Ranking Draft Prospects by Highlight Tape (Offense)
They say you can't judge a player's complete game off the highlight reel. This time, we're just judging the highlight reel, and coming up with the best offensive prospects through YouTube.
Draft disappointments
Let me first mention my disappointment in the lack of highlight clips of some of the nation's finest draft prospects. When the first clip brought up in a YouTube search of your name brings up a video of your rival bringing you down in a big game, you know your fans have failed you. Please step it up, Brian Brohm fans. And couldn't we at least get a few sweet clips of Jake Long pancaking Big 11 competition? The NCAA's finest OT should not have a clip of his midget running back being the first search result under "Jake Long Michigan".
Honorable mention
Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia: It's a damn shame that Devine is just a freshman and thus not yet eligible for the draft, because if he was, he'd easily be in the running for #1 in this ranking. His clips are stuff on internet legend. His midget status may be a drawback when it comes to his long term playing potential, but it sure makes for some awesome video.
The rankings
5. Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College: Like Ryan himself, this clip is all about polish. Very professionally done, as Ryan would like it, but lacking in the jaw dropping wow factor that takes it to the next level.
4. Desean Jackson, WR, Cal: Desean earns a place on this list not only for the awesomeness of his highlights, but the overall quantity of his highlights on YouTube. Cal fans certainly live up to the academic reputation of their school, because they are all Internet literate enough to run onto YouTube and post another clip whenever he does something good. Here's the best one of them:
3. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas: Like McFadden himself, this is one of the the premier highlight reels of the draft class. Not only are we stunned by some fabulous runs by Run-DMC, we also stunned by the hilarious production value of this director. The scrolling "BALLIN'" near the beginning of the clip only starts this clip's tremendous upside potential. This director also shows a John Woo-like timing for slow-mo and repeat shots, especially when McFadden stiff arms a poor Auburn defender. The knocks? The somewhat fuzzy video quality, but mostly the fact that Nickelback back at the end of the video is the equivalent of a horrible performance in a bowl game. Seriously, Darren McFadden does not listen to Nickelback.
2. DJ Hall, WR, Alabama: Though this video lacks the hilarity of the Darren McFadden highlights, it makes up for it in the superior production value, and the fact that there's no Nickelback to screw things up at the end. The use of slow-motion in this one is very strong as well, and the widescreen shots give it a very theatric feel. Overall, a solid A effort.
1. Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma: There's a pretty good standard highlight video of Mr. Kelly on YouTube, but I'm not here to talk about that. Instead, I would like to focus on this clip:
Mr. Kelly's control of the mic may rival his body control on the field. He shows promise as an MC, showing off a talent that few in his draft class have. He occasionally shows some rookie stumbles on the mic, but that can be cured with experience. Think of the marketing possibilities. Draft comparison: Roy Williams and Pusha T.
Oh, and I guess he's pretty good on the field too.
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