Stud or Dud? How Every New York Jets Rookie Will Fare During the 2011 Season

We are halfway through the preseason and with the NFL regular season ready to kick off in about two weeks, we can barely contain our excitement.

For the New York Jets, team expectations remain in familiar territory: Super Bowl or bust.

Rex Ryan has credited his team in the early going and has expressed his pleasure in how the team's offense has played thus far. Veterans and fan favorites have departed via free agency and retirement, and as the 2011 NFL draft unfolded, Ryan and the Jets front office did their part in selecting big-time talented prospects to fill the voids.

Let's take a look at the 2011 New York Jets rookies and see how vital they can be to a team striving to reach a third AFC championship in as many years.

1. Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple

Now that Shaun Ellis has elected to sign with rival New England, Muhammad Wilkerson's shoes to fill just got a whole lot bigger.

Early indications show a boat load of potential from the former Temple standout, who has been going hard against Pro Bowl offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson throughout camp. Wilkerson has registered a tackle in each of the team's first couple of preseason games; however he has not yet had any eye-popping plays.

Keep in mind, the Jets starters haven't spent much time on the field as a collective unit. Bart Scott, David Harris and Calvin Pace have all been held out for a period of time due to precautionary reasons. When all of the first-team defense is on the field, it should ease some of the pressure off Wilkerson and allow him to play without opposing defenses dialed in on him.

Jets fans hope to see Wilkerson step in as a solid linebacker from day one and make big plays early and often. If he can mesh well with a defense which has already proven to be elite, expect huge things from the youngster.

Verdict: Stud

2. Kenrick Ellis. DT, Hampton

By selecting defensive tackles with the team's first two picks, it's no secret that Rex Ryan wants fresher legs on the line and is going all-in on the young guns.

Along with Muhammad Wilkerson, Kenrick Ellis is ready to join fellow teammates Calvin Pace and Mike DeVito in attempt to revamp one of the league's top defensive fronts. Ellis has shown some promise thus far, already registering a deflected pass that ultimately led to an interception, and a tackle for loss through the Jets first two preseason games.

Both Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine have been impressed with what they've seen so far out of the rookie from Hampton. It's a shame Kris Jenkins couldn't stick around for a little while longer in order to help Ellis develop, as the two have pretty similar skill sets.

Ellis, though, still has a chance to learn from solid players such as Sione Pouha and DeVito, and should definitely take the advice as it comes. If all off-the-field issues are kept under wraps, expect Ellis to be an important piece to this very good Jets defense.

Verdict: Stud

3. Bilal Powell, RB, Louisville

Bilal Powell had a stellar senior season for Louisville in 2010, racking up 1,330 yards and 10 touchdowns while being awarded Big East first team honors.

Obviously, Mike Tannenbaum and the Jets front office were intrigued by Powell's durability and explosiveness. Unfortunately for Powell, he is featured on a depth chart that already includes Shonn Greene, LaDainian Tomlinson and Joe McKnight in front of him. 

Powell has been quite ineffective, barely playing any role thus far in the preseason. He is likely to do a lot of watching from the sideline this year, while Greene, Tomlinson and McKnight will be featured as the core focal points to the Jets running game. 

It wouldn't be fair to say that their is no hope for the former Louisville Cardinal, but Greene and McKnight are still young, and the coaching staff has made it known that they're the future of this football team's running attack.

Verdict: Dud

4. Jeremy Kerley, WR, TCU

After the lockout, when Brad Smith agreed to a four-year, $15 million contract with the Bills, he left the Jets in need of a spark plug and someone who can make big plays. Then came training camp.

Other then the Plaxico Burress signing and the making-fun-of Mark Sanchez-GQ pictures, the most-hyped story was the emergence of rookie wide receiver Jeremy Kerley.

We've heard offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer rave about the rookie and compliment his ability to make plays and pick up on all points quickly. Yes, the Jets receiving corps is old, but that only helps benefit a player like Kerley and allows him to take on as much knowledge about the game as possible.

Special teams coach Mike Westhoff is one of the best in the biz, and he will instantly plug Kerley in as the return man and allow him to be a key part to this Jets team. Out of all the Jets rookies, the former Horned Frog wideout has the potential to make the biggest impact on the field during the 2011 campaign.

Verdict: Stud

5. Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama

Which 2011 rookie quarterback has the highest QB rating through the first two preseason weeks? You betcha, Greg McElroy.

The former national champion has looked pretty sharp during his first couple of preseason stints with the Jets. If it weren't for a bad drop toward the end of the Texans game, McElroy would already have a comeback win under his belt. Well, a preseason comeback win at least.

McElroy has always been highly regarded as an intellectual individual; if that's the case, he should be embracing all advice that Mark Brunell has been passing down. Brunell is one of the more experienced backups in the league and will certainly help in the development phases for starter Mark Sanchez as well. 

Unless the Sanchize and Brunell go down at any point during the season, we can hardly expect to see McElroy getting much real-time action. Of course, that's not to say he won't have any significance for the team in the future. If early indications are a sign of things to come, the Jets staff ought to be happy with what they've seen so far.

Verdict: Check back in a few years down the line.

Scotty McKnight, WR, Colorado

With no disrespect to Scotty McKnight, a major reason why he was even drafted by the Jets was the mere fact that he is good friends with starting quarterback Mark Sanchez.

McKnight has created little to no buzz out of camp, and hasn't been productive at all during the preseason. Unfortunately for McKnight, it seems his options are either being cut by New York or attached to Mike Westhoff's leash as a slightly productive special teamer.

Verdict: Dud