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Big Board sees Matt Barkley rise
After some inconsistent play early, Matt Barkley is back in the top-five mix
By Mel Kiper
ESPN Insider
People talk a lot about the great benefit of playing early. They talk about the experience gained in getting those reps as an 18- or 19-year-old, the perspective gained from being forced to learn on a big stage. It can be overstated. From a scouting standpoint, there's also the problem of too much exposure. Think about USC junior quarterback Matt Barkley. He's made 35 college starts and is really starting to take off as a prospect. Yet you wonder how many people saw him early -- which could have been at least a dozen times before he'd turned 21 -- and formed a strong opinion. Barkley is still making plenty of mistakes and errant throws, and he's really just starting to take that next step in his growth. But the video piles up.
Earlier this year I dropped Barkley some on the Big Board, but he's since battled through some hiccups and has again shown that he didn't plateau. His growth goes beyond his numbers, where the improvement is clear. Barkley could return to USC next year, but his draft stock is rising. Read on and let me know who you think should be higher or who's been passed over. As always, juniors and draft-eligible sophomores are noted with an asterisk.
For thumbnail breakdowns of each player click here - http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draf...4/2012-nfl-draft-matt-barkley-rises-big-board
1.. Andrew Luck * QB Stanford
2.. Matt Kalil * OT USC
3.. Trent Richardson * RB Alabama
4.. Justin Blackmon * WR Oklahoma St.
5.. Morris Claiborne * CB LSU
6.. Landry Jones * QB Oklahoma
7.. Matt Barkley * QB USC
8.. Jonathan Martin * OT Stanford
9.. Quinton Coples DE North Carolina
10. Riley Reiff * OT Iowa
11. Luke Kuechley * LB Boston College
12. Alshon Jeffrey * WR South Carolina
13. Manti Te'o * LB Notre Dame
14. Brandon Thompson DT Clemson
15. Vontaze Burfict * LB Arizona St.
16. Cordy Glenn T/G Georgia
17. Ronnell Lewis * LB Oklahoma
18. Devon Still DT Penn St.
19. Courtney Upshaw LB Alabama
20. Zach Brown LB North Carolina
21. Alfonzo Dennard CB Nebraska
22. Jerel Worthy * DT Michigan St.
23. Janoris Jenkins CB North Alabama
24. Robert Griffin III * QB Baylor
25. Michael Floyd * WR Notre Dame
After some inconsistent play early, Matt Barkley is back in the top-five mix
By Mel Kiper
ESPN Insider
People talk a lot about the great benefit of playing early. They talk about the experience gained in getting those reps as an 18- or 19-year-old, the perspective gained from being forced to learn on a big stage. It can be overstated. From a scouting standpoint, there's also the problem of too much exposure. Think about USC junior quarterback Matt Barkley. He's made 35 college starts and is really starting to take off as a prospect. Yet you wonder how many people saw him early -- which could have been at least a dozen times before he'd turned 21 -- and formed a strong opinion. Barkley is still making plenty of mistakes and errant throws, and he's really just starting to take that next step in his growth. But the video piles up.
Earlier this year I dropped Barkley some on the Big Board, but he's since battled through some hiccups and has again shown that he didn't plateau. His growth goes beyond his numbers, where the improvement is clear. Barkley could return to USC next year, but his draft stock is rising. Read on and let me know who you think should be higher or who's been passed over. As always, juniors and draft-eligible sophomores are noted with an asterisk.
For thumbnail breakdowns of each player click here - http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draf...4/2012-nfl-draft-matt-barkley-rises-big-board
1.. Andrew Luck * QB Stanford
2.. Matt Kalil * OT USC
3.. Trent Richardson * RB Alabama
4.. Justin Blackmon * WR Oklahoma St.
5.. Morris Claiborne * CB LSU
6.. Landry Jones * QB Oklahoma
7.. Matt Barkley * QB USC
8.. Jonathan Martin * OT Stanford
9.. Quinton Coples DE North Carolina
10. Riley Reiff * OT Iowa
11. Luke Kuechley * LB Boston College
12. Alshon Jeffrey * WR South Carolina
13. Manti Te'o * LB Notre Dame
14. Brandon Thompson DT Clemson
15. Vontaze Burfict * LB Arizona St.
16. Cordy Glenn T/G Georgia
17. Ronnell Lewis * LB Oklahoma
18. Devon Still DT Penn St.
19. Courtney Upshaw LB Alabama
20. Zach Brown LB North Carolina
21. Alfonzo Dennard CB Nebraska
22. Jerel Worthy * DT Michigan St.
23. Janoris Jenkins CB North Alabama
24. Robert Griffin III * QB Baylor
25. Michael Floyd * WR Notre Dame
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