College Bowl Preview: Papajohns & Cotton Bowls

Papajohns Bowl

January 2, Birmingham, Alabama

Connecticut (7-5) vs. South Carolina (7-5)

ESPN, 1 p.m. CST

CONNECTICUT

#9 DE Lindsey Witten, 6-5, 260 pounds – All Big-East first team, Witten started all 12 games during the season, with 41 total tackles and 11.5 sacks, which led the conference. He had seven sacks in the Huskies first two games. It was a breakthrough season for the Cleveland native who had been primarily a role player before the ‘09 season. In 48 games at UCONN, Witten had 122 total tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss and 22 sacks. He also had an interception and two forced fumbles. His older brother is Buffalo safety Donte Whitner

Evaluation – Seems to be growing into an OLB in the 3-4 defense as he gets bigger and stronger on seemingly a monthly basis. He’s a pass rusher right now and will have to improve his play against the run and his ability to drop into coverage. But the basic package is there; it just needs refined. A big pre-Draft performance will elevate him, but right now he’s posted as a third-round prospect.

SOUTH CAROLINA

#40 OLB Eric Norwood, 6-0, 252 pounds –

As a three-year starter he’s been named to the All-SEC first and second teams each year. He’s definitely shown the ability to get to the quarterback, with 22 sacks in his first three seasons. Norwood played in 50 games for the Gamecocks and was productive: 245 total tackles, 55 tackles for loss, 29 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and four blocked kicks. He returned an interception and two fumbles for touchdowns.

Evaluation – Thick bodied with better than average speed and he’s got good lateral movement. He’s not always sound in his assignments and reads on defenses. Norood is not real strong and he’ll have to improve that to stick in the pros, but he was a playmaker on the college level and scouts already know that. Right now, he’s seen as a fourth or fifth-round selection.

Cotton Bowl

January 2, Arlington, Texas

Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Mississippi (8-4)

FOX, 1 p.m. CST

OKLAHOMA STATE

#76 OT Russell Okung, 6-6, 299 pounds – He has 46 straight starts for the Big 12 Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year and consensus All-America tackle. Okung played 836 snaps for the Cowboys in the ‘09 season and gave up one sack while working at left tackle. He’s played 47 games and missed just one game in the last three seasons. Okung suffered a slight knee injury during practice the past week, but he’s expected to play against Ole Miss.

Evaluation – A first-round talent, who is high on the board of every NFL team. Okung will be selected in the top 10 and if there’s a team that badly needs help on the offensive line (CHIEFS), he could go in the top five picks. Scouts see a big, strong blocker with quick feet and very little downside at this point

WR Dez Bryant, 6-2, 217 pounds – Will not be visible o n the field at the Cotton Bowl, as he was suspended by the NCAAA. He finished his career in Stillwater with 28 games, where he caught 147 passes for 2,425 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also returned 22 punts, taking three of them back for TDs and averaging 19.6 yards per return. He had nine games with over 100 receiving yards. He was suspended by the NCAA for lying during an investigation about his involvement with Deion Sanders.

Evaluation – There are no questions about Bryant’s athletic abilities; they are top notch and will have him coming off the board in the first 10 picks of the first round. However, and there is a big however here, his suspension and his involvement with Sanders and thus his expected involvement with agent Eugene Parker, will make some teams question whether they will select him. Parker represented Michael Crabtree who did not sign a contract with the 49ers until four weeks were already off the books in the regular season.

#16 CB Perrish Cox, 6-0, 192 pounds – Will not play in the game after being suspended on Friday by head coach Mike Gundy for violating team rules. Cox apparently was about 30 minutes late for curfew on Thursday night. He was a second-team Associated Press All-America and finished his career as the Big 12 Conference’s all-time leader in kick return yardage. In 49 games, Cox had 10 interceptions, 134 total tackles, one forced fumble and one blocked kick. On returns, he had 60 punt returns, for an average of 11.6 yards and two TDs. He returned 117 kickoffs for a 23.9-yard average and four TDs. During the ‘09 season, Cox had four interceptions, a punt return for a TD and 36 total tackles.

Evaluation – Cox had a first-round grade before his suspension and that probably will not change. But obviously there are some issues that NFL teams must investigate. It’s hard to believe that he was suspended for the final game of his college career because he was late for a curfew. There’s got to be something else at work here and NFL decision makers will want to know why. Cox will be a first-round pick, but where he’s selected will remain a question mark.

MISSISSIPPI

#86 DE Greg Hardy, 6-4, 261 pounds – A cracked bone in his left wrist injury has been a problem for Hardy in his final season at Ole Miss. He had surgery on November 12th after trying to play through the pain. That procedure was expected to end his season, but Hardy will be on the field at the Cotton Bowl. In 39 games, Hardy had 26.5 sacks, along with 147 total tackles and 39.5 tackles for loss. He also forced seven fumbles. In the ‘09 season, he missed four games and had just 16 total tackles, with five sacks.

Evaluation – There are questions among some scouts about Hardy physically, with the foot injury in 2008 and then the wrist problem this season, along with ankle problems. He has top-notch pass rushing skills, with rare speed (4.6) for someone that size. Inconsistent productivity is a concern as well. Scouts will watch the Cotton Bowl closely because of his chance to matchup against OK-State’s LT Russell Okung. Right now, Hardy is riding on the fence between the first and second rounds.

#22 RB/WR Dexter McCluster, 5-8, 170 pounds – A multi-dimensional player who could fit in any number of roles in the NFL. This year, Ole Miss introduced what they call the “Wild Rebel” formation, especially the Wildcat offense and McCluster was the key, taking direct snaps and keeping defenses off balance. In 12 games he ran for 985 yards and six touchdowns and caught 39 passes for 475 yards and three TDs. In 39 games for Ole Miss, he ran for 1,771 yards on 270 carries and 13 TDs, while catching 125 passes for 1,658 yards and seven touchdowns. McCluster averaged 19.7 yards on 19 kickoff returns. He was the Cotton Bowl offensive MVP last year. He has accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl.

Evaluation – He’s turned in times in the 40-yard dash at less than 4.4 seconds and that will always grab the attention of NFL scouts. Coaches say he has a high football IQ and if that’s true, he would be able to come into the NFL and make an impact very quickly. His window into the 2010 NFL Draft is a wide one. If some team falls in love with his abilities and versatility, he could go in the third round. If not, he could go as early in the seventh round.

#77 G John Jerry, 6-5, 352 pounds – A first-team All-SEC selection, Jerry has been a four-year starter for Ole Miss and has spent time at both guard and tackle. For the ‘09 season, he moved from right tackle to right guard. Overall, he played 48 games, missing only one game in four seasons. His brother Peria was a first-round choice of the Atlanta Falcons in the 2009 NFL Draft and spent most of his season on the injured reserve list. John jerry will play in the Senior Bowl.

Evaluation – Not as talented as his older brother, but Jerry will be drafted and has a chance to make a spot for himself in the NFL. Ole Miss has been turning out a host of blockers lately and Jerry joins that group. His experiences and ability to play guard and tackle is attractive to NFL teams. He’s probably better suited for right tackle in the NFL. Jerry will go before the fifth round.