Here’s a quick and early look at who could be going where come April’s NFL draft.

1)DET- QB Matthew Stafford- The Lions have holes everywhere to fill but QB remains a #1 priority. A safer pick could be an OT, which they also need badly.

2)STL-OT Andre Smith- I could also see the Rams taking stud WR Crabtree with this pick but their RT position is treacherous right now and Orlando Pace ain’t getting any younger.

3)KC- OLB/DE Brian Orakpo- I can’t see the Chiefs taking a QB here because Tyler Thigpen showed he can put up some numbers and is still young. Orakpo is a stud pass rusher with great speed. His combine will determine where he goes.

4)SEA-WR Michael Crabtree- If he slips to the Seahawks at #4, they wont think twice about grabbing him. Absolute playmaker in the mold of Andre Johnson and some guy named Larry Fitzgerald.

5)CLE-RB Beanie Wells- A lot of people see them taking a LB with this pick but I think Beanie’s skill is going to be shown during the combine and the Browns will nab him with this pick. He’s a beast and CLE needs RB’s badly as Jamal is getting old.

6)CIN- OT Michael Oher- The Bengals have a pressing need at OT as one of their starting OT’s is becoming a free-agent. The Bengals could also take LB stud Aaron Curry because as we all know, the Bengals defense is deplorable.

7)OAK-LB Aaron Curry- The Raiders have more pressing needs at different positions, mostly OT and WR, but I see them taking Curry if he falls this low because of his athletic ability and playmaking skills.

8)JAX-OT Jason Smith- The Jags would be very happy to get a talent like Smith or Oher at this pick. They need OT help badly as Garrard has no time at all find his shitty receivers. Maclin would be a good pick for them as well, but their WR drafting history is unflattering.

9)GB-CB Malcolm Jenkins- Outta Thee Ohio State Univeristy, Jenkins is going to be an NFL ready corner next year. That being said, and the fact that the Packer’s secondary needs some youth, well, you don’t need to be a rocket surgeon to figure it out.

10)SF-WR Jeremy Maclin- Like last year’s prediction that DeSean Jackson would be a great pick and a stud, I feel the same about this cat. Reggie Bush-type moves in the open field and just a straight up playmaker.

11)BUF-OLB/DE Everette Brown- The Bills pass rush was horrible last season. They are old, slow and QB’s have all day to pick apart their average secondary. Brown would be a good start to complement Posluszny on their D.

12)DEN- DT BJ Ragi- A little undersized at 6’1” but not in weight (330!). He’s a beast and all Bronco fans are aware of their horrible interior D-line.

13)WAS- LB Brian Cushings- Cushings is an absolute stud and many are comparing him to a young Brian Urlacher. Washington could use his playmaking ability and leadership for years to come.

14)NO-CB Vontae Davis- Davis was one of the highest rated college players entering the season. He didn’t do too much to drop his stock and many see him as a future shutdown corner.

15)HOU-DE/OLB Aaron Maybin- It would be nice if stud Mario Williams had someone other than himself to create a pass rush. If you lined Maybin on the other side, Williams wouldn’t get doubled and tripled and would become even more of a freak.

16)SD-RB Knowshon Moreno- My Chargers need another RB. As much as I hate to admit it, Tomlinson is washed up and as sick a playmaker Sproles is, he’s not an every-down back. Moreno is quick as lightning and I wouldn’t complain if they took him. If Beanie slipped, that would be even better.

17)NYJ-QB Mark Sanchez- I have Sanchez going a little lower then some think and he could very well go to SF at 10 or even KC at 3. The Jets would love this as they might need a QB with Favre (hopefully) retiring and (finally) staying retired.

18)CHI-WR Percy Harvin- This is a little high for Harvin but I love his playmaking skill and the Bears desperately need one of those. IF he runs a 4.3 40 at the combine, which he could, he could go this high.

19)TB-TE Brandon Pettigrew- This could be a great pick for the Bucs. Pettigrew might be the best TE to come into the pros in a few years and Tampa really needs a playmaker on the offense side of the ball.

20)DET from DAL- LB James Laurinaitis – This son of a former WWF “Legion Of Doom” Animal, this kid’s got game. He probably would have went higher last year if he left school. Either way this would be a good player for the Lions to build a D around.

21)PHI-DT SenDerick Marks- The Eagles could use someone to jam up the middle of the line when it comes to stopping the run. Marks is a big athletic man who can disrupt things in the trenches.

22)MIN-C Alex Mack- You usually don’t see C’s going this high but Mack is a Mack Truck so to speak and blocking for Adrian Peterson is always important. The Vikes C Matt Birk is an UFA so this makes sense.

23)NE- DE Michael Johnson- If Johnson has a stellar combine he could possibly move into the top 10. He only started one game but scouts love the former basketball star. He has great athleticism and speed and would help the aging Pats defense.

24)ATL-TE Travis Beckum- The Falcons could use a pass receiving TE for years to come with Matt Ryan. Beckum is a playmaker who could be an elite TE in the NFL in a short period of time.

25)MIA-LB Rey Maualuga- I think Parcells will look for a playmaker on the offense side of the ball since he already has one on the O side with my boy Teddy Ginn. Maualuga has a lot to learn but is a freak talent and an absolute beast on the field.

26)BAL-DE Maurice Evans- The Ravens could use another end on their 3-4 defense. Evans would help guys like Suggs create even more pressure on opposing QB’s. Evans is considered a very smart player which Ray Lewis would like coming in.

27)IND-FS Taylor Mays- Just thinking about him roaming around the field while Bob Sanders nails guys gives me goosebumps. I see Mays being a big playmaker for whatever team takes him.

