Kentwan Balmer

Chilo Rachal

Reggie Smith

Cody Wallace

• Question: Does your seventh round pick mean you won’t pursue Takeo Spikes?
  McCloughan: “No, it does not mean that. Larry Grant’s going to be really good (special) teams guy coming in, and battle for inside, outside (linebacker) back-up jobs. (He’s from) Ohio State, good defense, (he) played next to a lot of good football players that you’ll see next year come out in the draft.”
• Question about Takeo Spikes.
  McCloughan: “Probably soon, we’ll see where it’s at. Again, we’re not going to force the issue. We signed Dontarrious (Thomas), I don’t think there’s a reason to force the issue. But again, (he’s) a good football player and a good person, somebody that if we still feel fits into our scheme, from the standpoint of his age and where we drafted and sign free agency, we’ll definitely do it to make us better.”
• Question: Is the ball in his court at this point?
  McCloughan: “No, 50-50.”

Update: 03.25.08 - Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe is reporting the Patriots won’t be pursuing Spikes. Previous reports were two other teams were showing interest, the Pats and one other. So if what Reiss says is true than the chance of Spikes signing with the 49ers has increased.

03.22.08 - According to the Chronicle, the team is unconcerned about the middle linebacker’s ability to recover from shoulder surgery and the 49ers believe he’d be ready by training camp. When Spikes did visit, the parameters of a deal were discussed and Spikes believes he might get a richer contract elsewhere.

Two teams have shown interest and one of them is New England. If no team steps up with a better offer, Spikes would likely sign with San Francisco and be the team’s “ted” linebacker next season.

03.12.08 — Spikes did visit with the 49ers as we all already know. He left 49ers facilities around 4:00pm this afternoon. Reports are he’ll most likely be wined and dined this evening. Spikes has no other visits scheduled after San Francisco. This was his first and only visit as a free agent. I expect an announcement that he has signed sometime on Friday. 

Update: 02:19pm — Free-agent linebacker Takeo Spikes has arrived at the 49ers’ team offices in Santa Clara. He is undoubtedly undergoing a physical. No word on if Nolan decided to take Spikes on a helicopter ride, or a nice romantic dinner for two.
 
03.12.08 — According to Adam Schefter, NFL Network. Takeo Spikes will visit with the 49ers on Thursday.

Spikes would likely move inside in San Francisco’s 3-4 scheme and compete with Dontarrious Thomas, Jeff Ulbrich, and Brandon Moore at the TED spot.

A first-round pick by Cincinnati in 1998, Spikes had at least 100 tackles in each of his five seasons with the Bengals. But it wasn’t until he went to Buffalo in 2003 that he got widespread recognition. Spikes had 144 tackles in ‘03 and 111 tackles with five interceptions in ‘04, making the Pro Bowl both years. Injuries slowed Spikes in 2005 and 2006. Spikes finished second on the team with 139 tackles in his only season with the Eagles. The 10-year veteran missed the final two games after having shoulder surgery in December.

Source: Rotoworld

• Mel Kiper gives the 49ers a C+
• According to McCloughan the 49ers did not take a WR until round six because “we’re not good enough to draft for need”
• Word on Spikes is 50-50. They will touch base with Spikes soon. Heading into the draft there was a strong chance that Spikes would probably be signed if they didn’t draft an ILB. Although Grant was drafted and is set to compete at the ‘ted’ spot. His drafting doesn’t affect the Spikes situation.
• 49ers had offers to move back in the draft three times. Rounds four, six, and seven.
  Rachal was the first USC guy drafted by 49ers since DE Israel Ifeanyi (now let’s hope he works out better than Ifeanyi did)
• The 49ers were contemplating a receiver in round 2, when asked Martz said he preferred Chilo Rachal over that receiver.
• McCloughan describes Chilo Rachal as a ‘poor man’s Larry Allen’
  UDFA’s so far: Cam Colvin (WR), Gary Guyton (LB), Ezra Butler (LB), Robert Jordan (WR), Joe Jon Finley (TE), Louis Holmes (DE)
• Butch Davis, Balmer’s Line Coach at NC, compares him to former Eagle Jerome Brown.

The other names that are tied to the 49ers as UDFA’s are

• Gary Guyton LB (Georgia Tech) (signed with Pats)
• Robert Jordan WR (California)
• Ezra Butler LB (Nevada)
• Lewis Baker LB/S (Oklahoma)
• Joe Jon Finley TE (Oklahoma)
• Louis Holmes DE (Arizona)
• DJ Parker S (Virginia Tech)
• Lance Brandenburgh LB (Nebraska)
• Brian de la Puente OG (California)

Gary Guyton Profile

Overview: Veteran outside linebacker with experience at the weak-side and strong-side positions, Guyton lacks eye-popping athleticism but has the size and strength teams are looking for. Guyton remains a bit raw, but has the physical tools and showed improvement as a senior when moved to the weak side. A solid performance at the East-West Shrine Game helped him get a late call as an injury replacement at the Senior Bowl and further boost his stock.

