NFL Draft News Feed – Page 95 – Priced Out of the Citi

Senior Bowl Watch: Brian Fusco, Slippery Rock

Slippery Rock University senior offensive center Brandon Fusco was named Tuesday as a national finalist for the eighth annual Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award sponsored by the Manheim (Pa.) Touchdown Club.

Fusco has also been invited to play in the NFLPA Game and is on the “watch list” for the East/West Shrine, Senior Bowl and Cactus Bowl (Division II) all-star games.

The Upshaw Award national finalist honor is the latest addition to an impressive collection of awards received by the two-time Rock team captain and 2009 Offensive MVP.

“Brandon Fusco is an offensive lineman who can dominate a football game. He has the size, strength, and athleticism along with an intense work ethic that makes him the best center in Division 2 football and one of the top centers in all of college football. That’s why he is a legitimate NFL

Scout’s Notebook: Florida @ Florida St.

SCOUT’S NOTEBOOK: FLORIDA FLORIDA ST.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen! The perennial powerhouse Florida Gators put another black mark on their season by falling to their in-state rivals from Florida State, 31-7, in a contest that was never close. While the Blue and Orange have a world of talent on defense, their offense is an absolute mess. Their lack of faith in quarterback John Brantley has forced the Gators to shuffle three signal callers in and out of games, which has prevented the team from developing any chemistry. Florida has a non-existent passing game and looks a lot worse than its 7-5 record.

Ponder pounds the Gators into submission

While the jury is out on quarterback Christian Ponder as far as where he’ll land in the upcoming NFL draft, there’s no denying that the senior field general put his best traits on display before the capacity crowd

Scout’s Notebook: Florida @ Florida St.

SCOUT’S NOTEBOOK: FLORIDA FLORIDA ST.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen! The perennial powerhouse Florida Gators put another black mark on their season by falling to their in-state rivals Florida State Seminoles 31-7 in a contest that was never close. While the Blue and Orange have a world of talent on defense, their offense is an absolute mess. Their lack of faith in quarterback John Brantley has forced the Gators to shuffle three signal callers in and out of games, which has prevented the team from developing any chemistry. Florida has a non-existent passing game and looks a lot worse than its 7-5 record.

Ponder pounds the Gators into submission

While the jury is out on quarterback Christian Ponder as far as where he’ll land in the upcoming NFL Draft, there’s no denying that the senior field general put his best traits on display before a capacity crowd in

Senior Bowl: Noel Devine Receives An Invite

Noel Devine spoke to the media Tuesday for the first time since the week of the LSU game, when he suffered the toe injury that kept him limited in subsequent games.

The majority of the questions he fielded in his return to the media room regarded his injuries throughout the season and how difficult it was for him to watch from the sidelines as other players took some of his production. However, there was one piece of news he imparted on the folks with microphones in his face.

The question was whether or not the time before the bowl game would give Devine time to heal and be 100 percent. His answer:

“You’ve got a great chance to see something this week and then definitely the Senior Bowl,” he said, before correcting himself and saying, “Not the Senior Bowl. I got invited to that, but

John Clay On NFL Draft: “My Age Plays A Role”

Wisconsin junior running back John Clay says he is considering the NFL Draft over returning to the Badgers in 2011, according to the Journal Sentinel.

Clay acknowledged in August he planned to sit down with his coaches and evaluate his options after this season. “My age plays a role,” said Clay, who turns 23 in January. “The position I am, the style of running back I am.”

Currently the 6’1 245-pound bruiser is ranked 17^th overall on the NFL Draft Bible Big Board, which includes eligible underclassmen.

“We’ll sit down with them this week,” Bielema said Tuesday. “There is an opportunity that the NFL gives you to get information about where you potentially could be drafted.”

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UCLA LB Akeem Ayers Ponders NFL Draft

UCLA strongside linebacker Akeem Ayers, projected as a first-round draft choice in the 2011 NFL draft, said he has not set a timeframe for deciding on whether to return for his senior season.

“I haven’t really thought about it yet,” Ayers said Tuesday. “Haven’t had time. So now that we’re not going to a bowl game I’ll have a lot of time to think about it.”

Ayers has recorded 65 tackles, 91/2 for loss, four sacks, two interceptions and recovered a pair of fumbles.

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Torrey Smith Submits Paperwork | Awaits Grade

On the heels of a record-breaking season, and following perhaps his best performance as a Terrapin, Maryland Wide Receiver Torrey Smith has filed paperwork with the NFL that would allow him to enter the 2011 NFL Draft, according to CSNwashington.com.

“I put my papers in so I imagine I’ll get that back in a couple of weeks,” said Smith, who caught four touchdowns in Saturday’s 38-31 win over N.C. State. “I guess that’ll kind of help speed things up.”

“I told him if it comes up that you are a first-round pick, you’ve got to go,” said Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen. “Whatever he does, I will support him. I will support him for the rest of his life if I have to, that’s just the kind of kid he is.”

The 6-1 wideout from Stafford High School and Colonial Beach, Virginia caught 65 passes for

Rosstradamus’ Week 12 Ramble

We’ve passed Thanksgiving and that means it’s time to get serious in the NFL. Terms like, “If the playoffs started today…” begin to take on actual meaning. Division races start to heat up. Contenders realize they have a shot at winning the big prize, also-rans understand that they’re auditioning for future employment, and certain coaches post real estate ads and work on their resumes. In the AFC, we pretty much know who’s going to make the playoffs. Listen, I know anything can happen, but barring something ridiculous the wild cards will come from the East and North. The only spot up for grabs is in the West, where the Chargers and Chiefs will fight for the division crown. The final five games will impact seeding, which is fun for the fans but won’t mean that much to the actual games since a certain dome team isn’t going to have home-field

Where The NFL Week 12 Starting QBs Came From

You never know where you might find your team’s next starting quarterback. The talent-laden landscape of college football produces signal-callers from high and far. Here’s a look at where the starting quarterbacks for week 12 in the NFL hail from:

(6)-ACC

(5)-Pac 10

(4)-SEC

(4)-Big Ten

(2)-Big 12

(2)-Sun Belt

(2)-Conf USA

(1)-Big East

(1)-Big South

(1)-MAC

(1)-Ivy League

(1)-FCS

(1)-D2

(1)-Independent

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And a look at the current NFL Draft Bible Big Board…

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Report: Bills GM Buddy Nix Scouts Andrew Luck

Bills GM Buddy Nix recently spent a day at Stanford University taking a look at redshirt sophomore signal-caller, Andrew Luck, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

The great debate of the 2011 NFL Draft continues to be whether or not Luck will pass up No. 1 pick money to return to Stanford, as he has previously stated.

If Buffalo continues to keep winning they may play themselves out of the top selection. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has played extremely well and if that streak continues, the Bills who have so many dire needs, may want to explore scouting other positions.

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