Top 100 prospects for 2011: Part 5
In day five of our 2011 draft preview, we’ll take a look at the next group on our top-100 board. Here are the NFP’s senior prospects ranked 61-80:
61. RB Allen Bradford, USC (5-11, 235)
Showcases good balance and patience running inside with the power to consistently break tackles and accelerate into the open field. Could be one of the draft’s fastest-rising running backs with a strong season.
62. OL Jarriel King, South Carolina (6-5, 310)
A guy I really loved off tape after the 2008 season and thought had the makings of one of the better offensive linemen in the nation. However, he was very inconsistent last season and has some medical concerns that could worry NFL teams.
63. DL Christian Ballard, Iowa (6-5, 285)
Possesses one of the most explosive first steps of any defensive tackle in the country and makes a living in opponents’ backfields. Has a frame built to play the DE position at the next level, but could be a hot commodity as a potential five-technique come April.
64. DE Brooks Reed, Arizona (6-3, 255)
Struggled his way through an injury-riddled junior season, but when this guy is healthy, he possesses the burst and motor to be a force off the edge.
65. TE D.J. Williams, Arkansas (6-2, 250)
A versatile pass catcher who can line up all over the offense and make plays down the seam. Exhibits impressive athleticism for a guy his size and has the natural power to break tackles and create with the ball in his hands.
66. DE Ricky Elmore, Arizona (6-5, 260)
Isn’t quite the same caliber of athlete as teammate Brooks Reed, but he has a big frame with some suddenness/power on contact and is absolutely relentless in pursuit.
67. OT Rob McGill, Louisiana Tech (6-6, 310)
A tall, long-armed blocker who looks comfortable in pass protection and displays the range to consistently reach the edge. Isn’t getting a ton of attention right now, but could be in store for a big rise up draft boards with another strong year.
68. RB DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma (6-0, 214)
Possesses the straight-line speed to be dynamic in the open field and also catches the ball well out of the backfield. But he runs too upright to consistently be effective between the tackles and looks to me like a third-down option.
69. DT Adrian Taylor, Oklahoma (6-4, 292)
Would be ranked a lot higher if it weren’t for his many medical concerns. He’s a long, powerful lineman with the ability to be disruptive inside, but it’s anyone guess how effective he can be in 2010 coming off a severe leg injury.
70. TE Mike McNeill, Nebraska (6-4, 240)
A savvy pass catcher who has a real feel for finding soft spots underneath and is also a better athlete than given credit for.
71. OG Justin Boren, Ohio State (6-3, 315)
Isn’t the greatest of lateral athletes inside but plays with a good pad level, keeps his base down and has the lower body strength to anchor and win at the point in the run game.
72. RB Graig Cooper, Miami (6-0, 205)
It’s a shame he tore his ACL in Miami’s bowl game last season because before the injury, I thought he was easily the nation’s second-best senior running back. It will be interesting to see if he’s healthy and ready to go in September.
73. CB Charles Brown, North Carolina (5-10, 205)
Possesses good strength and overall physicality in press coverage and does a nice job rerouting wideouts off the line. Just needs to continue working on the finer points of the game and do a better job turning and locating the football.
74. FB Charles Clay, Tulsa (6-3, 230)
There aren’t too many things this guy can’t do. He runs with power/shiftiness inside, can pluck the football out of the backfield and shows a willingness to block as a lead guy. Looks like a future “do-it-all” type of fullback at the next level.</p>
75. DE Pernell McPhee, Mississippi State (6-4, 285)
A strong, stout lineman who exhibits an impressive first step and overall body control for his size. He’s still trying to figure out the SEC game after coming from the junior college ranks but has an intriguing NFL-caliber skill set.
76. TE Luke Stocker, Tennessee (6-6, 253)
Possesses great size for the position and has the ability to use his big frame to box defenders out underneath as well as win at the point in the run game.
77. DE Pierre Allen, Nebraska (6-5, 265)
An intriguing size/speed guy who possesses some natural pass rush ability, but it will be interesting to see how he does this year without Ndamukong Suh eating up blocks inside.
78. SS Duke Ihenacho, San Jose State (6-1, 210)
Lacks great straight-line speed, but he’s a natural athlete who reads and reacts quickly and always seems to flying around the football.
79. DL Ladi Ajiboye, South Carolina (6-1, 280)
An explosive one-gap penetrating-type lineman who exhibits a great first step and has the ability to consistently create havoc inside. However, he might be better suited to make the move outside to the DE spot at the next level.
80. OLB Michael Morgan, USC (6-4, 220)
The physical skill set is there. This guy can run sideline to sideline and looks like a safety when asked to track the football. But he needs to continue adding more power/girth to his lower half and do a better job diagnosing his run/pass keys.
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