Positives: Long athletic build with room for additional growth. … Good use of his size in a variety of ways on the field. … Good size and strength to come up and fill lanes as a run-stuffer. … Long arms and strong hands are used well to supply a pop to blockers and disengage. … Shows some burst as blitzer. … Flashes explosiveness as a hitter and can wrap up and make the secure tackle. … Switched to weak-side linebacker as a senior and improved as the season wore on.

Negatives: Only marginal instincts for the position, which makes his pedestrian 40 time even more of a concern. … Lacks great overall athleticism and is more of a straight-line player who plays pretty stiff in coverage. … Isn’t the physically intimidating player his size would indicate.

Ezra Butler Profile

Overview: Butler is a wide body athlete with rare timed speed for his position. He hasn’t really been used as a classic outside linebacker, as the “Bandit” position he played is more like a 5-tech rush end. He is a solid blitzer coming off the edge with his hand on the ground and can be used on the front wall, having begun his collegiate career as a 285-pound defensive tackle before trimming his frame to compete playing outside the box.

Positives: Has a well-developed frame with long arms, large hands, good overall muscle tone, wide hips and thick lower body that can carry another 10 pounds of bulk…Has rare timed speed for his position and runs well to plays in front of him, showing good quickness, agility and balance…Has better instincts vs. plays in front of him or inside the box than when on the move or in zone coverage…Highly emotional type who can fire up his teammates, but sometimes gets reckless and out of control (must play at a more even keel, as he can be taken out of his game)…Hard worker in practices and in the training room…Shows better discipline working through trash and plugging rush lanes rather than giving chase on the perimeter…Will usually play on that perimeter, but shows the ability to engage, shed and make tackles in the hole better…Flashes the ability to redirect and has a strong closing burst on the blitz…Willing tackler with strong, explosive hits and when he keeps the action in front of him, he generates good pop on contact…Sees the plays develop better when closer to the line of scrimmage and might be a better fit as an inside guy in a 3-4 alignment, as he is a tough inside force who might not shed well but can occupy multiple blockers…Not a smash-mouth type of hitter, but does show good force behind his hits…Could be more explosive shooting his hands at the point of attack, but his size and strength let him win most of his battles vs. smaller blockers (full-backs, slot receivers, tight ends)…Must be quicker bouncing back up when knocked down, but has natural pop on contact when he uses his hands forcefully…Although he doesn’t play well in deep coverage, he has the speed to run with any back or tight end as well as many wide receivers (needs to learn how to stay on the hip of the route runner and not eye the quarterback as much as he does)…Shows athleticism while dropping into zone coverage and can get depth in his drops, but needs to do this quicker and show better awareness to handle switch-off activity in zone coverage…Gives a nice effort in pursuit, when he avoids blocks on the move…Has improved his ability to bring his arms and feet to fit and secure when tackling in the box…Comes off the edge well and fights through traffic to get to the quarterback…When he sinks his weight and keeps his hands inside the frame, he can keep better leverage on the ball…More active on the move while blitzing, with a strong, explosive arm swipes that lets him get to the passer when unimpeded…Is just an average pass rusher from the classic linebacker stance, but is a more effective rusher with his hand on the ground (good 5-tech rush end)…When he uses his hands to prevent from getting hung up in traffic, he can generate the short-area burst to close and pressure the pocket…Although he hasn’t played on special teams lately, he possesses good coverage skills and collision-tackling ability.

Negatives: Has a well-built frame, but played at 285 pounds in 2004, and while he can add another 10 pounds of bulk to his frame it could affect one of his better assets - his foot speed…Needs to mature off the field, as his violation of team policies resulted in a one-game suspension in 2007…Gets frustrated when his initial move fails and when he doesn’t keep his emotions in check, it usually leads to costly mistakes…Has good hand strength, but needs to be more active with them, as he can be reached and is slow to shed blocks…Tries to over-power blockers rather than slip past or avoid, causing him to be tied up in the battle longer than he should (late to come off blocks, redirect and make the play)…Has rare speed for a player his size, but fails to keep his feet on the move at times and lacks that sudden burst needed to get to the perimeter to take on outside run plays…Must take better angles shooting the gaps and be more conscious of cut blocks and double teams (can be washed out when he fails to recognize blocking schemes)…For a player with his decent change of direction agility, he looks too awkward moving in space and gets out of control at times, taking arm swipes rather than getting into position to wrap and secure (lots of missed tackles)…Used mostly as a wide 5-tech defensive end, but will struggle vs. the bigger blockers playing that role at the next level…Gets reckless in his pursuit, out-running the play and then struggles to get back into the action…Adequate covering the pass in the short area, but has a choppy backpedal and fails to generate the hip snap needed to come out of his breaks cleanly to mirror the receiver throughout the route…Liability playing in the deep zone, as he does not have a good feel for the ball in flight (struggles to look the ball in over his shoulder)…Needs to get a quicker read on the quarterback in pass coverage, as he will eye the backfield too long and lacks ideal recognition skills (will bite on pump fakes/play-action)…Good blitzer, but needs to show more explosion coming off the edge and execute better angles when he has a clear lane (takes a wide loop)…Will disappear for long stretches and needs to be more aggressive initiating contact at the X’s.

