Lydell Sargeant: 2009 NFL Combine Interview

Cornerback Lydell Sargeant is one of several Penn State Nittany Lions who will be attending the NFL Combine beginning today and running through February 24th.

The senior not only found success on the field as one of the country's top defensive backs, but Sargeant was a key member in the political arena also. He was one of the leaders of Penn State Vote, which encouraged students to vote in the election last November.

Last spring, Sargeant wasn't preparing for the NFL Combine, he was meeting then Senator Barack Obama as his campaign stopped at the university. The NFL hopeful presented the U.S. President with a Penn State football jersey in front of a crowd of more than 20,000 on the Old Main lawn.

Lydell Sargeant recently took sometime out of his combine preparations to speak with Football Review Daily about the his collegiate career, the NFL Combine, and his meeting with the U.S. President.

-- How have you prepared for the NFL combine?

I am training with Deion Sanders. The combine training program is called 'Prime U'. Training with Deion, I have learned alot about the game and specifically my position. Deion is one of the greatest if not the greatest cornerback to ever play the game, so having him teach me has been big in the development of my game. Not to mention he might have been one of the fastest players as well. We not only do combine training here (40, bench, drills, etc.) we also have wonderlic training, interview training, and life training. I think I am as prepared as I can be for the NFL combine.

-- Is there an advantage to having some of your college teammates at the event?

I don't really think there is a big advantage, as most of us are going to arrive and test on different days. I think seeing familiar faces is definitely comforting, and can help calm down your nerves a little. At the end of the day, you have to perform and show what you can do as an individual.

-- Was the 2008 season a success?

The 2008 season was a huge success. We started the season I believe ranked 4th or 5th in the big ten, and at the end of the season we were Big Ten Champions. We had the opportunity to play in a BCS game (rose bowl) didn't have the expected come out, but it was a great experience. Finishing 11-2 and winning the Big Ten, our team will be stamped in the stadium and in the football facility forever.

Photo Courtesy of Penn State University Athletics
-- Favorite game moment from 2008?

Favorite game moment from 2008, would be the Michigan State game. That was a big game for us, and we won and came out of the game Big Ten Champions, and I personally had a good game and that's all you can ask for on senior night, your last game playing in front of your university and fans.

-- Favorite moment from your playing career?

Favorite moment from my playing career would again be the Michigan State game. Senior night, getting an interception, winning the Big Ten Title, it was just a special day. Personally probably the interception against Ohio State at the end of the game, to clinch the game was probably one of my favorite moments.

-- Can you talk about the experience being a part of the Obama campaign this past year?

Being a part of the Obama campaign is probably the best experience of my life. I have grew up around sports and sports has always been a major part of my life, and for me to get as involved as I was in something besides sports was definitely a good feeling. To say that I played a part in helping Barack Obama become the President of the United States is special. Not only did I help out, but I had a chance to talk and build a relationship with him. Not too many people can say that they know the President of the United States, and I can and am very blessed to be able to.

-- Are politics in your future?

Politics is a harsh life. I have seen first hand how time consuming it is. You have to put a lot of hard work into it and you have to truly love what you do to be successful. Not to mention all criticism you get, its a very hard job. As I describe it, it sounds alot like sports! I'm not ruling it out, but its not in my near future, football is what I love and is what I want to do.

-- Growing up outside of Pittsburgh, you became friends with former PSU cornerback Justin King. What advice did he have for you about the pros?

Justin is my best friend, and I talk to him pretty much everyday. I talked to him last year when he was going through this process and sort of got a inside scoop of what it is like. He basically just told me, you can only control what you do. You cant control what team is going to like your style of play, you cant control what team is going to draft you, you cant do anything about those type of things. Once you have done everything you can and you've done it the best you can, all you can do is relax and just let things fall where the may. He's told me I can play at that level, he tells me all the time I have the skills and knowledge to play in the pros, and if I continue to work hard I can be successful in the league.

-- Finally, can you talk about the fans of the PSU program. What was it like playing in front of 100,000+ during your collegiate career?

