http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/don_banks/05/06/juniors.impact/index.html?eref=T1 The draft is all of 10 days past, and already it seems hopelessly dated to declare Oakland's Darren McFadden the chic pick to be the NFL's impact rookie in 2008. And not just because he's a running back. Maybe more importantly, he's a running back who entered the draft after his junior season. In case you haven't noticed, underclassmen have fairly well ruled the NFL's rookie classes in recent years. It was Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson's impact that made headlines in 2007. Tennessee quarterback Vince Young, New Orleans running back Reggie Bush and Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew did likewise in 2006. And in 2004, we were all raving about the play of Pittsburgh rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Three of the NFL's last four Offensive Rookie of the Year winners were among that group, and they were juniors all.
