Re: 'Never too early to look at 2007 Draft' <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Never too early to look at the 2007 draft Gil Brandt By Gil BrandtNFL.com Senior Analyst(June 17, 2006) -- The college draft has been the bloodline for some of the most dominant teams in NFL history. You don't have to look very deep into successes of the great teams of the 1970s, '80s and '90s (Cowboys, Steelers, 49ers and Cowboys again) to see great drafts as the bedrock of their foundation.And despite the onset of free agency in the NFL, franchises still look to the draft to build their core.In recent years, the Patriots and Steelers have used the draft to win championships. Last season, Pittsburgh earned the Vince Lombardi Trophy with double-digit starters acquired in the draft, including Heath Miller, Troy Polamalu, Ben Roethlisberger and Hines Ward. Similarly, the Patriots' recent successes under Bill Belichick have come because of great draft picks like Tom Brady, Richard Seymour, Deion Branch, Eugene Wilson, Tedy Bruschi and Ty Warren -- just to mention a few.Having said all that, it's never too soon to take a sneak peek at some of the top athletes who will make up the 2007 NFL Draft next April. This list is an early viewing of those fourth-year players (barring injury or performance drop off) who could be among the first 150 players selected.Just because a player isn't on this list doesn't mean he won't be a high pick next April. Historically, many "under the radar" players have used their final season in school to climb the NFL scouts' lists. Many of them used a summer of peak conditioning to ready themselves for a breakout senior year.Players are list alphabetically and include jersey numbers so you can easily identify and follow them throughout the 2006 college football season.No. Name School Position93 Adams, Gaines Clemson DL95 Abiamiri, Victor Notre Dame DL42 Alexander, Rufus Oklahoma LB13 Alford, Jay Penn State DL2 Allison, Aundrae East Carolina WR98 Atkins, Baraka Miami (Fla.) DL1 Bain, Travarous Hampton DB81 Baker, Dallas Florida WR1 Banks, Alvin James Madison RB19 Barringer, Willis Michigan DB93 Bazuin, Daniel Central Michigan DL75 Beekman, Josh Boston College OL8 Bennett, Fred South Carolina DB11 Black, Quincy New Mexico LB51 Blades, H.B. Pittsburgh LB63 Blalock, Justin Texas OL28 Booker, Lorenzo Florida State RB80 Bowe, Dwayne LSU WR1 Bowman, Zachary Nebraska DB15 Breaston, Steve Michigan WR99 Brown, Kareem Miami (Fla.) DL67 Brown, Levi Penn State OL5 Brown, Tarell Texas DB96 Burchette, Noland Virginia Tech DL19 Bush, Michael Louisville RB5 Caldwell, Andre Florida WR90 Carriker, Adam Nebraska DL87 Chandler, Scott Iowa TE40 Connor, Dan Penn State LB16 Crosby, Mason Colorado PK80 Crowder, Tim Texas DL5 D'Andrea, Mike Ohio State LB34 Darby, Ken Alabama RB3 Davis, A.C. N.C. State DB7 Davis, Buster Florida State LB5 Davis, Chris Florida State WR3 Davis, Craig LSU WR76 Duckworth, Tim Auburn OL50 Datich, Doug Ohio State OL5 Edwards, Trent Stanford QB30 Everett, Earl Florida LB23 Franklin, Tony Virginia DB62 Free, Doug Northern Illinois OL62 Fry, Dustin Clemson OL74 Frye, Brandon Virginia Tech OL15 Gilliam, Sergio Clemson DB22 Graham, Nick Tulsa DB27 Griffin, Michael Texas DB29 Hall, Leon Michigan DB3 Hamilton, Marcus Virginia DB92 Harrell, Justin Tennessee DL81 Harris, Clark Rutgers TE45 Harris, David Michigan LB64 Harris, LeRoy N.C. State OL68 Harris, Ryan Notre Dame OL11 Herian, Matt Nebraska TE70 Heyer, Stephon Maryland OL88 Hicks, Jarrett Texas Tech WR21 Higgins, Johnny Lee UTEP WR83 Hill, Jason Washington State WR9 Holley, Jesse North Carolina WR34 Holloway, David Maryland LB66 Howard, Loren Arizona State DL3 Hughes, Daymeion California DB26 Hunt, Tony Penn State RB4 Irons, David Auburn DB23 Irons, Kenny Auburn RB4 Jackson, DeAndre Iowa State DB28 Jackson, Tanard Syracuse DB90 Johnson, Antonio Mississippi State DL67 Kalil, Ryan USC OL9 Keller, Sam Arizona State QB30 Landry, LaRon LSU DB23 Leonard, Brian Rutgers