This list has been updated on Jan. 19.
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 19:
Darvin Adams, WR, Auburn Height: 6-3. Weight: 185.
Projected 40 Time: 4.49.
Projected Round (2012): 5-7.
Darvin Adams is a late-round prospect.
The Verdict: Bad move
Justin Houston, DE/OLB, Georgia Height: 6-3. Weight: 257.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2011): 1-2.
Justin Houston could go as high as No. 21 to Kansas City or even No. 18 to San Diego, so he’s making the right move.
The Verdict: Good move
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 16:
Jamel Hamler, WR, Fresno State Height: 6-2. Weight: 195.
Projected 40 Time: 4.58.
Projected Round (2011): 7-FA.
Probably UDFA fodder.
The Verdict: Irrelevant
Taiwan Jones, RB, Eastern Washington Height: 6-1. Weight: 200.
Projected 40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round (2011): 6-FA.
Taiwan Jones led Eastern Washington to a Division 1-AA championship. He may not be drafted.
The Verdict: Irrelevant
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 15:
Nick Fairley, DE/DT, Auburn Height: 6-4. Weight: 299.
Projected 40 Time: 4.95.
Projected Round (2011): Top 2 Pick.
If Nick Fairley isn’t taken by the Panthers, he’ll be headed for Denver.
The Verdict: No-brainer
Jerrard Tarrant, S, Georgia Tech Height: 6-0. Weight: 205.
Projected 40 Time: 4.57.
Projected Round (2011): 4-6.
Jerrard Tarrant is a talented player, but has some character concerns. Not sure why he’s declaring early, but it’s a poor football move.
The Verdict: Bad move
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 14:
Randall Cobb, WR/PR, Kentucky Height: 5-11. Weight: 188.
Projected 40 Time: 4.43.
Projected Round (2011): 4-6.
A mid-round prospect, Randall Cobb probably made a mistake declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft.
The Verdict: Bad move
Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn Height: 6-6. Weight: 250.
Projected 40 Time: 4.57.
Projected Round (2011): Top 25 Pick.
Cam Newton could go as high as No. 3 to Buffalo, but will probably be selected in the teens. He had to declare; his chances of getting away with another 1-year, $180,000 contract were pretty slim.
The Verdict: Good move
Stevan Ridley, RB, LSU Height: 6-0. Weight: 223.
Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
Projected Round (2011): 5-7.
Stevan Ridley is a power back who doesn’t offer much in the passing game.
The Verdict: Bad move
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 13:
Nick Claytor, OT, Georgia Tech Height: 6-6. Weight: 285.
Projected 40 Time: 5.25.
Projected Round (2011): FA.
Who???
The Verdict: Irrelevant
Henry Hynoski, FB, Pittsburgh Height: 6-2. Weight: 260.
Projected 40 Time: 4.85.
Projected Round (2011): 4-5.
Henry Hynoski is a tremendous blocker with solid pass-catching ability. He’s only a mid-round prospect, but you can’t blame him for declaring early given all the turmoil at Pittsburgh.
The Verdict: Good move
Corey Liuget, DE/DT, Illinois Height: 6-3. Weight: 295.
Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2011): 1-2.
Corey Liuget is parlaying his tremendous 2010 campaign into a possible first-round spot.
The Verdict: Good move
Tyler Sash, SS, Iowa Height: 6-1. Weight: 210.
Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
Projected Round (2012): 3-4.
Not sure if Tyler Sash is desperate for money or not, but this is a poor football move. He is 23 though, so you can’t blame him for declaring early.
The Verdict: Mixed feelings
Sealver Siliga, DT, Utah Height: 6-3. Weight: 300.
Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2011): FA.
Lacks game, but has a cool name.
The Verdict: Irrelevant
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 12:
Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois Height: 6-1. Weight: 228.
Projected 40 Time: 4.51.
Projected Round (2011): 1-2.
Mikel Leshoure could actually be the first running back off the board.
