NFL Draft 2008 – Round 1 #11 – Buffalo Bills – Leodis McKelvin

The Buffalo Bills are on the clock and they’ve obviously got quite a few needs.

They’re not wasting much time. They take Leodis McKelvin of Troy, the consensus best corner in the draft.

Scouts, Inc.: 9th

Strengths: Is a fluid, smooth and explosive athlete. Displays very quick feet and leverage in-and-out of pedal. Shows good technique and footwork in coverage. Explodes out of his pedal and typically gets a very good jump on the ball. He displays outstanding quick-twitch athleticism and change-of-direction skills. Can keep with quicker WR’s on double moves and also shows the hip-fluidity and closing burst to turn and run with faster receivers on vertical routes. Is one of the elite PR prospects in the 2008 class. One of his three touchdown returns in 2007 came versus Big 12 opponent Oklahoma State. The 74-yard scamper (14:10 remaining in the 2nd quarter) shows the type of vision and breakaway speed he possesses.

Weaknesses: Is a finesse cover corner. Does not like to support the run and will avoid contact if at all possible. Plays a lot of man-off coverage and needs to improve his ability to press WR’s at the line of scrimmage. Bigger WR’s usually can dictate their routes. Despite outstanding experience in the return game, he displays marginal ball skills. He knocks down too many passes he should pick off. Fights the ball too much as a PR, as well. Really needs to improve his hands in order to reach full potential on defense and in the return game in the NFL.

Overall: McKelvin arrived at Troy in 2004 and immediately contributed as a kick return specialist and reserve cornerback. He didn’t start in his first two seasons (2004-’05), but he played 23 games and had 47 tackles (including one sack), six pass breakups and an interception (which he returned 71 yards for a touchdown). Over his final two seasons (2006-’07), he started all 25 games at left cornerback for the Trojans, recording 126 tackles (3.5 for losses), five forced fumbles, three interceptions and 16 pass breakups. For his career, McKelvin also had 112 punt returns for 1,471 yards (13.1 average) and seven TDs, plus 99 kickoff returns for 2,346 yards (23.7 average) and another score. He suffered a left shoulder sprain during the offseason in 2005 and underwent surgery for a right ankle fracture in 2006, but he missed no games as a result of the injuries. McKelvin is still a work in progress at cornerback and he will never be an overly physical defender. In addition, he needs to improve his ball skills in order to maximize his enormous potential as a playmaker with the ball in his hand. However, McKelvin is one of the fastest and most fluid cornerbacks in the 2008 class. He’s also the second-most dangerous punt return specialist behind Cal’s DeSean Jackson, which should propel him into the top half of the first round.

Rick Gosselin: 11th

Mel Kiper: 19th

Once again, Kiper is the outlier. This looks like a solid pick to me.

NFL Draft 2008 – Round 1 #10 – New England Patriots – LB Jarod Mayo

The Patriots took Tennessee LB Jarod Mayo with the 10th pick in the draft.

Scouts, Inc.: 16th

Strengths: Possesses an outstanding combination of size, speed and athleticism. Keeps head up and locates the ball quickly. Reaches top speed quickly, aggressive and makes plays in the backfield. Moves well laterally and generally does a nice job of scraping down the line of scrimmage. Has above-average range, plays with a good motor and makes plays in pursuit. Plays fast and really closes in on ball carriers in a hurry. While he lacks brute strength, he does display explosive short-area power and will strike ball carriers  even from nearly a standstill position. Plays with a mean streak. Gets good depth, shows good awareness of routes once he reads pass and covers a lot of ground when asked to drop into zone coverage. Displays fluid hips, changes directions well and shows good burst coming out of cuts when asked to match up in man coverage. Has adequate ball skills and flashes the ability to make plays in coverage. Plays with a good motor and has the potential to develop into a valuable special teams’ contributor.

Weaknesses: Needs to improve his lower-body strength. He has jarring initial power but lacks the brute strength/wide base to anchor. Gets sucked up inside at times and is not a great phone booth player. At his best when he’s protected. Doesn’t use hands all that well and takes too long to shed blocks when offensive linemen are able to lock onto him. Doesn’t always take sound pursuit angles and gets caught out of position at times. Will get caught lunging too much and still misses too many open-field tackles. Still has room to improve in terms of recognition skills in coverage. Gets turned around a little too much when asked to match up in man coverage and needs to improve footwork. Can be overaggressive, occasionally bites on play action and lacks the second gear when gets caught out of pursuit. Only effective as a pass rusher when he gets a clean lane to the QB. Gets caught up in traffic and really struggles to get off of blocks once reached. Missed five games with a knee injury in 2005 and durability is a concern.

