Draft Insiders' Digest Premier NFL Draft and Free Agency PublicationAll-Star Games 2011-2012 Postseason
The postseason 2011-2012 All-star game schedule begins on Sunday in Atlanta, Georgia as the HBCU Senior Bowl game for small college prospects gets a chance to showcase their pro potential first in front of NFL scouts. Draft Insiders.com will have complete reports from every All-star game in our monthly Newsletters and exclusive emails to subscribers. Our December Newsletter 2011 will be out next week with new Top 150 Senior Pro Prospects, Mock Draft, Underclassmen Report and NFL Draft 2012 Buzz.
Photo - WR Michael Floyd - Notre Dame
All-Star Games 2011-2012 Postseason
* Dec. 18 - HBCU Senior Bowl - Atlanta, Ga
January Schedule - 2012
* Jan. 7 - Cactus Bowl - Division II - Kingsville, Tx
* Jan 16 - Casino del Sol All-star game – Tucson, Arizona
* Jan. 21 - East-West Shrine Classic – St. Petersburg, Florida
* Jan 21 - AstroTurf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl - Los Angeles, Ca.
* Jan. 23 - Eastham Energy All-Star - Tempe, Arizona
* Jan. 28 - Senior Bowl - Mobile, Alabama
* Feb. 5 - Dixie Gridiron Classic - St. George, Utah
Frank Coyle writes ‘College Football Monday’ weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He is also a member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for weekly Team and Player Awards
Senior Bowl – Pro Prospects
For the 16th time in the last 17 years the Under Armour Senior Bowl will be played in front of a capacity crowd (40,646) at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Game officials announced today that the 2011 game has sold out.
Photo - DT Phil Taylor - Baylor
“We want to thank our ticket buyers for showing their support by purchasing every available ticket for the 62nd game,” Senior Bowl Public Relations Director Kevin McDermond said. “We look forward to putting on a first class event in front of a packed house on tomorrow.”
The 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl is scheduled for 3pm (CT) today, January 29th in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game will be televised by NFL Network.
Players to Watch
Offensive Players
Christian Ponder - Florida St. - QB - 6’2” 220
Bilal Powell - Louisville - RB - 5’10” 205
Kendall Hunter - Oklahoma St. - RB - 5’7” 200
Jeremy Kerley - TCU - WR/RS - 5’9” 190
Dwayne Harris - East Carolina - WR/RS - 5’10” 200
Luke Stocker - Tennessee - TE - 6’5” 255
James Carpenter - Alabama - OT - 6’5” 315
Marcus Gilbert - Florida - OT - 6’6” 330
Nate Solder - Colorado - OT - 6’8” 315
Vincent Brown - San Diego St. - WR - 5’11” 185
Febuary Newsletter will have an extensive Senior Bowl evaluation along with Mock Draft, Top Pro Prospects, NFL Draft Buzz and Small College Pro Prospects / Special NFL Free Agency Reports - Order Today
Defensive Players
Cameron Jordan - California - DE - 6’4” 287
Pernell McPhee - Mississippi St. - DE - 6’3” 275
Phil Taylor - Baylor - DT - 6’3” 340
Kelvin Sheppard - LSU - LB - 6’2” 250
K.J. Wright - Mississippi St. - LB - 6’3” 246
Johnny Patrick - Louisville - CB - 5’10” 185
Curtis Brown - Texas - CB - 5’11” 180
Kendric Burney - North Carolina - CB - 5’9” 180
Marcus Gilchrist - Clemson - CB - 5’10” 195
Eric Hagg - Nebraska - S - 6’1” 205
Players who need a Strong Showing in the Senior Bowl
Offensive Players
Jake Locker - Washington - QB - 6'2" 230
Ricky Stanzi - Iowa - QB - 6'4" 220
Andy Dalton - TCU - QB - 6'2" 215
Noel Devine - West Virginia - RB -5'7" 160
Roy Helu - Nebraska - RB - 5'11" 215
DeMarcus Love - Arkansas - OL - 6'5" 320
Lee Ziemba - Auburn - OT - 6'6" 315
Kris O'Dowd - USC - C - 6'4" 300
Defensive Players
Allen Bailey - Miami (FL) - DE - 6’3” 278
Cedrick Thornton - Southern Arkansas - DT - 6’4” 300
Mark Herzlich - Boston College - LB - 6’4” 250
Ross Homan - Ohio St. - LB - 6’ 230
Casey Matthews - Oregon - LB - 6’1” 235
Jalil Brown - Colorado - CB - 6’ 200
Rashad Carmichael - Virginia Tech - CB - 5’10” 185
DeAndre McDaniel - Clemson - S - 6’ 215
The Senior Bowl is college football’s premier pre-draft event, annually featuring the nation’s best senior collegiate football stars and top NFL draft prospects on teams coached by NFL coaching staffs. Senior Bowl practices and game week festivities are attended by more than 800 general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, scouts and other front office personnel from all 32 National Football League teams, making Mobile and the Senior Bowl the week-long host to a one-of-a-kind NFL Coaches Convention. For more information on the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl please visit the bowl’s website at www.seniorbowl.com.
