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Matt Ryan Heads Strong 2008 All- Rookie Team
Photo - QB Matt Ryan - Atlanta Falcons
Draft Insiders.com named its annual All-Rookie team today week after an outstanding '08 season performance by many first year players. Atlanta's QB Matt Ryan is our Rookie Player of the Year after leading the lowly Falcons to the playoffs after completing a disastrous '07 season. Ryan has been a major rookie impact performer during the Falcons incredible turnaround '08 season. Ryan was our #1 pro prospect from August 2007 and never moved off the top spot in our NFL Draft '08 ratings. He has had an exceptional first season especially for a QB where most young passers sit several seasons or pay a high price for their dues during their NFL Baptism. Ryan beat out fellow rookie QB Joe Flacco who has had an excellent rookie campaign for the Baltimore Ravens. Flacco was a prospect we scouted extensively at Delaware over the 2007 college season and a prospect we recommended to the Senior Bowl committee in October 2007. Ryan earned our Player of the Year award by beating out one of the most outstanding groups of rookie running backs that may be the watershed first year class for the position of years to come. Three rookie runners, Matt Forte of Chicago, Chris Johnson of Tennessee and Steve Slaton of Houston have already surpassed the 1000 yard rushing mark with one game remaining in a terrific group of first year feature backs. This is only the third time in NFL history that has happened with the first time during the '95 season. Rookie backs Kevin Smith of Detroit and Jonathan Stewart of Carolina can also reach the 1000 yard mark with big final performances this weekend. Other rookie backs like Ray Rice, Tim Hightower, Felix Jones and Darren McFadden have had their moments over their inaugural '08 season and make this not only a special talented group of runners but maybe the deepest class of first year backs in league history. Only time will tell about that statement, but this class of rookie backs has certainly had a major impact on the NFL 2008 season and most likely for seasons to come.
Draft Insiders' All- Rookie Team 2008
Player - Team - Round in NFL Draft 2008
QB Matt Ryan - Atlanta - 1
QB Joe Flacco - Baltimore - 1
RB Matt Forte - Chicago - 2
RB Chris Johnson - Tennessee - 1
RB Steve Slaton - Houston - 3
RB Kevin Smith - Detroit - 3
RB Jonathan Stewart - Carolina - 1
FB Peyton Hillis - Denver - 7
WR Eddie Royal - Denver - 2
WR DeSean Jackson - Philadelphia - 2
WR Donnie Avery - St. Louis - 2
WR Josh Morgan - San Francisco - 6
TE John Carlson - Seattle - 2
TE Dustin Keller - NY Jets - 1
TE Martellus Bennett - Dallas - 2
OL Jake Long - Miami - 1
OL Jeff Otah - Carolina - 1
OL Ryan Clady - Denver - 1
OL Duane Brown - Houston - 1
OL Branden Albert - Kansas City - 1
OL Carl Nicks - New Orleans - 5
OL Mike Pollak - Indianapolis - 2
OL Jeremy Zuttah - Tampa - 3
Return Specialist - Leodis McKelvin - Buffalo - 1
Placekicker - Dan Carpenter - Miami - FA
Rookie Offensive Player of the Year - QB Matt Ryan - Atlanta Falcons
All-Rookie Defensive Team
DE Chris Long - St. Louis - 1
DE Kendall Langford - Miami - 3
DE Lawrence Jackson - Seattle - 1
DE Jason Jones - Titans - 2
DE Trevor Scott - Oakland - 6
DT Sedrick Ellis - New Orleans - 1
DT Glenn Dorsey - Kansas City - 1
DT Marcus Harrison - Chicago - 3
LB Jerod Mayo - New England - 1
LB Curtis Lofton - Atlanta - 2
LB Keith Rivers - Cincinnati - 1
LB Xavier Adibi - Houston - 4
CB Antoine Cason - San Diego - 1
CB Brandon Flowers - Kansas City - 2
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - Arizona - 1
CB Dwight Lowery - NY Jets - 4
CB Brandon Carr - Kansas City - 5
S Kenny Phillips - NY Giants - 1
S Charles Godfrey - Carolina - 3
S Chris Horton - Washington - 7
Punter Brett Kern - Denver - FA
Special Teams - Orlando Scandrick - Dallas - 5
Special Teams - Spencer Larsen - Denver - 6
Defensive Rookie of the Year - LB Jerod Mayo - New England Patriots
Frank Coyle is a longtime Member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Jim Thorpe, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award etc. He is a scouting consultant annually for the Senior Bowl. He is also a voter for the Super 16 College Team Polls throughout the season that will present Grantland Rice award to the national champion in January 2009. He is also a voter for All-American teams at the conclusion of each season.