ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. thinking second round for David Wilson, third or fourth for Jayron Hosley
Former Hokies David Wilson and Jayron Hosley, by most accounts, had strong showings at the NFL Combine, but where they project in the upcoming NFL Draft remains in flux, according to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
Kiper put Wilson in the second tier of running backs, behind Alabama’s Trent Richardson, the only ballcarrier he has projected to go in the first round.
He has Wilson, who wowed in most drills at the combine, as a potential second-rounder, along with a cluster of backs that include Oregon’s LaMichael James, Boise State’s Doug Martin and Miami’s Lamar Miller. On Kiper’s list of top-five backs, Wilson is fourth, behind Richardson, James and Martin and ahead of Miller.
“You won’t know really how it’s going to play out until draft day,” Kiper said. “[Wilson] is going to have to battle those other three for that spot. The fumbling … he’s got to do better with ball security. As a talented running back with all that athletic prowess and all that potential, he’s got a chance to be really good.”
Kiper said questions still persist about Hosley after a dropoff in production from his sophomore to junior year.
“He didn’t build on that season from a couple years ago,” Kiper said. “Beaten some in coverage, didn’t always locate the ball down the field as well as you want. But he has proven to be a play-maker.”
Thought to be a first-round pick before the start of the season, Hosley’s stock isn’t as high anymore. While some believe his combine performance might get him into the second round, Kiper thinks the cornerback will go sometime in the third or fourth rounds.
“I think his stock has fallen to the point where now you’re talking Day 3,” Kiper said. “I thought maybe second round at one point. I’m thinking now maybe fourth round now. Maybe third. But I think his stock has declined a little bit over the last couple months, where Wilson has kind of maintained where he’s been.”
Kiper doesn’t have Hosley among his top-five cornerbacks. NFLDraftScout.com has Hosley ninth among the cornerbacks and projected as a second- or third-round pick.
The Hokies will have another chance to work out in front of NFL scouts, coaches and general managers at Virginia Tech’s pro day on March 15.
The NFL Draft takes place in New York from April 26-28, with the first round that Thursday, rounds two and three on Friday and rounds four through seven on Saturday.
March 8, 2012 - 2:19 PM
Maybe he’s right. Maybe he’s wrong. Getting drafted is just getting in the door (although there are financial benefits of course). The thing is to make a good career, save some money and (hopefully) contribute positively to society. Only time will tell how they do. I wish them well.
I feel that Danny Coale will be the Hokie surprise on draft day.
He got national attention at the Sugar bowl due to the
insane call from the replay booth.
More than a few NFL scouts saw the 100% effort and concentration during the catch in the end zone. I am sure many were impressed.
They also saw the maturity level when Coale stated “I thought it was
a good catch. They must have seen something upstairs.”
This statment came right after that kid was robbed of the
biggest catch of his life.
He also tried to take the heat for the stupid fake punt play,
while Frank Beamer was busy throwing him under the bus.
P.S.
If anyone out there has Danny Coale’s email, facebook, twitter
phone # or whatever please forward my previous post to him.
He deserves to know how much the Hokie Nation appreciates and
respects him. He is a stand-up guy.
#2 I thought the same of Boykin, the leading receiver of all time at VT. Never heard anything but good about them both.
Andy, I have a question, “What would a students tuition be if the coaches did not make the salaries you listed the other day? It would be interesting as to how much our tax dollars we spend helping them get those figures. Not only at tech, but any other college. Comments like, “They ony make this much”, or somebody else makes this and $37 dollars less?? Give me a break.
As always , look forward to responses.
Coaches salaries come entirely from the athletic department which is funded by private donations and ticket revenue, your tax dollars are safe from frank’s pockets.
Whoa … a little off subject of draft there Eagle and Jason so while you are concerned about tuition for students … How much do dept. heads and tenured prof.s make compared to numbers of coaches to numbers of prof.s,dept. heads, ast.s. Not to mention equipment and materials. Here’s the question academic cost vs. athletic cost?
That is not true about coaches salaries coming from ticket sales and private donations. In fact, Coach Beamer is the highest paid employee in the state of Virginia.
#6 Eagle continues to read the VT blog and then complain about VT. Funny he did not mention how much the coach of his team makes. Of course he’s never mentioned his team…
#6 His question also shows how little he knows about CFB…
Jason hit the nail on the head. Tuition costs would not change regardless of the football staff salaries as those are paid by Hokie Club donations and ticket sales. As a matter of fact, those same Hokie Club donations and football ticket sales also fund the salaries for staff of most all the other atletic programs as well (softball, swimming, soccer, etc).
