According to multiple reports, Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III has opted to forgo his senior season with the Bears and will petition to enter the 2012 NFL Draft.

The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner, Griffin is considered a top-10 pick who could potential go within the first two or three picks.

Now that the dual-threat quarterback has declared himself eligible for the 2012 NFL Draft, the No. 2 pick (currently held by the St. Louis Rams) becomes much more valuable as teams will seek to land the play-making gunslinger. With a number of quarterback-needy teams near the top of the draft, the Rams will be expecting a king’s ransom in return for their spot in line.

Although Griffin’s draft stock will certainly fluctuate as predraft workouts begin, it’s unlikely that he’ll fall out of the Top 10 unless a serious injury arises or a major flaw is discovered in his ability to play quarterback.

During the 2011 season, Griffin threw for 4,293 yards, 37 touchdowns and only six interceptions while completing 291 of his 402 passes (72.4% complete). When all was said and done he had compiled a quarterback rating of 189.5 on the season, second only to Russell Wilson’s 191.8. He also wreaked havoc on the ground for the Bears, totaling 699 yards and 10 touchdowns on 179 carries.

This past season, Griffin also punted the ball in emergency situations for the Bears. He averaged 33 yards on three punts, including a long of 39 yards. Although the punting won’t raise any team’s interest in the star quarterback, it is a testament to his versatility and elite athleticism.

Griffin capped off his Heisman-winning 2011 season with a sensational performance against the Washington Huskies in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Although it was considered one of the worst displays of defense in recent college football history, Griffin threw for 295 yards and one touchdown while running for 55 yards and another touchdown in Baylor’s 67-56 victory.

Current underclassmen have until Jan. 15 to declare for the 2012 NFL Draft.

The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2012 NFL Draft is Jan. 15. So until then, check back here for continuous updates on who has declared.

Quarterbacks

Robert Griffin III, Baylor (1st)
Andrew Luck, Stanford (1st)
Brock Osweiler, Arizona State (2nd-3rd)
Darron Thomas, Oregon (5th-6th)
Barrett Trotter, Auburn (6th-UDFA)

Running Backs

Alvester Alexander, Wyoming (6th-UDFA)
Edwin Baker, Michigan State (6th-7th)
Mike Ball, Nevada (7th-UDFA)
Jamison Berryhill (6th-UDFA)
Bryce Brown (5th-7th)
Jewel Hampton, Southern Illinois (6th-UDFA)
Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State (3rd-5th)
LaMichael James, Oregon (2nd-3rd)
Lamar Miller, Miami (1st-2nd)
Bernard Pierce, Temple (3rd-4th)
Trent Richardson, Alabama (1st)
Darrell Scott, USF (4th-6th)
Robert Turbin, Utah State (4th-6th)
David Wilson, Virginia Tech (2nd)

Wide Receivers

Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State (1st)
Chris Givens, Wake Forest (3rd-4th)
Dorian Graham, Syracuse (4th-6th)
Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech (3rd-4th)
Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina (1st-2nd)
Aldarius Johnson, Miami (5th-7th)
Damaris Johnson, Tulsa (6th-UDFA)
Eric Page, Toledo (3rd-5th)
Rueben Randle, LSU (2nd)
Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers (1st-2nd)
Tommy Streeter, Miami (2nd-3rd)

Tight Ends

Dwayne Allen, Clemson (1st-2nd)
Orson Charles, Georgia (2nd-3rd)
Tiree Eure, Minnesota (5th-7th)

Offensive Linemen

David DeCastro, Stanford (1st)
Matt Kalil, USC (1st)
Peter Konz, Wisconsin (1st-2nd)
Jonathan Martin, Stanford (1st)
Bobby Massie, Ole Miss (6th-UDFA)
Ken Plue, Purdue (4th-5th)
Riley Reiff, Iowa (1st)
Brandon Washington, Miami (2nd-3rd)

Defensive Linemen

Michael Brockers, LSU (1st-2nd)
Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State (1st-2nd)
Marcus Forston, Miami (3rd-4th)
Max Holloway, Boston College (6th-UDFA)
Chandler Jones, Syracuse (2nd-3rd)
Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma (1st-2nd)
Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy (4th-6th)
Whitney Mercilus, Illinois (1st)
Donte Paige-Moss, North Carolina (5th-6th)
Nick Perry, USC (1st)
Dontari Poe, Memphis (1st-2nd)
Olivier Vernon, Miami (5th-7th)
Jerel Worthy, Michigan State (1st)

Linebackers

Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State (1st-2nd)
Dont’a Hightower, Alabama (1st-2nd)
Luke Kuechly, Boston College (1st)
Terrell Manning, NC State (4th-5th)

Defensive Backs

Morris Claiborne, LSU (1st)
Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina (1st-2nd)
Cliff Harris, Oregon (4th-5th)
Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech (2nd-3rd)
Janzen Jackson, McNeese State (5th-6th)
Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama (1st)
Josh Robinson, UCF (2nd-3rd)
Johnny Thomas, Oklahoma State (3rd-5th)
Phillip Thomas, Syracuse (4th-6th)

As of right now, the first 20 selections have already been matched with their corresponding team based on final regular season records.

Let the early-to-mid-round mocking begin!

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14)
2. St. Louis Rams (2-14)
3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13)
4. Cleveland Browns (4-12)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)
6. Washington Redskins (5-11)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)
8. Carolina Panthers (6-10)*
9. Miami Dolphins (6-10)*
10. Buffalo Bills (6-10)
11. Seattle Seahawks (7-9)*
12. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9)*
13. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8)
14. New York Jets (8-8)
15. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
16. San Diego Chargers (8-8)
17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders, 8-8)
18. Chicago Bears (8-8)
19. Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
20. Tennessee Titans (9-7)
21. Denver Broncos (8-8)**
22. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7)**
23. New York Giants (9-7)**
24. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons, 10-6)**
25. Detroit Lions (10-6)**
26. Houston Texans (10-6)**
27. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)**
28. Baltimore Ravens (12-4)**
29. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints, 13-3)**
30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3)**
31. New England Patriots (13-3)**
32. Green Bay Packers (15-1)**

*- Position will be decided by coin toss
**- Position will be decided by result of 2012 NFL Playoffs

During an on-campus press conference, Barkley made his decision to forego the 2012 NFL Draft and return for his senior season clear to a crowd of raucous Trojan faithful.

“I have firmly decided to forego the NFL Draft in 2012 and finish the exceptional and unique journey that I’ve had here at USC,” Barkley announced.

For the past two seasons, the USC football program has been at the mercy of a BCS Bowl ban as part of the sanctions stemming from the “Reggie Bush/illegal gifts” fiasco. Now that the ban has been lifted, the Trojans will be in prime position to push for a PAC-12 crown as well as a berth in one of the coveted BCS Bowls that the program became so accustomed to prior to the dropping of the banhammer.

Despite playing for pride and not much else, the Trojans excelled this year, ending the season with a 10-2 record. Although they lost to Stanford, they were the only PAC-12 team that managed to topple the conference champion Oregon Ducks. If they can stay on the same path while adding more talent to the equation, we could be looking at a USC football team similar to the ones that dominated the mid-2000s.

“I know in my heart that I have not yet finished my journey as a Trojan football player,” Barkley said. “Our USC football team has been through some tough times and we have persevered. But the 2012 team has some serious unfinished business to attend to, and I intend to play a part of it.”

With Barkley returning to school in 2012, look for this USC team that’s expected to return 16 starters to be near the top of the 2012 preseason polls when that time comes. As for those quarterback-needy NFL teams, you better start looking elsewhere for your next franchise gunslinger.

Merry Christmas, Lane Kiffin!

Auburn’s close call partly was due to the inspired play of Bobby Wagner. The instinctive Utah State linebacker made plays all over the field, including behind the line of scrimmage. He finished the game with 10 tackles, along with a sack and an additional tackle-for-loss.

And that was only the start of a great season for Wagner. The now three-time All-WAC ‘backer reached an entirely new level of production, notching 140 tackles, 4 sacks, and 10.5 tackles for loss. More importantly, he exhibited skills that will make him a quality starter at the next level.

Rather than a prospect who thrives by beating down lesser teams, Wagner has done some of his best work against high quality competition. Though only listed at 6’1″, 232 lbs., Wagner possesses very long arms, which allow him to keep blockers at bay. As a result, BYU’s big offensive linemen failed to faze him.

The same was true in the Auburn game, in which he exhibited another valuable commodity, pass rush ability. Most linebackers merely are blitzers: they get to the quarterback when given unobstructed access to the quarterback. Wagner, on the other hand, has flashed the potential to be a true pass rusher, a defender who uses his length and quick hands to win one-on-one matchups with offensive tackles.

