Andrew Luck: Is He Really Worth a No. 1 Pick?

Andrew Luck could be on the college football stage for the final time tonight in the Orange Bowl.

Next up could be the 2011 NFL draft, which begs the question: is Andrew Luck a guarenteed No. 1 overall pick? If so, is he worth the first overall pick?

Luck, the Stanford signal caller who will face the Virginia Tech defense, certainly has the size, the stats, and the arm for the NFL.

He also has the endorsement of his head coach, Jim Harbaugh.

"He's a pro quarterback, there's not question about it," Harbaugh said this past week as his team went through bowl preparations. "He's physically mature, he's mentally mature. He's got rare talent," said Harbaugh, who could be looking at his player from an NFL coaching perspective in the near future.

Luck is 6-4, 235 lbs. He completed 70 percent (245/349) of his passes this season. He threw 28 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions from Stanford's pro-style offense. He can also run the football, and he's a tough player.

Most NFL scouts have him rated as the top quarterback, better than Jake Locker or Ryan Mallett.

Some say he's a better prospect than Sam Bradford and Matthew Stafford, the past two No. 1 picks.

And that should answer the question.

If Bradford and Stafford were worth the top pick, then Luck should be a lock.

His last collegiate impression could come tonight. There are no guarantees he'd be back for his senior year at Stanford, especially if his coach were to end up somewhere else.

"He'll decide what to do and I'll advise him to do what's best for his family," says Harbaugh. From that standpoint, Luck should get some sage advice from his dad, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck.

The 2011 NFL draft order was announced today, and the Carolina Panthers will pick first followed by the Denver Broncos, the Buffalo Bills, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Arizona Cardinals.

John Elway has moved to the Denver front office, and its no secret that he may make a play for Harbaugh to coach the Broncos. The dilemma there is Tim Tebow, who was drafted first last year by the departed Josh McDaniels.

The Panthers have a vacancy, and perhaps it would be too coincidental to go after Harbaugh then have him take Luck with the first pick.

Is Luck going to be the top pick?

Only the Carolina Panthers know for sure.