- USC linebacker Clay Matthews has gone from a former walk-on to a legitimate NFL prospect.

- Virginia Tech’s Macho Harris improved his draft stock by returning for his senior season.

- Florida State defensive end Everette Brown has seen his stock rise dramatically this season.

- There is a chance that Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith could be the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

In what could be an enormous signing, the Tennessee Volunteers have agreed in principle with Lane Kiffin to become the Vols’ next football coach. Kiffin will be replacing Phillip Fulmer who was forced to step down from his position of head coach on November 2nd.

Kiffin is expected to try and and bring his dad, Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, to Tennessee with him. Monte would be the team’s defensive coordinator. In addition to trying to sign the defensive coordinator, Lane Kiffin is also expected to try and bring Ed Orgeron, an outstanding recruiter who Kiffin worked with at USC. Oregeron is currently the offensive line coach with the New Orleans Saints. He previously was the head coach at Ole Miss. In my opinion, one key reason why Ole Miss is doing so well this season is because of the recruiting that Orgeron had done while with the Rebels. Between Lane Kiffin, Monte Kiffin, and Ed Oregeron, Tennessee would have an outstanding start to a coaching staff and would have two of the best recruiters in the nation on their staff. The Volunteers could have a very bright future coming.

- USC junior safety Taylor Mays isn’t ruling out a return to school after this season.

- Texas junior quarterback Colt McCoy won’t leave for the draft unless he’s expected to be a first or second round pick.

- Georgia’s Brannan Southerland is expected to be one of the top fullbacks taken in the upcoming draft.

- Faith and football drive Virginia running back Cedric Peerman.

- Mississippi defensive tackle Peria Jerry could be one of the first player taken at his position.

- Brian Orakpo says he’s making up for lost time.

- Oklahoma offensive guard Duke Robinson was named one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy.

Pitt sophomore running back LeSean McCoy on Tuesday dismissed discussion that he will petition for early entry to the NFL Draft after only two seasons of college football. According to McCoy: “Everybody keeps trying to push that, my last game at Heinz Field,” McCoy said. “I’m not going anywhere. There’s a lot of stuff I’ve got to prove. I don’t think I did enough at this university. There’s a lot left to achieve here.” If McCoy indeed decides to return, that could be big news for a player such as Iowa’s Shonn Greene, who many expect will consider leaving for the draft after this season. With McCoy staying, that could raise Greene’s value in terms of where he could be drafted.

- South Florida junior defensive end George Selvie is another player considering leaving for the draft. “I’m leaning toward staying,” Selvie said. “I love being around here. I’ve been here for a lot of the firsts, so why not stay until the end? It’s complicated on making a decision. There are a lot of things that go into it.”

- It’s looking pretty likely that Florida junior wide receiver Percy Harvin will be playing on Sundays next fall.

- Washington State wide receiver Brandon Gibson has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

- Georgia junior quarterback Matthew Stafford said Tuesday he’ll take a closer look at his NFL options after Saturday’s game, which could be his last game at Sanford Stadium.

According to SI.com’s Tony Pauline, Syracuse junior defensive tackle Arthur Jones is expected to enter the draft following this season. Jones very quietly was one of the bright spots on a poor Syracuse team this year. In Saturday’s upset victory over Notre Dame, Jones had 15 tackles, four tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. He could go as high as the second round come April.

- Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim is a perfect fit for a team that runs a 3-4 defense: “He’s kind of what every team that runs a 3-4 defense looks for in a defensive player because he’s so versatile,” said an NFL scout from an American Football Conference team who asked not to be identified. “He puts (offensive) linemen in negative situations with his speed … Watch how he adjusts to the ways teams try to neutralize him and you’ll see what I mean.”

- Don’t be surprised if two South Carolina juniors, tight end Jared Cook and safety Emanuel Cook, opt to enter the draft after this season. Cook is a very good receiving tight end while Cook is leading the Gamecocks in tackles for the second consecutive season.

- Central Arkansas quarterback Nathan Brown has received an invitation to the East-West Shrine game.

Word on the street is that Florida junior linebacker Brandon Spikes has spoken about leaving for the NFL Draft after this season. He reportedly has a desire to use a pro salary to get a lawyer for his imprisoned brother. As a prospect, I personally feel that Spikes is worth a first round pick. I’ve mentioned here before that he reminds me a bit of Ray Lewis, obviously the type of player that you’d love to see him turn into. If he decides to enter, it’ll be interesting to see how he ends up being ranked among himself, Rey Maualuga, and James Laurinaitis.

- Scouts are afraid of drafting Tim Tebow because Alex Smith, who played in the same offense in college, has turned into a bust for the 49ers. A key stat to prove why this offense is not suited for a quarterback hoping to play professional football: “The NFL is a play-action league. In the NFL, the quarterback takes the snap from under center the majority of the time. When the quarterback does this, he turns his back to the defense. Tim Tebow has done this 17 times in his college career. On 16 of those plays he has handed the ball off. That means he has thrown exactly one play-action pass the way they do it in the NFL.”

