Underclassman Update (Defense)
Friday December 9, 2005
Wednesday we touched on the decisions facing many of the top underclassmen on the offensive side of the ball, so now it's time to discuss the potential of the top junior defensive prospects forgoing their senior seasons and entering the 2006 NFL Draft. Two Purdue defenders, defensive end Ray Edwards and safety Bernard Pollard, have already made public their intentions to turn pro, and both have the potential to be late first-day picks. But there are a lot of guys who are still on the fence.
North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams is almost a sure bet to skip his senior season. He's probably a solid top-ten pick at this time and there's not much more he can do at the collegiate level to improve his standing. Fellow defensive end Quentin Moses, from Georgia, isn't quite as good of a bet. In fact, I would be very surprised if he jumped ship this year. But should he forego his final year of eligibility, he'd probably be lucky to be picked on the first day of the draft.
Another key defensive lineman who has yet to make a commitment is Oregon's Haloti Ngata. If he were to enter the draft, he would probably be the top nose tackle prospect. Injuries have been a concern, but he's likely to be a mid first-rounder anyway. At this point, I'd say his chances of joining the NFL early are about 75%.
An already strong linebacker class could get a lot stronger with the presence of Virginia's Ahmad Brooks, Penn State's Paul Posluzny, and Florida State's Ernie Sims. Ahmad Brooks has had some injury concerns of his own, but all indications point toward him declaring for the draft where he would probably be a top-ten pick if not for the durability questions. Brooks could slip come draft day, but he won't fall out of the first round.
Posluzny has a chance to slip into the latter part of the first round, but I've been told he will not leave Penn State until after the 2006 season. Sims draft value is similar, and the chances of him turning pro are higher than those of Posluzny, but at this point, I'd put him at just 50/50.
A pair of defensive backs from Miami, cornerback Devin Hester and free safety Brandon Meriweather, have already said they will return to school, but don't be surprised if Meriweather reconsiders after the team's appearance in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Hester, who shows great potential and tremendous inconsistency, will not however. The plan right now is for him to return to Miami where he will make the conversion to wide receiver next season.
A pair of safeties who everyone is waiting to hear from are USC's Darnell Bing and LSU's LaRon Landry. However, both are being very tight-lipped at this time. If they do decide to turn pro, both are potential first-round picks. A mid-round prospect at free safety, Donte Whitner of Ohio State, is said to be leaning toward joining the NFL in 2006.
North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams is almost a sure bet to skip his senior season. He's probably a solid top-ten pick at this time and there's not much more he can do at the collegiate level to improve his standing. Fellow defensive end Quentin Moses, from Georgia, isn't quite as good of a bet. In fact, I would be very surprised if he jumped ship this year. But should he forego his final year of eligibility, he'd probably be lucky to be picked on the first day of the draft.
Another key defensive lineman who has yet to make a commitment is Oregon's Haloti Ngata. If he were to enter the draft, he would probably be the top nose tackle prospect. Injuries have been a concern, but he's likely to be a mid first-rounder anyway. At this point, I'd say his chances of joining the NFL early are about 75%.
An already strong linebacker class could get a lot stronger with the presence of Virginia's Ahmad Brooks, Penn State's Paul Posluzny, and Florida State's Ernie Sims. Ahmad Brooks has had some injury concerns of his own, but all indications point toward him declaring for the draft where he would probably be a top-ten pick if not for the durability questions. Brooks could slip come draft day, but he won't fall out of the first round.
Posluzny has a chance to slip into the latter part of the first round, but I've been told he will not leave Penn State until after the 2006 season. Sims draft value is similar, and the chances of him turning pro are higher than those of Posluzny, but at this point, I'd put him at just 50/50.
A pair of defensive backs from Miami, cornerback Devin Hester and free safety Brandon Meriweather, have already said they will return to school, but don't be surprised if Meriweather reconsiders after the team's appearance in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Hester, who shows great potential and tremendous inconsistency, will not however. The plan right now is for him to return to Miami where he will make the conversion to wide receiver next season.
A pair of safeties who everyone is waiting to hear from are USC's Darnell Bing and LSU's LaRon Landry. However, both are being very tight-lipped at this time. If they do decide to turn pro, both are potential first-round picks. A mid-round prospect at free safety, Donte Whitner of Ohio State, is said to be leaning toward joining the NFL in 2006.
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