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 The Carolina Panthers are on the clock.
But they’re wasting no time: They took RB Jonathan Stewart of Oregon.
(5′10″, 235, 4.48) | OREGON
Strengths: Is a compactly built back with excellent body control. Shifty and quick; he runs low to the ground and has good change-of-direction skills. Shows very good initial quickness and also displays a second-gear when he gets through the line of scrimmage. Has made significant strides in terms of vision and patience as a runner throughout his career. Displays reliable hands as a receiver. Gets up the field quickly after the catch and can be a huge weapon when he catches the ball on the run in space. Has size and strength to anchor (when in position) versus blitzing linebacker in pass pro. Displays excellent potential as a kick return specialist and was one of the nation’s best when allowed to spend time in that facet of the game.
Weaknesses: Durability is a big concern. Has battled injuries throughout his career. Always seems to be nicked. Has limited experience carrying the full load. He’s compactly built and strong, but he’s not a power back. He doesn’t look to initiate contact much and he will run out of bounds instead of lowering his shoulder for extra yards on occasion. He goes down a bit too easily at times, as well. Not overly physical as a blocker. Still has room to improve in terms of awareness as a pass blocker. Will take some poor angles and doesn’t always appear to be confident in his assignment.
Overall: Even as a freshman reserve in 2005, Stewart was able to make his mark, scoring nine touchdowns on just 72 touches as a runner, receiver and kickoff returner. Despite injuries, he played 13 games in 2006 and ran for 981 yards and 10 TDs. He also had 20 receptions for 144 yards and another score. In 2007, his first season as Oregon’s feature back, Stewart established new school single-season marks in rushing yards (1,722) and all-purpose yards (2,481), leading the Pac-10 in both categories. He finished his junior season with 13 total touchdowns, adding 145 receiving yards on 22 catches. In three seasons, he averaged 28.7 yards and scored two TDs on kickoff returns. Stewart has battled durability issues throughout his career, but he also has shown toughness playing through several injuries. If he can avoid the injury bug at the next level, Stewart has a chance to emerge as one of the premier playmakers at the running back position. He is a compact runner with an outstanding combination of quickness, vision, body control and open-field burst. He also brings versatility to the table with soft hands as a receiver and an outstanding collegiate resume returning kicks. Stewart should be one of the top-three running backs selected in the 2008 NFL draft likely in the mid-to-late portion of the first round.
Scouts, Inc.:
Rick Gosselin: 17th
Mel Kiper: 21st
The numbers are all over the place because Stewart had an injury and is recovering. Presuming he’s healthy, though, this is a solid pick. He’s projected to be an awesome NFL running back.
Knowing how much Cal and Stanford like each other, this news can only be seen as a sign of the apocalypse.
BERKELEY, Calif. - California has turned to its biggest rival to find its new basketball coach, hiring former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery on Friday to replace the fired Ben Braun. Montgomery was to be officially introduced at a news conference on campus Saturday, the school said.
Montgomery, who spent 18 years with the Cardinal, has been out of coaching since August 2006 when he was let go after two seasons in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors. He has announced college games and been an assistant athletic director at Stanford while still collecting money from the final two years of his contract with Golden State.
Braun was fired last week after 12 seasons as coach when the Bears missed the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in five years. Montgomery made the tournament his final 10 years at Stanford, winning at least one game each time.
Whether Montgomery could continue that streak at Cal would depend heavily on the decision leading scorer and rebounder Ryan Anderson makes about the NBA draft. Anderson said Thursday he would test the waters by declaring, but would not sign with an agent to leave the option open of returning to school for his junior year.
I never thought it was fair to judge a college coach till he is able to bring in his own recruits.
Montgomery was successful at Stanford, including a final four appearance 10 years ago. Because of that and his over 500 career lifetime wins, I see Montgomery having a reasonable chance at doing well at Cal. I just wonder what diehard Bear fans think about having a former Stanford Cardinal in their midst. Guess it won’t matter if Cal basketball gets invited to the NCAA tournament consistently under Montgomery.
This news comes days after Stanford was eliminated from the NCAA tournament.
The Lopez twins are going pro together. Stanford sophomore Robin Lopez is joining his 7-foot brother Brook in entering the NBA draft. The brothers made their announcement to The Associated Press on Monday through their mother, Deborah Ledford.
It was expected that Brook would declare himself eligible for the NBA, but Robin was not so certain. They were prep stars in Fresno, Calif., and came to Stanford together. Now they will depart as a tandem, too.