Robert Jordan Profile

Strengths: A good natural athlete…Adequate height…Is very quick and plays faster than he times…Runs excellent routes…Elusive and can make something happen after the catch…Good awareness…Tough and will work the middle…Trys hard as a blocker.

Weaknesses: Doesn’t have the bulk that you look for…Below average timed speed…Is not very strong or physical…Has trouble beating the jam…Goes down easy…Lacks natural hands….Was never featured in college…Durability?….Does not have much upside.

Joe Jon Finley Profile

Positives: Has a big frame with room for additional growth…Shows large, soft hands and adequate arm length to extend for the ball outside his frame…Has an adequate initial burst, but can build his acceleration throughout the route (more of a one-cut runner)…Has the agility to steer and create movement as a cut blocker in space, but needs to show better hip flexibility when redirecting on in-line blocks…Has an aggressive nature seeking out second-level defenders and is not the type that will back down from a challenge…Has a good understanding of coverage, settling in nicely underneath…As a former quarterback, he realizes the importance of eyeballing the passer and working back when the pocket is pressured…Will compete for the ball in a crowd, but must maintain his focus better (looks to turn and run before securing the ball)…Shows functional movement agility working in space and plays with good urgency getting into his routes…Does a good job of jabbing and beating the press with a good hand punch coming off the snap and there are no false steps in his release…Knows how to convert routes vs. man and zone coverage and, while he was not featured, his routes tend to be crisp, showing decent explosion in and out of his cuts…Knows how to drop his pads and gather at the top of the route…Better when settling underneath than challenging the deep zone, but he has the ability to uncover due to his body control…Gives the quarterback a big target in the middle…No issues with ball security when catching in a crowd…Has the size and hand punch to box out in traffic and while he needs to improve his focus, he will fight until the whistle to get to the ball…Has some hip stiffness that causes him to have problems going for the low throws, but catches the ball in stride when the pass is directed at his numbers…More of a position blocker, but has a good concept for taking angles pursuing in the second level.

Negatives: Has good timed speed for a player his size, but needs to show more explosive moves coming off the line of scrimmage, as he will get tall in his stance and narrow his base, causing him to struggle to open his hips in attempts to evade defenders moving into the second level…In a short area, he shows good aggression going for the ball, but will lose focus and drop a few easy passes when he hears the defender’s footsteps…Must do a better job of using his reach to extend and pluck the ball outside his frame and might need to get his vision checked, as he seems surprised by the ball and doesn’t track it well in flight…Has adequate strength to break tackles after the catch, but is more of a one-cut runner who lacks elusiveness in the open to win footraces…Has good size and hand placement, but must put his foot in the ground to anchor vs. the bull rush, as he does not use his weight-room strength effectively when blocking in-line, failing to generate a smooth kick slide due to some hip stiffness…Could do a better job of setting up the defender, as he tends to run right into contact when working into the second level…Decent cut blocker, but needs to sustain his hits longer…His tight hips are evident when he struggles to adjust to off-target throws.

Louis Holmes Profile

Overview: After posting 192 tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 16 sacks while at Scottsdale Community College, Holmes was almost universally ranked as the elite JUCO prospect in the country before signing with Arizona. Though he certainly looks the part and showed flashes while with the Wildcats, his production simply never materialized at the D-I level. Holmes’ size-speed package will be enough to entice some NFL team to take a chance, but he displayed little on the football field while at Arizona to warrant consideration. A classic boom or bust prospect.

Positives: Looks the part. Lean, ripped upper and lower body with room for additional growth…Flashes quickness off the snap. … Flashes some explosiveness in his initial confrontation with the offensive tackle and can control his man. … Helped himself with a productive week of practice at the Hula Bowl. … Good straight-line speed. … Expected to work out well.

Negatives: Inconsistent. … Flashes quickness off the snap, but is just as often late. …Flashes explosive hands to jolt the offensive tackle, but more often is controlled at the point and occasionally driven back. … Marginal instincts. … Struggles to locate the ball and lacks the change of direction to react. … Invited to Combine on the basis of his reputation, not his play on the field.

In the 3rd round the 49ers selected corner Reggie Smith out of Oklahoma. Reggie will compete for a starting spot, most likely against Walt Harris & Shawntae Spencer. There is also talk that Reggie may compete at the safety spot as well.

