Michigan State University Athletics
Football All-Star Game Recaps
2/22/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 22, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Seven Michigan State seniors participated in postseason all-star games and no one improved his stock for the upcoming National Football League Draft more than outside linebacker Julian Peterson did. In fact, three NFL Draft experts - including Pro Football Weekly's Joel Buchsbaum (No. 15), ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. (No. 21) and The Sporting News' Dan Pompei (No. 23) - project Peterson to be a mid-to-late first-round selection.
Peterson turned a lot of heads with his performance in the Jan. 22 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. He recorded three unassisted tackles, including two sacks for 17 yards, and intercepted a pass. His 20-yard interception return midway through the first quarter set up the North's first touchdown.
"Julian Peterson really helped himself with his play in the Senior Bowl," Kiper said. "He had a good week of practice in Mobile and then made some spectacular plays in the game.
"He's a smooth athlete, with a frame that impresses a lot of people. Peterson makes a lot of things happen as a pass-rusher but he also can drop back into coverage and make plays.
"I have him rated as the third-best true outside linebacker in the draft. He's being pursued by Green Bay (No. 15 pick), Kansas City (No. 21) and Carolina (No. 23)."
Defensive end Robaire Smith and Peterson accounted for all three sacks recorded by the North defense in the Senior Bowl. Smith was credited with three total tackles (two solos, one assist), including a 9-yard sack.
Wideout Gari Scott was shutout as a receiver in the Senior Bowl but returned two kickoffs for 24 yards while offensive tackle Greg Robinson-Randall played a solid game for the North squad.
Placekicker Paul Edinger, who kicked a 39-yard field goal as time expired to give MSU its bowl victory over Florida, continued his fourth-quarter heroics in the Senior Bowl. His 28-yard field goal with 5:15 left proved to be the difference in the North's 24-21 win over the South. He also was perfect on three extra-point attempts and four of his five kickoffs resulted in touchbacks.
Edinger also played in the All-Star Gridiron Classic where he shared the placekicking duties with Syracuse's Nathan Trout. He converted his only extra-point attempt and kicked off twice.
"Paul Edinger has an awkward style but he gets a good lift on the ball," Kiper said. "He also consistently kicks the ball through the uprights. Typically, placekickers don't get selected in the draft but I know this guy can kick in the NFL."
The Sporting News ranks Edinger as the second-best placekicker in the draft, behind Florida State's Sebastian Janikowski, and projects him as a likely fourth-round selection.
Cornerback Amp Campbell elected to sit out the Jan. 22 Hula Bowl to nurse a sore hamstring. Campbell returned to the field a week later and intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter of the All-Star Gridiron Classic in Orlando, Fla.
"There are still a lot of questions about Amp Campbell's neck injury," Kiper said. "Many teams are reluctant to draft him due to the nature of the injury.
"I think it's a shame that a guy like Campbell doesn't get an invitation to the NFL Combine. Unfortunately, those invitations are based solely on grades determined by the NFL Scouting Service - it's cut and dry. Campbell battled back from a career-ending injury and I wish he could get a closer look."
Running back Lloyd Clemons was a late addition to the Team USA roster for the All-Star Gridiron Classic after Louisiana State's Rondell Mealey accepted another all-star game offer. Clemons rushed for 29 yards on only four carries (7.3 avg.), including a 13-yard run in the second quarter.
"Lloyd Clemons is a guy who most likely will go undrafted but I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he made a team's roster as a free agent," Kiper said. "Here's a guy who played behind Sedrick Irvin (Detroit Lions) as a junior and stepped out of that shadow to rush for over 950 yards as a senior. Clemons is a tough kid who runs hard between the tackles."
