NFL Draft 2011: Ryan Kerrigan and the Top 10 Senior Prospects at Home Right Now

The NFL Draft is all about giving players opportunities to show off their skills at the next level.

Well, that and making teams better by drafting the most talented players. 

While 70 teams across the country get to play one more time in the 2010 season at their respective bowl games, their are still quite a few teams that didn't qualify for a bowl and are stuck at home sipping egg nog, putting their feet up on the couch and watching some football. 

Even on those teams, there are still some highly-sought after pro prospects. 

Read on to find out who the top 10 senior prospects are from the teams that aren't playing in bowl games this year. 

Nate Solder (Colorado)

The offensive tackle from Colorado stands a massive 6'8", 315 pounds. 

After playing tight end for a while, Solder switched to offensive tackle and absolutely dominated. The coaches of the Big 12 named him to the 2010 All-Big 12 Football First Team this season while also electing him 2010 Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year. 

Solder has also been nominated for the 2010 Outland Trophy, awarded to the best interior lineman in the country. 

He possess great strength and technique but needs to improve against speed rushers. 

Solder, as one of the best lineman in the draft, should be selected in the first round. 

Cameron Jordan (California)

The defensive end from California weighs 285 pounds and stands 6'4", but he can still move pretty quickly. 

Jordan's 61 tackles in 2010 were the fifth most on his team, quite impressive for an exterior defensive lineman. He also recorded 5.5 sacks on the year and 12.5 other tackles in the backfield.

He made the 2010 All Pac-10 Football First Team thanks to the coaches of the conference and should be successful at the next level.

Expect to see Jordan taken in the first round.  

Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue)

At 6'4", 263 pounds, Ryan Kerrigan from Purdue is one of the nation's top defensive ends.

Kerrigan recorded an astounding 70 tackles for the Boilermakers this year, 50 of which were solo takedowns of the ball carrier. Even more impressive is the fact that 26 of them were made in the backfield, more than any other player in the entire country. 

He also had 12.5 sacks and forced five fumbles, third and second in the nation respectively.

Kerrigan will be a stud at the next level so it makes sense that he'll be drafted in the first round. 

Jimmy Smith (Colorado)

The cornerback from Colorado possesses great speed and a remarkable ability to shut down receivers. 

Smith had 68 tackles during the Buffaloes' 2010 campaign, the second most on the team. He also sacked opposing quarterbacks 2.5 times. 

Smith defended four passes this season, but really challenged quarterbacks to throw to the parts of the field where he wasn't. He's only allowed 11 completions to his man in the last two years. 

He was elected to the 2010 All-Big 12 Football First Team.

Smith should be picked in the late first round or early second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Davon House (New Mexico State)

Davon House isn't as big as Jimmy Smith, but he's a bit faster and every bit as talented. 

The man from New Mexico State had 57 tackles for the Aggies this year in addition to his 0.5 sacks. 

He broke up 10 passes and picked off the opposing quarterback once, returning it 48 yards for a touchdown. 

House was selected to the 2010 All-WAC Football First Team. 

He should be picked in the middle of the second round. 

Curtis Brown (Texas)

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 07: Cornerback Curtis Brown #3 of the Texas Longhorns practices before a game against the UCF Knights on November 7, 2009 at Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. Texas won 35-3. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Ima

Curtis Brown has blazing speed, but the cornerback couldn't do quite enough to help his team win six games this year. 

He definitely didn't put up great stats this season, making only 23 tackles with one interception and three passes broken up. 

Brown is however an explosive punt returner and still managed to be selected to the All-Big 12 Football Second Team. 

The cornerback should be picked towards the end of the second round. 

Ras-I Dowling (Virginia)

The senior cornerback for Virginia has dealt with injury problems this year, but should still be a top talent in the draft.

Playing in just five games, he recorded 15 tackles and broke up a single pass. 

His physical play should benefit him in the NFL, but he needs to improve his backpedalling speed and his tendency to have concentration lapses. 

A team should take a chance on Dowling in the late second round or early third round. 

Ronald Johnson (USC)

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - DECEMBER 04: Wide receiver Ronald Johnson #83 of the USC Trojans breaks a tackle by Sean Westgate #11 of the UCLA Bruins during the first half at the Rose Bowl on December 4, 2010 in Pasadena, California. USC defeated UCLA 28-14. (Photo b

The speedy receiver from USC would be playing in a bowl game this year if it weren't for the NCAA sanctions. 

Johnson has hauled in 62 passes for 692 yards and eight touchdowns this season. It's been by far the most productive season in his four-year collegiate career. 

He was selected by the Pac-10 coaches to the 2010 All-Pac-10 Football Second Team this year. 

Johnson should be taken in the early portion of the third round in the upcoming 2011 NFL Draft. 

Benjamin Ijalana (VIllanova)

Slow as a snail, what Ijalana lacks in speed he makes up for in size. The offensive guard stands 6'4" and weighs 320 pounds. 

He's made the 2010 All-CAA Football First Team, the 2010 AFCA Coaches' FCS All-America Team and the 2010 Walter Camp Football Championship Subdivision All-America Team. 

Simply put, he's one of the better guards in the nation, even though he doesn't play in a bowl-eligibile conference. 

Ijalana was the only player from the FCS selected to the Outland Trophy watch list. 

He should be picked in the early third round and will be a steal.

Pat Devlin (Delaware)

Pat Devlin has led the Delaware Blue Hens to a 12-2 record and an upcoming showdown with Eastern Washington in the FCS Semifinals.

He's completed 239 of his 350 attempts and the passes have resulted in 2,812 yards and 22 touchdowns. Devlin has only been picked off twice all year. 

Because he plays for Delaware, Devlin is flying under the radar, but he could be a very good NFL quarterback. 

Expect to see him taken in the early part of the third round.