DRAFT TRACKER 2008

Brown was a very productive three-year starter in New Mexico's wide-open offense. Joined teammate Marcus Smith as first team All-Mountain West selections in 2007 with 1,031 yards on 76 catches (13.6 per) and six touchdowns.

With all of the attention heaped upon LSU's Glenn Dorsey and Southern California's Sedrick Ellis, some might be surprised to note Laws is by far and away the most productive defensive tackle eligible for the draft. Utilizing a quick burst, impressive hand technique and a non-stop motor, Laws' team-leading 112 tackles ranks only one behind Steve Niehaus as the most in Irish history from a defensive lineman. A strong performance at the Senior Bowl proved Laws wasn't a product of a leaky Notre Dame defense, but a standout despite it.

Steadily improving prospect whose combination of great size and effort make him a draftable commodity, but a bit of an enigma. Polumbus developed into Colorado's starting left tackle over the past two seasons. However, despite his size, he leans more on his athleticism and balance than physicality in making effective blocks. The second team All-Big 12 honoree learned to use his hands better and take more advantage of his surprisingly quick feet, but he struggles with balance at times and needs to improve on sustaining his blocks.

One of only two long-snappers invited to the Combine, Schmitt may lack the bulk scouts prefer at the position, but he is among the best in every other facet of the game. Schmitt, who also practiced at linebacker for the Aztecs, had only two career tackles, but his value lies in his deep snapping accuracy and speed. A four-year starter, Schmitt never had a bad snap on punts or field-goal attempts and generates good speed on his snaps.

Johnson's first name is Marcellous, but he goes by his middle name, Tyrell. Opponents worry less about what to call him and more about keeping him out of the running and passing names. A four-time All-Sun Belt selection (first team the past three seasons), Johnson won the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year award in the conference with his all-around game (94 tackles - 58 solo, 4.5 for loss, six interceptions).

Despite his impressive 40 time and success as a kick returner, Branch struggles changing directions. An instinctive, physical defensive back, Branch is best suited to playing cornerback in a two-deep scheme or making the transition to free safety. A team leader, Branch was responsible for the secondary calls from his cornerback position - a role usually reserved for safeties.

Vernon Gholston is a remarkable talent, but he's only just begun realizing his vast potential. He never picked up a football until his sophomore year in high school and had just one season of defensive experience as a linebacker before being converted to defensive end when he arrived at Ohio State. Blessed with incredible speed (clocked at 4.56 in the 40-yard dash), long limbs and superb strength, Gholston is the prototype pass rusher that professional teams look for -- big, fast, strong and explosive. An avid performer in the weight room, he boasted the best bench press on the team at 455 pounds. He also put on an impressive performance for teammates, squatting 405 pounds 20 times. How Gholston was lured into football will one day make a nice story, if he becomes the legendary pass rusher many personnel experts are predicting. Walking in the halls of Cass Technical High School, football coach Thomas Wilcher spotted the 14-year-old strapping youngster, who stood 6-3, 240 pounds at the time. He convinced the player to join the football team. Gholston was too big to play in Detroit's Police Athletic League and the elementary public schools did not offer an organized football program. From the first time he ever stepped on the field, the coaching staff knew they had a natural talent. As a sophomore at Cass Tech, Gholston was first tried at linebacker, but he was overwhelmed by the plays he needed to know to play that position. One of the offensive coaches "stole" the youngster away from the defensive squad and had him play offensive guard as a sophomore. His junior campaign was limited by ankle sprains, which forced him to stay on the offensive line and scrap plans to also play linebacker. By his senior season, he had already earned All-State honors as an offensive lineman and gained experience playing linebacker for the first time in his career. In just one season on defense, he was regarded as one of the best linebackers in the Midwest region. He would go on to record 75 tackles with six sacks in his final season, as Rivals.com rated him the 11th-best defensive end prospect in the nation and the 12th-best overall prospect in the state of Michigan. Gholston enrolled at Ohio State, becoming the only player from Michigan on the squad. He turned down scholarship offers from Michigan, Michigan State and Iowa to join the Buckeyes. The coaching staff immediately began giving him a crash course in playing the "Leo" position, which incorporates dropping into pass coverage and rushing the passer from either side of the field. He mentored under Mike Kudla his first year with the team, appearing in six games as a true freshman in 2004, but did not record a tackle. In 2005, a broken hand suffered in the second game vs. Texas earned Gholston a medical hardship. He had one tackle in that game and spent the rest of the year on the sideline. Gholston used that time wisely in the weight room, bulking up from 238 to 264 pounds, as he took over "Leo" duties in 2006. He garnered All-Big Ten Conference second-team honors, as he ranked fourth in the league with 15 stops for losses of 86 yards and was fifth in the Big Ten with 8.5 sacks. He added a quarterback pressure with two pass breakups and an interception. He also finished sixth on the squad with 49 tackles (21 solo). In 2007, Gholston earned All-American recognition and was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation's top defensive end. He posted 37 tackles (25 solo) and was a terror in the backfield, ranking eighth in the nation with 15.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and second nationally with 14 sacks. He also scooped up a fumble and returned it for a 25-yard touchdown. In 34 games at Ohio State, Gholston started 25 times. He registered 87 tackles (47 solo) with 22.5 sacks for minus-184 yards and 30.5 stops for losses of 199 yards. He had two pass deflections and an eight-yard interception return, as he also recovered a fumble that

