While most of the attention has been focused on VT’s spring practice and the emergence of new names on the Hokie depth chart, this Saturday is a graduation of sorts for a number of the seniors that led VT to the ACC Championship and a Sugar Bowl berth last year. ESPN’s Punxsutawney Phil, Mel Kiper Jr. (note the strikingly similar straight hair), will once again emerge from radio and become the center of attention for draftniks everywhere. He’ll tell us all about “can’t miss” prospects that eventually will, and “limited” players on the second day of the draft who will make numerous Pro Bowl and Super Bowl appearances. Despite knowing all that, it will still be a great weekend for the hardcore NFL fan.

Unlike last year, the Hokies are not top heavy with potential first day selections in 2005. Most of VT’s top notch talent is in its younger classes, particularly the rising redshirt sophomore class. However, a number of Hokies will hear their names called this weekend, and plenty more should garner free agent contracts and get a chance to prove themselves at training camp. What follows is an evaluation, based on information from numerous sources, of the strengths and the weaknesses of VT’s senior class. I’ll also provide a guess as to where they will get drafted, if applicable.

The only guaranteed first day selection for the Hokies this year is cornerback Eric Green. Corners have become increasingly valuable in the NFL with the proliferation of four wideout attacks, and Green brings a lot to the table. Green has solid, but not great, size at 5”11” and 198 lbs. He has good technique on double moves and does a nice job in press coverage. Green also has good hip movement which allows him to get in and out of breaks quickly. He is not a Deion type corner, but instead is willing to come up and force the action in run support.

When the Hokies played nickel coverage Green also got experience covering in the slot. That experience is important as he might project as a nickel corner (depending on the team that drafts him) in his rookie year. Teams want to get something out of a top draft choice immediately, and Green doesn’t return kicks like several of the other corners in the draft.

On the negative side of the ledger, Green occasionally gets caught peering into the backfield too long, and that tendency gets him beaten on big plays. Green also did not time particularly well in his 40, although I think most scouts would agree that he plays faster than the mid 4.5 he ran.

This is a solid draft for corners. The prevailing opinion of many insiders is that as many as five corners could find their way into round one: Miami’s Antrel Rolle, West Virginia’s Adam “Pac Man” Jones, Auburn’s Carlos Rogers, Nebraska’s Fabian Washington and Clemson’s Justin Miller. Green falls into the middle of the next tier of prospects which includes Michigan’s Marlin Jackson (although I think he projects as a safety), LSU’s Corey Webster, FSU’s Bryant McFadden, Stanford’s Stanley Wilson and Howard’s Ronald Bartell.

My expectation is that Green will be selected in the middle to latter portions of round two although he could slip into round three if a few veteran corners such as Philip Buchanan and Patrick Surtain are dealt on draft day (note: Buchanan was just dealt to the Texans). Teams shopping for a corner on the first day of the draft – without regard for draft position because that can change with on the clock deals – include the Titans, the Redskins, the Panthers, the Chiefs, the Saints, the Bengals, the Jaguars, the Broncos, the Jets and the Patriots.

Jim Davis could also be a first day selection. Edge pass rushers are a prized commodity in the NFL, perhaps second in importance only to quarterbacks. This is a defensive end class with some talent at the top, but overall the depth is not as impressive.

Davis has good anticipation and a solid burst off the line. His hand play is above average, and he shows the ability to penetrate and disrupt plays. Davis also benefits from his versatility. By playing some at defensive tackles last fall, Davis likely enhanced his stock with 3-4 teams looking for a weakside end. Don’t underestimate that, as there may be as many as eleven teams next fall in the NFL using the 3-4 regularly (or, stated differently, roughly a third of his potential employers).

Davis measured at nearly 6’4”, 277 lbs., and his size is a plus. He weighs as much or more than all but one of the potential nine first round defensive ends or 3-4 pass rushing outside linebackers (only LSU’s Marcus Spears is bigger, and he projects as a strongside 3-4 DE).

As for some areas that scouts have questioned, Davis does not have a great outside burst. He also lacks that one great, defining trait that NFL scouts look for in a prospect. His run defense is solid as a 4-3 end, but there will still be some questions as to whether he is stout enough to be an every down player as a 3-4 end.

In many evaluations Davis is rated among the top ten draft eligible players at defensive end, and he is in almost everyone’s top fifteen ends available. He probably will appeal more to a 4-3 team, while someone like UVa’s Chris Canty would fit in better with a 3-4. My best guess is that Davis comes off the board sometime in the late third or early fourth round area.

Vincent Fuller heads up Virginia Tech’s second day prospects. Fuller has played both corner and free safety for the Hokies, which attests to his coverage skills. Again, much like Green, his experience in covering slot receivers makes him more valuable to potential NFL suitors. Based on what I’ve heard, the majority of the NFL teams like Fuller better as a safety than as a corner.

Fuller has good free safety speed and anticipates the ball well in the area. He is an instinctive cover man who is intelligent and pays attention to detail (i.e., the film room). He would seem to be a good fit for teams that like to play a two deep zone because of his ability to break on the ball in the air.

The primary concern with Fuller is his slight build. At only 6’1”, 189 lbs., he is undersized for run support. Some coaches will be concerned over having him as the last line of defense for a Ronnie Brown or Cedric Benson type back.

Fuller is one of the top six or seven free safeties available, in my opinion, but his draft value may not be commensurate with his ranking. Typically safeties slide in the draft because it is a position where second day picks have proven capable of contributing early, so many teams don’t feel any immediacy in filling the position on day one of the draft.

