2011 NFL Draft: November Big Board and Position Rankings

As a simple college football fan, it can be somewhat of a challenge trying to decipher just who the top NFL prospects are at the college level because as fans, we don’t have access to nearly the amount of inside information on players that professional scouts do.

We don’t have access to workout numbers, game film, conversations with coaches, vital background secrets and just all the general inside information that paid scouts are privy to.

So how do you go about judging if a college player can be a performer at the next level?

For me, I always like to look at a player’s background—what kind of a recruit he was coming out of high school, how early in his career did he make an impact for his team and how has he matured and developed as a player from year to year.

The one trait I value over everything is athleticism. I’ve always believed that even if you’re the smartest, most fundamentally sound, hardest working player on the field—if you don’t have the athletic component, you’re not going to survive at the pro level. The speed of the game is just too fast and if you can’t keep up, you’re just going to get left in the dust.

Now that doesn’t necessarily mean the best athletes make the best prospects. There’s more to it than that.

When breaking things down position by position, you have to look at all the important traits that entail success at a certain position. For example, when looking at an offensive tackle—you have to look and see what kind of footwork, balance and agility he has. Say you’re looking at a linebacker—what are his range and instincts like?

Scouting college football players is an inexact science, and even the professionals who get paid for a living are wrong a fair amount of the time.

There’s still months work of evaluation left before the 2011 NFL Draft, and a lot will change up until late April. We still have to figure out how the whole lockout mess will affect the underclassmen.

The picture will become more clear as we go along, but right now, here’s a college football fan’s perspective about who some of the top NFL prospects are in the collegiate game.

