Declarations, cont. (III)

University of Tennessee Junior LB Jerod Mayo has, as expected, entered the NFL Draft. The hard-nosed Mayo led the SEC in tackles this past season, recording an incredible 62 stops in his last four games alone! In addition to possessing very good size at 6’2,” 230 lbs., Mayo is versatile, having played both OLB and ILB for the Vols, the latter this past season. When Mayo is healthy, he brings a non-stop motor to the field, and his teammates feed off of his intensity very well. Indeed, as the focal point of a defense, Mayo can virtually dominate a game, flustering opposing offensive coordinators and head coaches in the process. With Mayo, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and though he almost surely will be selected by the end of Round 2, good pre-Draft workouts and interviews could propel Mayo into the tag end of Round 1. My kind of football player!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/news/story?id=3186978


Rutgers Junior RB Ray Rice will enter the 2008 Draft. Rice has been arguably the most productive RB in the nation over the last two seasons, and he leaves the Scarlet Knight football program having just concluded an incredible 2007 campaign in which he joined a very select club of collegiate RB’s to record over 2,000 rushing yards in a single season. The 5’9” Rice possesses great breakaway speed, and combines good field vision with a low running posture that makes him difficult to bring down between the tackles. Rice has recorded many 30-40 yard runs over the last two seasons, and though some will assert that his production came against below-average Big East defenses, Rice’s consistency game-to-game coupled with his knack for finding the end zone are hard to overlook. Rice should perform well in pre-Draft workouts, and is a virtual lock to be selected by the end of Round 2.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/news/story?id=3186871


Florida State Junior LB Geno Hayes has declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft. A highly-regarded recruit from the Class of 2005, Hayes really came into his element this past season, finishing first on his team in tackles for a loss with 17.5 (94 tackles total). The 6’2,” 220 lb. Hayes brings a sleek, efficient approach to the LB position, taking narrow angles towards ball carriers while rarely over-pursuing. Hayes’ speed and athleticism make him an ideal candidate for the weak-side LB position in the NFL, where Hayes’ play-making abilities would surely stand out. Bound to impress GM’s and coaches in his pre-Draft workouts, Hayes has a good shot at being selected sometime in Round 2.

http://floridastate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=759508


Auburn University Junior DT Pat Sims will also enter the NFL Draft. Though overshadowed by his co-lineman, Senior DE Quentin Groves, the 6’4,” 315 lb. Sims had a breakout year in 2007, earning first-team all-SEC honors while finishing second on the Tigers with 11.5 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks. Sims was crucial to an Auburn defense that finished sixth nationally in both scoring defense and total defense in 2007. Sims is a load inside, and for a player whose primary task revolves around drawing double-teams in the trenches, Sims was quite effective at getting penetration into the backfield. In a very deep NFL Draft at Defensive Line, Sims’ draft grade is a bit difficult to predict. With average workouts, Sims may be a mid-round selection, although a 3rd Round grade is not out of the question.

http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010808aab.html