For all those interested in Jason Boltus, he is due to appear on the Consensus Draft 40 in about 2 weeks from now. Obviously he's busy with practice for this game right now but once this is over I'm going to be interviewing him, so if anyone has any questions they'd like me to put to him then please feel free to PM them to me.

A little article I put together for those of you interested in this game.

Some guys to keep a close eye on:

Jason Boltus, QB, Hartwick: Jason played at tiny DIII Hartwick College, but he has decent size (6'2", 219) and an NFL arm. He will probably be the most closely-watched prospect in El Paso this week. Everyone will be looking to see if that arm strength might possibly be accompanied by an NFL mind and window-busting accuracy. Boltus could wind up being THE story of this draft season if he blows up at the Tv.N Game.

Chase Patton, QB, Missouri: The Matt Cassel craze has swept the scouting world and everyone is looking for that next backup QB that they think they can strike it rich with. Cassel was drafted in the 7th round coming out of U.S.C. where he was the backup to Matt Leinart and never threw a collegiate pass. Some think that Chase Patton is actually the better QB prospect named Chase (Daniel is the other, of course) coming out of Mizzou this year. Patton is big (6'5" 220) and he was highly regarded coming out of high school. For example, he was Rivals #4 QB in the country in 2003, and their #69 overall prospect.

Curtis Painter, QB, Purdue: Painter was in our Top 100 when the season began and was even considered by many before the season started as a potential first round pick after a stellar junior campaign. His senior season was a washout though, as he throw almost as many interceptions (11) as he did TDs (13), and did not look sharp at all. Part of the problem may have been the shoulder injury, and that may have led to some odd delivery issues and a general downgrading of his draft prospects and his overall confidence level, but this game could resurrect him to at least a draftable grade if he has a great week of practice and is fully healthy.

Branden Ore, HB, West Liberty (DII): Ore was a big-school transfer who put up 1,137 yards rushing with 16 TD's back in '06 at Va Tech. He fell into the dog house there and transferred to Division II West Liberty. He has some big league ability but he also has a ton of character and dedication-type issues to address. Hopefully, we'll find out all about Brandon Ore, one way or another, this week.

Devin Moore, HB, Wyoming: Moore is a true blazer who was very productive at a mid-major level. He has good hands, and could be one of the Top 5 fastest draftable backs in the country this year. A guy to definitely follow this week and at the NFL Combine in three weeks.

Nick Moore, WR, Toledo: The MAC is as good a place as any to find diamonds in the rough, and Nick is a big (6'3" 195) wideout who lit up the Michigan Wolverines for 20 catches, good for a career-best 162 yards, this past season. That sent NFL scouts scurrying for more Rockets film. Trust me, this kid can play, and the rest of the country is about to find that out.

Cornelius Lewis, OT, Tennessee State: Lewis comes from the same school as highly-regarded Center prospect Chaz Millard and UL transfer and speedster WR JuJuan Spillman. NFL scouts have rarely spent this kind of time at Tennessee State (of the Ohio Valley Conference), but with DR-C coming out of those ranks last year and Lewis's 6'5" 314 frame, that has been the story this season. Some feel Lewis's feet are good enough for LOT at the next level. We'll find out this week. Cornelius picked up First-team All-FCS honors after a fine senior season.

Zach Potter, DT/3-4DE, Nebraska: Everyone who plays the 3-4 covets guys like Potter. He is 6'6", 286 right now, and could become the next Richard Seymour if he continues to develop. The only current CDS Top 100 performer currently invited to the Tv.N game, he put up 47 tackles, 16 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 7 PBUs, 6 QBHs, 3 blocked kicks and a forced fumble this past season for the Huskers. Getting him to El Paso is an absolute coup for this fledgling all-star game.

Demonte Bolden, DT, Tennessee: The Tennessee enigma may be the best overall physical prospect in El Paso this week. He is a legit 6'4.5" and upwards of 290 pounds--with room to grow, and was considered a Top 5 DT prospect for the 2009 NFL DRAFT by CDS entering the 2008 season before his troubles began. He ended with a very mediocre 35 tackles and 6 TFLs this past year, with NO sacks. He has been invited to the Combine, so El Paso won't be his last rodeo, but it better be a good one.

Maurice Crum, Jr., LB, Notre Dame: Crum is the son of Maurice Crum Sr. who was a big-time player for the "the U" almost twenty years ago. He is a versatile kid who can play any LB slot, and he has the toughness and smarts to at least get some camp looks with a good week in El Paso. Maurice was a 4-year starter in South Bend.

Jovan Belcher, DE/OLB, UMaine: DE Lawrence Sidbury of Richmond has gotten all the acclaim since the season ended as an up-and-coming DE prospect from the CAA. What many people don't know is, he wasn't even the best DE prospect in the CAA this past season! That honor (and CAA DPOTY honors) went to Maine's Jovan Belcher. While he is undersized (6'2.5", 229) and will have to transition to OLB, he has played that slot before and could really open some eyes with a fine week. He makes tackles from the backside constantly, and put up 100 tackles as a DE in 2008. May be as good a prospect to come out of Maine as there has been since Stephen Cooper.

