With Calvin Johnson, Dwayne Bowe and James Jones among the rookie wide receivers making an instant impact in the NFL, scouts are already looking ahead to what appears to be a solid crop for 2008. For many of the top-ranked senior receivers, however, scouts are finding players more likely to be standing on the sidelines than scoring touchdowns.
LSU's Early Doucet, Florida's Andre Caldwell, Texas' Limas Sweed and Louisville's Harry Douglas -- all potential first-round picks -- have each already missed time due to injury this season. Sweed is out for the year with ligament damage in his wrist.
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| Early Doucet had 10 touchdowns last season. (Getty Images) |
An in-depth look at my current Top 10 senior wide receivers and tight ends for the 2008 draft:
1. Early Doucet, WR, LSU, 6-0, 212 pounds, 4.54 (40-yard dash)
Stuck behind 2007 first-round picks Dwayne Bowe and Craig Davis, Doucet had only started 14 of his 37 career games entering his senior year.
Scouts are still raving about his upside, and certainly his production in limited duty is impressive. Despite only starting six games last year, for example, Doucet finished sixth in the SEC with 10 touchdowns.
To keep this lofty ranking, Doucet needs to get back on the field, as he's missed considerable time already this season with a groin strain.
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| Adarius Bowman (AP) |
In a draft heavy with smaller receivers blessed with great speed, Bowman is the year's top possession receiver.
Blessed with rare size and agility, he is tough to defend. After originally signing with North Carolina, Bowman transferred to Oklahoma State and was immediately a standout, earning conference Newcomer of the Year accolades for his 1,181 receiving yards, a staggering 19.1 yards per catch average and 12 touchdowns.
Through Oct. 15, he was fourth in the Big 12 with 721 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
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| Andre Caldwell (Getty Images) |
Caldwell is the latest to attempt to prove that Gator receivers can transfer their abilities from the collegiate level to the pros.
While Caldwell's numbers entering his senior season weren't particularly impressive (129 catches for 1,588 yards and 9 touchdowns), scouts rave about his speed, hands and route-running. Andre is hoping to have a more immediate and lasting impact in the NFL than his brother and former Gator Reche.
However, he has been slowed by a knee injury this season that has limited him to five receptions for 121 yards through Oct. 15 and threatens to send him sliding down this list.
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| D.J. Hall (Getty Images) |
One receiver shooting up draft boards this season is Hall. Blessed with a prototype blend of size, speed and leaping ability, Hall is intriguing to scouts as he has proven himself to be a productive receiver at this level, already eclipsing all of the major Alabama career receiving records. But Hall is still an unpolished product with loads of potential.
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| Harry Douglas (Getty Images) |
In terms of vertical threats, there are few receivers who can match Douglas' blend of speed and production.
Douglas led the Big East in receptions (70) and receiving yards per game (97.37) last season and finished the year with a team-record 1,265 receiving yards. Scouts would like Douglas to add some strength and mass to his frame.
Concerns about his ability to physically hold up in the NFL haven't been aided by struggles with injuries this season, although he is averaging 17.7 yards on 45 receptions with 797 yards and five touchdowns.
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| Limas Sweed (Getty Images) |
Among the nation's most productive receivers, Sweed's career at Texas came to an abrupt end with the announcement that he will miss the remainder of the season due to damaged ligaments in his left wrist.
Assuming the wrist heals correctly, the injury won't likely affect Sweed's status with scouts much. A huge target, Sweed has rare football speed for such a large receiver, showing the smooth acceleration to sneak deep.
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| Fred Davis (Getty Images) |
Davis lacks the size scouts look for at tight end, but he has stepped up his play as a senior, taking over as John David Booty's primary receiving outlet. Scouts like Davis' all-around play. He isn't dominant in any one area, but is willing and physical as a blocker, has the athleticism to generate separation and has soft, reliable hands.
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| Kennan Burton (Getty Images) |
No one appreciated Andre' Woodson's rise to superstardom last year as much as Burton. Like Woodson, Burton went from a relative no-name to a spot on the All-SEC first team with a conference-leading 12 receiving touchdowns.
Burton remains a bit raw as a route-runner, but has good size for the position and is elusive in the open field. He is enjoying a strong senior season with 39 catches for 511 yards and five touchdowns.
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| Dorien Bryant (Getty Images) |
Bryant doesn't have the frame scouts prefer, but in terms of route-running, hands and big-play ability, he has few peers.
Though Bryant has legitimate 4.4 speed, his exceptional quickness is his trademark asset, allowing him to generate separation and make big plays in the open field. Bryant entered his senior year having earned Big Ten accolades after each of the past two seasons and third in Purdue's history with 4,098 all-purpose yards. He has added to that with 1,186 yards through seven games, second best in the Big Ten.
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| Martin Rucker (Getty Images) |
Blessed with a rare combination of size and speed, Rucker might be the most talented senior tight end in the country. In Missouri's offense, however, he is rarely asked to block, causing scouts a great deal of concern.
A first-team All-Big 12 performer last season after catching 53 passes for 511 yards and five touchdowns, Rucker could be on his way to the John Mackey Award as he leads Big 12 tight ends with 30 receptions for 474 yards through six games. To improve his draft stock, however, he might have to consider a senior all-star game to prove his ability as an inline blocker.
Rob Rang is a Senior Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, published by The Sports Xchange.