In the 4th round the 49ers continued to add depth to the offensive line, by selecting center Cody Wallace out of Texas A&M. He’ll immediately compete with Eric Heitmann at the center spot. One good thing about the drafting of Wallace is it will allow Heitmann to play guard again if need be.

In the 6th round the 49ers added wide receiver Josh Morgan out of Virginia Tech. The knock on Morgan is that he drops balls and has some off the field issues. It will be tough for Morgan to make an impact in an already deep veteran WR group. Not to mention having to pick up the Martz system.

In the 7th round the 49ers selected outside linebacker Larry Grant out of the Ohio State. In college Grant had the capabilities to play all linebacker positions and also has the ability to move to the secondary as well.

Overall not a flashy draft, by that I mean big name players, but overall the team added much needed depth in key positions. Now we’ll just have to wait and see how they pan out.

One more thing to note is after this draft it is much more likely that the 49ers sign Takeo Spikes. Spikes is looking to start and the 49ers added noone over the weekend likely to beat out Spikes at the linebacking position.

Overview
Grant hopes his football national tour will lead to employment in the National Football League. With his ability to play all three linebacker positions, in addition to his superb skills as a kick blocker, teams have been doing their homework on this underrated talent. Grant also could shift to the secondary, as he has the pass coverage skills and some experience from his junior college days playing that position.

Grant has become something of a good luck charm wherever he has played. The 2005 National Junior College Athletics Association National Defensive Player of the Year played in the junior college championship game during his first two seasons. During both of his years at Ohio State, the Buckeyes also played in the national title game.

Still, Grant experienced a whirlwind travel adventure during his football career, which began during his freshman year at Foothill (Cal.) High School, where he lettered as a running back and safety. He moved to Georgia, attending Meadow Creek (Gwinett County, Ga.) High as a sophomore and junior. The football program was lacking and Grant moved with his brother, going on to play at Norcross (Ga.) High as a senior. He lettered as a tailback, gaining 450 yards with six touchdowns on only 35 carries (12.9 avg) during his senior campaign. He then left Norcross High in the winter, moving back to California, where he re-enrolled and graduated from Foothill High.

Grant enrolled at Murray State in 2003, but failed to qualify academically. He spent the year out of school, working as a youth football coach during the fall in the Sacramento area. He then enrolled at the City College of San Francisco in 2004. He shifted to middle linebacker, earning All-Region I, All-California and All-NorCal Football Conference honors. He posted 90 tackles (63 solos) with six sacks, as he caused four fumbles, recovered two others and led the nation with six blocked punts, scoring on a 65-yard runback.

As a sophomore, Grant earned NJCAA All-American and National Defensive Player of the Year honors. The All-NorCal Football Conference Defensive MVP delivered 85 tackles (56 solos) with four sacks and nine stops for losses from his weak-side outside linebacker position. He intercepted six passes, returning one for a touchdown and again ended up blocking six punts.

Grant was scheduled to enroll at the University of Florida, but was a math class short of academic requirements. He decided to enroll at Ohio State in 2006, where he was the first junior college transfer signed by head coach Jim Tressel. He backed up all three starting linebackers (mostly played in the middle), earning his only start in 12 games vs. Bowling Green at strong-side linebacker. He collected 18 tackles (8 solos), as he assisted on a sack, caused a fumble, picked off a pass and deflected two others. He also blocked a punt that he recovered for a 9-yard return.

Grant took over strong-side outside linebacker duties as a senior. He ranked fifth on the team with 51 tackles (35 solos), as he tied for second on the squad with five sacks and finished third with 9.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He broke up a pass, picked off another and blocked two kicks, returning one 8 yards.

In 25 games at Ohio State, Grant started 14 contests. He recorded 69 tackles (43 solos) with 5.5 sacks for minus-34 yards and 10 stops for losses of 45 yards. He caused a fumble, deflected three passes and intercepted two others for 68 yards in returns. He also blocked three kicks, returning two errant punts for a total of 17 yards.

Career Notes
In 24 games at the City College of San Francisco, Grant recorded 175 tackles (119 solos) with 10 sacks and 20.5 stops for losses, as he caused seven fumbles, recovered three others and deflected six passes. He also gained 63 yards with a touchdown on six interceptions and set both California junior college and NJCAA career records with 12 blocked kicks, scoring on a 65-yard punt runback…For his entire collegiate career, Grant started 38 of 49 games he played in, registering 244 tackles (162 solos) with 15.5 sacks and 30.5 stops for losses. He caused eight fumbles, recovered three others and had nine pass break-ups. He gained 131 yards on eight interception returns and blocked 15 kicks, returning three blocked punts for a total of 84 yards and a touchdown.

