2011 NFL Mock Draft: Nick Fairley, Da'Quan Bowers, & Other Potential Top 5 Picks

As the college football bowl season winds down in 2011, a select few of elite senior and underclassmen players will enter their names into April's NFL Draft.

Some players will gain stock through February's NFL Scouting Combine while others will drop. However if a player is extremely talented and the team on the clock is weak in his area of specialty, the combine will do little to derail the selection.

Being selected in the top five requires more than just being an outstanding football player. The teams drafting must have a need for your services. Taking all of those things into consideration, here are the names most likely to be called in the top five of April's 2011 NFL Draft.

Nick Fairley: Defensive Tackle/Auburn

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AUBURN - OCTOBER 16: Defensive lineman Nick Fairley #90 of the Auburn Tigers takes a break on the field during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

Fairley is a 6'5" 298-pound junior out of Auburn. The talented defensive tackle has 11 sacks in 2010 to go along with 55 tackles and an interception.

The Mobile, Alabama native has NFL size and strength which has him projected to go rather early in April's draft. Fairley is one of the anchors on Auburn's 13-0 defense this season.

Andrew Luck: Quarterback/Stanford

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MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal celebrates a play against the Virginai Tech Hokies during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Stanford won 40-12. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/

Stanford's Andrew Luck is the No. 1 name on virtually every mock draft board. The 6'4" junior has incredible pocket presence that has coaches and scouts at the next level drooling on their clipboards.

Luck is no doubt the favorite to go first overall if he decides to come out early. His performance in Stanford's 40-12 rout of Virginia Tech in the 2011 Orange Bowl cements his top five potential.

Patrick Peterson: Defensive Back/LSU

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 13: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State University Tigers runs back an interception against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Tiger Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty I

LSU's Patrick Peterson could very well be an NFL game breaker. The junior cornerback has two punt return touchdowns in 2010 to join his four interceptions on defense.

Peterson, a native of Pompano Beach, Florida, brings with him solid size at 6'1" 222-pounds, as well as play making threat similar to Green Bay's Charles Woodson.

Da'Quan Bowers: Defensive End/Clemson

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AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 18: Da'Quan Bowers #93 of the Clemson Tigers against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Bowers is another underclassmen with the potential to go top five if he enters. At 6'4" 280-pounds, Bowers has superb size for the professional level.

Bowers' 2010 season is likely to thank for his current stock however. The junior from Bamberg, South Carolina recorded 16 sacks this season after totaling just four in his previous two combined.

Prince Amukamara: Defensive Back/Nebraska

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LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 26: Prince Amukamara #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers misses a chance at an interception from Scotty McKnight #21 of the Colorado Buffaloes during the second half of their game at Memorial Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Lincoln, Neb

Nebraska's senior shutdown corner is expected to early in the 2011 NFL draft. In a league dominated by gifted receivers, having a defensive back like Prince Amukamara can make all the difference.

Amukamara's junior season was for sure his best. He recorded 60 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and five interceptions in 2009. In comparison to the previous, his 2010 was average. Still, Amukamara has top five potential.

A.J. Green: Wide Receiver/Georgia

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AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 13: A.J. Green #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

In just three years at the University of Georgia, A.J. Green has amassed over 2,600 yards receiving and 23 touchdowns.

In just eight games in 2010, Green caught 57 passes for 848 yards and nine touchdowns. The junior stands 6'4" and would provide an invaluable option at wide out for several NFL teams.

Robert Quinn: Defensive End/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

North Carolina's Robert Quinn, just another junior defensive end with plenty of potential. The 6'5" 270-pound outside rusher racked up 11 sacks in 2009 as well as two forced fumbles in each season as a Tar Heel.

Quinn is draft eligible if he enters early and carries with him top five potential.

Marcell Dareus: Defensive Tackle/Alabama

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 02: Marcell Dareus #57 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Florida Gators at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Alabama's behemoth on the line of scrimmage, Marcell Dareus, stands 6'4" 306 pounds. Dareus, a junior from Birmingham can likely build upon his stock if he returns to Tuscaloosa for another year. But that would mean passing on a huge first round NFL contract.

Dareus has 66 tackles, 11 sacks, and one interception in his short career at Alabama.

Von Miller: Linebacker/Texas A&M

Texas A&M's Von Miller will likely be one of the draft's most talented players on the edge. Miller is listed as a defensive end and as a linebacker. At 6'3" 243 pounds he is an extremely versatile pass rusher.

Miller has 27 sacks in last two seasons with the Aggies and 169 tackles in his four-year career at College Station. As one of the lone seniors in the draft's first round, look for Miller to be an extremely polished NFL player.

Cam Newton: Quarterback/Auburn

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ATLANTA - DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Cam Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers looks to pass the ball during the 2010 SEC Championship against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Ima

Of course there has to be a wild card. The player that no one sees coming, like Tim Tebow in last year's first round. Newton's performance in the BCS title game could very well win over the NFL front offices of struggling teams.

Newton's 2010 season doesn't need mentioning. His numbers were excellent and he ran away with the Heisman Trophy. His Auburn Tigers are 13-0 and on the doorstep of history.

If Newton enters his name after claiming a BCS title game MVP award in January, don't be surprised when a team reaches for him early in the first round. Underestimated top five potential.

Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.