2011 NFL Draft: 15 Reasons To Be Excited for the 2011 Senior Bowl

The NFL Draft is looming, and the decision-making process is about to kick into high gear.

Several of the nation's top seniors will participate in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 29 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. The NFL Network will carry the game, which begins at 3 p.m. central time.

The game is basically a glorified scrimmage designed for players to display their skills, but it will feature playmakers like TCU quarterback Andy Dalton (pictured), running back DeMarco Murray of Oklahoma and LSU defensive lineman Drake Nevis. Numerous other players who have been projected as potential first-round draft picks are also slated to participate.

As the game draws closer, here are 15 reasons to be excited and check out the game.

15. Little Guys Get Their Shot

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 18: Jerrel Jernigan #3 of the Troy University Trojans scores a touchdown over Donovan Fletcher #29 of the Ohio University Bobcats during the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on December 18, 2010 in New O

The Senior Bowl is comprised mostly of players from BCS qualifying schools, as well as some from TCU, Boise State and Hawaii. But you also have two players from small schools—Villanova offensive lineman Ben Ijalana (6'4", 320) and Troy wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan (5'9", 184, pictured)—getting a chance to prove themselves against the best.

14. What Will McElroy Do?

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Greg McElroy #12 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up during the Capitol One Bowl against the Michigan State Spartans at the Florida Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy is among the quarterbacks participating. He hasn't been listed among the top-rated quarterback prospects, but he is an intelligent player and proven winner, having led Alabama to the BCS National Championship in 2010.

McElroy finished with a 24-3 record as Alabama's starter. He also threw just 10 interceptions in 658 career attempts.

13. Who Will Be the Other Top Running Backs?

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BLACKSBURG, VA - NOVEMBER 04: Running back Anthony Allen #18 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets runs with the ball against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium on November 4, 2010 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

Most draft predictions have Alabama's Mark Ingram listed as the top running back in the draft, but after that, it's a tossup. That list could take shape and get some clarity, though, after the Senior Bowl. Here are the running backs participating, along with their schools:

Anthony Allen, Georgia Tech
Noel Devine, West Virginia
Roy Helu Jr., Nebraska
Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
Derrick Locke, Kentucky
DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma
Daniel Thomas, Kansas State 

12. Jeremy Kerley

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Wide receiver Jeremy Kerley #85 of the TCU Horned Frogs makes a catch against the Wisconsin Badgers during the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

If there is one dynamic playmaker to keep your eyes on, it's the TCU wide receiver. Kerley finished the year as the leading receiver for the Rose Bowl champions with 56 catches for 575 yards (10.3 avg.) and 10 touchdowns. He also had 18 carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

TCU used him on special teams too: Kerley had 30 punt returns for 388 yards (12.9) and averaged 27.7 yards per return on kickoffs.

11. Big 12 Presence

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 03: Quarterback Jacory Harris #12 of the Miami Hurricanes drops back to pass as defensive end Jeremy Beal #44 of the Oklahoma Sooners gets past offensive lineman Matt Pipho #65 at Land Shark Stadium on October 3, 2009 in Miami

A total of 17 players from the Big 12 will be participating in the Senior Bowl, including four 1,000-yard running backs, Butkus Award winner Von Miller of Texas A&M and the offensive and defensive linemen of the year in Colorado's Nate Solder and Jeremy Beal of Oklahoma.

10. Dramatic Shifts Will Follow

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MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 24: Rashad Johnson #49 of the South Team prepares with teammates before the game against the North Team during the Under Armour Senior Bowl on January 24, 2009 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Get

It's nothing new, but it is always interesting to watch whose stock rises and who plummets. This game will play a factor, but teams already have plenty of tape and will gather more information at the combine and when some teams hold pro workout days at their campuses.

9. Will Ponder's Stock Rise?

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 27: Christian Ponder #7 of the Florida State Seminoles warms up before a game against the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Christian Ponder's stock should rise a little with Andrew Luck out of the draft, but the Florida State quarterback should be able to help himself even more with a solid showing here.

Ponder is easily one of the smartest players on the field—he earned his MBA before last season began—and he will leave Florida State as one of its top quarterbacks in career passing yards (fourth, 6,872), career completions (third, 596), career total offense (third, 7,705), career touchdown passes (tied for fifth, 49) and career completion percentage (second, 61.8). 