Overall: Tennessee red-shirted Mayo in 2004. He started one of the six games he appeared in during the 2005 season. Mayo started 11 of the 12 games he appeared in during the 2006 season finishing with 83 total tackles, 53 unassisted tackles, 12.5 tackles-for-loss, five sacks and one fumble recovery. He played in all 14 games of the 2007 season finishing with a team-leading 140 total tackles, 79 unassisted tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one interception. Mayo has experience playing inside and outside linebacker at Tennessee. While he showed NFL potential in both spots, he seems like a more natural fit on the weak-side where he will get more protection. Mayo is far from a finished product. He is blessed with an outstanding combination of size, speed and athletic ability, which was on display at the combine. But in order to become a good starting linebacker in the NFL, he needs to be more consistent as an open-field tackler and learn to take on blocks more effectively. Mayo has too much potential to last long in Round 2  and that’s if he doesn’t sneak into the bottom of the first round.

Rick Gosselin: 19th

Mel Kiper: 17th

This looks like a reach but, since they’re the Pats, the on air gang at ESPN is praising them for their shrewd pick. Even Kiper, who had this guy as a mid-1st rounder.

NFL Draft 2008 – Round 1 #9 – Cincinnati Bengals – LB Keith Rivers

The Bengals are on the clock and somebody is talking to USC linebacker Keith Rivers on the phone. He’s the best LB on the board and this move makes sense.

They did it: Rivers is a Bengal.

Scouts, Inc.: 8th

Strengths: Possesses outstanding size; is well built for his taller frame. Also has long arms (33), huge hands (11) and a strong upper body (24 reps). Not an elite athlete, but he does have good speed and athleticism for his size. Makes up for what he lack in terms of elite athleticism with great recognition skills. He is smart, tough and instinctive. Shows very good awareness. Rarely takes false steps. Is a striker as a tackler. Will make some big hits due to his short area explosiveness. Uses hands well to keep off of blocks. He refuses to stay blocked. Takes excellent angles in pursuit. Displays good range in zone coverage. Also is an underrated pass rusher. Has developed a better array of pass rush moves, hugs the rail as he turns the corner as an outside rusher and displays surprising closing burst to the QB. Knows how to jar the ball loose and generates more than his share of forced fumbles. Plays with a very good motor and will wear blockers down. Never gives up on a play and will show tremendous effort when pursuing from the backside. He’s always flying around the field. Leads by example.

Weaknesses: Plays too high at times and loses his power when he does. Does a great job of sifting through traffic but needs to learn to anchor better when he’s forced to take on blocks in the phone booth. Shows a bit of stiffness in his hips. Will struggle to keep with elite pass-catching RB’s in the NFL on double moves and when forced to turn and run. Not an established playmaker in coverage. Good range in coverage but lacks ideal ball skills. Durability is a minor concern.

Overall: Rivers appeared in 37 games in his first three seasons at USC (2004-’06), recording 162 tackles (13.5 for losses), 5.5 sacks and two interceptions. As a senior in 2007, he played 12 games (11 starts) at weak-side linebacker, turning in 78 tackles (five for losses), three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and four pass breakups. He missed a game (Arizona State) in 2007 after spraining his left ankle, which had required arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs earlier in the spring. He also missed two games in 2005 and was limited in others because of a hamstring strain. Rivers possesses very good  but not exceptional  overall physical tools. His outstanding combination of instincts, work ethic and experience is what separates him from other linebackers with similar skill sets. While he is the top rated linebacker on our 2008 board, Rivers is a notch below elite talents such as A.J. Hawk (Packers) and Patrick Willis (49ers) from recent NFL drafts. Some teams could consider him at inside linebacker but Rivers seems best suited to play the WILL in a 4-3 scheme. He should be selected in the middle portion of the first round.

Rick Gosselin:7th

Mel Kiper: 16th

Kiper is the outlier here. It certainly looks like a good value.

NFL Draft 2008 – Round 1 #8 – Jacksonville Jaguars – DE Derrick Harvey (via Baltimore Ravens)

The Jacksonville Jaguars moved up from the 26th spot via a trade with the Baltimore Ravens almost the instant that the last pick was made. For whatever reason, though, they’re taking their sweet time making a pick. Are they trying to trade down?

