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All right, draftniks. You know that Pewter Report is the undisputed king of Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft coverage. We've listed players, such as wide receiver Dexter Jackson (2008), offensive lineman Jeremy Zuttah (2008), quarterback Josh Johnson (2008), defensive end Gaines Adams (2007), linebacker Quincy Black (2007), wide receiver Maurice Stovall (2006), quarterback Bruce Gradkowski (2006), middle linebacker Barrett Ruud (2005), cornerback Torrie Cox (2003) - among others, at their respective positions in the Bucs' Best Bets sections of Pewter Report's annual Bucs Draft Preview.

As the 2009 NFL Draft approaches, Pewter Report's resident draft experts, Scott Reynolds and Charlie Campbell, have spent countless hours watching over 12 college games per week and scouting which prospects would look good wearing red and pewter next year. With over 500 college games to review dating back over the last four years and countless scouting contacts throughout the NFL, Reynolds and Campbell are armed with the inside scoop needed to put together these scouting reports on players who might fit Tampa Bay's schemes on offense and defense.

The casual football fan already has a good deal of knowledge on likely first-round draft prospects, such as USC MLB Rey Mauluga, Oklahoma G Duke Robinson and Ohio State OLB James Laurinaitis. The goal of these regular Pewter Insider features on PewterReport.com is to inform you about players that will likely go in rounds 2-7 that might help the Buccaneers.

Will one of these players wind up being the next Ruud, Zuttah or Johnson? We'll all find out next April when Tampa Bay is on the clock.


FLORIDA WIDE RECEIVER LOUIS MURPHY
VITAL STATS: Florida wide receiver Louis Murphy measures in at 6-foot-3, 205-pounds, and reportedly runs the 40-yard dash at or below the 4.4 mark. He has a great combination of size and speed. Murphy has proven to be a deep threat receiver that is capable of scoring on any reception.

CREDENTIALS
This year Murphy has hauled in 28 catches for 452 yards and four touchdowns thus far. Murphy has emerged as one of the Gators best receivers, and is usually the second option for Gators quarterback Tim Tebow when he drops back to pass. In his career, he has totaled 67 receptions for 1,042 yards and 10 touchdowns. Murphy is in position with four games remaining to set new highs for catches, yards, and touchdowns in a season.

HIS BIGGEST GAMES
10/7/06 LSU two catches for 42 yards and one touchdown
10/20/07 at Kentucky four catches for 91 yards and one touchdown
11/24/07 at Florida State four catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns
9/6/08 Miami four catches for 77 yards and one touchdown
10/11/08 Hawaii two catches for 51 yards and a touchdown

WHY HE COULD BE A RED AND PEWTER PLAYER
The Buccaneers have a lot of questions at the wide receiver position entering the 2009 season. Starting wide receivers Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton are both free agents. Veteran backups Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard are on a year-to-year basis at this point in their career, and one or even both could choose to retire. Maurice Stovall ended this season on injured reserve like he did last year, and it remains to be seen if he will develop into a contributor. Second-round pick Dexter Jackson has been a disappointment as a rookie, and he too has yet to prove that he can be an NFL receiver.

The Buccaneers will definitely have a need to add personnel to their wide receiver corps this offseason in the draft and in free agency. The Bucs are also in the market for playmaking wide receivers that will add explosiveness to the offense. With that being the case, Florida's Murphy will be a player Tampa Bay considers.

Murphy has an impressive combination of size and speed. He flat out runs past most defenders, and is adept at getting separation from defensive backs. Throughout the past two seasons, Murphy has been a big play option and the target of many deep passes thrown by Tebow. Murphy has also had a few long touchdown catches called back due to penalties.

Murphy's draft status suffers because he does not get many touches. The Gators feed the ball more often to Tebow, and wide receiver Percy Harvin. Murphy has provided big plays when he gets passes thrown his direction, but there have not been many. There have been a number of receivers that did not receive the ball much in college but have gone on to be effective NFL players. This year, Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Eddie Royal is an example of that. Whichever team drafts Murphy will be hoping for a similar result. The talents of Murphy should shine through in his pre-draft workouts, where his speed to go along with his size will be tantalizing to NFL scouts.

For the Buccaneers, Murphy is going to have to show in pre-draft workouts that he is capable of running good slant and dig routes. Those two routes are the most prevalent routes for Bucs receivers, and at Florida Murphy goes long on a lot of straight "nine" routes. If Murphy does that, he could be a player that Tampa Bay would target in the middle of the draft. At that point, Murphy could prove to be a steal as he has first-round ability with his speed, size, and long arms.

TOUGHEST TRANSITION IN TAMPA BAY
Murphy is an unproven commodity. He has not registered a 100-yard receiving game in his career, and will finish his college career without a 1,000-yard receiving season. Murphy did not see the field until his junior season except for his solid game against LSU in his sophomore year. He never compiled a banner season that would provide a good indicator for the kind of pro that he will be.

SPECIAL TEAMS FACTOR
Murphy returned three kickoffs in his college career for 41 yards. All of the kickoff returns came in the same game. Murphy could be used on the kickoff and punt return units, but will not probably be the one returning the ball.

DRAFT PROJECTION
Murphy will probably show up well at the combine and in pre-draft workouts. He has the measurables that teams look for. At the same time, his draft stock will be hurt by his relative lack of production at the college level compared to a lot of other wide receivers. At this time, Murphy is probably a third to fifth-round player that could rise to a second-rounder or fall to late in the draft depending on how well he works out. All indications are that he will work out well though.

THE QUOTE
In speaking to the Gainesville Sun, Murphy was asked about being overshadowed and getting the ball thrown in his direction due to Tebow and Harvin.

"I hear it a lot," said Murphy. "I don't mind. It's about winning games."

THE HIGHLIGHTS

Murphy's touchdown catch against Hawaii is 1:40 into the video.

Murphy's touchdown catch against Miami is 2:20 into the video.

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