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**TEBOW’S DRAFT FUTURE**

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1 - Dane Brugler

This past week on the Dan Patrick Radio Show, former Super Bowl winning Head Coach Tony Dungy joined Patrick to discuss a few topics, including Tim Tebow’s NFL future. Not only did Dungy say that Tebow is a first round pick, but that if he ran St. Louis, he would select the Florida QB in the top ten. When asked if he would take Tebow over other QB prospects Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), Colt McCoy (Texas), Jake Locker (Washington), and Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame), Dungy said yes, he would take Tebow.

Now, I have a lot of respect for Dungy because of his accomplishments on and off the field, but I have to disagree vehemently with him on this topic. Not only should Tebow not be drafted in the top ten, but he shouldn’t be drafted in the first two rounds. If I am running an NFL team and need a QB, I wouldn’t even think about drafting Tebow until the third round and even then I would understand that he won’t contribute on the field, at least at QB, until probably two years down the road. His elongated throwing motion, suspect vision, and streaky accuracy are just a few of the issues Tebow faces at the next level, not to mention that his rushing ability will be almost a non-factor in the NFL.

With that said, there are a lot of things to like about Tebow, most notably the guy is simply a winner and telling him that he can’t will only make him try harder. He has a lot of the same traits as Ben Roethlisberger because both are thickly built, can take hits, and have the mobility to extend plays and allow receivers to get open. Tebow is a lot more battle tested with four years of experience in the SEC and faced tougher opposition than Roethlisberger did at Miami of Ohio. However, Tebow takes 95% of the snaps at Florida from shotgun formation and he will have to transition to under-center and adhere to a more pro-style offense. In last year’s Senior Bowl, Graham Harrell really struggled taking snaps from under the center and it scared enough NFL teams away that he went undrafted.

There are a lot of questions about Tebow’s future and I just don’t understand an NFL team investing first round money into a guy with so much unknown. Like I stated before, I wouldn’t think about Tebow until the third round, but I have a feeling a team will gamble on him somewhere in the first round. Jacksonville will be tempted not only because it would appeal to fans (which the Jaguars need to do), but also because the Jags and Head Coach Jack Del Rio have taken chances on “athletes with potential” in the first round in the past (i.e. Arkansas’ Matt Jones).

After the season ends, expect the Tebow debate to really heat up...

**RED RIVER RIVALRY**

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15 - Dane Brugler

The biggest collegiate event in Dallas every season occurs in mid-October when Texas and Oklahoma meet for the Red River Rivalry. Besides the obvious reasons, the 2009 edition shouldn’t disappoint. Oklahoma wants revenge on the Longhorns for winning this match up last season and Texas wants to beat the Sooners for advancing to the BCS National Championship last January because of the tie-breaker in the Big 12.

To me, the biggest storyline to watch are the quarterbacks. Many professional scouts project Texas’ Colt McCoy and Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford as top 15 picks in the NFL Draft come April, but both players enter this game with several questions.

McCoy was thought to be a Heisman frontrunner entering the 2009 season, but he hasn’t lived up to the hype despite a more-than-easy schedule for Texas thus far through five games. He is completing 73.4% of his passes, but has thrown six interceptions already (McCoy only threw eight all of last season). McCoy will be facing a very talented Oklahoma defense, but the Sooners have a suspect secondary, allowing 202.4 yards per game through the air (ranked 47th in FBS).

Bradford returned last week to face Baylor and showed some rust, but still passed for 389 yards, but completed just 55.1% of his passes and just one touchdown. He missed the last month with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder, but his arm strength looked dominant against the Bears. Bradford probably doesn’t have a chance to get back in the Heisman race, but he does need a strong performance the rest of the 2009 season if Bradford wishes to enter the draft early and be a top draft pick.

The Longhorns are undefeated and with a good game, McCoy will return to the top of most Heisman lists. As for the NFL? Bradford is widely considered the far superior prospect and there is no doubt in my mind that he is the better pro prospect. The Draft Source ranks Bradford as the top underclassman quarterback and should be a top five pick when he decides to enter the draft. As for McCoy, he reminds me a lot of John Beck, the former BYU QB and 2007 second round pick of the Miami Dolphins. McCoy might end up being a first round pick in April, but for my money, I wouldn’t take McCoy in the first 40 picks of the draft.

**MISSOURI vs. NEBRASKA**

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 - Dane Brugler

Over the past decade with the growth of ESPN in prime time, college football night games during the week have become much more common. This Thursday, a Big 12 North battle will take place that could determine a lot for the conference, but will also put several NFL Draft prospects on display - including a few possible first rounders.

DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, SR - Suh is currently rated as The Draft Source’s top senior and third overall prospect. After a breakout junior campaign, Suh has picked up exactly where he left off with a great start to his senior season. Pronounced En-dom-ah-ken Soo, he leads the Huskers in several defensive categories including total tackles (26), tackles for loss (6.0), and sacks (2.0). Suh is a defensive playmaker who is rarely kept quiet - expect him to put a lot of pressure on Missouri’s sophomore QB Blaine Gabbert. PROJECTION: Top 10 Overall Pick

OLB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri, SR - Weatherspoon is currently rated as The Draft Source’s top outside linebacker prospect and fifth overall senior prospect. As a junior in 2008, he led all of FBS in tackles with 155 and led Missouri in tackles for loss (13.5), passes broken up (7), and interceptions (3). Weatherspoon explored his draft stock for the 2009 NFL Draft, but received a third round projection and returned for his senior season. So far in 2009, “Spoon” leads the Tigers in total tackles (38), including three for loss and one sack. At 6’2” 245 lbs, Weatherspoon has ideal size for a weakside linebacker and runs a 4.5 40 yard dash. PROJECTION: 1st Round

WR Danario Alexander, Missouri, SR - Alexander has excellent size (6’5”, 210 lbs.), but there are some questions about his overall speed (4.6 40 yard dash) and ability to separate. He is currently ranked as the ninth best senior wide receiver prospect and has a chance to move up with a strong finish to his senior year. Through four games, Alexander leads Missouri in most receiving categories, averaging seven catches, 101 yards, and a touchdown per game. He has the size and frame that cannot be coached so Alexander has a chance to be a solid #2 wideout in the NFL. PROJECTION: 3rd-4th Round

OTHER DRAFT-ELIGIBLE PROSPECTS TO WATCH:

MISSOURI: RB Derrick Washington (JR), WR Jared Perry (SR), G Kurtis Gregory (SR), C Tim Barnes (JR), DT Jaron Baston (SR), CB Carl Gettis (JR)

NEBRASKA: RB Roy Helu (JR), FB Quentin Castille (JR), WR Menelik Holt (SR), WR Niles Paul (JR), TE Mike McNeill (SR), C Jacob Hickman (SR), DE Barry Turner (SR), LB Phillip Dilliard (SR), S Larry Asante (SR), S Ricky Thenarse (SR), K Alex Henery (JR)

**DEZ BRYANT RULED INELIGIBLE**

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7 - Dane Brugler

The Oklahoma State football program announced on Wednesday that junior WR Dez Bryant has been ruled ineligible for violating NCAA bylaws. The University issued this statement from Bryant: “I made a mistake by not being entirely truthful when meeting with the NCAA. I sincerely regret my mistake and apologize to my teammates, coaches, OSU fans and the NCAA.”

Click HERE for the story from the Dallas Morning News.

Bryant, who is ranked as the fourth best overall prospect for the 2010 NFL Draft according to the Draft Board, is widely considered the top wideout in the nation. Something tells me we haven’t heard the last from this incident and the details that are sure to emerge will paint the picture that is Bryant’s draft stock.