Senior Bowl Week - Practices
Wideout Titus Young - Boise St
Boise State wideout Titus Young has stood out with outstanding workouts where he has flashed explosive speed and quickness. He has shown elite quickness and speed out of his breaks and separating in the deep game. He created excellent separation and caught the ball well, showing soft hands and fine body control. At the weigh-in, he checked in at 5’11” and 174 lbs.
Titus Young is a Santana Moss / DeSean Jackson type playmaker with rare explosive speed and playmaking ability.
As a senior, he played in all of the Broncos 13 games and was named first-team All-Western Athletic Conference for the 2nd straight year. He caught 71 passes for a career-high 1,215 yards and 9 TDs. Over his career, his yardage total is No. 1 all-time with over 3000 yards on 204 career receptions that ranks 2nd in school history. During his stay at Boise St, he had 25 career receiving scores and 35 total TDs with two straight 1,000-yard seasons. As a senior, he totaled 1,916 all-purpose yards to bring his total to 4,464 career all-purpose yards.
Boise St’s Titus Young early Scouting Report
Titus Young #4 – 5’11” 174 lbs. – Boise St. - Sp. 4.40
He shows a great burst of speed to get deep with the ability to track the ball and go up and use his good leaping skills to make a big play. He has a fine combination of quickness, speed and running skills to provide playmaking at the pro level as both a receiver and returner. He needs development as a route runner with better hand technique to release quicker at the line and better understanding of coverage and holes in the secolndary. He cuts quickly at the breakpoint to run consistently crisp routes. He must show the toughness to go over the middle and extend for the ball and make the difficult catch in heavy traffic. He must learn to work the middle better and show better recognition of pass coverage and where the holes are in zones to make the key receptions that move the chains. He shows fine hands and the body control to adjust to the pass that gives him a good receiving radius. He has fine AA and the skill set to become a starting pro with the separation speed to get deep and make a big play that has drawn rave reviews from NFL scouts. He has the rare sudden burst of speed to blow by NFL caliber cover men regularly that will command a high draft selection in April. He is a smooth runner with good running skills to make big yardage after the catch and hit the home run. He is especially effective running the go route, showing the burst to get behind corners. As a runner, he has good elusiveness with the quick burst of speed to hit an opening. He wastes little motion as a route runner and retains his speed well with the ability to track the deep ball and make the big play. He needs work as a blocker that must improve if he expects to see playing time initially. He adjusts quickly to the pass, showing the body control to shield the ball from defenders and the leaping ability to go up and make the catch.
Draft Insiders' Yearbook will have over 300 In-depth Scouting Reports
2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl Week
Senior Bowl Rosters and Coaching Staffs
http://www.seniorbowl.com/rosters.asp
Tickets for the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl are currently available for purchase at the Senior Bowl ticket office (151 Dauphin Street), online at www.seniorbowl.com or by calling (251) 432-4109.
2011 Senior Bowl Week - Rosters
OL Brandon Fusco - Slippery Rock
Senior Rosters & Coaching Staffs
seniorbowl.com/rosters.asp
"Small School" Stars Selected to Under Armour Senior Bowl
Three players from Division II schools will look to shine in the national spotlight this week at the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl. Slippery Rock (Pa.) offensive lineman Brandon Fusco, Abilene Christian wide receiver Edmond Gates and Southern Arkansas defensive lineman Cedric Thornton have all officially accepted invitations to the senior showcase event, it was announced today. The 62nd game is scheduled for 3pm (CT) on Saturday, January 29th in Mobile's Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game and all practices are televised by NFL Network.
Monthly Newsletters feature - Three Round Mock Draft, Top 150 Pro Prospects, NFL Draft Buzz, Underclassmen and Small College Pro Prospects - Order Today
"The Senior Bowl has a long history of affording the opportunity to guys from smaller schools to showcase their talents in front of the top decision makers in the National Football League," Senior Bowl President and CEO Steve Hale said. "All three of these guys are great players and will have no problem competing against players from larger schools here in Mobile next week."
