• Minnesota senior WR Eric Decker will miss the remainder of the regular season with a sprained left foot and could be done with his college career if the Golden Gophers (4-4) do not qualify for a bowl game. He has continued to produce despite being the target of much extra attention, as the Golden Gophers' top playmaker. Having transitioned to more of a pro-style offense this season could enhance Decker's draft stock, but the offense has struggled to adapt as well as Decker and is now in greater danger of missing a bowl. Decker lacks top-end speed, but he is refined in his routes, and plays with great concentration and toughness. Scouts regard him as a solid second-round pick, with a chance to fit in the same range a year ago as Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi, both of whom were regarded as safe selections.
• Oklahoma State junior WR Dez Bryant is expected to depart for the 2010 NFL draft after his appeal to a season-long suspension for lying to NCAA investigators was upheld. Easily the most gifted receiving talent in the eligible pool of talent, Bryant's draft stock does not figure to slip any more than Michael Crabtree's did a year ago, and he still projects as a top-10 pick, even if scouts still have questions about his background and how easily he will be blinded by success.
• After prolonging surgery on his injured throwing shoulder for several weeks and attempting to return, Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford finally went under the knife Wednesday for a 35-minute procedure that was performed by Dr. James Andrews and was deemed a success. The junior is expected to declare for the NFL draft if he can recover in the next 4-6 months and be ready to throw before the draft.
• Clemson senior WR Jacoby Ford, catching the game-winning 26-yard TD in overtime to upset Miami, has been growing more on NFL evaluators. No one has ever questioned his big-time speed and he has shown he can go the distance as a returner. He is more tightly wound than scouts would like, but he still could warrant mid-round consideration.
• Georgia Tech junior RB Jonathan Dwyer set the tone early in a 34-9 romp over Virginia, barreling over tacklers with sheer power, and helping the Yellow Jackets rack up 362 yards on the ground. The 1-2 punch of Dwyer and Louisville transfer Anthony Allen is the most powerful tandem in the country.
• Kansas senior S Darrell Stuckey has been very disappointing this season, appearing too rigid, missing too many tackles in space and getting fooled by misdirection easily.
• Kansas junior WR Dezmon Briscoe was tiptoeing through the Sooners game after he was decleated by true freshman LB Ronnell Lewis on the opening kickoff. Briscoe has good length, but his hands are too shaky, as he makes too many drops, and he appeared to be protecting himself throughout the game. He has not played up to his hype.
• Oklahoma senior DT DeMarcus Granger was denied a request for a medical hardship that would have allowed the ailing senior to return for another season. He has been limited with a back injury all season with hopes of returning for a sixth year, but with serious medical concerns, Granger will be forced to enter the NFL draft, where he will be lucky to get drafted given his history.
• Washington's bye week could not come at a better time for junior QB Jake Locker, who suffered a quad injury after taking a hit on the second drive against Oregon last week, limiting his ability to run the rest of the game. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has gotten away from all the designed runs that were heavily featured in the Huskies' offense earlier in Locker's career, choosing to keep him in the pocket much more often, even if he has marginal protection and winds up throwing on the move more often than not.
• Evaluators passing through Tennessee have been disappointed with the senior class, with DT Dan Williams being the only prospect that shows a chance of playing in the pros. The program's top prospect is very clearly junior S Eric Berry, who continues to make big plays in Monte Kiffin's defense and gave the Volunteers a chance to upset Alabama last week when he stripped Alabama RB Mark Ingram and recovered the fumble late in the fourth quarter.
PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series, with the first issue now ready for mailing. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe - click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.