The impact of John Blake and an agent
National Football League
Draft King Analysis
October 4, 2010
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com
Reader feedback is always welcomed here. Send your thoughts to Draft King at LouPickney@gmail.com.
The odds of North Carolina DT Marvin Austin and DE Robert Quinn returning to action this year for the Tar Heels are looking longer and longer. Earlier today came an admission by the legal team for former UNC assistant coach John Blake that Blake, while at UNC, engaged in "multiple financial transactions" with NFL agent Gary Wichard. It's the connection between Blake and Wichard that has gained the attention of the NCAA and, in particular, its Agent, Gambling and Amateurism Activities division.
 |
Weslye Saunders is no longer part of the South Carolina football team. (Icon SMI)
|
|
Along with questions surrounding a number of North Carolina players, Blake allegedly called Alabama DE Marcell Dareus over the summer to recommend that he hire Gary Wichard as an agent. That's what lead to Nick Saban comparing agents to pimps and Dareus being suspended for two games. Blake is also accused of making a similar pitch to South Carolina TE Weslye Saunders, who has since been dismissed from the team.
Georgia WR A.J. Green received a four-game suspension from the NCAA for allegedly selling the jersey he wore in the 2009 Independence Bowl for $1,000. He made his return to the Bulldogs last Saturday night as they went on the road to face Colorado, and in less than a half of one came he reminded everyone why he is the top wide receiver prospect in all of college football.
His first score of 2010 came on a 3rd and goal play from the Colorado three yard line in the second quarter. Facing single coverage against Colorado CB Jalil Brown, Green ran toward the right corner of the end zone. Georgia QB Aaron Murray threw up a pass, a toss that went a bit high. Green saw the pass coming, fought off Brown (without getting flagged for offensive pass interference), and timed a perfect jump to bring in the football... with one hand.
The catch was breathtaking, one of the most impressive receptions made by anyone on any level of college football this season. It's not the first time he's made such a catch; in the semi-finals of the Georgia high school state playoffs in 2007, Green made a similarly impressive grab of a seemingly uncatchable ball. We haven't seen a college wide receiver talent like that since Calvin Johnson pulled in all sorts of off-target throws during his time at Georgia Tech.
It wasn't just a single circus catch that impressed me; Green wasn't finished scoring. He pulled in a 39-yard touchdown pass from Murray later in the second quarter, and by halftime Green had amassed 109 yards of offense and two TDs. Leg cramps ended up causing him to be sidelined for much of the second half, which have lingered to the point where his status for this upcoming weekend's game against Tennessee is in question. There's no doubt that Georgia is a much better team without Green, and at 1-4 they desperately need to get him back as they start to face plenty of tough SEC competition.
One thing is clear: at this point, A.J. Green remains the top wide receiver prospect in all of college football for 2011, ahead of even Alabama WR Julio Jones at this point. If Green can stay healthy, and if he jumps to the NFL after this year (and why return to Georgia after the severe punishment he received for selling a jersey?!?), he has the potential to be a top ten, or even a top five, selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.
