I am proud to present a first look at the blossoming talent in the college football landscape. Listed below are five players from the Big Ten Conference who I am especially interested in watching progress this year. Happy reading!
Mike Martin DT, Michigan (Jr): [6'2" /299 lbs]
Hulk-like strength (505 lb. bench press/ 700 lb. squat), top notch quickness ( 4.9 40-yard dash), combined with unparalleled conditioning make this nose tackle a disruptive force. Previously overshadowed by standout DE Brandon Graham, 2010 could be Martin’s year to shine.
Cameron Heyward DT, Ohio State (Sr): [6'5"/ 288 lbs]
Powerful bull rusher with prototypical size and length for NFL 3-4 defensive end. Good production (6.5 sacks/10 TFL) and a high motor last season. Lacks bulk to play interior d- line at the next level. Needs to learn more pass rush moves.
Adrian Clayborn DE, Iowa (Sr): [6'4"/ 285 lbs]
An especially productive ’09 campaign (11.5 sacks/20 TFL) placed this Iowa DE on every scouting watch list. Clayborn’s great size and power make him a punishing tackler and smothering run defender. Yet, he has proven to be an equally adept pass rusher and can really push the pocket and get after the quarterback. Most definitely, Clayborn will draw keen interest as a 5-technique DE.
Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State (Sr): [6'1"/240 lbs]
Whenever a linebacker tallies 154 tackles in a season, he must be doing something right. Greg Jones is a diminutive linebacker but has very good instincts and field sense. His ability to be in the right place at the right time makes him stand out from the pack. If he aspires to having a career in the NFL, it will be important for him to become more aggressive in taking on blockers in run defense.
Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin (Sr): [6'7"/327 lbs]
This Wisconsin native has 36 career starts, including 13 as a red-shirt freshman. In that time, this big red giant has shown flashes of dominance, but this season he needs to show better consistency, as well as an ability to handle speed on the edge.
Heyward is really good although there are some games were he doesn’t put up the stats that he puts up during other games. I hope him coming back for his 4th year doesn’t hurt his draft position.
In scouting defensive linemen, NFL talent scouts are not merely looking for sack production. They want to see consistency in a player’s ability to disrupt plays. That is a major reason why Gerald McCoy last year was so highly regarded. Heyware will have to prove that he has this kind of intensity throughout the course of the year to be seen as a first round draft choice.
Greg Jones is special, being picked two times as the pre-season defensive player of the year by the media.