2009 SEASON RISERS
DE/OLB Danny Batten, South Dakota State- Batten is a high motor kid who has been very impressive thus far showing good speed, athletic ability, and quickness off the edge. His consistency is one of the most impressive things about him as he shows up week in and week out putting up good numbers. He has 53 tackles, 12.5 tackles, five sacks, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and 10 quarterback hurries. Batten has risen from the priority free agent range to a possible 5th or 6th round selection.
OT Jared Veldheer, Hillsdale- Veldheer entered the season as a solid priority free agent type prospect but showed much improved strength, consistency, and the ability to hand speed rushers better. He has improved his technique but still needs to continue working on it in the postseason as he could really sky rocket up boards with steady improvement from the regular season.
RB Deji Karim, Southern Illinois- Karim entered the season as an unknown and burst onto the national scene leading the FCS in rushing for most of the year and showing great speed, acceleration, and versatility. Through eight games Karim has rushed for 1,113 yards and 11 touchdowns on 154 carries. He is averaging 139.1 yards per game and 7.2 yards per carry. Karim entered the season coming off an injury as a potential free agent type and has vaulted all the way to the mid rounds on our board.
DE/OLB Arthur Moats, James Madison- Moats possibly ran away with the 2009 Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the best defensive player in the FCS, with his performance of 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks against Delaware. He has 66 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks through eight games and could be a mid-late round selection with a solid postseason. Teams who have not seen this kid play need to check him out. We must warn you though that he is just 6’1, 250 pounds but has excellent speed, quickness, and is explosive.
FS Quentin Scott, Northern Iowa- Scott has burst onto the scene after entering the season as an unknown due to injury. He has good speed, range, and outstanding size (6’4, 220). They had a bye week this past week and Scott’s numbers aren’t gaudy as he has just 38 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions, three pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. Those who have seen him play should know that he is a solid late round possibility and one that could test out well at the NFL Scouting Combine.
2009 SEASON FALLERS
WR Andre’ Roberts, The Citadel- Roberts came into the season with high hopes as some thought he could perhaps land in the third round but his production has tapered off with just 54 catches for 554 yards and five touchdowns. To be fair, Roberts has been double and triple teamed but now for him to land in the top 100 selections he must show good speed at the combine and more than hold his own in all-star games or else he could risk falling to the 5th round range.
OT Tony Washington, Abilene Christian- Washington entered the season with high expectations but has not played like an All-American giving up several sacks, playing high, being inconsistent, and allowing more tidbits from his past issues to come out. Things are not looking good at this point as the senior would only be getting any postseason All-America or LSC Offensive Lineman of the Year honors at this point because of name recognition. He has fallen from the mid rounds to a late round projection at this point and could fall out of the draft unless he has an impressive postseason.
C Kyle Mutcher, Weber State- Mutcher is already light in the butt and to top it off he has been hurt for part of the year and struggled with consistency. He was pancaking defenders left and right last season but has struggled in the tape we have watched to not only ground defenders but dominate. He is still a quality free agent value but is not the late round type prospect we felt he would be entering the season.
WR Kelton Tindal, Newberry- Tindal blazed a 4.22 40 time in the spring and has high expectations entering the season as a possible late round pick and SAC Offensive Player of the Year candidate. Through nine games he has just 32 catches for 423 yards and four touchdowns and is fourth on the team in catches. His numbers to date likely will keep him out of the NFL Scouting Combine and have made him a player that must wow scouts in the postseason or else he is risking becoming a camp body only.
QB/WR Kellen Lewis, Valdosta State- Lewis got into trouble and was dismissed from Indiana in the offseason and then since his arrival at Valdosta State he has not dominated like many thought and showed that he could only be a receiver at the next level lacking the accuracy, arm strength, and size for quarterback. He has just 1,564 yards and seven touchdowns with six picks through six games.
