DRAFT TRACKER 2008

Felix Jones replaces the departed Julius Jones and will be paired with starter Marion Barber to form a thunder-and-lightning backfield. Barber could be a free agent after next season, so the Cowboys could be looking ahead by drafting Tashard Choice. The Cowboys acquired Adam \"Pacman\" Jones from Tennessee and cornerback Jacques Reeves has shown promise as a nickel corner, but Jones' uncertain status led the Cowboys to make a move in the first round to select Mike Jenkins. Surprisingly, the Cowboys did not address their need for depth at wide receiver.

The highest-rated punter entering 2007 did not disappoint, winning the prestigious Ray Guy award as the nation's best. Guy actually knows the Brooks family, and has worked with Durant over the years. Durant's gross average of 45.1 yards per punt was fifth best in the Football Bowl Subdivision, but his 33 inside the 20 (more than half of his 65 attempts) and 21 fair catches were considerably more than the other punters ranked ahead of him.

Some will question if the Raiders really addressed a need by taking running back Darren McFadden with the No. 4 overall selection. But scoring touchdowns is a need for every team. The Raiders were active in free agency, addressing some of their more obvious needs. The team used only a sixth-round pick to add depth to the offensive and defensive lines, which many felt were the team's most glaring needs. That decision was a bit of a surprise. Seventh-round pick Chaz Schilens brings in some much-needed speed.

Physically imposing tackle with the size, strength and experience in a run-blocking system. A four-year starter and two-time First Team All-ACC selection, Richardson has the name, accolades and girth to rank among the best blockers in the draft. Unfortunately, he lacks the initial foot quickness and balance to effectively counter-act the speed of NFL edge-rushers, making him a middle round prospect -- and one best suited to the right side or guard position in the pros.

Like the rest of the team, Henry really came on in a special 2007 season. He more than doubled his career receiving yardage (1,014) and touchdowns (10) on 54 catches in 2007. His senior year moved him from a free agent possession receiver to a late-round (or higher) potential No. 2 or 3 receiver who can impact a game by moving the chains or getting deep on an opponent's nickelback.

An under-sized, over-achieving back with the versatility to make a club, Brown was one of the SEC's most productive backs over the course of his career. While he lacks prototypical size, Brown runs with surprising power and is a high-effort pass blocker. Brown follows his blockers well and rarely goes down to initial contact despite his size. Though talented and tough, Brown's lack of size and struggles to remain healthy the past two seasons will relegate him to late-round or free agent status.

The NFL is in his blood: father (Marion II) played in the league and brother (Marion III, Dallas Cowboys) is waiting for him there right now. He hasn't showed the promise to be an NFL playmaker quite yet, but then again he didn't have a lot of help on a poor Minnesota defense. It is not a good sign when a strong safety like Barber leads the team in tackles (71 solo, 100 total, 5.5 for loss).

Under-achieving talent who flashes all of the prerequisite skills to be a top prospect, but lacks the focus and work ethic to have taken advantage of his natural ability. Characterized by the Virginia Tech staff as the most gifted of a handful of senior Hokie receivers earning consideration for the NFL, Morgan has a rare combination of size and speed. He flashes the burst out his breaks, hand-eye coordination and strong hands to get scouts excited. Unfortunately, he's also plagued by rounded-off routes, weak effort as a blocker and ugly drops. Perhaps as much as any receiver prospect in the 2008 draft, Morgan is a true boom or bust prospect.

Florida State producing an athletic linebacker seems like an annual rite of passage. Hayes isn't likely to follow Ernie Sims and Lawrence Timmons as underclassmen Seminole linebackers making the first round, but he possesses good instincts for the position to go along with rare speed and an explosive hitting style.

Parmele confirmed his status as a late-round or priority free agent with a solid 2007 campaign. He was first-team All-MAC with 1,511 yards and 14 touchdowns, plus an average of 28.0 yards on 20 kickoff returns with one score. He's a larger back that NFL teams using a power scheme may find intriguing as a reliable backup and short-yardage specialist, possibly more.

With pressing needs defensively, the Bengals moved quickly to take linebacker Keith Rivers in the first round, and found value in underrated defensive tackle Pat Sims in the third. The team lost defensive end Justin Smith in free agency but did not take a pass-rushing replacement. Is the Chad Johnson era over in Cincinnati? The team acted like it was by taking two receivers in the first three rounds.

