Kiper: Parker projected to join Vikings, Teddy

Add Mel Kiper to the growing list of NFL draft analysts who see former University of Louisville teammates Teddy Bridgewater and DeVante Parker reuniting with the Minnesota Vikings on April 30.

That date, by the way, marks the first round of the 2015 NFL draft, and Bridgewater's Vikings have the 11th overall pick. They desperately need a receiver for the All-Rookie Team member Bridgewater, and Parker and Alabama's Amari Cooper measure up as the top two pass catchers in this year's pool.

Kiper projects Cooper to be off the board before parker, at No. 4 to the Oakland Raiders. That, in his first mock draft released Thursday morning, clears the way for the Ballard High School product Parker to go to the Vikings.

"Teddy Bridgewater showed he can be the long-term answer at quarterback if his development continues, and while there are also questions along the offensive line, Parker is a tantalizing talent at this point, as I think some teams will have him graded as the best receiver in this draft class once they've wrapped up evaluations," Kiper wrote.

"This is A.J. Green lite, and he's not that lite. Parker doesn't just have the leaping ability and length to go up and get it and beat even longer defensive backs at the catch point, he can create space with his short-area explosiveness underneath. Teddy needs another weapon. Here he is."

Additionally, Kiper projects Kentucky's Bud Dupree will stay local, going to the Bengals with the 21st pick. Cincinnati finished with just 20 sacks last season, an area in which Dupree can help out immediately.

"Dupree has quietly been one of the better pass-rushers in the SEC for three years and should show off big-time physical skills at the combine in February," Kiper wrote. "If they want a better rotation and more pass rush, they can do a lot worse. He'd be a good fit in this system."

IN THE C-J

•Columnist Tim Sullivan, after UK's win over Missouri Tuesday night, tackled the topic of coach John Calipari's halftime interview in which he reminded the ESPN audience that Dick Vitale, critical of the Cats' platoons, was once fired as a head coach. (http://cjky.it/1sCaxTj)

•The U of L women have been in the AP Top 25 poll now almost 70 weeks. Another impressive streak? They've opened Atlantic Coast Conference play undefeated, with the latest win coming over NC State at the KFC Yum! Center. (http://cjky.it/1CqfQ8M)

•See continued coverage of the Louisville Invitational Tournament — including a video featuring U of L signee Raymond Spalding's series of dunks to close a Trinity win over St. Xavier on Wednesday night — at The Courier-Journal's high school site. (http://bit.ly/1Ajh9DZ)

AROUND THE WEB

•ESPN delved into the era of a slower-paced college basketball in an enterprise piece published this week, noting that the NCAA's fastest teams rarely find success. One of the exceptions? U of L — or, really any team coached by Rick Pitino. (http://es.pn/1Ix4HGO)

•U of L's Belk Bowl loss to Georgia scored a high TV rating — a 3.8 — but then again, so did many of the postseason games played after Dec. 27. TheBigLead.com broke down why that was, especially this bowl season. (http://bit.ly/1wdHf8M)

•TwinSpires.com's James Scully offered an early Kentucky Derby Top 10 list of prospects as the Road to the Derby's "Championship-level" races worth 50 points for a victory near. A number of familiar names — Dortmund, Texas Red and American Pharoah — are among the favorites. (http://bit.ly/1C4pS12)

Jonathan Lintner can be reached at (502) 582-4199. Follow him on Twitter @JonathanLintner.