Joe Burnett, CB, Central Florida: Another kid who was very highly rated by CDS entering the 2008 season, but people fell out of love with him over some concerns about his top end speed. He may be a better PR/KR than position player and those questions will have to be answered this week. This is one of only a small handful of guys at the Tv.N Game who COULD find their way onto our Top 100 with a great week in El Paso. Burnett was named all-conference at three positions (cornerback, punt returner, kick returner) this past year, and his versatility keeps him a very intriguing NFL prospect.

Jason Chery is a player I really like. The call him the "Sensation" for a reason. He's a good receiver and a heck of a STs player. He can run the wildcat and is a hardworker. Solid kid who will run a sub 4.4 at the Combine. He played in a spread, but they are a run spread offense not a passing offense. He's got tremendous upside.

http://cdsdraft.com/profile.php?id=3363

I think you mean Deron CHERRY, the former safety for the Chiefs. They are not related.

For all those interested in Jason Boltus, he is due to appear on the Consensus Draft 40 in about 2 weeks from now. Obviously he's busy with practice for this game right now but once this is over I'm going to be interviewing him, so if anyone has any questions they'd like me to put to him then please feel free to PM them to me.

Anyone have any decent updates on the TvN practices? I've read a couple, but they were overly effusive. If the players were half as good as they were being described, they all would have been at the Senior Bowl instead.

I saw that you had Murtha and Potter on the Texas teams? Is that true. I know both are not from Texas and played at Nebraska. Did they do that because they needed help filling out the rosters?

Anyone have any decent updates on the TvN practices? I've read a couple, but they were overly effusive. If the players were half as good as they were being described, they all would have been at the Senior Bowl instead.

Tarrion Adams, RB, Tulsa. Although he moves well laterally, he has not shown the acceleration or explosiveness to get through holes or past would-be tacklers.

*Adrian Grady, DT, Louisville. He has been able to penetrate as a pass rusher by dropping his shoulder and then pulling his arm up and getting inside the guards. Grady also has been effective against the run, showing good strength at the point of attack, shedding blockers and getting in on tackles.

*CB Chris Owens (San Jose State, 5-10, 182): Scouts were buzzing about Owens as possibly the highest-rated prospect on the field. Some teams won't invest a high pick in a smallish corner, but a team will value the playmaking ability, fluid hips and short memory he demonstrated in El Paso.

*OLB Lee Robinson (Alcorn State, 6-2, 249): He could challenge Owens as the top pick from this game because he's a physical specimen, and he can really play. Scouts value a guy like Robinson who can hold up a pulling guard in space but run with backs in coverage down the sideline.

*OT Cornelius Lewis (Tennessee State, 6-4, 324): In today's one-on-ones, Lewis was unbeatable. The Florida State transfer moved his feet and extended his arms to prevent ends from getting anywhere near the quarterback. Although he could be moved inside, Lewis appears most comfortable at the left tackle spot.

*ILB Frantz Joseph (Florida Atlantic, 6-2, 243): Whether in pads or just shells, Joseph made his presence felt in the box. He showed the strength necessary to get off of blocks and the awareness in zone to prevent running backs and tight ends from making yardage after the catch.

*OG T.J. Lang (Eastern Michigan, 6-4, 312): He lined up at tackle, guard and center during the week and won almost every battle. Lang locks up his man, consistently anchoring to prevent the bull rush.

*OT Joel Bell (Furman, 6-6, 312): It's hard to ignore Bell's physically imposing frame. Defensive linemen found it difficult to get around his wide body and long arms, and his straight-line speed is obvious as he gets downfield to block. He'll be among the fastest tackles at the Combine.

*OT Garrett Reynolds (North Carolina, 6-7, 310): Although he could use more strength throughout his frame, Reynolds still manages to keep defensive ends at bay by moving his feet, playing with a wide base and continually working his hands into his man's jersey.

• DT Nader Abdallah (Ohio State, 6-4, 295): Clearly the best defensive lineman in El Paso this week, he was unblockable at times. He lacks the athleticism of the elite prospects at his position, but Ohio State has coached him up to play strong at the point of attack and use his hands to discard leaning guards and centers.

FB Conredge Collins (Pittsburgh, 6-0, 227): Versatility is a major asset for today's NFL fullback. Collins displayed his ability to take his target out of the play, snare passes in the flat and even carry the mail. Those skills could make him a long-time starter.

*WR Jordan Norwood (Penn State, 5-10, 174): An underappreciated receiver, Norwood looked like a BCS-caliber talent, using his suddenness in and out of routes and soft hands to improve his stock going into the Combine.

*TE Ryan Purvis (Boston College, 6-4, 255): A move-the-chains tight end with reliable hands and a willingness to block on the line. He looked more like the guy he was as a junior -- when his quarterback was Matt Ryan -- in practices this week.

