2011 NFL Draft: Postseason Position Rankings

The National Championship bout between Auburn and Oregon last night turned out to be a perfect summation for a season which left us wondering simply what could have been.

As we watched the glimpses of the greatness from both teams during the game’s waning moments, it sort of left us wandering and pondering if a shorter layoff could have delivered that kind of action for four quarters. Instead we were treated to a first half filled with sloppy football and neither explosive offense looked able to get themselves fully in sync.

While the game was surely entertaining, even to the most common of sports fans, it left us feeling a bit cheated, just as this entire college football season did.

2010 was a year filled with basically as much scandal as excitement. The season started off on a sour note with the mess in Chapel Hill and things only spiraled out of control from there.

Once the Cam Newton story caught wings, the monsoon was on.

Luckily, for fans of one of the many teams that uncharacteristically struggled this past season, it’s time to close the book on the 2010 season. And that means one thing—it’s time for the draft talk to commence.

The next four months are going to be filled with draft chatter and speculation so let’s start it off right with some postseason position rankings.

Everything should be sorted out by the January 15the declaration deadline. After that, the true evaluation period can begin.

*Denotes a player who has not officially declared their intent

Quarterbacks

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Quarterback Cameron Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers drinks water in the hallway minutes after the Tigers 22-19 victory against the Oregon Ducks in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on J

1. Cam Newton, Auburn

2. Blaine Gabbert, Misssouri

3. Jake Locker, Washington

4. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas

5. Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech

6. Ricky Stanzi, Iowa

7. Andy Dalton, TCU

8. Pat Devlin, Delaware

9. Christian Ponder, Florida State

10. Colin Kaepernick, Nevada

Other Notable Prospects
Nathan Enderle, Idaho
Greg McElroy, Alabama
Jeff Van Camp, Florida Atlantic
Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M
T.J. Yates, North Carolina

Running Backs

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 16: Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Ole Miss Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

1. Mark Ingram, Alabama

2. Bilal Powell, Louisville

3. Jordan Todman, UConn

4. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State

5. Mikel Leshoure, Illinois

6. Daniel Thomas, Kansas State

7. Shane Vereen, Cal

8. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech

9. Quizz Rodgers, Oregon State

10. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma

Other Notable Prospects
Noel Devine, West Virginia
Darren Evans, Virginia Tech
Dion Lewis, Pitt
Jamie Harper, Clemson
Delone Carter, Syracuse

Wide Receivers

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

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)

1. A.J. Green, Georgia

2. Julio Jones, Alabama

3. Jeremy Kerley, TCU

4. Tandon Doss, Indiana

5. Jerrel Jernigan, Troy

6. Chris Matthews, Kentucky

7. DeAndre Brown, Southern Miss

8. Leonard Hankerson, Miami

9. Jonathan Baldwin, Pitt

10. Titus Young, Boise State

Other Notable Prospcts
Ronald Johnson, USC
Torrey Smith, Maryland
Tori Gurley, South Carolina
Mark Dell, Michigan State
Austin Pettis, Boise State

Tight Ends

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 03: Kyle Rudolph #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs after making a catch against the Washington Huskies on October 3, 2009 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Washington 37-30 in overtime. (Pho

1. Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame

2. D.J. Williams, Arkansas

3. Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin

4. Luke Stocker, Tennessee

5. Jordan Cameron, USC

6. Virgil Green, Nevada

7. Cameron Graham, Louisville

8. Andre Smith, Virginia Tech

9. Charlie Gantt, Michigan State

10. Jeffrey Anderson, UAB

Other Notable Prospects
Mike McNeill, Nebraska
Allen Reisner, Iowa
Zach Pianalto, North Carolina
Weslye Saunders, South Carolina
Daniel Hardy, Idaho

Offensive Tackles

Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod

1. Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State

2. Nate Solder, Colorado

3. Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin

4. DeMarcus Love, Arkansas

5. Anthony Castonzo, Boston College

6. Marcus Cannon, TCU

7. Tyron Smith, USC

8. James Brewer, Indiana

9. Lee Ziemba, Auburn

10. Marcus Gilbert, Florida

Other Notable Prospects
Derek Hall, Stanford
Willie Smith, East Carolina
James Carpenter, Alabama
Joseph Barksdale, LSU
Derek Newton, Arkansas State

Interior Offensive Lineman

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 27: Rodney Hudson #62 of the Florida State Seminoles celebrates a touchdown during a game against the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

1. Rodney Hudson, Florida State

2. Ben Ijalana, Villanova

3. Jake Kirkpatrick, TCU

4. Stefen Wisniewski, Penn State

5. Keith Williams, Nebraska

6. John Moffitt, Wisconsin

7. Mike Pouncey, Florida

8. Kristofer O’Dowd, USC

9. Justin Boren, Ohio State

10. Orlando Franklin, Miami

Other Notable Prospects
Tim Barnes, Missouri
Sampson Genus, South Florida
Clint Boling, Georgia
Zach Hurd, UConn
Bryant Browning, Ohio State

