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4/27
A strong tradition
Penn State no longer the only 'Linebacker U' as more schools join mix
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David Maxwell © Getty Images
Linebacker A.J. Hawk (47) of the Ohio State Buckeyes is expected to be a top-five pick Saturday in the NFL draft. Hawk's teammates, Anthony Schlegel and Bobby Carpenter, also are linebackers who could be drafted Saturday.
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<!-- story tools --> <!-- related article stories and related links --> javascript:popup(By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
April 27, 2006
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<!-- /article rightblock block --> <!-- article rightblock block --> <!-- contextual ad --> <!-- Vignette V6 Thu Dec 15 13:05:42 2005 --> <!-- /contextual ad --> <!-- /article rightblock block --> <!-- bizzle is one of those ladies -->
<!-- /article right block --> <!-- byline --> <!-- /byline --> The white helmets. The black shoes. A state's football tradition that once was fueled by blast furnaces tucked away in the rolling hills, of work, sweat and played with football-or-the-mills fury between the lines.
Penn State willingly had played under the banner of "Linebacker U" for decades, checking off a long list of players that included Jack Ham, Jim Laslavic, Ed O'Neil, Scott Radecic, Greg Buttle, Shane Conlan, Andre Collins and LaVar Arrington.
Toss in Paul Posluszny, the Butkus Award winner this past season who will be a senior in 2006 and one Ham has said is the best linebacker in the school's history, and the beat goes on.
Maybe so, but there seems to be a lot more people singing the same song these days. Break out the velvet ropes because Linebacker U seems to be the club everybody wants to get into.
"I guess there are a lot of places that could say that," A.J. Hawk of Ohio State said. "I didn't really think about it before, but there does seem to be a lot."
The Nittany Lions still carry the nameplate but now share it with a host of people and places who either have slapped the nickname on themselves or had it put on them by others.
Places such as Hawk's Ohio State, where all three starters at the position this past season were invited to the NFL scouting combine in February.
Or Notre Dame, Florida State, Miami, Tennessee, Colorado, Oregon State, Georgia, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Virginia. Or Connecticut, Western Kentucky and North Dakota.
There even is Illinois, still the only school in the nation with two Pro Football Hall of Famers at the position to go with two different Butkus Award winners since the trophy was handed out for the first time in 1985, a total that includes the award's namesake, Dick Butkus.
All of the above have seen themselves in the same sentence as Linebacker U in the past five years.
Whether it is a former first-round pick, such as the Hurricanes' Micheal Barrow saying it, or a school's head coach, such as Oregon State's Mike Riley, or an overexuberant soul with a laptop at the fingertips, folks believe if the label fits, they might as well wear it.
"I just know at Ohio State, we feel like there's so much tradition, especially in the linebacker spot, it's an honor to play there," Hawk said. "The best thing about being there, the older guys would come back and let us know how they did things and how to handle yourself on and off the field. I have a lot of respect for them. I grew up hearing about them from my dad and other people. I couldn't ask for a better four years at Ohio State."
In the eyes of the NFL scouts, the Buckeyes are the real Linebacker U set to stand up at least in the NFL draft this weekend. Hawk, who won the Lombardi Award this past season, Anthony Schlegel and Bobby Carpenter could be first-day picks.
And Hawk, who is expected to be among the top five picks in the draft Saturday, Carpenter and Schlegel join a list of Buckeyes linebackers that includes Denver Broncos Ring of Fame member Randy Gradishar, Tom Cousineau, Pepper Johnson, Chris Spielman and Steve Tovar.
For his part, Schlegel, an Air Force transfer who has a black Labrador named Butkus, often was the third wheel in the notoriety department at the position for the Buckeyes.
"I don't care," Schlegel said. "We're a team. We went 10-2, were No. 4 in the country. They're my best friends, and we played well together. I couldn't ask for a better college experience. It's an honor to play at Ohio State."
As with any school with tradition that seems to permeate one part of the roster more than another, it is an odd sort of peer pressure that builds through the years. Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams said when players such as Barrow, Ray Lewis and Jessie Armstead kept coming back to the Miami campus, it would be part recognition of who had come before them and part inspiration.
Hawk said it has worked that way with the Buckeyes, as well.
"Spielman is always around; he has a radio show in Columbus, does some TV stuff," Hawk said. "Randy Gradishar was an honorary captain for a game my junior year. Mike Vrabel is always back working out with us. Andy Katzenmoyer, the list goes on. There's a bunch of guys. Pepper Johnson is coaching in the league now. There's so many great players that have been at Ohio State who have helped me out."
Iowa also had two of its three starting linebackers at this year's combine in Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge. Greenway, a consensus first-round player this weekend, didn't lead his team in tackles in any season because Hodge did.
Greenway said he didn't give much thought to all of the chatter about Linebacker U being in Iowa City, Iowa, Columbus, Ohio, or anywhere else when people wanted to comparison shop with the Buckeyes trio.
"Not really. We knew they were great LBs, and we thought we had some pretty good ones in Iowa," Greenway said. "You try to stay away from that and just play your game."
Still, here they come, graduates all, from the most popular university in college football.
Linebacker U.
Scouting the defensive linemen
After discussions with scouts, general managers and other NFL personnel executives, as well as video review, Rocky Mountain News NFL writer Jeff Legwold ranks the top prospects at defensive line and linebacker for this year's draft (*indicates best verified 40 time in pre-draft workouts):
Overall class: Average
Player School Ht. Wt. 40*
1. Mario Williams (DE) N.C. State 6-7 295 4.66 Lowdown: Some teams have him rated as the top player on the board. Big, fast and gets the quarterback.
2. Tamba Hali (DE) Penn State 6-3 275 4.87 Lowdown: Former defensive tackle is a nonstop player who rarely loses his composure.
3. Brodrick Bunkley (DT) Florida State 6-2 3/4 306 4.91 Lowdown: Might be the best run stuffer on the board. Second in the nation in '05 with 25 tackles for loss.
4. Haloti Ngata (DT) Oregon 6-4 1/4 338 5.13 Lowdown: Tore left ACL in '03 but reads plays quickly and finds the gaps.
5. Manny Lawson (DE/LB) N.C. State 6-5 3/8 241 4.43 Lowdown: Top-shelf athlete who was a long jumper for Wolfpack track team.
• Other names to keep handy: Kamerion Wimbley (DE/LB, Florida State), Mathias Kiwanuka (DE, Boston College), Rodrique Wright (DT, Texas), Gabe Watson (DT, Michigan), Claude Wroten (DT, Louisiana State), John McCargo (DT, North Carolina State), Montavious Stanley (DT, Louisville), Darryl Tapp (DE, Virginia Tech), Ray Edwards (DE, Purdue), Jonathan Lewis (DT, Virginia Tech), Dusty Dvoracek (DT, Oklahoma), Babatunde Oshinowo (DT, Stanford), Chris Gocong (DE/LB, Cal-Poly), Victor Adeyanju (DE, Indiana), Barry Cofield (DT, Northwestern).
• Small-school hero: Sean Conover (DE, Bucknell).
• First local call: Southern California defensive end Frostee Rucker, who started his college career at Colorado State, will be the first with any connection to an area school drafted at the position. But he's almost four years removed from Fort Collins, so it's a stretch. More locally, Colorado nose tackle Vaka Manupuna probably will find himself in a training camp when all is said and done. At slightly more than 6-feet tall and 303 pounds, Manupuna was invited to the Hula Bowl in January. At the Buffaloes football banquet after this past season, Manupuna was given an award for greatest contribution and least recognition. Scouts like his power, he plays low and should add strength in an NFL weight room.
• Broncos breakdown: The Broncos could use a little of this and a little of that at this position. They certainly need depth at defensive tackle, where Gerard Warren, Michael Myers and Demetrin Veal are the only regulars from '05 who are ready to go. Denver acquired Amon Gordon, but he still is recovering from microfracture surgery on his knee and might not be ready to hit the field until June or July to start working out in earnest. They will miss Trevor Pryce's ability to play inside and outside and need to add depth to the rotation. Having some bigger defensive ends on the roster - Ebenezer Ekuban, Courtney Brown and Kenard Lang are expected to play at more than 275 pounds - the Broncos could use some outside speed. They like 265-pound Corey Jackson as a potential rush end, but he has yet to play in a game for the team.
Scouting the linebackers
Overall class: Strong
Player School Ht. Wt. 40*
1. A.J. Hawk (OLB) Ohio State 6-1 248 4.59 Lowdown: Big, fast and plays with great intensity. Will play from the first minute he sets foot in a training camp.