28)PHI from CAR- DE George Selvie- This would help the Eagles pass rush and if they got him and Marks, that would be a great foundation for their D-line for years to come. Selvie isn’t too big but is a great athlete.

29)NYG-DT Fili Moala- An absolute beast in the trenches. This would give their great rush ends even more space on the outside.

30)ARI- RB LeSean McCoy- IF McCoy slips this far the Cardinals would be loving life. He’s an absolute stud who could be a great back immediately. As we saw this season and in the SuperBowl, the Cards need a RB like an old man needs Viagra.

31)PIT- OT Eugene Monroe- He stepped in at Ole Miss when D’Brickshaw left and he should step in and start right away for the defending champs.

This article has been submitted by Alex Snyder. Matt Douglas should have a follow-up Mock later today.

A lot of changes from my earlier mock up shows how the combine can change a lot of things. The one thing that is certain is the Dolphins are drafting OT Jake Long with the first pick. After that, the top-10 is anyone’s guess; here’s mine:

1) Dolphins – OT Jake Long , Michigan
As stated, the Dolphins will take J-Long at #1 and have already made him the highest paid O-lineman in NFL (5 yr, 57.75M). Huge investment from the Fish, but I think it’s a good one. He was the safest pick among the top-5 besides maybe Dorsey, but he’s going to be a really solid T for a long time and there aint nothing wrong with that. Parcells loves to run off the right tackle and Long will likely be their RT. This team will again struggle massively, however, if they don’t get a QB.

2) Rams – DE Chris Long, Virginia
It’s going to be a D-lineman, I presume, with the Rams lack of a pass rush. It’s between him and Gholston and I think they take the safer guy. Long, like the other Long, will be a really good player for a long time. Dorsey is also major possibility here too. The Rams need a lot of help in a lot of areas and pressuring the QB is priority #1.

3) Falcons – QB Matt Ryan, Boston College
This is definitely a situation where owner Arthur Blank is the telling the GM to draft the best QB, no ifs, ands, or buts. They want to get past the Vick situation as soon as possible and Ryan is going to be their man. I am not a huge fan of Ryan and I can never see him being a pro-bowl QB but the Falcons will take him here because God knows Redman just isn’t going to get it done.

4) Raiders – DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU
I had this guy going #1 in my earlier mock. For some reason his stock has seemed to slip a tiny bit since then and I don’t really understand why. The Raiders are going to make the right move for once in the draft and take Dorsey. Expect big things from this stud tackle right away.

5) Chiefs – OT Ryan Clady, Boise State
The Chiefs would love to trade this pick and move down a few spots because Clady would probably still be around. This is another situation where I think the need will outweigh the skill of the player. The Chiefs need an O-lineman very badly so they take the best one still available. The biggest fan of this will be Larry Johnson, who will try to bounce back from a sub-par year.

6) Jets – RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas
I am very unsure of this guy. I love his combination of size and speed but he can’t break a tackle and he may not be big enough to withstand being a #1 back in the NFL. Still, the Jets could use a gamebreaking back so I think they select McFadden here.

7) Patriots (49ers) – DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio State
The Pats, as good as they are the offensive side of the ball, have major issues to address with pretty much their whole defense. Gholston should bring a pass rush that was non-existent in the playoffs. Richard Seymour had 0 sacks and 0 hurries in the playoffs…wowsers. The Pats will need to get a CB or two as well but I don’t see Belichick taking a CB with a top-10 pick, he’ll get one in the second and/or third round.

Ravens – CB Leodis McKelvin- South Florida
The Ravens would love for Ryan to slip to them with this pick and that could very well happen. With the best QB gone, the Ravens will take the best corner available because Rolle isn’t getting any younger and a future shutdown corner is never a bad way to go. A big surprise here that I think could happen is the Ravens taking QB Brian Brohm, who most have slipping to late in the round.

9) Bengals – DT Sedrick Ellis DT, USC
The Bengals want this guy as bad as a crackhead wants some crack. They have had lots of talks with the Pats about getting their pick to ensure they can take this freak of nature. The Bengals have a lot of issues themselves going into next season and their run defense is at the top of that list.

10) Saints – CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State
The Saints are going to try to move up a bit in the draft and try to get either Dorsey or Ellis. If that falls through, I see them taking the next best corner still on the board. Cromartie is cousins with Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie and his tutor is Neon Deion Sanders, my boy. This guy has amazing potential and will be a surprise at the time, but a good pick for the future.

This article has been submitted by Alex Snyder. Matt Douglas should have a follow-up Mock later today.

This article has been submitted by Alex Snyder, who I dunk on constantly.

Here are the five most underrated NBA players, according to me, the most reliable source you know.

1) Jose Calderon – Those who follow the Raptors, like myself, know just how good this guy is. The U.S. public? Not so much. He should have been an all-star this year for sure. There was a part of the season when Ford was out that Calderon was playing like a top-5 PG in the game. He’s cooled off a bit but that’s mostly because of TJ getting more minutes. I pray that the Raps sign him to a nice little extension in the off-season because right now they’re one rebounding, defensive big man away from being a legitimate championship threat with that core.

2) David West – This guy might actually be #1. He’s a big part of his team’s great success this year with his 20-and-9 average. No one in their right mind would have taken the Hornets to finish in the top half of the Western Conference at the start of the season. Chris Paul has just a tiny bit to do with it too, as he’s blossomed into, in my opinion, the best PG on the planet.