Taylor Mehlhaff teamed with punter Ken DeBauche to form what many experts felt was the best kicking tandem in college football in recent years. DeBauche left the school ranked second in punting average and total punting yards. Mehlhaff finished his career as Wisconsin's second-leading scorer in school history (295 points) and tied for second all-time in field goals (50). He also holds the Badgers' all-time record by making 145-of-148 extra point attempts. The 2007 Lou Groza Award semifinalist, given to the nation's premier place-kicker, Mehlhaff also garnered All-American first-team honors as a senior. A three-year starter who handled all field goals and extra-point attempts, Mehlhaff was a major reason the opposition consistently had poor field position. In handling kickoff chores, 123 of his attempts were touchbacks and 160 of those kicks were returned for a 19.75-yard average, none for touchdowns. Mehlhaff was a decorated kicker during his time at Aberdeen Central High School. He was rated the premier place-kicker in the prep ranks by Rivals.com, earning All-American first-team honors from Ridell and second-team accolades from USA Today. He was a two-time All-State, All-Area and All-Conference choice on special teams and added All-Conference honors as a quarterback. South Dakota's 2003 Gatorade Player of the Year, he helped lead his team to 12-1 record and runner-up finish in 2003 Class 11AA state finals as a quarterback, strong safety, kicker and punter. The national kickoff champion at Chris Sailer's Kicking Camp, Mehlhaff had more than 93 percent of his kickoffs go for touchbacks and he made 6-of-14 field goals, with a long of 52 yards and 35-of-36 PATs as a senior. He also passed for 1,359 yards and 12 touchdowns, while making 55 tackles on defense. The team captain and MVP lettered four times each in football, hockey and track. He also earned All-State Academic team recognition. Mehlhaff enrolled at Wisconsin in 2004, though Mike Allen was holding down the job as the team's place-kicker. Mehlhaff took over kickoff chores for the Badgers, handling 53 kickoffs for 3,266 yards (61.6-yard distance average) with 18 touchbacks, as the opposition averaged 20.1 yards on 33 kickoff returns. He also made two assisted tackles. In 2005, Mehlhaff handled field goal, placement and kickoff duties. He scored 98 points on 14-of-20 field goals and 56-of-58 PATs. He ranked second in the Big Ten Conference, as he kicked off 81 times for a 60.9-yard distance average, as 45 were returned for an 18.9-yard average and 36 boots resulted in touchbacks. He also posted four tackles (two solo). Mehlhaff was named the team's Special Teams Player of the Year. The Lou Groza Award semifinalist added All-Big Ten Conference second-team honors, as he ranked second on the team with 92 points. He was successful on all 47 extra-point tries and on 15-of-20 field goals. He produced one solo tackle and saw just 32 of his 76 kickoffs (61.6-yard distance average) returned, with 42 resulting in touchbacks. Mehlhaff's senior season was his finest, picking up All-American and All-Big Ten honors. He tied for the conference title and ranked 16th nationally with an average of 1.62 field goals per game. He finished 23rd in the country with just 50 kickoffs returned for a 19.64 average on 77 kicks, with 27 touchbacks. He led the team with a career-high 105 points scored, connecting on 21-of-25 field goals and 42-of-43 extra-point attempts. His 21 field goals rank second on the school single-season list. He also made two tackles. In 51 games at Wisconsin, Mehlhaff handled kickoff duties in each of those contests and field goal/PAT chores in 39 clashes. He connected on 50-of-65 field goals (76.92%) and 145-of-148 extra-point attempts (97.97%) for 295 points, the second-highest total on the school's career scoring list. He recorded nine tackles (four solo) and kicked off 287 times for 18,018 yards (62.78-yard distance average), as 123 of those

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.

The Redskins added receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, giving QB Jason Campbell some big targets. Neither of the team's two starters last season were taller than 6 feet. Washington spent its first four draft picks on offense before adding cornerback Justin Tryon in the fourth round. The team took a flyer on Hawaii QB Colt Brennan, who'll need plenty of work under Jim Zorn to become an NFL signal caller.

A typical Wisconsin interior defensive lineman, Hayden has often been described as a "lunch pail" player. A starter for three years on good Badger squads, Hayden has never been an elite playmaker but is usually in the play. A rock in the middle of a defense, he should fight for a spot in a team's rotation as an early-down wave player.

There may be bigger names in college football, but the statistics prove it - there isn't a more consistent big-play threat in the country than Robinson. At the end of the 2007 season, Robinson became the NCAA career all-purpose yards per play record holder with a 16.16 average on 6,479 career yards in 401 plays. Robinson, or "K-Rob," is a very good athlete with the blend of initial quickness, acceleration and top end speed to help an NFL team early in his career as a receiver and return specialist - a position from which he has generated nine scores on a combination of punts and kickoffs - including one during the East West Shrine Game.