Also, certain teams may prefer physical, run stuffing free safeties. Those teams likely would prefer Iowa’s Sean Considine, Ohio State’s Dustin Fox or Georgia Tech’s James Butler rather than Fuller. For teams looking for a pure cover guy, however, Fuller would be very tempting.

My guess is that Fuller goes sometime in rounds four or five. Teams that might be interested in selecting a safety include the Cowboys, the Saints, the Packers, the Colts and the Falcons.

The last Hokie that is a solid bet to get drafted is 6’7”, 328 lb. Jon Dunn. Dunn is a massive right tackle prospect that does a nice job in the running game. Dunn excels at “position” blocking, using his massive lower body to drive defenders and create running lanes. He also has long arms, which help in pass protection.

Some criticisms of Dunn are that he does not have good knee or waist bend, thereby weakening his base. That leads to him being off balance more than you would expect for a player of his size. Dunn does not project at all as a left tackle, as he struggles with speed rushers.

Overall the crop of offensive tackles this year is very weak. Even the three first round candidates (FSU’s Alex Barron, Oklahoma’s Jammal Brown and Washington’s Khalif Barnes) have question marks. They might not be a first round pick if they were coming out in next year’s banner offensive tackle class.

Dunn is a top 15 offensive tackle on most boards, and I expect him to be selected in the fifth round area. It’s very difficult to try to project certain teams that might be interested, but it is safe to say that by the end of round five I would expect roughly half of the teams to have selected an offensive tackle. It is a position of chronic need for NFL teams, as the demand annually exceeds the supply.

There are several other Hokies who have a chance to be drafted on the second day, but they are not consensus draft choices. They are “eye of the beholder” picks – certain teams that like them certainly will consider them strongly based on what transpires during the draft and what veteran street free agents are available.

Leading this group is the ACC’s Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Bryan Randall. Randall’s strengths are obvious to any VT fan. He is an outstanding leader, an intelligent player, and he has good arm strength. Randall did not time particularly well (high 4.6s), but he plays faster than that on the field. He’s a good all around athlete that might be able to play some special teams if necessary. Finally, his character helps make him attractive as a developmental prospect at quarterback. There are literally hundreds of candidates to fill the 32 “young QB” slots around the NFL. Teams will not give that chance to a player that is a discipline problem or that gets in trouble off the field. That won’t be a concern for Randall.

Randall’s accuracy, particularly on the deep ball, is a concern. He also has less than ideal height (between 6’0” and 6’1”) for a drop back quarterback. His decision making under pressure is something that will need to be improved, as he tends to lose his mechanics when rushed (although that criticism can be fairly made of a lot of QBs).

I do believe Randall will have a legitimate chance of making an NFL roster, but if I had to guess I would say that he will not be drafted. With that being said, I think that could be a significant advantage for him. As a free agent, he and his agent could select the best possible situation for him. I see him as a good fit for a west coast offense that allows him to get outside the pocket and make plays on the run.

Although I don’t think either will be drafted, I expect two VT specialists to garner NFL attention. Punter Vinnie Burns (5’10”, 203) shows flashes of NFL potential as he gets solid hang time on his punts and makes some excellent angle kicks. However, his inconsistency and his relatively low average will need to be solved for him to make a 53 man roster.

Many fans will forget about him, but Travis Conway (6’3”, 260) has a solid chance of making an NFL team as a long snapper. He has great velocity on his snaps and has also been very accurate. He will need to prove he can snap well for both field goals and punters, but if he has a good camp he could make a roster. Long snapping is a specialized skill, and it is highly valued by veteran NFL coaches. Also remember that the other school that offered Conway coming out of high school was Michigan State, and a fair number of those coaches (Nick Saban and staff) are now in the NFL.

There are several other Hokies who will be evaluated by the NFL and considered for training camp spots. James Miller, a 6’6”, 298 lb. offensive guard prospect, should get a training camp contract. He has a nice frame and improved over the course of his college career. He is not a mauler on the inside, nor is he Elton Brown pulling around the corner, but he is a competitive kid who should garner some interest.

Kevin Lewis (6’1”, 288) is a battler who did a solid job against the run game in college. Several knee injuries have robbed him of some mobility, and he doesn’t have the gap explosion NFL teams look for from a defensive tackle. He’s also older than a lot of the draft eligible players, so NFL teams may think that he has peaked. However, his toughness and the lack of defensive tackle depth in this class could lead to a free agent deal.

Jared Mazzetta (6’4”, 265), James Griffin (6’0”, 192) and Brandon Manning (6’0”, 222) will all have to endear themselves to a special teams coach in order to make an impression on the NFL folks. In my opinion Mazzetta stands the best chance of getting a free agent deal because he has prototype size and good hands. He also has significant special teams experience. Griffin needs to be more consistent in everything he does, although he does have talent, and Manning tests well but those numbers don’t always translate to field athleticism. Manning was a special teams star, and the way he handled himself after going from a starter to a role player should help his standing with NFL teams.

Other seniors like Mikal Baaqee (5’10”, 224), Jason Lallis (6’0”, 264), Mike Daniels (6’0”, 194) and Richard Johnson (5’10”, 194) will be hoping for a free agent call, but they lack the measurables – either height, weight or speed – and that will be difficult for them to overcome if they try to move to the NFL.

Finally, I’d like to thank all of this year’s seniors for their dedication and hard work. This article focuses on their NFL prospects, and certainly the Hokie Nation would love to see all of them succeed there, but I wish them well regardless of their future endeavors.

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