*QB Curtis Painter (Purdue, 6-3, 222): Considering his high profile over the past three seasons, Painter should be the top quarterback coming out of this game. His arm strength is clearly the best of the group, and his accuracy -- while not great -- was also the most consistent. This year's quarterback class probably will be weak enough to keep Painter off the free-agent market.

*DE Pierre Walters (Eastern Illinois, 6-4, 269): Flashed pass rush off the edge and his size, occasionally violent hands and strength at the point gives NFL defensive coaches a good foundation for a developmental project.

WR Dudley Guice (Northwestern State, 6-2, 213): Not the fastest guy on the field, but his fluid running, vertical in the red zone and good hands made scouts take a second, third and even fourth look. Dominique Edison (Stephen F. Austin) would have likely made this list if he had not suffered a shoulder injury after his dominant Monday practice. The offensive drills have been dominated by Guice's wide range of catches on fade, deep post, slant and then "go" routes. He displays good concentration, outfighting a double-team once to catch a tipped pass.

*Stephen Hodge, S, TCU. He made a nice leaping interception on one play, an ill-advised pass meant for the running back whom he had blanketed. Hodge shows good instincts in the box, jumping into the backfield to take on blockers and force running backs to turn inside for no gains.

David Johnson, QB, Tulsa. He hasn't been able to get in sync with receivers turning either up or out while he throws short or in. He also threw a bad interception in the flat while trying to connect with his running back who was well covered (by Hodge).

*Branden Ledbetter, TE, Western Michigan. He looks natural running routes, displaying soft hands to catch passes in the flat and down the middle seam.

*Jordan Norwood, WR, Penn State. He is doing well in the drills, constantly gaining separation from defensive backs and making nice catches along the sideline while getting both feet in-bounds.

Chase Patton, QB, Missouri. He is struggling with his accuracy and continues to throw into double coverage in 11-on-11 drills.

*RB Bernard Scott, (Abilene Christian, 5-11, 199): Scouts would like to see another 10-15 pounds on his frame, but his quick feet and vision allow him to weave in and out of traffic like a Porsche on the 405. He shows good vision and instincts slipping through the line of scrimmage and then driving forward as the hole closes gaining more positive yardage. In one practice, he also caught a nice pass along the sideline in the deep flat past the linebacker for a big gain.

Frank Summers, FB, UNLV. He shows power on draw plays, running hard inside and breaking tackles at the line of scrimmage, always keeping his legs moving. On one play, he ran over a linebacker and a defensive back.

The Nation Squad

Stanley Bryant, RT, East Carolina. He is getting out of his stance more quickly now and using hand punch immediately against defensive lineman, an improvement from earlier in the week when he tended to keep his elbows tucked in and his hands on his chest. He also is show quick footwork in pass protection, keeping defensive ends from gaining the edge.

Gerald Cadogan, LT, Penn State. He is performing well in pass protection drills and team drills by using his hands well, getting them up quickly and extending them to keep the pass rusher outside the pocket. On run plays, he shows a good burst off the snap and attacks the linemen pushing them backwards and winning the line of scrimmage.

Tony Carter, CB, Florida State. He shows good ball skills and closing speed. In one practice, he closed quickly to break up a deep pass that was underthrown and then followed that a few plays later by jumping a short-out route for an interception. He shows good instincts and smooth hips to turn and run with receivers.

Jason Chery, WR, Louisiana-Lafayette. He had a great catch toward the end of one practice, going up high in stride on a deep slant, splitting the defensive backs, landing in stride and taking it in for a touchdown.

Davon Drew, TE, East Carolina. He has been inconsistent. He will make some nice catches and show natural skills and then follow it up with a couple of drops.

Will Johnson, DT, Michigan. He tries hard but is a bit overmatched by big offensive linemen. He is not strong enough to get penetration and not quick enough to get around blockers. He must get bigger and stronger to compete on this level.

Jamarko Simmons, WR, Western Michigan. He has had a good couple days of practice, catching a number of balls, showing a nice ability to adjust to passes. He also shows a willingness to block downfield on running plays and screen passes. He shows deceptive speed for a 240-pound wide receiver and always seems to have a step on the cornerback or find the open spots in zones.

Derek Walker, DE, Illinois. He shows a good burst off the snap, shedding blocks and getting to the ball carrier. He never stops hustling and competes on every snap

1/28 Texas vs. The Nation- Day Three

Many scouts came away unimpressed with the personality of Connecticut offensive tackle William Beatty last week. In interviews they said he seemed soft and not the type of player you want to got to war with.

Here's a breakdown by position of Wednesday's practice at the Texas versus the Nation game.

Quarterback

Jason Boltus/Hartwick: Boltus had another solid day and has impressed scouts with the speed of his passes and ability to get the ball downfield.

Drew Willy/Buffalo: Scouts like Willy's smarts, his feel for the game and pocket awareness. What they don't like are the marginal physical skills as the UB passer cannot drive the ball or zip the outs. The opinion is Willy is too smart not to make an NFL roster yet too weak armed to be a starter.

Mike Teel/Rutgers: Teel has shown good arm strength yet his accuracy is another story altogether. All week he's been over the place with his throws and constantly over shoots targets, which has been a concern.

