Starting a thread with players that have declared. Please feel free to post any players that declare and I will update the #1 post. Discussions are welcome. Jerrell Powe, NT OLE Miss AJ Green, WR, Georgia Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland Tyron Smith, OT, USC Jurrell Casey, OT, USC Aaron Williams, CB, Texas DeAndre Brown, WR, S. Miss Jordan Todman, RB, UConn Shane Vereen, RB, Cal Blaine Gabbert, QB, Mizzou Aldon Smith, DE, Mizzou Brandon Burton, CB, Utah, Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana Tori Gurley, WR, South Carolina Muhammed Wilkerson, DT, Temple Akeem Ayers, DE/OLB, UCLA Brandon Harris, CB, THE U Zane Parr, DE, Virginia Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre dame Daquan Bowers, DE, Clemson JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin Darren Evans, RB, Virginia Tech Mark Ingram, RB, Bama Marcell Dareus, DL, Bama Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas Justin Houston,OLB, Georgia Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia Thomas Keiser, DE/OLB, Stanford John Clay, RB, Wisconsin Julio Jones, WR, Bama AJ Green, WR, Georgia Robert Sands, S, West Virginia Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech Dion Lewis, RB, Pitt Mikel Leshoure RB Illinois Will Hill, S, Florida Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon St Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh Martez Wilson, ILB, Illinois Lawrence Guy, DL, Arizona St Corey Liuget, DL, Illinois Henry Hynoski, FB, Pitt Tyler Sash, S, Iowa Nick Claytor, OT, Georgia Tech Randall Cobb, WR/QB/PR, Kentucky Stevan Ridley, RB, LSU Cam Newton, QB, Auburn Nick Fairley, DL, Auburn Jerrard Tarrant, S, Georgia Tech Jamel Hamler, WR, Fresno State Justin Houston, DE/OLB, Georgia Taiwan Jones, RB, Eastern Washington
Big Poppa Powe had no choice. If he waited until next year he'd probably be turning 26 during his rookie year. I know we make a lot of jokes about players ages in this forum, but that is definitely too old to be still learning the NFL game.
Yeah, Pouha was 26 when he was drafted. I remember fans were upset when he was taken in the 3rd because so many people projected him lower. He had shown some talent, the age was just such a concern that a lot of people blew him off as a prospect. Basically, no one knew how to rate him. And even now it's great to have Pouha, but just as he's hitting his stride the Jets already have to think about his potential replacement. That said, Powe is just 24, so he's really not far off from the age of most prospects, it's just that he needed to strike as soon as he could.
Per rotoworld: Quote: Maryland WR Torrey Smith announced on Twitter Wednesday night that he will forgo his senior season and enter the 2011 NFL draft.
USC OT Tyron Smith and DT Jurrell Casey have both opted to go pro. Texas CB Aaron Williams and Southern Miss WR DeAndre Brown have as well. Smith and Casey are both fringe first round guys with the potential to move up, Williams has fallen this year in a top-heavy CB class, and Brown will struggle to regain the pop he had before his broken leg. Links: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/14/sports/la-sp-1215-usc-football-20101215 http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/31/aaron-williams-deandre-brown-enter-nfl-draft/
A pair of quality backs added their names to the list, Cal's Shane Vereen and UConn's Jordan Todman both going pro. http://www.collegefantasyfootballinsider.com/news/24579/Shane-Vereen-off-to-the-NFL http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/news/story?id=5980683
I like Vereen alot. Stout with good quickness and runs through arm tackles. Should be a very good 3rd down / change of pace guy at the least. I've seen very little of Todman, but his numbers are impressive. Good news for any team that needs a back this year.
The pass rushing class of 2011 just got deeper. Mizzou's Aldon Smith will enter the 2011 NFL Draft. I know this is just a blog, but the source reporting it has been spot on. http://www.tigerboard.com/boards/missouri-tigers.php?message=8201877 I've also seen a few reports that Maryland safety Kenny Tate is declaring as well.
Blaine Gabbert http://www.columbiatribune.com/news...gone-tigers-qb-entering-nfl-draft/?tigerextra Potentially the 2nd-3rd QB taken IMO...
Still looking for something more official, but it looks like Muhammad Wilkerson of Temple entering the 2011 draft. Temple junior defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson told the Philly Sports Daily Report on New Year's Eve that he will enter the NFL draft. The departure of Owls head coach Al Golden to Miami (Fla.) certainly had a part in Wilkerson's decision, but NFL scouts would have been interested in the versatile 6-5, 300-pound talent in any case. He ranked third on the team's defense with 70 tackles, which included 13 for loss, and 9.5 sacks. Wilkerson's combination of size and athleticism are obvious to anyone watching the first-team All-MAC pick this season. His agility is impressive for his size, as is his hustle to close on ballcarriers in the backfield or track them down from behind (his 70 tackles are a high number for a defensive lineman). He also has the versatility to play as either a 3-4 DE or 4-3 three-technique tackle. Though still needing to get stronger and raw in his abiliity to get off blocks with his hands against better offensive lineman, NFL coaches can't wait to work with him. Last spring, East Carolina junior tackle Linval Joseph brought a similar skill set to the draft a year early. The Giants selected him with the 46th overall selection. Other scouts may compare Wilkerson to former first-round pick Kentwan Balmer. Therefore, there's no reason to expect this young, promising talent to be available after the second round has closed. - Chad Reuter, NFLDraftScout.com
Oh yeah, I knew Golden heading to Miami would make him go pro. Wilkerson's a stud, but one that (like the article said comparing him to my boy Linval) needs to be developed. He's a force in the making, and even though he might not be ready for a ton of immediate PT, I think he'd be a great addition to the DL as a 34 end. Also happy to see Gabbert and (hopefully) Aldon Smith heading to the league. Gabbert might be that third QB in the top ten, but time will tell.
Deeeeep cornerback class for Burton to jump into, but he's a solid player. I wouldn't put him higher than at least three other juniors though, unless he runs in the 4.3 range.
Well now that Aldon Smith has declared, Id say the Jets chances of landing a quality one is much better