The Aggies ultimately failed to secured upset victories in both matchups, but Wagner may be able to notch a surprise win on draft day. With his impressive skill set, it’s possible that he could come off the board before much more heralded prospects. In fact, the folks at NFL Draft Scout have him rated as their 50th overall prospect, ahead of a very big name in Vontaze Burfict.

Draftniks who want to get a look at Wagner will have a great opportunity Saturday evening in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Until then, here’s video of Wagner vs Auburn:

According to The Oregonian, James has decided to forgo his senior season and will declare for the 2012 NFL Draft. Considering the lack of longevity of NFL careers for running backs, another year in college without much else to prove would be a poor decision for one of the nation’s most talented runners.

In 2011, James has helped lead the Ducks to another tremendous season that will end with an appearance in the 2012 Rose Bowl against the Wisconsin Badgers. Like in 2010, James led the nation in rushing yards per game this season with 149. With only one game to go, James currently has 1,646 yards and 17 touchdowns on the season.

Despite the report, nothing has been officially confirmed by the team or James himself.

If James was to declare himself eligible for the draft, he’d likely be a second-round draft pick. Despite being one of the top running back prospects, the lack of draft value at the position makes it unlikely that he’d go in the first round unless a particular team felt his talents fit them well enough to take him that high.

As of right now, nothing is set in stone. Speculation on James’ draft position won’t really begin until we hear it from the horse’s mouth.

On Monday, Fluker put to bed any rumors of taking his talents to the next level:

“I know there have been a few stories and different things out on the message boards lately about me possibly leaving school early. I want to go ahead and put all of that to rest and make it clear that my intentions are to stay in school. At my position, I still have a lot to learn in order to mold myself into the best offensive tackle I can be. I’ve learned a lot from my coaches in my three years here and I feel like I can only get better with more experience. The most important reason is to finish my degree. Right now, I am on track to graduate next December and that’s one of the things I promised my mother that I would do when I decided to come to the University of Alabama. This is a special place and I’m looking forward to spending another year with my friends and teammates, graduating, and playing in front of the best fans in the country.”

Whether D.J. Fluker slides over to the left tackle position in order to improve his draft stock is still to
be determined. Current starter on the left side Barrett Jones is just a junior and is yet to announce his
intentions for the NFL Draft. There is also some belief around the Alabama program that prized 5-star
recruit Cyrus Kouandjio is the heir apparent to Barrett Jones at the left tackle position.

Even if Fluker plays the right tackle position again next year, barring a huge letdown he will likely end
up as a 1st rounder. In fact, it would create an interesting scenario where the top 2 offensive tackle
prospects (the other being Miami tackle Seantrel Henderson) of the 2013 NFL Draft may both end up
being right tackles, often a much less valued position than left tackles.

Meanwhile, teams with a need at offensive tackle will just have to keep their fingers crossed that other
potential 1st rounders such as USC’s Matt Kalil, Stanford’s Jonathan Martin, and Iowa’s Riley Reiff don’t
follow Fluker’s example and decide to turn pro.

Unless they go on a four-game winning streak, which is rather unlikely, the Colts have won the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.

According to a report from USA Today, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck has confirmed his plans to forgo his senior year and enter the 2012 NFL Draft. In an interview with ESPN, Luck made his plans for next year rather clear.

“I think I’m going to hopefully play professional football if a team will have me,” Luck said.

Well unless he undergoes some catastrophic injury during the Fiesta Bowl or any pre-draft games/workouts (knock on wood), I’m sure just about every NFL team would love to have Luck on their roster. Don’t worry, Andrew; you’re safe.

It’s expected that Luck will be taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, which appears to be the possession of the Colts. He is considered one of the best and safest quarterback prospects in recent draft history.

“I thought it was pretty formal or understood when I came back last year, so I have no clue if I’ll make a formal announcement or not,” Luck said.

Sorry Stanford fans who were hoping for another year out of their elite quarterback; the NFL will be enjoying plenty of Luck in 2012.

The list consists of two quarterbacks, two running backs and a cornerback. Four candidates are juniors and one is a sophomore. All but one player will be participating in a BCS Bowl Game.

The first, and most obvious, candidate is Stanford junior quarterback Andrew Luck.

The only returning finalist, Luck has led his Cardinal to an impressive 11-1 record this season, with their only loss coming against the Oregon Ducks. Coming into the season, Luck was considered the top candidate to win the award and has done a terrific job of keeping himself in the hunt. With 3,170 passing yards, 35 touchdowns and a passer rating of 167.5, Luck continues to prove that he’s one of the premier football talents to come out of college in the last decade. Considered by many to be the future No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft if he declares, this gunslinger has made a name for himself that will surely ring through the halls of Stanford University whether or not he wins a Heisman.

The next candidate for college football’s most coveted individual award is Baylor junior quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Known for his impressive scrambling and ability to make plays with his feet, Griffin has made a name for himself as more than just a mobile quarterback in the past year. Forming a deadly combination of athleticism and passing prowess, Griffin has been the driving force behind Baylor’s 9-3 season. Not only does he lead the nation in passing efficiency (192.3), but he has racked up an impressive amount of touchdowns (36 passing, nine rushing) along the way. He’s the first Baylor player to ever receive an invite to the Heisman Trophy ceremony and for good reason.

The third candidate on this list of college football elite is Alabama junior running back Trent Richardson.

If there’s any one person that the Alabama Crimson Tide could thank for their 11-1 record and No. 2 standing in the BCS, it’s Richardson. Considered the best running back in the 2012 draft class (if he declares), Richardson is a rare combination of speed, power and agility. Using his supernatural abilities as a runner, Richardson has racked up a whopping 1,583 yards (6 ypc) and 23 touchdowns on the season. His efforts as both a runner and pass-catcher have helped land Alabama in the National Championship Game in a rematch with the LSU Tigers.

The fourth candidate, and only defensive player, on the Heisman hopeful list is LSU sophomore cornerback Tyrann Mathieu.

Mathieu is a do-it-all type of player a la Charles Woodson who combines terrific coverage skills with a tremendous ability to make opposing teams pay in the return game. Still in his early stages of development, this LSU cover man has preyed on unsuspecting offenses and coverage teams time and time again. Just looking down his stat sheet makes you wonder how much better he could get as time goes by: 70 tackles, six forced fumbles, four fumbles recovered, two interceptions, 1.5 sacks and two defensive touchdowns. To say that he wreaks havoc is an understatement. Although his chances are slim, the fact that Mathieu is ever in the running is a testament to his elite talent.

The final candidate in the race for the hardware is Wisconsin junior running back Montee Ball.

Ball is one two-touchdown performance away from breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season record for total touchdowns. The workhorse for Wisconsin’s offense, Ball has made a name for himself as a touchdown machine. Currently the proud of owner of 38 touchdowns (32 rushing, six receiving) on the season, he has helped the Badgers become the 11th best rushing team in the nation and 4th best scoring team in the nation. Ball’s 1,759 rushing yards and enormous stockpile of touchdowns give me reason to believe that he could be a true darkhorse in the Heisman Trophy race.

My guess: it’ll be a toss-up between Luck and Griffin. Although Luck has led Stanford to another dominant season, the way that Griffin turned the Baylor program around and made minced meat of so many defenses could give him the edge.

The ceremony will commence on Saturday night in Manhattan, at which time we’ll witness the naming of the newest member of college football’s most prestigious club.

Let’s dig in.

* denotes 2nd year players, eligible for the 2013 draft

** denotes true freshmen, eligible for the 2014 draft

1. Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck – QB – Stanford   This is probably the least surprising selection of this draft. By now, I’m sure you have basked in the greatness that is Andrew Luck. He is the safest QB prospect to come out in a long time and would go #1 in pretty much any draft due to the importance of the position. With Peyton Manning’s neck problems continuing to be a concern, the Colts can’t afford to take a chance and pass up on Luck.

2. Minnesota Vikings

Jadeveon Clowney – DE – South Carolina**   While Defensive End may not be at the top of the Vikings’ list of needs, Clowney is just that good. Said by many to be the best overall prospect of the decade, Jadeveon has forced Melvin Ingram to play on the inside on several occasions. While the true freshmen needs to work on components of his game, in particular run defense, Jared Allen is almost 30 and Clowney has 16 sack potential with some of the greatest burst off the edge I’ve ever seen.

