2011 NFL Draft: Power Ranking Every Underclassman in the Draft
A record 56 underclassmen declared for the draft this year, surpassing the 53 that declared for the 2008 and 2010 NFL drafts.
Some of these are no-doubters, others are going to have to perform well at the combine and the East-West Shrine Game to be selected in the draft.
Fifty-six underclassmen can take a long time to rifle through, but I've ranked every one of them for your perusal.
Will your team take a chance on one of them or will your team leave little to chance in selecting them?
Here is my ranking of the 56 underclassmen who declared for the 2011 NFL Draft.
Thanks for reading.
56. Nick Claytor, T, Georgia Tech
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Georgia Tech offensive tackle Nick Claytor has excellent size and toughness, and helped lead the Yellow Jackets to the Independence Bowl this season.
Needs to learn more technique, but his strong overall work ethic will help him in this area.
55. Jamel Hamler,WR, Fresno State
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With a 40 of 4.38 and a vertical of 28 inches, Fresno State's Jamel Hamler had 812 yards and six touchdowns for the 8-5 Bulldogs this season.
His athleticism could very well get him into the draft.
54. Javes Lewis, DB, Oregon
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With good speed and a 40 of 4.5 seconds, Javes Lewis had an interception and a forced fumble for the No. 2 Oregon Ducks this season.
He will likely make it into the draft.
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53. Zane Parr, DE, Virginia
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At 6'4", 285 pounds, Zane Parr had 48 tackles and two sacks for the Cavaliers this season.
He was a strong point for the 4-8 Cavaliers this season.
52. Sealver Siliga, DT, Utah
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At 6'3", 299 pounds, Utah's Sealver Siliga is a beast in the middle.
This year he racked up 41 tackles and two sacks for the 10-3 Utes, including five tackles against Boise State in the Maaco Bowl.
I could see him making the draft.
51. Darren Evans, RB, Virginia Tech
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At 6'0", 220 pounds, Virginia Tech's Darren Evans can bruise between the tackles, but also has some shake-and-bake in his game.
He ran for 854 yards and 11 touchdowns this season for the Hokies, who made it all the way to the Orange Bowl.
50. Tori Gurley, WR, South Carolina
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At 6'5", 230 pounds, South Carolina's Tori Gurley has elite size at the receiver position.
He plays a physical game and also has great hands, not dropping a single pass in 2010.
Gurley had 465 yards and four touchdowns this season, but is a better receiver than his numbers suggest.
49. Henry Hynoski, FB, Pittsburgh
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At 6-'2", 260 pounds, Pittsburgh's Henry Hynoski is a bruising blocker who paved the way for Pitt's Dion Lewis for the last two years.
But besides being able to knock down linebackers, he also has good athleticism for his size.
I don't know how a team doesn't take a chance at him as a fullback.
48. DeAndre Brown, WR, Southern Miss
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Tall and solid, at 6'6", 239 pounds, wideout DeAndre Brown can certainly be physical, but his combination of agility and strength is what has him in a good position to be selected.
Brown had 305 yards and three TDs for the 8-5 Golden Eagles this season.
47. Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh
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Pittsburgh's Dion Lewis was surely helped out by having a fullback in Henry Hynoski, but he also is a legitimate NFL selection by himself.
Lewis, with his speed and explosiveness, rushed for over 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns for the 8-5 Panthers this year, including 105 yards and a TD in the Compass Bowl.
46. Will Hill, DB, Florida
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Safety Will Hill, Florida's other defensive playmaker this season, had 54 tackles and two interceptions for 102 yards this season.
Hill has tremendous speed, with a 40 of 4.46, but needs to work on his fundamentals.
It's hard to say where he'll end up in the draft.
45. John Clay, RB, Wisconsin
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Wisconsin's John Clay is no doubt a bruising back, but he has average speed and doesn't have big burst.
He's a solid goal-line back, but it's hard to say if he can be a featured back in the NFL.
He is guaranteed to get drafted, however. It just depends on where.
44. Darvin Adams, WR, Auburn
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Auburn's Darvin Adams has great hands, runs good routes, and is a tough player not afraid to work the middle.
But he's also only 185 pounds, despite being 6'3".
His wiry frame has the chance of being a concern for NFL teams.
Based on his athleticism, he's a solid player, but based on his size he could ward teams away.
Adams had 963 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
43. Stevan Ridley, RB, LSU
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Stevan Ridley is an incredibly speedy and athletic back, and was a big part of the 11-2 Tigers this season, evidenced by rushing for over 1,100 yards and 15 touchdowns.
He should be an attractive player in the later rounds.
42. Greg Little, WR, North Carolina
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With strong hands and sturdy frame, North Carolina's Greg Little can be a playmaker at the NFL level.
