College Football 2011: 50 Players Whose NFL Draft Stock Has Plummeted the Most

With the regular season wrapping up, the upcoming holiday festivities inevitably will include a generous buffet of bowl games capped off with a dessert cart that features the BCS cash pie.

And what’s next for the college football aficionado?

Well, besides reconnecting with our spouses and family members we first have national signing day and then the NFL draft.

Yes, that sad yet intriguing day when we bid farewell to the heroes of the collegiate gridiron is literally just around the corner, which may cause us to pause briefly to consider where our valiant warriors will land in the lucrative pro market.

In the spirit of looking forward to this event, the following slideshow presents 50 current college athletes who have lost value in terms of their stock rating in the 2012 NFL draft.

The scale slides from the guys in the early portion of our presentation who have only dropped ever so slightly to the later slides, where athletes have plunged down the charts considerably.

The reasons for the drifts downward are as varied as the players themselves—a poor performance in 2011, injuries and/or a team that was expected to be a contender and tanked.  

Alternatively, and perhaps the most common cause of a drop, is the ever changing needs of the NFL teams themselves.

50. Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State, G

Osemele is a 6’5”, 347-pound offensive guard who prior to the season was expected to go late in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.

Osemele’s stock has dropped only slightly due to problems with an ankle injury that he initially suffered in fall camp and then re-injured in October.

49. Stephen Good, Oklahoma, G

Once considered a possible late third-round pick in the 2012 draft, Good’s recent troubles with the law will no doubt cool down excitement over the 6’4”, 305-pound senior, who is now projected to go in the fifth round.

48. Nick Foles, Arizona, QB

Foles was predicted to go in the middle of the second round of the 2012 NFL draft as the 2011 season began but has dropped in many mock-ups to the middle of the third round.

Foles’ numbers in terms of total yardage and QB rating in 2011 actually are career highs (he also had an all-time number in attempts), but the Wildcats 3-8 record has hurt Foles’ draft stock.

47. Coryell Judie, Texas A&M, CB

Coryell Judie was expected to go in the late second round of the 2012 NFL draft early in the season but a hamstring injury suffered approximately half way through the year kept him sidelined for much of 2011. 

This injury, combined with the fact that the Aggies' pass defense has been ranked among the worst in the country all season, has dropped Judie’s projected spot to the third round.

46. Mark Barron, Alabama, SS

Mark Barron is another guy who has slipped only slightly from his late first-round spot in the 2012 draft (he is ranked as the best strong safety in the class of ’12) by virtue of a nagging injury (pectoral) that may ultimately cost him a few spots.

45. Billy Winn, Boise State, DT

Winn is a 6’3”, 300-pound DE/DT who was projected to be drafted in the middle of the second round of the 2012 draft.

What may cost Winn a few slots in the draft is the fact that Boise State’s 2011 defense hasn’t quite played at the ferocious level it did in 2010; the 2010 Bronco defense ranked No. 3 nationally, while the 2011 edition dropped to No. 27 in the national ranking.

44. Kheeston Randall, Texas, DT

Kheeston Randall just simply hasn’t had the senior season that some expected.

Randall had 22 solo tackles in 2010, a number that dropped to only eight this season and includes only one half of a sack on the year.

Randall was mocked-up in the second round when the season began and is now in the area of a mid-third-round selection in many projections.

43. Jake Bequette, Arkansas, DE

Despite having an outstanding finish to the 2011 season, a hamstring injury cost Bequette some draft momentum; he entered the season projected in the early third round and is now predicted to go in the fourth or fifth round.

42. Andrew Datko, Florida State, OT

Datko is considered the best offensive lineman on the 2011 Seminole team, but a serious shoulder injury has cost him both playing time and higher consideration in the 2012 draft.

41. Chase Minnifield, Virginia, CB

Some folks had Minnifield going late in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft coming into this season, and despite the Cavaliers' late surge, it seems unlikely that he will land above a solid second round showing.

40. Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State, G/T

Adcock is a 6’5”, 322-pound offensive lineman who, coming into the 2011 season, was predicted to go somewhere in the first part of the third round of the 2012 NFL draft.

Though the Cowboys’ O-line has only allowed 11 sacks all season, it’s realistic to think that their late loss and possible drop out of the BCS picture will cost Adcock a few slots in the upcoming draft.

