Inside the Minds of ESPN

Todd McShay of Scout, Inc. and ESPN put together a self-described "insanely early" 2009 NFL mock draft (it's on ESPN Insider but they're doing a free preview). His top pick might surprise you:

1. Atlanta Falcons -- Fili Moala, DT, USC
Atlanta finally gets its playmaking interior defensive lineman. Moala has flown under the radar to this point but he should emerge from the shadow of 2008 No. 7 overall pick Sedrick Ellis and become one of the elite defenders in college football this fall.

That was unexpected, to put it mildly. Moala was overshadowed by Ellis in 2007, but it's a big jump from All-Pac-10 to No. 1 overall draft pick. Of course, college success and NFL stock aren't one and the same. Physicality takes on greater importance. That's why Reggie Bush won a Heisman but people question his status as an every-down back. That's why a subdivision (I-AA) quarterback named Joe Flacco was drafted four rounds ahead of Dennis Dixon. And that was the only conceivable knock against the 6-foot-1 Ellis. The only defensive tackle picked higher this year was LSU's Glenn Dorsey -- taller by a whopping inch.

When asked about his size before the draft, Ellis said, "A lot of people like taller tackles, but I think my height is just great. You get these big 6-5 linemen, and I can get up underneath them and uproot them out of what they’re trying to do."

Whether or not it's right, Ellis puts it out there -- people like taller tackles. Moala is 6 foot 5.

I'm not certain if that influenced McShay, but I do know the other Trojans who made his list of first rounders: Rey Maualuga at No. 9 and Brian Cushing at No. 32. No surprises there.

While we're on the topic of ESPN Insider, Bruce Feldman says USC's 2003 recruiting class is the best ever (nine first day picks, with Moala as the possible 10th). Only Miami's 2001 group would be comparable. To read the full story, you will need that Insider service.