A look at the 2007 junior class as players decide whether to enter the 2008 NFL draft.The Daily Athenaeum is reporting that West Virginia junior running back Steve Slaton has decided to return to school for his senior year, rather than enter the 2008 NFL draft.
Although I'm a Slaton fan and enjoy watching him in the West Virginia spread offense, for the future of his football career, that strikes me as the wrong decision. The biggest problem Slaton faces is that with freshman sensation Noel Devine on the team, he may have a hard time earning the starting job in 2008. If he spends most of his senior year on the sidelines, he's not going to do anything to help his draft stock.
The good news for Slaton is that, at least right now, the 2008 draft looks like it's going to be more crowded at running back than the 2009 draft. With a lot of good juniors -- Darren McFadden and Felix Jones of Arkansas, Rashard Mendenhall of Illinois, Kevin Smith of Central Florida, Jamaal Charles of Texas and Jonathan Stewart of Oregon -- likely declaring for this year's draft, Slaton might have a hard time standing out.
With a good senior season, he could stand out in the crowd of the 2009 draft. But with a senior season as Devine's backup, his stock could fall. Waiting a year to start his pro career may prove to be the wrong move for Slaton.
See the full list of 2008 NFL draft early entries.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Steve Slaton will not be benched because of Noel Devine. Slaton will be, as I've written here, the Owen Schmitt of the 2008 WVU offense. He's not the crushing blocker Schmitt is -- who is? -- but he is an effective blocker and he's faster. How do you like a backfield of Pat White, with Slaton on one side (or in the slot) and Devine on the other? Slaton will get his touches next year and, with the offensive line finally gelled, will rebound from his "off year" this year.
Posted at 2:08PM on Jan 7th 2008 by Frank Ahrens
2. Good Decision 2008
Slaton will NOT lose the bulk of carries to Devine
barring injury; there's no reason to not stay and graduate. Then when
your carrer's over at age 33, you have a degree fo dat J-O-B. An
extreme case would be a season-ending ligament damage, but isn't
McGahee having a nice NFL career??
Noel Devine has to play more than a single game to warrant taking
carries away from WVU's 2007 Heisman candidate. There's also that
ACADEMIA issue.
The Mountaineers will utilize their 2-halfback offense next year
that's sure to boost Slaton's stock w/ an additional year on the
national scene.
Posted at 2:16PM on Jan 7th 2008 by ยง
3. I usually agree with you but not on this one. Steve Slaton's draft stock fell because of his below than usual production this year. I read on profootballtalk that someone said that he was being looked at in the 3rd or 4th round. If Slaton comes back and shows the skills he showed the two previous years there is no way he drops past the second round. By saying it is a bad decision for him to stay, you are implying that he is no better than a third round draft pick which is bogus, he will be a first round pick with improved offensive line play next year. Explain yourself MDS.
Posted at 6:09PM on Jan 8th 2008 by Ahmed
4. I think Slaton is making a big mistake not going pro. His production has fallen for 2 consecutive years and too many of his yards are coming against weaker teams. He seems to disappear in big-time games (note vs. Pitt) His durability is being questioned as a result of a sudden propensity for injury and many are starting to question just how mentally tough he is. If he continues to share more/lose playing time to Noel Devine his stock will plummet even further. Also, with his battering ram Owen Schmitt departing there won't be that bonafide hole opener in the WVU backfield. A factor that I think will lead to WV wanting a fleeter, more elusive back than Slaton. In addition, Pat White's aspiration of being a Pro QB will likely lead to his wanting to prove he's a passer - - further limiting Slaton's touches. Here's the kicker, I personally don't think Slaton will EVER be more than a 2nd round draft pick at best.
Posted at 8:55AM on Jan 9th 2008 by carlos
5. I think it is a great decision Slatton is staying. I feel he will have his best season yet and dispell the thoughts he disappears in the big game. He will play the year with a vice like grip. He will get plenty of touches and show himself as a hugh threat in the passing game. That speed with a good set of hands coming out of the backfield into the flats will slow down any a pass rush. He will be a threat to go all the way on any play.
Posted at 10:18AM on Jan 11th 2008 by tony x 2
6. While it is possible that Slaton will see a productivity drop that will hurt his numbers (and thus his 2009 NFL value), I think that he is overall making the right move. This is lining up to be a loaded draft class. Even if Arkansas RB Felix Jones (the last of the big RB names) is convinced to come back to school by Bobby Petrino, the RB crop in the 2008 NFL Draft is still going to be one of the deepest in recent years.
Would Slaton go in front of Rutgers' Ray Rice? Or UCF's Kevin Smith? Or even senior RBs like Michigan's Mike Hart or ECU's Chris Johnson? It may not have been Slaton's original plan to go back to WVU for 2008, but he looks to be up there with Chris Wells as one of the (early) top potential RB prospects for 2009.
Posted at 2:04PM on Jan 12th 2008 by Draft King