The pulse of the Hokies' defense, Vince Hall started 44 consecutive games at Virginia Tech before he was sidelined six games into his senior season by a broken bone in his left wrist. He was one of the reasons the Hokies boasted one of college football's best defenses. During his four seasons at the university, Tech led the nation in total defense after the 2005 (247.62 yards per game) and '06 season (219.46 ypg), while ranking fourth in both '04 (268.0 ypg) and '07 (296.93 ypg). To say that Hall has a "nose for the football" would be selling him short. He recorded 404 tackles during his career and became the ninth player in school history to lead the team in tackles twice in a career. Much like Hall, all the other players to accomplish that feat were linebackers, joining Rick Razzano (1974-77), Ashley Lee (1980-81), Mike Johnson (1982083), Paul Nelson (1985-86), George DelRicco (1994-95), Jamel Smith (1998-99), Ben Taylor (2000-01) and Mikal Baaqee (2003-04). At Western Branch High School, Hall was named 2002 Gatorade Virginia Football Player of the Year. He lettered four seasons as a linebacker and tight end, earning All-American honors from both Super Prep and Prep Star as a linebacker following his senior season. He was a member of Super Prep's Elite 100 and added first-team Class AAA All-State accolades from the Associated Press and the AAA coaches' association on defense, as he was also a second-team choice at tight end. Hall was named to the VHSCA All-Eastern Region first-team on both sides of the ball and was also a member of the first-team All-Tidewater squad as a senior. He earned the Abe Goldblatt Player of the Year Award and was named the Eastern Region and Southeastern District Defensive Player of the Year as both a junior and senior. He also collected first-team All-Southeastern District honors as a sophomore, junior and senior. Hall was a first-team selection to the 2001 AAA Coaches and Associated Press All-State teams at the linebacker spot as a junior. He was also a first-team All-Tidewater selection as a junior and a second-team pick as a sophomore. He was rated the fifth-best inside linebacker in the country and 14th-best player in the Mid-Atlantic region by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report. He was rated the third-best player in Virginia by The Roanoke Times and the state's second-ranked prospect in Virginia by Super Prep. Hall added Norfolk Sports Club Athlete of the Year and Ace Parker Sportsman of the Year accolades during his career. He recorded over 120 tackles, 23 stops for losses and 10 sacks his senior season, as he also had three interceptions. Hall enrolled at Virginia Tech in 2003, spending the year as a middle linebacker on the scout team. He earned Iron Hokie Award (top lifting performances) after the season and used that improved strength to wrest a starting job at left inside linebacker after the 2004 season opener. He would go on to start his next 48 games. In 2004, Hall ranked second on the squad with 64 tackles (21 solo), including a three-yard sack, 4 1/2 stops for losses and seven pressures. He deflected three passes and also caused one fumble. His sophomore year saw Hall lead the team with 112 tackles (43 solo). He added three sacks, ranked third on the squad with 8 1/2 stops behind the line of scrimmage and also finished third with 15 pressures. He returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown and scored again on one of two interception returns while deflecting eight passes. College Football News named Hall to their All-American first-team in 2006, as he also gained All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors. For the second-straight year, he led the team with a career-high 128 tackles (61 solo). He had a pair of sacks, paced the Hokies with 10 1/2 stops for losses and was credited with eight pressures. He caused two fumbles and recovered another while also deflecting one pass. A preseason All-American, Hall's wrist fracture cost him a chance for national honors as a senior, but h

