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View Full Version : Who to watch-Capital One Bowl — Jan. 1 Penn St vs Auburn



MelK
12-31-2002, 10:54 PM
top 200 ranking (seniors)


2-Jimmy Kennedy/DT/Penn State
11-Michael Haynes/DE/Penn State
26-Larry Johnson/RB/Penn State
34-Bryant Johnson/WR/Penn State

163-Lorenzo Diamond/TE/Auburn
196-Ben Nowland/C/Auburn

From the top 200 Senior prospects listed by NFL Draft Blitz (http://www.nfldraftblitz.com/top200seniors.htm)

MelK
01-01-2003, 12:06 PM
Jimmy Kennedy/DT/Penn State (http://www.nfldraftblitz.com/srdtprofiles.htm)



(6-5, 330, estimated 5.15 40 time)

2001 Season Stats: 11 games, 51 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks

Positives: An absolute mammoth of a man. Is an extremely strong and powerful player who can consistently defeat double teams. A real force in the middle who can get upfield and get after the passer.

Negatives: Has had some weight problems in the past. Does not possess top speed.

Overall analysis: When it comes to natural size, few defensive linemen are in the same category as Kennedy. When arriving at Penn State, Kennedy was over 400 pounds but worked his way down to the 360-pound area his freshman season. As a freshman, Kennedy emerged as one of the top young nose guards in the nation. Right now Kennedy is at 330 pounds and he really looks fit-even at that weight. Although the stats may not show it, Kennedy was a terror on the field during 2001 and commanded the attention of the opposition each and every week. For the record, Kennedy did have 6 sacks his sophomore season, so he has shown he can get after the passer. Kennedy looks to be a very good NFL prospect; he has rare size, power and pretty good mobility when considering his size. He could likely stay at 330 pounds and be a very good defensive tackle, or bulk up to 360 to 370 pounds and be a great run-stuffing nose guard. About the only real negative about Kennedy is the fact that he has been considerably over-weight in the past, and with the big guys there is always a chance that they could eat themselves out of the league. But if Kennedy stays in shape he could be a force in the NFL. Right now Kennedy appears to carry a solid round one grade.



Source- NFL Draft Blitz

MelK
01-01-2003, 12:12 PM
Michael Haynes/DE/Penn State (http://www.nfldraftblitz.com/srdeprofiles.htm)

Michael Haynes, a ferocious and athletic pass rusher that lines up just outside of Kennedy. Haynes, another that took a step backwards during the '02 campaign, shows great speed and intensity off the corner, deceptive strength and the ability to make plays out to the flanks. He is not just a good pass rusher but also a lineman that adequately defends the run. According to sources Haynes bulked last season and took a while to get accustomed to the extra weight, part-n-parcel to his lack of consistency. He is also a little shorter than one wants in a true defensive end but a good senior season could throw him into the drafts first day.

Source -



Pauline- TFY Draft Preview (http://nfldraft.theinsiders.com/2/59169.html)

MelK
01-01-2003, 12:14 PM
Larry Johnson/RB/Penn State (http://www.nfldraftblitz.com/srrbprofiles.htm)



(6-2, 222, estimated 4.59 40 time)

2002 Season Stats: 12 games, 251 carries, 2015 rushing yards, 20 rushing touchdowns /// 39 catches, 341 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns /// 11 kickoff returns, 19.9-yard kickoff return average, 0 kickoff return touchdowns

2001 Season Stats: 11 games, 71 carries, 337 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns /// 11 catches, 136 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns /// 17 kickoff returns, 26.7-yard kickoff return average, 1 kickoff return touchdown

Positives: Great running back size. Has surprising speed and quickness for a player of his size. Is a tough runner with great balance. Possesses nice, soft hands and is a pass-catching threat. Has done a good job as a kickoff return man.

Negatives: Lacks a true top gear and may not be a breakaway threat at the next level. Did a good job of keeping his pad level low as a senior, but will still run too upright at times. Only has been a feature back one season, and may or may not be a one-year wonder.

Overall analysis: Johnson had many questions surrounding him when entering the 2002 college football season, largely because he had only been a part-time player in the past. However, Johnson stepped up and had the biggest year of any running back in the country. Johnson has great size, excellent vision and can be both a powerful and elusive runner. He has naturally soft hands and has no problems catching the ball. He also has done a nice job of returning kickoffs during his career at Penn State. On the down side, Johnson lacks great speed and that could eventually prevent him from being a first round pick, despite the fact that he has shown tremendous ability as a senior. The only other major concern is that he has a tendency to run with his pad level too high. Although many people are currently considering Johnson a high first round pick, it’s unlikely he will go that high unless he turns in a spectacular 40-yard dash time during an individual workout. Nonetheless, Johnson has been one of greatest success stories of the 2002 college football season and he currently carries a late round one/early round two grade.






