NFL Combine 2011 Results: Moving on Up, 20 Players with Soaring Stocks

The NFL Scouting Combine might be the most overrated workout in the history of televised sports, but it also might be the one shot a player has at impressing all 32 NFL general managers, head coaches and scouts in one 40-yard burst or throwing session.

If nothing else, the annual stretching session gives writers and fans something to talk about between the Super Bowl and the NFL Draft in April.

While it is always hip to knock the NFL Scouting Combine, a lot of good can come from it too. Players like Marvin Austin and Robert Quinn are given platforms to show their stuff after missing the 2010 season. It also gives players with questionable histories, that's you Ryan Mallett, chances to face the music.

All in all the past four days in Indianapolis have confirmed thoughts on certain players and silenced the criticism of others.

Here is our look at 20 players, in no particular order, who helped themselves the most at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine.

1. Von Miller, Linebacker, Texas A&M

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Von Miller of Texas A&M works out during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

No player did more this week to solidify his stock atop the top 10 of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Miller dominated with an official 4.53 in the 40-yard dash, and he backed it up with top performances in the broad jump and 60-yard shuttle.

Miller is an athletic freak, but he also shows up on film and he has shown through four seasons of play in the Big 12 that he can dominate off the edge.

NFL teams are salivating at the chance to work out Miller. Do not be surprised if he is drafted in the top three picks of the April draft.

2. Jake Locker, Quarterback, Washington

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 25: Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Locker answers questions during a media session at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Running a 4.59 in the 40-yard dash, as a quarterback, is ridiculously fast. But does it matter to NFL scouts how fast a quarterback is if he cannot make NFL-level throws?

Locker backed up his speed with an impressive showing in passing drills this week. While other quarterbacks struggled with timing and working with unknown receivers, Locker excelled.

Much like Tim Tebow's climb into the end of Round 1 last year, look for Locker to position himself through his pro day and individual workouts to be drafted in the late first-round.

3. Julio Jones, Wide Receiver, Alabama

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Former Alabama teammates Mark Ingram (L) and Julio Jones look on during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Julio Jones had a terrific showing at the NFL Scouting Combine until he found out a broken bone in his foot would require surgery. Before this setback he was setting the field on fire.

Jones repped out 17 reps of 225 pounds and ran the 40 in 4.39 seconds (second best among receivers) and dominated in the 60-yard shuttle with a top-five time (11.07 seconds).

What Jones also proved here is that he has the toughness to fight through small injuries and perform at a high level. Many questioned his ability to accelerate through cuts, something he answered this week with great times in all agility drills.

Jones' biggest question mark today is his ability to stay healthy.

4. Stephen Paea, Defensive Tackle, Oregon State

Breaking the NFL Scouting Combine's bench-press record gets you a place with our players whose stock rose, which Stephen Paea did this past weekend. Doing it with a busted-up shoulder gets you a spot in the top five.

Paea is a player known for exceptional weight-room strength, but does that strength translate well to the field? To date, his film has been weak in this aspect. What Paea does bring to the table is a great work ethic, excellent use of leverage and a desire to be the best.

While he does not look like a first-round pick at this point, he has solidified his standing in the top 40 picks.

5. Ryan Mallett, Quarterback, 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 might be the most polarizing player in the 2011 NFL Draft class.

Some love him and cite his strong arm and stature as evidence he should be a first round pick. Others look at his stiff legs, lack of mobility and off-field issues as proof that he should be looked at in the third or fourth rounds.

Mallett helped himself with a good workout this week, but there are also the looming rumors of drug abuse and addiction that Mallett declined to address during his press conference.

While NFL teams will investigate any-and-all allegations, we are left to grade Mallett on what we know and wait on any rumors to be vetted. What we do know is that Mallett has the strongest arm in this draft class, but with that comes issues of putting touch on the ball and throwing a catchable pass.

6. Colin Kaepernick, Quarterback, 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)

Many scouts and analysts were looking forward to finally seeing a full workout from Colin Kaepernick this week in Indianapolis. He did not disappoint.

Kaepernick turned in the second-fastest 40-yard dash time for quarterbacks (4.53 seconds) and also looked great in the 20-yard shuttle. Of course, this only means he is a threat to run, something we already knew.

What many did not know before was that Kaepernick has a very live arm. He registered the fastest throw in terms of miles per hour (59 mph) and looked accurate in passing drills.

We are still two months away from the NFL Draft, but Kaepernick is gaining momentum. He looks like a solid early second-round pick right now.

