Tebow? McFadden? Who wants to go pro!?

It’s that time of year again… speculation as to who will coach where next year, who deserves the Heisman, who got shafted in the BCS…

And who might go into the NFL Draft… *cue dramatic music*

Now, I mention Tim Tebow and Darren McFadden because they have been the most notable underclassmen this season. Will they go? Who will go? Who knows…

Tim Tebow won’t go. That’s for sure. He’s done amazing things as a sophomore. And he’s eligible. But it wouldn’t serve him well to enter the draft. The knock on him has been his throwing motion. He’s done extremely well for himself, but he could use a year or two to clean that up. I see him in the same boat as Vince Young. Both big guys. Both runners. Both good passers with bad form. If the comparison holds true, Tebow’s future looks really good. Plus, could he possibly be the first 3-time Heisman winner? I dunno, just putting that out there… But, as was pointed out to me, Tebow’s not eligible for the draft yet, anyway. Gotta be 3 years out of HS, not 2. Unless he wants to Maurice Clarett it. And we all know how that turned out…

Darren McFadden is an NFL scouts dream. If he declares, he will go high. Depending on need, he may even go at number one. But I’m sure Miami wouldn’t think twice about snatching him up — much like New Orleans taking Reggie Bush with Deuce McAllister still around. With Houston Nutt now gone and the program in definite transition, it would make sense for McFadden to make the jump. It comes down to what he personally wants. I think he’s NFL bound.

What about Jonathan Stewart of Oregon? He busted out this season with 1469 yards and 10 TDs. He’s a physical back that also has the ability to break one (88 yards is his long for the year). The problem is he couldn’t find the endzone in the last three games — the games that Dennis Dixon sat out. Whether that was due to Stewart’s own injury that he suffered against Arizona or because Dixon’s presence opened up space, we do not know. He’ll be a good NFL back some day, but he’d probably be best suited to come back for another go-round with the Ducks to prove he can get it done consistently.

West Virginia RB Steve Slaton goes in the same boat with Stewart. He was non-existent without Pat White on the field. We know he’s got great speed. But the focus of the Mountaineer offense is definitely on Pat White. For some odd reason Slaton only got the ball 9 times against Pitt and 13 times against South Florida. I’m not sure why he’s not getting the ball, but, for that reason, he may be better served to jump to the NFL. He’s a fast runner that can catch some passes out of the backfield. If he’s not getting the ball for the Mountaineers, he will on a pro team. It’d be a shame if he ends up putting up his best numbers in his sophomore season.

Then again… there was a great Mountaineer running back who came out early by the name of Amos Zereoue. Amos who?

At any rate, chances are he’ll stay with White to try to get that elusive national title. As long as those two are around and West Virginia stays in the Big East, it’s possible. Plus, he needs to end his college career on a strong note. 1100 yards rushing isn’t bad, but nothing compared to the 1800 he’s capable of.

Let the speculation continue! I’m sure there are a handful of guys I haven’t mentioned. Feel free to throw some out there on the comments.