Be sure to pick up a paper tomorrow when our draft preview series begins with a look at one of the top local-college prospects inching up draft boards everywhere, Central Michigan tackle Joe Staley. The 6-foot-6, 305-pounder appears to have worked his way into the late first round with a great pro day last month. He's as athletic a tackle as there is in the draft (he ran a 4.8 40 at his workout) and he should be the first of potentially three Chippewas taken (defensive end Dan Bazuin and center Drew Mormino also could be late-round picks).

Michigan has two probable first-rounders in cornerback Leon Hall and defensive tackle Alan Branch, and David Harris could go as early as the second pick of the second round to the Lions, who need an inside linebacker if they don't trade down and draft Patrick Willis in Round 1.

Another candidate to go to Detroit in Round 2 is MSU quarterback Drew Stanton. Stanton said Tuesday he's "prepared for the worst-case scenario" though he and most others expect he'll be the third or fourth quarterback off the board.

"It's just got to a point now where I'm more concerned with going to the right fit, the right team," Stanton said. "I'm confident I can play in this league, with the right coaching and the right situation I can be successful. So that's the biggest thing that I'm worried about."

The Ravens and Dolphins have had Stanton in for individual workouts, and the Patriots and Vikings are among other teams who have shown interest in the Farmington Hills Harrison product, who could be the only Spartan drafted.

Defensive tackle Cliff Ryan is a potential late-round choice because of his versatility — he could play end in a 3-4 defense or tackle in a 4-3 — while Matt Trannon is likely to go unselected despite saying at Saturday's Green and White game that he's been projected as high as the second round (by friends or family members, no doubt). Neither player appeared in ESPN analyst Todd McShay's complete seven-round mock draft last week.