Aug. 22
Mel Kiper Jr. rates the top senior prospects for the 2002 NFL draft:
1. John Henderson, DT, Tennessee -- With the Vols' running game considered an area of concern going into the 2001 campaign, it will be up to Henderson and company on the defensive side to set the tone early on. At 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds, Henderson combines imposing size with exceptional overall skill. That's why this towering interior presence is, in my opinion, the best defensive-line prospect the Vols have produced since Reggie White.
2. Bryant McKinnie, OT, Miami (Fla.) -- A dominating bookend left tackle at 6-7½ and 335 pounds, McKinnie is in the mold of former early first-round blue-chippers such as Tony Boselli, Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Pace and Chris Samuels.
3. Kalimba Edwards, DE/OLB, South Carolina -- Destructive edge performer with the height (6-5¼), wingspan and closing speed necessary to take over games.
4. Quentin Jammer, CB, Texas -- An eraser in the Longhorns' deep patrol, Jammer paced Texas' defense with 20 pass breakups as a fourth-year junior last season while intercepting three passes, causing four fumbles and recording 43 tackles. Working against a gifted wideout like sophomore Roy Williams has definitely benefited Jammer in terms of how he will ultimately transition into the NFL.
5. Anthony Weaver, DT, Notre Dame -- With his quickness, block-shed technique and overall performance, Weaver will remind you of former Irish star Bryant Young.
6. Mike Williams, OT, Texas -- Counted on to protect the blind side of junior QB and Heisman candidate Chris Simms, the 6-6, 360-pounder moves out of Leonard Davis' shadow and into the spotlight as an All-American caliber right tackle.
7. Wendell Bryant, DT, Wisconsin -- With the Badgers in a restructuring mode, a key to their fortunes will be whether Bryant is able to take his game to a new level. The 6-4, 295-pounder has a ton of ability but needs to dominate on a more consistent basis in order to figure in the early portion of Round 1.
8. Edward Reed, DB, Miami (Fla.) -- With the loss of Nate Webster and Dan Morgan to the NFL over the last two seasons, Reed now becomes the QB of the Hurricanes' defense. In an effort to make him even more of a centerpiece in the back seven, the 'Canes have shifted Reed from strong to free safety for his final campaign.
9. Larry Triplett, DT, Washington -- At 6-1½ and 296 pounds and with superior initial quickness, Triplett creates immediate problems for centers and guards on every snap. Despite the emphasis by the opposition to counteract his charge, Triplett still managed to record 11 tackles for loss and 6½ sacks last season. His strength, though, is as a run-stuffer on the inside.
10. Ron Johnson, WR, Minnesota -- Similar to former Michigan star David Terrell in that he can use his size (6-2½, 212) and physical approach to operate as basically a power forward when it comes to outdueling CBs for the football. Just go back and take a look at the job he did against Ohio State's Nate Clements last year to validate why he is considered such a top-flight, featured wideout.
11. Alex Brown, DE, Florida -- Has proven to be an unstoppable force as an outside pass rusher in certain games, but the challenge for Brown this season will be to show consistency each week.
12. Kelly Campbell, WR Georgia Tech -- Exciting playmaker, in the mold of former UCLA standout and current Eagles WR Freddie Mitchell.
13. James Allen, OLB, Oregon St. -- He missed the first three games of the 2000 season due to a lower back injury and didn't earn his first start until the seventh game. But the 6-3, 235-pounder still managed to establish himself as one of the elite linebackers in the Pac-10. Allen is one of the faster and most athletic outside linebackers you will ever come across, and he bench presses 350 pounds.
14. Bradley Jennings, MLB, Florida St. -- Experienced mike-man, recording nearly 200 tackles over the last two seasons. The rock-solid Jennings (6-2½, 243) does a great job stuffing the inside running lanes, while also showing the quickness necessary to work to the flanks.
15. DeShaun Foster, RB, UCLA -- If he can remain at full strength the entire way and prove his durability, Foster has the natural skill level to remain in the Heisman race and key UCLA's quest for the Pac-10 championship.
16. Michael Lewis, DB, Colorado -- The 6-1, 208-pounder hits like a ton of bricks from his strong safety spot, always seeming to be in a position to make a difference-making play. And despite the rugged approach, he has proven to be amazingly durable.
17. Eddie Freeman, DT, UAB (Alabama-Birmingham) -- Big (6-4½, 290), strong (bench presses 500-plus pounds), athletically gifted interior DT with the tenacity and desire to complement his physical prowess. Last season, Freeman recorded 10 stops behind the line, 5½ sacks, 10 QB hurries and batted down five passes.
18. Javon Walker, WR, Florida St. -- With the season-ending injuries to Robert Morgan and Anquan Boldin, the pressure is squarely on the shoulders of Walker to become a big-time wideout for the Seminoles. Last year, his first at FSU after coming over from the juco ranks, the 6-3, 210-pounder flashed exciting potential but was held back by an ankle injury.
19. Najeh Davenport, FB, Miami (Fla.) -- Now that 1,000-yard rusher James Jackson (who also scored 11 TDs) has moved on to the Cleveland Browns, Davenport will be counted on to provide the tough yards between the tackles while also converting short-yardage and goal-line opportunities. He'll operate at fullback, alongside junior Clinton Portis.
20. Daryl Jones, WR, Miami (Fla.) -- After coming through with a strong performance against Florida in the Sugar Bowl, the speedy and electrifying 5-10, 188-pounder has followed that up with an impressive effort in preseason practice. He's the Hurricanes' No. 1 receiving option and is an extremely dangerous punt returner. The new-look receiving corps also features a budding star of the future in 6-3, 202-pound sophomore Andre Johnson.
21. Kurt Kittner, QB, Illinois -- Now that sophomore WR Brandon Lloyd is off the injury list and back at full strength, the incredibly precise and well-schooled Kittner will benefit from having a true go-to option who can stretch the field.
22. Levi Jones, OT, Arizona St. -- Versatile athlete who starred as a basketball player at the prep level before working on the defensive line early on with the Sun Devils. After shifting to an offensive guard spot, the 6-5, 315-pounder moved outside to left tackle where he has proven to be a top-flight performer.
23. David Carr, QB, Fresno St. -- Carr (6-3, 230) possesses a remarkable strength quotient and brings a linebacker's frame and approach to the QB position. Heading into the 2001 campaign, he ranks as one of the more underpublicized blue-chip prospects in the nation.
24. Langston Walker, OT, California -- For junior QB Kyle Boller to improve, the Golden Bears are counting on Walker to deliver a dominating performance at left tackle. Remember, the physically imposing 6-8, 338-pounder went down during the fourth game of the 2000 campaign with a season-ending ankle injury.
25. Andre Gurode, C-G, Colorado -- The versatile interior offensive lineman has started at both center and guard during his impressive stay with the Buffaloes. This season, the veteran fifth-year senior will be stationed at right guard. Gurode is a tenacious 6-3½, 315-pounder who seems to really enjoy slugging it out in the trenches.