The Flynn Fifty

1. QB Andrew Luck: Stanford
(6'4", 235 lbs, Redshirt Sophomore)

2. DT Marcell Dareus: Alabama
(6'3", 305 lbs, Junior)

3. CB Patrick Peterson: LSU
(6'1", 220 lbs, Junior)

4. WR A.J. Green: Georgia
(6'4", 205 lbs, Junior)

5. DE Aldon Smith: Missouri
(6'5", 250 lbs, Redshirt Sophomore)

6. OLB Bruce Carter: North Carolina
(6'3", 235 lbs, Senior)

7. WR Michael Floyd: Notre Dame
(6'3", 225 lbs, Junior)

8. CB Prince Amukamara: Nebraska
(6'1", 205 lbs, Senior)

9. DT Nick Fairley: Auburn
(6'5", 315 lbs, Junior)

10. RB Mark Ingram: Alabama
(5'10", 215 lbs, Junior)

11. OLB Akeem Ayers: UCLA
(6'4", 255 lbs, Junior)

12. QB Cameron Newton: Auburn
(6'6", 250 lbs, Junior)

13. WR Justin Blackmon: Oklahoma State
(6'1", 205 lbs, Redshirt Sophomore)

14. DE Da’Quan Bowers: Clemson
(6'4", 280 lbs, Junior)

15. OT Derek Sherrod: Mississippi State
(6'6", 305 lbs, Senior)

16. DE Adrian Clayborn: Iowa
(6'4", 285 lbs, Senior)

17. QB Ryan Mallett: Arkansas
(6'7", 240 lbs, Junior)

18. RB LaMichael James: Oregon
(5'9", 185 lbs, Redshirt Sophomore)

19. DT Jerel Worthy: Michigan State
(6'3", 305 lbs, Redshirt Sophomore)

20. DE Robert Quinn: North Carolina
(6'5", 270 lbs, Junior)

21. QB Terrelle Pryor: Ohio State
(6'6", 240 lbs, Junior)

22. TE Kyle Rudolph: Notre Dame
(6'6", 265 lbs, Junior)

23. CB Brandon Harris: Miami
(5'11", 195 lbs, Junior)

24. S Mark Barron: Alabama
(6'2", 210 lbs, Junior)

25. QB Jake Locker: Washington
(6'3", 225 lbs, Senior)

26. WR Ryan Broyles: Oklahoma
(5'11", 185 lbs, Junior)

27. DT Muhammad Wilkerson: Temple
(6'5", 305 lbs, Junior)

28. ILB Martez Wilson: Illinois
(6'4", 250 lbs, Junior)

29. DT Cameron Heyward: Ohio State
(6'5", 290 lbs, Senior)

30. OLB Dontay Moch: Nevada
(6'1", 245 lbs, Senior)

31. CB Jimmy Smith: Colorado
(6'2", 210 lbs, Senior)

32. DT Christian Ballard: Iowa
(6'5", 295 lbs, Senior)

33. WR Jonathan Baldwin: Pitt
(6'5", 225 lbs, Junior)

34. CB Aaron Williams: Texas
(6'1", 190 lbs, Junior)

35. WR Julio Jones: Alabama
(6'4", 210 lbs, Junior)

36. RB DeMarco Murray: Oklahoma
(6'0", 215 lbs, Senior)

37. ILB Dont’a Hightower: Alabama
(6'4", 260 lbs, Redshirt Sophomore)

38. OG DeMarcus Love: Arkansas
(6'5", 315 lbs, Senior)

39. DE Jeremy Beal: Oklahoma
(6'3", 265 lbs, Senior)

40. S Lance Mitchell: Oregon State
(6'2", 205 lbs, Junior)

41. OT Anthony Castonzo: Boston College
(6'7", 295 lbs, Senior)

42. WR Chris Matthews: Kentucky
(6'5", 225 lbs, Senior)

43. OLB Travis Lewis: Oklahoma
(6'2", 230 lbs, Junior)

44. DE Ryan Kerrigan: Purdue
(6'4", 265 lbs, Senior)

45. OG Marcus Cannon: TCU
(6'5", 340 lbs, Senior)

46. DE Allen Bailey: Miami
(6'4", 290 lbs, Senior)

47. CB Brandon Burton: Utah
(6'0",  185 lbs, Junior)

48. TE Lance Kendricks: Wisconsin
(6'4", 240 lbs, Senior)

49. QB Christian Ponder: Florida State
(6'3", 225 lbs, Senior)

50. DE Cameron Jordan: California
(6'4", 285 lbs, Senior)

 

Quarterbacks

Top Seniors

1. Jake Locker: Washington
2. Christian Ponder: Florida State
3. Colin Kaepernick: Nevada
4. Pat Devlin: Delaware
5. Greg McElroy: Alabama
6. Ricky Stanzi: Iowa
7. Nathan Enderle: Idaho
8. Andy Dalton: TCU
9. Jerrod Johnson: Texas A&M
10. Case Keenum: Houston
11. T.J. Yates: North Carolina
12. Tyrod Taylor: Virginia Tech
13. Jeff Van Camp: Florida Atlantic
14. Taylor Potts: Texas Tech
15. Kevin Riley: Cal

Underclassmen Who Could Declare

• Andrew Luck: Stanford (Redshirt Sophomore)
• Cameron Newton: Auburn (Junior)
• Ryan Mallett: Arkansas (Junior)
• Terrelle Pryor: Ohio State (Junior)
• Blaine Gabbert: Missouri (Junior)
• Nick Foles: Arizona (Junior)

Running Backs

Top Seniors

1. DeMarco Murray: Oklahoma
2. Bilal Powell: Louisville
3. Daniel Thomas: Kansas State
4. Kendall Hunter: Oklahoma State
5. Allen Bradford: USC
6. Armando Allen: Notre Dame
7. Derrick Locke: Kentucky
8. Noel Devine: West Virginia
9. Roy Helu: Nebraska
10. Jonathan Williams: East Carolina
11. Delone Carter: Syracuse
12. Evan Royster: Penn State
13. Graig Cooper: Miami
14. Brandon Saine: Ohio State
15. Nic Grigsby: Arizona

Underclassmen Who Could Declare

• Mark Ingram: Alabama (Junior)
• LaMichael James: Oregon (Redshirt Sophomore)
• Shane Vereen: California (Junior)
• Dan Herron: Ohio State (Junior)
• John Clay: Wisconsin (Junior)
• Brandon Bolden: Ole Miss (Junior)
• Ryan Williams: Virginia Tech (Redshirt Sophomore)
• Quizz Rodgers: Oregon State (Junior)
• Jeff Demps: Florida (Junior)
• Mikel Leshoure: Illniois (Junior)

