2013 NFL Draft: Barrett Jones and 5 Players Who Will Fall on Draft Day

Barrett Jones may be a household name when it comes to the NFL draft, but despite capturing All-American honors at both both right guard and left tackle, Alabama's new starting center will experience a draft day slide come April. 

At first glance, the Crimson Tide's senior offensive lineman seems to possess the size (6'5", 302 pounds), experience (35 starts) and winning pedigree to be a top-10 pick. 

Dig a little deeper, and questions about Jones' athleticism, footwork and positional fit begin to rise. 

Although No. 75 is certainly a solid pro prospect, he is part of a group of hyped players who won't go as high as they expect. 

Let's take a closer look at why Jones and five other 2013 NFL draft prospects will have to wait a little longer to hear their names called on draft day. 

Barrett Jones, C, Alabama

Reading through Barrett Jones' list of accolades can be quite challenging.

The team's new center has been a mainstay for Nick Saban over the past three years, drawing 35 starts at both right guard and left tackle. 

Although he's garnered multiple All-American awards and won the 2011 Outland Trophy as the nation's premier interior lineman, the 6'5", 302-pounder won't be a top-10 pick in 2013. 

Tony Pauline of Draft Insider rates Jones as just a fourth-round prospect, describing him as "minimally athletic but smart and a terrific position blocker."

That projection may be a bit on the low side, but it certainly raises questions about Jones' fit at the next level. 

According to NFLDraftScout.com, Jones is the top-ranked guard and 16th-best overall prospect—but come draft day, I expect No. 75 to fall behind physically superior guards like teammate Chance Warmack and North Carolina's Jonathan Cooper. 

Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

Before tearing his left ACL against Mississippi State last season, South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore was well on his way to cementing himself as the SEC's top tailback. 

The prep star made an instant impact as a true freshman, rushing for 1,197 yards and 17 scores while adding 412 yards on 29 catches. 

Steve Spurrier's workhorse managed to rush for 818 yards on 163 carries before suffering the season-ending injury in October. 

Despite possessing excellent size (6'0", 218 pounds) and the mindset, power and vision of an NFL back, Lattimore isn't in the class of former top-five picks Darren McFadden and Trent Richardson.

Lattimore's lack of elite straight-line speed, combined with the declining value of running backs (via Greg Cosell of NFL Films), will cause the Gamecocks' No. 1 back to possibly fall out of the first round.

William Gholston, DE, Michigan State

Michigan State's William Gholston is a towering man, but it's time to lower draft expectations for the former 5-star recruit. 

Checking in at 6'7", 275 pounds, the Spartans defensive end has the look of an NFL defensive end, but his play leaves much to be desired. 

The Detroit native's 2011 statistics—70 total tackles, 16 for loss and five sacks—certainly impress, yet the man ranked as the draft's 30th-best prospect by NFLDraftScout.com checks in much lower on Tony Pauline's board. 

Pauline rates the true junior as just a fourth-round prospect, shedding light on a few red flags. 

"

Overrated college defensive end that flashes skill. Shows the ability to be a disruptive force yet does not play with a sense of urgency and takes too many downs off.

"

Gholston possess the frame and upside to become a good 3-4 defensive end, but he could experience a Calais Campbell-like slip to the second round on draft day. 

Devin Taylor, DE, South Carolina

Devin Taylor is an enigma. 

Blessed with an incredible 6'8" frame, the former high school basketball star has unfortunately been more Robin than Batman when it comes to South Carolina's defensive end duo. 

Playing on a line that featured freshman phenom Jadeveon Clowney and 2012 first-round pick Melvin Ingram, Taylor should have shined. 

However, after posting eight sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 2010, Taylor's 2011 performance was lackluster. 

The rangy defensive end managed only five sacks and seven tackles for loss while seeing his tackle total dip from 46 to 37. 

Entering his final year for the Gamecocks, Taylor checks in as NFL Draft Scout's 59th-best prospect—but in a stacked class of pass-rushers, No. 98 may have to wait awhile to hear his name called. 

Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin

Montee Ball had a dream season in 2011, but his draft experience may not be so bright. 

After tying Barry Sanders' single-season FBS touchdown record with 39 scores, Ball appeared to be a good bet to move on to the NFL. 

However, the fourth-place finisher in the Heisman Trophy race elected to return to Wisconsin (via Adam Rittenberg of ESPN) for another year. 

It's an admirable decision for the All-American, but it might ultimately cost him on draft day. 

During his three-year career, Ball has benefited from running behind current NFL linemen Peter Konz, John Moffit, Kevin Zeitler, Gabe Carimi and future first-round pick Ricky Wagner. 

His extensive workload—568 carries and counting—won't dispel concerns that Ball will enter the league with a lot of tread on his tires. 

Ball boasts the production, character and work ethic of an NFL back, but he might not be selected until after Round 2. 

Nico Johnson, LB, Alabama

Alabama's Nico Johnson appears poised to follow predecessors Dont'a Hightower and Rolando McClain to the NFL—but unlike the former Crimson Tide linebackers, Johnson won't be going in Round 1. 

In fact, the 6'3", 245-pounder may not even go in the first three rounds.

Despite possessing NFL-caliber size and athleticism, the former mega recruit's career has been slightly underwhelming to this point.

The aggressive inside linebacker is one of a few high-profile players left on Alabama's defense, but Johnson's resume doesn't stack up compared to other 2013 prospects like Notre Dame's Manti Te'o and Stanford's Shayne Skov.

In three seasons, Johnson has recorded 108 tackles, two sacks and a pair of picks. 

Those are great numbers for a single season, but a drop in the bucket compared to Te'o's career marks of 324 tackles and seven quarterback takedowns. 

Although Johnson is rated as a second-round prospect by NFLDraftScout.com, his lack of on-field production may cost him on draft day.