2011 NFL Draft: 10 Prospects You Should Root for on Draft Day

Many fans follow the draft hoping for the best players and the best fits to fall to their teams. Talent, "sexiness" as a prospect, and what fans feel a team needs are what many NFL followers look for in their teams' draft picks.

But outside of rooting for your favorite team to grab Julio Jones or Da'Qaun Bowers, there are some prospects who have high character, underdog roles, or who have overcome injuries. They are feel good stories and guys who, if they succeed in the NFL, should be ideal role models for now and in the future for the NFL.

JJ Watt, Defensive End, Wisconsin

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Defensive lineman J.J. Watt #99 of the Wisconsin Badgers rushes the TCU Horned Frogs in the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

A former Central Michigan Chippewa, Watt decided that the best opportunity for him as a football player would be to leave Central Michigan and walk on at a bigger football school, Wisconsin.

It was a bold move going from scholarship athlete to unfunded practice-squad player, but Watt proved that he made the right decision. Watt went from borderline-roster player to the team's top NFL Draft prospect in just two years, and he has proved that work ethic can lead to success.

Sam Acho, Defensive End, Texas

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AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 25: Running back Cyrus Gray #32 of Texas A&M holds off University of Texas defensive end Sam Acho #81 during the second half at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/

An extremely bright, smart, well-educated, upstanding person, Sam Acho is clearly going to succeed in life regardless of whether it's on the field, as a coach, in someway related to football, or in any other venture he decides to embark on.

Acho has 3-4 outside linebacker rushing ability in the NFL and I think he has the football IQ and quickness to play in the NFL as a starter, but I'll be sure to follow Acho whether he sticks in the NFL or not.

Brandon Fusco, Center, Slippery Rock

It's always fun for fans to latch on the small-school prospect bandwagon because almost everyone loves to root for the little guy. However, some small-school NFL Draft prospects end up at those little schools because of red flags for teams. But I can't speak for other non-character concerning small-school prospects,

I have met the quick-learning, humble center prospect out of small Slippery Rock University named Brandon Fusco, who may not only be high in the small-school ranking, but among the best three or four at his position in this draft.

Greg Romeus, Defensive End, Pittsburgh

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LOUISVILLE, KY - OCTOBER 02: Adam Froman #9 of the Louisville Cardinals is sacked by Greg Romeus #91 of the Pittsburgh Panthers during the Big East Conference game at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on October 2, 2009 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by An

Romeus likely could have been a top 20 pick had he declared for the draft last year, but he returned to Pittsburgh to both finish his college education and further boost his draft stock for this year's draft.

But after two major injuries in the preseason and shortly after his return, teams are now very concerned with his potential longevity as an NFL prospect. A prototypical 4-3 defensive end in body shape, Romeus is still a hard working, humble prospect who deserves to get healthy and get his shot as an NFL prospect.

Bruce Carter, Outside Linebacker, North Carolina

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CHAPEL HILL, NC - NOVEMBER 13: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies is tackled by Bruce Carter #54 and teammate Jared McAdoo #97 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

With the North Carolina football program being in a state of turmoil this year with many suspensions handed out, a player who got lost in the transition for many is outside linebacker Bruce Carter. He showed first-round athletic ability in the past, but suffered a major knee injury early in the season and was out for the whole year.

So far, reports are that he should make a recovery and be ready for the early-to-middle part of his rookie year. Not a character issue at all unlike many of the suspended North Carolina Tar Heels, this humble talent could be worth the risk on draft day.

Graig Cooper, Running Back, Miami (Fla.)

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MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 9: Graig Cooper #2 of the Miami Hurricanes runs with the ball and eludes the tackloe of Lamarcus Joyner #20 of the Florida State Seminoles on October 9, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

He was one of the best prospects coming out of high school and hyped as the next great Miami running back. However, after a devastating knee injury that left significant damage and limited his potential as a runner for the future, Cooper's NFL dreams were put on hold as he took over a year away from the game to recover.

While he's no longer a highly-coveted prospect, his rehab has gone about as well as it could have, and despite having an injury that could have ended his football career, he still has a very good chance to get drafted.

Mark Herzlich, Outside Linebacker, Boston College

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CHESTNUT HILL, MA - SEPTEMBER 04: Mark Herzlich #94 of the Boston College Eagles blocks Erik Walker #83 of the Weber State Wildcats on September 4, 2010 at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Boston College defeated Weber State 38-20. (Photo

Surviving cancer treatment is something no one who has never gone through it can ever full grasp on its struggles and how it impacts the mind and body combined. However, it's almost inconceivable to not only recover from the cancer that Mark Herzlich had, but also to return to play a spot at a very high level after only a little over a year.

Herzlich steadily got better, more in shape, and back into the football groove over the course of the season, and though he still isn't back to his pre-cancer treatment level, it's hard to not root for your team to pick him in the middle or late in draft.

Danny Watkins, Offensive Guard, Baylor

Watkins slowly moved up draft boards this year, as he went from a raw, out-of-place left tackle to a quick-footed, athletic guard or right tackle prospect who now is likely to be picked in the top 40. A former firefighter, Watkins started football later than most NFL Draft prospects and will be the oldest potential draft pick in this draft.

Still a humble, well-spoken, hard-working talent, Watkins optimizes on and off the field, as a football and non-football prospect who teams and fans embrace once they succeed in the NFL.

Colin Kaepernick, Nevada and Greg McElroy, Alabama

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Greg McElroy #12 of the Alabama Crimson Tide smiles after winning the Capitol One Bowl against the Michigan State Spartans at the Florida Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

I've put these two prospects together because they both have qualities that actually did impact my scouting report. Greg McElroy, a finalist for a Rhodes scholarship, has better football skills and football IQ than he gets credit for.

When I spoke with him in Mobile, Alabama, he was always working with the fans, signing autographs, and still making time to talk to everyone who wanted a piece of him, as well as NFL teams. He's got media-favorite written all over him if he ever becomes a starter in the NFL.

Colin Kaepernick is being looked at as a first-round quarterback, but much of that isn't because of his NFL readiness. I've gotten a chance to talk to every quarterback in my top 10 except Ryan Mallett and Cam Newton (neither of whom I've heard have top-notch intangibles), and there isn't another quarterback who has his type of contagious personality, leadership ability, humbleness yet confidence, and willingness to learn and be coachable that Kaepernick has.

He'll need a lot of work in the NFL. Based on his on-the-field ability, he is probably a second or third-round prospect, but if you believe in the "it" factor in quarterbacks, I'm pretty sure Colin Kaepernick has "it."