College Bowl Preview: 12/26

The day after Christmas is a busy day for bowl games, as with three games on the day, starting at noon. There’s a lot of potential NFL talent playing in these games, especially for Southern Cal and Pittsburgh. Here are the best of the bunch.

Little Caesars Pizza Bowl

December 26, Detroit

Marshall (6-6) vs. Ohio (9-4)

ESPN, noon CST

MARSHALL

#85 TE Cody Slate, 6-3, 217 pounds – Very productive in the Thundering Herd offense, catching 199 passes for 2,619 yards and 23 TD catches. That’s a 13.2-yard average, not bad for a tight end. Slate’s best season was as a sophomore, when he caught 66 passes for 818 yards. He suffered a knee injury in the ‘08 season opener that kept him off the field for several games. Slate also had a rushing touchdown.

Evaluation – Slate may be more suited as a wide receiver because of his lack of bulk. Scouts say he’s only a so-so blocker and he can be outmuscled. He runs hard, but has no second gear. Slate seems very adept at finding open spots in the coverage. He’s a late-round prospect.

OHIO

#23 WR Taylor Price, 6-1, 212 pounds – The all-time leading receiver in Bobcats football history, Price has played 51 games for head coach Frank Solich and has not missed one due to injury. He has 145 catches for 1,970 yards and 14 touchdowns catches. He also threw two TD passes and did some work on punt and kick returns. He’s been invited to the Senior Bowl.

Evaluation – What has caught scouts attention with Price is his speed. He’s consistently timed under 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash and has been timed under 4.3 seconds. He plays the game fast and he catches the ball as well. His size is average and that will cost him some slots in the draft. Right now, he’s considered a fifth or sixth-round pick, but a strong performance during the Senior Bowl week and in team workouts could lift him to the fourth or fifth-round level. That speed is much sought after by all NFL teams.

Meineke Car Care Bowl

December 26, Charlotte

North Carolina (8-4) vs. Pittsburgh (9-3)

ESPN, 3:30 p.m. CST

 

NORTH CAROLINA

#92 DE E.J. Wilson, 6-2, 280 pounds – Coming out of tiny Brunswick High in Lawrenceville, Virginia, Wilson was recruited only by Virginia Tech and North Carolina. He selected the Tar Heels and in his freshman season he had a sack of then Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn. Over four years, Wilson has added close to 40 pounds of muscle. In 49 games, he has 145 total tackles, 28 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and 11 sacks, playing both inside and outside along the defensive line.

Evaluation – Wilson is viewed as a defensive end prospect for the 3-4 defense. Scouts like parts of his package, like his strength and his intelligence, and don’t like other parts, like his so-so speed and quickness. That’s why he’s considered a seventh-round consideration or an undrafted free agent.

Others to watch – The Tar Heels have a pair of top-notch defensive players, but they are both juniors and they have about three more weeks to make a decision on whether they will return to Chapel Hill. #54 OLB Bruce Carter, 6-3, 223 pounds, is rated the best outside backer prospect in the class of 2011. Carter has said publicly that he plans to return for his senior year, but a big performance against Pitt could change his thinking. If he came out this year, he would be a late first-round choice. #9 DT Marvin Austin, 6-2, 303 pounds has shown the ability to play inside and outside along the defensive front. In 37 games he has one interception, 104 total tackles, nine sacks and one blocked kick. If he comes out, he’ll be considered in the late second-early third-rounds.

PITTSBURGH

#2 TE/FB Dorin Dickerson, 6-2, 225 pounds – A very talented and versatile athlete, Dickerson’s ability to bounce around will make him valuable in the NFL, even though his willingness to change positions will hurt his draft standing. He arrived at Pitt as a WR, but moved to LB as a sophomore and then TE as a junior. He’s played 44 games, with 59 catches for 687 yards and 12 TDs. He’s also run five times for 50 yards, returned 10 kickoffs for 106 yards and had 15 tackles as a linebacker. He was named All-Big East Conference first-team.

Evaluation – Dickerson will entertain plenty of teams in the evaluation process as they consider where he fits. He can play tight end, wide receiver, slot receiver or in some offenses, a bit of fullback. He needs to bulk up and become stronger. Dickerson shows explosiveness in going after the football and in getting extra yards after the catch, but he’s not much of a blacker at this point. His soft hands and the ability to stretch the field will have teams like the Colts slobbering all over themselves. Dickerson should be a third-round choice.

Others to watch – #95 DT Mick Williams, 6-1, 282 pounds – He was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Big East Conference, along with being on the first team All-Conference squad. He had 39 total tackles, 15 tackles for minus yards, three sacks and three forced fumbles. Over his career in 39 games he had 95 total tackles, 31.5 tackles for minus yards and 10.5 sacks. He’s quick and plays every play like it’s his last. A late-round prospect. #80 TE Nate Byham, 6-3, 260 pounds – Few college teams have a pair of draftable TEs, but Pitt does with Byham. He was the man at the position in ‘08 and was named first team All-Big East Conference. This season, with Dickerson getting the attention in the passing game, Byham has been used more as a blocker and he’s done a very good job of that. In 42 games, he has 46 catches for 603 yards and three touchdowns. His soft hands, ability to adjust to the ball and good overall strength will entice some team in the sixth or seventh round.