The Jags take Florida DE Derrick Harvey, which everyone seems to think is a huge reach.

Scouts, Inc.: 11th

Strengths: Is tall and well built with very long arms (35.4 inches) and big hands (9.3 inches). Has a quick first step for his size and can beat most blocker to the point of attack. He hugs the rail tightly as a pass rusher and wastes very little motion getting to the quarterback. Runs line stunts well and flashes an effective rip move when shoots inside. Changes directions well, flashes an effective spin move and can set tackles up to the outside before redirecting inside. Has a mean streak and flashes the ability to deliver the big hit when gets to the quarterback. Keeps head up, times jumps well and can get hands on passes when doesn’t get to the quarterback. Shows good awareness and locates the ball quickly. Moves well laterally and does a nice job of scraping down the line of scrimmage. Stays home when plays goes away from him and generally does a nice job of setting the edge when opponents attack the perimeter to his side. Takes sound pursuit angles, closes down cutback lanes and has sideline-to-sideline range. Plays under control in space, wraps up upon contact and is a reliable open field tackler. While doesn’t have much experience dropping into coverage, is quick and athletic enough to hold own in zone coverage once he gains experience in this area.

Weaknesses: Is quicker than fast. Shows good initial burst but lacks elite closing quickness as a pass rusher. Though tough, he lacks ideal lower body strength, doesn’t always stay low to the ground and struggles to anchor when teams run at him. Can deliver a power punch at times but doesn’t always use hands well and takes too long to long to shed blocks when gets reached. Relies on quickness too much and occasionally tries to sidestep blocks rather than stacking them up. Doesn’t protect legs all that well and is vulnerable to cut blocks. Appears to pull up when blockers are able to get into position and effort is inconsistent.

Overall: Florida red-shirted Harvey in 2004 and he appeared in nine games of the 2005 season. Harvey stated all 14 games of the 2006 season and recorded 11 sacks that year. He started all 13 games of the 2007 season recording 32 total tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 quarterback sacks and three quarterback-hurries. Harvey lacks ideal top-end speed and he also needs to improve his lower-body strength in order to take on bigger NFL blockers in the run game. While he is not quite as explosive as former Gator line-mate Jarvis Moss (Broncos), Harvey is a more complete player at this point. He possesses very good initial burst and athletic ability for his size. We think Harvey can develop into a good every-down starter in a 4-3 scheme at the next level, which is why we give him a slightly higher grade than the one we gave a year ago to Moss, who was selected 17th overall.

Rick Gosselin:13th

Mel Kiper: 23rd

A battle-tested SEC veteran with that quick twitch you look for in a pass-rusher. Harvey started slowly in 2007, but came on in the latter half of the season, finishing with 8½ sacks and 17 tackles for loss.

It’ll depend somewhat on what the Jags gave away to move up but it does seem that they moved up too high for Harvey. Then again, there’s been a run on defensive linemen and they must have felt it worth the cost.

NFL Draft 2008 – Round 1 #7 – New Orleans Saints – DT Sedrick Ellis (via New England via 49ers)

The New England Patriots have the 7th pick in the draft, despite being a few minutes shy of an undefeated season, owing to a draft day trade last year. They don’t have any obvious holes. Do they trade down? Or take the best available player?

With about 2 minutes left on the clock, they trade the pick to the New Orleans Saints

The Saints pick Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC.

Scouts, Inc.: 6th

Strengths: A disruptive, penetrating interior defensive lineman. At his best in a one-gap scheme but has some versatility due to experience as a nose tackle and three-technique. He is extremely disruptive versus the run. Displays outstanding initial burst and wins most of his battles with first-step quickness. Shows outstanding body control and stays on his feet. Uses long arms to keep separation and does an excellent job of disengaging from blocks and keeping on the move. Exceptional technique; uses his hands effectively and his feet never stop moving. Recognition skills are very good and he’s athletic enough to change directions and pursue once he penetrates the backfield. He consistently generates pressure as a pass rusher. Shows upper-echelon closing burst for his position and also does a good job of batting down passes once he realizes he’s not getting to the QB. Plays with a great motor and works very hard on and off the field. Never gives up on a play and his effort is infectious.

Weaknesses: Undersized; lacks ideal height. Not an ideal fit for two-gap schemes. Durability has been of an issue; redshirted in 2003 due to injury that required surgery and missed three games in 2006 (Nebraska, Arizona and Washington State) due to right knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery.

