The exodus from Gainesville extends beyond just Tim Tebow. Nearly a week after fellow classmates CB Joe Haden and TE Aaron Hernandez declared for the 2010 NFL Draft, juniors Carlos Dunlap DE and Maurkice Pouncey C have decided to join their Sugar Bow champion Gator teammates for the NFL.
While Dunlap’s decision may have been expected- Dunlap was suspended for the SEC Championship game after his arrest for DUI in early December- Pouncey’s decision raised more than a few eyebrows in North Florida. Both players made this year’s 2009 All-SEC team, yet it is Dunlap whose length, quickness, and untapped potnetial that has many scouts drooling at this time of year. Add in the fact that Maurkice’s twin brother Mike OG decided to stay in school for another year even more intriguing.
Dunlap appears cut from the same Florida cloth as previous promising Gators DE’s like Jevon Kearse, Jarvis Moss, and Derrick Harvey. Listed at 6′6″ 290, Dunlap relies on his quickness and speed to make plays disrupting the QB in the passing game while also possessing the bulk to play the run. While the intangibles and overall athleticism project to the Top 10 in most year’s draft, what may scare some is the DUI arrest where Dunlap was found passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle.
What Dunlap may lack in perceived character (let’s remember one recognized event does not always paint a full story) Pouncey holds true. The 2009 Remington award winner- given to the country’s best center- characterizes the style that the award winner’s namesake played with at Nebraska. Maurkice is listed at 6′5″ 318 and while playing in Urban Meyer’s spread offense may cause some to question Pouncey’s ability to roadgrade opposing defenders, one only needs to turn on the tape and watch Pouncey frequently handle the SEC’s biggest and best.
Some early projections may have Pouncey joining Dunlap, Haden, Hernandez, and Seniors Brandon Spikes (MLB), and of course, Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow decided to address his critics like he addresses most SEC defenders- head on.
The former Heisman trophy winner accepted an invitation to the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl earlier today joining fellow standout seniors Tony Pike (Cincinnati) and Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan) in Mobile, AL for the last week in January. The Senior Bowl has long been a showcase of the top graduating seniors each year with many players finding the early access to NFL scouts as a vital first step in the four month process of evaluating collegiate talent.
With some top ranked skilled players deciding to skip post-season showcases like the Senior Bowl in recent years, many close to the Gator program speculated that Tebow would pass on the early opportunity to tackle the questions surrounding the Jacksonville native’s NFL prospects. But like the majority of his career in Gainesville, Tebow stepped right up the challenge eschewing the comforts of Urban Meyer’s spread offense for the basic vanilla pro-style offense that often seeps into these showcased events.
Although Tebow will not be the only Gator in Mobile during the Under Armour Senior Bowl week. Fellow Gator Riley Cooper, whose senior year stats easily exceeded his previous three years in the Swamp combined, will shag balls from the 2009 All-SEC quarterback hoping to capitalize on the magic that lead to 51 catches for nearly 1,000 yards and 9 TD’s. Cooper’s long frame and sure hands will likely catch some NFL team’s eyes, but ultimately his times in the 40, 3-cone, and shuttle drills will project Cooper’s value on the next level.
Tebow’s NFL value still remains a question for some and virtual certainty for others. But the wide spectrum of opinions and Tebow’s love of the game appears to be part of the reasoning for Tebow’s decision to attend this year’s Under Armour Senior Bowl week of practices.
“One of my reasons to play (in the Senior Bowl) was because I love competing and I love what it takes to be a football player. There are a lot of things in training that you do but you are not playing football. This (the Senior Bowl) is the only thing where you are playing football and showing football skills. That’s why I think something like the Senior Bowl is very important,” Tebow indicated when speaking to Senior Bowl officials earlier today.
“It’s something where I get an opportunity to play with a lot of great players and get coached by a lot of great coaches in the NFL and an opportunity to work in an NFL system and do things that a lot of people haven’t seen me do like go under center and take the drops and be in a pro style system.”
While we admire Tebow’s zeal for competition and the character that he embodies as the modern student athlete, we still have concerns for the former Gators skills to translate on the NFL level. And while the elongated throwing motion and lack of experience in a pro-style offense may initially hinder the SEC’s all time touchdown leader, Tebow may have landed in the perfect scenario in Mobile. Dolphins coach Tony Sparano and his Miami staff known for bringing the run option back to the NFL in the form of the Wildcat will coach Tim Tebow during the Under Armour Senior Bowl week of practices.
Many of those in the pro-Tebow camp point to his value as both a rushing (2,947 Rushing yards and 57 TD’s) and passing threat (9,285 yards and 88 TD’s) on the next level. An if there is a NFL coaching staff that will know how to maximize Tebow’s value on the next level, it will be Sparano and the Dolphins staff.
Time will be the only real indicator and we cannot wait to descend on Mobile in late January. If you are interested in forming your own opinion, click here for the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl website, and CLICK HERE to buy tickets to the Saturday game which is scheduled to begin at 4PM EST on January 30 at Ladd Peebles Stadium.
NFL Network will cover practices throughout the week and the game live on Saturday.
Mississippi Junior quarterback Jevan Snead has decided to forgo his senior senior season with his Ole Miss teammates by joining the pool of underclassmen for this year’s NFL Draft. Snead whose junior season can only be considered underwhelming after leading the Rebels to upset wins over the Florida Gators in 2008 yet failed to lead generate much in-season buzz. Losses to South Carolina, Auburn, and in-state rival Mississippi State along with passing numbers that failed to build on the high expectations ending last season.
