Jared Gaither, LT, Maryland… 6-9, 325, JR, 5.15… Entered the 2007 summer supplemental draft when he was declared academically ineligible for the upcoming season; technically would only have been a true junior this fall, but is eligible to jump to the pros because he attended a prep school for a year after high school. Imposing physical presence with the potential to be a shut down LT at the next level; indeed, may be about the closest thing to current Baltimore Pro Bowler Jonathan Ogden to come along in a while, but is still just starting to scratch the surface of his talent; relative newcomer to football who was a basketball player in high school and actually originally signed to play hoops with South Carolina before switching to football; played only one year of prep football and that at DT; tall player with a huge wingspan; naturally strong with good athletic skills including a 36-inch vertical leap which would have been three inches more than the highest figure at this year’s combine; runs well for a big man and is very nimble on his feet; slides around the pocket with ease and can change directions; has excellent balance and can change directions; athletic knee bender, but needs to concentrate on keeping his pads low all the time; not exactly a road grader but is a solid enough run blocker who gets good position and locks on with long arms; did not allow a sack in 2005 when he started every game at LT for the Terps replacing an injured Stephon Heyer; maturity came into question last fall, though, when he reportedly sulked and got into the coaches’ doghouse after being moved to RT when Heyer was granted another year of eligibility; was suspended briefly at camp last fall and was later suspended from last year's bowl game for violating team rules, although it likely related to missing classes; also battled some nagging injuries late last season… Based on pure physical potential, Gaither may be the best supplemental draft prospect since Bernie Kosar was taken with what turned out to be a #1 pick overall back in the late 1980s, but is a real wild card because of concerns about his level of maturity and work ethic. Complicating the decision for many teams will be the fact that the 2008 draft looks like it will be relatively deep at OT. Teams that use a supplemental pick will, of course, lose their selection in that round at the 2008 draft and teams thinking about bidding on Gaither with an early supplemental choice will have to try and project where they will pick next April and which OTs are likely to be available at that time.
