Keeping with the theme found in the Wide Receivers article by Vince Mullins last week my list will be different than others rankings as I attempt to rank the running backs as they will rank in a few years.

1) Darren McFadden, Arkansas – JR – 6-1/211/4.33

McFadden (right, Icon SMI) has had some off-the-field issues leading up to the draft but I see it more as noise from teams hoping he slips in the draft. He should easily be the best back from this draft and will join Adrian Peterson as the next great running back tandem a la Barry Sanders / Emmitt Smith. I would be shocked if the Raiders passed on him at #4

2) Jonathan Stewart, Oregon – JR – 5-10/235/4.48

Stewart will not be the second back taken thanks to a toe injury that required surgery but should still sneak into the 1^st round. Stewart actually has a body and skills to be just as successful as McFadden if not more because he could easily find himself on a much better team. Of course the injury must be over-come but look for a team at the end of the first round like the Redskins, Steelers or Packers to take him.

3) Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois – JR – 5-10/225/4.45

I have been a fan of Mendenhall for a while and ranked him higher than anyone else this past season. I think his game will translate well to the NFL and should be the second back off the board with Carolina being a strong possibility at #13 or the Lions at #15.

4) Chris Johnson, ECU – SR – 5-11/197/4.24

There could easily be a few backs rank lower who turn out to be better than Johnson but they all carry risk. Johnson will have an impact in the NFL and while he may never be a great fantasy back he will certainly be valuable to his NFL team.

5) Matt Forte, Tulane – SR – 6-1/217/4.46

Forte gets the nod over a strong second tiered backs because his hard-nose running style that NFL coaches tend to fall in love with. Forte can be a work-horse on the NFL level and could be damn good on the right team.

6) Kevin Smith, UCF – JR – 6-1/217/4.48

Smith will not likely find himself in a starting role in 2008 which could prove to be good news as he tries shake off his record setting amount of carries last season. If Smith is given a chance to start on a NFL team I think you will see him be successful.

7) Felix Jones, Arkansas – JR – 5-10/207/4.47

I must admit I am a bit disappointed in the workouts of Jones as he just looked so much faster on the field. Can Jones be that home-run threat in the NFL has to be questioned and I am not sure he can be that work-horse type.

8) Ray Rice, Rutgers – JR – 5-8/199/4.44

Rice has seen his stock climb nicely heading into the draft and could go as early as the second round. However more than likely will come in as a third rounder and have to earn his opportunity.

9) Jamaal Charles, Texas – JR – 5-11/200/4.38

Charles is a perfect change-of-pace back that would nicely complement a back like Marion Barber in Dallas. Unlikely to ever be an every-down back in the NFL.

10) Anthony Alridge, Houston – SR – 5-9/ 170/4.36

Alridge is fast enough to have the ability to have a niche in the NFL but just lacks the size to be a consistent threat.

11) Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech – SR – 5-10/215/4.52

Choice has good size and has shown nice running ability at Georgia Tech so I would not be shocked if his name resurfaced down the road but lacks the explosiveness to have a long career.

12) Steve Slaton, West Virginia – JR – 5-9/1974.44

Slaton had a lot of hype during his college career but I just do not see his game translating to the pro game.

13) Cory Boyd, South Carolina – SR – 6-0/213/4.51

Boyd is someone that I consider a little bit of a sleeper for the backs taken in the second day. A great pass catcher who does the little things well can stick around if he practices well.

14) Thomas Brown, Georgia – SR – 5-8/204/4.55

Brown has talent but could never shake the injury bug which will cause him to be a late draft choice.

15) Jalen Parmele, Toledo – SR – 5-11/224/4.47

The size and speed jumps out as ‘wow’ why is this guy getting no love? Well that is because he never showed that kind of speed in game-time situations but who knows with the right conditioning maybe a NFL can get that to translate to the field.

Others:

Xavier Omen, NW Missouri ST – SR – 5-10/228/4.59

I know little of him but the experts seem to like him and what list is complete without have a small school no-name back on it.