Junior College
Was a two-time All-Region I, All-COA, All-California and All-NorCal Football Conference selection, adding NJCAA National Defensive Player of the Year, California Junior College Player of the Year and NJCAA first-team All-American honors as a senior while playing at City College of San Francisco (2004-05)…Played all three linebacker positions and also saw playing time at strong safety…Set a junior college career-record by blocking twelve kicks…2005 Season…Recorded 85 tackles (56 solos) with four sacks and nine stops for losses…Caused three fumbles, recovered another and broke up four passes…Gained 63 yards with a touchdown on six interception returns…Also blocked six punts…2004 Season…Posted a career-high 90 tackles (63 solos) with six sacks and 11.5 stops for losses, as he also broke up two passes and blocked six punts, returning one 65 yards for a score…Recovered two fumbles and caused four others.

High School
Began during his freshman year at Foothill (Cal.) High School, where he lettered as a running back and safety…Moved to Georgia, attending Meadow Creek (Gwinett County, Ga.) High as a sophomore and junior…The football program was lacking and Grant moved with his brother, going on to play at Norcross (Ga.) High as a senior, where he played for former Ohio State assistant coach Dick Walker, as he lettered as a tailback, gaining 450 yards with six touchdowns on only 35 carries (12.9 avg) during his senior campaign…He then left Norcross High in the winter, moving back to California, where he re-enrolled and graduated from Foothill High.

Analysis
Positives: Lacks ideal height and bulk to play on the strong side, but while he has a slender frame, there is room to bulk up to 240 pounds without the additional weight impacting his speed…Has good upper body muscle definition with good trapezoids, tight waist, adequate bubble and tapered thighs and calves…Has good straight-line speed to close on plays in front of him and shows the functional strength at the point of attack, taking on the lineman or fullback with aggression, using his hands well to shed…Smart athlete who does best stunting on the field, as he will usually line up at different parts of the field every play (usually over the guard on inside run plays, standing up on the edge when blitzing or dropping back in the strong-side alignment)…Shows good urgency chasing down the plays, but is best when attacking plays in front of him, as he has some hip stiffness which is evident in his pass drops…Stays on his feet and knows how to avoid blocks while maintaining balance on the move…Sees counter plays quickly and even though he lacks loose hips, he can drop into zone coverage with his head on a swivel and has the acceleration to get to the receivers in the short zone…Needs to wrap up better, but has enough strength to drag down the ballcarriers…Also shows good awareness in man coverage, mirroring the receiver in the short area before switching off on his assignment… Comes off the edge with decent explosion as a pass rusher, but is more effective slipping blocks and shooting the inside gaps, as he can blast his way up the middle to track down the ball…Can play any linebacker position, but his hand usage, run pursuit and zone drops are better suited for the weak side…Allows little cushion on running backs coming out of the backfield in passing situations…Despite his size issues, he can plant himself firmly at the point of attack and shows good aggression taking on bigger blockers…Has shown better concept for taking angles as a senior and has made good strides for a player with just 38 starting assignments as a linebacker during his entire football career (at all levels)…Has the strong hand jolt and placement to disrupt the tight end and reroute his man on short area pass assignments…Has excellent leaping ability and timing as a kick blocker (blocked 15 kicks during his career).

Negatives: While quick to play the middle, he lacks the lower body strength to split double teams and will get engulfed by the bigger blockers…Uses his hands well to shed, but must do a better job of extending his arms to defeat the cut blocks…Needs to finish better as a tackler, as he is more of a drag-down type than a wrap-up hitter (when he grabs an opponent, this allows ballcarriers to slip off his initial hit, at times)…Needs to step up and plug the holes at the line of scrimmage , as he seems a little slow to scrape downhill (better when playing on the weak side than in the middle or on the strong side)…Little undersized for the next level and might be a better suited for a Cover-2 defensive system that will allow him to cover up, read and move, rather than one that relies upon him to step up and plug holes at the line…Showed better read-and-react ability as a senior, but this is still a work in progress (was a running back with no experience at linebacker until 2004)…Must not freeze eyeballing the backfield, as it leads to him biting on misdirection and pump fakes…When he fails to use his hands to defeat blocks in tight areas, he gets stood up by the blocker and lacks counter moves to escape…Needs to remain consistent with keeping his pad level down, as he gets bounced at the point of attack when he gets too erect and tall in his stance attacking at the line…Has a decent stride in his backpedal, but it would be more effective if he opens his hips quicker.

Compares To: CALEB MILLER-Cincinnati…Grant might be better served as a rotational-type of linebacker, filling in wherever he is needed. He has experience at all three linebacker positions, so shifting from position to position won’t affect his learning curve. He has excellent timing as a kick blocker and shows good downhill range. He will probably still be around late in the draft, but with his kick blocking skills alone he is well worth a look in camp. Because of his pass drop skills and ability playing in the zone, he could drop a few pounds and shift to safety at the next level.

Overview
Josh Morgan was an enigmatic performer at Virginia Tech, showing flashes of brilliance with some sensational catches, only to frustrate a moment later by dropping an easy throw. Blessed with the size, speed and strength to be a go-to target for any pro team, only character and work ethic stand in the way of him realizing his vast potential.

