The North Carolina State Wolfpack has a very short Pro Prospects (PP) list here at CDS. That's because most of their studs are RS juniors and RS Sophomores, especially on defense. However, without Sophomore MLB Nate Irving (ankle) they just haven't been able to stop anybody consistently over the past couple of weeks. They are a team who is a year away, and with promising freshman QB Russell Wilson learning quickly on the job, they could be a player in the ACC next season. FSU faces some of the same problems, especially on the offensive line, whose oldest (and best) player is their LOG, RS sophomore Rodney Hudson. RS Junior DE Willie Young and the NC State defense gave this line fits in pass pro, drawing numerous holding plays and a fiery halftime speech from Coach Bobby Bowden (which he termed the 4th or 5th most violent speech he'd ever given in 50 years of coaching college football.) That line, properly chastised, held their own in the second half, and blew some running lanes open for Sophomore QB Christian Ponder (#7, 6'2", 220) who runs like a fast fullback, and career-disappointment and former #1-in-the-nation RB recruit, Antone Smith. They were able to put K Gano (4 FGs, including the game-cinching 53-yarder late) into position to put the game out of reach, and then they were able to pave the way for FSU to basically run out the clock on the Wolfpack in their building.


SCOUTING SUMMARY:

College: Florida State Conference: Atlantic Coast Columnist: Steve Martin

Greg Carr 18 6' 5.0" 212 0.00 WR 2009: Has truly become a forgotten man in the FSU attack. I wonder if he was one of Weatherford's boys? Anyway...he caught 2 of 3 sent his way, and still looks a dangerous jump-ball/red-zone receiver, but without the elite hands it is unlikely he will be more than camp fodder unless everything breaks perfectly for him. He is not even the #1 jump-ball specialist for QB Christian Ponder. That role has been taken over by #1 Cory Surrency, whose hands are no better than Carr's. Carr will likely always be a big-play-or-bust type, whose career would be greatly enhanced if he caught 500 balls from a jugs machine every day from now until he gets to a pro camp. GRADE: Neutral

Myron Rolle 3 6' 1.7" 216 4.55 S 2010: There has never been any question about the talent or the physical tools with Myron. The distractions have been the concern, and he is another one of those guys who has/had apparently let the losing lower his own game some. He played tough in this one, filling the enforcer role to which he is so aptly suited. Hammers people when he has the clear shot, but knows when to wrap. Can cover pretty well too. Has 2nd-round ability, and that's where he's likely to go if he declares. GRADE: Slightly positive

Rodney Hudson 62 6' 1.8" 282 5.20 OG 2011: I refuse to write more about a guy who is two years away.

Neefy Moffett 59 6' 0.0" 259 4.70 DE 2009: Run stuffer who doesn't play the run all that well, and is little threat as a pass rusher. Not sure why/how he got in the database. I wouldn't waste time on him. At his height he better be the second coming of Elvis Dumervil, and he just ain't. GRADE: Negative

Everette Brown 99 6' 3.3" 252 4.70 DE 2010: Shows quite a bit more future potential than Moffet, but is not going to declare, because if he did, he'd be at best a 6-7th rounder. Has some nice pass rush intensity and moves. Needs to get bigger and stronger, and add a move or two and he could be a 4th rounder in his own class. GRADE: Neutral

Derek Nicholson 30 6' 1.6" 233 4.60 LB 2009: Yea, he's OK. I'd take a stab in the 5th or 6th and see if he could be a ST warrior and groom him into a replacement for an older ILB in a couple of years. Is not going to come in and start for anybody year one, except the worst running-game defending team in the NFL if their starters get hurt. Solid in most phases of the game. Solid tackler. Solid dropback, but is a bit herky jerky dropping. Doesn't always find his way through the trash. Nice size/speed ratio for the position. Could go 245 easily. GRADE: Neutral

Tony Carter 4 5' 9.0" 177 4.45 CB 2009: Tony is a surprisingly good run defender and plays much bigger than 177 pounds. Nice hands. Nice anticipation on the ball. Very fine run support, and can cover anybody's pro #3 on down...I worry about those 6'2"/6'3" #1s and #2s though...Still, Tony is in the same league as some of the other 5'9" CBs who have stuck around, and should at least be a solid journeyman at the next level. I'd start checking to see if he's still on the board in the late 5th round...GRADE: Positive

Drew Weatherford 11 6' 2.8" 218 4.85 QB 2009: DNP...Nothing to add to the Weatherford saga...just needs to pray for the right situation, and do well in interviews. GRADE: Incomplete

Antone Smith 6 5' 8.6" 190 4.48 HB 2009: Very highly-touted out of H.S. and is finally starting to put something together. Has the speed and the moves. Lacks hands, size, blocking ability or potential. Without those things, you better be Barry Sanders, and he's a long way from that. Still, he showed flashes of why he was a 5-star recruit today, appears hungry and driven now. Dives for the yard marker. Weaves nicely through traffic and seems to get stronger late in the game. Nice practic squad back. On a par with Denver's (USF's) Andre Hall. GRADE: Neutral


College: North Carolina State Conference: Atlantic Coast Columnist: Steve Martin

Andre Brown 24 5' 11.0" 228 4.50 HB 2009: loves this guy's pro size and determination. Not the most talented guy around, but really brings his A game week in and week out. Powerful N-S runner who understands he will never be an E-W back. Has a little wiggle for his size. Finishes runs. Runs people over. Not big enough or fast enough to carry a "wow" factor, but the kind who will slip into camp and be very hard for the Turk to find. GRADE: Slightly positive

Anthony Hill 83 6' 5.2" 265 4.85 TE 2009: Anthony is really starting to look like the guy who was 2nd-team all-ACC in 2006 before being injured last season. Nice size and GETS THAT SIZE OFF THE LINE quickly. Sneaky. Slips behind and through the defense despite being an easy target. Really sets up the deception with the in-line/blocking look, then snaps into a route. When he does stay in and block he does a very nice job--looks like a mini LOT and gets good leg drive and sustains. This is a very deep TE class, but Hill is in the middle of it, at worst. Solid 3-4th rounder most years who is probably a 6-7th rounder due to the numbers game this year. GRADE: Positive

Curtis Crouch 76 6' 4.0" 320 5.20 OG 2009: Written up extensively before. Nothing new to report. Didn't play as much in the second half, not sure if he is dinged up or what. Solid road grader. GRADE: Neutral

OTHER NOTES:

FSU: WR #5 Preston Parker, a 6'0", 197-pound junior has become Ponder's go-to guy, and he is pretty decent. Gets open easily, hands are above average, but not great.

NC State: They have several guys who will be drafted in 2010, but only 1 or 2 likely to be drafted this year. Headlining that crop next year is DE Willie Young (RS Jr., #97, 6'5", 258) who was an absolute beast rushing the passer in this one, and just typed with FSU's RS freshman LOT all afternoon. Has a great burst and a very effective side-step move that just fraked out the pass protector.

Next on the list would be RS soph CB DeAndre Morgan, who was actually benched for his play earlier this year, but shows elite coverage skills, and has OK size (5'10", 170) and time to add 10-15 pounds.

RB Jamelle Eugene, a RS Jr., (5'10", 195) actually outshined Andre Brown in this one, and injured Soph. MLB Nate Irving is a future stud, despite being only 6'0", 225 right now.