Sparty On (ESPN):
The worldwide leader's preseason top 20 Roundtable previews Michigan State. Some interesting stuff in that video. A discussion on the Wolverines should be coming this week and we'll have a link up when that happens.
ESPN's 2012 preseason top 25:
1. USC
2. LSU
3. Alabama
4. Oregon
5. Oklahoma
6. Georgia
7. Florida St.
8. South Carolina
9. Arkansas
10. Michigan
11.
West Virginia
12.
Michigan State
13.
Kansas State
14.
TCU
15.
Stanford
16.
Wisconsin
17.
Nebraska
18.
Clemson
19.
Virginia Tech
20.
Ohio State
21. Oklahoma State
22. Texas
23. Boise State
24. Notre Dame
25. Florida
Some quick thoughts:
I'd flip USC and LSU.
Oregon is ranked too high.
5 SEC teams in the top 10. Arkansas could unravel into shambles without Petrino and Georgia seems overrated to me.
Is Florida State the new Notre Dame? Weren't they preseason top 5 last year only to have a mediocre season?
2013 NFL Prospects:
An ESPN insider article reveals Mel Kiper's early Big Board for the 2013 NFL draft. To interest of this blog, he has multiple Spartans and a Wolverine among his top 25 NFL prospects.
Michigan Junior left tackle Taylor Lewan comes in at #12 on Kiper's board. He would be declaring early and this seems like a projection by Kiper but Lewan is certainly an NFL talent. He would need to have a monster junior season as an All-American to reach this lofty status. Kiper has Lewan as the second tackle on the board behind Alabama's DJ Fluker.
Surprisingly (to me at least) Kiper has Michigan State's Johnny Adams as the #14 player on his big board, ahead of teammates William Gholston (17th) and Le'Veon Bell (21st). MSU has some serious talent to have 3 guys with first round potential.
I'm skeptical about most of these guys other than Gholston as I think NFL teams will love his freak athleticism. Johnny Adams is a good player but I never was wowed by him like you usually are by first round draft picks. Bell will be an interesting guy to see where he goes in the draft as he is a bruising back who still has very good feet and speed. Still, it's interesting to me he's rated ahead of a guy like Montee Ball, who has had such a productive collegiate career.
Obviously absent from this list is Denard Robinson. Kiper ranks Denard among his top senior WR's, which seems like the position Denard will play in the pros but is a bit funny since he's never played the position in his career (other than the occasional Devin Gardner package play). I'm curious to see where Denard can go in next year's draft, I think his elite elusiveness will have some team believing he can be a difference maker in some role. Maybe a third or fourth round pick?
Better college production does not necessarily mean better nfl draft prospect, especially for QBs and RBs.
ReplyDeleteVery true.
ReplyDeleteObviously production is not just an individual thing and a guy like Montee Ball probably is looked at as being a product of the dominant offensive line at Wisconsin. Still, when you watch him play you understand that Ball is a difference maker.
Leveon Bell has also been a difference maker at times but I'd want to see quite a bit more out of him before I'd be excited if my NFL team selected him in the first round.
I guess I simply hadn't considered either Johnny Adams or Bell as first round draft choices in their play last year so I was surprised by Kipers list. Gholston on the other hand is just so physically imposing and while his production and consistency will need to improve he has always had that type of talent.
I liked Adams as a pro after last year. Hes physical, hes fast and he has ball skills. Right now hes better than every CB the lions have, talent wise.
ReplyDeleteId be shocked if bell goes pro unless he has 1200, in which case we might run the table.
If Denard was taller hed be a top 15 pick.
also, i mostly agree with you assessment of the top 25. I will say I think we should be ranked higher than you, but thats been debated plenty on here. and im not gonna complain at #12 pre season. FSU made a bowl game last year and interestingly enough beat ND in the Champs sports bowl.
ReplyDeletekansas st seems really high at #13. I like Wisconsin there more.
Whats everyone else think?
On Bell...how many running backs are drafted in the first round without rushing for 1000 yards in a college season?
ReplyDeleteActually agree more with Pat on the draft prospects. I picture Adams as more of a 2nd or 3rd round guy. Seems like Kiper is really projecting with Bell. He has shown flashes, but you're right his overall production isn't 1st round level.
ReplyDeleteStill for the first half of last season Baker was getting more carries. Bell has a major opportunity as the clear cut #1 this year. If he has a really big year I guess I can see him jumping up there.