A two-year starter, Morgan accounted for 79 of his 122 career catches over the past two seasons. He has also shown the ability to fill in capably on special teams as a punt and kickoff returner. His exceptional leaping ability also proved to be an asset for that unit, as he blocked two kicks during his junior campaign.

Morgan competed as a quarterback, wide receiver and cornerback at H.D. Woodson High School, where he earned All-DCIAA honors as a senior. He made eight catches for 275 yards and three touchdowns in a game vs. Glen Mills High, as he also contributed four sacks and blocked a punt. In his junior year, he passed for 987 yards and five touchdowns rushed for 898, including eight scores. He also excelled in basketball, earning MVP honors in two tournaments while playing for the hoops team.

Due to academics, Morgan spent the 2003 season at Fork Union Military Academy. He caught 33 passes for 845 yards and eight touchdowns on offense and blocked four punts while also returning a punt for a touchdown. He enrolled at Virginia Tech in January 2004, going through the team’s winter conditioning program, but was sidelined in May after undergoing surgery to repair a left foot fracture.

Morgan played in 12 games at Tech in 2004, starting vs. Miami. He finished with 15 catches for 346 yards (23.1-yard average) and three touchdowns. In 2005, he started once vs. North Carolina at slot receiver, appearing in 13 games. He grabbed 28 passes for 471 yards (16.8-yard average) and four touchdowns, as he also performed on special teams. The sophomore totaled 105 yards on nine punt returns (11.7 avg) and 67 yards on four kickoff returns (16.8 avg) while collecting a pair of solo tackles.

Morgan and defensive end Chris Ellis was arrested on Sept. 24, 2006. Morgan was charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing justice and Ellis was charged with obstructing justice, all misdemeanors. Police responded to a disturbance call along Blacksburg’s Draper Road, a stretch of bars and restaurants, about 1:50 a.m. on a Sunday after getting a report that a large crowd had gathered and a fight may have been about to start.

An officer saw Morgan run into the road and punch at the glass on the driver’s side door of a passing truck, according to a police report. He then opened the truck’s door as if he was going to assault the driver, police said. Police told Morgan he was under arrest. Morgan, however, began to back up into the crowd and refused to submit to the arrest. Police were forced to use a single burst of pepper spray to subdue Morgan and then took him into custody. Head coach Fran Beamer then suspended both players for the following game vs. Georgia Tech, citing a violation of team policy.

In 12 games at split end, Morgan snared 33 passes for 448 yards (13.6-yard average) and four touchdowns. He added 31 yards on four punt returns and 107 yards on six kickoff returns (17.8 avg). Starting 11 games on offense, he also registered a solo tackle and blocked a pair of kicks.

As a senior, Morgan started 11 of 14 games at split end, leading the Hokies with 46 receptions for 552 yards (12.0-yard average) and five touchdowns. He also totaled 276 yards on 16 kickoff returns (17.2 avg), as he added a 12-yard punt return and four carries for 11 yards (2.8 avg).

Morgan started 24 of 51 games at Virginia Tech. He ranks second in school history with 122 receptions, fourth with 1,817 yards (14.9-yard average) and fourth with 16 touchdown grabs. He had six rushing attempts for 20 yards (3.3 avg) and recorded four solo tackles with a pair of blocked kicks. He gained 148 yards on 14 punt returns (10.6 avg) and 450 yards on 26 kickoff returns (17.3 avg), scoring 98 points. He finished with 2,435 all-purpose yards, an average of 47.75 yards per game.

Career Notes
Morgan’s 122 receptions place him second on the school’s career list behind Ernest Wilford (126, 2000-03)…His 1,817 yards receiving are topped only by Wilford (2,052), Antonio Freeman (2,207, from 1991-94) and Ricky Scales (2,272, from 1972-74) in Tech history…His 16 touchdown catches are surpassed by Freeman (22), Scales (18) and Andre Davis (18, 1998-2001) in school annals…Morgan’s 46 receptions in 2007 tied tight end Mike Burnop (1971) for third on the school’s single-season list behind Ernest Wilford (55 in 2003, 51 in 2002)…Morgan’s 126 yards receiving vs. Auburn in the 2004 Sugar Bowl was a school bowl game record.

High School
Attended Howard D. Woodson (Washington, D.C.) High School, playing football for head coach Greg Fuller…Competed as a quarterback, wide receiver and cornerback…Earned All-DCIAA honors as a senior…Made eight catches for 275 yards and three touchdowns in a game vs. Glen Mills High, as he also contributed four sacks and blocked a punt…In his junior year, he passed for 987 yards and five touchdowns rushed for 898, including eight scores…Also excelled in basketball, earning MVP honors in two tournaments while playing for the hoops team.

