NFL Draft 2011: DeMarco Murray, Noel Devine, Top Seniors From Each Ranked Team
Now that we're drawing near bowl season in college football, it's time to start thinking about how these players we love watching will play at the next level.
In the next few months, you'll see plenty of mock drafts and predictions about who will go where, but for now, let's forget about that.
This NFL Draft preview is a little bit more related to college football.
So without further ado, let's take a look at the top senior pro prospect for each of the 25 teams in the BCS Rankings.
25. Northern Illinois: Chad Spann
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Chad Spann is a senior running back for the Northern Illinois Huskies.
He stands 5'9" and weighs just under 200 pounds.
Now, Northern Illinois isn't exactly bubbling with NFL talent, so even though Spann is their best prospect, he's really not even projected to be drafted. That doesn't mean he's without talent.
With enough speed to run a 4.58 40-yard dash, Spann has rushed for 1,239 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, helping the Huskies to a 10-2 record. The running back has also caught nine passes for 45 yards on the year.
There's a chance that he gets signed as an undrafted free agent, but not much hope for anything better.
24. West Virginia: Noel Devine
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Noel Devine, the Mountaineers starting tailback, is a 5'8", 180 pound blur.
The senior from West Virginia has a 40-yard dash time of 4.34 and is known for making big plays on the football field.
Unfortunately, he's been hampered by injuries for much of this season, so he hasn't produced at the same level that he did the previous two years.
Devine has 855 yards on the ground, 239 through the air, and seven touchdowns.
But NFL scouts are looking more closely at his sophomore and junior seasons, when he ran for a combined 2,754 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Expect to see Devine drafted in the third round of the upcoming draft.
23. Arizona: Ricky Elmore
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For the last two years, Ricky Elmore has been a thorn in the sides of opposing offensive linemen. At 6'5," 260 pounds, the defensive end is difficult to block, especially when you add in his speed.
The senior has sure been a handful the last two seasons.
During his junior year, he recorded 43 tackles and 10 sacks. This season, Elmore has put up similar numbers. He's posted 40 tackles and eight sacks with a game to play.
Expect to see Elmore go to a team in need of speed on the defensive line around the fifth round.
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22. Mississippi State: Derek Sherrod
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Derek Sherrod is a huge man. He stands 6'5" and weighs 305 pounds, but it's almost all muscle.
Plus, he's got ridiculous amounts of talent as an offensive tackle.
The senior has been absolutely fantastic for his Bulldogs this year. He's won the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week award four times this season, in Weeks 4, 6, 9 and 13.
He should absolutely be drafted in the first round.
21. Florida State: Rodney Hudson
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Rodney Hudson is another extremely talented offensive lineman, this time at the guard position.
The senior is a bit smaller than Sherrod, weighing 284 pounds and standing 6'2".
Yet, he is no slouch on the football field. Hudson has been named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week nine times in his collegiate career. He's also been awarded back-to-back Jacobs Trophies, given to the ACC's top offensive lineman.
Then there's the fact that he's an All American.
Add it all up and you get a pro prospect that should be drafted towards the end of the first round.
20. Utah: Zane Taylor
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Zane Taylor is another big man. He stands at 6'2" and 309 pounds and plies his trade at the center position.
He's also pretty strong, as you can see by the fact that he's holding up his teammate in this picture.
Taylor is a smart man as well, as proven by his multiple all-academic MWC honors.
Expect to see Taylor snatched off the draft boards in the middle of the sixth round.
19. South Carolina: Cliff Matthews
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Cliff Matthews, the senior defensive end from South Carolina, has had a career to remember for the Gamecocks.
In his time there, he's recorded 134 tackles and 20 sacks. Not bad for the 6'4", 268 pound defensive end.
He's not really an elite pro prospect, but he should be able to contribute for an NFL team at some point down the road.
Expect to see Matthews drafted late in the fourth round.
18. Texas A&M: Von Miller
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Von Miller, a member of the All-Big 12 Team at the outside linebacker position, should be a special player in the NFL, much as he has been in college football.
The 6'3", 243 pound senior has been absolutely incredible at his job over the last two seasons.
During his junior year, Miller made 43 tackles and recorded a staggering 17 sacks.
This season, he's had 59 tackles and 10 sacks with a game to go.
Miller should either be drafted at the end of the first round or the beginning of the second.
17. Nevada: Dontay Moch
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It's only fitting to include Dontay Moch in this mock draft of sorts. He's one of the best defensive players in the history of the WAC.
An outside linebacker, Moch was Nevada's first ever WAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. He has actually been even better this year.
Moch, after recording 61 tackles and six sacks during his junior year, already has 54 tackles and nine sacks this year.
He should be drafted into the NFL in the middle portion of the second round.
16. Alabama: James Carpenter
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A 6'5", 300 pound offensive tackle, James Carpenter has been one of the many reasons for Alabama's success.
He was named to the 2010 Preseason All-SEC Second Team this year and then was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week in Week 8.
Carpenter is both strong and fundamentally sound.
He should be picked in the third round.
15. Virginia Tech: Rashad Carmichael
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Rashad Carmichael is a cornerback for the Virginia Tech Hokies and stands 5'10", 186 pounds.
He's one of the most important defensive players for his team and his play is often a good indicator of how the team does.
This year, Carmichael was the ACC Week 3 Defensive Back of the Week, just one year after being an honorable mention to the All-ACC team.
He possesses good speed, running a 4.38 40-yard dash.
Carmichael should be drafted in the late third round.
