ESPN College Football

Filling in for some lunchtime reading …

• Colleague Ivan Maisel says spring football ushers in a fresh start.
• The Tampa Bay Times' Greg Auman catches up with UCF coach George O'Leary, who talks about the move to the Big East.
• Tyler Provo's father says Syracuse is getting a smaller, meaner version of older brother Nick, Nolan Weidner writes in The Post-Standard.
• Former Rutgers WR Mohamed Sanu is on the upswing with the Bengals, Joe Reedy writes in the Cincinnati Enquirer.
• The Orlando Sentinel's Matt Murschel says Boise State is one of five teams that will struggle in 2012.

The NFL draft has come and gone. So how did the Big East fare?

Not great.

The Big East only had 12 players drafted -- the lowest total since 11 were selected in 2006. USF and Pitt did not have a player selected, breaking some pretty long streaks. At least one Pitt player had been selected in each of the last 12 NFL drafts headed into this year; USF had at least one player taken in five straight drafts.

In compiling the numbers, I did count West Virginia because the three players drafted -- Bruce Irvin, Najee Goode and Keith Tandy -- spent their entire careers playing in the Big East. Since Temple now lives in this blog, many of you will probably be happy to hear that the Owls also had three players drafted -- Bernard Pierce, Evan Rodriguez and Tahir Whitehead -- tying a school record.

For those interested in the new members entering the league in 2013 and how they stacked up against those leaving -- Boise State had a school-record six players drafted. SMU (four) and San Diego State (four) ended up with the same number of picks as Cincinnati, which led the Big East.

Here is the breakdown of players selected by school:

• Cincinnati (4)
• West Virginia (3)
• Syracuse (2)
• UConn (1)
• Louisville (1)
• Rutgers (1)

Here are the players that were selected:

Round 1

West Virginia DE/LB Bruce Irvin, Seattle

Syracuse DE/LB Chandler Jones, New England

Round 2

Cincinnati DT Derek Wolfe, Denver

UConn DT Kendall Reyes, San Diego

Cincinnati RB Isaiah Pead, St. Louis

Round 3

Rutgers WR Mohamed Sanu, Cincinnati

Cincinnati DT John Hughes, Cleveland

Round 4

Cincinnati TE Adrien Robinson, New York Giants

Round 5

West Virginia LB Najee Goode, Tampa Bay

Round 6

West Virginia CB Keith Tandy, Tampa Bay

Syracuse OG Andrew Tiller, New Orleans

Round 7

Louisville DE Greg Scruggs, Seattle

Here are a few of my thoughts:

• Eleven Big East players invited to the NFL combine went undrafted, which seems like a pretty large number to me. Generally, those invited to the combine have a decent shot of being drafted. Keep in mind only 20 total Big East players snagged invites to the combine. So the percentage of players drafted who attended the combine in February was less than 50 percent.
• USF running back Darrell Scott decided to leave school early to enter the draft. But he never got picked. Scott ended up signing as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. He was one of 18 underclassmen who entered the draft but was not selected. Syracuse safety Phillip Thomas and receiver Dorian Graham also are underclassmen.
• Speaking of Thomas, I was surprised he went undrafted. I thought he was one of the most valuable players on the Syracuse defense last season before he ended up getting suspended for the final few games of the season for a violation of team rules. He obviously had some baggage because of that, but not any more than other players who have gotten into trouble. At one point, Mel Kiper had him listed as one of the top five safeties available in the draft.
• Other surprise undrafted players? I thought for sure Pitt offensive lineman Lucas Nix would get picked. NFL teams are always in the market for stocking up on quality offensive linemen, particularly ones listed as 6-foot-5 and 317 pounds. I would say he and Thomas were two players that went undrafted that I had penciled in as getting drafted. Nobody expected a Louisville player to go, so it was a pleasant surprise to see Scruggs come off the board.
• I watched the third round Friday night waiting and waiting for Sanu to come off the board. You guys know I guaranteed he would be picked in the first three rounds. What surprised me, though, were some of the receivers who were drafted ahead of him. I thought Houston might take him as a complementary receiver to Andre Johnson with the fifth pick in the round. But instead the Texans went with DeVier Posey of Ohio State, who was suspended for accepting cash and tattoos from a Columbus tattoo-parlor owner. Posey played in three games all of last season. NC State receiver T.J. Graham was next to come off the board to the Bills. Sanu had a higher draft grade than those two players.