What started out as a promising 2007 season for the Crimson Tide turned into a second-half tailspin, as Alabama lost their final four regular season games. The main culprit was the Tide secondary, which allowed 221.31 yards per game, compared to an average of 173.08 yards the previous season. Among the bright spots was the play of Wallace Gilberry. Gilberry led the team in quarterback sacks and tackles for loss three times during his four-year career. He would finish his career at Alabama second all-time in tackles behind the line of scrimmage (60.5), fifth on the Tide's all-time sack list (21.5) and 10th in quarterback pressures (38). At Baldwin County High School, Gilberry was an unheralded tight end earlier in his career before coming into his own at defensive end during his final prep campaign. He started seven games at tight end as a junior, but made a name for himself on the defensive side of the ball. As a senior, he collected 77 tackles (61 solo) with seven sacks, seven stops for losses, six pass deflections, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. It wasn't long ago that Gilberry's ambitions fell short of the football field. Without recruiting interest from Division I-A schools, he "was hoping to be a manager at IHOP." "I'm being honest with you, I was a server for three months," Gilberry said. "I was working my way up the ladder." Gilberry eventually parlayed an invitation to the Alabama-Mississippi High School All-Star Classic into a college football future. Gilberry finished the all-star game with six tackles and two sacks in a performance deemed "dominating" by Press-Register sports editor Randy Kennedy. Alabama coach Mike Shula took notice. With just over a minute to play, he sacked the Mississippi quarterback for a 14-yard loss in the red zone to help give his team the victory. Coming off a standout high school senior season, Gilberry was redshirted in 2003 at Alabama. He had a banner 2004 preseason camp and carried that momentum over into the season. Despite playing behind Todd Bates at left defensive end for all 12 games, he recorded 28 tackles (14 solo) with seven pressures, leading the Tide with 6.5 sacks and 13 stops for losses. He also caused and recovered a pair of fumbles. In 2005, Gilberry took over left defensive end duties, starting his final 38 games at that position. He registered 37 tackles (16 solo), 1.5 sacks, 10 stops behind the line of scrimmage and six pressures. He also broke up a pass and recovered a fumble. He added 10 pounds of bulk to his frame prior to 2006, going on to post 43 tackles (22 solo) while leading the Tide with 3.5 sacks and 10.5 stops for losses in 2006. He also collected 10 pressures as a junior. The Ted Hendricks Award semifinalist finally received postseason recognition as a senior, being named to the All-Southeastern Conference first-team. He ranked third in the nation and led the SEC with a career-high 27 stops behind the line of scrimmage, the second-highest season total in school history. He finished second on the squad with a career-high 80 tackles (47 solo) and his 10 sacks tied for sixth on the school's single-season chart. He added 15 pressures with two forced fumbles and also batted away a pair of passes. In 50 games at Alabama, Gilberry started 38 contests. He finished with 188 tackles (99 solos), as his 21.5 sacks for minus-135 yards rank fifth in Tide annals. His 60.5 stops for losses of 223 yards rank second and his 38 pressures rank 10th on Alabama's career-record list. He caused four fumbles, recovered three others and deflected four passes.

The leading tackler in the SEC over the past two years, Woodyard is a bit of a 'tweener for the next level. He plays an aggressive brand of football and has proven himself to be a reliable open-field tackler. However, he lacks the size and strength teams prefer at linebacker, really struggling with holding up at the point of attack. Woodyard's rare straight-line speed and fine instincts make him a potential fit as an in-the-box strong safety.

Missouri's excellent season saw the stock of quarterback Chase Daniel, tight ends Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman, freshman phenom Jeremy Maclin and even running back Tony Temple rise to new heights. Lost in the shuffle to most college football fans was the play of Franklin, a big-play threat who averaged more than 14 yards per catch in 2007 and more than 17 in 2006. NFL defenses won't be able to double him as much as Big 12 opponents did, so he should make an impact as a No. 3 receiver relatively quickly in his career.

An undersized developmental prospect, Robinson has the size potential and athletic ability scouts are looking for in a late-round or free-agent practice squad candidate. Though not stout or strong enough at the point of attack, Robinson plays with aggression and flashes good initial quickness and lateral agility. A solid week at the East-West Shrine Game could have made Robinson a draftable commodity.

With all of the attention focused on All-American Antoine Cason, Pac-10 quarterbacks had little choice but to target Fontenot. A four-year starter in his own right - the undersized but scrappy corner became one of the more battle-tested pass defenders in the country. At his size and with only marginal speed, Fontenot isn't flashy, but his experience and combination of man and zone skills could ultimately help him buck the odds as a late-round prospect.

