Who's Next

So, the underclassmen have declared. Now we are left with a new question for college football fans everywhere, who's next? Here at the Frenzy, we have been asking ourselves the same exact question, so we decided to put together our list of who's next. We have included both '09 Seniors, and Juniors on the list, as they are all going to be draft eligible next year.

As we put this list together, we noticed a few things that jumped out at us. First, defense is king. Unlike this years crop, next year is shaping up to be a mega big linebacker class. Second, the top talent seems to be highly condensed amongst just a few schools. For example, of the 25 on our list, we find 4 Florida Gators, 3 Ohio State Buckeyes, and 3 USC Trojans. That is 10 of the next 25 from 3 schools.

So, lets cut the talk, and see who's next...


1. James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State
Laurinaitis was listed in my top 5 of the '08 Mock Draft. He is an absolute stud and I think he can be a great addition to any NFL linebacking corp.


2. Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
Our second player is also our second Buckeye on the board. Jenkins would have gone in the top 20 if he had come out of school this year. He has good cover skills, and pretty excellent size for a corner.


3. Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
Matthew Stafford has an immense amount of upside, and he should be the first quarterback off the board in '09 providing he comes out after his junior season. The Bulldogs have to be excited about what this kid brings to the table, and if he produces well next season, he could compete for #1 overall.



4. Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
Big Rey would have been a first rounder if he would have left So Cal this year. In fact, with Laurinaitis staying in school, Maualuga would have been the top linebacker chosen this year. I project him higher than teammate Keith rivers who is now the top rated linebacker on this years board.



5. Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss
Oher is the top tackle prospect of this class. He is a beast, and excels at protecting his QB. Right now Oher rates about half a spot below this year's top prospect Jake Long, but better than the second prospect Ryan Clady. I love Oher's toughness, and he has plus technique, so he deserves this lofty rating.



6. Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
The NFL values pass rushers, and Michael Johnson is amongst the best of this class. He gets after the QB well, and still can play the run too. He has strong upside, and his senior season can make him irresistible to NFL clubs.



7. Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
This underclassman is my favorite receiver on the board. He has tremendous upside, and he has so far shown, that he plays his best on the biggest stage. He has great speed, solid hands, and runs good routes. Best receiver in my book bar none.



8. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Hello Heisman. What Tebow did in 07 was unreal. Now, he goes into 08 with another year of Urban's offense under his belt. Those who felt Alex Smith was a prospect, wont be able to describe what they feel about Tebow. The best part is, he likely will stay through his Senior year.


9. George Selvie, DE, South Florida
This former Center is as smart as he is scary. He was one of the nations top pass rushers as a freshman and then again as a sophomore. I am so excited to see what he will do as a junior in Tampa.



10. CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson
The best of the running backs in my opinion. Spiller was a large part of the Tigers success in 08, and I expect to see him kick it up a notch next year. He has good speed, and great vision. Both of those skills will translate at the next level.



11. Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
After a weak TE class this year, '09 is shaping up to be a different story. Pettigrew holds a small edge right now amongst a very strong group. He is a good pass catching TE, but what makes him stand out the most is his blocking ability.



12. Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri
As far as TE's go, it is hard to discount the value that Coffman bring to Missouri. He will again be one of Daniels' top targets next year, and if he steps him game up, even just a little, he could be the top TE off the board in '09.



13. Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
Another Gator. We said they had four, and Spikes is the third. This tackling machine plays ala former Gator Channing Crowder. With continued improvement, he could become the same type of super valued pro that Crowder is too.



14. Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma
It is rare to find a game changing guard in the college ranks, but Duke is as close as they come. Guards are often overlooked on draft day too. Teams that need o-line help and pass Robinson by in the '09 draft will with out a doubt regret it. This kid is a stud.



15. Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri
A Heisman candidate in 07, I expect Daniel to look just as good in 08. He made the right decision by returning to Columbia where his game will get more polished, and his field vision and decision making will become better too.



16. Curtis Painter, QB, Purdue
Painter is the biggest unknown on this board. He has all of the physical tools necessary to be successful, and he plays against tough competition each week. Still, he has not yet blown people away with his production. I expect him to continue to grow as both a passer, and a leader, and thus he gets some pre-season attention.



17. Myron Rolle, S, Florida State
One word about Rolle. Superfreak. This guy flat out brings it. He is fast, and shows good ball skills to boot. Should this junior come out early he will amaze at the combine, and provide one luck NFL team with an unbelievable athlete.



18. Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Back when he was being recruited, there was a lot of buzz surrounding Andre Smith. Now, two years later, the buzz is still there. Smith has not disappointed the Tuscaloosa faithful, and should he leave Nick Saban and company a year early, he will not disappoint at the next level either.



19. Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
Like Painter, Jackson is somewhat of an unknown. He plays a high profile position at a high profile program. He has talent all around him. Some think this kid is the second best prospect of this class. Some think he is a borderline first rounder. I think he can put all of the concerns to rest with a strong '08 season.



20. Taylor Mays, S, USC
On paper, he looks awfully similar to FSU's, Myron Rolle. Unlike Rolle however, Mays reaps the benefits of playing on a stellar defense with talent everywhere. This safety has the speed of a corner, and the tenacity and toughness of a linebacker. Bottom line is I would not want to have to match up against this kid.



21. Brian Cushing, LB, USC
Another spot, another Trojan. Cushing is the second USC linebacker on our watch list, and along with Maualuga and Mays makes up 3/11 of what is looking to be like of the nation's top defenses. He won't get as many headlines as his teammates, but he is just as talented.



22. Cornelius Ingram, TE, Florida
Of the three TE's on this list, Ingram is the best pass catching threat of the three. He won't see a many catches with Percy on the outside, but Timmy T knows how to spread the ball around well.



23. Beanie Wells, RB, Ohio State
This Buckeye running back is a nice size, speed combination. He finds holes pretty well, and does well following his blocks. He could start to put up major number next year, and this bodes well for OSU's bid for a third straight national title game appearance.



24. Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
When I say fast, you say Darrius Heyward-Bey. This speedster will give ACC corners fits in '08 with his amazing speed, good hands, and nice body usage. He will be the feature of the Terps offense for good reason, and should he declare to leave Maryland early, he should transition well to the next level.



25. Sean Lee, LB, Penn State
So many choices and only one spot left. What stud list would be complete without a linebacker from Penn State. Like Puz and Conner before him, Sean Lee will make the State College fans stand up and cheer. He covers ground well, and although I expect Joe Pa to place him in the middle of the Lions D, he projects to plays outside as a pro.