Adcock is a quality player, and any deficits should be minimal.

39. Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State, LB

If junior linebacker Burfict comes out as expected, he should go somewhere early in the first half of the first round of the 2011 draft.

Burfict is a beast, and despite his five sacks and one pick in 2011, the late demise of Arizona State may cost him a top 10 spot and cause a drop to the neighborhood of the mid teens.

38. Juron Criner, Arizona, WR

Juron Criner’s multiple injuries in 2011 (knee and toe) combined with Arizona’s historic struggles this season, have dropped his draft stock from a late second-round pick to a projected fifth-round selection.

37. Ryan Lindley, San Diego State, QB

Ryan Lindley’s overall production dropped off in his senior season at SDSU.

Lindley is on track for his lowest season yards, completion rate and QB rating in his brilliant four-year career under center as an Aztec.

Despite all this statistical evidence, Lindley’s draft position looks to have only dropped from a late third-round pick to one somewhere in the fourth round.

36. Matt Reynolds, BYU, OT

Recently suffering a hand injury, coming into the season Reynolds was predicted to go late in the second round and now is projected as a fourth or fifth-round pick.

35. Brandon Jenkins, Florida State, DE/LB

Though it’s still questionable whether Jenkins will enter the 2012 draft or return for a final season in Tallahassee, he started the season as a late first-round pick projection and has dropped to a second-round selection in recent mock-ups.

34. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame, WR

Coming into the 2011 season, hopes were high for both Michael Floyd and his Notre Dame squad.

Coming out of the 2011 campaign, the Irish are 8-5 and Floyd’s once top-20 draft projection has dropped to the very bottom of the first round.

33. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama, CB

Another superb athlete who is questionable in terms of coming back for his senior year, Kirkpatrick came into the season as a top-five pick in the 2012 draft in September, while more recent projections have him close to No. 20.

32. David Paulson, Oregon, TE

David Paulson’s third-round draft projection coming into the 2011 season has dropped considerably to a fourth or fifth-round pick as of the latest round of mock-ups.

After a career high junior season, Paulson missed a couple of contests this season and is shy by about 150 yards of his output from 2010.

31. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina, WR

If Alshon Jeffery opts to come out for the 2012 NFL draft, he’ll do so amid the backdrop of projections that was top three in September and have bottomed out near No. 20 in recent forecasts.

The truth is Jeffery would be a gold mine for whoever called his number, whether in 2012 or 2013, but his stock has certainly dropped for this specific season.

30. Nigel Bradham, Florida State, ILB

Despite the fact that Florida State’s defense improved as the 2011 season went on, Bradham’s draft stock has dropped from the early third round to a fourth-round projection.

Bradham’s entire statistical resume has taken a bit of a hit in 2011 vs. 2010, with a sizeable decrease in total tackles (92 to 77) and sacks (five to two).

29. Kenny Tate, Maryland, S

After a ferocious start to his 2011 season, an injury cost Tate the remainder of his senior year, forcing him to watch from the sideline as his Terrapins dropped eight straight games to finish 2-10.

Many folks had Tate going early in the second round of the 2012 draft, but this forecast has dropped into the neighborhood of an early third-round pick in more recent projections.

28. Jared Crick, Nebraska, DT

Jared Crick lost most of his senior season to a torn pectoral muscle, which has also seemingly hurt his high early season draft projection.

Crick was considered a top-15 pick in September, but prognosticators have cooled to a late first round or early second-round selection in the latest rounds of forecasts.

Crick is another guy who should be a very solid player for whoever is lucky enough to call his number in the pros.

27. Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M, RB

The Aggies' dismal 2011 showing—relative to strong indicators that this would be their breakout season—have seemingly combined with a late injury to drop Cyrus Gray’s draft stock from an early third-round selection to a possible pick in the early fourth segment.

Gray suffered a stress fracture in his shoulder in A&M’s win over Kansas and did not play in the finale against Texas.

26. Donnie Fletcher, Boston College, CB

Back in the early part of the 2011 season Donnie Fletcher was a strong prospect for a late second-round NFL draft selection and has since dropped to a late third or fourth-round pick.

Fletcher’s overall production was down in his senior season vs. 2010 in terms of tackles (56 to 35) and interceptions (five to two), and this combined with a disappointing 4-8 finish for BC has to at least have something to do with the stock plunge.

25. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State, QB

Despite the second consecutive 10-plus win season for the Spartans with Cousins under center, his draft stock seems to be slipping as the year finishes up.

Cousins was projected to be an early third-round prospect in September, but in the latest round of mock-ups, expectations have lowered to the late third or early fourth round.

Much of Cousins' success in the upcoming draft will no doubt have to do with how the QBs rated above him fare in the earlier rounds.

24. Ben Jones, Georgia, C

Ben Jones was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week in both Week 10 and Week 11 this season, and Georgia’s rising star and the subsequent opportunity for Bulldogs to participate in two additional games should help Jones and other Dawgs in the draft.

But, despite all the logic Jones’ own personal stock has dropped from a solid late second- round selection to somewhere in the neighborhood of the late third.

23. Travis Lewis, Oklahoma, OLB

Travis Lewis’ statistical resume is indicative of Oklahoma’s relative defensive struggles in 2011 (especially in pass coverage).

In 2010, Lewis registered 109 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and three picks, while in 2011 he has managed 71 tackles, zero sacks and only one INT through 11 games.

Lewis was anticipated to be a mid to late first-round pick in the 2012 draft, and as the season has played out, his numbers have dropped to a mid-second-round or early third-round selection.

22. Stephon Gillmore, South Carolina, CB

Though it’s still not completely known if Gillmore will opt to miss out on his senior year at South Carolina and enter the 2012 draft, his stock has cooled from early season projections.

In September, some projections had Gillmore has high as a top-15 pick, but more recent forecasts have him as an early second-round selection.

Gillmore basically wasn’t able to enjoy the same statistical success in 2011 that he did in 2010 (at least in terms of total tackles and sacks), which may prod him to stick around for one more season with the Gamecocks.

21. DeVier Posey, Ohio State, WR

After being slapped with a five-game suspension for being a member of the now infamous “tat five,” Posey was given an additional five-game suspension in 2011 for allegedly being overcompensated for summer work.

As a result, Posey didn’t make his senior season debut until November 19 vs. Penn State and will only see a three-game season if the Buckeyes go bowling.

Posey was an early third-round projection coming into the 2011 season, and this number has crashed to at least a late third-round selection in the most recent forecasts.

20. Mike Brewster, Ohio State, C

At 6’5” and 293 pounds, Mike Brewster is a beast who just so happens to be graduating from Ohio State in the wrong year.

Brewster’s draft stock has suffered from the Buckeye’s on and off field challenges, and what was a late first-round/early second-round forecast has slumped considerably to a late third- round and possibly fourth-round forecast.

19. Ray Ray Armstrong, Miami, S

Before missing five games due to the pending scandal at Miami, Armstrong looked to be a strong early second-round projection for the 2012 NFL draft.

After a 6-6 season and the Hurricanes relinquishing any bowl hopes, it seems that Armstrong may hang on for another season in Coral Gables, giving him time to reprove his prowess in the secondary.

If Armstrong does opt to come out in 2012, he’s presently looking at a third-round selection.

18. Julian Miller, West Virginia, DE/OLB

Some early season projections had Miller going as high as the late second-round in the upcoming draft, but after the Mountaineers' spotty play this season, his stock has dropped from anywhere to the fourth or fifth round.

Though the latest draft projections came as recently as last week, Miller’s perceived value may be back on the rise after registering a blistering four sacks in last Friday’s 10 sack 21-20 win over Pitt.

17. Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M, WR

Jeff Fuller is another draft stock victim of the Aggies' unsavory 2011 season.

Fuller was once a strong late first/early second-round projection and now languishes as a third or fourth-round pick in the latest mock-ups.

Injuries and inconsistent play have cost Fuller, who is definitely a candidate for the top 20 in terms of plummeting stock values.

16. Michael Egnew, Missouri, TE

Egnew really lost ground from last season due to a dip in production that can at least somewhat be credited to QB Blaine Gabbert going pro after the 2010 campaign.

Egnew was projected as a late first/early second-round pick coming into the 2011 season and has fallen to a third-round selection in many recent forecasts.

15. Nate Potter, Boise State, OT

At 6’6”, 298 pounds the beastly Nate Potter was once considered by some as a strong candidate to break into the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.

Speed forward to more recent projections and Potter’s stock has plunged to the late second/early third-round, which is due in part to the fact Boise State hasn’t looked as dominant in 2011.

