Here we go again, the official start of the NFL offseason begins tomorrow with the 2010 NFL Draft Combine. The largest human meat market disguised as a mental and physical job interview for young men aspiring to make millions of dollars to play a game they have been playing for so very long.
There are so many hopes and dreams resting on the performances of these 329 prospects who travel to Indianapolis, IN from 110 different college programs. With such a large group of juniors declaring for the draft it has become deep on the defensive side of the ball, especially at tackle and in the secondary. The running back prospects are not very strong, but with the way backs are used in tandem and even three headed monster deployment we may see some surprises in the 2010 season. The quarterback prospects are as bad as I have seen in some years. While I don't see a worthy 1st round pick in the group I'm positive a team or two will reach to find their franchise guy. Receiver is weak also, but there are a bunch of top-notch offensive tackle talent where we could see a record number taken in the 1st round this year. For some this process can make them much more money with a decent showing while others will fall off team draft boards all together.
We here at Touchdown Dance know that the draft is big news and business not only for NFL organizations, but also for the fans who love the game and their favorite teams so very much. Recognizing the fact that watching a bunch of drills and looking deep into these prospects performances doesn't fit into the average fans day we are here to do it for you. First, we'll give you a preview that lets you know what, when, where, why and how this whole thing looks before it actually gets started. Then next week will bring you what happened, who rose, who fell and our first mcok draft of the NFL offseason.
The combine kicks off in earnest tomorrow with all coverage being handeled by the NFL Network. The combine starts with player press conferences with the prospects meeting and mentally testing with potential employers. The numbers and drills start on Saturday and run through next Tuesday March 2.
2010 NFL Combine Drill Schedule
- Saturday February 27th
Group 1 (OL & Specialists) Group 2 (OL) Group 3 (TE)
- Sunday February 28th
Group 4 (QB & WR) Group 5 (QB & WR) Group 6 (RB)
- Monday March 1st
Group 7 (DL) Group 8 (DL) Group 9 (LB)
- Tuesday March 2nd
Group 10 (DB) Group 11 (DB)
Now lets get to who will be there for the NFL scouts and execs to watch, listen, critic and make better business decisions on.
- Quarterbacks
- Sam Bradford-Oklahoma
- Jarrett Brown- West Virginia
- Levi Brown- Troy
- Sean Canfield-Oregon State
- Daryll Clark- Penn State
- Jimmy Claussen
- Armanti Edwards-Appalachian State
- Max Hall-BYU
- Tim Hiller-Western Michigan
- Mike Kafka-Northwestern
- Dan Lefevour-Central Michigan
- Thaddues Lewis-Duke
- Colt McCoy-Texas
- Tony Pike-Cincinnati
- Zac Robinson-Oklahoma St
- John Skelton-Fordham
- Riley Skinner-Wake Forest
- Jevan Snead-Ole Miss
- Tim Tebow-Florida
- Possible 1st Rounders
Sam Bradford, Jimmy Claussen
- Prospects not performing drills
Sam Bradford (shoulder injury), Jimmy Claussen (toe injury), Tim Tebow (God told him not to. Seriously, he is said to be re-tooling his delivery and footwork to better his draft stock). All should be performing drill at their respective Pro Days that have scheduled.
- Prospect with the highest IQ
Mike Kafka from Nortwestern. You can never go wrong with a guy from that school.
- Best name of the group
Armanti Edwards from Appalachian State takes the crown by a long shot.
- Prospect most likely never to make an NFL roster
Riley Skinner from Wake Forest
- Running Backs
- Matthew Asiasta-Utah
- Joique Bell-Wayne St
- Jahvid Best-Cal
- LeGarrette Blount-Oregon
- Chris Brown-Oklahoma
- John Connor-Kentucky
- Andre Dixon-Mississippi St
- Jonathan Dwyer-Georgia Tech
- Toby Gerhart-Stanford
- Montario Hardesty-Tennessee
- Rashawn Jackson-Virginia
- Javarris James-Miami
- Stafon Johnson-USC
- Darius Marshall-Marshall
- Ryan Matthews-Fresno St
- Dexter McCluster-Ole Miss
- Joe McKnight-USC
- Shawnbrey McNeal-SMU
- Lonyae Miller-Fresno St
- Brandon Minor-Michigan
- Pat Paschall-North Dakota St
- Charles Scott-LSU
- CJ Spiller-Clemson
- James Starks-Buffalo
- Ben Tate-Auburn
- Manase Tonga-BYU
- Keith Toston-Oklahoma St
- Keiland Williams-LSU
- Possible 1st Rounders
Jahvid Best/Cal, Jonathan Dwyer/Georgia Tech, CJ Spiller/Clemson
- Best chance to keep a name for white running backs alive
Toby Gerhart/Stanford
- Guy to root for
Stafon Johnson/USC. After the almost tragic weight room accident Johnson may not be able to speak loudly, but could make aves with a good physical showing.
