More Underclassmen Declaring

Texas A&M Junior TE Martellus Bennett has confirmed his intention to declare for the 2008 Draft. Having been blessed with an NFL-caliber body since his early high school days, the 6’7,” 255 lb. Bennett came to College Station as a heralded Lone Star state recruit in both football and basketball (and during the ’06 and ’07 basketball seasons, he contributed to the Aggies’ basketball team). In now-deposed head coach Dennis Franchione’s spread-option offense, Bennett has not been the recipient of as many throws as a TE of his ability would like. Nevertheless, Bennett recorded impressive performances against the Big 12’s best teams – 91 yards on 8 catches against Kansas, 63 yards with 1 TD at Oklahoma, and a 2 TD performance at Missouri. Indeed, with soft hands, sleek receiving skills, and very good blocking ability to boot, Bennett rates as both the best Junior TE (ahead of Missouri’s Chase Coffman), and the best overall TE in this year’s Draft (ahead of Seniors Fred Davis (USC), Martin Rucker (Missouri), John Carlson (Notre Dame), and Kellen Davis (Michigan State)). Bennett is no doubt a Round 1 talent, but as last April’s event indicates, being the Draft’s best TE can still mean a sweaty-palmed experience on Draft day (see Greg Olsen).

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/college/5430733.html


Illinois Junior RB Rashard Mendenhall will enter the NFL Draft. A much-ballyhooed recruit from the Class of ’05, Mendenhall struggled to gain consistent playing time during his first two years in the Illini football program. Nevertheless, there was little doubt in his coaches’ minds that if he remained injury-free and was given the requisite number of carries, Mendenhall’s explosiveness would translate into substantial results for his team, providing the Illini with the feared rushing threat that they have lacked for years. The 2007 season proved to be Mendenhall’s breakout year, with the burly 225 lb. tailback steamrolling over numerous Big Ten defenses, earning the Big Ten’s Player of the Year award in the process. Mendenhall averaged almost 6.5 yards/carry, recorded two games of over 200 yards rushing, and four more games of 150 yards rushing or more (including a 17 carry, 155 yard performance against USC in the Rose Bowl). Mendenhall possesses incredible open-field explosiveness and an almost uncanny ability to turn a small hole at the line of scrimmage into a 40-50 yard gain. As physically-gifted as Mendenhall is, he is very adept at shedding tacklers. To be sure, Mendenhall possesses first-round talent; however, with other notable RB’s yet to declare for the Draft, it remains to be seen whether he will be taken amongst the first 31 selections in an already-deep pool of offensive talent.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3182506


Indiana University Junior WR James Hardy has declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft. Hardy will leave the Hoosier football program as arguably the greatest wideout in school history, owning several single-season and career receiving records. At a whopping 6’7,” Hardy is a potent red zone threat who finished this past season with 16 TD receptions while averaging an impressive 14.2 yards/catch. Hardy has proved his worth while being covered by the very best Cornerbacks in the Big Ten, and his background as a Hoosier basketball recruit has enabled him to maintain a reputation for being very sure-handed. Never lacking for confidence, Hardy seems poised to impress during pre-Draft workouts and interviews, thus standing a chance to be selected as high as the late Round 1/early Round 2 range.

http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080104/SPORTS0301/462761232/1002/LOCAL


University of Hawaii Junior WR Davone Bess will follow Senior QB Colt Brennan out the door from Honolulu and into the NFL. To be sure, Bess has racked up video game numbers in June Jones’ "Run & Shoot" offense (including an eye-popping 108 catches), but historically, players from the offensive side of the ball in the Warrior football program (including WR’s Ashley Lelie and Chad Owens, and QB’s Nick Rolovich and Timmy Chang) have struggled mightily making the transition to some form of a pro-style offense in the NFL. At only 5’10,” the diminutive Bess – and Brennan, for that matter – will have to prove that they are different football players than their predecessors. Very good workouts by Bess may land him a “wild-card” Draft spot anywhere from Rounds 3-5. What may help Bess in the eyes of NFL GM’s and coaches is his solid punt-returning ability.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Jan/04/br/br7431920865.html


Michigan State University Junior WR Devin Thomas has, as expected, declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft. The speedy Thomas burst onto the scene in 2007 as multi-threat talent for new head coach Mark Dantonio, racking up very impressive numbers both as a wideout (1,260 yards receiving, 8 TD’s) as well as a Kick Returner (1,135 yards, 29.1-yard average). Thomas repeatedly proved very valuable in enabling his Spartan teammates to remain competitive late in games in which they had been trailing by significant margins, and his season ended with ownership of the Spartans’ single-season record for all-purpose yards (2,590). Assuming Thomas checks in at his listed 6’2” height, and runs the 40-yard dash at his projected 4.40 time, the former JUCO standout is a virtual lock to be selected by the end of Round 2.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/news/story?id=3182065