The Talent: Mike Pollak-Arizona State….. Pollak is the top player at the center position for the 2008 NFL draft. The All-PAC-10 Conference 1st team selection really came on strong as a senior and he had excellent outings at both the Senior Bowl and the Combine workouts. Pollak has good size (6-3 ½, 298), he is technically very sound, a 1st rate angle-style blocker and he is very effective in space. ASU coaches also praise his strong work ethic, his overall knowledge of the game and he plays the game with great passion.
The Technician: Steve Justice-Wake Forest…..Justice has been a 3-year starter for Wake Forest and he is the best technician of this center group. Justice knows how to use his arms and hands effectively to keep defenders at bay and he has demonstrated great ability to pull and trap, and work to get to linebackers at the second level. The 1st team All-American center is an outstanding zone-type blocker, who compensates for his lack of great bulk with 1st rate foot speed and intelligence. Like Pollak, Justice gets very high marks for his passion for the sport and his very strong work ethic.
Player on the Rise: Kory Lichtensteiger-Bowling Green….Kory started his first two seasons at BG at offensive guard before being switched over to the center spot as a junior. Lichtensteiger has started all 48 games of his college career. Kory is a very strong in-line blocker, who has a long nasty streak in him and he has really upgraded his overall pass blocking skills. While he has had some trouble with some of the speed-type inside pass rushers, Kory has been a stellar performer in the Mid-American Conference and he has the tools to eventually start in the NFL.
The Sleeper: Jamey Richard-Buffalo… Richard has started the past three seasons at center for Buffalo and demonstrated good athletic ability and excellent finishing skills as a run blocker. NFL teams love his toughness and nasty play, and his ability to stay after his blocks. Very intelligent young man, who is always looking to upgrade his overall game, and with some work on his overall techniques, Richard could well emerge as a starter in the NFL in time.
Mike D’s Top 5 Center Prospects for the 2008 NFL Draft
1. Mike Pollak-Arizona State 2nd round choice
2. Steve Justice-Wake Forest 3rd round choice
3. John Sullivan-Notre Dame 4th round choice
4. Kory Lichtensteiger-Bowling Green 4th round choice
5. Cody Wallace-Texas A&M 5th round choice
Saints Draft Need: (Low)- Despite losing Jeff Faine to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the free agency process
the Saints have re-signed veteran center Jonathan Goodwin and signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive center/guard Matt Lehr. The Saints normally go after players at this spot that can play both center and guard and don’t be surprised if they pick a versatile offensive lineman late in the draft. One player to watch for in the later rounds is USC offensive center Matt Spanos. Spanos saw work at both center and guard for the Trojans throughout his college career. He was only a one-year starter at center for USC, but NFL teams like his size (6-5, 300), his long wingspan and he displays good lateral quickness and agility.
The Technician: Steve Justice-Wake Forest…..Justice has been a 3-year starter for Wake Forest and he is the best technician of this center group. Justice knows how to use his arms and hands effectively to keep defenders at bay and he has demonstrated great ability to pull and trap, and work to get to linebackers at the second level. The 1st team All-American center is an outstanding zone-type blocker, who compensates for his lack of great bulk with 1st rate foot speed and intelligence. Like Pollak, Justice gets very high marks for his passion for the sport and his very strong work ethic.
Player on the Rise: Kory Lichtensteiger-Bowling Green….Kory started his first two seasons at BG at offensive guard before being switched over to the center spot as a junior. Lichtensteiger has started all 48 games of his college career. Kory is a very strong in-line blocker, who has a long nasty streak in him and he has really upgraded his overall pass blocking skills. While he has had some trouble with some of the speed-type inside pass rushers, Kory has been a stellar performer in the Mid-American Conference and he has the tools to eventually start in the NFL.