- Best name of the group
Manase Tonga from BYU. Unbelievabe, a Samoan name that really isn't that difficult to pronounce.
Prospect most likely to save the world from CyberDyne
John Connor from Kentucky. I wonder if his mother's name is Sarah.
- Wide Receivers
- Sel Ajirotutu-Fresno St
- Danario Alexander-Missouri
- Alric Arnett-West Virginia
- Brandon Banks-Kansas St
- Chris Bell-Norfolk St
- Regus "Arrelious" Benn-Illinois
- Nyan Boateng-Cal
- Dezmon Briscoe-Kansas
- Dez Bryant-Oklahoma St
- Chris Carter-Cal/Davis
- Riley Cooper-Florida
- Eric Decker-Minnesota
- Marcus Easley-Connecticut
- Jacoby Ford-Clemson
- David Gettis-Baylor
- Mardy Gilyard-Cincinnati
- Shay Hodge-TCU
- Brandon James-Florida
- Donald Jones-Youngstown St
- Kevin Jurovich-San Jose St
- Brandon LaFell-LSU
- Scott Long-Louisville
- Chris McGaha-Arizona St
- Kerry Meier-Kansas
- Carlton Mitchell-South Florida
- Preston Parker-North Alabama
- Jared Perry-Missouri
- Taylor Price-Ohio
- Brandon Reed-Utah
- Andre Roberts-Citadel
- Emmanuel Sanders-SMU
- Jordan Shipley-Texas
- Golden Tate-Notre Dame
- Demaryius Thomas-Georgia Tech
- Verran Tucker-Cal
- Chastin West-Fresno St
- Blair White-Michigan St
- Damian Williams-USC
- Jeremy Williams-Tulane
- Kyle Williams-Arizona St
- Mike Williams-Syracuse
- Stepean Williams-Toledo
- Ryan Wolfe-UNLV
- Possible 1st Rounders
Dez Bryant/Oklahoma St, Mardy Gilyard/Cincinnati, Golden Tate/Notre Dame, Damian Williams/USC
- Prospects not participating in drills
Danario Alexander/Missouri (injury), Demaryius Thomas/Georgia Tech (broken foot)
- Best white receiver prospect
Jordan Shipley from Texas who edges out Riley Cooper because of his punt return skills. He is very good at running away from angry black men.
- Best name in the group
Seyl Ajirotutu/Fresno St. Anytime you can fit the word tutu into an actual name makes it fun.
- Tight Ends
- Nate Byham-Pitt
- Dorin Dickson-Pitt
- Ed Dickson-Oregon
- Jim Dray-Stanford
- Brody Eldridge-Oklahoma
- Dedrick Epps-Miami
- Riar Greer-Colorado
- Garrett Graham-Miami
- Jermaine Gresham-Oklahoma
- Rob Gronkowski-Arizona
- Clay Harbor-Missouri St
- Aaron Hernandez-Florida
- Michael Hoomanawanui-Illinois
- Tony Moeaki-Iowa
- Colin Peek-Alabama
- Dennis Pitta-BYU
- Andrew Quarless-Penn St
- Possible 1st Rounders
Jermaine Gresham/Oklahoma, Aaron Hernandez/Florida
- Best name in the group
Michael Hoomanawanui from Illinois. Hopefully he will make an NFL roster so we can enjoy and laugh at broadcasters trip over and over it.
- Two guys needing to prove they are healthy
Jermaine Gresham/Oklahoma, Rob Gronkowski/Arizona
- Prospect taking the Antonio Gates route to the NFL
Garrett Graham from Miami who played just one season of college football and has been rising up draft boards with great measurables and performance at Senior Bowl week.
