03/12/10 - *Donovan Warren, Jr/2010, Michigan, 6-0, 193 (DS#7 FS) Donovan Warren had no intention of running for NFL scouts at Michigan’s pro day, but his competitive nature got the best of him. Still bothered by a right ankle injury that caused him to pull out of the NFL combine last month, Warren borrowed a pair of teammate Stevie Brown’s cleats Friday and said he clocked two 40-yard dashes in the mid-4.5 range. Warren ran a disappointing 40 at the combine after spraining the same ankle he originally hurt as a sophomore during a February workout. Donovan Warren, shown last season playing for Michigan, worked out for NFL scouts at Michigan's pro day on Friday. “I was just going to come and meet with the scouts, just the competitor in me just came out,” Warren said. “Saw the workout and decided I was going to try to go at it.” Warren aggravated his ankle during a shuttle drill Friday and did not participate in position drills. He also sat out position drills at the combine. He said he’ll join Brandon Graham, who missed Michigan’s pro day with a hamstring injury, in a private workout for scouts April 8 at Michigan. Warren said he doesn't know if he’ll need surgery, but disputed suggestions he’s hurt his draft stock in recent weeks. “I feel like at the combine, I don’t know if I should have ran hurt like I did,” Warren said. “I went out there and competed, but at the same time I know I helped myself in the interview room, getting the teams to know me a lot better as a person and just knowing that I’m a football player, I’m very smart. I feel like I helped myself definitely in interviews.” - Dave Birkett, AnnArbor.com
03/12/10 - *Rolando McClain, Jr/2010, Alabama, 6-4, 254 (DS#1 ILB) When former Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain revealed Wednesday that he has battled Crohn's disease for the past seven years, the news rippled through the National Football League. Was this Pro Day disclosure a big bombshell, a little bombshell or no bombshell at all? "At least a little one," said Phil Savage, the former Cleveland Browns general manager who was hired recently by the Philadelphia Eagles as a part-time player personnel consultant for the 2010 draft. "I was not aware of it." Savage has a connection to Alabama. He just finished his first season as the color commentator on Alabama football radio broadcasts. But Savage was not alarmed by the news. "The good news is that he hasn't missed any practice time or games," said Savage, who was one of many representatives of NFL teams who attended Alabama's Pro Day. "It seems like it has been regulated well. "I don't think it'll affect his draft status." Savage said he still believes McClain will be taken in the first round of the NFL draft on April 22, somewhere between the No. 10 and No. 20 picks. 'Won't affect him at all' - Don Kausler Jr., The Birmingham News
03/12/10 - Mike Johnson, Sr/2010, North Alabama, 6-2, 248 (DS#34 ILB) Players began the day by being measured and weighed. They moved on to the weight room where they were measured in the broad jump. It was then on to the bench press where they tried to do as many reps as possible with 225 pounds on the bar. The players were then tested for their vertical leap before hitting the practice field to be timed in the 40-yard dash. Up next were two different shuttle runs, which several players struggled with due to the wet field. "It was a little bit difficult with the field conditions," safety Quinton Andrews said. "I'm a little upset with how I did because I've been doing better in my training. I was slipping on everything, so my overall performance was not as good as I had hoped for. But I'm going to keep my head up and keep on working." Linebacker Michael Johnson was clocked at between 4.6 and 4.7 in his two attempts in the 40-yard dash. He was pleased with his overall performance. "I had food poisoning over the weekend and couldn't hold down any food for about three days," Johnson said. "That and the weather made this a pretty nerve-racking experience. But I've felt better the last couple of days and I'm excited about the day I had today." Wilson, despite weighing 367 pounds, ran a solid 5.35 40-yard dash. Wide receiver Mico McSwain was among the fastest players, running a 4.5 40-yard dash, while defensive back Jason Tate impressed the scouts with a broad jump of 10 feet, 6 inches. - Jeff McIntyre, Times Daily
03/12/10 - Tim Tebow, Sr/2010, Florida, 6-3, 236 (DS#4 QB) Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver likes to call Tim Tebow an icon, but indicated Thursday the Jaguars aren’t going to deviate from their draft board to select the former Florida quarterback. “Personally, I think Tim Tebow is an extraordinary young man and he’s an extraordinary athlete. He’s going to be successful in the National Football League,” Weaver said during an interview before a Team Teal Rally Thursday. But he said the Jaguars won’t force any picks. “What we’ve got to do is trust our value board in our draft. If we force a pick, then we devalue thousands of hours of work by our scouts. We have to be true to our mission and go take the best player with our pick. When we do that, we get good results,” he said. He then smiled and said, “We all know we’ve done it the other way in the past and it didn’t work. Shame on you if you don’t learn from your mistakes. You stay true to your process.” - Vito Stellino, Florida Times-Union