14. Ryan Miller, Colorado, G/T

Despite being an early season candidate for the Lombardi Award, Ryan Miller’s draft stock has dropped right alongside the fortunes of the Colorado 2011 football team.

In early September, Miller’s name was mentioned as a late second-round prospect, and after a year pock marked with injuries and losses, he is now considered a candidate for the fourth round.

The slump might at least be partially credited to the fact that the Buffaloes rank No. 95 nationally in sacks allowed in 2011.

13. Eddie Whitley, Virginia Tech, FS

Though not near the high profile draftee as others on our list, Eddie Whitley came into the 2011 season carrying a late third-round projection that has fallen off to a fifth-round forecast.

12. Cliff Harris, Oregon, FS/PR

Cliff Harris’ 2011 season began with loads of promise and ended with a heap of sanctions that ultimately cost him most of his junior season.

Harris is doubtful for the 2012 draft and will likely stick around in Eugene for another chance to prove himself.

If Harris does come out, he’s likely to have dropped from his early season first-round projection to somewhere late in the second or early in the third round.

11. Jerel Worthy, Michigan State, DE/DT

Jerel Worthy is yet another junior who came into 2011 with high draft hopes but finished out the season with a fall that may cause him to rethink his decision about the timing of his coming out party.

Worthy was projected to go as high as No. 14 in early season forecasts, but he has dropped to a late second-round pick in recent mocks.

10. Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech, CB

A combination of injury and draft stock devaluation may make Jayron Hosely the next guy who holds over his 2012 draft hopes until 2013.

Hosley entered the season as a solid first-round contender and has slumped to a late second/third-round prospect as the 2011 season closes out.

9. LaMichael James, Oregon, RB

After two significant injuries to the same elbow, will LaMicheal James opt to stick around in Eugene for his senior season?

If he doesn’t, he’s looking at what was at one time a late first-round pick who has dropped to a projected selection late in the third round.

8. Chris Owusu, Stanford, WR

In September, Chris Owusu’s name appeared in the early third-round range in several different mock drafts.

Despite a productive senior season, Oswusu’s concussion woes have his stock free falling to the neighborhood of the sixth round.

7. Andre Branch, Clemson, DE/LB

Andre Branch’s draft stock has fluctuated like the NYSE in 2011.

Branch came into the season as a strong late first-round projection, plummeted to the third round and has come back late to become a second-round contender.

The stats are hard to ignore…67 total tackles (29 solo) and 8.5 sacks, all career highs.

It’s hard to see Branch going lower than the second round, but with this kind of flux, anything could happen.

6. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma, WR

Just after Ryan Broyles set the record for NCAA career receptions, he suffered a knee injury that cost him the end of his senior season and a high projection in the 2012 NFL draft.

Broyles entered the 2011 season with realistic first-round aspirations that have been dashed all the way to the depths of the third round.

5. George Bryan, NC State, TE

After very productive sophomore and junior seasons, where he averaged 400 yards of receiving, TE George Bryan managed only 223 yards in 2011.

Bryan started the season with a late third-round projection, which has been downgraded to a round six or seven forecast, but his drop may be more about his questionable ability to produce in the pro ranks than his reduced output in 2011.

4. Tank Carder, TCU, OLB

Some prognosticators had Carder as high as a late second-round pick coming into the 2011 season, and despite a productive senior year, Carder’s current stock has dipped as low as the fifth round.

Carder registered two pick-sixes during the 2011 regular season.

3. Greg Childs, Arkansas, WR

Greg Childs is yet another player who suffered an injury in 2011 that cost him more than playing time.

Childs marched into the current season with an early second-round projection, and after a knee injury, he limps towards the draft forecasted to go in the fifth round.

2. Vince Browne, Northwestern, DE

After capturing Second Team All Big Ten honors in 2010, Vince Browne came into the 2011 year with a realistic chance to find the early part of the third round.

A nagging knee injury and a disappointing year for the Wildcats helped Browne’s draft stock free fall all the way to the bottom of the draft barrel…the seventh round.

1. Tydreke Powell, North Carolina, DT

Tydreke Powell stormed into the 2011 season on several award watch lists and was expected to dominate.

Twelve weeks later Powell and the Tar Heels have struggled to the point that his once late second-round draft hopes have plummeted all the way to the basement of the seventh round.