You can hardly blame former Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu if he is a little more skeptical when answering his phone tonight during the NFL draft.

What happened to him Thursday is downright unconscionable. Sanu was the subject of a prank call during the first round. The caller identified himself as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals staff, and told Sanu they would be drafting him. He and his draft party celebrated. Then Kevin Zeitler's name flashed on the screen.

We pick up the story from AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley:

Someone thought it would be funny to "punk" Sanu on one of the biggest days of his football career.

Agent Mike McCartney told ESPN's Andrew Brandt that he called the number, which Sanu got off his Caller ID, but the person on the other end of the line showed little remorse, saying it was "just a practical joke." But this was no laughing matter. This was cruel and mean spirited.

You guys know how I feel about Sanu. He is a class guy, and a great football player. Here's hoping the right phone call comes his way tonight.

The NFL draft is almost here. With the first round set to begin Thursday night on ESPN, I now present to you the final big board and mock drafts for ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay.

Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones continues to shoot up the rankings. In his final mock draft , Kiper has Jones going No. 12 overall to the Seattle Seahawks. Kiper says:

The Seahawks need a pass-rusher, and I really like the fit. Pete Carroll can use a player with Jones' length and athleticism in a "Leo" role, and create an added dimension to the rush. The Seahawks will have built a pretty formidable defense if they can add a final piece or two up front. Jones makes sense here.

Jones ends up at No. 20 on Kiper's Big Board , a ranking of the top 25 prospects in the draft.

Meanwhile, McShay has Jones listed as No. 11 on his ranking of the top 32 players , moving up five spots. McShay says, "Jones' versatility and long frame make him an attractive prospect. He's risen steadily in recent weeks, from underrated prospect to the top half of the first round."

McShay, Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl did a complete mock draft, rounds one through seven. Here is where they have the Big East prospects:

• Jones, No. 12 overall, Seattle
• UConn DT Kendall Reyes, second round, New England
• Cincinnati DT, Derek Wolfe, second round, Atlanta
• Cincinnati RB Isaiah Pead, third round, Pittsburgh
• Temple RB Bernard Pierce, fourth round, Denver
• Syracuse S Phillip Thomas, fourth round, Green Bay
• Rutgers WR Mohamed Sanu, fourth round, Minnesota
• Syracuse OG Andrew Tiller, fifth round, Cincinnati
• Cincinnati TE Adrien Robinson, sixth round, Arizona
• Pitt OG Lucas Nix, sixth round, Oakland
• Temple TE Evan Rodriguez, sixth round, Indianapolis
• Rutgers OG Desmond Wynn, seventh round, Buffalo
• Pitt LB Brandon Lindsey, seventh round, Green Bay

Can't wait to see where everybody ends up!

Another Wednesday, another mailblog. Let's dig in.

Ken in Connecticut writes: AA, I know it was only the spring game, BUT how can Chandler Whitmer not be named the starting quarterback for UConn? The stats really speak for themselves. He had a good game, while (Johnny) McINTee looked about the same as he did last year and the other two that played had similarly poor stat lines with low completion percentages and lots of INTs. I think the quicker coach (Paul) Pasqualoni names a quarterback, the better this team will be. Your thoughts?

Andrea Adelson: Whitmer did have better numbers, but I am not sure he blew anybody away, either. So clearly Pasqualoni believes more competition throughout the summer will serve all the quarterbacks well. I am a proponent of having your starting quarterback named going into the offseason, so chemistry and rhythm can be built with receivers, trust can be earned and leadership can develop. But if Pasqualoni did not name his starter yet, then I am sure he has good reasons.

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Dave H. in Millstone Township, N.J., writes: Hi Andrea - I'd like to hear your thoughts with regard to defenses outshining offenses in spring practice. Should fans really be concerned with poor offensive performance like we've seen around the Big East this spring, or is it normal for offenses to struggle at this time? Do traditionally offensive-minded conferences like the Pac-12 and WAC experience similar situations in their springs, where the defense continually dominates the offense? Is there any correlation to what materializes in the regular season?

Adelson: I think it is important to remember the Big East is primarily a defensive league. Seven of the eight teams in the league last season ranked in the top half of the nation in total defense. The strength of most every team in the Big East this season is going to be defense as well, when you take a look at teams like Rutgers, Louisville, UConn and USF to name four off the bat. Also, defenses do tend to be ahead of offenses during the spring and fall practice times. Be honest -- do any of the Big East offenses scare you right now? Didn't think so. Each one has major question marks and the potential for major shortcomings. So let's just say I wasn't surprised to see the results.