Penn State Fans are the best fans in the country. The fans are what makes Penn State Football what it is. Playing in front of 100,000+ is special, and is something that ill never forget. I am blessed to be able to have a chance to play in front of those fans, the fans that are there rain or shine, win or defeat, hot or cold, they truly bleed blue and white. I probably won't be able to play ( if ever) in front of 100,000+ fans again and that is what makes playing in Beaver Stadium so exciting. As an athlete all you can do is appreciate the fans, and I personally am very appreciative and thankful for the 100,000+ Penn State fans that came to watch me play during my career there.

*Note: Obamicon Image created using Photo Courtesy of Penn State University Athletics

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Money for Nothing and Your Cleats for Free

By: Scott Rogers
Football Review Daily

Being the worst team in the NFL is bad enough. No one went through last season without poking fun at the Dolphins, especially the ill-fated Ricky Williams comeback. Not only does your fan base become agitated, but your talented players feel like seniors at the freshman dance. So as a reward, you get the first pick in the NFL Draft. Exciting? Yes. Getting a great college player? Yes. Getting a great NFL player? Possibly. Spending some money? Absolutely.

The first pick in the NFL Draft can be a blessing and a curse. For Jake Long, the blessing comes in the form of $30+ million guaranteed. For the Dolphins, a Courtney Brown-esque curse? Time will only tell.

Cade Massey and Richard Thaler highlighted this phenomenon in “The Loser’s Curse”, whose subtitle should have been that players drafted in the first round have as good of a chance as making it to the pro bowl (9%) as they do never starting a single game (8%). This study is a must read for any football junkie. But how can we predict which group our pick will land in?

For one, it is very complicated to analyze with a formula. A player’s impact at a skill position is easy to see. But what about a defensive tackle? A starting guard? It becomes a bit murky. The easiest way to assign a value to each pick is the NFL Draft chart that teams use when trading. We would also need to take into account the average amount of guaranteed money doled out to each spot over the past 4 years. As you can see, with the variables we will be adding, this could get extremely complicated.

The easiest way to look at it is by comparing guaranteed money. Salaries are available for the average fan to see. Looking at only guaranteed money, Long and Matt Ryan are both around $35 million in guaranteed salary. This type of investment is rarely given to the best players. Larry Fitzgerald renegotiated his contract this off-season and got $30 million guaranteed. Alan Faneca got $21 million guaranteed. These two guys have been to multiple pro bowls and Faneca is consistently one of the best lineman in the game. Something has to give.

From a finance standpoint, giving a proven player a lot of money upfront carries a small risk. Giving a rookie, who may not even start right away, a bigger bonus carries exponentially greater risk. But what is a bad team to do? Fans do not want to hear fiscal responsibility and risk reduction in a $6 billion dollar industry. In the end all fans care about is wins, which if the team had any, then they wouldn’t be in this spot in the first place.

Scott Rogers will report on the economic state of the NFL as well as the latest trends in performance training.

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Who Will It Be This Year?

By: Mo Noorali
Football Review Daily

Since the 1998 NFL Draft, a team that finished with a record in the bottom 10 of the league the previous season, and had a pick in the top 10 has gone on to make the playoffs the season after being in the bottom 10. Some people do not believe in the concept of parity that has been thrown around by NFL analysts for the better part of the last decade, but this stat shows that parity does indeed exist. Let’s take a look at the last 10 occurrences of this phenomenon, followed by a look at who will be able to pull it off this year, and continue the trend.

1998 – Arizona Cardinals, Andre Wadsworth, DE (3rd Overall Pick)

1999 – Indianapolis Colts, Edgerrin James, RB (4th Overall Pick), St. Louis Rams, Torry Holt, WR (6th Overall Pick), Detroit Lions, Chris Claiborne, LB (9th Overall Pick) …The Redskins also took Champ Bailey with the 7th Overall Pick (and made the playoffs), but they had the 11th worst record the year prior, and traded up to the 7th Pick.

2000 – Philadelphia Eagles, Corey Simon, DT (6th Overall Pick) …The Ravens also made the playoffs that year, and had two top picks (Jamal Lewis and Travis Taylor), but similar to the Redskins, they finished with the 15th worst record the year before, and acquired the top 10 picks through trades.

