2011 NFL Draft: Florida State's Christian Ponder Highlights Possible Sleepers

Every year, there are players that go more or less over looked by draft experts that end up being breakout stars in the NFL.  

This is an attempt to identify some of the athletes who have the potential to succeed as professionals, despite the lack of fanfare they will receive upon entering the league.  

Obviously picking sleepers is an inexact science but all of these players have what it takes to make an impact in the NFL if they end up in the right situations.

Note: The only qualification that needs to be met to be eligible for this list is that most draft experts are not talking about these prospects, or the talk the prospect is generating has largely been negative.

5. Roy Helu, RB, Nebraska

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LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 13: Roy Helu Jr. #10 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers runs for the endzone the Kansas Jayhawks during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska Defeated Kansas 20-3. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty I

Roy Helu is expected to be drafted somewhere in the range of the fourth to fifth round with a slight chance he could go as high as the third round or perhaps go undrafted altogether.  

As a running back, there could be worse things since pretty much every year there is an extremely productive back to be found in the later rounds or in the undrafted free agent pool. This year, that back could very well be Roy Helu.

The two biggest questions about Helu are his athleticism and his production.  He emphatically showed that there was no reason to doubt his athleticism at the NFL Combine, posting a 4.4 second 40 time.  He also put up a 4.01 second 20 yard shuttle which was good enough to come in first of all the running backs who participated.  Clearly Mr. Helu is more athletic than most people have given him credit for.

The idea that Roy Helu was not productive is almost as unfounded as the idea that he is not a very good athlete.  Helu ranks fourth all time on Nebraska's career rushing list, behind two Heisman winners (Mike Rozier and Eric Crouch) and a four time Pro Bowler (Ahman Green).  

To rank in the top four in rushing at a school that was allergic to the forward pass until 2004 is the epitome of being productive.  Helu did all of this despite sharing time with other backs his entire career and fighting through nagging injuries his junior and senior seasons.

With Helu's athleticism and undeniable performance while at Nebraska, he will be a diamond in the rough for whoever finally pulls the trigger on drafting him, no matter when it is.

4. Greg Little, WR, North Carolina

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WINSTON SALEM, NC - OCTOBER 27: Wide receiver Greg Little #8 of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels during the ACC game at the Groves Stadium, on October 27, 2007 in Winston Salem,North Carolina. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Greg Little is going to remind a lot of people of Mike Williams of the Buccaneers who was drafted in the fourth round in 2010 despite having first round ability.  

The story is the same for Little, who like Williams is a big bodied receiver with an uncanny ability to make a play on the ball.  Little is even bigger than Williams though, coming in at a chiseled 230 pounds.

Little has terrific size, strength and athleticism.  While his 40 time of 4.51 seconds is not jaw dropping, for his size it is very good, and his vertical leap of 40.5 inches in unbelievable.  

Greg Little is extremely explosive when going after the football, or running with it after the catch.  He has been compared to Anquan Boldin because of his physicality, but his overall ability is probably closer to that of Andre Johnson.  

So why is Greg Little who has been affectionately been called "the Freak" by his teammates, expected to go no earlier than the third round and probably more likely sometime in the fourth?  

Character.  

Little has been painted, whether fairly or unfairly, as extremely immature with a questionable attitude and work ethic.  The fact that he was ineligible for all of the 2010 season due to contact with an agent does not help his cause at all with NFL talent evaluators.

The fact that Mike Williams has done so well for the Buccaneers probably has given teams a little bit more of a reason to take a chance on Little than they would have had otherwise.  

If a team with good veteran leadership can land Greg Little than he could pay huge dividends for them and their passing game.

3. Taiwan Jones, RB, Eastern Washington

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BERKELEY, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Mychal Kendricks #30 of the California Golden Bears returns a fumble for 45 yards against Taiwan Jones #22 of the Eastern Washington Eagles at Memorial Stadium on September 12, 2009 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Jed Jacob

Taiwan Jones is a relative unknown, like most small school prospects.  However, unlike most small school prospects, Jones has big time ability.  Jones recently ran a 40 at his pro day in the mid 4.3's.  The guy can flat out fly.  His 40 inch vertical and 11 foot broad jump complete the picture of Jones' otherworldly athleticism.

