D.C. area is loaded with NFL talent

Two D.C. area players were first-round NFL draft picks last year. This year's crop might be even more impressive.

Normally, draft projections -- much like those made for recruiting -- are nothing more than argument-starters. After all, they attempt to predict the future, and I haven't seen a crystal ball in a scout's or a recruiter's office.

But when colleague Jeff Nelson made mention of Scouts Inc.'s latest projection of the top prospects for the 2010 NFL draft, it was hard to look away. The D.C. area is remarkably well represented.

The top-rated local player is Florida junior cornerback Joe Haden (Friendly), who places seventh. At Nos. 19 and 20 are Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman (Suitland) and Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn (Dunbar). Both, like Haden, are juniors, but likely would declare early if they are projected high enough.

Another junior on the list is North Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin (Ballou) at No. 24. Penn State junior running back Evan Royster (Westfield) clocks in at No. 48.

(After seeing what happened to Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford -- who was projected to be a top-five pick had he declared for the draft after winning the Heisman Trophy last year, but struggled with a shoulder injury this season -- don't be surprised to see many highly touted juniors give the draft a long look this year.)

DeMatha Coach Bill McGregor, who has seen his fair share of talent not only in his 28 years on the Stags' sideline, but throughout the Washington area, said he took notice last spring, when the area boasted two first-round picks -- Penn State defensive end Aaron Maybin (Mount Hebron) going 11th overall to Buffalo, and Illinois defensive back Vontae Davis (Dunbar), who went to Miami at No. 25. Three other local products -- Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim (Gar-Field), and Penn State wide receivers Derrick Williams (Eleanor Roosevelt) and Deon Butler (Hylton) -- also went in the first three rounds.

"That was almost unheard of, to have two kids from the same area going in the first round," McGregor said. "It used to be, if you had a few kids drafted altogether, it was a good year for the area. . . . If all these kids come out this year, it's going to be a banner year."

Haden, Bowman and Benn all graduated from high school a semester early in order to enroll in college for the spring semester and get a head start.

It was a big reason why Haden and Benn didn't redshirt their freshman years and jumped right into significant action with major college programs.

"Getting to spring practice, that's the big thing," Dunbar Coach Craig Jefferies said. "It's big for them to get acclimated to the system and the pressure before you have a game, so that when the season starts you can step in as a true freshman. You're used to the routine by then."