Not only has Tim Tebow left college football, but he has also left sportscasters from many media outlets with an abrupt end to a four-year bro-mance.  None have been hit harder than ESPN’s Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreet.  In this edition of College FootBlog, we take a look at the most promising prospects who will serve as a rebound for Kirk and Chris.

ESPN offers the most intense coverage of college football, but they also like to covet (and borderline lust after) a player, and that player has been Tebow for at least three years now.  The attention to Tebow was beyond ridiculous, culminating with one announcer claiming on national television that “If you spend five minutes with him, he’ll change your life forever.”  That’s a pretty tall order for a college quarterback.

Regardless of how you look at it, Tebow’s popularity and the media’s fondness of him kept him in the thick of last year’s Heisman race until the very end, despite noticeably inferior statistics than many more deserving players who were not able to make the trip to New York–which brings us back to our point.  Who will be ESPN’s next media darling in college football.  We think we have an idea.

Washington QB Jake Locker has the ability and the charisma to be CFB's most popular player this fall (google images)

Jake Locker (Quarterback/Washington): Locker could have been a first round draft pick this spring, but the athletic QB decided to stay for his senior season.  Sportswriters have a lot to like about the talented signal caller, and like Tebow, he does a lot with the community.  In 2008, he shaved his head in honor of a cancer patient whom he befriended some time before her passing in December of 2007.  Locker is smart, charismatic and very athletic–he was drafted in the 10th round of the MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim.

Matt Barkley (Quarterback/USC): The California native started as a true freshman last season at the powerhouse program, and the media ate it up.  Despite average numbers at best against Ohio State (15 for 31 with no TDs and one interception), the announcers were all over the Barkley Era.  USC should be improved this year, and Barkley’s year of experience should make him an improved player.  Couple that with the fact former USC quarterback Matt Leinart was the media’s golden boy in the year 4 B.T. (Before Tebow).  Add in Barkley’s charisma, and ESPN may have found their man.

Kellen Moore (Quarterback/Boise State): The junior quarterback has started since his freshman season, and he has led the Broncos to an eye-popping 26-1 record.  Last season, he led BSU to an undefeated season, and he threw for 39 touchdowns with just three interceptions.  Obviously, the statistics don’t lie, and sportswriters could play on college football’s version of Rocky Balboa all season.  Still, Boise State will likely not get enough nationally televised games for Herbstreet to start stalking Moore, so he has to be considered somewhat of an underdog in this competition.

Although these three candidates will likely get much love from ESPN (and deservedly so, we might add), Herbstreet will only be handing out one final rose in college football’s “The Bachelor.”  But rest assured, if for some reason the NCAA were to grant Tebow an extra year of eligibility, all bets are off because he will always have a place in Herbie and Fowler’s heart.  If it’s true that absence only makes the heart grow fonder, then Tebow may want to think about getting a restraining order.

There are a number of flaws in the NFL scouting system, namely how scouts overvalue workouts in the off-season.  Even if a prospect has great game film, he has to impress scouts with his workout numbers and “confirm” his ability in order to be considered a high-round pick.  Also, there is no standard way to scout players necessarily.  It is not an exact science and a lot of guesswork is used to determine a player’s future, including estimating his potential and his durability.  However, scouts make do as best they can and damn it they know a lot about football, so I trust their opinions much more than the everyday observer.  Being a poser, I will play the part of an scout and give you my opinions on prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft (do not worry – I have done some studying).  This entry will mark the first part of an ongoing series where I rank my Top-5 draft eligible players at each position.  I will also provide my most underrated and most overrated prospect at each position.

An appropriate place to start would be the quarterback position, considering it is the most talked about position in football.  Let’s add fuel to the fire.

