NFL Draft 2011: Top 10 Underclassmen Who Have Actually Declared
So, it's looking more and more like the 2011 NFL Draft isn't going to be a parade of underclassmen after all.
The slow march back began with Andrew Luck's bombshell, when he announced that he'd be returning to Stanford for his red-shirt junior season, thereby forfeiting anywhere from $40 million to $60 million dollars as well as the golden opportunity to play for the Carolina Panthers.
Okay, so maybe the part about the Panthers isn't so enticing, but since Luck's announcement, Oklahoma star wide-out Ryan Broyles has followed Luck's lead by similarly deciding to put off the draft for another year, presumably to further strengthen his standing as the greatest receiver in Sooners football history.
On the other hand, plenty of talented underclassmen have already thrown their names in the draft hat, with Alabama's Mark Ingram and Marcell Dareus reportedly set to follow suit on Friday.
Setting wild speculation aside, let's have a sneak peak at the 10 best underclassmen who have actually made themselves available for the 2011 draft.
10. Aaron Williams, Cornerback, Texas
1 of 10
Let's kick off the list with Texas cornerback Aaron Williams, a shut-down-caliber defensive back who has the size, at 6'1" and 190 pounds, and the speed to frustrate the opponents' best receiver, as in the case of Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles.
At this point, Williams is likely to go in the second or third round, though he could have very well worked his way into first-round territory in the 2012 draft had he decided to stick around Austin for his senior campaign.
9. Jordan Todman, Running Back, UConn
2 of 10
There is little doubt that Jordan Todman is fully capable of playing and succeeding in the NFL.
Todman had a phenomenal junior campaign for the Big East champion UConn Huskies, running for 1,695 yards and 14 touchdowns, including 121 yards in a losing effort against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.
What has some NFL scouts concerned, and what will likely drop Todman into the second or third round of the 2011 draft, is his durability.
After all, at 5'9" and 193 pounds, Todman's size is less than ideal for an every-down type of back, as he just doesn't seem to have the pure mass to withstand the kind of punishment he will no doubt receive at the professional level.
8. Mark Ingram, Running Back, Alabama
3 of 10
Mark Ingram, on the other hand, looks to be in much better shape to absorb a hit or two in the NFL.
At a stocky 5'10" and 215 pounds, Ingram may be the best 'back in this draft, with plenty of power and speed to boot.
Not to mention a Heisman Trophy on his mantle at home.
Some personnel people may overlook Ingram because of his knee troubles from the early part of the 2010, but most will be encouraged by the grit and toughness that Ingram exhibited in coming back from injury much earlier than anticipated.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
7. Jurrell Casey, USC
4 of 10
As thin as the running back position may be in this draft, those looking for a solid defensive tackle may find themselves up a creek lest they find a way to acquire USC's Jurrell Casey.
Though not particularly big for an interior lineman at 6'1" and 305 pounds, Casey makes up for it with incredible strength and athleticism which allows him to wreak havoc against opposing offense linemen.
At this point, Casey could very well wind up in the first round, though he could just as easily slip into the early portions of the second round as a high-value pick.
6. Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame
5 of 10
Casey is likely rather familiar with Kyle Rudolph, another early entrant who played his college ball at USC-rival Notre Dame.
Rudolph's numbers in college–28 catches for 328 yards and three touchdowns in 2010–may not be particularly eye-popping whatsoever, but there are two very good reasons for NFL scouts going gaga over the Fighting Irish tight end.
Reason #1: he's 6'6".
Reason #2: he's 265 pounds.
And, remember, he's a tight end, at which position that kind of size is absolutely ideal.
As such, Rudolph will almost undoubtedly be the first at his position off the board, potentially as early as the mid-to-late first round.
5. Akeem Ayers, Linebacker, UCLA
6 of 10
If versatility is the name of the game in the NFL, then Akeem Ayers is ready for the big time.
Ayers was once again a one-man wrecking crew for a downright pathetic UCLA defense in 2010, making his presence felt across the board with 68 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions.
Physically speaking, Ayers is a freak, with the speed to play back in coverage, the size, at 6'4" and 255 pounds, to play as a down lineman on occasion and the sheer athleticism to leap tall offensive linemen in a single bound.
Any team looking for a future star at the linebacker position would do well to snatch up Ayers in the 2011 draft.
4. Tyron Smith, Offensive Tackle, USC
7 of 10
Across town, the Trojans look poised to send yet another tremendous offensive line talent to the NFL this year.
This time around, it's tackle Tyron Smith, who, at 6'5" and 280 pounds is an absolute beast.
Smith has just about everything that NFL teams look for in a young left tackle–great technique, tremendous athleticism for a big guy and plenty of room on his frame to pack on more weight without losing either of the first two.
Prospects like Smith don't come around every day. As such, expect him to be off the board early, possibly within the first 10 picks.
3. Marcell Dareus, Defensive End, Alabama
8 of 10
There is some debate in the scouting community as to whether Alabama's Marcell Dareus is a defensive tackle or a defensive end.
At 6'4" and 306 pounds, Dareus certainly has the size inside, but his speed and height may make him better suited as a rusher off the edge.
Either way, Dareus has the makings of a dominant defensive lineman in the NFL, regardless of which spot he plays, making him a prime candidate to be a top-five pick in the 2011 draft.
2. Blaine Gabbert, Quarterback, Missouri
9 of 10
Few entities in the world of football could have been happier to see Andrew Luck return to school than Blaine Gabbert.
With Luck out of the mix, Gabbert may very well be the best quarterback in the 2011 NFL Draft, regardless of who else jumps in.
The 6'5", 235-pounder has all the physical tools to succeed–size, arm strength and mobility–along with plenty of vision and accuracy to make him a top-flight signal caller in due time.
Should Gabbert perform well in workouts and at the combine, he might even end up as the #1 overall pick, assuming the Carolina Panthers are still in the market for a young quarterback to build around.
1. Da'Quan Bowers, Defensive End, Clemson
10 of 10
Then again, if the Panthers decide to go by the book and take the best player available, they would do well to take Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers.
In terms of prior performance, Bowers has proven himself to be a dominant defensive end, as made clear by his NCAA-leading 16 sacks to go along with 67 tackles and a forced fumble in 2010.
As a physical specimen, there are few who can measure up to Bowers' combination of size–6'4", 280 pounds–and speed off the edge.
Might he be the second coming of Julius Peppers? Wouldn't Carolina like to know...
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