2001 – New England Patriots, Richard Seymour, DT (6th Overall Pick), San Francisco 49ers, Andre Carter, DE (7th Overall Pick*), Chicago Bears, David Terrell, WR (8th Overall Pick)

2002 – Indianapolis Colts, Dwight Freeney, DE (11th Overall Pick**)

2003 – Dallas Cowboys, Terrence Newman, CB (5th Overall Pick), Carolina Panthers, Jordan Gross, OT (8th Overall Pick), Baltimore Ravens, Terrell Suggs, LB (10th Overall Pick)

2004 – Atlanta Falcons, DeAngelo Hall, CB (8th Overall Pick)

2005 – Chicago Bears, Cedric Benson, RB (4th Overall Pick), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cadillac Williams, RB (5th Overall Pick), Washington Redskins, Carlos Rodgers, CB (9th Overall Pick)

2006 – New Orleans Saints, Reggie Bush, RB (2nd Overall Pick), New York Jets, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, OT (4th Overall Pick)

2007 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gaines Adams, DE (4th Overall Pick), Washington Redskins, LaRon Landry S (6th Overall Pick

[Note]

*The 49ers originally had the 9th worst record before making the Andre Carter pick, and they traded up to the 7th pick.

**Dwight Freeney was the 11th pick, but the year before the Colts did have one of the 10 worst records in the NFL, but received the 11th pick in the draft because the expansion Houston Texans received the 1st overall pick.

***Looking to 2008***
It seems like this is more than a coincidence. It looks like this trend will continue for years and years, and it is definitely good for the game, as fans from all over the country have hope that their team can go from a seller dweller to a team in contention in just one years time.

2008 NFL Draft Top 10 Picks

1) Miami Dolphins, Jake Long, OT
2) St. Louis Rams, Chris Long, DE
3) Atlanta Falcons, Matt Ryan, QB
4) Oakland Raiders, Darren McFadden, RB
5) Kansas City Chiefs, Glenn Dorsey, DT
6) New York Jets, Vernon Gholston, DE/LB
7) New Orleans Saints, Sedrick Ellis, DT
8) Jacksonville Jaguars, Derrick Harvey, DE
9) Cincinnati Bengals, Keith Rivers, LB
10) New England Patriots, Jerod Mayo, LB

First of all, New England and Jacksonville don’t qualify, since both of them made the playoffs last year. It looks like the New Orleans Saints will be the team that continues the trend this year. They had a number of injuries last year that derailed their season, and got off to a very slow start. Look for them to recover this year, as Sedrick Ellis will fill a big need for them at defensive tackle and be a starter from day one. The Chiefs and Jets will also be very much improved, but they may find it harder to make the playoffs in the more competitive AFC, whereas the Saints will be guaranteed a playoff spot with 10 wins, and could possibly sneak in with 9.

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2005 Draft Revisited - Five Picks That Have Paid Off From Round 1

Next time you look back at the 2005 NFL Draft, shield your eyes from the horror that was Round 1. The notorious round was a personnel minefield that most teams would love to forget about. Certainly, it had its share of misses, but it also produced several elite players. Football Review Daily reviews five that are still relevant.

Braylon Edwards – Pick 3 – Cleveland Browns
Braylon continued the long-standing tradition of breakout performances for wide receivers in year three of their NFL careers. 80 receptions for 1289 yards plus 16 TDs add up to an AFC Pro Bowl invitation. Thank you, Braylon, for keeping the WR Year 3 Rule safe and sound.

DeMarcus Ware – Pick 11 – Dallas Cowboys
Bill Parcells’ evaluation skills gained more notoriety with this selection at pick eleven. Ware’s speed off the edge and overall athleticism allowed the LB to rack up 33.5 sacks to date in Dallas.

Shawne Merriman – Pick 12 – San Diego Chargers
Equally impressive as Ware when it comes to pressuring the QB, Merriman’s career sack total equals 39.5. Cowboy head coach Wade Phillips has been fortunate enough to coach both of these LBs.

Derrick Johnson – Pick 15 – Kansas City Chiefs
221 solo tackles, 10.5 sacks, 2 Interceptions, and 7 forced fumbles are solid enough stats for a three year period. The University of Texas product has shown that he belongs in the league.

Luis Castillo – Pick 28 – San Diego Chargers
Off-field issues caused the defensive lineman's stock to fall on draft day similar to Warren Sapp's situation several years prior. Castillo has produced Sappian numbers in his three years with the ‘Bolts including 13 total sacks.

