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NFL: BRONCOS: 2006 Fan Mock Draft: On the Clock: San Diego Chargers, No. 19

/noticias.info/ It didn't take long for San Diego's first pick of the most recent draft to pay immediate dividends.

San Diego selected former Maryland linebacker Shawne Merriman with its No. 12 overall selection last April, and his season didn't end for another 10 months -- in Honolulu at the Pro Bowl. Some observers compared him to another former Atlantic Coast Conference linebacker who eventually became a Hall of Famer, and while it's too early to equate Merriman with North Carolina product Lawrence Taylor, Merriman's 10 sacks and 57 total tackles provided an immediate boost to their defense.

This year, the Chargers are expected to work another former ACC standout into their starting lineup when they insert quarterback Philip Rivers onto the first team. Rivers joined the team in a draft-day trade two years ago, but has yet to start in the NFL in spite of being the No. 4 overall selection in the 2004 draft.

It will be upon Rivers, Merriman, 2001 first-round pick LaDainian Tomlinson and a slew of Pro Bowlers to try and give the Chargers their first three-year run of winning seasons since they reeled off five consecutive above-.500 campaigns from 1978-82.

Who will the Chargers take to try and work back to the top of the ultra-competitive AFC West? Make your pick!

Who will be the No. 19 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft?
S Jason Allen, Tennessee
DE Tamba Hali, Penn State
OL Marcus McNeill, Auburn
DE Kamerion Wimbley, Florida State
OT Eric Winston, Miami (Fla.)
CB Ashton Youboty, Ohio State


EDITOR'S NOTE: Some of you have wondered why there's no option to trade the pick. Good question. The answer is because there exists the possibility of trades down the line which would change the look of the first round -- some of which may take place before that individual pick arrives on our mock draft. At the very least, we want to get an idea of who Broncos fans believe will be taken at each slot, even if the team holding the pick eventually changes. So if you feel the pick will be traded, simply select the player you believe will go at this particular slot, regardless of team.


Jason Allen,
Tennessee
Position: Safety
Height: 6-1
Weight: 210 lbs.
Details: A dislocated hip ruined Allen's senior season and not only derailed what should have been a stellar campaign, but helped doom his team as a whole to its first losing season in 17 years. The versatile Allen was counted upon at both right cornerback and free safety, making 14 starts at the former and 12 at the latter.

Hip dislocations have varying degrees. Some, like Bo Jackson's, can be career-ending. Allen's, on the other hand, healed in four months -- in time for him to take part in the full workouts at the Scouting Combine, where he impressed by running the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds.

"I feel like I am going to be bigger, faster stronger and right now I feel like I am bigger," Allen said at the Combine. "Before the injury I was like 205, I am 210 now. I feel stronger, I feel faster. But right now I have the opportunity to show that I am faster and that I am back."

Tamba Hali,
Penn State
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6-3
Weight: 263 lbs.
Details: Hali closed his college career with a flourish in every way possible. He earned consensus first-team All-America honors, helped Penn State win its first Big Ten title in over a decade and earned Defensive MVP honors in the Senior Bowl after notching two sacks and breaking up a pass. Hali's senior season was a spectacular one; he notched 11 sacks, 65 total tackles and 17 tackles for losses. He also notched a four-sack game against Wisconsin.

After starting his sophomore season at defensive tackle, Hali moved to end in 2004 and immediately became an All-Big Ten second-team pick, notching 51 tackles, 12 tackles for losses and two sacks. He ran his 40-yard dash in 4.86 and 4.88 seconds at his March 16 pro day.

Marcus McNeill,
Auburn
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6-7
Weight: 252 lbs.
Details: A consensus first-team All-American last year, McNeill went through the entire 2005 regular season without yielding a sack. Sacks were, in fact, few and far between at McNeill's expense throughout his years at Auburn.

"The last time I gave up a sack I was a freshman, playing actually offensive guard," McNeill said. "They wanted to just throw me in the fire as a young pup back then at guard and I gave up a sack on a slide protection and I'm real disappointed about that."

Kamerion Wimbley,
Florida State
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6-4
Weight: 248 lbs.
Details: Wimbley did not become a full-time starter until his 2005 senior campaign, but still managed to finish his FSU career with 108 total tackles, 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, along with eight passes defensed and three fumble recoveries.

Wimbley ran the 40-yard dash in 4.66 seconds at the National Scouting Combine. He also worked out at both linebacker and defensive end in Indianapolis.

Eric Winston,
Miami (Fla.)
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6-7
Weight: 310 lbs.
Details: After suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament that cut short his 2004 season after five games, Winston rebounded as a senior to earn first-team All-America plaudits from several organizations. The athletic lineman also lined up at tight end from time to time to capitalize on his quick feet.

Winston actually played tight end upon his arrival in Coral Gables, catching to passes for 13 yards as a freshman. He moved to tackle as a sophomore and finished the year with 18 "pancake" blocks in helping the Hurricanes to a Big East title in their final year in the conference. In his official biography page on UM's sports Web site, former 'Canes offensive line coach Art Kehoe compares Winston to Bryant McKinnie and Leon Searcy.

Ashton Youboty,
Ohio State
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6-0
Weight: 189 lbs.
Details: Youboty opted to turn pro a year earlier after three years in Columbus. He played as a true freshman but did not start until his 2004 sophomore season; by his junior year he was a first-team All-Big Ten selection after amassing 56 tackles, nine passes defensed, six tackles for losses and a forced fumble, an interception and a sack.

"I think on the field I'm a complete corner," he said at the Combine. "I'm going to be out there the guy competing 110 percent every play. Off the field I don;t think you’ll see me get in any trouble. I'll go to practice, go home, get some food, get some sleep, go back to practice."

Youboty did not run the 40-yard dash at the Combine, but he did run at his pro day, clocking in at 4.43 and 4.45 seconds. notas_de_prensa_archivo