7. Gabe Carimi, Offensive Tackle, Wisconsin

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COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 10: Offensive lineman Gabe Carimi #68 of the Wisconsin Badgers blocks against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on October 10, 2009 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Gabe Carimi remains one of our favorite players in this draft and also one of the more underrated first-round players.

At the NFL Scouting Combine this past week, Carimi was able to prove to scouts that he has the athleticism to play left tackle in the NFL. With a run of 5.27 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 29 reps of 225 pounds, Carimi showed the overall body of work that decision makers needed to see.

Carimi also looked good in pass-protection drills. More so than any other workout for linemen, this shows their ability to shadow pass rushers and how well they move their feet in space. Carimi aced every test given to him this week. It will pay off with a middle of the first-round grade.

8. Tyron Smith, Offensive Tackle, USC

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MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 18: Quarterback Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans, flanked by Tyron Smith #70 and Ronald Johnson #83, runs off the field after the Trojans scored a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers

Tyron Smith did not need to do much this week to prove he is the most athletic offensive tackle in this class. We already knew this much. Instead he showed up and surprised everyone with an impressive 29 bench-press reps of 225 pounds.

Smith was also impressive with the tape measure. At 6'5" and 307 pounds, he surprised everyone with 36-and-three-eighths inch arms and 11-inch hands.

Smith enters the last 60 days before the draft as our top-rated offensive lineman and he has a chance to be selected within the top 10 picks of the first round.

9. Muhammad Wilkerson, Defensive End, Temple

Muhammad Wilkerson is the type of versatile linemen that NFL scouts love. Having played 4-3 defensive tackle for his first two seasons and 3-4 end in his junior year, Wilkerson has experience in multiple fronts and can move around as needed up front.

Wilkerson has looked good in drills this week and he has shown the elite size and shedding ability to standout as a defensive end in the 3-4 defense so many teams are now running.

Wilkerson has a legitimate shot at being drafted at the end of the first round.

10. Christian Ponder, Quarterback, Florida State

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Quarterback Christian Ponder of Florida State looks on during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Christian Ponder was among our preseason favorites to be drafted No. 1 overall before a season full of small injuries and inconsistent play kick started his fall to the second round in our rankings. Ponder set out on a reclamation mission this week at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he did just that.

Ponder's goal at the NFL Scouting Combine was to follow-up his MVP performance at the Senior Bowl and keep his momentum going as the draft nears. A good workout at the combine had the potential to push Ponder back in to the first round.

Ponder ran fast (4.65 seconds), proved he is fully recovered from a handful of injuries and he looked excellent throwing the ball during passing drills. In fact, no quarterback looked better in our opinion.

Do not sleep on Christian Ponder. At this point we have him No. 4 overall in our quarterback rankings and graded as an early second-round pick.

11. Virgil Green, Tight End, Nevada

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 09: Virgil Green #85 of the Nevada Wolf Pack and Okechukwu Okoroha #27 of Boston College fight for the ball during the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park on January 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California. Green came down with

I am sure a lot of people just said "who!?".

Virgil Green is a dynamic tight end from Nevada, where he played with quarterback Colin Kaepernick and developed in to one of the better pass-catching tight ends in college football. So why have you never heard of him?

Green is a bit undersized (6'3", 249 lbs) but he has excellent speed and overall athleticism. He is not a blocker and he should not be used as one without a lot of coaching. Green is not rated high by many scouts, but he turned heads at the combine and will have many scouts going home to take a second look at his tape.

12. Da Rel Scott, Running Back, Maryland

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COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 22: DaRel Scott #23 of the Maryland Terrapins runs the ball past Dekoda Watson #36 and Derek Nicholson #30 of the Florida State Seminoles on November 22, 2008 at Byrd Stadium in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Ge

Any time a player runs the fastest 40-yard dash time at his position, he is going to get a second look when scouts and coaches get home after the combine. Da'Rel Scott will be one of many names on our list of players to look at one more time.

Scott played well enough at the Senior Bowl that we had taken notice, but his 4.34-second blast in the 40-yard dash at the combine had us questioning our notes on him.

Scott is a compact runner who has shown ability between the tackles, but on film he did not show the breakaway speed we saw on the track in Indianapolis.

Scott has definitely earned himself some buzz this week.

13. Edmund Gates, Wide Receiver, Abilene Christian

Edmund Gates was the talk of the combine after running a 4.37 in the 40-yard dash earlier this week. For those unaware, that is really fast.

Gates comes from tiny Abilene State, where few scouts have had a chance to see him in person or against top competition. Running a staggering time such as this will get Gates on draft boards and also excite people for his upcoming pro day.