Football Review Daily wanted to end this piece talking about five who haven’t lived up to their first round selections; are you listening Mr. Williams? But any article where you use the word Sappian in it should always end on a positive note…

Derek Anderson threw for 3787 yards and 29 TDs last season. Not too shabby for the 213th selection in the 2005 NFL Draft.

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Rookie Sleepers Can Be Found in Every Round

By: Nick Kappel
Football Review Daily

You can go anywhere to read that Darren McFadden landed in a crowded Oakland backfield, or that Rashard Mendenhall’s fantasy value takes a hit sharing carries with Willie Parker in the Steel City.

Both of these situations are commonly known among average fans. I decided to dig a little deeper, to bring your attention to the fantasy diamonds in the rough of the 2008 NFL Draft.

After hours of searching, I have found one player drafted from each round that possesses an excellent skill set, and has landed in a favorable situation with their new team. You may not know it yet, but all seven of these players have a great chance to contribute to your fantasy team in 2008 and beyond…

Dustin Keller – TE – New York Jets
1ST ROUND (30TH OVERALL) – PURDUE

The Jets gave the Packers their 2nd and 4th round picks to move up into the 1st round to acquire Dustin Keller. Many people criticized the trade, saying the 30th pick was a reach for Keller. For this reason, Dustin Keller could soar under fantasy owners’ radar as the top rookie Tight End heading into the 2008 season. Keller is a converted WR, and at 6-2, 242 pounds, will create match-up problems for many linebackers and corners. He is very athletic and displays good hands. With Chris Baker and Bubba Franks already on the roster, Keller’s versatility could enable the Jets to line him up as a third receiver. He should fit well into offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s scheme.

Matt Forte – RB – Chicago Bears
2ND ROUND (44TH OVERALL) – TULANE

Cedric Benson has failed to live up to expectations, and the Bears plan on giving Matt Forte every chance to take his starting spot. Forte rushed for 2,127 yards and 23 touchdowns last season at Tulane. He is strong and runs well between the tackles. Forte has displayed the ability to break tackles and make defenders miss, and is also a solid receiver. He may or may not begin the season as the starter, but he landed in a great situation, and should get the chance to run behind a solid offensive line in Chicago. He will soon become a must-own player at the running back position.

Kevin Smith – RB – Detroit Lions
3RD ROUND (64TH OVERALL) – CENTRAL FLORIDA

After releasing Kevin Jones, the Lions were left with Tatum Bell, Brian Calhoun and Aveion Cason at the RB position. Based on this fact alone, Kevin Smith has immediate fantasy value as the likely starter in Detroit’s backfield. Last season at Central Florida, Smith rushed for 2,566 yards, the second highest total in NCAA history. Smith possesses good field vision, and is a tough runner who will fit into the Lions’ new zone running scheme. The running game is relevant again in Detroit now that Mike Martz is out of town, and Kevin Smith is a guy to keep your eye on.

Lavelle Hawkins – WR – Tennessee Titans
4TH ROUND (126TH OVERALL) - CALIFORNIA

Hawkins was the first and only receiver drafted by the Titans, even though the team is considered to be very weak at that position. For this reason, Hawkins has a good chance to gain some fantasy value. The former Cal standout lacks size, (5-11, 187) but is a solid pass-catcher and has displayed the ability to make tough catches over the middle. Hawkins’ speed allows him to gain separation, and he has experience as a kick returner as well. Hawkins could be a player to keep your eye on in deeper fantasy leagues.

John David Booty – QB – Minnesota Vikings
5TH ROUND (127TH OVERALL) – SOUTHERN CAL

I know what you’re thinking. How could a 5th round QB, who is likely to be a backup, have fantasy value? My reasoning is simple. Booty landed in a great situation with Minnesota, behind an inconsistent Tavaris Jackson. In 16 career games, Jackson has thrown 11 touchdowns to 16 interceptions at a 58.1 completion percentage, and sports an ugly 69.0 QB rating. Needless to say, I’m not sold on the guy. At 6-2, 218, John David Booty doesn’t have the size or strength of a typical QB, but his skills would fit very well into the Vikings’ west coast offense. Booty is a smart, hard working player. He is a good pocket passer, gets rid of the ball quickly, reads defenses well and makes good decisions. Minnesota is a very talented young team on the rise, but I believe Tavaris Jackson is holding them back. The Vikings may have found their future QB in Booty with the 127th pick in the 5th round. Keep your eye on the situation as it progresses, as Booty may have fantasy value in deeper leagues by the end of the season.