Called the "heart and soul" of the Arizona defensive unit, opposing offensive coordinators feared the dominant and versatile defender. Whether lining up at outside linebacker in a 4-3 alignment or playing inside in a 5-2 formation, few teams could contain Larsen with just one blocker. The two-time team captain made a triumphant return to the gridiron in 2005 after missing the previous two seasons while on a church mission. During his freshman year at Arizona in 2002, the new coaching staff considered his return as an added recruiting bonus. Opposing ballcarriers considered his return a nightmare for fullbacks trying to block him and halfbacks trying to elude him on end-around runs. At Gilbert High School, Larsen earned Super Prep All-Farwest honors as a senior in 2001. He added Phoenix All-Metro Football accolades, along with Prep Star All-West and the Arizona Republic first-team Al-State recognition. In his final season, the All-Region co-Defensive Most Valuable Player and All-Southeast Valley choice recorded 124 tackles as a linebacker and also competed as a quarterback. A multi-sport standout, he earned three letters in football, one in baseball and one in track. Larsen enrolled at the University of Arizona in 2002. He garnered Freshman All-American third-team and All-Pac-10 Conference Freshman first-team honors from The Gridiron Report and The Sports Page. He started seven of 12 games at weak-side linebacker in the team's eagle-flex system. He finished seventh on the team with 41 tackles (30 solo), adding a pair of sacks and 3 1/2 stops for losses. He added one quarterback pressure and deflected three passes. Already recognized as the Wildcats' defensive leader and a favorite of the media, Larsen left the Arizona program for the 2003-04 seasons to serve on an LDS church mission to Chile. The only Mormon player on the Arizona football roster, many thought that Larsen would enroll at Brigham Young. "Their recruiting coordinator told my high school coach I wasn't a Division I player," he says, smiling. "But I never pictured myself at BYU. So many of the (Mormon) players from Phoenix go there. I wanted to go to a place where nobody knew me, a place where there was no one else like me." Larsen also found his future wife while away on his church mission. Ann, who attended nursing school at Central Arizona during Spencer's junior year with the Wildcats, attended Gilbert Highland High School with Spencer, although they did not date one another. When he moved to Tucson, she enrolled at Brigham Young. She wrote to Spencer while he was in Chile, but both were involved in somewhat serious relationships with other people. When Spencer returned in the spring of 2005, they connected and were married in December of that year and the couple welcomed their first son, Tyton, last April. The new coaching staff welcomed Larsen back to the program with open arms in 2005. "I came back because the coaches told me they'd wait for me," he says. "That kind of respect appealed to me. You can't beat that. Plus, I like it here. The guys probably saw me as some sort of square when I was a freshman. Now they probably see me as a regular guy. They know about my faith. I know about theirs. It works." On the practice field during spring 2005 drills, Larsen suffered a right knee sprain (anterior cruciate ligament) in March, undergoing surgery to repair the injury a month later. That forced him to sit out the team's first two games and he saw limited action until taking over the middle linebacker spot for the team's last six contests. Despite starting just half of the schedule, he finished fourth on the team with 51 tackles (29 solo), a sack and 2 1/2 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also recovered a fumble and batted away a pass. He also excelled in the classroom, earning Pac-10 Conference Academic second-team honors. In 2006, Larsen was named All-Pac-10 Conference second-team adding Academic All-Pac-10 first-team

A former JUCO All-American at Solano College, Gibson emerged as Cal's starting left tackle midway through the 2006 season and was an Honorable Mention conference honoree there in only a season and a half of work. While Gibson lacks the balance and foot quickness to remain outside in the NFL, his toughness and physical run blocking make him an ideal fit inside at guard.

Even if he wasn't a top Texas high school prospect, Harrington may have received a legacy scholarship at Texas A&M: his grandfather and three uncles played at College Station. Uncle Dave was an NFL All-Pro for the Los Angeles Rams in the 70's. Harrington hopes to have that sort of success, but he'll have to follow the Aaron Kampman road to do so. Both were considered try-hard guys who were really solid college players but had limited pro upside. A mid-round draft selection may give this lifetime Aggie some incentive to follow Kampman's ascending career path.