2. Chad Greenway (OLB) Iowa 6-2 1/2 242 4.76 Lowdown: Tore ACL in '02, but another sideline-to-sideline player who knows how to finish.
3. Ernie Sims (OLB) Florida State 5-11 1/8 231 4.50 Lowdown:Has some history with concussions, but a quality athlete who needs to smooth some rough edges.
4. Bobby Carpenter (OLB) Ohio State 6-2 7/8 254 4.66 Lowdown: Quick enough to have rushed the passer and strong enough to have played down inside for Buckeyes.
5. DeMeco Ryans (OLB) Alabama 6-1 1/4 236 4.65 Lowdown: Smart player who played up to his abilities more than most college players.
• Other names to keep handy: D'Qwell Jackson (ILB, Maryland), Roger McIntosh (ILB, Miami), Thomas Howard (OLB, Texas-El Paso), Abdul Hodge (ILB, Iowa), Gerris Wilkinson (OLB, Georgia Tech), Clint Ingram (OLB, Oklahoma), Jon Alston (OLB, Stanford), A.J. Nicholson (OLB, Florida State), Brian Iwuh (OLB, Colorado).
• Small-school hero: Kevin Culbert (OLB, Frostburg State)
• First local call: Iwuh. A former strong safety early in his career for the Buffaloes, most teams see him as an undersized outside linebacker at this point. Slipped some during '05 compared with where most teams had him at the start of the season. Had left hamstring injury he said kept him from running at the combine and at CU's pro day. Teams had to go to Houston's pro day to see him run a somewhat disappointing 4.66 40 at 225 pounds. But teams like his work against the run when he has room to run. Gets swallowed up by blockers at times, though. Castle Rock native Jimmy Cottrell of New Mexico State is expected to be a late-second-day pick or quickly signed as an undrafted free agent if no team selects him.
• Broncos breakdown: This is not a position of need for the Broncos. All three starters return, they re-signed Keith Burns and Patrick Chukwurah and added free-agent Ray Wells, an experienced special-teams player. So any picks the Broncos make here probably are strictly developmental or just simply too good to pass up when the board starts to fall into place during the weekend.
4/27
A strong tradition
Penn State no longer the only 'Linebacker U' as more schools join mix
<!-- article right block -->
Linebacker A.J. Hawk (47) of the Ohio State Buckeyes is expected to be a top-five pick Saturday in the NFL draft. Hawk's teammates, Anthony Schlegel and Bobby Carpenter, also are linebackers who could be drafted Saturday.
<!-- article rightblock block -->
<!-- story tools --> <!-- related article stories and related links --> javascript:popup(By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News
April 27, 2006
<!-- /related article stories and related links --> <!-- /story tools -->
<!-- /article rightblock block --> <!-- article rightblock block --> <!-- contextual ad --> <!-- Vignette V6 Thu Dec 15 13:05:42 2005 --> <!-- /contextual ad --> <!-- /article rightblock block --> <!-- bizzle is one of those ladies -->
<!-- /article right block --> <!-- byline --> <!-- /byline --> The white helmets. The black shoes. A state's football tradition that once was fueled by blast furnaces tucked away in the rolling hills, of work, sweat and played with football-or-the-mills fury between the lines.
Penn State willingly had played under the banner of "Linebacker U" for decades, checking off a long list of players that included Jack Ham, Jim Laslavic, Ed O'Neil, Scott Radecic, Greg Buttle, Shane Conlan, Andre Collins and LaVar Arrington.
Toss in Paul Posluszny, the Butkus Award winner this past season who will be a senior in 2006 and one Ham has said is the best linebacker in the school's history, and the beat goes on.
Maybe so, but there seems to be a lot more people singing the same song these days. Break out the velvet ropes because Linebacker U seems to be the club everybody wants to get into.
"I guess there are a lot of places that could say that," A.J. Hawk of Ohio State said. "I didn't really think about it before, but there does seem to be a lot."
The Nittany Lions still carry the nameplate but now share it with a host of people and places who either have slapped the nickname on themselves or had it put on them by others.
Places such as Hawk's Ohio State, where all three starters at the position this past season were invited to the NFL scouting combine in February.
Or Notre Dame, Florida State, Miami, Tennessee, Colorado, Oregon State, Georgia, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Virginia. Or Connecticut, Western Kentucky and North Dakota.
There even is Illinois, still the only school in the nation with two Pro Football Hall of Famers at the position to go with two different Butkus Award winners since the trophy was handed out for the first time in 1985, a total that includes the award's namesake, Dick Butkus.
All of the above have seen themselves in the same sentence as Linebacker U in the past five years.
Whether it is a former first-round pick, such as the Hurricanes' Micheal Barrow saying it, or a school's head coach, such as Oregon State's Mike Riley, or an overexuberant soul with a laptop at the fingertips, folks believe if the label fits, they might as well wear it.
"I just know at Ohio State, we feel like there's so much tradition, especially in the linebacker spot, it's an honor to play there," Hawk said. "The best thing about being there, the older guys would come back and let us know how they did things and how to handle yourself on and off the field. I have a lot of respect for them. I grew up hearing about them from my dad and other people. I couldn't ask for a better four years at Ohio State."
In the eyes of the NFL scouts, the Buckeyes are the real Linebacker U set to stand up at least in the NFL draft this weekend. Hawk, who won the Lombardi Award this past season, Anthony Schlegel and Bobby Carpenter could be first-day picks.
And Hawk, who is expected to be among the top five picks in the draft Saturday, Carpenter and Schlegel join a list of Buckeyes linebackers that includes Denver Broncos Ring of Fame member Randy Gradishar, Tom Cousineau, Pepper Johnson, Chris Spielman and Steve Tovar.
For his part, Schlegel, an Air Force transfer who has a black Labrador named Butkus, often was the third wheel in the notoriety department at the position for the Buckeyes.
"I don't care," Schlegel said. "We're a team. We went 10-2, were No. 4 in the country. They're my best friends, and we played well together. I couldn't ask for a better college experience. It's an honor to play at Ohio State."
As with any school with tradition that seems to permeate one part of the roster more than another, it is an odd sort of peer pressure that builds through the years. Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams said when players such as Barrow, Ray Lewis and Jessie Armstead kept coming back to the Miami campus, it would be part recognition of who had come before them and part inspiration.
Hawk said it has worked that way with the Buckeyes, as well.
"Spielman is always around; he has a radio show in Columbus, does some TV stuff," Hawk said. "Randy Gradishar was an honorary captain for a game my junior year. Mike Vrabel is always back working out with us. Andy Katzenmoyer, the list goes on. There's a bunch of guys. Pepper Johnson is coaching in the league now. There's so many great players that have been at Ohio State who have helped me out."
Iowa also had two of its three starting linebackers at this year's combine in Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge. Greenway, a consensus first-round player this weekend, didn't lead his team in tackles in any season because Hodge did.
Greenway said he didn't give much thought to all of the chatter about Linebacker U being in Iowa City, Iowa, Columbus, Ohio, or anywhere else when people wanted to comparison shop with the Buckeyes trio.
"Not really. We knew they were great LBs, and we thought we had some pretty good ones in Iowa," Greenway said. "You try to stay away from that and just play your game."
Still, here they come, graduates all, from the most popular university in college football.
Linebacker U.
Scouting the defensive linemen
After discussions with scouts, general managers and other NFL personnel executives, as well as video review, Rocky Mountain News NFL writer Jeff Legwold ranks the top prospects at defensive line and linebacker for this year's draft (*indicates best verified 40 time in pre-draft workouts):
Overall class: Average
Player School Ht. Wt. 40*
1. Mario Williams (DE) N.C. State 6-7 295 4.66 Lowdown: Some teams have him rated as the top player on the board. Big, fast and gets the quarterback.
2. Tamba Hali (DE) Penn State 6-3 275 4.87 Lowdown: Former defensive tackle is a nonstop player who rarely loses his composure.
3. Brodrick Bunkley (DT) Florida State 6-2 3/4 306 4.91 Lowdown: Might be the best run stuffer on the board. Second in the nation in '05 with 25 tackles for loss.
4. Haloti Ngata (DT) Oregon 6-4 1/4 338 5.13 Lowdown: Tore left ACL in '03 but reads plays quickly and finds the gaps.
5. Manny Lawson (DE/LB) N.C. State 6-5 3/8 241 4.43 Lowdown: Top-shelf athlete who was a long jumper for Wolfpack track team.
