A run on runners? Cedric Benson of Texas leads a talented group of rushers into the NFL

Football Digest, June, 2005

Scouting reports by the editors of FOOTBALL DIGEST

RUNNING BACKS WILL BE THE most popular offensive commodity early in this draft, even though it's a strong and deep position in the NFL. There are quite a few teams that will have interest in runners, even those that bring in veteran free agents at the spot.

Texas' Cedric Benson, Auburn's Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams, Florida's Ciatrick Fason, and Oklahoma State's Vernand Morency are the top guys, but beyond the first round or so, there will be gems such as Eric Shelton of Louisville, T.A. McLendon of North Carolina State, Walter Reyes of Syracuse, and Anthony Davis of Wisconsin.

A bunch of other skill-position players will be attractive, led by receivers Mark Clayton of Oklahoma, Braylon Edwards of Michigan, and Mike Williams, who missed last season at USC because he was ineligible after entering the draft in the Maurice Clarett legal fiasco. Speaking of Clarett, don't expect to hear his name to be called on the first day of the draft.

Two quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers of Cal and Alex Smith of Utah, will grab headlines. But two names to remember at that position are Akron's Charlie Frye and Auburn's Jason Campbell.

Here are our position-by-position rankings of the top offensive prospects:

QUARTERBACKS

1. AARON RODGERS, CAL, 6'2", 210 POUNDS

Rodgers is more advanced than the last topflight Cal QB, Kyle Boller. His strong arm and diligent approach to the game enhance his value. Rodgers also has played in big games throughout his career with the Golden Bears, showing poise and intelligence.

2. ALEX SMITH, UTAH, 6'3", 210

A very smart, resourceful quarterback and a leader. Smith led Utah to unimagined heights. He moves well both inside the pocket and out, and is accurate on the run or stationary. Smith doesn't have the strongest arm, but he makes up for it with his other attributes.

3. CHARLIE FRYE, AKRON, 6'3", 220

A better performer as a junior than a senior, Frye showed his skills in the postseason games and moved his stock way up. Ben Roethlisberger's success now makes MAC players far more desirable to NFL teams, and this kid is as competitive as they come.

4. JASON CAMPBELL, AUBURN, 6'4", 230

A big senior year turned him from a project to a great prospect. Campbell made loads of big plays in Auburn's unbeaten season. His size and strength are pluses, and he moves well. He reminds some of Byron Leftwich, but he moves better than the Jacksonville Jaguars QB.

5. ANDREW WALTER, ARIZONA STATE, 6'5", 230

Walter must become more consistent. The pros love his size and arm, but he has been so up and down in his career that he could be a big star quickly or a long-term project. He didn't help himself much in the 2004 season.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Dan Orlovsky, Connecticut; Kyle Orton, Purdue; David Greene, Georgia; Derek Anderson, Oregon State; Adrian McPherson, Florida State.

RUNNING BACKS

1. CEDRIC BENSON, TEXAS, 5'10", 221

Sure, he has the hair and the body and the power of a Ricky Williams. But he doesn't seem to be nearly as flighty. Benson is the best of a very strong crop, although there are questions about his receiving skills. Hell be best off on a team with a good third-down back.

2. CARNELL WILLIAMS, AUBURN, 5'10", 208

Williams was injured for the Senior Bowl, but scouts were convinced of his prowess well before that game. A breakaway threat who also can handle power runs, he's versatile and experienced. There are, however, some questions about whether he can handle a full load, which he never did at Auburn.

3. RONNIE BROWN, AUBURN, 5'11", 233

"Cadillac" Williams' sidekick with the Tigers, this guy has more size and power, along with a great burst. He has good hands, too, but isn't much of a blocker and might be a better fit as a backup this year. His long-range prospects are outstanding.

4. CIATRICK FASON, FLORIDA, 6'1", 215

Some scouts consider him the best running back available. With nice size and moves, Fason could be a force in the passing game, too. He should be a starter pretty quickly in the NFL; some personnel people say he reminds them of Julius Jones of the Dallas Cowboys.

5. VERNAND MORENCY, OKLAHOMA STATE, 5'9", 213

A very productive back for the Cowboys who is tough to bring down. Morency finds the open area quickly and can shed tacklers. He felt another season at OSU would not boost his stock, and he's probably correct. This guy should do well in short-yardage situations.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Eric Shelton, Louisville; T.A. McLendon, North Carolina State; J.J. Arrington, Cal; Walter Reyes, Syracuse; Anthony Davis. Wisconsin.

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. BRAYLON EDWARDS, MICHIGAN, 6'2", 210

The Wolverines star might be the most talented offensive player in the draft. He uses his size very well, can get deep, and also will run the tough patterns. Edwards drops some balls, but he has good hands, meaning his concentration sometimes is lacking.

2. MARK CLAYTON, OKLAHOMA, 5'9", 188

Clayton was the big-play wideout for the Sooners for the past couple seasons, and he will be a deep threat in the pros. If he avoids jams from bigger DBs, he will be dangerous over the middle on slants and also on deep patterns. Explosive after the catch, Clayton could be an immediate starter.