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Andrew Luck leading the way in 2012
By Steve Muench
Scouts Inc.
It's never too early to look ahead to next year, so here's a rundown of three potential 2012 NFL draft prospects from each offensive position group to watch when the 2011 college season kicks off.
Quarterbacks
Andrew Luck*, Stanford
Luck has everything NFL teams covet in franchise quarterbacks, including football acumen, accuracy, arm strength, mobility and size. He is the consensus favorite to be the first overall pick if he declares for the 2012 draft.
Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
The NCAA suspended five Ohio State players, including Pryor, for the first five games of the 2011 season, and it will be interesting to see how much the time off affects him. While he struggled against Miami, Wisconsin and Iowa last year, he had his best overall season. Overall, he has the raw tools that made Cam Newton and Jake Locker early picks this year despite their respective flaws.
Nick Foles, Arizona
Foles made strides in his second season as the Wildcats' starter last year, and he has the tools to develop into an effective starter in the NFL. However, he plays in a spread scheme that simplifies reads and he tends to lock on to his primary target.
Matt Barkley*, USC
Barkley is a field general with the tools and intangibles to be the No. 2 quarterback on this list, but he could return to USC for his senior season in 2012 and put himself in the running to go first overall in 2013.
Running backs
Trent Richardson*, Alabama
Richardson isn't as instinctive as 2011 first-round pick and former running mate Mark Ingram, but he has more natural ability. He is a big back with the power to produce between the tackles and speed to break long runs.
Dan "Boom" Herron, Ohio State
Herron is another one of the Ohio State players the NCAA suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season, and he too will have to make up for lost time when he gets on the field. Although he doesn't have elite size, he is a hard-nosed inside runner with enough burst to get outside.
Knile Davis*, Arkansas
At 220 pounds, Davis has the balance to run through would-be arm tackles, above-average lateral mobility for his size and the speed to rip off a long run when he gets a seam. Now that QB Ryan Mallett has moved on to the NFL, Davis will have to show scouts he can produce when he is the focal point.
Wide receivers
Justin Blackmon*, Oklahoma State
Blackmon made some talented corners look pedestrian in 2011, and there's no doubt he can stretch the field at the NFL level. He also shows great competitiveness both after the catch and when the ball is in the air. If he stays healthy and declares, he's the odds-on favorite to be the first receiver taken in the 2012 draft.
Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
Floyd is currently suspended, and although he is expected to return to the team, he's had three brushes with the law because of alcohol-related issues. However, he has the frame and ball skills to develop into a productive possession receiver and red zone threat at the next level.
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
Broyles doesn't have elite size, but he has the burst to separate from underneath man coverage and produce after the catch. He can also return punts.
Tight ends
Michael Egnew, Missouri
Egnew is coming off a breakout season, and he'll have to prove he wasn't just a flash in the pan in 2010. He doesn't offer much as an in-line blocker but he has the frame (6-foot-6, 240 pounds) to produce in the red zone and enough speed to make plays down the seam.
Orson Charles*, Georgia
Charles is another receiving tight end prospect who doesn't project as a strong in-line blocker but has the foot speed to get off the line and the burst to get behind linebackers off play-action.
George Bryan, NC State
Bryan isn't much of a big-play threat; however, he has the size (6-5, 265 pounds) and toughness to develop into an effective in-line blocker and reliable short-to-intermediate receiver.
Offensive linemen
Matt Kalil*, USC
The reason Tyron Smith, the No. 9 overall player drafted in 2011, lined up on the right side for the Trojans is Kalil has locked down the left side the past two seasons and has what it takes to do the same at the next level. There's also a lot to like about the bloodlines here. Carolina took older brother OC Ryan Kalil in the second round of the 2007 draft, and Buffalo drafted their father, Frank, in the 11th round of the 1982 draft.
Mike Brewster, Ohio State
Brewster enters his fourth season as the team's starting center, and there's a lot to like about his awareness. He also has good size (6-5, 305 pounds) and tenacity, which teams look for in their interior offensive linemen.
Riley Reiff*, Iowa
Reiff is a versatile offensive lineman with starting experience at guard and both offensive tackle spots over the past two seasons. He has the length at 6-6 to play tackle in the NFL but he might be a better fit on the right than he is on the left side.