• Other names to keep handy: Kamerion Wimbley (DE/LB, Florida State), Mathias Kiwanuka (DE, Boston College), Rodrique Wright (DT, Texas), Gabe Watson (DT, Michigan), Claude Wroten (DT, Louisiana State), John McCargo (DT, North Carolina State), Montavious Stanley (DT, Louisville), Darryl Tapp (DE, Virginia Tech), Ray Edwards (DE, Purdue), Jonathan Lewis (DT, Virginia Tech), Dusty Dvoracek (DT, Oklahoma), Babatunde Oshinowo (DT, Stanford), Chris Gocong (DE/LB, Cal-Poly), Victor Adeyanju (DE, Indiana), Barry Cofield (DT, Northwestern).
• Small-school hero: Sean Conover (DE, Bucknell).
• First local call: Southern California defensive end Frostee Rucker, who started his college career at Colorado State, will be the first with any connection to an area school drafted at the position. But he's almost four years removed from Fort Collins, so it's a stretch. More locally, Colorado nose tackle Vaka Manupuna probably will find himself in a training camp when all is said and done. At slightly more than 6-feet tall and 303 pounds, Manupuna was invited to the Hula Bowl in January. At the Buffaloes football banquet after this past season, Manupuna was given an award for greatest contribution and least recognition. Scouts like his power, he plays low and should add strength in an NFL weight room.
• Broncos breakdown: The Broncos could use a little of this and a little of that at this position. They certainly need depth at defensive tackle, where Gerard Warren, Michael Myers and Demetrin Veal are the only regulars from '05 who are ready to go. Denver acquired Amon Gordon, but he still is recovering from microfracture surgery on his knee and might not be ready to hit the field until June or July to start working out in earnest. They will miss Trevor Pryce's ability to play inside and outside and need to add depth to the rotation. Having some bigger defensive ends on the roster - Ebenezer Ekuban, Courtney Brown and Kenard Lang are expected to play at more than 275 pounds - the Broncos could use some outside speed. They like 265-pound Corey Jackson as a potential rush end, but he has yet to play in a game for the team.
Scouting the linebackers
Overall class: Strong
Player School Ht. Wt. 40*
1. A.J. Hawk (OLB) Ohio State 6-1 248 4.59 Lowdown: Big, fast and plays with great intensity. Will play from the first minute he sets foot in a training camp.
2. Chad Greenway (OLB) Iowa 6-2 1/2 242 4.76 Lowdown: Tore ACL in '02, but another sideline-to-sideline player who knows how to finish.
3. Ernie Sims (OLB) Florida State 5-11 1/8 231 4.50 Lowdown:Has some history with concussions, but a quality athlete who needs to smooth some rough edges.
4. Bobby Carpenter (OLB) Ohio State 6-2 7/8 254 4.66 Lowdown: Quick enough to have rushed the passer and strong enough to have played down inside for Buckeyes.
5. DeMeco Ryans (OLB) Alabama 6-1 1/4 236 4.65 Lowdown: Smart player who played up to his abilities more than most college players.
• Other names to keep handy: D'Qwell Jackson (ILB, Maryland), Roger McIntosh (ILB, Miami), Thomas Howard (OLB, Texas-El Paso), Abdul Hodge (ILB, Iowa), Gerris Wilkinson (OLB, Georgia Tech), Clint Ingram (OLB, Oklahoma), Jon Alston (OLB, Stanford), A.J. Nicholson (OLB, Florida State), Brian Iwuh (OLB, Colorado).
• Small-school hero: Kevin Culbert (OLB, Frostburg State)
• First local call: Iwuh. A former strong safety early in his career for the Buffaloes, most teams see him as an undersized outside linebacker at this point. Slipped some during '05 compared with where most teams had him at the start of the season. Had left hamstring injury he said kept him from running at the combine and at CU's pro day. Teams had to go to Houston's pro day to see him run a somewhat disappointing 4.66 40 at 225 pounds. But teams like his work against the run when he has room to run. Gets swallowed up by blockers at times, though. Castle Rock native Jimmy Cottrell of New Mexico State is expected to be a late-second-day pick or quickly signed as an undrafted free agent if no team selects him.
• Broncos breakdown: This is not a position of need for the Broncos. All three starters return, they re-signed Keith Burns and Patrick Chukwurah and added free-agent Ray Wells, an experienced special-teams player. So any picks the Broncos make here probably are strictly developmental or just simply too good to pass up when the board starts to fall into place during the weekend.
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Washington Post
4/28
In the Draft, Expect a Run on Linebackers, Cornerbacks
By Mark Maske
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 27, 2006; Page E06
Front-office executives around the league don't agree about all that much when it comes to assessing how the first round of this weekend's NFL draft will go. There are differing opinions about the order in which the elite quarterbacks will come off the board, about how active things will be on the trade front and about the composition of the top five overall selections.
There is widespread agreement, however, about which positions will dominate the picks in the middle to late stages of the opening round -- outside linebacker and cornerback.
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Only one linebacker, Ohio State's A.J. Hawk, is likely to be selected early in the first round but NFL talent evaluators are particularly enamored with the linebackers in this draft. (Charles Rex Arbogast - AP)
Breaking Down the Draft
Top Five . . . Linebackers
1. A.J. Hawk, Ohio State: Not a flashy player but a sound tackler who could go in the top five.
2. Ernie Sims, Florida State: The smallest of the top group but very fast, and perhaps even could be used at safety.
3. Chad Greenway, Iowa: Played quarterback in high school in South Dakota.
4. DeMeco Ryans, Alabama: Could have an immediate impact as a pass rusher.
5. Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State: Son of former Giants running back Rob Carpenter.
Sleeper: Thomas Howard, Texas-El Paso. . . . His father, Thomas Howard Sr., played linebacker for the Chiefs and Cardinals in the late 1970s and early '80s.
Top Five . . . Cornerbacks
1. Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech: Some scouts thought his pre-draft workouts were mediocre.
2. Antonio Cromartie, Florida State: Has size, at 6 feet 2, 208 pounds, as well as speed.
3. Tye Hill, Clemson: Is only 5-9 1/2 but jumps well.
4. Johnathan Joseph, South Carolina: A junior-college transfer who played only 14 games of major college football.
5. Ashton Youboty, Ohio State: Bypassed senior season and doesn't turn 22 until July.
Sleeper: Richard Marshall, Fresno State. . . . Had nine interceptions in three collegiate seasons, amassing 305 yards and three TDs on his returns.
Top Five . . . Safeties
1. Michael Huff, Texas: The Cowboys would love to have the Irving, Tex., native but he probably won't last that long.
2. Jason Allen, Tennessee: Could play safety or CB.
3. Donte Whitner, Ohio State: Excels on special teams as well as on defense.
4. Darnell Bing, USC: A starter for the Trojans from the first game of his freshman season.
5. Ko Simpson, South Carolina: Had six interceptions in his first season as a starter in 2004.
Sleeper: Danieal Manning, Abilene Christian. . . . Played safety and WR and returned kicks in college, and has the speed to play CB.
</td></tr></tbody></table>
Only one linebacker, Ohio State's A.J. Hawk, is likely to be selected early in the first round, and it's possible that no cornerbacks will go in the top 10. But there probably will be a run on linebackers and cornerbacks beginning late Saturday afternoon, and some general managers think there could be a half-dozen outside linebackers and nearly as many cornerbacks chosen in the opening round.
"Once they start coming off the board at those two positions, it won't stop," one general manager said last week. "The momentum picks up, and some guys you might have thought would go in the second round will go in the first instead. Teams won't want to get shut out by waiting."
The NFL's talent evaluators are particularly impressed with the linebackers in this draft. "The linebackers are deep, I'll say that," New York Giants General Manager Ernie Accorsi said.
Said Floyd Reese, the GM of the Tennessee Titans, "The linebackers are as strong as we've had in a while."
Hawk is acknowledged as the best of the bunch. The New Orleans Saints, who have the second overall choice in the draft, are said by people around the league to be impressed with Hawk. The Saints probably wouldn't use the draft's second pick on him, but he could be their selection if they're successful in their attempts to trade down in the first-round order. Hawk also could be an option for the Green Bay Packers, who have the fifth overall pick.
Other outside linebackers regarded as strong first-round possibilities are Ernie Sims of Florida State, Chad Greenway of Iowa, DeMeco Ryans of Alabama and Hawk's Ohio State teammate, Bobby Carpenter. He's the son of former New York Giants running back Rob Carpenter and could be an option for his father's old team if he's still available when the Giants choose 25th.