Wide Receivers

Top Seniors

1. Chris Matthews: Kentucky
2. Niles Paul: Nebraska
3. Leonard Hankerson: Miami
4. Ronald Johnson: USC
5. Titus Young: Boise State
6. Jerel Jernigan: Troy State
7. Greg Little: North Carolina
8. Dwayne Harris: East Carolina
9. Austin Pettis: Boise State
10. Denarius Moore: Tennessee
11. Armon Binns: Cincinnati
12. James Rodgers: Oregon State
13. Mark Dell: Michigan State
14. Jock Sanders: West Virginia
15. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos: Iowa

Underclassmen Who Could Declare

• A.J. Green: Georgia(Junior)
• Michael Floyd: Notre Dame (Junior)
• Justin Blackmon: Oklahoma State (Redshirt Sophomore)
• Ryan Broyles: Oklahoma (Junior)
• Jonathan Baldwin: Pittsburgh (Junior)
• Julio Jones: Alabama (Junior)
• Greg Childs: Arkansas (Junior)
• Jeff Fuller: Texas A&M (Junior)
• DeVier Posey: Ohio State (Junior)
• Jermaine Kearse: Washington (Junior)
• Darvin Adams: Auburn (Junior)
• Marvin Jones: Cal (Junior)

Tight Ends
 
Top Seniors

1. Lance Kendricks: Wisconsin
2. Luke Stocker: Tennessee
3. Virgil Green: Nevada
4. DJ Williams: Arkansas
5. Daniel Hardy: Idaho
6. Jeffery Anderson: UAB
7. Zack Pianalto: North Carolina
8. Rob Housler: Florida Atlantic
9. Mike McNeil: Nebraska
10. Andre Smith: Virgina Tech
11. Weslye Saunders: South Carolina
12. Allen Resiner: Iowa
13. Charlie Gannt: Michigan State
14. Eric Peitz: Colorado State
15. Alston Umuolo: San Diego State

Underclassmen Who Could Declare

• Kyle Rudolph: Notre Dame
• George Bryan: North Carolina State

Offensive Tackles

Top Seniors

1. Derek Sherrod: Mississippi State
2. Anthony Castonzo: Boston College
3. Gabe Carimi: Wisconsin
4. Joseph Barksdale: LSU
5. Chris Hairston: Clemson
6. Jason Pinkston: Pitt
7. James Carpenter: Alabama
8. Nate Solder: Colorado
9. James Brewer: Indiana
10. Byron Stingily: Louisville
11. Danny Watkins: Baylor
12. D.J. Young: Michigan State
13. Lee Ziemba: Auburn
14. Marcus Gilbert: Florida
15. Adam Grant: Arizona

Interior Offensive Lineman

Top Seniors

1. DeMarcus Love: Arkansas
2. Marcus Cannon: TCU
3. Keith Williams: Nebraska
4. Mike Pouncey: Florida
5. Rodney Hudson: Florida State
6. Justin Boren: Ohio State
7. Stefen Wisniewski: Penn State
8. Zach Hurd: UCONN
9. Tim Barnes: Missouri
10. Orlando Franklin: Miami
11. John Moffitt: Wisconsin
12. Clint Boling: Georgia
13. Kristofer O’Dowd: USC
14. Brad Thorson: Kansas
15. Chase Beeler: Stanford

Defensive Tackles

Top Seniors

1. Cameron Heyward: Ohio State
2. Christian Ballard: Iowa
3. Stephen Paea: Oregon State
4. Marvin Austin: North Carolina
5. Drake Nevis: LSU
6. Jarvis Jenkins: Clemson
7. Phil Taylor: Baylor
8. Jerrell Powe: Ole Miss
9. Sione Fua: Stanford
10. Ian Williams: Notre Dame
11. Ricky Lumpkin: Kentucky
12. Kendrick Ellis: Hampton
13. Terrell McClain: South Florida
14. Adrian Taylor: Oklahoma
15. Chris Neild: West Virginia

Underclassmen Who Could Declare

• Marcell Dareus: Alabama (Junior)
• Nick Fairley: Auburn (Junior)
• Jerel Worthy: Michigan State (Redshirt Sophomore)
• Muhammad Wilkerson: Temple (Junior)
• Jared Crick: Nebraska (Junior)
• Jurell Casey: USC (Junior)

