NFL Draft

Kings FOR A DAY

SPENDING THE DRAFT AT RADIO CITY ISN’T IN THE CARDS FOR EVERY NFL WANNABE. THAT’S WHY, FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW, THE MAGAZINE BROUGHT A CREW OF MIDROUND PROSPECTS TO THE BIG APPLE FOR A LITTLE TASTE OF THE ACTION—BROOKLYN STYLE.

BY L A RUE COOK PHOTOGRAPHS BY KURT ISWARIENKO

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STYLING BY MARK HOLMES

From left: Rashad Carmichael, Casey Matthews, Stevan Ridley, Tyler Sash, Colin Kaepernick and Jeremy Kerley.

(FROM LEFT) On Carmichael: leather jacket by DOLCE & GABBANA; shirt by ROBERT GELLER; hat by STILL LIFE NYC; belt by DIESEL; jeans

by BUFFALO; shoes by ALLEN EDMONDS. On Matthews: leather jacket by DIESEL; T-shirt by BARNEY’S CO-OP; jeans by LEVI’S; boots by RED WING. On Ridley: suit jacket by HUGO BOSS; shirt by IZOD; tie by BILLY REID; jeans by DIESEL, Larkee Relaxed Fit; boots by RED WING; sunglasses by TOMMY HILFIGER. On Sash: trench by BILLY REID (from Bloomingdale’s); shirt by IZOD; tie by BILLY REID; jeans by LEVI’S; boots

by RED WING. On Kaepernick: trench by BURBERRY (from Bloomingdale’s); shirt by IZOD; jeans by DIESEL, Larkee Relaxed Fit; shoes by DIOR HOMME. On Kerley: suit jacket by HUGO BOSS RED LABEL; T-shirt by ROBERT GELLER; belt by DIESEL; jeans by DKNY; boots by RED WING.

LOCATION BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK

NFL DRAFT PREVIEW

> NFL DRAFT CONFIDENTIAL

WOULD YOU RATHER BE THE FIRST PICK OF THE SEVENTH ROUND, THE LAST PICK OF THE DRAFT (MR. IRRELEVANT) OR UNDRAFTED?

More than half (55%) of our poll takers say the higher, the better. “The goal is to be picked as soon as possible,” says one defender. But 23.8% go with Mr. Irrelevant, who gets a vacation in Newport Beach, a trip to Disneyland and the Lowsman Trophy, which depicts a player fumbling the ball. “You get your name in the history books,” says one running back. “Who remembers the first pick of the seventh round?”

(FROM LEFT) On Kerley: shirt by BILLY REID (from Bloomingdale’s); jeans by DKNY JEANS; vest by RAG & BONE; boots by RED WING; tie is stylist’s own.

On Kaepernick: suit jacket

by TOMMY HILFIGER; shirt

by CALVIN KLEIN; cardigan

by THE MEN’S STORE AT BLOOMINGDALE’S; jeans by DIESEL; shoes by DIOR HOMME; watch by BREITLING.

LOCATION GRIMALDI’S PIZZERIA

Jeremy Kerley WR, TCU

Leather jacket by DIESEL; shirt by YIGAL AZROUËL; jeans by DKNY JEANS; watch by BREITLING.

LOCATION DUMBO

Casey Matthews LB, OREGON

Suit jacket by TOMMY HILFIGER; shirt by BILLY REID (from Bloomingdale’s); ­T-shirt by CALVIN KLEIN UNDERWEAR; jeans

by LEVI’S; watch by ­BREITLING.

LOCATION DUMBO

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“My parents gave us the freedom to do anything, but I wanted to play football,” says Matthews, whose father, Clay Jr., and uncle Bruce, both played 19 seasons, while his brother Clay III won Super Bowl XLV with the Packers. Casey lived up to the pedigree in 2010: He led the Ducks with a team-high 79 stops, and racked up three picks and nine tackles for loss en route to the BCS title game. At 6'1", 231 pounds, he may not be the biggest or strongest of this year’s ’backers. “But watch the film,” Matthews says. “It’s obvious I can make plays.”

When he’ll be picked: Third or fourth round.

Draft plans: Hanging out with family.

SCAN THIS FOR KIPER’S DRAFT INTEL! (see page 10 for details)

Attention NFL owners: Don’t ask what Kerley can do for you, but, rather, what can’t he? In 2010, the 5'10" 189-pounder caught a team-leading 10 TDs, ran for two scores, threw for another and was TCU’s top punt and kick returner.

“I bring a lot to the table,” says the Mountain West’s two-time special teams POY. Plus, he’s already played for a proven winner: The Horned Frogs were the first non-BCS school to become Rose Bowl champs.

“We always knew we were going to be the ones to put the program back on the map.”

When he’ll be picked: Fifth or sixth round.

Draft plans: At home, watching every round on TV.

NFL DRAFT PREVIEW

Rashad Carmichael CB, VIRGINIA TECH

Trench by BURBERRY (from Saks Fifth Avenue); shirt by IZOD; tie and vest by RAG & BONE (from Saks Fifth Avenue); jeans by BUFFALO; shoes by ALLEN EDMONDS; hat by STILL LIFE NYC.

