College Bowl Preview: Gator Bowl

Gator Bowl

January 1, Jacksonville

West Virginia (9-3) vs. Florida State (6-6)

CBS, Noon CST

WEST VIRGINIA

#66 OT Selvish Capers – 6-5, 293 pounds – A second-team All-Big East selection at right tackle, Capers began his career with WVU as a tight end, but was moved to tackle in ’07 and has played there since. During the ’08 season, he was effectively a left tackle, since Mountaineers QB Pat White was a left –hander. He seemed to handle that situation without much of a problem.

Evaluation – viewed as a right tackle, Capers has athletic ability to play left tackle. His background as a tight end gives him more speed (4.85) and foot quickness than most offensive linemen. His background as a tight end puts him behind in understanding the tackle position. Whoever drafts him will get a big lump of quality athletic clay and they will have to mold him into a player at the position. There are concerns about his aggressiveness and his understanding of blocking assignments and angles. But he has long arms, quick feet and that’s something all teams seek in an offensive lineman, especially a tackle. On athletic ability alone, Capers is viewed as a second-round prospect, but he’s more likely a third or fourth-round choice.

#82 WR Alric Arnett – 6-2, 190 pounds – He bounced around the juco world before landing in Morgantown. Arnett played for Butler Community College in the Jayhawk Conference in 2005 where he had 14 receptions and the next year he was catching passes for Scottsdale Community College in Arizona, where he had seven catches. Arnett got to WVU in ’07, he had a red-shirt season because of a thumb injury that required surgery. In the 2008-09 seasons, he caught 77 passes for 1,036 yards and nine TDs in 26 games. This season he caught 42 passes for 570 yards and three scores,

Evaluation – Top-end speed makes Arnett a receiver-returner that many teams will consider. Right now, he’s generally thought of as a fifth or sixth-round pick. He can improve that with a strong showing in the Gator Bowl and the Combine. His lack of bulk is a concern, but that speed of his (4.36) will get him a slot in the 2010 Draft.

FLORIDA STATE

#21 CB Patrick Robinson – 5-11, 192 pounds – Over his time with the Seminoles, Robinson had seven interceptions with 108 total tackles. He also averaged 23.9 yards on 13 kickoff returns. He was suspended for the 2007 Music City Bowl and then three games in the next season because of an academic fraud investigation. Missed very little playing time, but did deal with knee and back injuries during the ’08 season.

Evaluation – Robinson is one of the better corners available in this year’s draft. Physically he has all the traits teams are looking for, especially top-end speed. Scouts say he also has a cornerback’s mentality and plays with a lot of confidence and doesn’t dwell on the times when he’s been beaten. He has shown the willingness to come up on the run as well. He should be a first-round draft choice.