NFL Draft Stock Update: 10 Pac-10 Players Not Named Andrew Luck Who Merit Looks
By now, most of you are probably sick of hearing the name Andrew Luck.
He comes up in every draft conversation and leads the list of draft-eligible quarterbacks in 2011.
Well, we've had enough about him, so let's shift the spotlight, shall we?
The Pac-10 is a conference deep with talent, and there are a lot of players on the list for the 2011 NFL Draft that may not be getting the kind of respect they deserve.
So, putting the next great quarterback aside, here are 10 players from the Pac-10 that deserve good, long looks from NFL teams when April comes around.
Stephen Paea
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I'm going to start out with Stephen Paea because, well, most of you already know who he is.
Paea has won several defensive awards, including his second consecutive Morris Trophy, which is awarded annually to the best offensive and defensive lineman in the Pac-10.
At 6'1", 311 pounds, Paea is a monster of an athlete. He is a workout warrior, well known for this YouTube video, which records him bench-pressing 225 pounds 44 times, close to breaking the NFL Combine bench press record.
He would fit very well into a 4-3 scheme but could potentially put on weight and play an undersized 3-4 defensive tackle.
Either way, he is a potent run stopper, a surprisingly good pass rusher and could be one of the best defensive linemen to come out of this draft class.
Cameron Jordan
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While Jordan's stats may be a little deceptive, considering the strength of his competition, it's hard to doubt his athleticism and his big upside.
Currently considered a late first-round or second-round prospect, Jordan could turn out to be a great value pick for 4-3 teams looking to upgrade the outsides of their defensive line (paging Tampa Bay).
Stanley Havili
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Much to my chagrin, NFL teams seem to be moving quickly towards hybrid fullbacks these days, guys who can block, run and catch.
With that in mind, Stanley Havili is likely already on the boards for most teams, but he doesn't really get the kind of publicity that he should deserve.
At 6'0", 232 pounds, Havili is a big guy who has the potential to put on more weight and become a solid blocker. As it stands, though, he could almost be converted into a rotational power back, as he runs the ball very well, blending power and agility very well, and plays well on swing passes and screens as well.
Havili will be a great option for any team looking to add extra threats out of the backfield.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Owen Marecic
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As I've said before, most of the people who read my articles regularly know that I am a huge fan of Owen Marecic.
He's big, he's physical and he is essentially the last remnant of a fast-dwindling past. Not only is Marecic a two-way player, proving exceptional athleticism, but he is also one of the last truly successful power-blocking fullbacks left right now.
While most NFL teams are starting to look more for guys like Stanley Havili, there are still people out there who want to use a power-run offense, and Marecic would make a great fullback in that kind of scheme.
Casey Matthews
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Casey Matthews...is he related to Clay Matthews?
That's probably the most common comment associated with the standout linebacker from Oregon, and in case you wanted to know, the answer is yes, the two are brothers.
While Casey hasn't quite shown the outstanding athleticism that made his brother Clay a first-round pick, he is certainly not one to be overlooked.
He has been a very consistent pass rusher (three sacks in 2010 and 2009, two in 2008, one in 2007) and has also been good at forcing fumbles and getting his hands on he ball.
He has proper height, weight and speed for a linebacker, and considering the offense he had to practice against, his endurance cannot be doubted. He may have to work behind someone for a year or two, but Casey Matthews is one of my sleeper picks in the draft this year.
Mason Foster
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I'm confused as to why Washington's best defensive player hasn't gotten more attention.
He's got the measurables, he's got the stats and he hasn't lacked spotlight time, but it seems like he has really suffered from playing on a team that has had a hard time finding success during his time as a Husky.
This year alone, Foster has 150 tackles, four interceptions and one blocked kick. That should say enough.
A team in want of outside linebacker depth, or perhaps even a guy who can challenge for the starting spot, should take a look at Foster in the middle rounds.
Sione Fua
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While he may still be a low-round pick at best, Sione Fua has seen his draft stock skyrocket over this past season, and his performance during the Orange Bowl could propel him even further.
When Stanford hired Vic Fangio as their new defensive coordinator, his first move came quickly: changing to a 3-4 base defense.
This was a bold proposition, considering the fact that Stanford lacked a large amount of size and athleticism on defense.
Instead of being a big failure, Stanford's defensive line turned out to be a driving force behind the vast improvement in their overall defensive performance, and it was anchored by Sione Fua.
He may actually have a lot of sleeper potential as a rotational defensive tackle and a good future prospect.
Kai Forbath
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Kickers don't typically get much draft day attention, mostly because the Oakland Raiders are the only ones dumb enough to toss high draft picks at them.
While Kai Forbath may not be the next Sebastian Janikowski, Forbath is one of the best kickers to come out of college in a while, and there are certainly a few teams in the NFL who could really use his services.
Rahim Moore
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Rahim Moore may not be Earl Thomas or Eric Berry, but he has a lot of talent, and there are plenty of teams in the league that could use a difference-maker in the backfield.
Moore has let his performance slip a bit, but he should still get looks in the first round.
Chase Beeler
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Chase Beeler may not be big enough to be an NFL center, as he is sitting at 6'3", 285 pounds right now, but he is a guy who should get looks from teams who can afford to develop a guy (take San Diego as an example).
Beeler has been the centerpiece of an outstanding Cardinal offensive line over the last two years and deserves his fair share of the credit for the low number of sacks given up by the Cardinal in that time frame (11).
He may go as an undrafted free agent, but Beeler plays with physicality and intelligence, two things that translate well into the NFL.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
