2011 NFL Draft: Power Ranking the Top 25 Players
The NFL Draft is not until April, but we are already breaking down game film and notes in preparation for the off-season. Before the Senior Bowl and Combine get here, we are taking an early look at the top twenty five players eligible for the 2011 NFL Draft.
Note: Only underclassmen expected to enter the 2011 NFL Draft are included here.
25. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
1 of 25
Mark Ingram | RB | Alabama
5'10" 225lbs
4.48
Junior
Ingram is a punishing runner, but his junior campaign has failed to live up to his Heisman winning sophomore season. Ingram reminds many of a young Emmitt Smith, and their running styles are very similar. Ingram has tons of potential, but his drive and durability will be questioned.
24. Jon Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
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Jon Baldwin | WR | Pittsburgh
6'5" 225lbs
4.48
Junior
A huge target at wide receiver, Baldwin has rare speed for a man his size. While some view Baldwin as the second coming of Larry Fitzgerald, he has not shown the ability to take over a game single-handedly. Without great quarterback play this season his production has fallen off but Baldwin is a player whose stock will soar during off-season workouts and at the NFL Combine.
23. Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
3 of 25
Von Miller | OLB | Texas A&M
6'2" 232lbs
4.56
Senior
Miller is a pass-rusher extraordinare for the Texas A&M Aggies defense. With great size and speed for the position, Miller's talents project best to outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense at the NFL level.
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22. Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida
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Janoris Jenkins | CB | Florida
5'11" 186lbs
4.52
Junior
Jenkins is everything you could want in a cornerback. He is fast, aggressive, an able tackler and a great ball hawk. Why is he ranked in the 20s then? At only 186lbs Jenkins needs to bulk up before taking on NFL receivers.
21. J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
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J.J. Watt | DE | Wisconsin
6'6" 290lbs
4.87
Junior
The 3-4 defense has become the preferred defensive scheme for most NFL defensive coordinators, and with that shift in methodology comes a shift in the types of players drafted. In today's NFL Watt is a premier defensive end prospect for the 3-4 defense. Long, lean, strong and fast; Watt is ideal for the three man front.
20. Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
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Cam Newton | QB | Auburn
6'6" 250lbs
4.52
Junior
Allegations aside, Newton is a dynamic football player. He's part Michael Vick, part Randall Cunningham, part Tim Tebow. Some scouts in our network proclaim Newton will be moved to receiver in the NFL, which we disagree with. Given time to develop, Newton can be a dominant quarterback in the NFL.
19. Brandon Harris, CB, Miami (FL)
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Brandon Harris | CB | Miami, FL
5'11" 195lbs
4.45
Junior
Harris continues a long line of Miami Hurricanes in the NFL at the cornerback position. Harris brings speed and play making skills to the position, as well as great footwork. His stock could definitely rise to the top 15 should he declare for the 2011 draft.
18. Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
8 of 25
Julio Jones | WR | Alabama
6'4" 220lbs
4.49
Junior
It may seem like Julio Jones has been in college forever, but this is only his junior season. Jones is among the nation's best receivers. His length, speed and concentration separate him from the pack. He combines blazing speed with great hands. The only knock on Jones would be his route running, which can be sloppy at times.
17. Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
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Cameron Heyward | DE | Ohio State
6'5" 288lbs
4.92
Senior
Oh how the mighty have fallen. Heyward at one time topped our list of the best seniors in the country. And then he went head-to-head with Wisconsin offensive tackle Gabe Carimi. Carimi pointed out what most of us were seeing already- that Heyward lacked true pass rushing skills. He is still a great fit for the 3-4 defense, but Heyward is a limited player.
16. Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
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Anthony Castonzo | OT | Boston College
6'7" 308lbs
5.06
Senior
Big. Strong. Technically sound. Castonzo looks like a future Pro Bowler. Watching film of Castonzo's junior and senior seasons has continued to impress us, and he keeps moving up our draft board.
15. Cameron Jordan, DE, California
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Cameron Jordan | DE | California
6'4" 285lbs
4.85
Senior
Jordan has quickly risen to the top of most draft boards with a very impressive senior season. Seen as a potential tackle or end, depending on the defensive front used. Jordan has the talent to be a top 10 pick, much like Tyson Alualu last season.
14. Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
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Marcell Dareus | DT | Alabama
6'3" 309lbs
4.95
Junior
Dareus has talent to be the first overall pick in either the 2011 or 2012 NFL Draft, but his production has not been what you would expect from a top pick. He has excellent size, strength and speed but his motor doesn't seem to run on every play.
13. Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
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Akeem Ayers | OLB | UCLA
6'4" 254lbs
4.68
Junior
You will not find a more talented pass rushing outside linebacker in college football. Ayers is a play maker first and foremost. Whether it is sacking the quarterback, making a game saving interception or stuffing the run, he's in on every play.
