2006 UCONN Football team MVP Deon Anderson was drafted on Sunday by the Dallas Cowboys. He was taken in the 6th round with the 195th overall pick. The Cowboys actually traded up five spots to get him.

To see a highlight video of Anderson at UCONN, click here.

After Anderson was drafted he had this to say.

“This is crazy,” Anderson said. “I don’t even know what to think.

“He just said, ‘We’re thinking about drafting you, are you ready to play for us,” Anderson said. “He told me they’re really excited about the energy I bring to the field. I just can’t wait to get down there.”

Head coach Randy Edsall shares his thoughts on Anderson as well.

“I am extremely happy for him, his wife and new baby,” UConn head coach Randy Edsall said. “This is why you coach. You do it to see what this young man has gone through and has overcome to reach a life-long goal. You do it to discipline someone like Deon and then see it work out in the end to the point that he can turn around and be drafted. This, and watching these kids graduate, is why you coach, to help them get opportunities that you might not have thought that they would get otherwise. Helping them reach these goals is what coaching is all about.

“I’m also happy for our program to have three people get drafted in the last three years. I think that’s a good statement of where UConn football is today. Deon fits right in with two our other two recent draftees, Alfred Fincher (third round, New Orleans, 2005) and Dan Orlovsky (fifth round, Detroit, 2005) in that they are people who were always willing to put in the time and effort necessary to excel and all three had a true passion for the game.

“Deon is a good kid who works extremely hard and you don’t give up on people like that. He made some poor decisions, but not some horrible ones. We stuck by him, gave him another opportunity and he stuck with it and that has now allowed him to achieve one of his goals in life, playing in the NFL. I’m grateful that he’s getting this opportunity with a great organization which traded up to get him. It is a great reflection on him and his ability to endure through hard times. Deon is one of my ‘special guys.’ He plays the game with such a passion and enthusiasm. This is a joyous day for both him and this program.”

With the Red Sox off on Monday, they have finished the April part of their schedule. As it stands right now, the Red Sox are 16-8 and have the best record in baseball. They currently lead the AL East by 4 games over the Toronto Blue Jays.

So now let’s take a look at the Red Sox review for April as written by Steve. Steve is a loyal reader and frequent commenter here at SOX & Dawgs.

Red Sox Review

Well the first month of the 2007 season is in the bag and the Sox stand at 16-8. I’m going to take a little whirl through the roster including the manager and give each player a quick review of how things are at this point in the season.

Manager Terry Francona: In all the years I have been following the Red Sox, and it dates back to 1973 when my parents took my brother and I to our first game at Fenway, Francona is the best manager this team has had. He has a great philosophy, lets the players play and one thing is never too big to overcome. This has continued this year his fourth as the skipper. He always seems to know when to give a guy a break, when to get someone else into the line up, which pitcher to bring in etc.

Grade: A

Starting Nine:

Shortstop Julio Lugo: Better defensively than I imagined. Good bat, not as good a lead off man as Johnny Damon but then not many are. Great speed, has 8 steals good for second in the league.

Grade: B+

First Baseman Kevin Youkilis: Better than average defensively can also play third and left field. Very patient at the plate good 2 hole hitter as he can control what he does with a bat. Plays a position where I would like to see better power numbers out of a corner infielder.

Grade: B

Designated Hitter David Ortiz: If it wasn’t for the April Alex Rodriguez is having everyone would be talking about David. Hit his 7th HR of the year today, has 23 RBI and is hitting nearly .300. Potential MVP candidate. Tough out for lefties and righties, comes up big when the team needs it.

Grade: A

Left Fielder Manny Ramirez: Uh where do you start? With the .200 BA? The 3 HRS? the 11 RBI? The weird base running errors? The flip he’s developed when throwing the ball in from the outfield with runners on? The only thing Manny has been doing better than average at this season is fielding. He looks more aggressive going after balls and making catches. And on the flip side even though his base running skills at times leave a lot to be desired he does seem to be running ground balls out so that’s a plus. Manny always a fan favorite and one of my favorites is in a funk at the plate. He needs to beat down a pitching staff and fairly soon.

