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2013 NFL Draft Notes: Risers and Ray Ray
With the first two weeks of the 2012 college football season in the books, it’s time for some NFL Draft notes. Here’s a look at four players who are improving their draft stock, and one whose stock just took a serious blow…
UCLA running back Johnathan Franklin has opened eyes early by leading the NCAA in rushing yards through two games, and averaging over 10 yards per carry while doing it. Franklin followed a 214-yard, three-touchdown day against Rice with a 217-yard performance in a prime time win over Nebraska. Franklin added three catches for 59 yards and a TD against the Cornhuskers. At 5’11 195 pounds, Franklin isn’t the biggest back; but in Saturday night’s victory Franklin ran with authority, breaking tackles and fighting for extra yardage. He showed good vision, speed and open field moves; and broke long runs of 36 and 54 yards, and receptions of 19 and 31 yards. In two games Franklin has touched the ball 45 times and scored four total touchdowns. Saturday, the Bruins get a home game against a Houston team that’s lost twice on its own field – including a Week One loss to Texas State, a program in its first season in the FBS ranks. UCLA should be able to get Franklin involved early and often, get a comfortable lead, and rest him a bit for next week’s matchup with Oregon State.
While Jarvis Jones (rightfully) grabbed headlines with his virtuoso performance in Georgia’s win over Missouri Saturday night, Bulldogs senior wide receiver Marlon Brown came out of nowhere to set a career high for receptions in a game. The 6’5 222 pound Brown had caught 28 passes in his first three years, had never caught more than 15 in a season, and had never caught more than four in a game. Last weekend he caught eight passes, for 106 yards (the second 100-yard game of his career) and two touchdowns. Brown was a highly touted recruit out of high school who had never lived up to his billing. But against Mizzou, quarterback Aaron Murray continuously sought out his big receiver. On a two-yard TD pass, Brown turned back to his left to adjust to Murray’s pass, and used his hands to snatch the ball out of the air. Later, from 11 yards out, Murray rifled one up top that Brown was able to haul in high over the defensive back. Brown displayed good hands on most of his receptions and ran well after the catch. If a player with his size can run a 40 in the 4.5-second range he can really peak the interest of NFL teams. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if Brown’s one game display was the start of a trend or simply a mirage.
Like Brown, Ohio State cornerback Travis Howard was a well-regarded recruit during his high school days. Last season, as a junior, he seemed like he was starting to emerge after serving a two-game suspension to start the year. But Howard tailed off as the season wore on, and was often overshadowed by his then-redshirt-freshman-teammate Brandon Roby. Through two games this season, Howard’s play has been mostly terrific. He already has a career high with three interceptions, and has broken up two other passes. Howard is an aggressive and physical cover man, but he has to be careful not to get too physical before the ball arrives. Howard could have added an interception Saturday against Central Florida, but he never looked back for the ball, and obstructed the receiver in the process. At 6’1 and about 200 pounds, Howard has ideal size for a corner and he appears to have good speed. He doesn’t have to keep up his current pace, but if he can remain consistent in coverage this season he’ll continue to rise up NFL draft boards.
Missouri defensive end Brad Madison had 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss all of last season for the Tigers as he battled through an injury. Through two games this season he’s already got three sacks and three tackles for loss. Saturday, against Georgia, Madison registered two sacks – one on a speed rush and one on an inside spin move – and earned a spot in the starting line up. He’s a prospect with excellent size and a variety of pass rush moves – traits that should make him appealing to just about any NFL team. Barring further injuries Madison could wind up being a force in the SEC all season long and move up from Day Three consideration on Draft Weekend to Day Two.
Ray Ray Armstrong went to The U as a five-star recruit, one of the best high school football players in the nation. He starred at Seminole High in Sanford, Florida as a dual-threat quarterback and safety, and led his team to a state championship. In three seasons at Miami, the 6’4 220 Armstrong intercepted four passes – returning one for a touchdown – and broke up six others, but he never lived up to his massive potential. Armstrong was suspended for the first four games of the 2011 season for his role in the Nevin Shapiro scandal, and he was suspended for the Florida State game for having dinner with the head of a PR group. In July, Armstrong was dismissed from Miami after discussing an interaction with a booster over twitter. He transferred to Faulkner, an NAIA school, and practiced with the team until yesterday, when he was declared ineligible for the 2012 season. Now Armstrong, a player with tremendous athletic ability and a rare combination of size and speed, is left to prepare for the 2013 NFL Draft without playing a game during his senior season. He’s faced with a predicament similar to the one encountered by the 2010 North Carolina trio of Robert Quinn, Marvin Austin and Greg Little. But Quinn still became a first round draft pick, and Austin and Little were both chosen in the second round. The jury is still out on their NFL careers, but they overcame a season away from organized football activities to become high round NFL draft picks. If Armstrong can star in a college all-star game like Austin did, and/or turn in a dazzling workout at the scouting combine, he can go a long way to repair his stock. But currently there just isn’t much more than a few estimated measureables to justify using an early-round draft pick on Armstrong.
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