Alamo Bowl: Where Does Justin Blackmon Rank Amongst NFL Receiver Prospects?
Alamo Bowl: Tomorrow night the Oklahoma State Cowboys will take on the Arizona Wildcats in the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl.
Oklahoma State has been stellar on offense all season long, as the Cowboys boast the nation's No. 3 scoring offense and No. 2 passing attack.
A big reason why is Justin Blackmon.
The sophomore wide receiver was named the 2010 Biletnikoff Award winner—given to the top wideout in college football—and is basically the second coming of former Cowboy Dez Bryant.
But where does Blackmon rank among the other elite receivers in this year's class?
Well, let's take a look at the top 10 NFL receiver prospects for the 2011 NFL Draft.
10. Greg Little, North Carolina, SR
1 of 10
Measurables: 6'3", 220 pounds
Production: In his three seasons at North Carolina, Greg Little has accounted for just 86 receptions, 969 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
But during his senior year, Little had his breakout season, catching 62 passes for 724 yards and five touchdowns.
He has also rushed for more than 800 yards and six touchdowns during his career.
Scouting Report: Two things separate Little from the pack: his ball skills and his versatility. He's shown the ability to play both running back and wide receiver at UNC, and he's also excelled as a catch-first and block-first receiver.
Little has incredible hands, has been known to pull down fantastic catches and is tough to tackle.
The biggest knock on Little's game, however, is that he doesn't have phenomenal speed. He's not slow, but he's not a burner either.
NFL Comparison: Terrell Owens with better hands.
9. DeVier Posey, Ohio State, JR
2 of 10
Measurables: 6'2", 213 pounds
Production: At Ohio State, DeVier Posey has totaled 121 receptions, 1,723 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns.
But his production fell slightly in his junior season, during which he grabbed 50 receptions for 776 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Posey had 60 receptions for 828 yards and eight touchdowns in 2009.
Scouting Report: Posey has good size, above-average speed and has shown the ability to make big plays after the catch.
But he's also not a great route runner, he often uses his body rather than his hands to catch the ball and he's struggled catching balls over the middle of the field.
Posey's character is a bit of a question mark as well, as he commented in 2009 that Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor "really can't do much worse."
NFL Comparison: Legedu Naanee
8. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame, JR
3 of 10
Measurables: 6'3", 227 pounds
Production: Michael Floyd has had a stellar career at Notre Dame, racking up 165 receptions for 2,430 yards and 26 touchdowns in just three seasons.
In 2010, he had his best season yet, with 73 receptions for 916 yards and 10 touchdowns.
However, his yards per reception dropped from 18.1 in 2009 to 12.5 in 2010.
Scouting Report: Floyd's size is obviously a big advantage, and it's allowed him to make several highlight-reel catches while at Notre Dame.
He adjusts well to balls in the air and possesses big play ability, especially for his size, but he often relied on his physical attributes rather than his skills while a member of the Fighting Irish.
Much of what Floyd has done in college won't fly at the professional level, as he struggles to get in and out of his routes.
Durability is also an issue because Floyd has missed eight games with knee and collarbone injuries.
NFL Comparison: Anquan Boldin
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Torrey Smith, Maryland, JR
4 of 10
Measurables: 6'1", 200 pounds
Production: Despite not playing on a great team, Torrey Smith has totaled 150 receptions for 2,208 yards and 19 touchdowns in just three seasons at Maryland.
He's had his best season in 2010, as he's caught 65 passes for 1,045 yards and 12 total touchdowns.
Smith also increased his yards per reception from 13.6 to 16.1 and has three career returns for touchdowns.
Scouting Report: Smith first excelled in the return game, but he's slowly developed into a quality receiver prospect.
He has very good agility and great acceleration, but he's not a polished route runner.
Smith reportedly runs in that 4.3 40-yard dash range, so he often relies on his speed and runs a great deal of vertical routes.
He also needs to improve his blocking and learn to fully extend his arms rather than use his body to catch passes.
NFL Comparison: Percy Harvin
6. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma, JR
5 of 10
Measurables: 5'11", 183 pounds
Production: Ryan Broyles has gotten better each year he's been at Oklahoma.
He's grabbed a staggering 253 receptions for 3,259 yards and 34 touchdowns in just three seasons as a Sooner.
In 2010, Broyles has 118 catches for 1,452 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also has six career return touchdowns.
Scouting Report: Broyles possesses very good hands, is exceptionally quick and also brings added value with his ability as a return man.
