A GWFC Shopping Spree    The National Football League has it all over other professional sports when it comes to drafting players. Like a Broadway play, the NFL draft is many months in the making and then has opening night anticipation as the curtain rises.     The baseball draft is like a jigsaw puzzle. There are so many unknown pieces and a seemingly endless number of rounds. The basketball draft is good for one act – the lottery picks. Hockey isn’t even a blip on the radar screen in the kingdom of major league sports.     The late Jim Finks used to compare the NFL draft to a crap shoot. It is the most inexact science. Countless hours of work go into preparation, but enough times luck is the major factor. Each NFL team has to decide if they should select a proven commodity from a big-time Divison I powerhouse or select a player with potential from a smaller Division I-AA or Division II program. Either way, a NFL team is not afforded a three-year warranty pertaining to any draft selection. What you select is what you get.... Good or bad.     Let's take a look at some former GWFC players who may get 'the selection phone call' from an NFL team during the 2005 Draft: MARQUES HARRIS 6-1 231 OLB Southern Utah SCOUTING REPORT: BIO: Former Colorado transfer that totaled 68/25/11 as a senior on his way to winning All-Conference honors. Sat out the 2003 season with a broken leg but previously a top pass- rushing defensive end in the Big 12. POSITIVES: Athletic, explosive defender who makes a lot of plays up the field. Breaks down well playing with leverage, effectively uses his hands to stay off blocks and displays good footwork moving in all directions. Runs downfield with tight ends in coverage, makes plays in all directions and rarely off his feet. NEGATIVES: Slow to shed once engaged in a block and even held up by opposing tight ends. Used in the box and slow locating the ball in pass coverage. Tackles a bit high. Has had character issues in the past. ANALYSIS: A solid athlete and good football player whose off-the-field issues have slowed his development, Harris may have finally hit his stride last season. Switching from a three-point stance to a linebacker position, he did well his first year playing in space and displays good upside potential. A solid weak-side linebacker prospect who must iron out the rough edges of his game as well as keep his focus on the football field. PROJECTION: Undrafted Free Agent JORDAN BECK 6-2 233 OLB Cal Poly (rated #7 OLB by Scout.com) SCOUTING REPORT: BIO: Won the .04 Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in Division I-AA. Led the team in tackles setting a school record last year posting 135/18.5/5.5, while intercepting four passes and breaking up nine more. Junior totals included 128/13/4 after a sophomore campaign of 113/13/4.5 POSITIVES: Tough, active linebacker constantly around the ball. Quick to diagnose the action, instinctive and takes good angles to the play. Efficient, plays sideline-to-sideline and excels in coverage. Gets depth on drops, easily runs with opposing tight ends or backs and displays solid ball skills. Outstanding leader on the defense. Works hard in run defense and sacrifices his body to make the play. NEGATIVES: Undersized and swallowed up at the point. Slowed through the trash laterally and easily knocked off balance by the initial block. ANALYSIS: A productive collegian four years running, Beck possesses the physical and mental make-up to play at the next level. Has the underlying athletic skills to project to the weak-side yet his penchant to snuff out running plays also makes Beck a good fit on the inside of a 34 alignment. Moving up draft boards after a terrific combine performance. PROJECTION: Late Third Round ROB HUNT 6-4 301 C North Dakota State (rated #9 C by Scout.com) SCOUTING REPORT: BIO: Four-year starter and All-Conference selection as a senior. POSITIVES: Durable, athletic line prospect with a good degree of upside potential. Plays with good lean, works to stay square and a solid position blocker who walls defenders from the action. Quickly picks up assignments, makes the calls on the offensive line and works well with teammates. Patient, yet looks to hit someone and fights with his hands throughout the action. Adequate footwork moving laterally with the ability to kick out or block on the second level. NEGATIVES: Does not redirect well in space and bends at the waist. Lacks the dominant base and pushed off the line of scrimmage. ANALYSIS: A good-sized blocker with growth potential and excellent intangibles, Hunt has had a very productive college career and is a good developmental prospect for the next level. PROJECTION: Undrafted Free Agent VINCENT JACKSON 6-5 240 WR Northern Colorado (rated #10 WR by Scout.com) SCOUTING