8. Noel Devine

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LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 20: Noel Devine #7 of the West Virginia Mountaineers runs with the ball during the Big East Conference game against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo b

Everyone knew about the running back coming out of high school. He went on to have a great career at West Virginia, finishing as the school's career leader in all-purpose yards (5,761) and third in school history in career rushing with 4,315 yards.

It will be interesting to see which team goes after Devine, who definitely has the ability to be a great playmaker at the next level.

7. What Will Stanzi Do?

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TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Ricky Stanzi #12 of the Iowa Hawkeyes walks off the field after defeating the Missouri Tigers in the Insight Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. The Hawkeyes defeated the Tigers 27-24. (

If there's one quarterback to keep an eye on in the draft, it's Iowa's Ricky Stanzi (6'4", 230).

Stanzi finished his career 26-9 as the Hawkeyes' starting quarterback. He will also leave ranked third in school history in career touchdown passes (56), passing yards (7,377), pass attempts (907) and total offense (7,373). 

6. Which Wide Receiver Rises?

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LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 06: Wide receiver #2 Austin Pettis of the Boise State Broncos tries to avoid cornerback #21 Rashad Carmichael of the Virginia Tech Hokies at FedExField on September 6, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Imag

With Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles and Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State both stating they would return for their senior seasons, A.J. Green of Georgia and Julio Jones of Alabama are the top wide receiver prospects in the draft. But who's after that?

Here are the wide receivers who could move up:

Leonard Hankerson, Miami
Jerrel Jernigan, Troy
Ronald Johnson, USC
Jeremy Kerley, TCU
Niles Paul, Nebraska
Austin Pettis, Boise State (pictured)
Greg Salas, Hawaii
Matt Szczur, Villanova
Titus Young, Boise State

5. DeMarco Murray

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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

Murray is definitely one of the best playmakers at the Senior Bowl. He finishes as Oklahoma's career leader in all-purpose yards (6,498) and holds records for career touchdowns (64) and career receiving yards (1,512) by a running back.

4. Proving Ground

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MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 24: Brian Cushing #10 of the South Team prepares before the game against the North Team during the Under Armour Senior Bowl on January 24, 2009 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for Un

Players will definitely get the chance to jaw, talk trash and get bragging rights. The best of the best are facing off. Don't be shocked if some motors are cranked and go at high speed the entire game.

3. Locker Gets a Chance

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TUCSON, AZ - OCTOBER 23: Quarterback Jake Locker #10 of the Washington Huskies during the college football game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Huskies 44-14. (Photo by Ch

Washington quarterback Jake Locker is considered one of the top two quarterbacks in the draft, along with Arkansas' Ryan Mallett.

Some have criticized Locker's ability, but he will get the chance to improve his stock and quiet any of his critics. Even though he won't be playing, Cam Newton may also be pressuring Locker, and many are debating where the Auburn quarterback will be drafted, too.

2. Dalton and Kaepernick

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 09: Colin Kaepernick #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack looks to pass the ball against Boston College during the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park on January 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

TCU's Andy Dalton and Nevada's Colin Kaepernick are two of the most successful quarterbacks in the draft, and they'll get a chance to shine against some of the nation's best defensive players.

Even though Dalton has finished as one of the greatest players in TCU history and just defeated Wisconsin, many will still doubt his ability simply because TCU plays in the Mountain West Conference. 

1. Best of the Best

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MIAMI - JANUARY 08: Mike Pouncey #55 of the Florida Gators reacts after a play against the Oklahoma Sooners in the FedEx BCS National Championship Game at Dolphin Stadium on January 8, 2009 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)

Many of the projected first-round draft picks will be playing in this game. Those include:

DE Allen Bailey (6'4", 285), Miami
OL Gabe Carimi (6'7", 327), Wisconsin
OL Anthony Castonzo (6'7", 308), Boston College
DE Adrian Clayborn (6'4", 285), Iowa
DB Ras-I Dowling (6'2", 205), Virginia
DE Ryan Kerrigan (6'4", 263), Purdue
QB Jake Locker (6'3", 230), Washington
LB  Von Miller (6'3", 243), Texas A&M
OL Kris O'Dowd (6'5", 300), USC
OL Mike Pouncey (6'4", 310), Florida
OL Derek Sherrod (6'6", 305), Mississippi State