Draft Insiders' Digest Premier NFL Draft and Free Agency Publication
Irish TE Rudolph Wins Weekly Mackey Award
Kyle Rudolph is our #1 tight end prospect for the NFL Draft 2011 if he declares after the 2010 season. He has been very impressive in the early action and was named the John Mackey award winner this week for his outstanding performance in the Irish loss to Michigan.
Photo - Kyle Rudolph - Notre Dame
Scouting Profile in Pro Prospect Preview for NFL Draft 2011
1. * Kyle Rudolph - 6’5” 260 lbs. - Notre Dame
Athletic junior tight end has developed nicely over his Irish career and has enormous upside as a pro player. He is a big strong prospect with fine athleticism, combining the power to be a quality inline blocker and the speed to get into the deep seam and make the big play. He has good hands and the run after the catch ability to be dangerous after the reception, though underutilized in this role. As a blocker, he shows the agility, strength and quickness to get into a defender with the power to finish the play. He could improve further this fall, though he is working with a first time starting QB who could go through a tough learning curve. He has the prototypical skills to become a premier complete NFL starter.
John Mackey Award - weekly winner Kyle Rudolph - Notre Dame
Kyle Rudolph of Notre Dame was named John Mackey Tight End of the Week by the Nassau County Sports Commission. The junior recorded eight receptions for 164 yards and a 95 yard touchdown catch - a career best in receptions and yardage. His career long 95 yard touchdown reception put Notre Dame ahead 24-21 with 4:28 remaining in the 4th quarter before Michigan retook the lead with 30 seconds remaining resulting in a heartbreaking 28-24 loss for Notre Dame. This is the second time that Rudolph has been name Mackey Tight end of the Week - the other honor coming in week 3 last season. Honorable mentions considered for this week's Mackey Tight End of the Week include Ladarius Green of Louisiana and Rob Housler of Florida Atlantic .
The 2010 recipient of "The Mackey" will be announced at the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show December 9, 2010 on ESPN. Please visit www.johnmackeyaward.org for all Mackey Award related information including the John Mackey Selection Committee, the selection process and award criteria, information on all past award recipients and a high resolution image of the award trophy available for download.
Frank Coyle is a longtime Member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Jim Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for weekly Team and Player Awards.
Greg Romeus, Adrian Clayborn and Von Miller Head Strong Ted Hendricks Award Watch List
Photo - Greg Romeus - Pittsburgh
The Ted Hendricks Award is now in its ninth season. The award is named in honor of former University of Miami defensive lineman Ted Hendricks, college football’s first three-time first-team All-American.
On-field performance, exceptional winning attitude, leadership abilities, contributions to school and community and academic preparedness are some of the criteria used to determine the award’s winner. Members of the national media, head coaches, professional scouts and former winners are included in the award’s voting committee. Candidates may represent any class (freshman through senior) as well as any four-year NCAA-accredited school. The candidate’s primary position must be defensive end.
The watch list is subject to change until the final mid-season watch list is issued in November. Players may be added or deleted, depending on performance, injury, etc. The 2010 winner will be announced on December 8.
2010 Ted Hendricks Watch List
Johnathan Rainey, New Mexico
Sam Acho, Texas
Pierre Allen, Nebraska
Christian Anthony, Grambling
Allen Bailey, Miami
Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma
Broderick Binns, Iowa
Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson
Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
Jack Crawford, Penn State
Marcell Dareus, Alabama
Ricky Elmore, Arizona
Jonathan Freeny, Rutgers
Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
Datone Jones, UCLA
Cameron Jordan, California
Thomas Keiser, Stanford
Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
Jake Laptad, Kansas
Kapron Lewis-Moore, Notre Dame
Greg Lloyd, Connecticut
Kentrell Lockett, Mississippi
Cliff Matthews, South Carolina
Josh McNary, Army
Pernell McPhee, Mississippi State
Bruce Miller, Central Florida
Von Miller, Texas A&M
Dontay Moch, Nevada
Nick Perry, USC
Robert Quinn, North Carolina
Adrian Robinson, Temple
Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh
Kenny Rowe, Oregon
Aldon Smith, Missouri
Chris Walker, Tennessee
Ryan Winterswyk, Boise State
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
Photo – DE Adrian Clayborn - Iowa
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the names of thirty "players to watch" for its 2010 Player of the Year award, the nation's fourth-oldest individual college football accolade on the prestigious list.
The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists in early November.
The 2010 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 120 NCAA Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced live on the 6 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter on Thursday, December 9. The winner will then receive his trophy at the Foundation's annual national awards banquet on January 15, 2011 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven.
