Things have shaken up since the end of the College Bowl Season for the NFL Draft. Andrew Luck is going back to Stanford for another season, Cam Newton showed that he is human, Jake Locker can take a big hit and still play in the same game, Mark Ingram shows he is a solid back, and Patrick Peterson has showed that he is a safe, high reward pick for anyone looking for a new shut down corner.

Here are some of my favourite players to look for in the NFL Draft (pre-combine)

• AJ Green WR Georgia
• Patrick Peterson CB LSU
• Michael Floyd WR Notre Dame
• Mark Ingram RB Oklahoma
• Cameron Heyward DE/DT Ohio State
• Andy Dalton QB TCU
• Dion Lewis RB Pittsburgh
• John Moffit OG Wisconsin
• Greg Jones OLB Michigan State
• Nick Fairley DT Auburn
• Justin Houston LB Georgia

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After Sunday's impressive performance in a losing effort, it is easy to say that Darren McFadden "Run-DMC" is emerging as one of the top tailbacks in the NFL. Prior to this season McFadden accumulated a total of 856 yards rushing 5 touchdowns, and 530 receiving yards with no touchdowns. This season (only 13 games in, which he played 11) he has rushed for 993 yards with 7 touchdowns and added 437 yards receiving with 3 touchdowns. This is a huge transformation for a tailback that he not had the best team to work with.

Aside from the improvement of the Oakland Raiders offensive line, you can see a lot of confidence in McFadden's running during the game. Shades of his days in Arkansas, when he would make people miss with his speed, as well as use he power to run over defenders in the secondary. This season he has been the best player on the Oakland Raiders offense, as he gets the majority of the carries and is utilized out in the flats more often then he has in all his pro career.

It has been great to watch such a talented tailback finally find his stride, since he was drafted 4th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft after a very impressive college career that saw him win the Doak Walker Trophy (top running back) in two consecutive seasons (only Ricky Williams has done that as well), come as runner-up for the Heisman Trophy two years in a row, and sit third all time in rushing yards in the SEC (4590, behind Herschel Walker, and Kevin Faulk).

Overall this season has been great for Run-DMC, and we can only hope to see him continue this running style, or get better as his career progresses.

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Now that we have had a few years to look back and say what has happened in the NFL. Before you go and Wikipedia or Google the Draft, this was the year that the debate over where would Brady Quinn end up (apparently 3rd string in Denver after being tossed out of Cleveland)? Who will go first to the Oakland Raiders Jamarcus Russell or Calvin Johnson? One way to remember this draft is that it produced the biggest draft bust since Ryan Leaf (or the new Ryan Leaf still up for debate).

Some fun facts about this draft:

• 9 Florida Gators were taken, second most 8 from Ohio State Buckeyes
• The first round lasted a record 6 hours, and eight minutes (longest in NFL History)
• 29 of 40 underclassmen were taken and 4 of those were in the top 10
• Of the 11 Quarterbacks taken in this draft only one is starting (Troy Smith, at the moment) and one is on the team he was drafted by (Kevin Kolb)
• Some notable 4th round + players who start in the NFL, Michael Bush RB Oak, Steve Breaston WR Ari, Clint Session LB Ind, Le'Ron McClain FB Bal
• Notable undrafted players Pierre Thomas RB NO, Matt Moore QB Car, Selvin Young RB FA

Now looking at the Top 10 picks we will say what they did and where they are now.

1. Jamarcus Russell - We could make a whole post about this guy and his short term career. Deemed the new Ryan Leaf, he showed up to camp overweight, was known for not attending meeting for the clubs, and to top things off he had a passer rating of 65.2. This was very disappointing after it was said he would be the QB for the Raiders and that he could throw 80 yards on his knees. He was finally released by the Raider this past off-season and and recently got a chance to practice with the Redskins.
2. Calvin Johnson - Still a Detroit Lion and until this season was the lone bright spot and featured receiver on the team with the trade of Roy Williams. Has proven that he was a great pick (1300 yards receiving and 12 TDs in 08) for the Lions in their rebuilding phase and is becoming one of the premier wide receivers in the National Football League.
3. Joe Thomas - Another bright spot in this draft. Thomas has been selected for the Pro Bowl from 2007-2009. He has been one of the few consistent players on the Cleveland Browns roster over their rebuilding phase. Thomas remains on the Browns team and looks poised for another Pro Bowl appearance in Miami.
4. Gaines Adams - A torublesome player out of college, Adams was known for his marijuana use at the combine but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took a chance on him. The member of the 2007 NFL rookie team had a good second year with the Bucs but was traded to the Chicago Bears midway through his third year. Shortly after his third year Gaines Adams died from cardiac arrest due to an enlarged heart, neither drugs nor alcohol played a factor.
5. Levi Brown - This was a good year for lineman. Levi Brown has stayed with his draft team as well, the Arizona Cardinals. He has had a consistent career with his highlight coming on October 10th, 2010 when he jumped on a fumble in the end zone to score his first ever touchdown.
6. LaRon Landry - One of the better players in the top ten, Landry was the first Washington Redskins rookie to start all 16 games since Champ Bailey in 1999. He has been a solid starter at safety and is part of the core in the Redskins defense. A pro bowl alternate in 2007, Landry looks sharp this season and ready to make his first Pro Bowl start.
7. Adrian Peterson - Another guy we could talk all day about. He is undoubtedly the best pick of the draft. Although before the draft he was a risk, coming off shoulder surgery the season before, the Minnesota Vikings took a chance and it paid off. The 2007 Rookie of the Year has rushed for a total of 4484 yards and 40 TDs, and this is with early fumble trouble. AD is one of the best, if not the best, running back in Pro Football today, so the high risk high reward paid off for the Vikings.
8. Jamaal Anderson - Not a bust, but not a standout either. Anderson has had his own troubles after being named the starting end for the Atlanta Falcons. Anderson has had a good career although he was moved from his home at end to tackle due to underperformance and injuries at the tackle position. He remains with the Falcons and starts but hasn't proven to be a top ten player.
9. Ted Ginn Jr. - A standout at the Ohio State because of his breakout speed and ability to return punts and kicks, Ginn was expected to make an immediate impact on the Miami Dolphins. Although some may blame it on poor quarterbacks in Miami (aside from playing one season with current starter Chad Henne), Ginn had 3 mediocre seasons with a few bright spots. After this Ginn was traded before the 2010 draft to San Francisco and has assumed the role as returner.
10. Amobi Okoye - The tenth pick of the draft was also the youngest player in the draft (age 19). Aside from his milestones as youngest to play a snap in the NFL since 1967 and highest draft pick out of Louisville, Okoye hasn't been as productive as he was expected to be for the Houston Texans. 

Some other notable standouts in the first two rounds include Darrelle Revis, Marshawn Lynch, Patrick Willis, Leon Hall, Lawrence Timmons, Michael Griffin, Greg Olsen, Robert Meachem, Larmar Woodley, paul Posluszny, Zach Miller, and Steve Smith.

Aside from all the QBs except Kevin Kolb and Troy Smith (temporarily) being busts, some other players have fallen from their college grace. Players like Anthony Gonzalez, Kenny Irons, and Samson Satele.

As we can see sometimes even the highest ratest players aren't the best and risks do prove worthy. One thing is true though, these wont be evident immediately and will take time to decide the fate of each pick.

Nuff Said! 

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