Minnesota Vikings 2006 Draft coverage and picks. A round by round list of the teams 2006 draft picks and a profile of each player.
Minnesota Vikings 2006 Draft order is as follows:
Round 1: 17
Round 2: 16 (48)
Round 2: 19 (51) (From Miami)
Round 2: 32 (64) (From Pittsburgh)
Round 4: 30 (127) (From Indianapolis through Philadelphia)
Round 5: 16 (149)
Chad Greenway | Cedric Griffin | Ryan Cook | Travaris Jackson | Ray Edwards | Greg Blue | Rookie Free Agents
Round 1, Pick 17
CHAD GREENWAY
Outside Linebacker
University of Iowa Hawkeyes
#18
6:02.1-242
Mt. Vernon, South Dakota
Mt. Vernon High School
OVERVIEW
Regarded by many as one of the finest athletes in the 2006 NFL Draft,
Greenway has drawn comparisons to former Colts standout Duane Bickett, as he
quietly but consistently produced big plays. A smart player with excellent
instincts, he brings a very good blend of lateral range, size and speed on
the football field. He demonstrates superb pass coverage skills, as he has
the quickness to stay with receivers on deep routes.
Greenway was not heavily recruited coming out of Mt. Vernon High School,
where the team was so small that they played eight-man football. He was a
three-time South Dakota All-State performer, earning first-team accolades as
a junior and senior and third-team honors as a sophomore. Greenway was named
Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior and was also selected Argus Leader
and Sports Max Player of the Year. He earned first team All-Conference
honors for three-straight seasons and garnered MVP honors while serving as
team captain as a sophomore, junior, and senior.
Greenway competed at quarterback and free safety and returned punts and
kickoffs, helping his prep team win two consecutive state titles as a junior
and senior. He carried 364 times for 3,118 yards and completed 171-of-290
passes for 2,572 yards. On defense, Greenway recorded 407 tackles and 23
interceptions. As a senior, he hit on 62-of-114 passes for 1,147 yards and
rushed for 1,320 yards. He also made 132 tackles and four interceptions that
season. In addition to football, he also lettered in basketball, baseball
and track. He won four different events in the 2000 Iowa state track meet,
including a 49' triple jump and a 14.0-second 110-meter hurdle.
Iowa was the only Division I school to recruit Greenway, and he spent the
2001 season as a redshirt for the Hawkeyes. A knee injury that required
reconstructive surgery during the spring kept Greenway out of the first four
games of the 2002 season. In eight games, he posted 15 tackles (8 solos) in
eight contests.
The 2003 season began a string of 38 consecutive starts at weak-side outside
linebacker for Greenway. He earned second-team All-Big Ten Conference
honors, as he finished second on the squad with 132 tackles (77 solos), two
sacks, eleven stops for losses and six pass deflections.
Greenway was a first-team All-American choice by Pro Football Weekly in
2004. He again ranked second on the team with 113 tackles (71 solos), adding
three sacks and eight stops behind the line of scrimmage. He caused and
recovered a fumble, batted away five passes and intercepted three others for
54 yards in returns and a touchdown.
Greenway was again selected first-team All-American. He shared team MVP
honors with fellow linebacker Abdul Hodge, as Greenway ranked fourth in the
nation in tackles per game (13.0) and Hodge ranked third nationally (13.2).
He registered a career-high 156 tackles (95 solos) with two sacks and ten
stops for losses. He also intercepted a pass and deflected eight others. His
156 hits rank third on the school's season-record list.
In 45 games at Iowa, Greenway started 38 times. He finished his career
ranked fifth in school history with 416 tackles (251 solos). Greenway had
seven sacks for minus 19 yards and 29 stops for losses of 73 yards. He
caused two fumbles, recovered another and blocked two kicks. He deflected 20
passes and gained 70 yards and a touchdown on four interceptions.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a lean physique with a tight waist, good
bubble, adequate muscle tone, thick legs and a frame that can carry
additional bulk with no loss in quickness...Has the quickness to make plays
in pursuit and has that high motor to chase down the ball and get involved
down field...Has superb balance and balance on the move, showing a sudden
burst to close and the flexibility to quickly redirect...Keeps his feet
under him when changing direction and generates good explosion behind his
hits...Quick to read and react to the play, having a good feel for blocking
schemes and a very quick take-off to beat offensive tackles up
field...Accelerates immediately to turn the corner and locates and tracks
the ball with no hesitation...Does a good job of slipping off blocks and is
quick to fill the inside rush lanes...Very good chase player who plays with
leverage, taking on blockers with good lower body strength...Stays low in
his pads and attacks with good leg drive to neutralize the lead blockers
when attempting to fill the run lanes...Has the range to run
sideline-to-sideline...Has the functional hand strength to lock on, pull and
jerk blockers to the ground...Shows the proper hand placement and extension
to keep blockers off his body...Solid tackler who brings his arms to wrap
and secure, showing enough pop upon contact to rock the ball carrier
back...Has the hip flexibility and range to string plays out and his
redirection agility lets him take away the cutback lanes...Good at "getting
small" to slip past blocks and get through traffic to make plays in the
backfield... Effective face-up tackler, but is best when breaking down plays
in the open field...Has the loose hips and acceleration to cover receivers
past the short area...Looks fluid coming out his backpedal, demonstrating
the loose hips to turn and close on the ball...Takes good angles in pursuit
and keeps his pad level down to gain position...Has the natural hands and
excellent leaping ability to intercept the pass at its highest point...Good
blitzer who has the speed to get on and edge of an offensive tackle and when
he gets into the back-field, he takes dead aim on the
quarterback...Disruptive in backside pursuit.
Negatives: Has an athletic frame, but only adequate muscle
definition...Good at taking on in-line blocks, but can be washed out when he
gets too high in his stance...Has good recovery speed, but needs to improve
his stop-and-go action, as he will gather when out-running a play...Gets too
narrow with his base when trying to slip through blocks and will struggle to
shed once a bigger blocker locks on to him...Has a thick lower frame, but
can be pushed back off the ball, as he lacks a solid anchor...Better on the
move than when having to stack and control...Will try to run around blocks
than take on the opponent... Plays with an even tempo, but needs to show
more aggression, especially when taking on blocks...Has good pursuit speed,
but must develop better rip/swim moves as a pass rusher.