Overall: Ellis arrived at USC in 2003 but took a medical redshirt year after suffering a midseason left ankle fracture that required surgery. In his first three active seasons (2004-’06), he appeared in 34 games and made 86 tackles (16 for losses) and nine sacks. As a senior in 2007, he started all 13 games at nose guard and collected 58 tackles (12.5 for losses), 8.5 sacks and seven pass breakups on his way to first team All-America honors. Ellis missed three games in ’06 after tearing cartilage in his right knee, which required arthroscopic surgery. He also had fluid drained from the knee in ’07 and missed several practices but no games. Ellis did not time out well at the combine but he is a great football player, nonetheless. He has bulked up to 309 pounds and can play NT and/or DT at the next level. Thanks to an outstanding combination of quickness, power, technique and effort, Ellis proved in college to be nearly unblockable one-on-one  even versus top talent at the Senior Bowl. Ellis will be valued as a top-10 pick by teams in search of a playmaking one-gap interior lineman.

Rick Gosselin: 5th

Mel Kiper: 6th

Tampa Bay Bucs-style DT with superior quickness and a nonstop motor.

NFL Draft 2008 – Round 1 #6 – New York Jets – DE Vernon Gholston

The New York Jets are on the clock. They’ve got a lot of needs and plenty of great choices on the board. Ohio State DE Vernon Gholston would seem the obvious choice here, especially given the renewed emphasis on speed rushers after the Giants’ Super Bowl win.

Five picks in 40 minutes is a refreshing change from last year. Harder to live blog, but better to watch.

Gholston it is, at the 45 minute mark.

Scouts, Inc.: 15th

Strengths: Has the physical tools to develop into an every-down impact defender in the NFL. Possesses adequate height and bulk, but few prospects have a better physique. Very little body fat. Powerfully built with explosive strength for his size. Displays very good initial burst  not elite level of Dwight Freeney (Colts), but only a notch below. Uses a wide array of pass rush moves. Can beat OT’s with speed, power and fluid double moves. He’s the only defender in past two years (from what we saw on film) to give Michigan OT Jake Long problems. He is strong enough to take on some blockers and anchor versus the run. Plays with good discipline. Seals off the end versus the run and will take on bigger blockers when asked to. He does an adequate job of protecting his legs as he works across the line on runs away from him. Hard worker off-the-field and obviously puts in more than fair share of time in the weight room.

Weaknesses: Flashes upper-echelon skills but he’s not consistent enough. Is strong but lacks ideal height/bulk to consistently anchor at the line versus bigger blockers. Would need to add some bulk in order to hold up as a fulltime end in a four-man front in the NFL. Still raw dropping into coverage and will need time to develop that aspect of his game  assuming he’s used to some degree as a hybrid end-linebacker type. Played in a heavy rotation at Ohio State, which kept him fresh  a luxury he is not likely to have as a high picks in the NFL.

Overall: Gholston played sparingly in six games as a freshman in 2004 and was redshirted in 2005 after breaking his hand in the season opener. He emerged as a force a year later and didn’t miss a start in his last two seasons. In 2006, he finished with 8.5 sacks, 49 tackles and an interception. Last year Gholston set single-season (14) and single-game (four) school sack records on his way to being named a second-team All-America selection. He returned a fumble for a touchdown and posted 15.5 tackles for loss (for a career total of 30.5). It can get frustrating studying Gholston on film because he’s inconsistent. There are times when he is flat-out dominant and there are other times that he will disappear. However, most of his best performances came in the Buckeyes’ biggest games (notched four combined sacks in last two outings versus rival Michigan). Gholston has the potential to play wide-end in a four-man front and/or rush-linebacker in a 3-4 alignment. He is one of the top pass rushers in this year’s class and his combine performance only verified his explosiveness in that regards. As a result, Gholston is a likely top-10 selection in the 2008 draft.

Rick Gosselin: 8th

Mel Kiper: 7th

He took his play to a new level in 2007, showcasing the explosiveness to overpower offensive tackles at the point of attack. Gholston also has excellent closing speed, as evidenced by the 14 sacks he registered. He also has the versatility to play with his hand off the ground.

We’ve already reached the point in the draft, it seems, where there’s wide disparity in how teams evaluate players. Gholston is not the 6th best value in the draft, according to consensus, which would seem an indication that the Jets Jets Jets picked for need, need, need.

NFL Draft 2008 – Round 1 #5 – Kansas City Chiefs – DT Glenn Dorsey

Well, the Chiefs need a quarterback. But there’s nobody here worth taking at this pick. Do they trade down? Or go ahead and grab one of the two stud defensive linemen available? Or the next best offensive tackle? Decisions, decisions. . .

