2011 NFL Draft: Cam Newton and 10 QBs Worth a Look at the NFL Combine
Today, the NFL Scouting Combine begins. The country's best college football players will spend today and the next week showcasing their talents for NFL scouts in hopes of upping their draft status and becoming a key player on a professional team.
Some players may go on to illustrious Hall of Fame careers, while others may never play in an NFL game.
This year's draft class has quarterbacks aplenty, including recent championship-winning QB Cam Newton (pictured at left), who is projected to be a top pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. Yet there are many other quarterbacks besides Newton, so let's take a look at them.
These are the 10 QBs at the combine that may get an extra look, Newton included!
No. 10: Ricky Stanzi, Iowa
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In his days at Iowa, Ricky Stanzi was a solid quarterback. He fit perfectly into Kirk Ferentz's offense and showcased great intelligence on the field.
Yet compared to the others showcasing themselves in Indianapolis, Stanzi cannot be considered one of the elite quarterbacks at the combine. His intelligence and experience are there, but his arm strength is just not what it should be for someone who wants to be an NFL quarterback.
Still, he has good size at 6'4" and 235 pounds and could be ideal for an offense that utilizes short passes. He won't be a starter immediately, but keep your eye on Stanzi once the middle rounds come around.
No. 9: Pat Devlin, Delaware
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After the University of Delaware's football team was put on the map thanks to Joe Flacco, all future quarterbacks instantly had big shoes to fill. Enter Pat Devlin.
Unlike Flacco, Devlin is not the big, strong quarterback who will throw bombs down the field. Much like Stanzi, he is a short passer who can be effective at frustrating defenses and move his way down the field.
Despite this talent, injuries may be a problem for Devlin. He missed time (albeit a short time) with a broken wrist and in his tenure at Delaware never really attracted the attention of the masses. Still, he has the potential to do well with a patient coach. Keep an eye on him in the later rounds.
No. 8: Nathan Enderle, Idaho
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One may look at Nathan Enderle, who stands 6'5" and weighs 233 pounds, and see an elite quarterback with gunslinger potential. In reality, he is a short passer with impatient tendencies.
Enderle does all right with a short passing game, but his skills at the position do not match his size whatsoever. He has trouble reading defenses and tends to throw off his back foot when under pressure.
Still, he might be worth a shot for a team running a West Coast offense. Let him spend a few years on the bench learning from a tested veteran and then give him a shot. Who knows? With time, he could become a top quarterback who intimidates defenses.
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No. 7: Christian Ponder, Florida State
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As a senior, Christian Ponder had his best season as a Seminole. With Jimbo Fisher at the helm, Ponder had a career-high 20 touchdown passes as he led the Seminoles to victory in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
He further upped his draft status at the Senior Bowl, when he threw for 132 yards and two touchdowns as the South beat the heavily favored North.
Compared to the other quarterbacks at the combine, Ponder's arm strength is about average. Still, he eludes defenses well and is an accurate short passer. On top of that, he is easily the most coachable player at the combine.
Without a big ego and skills that can be honed, Ponder will be attractive to teams in perhaps the second or third round.
No. 6: Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
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As a four-year starter at Nevada, Colin Kaepernick was a good quarterback who flew under the radar. He was an accurate passer with a strong arm and made great plays with his legs as well.
Still, Kaepernick is about to transition to the NFL, and that style of play isn't exactly used. He has great size at 6'6" and 225 pounds but may need some extra time to adjust at the NFL level. If he is put on a team with an offensive coach and a good mentor at quarterback, he could eventually be great.
He may not be as fast as Tim Tebow, who had a similar style of play in college, but Kaepernick is definitely someone who should be watched at the NFL combine.
No. 5: Andy Dalton, TCU
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If the NFL draft were based on leadership alone, Andy Dalton would be the No. 1 pick. In every game he played for the Texas Christian Horned Frogs, he used his passing accuracy to lead his team to victory. In doing so, he made TCU football relevant again.
The only concern surrounding Dalton could be his size. He's 6'4" but is pretty skinny at 215 pounds. Yet his intangibles are at the point where he would be a coach's dream.
With a strong arm and an effective short passing game, Dalton can be effective in any type of offense. Look for him to be taken in the middle of the first round, perhaps a little later.
No. 4: Jake Locker, Washington
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He may have had an off senior season, but that doesn't take away from the fact that Jake Locker is still a top quarterback. He has good size at 6'3" and 230 pounds, and his arm strength is unbelievable.
The only question mark with Locker is his accuracy. Scouts notice that he tends to "overthink his throws" and thus misses wide-open receivers. Plus he has been known to throw on the run.
Give Locker a patient coach and a good offense to work with, and he can be molded into a top NFL quarterback. Yes, his senior season hurt his draft status, but don't be shocked to see him gone in the first round.
No. 3: Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
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On size alone, Ryan Mallett is at the top of his class. He is huge for a quarterback at 6'6" and 238 pounds and easily has the strongest arm out of all the men at his position.
He can throw short passes and long passes with amazing accuracy and averaged nine yards per attempt in 2009. On top of that, he has decent footwork and uses his size well to elude defenders.
The only red flag with Mallett is his personality. Rumors involving him and drug use have clouded his true talents, and others have said he has the tendency to be a head case when it comes to being coached. Still, the man has great talents on the field that would be a prize for any NFL team.
No. 2: Cam Newton, Auburn
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2010 was a great year for Cam Newton. He led the Auburn Tigers to an undefeated season, won the Heisman Trophy and put a cap on the year with a win over Oregon in the BCS National Championship Game. Shortly afterward, he declared for the NFL draft.
Simply put, Newton has it all. He has great size at 6'6" and 249 pounds and shows tremendous speed to go with his strong arm.
With those two talents, look for Newton to be a top five pick in the NFL draft, if not the first pick overall. He may have only been a starter for one full season of his Division I college career, but his intangibles and size will make him a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.
No. 1: Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
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He doesn't have the same talents as Newton, but Blaine Gabbert will be the top quarterback to watch this week in Indianapolis. Why? Because scouts say he is the most NFL-ready out of all the quarterbacks at the NFL combine.
Gabbert has a strong arm and decent footwork. He had something of an off year in 2010 but refused to let it affect him and his team. He is a leader first and a top player second, and coaches will love that about him.
He may not be an immediate starter, but look for Gabbert to make an appearance in a couple of years as a top quarterback in the NFL.
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