Fusco is the first player from Slippery Rock to earn a Senior Bowl invitation. The offensive center won the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award this year in addition to the Division II Rimington Award, which goes to the nation's best center. He was named to the Associated Press' Little All-America Team and was an AFCA Division II first team All-American. The Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania native was part of an offensive line that helped pave the way for the fifth-leading rusher in Division II this season (Akeem Satterfield).
Gates is the Wildcats' second ever Senior Bowl invitee, joining ACU alum Johnny Perkins ('77 Senior Bowl) on the game's all-time roster. The wide out put up huge numbers in 2010, reeling in 66 catches for 1,182 yards and 13 touchdowns in helping the Wildcats to an 11-0 regular season record. He was just the seventh player in school history to break the 1,000-yard receiving mark and the fifth player to have more than 60 catches. Gates leaves Abilene Christian ranked second in career receiving yards (2,885), third in receptions (158), tied for first in touchdown catches (27) and fourth in scoring (194 points).
Thornton is the first player from Southern Arkansas to be invited to the Senior Bowl. The first team All-Gulf South Conference selection recorded 52 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks from his defensive tackle position this year. He ranked 16th in Division II and first in the GSC in tackles for loss (1.63 per game) and was 15th in the conference in total tackles (6.5 per game). Thornton had a monster junior year for the Muleriders, leading the team in tackles (80), tackles for loss (23), and sacks (8.5).
Fusco will suit up for the North squad next week in Mobile, which will be coached by Marvin Lewis and his Cincinnati Bengals staff. Gates and Thornton meanwhile will play for the South under the direction of Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey and his staff.
Tickets for the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl are currently available for purchase at the Senior Bowl ticket office (151 Dauphin Street), online at www.seniorbowl.com or by calling (251) 432-4109.
NFL Draft 2011 - Wideout Matt Szczur Signs Baseball Contract
Photo - WR Matt Szczur - Villanova
Two-sport standout Matt Szczur announced today that he has reached an agreement with the Chicago Cubs under which he will commit fully to baseball and forego seeking possible professional football opportunities. Szczur will continue to play in the Cubs organization under a minor league contract.
Szczur will no longer participate in the Senior Bowl later this month and will report to Spring Training with the Cubs in Mesa, Arizona in late February or early March. I ranked Szczur as a marginal Top 100 Pro Prospect entering the Senior Bowl 2011 and after the Underclassmen declared this week. We recommended him on all our Senior Bowl invitation lists since September 2010.
For the past four years, Szczur has starred as both a baseball and a football student-athlete for Villanova. He was originally selected by the Cubs in the fifth round of the 2010 Draft.
"I am very happy to have made my decision," Szczur said. "The Cubs are a great organization and I am happy to be with them. My situation couldn't be any better right now. I got to play two sports in college at a great academic school. I expect to receive my degree soon and now I get the chance to become a major league baseball player."
Szczur, 21, combined to bat .347 (35-for-101) with 10 doubles, one triple, 10 RBI, 24 runs scored, a .414 on-base percentage and a .465 slugging percentage in 25 professional games in the Cubs organization in 2010. He spent the majority of the season with short-season Single-A Boise, where he hit safely in all 18 games with a .397 batting average (29-for-73) to earn a six-game promotion to Single-A Peoria before reporting to the Villanova football team in August.
"We've had the great fortune to get to know Matt the last seven-plus months and are excited by his decision to devote himself completely to
baseball and the Cubs," said Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry. "We've come to know Matt not only as a talented athlete but also as an
exceptional person. He had a fantastic pro debut with us last summer and we look forward to supporting and fostering his continued development as a baseball player."
In just two seasons of baseball at Villanova, Szczur made a name for himself as one of the best hitters in program history. He ranks fifth all-time with a .392 (142-for-362) career batting average and is also tied for third with nine triples. He averaged 1.6 hits per game over two seasons and his 142 hits include 23 doubles, nine triples and five home runs. Szczur had a .460 on-base percentage and a .547 slugging percentage for the Wildcats.
"The entire Villanova community is excited for Matt and for him to have the chance to commit himself fully to his baseball career," Villanova head baseball coach Joe Godri said. "I knew that Matt was going to have a chance to be a professional athlete and he had a difficult decision to make. I am thrilled that he will continue our program's legacy of players at the professional level. Villanova has had 55 players reach the major leagues and I expect that Matt will have every chance at being No. 56."
