February 5, 2008

This year's draft features plenty of small school talent at receiver that should be drafted and a few projects at tight end worth a look in the late 7th round or in free agency. The receiver group is headlined by Senior Bowl participant Dexter Jackson from App State and East-West Shrine participant Jerome Simpson from Coastal Carolina. Jackson, Georgia Southern's Jayson Foster and Jackson State's Jaymar Johnson are speedsters who could be steals.

Jackson torched Michigan and Jayson foster won the Walter Payton Award. Mount Union's Pierre Garcon is considered the best D3 receiver in recent memory.

At tight end, Kolo Kapanui, a former USC transfer, is one of the best in the D2 ranks and shows the athletic ability to make an impact.

Below is a look at the top receivers, tight ends, and a look at possible future NFL prospects from three-time FCS Champion Appalachian State:

TOP 5 SMALL SCHOOL WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Dexter Jackson, Appalachian State, 5097, 179lbs, 4.36 40

Jackson is most known for his two touchdown performance against Michigan on September 1st; however, his career had plenty of other big moments to be looked at to project his NFL prospects. Jackson is a proven winner as he has won three national championships on the gridiron at Appalachian State and taken home accolades on the track as well. He has been inconsistent catching passes in all-star game workouts but has shown great return ability and the speed to break a play open at any time. He displays great quickness, excellent straight-line speed, and explosiveness. He will need to work on catching the ball, route running, and add some muscle weight before he is ready to start in the NFL. Word on the street is thaThe will run a sub 4.3 at the NFL Scouting Combine. Look for Jackson to land as high as the early 3rd round and no later than the late 4th round.

2. Jerome Simpson, Coastal Carolina, 6014, 193lbs, 4.62 40

Simpson is a three-time All-Big South Conference performer and two-time All-America selection at Coastal Carolina, where he holds virtually every school record in game, season, and career receiving categories. He has great size and natural hands and the ability to snag the ball over defenders with his excellent vertical. His biggest question marks are his lack of strength, ability to understand an NFL system, and his level of competition. Adding bulk, spending time learning NFL playbooks, and becoming a better block will be the key. Due to his lack of blazing speed, he will be a possession receiver in the NFL. He'll participate in the NFL Scouting Combine later this month and should land somewhere in the 3rd-5th round of the draft.

3. Pierre Garcon, Mount Union, 6000, 209lbs, 4.45 40

Garcon was an All-America selection at Division III Mount Union where he showed he was a man amongst boys. He has solid size at 6'0 209lbs and the speed to be a real threat at the next level. He adjusts well to the ball in the air and has shown the ability to contribute on special teams. He returned a punt for a touchdown recently in the Texas vs. Nation All-Star Challenge. The ability to create separation, get off jams, and block downfield are concerns for NFL Scouts. His level of competition is another red flag as very few from Division III have made the jump to the NFL. He is believed to be a superior athlete who can do that. Expect him to run a sub 4.4 at the NFL Scouting Combine and he should land in the 5th-7th round range.

4. Jaymar Johnson, Jackson State, 5115, 176lbs, 4.41 40

According to his trainer he could run as low as a 4.29 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine. His speed has been shown over the last two years as he averaged over 17 yards per catch and showed the speed to be a good downfield threat in the NFL. He will have to become more polished for the next level and add weight but has a chance to be a day two steal. Johnson is considered a late round pick as of now but could surprise and go in the 5th round with a great workout at the combine. Most feel he will land in the late 6th or 7th round.

5. Jayson Foster, Georgia Southern, 5071, 169lbs, 4.39 40

Foster has done it all at the FCS level with back to back All-America seasons and winning the Walter Payton Award in 2007. He passed for 1,203 yards and 6 touchdowns and put up over 3,000 yards of total offense. He was also an AFCA and AP All-America choice while picking up SoCon Offensive Player of the Year honors. He will have to make the transition to receiver after playing quarterback last year but has played the position previously. He will need to gain weight and become more consistent catching the ball. He shows superior speed and versatility for an NFL team looking to pick an all-purpose speedster on day two of the draft. Foster does not have a combine invite but should be picked in the late rounds.

Notables: Arman Shields, Richmond; Bruce Hocker, Duquesne; Shaheer McBride, Delaware State; Paul Raymond, Brown; Micah Rucker, Eastern Illinois; Clyde Edwards, Grambling State; Edward Williams, Lane College; Daniel Polk, Midwestern State

TOP 3 SMALL SCHOOL TIGHT ENDS

1. Kolomona Kapanui, West Texas A&M, 6032, 271lbs, 4.64 40

Kapanui was a member of USC's 2001 recruiting class but decided to transfer due to the academic work load, lack of playing time, and a hip injury. He came to West Texas A&M and showed the Hawaiian-born tight end could light it up. The two-time All-Lone Star selection also earned AP and d2football.com All-America honors in 2007 with 39 catches for 481 yards and seven touchdowns. He will have to show he can be durable and take below average size for the position and use it in the NFL. If he can stay healthy and learn the system he will have a chance to be a solid steal on day two. He will be at the NFL Scouting Combine later this month and should land in the late rounds with a good workout.