One of the most accurate passers in the history of college football, Brennan is the owner of 21 NCAA records in just over two seasons in a Warriors' uniform. A model of consistency, he established many Bowl Subdivision records, including 34 consecutive games with at least 200 passing yards and 20 games with at least 400 yards in total offense. His average of 387.89 yards per game in total offense and a pass completion percentage of .712 are among myriad notable national marks he set among the 31 NCAA records that he established in just 38 games at Hawaii. On the way to shattering numerous national Western Athletic Conference and school passing and total offense records, he has drawn the praise of opposing head coaches. "Colt is as mobile and accurate quarterback that I've seen in a while," Boise State head coach Chris Peterson stated. "He has a great feel for the game and to stop Hawaii, you have to stop Colt." At Mater Dei High School, Brennan earned three letters in football and one in basketball. The team's MVP in 2001, he added All-League first-team gridiron honors. He led the squad to a 9-5 record his final year, completing more than 68% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions, adding 200 yards and four scores on the ground. The team went 11-2 his junior year and 9-1 during his sophomore campaign, when he led the team to the CIF championship with a win over powerhouse DeLaSalle High. After his senior year, he was invited to play in the County All-Star Game. He also lettered as a forward on the basketball team as a senior and the squad captured the CIF title. Brennan turned down a scholarship offer from Utah State to enroll at Worcester Academy (Mass.) in 2002. He started seven games that season, completing 101-of-158 passes for 1,707 yards, 15 touchdowns and only four interceptions, but missed two games with a finger fracture. The All-New England Prep School choice helped the team to a 5-4 record, throwing for 287 yards and three scores on 16-of-22 attempts in an upset victory over Mount Ida and gained 390 yards with four scores in a triumph over Valley Forge. Brennan enrolled at the University of Colorado in 2003 as a walk-on. He was listed fourth on the depth chart, but never appeared in a game at the school. His college career almost ended before it began when, on Jan. 28, 2004, he was arrested by campus police and charged with entering a co-ed's room. Uninvited, he was intoxicated at the time of the incident and the woman claimed he exposed himself and fondled her. He pleaded guilty to burglary and trespassing, but a charge of unlawful sexual contact was vacated by the court for lack of evidence. He was dismissed from the team. Brennan transferred to Saddleback Community College, where he appeared in nine games during the 2004 season. He ranked third in the California junior college ranks with an average of 19.7 pass completions per game, seventh with an average of 253.7 yards passing and seventh in total offense (287.7 yards per game). He completed 177-of-259 passes (68.3%) for 2,532 yards, 23 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also rushed for 57 yards on 66 tries (0.9-yard average) with a score, finishing with 2,589 total yards. When coach June Jones recruited him to Hawaii, Brennan found someone with complete confidence in his passing skills. Jones slowly brought Brennan along in the early stage of the 2005 season before turning the starting reins over for 10 games. Brennan led an offensive attack that ranked second in the nation in passing (384.25 yards per game) and led the 1-A ranks in total offense (476.17 yards per game). He ranked ninth nationally with a 155.49 pass-efficiency rating, leading the country with an average of 371.25 yards in total offense, 358.42 aerial yards and 19.17 points responsible for per game. His 4,301 yards was the best in the nation, as he completed 350-of-515 pass attempts (68.0%), with 35 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He finish

Sullivan gets high marks for smarts and technical acumen, but he's not a top all-around center and might need time to develop into starting material. His lower body is strong enough but he's not powerful and will struggle with movement.

Humpal is just another intelligent, hard-working Iowa linebacker who will get a shot to play in the NFL. Coming off a 121-tackle, second-team Big Ten season, Humpal figures to get his name called in the mid- to late-rounds. Probably won't be a Pro Bowler, maybe not even a regular starter, but his mix of intelligence, size and straight-line speed will make him hard to cut.

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.

Teams looking for a diamond in the rough for a run-stuffing presence would be wise to take a close look at Rubin. Rubin transferred to Iowa State following a successful tour of duty at Trinity Valley Community College, where he was used as both a defensive tackle and offensive guard. Once at Iowa State, Rubin was moved to nose guard and paid immediate dividends, starting nine games and registering 34 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 1.0 sack despite not joining the team until August (2006). Rubin's statistical improvement his senior season was minimal (42 tackles, 4 TFL, 1.5 sacks), but his impact on the Iowa State defense was not. With a build like a coke machine, Rubin is tough to move off the line of scrimmage, providing play-making opportunities for the defenders around him.

In Our View: Blessed with tremendous size, athletic ability and natural gifts, Hubbard has work to do in order to shed the "track guy playing football" label. His injury-laden senior season didn't help, and Hubbard didn't stand out at the East-West Shrine practices. He does have upside and, in the right offense, would benefit from being broken in slowly.

