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Gators Holds #1, Tide Moves #2

Team of Week - Texas

Photo - QB Tony Pike - Cincinnati

Team / Ranking

1. Florida (6-0) – Gators win over Arkansas despite supbar performance.

2. Alabama (7-0) – Tide beat a tough SC club and move up our charts.

3. Texas (6-0) – Longhorns win the Red River showdown and hit the road for two key Big 12 battles.

4. USC (5-1) – Trojans win in South Bend and close vs Pac 10 schedule.

5. Miami (5-1) - Canes winning games they should at this point.

6. LSU (5-1) – Tigers face a tough stretch of SEC games to close the schedule.

7. Boise St (6-0) - Broncos just got by an average Tulsa club last week.

8. Cincinnati (6-0) - Bearcats remain perfect but QB Tony Pike is out for now.

9. Texas Christian (6-0) – TCU travels to Provo to battle with BYU for MWC top spot.

10. Oregon (5-1) – Ducks coming off bye week for run at Pac 10 title and Southern Cal coming up in two weeks.

11. Iowa (7-0) – Hawkeyes continue to win the close games.

12. Georgia Tech (6-1) –Ga Tech won a major test vs Virginia Tech to move up the charts.

13. Penn St (6-1) – Nittany Lions face a big test at Michigan this week.

14. BYU (6-1) – Cougars might not get tested until Texas Christian contest later this month.

15. Virginia Tech (5-2) – Tech came up short vs a fired up Georgia Tech club.

16. Oklahoma St (5-1) – Cowboys won a big game vs Missouri last week.

17. Ohio St (5-2) – Buckeyes got caught sleeping vs Purdue.

18. Pittsburgh (6-1)- Panthers won a key Big East showdown vs Rutgers and play out the schedule on their home turf.

19. Oklahoma St (5-1) – Cowboys won a key game vs Missouri that gives them a chance at the Big 12 South title.

20. Houston (5-1) – Cougars high powered offense is lighting up weak CUSA defenses weekly.

21. Utah (5-1) – Utes keep winning and have a few huge MWC games on the November agenda.

22. West Virginia (5-1) – WV is heading to critical late season Big East matchups with Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.

23. Kansas (5-1) - Jayhawks lost a heartbreaker to Colorado and face a tough stretch of Big 12 games.

24. South Carolina (5-2) – SC gave a good effort in loss to a very tough physical Alabama club.

25. Texas Tech (6-1) – Red Raiders have performed very well since their early loss to Texas.

Frank Coyle is a longtime Member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for the Super 16 College Team Polls throughout the season that will present Grantland Rice award to the national champion in January 2010. He is also a voter for Players of the Week and for the FWAA All-American teams at the conclusion of each season.

Payton & Buchanan Award Watch Lists

Photo – Walter Payton – Bears

Frank Coyle and Draft Insiders prides itself on scouting small college talent and has a long history of ranking pro prospects from the lower level as top quality starting NFL players. QBs Joe Flacco and Tony Romo are two starting NFL passers that DraftInsiders.com ranked exceptionally high after little national publicity over their college careers. Flacco was on our Senior Bowl recommended list entering his senior season while at Delaware University. He was a prospect we scouted in person at many games and practices and said he had the best arm of the Class of 2007 that included top pick Matt Ryan. Romo was our top small college prospect coming out of Eastern Illinois in the NFL Draft 2003. We ranked him as a starting NFL passer and right behind top pick Rex Grossman. Other small college pro prospects we ranked very high entering the NFL recently are cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, wideout Vincent Jackson and tight end Kevin Boss. We annually publish dozens of small college scouting reports in our annual Yearbook and again with a special section in our Update Report related to the best small college future pro players.

