NFL Draft Notes

Well, talk of the NFL is heating up as it gets closer........... Here, a mock-draft has D-Smith going #36 to the Lions. From the article - "36.Detroit Lions: Daryl Smith LB Georgia Tech- Daryl would be a quality edition to a mediocre Lions defense. He would compliment Boss Bailey and help set up a future dynamic duo at linebacker."

This site looks at the top linebackers in the draft and actually has K-Fox listed as the #4 guy and D-Smith #5 and Tony Hargrove comes in at #19 and a real wild card in the draft.

From article:
4. Keyaron Fox, Georgia Tech (6-2 3/8, 227)
At the combine, a hamstring problem limited him to lifting (28 times). At Georgia Tech's Pro Day, he ran two 40s in 4.73 and 4.79, the short shuttle in 4.24 and the three-cone drill in 7.11. He also had a 361/2-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-6 broad jump. Named MVP of the Georgia-Florida All-Star Game (10 tackles, pass breakup, forced fumble). At Georgia Tech, he played as a true freshman in 2000 but missed three games with a broken arm. He started for three years and had 155 tackles in 2003. Played some defensive end during games in 2002. Aggressive, nasty, great temperament for position, hard worker. He can play in space. Rangy-type frame.

5. Daryl Smith, Georgia Tech (6-1 5/8, 234)
Only lifted at the combine (24 times). At Georgia Tech's Pro Day, he ran two 40s in 4.60 and 4.63, the short shuttle in 4.21 and the three-cone drill in 7.25. He also had a 361/2-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-3 broad jump. He played baseball in high school; also a linebacker. He played in the Georgia-Florida All-Star Game. At Georgia Tech, he started 10 games as a true freshman in 2000. He returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown that season. He started the past three seasons. He had 122 tackles in 2003. A high-effort player who gives 100 percent every play. Has good strength and athletic ability. Good, thick upper body. Can play in space. Size is a question mark; not as big as you would like, but can run.

19. Tony Hargrove, Georgia Tech (6-3 3/8, 269)
Hargrove ran his 40s in 4.68 and 4.70. He had a 39-1/2-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot-2 long jump, 30 strength lifts and ran 4.24 in the short shuttle and 7.14 in the three-cone drill. Hargrove didn't play last year (academically ineligible) but has sure gotten the attention of scouts around the league. This is a wild card in this year's draft. He could go in the third or fourth round as a linebacker or defensive end.

Check out this impressive article on Tony Hargrove from SI.com. You NEED to read the article. I started to paste in some quotes, but I would end up pasting the whole dang thing. It is a fascinating look at a guy on nobody's radar who puts up "freakish" physical workout numbers and all of the sudden he is flying around the country working out for all kinds of teams and being talked about as a possible 2nd round pick. Also note the comments about him flunking out of GT. Note his workload - Calculus, Accounting II, Financial Management. Don't give me crap about cake classes for athletes at GT. These are the classes EVERYONE takes - athletes included.

On Tony Hargrove:
"....Teams that run the 3-4, like Houston, are intrigued with Hargrove's ability to play outside rush linebacker, and still be able to put his hand on the ground and generate pass rush in the 4-3 -- a rare combination in today's NFL. Once considered a likely second-day sleeper pick by many clubs, Hargrove ruined that plan with his workout, which exhibited his almost freaky blend of explosiveness, speed, strength and high motor.

"People always fall in love with measurables,'' said Atlanta head coach Jim Mora, whose Falcons have visited with Hargrove, a prospect in their own backyard. "You see a guy with his size and his explosion and ability to run and jump, and you say, 'Wow. I can make something of this guy.' It doesn't surprise me that people are talking about him in the second round...."

Here's more on D-Smith / K-Fox (story here):
Georgia Tech's Daryl Smith, 6-1, 234, is a smart inside linebacker who is rarely caught out of position and offers all of the intangibles teams love. But he's a marginal athlete and runs a 4.7, which could drop him into the third round.

Tech teammate Keyaron Fox, 6-2, 227, is an athletic and explosive outside linebacker, though undersized. He flashes and is disruptive at the point of attack. Fox can cover backs and tight ends and would be a solid pick in the third round.

ProFootball Weekly says that the Eagles will grab D-Smith.