3) Rudy Gay – This one is for Rudy’s #1 man-fan and admirer, Dave Power. Rudy is one amazing young talent and gets better it seems every game. Now would I say he’s one of the top-3 athletes in the NBA? No, but he’s definitely top-10. One thing I would like to see Rudy improve on is his blocks, as he’s only averaging 0.9 a game and with his long arms and hops he should be getting at least 1.5 a game.

4) Brad Miller – This white-boy has been very underrated his whole career. He’s not your typical center with an arsenal of post moves, but he has a very good jump shot and is very good at distributing the ball. For a big man, he sure shoots it well from the line, as well, at an 85% clip.

5) Mike Dunleavy – I don’t like this guy, but he is a very underrated player who’s starting a reach to stardom. He’s had a great year for a very bad team. He takes a boat load of deep jumpers and threes but still shoots at a 48% clip. On a side note, is there a bigger whiner than Jermaine O’Neal? All that guy does is cry about everything and he spends more time on the DL than Eric Gagne.

Note: I’d have Hedo Turkoglu on the list but I think this has been a breakout season for him.

This article has been submitted by Alex Snyder, who I dunk on constantly.

With the Toronto Blue Jays opening spring training today (1 PM vs. Detroit), we thought it would be a good time to start our spring training coverage here at The ODC. Today you get a double dose of Blue Jay preview, starting with this piece, submitted by A-Rod Snyder.

This is going to be the year that defines Blue Jays’ GM J.P. Ricciardi. He’s signed through 2010 but Jays fans are sick of missing out on the playoffs year after year. The Jays made a few nice additions this offseason with Scott Rolen, David Eckstein and even Shannon Stewart to a lesser degree. They gave up Troy Glaus in the Rolen deal, which is great news for Jays fans like myself. As big a Jays fan as I am, I’m also a realist. The last three years or so, when fellow Jays enthusiasts were telling me that it was the Jays’ year, I would tell them the reality of being in the AL East is that aint gonna happen, unless EVERYTHING goes right for them. This year I think we’re in the same boat. This year they do have their best team, in my opinion, in the last few years but still need everything to go right. By go right I mean Halladay to stay healthy all year and be in typical Cy Young form. They need AJ Burnett to finally go a FULL season healthy and pitch to his potential. The Jays need Marcum to pitch like he did last year as well as Dustin McGowan. They also need Rolen to stay healthy and produce all year, and staying healthy isn’t his cup of tea. Lastly, the Jays need Vernon to hit like Vernon again and their bullpen to pitch as well as it did last year. If ALL of these things happen this year and Boston’s starting pitchers get hurt, they have a good shot at winning the AL East. Here’s a quick overview of the Jays situation heading into the season at each position.

Rotation
The Jays are going to be led by their ace Roy Halladay. Halladay led the majors last year in complete games (7) and was pretty healthy all year, only missing three weeks. Burnett should be poised for a big year and let’s just hope he can stay healthy. One thing I hope he worked on in the off-season is holding baserunners, as he had more stolen bases on him last year than anyone else in the AL (31). Dustin McGowan started to show his potential last year. A big prospect for years now, McGowan is finally showing Jay fans what he’s all about. Injuries are also a concern for him and if he can pitch like he has the potential to, he will be a really good #3. Closing out the rotation should be Shaun Marcum and Casey Janssen. If these two can pitch .500 ball, the Jays will be in great shape.

Bullpen
The bullpen was one of the strengths of the Jays in ’07 and should get even better this year. The Jays need BJ Ryan to be healthy and dominate like he did when he first got to TO. He had Tommy John surgery last year but should be ready to close out games come April. The rest of the bullpen is very solid with set-up man RH Jeremy Accardo followed by LH Scott Downs, RH Jason Frasor, LH Brian Tallet and RH Brian Wolfe. If guys like Downs and Accardo pitch like they did last year, the bullpen will be a major strength for the Jays.

Middle Infield
The Jays middle infield has had one gaping hole the last few seasons and that was at shortstop. It’s kind of an important position to be lacking if you want to be a playoff team. John McDonald played great defense for the Jays at shortstop last year but hit like Alfredo Griffin, not good. David Eckstein was brought in this off-season to take over the starting job at short. I love this deal for the Jays as Eckstein is an underrated little spark plug who plays solid D and will likely be their lead off man. This gives the Jays a great back-up in McDonald as well. Second base wasn’t a problem last year and won’t be again this year. Aaron Hill had a really solid year in 2007 and I expect even bigger things from him this year. A potential future gold glover, Hill can also mash the ball into gaps. I predict a .290, 17 HR, 86 RBI year from Hill.

Corners
This is possibly the biggest question for the Jays. Is Rolen going to stay healthy? I like the deal they made to get him because I’m a huge Troy Glaus hater and think Rolen will at least bring much better range defensively. The Jays need Rolen to start hitting again like he did four years ago when he was an MVP candidate with the Cardinals. At first, the Jays are looking for Lyle Overbay to bounce back from an injury plagued ’07. He hit only .240 last year with just 49 runs driven in, and that needs to increase dramatically.

Outfield
There’s plenty of talent in the Jays outfield. Alex Rios is developing into a superstar right before our eyes. Without a long term deal, he may not be a Jay too far into the future. That being said, the Jays have him for now and he’s going to have a monster year (.300,30,100). In center, its already been discussed that Vernon needs to pick it up big time. There’s not as much pressure as last year on him so we should see a better Vernon this year. In left there’s a logjam of players vying for one spot. I think to start the year they will have Reed Johnson starting most games in left. Johnson would be a really good #9 hitter in the lineup and plays solid D. Johnson will be splitting a lot of time however with Adam Lind, Matt Stairs and Shannon Stewart. Outfield shouldn’t be a concern for the Jays this year.

