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http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2010-05-05-2011-nfl-draft-prospects_N.htm
Enlarge By Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images
Washington's Jake Locker is one of the highest-rated 2011 NFL draft prospects, one year out from the selection meeting.
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By Chad Reuter, Special to USA TODAY
Eighty-two prospects rated in the top 100 by NFLDraftScout.com heading into the 2010 NFL draft were taken in the first 100 selections. Of the 255 drafted overall, 207 were rated among the top 255.
That type of accuracy requires year-round scouting and analysis. Film study begins in early May, and National Football Scouting and BLESTO, the two scouting services most NFL teams use, have meetings before the Memorial Day weekend to go through an initial list of more than 1,000 prospects.
Here are the rising seniors that NFLDraftScout.com currently ranks as the top 32 prospects — or projected first-rounders — for the 2011 draft (listed with position, school, height and weight):
1. Marvin Austin
DT, North Carolina, 6-3, 305: Highly recruited out of high school, he is finally becoming the quick but strong three-technique pass rusher everyone expected to see.
2. Cameron Heyward
DE-DT, Ohio State, 6-6, 287: Ironhead Heyward's son is another elite 3-4 defensive end prospect, and 4-3 teams might consider him athletic enough to play strongside end.
3. Gabe Carimi
T, Wisconsin, 6-7, 325: Replaced Joe Thomas at left tackle as a redshirt freshman and looks to be on pace to be the next Badgers lineman taken in the first round.
4. Adrian Clayborn
DE, Iowa, 6-3, 282: Punching cab drivers won't help his draft status. But his strong, relentless play late in 2009 made him an instant favorite among scouts.
5. Jake Locker
QB, Washington, 6-3, 226: An exceptional athlete who could be the No. 1 overall pick if he makes as much progress with his accuracy and reading of defenses as he did in 2009.
6. Stephen Paea
DT, Oregon State, 6-1, 288: A strong man with a good motor, so his relative lack of size shouldn't dissuade teams from picking him high.
7. Prince Amukamara
CB, Nebraska, 6-1, 200: The first-team all-Big 12 pick improved throughout last season and has prototypical size, physicality and ball skills.
8. Allen Bailey
DT-DE, Miami (Fla.), 6-4, 288: The versatile college lineman who led the Hurricanes with seven sacks a year ago is likely to intrigue 3-4 teams as a prototypical five-technique defensive end in a 3-4 defense.
9. Nate Solder
OT, Colorado, 6-9, 305: Has the length and lateral movement to man the crucial left tackle post in the NFL.
10. Bruce Carter
OLB, North Carolina, 6-3, 225: An exceptional athlete whose production dipped a bit in 2009, but he could explode as a pass rusher and impress at the scouting combine.
11. Greg Romeus
DE, Pittsburgh, 6-5, 270: Length off the edge will endear him to 4-3 teams needing pass-rush help.
12. Christian Ponder
QB, Florida State, 6-3, 218: Was on his way up draft boards with his moxie and physical tools before separating his throwing shoulder. A strong comeback in 2010 should equal first-round status.
13. Greg Jones
ILB, Michigan State, 6-1, 224: Undersized but extremely active defender, not dissimilar to 2010 Atlanta Falcons first-round pick Sean Weatherspoon.
14. Ras-I Dowling
CB, Virginia, 6-2, 200: Former Cavaliers corner Chris Cook was a second-round pick this year, but Dowling was the player opponents didn't want to throw at because of his receiver-like ball skills.
15. Jerrell Powe
DT, Mississippi, 6-2, 340: Though it took him time to get to Oxford because of academic issues, he now uses his strength and explosiveness to school foes in the Southeastern Conference.
16. Evan Royster
RB, Penn State, 6-1, 213: A nice combination of power, speed, vision and receiving skills for a league that loves versatility.
17. Mike Pouncey
C, Florida, 6-5, 320: His twin brother, Maurkice, left the Gators early for the NFL and went to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round. But Mike stayed behind to help protect quarterback John Brantley in the post-Tim Tebow era.
18. Anthony Castonzo
OT, Boston College 6-7, 295: A tall left tackle with better strength than you'd expect given his lean frame.
