Orange Bowl
The underdog Jayhawks came out punching in this one, sparked by an interception return for touchdown by CB Aqib Talib. Virginia Tech looked like they could come back after a nice reverse on a punt return for touchdown in the third quarter. Unfortunately for the Hokies, Todd Reesing and the gritty Jayhawks were too much down the stretch, and finished off an excellent season under the national coach of the year, Mark Mangino.
On to the prospects...
Virginia Tech
Xavier Adibi, LB, Sr.
Notes: Good blitzer. Speedy. Good in pursuit. Took smart angles. Experience shows. Not terrible in coverage but no Champ Bailey obviously.
Outlook: Looks like a legitimate NFL linebacker, and might be able to play in a 3-4 or a 4-3 on the outside. Running well in the postseason could really help his stock. Probably a 2nd-3rd rounder at this point.
Branden Ore, HB, Sr.
Notes: Workhorse type. Runs tough. Good vision. Yards after contact but not a tackle-breaker. Love this kid. Will play hurt. You have to love his toughness. Struggled in pass-protection. Was suspended for the first quarter.
Outlook: Not sure if he has another eligibility or not, for some reason I think he might. Anyway he's got the toughness you love and could definitely stick on an NFL roster. The thing is, I don't know if there's any reason to draft him over some of the other backs. Probably a late-round guy who could stick in the league. He's got talent, but he's surely not polished as a receiver or in pass-protection, but as a pure runner he's an NFL-caliber back. If he gets an opportunity, Ore could shine at the next level in the right situation.
Chris Ellis, DE, Sr.
Notes: Good in pursuit. Speed off the edge. Uses hands well. Spin move. Nice rip. No bull-rush.
Outlook: Not too impressed with Ellis, but he's got the tools. Probably fits in best as a 3-4 OLB, as I don't think he can hold up against the run in a 4-3. Still, a pass-rusher is a valuable commodity in the NFL, and Ellis definitely offers some skills in that area. Looks like a 3rd-4th rounder.
Vince Hall, LB, Sr.
Notes: Instinctive in the run-game. Does a good job diagnosing the play. Big hitter. Made a big tackle on 3rd and 1 in the fourth quarter. Mostly zone coverage. Nothing special, but not bad either.
Outlook: Tough to get a read on Hall against the Kansas spread offense. He did a decent job. Seems like a prototypical Mike. Can he be a durable, hard-hitting, instinctive leader at the next level? We'll find out. Looks like a 4thish rounder.
Carlton Powell, DT, Sr.
Notes: Recorded 2 sacks. Constant penetration. Decent burst. Great arm-under and rip. Excellent inside spin also. Athletic. Interior pass-rush moves. Probably an UT. Strength questionable. Dominated small interior OL for Kansas. Bonehead personal foul penalty at a crucial time. Not much of a run-stuffer. Doesn’t play with great leverage. Gets stood up at the POA against Kansas OG’s in the run game.
Outlook: He's got talent, that's for sure. Had a big game in this one. However, I'm not sure how he normally plays against the run because of KU's offense. Anyway he's a typical 3-tech with a good athletic inside rush. Definitely worthy of a draft pick. Could see a guy like him anywhere from 3rd-5th round. Does he have character issues? That was a stupid penalty.
Brandon Flowers, CB, Jr. (Has officially declared)
Notes: Macho Harris was picked on more. Perhaps the gameplan was to stay away from Flowers? Excellent closing speed and short-area quickness. Good tackler. Will come up in run support and make a play. Physicality is a plus. Really didn’t give up much all night.
Outlook: This is a kid I like. He may have some baggage, but on the field, he's special. The reality is- ALL DB's will get beat. The key is getting the guys who get beat as little as possible AND who can make plays. Flowers is a playmaker, and has been all season and was as a sophomore. Look how big the playmaking CB on the other side was for Kansas. The Jayhawks stayed away from Flowers for a reason.
Eddie Royal, WR, Sr.
Notes: Took the opening kickoff into Jayhawk territory. Looks like an NFL-caliber return-man with his decisive cuts, vision, and speed. Beamer trusts him with the ball and as a punt returner. Not targeted much in the passing game, but catches with his hands when given the opportunity.
Outlook: The reality is, if Royal is going to make it in the NFL, it's going to be because of his return ability. As a return-man, he's got it all. Could he possibly develop into a slot WR down the line? Maybe. But his years at Va. Tech with those QB's did not help him establish himself as a legitimate starting WR for the NFL.