Source- NFL Draft Blitz

MelK
01-01-2003, 12:16 PM
Bryant Johnson/WR/Penn State (http://www.nfldraftblitz.com/srwrprofiles.htm)


(6-2, 201, estimated 4.52 40 time)

2002 Season Stats: 12 games, 48 catches, 917 receiving yards, 4 receiving touchdowns /// 40 punt returns, 12.9-yard punt return average, 1 punt return touchdown

2001 Season Stats: 11 games, 51 catches, 866 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns /// 4 carries, 5 rushing yards, 0 rushing touchdowns

Positives: Possesses excellent wide receiver size. Plays much faster on the field than he times off of it. Has very good agility and body control. Has shown amazing improvement over the course of his college football career.

Negatives: Plays faster than he times, but is not a true blazer. Has greatly improved his pass-catching but still may not have naturally soft hands.

Overall analysis: Johnson came to Penn State prior to the 1999 college football season and immediately saw action in his true freshman year. However, Johnson didn’t become a major contributor until his junior season. Johnson has great wide receiver size. He may not have great timed speed, but he is fast on the football field. He combines that with excellent agility and body control, and can adjust to the ball and make the tough catches. Early on in his Penn State career Johnson was a very inconsistent player, dropping a lot of passes and not appearing as sharp as he should. However, as a senior Johnson has nearly eliminated all the weak areas of his game, and at this time he appears to be a complete receiver. That improvement has taken Johnson from a day two pick to a possible first rounder. The fact that he is not a true blazer will likely keep him from being a high first round pick, but considering the improvement he has shown he will likely be a late first/early second round pick once the 2003 NFL draft arrives.

Source- NFL Draft Blitz

MelK
01-01-2003, 01:35 PM
Ben Nowland/C/Auburn (http://www.nfldraftblitz.com/srcprofiles.htm)

(6-3, 294, estimated 5.29 40 time)

Positives: Extremely smart individual who possesses great character and is a team leader. A real battler in the trenches who will give the team everything he has. A top technician who understands blocking angles and uses his hands well.

Negatives: Is not a great athlete. Tends to play with his pad level too high. Has suffered a number of injuries in the past.

Overall analysis: Nowland is a top effort player who has done a very good job of playing center for Auburn. Nowland is known as an efficient player who is very bright on and off the football field. He is also a quality person who possesses excellent leadership qualities. He is a fundamentally sound player and was named a first team All-SEC performer at the conclusion of his senior year. However, Nowland is a limited athlete. He doesn’t possess top strength or quickness, and he often plays with his pad level too high. He has also had a number of injuries, missing time in the past with a broken foot, a broken hand and a sprained knee. Nowland played well enough as a senior where he will likely get himself drafted, and currently he carries a later round grade.

NFL Draft Blitz

MelK
01-01-2003, 01:36 PM
Lorenzo Diamond/TE/Auburn (http://www.nfldraftblitz.com/srteprofiles.htm)

2002 Season Stats: 11 games, 6 catches, 85 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown

2001 Season Stats: 10 games, 10 catches, 105 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown

Positives: Has a good tight end build and a solid base. Is a pretty good blocker. Has pretty good hands and can hurt the opposition in the passing game.

Negatives: Does not have ideal tight end height. Doesn’t look to be a big play tight end at the next level. Was not used much as a receiver the last couple of seasons.

Overall analysis: Coming out of high school in 1998, Diamond was thought to be one of the finest tight end recruits in the nation. And while Diamond has not been an impact player in terms of receiving statistics, Diamond has been a fine tight end while at Auburn. During his first three playing seasons, Diamond had seen extensive time and had been at least a part time starter in all three of those years. Diamond started the 2002 season as the number one tight end on Auburn’s depth chart, but was eventually replaced by highly touted Robert Johnson as the team’s first stringer. Diamond is a solid blocker and is a reliable pass-catcher when called upon. The fact that he hasn’t been used extensively as a pass-catcher for Auburn probably limits his draft stock. If Diamond would have had a better year in the pass-catching department, he may have been able to work his way up to early day two status. As it is, Diamond still has a better than 50/50 chance of being picked in the 2003 NFL draft.


Source- NFL Draft Blitz