The most impressive player overall at this event was Florida WR Chad Jackson, who outshone Miami WR Sinorice Moss, Maryland TE Vernon Davis, and Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams.

Jackson appeared to be on a mission to get his draft status up, and if NFL teams put any stock in made for TV events such as this, he seems to have done just that. Jackson showed both speed and quickness, and perhaps most importantly looked very fluid in all of the drills. Jackson caught most of the balls over the course of the day away from his body and in his hands, something that most scouts are looking for.

During the route running drills, Jackson made sharp cuts around the obstacles and was able to keep his body moving forward while adjusting to the throws. In the receptions competition, where receivers catch balls launched rapid fire from four machines, Jackson obliterated the field with 27 catches in the 30-second time period. While it should be noted that Jackson went last and benefited from the best calibration of the machines, he drew oohs and ahhs from the crowd with a one handed catch during that event.

Draft followers will remember that Vikings WR Troy Williamson won the overall skills portion of the event last year, and was later tabbed with the 7th overall pick to replace Randy Moss in Minnesota. Incidentally, Williamson and Jackson have the same agent.

For critics who wonder about Jackson's yards per catch statistics, this reporter has seen many Florida games and feels that those statistics were a product of the system. Jackson's opportunities for big plays were severely limited by the "dink and dunk" offense, as his agent called it at the taping on Monday, and the quarterback's inability to complete passes downfield.

With many of this year's top receiver prospects measuring in less than 6 feet, Jackson has a significant advantage in not suffering from that affliction. If he runs the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds at the slow Combine track, as he claims he will do (see interview), there is a very good chance that he could be the first receiver taken off the board.

Maryland TE Vernon Davis also impressed the crowd with his combination of size, speed, and receiver skills.

Davis was impressive in the route running drill, nearly besting Jackson. At his size, he was able to burst through the gauntlet of tackling dummies with his remarkable strength and imposing physique. The crowd seemed even more impressed by his fluid route running, which was a remarkable imitation of the smaller receivers in the event such as Moss. He was ambushed by poor calibration of the machines during the receptions event, but still finished respectably.

It is difficult to extrapolate a 40-yard dash time for Davis from this event, but he did nothing to discredit the 4.41 seconds that Maryland recorded last year. Some have questioned his height, saying that he is only 6'1", but Davis appeared to be a legit 6'2" at a minimum and may in fact be close to his listed height of 6'3". We'll find out at the combine, and his height could be the difference between going in the first fifteen picks or the bottom of the first round.

Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams was not served well by being the only back at the event, but still put forth a solid effort. Those who might note that Williams has the prototypical size and speed of a third-down back might raise their eyebrows raised at a couple of the drops he had during the route running event, although he performed admirably in the receptions event. Those who have seen his play over the past four years, or even watched him turn a screen pass into a thirty-plus yard gain at the Senior Bowl last week will likely note it an aberration.

Miami WR Sinorice Moss (see interview) was done a great disservice by going first in the receptions event, as well as by being the smallest receiver when balls were fed to him with questionable accuracy. In the route running competition, which seemed tailor-made for him, he almost appeared to be gliding through while Jackson and Davis sprinted ahead of him in the standings.

K Stephen Gostkowski put forth a strong effort, tying Virginia K Conner Hughes with a perfect 25 point performance in the accuracy competition. Ohio State K Josh Huston and Texas K David Pino finished third and fourth, respectively. In the distance competition, Gostkowski won again with a long of 51 yards in a cross breeze. As he was the only non-BCS kicker in the competition, Gostkowski turned some heads, although several people wanted to know where Colorado K Mason Crosby was, not realizing he was a junior.

With regards to the signal callers, Alabama QB Brodie Croyle won the long distance competition over Texas QB Vince Young, Clemson QB Charlie Whitehurst and UCLA QB S. Croyle's best was an impressive throw of 68 yards, outpacing the other quarterbacks by six or so yards.

The quarterbacks warmed up out view of the crowd, limiting the opportunity to extensively study Vince Young's mechanics. His first two throws in the long distance competition were disqualified, as they landed well outside of the target landing area, which prompted DeAngelo Williams to note that "[Young] may have won the national championship but wasn't going to win everything," much to the amusement of the crowd and the other participants. Young's third throw barely qualified, landing just inside the rightmost barrier where his other two throws sailed over it. The throw was just over 60 yards, the same as Whitehurst and Olson.

Young came back to win the scrambling event, as he was the only quarterback to complete both throws on the run. Each player only did one attempt at the scrambling/obstacle course, and Young was only quarterback to make the downfield throw across his body into a bin, and was in fact the only quarterback to hit the bin. That throw was about 30 yards, and was right on the money,

The other throw in the event had the quarterbacks high stepping over a series of small hurdles, and again Young hit the target, while all of the other quarterbacks were low. His throws had impressive zip on them.

This performance did nothing to answer pre-draft questions about Young's ability to throw from the pocket, as scouts could clearly note that his strength is still throwing on the run. Though one of the most physically talented players and perhaps the one with the most upside in the draft, Young is also one of its biggest question marks.

Of the other quarterbacks, Croyle was most impressive with his win in the long distance competition. He has likely established himself as the beginning of the second-tier of quarterbacks, behind Young, Matt Leinart, and Jay Cutler. Whitehurst and Olson did nothing to distinguish themselves from each other or their other likely company on the second day of the draft.

In addition to pride and perhaps draft status, the players were competing for the plasma televisions that were the prize for winning an event.

All of the participants appeared to be having a good time, signing autographs and mingling with the assembled crowd, which was largely composed of local students who were in awe of their athletic heroes. Sinorice Moss, Vernon Davis, and DeAngelo Williams stayed the longest after the event. Williams' personality in particular sparkled the whole day, with him alternating between the roles of comedian, cheerleader, and on one occasion, on-camera interviewer, in addition to competitor.

Draft Daddy is proud to present this content, writing courtesy of young sportswriter Josh Frank, who was present at the ESPN All-Star Challenge, filmed on January 30th to be broadcast on Saturday, February 4th, 4 PM EST. Photos by Sam Blum.

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Josh Frank with Vernon Davis

All photos by S Blum.