Regarded by many as the premier cornerback in college football entering his senior season, Tribble's final season wasn't the stellar year most expected. He suffered a right knee injury that forced him to the sideline for three late-season games and had been inconsistent when healthy. An instinctive athlete with excellent ball skills, Tribble struggled in man coverage, as he constantly lost inside leverage vs. bigger receivers. He has great foot quickness and balance, but that speed failed to translate into a home-run threat when returning punts and kickoffs. Still, he continued to be a physical open-field tackler with good explosion on contact. Teams looking for an immediate contributor in the zone packages are sure to consider Tribble for that job. Tribble was a standout football player who also competed in baseball, basketball and track at North College Hill High School. He earned All-Ohio Division IV honors as a senior defensive back and also played quarterback. He was named All-Midwest by Super Prep and Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report while also gaining 2002 All-City honors. As a quarterback, Tribble threw for 790 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior season. He also rushed for 809 yards and five scores, recorded 94 tackles (63 solo), with four sacks and one interception. He also punted for the Trojans, averaging 40.3 yards per attempt. Tribble enrolled at Boston College in 2003, spending his first season playing for the scout team. He went on to start four of 11 contests at left cornerback in 2004, making 29 tackles (23 solo) with a stop for a loss and a forced fumble. He picked off two passes and returned eight punts for 110 yards (13.8-yard average) and two touchdowns. As a sophomore, Tribble started 10 games, sitting out the Ball State contest with a ham-string injury. He still managed to finish third on the team with 57 tackles (48 solo), as he caused a fumble, broke up six passes and intercepted two others. He averaged 11.0 yards on 12 punt returns and 18.8 yards on eight kickoff returns. Tribble earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference second-team recognition in 2006. He started 12 of 13 games at left cornerback, missing the Clemson contest with a left knee bruise that would require arthroscopic surgery after the season. He finished with 49 tackles (41 solo), four stops for losses and a fumble recovery. He gained 108 yards with three touchdowns on seven interception returns, 236 yards on 27 punt returns (8.7-yard average) and 185 yards on eight kickoff returns (23.1 avg). In 2007, Tribble managed to earn All-ACC second-team honors again. In 11 games for the Eagles, he posted 35 tackles (31 solo), ranking 11th on the team. He caused a fumble, knocked down eight passes and intercepted four others. He also returned eight punts for 43 yards (5.4-yard average) while allowing his main pass coverage assignments to catch 34 passes for 382 yards (11.26 avg) and two touchdowns on 79 passes targeted into his area (4.85 yards per pass attempt). In 46 games at Boston College, Tribble started 37 times. He finished his career with 170 tackles (143 solos) and 10 stops for losses of 19 yards. He recovered one fumble and caused three others. He deflected 22 passes and had 15 interceptions for 145 yards in returns (9.7-yard average) and three touchdowns. He returned 55 punts for 521 yards (9.5-yard average) and two scores, adding 335 yards on 16 kickoff returns (20.9 avg).

One of the quickest receivers in this year's class, Johnson is explosive as a receiver and return man. He caught 66 balls for 1,140 yards (17.3 per) and nine touchdowns and averaged 10.9 on 43 punt returns (with two scores) in his last two seasons. He couldn't crack the All-SWAC teams, but Johnson will have a great chance at achieving two other goals: being an NFL draft pick and making a NFL roster.

The loss of guard Alan Faneca in free agency created a void along the offensive line that the Steelers addressed in the fourth round with tackle Tony Hills. Pittsburgh also addressed one of Ben Roethlisberger's biggest complaints -- a tall receiver. Second-round pick Limas Sweed is 6-foot-4. The Steelers didn't have a pressing need at running back, but Rashard Mendenhall adds some explosiveness and was just too good to pass up in the first round.

One of the more intriguing guard prospects in the 2008 draft, Thomas' stock skyrocketed this season as he finally turned his athletic potential into on-the-field production. A rare athlete for the position, Thomas is well built and flashes explosiveness and nastiness in his blocking. Thomas' star is on the rise after impressive performances at the Hula Bowl and East-West Shrine Game.

Taking advantage of Al Groh's reliance on the tight ends as the primary receiving outlet in his Virginia offense, Santi enjoyed a breakout senior campaign in 2007. Though blessed with good size, Santi isn't going to wow anyone with his athleticism. His consistency as a short- and medium-range receiver and high effort blocker, however, makes him a solid late-round prospect who could stick with a club.

The loss of Pro Bowler Asante Samuel and veteran Randall Gay created a need at the cornerback position. To address that situation, the Patriots drafted Terrence Wheatley in the second round. First-round pick Jerod Mayo and third-rounder Shawn Crable give the team a pair of young linebackers who can eventually replace the aging Junior Seau and Tedy Bruschi. New England also has some concerns on the offensive line and at safety, but did not address those needs in the draft.