He also has noticeable body control while in the air and can make acrobatic plays.
Little had 724 yards and five touchdowns for the Tar Heels last season.
41. Lawrence Guy, DT, Arizona State
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For being 6'5", 300 pounds, Arizona State's Lawrence Guy has good speed and burst off the line.
He's a good pass rusher and can penetrate, but he also needs to get better against the run.
40. Robert Sands, DB, West Virginia
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At 6'5", 221 pounds, West Virginia corner Robert Sands has tremendous size for a defensive back, but he also has the speed to trail receivers on the hip.
He can blitz well, with two sacks on the year, and also collected an interception and a forced fumble.
But against the quicker receivers he has trouble in man coverage, and he sometimes takes bad angles.
39. Jamie Harper, RB, Clemson
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Despite a disappointing season for the Clemson Tigers, running back Jamie Harper was a legit threat, using his size, quickness and footwork to be a hand full for opposing defenses.
But it takes a bit for him to get to full speed and he has questionable field vision at times.
Harper rushed for 760 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
38. Thomas Keiser, LB, Stanford
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Beyond QB Andrew Luck, Stanford had a solid linebacking core this season, with Thomas Keiser at the head of it.
He's a legit pass rusher, with five sacks on the year, and has good size, at 6'5", 257 pounds.
37. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State
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Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers was a big reason the Beavers were highly touted before the season.
His quick, shifty style, combined with his excellent acceleration, can leave defenders looking bad and clueless as to where he'll end up next.
But he's also a very small back, and that can hurt you in the NFL. He measures at 5'7", 191 pounds.
Rodgers had over 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.
36. Jerrard Tarrant, DB, Georgia Tech
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Georgia Tech's Jerrard Tarrant is very fast, and quite strong for his size, at 6'1", 205 pounds.
He's also a playmaker, with 58 tackles, three forced fumbles, and three interceptions this year (one he ran back for a touchdown).
With his combination of size, strength and speed, NFL teams are going to take a long look at him in the middle round.
35. Tyler Sash, DB, Iowa
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Iowa's Tyler Sash has good size and decent speed, but where he really makes his mark is his awareness and instincts.
He always seems to be at the right place at the right time and is a good tackler, evidenced by his two interceptions (one for a TD) and 79 tackles in 2010.
He's also a solid zone coverage player.
34. Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana
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At 6'3", 200 pounds, Tandon Doss has the a good combination of size and strength, and is good at nabbing the ball out of the air with rather long arms.
He's also a very reliable route runner.
Doss had 706 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
33. Shane Vereen, RB, Cal
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Cal's Shane Vereen is only 5'10", 204 pounds, but has surprising strength and can burst through arm tackles without a problem.
A lot of this has to do with his good technique, running close to the ground and very balanced.
This is further exemplified by his 1,167 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns this season.
He had 106 yards rushing and touchdown against Washington in his last collegiate game.
32. Brandon Burton, DB, Utah
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Utah's Brandon Burton could very well be picked in the second round, given his speed, long arms, athleticism, agility and footwork that allows him to sweep across the field and make tackles.
He's also a physical player, despite being 185 pounds.
Burton had 51 tackles, a forced fumble and two interceptions this season for the 10-3 Utes.
31. Jurrell Casey, DT, USC
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USC defensive tackle Jurrell Casey isn't the most nimble player at 305 pounds, but he doesn't necessarily have to be when he can bull rush through the offensive line.
He can rush the QB, with five sacks this year, but he may be an even better run-stopper.
He should have a lot of teams considering him come draft day.
30. Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky
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Randall Cobb's elusiveness and explosiveness after the catch is why he's a highly-considered wideout in the draft.
With over 1,000 yards receiving and seven touchdowns for an unimpressive Kentucky team, Cobb used a lot of his ability to run after the catch and gained attention because of it.
He even ran for over 400 yards and five touchdowns.
He also has good game speed and has the ability to outrun corners.
His main weakness is he needs to work on his hands; he dropped a few balls right in his clutches this season.
29. Jordan Todman, RB, Connecticut
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A very shifty and elusive runner with speed to get to the outside, UConn's Jordan Todman was a big reason they won the Big East title this season.
He's also a patient runner with good vision.
All of this allowed him to rush for almost 1,700 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2010.
28. Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
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Heading into the 2010 season, Virginia Tech's Ryan Wiliams was considered one of the top four of five draft-eligible running backs after bursting onto the scene as a redshirt freshman.
A big game against Miami brought him back to the spotlight, however, rushing for 142 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.
He's explosive and fast at 5'10", 202 pounds.
27. Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois
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Martez Wilson had a very productive season for the Fighting Ilini this year, with 111 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.
He has good size to play in a 3-4 scheme, which is probably how he will be drafted.
He's a smart player who can shed off blockers using solid technique and he seems to naturally flow to the ball.
Could be an inside linebacker and has great versatility, including on special teams.
26. Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
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Maryland's Torrey Smith has a top-of-the-class combination of size, strength and speed, and is said to have run the 40 in 4.3 seconds, extremely impressive for a receiver.
He's also very explosive off the line.
The one thing that keeps him from the first round is he's dropped to many catchable balls, and needs to learn how to receive away from his body better.
Smith had over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Terrapins this year.
25. Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
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Notre Dame's Kyle Rudolph is by far the top tight end in the draft this year.
He has impressive athleticism and is a very dependable receiver. He gains separation and runs precise routes. He has a lethal stiff arm.
And he's a solid second-level and perimeter blocker.
I have the Atlanta Falcons selecting him in the first round as Tony Gonzalez starts to slow down.
24. Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
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With good height and good length, the ability to run with most NFL receivers, great footwork, and noticeable athleticism, Texas' Aaron Williams could make it into the first round as a top corner.
He didn't have any interceptions in 2010, but his coverage skills are solid.
23. Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
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Illinois' Mikel Leshoure is a very underrated running back.
He's a workhorse at 6'0", 230 pounds, keeps his legs running at all times, and can explode through tackles.
He's also very quick for his size, a deadly combination. His vision of the field completes the package.
Leshoure is a highly-skilled back, and could make it into the first round.
He had almost 1,700 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns this year.
22. Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina
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North Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin would do well to excel in the East-West Shrine Game after missing a full season after being suspended involving dealings with an agent.
But there's no doubt he's top talent, and a top physical specimen when in shape.
Austin, listed at 6'3", 310 pounds, is a bruiser who can bull rush the offensive line and stuff the run.
21. Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
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Jonathan Baldwin of Pittsburgh was being compared to Larry Fitzgerald coming into the season, with elite athleticism and playmaking ability, as well as the ability to be explosive after the catch.
But he had a disappointing 2010 season, with only 822 yards and five TDs.
Good numbers, but nowhere near the level people expected him to be.
But he still has the skillset that has a lot of NFL teams looking at him, and could make it into the first round.
20. Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple
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With the versatility and disruptive ability Temple defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson can bring, he's fairly underrated in the public eye.
He can start at tackle and end, can rush the passer or block the run, has good footwork and technique, has demonstrated the ability to shed off double teams, he's a hard hitter, and he's quick to boot.
What's not to like?
Wilkerson had 68 tackles and 10 sacks this season.
19. Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
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If it wasn't for Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara, Miami's Brandon Harris would be the talk of the defensive back class.
His footwork and ability to swing his hips on a dime made him a premier man-to-man corner in 2010, he disrupts passes at an impressive rate, his burst allows him to make up ground, and he's a very hard worker.
He had only one interception this season, but he made it hard for opposing receivers to catch the ball, which is the most important thing.
18. Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
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Fighting Illini defensive tackle Corey Liuget is seeing his name come up more and more as the draft nears.
That's because despite being on a 7-6 team, he has all the makings of an NFL defensive lineman: disruptive strength, quickness, size, speed, hard to block one-on-one, a hard hitter, incredibly determined and a good run-stopper as well.
He's an all-around player.
17. Justin Houston, LB, Georgia
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Justin Houston is another guy who has seen his stock rise as the draft nears.
With 56 tackles and 10 sacks as a DE/LB, it's no wonder why.
He was named a finalist for the Butkus Award this season and is an absolute beast as far as strength goes.
He's also a very committed and heady player.
16. Tyron Smith, T, USC
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USC's Tyron Smith, at 290 pounds, is incredibly athletic and strong.
He's also demonstrated his footwork is well-coached, and he has no problem picking up defenders.
Smart player, and as athletic as they come at this size.
He should surely get drafted in the first round.
15. Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
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UCLA's Rahim Moore showed he's a playmaker in 2009, with a whopping 10 interceptions.
He can run with most receivers, rarely gives up play due to his angles of pursuit, has impressive instincts, and has good technique.
He's also a solid tackler.
Needs a little help on the line, as he's a little thin, so powerful receivers could explode through him, but that can be solved with technique and more time at the gym.
14. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
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Arkansas' Ryan Mallett is widely considered to be the third-best quarterback in the draft.
With 32 touchdowns to 12 interceptions this season, he's shown he can be a good decision-maker, he has good accuracy, he has slingshot of an arm, and stands tall in the pocket at 6'6".
There are still questions about his accuracy, but it has dramatically improved since he began at Arkansas.
13. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
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Alabama's Mark Ingram is undoubtedly the premier running back in the 2011 NFL Draft.
If it wasn't for other teams' primary needs, he would go much sooner than he's widely projected (from the mid to late first round).
He's a powerful back with good burst and he knows the game.
He also has good vision and will wait for blockers.
He had 875 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.
12. J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
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J.J. Watt, the quick, explosive defensive end out of Wisconsin, is widely projected to be selected in the mid first round.
Whoever gets him is going to be mighty happy.
He has burst, quickness, size, speed, technique, and he's unbelievably relentless on the field.
His ferociousness can sometimes lead to him running past the play, but most of the time he's right there.
He had seven sacks and 62 tackles this year against top competition.
11. Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn
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Heisman winner Cameron Newton deserved all the accolades bestowed upon him in 2010, as he was the most game-shifting player on the college football landscape.
He didn't single-handedly bring the Tigers to the BCS Championship and win it for them, but he was as close as a one-man force as you can get.
Despite being a tremendous runner for a quarterback, he also throws the ball with great accuracy, and doesn't appear to get overwhelmed in the pocket.
Whether his legs will be a major factor in the NFL remains to be determined, but he has enough going for him that he won't have to depend on his running ability.
10. Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
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It's taken a while for the hype to hit Missouri's Aldon Smith, but it has officially arrived.
Numerous experts, including ESPN's Mel Kiper, have him projected as a top-15 player.
Last season as a redshirt freshman, Smith had 19 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks.
This season, despite constant double-teams, Smith still managed 10 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks.
He has the strength and quickness to translate well in the NFL, but his inexperience doesn't have him high on a lot of mock drafts.
He should boost his draft stock at the combine.
9. Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA
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UCLA's Akeem Ayers is comfortable rushing the passer from his outside linebacker spot, the end, or from the inside.
He has tremendous strength and speed, closes in on the ball quickly, and doesn't seem overwhelmed by any type of blocking scheme.
He is the perfect fit for a 3-4 defensive scheme.
8. Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
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Missouri's Blaine Gabbert has the mechanics and intangibles to be an NFL quarterback, not to mention the size to comfortably see over the O-line, but a disappointing 2010 season has colored a lot of people skeptical.
He's also pretty comfortable in the pocket, and doesn't throw a lot of interceptions.
He had 16 touchdowns to nine interceptions this season.
7. Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
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Alabama's Julio Jones is no doubt the No. 2 receiver in the draft, and has constantly displayed big-time athleticism, size and speed.
He's dangerous after the catch and is a good blocker, too.
He needs to work on his hands a bit, but with his skill set and game-changing physique, he won't have any problem making it into the middle of the first round.
6. Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
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At 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, UNC's Robert Quinn is no doubt going to impress at the combine.
His athleticism is already drawing comparisons to Julius Peppers.
He's a premier pass rusher who can either storm through the line or fly past it.
With 11 sacks last year, Quinn is going to be a top pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
You just can't ignore the explosiveness he has.
5. Marcell Dareus, DT/DE, Alabama
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Not only is Marcell Dareus explosive and powerful, he does a very good job of breaking right at the snap of the ball, keeping offensive lineman on their heels a lot.
He has the agility to change direction, bull rush to the extreme, pursues and tackles well, and can absolutely collapse the pocket.
Dareus had five sacks for the Crimson Tide this season.
4. A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
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The premier receiver in the draft.
He had 848 yards receiving and nine touchdowns in nine games for the Bulldogs this season.
He runs precise routes, has elite athleticism, knows the game, and has out-of-this-world leaping ability.
With 57 receptions this season, he also doesn't drop the ball much.
He's a can't-miss receiver that could become a star.
3. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
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LSU's Patrick Peterson could become the next great lockdown corner in the NFL.
There's hardly anything he doesn't do well, and his athleticism combined with his size is unmatched.
At 6'1", 222 pounds, he's basically a receiver that can play like a cornerback.
He had four interceptions this season that he returned for a total of 134 yards.
2. Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
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Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers is probably the most naturally gifted pass rusher in the draft, and his 16 sacks speak loudly to this.
He's an absolute force, and it would be hard for me to not see him making a big impact on the league.
His size, combined with his athleticism, was nearly unstoppable at the collegiate level, and projects well to the NFL.
1. Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
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Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley wasn't 100 percent the entire season, but you wouldn't have noticed.
With 12 sacks against top-notch competition, he clearly made a name for himself.
It's not easy being in Cam Newton's shadow, but he never seemed to be anyway.
He played better against top competition, collecting seven sacks against LSU, South Carolina, Alabama and Oregon in the BCS National Championship Game.
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