2011 NFL Draft: Info for NFL Combine, Senior Bowl and Other Key Dates

The 2011 NFL Draft is creeping closer with the offseason beginning for the 20 teams that failed to make the playoffs. 

With a lot going on until the draft, here's a comprehensive guide to the important dates and information you'll need leading up to the first round on April 28th...

Deadline for college players to declare for NFL draft: January 15th

(I've seen January 18th too, but I'm fairly certain it's the 15th.)

With Andrew Luck headlining a group of talented underclassmen whose 2011 draft status is still up in the air, scouts and GMs will anxiously await Saturday, January 15th.

Notable underclassmen who've declared

Utah CB Brandon Burton, Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert, UCLA LB Akeem Ayers, Texas CB Aaron Williams, Pittsburgh WR Jonathan Baldwin

Senior Bowl Info

The annual All-Star game is set for January 29th at 3:00 pm CST in Mobile, Alabama.

The contest will air nationally on the NFL Network

Jake Locker, who could have been selected No. 1 overall last season, had a disappointing senior year in terms of throwing the football. He must have a strong showing to boost his draft stock. Iowa defensive tackle Adrian Clayborn will also look to perform well.

Notable Senior Bowl participants

TCU QB Andy Dalton, West Virginia RB Noel Devine, Troy WR Jerrel Jernigan, Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan, Boise State WR Austin Pettis, Alabama QB Greg McElroy, Florida State QB Christian Ponder, Florida OL Mike Pouncey

NFL Combine Info

The NFL Combine will take place February 23rd through March 1st from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Placekickers, special teamers, offensive linemen and tight ends will arrive first and begin interviews on February 23rd.

They will be measured and take exams on Thursday, February 24th and start workouts Friday the 25th, with the conclusion of those workouts on Saturday the 26th.

The quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers arrive a day later than the first group, and after three days of interviews and evaluations, they'll complete workouts on Sunday, February 27th.

The defensive linemen and linebackers are a day behind the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers and follow the same schedule. They'll be done with workouts on Monday, February 28th.

The Combine will conclude after the defensive backs are done with their workouts on Tuesday, March 1st.

The Combine is extremely vital to those workout warriors and speed demons who will be looking to boost their draft positioning with great timed speed and reps on the bench press.

Every year a select few are drafted higher than they probably should be because of a great Combine, and at least one productive player falls due to an inadequate Combine showing.

Players are being invited now to this year's Combine, and I'll add a link once the entire participant list is set in stone (if there's already one out there, let me know).

NFL Draft Info (I'm sure you all know this, but why not include it for reference?)

Round 1: Thursday, April 28th

Rounds 2 and 3: Friday, April 29th

Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 30th