The Mountaineers hung on behind the heroics of QB Pat White, who got knocked around, beaten up, and even knocked out of the game briefly, but came on to put the game away with a scintillating 50-yard TD run late, after Louisville had made it 31-31 with just a few minutes left. West Virginia stays in the BCS hunt, and Louisville moves further down into also-ran status in the Big East despite the valiant efforts of QB Brian BRohm and WR Harry Douglas.

SCOUTING SUMMARY:

College: Louisville Conference: Big East Columnist: Steve Martin

Game Notes

Brian Brohm 12 6' 3.5" 224 4.90 QB 2008: He is still the same player he always was in terms of his mechanics, arm, leadership, etc., but it is very apparent that UL's tough year has taken a toll on his confidence. With Mario Urrutia only available for short stints, and nowhere near 100%, he is limited to two targets: Douglas and Barnidge, and his OLine has not protected him nearly well enough. Add that to the pressure of being asked to carry the team on his back and score 50+ points in order to win (because the defense couldn't stop my junior high team) and he is not playing like the same guy. He is forcing it more. His timing is off. He is throwing into traffic. His accuracy has really suffered. Despite all of that, he is still one of the top 3 QBs in the nation in my book. Did enough to keep his team in it the whole way right down until Pat White's 50-yard scamper sealed the deal with 1:32 remaining. GRADE: Positive

Malik Jackson 11 6' 1.5" 230 4.51 LB 2008: This is the best game I have seen from Jackson this year. He played great in the first half, and showed why he is draftable material despite being on a woeful unit, and despite having struggled all year in the leadership role that was thrust upon him. He has some special qualities, and is kind of a poor man's Jonathan Vilma in terms of his speed and diagnosis ability. GRADE: Neutral

Art Carmody 18 5' 8.0" 181 5.00 K 2008: Eh...nothing to write home about. Accurate, yes. But he doesn't even kickoff at this level, and nobody is going to draft a kicker--even a Groza Winner--only for FGs and XPTs. GRADE: Neutral

Mario Urrutia 7 6' 5.3" 220 4.50 WR 2009: Played only about 1/3 of the game, and on 4-5 man sets, he wasn't even getting the ball. He is nowhere near 100%, but had a couple of decent plays. He is still a tremendous talent, but I'll be my left arm he doesn't declare now. He has lost a couple of steps right now, and is not the deep threat he was last year. GRADE: Inc.

Harry Douglas 85 5' 10.5" 172 4.37 WR 2008: Harry had a fumble and a couple of drops when he was hit on contact today, but he is an amazing route runner, and just sets his man up so well. He caught everything he should have, and was almost enough to beat a top 10 team nearly single-handedly. He will be a 10-year vet as a 3rd-down receiver at a minimum at the next level, and could have a Troy Brown-like career. GRADE: Slightly positive
Eric Wood 77 6' 4.0" 301 5.15 C 2008: Solid, but unspectacular. I have seen him play better. He wasn't as aggressive hunting people up as he has been in the past, and the "malaise days" seem to have settled into the UL offensive line, and even Wood has been affected somewhat. He was just dancing way too much today, and didn't touch anybody on some pass plays. GRADE: Neutral

Patrick Carter 4 6' 2.5" 215 4.56 WR 2008: I had him for 1 catch, and all he did all day was clear a route for Douglas. Will not be drafted based on his production this year, that's for sure. GRADE: Slightly negative

Anthony Allen 0' 0.0" 0 0.00 HB 2010: Not much to report. Not too many touches, and I was too busy watching all the other 2008 guys to worry about him.

Brock Bolen 0' 0.0" 0 0.00 FB 2009: Scored a TD. Looks OK as a lead blocker on goal line, and shows he can even get you the tough yard or two you need in those situations. GRADE: neutral

Gary Barnidge 82 6' 5.3" 230 4.80 TE 2008: Has really had a chance to shine as the big receiver with the problems Urrutia has had, and has certainly made the most of it. Very capable receiver. Has some stretch-the-seam talent at this level. Sure handed and not afraid of contact. Not much of a blocker yet, however. And, I would NEVER draft a plus-4.50 TE who can't block. Must get stronger. GRADE: Neutral

Breno Giacomini 78 6' 7.0" 300 4.90 OT 2008: How did this guy get in the database? I didn't put him here, and it is obvious why. The guy was a turnstile all day. Stiff, bad feet. Easily beaten to the outside by speed. His first punch must do it all (but rarely does). Slow recoil. Grade: Very negative


College: West Virginia Conference: Big East Columnist: Steve Martin

Game Notes

Eric Wicks 41 6' 0.5" 210 4.60 S 2008: Great game by the senior captain. He is a playmaker at this level, no question about that, and I have loved his game for two+ years now. Has no "wow" measurables, but he is a big play guy who is just a football player. Had two PDs, a huge int late, and scored a TD on a FR in which he scooped and scored from about 40 yards in one fluid motion. I just don't know about how he will do at the next level though, despite all his intangibles. He is not going to get drafted very high (if at all) if 4.60 is all he can do. But I'd be the first one on the phone, if he slipped through the cracks on Sunday. GRADE: Very positive

