Top Ten Tuesdays – The Best Players Not Invited To Indy
Written by Daniel Mogollon
Tuesday, 11 March 2008 14:50
With the NFL Scouting Combine in the rearview mirror, we take a look back at the top ten players that were not invited to participate in the combine, but could work their way on to an NFL roster come the fall.
1. Dwayne Davis, DB, Syracuse: The kid has speed, enough size and can play corner or safety. What is there not to like? For some reason scouts are sleeping on the former Orange, despite the school’s penchant for producing DBs.
2. Jason Shirley, NT, Fresno St.: He may have been snubbed because of his off the field issues, but it certainly wasn’t due to his play on the All-Star game circuit. This former Bulldog is a rarity--a legitimate NFL nose tackle, a true gem.
3. Brian Witherspoon, CB, Stillman: From what I hear, this kid has jet rockets attached to his ankles…maybe the NFL was afraid they didn’t have a stop watch to accurately record his forty time. Plus, he can make an impact returning kicks. 4. Travis Williams, CB, East Carolina: The little man from ECU didn’t get a chance to strut his stuff in Indy. While Williams may be undersized, with his quickness, he could create a niche for himself in the pros as a slot corner. 5. Michael Cox, FB, Georgia Tech: He had a mere 20 touches in ’07, but Cox’s contributions are not measured in numbers—at least not his own. Tashard Choice had a stellar season, with Tech averaging 4.7 yards per rush. 6. Corey Lynch, S, Appalachian St.: He’s more than the guy that clinched the Michigan game—Lynch can play. He proved this with his 111 tackles, six interceptions, and three blocked kicks as a senior. 7. Fernando Velasco, OL, Georgia: Capable of playing center and guard, Velasco led one of the youngest offensive lines in the SEC, creating holes for the likes of Knowshon Moreno and Thomas Brown as the Dawgs pounded the pigskin.
8. Kerry Brown, G, Appalachian St.: Not many offenses were as explosive or as balanced as the Mountaineers in 2007 and we’re not talking about WVU. Outshined by bigger names, Brown played a major role in three championships. 9. Andre Callender, RB Boston College: This may be the deepest running back class in recent memory, but Mr. Callender should get a look, if only for his ability as a pass catcher coming out of the backfield (76 receptions, 720 yards in ’07).
10. Red Keith, LB, Central Michigan: The former Chippewa may lack ideal speed, but he has solid bulk. Productivity should also count for something—Keith registered 474 tackles during his four years at CMU.
