 A recap of what went down and what you should take away from the past month in college (and professional) football.
The NFL Draft is fast approaching and for many fans nervous about what the future holds for their team, April 22 cannot get here fast enough. As with any draft season, there have been risers and there have been fallers. There is intense debate on who should be selected 1, 2 and 3. There's also been debate on this year's top quarterback, even if one is widely expected to go ahead of the other, and who should be the first defensive tackle off the board.
Recapping the month in 500 words or less, this is what we learned about the approaching NFL Draft:
- If there's one thing we know for sure, it's that Ndamukong Suh will be taken in the first three picks on April 22. Not so fast, according to Bucky Brooks in his latest mock draft on NFL.com. Brooks has Suh dropping to the Seahawks at #6 where new head coach Pete Carroll would waste exactly zero seconds before blowing up Suh's phone.
- More and more analysts seem to be buying into the notion that the Lions will take offensive tackle Russell Okung with the second pick to keep last year's first pick, Matthew Stafford, upright. That would create quite the interesting scenario at #3 with the Bucs choosing between defensive tackles Suh and Gerald McCoy.
- Cornerback Joe Haden's stock took a hit following unimpressive 40 times of 4.57 and 4.60 at the combine, but rebounded after he ran a 4.45 and 4.41 at Florida's pro day. Still, where he was once considered a lock for the Browns at #7, Haden may be facing a drop out of the top 10. Much of that is due to safety Eric Berry's possible fall out of the top 5 if a few offensive tackles shake things up near the top.
- Another player falling out of the top 5 on mock drafts is quarterback Jimmy Clausen. The signing of Rex Grossman did little to quell the Redskin's need at quarterback, but the thinking is that new head coach Mike Shanahan would be wise to bolster his offensive line before he throws a rookie quarterback to the wolves. Not that Clausen is short of experience in playing behind shoddy offensive lines, but if the Redskins opt for Okung, Bryan Bulaga or Trent Williams at #4, Clausen may fall to the Bills at #9, or could be the latest candidate to take over under center for the Browns at #7.
 If it's risers in this year's draft you're looking for, look no further than cornerback Devin McCourty out of Rutgers. McCourty is looking like a mid to late first round pick in the weeks leading up to the draft. Tight end Jimmy Graham of Miami is another popular sleeper choice. I've been telling you all season long to remember the name and it looks like the four-year basketball big man could sneak into the second round of the NFL draft after just one season of college football. Don't forget about Demaryius Thomas, either.
- Want one more riser? Tim Tebow (c'mon, you knew he'd be in here somewhere). Tebow seems to impress everybody he meets in person or who watches him play whether it's (honest) opposing fans, opposing coaches, NFL head coaches/general managers or, well, anybody. Not that he'll be a day one starter, but there are rumblings of Tebow slipping into the first round.
- In non-draft related news, Tebow's college coach Urban Meyer held a private apologetic conversation with Orlando Sentinel reporter Jeremy Fowler after chastising him earlier in the week. It's been dubbed a classy move by most.
Just three and a half weeks to go before you crack open a carbonated beverage or ten, order a couple 50 wing specials and settle into your favorite spot on the couch for two evenings and a Saturday of the best off-the-field football programming of the year. Be patient. - Danny Hobrock
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.
- For 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.
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