Several top rated Longhorn prospects really stood out in the victory over
Nebraska.
Defensive end Tim Crowder
was in the backfield on several occasions,
disrupting the Cornhuskers offense while also displaying a lot of ability in pursuit
chasing the action laterally. Crowder, who has looked good this season, has
moved into the initial 60 selections next April.
The performance of
Justin Blalock on the other side of the ball was also stellar.
Blalock was forced to move into guard from his right tackle position against
Nebraska due to injuries on the UT line. Dominant all game, Blalock devastated the opposition, turning
defenders off the ball and opening holes for the running game. At the
same time the wide-bodied blocker was very effective in pass protection.
Another Big 12 performer that's stood out has been Colorado kicker
Mason Crosby. Two Saturday's ago against Texas Tech, Crosby connected on a pair of field goals from beyond 50 yards,
including a 56-yarder which ranks
as the second longest in the nation this season. Crosby has effortlessly
put the ball through the end zone on kick-offs all season.
Safety John Wendling of Wyoming is starting to play at the level scouts have
expected. The leading force behind the nation's premiere pass defense,
Wendling has also improved the physical nature of his game this season, becoming much
more active defending the run.
Another defensive back that has really stood out is
Laron Landry from LSU.
Landry has an impressive combination of size and speed. Constantly making
positive plays, he is rarely out of position and his disciplined play has caught
the attention of NFL scouts.
Looking for a fast riser from the ranks of the underclassmen?? Wisconsin's redshirt sophomore
Jack Ikegwuonu has turned a lot of heads with
his terrific play at cornerback. Moving into a fulltime starting position
this year, Ikegwuonu has displayed outstanding cover skills, constantly making
plays on the ball in pass defense.
Kevin McLee of West Virginia has been very impressive during the first half
of the season. Much more active this season then in the past, expect McLee to get some
post-season invites to scouting events such as the Senior Bowl.
Credit must be given to Penn State linebacker
Paul Posluszny, a prospect
we've downgraded throughout the season. Posluszny was very active against
Illinois, recording a season high 13 tackles including a forced fumble, sack and
tackle-for-loss.
After a strong
start to his senior campaign the play of Matt Herian has significantly leveled
off. The pass-catching tight end from Nebraska totaled eight catches
during the seasons first three games after sitting on the sidelines for more
than a year rehabbing a broken leg. Since then he's added just four more
receptions and his blocking has been average at best.
Adam Carriker
of the Cornhuskers continues to struggle. Posting just one sack this
season, Carriker did not get near the Texas quarterback in Saturday's
loss. Averaging a little more than three tackles per game, he's also been
a liability against the run.
UTEP passer
Jordan Palmer has not impressed NFL-scouts this season. While he's completed
almost 70% of his throws and has 14 touchdown passes, Palmer's 10 interceptions
is not what scouts wanted to see.
Another passer
overrated by many is Hurricane signal caller Kyle Wright. For all his
physical skills Wright's game lacks polish. Sporadically accurate, he
lacks top pass placement and makes poor decisions.
A trio of
offensive linemen are in the midst of disappointing campaigns.
Originally considered
a first day pick, Northern Illinois offensive tackle Doug Free is
watching his draft stock plummet. Eaten alive by lesser competition, Free
has looked like a novice at left tackle and as a result has dropped into the
later rounds.
Several on the
outside rank Fresno State's Kyle Young as one of the better centers in the
nation yet nothing could be further from the truth. Young is a heavy
legged blocker who looks sluggish and lumbers about the field. He lacks
balance and is likely to get looks at right tackle because of his size and
sometimes clumsy nature.
Kyle Tatum of
Alabama was
given a middle round grade by NFL scouts coming into the season but has played
more like a free agent. Tatum has just not looked dominant as a run
blocker, which is his forte.