Despite his small stature, he's also shown the ability to catch passes in traffic and shows a ton of effort as a blocker.
But as a slot receiver prospect, he's undersized, he's more quick than fast and he really struggles against bigger defensive backs in the running and passing games.
NFL Comparison: Eddie Royal
5. Jerrel Jernigan, Troy, SR
6 of 10
Measurables: 5'9", 180 pounds
Production: In four years at Troy, Jerrel Jernigan has caught 262 passes for 3,128 yards and 18 touchdowns.
During his senior season, he's caught 84 passes for 822 yards and six touchdowns, which translates to a measly 9.8 yards per carry average.
However, Jernigan has also rushed for at least 250 yards in each of the past three seasons and added a punt return touchdown this season.
Scouting Report: Jernigan is a very shifty, do-it-all receiver, with a quick initial burst and better route-running skills than people might expect.
He's also an above-average return man, he absorbs contact very well for his size and he racks up plenty of yards after the catch.
But the biggest knocks on his game are his lack of size, his struggles as a blocker and the level of competition while playing at Troy.
NFL Comparison: Davone Bess
4. Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh, JR
7 of 10
Measurables: 6'5", 230 pounds
Production: Despite a shaky quarterback situation, Jonathan Baldwin has put up decent stats at Pittsburgh.
He's totaled 127 receptions for 2,325 yards and 16 touchdowns in his career and caught 52 passes for 810 yards and five touchdowns in 2010.
But Baldwin's yards per catch has dropped each season, from 22.4 in 2008 to 15.6 in 2010.
Scouting Report: Baldwin is the biggest physical specimen of this draft class who possesses the ability to consistently make jaw-dropping catches and big plays downfield.
He's huge for a receiver, his size presents a mismatch even at the NFL level and his long stride makes him deceptively fast.
As for what Baldwin needs to work on, he's not a polished route runner by any means, he's not as good of a blocker as his size would indicate and he's not as effective in the short passing game.
NFL Comparison: Brandon Marshall
3. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State, SO
8 of 10
Measurables: 6'1", 207 pounds
Production: In just two seasons at Oklahoma State, Justin Blackmon has been a monster, with 122 receptions for 1,925 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Much of that has come during the 2010 season, when he's totaled 102 catches for 1,665 yards and 18 touchdowns.
He had at least 100 receiving yards in every game this season and had double-digit receptions in six of those games.
Scouting Report: Blackmon isn't huge for a wide receiver, but he's tall enough to develop into a No. 1 at the NFL level.
He also possesses excellent quickness, shows good agility when making cuts on his routes and is a big play waiting to happen.
Like most other receivers on this list, however, Blackmon needs to improve his overall route-running ability, he needs to work on his blocking and he needs to improve his toughness on passes over the middle of the field.
NFL Comparison: A smaller Dez Bryant.
2. Julio Jones, Alabama, JR
9 of 10
Measurables: 6'4", 220 pounds
Production: In three seasons at Alabama, Julio Jones has registered 176 receptions for 2,604 yards and 15 touchdowns.
During the 2010 season, he's caught 75 passes for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns.
His yards per reception has generally stayed in that 14-16 range (14.5 in 2010).
Scouting Report: Jones is probably the most imposing figure in this wide receiver class.
He's got superb size, he's ridiculously tough to tackle, his long stride makes him an elite vertical threat and he is a very good blocker.
But of all the guys on this list, Jones probably needs to work on his route running the most.
He's a bit raw as a receiver, he struggles in man coverage and his highlight-reel plays usually coincide with easy drops.
NFL Comparison: A more physical Dwayne Bowe.
1. A.J. Green, Georgia, JR
10 of 10
Measurables: 6'4", 212 pounds
Production: In three years at Georgia, A.J. Green has 158 receptions for 2,542 yards and touchdowns.
Even after missing four games in 2010 (and playing with a true freshman quarterback), he racked up 49 catches for 771 yards and nine touchdowns.
This season Green had three 100-yard receiving games and three games with at least two touchdowns.
Scouting Report: Green is the total package.
At just 22 years old, he is undoubtedly the best route runner in this draft class, he shows incredible body control while making highlight-reel catches, he's effective in the intermediate or vertical passing game and he's surprisingly tough to tackle to despite his slender frame.
The biggest knocks on Green are his inconsistencies as a blocker and his struggles against bigger defensive backs.
But make no mistake about it—Green is the most complete receiver prospect since Calvin Johnson.
NFL Comparison: A faster Larry Fitzgerald.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
