, Terrill Byrd, Corey Smith and DeAngelo Smith. Their OT win this past weekend over West Virginia sold me to think the Bearcats as the best team in that conference. Meanwhile, I have Alabama falling in the SEC Championship Game to Florida and finish the season with one loss.

ROSE BOWL   USC vs. Penn State (Pasadena, California)

Of all the bowl predictions, this is the match up I am most confident with because USC has another Pac 10 title in their sights and Penn State should rebound from a tough loss at Iowa to win their final two games and capture a Big Ten Championship.

ORANGE BOWL   Wake Forest vs. Boise State (Miami Gardens, Florida)

Does Boise State play in a weak conference or are the Broncos just that good? That question was supposed to be answered when Boise State pulled off the impossible a few years ago over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Regardless, the Broncos will more than likely go undefeated and earn a BCS bid over another non-BCS team in Utah who I think will fall to BYU to end their perfect season. Meanwhile, the ACC is up for grabs. I’ll take Wake Forest because I really like their defense, especially LB Aaron Curry and CB Alphonso Smith who I think will both be first round picks.

FIESTA BOWL   Ohio State vs. Texas Tech (Glendale, Arizona)

Ohio State? What? Let me start off by going on record to say that the Buckeyes do not deserve a BCS Bowl this season, but the Fiesta Bowl is wide open. In two weeks, Texas Tech goes to Norman to face Oklahoma where I think the Red Raiders will suffer their lone defeat of the season in a close game to the Sooners. The Fiesta Bowl will take one of these two teams (Oklahoma or Texas Tech), but not both because they won’t want a rematch. Although logic says that Oklahoma will be rated above Texas Tech in the BCS rankings if the Sooners beat them, I am going out on a limb by saying that the Red Raiders will get a Fiesta Bowl invite instead because they have been the feel-good story of the season with their potent and exciting offense and Oklahoma has lost in the Fiesta Bowl the past two years. If this happens, who is the Red Raiders opponent? We have already established that it won’t be Oklahoma to avoid a rematch so that leaves two teams: Georgia and Ohio State. Georgia didn’t look too good in their losses to Alabama and Florida and Ohio State has the momentum with the Buckeyes looking totally different since they were embarrassed in LA. Like I said, Ohio State doesn’t belong in a BCS bowl, but don’t be surprised if they sneak their way in to the picture.

BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME   Texas vs. Florida (Miami Gardens, Florida)

If Florida defeats Alabama in the SEC Championship and Texas Tech falls to Oklahoma then I don’t think there is any doubt that the BCS Title Game will be the Longhorns and Gators. This match up should be a good one with two Heisman-worthy quarterbacks and a pair of athletic, intense defenses led by two outstanding coaching staffs.

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