If we went RB in the first rd, I'd prefer Jonathon Stweart or Felix Jones. But if went Big Ten RB, I much rather WAIT till the 2nd rd. I am NOT convince that Meddenhall is 1st rd material. This is a guy who went from 845 yrds and 5 TDs combine between his Frosh/Sopho yrs, to 1681 yrds and 17 tds. So, colour me unconvinced about Meddenhall. Give me Felix Jones. In his frosh yr he had 626 yrds with 3 TDs. Soph/Junior yrs, he combine for 2330 yrds and 17 TDs. All the while in a PLATOON situation with Darren McFadden. So, IMO, Jones in a better back then Meddenhall. So, why rush for a RB with only one great yr of college, when you can get a better RB, like Stewart or Jones. Mendenhall's great improvement had more to do with the fact that there was abslutely zero in terms of other skill people or lineman to block for him on that Illinois team his 1st 2 years. Those young guys that Zook recruited and were playing when they should have been red shirted or riding the bench because they weren't strong enough got bigger and stronger and better last year and that had more to do with Illinois and Mendenhall being successful than anything (also the maturation of Juice). A good effort, but still not correct. Mendenhall's Junior year success did not happen because of an increase in talent, but rather incresased opportunity. His Freshman year he was behind Pierre Thomas (664 yds, 5.2 ypc) and EB Halsey (349, 4.2) but averaged 4.5 ypc in limited work (48 carries, 218 yds) His Sophomore year he was still behind Thomas (755 yds, 5.8 ypc), but carried 78 times for 640 yards...that's right, 8.2 ypc...and remember, Illinois wasn't winning much, so those were legitimate carries His Junior year he obviously took off and had a great year with the increased workload... a 6.4 ypc being pretty much right in the middle of his previous two years http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/teams/stats?teamId=356&year=2007 edited to add link
