Meet the new Broncos

The Rocky

Monday, April 28, 2008

Larsen Barrett Powell Hillis

Ryan Clady

Offensive tackle, Boise State

* Height, weight: 6-6 1/8, 309.

* Selected: First round, 12th overall.

* Scouting report: The Broncos were wowed by Clady's quickness and agility, ranking him as the No. 2 offensive tackle on the board behind top overall pick Jake Long.

Clady played in a spread offense and is more advanced as a pass blocker than in the run game. An early draft entrant, he has extremely long arms and can ride defensive ends when he gets his mitts on them. Needs to get stronger to handle bull rushes but can pull and trap effortlessly. The Broncos thought he would be selected from the five to eight range in Round 1 but instead fell to them. Should be inserted as the starting left tackle from the start.

Tore a pectoral at his combine workout but is now healed. Initially recruited as a defensive lineman but switched to the offensive side by current University of Colorado coach Dan Hawkins at Boise, the lone major college to pursue him. Started 11 games at right tackle in 2005 before moving to the left side, starting 26 games over the next two years. A second-team All-American. Ran a 5.18 time in the 40 at 309 pounds. Led nation with 21 touchdown-resulting blocks and had 122 knockdowns in 2007.

* He said it: "Ryan Clady will start out at left offensive tackle. (Retired left tackle) Matt (Lepsis) didn't have one of his best years last year, coming off injury. He didn't play at the normal level he played at. So with Ryan coming in and his type of ability, I think we'll make an improvement there, regardless of him being a rookie or not. There's going to be a learning curve there. There's going to be mistakes. But he has the athletic ability to come in and help our team win." - Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.

Eddie Royal

Wide receiver/kickoff, punt returner, Virginia Tech

* Height, weight: 5-9 5/8, 184.

* Selected: Second round, 42nd overall.

* Scouting report: One of the best punt returners in the draft - he averaged at least 13.2 yards per punt return in each of the last two seasons - who took three back for touchdowns as a junior and senior combined.

The Broncos project him as their kickoff and punt returner as soon as he arrives in camp. Was timed at 4.39 on the electronic clock in the 40-yard dash at the combine this past February and his performance in the bench press (24 reps at 225 pounds) made him one of the best strength/speed combinations at the positions.

Virginia Tech strength coaches said he set the school's bench-press record at the position.

Also an explosive player as a receiver who is difficult for defensive backs to jam at the line of scrimmage because of his quickness. Averaged at least 15 yards a catch in three of his four seasons.

* He said it: "I definitely feel like I can come in and be that guy to come in and make plays on special teams, have teams scared to kick the ball to us. I definitely look forward to doing that and having that impact." - Royal.

Kory Lichtensteiger

Center/guard, Bowling Green

* Height, weight: 6-21/4, 298.

* Selected: Fourth round, 108th overall.

* Scouting report: A four-year player who started 48 consecutive games in his career - two years at guard and two years at center. Scouts really like his intelligence and the way he battles on every play.

He continues to find defenders and work his way down the field after first contact, which is what the Broncos require of their linemen.

He had recent surgery to repair the right labrum in his right shoulder and is still recovering. He said he's about two to three months away from being full speed.

A smart player who performed well enough in the classroom to have been a semifinalist for the Draddy Award, which is an academic Heisman.

* He said it: "That's the kind of offense that I come from. It's definitely a dream come true, that was one of the teams I was hoping for big time." - Lichtensteiger.

Jack Williams

Cornerback, Kent State

* Height, weight: 5-9, 186.

* Selected: Fourth round, 119th overall.

* Scouting report: A little undersized - scouts had him at just 175 pounds at his on-campus workout last month - but plays a physical game and is a strong finisher. He tied for the national lead in forced fumbles in '06 with five.

Williams also played a full allotment of special teams in college, so he will come in and likely be ready to compete in that role as well.

He ran a 4.43 (electronically timed) at the combine and scouts had him at 4.32 in his on-campus workout to go with a 41-inch vertical jump - the jump was among the best on the draft board this year, which shows explosiveness.

Had 11 interceptions over his last three seasons and took his first career interception - as a freshman in '04 - back 99 yards for a touchdown.

* He said it: "I'm ready to go, man." - Williams.

Ryan Torain

Running back, Arizona State

* Height, weight: 6-0 3/8, 222.

* Selected: Fifth round, 139th overall.

* Scouting report: Doesn't have elite speed but is a north-south, one-cut runner that the Broncos covet. Led Butler Community College to the JUCO national-title game before running for 1,229 yards at ASU as a junior.

That single-season rushing output was the Sun Devils' highest since 1975. Had seven 100-yard efforts in 19 career games. Missed the final six games of his senior year at ASU after being hurt vs. Washington. Suffered a fractured big toe and a Lisfranc sprain that was repaired surgically.

Wasn't much of a factor in the passing game with 25 career catches for 305 yards. Already back doing complete workouts. Ran a 4.56 40-yard dash, bench-pressed 340 pounds and posted a 34-inch vertical jump in campus agility tests.

