• Ever since the San Diego Chargers struck gold with Antonio Gates scouts have been searching for basketball stars who could make the transition to the gridiron. To this point nobody has close to matching Gates’ production but Miami’s Jimmy Graham represents the best hope yet.

    After overcoming a rough childhood in which he was abandoned by his mother and even spent time in a group home Graham, who was rated as a 4-Star basketball recruit by Rivals.com, committed to play at Miami (FL). In his four seasons with the Hurricanes basketball team Graham played in 120 games, averaging 4.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks. After his hardwood eligibility was exhausted Graham had an opportunity to play professionally overseas but instead he decided to give college football a try. Despite not playing the game since his freshman year in high school Graham quickly caught the attention of Canes head coach Randy Shannon, who spoke glowingly about Graham throughout the summer. Nobody really knew what to expect from Graham this year but while his rust and inexperience were quite evident at times he performed much better than anyone could have hoped. On the season Graham played in 12 games, caught 14 balls for 183 yards (13.1 avg) and ranked second on the team with 5 touchdown receptions. Not bad for someone who had a nine year layoff!!!

    There is no question that whoever selects Graham will be doing so based more on potential than production. With that said there may not be another tight end in this class who can match Graham when it comes to sheer physical tools. Checking in at 6-8 and 260 pounds, Graham is an amazing athlete and reportedly runs a 4.6 forty. Despite some struggles early in the year, most notably two key drops against Virginia Tech, Graham has actually displayed natural hands, terrific ball skills, outstanding leaping ability and an innate feel for the game. Unlike a lot of former basketball players who have attempted to make a similar transition Graham is actually very aggressive and appears to possess a football temperament. That is a factor which can’t be underestimated.

    To say that Graham was off the radar coming into the 2009 season would be an understatement, but that was to be expected considering he had never played a single snap of college ball. However, scouts certainly know about Graham now and he has improved his stock as much as any prospect in the entire country this year. In fact, Graham is now widely considered to be one of the top senior tight end prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft. Just a few short months ago Graham was, at best, a late round possibility but now it would be a surprise if he escaped the middle frames. Graham has also reportedly earned an invitation to the prestigious Senior Bowl all-star game in late January. If Graham can come through with a strong performance in Mobile then work out as well as expected there is just no telling how high his stock could climb in the coming months.

    There are still a lot of unknowns when it comes to Jimmy Graham.

    However, this much is clear:

          1) For a basketball player he’s a pretty good football player.

          2) He is destined to be one of this year’s most intriguing prospects.

• In a move that can only be described as shocking, Washington QB Jake Locker has announced that he will bypass the 2010 NFL Draft and return to college for his senior year.

    Rarely do you see a prospect who carries such a high grade come to this conclusion and Locker’s decision will undoubtedly have some powerful ramifications on both this and next year's drafts. First of all let’s be clear about one thing: Had he come out Jake Locker was going to be one of the top prospects in this class. Even though most casual fans didn’t know much about Locker until he led the Huskies to an upset win over USC back in September, pro scouts have been infatuated with him for years. An amazing athlete with a terrific blend of size (6-3, 226) and speed (4.45), Locker has everything you look for physically as well as first-rate intangibles. Just how highly thought of is Locker in league circles? An NFL general manager recently told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen that Locker is a bigger, taller, right-handed version of Steve Young. There is little doubt that Locker was destined for the Top 5 and a very good chance he would've been the #1 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

    So why did he go back?

    When it comes to his long-term development Locker is probably making the right move. Even though Locker made major strides as a passer in his first year running a pro style offense he is still raw and will certainly benefit from another year under Steve Sarkisian’s tutelage. Also, history has shown that quarterbacks who use up their college eligibility fare better in the NFL than those who come out early. Another year in the Pacific Northwest won't guarantee Locker success at the next level but statistics show it will increase his chances significantly.

    However, even though this decision is actually pretty easy to justify from a football standpoint it’s almost impossible to defend from a financial perspective.