“This has been a very difficult decision for me because I really enjoyed my two years at Stanford,” Robin Lopez said in a statement released to the AP. “I have always hoped I would have an opportunity to play in the NBA and I feel now is the right time to make that dream a reality.”
Brook Lopez, a third-team All-American and a first-team Pac-10 selection, averaged 19.3 points and 8.2 rebounds to go with 56 blocks this season. He scored the game-winning basket with 1.3 seconds left in an 82-81 victory over Marquette in the second round of the NCAA tournament to put Stanford in the regional semifinals for the first time since 2001.
Both Brook and Robin will hire agents and thus forgo their remaining two years of college eligibility, their mom said.
Since I rarely follow basketball(Pro or college) I am clueless as to the chances the Lopez brothers have of sticking in the NBA. To be honest, I would stay in college. Especially since its Stanford.
There has been a history of twins, identical and non-identical in professional sports. Hardcore golf fans will know golf Hall of Famer Curtis Strange has an identical twin brother Allen. In the NHL right now there are the identical Sedin brothers, Daniel and Henrik who play for the Vancouver Canucks. In baseball there were the Canseco brothers and the O’brien brothers.
If Robin Lopez can’t make it in the NBA, he can always caddy for Michelle Wie. SI reported recently that the two of them are dating.(Hat tip- ROK Drop)
We learn the true story about HS football player Kevin Hart.
RENO, Nev. (Feb 6) - A northern Nevada prep football player who had claimed he was duped into believing he was recruited to play at a Pac-10 school admitted Wednesday he made up the story.
Kevin Hart, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive lineman for Fernley High School, offered a broad apology in a statement he issued through the Lyon County School District. Hart said he had wanted to play football at a Division I school “more than anything.”
“When I realized that wasn’t going to happen, I made up what I wanted to be reality. I am sorry for disappointing and embarrassing my family, coaches, Fernley High School, the involved universities and reporters covering the story,” Hart said.
Lyon County sheriff’s detectives had been unable to corroborate Hart’s claims that he had been duped by a man he paid to help promote him to college football programs.
As soon as I heard not just Cal and Oregon denied recruiting Hart but other schools that had been mentioned, I had the feeling the whole thing was made up. Hart is young, but at 18 he should have known his web of lies would soon unravel.
 The Super Bowl is still more than a week away and the coaches from the other 30 teams are just barely getting involved in talent evaluation, so mock draft speculation is way premature. Especially since free agency hasn’t opened yet and what happens there will greatly impact the draft. Still, it’s a lot of fun.
While I’ll be tracking overall 2008 NFL mock drafts on a serious basis in a couple of months, I think it’ll be more enjoyable at this juncture to focus my energy on guesses about what the Dallas Cowboys might do.
The consensus, which I share, is that the team’s main needs are to get younger at wide receiver (both Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn are in their 30s and the latter may be done), better at cornerback (you need three studs in the modern NFL and the Cowboys have only one-and-a-half in Terance Newman and Anthony Henry), and deeper at running back (Julius Jones will almost certainly go in free agency and Marion Barber can’t shoulder the burden on his own). And another offensive lineman or two certainly couldn’t hurt.
By all accounts, this draft is rich in talent at running back and offensive line and decent at wide receiver and corner, so the ‘Boys should do well if the Old Jerry Jones continues to stay away and we don’t reach for Quincy Carter-type players. The Cowboys currently own the 22nd (via last year’s trade with Cleveland) and 28th picks (their own) but Jones is known for wheeling and dealing, so they could pick anywhere.
Most of the mocks I’ve seen have Dallas taking either a WR or CB with the first pick and a RB with the second. While I’d argue RB is a 2nd or 3rd round need — since we’re talking MBIII’s backup here unless he gets away in free agency — the draft is apparently so rich in RB talent that “best available athlete” trumps need.
My picks:
22. Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma: A great athlete and a scouting department that focuses especial attention on the Big 12 makes this a natural fit.
28. Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas: Jerry Jones won’t be able to resist a fellow Razorback here.
Others’ picks in the extended entry.
Rick Herrin (FWST) thinks Michigan WR Mario Manningham, Oklahoma CB Reggie Smith, and Arkansas RB Felix Jones are some very likely candidates.