2010 Walter Camp Player of the Year "Watch List"
Donald Buckram, RB, Senior, UTEP
John Clay, RB, Junior, Wisconsin
Adrian Clayborn, DE, Senior, Iowa
Jared Crick, DL, Senior, Nebraska
Andy Dalton, QB, Senior, TCU
Dwight Dasher, QB, Senior, Middle Tennessee
Noel Devine, RB, Senior, West Virginia
Ricky Dobbs, QB, Senior, Navy
Michael Floyd, WR, Junior, Notre Dame
A.J. Green, WR, Junior, Georgia
Mark Ingram, RB, Junior, Alabama #
LaMichael James, RB, Sophomore, Oregon
Greg Jones, LB, Senior, Michigan State $
Colin Kaepernick, QB, Senior, Nevada
Case Keenum, QB, Senior, Houston $
Dion Lewis, RB, Sophomore, Pittsburgh
Jake Locker, QB, Senior, Washington
Andrew Luck, QB, Sophomore, Stanford
Ryan Mallett, QB, Junior, Arkansas
Kellen Moore, QB, Junior, Boise State
Rahim Moore, DB, Junior, UCLA $
Chris Owusu, WR/KR, Junior, Stanford $
Patrick Peterson, DB, Junior, LSU
Bernard Pierce, RB, Sophomore, Temple
Terrelle Pryor, QB, Junior, Ohio State
Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Junior, Oregon State $
James Rodgers, WR/KR, Senior, Oregon State
Evan Royster, RB, Senior, Penn State
Quad Sturdivant, LB, Senior, North Carolina
Ryan Williams, RB, Sophomore, Virginia Tech
# - 2009 Walter Camp First Team All-America selection
$ - 2009 Walter Camp Second Team All-America selection
Ponder Selected To Maxwell Award Watch List. Senior QB was a semifinalist in 2009
Photo - QB Christian Ponder - Florida St
Florida State senior QB Christian Ponder’s name is back in the spotlight as the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday that he is one of seven 2009 semifinalists making a return appearance on the Maxwell Award 2010 Watch List. Ponder is the highest ranked senior QB prospect entering the 2010 season and NFL Draft 2011 by Frank Coyle of Draft Insiders.com.
The Maxwell Award has been presented annually to the outstanding collegiate football player in America since 1937 and is named in honor of sportswriter Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell.
Ponder is joined by returning semifinalists Noel Devine (West Virginia), Mark Ingram (Alabama), Case Keenum (Houston), Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh), Kellen Moore (Boise State and Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon State) on a list of top contenders for the 74th annual award.
Semifinalists for the 2010 Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 8 and three finalists will be named on Nov. 22. The winner will crowed as aprt of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show, which will be held on Dec. 9 in Orlando. The formal presentation will be made the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala in Atlantic City, N.J. on March 4, 2011.
Ponder was chosen as a watch list candidate by the Maxwell Football Club’s Selection Committee, which reserves the right to make additions and subtractions to the list as the 2010 season unfolds. He was a late addition to the 2009 watch list after a blazing start which placed him among the national statistical leaders among quarterbacks. Members of the Maxwell Football Club, NCAA Sports Information Directors, head coaches and selected national media comprise the voting panel for the award.
Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward captured the 1993 Maxwell Award.
Jim Thorpe Award Preseason "Watch List"
Photo - CB Ras-I Dowling - Virginia
Virginia senior cornerback Ras-I Dowling was named to the Thorpe Award Watch List as announced Monday by the Jim Thorpe Association. The Chesapeake, Va., native is one of six ACC players on the preseason watch list, joining Kendric Burney (North Carolina), Rashad Carmichael (Virginia Tech), Brandon Harris (Miami), DeAndre McDaniel (Clemson) and Deunta Williams (North Carolina).
The 2010 Jim Thorpe Award preseason "watch list" announced today includes 35 of the nation's best defensive backs as the leading candidates for the trophy. Frank Coyle of Draft Insiders has been a voter in the Jim Thorpe award for the past 15 years.
Dowling is mentioned on the Nagurski Trophy watch list for the second-straight season after earning his second-straight 2nd team All-ACC nod, anchoring the ACC's No. 4 and the nation's No. 21 pass defense in 2009. Dowling finished the season ranked No. 6 in the ACC in passes defended (11) and No. 11 in interceptions (three). After recording a career-high nine tackles, including his first career sack, against Indiana, Dowling earned the ACC Defensive Back of the Week nod by the league. He also averaged 3.4 tackles per game and had two tackles for loss. He is also a College Football Insider preseason All-American (second team). He enters his final season at UVa with eight career interceptions and 145 total tackles. He has 36 career pass defenses.
The Thorpe Award is one of college football's most sought after and prestigious awards. It is named after history's greatest all-around athlete, a man who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on offense, but also was an awesome defensive back. Recognized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame simply as "The Legend," Thorpe also played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.