Greenway is a high-cut athlete with a lean, angular frame. He has good lower
body thickness, but plays with a narrow base, which causes him to get washed
out when trying to shoot the inside gaps. He has the functional strength to
engage blockers, but sometimes prefers to elude and take the long route to
the ball rather than initiate contact. He plays with a steady tempo, but
you'd wish he would be more aggressive, especially when taking on blockers.
Greenway uses his hands well to get placement and times his leaps to get to
the ball at its high point. He has the lateral range to string out plays and
the sideline range that makes him look effortless closing on the ball. He
has the loose hips to come out of his backpedal quickly and the valid speed
to mirror the receivers on deep routes.
Greenway has the speed to flush out the quarterback, but sometimes gets out
of control during the chase and will over-pursue. A lack of plant-and-drive
agility prevents him from recovering quickly when he out-runs the action.
Even for a player his size, he can sink his hips and keeps his pads low to
wrap and secure as a tackler. When he gets too high in his pads, coupled
with his narrow base, he struggles to shed and can be neutralized by double
team action.
Greenway is more of a chaser than a closer as a pass rusher. He is not used
much on the blitz, but can slip off blocks and squeeze through tight
quarters. He is very gifted athletically, but not as much of a playmaker as
his statistics indicate (more plays are made in pursuit than stepping up to
fill and initiate contact). He has the hand usage to defeat the lead block,
but must do so at a low pad level or he will get pushed back.
Teams looking for consistency, will certainly be interested in Greenway. He
does have some high mileage on his surgically repaired knee, but has played
relatively problem-free the last three years. Even with his lofty tackles,
this is not a heat-seeking missile in the Derrick Brooks mold, but a safe
pick for a team looking for a steady, yet unspectacular performer.
INJURY REPORT
2002: Underwent reconstructive right knee surgery in May to repair a torn
anterior cruciate ligament suffered during spring drills...Missed the team's
first four games vs. Akron, Miami (Oh.), Iowa State and Utah State.
2004: Bothered in October by pubic symphysis (pubic symphysis, or Symphysis
pubis, is the midline cartilaginous joint uniting the superior rami of the
left and right pubic bones (pubis). It is located anterior to the urinary
bladder and superior to the external genitalia for females it is above the
vulva and for males it is above the penis. In males, the suspensory ligament
of the penis attaches to the pubic symphysis).
CAREER NOTES
Ranks fifth in school history with 416 tackles, topped only by Larry Station
(492, 1982-85), Andre Jackson (465, 1972-75), Abdul Hodge (453, 2002-05) and
Brad Quast (435, 1986-89)... His 156 tackles in 2005 rank third on the
school's season record list behind Hodge (158 in 2005) and Jackson (171 in
1972)...Posted 95 solo hits in 2005, the third-best season total in Iowa
annals behind Hodge (98 in 2005) and Tom Rusk (105 in 1977)...His 251 solo
tackles rank fourth in school history, topped only by Station (308), Hodge
(288) and Jackson (275)...Recorded at least ten tackles in a game 25 times
during his career.
AGILITY TESTS
Campus: 4.54 in the 40-yard dash...341-pound bench press...443-pound
squat...345-pound power clean...39-inch vertical jump...32 1/4-inch arm
length...9 1/2-inch hands...Right-handed... Wears contacts...29/40 Wonderlic
score.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Mt. Vernon (S.D.) High School, playing football for head coach
Myron Steffen... The team was so small that they played eight-man
football...Three-time South Dakota All-State performer, earning first-team
accolades as a junior and senior and third-team honors as a
sophomore...Named Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior and was also
selected Argus Leader and Sports Max Player of the Year...Earned first team
All-Conference honors for three-straight seasons and garnered MVP honors
while serving as team captain as a sophomore, junior, and senior...Competed
at quarterback and free safety and returned punts and kickoffs, helping his
prep team win two consecutive state titles as a junior and senior...Carried
364 times for 3,118 yards and completed 171-of-290 passes for 2,572
yards...On defense, Greenway recorded 407 tackles and 23 interceptions...As
a senior, he hit on 62-of-114 passes for 1,147 yards and rushed for 1,320
yards...Also made 132 tackles and four interceptions that season...In
addition to football, he also lettered in basketball, baseball and
track...Won four different events in the 2000 Iowa state track meet,
including a 49' triple jump and a 14.0-second 110-meter hurdle.
PERSONAL
Communication Studies major...Son of Julie and Alan Greenway...Born
1/12/83...Resides in Mt. Vernon, South Dakota.
Round 2, Pick 48
CEDRIC GRIFFIN
Free Safety/Cornerback
University of Texas Longhorns
#8
6:00.3-203
San Antonio, Texas
Holmes High School
OVERVIEW
Griffin has been overshadowed by more heralded Longhorns the last few years,
but ask any Texas coach who is the most important piece of their defense and
they will cite the versatility, athleticism and veteran leadership Griffin
possesses. The three-year starter can play any position in the defensive
backfield and is a proven kamikaze on special teams.
At Holmes High School, Griffin was an All-State Class 5A defensive back in
2000, and he also excelled as a wide receiver. He recorded 26 tackles and
seven interceptions at cornerback and caught eight passes for 202 yards,
including two touchdowns as a senior. He also rushed for 198 yards, had a
90-yard kickoff return and returned a pair of punts for 95 yards against
Taft High.
As a junior, Griffin collected 76 tackles with three interceptions (two
returned for scores) and fourteen pass deflections. He lettered three times
as a sprinter/hurdler in track, winning the District 26-5A title in the
300-meter hurdles as a junior.
Griffin spent the 2001 season performing at cornerback on Texas' scout team.
He appeared in every game in 2002, sharing the team's Most Improved
Defensive Player Award as he started three games at strong safety and
another three at nickel back. Griffin collected a career-high 69 tackles (38
solos) with a 13-yard sack, three stops for losses and four quarterback
pressures. He also caused two fumbles and deflected four passes.
Griffin started every game in 2003 at right cornerback, in addition to
performing on special teams. He posted 48 tackles (31 solos) with a stop
behind the line of scrimmage and a pressure. Griffin also intercepted a
pass, deflected seven others and returned a blocked punt 8 yards.
Griffin earned All-Big Twelve Conference mention in 2003 after starting
every game at right cornerback. He finished fifth on the team with 68
tackles (53 solos), including three stops behind the line of scrimmage. He
caused and recovered a fumble, batted away six passes and intercepted two
others. Twenty-six of his tackles came in run support.
