2011 NFL Draft Stock Watch: Who’s Up, Who’s Down in Week 3?
After the battles of Week Two we got a bit of calm this week in college football.
Only two of the NCAA’s top 25 did battle with one another this week and consequently only two top 25 teams tasted defeat.
Iowa ran into some trouble out in the desert and Houston ended up having five different players throw a pass as their star signal caller, Case Keenum, went down with an injury.
In other key matchups, we saw a few top quarterback prospects take different directions while some of the lesser known, but not nearly less intriguing, signal callers make moves as well.
And so, even on lighter weeks of the college football season, draft stock never sleeps.
Stock Up 1: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
1 of 10The junior SEC signal caller finally nabbed his first road victory at Arkansas as the Razorbacks held on and beat Georgia “Between the Hedges” this past Saturday.
The 6’6, 250 pound quarterback completed 70 percent of his passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns. Mallett looked remarkably more comfortable feeling protection in the pocket against the Bulldogs and did a good job of sliding or stepping up to create a throwing lane for himself.
On top of everything, including a few negatives in the second half when he only completed five of thirteen throws until the final drive, Mallett took the ball with 00:54 seconds left in the game, drove his team down the field, then laced a beautiful two deep fade route to receiver Greg Childs before Georgia safety Shawn Williams could get over top, and left the Georgia crowd with nothing to cheer for with only 00:15 seconds left on the clock.
Mallett often depends on his ridiculously talented arm too often but seems to be making strides to get better this season. A bump in the Heisman race and a bump in draft stock come just in time for the biggest battle of the season for the Razorbacks.
This Saturday in Fayetteville, Arkansas the defending National Champs come to town to keep their repeat dreams alive.
Stock Up 2: Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
2 of 10
With a top 10 opponent in the house and a plethora of pressure slamming down on whether or not the Wildcats deserved to be ranked, quarterback Nick Foles and Arizona answered the call with little doubt.
The 6’5, 245 pound junior signal caller has been gaining buzz all season and looks the part of an NFL caliber quarterback. He finished the night 28 for 39 for 303 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
The one interception did happen to be mid-way through the fourth quarter and it was returned for a touchdown, but Foles got the ball back and led his team to a winning score with just under four minutes left in the game.
Beating Iowa is never easy and Foles made the most of the hype surrounding the opportunity bestowed upon him this past weekend.
The Wildcats will welcome in Cal this weekend in what is sure to be another big test to hold onto their momentum.
Stock Up 3: Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas State
3 of 10
Thomas just does not want to give up his momentum; just like his running style.
We talked last week about how important it is for him to show that he can be a “bell cow” back and handle a full load week in and week out; he answered that bell once again.
No matter who you line up against, you have to bring your legs if you expect to carry the ball 34 times and Thomas did just that. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry amassing 181 yards and scoring two touchdowns as the Wildcats held on to defeat Big 12 foe Iowa State.
Thomas has the most carries in the nation (83), is only seven yards behind rushing leader Denard Robinson in yards with 552, and is tied for fourth in the nation with six rushing touchdowns. Thomas continues to make a case as first round potential back.
Kansas State will take on UCF this week at home.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Stock Up 4: Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
4 of 10
Colin Kaepernick is as intriguing a prospect as there is in the nation. At 6’5, 215 pounds and solid speed for a quarterback, Kaepernick has consistently put up numbers and gotten better each year at Nevada.
This past week at home the Wolfpack watched Cal running back Shane Vereen torch the defense for 198 yards and three touchdowns only to be upstaged by Kaepernick who finished 10 of 15 passing for 181 yards and two touchdowns as well as 148 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
A touchdown machine, he has accounted for at least 20 passing and 15 rushing touchdowns each of the last two seasons and already has five passing and seven rushing touchdowns in 2010.
A project? Yes, but a talented quarterback prospect to keep an eye on? Absolutely.
Nevada and Kaepernick will have their hands full this Saturday when they travel to BYU.
Stock Up 5: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
5 of 10
This one was easy.
First game back for the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and all he did was rumble for 151 yards and two touchdowns on only nine carries. Albeit it was against Duke, it was great to see the junior tailback get back on the field and show there is nothing to worry about with him.
This week the Tide roll into Fayetteville, Arkansas to do battle with Heisman contender Ryan Mallett; got the feeling Ingram and company may having something to say about that.
Stock Down 1: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
6 of 10
The scariest part for Locker is that every other quarterback around him seems to be playing well while he has simply not gotten better so far this season and turning in one of the worst statistical performances in quite some time is surely not going to help the junior Husky.
Locker completed a disgusting four of 20 passes for the game for 71 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
He also ran for 59 yards and one score but that hardly made things better as his counterpart, Nebraska freshman Taylor Martinez, completed seven of 11 for 150 yards, one touchdown, and ran for 137 yards and three touchdowns.
On top of all that, Coach Sarkisian even started running some option during the game just to gain some yardage against the Cornhuskers.
Now we know Locker does not have the best talent around him and the defense is going to give up points, but to have a shot at a top 10 team at home needs to be a game Locker thrives in if he wants to be the No. 1 pick. The consensus on Locker is hardly unified but his display is nothing but warning signs.
The Huskies are off this week as they prepare to head south and take on USC on October 2nd.
Stock Down 2: Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia
7 of 10
At 6’3, 258 pounds the junior Bulldog looks to be headed for life as an outside linebacker at the next level.
While lined up in the dirt he seems much more at home, but when he is in space, things go haywire. Houston lacks the recognition skills and instincts required to play in space and as a result often finds himself out of position.
This weekend he tallied only three tackles against Arkansas, but did hurry the quarterback two times.
On the season, he already has eight quarterback hurries, three sacks, and four and one half tackles for loss. If he wants to succeed on Sundays, he will have to display better skills in open space.
Georgia is on the road this week at Mississippi State Saturday night.
Stock Down 3: Evan Royster, RB, Penn State
8 of 10
The Penn State senior running back is simply slow hitting the hole and has not done anything to prove he may be worth a good look in the draft.
While the offensive line has not been a dominant force by any means, Royster is only averaging 3.5 yards per carry this season and is hardly the “tough inside runner” some claimed he would be.
For a guy who contemplated entering the draft last year, this is hardly the way to come back with a stronger act. Junior Stephfon Green may be taking this job.
The Nittany Lions will host the undefeated Temple Owls on Saturday.
Stock Down 4: Greg Lloyd, ILB, UConn
9 of 10
The 6’2, 245 pound senior, Lloyd was expected to move to defensive end this year but has found himself at linebacker again.
He is second on the team in tackles so far this season but looks out of place in coverage and way too tight in his movements.
The senior has had trouble wrapping up ball carriers and has seen too many players get away from him.
The UConn system will undoubtedly give him opportunities to make tackles but if he wants to succeed on Sundays he will have to become a more solid all around linebacker with his size.
The Huskies will host Buffalo this weekend.
Stock Down 5: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
10 of 10
Once considered one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the nation in 2008, the Baylor quarterback has yet to return to form after his injury plagued 2009 and was easily corralled this past weekend by TCU.
He completed 16 of 28 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown. Griffin has never been one to force the ball, he has only thrown four career interceptions, but he made no big plays at all and the touchdown came late in the game after TCU had already run circles around the Bears.
Griffin also rushed for only 21 yards on 14 carries and found absolutely nowhere to go.
For a talent like Griffin, a game against one of the nation’s best should be a good opportunity to showcase his ability, but he merely looked pedestrian.
Griffin and Baylor travel to Rice next week where he will look to pick up the pace.
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.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
