2011 NFL Draft Gets a Boost as Underclassmen Deadline Passes

Heisman Winner and National Champion Auburn QB Cameron Newton was one of several high profile underclassmen to declare for the upcoming 2011 NFL Draft

The final list of underclassmen declaring for the upcoming 2011 NFL Draft is completed and this year’s group is a record-breaker.  Though there could be a rookie salary cap on the horizon, a record 56 underclassmen declared for the draft this year — surpassed the former record of 53 underclassmen declaring for the 2008 and 2010 NFL drafts.

This year’s draft class’ pedigree definitely increased with the infusion of younger talent.  Despite marquee quarterback, Oliver Luck (Stanford),  preferring to play against the little guys for another season in college, this year’s NFL draft class is shaping up to be fairly deep. The four positions that seemed to benefit the most from underclassmen joining the fray are Defensive Line (Fairley, Bowers, Watt and others) Quarterback (Mallett, Newton, and Gabbert); Wide Receiver (Green, Cobb, Baldwin, and others); and Running Back (Dion Lewis, Mark Ingram, Evans and others);

One note that all the declaring underclassmen should have noticed was that the NFL still making a concerted effort to draft seniors, so some of the youngsters better expect to go the undrafted free agent route.  In the 2010 NFL Draft, there were only 46 underclassmen drafted compared to 209 seniors.  However on the flipside,  last year’s draft produced 17 underclassmen first rounders including first overall pick St. Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford.

The underclassman whom I will be most interested in seeing where he lands in the upcoming draft is Heisman Trophy winner and National Championship quarterback Cameron Newton from Auburn. The dual-threat quarterback put up spectacular numbers in the 2010 college football season including 185-280, 2854 yards, 66.1 %, 30 TDs and 7 INTs with a 182.05 quarterback rating.  Plus Newton rushed for 1,473 yards and 20 TDs as he joined Tim Tebow and Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick as the only players in NCAA history to compile 20+ touchdowns passing  and rushing in the same season.  On the upside, I see the junior eligible as a cross between talented Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman and veteran Donovan McNabb.  However you also have to wonder if he could be the next Akili Smith (1-year college wonder) or Vince Young (talented, but undisciplined) at the next level.

Underclassmen who have declared for the 2011 NFL draft

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and Sports Journey Broadcast Network , who is also an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)