2011 NFL Draft: Andrew Luck, Ryan Mallett and the Top 25 Underclassmen
The college football bowl season and the NFL playoffs are set to begin, which, unfortunately, means that football season is nearing its end.
Once the curtains are drawn on America's gridirons, all eyes will turn to New York, where the 2011 NFL Draft is set to take place on April 28th-30th.
Despite the distinct possibility of a lockout next season, the upcoming draft is still set to take place thanks to league provisions already in place. However, the prospect of a protracted labor dispute may discourage eligible underclassmen from making an early leap to the NFL.
And there's certainly no shortage of talented youngsters, far beyond just Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, who could very well go within the first two or three rounds of the 2011 draft.
As such, let's have a look at the 25 best NFL prospects among eligible underclassmen.
25. Rahim Moore, Safety, UCLA
1 of 25
Kicking off the list is UCLA safety Rahim Moore.
The true junior from the storied Long Beach Poly football program is highly regarded for his combination size, at 6'1" and 200 pounds, and speed as well as his instincts as a roamer in the defensive backfield.
Moore managed only one interception in 2010, though that can easily be attributed to the fact that quarterbacks stopped throwing the ball in his area after leading the FBS with 10 picks in 2009.
Moore is the type of player who always finds a way to impact the game, as his tackle totals shot up dramatically this season despite (or perhaps because of) such a precipitous drop in interceptions.
24. Mikel Leshoure, Running Back, Illinois
2 of 25
As Mikel Leshoure's playing time has increased, so has his draft stock.
The true junior from Champaign finally got a shot as the full-time starter in the Illini backfield this season and delivered quite handsomely, with a whopping 1,697 yards and 17 touchdowns in 13 games, buoyed by a staggering 330-yard performance against Northwestern in Illinois' regular season finale.
At 6'1" and 230 pounds, Leshoure certainly has the physical tools to succeed well beyond college and into the NFL.
23. Kyle Rudolph, Tight End, Notre Dame
3 of 25
When it comes to being a successful tight end in the NFL, size may not be everything, but it's certainly the most important thing.
And Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph has plenty of size to spare.
A native of Cincinnati, Rudolph stands at a robust 6'6" and 265 pounds–the perfect size for an NFL tight end.
Rudolph projects as the type of player is nearly as effective as a blocker as he is as a pass-catcher, which should have plenty of NFL teams putting him on their draft day wish lists.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
22. Kenny Tate, Safety, Maryland
4 of 25
From Shawne Merriman to Vernon Davis to Darrius Heyward-Bey, the Maryland football program has established a reputation for developing freak athletes into elite NFL Draft prospects.
Kenny Tate more than qualifies as the latest in this distinguished tradition.
The junior from Forestville, Maryland has lined up at just about every possible position on defense in his Terrapin career, and it's not all that surprising as to why when you look at the facts.
At 6'4" and 220 pounds, Tate has the size to line up as a linebacker or a down lineman on occasion and the speed to patrol the defensive backfield.
On paper, Tate finished his junior season with a stuffed stat sheet–90 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
Throw in the unceremonious dismissal of head coach Ralph Friedgen and there should be no confusion as to why Tate is taking his talents to the NFL.
21. Justin Houston, Linebacker, Georgia
5 of 25
Georgia's Justin Houston doesn't need a coaching change to convince him to jump to the NFL because he clearly has the talent to be successful as is.
Houston has fantastic size for a linebacker–6'3" and 260 pounds–and his 10 sacks and 19.5 total tackles for a loss are indicative of his ability as a pass-rusher and the speed with which he can get to running backs and receivers in the backfield.
Look for someone to pick Houston up late in the first round.
20. Jared Crick, Defensive Tackle, Nebraska
6 of 25
Jared Crick may not have the pure versatility of a Kenny Tate, but as a defensive lineman, he's about as flexible as they come.
The 6'6", 285-pounder can not only play any position the defensive front, but dominate. He has the frame to add more weight if the team that drafts him prefers to use him at nose tackle, but could very well succeed as an end.
Because, it's not every day that you see a down lineman rack up 70 tackles and 10 sacks in a single season.
19. Travis Lewis, Linebacker, Oklahoma
7 of 25
In terms of pure football skills, Travis Lewis might be the best linebacker in this entire draft.
At 6'2" and 235 pounds, his size is somewhat less than ideal but he makes up for it with his sheer ballhawking ability.
Lewis has been a force at Oklahoma ever since he set foot on campus in Norman, posting his best totals of 135 tackles, 3 sacks and four interceptions as a freshman!
Should Lewis throw his name into the hat, he looks like a good bet to go in the latter part of the first round.
18. Mark Ingram, Running Back, Alabama
8 of 25
Mark Ingram's NFL Draft resume speaks for itself.
He won the Heisman as a sophomore, becoming the first player in the rich history of Alabama football to bring home the coveted trophy.
In that sophomore season, he ran for 1658 yards, caught for another 334 yards and accounted for 20 total touchdowns.