- Barring something highly unusual, junior cornerback Vontae Davis has played his last game at Illinois. Assuming he enters the draft, expect Davis to be taken among the Top 15 picks in this year’s draft.

- Georgia senior defensive tackle Jeff Owens hasn’t officially decided on whether he wants to leave for the NFL or take a medical redshirt and return next season. If he were to leave for the draft, Owens would still likely be drafted relatively high, however he wouldn’t be taken in the first round range that some people were suggesting before he got injured.

- Chances are that Pitt running back LeSean McCoy will enter the draft. McCoy should go in the first round if he does declare.

Congratulations from Draft Headquarters to Florida State junior safety Myron Rolle. In addition to being one of the top safeties in the nation, Rolle is also one of the smartest collegiate students in the nation as well. Yesterday, Rolle interviewed for and was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. Rolle was one of two winners selected from 13 finalists that were interviewed in Birmingham, Alabama. The fact that Rolle is also considered a potential first round pick in the NFL Draft proves just how much of an amazing feat this really is.

- Northern Illinois defensive end Larry English has been invited to the Senior Bowl and has accepted.

- Cal-Poly wide receiver Ramses Barden is a legitimate NFL prospect. I got a chance to watch Barden play yesterday in Cal-Poly’s game against Wisconsin. I was very impressed with this guy. He clearly has all of the tools needed to be a starting receiver at the next level. He runs precise routes, has good speed and athleticism, and has great hands. His size is perfect for the next level as well. Don’t be surprised if Barden’s stock starts to rise once the offseason all-star games get started up.

- Fresno State’s draft prospects have seen their stock’s go up and down this season.

- LSU defensive end Kirston Pittman says that he received a 3rd to 4th round projection from the NFL Advisory Board following the 2007 season.

Former Dallas Cowboys personnel director Gil Brandt takes a look at Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher:

“There were six left tackles taken in the first round of the draft last April, including top overall pick Jake Long of Michigan, who went to the Miami Dolphins. Five of the six are starters (Chicago’s Chris Williams was injured and is out for the year).

“I think he’s on par with Jake Long and I think he’s better than the other four who are starters in the NFL right now,” Brandt said.“

In my opinion, Brandt is right. Oher is far better than the other four that were drafted, and is on a similar level with Long. However, I’m not sure if he’s on the same level as Long was last year. Oher may not even be the best tackle that ends up coming out for this year’s draft, considering Alabama’s Andre Smith could opt to come out. Over the past four year’s, I’d rank the top tackles as such: 1) Joe Thomas, 2) Jake Long, 3) D’Brickashaw Ferguson, 4) Michael Oher.

- Duke junior defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase has a goal of making it to the NFL.

- Among those watching Georgia’s practice Wednesday were Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff and New England Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli.

-  Louisville quarterback Hunter Cantwell is looking forward to playing in the NFL.

- Two years ago when Rhett Bomar was forced to transfer to Sam Houston State, it appeared to be far fetched that he’d have a future in the NFL.

Yesterday I got a chance to take a look at some film on Ohio cornerback Mark Parson. Here was my scouting report on him:

Strengths – Capable of playing in both man and zone coverage…has fluid hips…is a smart player with nice instincts…makes plays and has a history of intercepting passes in college…makes good breaks on the ball…really uses his hands well

Weaknesses – Does not have ideal size for a starting corner…I don’t think his speed and acceleration are as good as others…I’d like to see him consistently play more physically, and try to get more involved in defending the run.

Overall – I’m not sure if he’s going to be an elite corner in the NFL, but I could certainly see him being a serviceable starter. His instincts and versatility in being able to play in both man and zone is what is really going to help him. Before his all-star games and Combine, I think that the 4th or 5th Round is the most likely round for him to go in. I honestly don’t see him going in the 2nd and probably not the 3rd. However, I do think that he could be like Houston’s corner Fred Bennett from South Carolina…taken in the 4th Round in 2007, but worked his way into a starting role and did a nice job once he got there.

- Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden thinks that Seminoles’ safety Myron Rolle will return to school after this season. Being that Rolle is a finalist for the Rhodes Scholar award, it’ll be very interesting to see what he ends up deciding to do.

- Some Ohio State seniors think that senior quarterback Todd Boeckman should start in his final game against Michigan.

- Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree says that he hasn’t thought about the NFL Draft.

- Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford could very easily end up being the top pick in the 2009 draft.

- If South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe is projected to be selected in the first four rounds, he said he “probably would go” to the NFL and not return for his senior season.

- Is Iowa running back Shonn Greene the best back in Hawkeyes’ history?

- Northern Illinois defensive end Larry English has seen his stock rise this season.