The rage of last year's draft was the 'tweeners, those players who could play defensive end in a four-lineman, three-linebacker setup or outside linebacker in a 3-4 alignment. That sort of player could be represented in this year's first round as well, with Florida State's Kamerion Wimbley and North Carolina State's Manny Lawson.
D'Qwell Jackson, an inside linebacker from the University of Maryland, has expressed hopes of being selected late in the first round or early in the second. The inside linebackers in this draft have not drawn the attention as potential first-rounders that the outside linebackers have, but Pittsburgh Steelers executive Kevin Colbert praised the depth of the field of available inside linebackers during the NFL scouting combine in late February in Indianapolis.
"It's probably the strongest group I've seen in the 20 years I've been doing this," said Colbert, the Steelers' director of football operations.
Virginia Tech's Jimmy Williams once was regarded as the clear-cut top cornerback available in this draft. Some scouts now seem to be wondering if he might be a better safety than cornerback in the NFL. He's still almost certain to go in the first round, perhaps just outside the top 10.
He could be joined later in the first round by cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie of Florida State, Tye Hill of Clemson, Johnathan Joseph of South Carolina and Ashton Youboty of Ohio State. None is necessarily projected as a sure-thing NFL standout. But with the league's rules being more passing-friendly than ever, teams have made getting cornerbacks who have any chance at all to defend receivers in one-on-one coverage a top priority.
"We have some speed corners in this draft," Reese said
4/28
In the Draft, Expect a Run on Linebackers, Cornerbacks
By Mark Maske
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 27, 2006; Page E06
Front-office executives around the league don't agree about all that much when it comes to assessing how the first round of this weekend's NFL draft will go. There are differing opinions about the order in which the elite quarterbacks will come off the board, about how active things will be on the trade front and about the composition of the top five overall selections.
There is widespread agreement, however, about which positions will dominate the picks in the middle to late stages of the opening round -- outside linebacker and cornerback.
<table align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="238"><tbody><tr><td width="10">
</td><td width="228">
Breaking Down the Draft
Top Five . . . Linebackers
1. A.J. Hawk, Ohio State: Not a flashy player but a sound tackler who could go in the top five.
2. Ernie Sims, Florida State: The smallest of the top group but very fast, and perhaps even could be used at safety.
3. Chad Greenway, Iowa: Played quarterback in high school in South Dakota.
4. DeMeco Ryans, Alabama: Could have an immediate impact as a pass rusher.
5. Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State: Son of former Giants running back Rob Carpenter.
Sleeper: Thomas Howard, Texas-El Paso. . . . His father, Thomas Howard Sr., played linebacker for the Chiefs and Cardinals in the late 1970s and early '80s.
Top Five . . . Cornerbacks
1. Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech: Some scouts thought his pre-draft workouts were mediocre.
2. Antonio Cromartie, Florida State: Has size, at 6 feet 2, 208 pounds, as well as speed.
3. Tye Hill, Clemson: Is only 5-9 1/2 but jumps well.
4. Johnathan Joseph, South Carolina: A junior-college transfer who played only 14 games of major college football.
5. Ashton Youboty, Ohio State: Bypassed senior season and doesn't turn 22 until July.
Sleeper: Richard Marshall, Fresno State. . . . Had nine interceptions in three collegiate seasons, amassing 305 yards and three TDs on his returns.
Top Five . . . Safeties
1. Michael Huff, Texas: The Cowboys would love to have the Irving, Tex., native but he probably won't last that long.
2. Jason Allen, Tennessee: Could play safety or CB.
3. Donte Whitner, Ohio State: Excels on special teams as well as on defense.
4. Darnell Bing, USC: A starter for the Trojans from the first game of his freshman season.
5. Ko Simpson, South Carolina: Had six interceptions in his first season as a starter in 2004.
Sleeper: Danieal Manning, Abilene Christian. . . . Played safety and WR and returned kicks in college, and has the speed to play CB.
</td></tr></tbody></table>
Only one linebacker, Ohio State's A.J. Hawk, is likely to be selected early in the first round, and it's possible that no cornerbacks will go in the top 10. But there probably will be a run on linebackers and cornerbacks beginning late Saturday afternoon, and some general managers think there could be a half-dozen outside linebackers and nearly as many cornerbacks chosen in the opening round.
"Once they start coming off the board at those two positions, it won't stop," one general manager said last week. "The momentum picks up, and some guys you might have thought would go in the second round will go in the first instead. Teams won't want to get shut out by waiting."
The NFL's talent evaluators are particularly impressed with the linebackers in this draft. "The linebackers are deep, I'll say that," New York Giants General Manager Ernie Accorsi said.
Said Floyd Reese, the GM of the Tennessee Titans, "The linebackers are as strong as we've had in a while."
Hawk is acknowledged as the best of the bunch. The New Orleans Saints, who have the second overall choice in the draft, are said by people around the league to be impressed with Hawk. The Saints probably wouldn't use the draft's second pick on him, but he could be their selection if they're successful in their attempts to trade down in the first-round order. Hawk also could be an option for the Green Bay Packers, who have the fifth overall pick.
Other outside linebackers regarded as strong first-round possibilities are Ernie Sims of Florida State, Chad Greenway of Iowa, DeMeco Ryans of Alabama and Hawk's Ohio State teammate, Bobby Carpenter. He's the son of former New York Giants running back Rob Carpenter and could be an option for his father's old team if he's still available when the Giants choose 25th.
The rage of last year's draft was the 'tweeners, those players who could play defensive end in a four-lineman, three-linebacker setup or outside linebacker in a 3-4 alignment. That sort of player could be represented in this year's first round as well, with Florida State's Kamerion Wimbley and North Carolina State's Manny Lawson.
D'Qwell Jackson, an inside linebacker from the University of Maryland, has expressed hopes of being selected late in the first round or early in the second. The inside linebackers in this draft have not drawn the attention as potential first-rounders that the outside linebackers have, but Pittsburgh Steelers executive Kevin Colbert praised the depth of the field of available inside linebackers during the NFL scouting combine in late February in Indianapolis.
"It's probably the strongest group I've seen in the 20 years I've been doing this," said Colbert, the Steelers' director of football operations.
Virginia Tech's Jimmy Williams once was regarded as the clear-cut top cornerback available in this draft. Some scouts now seem to be wondering if he might be a better safety than cornerback in the NFL. He's still almost certain to go in the first round, perhaps just outside the top 10.
He could be joined later in the first round by cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie of Florida State, Tye Hill of Clemson, Johnathan Joseph of South Carolina and Ashton Youboty of Ohio State. None is necessarily projected as a sure-thing NFL standout. But with the league's rules being more passing-friendly than ever, teams have made getting cornerbacks who have any chance at all to defend receivers in one-on-one coverage a top priority.
"We have some speed corners in this draft," Reese said
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Miami Herald
4/28
OSU eyes Canes' mark
From Miami Herald Wire Services
<!-- begin body-content --> Two years ago, 14 Ohio State players were taken in the seven-round NFL Draft to shatter a record held by the University of Miami.
This year, the Buckeyes have their sights on another draft-day mark held by the Hurricanes.
Six Miami players were taken in the first round of the 2004 draft, eclipsing by one the previous mark shared by Southern Cal (1968) and Miami (2002).
Some draft experts see the Buckeyes matching that in Saturday's opening round.
Linebacker A.J. Hawk and wide receiver Santonio Holmes are considered the top players available at their positions. Center Nick Mangold, linebacker Bobby Carpenter, safety Donte Whitner and cornerback Ashton Youboty all have been mentioned as possible first-rounders.
''Guys come and set goals and they want to become very, very good -- the best at what they do,'' Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. ``When you're picked in the first round, that's a pretty good indication.''
4/28
OSU eyes Canes' mark
From Miami Herald Wire Services
<!-- begin body-content --> Two years ago, 14 Ohio State players were taken in the seven-round NFL Draft to shatter a record held by the University of Miami.
This year, the Buckeyes have their sights on another draft-day mark held by the Hurricanes.
Six Miami players were taken in the first round of the 2004 draft, eclipsing by one the previous mark shared by Southern Cal (1968) and Miami (2002).
Some draft experts see the Buckeyes matching that in Saturday's opening round.
Linebacker A.J. Hawk and wide receiver Santonio Holmes are considered the top players available at their positions. Center Nick Mangold, linebacker Bobby Carpenter, safety Donte Whitner and cornerback Ashton Youboty all have been mentioned as possible first-rounders.
