One very deep sleeper in the 09′ NFL Draft
Duke football has been in the gutter of the college football ranks and only this year has shown signs of reviving itself. The best football talent at the entire school has been playing basketball the last four years under Coach K. That being said, how can a player that has thrived in this system which has lacked supstantial talent for years not be mentioned among those to be drafted? I’m referring to Eron Riley, the 6’3, 206 pound wide receiver. Everyone knows about Tauiliili, who is a very talented linebacker and will have his name called on draft day Saturday, but injustice has been brought upon perhaps the most talented player to come from this Duke program in years.
This guy, according to NFL.com, was not even invited to the NFL Combine; does not even have a ranking on scout.com. How can a second team All-ACC performer not be invited to combine (although it is slowly losing PR ground to campus pro days). The lack of talent at the school itself does not affect the talent of the ACC as a conference; Eron went head to head with the same corners and safeties as the other elite receivers like Heyward-Bey or Hakeem Nicks. Small school prospects are questioned because of the competition they face, so why is a reciever at an ACC school questioned. For example, Cal Poly stud Ramses Barden is a beast of a receiver who would likely be a first round talent were it not for the small school status (FYI: This guy is going to be great by the way, I mean Fitzgerald great).
The statistics do not lie:
- Ran a sub 4.3 40 yard dash at Pro Day (1st among Combine participants)
- 40 inch vertical (top 5 among Combine participants)
- Has lead the ACC in yards per reception…showing the big play threat that teams look for
All I would like to know is for someone to give me one good reason why this guy is only designated as a possible undrafted free agent when he has the potential to be a playmaker. I feel, personally, that we might have another Rod Smith on our hands folks.
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