2011 NFL Draft,Wide Receiver, Niles Paul,Nebraska

Two-and-a-half year starter who was very productive in the run oriented Husker offense. Caught 40 passes, averaging 19.9 yards per catch. The big play receiver had nine catches for 35 yards or longer. He was second in the Big-12 in kickoff returns averaging 27.9 yards and punt returns averaging 10.7 yards. A big receiver with explosive speed (ran down a defender from behind who intercepted a pass.) Plays with average quarterbacks and is accustomed to making off-target catches. Runs like a running back after he catches the ball. Makes the catch, secures the ball, and can break a tackle or make the defender miss. Good running instincts. Will lay out for the ball. Competes for the ball in tight quarters. Good blocking effort on the perimeter. Tough and willing to go over the middle and catch a square-in route in traffic. West Coast type receiver who can catch the inside breaking routes. Comes back to the ball. Runs routes off motion. Athletic in his movement. Can create separation with double moves.

2011 NFL Draft, Wide Receiver, Greg Little, North Carolina

Three-year starter. Talented and athletic as any wide receiver in the 2011 draft, including projected juniors. The sticky wicket in Little’s production lies in the quarterback position where TJ Yates threw more interceptions than touchdown passes and consistently missed open receivers. The upside for the big receiver was that almost every catch he made was spectacular and magical. Has started at both running back and wide receiver during his career. Does it all – blocks, catches, and runs strong after catch. Slashes through arm tackles and finishes the play. Goes up after the ball at the high point with his strong hands and positions his body between the ball and defender. An impact player with long arms and big hands. Possesses natural ball skills. Plucks the ball away from his body. Has the foot quickness to beat press coverage. Can avoid and shows a burst to get upfield and separate. Big and strong enough for inside breaking routes. Good hip flexibility and knee bend. Adjusts to the flight of the ball and competes to catch it. Produced against good competition. Caught 62 passes for 724 yards and had 5 touchdowns. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry as a running back. According to the University of North Carolina, Little will not travel to play in season opener versus LSU. As many as 12 players may not participate in the game. Defensive tackle Marvin Austin is suspended indefinately.

2011 NFL Draft, Fullback, Stanley Havili, Southern California

Four-year starter who is versatile and productive. The true fullback position on most NFL teams is going by the wayside with leather helmets and button under crotch jerseys. Ball clubs are using tight ends, defensive linemen, or linebackers as lead blockers. Every year there is at least one true short-necked fullback that grew into playing the position. This year it is Havili. He is the total package of good blocking skills, hands to catch all the pass routes, and productivity as a runner. The former running back brings good running skills to the table along with the above mentioned attributes. He has good vision, feet, strength, and power between the tackles and in short yardage situations. Finishes his runs with effort and authority. A good athlete who flashes a burst around the corner. Not easy to tackle in the open field on screen passes. Can kick out or seal the edge force defender. A willing lead blocker who is explosive. Physical in his overall play.

2011 NFL Draft, Runningback, DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma

A four-year starter who has rotated with other backs over his career. A versatile athlete who plays in a spread offense. Has experience at wide receiver, in the slot, and takes the direct snap in the Wildcat along with his running back duties. As a freshman he averaged 29.3 yards per kickoff return. Solid overall run skills, inside and outside. Natural instincts and feel for running the ball. Quick reactions, vision, and has the ability to find and hit a crease with body lean. Runs with a low pad level and has good contact balance. Uses a strong stiff arm to ward off tacklers. A pick and slide type runner who is talented and can sidestep a tackler. Displays good hands to catch all the pass routes with good eye/hand coordination. Productive as a receiver with 86 catches for 977 yards in his career. Dependable and reliable to make plays as needed. A clutch player at crunch time. Productive over his career with 2471 yards rushing, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Fifth in career touchdowns with 41 and fourth in all purpose yards. Three time first team All Big-12 Academic. In 2007 he suffered a hamstring injury on the opening kickoff in the Big-12 Championship and missed the BCS Championship game. Dislocated a knee cap in 2007 in the eleventh game.