Grade: D

Right Fielder J.D. Drew: This guy seems to be a legit five tool player. Hits for power, hits for average, fields, throws and runs. Folks there aren’t many five tool guys in the game today. Years ago they were in abundance. Roberto Clemente, Ken Griffey Jr., Mickey Mantle all come to mind. J.D.’s signing was vilified by Sox fans so much so I’m surprised he didn’t call Theo up and beg to be released before he even reported. But so far he has been as advertised, and has been healthy. For most of the month he was the team’s best player but has run into a 1 for 22 skid lately.

Grade: B+

Third Baseman Mike Lowell: At the plate Lowell has been a pleasant surprise again this year with a great start. He already has 20 RBI. In the field though he has had a tough time with 8 errors. He had 6 all of last season. One game he had 3 errors, 2 in one inning and in another he had a two error game. But in fairness to Lowell about half of the errors have been on tough in between hops on back handed plays and could have been scored either way. I don’t think the error skid will continue but right now it is a concern.

Grade: B-

Catcher/team captain Jason Varitek: Very very slow start at the plate, heating up lately. After having offensive drop off since he signed his last contract he needs to hit at least .260 on the year and right now I don’t think he’ll have a problem doing that. But Tek’s contribution is to the pitching staff and with some new additions to the club he is as valuable as ever.

Grade: C

Center Fielder Coco Crisp: Another slow start by a guy who the Sox need at the bottom of the order to produce and get on. Great speed, can steal bases, can run down a lot in the outfield. Average arm, but gets to a lot of balls that others may not. Has started to warm up at the plate and is looking better.

Grade: C-

Second Baseman Dustin Pedroia: The rookie after a quick start in KC has really fallen off at the plate. At one point was something like 1 for 20 but has had a few hits in the last week. The Sox need the guys above him to get their averages up so Pedroia can stay on the field. If the bottom third isn’t hitting it will be Pedroia who loses his spot or at the very least ends up in a platoon situation with Alex Cora. In the field has been steady but I expected a bit more at the plate to justify letting Mark Loretta go to free agency.

Grade: D

The Bench:

Catcher Doug Mirabelli: Plays once every five days to catch Tim Wakefield. Has hit this year after not hitting last year and his defense especially catching a knuckleball pitcher has been and remains very good.

Grade: B

Infielder Alex Cora: Could start at second or short for some teams. Very solid defensively, average at the plate with little or no power although he has a HR. His biggest contribution is what he brings when he plays. He does all the little things right and does all the little things to help his team win.

Grade: A

Infielder/Outfielder Eric Hinske: Hasn’t played much, but has been productive when called upon. Can play both corner infield and outfield positions.

Grade: C

Outfielder Wily Mo Pena: Awful outfielder. Constantly misplays or nearly misplays balls hit to him. Slightly better in center than on the corners. At the plate he is “Pedro Cerrano” from the movie “Major League”. He can not hit a breaking ball to save his life and I can not understand why teams don’t tell their pitchers I don’t care who you are if you throw this guy a fastball you’re out of here. Showed this week in Baltimore how well he can hit a fastball when Chris Ray had no confidence in his curve and threw Wily Mo a heater that traveled about 450 feet into the Boston bullpen for a grand slam that ended up being the winning runs.

Grade: D

See the pitching staff reviews and grades after the jump.

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Here are your lineups for today’s game courtesy of Amalie Benjamin from the Boston Globe.

Red Sox

1. Julio Lugo, SS
2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Eric Hinske, RF
6. Mike Lowell, 3B
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Coco Crisp, CF
9. Alex Cora, 2B

SP – Julian Tavarez

Yankees

1. Johnny Damon, CF
2. Derek Jeter, SS
3. Bobby Abreu, RF
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Jason Giambi, DH
6. Hideki Matsui, LF
7. Jorge Posada, C
8. Robinson Cano, 2B
9. Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B

SP – Chien-Ming Wang