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Buchsbaum analyzes several official and rumored early entries into April’s NFL
draft.
Louisiana State QB Josh Booty
Booty definitely wasn’t ready yet. But he’s an overrated player who played
five years of minor league (and a little major league) baseball. And there was a good
chance he’d be beaten out by the other quarterback this year.
Texas A&M WR Robert Ferguson
He’s talented, he’s athletic. He’s very raw because he only played one
year of college football. He also is in need of money because he’s from a very poor
family.
Western Illinois CB William Peterson
Before he left Michigan, he was a star. And he’s got a chance to play.
Boston College CB Jonathan Ordway
He’s coming off a real disappointing injury-filled year. I don’t know why
he’s coming out.
Clemson CB Alex Ardley
Ardley’s a quick little corner.
Texas A&M FB Ja’Mar Toombs
Buchsbaum: He’s a big, strong fullback who needs work on his blocking and
inclination to block. He’s coming off the best game he’s had in a long time. You
could tell he was coming out because he turned it up a notch toward the end of the year.
What follows is Buchsbaum’s analysis of six players who recently declared for the
2001 NFL draft.
Virginia Tech QB Michael Vick
Vick is maybe the most gifted athlete I’ve ever seen at the quarterback position,
the most gifted runner and he has excellent NFL arm strength. But he doesn’t know how
to play the position yet, and he really, really needed another year to learn it in
college. Two years would have been better than one, but at least one more year because
there’s so much he doesn’t yet grasp about the passing game and hasn’t even
been asked to grasp yet. He just plays the position right now on pure athletic ability and
instinct. I think whoever advised him to come out gave him poor advice. See, there is
still a good chance that he could be a franchise player, which is why he’ll go one,
two or three in the draft. But there also is a tremendous downside on him as a quarterback
because of his inexperience at the position and, with the salary-cap ramifications, how
quickly he’ll have to play.
Clemson LB Keith Adams
He’s a little tiger. Size is a big problem for him, but he’s a great little
player, sort of in a Dexter Coakley mold but not quite as good.
Wisconsin RB Michael Bennett
Bennett is the reverse in that he’s got great speed and flashes greatness as a
runner and is a big-play runner because of that speed. But his instincts are still
somewhat off at times, he’s inconsistent and he’s got an awful lot to learn. He
could have been a top-five pick next year if he went back to school.
Georgia QB Quincy Carter
Terrible, awful, worse-than-awful decision. He’s coming off a major disappointing
year. His play regressed badly as a junior, he ended the year injured, he doesn’t get
a chance to redeem himself in a bowl game and he was going to be in a great situation next
year with some very good young receivers and with a great QB coach in Mark Richt coming in
to coach him. It’s just incredible to me that anyone could make such a stupid
decision.
Wisconsin CB Jamar Fletcher
Fletcher is a terrific corner, terrific ball athlete, but he’s small and he
isn’t that fast.
Oklahoma State RB Reggie White
He’s a good back. I don’t know if he’s a great back, but he’s a
good back, and he should fit in in the draft.
Ohio State CB Nate Clements
He’s got outstanding ability, but he was inconsistent as a junior.
Auburn WR Ronney Daniels
Disappointing sophomore season, but he’s an over-aged player. Really should have
come back to school.
Michigan State CB Renaldo Hill
Another guy who could have used the extra year, but he probably wouldn’t have been
able to come back because he was a Prop (student) and needed to get a whole lot of
credits.
Minnesota CB Willie Middlebrooks
He’s coming off a broken left ankle, which makes it a concern. He played better
two years ago than he did in 2000 before he broke the ankle.
UCLA WR Freddie Mitchell
The guy’s got a world of natural receiving ability, and statistically he had a
phenomenal Sun Bowl, but he seems to antagonize everyone, rub everyone the wrong way and
is always looking to call attention to himself. His performance, though brilliant as a
receiver, was so embarrassing with the taunting and self-promotion in the Sun Bowl that he
hurt himself.
Ohio State DT Ryan Pickett
He’s a talented guy, but I think he’s a year premature.
Nebraska C Dominic Raiola
Best center in the country.
North Carolina State WR Koren Robinson
Has rare ability. Sort of a poor man’s Randy Moss, but the character, maturity and
stability are questionable at this point. He probably has more questions off the field
than on it.
Missouri DE Justin Smith
Really played well as a junior. Has excellent speed and excellent workout numbers.
Michigan WR David Terrell
Tremendous talent. Could be the first wide receiver taken if Robinson isn’t.
Florida OT Kenyatta Walker
One of the top two offensive tackles in the country.
Florida DT Gerard Warren
One of the top two or three defensive tackles in the country.
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