Missouri Tigers defensive end Aldon Smith (85) smiled as he joked with a team mate before the start of the University of Missouri and the University of Iowa at the Insight Bowl in Sun Devil Stadium on Tuesday, Dec 28, 2010, in Tempe, Arizona. (photo by SHANE KEYSER/Staff) ORG XMIT: GH1J74HE
T he deadline for third-year college players to declare for the NFL Draft was Saturday, and there’s no telling how rumors of a lockout next year had an impact on decisions.
The lockout risk to underclassmen could amount to no training opportunities or access to team coaches and trainers during a work stoppage.
But the number of underclassmen declaring was in the same range as previous years. Last year, 53 underclassmen declared.
This group could take a hit at the cashier’s window. Rookies will be subject to terms of the next collective bargaining agreement, which might include a rookie wage scale. There may be nothing like the record deal of nearly $50 million that Sam Bradford signed with the Rams last year.
That didn’t deter several from ending their college careers with eligibility remaining. Here are some the best and most intriguing of the early entries:
A beast at 6 feet 4 and 280 pounds, Bowers didn’t have a great bowl game in the loss to South Florida, but his 15 1/2 sacks led the nation and tied a school record. Analysts suggest he may the most NFL-ready of any defensive player in the draft and is in the mix to go No. 1 overall.
With all eyes on Cam Newton and LaMichael James at the beginning of the BCS championship game, the view quickly shifted to Fairley, who was the best player on the field — his night included a fourth-down stop on a goal line stand. Fairley won the Lombardi as the nation’s top lineman/linebacker. He came on fast. He was signed out of high school as an offensive lineman, played one year in junior college and started in two games in 2009 for Auburn. But he dominated this year, finishing with 11 1/2 sacks.
An easy call for Green, who missed the Bulldogs’ first four games as NCAA punishment for selling a jersey. The 6-3, 205-pound Green is the best playmaker on the board and might be the first offensive player drafted — if it’s not a quarterback.
The 2009 Heisman Trophy winner missed the first games of his junior season, returned with consecutive 150-yard plus games against Duke and Arkansas and didn’t top 100 again while sharing time with Trent Richardson. Still, Ingram is the probably the top running back in a draft that isn’t considered strong at the position.
A breakout and school-record-setting season with 1,697 yards and 17 touchdowns, and the hero of the Wrigley Field game when he rushed for 330 against Northwestern. He’s a strong 6-1, 230-pound back. Some draft analysts would like to see another college year, but others have suggested he ride the big season into NFL, where he’s projected as no worse than a third-rounder.
Guided the Razorbacks to the Sugar Bowl and one of the program’s best seasons ever. Mallett brings a tight end body — 6-6, 238 — to the position and great arm strength. His accuracy improved this season as he got comfortable in Bobby Petrino’s spread, and he threw 62 touchdowns with only 19 picks in two seasons after transferring from Michigan. The concern is his accuracy when he’s forced to move his feet.
He wasn’t spectacular in the BCS national championship game against a good but not great Oregon defense, but Newton should be one of the first two or three quarterbacks selected. He was likened to Vince Young as a college player, and although Newton threw for a healthy percentage, he missed some throws against the Ducks that raised eyebrows. But his toughness can’t be questioned. He didn’t miss a snap in a game that left him with an injured back.
Cover corner considered the best secondary prospect in the draft, Patterson had one of the most decorated seasons in school history as a junior. He won the Thorpe (defensive backs) and Bednarik (defense) awards and was selected SEC defensive and special teams player of the year because of his kick and punt return ability.
Gabbert is the most NFL-ready of the recent line of Mizzou quarterbacks, following Brad Smith and Chase Daniel. Some personnel men, like Gil Brandt, have said Gabbert would clearly benefit from another college year. But with Stanford’s Andrew Luck remaining in school, Gabbert might be the first quarterback selected. Scouts love his size at 6-5, 235, and his performance in the bowl loss to Iowa turned many heads.
Seen as an end in a 4-3 or a 3-4 linebacker, for which he might be better suited physically, Smith turned in a terrific season even though he missed three games while healing from a broken bone in his leg. Athleticism was on full display during a 58-yard interception return against Oklahoma. Only two years on the field could be a drawback, but is seen as a potential first-rounder.
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