Gregory Cox (FootballExpert.com):
22) Dallas (via Cleveland) – WR Limas Sweed (Texas)
The Cowboys probably thought this pick would be much higher when they traded for it last year. Even though their offense was explosive, someone to hurt opponents taking away Terrell Owens is a priority. Glenn is just about done and Crayton is merely average. Several times this year Owens was limited to under 50 yards receiving. They were 4-2 in those games, 9-0 otherwise and two of those wins were by 1 point. Sweed has the tangibles you look for and might even develop into a T.O. clone.
28) Dallas – RB Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois)
Dreams of Darren McFadden danced in the head of Jerry Jones when he traded with Cleveland last year, but since that pick wound up being so much lower than expected this is what he is left with unless he packages two selections for a trade up. Mendenhall isn’t a bad consolation prize if as expected the team parts ways with Julius Jones. I think Felix Jones (Arkansas) played his way out of the first round in the Cotton Bowl, but Steve Slaton (West Virginia) is another player to consider. Mendenhall gets the nod for having his sixth game over 170 total yards (214) against USC while his team getting thumped 49-17. He’ll replace Julius Jones.
Chris Steuber (Scout.com)
22. WR Mario Manningham, Michigan
Even though the Cowboys are picking up Terrell Owens’ roster bonus next season, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t think about the future. T.O. and Terry Glenn are in their thirties, so adding a young playmaker like Mario Manningham will give Dallas a young receiver to build around.
28. OT Sam Baker, USC
The Cowboys addressed the receiver position with their first selection, so now it’s time to give Tony Romo some more protection up front. Surprised that Sam Baker is still available, the Cowboys draft the USC All-American.
Walter Football:
22. Dallas Cowboys: DeSean Jackson, WR/PR, California
This pick is from Cleveland. I had a corner going here earlier, but with all of the top-tier guys off the board, DeSean Jackson becomes the most obvious option. With Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn nearing retirement, and Patrick Crayton doing everything in his power to knock his own team out of the playoffs, Dallas needs help at wide out.
28. Dallas Cowboys: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
Terence Newman and Anthony Henry aren’t exactly young. Newman will be 30 in September 2008, while Henry doesn’t have many productive seasons remaining in the NFL. Jacques Reeves sucks.
Reeves is fine, really, for a number 3 guy but he’s certainly not someone you’d want to be grooming for the number 1 slot. If Talib is still available at 22, let alone at 28, Dallas takes him. Most projections have him long gone by then, though.
Al Fronczak (EastCoastSports)
22. Dallas Cowboys (from Cleveland) CB Tracy Porter (Indiana)…OT will be a need if they aren’t able to re-sign OT Flozell Adams and their WR’s are getting up there in age…but CB is also a need and Porter’s stock is rising.
28. Dallas Cowboys - HB Felix Jones (Arkansas)…The Cowboys could move down and out of this pick, but if they stay put they will choose between a HB, a WR or an OT…Jones would be a good compliment to Marion Barber.
Jones is a name we’re seeing a lot.
Ricky Dimon (FF Toolbox)
22. Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona
The Jacksonville defense was solid in the regular season, but only ordinary in defending the pass. Cason enjoyed a strong senior campaign at Arizona and he is the most experienced cornerback on the board. The Jaguars are close to becoming an elite team, so you can bet they want instant impact. [No, this doesn't make any sense. But he's got him listed under Dallas -- and he's a name I've heard here from other sources.]
28. Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
Kelly has elite size (6-4, 215 pounds) and he enjoyed another strong season for the Big 12 Champion Oklahoma Sooners. Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens are only getting older for the Cowboys.
I’d love me a tall WR here.
NFL Draft Dog
22. CB, Reggie Smith, Oklahoma From Cleveland: Smith is a great fit here because at 6′ 1″ 202 pounds he has the size and talent to play corner or safety. I like him as a replacement for the struggling Roy Williams.
28. WR, DeSean Jackson, California An explosive returner/receiver. He is raw as a receiver, but is a game breaker as a returner. Didn’t dominate last year and at 5′ 11″ 168 pounds has a small frame.
Well, Roy Williams isn’t going anywhere with his contract. And a small WR that didn’t even dominate in the PAC-10? No thanks.
Draft.com
22 Dal (Clev) Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma Jr.
28 Dal Aqib Talib CB Kansas Jr.
A sweet outcome if it happens, addressing both the team’s main needs and still getting great players. I don’t see Talib falling to Dallas, though, let alone at the 28th spot.