03/12/10 - Adam James, rSo/2012, Texas Tech, 6-3, 216 (DS#89 WR) Former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach began giving sworn testimony Friday in the lawsuit he filed against the school after he was fired for allegedly mistreating a receiver suffering from the effects of a concussion. Leach, dressed in khaki pants and a dark sports coat, arrived a few minutes early for depositions in the case. He didn’t answer reporters’ questions as he walked into a small basement conference room in his attorney’s office building. One of the attorneys for Texas Tech, Dicky Grigg, said he “had no idea” how long Leach would answer questions Friday. He and attorneys for Leach declined to comment on the case, citing a gag order from the judge. Leach’s deposition comes a day after Kent Hance, Texas Tech’s chancellor, testified under oath and a day before the receiver, Adam James, is scheduled to give sworn testimony. His father, ESPN analyst and former NFL player Craig James, is also expected to testify Saturday. The university fired Leach on Dec. 30, two days after suspending him amid allegations he mistreated James after the receiver suffered a concussion. Adam James said Leach twice ordered him to stand for hours while confined in a dark place during practice. Leach has denied he mistreated James. His lawsuit accuses the school of libel, slander and breach of contract. - AP Sports
03/12/10 - LaMichael James, rFr/2013, Oregon, 5-09, 184 (DS#5 RB) Oregon running back LaMichael James has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor harassment charge and has been sentenced to 10 days in jail for an altercation with a woman outside his apartment last month. James, who appeared in Lane County Circuit Court on Friday morning, will then spend 24 months on probation as part of the plea agreement with prosecutors. James, who set a Pac-10 freshman record with more than 1,500 yards rushing last season, originally faced five misdemeanor charges, including menacing, strangulation and assault. All but the harassment charge were dropped. Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is also due in court on Friday to face arraignment on an unrelated felony burglary charge. - AP Sports
03/12/10 - Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, rSr/2010, Washington, 6-4, 263 (DS#19 DE) Alphabetical order placed Te'o-Nesheim after Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh in the workout schedule at the combine, which meant that the NFL Network was showing replays of Suh's performance in individual drills instead of capturing Te'o-Nesheim's performance. "I knew it was going to happen as soon as I saw who was in front of me," Te'o-Nesheim said. So here's a thumbnail sketch of what happened: Te'o-Nesheim performed 29 bench-press repetitions at 225 pounds, and he was timed as fast as 4.73 seconds in the 40-yard dash, though his official time was not among the top 10. Well, he was timed running the 40-yard dash in 4.67 seconds at Washington's pro day on Wednesday, according to his agent. The scouts in attendance all had him in the 4.6s. Where the 6-foot-4, 267-pound Te'o-Nesheim fits on an NFL roster remains a question. Those teams that run a 3-4 defense see him as an outside linebacker; those in a conventional 4-3 alignment see him as a defensive end. What's becoming clear, though, is that he will fit somewhere in the NFL. "The one thing I always want to say about him is amazing effort," Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian said. "I've never seen a guy work, practice, play the way he plays with the effort that he plays with. And it shows. That's why he's so productive. That's why he's the all-time sack leader in the history of this school." In scouting terms, Te'o-Nesheim has great hips, which make him explosive when changing direction. NFL scouts use a three-cone drill to measure a player's agility and change of direction, and Te'o-Nesheim had the second-fastest time of any defensive lineman at the scouting combine. - Danny O'Neil, The Seattle Times
03/12/10 - Matt O'Hanlon, rSr/2010, Nebraska, 5-11, 200 (DS#39 FS) Twelve former Huskers showed their stuff. Eight of those played on the 2009 team, but there was also Marlon Lucky, Shukree Barfield, Armando Murillo and Frantz Hardy. Asante was happy with most of his results from the combine, but came Thursday with the purpose of improving his 40-yard dash time (4.63 seconds). He did, knocking it down to :04.55. “That’s what they wanted to see and they got it,” he said. Fellow safety Matt O’Hanlon and linebacker Phillip Dillard were similarly pleased. “I talked to a lot of scouts who said I improved my status,” O’Hanlon said. “I’ll take it.” O’Hanlon posted a 40 time of 4.58, a vertical jump of 37 1/2 inches, the pro agility run in :04.0, the three-cone drill in :06.80 and a broad jump of 10 feet. “My legs kind of felt like jelly at the end,” he said. - Brian Christopherson, Lincoln Journal Star