The 2005 season began slowly for Griffin, but he rebounded finish with a
career-high 78 tackles, including 48 solo. He added one tackle for a loss of
two yards, a team-high fifteen pass breakups two forced fumbles and a fumble
recovery. He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a well-developed frame with added bulk and
strength since his junior year...Possesses long arms and good timing to be a
disruptive factor deflecting the pass...Quick to read, diagnose and react to
the plays in front of him...Does a good job of challenging and baiting the
quarterback when playing off the man in zone coverage, showing a good
forward burst to close...Has a smooth stride dropping back and gaining
position in zone coverage...Has the range to close on the ball and make
plays along the perimeter...Excellent down hill performer who is quick to
fill the rush lanes...Uses his hands well to reroute and press receivers at
the line...Also active with his hands in attempts to shed blocks and make
plays in back-side pursuit...Strong tackler who will strike with authority
in the open field...Better playing the ball than in man coverage due to his
ability to recognize blocking schemes and not bite on fakes or play-action.
Negatives: Needs complete backpedal technique overhaul...Uses
a shuffle-and-bail technique and lacks good hip snap to turn suddenly in
transition...Will not stay in his pedal for long and gets up on his heels
some when trying to plant and drive...Needs to shadow and trail the receiver
better in man coverage, as he allows too much cushion and does not have the
second gear needed to recover...Hits with good urgency, but needs to sharpen
his angles to get a better break on the ball...Lacks natural hands to make
the interception, looking uncomfortable extending for the pass away from the
body's frame.
Griffin has a well-defined frame and worked hard during the off-season to
improve his overall strength, adding close to fifteen pounds of bulk to his
frame in the process. He has very good upper body development, long arms,
good bubble and well-proportioned legs.
The thing that separates Griffin from most college defensive backs is his
keen understanding of the game and the knowledge of his teammates'
assignments. He is quick to read the quarterback and is not the type who
will bite on fakes. He has a very good feel for the receiver through route
progressions, doing a nice job in off coverage to bait the quarterback into
throwing into his area.
In 2005, he showed better man coverage ability, but still needs to mirror
the receiver rather than allow such a big cushion on plays in front of him.
Griffin has good quickness and a smooth running stride, but utilizes a
shuffle-and-bail technique in his backpedal that causes him to take false
steps and lose some relationship with the receiver coming out of his breaks.
His hips appear too stiff to shadow and trail effectively on deep routes, as
he fails to show plant-and-drive agility to break on the ball in an instant.
His footwork has improved during his senior year, but he can still be late
getting position in off coverage.
Griffin might be better suited to play safety at the pro level due to
marginal man coverage skills, but also because of his ability to get good
depth in his pass drops to make plays on the ball in front of him. He can be
very physical using his hands in attempts to press and reroute the receivers
at the line of scrimmage.
When playing the deep zone, Griffin is quick to react to the ball, showing
good urgency and some burst closing. However, he will take rounded angles in
pursuit and does not have the second gear needed to recover when the
receiver is able to gain a step on him. He has decent leaping ability, but
must do a better job of timing his jumps in order to get to the ball at its
high point. However, he is very capable of using his long arms to reach
around and deflect the ball away from the receiver without being caught by
the referees.
While he has a good amount of pass break-ups, he does not have the natural
hands needed to make the interception. He does show good concentration
looking the ball in, but will double catch too often, resulting in dropped
balls.
Another reason for a possible move to safety is Griffin's run support
skills. He uses his hands well to protect his body and slip off blocks when
playing down hill. He is a solid face-up tackler who will generally get his
man down in the open. Of his 109 tackles over the last two years, 42 have
come in run support. While Griffin will revert to arm tackling at times, he
has the leg drive and power to lock on and drag the ballcarrier down.
Griffin has the size and strength to play the physical aspect the game
demands from a cornerback, but might not have enough timed speed or
backpedal technique to be a consistent man coverage defender. His run
support skills, size and ability to get down hill and make plays inside the
box could be better suited with a move to free safety at the next level.
INJURY REPORT
No injuries reported.
CAREER NOTES
Started 37 consecutive games the past three seasons and finished his career
with 43 starts in 50 games at Texas...Recorded 267 tackles (165 solo) in his
collegiate career, adding three interceptions, 32 pass breakups, five forced
fumbles and a fumble recovery. ...In 2002, Griffin became the first Longhorn
ever to return a blocked field goal for a touchdown, when he took one back
56 yards at Tulane that year.
AGILITY TESTS
Campus: 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash...32-inch vertical jump...32
1/8-inch arm length...9 3/8-inch arm length.
Combine: 4.54 and 4.63 seconds in the 40-yard dash. ... benched 225 pounds
17 times. ... 35 1/2-inch vertical leap. ... 10'2" broad jump.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Holmes (San Antonio, Tex.) High School, playing football for head
coach David Sanchez...All-State Class 5A defensive back in 2000...Also
excelled as a wide receiver... Recorded 26 tackles and seven interceptions
at cornerback and caught eight passes for 202 yards, including two
touchdowns as a senior...Also rushed for 198 yards, had a 90-yard kickoff
return and returned a pair of punts for 95 yards against Taft High...As a
junior, Griffin collected 76 tackles with three interceptions (two returned
for scores) and fourteen pass deflections...Lettered three times as a
sprinter/hurdler in track, winning the District 26-5A title in the 300-meter
hurdles as a junior.
PERSONAL
Youth and Community Studies major...Very active in the Longhorns' community
service program...Serves as a mentor at local elementary and middle
schools...Lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, until he was nine years old and
moved to California for a year before relocating to San Antonio when he was
ten...Born Cedric Leonard Griffin on 11/11/82 in Natchez,
Mississippi...Resides in San Antonio, Texas.
Round 2, Pick 51
RYAN COOK
Offensive Center/Guard
University of New Mexico Lobos
#63
6:06.5-328
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Cibola High School
OVERVIEW
The former walk-on has been a model of consistency for the Lobos. Cook is a
powerfully built athlete with a team-first attitude and a strong desire to
improve. He holds the school record in the power clean, but it is his
leadership, character and work ethic that match up to his blue chip
production on the field.
The two-time All-Mountain West Conference selection has made tremendous
improvement to his overall power base due to tireless work in the New Mexico
training room. He has produced 303 knockdown blocks and has never allowed an
opponent to record more than three tackles in any of his 32 games as a
starter.
The Cibola High School standout lettered three times in football during his
prep days. He earned second-team All-State and first-team All-City honors as
a senior, adding second-team All-City accolades as a junior. He played in
New Mexico's annual North/South all-star game, but was not recruited coming
out of high school.
