No Combine No Problem

These are the players that I feel have the best chance of getting drafted at each position despite not being invited to the upcoming combine.

QB: Chris Pizzotti, Harvard:
Prototypical size for a pocket passer, makes very good decisions in the pocket. He was very productive, passing current Cincinnati QB Ryan Fitzpatrick for many of the Crimson Tide passing records.
2008 Stats: 2490yds; 62.7%; 17td; 4int
Projected Measurables: 6'5" 225; 4.90


RB: Devin Moore, Wyoming:
He looks like he could be a very good 3rd down back with his speed and receiving ability. Could also potentially be a kick returner, very fast and elusive in the open field.
2008 Stats: 1301yds; 5.2avg; 7td
Projected Measurables: 5'9" 190; 4.35

FB: Conredge Collins, Pittsburgh:
With the gradual decline of the fullback, versatility is the key here as he can run, catch, and block very well.
2008 Stats: 93yds; 4.0avg; 9rec; 77yds
Projected Measurables: 6'0" 225; 4.65

TE: Ryan Purvis, Boston College:
Wasn't very productive during his senior year, but has soft hands and is a very solid blocker.
2008 Stats: 24rec; 176yds; 7.3ypc
Projected Measurables: 6'4" 255; 4.80

WR: Jamarko Simmons, WMU:
He's a more polished and productive version of Legedu Naanee. Great size for a WR or H-B, doesn't have great speed but can get open and catch the ball very well.
2008 Stats: 104rec; 1276yds; 12.3ypc; 7td
Projected Measurables: 6'2" 240; 4.65


WR: Dobson Collins, Gardner-Webb:
He's smallish but is very athletic and fluid running routes/after the catch.
2008 Stats: 76rec; 937yds; 12.3ypc; 10td
Projected Measurables: 6'1" 180; 4.45

LT: Sebastian Vollmer, Houston:
Great size and good feet, has a lot of potential and has only been playing football for 5 years.
Projected Measurables: 6'7" 315; 5.25

LG: T.J. Lang, EMU:
Consistent and versatile, does everything well and is good at the 2nd level. Can also play OT.
Projected Measurables: 6'4" 310; 5.10

C: Cecil Newton, Tennessee St:
Smallish but athletic, could be a good developmental center for a ZBS team.
Projected Measurables: 6'2" 295; 5.15

RG: Ryan Durand, Syracuse:
Tough guy, good run blocker and pass blocker, polished.
Projected Measurables: 6'5" 305; 5.30

RT: Raphael Nguti, Albany:
He's a huge, mauling RT that had a very good career against a lower level of competition.
Projected Measurables: 6'7" 340; 5.50


DE: Phillip Hunt, Houston:
Very productive pass rusher, doesn't have ideal size but makes up for it with leverage, quickness, and strength.
2008 Stats: 52tkls; 18.5tfl; 14sacks; 3ff; 1fr
Projected Measurables: 6'1" 260; 4.65


DE: Marcus Benard, Jackson St:
He will probably add weight and play DE, but has the athleticism, size and pass rushing ability to possibly be a 3-4 OLB.
2008 Stats: 84tkls; 21.5tfl; 15sacks; 1ff; 2fr
Projected Measurables: 6'4" 270; 4.80


DT: Everette Pedescleaux, Northern Iowa:
Former basketball player is also being looked at as a possible 3-4 DE, should be very impressive in workouts.
2008 Stats: 62tkls; 11.5tfl; 6.5sacks; 3ff
Projected Measurables: 6'6" 305; 4.90

DT: Clinton McDonald, Memphis:
Very athletic and active inside, gets good penetration and had a productive career.
2008 Stats: 39tkls; 7.5tfl; 7sacks; 1ff
Projected Measurables: 6'2" 290; 4.80

ILB: Frantz Joseph, FAU:
Great vs. the run, violent hitter. Struggles a little in coverage but could be a good 2 down LB.
2008 Stats: 154tkls; 9tfl; 1ff; 2fr
Projected Measurables: 6'2" 245; 4.75

OLB: Jason Williams, Western Illinois:
Good size and athleticism, has a lot of potential and looks like a late rounder at this point.
2008 Stats: 67tkls; 17tfl; 4sacks; 6ff
Projected Measurables: 6'1" 240; 4.60

OLB: Ashlee Palmer, Ole Miss:
Looks like he could make the move to SS to me, played well in the Senior Bowl.
2008 Stats: 50tkls; 5tfl; 1sack; 1int; 1ff
Projected Measurables: 6'2" 225; 4.55


CB: D.J. Clark, Idaho St:
Great size and speed for a CB, is expected to perform very well at his pro day, might be asked to make the move to safety.
2008 Stats: 58tkls; 1tfl; 8pbu; 5int; 2fr; 1ff
Projected Measurables: 6'1" 200; 4.45

CB: Mark Parson, Ohio:
Shutdown corner lacks size but is very quick and instinctive in coverage.
2008 Stats: 46tkls; 1tfl; 5pbu; 2int; 1ff
Projected Measurables: 5'9" 190; 4.45

SS: Keith Fitzhugh, Mississippi St:
The best player not invited to the combine in my opinion, offers great support vs. the run and is a playmaker.
2008 Stats: 50tkls; 2.5tfl; 2pbu; 2int; 1fr
Projected Measurables: 5'10" 210; 4.55

FS: Trimane Goddard, North Carolina:
Had a very productive senior season, probably won't wow anybody in workouts but has talent.
2008 Stats: 54tkls; 1.5tfl; 12pbu; 7int; 2ff
Projected Measurables: 5'11" 195; 4.55

