Since returning from a
groin injury he suffered against Georgia in the Cowboys' season opener, Oklahoma State running back Dantrell Savage,
has been incredible. At 5-foot-9, 195 pounds, Savage is a fast, elusive runner with game-breaking ability, but has been considered a situational player. However, since his return four weeks ago against Texas Tech, Savage has shown he can be an every down back. In OSU's last four games, including his 212-yard performance this past weekend against Nebraska, Savage has carried the ball 86 times for 567 yards and two touchdowns. That's an average of 21.5 carries for
142 yards a game over that span. The senior tailback is making a name for himself and climbing up draft boards with his explosive play.
San Jose State cornerback Dwight Lowery was having a down year this
season as he entered this past weekend's game against Hawaii with only one
interception. He emerged on the scene last year -- his first season at San Jose
State -- and finished the season with nine interceptions. But against Hawaii last
Friday night, Lowery displayed his tremendous talent during a nationally televised game.
He finished with 13 tackles and an interception, which he returned for
a 24-yard touchdown. He also played a major role on special teams against the
Warriors, fielding two punts for 109 yards, including one that resulted in an 86-yard touchdown.
Lowery's resurgence against Hawaii will give him confidence as
the season moves forward and his draft stock begins to climb once again.
A big decision will be made by Missouri tight end Chase Coffman at the end of this season. Coffman, who I believe is the best tight end in the country, currently
shares the offensive load with another highly-touted tight end, senior Martin Rucker. Coffman is having an outstanding season so far with 34
receptions for 341 yards and three touchdowns. This past weekend in the Tigers' 41-31 loss to Oklahoma,
he caught 10 passes for 102 yards. Coffman has
excellent hands, strength, and athleticism. He runs crisp routes and makes plays
after the catch. The Tigers line up in a lot of two tight end sets, but when
Rucker leaves at the end of the season, the majority of Chase Daniels' throws
will be directed towards Coffman next year. Coffman may decide to enter the
draft based on his production and upside, or he may want to have a season at
Missouri where he's the go-to-guy and can post outstanding numbers. Decisions,
decisions …
Virginia defensive end Chris Long is exceptional. He's improved his pass
rushing this season and has recorded eight sacks in seven games with five
remaining. Last season, Long had just 4.5 sacks, but totaled 57 tackles, 9.5 for
a loss. He's continued his dominance against the run this season, recording 40
stops, 9.5 for a loss. He can stop the run, drop in coverage, and be a sack
artist for a team at the next level. The son of Hall of Fame DE Howie Long is a
hard working, productive, all-around defender who is a sure top-ten selection
next April.
A small-school quarterback to keep an eye on is Division 1-AA University
of San Diego standout senior Josh Johnson. At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Johnson has
excellent size and speed (4.5 forty-time) and possesses a strong, accurate arm. He's a
great athlete who can make plays on the run and keep defenses honest with his
game-breaking ability. The No. 1 ranked Toreros are 6-0 so far this season,
and Johnson has been the catalyst for their success. He's completed 75 percent
of his passes and has thrown 23 touchdowns and no interceptions. He's also
rushed for 420 yards on 38 attempts and a touchdown. In this past weekend's game
against Drake, Johnson torched the secondary as he completed 15-of-23 passes
for 305 yards and five touchdowns. He's a player who's going to post outstanding
results at the NFL Scouting Combine and who has a chance to be a first-day selection.
I wonder if Tom Zbikowski still believes going back to Notre Dame for a
fifth year was the best idea? Zbikowski didn't have as productive of a 2006
season as he did in 2005 and decided to stay in school for another year. He
finished with 79 tackles in 2006, eight more than the season before, but he went
from five interceptions to none. He dropped from averaging 14 yards per punt
return in 2005 to averaging 9 yards per return last season. He went from scoring
four touchdowns in '05 to scoring one the following year. Through seven games
this season, he has 41 tackles, one interception, and a sack. As a return man he's
averaging 10.3 yards per return and no touchdowns. Notre Dame is 1-6 this
season -- the worst start in their history -- so I'm sure this isn't the way
Zbikowski planned on finishing his collegiate career. How will his play and the
Irish's disastrous season impact Zbikowski's professional future? He's still a
hard-nosed defender with excellent skills who can impact a game defensively and
on special teams. But if he had decided to enter the draft after his junior season,
he was a likely late first- or early second-round selection. At this point, he's a
late second- to early third-round draft pick.
The success the seventh-ranked Oregon Ducks are having this season is largely
attributed to the play of quarterback Dennis Dixon. Dixon, who was a fifth-round
draft pick of the Atlanta Braves last season, spent this past summer playing
minor league baseball. He's now leading the Ducks to a potential national
championship and has been spectacular. His versatility and ability to
take over a game is reminiscent of Vince Young and the way he led Texas to a
national championship in 2006. Dixon has a quick release and outstanding speed
that enable him to elude defenders and make plays with his feet. He's an
accurate passer who has a lot of poise in the pocket and will wait until the
last minute to scramble and try to pick up yards with his feet. He's completed
over 70 percent of his passes, completing 118-of-168 for 1,525 yards, 15
touchdowns, and just two interceptions through six games. Dixon's mechanics
need some work, and that will improve with coaching at the next level. But if he
continues to develop and produce numbers as he has at the halfway point, he's a
solid second-round selection for a team looking to develop a franchise
quarterback.A member of the Pro
Football Writers of America and the Football
Writers Association of America, Chris Steuber has
provided his NFL draft analysis on the web and on the radio since 1999.
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