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Aaron H. in RU Land writes: Andrea - As always great work... I totally agree with your column on how vastly underrated (Mohamed) Sanu is. I lost count last year how many big third-down catches he made for RU to get them big first downs. When he first made his intentions known to enter the draft, the draft experts had him as a late first rounder (ala Kenny Britt).. I wonder if the draft process tradition of scouts knocking down a player (because they want their team to draft him) is in play with SANU. Don't be shocked if the Patriots keep their first round pick at 31 they take Sanu, especially knowing that (Greg) Schiano will most definitely be looking at him with their second-round pick.

Adelson: Thanks, Aaron. I think the 40-time has hurt him, and maybe there is a bit of scouts knocking him down so they can pick him. In any case, I think he will be a great addition to the team that picks him.

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Dave in Charlotte, N.C. writes: I agree with your article about the risk of the western school reneging if the Big East loses its AQ status. But I recall that you shut down this exact argument (numerous times in the chat room), saying regardless of AQ status, the Big East money is too good to pass up for San Diego State and Boise State. So which is it? Do you think this is a risk or not?

Adelson: You are right, I have shut down the argument. But just because I do not believe it will happen does not discount the potential risk. As I mentioned in that BCS post, losing San Diego State and Boise State is the worst-case nightmare scenario. I think the Big East has to be prepared for anything to happen, no matter how unlikely.

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Dennis in Tampa writes: Hey AA, a little delayed on this topic. Anyways, when you visited USF was there any talk or urgency for an on-campus stadium? The options in the past were tear up the golf course and build it there, or tear down the University mall and build it there. Just curious if you heard any rumblings.

Adelson: There was no talk or urgency on the matter, Dennis. I think that is a long-term vision coach Skip Holtz has, but I think it is way, way into the future, if it happens at all.

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Alex in Syracuse writes: Really, Tino Sunseri and UConn (as dark horses)? What about the Cuse and (Ryan) Nassib? He was second to Teddy Bridgewater in quarterback rating among Big East quarterbacks. He's got Marcus Sales back, who exploded in the 2010 Pinstripe Bowl, and Ashton Broyld can play QB/WR/DB/RB/TE (just call him a weapon). Might I also add a hopefully healthy Prince-Tyson Gulley at tailback, who will come in under the radar. To me, Syracuse's offense looks pretty stable, except I have no idea how to judge an offensive line. Do you know anything on Syracuse's o-line?

Adelson: Did you write in before or after the spring game? If it was after, then you are one really, really super positive fan. I try not to put too much stock into spring games, especially when there are so many injured players out. Syracuse was missing some key pieces, including tackle Justin Pugh. But I am not sure what happened offensively provides many glimmers of hope. I like Nassib fine, but the running game is a concern. Gulley has to stay healthy. The offensive line did not play well in the spring game, but that was not a surprise given some of the players out. The nonconference schedule is pretty brutal, too. Let's just say nothing that happened in the spring raised my hopes, not even the potential of Broyld.

So his 40 time is slow.

I say: So what?

So he is not explosive.

I say: So what?

Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu will be a productive player in the NFL for years to come, regardless of what his measurables say about him. There are many talent evaluators who put way too much stock in 40 times and other assorted numbers, and not enough on actual game tape. I am obviously not an NFL scout, but I know what I saw out of Sanu in 2011.

To me, the tape speaks to what type of player you are going to get. Turn on the tape of Sanu last season, and you know exactly what you are in for -- a dependable receiver unafraid to go over the middle, to block, to put an entire team on his shoulders and carry them for an entire season. Sanu does not feel pressure. He thrives in big situations.

Consider that 69 of his Big East-record 115 receptions went for first downs. Twenty-seven of those receptions went for 15 yards or more. He had more catches in the second half or overtime of games than he did in the first half. He simply got better as the game went on. Drops? About as rare as catching a glimpse of Halley's Comet.

Not only that. Rutgers began to tailor its offensive game plan around Sanu once it became obvious he was pretty unstoppable early on last season. Opponents knew where the ball was headed. And yet he still had double-digit receptions in six games and 100 yards or more in seven.

