Three-point stance: Draft predictions, satellite camps, UNC
Today’s edition talks about the NFL Draft, how Thursday is also a big day in college football and the UNC mess continues.
Thursday is a big night at the NFL Draft for many of our former five-, four- and three-stars, as well as some of the unknowns out of high school that made a name for themselves (hello Carson Wentz). But it’s also a big day for college football programs hoping to sell the NFL dream to recruits based on the results of the draft. Ole Miss could put three players in the first round, which would be a huge boost to recruiting, something that is already going well. Ohio State could pull a Miami Hurricanes circa 2000-2008 by putting as many as five or six in round one. Here are a few quick predictions for tonight's show in Chicago.
With Jared Goff going No. 1 overall and joining Aaron Rodgers as a marquee name in the NFL, Cal quarterback recruiting will get a boost as early as this year. Tate Martell, committed to Texas A&M, is one of a few elite quarterbacks that could take a long look. And watch out if Cal pulls an upset Sunday for 2016 five star ATH Demetris Robertson, who will announce his college of choice at the College Football Hall of Fame.
While I have him going in the Top 10, UCLA linebacker Myles Jack could free fall a bit due to the recent questions about how serious his knee injury is.
The lawsuit filed against Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil by his stepfather Tuesday won’t affect his draft status. I have him going No. 3 to the Chargers but many feel San Diego prefers Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley. No matter what, Tunsil doesn’t pass Baltimore at No. 6.
Remember when Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg was the No. 1 prospect heading into his junior season? Rumors have the Bills interested, but I can’t see anyone in round one taking a chance on the former five-star.
Remember when Joey Bosa was the No. 1 prospect before Hackenberg following his monster sophomore season? I have Bosa at No. 5 to the Jaguars, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Ohio State star slid outside the top 10.
The Buckeyes will have five first-rounders with Mike Thomas and Vonn Bell just missing a day one pick. The Buckeyes fall one short of Miami’s record of six first-rounders set in 2004.
One team will reach way too high for a quarterback, most likely Paxton Lynch, possibly in the top 12. I also think four quarterbacks will be taken in round one -- Goff, Wentz, Lynch and Connor Cook. Call me crazy, but despite a quarterback panic, teams will still hold off on Hackenberg.
Despite Ohio State’s first round success, the SEC will still have more picks in round one than any other conference.
Laquon Treadwell will not be the first receiver taken. That will be Notre Dame’s Will Fuller.
The following positions will not be selected at all in round one – tight end, offensive guard. Only one player from these positions will be selected in round one – running back, offensive center, inside linebacker, safety.
If there is one guy from the 2012 class that I was sure would either already be a three-and-out first rounder or be on come Thursday night, it was running back Johnathan Gray. Gray had it all but never panned out at Texas and injuries hurt him. Gray won’t be drafted.
Defensive end Noah Spence won’t be a first-rounder and is the biggest case of self-destruction in the 2012 class. A top 10 talent out of high school, Spence could have been a star at Ohio State but drug problems got in the way. Now he’s a high-risk pick no matter where he’s taken, something I would have never thought back when he came out of high school.
Thursday is also the day the NCAA Board of Directors meets and the hot topic will of course be the satellite camp ban. My best guess is that the proposal will be tabled until the winter, allowing satellite camps to be held this summer.
In the end, the NCAA will eventually put a limit on the number of satellite camps each program can co-host (three would be a good number), that high schools will not be allowed to be used moving forward for the camps (to avoid a myriad of issues) and a Satellite Oversight Committee will be formed to oversee future changes. But my best guess for Thursday is this –- the NCAA calls a timeout on pushing through this proposal and Harbaugh and company can make their summer plans.
Can anyone else follow what the heck the NCAA is doing with North Carolina? We are in year six of the investigation into academic fraud, etc. and still sifting through yet another Notice of Allegations.
So now football and men’s basketball are no longer included? The two major sports are still in the broad strokes of the “lack of institutional control” allegations which could be very serious, but it’s also a very general allegation and allows the NCAA the leeway to hammer both programs or leave them alone with the latter thought to be the preference.
Why has football and basketball been removed specifically? Because those GPA boosting African-American study courses utilized mainly by athletes were available to all students, so the NCAA has backed off considering them extra benefits? Common sense goes out the window here as it seemed pretty clear to everyone who looked at this situation that those courses were used to keep high-level football and basketball players eligible, essentially a shot of GPA steroids.
So if UNC football and hoops get off the hook, what’s stopping every other major program from propping up infamous Underwater Basket Weaving classes for athletes? Or actually, isn’t that likely already happening at most schools?
This stuff always baffles me.