David Johnson/Tulsa: The term to describe Johnson is "not bad". He's very accurate inside of 30-yards but struggles to put juice on passes outside of that. This is interesting as anyone who watched Tulsa this season saw Johnson hook up for 40-yard and 50-yard passes with Brennan Marion on a regular basis.

Running Backs

Tarrion Adams/Tulsa: Has had a solid week of practice. Adams has been very quick and shows a great burst.

Devin Moore/Wyoming: Moore has done a great job catching the ball the past three days. He's shown terrific quickness in all aspects of his game.

Anthony Kimble/Stanford: Another running back catching the ball well, scouts think Kimble could be used at receiver in the NFL. Then again when handed the ball he's shown the ability to beat defenders around the corner.

Frank Summers/UNLV: Scouts have been gushing over Summers, whom they compare to a mini-Jerome Bettis. Summers has shown a powerful, short stride and great strength in his running. He's had people bouncing off him and has been impossible to tackle. Another scouts compared him to a shorter version of Le'Ron McLain.

Wide Receivers

Johnny Knox/Abilene Christian: Knox has been terrific. He's run good routes showing great quickness in and out of breaks and is also deceptively fast. Knox has caught everything thrown in his direction this week.

Offensive Linemen

T.J. Lange/Eastern Michigan: Lange has been off the charts this week. One scout we spoke with whose been to all three all-star games (East-West, Senior, Texas), said Lange has looked as good as anyone. He's shown terrific strength, athleticism and versatility. Lange has effectively played guard, tackle and even snapped a few balls at center. He's definitely helped himself this week.

Dallas Reynolds/BYU: Reynolds has shown terrific strength and a great anchor all week. He's sets well in pass protection and easily controls the defender.

Robert Brewster/Ball State: Brewster's natural athleticism is apparent to all but he came in with a bit of a belly and looks sloppy. He needs to get stronger but has definitely shown the ability to play at the next level.

Maurice Miller/Mississippi: Miller has shown great strength and straight ahead power all week. He's a bit stiff which may force a move into guard where Miller's area responsibilities will be limited.

Joel Bell/Furman: Bell has been disappointing for the most part. He definitely looks the part but does not play to it. Bell has been bull rushed by opponents and struggles moving laterally.

Michael Brown/Mississippi State: Brown has been one of the biggest surprises of the week. He's looked athletic, shows nice footwork and flexibility.

Alex Fletcher/Stanford: Fletcher had another tough day on Wednesday. He's getting beat straight up and as one scout put it to us, his bark is bigger than his bite.

Defensive Line

Rulon Davis/Cal: Davis, who was starting to put the pieces together this year before being sidelined with a knee injury, has looked sharp in practice. He's got a long, lean build, shows a lot of athleticism and is very quick. Davis has shown good edge speed and if he can't get to the passer he'll get his long arms up to knock the pass away. He's displayed a lot of hustle this week and has helped his stock.

Pierre Walters/Eastern Illinois: Walters measured in at 6-feet, 4-inches and 268-pounds but scouts feel he can get up as high as 290-pounds. He's displayed good speed off the edge and a nice degree of athleticism. Scouts feel Walters could be drafted in the late rounds and favorably compare him to San Diego Charger defensive end Jacques Cesaire.

Terrance Knighton/Temple: Knighton, who weighed in at 320-pounds, has shown flashes but has been inconsistent. He wears down over the course of practice because of his size and scouts are concerned he's the type of player who could balloon up to 400-pounds. That said he's shown NFL type skill this week and will play at the next level if he keeps his weight in check.

Zach Potter/Nebraska: Potter has been impressive this week. He needs to get stronger yet scouts feel he is a good long term developmental prospect and think Potter has done enough to solidify himself as a mid-round pick.

Louis Ellis/Shaw: Ellis has been described as a "throw back type"; a big, strong, tough interior lineman who improved as the week went on. He needs reps yet is another prospect scouts feel has a large upside.

Linebackers

Jovan Belcher/Maine: Belcher has looked terrific all week and scouts have been raving about his skills. He's been athletic and shows good range on the field as well as skill in coverage. Belcher has lined up at weak-side linebacker and in the middle. Scouts feel he has a little Adalius Thomas in him and the Green Bay Packers have been all over Belcher. John Dorsey has spent a lot of time with Belcher and his agent as he thinks the IAA defender will be a perfect fit for the Packers new 3-4 alignment.

Frantz Joseph/Florida Atlantic: Joseph has been strong, dominant and is showing speed many did not know he had.

Antonio Appleby/Virginia: Very athletic, Appleby has show a lot of skill in coverage and has made plays all over the field.

Defensive Backs

Londen Fryar/Western Michigan: Fryar looks like the son of an NFL football player. He's strong, athletic and displays great hips. Was it enough to overcome his poor senior season? Unlikely but scouts will now rethink their opinion of Fryar.

Lydell Sargeant/Penn State: Sargeant's small frame has been a problem. He's been out positioned and out jumped for passes all week.

