Spievey not a No. 1, but he’s a keeper
The latest projections by Scout, Inc. have Bryan Bulaga listed as the 27th best player available in April’s NFL Draft. MyNFLDraft.com projects him going No. 28 to Green Bay in the first round of the draft.
Amari Spievey? He’s nowhere to be found in any draft projections. But the junior cornerback is going to test the waters anyway. Spievey confirmed Monday what most of us already assumed to be the case, that he was foregoing his senior season at Iowa to enter the draft.
I have a feeling Spievey, like Bulaga, could be in the NFL for a very long time. Both play positions that always are in great demand at the next level. Everyone seems to be looking for a competent cover corner or a left tackle who can pass block.
But while Bulaga apparently is going to get the big money that comes with being a first-round pick, I’m guessing Spievey won’t get selected until the third or fourth round of the draft. He has fairly average size and speed for his position. And since so many opponents this season avoided throwing the ball in his direction, there may not be a lot on video that will impress the scouts. Whoever picks him, however, probably is going to get a guy that will do a solid job for the next decade or so.
With Spievey turning pro, it seems likely that the Hawkeyes will have six players who are almost certain to get drafted. A recent CBSSports.com listing of the top seniors in the draft had Kyle Calloway listed as the 49th best prospect with Tony Moeaki 74th, A.J. Edds 82nd and Pat Angerer 110th.
Tags: A.J. Edds, Amari Spievey, Bryan Bulaga, Kyle Calloway, NFL draft, Pat Angerer, Tony Moeaki
January 11th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Has he hired an agent? If he does that then I’d say he’s done.
January 11th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
I don’t know that he has hired an agent, but the announcement that he is turning pro did not come from the university, as Bulaga’s did. It came from an independent third party, which tells me there might already be an agent in the picture.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:42 am
“And since so many opponents this season avoided throwing the ball in his direction, there may not be a lot on video that will impress the scouts.” I think the scouts will take notice of this and be even more impressed with him. The only team to pick on amari was wisconsin and he had his only two picks of the year. I think spievey with a good combine could be one that jumps up draft boards. Not to mention that if you run it to his side, he will make the stop at the line of scrimmage for no gain. I have another question, how is AJ Edds so underrated? The dude is like 6′5” and 240 pounds and can run. I think Edds has Urlacher written all over him.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:50 am
Six sounds like a lot. Wonder what the record is for most draft picks from the U of I in a given year?
January 19th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
The Iowa record for most players drafted in a year is nine, but that was back in 1945 when the draft was 30 rounds. Since the draft was shortened to seven rounds in 1993, the most players the Hawkeyes have had drafted is five, in 2003, 2004 and 2005. So, yes, six would be a record in the modern era.
January 19th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
I don’t know that A.J. Edds is Brian Urlacher. I think he would have had a much more dominant college career if that was the case. But A.J. does have a nice combination of size, speed and intelligence. A better comparison might be Hunter Hillenmeyer.