College Preview 8/30

Here’s a look at some of the top players the NFL is keeping an eye on who are involved in Saturday’s national-TV action in the world of college football. Each week we will highlight several of the games. We’ll have a separate Mizzou-Illinois posting later this afternoon. We won’t do every team every week, because there are some teams that will keep popping up on national games like Ohio State and Southern Cal.

Today we look at highly ranked players from three games:

• Virginia Tech vs. East Carolina in Charlotte, NC, 11a ESPN.
  
• Utah at Michigan, 2:30p on ABC.
  
• Clemson vs. Alabama in Atlanta, 7p on ABC.
  

Virginia Tech

CB Victor Harris – 5-11, 194, SR. Nicknamed “Macho”, Harris has been a two-year starter for the Hokies, playing last year with Chiefs draft choice Brandon Flowers. He’s had nine interceptions the last two seasons and is also an explosive kick returner, averaging 34.7 yards last year with a touchdown. Considered among the top 40 NFL prospects.

FS Kam Chancellor – 6-4, 224 pounds, JR. Hitting his second season at safety, after playing the ‘06 season at cornerback. Last year in 14 starts, he had 79 total tackles with one INT and a forced fumble. Chancellor went to Va. Tech as a quarterback.

G Sergio Render – 6-3, 314 pounds, JR. A two-year starter at right guard, Render underwent knee surgery after the ‘06 season but came back and played the entire ‘07 season with no problems.

T Ed Wang – 6-5, 310 pounds, JR-Redshirt. He joined the Hokies as a tight end, but moved to tackle in ‘07, where he started the final six games on the right side. He missed the first part of the season recovering from a broken ankle. His parents were both members of the Chinese Olympic team I n the 1970s.

East Carolina

SS Van Eskridge – 6-0, 200 pounds, JR-Redshirt. He’s played 26 games in two seasons and last year led the team with 104 total tackles. Eskridge started in ‘06 at outside linebacker.

 Alabama

T Andre Smith – 6-4, 340 pounds, JR. He’s a two-year starter on the Tide offensive line and he plays left tackle. Last year he was on the SEC Coaches all-conference team. If he decided to enter the NFL Draft after this season he’ll be a high first-round choice.

C Antoine Caldwell – 6-3, 305 pounds. SR-Redshirt. He’s played at center and both guard spots in the Alabama offensive line over the years, starting more than 30 games at all those positions. In the last two years he was named to the second-team All-SEC squad.

Clemson

QB Cullen Harper – 6-3, 220 pounds. SR-Redshirt. Harper is considered by some NFL teams as the top senior quarterback prospect in ‘08. Last year he started 13 games, throwing for nearly 3,000 yards, including 27 TD passes and just six INTs. He completed 65 percent of his passes. Not a bomber, but very accurate in the short to medium passing game and has mobility out of the pocket. Considered among the top 40 NFL prospects among seniors.

RB James Davis – 5-11, 210 pounds, SR. His ‘08 season was slowed by a separated shoulder in spring ball. He started 12 games last year, running for 1,064 yards and was first team All-ACC for the second year in a row. He’s now led Clemson in rushing for three straight seasons. Considered a top 40 NFL pick among seniors in ‘09.

RB C.J. Spiller - 5-11, 195 pounds, JR. Spiller is the lightning part of the “Thunder & Lightning” duo with James Davis.  He ran for 768 yards last year, caught 34 passes for 271 yards, plus he returned  punts and kickoffs.  As a freshman, he ran for 938 yards.  Explosive speed, he turned  in a 6.74 time in the 60 meters at the ACC indoor track meet.

SS Michael Hamlin – 6-3, 206 pounds, SR-Redshirt. A tall, rangy playmaker, Hamlin has been a three-year starter for the Tigers. Last year, he had 80 total tackles, four INTs, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Hamlin is considered among the top 40 prospects for the ‘09 Draft.

DE Ricky Sapp – 6-4, 242 pounds, JR. He was a starter last year at what Clemson calls their bandit defensive end. He had five sacks and 52 total tackles. As a freshman he had four sacks.

Utah

CB Sean Smith – 6-3, 215 pounds, JR-Redshirt. Just two years ago, Smith was playing on both sides of the football, working the offensive side as a receiver. In the ‘07 season, he played in all 13 games, with 10 starts, nine of those on the corner. He had four INTs.

Michigan

DT Terrance Taylor – 6-0, 318, SR. Considered one of the top 40 senior prospects this fall, Taylor is one of those fire hydrant DTs, who can also put pressure on the passer with his rush up the middle. He’s had 23 starts in the last two years and finished with 55 tackles and 3.5 sacks last year playing the nose tackle position. He’s considered a top 40 pick by the NFL.

CB Morgan Trent – 6-1, 190 pounds, SR-Redshirt. Over the last three years, Trent has started 29 games for the Wolverines. He has four career interceptions and last he shared Michigan’s outstanding defensive contributor award with 41 total tackles and two INTs.

DE Brandon Graham – 6-2, 270 pounds. JR. Graham has already played in 24 games for Michigan in just two seasons, making five starts last year at defensive end. He finished the ‘07 season with 8.5 sacks and forcing three fumbles.

WR Greg Mathews – 6-3, 207, JR. Last year, Mathews started seven games for the Wolverines and finished the season with 39 catches for 366 yards. He also returned punts. He’s a cousin of former Ohio State star-now Dolphins receiver Ted Ginn Jr.

DE Tim Jamison – 6-3, 265 pounds, SR-Redshirt. Jamison has already played in 38 games for Michigan, starting 13 last year at defensive end. He finished the ‘07 season with 52 total tackles, 5.5 sacks and an interception.