Another chance for Marcus Thomas

Marcus Thomas will be playing for the first time in several months today when he plays in the inaugural "Texas vs. the Nation" all-star game at the Sun Bowl. Thomas, probably the most talented player on the field, was once considered a first rounder. However, after a senior season full of turmoil, he'll need a big game and a lot of fast talking to convince NFL personnel to take a chance on him.

Thomas tested positive for marijuana twice over a four-week period, and was later kicked off the Florida Gators for violating terms of his reinstatement.

On the field Thomas is an impact interior lineman. He has a quick burst off the line of scrimmage and his combination of strength, agility, and determination make him hard to stop.

Ikaika Alama-Francis injured in Hula Bowl

University of Hawaii defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the first half of Sunday's Hula Bowl. It's unknown whether he will require surgery or not. Either way, he is in jeopardy of missing the NFL scouting combine.

Alama-Francis has seen his stock rise significantly over the course of the last few months. He is a raw talent with excellent athleticism.

He finished the 2006 season with 10 TFL and 4 sacks. Alama-Francis was an All-State basketball player who spent his first year at UH on the basketball team, before switching to football in his sophomore season.

He has gradually added bulk to his 6-foot-6 frame, going from 215 to 290 in three seasons. His father, Joe Francis, was a backup quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.

Dorsey staying at LSU for senior year

LSU junior defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey will return for his senior season. Dorsey was expected to be a high first round selection had he entered the draft.

Gator decisions: Caldwell, Moss, Nelson, Smith

Four underclassmen for the National Champion Florida Gators announced their decisions on Friday. Wide receiver Andre Caldwell announced he will return to Florida while defensive end Jarvis Moss, safety Reggie Nelson and cornerback Ryan Smith will enter the NFL draft.

Nelson, an attacking safety with big time play-making ability, finished the season with six interceptions. He's expected to be a first round pick.

Moss is an athletic end who will be coveted by NFL teams for his pass-rushing abilities. He finished the 2006 season with 7.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hurries.

Smith, a talented but tiny corner, led the Gators with 8 interceptions.

Branch headed to the NFL

Michigan defensive tackle Alan Branch announced he will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft. Branch is expected to be a high first round pick and could be the first defensive tackle selected.

Frank Okam to return for senior season

Texas defensive tackle Frank Okam announced that he will not enter the NFL draft and instead return for his senior season. Okam, a preseason All-American, had a disappointing junior year with 37 tackles, two sacks, and six tackles for loss. He should improve his stock with another season at Texas and could be a first round pick in 2008.

Branch not in class, expected to enter the draft

Michigan defensive tackle Alan Branch is expected to enter the NFL draft after reports he hasn't registered for any spring classes.

Branch could be a top ten pick in April's draft. The 6-6, 330 pound tackle is immovable on the inside of the defensive line. His size and strength allows him to hold his ground and clog running lanes. Branch is also a very good athlete for his size and shows the ability to get around blocks.

Georgia's Ware and Johnson to skip senior season

Georgia coach Mark Richt announced Monday that defensive end Charles Johnson and running back Danny Ware will forego their senior seasons and enter the NFL Draft.

Johnson finished the season with 7.5 sacks and should be drafted on the first day, possibly as a first rounder.

Ware was a backup running back and will be lucky to get drafted.

Who is Ikaika Alama-Francis?

One NFL draft prospect you might not be familiar with is Ikaika Alama-Francis. Kiper recently ranked Alama-Francis, a defensive end from Hawaii, as his 24th best senior prospect.

Alama-Francis is a raw talent with excellent athleticism. He finished the 2006 season with 10 TFL and 4 sacks. Alama-Francis was an All-State basketball player who spent his first year at UH on the basketball team, before switching to football in his sophomore season. He has gradually added bulk to his 6-foot-6 frame, going from 215 to 290 in three seasons. His father, Joe Francis, was a backup quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.

Branch still undecided about NFL draft

Michigan defensive tackle Alan Branch is still undecided on whether to enter the draft or return to Michigan for his senior season. While most expect Branch to enter the 2007 NFL draft, where he could be a top ten pick, Branch doesn't sound too sure.

"This semester, I had a lot of fun. Going to the pros, that's a grown-up world, and I don't know if I'm ready for that now," Branch said.

