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 The college football season is over; withdrawals, depression, misery. Before you slip into an apathetic stupor for eight months, remember that the NFL Draft is just around the corner! From now until April's NFL Draft, I will be profiling some of the more interesting prospects. I can't promise that I'll get to your favorite player, but if you'd like to see a certain player profiled, shoot us an email and let us know.
- 2010 NFL Draft Player Rankings by Position
Among the shortlist of things you shouldn't try to change a guy's mind about are Tim Tebow's pro potential and redheads. Since I've already covered Tebow, I thought I'd tackle the other...but you won't find any Debra Messing, Julianne Moore or early Lindsay Lohan talk here.
Jimmy Graham started his collegiate career as a power forward for the Miami Hurricanes basketball team. After exhausting four years of eligibility on the court, Graham traded his double zero for #80 on the football field (triple zero?).
(Graham has red hair in case the connection was lost on anybody.)
To make it as a tight end at the next level, Graham will have to work on his blocking, but his pass catching ability has his draft stock on the rise. Over the course of the 2009 season, Graham developed into one of quarterback Jacory Harris' favorite targets, especially down inside the red zone. That's really saying something considering Miami's crop of talented young (and tall) receivers, hauling in 5 touchdowns in 2009.
On the basketball court, he was renowned among 'Canes fans for his defense and passion, and is one of only eight Hurricanes to record more than 100 blocks in his career. Whoever picks Graham this April will not get just some raw, undeveloped talent, but an athlete who is willing to put in the work to become the next successful basketball to tight end convert.
Graham is listed on Miami's website as 6'8, 260 pounds. Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez, the two most well-known and successful basketball to tight end converts, are measured at 6'4, 260 and 6'5, 243, respectively. Like Graham, they boast excellent hands that have made them ultra reliable pass catchers.
At the Senior Bowl, and in practice, Graham was impressive. His Senior Bowl coach, Miami Dolphins Head Coach Tony Sporano, gushed about him. "I like what I've seen out of him," he said. "He's a good prospect, without a doubt." His postseason workout buddy and Senior Bowl teammate, Tim Tebow, also offered glowing reviews, "I think his football ability is just going to keep increasing. He's someone that can fill out and keep getting stronger."
As for his answer to NFL general managers who question why he gave up basketball, Graham has an answer. "I tell them [football] was my first love and I turned down six figures overseas to play basketball. I did that because I didn't want to go through the rest of my life saying 'what if'. The 'what if' turned into an 'I can' and it's been a great experience."
The NFL Combine and Miami's Pro Day will be a crucial proving ground for Graham. He is a natural athlete and, as I've mentioned before, has excellent pass catching abilities that should push his draft stock even higher. With tight ends being incorporated into offenses more and more, there will be several teams salivating at the potential mismatches Graham will create in the passing game.
As of now, he is ranked as the 5th or 6th best tight end prospect in the draft. Most project him as a third rounder, but I look for that projection to climb to an early second-rounder by the time April rolls around.
As for where he'll be playing his pro ball, coach Sporano seemed impressed. The Dolphins, picking #43 overall in second round, could use a good pass catching tight end. Their current tight end duo of Anthony Fasano and Joey Haynos has not been as productive as Miami would like. Fasano finished 2009 with 339 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Haynos finished with 162 yards and 2 touchdowns; and it's not as though the Dolphins' wide receiver corps has been hogging all the receptions. Graham's possible landing spots are endless, as most teams, outside of a few who are set at the position, would be tempted by a tight end with Graham's athleticism, upside and unique background.
Of course, Graham's eventual landing spot will depend on where other tight ends like Jermaine Gresham, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez end up, but don't expect to see any of the four slip past the third round. Currently, only Gresham and Hernandez are considered first round possibilities, and most mock drafts have only one of the two being taken in the first round.- Danny Hobrock
- For more player profiles and complete coverage of this Year's NFL Draft, visit our NFL Draft Prospects Home Page with new profiles being added each week.
Danny is a sports journalist primarily covering college football and professional baseball. His work for Xtra Point Football has garnered national attention and is critically acclaimed. Danny is the former editor of a political and current events website and the editor of our college football content.
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