2011 NFL Draft: Who Has the Most To Prove at the NFL Combine?
For some college football players, their NFL Draft status is set and not much can be done to change it.
But for others, they need to make one more lasting impression on scouts and coaches, or they may have to wait a bit longer to hear their name called.
And other than the Pro Days, the only opportunity left to do that is the NFL Combine.
So who has to turn in a terrific performance at this year's event to save their draft stock?
Let's find out.
10. Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
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At 6'5", 225 pounds, former Nevada star Colin Kaepernick looks like your prototypical NFL starting quarterback.
But does he play like one?
At Nevada, he sure did. Kaepernick became one of just three players in FBS history to rush for 20 touchdowns and throw 20 touchdown passes in a single season.
He also flashed his athleticism, mobility and arm strength at recent Senior Bowl practices. But at this point, he's still a "project" player.
Kaepernick has a knack for holding onto the ball too long and he's struggled with accuracy issues.
His physical tools probably make him a mid-round pick, but an impressive combine performance—a fast 40-yard dash time and solid showings in throwing drills—could shoot him up to the second round, while a bad one probably drops him to the later rounds.
9. Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
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Immediately after the season, Pittsburgh's Jonathan Baldwin was the No. 3 wide receiver on most draft boards, behind only Georgia's A.J. Green and Alabama's Julio Jones.
But he now finds himself out of the top five at that position, as he's fallen off considerably while other receivers have made huge strides, at least in scouts' eyes.
At 6'5", 224 pounds, Baldwin is a physical marvel, yet he's still gotta show scouts he can do more than just look good in a uniform.
He doesn't have to perform quite like Calvin Johnson or Matt Jones did at the NFL Scouting Combine, but stellar showings in the vertical jump, the 40-yard dash and the speed/agility drills could bring Baldwin back into the bottom half of the first round.
8. Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
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The 2011 defensive tackle class has its two top-tier studs in Auburn's Nick Fairley and Alabama's Marcell Dareus, while Illinois' Corey Liuget is ranked only slight behind them.
After those three, however, the dropoff to Baylor's Phil Taylor is a rather big one, even though he's the fourth-ranked defensive tackle on most draft boards.
The 6'3", 337-pound Taylor has the physical stature of an NFL defensive tackle, but at the NFL Scouting Combine, scouts will learn if he measures up like one.
Given his size, Taylor has to throw up a ton of reps on the bench press, but he's also gotta show he's more than just a big body in the agility drills.
If he can prove he's both strong and quick, he might jump Liuget as the No. 3 defensive tackle prospect in the draft.
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7. Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
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Still a top 20 prospect according to ESPN, Gabe Carimi went from being the best offensive tackle prospect in the draft to possibly not being one at all.
So what do I mean?
Well, at the Senior Bowl practices, Carimi had an incredibly difficult time in pass protection and made the dreaded switch to guard.
It's not a permanent move, as most scouts believe he can eventually play tackle, but the change has scouts concerned about his lack of elite athleticism, quickness and technique.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Carimi has to put those questions to rest.
6. Titus Young, WR, Boise State
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A potential mid-round pick at season's end, Titus Young was the pleasant surprise of the Senior Bowl.
He showed electrifying speed, huge play-making ability and great hands to move himself all the way up to a fringe-first round prospect.
Young is drawing comparisons to, believe it or not, DeSean Jackson because of his size (5'11", 174 pounds) and the speed and quickness he shows on the field.
A blistering 40-yard dash time and great showings in speed-centered drills could push Young into the back half of the first round.
5. Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State
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Greg Jones was a tackling machine at Michigan State, racking up an astounding 464 tackles throughout his college career.
However, Senior Bowl week wasn't exactly his best friend.
The 240-pound linebacker often made incorrect reads, was manhandled by bigger and more physical offensive lineman and measured at just 5'10".
Jones also struggled in pass coverage, often getting outmaneuvered or straight up outrun by more athletically-gifted tight ends and running backs.
He's probably not going to be able to play middle linebacker at the NFL level, which means he'll have to prove he's fast, quick and athletic enough to be an outside linebacker in the pros.
Can he do that at the Combine?
4. Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
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The only surefire first round running back prospect in 2011 is Alabama's Mark Ingram, but the closest thing to him is Virginia Tech's Ryan Williams.
After rushing for more than 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2009, however, Williams found himself stuck in a three-back rotation in 2010 and rushed for just 477 yards and nine touchdowns.
His lack of touches this season has been a huge cause for concern, but alas, he's still a fringe first-round prospect.
Williams' draft stock will be largely dependent upon what he does at the NFL Scouting Combine, though.
Drills, the 40 and the bench press all matter for running backs in scouts' eyes.
3. Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
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A consensus top 10 pick and No. 2 defensive end, North Carolina's Robert Quinn finds himself in a tricky situation.
His physical tools and athleticism are there or, maybe I should say, they should be there.
Quinn did not play a single snap this season because of all the drama at UNC surrounding improper benefits.
So is Quinn in football shape? Has he lost a step after being out of action for half a year?
Can he still go out there and show he's worthy of a top 10 or even top five selection?
Those are all questions scouts will ask, and only Quinn has the answers.
2. Jeremy Beal, OLB, Oklahoma
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Jeremy Beal spent his entire career at Oklahoma as a defensive end, and at the Senior Bowl, he tried to show scouts that he could play that position in the NFL.
But that didn't happen.
He had immense struggles against bigger blockers and often found himself overpowered by offensive tackles and even tight ends.
As a result, most scouts believe that Beal will get drafted to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.
Though outside pass rushers are highly valued, it remains to be seen whether or not Beal can make the transition from playing on the ground to playing standing up.
The NFL Scouting Combine is his first chance to show that he can.
1. Jake Locker, QB, Washington
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Has anyone's NFL Draft stock been more erratic than Jake Locker's? Probably not.
The former Washington quarterback has gone from potential No. 1 overall pick to mid-first-round pick to early-second-round pick and everywhere in between.
No one's quite sure how high Locker will go in the draft because he could be anywhere from the first to fourth quarterback chosen, and his Senior Bowl performances just resulted in mixed reviews.
Perhaps no one at this year's NFL Scouting Combine will be the target of more analysis and criticism than Locker.
And if he doesn't want to fall out of the first round, then he better perform well in any and every event he participates in.
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