Defensive Ends

Top Seniors

1. Adrian Clayborn: Iowa
2. Jeremy Beal: Oklahoma
3. Ryan Kerrigan: Purdue
4. Allen Bailey: Miami
5. Cameron Jordan: Cal
6. Sam Acho: Texas
7. Brandon Bair: Oregon
8. Greg Romeus: Pitt
9. Cliff Matthews: South Carolina
10. Pernell McPhee: Mississippi State
11. Ricky Elmore: Arizona
12. Jabaal Sheard: Pitt
13. Ugo Chinasa: Oklahoma State
14. Wayne Daniels: TCU
15. Pierre Allen: Nebraska

Underclassmen Who Could Declare

• Aldon Smith: Missouri (Junior)
• Da’Quan Bowers: Clemson (Junior)
• Robert Quinn: North Carolina (Junior)
• JJ Watt: Wisconsin (Junior)

Inside Linebackers

Top Seniors

1. Jonathan Cornell: Ole Miss
2. Greg Jones: Michigan State
3. Brad Jefferson: Georgia Tech
4. Quan Sturdivant: North Carolina
5. Alex Wujciak: Maryland
6. Derrell Smith: Syracuse
7. Kelvin Sheppard: LSU
8. Ross Homan: Ohio State
9. Josh Bynes: Auburn
10. Mario Harvey: Marshall
11. Nate Irving: North Carolina State
12. Mike Mohammed: California
13. Casey Matthews: Oregon
14. Colin McCarthy: Miami
15. Culmer St. Jean: Wisconsin

Underclassmen Who Could Declare

• Martez Wilson: Illinois (Junior)
• Dont’a Hightower: Alabama (Redshirt Sophomore)

Outside Linebackers

Top Seniors

1. Bruce Carter: North Carolina
2. Dontay Moch: Nevada
3. Mason Foster: Washington
4. Von Miller: Texas A&M
5. K.J. Wright: Mississippi State
6. Brian Duncan: Texas Tech
7. Michael Morgan: USC
8. Mark Herzlich: Boston College
9. Chris Walker: Tennessee
10. Spencer Paysinger: Oregon
11. Anthony Leon: Arkansas
12. Brian Rolle: Ohio State
13. Jeremiha Hunter: Iowa
14. Quentin Davie: Northwestern
15. Adrian Moten: Maryland

Underclassmen Who Could Declare

• Akeem Ayers: UCLA (Junior)
• Travis Lewis: Oklahoma (Junior)
• Keenan Robinson: Texas (Junior)
• Nigel Bradham: Florida State (Junior)
• Justin Houston: Georgia (Junior)
• Zach Brown: North Carolina (Junior)

Cornerbacks

Top Seniors

1. Prince Amukamara: Nebraska
2. Jimmy Smith: Colorado
3. Chris Culliver: South Carolina
4. Curtis Brown: Texas
5. Chris L. Rucker: Michigan State
6. Ras-I Dowling: Virginia
7. Shareece Wright: USC
8. Brandon Hogan: West Virginia
9. Ramon Broadway: Arkansas
10. Chimdi Chekwa: Ohio State
11. Lametrius Davis: Hawaii
12. Kendric Burney: North Carolina
13. Brandyn Thompson: Boise State
14. Andrew McGee: Oklahoma State
15. Mario Butler: Georgia Tech

Underclassmen Who Could Declare

• Patrick Peterson: LSU (Junior)
• Brandon Harris: Miami (Junior)
• Aaron Williams: Texas (Junior)
• Brandon Burton: Utah (Junior)
• Omar Bolden: Arizona State (Junior)
• Janoris Jenkins: Florida (Junior)
• Alfonzo Dennard: Nebraska (Junior)

Safeties

Top Seniors

1. DeAndre McDaniel: Clemson
2. Quinton Carter: Oklahoma
3. Deunta Williams: North Carolina
4. David Sims: Iowa State
5. Jaiquawn Jarrett: Temple
6. Nate Williams: Washington
7. Dejon Gomes: Nebraska
8. Jermale Hines: Ohio State
9. Shiloh Keo: Idaho
10. Tejay Johnson: TCU
11. Joe Lefeged: Rutgers
12. Johnny Brown: Ole Miss
13. Ahmad Black: Florida
14. Jay Valai: Wisconsin
15. Brian Lainhart: Kent State

Underclassmen Who Could Declare

• Mark Barron: Alabama (Junior)
• Lance Mitchell: Oregon State (Junior)
• Rahim Moore: UCLA (Junior)

*Note: Players are ranked based on the position they are projected to play in the NFL