2011 NFL Combine: Which Draft Prospects Will Wow the Scouts?

Danny Flynn

Feb 25, 2011

Draft fans, the NFL combine is now upon us, which means it's time to sit back, throw on the NFL Network and watch some of the top pro prospects in the country show off their remarkable athleticism.

There are tons of storylines to follow over the next few days as the attention of the NFL universe now turns to Indianapolis in this time of great uncertainty.

Put on your scouting hats and get ready to take notes because the offensive linemen and tight end groups are ready to hit the field tomorrow.

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Everyone is wondering which players will come up with the most buzzworthy workouts.

Well, here's a few names to remember.

QB Cam Newton, Auburn

Everyone was so prepared to hate this guy.

Oh, they couldn’t wait.

So many naysayers and critics were ready to rip this guy harder than they did to Tim Tebow last year.

But Cam Newton was smart. He was proactive.

Newton wisely said: I’m not going to let everyone unfairly throw me in the JaMarcus Russell and Vince Young category just because I happen to be a big, black quarterback. I’m going to go out early on in the process and prove I’m for real.

So Newton made the decision to hold a workout in San Diego a few weeks ago. Almost every media member in attendance remarked about how talented the Heisman winner looked.

Newton shined in the spotlight all throughout the 2010 season, so this stage in Indianapolis should suit him perfectly.

The only problem? You have to try and figure out what Newton’s intentions are. Does he want to a win a Super Bowl or does he want to sign a $10 million endorsement deal?

If the interviews go well, and that’s going to be a very important if, Newton’s performance on the field during workouts should cause enough buzz to solidify his status as a top-five pick.

DE Aldon Smith, Missouri

Aldon Smith, an enigma.

Just what is this big, athletic Missouri pass rusher: a true 4-3 defensive end or a 3-4 rush linebacker?

We still don’t know, but what we do know is that Smith is one of the true athletic freaks of this draft class.

The 6’5’’, 265 lb. end made a true impact during his two years on the field for the Tigers.

Smith, who was slowed by an injury in 2010, finished with 16 sacks and 29 tackles for loss in his career.

No matter where he lines up, Aldon Smith knows how to do one thing very well: find his way into the opposing backfield.

Look for Smith’s stock to continue ascending once scouts gets a look at him in workouts.

RB Derrick Locke, Kentucky

This year’s Dexter McCluster?

Like McCluster, Kentucky’s Locke may be on the small side at just 5’8’’, 185 lbs., but that doesn’t diminish his value as an explosive and versatile offensive weapon.

Locke, who totaled over 1,200 yards of total offense last season, can be used as a running back, wide receiver and kick returner in the pros.

His sub 4.4 speed should bring scouts to the edge of their seats on Sunday.

OT Tyron Smith, USC

If you’re hoping for an offensive tackle to be selected in the Top 10, then you’re going to have to put your faith in USC’s Tyron Smith.

Smith, who weighed in at a muscle-heavy 307 lbs. yesterday, has the most pure athleticism of any tackle in this class and should test extraordinarily well.

It should be interesting to see how Smith performs now that he’s about 25 lbs. heavier than his normal playing weight.

QB Colin Kaepernick, Nevada

One of the 40 times that I’m most eager to find out is that of Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick is an intriguing yet very raw QB prospect who has all the measurables but will take some time adjusting from the Pistol to a pro-style offense.

The 6’6’’, 225 lb. senior used his reported 4.5 speed to rush for over 4,000 yards in his career with the Wolf Pack.

If he throws well, then a team in need of a mobile, developmental QB for the future could look at Kaepernick in the second-to-third round range.

CB Patrick Peterson, LSU

You’re not supposed to be able to run a sub 4.4 40-yard dash at 6’1’’, 215 lbs., but don’t tell Patrick Peterson that.

Peterson has the ability to alter games with his natural ability and pure seed. He is one of the most talented cornerback prospects we’ve seen come out in a decade.

If Peterson sticks to his word and runs at the combine, he’ll have a good chance to cement his elite status.