In all, Sanu had 1,206 yards on the season, putting him in third place on the school single-season record list. None of that happened by luck or accident.

Recent mock drafts from Mel Kiper and Todd McShay on ESPN do not have Sanu listed as going in the first three rounds. Other mock drafts have him going in the second or third round. I respect the work Kiper and McShay do, being the foremost draft experts in the business. But I respectfully disagree with their assessment of Sanu.

A 4.58 time in the 40 makes him the slowest of the top receivers available in the draft. I understand teams want receivers who are blazing fast, can break open big plays and be electrifying. Whatever Sanu lacks in speed, he makes up for everywhere else. He works hard, never complains and makes catches when they count.

I would be shocked if he slips past the third round. No matter where he lands, I can all but guarantee Sanu will make his new team exceedingly happy.

ESPN NFL draft expert Todd McShay has broken down the top 100 prospects for the NFL draft into tiers , based on grades. Breakdowns like these are helpful for teams when they try to figure out when and how to draft a player and when trades come under consideration.

They also show depth at certain positions. Offensive tackle is lean this year; defensive tackle has plenty of depth.

Where do Big East players stack up?

Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones is listed in Tier 4. McShay describes players in this group as having the tools to be good value picks in the late first round. Jones has steadily moved up the mock drafts of both Mel Kiper and McShay. In the latest version , Kiper has Jones going at No. 18 to San Diego, while McShay has Jones listed at No. 22 on his overall list of the top 32 prospects heading into the draft.

UConn defensive tackle Kendall Reyes is listed in Tier 5 as a player with a good value should he drop out of Round 1. Kiper has Reyes out of the first round in his latest mock draft, going to Indianapolis with the second pick in the second round. Rather than having Reyes in his first round, Kiper now has Cincinnati defensive tackle Derek Wolfe going to New England at No. 31. Kiper and McShay differ wildly on their opinion of Wolfe.

McShay has Wolfe listed in Tier 6, as a player worthy of mid-to-late second-round consideration. Wolfe is listed as his No. 69 overall prospect.

Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead is listed in Tier 7 as a solid third-round prospect.

The biggest snub is that of Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu, not listed among McShay's top 100 players. Kiper also does not have Sanu going in the first two rounds.

Look, we all know Sanu is not the fastest guy in the world. But I really hope the 40 time he ran at the combine is not sinking his stock. Sanu has plenty of size and is incredibly reliable. He will go across the middle and make tough catches. He can make acrobatic catches. He will work hard and do whatever is asked. He has no character issues at all. Any team that discounts him because he doesn't run a 4.3 40-yard dash is just plain missing out on what Sanu can add to any team.

Take me out to the (foot)ball game. Aw man, wrong time of year.

• Video: Cincinnati coach Butch Jones gives an update on spring ball.
• The injuries are starting to pile up for UConn.
• Jamon Brown has made a smooth transition to offensive line for Louisville.
• Pitt defensive end Bryan Murphy has muscled his way into the starting lineup. Paul Zeise breaks down practice No. 11.
• Former Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu has a pretty incredible family story. Kyle Flood says he's a one-quarterback coach.
• Orlando (Fla.) quarterback Asiantii Woulard has de-committed from USF because he feels he rushed his decision. Starting guard Danous Estenor is out with a sprained ankle, but it's nothing serious.
• Does it matter that Syracuse practices have been closed?
• Temple has moved two players to tight end.

All eight Big East teams have completed their pro day workouts for NFL scouts.

Keep in mind that only a few Big East teams made times and performances available. Here are a few of the highlights:

Cincinnati: Running back Isaiah Pead clocked a 4.47 in the 40-yard dash. But it was probably tight end Adrien Robinson who turned the most heads, as he ran a 4.51 and 4.58 in the 40. Scouts Inc. analyst Kevin Weidl had praise for Robinson, whose only opportunity to impress scouts in person was at the school's pro day.

UConn: Kendall Reyes and Kashif Moore skipped doing the 40-yard dash and instead focused on position work. It's a smart move because both did outstanding at the NFL combine. More than 20 NFL teams were represented.

Louisville: The Cardinals did not have anybody invited to the NFL combine, so senior players had to rely on their pro day. It was receiver Josh Bellamy who stood out, after he ran a 4.42 in the 40. Bellamy also worked out at cornerback.