After passing for fewer yards and touchdowns at a lower completion percentage than last year, while also throwing 20 interceptions many may fail to understand Snead’s decision to come out after such an average year. But with seniors Shay Hodge and Dexter McCluster graduating this year and few receiving options returning next year (no returning players on the Mississippi roster caught more than 20 balls in 2009), Snead may have recognized the writing on the walls in Oxford.
This year’s class of quarterbacks lacks superstar quality from a pure passing standpoint- let’s not get into the Tebow McCoy discussion just yet- and while Snead’s pedestrian 55.1 completion percentage comes nowhere near to exciting many, the Mississippi quarterback may prove a viable dark-horse candidate. Drafted into the right situation where he can learn from an experienced veteran and add more needed bulk, Snead could prove to be this year’s surprise middle round draft choice 2-3 years down the road.
Does anyone remember Kyle Orton’s statistics coming out of Purdue in 2004? Click here for a quick refresher. While the comparison is not wholly perfect, it does demonstrate that when given coaching and tools around him, a wild armed collegiate passer in Orton has proven to be a solid NFL quarterback. Snead has never played with the receivers that would have made him an elite player on the collegiate level. After transferring from Texas in 2006, Snead came to Oxford with high expectations and even higher standards to follow just two years after Eli Manning left campus.
After a promising 2008 and the big win over Florida, the 2009 season was going to be the year where Snead would prove that he could make those around him better. While that theory may have fallen short this year, Snead does show promise and the tools to potentially improve into a starting quarterback on the NFL level.
Days after helping his team win the 2010 Sugar Bowl, Junior CB Joe Haden has announced his intention to enter the 2010 NFL Draft. All season long scouts have indicated that Haden likely projects as one of the top cornerbacks in this past year’s college football season. The All-American and All-SEC corner led the secondary in interceptions (4) despite being ignored because if his dominance on the outside, T-4th on the team in sacks (3), and tied for 3rd in total tackles.
Haden’s ultimate value will rest in his 40 time either at the Combine in February or during his Pro-Day later in the Spring. At 5′11″ and 185 lbs, Haden appears to have the size, speed and quickness that NFL defenses covet. But when you throw in Haden’s athleticism and leadership- Haden is the only Gator freshman to start at Florida- and the Maryland native looks like a sure fire lock for the first round and possibly even the Top 10.
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the names of thirty “players to watch” for its prestigious Player of the Year award, the nation’s fourth-oldest individual college football accolade.
2009 Walter Camp Player of the Year “Watch List”
Jahvid Best, RB, Junior, California
Arrelious Benn, WR, Junior, Illinois
Eric Berry, DB, Junior, Tennessee%
Sam Bradford, QB, Junior, Oklahoma@
LaGarrette Blount, RB, Senior, Oregon
Dez Bryant, WR, Junior, Oklahoma State%
Daryll Clark, QB, Senior, Penn State
Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Junior, Georgia Tech
Mardy Gilyard, WR, Senior, Cincinnati
Jermaine Gresham, TE, Senior, Oklahoma@
Max Hall, QB, Senior, Brigham Young
Tim Hiller, QB, Senior, Western Michigan
Jerry Hughes, DE, Senior, TCU%
Kendell Hunter, RB, Junior, Oklahoma State
MiQuale Lewis, RB, Senior, Ball State
Taylor Mays, DB, Senior, USC%
Colt McCoy, QB, Senior, Texas%
Kellen Moore, QB, Sophomore, Boise State
Todd Reesing, QB, Senior, Kansas
Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Sophomore, Oregon State
Evan Royster, RB, Senior, Penn State
George Selvie, DE, Senior, South Florida#@
Jordan Shipley, WR, Senior, Texas
Rusty Smith, QB, Senior, Florida Atlantic
Jevan Snead, QB, Junior, Mississippi
Brandon Spikes, LB, Senior, Florida%
C.J. Spiller, RB, Senior, Clemson
Golden Tate, WR, Junior, Notre Dame
Tim Tebow, QB, Senior, Florida#
Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Senior, Missouri@
@ - 2008 Walter Camp Second Team All-American % - 2008 Walter Camp First Team All-American
The Outland Trophy, presented annually since 1946, is the third oldest award in major college football.
The winner of the Outland Trophy, named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn and Kansas at the turn of the century, will be announced on the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Outland Trophy presentation banquet, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, will be held on Jan. 14 in Omaha, Neb.
2009 OUTLAND TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Tackles, guards and centers are eligible for consideration
Posted on January 18th, 2010 by The Insider 
With some top ranked skilled players deciding to skip post-season showcases like the Senior Bowl in recent years, many close to the Gator program speculated that Tebow would pass on the early opportunity to tackle the questions surrounding the Jacksonville native’s NFL prospects. But like the majority of his career in Gainesville, Tebow stepped right up the challenge eschewing the comforts of Urban Meyer’s spread offense for the basic vanilla pro-style offense that often seeps into these showcased events.
While we admire Tebow’s zeal for competition and the character that he embodies as the modern student athlete, we still have concerns for the former Gators skills to translate on the NFL level. And while the elongated throwing motion and lack of experience in a pro-style offense may initially hinder the SEC’s all time touchdown leader, Tebow may have landed in the perfect scenario in Mobile. Dolphins coach Tony Sparano and his Miami staff known for bringing the run option back to the NFL in the form of the Wildcat will coach Tim Tebow during the Under Armour Senior Bowl week of practices.