Upon joining New Mexico as a walk-on, he sat out the 2001 season as a
redshirt. A foot injury during 2002 spring camp would limit him early in the
campaign, but by the seventh game of the season vs. Nevada-Las Vegas, Cook
forced the coaches to insert him into the starting lineup at center, with
former starter Justin Colburn shifting to offensive tackle. Cook would
produce 69 knockdowns while starting the final eight games of 2002.
The following year, Cook dominated the action in the trenches, earning
first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors. He registered 114 knockdowns
and led the way as the Lobos ranked second in the conference and sixteenth
in the nation with an average of 210.0 yards per game rushing. He was again
accorded All-MWC first-team recognition in 2004. He came up with 120
knockdowns and led NCAA Division 1-A centers with a very impressive 93.1
percent grade for blocking consistency.
In 38 games, Cook earned 32 starts. To date, he has collected 303 knockdowns
and graded over 96 percent for blocking assignments and over 87 percent for
blocking technique for New Mexico. He has allowed only 1.5 sacks in the last
two years and averaged 9.36 knockdown blocks per game in his last 25
contests.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a barrel chest, broad shoulders, long arms,
powerful hands, wide waist and hips, good bubble and thick thighs and
calves...Shows good initial quickness to gain position coming off the
snap...Uses his hand punch effectively to shock and control defenders when
working at the line of scrimmage...Slides his feet fluidly and has the power
to sustain blocks working in pass protection...Strong drive blocker who
stays low in his pads, keeping his feet flat and base wide to gain
leverage...Exhibits sudden force with his hands and has exceptional strength
for drive blocks...Gets good movement off the ball in short yardage
situations and does a very good job of working with his guards to neutralize
the defensive tackles...His pass set, kick slide and short hand punch stops
pass rushers instantly...Can mirror and slide effectively working down the
line...Combines hand strength with proper usage and technique to quickly
lock on and steer the defender off the ball...Does a very good job of
protecting the pocket, showing fluid moves in his slide and above average
lateral movement to defeat the stunts, dogs and delayed blitzes... Plays
with good desire and aggression...Best working at the line of scrimmage, as
he has the change of direction skills and feet to stay up and drive his man
off the play...Shows very good incline adjusting to games and twists on the
move...Strong at the point of attack and rarely yields ground...Comes off
the snap with ease and has enough functional short area speed to impact at
the edge, turn up and seal off the defender.
Negatives: Hard to judge as a trap blocker, as the New Mexico
system does not utilize the center to work in this area...Used to duck his
head some on initial contact, but showed the last two years that he can play
with his head up, showing the recovery skills to get back in position and
sustain his blocks...Has good short area speed, but needs to take shorter
angles when blocking in space to compensate for a lack of blazing timed
speed...Will sometimes fail to locate linebackers in the second level, but
does make a determined effort...Has made remarkable strides in the weight
room to tone down his frame and add strength, but is best when playing in
the 320-325 range (played at 339 pounds as a sophomore).
Cook is a rare-sized athlete for his position. He is taller than most
centers, but he demonstrates the flat feet and knee bend to maintain balance
and body control coming off the snap. He has above average playing strength
and adequate timed speed. Cook shows good explosion and power driving off
the line. He stays on his feet well when moving around to help out his
guards and is a very active center with a bone-jarring hand punch.
Cook gets proper hand placement and reacts to stunts and blitzes well. He
gets into position in order to sustain and while he is not used much in the
second level, he has the awareness to locate linebackers working up field.
He could do a better job of shortening his angles when working in space, but
is an effective short area trap blocker who shows the recovery skills to
quickly get back into position.
Cook moves his feet well for a player of his size, as he can pull, scope and
reach block effectively. He plays with a very aggressive attitude and is
physical taking on his opponent (won't try to finesse, preferring to maul).
He has nimble feet that are evident in his pass protection slide. He comes
off the snap with his hands on the rise to lock on and control. He
consistently finds ways to eliminate the defensive linemen from the play.
When he stays low in his pads, Cook gets off the ball quickly and that
allows him to make the reach block on the defensive tackle that lines up
over the head of the offensive guard. He demonstrates good natural
flexibility, bending his knees and playing over himself with good leverage
while showing the athletic ability to ride his opponent wide.
Cook does a good job of getting body position off the ball and using his
power to hold ground firmly vs. the straight-line pass rushers. He is also
very capable of sealing and walling off on run blocks. Cook is a
fire-off-the ball drive blocker who consistently eliminates his man from the
play. He is effective on mini-pulls and blocking linebackers on
quick-hitting screen passes, but needs to get through to the second level
better.
He has the feet to slide and shuffle side-to-side in pass protection and
this agility allows him to adjust to pass rush moves with ease. He is not
the type of center who looks flashy on the field, but is very capable of
physically dominating the defensive tackles across from him. His good set
and punch, combined with strength, long arms and strong, quick usage of his
hands allows him to control and gain separation consistently.
His knee bend and flexibility are shown when he adjusts with his lateral
slide to move or change direction. He can dominate as a drive blocker or in
pass protection and is the type who will give steady effort until the
whistle. For a man of his size, he is much more nimble than most. With his
long arms, strong hands and aggressive style of play, he could provide
immediate dividends at the pro level.
INJURY REPORT
2002: Suffered a foot injury in spring camp that would keep him on the
sidelines for the first three games of the season vs. North Carolina State,
Weber State and Air Force.
CAREER NOTES
The unquestioned leader of the Lobos' front wall, Cook's total understanding
of blocking assignments has also seen him perform at strong-side offensive
tackle...He holds the school power clean record (352 pounds)...The first
Lobo to be named first-team All-Mountain West Conference three times
...Credited with 303 knockdown blocks in 38 games for the Lobos, earning the
nickname "the Hitman" from his teammates...Averaged 9.36 knockdowns per game
over the last two seasons...Originally joined the team as a walk-on, earning
a full scholarship in the fall of 2002.
AGILITY TESTS
Campus: 5.28 in the 40-yard dash...425-pound bench press...565-pound
squat...352-pound power clean (school record)...360-pound incline press...33
1/2-inch arm length...9 5/8-inch hands...Right-handed...17/24 Wonderlic
score.
Combine: 5.47-second 40-yard dash. ... 28 reps at 225 pounds. ... 26
1/2-inch vertical jump. ... 8'1" broad jump. ... 4.67 shuttle run. ...
