NFL Combine 2011: Comparing Top 25 Combine Invitees to Their NFL Counterparts
The who's-who of college football are headed to Indianapolis.
The NFL's annual combine is set to kick off once again this weekend, and it will feature many of college football's premiere players who are set to enter the NFL Draft. Among them are Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley, Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers, Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green and LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson.
Anyone who wants a thorough list of who's there can view this great piece.
I'll be using it once again here, but I'm going to throw a curve into it: Who are the NFL counterparts to the top 25 players who will be attending?
This is the third time I've done this—the other two have been with quarterbacks and running backs. I'll repeat myself again: I'm not about to sit here and tell you that one of these players is the next Tom Brady or Julius Peppers.
I'm simply trying to spot qualities in the college players and similarities that are like those well-known NFL players.
Let's get to work:
25. Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
1 of 25
Smith (6'2'', 203 lbs) allowed just 11 pass completions in man coverage during his final two seasons. Last year he was a first-team Big 12 selection after finishing with 70 total tackles and five passes broken up in 12 games. He finishes his career with 183 tackles.
NFL counterpart: Same size as New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie (6'2'', 210 lbs).
24. Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
2 of 25
Solder (6'9", 315 lbs) leaves Boulder after a dominating career.
He played 2,540 out of a possible 2,542 plays in his sophomore through senior years. In that span, there were a total of 1,400 pass plays called, and Solder allowed just five sacks over a three-year span. He also had 21 pressures, meaning the other man he blocked influenced a pass play 26 times in those 1,400 plays.
NFL counterpart: Same size as Tampa Bay offensive tackle Demar Dotson (6'9'', 315 lbs).
23. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
3 of 25
In 12 games, Kerrigan (6'3'', 255 lbs) had 70 tackles (50 solo), with 26 tackles for loss (111 yards), 12.5 sacks for 73 yards, one pass breakup and one pass defended.
NFL counterpart: Dallas Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer (6'3'', 260 lbs).
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22. Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
4 of 25
The 6'7'', 327-pound offensive tackle was a consensus All-American and Outland Trophy winner. Carimi, who started 13 games, was also named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.
NFL counterpart: Pittsburgh offensive lineman Flozell Adams (6'7'', 338 lbs).
21. Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
5 of 25
Harris (5'11", 195 lbs) has all the tools to be a tremendous shutdown corner, as he showed during his junior year, when he had 15 passes broken up and six tackles for loss.
NFL counterpart: Same size as Darrelle Revis (5'11", 198 lbs).
20. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
6 of 25
In 13 games last year, Clayborn (6'3'', 285 lbs) had 52 tackles (19 solo), seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
NFL counterpart: Same size as New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora (6'3'', 261 lbs).
19. Jake Locker, QB, Washington
7 of 25
Locker (6'2'', 228 lbs) had seven 200-yard games this year, including 310 yards passing in a 32-31 victory at USC. He finished the year completing 179 of 316 passes with nine interceptions for 2,209 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also had 101 carries for 302 yards and five touchdowns.
NFL counterpart: I'll stick with what I eventually came up with before. He's very similar to former Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks. Both have the same kind of arm, can run a little and make plays, but their decision making can, at times, leave you scratching your head.
18. Tyron Smith, OT, USC
8 of 25
Smith (6'5'', 291 lbs) played primarily at right offensive tackle and helped the Trojans offense average 31 points and just over 431 total yards per game.
NFL counterpart: Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Chad Clifton (6'5'', 320 lbs).
17. Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
9 of 25
This year, Gabbert (6'5'', 240 lbs) completed 301-of-475 passes for 3,186 yards (63.4 percent), with nine interceptions and 16 touchdowns.
NFL counterpart: Philip Rivers, San Diego. Rivers (6'5'', 228 lbs) is the same size, has the same kind of arm and both can take over games.
16. Aldon Smith, DE/OLB, Missouri
10 of 25
In 10 games last year, Smith (6'5'', 260 lbs) had 48 total tackles (34 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, one interception, two pass breakups and one quarterback hurry.
NFL counterpart: Same size as Atlanta defensive end John Abraham (6'4'', 263 lbs).
15. J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
11 of 25
Watt (6'6'', 292 lbs) was second on the team with 62 total tackles, plus 21 tackles for loss (91 yards), seven sacks, one interception, eight pass breakups, nine pass deflections and 10 quarterback hurries.
NFL counterpart: Same size as Houston's Mario Williams (6'6'', 295 lbs).
14. Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
12 of 25
Castonzo (6'7'', 305 lbs) was a four-year starter and many believe he could play immediately. Questions remain about whether left tackle would be the best fit for him.
NFL counterpart: Nearly the same size as Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Ryan O'Callaghan (6'7'', 330 lbs).
13. Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal
13 of 25
At 6'4'', 283 pounds, Jordan's got perfect size and he's put together a career that will have him high on many draft boards. This year, Jordan was fifth on the team with 62 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss (47 yards), 5.5 sacks (32 yards), four pass breakups and one quarterback hurry.
NFL counterpart: Similar size to New York Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis (6'5'', 290 lbs) and his aggressiveness is comparable to Dwight Freeney's.
12. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
14 of 25
The former Heisman Trophy winner led the Crimson Tide this year in carries (158), rushing yards (875) and rushing touchdowns (13).
NFL counterpart: Ingram (5'10'', 215 lbs) has a similar build to Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendenhall (5'10'', 225 lbs). Watch his style enough and you'll see glimpses of the Steelers' running back at times. I also agree with one reader who suggested that he's almost a clone of Ronnie Brown.
11. Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
15 of 25
The playmaker has freakish size—at 6'4'', 255 pounds—and put up big numbers again with 68 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and four sacks (13 yards).
NFL counterpart: Similar size to San Diego linebacker Kevin Burnett (6'3'', 240 lbs).
10. Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
16 of 25
Jones (6'4'', 211 lbs) closed out his college career with 78 catches for 1,133 yards (14.5 average) and seven touchdowns. He had 221 yards against Tennessee and 199 in the Iron Bowl against Auburn.
NFL counterpart: He's the same size as Randy Moss (6'4'', 210 lbs), and has a blend of Dez Bryant's and Dwayne Bowe's athleticism.
9. Robert Quinn, DE, UNC
17 of 25
Quinn (6'5", 270 lbs) was ruled permanently ineligible this year by the NCAA for violating rules relating to agent benefits of $5,642 received. In 2009, Quinn was first in the ACC and 15th in the nation in tackles for loss (19) and second in the league in sacks (11).
NFL counterpart: He's roughly the same size as New England's Ty Warren (6'5'', 300 lbs) and has the same style of play as Minnesota's Jared Allen.
8. Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
18 of 25
In 14 games this year, Amukamara (6'0'', 203 lbs) had 59 total tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack and 13 passes broken up.
NFL counterpart: He's got similar cover skills to Asante Samuel and is the same size as Denver's Champ Bailey (6'0'', 192 lbs).
7. Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
19 of 25
In 13 games, Miller (6'2'', 237 lbs) had 68 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss (101 yards), 10.5 sacks (81 yards), one interception, six passes broken up, seven pass deflections, six quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries.
NFL counterpart: His athleticism and burst off the edges reminds me of Kansas City's Derrick Johnson. He's roughly the same size as San Francisco's Patrick Willis (6'1'', 240 lbs).
6. Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
20 of 25
Newton helped lead Auburn to a perfect 14-0 record and the BCS National Championship. He rushed for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns while passing for 2,854 yards and 30 scores.
NFL counterpart: He's got Ben Roethlisberger's size and Michael Vick's skills.
5. Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
21 of 25
In 11 games, Dareus (6'2'', 303 lbs) had 34 tackles, 11 tackles for loss (41 yards), 4.5 sacks (26 yards), four passes broken up, four pass deflections and 10 quarterback hurries.
NFL counterpart: He has the same size and same violent, aggressive style as Chicago's Tommie Harris (6'3", 295 lbs).
4. Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
22 of 25
Bowers (6'4'', 280 lbs) was second on the team in tackles (63), had a team-high 24 tackles for loss (150 yards), 15.5 sacks and 17 quarterback pressures.
NFL counterpart: He may play on the end, but he has the same speed, agility and roughly the same size as Chicago's Brian Urlacher (6'4'', 258 lbs).
3. Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
23 of 25
The All-American, Lombardi Award winner and Southeastern Conference Player of the Year played in 14 games, finishing with 60 total tackles (36 solo), a school-record 24 tackles for loss (106 yards), 11.5 sacks for 74 yards and 21 quarterback hurries.
NFL counterpart: Fairley (6'5'', 298 lbs) has a similar frame to Albert Haynesworth (6'6'', 335 lbs), but moves more like Detroit's Ndamukong Soh.
2. A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
24 of 25
Green (6'4'', 208 lbs) finished the year with 57 catches for 848 yards (14.9 average) and nine touchdowns.
NFL counterpart: Like Julio Jones, Green is the same size as Randy Moss (6'4'', 210 lbs), but has Miles Austin's breakaway speed.
1. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
25 of 25
In 13 games, Peterson (6'1'', 211 lbs) had 42 total tackles, four interceptions (for 134 yards), six pass breakups, and 10 pass deflections. He also had one quarterback hurry and one blocked kick.
NFL counterpart: He's got the same size as San Francisco wide receiver Michael Crabtree (6'1'', 214 lbs), Nnamdi Asomugha's athleticism and Darrelle Revis' cover skills.
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