The latest editions of the revised Walter Payton and Buck Buchanan Award watch lists have been announced. The Payton Award, now in its 23rd year, is given to the most outstanding player in the Football Championship Subdivision. Armanti Edwards of Appalachian St is again represented on the list after winning the 2008 Payton Award. The Buchanan Award is in its 15th year and is given to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Payton Award Watch List.
The 20 players on the updated List include:

QB Pat Devlin - Delaware University
QB Armanti Edwards - Appalachian St
RB Chris Evans - Samford
RB William Ford - South Carolina St
QB Pat Grace - Northern Iowa
QB Cameron Higgins - Weber St
WR Terrell Hudgins - Elon
RB Deji Karim - Southern Illinois
QB Bryant Lee - Southern
RB David McCarty - Albany
RB Tony Nelson - Massachusetts
QB Matt Nichols - Eastern Washington
RB Todd Pendland - McNeese St
QB Ryan Perrilloux - Jacksonville St
QB Curtis Pulley - Florida A&M
QB Dominic Randolph - Holy Cross
RB Chase Reynolds - Montana
WR Andre Roberts - Citadel
RB David Sinisi - Monmouth University
RB Trevyn Smith - Weber St

Buck Buchanan Award Watch List

DE Christian Anthony - Grambling St
DE Danny Batten - South Dakota St
DE Dane Fletcher - Montana St
Safety Charles Graves - Delaware University
DE Larry Hart - Central Arkansas
LB Brandin Jordan - Southern Illinois
DE Tim Knicky - Stephen F. Austin
DE Austen Lane - Murray St
Safety Mark LeGree - Appalachian St
DE Jeremy Maddox - Alabama A&M
Safety Jeromy Miles - Massachusetts
DE Arthur Moats - James Madison
CB Josh Morris - Weber St
LB Osayi Osunde - Villanova
CB Justin Rogers - Richmond
DE James Ruffin - Northern Iowa
DT Mychal Savage - Youngstown St
LB J.C. Sherritt - Eastern Washington
DE Adrian Tracy - William & Mary
Safety Terrell Whitehead - Norfolk St

The watch list will be revised again in early November, and again before the final ballot is announced. The original list consisted of a total of 20 candidates that were announced earlier during the summer. Voting for these awards is from a panel of FCS sports information directors, writers, broadcasters and other football experts that will be conducted after the regular season ends. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 30 and will be invited to the 23rd annual FCS Awards banquet on Dec. 17 in Chattanooga, TN., the night before the NCAA Division I championship title game. The Walter Payton Award, the Eddie Robinson Award (top FCS Coach) and Buck Buchanan Award (top FCS Defensive Player) will be presented that night.

Giants Face Saints in NFC Clash

Photo – Saints' QB Drew Brees

Rank / Team

1. New York Giants (5-0)
The Giants face a huge test traveling to New Orleans this week.

2. Indianapolis Colts (5-0)
Colts get a bye week after crushing the Titans in last victory.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (3-1)
Eagles get the horrible Raiders in Oakland this Sunday.

4. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)
The Vikings’ hope to ride Brett Favre’s hot hand with tough Ravens coming to town.

5. New Orleans Saints (5-0)
The Saints face a huge test with GMen coming to the Crescent City.

6. New England Patriots (3-2)
Patriots lost a tough one in overtime vs the Broncos last week.

7. Baltimore Ravens (3-2)
Ravens face a pivotal matchup with Vikings after coming off back to back losses.

8. Chicago Bears (3-1)
Bears face a key NFC clash traveling to Atlanta this week.

9. Denver Broncos (5-0)
The Broncos won a huge game vs Patriots that gives them momentum facing key West battle with Chargers this week.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)
Steelers looking to a run here after a slow start.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (4-1)
The Bengals are for real with Carson Palmer at the controls.

12. New York Jets (3-2)
Jets get the Bills at home and need to terminate two game losing streak.

13. San Francisco 49ers (3-2)
The 49ers get their bye week before starting a tough stretch of games.

14. San Diego Chargers (2-2)
Chargers face a pivotal AFC West contest with Broncos coming to town for Monday nite matchup.