Catching
If you want to look for a weakness, look no further. The Jays have two back-up caliber catchers competing for the starting job. JP brought in Rob Barajas this offseason. I like this move and feel Barajas is a very good BACK-UP. Then we have starter Gregg Zaun. Anyone else hear his B-S story about how he gave a blank check to a friend thinking it was for something else, but didn’t know it was buying HGH? The guy lies more threw his teeth more than Clemens. To know Zaun was taking HGH the last few years makes you think, how bad would this guy be clean? My guess: not even good enough for the Ice Park Slo Pitch recreational league.

Designated Hitter
Last year Frank Thomas had a good second half to finish up with a solid little season. This year the main DH will again be Thomas, barring injury. Stairs will also get some starts at DH, as will Adam Lind. The Jays have plenty of good bats to fill this role successfully.

The Farm System
The Jays used their first round pick and 16th overall pick on Kevin Ahrens. Ahrens is from Houston and was still in high school. He played short in high school but the Jays envision him as being their third baseman of the future. Some scouts have compared him to Chipper Jones, not too shabby. The top prospect in the Jays whole organization is twenty year old RF Travis Snider. He was the Jays first pick in ’06 and led the Midwest League in RBI with 93 at such a young age. He continued to flat out hit in the Arizona fall league. A lot of long-term depth in the farm system but outside of Lind and whoever loses the #5 starter’s job, not much help for 2008.

AL East Predictions
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Baltimore Orioles

With the Toronto Blue Jays opening spring training today (1 PM vs. Detroit), we thought it would be a good time to start our spring training coverage here at The ODC. Today you get a double dose of Blue Jay preview, starting with this piece, submitted by A-Rod Snyder.

This article has been submitted by Alex “don’t call me Al” Snyder.

The question on everyone’s mind with the trade deadline is approaching is, are there going to be any blockbuster trades come February 26th? Usually it seems we never see a superstar ever getting traded, only role players. This year, however, should be different. There are going to be a few big names getting dealt. Some teams are looking for that little (or big) piece to put them over the top and make them a legitimate contender. Some teams are looking to deal players they know they can’t re-sign and some are just trying to rebuild. Here are some pretty high profile players who have been discussed in a possible trade and their teams’ concerns.

Marian Hossa, RW, Atlanta Thrashers
Hossa in all likelyhood will be traded by the 26th. They say Hossa’s agent and Thrasher management have been talking about a long term extention after this year (he becomes an UFA), but I think that’s media fluff and they’re just trying to get his stock higher. Hossa doesn’t want to play in Atlanta and the Thrashers know they can’t give him the type of money he wants because they’re going to have to invest so much in Kovalchuk and Lehtonen in the next few years. So the question now becomes, where will he go? I don’t really have the answer for that, so we’ll wait and see. There’s obviously a few teams interested.

Mats Sundin, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
Will the Leafs do it? Will they make a deal that betters the franchise for the future? Probably not. They will probably follow in traditional fashion and pick up some 40 year old who was an all-star ten years ago. I hear Trevor Linden is available Cliffy! But seriously, if Sundin cares about the Leafs like he claims to, he will tell them to trade him because he can re-sign with the blue and white in the offseason. It makes sense: some team will overpay and give a quality young player and one, maybe two first rounders. The Leafs should also trade Darcy Tucker. That grinder will help some playoff team and he’s vastly overpaid, so getting him off the books will help the team long-term. I also hear that they may trade Tomas Kaberle. I don’t think so on that one. Leaf nation thinks Kaberle is the best defenseman since Bobby Orr. He is easily the most overrated defenseman in Southern Ontario history. This occured, however, because the Leafs nation hasn’t seen a true top tier defenseman since…..I can’t think of any, you tell me. Considering the Leafs need help in so many areas, the rebuilding needs to start now.

Rob Blake, D, Los Angeles Kings
He’s an unrestricted free-agent at the end of the year and is on a last place team. His chances of getting traded are as high as Snoop Dogg. The Kings have a good young foundation of players and need to get some good role players in return. They need some guys who can help mold their young players, yet not come with a steep price. The Kings desperately need goaltending as LaBarbera and Cloutier are as useless as a woman with no tits. There have been rumours about the Kings trying to aquire Ray Emery, which would make a lot of sense, except Emery would probably go all Jeremy Roenick Hollywood and be more interested in the LA life than playing (Compton?). Whatever they do, they need a goalie cause they aren’t going to accomplish much without one and Jonathan Bernier isn’t going to be NHL ready for two years still.

Olli Jokinen, C, Florida Panthers
Every year they say Jokinen is going to get traded and he never does, but here we go again. He’s not happy about the management in Florida and wants to play with a winner. Can you blame the guy? He’s been probably the only consistent player in that organization the last five years, excluding Luongo. Is Jay Boumeester ever going to be a great NHL defenseman? I know he’s good and all but I, like many others, thought he’d be the next Chris Pronger watching him as a 16 year old in the World Juniors. He’s still young and has amazing potential but every time I see him he looks like a deer caught in headlights out there and I’m losing faith that he’ll ever be great. Nathan Horton has also been a big time disappointment so far, even forgiving the injury problems.

