By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Apr. 17 2008
Nine years ago, North Carolina State's Torry Holt clearly was the top wide
receiver in the draft. Last year, it was Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson — hands
down. So who's No. 1 now? It seems nobody wants the honor.
— Louisiana State's Early Doucet, who some regarded as college football's top
receiver entering the '07 season? He didn't work out at the NFL Scouting
Combine after tweaking a hamstring at the Senior Bowl, then ran a ho-hum 4.56
at his pro day.
— Michigan's Mario Manningham — he of the 72 catches and 12 TDs last season for
the Wolverines? There were recent reports that he failed two drug tests at
Michigan.
— Limas Sweed of Texas? There still is concern by some over wrist surgery in
mid-October.
— Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma? He didn't run at the combine because of a thigh
injury, then criticized his school for having him run his pro day 40 on
FieldTurf instead of AstroTurf. (He ran slower than expected, 4.68 seconds.)
Veteran NFL scout Tom Marino says Kelly's case takes the cake.
"A guy running 4.68 does not mean anything to me," said Marino, who now works
as an analyst for Scout.com.
There are many star NFL receivers, past and present, who didn't have dazzling
40 times. Jerry Rice, Anquan Boldin and Michael Irvin come to mind. But Kelly
showed up overweight, then complained when his 40 time wasn't up to
expectations.
"That turned me off, and I think that turned off NFL teams," Marino said. "The
guy's a very talented receiver. I think he's a No. 1 receiver. My problem with
him is: What are you getting? Another malcontent wide receiver? He's blaming
everybody but himself. He's the guy that ran."
And in the NFL, almost every team that doesn't play on grass plays on some
variation of FieldTurf.
So almost by default, the No. 1 receiver in the '08 draft might be Michigan
State's Devin Thomas. He has size and speed (4.40), with good hands and
run-after-catch ability. But he's a one-year wonder, with only six receptions
at Michigan State before last season's school-record 79 catches.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Apr. 17 2008
Nine years ago, North Carolina State's Torry Holt clearly was the top wide
receiver in the draft. Last year, it was Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson — hands
down. So who's No. 1 now? It seems nobody wants the honor.
— Louisiana State's Early Doucet, who some regarded as college football's top
receiver entering the '07 season? He didn't work out at the NFL Scouting
Combine after tweaking a hamstring at the Senior Bowl, then ran a ho-hum 4.56
at his pro day.
— Michigan's Mario Manningham — he of the 72 catches and 12 TDs last season for
the Wolverines? There were recent reports that he failed two drug tests at
Michigan.
— Limas Sweed of Texas? There still is concern by some over wrist surgery in
mid-October.
— Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma? He didn't run at the combine because of a thigh
injury, then criticized his school for having him run his pro day 40 on
FieldTurf instead of AstroTurf. (He ran slower than expected, 4.68 seconds.)
Veteran NFL scout Tom Marino says Kelly's case takes the cake.
"A guy running 4.68 does not mean anything to me," said Marino, who now works
as an analyst for Scout.com.
There are many star NFL receivers, past and present, who didn't have dazzling
40 times. Jerry Rice, Anquan Boldin and Michael Irvin come to mind. But Kelly
showed up overweight, then complained when his 40 time wasn't up to
expectations.
"That turned me off, and I think that turned off NFL teams," Marino said. "The
guy's a very talented receiver. I think he's a No. 1 receiver. My problem with
him is: What are you getting? Another malcontent wide receiver? He's blaming
everybody but himself. He's the guy that ran."
And in the NFL, almost every team that doesn't play on grass plays on some
variation of FieldTurf.
So almost by default, the No. 1 receiver in the '08 draft might be Michigan
State's Devin Thomas. He has size and speed (4.40), with good hands and
run-after-catch ability. But he's a one-year wonder, with only six receptions
at Michigan State before last season's school-record 79 catches.