15. Green Bay Packers (2-2)
Packers rested with a key stretch of NFC games on the schedule.

16. Atlanta Falcons (3-1)
Falcons get Sunday night matchup with Bears in an important NFC matchup.

17. Dallas Cowboys (3-2)
Cowboys win in overtime and get this bye week to get Tony Romo right.

18. Arizona Cardinals (2-2)
Cardinals Kurt Warner is capable of beating any team in the league.

19. Miami Dolphins (2-3)
Dolphins won a key AFC East game over Jets and get their bye week to make playoff run.

20. Washington Redskins (2-3)
Skins have backed themselves into the corner with every game critical for any playoff hopes.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3)
Jags were blown out by Seahawks last week and face a critical soft schedule over next month.

22. Houston Texans (2-3)
Texans find ways to lose close games and need to step up over an upcoming stretch of tough games.

23. Seattle Seahawks (2-3)
Seahawks face another critical contest with Falcons coming to town this week.

24. Carolina Panthers (1-3)
Panthers get first win over Skins and look to build on it with Bucs and Bills on deck.

25. Buffalo Bills (1-4)
Bills lost to Browns at home 6-3. That says it all.

26. Tennessee Titans (0-5)
Titans are struggling to get their first win and travel to New England this week.

27. Cleveland Browns (1-4)
Browns get their first win over Bills and face their divisional rival the Steelers this week.

28. Oakland Raiders (1-4)
The Raiders are simply awful and possibly the worst club in the league.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (0-5)
Chiefs will be lucky to win five games this season.

30. St. Louis Rams (0-5)
The Rams have a chance to win going to Jacksonville this Sunday.

31. Detroit Lions (1-4)
Lions might join UFL before the season is over.

32. Tampa Bay Bucs (0-5)
The Bucs might gut this team in postseason with a major rebuilding job in order.

DraftInsiders.com
and ProFootballDraftNetwork.com are collaborating on a weekly article (posted every Wednesday during the college football regular season) to review the prior weeks most notable performances from a 2010 NFL Draft perspective.

Pro Prospects - Week 6

Photo – LB Brandon Spikes – Florida

Frank Coyle - www.draftinsiders.com
Draft Insiders’ Digest –19th Season

LB Brandon Spikes – Senior - Florida
Aggressive senior defender had a dominant performance vs LSU that was instrumental in the Gators victory. Against LSU, he registered a game-high 11 tackles including 3 sacks while limiting the Tigers to just 162 yards and 1 field goal. He is a very physical defender with a quick first step and the power to gain a fast advantage to defeat blocking angles. He showed the physical talent to make plays both inside and outside consistently with the burst speed and quickness to make big plays. He has the ability to rush the passer and also drop in coverage at 250 lbs. He has the rare size/ speed combination that allows him to be an every down defender and capable of playing in either pro scheme and virtually any position in those sets.

QB Jevan Snead – Junior - Mississippi
Talented junior passer played poorly in Ole Miss’s loss to Alabama Saturday. Jevan played tight throughout the contest and threw the ball very erratic consistently. This game was a key chance for him to showcase his skills against the highly regarded tough Tide defense. The Ole Miss starter has let strong pass rushes from the Tide and South Carolina over recent weeks effect him throwing the ball. He was inaccurate once again vs Bama and what was most disturbing was that he was off target in his short throws throughout the game. Currently, he is not ready to consider entering the NFL Draft and in need of further reps at this critical position.

RB Jonathan Dwyer – Junior - Georgia Tech
Big physical junior running back had another strong performance in the Tech win over Florida St. He is a powerfully built back who has performed well in the ACC, displaying very strong inside running with the burst of speed to break big plays. Against FSU, he carried only 14 times but produced 102 yards and 2 TDs. He uses his powerful big frame as a battering ram to run over defenders, though he has the lateral quickness and speed that allows him to move through holes fast and break into the second level. He has outstanding size with very good speed and quickness that will keep him from the top tier of backs. He is an honest runner with natural skills that will draw much attention over what is probably his final season.

