2011 NFL Draft: 20 Players Whose Stock Has Risen the Most in 2010

With the college football and NFL regular seasons beginning to come to a close, the many NFL mock drafts throughout the web will begin to take a more concrete shape. As the NFL teams fall into place in the mock drafts, where certain players will fall will be clear.

There are many players who may not have been considered top ten, or even first-round, talent a year ago who have since made a leap into the first round. These players are among many whose great 2010 season has given them a leap in the mock drafts and made them a viable prospect. These are the top 20 players who have had this luck.

20. Akeem Ayers

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PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 06: Akeem Ayers #10 of the UCLA Bruins attempts to break free from James Dockery #4 of the Oregon State Beavers at the Rose Bowl on November 6, 2010 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

After a solid sophomore season, UCLA LB Akeem Ayers was projected as a second-round talent in most immediate 2011 mock drafts. As the 2010 season progressed, Ayers again played well, managing four sacks and two picks, and is now looking to go in the early 20s. If he plays another year, he might squeak in the top ten next year.

19. Stefen Wisniewski

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COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 25: Stefen Wisniewski #61 and Andrew Dailey #13 of the Penn State Nittany Lions get congratulations from fans as they head to the locker room after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 13-6 on October 25, 2008 at Ohio Stadium in Columb

Another person projected in the second round, Penn State C Wisniewski has played solid football this season, and has emerged as likely the top center in the draft. Whether this sticks him solidly in the first round remains to be seen, but he's went from a top 60 pick to a top 35.

18. Janoris Jenkins

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 30: Janoris Jenkins #1 of the Florida Gators looks over the offense during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank Field on October 30, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Another cornerback, this one out of Florida, Janoris Jenkins made three picks this season and has boosted his standing from a second or third round pick to perhaps the third best cornerback on the draft board, which should put him firmly in the middle of the first round.

17. Cameron Jordan

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans eludes the rush of Cameron Jordan #97 of the California Golden Bears during the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 16, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Har

As has been the case with the others, a solid 2010 season to show consistency has helped Cal DE Cameron Jordan move from a second/third round option to a solid mid-to-late first-round pick.

16. Prince Amukamara

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LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 26: Prince Amukamara #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers misses a chance at an interception from Scotty McKnight #21 of the Colorado Buffaloes during the second half of their game at Memorial Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Lincoln, Neb

This one may be a stretch, as Amukamara was already projected as a mid-to-late first-round pick. However, he had such a great season with Nebraska that he became a surefire top ten pick in the 2011 draft.

15. Brandon Harris

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MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 9: Jermaine Thomas #38 of the Florida State Seminoles eludes the tackle of Brandon Harris #1 of the Miami Hurricanes to score a touchdown on October 9, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

The cornerback out of Miami is in a similar situation to Jenkins, only he was quite a bit further down in draft pools. His play, however, has launched him up and made him a solid mid-first-round pickup.

14. Derek Sherrod

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 15: J.C. Brignone #70 and Derek Sherrod #79of the Mississippi State Bulldogs get ready on the line of scrimmage during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 15, 2008 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

While offensive tackles Nate Solder and Gabe Carimi have taken a hit in new mock draft listings from last year, Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod has quietly slid up. Some draft boards last year didn't have him anywhere, and one or two still don't. Those that do have him in the top 15 or do though, unlike the first day only. If he has a big bowl game then those that skipped him will put him in.

13. DeMarco Murray

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COLUMBIA, MO - OCTOBER 23: DeMarco Murray #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners in action against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Columbia, Missouri. The Tigers beat the Sooners 36-27. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Ima

With no other running backs besides Mark Ingram high on the draft board, Oklahoma RB Murray has made his presence known and is gradually getting on more and more draft boards. He's only in the second round now, but has made himself the second best running back after not being anywhere last year, and a good bowl game could shoot him high in the second.

12. Andrew Luck

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PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal in action against the Oregon State Beavers at Stanford Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Last year, Luck was considered a great NFL prospect, one of the top three and possibly in the top 15 picks. Now, there's no question he's a top three selection and a franchise NFL quarterback after the season he had.