Paul Hubbard – WR – Cleveland Browns
6TH ROUND (191ST OVERALL) – WISCONSIN

Here’s a guy you’ve probably never heard of before. Paul Hubbard is track star turned football player, and possesses good size (6-2, 221) in addition to his natural speed and strength. He is still very raw, and will need time to gain experience. However, his rare size/speed combo gives him a chance to be a playmaker, especially if he is able to stay in Cleveland’s pass-happy offense. Hubbard is a raw project, but could have fantasy relevance down the road if he figures things out.

Chauncey Washington – RB – Jacksonville Jaguars
7TH ROUND (213TH OVERALL) – SOUTHERN CAL

Chauncey Washington was one of the most talented players selected in the later rounds of the draft. At USC, academic ineligibility and durability concerns forced him to miss several games during his college career. Despite this, his strength, size and toughness are undeniable. During his senior year at Southern Cal, Washington rushed for 969 yards (5.0 yards per) and ten touchdowns. He also added seven catches for 59 yards and two scores. In addition, he displayed the ability to return kicks. His style of play is very similar to new Jag teammate Maurice Jones-Drew. If Washington can keep his head together and continue to work hard, he will eventually become relevant in all fantasy leagues.

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NFL Draft's Make or Break Fantasy Picks

By: Richard Oh
Football Review Daily

Football season is back. And that can only mean one thing: Fantasy football has returned.

Who could forget Adrian Peterson’s spectacular year? Marshawn Lynch’s solid rookie debut and Brady Quinn’s fade into fantasy oblivion were just some of the big storylines from last year’s rookie class. And while this year’s first round draft showcased a lot of defensive players as well as offensive linemen, everyone knows that the offensive skill players will make or break your 2008 fantasy season.

Here are some of my picks that will make or break your team.

Make

Matt Ryan, QB, ATL

Matt Ryan takes over as the face of the franchise. With only Joey Harrington standing in his way, Ryan might start in week 1. While the Falcons may not have any receiving threats, RB Michael Turner in his first starting season, may help the rookie open up the Atlanta passing game.

Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR

Jonathan Stewart will take over RB duties after the Panthers cut DeShaun Foster. While incumbent DeAngelo Williams is still with Carolina, he is better suited as a change-of-pace RB, and is not the power rusher that Carolina needs. Stewart fills that role nicely and should play a major role in Carolina’s running game this year.

Darren McFadden, RB, OAK

Darren McFadden enters a horrible situation in Oakland with several RBs blocking his path to NFL stardom. But owner Al Davis did not draft McFadden to sit on the sidelines. McFadden will bring his blazing speed to the table, and I expect a decent season from him. QB Jamarcus Russell is still inexperienced, so expect Oakland to run the ball often.

Felix Jones, RB, DAL

With Julius Jones gone, Felix Jones will step in and be the speed back coexisting with RB Marion Barber. While he may have to split carries, Jones will utilize his speed and I expect decent numbers from the rookie RB.

James Hardy, WR, BUF

James Hardy should benefit from the double coverage that Lee Evans often receives. With his 6-5 frame, Hardy should be one of QB Trent Edwards’ favorite red zone targets.

Break

Joe Flacco, QB, BAL

Joe Flacco reminds me of former starter Kyle Boller. Strong arm, but without a QB’s mind to dissect an NFL defense. Expect a lot of turnovers and mental struggles from the young QB, as the Ravens will miss Steven McNair.

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, PIT

Rashard Mendenhall comes into a decent situation with RB Willie Parker still recovering from injuries. Although Mendenhall has plenty of talent, his style does not seem apt to fit into the Steelers offense, and I expect him to struggle with the team. The Steelers need a power runner, and Mendenhall isn’t it.

Chris Johnson, RB, TEN

After last year’s pick of Chris Henry, one would think GM Mike Reinfieldt wouldn’t want to mess with another RB, but he did it again with Chris Johnson. Johnson is just as overrated as Henry was, and I expect Johnson to struggle as much as Henry did last year.

Who made your rookie list of makes or breaks for the upcoming season? Feel free to leave a comment.