03/12/10 - LeGarrette Blount, Sr/2010, Oregon, 6-1, 241 (DS#11 RB) Oregon RB LeGarrette Blount, who wasn’t present at the school’s pro day on Thursday, is scheduled to work out at a second pro day March 18, NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora reported. There was some confusion as to why Blount failed to show up for Oregon’s first pro day, but his agent, Ken Sarnoff, confirmed to La Canfora that the running back was supposed to participate in the second pro day all along. That information apparently wasn’t well communicated, however, and not all the scouts in attendance at the pro day realized that Blount would work out next week, according to NFL.com’s Gil Brandt. Blount is working hard to restore his reputation after two incidents in 2009. He was briefly suspended in February for reportedly missing offseason team meetings, then was benched for 10 games after he punched Boise State’s Byron Hout after Oregon’s season-opening loss. - NFL.com
03/12/10 - Joe Webb, rSr/2010, UAB, 6-3, 223 (DS#32 WR) "It was a phenomenal workout, but I kind of expected it," said Dye, who said feedback from NFL teams has been very positive. "They love his athleticism, his body, his speed and quickness, his explosiveness. But it's a big move even to receiver if you're making it in college, much less the highest level there is." The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Webb will create a quandary for NFL teams when the draft rolls around. He has a quarterback pedigree, receiver speed and the size of a small tight end. He could wind up at receiver, tight end, H-back or wildcat quarterback. "That gives him added value," Dye said. Former UAB kicker Jake Arians, the sideline reporter on Blazers football radiocasts, has been around the NFL most of his life. Dad Bruce is the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. "There's not a receiver in an NFL locker room who looks better than that," he said as Webb worked out "Value wise, there won't be a better pick." While Webb missed out on a combine invitation, he did have an impressive workout at the Senior Bowl in January. He benched pressed 225 pounds for 21 reps -- only one other receiver turned in 20 reps. And his hands were measured as the second largest at the game behind Alabama's Terrence Cody. Working out with former UAB quarterback Darrell Hackney Thursday, Webb showed good hands, but got chastised occasionally for his lack of experience running routes. That, of course, is something most NFL teams expect going in. Webb worked out with a number of teammates, but one NFL prospect was noticeable by his absence. Center Jake Seitz was held out of workouts because of a nagging chest muscle pull. - Doug Segrest, The Birmingham News
03/12/10 - Dominic Randolph, rSr/2010, Holy Cross, 6-2, 224 (DS#34 QB) Holy Cross quarterback Dominic Randolph experienced the anxiety of high expectations during yesterday's Boston College-NFL Pro Day 2010 at Harvard Stadium. Despite leading the NCAA Championship Subdivision in total offense (3,954 yards) in 2009, Randolph was not invited to the NFL combine in Indianapolis. Yesterday, Randolph and Duke's Zack Asack were the two quarterbacks that participated in passing drills for a cross section of NFL scouts. "I was anxious but ready to go. I've been looking at this on my calendar for awhile now because I have a lot to prove coming from a smaller school," said the 6-foot-3, 223-pound Randolph. "Obviously they are looking for quick feet and a quick release while also showing arm strength, and that's something I've been working on a lot. I feel like I was very successful today and hopefully I impressed the scouts." Randolph amassed amazing numbers in his 41 games at Holy Cross. He set every significant passing record and finished fourth all-time in FCS in passing yards (12,837) and fifth in touchdowns (113). Yesterday, Randolph looked crisp and self-assured while delivering over the middle and sending quick out passes to the running backs. He also showed his arm strength to the speed guys downfield. "Obviously the speed was a little different, but being a student of the game, once you learn how to play quarterback than you know how to play quarterback," said Randolph. "You learn to adjust to your receivers as they come to you so after a few reps it's not that bad." - Rich Thompson, Boston Herald