19. Von Miller
OLB, Texas A&M, 6-3, 240: Got on the radar as a 3-4 pass rusher with 17 sacks as a junior, and another year of strength and conditioning can only add to his all-around ability on the edge.
20. Deunta Williams
FS, North Carolina, 6-2, 205: The former receiver is heading into his fourth year as a starter. He's still got a wideout's hands, as evidenced by his 12 career interceptions.
21. Sam Acho
DE-OLB, Texas, 6-3, 260: Ten sacks in 2009 is just the start as he tries to follow Brian Orakpo and Sergio Kindle. Acho's strength and athleticism should produce a monster 2010 campaign.
22. Rodney Hudson
G, Florida State, 6-2, 290: He is not the largest lineman but is good on the move and plays with excellent leverage.
23. DeMarco Murray
RB, Oklahoma, 6-0, 214: Dynamic at times as a runner and receiver, but a strong 2010 season is needed to make scouts rate him as more than just a perimeter back.
24. DeAndre McDaniel
SS, Clemson, 6-1, 210: The elite high school recruit made his mark for the Tigers with eight interceptions in 2009.
25. Kendric Burney
CB, North Carolina, 5-9, 182: Though he's small, his toughness and playmaking ability probably make him at least a second-round pick, similar to ex-Wake Forest star Alphonso Smith, who went to the Denver Broncos in Round 2 in 2009.
26. Lee Ziemba
OT, Auburn, 6-8, 310: Stepped in at right tackle as a true freshman and just might do the same in the NFL at left tackle, where he earned second-team all-SEC honors in 2009.
27. Jason Pinkston
OT, Pittsburgh, 6-4, 305: The first-team all-Big East left tackle doesn't have elite size but earns high marks for his aggressiveness and footwork.
28. Weslye Saunders
TE, South Carolina, 6-5, 280: Great size and receiving skills will create mismatches. Watch for a huge year if quarterback Stephen Garcia becomes more consistent.
29. Stefen Wisniewski
C, Penn State, 6-3, 298: A nephew of Steve Wisniewski, an eight-time Pro Bowler in his 13 years with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, Stefen is tough, durable and athletic and has top-50 pick written all over him, even if he doesn't go in Round 1.
30. Pat Devlin
QB, Delaware, 6-4, 220: Teams won't sleep on the next Joe Flacco, as the Penn State transfer looks the part of a future NFL starter.
31. Armon Binns
WR, Cincinnati, 6-4, 200: The 2009 second-team all-Big East pick scored 11 times and could do well again as a senior connecting with up-and-coming quarterback Zach Callaros.
32. Joseph Barksdale
T, LSU, 6-5, 315: The athletic player is moving to the left side to take over for four-year starter Ciron Black.
TOP UNDERCLASSMEN PROJECTS
Player listed with school, height and weight
• WR Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh, 6-5, 225
• SS Mark Barron, Alabama, 6-2, 215
• DE DeQuan Bowers, Clemson, 6-4, 278
• QB John Brantley, Florida, 6-3, 218
• WR Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma, 5-11, 178
• DT Jurrell Casey, USC, 6-1, 295
• DT Jared Crick Nebraska, 6-6, 285
• DT-DE Marcell Dareus, Alabama, 6-3, 280
• WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame, 6-3, 220
• WR A.J. Green, Georgia, 6-4, 208
• CB Brandon Harris, Miami (Fla.), 5-11, 195
• OLB Don'ta Hightower, Alabama, 6-4, 250
• RB Mark Ingram, Alabama, 5-10, 215
• WR Julio Jones, Alabama, 6-4, 212
• OLB Travis Lewis, Oklahoma, 6-2, 232
• QB Andrew Luck, Stanford, 6-4, 235
• QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas, 6-6, 238
• FS Rahim Moore, UCLA, 6-1, 197
• CB Patrick Peterson, LSU, 6-1, 211
• QB Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State, 6-6, 235
• DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina, 6-5, 256
• T Matt Reynolds, BYU, 6-6, 329
• TE Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame, 6-6, 260
• CB Aaron Williams, Texas, 6-1, 190
• RB Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech, 5-10, 206
Reuter is an analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, the scouting service of USA TODAY