Pitt: Unheralded cornerback Buddy Jackson had a good showing, running somewhere in the 4.3 range, while defensive tackle Chas Alecxih improved on his performance at the combine. Alecxih apparently caught the stomach virus in Indianapolis, which affected his performance. Brandon Lindsey improved some of his numbers, too. Lucas Nix also showed well.

Rutgers: Receiver Mohamed Sanu helped himself, improving on his 40 time, with a 4.41. Sanu ran a 4.67 at the combine, and told local reporters after pro day last week he was drained in Indianapolis. Fullback Joe Martinek ran a 4.4 in the 40.

USF: New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was in attendance for the Bulls' pro day. Running back Darrell Scott, who decided to leave school early, was the only USF player invited to the combine, so it was an opportunity for his teammates to try to make an impression.

Syracuse: Defensive end Chandler Jones brought many more scouts to Syracuse pro day -- 37 in all. According to the Post-Standard, that was the biggest pro day turnout since 2002.

Temple: Running back Bernard Pierce was one of 17 Owls who worked out for 32 NFL scouts. Pierce reportedly improved on his already-terrific 40 time from the combine, with some clocking a time of 4.34. Evan Rodriguez did not run the 40.

Now that you have the quick recaps, here is an updated look at where Todd McShay and Mel Kiper have some of the Big East players.

McShay has his NFL mock draft 4.0 up, with Syracuse's Jones going at No. 27 overall to the New England Patriots. McShay says Jones is one of the most underrated prospects in the entire draft. UConn defensive tackle Reyes is in the first round, too, at No. 31, also to the Patriots. Future teammates, perhaps? McShay does not have anybody from the Big East in the second round.

Jones is the only player listed on McShay's top 32 . Kiper has no Big East players on his Big Board , which only ranks the top 25. Not much change in Kiper's top 5 players by position . It still features Reyes, Syracuse safety Phillip Thomas and Temple fullback Rodriguez.

So where do Big East players project in the draft?

Scouts Inc. expert Todd McShay has put together his own draft board , similar to what NFL teams use when they determine when to draft specific players. The chart lists players by position, and assigned to the round that corresponds to his draft grade. Here are where the Big East players stand on offense:

Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse: first round

Kendall Reyes, DT, UConn: second round

Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati: third round

Bernard Pierce, RB, Temple: third round

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers: third round

Phillip Thomas, S, Syracuse: third round

Adrien Robinson, TE, Cincinnati: fourth round

Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati: fourth round

Brandon Lindsey, LB, Pitt: fifth round

Lucas Nix, OG, Pitt: fifth round

Chas Alecxih, DT, Pitt: sixth round

Justin Francis, DL, Rutgers: sixth round

Nick Provo, TE, Syracuse: sixth round

Desmond Wynn, OG, Rutgers: sixth round

Darrell Scott, RB, USF: seventh round

Evan Rodriguez, RB, Temple: seventh round

Mike Ryan, OT, UConn: seventh round

Alex Hoffman, OT, Cincinnati: seventh round

Antwuan Reed, DB, Pitt: seventh round

Tahir Whitehead, LB, Temple: seventh round

How many Cincinnati fans are already tailgating for tonight's game?

• A primer on UConn's spring practice. Desmond Conner has some notes from the first Huskies workout. Paul Pasqualoni expects a better performance out of his receivers this season.
• Big East Coast Bias offers some musings on Louisville's first practice.
• Offensive lineman Chris Jacobson relishes the return to a physical style at Pitt.
• Rutgers' Mohammed Sanu improved his draft stock with an impressive pro day performance.
• Could an upgrade to Syracuse's football facilities be on the way?

The final countdown of the top 25 players in the Big East is nearly complete.

Up today: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Making the case: Sanu was one of the most productive receivers in the entire nation last season, finishing with a school- and Big East-record 115 receptions -- fourth best in the entire nation. Sanu isn't the flashy sort of receiver, but he was hands down the most reliable and most consistent pass-catcher in the Big East. It says something that he was able to have as much success as he did despite the Scarlet Knights playing musical quarterbacks, having no run game and the constant threat of being double-teamed. He came up time and again with the big first downs. Simply put, he was there for his quarterbacks again and again and again.

His decision to leave for the NFL draft was not a surprise. After such a great season, Sanu had to look out for his future. Rutgers has plenty of talent at the receiver position. But there was talent last season and nobody else really stepped to the forefront. Where he no doubt will be missed the most is on third down, when he was virtually automatic to get the first-down reception and keep the chains moving.

Preseason ranking: No. 20

The countdown:

No. 25 Ryne Giddins, DE, USF

No. 24 Keith Tandy, CB, West Virginia

No. 23 Duron Harmon, S, Rutgers

No. 22 Antwon Bailey, RB, Syracuse

No. 21 Lyle McCombs, RB, UConn

No. 20 Dexter Heyman, LB, Louisville

No. 19 Hakeem Smith, S, Louisville

No. 18 Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers

No. 17 Aaron Donald, DE, Pitt

No. 16 Trevardo Williams, DE, UConn

No. 15 Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

No. 14 Julian Miller, DE, West Virginia

No. 13 Bruce Irvin, DE West Virginia

No. 12 Najee Goode, LB, West Virginia

No. 11 Kendall Reyes, DT, UConn

No. 10 JK Schaffer, LB, Cincinnati

No. 9 Zach Collaros, QB, Cincinnati

No. 8 Ray Graham, RB, Pitt

No. 7 Stedman Bailey, WR, West Virginia

No. 6 Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati

No. 5 Khaseem Greene, LB, Rutgers

ESPN NFL draft experts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have updated their player rankings, post-combine.

The two still differ on the top player available from the Big East.

Kiper has UConn defensive tackle Kendall Reyes on his Big Board , right at No. 22. Kiper says: "A really powerful player, Reyes will occupy blocks and can play effectively in either scheme. I considered him a late fit in the first round in my previous mock, and he tested out well to confirm that standing for me."

McShay has Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones on his list of the top 32 prospects available, though Jones slipped two spots to No. 30. McShay says: "Jones flew under the radar in 2011 but is rising after more thorough film study, and his size, strength and length give him impressive potential as a pass-rusher."

Kiper also has Reyes listed as a combine winner , and believes questions remain about Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu. Kiper now believes Sanu is a late second-round selection and needs to have a stellar pro day workout.

It appears that Big East players had mixed performances at the NFL combine, which just wrapped up in Indianapolis.

Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead, UConn receiver Kashif Moore, Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones and UConn defensive tackle Kendall Reyes had solid performances, and likely helped themselves.

Of the 18 Big East players there, those four probably had the most notable performances. And it is still unclear if players like Jones, Reyes and Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu will be drafted in the first round.

To find out how your favorite player did in all the measurable categories, just click on his name:

Chas Alecxih, DT, Pitt

Justin Francis, DE, Rutgers

John Hughes, DT, Cincinnati

Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

Brandon Lindsey, DE, Pitt

Kashif Moore, WR, UConn

Lucas Nix, OG, Pitt

Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati

Nick Provo, TE, Syracuse

Antwuan Reed, CB, Pitt

Kendall Reyes, DT, UConn

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Darrell Scott, RB, USF

Dave Teggart, K, UConn

Phillip Thomas, S, Syracuse

Andrew Tiller, OG, Syracuse

Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati

Desmond Wynn, OG, Rutgers

The NFL combine is underway in Indianapolis, so it is time to get caught up on Big East players who may have helped or hurt their draft stock during workouts so far.

One prospect to watch is UConn receiver Kashif Moore. Among all participants who have run the 40, Moore posted the fifth-best time -- 4.42 seconds, and was among the top performers in the vertical jump, broad jump, bench press, 20-yard shuttle run and 3-cone drill. Todd McShay of Scouts Inc. believes Moore helped his stock and will have teams re-evaluating him on tape with his performance. McShay writes:

He had some problems tracking and adjusting to the deeper throws, but Moore he caught the ball well overall and flashed the ability to pluck it away from his frame. He was a late-round prospect heading into this week, but with this performance Moore will send scouts back to the tape to see if his testing matches his on-field performance.

Moore talked about his solid performance at the combine with Desmond Conner of The Hartford Courant, saying in part, "I think I opened some eyes."

Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu didn't fare as well in the 40, running a 4.67. Sanu isn't the fastest player in the world, and nobody expected him to blaze to a top speed. But his time was below his average, and McShay thought Sanu looked tight. Still, ESPN NFC West blogger Mike Sando reports that Sanu didn't drop any passes in several of the drills he watched. In an interview before his workout, Sanu indicated he had already met with the Patriots.

Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead also helped his draft stock, running a 4.47 in the 40 -- tied for fifth among all running backs. One columnist suggested that Pead had possibly the best skills among all running backs at the combine.