2011 NFL Draft, Running back, Daniel Thomas, Kansas State.

Two-year starter. Junior college transfer. Big-12 Newcomer of the Year in 2009 when he led the league in rushing with 1265 yards. A physical runner who runs with his eyes. Excellent vision. A slasher who can make the defender miss in the open field. A versatile athlete who played quarterback in high school and junior college. Bounces the ball outside quickly and instinctively if there is no hole. He will also make the tough one and two yard runs with his strong leg drive. An intelligent runner who can break tackles after initial contact. Has a burst through the hole. A natural downhill north/south runner. Keeps his shoulders square. Not easy to tackle. An offensive weapon with good running skills and patience. Plays out at wide receiver, in the slot, I-formation tailback, and takes the direct snap in the Wildcat from the center. Has receiver type soft hands. Can adjust to a poor pass and pluck the ball. A hand catcher. He needs technique work on his route running and blocking, but displays effort. He can take punishment as a runner and play with pain. Good contact balance and athletic speed. More of an upright runner. Was recruited to Florida as a quarterback out of high school but spent two years at NW Mississippi Junior College after not qualifying. Spent 2008 at Butler (KS) Junior College and Manhattan (KS) Christian working on academics. Enrolled at Kansas State in July 2009.

2011 NFL Draft, Quarterback, Christian Ponder, Florida State

Will be a three year starter. Graduated in 2 ½ years and has been working on his MBA for the past year and a half. Learning complex NFL offenses will not be a problem. Has Kurt Warner type accuracy. Consistent ability to keep receivers on their routes with few adjustments. Throws a catchable ball with timing, touch, and rare ball placement to his receivers. Completed 68.8 percent of his passes. Patient passing the ball. Lets the play develop while reading coverages, then delivers ball. Equally skilled at throwing horizontal or vertical passes with accuracy. Quick release. Always ready to throw, keeps the ball up at shoulder level or above. No wasted motion. Tight spiral with velocity. Quick feet. Gets to throwing point quickly in conventional or shotgun alignments. Good mechanics. Can scramble out, gather himself, and throw accurately.Quick and fluid. A poised leader who doesn’t get rattled. Features the arm strength to fit the ball into tight spots in the “red zone.” Quick twitch from vision to launch point. He sees it, he hits it. Makes plays left or right on the move. Accurate on bootlegs and waggles. Played in nine games in 2009 before he had surgery on his right shoulder after being injured in the Clemson game. He is expected to be full go when the season starts September 4th.

2011 Draft,Quarterback, John Locker, Washington

Three-year starter who is a dynamic playmaker. Possesses all the tools and athletic ability to succeed on the next level. Broke his thumb in game four against Stanford in 2008 which slowed his progress. Played in 2009 with a group of young receivers that dropped several passes early in the year but proved to be talented skill players by season’s end. Returned to the Huskies in 2010 to continue his development under quarterback guru and head coach Steve Sarkisian. Fundamentally, Locker is an ascending player who can throw from the pocket or on the move from a variety of deliveries. Plays in both a spread offense where he takes shotgun snaps and a pro style where he accepts the ball from under center. His arm is strong enough to throw deep and all the sideline passes. He can zip the tough deep comeback route. Has the innate ability to speed up his delivery under a heavy rush and gets the ball out of his hand quickly and on time. Can hit a moving target in stride on vertical patterns down the field. Particularly dangerous on play action, bootlegs, and waggle plays because of his movement skills. Rare foot quickness to make plays on the move. Explosive burst upfield when he pulls the ball down if receivers are covered, or when he runs the quarterback draw. Led the PAC-10 in total offense averaging 265.7 yards per game, including 2800 yards passing. He threw for 21 touchdowns and had 11 interceptions. Has good accuracy, decision making skills, poise, and leadership qualities.