By Nolan Nawrocki
Sept. 11, 2008

 Clemson senior QB Cullen Harper sprained a joint in his right throwing shoulder in the opener vs. Alabama — the same shoulder that required surgery last November — but he still played vs. The Citadel last week and is expected to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener vs. North Carolina State this weekend. His arm strength has appeared average this season, and he has not "wowed" evaluators his first two games. Last year, Brian Brohm slipped to the second round in part because scouts viewed him as "damaged goods" after having a series of injuries, including one to his throwing shoulder. Harper's shoulder is sure to warrant very close medical scrutiny prior to the draft. In a very weak senior QB class, he still ranks among the best.

 Oregon senior RB Jeremiah Johnson dislocated his right shoulder attempting to deliver a stiff-arm on his first carry vs. Utah State last week and is wearing a brace on his right shoulder in practice, but he is still expected to start against Purdue. Durability issues could alter his draft status if the undersized back continues to get dinged up following a torn ACL injury that shelved him late last season. The ability to play through pain is an everyday ritual for NFL running backs, and Johnson’s willingness to continue playing through the shoulder injury should bode well if he could avoid any other nicks. He runs very hard for his size with good balance and fine burst.   

 Miami (Fla.) junior RB Javarris James appeared at practice Wednesday wearing a soft cast on his left ankle and walking on crutches after suffering a high ankle sprain early against Florida. After being plagued by a neck injury that he hid from coaches that removed the aggression from his running style most of his sophomore season, he is expected to miss up to a month. The cousin of Arizona Cardinals RB Edgerrin James, who departed Miami early for the NFL, the injury toll being taken is likely to push the younger James to the NFL early.  

 Alabama true sophomore Rolando McClain, who notched a career-high 15 tackles vs. Tulane last week and added two tackles for loss, is emerging as one of the nation’s top LB prospects. He’s big, strong, fast and physical and the game looks easy for him.

 While Virginia Tech senior CB Victor “Macho” Harris has been nursing a sprained left foot injury and playing at a self-estimated 80 percent, junior CB Stephan Virgil, who replaced Kansas Chiefs 2008 second-round pick Brandon Flowers in the starting lineup opposite Harris, has been making plays, returning a fumble 30 yards for a TD vs. East Carolina along with a blocked extra point that saw him pick up the loose ball and run 98 yards to the endzone. Against Furman last week, he notched another interception and has shown good ball skills and awareness.

 Wake Forest senior PK Sam Swank continues to show he can brush off pressure and come through in the clutch — a critical trait for an NFL placekicker — as he nailed a 41-yard field goal in the final seconds to knock off Mississippi. Swank is the NCAA’s leading active scorer. He has never missed an extra-point attempt and has great poise, laughing as he was coming onto the field prior to the game-winning FG attempt and not letting the pressure get to him.

 The Texas-Arkansas game has been rescheduled to the final weekend of September (Sept. 27), when both teams had bye weeks, to avoid the possibility of getting hit by Hurricane Ike that is scheduled to come through the Austin region this weekend. One interesting matchup to watch will be Hogs C Jonathan Luigs against Texas DT Roy Miller. Both entered the season with much publicity, but neither has impressed scouts in the early going this season. Both of their games are predicated on quickness, affording scouts a good opportunity to evaluate each other against solid competition.

 Mississippi State senior LB Jamar Chaney suffered a broken leg late in the season opener vs. Louisiana Tech that will knock him out for the season. A respected team leader with very good natural athletic ability, Chaney’s measurables warranted serious interest from the NFL. The injury casts a cloud over his draft status, but he should be able to recover in time for spring workouts and gain some momentum leading up to the draft. At a minimum, he should be able to contribute readily on special teams in the pros, but was not able to elevate his status as a mid-round prospect.

 Scouts passing through Maryland came away most impressed with senior C Edwin Williams. He’s not quick afoot, but he is big, strong and plays with some authority. He has anchor strength and could handle matching up with big bodies in the NFL. He could warrant looks as a mid-round prospect after being relatively low on the radar of scouts entering the season.

PFW's Pro Prospects Preview is now in a new magazine format and available at bookstores and newsstands across the country and online at the PFW store. This magazine features in-depth scouting reports for nearly 250 seniors, juniors and third-year sophomores who hope to be selected in the 2009 NFL draft. In addition, you'll find feature stories on this being the year of the middle linebacker, a veteran NFL scout's tales from the road and the remarkable story of Ole Miss OT Michael Oher. Since 1987, NFL scouts, coaches, general managers and agents have found it to be the most comprehensive and accurate publication on the market.