''Guys come and set goals and they want to become very, very good -- the best at what they do,'' Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. ``When you're picked in the first round, that's a pretty good indication.''
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Lazlo
Good people drink good beer. ~ HST
The kid that I work with is sick and just started a Harry Potter marathon so I'm going to be stuck inside his house bored for most of the day. This is the first of what I'm sure will be many time-killer posts. :tongue2:
Buckeye Draft Predictions- Where do you think our buckeyes will go in the draft, either the round or, if your bored like me, the actual pick. Here are the players to C&P.
A.J. Hawk-
Santonio Holmes-
Donte Whitner-
Bobby Carpenter-
Ashton Youboty-
Nick Mangold-
Mike Kudla-
Rob Sims-
Anthony Schlegel-
Nate Salley-
Josh Huston-
Buckeye Draft Predictions- Where do you think our buckeyes will go in the draft, either the round or, if your bored like me, the actual pick. Here are the players to C&P.
A.J. Hawk-
Santonio Holmes-
Donte Whitner-
Bobby Carpenter-
Ashton Youboty-
Nick Mangold-
Mike Kudla-
Rob Sims-
Anthony Schlegel-
Nate Salley-
Josh Huston-
What are your guys' guesses?
Last edited:
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Dispatch
4/29
Opening day for Buckeyes could be a record-breaker
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--> <table class="phototableright" align="right" border="0"> <!-- begin large ad code --> <tbody><tr><td> <table align="center"> <tbody><tr><td align="center">
</td></tr> </tbody></table> </td></tr> </tbody> </table>
The Ohio State players picked near the top of the NFL draft today will do a lot to help OSU coach Jim Tressel on the recruiting trail, but it sounds as if Tressel’s emotions will be more connected to the names farther down the board.
"I’ll be on the edge of my seat as the first day ends," Tressel said. "The guys who haven’t been drafted yet, I know it’s going to be a tough night of sleep for them. It means so much to the kids.
"I’m hoping that at the end of two days, the kids all have opportunities and that they’re excited about the next stage of life."
Maybe sympathy for the "little guy" is befitting a man who was an undersized smallcollege quarterback (at Baldwin-Wallace).
Tressel said he’s looking forward to watching the draft for the first time in his OSU tenure. In previous years, the first day conflicted with OSU’s spring game.
The Buckeyes are projected to have plenty of players picked today and Sunday. It’s a safe bet that at least four will be first-round choices, which would tie the school record set in 1971 (Tim Anderson, John Brockington, Leo Hayden and Jack Tatum).
The only first-round locks are linebacker A.J. Hawk and receiver Santonio Holmes. Hawk has a good chance of being the highest Buckeye pick since Orlando Pace and Shawn Springs went first and third, respectively, in 1997.
The highest pick since then was David Boston, eighth in 1999.
Linebacker Bobby Carpenter likely will go in the first round, and most projections have some combination of cornerback Ashton Youboty, safety Donte Whitner and center Nick Mangold as first-rounders, as well.
If all six of those players are firstrounders, it would tie Miami’s record, set in 2004.
"That would be great," Mangold said. "Could we find one more (first-rounder)? Could we sneak another one in there? I always like beating Miami."
Seven is not going to happen, but OSU could have as many as nine first-day picks (top three rounds) and possibly 13 selections overall. Realistically, the total should be 10 to 12.
That’s a hair shy of the Buckeyes’ seven-round record of 14, set in 2004, but it’s plenty good enough for Tressel to use in the living rooms of high-school prospects.
Prep stars know which colleges are producing NFL talent at which positions, and OSU plays to that, devoting two media guide pages to the school’s NFL draft history, one listing every draft pick and another listing first-rounders.
"I think it helps (recruiting) significantly," Tressel said. "It’s huge for us.
"It shows that our guys are coming here with a lot of promise, and they’re fulfilling that promise and getting developed and having a lot of fun.
"The other thing we tell them is that (OSU’s seniors) are all moving toward their degrees, so this must be a good place to be."
The recognition particularly helps recruit out-of-state players who may not have inherent Buckeye leanings. Holmes (from Florida) and Youboty (Texas) both have said OSU’s history of producing first-round draftees at their positions was a major factor in their college choices.
Holmes should become the Buckeyes’ fifth first-round receiver since 1995, and Youboty could be OSU’s sixth first-round corner in the past 10 drafts.
In any case, it should be a fun day or two for Tressel and his players.
"I know everybody is going to be calling each other every time they hear one of our names, ‘Hey, man, congratulations,’ " safety Nate Salley said. "I think it’s going to be a great day for us."
4/29
Opening day for Buckeyes could be a record-breaker
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--> <table class="phototableright" align="right" border="0"> <!-- begin large ad code --> <tbody><tr><td> <table align="center"> <tbody><tr><td align="center">
The Ohio State players picked near the top of the NFL draft today will do a lot to help OSU coach Jim Tressel on the recruiting trail, but it sounds as if Tressel’s emotions will be more connected to the names farther down the board.
"I’ll be on the edge of my seat as the first day ends," Tressel said. "The guys who haven’t been drafted yet, I know it’s going to be a tough night of sleep for them. It means so much to the kids.
"I’m hoping that at the end of two days, the kids all have opportunities and that they’re excited about the next stage of life."
Maybe sympathy for the "little guy" is befitting a man who was an undersized smallcollege quarterback (at Baldwin-Wallace).
Tressel said he’s looking forward to watching the draft for the first time in his OSU tenure. In previous years, the first day conflicted with OSU’s spring game.
The Buckeyes are projected to have plenty of players picked today and Sunday. It’s a safe bet that at least four will be first-round choices, which would tie the school record set in 1971 (Tim Anderson, John Brockington, Leo Hayden and Jack Tatum).
The only first-round locks are linebacker A.J. Hawk and receiver Santonio Holmes. Hawk has a good chance of being the highest Buckeye pick since Orlando Pace and Shawn Springs went first and third, respectively, in 1997.
The highest pick since then was David Boston, eighth in 1999.
Linebacker Bobby Carpenter likely will go in the first round, and most projections have some combination of cornerback Ashton Youboty, safety Donte Whitner and center Nick Mangold as first-rounders, as well.
If all six of those players are firstrounders, it would tie Miami’s record, set in 2004.
"That would be great," Mangold said. "Could we find one more (first-rounder)? Could we sneak another one in there? I always like beating Miami."
Seven is not going to happen, but OSU could have as many as nine first-day picks (top three rounds) and possibly 13 selections overall. Realistically, the total should be 10 to 12.
That’s a hair shy of the Buckeyes’ seven-round record of 14, set in 2004, but it’s plenty good enough for Tressel to use in the living rooms of high-school prospects.
Prep stars know which colleges are producing NFL talent at which positions, and OSU plays to that, devoting two media guide pages to the school’s NFL draft history, one listing every draft pick and another listing first-rounders.
"I think it helps (recruiting) significantly," Tressel said. "It’s huge for us.
"It shows that our guys are coming here with a lot of promise, and they’re fulfilling that promise and getting developed and having a lot of fun.
"The other thing we tell them is that (OSU’s seniors) are all moving toward their degrees, so this must be a good place to be."
The recognition particularly helps recruit out-of-state players who may not have inherent Buckeye leanings. Holmes (from Florida) and Youboty (Texas) both have said OSU’s history of producing first-round draftees at their positions was a major factor in their college choices.
Holmes should become the Buckeyes’ fifth first-round receiver since 1995, and Youboty could be OSU’s sixth first-round corner in the past 10 drafts.
In any case, it should be a fun day or two for Tressel and his players.
"I know everybody is going to be calling each other every time they hear one of our names, ‘Hey, man, congratulations,’ " safety Nate Salley said. "I think it’s going to be a great day for us."
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Dispatch
4/29
There are many ways to prepare for draft
Ex-Ohio State players received help from different sources
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--> <table class="phototableright" align="right" border="0"> <!-- begin large ad code --> <tbody><tr><td> <table align="center"></table> </td></tr> </tbody> </table>
To stay or not to stay? That was the question many Ohio State prospects pondered as they prepared for the NFL draft today.
Did they want to stay in Columbus the past few months and continue working with OSU strength and conditioning coaches Allan Johnson, Bernardo Amerson and Butch Reynolds? Or did they want to venture elsewhere, to specialist shops in say Cleveland, or Orlando, Fla.?
Some, such as linebackers A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter, and defensive end Mike Kudla, did most of their work at Ohio State. Receiver Santonio Holmes and cornerback Ashton Youboty spent much of their time at the Tom Shaw camp in Orlando, and Donte Whitner, one of the fastest risers on the board the past few weeks, worked out in Cleveland.
