History indicates that building successful NFL teams means hitting on draft choices beyond the first round. USA TODAY searches for Draft Gems, players who are not at the top of draft boards for various reasons but have the potential to enjoy solid pro careers when given time to develop.
QB Dan LeFevour
•Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 229
•School: Central Michigan
•Hometown: Downers Grove, Ill.
•Key statistic: Threw for one score as part of 5-for-10 for 97 yards passing performance and ran for another TD in being named North's Outstanding Player in Senior Bowl.
•College highlights: Closed four-year career as only QB in NCAA history to throw for at least 12,000 yards and rush for 2,500. Amassed 15,853 yards in total offense. Accounted for 150 touchdowns: 102 passing, 47 rushing, 1 receiving. Named All-Mid-American Conference four consecutive years. Produced 36-15 career record, including 29-4 in MAC.
•Upside: Strong Senior Bowl performances suggests he can make jump to NFL, where his mobility will be a great asset. Showed ability to rise to the occasion in big games. Won GMAC Bowl MVP honors as a senior when he fired for a career-high 395 yards in leading Central Michigan to a 44-41 win vs. Troy. Excellent student of the game.
•Downside: Possesses average arm strength. His deep balls tend to float. Long out patterns are not delivered with necessary zip and may be interceptions waiting to happen in the NFL. Operated out of shotgun extensively for the Chippewas.
•Projected round: Third
•Coach's quote: "He is a model of consistency. You know what you're going to get every day."
—Former Central Michigan coach Butch Jones
•Draft expert: "He has all of the physical attributes you're looking for. The question is, 'Was his production inflated by being in the spread offense he ran with so many of his completions coming in the short to intermediate range?' "
—Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com analyst
*****
CB Alterraun Verner
•Ht.: 5-10 Wt.: 189
•School: UCLA
•Hometown: Carson, Calif.
•Key statistic: Set UCLA record by returning four interceptions for scores.
•College highlights: Tied for seventh on school's all-time list with 13 career interceptions. Ranked 19th all-time with 279 tackles. Started last 34 games for Bruins. Tied for second in Pac-10 with five pickoffs as senior. Led nation in 2008 with 1.67 passes defensed per game.
•Upside: Cerebral player who compensates for lack of great athleticism with great anticipation. Does an excellent job of studying his opponents. One of those players who finds a way to get it done. Teams are impressed by his character. Gives his time to speak to youths about importance of staying in school.
•Downside: Will be hurt by lack of size and speed. Will be vulnerable to deep ball against elite receivers. If he makes a mistake, does not close ground quickly to recover. Will add to depth but may never put it together well enough to start.
•Projected round: Fifth
•Coach's quote: "Alterraun has done a great job of studying offenses{hellip}He is very instinctive. He has great anticipation and that comes from the study that he has put forth."
—Rick Neuheisel, quoted on ESPN.com
•Draft expert: "He was a playmaker in college and you have to love his production. But he is not very big and his speed is only OK. If he had a bit more size, he'd be an ideal Cover 2 corner."
—Charles Davis, NFL Network analyst