Most players can only hope to generate the kind of buzz that Gates did this week. He looks like a solid Day 2 player right now.

14. DeMarco Murray, Running Back, Oklahoma

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: DeMarco Murray #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners against the Connecticut Huskies attempts to take it away in the first half during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona

DeMarco Murray has battled injuries during his career at Oklahoma, but most knew he was an exceptional athlete with great tools as a third-down back.

Murray posted solid numbers across the board this week at the combine, but more so than any on-field test, his clearance by team officials in the training room was just as important.

There is a glut of running backs lined up behind Mikel LeShoure and Mark Ingram hoping to be the third back off the board this April. Murray has put himself back in to the conversation.

15. Leonard Hankerson, Wide Receiver, Miami FL

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 25: Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Leonard Hankerson answers questions during a media session at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Imag

Leonard Hankerson heads up a solid group of second-tier wide receivers all vying for position at the end of Round 1. To separate from the group, Hankerson needed to follow up his dominant performance at the Senior Bowl and also show the speed to separate in the NFL.

By turning in a very surprising 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash, Hankerson has silenced some critics. While better numbers in the three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle would have also helped, Hankerson has at least showed the deep speed needed to play in the NFL.

16. Dontay Moch, Outside Linebacker, Nevada

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Defensive lineman Dontay Moch of Nevada runs a drill during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Throw out every thing you know about defensive ends. Dontay Moch is a game changer.

At 6'1" and 248 pounds, he ran a mind-blowing 4.44 in the 40-yard dash, good for second best all-time for a defensive end, behind only Manny Lawson's 4.43 in 2006.

Moch actually compares well to Lawson. Both are undersized ends who will see a move to outside linebacker in the NFL. Moch has a definite chance to hear his named called in Round 2.

17. Marvin Austin, Defensive Tackle, North Carolina

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Former North Carolina teammates Marvin Austin (L) and Bruce Carter look on during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

With a full year off from football due to ineligibility, Marvin Austin had plenty of time to prepare for the NFL Scouting Combine. It would appear he put that time to good use.

Austin impressed with an overall body of work that is worthy of a first-round grade, but it was his 38 reps of 225 pounds that had scouts excited.

Austin was a preseason top 10 player on almost every draft board, but too many character questions and his mandatory vacation from football last fall have people worried. Here's betting that a team will gamble on Austin in the early part of Round 2.

18. Marcus Cannon, Offensive Tackle, TCU

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 28: Marcus Cannon #61, Kyle Dooley #72 and Alonzo Adams #81 of the TCU Horned Frogs raise the Mountain West Regular Season Championship trophy at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronal

It is easy to look at workout numbers and become too excited about players, when in fact they are doing things they would never do in a game (running 40 yards unimpeded) and without pads on. There is some value here, though.

Take Marcus Cannon for example. A guard during his time at TCU, Cannon is attempting to make the move to right tackle in the NFL. To do this he must show excellent quickness (5.26 seconds in the 40), strength (33 reps of 225 lbs) and overall athleticism (30.5" vertical jump).

Cannon will walk away from the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine as one of the biggest winners among offensive linemen.

19. Greg McElroy, Quarterback, Alabama

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 25: Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Greg McElroy answers questions during a media session at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

You have to respect Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy for knowing who, and what, he is. McElroy will never outrun Cam Newton, but he is certain to be able to process information faster. His score of 48 out of 50 on the famed Wonderlic test is solid proof of this.

McElroy has been labeled a game manager by analysts, but a closer look shows more. McElroy was responsible for calling audibles, reading the defense and calling plays in Alabama's no-huddle drill. He enters the NFL Draft as one of the most game-ready signal callers in a group full of projects.

McElroy is carrying a fourth or fifth-round grade today, but he could see himself drafted in Round 3.

20. Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, LSU

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State University Tigers nearly intercepts a pass in the final seconds against Markeith Summers #16 and Korvic Neat #28 of the Ole Miss Rebels as time expired at Tiger Stadium on November

Patrick Peterson did not need to workout at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine. In fact, players entering the late February workout session with a top-10 grade rarely do. Peterson had nothing to hide and he knew it.

What no one expected was for the 220-pound Peterson to blow the doors off the RCA Dome with his 4.34-second run in the 40-yard dash. This is after some NFL analysts said Peterson could be moved to safety due to a lack of speed.

Peterson is a once-in-a-decade talent at cornerback and he should see himself drafted higher than any cornerback in the last 10 years.