WR Jordan Shipley – Senior - Texas
Quick senior wideout had a career game vs Colorado while showing big play ability as both a receiver ad return specialist. On offense, he finished the game with 11 catches for 147 yards and a TD. In addition, his 273 all-purpose yards in the game are a career high. He also registered a 74-yard punt return TD. He has caught at least 10 passes in each of the last three games. He shows excellent hands and route running with the quickness to get into his routes and the speed to break big plays. He is also a dangerous return specialist that will enhance his value in the April draft. He is highly developed with natural receiving skills and fine route running ability that makes him one of the more developed playmakers in this class.

LB Rico McCoy – Senior - Tennessee
Mobile senior defender has been a mainstay in the Vols defense since early in his career, seeing time on both the outside backer and special teams roles. He had an impact performance vs Georgia when he made a 9 tackles, 1 PBU and 1 QB hurry. He is a very mobile, instinctive linebacker who flows to the ball and gets through traffic well with the speed and sure tackling ability to finish with strong stops. His size and mobility will limit him to playing outside in the base 4-3 set. He has the makeup of a top special teams performer.

Denis Krusos - Editor
Pro Football Draft Network
www.profootballdraftnetwork.com

DE Brandon Graham, Senior, Michigan
The powerful Michigan defensive end was a disruptive force against a talented and well-coached Iowa offensive line. Graham tallied 9 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks in the Wolverines’ 30-28 loss at Iowa. He plays with terrific leverage and uses his hands violently to disengage from blockers. Michigan’s top defensive player is stout against the run and helped limit Iowa to only 83 yards rushing on 34 attempts (2.4 per). Graham is a shade under six foot one and will be heavily scrutinized at the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine to gauge how well he may convert to outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Graham played against Iowa with his usual determination. He has the lower body strength and quickness to play defensive end in the NFL despite his lack of ideal height.

RB Ben Tate, Senior, Auburn
The Tigers’ leading rusher continued his strong play this season with a career-day against Arkansas. Tate rushed for 184 yards on 22 carries (8.4 per) in Auburn’s 44-23 defeat to Arkansas. His two touchdowns (including a 60-yard run) in the 3rd quarter fueled an Auburn comeback that ultimately fell short. Tate has a sturdy-build and does not go down easily. He runs with heart and can also return kick-offs and is working on being a better outlet in the passing game.

DT Dan Williams, Senior, Tennessee
The Vols won an important game (45-17) against Georgia. The win bolsters the new coaching staff and the defense played a significant role. Williams led the defensive line with 5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 2 quarterback pressures. Georgia was limited to only 241 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs’ offense scored a mere 3 points and never entered the redzone. Williams has excellent size and moves pretty well for a 320-pound defensive tackle. He did a fine job of clogging the interior on running plays and getting a push up the middle on passes.

LB Perry Riley, Senior, LSU
Riley has helped his 2010 NFL Draft stock with a productive season to date. LSU lost a defensive battle with Florida by a score of 13-3, but Riley’s skills were on full display. He was extremely active with 12 tackles, 1/2 tackle for a loss, 2 passes broken up and 1 quarterback pressure. He displayed excellent range when he helped force Florida’s, Brandon James, out of bounds short of a 1st down on a 4th down play. Riley took good angles to the ball and clearly had the speed and quickness to match-up against a team known for its speed. He also comes in under control when tackling and can deliver some jarring hits.

WR Brandon LaFell, Senior, LSU
LSU’s offense struggled all game against Florida’s top-ranked defense. LaFell caught only 4 passes for 44 yards (11.0 per). His biggest play was a 26-yard catch and run over the middle against the Gators’ 3rd corner. LaFell dropped a pass late in the game and overall did not deliver the big play. LSU had trouble protecting their quarterback, which contributed to the anemic passing attack. The Tigers needed their star receiver to make a man miss or break a tackle. He was unable to make such a play on this day.