Since Andre' Woodson's first start as a sophomore, there were signs of a revival of sorts for the Kentucky football program. After a solid junior campaign, he guided UK to the 2006 Music City Bowl, the team's first postseason appearance since the 1999 season. He again led the Wildcats to the Music City Bowl in 2007, earning game MVP honors. The team captain threw for 31 touchdowns in 2006, the fourth-best season total in Kentucky history, and followed that up by setting school and Southeastern Conference records with 40 TD passes in '07. He boats the two longest strings of consecutive passes thrown without an interception in school history, producing one stretch of 153 attempts from 2004-05 and then a new NCAA record with a string of 325 tosses without throwing a pick from 2006-07, shattering the previous national mark of 271 throws by Trent Dilfer of Fresno State in 1993. Woodson was rated one of the nation's top quarterback prospects in 2002 at North Hardin High School. The four-year letterman and three-year starter threw for more than 1,000 yards in each of his last three seasons, helping lead the school to four straight Class AAAA playoff appearances. He was named to the "Class of the Commonwealth" -- a collection of the top 22 seniors in Kentucky as named by the Lexington Herald-Leader -- and named honorable mention All-State as a senior. He was also a two-time All-District and All-Area choice. A relative unknown as a prospect through his junior season, Woodson was on the national radar after eye-opening performances at a Nike camp and the "Elite 11" quarterback camp in California before his senior season. He would go on to rank second among state prospects in Kentucky and was rated the seventh-best quarterback in the nation, adding All-American honors from Rivals.com and Prep Star. In his top game as a senior, he threw for 300 yards and six touchdowns vs. Bullitt Central High. Woodson also lettered four times in basketball. He was a first-team All-State selection by the Louisville Courier-Journal as a senior, averaging 15.5 points and eight rebounds while leading the team in assists with 90. He also garnered third-team All-State recognition as a junior, along with All-Region and All-District honors while leading the team to the state tournament each of his last three seasons. He was named to the All-State tournament team as a junior and senior. He also lettered twice in track, participating in the high jump and the 4x100-, 4x200-, and 4x400-meter relays. Woodson enrolled at Kentucky in 2003, turning down scholarship offers from Tennessee and Penn State. He redshirted, and then saw action in seven games in 2004, earning his first career start vs. Auburn. He would go on to hit on 54-of-88 passes (61.4%) with two touchdowns and one interception. He was sacked 14 times for minus-80 yards and had seven fumbles, losing five. As a sophomore, Woodson started all 11 games. He amassed 1,644 yards passing with six touchdowns and six interceptions on 146-of-253 attempts (57.7%). He also caught a five-yard pass and rushed 57 times for minus-133 yards and a score. However, he also turned the ball over five times on seven fumbles and was sacked 30 times for losses totaling 198 yards. Woodson earned team Most Valuable Player and All-Southeastern Conference second-team honors in 2006. He ranked 13th in the nation in pass efficiency (154.55 rating) and 12th in total offense, averaging 259.85 yards per game. He led the conference with 3,515 yards (fourth-best season total in school history) and 31 touchdowns while completing 63.0% of his attempts (264-of-419) in 13 games. His 31 scoring strikes rank fourth on the school's single-season list, topped only by Tim Couch's 37 touchdowns in 1997 and 36 in '98, and Woodson's SEC-record 40 scores in 2007. He turned the ball over once on three fumbles and was intercepted only seven times. He registered a solo tackle, but was sacked 26 times for losses of 264 yards.

Linebacker was perhaps the greatest area of need for the Giants after they lost both of their starting outside linebackers in free agency. However, the team didn't draft a linebacker until the fifth round (Jonathan Goff). The Giants drafted safety Kenny Phillips to replace Gibril Wilson, who was lost in free agency. With starting receivers Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer in their 30s and having been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, the Giants drafted Mario Manningham, a controversial pick because of some maturity concerns.

Quarterback Donovan McNabb wanted playmakers, and the team grabbed one in receiver DeSean Jackson. The Eagles did not draft a backup tackle to replace aging veterans Jon Runyan and William Thomas, instead turning to the defense. The most important need was getting a big anchor for the 4-3 defense, a role that second-round pick Trevor Laws should fill.

Steve Justice is one of the premier centers in this class, combining excellent quickness, explosive hip roll and outstanding technique to dominate the college ranks. Known for his hand-placement skills, the center is hailed as having the best balance of any pivot man in the game, doing a fine job of mirroring the defender throughout the play. Football is a rich tradition in the Justice household. All three sons of Patty and Wally Justice have excelled in the game. Steve's older brother, Kevin, played at the Air Force Academy (1996-2000) and another brother, Doug, was a linebacker at the University of North Carolina. Steve Justice was a three-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines at New Smyrna Beach High School. He earned All-State honors as a junior and senior and was also an All-District selection on offense. He was named the District 4-A Player of the Year in 2002, in addition to garnering first-team All-Five Star Conference and two-time All-Central Florida accolades. Rated the 42nd-best offensive guard nationally by Rivals100.com, Justice graded 91% for blocking consistency on offense and tallied 54 tackles, including 10 for losses, and two sacks on defense. He also earned first-team All-County and second-team All-Area honors in wrestling. He graduated in the top 10 of his class, received the National Scholar-Athlete Award from the U.S. Army Reserve and was named DAR Citizen of the Year. Justice enrolled at Wake Forest in 2003, choosing the university because of "the small class size, small campus, beautiful area and great football." He performed on the scout team that year, learning the technique to play the center position. He was used mostly on the punt unit in 11 games as a reserve center in 2004, participating in 30 offensive snaps. As a sophomore, Justice took over center duties. The Raleigh News & Observer's All-Big Four Team choice was one of only three players on offense to start all 11 games, participating in all 855 offensive snaps on the season. He was a key member of Wake Forest's offensive line that paved the way for a rushing attack that averaged more than 197 yards per game. In 2006, Justice earned first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors. He was twice named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week, starting all 14 games in the middle. In 829 plays, he posted 66 knockdowns, including nine touchdown-resulting blocks. The offense would go on to average 307.0 yards per game. As a senior, Justice earned All-American honors from six different news services, in addition to being chosen All-ACC first-team. He received the Atlantic Coast Conference's prestigious Jacobs Blocking Trophy, awarded annually to the conference's top lineman. He was also the runner-up for the Rimington Trophy, as he registered 65 knockdowns, with 12 touchdown-resulting blocks, helping the team improve to an average of 334.5 yards per game in total offense. "Steve is as good an offensive lineman as we have ever had," said Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe. "He has exceptional skills, is a team leader and an outstanding young man. He has a bright future in football and he is one player that we will truly miss next year."