"The kids and their agents, they make those decisions, which is OK with us," Johnson said. "But I also feel like we do a pretty good job with the guys who want to stay here."
Carpenter agreed. At the behest of his agent, he did take a couple of trips to the D1 Prospects facility in Nashville, he said, because there they helped him prepare for the interview portion of the process.
"But otherwise I was at Ohio State," Carpenter said. "I was in school for winter quarter, for one thing, and because it’s the place where I thought I’d feel most comfortable getting ready."
He cited the presence of Reynolds, former world recordholder in the 400 meters, as an advantage.
"He’s about the best speed coach you’re going to find anywhere, and he really helps you with the mental side of it," Carpenter said. "He had interesting insights.
"With his track background, he gave us tips on how to pace ourselves, and how to recover from one exercise to the other so we’d be at our best through the afternoon."
As a result, at the combine in Indianapolis, "I ran the best I’ve ever run," said Kudla, whose 4.58-second 40 helped spring him up the prospects . Then there was his effort in the 225-pound bench press. He did it a combine record-tying 45 times.
"Working with coach Johnson and those guys, when it came time to change things up to get ready for the combine, they were able to make a program that fit my lifestyle right away," Kudla said.
All of the Buckeyes benefited from the OSU program the past few years, said Youboty. But when he decided to forgo his senior season, he opted to do his serious prep work in Shaw’s camp. One of the players he worked with was Deion Sanders.
"There were people there from all over the country; in cover drills, sometimes Jay Cutler would be throwing the passes," Youboty said, referring to the highly rated Vanderbilt quarterback. "Along with working out, I learned a lot of new things about playing my position."
Sometimes the mingle means as much as the work. Like at Ohio State, where New England Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel, a former OSU player, calls the Woody Hayes Athletic Center home in the off-season. He even donated $75,000 toward the current $19 million renovation.
When his pro coach Bill Bellichick asked why he works at OSU, Vrabel told him one reason was to keep an eye on the competition.
"Those are the guys trying to take my job," Vrabel said. "I might as well try to figure out what they’re doing. These guys, they drive me to come in there and get better, to maintain the level of performance that I have."
4/29
There are many ways to prepare for draft
Ex-Ohio State players received help from different sources
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--> <table class="phototableright" align="right" border="0"> <!-- begin large ad code --> <tbody><tr><td> <table align="center"></table> </td></tr> </tbody> </table>
To stay or not to stay? That was the question many Ohio State prospects pondered as they prepared for the NFL draft today.
Did they want to stay in Columbus the past few months and continue working with OSU strength and conditioning coaches Allan Johnson, Bernardo Amerson and Butch Reynolds? Or did they want to venture elsewhere, to specialist shops in say Cleveland, or Orlando, Fla.?
Some, such as linebackers A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter, and defensive end Mike Kudla, did most of their work at Ohio State. Receiver Santonio Holmes and cornerback Ashton Youboty spent much of their time at the Tom Shaw camp in Orlando, and Donte Whitner, one of the fastest risers on the board the past few weeks, worked out in Cleveland.
"The kids and their agents, they make those decisions, which is OK with us," Johnson said. "But I also feel like we do a pretty good job with the guys who want to stay here."
Carpenter agreed. At the behest of his agent, he did take a couple of trips to the D1 Prospects facility in Nashville, he said, because there they helped him prepare for the interview portion of the process.
"But otherwise I was at Ohio State," Carpenter said. "I was in school for winter quarter, for one thing, and because it’s the place where I thought I’d feel most comfortable getting ready."
He cited the presence of Reynolds, former world recordholder in the 400 meters, as an advantage.
"He’s about the best speed coach you’re going to find anywhere, and he really helps you with the mental side of it," Carpenter said. "He had interesting insights.
"With his track background, he gave us tips on how to pace ourselves, and how to recover from one exercise to the other so we’d be at our best through the afternoon."
As a result, at the combine in Indianapolis, "I ran the best I’ve ever run," said Kudla, whose 4.58-second 40 helped spring him up the prospects . Then there was his effort in the 225-pound bench press. He did it a combine record-tying 45 times.
"Working with coach Johnson and those guys, when it came time to change things up to get ready for the combine, they were able to make a program that fit my lifestyle right away," Kudla said.
All of the Buckeyes benefited from the OSU program the past few years, said Youboty. But when he decided to forgo his senior season, he opted to do his serious prep work in Shaw’s camp. One of the players he worked with was Deion Sanders.
"There were people there from all over the country; in cover drills, sometimes Jay Cutler would be throwing the passes," Youboty said, referring to the highly rated Vanderbilt quarterback. "Along with working out, I learned a lot of new things about playing my position."
Sometimes the mingle means as much as the work. Like at Ohio State, where New England Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel, a former OSU player, calls the Woody Hayes Athletic Center home in the off-season. He even donated $75,000 toward the current $19 million renovation.
When his pro coach Bill Bellichick asked why he works at OSU, Vrabel told him one reason was to keep an eye on the competition.
"Those are the guys trying to take my job," Vrabel said. "I might as well try to figure out what they’re doing. These guys, they drive me to come in there and get better, to maintain the level of performance that I have."
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0
DDN
4/29
First round should be filled with Buckeyes
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
COLUMBUS | Ohio State center Nick Mangold comes from a tight-knit family, but he isn't sure how much of a sanctuary his home will be as the NFL draft unfolds today.
<!--endtext-->
<!-- inset --> <!--begintext--> Waiting to be picked can be brutal on a player, and the agonizing process can leave the rest of the clan with such frayed nerves that they're ready for a visit from the guys in the white jackets, too.
Asked what he'll be doing during the draft, Mangold said: "I just hope my family doesn't lose their minds waiting. Hopefully, we're going to get a good game of Monopoly going to take our minds off things."
Mangold may have to endure a day of stress, but he'll probably end up acquiring plenty of cash and real estate — and it won't be the kind issued by Parker Bros., either.
The Alter grad is almost assured of being the first center selected, and most mock drafts have him going in the first round. Although Minnesota's Greg Eslinger swept the postseason awards at the position, NFL scouts give Mangold a much higher rating.
"They always knew he was a good run blocker, and at this stage he's become a good pass blocker as well," draft expert Jerry Jones said. "He's probably 50 picks ahead of the next center."
Jones, who has been publishing his Drugstore List of draft ratings for 29 years, believes the 6-foot-4, 300-pound Mangold is a lock for the first round. And he's considered by many to be the second-best offensive lineman available behind Virginia tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson.
For a player who never really considered himself NFL-worthy — he joked during the season that he just wanted a job as future millionaire A.J. Hawk's pool boy — Mangold is finding the whole draft experience somewhat surreal.
"Right now, it's all a dream," he said. "I'm just going through it and trying to remember as much as I can — because I know it's going to end very quickly."
The Buckeyes set the seven-round draft record with 14 selections in 2004, and they could have as many as 12 players taken this year — with perhaps six going in the first round.
"This draft isn't going to rival that one (in '04) in numbers," Jones said, "but it's certainly going to rival any one they've had in quality."
Hawk, receiver Santonio Holmes and safety Donte Whitner are considered sure first-rounders. And linebacker Bobby Carpenter and cornerback Ashton Youboty also could be among the first 32 picks.
Miami set the first-round record with six in 2004 and had five in '02, while the only other team with five first-rounders was Southern Cal in 1968. OSU has never had more than four.
Jones predicted guard Rob Sims, defensive end Mike Kudla, safety Nate Salley and kicker Josh Huston would be second-day selections (rounds four through seven), while linebacker Anthony Schlegel and defensive tackle Marcus Green figure to be either late picks or signed as free agents.
Sims, a four-year starter and the son of a former NFL player, plans to avoid as much of the two-day event as possible, knowing his future paydays diminish the longer he's forced to wait.
"I won't watch one bit," he said. "To be honest, it's really like watching yourself lose money. You're sitting there watching and saying, 'I have a chance to go here. Oh, they didn't take me. I just lost $100,000.'
"(But) my dad taught me it's not about one day. It's about 10 years-plus. That's my goal."
4/29
First round should be filled with Buckeyes
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
COLUMBUS | Ohio State center Nick Mangold comes from a tight-knit family, but he isn't sure how much of a sanctuary his home will be as the NFL draft unfolds today.
<!--endtext-->
<!-- inset --> <!--begintext--> Waiting to be picked can be brutal on a player, and the agonizing process can leave the rest of the clan with such frayed nerves that they're ready for a visit from the guys in the white jackets, too.