12. Jake Locker, QB, Washington
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Jake Locker | QB | Washington
6'3" 230lbs
4.53
Senior
Injuries, bad decisions and spotty accuracy have pushed Locker down our draft board as the senior progresses. What Locker does have in his favor are great speed, a very good arm and the ability to improve. He is a very coachable player, but he is not ready to be a #1 overall pick.
11. Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
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Nick Fairley | DT | Auburn
6'4" 298lbs
4.93
Junior
As the Auburn Tigers have surprised everyone this season to become one of the best teams in the country, Fairley has also risen. Fairley is currently ranked as our top defensive tackle, and for good reason. Few players in the NCAA have been as dominant on defense this season.
10. Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
16 of 25
Robert Quinn | DE | North Carolina
6'5" 268lbs
4.64
Junior (ineligible)
Quinn had the chance to be the first player taken this April, but he lost that when he accepted over $5,600 in improper benefits from an agent and was ruled ineligible permanently. All of that aside, Quinn is incredibly talented. His stock will suffer from a lack of film and play in 2010, but he is too talented to fall very far.
9. Allen Bailey, DE, Miami (FL)
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Allen Bailey | DE | Miami (FL)
6'4" 285lbs
4.79
Senior
One of our favorite college football players to watch, Bailey is a terror for opposing offenses. A defensive tackle/end hybrid, Bailey could play any position along the defensive line in the NFL. His value and versatility, combined with freakish speed, will make him a very high draft pick.
8. Bruce Carter, OLB, North Carolina
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Bruce Carter | OLB | North Carolina
6'3" 235lbs
4.57
Senior (ineligible)
Carter has much to like. He is fast, explosive, an aggressive tackler and a smart player. Off the field, he made a huge mistake by accepting benefits from an agent, which led to his suspension for the entire season. What NFL general managers will see when looking at his 2009 film will be impressive enough to keep him in the top 10.
7. A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
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A.J. Green | WR | Georgia
6'4" 212lbs
4.49
Junior
Our top wide receiver, Green is a very talented player. His height gives him a natural advantage over most corners, while his speed allows him to run past the best corners in college. What will give him the edge in the NFL is his uncanny ability to get open, his great concentration and his unmatched ability when the ball is in the air.
6. Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
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Derek Sherrod | OT | Mississippi State
6'5" 305lbs
5.22
Senior
There is not much to like at Mississippi State currently, but one player continually stands out when facing the best the SEC has to offer. Offensive tackle Derek Sherrod's 2010 season has been brilliant, and he is being noticed by scouts and general managers. Expect Sherrod to be a top 10 pick in April.
5. Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
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Da'Quan Bowers | DE | Clemson
6'4" 275lbs
4.64
Junior
Bowers is among the most physically gifted players we have ever had the pleasure of scouting. He has a rare blend of size, speed, agility and toughness. While some defensive ends are fast, they are often soft and timid. Bowers is one of the few with speed to run down running backs, but the toughness to mix it up with tackles.
4. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
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Adrian Clayborn | DE | Iowa
6'3" 286lbs
4.79
Senior
Clayborn, our top defensive end for the 2011 draft, does not have the crazy speed of Da'Quan Bowers or the pure play-making skills of Allen Bailey. What he does have is a motor that never stops, an ability to play tackle or end and a consistency that is rare in defensive linemen. Clayborn is not the most athletically talented end, but he is the best football player.
3. Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
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Prince Amukamara | CB | Nebraska
6'0" 205lbs
4.49
Senior
Before the 2010 season we gave Amukamara one of the highest grades we had ever assigned a cornerback. Unfortunately, he has failed to live up to that billing. 2010 has seen Amukamara challenged more, and exposed weaknesses in his game, but lost in the panic from draftniks is the pure fact that Amukamara is still one of the better cover corners we've scouted in a long time.
2. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
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Patrick Peterson | CB | LSU
6'1" 222lbs
4.42
Junior
Few players in college football are as electric as Peterson. He is a dangerous return man, a shut down cornerback and a weapon any time he has the ball in his hands. While he may deserve the Heisman trophy, we doubt he will hear his named called that night. What we do know is that Peterson will hear his name called very early in the 2011 NFL draft.
1. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
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Andrew Luck | QB | Stanford
6'4" 235lbs
4.76
Redshirt Sophomore
Few scouts would place anyone other than Luck in the top spot leading up to the NFL draft. Some are calling Luck the next Peyton Manning, or a mirror image of Matt Ryan at Boston College. In Luck we see a very smart quarterback who is able to make every throw an NFL team will ask him. What we don't know is if Luck will leave Stanford, where he still has two more years of eligibility.
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