A decorated and productive runner in the proud history of the Wolverines, Mike Hart might lack ideal size at tailback, but he's a very powerful, determined runner with a low center of gravity and some elusiveness. Schooled at a high school on an American Indian reservation south of Syracuse, New York, he still holds the national prep scoring record. He etched his name in the Michigan and Big Ten Conference record books during his stellar college career. One of his more remarkable statistics: He went 1,005 rushing attempts between fumbles and became just the fourth player in conference history to rush for over 5,000 yards in a career. The two-time Doak Walker Award finalist (2006 and '07) and two-time Bo Schembechler Award winner (team MVP in 2006 and '07), Hart immediately made his mark at Michigan. He earned All-Big Ten honors three times and was selected the league's Freshman of the Year in 2004. Hart attended Onondaga Central High School, where he was a three-time Class D and C Player of the Year selection, leading the team to three state titles in 2001-03. He was named first-team All-State as a senior, junior and sophomore and added first-team All-Division and Co-Player of the Year for Central New York as a junior. Hart was a first-team All-Division and All-Central New York choice as a freshman and sophomore. Rated the nation's sixth-best back by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report and listed as the top player in New York and the 12th-best running back in the country by Super Prep. He was rated the second-best prospect in New York, and sixth-best all-purpose back in the nation by Rivals100.com. He also received a four-star prospect rating from MaxEmfingerRecruiting.com. The tailback holds the national high school records for touchdowns in a career (204), most consecutive 100-yard rushing games (47), career 100-yard rushing games (47) and career points (1,246), as he rushed for 11,232 yards on 935 carries in his prep career. He tallied 3,489 yards and 58 touchdowns on 239 carries and 67 total touchdowns as a senior. Hart scored a state-record 61 touchdowns as a junior along with 2,846 rushing yards on 223 carries (12.8 yards per carry). He rushed for 3,341 yards and 51 touchdowns as a sophomore and 1,314 yards and 26 touchdowns on 119 carries -- 11 yards per carry -- as a freshman. He also averaged 10 points and five steals for the varsity basketball team. Hart enrolled at Michigan in 2004, where he became only the third true freshman to lead the Big Ten in rushing with 1,455 yards and nine touchdowns on 282 carries (5.2-yard average) to earn league Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American first-team honors. He was selected All-American third-team by College Football News, as he added 237 yards and a score on 26 receptions (9.1 avg). His per-game rushing average of 121.2 yards ranked 10th in the nation. In 2005, Hart started all eight games in which he played. A hamstring strain sidelined him vs. Eastern Michigan and Wisconsin while an ankle sprain forced him to sit out the Indiana and Northwestern clashes. He still led the team with 662 yards on 150 attempts (4.4-yard average) and four touchdowns. He snared 16 passes for 154 yards (9.6 avg) and a score, as he also recorded one solo tackle. Fully recovered, Hart returned to the nation's elite in 2006. He ranked ninth in the country in rushing, totaling 1,562 yards with 14 touchdowns on 318 carries (4.9-yard average). He finished fifth on the team with 17 receptions for 125 yards (7.4 avg) and scored 86 points. For that performance, he garnered consensus All-American and All-Big Ten Conference first-team honors. He finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting and shared the Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player Award with linebacker David Harris. Despite missing four full games and parts of two others during the 2007 season, Hart was a second-team All-American and Doak Walker Award finalist. He led the Big Ten in rushing and ranked fourt

Quarterback Donovan McNabb wanted playmakers, and the team grabbed one in receiver DeSean Jackson. The Eagles did not draft a backup tackle to replace aging veterans Jon Runyan and William Thomas, instead turning to the defense. The most important need was getting a big anchor for the 4-3 defense, a role that second-round pick Trevor Laws should fill.

