2011 NFL Combine: 10 Under the Radar Prospects Who Will Explode

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The NFL Combine is an annual event that showcases the best young football talent in the country.  These players will be showcasing their abilities in order to improve their stock in April's draft.

While the NFL Combine features many top name players like Cam Newton, Da'Quan Bowers, Mark Ingram and A.J. Green, let's take some time out to look at some other players who might be flying under a lot of people's radars.

10. Titus Young WR, Boise State

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While Titus Young is projected to be a second-round selection, Young has been flying under the radar with the fans and many scouts don't consider him to be one of the elite receivers in the draft.

Young will be looking to improve his stock and move into the first round with a dominant combine.

Think Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jacoby Ford.  No, not because they are both on the Oakland Raiders, but because they both had huge combines. 

Titus Young is not quite as fast as those guys, but has said that he is hoping to run in the 4.32 range.  He also has a quick burst and will likely impress in the shuttle, and in the three-cone drill. 

Young is not expected to perform well in the bench press, but expect for him to perform slightly better than expected, as he knows everyone will be watching his strength. 

9. Robert Quinn DE, North Carolina

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Robert Quinn is the forgotten man who will go in the first 10 picks in April.  Many fans do not know who Quinn is or what school he is from, mainly due to the fact that he didn't play in 2010.

However, Quinn is going to have a monstrous combine.

Quinn had all season to work out and get bigger, as he was not eligible to play for the Tar Heels this past year. 

He could very well be the fastest of the defensive ends in the draft and is likely the quickest off the line.  His burst is really going to impress scouts, and he should have a dominant shuttle time that will showcase his ability to change directions.

It will be interesting to see if Quinn has bulked up while being out of football; if he has, he will likely break the top five on draft day.

8. Aldon Smith DE, Missouri

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Aldon Smith is a guy who has burst onto the scene as of late for many mock draft gurus.  While some drafts still have Aldon Smith in the second or third round, others have started to take notice of his athletic abilities.

Smith is an absolute athletic freak.  He is a very raw pass rusher that will have a huge combine and propel himself up draft boards simply because of his athletic abilities. 

Smith has great speed off of the line, something that should really impress the scouts as they take notice of his burst at the start of the 40-yard dash.

7. D.J. Williams TE, Arkansas

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Williams is a very athletic tight end that should perform at a very high level at the scouting combine.  While he is not the fastest tight end, he will be looking to run a 40 time in the 4.55 area. 

He is very explosive and has a solid all-around skill set, something that Ryan Mallett utilized often in Arkansas. 

Williams has very good hands and showed his abilities to be a very good run blocker, as well. Williams should have a big combine and could secure himself a second-round selection on draft day.

6. Noel Devine RB, West Virginia

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Devine was a speed back that always kept his feet moving to fight for extra yardage during his time in West Virginia. At the combine, Devine will likely run a 40 time in the 4.3 range but will excel in the acceleration and change-of-direction departments.

Devine likely won’t improve his draft stock above the fourth round or so, but teams are starting to take more of these “scatbacks.”  It will be interesting to see what he does on the bench press, since he checks in at only 160 pounds.

5. Johnny White RB, North Carolina

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Johnny White is a running back who has been on the rise after a very successful senior campaign for North Carolina. 

Something to keep in mind when it comes to White is that he was not always an RB for Carolina and was a versatile player who played multiple positions, something that could help him on draft day.

He is a very powerful runner who lacks elite speed, but he should perform adequately in the acceleration department. 

Look for White to be the strongest of the tailbacks at the combine, as he is an absolutely punishing runner. He will likely draw comparisons to Marion Barber (whether that is a good or bad thing is all a matter of opinion).

4. Rashad Carmichael CB, Virginia Tech

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Carmichael is on the list because he could be the fastest guy attending the combine. 

He is not the most physical corner and likely won’t score high on the bench press, but should blow the competition out of the water with his 40 time. 

Look for Carmichael to try to run a sub-4.30 40 time.  Carmichael will also excel in the shuttle as well, considering he has very good change-of-direction speed.

With a strong combine, Carmichael will be looking to secure himself as a top-64 pick when draft day rolls around in April.

3. Derrick Locke RB, Kentucky

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Derrick Locke had a very strong Senior Bowl and will likely continue that effort at the combine. 

Locke is one of the fastest and also one of the quickest backs that will be showing up for the combine.  He should be toward the top of all of the running drills including the 40, the shuttle, and the 3-cone drill. 

Look for Locke to especially dominate in his 40 time, as he will look to run a time in the 4.30 range.

Locke is also a very impressive blocker. Look for all of these traits to be on full display when Locke steps into Lucas Oil Stadium.

2. Colin Kaepernick QB, Nevada

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Kaepernick is a guy that has a lot on the line at the combine.  He is on the verge of cracking the top five quarterbacks and could propel himself as high as number three on the list. 

He ran a 4.4 40 at Nevada’s Junior Day last year and is hoping to run better at the combine.  Kaepernick has said that he will be throwing at the combine this year also and is looking to build on his Senior Bowl.

Kaepernick is both a good runner and a good passer, something that will likely help him score out as the second-best quarterback at the combine, behind Cam Newton.

1. Greg Little WR, North Carolina

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At 6’2", 220 lbs, Greg Little would have been one of the top-ranked receivers in this year’s draft if he had been eligible in 2010.  Little has a lot to prove and has been a gym rat for the past year. 

Little will likely be one of the strongest receivers at the combine, and while he won’t run the best 40 time, his shuttle time and three-cone drill should be very good for a receiver with his size.

Many mock drafts have Little projected as a late second- or third-round selection.  Little has as much talent, if not more talent, than receivers that are projected to go ahead of him, including Jonathan Baldwin and Titus Young.

While it would be tough for Little to bump his stock up high enough to be one of the first 32 selections, he should solidify himself as one of the first receivers off the board in the second round.