West Virginia Mountaineers NFL Prospects for 2012 and Beyond

Having looked at my big board recently, I noted that I don’t have full scouting reports for some of my top players, including a couple of West Virginia Mountaineers who could be on top of next year’s draft board. So, without further adieu…

12 Geno Smith, Quarterback, 6’3″ 214 (Junior)

In the NFL and college football, people are always looking for that “next” someone or something. In this case, many already believe that West Virginia star junior quarterback Geno Smith could be the “next” Cam Newton, and I don’t see any reason why you would disagree with that. Smith completed more than 64 percent of his passes last season to go along with 24 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions as a true sophomore. Don’t want to trust my judgment? Take a look at his resume’ after just one

season as the WVU starting quarterback:

2011 (Jr.):

• Returns as WVU’s starting quarterback
• No. 2 on WVU’s single-season touchdown passes (24), single-season pass completions (241), No. 4 in total offense (2,980) and No. 9 in single-season pass efficiency (144.70)
• Set the WVU sophomore passing mark (2,763) and total offense
• His 396 yards of total offense against Rutgers was No. 5 on the single-game total offense chart

2010 (So.):

• Started all 13 games
• Named first team all-BIG EAST by ESPN.com, rivals.com and Phil Steele and second team by the BIG EAST coaches
• Averaged just one interception every 53.1 attempts
• No. 1 in the BIG EAST in pass efficiency, No. 2 in passing yards per game, total offense per game and points responsible for (148)
• BIG EAST Offensive Champion: Maryland, Cincinnati
• WVU Offensive Champion: Marshall, USF, Cincinnati, Rutgers
• Connected on 241-of-372 passes for 2,763 yards for the year, 24 touchdowns, only seven interceptions and a long of 71 yards
• Was first WVU quarterback to throw for more than 2,500 yards since 1998
• Threw multiple touchdowns in seven games
• Season-high 32-of-45 passes for 316 yards at Marshall, a touchdown and a long of 30
• Threw for 219 yards on 24-of-31 passes against USF, two touchdowns and a long of 32
• Threw for a career-high 352 yards on 23-of-28 passes with a touchdown and a long of 46 against Rutgers in the season finale

This guy needs to be on your radar right now, if you are an NFL draft fan. I hope he doesn’t leave school early, but if he is dominant enough, I could certainly see it. He’s a lot more than just a scrambler–this kid can pass the ball and he does it with precision. I am excited to see another season from Smith, one of my dark-horse Heisman candidates.

97 Julian Miller, Defensive End, 6’4″ 268 (Senior)

Julian Miller is a senior defensive end coming into his fourth straight year of starting. After two starts as a freshman, Miller burst onto the scene as a sophomore where he was named 2nd Team All Big East after he had 53 tackles, nine sacks, and 14 tackles for a loss. As a junior, he nearly repeated that season exactly, totaling 54 tackles, nine more sacks, and 14 more tackles for a loss. He is a very underrated, consistent defensive end prospect that could be a solid second round pick, possibly even first rounder if he ups his game a little bit in 2011 and gets himself into the double-digit sack totals. Consistency is the name of the game for him, and if he can keep it up for three  straight years, I see no reason why he won’t be starting in the NFL next year.

11 Bruce Irvin, “Joker”/Linebacker/Defensive End, 6’3” 245 (Senior)

Bruce Irvin is one of the most underrated prospects in this year’s crop of players, and probably rightfully so. He had been in junior college up until last season, where he was an All-American defensive end/linebacker hybrid with 72 tackles, 16 sacks, and 21 tackles for loss. His prowess at junior college helped him wind up at West Virginia where he was strictly a third down pass rusher, so he didn’t see a ton of action as

a starter, but he made the most of his limited opportunities. He finished the year with just 21 tackles, but he had 14 sacks and two forced fumbles. He is truly unstoppable as a pass rusher, and he is getting a chance to start this year as a defensive end for the Mountaineers, so we will have to see how he holds up as a full-time starter, but for now, I really like him as a prospect.

8 Keith Tandy, Cornerback, 5’10” 199 (Senior)

Good-sized cornerback who has nine interceptions over the last two years (six as a junior) and enjoyed one of the best seasons in the country last year as a junior. He was an All-American by most media outlets and started all 13 games finishing with 57 tackles, six interceptions, 11 passes broken up, and a couple of tackles for loss. He’s also got the ability to deliver the big hit, as Cincinnati wide receiver D.J. Woods knows full well. I think he could be an underrated corner coming out this year, so we will have to see how he runs before the draft.