Lex Hilliard was sorely missed in the starting lineup for the Grizzlies in 2006, but he was able to return, fully recovered, from a torn left Achilles tendon, an injury suffered in '06 fall drills. During his grueling rehabilitation, the powerful tailback added more bulk and strength to his frame while also improving his overall quickness. He has the raw power to carry defenders into the end zone and scored 40 touchdowns on the ground. He is only the fourth Montana player to score over 250 points (252) in a career and just the second player in school history to rush for over 3,000 yards (3,241). Hilliard was a multi-sport standout at Flathead High School, where he earned four letters in football, three in track, and one in wrestling. The team's two-time Most Valuable Player on the gridiron, he also garnered All-State and All-Conference football accolades in each of his final three seasons with the squad. During his career, Hilliard set school all-time records by rushing for 3,419 yards and 44 touchdowns and compiling 4,410 all-purpose yards. He holds the school record with 1,384 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing as a sophomore, adding Great Falls Super State Team recognition. Hilliard led the team to the Class AA state championship game as a junior. He participated in the East-West Shrine Game and the Montana-North Dakota All-Star Game. In track, he twice earned All-League honors while competing in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and 4x100 meter relays. He also threw the shot put. His sophomore, junior, and senior track teams all won state AA championships. As a true freshman at Montana in 2003, Hilliard was a valuable reserve, playing in the final 12 games behind Justin Green. Hilliard was originally scheduled to redshirt, but the coaching staff felt he was capable of seeing extended playing time and activated him for the second game of the season. He went on to finish second on the team with 125 carries for 590 yards (4.7-yard average) and five touchdowns. He grabbed nine passes for 117 yards (13.0 avg) and returned a kickoff 12 yards while also posting two tackles. Despite starting just four of 14 games as a sophomore, Hilliard earned All-Big Sky Conference first-team honors. He paced the Grizzlies with 972 yards on 190 attempts (5.1-yard average) and 17 touchdowns (second-best season total in school annals). He made 22 catches for 211 yards (9.6 avg), returned one kickoff eight yards and amassed 1,191 all-purpose yards (85.1 yards per game). Hilliard earned All-American second-team honors from The NFL Draft Report and was again named to the All-Big Sky Conference first-team. He ranked second in the conference in rushing in his first year as a starter, gaining 1,322 yards with 12 touchdowns on 249 carries (5.3-yard average). He added 144 yards and two scores on 11 catches (13.1-yard average) and also attempted a pass. His average of 122.17 all-purpose yards per game ranked fourth in the Big Sky; 110.17 of the per-game total came on the ground. On everyone's preseason All-American list and an early favorite for the Payton Award (Division 1-AA's top player), Hilliard suffered a torn left Achilles tendon midway through August camp and was forced to miss the 2006 season. The ground game averaged 139.36 yards per game in his absence, compared to 162.17 yards with Hilliard in the lineup in 2005. In 11 games in '07, Hilliard gained 102.9 rushing yards per game -- 1,132 rushing yards -- and scored 16 touchdowns, averaging 4.7 yards on 242 carries. He caught 15 passes for 119 yards with a long gain of 24 yards and averaged 7.9 yards per reception. With 1,251 total yards, he averaged 113.7 all-purpose yards per game. In 49 games at Montana, Hilliard gained 4,016 rushing yards and scored 50 rushing touchdowns and 52 total TDs. He carried the ball 806 times and averaged five yards per carry in his career (82 rushing yards per game) with a long gain of 69 yards in 2005. Only Yohance Humphery (4,070 yards, 1998

Don't sleep on this Division III star from the Purple Raiders. Last year the St. Louis Rams took a shot in the seventh round on another D3 prospect in Wisconsin-Whitewater's Derek Stanley, and there's no reason to believe someone won't like Garcon just as much. Garcon's not quite as quick as Stanley, but is a better all-around receiver with better size and more than adequate speed. He averaged 62 catches, 1,095 yards and 15 touchdowns over his four years, which are great numbers at any level of football.

The Ravens got their quarterback of the future, Joe Flacco, after the Falcons selected Matt Ryan. The looming retirement of Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden has created a major void along the offensive line, which the team answered in the fourth round with David Hale. Linebacker Tavares Gooden brings some much-needed youth to an aging, but still talented, defense.

With pressing needs defensively, the Bengals moved quickly to take linebacker Keith Rivers in the first round, and found value in underrated defensive tackle Pat Sims in the third. The team lost defensive end Justin Smith in free agency but did not take a pass-rushing replacement. Is the Chad Johnson era over in Cincinnati? The team acted like it was by taking two receivers in the first three rounds.