Our College Eye for the NFL Guy series has already taken a look at two of the most highly rated and interesting Florida Gators in this year's NFL draft: Reggie Nelson and Jarvis Moss. Both Nelson and Moss project as first round picks, but there are a ton of other Gators looking to find NFL homes starting Saturday -- a whopping 13 in Todd McShay's most recent mock draft ($). Here's a brief look at the other Florida players you can expect to hear about this weekend. RAY McDONALD, DE
ESPN.com ($): "McDonald is a 'tweener DE/DT prospect with experience at both positions at the collegiate level. While he may be forced to settle on one position in the NFL, we think he has the potential to contribute in a hybrid role in the right system. He is quick enough to make an impact as an interior pass rusher, but he must improve his lower-body strength and technique versus the run in order to compete for an every-down role in the NFL."
Probably getting drafted: McShay has McDonald going to Pittsburgh with the 46th pick (2nd round). He's experienced, having started 36 games in four years in Gainesville, but he's also had knee problems that might scare some teams off. Teams will have to decide whether they want to make bulk McDonald up and make him a DT, or streamline him and put him at the end. The other choice is to make him some sort of hybrid, and he's athletic enough to do it in the right scheme.
BRANDON SILER, junior ILB
ESPN.com ($): "Siler is an effective interior run stuffer who plays with a mean streak and never stops working. However, while he's fast on a straight-line, he doesn't display great agility when working laterally and he's a bit sluggish in coverage. Simply put; Siler is a better football player than athlete and he will need to overcome his lack of ideal physical tools in order to earn a starting job in the NFL."
Probably getting drafted: The phrase "better football player than athlete" as a criticism boggles my mind, but this is the combine era, so I guess I have to get used to it. McShay has Siler going to Denver in the third round to Denver (86th pick overall), who needs a linebacker after letting go of Al Wilson. I'd be surprised if Siler could step right in and fill Wilson's (a Pro Bowler's) shoes, but I'd also be surprised if he's not a contributor this fall, where ever he ends up.
MARCUS THOMAS, DT
ESPN.com ($): "Thomas is a disruptive interior defender with an outstanding blend of first-step quickness and power. He was playing the best football of his career prior to being kicked off the Florida football team eight games into his senior season. In fact, it was our opinion that Thomas had emerged as the top overall defensive tackle prospect in the 2007 senior class at midseason. However, it would come as no surprise if Thomas' off-the-field problems caused him to freefall to the second day of the draft. Thomas' durability issues and an inconsistent motor could also turn some teams off."
Probably getting drafted: While the league is reportedly poised to stop asking players if they've smoked pot, they already know that Thomas was kicked off the team at Florida for a marijuana violation. Character issues may or may not be a big deal in this draft -- nobody wants the next guy to make it rain -- but Thomas probably would have gone higher (no pun intended) than McShay's projected fourth-round pick with the Raiders (#100 overall) had he been able to finish his senior year.
DALLAS BAKER, WR
ESPN.com ($): "Baker was an underachiever prior to his junior season in 2005, when he was slowed by a lingering ankle injury late in the season but emerged as a consistent playmaker with an average of nearly five catches for 60 yards in the team's first eight games. Baker has always possesses impressive size and body control, but it took him a while to develop reliable hands and quality intermediate route-running skills."
Probably getting drafted: McShay says to Washington with pick 205. Baker's not a burner, but he's a pretty good athlete and could be a really good (though probably not starting) possession receiver for somebody.
JOE COHEN, DE
ESPN.com ($): "Cohen is a bit of a 'tweener DE/DT prospect with inadequate size as an every-down DT and inadequate speed as an every-down DE prospect. Regardless, he is a decent athlete for his size and he has enough talent to develop into a versatile reserve in the NFL if properly motivated and coached."
Probably getting drafted: Last of all the Gators, according to McShay (Philadelphia, #236). Overshadowed by his defensive line teammates, Cohen seems to be the kind of player to be surprisingly effective and a bargain late, or shuffled out of the league quickly.