In 2010, Ingram finished the year with 875 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground despite missing the first two games of the Crimson Tides' season with injuries.
Ingram may be a bit small, at 5'10", but he's stocky enough, at 215 pounds, to both take and deliver a punishing blow or two at the pro level.
In a draft devoid of running back prospects, Ingram earns the top spot at his position by default.
17. Aaron Williams, Cornerback, Texas
9 of 25
Are you a team that's looking for a shutdown cover corner but you weren't bad enough in 2010 to earn a top 10 pick?
Well, have no fear because Aaron Williams is here.
At 6'1" and 190 pounds, Williams can play some safety from time to time, but truly shines as a corner, where he has the speed and technique to render the opposing team's best receiver ineffective.
Just ask Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles, a talented junior in his own right, who mustered only five catches for 36 yards with Williams draped all over him during Texas' Red River Rivalry game against the Sooners this past season.
16. J.J. Watt, Defensive End, Wisconsin
10 of 25
If defensive linemen are more your thing, then you've probably had a look at Wisconsin's J.J. Watt.
Watt fits the mold of the modern NFL down lineman, with the sheer mass and strength to punish offensive tackles and centers on the interior and the speed to blow by guards on the outside.
At 6'6" and 292 pounds, Watt, who started his collegiate career at Central Michigan and took home the 2010 Ronnie Lott Award, is the complete package and, as such, is also a sure-fire first-rounder should he declare for the 2011 NFL Draft.
15. Janoris Jenkins, Cornerback, Florida
11 of 25
The Florida football program has recently established itself as a factory for turning out talented defensive backs.
Janoris Jenkins is the latest in a line that includes the likes of Cleveland Browns corner Joe Haden, Jacksonville Jaguar safety Reggie Nelson and Tennessee Titans corner Reynaldo Hill.
Jenkins is an excellent cover corner who, despite being only 5'11" and 184 pounds, has a knack for landing hard hits and the ability to help in the running game, though not always the will to do so.
14. Blaine Gabbert, Quarterback, Missouri
12 of 25
Those teams with a need at quarterback but without a high enough pick to nab Andrew Luck, Jake Locker or Ryan Mallett will likely turn to Missouri's Blaine Gabbert.
Gabbert may not have the sheer statistics to stack up with Luck and Mallett, but he has as much physical ability as any quarterback in this draft (except, perhaps, for Mallett's arm).
At 6'5" and 235 pounds, Gabbert is the perfect size to play quarterback in the NFL and has demonstrated an ability to move outside the pocket and deliver the ball on the run in his two years as the full-time starter for Mizzou.
Thus, Gabbert would be an excellent option for any team looking for a quarterback in the mid-to-late portions of the first round.
13. Jonathan Baldwin, Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh
13 of 25
Of course, any successful NFL quarterback needs a reliable, if not spectacular, wide receiver to make him look good.
Pitt's Jonathan Baldwin is just that kind of guy.
Baldwin is an absolute beast of a wide receiver, complete with a 6'5", 230-pound frame to run over defensive backs and linebackers and the speed, hands and body control to ridiculous grabs.
Larry Fitzgerald, eat your heart out.
12. Akeem Ayers, Linebacker, UCLA
14 of 25
Akeem Ayers may have played for a terrible defensive unit at UCLA this season, but don't blame him for its failures.
If anything, Ayers did everything he possibly could to keep the Bruins' D afloat, lining up as a linebacker and occasionally as a down lineman.
At 6'4" and 255 pounds, Ayers has the frame and ability to the same at the pro level, though he could still use some coaching to improve his quarterback-tracking skills.
Given the proper instruction, Ayers, with his size and freakish athleticism, will be a terror for opposing offenses in the NFL.
11. Julio Jones, Wide Receiver, Alabama
15 of 25
Alabama's Julio Jones has almost everything a team could ever want in a wide receiver.
He's got size, at 6'4" and 220 pounds.
He's got speed, with the ability to run a 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds.
He's got toughness, having played through injuries during his junior season.
By "almost", Jones does have a tendency to drop passes now and then and doesn't always bring his A-game with him to the stadium on game day.
However, there's no doubt that he has the talent and ability to be an incredible wide receiver in the NFL.
10. Cameron Newton, Quarterback, Auburn
16 of 25
There might not be a single player in college football, or even the NFL for that matter, with the kind of sheer physical ability that Cam Newton possesses in droves.
The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback for Auburn had one of the greatest seasons of any player in the history of college football this year, accounting for nearly 4,000 total yards and 48 total touchdowns while leading the SEC in rushing.
Newton's big numbers came as a result of his ability to use his 6'6", 250-pound frame to run and throw over, around and through defenders while almost single-handedly willing the Tigers into the BCS National Championship Game.
Still, Newton is extremely raw for an NFL quarterback, projecting as a taller, more athletic version of Tim Tebow.
Supposing he ends up with a team that doesn't need him to start from Day One, Newton could very well become an outstanding passer at the pro level.
9. Marcell Dareus, Defensive End, Alabama
17 of 25
In most other drafts, Marcell Dareus would be the first or second defensive lineman taken.