By Steve Muench
Scouts Inc.
It's never too early to look ahead to next year, so here's a rundown of three potential 2012 NFL draft prospects from each offensive position group to watch when the 2011 college season kicks off.
Quarterbacks
Andrew Luck*, Stanford
Luck has everything NFL teams covet in franchise quarterbacks, including football acumen, accuracy, arm strength, mobility and size. He is the consensus favorite to be the first overall pick if he declares for the 2012 draft.
Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
The NCAA suspended five Ohio State players, including Pryor, for the first five games of the 2011 season, and it will be interesting to see how much the time off affects him. While he struggled against Miami, Wisconsin and Iowa last year, he had his best overall season. Overall, he has the raw tools that made Cam Newton and Jake Locker early picks this year despite their respective flaws.
Nick Foles, Arizona
Foles made strides in his second season as the Wildcats' starter last year, and he has the tools to develop into an effective starter in the NFL. However, he plays in a spread scheme that simplifies reads and he tends to lock on to his primary target.
Matt Barkley*, USC
Barkley is a field general with the tools and intangibles to be the No. 2 quarterback on this list, but he could return to USC for his senior season in 2012 and put himself in the running to go first overall in 2013.
Running backs
Trent Richardson*, Alabama
Richardson isn't as instinctive as 2011 first-round pick and former running mate Mark Ingram, but he has more natural ability. He is a big back with the power to produce between the tackles and speed to break long runs.
Dan "Boom" Herron, Ohio State
Herron is another one of the Ohio State players the NCAA suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season, and he too will have to make up for lost time when he gets on the field. Although he doesn't have elite size, he is a hard-nosed inside runner with enough burst to get outside.
Knile Davis*, Arkansas
At 220 pounds, Davis has the balance to run through would-be arm tackles, above-average lateral mobility for his size and the speed to rip off a long run when he gets a seam. Now that QB Ryan Mallett has moved on to the NFL, Davis will have to show scouts he can produce when he is the focal point.
Wide receivers
Justin Blackmon*, Oklahoma State
Blackmon made some talented corners look pedestrian in 2011, and there's no doubt he can stretch the field at the NFL level. He also shows great competitiveness both after the catch and when the ball is in the air. If he stays healthy and declares, he's the odds-on favorite to be the first receiver taken in the 2012 draft.
Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
Floyd is currently suspended, and although he is expected to return to the team, he's had three brushes with the law because of alcohol-related issues. However, he has the frame and ball skills to develop into a productive possession receiver and red zone threat at the next level.
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
Broyles doesn't have elite size, but he has the burst to separate from underneath man coverage and produce after the catch. He can also return punts.
Tight ends
Michael Egnew, Missouri
Egnew is coming off a breakout season, and he'll have to prove he wasn't just a flash in the pan in 2010. He doesn't offer much as an in-line blocker but he has the frame (6-foot-6, 240 pounds) to produce in the red zone and enough speed to make plays down the seam.
Orson Charles*, Georgia
Charles is another receiving tight end prospect who doesn't project as a strong in-line blocker but has the foot speed to get off the line and the burst to get behind linebackers off play-action.
George Bryan, NC State
Bryan isn't much of a big-play threat; however, he has the size (6-5, 265 pounds) and toughness to develop into an effective in-line blocker and reliable short-to-intermediate receiver.
Offensive linemen
Matt Kalil*, USC
The reason Tyron Smith, the No. 9 overall player drafted in 2011, lined up on the right side for the Trojans is Kalil has locked down the left side the past two seasons and has what it takes to do the same at the next level. There's also a lot to like about the bloodlines here. Carolina took older brother OC Ryan Kalil in the second round of the 2007 draft, and Buffalo drafted their father, Frank, in the 11th round of the 1982 draft.
Mike Brewster, Ohio State
Brewster enters his fourth season as the team's starting center, and there's a lot to like about his awareness. He also has good size (6-5, 305 pounds) and tenacity, which teams look for in their interior offensive linemen.
Riley Reiff*, Iowa
Reiff is a versatile offensive lineman with starting experience at guard and both offensive tackle spots over the past two seasons. He has the length at 6-6 to play tackle in the NFL but he might be a better fit on the right than he is on the left side.
