NFL Combine

Now that the 2006 Senior Bowl is over, it is time for the top NFL draft prospects to concentrate on the NFL Combine . The NFL Combine is a showcase for draft bound players from 107 universities, taking place Feb. 22-28 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

Arizona State University has three players participating in the combine. Derek Hagan finished his career as a Sun Devil as possibly the best wide-receiver to ever play for ASU. Hagan is the Pac-10's all-time leader in career receptions with 258, and finished second in conference history with 3,939 career receiving yards. Derek Hagan is a very talented player with good hands and great athleticism. He could be compared to Braylon Edwards, of the Cleveland Browns this year because of his natural talent ability to take over a game. Edwards was Cleveland's first draft pick last year from the University of Michigan.

Dale Robinson is the second Sun Devil headed to the combine. Robinson was a junior transfer who I think proved to be one of the best linebackers in the country. I see Robinson being selected in the second round, perhaps by the Oakland Raiders .

Jamar Williams is the final Sun Devil headed to the 2006 NFL Combine. Williams was a three year starter as a linebacker for ASU. Williams started 35 of 48 career games, had 256 career tackles, 25 tackles were for a loss of yards, seven interceptions and six sacks. I think Williams will still be up for grabs probably until the 4th round.

Quarterbacks and all the hype

Matt Leinart, Vince Young and Jay Cutler have been getting all the quarterback publicity for the 2006 draft. They are not the only talented quarterbacks entering the draft. The media has seemed to forget all about Clemson's Charlie Whitehurst.

This is a quarterback who is gifted with physical and athletic talent, along with the essentials a coach looks for in a leader. Whitehurst has the size, mobility, and exudes the confidence in the pocket to carry his men down the field on a consistent basis. He is a pocket passer more than anything else right now in his career. With a fast release he has the mobility and arm strength to throw on the run, and has the the ability to scramble once he is outside the pocket.


Whitehurst doesn't scramble out of the pocket upon pressure either. He is willing to stay in the pocket to complete the pass, even when the hit is coming. I think this is an important quality to possess as a quarterback. As a passer he is not terrified to make an error, which I find critical, because to develop into a successful quarterback, you've got to be willing to go with your gut and take some risks. While moving in the pocket Whitehurst maintains eye contact with his receivers down field to allow him to make plays.

Whitehurst brought an uncommon maturity and knowledge of the game as the son of former NFL quarterback David Whitehurst. Charlie's father spent seven years as a quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.

The Cleveland Clowns, I mean BROWNS!

There are many versatile young men in this years draft that can greatly help the struggling Browns.

Devin Hester, who introduced himself as "Hester" @ this year's Senior Bowl, is a player who came into last years college football season all the hype as a clutch playmaker, particularly as a punt returner. Him, along with his entire team, had a lackluster season, and even though another year in school may have helped him, he decided to enter this years draft.

Check out his player page: Devin Hester

He has a great deal of of athleticism. The downside is that he might not have a real position after playing a little on defense and a limited role on offense at UM.

He knows he probably won't follow in the recent Miami tradition of early picks who get drafted in the first round, he has chosen the position of cornerback and said he is "ready to contribute in any way possible."

"I'll bring a spark to special teams," he said. "I know that special teams is a key aspect to the game. When I return punts I feel like I can set my offense up with good field position every time I get my hands on the ball. And on defense I'm going to work to become a lockdown corner."

That work began a couple of weeks ago in Orlando, with a cornerback you may have heard of once or twice, Deion Sanders. Sanders and Hester have known each other for years, and Sanders is helping Hester "turn his raw physical talents into skills that will help him succeed in an NFL secondary."

"I look at (Sanders) as my Godfather," Hester said. "There's a lot I can learn from a guy like that, on and off the field."

Another player with many talents, but didn't shine brightly @ Kansas, is Charles Gordon. Also an early entry, Gordon played on both sides of the ball at Kansas and proved to be a dynamic playmaker. He had seven interceptions in 2004, tied for most in the nation, and two more last fall for a Kansas defense that didn't recieve the attention they deserved.

Check out his player bio: Charles Gordon

Gordon leaves a Kansas’ all-time punt return leader and totaled 106 catches for 1,232 yards, including nine touchdowns, as a receiver.

Defensive end Mario Williams from North Carolina State looks like he'll be a high pick. Williams led his team to #8 in defense this past year. At 6-foot-7, 290 pounds Williams holds a great advantage over other prospects that are smaller than him. Although, I see Williams going as the 6th pick to the Oakland Raiders, so the Browns probably won't even get a chance.

Another few players the Browns are considering for later in the draft:

Boston College’s Will Blackmon : cornerback

Missouri's Brad Smith: Looked at as either a QB or runningback

Texas A & M's Brad Smith: Looked at as either a QB or runningback