    Locker was looking at anywhere from $30-$40 million in guaranteed money had he entered this draft but even in a best-case scenario he may be lucky to get a fraction of that next year. For the sake of argument let’s assume that Locker stays healthy (which is far from a certainty considering his history of injuries), has a great senior year and gets picked #1 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. If the NFL implements a rookie salary scale, which nearly everyone accepts as a foregone conclusion, Locker is exactly the type of elite prospect that will be hurt the most. At this point nobody knows for sure what type of constraints this new system will entail but I can tell you what happened before and after the NBA put theirs in place. Glenn Robinson was the last #1 pick before the wage scale in 1994 and he received a 10-year, $68 million deal from the Milwaukee Bucks. In 2005 the Golden State Warriors chose Joe Smith with the top pick and he received a 3-year contract worth $8.53 million. Notice a difference? Maybe the change won’t be quite that dramatic in the NFL but I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that the guaranteed money in the #1 picks contract will, at the very least, be cut in half. At least. So even if everything works out perfectly Locker may be costing himself tens of millions of dollars. Now if he goes on to enjoy a long, prosperous NFL career Locker could make up for those initial losses but just ask Tim Couch how much he made on his second contract. Or Cade McNown. The future is promised to no one, especially in the NFL. JaMarcus Russell could be out of the league in a few years but even if that turns out to be the case he is set for life thanks to the $29 million guaranteed he received as part of his rookie contract.

    We have actually seen a similar situation twice this decade and it didn’t work out very well in either case. After a junior season in which he won the Heisman Trophy and a National Championship Matt Leinart was being projected as the likely top pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Leinart surprised everyone and opted to return to USC for one more year, which opened the door for Alex Smith to be selected 1st overall and ink a six-year, $49.5 million contract with $24 million guaranteed. Leinart had a good senior season for the Trojans but after giving everyone another year to pick apart his game he wound up slipping on Draft Day. Leinart was eventually picked #10 overall by the Arizona Cardinals and signed a six-year deal worth $14 million guaranteed. That’s a $10 million difference, plus he landed in a situation where he still hasn’t received a legitimate opportunity to establish himself as a starter. More recently Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford was a potential #1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft but he too chose to spend another year in college and so far the results have been disastrous. Bradford suffered a serious injury to his throwing shoulder in the Sooners first game, which required season-ending surgery. Just how much Bradford's draft stock will ultimately be affected remains to be seen but it’s safe to say that he has put a life-changing fortune in serious jeopardy.

    Some will point to the fact that Locker can and will purchase an insurance policy to cover himself should he get hurt. However, those policies only pay out in the event of a catastrophic, career-ending injury. They don’t cover blown out knees or ripped up shoulders and they certainly don’t recoup the costs of a potential Draft Day freefall due to poor performance.

    One other factor that may not get a lot of play in the press but will absolutely be talked about within scouting circles is Locker’s commitment. Would someone who truly loves the game pass on $40 million to play it at the highest level? Does he not have confidence in his abilities? Is he afraid of the competition? What kind of rational person passes up that kind of payday? These may be unfair questions but they are going to be asked. Further compounding this issue are Locker’s other career opportunities. Major League Baseball scouts have been hot on Locker’s trail since his days as a prep and just last summer the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim gave him $150,000 as a 10th round pick just to retain his rights. Will NFL teams still feel comfortable investing a premium draft choice on a guy who may not be 100% devoted to the gridiron? Then again, maybe money just isn’t all that important to Locker. In fact, that appears to be the case because he could have been a multi-millionaire right out of high school had he simply told MLB scouts that he was willing to sign and pursue a baseball career full-time. Maybe Locker doesn’t see a big difference between $10 million and $40 million. Perhaps he knows that even if things go horribly wrong in the next twelve months he still has a promising and lucrative baseball career to fall back on.

    I often say that the uncertainty and surprises are a big part of what makes the NFL Draft so much fun and Locker staying in college certainly qualifies as a major curveball. It will be interesting to watch all of the fallout in the coming weeks and months but nobody is happier about Locker’s decision than Jimmy Clausen and Sam Bradford, who will now get pushed up draft boards even further. On the flip side there are going to be some very unhappy teams. The Rams, Browns, Redskins, Bills, Seahawks, 49'ers and Panthers are all in desperate need of a top young signal caller to build around but with only two available the supply is not going to meet the demand. On the bright side we now have a clear-cut frontrunner to be the #1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

• Just a few months ago South Florida's Jason Pierre-Paul was a complete unknown. Come April he could be a 1st Round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

