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Penn St. Defender Aaron Maybin -
Fastest Rising Prospect in This Year's Class
Photo - Aaron Maybin - Penn St.
This year's NFL Draft class features several blue chip underclassmen who have moved up the charts quickly off a strong finish to their short careers. Aaron Maybin is probably the fastest rising prospect at this point prior to the NFL Combine.
Aaron Maybin earned first team All-Big Ten honors after developing into one of the college football's most feared pass rushers and playmakers over the 2008 season. He ranked fourth in the nation with 12 sacks and added 19 TFL after a limited 2007 season when he totaled just 12 tackles, with 4.5 TFL and 4 sacks. He has jumped up the charts off the big '08 performance that probably guarantees him a first round grade and possibly a top 20 selection at this point.
We were interviewed by Nate Bauer of Blue White Illustrated
Here is the full interview
By Nate Bauer of Blue White Illustrated
Penn State head coach Joe Paterno has had 234 of his players selected in the NFL Draft during his 43 year tenure - the most recent being linebacker Dan Connor and cornerback Justin King in 2008. This year, that number is sure to increase as a host of Nittany Lions become eligible to have their names called in late-April.
Two early-entrants - defensive ends Aaron Maybin and Maurice Evans - join nine graduated seniors - wide receivers Derrick Williams, Deon Butler, and Jordan Norwood, offensive linemen A.Q. Shipley, Rich Ohrnberger and Gerald Cadogan, and defensive backs Anthony Scirrotto, Tony Davis, and Lydell Sargeant - as players that could all find themselves in NFL camps this spring, whether it's through the Draft or free agency.
Maybin is likely to be the first Lion drafted this year.
To get a better idea of where some of the Lions might wind up, BWI spoke with Frank Coyle, a nationally-recognized pro football scout and publisher of Draft Insiders' Digest and DraftInsiders.com, who is in his 18th year of extensive NFL Draft and free agency evaluation.
According to Coyle, the highest chosen among the group is likely to be the All-America defensive end, Aaron Maybin.
"Obviously he's a hot prospect off of a big '08," Coyle said. "(He's) the classic tweener. It's going to be interesting what he weighs in at the combine but it's under 250, I would say the mid 240s is probable. That's been a month ago. Has he put 10-15 pounds of muscle on? I don't think he can play down in the NFL. Not at this point. So, he's gotta play up in the 50 defense and be the attack linebacker.
"You're looking at a guy with one year of production making a defensive scheme system - even though his production was really good - he brings the hot commodity. If you can score touchdowns or sack quarterbacks, you're hot and that's what's going on here."
While Coyle doesn't have Maybin rated as high as some other national NFL Draft analysts and experts, he does think that the first-team All-Big Ten selection could be a first round pick. In Coyle's most recent mock draft posted on DraftInsiders.com, Maybin checks in with the 25th pick to Miami.
"He could certainly be a first round pick. I've seen lesser become first round picks," he said. "(Teams) start filling in the blanks and seeing him in the 50 defense and can he get double-digit sacks, this that and the other thing.
"Boy, but it's not without risk. There's a scheme adjustment here. There's a limited bio from college. Granted, it was very productive in a short period of time at a high level. But, he's got the burst off the edge. He's got that speed and... you only need one team to like you.
"I gotta see the combine before I give him a first round grade. I mean, some people have gone overboard here. They're saying top ten... I mean, top ten, I want a guy that I think can go to the Hall of Fame."
Although Coyle said that Maybin's choice to enter the draft with his small frame and such limited experience surprised him, he noted that the Bednarik Award finalist has tremendous upside potential.
With players like James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley making their marks as linebackers for the PIttsburgh Steelers' 3-4 defensive alignment, Coyle suggested that teams could envision Maybin as the next difference maker in that type of defense.
Admittedly, Maybin's performance at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis in March will be huge, but for teams looking for pass rushers (of which there are typically many), Maybin might just be the answer.
"If you're looking for pass rushers, you lay them out and there's only X amount of players and you gotta get one of them," Coyle said. "So, they tend to be taken with a shorter resume and there's obviously a bigger risk-reward. If they're that great, they don't get out of the top five, top ten at those key, difference kinds of positions."
Of course, for as high as Maybin's draft stock appears to be, Evans can't quite claim the same.
Coyle said he was surprised by Evans' decision to come out early for the draft, but thinks he has plenty of potential.
After his 2007 sophomore season saw him earn top ten finishes in tackles for losses (6th, 21.5), sacks (8th, 12.5) and forced fumbles (6th, 5), Evans had a tumultuous 2008.
In September, Evans was suspended for three games with Abe Koroma when police found a small amount of marijuana in their apartment and by season's end, his numbers didn't meet those of the year before.
In 10 games played, Evans finished with 34 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3 sacks and had no forced fumbles.
"I thought he'd go back and give himself a chance to be a blue chip kid off of some problems this year," Coyle said. "He's a classic 4-3 defensive end, a lot of ability. He's going to have to interview well and test out well and answer some key questions and show he's NFL ready, but I think there's a real player here. Where he goes is kind of a real wildcard at this point.
"They dig into the character issues and they have to feel reasonably comfortable knowing it's a one time incident or something that has been addressed and resolved. But again, it's a risk-reward. You have to look the kid in the eye and feel comfortable. It's hard.
The NFL has been pretty good with giving people second chances and hopefully Maurice will make it work. But, he's going to have to answer some tough questions and he's going to have to prove NFL ready in all ways, both maturity-wise, athletically, emotionally and medically."