Regarding Kiper, I think he’s right on both Wilson and Hosley. Wilson has a lot of potential, but he was not successful between the tackles last year. That coupled with the fumbles lowers his value a bit. He’s still going to be a servicable pro, just not quite worth a #1. I don’t know what to say about Hosley. I don’t fault him for wanting to go pro and make some money now, but he did have a bit of a down year. He’s very good, but small. Fourth round sounds about right. Good luck to them both.
Richardson won’t be a bust, but he will be an average RB in the NFL. Mark my words. These guys don’t know what they are talking about.
To Rob’s #2 and #3. I would also like to add my kudos to Danny Coale. He is truly a class act ans has done the Hokie Nation Proud. The sportmanship shone by accepting the official’s call was truly remarkable in today’s athletic culture. There are many ways that Hokies can live into our motto of Ut Prosim. Danny served his team, his Universtiy, and Athletic Sportmanship. Danny is a real stand up guy when he laid himself out and caught the touchdown catach and then did not whine. Ut Prosim! Danny Coale!!!
Eagle, the correct answer to your question is that tuition would be the same. The money for coaches doesn’t come from the same bucket that tuition goes into. Your tax dollars are safe. Not really an interesting question.
But just for kicks, if tuition did contribute to coach’s salaries…
$4,930,000 for coaching staff
roughly 30,000 students
$4,930,000 / 30,000 = $164.33 per student, or $82.17 per semester. So $82.17 less in tuition per semester… if this were a relevant question.
I understand the whole “athletic department is separately funded” position. I know the athletic department benefits the university as a whole. But my question is just how long has this been the case? When athletic budgets were first completely separated from the university, did they pay for the assets they inherited? Who bought the land the facilities are sitting on and how much is that worth? Who initially funded Lane Stadium and the Cassell and for how much? Who owns the trademarks “Virginia Tech”, “Hokies”, “HokieBird” and lets the athletic department use them for free? The university, and by proxy the state, have given multi-millions of dollars worth of assets to the athletic department. If someone literally gave me a multi-million dollar business and told me to just run it from this point on, I think I could be quite financially successful. Probably even “earn” a salary of over 2 million dollars.
BW all the people in the athletic dept are considered state employees. Coach Beamer’s salary is paid with proceeds and private donations.
The money has to be there to build the buildings for athletic facilities.
I’m not trying to rant here but this athletic/academic/coaches get paid too much stuff drives me crazy. From an article on tricities.com:
For example, the state’s highest paid coach isn’t on the list at all. Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer – who last year earned $2.1 million, according to a USA Today database of college football coaches’ salaries – is considered a “local” position by the school and his salary is not reported to the state.
“These are positions that are funded entirely from endowments or other non-state sources,” said Robert Weaver, a human resources analyst for the state.
I get that education is underfunded, but when professors start generating revenue like the football program does, they can get paid accordingly. Sure, that speaks to a societal problem that football is that much more important to people than education, but until that changes, at least get your facts right about where money comes from, where it goes, and why someone makes what they make. As a VT alum, I contribute to the academic fund, and I buy football tickets, but I certainly know what each of those dollars goes too.
BW…that is actually NOT true. Here is a link to the top 25 state salary earners in 2011: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/dec/04/tdmain01-state-employee-salaries-top-earners-ar-1512220/
Beamer earns a nice piece of change in Blacksburg…but the majority of it is NOT from the state tax dollar.
Umm how much money has Beamer made VT? How much exposure has VT gotten due to Beamer? In fact one could argue that Beamer and the football team have kept tuition down.. VT has the lowest (by far) student fees in the state at round 300 bucks.. Student fees are basically for tickets, entertainment et. al.. Virginia Tech has not changed them in about 7 years. There was an article in the Virginian Pilot last year..http://hamptonroads.com/2011/05/college-athletics-costs-grow-student-fees-rise
and before people go off on how NSU and ODU have lower tuitions.. OF course they due as they dont offer the overall programs that Virginia Tech and UVA do as a University. Virginia has a three tiered University system with UVA and VT as the large then there are the mediums, JMU, W&M, VCU, ODU and others then the smaller ones like Mary Washington and others.. Not judging its just the way the system is.. So Beamer and the football team is costing the students less money than other schools.