LOCATION WILLIAMSBURG

SS, IOWA

On Sash: Sweater by BURBERRY (from Saks Fifth Avenue); shirt by ROBERT GELLER SECONDS; jeans by LEVI’S; boots by RED WING. (IN BACKGROUND, FROM LEFT) On Kerley: leather jacket by SPURR (from Bloomingdale’s); henley

by THE MEN’S STORE AT BLOOMINGDALE’S; V-neck by ROBERT GELLER; jeans by BUFFALO. On Carmichael: leather jacket and shirt by DIESEL; jeans

by BUFFALO; shoes by ALLEN EDMONDS.

LOCATION VINNIE’S STYLES

(FROM LEFT) On Ridley: Hat by STILL LIFE NYC; suit jacket by HUGO BOSS; shirt by YIGAL AZROUËL (from Saks Fifth Avenue); jeans by DIESEL; boots by RED WING; watch by BREITLING. On Kaepernick: Trench by BURBERRY; shirt by BILLY REID (from Bloomingdale’s); cardigan by THE MEN’S STORE AT BLOOMINGDALE’S; jeans by DIESEL; shoes by DIOR HOMME. On Kerley: Leather jacket by DIESEL; shirt by YIGAL AZROUËL (from Saks Fifth Avenue); jeans by DKNY; belt by DIESEL; boots by RED WING. On Carmichael: Trench by BURBERRY (from Saks Fifth Avenue); shirt by IZOD; tie and vest by RAG & BONE (from Saks Fifth Avenue); jeans by BUFFALO; shoes by ALLEN EDMONDS; belt by DIESEL; watch by BREITLING. On Sash: Leather jacket by BURBERRY (from Bloomingdale’s); denim shirt by DIESEL; T-shirt by CALVIN KLEIN UNDERWEAR; jeans by LEVI’S; boots by RED WING. On Matthews: Coat by WOOLRICH; T-shirts

by CALVIN KLEIN UNDERWEAR; jeans by LEVI’S; boots by RED WING.

LOCATION DUMBO

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GROOMING BY KEIKO HAMAGUCHI/DEFACTO; STYLING BY MARK HOLMES/SEE MANAGEMENT

Tyler Sash

He may have had trouble deciding on a pair of shoes, but choosing a college was a no-brainer for the six-foot, 211-pound strong safety. “I grew up knowing nothing but the black and gold,” says the Oskaloosa, Iowa-native, who hauled in 13 career picks and holds the Hawkeyes’ all-time record for interception return yards (392). Those are just the kind of stats he’ll need to stand out among this year’s crop of safeties. Not that Sash is sweating. “All 32 teams don’t have to like you,” he says. “It just takes one.”

When he’ll be picked: Fifth or sixth round.

Draft plans: A small get-together with friends.

Nicknamed Roc by his late father, Bernard, the 5'10", 192-pound speedster (4.36 40-time) certainly played solid defense for the Hokies. After recording a career-high six interceptions and 55 tackles in 2009, he led a secondary that ranked No. 2 nationally in picks last season. All that from a guy considered slightly undersized by most scouts. “To me, size doesn’t matter,” he says. “This game’s all about heart.”

When he’ll be picked: Fourth or fifth round.

Draft plans: Home with family and friends.

NFL DRAFT PREVIEW

During his first two seasons in Baton Rouge, patience became a virtue for the 5'11", 225-pound Ridley: With only 57 carries he didn’t exactly have much of a résumé. “When your time finally comes, you have to be ready,” Ridley says. His time came last season, and Ridley was prepared, rushing for 1,147 yards and 15 touchdowns, fourth most in school history. It was only one season, but the bruising back believes he showed enough to prove he’s NFL-ready and that last season wasn’t a fluke. “If a team wants three or four yards a carry,” he says, “then I’m their pick.”

When he’ll be picked: Sixth or seventh round.

Draft plans: Cook out with LSU teammates.

Stevan Ridley

Now you can find out with the MMOJO Analyzer. It checks out your social stats on Facebook then shows how your MMOJO stacks up against your friends.

Get your MMOJO score at

RB, LSU

Suit jacket by DKNY; shirt

by IZOD; tie by BILLY REID; jeans by DIESEL; hat by STILL LIFE NYC; sunglasses

by TOMMY HILFIGER.

minutemaid.com/mmojo

LOCATION WILLIAMSBURG

Colin Kaepernick QB, NEVADA

Trench by BURBERRY (from Saks Fifth Avenue); cardigan by THE MEN’S STORE AT BLOOMINGDALE’S; jeans by DIESEL.

LOCATION WILLIAMSBURG

The only QB in FBS history with the head-turning stats of 10,000 yards passing and 4,000 yards rushing, the 6' 5", 233-pound Kaepernick ran Nevada’s pistol-spread attack with aplomb. The question is whether he can run a pro-style offense. “I had to adapt to a completely new offense in college, and I started as a freshman,” says Kaepernick, whose 4.53 40-time was the second best for QBs at the combine.

“That proves I can make a transition quickly.”

When he’ll be picked: Second or third round.

Draft plans: Lounging poolside or playing basketball.