Raji red shirted this year due to acidemic problems and may not come out. If he did he would be ideal as a NT size wise. From other reports Rambo13 dug up it seems Okam has motor and consistency problems that could lead to a draf day fall ala Allen Branch from last year.
Jason Shirley is probably going to fall into the late 6th or early 7th...he might not even get drafted at all. He can't stay out of trouble - he's already been suspended twice this season at Fresno State.
NFL Draft: Day Two Run-Stuffing DTs DT Nick Hayden (Elsa/Getty Images) By Chris Steuber NFL Draft Analyst, Scout.com Posted Oct 10, 2007 So your favorite team needs a run-stuffing defensive tackle, but you don't think they'll use a first-day pick on one? NFL Draft Analyst Chris Steuber points out some Day-Two talent that your team may be scouting right now. Defense wins championships; it's a known fact in professional football. And a major asset in building a strong defense is having a massive force at defensive tackle who's able to penetrate upfield, take on two blocks, shed the blocks, and make key tackles in the backfield. These players are not just big, they're important to the success of the entire defense. They make the defensive ends better because they're usually left one-on-one with an offensive tackle due to the ability of the defensive tackle to take on two blockers. They are a middle linebacker's dream, allowing the linebacker to read and react and not have to worry about shedding blockers who get to the second level. The linebacker can play more physically at the line of scrimmage because there will be an opening to make a play. There are plenty of teams in the NFL that will looking for some beef up front, and finding a defensive tackle who's good against the run is easier said than done. Analyzing the draft-eligible run-stuffing defensive tackles for the 2008 draft, you'll find some great players who'll be selected on day-one such as Glenn Dorsey (LSU), Frank Okam (Texas) and Red Bryant (Texas A&M). But what about the players your favorite team can get later in the draft if they either don't want to or can't afford to spend a first-day pick on one? Here are five Day-Two run-stuffers that you'll want to keep an eye on between now and next April: Nick Hayden (Sr.), Wisconsin Hayden, a 6-foot-5, 301-pound versatile interior lineman, works extremely hard inside and is good against the run. He's a competitive defender who has good explosion off the snap. Hayden has quick feet, keeps his pad level low, and has good leverage against the opposition. He has a good motor and locates the ball quickly to make plays. Using great technique inside, Hayden's able to gain leverage against bigger opposition and gets in position to defend the run. Through six games he's made 23 tackles -- five for a loss -- and three sacks. Boston College DT B.J. Raji Grant Halverson/Getty Images B.J. Raji (Sr.), Boston College At 6-foot-1, 325-pounds, Raji is a big, physical interior lineman who commands a lot of attention. A good athlete who has a solid burst off the line, he plays with leverage, and bull rushes opponents up the field. Raji also has a quick first step and immediately penetrates upfield and makes plays in the backfield. With his great strength, he brings down the opposition with his initial push, gets off blocks very well and can handle double-teams. But there's an interesting twist about Raji and his draft status. He was ruled academically ineligible this season and was redshirted. Boston College is trying to convince him to come back for his senior season, but the risk of suffering an injury next year will only hurt his draft status even more. Expect Raji to enter the draft and be a high Day-Two selection. James McClinton (Sr.), Kansas McClinton, who's generously listed at 6 foot 1, 285 pounds, is an explosive interior lineman limited only by a lack of height. He has a quick first step, great balance, and great instincts. He has excellent lateral quickness and is able to change direction well. He plays with a high motor and is always around the ball. A great tackler who possesses outstanding closing speed, McClinton is a lineman who sheds blocks well, but tends to struggle against a bigger opposition. He has good technique and hand placement that gives him leverage. Through five games this season, McClinton has 26 tackles, eight tackles for a loss and two sacks. This defensive tackle out of Kansas has a chance to elevate his stock into Day One of next April's draft with a strong finish. Jason Shirley (Sr.), Fresno State A monster in the middle, Shirley, who's listed at 6 foot 5, 330 pounds, has the ability to take over a game with his physical play. He can take on a double team with ease, shed blocks, and make a play in the backfield. Shirley has great strength and gains instant leverage against the opposition, making it almost impossible to block him one-on-one. He holds his ground well and is tough to knock to the ground. Shirley's another player with an interesting footnote as he missed the first two games of the season for conduct detrimental to the team. It's unknown what Shirley did, but since his return he's played in three games and has collected seven tackles, four tackles for a loss and two sacks. He's a good prospect with excellent size, but he lacks proper technique. He relies on his raw strength too much and gets worn down as the game moves forward, so he'll need some coaching and will need to improve his conditioning to be successful at the pro level. Frank Morton (Sr.), Tulane Morton is a huge defensive tackle with a lot of promise. At 6 foot 2, 331 pounds, Morton has the ideal size to be a dominant run stuffer. He has flashes of dominance, but then he'll fade and become inconsistent. He plays low, gains leverage, and gets a quick initial push. He gets good penetration, but has to improve his footwork to get off blocks better. Morton has good instincts, displays a good burst into the backfield and is a hard worker -- but he has to improve his technique. A high ankle sprain to start the season hampered Morton, but in the three games he's played so far, he's recorded six tackles, two tackles for a loss and half a sack. A member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America, Chris Steuber has provided his NFL
Dre Morre out of Maryland not a nt but would be a great de in the 34 6'4 298 he 's a beast who hopefully could be our second round pick.
keilend dyles would also be a quality 3-4 end, i also know him personally going to high school in the same area and going to wvu together, he is extremely grounded dude with good focus and he is very excited to prove his worth at the next level
Draft Okam and Shirley. Okam only needs to be in the middle of the first. Shirley, take a flyer on in the fourth. Even if he will go undrafted, IF you get both of these guys on your team, when you go to a 4-3 look, you'd have Drob,Okam,Shirley and Coleman. in the 3-4 you'd have Drob, Okam/Shirley rotating (think about the 4th qtr...), and Coleman. Sweeeeet!
You would think knowing him personally would stop you from butchering his name...LOL. All jokes aside, I like Keilen Dykes a lot; I think he would be a great addition to our DE rotation. He's a good inside pass rusher.
i wouldn?t bet on that, but if he comes out, i want really him!!! but we all know that mangini won?t draft him, due to his academic problems!
Frank Okam Okam is a 6-5, 320-pound blend of size, strength and speed, the latest in a recent line of great defensive tackles at Texas. A third-year starter as a senior, he's an interior anchor of a defensive unit that a year ago ranked third in the country against the run and tied for sixth in forced turnovers. ESPN guru Mel Kiper projects him as the eighth overall pick in the NFL's 2008 draft and the second defensive player off the board after LSU tackle Glenn Dorsey. But there's more to him than that. A sports management major, Okam posted a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in the spring and is on track to graduate in 3? years in December. Once, he targeted medical school. Now, he's eyeing law. Only caution on him is a knee injury - Okam's tackles total fell to 38 as a junior from 48 as a sophomore, and he had only two sacks. He dropped to third-team All-Big 12. The kneecap had become misaligned, among other problems, and Okam underwent arthroscopic surgery after Texas finished a 10-3 season with an Alamo Bowl victory against Iowa. Would he fit the 3-4? http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/big12/2007-08-22-sw-texas-okam_N.htm