Glenn Dorsey, considered by many the best player in this draft class, is on the phone with somebody. Certainly, it would be a safe pick for the Chiefs. ESPN is reporting that the Saints are vying for a trade here.

The Chiefs pulled the trigger on Dorsey. That’s a great move unless the Saints were offering something ridiculous.

Scouts, Inc.: 2nd

(6’1″, 297, 5.099)

Strengths: A squatty defensive tackle prospect with a thick build and very good quickness. Anticipates the snap well, explodes out of his stance and generally will win one-on-one battles with his initial burst. He plays with a non-stop motor. Stays active, using swim and rip moves to get off of blocks when necessary. Displays good upper-body power and the ability to knock linemen back on their heels with initial pop. Does a fine job of locating the ball once he’s in the backfield and flashes good change-of-direction skills for his position. A powerful tackler when he can line up a hit. Also does a better job of taking on blocks in the run game than he gets credit for. He can be washed out by some bigger OL, but generally does a good job of staying low and holding his ground when asked to.

Weaknesses: Durability has become a major question mark in wake of combine medical examination (stress fracture in right tibia from 06). Is short and lacks ideal base to anchor versus bigger interior OL when teams run at him.

Overall: Dorsey appeared in 38 games (17 starts) in his first three seasons at LSU (2004-’06), recording 110 tackles (14.5 for losses) and six sacks. He started all 14 games as a senior last season (at left and right defensive tackle), finishing the season with 69 tackles (12.5 for losses), seven sacks, a forced fumble and four pass breakups. Dorsey was hobbled by a sore hamstring, a sore back and a right knee sprain (which required a bulky brace) in 2007, but he still played well enough to earn a first team All-America selection, the Nagurski Award, Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy, Lott Award and SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors. In 2006, he played much of the season despite a stress fracture in his right leg. He also suffered an ankle sprain and missed three games as a high school senior in 2003. Dorsey is a shorter, squatty, powerful and active defensive tackle with outstanding initial quickness and change-of-direction skills for his size. He fits best in a one-gap scheme, which allows him to penetrate and disrupt. However, he also shows some ability to stack at the line of scrimmage versus the run. While his sack production is not great, he generates lots of pressure despite always working against at least a double team  and that attention helps free up others for sacks. On talent alone, Dorsey is the top DT prospect in this class and belongs in the top-five picks. If he slips out of the top-five, it’s due to growing concerns regarding his long-term durability as a result of the stress fracture in his right tibia.

Rick Gosselin: #1

Mel Kiper #1

Disruptive force along the interior. If there is one nonskill position player fans should watch, it’s Dorsey. He always makes plays or opens up space for his teammates.

NFL Draft 2008 – Round 1 #4 – Oakland Raiders – RB Darren McFadden

The Oakland Raiders have been widely predicted to be targeting Darren McFadden, the superstar running back out of Arkansas. But can they pass up on Glenn Dorsey? Or trading down for more picks?

McFadden it is! As a Cowboys fan, I’m happy: This will end the crazy speculation about Jerry Jones trading up to spend too much for a guy we don’t need.

So far, this draft is zipping along. Last year, it seemed everyone was taking every bit of their 15 minutes. Now, with 10 minutes as the limit, most aren’t needing it all.

Scouts, Inc.: 3rd

Strengths: Phenomenal athlete. Possesses good height and adequate bulk (better upper-body than lower-body). Rare burst for his size; no play better illustrates that second-gear better than his 73-yard touchdown run in the third quarter versus LSU. He runs with good vision and great patience but explodes through the line of scrimmage once he finds the crease. Very few NFL runners possess his type of second-gear to bounce runs outside and to run away from defenders in the open field. Very fluid in space and can change directions without losing much momentum at all. He can be a powerful runner with a full head of steam. Exceptional stiff arm. Very strong upper body. Keeps his legs pumping in traffic and will break many attempted arm tackles. Displays outstanding balance. Will gain lots of yards after contact simply because he bounces off the tackler and regains his balance instead of going down. Lacks ideal experience as a receiver but is fluid enough to adjust to poorly thrown ball and displays very soft hands for a RB. Can also be an occasional passing threat in the NFL, as seen in his dual-threat role as the signal caller in the Razorbacks’ Wild Hog formation.

