Draft Stock of 3 Nebraska Cornhuskers Changing by the Day

The NFL draft is only three months away, and some of the Nebraska Cornhuskers from the 2011 season plan to be drafted on the first day.

The three most sought after Cornhuskers players are cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, defensive tackle Jared Crick and linebacker Lavonte David. Each of these players has hopes of being drafted on the first day.

Dennard and David hope to improve their draft stock in this week’s Senior Bowl game while Crick hopes to continue to recover from his injury.

Jared Crick

Stock: Down

Coming into the 2011 college football season Jared Crick was a preseason All-American and regarded as a “Can’t miss” prospect in the 2012 NFL draft. Fast forward to the end of the 2011 season and Crick’s draft stock had dropped.

After Crick was injured in the Washington game on September 17, questions about his health became a concern. Crick will sit out this weekend’s Senior Bowl, but he did accept an invitation to the NFL Combine February 22-28.

Alfonzo Dennard

Stock: Down

Alfonzo Dennard came into the 2011 as a preseason All-American. The question in Lincoln was: Would Dennard be the first cornerback taken in the 2012 NFL draft?

Dennard’s season did not start off as planned. He was injured at the beginning of the season and it took him a few games to get into game shape. Once his legs were under him, Dennard proved he was a shutdown corner for the Cornhuskers.

He completely took out All Big Ten wide receiver B.J. Cunningham in the Michigan State game. Dennard played well throughout the season, but it did not end well for him. Dennard was ejected in Nebraska’s bowl game for fighting with South Carolina’s wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.

Dennard has not been looking good in the Senior Bowl practices this week. Although he is still regarded as a top cornerback in the 2012 NFL draft, his stock has gone down. Too make matters worse, Dennard suffered a hip-flexor injury in practice and will sit out the Senior Bowl Game, according to Big Red Today.

Dennard still has time to impress the NFL scouts at next month’s NFL Combine.

Lavonte David

Stock: Up

While Jared Crick and Alfonzo Dennard’s stock is going down, Lavonte David’s stock is on the rise. David was regarded as too small to be an elite NFL linebacker.

I think the scouts are starting to change their minds.

David has looked good this week in the practices. He showed his speed and awareness throughout the 2011 season for the Cornhuskers on the practice field at the Senior Bowl as well. Once regarded as a “nickel linebacker,” David is now considered being drafted as an every down linebacker.

What the scouts like most about David is his ability to cover down field and his sure tackling, according to NFL Draft Scout. With a strong Senior Bowl this week and an impressive NFL Combine workout, David could be the highest drafted Cornhusker in the 2012 NFL draft.  

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