Just after bowl games come to an end, the real beginning of the “Draft” season comes. And as we’ve seen in year’s past and what is likely in this upcoming draft is that the juniors and redshirt-sophomores that declare for the draft have a major impact on the whole draft, with the first round in particular.
We end with the two Auburn studs leaping to NFL in Cam Newton and Nick Fairley, a playmaker from Kentucky, and a surprise third Auburn player that probably should have waited another year.
So ,in our final update of the Tracker, here is our 2011 NFL Draft Underclassmen Declaring Tracker.
| Player | Proj. Round | Verdict | Notes |
| Jurrell Casey, DT, USC | 1st-2nd | Good Move | Lackluster DT crop,versatile and athletic |
| Tyron Smith, OT, USC | Top 10 | Good Move | Very athletic, only LT in this class so far |
| Vidal Hazelton, WR, Cincinnati | 6th-UN | Undecided | Transfer, injuries killed career, no other option |
| DeAndre Brown, WR, Southern Miss | 2nd-3rd | OK Move | Hard for stock to rise, 2011 would’ve helped |
| Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland | 2nd-3rd | Good Move | New coach, young team, and he’s a playmaker |
| Aaron Williams, CB, Texas | 2nd-3rd | OK Move | Played well in ’10, 1st rounder in 2012 probably |
| Shane Vereen, RB, California | 2nd-3rd | Good Move | Not great this year, risky to stick around though |
| Jordan Todman, RB, Uconn | 2nd-3rd | Good Move | Lot of carries, teams worry about punishment |
| Tori Gurley, WR, South Carolina | 6th-UN | Bad Move | Helped by Jeffery opposite him, not NFL ready |
| Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri | Top 10 | Good Move | We thought he was a Top 10 guy all year, #1 QB? |
| Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana | 6th-UN | Bad Move | Kevin Wilson as coach could’ve helped |
| Brandon Burton, CB, Utah | 2nd-3rd | Good Move | Good size, instincts, could rise up boards |
| Akeem Ayers, ILB, UCLA | 1st-2nd | Good Move | The draft’s top LB, could be as high as Top 15 |
| Brenden Harris, CB, Miami (FL) | 1st-2nd | Good Move | Quick, good speed, struggles with bigger WRs |
| Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame | 2nd-3rd | Undecided | Out all ’10 with an injury, has to show he’sv100% |
| Muhammed Wilkerson, DT, Temple | 3rd-5th | OK Move | Great length, great 3-4 DE fit, HC Golden’s gone |
| DaQuan Bowers, DE, Clemson | Top 10 | Good Move | One of the best athletes in draft, as high as #1 |
| Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech | 1st-2nd | Good Move | Can’t knock a RB leaving after 2 great years |
| JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin | 1st-2nd | OK Move | High motor, athletic, plays physical |
| Darren Evans, RB, Virginia Tech | 3rd-5th | Bad Move | Could have benefited at 100%, without Williams |
| Thomas Keiser, OLB, Stanford | 5th-7th | Bad Move | Luck stays, average linebacker leaves; Strange |
| Marcell Dareus, DE, Alabama | Top 20 | Good Move | Not as high on him as others, but he’s Top 10 |
| Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas | Top 20 | Good Move | Struggled in the clutch, a 1st rounder; Top QB? |
| Zach Farr, DE, Virginia | 6th-UN | Bad Move | Only 2 sacks in 2010, not NFL ready |
| Rahim Moore, S, UCLA | 1st-2nd | Good Move | One of the top safeties, UCLA defense was bad |
| Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh | 3rd-5th | OK Move | Subpar ’10, but had a lot of carries in 2 years |
| Robert Sands, S, West Virginia | 3rd-5th | OK Move | Rangy and talented, hips, instincts need work |
| John Clay, RB, Wisconsin | 3rd-5th | Good Move | Won’t be a high pick, great power back |
| Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri | 2nd-3rd | OK Move | Could’ve improved in ’11, outstanding talent |
| AJ Green, WR, Georgia | Top 10 | Good Move | Larry Fitzgerald type impact, could be Top 3 |
| Lawrence Guy, DT, Arizona | 2nd-3rd | Good Move | Got lost at times, could be 3-4 DE in NFL |
| Martez Wilson, ILB, Illinois | 3rd-5th | OK Move | Played well, character issues will worry teams |
| Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia | 1st-2nd | Good Move | Was a pleasant surprise, 3-4 rusher, 1st round? |
| Mikel LeShore, RB, Illinois | 1st-2nd | Good Move | Very impressive, Rashard Mendenhall #2? |
| Henry Hynoski, FB, Pittsburgh | 5th-7th | OK Move | Rare for a FB, but he’s very impressive, maybe #1 |
| Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State | 3rd-5th | OK Move | Thought he’d stay with brother, size hurts |
| Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois | 3rd-5th | Bad Move | Isn’t ready yet, a lot could change with workouts |
| Stevan Ridley, RB, LSU | 4th-6th | OK Move | Decent year, good talent, had quite a few carries |
| Sealver Siligi, DT, Utah | 6th-UN | Bad Move | Late round prospect at best, hope he had a reason |
| Nick Claytor, OT, Georgia Tech | 5th-7th | Bad Move | Needed another year to develop, zone blocker |
| Tyler Sash, S, Iowa | 3rd-5th | OK Move | Playmaker in college, lock to be great STer |
| Will Hill, S, Florida | 2nd-3rd | OK Move | Inconsistent all year, could have used 2011 year |
| Cam Newton, QB, Auburn | Top 20 | Good Move | Questions about eligibility are reason enough |
| Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn | Top 10 | Good Move | Came out of nowhere this year, # 1 overall? |
| Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky | 2nd-3rd | Good Move | Playmaker, think Percy Harvin plus Brad Smith |
| Will Hill, S, Florida | 2nd-3rd | Bad Move | A year with Will Muschamp could have helped |
| Darvin Adams, WR, Auburn | 4th-6th | Bad Move | Team’s leading receiver, still not NFL ready |
| Jerrard Tarrant, S, Georgia Tech | 5th-7th | Bad Move | Questionable call, good talent, not developed |
| Taiwan Jones, RB, Eastern Washington | 3rd-5th | OK Move | Productive, talented, but FCS Jrs are rare |
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