    To say “JPP” has come out of nowhere might be an understatement, unless you’re a big follower of junior college recruiting that is. You see last fall Pierre-Paul was playing at Fort Scott Community College and the year before that he was starring at College of the Canyons. Considered to be one of the top JUCO prospects in the country, Pierre-Paul had scholarship offers from the likes of Nebraska and Arizona but he somewhat surprisingly chose to play his Division I ball at South Florida. As one of the Bulls most highly-regarded recruits there were certainly lofty expectations for Pierre-Paul within the program but nobody expected him to have the type of impact he has. In fact, Pierre-Paul has actually outproduced former All-American George Selvie this season, racking up 14.5 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks. In no time at all Pierre-Paul has gone from an unproven talent to one of the premier pass rushers in the entire country. An amazing athlete with a rare blend of size and speed, Pierre-Paul checks in at 6-6 and 260 pounds and reportedly runs a 4.6 forty. I watched a couple of South Florida games this year with the express purpose of evaluating Pierre-Paul and I came away both impressed and disappointed at the same time, if that is possible. The first thing that stands out about Pierre-Paul are his long arms, which are nothing short of freakish. I literally called someone else into the room to check them out. This guy defines the term “Rangy”. The other major thing I noticed is that even though Pierre-Paul’s extraordinary physical tools were quite evident his overall inexperience and unrefined instincts led to him freelancing and playing a bit slower than those otherworldly measurables might otherwise suggest. I will obviously need to see more than two games before I form a final opinion on Pierre-Paul but my initial impression was that he may be slightly overrated and you can't help but wonder why a player with his gifts wasn’t able to produce more sacks. With that said there aren’t many who can match Pierre-Paul’s sheer burst and explosiveness and his upside is virtually unparalleled.

    With just one season of DI experience under his belt there is no question that Pierre-Paul is still extremely raw and could use another year of development at the college level. However, his draft stock has risen to the point where it could prove very difficult to pass on the millions of dollars that await him in the pros. Despite his shortcomings you can never underestimate the value NFL teams place on pass rushers and Pierre-Paul’s ability to play either defensive end in a 4-3 defense or outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme will only make him more attractive on Draft Day. Then when you factor in his immense potential and the likelihood that he’ll post some incredible numbers in workouts it’s not hard to see why many predict "JPP" will be a first round pick when all is said and done.

    Don’t be surprised if Jason Pierre-Paul is this year’s Aaron Maybin.

• The powers that be haven’t gotten around to giving me an official say in the Heisman Trophy voting yet but that has never stopped me from putting forth my opinion in the past. My faux ballot probably looks quite a bit different from most but there is a good reason for that. Instead of blindly voting for the best skill position players on the best teams I actually stick to the Heisman Trust’s mission statement and choose “the outstanding college football player”. Every once in a while that happens to be a defensive player. Isn't that just crazy!?!

    So without further adieu here is how my ballot would be filled out:

1) Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

It’s extremely rare to see a defensive player take over a game but that is exactly what Ndamukong Suh did on a consistent basis this year. An absolutely dominant force in the middle, not only was Suh one of the nations leaders in both tackles for a loss (23.0) and sacks (12.0) but he also broke up 10 passes, had 1 interception and blocked 3 kicks. What’s even more impressive is that Suh actually led the Cornhuskers in tackles with 82, which is almost unheard for a defensive tackle. And Suh did it two years in a row! Suh was undeniably the best player on a nine win team that couldn’t afford to give up many points because their offense seemed to be allergic to the endzone. Suh also almost single-handedly willed Nebraska to a Big 12 Championship, racking up an amazing 7 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks against a vaunted Texas team that will be playing for the National Championship. One of the best defensive tackles the college game has seen in many, many years, Ndamukong Suh isn’t going to win the Heisman Trophy but in my humble opinion he absolutely deserves it.

2) C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

C.J. Spiller doesn’t play for an elite team but hopefully his accomplishments won’t be overlooked by Heisman voters because you’d be hard pressed to find a player who had such a huge impact in so many facets of the game. One of the nation’s leaders in all-purpose yardage, Spiller was the only player in the country to account for touchdowns five different ways (rushing, passing, receiving, and on kick and punt returns) and he also scored at least once in each of the Tigers games. The 2009 ACC Player of the Year, Spiller will also go down as one of the best return men in the history of college football. Spiller’s wide array of talents were on full display in the ACC Championship Game and even though his team ultimately lost to Georgia Tech he valiantly ran for 233 yards and 4 touchdowns. When it comes right down to it Spiller is really no less of an impact player than 2005 Heisman recipient Reggie Bush was, he just doesn’t have the good fortune of playing for a high-profile undefeated program.

3) Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

Mark Ingram will be at or near the top of most Heisman Trophy ballots, and rightfully so. Alabama is 13-0 and on their way to the BCS National Championship Game and nobody played a more integral role in their success than Ingram. Unlike other top teams the Crimson Tide do not feature a high-powered passing attack so they were extremely reliant on their running game. Even though opposing defenses entered each and every contest knowing that they had to shut down Ingram he still managed to rush for 118 yards per game, racking up a total of 1,542 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. Never was Ingram’s value to his team more apparent than in the SEC Championship Game against then #1 Florida, when he churned out 113 yards and 3 touchdowns while also pitching in 76 yards through the air. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Ingram was the linchpin of the nation’s best team and that is why he should figure prominently in this year's Heisman Trophy race.

4) Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford

Even though Stanford didn’t wind up taking home a Pac-10 Championship they still managed to crank out 8 wins, which was better than anyone expected. Toby Gerhart was the catalyst behind that success and a true workhorse for the Cardinal, rushing for 1,736 yards and a conference record 26 touchdowns. What’s even more impressive is how Gerhart put the team on his back in key games, most notably carrying the ball 29 times for 178 yards and 3 touchdowns in an upset win over USC. Not only did Gerhart put up some very impressive numbers but he did it against a tough schedule where everyone was gunning for him. Stanford hasn’t had a Heisman Trophy winner since Jim Plunkett in 1970 but voters who are willing to look past just the wins and losses could very easily conclude that Gerhart is indeed college football’s most outstanding player.

5) Colt McCoy, QB, Texas

Colt McCoy will almost certainly finish higher than this in the actual voting because he plays quarterback for an undefeated team and has had an outstanding career for the Longhorns. However, the Heisman Trophy isn’t a career achievement award and I just feel there are other players who have had better seasons. That’s not to say McCoy isn’t a great player though and he does deserve to make the trip to New York. An extremely accurate passer (70.5%), McCoy threw for 3,512 yards with 27 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions this year. Not only is McCoy capable of beating you with his legs but he was also the Longhorns second leading rusher with 346 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground. With all that said McCoy actually had a better season as a junior and even though he will likely come in either first or second in this race that has just as much to do with publicity, hype and team record as it does his performance.

• At the outset of the 2008 season Tennessee’s Robert Ayers was considered to be a mid-to-late round possibility by most scouts. However, a terrific senior campaign followed by an eye-opening performance at the Senior Bowl and strong workouts eventually led to Ayers being selected in the middle of the first round. Every year we see a select few prospects make that sort of dramatic leap up draft boards and it looks as though the Volunteers have another fast-riser on their hands in defensive tackle Dan Williams.

    After redshirting in 2005 Williams saw action in six games as a backup in 2006 before taking over a starting job as a sophomore. During his first three years with the Vols Williams averaged 30 tackles per season and accumulated a respectable 4.5 sacks and 16.0 tackles for a loss. Still, nobody envisioned Williams emerging as the unblockable difference-maker he has as a senior. Through 12 games Williams has racked up 61 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss, and 2.0 sacks, which are all career highs. As is the case with a lot of defensive tackles statistics really don’t tell the whole story. In addition to those impact plays behind the line of scrimmage Williams is also a force to be reckoned with against the run and his ability to occupy multiple blockers creates opportunities for teammates. At 6-3 and 327 pounds Williams certainly has the size you look for, although he does tend to wear down at times and stamina has been an issue in the past. Williams isn’t a dynamic pass rusher and he probably never will be but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a good athlete, especially for someone with his dimensions. Coming into his senior year some scouts had questions about Williams' strength and technique but the fact that he has thrived under the tutelage of venerable former NFL defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin should work in his favor. Williams can obviously operate in a 4-3 scheme, which is what he has played in during his time in Knoxville, but his best fit might ultimately come as a nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. In that system Williams greatest strength (run stuffing) would be highlighted while his main weakness (pass rush) would be marginalized. If teams do determine that’s the case Williams could settle in as the #2 nose tackle prospect in this draft, behind only Terrence Cody of Alabama, and become quite a valuable commodity.

