2011 NFL Draft Stock Watch: Who's Up, Who's Down in Week 2?
Week 2. "Monster Saturday". "Week 1 of the NFL". Whatever you want to call the second week of the college football season is fine but quite simply, it was more good college football.
The legit contenders came out and beat up on the pretenders and a few surprising teams popped up at beat more of the pretenders.
All in all - big upsets left the ACC reeling (you can thank the technical institutes of Virginia and Georgia as well as the nonexistent Seminoles for that) and Alabama looks like it could lap the field even in the absence of a reigning Heisman Trophy winner and a potential top 5 defensive end.
So, as the college football season keeps rolling lets take a look at a few players that have helped at hurt themselves.
Stock Up 1: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
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Auburn barely escaped a Thursday night prime-time matchup at Mississippi State.
As the only Thursday night game, plenty of people got to see what this young man could do on the defensive front. The 6'5, 298 pound junior recorded five tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery and one interception.
A one man wrecking crew, one scout even told me that without Fairley, Auburn does not win this game.
The defensive tackle consistently wrought havoc in the backfield and used his explosive first step to fire into offensive lineman.
He went straight through on bull rushes, used his remarkable speed for a tackle to get around the edge, and beat double teams to make plays.
On a team with a lot to gain and the potential to beat some of the top tier talent in the SEC, Fairley looks to be making the most of his opportunity to show the NFL scouts that he is a ball player.
Fairley and Auburn will host the Clemson Tigers on Saturday night.
Stock Up 2: DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma and Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma
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Oklahoma came out and destroyed an FSU team that thought they could hang when they first arrived in Norman, but that certainly was not the case.
Watching the Sooners you come to expect Murray and Broyles to be dominant but they both appear on this list AGAIN for different reasons.
It is well documented that Murray is as explosive a player as there is in the nation and while some doubt his ability to line up as an every down back he keeps giving reasons to believe he is simply going to be a player at the next level - no matter where he lines up.
His ability to find the endzone (scored two more touchdowns against FSU) is one thing, but his versatility to move out of the backfield and into the slot creates a nightmare for NFL defensive coordinators. He tracked the ball well downfield and has always displayed good hands.
He may not be the ideal running back but he continues to give reasons why he may deserve a first round look.
As for Broyles, well, he just continues to dominate anyone who lines up in front of him. Against FSU he caught another 12 balls for 124 yards and one touchdown.
While the other wideouts in his class have been decent - Pitt's Baldwin rebounded with a 100 yard, one touchdown performance against New Hampshire, Alabama's Jones caught four balls for 49 yards, Notre Dame's Floyd caught five for 66 yards, and Georgia's Green continues to serve a suspension - Broyles continues to dominate.
Easily the smallest and possibly the "slowest" straight line speed guy out of all of them, his production should continue to speak for itself.
The Sooners will host the Air Force Academy this weekend.
Stock Up 3: Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas State
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Thomas followed up his huge performance last week against UCLA with another good one this week.
The most important factor for Thomas, and the reason he makes this list again, is because his size and ability make him a potential "bell-cow" style back in the NFL.
If he continues to churn out 20+ carry games with over 125 yards and multiple scores his name will continue to flow towards the top of the running back boards.
The most intriguing part about Thomas is that he came from JUCO as quarterback and is still learning the nuances of playing seven yards deep.
Coachable, versatile, and productive - not many NFL coaches will turn that down.
Kansas State will welcome the Iowa State Cyclones into Manhattan this weekend.
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Stock Up 4: Joe Lefeged, S, Rutgers
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Rutgers has not played well this season to date.
After turning it on a bit at home against Norfolk State, the Scarlet Knights traveled to Florida International and barely escaped with a win.
However, senior safety Joe Lefeged, a three year starter, made Big East history this week and also helped himself.
Known more for his ability to deliver the big blow and blitz from the secondary, the 6'1, 205 pound safety lacks ideal coverage skills and speed.
Yet, for his performance in the FIU game, he earned both Big East Defensive Player of the Week and Big East Special Teams Player of the Week - a first for the conference.
He blocked two punts, forced two fumbles, recorded six tackles, one interception, and one pass deflection - quite a performance to say the least.
