Scouts give take on Miami Hurricanes' draft prospects

For feedback on the University of Miami program -- players' pro prospects and other issues -- we solicited the views of three NFL scouts who have evaluated the Hurricanes, plus NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock:

• Among UM seniors, tight end Jimmy Graham is generating the most interest and could be UM's highest draft pick in April, Mayock said. Two scouts said they see Jason Fox being picked before Graham, but either way, ``Fox and Graham have separated themselves from the other seniors,'' one said.

Mayock said Graham ``is looking at the third or fourth round assuming he runs well and catches well at his pro day.'' One team has him ranked 60th among all seniors.

``He's got good size, good hands, but he still has a long way to go,'' one scout said. ``He isn't Tony Gonzalez. He's not afraid to block, but he can't take on bigger linebackers by himself.''

• Two scouts disagreed about whether Fox has the body to play left tackle in the NFL. ``He's not a big, thick guy. He might need to move inside,'' one said. Said Mayock: ``Limited power, needs to get stronger. Most guys I talk to have him in the fourth, fifth round.''

• Though Darryl Sharpton played the run well, he ``doesn't have the skills linebackers need in pass coverage,'' one scout said. ``If you can't cover, you're a one-down player. He's too small.'' Mayock has him going in the middle rounds at best.

• Mayock said ``a lot of people like Javarris James because he can block'' -- though one scout said he wouldn't draft him ``because he can't stay healthy. He doesn't have the speed to consistently get outside.'' . . . Cornerback Sam Shields ``will run fast at Pro Day and could be a late draftable kid,'' Mayock said. . . . One scout rated tight end Dedrick Epps as a mid-to-late-round prospect because of his receiving skills.

• Scout feedback on the top juniors: Allen Bailey ``will be better in the NFL than college; second-rounder if he comes out now, could be top-10 pick if he stays'' and improves; Orlando Franklin ``could rise to a first- or second-rounder'' if he plays well at left tackle for UM in 2010; Graig Cooper is a potential ``third-rounder because of speed, versatility, return ability.''

A scout said Leonard Hankerson is a mid-rounder ``but I would be scared to take him because he [excelled] only one year and because of drops.''

• One scout raved about junior Damien Berry and cannot understand why he does not get more carries: ``He's their best running back. Physical, tough, good speed. If they ran him 25 times a game, they would be a different offense and it would help Jacory Harris.''

• One scout, on UM's defense: ``The linebackers are too slow. They can't keep up with guys in the flat and are out of position too much. The defensive linemen don't come off the ball well enough, and not enough of their linemen get better. Marcus Forston couldn't get upfield before they shut him down.''

• The scouts love Harris -- ``he can be special,'' one said -- but another said he must get stronger ``because his deep out routes tend to float. He's more accurate on midrange throws.''

CHATTER
• Ex-Dolphins great Mark Duper, who is close with Hankerson, said the junior receiver is leaning toward returning to UM, but it's not certain. Hankerson has two children and ``I'm sure that's weighing on him'' in his decision, Duper said. ``My advice was to stay and get your degree.''



(miamiherald.com -barry jackson)