    When it comes to the NFL Draft there are few, if any, prospects who have helped themselves more this year than Dan Williams. During the spring most scouts were stamping a mid-round grade on Williams but thanks to that strong finish his stock has now risen to the point where almost everyone views him as a legitimate second round value. That is a two or three round jump! In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Williams ultimately carried a grade very similar to that of Ron Brace, who went #40 overall to the New England Patriots last year.

    In just a few short months Williams has gone from a relative afterthought to a top prospect and that is one of the things that makes the NFL Draft so much fun. In the end it’s unlikely Williams will be able to match the draft position of his former teammate Ayers but he is definitely generating a lot of positive buzz in scouting circles. Whether or not Williams will be able to sustain that momentum in all-star games and workouts remains to be seen but even if his stock levels off in the coming months it’s safe to say he has already made himself a boatload of money. It's time to familiarize yourself with Dan Williams because he is now one of the best senior defensive tackle prospects in this class.

• On Draft Day the wide receiver position is usually dominated by underclassmen and this year won’t be any different. Assuming they all come out you can expect to see Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant, Illinois’ Arrelious Benn, Notre Dame’s Golden Tate, USC’s Damian Williams, Kansas’ Dezmon Briscoe and Georgia Tech’s Demaryius Thomas at or near the top of most draft boards. When it comes to senior pass catchers Brandon LaFell of L.S.U. and Mardy Gilyard of Cincinnati are clearly the cream of the crop and both should figure into the late first or early second round mix. However, after those two there is a dramatic drop-off and who the #3 senior wideout will be is still a mystery.

    Let’s look at the top contenders:

    Texas’ Jordan Shipley is probably the most well-known of this group and he has put up some very impressive numbers as Colt McCoy’s favorite target the past couple of years. Shipley would already be in the NFL right now if the NCAA hadn’t granted him a rare sixth year of eligibility but he has made the most of the extra time, coming through with a career season statistically. Shipley isn’t the biggest or fastest guy out there but he profiles as a terrific slot receiver at the next level thanks to his natural instincts, route running and reliable hands. After entering the year as a mid-round possibility there is now a good chance Shipley will come off the board in round two or three. Missouri’s Danario Alexander was a bit of an unknown to most coming into his senior season but to say he has done a good job of replacing departed first round pick Jeremy Maclin would be an understatement. In fact, Alexander is currently the nation’s leading receiver after catching 107 balls for 1,644 yards and 13 touchdowns. Most don’t realize this but Alexander actually beat out Jeremy Maclin early in his college career before getting sidetracked by knee injuries. A big target at 6-5 and 215 pounds, Alexander is an amazing athlete with outstanding leaping ability and could start drawing interest as early as round three as long as he checks out okay medically. Minnesota’s Eric Decker is a classic possession receiver who makes up for his rather ordinary physical tools by doing all of the little things. That’s not to say Decker isn’t a good athlete though. A two-sport star for the Gophers, Decker was actually selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the Minnesota Twins but his future his clearly on the gridiron. Decker isn’t a big play threat and he won’t do much after the catch but he has excellent hands, runs great routes and is very tough. Decker probably would have been a second or third round pick if not for a foot injury that will preclude him from taking part in any all-star games or workouts. With that being the case look for some team to get a steal with Decker in the middle rounds. The final candidate is Tulane’s Jeremy Williams, who is the type that does everything well but nothing great. A steady, reliable pass catcher, Williams doesn’t have the ideal size or timed speed that you look for but he has been very productive for the Green Wave and may be one of the county’s most underrated wideouts. Depending on how he performs during the pre-Draft process Williams could come off the board as early as round two or as late as the middle rounds. Keep an eye on Andre Roberts from The Citadel too because he's one of the top small school prospects in this draft and could surprise with a strong showing at the East-West Shrine or Scouting Combine.

    Last year there was only two wide receivers chosen in the top two rounds and the first, Brian Robiskie, didn’t come off the board until #36 overall. However, in rounds three through five there were fourteen more wideouts selected and all but two of them were seniors. In other words the top of the draft was dominated by underclassmen pass catchers but teams quickly turned their attention to the seniors. That will undoubtedly be the case again this year but even though guys like Shipley, Alexander, Decker and Williams will eventually get overshadowed by flashier juniors it would be wise not to overlook them.

    Perhaps one of them will turn out to be this year’s Mike Wallace (Round 3, #84), Louis Murphy (Round 4, #124) or Johnny Knox (Round 5, #140).