Top Overall Draft Prospect McFadden Heads to NFL

University of Arkansas Junior RB Darren McFadden has decided to leave school early, and enter the NFL Draft. This decision has obviously been anticipated for quite some time now, ever since the conclusion of McFadden’s ground-breaking Sophomore season, which saw the home-grown phenom rush for well over 1,600 yards (at 5.8 yards/carry) and 14 TD’s. Included within these statistics were several 50-80 yard runs, wherein McFadden showcased unbelievable raw speed and open-field explosiveness that quickly caught the eyes of NFL Scouts and GM’s alike. Amidst heightened expectations, McFadden followed his 2006 campaign with a 2007 season to remember, recording a school-record 1,830 yards rushing (at 5.6 yards/carry) to go along with 16 TD’s. McFadden’s characteristic 50-80 yard runs were abundantly present once again this past season, and he leaves the Razorback football program with, amongst other things, the all-time school record for career rushing yards, as well as two straight Doak Walker Awards (given annually to the nation’s top RB), and consecutive 2nd place finishes in voting for the Heisman Trophy. At 6’2,” McFadden possesses an elite-level frame for a tailback, and his versatility at the RB position is almost unparalleled in recent collegiate memory. Indeed, aside from taking handoffs, McFadden has proven extraordinarily effective at catching passes out of the backfield, taking direct snaps from center, and returning kickoffs. What is even more amazing about McFadden’s productivity and all-around play is the fact that he has ceded a considerable number of carries over the last 3 seasons to his talented teammate, Junior RB Felix Jones (who may still declare for the 2008 Draft himself). As a heady and team-oriented football player, McFadden is sure to garner rave reviews during the pre-Draft process, while standing a very real chance to record a 40-yard dash time in the 4.35 range, if not better. While both trade possibilities and ongoing front-office personnel and coaching changes make the top of the 2008 Draft a difficult one to forecast, make no mistake about it folks: Darren McFadden is without a doubt the #1 overall prospect available in this year’s Draft, regardless of position.

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