7.93-second three-cone drill.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Cibola (Albuquerque, N.M.) High School, lettering in football three
times while playing for coach Ben Schultz...Earned second-team All-State and
first-team All-City honors as a senior, adding second-team All-City
accolades as a junior...Played in New Mexico's annual North/South all-star
game.
PERSONAL
General Business Management major...Son of Vicki and Rick Cook...Younger
brother, Erik, was a freshman offensive tackle and teammate at New Mexico in
2005...Born 5/08/83 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Top
Round 2, Pick 64
TARVARIS JACKSON
Quarterback
Alabama State University Hornets
#7
6:02.0-226
Montgomery, Alabama
University of Arkansas
Sidney Lanier High School
OVERVIEW
One of the most unheralded athletes in college football, pro teams are
enamored by the impressive velocity and perimeter passing ability Jackson
displays. While he is certainly not a finished product, many agree that
Jackson has as much upside as any quarterback in the 2006 NFL Draft class.
At Sidney Lanier High School, Super Prep rated Jackson the 25th-best
prospect in the state of Alabama. He served as team captain, garnering
All-Metro honors as a senior, and honorable mention All-State recognition as
a junior and senior. He led the team to a 9-2 record during his final season
while competing as a quarterback and defensive back.
In 2000, Jackson passed for 1,516 yards and ten touchdowns, rushed for 496
yards and seven scores and recorded 28 tackles. During his junior season, he
gained 965 yards with three touchdowns passing, 535 yards and three more
touchdowns on the ground and recorded 69 tackles on defense. He added 516
yards and three passing touchdowns while gaining 30 yards rushing during his
sophomore year.
Jackson decided to enroll at the University of Arkansas in 2001, choosing
the Razorbacks over West Virginia, Louisiana State and Alabama (other
schools wanted him to play defensive back). He saw limited action in three
games that year, gaining 53 yards on 3-of-9 passing with an interception. He
spent most of the 2002 season as a reserve for the Hogs, but did earn his
first career start vs. Auburn. Jackson totaled 143 yards with a touchdown
and two interceptions on 14-of-39 passing (35.9 percent). After the season,
Jackson saw little hope of winning a starting job at Arkansas and decided to
return home, enrolling at Alabama State.
Jackson was an instant hit back in his hometown, connecting on 160 of 316
passes (50.6 percent) for 2,342 yards, 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in
his first year as a starter for the Hornets in 2003. He ranked third on the
team with 444 yards and five scores on 91 carries (4.9 avg) and finished the
year with 2,786 yards in total offense, the sixth-best season total in
school history.
In 2004, Jackson joined Ricky Jones (1991) as the only ASU quarterbacks to
guide the team to ten victories in a season. He completed 182 of 349 passes
for 2,556 yards, 20 touchdowns and only nine interceptions while adding 253
yards and three scores on 65 rushing attempts (3.9 avg). His 2,809 yards in
total offense rank fourth on the school's single-season record list.
Thanks to a record-breaking season by Grambling State quarterback Bruce
Eugene, most of the media attention for Southwestern Athletic Conference
players went to the Tigers' quarterback, but Jackson did gain second-team
All-SWAC honors. He ranked fourth in the nation in points responsible for
(17.45 ppg), sixth in passing efficiency (164.9) and ninth in total offense
(293.2 ypg). He hit on 195 of 320 passes (60.9 percent) for a career-high
2,941 yards, the third-best season total in school history. Jackson threw 29
touchdowns and only five interceptions. He rushed 103 times for 285 yards
(2.8 avg) and three scores, finishing with 3,226 yards in total offense
(only the third player in school annals to gain over 3,000 yards in total
offense during a season).
In 36 games at Alabama State, Jackson started 35 times. He completed 537 of
985 passes (54.5 percent) for 7,839 yards, 67 touchdowns and 27
interceptions. He rushed 259 times for 982 yards (3.8 avg) and eleven
scores, finishing with 8,821 yards in total offense. In eleven games at
Arkansas, he gained 196 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions on 17
of 48 pass attempts. For his complete college career, he played in 47
contests, hitting on 554 of 1,033 passes (53.6 percent) for 8,035 yards, 68
touchdowns and 30 interceptions. He amassed 980 yards and eleven scores on
280 carries (3.5 avg) and picked up 9,015 yards on 1,313 offensive plays.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has good overall muscle development, quick feet and
fluid mobility on the move...Shows good arm strength, generating velocity
and accuracy on his short and intermediate throws when he sets his
feet...Can make the deep out when given time to throw and has good command
of the huddle...Light on his feet and has a compact release...Puts good zip
on his underneath throws and is effective at carrying out fakes... Has the
body control and balance needed to keep his feet when forced to tuck the
ball and run with it...Effective throwing to the sidelines on the move and
shows no wasted motion in his release.
Negatives: Will pull the ball down and run with it when the
pocket is pressured in the past and tried to show more patience in this area
as a senior. However, the result was more sacks, as he seemed to lock on to
his primary target and was then late getting the ball out...Needs to do a
quicker job with his progression reads in order to locate his secondary
receivers... Struggles to read coverages and does not have great
anticipation for the receivers coming out of their breaks (will force the
ball and try to overpower it, making it tough for the receiver to adjust.
The receiver is then in poor position to gain yardage after the
catch)...Misses wide open targets when pressured and lacks pinpoint accuracy
throwing long, as his passes tend to scatter when attempting to go down
field...Not the type to throw into coverage, but while he can gain some
positive yardage, is not really a threat to run long distances when tucking
the ball...Needs to protect the ball better when running with it (had 19
fumbles the last three seasons).
Jackson has a muscular frame, adding over ten pounds of bulk prior to the
2005 season. He is an accurate short-range passer with good strength
stepping up in the pocket, but needs to show more patience when facing the
pass rush. He has good arm strength, but shows better velocity working
underneath than on deep throws, despite the ability to fire the ball long
distances.
Jackson is light on his feet, but must improve his quickness driving back
from center to get to his throwing point. He sometimes holds the ball too
low and this has resulted in several costly fumbles (see 2005 South Carolina
State and Southern University games). In 2005, he showed much better balance
and improved fluidity in his set-up, but will still need to develop better
feet to escape pocket pressure after the snap.
Jackson has a compact and natural release when throwing into the short and
intermediate areas and has now learned how to step into his throws better
than he did in the past. He has a smooth throwing motion when he sets his
feet, but will sometimes revert to a three-quarter sidearm delivery with his
elbow out. He is much more effective when coming over the top with no wasted
motion in his release, as the ball is then in better position to deliver.