Asked what he'll be doing during the draft, Mangold said: "I just hope my family doesn't lose their minds waiting. Hopefully, we're going to get a good game of Monopoly going to take our minds off things."
Mangold may have to endure a day of stress, but he'll probably end up acquiring plenty of cash and real estate — and it won't be the kind issued by Parker Bros., either.
The Alter grad is almost assured of being the first center selected, and most mock drafts have him going in the first round. Although Minnesota's Greg Eslinger swept the postseason awards at the position, NFL scouts give Mangold a much higher rating.
"They always knew he was a good run blocker, and at this stage he's become a good pass blocker as well," draft expert Jerry Jones said. "He's probably 50 picks ahead of the next center."
Jones, who has been publishing his Drugstore List of draft ratings for 29 years, believes the 6-foot-4, 300-pound Mangold is a lock for the first round. And he's considered by many to be the second-best offensive lineman available behind Virginia tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson.
For a player who never really considered himself NFL-worthy — he joked during the season that he just wanted a job as future millionaire A.J. Hawk's pool boy — Mangold is finding the whole draft experience somewhat surreal.
"Right now, it's all a dream," he said. "I'm just going through it and trying to remember as much as I can — because I know it's going to end very quickly."
The Buckeyes set the seven-round draft record with 14 selections in 2004, and they could have as many as 12 players taken this year — with perhaps six going in the first round.
"This draft isn't going to rival that one (in '04) in numbers," Jones said, "but it's certainly going to rival any one they've had in quality."
Hawk, receiver Santonio Holmes and safety Donte Whitner are considered sure first-rounders. And linebacker Bobby Carpenter and cornerback Ashton Youboty also could be among the first 32 picks.
Miami set the first-round record with six in 2004 and had five in '02, while the only other team with five first-rounders was Southern Cal in 1968. OSU has never had more than four.
Jones predicted guard Rob Sims, defensive end Mike Kudla, safety Nate Salley and kicker Josh Huston would be second-day selections (rounds four through seven), while linebacker Anthony Schlegel and defensive tackle Marcus Green figure to be either late picks or signed as free agents.
Sims, a four-year starter and the son of a former NFL player, plans to avoid as much of the two-day event as possible, knowing his future paydays diminish the longer he's forced to wait.
"I won't watch one bit," he said. "To be honest, it's really like watching yourself lose money. You're sitting there watching and saying, 'I have a chance to go here. Oh, they didn't take me. I just lost $100,000.'
"(But) my dad taught me it's not about one day. It's about 10 years-plus. That's my goal."
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0
DDN
4/29
What they're saying about Ohio State's top six
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
Ohio State could have as many as six players taken in the first round of the NFL draft today. That would tie the record set by Miami in 2004.
<!--endtext-->
<!-- inset --> <!--begintext--> Gil Brandt, senior analyst for NFL.com and a former Dallas Cowboys vice president of player personnel, and draft expert Jerry Jones were asked to weigh in on the Buckeyes' super six.
A.J. Hawk, LB, 6-1, 248
"Hawk is everything you want in a football player, on and off the field. He may be the best player in this draft. We put a premium on quarterbacks, offensive left tackles and defensive right ends, and he doesn't play one of those positions. But he will be a great player for a lot of years in the NFL." — G.B.
Santonio Holmes, WR, 5-11, 188 "I think Holmes is coming along well, but he's got a little 'show' in him. It's become a disease of wide receivers. You're coming in as a rookie (saying), 'Just wait till they see what I can do.' But wait till you get knocked on your butt a couple times and get taken out of the play." — J.J.
Donte Whitner, DB, 5-10, 205 "It's difficult, if you look at the history, to turn down an Ohio State defensive back. There are so many in the NFL doing well, you think you ought to take a chance on that guy." — J.J.
Nick Mangold, C, 6-4, 300 "Centers do not historically get drafted high, but he'll be a longtime player in the league. He's got everything you want in that position. The guy's got athletic ability. He's got strength. He's got quick feet. He's just a very good player." — G.B.
Ashton Youboty, CB, 6-0, 190 "In general, I think he covered very well. But being relatively young at the job, what bothered me was that he took chances. That's brilliant when you're right, but you look really bad when you're wrong. — J.J.
Bobby Carpenter, LB, 6-3, 256 "He has a fire that won't go out. During the NFL interview process, he turned off some people. But at pro day, he ran the 40 even though he wasn't well (while still recovering from a broken leg). That's gutty and has to impress somebody." — J.J.
4/29
What they're saying about Ohio State's top six
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
Ohio State could have as many as six players taken in the first round of the NFL draft today. That would tie the record set by Miami in 2004.
<!--endtext-->
<!-- inset --> <!--begintext--> Gil Brandt, senior analyst for NFL.com and a former Dallas Cowboys vice president of player personnel, and draft expert Jerry Jones were asked to weigh in on the Buckeyes' super six.
A.J. Hawk, LB, 6-1, 248
"Hawk is everything you want in a football player, on and off the field. He may be the best player in this draft. We put a premium on quarterbacks, offensive left tackles and defensive right ends, and he doesn't play one of those positions. But he will be a great player for a lot of years in the NFL." — G.B.
Santonio Holmes, WR, 5-11, 188 "I think Holmes is coming along well, but he's got a little 'show' in him. It's become a disease of wide receivers. You're coming in as a rookie (saying), 'Just wait till they see what I can do.' But wait till you get knocked on your butt a couple times and get taken out of the play." — J.J.
Donte Whitner, DB, 5-10, 205 "It's difficult, if you look at the history, to turn down an Ohio State defensive back. There are so many in the NFL doing well, you think you ought to take a chance on that guy." — J.J.
Nick Mangold, C, 6-4, 300 "Centers do not historically get drafted high, but he'll be a longtime player in the league. He's got everything you want in that position. The guy's got athletic ability. He's got strength. He's got quick feet. He's just a very good player." — G.B.
Ashton Youboty, CB, 6-0, 190 "In general, I think he covered very well. But being relatively young at the job, what bothered me was that he took chances. That's brilliant when you're right, but you look really bad when you're wrong. — J.J.
Bobby Carpenter, LB, 6-3, 256 "He has a fire that won't go out. During the NFL interview process, he turned off some people. But at pro day, he ran the 40 even though he wasn't well (while still recovering from a broken leg). That's gutty and has to impress somebody." — J.J.
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4/29
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[FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Ohio State draft possibilities[/FONT]
Saturday, April 29, 2006 Note This list does not include Buckeyes in mock draft at left.
Tyler Everett
S, 5-11, 202
Hard worker with good special-teams potential. ... Quick closer on the ball. ... Overshadowed by three other Buckeye DBs expected to be drafted earlier.
Look for him McKinley graduate could go late on the second day or sign as an undrafted free agent.
Marcus Green
DT, 6-1¼, 295
Game got better every college season. ... Agile and quick, he can make plays down the line if he can shed the block.
Look for him Upside may merit late-round pick.
Ryan Hamby
TE, 6-4, 250
Uses his body to its fullest, but probably lacks the power to handle pro linemen one-on-one. ... Good hands and can make catches in traffic.
Look for him A team without a pass-catching tight end likely will pick up Hamby as a free agent.
Mike Kudla
DE, 6-15/8, 265
Decent pass rusher with good fundamentals against the run ... Quick-footed and hard-hitting, he could find himself at outside linebacker.
Look for him He could go as high as Round 3, but early on Sunday seems more likely.
Nate Salley
S, 6-1¾, 216
Ideal size and speed for safety position with knack for the big hit. ... Needs to work on balance and shedding blockers to excel at the next level.
Look for him Expect
Salley’s name to be called sometime early Sunday.
Anthony Schlegel
LB, 6-0½, 250
Good run stopper who can take on blocks and still make the play. ... Lack of lateral speed makes him a two-down pro linebacker.
Look for him Someone will grab Schlegel on the second day.
Rob Sims
G, 6-2¾, 307
Athletic and quick off the snap, he can pick up stunts and blitzes. ... Needs to work on his range of motion.
Look for him A likely selection somewhere between the end of the third round and the start of the fifth.
Ashton Youboty
CB, 5-11¾, 189
Strong for his size, he has the closing speed to play every down. ... Should develop over time into a starter.
Look for him Someone will be real happy with this second-round pick.
4/29
Comment on this story.
[FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Ohio State draft possibilities[/FONT]
Saturday, April 29, 2006 Note This list does not include Buckeyes in mock draft at left.
