2011 Senior Bowl: 5 Players the Carolina Panthers Need to Consider

The Under Armour Senior Bowl is the final showcase for future NFL talent before the NFL Combine. This year, it was dominated by the South, 24-10. The North had many prospects considered to be of first round caliber, but few played like it. I know one thing, it is a good thing the Carolina Panthers don’t need offensive tackles.

There were many players that stood out during the game, like Purdue’s Ryan Kerrigan and Texas A&M’s Von Miller, but they are destined for other places as neither fulfills a great need for the Panthers. There were five players, though, that stood out and Carolina should really consider drafting. Are any of these seniors part of our future or should they be crossed off the list right now?

5. Kendric Burney

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CHESTNUT HILL, MA - NOVEMBER 21: Kendric Burney #16 of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrates his touchdown in the first quarter against the Boston College Eagles on November 21, 2009 at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Ge

Burney is a 5'9" corner out of North Carolina. I realize we already have a half-pint in Captain Munnerlyn, but this kid might be special. He is very fast, a great special teams player (led all players in ST tackles during the game) and he is very instinctive. The best part is he will not require a high round draft pick, not like we have many anyways. This one is one to watch come day three of the draft, as he could be a great nickel corner someday.

4. Charles Clay

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ORLANDO, FL - OCTOBER 20: Fullback Charles Clay #9 of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane rushes upfield against the University of Central Florida Knights at Bright House Stadium on October 20, 2007 in Orlando, Florida. UCF won 44 - 23. (Photo by Al Messerschmid

Clay is a 6'3" halfback out of Tulsa, but he’s an athlete. He wasn’t showcased well in the Senior Bowl, but he has the skills to really help the Panthers in a number of ways. First, he’ll make a great special teams player. Second, he can play fullback or halfback and has the speed and power to be very effective. Third, he can play tight end as he has good size and great hands. He is a playmaker and a good Combine will show why the Panthers need him.

3. Titus Young

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LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 22: Titus Young #1 of the Boise State Broncos runs for yardage around Chad Manis #18 and Justin Taplin-Ross #33 of the Utah Utes during the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise St

Young is a receiver who’s almost six feet tall, but the guy is fast. He didn’t have a great Senior Bowl, partly due to Jake Locker trying to get him killed on a few plays, but he’s also a playmaker. He had over 1200 yards receiving and nine touchdowns last season for Boise State. With some grooming he could challenge for the No. 3 receiver spot in his first year and be a starter in two.

2. Clint Boling

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ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 21: Clint Boling #60 of the Georgia Bulldogs against the Kentucky Wildcats at Sanford Stadium on November 21, 2009 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Boling is a 6'4" 300 pound guard out of Georgia who had a very good Senior Bowl. He only had one bad play all game and was a consistent force in the running game. Boling could sure up the right guard position that has been a gaping hole for many years. He is strong, like all Dawg linemen, and showed in the bowl game that he can get out and block. With any luck, he’ll have only a decent Combine and fall to the third round.

1. Phil Taylor

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COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 07: Defensive tackle Phil Taylor #11 of the Baylor Bears in action during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on November 7, 2009 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

After watching this guy play during the bowl game, I was drooling. Taylor is a defensive tackle with ideal size. At 6'3" 337 pounds, this guy could instantly come in and fix our line. The beast out of Baylor was consistently terrorizing quarterbacks and stopping running backs in their tracks.

Unfortunately, a second round pick may be needed to acquire him, but he’d be worth it. Imagine what our line could look like: Nick Fairley and Phil Taylor, or Taylor and Marvin Austin. Either of those combinations would work for me. Maybe someone should help him miss the Combine so he can fall a little for Carolina to grab him, in a metaphorical sense.

The 2011 Draft is dominated by juniors, but the Senior Bowl showed that the first few rounds have players to be desired and Carolina should take note as some could make a huge splash in the NFL.