Scott Wright (NFL Draft Countdown):
22. LEODIS MCKELVIN, CB, Troy
After having so much luck with DeMarcus Ware why not go back to the same Troy program for some help at cornerback? Anyone who watched the Cowboys this year saw Jacques Reeves get picked on early and often so at the very least Dallas needs an upgrade in the nickel and if Anthony Henry ever makes his long-anticipated move to safety corner just becomes that much more of a glaring need. You might not know a lot about Leodis McKelvin just yet but you will soon because not only does he have prototypical size (5-11, 190) and speed (4.45) but he’s also an excellent return man.
28. FELIX JONES, RB, Arkansas
With their second #1 pick the Cowboys could feel like they are playing with house money to a degree and while everyone assumes that Arkansas alumnus Jerry Jones wants Darren McFadden he might have to settle for another Hog running back. Julius Jones is an unrestricted free agent who is not expected back and Felix Jones would be a perfect replacement, providing some lightning to Marion Barber’s thunder. Felix was also an All-American kick returner in college so that would be an added bonus. Wideout could be another possibility here since Terry Glenn has been wearing down.
Draft King:
Dallas Cowboys (from Cleveland) - Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma °
Terrell Owens is 34, and he is entering the final year of his contract with the Cowboys. Compound that with the fact that Terry Glenn turns 34 in July, and it would seem that WR should be a top priority for Dallas.
Going first round for a wideout has not been Dallas’ style in recent years, but with a talented player like Kelly available, the team may opt to go that route this year. At 6′4″ 220, Kelly has prototype size, and while his 4.55 speed isn’t world beater, he has the ability to gain separation just by leaping. With a year to work slowly into the system, Kelly could be primed to take over a starting slot in 2009.
28. Dallas Cowboys - Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas °
Jones has been overlooked by many due to the presence of Darren McFadden, but he will earn plenty of attention during the weeks leading up to the draft. He would be a particularly nice fit for the Cowboys, who are likely going to lose Julius Jones to free agency but have Marion Barber, III as a restricted free agent they can very likely keep.
While Barber is a bruiser, Jones would be a great contrast, given that he’s 6′0″, 200 pounds, and he runs a sub-4.4 40. Felix Jones has feature back ability, and he would be a great pickup by the Cowboys.
Consensus Draft:
#22 Aqib Talib (CB, Kansas)
This picks goes to the Cowboys from the Browns. Jaquez Reeves struggled all year, so there is a need for some depth at CB. Aqib Talib had his national coming-out party in the Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech, and has begun to sky-rocket up draft boards. Talib is one of the top cover-men in the nation and has NFL skills, as he accounted for 4 interceptions during the season, returning one for a touchdown. Talib also played some snaps at WR, and scored four touchdowns on only eight catches. A playmaker, Talib could develop into a starting CB at the next level, and will immensely help his stock if he runs well at his pro day.
#28 Jonathan Stewart (HB, Oregon)
With Julius Jones and Marion Barber both becoming free agents, it’s likely that the Cowboys will lose at least one of their horses in a successful two-back system. Barber is the one they’ll likely try harder to keep, and if they lose Jones, look for them to add a solid second back to split carries with MB3, as he’s been fabulous in a two-back system. Jonathan Stewart of Oregon is a probable first round pick, as he’s been a huge factor in the Pac-10 for the Ducks. Great size, speed, and kick-return ability helped Stewart become a recognized star, as he racked up 1469 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground this season.
More to follow, along with updates, in this space over the next few weeks.
__________________
See Hail Redskins for a roundup of other mock drafts, with a special emphasis on the Cowboys’ longtime arch rival.
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The school gave him a contract extension three years ago. From AP-
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State fired basketball coach Jay John, whose team is 6-12 this season and winless in the Pac-10. Attendance is reaching record lows at Gill Coliseum and the school has had only one winning season since 1989-90.
Assistant Kevin Mouton will temporarily run the team after the rare midseason coaching change, which was announced Sunday night by athletic director Bob De Carolis. De Carolis did not rule out Mouton as a permanent replacement.
John, in his sixth season, received a five-year contract extension in 2005. Oregon State owes him about $1.1 million.
*****
John did not have a chance to meet with the team Sunday night. He had a record of 72-97 and a conference mark of 26-68, including 0-6 this season. The Beavers, however, showed some grit in nearly upsetting Washington on Saturday.
You have to wonder about the people in charge of OSU’s sports programs. They give a coach with limited results a contract extension, then fire him in mid-season for not turning around a perennial loser. Paying someone not to coach your team seems like a waste of money to me.