Tyler Everett
S, 5-11, 202
Hard worker with good special-teams potential. ... Quick closer on the ball. ... Overshadowed by three other Buckeye DBs expected to be drafted earlier.
Look for him McKinley graduate could go late on the second day or sign as an undrafted free agent.
Marcus Green
DT, 6-1¼, 295
Game got better every college season. ... Agile and quick, he can make plays down the line if he can shed the block.
Look for him Upside may merit late-round pick.
Ryan Hamby
TE, 6-4, 250
Uses his body to its fullest, but probably lacks the power to handle pro linemen one-on-one. ... Good hands and can make catches in traffic.
Look for him A team without a pass-catching tight end likely will pick up Hamby as a free agent.
Mike Kudla
DE, 6-15/8, 265
Decent pass rusher with good fundamentals against the run ... Quick-footed and hard-hitting, he could find himself at outside linebacker.
Look for him He could go as high as Round 3, but early on Sunday seems more likely.
Nate Salley
S, 6-1¾, 216
Ideal size and speed for safety position with knack for the big hit. ... Needs to work on balance and shedding blockers to excel at the next level.
Look for him Expect
Salley’s name to be called sometime early Sunday.
Anthony Schlegel
LB, 6-0½, 250
Good run stopper who can take on blocks and still make the play. ... Lack of lateral speed makes him a two-down pro linebacker.
Look for him Someone will grab Schlegel on the second day.
Rob Sims
G, 6-2¾, 307
Athletic and quick off the snap, he can pick up stunts and blitzes. ... Needs to work on his range of motion.
Look for him A likely selection somewhere between the end of the third round and the start of the fifth.
Ashton Youboty
CB, 5-11¾, 189
Strong for his size, he has the closing speed to play every down. ... Should develop over time into a starter.
Look for him Someone will be real happy with this second-round pick.
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4/29
Banner day for Ohio State in draft
BY MARLA RIDENOUR
Knight Ridder Newspapers
<!-- begin body-content --> CLEVELAND - Those screams heard across Cleveland on Saturday afternoon weren't coming from Jacobs Field. They were emanating from Donte Whitner's draft-day party.
"It was so loud I felt like I was at a football game," Whitner said.
The Ohio State safety provided the most shocking moment in the first round when the Buffalo Bills tabbed the junior from Glenville with the eighth overall pick. The Bills used a first-round selection on a Buckeye defensive back for the third time in eight years as Whitner joined cornerbacks Antoine Winfield in 1999 and Nate Clements in 2001.
With Lombardi Award-winning linebacker A.J. Hawk selected fifth overall by the Green Bay Packers, the Buckeyes had two selections in the top eight for the first time since 1997, when Orlando Pace went No. 1 to the St. Louis Rams and Shawn Springs No. 3 to the Seattle Seahawks.
OSU's draft prospects didn't reach their goal of tying Miami's record with six first-round picks in 2004, but they did manage five. Linebacker Bobby Carpenter was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys at No. 18, receiver Santonio Holmes landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 25 (the Steelers trading up from No. 32 to get him) and center Nick Mangold was selected No. 29 by the New York Jets.
"I'm very excited," Mangold said, referring to his goal of sneaking into the first round. "It was getting a little hairy there."
He will be reunited with fellow Centerville native and ex-Buckeye kicker Mike Nugent.
While ESPN analyst Mel Kiper predicted OSU would have six picked in the top 40 and Browns general manager Phil Savage figured top 50, junior cornerback Ashton Youboty slipped to No. 70, joining Whitner in Buffalo.
Linebacker Anthony Schlegel wasn't far behind Youboty, going No. 76 to the Jets.
When it came to Buckeyes, the team with the most explaining to do was the Bills. Whitner had hoped to go in the middle of the first round, perhaps to the Miami Dolphins at No. 16.
"To be picked in the top 10 as a safety, that's big," Whitner said in a teleconference with Bills writers.
But with safety Troy Polamalu helping to lead the Steelers to the a championship, the position is changing. Bills general manager Marv Levy pointed out that of the strong safeties from the past six Super Bowls - Rod Woodson, Lawyer Malloy, John Lynch, Rodney Harrison and Polamalu - only Harrison didn't make the Pro Bowl and he should have.
"We liked his physical qualities," Levy said of Whitner's 4.38 in the 40 and 40-inch vertical jump. "And we like the way he plays football."
Levy said Whitner is a dedicated "film rat," who plays smart and has coverage ability.
"He has a fantastic motor (and) exhibits a great dedication to the game," Levy said.
Whitner said he couldn't sleep Friday night thinking about the draft. When his name was called, Whitner said, "I had to put my head down. I had tears."
While Whitner was surprised, Hawk got his first choice.
Asked if he was born to be a Packer, Hawk said, "I hope so. The history and tradition, everything going on with the fans, it looks like an unbelievable place to play. It seems to have the same tradition and history like Ohio State."
OSU coach Jim Tressel said he's heard kids ride bicycles to Packers training camp. They might have company.
"I wouldn't be surprised if A.J. rode to practice on a bike as opposed to a big Escalade," Tressel said.
Told that he must work on his Lambeau Leap, Hawk said, "It will be a good problem to have."
4/29
Banner day for Ohio State in draft
BY MARLA RIDENOUR
Knight Ridder Newspapers
<!-- begin body-content --> CLEVELAND - Those screams heard across Cleveland on Saturday afternoon weren't coming from Jacobs Field. They were emanating from Donte Whitner's draft-day party.
"It was so loud I felt like I was at a football game," Whitner said.
The Ohio State safety provided the most shocking moment in the first round when the Buffalo Bills tabbed the junior from Glenville with the eighth overall pick. The Bills used a first-round selection on a Buckeye defensive back for the third time in eight years as Whitner joined cornerbacks Antoine Winfield in 1999 and Nate Clements in 2001.
With Lombardi Award-winning linebacker A.J. Hawk selected fifth overall by the Green Bay Packers, the Buckeyes had two selections in the top eight for the first time since 1997, when Orlando Pace went No. 1 to the St. Louis Rams and Shawn Springs No. 3 to the Seattle Seahawks.
OSU's draft prospects didn't reach their goal of tying Miami's record with six first-round picks in 2004, but they did manage five. Linebacker Bobby Carpenter was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys at No. 18, receiver Santonio Holmes landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 25 (the Steelers trading up from No. 32 to get him) and center Nick Mangold was selected No. 29 by the New York Jets.
"I'm very excited," Mangold said, referring to his goal of sneaking into the first round. "It was getting a little hairy there."
He will be reunited with fellow Centerville native and ex-Buckeye kicker Mike Nugent.
While ESPN analyst Mel Kiper predicted OSU would have six picked in the top 40 and Browns general manager Phil Savage figured top 50, junior cornerback Ashton Youboty slipped to No. 70, joining Whitner in Buffalo.
Linebacker Anthony Schlegel wasn't far behind Youboty, going No. 76 to the Jets.
When it came to Buckeyes, the team with the most explaining to do was the Bills. Whitner had hoped to go in the middle of the first round, perhaps to the Miami Dolphins at No. 16.
"To be picked in the top 10 as a safety, that's big," Whitner said in a teleconference with Bills writers.
But with safety Troy Polamalu helping to lead the Steelers to the a championship, the position is changing. Bills general manager Marv Levy pointed out that of the strong safeties from the past six Super Bowls - Rod Woodson, Lawyer Malloy, John Lynch, Rodney Harrison and Polamalu - only Harrison didn't make the Pro Bowl and he should have.
"We liked his physical qualities," Levy said of Whitner's 4.38 in the 40 and 40-inch vertical jump. "And we like the way he plays football."
Levy said Whitner is a dedicated "film rat," who plays smart and has coverage ability.
"He has a fantastic motor (and) exhibits a great dedication to the game," Levy said.
Whitner said he couldn't sleep Friday night thinking about the draft. When his name was called, Whitner said, "I had to put my head down. I had tears."
While Whitner was surprised, Hawk got his first choice.
Asked if he was born to be a Packer, Hawk said, "I hope so. The history and tradition, everything going on with the fans, it looks like an unbelievable place to play. It seems to have the same tradition and history like Ohio State."
OSU coach Jim Tressel said he's heard kids ride bicycles to Packers training camp. They might have company.
"I wouldn't be surprised if A.J. rode to practice on a bike as opposed to a big Escalade," Tressel said.
Told that he must work on his Lambeau Leap, Hawk said, "It will be a good problem to have."
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