An invaluable performer for the Hokies throughout his career, Xavier Adibi joined Vince Hall in forming one of the best linebacker tandems in college football. The duo would go on to record 695 tackles, 20 1/2 quarterback sacks, 60 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 52 pressures during their time together at Tech. With his excellent range and quickness, Adibi will probably shift to outside linebacker in the NFL. Alert when playing zone coverage, Adibi gets excellent depth on his pass drops, and a team could choose to convert him to strong safety. At Phoebus High School, Adibi was named an All-American by Prep Star as a defensive lineman and an All-American by Super Prep as a linebacker. The 2002 AAA first-team All-State selection by the Associated Press as a defensive lineman, he also earned first-team and Defensive Player of the Year honors on the 2002 AAA coaches All-State team. He received VHSCA All-Eastern Region and Newport News Daily Press All-Star Team honors as a defensive lineman as a senior. He was also a three-time Daily Press All-Star. Adibi was rated the 12th-best player in the Mid-Atlantic region and the top prospect in the state of Virginia by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report. He was ranked the best player in Virginia by The Roanoke Times and rated the fourth-best linebacker in the nation and the premier player in Virginia by Super Prep. He added first-team All-Region accolades, along with picking up first-team AAA Coaches and Associated Press All-State recognition at defensive end as a junior. Adibi helped his team to back-to-back Group AAA championships, leading a Phantoms' defense that held opponents to fewer than five points a game. He finished with a team-best 13 1/2 sacks and 100-plus tackles, including 31 for loss as a senior, as he also rushed for 575 yards and 11 touchdowns at fullback. Adibi enrolled at Virginia Tech in 2003, spending the season on the scout team and was a member of the traveling squad, as his brother, Nathaniel, starred as a defensive end for the Hokies. Xavier Adibi got on the field for seven games as a reserve inside linebacker in 2004, missing six contests after he underwent surgery to repair a torn right biceps muscle, an injury suffered in the season opener vs. Southern California. He would finish the season by posting 25 tackles (21 solo), two sacks and 4 1/2 stops for losses. He also caused a fumble and intercepted a pass. In 2005, Adibi took over right inside linebacker chores. He finished fourth on the squad with 69 tackles (28 solo) in 13 games, also coming up with three sacks and seven stops behind the line of scrimmage. He deflected four passes and picked off two others, returning one 25 yards for a touchdown. As a junior, Adibi received All-Atlantic Coast Conference second-team honors. He ranked second on the squad with 82 tackles (29 solo) in 13 contests at right inside line-backer. He delivered three sacks with 6 1/2 stops for losses, five pressures and three forced fumbles. He recovered a fumble for a touchdown, gained 49 yards on three interception returns and broke up three passes. With Vince Hall injured for part of the season, Adibi handled the leadership role on the nation's fourth-ranked defensive unit. He led the team with a career-high 115 tackles (55 solo), adding three sacks and a team-high 12 stops for losses. He also caused a fumble, deflected five passes and intercepted two others, returning one for a touchdown. That performance earned him All-American and All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team honors. Asked about his breakout 2007 season, Adibi responded, "Plays are happening very slowly for me. I can read much, much quicker before the snap. My run-pass read is much quicker than it's ever been. I am just getting off the ball and getting into my pass drops and getting to the line and getting into my gaps faster. I am feeling real free right now." "He's got great speed," said Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Fos

Omon led NCAA Division II with 2,337 rushing yards (6.3 per attempt) and a whopping 37 touchdowns in 2007, in the process becoming the first back in NCAA history to run for more than 1,500 yards in four different seasons. He's not likely to wow anyone with his straight-line speed, but defenders know how tough he is to bring down.

Gutty, productive back who will have to overcome long odds due to his lack of prototypical size and speed. Similar in some respects to higher profile Mike Hart from Michigan, Bernard is at his best as an interior runner despite his small frame. He packs more power as a runner than his size would indicate, and catches the ball well out of the backfield. Bernard may lack the computer numbers every scout is looking for, but his production (3,862 career rushing yards is sixth in Pac-10 history) speaks for itself.

Junior college transfer from New Mexico Military Institute who was on the way up after a strong finish to the 2005 season, including an interception and five pass breakups in the Alamo Bowl against Michigan. But he redshirted 2006 with a torn left ACL suffered in fall practice, then ruptured his right patella tendon in the spring of 2007 and finally missed time during the 2007 season with a hamstring injury.