Weaknesses: He runs a bit high and his lower-body is a bit lean. Has never been forced to carry a full 25-30 carry throughout a full season in college. Had carried the ball more than 30 times in just five games during his three seasons at Arkansas. Ran out of gas late in Alabama game (2007). Lacks ideal experience as a receiver. Needs some polishing as a route runner. Also could be more aggressive as blocker; must learn to attack with better leverage. Character must also be studied. Is there more to the minor off-the-field incidents than we are led to believe?

Overall: McFadden shattered the Arkansas’ freshman rushing record with 1,113 yards and 11 touchdowns on 176 carries. He played a versatile role throughout his three seasons with the Razorbacks prior to declaring early for the 2008 NFL draft. During that three-season span, McFadden rushed for 4,590 yards and 41 scores on 785 carries, caught 46 passes for 365 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw seven touchdown passes and returned a kickoff for a score. Involved in a fight outside of a Little Rock club in August of 2005. Was investigated for an illegal vehicle during the 2007 season but was cleared of all accusations. Was handcuffed but not arrested on January 10, 2008 for his role an altercation at a Little Rock bar. McFadden possesses rare physical tools. In fact, it’s safe to say he’s the most talented athlete in the 2008 class. He is a homerun hitter as a runner with the size of an every-down back. He displays soft hands as a receiver and outstanding open-field running skills as a receiver and return man, and he also is capable of occasionally burning an overloaded defense with the halfback option pass. There are only two questions regarding McFadden that NFL teams must consider at the top of the board: does he possess the lower-body/durability to carry a full load at the next level, and are his few minor off-the-field incidents forewarning of character issues to come? As long as a team is comfortable with the answers to both of those questions McFadden is worth of any selection in this year’s draft.

Rick Gosselin: 2nd

Mel Kiper: 2nd

The reasons for his dynamic performances throughout his career are excellent vision, very good balance, game-breaking speed and a passion for the game.

NFL Draft 2008 – Round 1 #3 – Atlanta Falcons – QB Matt Ryan

The Atlanta Falcons have selected Boston College QB Matt Ryan, finally moving past the Michael Vick era.

Scouts, Inc.: 5th

Strengths: Absolutely looks the part of an NFL quarterback. Is tall enough to scan the entire field from within the pocket and is sturdy enough to withstand the pounding at the next level. Is extremely intelligent and has a tremendous work ethic. Picked up new scheme as a senior very quickly. Displays excellent footwork and delivery. Shows good touch and timing as a passer. takes something off underneath passes and can lead receiver when throwing underneath. Overall accuracy is good and shows the ability to throw accurately on the run. Puts good touch on downfield passes and flashes the ability to drop the ball in over coverage. Displays very good presence in the pocket and is capable of avoiding the rush with his quick thinking and feet. Possesses ideal intangibles. Shows great poise, is a leader on-and-off the field and wants the ball in hands late in games.

Weaknesses: He will force some throws when the protection breaks down. Field vision is a bit inconsistent still. He has failed to find the open receiver a few too many times as a senior. Isn’t going to make defenders miss, doesn’t have great top-end speed and isn’t a dangerous open field runner that can consistently pick up yards with feet. He has eased concerns regarding durability but it’s still a minor issue; he sustained a high-ankle spring during the 2006 season opener, broke bone in left foot during 2006 Virginia Tech game and underwent foot surgery in January, 2007.

Overall: Ryan was redshirted for the 2003 season. In his four-year college career (2004-07), Ryan played in 45 games (32 starts), completing 807 passes on 1,347 attempts (59.9 percent) for 9,313 yards, 56 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. As a senior, he attracted attention as a Heisman Trophy candidate and finished the season ranked ninth in the nation in total offense (4,509 yards). Ryan missed one game in 2006 (Buffalo) after breaking a bone in his left foot.As expected, Ryan thrived in a more wide open system as a senior. He also proved to be more mobile and accurate than in 2006, when he was clearly bothered by a broken bone in his left foot. While he will never be a running threat, Ryan displays the feet and pocket presence to buy second-chance passing opportunities. He will still occasionally miss an open receiver and he also is forcing more throws as a senior, but part of that can be attributed to him being asked to shoulder the offense due to a sputtering running attack. Regardless, Ryan has the best combination of intelligence, leadership, size, accuracy, arm strength and competitiveness in this year’s quarterback class. Hence, Ryan earns our highest grade at the position and one of the highest grades in the entire 2008 class.

Rick Gosselin: 6th

Mel Kiper had him ranked 3rd: “He has the size and arm to wow the NFL brass during testing.”