LB Von Miller, Texas A&M

Von Miller is this year’s definitive 3-4 rush linebacker prospect.

Although Miller is a little on the small side at 6’2’’, he has the speed off the edge to cause nightmares for opposing quarterbacks.

Miller’s natural speed and athleticism are just two things that can’t be taught.

We’ve seen very few prospects recently who can come off the edge with such ease as Von Miller. He’s a terrorizing, disruptive force.

OLB Akeem Ayers, UCLA

Miller may be the best linebacker prospect this year, but that doesn’t mean he’s the best athlete at the position.

That distinction belongs to UCLA’s Akeem Ayers, a 6’4’’ 255 lb. junior who can run from sideline to sideline without a hitch in his step.

Ayers has been accused of being soft at times, but luckily for him, the workout here is all about the athletic component of the game, which is something he excels at.

WR Titus Young, Boise State

In the three times I watched Boise State this season, there was always one player who stood out above the rest, wide receiver Titus Young.

Young followed up a sensational senior season with an eye-catching week at the Senior Bowl.

There are already some who are starting to throw DeSean Jackson’s name around as a comparison. Young may not be the true gamebreaker that Jackson is, but the two receivers are cut from the same mold.

Young could turn some heads with his 40-yard dash time.

DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina

Going into the 2010 season, I, along with pretty much everybody else, considered DE Robert Quinn to be a top-five caliber prospect.

Quinn was coming into his junior season after a dominating sophomore season in which he racked up 11 sacks. Many were expecting him to be the player who helped carry North Carolina to an ACC Championship.

It was not to be, however, as Quinn, along with his other highly regarded teammates, WR Greg Little and DT Marvin Austin, ended up being suspended for the entire 2010 season.

We know that the talent and the natural skills are still there; now we just have to see Quinn shake off the rust and perform like he’s capable of.

QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas

The reports about Ryan Mallett’s past drug issues are unfortunately starting to slowly leak out at the most inopportune time for the big Arkansas quarterback.

Mallett will certainly have some tough questions that he’ll have to answer during the interview process, but luckily for him, he has an arm that’s capable of overshadowing his off the field concerns.

Mallett should light up the field in the throwing portion of the workout on Sunday.

DE Allen Bailey, Miami

Allen Bailey is one of the many tweener defensive linemen in this year’s crop. He's one of the defensive prospects who doesn’t quite have a home yet.

Depending on the system he goes to, Bailey could be either a defensive end or a defensive tackle.

While we don’t know which position he’s best suited for yet, we do know that Bailey is one of the physical gems of this year’s draft class.

The 6’4’’, 285 lb. former Cane is strong, quick and powerful: three qualities you need to have to be a defensive linemen at the NFL level.

RB Mikel Leshoure, Illinois

In my view, Mikel Leshoure is a bigger version of Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch.

Leshoure is a powerful runner who showed that he could be a true workhorse capable of picking up yardage on a consistent basis during his time at Illinois.

Leshoure’s 40 time will be the key to how early he ends up coming off the board. If he times well, the 230 lb. junior could challenge Mark Ingram for the top RB spot.

CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado

Jimmy Smith could become this year’s big riser.

The 6’2’’ cornerback is in a position similar to last year with Chris Cook, a highly-rated corner out of Virginia. Everyone knows Smith has the potential to be an upper echelon corner in the league someday, but he just didn’t really show any of that in college, which is worrisome.

Smith will be one of this year’s biggest gambles, but he could turn out to be a heck of a payoff pick if a team guesses right on him.

LB Martez Wilson, Illinois

Early on in Martez Wilson’s career, it looked as if injuries were going to derail his future. But after a breakout junior campaign, Wilson has people believing he’s the player we all thought he would become when came to Illinois as a 5-star high school recruit.

Wilson finished with 112 tackles in 2010 and looked like the player we saw before the injuries started taking their toll.

If he checks out medically, Wilson has a chance to really open eyes with his workouts at the Combine.

Some Other Prospects Who Could Make Noise