Riley Cooper, WR, Florida Height: 6-3. Weight: 219.
Projected 40 Time: 4.45.
Combine 40 Time: 4.52.
Vertical: . Broad: .
Projected Round (2010): 3-4.
3/17/10: Riley Cooper didn’t run at his Pro Day, but looked very good working out with Tim Tebow.
1/19/10: Riley Cooper had a fantastic finish to his senior year, concluding with 51 receptions for 961 yards and nine touchdowns.
10/10/09: Nice measurables, but not much else. Has 15 receptions in four games.
Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida – Scouting Report Height: 6-6. Weight: 279.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Combine 40 Time: 4.66.
Pro Day 40 Time: 4.61.
Benchx225: 22. Vertical: .
Projected Round (2010): 1-2.
3/17/10: No surprise that Carlos Dunlap ran a 4.61 at his Pro Day (and on a wet field, no less). Though Dunlap likes to fall asleep at intersections at 2 o’clock in the morning, some team will probably reach for him in the second half of Round 1.
1/12/10: Carlos Dunlap has declared for the 2010 NFL Draft. Dunlap was charged with a DUI earlier in the year and has bouts of laziness. His athleticism and upside could get him drafted in the first round.
11/14/09: Has major bouts with laziness and lethargy. Matt McGuire goes them into detail in his blog entry about why Carlos Dunlap is overrated.
Al Davis or another clueless general manager may take Dunlap in the first round, but there’s a good chance that like Calais Campbell, he falls into Round 2.
Joe Haden, Florida – Scouting Report Height: 5-11. Weight: 189.
Projected 40 Time: 4.43.
Combine 40 Time: 4.57.
Pro Day 40 Time: 4.43.
Benchx225: 18. Vertical: .
Projected Round (2010): Top 13 Pick.
3/17/10: It’s amazing how much faster your 40 can get when you don’t have a back sprain. Joe Haden was never a 4.5X guy; there was never a doubt in my mind. And to top it off, Haden’s 40 came on a wet field, so scouts are reportedly going to subtract .05 seconds off Haden’s 40. Not that it should be a big deal or anything. Haden will be selected anywhere from Cleveland No. 7 to San Francisco’s first pick (No. 13).
3/3/10: A lot is being made of Joe Haden’s horrific 40 time of 4.57. I personally don’t think it’s a big deal. The instant Haden got into his stance, Deion Sanders nearly had a seizure. Deion noted that the stance was terrible, and sure enough, Haden got off to a poor start both times. He’ll likely improve his 40 at his Pro Day. Haden is still an option for the Browns at No. 7, but there’s a greater chance he falls out of the top 10 now.
1/4/10: Joe Haden has declared for the 2010 NFL Draft. Haden will be the first cornerback taken and has a shot at being selected in the top 10.
3/7/09: Replaced Donovan Warren as the top 2011 cornerback prospect. Joe Haden, qualifying for the All-SEC Second Team, broke up an amazing 12 passes. He also had 87 tackles and three interceptions.
8/5/08: Started all but one game as a true freshman. Joe Haden broke up 12 passes and managed 63 tackles.
Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida – Scouting Report Height: 6-3. Weight: 243.
Projected 40 Time: 4.56.
Pro Day 40 Time: 4.58.
Benchx225: 30. Vertical: 33. Arm: 32 1/4.
Projected Round (2010): 2-3.
3/17/10: Ran about what I projected. What hurts Aaron Hernandez is his blocking.
2/26/10: Aaron Hernandez weighed in at 6-2, 245, but had an arm length of just 32 1/4 inches. Unlike Jermaine Gresham and Rob Gronkowski, Hernandez is not much of a blocker, and that arm length severely compromises his ability to become successful in that department.
1/6/10: Aaron Hernandez has declared for the 2010 NFL Draft. Hernandez had a monstrous year (68 catches, 850 yards, 5 TDs), and with Tim Tebow leaving, the time is right for Hernandez to move on as well.
2/8/09: Aaron Hernandez finished his sophomore campaign with 34 receptions, 381 yards and five touchdowns. He’ll be the go-to tight end next year, and may choose to declare with Tim Tebow.
7/27/08: As a freshman, Aaron Hernandez caught nine passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns in a crowded Florida receiving corps. Keep in mind that six of those nine receptions came in the final three weeks of the season. Hernandez figures to dazzle at the combine with a very quick 40.
Maurkice Pouncey, C/G, Florida Height: 6-4. Weight: 306.
Projected 40 Time: 5.15.
Combine 40 Time: 5.23.
Benchx225: 26. Arm: 32 1/2.
Projected Round (2010): 1-2.
3/17/10: Aside from the drills, only benched (26 reps) and did the vertical (27 inches) at his Pro Day. Looked solid in the drills.
1/12/10: Maurkice Pouncey has declared for the 2010 NFL Draft. Pouncey is a versatile player who can play center, guard and right tackle. He could be drafted early on Day 2.
Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida – Scouting Report Height: 6-3. Weight: 253.
Projected 40 Time: 4.74.
Pro Day 40 Time: 5.03.
Benchx225: 27. Vertical: 36.5.
Projected Round (2009): 3-4.
