There were so many talented players in this game, that it was an awful lot of replay, replay, replay just to scout everyone thoroughly. TT jumped out 21-0 and might have made it 28-0 but for a bogus overturn of a catch at the Texas 10-yard line. The Raiders receivers--especially Filani and Hicks are indeed the real deal. Forget the "system". These guys can both play. (You were right about Hicks, Jeff, and he is just outside of the top 100, IMHO...but awfully close). The Longhorns have become the experts at the big comeback, and freshman QB Colt McCoy looked as smooth in bringing them back as Vince young did the last two times (vs. OK st.) he had to do it. McCoy is definitely a future star if he keeps playing like this and doesn't hit the sophomore jinx next season.
The interior offensive line of the Longhorns may be the best inside three in college football, and they wore the TT d-line down in the second half.
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College: Texas Conference: Big 12 Columnist: Jeff Carnahan and Jim ODell
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes
Justin Blalock 63 6' 4.0" 329 0.00 OT 2007: He is playing ROG and that is what he is. I don't know why we list him as an OT. He has the body of a road-grading, run-blocking OG, and that is where he should stay at the next level. He is solid in the run game, and pretty good in pass pro too. Really looks like a tractor when pulling out onn wide plays. Whiffs sometimes on the second level. GRADE: Slightly positive
Tarell Brown 5 6' 0.0" 200 0.00 CB 2007: Has played pretty well since coming back from his issues. Does not look like the best CB on the team anymore though. Looks equally competent against both the run and the pass. Was in on several tackles, but a lot of them were the "shove-em out a-bounds" variety. Has the measurables. Wonder if he has the one-on-one coverage ability you want. The TT receivers will burn anybody, but you would expect that (on paper at least) one of the best secondaries in the country, though slightly banged up, would have stopped them once in awhile, but they didn't. GRADE: Neutral
Tim Crowder 80 6' 4.0" 270 0.00 DE 2007: Nobody on this d-line got to the QB all day. They were just manhandled most of the afternoon by the TT line. Crowder had a couple of tackles, and got close to the QB a couple of times, but that was about it. Doesn't look like a top 100 guy to me...GRADE: Slightly negative
Michael Griffin 27 6' 0.5" 205 0.00 S 2007: The guy is not 100%, but he was still out there making plays all over the field. Got abused on a couple of running plays on the corner though, and had only one knockdown. He made a bid on a couple of ints, but didn't come down with either. Had about 12 tackles though. Still, you want a top 15 pick to make big plays, and he didn't make any. GRADE: Neutral
Aaron Ross 31 6' 1.0" 192 0.00 CB 2007: A rising star. SHone brightly in this one. Had three PDs and a FR. Was in on about 5 tackles. They kept picking on him, and they were successful completing stuff over his head, but not when he was close up on the receiver. Very nice size for a CB. This guy is someone we need to watch very, very closely, JWest. GRADE: Positive
Selvin Young 22 6' 0.0" 215 0.00 HB 2007: Didn't do anything in the first half. The TT defense was stacked to stop him early on and did just that. Began to break a few longer ones in the second half as the D tired. I don't see a lot to write home about here. He wasn't thrown to much at all, and does not look like a blocker. GRADE: Neutral
Frank Okam 97 6' 5.0" 315 0.00 DT 2008: Will somebody please tell me why this guy is in our top 100? I just don't see it. He is a pure bull rusher with no moves. He might have been in on a couple of tackles, but what is all the hype about??? GRADE: Negative
Limas Sweed 4 6' 5.0" 219 0.00 WR 2008: Was shut down early, but got it going late. Has a ton of talent, but he is a long strider with built up speed who lacks elite concentration. Had a huge drop in the endzone in the first half, but caught a nice 45-yard TD in the second half. Upside is huge, but he still has a lot to work on. GRADE: Neutral
Neale Tweedie 87 6' 5.0" 265 0.00 TE 2007: I didn't see him.
Tony Hills 79 6' 6.0" 295 0.00 OT 2008: Yes. He deserves to be in the database for next year. Might be the best O-lineman (longterm) on the team. Raw, but strong. Gets downfield on wide plays. Plays hard on every snap. GRADE: Slightly positive
Kasey Studdard 64 6' 3.0" 305 0.00 OG 2007: Every bit as good as Blalock. May have a better upside too. Works very hard in the running game. Always pushing on something. Stays on his feet. Traps and seals very well. My kind of OG. GRADE: Positive
Lyle Sendlein 62 6' 5.0" 305 0.00 C 2007: Didn't show me much in the first half, but was a road grader in the stretch run when Texas was running it over him to wear down the TT d-line. Not somebody I'd draft though. Average in pass pro. Not the quickest out of the snap. GRADE: Slightly positive
College: Texas Tech Conference: Big 12 Columnist: Jeff Carnahan and Jim ODell
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes
Joel Filani 8 6' 3.0" 222 0.00 WR 2007: A little Marques Colston in this kid. Doesn't make the spectacular grab like Hicks, but he gets great YAC and is pretty sure-handed. Routes are OK for a big man too. Walls people off. Fights for yardage. A little David Givens like, also, the way he bulls people over after the catch. Had a fumble and a dropped pass too though. GRADE: Slightly positive
Jarrett Hicks 88 6' 3.0" 210 0.00 WR 2007: The real deal. Definitely a top 10 WR for this draft. Does it all. Great concentration, ball awareness, "want to" and toughness. Didn't see any weaknesses, but I couldn't see him in the first five yards as much as I wanted to. GRADE: Positive
Manuel Ramirez 63 6' 4.0" 339 0.00 OG 2007: Deserve his current CDS accolades. Looks like Samson Satele body-wise and plays like him. Wide body who keeps after peopl. Move his feet very well for a guy of his dimensions. Knows where he is going and gets there quickly. Very firm set up and base in pass pro, and obviously he is VERY well seasoned in pass pro. Makes all the o-line calls. Chops well, but is not on the ground for long. Sometimes lets the wrong guy go through. GRADE: Positive
Fletcher Session 42 6' 0.0" 232 0.00 LB 2007: Where the heck has this guy been. Yea, he's smallish, but he is great in pass defense. He had two PDs in this one, plus and interception return for a TD. Covers his side of the field very well in the running game too. Wish he were bigger. May have "point of contact" issues at the next level, but he seems to have a lot more talent than we have so far noticed. GRADE: Positive
Ofa Mohetau 6' 3.0" 340 0.00 OG 2008: DNP
Jeff C: I'd certainly keep an eye on TT's LB (#56) Kellen Tillman. Was all over and has pro size.