Saturday live NFL Draft blog: Iowa's Ricky Stanzi, Ryan Donahue, Julian Vandervelde get plenty of attention

NFL Network analysts talked up Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi on Saturday morning less than two hours before fourth-round selections began in

the NFL draft.

"I thought he would go (Friday)," NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. "He's a developmental guy who has the ability down the road to be a starter."

Mayock has Stanzi as the sixth-best player available right now. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Stanzi as the seventh-best player available.

"He utilizes every part of the football field, from the outside to his tight ends," said former NFL wide receiver Torry Holt on NFL Network. "This kid here has a lot of potential. As you saw there (in a game clip), he stands high and has a great delivery in the pocket. He has a great pocket presence."

Iowa defensive lineman Christian Ballard also ranks among the best players available. Mayock has him second, while Kiper ranks Ballard fourth. Kiper later amended Ballard to the top player available.

"The problem is his productivity from his junior to his senior year dropped some," Kiper said. "Only 16 reps (bench pressing 225 pounds), he needs to get a little stronger but Christian Ballard is a kid in day three to keep an eye on.

"Good player out of Iowa. You talk about scheme versatility, he has that. Kirk Ferentz and that coaching staff do a great job of maximizing these kids' abilities. This kid is one of the best athletes of all the defensive linemen in the draft. Only three sacks this past year, a little quiet in some games. You had Karl Klug on that line, you had Adrian Clayborn on that same defensive front."

Several other Iowa players are likely to be drafted today in rounds four through seven. Iowa had six players drafted last year, the most under Ferentz. Tampa Bay drafted Clayborn 20th overall in the first round on Thursday night.

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said Iowa punter Ryan Donahue will be the first kicker/punter to come off the board.

"He's the best punter in this year's draft," McShay said. "He started 51 games, averaged 44.6 yards last season. Twenty of his 54 punts were inside the opponents' 20-yard line. So this guy has both leg strength and directional skills. There are a lot of teams - the Chiefs are looking for a punter - I think he could come off the board in the fifth round."

McShay said Iowa guard Julian Vandervelde is the last player on his draft board, thus putting Vandervelde in contention for the dubious "Mr. Irrelevent" title.

"He's 6-foot-3, 301 pounds and you know what, he's an opera sig