Mark Parson/Ohio: Parson has been terrible this week. He can't flip his hips, is stiff and was beaten several times on Wednesday.

Kevin Akins/Boston College: Akins again looked good. He was athletic and very aggressive during the full scrimmage.

Today the Nation practice was the one that felt off and out of synch. The wind was strong at times, but it was also gusting for the morning Texas practice. The defense seemed to have the upper hand in 11 on 11’s, especially against the run.

QB
Curtis Painter(Purdue) - Painter’s quick decisions, quick setup, and efficient release stood out again today. He sees the field with clarity and puts decent zip on his short and intermediate passes. We haven’t seen him throw deep too often, but that’s partially because he’s very good at throwing quickly to an open receiver when a corner is giving him too much cushion. Painter had some stretches where he was off, but when he was on, he was spot on - especially on play action fakes, when he sometimes displayed a great sense of exactly where the receiver would be in his route.

Mike Teel(Rutgers) - Teel was one of the more patient QBs here, going through his reads deliberately. His arm strength is average at best, but he does put good touch on the short stuff. He seems to be a very limited upside QB.

Drew Willy(Buffalo) - We love Willy because unlike most QBs in all-star practices, he loves to test the defense deep. He reads the safeties, and if they’re not giving deep help, he throws a high arcing deep ball to give the wide receiver a chance to make the play (and the DB, which is just as illuminating for us). Willy’s gunslinger mentality is obvious, and we think it’s more encouraging when a QB is not afraid to make mistakes than when he is too cautious. Willy also put good zip on his short and intermediate throws. Between his aggressiveness and solid mechanics, he’ll make a good project QB.

Jason Boltus(Hartwick) - After two days of watching Boltus, it’s clear - he throws with the most velocity of any QB we’ve seen in the last three weeks. Unfortunately, he even throws frozen ropes on checkdowns and other short passes. He is relatively accurate with his passes and he knows he can throw into small windows because of his ball speed. Boltus has not demonstrated the ability to throw good touch passes or drop the ball into spots.

RB

All of the Nation RBs had a rough time showing us anything in 11 on 11 because the defensive line was controlling the line of scrimmage.

Brannan Southerland(Georgia) - Southerland had a good day as a receiver, adjusting well to poorly thrown balls. He caught most everything thrown his way, but he wasn’t always a hands catcher.

Yonus Davis(San Jose State) - Davis is very reminiscent of Cory Ross, a Nebraska RB we watched at the 2006 Shrine Game who is currently a free agent, but had a nice season finale with the Ravens in 2007. He’s built very low to the ground - Maurice Jones-Drew low - but he does use that compact build to make sudden cuts, losing little speed in and out of his breaks. Davis is also a nice little receiver, adjusting well to balls thrown outside of his frame. He’s got great feet through trash and should be able to at least have a career similar to Ross.

Branden Ore(West Liberty State) - Ore had a terrific one handed catch, and he’s clearly a natural hands catcher, but he had to be corrected by Nation head coach Howard Schnellenberger because he had too much stutter in his routes. Schnellenberger even used Canadian RB Jamall Lee, who is learning the ropes of American football this week, as an example for Ore to copy.

Anthony Kimble(Stanford) - Kimble is reminding us of James Johnson, a running back from Kansas State who played in this game last year and got on the field for the Bengals this year. Like Johnson, Kimble has a wide receiver build (high cut, narrow hips) and he’s an excellent receiver out of the backfield. Kimble showed terrific concentration hauling in a few balls he bobbled at first. He also showed good vision and moves in traffic, but he does run upright, so he’s easy to bring down. Kimble has gotten blown up a few times as a pass blocker, so that part of his 3rd down back game is missed.

Conredge Collins(Pittsburgh) - It’s too bad for Collins that the west coast offense is out of vogue, because he’d be a perfect WCO fullback. Collins is very quick in his routes and an outstanding receiver out of the backfield. He’s also a good blocker, but not a lead blocking slobberknocker. His versatility will be valuable at the next level, but he might have to bulk up from his current weight of 225 to find a role in the NFL.

WR/TE
Dobson Collins(Gardner-Webb) - We like Collins because he does all of the little things very well. He sinks his hips well in routes and clearly has worked on route precision and efficiency. He has a good burst off the line, quickly eating up the cushion, and good speed in and out of his breaks. Collins also has a second gear to separate deep, and he’s not afraid to go over the middle. His hands are soft and consistent and he can catch balls thrown outside of his frame. He’s not an exceptional athlete, but he’s good enough to make it if he stays devoted to mastering his craft.

John Matthews(San Diego) - Matthews is very quick, with good hands, and a great feel for finding the soft spot in the zone. He completely broke down Jahi Word-Daniels on one great route, and his loose hips flip open instantly to go into run after catch mode. Matthews keeps DBs on their heels with his good burst off the line, and he looks like an advanced receiver.

Nick Moore(Toledo) - Moore had a rough day today. He was outmuscled out of a few close balls, and he seemed to hear footsteps on a catch over the middle that got broken up. Moore looked especially slow in his release. He did flash a few good high point catches that highlight the best part of his game.