1) Sam Bradford – Oklahoma – 6’4″  236 lbs

Bradford has been the premier talent at QB in the college ranks the last couple years.  The only reason there is a debate between Clausen and him is because of the shoulder surgery that sidelined Bradford for almost the entire 2009 season.  From everything that I have heard, Bradford’s shoulder should check out fine.  What makes Bradford the best in this draft is his accuracy, arm strength, footwork and ability to read defenses.  Some people say that because of the Sooners’ offensive system, Bradford had large windows in which to fit the ball into.  But watching him play reveals that his passes are so consistently on target (at all levels) that he can fit the ball anywhere regardless of the window.  Bradford’s best attribute, however, is his lightning-quick release.  He has a unique way of throwing the ball and he will have to learn to keep the ball above pad-level, but his release is very quick.  Bradford has shown the ability to consistently throw the ball accurately downfield as well, and even though his arm strength is not elite, he puts proper touch on deep throws and drives off his backfoot.  Another question surrounding Bradford is how will he handle pressure considering how well-protected he was in 08 by a talented o-line.  First off, it is not like Bradford never saw pressure and never took a hit.  He showed the ability to stand in the pocket and take a hit while still delivering a great throw.  His footwork is also superb, sidestepping the rush in the pocket.  I believe that as long as his shoulder checks out, Bradford will be a top-five pick in April, and I expect that when it is all said and done, St. Louis will take him number one overall.

2) Jimmy Clausen – Notre Dame – 6’3″  222 lbs

Clausen moved himself up draft boards maybe more than anyone else this season.  One thing that jumps out at you about Clausen is that he knows how to win football games in the fourth quarter.  Clausen led Notre Dame to four 4th quarter comebacks and fell short a few other times.  You could argue that the loss to USC was really not his fault, however.  Another thing that Jimmy has going for him in scouts’ minds is that he now has three years of experience in an NFL offense under Charlie Weis.  He has experience turning his back to the defense on play-action and most importantly, he knows how to move around the pocket and displays good footwork when taking snaps under center.  This ability is huge in some personnel men’s minds because the learning curve is easier in transitioning from college to the pro ranks.  Clausen’s accuracy is excellent and he has flashed the ability to look off the safety with head movement and pump-fakes.  While his deep-ball is accurate and thrown with good touch, there are some questions about his ability to consistently complete some deep routes.  When going deep, Clausen sinks down and loads up in order to get enough power behind the throw.  He will not have as much time in the pocket in the NFL so he needs to shorten that motion.  All things considered, Clausen is a first-round prospect who I expect to thrive in the NFL. I don’t see him falling past Cleveland at number 7.

3) Colt McCoy – Texas – 6’1″  216 lbs

McCoy is an interesting prospect to me.  On one hand, you have a proven leader and a guy with a great personality that commands respect in the huddle.  McCoy excelled in college under Mack Brown and has above-average accuracy, footwork and football intelligence.  On the other hand, you have a guy who occasionally forces bad throws, does not make multiple reads and has only marginal arm strength.  McCoy does not have a consistently accurate deep ball down the middle of the field and while he usually makes good deep throws down the sideline, he tends to throw off-balance and the ball sails on him.  His play recognition is good and he knows where to go with the football, but he tends to stare down one receiver.  McCoy was not asked to make multiple reads in college because the Longhorns’ offense is designed to get receivers into open spaces quickly on underneath routes and crossing patterns.  However, Colt has shown the ability to check down to the running back when no one is open downfield.  To me, the concerns about how he will transition to the NFL are too risky to take him in the first round.  McCoy is a smart kid with a lot of heart, but he will struggle with taking snaps under center and he is a bit of a project.  I can see a team taking a chance on him in the early second round because there are multiple teams with questions at the quarterback position.

4) Dan LeFevour – Central Michigan – 6’3″  224 lbs

LeFevour has flown largely under the radar this season and after watching film of him, I feel like he can be a legitimate starter in the NFL.  A big knock on LeFevour is that he played in a shotgun-spread system in college.  Scouts wonder whether or not he will be able to successfully transition to a pro-style offense.  While I agree with the sentiment that he is a bit of a project, LeFevour shows above-average accuracy and arm strength and 2-3 years down the road, he can develop into a starting QB.  LeFevour consistently fits the ball into tight spaces and is especially accurate on intermediate routes between 10-20 yards downfield.  The Senior Bowl was also beneficial for LeFevour because he showed scouts he can make adequate use of pump-fakes, head-fakes and shoulder-fakes to look off the safety.  His release is somewhat of a three-quarters release, but he gets the ball out quickly and knows how to change arm angles well.  I see LeFevour as a late-second round prospect but he will probably be a third-round pick because late-round teams are not looking for QB’s necessarily.

