WHALEN Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 Big Board calm before the (underclassmen) stormBy Mel Kiper Jr. ESPN.com Archive The bowl season is coming to an end, but that doesn't necessarily translate to changes on my Top 25 Big Board. In fact, the 25 players this week haven't changed; however, you will see significant movement once underclassmen officially declare for April's NFL draft. The NFL doesn't release the official list until Jan. 19, so you won't see underclassmen appear on the Big Board until Jan. 22. 1. Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame (6-3½, 225) | previous: Same Poised, smart and at his best in pressure situations. Quinn did throw two interceptions in Sugar Bowl after throwing just one INT in his previous eight games. 2. Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin (6-6½, 313) | previous: Same Huge, quick and athletic with a long wingspan. 3. Leon Hall, CB, Michigan (5-11, 193) | previous: Same Tough customer who also shows very good anticipation and awareness in coverage. Hall leads the Wolverines with three interceptions. 4. Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson (6-4½, 260) | previous: Same Flashes dominating ability with his athleticism and quickness. Adams leads the Tigers with 10½ sacks and 15½ tackles for loss. 5. Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville (6-1½, 298) | previous: Same A four-year veteran, and he is only 19 years old. Okoye is quick and explosive and goes all-out on every play. He is not only good at eating up space but also gets good penetration into the backfield. He's second on the Cardinals in both sacks and tackles for loss. 6. LaRon Landry, DB, LSU (6-1½, 205) | previous: Same Four-year starter who has proven to be Mr. Reliable throughout his career. Landry lead LSU with 42 solo tackles. 7. Quinn Pit****, DT, Ohio St. (6-3, 297) | previous: Same Run-stuffing dynamo who does a great job of clogging the interior. 8. Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska (6-6, 298) | previous: Same You just don't see many defensive ends carrying 300 pounds who can move as well as Carriker. 9. Tony Ugoh, OT, Arkansas (6-5, 308) | previous: Same Ugoh's stock has been rising all year to the point where he's one of the more intriguing senior prospects in the nation. 10. Jeff Samardzija, WR, Notre Dame (6-4½, 215) | previous: Same Super hands and concentration with outstanding speed-to-size ratio. He caught a touchdown pass in the final five games of the season. 11. DeMarcus "Tank" Tyler, DT, NC State (6-2¼, 310) | previous: Same Extremely quick and very powerful. A player on the rise, Taylor has been a one-man wrecking crew on the defensive line for the Wolfpack. 12. Ryan Kalil, C, USC (6-2½, 292) | previous: Same His performance during the latter stages of his career has been that of a first- or second-round draft choice. 13. Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU (6-2, 217) | previous: 15 Big and productive, Bowe runs excellent routes and has the toughness to catch the ball in traffic. 14. Quentin Moses, DE, Georgia (6-4, 254) | previous: 23 Mature, hardworking and explosive off the edge. Moses is second on the Bulldogs with 10½ tackles for loss. 15. Levi Brown, OT, Penn St. (6-4½, 325) | previous: 17 Steady and reliable at protecting the quarterback's blind side. 16. Tim Crowder, DE, Texas (6-3¼, 273) | previous: Same Consistent and reliable in his career, and he has become more of a playmaker for the Longhorns in 2006. 17. Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno St. (6-0½, 200) | previous: 18 He has the size and speed (4.33 40-yard dash) with outstanding coverage technique. 18. Anthony Spencer, DE, Purdue (6-2½, 261) | previous: 19 He has become a much more effective pass-rusher this season for the Boilermakers. The key at the next level will be his athleticism and versatility, because I project he would be an ideal outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. 19. Patrick Willis, LB, Mississippi (6-2, 235) | previous: 20 Tackling machine with great football sense. Willis lead the Rebels with 137 tackles (87 solo). 20. Turk McBride, DT, Tennessee (6-3, 277) | previous: 13 McBride is a quality athletic talent with dual versatility for the next level, only adding to his value. Week to week, he's one of the more productive defensive linemen in the nation. McBride is fourth on the team with 64 tackles, including eight tackles for loss and five QB hurries. 21. Daymeion Hughes, CB, California (6-0, 187) | previous: Same Big-play cornerback for the Golden Bears. Finished strong in 2005 and it carried over to this season. Hughes has eight interceptions, tied for third in Division I-A. 22. Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State (6-0, 213) | previous: Same A consummate winner, Smith performed at his best on the biggest stages. (See his 3-0 record against Michigan, a bowl win over Notre Dame and road win this season at Texas.) He's a great player who makes those around him better, and he has a great ability to keep plays alive with his mobility. His arm strength is excellent and if he was two or three inches taller, Smith would be talked about as a top-five pick. 23. Ikaika Alama-Francis, DE, Hawaii (6-5, 265) | previous: 24 Alama-Francis didn't play football until his redshirt freshman season at Hawaii. (He was recruited to play basketball.) He's a late-developing standout in Jerry Glanville's defense who has great overall strength to consistently hold up against the run. 24. Craig Davis, LSU, WR, LSU (6-1¼, 200) | previous: 25 Possesses outstanding speed (4.35 40-yard dash) to go along with his size. Davis was steady and reliable for most of his career, then took his game to a new level late in the season for the Tigers. 25. LaMarr Woodley, DE, Michigan (6-1½, 269) | previous: 14 Combination DE/OLB with a hustling approach and disruptive capabilities. Woodley leads Michigan in sacks (12) and tackles for loss (16½). Dropped None Click here to send a question to Mel Kiper for possible use on ESPNEWS. Adjust Font Size: ESPN WebHot ESPN Searches: NFL Divisional Playoffs | '07 Bracketology | Vote: ESPN The Mag's NEXT athlete Hot Multimedia Searches: BCS title game | CFB Hits of the Year | College Hoops Mixtape feat. 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Combatant Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 If he doesn't have the QB from LSU on his board, he's wrong. He should be #1 and not Quinn (at least for QB's). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Lloyd Christmas Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 If he doesn't have the QB from LSU on his board, he's wrong. He should be #1 and not Quinn (at least for QB's). he doesnt have any juniors, thats why russell is missing. im not looking at another espn draft board until jan. 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinfan2k Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 this big board is now irrevelant with juniors declaring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcl6f Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 Where's Alan Branch and Calvin Johnson? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterwagen Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 If he doesn't have the QB from LSU on his board, he's wrong. He should be #1 and not Quinn (at least for QB's).Typical Notre Dame overreaction - I'll throw Samardzija in that mold too. Based on Quinn's performance in his big bowl game, I'm not convinced he'll be able to step it up as a pro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterwagen Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 Where's Alan Branch and Calvin Johnson?Probably underclassmen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_chew Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 Where's Alan Branch and Calvin Johnson? this draft board excludes juniors who have declared for the draft. Its in the first post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huly Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 4. Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson (6-4½, 260) | previous: Same Flashes dominating ability with his athleticism and quickness. Adams leads the Tigers with 10½ sacks and 15½ tackles for loss. I am a huge Clemson fan and I watched Gaines all season. He is amazing! Any team that picks him will be lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRMADD Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 this big board is now irrevelant with juniors declaring I started looking at that list, realized that same thing, and now I want my 5 minutes back... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Combatant Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 I started looking at that list, realized that same thing, and now I want my 5 minutes back... You're two years old, you have plenty of time.:laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uno Mas Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 Troy Smith at #22......I wasnt crazy about him (for the pro's) before Monday night. It is my opinion that if anyone drafts this guy before the third round, they are wasting a pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsair_joe Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 I thought Samardzija was going to play MLB? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Lloyd Christmas Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 I thought Samardzija was going to play MLB? hes under contract with the cubs i think. he could go pro though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_e_b Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Amobi Okoye is who we should draft. A very young player who is smart and talented. Can't say you see that every year. The fact that he plays DT a position we could really use doesn't hurt him either. A Core Redskins if I'd ever seen one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blitzpackage Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 I'd love to land Tank Tyler later in round one if someone would be willing to trade up for our pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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