In four years of football at Villanova, Szczur played in 47 games and helped the Wildcats go 37-10 (.787) in the games he appeared in. That record included reaching the quarterfinals of the Division I Football Championship in 2008, winning the national title in 2009 and advancing to the semifinals in 2010. His career football totals for Villanova include 1,803 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, 1,485 receiving yards and 11 scores, 1,690 kickoff return yards and two touchdowns, 206 passing yards (12-of-14) with five touchdowns and a total of 180 points. He racked up 5,234 career all-purpose yards and ends his career ranked 11th in school history in career rushing yards and 14th in career receiving yards. He was the MVP of the 2009 FCS national championship game, when the Wildcats won their first-ever national championship with a 23-21 win over previously unbeaten Montana.
Szczur will no longer participate in the Senior Bowl later this month and will report to Spring Training with the Cubs in Mesa, Ariz. in late February or early March.
Frank Coyle writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He is also a member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for weekly Team and Player Awards
Arkansas's D.J. Williams and Tennessee’s Luke Stocker Head Senior Bowl Tight End Group
TE Luke Stocker - Tennessee
The South squad tight ends in this year's Under Armour Senior Bowl will all be from the Southeastern Conference. Tennessee's Luke Stocker will join Alabama's Preston Dial and Arkansas' D.J. Williams on the South roster later this month after officially accepting an invitation to the senior showcase event. The 2011 game is set for 3pm (CT) on Saturday, January 29th in Mobile's Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game will be televised live by NFL Network.
D.J Williams was ranked #42 and Luke Stocker #48 among our Top 160 senior Pro Prospects in the December newsletter. Williams was nominated for the 1st team while Stocker was named 3rd team All-American offensive team by DraftInsiders.com
"Luke is a big target and has enjoyed a great career at Tennessee," Senior Bowl President and CEO Steve Hale said. "He is a tremendous addition to our South roster and should do really well down here later this month in front of the top decision makers in the NFL."
Stocker enjoyed his best season yet for the Volunteers in 2010, setting career marks in receptions (39) and receiving yards (417). The Berea, Kentucky native finished the season with two touchdown catches, one of which came in the Vols' double-overtime loss to North Carolina in the Music City Bowl. Stocker was the only Vol to have a catch in every single game this season and had multiple catches in 11 of the team's13 games.
The 6-6, 253 pound tight end finished his career on a high note against the Tar Heels—matching a career- best with five catches and setting a career-high with 58 yards receiving. He was the team's third leading receiver in both receptions and yards this season.
Stocker started every game for the Vols in 2010 and wrapped up his career with 38 consecutive starts, which was tops on the team. He finished his career in Knoxville tied for first all-time in school history in games played (52). For his career, Stocker reeled in 85 catches for 956 yards and eight touchdowns.
Senior Bowl Invitation List
No. Name Position HT/WT School
TBA Bailey, Allen - DE - 6-4 / 285 - Miami
TBA Ballard, Christian - DL - 6-5 / 297 - Iowa
TBA Black, Ahmad - DB - 5-9 / 189 - Florida
TBA Bynes, Josh - LB - 6-2 / 235 - Auburn
TBA Carpenter, James - OL - 6-5 / 300 - Alabama
TBA Clayborn, Adrian - DE - 6-4 / 285 - Iowa
TBA Dalton, Andy - QB - 6-3 / 220 - TCU
TBA Devine, Noel - RB - 5-8 / 180 - West Virginia
TBA Dial, Preston - TE - 6-3 / 237 - Alabama
TBA Gilbert, Marcus - OL - 6-5 / 322 - Florida
TBA Hankerson, Leonard - WR - 6-3 / 205 - Miami
TBA Henry, Chas - P - 6-3 / 222 - Florida
TBA Hudson, Rodney - OL - 6-3 / 285 - Florida St.