5) Tony Pike – Cincinnati- 6’6″  223 lbs

Pike is very tall and lanky, and his thinness is a concern for some people because it puts into question his ability to take hits and stay healthy in the NFL.  Another concern is that Pike played in a shotgun-heavy offense at Cincinnati.  That fact is not as troubling to me as his tendency to stare down his receivers.  Pike rarely looks off the safety and this will kill him in the pros.  While Pike shows good accuracy on short and intermediate routes, his deep ball is of some concern as it tends to sail on him.  Pike does a good job of protecting the ball and makes sound decisions with his throws.  However, he does not have the arm strength to thread the ball into many tight spaces. In a weak QB class, I see Pike as a third- or fourth-round prospect that will need some tutoring to develop into an adequate starting QB in the NFL.

Most Underrated

Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan) – Not many people are aware of this kid’s talent.  Although he may struggle transitioning to a pro-style offense, LeFevour can make all the throws asked of him with good accuracy.  A great career at Central Michigan will also help him out; his production has been outstanding.

Most Overrated

Tim Tebow (Florida – 6’3″  236 lbs) - Tebow is without a doubt the most polarizing prospect in this year’s draft class.  One thing he has to be given credit for is his intangibles.  No one has ever questioned this kid’s personality or what kind of leader he is.  Mel Kiper says Tebow has “Number-One Overall” intangibles and he is right.  Having said that, Tebow is an enormous project at QB.  His arm strength is good and he knows how to maneuver in the pocket.  However, his accuracy suffers when he is asked to throw the ball downfield and most passes Tebow was asked to make at Florida were underneath routes.  The Gators have so many athletes and playmakers that Tebow simply got them the ball on screens or in space and they made plays.  I also seriously question Tebow’s ability to play in a pro-style offense.  At the Senior Bowl, he struggled immensely with timing and footwork when asked to take snaps under center.  The biggest concern for Tebow going forward is his release.  He takes way too long to wind up and throw. He drops the ball all the way down to his hips and essentially windmills the football when winding up.  There is no way he can succeed in the NFL by throwing that way because he puts the football at serious risk to get stripped or batted down.  Of course, if there is any player that can overcome the doubts and adversity that he is facing, it is Tebow.  That said, I believe Tebow is a fourth-round prospect in need of a complete overhaul of his passing mechanics.

From reading this title, you as the reader are probably expecting the comparison of Sam Bradford to Jimmy Clausen or John Wall to Jon Scheyer.

Not the case.

Watching relentless NFL Draft coverage on every TV channel the past few days has made the appeal of the actually draft, which is 53 days away on April 22nd, decline rapidly. As always, Tim Tebow was in his usual media-monster form being talked about for a majority of the program. This reminded me of another player who was also highly criticized for being a college star thought to not make it in the NBA.

NBA?

Tyler Hansbrough of the University of North Carolina ate up the media almost the exact same way that Tim Tebow does. Tyler didn’t do a pro-life commercial for the Superbowl or become dehydrated from crying after losing an in-conference game, but both men thrived at their respected schools and received national attention as a result of it. Almost too much of it. Both with their own national championship rings, and respective player-of-the-year honors, these two men were all business in a college sports environment.

I’ll leave the debate up to you, the sports fan. As sports journalists, we are left to discuss, argue, debate, fight, scream (insert verb here) over this topic until it too loses its appeal. I leave you with this one loaded question:

Will Tim Tebow fizzle out and become a dime-a-dozen player in the NFL the way that Tyler Hansbrough has hid on an NBA bench or will he become the player the media wants him to become?

Either way, it’ll make for an excellent story.

Evaluating the Recruiting Class of 2006–by Jeff Dunbar

Matthew Stafford was the first of many first-rounders from the 2006 recruiting class (google images)

In the world of college football recruiting, writers and analysts attempt to project a 17-year old kid’s talent to the next 4-5 years.  Many skeptics are quick to point out the over-hyped and underperforming players like 5-star phenom Willie Williams, who made headlines of his many altercations with the law, while in high school, but due to his sub-4.5 forty time and his amazing abilities, he still signed a letter of intent to play for the Miami Hurricanes. 

Williams never panned out at Miami or Louisville, where he transferred due to limited playing time with the ‘Canes.  Williams’ story is all too familiar, but you have to admit that the business of projecting how a high school football player will do in the spotlight of bigtime Division I football is somewhat of a crapshoot.

College FootBlog understands that, and in the case of Rivals.com’s breakdown of the class of 2006, we give credit where credit is due.