3. St. Louis Rams

Tyrann Mathieu – CB/S – LSU*   Though Mathieu is currently undersized, (5’9 175) I fully expect Mathieu to bulk up by the time he is done at Baton Rouge. Simply put, the Honey Badger is a difference maker and will be an ideal slot corner with his physicality, ball skills, and strong run support. His offensive mentality and range on defense also makes me think that he can also become a premier ballhawk at the safety position. He would add a swagger and a playmaking dimension to a Rams defense that severely lacks it.

4. Cleveland Browns

Matt Barkley – QB – USC   While Colt McCoy hasn’t been awful, Cleveland ends the season with 4/5 of their remaining games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Odds are they will not finish the season strong and end up picking in the top 5. Matt Barkley is just too good for the team to pass up in hopes that McCoy can do more with an improved surrounding cast. His moxy, experience in a pro-style offense, and ability to make throws that Colt simply cannot makes him a good choice.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

Sammy Watkins – WR – Clemson**   Sammy Watkins is the best wide receiver in college football. He’s just a true freshman but runs routes like a pro, has great hands, and is great after the catch. If he were to enter this year’s draft, he would be a top 5 pick for sure. Let’s face it Jacksonville, Blaine Gabbert has not looked good. I wasn’t a fan of his coming out of Missouri, but if the Jaguars still are (and if they drafted him, I would hope so), they need to surround him with some serious talent.

6. Washington Redskins

Marcus Lattimore – RB – South Carolina*   There are players that you have to feel bad for with the NFL requirement to have 3 years in college before entering the draft. Lattimore was NFL-ready after his freshman year but was sidelined this year with an injury. If he can come back to full speed, his vision and feel for the running back position make him a can’t miss player and future top 10 pick. The only thing holding him back from the top 5 is the decreased value placed on running backs.

7. Kansas City Chiefs

Robert Griffin III – QB – Baylor   I question whether Matt Cassel is good enough to take the Chiefs to the promised land. I don’t know what “it” is, but RG3 has “it.” His athleticism is transcendent for the position, and he throws the best deep ball in college football. Questions remain about Baylor’s offensive scheme, but with the success of Cam Newton coming out of a similar offense, the Chiefs would be wise to draft RGIII and have him work behind Cassel until he is ready.

8. Arizona Cardinals

Matt Kalil – OT – USC   How does Levi Brown still have a job? He alone has accounted for more sacks than the entire Tennessee Titans, yet he’s protecting Kevin Kolb’s blind side? No wonder Arizona is a mess. Insert Matt Kalil into the left tackle spot and you can actually see what that offense is like with that new quarterback that you threw a ton of money at. Kalil may not have the upside of other tackles, but he is a safe pick with a near impossible chance to bust.

9.  Carolina Panthers

Robert Woods – WR – USC*   A 5-star prospect coming to USC, Woods has produced since his freshmen year with the help of his quarterback Matt Barkley. Woods has elite speed and run after the catch ability that Carolina could really use to help out the golden boy Cameron Newton. While Carolina has needs all over, Woods is arguably BPA at this spot and could add another element to their offense. And while Steve Smith has played well, he is still 32 with just 2 years remaining on his contract.

10. Miami Dolphins

Tyler Bray – QB – Tennessee*   Matt Moore has looked solid as of late, but how long can it last and can Miami risk not addressing the position in the offseason? With Tyler Bray on the board, it would not take much thought for Miami. Bray needs to add on a good 30 lbs to his 6’6″ frame, but he has all of the tools that you want in a quarterback and has succeeded in the SEC, so he is a step ahead of the game.

11. Seattle Seahawks

Tyler Wilson – QB – Arkansas   Tarvaris Jackson isn’t the answer for Seattle and Tyler Wilson is a very underappreciated quarterback. What I like most about Wilson is his pocket awareness and toughness: he’s pretty much the complete opposite of his predecessor Ryan Mallet. This razorback will willingly step up in the pocket knowing that he is about to get punished. He needs another year of seasoning but it would not surprise me at all if Wilson ends up a top 5 pick.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Seantrel Henderson – OT – Miami*   Henderson was an all-world recruit coming into Miami and has found a comfortable spot at RT for the U. His massive size and athleticism jump out at you when watching him and his potential is through the roof – top overall pick of the draft roof. The Buccaneers have Jeremy Trueblood at RT allowing twice as many QB pressures as anyone else on the offensive line. Just because LeGarrette Blount can hurdle people and Josh Freeman can move around in the pocket, doesn’t mean they have to every snap because of bad blocking.

13. Philadelphia Eagles

Chris Faulk – OT – LSU*   Faulk is another 5 star recruit (of course he was) who most definitely looks the part. While he is still green, my early impression of Chris Faulk is that if he can be the blindside protector on the best team in the SEC, he has potential to be a top draft pick. Have you seen how comfortable Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee look in the pocket? How long can the Eagles protect Michael Vick’s blindside with a converted guard? Not very long if they don’t do something about it soon. Insert Chris Faulk and he’ll crack less ribs.

14. Denver Broncos

Trent Richardson – RB – Alabama   Though he is selected here 9 slots behind fellow SEC running back Marcus Lattimore, Richardson is stronger, faster, and has better hands. Still, with Richardson running behind 5 future NFL linemen, I had to knock him down a few slots. Either way, Denver would be getting one heck of a feature back. Knowshon Moreno cannot stay healthy and though Willis McGahee looks like he has gotten new legs, he is still 30 years old with over 1,700 carries under his belt. The position needs some fresh legs.

15. Buffalo Bills

Justin Blackmon – WR – Oklahoma State   Buffalo looks to be riding the Ryan Fitzpatrick train so what better way to keep it rolling than to draft the super productive Justin Blackmon? Current number 1 wide receiver Stevie Johnson is due to be a free agent and David Nelson is a productive overachiever. Even though the Bills somehow find a way to pass the ball without drafting wideouts high, it makes you wonder what the offense could do if they did.

16. San Diego Chargers

Morris Claiborne – CB – LSU   Touted by many as the most talented draft eligible cornerback, Claiborne possesses wide receiver ball skills and size. Though he may struggle in man coverage like his former teammate Patrick Peterson has, Claiborne will be a fine successor to the 32 year old Quentin Jammer. The Chargers could use a pass rusher here but Claiborne is a playmaker at the cornerback position that is too good to pass up.

However, there’s another potential early round big man who should be getting a whole lot of attention, Utah DT Star Lotulelei.

While still a relative unknown to draftniks, scouts have been keeping a close eye on the underclassman. One regional scout told Bucky Brooks that the big man looks like “a rare find” with “all of the tools that scouts covet in a dominant interior defender”.

Those physical tools show up on tape. Lotulelei possesses impressive explosion off the ball and very good upper body strength. He could do a better job of keeping his pads low, but that will come with NFL coaching. And word is he’ll be getting some of that soon, as Tony Pauline has reported that the underclassman will take his talents to the NFL.

So make sure to check out the prospect video I cut of Lotulelei. And if you can, head over to ESPN3 and watch a game or two — I thought he looked especially good against Pitt.

After countless hours of film study, I’ve concluded the passing-driven NFL can expect one of the strongest crops seen in years when April’s draft rolls around. It appears as if up to six QBs could potentially come off the board in the first 50 picks or so. The class is deep as well with some middle- to late-round gems that could outplay their draft position.

Here are my top 10 quarterbacks likely to be part of April’s draft:

“Suck for Luck.”

We have heard the phrase from the beginning of the NFL season. The widely accepted assumption is that no matter which team finishes with the league’s worst record, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck will be the first player off the board in April’s draft.

The dust has officially settled and it is the Peyton Manning-less Indianapolis Colts with a firm hold over the top spot with a putrid 0-10 record. Losing by an average of seventeen points a game, the struggling Colts figure to be stuck at the bottom of the standings all season. Without Manning, the once proud franchise has lost their edge. They have struggled to move the football, both through the air and on the ground. The defense cannot seem to stop a nosebleed.

Right now, Andrew Luck figures to be Indianapolis’ savior. As an NFL prospect he possesses the remarkable cerebral ability and leadership qualities that scouts have not seen since Manning himself. Additionally, he is a tremendous athlete. He has the mobility and escapability of Aaron Rodgers. Through his three-year tenure as a college starter, he has shown both accuracy and the capability to make big-time throws. To many, Luck is the perfect quarterback prospect.

So isn’t it time to pencil in the Stanford product into the Indianapolis Colts’ 2012 depth chart? I would hold off on that. Though I agree it will probably be the Colts that hold the first pick in April, I am not entirely convinced Luck will be wearing blue in the future.

