NFL Teams Are Looking for the Next Marques Colston

Every team is looking for the next draft steal. Tom Brady is usually the first name to come to mind -- the Patriots got him in the sixth round -- and last season, the Saints Marques Colston was the best rookie wide receiver in the league. New Orleans thought so much of Colston they drafted him late in the seventh round.

The NFL Draft is two months away, but unearthing the next college player you've never heard of is already underway. Clark Atlanta University coach Ted Bahhur has found the next Marques Colston. His name is Jacoby Jones. Jones played for Lane College (Division II), is 6'4", 208 pounds, and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds.

Jones' presence on the NFL radar screen started to grow after he kept scorching Division I-A defensive backs at the Shrine Bowl all-star game.

"I got a chance to show my talents and let them know that I could play with Division I guys as well," Jones said via telephone from Indianapolis, where he's working out in preparation for the combine.

According to the article, Jones caught five passes for 75 yards and a touchdown against Clark Atlanta, the best defensive team in Division II last season.

Track and field was Jones' original sport. Coming out of Marian Anderson High in New Orleans, he was a 5-7, 160-pound hurdler. He signed with Southeastern Louisiana. After one year, he transferred to Lane and had a 9-inch growth spurt.

"There's no question that he's one of the surprise prospects," [Lane Coach Johnny] Cole said. "We've been getting a lot of traffic from scouts coming in here. We probably have had all 32 teams come in here. They couldn't believe his size and how fast that he is. He's definitely a surprise."

Nothing like a nine-inch growth spurt to make people pay attention. Jones will be at the Combine and if he has a decent showing, I'm guessing he'll go a bit higher than Colston in the April draft.