The Verdict: Good move
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 11:
Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh – Scouting Report Height: 6-5. Weight: 225.
Projected 40 Time: 4.50.
Projected Round (2011): 1-2.
Jonathan Baldwin is coming off a poor season, but could still be a first-round pick depending on how he looks at the Combine.
The Verdict: Good move
Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh Height: 5-8. Weight: 195.
Projected 40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round (2011): 2-4.
You can’t blame Dion Lewis for declaring; Pittsburgh’s football program is in complete disarray.
The Verdict: Good move
Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU Height: 6-1. Weight: 218.
Projected 40 Time: 4.47.
Projected Round (2011): Top 5 Pick.
One of the top cornerback prospects in a long time, Patrick Peterson could go as high as No. 2 overall.
The Verdict: No-brainer
Quizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State Height: 5-7. Weight: 191.
Projected 40 Time: 4.45.
Projected Round (2011): 4-6.
Why? Quizz Rodgers is a mid-round prospect. There’s no reason he should have declared.
The Verdict: Bad move
Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech Height: 5-10. Weight: 206.
Projected 40 Time: 4.43.
Projected Round (2011): 2-4.
Ryan Williams has a wide draft range because he really struggled in 2010, and will need a very strong Combine to move back into Round 2 consideration. Williams should have returned to school.
The Verdict: Bad move
Martez Wilson, ILB, Illinois Height: 6-4. Weight: 250.
Projected 40 Time: 4.57.
Projected Round (2012): 1-2.
Entering a very weak linebacker class, Martez Wilson is projected to be the No. 1 inside linebacker in the 2011 NFL Draft.
The Verdict: Good move
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 10:
Robert Sands, S, West Virginia Height: 6-5. Weight: 215.
Projected 40 Time: 4.62.
Projected Round (2011): 2-3.
Robert Sands is a Day 2 safety prospect. I don’t feel strongly either way about his decision.
The Verdict: Mixed feelings
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 9:
Lawrence Guy, DE/DT, Arizona State Height: 6-5. Weight: 293.
Projected 40 Time: 4.91.
Projected Round (2011): 3-4.
Lawrence Guy had a down year and is just a mid-round prospect. I don’t get this decision.
The Verdict: Bad move
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 8:
John Clay, RB, Wisconsin Height: 6-1. Weight: 248.
Projected 40 Time: 4.64.
Projected Round (2012): 7-FA.
John Clay lost his job last year and fell to third string on Wisconsin. He probably won’t be drafted.
The Verdict: Irrelevant
Jamie Harper, RB, Clemson Height: 6-0. Weight: 235.
Projected 40 Time: 4.50.
Projected Round (2011): 3-4.
I’m all for running backs avoiding injury, but Jamie Harper is a late Day 2 prospect (at best) entering a league that currently doesn’t have a high demand for running backs.
The Verdict: Mixed feelings
Julio Jones, WR, Alabama Height: 6-4. Weight: 210.
Projected 40 Time: 4.42.
Projected Round (2011): Top 25 Pick.
Julio Jones is a top-25 prospect and could go as high as No. 14 to St. Louis.
The Verdict: Good move
Rahim Moore, FS, UCLA Height: 6-1. Weight: 197.
Projected 40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round (2011): 1-2.
Rahim Moore is the top-rated safety. This was an easy choice.
The Verdict: Good move
Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri Height: 6-5. Weight: 260.
Projected 40 Time: 4.64.
Projected Round (2011): Top 20 Pick.
Aldon Smith is a highly athletic pass-rusher with a ton of upside who produced as a mere redshirt freshman at Missouri. He should come off the board in the early teens.
The Verdict: Good move
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 7:
Marcell Dareus, DE/DT, Alabama Height: 6-3. Weight: 306.
Projected 40 Time: 4.90.
Projected Round (2011): Top 10 Pick.
Pretty much a top-10 lock, Marcell Dareus is obviously making the right choice.
