BCS draft prospects

BCS PROSPECTS: While one part of the 49ers building tries to compile new coach Jim Harbaugh's future coaching staff, another part is attempting to evaluate Harbaugh's future players, and that's where tonight's BCS Championship game between Auburn and Oregon comes in. 49ers fans should watch for these players tonight:

Auburn on offense: Cam Newton -quarterback. The junior Heismann Trophy winner did everything imaginable for this Auburn offense, including accounting for for 49 touchdowns (28 passing, 20 rushing, and one receiving). Yet some draftnicks don't like him. ESPN experts believe he's not a first round talent.

Terrell Zachery WR - Late round prospect and the second-leading receiver for the Tigers. Is also dangerous on end arounds.

Mario Fannin RB - Another late round prospect, but he has the size (230 pounds). He shares the back field with freshman Michael Dyer and sophomore Onterio McCalebb.

The Tigers have other prospects, particularly on the offensive line, but that's not an overriding need for the 49ers. The main one here is obviously Newton.

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Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Jan 10 at 03:46 PM

Roger Craig and Eddie DeBartolo Jr. don't make HOF cut

Too bad that running back Roger Craig and former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. didn't make it as finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Craig was a main cog in the glory years, particularly in 1988, the year the 49ers rebounded from a 6-5 start to go 10-6 and win Super Bowl XXIII in dramatic fashion over the Bengals. That was the last 49ers team Bill Walsh coached, and he would later say that he relied too much on Craig that season. Craig set a then team record with 1,502 rushing yards that year.

That was also the season he broke seven or eight tackles in a historic run against the Rams in Anaheim. That run was recently compared to Marshawn Lynch's tackle-bursting 67-yard bull-doze to the end zone to beat the Saints on Saturday.

I've also thought DeBartolo never got the credit he deserved for crafting a winning organization. Walsh often left and returned to the 49ers; and the team won with a completely new roster in 1994 from the one in 1981. The one constant was Eddie.

Recently, he went on KNBR to explain that he was never banned from the NFL. Suspended, yes, for his role in trying to illegally obtain a Louisiana riverboat gambling licensee, but never banned. DeBartolo said if he wasn't forced to sell part of the team to his sister, he'd still own the 49ers. Former 49ers Charles Haley and Deion Sanders made it to the next round of voting.

COMING: Players to look for in tonight's BCS Championship Game.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Jan 10 at 02:36 PM