NFL Draft 2011: Which Conference Will Produce the Most First Round Picks?

The 2011 NFL draft is only weeks away now and players like Cam Newton who performed outstandingly at the NFL combine are getting ready to hear their names called.

As usual, the NFL draft should produce players from all over the country, representing all the major conferences, as well as the mid-majors.

Each year, one conference sees an overwhelming amount of players get drafted in the first round and this year will be no different.

ACC: Three Players

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Defensive lineman Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson looks on during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

The ACC doesn't have a tremendous amount of players who are projected to get taken in the first round, but the ones who are will get drafted quite early. Da'Quan Bowers, who played at Clemson, has a good chance of being taken within the top three picks of the NFL draft.

Robert Quinn will most likely get selected in the top ten as well. Torrey Smith, the speedy wide receiver out of Maryland, may also be a first round pick.

Pac-10-: Three Players

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MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 29:Defensive lineman Cameron Jordan #97 of the North Team during the Under Armour Senior Bowl on January 29, 2011 at Ladd-Pebbles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images for Under Armour)

The Pac-10 will most likely only have three players taken in the first round, but that doesn't include Jake Locker. Assuming he slips down to the second round, the ACC and Pac-10 would have the same amount.

Cameron Jordan, Tyron Smith and Akeem Ayers are pretty much guarantees to be first-round selections. USC is projected to only have one player taken, which is unbelievably low for them.

Big Ten: Six Players

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 13: Cameron Heyward #97 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with Devon Torrence #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes after Torrence returned an interception 34-yards for a touchdown against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium

The Big Ten will have its usual amount of production, with six players projected to be taken in the first round.

Some notable names include: Cameron Heyward, Adrian Clayborn and J.J. Watt. Although the Big Ten will produce more players then most other conferences, they won't have any high selections either. It would be a surprise to see anyone taken in the top 15.

Big 12: Seven Players

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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

Blaine Gabbert leads the crew coming out of the Big 12 this year, and he will get selected anywhere from the third overall pick to the tenth.

Shockingly, Texas doesn't have any projected players to be taken in the first round. Yet, a school like Colorado has two locks in Jimmy Smith and Nate Solder.

Seven players in one round is quite a bit, but they aren't going to be the conference to take the win.

SEC: 10 Players

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Running back Mark Ingram of Alabama 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)

The SEC takes control of the draft this year once again. With ten players projected to be drafted in the first round, that means a player out of the SEC would be selected nearly once out of every three picks.

Not only that, but most of their players make up the elite of this years draft.

Half of the top ten picks will probably be out of the SEC, and three of the top five.