The Jim Thorpe Award "watch list" is determined by analysis of the pre-season All-American teams listed in at least six pre-season college football annual magazines. Four points are awarded for first team, three points for second team, two points for third and one point for honorable mentions. This procedure determines approximately 30-40 players on the pre-season watch list. This list is not final and players who have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses.
A screening committee of Jim Thorpe Association members follows these players throughout the season, watching games and researching information sources to grade Thorpe Award candidates on the basis of performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The committee meets on the first Monday in November to narrow the field to 10 or 12 semi-finalists.
The committee meets again on the Monday before Thanksgiving to select the three finalists. The names of these finalists are submitted to a national panel of about 50 sports writers, sportscasters, coaches and former players who vote to determine the winner. The three finalists are invited to the ESPN College Football Awards Show, and the winner is announced during the show. Formal presentation of the Jim Thorpe Award takes place at ceremonies in Oklahoma City on the first Tuesday in February following the national signing date for college football recruits.
2010 Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List (35)
Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
Mark Barron, S, Alabama
Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia
Curtis Brown, CB, Texas
Kendric Burney, CB, North Carolina
Brandon Burton, CB, Utah
Rashad Carmichael, CB, Virginia Tech
Quinton Carter, S, Oklahoma
Chimdi Chekwa, CB, Ohio State
Don Decicco, S, Pittsburgh
Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia
Blake Gideon, S, Texas
Stephen Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
Will Hill, S, Florida
Jermale Hines, S, Ohio State
Brandon Hogan, CB, West Virginia
Davon House, CB, New Mexico State
Duke Ihenacho, S, San Jose State
Jaiquwn Jarrett, S, Temple
Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida
Jeron Johnson, S, Boise State
Tejay Johnson, S, TCU
Shiloh Keo, S, Idaho
Brian Lainhart, S, Kent State
DeAndre McDaniel, S, Clemson
Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville
Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
Tyler Sash, S, Iowa
Robert Sands, S, West Virginia
Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
Trevin Wade, CB, Arizona
Deunta Williams, S, North Carolina
Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
The Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game's predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association's official Web site, www.NCFAA.org.
Tim Brown Set To Be Enshrined In College Football Hall Of Fame
Photo –Tim Brown – Notre Dame
Former Notre Dame wide receiver and 1987 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown will be among a group of college football luminaries enshrined into the National Football Foundation (NFF) College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday at Century Center in South Bend, Indiana. .
Brown finished 1986 with 1,937 all-purpose yards (910 receiving, 215 rushing, 75 on punt returns and 698 yards on kickoff returns)—a single-season Notre Dame record. His senior year’s 1,847 yards ranks second in Irish record books. In his senior year, against Michigan, he had his most spectacular catch, a leaping grab between two defenders for the winning touchdown in the Big House.
Michigan State coach, George Perles, described him this way, “Like a draft when he goes by you.” Perles had a front row seat to two of Brown’s more remarkable punt returns for TDs—consecutive returns of 71 and 66 yards. The Irish had rushed ten men to block the punt on his second touchdown. Tim created his own holes instead of calling for the fair catch. Brown was the first player in college football history to score touchdowns on consecutive punts. In fourteen touches, Tim had amassed 275 all-purpose yards in a 31-8 Irish victory
Brown left Notre Dame as their all-time leader in receiving yards (2,493), and with 5,024 total yards, averaging 116.8 yards per game. He finished his NFL career with 1,094 receptions—only the third player to reach that mark. His receptions gained 14,934 yards. second in NFL history only to Jerry Rice. When he scored his 100th touchdown, he was only the seventh wide receiver in history to accomplish this. Tim was chosen All-Pro nine times in his seventeen year career. He has the most consecutive seasons with 50+ receptions in NFL history (11). When eligible in 2010, he will become the fifth Notre Dame player in both the College Football and NFL Halls of Fame.
