Draft deadline day: How do the former Hokies stack up?
In case you missed it in today’s paper, I wrote about Virginia Tech trying to finalize its 2012 recruiting class. Again, nothing groundbreaking here for the recruitniks, but it brings everything up to date.
On a different front, it’s the deadline day for players to enter their names in the NFL draft. Here’s a projection of where Virginia Tech’s players might be selected come April, courtesy of NFL Draft Scout on CBSSports.com (which is the only one I could find right now that projects players beyond the first or second round).
Keep in mind, these are just projections:
Overall Rank, Player, Round
- 43. RB David Wilson, 2
- 45. CB Jayron Holsey, 2
- 148. FS Eddie Whitley, 4-5
- 188. G Jaymes Brooks, 5-6
- 294. WR Jarrett Boykin, 7-FA
- 345. T Blake DeChristpher, FA
- 350. WR Danny Coale, FA
- 488. CB Cris Hill, FA
- 525. LB Barquell Rivers, FA
- 609. TE Chris Drager, FA
- 682. PK Justin Myer, FA
Here’s a look at where some of the Hokies compare at their positions:
- 1. Trent Richardson, Alabama
- 2. Lamar Miller, Miami
- 3. David Wilson, Virginia Tech
- 4. Chris Polk, Washington
- 5. LaMichael James, Oregon
- 1. Morris Claiborne, LSU
- 2. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
- 3. Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
- 4. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
- 5. Chase Minnifield, Virginia
- 6. Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech
- 7. Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina
- 8. Trumaine Johnson, Montana
- 1. Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State
- 2. Aaron Henry, Wisconsin
- 3. Robert Lester, Alabama
- 4. Geroge Iloka, Boise State
- 5. Trenton Robinson, Michigan State
- 6. Eddie Whitley, Virginia Tech
- 7. Tramain Thomas, Arkansas
- 8. Tysyn Hartman, Kansas State
- 8. Lucas Nix, Pittsburgh
- 9. Ryan Miller, Colorado
- 10. Jaymes Brooks, Virginia Tech
- 11. Antoine McClain, Clemson
- 12. Rishaw Johnson, California (PA)
- 30. Russell Shepherd, LSU
- 31. Jermaine Kearse, Washington
- 32. Jarrett Boykin, Virginia Tech
- 33. LaVon Brazill, Ohio
- 34. Travis Benjamin, Miami
- —
- 37. Greg Childs, Arkansas
- 38. Juron Criner, Arizona
- 39. Danny Coale, Virginia Tech
- 40. Devon Wylie, Fresno State
- 41. Junior Hemingway, Michigan
- 26. Bradley Sowell, Ole Miss
- 27. Alex Hoffman, Cincinnati
- 28. Blake DeChristopher, Virginia Tech
- 29. Al Netter, Northwestern
- 30. Jarvis Jones, Oklahoma
January 15, 2012 - 11:53 AM
Kind of surprised by the DeChristopher ranking. Figured him for a 4-5 round pick. Still could be I guess.
I hope Boykin and Coale catch on with patient teams. I think both of those guys could help someone.
Danny Coale will be drafted as a Wes Welker type of player. Teams will take a chance on this type of player.
I think it’s probably good for Coale to go the free agent route, like Wes Welker did, and look at Welker. If he has a good showing in the all-star game, scouts are going to take note of him. I’d love to see him in a system like Green Bay, San Francisco, or even Houston.
Andy, what are the words of what potential NFL teams are interested in David Wilson?
Couple of observations – Hosley way overrated, Boykin way underrated. I also can’t believe Chase Minnifield would be that high. Like Hosley, he is way overrated.
The thing about Boykin is he is a big, solid body, with good speed. He was a big play guy in college, but will be a steady kind of player in the NFL. He reminds me a lot of another Charlotte HS player – Hakeem Nicks. You put him in the right situation, with the right QB, and he makes the QB look really good.
Somebody will draft Coale. If they aren’t, they’re just stupid. If nothing else, whomever has the last pick would be a moron not to lock him up.
I agree with Rick H. on Coale…but there are too many dysfunctional franchises out there (Miami, Oakland, Cinn. etc.) and the Pats already have a Welker so it’s entirely possible that nobody take him.
I know the tendency is to compare Danny Coale to Wes Welker, mostly because both are white WR’s. If we have to compare Danny Coale only to other white WR’s, let’s compare him to Ricky Proehl, who lasted a long time in the NFL and was closer in skill set. Regardless of comparisons, I think Danny Coale will make it with some NFL team. He is the kind of guy who could be a 3rd WR and last for a decade or more. The same goes for Jarrett Boykin, although I’ve always thought Coale was a better WR than Boykin. He just doesn’t fit the stereotypical profile – tall, rangy, athletic, etc. – as well.
I’m surprised Wilson is only rated two spots above Hosley. Both should last a while in the NFL, though.
Disagree almost completely with Rick H. Hosely was injured most of the year and was playing out of position at the boundry. I like Boykin and he is is a nice college receiver, but his speed will likely be an issue at the next level. And he’s no Hakeem Nicks. I doubt Coale will get drafted. I can’t see a team using a pick on him — they’d rather take a chance on him as a free agent. Maybe a 7th round pick, but I doubt it. Agree that Chase Minnifield is overrated though. The biggest surprise to me is Brooks ahead of Dechristopher. I think Dechristopher can be a guard at the next level.
Good luck to all of these Tech players but in reality most of them will NOT be on an NFL team next season.