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Kory Lichtensteiger Drafted in 4th Round

Bowling Greens' Kory Lichtensteiger was drafted in the 4th Round (pick 108 overall) by the Devner Broncos. Lichtensteiger will join an organization that boosts one of the elite offensive lines in the NFL. Football Review Daily spoke with Lichtensteiger earlier this week in an interview about his move to the NFL.

• Kory Lichtensteiger Interview

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Raiders will regret passing on Dorsey; select McFadden

By: Floyd Randolph
Football Review Daily

Al Davis and the Raiders continued their roster overhaul with the selection of physical specimen Darren McFadden. With players like Vernon Gholston and Glenn Dorsey still available the Raiders opted for the more flashy pick, staying true to their past history of taking players with jaw dropping physical skills.

As good as McFadden will be in the NFL, Glenn Dorsey could be that and a little better. Dorsey could have been the answer to a run defense that ranked second to last in the league, but instead the Raiders added another back to an already crowded backfield.

What’s even more harmful to the Raiders passing on Dorsey is division foe Kansas City nabbing him right after their selection at the number five slot.

The Chiefs were as surprised as anyone when Dorsey fell into their laps; before the draft started most analysts had Dorsey ranked upon the top of their mock board in terms of raw talent.

Now with Dorsey scheduled to be playing the Raiders twice a year the Raiders must hope their passing of him won’t further dampen their rebuilding process, rather Darren McFadden blossoming into the dual threat back they envisioned while selecting him at number four.

McFadden will add a strong presence to an abysmal Raiders offense, pairing him with former first round pick JaMarcus Russell in hopes of resurrecting what was once one of the best in the league.

With the first two rounds concluded and the dust starting to set, the Raiders now have their back of the future in Darren McFadden, but was the cost of passing on surefire future defensive stud Glenn Dorsey worth it?

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NFL Draft 1st Round Picks

(1) Miami Dolphins Long, Jake OT 6'7" 315 Michigan
(2) St. Louis Rams Long, Chris DE 6'4" 275 Virginia
(3) Atlanta Falcons Ryan, Matt QB 6'5" 224 Boston College
(4) Oakland Raiders McFadden, Darren RB 6'2" 210 Arkansas
(5) Kansas City Chiefs Dorsey, Glenn DT 6'2" 316 LSU
(6) New York Jets Gholston, Vernon DE 6'4" 258 Ohio State
(7) New Orleans Saints (From 49ers through Patriots) Ellis, Sedrick DT 6'1" 305 Southern Cal
(8) Jacksonville Jaguars (From Ravens) Harvey, Derrick DE 6'5" 252 Florida
(9) Cincinnati Bengals Rivers, Keith LB 6'3" 235 Southern Cal
(10) New England Patriots (From Saints) Mayo, Jerod OLB 6'1" 242 Tennessee
(11) Buffalo Bills McKelvin, Leodis CB 5'11" 190 Troy
(12) Denver Broncos Clady, Ryan OT 6'6" 316 Boise State
(13) Carolina Panthers Stewart, Jonathan RB 5'11" 235 Oregon
(14) Chicago Bears Williams, Chris OT 6'6" 315 Vanderbilt
(15) Kansas City Chiefs (From Lions) Albert, Branden OG 6'6" 309 Virginia
(16) Arizona Cardinals Rodgers-Cromartie, Dominique CB 6'2" 182 Tennessee State
(17) Detroit Lions (From Vikings through Chiefs) Cherilus, Gosder OT 6'7" 315 Boston College
(18) Baltimore Ravens (From Texans) Flacco, Joe QB 6'7" 236 Delaware
(19) Carolina Panthers (From Eagles) Otah, Jeff OT 6'6" 340 Pittsburgh
(20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers Talib, Aqib CB 6'1" 202 Kansas
(21) Atlanta Falcons (From Redskins) Baker, Sam OT 6'5" 312 Southern Cal
(22) Dallas Cowboys (From Browns) Jones, Felix RB 6'0" 200 Arkansas
(23) Pittsburgh Steelers Mendenhall, Rashard RB 5'11" 210 Illinois
(24) Tennessee Titans Johnson, Chris RB 5'11" 197 East Carolina
(25) Dallas Cowboys (From Seahawks) Jenkins, Mike CB 6'0" 200 South Florida
(26) Houston Texans (From Jaguars through Ravens) Brown, Duane OT 6'4" 315 Virginia Tech
(27) San Diego Chargers Cason, Antoine CB 6'0" 190 Arizona
(28) Seattle Seahawks (From Cowboys) Jackson, Lawrence DE 6'5" 268 Southern Cal
(29) San Francisco 49ers (From Colts) Balmer, Kentwan DE 6'5" 298 North Carolina
(30) New York Jets (From Packers) Keller, Dustin TE 6'3" 242 Purdue
(31) New York Giants Phillips, Kenny FS 6'2" 208 Miami