2. Drew Atchison, William & Mary, 6056, 247lbs, 4.74 40

Atchison spent most of '05 on the travel squad and then caught 12 passes in '06 and caught 34 balls for 475 yards and six touchdowns in '07. He earned honorable mention All-America honors by The Sports Network and VASID All-State honors this year, respectively. He also played baseball in college with three appearances in '04. He catches most balls with his hands and has great size for the position. He struggles to block linebackers and safeties in space and lacks straight-line speed. He played in the 2008 East-West Shrine Game but does not have an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine. He will be a 7th-PFA type project for a team wiling to take the time to develop this raw prospect. He should end up as a priority free agent signing after the draft.

3. Joseph Tuineau, Southeast Missouri State, 6072, 272lbs, 4.87 40

Tuineau will be difficult to grade with a tight end/tackle tweener body and a lack of playing experience. He redshirted in 2003 and then hauled in just nine passes in '04. His 2005 campaign was his breakout season where he hauled in 25 balls for 305 yards on his way to earning 2nd team All-OVC honors. Due to having two senior tight ends and the coaching staff feeling he needed more experience, he was benched and still managed to catch six passes as the third-string tight end. Born in Fiji, Joseph moved to New Zealand at the age of eight where he played rugby. He is very raw, but has the talent to start in the NFL after three to four years of coaching. T his year he finished second on the team with 21 catches for 334 yards and one touchdown. He was not invited to the scouting combine so his pro day will be important. He might be a surprise pick in the late rounds due to his tremendous upside.

Notables: Louis Irizarry, Youngstown State; Chris Wagner, South Dakota State; Matthew Sherry, Villanova; Chris Conklin, Wingate; Matthew Mulligan, Maine; Jeff Fielder, Minnesota-Mankato; Buck Reed, Bethel (TN); Eric Tonkin, Concordia (MN); Clint Wright, Northern Colorado

UPDATED TOP 25

SCHOOL FEATURE – APPALACHIAN STATE

Here is a look at the three-time defending FCS National Champion Appalachian State Mountaineers. After seeing their recent success in all-star games with Jason Hunter and Marques Murrell in the Magnolia Gridiron Classic in '05 and '06 and Dexter Jackson, Corey Lynch, and Kerry Brown all participating in all-star contests this year, it is easy to see why the Mountaineers were so good the last three years. Jackson played in both the East-West Shrine and Senior Bowl while Lynch and Brown played in the second annual T exas vs. Nation All-Star Challenge.

Many fans will ask if App State has the talent to keep their streak alive in bowl games and continue to put talent on NFL rosters. Here is a look at a few players who have shown the physical and/or production worth looking at by the NFL and their projected draft projection for that year:

2008 NFL DRAFT

WR Dexter Jackson - track speed and return ability. 4th round

OG Kerry Brown - big, strong, and mean. 5th-6th round

FS Corey Lynch- doesn't run well but has instincts and special team ability. 7th-PFA

RB Kevin Richardson - tough runner who can be a workhorse. PFA

CB Jerome Touchstone - undersized but fast and one of the top corners in the FCS. PFA

K Julian Rauch - has a strong leg so worth a shot in camp. FA

2009 NFL DRAFT

WR James Hill - has decent size but possesses track speed. PFA

LB Pierre Banks - highly productive player who might move to safety due to lack of ideal height PFA

DT Tim Washington - former DE who moved inside late in the season who has injury questions so if healthy - PFA

2010 NFL DRAFT

QB Armanti Edwards - earned all-America honors this past year and has the speed to make a move to RB if the NFL thinks he is too short for QB - 6th-7th round

RB Devon Moore - has better speed than Richardson and will finally get a chance to show he can be just as productive - PFA

LB Jacque Roman - sideline to sideline hitter with the ability play outside or inside in the NFL - PFA

DE Tony Robertson - undersized but has the speed to move to OLB like Murrell - PFA

WR Josh Johnson - has great size and could be a possession receiver; speed will be his question - PFA

DT Anthony Williams - great motor and big enough to get a look - 7th-PFA

2011 NFL DRAFT

LB DJ Smith - good speed, size, and the ability to make plays all over; could be the next day one prospect from ASU- 4th-5th round.

2012 NFL DRAFT

WR Brian Quick - dropped a crucial TD pass Michigan game but blocked a field goal and shows the physical tools to be a special teamer and deep ball threat in the NFL - PFA.

With 26 freshmen and sophomores on the two-deep last year they have a chance to win a fourth in a row. There are as many as 6 players who could get drafted off the 2007 team and there might be a few more along the way.