Justin Forsett, California – SR – 5-8/194/4.45

Not fast enough for a small frame running back to like his chances.

Mike Hart, Michigan – SR – 5-9/206/4.67

A great college career who will likely never see the NFL field as he just lacks the explosiveness and speed for a NFL to take him serious enough to give him a shot.

Rafael Little, Kentucky – SR – 5-8/194/4.50

Does things that NFL teams like so he has a chance to hang around but could not take the abuse of the SEC and while some people in the south may argue, last time I check the NFL is tougher than the SEC.

Marcus Thomas, UTEP – SR – 6-0/213/4.60

I always thought Thomas was under-used in at the college rank that like Boyd does things that gives him a chance but just is not fast enough to ever be taken serious.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Ole Miss – SR– 5-10/219/4.63

For some unknown reason my gut says we will see this name in the NFL box scores in a few years.

Our Pre-draft rankings will differ from many you will read, mainly because we do  not try to project the order that players will be drafted. We prefer to project how they will rank in a couple years and who has the most upside. I also extended the list to include some unique names that have made some noise on the workout circuit.

1) James Hardy, Indiana – JR – 6-5.5/220/4.50
I will admit he is still a raw talent with a couple off-field issues, but I think he has a lot of upside based on his hands, height and hoops athleticism. Disappeared in some games but can be excused since he was the only receiving threat.

2) Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma – JR – 6-4/215/4.50
Most polished of the WR prospects, could step in to any team as WR2 except Indy or NE. Height, speed an hands are all there but I am not sure he will get much better.

3) Jordy Nelson, Kansas State – SR – 6-2.5/217/4.63
It seems Nelson is not getting the love he deserves in most draft boards, and I just don’t see why not. Plus-size, big digits but average speed.
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John, Drew and me sit down to discuss how we plan to cover the upcoming NFL Draft on April 26 on the first podcast of 2008.

Since we have seen Joe Flacco play about as often as anyone, we feel we have something to contribute to the conversation…

While the college hoops world has their brackets for the month of March, we in college football (at least here at Fantasy College Blitz) have our annual Coaching Changes review. And, unlike the college hoops world, all of our coaches will get an invite. Maybe not a high seed, but they will get in. No shafting of mid-majors here….

Of course, every season a number of coaches will run off to other schools or the NFL, while others get run off by other schools or the NFL. New faces in old places…and…new places for old faces…will always pique the interest of every fantasy college GM on the planet.

As usual, our review will look at the fantasy impact of the new hires (not project actual wins and losses).

1. JUNE JONES – SMU

Clearly the biggest fantasy impact hire of the off-season. Jones left Hawaii for the big bucks and better facilities offered by the Dallas-area school. The Mustangs were miserable in 2007, after going .500 in the 2006 season. Jones should be able to quickly install his Run-And-Shoot offense with a Ponies’ squad already capable of running a passing game. Jones’s biggest obstacle may be the loss of returning starting QB Justin Willis for spring practice.

2. ART BRILES – Baylor

The former Houston coach is a top offensive guru who should add some spark to a Bears offense that sits at the bottom of the Big XII every season. Briles, who also is a legendary Texas HS school coach, has an established starter at QB with Blake Szymanski, which should make the transition a little smoother. The Big XII schools love to move the football and Baylor now has a coach that will, at least, try to match conference foes going up and down the field.

3. RICK NEUHEISEL – UCLA

Noted college hoops Bracketologist who had potent offenses at Colorado and Washington, Neuheisel returns to the college ranks (and his alma-mater) to add some life to a Bruins offense that scored less than a high-school geek. Joining his staff as offensive coordinator will be Norm Chow, arguably the greatest assistant coach the college game has ever known. Vests now a phat clothing item in Westwood.

4. RICH RODRIGUEZ – Michigan

He may have left his former employer, West Virginia, on a sour note, but, Rodriguez should make things exciting again in Ann Arbor. Granted, he loses 2007 top prep QB prospect Ryan Mallett to a transfer, but the new Go Blue boss’s penchant for high-scoring offense will have an impact almost immediately in the Big House…no matter who he puts in at the skill positions.