RS: Jason Chery, La-Lafayette:
Claims to be able to run in the 4.2's. Showed great balance and quickness as a punt returner at the Texas vs. Nation game. He also brings value as a slot WR, and could easily sneak into the draft with his versatility.
2008 Stats: 44kr; 953yds; 1td
Projected Measurables: 5'10" 190; 4.40


Honorable Mention:
Todd Boeckman, QB/Ohio St
Willie Tuitama, QB/Arizona
Brian Johnson, QB/Utah
Josh Vaughan, RB/Richmond
Aaron Brown, RB/TCU
Antone Smith, RB/Florida St
Frank Summers, RB/FB/UNLV
Travis McCall, H-B/Alabama
Zach Miller, TE/Nebraska-Omaha
Darius Hill, TE/Ball St
Dudley Guice, WR/Northwestern St
D.J. Boldin, WR/Wake Forest
Greg Carr, WR/Florida St
Colin Brown, OT/Missouri
Cedric Dockery, OG/Texas
Rich Ohrnberger, OG/Penn St
Blake Schlueter, C/TCU
Colin Dow, C/Montana
Henry Melton, DE/Texas
Pierre Walters, DE/Eastern Illinois
Julius Williams, DE/LB/Connecticut
Louis Ellis, DT/Shaw
Nader Abdallah, DT/Ohio St
John Faletoese, DT/Cal-Davis
Antonio Appleby, ILB/Virginia
Michael Tauiliili, MLB/Duke
Johnny Williams, OLB/Kentucky
Willie Williams, OLB/Union
Anthony Heygood, OLB/Purdue
Jerome Boyd, OLB/SS/Oregon
William Middleton, CB/Furman
Jamar Love, CB/Arkansas
Ellis Lankster, CB/West Virginia
Londen Fryar, CB/WMU
Dahna Deleston, SS/LB/Connecticut
Nate Ness, FS/Arizona
Dre'Mail Hardin, FS/Stillman
Michael Ray Garvin, RS/CB/Florida St

Top 10 Combine Snubs

The NFL Combine Inviters always miss on some, and this year is no exception. Here's who I feel are the biggest surprise non-invites of the year. And remember, just because a player isn't invited to the combine, it won't ruin his draft chances. There are Pro-Days held by nearly every school after the Combine, and that gives many players the chance to show scouts what they can do.

1. Brian Smith, OLB/Missouri- I have no idea what’s up with this, but it’s one of the biggest surprises that I can remember. Maybe it has something to do with his season-ending injury this season, but he showed enough in the 3 years he played at Mizzou to receive an invite.

2. Brandon Myles, WR/West Virginia- How you can get an invite to the very prestigious Senior Bowl and not be one of the 300 or so players invited to the combine is beyond me. He didn’t do anything to hurt himself at the Senior Bowl, but he didn’t have great statistics in college because of West Virginia’s notorious running game.

3. Kyle Young, C/Fresno St- Believe it or not, many people had him as the top Senior Center in the country coming into the year. Had a sub-par season, but is still as big and strong as ever. Not a great athlete, will probably end up at OG in the NFL.

4. Mel Purcell, DE/Hawaii- In several Hawaii games that I saw, he actually impressed me just as much as (or maybe even more than) more heralded teammate (and one-time member of Mel Kiper’s Big Board) Ikaika Alama-Francis. Has all the tools to be successful in the NFL.

5. T.J. Downing, OG/Ohio St- Versatile technician with an excellent work ethic and a lot of experience. Really impressed me in the East-West Shrine game with his excellent hand-placement, strong base, and good feet. Not the greatest athlete, but, and remember I said this; he will START in the NFL someday.

6. Boo McLee, LB/West Virginia- I don’t know what the Combine Inviters have against West VA, but here’s another Senior Bowl player that failed to receive an invite. Did nothing but impress me with his solid speed for his size, and has been very productive over his career at WVU.

7. Justise Hairston, RB/Central Conn St- Has an excellent combination of size and athleticism. Transferred from Rutgers after Ray Rice and Brian Leonard took most of his P.T., but looked like a star earlier in his career over there. Impressed me in the Hula Bowl.

8. Tyler Ecker, TE/Michigan- He’s always been a good receiving TE, shows soft hands and above average athleticism, but really improved his blocking this year. Has all the tools to make it at the next level.

9. Brett Ratliff, QB/Utah- I really thought he’d show off his arm, size, and overall skills at the Combine, but he didn’t get an invite. Didn’t have a great senior season, was a little inconsistent but there’s no doubting his physical skills.

10. Joe Anoai, DL/Georgia Tech- Nobody knows what position he will end up at, (I think it’s 3-4 DE), but he’s a football player. He’s equally disruptive against the pass and the run. He’s a ‘tweener, lacks the athleticism to be a full time DE, size to be DT.

And finally, I haven't had time yet to come up with scouting reports on all these players, but here is my 1st annual "All-Combine-Snub Team"

QB: Brett Ratliff, Utah
RB: Justise Hairston, Central Conn St
FB: Jackie Battle, Houston
TE: Tyler Ecker, Michigan
WR: Brandon Myles, West Virginia
WR: Maurice Price*, Charleston Southern
LT: Daniel Inman, Georgia
LG: Kurt Quarterman, Louisville
C: Kyle Young, Fresno St
RG: T.J. Downing, Ohio St
RT: Peter Dyakowski, LSU

DE: Mel Purcell, Hawaii
DE: Darius Sanders, Oregon
DT: Joe Anoai, Georgia Tech
DT: Ola Dagunduro, Nebraska
MLB: Boo McLee, West Virginia
OLB: Brian Smith, Missouri
OLB: Mickey Pimentel, Cal
CB: Ramzee Robinson, Alabama
CB: John Talley, Duke
SS: Joe Sturdivant, SMU
FS: Andrew Shanle, Nebraska

JP