Who gets drafted??

[Sportsfan24]

I'm a fair-weather Viking fan, they're my favorite NFL team, and I want them to do well. I seriously want them to draft Gray, because when he gets NFL instruction and learns for a year on the practice squad, he's going to be a bargain. I'm not sure what to think of Carter (he certainly played the season like a guy who'll get drafted), but I do think Stoudermire is talented enough to be a CB in the NFL and might very well get that chance.

I don't think Stoudermire is going to impress with returns if he doesn't knock the "stop" out of his game. He stops to fake out the closest guy, but unlike with offensive plays, there are 11 guys trying to get you. Faking one out at the expense of speed and momentum allows 10 others to catch up to you. It was a frustrating thing to watch him do for five years, and it wasn't a successful ploy in the least. His best runbacks were all ones with no "stop" in them. If he can go full out on all returns, it will really help his chances to stick and eventually play CB when he learns the position better.

Great observations analysis; I agree, Troy can make the jump tp the NFL but he will most certainly have go keep his movement going up the field.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Every time I saw Grant line up on special teams or even the few times he played linebacker last year and the year before is he seemed to take the correct tackling angle, or was in the correct position on the football field to make the play. He did play more than one occasion. Doesn't mean he had the athleticism to make the play, but he appeared to make the right decisions and be in the correct spots even on helping line people up on kick blocks or punt team. I am making the assumption and taking a leap of faith that he looked over the top that he was usually in the correct responsibility or rush lane. My presumption is he was smart on the football field because he appeared to be in the correct spots.

I'm also assuming with his dads and grandpa's connections if the kid want's to end up in coaching he is going to have a path and that people will take him in as a GA or intern because of the people his family knows. Could be to much of assumption but it does help to know people in the coaching world.

Smart or not if Ryan Grant has any desire to get into coaching he willl have no problem finding a job based on who is his Dad and Grandpa are. Whether or not he will be able to cut it once he has the job is another issue all together but if he wants to be a coach his last name will get him the opportunity to take a shot at it.

 

[scools12]

I would guess that Carter is the only Gopher drafted

totally agree with this. all other Gophers that might get a shot will be through the free agent route.

 

[gopherdudepart2]

I'm sticking with 3 Gophers getting drafted.

To me Carter and Stoudermire getting drafted at CB are no-brainers going to happen. I think far more NFL scouts
after working these guy's out will be impressed with there ability's to change direction, get quick reads on the ball and especially for Troy that he is a decent to above average tackler. Just because a few of us rubes think yes or no on who get's drafted doesn't mean a lot but it is intersting speculation. I happen to think that Soudermire is a better CB than a few people on this thread are giving him credit for. Carter flashing in one season is going to get him plenty of NFL looks. His issues were school related and class not being a knucklehead or arrested.

Gray will be an intersting case, if he shows well at the combine and above average speed for a guy his size than he has a shot at getting drafted. If he has any opportunity to work out with Larry Fitzgerald down in Arizona I hope he would do that, perhaps he knows him from Larry's summer workouts at the U. A trainer and if he has a chance to get any tips working out with Larry in Arizona would go a long ways in helping him get picked.

All three Gray, Carter and Soudermire should be working out in one of those NFL training facility's in Arizona this month.
I think they all have legitimate shots to be drafted. It might actually benefit them not be drafted in the late rounds but with CB being the premium position in the NFL it has become I would have to think both our corners have legitimate shots.

 

[pharmacygopher]

Stoudermire To Participate In All-Star Game

From gophersports

Minnesota cornerback Troy Stoudermire isn't done playing college football just yet.

The senior will participate in the upcoming Casino Del Sol College All-Star Game on Friday, Jan. 11 at Kino Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. The game starts at 6 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN3.

Stoudermire is the only Gopher participating and is one of three Big Ten players in the event, which is in its second year. The inaugural game produced six NFL draft picks and 67 players who were signed to an NFL contract.

Stoudermire started all 12 games for the Gophers and led Minnesota in tackles (82) and solo tackles (59). He also broke up three passes and notched 3.5 tackles-for-loss. Stoudermire returned 22 kicks this year for 513 yards as he became the NCAA all-time leader in kickoff return yards with 3,615 yards.

http://www.gophersports.com/blog/2013/01/stoudermire-to-participate-in-all-star-game.html

Good for him.