That said, Coyle indicated that if Evans can get past those hiccups, the demand is certainly out there for the type of player Evans can be. With that in mind, Evans could go as high as the second round but could fall as well.
"The need for defensive end is huge. It's a big bust position because your defense, you've gotta have pass rushers and that's why both kids will go fairly high, Maybin probably in the first and Evans probably in the top 100, if they dot all the I's, you know?
"If Evans goes out and runs a 4.65 at 270 pounds and looks good in the L and interviews and deals with these issues and checks out medically and all that stuff, he could be a second-round pick. But don't be surprised if he's not a fourth or a fifth, either."
For all the attention that the early departures of Maybin and Evans warranted, Penn State's graduated seniors are sure to make an impact on this year's draft as well.
Williams could end up as a first-round pick.
According to Coyle, the most notable among them will likely be wide receiver Derrick Williams.
Williams, a 2008 first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-America selection, is the No. 28-overall pick in Coyle's latest mock draft and will likely be a top 40 overall selection in this year's draft, Coyle said.
"Derrick Williams is probably a borderline first-round guy," Coyle said. "His versatility as a return specialist helps him tremendously. I see him as a top 40 guy, probable late-first, early-second, and a guy who helped himself a lot this year.
"I think he's going to step in and help a team in three wideout sets immediately and in the return game. A lot of clubs would put a lot of value on that because he's fairly well developed in all those areas. Derrick Williams is probably going to help someone immediately as a rookie."
Even though Williams is a bit undersized to be a true NFL No. 1 receiver, Coyle explained that Williams' quickness and versatility will all work to his advantage.
"I don't think he's as fast as DeSean Jackson but yeah, he could be used in that kind of a role," he said. "You need a creative coach, put him in the slot, put him in movement, put him on some reverses. You gotta game plan his touches. But, he's a playmaker and a guy that's going to bring a lot to the table to whatever NFL team has him."
Of course, Williams won't be the only wideout from Penn State's talented trio to end up in the NFL.
Deon Butler, Penn State's career receptions leader with 179 and 2008 second-team All-Big Ten selection, will also get some looks at the NFL level, Coyle explained.
"He's a No. 3, No. 4-type of guy who might also help in the return game," Coyle said. "He's a guy that you try to have a package for and probably makes an NFL team on some ability to play some roles and make plays. He's probably draftable but you're talking sixth, seventh round.
"You know, you have to see how the process goes. There's a lot of receivers out there and they usually draft about 35 a year. Where does he fit into that? Let me tell you, if he's not drafted, he will be one of the real high-priority free agents but I expect him to get drafted because he's another kid that brings a nice level of development and be able to help in a couple roles."
Jordan Norwood, the third of Penn State's talented trio of wideouts, might not get a look in the NFL Draft, but could be helping himself immensely with his work this week at the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Game.
Norwood is one of five Nittany Lions, including Gerald Cadogan, Rich Ohrnberger, Lydell Sargeant, and Anthony Scirrotto, to be playing in the game.
Coyle said it could prove to be a real benefit for Norwood or any of the other participants.
"Yes, (the Texas vs. the Nation Game) can help and it can put him in a light where he gets away from all the competition on his own team," he said. "There's going to be a lot of scouts there, believe me. We have some people there. It's the last hurrah of football so it's a great place for guys that might have been buried on depth charts to get out and get a little bit more focus. It can help him. You'll see 25 kids drafted out of this Texas vs. the Nation Game."
Another Nittany Lion destined to get some looks in the NFL Draft will be Rimington Trophy winner A.Q. Shipley.
Although, Coyle explained that there are a few things working against Shipley being drafted anywhere before the late rounds this year.
"He's a real sound technician. Not the biggest kid in the world," Coyle said. "(He'll be) a later round pick. Middle round to later round kid who has really graded out well at a high level.
"He doesn't have the prototypical numbers, so to speak, but a kid that probably gets drafted. What's working against him here - it's a very strong group of centers and he probably doesn't go in the top 150."
While Shipley was the marquee name on Penn State's line this year, Coyle explained that both Gerald Cadogan and Rich Ohrnberger are highly likely to end up in an NFL camp, and Cadogan could even get drafted.
Could Cadogan be a late-round draft pick?
"I think Cadogan's got a good chance to be drafted late, more than the interior guys," Coyle said. "If he doesn't have the feet to play left tackle, maybe they feel that he could be a developmental right tackle kind of kid.
"He's another guy - what's he going to lift? What kind of shape is he in? Did he put on bulk? What are his feet like? - There are critical things that he's going to have to answer at that workout. He did a good job this year and let me tell you, all these offensive linemen are going to be in camp, whether they're drafted in the fifth round or a high-priority free agent."
The important thing for Cadogan, and many of Penn State's borderline draftable players, will be how they train between the end of the season and Penn State's Pro Day in late-March.
With only a few of Penn State's eligible players likely to get invites to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis from February 18-24, Coyle explained that this year's Pro Day workout will be vital for many of the Lions looking to get drafted.
Coyle is predicting that all of Penn State's defensive backs - Tony Davis, Lydell Sargeant and Anthony Scirrotto - will wind up in NFL camps, but with an impressive workout at the all-important Pro Day, any of them could jump into the draft picture.
"I think all these DBs and offensive linemen, that alone is going to attract 32 teams (to come to Penn State's Pro Day) because they're going to look at these as possible sixth or seventh round guys and high-priority free agents because of their background," he said. "They feel they're pretty well developed coming out of this program. They can come in and maybe hit the ground running and maybe make an NFL team.
"That's gold not to use a draft pick on a guy that can make the team. How they run, what kind of shape they're in will entice teams to go back and do a lot more film work on them."