Brian Campbell, D, Buffalo Sabres
Campbell has been trying to get a deal done with the Sabre brass now for months but neither side wants to budge. The Sabres don’t want to give him the kind of money he wants and I don’t blame them. Is he good? Sure. Is he top 10-15 defenseman in the league good? Hell no, and that’s what kind of money he wants. The Sabres are going to shop him around since he’s an UFA this off-season and see what they can get. The Sabres have been playing better hockey of late and my boy Thomas Vanek is finally playing the way I thought he would all season. Ryan Miller has been playing very well of late too so don’t be surprised if they make a splash in the playoffs this year.

Vaclav Prospal, LW, and Dan Boyle, D, Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning are still kicking themselves in the nuts for that Brad Richards deal. He’s getting like what, 7 million a year??? Wow, can you say overpaid? With so much money tied into the big three ( Richards, St. Louis and Lecavalier), they are looking to dump some other guys who will command big cash. Prospal is a UFA after the year and should get at least a couple 2nd rounders in return. Boyle’s a really solid D-man and will draw a lot of interest from many teams, especially those needing power play help. The Lightning are a team that isn’t going to be good for a while because nobody is going to take Richards’ contract on and that will cripple them in the near future. They also have goaltending that plays as good as Rita McNeil looks naked.

And as an added bonus, here’s a quick look at how I feel the Final Standings will finish as of now and what will happen in the playoffs (keep in mind a lot will change from now to when the playoffs start):

This article has been submitted by Alex “don’t call me Al” Snyder.

This article has been submitted by Lazy Al Snyder.

Who are the best Blue Jays of all time? Using the requirement that only players who played for three years or more can be included, I developed the following list. The Jays don’t have the richest history, but they can put out a pretty impressive team. Who would manage? Well, I think that’s an obvious CITO, and here’s his squad:

The Lineup
C – Ernie Whitt – was never great, but was good for many years
1B – Carlos Delgado – the deepest Jays position, but Carlos is on top
2B – Roberto Alomar – the best player to play in Toronto, bar none
SS – Tony Fernandez – amazing defensively, plus a pretty solid stick at the plate
3B – Kelly Gruber – I never really liked the guy, but he was their top player for half a decade
OF – Joe Carter – well, we all know about Joe
OF – Jesse Barfield – an absolute cannon arm in RF, he had a stellar bat to go with it
OF – George Bell – was their best hitter for many years and the only MVP in team history
DH – Fred McGriff – I used to love this cat, he hit the first home run in SkyDome history
Honorable Mention: Devon White, John Olderud, Vernon Wells, Lloyd Moseby

The Pitchers
SP – Dave Steib – the best pitcher in the team’s history, he is the leader in most stat categories
SP – Jimmy Key – my favorite pitcher back in the day, he has the best ERA all-time for the Jays
SP – Roy Halladay – most wins in a season ever for a Jay, and probably the best long stretch with the team
RP – Tom Henke – The Terminator was lights out for years
Honorable Mention: Duane Ward

Not a bad squad, and I didn’t develop a bench, but you get the idea – the Jays history is rich with good players, though nothing spectacular.

This article has been submitted by Lazy Al Snyder.

This article has been submitted my animal enthusiast Alex Snyder.

Looking forward to next college season, here’s a list of ten guys who will be household names come this time next year (if you’re a college football fan, of course). I also wanted to point out that, while not a freshman, my boy Noel Devine will be doing HUGE things running the ball for the WVU Mountaineers.

1) Terrelle Pryor, 6’6”, 235lbs, QB, Undecided
Whatever school Pryor chooses to attend (this is being posted right before signing day commences), there’s going to be a party on campus that night. Problem is, nobody knows when they’ll find out.

“I’m 100 percent sure I’m not signing,” Pryor said, according to the newspaper. “It’s a tough decision and I’m still trying to decide between Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.” (ESPN.com)

Pryor is not only the top football prospect in the country, but also one of the top basketball prospects. Pryor has all the tools to be the next great dual threat QB at the highest level. This cat threw AND ran for over 4,000 yards in his high school career. He draws a lot of comparison to Vince Young, but is more polished at his age than Young was and also Pryor possesses a stronger, more accurate arm. He’s also got wheels for his size as he runs a 4.40 forty. Pryor was named MVP of the ARMY prospect game, which puts the best high school players from around the country in a game against each other. Pryor has narrowed his choices down to Penn State, Florida and the two leading the pack, Ohio State and Michigan.

2) Julio Jones, 6’4”, 216lbs, WR, Undecided
Jones is a rare talent when it comes to receivers. He has the mold of a young Randy Moss. He combines great size with toughness and has a silky pair of hands. His forty time isn’t great (4.50) but he’s one of those guys with deceptive speed, because of his length. I can see Jones becoming a star sooner than later if put in a pass-friendly offense. He has narrowed his choices down to Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. None seem to be front runners at this point.

3) DaQuan Bowers, 6’4”, 267lbs, DE, Clemson
Bowers is an absolute beast. He’s had more than 30 tackles for losses the past two seasons. He explodes off the line of scrimmage and has great strength. For a man his size, he has great athleticism and runs a 4.7 forty, which ain’t too shabby. He just needs to learn some new techniques at the next level and he should be great DT or DE in Clemson for a few years.

4) Darrell Scott, 6’2”, 215lbs, RB, Undecided
Scott is the most complete runningback in the country. He has broken a few of California’s all time rushing stats. He has great cutback ability and can stop on a dime. He has the power to run inside the tackles and the speed (4.32) to get to the outside when needed. The only thing Scott should be working on is his catching as that’s the only blemish on his repitoire. He has narrowed his choices down to UCLA and front runners Texas and Colorado. The Big 12 looks like it’s going to have another great RB in 2008.