Jamarko Simmons(Western Michigan) - Simmons started slow with a few drops of easy passes, but he got going in 11 on 11s, with one great deep catch down the sideline in tight quarters where he used his size and strength to defeat the smaller defensive back. He’s not sudden, but his moves in his routes are effective enough to create separation once he’s up to speed. It does take longer than some of the smaller wideouts for Simmons to get up to speed, but he still eats up the cushion fast enough to put pressure on the corner. Simmons also squares back to the QB on short and intermediate routes, providing a big target.

Jaison Williams(Oregon) - Williams flashed great moves and speed for a huge wide receiver, but his hands, routes, and ability to turn quickly and locate the ball in flight were inconsistent and he looks like he’ll continue to be a disappointing tease as he enters the next phase of his career.

Jason Chery(Louisiana-Lafayette) - Chery was fighting the ball at first and but eventually got on track and made similar plays to the dynamic catches he posted on Monday. Chery’s speed is good and he can get open deep and finish the deal with good catches once the ball arrives.

Ryan Purvis(TE- Boston College) - Purvis continues to be the best hands catcher here and he adjusts to the ball in flight very well - rotating his body like John Carlson when the ball is thrown behind him. He also showed good handfighting in his routes and release and the ability to push off subtly to get open in close quarters.

Davon Drew(TE- East Carolina) - Drew hit the deck a lot today, sprawling to make attempts at errant passes or trying to make tough grabs in traffic. His athleticism is still apparent, getting off the line quickly and into his routes, and he did come down with a few of those contested balls.

OL

Rich Ohrnberger(OL-Penn State) - Ohrnberger gave max effort on every snap, just like he did yesterday, and he showed especially good ankle flex to absorb the pass rush. He’s not a high upside prospect, but guys like Ohrnberger hang around the league for a long time.

Garrett Reynolds(OT-North Carolina) - Reynolds still lacks the staggering punch and quick feet you want in a left tackle prospect, but he still moved pretty well for a huge man and absorbed the rush well when he faced up to the pass rush. He did struggle against straight speed rushers.

CJ Davis(C/G-Pitt) - Davis was strong at the point of attack and moved very well getting downfield to make blocks on screen passes and running plays, but he didn’t always locate someone to block.

TJ Lang(G/T-Eastern Michigan) - Lang had a few outstanding plays when he just dismissed his opponent, and one especially great play, disposing Pierre Walters into the backfield as the running back was going by, then moving quickly to help Conredge Collins seal the edge so the back could get to the corner.

DEF

Khalif Mitchell(DT-East Carolina) - Mitchell had a less exciting day today, unless you count the time he also got into a fight with an offensive lineman. His strength and energy is eye-catching, but he was getting beaten consistently because of a lack of technique and leverage.

Terrance Knighton(DT-Temple) - Knighton again pushed back his opponent in the pit like he was on ice skates, but we did see him leave the field with a trainer part way through the practice.

Demonte Bolden(DT-Tennessee) - Bolden had a much better day today, penetrating vs the run and pass, and displaying a great motor throughout.

Derek Walker(DE-Illinois) - Walker was often the guy beating Garrett Reynolds with the speed rush, and he also flashed unstoppable handfighting technique to get free on a few reps.

Will Johnson(DT-Michigan) - Johnson is a try hard guy who gives max effort on every play even though he doesn’t hold up well at the point of attack. He does have an uncanny knack for getting his hands up to disrupt passing lanes as the QB is about to release the ball and seems to project well as a 3-4 DE at the next level.

Frantz Joseph(ILB-Florida Atlantic) - Joseph is flat out fun to watch. He plays with a natural violence that would fit in with players like Ray Lewis and Jack Lambert, and he’ll blow up running backs and offensive lineman with the same zest and effectiveness. He looked good against the pass today, using body position to cover faster RBs, and breaking well on the ball in flight and timing his breakups to avoid penalties.

Kevin Malast(LB-Rutgers) - Malast has shown terrific instincts flowing to the play, and fights hard, even defeating an offensive linemen double team on a screen pass. He has a nose for the ball and just seems like a guy who will catch on with good special teams play and hunger.

Antonio Appleby(ILB-Virginia) - Appleby, like Joseph, seems to relish the chance to hit offensive players. He flows well to the ballcarrier on running plays, and flies to the ball when he has a lane. Appleby has great size, but he doesn’t defeat blockers as well as Joseph.

Joe Burnett(CB-Central Florida) - Burnett continues to look like a veteran among youngsters, jumping Nick Moore’s comeback way too easily (it would have been an interception if it wasn’t a poorly thrown ball), and generally knowing what the wide receiver is going to do at the moment he does it. Burnett drives on the ball in flight well and always competes hard to break up passes without making plays that would draw obvious penalties. We haven’t got a chance to see him return kicks and punts yet this week, but it will be a big part of Burnett’s value to his eventual NFL team. Burnett is definitely one of the five or ten best players at this game.

