2011 NFL Draft: 10 Players Who Will Follow AJ Green's Lead and Declare

Every year, the NCAAs top underclassmen have a decision to make. They need to contemplate what returning for another year of college would do to their current draft status. They also have to weigh the fact that the college experience is something that they will never get back.

Each person is unique, and it is far from an exact science trying to predict which players will go pro early and which ones will return. Last year, the popular perception was that University of Washington QB Jake Locker would leave early.

Most pundits had Locker going first overall in the NFL draft, yet Locker decided to return to school for his senior season. All of that being said, the following are 10 players that I expect will turn pro.

10. WR, Julio Jones

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 26: Julio Jones #8 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after a long reception against the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Julio Jones has had a stellar college career. He already has won a national championship and achieved great personal success.

Jones has all the tools to be a dominant NFL receiver. He will need to improve his consistency, but he is ready to make the jump to the NFL. He is largely regarded as a mid to late first-round pick.

9. DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina

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CHAPEL HILL, NC - SEPTEMBER 19: Robert Quinn #42 of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrates after a sack with teammate Marvin Austin #9 against the East Carolina Pirates at Kenan Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by St

Robert Quinn is an elite pass rushing DE/OLB. He has the size and speed that leaves NFL teams drooling. For Quinn, who was forced to miss his 2010 season due to rule violations, there is no doubt he will be going pro.

Unless Quinn shows up at the combines out of shape, he will not last past the mid first-round.

8. RB Mark Ingram, Alabama

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 13: Running back Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide rushes upfield against the Mississippi State Bulldogs November 13, 2010 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

There is little to no reason for Mark Ingram to come back to school. He has won a National Championship and a Heisman Trophy.

He will also be one of the top running backs in the draft. Ingram can be expected to go in the later stages of the first-round. At this point, the biggest concern regarding Ingram is the future of his knee that caused him to miss the early part of the season.

I can't imagine Ingram risking further injury when he will likely be a first-round selection.

7. WR AJ Green, Georgia

A.J. Green is a specimen. He is 6'4, he has speed and hands and it all has been on full display in his junior season.

As the centerpiece of a pro-style offense, there is little for him to be gained by returning to school.Green will likely be the first WR taken.

6. OLB Akeem Ayers, UCLA

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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)

Ayers is 6'5, 255 lbs and he can run. Since his sophomore season, he has been a QB sacking machine. Ayers will be a lock to go in the first-round and he would have little left to prove by returning for his senior season.

5. WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma St.

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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 isn't the tallest WR in the draft. At 6'1" and 205 lbs., he is certainly not the smallest WR in the draft and he may be the most explosive.

Blackmon has had a terrific college career, and he flashes the polished route running that has teams thinking he could come in and contribute right away. Blackmon will be gone in the first-round.

4. QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas

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COLUMBIA, SC - NOVEMBER 06: Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansas Razorbacks against the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Mallett's draft status has been consistently on the rise. He is now even reaching the top five on some draft boards.

While teams would like to see him improve his consistency, there will not be many that pass on him. Mallett is going to find the lure of being a top draft pick to tantalizing to pass.

3. DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 16: Marcell Dareus #57 and James Carpenter #77 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Ole Miss Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Dareus is an absolute load inside. He has shown the ability to stuff the run and rush the passer.

Like the other Alabama players on this list, Dareus would have little to gain by returning. He also would have little he could gain in terms of draft positioning. Dareus is likely to be a top-10 pick.

2. DB Patrick Peterson, LSU

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State University Tigers nearly intercepts a pass in the final seconds against Markeith Summers #16 and Korvic Neat #28 of the Ole Miss Rebels as time expired at Tiger Stadium on November

Peterson is highly regarded as the top defensive back on most draft boards. That means he is not going to slide past the top-10.

Peterson has shown he can excel in man or zone defense. He also has displayed his difference making explosiveness as a return man. Peterson would be leaving millions on the table by returning to school.

1. QB Andrew Luck, Stanford

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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)

Luck is the most polished and pro ready QB to come out of college in years. It is almost a certainty that he will be the number one overall selection. He has the mechanics, arm strength, approach, acuity and all while playing in a pro-style offense.

Jim Harbaugh recently went on record saying he believed Luck would return to Stanford for his senior year. I am not buying it. He's going to the NFL.