BC's Ryan Headlines 2008 Draft Prospects

By: Mike Mauro

Posted: 2/8/08

College football season has been done for a month, meaningful NFL games are finished and as I savor every ounce of the Giants' "perfect upset" against New England, it's time to look forward and evaluate the college prospects who can help your team attempt to dethrone New York next season.

It is still early in the NFL Draft evaluation process but, the Senior Bowl has already come and gone, underclassmen have declared themselves eligible and the NFL Combine (Feb. 20-26) is up next. The Combine is a major tool that scouts use to evaluate the incoming draft class and how each player performs at this event can greatly hurt or help their stock.

Two UConn players, guard Donald Thomas and cornerback Tyvon Branch, have been invited to Indianapolis, Ind., for the Combine this year hoping to improve their draft stock. They follow in the footsteps of fullback Deon Anderson, who was invited to the Combine last year and was drafted in the sixth round by the Dallas Cowboys.

Here is an early look at the top-3 quarterbacks, running backs and receivers eligible for the 2008 NFL Draft. The Combine and individual workouts will alter the rankings and stock of each player. Check back next week when we will rank the top tight ends, offensive lineman and defensive lineman in the draft.

Quarterback

1) Matt Ryan, Sr. (RS), Boston College - Ryan is the clear No. 1 signal-caller in this year's draft. He has the arm strength, accuracy, size and intangibles that you look for in a franchise quarterback. The Miami Dolphins would be wise to seriously consider Ryan with their No. 1 overall pick unless they are sold on last year's second-rounder, John Beck.

2) Brian Brohm, Sr., Louisville - Brohm should have came out as a junior last season. He has seen his stock fall considerably this year, going from the potential No. 1 overall pick to a mid-to-late first rounder at best. He doesn't have a rocket arm but he is very accurate, smart and has prototypical NFL size and tools to make him a good quarterback at the next level.

3) Joe Flacco, Sr. (RS), Delaware - Flacco is the best small-school offensive player in the draft. He began his career at Pittsburgh before transferring to Delaware where he led the Blue Hens to the Division I-AA title game. Flacco has the strongest arm in the draft to go along with phenomenal size (6-foot-6, 230 pounds). The only question entering the Senior Bowl was if he could play against better competition and he answered that with a resounding "yes," solidifying a spot in the second round of the draft.

Running Back

1) Darren McFadden, Jr., Arkansas - "Run DMc" is the best player in the country and it was an easy decision for him to leave school early. He is the fastest and most dynamic player in the country and if he slips out of the top-5 in the draft, someone is getting a steal. His versatility running and in the return game only elevates his stock to an unbelievable level.

2) Jonathan Stewart, Jr., Oregon - One of the most underrated backs in the country, Stewart is the perfect NFL running back. He combines great size (5-foot-10, 230 pounds) with terrific speed and proved he can stay healthy in 2007 as the Ducks' workhorse in the backfield. He will be a mid first-rounder and turn into one of the better backs in the NFL.

3) Rashard Mendenhall, Jr., Illinois - He took the Big Ten by storm this season and was the biggest factor in Illinois' improbable run to the Rose Bowl. Mendenhall came out early like the other two players on this list and doesn't have too much tread on his tires. With his combination of skills and good size (5-foot-10, 225 pounds) he should be picked in the latter portion of the first round.

Wide Receiver

1) Limas Sweed, Sr. (RS), Texas - Sweed was injured most of the year with a wrist injury, but that won't affect him long-term. Sweed is a dynamic playmaker for the Longhorns whose big body, (6-foot-5, 219 pounds) deceptive speed and sure hands could make him a No. 1 target at the next level.

2) Malcolm Kelly, Jr., Oklahoma - This junior disappeared at times during the season but he has the potential to be a big-time playmaker in the NFL. He has size comparable to Sweed and the two will battle to be the first pure wideout taken in the draft.

3) DeSean Jackson, Jr., California - Jackson is a dynamic threat in the mold of last year's No. 9 overall pick Ted Ginn. Jackson is a better receiver but he is small (5-foot-11, 170 pounds) and isn't polished. However, he may put on a show at the Combine and boost his draft stock into the top-10 with a great showing in the 40-yard dash.

Mike Mauro's NFL Draft column runs every Friday. He can be contacted at Michael.Mauro@UConn.edu.