Analysis
Positives: Has a long frame with a tight midsection, good arm length and very large, soft hands…Does a good job of using his body torque to get to off-target tosses…Knows how to use his body to shield the ball from defenders…Gets good elevation and body twist going up to compete for throws at the high point…When he runs with his pads down, he has more than enough acceleration to gobble up the defender’s cushion…Long strider who needs room to build speed, but is good at locating and settling in the zone’s soft spots…Lacks consistency, but has shown flashes of using proper balance and body control on his cuts, especially when he drops his weight to accelerate…Works back to the ball well when the quarterback is pressured and, while he doesn’t do it often, he can adjust his speed to conform with his route’s progression…Gets better separation in the open, as he is more comfortable accelerating when not in close areas…Has the speed to get deep in a flash, but is more apt to run straight-line routes than to get fancy with his feet…Has the ability to track the ball over his head without breaking stride…Will battle for the ball in traffic, showing no flinch when having to go vertical with defenders zeroing in on him…Has good balance keeping his feet when working along the sidelines.

Negatives: Has long limbs, but a small bubble and just adequate muscle thickness in his lower body…Gives marginal effort as a blocker, showing no desire to extend his arms to lock on and sustain the blocker…Will simply coast to his block point and takes poor angles when asked to cut block second-level defenders…Causes distractions in the huddle when he feels he is not getting the ball thrown to him enough…Needs to improve his maturity both on and off the field…Not the most punctual sort you will find and needs to be monitored more than the rest of the team…Struggles in the classroom and shows just adequate field intelligence (will run into spots and throttles down when not involved in the action)…Has very good timed speed, but it fails to translate to the field, as he tends to take a rolling start off the snap rather than explode into his routes…Despite his good strength, he does not use his hands to defeat the press and power through defenders to get into his routes…Likes to run with his head down, resulting in drops of several catchable balls, as he often looks surprised when the ball gets there…Needs to show better precision getting in and out of his cuts…Has the acceleration to separate in the open, but due to his “lazy feet,” he does not get to the intermediate throws as quick as he should…Goes through long stretches of ball concentration lapses (24 passes intended for Morgan hit the ground in 2007)…Lacks the hip wiggle, head fakes and double moves to elude the defender, relying more on his burst, when he chooses to use it, or will revert to attempting to run over the defender…Poor locker-room presence and needs to understand that football is a team concept.

Compares To: JOHNNIE MORANT-ex-Oakland…Morgan has a rare blend of speed, size and strength. He flashes brilliance on one play and then seems to disappear for long stretches. His character and work ethic are questionable and will be the major reasons he does not go as early in the draft as his talent level indicates he might. Morant was given ample opportunity to perform in the NFL, but just seemed to go through the motions. Can Morgan be following suit? Much like Morant with Jerry Porter, if Morgan does not get the attention he feels he deserves from his quarterback, he will become a major distraction in the huddle.

Chilo Rachal - OL

Reggie Smith - DB

Ezra Butler - LB (UDFA)

Gary Guyton - LB (UDFA)

Overview
One of the strongest centers in the college game, Wallace boasts a 480-pound bench press, a 374-pound hang clean and a school record 740-pound squat. He combines a good blend of power and short-area explosiveness to be a violent blocker along the line of scrimmage. His combative nature in the trenches has old-time scouts comparing his style of play to former Buffalo Bills great Jim Ringo and Kansas City’s Tim Grunhard.

With his upper body strength, Wallace has had considerable success in controlling defenders, showing the ability to instantly attack his opponent after snapping the ball. He also shows enough short-area foot quickness to mirror pass rushers when sliding back to protect the pocket.

At Cuero High School, Wallace was a standout powerlifter, advancing to the state finals in that sport. He was a versatile football player, competing at center, tackle and guard during his career, in addition to playing on the defensive front wall as a senior, where he recorded 45 tackles. He was a two-time Class 3A All-State gridiron selection and consensus Texas Top 100 choice. He registered more than 100 knockdown blocks in each of his junior and senior seasons.

Wallace spent the 2003 season redshirting and competing on the scout team at Texas A&M. He saw brief action in five games as a strong-side offensive guard during the 2004 season before taking over center duties the following campaign.

In 2005, he helped pave the way for one of the most prolific offenses in school history. That unit averaged 442.3 yards of total offense per game, which ranks second in Aggies annals. The team also rushed for 234.9 yards per game, which was A&M’s best rushing effort since 1991.

As a junior, Wallace earned first-team All-Big 12 Conference honors after starting all 13 games for the Aggies. The team captain helped the squad generate 397.4 yards of total offense per game, including a league-best 206.8 rushing yards per game. He finished with 121 knockdowns and 11 touchdown-resulting blocks, but was also penalized seven times.

Wallace was a finalist for the Rimington Award in 2007, given to the nation’s top center. His stellar offensive line play helped the Aggies rack up 4,883 yards of total offense (402.8 avg) and score 346 points (28.8 ppg). The All-Big 12 Conference first-team choice was also named the league co-Offensive Lineman of the Year, in addition to picking up Academic All-American accolades. He delivered 131 knockdowns and graded 83.85 percent for blocking consistency.

