Underclassmen Who Will Impact Their College Most If They Declare for the Draft
With the 2011 NFL Draft right around the corner, it is becoming time for all underclassmen who are draft eligible to decide if they want to pursue their NFL dreams early, or if they want to help improve their draft stock/college football team for another year.
This list examines the players who, if they declare for the draft, will have the greatest impact on their respective college football teams in terms of losing talent at that position and as a team overall.
10. LaMichael James: Oregon RB
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LaMichael James is everything that the Oregon Ducks could have wanted, and more. Losing a Heisman finalist as well as a nation's top rusher would have a big impact on the Ducks, though not to the extent that many believe.
While James is an excellent back who can run between the tackles despite his small size, Oregon has other backs as well as recruits who are just itching to fill his void in the versatile Oregon offense.
Kenjon Barner has consistently flexed his muscles throughout the season, accumulating five touchdowns and over 200 yards in one half against New Mexico in a game James was suspended for.
Barner has consistently shown that he could be a starter on any other team in the nation, and is considered a much better receiver than James as well.
But it is not only Barner who could fill the void of James. The Ducks also have two prized recruits who redshirted this year: Lache Seastrunk and Dontae Williams, who are both very talented backs who could provide Oregon with yet another deadly one-two punch in the system Oregon runs.
9. Mark Ingram: Alabama RB
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Speaking of Heisman trophies, Alabama's Mark Ingram is rated as the number one underclassmen running back on Mel Kiper's Big Board right now and is leaning towards the NFL.
Many believe he will have a big impact at the next level and because he has already won both the Heisman and national championship (just this past year).
Replacing a Heisman winner who helped carry your team to the national championship is never easy. That is, unless you have a potential Heisman candidate right behind him.
Trent Richardson has shown both last year and this year that he is ready to take the reins as Alabama's starting RB and is very poised to do so.
So, while losing a Heisman winner is always a big blow to a team, having another potential Heisman winner to replace him is not a bad tradeoff.
8. Cam Newton: Auburn QB
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Hmm, there seems to be a theme for the first three on this list. All three have either won a Heisman (Cam Newton and Mark Ingram) or been a Heisman finalist (LaMichael James).
Cam Newton has taken the Auburn Tigers to the promised land in just his first season at the helms of the quarterback position. A once prized recruit from Florida, due to an offensive coaching change, Cam found himself at Auburn and is the most versatile player in the nation.
He uses brute force to overpower defenders and is very good in running the ball in open space. While many consider him to be a run-first quarterback, he has begun to show that he can throw the ball too, and with deadly accuracy at times.
He is the perfect fit for Auburn's offense and losing him will be tough for the Tigers as they will look to repeat a national championship appearance next year.
Even if Newton decides not to return next year, however, Keihl Frazier, the No. 3 QB in the nation (according to ESPN.com), will bring a skill set of both passing and rushing that will more likely than not help to lessen the blow of losing Newton.
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7. Nick Fairley: Auburn DT
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On a team which yields one of the most prolific offenses in college football history, it is sometimes easy for the defense to be unaccounted for.
Though the Auburn defense is underrated, Nick Fairley is surely not. He is poised to be the top DT taken in the draft and may be the first pick of the draft depending on who will pick first (my money is on the Panthers).
Fairley disrupts just about every single offensive lineman he goes up against and is a man among boys out on the football field. Replacing a big man such as Fairley is never easy.
6. Patrick Peterson: LSU CB
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Patrick Peterson may be the Cam Newton of defense. He is big, strong, and fast. He is both a great cover corner as well as run stopper and can also flex his muscles in the return game as well.
He provides a big-play attitude every single time the ball is near him and is always a force to be reckoned with on the field.
Luckily for LSU, they generally have a good defense year after year.
5. Da'Quan Bowers: Clemson DE
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In a rather off year for the Clemson Tigers, Bowers was a bright spot on their defense. He is both fast and strong and has rocketed up the big boards for both Mel Kiper and Todd McShay.
Though defensive ends are a relatively easy position to replace (in the grand scheme of football), replacing a player like Bowers will be very hard for Clemson and their defense.
4. Ryan Mallett: Arkansas QB
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Despite some questionable plays as well as play calls by Mallett during the season, this Arkansas Quarterback has shown all that it takes to be considered NFL-ready. He is a great pocket passer with good accuracy who can also show his mobility from time to time.
Throughout the year, he has shown that he can hold himself up in the pocket and has great pocket presence as he knows when it is right to get away from the tackle box and throw it away.
He is a smart college football player and even better quarterback who will most likely go in the first round of the NFL draft. Losing him will not be easy for Arkansas.
3. Jacquizz Rodgers: Oregon State RB
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For these past few years, Jacquizz Rodgers has been the spark that Oregon State has used to assert itself once more in the Pac-10.
Though considered an off-year by most for the Beavers, Rodgers has continued to show that despite his small size, he can succeed at a high level. He uses his small body to hide behind the offensive line and speed to get outside of the tackles and break off big runs.
He is also deceptively strong, as he trucked over Oregon Safety John Boyett in this years Civil War game, which the Beavers would eventually end up losing.
Rodgers has been a staple in the Oregon State offense and replacing him (as well as brother James) will not be easy for the program, both emotionally and physically.
2. A.J. Green: Georgia WR
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Green is an imposing wide receiver who stands at 6'4" and who also accounted for nine touchdowns this year.
He is an immense talent in all skill sets and seems to make the whole Georgia offense flow. He constantly has two defenders on him, opening up more passing lanes for the other receivers.
A.J. is a player every coach wants because not only does he make big plays, he allows big plays to happen because the other team focuses on him so much.
1. Andrew Luck: Stanford QB
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Andrew Luck may just be the best college quarterback in the nation, as he is certainly the most NFL-ready.
He has taken Stanford, who not only a few years ago used to be the laughingstock of the Pac-10, to a BCS bowl appearance to the tune of an 11-1 record, with his only loss coming to the Oregon Ducks early on in the season.
He not only shows accuracy, poise, pocket-presence and versatility, but Luck is also a player who brings a certain charisma to a team.
He is willing to risk everything for another yard or to help his team out. Not only is he a great quarterback, but if he does make a mistake, he is willing to make up for that in his tackling and defensive skills (just ask USC and Cal).
With the draft right around the corner, it looks as though Stanford will have to find a way to replace their multi-talented star quarterback, who might very well one day become one of the NFL greats.
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