- Offensive Line
- Jon Asamoah-Illinois
- Zane Beadles-Utah
- Ciron Black-LSU
- Dorian Brooks-James Madison
- Charles Brown-USC
- Bryan Bulaga-Iowa
- Jeff Byers-USC
- Kyle Calloway-Iowa
- Bruce Campbell-Maryland
- Selvish Capers-West Virginia
- Brandon Carter-Texas Tech
- Eric Cook-New Mexico
- Anthony Davis-Rutgers
- Chris Degeare-Wake Forest
- Vlad Decasse-Massachusetts
- Jason Fox-Miami
- Kurtis Gregory-Missouri
- Joe Hawley-UNLV
- Mike Iupati-Idaho
- John Jerry-Ole Miss
- Mike Johnson-Alabama
- Kyle Jolly-North Carolina
- Matt Kopa-Stanford
- Ted Larsen-North Carolina St
- Shawn Lauvao-Arizona St
- Marshall Newhouse-TCU
- Russell Okung-Oklahoma St
- Eric Olsen-Notre Dame
- Alex Parsons-USC
- Cole Pemberton-Colorado St
- Mitch Petrus-Arkansas
- Maurkice Pouncey-Florida
- Dace Richardson-Iowa
- Rodger Saffold-Indiana
- Chris Scott-Tennessee
- Shelley Smith-Colorado St
- Matt Tennant-Boston College
- Mike Tepper-Cal
- Adam Ulatoski-Texas
- Jared Veldheer-Hillsdale
- JD Walton-Baylor
- Ed Wang-Virginia Tech
- Tony Washington-Abilene Christian
- Thomas Welch-Vanderbilt
- Trent Williams-Oklahoma
- Sam Young-Notre Dame
- Possible 1st Rounders
Bryan Bulaga/Iowa, Bruce Campbell/Maryland, Anthony Davis/Rutgers, Mike Iupati/Idaho, Russell Okung/Oklahoma St, Maurkice Pouncey/Florida, Trent Williams/Oklahoma
- Best name of the group
Zane Beadles from Utah.
- Prospect most likely to be mistaken for a large red-headed woman working for ESPN
Shelley Smith from Colorado St.
- Prospect most likely to be drafted by the Chicago Bears
Tony Washington/Abilene Christian. The Bears have a tendency to pick from the small Division II school which the Bears have two current players (Danieal Manning & Johnny Knox) on their roster who went to the small school.
- Defensive Line
- Rahim Alem-LSU
- Charles Alexander-LSU
- Tyson Alualu-Cal
- Geno Atkins-Georgia
- Kevin Basped-Nevada
- Alex Carrington-Arkansas St
- Terrance Cody-Alabama
- Antonio Coleman-Auburn
- Jermaine Cunningham-Florida
- Dexter Davis-Arizona St
- Hall Davis-Louisiana-Lafayette
- Brandon Deaderick-Alabama
- Carlos Dunlap-Florida
- Junior Galette-Stillman
- Clifton Geathers-South Carolina
- Thaddeus Gibson-Ohio State
- Branson Graham-Michigan
- DeMarcus Granger-Oklahoma
- Everson Griffen-USC
- Greg Hardy-Ole Miss
- Lamarr Houston-Texas
- Jerry Hughes-TCU
- Carl Ihenacho-San Jose St
- Art Jones-Syracuse
- Linval Joseph-TCU
- Sergio Kindle-Texas
- Jimmie Kirlew-Indiana
- Austen Lane-Murray St
- Brandon Lang-Troy
- Erik Lorig-Stanford
- Albert McClellan-Marshall
- Gerald McCoy-Oklahoma
- Greg Middleton-Indiana
- Koa Misi-Utah
- Earl Mitchell-Arizona
- Arthur Moats-James Madison
- Derrick Morgan-Georgia Tech
- Aleric Mullins-North Carolina
- Mike Neal-Purdue
- Jared Odrick-Purdue
- Vince Oghobasse-Duke
- Jeff Owens-Georgia
- Corey Peters-Kentucky
- Jason Pierre-Paul-South Florida
- Brian Price-UCLA
- Jay Ross-East Carolina
- Ricky Sapp-Wisconsin
- O'Brien Schofield-Wisconsin
- George Selvie-South Florida
- Cameron Sheffield-Troy
- Malcolm Sheppard-Arkansas
- D'Anthony Smith-Louisiana Tech
- Ndamukong Suh-Nebraska
- Daniel Te'o-Nesheim-Washington
- Cam Thomas-North Carolina
- Adrian Tracy-William & Mary
- Torell Troup-Central Florida
- Lorenzo Washington-Alabama
- Dan Williams-Tennessee
- CJ Wilson-East Carolina
- EJ Wilson-North Carolina
- Lindsey Witten-Connecticut
- Al Woods-LSU
- Corey Wootton-Northwestern
- Doug Worthington-Ohio St
- Willie Young-North Carolina St
- Possible 1st Rounders
Terrance Cody/Alabama, Brandon Graham/Michigan, Sergio Kindle/Texas, Geral McCoy/Oklahoma, Jason Pierre-Paul, Ndamukong Suh/Nebraska
- Best name in the group
Carl Ihenacho from San Jose St. His name makes me hungry for some cheese drowed tortilla chips.
- Linebackers
- Pat Angerer-Iowa
- Jason Beachamp-UNLV
- Kyle Bosworth-UCLA
- Navorro Bowman-Penn St
- Donald Butler-Washington
- Lee Campbell-Minnesota
- Jamar Chaney-Mississippi St
- Keenan Clayton-Oklahoma
- Justin Cole-San Jose St.
