2011 NFL Draft: 10 Most NFL-Ready Prospects at the Senior Bowl

The 2011 NFL draft is starting to take shape with the eligible underclassmen either declaring or staying in school.

But it's the seniors who are most ready for the pros—even one season can make a huge difference. 

This year's crop is filled with supremely talented players at every position. But not everyone will be able to step right in and make a difference for the team who selects them.

We've selected the 10 players at this year's Senior Bowl who are most likely to CONTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY.

That doesn't mean this is a list of the 10 best players in the draft, far from it. But given their history, these seniors are most ready for the NFL. 

No. 10: Drake Nevis, DT, LSU

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Lavar Edward #89 and Drake Nevis #92 of the Louisiana State University Tigers intercept a pass broken up against the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/G

Unless your name is Ndamukong Suh, defensive tackles usually don't transition immediately to the NFL. There is some type of learning curve.

But Nevis is a special player who could find himself starting by week one of the 2011 season. 

Although he didn't become a starter until his senior season, Nevis saw plenty of action in all four of his years in Baton Rouge. 

And he is extremely athletic for an interior lineman. 

No. 9: DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: DeMarco Murray #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs the football to score a touchdown in the first quarter against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in G

Four years at Oklahoma (in which he had over 125 carries each season) will make any back a great NFL prospect. And Murray has the size to be a major factor in 2011, even if he slips to somewhere in the second round.

But more than anything, it's Murray's versatility that earns him a spot on this list. 

Murray caught 71 passes last year, in addition to rushing for 1,214 yards. That ability in the passing game is a major bonus. 

No. 8: D.J. Williams, TE, Arkansas

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: D.J. Williams #45 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs after a catch in the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Phot

Williams is probably the second best tight end out there. Notre Dame's Kyle Rudolph takes top honors.

But Williams was a critical factor in the Razorbacks offense for three seasons. He averaged 48 catches from 2008 to 2010. And playing in an offense with a pro ready quarterback like Ryan Mallett helps, not hurts, his transition to the NFL. 

His size might be the only thing that keeps him out of the first round. Last year's John Mackey winner Aaron Hernandez, also a somewhat undersized SEC tight end, certainly fared well in the NFL with the Patriots. 

No. 7: Mike Pouncey, G, Florida

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NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 01: Tim Tebow #15 of the Florida Gators hugs teammate Mike Pouncey #55 after scoring a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bearcats during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisana Superdome on January 1, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Mike Pouncey probably owes his brother, Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, for wherever he is selected.

NFL scouts probably reason that since he's Maurkice's twin, and Maurkice had an outstanding rookie year, that Mike will do the same.

That might be logical, but the fact that Mike spent another year at Florida where he only got bigger, faster, and stronger is probably more so.

The debate over Pouncey as a guard or a center could cost him first round status, but wherever he lands, he should be starting by week one. 

No. 6: Jake Locker, QB, Washington

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SEATTLE - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Jake Locker #10 of the Washington Huskies scrambles against the Stanford Cardinal on October 30, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Stanford won 41-0. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

In the mind on many pundits, Locker's stock dropped over the past year, but forget about the stats for a moment.

He is very athletic and has shown an ability to scramble and run. 

And spending two season in Steve Sarkisian's offense has to rise his stock.

At USC, Sarkisian mentored a few good quarterbacks who stepped right in as starters their rookie season, Carson Palmer and Mark Sanchez. 

No. 5: Rodney Hudson, G, Florida State

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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)

Arguably the finest lineman in Seminole history, Hudson could be the best offensive lineman in this year's draft. You have to be if you are an Outland Trophy finalist at guard: no guard has won the award since 1997.

As a four-year starter in the ACC, he faced countless outstanding defensive linemen (several of whom are first round picks in this year's draft) so he should transition well. 

And last year, the 49ers rookie Mike Iupati proved that rookie guards can step in and start from week one. 

No. 4: Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans eludes the rush of Cameron Jordan #97 of the California Golden Bears during the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 16, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Har

Playing in a conference with three excellent offenses, Jordan had plenty of opportunities to contend with pro ready talent. 

He is very athletic and was starting by the middle of his sophomore year, so he has a slight edge in experience over some of the excellent underclassmen in this year's draft.

And general managers and coaches will give him a higher "intangibles" grade, considering his father was an NFL tight end for 13 seasons, earning six pro bowl spots. 

No. 3: Allen Bailey, DE, Miami (FL)

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - SEPTEMBER 17: Defensive lineman Allen Bailey #57 and linebacker Colin McCarthy #44 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrate after scoring a safety against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Land Shark Stadium on September 17, 2009 in Fort

A player who starts his college career as a linebacker then transitions to defensive end and ultimately defensive tackle will show NFL scouts that he is a great athlete with tremendous versatility.

He has great size and very few flaws in his technique as well. On a fairly mediocre Miami front seven Bailey still managed to consistently put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. 

And coming out of a school like Miami, one with a rich tradition of churning out NFL defensive lineman (Warren Sapp, Vince Wilfork, Jerome Brown, Cortez Kennedy) will help him on draft day. 

No. 2: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 13: Cameron Heyward #97 of the Ohio State Buckeyes chases after quarterback Matt McGloin #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

The debate about who is the best defensive end in this year's draft will rage on until late April: There is Da'Quan Bowers, Cameron Jordan, Adrian Clayborn, Robert Quinn, Ryan Kerrigan, and so on.

But the most NFL ready end is Ohio State's Cameron Heyward. 

As a true freshman (2007) he started on a team that appeared in the BCS Championship Game. From then on he was the key player in a Buckeye defense that was consistently one of the best in the nation. 

It wasn't that long ago that another Ohio State defensive end went from Columbus to the NFL and made an immediate impact. In his 2004 rookie season Will Smith played in all 16 games for the New Orleans Saints and recorded 7.5 sacks. 

No. 1: Prince Amukamara, CB, 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

As good as LSU's Patrick Peterson is, Amukamara is probably more pro ready. 

Look at some of the wide receivers he faced during his three years as a starter for Nebraska: Dez Bryant, Michael Crabtree, Jordy Nelson, Malcolm Kelly, Justin Blackmon, Limas Sweed, Jeremy Maclin, Jordan Shipley and Ryan Broyles. Each one of those players was or will be a top NFL pick.

Amukamara is huge for a corner (6'2") and isn't afraid to come up and make a tackle, which will have one NFL defensive coordinator eager to insert him into the first team lineup on the first day of training camp. 

And if his former Cornhusker teammate, Ndamukong Suh was any indication, then there is little question how quickly Bo Pelini defenders transition to the NFL game.