Should They Stay or Should They Go - RBs |
Noel Devine (photo, IconSMI)
It’s that time of year that many juniors will be asking themselves the same question that The Clash asked the punk rock world decades ago - “Should I stay or should I go?”
Stay or Go? - QBs
Stay or Go? - RBs
Stay or Go? - WRs
The California Kid, the Physical Freak, the Speed Demon…what more can you say about him. He’s very reminiscent of Reggie Bush, which is a good thing and a bad thing. The guy is a human highlight reel in college, but that’s the thing: THIS IS COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOLKS, not the pros. It’s a big question mark as to whether or not he’ll be able to handle the punishment of the NFL, but because the NFL has really changed its mentality as to how to use running backs by implementing the two-back system, Best benefits greatly from this.
The world breathed a sigh of relief when they found out all Best suffered from that brutal hit in the endzone (that effectively finished his regular season) was just a concussion. But with a scare like that happening, it puts things into perspective for a young man like Best: when the money is on the table, take it and run, and that’s what Best knows how to do best (know pun intended).
Prediction: Best leaves and is a second round draft pick
The pro scouts can drool over a guy like Dwyer. At 6’0”, 235 lbs., the guy is a Buick on the field, and not only does he have the physical tools, he has the smarts to go along with it. He knows how to run, and he runs hard. He was the ACC Player of the Year last year, and has won an ACC title. So what’s holding him back? The dream of winning a national championship and a Heisman trophy could be. But with the regular season loss to Georgia, I think that this kid gets brought down to reality. This isn’t Nebraska in the 1990’s, and G-Tech is bound to run into at least one opponent every year who will shut down Paul Johnson’s pathetic excuse for an offense (there’s a reason it’s not used in the NFL Paul). He should leave, but it’s a toss up with Dwyer as he has the ability to be the #1 back taken in next year’s draft (sorry, but that honor will most likely go to CJ Spiller this year).
Prediction: Dwyer stays, gets his degree, and competes for the hope of a national title.
The No. 1 prospect in his recruiting class just three years ago has not disappointed in Morgantown. Listed at 5’8”, 175 lbs (with 10 lbs. of gold in his mouth), Devine has terrorized the subpar defenses of the Big East for three years now. With Jarret Brown and Pat White gone, does he want to spend another year with a new quarterback under center? YES, he does, and here’s why. Devine had a three game stretch at the end of the regular season where he put up subpar numbers. What does this say? It may indicate that he lacks durability to be able to take a beating in the NFL from the likes of Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, and Shawn Merriman. Another year of weight training will not hurt the kid, but he’s taking a chance on coming out the same year that Quizz Rodgers may be coming out (an almost duplicate clone of Devine with better receiving skills). With the QB situation at West Virginia in flux, this could be a major problem though as it could hurt his stock. But with stud recruit Barry Brunetti coming in next year, he could make a splash in the Big East.
Prediction: Devine stays, but will be regretting it one year from now when his draft stock drops. However, his NFL career will be more productive for taking that extra year to prepare.
This is one of the most intriguing picks to me. Many out there will be questioning why I’m even mentioning Graig Cooper at all, as this is a guy who has not made headlines nationally in his three years at Miami. But had Coop gone to another school, this probably would not be the case. At 6’0” 205 lbs., Cooper has the complete package. He runs, he catches, and he’s an excellent kick returner. The reason his numbers have never been explosive at Miami: he has shared carries with multiple backs over the years, mainly Javarris James.
With James graduating and moving on, Cooper will be appear to be the feature back, but with the emergence of Damien Berry over the second half of the season, and with stud recruits breathing down his neck (Mike James, Lamar Miller, Storm Johnson, and Eduardo Clemens), this is going to be a very crowded backfield. Let’s not forget about Lee Chambers, who was poised to play a major role this year after putting together a great bowl game last year, but was slowed down by injuries. Cooper was a 5 star recruit and the top prep school player in the nation when Miami grabbed him, and he has not disappointed, but he has never been that Heisman type player that they dreamed he could be. But he is ready for the NFL, and an NFL team will be lucky to get him.
Prediction: Cooper leaves, and will be a third or fourth round pick.
Mother of God. That’s all any linebacker can really say when they say John Clay running straight at them. He’s 6’1” 250lbs.!!! And not only that, he is deceptively fast. But Clay has come out and made it very clear: HE IS NOT COMING OUT. This is an extremely smart kid who knows his limits. He is not mentally ready for the NFL, and the mental battle is at least half the battle (just ask Manuel Wright. Saban made him cry like a four year old girl. And then there’s Vince Young, the guy who almost scored a 0 on the Wonderlic Test). When Clay is ready, he’s going to be a starting back in the NFL, but I predict he may even stay for his senior year.
Prediction: a virtual lock to stay in college