- Harry Coleman-LSU
- Kavell Connor-Clemson
- Rennie Curran-Georgia
- Phillip Dillard-Nebraska
- AJ Edds-Iowa
- Travis Goethel-Arizona St
- Cody Grimm-Virginia Tech
- Josh Hull-Penn St
- Micah Johnson-Kentucky
- Keaton Kristick-Oregon St
- Simoni Lawrence-Minnesota
- Boris Lee-Troy
- Sean Lee-Penn St
- Samuel Maxwell-Kentucky
- Rolando McClain-Alabama
- Mike McLaughlin-Boston College
- Roddrick Muckelroy-Texas
- Eric Norwood- South Carolina
- Perry Riley-LSU
- Darryl Sharpton-Miami
- Brandon Spikes-Florida
- Stevenson Slyvester-Utah
- Nathan Triplett-Minnesota
- Darryl Washington-TCU
- Dekoda Watson-Florida St
- Sean Weatherspoon-Missouri
- Kion Wilson-South Florida
- Possible 1st Rounders
Navorro Bowman/Penn St, Brandon Spikes/Florida, Sean Weatherspoon/Missouri
- Best name of the group
Pat Angerer from Iowa. Who wouldn't want an Angere on their football team.
- Corners
- Javier Arenas-Alabama
- Cornelius Brown-UTEP
- Crezdon Butler-Clemson
- Nolan Carroll-Maryland
- Chris Chancellor-Clemson
- Chris Cook-Virginia
- Perrish Cox-Oklahoma St
- Domonique Franks-Oklahoma
- Brandon Ghee-Wake Forest
- Marshay Green-Ole Miss
- Joe Haden-Florida
- Chris Hawkins-LSU
- Brian Jackson-Oklahoma
- Kareem Jackson-Alabama
- AJ Jefferson-Fresno St
- Myron Lewis-Vanderbilt
- Trevard Lindley-Kentucky
- Devin McCourty-Rutgers
- Sherrick McManis-Northwestern
- Joshua Moore-Kansas St
- Jerome Murphy-South Florida
- Akwasi Owusu- Indiana (PA)
- David Pender-Purdue
- Josh Pinkard-USC
- Patrick Robinson-Florida St
- Devin Ross-Arizona
- Amari Spievey-Iowa
- Kevin Thomas- USC
- Syd'quan Thompson-Cal
- Walter Thurmond-Oregon
- Vern Verner-UCLA
- Stephan Virgil-Virginia Tech
- Jamar Wall-Texas Tech
- Donovan Warren-Michigan
- Kyle Wilson-Boise St
- Possible 1st Rounders
Joe Haden/Florida, Kyle Wilson/Boise St
- Best name of the group
Vern Verner from UCLA is just a lot of fun to say.
- Safeties
- Nathaniel Allen-South Florida
- Jonathan Amaya-Nevada
- Lucien Antonine-Oklahoma St
- Larry Asante-Nebraska
- Eric Berry-Tennessee
- Morgan Burnett-Georgia Tech
- Kam Chancellor-Virginia Tech
- Barry Church-Toledo
- Kurt Coleman-Ohio St
- Chad Jones-LSU
- Reshad Jones-Georgia
- Kendrick Lewis-Ole Miss
- Taylor Mays-USC
- Kyle McCarthy-Notre Dame
- Nick Polk-Indiana
- Dennis Rogan-Tennessee
- Myron Rolle-Florida St
- Darien Stewart-South Carolina
- Darrell Stuckey-Kansas
- Earl Thomas-Texas
- TJ Ward-Oregon
- Justin Woodall-Alabama
- Major Wright-Florida
- Possible 1st Rounders
Eric Berry/Tennessee, Taylor Mays/USC, Earl Thomas/Texas
- Best name of the group
Major Wright from Florida with a doubley positive name.
- Smartest guy in the draft?
Myron Rolle from Florida St who actually bypassed his senior season to study at Oxford University in jolly old England.
- Kickers
- Aaron Pettrey-Ohio St
- Brett Swenson-Michigan St
- Leigh Tiffin-Alabam
- Punters
- Brent Bowden-Virginia Tech
- Matt Dodge-East Carolina
- Robert Malone-Fresno St
- Zoltan Mesko-Michigan
- Scott Ravanesi-Southern Illinois
- Specialists
- Clint Gresham (LS)-TCU
- Trindon Holliday (KR)-LSU
- Best name of all combine prospects
Zoltan Mesko from Michigan who brings me memories of one of my favorite childhood movies, Big. I know it was a Zoltar machine, but his name is so close you can't help and remember Tom Hanks.
Well there you have it, all 329 combine prospects from 110 different schools with our very own brand of commentary. Check back next week for a look back at the happenings at the combine and our first mock draft of the NFL offseason.
Written by:
