Underclassmen in the NFL Draft, 2008

This will be updated as news comes in over at FCB. To the draft roll:

James Hardy, Indiana WR - leaves the offense in the hands of QB Kellen Lewis, who struggled mightily in games without Hardy or when Hardy has been effectively covered. James Bailey is the heir apparent WR. Hardy is my #1 NFL WR prospect for 2008.

Davone Bess, Hawaii WR - With Colt Brennan graduating this make sense to me even if he has the chance to be one of the most prolific WR in the history of college football. I wonder if this tips the hand of June Jones leaving the islands to take a mainland coaching job? Ryan Grice-Mullin is a junior who will probably stay to hook up with new QB Tyler Graunke about 150 times next year. Jones has called Bess another Andre Rison, and that says nice things about his NFL future.

Martellus Bennett, Texas A&M TE - was also a top hoops recruit, he played a few games with the Aggies a couple years ago before focusing on football. If there is an athlete that can move up the charts with a bullet, it is the ridiculously athletic Bennet. Why? The Aggie offense did not fully explore his Winslow-like potential

Mario Urrutia, Louisville WR - this is the right decision for a player who “passes the swimsuit contest” but never put together the huge year that everyone expected. His workout numbers will amaze and delight scouts but I fear he will be the next Ashley Lelie.

Jamaal Charles, Texas RB - this one surprises me as he was able to put up a huge year with very little competition on the horizon. Granted, if the staff could recruit someone who didn”t fumble Charles (right, Icon SMI) may have been pushed for carries, but Charles does have sprinter speed in a 210 pound frame and will get plenty of attention..

Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois RB - Mendenhall going pro now is the stock-market equivalent of selling on a rally - Mendenhall got a lot of love as the season progressed and was the highlight of the Illini team in the ugly Rose Bowl.

Devin Thomas, Michigan State WR - ESPN.com reported this ahead of a formal announcement while a was typing out the story. Good move for Thomas who was top 20 in many receiving categories for a run-based team with a questionable QB situation. Also a plus kick returner.

Kevin Smith, UCF RB - Smith has flip-flopped and decided to go pro after declaring before the Liberty Bowl his intention to stay. I think this was the proper decision for him, but by reading the linked article from the Orlando Sentinel I am concerned about the lack of sources he consulted.

Cornelius Ingram, Florida TE/WR - physically gifted and underused (except in the BCS Championship Game last year), Ingram will either bulk up to play H-back or play wideout with Terrel Owens-type size.

Others

Calais Campbell, Miami DE
Derrick Harvey, Florida DE
Ryan Clady, Boise State LT
Erin Henderson, Maryland LB
Aqib Talib, Kansas CB/WR/PR
Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech, CB