Enter the Cleveland Browns. After jumping out to a 2-1 start, Pat Shurmur’s team has stalled, slipping to a lowly 3-6 record. The offense, in particular, is a complete mess. Iconic running back Peyton Hillis has not played since week six. There is not a wide receiver on the roster that would crack the starting lineup for most teams in the league. At the heart of all their problems, Quarterback Colt McCoy has become a subject of heavy criticism.

Rewind to the 2011 NFL Draft. The Browns, sitting at sixth overall, traded away the chance to grab a premier receiver in Julio Jones. Of course, Jones has proven to be a dynamic down-field threat for the Atlanta Falcons while Cleveland continues to grasp at straws at the position.

That trade in April was far from one-sided, however, as the Browns netted a 2011 first round pick, second round pick, two fourth round picks including one in 2012, and a valuable 2012 first round pick. In terms of draft day trades, last year’s swap between Cleveland and Atlanta qualifies as a blockbuster. It is my belief that Tom Heckert and Mike Holmgren could very well be on the verge of another.

Before you dismiss the notion of Andrew Luck moving on draft day, consider all the factors at work here. If Peyton Manning is healthy by the spring, quarterback instantly goes from the Colts’ weakest position to their strongest. The window is closing for Indianapolis. The days of Manning, Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney, and Robert Mathis may be over.

I do not see the Indianapolis Colts as a franchise ready to step down or start rebuilding. If, and only if, Peyton Manning is healthy, this team has a shot at the Super Bowl in 2012-13. For that to happen, the team would also need to fill gaping holes in April’s draft. This raises the question: is it in the team’s best interest to use the first overall pick on Andrew Luck?

You can believe the Browns will put in a hefty offer for the first overall pick and unlike many other teams thinking to do the same, Cleveland has the ammunition to make things interesting. What you can expect they will put on the table: their two first round picks in the 2012 draft, one likely to be in the 4-7 range and the other likely to be in the 16-22 area.

Consider the possibilities for the Colts with a healthy Manning and two first round picks. Southern California offensive tackle Matt Kalil may be the best pro prospect at the position since Jake Long and would bring an anchor to Peyton’s blind-side. While Kalil appears to be a lock for the draft’s first five picks, a couple of Stanford linemen, OT Jonathan Martin and OG David DeCastro, also look like future Pro Bowlers. Indianapolis would also be free to target a defensive player in the first round to help that ailing unit.

So why do the Browns make this move? Because they are quite simply a franchise without a face, a rebuilding team without a true direction. Cleveland desperately needs an Andrew Luck and they have a president in Mike Holmgren and a general manager in Tom Heckert who will be more that willing to try to make it happen. After all, they made a strong push for the top pick in the 2010 draft in an attempt to nab Sam Bradford. In recent years, the Browns’ willingness to trade on draft weekend has been surpassed only by Andy Reid and Bill Belichick.

Andrew Luck will come into the league with incredible expectations and it would likely take an offer the Colts could not refuse. Two first round picks in 2012, including a top ten selection, is a considerable proposal. If need be, Heckert and Holmgren may also consider adding another pick or two to finish the deal. I do not believe Indianapolis will find three first round picks anywhere and the Browns’ offer may be too good to pass up.

You can believe this discussion will be held in April, perhaps earlier. As times become desperate in both Cleveland and Indianapolis, it makes sense for the two reeling franchises to help each other.

“If he wants to come back, he’s certainly welcome,” Gundy said. “We will have a party. But I can’t imagine that he would be back again.”

Many considered Blackmon to be a top-five pick prior to the 2011 NFL Draft, but he opted to return for his junior season.

Although the amount of competition that he’ll have for that top WR spot in the draft is rather high, a top-five pick is in no way out of the question. So far this season, Blackmon has hauled in 74 passes for 834 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has made an impressive number of highlight catches while helping his Oklahoma State Cowboys on their way to a currently unblemished 8-0 mark.

Blackmon’s biggest game of the season came this past weekend against the Baylor Bears. During the Cowboys’ 59-24 victory, he snagged 13 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns as the team continues to roll over any team that stands in their way.

“He has somewhat solidified himself as a top-five pick,” Gundy said. “If it were my son and he were a top-five pick, I would encourage him to move on.”

Apart from putting up wonderful numbers of his own, he has also helped Cowboys quarterback Brandon Weeden solidify himself as a top prospect at his position. His 2710 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and 71.3 completion percentage have earned him the No. 8 quarterback ranking on ESPN.com.

If he continues to put on displays like he did against the Bears, he’ll certainly cement himself as one of the elite prospects heading into the 2012 NFL Draft. According to ESPN.com’s rankings, he is currently the No. 1 WR and No. 7 overall prospect.

With the likes of Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd and South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery standing in his way, though, he’ll need every reception he can get to help state his case as the nation’s top wide receiver.

Player of the Year: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

This is as easy a choice as there is in the country. Through seven games, Luck has thrown for 1888 yards and 20 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions. His team is 7-0, and to top it all off, Luck may be the most hyped draft prospect in history, as displayed by the national “Suck 4 Luck” campaigning going on in NFL cities around the country. Rarely do I consider any prospect as a “sure-fire” star, but Luck is as close as anyone can come to earning that praise. A certain shoo-in to be invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony, Luck will run away with this Pac-12 award, barring injury.
Honorable mentions: Matt Barkley, QB, USC; LaMichael James, RB, Oregon; Keith Price, QB, Washington; Robert Woods, WR, USC.

Coach of the Year: David Shaw, Stanford

Really, this honor comes to Shaw by default. Yes, his team is having an amazing year. But let’s be honest, he inherited the best QB and offensive line in the country, which isn’t a bad start for a first-year head coach. The other main contender at this point is Oregon’s Chip Kelly, but with potential major recruiting violations looming, it’s hard to give him an award for leadership. If you were to look deeper than just simply the coach of the best team, Arizona State’s Dennis Erickson, and Washington’s Steve Sarkisian have probably done more with lesser talent than has Shaw. But it’s hard to argue for a coach who has his team in line to go undefeated and play in a major bowl game, if not the national championship.
Honorable mentions: Dennis Erickson, Arizona State; Steve Sarkisian, Washington.

Freshman of the Year: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington

Oregon’s De’Anthony Thomas has been electric this year for a top-10 team, but for me, Seferian-Jenkins is the pick. OK, I’m admittedly biased because I live in Seattle, but when I watch the 6’7”, 250 lb. TE play, I see NFL potential written all over him. Already amassing 20 catches and 4 touchdowns on the season, Seferian-Jenkins has been a huge security blanket for Washington QB Keith Price. He has rare size, athleticism and body control, and combined with an NFL-caliber body, Seferian-Jenkins has future 1st round potential. Watch for him to be even more of a factor in UW’s offense as the season progresses.
Honorable mentions: De’Anthony Thomas, RB, Oregon; Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State; Sean Mannion, QB, Oregon State.

North Division Champion: Oregon Ducks

After hyping Stanford so much above, I’m going to go ahead and pick Oregon as the Pac-12 North champion. Why? I have no idea, other than a gut feeling. Well, I have some idea. Oregon’s offense is simply unstoppable, and if the injuries to RB LaMichael James and QB Darron Thomas don’t linger, I’m not sure anyone in the conference can compete with the amount of points Oregon can put on the board in any given game, including Stanford. The big game here happens November 12th, when Oregon travels to Palo Alto in a HUGE showdown with Stanford that will likely crown not just the North champion, but the Pac-12 champion as well.
Team to watch: Stanford.

South Division Champion: Arizona State Sun Devils

The inferior South division of the Pac-12 boasts such wonderful teams as Colorado (0-4 league), Utah (0-4), Arizona (1-4) and UCLA (2-2). So really this comes down to a two-horse race between the ultra-talented USC Trojans, and the well-coached Arizona State Sun Devils. And with USC not able to compete in the Pac-12 title game due to NCAA sanctions, Arizona State earns the title and the chance to get hammered by Oregon or Stanford in the Pac-12 championship game. The Sun Devils do boast two of my favorite players in the Pac-12 in QB Brock Osweiler and LB Vontaze Burfict.
Team to watch: Just turn the TV off.

Pac-12 Champion: Oregon Ducks

It won’t be as easy as last season, but Oregon for me still looks like the best team in this conference. If they make it past Stanford, Oregon will cruise to victory in the title game. With possible major violations looming, this may be the last time we see Oregon here for a few years.

