CHICK-FIL-A BOWL: Tennessee versus Virginia Tech; 7:30 PM ET; ESPN

[mussop]

This game has arguably the best prospect of any New Year’s Eve bowl in Tennessee junior safety Eric Berry (#14, 5-11, 205) if as expected he opts to enter the 2010 draft; in fact, Berry just may have been the best player in all of college football this side of Nebraska. Berry is a classic thumper attacking the line of scrimmage, but also has uncommon speed, instincts and ball skills when tracking the ball in coverage. And even if Berry decides not to enter the upcoming draft Tennessee should be well represented at the 2010 draft as OLB Rico McCoy (#5, 6-0, 225), DT Dan Williams (#55, 6-2, 325), OT Chris Scott (#79, 6-4, 350), and RB Montario Hardesty (#2, 6-0, 215) are solid early round prospects, while DE Wes Brown (#94, 6-3, 260), QB Jonathan Crompton (#8, 6-3, 220), TE Jeff Cottam (#80, 6-7, 260), and OG Jacques McClendon (#65, 6-2, 325) are later or free agent candidates.

Virginia Tech likely won’t have anyone selected in this year’s opening round, but has a number of very good prospects including rugged OG Sergio Render (#70, 6-3, 325), SS Kam Chancellor (#17, 6-2, 225), OT Ed Wang (#77, 6-4, 305), TE Greg Boone (#8, 6-2, 290), DT Cordarrow Thompson (#95, 6-2, 310), CB Stephan Virgil (#22, 5-10, 190) and hybrid LB/safeties Cam Martin (#41, 215) and Cody Grimm (#26, 5-10, 205). Render and Chancellor, both of whom seriously considered entering the 2009 draft, in particular, likely have top 100 potential, while the athletic, although sometimes inconsistent Wang should also get some mid-round consideration.

Lots of players of interest in this game.