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Russ Lande
Sporting News
The NFL Draft is right around the corner and there are plenty of rumors as to which players are moving up and down draft boards. Below are six players -- or so we believe after sifting through a lot of misinformation from various NFL people -- whose stock is either rising or falling. Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers is not on this list because, despite a poor pro-day performance, the reality is he went through the entire workout. We are going to wait until Bowers' medical re-check this week in Indianapolis before adjusting his grade. If it's determined he'll likely be 100 percent by the time the 2011 season begins, Bowers' grade will not be lowered.
Risers
Randall Cobb, WR/RET, Kentucky
When Cobb (5-11, 186) declared early for the NFL Draft around the Senior Bowl, talk was that Boise State wide receiver Titus Young (5-11 1/4, 174) had been so good that he was going to be the third receiver taken. Definitely the first receiver under 6-feet to be selected. Over the last two-plus months, however, Cobb has been flying up draft boards with scouts, coaches and front office executives breaking down film and watching him workout. Cobb is an explosive playmaker with the ability to impact games anytime he gets the ball in his hands. While Young is a good prospect and Leonard Hankerson (6-1 5/8, 205) is an athletic big receiver, when it comes to an explosive playmaker, Cobb has vaulted over them, along with many others, to be viewed as the No. 3 receiver in the draft. He could end up being a late first-round pick.
Alex Green, RB, Hawaii
Green (6-0, 220) was a sleeper in many scouts' eyes during the fall.
He was strong with good instincts, vision, athleticism and big-play speed. Unfortunately for Green, his East-West Shrine Game practices were rough. He didn't display the quickness many expected, dropping him to the "good free agent" discussion. Green redeemed himself with a solid at the Combine, and then this past at Hawaii's pro day where he once again showcased those skills. For a player with limited production in Hawaii's pass-happy offense, Green isn't going to get into the first three rounds. Over the last month, however, he's definitely climbed up draft boards to assure himself of being selected, most likely in the fourth or fifth round.
Aldrick Robinson, WR, SMU
Robinson (5-10, 178) is a short receiver who hasn't received much hype. But after a superb Combine, Robinson's stock is rising. He's a quick, explosive receiver with the speed to go the distance. He has the run instincts and elusiveness to make tacklers miss and create big plays out of nothing. For a player viewed as a "system wide receiver," his athleticism helped him overcome that label in many teams' eyes, putting Robinson in position to be a third-round pick. He won't vault into the first-round because of his height but in today's pass-friendly NFL, Robinson isn't going to slide far. Receivers who can catch the ball with legit big-play ability consistently get drafted earlier than expected.
DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma
Murray (6-0, 214) may not be the elite first-round back many were predicting when the 2010 season began, but he's moving up draft boards again. A bad Senior Bowl created buzz that Murray would not be picked until the fourth or fifth round. Prior to his rough week in Mobile, Murray was generally regarded as a smooth and athletic runner with excellent versatility -- a likely second- or third-round pick. Then in Mobile, he lacked explosiveness and athleticism which raised real concerns. However, when teams broke down his Oklahoma film to see if they had missed something, they became convinced Murray just had a bad Senior Bowl and weren't ready to write him off. Murray really shined working out at the Combine. Murray has not moved into the first round, but as teams start putting running backs in ranked order, Murray is finishing a lot higher than many in the media expect. He'll likely end up being a second-round pick.
Fallers
Jake Locker, QB, Washington
For a player many in the media have been hyping as moving up to the No. 2 or 3 quarterback selected in the draft, trusted NFL sources are hearing very different things. Teams are concerned that for a quarterback with good mechanics, Locker's accuracy is really bad. There's no doubt that every team that has met Locker comes away impressed with his character and intangibles. Locker (6-2 1/4, 228) simply forces too many passes into bad spots. Sources say it's 50-50 at best for him to go in the first round and that Locker could slide to a late second-round pick due to accuracy issues.
Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina
Austin's performance at the East-West Shrine practices and the Combine pushed his stock up. He has elite physical talent. However, as teams dissect Austin's 2009 film, they have been disappointed by his on-field play. Teams are trying to figure out where he fits. Austin (6-3, 305) doesn't show the quick, explosive burst off the ball to shoot gaps and get penetration to disrupt plays behind the line of scrimmage. Despite his size, strength and athleticism, Austin isn't productive as a 2-gap lineman because he tends to play upright, which limits his ability to play in many defensive schemes. Overall, there is little doubt Austin has the tools to be a productive NFL player, but his technique and lack of consistency (and intensity) have teams concerned he'll never become a consistent starter. That's why Austin could fall into the third round despite his showing at the Combine.
