Scout Combine: Iowa City Offensive Preview

The Scout.com All-American combines roll into Iowa City this weekend and it’s only fitting that an offensive preview be centered around the cattle, the hogs if you will, the big, Midwest, tractor-pull, offensive lineman that college recruiters from all four corners of America are searching for. You ask where the beef is. It will be in Iowa City this weekend.

Missouri’s Jayson Palmgren (6-4, 285) has three Big XII scholarship offers and a Big Ten offer under his belt. Palmgren will be joined by perhaps two of the top center prospects in the nation. Illinois prospect Dave Molk (6-2, 270) has several scholarship offers and Nebraska’s Harland Gunn (6-2, 300) is committed to Miami, Fla. Yes, that’s right, a Nebraska boy is committed to Miami. That itself could be a feature story for us this weekend. Illinois road-grader Jack Cornell Jr (6-7, 305) is gaining interest from several of the top programs around the nation. Dave Molk’s teammate, Graham Pocic will be one of the most sought after lineman in Class of 2008 and he’ll also be in Iowa City this weekend. Other offensive lineman to keep an eye on is Tyler Doering (6-5, 280), Missouri’s William Anderson and Iowa’s own Brian Rodas.

We’ve already previewed the quarterbacks that will be participating on Saturday but too refresh your memory, Michigan’s Keith Nichol will be a focus point at the signal-caller position. Nichol is already committed to Michigan State. Will Logan Gray show up in Iowa City? That’s still up in the air. Indiana’s Drew Kiel, Illinois star Luke Hockaday and another Michigander, Spencer Hickoff, will all be tossing the ball to some talented receivers.

Among those talented receivers are Keith Nichol’s teammate Mike McElroy and Iowa’s No. 1 overall prospect Colin Sandeman. Sandeman has several scholarship offers and there’s no doubt his stock will soar even more after this weekend. Keep an eye on Farmington Hills, Mich., prospect Mark Dell. The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder, already has a couple of Big Ten offers and Dell will bring his teammate Calvin Mann with him to Iowa City. East St. Louis, Illinois product Jerrell McDaniel will be one to watch as will Minnesota’s David Gilreath and Rolandis Woodland.

Tight end Austin Szafranski looked solid at the national combine this past January in San Antonio and he’ll be in Iowa City this weekend to catch some passes. Other tight end prospects looking to stand out are a pair of sophomores, Ben Cotton and Andrew Jones. There’s still a possibility that Missouri’s Aron White will be in Iowa City to participate in the combine.

Last but not least, the running backs. Indiana’s Darren Evans, Illinois blue-chipper, Dale Martin and perhaps the top prospect in the Midwest, John Clay, from Racine, Wis., are all scheduled to be in Iowa City on Saturday. All three are tremendous backs. All three look phenomenal on film and all three have very bright futures. Other running backs we’ll be keeping a close eye on is Chicago’s Darnell Ratcliffe, Missouri’s Lamark Brown and Derrick Washington, Indiana’s Eric Williams and Iowa’s own Tre-Darrius Canady.