Here are my top 20 running backs for the 2011 NFL Draft.
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama
2. Mikel Leshoure, Illinois
3. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech
4. Daniel Thomas, Kansas State
5. Jordan Todman, Connecticut
6. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma
7. Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington
8. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
9. Shane Vereen, California
10. Delone Carter, Syracuse
11. Noel Devine, West Virginia
12. Jamie Harper, Clemson
13. Bilal Powell, Louisville
14. Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State
15. Roy Helu Jr., Nebraska
16. Da'Rel Scott, Maryland
17. Alex Green, Hawaii
18. Anthony Allen, Georgia Tech
19. Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh
20. Stevan Ridley, LSU
Sleeper: Mario Fannin, Auburn
Here is a list of players that there are rumors that they are considering leaving early for the 2011 NFL Draft.
QB Cam Newton, Auburn – Junior
QB Andrew Luck, Stanford – Red-Shirt Sophomore
QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas – Junior
RB Mark Ingram, Alabama - Junior
RB Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech - Red-Shirt Soph.
RB John Clay, Wisconsin – Junior
RB Shane Vereen, Cal – Junior
RB LaMichael James, Oregon – Red-Shirt Soph.
WR A.J. Green, Georgia - Junior
WR Julio Jones, Alabama - Junior
WR Jon Baldwin, Pittsburgh - Junior
WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame - Junior
WR Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma – Junior
WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State - Red-Shirt Soph.
TE Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame - Junior
TE George Bryan, North Carolina State - Junior
OT Tyron Smith, USC – Junior
DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina - Junior
DE Marcel Dareus, Alabama - Junior
DE Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson - Junior
DE Aldon Smith, Missouri - Red-Shirt Soph.
DE J.J. Watts, Wisconsin – Junior
DT Nick Fairley, Auburn - Junior
DT Jurrell Casey, USC - Junior
OLB Akeem Ayers, UCLA - Junior
OLB Travis Lewis, Oklahoma - Junior
OLB Justin Houston, Georgia – Junior
ILB Don'ta Hightower, Alabama - Red-Shirt Soph.
ILB Korey Williams, Southern Mississippi – Junior
CB Patrick Peterson, LSU - Junior
CB Aaron Williams, Texas - Junior
CB Janoris Jenkins, Florida - Junior
CB Brandon Burton, Utah - Junior
CB Brandon Boykin, Georgia – Junior
S Rahim Moore, UCLA - Junior
S Mark Barron, Alabama - Junior
S Robert Sands, West Virginia - Junior
1. Mark Ingram, Alabama - Junior
2. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma - Senior
3. Daniel Thomas, Kansas State - Senior
4. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech - Red-Shirt Sophomore
5. Noel Devine, West Virginia - Senior
6. Evan Royster, Penn State - Senior
7. LaMichael James, Oregon - Red-Shirt Sophomore
8. Mikel LeShoure, Illinois - Junior
9. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State – Senior
10. Shane Vereen, California - Junior
Before the season started and when people where thinking and talking about the 2011 NFL Draft, many people thought that Virginia Tech’s red-shirt sophomore running back Ryan Williams would declare early and possible be a first round pick. There was never any real talk about Oregon’s red-shirt sophomore running back LaMichael James declaring early. James had a rough off-season as he pleading guilty to a misdemeanor harassment charge stemming from an altercation with his former girlfriend, and was suspended for the season opener. Ryan Williams came into the season with a lot of pre-season hype and a huge showdown with Boise State to open the season. Despite rushing for two touchdowns, Williams didn’t have a great day running the football and only ended up with 40 yards on 20 carries and in the third game of the season against East Carolina hurt his hamstring and didn’t play against Boston College or in last week win against North Carolina State.
James is coming off his best performance of the season in a win against Stanford in where he rushed for 257 yards and 3 touchdowns. This season he has 712 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns and is averaging 8 yards a carry and is starting to get more talk about the Heisman Trophy with Oregon be in the National Title hunt.
Williams has a much more NFL body then James does being 5-10 202 pounds compared to James who only is 5-9 185 pounds. But James has shown last years as well as this year that he can be explosive and be a home run hitter. He has the ability to make people miss in the open field and has exceptional agility. The question is because of his lack of bulk could he hold up against NFL defenses. Running back in the one position that NFL teams really like to see guys come out early cause a running back only has so many carries and can take a pounding in college football.