Owen Schmitt 35 6' 1.7" 258 4.60 FB 2008: Only thing he did poorly all day was flub a pooch punt, and he absolutely wrecked his helmet by pounding it against his forehead a dozen times after he did that. Devastating lead blocker. Could be one of the top 5 lead-blocking FBs at the next level next year. So, so strong. Off the charts strong. Could he even be a one-back for a team with a very good run-blocking O-line? 4.60 ain't shabby for a guy his size, and his hands are OK too. So passionate and dedicated to the game. Deserves to go no later than round 3...not saying he will...GRADE: Positive

Steve Slaton 10 5' 9.5" 196 4.36 HB 2009: Steve was really held in check in this one. He had only about 60 yards rushing and 1 TD when the power went out up here. He also fumbled three times, though one of them was ruled no fumble. Still, the guy is so blooming quick, and is also becoming a complete back. Will be a deadly change-of-pace, Reggie-Bush kind of guy at the next level. May not be top-half-of-round-one anymore in most books, but he'll be a great pro nonetheless. GRADE: Slightly negative

Keilen Dykes 96 6' 4.2" 295 5.10 DT 2008: He will be drafted in the 5th round, will make a team's rotation and will be a 8-year pro. Has all the stuff you need to the job you will ask him to do, which is be a solid 1-gap DT in a 4-3. Average game by his standards, several tackles/assists and a big sack. GRADE: Slightly positive

Darius Reynaud 2 5' 9.8" 205 4.45 WR 2008: Improving his stock almost by the minute. A former RB who runs like it after the catch, and is one of the stronger WRs for his size I have ever seen. The unsung hero of the WV offense. A solid mid-2nd day type pick who will be used in a variety of ways by a clever team to really add potency to an NFL offense. GRADE: Positive

Antonio Lewis 6 5' 9.5" 186 4.50 CB 2008: OK game. Really good support corner who can bump and run or play off. Solid in all phases but spectacular in none. Looks like a surefire 6-7th rounder. GRADE: Neutral

Pat White 5 6' 1.4" 185 4.42 QB 2009: Would have to be converted at the next level into a spot WR, backup QB, and should be used the way the Steelers have used similar players. Takes way to many hits as a runner, and runs to straight up for his body type. 1st round productivity, but his game as a QB just doesn't translate. Could be the Grey Cup champion multiple times if he goes that route and starts at QB. Better passer than he is given credit for. You've got to love his leadership, courage, toughness, and openfield ability. A poor man's Michael Vick. GRADE: Positive

Jason Gwaltney 0' 0.0" 0 0.00 FB 2009: Who?

Johnny Dingle 92 6' 2.8" 270 4.78 DT 2008: Rising star who might be used the way the Pats and Ravens used Adalius Thomas...that kind of player at the college level. May not have the wheels to do that, but that is his package. Emotional competitor who gets to the QB, makes TFLs and is just generally always around the ball and very disruptive. GRADE: Neutral

Ryan Mundy 21 6' 0.8" 205 4.55 S 2008: Better skills than production. May be even faster than his listed time. Nice complementary 3rd safety at the next level, who may never start. GRADE: Neutral


Other notes:

Louisville: RB George Stripling continues to impress. May never be anybody's marquee back but he does a lot to help you. If he improves his hands, he will be drafted some day. DE Peanut Whitehead went out with and injury and did not return. Reminds me of USF's George Selvie but may have a similar growth curve ahead of him.

WVU: OLB Mark Magro hasn't broken into the database yet, but he may...Great pro size, and has gone up against Schmitt week after week and improved his toughness and tackling.

Steve we both saw Gannon at UD how would you compare White to him at the same point?
Do you see any Chartric Darby in Dingle? I think he'll be good pro, but he is not the freak that Adalius is. I could see Reynaud as a 3rd down back like Josh Reed should have been. Ditto on Wicks and Mundy.

The Ville Stribling might be better than you think, but what's wrong with Anthony Allen, he was so explosive last year. You see Brown when you look Douglass, I see ole CNN Clarence Verdan, I think he will make big plays at any level. Brohm really reminds me of Steve Bartkowski and I forsee a similar career. Ditto on Malik Jackson and Urrutia should wait a year, Cantwell might actually throw an even better deep ball than Brohm.

I hadn't thought about the Gannon/White comparison, but I think it is a darn good one. Gannon might have been a slightly more acurate passer, and White is perhaps an even more deceptive runner than Gannon, but the comparison still holds well.

I agree Dingle is not the athletic freak Thomas is, but I just see his versatility being used similarly by the right (smart) team. I am not sure he would ever be a FT linebacker though...

I like the Bartkowski comparison too!