Coach on the hot seat: Rick Neuheisel, UCLA

After posting two 4-8 seasons in the last three years, it’s safe to say that Neuheisel is on the hot seat. A once proud UCLA program is now being out-recruited by teams such as Washington and California, which can’t make boosters of the Bruins very happy. Even worse, teams are coming into Southern California and taking recruits away more than ever before. It’s hard to imagine that Neuheisel could make it through another losing season, which is what it looks like UCLA will have. The Bruins still have issues at QB and on offense in general, which doesn’t bode well for a coach known for being an offensive-minded guy. The Bruins have managed 3 “wins” so far (against Washington State, Oregon State, and San Jose State), but after a 48-12 throttling by Arizona last week, Slick Rick is likely seeing his last days as lead man of UCLA.
Dishonorable mentions: Paul Wulff, Washington State; Jeff Tedford, California; Mike Riley, Oregon State.

First Team Offense

QB: Andrew Luck, Jr., Stanford
RB: LaMichael James, Jr., Oregon
RB: Chris Polk, Jr., Washington
WR: Keenan Allen, So., Cal
WR: Robert Woods, So., USC
TE: Coby Fleener, Sr., Stanford
OL: Matt Kalil, Jr., USC
OL: Jonathan Martin, Jr., Stanford
OL: David DeCastro, Jr., Stanford
OL: Ryan Miller, Sr., Colorado
C: Garth Gerhart, Sr., Arizona St.
All Purpose: Jamal Miles, Jr., Arizona St.
K: Erik Folk, Sr., Washington

Not a whole lot of surprises here, but a whole lot of talent. Andrew Luck, Jonathan Martin, David DeCastro, and Matt Kalil all will be 1st round picks if they declare in 2012, while LaMichael James and Chris Polk could see their names called in round 2. Equally impressive is the sophomore WR combo of Kennan Allen and Robert Woods who are as good as there is in the country.
Honorable mentions: Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State; Matt Barkley, QB, USC; Marvin Jones, WR, California; Senio Kelemete, OL, Washington; Keith Price, QB, Washington; Rodney Stewart, RB, Colorado; Tony Bergstrom, OL, Utah.

First Team Defense

DL: Dion Jordan, Jr., Oregon
DL: Scott Crichton, Fr., Oregon State
DL: Travis Long, Jr., Washington State
DL: Nick Perry, Jr., USC
LB: Vontaze Burfict, Jr., Arizona State
LB: Cort Dennison, Sr., Washington
LB: Mychal Kendricks, Sr., California
LB: Chase Thomas, Jr., Stanford
DB: Trevin Wade, Sr., Arizona
DB: Jordan Poyer, Jr., Oregon State
DB: John Boyett, Jr., Oregon
DB: T.J. McDonald, Jr., USC
P: Bryan Anger, Sr., California

The defense is harder to determine than the offense in the Pac-12, and is definitely not as highly talented. The headliner here is Vontaze Burfict who will be a 1st round pick if he declares in 2012, and if he prevents himself from committing a crime on the field. Scott Crichton is having a great year for a redshirt freshman, with 42 tackles, 4 sacks, and 10 tackles for loss. Chase Thomas leads the Pac-12 with 5.5 sacks and also has compiled 10 TFL.
Honorable mentions: Trevor Reilly, LB, Utah; Chaz Walker, LB, Utah; Alex Hoffman-Ellis, LB Washington State; Deone Bucannon, S, Washington State; Shaq Richardson, CB, Arizona; Jamaar Jarrett, DL, Arizona State; Josh Kaddu, LB, Oregon.

Through the first six games of the 2011 season, Howell has been a big playmaker in the defensive backfield for Stanford. Arguably the strongest link in the Cardinal secondary, the senior safety has racked up 25 tackles and four defended passes this season.

Howell, who’s dealing with a hand injury, will be replaced by sophomore Devon Carrington. So far this season, Carrington has tallied 19 total tackles and one defended pass while seeing action in a backup role. He has played in all six games this season and will get his first start against Washington.

As of right now, Howell is week-to-week and could miss more than just the Washington game if he can’t bounce back in a timely manner.

Although this will be a big loss for the Cardinal when they take on the Huskies, the bigger concern is whether or not Howell will be healthy when Stanford goes up against the Oregon Ducks on Nov. 12. They’ll need all the talent they can get to take on their PAC-12 North Division foes as they continue to make their run at a conference championship.

The Cardinal will survive with Carrington in the lineup for now, but the sooner that Howell gets back the better.

Most Giants fans, including myself, looked to free agency, then the waiver wire for Boss’s replacement to arrive, but no one ever came. Instead, the Giants front office and coaches kept their faith in 2010 undrafted free agent Jake Ballard. I myself had given Ballard a 7th round grade: I thought he could stick as a blocking third TE because of his 6’6″ 280-pound frame. While I had a higher grade than most, I never expected him to be starting in the NFL, let alone contributing in this manner.

Through six game games, Ballard has 15 catches for 273 yards and 2 Touchdowns. On the surface, those numbers may not seem overly impressive, but they certainly are when you factor in the efficiency at which they have been achieved.

Now, a lot of Ballard’s success in the passing game has been due to defenses not devoting a lot of resources to stopping him. He also has one of the lowest target rates among starting tight ends in the NFL at 8.8%. Last year, Kevin Boss was targeted 13% of the time and 12.9% in 2009, far less than Shockey’s hay-day under Coughlin at 20%. What Ballard has done that neither of those two managed is convert those opportunities at an otherworldly clip.

Watching the game yesterday and seeing his 6’6″, 280-pound frame gobble up pass after pass, I was left wondering: does the ball ever hit the ground when Eli throws it to him? The answer is Yes, but it doesn’t reach the turf very often. Ballard has been targeted 17 times this season. Of those 17 targets, 15 have turned into receptions. That’s a catch rate at 88.2%, or the best in the NFL: not just among tight ends but all receivers.

As impressive as that number is, the stat that blows me away is his Yards Per Catch. Ballard’s YPC stands at 18.2, second among tight ends behind Jared Cook, who is an athletic seam-stretcher. If we start talking Yards Per Target, no receiver even comes close. Ballard’s YPT dwarfs the second best tight end Fred Davis by almost 5 yards, 16.1 to 11.4. It also surpasses the best wideout Mike Wallace, whose YPT stands at 13.9.

Now, it’s early in the season and things may change. Teams may decide to clamp down tighter on the middle of the field, thereby reducing his impact, but that would only help the Giants’ offense over the long haul. Having a safety start to pay more attention to Ballard will allow for Nicks, Manningham, and Cruz to have one less body protecting the sidelines. For a Giants team that thrives on the deep ball, that’s a very good thing.

One thing’s for sure: Jake has proven that he is far more than just a blocking tight end. And at a position fans were just hoping to get mediocrity from, the team now has a promising new contributor.

After rushing for 239 yards and a touchdown on the night, James fell awkwardly on his right arm after a run in the fourth quarter. During the fall, his face was immediately etched with pain as he dislocated his elbow. He was tended to by the team’s medical staff and was carted off the field after the arm was put into a temporary cast. The game resumed and the Ducks came away with a dominant 43-15 victory.

Despite how nauseating the injury looked, it appears as though the Ducks most valuable offensive weapon won’t be on the sidelines for too long.

“It’s not a season-ending injury and I’ll be fine,” James said in a post-game press conference. “I’m tough. I’m a warrior and I’m never going to quit on my team.”

So far in 2011, James has been playing like the Heisman candidate that so many people dubbed him as prior to the beginning of the college season. James has run for at least 200 yards in the last three games, something that no Ducks player has ever done before. On the season, he has racked up 852 yards and eight touchdowns on 95 carries (9 yards per carry). To go along with his ground dominance, he has also added 11 receptions for 159 yards and one touchdown.

Although a dislocated elbow is no laughing matter, this injury shouldn’t keep James out of the lineup for too long. The team’s medical staff had X-rays performed, which showed that the arm was not broken. James wouldn’t speculate on whether he’d be ready for Oregon’s game against Arizona State next Saturday, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back out there soon enough with his tenacity and never-say-never mentality.

“We’re gonna wait and see,” James said. “We have the best trainers in the country and I’m sure they are going to get on it ASAP and I’ll be there four times a day so I can get on the field.”

It’ll be interesting to see whether James was downplaying the injury or not. Either way, this could potentially be a huge setback for the Ducks as they continue to work towards defending their 2010 PAC-10 (now PAC-12) crown.

A junior who’s doing everything he can to prove he’s ready for the NFL, Barkley has had an up-and-down season so far in 2011. After starting off the Trojans at 3-0, Barkley struggled last week against the Arizona State Sun Devils. He looked flustered out on the field and failed to make big plays when they were needed most. The Trojans lost their first game of the season, falling to 3-1.