03/12/10 - Jameson Konz, rSr/2010, Kent State, 6-3, 227 (DS#5 FB) Kent State linebacker/fullback Jameson Konz put on an impressive display in his personal workout this morning at the school's lonely pro day. Because Kent's pro day conflicted with those of major schools with multiple prospects, such as Nebraska, Idaho, Oregon and Boston College, attendance at Kent was scarce. In fact, the Browns were the only NFL team to send a scout. What he saw was Konz put on an athletic display described as "freakish." Konz measured 6-3 and 234 pounds. He was timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.46 seconds. Asked to run a second one, he timed 4.38. Konz also posted a 46-inch vertical jump and a broad jump of 10 feet, 8-1/4 inches. Konz is considered a prospect to play tight end, H-back or fullback in the NFL. His numbers better the top figures posted by any tight end or fullback at the NFL Scouting Combine. When the results are circulated, Konz is expected to receive invitations to visit NFL teams for closer inspection. This is what happened to Kent State quarterback Julian Edelman last year, who eventually was drafted by New England in the seventh round and became a valuable receiver/special teamer as a rookie. - Tony Grossi, The Cleveland Plain Dealer
03/12/10 - Ndamukong Suh, rSr/2010, Nebraska, 6-4, 307 (DS#1 DT) On Thursday, while Softli, armed with stop watches, rosters and a clipboard full of notes, was busy gathering all the important data on the other Nebraska players' workouts, Devaney and Spagnuolo were working the room gathering every little clue they could gather on Suh. The GM and head coach arrived on campus shortly after 9 a.m., then went to every corner of the Tom Osborne football complex talking to anyone they could. Spagnuolo had a 35-minute one-on-one meeting with Suh. "In Indy, I was only able to spend 15 minutes with him and it wasn't enough time because there were a bunch of us in the room and he was going from one meeting to the next with other teams," said Spagnuolo. "Today, it was just me and him, and I was able to see more of the person." They talked to coaches, teammates, trainers, secretaries in the football office and anyone else who had even a remote connection to Suh. I did a little digging myself, cozying up to a film crew from NFL Network that has been working on a "Path to the Draft" series on the big fella for the past few weeks. They told me pretty much the same thing that I've been hearing from Nebraska coach Bo Pelini and other folks from the program; Suh is a serious, no-nonsense sort of guy who is extremely focused on the business of football. "That's exactly what we've found, too," said Devaney. "He's very focused. He wants to be great. He's not satisfied with just being drafted." - Bryan Burwell, The Post-Dispatch
03/12/10 - Mike McLaughlin, rSr/2010, Boston College, 6-0, 242 (DS#11 ILB) Growing up, McLaughlin showed he had a knack for long snapping, according to his father. It took some convincing to keep him interested in a job that doesn't have much glamour. "There's no real reward for it,'' the father said. "Everybody takes it for granted, but when something goes wrong, everybody in the world knows.'' McLaughlin eventually developed an appreciation for the position, and whenever he had the time, he would practice long snapping. In the East-West Shrine game, McLaughlin received a few chances to long snap. The live action was beneficial just before he arrived for the combine, he said. In interviews with NFL teams, the topic of long snapping comes up, and each time it does, McLaughlin said, he is thankful for the advice. "I don't think he ever believed me,'' his father said with a laugh. Once at the combine, McLaughlin said, he was pleased with his performance, but he was happy yesterday to get another chance to add to his résumé. "I was as tight as can be at the combine,'' McLaughlin said. "I was really nervous going in there. There's such great competition, just like [yesterday], there's a bunch of great football players. "I think [yesterday] you get a little bit calmer, it's a little bit more relaxed. You're in your comfort zone a little bit with your teammates. We had a good time and tried to show these guys what we can do.'' If McLaughlin had his choice, he would like to prove he can play linebacker in the NFL, but he is open to any position. With each step, his father has remained supportive, and yesterday he offered one last tip for his son: "Do the best you can and don't leave anything out there undone. Never have effort be the reason why they say you're not good enough.'' - Monique Walker, The Boston Globe