The Verdict: No-brainer
Darren Evans, RB, Virginia Tech Height: 6-0. Weight: 210.
Projected 40 Time: 4.52.
Projected Round (2011): 4-6.
Darren Evans was once a highly regarded prospect, but tore his ACL last year. He’s currently a mid-round running back.
The Verdict: Mixed feelings
Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama – Scouting Report Height: 5-10. Weight: 215.
Projected 40 Time: 4.44.
Projected Round (2011): Top 25 Pick.
If you’re a running back projected to go in the top two rounds, you almost have to declare early to avoid injury.
The Verdict: Good move
Thomas Keiser, DE/OLB, Stanford Height: 6-5. Weight: 252.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2011): 3-4.
At least one Stanford Cardinal made the right decision today. Thomas Keiser is a mid-round prospect, but is currently an academic senior. With a new coach at Stanford, Keiser is making the right move.
The Verdict: Good move
Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas – Scouting Report Height: 6-7. Weight: 238.
Projected 40 Time: 5.05.
Projected Round (2011): Top 15 Pick.
Despite his single-digit IQ and unbelievably long release, Ryan Mallett is projected to go in the top 15. It’s hard to believe that he made a better decision than a Stanford student athlete.
The Verdict: Good move
J.J. Watt, DE/DT, Wisconsin Height: 6-6. Weight: 287.
Projected 40 Time: 4.90.
Projected Round (2011): Top 20 Pick.
J.J. Watt’s pretty much in the same situation that Cameron Heyward was in last year – a Big Ten defensive lineman capable of playing the 3-4 or 4-3 projected to go in the top 20. Unlike Heyward, Watt’s making the right decision by declaring a year early. He just had a monstrous year.
The Verdict: Good move
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 6:
Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson Height: 6-4. Weight: 280.
Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
Projected Round (2011): Top 10 Pick.
Da’Quan Bowers could go as high as No. 4 to Cincinnati, so this move was a no-brainer.
The Verdict: No-brainer
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 5:
Brandon Harris, CB, Miami Height: 5-11. Weight: 195.
Projected 40 Time: 4.41.
Projected Round (2011): Top 20 Pick.
So much for being “85-percent sure” about returning to school. Brandon Harris was the No. 3 corner in the 2011 NFL Draft, but getting torched by Michael Floyd in a winter practice game wasn’t a good sign. Still, it’s a good move because there’s a coaching change in Miami.
The Verdict: Good move
Zane Parr, DE/DT, Virginia Height: 6-6. Weight: 275.
Projected 40 Time: 4.92.
Projected Round (2011): 6-FA.
Who???
The Verdict: Irrelevant
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame Height: 6-6. Weight: 260.
Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
Projected Round (2011): Top 40 Pick.
Kyle Rudolph is a borderline first-round prospect. He’s making the right move by declaring.
The Verdict: Good move
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 4:
Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA Height: 6-4. Weight: 252.
Projected 40 Time: 4.64.
Projected Round (2011): Top 25 Pick.
This is a no-brainer. Barring injury, Akeem Ayers is pretty much locked into the first round.
The Verdict: Good move
Brandon Burton, CB, Utah Height: 6-1. Weight: 187.
Projected 40 Time: 4.50.
Projected Round (2011): 1-2.
Brandon Burton was once a hot commodity, but he really struggled down the stretch. He’ll need great workouts to sneak into Round 1.
The Verdict: Mixed feelings
Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana Height: 6-3. Weight: 199.
Projected 40 Time: 4.52.
Projected Round (2011): 3-5.
Tandon Doss is a mid-round prospect, but with a new coach and quarterback at Indiana, you can certainly understand why he’s declaring early.
The Verdict: Mixed feelings
Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri Height: 6-5. Weight: 240.
Projected 40 Time: 4.71.
Projected Round (2011): Top 20 Pick.
