ACE REPORTER: WHICH SEC JUNIORS WILL HEAD TO THE NFL?
Quarterback Tim Tebow has won a Heisman Trophy, run up gaudy numbers, set an NCAA record for touchdowns and elevated Florida to a top five team this season.The left-hander is 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, ranked second in the nation in passing efficiency last year, and became the first player in NCAA Division 1-A history to run for 20 touchdowns and pass for 20 touchdowns in the same season.
He is a marketing dream.
But he doesn't project to be a first-round pick and probably won't turn pro after this season, according to NFL draft analyst Mike DeTillier.
``I wouldn't want to be his first NFL coach because he is not fundamentally sound as a quarterback,'' DeTillier said.
DeTillier thinks Tebow will get a second or third round grade from the NFL advisory board.
Tebow needs to become a more skilled passer, according to DeTillier.
To a certain extent, Todd McShay of ESPN agrees. McShay recently listed his first-round projections (including juniors) and didn't have Tebow in the first round.
While Tebow needs to work on his passing, Georgia junior quarterback Matthew Stafford is already there. DeTiller says Stafford will be a top six pick along with Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, if Bradford decides to enter the draft.
McShay projects Stafford as the #3 overall pick.
Stafford is one of seven SEC juniors that McShay says will be drafted in the first round, if they come out. The total of SEC underclassmen to declare for the draft could range from 12 to 18.
McShay's mock draft has Alabama junior offensive lineman Andre Smith as the #1 overall pick with Stafford third, senior offensive tackle Michael Oher of Ole Miss at #6, Auburn junior defensive lineman SenDerrick Marks at #11, Alabama junior nose tackle Terrence Cody at #17, Florida junior linebacker Brandon Spikes at #18, Georgia sophomore running back Knowshon Moreno at #20, and Florida junior receiver Percy Harvin #28.
DeTillier pointed out that previous #1 overall quarterback picks from the SEC - Peyton and Eli Manning and JaMarcus Russell - were at least 6-foot-4. Stafford is listed as 6-3 but DeTillier thinks he's 6-2.
``It's not a huge thing, but it will be brought up in discussion,'' he said. ``Stafford is very accurate, a pocket passer, has good mobility, and he's got a thick hide.''
DeTillier said Moreno will be among the top 15 players taken, and that Moreno is similar to Auburn's Cadillac Williams, who was a top five pick.
DeTillier compared Harvin to Cal's DeSean Jackson - a small, quick, explosive player - and Spikes to another Spikes - former Auburn star Takeo Spikes.
As for Alabama's Smith, he is a ``clear-cut'' No. 1 guy, a left tackle who can play 12 years in the NFL.
``He's the best junior or senior out there,'' Detillier said. ``He's a dominant left tackle, better than (former Alabama star) Chris Samuels. There's a reason Alabama runs 65 percent of the time off left tackle.''
DeTillier is high on Vanderbilt junior cornerback-receiver-returner DJ Moore, a two-way player who had two touchdown catches and two interceptions against Kentucky.
``He's the most underrated football player in America,'' DeTillier said. ``He is to them on defense what Jay Cutler was to them on offense. He's got great cover skills.''
Kentucky senior defensive end Jeremy Jarmon needs a big workout to move up from being a middle-round pass rusher.
``I like his pass rushing skills and the NFL has become a pressure league,'' DeTillier said.
Kentucky junior cornerback Trevard Lindley projects to go in the second round.
``He's a really good cover guy with athletic skills,'' DeTillier said. ``He could decide to come out early because the field is not great.''
DeTillier thinks LSU has two late first to early second round picks in junior left tackle Ciron Black and senior defensive end Tyson Jackson.
Junior defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois has been ``in the witness protection program most of the year.'' DeTillier thought before the season Francois would be a high first-round pick and be more dominant than former LSU defensive tackle Glen Dorsey. That hasn't been the case.
DeTillier sees Oher going among the top 10 picks. He also likes Ole Miss senior defensive tackle Peria Jerry, who projects as a late first rounder.
``A stud guy,'' he said. ``Short, squatty, great pressure up the middle, good motor.''
DeTillier said junior defensive end Greg Hardy has been too inconsistent due to a stress fracture in his foot.
``He's a high maintenance guy,'' DeTillier said. ``You've got to be on him to get something out of him. But he's the best natural pass rusher in the SEC. When he's hot, he's as good as they come. He could dominant, but you don't see the fire in his belly. On athletic ability, he's a first rounder. On attitude, he's a third or fourth rounder.''
DeTillier likes two Auburn players: Marks and junior defensive end Antonio Coleman. Marks is a ``disruptive'' force and a good - but not great - inside pass rusher. He projects to go in the first round."
Coleman is a good pass rusher but a bit ``light in the pants,'' and might get an early second-round grade.
Mississippi State senior safety Derek Pegues will be "a second rounder,'' DeTillier said.
Pegues is a playmaker in the return game but smallish for a safety. He compares to the Colts' Bob Sanders, but he doesn't hit as hard, though his coverage skills are better.
South Carolina senior Kenny McKinley runs great routes and has good hands, but isn't fast enough to be a high pick. He could be a good three receiver who likely will go in the middle rounds, DeTillier said.
DeTillier said Gamecocks junior Jared Cook is the best tight end in college football. He has good hands and blocks decently.
``He gets a first-round grade from me because he's a special player,'' DeTillier said.
Carolina junior linebacker Eric Norwood will get about a third-round grade and middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley would be a late-round pick because he's a two-down player who doesn't play the pass well, DeTillier said.
Carolina safety Emmanuel Cook would get a ``fairly early grade'' from DeTillier. ``He's a really good player. Plays good run support. Plays the pass well. He's a playmaker back there.''
DeTillier said safeties like Cook are becoming more important in the NFL because they're asked to play run support and cover one-on-one based on some spread offenses.
Tennessee senior running back Arian Foster made a mistake by not turning pro a year ago, when he had a second to third round grade. Foster rushed for almost 1,200 yards last season. He has 511 entering the Kentucky game.
``He's not a middle-round pick,'' DeTillier said. ``He hasn't upgraded his draft stock. You'll get good value if he plays like he did as a junior.''
Tennessee junior defensive tackle Dan Williams will be a second or third round evaluation. Williams could be a defensive end in a 3-4, DeTillier said.
``If you're not a first-round grade, it's worthwhile to come back (to college),'' DeTillier said.
DeTillier thinks the Vols' Robert Ayers will be drafted as will offensive linemen Ramon Foster and Anthony Parker, with Foster going ahead of Parker.
He also thinks junior outside linebacker Rico McCoy might have a shot as a strong safety and he thinks Lucas Taylor could make a team because of his hands.