It would be expected that this type of dynamo would dominate the lower level competition Jones faced at Eastern Washington, and Jones did just that.  He rushed for over 1800 yards in 2010 at almost eight yards per carry.  Taiwan Jones clearly outclassed the lesser athletes he was playing.

The problem with Taiwan Jones, likely the same problem that landed him at Eastern Washington, is his size.  He is listed by Eastern Washington at 6'0'' and 200 pounds and while he is pretty close to 6'0'' (probably about 5'11'' and some change) he was probably playing around 185 to 190 pounds.  

This is the cause of the biggest knock on Jones which is his durability.  Jones had some fairly significant injuries each of the last three seasons which is a definite cause for concern, although it does make his productivity that much more impressive.

In his pre-draft workouts, Taiwan Jones has bulked up to about 195 pounds to try and assuage the worries of NFL teams that he would not be able to take the pounding required of an NFL running back.  

Whoever takes a chance on Taiwan Jones will be hoping that he can have an impact similar to that of Jamal Charles of the Kansas City Chiefs, which considering the skills he possess, is entirely within the realm of realistic possibilities.

2. Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Wide receiver Ronald Johnson #8 of the USC Trojans returns a kick off for 14 yards under pressure from Martez Wilson #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the Rose Bowl presented by Citi at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2008

First of all, Martez Wilson is an absolute freak of nature.  At 6'4'' and 250 pounds, Wilson turned in a 4.42 40 time at the NFL Combine.  

Wilson is explosive and a terror on opposing offenses.  With all that in mind, Wilson is projected to be a second round pick, which for a player of his caliber in a class of linebackers that outside of Von Miller is not overly strong, is a little bit shocking.

Most teams are scared off of considering Wilson in the first round because of a herniated disc he suffered in his neck during the season opener in 2009.  This has made Martez Wilson appear as somewhat of a one year wonder after turning in a stellar 2010 season, despite performing well as a true sophomore in 2008.  Aside from the herniated disc, Wilson has had no significant issues with injuries.

Another question mark some people have about Wilson stems from a couple of disciplinary incidents in 2008.  He was suspended for one game due to a violation of team rules and was involved in an altercation at a bar in two separate incidents in November and December of 2008.  However since then he has had no issues with either the law or team rules in the last two years which could very well indicate that Martez Wilson has learned from his mistakes.

The talent of Martez Wilson is overwhelming and the questions about him do not nearly justify the fact that he will be on the board after the first round.  Whoever drafts Wilson in round two will be getting an absolute steal.

1. Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State

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CHAPEL HILL, NC - OCTOBER 22: Christian Ponder #7 of the Florida State Seminoles throws a pass against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium on October 22, 2009 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

When it comes to quarterbacks, the 2011 draft has been dominated by four names: Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker and Ryan Mallett.  These four prospects have left all other quarterbacks seeking to get drafted left in the dark when its comes to media spotlight.

However, there is a quarterback who might hear his name called before at least one of the big four, and that quarterback is Christian Ponder.

Along with Jimbo Fisher, Christian Ponder deserves a lion's share of the credit for the recent revival of the Seminoles football program.  

Being the starting quarterback for the man that succeeded the legend Bobby Bowden was a position that came with loads of pressure and expectations and to Ponder's credit, he was able to deliver under pretty dramatic circumstances.  This led scouts to identify Ponder's greatest strength as his intangibles and as a quarterback, that is exactly where his greatest strength needs to be.

It would be easy to talk about the fact that Ponder was productive despite coaching changes, an inconsistent running game and spotty wide receiver play.  All of these things are true, and Ponder excelled in spite of them.  

It would also be easy to talk about how Ponder has durability issues and lacks the ideal height of an NFL quarterback.  These things are also true and are probably the reasons that Ponder is in the second tier of quarterback prospects.  

One thing trumps all of those factors though; Christian Ponder has the "it" factor that NFL teams desire in their quarterback more than anything else.  Ponder has enough arm strength to make all the throws and his accuracy is unquestioned, but those are just bonuses.  

The reason why Christian Ponder will be the biggest sleeper, and perhaps the best quarterback from the 2011 draft is because he has "it."