That, however, wasn’t going to deter him from hitting the field against the Wildcats and performing surgery on the Arizona secondary.

When the clock finally struck zero today, Barkley had an impressive 468 passing yards under his belt and his name pinned to another USC record. He eclipsed former Trojans quarterback Carson Palmer’s record of 448 passing yards, which was set back in 2002.

No player made as a big an impact for Barkley as sophomore wide receiver Robert Woods. With a record-breaking season already underway, Woods continued to make his mark on opposing defenses against the Wildcats. He hauled in 14 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown, including an 82-yard catch-and-run that ended in six points.

Although the performance was eye-popping, it was a bit disappointing to see that Woods was only six yards from breaking a record of his own. He only needed six more yards to break R Jay Soward’s 260 receiving yards record.

Now some may attribute this record-breaking day to a horrendous Arizona defensive backfield, but a record is a record. No one’s going to put an asterisk next to those numbers because the passing defense was poor.

The Trojans are now 4-1 during a season that’s being played primarily for pride. With NCAA sanctions still in effect, USC will not be able to play in the inaugural PAC-12 conference championship game or a bowl game until next year.

This game was, however, a showcase for some of the NFL talent that saturates this USC roster. Barkley had a tremendous game, but needs to show some more consistency if he hopes to be a top talent when the 2012 NFL Draft finally rolls around. Safety T.J. McDonald and defensive end Nick Perry also had solid games.

The Trojans next game will be in Berkeley against the California Bears on Thursday, October 13. Stay tuned as USC continues to dominant opponents despite their post-season limitations.

Have thoughts or questions about Eric’s breakdown? Make sure to share them in the comments section below or over at the Draft Breakdown message board.

Matt Barkley   We’re now four games into the new college football season.  Many expected Barkley to continue his development and stake his claim as both one of the top QBs in college football and as a top draft pick.
As of now, however, there are more questions than answers.  In his freshman and sophomore seasons, his play really dipped in the 4th quarter of games and towards the end of the season – so USC had him focus on getting in better shape, getting stronger, etc.  It’s been more of the same so far this season for Barkley, though, as his 4th quarter performance continues to be abysmal.   In terms of physical tools, he’s got light feet, can move around, and has an arm that’s good enough.  He’s all screwed up
mechanically, though.  He fails to drive off his front foot when beginning his drop from under center, has an awkward, bow-legged drop and set-up, and tends to short arm passes instead of following through – leading to inaccurate throws down the field.   Another thing I’ve noticed about Barkley is that it seems like the USC staff goes out of their way to protect him. The playcalling is very “safe” for lack of a better word – not to say that’s a bad thing, but it makes evaluating QB play more difficult. I’ve noticed a substantive effort to to roll him out to the field (the wide side) and an inordinate number of throws into the boundary (the short side). Anything deep is manufactured off of play action. A heavy boundary/field split and aggressiveness only out of play action usually suggests that a coach doesn’t trust his personnel. It’s likely a combination of not trusting Barkley to make stick throws in tight windows (not to say he has a WEAK arm, but he can’t consistently drive the ball) and a terrible offensive line. Tough to draw a definitive conclusion, but it’s one more thing to keep an eye on going forward.   All in all, I continue to maintain that Barkley is virtually the same prospect Mark Sanchez was coming out.  Passable arm, light feet, sloppy mechanics.  He’ll likely be overdrafted because of pedigree and the unquantifiable “it” factor that people love to throw around, but can’t define.

Matt Kalil

I’ve watched every snap of Kalil’s through the first four weeks.  He’s an elite physical talent.  He has a violent punch, light feet, and an elite quick set.  I’ve seen him floor a defensive end using just one arm.  He’s a future top five pick.

That’s not to say that he’s a flawless or perfect prospect, however.  He’s good for a missed assignment or two every game.  He doesn’t finish blocks or find secondary targets – he’s way too content to “pop and position” in the run game and then turn to watch the ball carrier.  I can’t count how many times I’ve watched his man get blocked out of the play and then make the tackle five or six yards downfield.  He’s also displays lazy tendencies when blocking from the backside – he’ll let defensive ends cross his face instead of sealing them off and/or working his way up to the second level.

These are all effort issues and aren’t a reflection of his talent.  I’ve said on Twitter before that he looks like he already knows he’s a future top-five pick and is either bored by his competition or is going overboard to protect himself.  Either way, an NFL coach should light a fire and get the most out of him.

Nick Perry

TJ McDonald

I was very underwhelmed by McDonald early in the season.  He didn’t look all that physical and seemed unwilling to mix it up and play aggressively and displayed poor zone awareness in the passing game.  Over the last two weeks, though, he appears to have shaken the offseason rust off.  He’s been flying to the ball and making big, aggressive hits.

He still needs to work on taking better angles to the football and wrapping up ball carriers.  Too often, he wants to just lower his head and launch himself into people – a la former Florida Gator Reggie Nelson.

I still need to go to a game to see him live to get a better feel for his zone awareness and coverage ability, as it’s difficult to evaluate safety play on a TV broadcast.

Chris Galippo

I almost feel as if I’m wasting my time doing a Galippo write-up.  Quite frankly, he’s not a draftable prospect and is a liability to the USC defense.  The USC defense has given up a lot of big runs this year and Galippo is a huge part of that.

He either doesn’t understand how to make offensive line reads or simply isn’t coachable.  He spends his Saturdays reading the opposing backfield and running himself out of plays.  He’s also incredibly slow, so once he makes the wrong read, he’s completely taken out of the play.

Underclassmen to Watch for Future Drafts

Hayes Pullard, RS Frosh, OLB: Quite frankly, I feel like he’s the second best player on USC”s defense (behind Perry).  A converted safety, Pullard flies around the field and is always around the football.  He’s going to be one hell of a WLB Tampa Two prospect when he decides to come out.

Nickell Robey, Soph, CB: I see a little Antoine Winfield when I watch Robey.  He’s undersized (5’8″, 165 lbs), but is absolutely fearless when it comes to tackling bigger WRs and coming up in run support.  Has a future in the NFL as a nickelback.

Robert Woods, Soph, WR: Do I even need to write anything?  He looks like an NFL receiver already – runs low to the ground, doesn’t raise his hips and lose speed out of breaks, catches everything.  The entire USC offense revolves around him.  He’ll make a better pro than college WR (if that’s even imaginable) because he won’t be carrying such a ridiculous workload.

What I have found is that I can make even a non-marquee matchup worthwhile by keying in on the guys who could be playing on Sundays in the near future. Here are the nationally televised games that I’ll be watching this weekend, along with which players to watch out for. Also, I’m a nice guy, so no need to grab those media guides; I have their jersey numbers listed right here for you in parentheses.

(Note: Players in bold are also in my 2012 NFL Draft Extravaganza)

Thursday, September 1st at 8:00 PM EST (ESPN)

UNLV Rebels @ (11) Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin

QB Russell Wilson (#16), WR Nick Toon (#1), G Kevin Zeitler (#70), T Ricky Wagner (#58), T Josh Oglesby (#67), C Peter Konz (#66), S Aaron Henry (#7)

UNLV

Cheerleaders?

Friday, September 2nd at 8:00 PM (ESPN)

(14) TCU Horned Frogs @ Baylor Bears

Baylor

QB Robert Griffin III (#10), WR Kendall Wright (#1)

TCU

LB Tank Carder (#43), Tanner Brock (#35)

Saturday, September 3rd at 3:30 PM (NBC)

South Florida Bulls at (16) Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame

WR Michael Floyd (#3), LB Manti Te’o (#5), S Harrison Smith (#22)

South Florida

S Jerell Young (#1)

Saturday, September 3rd at 3:30 PM (ESPN2/ABC)

Minnesota Golden Gophers at (25) USC Trojans

USC

QB Matt Barkley (#7), TE Rhett Ellison (#40), T Matt Kalil (#75), DE Nick Perry (#8), LB Chris Galippo (#54), S T.J. McDonald (#7)

Minnesota

I’d recommend just watching whichever side of the ball USC is on.

