I have never understood the obsession over Mel Kiper and Todd McShay's mock drafts in the months leading up to the big event. To an extent, they are meaningful, but they are also always grossly overanalyzed. Although these projections do address each team's needs and strategy in the draft, a great thing for any NFL fan, so much importance is put upon when each college player will be taken.
Come Saturday, cornerback Victor "Macho" Harris appears to be the only Virginia Tech player who will hear his name called during the first day of the NFL Draft.
But we saw this coming. We knew that there's not to be a parade of Hokies taken in seemingly every round like last year. This year's senior class is just too weak. In fact, there will not be another showing like that for quite some time.
So Tech fans will not be as jubilant about this draft weekend. Only two Hokie seniors really have a shot to be taken in the seven rounds. However, they will see one of the most beloved players of their program's history make the big step into professional football.
We all know Macho's scouting report by now - a physical playmaker who is quick on his feet and can double as a specialist. Great hands. Excellent instincts. Six interceptions, 46 tackles in 2008. Confidence has certainly never been an issue for the 23-year-old from Highland Springs.
Even with all this, Macho is not regarded as one of the top five cornerbacks in this year's draft as his abilities simply cannot compare to those of Illinois' Vontae Davis, Ohio State's Malcolm Jenkins or Connecticut's Darius Butler. As is the case with most prospects, there are several question marks with Macho.
He seemed like a solid second-round selection before his showcase at the NFL combine back in March when he ran a disappointing 4.61 40-yard dash time. Although he is not the fastest secondary player in the draft by any means, Macho is definitely better than that time. He recovered in a sense, as there were reports of him running a time of more than two-tenths of a second faster during his Pro Day back at Tech a month later.
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