Emerald Bowl

December 26, San Francisco

Southern Cal (8-4) vs. Boston College (8-4)

ESPN, 7 p.m. CST

 

SOUTHERN CAL
#2 S Taylor Mays, 6-3, 236 pounds – Back in August, Mays was considered a top-five pick for the 2010 NFL Draft. But the inconsistent play of the Trojans defense and his performance level as well has dropped him from the top of the first round, to the middle of the round. In 50 career games, Mays has five interceptions and 271 total tackles. This season he’s been part of 91 tackles which led the Trojans, but he only had one interception. He was named first-team All-America, the third time he received that recognition.

Evaluation – Mays stock has fallen for several reasons. First, it’s the lack of big plays. With his physical skills and sub 4.4 speed, he doesn’t get his hands on the ball very often. Mays also goes for the big, highlight reel hit, rather than making sure he’s got the tackle. In college football that style will produce some big hits. But in the NFL that’s going to have a lot of receivers and runners bouncing off him. His head coach Pete Carroll has nothing but good things to say about him, and says he’s got the mental and emotional makeup to excited NFL scouts. He’s a first rounder, how high will depend on what the scouts find in their interviews and workouts.

#71 OT Charles Brown, 6-5, 272 pounds – He’s played 48 games for the Trojans. He’s played at both left and right tackle during his career, after being recruited to Southern Cal as a tight end. This year, he played 12 games at left tackle and was named by the conference coaches as first-team All-Pac 10 and the league’s defensive players awarded him the Morris Trophy, as the Pac-10s top offensive lineman. He also earned All-America honors, first team.

Evaluation – Brown is an athletic blocker who has very good feet, is agile and he’s a knee bender, something every offensive line coach looks for from his linemen. He has mobility and long arms, making him very good on pass blocking. Plus, he has the speed to get out in front on screens. If everything checks out with Brown at the Combine and during the workouts, he should be mid-first round choice.

#86 TE Anthony McCoy, 6-5, 245 pounds – Southern Cal has ruled McCoy academically ineligible and he will not play in the Emerald Bowl. That’s too bad, because he was working on a senior season that could lift him into the middle of the first round. He caught 22 passes for 457 yards and a touchdown. McCoy caught a lot of people’s attention with his five catches for 153 yards against Notre Dame. Over his 40-game career, he’s caught 46 passes for 731 yards and three touchdowns.

Evaluation – McCoy is durable and has above average speed for the tight end position. He’s got soft hands and he’s a hard worker who will put in the time to improve his ball catching and route running. His blocking is generally top notch. A second-rounder, unless he has a big spring and can elevate himself into the top 32.

Others to watch – #18 WR Damian Williams, 6-11, 191 pounds – He’s got another year of eligibility with the Trojans, but it sounds like Williams is going to enter the NFL Draft. If he makes that decision, then he’ll be a first-round choice. Right now only questions about him are his durability. As a junior he had two shoulder surgeries and in this season he had a sprained ankle that kept him out of the Stanford game. This season he caught 58 passes for 821 yards and six touchdowns, and was named the Trojans MVP. He also returned 22 punts for an average of 15.4 yards and two touchdowns. #93 DE Everson Griffen, 6-3, 272 pounds – He’s expected to announce for the draft and he should, because scouts say Griffen’s skill set is ready for the NFL. This season he has eight sacks for the Trojans with 44 total tackles. Over his career he has 18 sacks. With speed, size and strength, he will be a first rounder in 2010 or 2011. The year is up to him.

BOSTON COLLEGE

#65 C Matt Tennant, 6-4, 273 pounds – Tennant has been the leader of the B.C. offensive line for three years now and he’s received recognition from the ACC and some second-team All-America honors. He has started the last 40 games at center. Coming into this season, he was recovering from Tommy John surgery on his elbow, but that didn’t seem to hold him back as he played through this season.

Evaluation – He’s a good talent, with above average height for the position and is a good pass protector. He’s more finesse than brawn and if he’s to become some team’s center in the NFL, he must handle the quick guys and the strong guys. Right now, he’s seen as a second-round choice and is considered the top center prospect in the 2010 NFL Draft.

#34 ILB Mike McLaughlin, 6-1, 247 pounds – He’s the captain of the Golden Eagles defense, but he’s had a tough time in the ‘09 season as he missed the first three games because of an Achilles tendon injury/surgery he suffered during spring practice. He’s played in 45 games with 214 total tackles, 17 tackles for minus yardage and 3.5 sacks.

Evaluation – Short, stocky hitter who reminds some of Zach Thomas. McLaughlin will probably be best playing inside in a 3-4 defense, rather than middle linebacker in a 4-3. He’s a sixth or seventh-round prospect.