Copyright © 2006-2008 Pro Draft Guide - Draft Factory Publishing. All rights reserved.
Last Update: May 15, 2008

The 2009 Small School Prospect List is here! This fall, while you are watching the big dogs from the SEC, Pac-10, Big Ten, and so forth, keep the small school
prospects in mind as guys from Jerry Rice to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie have always had an impact on how the draft went. Without further adieu...

Quarterbacks

Mike Reilly, Central Washington (6'3", 215 lbs.)
-Reilly is a transfer from Washington with a strong arm. He has good footwork and can buy time within and around the pocket. Reilly has a gunslinger mentality
so watch out for how many interceptions he throws in 2008.

Terry Mayo, Texas A&M Commerce (6'3", 240 lbs.)
-The second coming of Chris Weinke. He is currently 28 years old but has good size for a quarterback and a great arm. His pocket presence is outstanding but he
will need to work on his footwork.

Chris Pizzotti, Harvard (6'4", 220 lbs.)
-Pizzotti will be a fifth year senior this year. He has great size and intangibles. Pizzotti's numbers do not look very good, probably due to the system he runs at
Harvard but he could step in and be a camp body next year in a west coast offense.

Keith Null, West Texas A&M (6'3", 220 lbs.)
-This guy is a Buffalo and they say it proudly at West Texas A&M. This school continues to churn out developmental pro prospects. Null has a high football IQ, add
in the mixture of his arm strength and accuracy, and we have a deep sleeper for next year's less than stellar class of senior QBs.

Other QBs to Scout: Jason Boltus (Hartwick), Rhett Bomar (Sam Houston State)


Running Backs

Herb Donaldson, Western Illinois (5'10", 225 lbs.)
-Not very speedy, Donaldson will deliver the punishment to defender's rather than get dealt with the punishment. He is a very physical back with no injury history.
Donaldson has often been compared to Jerome Bettis without the overhang.

Brandon Ore, West Liberty State (5'10", 205 lbs.)
-Ore left Virginia Tech after a rash of off-the-field incidents. In 2006, Ore won first team All-ACC honors, proving that he has the goods to deliver on Sunday's. After
his controversial departure from the Hokies, team's won't be candid about their lack of need for a headcase, which will diminish Ore's value in 2008.

Jay Lucas, Southeastern Louisiana (5'10", 220 lbs.)
-Lucas is a former Texas A&M and Bowling Green transfer. He has had his fair share of problems on campus but has seemed to settle down as he ran for more
than 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. His lack of game breaking speed will hurt his stock as well.

Tyler Roehl, North Dakota State (5'9", 230 lbs.)
-Roehl is actually a fullback. He is short and stubby but like what Mike Mayock says, he has a good bubble butt. He has an injury history (once broke his leg) but
the fact that he can catch the ball out of the backfield will be a plus for Roehl.

Other RBs to Scout: George Bell (Catawba), Mike McLeod (Yale)


Wide Receivers

Ramses Barden, Cal Poly-SLO (6'5", 225 lbs.)
-Tall and quick in selling his routes. He will not hit a home run with his speed but will be a good go-to guy on third and long. He averaged more than 25 yards per
reception last year. His incredible intangibles will make him an intriguing pick as everyone in America will know his name after the 2009 combine.

Jeremy Gilchrist, Hampton (5'9", 180 lbs.)
-In recent years, we have seen guys like Devin Hester, Yamon Figurs, and Dexter Jackson go rather high solely based on their returnman abilities. Meet the 2009
version of the aforementioned three. Gilchrist isn't much of a receiver but he will take the ball the distance any chance he gets. He's a Virginia Tech transfer.

Jaron Harris, South Dakota State (6'0", 190 lbs.)
-This state record holder in the 100 meter is a tantalizing prospect. He will not wow anyone with his route running abilities but he sure can sell his routes against
the level of competition he faces. Harris has had a line of hamstring issues though.

Garrett Manning, Henderson State (6'1", 205 lbs.)
-Manning is a former quarterback that lit up the box score after his first start at wide-out. Of this group, he could become the quickest riser if he excels at WR in
2008.

Other WRs to Scout: T.J. Courman (Appalachian State), Johnny Knox (Abilene Christian), Brandon Rice (UC-Davis)


Tight Ends

Robbie Agnone, Delaware (6'5", 259 lbs.)
-This former Pittsburgh transfer is coming from the same school that has put out TE Ben Patrick and QB Joe Flacco. Last year, he was Flacco's go-to guy plus
both are former Panthers. He has legitimate pro speed and soft hands for a guy of his stature. Watch his name become more known as the draft inches closer.

Marquez Branson, Central Arkansas (6'3", 252 lbs.)
-Caught 37 passes for 499 yards and 7 scores a year ago. Branson is a bit sluggish when he runs but he brings a nice combination of passer protection and
receiving skills.