Rutgers' coach Greg Schiano consistently develops good all around players - especially with special teams ability - and with NFL teams routinely clamoring for players of that caliber, Lefeged could actually get a shot.
It is a long season, but good special teams play can do a lot for a player and Lefeged has the experience and talent ride it for what it's worth.
Rutgers is off this week and will prepare for a huge home battle against UNC in Piscataway, NJ on September 25th.
Stock Up 5: Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan
5 of 10The hottest name in college football is not actually draft eligible this year, but after two performances of that caliber there is no reason to say his stock has not been raised for a year from now.
Running the offense that made West Virginia superstar Pat White a second round pick, Denard "Shoelace" Robinson is making college football defenses look silly.
The recipient of the Walter Camp Football Foundation Offensive Player of the Week Award in back-to-back weeks and leading the nation in rushing with 227.5 yards/game and total offense with 442.5 yards/game is enough to catch just about every football fans' attention across the country.
Only 6'0, 193 pounds, Robinson obviously lacks ideal size and arm for a quarterback in the NFL, but with rumored sub 4.4 speed it will be tough to not get him on the field somewhere eventually.
Still a long way to go, but the stock on Robinson is definitely UP.
Robinson and Michigan will host UMass this week in Ann Arbour. Look out for another big day.
Stock Down 1: Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State
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After an opening week cake walk over Samford, Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder led his Seminoles into Norman, Oklahoma to battle the Sooners.
Unfortunately, it was not much of battle.
Ponder completed less that 50 percent of his passes, threw two interceptions, and flat out looked awful in the face of Oklahoma pressure.
For a guy on the fringe of really breaking into that top quarterback race with Jake Locker and Andrew Luck, the Seminole took a big step backward this past weekend.
Ponder has the ability and the arm to make it, but decision making and poise in the pocket are going to be things to watch going forward.
It is only one game, but hopefully it does not become a theme for the rest of the season.
Florida State is going to be tested again when BYU walks in this weekend.
Stock Down 2: Greg Romeus, DE, Pittsburgh
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Following a lazy, lackluster performance against Utah in Week 1 and not playing in Week 2, it is reported that the senior defensive end will have surgery on his back.
Romeus came back for a senior season to drive up his stock as an elite pass rusher and instead has left us with question marks about his motor and health.
A gifted athlete with great size, ability, and speed; he would most likely have been a first round pick last season.
Scouts and teams know what he can do, but this season was about seeing him do it consistently again after being crowned Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Big East a season ago.
According to his coach he may be able to return by season's end and hopefully he does.
Stock Down 3: Orlando Franklin, OG/OT, Miami
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A massive and athletic lineman from the U, Franklin has all the physical tools to really excel but not much else at this time.
Unfortunately, he has not quite figured out what do with those tools yet.
At 6'7, 350 pounds, the senior does not do a great job of using his hands, has average footwork and has got to become a more technically sound player.
He looks like a work in progress.
The U is off this week in preparation for a Thursday night showdown at Pittsburgh on September 23rd.
Stock Down 4: Brandon Hogan, CB, West Virginia
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Two run-ins with the law in the past five months does not bode well for NFL Draft stock.
Hogan, a Mountaineers starting cornerback and returning first team All-Big East player from 2009 has rumored 4.4 speed, return ability, and good coverage skills.
At 5'10, 190 he made a lot of tackles for West Virginia a season ago and will be missed.
The senior has been suspended indefinitely for drunken driving.
Stock Down 5: Darren Evans, RB, Virginia Tech
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The 6'0, 200 pound junior running back just cannot seem to get it going after missing all of last season.
Ryan Williams came in, took his job, and although nobody seems to be running the ball particularly well, Evans has not made anything of the limited opportunities he has gotten this season.
After getting only four carries in the loss to Boise State, Evans only carried seven times in the upset loss to JMU, one of them being the game clinching fumble that he put on the carpet.
Evans rushed for over 1200 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2008, but with Williams, and not taking advantage of his limited opportunities this season, Evans' stock with the NFL Draft is taking a significant hit.
Wesley O'Donnell covers the NFL, NCAA, and NFL Draft year round. He is a contributing writer to NFL Draft Bible and can be followed on twitter @wesodonnell.
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