So you've come back home from your 4AM shopping spree at Wal-Mart and BrandsMart USA, where you got that 52" plasma TV for yourself (half off!) and The Best of Ralph Macchio DVD boxed set for your brother-in-law (also half-off!), and plucked yourself down on the couch to waste away the rest of the day. Good! Now you can sit back, relax, and watch today's Arkansas-LSU matchup (2:30 EST, CBS) as you enjoy your turkey salad sandwich and the rest of that boxed wine your uncle bought at Hal's Liquor Emporium. Because this game will feature two of the top college prospects entering next year's draft and two players who have a very real shot at becoming a member of your Miami Dolphins. And by "very real shot" I mean they have no shot whatsoever because we'll end up selecting a punter whose dad Cam knows from back in his days at his high school Glee Club.
Arkansas running back Darren McFadden and LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey are the guys to watch. Watch them closely, Nation, and try to picture them in a Dolphins uniform. Since Miami will hold the number one overall pick in April's draft and since they're rather short on talented players, these two will be projected as Top 5 candidates, even Top 2, in the 2008 NFL Draft.
McFadden is a horse. Plain and simple. He's everything you want in a franchise running back-- size, speed, athleticism and a diet that consists of scrap metal and raw meat. The dude can pound it between the tackles and can break out into the open field. He's huge and he's fast. And he has an excellent health track record. He's flat out going to be number one on every draft guru's board.
Dorsey anchors the defense for the best team in the country. He can dominate the line of scrimmage and dominate an entire Carnival Cruise all-day buffet. He's a house but he's also very fast. He can get by O-linemen with his speed or by blowing them up into smithereens. He can stuff the run, makes opposing QBs wet themselves and is a guy that needs constant double-teaming on just about every play. In short, he's pretty awesome.
So you have Dorsey, who would fill an immediate need on an aging defensive line that can't stop a runny nose. And you have McFadden, who would enter a team with a crowded backfield but is clearly the best player entering the draft and would be the best player on the entire roster. So, have at it.
Now if you'll excuse me, there's a whole left-over pumpkin pie in the fridge with my name on it.
*Update*: Arkansas 50-LSU 48 (3 OT). First of all, holeeey-shit do I love college football. This game is a perfect example why it's so friggin fantastic. As for the game itself, McFadden finishes the day with 206 yards, 3 TD and 1 TD pass, beating the #1 team in the country pretty much single handedly. I've been on the fence with this guy all year. One week I want him, the next week I don't. But he's having a monster season and this game puts him over the top for me. Just a great performance all around. Well that's it. Have a great rest of the weekend...
I'll be back Monday with the MNF preview.