REPORT: BIO: Awarded All-Conference and All-America honors as a senior after leading the team in all receiving categories with 80/1,382/11. Multiple award winner the prior season after numbers of 66/1,462/21. POSITIVES: King-sized receiver who may ultimately grow into a tight end or H-back. Offers the quarterback a nice target, uses his large frame to outmuscle opponents and displays both focus and concentration. Extends and then snatches the pass out of the air, displays good eye/hand coordination and is relatively effective running after the reception. Moves well laterally, finding the soft spot in the defense. Sells his routes, comes back to the quarterback and adjusts well to the errant throw. Physically beats down opposing defensive backs to make the reception. Experienced as both a punt and kick returner. NEGATIVES: Lacks the deep speed, acceleration and more of an underneath or possession wideout. At times goes down easily after the catch. ANALYSIS: Ultra-productive the past two seasons, Jackson offers good potential at a number of spots in the NFL. Could be used as a king-sized possession or slot receiver for an offense, and is also viewed as a .move. tight end. His ability to handle a big step up in competition will determine whether he is a practice-squad prospect or a final roster player. PROJECTION: Late Second Round ISAAC SNELL 6-5 285 DT North Dakota State SCOUTING REPORT: BIO: Two-year starter and an All-Conference selection as a senior after posting 55/11.5/2. POSITIVES: Hard-working, up-the-field defender with a good head for the ball. Quickly gets off the snap, immediately diagnoses the action and plays with both lean and leverage. Gets underneath opponents wedging up the field or slides off blocks laterally to make the tackle. Keeps driving up the field and gets a good amount of momentum going. NEGATIVES: Not quick if asked to twist or stunt. Lacks great size. Slow shedding blocks once engaged at the point and easily turned off the ball. Does not display top lateral skills. ANALYSIS: A prospect who has shown a good degree of improvement the past two seasons, Snell possesses both a feel for the game and growth potential. Must hit the weight room and improve his strength while adding bulk to his frame, yet could be a solid backup in a conventional defense. PROJECTION: Undrafted Free Agent MARC MANFREDDA 6-5 285 OG California-Davis SCOUTING REPORT: BIO: Four-year starter used at guard and center. All-Conference selection the past two seasons. POSITIVES: Hard-working blocker best in confined quarters. Quickly sets in pass protection, immediately gets his hands into opponents and stays square. Explodes off the snap into run blocks, turns opponents off the line or rides them from their angle of attack. Possesses a good feel for the position and works well with teammates. NEGATIVES: Not a knee bender or leverage blocker and has difficulty finishing. Overextends or leans on opponents, which adversely affects his playing balance. ANALYSIS: A versatile and durable blocker, Manfredda lacks top upside for the next level, but his approach for the game and feel for the position could help him find a spot as a backup. PROJECTION: Undrafted Free Agent CORY LEKKERKERKER 6-5 285 OT California-Davis SCOUTING REPORT: BIO: Junior college transfer who.s started the past two seasons at tackle. All-Conference selection as a senior. POSITIVES: Well-sized blocker who plays with solid fundamentals. Bends his knees and blocks with leverage. Keeps his feet moving throughout the action, works well with linemates and always looking to hit someone. Good initial strength and hand jolt at the point. NEGATIVES: Does not play with great balance, not effective far off the line of scrimmage and has difficulty sliding out to protect the edge. Does not finish blocks. ANALYSIS: A line prospect with growth potential, Lekkerkerker classifies as a solid developmental prospect. Must get into the weight room, improve his strength and add bulk to his frame, yet could develop into a backup strongside tackle down the road. PROJECTION: Undrafted Free Agent Other possible GWFC draftees: OG Marc Manfredda 6-2 300 California-Davis DT Isaac Snell 6-5 285 North Dakota State OG Ben Cobian 6-5 297 Cal Poly DE Joe Abell 6-4 240 South Dakota State WR Allen Burrell 5-9 171 North Dakota State OT Cory Lekkerkerker 6-5 315 California-Davis ILB Chris Coauette 6-3 238 South Dakota State S Mike Overly 6-2 230 Cal Poly     While each of the fore-mentioned players will not be drafted by an NFL team or even inked to a free agent contract, they represent a living legacy within the short history of the Great West Football Conference. These young men have an opportunity to become the 'torch carriers' for all future GWFC players entering the National Football League.