There is no question Jackson has valid arm strength, but he needs to vary
the speed on his tosses, as he will fire with too much steam on the ball at
times, making it hard for the receivers to get their hands on it. He puts
air behind the short fade route and was better at taking some velocity off
his short throws in 2005, but when he tries to overpower on his throws, his
targets have to adjust and this puts them in poor position to gain yards
after the catch.
He is capable of throwing from the outside hash on intermediate attempts,
but is still erratic throwing across the middle or when going deep. He can
throw a 30-yard strike, but lacks touch on the deep routes. When pressured,
it seems he tends to miss even the wide-open receivers because of a lack of
awareness of coverages, especially when on the move. With some patient
coaching and technique refinement (bit of a wind-up on deep throws), he
could correct this flaw, but must learn how to keep his receivers on their
routes better when rolling out to throw.
Jackson does not force the ball into traffic much because he is more apt to
run with it than wait patiently in the pocket when pressured. He is still a
work in progress as far as making route progression reads and needs to do a
better job of locating his secondary targets. He carries out fakes well, but
must show more courage stepping up to take a hit when the pocket collapses.
As the 2005 season progressed, he seemed to settle down some and did not
look jittery in the pocket, but the result was 15 of his 24 sacks coming in
the final five games of that campaign.
Jackson does show command in the huddle. He will play with pain and is an
emotional leader, but a fierce pass rush can erase his confidence. Jackson
has the mobility to move around in the pocket and has good speed, but even
with his rushing totals, is really not a threat to go long distances running
with the ball. While he can throw on the run, he is not as accurate as when
he stands in the pocket (has better accuracy from the left hash than the
right).
While he can hit his receivers in stride working underneath, his timing is
off when going long, especially on out patterns. He tends to hold the ball
too long waiting for his primary target to get open and needs to improve his
quickness on progression reads. His long tosses do not come out tight and
his short throws can be hard to catch at times, but with good coaching, he
has the work ethic to develop better timing and anticipation.
Jackson has the size, foot speed and pocket movement to be an effective West
Coast quarterback, but there are mechanical flaws that need to be corrected.
Whether he can develop the quick decision-making, football instincts and
field awareness needed to excel at the fast pace he will find at the next
level will be factors in deciding whether he will be a capable starter or a
camp prospect.
INJURY REPORT
2001: Granted a medical redshirt in September after appearing in the first
three games, due to a left shoulder deep bruise.
2005: Took a hit to the knee early in the second quarter, returned after
missing one play to engineer an offense that would score on the next seven
possessions vs. Jackson State (10/08)...Forced out of the Prairie View A&M
game (10/15) with a left eye injury after taking a shot to the head from a
Prairie View defender. The hit knocked his helmet into his eye and forced
him out of the game for the remainder of the first half. "It just came up
and hit me right in the eye," he said. "After that, I had double vision in
my left eye. It took me until there was about two minutes left in the half
before it got better."
CAREER NOTES
Accounted for 8,035 yards with 68 touchdowns and 30 interceptions on 554 of
1,003 passes (53.6 percent) during 47 games during stops at Arkansas and
Alabama State...In 26 games with the Hornets, his 7,839 yards passing rank
ninth in Southwestern Athletic Conference history and second in school
annals, topped only by Darnell Kennedy (11,753 from 1997-2001)...His 67
touchdowns at ASU rank seventh in conference annals and second in school
history behind Kennedy's 102...Only Kennedy (859-of-1,571) had more pass
completions (537) and pass attempts (985) in a career at Alabama
State...Gained 9,015 yards in total offense during his career, including
8,821 at ASU...His 8,821 yards rank second on the school's career-record
list behind Kennedy's 12,888.
AGILITY TESTS
Campus: 4.68 in the 40-yard dash...375-pound bench press...300-pound power
clean...31 1/2-inch arm length...9 3/8-inch hands...Right-handed...19/30
Wonderlic score.
Combine: 4.66-second 40-yard dash. ... 31 1/2-inch vertical jump. ...
8'11"-inch broad jump. ... Lifted 225 pounds 22 times.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Sidney Lanier (Montgomery, Ala.) High School, playing football for
head coach Robert Fuller...Super Prep rated Jackson the 25th-best prospect
in the state of Alabama... Served as team captain, garnering All-Metro
honors as a senior, and honorable mention All-State recognition as a junior
and senior...Led the team to a 9-2 record during his final season while
competing as a quarterback and defensive back...In 2000, Jackson passed for
1,516 yards and ten touchdowns, rushed for 496 yards and seven scores and
made 28 tackles...During his junior season, he gained 965 yards with three
touchdowns passing, 535 yards and three more touchdowns on the ground and
recorded 69 tackles on defense...Added 516 yards and three aerial touchdowns
while gaining 30 yards rushing during his sophomore year.
PERSONAL
Psychology major...Son of Sasanque Jackson Scott...Born 4/21/83...Resides in
Montgomery, Alabama.
Top
Round 4, Pick 127
RAYMOND "Ray" EDWARDS, Jr.
Defensive End/Outside Linebacker
Purdue University Boilermakers
#10
6:04.7-268
Cincinnati, Ohio
Woodward High School
OVERVIEW
Edwards is an excellent edge rusher with impressive quickness and lateral
agility. He shared strong-side defensive end duties with Rob Ninkovich as a
junior and the tandem combined for 13.5 quarterback sacks and 28 stops
behind the line of scrimmage during the 2005 season.
Edwards was rated the ninth-best player in Ohio and ranked as the 16th-best
strong-side defensive end nationally by Rivals.com as a senior at Woodward
High School. He was a Midwest Top 25 choice by Super Prep and listed as the
No. 14 defensive end by Tom Lemming. He added first-team All-State honors
and was named the league's Player of the Year as a senior linebacker after
recording 110 tackles, including 12 sacks, with seven forced fumbles and
five pass breakups. He had 105 tackles, including 12 sacks, his junior
season. The four-year starter also played tight end.
Edwards was primarily used as a third-down passing specialist as a true
freshman at Purdue in 2003. He was named to the Big Ten Conference
All-Freshman team by The Sporting News after posting ten tackles (7 solos)
with 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. He was a Ted Hendricks Defensive End
of the Year Award semifinalist in 2004, as he totaled 45 tackles (23 solos),
tied for second in the Big Ten with eight sacks and produced eleven stops
for losses. He also caused two fumbles, recovered another and deflected four
passes.