5) Will Hill, 6’3”, 203lbs, ATH, Florida
Will “the Thrill” Hill is a freak of athleticism. He can be an impact player at six or seven positions. He’s a monster on kick returns with great moves and very good speed (4.4). It looks like Hill is going play his collegiate ball as a safety right now. Scouts love his anticipation of plays and how he hits like a Mack truck. Hill could also line up as a corner when you want to bump and run the receiver as he’s very physical and loves contact on the line of scrimmage.

6) Patrick Johnson, 6’1”, 197lbs, CB, LSU
The Tigers already stacked defence will get even better. Johnson , the top DB prospect, has an all around game. He has good speed (4.5), an amazing burst and great closing speed. Johnson has great size for a corner and his make-up speed rivals anybody’s. Count on Johnson getting some reps his first year on that potent LSU defense.

7) Arthur Brown Jr., 6’1”, 225lbs, LB, Miami U
I got a feeling my boys down in Miami are starting to get back to the glory days of McGahee and Sean Taylor, etc. Brown is the best linebacker in America. He doesn’t have great size but is very quick (4.5), runs sideline to sideline like you wouldn’t believe and just has that instinct all great linebackers have. His best attribute may be his tackling, as when he hits someone, they go flying. Barring injuries, expect him in the NFL after his junior season.

AJ Green, 6’4”, 190lbs, WR, Georgia
Green could possibly be better than Julio Jones. He doesn’t have the same speed (4.6), but no one in the country is better in a jump ball situation. He can jump out of a gym and makes it look easy always coming down with the ball. He has outstanding body control and hands. One thing he must work on is bulking up, seeing as how he doesn’t weigh much for his height. This is the best player the Bulldogs signed this year and that’s saying something because Georgia will likely finish with the best recruiting class of anyone.

9) Mike Adams, 6’7.5”, 301lbs, OT, Ohio State
Adams is staying in his home state and playing for the Buckeyes. Experts say he’s the best O-lineman to come out of Ohio for years. His size is great, he has great footwork and he is known for his punishing pass blocking skills. Adams signing with the Buckeyes will only make the offer sweeter for Terrelle Pryor.

10) Tyron Smith, 6’5”, 267lbs, OT, USC
Smith played on a pass-friendly high school team and whoever he was lined up against didn’t notice during the game. He is an unmovable force when protecting the QB and possesses awesome technique and body control. He needs to put some bulk on to get bigger than he is right now, but a few years of hitting the gym and this guy has All-American potential.

For more information on college recruits, given that today is Signing Day and all, check out ESPN’s Coverage.

This article has been submitted my animal enthusiast Alex Snyder.

Note: To try and quench your football thirst on SuperBowl Sunday, I thought The ODC could take a different route and, while everyone else focuses on the SuperBowl, we focus on providing a little hope and something of interest to fans outside of New York and New England. Plus, everyone loves Mock Drafts, and no sports topic is better for debate. So today, we bring you two NFL mock-ups. This one is from Alex Snyder, who is celebrating his birthday today. Happy birthday Al!

Hey, with the Super Bowl today, what better time then to look forward to next year? Here’s my early look at who I think will go where come draft time. This first mock will be done on the assumption of their being no trades. Personally, I would trade my pick if I were the Dolphins because they need help at so many positions. Anyways here ya go, my ODC debut……..

1) Miami Dolphins
Pick: Glenn Dorsey, DT-LSU
Why: Everyone knows that the Dolphins need major help at multiple positions. They should trade down this pick to upgrade at multiple positions but since there’s no consensus #1 pick, the Dolphins probably wouldn’t get enough in return to make a trade worthwhile. Although USC DT Sedrick Ellis looked great in the Senior bowl and the Dophin’s desperately need a QB, the Dolphins likely will go with this athletic freak that will cause havoc in the trenches for years to come. Dorsey, with his size, speed, and strength, is an interior lineman a team can build its defense around.

2) St. Louis Rams
Pick: Chris Long, DE-Virginia
Why: The Rams fans will fall in love with this kid right away. The son of hall of famer Howie Long, Chris has a motor that doesn’t quit and the work ethic that can take him a long way. He showed his great pass rushing ability with 14 sacks last season while playing in a 3-4 defense. With the Rams having one of the worst defensive teams in the league last year there’s no doubt they are looking for a franchise guy on that side of the ball.

3) Atlanta Falcons
Pick: Matt Ryan, QB-Boston College
Why: First, I feel the Falcons have no choice but to take a QB with this pick even though Ryan might not have Peyton Manning type potential. I like Ryan because of his NFL ready arm, good leadership and very good accuracy. The Falcons are ready to move on from the Mike Vick fiasco and anoint a new leader and face for the franchise. Trading down a couple picks would be a good option in my opinion as a guy like Brian Brohm could be snatched at #6 and may have more potential than Ryan.

4) Oakland Raiders
Pick: Sedrick Ellis, DT-USC
Why: Ellis was mentioned earlier as an absolute freak at the Senior Bowl. He was said to be a man among boys according to NFL personnel. He brings great athletic ability and strength for an undersized DT(6’1). Some feel Darren McFadden is another possibility in this spot and they’re right, but Justin Fargas came on strong in the last half of the year and even though he has nowhere close to the potential of McFadden, the Raiders have to figure out a lot more things on offense(they’re QB situation and OL) to worry about before taking a franchise RB.

5) Kansas City Chiefs
Pick: Jake Long, OT-Michigan
Why: This pick should be a lock. Long seems to be the best OT in the draft and KC is in dire need of some offensive help since the retirement of Pro Bowlers Willie Roaf and Will Shields. The happiest person in the organization after this pick will be Larry Johnson, who is hoping next year he’s not getting tackled as soon as he’s getting the hand off.

