2011 NFL Draft
Unknowns You Must Know
- Ten Freak of Nature
Prospects
- Ten Great Value Picks
- Ten Big Names Who'll Go
Late
- Ten Unknowns You Must Know
The ten players who you probably didn't see
play, but will be among the most important picks over the next
few days.
1. OT Benjamin Ijalana, Villanova (OG) 6-4, 319
Is he a guard or a tackle? Where he plays, he’s a massive, extremely strong prospect with just enough athleticism to get by. While he missed the Combine with a hernia problem, he was able to get through every game in his long career and fought through all the bumps and bruises. He doesn’t play up to his size or his bulk, and he might need some work to learn how use all his skills to become a killer. If someone is patient, he could eventually be someone’s left tackle, but he could be most amazing if he’s used on the right side.
CFN Projection: Second Round
2. OLB Brooks Reed, Arizona (DE) 6-2, 263
Insanely strong, he’s a big, physical defender who has the size and the toughness to work on the line as a pass rushing 4-3 end, and he’s just fast enough to be a decent outside linebacker. With a good fire and a passion for the game, he brings the want-to and the work ethic, fighting to do whatever he needs to. He’s missing the raw athleticism to ever be great, and he’s not going to do anything in pass coverage, but he can be a functional starter who comes up with a nice career if he’s surrounded by better linebackers.
CFN Projection: Second Round
3. DT Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple 6-4, 315 (Jr.)
While his production mostly came in MAC play, he was ultra-productive and ultra-reliable as the anchor of a very good Temple defense. With his size and bulk, he has the raw mass needed to sit in the middle someone’s line, but he also has the tools and the quickness to get into the backfield and work as a 3-4 end if needed. Now he has to get better and go to work on coming up with more creative moves. He got by on simply having better skills than everyone he was facing, but that’s not going to work at the next level. He needs coaching and needs technique work, and he’ll probably be overdrafted in a strong class of tackles, but the potential and talent are undeniable.
CFN Projection: Second Round
4. CB Davon House, New Mexico State 6-0, 200
The 4.46 wasn’t bad at the Combine and was extremely quick, but he was awful in the ball drills and couldn’t hang on to the ball in any way. However, he made 11 career picks with 37 broken up passes and has decent ball skills, but he was the most talented fish in the WAC pond and dominated against weaker competition. He has the size and he’s athletic enough to be part of a veteran secondary, but he’s missing the elite skills to be anything more than a decent starter. Not all that strong and not a big hitter, he can’t be moved to safety, but everything else is in place to be productive.
CFN Projection: Third Round
5. DT Kenrick Ellis, Hampton 6-5, 346
A massive, MASSIVE body who blocks out the sun, he’s a true tackle who has the ideal size needed to stuff the interior and hold up when getting slammed by double teams. He’ll have to show he can handle playing against the big boys on a regular basis after beating up players at the lower level, but he was good enough to start out at South Carolina. Booted after a slew of issues with drug tests, he has to prove he has the knucklehead streak kept under wraps and he has to prove that he wants to do all the little things needed to be great. In a draft full of great tackles he might not be worth the time and the patience if drafted too high, but it’s hard to find bodies like his and it’s hard to find players who can be as physical.
CFN Projection: Third Round
6. TE Charles Clay, Tulsa 6-3, 245 (FB)
Is he a tight end or a fullback or an H-back or all of the above? He’s not fast, with his 4.73 40 time at the Combine not helping the cause, and he doesn’t have the raw size or the blocking skills to be a blocking back for a running game, but he’s a tremendous receiver. A great route runner, he makes every grab and will use his versatility to find role as a swing player for several positions.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round
6. ILB Nick Bellore, Central Michigan 6-1, 245
A natural-looking man for the middle, he was phenomenally productive for four years making 472 tackles. He doesn’t miss a stop and he’s a tough, hard-working, lunch pail type who gets his nose dirty on every play and leads well by both example and vocally. The problem comes against the good blockers. He gets erased too easily and can’t seem to fight through the trash well enough to be a run stuffer; he’s more of a tackler who runs to the ball. He is what he is; there’s nothing to develop and what you see is what you’re going to get.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round
7. OT DeMarcus Love, Arkansas (OG) 6-5, 318
With a great frame and good bulk, he could work as a guard if absolutely needed. He’s always fighting and always looking to bury his man. However, he doesn’t look the type of an NFL guard and he’s not quite athletic enough to be a top tackle. After a rough off-season of workouts, looking overmatched in the Senior Bowl practices, he’s not a great fit for any pro attack. He’ll be a decent part of a line, but he won’t be a great starter to rely on to do much shoving around.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round
8. WR Vincent Brown, San Diego State 5-11, 187
It would be nice if he was bigger and it would be wonderful if he wasn’t glacier-slow, but he’s functionally fast and didn’t seem to have a problem coming up with the big play. Awesome during Senior Bowl week, he ripped up the next-level defensive backs and caught everything that came his way. He could be an ultra-reliable third down receiver who runs perfect routes and is as reliable as they come. He’ll become a quarterback’s best friend.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round
9. OT Jah Reid, UCF 6-7, 325
A polarizing prospect, he lost over 50 points over his college career and became a more agile, more effective blocker with a long, strong frame that’s tough to get around. He has worked to become a solid player and still could be scratching the surface on his talent, but he doesn’t sink down enough and tends to block like he’s 6-7. He’s not the quickest or most athletic blocker around, and he’ll never work on the left side, but someone is going to be really, really interested in the possibilities of a blocker with his frame.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round
10. SS Jeron Johnson, Boise State (SS) 5-10, 212
Athletic and tough, he has the raw tools and ability, helped by 23 reps on the bench, to be a solid strong safety. He moves well and he’s built for the position with a thick frame and a compact hitting ability. Experienced, he was a regular over the last four seasons for the strong Bronco secondary and was ultra-productive. While he’s a big hitter, he’s going to knock himself out of games. He didn’t at Boise State, but he might be too physical for his own good. Yes, he’s athletic, but he’s not going to do too much against the pass.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round
- Ten Freak of Nature
Prospects
- Ten Great Value Picks
- Ten Big Names Who'll Go
Late
- Ten Unknowns You Must Know