Duane Brown, OT, Sr.
Notes: Quick feet in pass protection. Dominated bad Kansas DE’s. Good run blocker as well. Legitimate mid-round OT prospect. May fit best in a ZBS.
Outlook: This kid looked good tonight, but you have to take into account who he went up against. Neither DE on Kansas is NFL-caliber, or even SEC-caliber. Still, Brown played well. Light on his feet. Would've liked to see him block better in the running game.
D.J. Parker, S, Sr.
Notes: Almost got a pick. Got a pick. Decent center-fielder.
Outlook: Nothing special here. Not much in run-support. Good instincts. Around the ball a bit. Probably not an NFL player.
NOT IN THE DATABASE (consider adding)
Josh Morgan, WR, Sr.
For some reason he's been getting some hype lately but I just don't see it. I just don't trust Va. Tech WR's usually and he doesn't have anything special.
Justin Harper, WR, Sr.
Same as above. He scored in this game, but he's probably not an NFL WR.
Victor "Macho" Harris, CB, Jr.
No where near Flowers in my opinion. Got beat a couple times including one in the first quarter where Reesing missed an open guy in the endzone. He's an athletic kid, but he needs to work on technique and getting his hips turned. Another year in school will help him.
Greg Boone, TE, So.
This kid can block and made a couple of real heady plays out there including that incredible catch down the field. Keep an eye on him next season, he could become a big-time TE prospect. Again, a good blocker in the run game.
Kansas
Aqib Talib, CB, Jr. (Has already declared)
Notes: Pick to the house was a thing of beauty. Read-and-react coverage. Great jump on the ball. Double-move at the next level is something he’ll have to get used to. Unquestionably a playmaker. Morgan beat him deep and he didn’t show great recovery speed. Not very physical. Poor form in tackling. Looks like he shies away from contact. Takes hits rather than gives. Great leaping ability. Excellent ball skills and exciting player with the ball in his hands.
Outlook: Needs to add weight but he's got the talent to be a starting CB in the NFL. There's a little Kelly Jennings in him but he's not as disciplined. His inability to be physical will hurt him, maybe literally. Without a good 40 time, he could slip. For now, he's a 2nd rounder.
Brandon McAnderson, FB, Sr.
Notes: Not really a FB. Decent runner. Coughed the ball up at the goal-line on extra-effort. A poor-man’s Kevin Faulk at absolute best.
Outlook: It's tough to grade HB's after one game because so much of it is getting an opportunity to shine. I doubt McAnderson gets drafted, but if he does somehow make it to the NFL, he could possibly stick because the kid surely can play.
Marcus Henry, WR, Sr.
Notes: NFL size. Good hands. Nice catch on the td. Can he get separation at the next level?
Outlook: Nothing special here except the size. You can't teach size. Maybe worthy of a late round pick.
Derek Fine, TE, Sr.
Notes: Showed little as a blocker. Showed a bit as a receiver but can he really play at the next level?
Outlook: A very poor mans David Thomas. Probably won't make it if he tries for the league.
James McClinton, DT, Sr.
Notes: Virtually invisible. Completely neutralized by the Tech interior line. Seems athletic but doesn’t have good technique and failed to make his presence felt.
Outlook: He had some hype here but I didn't see much in this one. He put up some numbers this year so maybe it was an off game but from this contest he doesn't look like anything more than a late-rounder or UDFA.
Todd Reesing, QB, So.
Notes: Good college player but doesn’t have NFL size or arm. Plays in a gimmicky offense with inflated stats. Tough kid, though, fun to watch.
Outlook: You have to love this kid but he's just not an NFL-bound kid. I hope he proves me wrong, but he just doesn't have the size or arm to make it. Two more years at Kansas will be fun for the Jayhawk fan though, I can tell you that! 12-1 what a year!
NOT IN THE DATABASE (MUST ADD)
Anthony Collins, OT, Jr. (Has already declared)
This kid played a whale of a game. He got called for holding early on when in reality he just pancaked the pass-rusher. Handled Ellis all night and showed excellent technique and footwork. Used his hands well and even blocked down effectively a few times in the run game. Athletic, quick, he's a definite NFL player. Not a road grader and he could still definitely add some weight. MUST be added to the database. A 2nd rounder with the chance to move up.