Saturday, September 3rd at 8:00 PM (FX)

Tulsa Hurricane at (1) Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma

QB Landry Jones(#12), WR Ryan Broyles (#85), DE Ronnell Lewis (#56), LB Travis Lewis (#28, injured)

Tulsa

QB G.J. Kinne (#4)

Saturday, September 3rd at 8:00 PM (ABC)

(3) Oregon Ducks vs (4) LSU Tigers (Dallas, TX)

LSU

WR Rueben Randle (#2), LB Ryan Baker (#22), CB Morris Claiborne (#17)

Oregon

QB Darron Thomas (#1), RB LaMichael James (#21), TE David Paulson (#42), CB Cliff Harris (#13, suspended)

Saturday, September 3rd at 8:00 PM (ESPN)

(5) Boise State Broncos at (19) Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia

WR Tavarres King (#12), TE Orson Charles (#7), T Cordy Glenn (#71), C Ben Jones (#60), NT Kwame Geathers (#99), CB Brandon Boykin (#2), K Blair Walsh (#57), P Drew Butler (#13)

Boise State

QB Kellen Moore (#11), RB Doug Martin (#22), T Nate Potter (#73), DT Billy Winn (#90)

Sunday, September 4th at 3:30 PM (ESPN)

Marshall Thundering Herd at (24) West Virginia Mountaineers

West Virginia

QB Geno Smith (#12), DE Julian Miller (#97), DE Bruce Irvin (#11), CB Keith Tandy (#25)

Marshall

DE Vinny Curry (#99)

Monday, September 5th at 8:00 PM (ESPN)

Miami Hurricanes at Maryland Terrapins

Maryland

LB/S Kenny Tate (#6)

Miami

RB Lamar Miller (#6), G Brandon Washington (#72), DT Marcus Forston (#99, suspended), LB Sean Spence (#31, suspended), S Ray-Ray Armstrong (#26, suspended)

The 2010 PAC-10 Championships and National Championship runner-ups will have their sights set on another regular undefeated season.
Unfortunately, a depleted defense and an offensive line that lacks experience could keep them from running away with a PAC-12 title in 2011. If anything, Stanford will have something to say about their candidacy as shoe-ins to win the conference.

Despite their deficiencies, they still have running back LaMichael James and quarterback Darron Thomas in their arsenal and should be able to utilize both to their full potential.

Overall, there’s still plenty of electricity left in this team’s roster. Their quack might not have the same luster that it did in 2010, but it will still be hard for any PAC-12 foe to ruffle their feathers if they stay healthy and play with the same swagger that got them to the National Championship only one year ago.

Remember, since this is a draft coverage site, I will only be covering players that will be eligible for the 2012 NFL Draft.

Let’s get this party started.

1. LaMichael James, Running Back (Jr.)

After coming in third in the 2010 Heisman race, James will be looking to overtake Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck as the “best” player in college football. Although I find that hard to believe as a huge Luck and Stanford fan, he definitely has the superb talent to convince others with less bias. There might not be a better player that fits the mold of “game-breaker” in the NCAA at this point in time. With blazing speed, terrific vision and an uncanny ability to slip through small cracks in the defensive line, James could arguably be the best running back in the NCAA (sorry Trent Richardson). Now that the Oregon offense is without playmakers in the passing game like Jeff Maehl or D.J. Davis, the weight will certainly be on James’ shoulders to produce. Now more than ever, the Ducks will need him to pick up the slack and find his way into the endzone with extreme efficiency. Considering the fact that he’s struck paydirt 38 times in the past two seasons, I have a feeling that the potential is there.

2. Cliff Harris, Cornerback (Jr.)

When you talk about shutdown cornerbacks at the college level, you have to mention Harris somewhere in that conversation. Throughout the 2010 season, he proved himself to be a valuable coverage man for the Ducks as he feasted numerous times on opposing quarterbacks. He’s the type of ballhawk that makes passers pay for every errant throw. His six interceptions in 2010 led the PAC-10 and were a big reason why the Ducks had the seventh ranked turnover margin in the NCAA. And if his coverage skills aren’t enough to entice NFL scouts, there’s always the fact that he’s a phenomenal asset in the return game. When returning punts, Harris has the ability to take it to the house every time. He’s an All-American caliber player at both cornerback and punt returner and should have no trouble striking fear in opposing PAC-12 teams in 2011.

3. John Boyett, Free Safety (Jr.)

Harris corrals most of the praise that Oregon’s secondary receives, which leaves little spotlight for Boyett to soak in. However, there’s plenty reason for him to get some recognition of his own. Boyett has quietly become the most consistent player on the Ducks’ defense and has made more than enough plays to make a case for himself as a top safety talent. When the ball is in the air, he reacts quickly and makes receivers pay when they venture into his territory. In 2010, he hauled in five interceptions (tied for second in the PAC-10) and was second on the team in tackles with 78. He’s a former Freshman All-American and should continue to build off of the tremendous potential that earned him a spot on this talented Oregon roster. Look for him to continue to build his candidacy as one of the premier safety talents in the NCAA as the season wears on.

4. David Paulson, Tight End (Sr.)

With the loss of their two top wide receivers in Maehl and Davis, the passing game is going to have a big challenge in finding someone who can replace their production. Luckily for the Ducks, they do get their sure-handed tight end Paulson back for another season. During 2010, he hauled in 24 passes for 418 yards and four touchdowns and had the most receiving yards last year of all of the Ducks returning players in 2011. Despite the fact that he is a talented receiver from the tight end spot, the aspect of his game that really impresses me is his ability to make an impact as a blocker in the running game. He does a tremendous job of locking up his defender and driving them off of the ball, which helps James find space to make plays. Given his well-rounded play, I expect him to emerge as one of the best tight ends in the 2012 draft class.

5. Darron Thomas, Quarterback (Jr.)

There’s no denying that Thomas is a talented quarterback/playmaker for the Ducks. In case you haven’t noticed, he’s über-athletic and does a terrific job of picking up yards with his arm and his feet. Unfortunately, if he does decide to enter the 2012 NFL Draft, he will fall victim to the all-encompassing anti-spread quarterback mindset. Personally, I don’t think that he has the overall quarterbacking talent to make it in the NFL. However, like many dual-threat quarterbacks before him, he has the potential to get drafted as an athlete who can play a number of positions. Maybe not exactly at the same level as Brad Smith, but in that same mold. We’ll see how much he can progress during the 2011 season as both a passer and a playmaker.

Honorable Mentions:

Mark Asper, Offensive Tackle (Sr.)
Eddie Pleasant, Strong Safety (Sr.)
Carson York, Guard (Jr.)
Lavasier Tuinei, Wide Receiver (Sr.)
Josh Kaddu, Outside Linebacker (Sr.)

After an apparently impressive tryout, freshman Lauren Luttrell earned an invite to the Hokies’ 2012 spring practice from head coach Frank Beamer. Although that’s no guarantee that she’ll see the field or even make the team, it’s a big win for those token female footballers out there.

“Right now it’s kind of tough to come out there and get a lot of attention,” said Beamer. “Things are happening so fast right now. But I was impressed with her and we’ll bring her back out in the spring.”

During her senior year at Spotsylvania High, Luttrell connected on 10 extra points and a 31-yard field goal. Although those numbers don’t exactly scream “kicking phenom”, the whole she’s-a-girl thing makes it impressive.

There has only been one female kicker in NCAA football history to ever compete and score at the Division 1 level. Katie Hnida, a kicker for New Mexico State, made two extra points during the Lobos’ 72-8 stomping of Texas State. She was also the first female to participate in a bowl game, although her one extra point attempt was blocked.

Hnida started her college kicking career at Colorado University, where she was allegedly a victim of rape as well as numerous accounts of sexual harassment. Those issues led to an eventual transfer to Santa Barbara City College, where she opted not to grace the gridiron. In 2002, she headed to New Mexico State as a walk-on.

All we can do is hope that Luttrell doesn’t draw the same hand that Hnida did if she does manage to make the team next spring.

Since this is a draft coverage site, I’ll stick with the players that will be draft eligible at season’s end. I don’t think that’ll be too much of an issue, though, considering the fact that most of these PAC-12 teams are saturated with NFL-caliber talent.

To kick this series of articles off, I’ll go with the Stanford Cardinal. Why not start off with the best player in college football? And no, it’s not because they’re my favorite college football team…

Bias or not, here we go.

1. Andrew Luck, Quarterback (Jr.)

If you don’t know about Luck and all of the elite talent that he possesses, than you clearly don’t follow college football or the NFL Draft at all. Some are considering Luck the top quarterbacking talent since Peyton Manning. I’ve even seen some experts go as far as saying that Luck could be even better than Manning. He’s a born leader who always finds a way to put his team in the best position to win. Combining pin-point accuracy and a cannon for an arm with impressive vision and scrambling ability, Luck has helped elevate Stanford from a middle-of-the-road program to an NCAA elite. With Luck at the helm, Stanford is considered one of the top National Championship prospects heading into the 2011 season. If he can stay healthy and continue to build on his rare abilities, the Cardinal might have what it takes to unseat Oregon as the leaders of the PAC-12.