6)New York Jets
Pick: Darren McFadden, RB-Arkansas
Why: If McFadden isn’t scooped up by the Raiders, or even earlier, this would be a dream for the Jets. The Jets haven’t had a “franchise back” since the Curtis Martin era. With D’Brickshaw Ferguson starting to bloom, the Jets need a homerun threat in the backfield that could strike fear in opposing defenses. Another reason why this would make sense is because there’s no way the Jets want McFadden to drop down to the already stacked division-rival Patriots.

7) New England Patriots (From SF)
Pick: Vernon Gholston, DE-Ohio State
Why: The rich getting richer. The Pats, who will go perfect and win their fourth Super Bowl in seven years today, will get a top 10 pick. Doesn’t seem fair, does it? As good as the Pats are, they are getting very old on the defensive side of the ball. A linebacker here is another very good possibility but I feel the Pats will take this pass rushing stud who will learn from Richard Seymour and, like Vince Wilfork did a few years back, make an impact immediately.

Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Brian Brohm, QB-Louisville
Why: Simply put, the Ravens offense is horrible. This is mostly because they don’t have a quarterback who has the arm strength to throw 25 yards downfield and we all know it’s kind of hard to move the ball when eight guys are always in the box. Ray Lewis just stated the team “needs” a new face on offense and the time is now. Brohm has hurt his stock a bit recently, not playing in the Senior Bowl, but he’s a big, strong, athletic QB who has the potential to be a Pro Bowler in five or so years.

9) Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: Keith Rivers, OLB-USC
Why: The Bengals defense last year was one of the worst I have ever seen…ever. They seem to have nobody’s everywhere on the defensive side of the ball besides Justin Smith, who, correct me if I’m wrong, is a UFA this off-season. They could end up taking an end here or possibly S Kenny Phillips but right now I’ll go with Rivers, who has the speed of a running back and hits like truck.

10) New Orleans Saints
Pick: Michael Jenkins, CB-South Florida
Why: The Saints defence is as good as the Toronto Maple Leafs, which means they are in a world of hurt. They especially need help in a secondary that is full of a bunch of scrubs. Jenkins is a speedy corner who will try to shut down WR’s for years to come in New Orleans. S Kenny Phillips is a stong candidate to get picked here too, if still on the board.

11) Buffalo Bills
Pick: Limas Tweed, WR-Texas
Why: The Bills need some help on that offense badly. Lee Evans is the only receiving threat they have and he’s more of a down field threat then a true #1. Tweed will compliment Evans as he’s more of a Keyshawn Johnson-type receiver who is big, has great hands, and is a red zone threat for jump balls. LB is another possibility with the Bills, but with Posluszny coming back next year, the D won’t be as big a concern as putting points on the board.

12) Denver Broncos
Pick: Ryan Clady, OT-Boise State
Why: Denver still has a pretty good defense, it’s their offense that cost them last year. Their O-line is very bad and that’s the main reason Cutler didn’t have as good a year as expected and no running back thrived in their once-golden run game. Clady is the obvious pick here: a big strong ox with franchise tackle potential would seem to make this pick a pretty good idea.

13) Carolina Panthers
Pick: Jeff Otah, OT-Pitt
Why: The Panthers pretty much HAVE to pick a OT with this pick. They are losing both their starting OT`s through free agency and need someone to step in and start right away. A dream for them would be to have Clady fall into their arms with this pick, but since I predict he`ll be gone by pick 13, Carolina will settle for this BIG, strong , athletic tackle.

14) Chicago Bears
Pick: Andre Woodson, QB-Kentucky
Why: The Bears have a few major areas to address, most notably QB , OL and KR (jokes). Sexy Rexy just isn’t get the job done in Chicago and I think there`s no way the fans of the Bears want him back as their future guy. Woodson possesses great size and arm strength and although raw, has probably the most potential of the top 3 QB`s. The Bears, barring trading for a QB before the draft, will put the future in the hands of this young man. Good idea? I say no.

15)Detroit Lions
Pick: Any WR(just kidding) Kenny Phillips, S-Miami
Why: The Lions need help in their secondary, no question about that. That’s why they could end up taking a corner with this pick but instead I think they just won’t be able to pass up on this ballhawk. Phillips is an absolute ballhawk from Da U. He would actually be a good first round pick by the Lions who have made a few bad ones in recent memory (other than Roy Williams and possibly Calvin Johnson).

16)Arizona Cardinals
Pick: Jonathon Stewart, RB-Oregon
Why: The Cardinals definitely need help on the defensive side of the ball more than the offensive, but that being said, they wont be able to pass on this talent. Stewart is an explosive back who is ready to make an impact on his arrival. Also with Edgerrin getting old and not able to carry the load anymore, they need someone who will be taking his place in a couple of years and opening up more space for their awesome receiving duo.

17) Minnesota Vikings
Pick: Derrick Harvey, DE-Florida
Why: In my opinion the Vikings have a very good nucleus and are a team on the rise. However, two things they need more than anything which may be the two most important things in football—a QB and pass rush. Unless they trade up, the Vikings would be foolish to take a QB here unless one of the big three fall in their lap. Therefore, the Vikes take Harvey who should help the pass rush that was deplorable last season.

18)Houston Texans
Pick: Rashard Mendenhall, RB-Illinois
Why: The Texans would love Stewart to drop to them but will settle for Mendenhall. It’s no secret the Texans need a RB very badly, with guys like Ron Dayne (my boy) running the ball, they don’t have a chance for a dual-threat offence. The Texans are another team I feel is really on the rise and with a running game, they could be next year’s version of the Bucs.

