Iowa could send 7 to the NFL this week

IOWA CITY - Iowa could have as many as seven former players drafted by NFL teams this week, the school's most since 1976.

It's likely an NFL squad will pick former tackle Bryan Bulaga in the top 10 Thursday night. Linebacker A.J. Edds and tight end Tony Moeaki also figure to go in the first four rounds.

Cornerback Amari Spievey (5-foot-11, 195 pounds) could land in the third round. He was an All-Big Ten pick last year and ran a 4.54 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine in February.

“He does a nice job of supporting the run so he could be a cover-2, that Tampa 2,” said Dan Shonka, general manager and national scout for Ourlads Scouting Services, LLC. “He's smart. He understands zone coverages, because that's what Iowa plays. He does a great job in zone coverages. I think one thing when come out of Iowa program no matter what position you play you're very well-coached in technique. Coaches want a guy that is as technique-sound as possible.”

Former Dallas Cowboys scout and current draft analyst Gil Brandt said Spievey could transition to safety like former Hawkeye Charles Godfrey in 2008.

“I think that (Spievey is) a little better,” Brandt said. “I think these two are very much alike as corners; that's what they are. He's a very physical player, I'd say that about him.”

Middle linebacker Pat Angerer remains highly touted after earning consensus All-Big Ten honors and earned numerous All-American awards last fall.

Angerer's size seems his only drawback. He stands 5-11 and weighs 235 pounds. Some teams and scouts are concerned about whether he could hold up with the NFL's constant pounding. That's why he's considered a fourth- or fifth-round pick.

“If you get him in the right scheme, he's going to be fine,” Shonka said. “I think Angerer should get drafted because there's a need for inside linebacker, whether it's in a 3-4 or the middle linebacker in a 4-3. He's actually about the same size as Mike Singletary.”

In Big Ten games, Angerer garnered the most tackles. He also earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors three times last season.

“I think when you have a player that plays with that type of production and plays in a plays in a great program like they have at Iowa, I like him a lot,” Brandt said. “We don't draft middle linebackers. If you remember the last two years, everybody thought the linebacker from Ohio State (James Laurinaitis) and from USC (Rey Maualuga) were going to be first-round picks, and neither of them were. Simply because we want to get players who will be on the field for three downs. I think Pat can do that because he does run better than he looks.”

Two former offensive linemen also could get drafted. Kyle Calloway started 37 of Iowa's final 38 games at three different offensive line positions. Calloway started every game in 2007 at left tackle, but switched to right tackle in 2008. In his final game as a Hawkeye - this year's Orange Bowl - Calloway switched to right guard, a move Shonka said will pay big dividends for him in this week's draft.

“When he got moved inside to play guard in the Orange Bowl, Kirk Ferentz did him a favor,” Shonka said. “He ended up showing well when he played guard. He could very well move up.

“I think the versatility of Calloway is the thing that's really going to drive people. We've got rated in the 4th-5th round, but there's an old saying, if you like him, you'd better take him a round early. Although I don't know if he'll go in the third round, because it's a such deep draft overall. If he went in the third it wouldn't surprise me, but he's a solid fourth-round guy.”

Dace Richardson's injury history might keep him from getting selected, but he'll have an opportunity to play at the next level, Shonka said. Richardson was voted a midseason All-American last year before he suffered a broken leg against Michigan State. He didn't return until the Orange Bowl.

Richardson (6-6, 305) is viewed primarily at guard, mostly because of his injury history. He missed nearly all of the 2007 and 2008 seasons and had knee realignment surgery. But he battled to earn a starting spot at Iowa last year before breaking his leg.

“He's a guy that injury history is going to going to cost him,” Shonka said. “Because Kirk Ferentz has such a great reputation with the offensive line, somebody might call Kirk and say what about Dace. Kirk'll give him the rundown, and they might say, ‘Hey we'll take him with one of our supplemental picks in the seventh round.'”