In 2005, he started the first six games at strong-side defensive end before
giving way to Ninkovich the second half of the season. He finished with 28
tackles (22 solos), 5.5 sacks and eleven stops behind the line of scrimmage.
He also intercepted a pass and batted away another.
In 36 games with the Boilermakers, Edwards started eighteen times. He
finished his career with 83 tackles (52 solos), 16 sacks for minus-125 yards
and 24.5 stops for losses of 140 yards. He caused and recovered two fumbles,
picked off a pass and deflected five others.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a lean, linear build with room on his frame to
add needed bulk with no loss of speed...Has long arms, good upper body
muscle tone and broad shoulders...Has some explosion coming off the edge to
gain advantage...In run force, he does an adequate job playing off the tight
end...Flashes the ability to slip past the slower offensive tackles and if
given an unimpeded lane, he can flush out and close on the quarterback in an
instant... Can make plays working down the line, but is best when coming off
the edge...Maintains balance turning the corner and has the burst to chase
down ballcarriers along the perimeter...Has better leverage than
strength...Has the body control and lateral moves to extend and slide
outside.
Negatives: Needs to add lower body strength, as he does not
have the strong base needed to anchor and struggles to defeat double
teams...Not the most instinctive player around and needs to show better ball
location skills...Has the speed to possibly shift to linebacker at the next
level, but lacks the valid instincts and feel for the passing game to be
much of a factor in that role...When he plays too high, blockers easily get
into his body and wash him out of the play...Better player in games than
practices...Will throttle down and give up on the play when his initial move
fails...Lacks rip and club moves needed for the bull rush...Must be more
active with his hands playing off blocks...Has an adequate work ethic and
needs to be pushed to get the best out of his ability (lost starting job
midway through the 2005 season due to inconsistent play).
Edwards has a lean, linear build with room on his frame to add additional
bulk. He has good upper body muscle definition, long arms and tight waist
and hips, but needs to develop better leg strength. He has good quickness,
agility and balance, showing decent knee bend in his rush off the edge and
shows a burst to close on the quarterback.
He consistently moves forward coming off the snap and has the acceleration
to quickly turn the corner. He needs to demonstrate better ball location,
but is improving. He has the loose hips to drop back into the second level,
but lacks the valid instincts to possibly shift to linebacker in a 3-4
alignment. He plays off the tight end well, but struggles when taking
offensive tackles head on. He can make plays in pursuit, but gets thrown
around and shoved out of the inside gaps due to a lack of lower body
strength to stack and shed when working in-line.
He has better leverage than strength when attempting to anchor vs. double
teams, but does a poor job of holding his ground. He needs to stay down in
his pads to play with leverage, as he does not demonstrate the brute
strength to hold the point. He still needs to generate better hand usage to
defeat blocks, as he leaves his body exposed and does not always keep
blockers away. His pursuit speed is valid, but he does a marginal job of
redirecting. When he over-pursues the play, which happened too often in
2005, he will generally wash out and throttle down.
Edwards has the tools to be a very capable situational edge rusher at the
next level, but he is basically and arm tackler who needs to do a better job
of brining his hips to square and wrap up. He has a sudden step to get into
the backfield, but needs to be more active with his hands in attempts to get
off blocks. He struggles once he is engaged and can't free up, which will
limit his playing time at the next level to pass rushing chores until he can
add more bulk and strength and display better aggression vs. double teams.
His pass rush moves are generated mostly by his burst. He needs to be freed
up in order to get to the passer and really has not developed the rip and
swim moves to defeat the tackle on a regular basis. If the blocker gets into
his body, the battle is quickly over. He gets most of his sacks when he has
an unimpeded line to the ball, but does show the short area explosiveness to
close and the long arms to engulf.
Edwards certainly could have used another year to develop, both physically
and mentally. He is strictly an edge rusher who needs a free lane to
succeed. He offers marginal value vs. the run and is slow to digest the
action around him. Considering he lost his starting job the second half of
2005 indicates that his learning curve will be a big concern. He has the
frame to add more bulk, but he never has been a workout warrior and his work
ethic needs to be addressed, as he does disappear for long stretches on the
field. Still, it is his quickness and athletic ability that will impress
some pro team.
INJURY REPORT
No injuries reported.
CAREER NOTES
Ranks seventh in school history with sixteen quarterback sacks for minus-125
yards, topped only by Shaun Phillips (33.5-175, 2000-03), Rosevelt Colvin
(33-191, 1995-98), Jeff Zgonina (29-151, 1989-92), Akin Ayodele (29-194,
1999-01), Craig Terrill (20.5-116, 2000-03) and Jim Schwantz (18-168,
1988-91)...Ranks 20th on the school's all-time record list with 24.5 stops
for losses of 140 yards.
AGILITY TESTS
Campus: 4.73 in the 40-yard dash...325-pound bench press...33.5-inch
vertical jump.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Woodward (Cincinnati, Oh.) High School, playing football for head
coach Ed Jackson...Rated the ninth-best player in Ohio and ranked as the
16th-best strong-side defensive end nationally by Rivals.com as a
senior...Was a Midwest Top 25 choice by Super Prep and listed as the No. 14
defensive end by Tom Lemming...Added first-team All-State honors and was
named the league's Player of the Year as a senior linebacker after recording
110 tackles, including 12 sacks, with seven forced fumbles and five pass
breakups...Had 105 tackles, including 12 sacks, his junior season...The
four-year starter also played tight end.
PERSONAL
Physical Education major...Born Raymond James Edwards Jr., on
1/01/85...Resides in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Top
Round 5, Pick 149
GREGORY "Greg" BLUE
Free Safety/Outside Linebacker
University of Georgia Bulldogs
#17
6:02.2-216
Atlanta, Georgia
Banneker High School
OVERVIEW
Blue is another in a line of standout safeties produced by Georgia coach
Mark Richt in recent years, following All-American Sean Jones and Thomas
Davis. Blue has excellent range and is a physically strong tackler who, like
Davis, can also line up as a linebacker in the nickel package.
Blue was named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100, Top
50 in Georgia, Class AAA All-State first-team, and Marvelous Metro 11 squad
as a defensive back during his senior year at Banneker High School. He
received Georgia Sports Writers Association All-State and Super Prep
All-Dixie Team accolades. He was named one of the top 25 safeties in the
country by Student Sports Magazine.