Defensive Ends

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

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)

1. Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson

2. Marcell Dareus, Alabama

3. Cameron Heyward, Ohio State

4. Cameron Jordan, Cal

5. Robert Quinn, North Carolina

6. Adrian Clayborn, Iowa

7. J.J. Watt, Wisconsin

8. Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue

9. Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma

10. Sam Acho, Texas

Other Notable Prospects
Pernell McPhee, Mississippi State
Jabaal Sheard, Pitt
Brandon Bair, Oregon
Greg Romeus, Pitt
Ricky Elmore, Arizona

Defensive Tackles

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Nick Fairley #90 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates a sack against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian

1. Nick Fairley, Auburn

2. Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple

3. Drake Nevis, LSU

4. Stephen Paea, Oregon State

5. Corey Liuget, Illinois

6. Jurrell Casey, USC

7. Jerel Worthy, Michigan State*

8. Christian Ballard, Iowa

9. Phil Taylor, Baylor

10. Allen Bailey, Miami

Other Notable Prospects
Jerrell Powe, Ole Miss
Marvin Austin, North Carolina
Sione Fua, Stanford
Jarvis Jenkins, Clemson
Kenrick Ellis, Hampton

Linebackers

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Linebacker Akeem Ayers #10 of the UCLA Bruins in the game with the Houston Cougars at the Rose Bowl on September 18, 2010 in Pasadena, California. UCLA won 31-13. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

1. Akeem Ayers, UCLA

2. Aldon Smith, Missouri

3. Von Miller, Texas A&M

4. Justin Houston, Georgia*

5. Martez Wison, Illinois

6. Bruce Carter, North Carolina

7. Greg Jones, Michigan State

8. Mason Foster, Washington

9. Kelvin Sheppard, LSU

10. Dontay Moch, Nevada

Other Notable Prospects
K.J. Wright, Mississippi State
Mark Herzlich, Boston College
Eddie Jones, Texas
Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina
Nate Irving, North Carolina State

Cornerbacks

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 25: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State Univeristy Tigers celebrates after scoring a touchdown by posing as the Heisman Trophy against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Tiger Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Baton Rouge

1. Patrick Peterson, LSU

2. Prince Amukamara, Nebraska

3. Brandon Burton, Utah

4. Jimmy Smith, Colorado

5. Brandon Harris, Miami

6. Aaron Williams, Texas

7. Johnny Patrick, Louisville

8. Brandyn Thompson, Boise State

9. Kevin Rutland, Missouri

10. Curtis Brown, Texas

Other Notable Prospects
Ras-I Dowling, Virginia
Chimdi Chewka, Ohio State
Chris L. Rucker, Michigan State
Brandon Hogan, West Virginia
Chris Culliver, South Carolina

Safeties

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Safety Rahim Moore #3 of the UCLA Bruins in the game with the Houston Cougars at the Rose Bowl on September 18, 2010 in Pasadena, California. UCLA won 31-13. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

1. Rahim Moore, UCLA

2. Mark Barron, Alabama*

3. Ahmad Black, Florida

4. Tejay Johnson, TCU

5. Quinton Carter, Oklahoma

6. DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson

7. Deunta Williams, North Carolina

8. Nate Williams, Washington

9. Jermale Hines, Ohio State

10. Jaiquawn Jarrett, Temple

Other Notable Prospects
Robert Sands, West Virginia
Will Hill, Florida
Joe Lefeged, Rutgers
Dejon Gomes, Nebraska
David Sims, Iowa State

Top 25 Overall

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

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

1. Cornerback: Patrick Peterson, LSU
2. Defensive End: Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson
3. Defensive Tackle: Nick Fairley, Auburn
4. Quarterback: Cam Newton, Auburn
5. Wide Receiver: A.J. Green, Georgia
6. Quarterback: Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
7. Wide Receiver: Julio Jones, Alabama
8. Cornerback: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
9. Outside Linebacker: Akeem Ayers, UCLA
10. Defensive End: Marcell Dareus, Alabama
11. Quarterback: Jake Locker, Washington
12. Outside Linebacker: Von Miller, Texas A&M
13. Wide Receiver: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
14. Quarterback: Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
15. Defensive End: Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
16. Outside Linebacker: Aldon Smith, Missouri
17. Offensive Tackle: Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State
18. Wide Receiver: Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
19. Running Back: Mark Ingram, Alabama
20. Defensive End: Cameron Jordan, Cal
21. Offensive Tackle: Nate Solder, Colorado
22. Defensive End: Robert Quinn, North Carolina
23. Cornerback: Brandon Burton, Utah
24  Safety: Rahim Moore, UCLA.
25. Defensive Tackle: Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple