Now first off you gotta watch out for the home town heroes. Defensive back Tanard Jackson and punter Brendan Carney from Syracuse University. Jackson is projected to go late second round, while Carney may not get drafted at all, despite being the best SU kicker since the great Nate Trout (no relation to Steve). So those are the Orange to look for, now here's some other names the gang at SCS will be keeping a close eye on:
Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville- We searched and searched, but could not find anything linking him to the original "Nigerian Nightmare" Christian Okoye, nor could we find a
ny projected draftees with the last name Word. We were bummed. While to us Americans, Okoye is not a common name, in Nigeria it's like Jones. That is to say it's very common. Now we're not saying Christian and Amobi are not related, just that our sources came up short on finding them on different branches of a Okoye family tree.
Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas- We were disappointed to find that he is not the descendant of former NFL running back and Dirty Bird Jamal Anderson. While searching for a connection between Jamaal and Jamal, we did find out that Jamal is currently dabbling in sports broadcasting, skydiving and wine tasting. So maybe we can soon have a Dirty Bird Winery. who knows? But if it's good enough for the Sawx? Speaking of the Sawx......Manuel "Manny" Ramirez, G, Texas Tech- Of course, there is no relation to THE Manny Ramirez technically, but as a guard this Manny, will actually be a Man-Ram, moving guys around in the trenches. And of course, if he turns out to be good, you can double your "Manny being Manny" references per year.
Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan- We were hoping he'd be related to Duce, but when we saw his picture, there was absolutely no family resemblance, and we don't think Duce has adopted, so....
Ben Grubbs, G, Auburn- We really just like his name. And we know what you're thinking, "Hey wasn't there an 80s baseball player with that last name?" Well you are pretty close, but you are more than likely thinking of former Detroit Tiger Johnny Grubb.
Tony Ugoh, OT, Arkansas- We took a look at Ugoh, and he's big. So I don't think a lot of people would call him an Ugoh. Tony, we, personally think you are quite handsome.
Zak DeOssie, OLB, Brown- Zak is actually related to former NFL player and Boston radio talk show host, Steve DeOssie. His dad is somehting of an a-s-s, but Zak went to Brown so he might actually have a bit of brains, who knows?
You can also look forward another Charles Johnson, Steve Smith and Tony Gonzalez getting drafted. I'm sure this year's Charles Johnson hopes his NFL career goes a bit better than the last Charles Johnson. While, Steve Smith hopes his receiving career is much like that of the Steve Smith on the Carolina Panthers. Their is also a Keith Jackson that should get drafted, and drink for every "whoa nelly" or any other Keith Jackson catch phrase uttered when the defensive tackle out of Arkansas is drafted.Brian Leonard, FB, Rutgers- He's just a feel good story. And if it feels good...do it. Dubbed
Brian Leonard "Part 6" , it'll be a happy day once he gets drafted. But if he starts babbling about Imus, we'll turn on him fast.David Irons, CB, Auburn- We were saddened to find that he is not realted to the actor Jeremy Irons, but are still sure that he is an iron-clad pick for whoever gets him. We found that there is also another Irons who could get drafted, also not related to the thespian, but oddly enough is related to a lesbian. Okay that last part about the lesbian's not true, but it felt good, so we did it. We were also disappointed that the safety out of Washington State, Eric Frampton, is not connected to Peter Frampton as far as we can tell, but he's sure to, come alive, in any defense.
Kenneth "Terence Trent" Darby, RB, Alabama- Okay so we gave him that nickname, but it works don't it? We have a feeling that he'll be all right.
Turner Booth, LS, Michigan- Cool that he's a long snapper, and might have to be lumped in with the placekickers and punters in the "Bitterness is a Fish You Can Catch Drinking Game." Would be way cooler if his last name was Hooch, am I right? Then he could be Turner "and" Hooch. And what if his middle initial were "N"? Turner N. Hooch!
John Talley, CB, Duke- No, he's not related to Darryl Talley, but we think he shuld bring back
the spider web spandex on the arms. Oddly enough, Darry Talley was once nicknamed, "The Duke of Awesome" and John Talley attended Duke University. Well, talley-ho, I say bring back the "Talley-Whackers". But his name is also close to former Bad Boy, John Salley. But his name is not as close as...Reggie Lewis, CB, Florida- Obviously we just like him because he has the same name as a former Celtic. We will not go any further into the tragedy that occurred with the Celtic, but just hope this Lewis, can't lose.
Baraka Atkins, DE/DT, Miami- His first name makes us think of Barack Obama? Plus if he somehow lands on the same team as either Samare or Antrell Rolle, you'd have Baraka and Rolle. Okay it's a stretch, I guess, but here's a better one.
Marquies Gunn, DE/LB, Auburn- Obviously a cool last name, but he is projected to go to the Jets a pick after the Broncos. Why wouldn't the Broncos go after him? Team him up with Rod Smith and you've got Rod and Gunn! Beautiful.
Doug Free, OT, Nothern Illinois- No relation, as far as we can tell, to World B. Free. And if you want a Doug you're gonna have to pay for it! Especially if it's.....
Doug Datish, C, Ohio State- We don't really know why we like this guy, but we do. There's something about the name Datish, that sings to us. Like maybe if someone's like, "was it a date?" You would reply, "Well, it was dat-ish." Datish, of course meaning, of or relating to date qualities.
CJ Ah You, DE, Oklahoma- I think the name speaks for itself. His name being something that people say when being overcomplimented, or being given a gift, like "Ah You".
Tank Tyler, DT, North Carolina St.- We almost weren't gonna put him on there, since you know, Tank's are kinda passe, what with Tank Mcnamara and Tank Johnson already out there. But then we realized that it's still a cool name.
HB Blades, ILB, Pittsburgh- Gotta a love a Big East pick, but what is up with HB? I mean if he was a running back, we could understand, but not a linebacker. I don't see what's wrong with Horatio Benedict?
Kevin Boss, TE, Western Oregon- Can't go wrong with Boss. Currently they have KB projected to go to Buffalo, while he's no Pete Metzalaars, he's gotta be better than Jay Riemersma. Let's just hope he never names any of his kids Hugo.
Ameer Ismail, OLB, Western Michigan- No relation to "The Rocket" or "The Missile", but by calling himself Ismail, he should have a cool nickname, like "The Shuttle"or something.
Antwan Applewhite, DE, San Diego State- Like most of the other names in here, he is not attached to who we were hoping he was. Yes Antwan, believe it or not, is not related to for
mer SU Quarterbacks coach Major Applewhite. On a side note, how did he get hired as a an offensive coordinator at Rice after doing nothing at SU? Weird.Well, just a couple more draft notes:
There will be two players drafted with the first name Dallas, Dallas Sartz out of USC and Dallas Baker out of Florida. There are also two possible draftees with the last name of Ball, Alan Ball out of Illinois and David Ball out of New Hampshire. But no one named Dallas Ball, and no prejected draftees from Ball State or the University of Dallas, weird?
Well that does it for the Saultan's Draft Preview, good night, good luck, and don't do anything we'd do!