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Ogemdi Nwagbuo Interview

In 2007, Michigan State’s Ogemdi Nwagbuo (oh-GIM-dee new-WOW-bo) enjoyed a solid senior campaign. At season’s end, the Spartans nose tackle was named to 2008 Hula Bowl's East team. Several pundits have Ogemdi listed as a second-day selection or priority free agent. The San Diego native kindly spoke with Football Review Daily on the eve of the NFL Draft about the his final collegiate season, the emergence of Oren Wilson, and Barry Sanders’ touchdown celebrations.

Q. How has your time at Michigan State prepared you for playing at the next level?

Playing at Michigan State prepared me because it has allowed me to play against some of the top competition in the country. That’s what you get in the Big Ten.

Q. Favorite game from 2007?

Penn State because we came from behind and finally closed out a game. It enabled us to go to a bowl.

Q. Favorite play from 2007?

When defensive tackle Oren Wilson knocked down the pass against Michigan, it showed his emergence as a future star in the Big Ten Conference.

Q. Toughest away game last season?

Definitely Ohio State but every road game in the Big Ten is tough.

Q. Oddest thing an offensive player has said to you on the field?

One player asked me, “How do you pronounce your name?” That was kind of funny.

Q. How have you prepared for the draft?

I trained mostly at school because I was taking classes.

Q. Will you be watching the draft with friends and family?

I still have finals so I will just be watching the draft up at school in Cherry Lane with DE Colin Neely and DT Oren Wilson.

Q. You scored a TD in junior college. How did your celebration go?

I just tossed the ball to the referee, kind of like Barry Sanders.

Q. Have you gotten used to the cold weather up in Michigan?

You can’t really get used to the cold weather. I just try to stay out the cold in the winter. I remember me and Dave Stanton who was also from junior college in California used to put stuff outside to see what happened when it would freeze.

Q. Favorite NFL player growing up?

My favorite team was the Patriots so I always liked Drew Bledsoe and Willie McGinest.

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FRD's Mock Draft

It's never too late for draft talk. With roughly 24hrs before the 2008 NFL Draft, FRD's good friend Mike Smith provides his Mock Draft, and since we make the rules, we allow for trades.

1. Miami Dolphins - Jake Long
2. St. Louis Rams - Chris Long
3. Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan
4. Oakland Raiders - Glenn Dorsey
5. Kansas City Chiefs - Vernon Gholston
6. New York Jets - Darren McFadden
7. New England Patriots - Keith Rivers
8. Baltimore Ravens - Leodis McKelvin
9. Cincinnati Bengals - Sedrick Ellis
10. New Orleans Saints - Domiique Rodgers-Cromartie
11. Buffalo Bills - Mike Jenkins
12. Denver Broncos - Ryan Clady
13. Carolina Panthers - Jeff Otah
14. Chicago Bears - Devin Thomas
15. Detroit Lions - Chris Williams
16. Arizona Cardinals - Rashard Mendenhall
17. Kansas City Chiefs - Gosder Cherilus
18. Houston Texans - Aqib Talib
19. Philadelphia Eagles - Jerod Mayo
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DeSean Jackson
21. Washington Redskins - Limus Sweed
22. Dallas Cowboys - trade pick to Detroit Lions for Roy Williams
    Detroit selects Jonathan Stewart
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - Branden Albert
24. Tennessee Titans - Derrick Harvey
25. Seattle Seahawks - Dustin Keller
26. Jacksonville Jaguars - Kenny Phillips
27. San Diego Chargers - Brandon Flowers
28. Dallas Cowboys - Antoine Cason
29. San Francisco 49ers - Quentin Groves
30. Green Bay Packers - Sam Baker
31. New York Giants - Tyrell Johnson