Suh #1 Prospect – Draft Insiders

Photo – DT Nda Suh - Nebraska

At the midway of the college football season, he rank pro prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft 2010 regardless of class. This year Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska is #1 overall pro prospect after several dominant performances over the first half of the season.

DT Ndamukong Suh - 6’4” 300 lbs. - Nebraska
Powerful senior defensive tackle was a dominant inside force and had a great game Thursday night vs Missouri. He is a constant presence in the middle who forces the double team regularly. During the Missouri game, he had a sack, an interception and a forced fumble while totaling 6 tackles despite special attention most of the game. He has an explosive burst that combined with his exceptional functional strength and mobility that allows him to be a consistent disruptive inside force. In September '09, he was our #1 prospect on our Senior Bowl Watch list and his final performance has justified that elite rating. I rank Suh higher than Glenn Dorsey, Tommie Harris or Amobi Okoye at a similar stage of their college careers. Each of those prospects became very high draft selections and key NFL starters over their early careers.

We will have more scouting details on Suh and many other pro prospects in our October newsletter out later this month. I will also have exclusive interviews with key people on this elite prospect that will be part of the October Newsletter this month.

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Gators Make Statement in Victory

Photo – Tim Tebow & Teammates

Team of Week - Florida

Team / Rank
1. Florida (5-0) – Gators got it done vs LSU behind a gutting Tim Tebow.
2. Alabama (6-0) – Tide crushed Old Miss on the road in an impressive victory.
3. Texas (5-0) – Longhorns shake off rust vs Colorado and ready for Red River classic.
4. Virginia Tech (5-1) – Tech face a tough stretch of ACC games.
5. LSU (5-1) – Tigers came up short vs Florida with struggling QB.
6. Boise St (5-0) - Broncos coming off bye week for ESPN Wed night matchup with Tulsa.
7. USC (4-1) – Trojans are well rested for visit to South Bend.
8. Ohio St (5-1) – Buckeyes drilled a good Wisconsin team last Saturday.
9. Miami (4-1) – Canes could run the table the rest of the schedule.
10. Texas Christian (5-0) – TCU is headed for clash with BYU in two weeks.
11. Cincinnati (5-0) - Bearcats are well rested for key Thursday night game with South Florida.
12. Oregon (5-1) – Ducks pointing to USC clash at end of month.
13. Iowa (6-0) – Hawkeyes are winning the close games.
14. Kansas (5-0) - Jayhawks facing the acid test in Big 12 over next month.
15. Nebraska (4-1) – Huskers are run a string of Big 12 games over next several weeks.
16. Penn St (5-1) – Nittany Lions walling through soft early schedule.
17. Oklahoma (3-2) – Sooners will have Sam Bradford back this week for Texas clash.
18. BYU (5-1) – Cougars might not get tested until Texas Christian content late this month.
19. South Florida (5-0) – Cincinnati comes to town in key Big East matchup with title implications.
20. Oklahoma St (4-1) – Cowboys get a major test with Missouri coming in this week.
21. Georgia Tech (5-1) –Tech faces major test with Virginia Tech visiting this week in key ACC clash.
22. South Carolina (5-1) – SC will face their toughest test of the year going to Alabama for matchup with hot Crimson Tide club.
23. Wisconsin (5-1)- Badgers wore down vs Ohio St and face big test with Iowa coming in this Saturday.
24. Notre Dame (4-1) – Irish get their biggest challenge with Southern Cal coming to South Bend.
25. Houston (4-1) – Cougars coasting through a soft schedule.

Frank Coyle is a longtime Member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for the Super 16 College Team Polls throughout the season that will present Grantland Rice award to the national champion in January 2010. He is also a voter for Players of the Week and for the FWAA All-American teams at the conclusion of each season.