2012 NFL Draft: The Top 10 College Quarterbacks Eligible
With the 2011 NFL Draft only weeks away, and how the Draft industry has become a year-round process such as the recruiting industry, its never too early to start looking at next year's draft. Naturally as with anything in regards to player procurement, the initial focus in football is the quarterback position.
So with looking at next year's draft, we will examine the top 10 QBs eligible for the 2012 Annual NFL Player Selection Meeting. Keep in mind this not about the top college quarterbacks, as I am projecting how well their prospects are from an NFL perspective.
Here we go.
10. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
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6'4" and 220 pounds, Weeden is returning to Oklahoma State after lighting up the Big 12 last year. He shows a solid arm, fine accuracy and good mobility.
He has the size to dictate his own throwing lanes, sees the field well and can be solid on the run. The question with him is will he show he can go through full field reads and progressions, or will he look down for stud receiver Justin Blackmon every drop back.
9. Ryan Lindley, San Diego State
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Lindley has three things going for him that NFL scouts will love: he's 6'4", has a solid arm and has played in a pro-style offense. Taking snaps from center, showing you can read a defense while climbing to a set point in the pocket is the NFL way and Lindley does it on the norm.
There are some concerns about his accuracy to all levels, though. He only completed 54.7 percent of his passes in 2009, and has a reputation for spraying the ball around the field.
8. Kellen Moore, Boise State
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Moore is here in the top 10, but I'm not sure he will stay among the top QB prospects for the NFL Draft come this time next year. But we said the same thing about Andy Dalton this time last year, and now Dalton could find himself as a second round pick.
6' 0", about 190 pounds, left handed and lacking a strong arm, Moore does it by beating you with his mind. He is uber-cerebral and has solid accuracy.
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.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
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Pryor's Draft prospects are among the most talked about in college football. You can't deny the 6' 6", 235 pounder's talent and play-making ability. He also plays in a pro-style offense that sees him under center quite a bit.
Don't talk to me about how he is like Cam Newton, however. Pryor is not. Newton has a natural stroke, which is why the NFL is drooling over his physical tools. Pryor's stroke, delivery and throwing motion is nowhere near Newton's.
6. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State
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Cousins is a player that I like, but doesn't seem to get the national shine that he deserves. He is 6' 3", 205 pounds with a very strong arm, solid accuracy, pocket mobility and field vision.
I think he has the tools to be a starter in the NFL. He plays in an offense that has him under center as well as in shotgun, and he flashes good poise.
5. John Brantley, Florida
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Playing for Charlie Weis will boost up your draft prospects big time. Brantley was a square peg in a round hole in Urban Meyer's offense. He's a classic, drop back pro-style passer with a great arm, good size at 6' 3", 220 pounds and some mobility.
Weis worked wonders with Matt Cassel in just one year, and Brantley is a similar QB to the Chiefs' starter. Plus, as much as we heard the groans from Gator fans last year about Brantley, it was still apparent that he was extremely talented.
4. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas
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Remember how Mark Sanchez finally got his chance at USC, lit it up and left? Wilson could be in the same type of mold. At 6' 3" and 215 pounds, there is a reason why Hog fans are not in a frenzy that Ryan Mallett is gone.
Wilson has shown when he has played that he is a poised, strong armed and accurate QB prospect that can attack a defense on all levels form the pocket, while also making throws on the run.
He also plays for Bobby Petrino, who has his QBs do more at the line of scrimmage than many other coaches do, which bodes well for their NFL prospects.
3. Matt Barkley, USC
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Barkley is one of the most hyped QB prospects of the decade and has been starting at USC since his true freshman year. You just don't do that in Troy. At 6' 2" and 220 pounds, Barkley has a strong arm, solid accuracy and is a great leader.
He really works on his craft, and has been rumored to have really taken a step forward in not forcing balls this spring. If he keeps progressing, Barkley could leave USC after his junior season and find himself in the first round of the 2012 Draft.
Some say if he stays, he could be the No.1 pick in the 2013 draft.
2. Landry Jones, Oklahoma
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6' 4" and 220 pounds, I first heard about Jones while he was a high schooler in new Mexico from a friend of mine who was a close friend of his.
Jones was a thick, and borderline fat QB that had a strong arm, was deadly accurate and lit up competition. Today he is a Heisman Trophy candidate and could lead Oklahoma to a national title.
He plays in a spread offense, but like Sam Bradford, does show an ability to work through progressions, in the pocket, make every throw and thread needles.
1. Andrew Luck, Stanford
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Luck would have been the top pick in this year's draft, but like Peyton manning and Matt Leinart, he chose to stay in school over being a high draft pick.
At 6' 4" and 235 pounds, Luck plays in a pro-style attack. He shows quickness in his climbs, a quick set up, ability to scan the field, a nice delivery, arm strength and accuracy. He also can get out and run, and is pretty physical with the football.
He shows a great awareness and feel for the game ans seems to process information well and very quickly.
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.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