14. Oklahoma State: Kendall Hunter
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Kendall Hunter is the third best senior running back prospect in the country.
He's an All-American this year and truly deserves the award. Hunter has run for 1,516 yards and 16 touchdowns up to this point in the season. He also caught 19 passes for 106 yards.
Much of his junior season was lost to injury, but Hunter experienced similar success his sophomore season when he ran for 1,555 yards and 16 touchdowns.
He's only 5'8" and 200 pounds, but expect to see this running back play on Sundays.
Hunter should be drafted late in the second round.
13. Nebraska: Prince Amukamara
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Prince Amukamara, a senior cornerback for the Cornhuskers, easily made the All-Big 12 team this year.
He's a very physical player and has shut down receiver after receiver throughout this year.
Amukamara is also over six-feet tall and should be able to run with most receivers.
The man also has great hands as he used to play running back.
Expect to see Amukamara drafted in the first round.
12. Missouri: Tim Barnes
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Tim Barnes is a human mountain at the center position for the Missouri Tigers at 6'4", 300 pounds.
He's quick, strong, and intelligent—all characteristics you need for a center to have.
Barnes was also named to the 2010 Outland Trophy preseason watch list for the award given to the nation's top lineman on either side of the ball.
He does need to improve his strength to be able to deal with NFL defensive lineman week in and week out.
But as it stands now, he should be drafted in the beginning of the sixth round.
11. Boise State: Titus Young
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For the second straight year, Titus Young is having a fantastic season for the Boise State Broncos.
A 5'11", 170 pound receiver, Young possesses great speed, as evidenced by his 4.48 40-yard dash time.
During his junior season, Young caught 79 passes for 1,041 yards and 10 touchdowns. This year, he's hauled in 61 receptions for 1,117 yards and nine scores.
Moore is a bit undersized, but should still be a solid receiver at the next level.
He'll be drafted in the third round.
10. LSU: Drake Nevis
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Part of the reason that LSU's defense has been so great this season has been the inspired play of senior defensive tackle Drake Nevis.
At just 6'1", 285 pounds, Nevis doesn't have traditional defensive tackle size, but he still plays well.
After all, he's had 56 tackles and six sacks this year.
His ridiculous motor and strength has elevated him on everyone's draft board.
Nevis should be picked as high as the end of the first round.
9. Oklahoma: DeMarco Murray
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DeMarco Murray is the best of the senior running backs. As a Texas fan, he's also made my life a little bit sadder for the last few years.
This season he's picked up 1,053 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. He's also gained 535 yards and five touchdowns receiving.
But, if you need to know why he'll be a great NFL running back, just watch this run against Texas.
8. Michigan State: Greg Jones
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Greg Jones, Michigan State's 6'1", 240 pound inside linebacker, is another intriguing NFL prospect.
In 2009, he was a consensus All-American and the Big Ten defensive player of the year.
He has all the skills necessary to be great: tackling ability, speed, toughness, vision, instincts, etc.
The only problem is his size against biggest offensive players.
Jones should be picked early in the second round.
7. Arkansas: DeMarcus Love
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DeMarcus Love proved he could play at a high level when he was named the SEC Week 12 Offensive Lineman of the Week.
The 6'5", 315 pound offensive tackle has played great football all year, helping the Arkansas offensive attack become one of the best in the entire country.
One thing is for sure, he is not lacking in size. Love is definitely big enough to play at the next level.
Expect to see him drafted either in the end of the first round or the beginning of the second.
6. Ohio State: Cameron Heyward
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Cameron Heyward is arguably the best defensive end in the country.
He is absolutely the most athletic.
The one thing this senior from Ohio State still needs to work on is his technique. With that, he could become one of the best in the NFL.
Expect him to go in the first round.
5. Wisconsin: Gabe Carimi
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Gabe Carimi is a monster of a man at 6'7", 327 pounds. No, that is not a typo.
He is both huge and powerful, but he still does need to improve his technique and athleticism. It works in college to just push people around, at least to some extent, but the same concept will not hold true at the next level.
Fortunately for Carimi, technique can be taught while size can't.
Carimi should be picked towards the end of the first round.
4. Stanford: Sione Fua
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Besides boasting an awesome name, Sione Fua also can claim a large body. He's 6'2" and 306 pounds.
The defensive tackle has been a huge part of Stanford's success, but he still has room for improvement.
That especially applies to his rushing technique.
Expect Fua to be picked in the third round.
3. TCU: Marcus Cannon
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Marcus Cannon, at 6'5", 350 pounds, is a behemoth. The offensive tackle is almost an entire offensive line. Well, that may be a slight exaggeration, but only a slight one.
Cannon last year was an All-MWC first team selection and was also named to ESPN's Top 10 Workout Warriors list.
He also had the benefit of learning while going against Jerry Hughes, a fellow Horned Frog.
Cannon should be a borderline first round pick.
2. Oregon: Casey Matthews
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For such a good football team, the Oregon Ducks don't really have that many seniors worth drafting.
The only one is Casey Matthews, an inside linebacker.
Two positives commonly attributed to Matthews are his fundamentals and his football intelligence.
Matthews should be drafted in the sixth round.
1. Auburn: Josh Bynes
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Much like Oregon on the slide before this, Auburn is fairly devoid of NFL talent in its senior class.
Josh Bynes is one of the few exceptions.
Bynes, a 6'2", 235 pound inside linebacker, is a great tackler, but he still needs improvement. He's also taken some grief from his teammates this season for dropping a couple of easy interceptions.
Bynes should be selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
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