Blue recorded 89 tackles, six forced fumbles, four interceptions, and 14
pass breakups as a senior. He also had an 88-yard kickoff return for a
touchdown and a 65-yard punt return for a score that year. He helped his
team to the 2000 Class AAA state playoffs with a 9-2 record. Blue was also a
member of the basketball team and was invited to play in the 2001 Georgia
North-South All-Star Game.
Blue redshirted in 2001 at Georgia. He was a reserve at the rover position
in 2003, playing in 14 games. He finished that season with 42 tackles (24
solos). He sat out the first four games of the 2003 campaign due to a knee
injury suffered in fall camp. He managed to make 42 tackles (30 solos) and
deflected three passes while starting three late-season games.
Blue took over rover duties full-time in 2004 with the departure of Sean
Jones. He ranked second on the team with 80 tackles (64 solos), including
one sack and three stops for losses. He caused three fumbles, recovered
another and batted away three passes.
Blue earned national honors as a consensus first-team All-America selection
after his senior year. The Thorpe Award semifinalist led the team with a
career-high 96 tackles (70 solos) and made 4.5 stops behind the line of
scrimmage. He caused and recovered a fumble, batted away five passes and
intercepted two others while serving as team co-captain.
In 49 games at Georgia, Blue started 28 times. He registered 260 tackles
(189 solos) with a 10-yard sack, 7.5 stops for losses of 26 yards and 13
quarterback pressures. He recovered two fumbles and caused two others. He
also had 12 pass deflections and a pair of interceptions.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has good upper body muscle definition, tight waist,
good bubble and hamstrings, thick thighs and calves...Tough competitor who
plays with aggression...Attacks the ball with good urgency and has excellent
straight-line quickness to close in a hurry... Shows adequate footwork,
balance and body control in his backpedal...Does a good job of reacting to
pre-snap movements...Anticipates the passer well to get a break on the
ball... Doesn't explode out of his breaks, but also does not take wasted
steps coming out of transition...Shows good awareness and quick reactions
playing in the zone and has no hesitation stepping up to support vs. the
run...Hits with authority, demonstrating the strength to close downhill with
force...Has the short area quickness to mirror tight ends and backs
underneath...Assertive taking on blockers and fills the inside rush lanes
with good pop on contact.
Negatives: Has excellent straight-line closing speed, but is
too high-cut and tight in his hips to get a fluid turn coming out of his
backpedal...Lacks natural hands, struggling to secure the ball on
interception attempts...Tries to attack the ball too often and make the big
play rather than wrap and secure the ball carrier...Needs to work on taking
shorter angles in pursuit...Does not have the change of direction agility or
ease of movement operating in space...Does not have the hip snap or burst to
handle receivers in man coverage outside the short area...Needs to play with
better control, as he gets too reckless and will overpursue.
Blue is a hard-hitting tackler who might not have the acceleration and
lateral range of Thomas Davis, but can be quite effective playing linebacker
in a nickel package. He has a good feel for locating the ball sifting
through trash and does a good job of holding his ground taking on double
teams in run force. He shows the urgency to take on and fill the holes and
has a very good straight-line charge to close on the ball carrier and shock
the runner with a punishing hit.
While he is known for his aggressive "take no prisoners" approach, it does
get him in trouble at times. Blue is too stiff in his hips to fluidly change
direction and does not have the stop-and-go action to redirect or recover
when he outruns the play. He is better working inside the box in run
support, as he uses his upper body strength efficiently to control blockers.
Blue lacks the foot quickness to shadow receivers in man coverage. He does
not have the hip snap to come out of his backpedal cleanly and lacks the top
speed to pursue long distances. He also needs to do a better job of taking
shorter angles in his pursuit.
Blue is an imposing-looking athlete who might be better served filling out
his frame and shifting to strong safety. He is capable of neutralizing the
outside run and has the vision to shut down the cutback lanes. If his hips
were more flexible, he could be a dominant free safety, but without it, he's
a bit of a risk in the passing game.
INJURY REPORT
2002: Missed most of spring drills with a hamstring pull. 2003: Sat out the
team's first four games of the season, vs. Clemson, Middle Tennessee, South
Carolina and Louisiana State, after suffering a knee sprain during fall
camp.
CAREER NOTES
Registered 176 of his 260 career tackles, 11 of his 13 quarterback pressures
and all 7.5 of his stops behind the line of scrimmage during his last two
seasons...Part of a graduating class that earned 44 victories -- most by any
senior class in Georgia history.
AGILITY TESTS
Combine: 4.62 in the 40-yard dash...2.7 20-yard dash...1.6 10-yard
dash...37.5-inch vertical jump... 10'0" broad jump...Bench pressed 225
pounds 18 times...33-inch arm length...9 1/8-inch hands.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Banneker (Atlanta, Ga.) High School, playing football for head
coach James Fletcher...Named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super
Southern 100, Top 50 in Georgia, Class AAA All-State first-team, and
Marvelous Metro 11 squad as a defensive back during his senior
year...Received Georgia Sports Writers Association All-State and Super Prep
All-Dixie Team accolades. He was named one of the top 25 safeties in the
country by Student Sports Magazine...Recorded 89 tackles, six forced
fumbles, four interceptions, and 14 pass breakups as a senior...Also had an
88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 65-yard punt return for a score
that year...Helped his team to the 2000 Class AAA state playoffs with a 9-2
record...Member of the basketball team and was invited to play in the 2001
Georgia North-South All-Star Game.
PERSONAL
Child and Family Development major...Born Gregory R. Blue on
3/12/82...Resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
Top
After the draft had concluded the Vikings signed 17
rookie free agents.
Defensively, the team signed North Carolina State middle linebacker Oliver
Hoyte, Kansas cornerback Charles Gordon, Massachusetts cornerback Robert
Cobb, Minnesota linebacker Kyle McKenzie, Mississippi defensive end Jayme
Mitchell and Washington defensive tackle Manase Hopoi.
On offense, the team added Clemson fullback Steven Jackson, Fresno State
halfback Wendell Mathis, Texas Tech halfback Taurean Henderson, Southwest
Texas State wide receiver Barrick Nealy, Youngstown State wide receiver Kyle
Smith, Texas A&M wide receiver Jason Carter, New Mexico wide receiver Hank
Baskett, Jackson State offensive tackle Albert Stinson, Wisconsin
center/guard Jason Palermo, Utah State offensive tackle Donald Penn.
As insurance for punter Chris Kluwe, who is recovering from knee surgery,
the Vikings also signed Colorado punter John Torp.