Rivals dubbed 28 players that year with the coveted 5-star status, and of those former blue chip recruits, four of them have already been selected as first round draft picks in the NFL, after leaving school early–Matthew Stafford, Andre Smith, Percy Harvin and Beanie Wells.

Five more, Gerald McCoy, Taylor Mays, CJ Spiller, Brandon Graham and Sergio Kindle are expected to go in the first round of this year’s draft, with Florida Linebacker Brandon Spikes  and Clemson DE Ricky Sapp likely to go early in round 2. 

When the dust settles, Rivals will have likely correctly tagged 15 out of their 28 selections as young men who will be playing on Sundays next fall.  That 54% hit rate is very impressive when you consider all the variables that must be considered. 

Some players cannot make the grades to get into a university, let alone stay eligible at one.  Injuries can and do happen.  Stafon Johnson was one of the 5-star players listed, and although he will likely get an opportunity to play in the NFL, his freak accident in the weight room will have an effect on his draft status.  Finally, some of these players either never reach their full potential, or they may have already reached that full potential in high school, and the rest of their college peers pass them by. 

No one knows how Tim Tebow, Stafon Johnson and the rest of these players will fare in the NFL, but rest assured–they will have a shot to make an impression.  The analysts and writers have no way of predicting the future, but with Rivals’ class of 2006, they did as good a job as possible, given the circumstances.

For the complete list of the top 100 players from 2006, check out rivals.com.

The Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama featured several NFL prospects with big names, but there were five athletes who did wonders for their draft stock with their performances yesterday afternoon.  College FootBlog breaks down these five individuals and analyzes how they could fare in NFL training camps in the upcoming months.

5.  Stafon Johnson (RB/USC)

How can you not root for this kid?  After nearly dying from a freak accident in the weight room, which crushed his larynx, many thought Johnson would be done with football.  Although his numbers were not great (4 carries for 3 yards), Johnson showed his speed and agility on his first carry, making a defender miss en route to a short gain.  If Johnson can show the same perseverance and guts that got him back on the field yesterday, his stock will only continue to rise. 

Oregon's Legarrette Blount had an impressive showing at the Senior Bowl (google images)

4.  LeGarrette Blount (RB/Oregon)

Blount’s measurables have never been an issue–at 6’2″ and 240 lbs, he is a load out of the backfield.  Blount also possesses a textbook right cross (just ask Boise State’s Byron Hout), which has scouts questioning his character.  Since that altercation in Boise, Blount has been on the straight and narrow.  Blount’s suspension was lifted, and he has continued to show maturity.  In the Senior Bowl, Blount was by far the most NFL-ready running back on the field.  Of his 240 lbs, it is all solid and he has good speed and power.  He finished the day with 36 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries. 

3.  Dan LeFevour (QB/Central Michigan)

While Tim Tebow got all the press for his strep throat and upcoming Superbowl commercial, it was LeFevour who impressed at quarterback.  He showed great escapability and showcased his ability to run and pass.  His running style should translate to the NFL because he is quick and despite his size (6’3″, 229 lbs), he does not depend on power, but instead, he has deceptive speed and keeps his eyes down field.  LeFevour also showed good pocket presence and delivered the best pass of the day, when he dropped a perfect pass in a very tight window for a 32-yard touchdown to Mardy Gilyard.

2.  Brandon Graham (DE/Michigan)

Graham was disruptive all game, collecting two sacks and a forced fumble.  He showed great explosiveness off the edge, but he also showed a solid base against the run and pass.  On a misdirection running play, Graham showed the ability to change direction, shed a block and accelerate to the ball carrier.  Graham was always know at Michigan as an end who could get to the quarterback, but he showed tremendous versatility yesterday and likely made himself a lot of money with his dominant performance.

1.  Mardy Gilyard (WR/Cincinnati)

Gilyard was one of the most explosive players in college football in the last two seasons, but experts wondered how he would do against the big boys, outside of the Big East Conference.  Simply put–Gilyard showed out yesterday.  His size may be an issue with some scouts, but the upside he possesses and the number of ways he can collect yardage (as a return man and a receiver) can not be ignored.  Gilyard was on a different level all afternoon, and he highlighted his five-catch, 103-yard performance by leaving All-American cornerback Javier Arenas on a go-route for a touchdown.

