Future NFL Prospect of the Week

John Clay
RB Wisconsin

6'2" 247 lb.
Sophomore

Week 9 vs. Purdue
24 rushes for 123 yards and 3 TDs

Wisconsin is a team who love the big and bruising backs and John Clay is the next in line in a long line of talented backs. The most famous is Ron Dayne who is among the NCAA elite when it comes to rushing and P.J. Hill was looking to follow in his footsteps before subpar and injury filled junior season. Regardless of their past trials in the NFL, John Clay has all the potential to be a dominant runner in the NFL.

Clay loves to run inside and out, he'll punish you by lowering his shoulder into your face, he can run around you and he can stiff arm your helmet off. The boy is talented and then some and has all the size and skills a NFL team would love. To me, he reminds me of a Brandon Jacobs, LeRon McClain type of back, a physical, between the tackles and goalline back.

It'll be interesting to see what he does in the NFL, as it currently stands he could be part of a pretty stellar running back class that includes Alabama standout Mark Ingram, Virginia Tech's Darren Evans, Oregon State speedster Jacquizz Rodgers and Georgia's Caleb King. A pretty good crop of potential Senior RBs and John Clay could easily be among the best of the bunch.

-Matty

Prospect Update: P.J. Hill

Per CollegeFootballTalk.com:

Former Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill was arrested and slapped with a multitude of charges following an incident this past weekend, WISC-TV in Madison is reporting.

The back was arrested and charged by UW police with knowingly fleeing an officer, reckless driving and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

No further details of the events leading up to Hill’s arrest have been released.

Hill announced on January 8 that he was leaving Wisconsin early and making himself available for the 2009 NFL draft. The 5′11″, 236-pound Hill finished his Badger career as the school’s third leading rusher with 3,996 yards.

This kills his draft stock, he was a 5th or 6th rounder at best in a heavy RB class and now he's gone and got himself arrested? Hill, you fail buddy. UDFA!

-Matty

Wisconsin Pro Day

Per NFL Prospect analyst Gil Brandt:

There were 28 teams represented at Wisconsin’s pro day. The Badgers’ NFL prospects ran on FieldTurf. Wisconsin did not put a rubber matting across the field like it did last year.

Two position coaches — Carolina’s offensive line coach Dave Magazu and Jaguars tight ends coach Mike Tice — were in attendance. A total of 11 players worked out and they all ran position drills.

Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema spent a great deal of time answering questions prior to the workout and was very helpful.

Running back P.J. Hill measured in at 5-foot-10 1/8, 218 pounds. It is the lighest he’s been since junior high school. He ran 4.65 and 4.63 in the 40-yard dash. He had a 37-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot 2-inch broad jump. He ran a 4.24 in the short shuttle and had a 7.09 in the three-cone drill. He had 16 bench press reps.

Tight end Travis Beckum checked in at 6-2 3/4, 239 pounds. He ran a 4.61 and 4.63 in the 40-yard dash as well as recording a 9-foot 10-inch broad jump. He had a 38.5 inch vertical, a 4.10 short shuttle and a 7.05 three-cone drill. He did not lift.

Guard Kraig Urbik came in at 6-5 3/8, 328 pounds. He ran 5.30 and 5.25 in the 40 and tallied a 4.75 second short shuttle. He did not run the three-cone drill. He put up a 25.5-inch vertical jump and an 8-foot 2-inch broad jump. He did not lift.

Guard Andy Kemp was measured at 6-4 3/4, 306 pounds. He ran 5.35 and 5.38 in the 40 and had a 7-foot 11-inch broad jump. He also put up a 27.5-inch vertical jump and ran the short shuttle in 4.83 seconds.

Defensive end Matt Shaungnessy checked in at 6-5 1/8, 263 pounds. He ran a 4.86 40, but did not do any other drills.

Linebacker Jonathan Casillas is injured and did not work out, nor did linebacker DeAndre Levy. They will work out on April 2.

OL Eric VandenHeuvel, who declined a combine invitation, has made the decision to attend medical school rather than pursue a career in the NFL.