Sporting News
The NFL Draft is right around the corner and there are plenty of rumors as to which players are moving up and down draft boards. Below are six players -- or so we believe after sifting through a lot of misinformation from various NFL people -- whose stock is either rising or falling. Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers is not on this list because, despite a poor pro-day performance, the reality is he went through the entire workout. We are going to wait until Bowers' medical re-check this week in Indianapolis before adjusting his grade. If it's determined he'll likely be 100 percent by the time the 2011 season begins, Bowers' grade will not be lowered.
Risers
Randall Cobb, WR/RET, Kentucky
When Cobb (5-11, 186) declared early for the NFL Draft around the Senior Bowl, talk was that Boise State wide receiver Titus Young (5-11 1/4, 174) had been so good that he was going to be the third receiver taken. Definitely the first receiver under 6-feet to be selected. Over the last two-plus months, however, Cobb has been flying up draft boards with scouts, coaches and front office executives breaking down film and watching him workout. Cobb is an explosive playmaker with the ability to impact games anytime he gets the ball in his hands. While Young is a good prospect and Leonard Hankerson (6-1 5/8, 205) is an athletic big receiver, when it comes to an explosive playmaker, Cobb has vaulted over them, along with many others, to be viewed as the No. 3 receiver in the draft. He could end up being a late first-round pick.
Alex Green, RB, Hawaii
Green (6-0, 220) was a sleeper in many scouts' eyes during the fall.
He was strong with good instincts, vision, athleticism and big-play speed. Unfortunately for Green, his East-West Shrine Game practices were rough. He didn't display the quickness many expected, dropping him to the "good free agent" discussion. Green redeemed himself with a solid at the Combine, and then this past at Hawaii's pro day where he once again showcased those skills. For a player with limited production in Hawaii's pass-happy offense, Green isn't going to get into the first three rounds. Over the last month, however, he's definitely climbed up draft boards to assure himself of being selected, most likely in the fourth or fifth round.
Aldrick Robinson, WR, SMU
Robinson (5-10, 178) is a short receiver who hasn't received much hype. But after a superb Combine, Robinson's stock is rising. He's a quick, explosive receiver with the speed to go the distance. He has the run instincts and elusiveness to make tacklers miss and create big plays out of nothing. For a player viewed as a "system wide receiver," his athleticism helped him overcome that label in many teams' eyes, putting Robinson in position to be a third-round pick. He won't vault into the first-round because of his height but in today's pass-friendly NFL, Robinson isn't going to slide far. Receivers who can catch the ball with legit big-play ability consistently get drafted earlier than expected.
DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma
Murray (6-0, 214) may not be the elite first-round back many were predicting when the 2010 season began, but he's moving up draft boards again. A bad Senior Bowl created buzz that Murray would not be picked until the fourth or fifth round. Prior to his rough week in Mobile, Murray was generally regarded as a smooth and athletic runner with excellent versatility -- a likely second- or third-round pick. Then in Mobile, he lacked explosiveness and athleticism which raised real concerns. However, when teams broke down his Oklahoma film to see if they had missed something, they became convinced Murray just had a bad Senior Bowl and weren't ready to write him off. Murray really shined working out at the Combine. Murray has not moved into the first round, but as teams start putting running backs in ranked order, Murray is finishing a lot higher than many in the media expect. He'll likely end up being a second-round pick.
Fallers
Jake Locker, QB, Washington
For a player many in the media have been hyping as moving up to the No. 2 or 3 quarterback selected in the draft, trusted NFL sources are hearing very different things. Teams are concerned that for a quarterback with good mechanics, Locker's accuracy is really bad. There's no doubt that every team that has met Locker comes away impressed with his character and intangibles. Locker (6-2 1/4, 228) simply forces too many passes into bad spots. Sources say it's 50-50 at best for him to go in the first round and that Locker could slide to a late second-round pick due to accuracy issues.
Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina
Austin's performance at the East-West Shrine practices and the Combine pushed his stock up. He has elite physical talent. However, as teams dissect Austin's 2009 film, they have been disappointed by his on-field play. Teams are trying to figure out where he fits. Austin (6-3, 305) doesn't show the quick, explosive burst off the ball to shoot gaps and get penetration to disrupt plays behind the line of scrimmage. Despite his size, strength and athleticism, Austin isn't productive as a 2-gap lineman because he tends to play upright, which limits his ability to play in many defensive schemes. Overall, there is little doubt Austin has the tools to be a productive NFL player, but his technique and lack of consistency (and intensity) have teams concerned he'll never become a consistent starter. That's why Austin could fall into the third round despite his showing at the Combine.