Draft Declaration Day Noodle Scratchers

Sure there are the locks like Adrian Peterson, Dwayne Jarrett, and Marshawn Lynch who would be dumb not to do it. But there are also those who have no business even asking for copies of the declaration papers. Here are some of the intriguing early entrants into the glorified meat sale known as the NFL Draft.

Micheal Bush, Louisville: I guess we are going to have to drag out the "Willis McGahee Comparison Counter" again. My tally is at two (both from Sportscenter) and I'm setting the over/under for 100 by the end of ESPN's draft day coverage. If he stayed healthy, he would be a top ten pick. NFL execs are going to be scrutinizing that broken leg so much that they'll have to watch their backs for molestation charges. If all is well, he will still go in the first round. However, with the benefit of a medical redshirt, he would have been a lock in the top 5 with another year, and possibly a national championship run, at the 'Ville.
Colt Brennan, Hawaii: This is going to be interesting. Brennan is basically holding the torch for all quarterbacks at Hawaii, Texas Tech, New Mexico State, and any other school that ends up running a "pass fist pass second ask questions later" offense. We never heard from Kliff Kingsbury, BJ Symons, or Timmy Chang after they graduated (at least not yet). Was he a product of the system, or a genuine stud? PROVE IT SON!!!!
Ted Ginn, Jr., The Ohio State: Seriously, did I miss the "Ted Ginn Train"? Somebody is going to take him in the first round but I just don't get it. You want a number one receiver with a first round pick but it can easily be argued that he wasn't The Ohio State's number one receiver. I guess his combination of Devin Hester return skills and Steve Smith possibilities at wideout will be enough to risk it, and it was certainly worth it for him to come out, but I would tag Ginn as the first member of the "Bust Watch List".
Brandon Jackson, Nebraska: This is an odd one. There is no truth to the rumor that there is even money on the Broncos making Jackson their third round pick ala Maurice Clarett. He's a third down back in the NFL at best and even if he went back to Big Red for another year with Bill Callahan, he would have been a mid-round pick at best in 2008. This draft has some stud running backs. Jackson ain't one of them.
Greg Olson, Miami: Duck fans will understand this reference. Olson's junior year was like Tim Day's senior year. Big things were expected from this kid coming into the season but he just wasn't the same TE that he was the previous year. If he can find whatever it was he lost between year's two and three, he will be a solid NFL tight end. Otherwise, another year at the "U" with a new coaching staff and more experience at quarterback would have done wonders for his draft stock headed into 2008.
Sidney Rice, South Carolina: Damn! If he came back for his junior year he would have been an absolute stud in his third year under Spurrier. I would have liked to have seen him stay another season because he might have been the best receiver in the country, and also because I have a bit of a man crush on the Ol' Ball Coach. That said, I would take him ahead of Ginn.
Danny Ware, Georgia: Is this kid serious? He was like the third best back on his own team! To say he could have used another year is like saying K-Fed could have used talent. Someone is going to have to fall truly, madly, deeply in love with some aspect of his game to use an actual draft pick on him (yes, that was a Savage Garden reference).
Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech: Okay, so this wasn't a surprise at all and he will be a top 3 pick. I just want to take advantage of any opportunity to talk about how awesome Calvin Johnson is. He has been the most talented receiver in the country for two years and is, apparently, an equally good guy. This guy is going to Pro Bowls. Lots of them. And to think that he did all he did at Tech with Reggie Freakin' Ball as his quarterback. That's a handicap that can effectively double all of his stats.