JEMALLE CORNELIUS, WR
ESPN.com ($): "Cornelius isn't a great route-runner, he drops passes he should catch and he needs to get stronger but these are problems that can be fixed if he can stay healthy and he has very good potential. He has the burst to get open underneath, the speed to stretch defenses and he can produce after the catch."
Probably getting drafted: The second of McShay's three seventh-round Gators, Cornelius is projected to St. Louis with the 225th pick. The team that drafts Jermalle drafts speed, plain and simple. They'll worry about the hands later.
EARL EVERETT, OLB
ESPN.com ($): "Possesses good height and the frame to add bulk. His instincts are very much questionable. He still diagnoses play-action too slowly, which leads to false steps and improper positioning. Everett plays faster than his 40-time indicates. Unfortunately, he lacks ideal size and his recognition skills leave much to be desired."
Probably getting drafted: Everett can blow up backs when he gets them one-on-one. The problem he has is in finding them. Play-reading is the main knock on him, and that's in college. With the bump in speed from the college to the pro game, most teams will probably be reluctant to take a guy who's slow in finding the ball. Still, he can hit, and that's half the battle. McShay has Everett going to Cincy with the 151st pick.
CHRIS LEAK, QB
ESPN.com ($): "Leak ... showed great resiliency as a senior in 2006. In our opinion, Leak still has enough upside as a passer and scrambler to warrant second-day consideration as a developmental backup. But his marginal size, inability to see the entire field and below-average arm strength will keep him out of the draft's first three rounds."
Probably getting drafted: Where to start? Leak didn't come close to living up to his potential until his senior year, when he showed leadership and toughness that had been questioned throughout his career leading up to 2006. He showed that he could run, but he still looked like he didn't want to. He still froze at times in the face of a blitz, yet he led his squad to a national championship. Some team will probably try to make a project out of him (McShay says Kansas City at #196), but they might want to look at what else is around first.
REGGIE LEWIS, CB
ESPN.com ($): "Lewis is on the shorter side, he isn't fundamentally sound or much of a run defender at this point. However, he is a former wide receiver with very good speed, athletic ability and ball skills. He has made significant strides as a cover corner since moving to the position in 2005. If he continues to improve, Lewis could develop into a solid sub-package contributor in the NFL."
Probably getting drafted: There are three Gators projected in the seventh round of McShay's draft, and Lewis is the first (Miami, 219). Lewis only started 16 games at corner after trying out WR his first two years. The team that drafts him will be going on what they hope to get out of him rather than anything he's proven up to now.
RYAN SMITH, junior CB
ESPN.com ($): "Smith is a diminutive cover corner with good speed and even better ball skills. He needs to improve his bulk and strength in order to match up physically in the NFL. While he's a little bit overrated due to his exceptional production during Florida's 2006 season, Smith is still an early Day 2 prospect with enough upside to develop into a solid nickel-slot cover corner in the NFL."
Probably getting drafted: Smith is a little small, which will hurt his draft opportunities. In fact, Pro Football Weekly calls him "frail-thin," which doesn't sound like something you want in an NFL player. McShay has him going to Baltimore at the end of the fourth round with the 137th pick.
DESHAWN WYNN, RB
ESPN.com ($): "Wynn has the size, power and agility to make an impact in the NFL. It looked as if the "light was coming on" early in his senior season but a lingering knee injury prevented him from finally reaching his full potential. There are also red flags regarding his durability, immaturity and work ethic that will cause him to slip in the 2007 draft. Wynn is too much of a risk to draft on the first day but he should come off the board shortly thereafter."
Probably getting drafted: McShay has Wynn going to Atlanta with the 121st pick. Honestly, I've never been blown away by Wynn and he's really never been healthy long enough to prove me wrong. There is raw talent there, and some team may get a deal by finally coaxing it out of him.