Blaine Gabbert is fat, inaccurate and unprepared to play in an NFL offense. That’s why he’ll be a top-20 pick. Umm… what?
The Verdict: Good move
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 3:
Tori Gurley, WR, South Carolina Height: 6-4. Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.59.
Projected Round (2011): 3-5.
Tori Gurley is a mid-round prospect, but you can’t fault him for declaring early considering his age (23).
The Verdict: Good move
Muhammed Wilkerson, DT, Temple Height: 6-5. Weight: 301.
Projected 40 Time: 5.09.
Projected Round (2011): 2-3.
You can’t blame Muhammed Wilkerson for declaring amid a coaching change. He’ll probably be taken on Day 2.
The Verdict: Good move
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 2:
Jordan Todman, RB, Connecticut Height: 5-9. Weight: 189.
Projected 40 Time: 4.41.
Projected Round (2011): 2-3.
Jordan Todman is striking while the iron’s hot. He has a good chance of being drafted in the second round.
The Verdict: Good move
Shane Vereen, RB, California Height: 5-10. Weight: 198.
Projected 40 Time: 4.45.
Projected Round (2011): 2-3.
Shane Vereen probably should have waited a year, but I have no problem with a running back trying to avoid injury.
The Verdict: Mixed feelings
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Jan. 1:
Aaron Williams, CB, Texas Height: 6-1. Weight: 189.
Projected 40 Time: 4.44.
Projected Round (2011): 1-2
Aaron Williams is a borderline first-round pick, and it helps him that Brandon Harris said he’s 85-percent sure he’s going back to Miami.
The Verdict: Good move
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Dec. 31:
DeAndre Brown, WR, Southern Miss Height: 6-6. Weight: 228.
Projected 40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round (2011): 4-6.
DeAndre Brown is injury-prone and lethargic. He also has character issues. Some team may give him a chance because of his unbelievable talent, but other teams won’t even have him on their draft board.
The Verdict: Bad move
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Dec. 30:
Torrey Smith, WR/KR, Maryland Height: 6-1. Weight: 200.
Projected 40 Time: 4.41.
Projected Round (2011): 2-3.
Torrey Smith won’t be a first-round pick in all likelihood, but given the coaching change, you can understand why he declared early.
The Verdict: Good move
Underclassmen Declaring for the 2011 NFL Draft – Dec. 24 and Earlier:
Jurrell Casey, DT, USC Height: 6-1. Weight: 295.
Projected 40 Time: 5.04.
Projected Round (2011): 2.
Jurrell Casey will likely be drafted in the second round. He apparently needs the money for a sick family member, which is a shame because he could use another year at USC.
The Verdict: Mixed feelings
A.J. Green, WR, Georgia Height: 6-4. Weight: 190.
Projected 40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round (2011): Top 8 Pick.
A.J. Green could go as high as No. 2 to Cincinnati. He had to come out early.
The Verdict: No-brainer
Will Hill, FS, Florida Height: 6-1. Weight: 202.
Projected 40 Time: 4.53.
Projected Round (2011): 2-4.
You can’t really blame Will Hill for declaring early considering the coaching change at Florida.
The Verdict: Good move
Jerrell Powe, NT, Ole Miss Height: 6-2. Weight: 330.
Projected 40 Time: 5.35.
Projected Round (2011): 2-3.
Jerrell Powe is 24 years old. He had to declare.
The Verdict: Good move
Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina Height: 6-5. Weight: 268.
Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
Projected Round (2011): Top 10 Pick.
Robert Quinn was unjustly suspended by the corrupt NCAA.
The Verdict: No-brainer
Tyron Smith, OT, USC Height: 6-6. Weight: 285.
Projected 40 Time: 5.02.
Projected Round (2011): 2.
Tyron Smith is a young tackle with a ton of upside. The problem is that sub-300-pound tackles are seldom drafted in the first round. His draft status really depends on how he performs and weighs in at the Combine.
The Verdict: Mixed feelings
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