Draft News: Notes from the Southland

The big question many want answered: where will the top junior quarterbacks in the nation be playing next September? In college or the NFL? Recently its' been a big topic of discussion on our board and elsewhere in the media. Here we cover the SEC, Sun Belt and Conference USA with a few notes from the south.

Recently, sources close to the TFY Draft Preview have told us signs are pointing to at least one junior signal-caller leaving college and declaring his eligibility for the draft.  Surprising to us the quarterback in question was Mississippi's Eli Manning.

Though we have been of the mind that Manning would stay at 'Ole Miss next season, sources told us several reasons seemingly have Manning leaning towards the NFL next year.  First is the fact that with or without Manning, the Rebels are not poised to make a run towards a national title in 2003, or for that matter even an SEC Western division championship.  This is in direct contrast to the situation older brother Peyton found himself in prior to the 1997 season when he chose to fulfill his college eligibility.  Much like this season a Heisman candidacy is unlikely for Manning next year.  Finally Eli will graduate and have his degree by May which negates the need to come back for more class credits.  

When we brought up the fact that Peyton spent four years in college the point was made that so has Eli; he red-shirted in 1999.  The final decision should be interesting.

Staying in Oxford we have learned that Manning's teammate and roommate, tight end Dusty Zeigler, is working hard to rehabilitate the leg he broke back on September 24.  Zeigler will apply to the NCAA for  a sixth year of eligibility but realistically does not think it will be granted which will force his hand into the draft.  It is quite possible the NCAA will not render a final decision until late January, it is also possible Zeigler will not be ready to play for an extended period of time.

A pair of linemen are making a lot of noise amongst scouting circles lately.  Arkansas State's Gary Johnson has really picked up the pace of his game and is turning heads.  Ranked as the number four guard in the nation last September by the TFY Draft Preview, many feel Johnson can easily handle the left tackle duties at the next level, as he does now for ASU.   Johnson is expected get invited to the Senior Bowl and a big week of practice in Mobile next January, one in which he displays the skills to protect the blind side, could push him into the initial 75 selections.

The other lineman that has people talking is Wade Smith of Memphis State.  A former tight end, many we spoke with are absolutely in love with his athletic abilities and feel Smith would be effective in a number of blocking schemes at the next level.

One player that feels he is poised to have a big season in college next year is Wade Smith's former teammate Albert Means, the defensive tackle declared academically ineligible prior to the start of the season.  Currently in school and preparing for next year, Means got married over the summer and has reportedly matured "tremendously" according to sources.  He hopes to be on the field next August.

In Baton Rouge there are mixed feelings as to which way running back LaBrandon Toefield is presently leaning.  Still in a cast that extends up to his shoulder after surgery to repair a fractured forearm, (and expected to be that way for a few more weeks) several on the Tiger squad think Toefield will head to the NFL next year and the big ball carrier has admitted he is concerned about the two huge injuries he's suffered in less then a year and is worried about a third possibly happening in college.