TBA Ijalana, Ben - OL - 6-4 / 320 - Villanova
TBA Jernigan, Jerrel - WR - 5-9 / 184 - Troy
TBA Johnson, Ronald - WR - 6-0 / 185 - USC
TBA Kerley, Jeremy - WR - 5-10 / 192 - TCU
TBA Kerrigan, Ryan - DE - 6-5 / 265 - Purdue
TBA Love, DeMarcus - OL - 6-5 / 315 - Arkansas
TBA McElroy, Greg - QB - 6-3 / 225 - Alabama
TBA O'Dowd, Kristofer - OL - 6-5 / 300 - USC
TBA Pettis, Austin - WR - 6-3 / 203 - Boise St
TBA Ponder, Christian - QB - 6-3 / 227 - Florida St
TBA Pouncey, Mike - OL - 6-4 / 310 - Florida
TBA Stanzi, Ricky - QB - 6-4 / 230 - Iowa
TBA Stocker, Luke - TE - 6-6 / 253 - Tennessee
TBA Szczur, Matt - WR - 5-11 / 205 - Villanova
TBA Williams, D.J. - TE - 6-2 / 251 - Arkansas
TBA Wright, Shareece - CB - 5-11 / 185 - USC
TBA Young, Titus - WR - 5-11 / 175 - Boise St
TBA Ziemba, Lee - OL - 6-8 / 319 - Auburn
Tickets for the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl are currently available for purchase at the Senior Bowl ticket office (151 Dauphin Street), all area Food For Less locations, select Regions Bank locations, online at www.seniorbowl.com or by calling (251) 432-4109
Frank Coyle writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He is also a member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for weekly Team and Player Awards
Ryan Kerrigan Accepts Senior Bowl Invite
Photo - DE Ryan Kerrigan - Purdue
The North roster for next month’s Under Armour Senior Bowl just got a whole lot better. Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan, the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, has officially accepted an invitation to the 2011 game, it was announced today. The 62nd game is scheduled for 3pm (CT) on Saturday, January 29th in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game will be televised live by NFL Network.
“Ryan has proven to be one of the most dominant pass rushers in the nation,” said Senior Bowl President and CEO Steve Hale. “He is an outstanding prospect and a player that I think will really turn some heads down here in Mobile.”
In addition to claiming Big Ten Defensive Player of the year honors this season, Kerrigan was also named the Big Ten’s Defensive Lineman of the Year and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection. He was also a semifinalist for the Lombardi, Lott and Bednarik awards this season. The unanimous first-team All-American (Walter Camp, AP, FWAA, Sporting News, AFCA Coaches) leads the Big Ten and ranks third in the country with 12.5 sacks on the season and is fifth on his team with 70 tackles—including 50 solo stops.
Ryan Kerrigan was ranked #15 among our Top 160 senior Pro Prospects in the December newsletter. He was also named for the first team All-American defensive team by DraftInsiders.com
“Seeing all of the great players that have come through and played in the Senior Bowl it really is an honor to be invited to this game and to be able to participate in it,” Kerrigan said. “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity.”
Kerrigan’s 2.17 tackles for loss per game is the best in the country and accounts for 26 tackles for loss on the year which is the seventh-best single-season total in Big Ten history. He also forced five fumbles this year, giving him 14 for his career, matching the NCAA record and breaking the Big Ten record held by Simeon Rice and Bob Sanders.
“I’m just looking to work hard and show the coaches that I can compete with the best around the country,” Kerrigan added. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to play against the guys that are going to be there—the best offensive tackles around, the best overall players. I’m really looking forward to it and it’s an opportunity I’m going to embrace.”
For his career, Kerrigan finished tied for second on Purdue’s all-time list with 33.5 career sacks and is fifth in career tackles for loss with 57. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of another former Big Ten standout, Brandon Graham. Graham was the MVP of the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl after leading the country in tackles for loss last year at Michigan.
“It would be great if I did (win the MVP),” Kerrigan said. “I’m just looking forward to going down there and competing and playing my best and hopefully showing the scouts and NFL coaches that I can play with the best guys around the nation.”
Senior Bowl Invitation List
No. Name Position HT/WT School
TBA Carpenter, James - OL - 6-5 / 300 - Alabama
TBA Dial, Preston - TE - 6-3 / 237 - Alabama
TBA Hudson, Rodney - OL - 6-3 / 285 - Florida St.
TBA Jernigan, Jerrel - WR - 5-9 / 184 - Troy
TBA Kerrigan, Ryan - DE - 6-5 / 265 - Purdue
TBA McElroy, Greg - QB - 6-3 / 225 - Alabama
TBA Pettis, Austin - WR - 6-3 / 203 - Boise St
TBA Ponder, Christian - QB - 6-3 / 227 - Florida St
TBA Young, Titus - WR - 5-11 / 175 - Boise St
Tickets for the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl are currently available for purchase at the Senior Bowl ticket office (151 Dauphin Street), all area Food For Less locations, select Regions Bank locations, online at www.seniorbowl.com or by calling (251) 432-4109.
Frank Coyle writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He is also a member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for weekly Team and Player Awards
