Dec 29, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Tavon Austin (1) runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Syracuse Orange at the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports believes West Virginia receiver Tavon Austin is one of the most underrated prospects in this years’ NFL Draft, and even goes on to say the 5-foot-8 bundle of fire will be a star in the NFL:

Austin has a swagger. But more important, he has the speed to back it up. To watch Austin on tape is to see one of the more explosive players I’ve ever seen in the college ranks. He has breakaway ability as a receiver, returner and even as a running back.

It’s too easy to try to fit him neatly into the NFL scouting box, where receivers under 6-feet don’t deserve first-round hype. That’s a mistake. This kid will prove that wrong.

In West Virginia’s fast-paced offense in 2012, Austin caught 114 passes for 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns, excelled as a returner and also rushed 72 times for 643 yards. Every time he touched the ball, he was a threat to take it all the way.

October 27, 2012; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks running back Marcus Lattimore (21) rushes for a touchdown against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRE

In college football action, the South Carolina Gamecocks out lasted the Tennessee Volunteers in a 38-35 shootout, but the biggest story of the game was that of All-American runningback Marcus Lattimore, who suffered a gruesome leg injury that is now being reported as  a broken femur, broken patella, torn ACL, torn MCL, torn PCL, & torn LCL.

In some more positive news, it appears Redskins linebacker London Fletcher has a good chance to extend his streak of never missing a game over his 15 NFL seasons, despite suffering from concussion-like symptoms, he will be listed as questionable to face the Steelers on Sunday as he has dealt with concussion-like symptoms.

Oct. 27, 2012; Norman, OK, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Cierre Wood (20) runs for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-US PRESSWIRE

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish just pulled off one of the most impressive road wins of the 2012 college football season, defeating the Oklahoma Sooners by a score of 30-13 and will likely find themselves in the top 3 or 4 in the latest BCS standings.

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Oct 6, 2012; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns safety Kenny Vaccaro (4) looks into the back field during the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. West Virginia beat Texas 48-45. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE

General scouting for a draftnik begins with the expectation of a final record.  For example, if a team is expected to finish 8-8 or better, it’s foolish to look for whatever your top positional need is in a player who will likely be off the board within the first ten picks.  Contrary-wise, if you’re a team whose season is on the skids, not only do you look at the early first rounders, but you also focus your attention across the late board on secondary needs in case a talent happens to slide to the early second round.

As of last Sunday, this line of thought at least has to start being a consideration for Cincinnati.  Even the most optimistic fans would have struggled with the thought that was the Bengals year to make a deep run, but the majority of realists saw this season ending somewhere in the gauge of 7-9 to 9-7.  In all estimation this season could likely end much worse, which plays into our future far more than one might think.

The two glaring needs for Cincinnati are strong safety and running back, which is notable because both of the top ranked players at those positions – Marcus Lattimore (RB, South Carolina) and Kenny Vaccaro (SS, Texas) – are mid-late first round to early second round talents.  If the Bengals do poorly enough this season, drafting either would be a reach and foolish.  Thus, the question now becomes, what do the Bengals do if they pick in the top ten?

2013 Draft Class will produce a gang of nose tackles, with Star Lotulelei (NT, Utah), Jonathan Hankins (NT, Ohio State) and Johnathan Jenkins (NT, Georgia) certainly coming off the board early.  Further, Geno Smith (QB,West Virginia) and Matt Barkley (QB, USC) will likely see their Draft Day playout in a Luck / RGIII scenario come April with Tyler Wilson (QB,Arkansas) in tow not too long afterwards.  With Devon Still maturing behind Domata Peko and Geno Atkins and Andy Dalton firmly rooting as the signal caller, none of these listed will warrant the use of a first round pick, regardless of being the best available.

There are likely to be a number of day-one caliber defensive ends floating at the top of the Draft as well, and with Robert Geathers turning 30 this year and Michael Johnson a free agent, a few of these names might be worth keeping an eye on.  Bjoern Werner (DE, Florida State) or Sam Montgomery (DE, LSU) are the top talents, but as before; is the juice worth the squeeze?  Same could be asked of drafting another first round corner, though the Bengals do seem to collect them at this point.  While Xavier Rhodes (CB, Florida State) and Jonathan Banks (CB, MississippiState) would be helpful, and DeMarcus Milliner (CB, Alabama) does present a very interesting Crimson Tide tandem with Dre Kirkpatrick, it would be unexpected to see a back in the first round to say the least.