5. DAVID CUTCLIFFE – Duke

Some may think it is nuts to put anything “Duke Football” in high regard, but Cutcliffe knows how to tutor QBs…his former students include Peyton Manning and Erik Ainge while as a Tennessee assistant, and Eli Manning while as head coach at Ole Miss. The Blue Devils have a good QB returning in Thaddeus Lewis, giving Cutcliffe something to build on in Durham.

6. BILL STEWART – West Virginia

This ranking is more for Stewart being able to preserve the Mountaineers potent attack, and not so much for improvement. The former WVU assistant impressed everyone orchestrating the clobbering of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl….considering the discord around Rich Rodriguez’s leaving for Michigan. Credit the Mountaineer powers-that-be for promoting Stewart.

7. BOBBY PETRINO – Arkansas

The craziness in Fayetteville the past few years will feel like a relief for Petrino, who spent a tough year in Atlanta as the NFL Falcons were getting dogged in so many ways. Sure, the “Wildcat” offense, Darren McFadden, and Felix Jones may be gone, but, look for Petrino to get the Hawgs more airborne in 2008. Things could really start happening in 2009 when Michigan transfer QB Ryan Mallett becomes eligible.

8. KEN NIUMATALOLO – Navy

Another ranking based on an existing assistant taking over a program, and not affecting it much, Niumatalolo (the first Pacific Islander head coach in NCAA history) will keep the successful Midshipmen option offense rolling at full speed. And, he will make the spell-check industry much more profitable every time he and USNA QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada are mentioned in articles.

9. PAUL JOHNSON – Georgia Tech

Some sports pundits are not thrilled with Johnson bringing his option offense to GT, but, it was statistically-friendly while he served at Navy. Do not discount Johnson’s ability to recruit the Peach State and the Southeast, for Johnson won FCS (formerly Division I-AA)National Championships while at Georgia Southern.

10. LARRY FEDORA – Southern Mississippi

“The Hat” comes to Hattiesburg from Oklahoma State, where he ran the “Feng Shui” offense…an almost perfect balance of passing and rushing. He has an excellent RB in Damien Fletcher to build around. Although USM unceremoniously ran off long-time head coach Jeff Bower, Fedora should add some spark to the Golden Eagles offense.

OTHER CHANGES OF NOTE:

STEVE FAIRCHILD – Colorado State: The former CSU QB has his work cut out for him, as the Rams have been a bit underachieving the last few years under former coach Sonny Lubick.

JERRY KILL – Northern Illinois: Successful Southern Illinois coach who moves upstate to take over after Joe Novak retired.

GREG McMACKIN – Hawaii: June Jones will be a tough act to follow, and also loses QB Colt Brennan along with every major Warriors receiving target from 2007.

HOUSTON NUTT – Ole Miss: Nutt probably wishes he could coax another year of eligibility from his former stars at Arkansas, because there is not much talent on hand in Oxford.

BO PELLINI – Nebraska: A very good defensive coordinator who must clean up the remains of the failed Bill Callahan tenure. You can be guaranteed that the Husker defense will be much improved under Pellini.

MIKE SHERMAN – Texas A&M: A baffling hire…especially for a school with great support and some of the coolest traditions in college football. Aggies potent ground game could be affected.

KEVIN SUMLIN – Houston: Former Oklahoma offensive coordinator inherits a program that is used to big-play offense. Too bad star Cougar RB Anthony Aldridge ran out of eligibility as every skill position but QB has a new name on it.

PAUL WULFF – Washington State: The former Eastern Washington head man must rebuild a struggling Wazzu program that has seen its offensive production decline in recent years.

Like a 15th seed knocking off a second seed….Daniel Freer can sometimes totally upset people. If you are upset with your new coaches’ review, or, feel like a Cinderella, contact Daniel at Sportdwf@aol.com or on our Fantasy College Blitz Message Boards.