Pinstripe Bowl 2011: Rutgers and Iowa State's Hottest NFL Draft Prospects

Performances from a few top-notch NFL prospects will overshadow the lack of prestige in the Pinstripe Bowl.  If you aren’t a fan of Iowa State or Rutgers, the following players will still give you a reason to tune in.  Any one out of this trio could end up on your favorite pro team.

Here are the most talented players in the 2011 Pinstripe Bowl.

3. Leonard Johnson (CB, Iowa St.)

Leonard Johnson isn’t an interception machine as the mid-round cornerback prospect has only recorded one pick in the last two years.  His numbers are low, though, not because of a lack of ball skills, but because opposing quarterbacks know to throw the other way.  The 5’10”, 202-pound Johnson has started at corner all four years during his time with the Cyclones

2. Mohamed Sanu (WR, Rutgers)

If Mohamed Sanu turns out to be anything like the last highly-touted Rutgers wide receiver to enter the draft, his team will be extremely lucky.  The 6’2”, 215-pound Sanu absolutely blew up in his junior season.  He recorded a whopping 109 receptions for 1,144 yards and seven touchdowns on the year.

Right now he looks like a second-round prospect, but with a couple excellent workouts, he could sneak into the first round.

1. Kelechi Osemele (OG, Iowa St.)

Kelechi Osemele sounds like the name of a fierce warrior, and it matches Iowa State’s All-World road grader perfectly.  The 6’5”, 347-pound beast truly is a trench warrior and will instantly upgrade an offensive line’s run-blocking ability.  He plays left tackle for the Cyclones, but he'll most likely slide over to guard or right tackle at the next level.

He should end up being selected in the late-first to early-second round.

David Daniels is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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