03/12/10 - Russell Okung, Sr/2010, Oklahoma State, 6-5, 307 (DS#1 OT) Speculation continued to swirl when the Lions took Okung to dinner at Shula's Steakhouse in Indianapolis during the first night of the NFL combine and Lions general manager Martin Mayhew was at Okung's pro day in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday. Mayhew also has talked about the possibility of drafting an offensive tackle and moving veteran left tackle Jeff Backus to guard, which throws more fuel on the speculation fire. "(Backus) has the ability to go inside and play guard. But we'll see how it all plays out," Mayhew said. "It's hard to say if we are going to ask him to do that at this point or if we're going to leave him at left tackle." But despite all that, don't count on the Lions taking Okung. Mayhew and the Lions are doing their due diligence by taking a close look at all the top prospects. The smart money, however, is still on them taking one of the dominant defensive linemen - Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh or Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy - at the top. It's still hard to see them taking Okung, even with the additions of Corey Williams and Kyle Vanden Bosch along the defensive front. Lions center Dominic Raiola also expects a defensive lineman to be selected. "I wouldn't speculate on drafting that guy Okung yet," he said. "If Suh is there, I don't think there's any doubt who they'll take." On the possibility of Backus moving next to him at left guard, Raiola said Backus could easily make the transition, but he's not sure that's in the cards, either. "He's excelled at tackle," Raiola said of Backus. "We've been through, I don't know, how many head coaches and offensive line coaches, two managements, and he's still getting paid. There must be something he's doing right. - Tim Twentyman, Detroit News
03/12/10 - Ndamukong Suh, rSr/2010, Nebraska, 6-4, 307 (DS#1 DT) TOP RATED NFL DRAFT SCOUT DEFENSIVE TACKLES: Ndamukong Suh: Nebraska, 6-4, 302, 1: Suh has the combination of size, skills and competitiveness to make an instant impact. He is tough enough to hold down the middle as a nose tackle yet has the agility and quickness to be a menace at defensive end if he winds up in a 3-4 system. He has great instincts and even dropped into pass coverage at times in college. After arriving at Nebraska as a celebrated Parade All-American high school star, it took Suh awhile to acclimate to college and get healthy enough to show his talent. It began to come together in 2008, when he led the team with 76 tackles (16 for a loss) and 7½ sacks. Last season, Suh was fourth in Heisman Trophy voting, won the Nagurski, Outland, Bednarik and Lombardi awards, and was All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year. - Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange, NFLDraftScout.com/CBS Sports/USA TODAY
03/12/10 - *Gerald McCoy, rJr/2010, Oklahoma, 6-4, 295 (DS#2 DT) TOP RATED NFL DRAFT SCOUT DEFENSIVE TACKLES: *Gerald McCoy: Oklahoma, 6-4, 298, 1: McCoy entered this draft as an underclassman after two years in which he totaled 26½ tackles for a loss and 12½ sacks. He is persistent, powerful and should be even more productive in the NFL than his college statistics indicate. In college, he demanded the attention of multiple blockers, allowing teammates to make tackles. McCoy is best when he anticipates the snap count, fires off the ball quickly and gets into the blocker with momentum rather than being the counter puncher attempting to gain control. He has excellent feet, a good spin move and closing speed that makes him a constant pest in pursuit. He was USA TODAY's high school defensive player of the year in 2005. - Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange, NFLDraftScout.com/CBS Sports/USA TODAY
03/12/10 - Dan Williams, rSr/2010, Tennessee, 6-2, 327 (DS#3 DT) TOP RATED NFL DRAFT SCOUT DEFENSIVE TACKLES: Dan Williams: Tennessee, 6-2, 329, 1-2: Williams was one of the biggest benefactors when Monte Kiffin was brought in to coach the defense in 2009. In one season, Williams went from a mid-round prospect to a potential first- or second-rounder after he led SEC defensive linemen with 61 tackles. This wide body is built for power and uses it effectively despite the fact he is learning how to stay low and use leverage. Williams has excellent straight-ahead quickness and backs that up with sheer power to keep blockers going backward. He has awareness and reaction that help overcome a lack of elite lateral agility. - Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange, NFLDraftScout.com/CBS Sports/USA TODAY
03/12/10 - *Brian Price, Jr/2010, UCLA, 6-1, 303 (DS#4 DT) TOP RATED NFL DRAFT SCOUT DEFENSIVE TACKLES: *Brian Price: UCLA, 6-2, 300, 1-2: He earned Pac-10 defensive player of the year honors in 2009 with 48 tackles (23½ for a loss) and seven sacks. Price is a short, squatty powerhouse who uses great explosion and quickness to get an edge, but his speed is average. His toughness reflects growing up in the South Central Los Angeles area and dealing with two of his brothers being killed. He is a work in progress and has size limitations, but there is little doubt he will give everything he has to make it in the NFL. - Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange, NFLDraftScout.com/CBS Sports/USA TODAY