2. Jonathan Martin, Offensive Tackle (Jr).

The Stanford offensive line was phenomenal in 2010 and helped Luck turn in the jaw-dropping, Heisman-runner-upping season that he did. The line only gave up six sacks and helped paved the way for running back Stepfan Taylor, who racked up 1,137 yards (sixth 1,000-yard rusher in school history) and 15 touchdowns. Unfortunately, three-fifths of that offensive line are gone. That leaves left tackle Martin to lead a new group of hog mollies into a season overflowing with high expectations. Arguably one of the best tackles in the nation, Martin will have his hands full creating cohesiveness within this inexperienced offensive line. Luckily, they have Luck on their side. If he can continue to put the Cardinal in the best position to win and make plays, Martina and the rest of this offensive line should be able to make an easy transition into this new era of Stanford football.

3. Shayne Skov, Inside Linebacker (Jr.)

If you want a natural leader and playmaker from the linebacker position, look no further than Skov. Skov, a 6’3’’, 243 pound monster in the middle, is one of the most consistent playmakers in the PAC-12. This head-banging, brutal backer is primed for another impressive year as Stanford returns a considerable number of their top defensive talent. Despite missing two games due to injury, Skov still managed to lead the team in tackles with 84 while adding 7.5 sacks in the process. Although he needs to do a better job of controlling his emotions on the field, he brings a spark to this defense that they haven’t had for some time. The linebacking corps will be questionable this season with two of the four starters from last year gone, but Skov should have no trouble picking up the slack.

4. David DeCastro, Guard (Jr.)

Despite all of the hype surrounding Luck, it’s hard to overlook the fact that Stanford has had a dominant running game as well over the past couple of seasons. Toby Gerhart and Stepfan Taylor both have DeCastro to thank for their success on the ground. He’s a steamroller out on the field and is arguable one of the best run blockers in the NCAA. Don’t be fooled, though. DeCastro is just as dominant in pass protection as he is when opening holes for Stanford’s stable of runners. He teamed with Martin last season to form one of the best passing blocking lines in the nation, but three of the starters are gone. The Cardinal may be stacked when it comes to playmakers, but a huge a part of those players’ future success will be the tremendous blocking that they get from DeCastro and Co.

5. Delano Howell, Strong Safety (Sr.)

The Cardinal secondary was a huge part of their 12-1 record in 2011, and Howell was the driving force behind their ability to shut down opposing passing games. Despite his abilities as an enforcer in the middle of the Stanford defensive backfield, Howell is also a tremendous ballhawk. He finished second in the PAC-10 last year with five interceptions and also tallied 10 pass deflections. Although Howell started his Stanford career as a running back, he found his niche at safety in 2009 and hasn’t looked back. If he continues to improve at this same exponential rate, he could find himself at the top of the safety rankings when the 2012 NFL Draft finally rolls around.

Honorable Mentions:

Stepfan Taylor, Running Back (Jr.)
Coby Fleener, Tight End (Sr.)
Chase Thomas, Outside Linebacker (Jr.)
Michael Thomas, Free Safety (Sr.)
Chris Owusu, Wide Receiver (Sr.)

Because of the front office’s conservative approach, the team will be heavily reliant on their rookies to contribute this fall. At least three rooks will start, and others could earn significant roles. Fortunately, it looks like a few already are prepared to log significant snaps, and the other drafted rookies have shown a good deal of promise.

First round pick Phil Taylor appears poised to make a big impact this fall. The mammoth defensive tackle already has made his presence felt, most notably in last night’s game against the Lions. Taylor clogged the middle, allowing his teammates to make plays. When he shut down an inside run play, Jabaal Sheard was able to move in and strip the ball from the back.

Though Taylor didn’t make a significant impact as a pass rusher, he possesses the physical tools to be a dominant on every down. Taylor isn’t just a powerful big man; he possesses impressive lateral agility and quickness for a man his size. On one play, he showed very good quicks running a stunt, kept his pads low and pushed the pocket. If he pairs that ability with improved hand play, he’ll help ensure that the team can get pressure without dispatching any blitzers.

Also, second rounder Jabaal Sheard has shown that he can bring the heat from his right defensive end spot. In addition to his forced fumble, Sheard had multiple pressures, beating former Browns OTs Corey Hilliard and Kirk Chambers with inside moves.

Hopefully, Sheard will build upon his solid night with an even more impressive performance in the dress rehearsal against the Eagles. The Pitt product still needs to prove that he can be disruptive against true starting-caliber offensive tackles. In addition, he needs to display the ability to beat them around the edge. Thus far, he’s done his damage beating tackles to their inside shoulder, not using his above average (but not excellent) first step to turn the corner.

The Browns believe they got a first round talent in wideout Greg Little. Though he hasn’t been exceptionally productive in the first two games, he’s shown flashes of that top-shelf ability.

Little’s also shown some rough edges: at times, his release off the line has been quite slow, and his route-running isn’t particularly crisp. However, he appears to be over the drops that plagued him for much of camp, instead going up to make an acrobatic catch. Both of catches in the second preseason game, including a TD grab, came on corner routes from the right-slot spot. It’s a particularly good place to be in the Browns’ offense. As Bryan Fontaine has noted, the rookie version of Colt McCoy favored throwing to the center and right side of the field. Little, while not yet a starter, could become a favorite target of Colt’s by making plays out of the right slot.

Basketball player turned tight end Jordan Cameron was a standout during the first week of training camp, but an injured hamstring has hampered his progress. It looks like the hammy’s still affecting him, as Cameron exhibited only average explosiveness in the second preseason game. He didn’t get up the seam all that quickly and wasn’t able to turn an underneath grab up the field. With Ben Watson and Evan Moore ahead of him, Cameron isn’t ticketed for an early season role, which may be for the best. He could use some more time to heal up and prepare to make an impact in 2012.

On the other hand, with the departure of Lawrence Vickers, Owen Marecic will be pressed into starting duty. And from the looks of it, there will be some growing pains as he adjusts to the NFL game. The Browns drafted Marecic to be a pass-catching WCO fullback, but he’s dropped passes in each of the first two games. More than a few times, the rookie has blocked the wrong defender or met the linebacker in the hole without delivering much pop.

However, Marecic’s determination to succeed should help him overcome those issues. After he got overpowered on one play, Marecic stood out on the next one, hauling in a pass, breaking a low tackle, then dropping his bucket and crunching the guy who managed to bring him down. Apparently, bad plays will push him to make many more good ones.

5th round speedster Buster Skrine also went through some growing pains in Friday night’s game. In the preseason opener, the rookie corner appeared to be in on every special teams tackle, but his specials play was more up & down in the second game. While he nearly broke a kickoff for a big gain, he also committed two false starts on punt coverage.

In addition, he had some mental lapses on defenses. On one play, he momentarily forgot he was in the NFL, failing to quickly tap a receiver who’d gone to the ground with the ball. The small corner showed he isn’t afraid to mix it up by delivering a couple hard hits, but he too often went with the shoulder check instead of wrapping up. Like UDFA defensive back James Dockery, he had an uneven game, but he may have already secured a roster spot. Indeed, both rookies could make the 53 man roster.

The Browns traded up for Jason Pinkston, giving up a pair of sixth round picks to nab the Pitt offensive lineman. The coaching staff’s moved the college left tackle inside, and he logged significant snaps against the Lions at left guard.

Pinkston came in on the team’s third series and mostly did a good job. At 6’3″ and close to 320 lbs., he possesses the ideal build for the position. He’s strong enough to anchor in pass pro and move people in the run game. However, he needs to clean up his technique before he’ll be ready to start. Pinkston’s footwork is a work in progress. He lets his feet get too wide, on one play getting beat for a pressure because of it. And on more than a few occasions, Pinkston got caught playing too tall, thereby negating his effectiveness in the run game. Perhaps it was due to him logging so many snaps: he also committed a sloppy holding penalty.

But one also could see Pinkston’s starting potential. He had a nice block on a long touchdown run; on another play, he pancaked d-tackle Quinn Pitcock. Because he’s battling in close quarters at guard, any tiny mistake can get him beat. But if he’s able to harness his potential, Pinkston could be a nasty cog in the Browns’ already very good offensive line.

With the team’s “build through the draft” philosophy, the Browns are putting a lot of faith in Tom Heckert’s scouting ability. Based on their 2010 draft haul, there’s good reason to believe he deserves that trust. Hopefully, his two draft classes will help the team be competitive week to week. And in time, the Browns could work their way out of the bottom half of the AFC North.