I think just about everybody was sure that TCU was going to win this game relatively easily except former NIU RB Michael Turner and he was probably just hoping. Turner had a bet with fellow teammate and former Horned Frog LaDainian Tomlinson about who would win the game. Since Turner's Huskies lost now he has to wear Tomlinson's former #5 TCU jersey around the practice facilities for a week.


College: Texas Christian Conference: Mountain West Columnist: Martin Wilson Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes

Herbert Taylor 78 6' 4.0" 285 0.00 OT 2007: A great athlete who could play guard or tackle at the next level. Uses good leverage but his footwork is a little messy. Two of Ballards rushing touchdowns were when he scrambled to the left. He'll be playing in the upcoming East-West Shrine game. Grade: Slightly Positive.

Robert Merrill 33 5' 10.0" 203 0.00 HB 2007: DNP out for the season.

Jeff Ballard 16 6' 1.0" 212 0.00 QB 2007: Had a breakout day scoring four touchdowns; three on the ground and one through the air. Jeff is hard to gauge at the next level. He doesn't put up gaudy numbers (with the exception of this game) and he doesn't have elite measurables, he just simply wins and leads his team. Grade: Positive.

Marvin White 26 6' 2.0" 191 0.00 S 2007: A head hunter who flies to the ball not bad in coverage but he's not Eric Weddle. Like Taylor we'll get another shot to see this guy in the East-West shrine game. Right now I'm thinking he's a poor man's Ken Hamlin. Grade: Neutral.

Chase Ortiz 93 6' 3.0" 255 0.00 DE 2008: He's Tommy Blake without the speed. Chase's year has been somewhat disappointing compared to past years. He made his contribution in this game though helping limit Wolfe to his 30 or so yards. Grade: Neutral.

Lonta Hobbs 30 5' 10.0" 215 0.00 HB 2007: Gary Patterson always gives Lonta Hobbs and Aaron Brown around the same amount of carries but one of them always seems to have a great day while the other has an average one. Two games ago at Colorado State it was Brown and today it was Hobbs. Showed some nice moves with some toughness too and showed off some excellent hands as well. Grade: Positive.

Tommy Blake 97 6' 3.0" 250 0.00 DE 2008: Should we start calling him Tommy.. "The Terror" Blake because he was terrorizing pro prospects, Doug Free and Garrett Wolfe, all day long with his amazing speed and athleticism. He will be one of the top DE prospects next year. Grade: Very Positive.

Other Player to Watch:: Aaron Brown Soph RB and Nick Sanders FR CB



College: Northern Illinois Conference: Mid-American Columnist: Craig Fobbe Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes

Doug Free 62 6' 6.5" 315 5.00 OT 2007: You can never be quite sure what happens to a OT who is agile and technically sound and has done to him what happened to Doug today. It must have been a mental problem or low confidence level. Grade: Negative.

Garrett Wolfe 1 5' 7.0" 173 4.50 HB 2007: A sad story what happened to Garrett Wolfe in this game. There were no running holes and there was no help from the passing game. Even Wolfe's renowned shiftiness and speed couldn't help him in this game. Held to 30 something yards and on 20 something carries. Grade: Negative.

Phil Horvath 3 6' 3.0" 197 4.90 QB 2007: DNP not sure why..?

Jake Nordin 86 6' 3.0" 262 0.00 TE 2007: DNP

Dustin Utschig 35 5' 10.0" 196 4.57 S 2007: Dustin was the only force on the Huskie's defense, he was roaming free as a tackling machine. He wraps up nicely and breaks to the ball fast. Blocked a punt on special teams one of NIU's three blocked kicks. Grade: Positive.

Other Players to Watch: Larry English Soph DE

Very nice writeup, Martin. I agree with everything you said.

If Blake does indeed run in the 4.5s and go 260+ next year, he could be a first rounder.

Horvath was out for the year with (I think) a knee injury suffered at the beginning of the MAC title game.

Marvin White 26 6' 2.0" 191 S 2007: I like him a lot and he has sub 4.5 speed, he is just beginning to touch on his potential.

Dustin Utschig 35 5' 10.0" 196 4.57 S 2007: I love him he's a stronger, meaner Mark Kelso but I hear he is closer to 4.64 than 4.57.

Tommy Blake 97 6' 3.0" 250 0.00 DE 2008: He looked like Alex Brown at his best at FLA, but the spring 40 on him I heard was 4.73, which is not too shabby.

Ditto on Ortiz who reminds me of Justin Smith and his 4.78 is not that slow!

Where do you come up with all these player comparisons Bill?? You must have an amazing memory...