2011 NFL Draft: Cam Newton And the Top 10 Quarterbacks at the NFL Combine

The NFL combine is approaching quickly, as invitations have been sent out to some of the top players in college football.

This year there are not a lot of elite quarterback prospects, but the position is very deep and has a lot of solid players.

Expectations are high for players like Cam Newton, looking to secure himself a top 10 selection in April, while other players like Colin Kaepernick are looking to break out.

Here are the 10 quarterbacks looking to have big weeks at the combine.

10. T.J. Yates, North Carolina

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NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - SEPTEMBER 25: T.J. Yates #13 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drops back against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Rutgers Stadium on September 25, 2010 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

T.J. Yates was the most improved quarterback in the ACC this past season, even without his best receiver, Greg Little, who was suspended by the NCAA.

Yates threw for over 3,000 yards in 2010 (including a 400-yard performance against LSU) and had 19 touchdowns against only nine interceptions.

Yates is a very accurate quarterback with average arm strength. Yates will not blow scouts out of the water with his athleticism, but he does all the little things right and has a competitive edge that should push him into the later rounds of the draft.

9. Andy Dalton, TCU

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs throws a pass against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Dalton, like Yates, lacks the athleticism and size that NFL scouts desire. However, both Yates and Dalton are very intelligent quarterbacks, and both will do anything to help their teams win.

Dalton is a very accurate quarterback that goes through his progressions well. However, his problem is connecting on the deep ball.

If Dalton can improve his deep ball accuracy at the combine, it will greatly help his draft stock.

8. Pat Devlin, Delaware

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COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 25: Quarterback Pat Devlin #7 of the Penn State Nittany Lions hands off the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes on October 25, 2008 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Pat Devlin has a strong arm and was relatively accurate during his senior year. Devlin also has a very quick release, which he will be able to show off at the combine.

Devlin does come from a smaller school that doesn't have elite competition, so it may take him a bit more time to get adjusted to the speed and skill set of NFL players, but Devlin should be a nice project quarterback.

7. Christian Ponder, Florida State

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 27: Christian Ponder #7 of the Florida State Seminoles throws for a first down during 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 had an up and down career at Florida State. Luckily for Ponder, it finished on a positive note, as he was named Senior Bowl MVP.

However, Ponder didn't answer questions on his arm strength at the Senior Bowl and looked inaccurate at other times.

Ponder is going to need to prove that he can throw the deep ball at the combine or risk having his draft stock plummet.

6. Greg McElroy, Alabama

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Greg McElroy #12 of the Alabama Crimson Tide passes the ball 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

Greg McElroy had a very strong week at the Senior Bowl and did a good job showcasing his accuracy. McElroy boasted a completion rate over 70 percent this season and only threw five interceptions, so he does a great job managing games and protecting the ball.

Like the other quarterbacks listed so far, McElroy also needs to prove that he can throw the deep ball effectively, as he did not do that much at Alabama.

McElroy may be the smartest quarterback in the draft and should post one of the top Wonderlic scores.

5. Jake Locker, Washington

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 18: Quarterback Jake Locker #10 of the Washington Huskies looks downfield against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on September 18, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Jake Locker's draft stock has plummeted since the end of the 2009 season, when Locker likely would have been a top five pick had he left Washington.

Locker was very inaccurate during Senior Bowl practices and really hurt his draft stock.

The plus side on Locker is that he has all the intangibles that scouts are looking for, in addition to being strong, athletic and possessing a cannon for an arm.

These qualities should stand out for Locker at the combine, but he needs to improve his accuracy, or he may be looking at a career in baseball.

4. Blaine Gabbert, Missouri

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TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Missouri Tigers drops back to pass during the Insight Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. The Hawkeyes defeated the Tigers 27-24. (P

Gabbert is likely the most overrated prospect coming into the 2011 NFL draft. Gabbert quickly jumped up draft boards after the season was over and after Andrew Luck decided to return to college.

However, Gabbert lacks ideal accuracy, as he only completed 63 percent of his passes this season. Gabbert did not play in a pro-style offense either, and the Missouri offense really played to his advantage.

On the other hand, Gabbert does have the size and the arm strength that scouts are looking for, and that could play to his advantage at the combine.

3. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew

Ryan Mallett had a huge junior season at Arkansas, throwing for over 3,500 yards to go along with 30 touchdowns and only nine interceptions.

Mallett will have a very good combine, mainly due to his arm strength, which is probably the best of any quarterback in the draft class.

While Mallett is not mobile at all, he does possess the arm strength as well as the accuracy needed to be successful at the pro level.

The only question on Mallett has been his maturity, which he may be able to silence during the interview process with interested teams.

2. Colin Kaepernick, Nevada

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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)

Kaepernick is not the No. 2 quarterback prospect in the draft, but he will be the second best at the combine.

Kaepernick has been climbing draft boards since the end of the season and had a very strong outing at the Senior Bowl. 

He is an accurate quarterback who has a very strong arm and can throw well on the run. Kaepernick is also the most mobile quarterback in the draft outside of Cam Newton and should be a very good prospect.

With all the skills and intangibles that scouts will be looking for out of a quarterback, Kaepernick may move up into consideration as a late second-round choice.

1. Cam Newton, Auburn

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Quarterback Cameron Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers throws the ball in the third quarter against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendal

The Heisman Trophy winner was said to have looked remarkable in his so-called media day workout. He will certainly step that up when he hits the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Cam Newton was dominant this past year with both his legs and his arm. He has a very strong arm that he will certainly show off at the combine.

Not only does Newton have a strong arm, but his strength and athleticism will have scouts (especially scouts of the Buffalo Bills) drooling over him all week as well.

If a team is looking for a quarterback that has all the intangibles to be successful in the NFL, its eyes will land on Cam Newton, who will secure himself a top five selection on draft day.