Eleven defensive linemen now in Kiper's top 25

Mel Kiper now lists eleven defensive lineman in his top 25 seniors. Gaines Adams, Amobi Okoye, Quinn Pitcock, Adam Carriker, DeMarcus Tyler, Turk McBride, LaMarr Woodley, Tim Crowder, Anthony Spencer, Quentin Moses, and Ikaika Alama-Francis are all highly ranked by Kiper. The list doesn't include juniors Alan Branch and Frank Okam who could be up with the best of the lineman if they declared. Should be a deep draft for defensive lineman.

Florida juniors consider NFL draft

Four University of Florida underclassmen have sent in paperwork to the NFL's Draft Advisory Committee to see where they would project to go in April's draft. Linebacker Brandon Siler, wide receiver Andre Caldwell, defensive end Jarvis Moss, and safety Reggie Nelson are all considering the 2007 NFL draft.

According to previous reports, Nelson will enter the draft and should be a first round selection. It's unknown at this time what the other three will do. Purely speculation, but expect Siler and Caldwell to go pro and Moss to return.

Stanley Doughty going pro

University of South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier confirmed Junior nose tackle Stanley Doughty is going pro.

"He's free to go. He's not here," Spurrier said. "He's going pro. We haven't seen him in a couple days. He's out. He's gone."

The 6-foot, 331-pound Doughty started just 3 games this season for USC and was in and out of the coaches' doghouse all year because of his weight and questionable work ethic. He finished the year with 17 tackles and no sacks. Doughty isn't an elite prospect and reports of his poor work ethic will only hurt his draft stock.

Carriker enters Kiper's top ten

Nebraska defensive end Adam Carriker is now rated #8 on Mel Kiper's latest big board. Carriker is an interesting blend of talent. He has excellent size (6-6 295) and strength, but also has speed and athleticism you normally don't see in someone his size. Carriker has been a productive pass rusher in college, and knows how to get to the quarterback. He had 15.5 sacks over the last two seasons.

Gaines Adams happy with decision to stay

Senior defensive end Gaines Adams, who considered leaving Clemson early for the 2006 NFL draft, finished the season with 10½ sacks and a selection as a first-team All-American. He also improved his draft stock dramatically and is regarded by most scouts as a top 10 pick for the 2007 NFL draft. Needless to say, he is very happy with his decision to stay for his senior season. "This feels great," Adams said. "It shows that I made the right decision coming back."

USC's Jackson to return for senior season

USC defensive end Lawrence Jackson told Trojans coach Pete Carroll on Thursday he would return for his senior season. Jackson, who was a preseason All-American, had a disappointing season, recording just four sacks. He will likely improve his draft status by returning for another year.

Amobi Okoye Moves into Kiper's Top 10

Mel Kiper's latest big board of the top 25 seniors has Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye listed at number eight. Okoye may be the ideal nose tackle. He is built low to the ground, and stays low, making it hard for defenders to get under his pads. Combined with his bulk and his strength, he is immovable on the interior. He is powerful at the point of attack and can push lineman around clogging running lanes on the inside.

DeMarcus Tyler's Draft Stock on the Rise

DeMarcus Tyler, nicknamed the tank, is a road block on NC State's defensive line. The 305-pound senior defensive tackle, has 42 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss. Scouts are taking notice of Tyler's play and he's shooting up draft boards. He'll battle Quinn Pitcock to be the first senior defensive tackle selected in the 2007 NFL draft.

Virginia's Chris Long to Stay for Senior Year

Virginia defensive end Chris Long announced he has no intentions of skipping his senior season and entering the NFL Draft. The junior has had a great season this year with 43 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 16 quarterback pressures and 4 sacks, all while drawing plenty of double teams.

Gators Talented Juniors Could Go Pro

Urban Meyer commented on Florida's talented juniors on defense, saying ''If you're a first-rounder, you've got to go (to the NFL)''. Safety Reggie Nelson, linebacker Brandon Siler and defensive end Jarvis Moss are projected to be high picks if they decide to leave.

Ray McDonald's Stock is Soaring

Florida's Ray McDonald is shooting up draft boards after his excellent play this season. Scouts were down on McDonald after a knee injury in 2005, but he's proving healthy and dominating on Florida's defense. McDonald can play defensive end or tackle and will be a first rounder with a successful post-season (Senior Bowl, Combine, Pro Day).