In day four of our 2011 draft preview, we’ll take a look at the next group on our top-100 board. Here are the NFP’s prospects ranked 41-60:
41. DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue (6-4, 263)
Isn’t the most explosive athlete off the edge, but he plays with a great motor, understands how to use his hands and knows how to slip blocks. Expect him to be one of the most efficient pass rushers in the nation next season.
42. OT Joseph Barksdale, LSU (6-5, 315)
A gifted athlete with good range and fluidity off the edge. Showcases natural bend in his lower half and can anchor at the point, but he needs to do a better job maintaining balance and sticking to blocks through contact.
43. WR James Rodgers, Oregon State (5-7, 188)
Lacks ideal size, but he’s very sudden and explosive in the open field and projects as a potential impact-caliber slot guy at the next level.
44. DE Cliff Matthews, South Carolina (6-4, 250)
A productive SEC pass rusher who possesses the kind of get-off burst needed to threaten the edge at the next level. However, it’s his impressive body control that allows him to consistently maintain balance when flattening out around the corner.
45. ILB Nate Irving, North Carolina State (6-1, 235)
In my opinion, he was, without a doubt, one of the best linebackers I saw on tape in 2008. If he can regain his form from two seasons ago after missing last year because of injury, he should really make a move up draft boards.
46. OT Clint Boling, Georgia (6-5, 310)
A gifted athlete for his size who exhibits good range off the edge in pass protection, but he struggles to consistently keep his base down and isn’t much of a factor as an in-line run guy.
47. OL Benjamin Ijalana, Villanova (6-4, 320)
A downright dominant small-school lineman who has the makings to move himself up in the early part of the draft with another strong season.
48. CB Marcus Gilchrist, Clemson (5-11, 190)
A natural cover man who showcases good balance when asked to turn and run and knows how to find the football down the field. In my opinion, he was the best cornerback on Clemson last season – yes, better than Crezdon Butler and Chris Chancellor.
49. QB Pat Devlin, Delaware (6-4, 220)
The one senior quarterback to keep an eye on. Struggled with turnovers as a junior last season but has the skill set to set the world on fire at the I-AA level and make a strong push up draft boards.
50. RB Evan Royster, Penn State (6-1, 213)
Exhibits good power and patience inside and has a real feel for running between the tackles. However, he plays at one speed and looks to me like a poor man’s Matt Forte.
51. ILB Kelvin Sheppard, LSU (6-3, 239)
Possesses good size and power for the position and is surprisingly comfortable in space vs. the pass game. Displays a nose for the ball and will likely be one of the top tacklers again in the SEC.
52. WR Greg Little, North Carolina (6-3, 214)
He isn’t a burner by any stretch, but he knows how to separate underneath and is a load to bring down after the catch. Is one of the more intriguing wideouts in next year’s class.
53. WR Austin Pettis, Boise State (6-3, 201)
A long, lean receiver who possesses great concentration and body control when asked to go up and make a play on the football. Lacks elite burst or suddenness out of his breaks but projects as a potential solid No 2-type option.
54. DT Colby Whitlock, Texas Tech (6-2, 287)
He isn’t the biggest of defensive tackles but displays a good first step, uses his hands well to fight his way through contact and has a motor that never stops. A guy who knows how to cause havoc inside.
55. FB Stanley Havili, USC (6-1, 230)
One of the better fullback prospects to come along in years. He can reach defenders off his frame as a lead blocker, looks comfortable catching the ball out of the backfield and knows how to create with the ball in his hands.
56. DB Ras-I Dowling, Virginia (6-2, 200)
A talented defensive back who does a nice job playing the football down the field. However, he consistently gets too upright in his drop and struggles to quickly break down and cleanly change directions. Looks more like a free safety prospect than a corner.
57. LB Josh Bynes, Auburn (6-2, 239)
Another well-built SEC linebacker with good power and closing speed inside. However, he simply isn’t as instinctive as the other linebackers who have already made our list.
58. DE Jabaal Sheard, Pittsburgh (6-4, 260)
Plays with impressive natural bend and balance when flattering out around the corner and does a great job making himself small when accelerating toward the quarterback. Has been overshadowed by teammate Greg Romeus but is a heck of a player in his own right.
59. S Ahmad Black, Florida (5-9, 190)
A veteran presence in the Florida secondary who might lack great size/speed numbers, but he redirects well in space and knows how to make plays on all areas of the field.
60. S Jaiquawn Jarrett, Temple (6-2, 195)
Don’t sleep on this Temple standout. He not only possesses the size and power to tackle in the run game, he’s also extremely fluid for his size when asked to change directions and close on the football vs. the pass.
Follow me on Twitter: @WesBunting
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