There's an extensive article on Chad Kolarik up at Hockey's Future, eef you're interested. Also USCHO is reporting that Kessel is indeed going to Wisconsin. Tension!

Update: Oops. I mean Minnesota. Sorry for the confusion, kids. Apparently the big announcement has been put off until tomorrow.

Braylon didn't run at the combine, but by all accounts he's making a run at the #1 overall pick. Apparently he walked into the weight room when the running backs were doing their benches and ripped off an impressive 22 reps for no reason--wideouts are not required (or asked) to do benches. Kiper has him #2 and with Mike Williams' mediocre 40s at the combine he's a lock to be the first WR taken. Given the questions around Rodgers and Smith, who both look more like Joey Harrington than Peyton Manning to me, and a guy who's obviously a ridiculous athlete with spectacular downfield ability... well, that might look pretty good to a San Francisco team that needs everything.

Marlin Jackson ran between a 4.55 and 4.6 on the slow RCA Dome track and tested well in all the other drills, but people seem to have mixed opinions on him. I think some team will overlook that 40 time and get him late in the first round and they'll be getting a steal. Marlin, when given the opportunity, is an excellent physical corner. He's got enough speed.

Baas' strength, versatility, and intelligence have him the #1 or #2 interior lineman on most boards. Scouts, Inc. said($) Baas " improved his stock as much as or more than any player at this year's combine to date." He'll probably go in the first half of the second, but Scouts said he could sneak into the late first round.

Shazor? No buzz around him, really. He may look like a LB/SS tweener at the moment I don't believe he ran at the combine. He'll do so at Michigan's pro day. A good time is critical for him. If he can run very well, people will look at a 6'4" guided missile and overlook his occasional coverage issues.

This site has Braylon at 2, Bass at 24, Marlin at 39, and Shazor at 57. They make it clear that their list is not a draft order projection but rather an "NFL success" projection. Which is a total copout.

According to Bill Kurelic, Robby Paris favors Michigan has picked up early offers from BC, Iowa, and Miami... er, Miami(Ohio). An offer is not a sure thing, what with the bonanza at WR the last couple years. Michigan will probably only take one WR this year, maybe two if one can play in the secondary.

OU fans love to fark. This Mo Clarett thread spawned by his 4.8 combine 40 isn't the most impressive I've seen, but it's got some gems:

'05 recruit Jason Bailey has participated in a little Q&A session on the Yost Post. Compares himself to Nystrom and Brown, which I agree with. He's sort of a cross between the two and will be a fan favorite the minute he lights up some poor Guelph Griffin in next year's exhibition.

Kessel is announcing his college choice today. Widespread speculation had Kessel down to Wisconsin and Minnesota (BC and Michigan are the other two finalists), and if you want to get your speculation further specified, most people had him earmarked for the Gophers. However, reader Barry Eyestone points out this article onminnesotahockeyjournal.com that says other insiders believe Kessel will play for the Gophers... interesting because yet other insiders say that Kessel and UW commit Jack Skille really don't get along to the point where no one in either family even talks to anyone else.

Mom's always liked Michigan a lot... but it probably won't matter. Michigan's seemingly resigned itself to Kessel-loss, picking up USHL forward Travis Turnbull a few days ago. Turnbull is the son of former NHLer Perry Turnbull and seems like a mid-range forward prospect akin to a Kaleniecki. He could defer to 2006 if Kessel swerves everyone, but he's most likely coming in in the next, large class. BG, MSU, and Miami were his other finalists.