* He said it: "When I got hurt it was a bad situation where I couldn't finish my season but I stayed on the grind, got back to 100 percent and tried to showcase my talents." - Torain.

Carlton Powell

Defensive tackle, Virginia Tech

* Height, weight: 6-23/8, 301.

* Selected: Fifth round, 148th overall.

* Scouting report: Considered a stout run-stuffer for one of the nation's top defenses. More of a clogger than a penetrating, speed type. Took on double-teams to free up linebackers in college scheme. Known as a high-motor player who started 26-of-27 games in his final two seasons.

Recorded 221/2 tackles for loss in his career and added 61/2 sacks. Had 16 quarterback pressures as a senior. According to school statistics, Powell was the only active defensive tackle in Division I-A to hold opponents to minus yardage rushing during his career (109 plays, minus-15 yards). Only once in his career did an opponent gain more than 10 yards while he was in the game. Ran a 4.87 time in the 40. Did 31 repetitions at 225 pounds in the bench press. Squats 600 pounds.

* He said it: "I'm ecstatic to go to Denver and I feel I'll be a great fit in the defense. I definitely bring an ability to stuff the run, collapse the pocket and put pressure on the quarterback. Whatever needs to be done, I do it." - Powell

Spencer Larsen

Linebacker, Arizona

* Height, weight: 6-11/2, 242.

* Selected: Sixth round, 183rd overall.

* Scouting report: Has played both weak-side linebacker and inside in a "5-2" alignment. Consistently in the thick of action and does a solid job getting off blocks.

Made the all-conference second team as a junior; the first team as a senior. Registered a career-high 131 tackles (87 solo) as a senior. His 209 solo stops rank 10th all-time in school history. Had 151/2 tackles for loss as a junior, most since Tedy Bruschi's 191/2 in 1995. Started 37-of-44 career games. Forced six fumbles and recovered eight others.

Lone Mormon on his college team. Work in church community made him a finalist for a national humanitarian award. A two-time team captain.

* He said it: "Middle linebacker, I've heard. But (coach Mike Shanahan) also mentioned fullback, which I played in high school. I just want to contribute and help improve the team wherever the need me. I think 'mike' linebacker is probably where we will start off." - Larsen.

Josh Barrett

Safety, Arizona State

* Height, weight: 6-13/4, 223.

* Selected: Seventh round, 220th overall.

* Scouting report: Among the biggest and fastest players at the position - his strength coaches told scouts he was the fastest player on the Sun Devils roster - who also has some injury history.

He has had multiple shoulder surgeries - believed to be two - to repair at least two dislocations in his career. He has also had wrist and knee injuries in his career.

But did run a 4.35 40 at the combine, which at his weight opened some eyes. His best year came as a junior, when he finished with 82 tackles and three interceptions.

That was also the only year he started more than eight games in his career.

Smart player who already had his degree and played '07 as a graduate student.

* He said it: "It's an awesome opportunity, it's really a blessing." - Barrett.

Peyton Hillis

Fullback/tight end, Arkansas

* Height, weight: 6-03/4, 240.

* Selected: Seventh round, 227th overall.

* Scouting report: Player with plenty of versatility, having played at receiver, tight end, H-back, running back and fullback in his career with the Razorbacks while also returning punts and kickoffs at times.

Runs pretty well for his size, has plenty of experience as a lead blocker in an offense that featured two 1,000-yard rushers in '07 in Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. Hillis rushed for 347 yards this past season while also catching 49 passes for 537 yards.

Missed two games in '05 when he suffered fractures to three transverse process - the winged edges of the vertebrae - in his lower back.

* He said it: "I'm willing to play anything, I'm just real anxious to play. . . . I didn't mind moving around at all; it was pretty much a week-to-week deal with our team." - Hillis.

• April 28, 2008

  2:55 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Denver2050 writes:

  My favorite picks are Carlton Powell and Peyton Hillis.

  I'm not sure if Powell will be a great DT in the NFL, but he is a special athlete. He is remarkably agile for a 300+ pounds and is quick. His agility and strength don't fit a typical 5th round talent. The NFL's website has his Combine highlights of Powell online. Most other DT's look slow, cumbersome, fat, and weak compared to Powell. Only time will tell how good he'll be, but he sure is blessed with athleticism. What a great pick for the 5th round!

  I think Peyton Hillis has the potential to be one of the top FB in the NFL. He isn't super fast or powerful running the ball, but he is smooth in everything that he does. He's another amazing athlete who dropped into the Broncos laps.

  This '08 draft class could be a potential A+. Of course, only time will tell if performance matches potential.

• April 28, 2008

  3:46 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  incognitoboy writes:

  check this out-

  if the reports are true, we also signed a free-agent RB from houston named anthony alridge (he's listed as a WR on nfl.com) check out his video on the nfl.com draft tracker.

  dude is F-A-S-T!!! and, he AVERAGED (!) over 180 all-purpose yds per game. for such a little guy, he's got game. we'll see if it translates.....

• April 29, 2008

  7:49 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  MarcoPolo writes:

  Royal is good, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Aldridge end up as the kick returner.