Sideline Scouting

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2005 Wide Receiver Preview
By Michael Struening

This previous year’s draft saw a record breaking seven receivers taken in the draft’s first round, and an astonishing thirteen total on the first day. If your team had a need at receiver, hope they drafted one in 2004. While there will still be talent in the upcoming years, many of the players will not compare to the year that we just were witness to.

The top receiving prospect for 2005 is Mike Williams, formerly of Southern California. Williams declared for the NFL Draft after the ruling that the NFL’s three year rule was null, but was barred from the draft when that rule was overturned. Because Williams declared only after the initial decision, the National Football League will likely grant him entry to a supplemental draft (as is predicted in our own mock draft). Having not yet entered the NFL, Williams remains the top receiving prospect. Though he lacks great speed, Williams is a big bodied wide-out with tremendous hands. He could have went as high as Jacksonville at #9 and it was well reported Chicago liked him with the #12 pick.

After Williams, college powerhouse Florida State again hosts another top pass catcher in Craphonso Thorpe. Thorpe broke out last year and was one of college football’s highest rated players before breaking his leg. He’ll return fully healthy this season, and will be the top target for Chris Rix.

Braylon Edwards is the head of an extremely talented group of receivers at Michigan. He torched NFL first round selection Chris Gamble last season, and is a player that could grow with the season. Michigan will be breaking in a new QB this season, but that could ultimately be a good thing for Edwards.

Also figuring to be drafted early on day one are Georgia’s Fred Gibson and Marshall’s Josh Davis. Aaron Roger’s favorite target at California, Geoff McArthur is a player to watch. Keep an eye on Wake Forest’s Jason Anderson (see the sleepers section for more).

Underclassmen:
Chris Henry of West Virginia is by far the top rated underclassmen. Henry, competing in the decimated Big East, could be a top 20 pick if he declares this year. Ben Roethlisberger’s favorite target, Martin Nance also enters the season highly rated. Ryan Moore of Miami (Florida) could end up being another player in their long line of first round draft picks. Demetrius Williams of Oregon and Dante Ridgeway of Ball state are two other players to keep an eye on.

Sleepers:
Can we call a first round prospect a sleeper? When you think of Wake Forest and the Atlanta Coast Conference, many think of basketball. This conference will soon become of the tops in football, and in Wake Forest’s Jason Anderson, they have a top prospect. Anderson turned heads last year. On a predominantly rushing football team, he snared in 44 receptions for a superb 17.1 average. Look for this Demon Deacon to hear his name called by Paul Tagliabue in next year’s draft.

Future Years:
Ryan Moore of Miami (Florida) is one of the top rated sophomores in the nation. He’s currently going to need to overcome a battle for the quarterback position, and inefficiency from QB Brock Berlin. Michigan’s Steve Breaston should be even better than counterpart Braylon Edwards before his tenure with the Wolverines is over. Keeping with the trend of big school stars, Florida’s Andre Caldwell (brother of San Diego’s Reche) will become a favorite target of Chris Leak.

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