Colt Anderson(S- Montana) - Anderson does two things well - he positions himself well to make plays while keeping receivers in front of him, and he comes up to support the run very instinctively. Anderson collected two interceptions today, one on a deflection and one on an overthrow. He was in the mix on many running plays, and his natural inclinations usually took him straight to the ball and almost never out of the play. He only goes about 190, but he throws his body around to make tackles on much larger players. Anderson will be an underdog to make it in the NFL because he might not be fast enough to be a center fielder or big enough to be a strong safety, but his instincts are top notch.

Tony Carter(CB-Florida State) - Carter was the defensive star of the Nation practice with multiple interceptions, including one where he read the QBs eyes all the way, and a non-chalant break-up of a deep ball when Jamarko Simmons got a step on him late in the practice during 11 on 11s. He’s a gambler, but he knows when to pick his moments.

Mark Parson(CB-Ohio) - Parson had an interception on a tipped ball and generally blanketed his assignment all day. He would be standing out if it wasn’t for the excellent play of Carter and Burnett.

7 on 7

The seven on sevens (or “skelly”) between Texas and Nation was mostly filled with checkdowns and errant passes. There were a few great moments:

- Davon Drew (TE-East Carolina) made an athletic, leaping catch, only to have Reshard Langford(S-Vanderbilt) separate him from the ball. Drew later did a good job sitting down in a soft spot to make a play.

- Dudley Guice (WR-Northwestern St-La.) kept his week of making plays going with a catch of a low ball over the middle.

- John Matthews (WR-San Diego) got behind the defense and caught a long bomb from Mike Teel(QB-Rutgers) for a TD.

- Mark Parson (CB-Ohio) jumped a deep out from Chase Patton (QB-Missouri) and returned it for a TD, even though Patton looked to the other side of the field before turning to deal to the opposite sideline.

- Lardarius Webb (DB-Nicholls St) made an aggressive pass breakup, continuing his momentum from an excellent week of practice.

The Pit

The Pit was scintillating - One sideline, Texas offensive lineman battled with Nation defensive lineman, and their counterparts clashed on the other. The reps were staggered to give us non-stop action from the big uglies. Every player got at least five reps, and against opponents, so we got to see how they matched up against players with different strengths. Here’s a summary of most player’s highlights of the drill:

OL

Alex Fletcher (C-Stanford) had an outstanding day, pancaking Zach Potter, handling Nader Abdallah, Driving Potter outside when they met again, and defeating Rulon Davis because he didn’t let Davis get his arms free to fight.
Rich Ohrnberger (G-Penn State) stood up junkyard dog Adrian Grady to win once, and in another battle, he was not daunted by Grady’s spin, and in yet another tilt between the two combatants, he absorbed Grady’s punch.
Gerald Cadogan (OT-Penn State) ran Cyril Obiozor way past the QB when he tried to speed rush him.
Jose Valdez (OT-Arkansas had a dominant day. He absorbed Julius Williams bull rush and threw him down, and he used good feet and strength, to hold up Derek Walker. We didn’t see Valdez get beat all day
Stanley Bryant (OT-East Carolina stymied Henry Melton, absorbed Ian Campbell’s signature grab and push to thwart him.
Robert Brewster (OT-Ball State) won most every battle with good feet. He absorbed Derek Walker one on rep, gave ground to Walker, but guided him past the QB on another, and pushed Walker past QB in a third matchup.
TJ Lang (G/T- Eastern Michigan) has emerged as one of the best offensive linemen here. He batted Nader Abdallah around, not giving him any ground, he absorbed a Rulon Davis punch before defeating him, he lifted Cyril Obiozor off his feet, and in one of the two or three most impressive wins of the day, he beat Adrian Grady to the punch off the snap and kept him at the line of scrimmage.
Cornelius Lewis (OT-Tennessee State) passed with flying colors as we didn’t see him get beat or even statemated once. He absorbed Pierre Walters bullrush easily, dominated Ataefiok Etukeran, and later he mirrored Walters speed rush with ease.
Garrett Reynolds (OT-North Carolina) hung tough on most battles with good feet, using them to anchor and hold his ground, and also to recover when initially beaten.
Dallas Reynolds (C-BYU) held up massive Terrance Knighton, and he was one of the few to beat Khalif Mitchell when he stood him up at the snap.
Colin Brown (OT-Missouri) displayed nimble feet for a man mountain, and pancaked Julius Williams.
Blake Schlueter (C-TCU) was the most technically sound offensive lineman in the pit. He absorbed a heavy club from Terrance Knighton and regained his feet on his most impressive rep.
CJ Davis (C/G-Pitt) didn’t let Nader Abdallah move him with a push pull, and mirrored Abdallah’s spin.
Lydon Murtha (OT-Nebraska) was light on his feet, but he also pancaked Pierre Walters, and he recovered well after getting pushed back initially by Julius Williams.
Jeremy Davis (G-NW Missouri St) was often beaten at first, but he showed nice recovery more than once. He also absorbed Terrance Knighton’s bullrush, and deftly mirrored Demonte Bolden after a nice spin move.
Roger Allen III(G-Missouri Western) beat Knighton with brute strength and pancaked Khalif Mitchell
Andrew Hartline (G/T-Central Michigan) had a great day, generally owning Nader Abdallah, literally absorbing Abdallah’s best shot on one rep, and getting a good push off the snap on another.