Other TEs to Scout: Gerald Stockdale (Alabama A&M), Jared Bronson (Central Washington)


Offensive Linemen

Joel Bell, Furman (6'7", 315 lbs.)
-If Bell can improve on his inconsistencies, look for him to move into the middle rounds of value this year. Bell is very durable and smart, plus he will be switching
to a new offense for the second time in as many years, which means that his experience will be varied but versatile.

Ryan Delrosal, Dixie State (6'4", 300 lbs.)
-There are several red flags raised around this guy. First, he was supposed to be a South Florida Bull but his grades couldn't cut it, and that is not saying much.
Secondly, he has had knee injuries. Lastly, set aside the above information and throw in Delrosal's potential, he could be a late round steal based on potential.

Tim Silver, Richmond (6'6", 310 lbs.)
-Silver is coming off of a year where he injured his knee and missed the rest of the season. He has great size and rarely gets beat by the rush. Silver doesn't get
great leverage all of the time but he is still a legitimate late round prospect heading into 2009.

J.D. Quinn, Montana (6'3", 310 lbs.)
-We know about the scandal Quinn was involved in when he was an Oklahoma Sooner. Since then, he has been arrested for a D.U.I. Still, Quinn brings elite
athleticism to a position that needs three-down players. If he leaves the extra baggage at home, Quinn can be an everyday starter on Sunday's.

Other OL to Scout: Roger Allen (Missouri Western), Thomas Crowley (West Texas A&M), Louis West (Henderson State), Cuyler Groth (SUNY Brockport)


Defensive Linemen

Brandon Swain, West Texas A&M (6'3", 256 lbs.)
-He is a prototypical 3-4 OLB but could be groomed to be more of a traditional DE. He had 13 sacks a year ago while playing for the prolific West Texas A&M
football program. Swain is not only good at rushing the passer but forcing turnovers, making him a viable mid-round option for team's in 2009.

Mario Lane, Morehouse (6'5", 275 lbs.)
-Lane is a former Crimson Tide commit and transfer from Alabama State. He douses the opponents while rushing from the edge. Lane is also a turnover
machine. He seen no time in 2005 and 2006 due to some hiccups with his transfer status.

Eric Schroeder, South Dakota State (6'3", 280 lbs.)
-He is a traditional interior lineman. He had 6.5 sacks from the inside last year while batting down passes and helping stuff the run. His hands are ideal but his
quickness has come into question.

Jake Visser, Ferris State (6'1", 276 lbs.)
-This guy has a limited amount of tricks up his sleeve. He will need to get quicker and bigger as he is a bit undersized to play defensive tackle, yet nowhere near
being a defensive end prospect. Extremely productive as a junior but he will need to keep up the pace to get noticed as a late round pick.

Other DL to Scout: Louis Ellis (Shaw), Desmond Bryant (Harvard)


Linebackers

Pierre Banks, Appalachian State (5'11", 215 lbs.)
-Banks is a bit undersized to be a professional OLB but he is a better prospect at that than S. He tallied 12 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery at Michigan last
year in the upset of the Wolverines. He had already graduated and is just buying time by playing football. He is very intelligent too.

Jason Williams, Western Illinois (6'2", 230 lbs.)
-Williams has made the journey to linebacker from running back and safety. As a junior, he had 8 sacks plus when he hits the combine and workout circuit next
spring, his stock will soar and Williams will be considered a "workout warrior."

Bobby Daly, Montana State (6'0", 215 lbs.)
-Small school linebackers are typically undersized but Daly used to have more bulk. He needs to gain that again and match his production from 2007 in order to
maintain his draft value.

Desmond Hendricks, Rhodes College (6'0", 225 lbs.)
-This Division III prospect brings great athleticism to the table. Last year, he had 19 tackles for a loss and 10.5 sacks. Hendricks will garnish a ton of attention next
spring if he runs a sub 4.6 forty.

Other LBs to Scout: Shawn Melland (Univ. of Mary), Tyler Reed (Southwest Minnesota State)


Defensive Backs

LaDarius Webb, Nicholls State (5'11", 175 lbs.)
-Remember, who told you of him first? Pro Draft Guide did. Webb will be the 2009 Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. He has been extremely productive while with
Nicholls State after transferring from Southern Miss. Webb could rise all the way into the second round.

Sam Pope, Hampton (5'11", 200 lbs.)
-Pope is a South Carolina transfer that was highly regarded coming out of high school. He delivers a tenacious blow but will need to hone his technique and
coverage skills.

Dre'Mail Hardin, Stillman (6'0", 200 lbs.)
-Hardin is a Mississippi State transfer. He tallied 9 interceptions last year. Hardin will likely be a safety prospect on the next level but will rise throughout the draft,
despite a strong class of safeties.

Jackie Bates, Hampton (5'10", 185 lbs.)
-Bates, another star from the small NFL pipeline-school of Hampton. Bates brings with him extremely good coverage skills. He is very fluid at the waist and can
turn on a dime. This ballhawking star may get outshined by Pope in 2009 but scouts will be flocking to Hampton this fall.

Other CBs to Scout: Don Carey (Norfolk State), Dominic Spinks (Delta State), Al Donaldson (Alabama A&M), Pete Ittersagen (Wheaton)