2010 FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION ENSHRINEMENT CLASS
PLAYERS
PERVIS ATKINS - HB, New Mexico State (1959-60)
TIM BROWN - WR, Notre Dame (1984-87)
CHUCK CECIL - DB, Arizona (1984-87)
ED DYAS - FB, Auburn (1958-60)
MAJOR HARRIS - QB, West Virginia (1987-89)
GORDON HUDSON - TE, Brigham Young (1980-83)
WILLIAM LEWIS* - C, Harvard (1892-93)
WOODROW LOWE - LB, Alabama (1972-75)
KEN MARGERUM - WR, Stanford (1977-80)
STEVE McMICHAEL - DT, Texas (1976-79)
CHRIS SPIELMAN - LB, Ohio State (1984-87)
LARRY STATION - LB, Iowa (1982-85)
PAT SWILLING - DE, Georgia Tech (1982-85)
GINO TORRETTA - QB, Miami (Fla.) (1989-92)
CURT WARNER - RB, Penn State (1979-82)
GRANT WISTROM - DE, Nebraska (1994-97)
COACHES
DICK MacPHERSON - 111-73-5 (.601) - Massachusetts (1971-77), Syracuse (1981-90)
JOHN ROBINSON - 132-77-4 (.629) - Southern California (1976-82, 1993-97), Nevada-Las Vegas (1999-2004)
2010 DIVISIONAL ENSHRINEMENT CLASS
PLAYERS
EMERSON BOOZER - Maryland Eastern Shore, HB (1962-65)
TROY BROWN - Marshall, WR (1991-92)
BRIAN KELLEY - California Lutheran, LB (1969-72)
MILT MORIN* - Massachusetts, TE (1963-65)
COACHES
WILLIE JEFFRIES - 179-132-6 (.574); Howard (1984-88), Wichita State (1979-83), South Carolina State (1973-78, 1989-2001)
TED KESSINGER - 219-57-1 (.792); Bethany (Kan.) (1976-2003)
* Deceased
SEC Head Outland Watch List
The 2010 Outland Trophy Watch List has been announced by the Football Writers Association of America. The prestigious list gives football fans the first glimpse at a great crop of college offensive and defensive tackles, offensive guards and centers. The SEC conference heads the list with 11 players currently among the 63 early nominees. The SEC has annually lead the award lists, in addtion to the most teams in the weekly Top 25 rankings in college football.
The FWAA will consider other players for the 2010 Outland Trophy Watch List and will also delete players as the season progresses. The FWAA All-America Committee will select three finalists in late November and eventually the overall winner.
The Outland Trophy, presented annually since 1946, is the third oldest award in major college football. The Outland Trophy is named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn and Kansas at the turn of the century. The 2010 winner will be announced on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 9. The Outland Trophy presentation banquet will be on Jan. 13 in Omaha, Neb.
Frank Coyle has been a voter for the Heisman Trophy, Outland, Nigurski, Thorpe awards etc., in addition to being a scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl All-star game for over 15 years. He is also a member of the FWAA.
2010 OUTLAND TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Sam Acho, Texas, DT / Jarvis Jenkins, Clemson, DT
Marvin Austin, North Carolina, DT / Carl Johnson, Florida, G
Tim Barnes, Missouri, C / Barrett Jones, Alabama, G
Colin Baxter, Arizona, C / Ben Jones, Georgia, C
Sean Bedford, Georgia Tech, C / Jake Kirkpatrick, TCU, C
Chase Beeler, Stanford, C / Karl Klug, Iowa, DT
Clint Boling, Georgia, T / Ben Lamaak, Iowa St, C
Justin Boren, Ohio St, G / DeMarcus Love, Arkansas, T
Cory Brandon, Oklahoma, T / Ryan McMahon, Florida St, C
Mike Brewster, Ohio St, C / Ryan Miller, Colorado, G
Bryant Browning, Ohio St, G / Drake Nevis, LSU, DT
Marcus Cannon, TCU, T / Kristofer O'Dowd, USC, C
Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin, T / Josh Oglesby, Wisconsin, T
James Carpenter, Alabama, T / Stephen Paea, Oregon St, DT
Jurrell Casey, USC, DT / Alan Pelc, North Carolina, G
Anthony Castonzo, Boston College, T / Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh, T
Thomas Claiborne, Boston College, G / Ken Plue, Purdue, G
Jared Crick, Nebraska, DT / Nate Potter, Boise St, G
Blake DeChristopher, Virginia Tech, T / Mike Pouncey, Florida, C
Art Forst, Rutgers, G / Jerrell Powe, Ole Miss, DT
Marcus Forston, Miami, DT / Matt Reynolds, BYU, T
Orlando Franklin, Miami, T / Trevor Robinson, Notre Dame, T
Anthony Gray, Southern Miss, DT / Stephen Schilling, Michigan, G
Lawrence Guy, Arizona St, DT / Caleb Schlauderaff, Utah, G
Ben Habern, Oklahoma, C / Nate Solder, Colorado, T
Kyle Hix, Texas, T / Adrian Taylor, Oklahoma, DT
Rodney Hudson, Florida St, G / Zane Taylor, Utah, C
Omar Hunter, Florida, DT / Bo Thran, Oregon, T
Rod Huntley, UTEP, G / Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple, DT
Zach Hurd, Connecticut, G / Stefen Wisniewski, Penn St, G
Benjamin Ijalana, Villanova, T / Lee Ziemba, Auburn, T
Andrew Jackson, Fresno St, G
Tackles, guards and centers are eligible for consideration. Candidates may be added or removed during the season