19) Philadelphia Eagles
Pick: DeSean Jackson, WR-Cal
Why: This is going to be a steal at this pick. Think Ted Ginn with more moves and football instinct. Jackson is going to be a home run threat every time he touches the ball. He has Reggie Bush type moves in the open field and is an explosive kick returner. If Jackson falls this low to Philly, they will be very happy, as will McNabb…if he’s back, of course.

20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick: Leodis McKelvin, CB-Troy
Why: The Bucs corners are getting old. How many more years will Ronde be at the level he’s at? I could see them taking an OL or DL with this pick but I just can’t see them passing up on this extremely fast corner with great potential. Players like DeMarcus Ware and Osi Umenoyira have giving Troy a rep of producing some top defensive players.

21)Washington Redskins
Pick: Quentin Groves, DE-Auburn
Why: The Skins have been looking for a good pass rushing end for a while now. Lined up with Andre Carter, this duo could put some serious pressure on some teams. Groves would have went much higher if he hadn’t played all year with a toe injury. A WR is a possibility here as well, but I think they would take the solid end over someone like Mario Manningham.

22)Dallas Cowboys
Pick: Aqib Talib, CB-Kansas
Why: The Cowboys are set to lose Jauques Reeves to FA and there’s rumours the ‘Boys are moving Anthony Henry to safety, so that opens the door for them to take a corner. Talib may have the most potential of any corner in the draft as he is lightning quick with shutdown capabilities.

23)Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick: Gosder Cherilus, OL-Boston College
Why: The Steelers just aren’t the same when they can’t just run the ball down opposing teams’ throats. They couldn’t do that much this year because of a weaker O-Line. Cherilus should be able to set right in and start. He brings great strength along with very good field awareness.

24) Tennessee Titans
Pick: Malcom Kelly, WR-Oklahoma
Why: They need a receiving threat very badly. If Tweed and Jackson are gone, this seems to be the logical pick. I’m a big fan of Kelly, who seems like everything he does is easy for him. He’s just a natural receiver who is tall, lanky, and has great hands and speed. He could be a guy like Sidney Rice from last year, who was taken later in the draft but has potential to be a future pro bowler.

25)Seattle Seahawks
Pick: Fred Davis, TE-USC
Why: The Seahawks would love a RB here as Shaun Alexander has proven the last two years he is washed up and simply no good. With the top three backs already taken, I see the Seahawks taking this potential game breaking tight end. He’s your “new age” tight end with speed and can make big plays downfield. His blocking is an underrated strength as well.

26) Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: Calieus Campbell, DE-Miami
Why: Another one of my boys from the U. Campbell is pretty raw but some say he has the most potential of any pass rushing end in this draft. He should put up some solid combine scores with his great speed which could move him up a few spots, but as of now, the Jags would love some extra bodies on their D-line which has been their trademark for years.

27) San Diego Chargers
Pick: Kentwan Balmer, DT-North Carolina
Why: The Chargers virtually have no depth beyond their three starting DL. Luis Castillo seems to always be hurt the last few years as well, so Balmer would bring some depth and versatility and he could play both DT and DE in their 3-4 scheme. Scouts like Balmer’s combination of size and speed.

28)Dallas Cowboys
Pick: Felix Jones, RB-Arkansas
Why: McFadden wasn’t the only pro prospect in the ‘Hogs backfield. Jones himself brings an arsenal of moves, speed and power. Rumour has it that Julius Jones wants out of Big D for a starting position somewhere else, so having a solid backup to the freak of nature known as Marion Barber is a good idea (man does that cat run hard). F-Jones should see some time as Dallas’ second back as a rookie.

29)San Francisco 49ers (from IND)
Pick: Early Doucet, WR-LSU
Why: The Niners brass never seems to make any good decisions. The Niners seem poised to a get a downfield threat with some speed. Doucet provides just that. He could go anywhere from the top 15 to early second round. Doucet could give the Niners an option in the air that they desperately need and maybe free some space for the underachieving Vernon (perfect example how a combine doesn’t translate to onfield performance) Davis. P.S., injuries have plagued Davis, so I’ll give him two more years before I chirp him big time.

30) Green Bay Packers
Pick: Antoine Cason, CB-Arizona
Why: This could be a steal late in the first round. The Packers corners aren’t getting any younger and Charles Woodson looks like a totally different guy from his Wolverine Days where he was scoring touchdowns by day and banging (Slammin’?) hoes by the bunches at night. Cason could be the best corner to come out of this draft.

31)New York football Giants
Pick: Dan Connor, LB-PSU
Why: The Giants linebacking core isn’t getting any younger and Connor is too good to pass up this late in the round. Connor brings great awareness and tackling ability. He should step in and start right away for the G-men and add to an already pretty good defense. This LB core will prove that they aren’t too great when they get dismantled by the Pats today.

32) NE forfeited due to spygate

Well thats an early look at who I think is going where. A lot will change from now until April so I will def have a final mock before that day comes. GO PENS!

Note: To try and quench your football thirst on SuperBowl Sunday, I thought The ODC could take a different route and, while everyone else focuses on the SuperBowl, we focus on providing a little hope and something of interest to fans outside of New York and New England. Plus, everyone loves Mock Drafts, and no sports topic is better for debate. So today, we bring you two NFL mock-ups. This one is from Alex Snyder, who is celebrating his birthday today. Happy birthday Al!