3/17/10: Wow. I had Brandon Spikes going at the end of Round 2, thinking he’d slip because of a 4.8X 40. But he ran a 5.03 at his Pro Day – a slower time than some of the offensive linemen at the Combine. Spikes is now a 3-4 only linebacker, and there’s a very good chance he’ll fall into Round 4.
3/2/10: Brandon Spikes did all of the drills at the Combine, but decided to skip the 40. There’s probably a good reason why. His range remains a concern.
1/8/10: Brandon Spikes made a huge mistake by returning to school for his senior year. Some of his flaws were exposed, and it’s looking like he’ll need a help to be drafted in the first round. Spikes had 68 tackles and six TFL in 2009.
1/10/09: In addition to a win over Oklahoma in college football’s runner-up championship, Spikes tallied 87 tackles, eight TFL, two sacks, four picks (two for TDs) and two passes broken up as a junior.
12/7/08: Brandon Spikes has been a beast this year, and is almost a first-round lock. Going into the SEC Championship, Spikes recorded 80 tackles, eight TFL, two sacks and four picks (two returned for touchdowns.)
5/11/08: In addition to being a sound tackler (a whopping 131 stops in 2007), Brandon Spikes is also great in pass coverage.
2007: The centerpiece of Florida’s defense despite being only a sophomore. Either leading the Gators in tackles or sacking opposing quarterbacks on multiple occasions every single week.
Tim Tebow, QB, Florida – Scouting Report Height: 6-3. Weight: 236.
Projected 40 Time: 4.64.
Combine 40 Time: 4.72.
Hand: 10 1/8.
Projected Round (2010): 1-2.
3/17/10: Tim Tebow really improved his mechanics and looked solid at his Pro Day. He’s made great strides in such a short period of time, so there’s no denying he’ll be able to fix almost everything by the time a team asks him to start in the NFL. Said Mike Mayock: “Tim Tebow made more progress than I expected between the Senior Bowl and his pro day … don’t bet against this kid.”
3/11/10: Tim Tebow scored a 22 on his Wonderlic exam. Nothing of significance there.
2/27/10: Mike Holmgren all but said the Browns weren’t interested in Tim Tebow during Friday’s press conference at the Combine. Holmgren called Tebow a “great person” and said “he’s someone you want on your football team.” Holmgren also wished Tebow good luck in his pro career, but openly questioned his ability to transition to the NFL and seemed to shurg off the notion that Tebow has a chance of joining the Browns.
1/31/10: The good: The Senior Bowl was sold out because everyone wanted to see Tim Tebow. Whenever Tebow ran onto the field, he was greeted by a standing ovation. Whenever he wasn’t in the game, the crowd chanted, “We Want Tee-Bow!” Thousands of people went to Alabama just to see him practice. He has a huge following, and you’re lying to yourself if you think he wouldn’t sell out Jaguars games for at least two years.
The bad: Tebow is not ready to play in the NFL. He made a couple of nice, NFL-type passes in this game, but he’s not comfortable playing under center; his throwing motion is way too slow; and he exposes the ball in the pocket, making him prone to fumbling. Tebow has the arm and the skill set to be a starting NFL quarterback, but it’ll take him time to develop.
All in all, my opinion of Tebow hasn’t changed. He’ll make tons of money for his new owner, and even though he’s a project, he’s not someone I’d want to bet against.
1/15/10: I find it amazing that people love to hate on Tim Tebow and are all about supporting QB Dog Killer. Crazy world we live in. Tebow is a strong-armed, accurate passer (67.8 completion, 9.2 YPA) with a ton of upside. His ability to play in a pro offense, his footwork and slow release are all issues, but I think it’s absolutely naive to dismiss Tebow as a promising quarterback when Vince Wonderlic Young transitioned into a pretty solid NFL quarterback when he played in a similar scheme.
What Tebow gives up in mechanics, he makes up for in work ethic. He won’t be able to step in and play really well right away, but he’s a very promising pro quarterback who will undoubtedly sell tickets and draw fan interest. Click on the link if you don’t believe me.
11/7/09: Tony Dungy said he’d take Tim Tebow over any quarterback in the 2010 NFL Draft. Jon Gruden will as well. Someone will pluck Tebow off the board in the top 25.
10/10/09: Jacksonville owner Wayne Weaver said he would draft Tim Tebow come April. The Jaguars’ No. 1 need right now is to fill seats. Tebow can do that, so even if he busts, he’ll be a great draft pick financially.
5/10/09: Don’t listen to me; Bill Parcells said “Tim Tebow won’t be a top-five pick, but he’ll be a top-10 pick.” Jon Gruden, meanwhile, said Tebow would “revolutionize the game.” If Pat White was drafted in Round 2, I think Tebow has a shot of getting drafted in the first round.
12/20/08: Everyone knows what sort of an athlete Tim Tebow is. Even if he fails at quarterback, he still has a spot in the league. His greatest challenge will be adjusting from the spread offense to a pro-style attack. But many spread quarterbacks have been taken in the first round, including another Urban Meyer product (Alex Smith). Tebow has a much higher ceiling than the small-handed Smith, who was a fumbling machine waiting to happen.
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