Changing of the Guard?

The ESPN Scout inc. came out with their updates Top 32 prospects for the upcoming draft. If you take a close look at it you will discover some interesting statistics. There are two Rutgers players in the Top 32, OT Anthony Davis (ranked #5 overall) and CB Devin McCourty (ranked #31 overall). Both of these players continue to generate draft buzz and look to climb into a solid round 1 pick after the scouting combine.
If you took another look you would notice there is only one Penn State player in the Top 32, DT Jared Odrick (ranked #28 overall). It is surprising to see Rutgers, a school that annually loses it's top in-state prospects to Penn State, with more players in the Top 32. Granted OLB Navarro Bowman has been in and out of the Top 32 and will most likely be a 1st round pick this year, but still, in the updated Top 32 there are less Nittany Lions than Scarlet Knights. Who would've thought? Well Greg Schiano has done a great job at Rutgers bringing in solid talent and molding them into top players.
If you took another look there is only one more Oklahoma Sooner than Rutger Scarlet Knight. Before five years ago that would never have been possible to fathom and now its a reality. There are two Alabama players in the Top 32. That's right, the same team that just won the National Championship with the same amount of Top 32 players than the Scarlet Knights of the lackluster Bis East.
How about the team Alabama played in the National Championship? Texas only has two members of the Top 32 as well.
I could continue to go on and on with very well known teams lacking supreme talent, but that's not my point. My point is that with the new scholarship rules the top teams of the NCAA are not able to hoard all the talent in the country. Therefore that talent is trickling through to the second tier teams. As a result these teams are now becoming more competitive and making the overall college football field a lot stronger across the board. In the near future look out for some fairly unknown teams to overtake the traditional giants. Just ask Notre Dame who by the way have no players in the Top 32.

Spotlight: Devin McCourty (CB, Rutgers)

I grew up in New Jersey watching Rutgers from the stands singing "Hoo Rah Hoo Rah Rutgers Ra" every game watching the program slowly ascend the rankings of the college football elite. They are still not there yet, but if you look at the amount of prospects being drafted now and where they are being drafted compared to five years ago, you can see the program getting much stronger. The prospect I'd like to focus on is cornerback Devin McCourty.
His brother, Jason, is now playing for the Tennessee Titans. He was a sixth round draft pick last year, but do to little depth in the secondary he started part way through the year.
Devin, who was back in school in 2009 because of a redshirt his freshman year, took advantage of the sole spotlight. He had 80 tackles and ten pass breakups this past season and anchored the defense that lost multiple players to the NFL last year. Also, McCourty is a tremendous special teams player, which will raise his draft stock because he can come in from day 1 and contribute in ST while making the adjustment to being an NFL CB. He is a very sound player and does not have many holes in his game. He isn't flashy and wont stand out except on special teams where he can block punts and change a game. But, at corner he will do his job quietly and efficiently. He is getting comparisons to Ronde Barber from Tampa Bay. That is a pretty good player to be compared to. Barber has been to multiple Pro Bowls and is very consistent in his play. He is also a great leader and a very talented defensive back.
McCourty also is very good against the run. He is a strong tackler and is able to consistently wrap up the ball carrier. That is the biggest weakness of most NFL corners. Asante Samuel has missed the most tackles I have ever seen and I think is one of the worst tacklers in football. Any team could use a corner that is sound in coverage, man and zone, and also attacks the run, tackles well and can read the quarterback well. He can blow up screen plays, which is Sheldon Brown-esc. The bottom line is McCourty is a very solid player with leadership ability and few, if any, holes. He can immediately contribute on special teams and he wont be far off from contributing on defense as well. Any team that takes him will have a very strong, well-rounded corner for years.

Eagles 1st Round Mock Draft

Round 1: Taylor Mays (S, USC)--In the Eagles defensive scheme the safeties must be able to be the overall leaders. They have to play deep zone, man coverage on and off the line of scrimmage and also be very good at wrapping up tackles. No one I have ever seen played this position better than Brian Dawkins. He was able to cover receivers, tight ends and running backs, while wrapping up well and being able to deliver the big hit. The Eagles secondary needs safeties that scare receivers of going over the middle. Without Dawk the other teams do not respect the secondary and constantly test it. In this draft the Eagles must address this issue early. I have felt for the last two seasons that Mays is the best safety in college football. I think of him as the next coming of Dawk, maybe its just the big hits and tinted visor, but I believe that Mays is the perfect fit for Philly. His stock dropped due to a season of not living up to the hype and expectations, but I expect it to rise after the combine where he will display his freakish size and speed. Therefore, the Eagles might have to trade up in order to get him. This is possible due to the fact that they are bound to trade one of their three quarterbacks. They could make a package trade with one of their early picks and a QB for that teams first round choice.
Other Round 1 choices: Patrick Robinson (CB, Florida St.); Kyle Wilson (CB, Boise St.); Devin McCourty (CB, Rutgers); Brandon Graham (DE, Michigan); Everson Griffen (DE, USC)