11. Jordan Todman

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EAST HARTFORD, CT - NOVEMBER 27: Jordan Todman #23 of the Connecticut Huskies carries the ball around the Cincinnati Bearcats defense on November 27, 2010 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. The Huskies defeated the Bearcats 38-17. (Photo

Okay, he hasn't really made a leap quite yet. After being one of the top rushers in the league this year though, Todman has considered declaring for the draft, and he's starting to be put on mock draft lists. Because of his size, he won't be a first round selection, but he could very well go early in the second round; I expect his stock to climb much of the offseason.

10. Patrick Peterson

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State University Tigers reacts after their 43-36 win over the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The cornerback out of LSU has went from a lower first-round pick to the best cornerback prospect in the draft, and will definitely go in the top five. The year he's had surpassed even Amukamara for getting him high on mock drafts.

9. Travis Lewis

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 04: Linebacker Travis Lewis #28 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates with the Big 12 Championship Trophy after the Sooners beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 23-20 at Cowboys Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by T

I've heard little about this linebacker out of Oklahoma until recently. He was projected as a first round talent after the 2010 draft, then suddenly fell off the charts. After his recent play, however, he has climbed back on and is locked in pretty well in the first round, thanks to 100 tackles and three picks.

8. Ryan Kerrigan

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COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 23: Ryan Kerrigan #94 of the Purdue Boilermakers attempts to tackle Brandon Saine #3 of the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

When your stock still rises despite playing for a struggling team in Purdue, you're doing pretty well for yourself. He has moved from a second round talent to a first round talent, with many scouts finding him ideal in a 4-3 defense, which makes him suitable for many teams.

7. Drake Nevis

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 07: Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Drake Nevis #92 and Jai Eugene #4 of the Louisiana State University Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 7, 2009 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox

Drake Nevis seems to have come out of nowhere the past couple weeks and shot up the draft boards. Even after reading though sources, I'm not entirely positive why, but scouts seem to think he'll be a great defensive tackle who can make the jump to the pros. It probably helps that most other big men are linemen rather than middle guys this year.

6. Marcell Dareus

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 13: Defensive lineman Marcell Dareus #57 of the Alabama Crimson Tide watches play against the Mississippi State Bulldogs November 13, 2010 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Dareus took a beating in the draft board over the summer after being ruled ineligible for two games. However, he was good enough on the field that Mel Kiper has him as among the best prospects, which would be great for anyone. Unlike Robert Quinn, Dareus has rebounded from that and went from a later first-round pick to a top five/six pick.

5. Ryan Broyles

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STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 27: Wide receiver Ryan Broyles #85 of the Oklahoma Sooners leaps over cornerback Brodrick Brown #19 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Sooners beat the Cowbo

The wide receiver out of Oklahoma has went from an afterthought on draft boards to a high first-round pick up there with A.J. Green and Julio Jones thanks to one of the top receiving performances in the country.

4. Justin Blackmon

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STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 05: Wide receiver Justin Blackmon #81 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys warms up before the college football game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Boone Pickens Stadium on September 5, 2009 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defe

Blackmon's story is almost the same as Broyles' story, only in his case no one knew who he was a year ago, as he was behind Dez Bryant in the depth chart. This season he exploded and had a great year, and has been shooting up the draft charts since.

3. Nick Fairley

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 04: Nick Fairley #90 of the Auburn Tigers cheers during pregame warmups before facing the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2010 SEC Championship at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Ge

The leading defended out of Auburn has shot up the rankings thanks to the play of Auburn as well as himself. As a result, he's went from barely being on any draft boards to getting in the first round to being in the top five over the course of this season.

2. DaQuan Bowers

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AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 18: Da'Quan Bowers #93 of the Clemson Tigers against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Much like Nick Fairley, Bowers has been shooting up mock draft charts all season, and is now the number one pick on a good deal of them. The difference? Fairley has an undefeated team working with him, Bowers put up the numbers he did working with a .500 team, and he still managed to be dominant.

1. Cam Newton

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ATLANTA - DECEMBER 4: Quarterback Cam Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers throws a pass during the 2010 SEC Championship against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

Obviously, the winner of the Heisman Trophy is going to skyrocket on draft boards. That's not the only reason that he's moved up though; it's due to his skills as a quarterback. Many see another Vince Young in him, and if you take out the character issues on Young that's a great pickup.