“Cody Wallace is a phenomenal football player and a phenomenal young man,” Aggie offensive line coach Jim Bob Helduser said. “He’s been a pleasure, a joy and a blessing to work with for the past five years. I couldn’t think of a more deserving candidate for the Rimington Trophy.”

Career Notes
During his final two seasons, Wallace registered an impressive 252 knockdown blocks while allowing 4.5 sacks and three pressures on 706 pass plays…The second Aggie to be named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy (2007), joining Seth McKinney, who was edged out by Ohio State’s LeCharles Bentley in 2001.

High School
Attended Cuero (Texas) High School, playing football for head coach Bill Littleton…Lined up at center, tackle and guard during his career, in addition to playing on the defensive front wall as a senior, where he recorded 45 tackles…Two-time Class 3A All-State gridiron selection and consensus Texas Top 100 choice…Registered more than 100 knockdown blocks in each of his junior and senior seasons…Also a standout powerlifter, advancing to the state finals in that sport.

Analysis
Positives: Taller than most centers, but has a solid build with good chest development, wide hips, thick thighs and legs, broad shoulders, good arm length and a firm midsection…Physically strong player who is a productive in-line blocker, but will get pushed back into the pocket when he gets too tall in his stance…Has a quick initial step to create movement off the snap and shows good in-line kick slide to mirror the bull rushers at the line of scrimmage…Despite marginal playing speed, he takes good angles and shows body adjustment skills working along the line of scrimmage…Has been a durable athlete who will play with pain…Best when blocking in-line, as he sets with a strong base and shows better balance when he sinks his weight and stays low in his pad level…Has the functional hip snap to redirect playing inside the tackles and is quick to recognize twists and games…Uses his upper body strength to torque and control defenders when he fires low off the snap…Very quick to get into position and gets his head up instantly after snapping the ball…His hand punch can be violent at the point of attack and he works hard to finish…Has a good work ethic and toughness and takes pride in his leadership role, as he will not hesitate to mentor a younger lineman…Steps into position with his feet firmly planted and when he comes off the ball with a low, hard burst, he can gain advantage… Stays square in his base and shows enough lateral agility to get in front on the short pulls…Generates good pop on initial contact and when he locks on to a defender, he gets good success in attempts to sustain…Has an aggressive hand punch when trying to get movement at the X’s…Plays with a strong anchor, thanks to proper knee bend and does a nice job of staying on top of the bull rusher, showing good hand placement vs. counter moves…Also shows a good slide and lower body adjustments getting back to protect the pocket…Easily controls the defender once he latches on to the opponent with his hands… Extends, separates and remains active in attempts to sustain ands has good recoil action, but if he extends his arms more often, he would have better success neutralizing the faster rushers…Has a quick kick step when redirecting and is alert to stunts, using his knee bend to recover…His anchor is suspect when he gets tall in his stance, but he is better playing vs. power than quickness, as he is a classic mauler with good lock-out ability… Efficient shot-gun snapper with good quickness and accuracy getting the ball back cleanly to the quarterback…Plays with his head on a swivel and works well in supporting his guards on combo blocks.

Negatives: A better inline blocker than in space…Shows only marginal playing speed to get to the second level, with poor body adjustment working in space…Struggles to stay in front when having to pull past the short area…Lacks the ability to sustain blocks and finish when he gets too tall in his stance (defenders can get into his jersey and skate him back into the pocket)…Best playing at the X’s, as his feet tend to die when he has to adjust and mirror defenders downfield…Doesn’t consistently make contact with defenders in space, as he does not deliver that strong in-line hand punch when on the move because he gets taken off balance and will start swiping wildly with his arms…Footwork needs refinement in his forward charge, as defenders can lock on and jerk him to the ground (leaves chest exposed)…Must keep his hands inside the frame better on short pulls, as he does not sustain blocks long when on the move…Slow to adjust to second-level defenders and must find shorter angles when playing in that area…When he gets up on his heels, he is susceptible to active counter moves (loses balance)…Might not get over-powered often, but because of marginal foot speed, he struggles often when asked to contain the quicker blitzers (slow to recoil with his hands)…Gets flat-footed at times on combo blocks and is then slow to redirect (better when staying at the line of scrimmage than on the move).

Compares To: ERIC GHIACIUC-Cincinnati…Like Ghiaciuc, Wallace has impressive strength, which is best utilized at the X’s rather than on the move. He has very good hand placement and punch when he lets the action come to him, but will fall off blocks on the move. He is a marginal second-level blocker who plays better with a defender over his head rather than when having to make reach blocks. He struggles with speed moves, evident by the success Senior Bowl defenders had slipping past him. With his short-area explosion and upper body strength, he will be best served in a system that does not require its centers to move around much