Honorable Mention:  Jeremy Williams, WR/Tulane; Sean Weatherspoon, LB/Missouri; Colin Peek, TE/Alabama

In our first two pieces, College FootBlog ranked the third through the sixth ranked BCS conferences from the 2009 season (see link). In this three-part breakdown, we analyze the results from each conference from the 2009 college football season, and we also give an outlook for the upcoming 2010 season.

Without further adieu, here are our top two BCS conferences from our Power Rankings.

2.  Big East

2009 Recap: There was a time when analysts argued if the Big East should even have the right to an automatic BCS bid for its champion.  That is no longer the case.  Most people left the Big East for dead when Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College left for what was believed to be the greener pastures of the ACC.  While the ACC has fallen from respectability, the Big East has consistently raised the bar over the last three years.

Cincinnati's Mardy Gilyard was one of the most explosive players in college football in '09 (google images)

The Big East went 4-2 in their bowl games, and this was despite Cincinnati’s loss to Florida in the Sugar Bowl (which, coincidentally, was a horrible match up by the selection committee).  We are all aware of what Tony Pike, Zach Collaros and Mardy Gilyard did for the Bearcat offense, but the Big East was much ‘Bigger’ this season, and it was the second-deepest conference in the nation.

Dave Wannstedt has Pitt back on the national scene and they gave Cincinnati all they could handle in a stunning 45-44 loss that was one of the best (if not the best) college football games all season.  Overall, the Panthers finished with ten wins on the year, West Virginia and Rutgers racked up nine wins and USF and UConn each pulled in eight victories on the year.

2010 Outlook: Coaching changes could have a significant effect on the Big East next season.  The Departure of Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly for Notre Dame and the firing of South Florida coach Jim Leavitt will put a lot of pressure on new head coaches Butch Jones and Skip Holtz.

The good news is that each of those two programs will have a proven quarterback.  Cincy did not lose a beat when Tony Pike was lost temporarily due to injury because of the great play of Zach Collaros.  And USF will have leader Matt Grothe back next fall, but they now have a proven back up in BJ Daniels.

The issue for the Bulls is going to be replacing future NFL defensive ends George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul.  Pitt will have to replace quarterback Bill Stull, but running back Dion Lewis will take a lot of pressure off the new starter at QB.

Overall, it will be difficult to keep the #2 Power Ranking in 2010, but the coaching and talent will continue to gain well-deserved respect from college football.

1.  SEC

2009 Recap: As much as some fans would like to see a changing of the guard, the SEC simply will not allow that to happen.  All the SEC did this season is send ten of their twelve teams to bowl games, and they won six, which included the Sugar Bowl and the BCS National Championship.

When the dust settled, the SEC combined for a whopping 97-59 record in ’09, making it by far the deepest conference in the country.  Led by Alabama’s national championship team and the Florida Gators, whose only loss came at the hands of the Crimson Tide, the SEC once again imposed its will on the rest of college football.

Mark Ingram's punishing running-style led the Tide to the BCS Title (google images)

With the one-two punch of Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and freshman Trent Richardson, Bama’s smashmouth running game and defense was in stark contrast to Florida’s spread attack and Arkansas’ pass-happy scheme, but each was effective all season.  Georgia was disappointing but still finished the year with eight wins, capped off with a 44-20 drubbing of Texas A&M.  LSU and Ole Miss finished with very respectable nine win seasons as well, and both are looking to have even better years next season.

2010 Outlook: Look for much of the same with the SEC dominating college football.  Flordia will have a bit of a rebuilding year after the loss of Tim Tebow and likely NFL first rounders, LB Brandon Spikes, TE Aaron Hernandez and CB Joe Haden.

The scary part is that the other top teams could be and should be even better this fall.  That includes ‘Bama, who returns the running back tandem of Ingram and Richardson, but they also return WR Julio Jones and QB Greg McElroy.

Head coach Gene Chizik will look to build on the momentum he created at Auburn, and with Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett and Ole Miss QB Jevan Snead, the SEC could possibly have a pair of first round quarterbacks in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Just to recap, College FootBlog’s 2009 BCS Conference Power Rankings are as follows:

1. SEC
2. Big East
3. Big Ten
4. Big 12
5. ACC
6. Pac 10

Please feel free to post your own power rankings and give your feedback.  Also, look for College FootBlog’s analysis of the recruiting season in a couple of weeks.