However, given the 2011 NFL Draft class and the plethora of quality junior playing along the defensive line in college football, the hulking trenchman from Alabama would be lucky to be the fourth or fifth of his position off the board.
And whichever team picks him up will be lucky to have him.
Like so many other down linemen in this draft, Dareus has the size, at 6'4" and 306, and the ability to play just about anywhere up front in the NFL.
As good as Alabama's defense has been the past few seasons, it would not have been nearly what it was without Dareus up front, demanding double- and triple-teams.
8. Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State
18 of 25
Dareus was to Alabama's defense what Justin Blackmon was to Oklahoma State's offense this season–an important cog in a dominant machine.
Blackmon had an absolutely transcendent campaign as a red-shirt sophomore, turning 111 catches into 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns.
The native of Ardmore, Oklahoma has left scouts thinking of his predecessor, current Dallas Cowboys wide-out Dez Bryant.
Scary thing is, Blackmon may very well be a better receiver than Bryant.
Scary, indeed.
7. Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, LSU
19 of 25
Patrick Peterson was arguably the team MVP for LSU this season, even though he was a cornerback.
Though such a distinction shows just how exceptional a corner he was.
Peterson has excellent size for a defensive back, at 6'1" and 222 pounds, and a bounty of burner-level speed, which the Bayou Bengals put to heavy use this season by employing Peterson on kick and punt returns.
NFL scouts have described Peterson as the type of special talent at his position that Ndamukong Suh was at defensive tackle.
As such, expect him to be off the board well before the top 10 selections have been made.
6. Robert Quinn, Defensive End, North Carolina
20 of 25
The North Carolina Tar Heels were supposed to have a special season in 2010, but had their hopes and dreams of an ACC title derailed when practically all of their best defensive players were forced to sit out due to NCAA infractions.
Among those most notable, at least for NFL scouts, was defensive end Robert Quinn.
After racking up 52 tackles, 11 sacks and two forced fumbles as a sophomore in 2009, the 6'5", 270-pound defensive lineman was supposed to terrorize opposing offensives with his size, strength and speed up front.
And though a season lost may have eliminated his ability to help Butch Davis' boys take the next step up into the category of college football elites, his draft stock did not take too much of a hit.
Expect Quinn to go in the top 10, despite him not having played football for a year and having scouts question his character as the cause for his absence.
5. A.J. Green, Wide Receiver, Georgia
21 of 25
Though he didn't miss the entire season like Quinn did, Georgia's A.J. Green spent the first four games of the 2010 season on the bench due NCAA infractions involving the sale of a bowl-worn jersey to an agent.
That being said, don't expect anyone to shy away from Green once the 2011 NFL Draft rolls around.
Green has long been touted as a sure-fire star receiver in the NFL, and for good reason. His size (6'4", 212 pounds), speed (sub-4.4), crisp route-running ability, sure hands and incredible body control make him the ideal player to come in and be a #1-type option right away.
As such, look for Green to be the first pass-catcher off the board in 2011.
4. Ryan Mallett, Quarterback, Arkansas
22 of 25
They say that everything is bigger in Texas.
By the looks of a guy like Ryan Mallett, that would seem to include quarterbacks and their arms.
The 6'6", 238-pounder still has a year of eligibility left after transferring from Michigan, but will likely forgo it after throwing for 3,592 yards and 30 touchdowns.
The kid known as "Big Tex" has an absolute cannon for an arm, though the fact that he's a bit of a statue in the pocket may depress his draft status somewhat.
Nonetheless, Mallett will almost undoubtedly be the second quarterback taken if he decides to submit his name into the draft.
3. Nick Fairley, Defensive Tackle, Auburn
23 of 25
Some people might be shocked to see Nick Fairley listed as only the second best defensive linemen among this year's crop of juniors.
After all, the 6'5", 300-pound defensive tackle was to Auburn's defense what Cam Newton was to the offense.
Fairley combines unbelievable strength on the interior with a serious mean streak and the ability to play on the outside as well.
Whoever ends up with this guy will be "Fairley" pleased with their selection.
2. Da'Quan Bowers, Defensive End, Clemson
24 of 25
Mario Williams, meet Da'Quan Bowers.
The junior defensive end from Clemson is an absolute freak, at 6'4" and 280 pounds, having used his physical gifts and developing technique on the edge to pile up 67 tackles and an NCAA-best 16 sacks this season.
As such, it shouldn't take very long for someone to scoop up Bowers, probably within the top five selections in the 2011 NFL Draft.
1. Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford
25 of 25
I know, I know, big surprise.
Andrew Luck is the top underclassmen among NFL Draft prospects.
As much of a sure thing as it may seem for Luck to declare for the draft early, especially after tearing apart Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, he still has yet to announce his intentions.
NFL scouts and pundits have compared Luck to just about all of the greats, from Joe Montana to fellow Stanford Cardinal John Elway.
With a little bit of "Luck", the Pac-10 Player of the Year and 2010 Heisman finalist will be the next great NFL quarterback.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
