2011 NFL Draft: Christian Ballard And 15 Sleepers To Keep An Eye On
The NFL season is officially complete and it is now time for everyone that follows the game year-round to turn their sights to the NFL Draft.
While the CBA looms like a dark cloud over the entire football landscape, we do know that there will be an NFL Scouting Combine and there will be an NFL Draft.
Everything after that is up in the air from this point on though, and we can only hope for the best.
Many of the top prospects in the Draft are becoming more well-known across the country and we'll continue to hear names such as Nick Fairley, Da'Quan Bowers, Patrick Peterson, A.J. Green and Marcell Dareus every day from here on out.
We all know that not every first-round pick is bound to deliver and that football players can be found if you just look hard enough for the right players.
Here is a look at 15 lesser-known prospects that you need to keep an eye on. Some are already gaining momentum while others still have not gotten the chance to show their stuff; they all have something to offer at the next level though.
Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas State
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The former Wildcat senior had a very productive season in Manhattan rushing for 1,585 yards and 19 touchdowns.
The 6'2", 228-pound running back has above average size and instincts for the position but lacks top end speed.
He was a JUCO quarterback before transferring to Kansas State and has a lot of athleticism with good feet, agility and overall power.
Thomas is one of the more well-known prospects on this list but I think he will be a better player than he's being given credit for right now.
Christian Ballard, DT, Iowa
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The former Hawkeye is starting to gain the recognition he deserves and may very well be moving out of the “sleeper” range very soon.
The 6’5”, 297-pound tackle has fantastic speed, quickness, explosiveness and agility.
He’s extremely active, offers a lot of versatility and has a ton of experience against top-level competition.
Ballard should continue to rise up Draft boards as we get closer to the actual Draft.
Davon House, CB, New Mexico State
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One of the more intriguing cornerback prospects in the country, House and his potential at the next level have been large topics of debate so far in the Draft process.
The New Mexico State product has ideal size for the position, is a willing tackler with an aggressive style of play and has solid overall ball skills.
He's vastly experienced, starting all four seasons, and has played a lot of football.
His lack of experience against top-level competition is a small cause for concern and he'll have to show solid speed in his workouts to move up more.
There are a fair amount of people who think rather highly of this kid.
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Ben Ijalana, OT/OG, Villanova
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Another small school prospect with a lot of name recognition so far, Ijalana is one of the more intriguing lineman prospects in the class.
At 6'4", 320 pounds, he has a lot of frame and ability to throw around.
He is a fantastic athlete for the position and possesses great lateral agility and quickness with great strength and overall power.
He is still an extremely raw prospect but has all the potential in the world to become a solid starting-caliber offensive lineman in the NFL.
Vincent Brown, WR, San Diego State
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The San Diego State prospect made a name for himself at the Senior Bowl and should continue to rise up throughout the Draft process; his sleeper status could disappear if he keeps performing.
Brown comes in at 6'0, 195 pounds and possesses enough speed to be effective at the position.
He has displayed good hands around the football and is a solid route runner.
Lack of experience against top competition will be a question but he showed really well at the Senior Bowl and will continue to be a player worth watching.
Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor
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At 6'4", 310 pounds, Watkins has the size to be a solid player at the next level.
He possess great athleticism with light feet and agility, is tough with a great motor, nasty streak and has great leadership qualities.
Oddly enough he is an older player and would be a 27-year-old rookie next year.
He showed really well at the Senior Bowl and is a player that many should keep an eye.
Derrick Locke, RB, Kentucky
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Another player who showed really well in Mobile, Locke is small but has a ton of ability.
At 5'9", 190 pounds he is small but not too small that you truly need to worry about him.
Possesses fantastic speed, burst, elusiveness and agility and is likely to run a very high 40-yard dash time.
Showed good patience, toughness and vision throughout the season and in the Senior Bowl and is an experienced threat out of the backfield.
Locke could really make some noise in the right situation and could be a valuable asset to almost any team.
Pernell McPhee, DE, Mississippi State
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The Bulldog defensive end is 6'4", 285 pounds and possesses good strength and athleticism.
Still getting better every year, McPhee was a JUCO product that was not always as productive as his talent indicates he can be.
He is still raw and learning but was a captain on an SEC defense and is an extremely hard worker.
McPhee can really only get better and could become a solid contributing force on a defensive line in the NFL.
Kenrick Ellis, DT, Hampton
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Kenrick Ellis is one of those small school products that transferred from a big program.
Just about everything is big with him at 6'5", 340 pounds, and he has some game to him too.
Strong and stout at the point of attack with a real nasty streak on the field and has good initial quickness on the line for his size.
Ellis may scare some away but could be a big time player if put in the right position; a big guy worth watching.
Will Rackley, OG, Lehigh
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The Lehigh prospect comes in at 6'3", 308 pounds and possesses just about everything you look for in a guard.
He has good instincts for the position, displays good toughness and drive inside for the run game and is strong at the point of attack.
Rackley is already well known by most of the scouting brains and is likely to rise up a bit more on Draft boards before all is said and done.
Overall he is a solid prospect with a lot to look forward to.
Denarius Moore, WR, Tennessee
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The Tennessee Volunteer is an average sized player at 6'0", 195 pounds with return ability and the potential to actually surprise some people.
His timed speed will be the thing that really places him but when the quarterback position at Tennessee finally settled down a bit you saw what Moore could do.
He did a nice job at the Texas vs. the Nation game and will be working out at the NFL Scouting Combine as well.
A big school product that is not too well known, Moore has potential to move up and be a player.
John Moffitt, OG, Wisconsin
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Much like Will Rackley, Moffitt is a solid all-around guard prospect that can do everything you want.
He is a bit more well known after his play at the Senior Bowl and was a really good player throughout his time at Wisconsin.
Has good size and frame for the position at 6'5", 325 pounds and has a ton of experience against elite competition.
Moffitt's stock is rising and should continue until the Draft is complete.
Cecil Shorts III, WR, Mount Union
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The Mount Union wide receiver is a really exciting prospect.
6'2", 195 pounds with really nice hands, great speed and quickness with a ton of playmaking skills.
Shorts will continue to gain exposure as he works out and is one of those prospects people could see like a Pierre Garcon type player.
He was uber-productive in college catching over 1,100 yards in three straight seasons and 63 touchdowns for his career.
Simply put, the kid is a playmaker.
Doug Hogue, OLB, Syracuse
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The Syracuse senior linebacker did everything that was asked of him in Orange.
He comes in with average-to-below average size at 6'2", 225 pounds but was a rock solid defender for the 'Cuse.
He has shown the ability to get after the passer as a rush linebacker but worked more this season dropping in coverage.
Hogue is hardly going to impress a ton of people at first glance, but he is a hardworking player that can make an impact on the right roster.
Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky
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Kentucky's do-everything playmaker is exactly that: a playmaker.
Cobb continues to rise up Draft boards with his versatility, speed, playmaking ability and potential.
He has decent size at 5'11", 190 pounds and will have to learn his position at the next level, but he can do a lot of things out of the backfield as well as on the outside and in the return game.
His potential at the next level is unlimited and he is the prototype utility player.
He will likely shed any bit of a sleeper moniker soon.
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