03/12/10 - Jared Odrick, Sr/2010, Penn State, 6-5, 304 (DS#5 DT) TOP RATED NFL DRAFT SCOUT DEFENSIVE TACKLES: Jared Odrick: Penn State, 6-5, 301, 1-2: Odrick is a tenacious team leader who was named 2009 Big Ten defensive player and defensive lineman of the year. His strength is strength itself, which could serve him as a tackle in a four-man line or even at nose tackle in a 3-4. Over the past two seasons Odrick has steadily improved to the point that NFL teams believe he has the potential to be an outstanding pro. He has the quickness that demands immediate attention from blockers, and he can follow up with a persistent bull rush. He is not agile but used his big, strong hands to control college blockers and might need to learn more tricks to remain consistently successful in the NFL. - Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange, NFLDraftScout.com/CBS Sports/USA TODAY
03/12/10 - Terrence Cody, Sr/2010, Alabama, 6-4, 354 (DS#6 DT) TOP RATED NFL DRAFT SCOUT DEFENSIVE TACKLES: Terrence Cody: Alabama, 6-4, 354, 2: Many scouts believe Cody is literally the single biggest reason that Alabama had the best defense in the country last season. He trimmed down to 354 pounds for the combine but remains a mountain of a man who is almost impossible to move, even when he is double-teamed. With Cody at nose tackle, no running back rushed for 100 yards against the Crimson Tide. His two-year statistics are decent, with 52 total tackles, including 10½ for a loss, two blocked kicks and a sack. But he took on at least two blockers on virtually every play, freeing up teammates to clean up. His performance faded at the end of last season, and NFL scouts are concerned about his weight and stamina. His performance clearly declined throughout the week of Senior Bowl practices, but dropping 16 pounds in less than a month was a strong step in the right direction for him. - Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange, NFLDraftScout.com/CBS Sports/USA TODAY
03/12/10 - Lamarr Houston, Sr/2010, Texas, 6-3, 305 (DS#9 DT) TOP RATED NFL DRAFT SCOUT DEFENSIVE TACKLES: Lamarr Houston: Texas, 6-3, 302, 3: Houston brings with him an interesting athletic history going back to his days at Doherty High School in Colorado Springs, where he was a star running back (3,325 yards, 49 touchdowns) and a Parade All-America linebacker. He was also a three-year star in basketball as a power forward, ran the hurdles and threw the discus. Little wonder Texas took a while to figure out what to do with him. Originally a fullback prospect, he played in 50 career games, starting 20 at defensive tackle and 12 at defensive end. He totaled 136 tackles, 40 for a loss, 14 sacks and 65 pressures. - Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange, NFLDraftScout.com/CBS Sports/USA TODAY
03/12/10 - Cam Thomas, rSr/2010, North Carolina, 6-4, 330 (DS#8 DT) TOP RATED NFL DRAFT SCOUT DEFENSIVE TACKLES: Cam Thomas: North Carolina, 6-4, 331, 2-3: A massive man who can control the line of scrimmage, as he demonstrated in Senior Bowl practices, where he gave a significant boost to his draft stock. He was a three-year starter for the Tar Heels but somewhat overlooked among the great talent surrounding him that also led to limited playing time in the line rotation. Thomas finished last season with 23 tackles (2½ for a loss), three quarterback pressures and a blocked kick. He projects as a nose tackle in the pros. - Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange, NFLDraftScout.com/CBS Sports/USA TODAY
03/12/10 - Tyson Alualu, Sr/2010, California, 6-3, 295 (DS#7 DT) TOP RATED NFL DRAFT SCOUT DEFENSIVE TACKLES: Tyson Alualu: California, 6-2, 291, 2-3: Mature, high-intensity player who commands respect with his level of play and team attitude. He doesn't have elite strength or speed, but he has a combination of quickness, awareness and endless energy that wears down blockers. His style of reckless abandon earned him playing time beginning his freshman season, and he went on to win several team awards for his courage and attitude and was elected team captain in 2009. Played in 51 games with 39 starts, including a run of 38 consecutive starts. He made 188 tackles, 24½ for a loss, 17 sacks, four forced and four recovered fumbles, a blocked kick and an interception. - Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange, NFLDraftScout.com/CBS Sports/USA TODAY
03/12/10 - Torell Troup, Sr/2010, Central Florida, 6-3, 314 (DS#12 DT) TOP RATED NFL DRAFT SCOUT DEFENSIVE TACKLES: Torrell Troup: Central Florida, 6-3, 310, 3: Extremely hardworking, dedicated huge player whose focus on becoming a pro became apparent when he shed 30 pounds heading into his senior season and was rewarded with more stamina. His strength at the point of attack indicates he is a potential nose tackle candidate. A two-time All-Conference USA pick, he started 39 of his 47 career games and finished with 105 tackles, 24 for a loss. He changed his last name from Johnson to Troup for his last two seasons at UCF to honor the re-emergence of his father into his family's life. - Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange, NFLDraftScout.com/CBS Sports/USA TODAY
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