2011 NFL Draft: Power Ranking Draft Prospects Featured in BCS Championship Game
2011 NFL Draft: Let all the talk, the chatter and the bickering come to an end.
The BCS National Championship game is finally here.
Oregon and Auburn will finally settle the score on the field tonight, with bragging rights, glory and a national title on the line.
But this game has been analyzed from every which way, so let's do something a little different.
Which players from tonight's BCS National Championship game are NFL bound?
Better yet, where are they projected to go in the 2011 NFL Draft?
Well, here's a look at the top 10 pro prospects in tonight's Auburn-Oregon showdown.
7. Brandon Bair, DT, Oregon
1 of 10
Measurables: 6'6", 265 pounds
Production: In four seasons at Oregon, Brandon Bair has registered 101 tackles, 1 forced fumble and five sacks.
He's been most effective in 2010 as he's totaled 45 tackles, seven pass deflections and three sacks.
Scouting Report: Bair has played defensive tackle at Oregon, but he'll have to switch to end at the NFL level. He's very lanky, and he doesn't really excel at rushing the quarterback or stopping the run.
His long arms and tall frame cause trouble for smaller quarterbacks, but he's a bit raw despite already being 27 years old.
Projection: 7th round to undrafted
9. Mario Fannin, RB, Auburn
2 of 10
Measurables: 5'10 3/8", 230 pounds.
Production: For his career, Mario Fannin has rushed for 1,366 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's also added 96 career catches for 969 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
With the emergence of Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb, however, Fannin accumulated just 552 total yards during his senior season.
Scouting Report: Fannin is quick and a solid blocker in pass protection, but he lacks exceptional speed and runs too high. He's not incredibly shifty but has decent body control and can bounce off defenders who arm tackle.
Fannin can line up in the slot but doesn't have great hands. Injuries are an issue, as is Fannin's tendency to be a hesitant runner.
Projection: Sixth round to undrafted.
8. Terrell Zachery, WR, Auburn
3 of 10
Measurables: 5'11", 208 pounds.
Production: Terrell Zachery hasn't exactly put up stellar numbers, as he's totaled just 66 receptions for 1,066 yards and nine touchdowns at Auburn.
His senior season was his best, though. Zachery caught 38 passes for 585 yards and four touchdowns in 2010.
Scouting Report: Zachery is relatively quick, athletic and strives when the ball is in hands, but he really struggles when catching passes in traffic and across the middle.
He has decent size and is an average blocker, but he's not exceptionally fast (expected to run in that 4.5-4.6 range). Zachery needs to work on his ball skills as well.
Projection: Sixth or seventh round.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Kenny Rowe, DE, Oregon
4 of 10
Measurables: 6'3", 232 pounds.
Production: As a defensive end, Kenny Rowe has totaled 91 tackles, six forced fumbles and 22 sacks while at Oregon.
His most productive season as a Duck came in 2009 when he had 37 tackles, two forced fumbles and a career-high 11 sacks.
Scouting Report: At just 232 pounds, Rowe is far too small to play defensive end and will likely switch to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. He has decent speed and is a good pass rusher, but as an end he has virtually no experience dropping back in pass coverage.
Rowe must improve his range and work on his speed/agility to transition to OLB at the NFL level.
Projection: Sixth round.
6. Josh Bynes, ILB, Auburn
5 of 10
Measurables: 6'1 1/2", 236 pounds
Production: In four seasons as a Tiger, Josh Bynes has racked up 238 career tackles, one forced fumble and seven interceptions.
In his last two seasons at Auburn, he has 175 tackles, two sacks and four interceptions.
Scouting Report: Bynes shows decent athleticism and excels in creating turnovers, as is evidenced by his seven career picks. But he doesn't have fluid hips, he often reacts too late and he doesn't exactly show a ton of lateral quickness.
Bynes struggles at shedding blockers at times but could succeed as a 4-3 middle linebacker.
Projection: Fifth round
5. Jeff Maehl, WR, Oregon
6 of 10
Measurables: 6', 173 pounds.
Production: Jeff Maehl has had a very solid career at Oregon, posting 169 receptions for 2,178 yards and 24 touchdowns.
By far his best season as a Duck came in 2010, when he caught 68 passes for 943 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Scouting Report: The definition of a hard worker, Maehl lacks elite size, speed and athleticism. But he has great hands, runs clean and precise routes and has a knack for making the big play.
Maehl is definitely more quick than fast and should find a spot as a slot receiver at the NFL level.
Projection: Fifth round
4. Lee Ziemba, OT, Auburn
7 of 10
Measurables: 6'5", 320 pounds.
Production: Given that Lee Ziemba is an offensive tackle, I won't bore you with stats.
But he has started 51 straight games at Auburn and was voted as a 2010 AP All-American Second Teamer.
Scouting Report: Ziemba plays left tackle at Auburn, but he will likely switch to right tackle or offensive guard in the NFL because he lacks the elite athleticism required to play that position.
He shows tremendous power as a run blocker, but he plays too high, struggles at picking up blitzes in pass protection and has a hard time against speed rushers.
Projection: Third or fourth round.
3. Casey Matthews, ILB, Oregon
8 of 10
Measurables: 6'1", 241 pounds
Production: At Oregon, Casey Matthews has totaled 228 tackles, nine sacks and four interceptions.
His best season as a Duck came in 2010, when he racked up 72 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions.
Scouting Report: Not on the level of his brother (Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews) but not a slouch either. Matthews is an instinctive defender who reads offenses quickly and shows surprising athleticism, as he is generally around the ball.
He's not exceptionally fast but quick enough to cover well in zone coverage and agile enough to play outside linebacker in certain schemes. He does a good job on the tight end up the middle but sometimes struggles at shedding blockers, which is why many scouts see him as a more of an OLB prospect.
Projection: Third or fourth round
2. Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
9 of 10
Measurables: 6'5 1/2", 248 pounds.
Production: In his first season at Auburn, Cam Newton won the 2010 Heisman Trophy Award.
He threw for more than 2,500 yards, 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions. On the ground, he ran for more than 1,400 yards and added another 20 scores.
Scouting Report: Newton possesses a rare combination of size, strength and athleticism, and is an underrated passer. Like Tim Tebow, he struggles with his drawn-out mechanics, but he has too much potential to overlook.
He's not as agile or quick as Michael Vick, but his long stride is deceptive and doesn't show his true speed. Newton flashes big play ability, can make long throws down field and can turn what seems like a sack into a long gain.
Projection: Top 15.
1. Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
10 of 10
Measurables: 6'4 1/2", 299 pounds
Production: In two seasons at Auburn, Nick Fairley has totaled 83 tackles, one interception and 12 sacks.
He really broke out in 2010, however, when he had 55 tackles and 11 sacks on his way to being named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Scouting Report: The best defensive tackle and No. 2 overall prospect in the draft, Fairley was given a grade of 97 by ESPN's Scouts Inc.
He shows tremendous power, exceptional athleticism, incredible quickness and is a disruptive force up the middle. His ideal fit is as a 3-technique DT because of his ability to get in the backfield and wreak havoc.
Fairley excels against the run but has also shown a ridiculous ability to pressure the quarterback (11 sacks).
Projection: Top five
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