 Rick Neuheisel has been hired as UCLA’s head football coach.
Rick Neuheisel is coming back to UCLA — this time as head coach. Neuheisel, who quarterbacked the Bruins to victory in the 1984 Rose Bowl and later served as an assistant under Terry Donahue, was hired Saturday as his alma mater’s 16th coach.
The 46-year-old Neuheisel succeeds Karl Dorrell, who was fired Dec. 3 after five seasons on the job.
“Rick has enjoyed great success throughout his career and we believe he is the coach who can take our program to the next level,” athletic director Dan Guerrero said. “His teams at Colorado and Washington continually challenged for conference championships and national rankings, and that is what we are looking to do at UCLA.”
Neuheisel spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, who finish the season Sunday against Pittsburgh. He served as quarterbacks coach in 2005-06, and was promoted to offensive coordinator last January.
He had a 66-30 record as a head coach at Colorado from 1995-98 and Washington from 1999-2002. He hasn’t been in the college game since Washington fired him in 2003 for participating in a betting pool on the NCAA basketball tournament. He sued for wrongful termination from Washington and settled in March 2005 with UW and the NCAA for $4.5 million.
A great hire. He’s had some problems, to be sure, but he’s a superb college coach. And I suspect he’ll be less anxious to leave UCLA, not only his alma mater but a storied program in a great city, than his previous stops.
He has been on leave since early November. From AP-
TUCSON, Ariz. - Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson said Thursday night he would extend his leave of absence through the end of this season, citing undisclosed family matters that require his attention.
In a statement released by the university, the 73-year-old Hall of Famer said he plans to return to coach the Wildcats for the 2008-09 season.
“There are personal issues within my family that need to be addressed and I must devote my full energy to that,” Olson said in the statement.
Athletic director Jim Livengood said assistant coach Kevin O’Neill will continue to serve as interim coach for the rest of this season. The 22nd-ranked Wildcats (5-2) are at Illinois on Sunday.
I hope whatever the cause of Olson’s leave isn’t too serious. God bless.
Dennis Dixon will have surgery on the left knee that buckled early in second-ranked Oregon’s upset loss to Arizona, spoiling his chance to win the Heisman Trophy. The quarterback tore his anterior cruciate ligament during Oregon’s Nov. 3 victory over Arizona State, according to coach Mike Bellotti, but he had rested it and felt as if he was ready to play Thursday night against the Wildcats.
Now Dixon will miss the rest of this season.
*****
The versatile Dixon was one of the front-runners for the Heisman after he put the Ducks in line for the national title. Oregon had started the season unranked, and was picked to finish sixth in the Pacific-10 Conference.
Drawing comparisons to Vince Young, Dixon completed 67.7 percent of his passes for 2,136 yards, 20 touchdowns and four interceptions. The senior from San Leandro, Calif., also ran for 583 yards and nine scores.
Thursday night’s 34-24 loss to the unranked Wildcats knocked the Ducks (8-2, 5-2) out of the national title picture. Oregon was ranked behind LSU and ahead of Oklahoma and undefeated Kansas.
Dixon’s left knee crumbled as he tried to plant on an option carry with about 5 minutes to go in the first quarter against Arizona (5-6, 4-4).
Why should Dixon’s knee injury take him out of contention for the Heisman? It would seem rather silly if it did, for I’d be judging his credentials for the Heisman based on his play for the year, before he got hurt. That’s the way it should be.
The coach of 1997 NCAA Champs issued a statement today.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona coach Lute Olson is taking a leave of absence for unspecified personal reasons.
In a statement issued by his public relations firm on Sunday, the 73-year-old Hall of Famer said the matter was not health related.
*****
Olson said he wanted to “reassure everyone that this isn’t a health scare, but rather a personal matter that needs my undivided attention.”
The specific reason was not given.
“I want to thank everyone in advance for their support and prayers and request that the media respect my family’s privacy during this time,” he said.
Assistant coach Kevin O’Neill will assume Olson’s duties in his absence.
*****
Olson has a 780-280 record in 34 seasons as a major college coach. In 24 years at Arizona, he is 589-187 with 23 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. His Wildcats have won 11 Pac-10 championships, reached the Final Four four times and won the 1997 NCAA title.
If I were to take a guess, it is that Coash Olson or a close family of his(wife, child, grandchild) has a serious medical issue. No matter what the reason, I wish the coach well and look forward to his return.
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