College Football Predictions: Andrew Luck and the 10 Best Pac-12 Prospects
The new Pac-12 features some of the best talent that could be available in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Leading all prospects in the Pac-12 is Andrew Luck, who would likely have been the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft had he decided to leave Stanford.
Luck will look to avoid damaging his draft status this season like so many others have in similar situations (i.e., Jake Locker).
USC and the Pac-10 were known for producing some of the top NFL talent in the 2000s. In this decade, look for the Pac-12 to carry on that tradition beginning with the 2012 NFL Draft.
Some of the players I am including in this list are entering their third years of eligibility and may return to their schools next season, but many are likely to forgo their final seasons and enter the draft, so I will include them.
Here are the top 10 NFL prospects playing in the Pac-12 this season.
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10. LaMichael James: RB, Oregon
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LaMichael James is entering his junior year at Oregon and may decide to return for his senior year after the 2011 season, but should he decide to enter the NFL Draft, he will be one of the top prospects representing the Pac-12.
As a sophomore, James had one of the best seasons an Oregon running back has ever had. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist, a consensus All-American and one of the nation's leading rushers.
James set school records in single-season rushing (1,731 yards), points (144) and touchdowns (24), even after missing the first game of the season due to suspension. This season, he will likely continue his record-breaking trend as he's on pace to break records in career touchdowns and career points.
As a NFL prospect, James is undersized for an NFL running back at 5'9", 185 pounds. He will likely play the role of an all-purpose back at the next level, much like former Pac-10 standout Reggie Bush.
9. Ryan Miller: OG, Colorado
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Ryan Miller may be the one bright spot for the Colorado Buffaloes' football team.
Standing 6'8" and weighing 315 pounds, Miller possesses one of the most NFL ready bodies in all of the Pac-12.
Miller, who will be entering his fifth year at Colorado after taking a medical redshirt, could be the top offensive guard available in the 2012 NFL Draft.
In the last two seasons, he started every game with Colorado which shows durability, a trait that NFL teams like, especially in their offensive linemen.
In the last season alone, Miller had 80 knockdown blocks and was able to make his block at least 80 percent of the time in all but one game.
This season, Miller will need to demonstrate a stronger pass-blocking ability in order to maintain and improve his stock heading into the 2012 NFL Draft.
8. Chris Owusu: WR, Stanford
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Nagging injuries during the 2010 season, put a damper on Stanford wide receiver Chris Owusu's junior season. However, with wide receivers Doug Baldwin and Ryan Whalen gone, Owusu will be relied on to catch most of the passes for the Cardinal in 2011.
He will have the luxury of playing with another top NFL prospect, Andrew Luck, who will be throwing the ball to Owusu.
Owusu has all the physical tools to be a first-round draft pick in 2012. He has a big body for a receiver, standing 6'2" and weighing over 200 pounds, and has great hands.
He is a great route runner and possesses good enough speed to make him a great first or second option at receiver in the NFL.
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7. Matt Kalil: OT, USC
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Matt Kalil has been a highly-touted future NFL prospect since his days at Servite High School in California.
After coming to USC, he made waves when he forced Tyron Smith to make room for him at left tackle by moving to right tackle. Tyron Smith was the 11th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, so if that is any indication of where Kalil will end up, he is likely to be a first rounder.
He could stand to put a little more weight on his 6'6" frame, but Kalil possesses all the skills NFL scouts are looking for in a left tackle.
Nick Foles: QB, Arizona
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The Pac-12 has not been short of quarterbacks with NFL draft potential the last couple years, but this year may be the most loaded.
A big reason for that is Arizona quarterback Nick Foles.
The only roadblock that stood in his way his junior year was a dislocated knee that caused him to miss two games. Even without those two games, though, Foles had a great season.
He threw for 3,191, the third-best passing performance in school history. More impressive than that, though, Foles proved his leadership ability by leading the Wildcats to comeback victories against Iowa and Cal.
Foles is pretty close to the complete package, with an NFL arm, leadership ability and the intelligence required to learn a complex NFL offense.
5. Matt Barkley: QB, USC
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Matt Barkley has among the biggest upside out of any of the NFL prospect in the Pac-12.
Entering his junior year at USC, he has yet to reach his full potential. However, even while performing under his full potential, Barkley has been one of the most impressive quarterbacks in all of college football.
With two years as a starter already and heading into his third year, Barkley has all the experience NFL scouts are looking for in a college quarterback. Last season he had an incredible passer rating of 141.2 and threw for almost 2,800 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Barkley has all the tools to be a great quarterback at the next level, and he's only getting better.
4. Jonathan Martin: OT, Stanford
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Jonathan Martin is one of the top offensive line prospects for the 2012 NFL Draft, and how could he not be?
Martin has played a big role in Andrew Luck's success, allowing him to be sacked only nine times in the past two seasons. In 2010, the Stanford line, anchored by Martin, allowed the second-fewest sacks in the nation and allowed a young rushing attack to average more than 211 yards per game.
At 6'6" and weighing 305 pounds, Martin has solid size for an NFL tackle, although he can stand to improve his strength this year before possibly heading into the draft.
Being a three-year starter in the Pac-10/Pac-12 and being as technically sound as he is will go a long way in the NFL draft, should Martin decide to forgo his senior season and enter.
3. Juron Criner: WR, Arizona
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Juron Criner was another prospect that battled injury last year.
Arizona's Criner is one of the most talented receiver prospects in all of college football and is considered to be a sure first rounder in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Criner has all the physical ability needed to be an NFL wide receiver at 6'4" and weighing almost 220 pounds. He also possesses the athletic ability to create matchup problems for opposing defenses.
In 2010, he caught 82 passes for 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging over 15 yards per reception.
He's a gamer, too. Against Oregon, he had one of his best games, receiving for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
By season's end, Criner could move up and be in the conversation for best receiver available in the draft.
2. Vontaze Burfict: LB, Arizona State
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Vontaze Burfict has established himself as one of the most feared linebackers in the Pac-12 and one of the best 2012 NFL prospects in the country.
Burfict is the complete package physically: He has speed (4.5 40-yard dash), strength and agility.
With Arizona State gaining exposure this year, as the Sun Devils should be more competitive than in years past, Burfict's stock is only going to rise.
Look for the star linebacker to lead one of the best defenses in the country and improve on his 89 tackles and two forced fumbles from a year ago.
1. Andrew Luck: QB, Stanford
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The country's top NFL prospect from 2011 will also be the country's top NFL prospect for 2012.
When Andrew Luck decided to return to Stanford for his junior year of eligibility and his senior year of school, he raised a lot of eyebrows as doubters wondered if the risk was worth the reward.
As of now, his choice hasn't affected his draft status, but with his coach, Jim Harbaugh, gone as well as a few other key components, there's a chance that it could hurt him down the road.
No matter how Luck performs this year, though, he has demonstrated that he has the ability to be a Pro- Bowl quarterback at the next level.
In 2010, Luck threw for 3,338 yards and 32 touchdowns while only giving up eight interceptions. In his career, he has thrown for almost 6,000 yards, 45 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions.
Don't expect Luck to let up this year, and look for his name to be called with the first or second pick in the 2012 NFL Draft (let's hope the lockout is over by then).
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