By John Antonik for MSNsportsNET.com
January 10, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – It appears Adam Pac-Man Jones’ decision to enter the NFL draft a year early may have been a wise one.
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Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Pac-Man Jones 13th on his most recent NFL draft board.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
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According to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr., Jones is 13th on his draft board and is his top rated cornerback ahead of Miami’s Antrel Rolle (16), Auburn’s Carlos Rogers (21) and Florida State’s Bryant McFadden (21).
Wrote Kiper Jr. on ESPN.com Insider: “He is a little raw technically but still an outstanding cover corner, and he has tremendous closing speed and is more than willing to give up his body in run support. In today’s NFL, where the rules are tilted in favor of the receivers and corners are unable to become true ‘lockdown’ defenders, that tackling ability in the open field will be just one more asset to combine with his speed, aggressiveness and special teams skills.”
If Jones goes in the first round it WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez’s first and the first at West Virginia since tight end Anthony Becht was the 27th overall pick by the New York Jets in 2000.
West Virginia’s other early departure, Chris Henry, was not listed among Kiper’s top 25 prospects.
News and Notes:
The word in Syracuse is that new AD Daryl Gross is leaning toward hiring a defensive oriented coach to replace Paul Pasqualoni. The Post-Standard is reporting in its Monday online edition that Gross may have narrowed his sights to Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, New York Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis and University of Texas co-defensive coordinator Greg Robinson. Gross is not returning phone calls and has gone underground during his coaching search.
Some of Pasqualoni’s former coaches have already landed new jobs. George DeLeone, an SU assistant for two decades, was recently named offensive line coach at Mississippi teaming up with Ed Orgeron, who coached two seasons at Syracuse in 1995-96.
Also, former Syracuse running back David Walker may be close to joining Dave Wannstedt’s coaching staff at Pitt. Walker interviewed for the Pitt job last week. There is still no word on where Orange defensive coordinator Steve Dunlap will wind up. Dunlap spent 10 years as West Virginia’s defensive coordinator from 1991-2000 under former coach Don Nehlen.
It’s nice to see former West Virginia University players doing so well in NFL post-season play. St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger completed 18 of 32 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns including the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter to help the Rams to a 27-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in one NFC wildcard game, while tight end Anthony Becht caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chad Pennington in the New York Jets’ 20-17 overtime victory over the San Diego Chargers in an AFC wildcard game.
Boy, Randy Moss has put together a pretty nice week. First he walked off the field with time remaining in Minnesota’s 21-18 loss to Washington last Sunday and then yesterday he ‘mock-mooned’ fans following his second TD catch in Minnesota’s wildcard victory over Green Bay. Moss’ celebration drew the ire of Fox commentator Joe Buck, who called it “a disgusting act.”
Those performances by Moss make you appreciate even more what guys like Bulger and Becht are doing each week, and what fabulous representatives they are for West Virginia University and the state of West Virginia.
The Cleveland Browns may be close to hiring New England Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel as its new head coach. For some of you old-timers wondering, he is the younger brother of 1969 Peach Bowl star Carl Crennel. Both grew up in Lynchburg, Va., and Romeo played college football at Western Kentucky.
Congratulations to WVU safety Jahmile Addae for making the Tampa Tribune All-Florida football team. Each year the Tribune selects an all-star team of college players that are natives of the Sunshine State.
West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez knew what he was talking about earlier this year when he mentioned that the NCAA would probably okay a 12th football game. Yesterday the NCAA Management Council gave initial approval to adding a 12th game beginning in 2006. There was little other discussion concerning the matter.
There is a brief profile of WVU guard Yolanda Paige in this month’s Slam Magazine. Her feature is in the left hand column on page 34.
West Virginia’s basketball RPI slipped 12 spots to No. 30 this week, according to the web site CollegeRPI.com. West Virginia’s RPI is third-best among Big East teams behind Boston College (4) and Syracuse (18).
The WVU women’s RPI stands out No. 57.
The WVU basketball team managed to stay in the national rankings this week at No. 24 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll despite losing by 38 on the road at Villanova last Wednesday. It is the first time the Mountaineers have spent back-to-back weeks in the polls since doing so on Feb. 24, 1998 and March 3, 1998.
West Virginia fell out of the AP rankings and is currently No. 27.
Charleston Civic Center officials are expecting one of its larger crowds ever for the 2005 Toyota Capital Classic tomorrow night. Based on advance ticket sales, more than two-thirds of those at the Civic Center will be wearing Gold and Blue.
Eight WVU football players earned their degrees during winter commencement prior to the Gator Bowl. They were: Lawrence Audena (special education), Jeff Berk (special education), Tim Brown (athletic coaching education), Charles Hales (athletic coaching education), Mike Henshaw (athletic coaching education), Hikee Johnson (athletic coaching education), Rasheed Marshall (athletic coaching education) and Ryan Thomas (sociology). Congratulations to all eight!
Quarterback Rasheed Marshall finished his WVU career with 69 touchdowns responsible for, topping Ira Errett Rodgers’ 86-year school record of 66 set in 1919. Marshall accounted for 23 touchdowns this year.
West Virginia’s 2004 football season was eerily similar to 1998 when the Mountaineers began the year ranked near the Top 10 only to finish the season 8-4 and fall out of the national rankings. Coincidentally or not coincidentally, it was also the last time WVU had two players leave a year early for the NFL draft.
When West Virginia opens spring drills sometime in March the Mountaineers will have to find replacements for eight starters on offense and six starters on defense, based on the pre-Gator Bowl depth chart released by the Sports Communications Office.
Offensive starters returning are junior left guard Dan Mozes, junior right guard Jeremy Sheffey and senior right tackle Garin Justice. Defensive starters returning are senior strong safety Mike Lorello, senior free safety Jahmile Addae, senior field corner Anthony Mims, strongside linebacker Boo McLee and defensive tackle Keilen Dykes.
It will be, perhaps, Rodriguez’ biggest reloading job since he took over the Mountaineer program in 2001.
West Virginia wrestler Greg Jones is now 12 wins shy of the WVU record of 119 career victories set by Jim Akerly (1985-88) and tied by national champion Scott Collins (1987-91). Jones is 108-4 heading into next Saturday’s match at Bloomsburg. If he maintains his current pace, Jones will set the record in the EWL tournament.
Four West Virginia University wrestling matches will be broadcasted on the Internet through Yahoo! Sports this winter. West Virginia’s home matches against Hofstra on Jan. 29, Ohio on Feb. 11, Edinboro on Feb. 17 and Cleveland State on Feb. 18 will air live. Kyle Wiggs and Tony Onorato will once again make the call.
Have a great week!
Note: The views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of West Virginia University or the Mountaineer Sports Network.