RB25 Lewis, Courtney Texas A&M RB45 Lua, Oscar USC LB17 McCauley, Marcus Fresno State DB52 Mebane, Brandon California DL19 Meriweather, Brandon Miami (Fla.) DB87 Milner, Martrez Georgia TE84 Mines, Fontel Virginia WR44 Moore, Jay Nebraska DL86 Moore, Ryan Miami (Fla.) WR94 Moses, Quentin Georgia DL30 Moss, Tyrone Miami (Fla.) RB28 Nelson, J.D. Oregon DB89 Newton, Joe Oregon State TE13 Newton, Syvelle South Carolina WR91 Okoye, Amobi Louisville DL65 Otto, Mike Purdue OL90 Pitcock, Quinn Ohio State DL31 Posluszny, Paul Penn State LB10 Quinn, Brady Notre Dame QB63 Ramirez, Manuel Texas Tech OL81 Robinson, Laurent Illinois State WR22 Rogers, Roderick Wisconsin DB31 Ross, Aaron Texas DB36 Rouse, Aaron Virginia Tech DB50 Santucci, Dan Notre Dame OL64 Satele, Samson Hawaii OL2 Scott, Kenny Georgia Tech DB76 Sears, Aaron Tennessee OL42 Simpson, Juwan Alabama LB2 Smith, Steve USC WR10 Smith, Troy Ohio State QB89 Speath, Matt Minnesota TE73 Staley, Joe Central Michigan OL5 Stanton, Drew Michigan State QB2 Stuckey, Chansi Clemson WR11 Talley, John Duke DB86 Taylor, Courtney Auburn WR72 Thomas, Joe Wisconsin OL44 Thomas, Marcus Florida DL6 Trannon, Matt Michigan State WR72 Tyler, DeMarcus N.C. State DL66 Ugoh, Tony Arkansas OT4 Wade, Jonathan Tennessee DB40 Waters, Anthony Clemson LB32 Weddle, Eric Utah DB23 Wendling, John Wyoming DB81 Williams, Deyon Virginia WR1 Williams, Paul Fresno State WR49 Willis, Patrick Mississippi LB4 Wilson, Josh Maryland DB56 Woodley, LaMarr Michigan LB21 Wynn, DeShawn Florida RB59 Young, Kyle Fresno State OL9 Zbikowski, Tom Notre Dame DBNon-Division I players likely to be drafted:88 Ariola, Justin Rocky Mountain TE3 Ball, David New Hampshire WR25 Bannister, Calvin Hampton DB22 Coleman, Alonzo Hampton RB38 DeOssie, Zak Brown LB52 Durant, Justin Hampton LB12 Gutierrez, Matt Idaho State QB38 Hilliard, Lex Montana RB2 Jones, Jacoby Lane WR21 Merritt, Anthony North Alabama WR34 Pruitt, Greg North Carolina Central RB11 Rascati, Justin James Madison QB4 Stone, Daren Maine DB3 Tolbert, Henry Grambling WRExtra Points1. Chad Upshaw, a tight end from the University of Buffalo, is the nephew of Gene Upshaw, who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is the Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association.2. J.D Nelson, a defensive back from Oregon, is the son of Darrin Nelson, who was picked in the first round (seventh overall) in the 1982 draft by the Minnesota Vikings and played 11 seasons.3. H.B. Blades, a linebacker from Pittsburgh, is the son of Bennie Blades, who was picked in the first round (third overall) in the 1988 draft by the Detroit Lions and played 10 seasons.4. Zak DeOssie, a linebacker from Brown, is the son of Steve DeOssie, who was picked in the fourth round (110th overall) in the 1984 draft by the Dallas Cowboys and played 12 seasons.5. Greg Pruitt Jr., a running back from North Carolina Central, is the son of Greg Pruitt, who was picked in the second round (30th overall) in the 1973 draft by the Cleveland Browns and played 12 seasons.6. Sam Keller, a quarterback at Arizona State, is the son of Mike Keller, who was picked 64th overall in the 1972 draft by the Dallas Cowboys and played one season. 7. Tom Zbikowski, a defensive back from Notre Dame, recently won his first boxing fight as a professional. He was a Golden Gloves fighter growing up.8. Zach Latimer, a linebacker from Oklahoma, is the son of Don Latimer, who was picked in the first round (27th overall) in the 1978 draft by the Denver Broncos and played six seasons.9. Rolf Krueger Jr., an offensive lineman at Rice, is the son of Rolf Krueger, who was drafted in the second round (35th overall) in the 1969 draft by the St. Louis Cardinals and played six seasons.10. Stan White Jr., a fullback at Ohio State, is the son of Stan White, who was draft in the 17th round (438th overall) in the 1972 draft by the Baltimore Colts and played 11 seasons.</div>http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9512204