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Kory Lichtensteiger Interview

Photo Courtesy of Doug Sampson

Kory Lichtensteiger is your typical blue-collared center. He gets the job done each and every day on the field, and is one of the nicest guys you can meet off the field. Kory’s play on the field speaks for itself. He had an amazing career at Bowling Green starting in 44 consecutive games at both the guard and center positions and if there was a Falcons rushing touchdown in 2007, Kory Lichtensteiger was sure to be leading the way. Kory also wrapped up the 2007 season with 76 knockdowns (we advise not getting in Kory’s way). Obviously Lichtensteiger finished off his college career as one of the best centers of the 2007 college football season.

Kory took some time to give Football Review Daily the scoop on the Combine, Senior Bowl, and even those crazy game day rituals athletes have.


Q. You had a stellar career at Center, how would you feel about moving back to Guard in the NFL?

I feel like it is something I could do. I had the chance to get some guard action in at the Senior Bowl and I thought I improved as the week went on. But, I know I am going to be drafted as a center and that is where I feel I am the best.

Q. With all the poking and prodding at the Combine, what was that experience like?

There were definitely times where we were poked and prodded by the NFL doctors, but that was the easy part. My real dreadful experience was spending half the day at the hospital getting three different MRI's. For a guy who is claustrophobic, sitting through three straight hours in a cramped space is about as bad as it gets.

Q. Playing in the Senior Bowl is a great experience, what did you take away from this experience?

I think it was an extremely valuable experience because it put in a pro-style offense where I had to identify either the Mike or the Will linebacker to determine blocking assignments. This is not something I had done often at Bowling Green and I know it is a key element of being a successful NFL center. Plus, meeting all the other players from around the country was cool too.

Q. Who's style would you say you relate to in the NFL and why?

I’m not really sure, but I hope to go to a team where both the pass and the run are used efficiently. I want to be able to help a runner and a passer make it to the pro bowl.

And now for the lighter side of Kory….

Q. What was the strangest question you got asked at the combine?

“When was the last time you smoked crack?”
To which I replied, “I have never smoked crack.” The part that really got me was not that he asked if I ever smoked crack, but that he asked the last time I had done it. And when I said I had never done any kind of drugs, he looked at me with an unbelievable look. I guess to him I looked like a drug user!

Q. On game day, do you have any rituals/superstitions?

Lots of them. I’m a very superstitious guy. I always have to get taped by the same trainer. I wear the same boxers for every game (washed of course). They have made it three straight years and they’re still going strong. I have to go to game day chapel or I feel like something terrible will happen. There are some others too, but I think that is enough for now.

Q. Who was your favorite NFL team and Player growing up?

I didn’t really have one. I was much more of a basketball fan. But, it kind of worked out because now I don’t have to switch my loyalties.

Q. If you could date any celebrity who would it be?

I think this question might get me in trouble with my wife, Mandi. However, if I was forced to pick I would probably go with Rachel McAdams.

(Football Review Daily would like to report Kory is a HAPPILY MARRIED man with a son Ayden, he was kind enough to humor us with this answer…..we got your back Kory.)

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Could Taylor Be Dancing Out of Miami

Jason Taylor might not just be dancing with the stars, it looks like he might be dancing his way out of Miami as well. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel is reporting that NFL executives are looking to shop Taylor for another first round pick. As Football Review Daily reported earlier this week, the Dolphins have already secured their number one pick overall and are looking to bolster last years lack luster team with another number one pick this weekend. They are looking at four players who most likely won’t be around when round two comes rolling in. Possible players being sought after are Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco, Michigan quarterback Chad Henne, Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey, and Auburn defensive end Quentin Groves.

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St. Louis is Now On the Clock - Jake Long Selected By the Dolphins

The Dolphins have announced their signing of OT Jake Long from Michigan as the number one pick of the 2008 NFL Draft. Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland stated "Jake has been on the top of our board since the beginning...He was the guy we were targeting all along." The Dolphins and Jake Long have agreed to a 5-year deal which was finalized this morning for $57.5 M (30M guaranteed) . Jeff Ireland made it clear there was never any other talks with other players agents about being the number one pick, Jake Long was always their man.

Long is the first Offensive Tackle selected number one over all since 1997 when Orlando Pace was selected by the St. Louis Rams.

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