DL

Zach Potter (DL-Nebraska) got outmuscled a few times, but after his coach implored him to “use your hands”, he kept his Nick Hennessey (OL-Colgate) from getting into him and won easily.
Terrance Knighton (DT-Temple) used his swim to win twice, once almost untouched, and flashed a strong club and punch on Maurice Miller (OL-Ole Miss)
Khalif Mitchell (DT-East Carolina) was a force today. He handfought successfully to get free from Dallas Reynolds, beat Roger Allen easily once, and beat Maurice Miller easy once. He used his strength, to get an incredible push on Schlueter to defeat him.
Demonte Bolden (DT-Tennessee) won most of his battles, jolting back Michael Brown (OL-Alabama A&M), and running one of the best motors in the pit.
Cyril Obiozor (DE-Texas A&M) landed a crushing strike on Joel Bell (OT-Furman), got under Cadogan to beat him once, and looked exceptionally quick one on rep as a DT.
Rulon Davis (DL-California) flashed an awesome outside swim that forced Michael Brown to tear his shirt trying to hang on. Davis’s handfighting was the best of any defensive lineman. He used it to keep Ohrnberger from getting into him one on decisive win.
Ian Campbell (DE-Kansas State) held his opponent’s hands and pushed him back into the QB on one win, just as he had earlier in the week.
Louis Ellis (DT-Shaw) landed a great punch on Hennessey, and his devastating punch on Bryant made the coach say “It’s about time” He was beaten initially by Michael Brown, but used a spin to win, and he also beat Ohrnberger with a great initial push.
Henry Melton (DE-Texas) abused Bell with a club and spin to win about as quickly as anyone won in the pit today, and beat Garrett Reynolds with brute strength.
Adrian Grady (DT-Louisville) has won us over. He crushed Hennessey - who skidded a few yards after Grady struck him, and like Bolden, Grady won with his energy and motor on most reps.
Moton Hopkins III (DE-Tulsa) won with his motor after absorbing Garrett Reynolds best punch of the day.
Ataefiok Etukeran (DE-Georgetown) won with a push pull.
Nader Abdallah (DT-Ohio State) eluded his opponent with a perfect swim (but fell on the way to the QB), and he executed a good bull rush when Michael Brown popped up too quickly and got too high.
Will Johnson (DT-Michigan) slapped Schlueter to stagger him and win in the pit.


The Scrimmage

Two QBs from each team got to guide the offense for five plays, or until they turn ball over or scored. There was a crew of five officials governing the plays, and the energy from the sidelines was palpable, especially the Texas sideline.

David Johnson(Tulsa)
- Demonte Bolden sack, after Roger Allen III missed his assignment
- A 4-5 yard pass to Jordan Norwood (WR-Penn State), Colt Anderson (S-Montana) came up to hit him very quickly
- Bernard Scott had a short run, Anderson comes up to make the tackle again
- Johnson left too early from a good pocket established by Valdez and Brewster and ran for a short gain. Turnover on Downs

Mike Teel(Rutgers)
- Abdallah blew up a running play with a swim over Hartline, 2 yard loss by Anthony Kimble (RB-Stanford)
- Teel sailed two passes over Dobson Collins (WR-Gardner Webb) head - Collins was open on both
- A first down on a pass to Collins on a 15 yard square in, He got behind Michael Reed (LB-Central Oklahoma) in his drop and got seven yards running after the catch
- James Holt(LB-Kansas) stripped the ball from Kimble on a draw after about 9 yards, Brannan Southerland (FB-Georgia) threw a crushing lead block

Sean Glennon(Virginia Tech)
- Tarrion Adams (RB-Tulsa) showed good leg drive after contact at two yards on a five yard gain, Antonio Appleby(LB-Virginia) fought through a block to make the play
- Glennon airmailed a pass because Etukeran pushed Colin Brown back into Glennon as he was throwing
- Glennon hit Mike Jones (WR-Arizona St) on a deep out. Jones made the tough catch with great extension of his long frame, Parson had tight coverage. Gain of 13 yards
- Glennon sidestepped pressure from Will Johnson and moved up in the pocket to hit Johnny Knox (WR-Abilene Christian) for a 47 yard TD. Knox torched his man with at least five yards of separation when he reeled in the catch. The Texas sideline flooded onto the field and celebrated like they had won the Super Bowl.

Curtis Painter(Purdue)
- Conredge Collins (FB/RB-Pitt) had a nice run on first down up the gut for nine yards. He made a subtle but effective cut to find the hole
- Rashad Bobino (LB-Texas) stopped Yonus Davis (RB-San Jose State) for no gain
- A miscommunication between Jason Chery and Painter (Chery went out, Painter threw an in) caused an incompletion
- Zach Potter tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage
- Jaison Williams had a nice downfield 15 yard catch from Painter on a deep out

Thanks Bill... can always count on you!