With Drew Stanton of Michigan State
dropping down draft boards, Troy Smith of Ohio State has been moving in
the opposite direction. On pace for his best season yet, the athletic
Buckeye passer is completing 68% of his throws and averaging well over 200-yards
through the air every game. Most impressive has been Smith's decision
making as he has reduced his errant tosses. Evidence of this is Smith's
touchdown-to-interception ration of 17-to-2 this season.
Another Buckeye moving up draft boards is
defensive lineman Quinn Pitcock. A force last week in Ohio State's
manhandling of Michigan State, Pitcock totaled four tackles while also
registering a pair of sacks and two more tackles for loss. The versatility
to be used as a tackle in a conventional alignment of as a two-gap lineman only
adds to his allure.
Anthony Spencer of
Purdue is another Big Ten defender making a huge charge up draft boards.
Coming into the season with a late round grade Spencer presently leads the Big
Ten in tackle for loss and sacks.
Kenny Irons of
Auburn scored points with scouts after showing a lot of toughness this
weekend. Even after hurting his ankle in the second quarter Irons was a
big contributor in Auburn's upset victory over the second ranked Florida
Gators.
The 2006 center class is looking as though it
will offer a lot of quality up top. With an offensive averaging almost
36-points a game, Oregon is one of the nation's most prolific. It all
starts up front with the line and it's leader, Enoka Lucas. A
dominator in the middle, Lucas has taken his play to another level and improved
his draft stock this year.
On of college football's top five passers,
Houston's Kevin Kolb is on pace to finish the season with 3500-passing
yards. Kolb is completing 68% of his throws with 17 touchdowns and just
one interception.
The Pittsburgh Panthers continue to impress on
the field and in the notebooks of NFL scouts. Quarterback Tyler Palko has
really found his groove settling down in a more pro-style offense this
year. Palko has really improved his accuracy and has moved from free agent
prospect to middle round pick.
Another Pitt prospect making a northward move
up draft boards is linebacker Clint Session. Taking a back seat to
H.B. Blades for the most part, Session has significantly raised his level of
play this year. As a result he is another free agent prospect likely to
receive late round consideration.
A pair of physically gifted ball carriers are
letting big opportunities slip through their hands.
At 5'-11"/215 pounds with 4.55 speed, Kolby Smith graded out as a fifth round pick coming into the season, even though
he played behind Michael Bush on the Louisville depth chart. Once Bush
went down in the first game of the season Smith had a golden opportunity to
prove he was more than a good athlete trying to play football. And while
the early signs were promising Smith has yet to fully capitalize on the
situation. Never grabbing hold of the starting job, Smith has watched his
production and playing time slip the past month.
The other running back falling far short of
expectation is Thomas Clayton of Kansas State. A big ball carrier
with an ego to match his size, Clayton has suffered from suspension and fumbles
this season. Like Smith his playing time has been significantly reduced.
Another skill player who has not lived up to
expectations is receiver Matt Trannon of Michigan State. A former player
on the schools basketball team, the big bodied wide out offers tremendous size
at 6-feet-6-inches and 230 pounds yet for such an imposing target he is rarely
involved in the passing game. Since hauling in 14 receptions during the second
game of the season Trannon has totaled just seven cathces and no touchdowns in
games against Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and Michigan.
D’Juan Woods is
yet another wide out dropping down draft boards at the speed of light.
After showing tremendous potential as a sophomore then turning in a productive
junior campaign, Woods game has severly regressed. With only 13 receptions
this year he has been a major disappointment.
The activities of Brandon Merriweather during
the brawl between FIU and UM this weekend is sure to hurt his draft stock.