Creating the Draft Choices

[Reginald Rutledge]

I must be getting old because I remember officiating games where Matthew Stafford, Chase Daniel, and Michael Crabtree played in. As a matter of fact, Michael Crabtree was a better high school quarterback than either one of those kids and played at Carter High School, one of the most respected programs in Texas high school football.

Chase Daniel was just an all-out warrior. He may not get drafted early but this kid has it! He's won on every level. Took a program in Columbia and turned them into a winner. In high school, his team won 72 straight games at South Lake Carrol. I've seen him take some shots that I was stunned he got up from.

Stafford had NFL written all over him in high school. Everybody saw it. One time, a parent who had gotten ostracized by the other Highland Park moms came and sat by me because her son injured Stafford in a fight. Stafford and the older kids hazed the sophomores and this one sophomore did not know Stafford was the star QB. He injured Stafford and he had to miss the first 4 games of the season. We thought he was going to a school in the Big12 but he fooled everybody and went south to Georgia. Georgia never really utitlized his talents. He will be a superstar in the NFL.

Mike Crabtree could have been a college QB but was recruited as a WR at Tech. Crabtree was as good of an all-around athlete in many a years in the DFW area. He ran the option as well as anyone. He could actually throw the ball. Tech was stunned how good of a receiver he was.

That's the one thing that I miss about not officiating is getting to see these guys before they become stars in the NFL.

I am creating the Top 32 draft picks and I hope to be done by the end of the NFL draft.

On the clock:

1. Matthew Stafford

[PraiseDaddy]

I see your boy Robert Ayres of the Vols is moving up quickly. From what I hear, his teammates speak glowingly of him, though he was somewhat overlooked early on. Good chance he'll be close to the top 20

[Reginald Rutledge]

mistakes with players in recent years. Robert Ayers should have been put in more freelance situations at Tennessee but Chavis (last year's D-Coordinator) was ver conservative in his approach to the game.

Last year's defensive rookie of the year, Jerrod Mayo, was from Tennessee and averaged 12 tackles a game but would have done more if given the chance to freelance. Tennessee remains one of the most NFL-ready schools in college football.

Hopefully, under this new guy, we will see how great the talent is at Tennessee. They are already making waves in recruiting and practices so I can only hopeful for the best in years to come.

Ayers reminds me of Shaun Ellis who played on the 98 National Championship team. He may be even quicker. He's not in the mold of a Reggie White, Haynesworth, or John Henderson.

It will be interesting to see where he goes.

Reg

[Reginald Rutledge]

This figure took about 2 minutes to make. The base foundation of this figure is the Sprinter pose with the Speed Demon upper torso.

This is without any logo.

[PraiseDaddy]

Definitely have a lot of athletes that are football-track/track-football oriented. Can't teach speed, so they say. Always in demand, especially in
pro game.