Pass rush: is a much better pass rusher than people give him credit.  Dareus gets out of his stance quickly due to an excellent first step. Is agile enough to move around and doesn’t simply have to rely on power moves. Closes fast on the quarterback. Has technically sound handwork to disengage from blockers. Good rip move. Uses some on stunts but looked good.

Pursuit: Consistently plays with high effort and is relentless. Shows good balance to maintain his pace when getting knocked around. Some questioned his effort as a junior, but Dareus routinely saw multiple blockers in 2010. He still finished with 11 tackles for loss as a junior.

Quickness: Dareus has surprising foot quickness for a player his size. Consistently gets across the face of offensive linemen. Is fluid in the hips to turn and move laterally down the line.
Run defend: Does a great job on the edge maintaining his position. Anchors his position nicely. Shows good leg drive to move blockers around. Although Dareus is stout against the run, he’s not necessarily the kind of lineman who can fill two gaps.

Strength: Dareus has NFL-ready strength throughout his frame. He’s thick in his lower body, which helps him bull rush. Got to show his strength playing the nose on occasion in 2010. That showed especially against Florida when he easily handled center Mike Pouncey with a bull rush.

Tackling: Is a sudden, hard-hitting tackler. Isn’t a big-time hitter like other interior linemen in this class. However, he’s more technically sound in his wrap-up.

Technique: An experienced five-technique, Dareus is the top 3-4 defensive end in the draft because of his long arms and technique. He consistently extends his arms to hold the edge. Stays low like a veteran to get leverage. Dareus’ technique is NFL ready and why he could be a good contributor early in his career.

Final word: It’s not often 3-4 defensive ends come along who are as polished, strong and athletic as Dareus. Playing end in Alabama’s pro-style 3-4 defense, Dareus should start as a rookie if a team with the same scheme picks him up.

He’s a good pass rusher for such a big player, but most teams will like him for his run-stopping ability. Dareus is powerful throughout his frame and should be able to hold the edge well.

Dareus really came on toward the end of the 2009 season and won defensive MVP honors in the BCS National Championship game. Suspended the first two games of 2010 after the NCAA found he accepted benefits from an agent. Has overcome a rough upbringing.

Coverage: Has shown some improvement in this area, but was never required to consistently drop back in coverage. That changed some under new coordinator Tim DeRuyter. As such, Miller is raw in his technique and following routes. He has the athleticism to make up for missteps, but can be fooled on double moves. Is better when asked to cover man-to-man than in zone. At times looks lost when there are receivers working behind him.

Instincts/recognition: Miller is a “see ball, get ball” athlete who coaches can let loose. If he’s put in a system where he can freelance, he should be fine. But Miller’s play recognition skills are only decent. He should improve here facing more-complicated looks in the pros. If he doesn’t, it will be hard for Miller to live up to his eye-popping college stats.

Pass rush: Miller was the “joker” for A&M, a hybrid linebacker/defensive end position that allowed him to stand up near the line of scrimmage. The pass rush is where he’ll make his money in the NFL and perhaps garner him a first-round position. Miller is aplomb at working to the outside because of his great first step and follow-up speed. He’s surprisingly strong working to the inside and gets good natural leverage due to his height. But if Miller comes out of his stance too high, offensive linemen can easily neutralize him in space. Miller has a variety of pass rush moves, his best being an inside spin.
Pursuit/Lateral movement and agility: Miller is tenacious in pursuit as long as he’s free to run around. He has good range and lateral fluidity. Has good playing speed for a linebacker to close on the ball carrier. Needs to show more anticipation as he’ll often run himself out of a play.

Quickness: Possesses great quickness off the snap. This is by far Miller’s best feature. Is quick with his footwork and handwork. Can get up to his full speed in an instant. Very explosive out of a two-point stance.

Run defense: Because of what he was asked to do at A&M, Miller is behind the curve in run defense. Looked better in run defense as a senior, but still gives up too much space to the outside. Needs to learn to play more contained and fill gaps. Gets held up by power linemen, especially guards pulling. Because he can’t anchor, teams can elect to run at Miller and have success.

Strength/Ability to shed blocks: Is the kind of player who prefers to run around blockers instead of through them. Doesn’t have the lower body strength to anchor and hold up on the line of scrimmage. Because of that, Miller can be washed out of plays. Is fairly strong in his upper body to hit and tackle.

Final word: Miller is going to make a lot of money thanks to a player like Clay Matthews of the Packers’ They’re very similar in that they played a hybrid pass rusher position in college.

But if Miller wants to succeed like Matthews has, he has some work to do. Matthews left USC at a similar size as Miller, but he’s bulked up 15 pounds since then. Miller will have to do the same so he can better play the run and handle the load of a 3-4 linebacker. Right now, Miller just doesn’t have the lower body strength to consistently play his side of the field.

Will enter the NFL raw in pass coverage and suspect against the run. Was mostly used at A&M as an upfield player and will start his pro career in the same role. If a team needs someone to purely get after the quarterback, that’s Miller. He could be a big-time mover up draft boards, similar to Matthews two years ago and Koa Misi in 2010.

Struggled early in his senior season due to a knee sprain. Really came on toward the end of 2010 with eight tackles in his final six games. Finished the year with 10.5 sacks.

Pass rush: Fairley is the premier one-gap defensive tackle in this year’s class due to his ability shoot the gap and get after the passer. Fairley finished 2010 with 12 sacks, including three in a standout performance against LSU. Most of his big plays come off the swim move. Has quick hands to get his arm over the blocker. Closes in a hurry and with aggression.

Pursuit: Is a player who is almost always on the move toward the ball carrier. Has the athleticism to move all around the line. Despite being somewhat limited in experience, Fairley shows good run/pass recognition. When Fairley plays with a lot of effort, he can move all around the field to make a tackle. But some question if Fairley always gives full effort on every play.  As sensational as he is on some plays, Fairley can be completely non-existent on others. It’s an issue that Auburn head coach Gene Chizik brought up early in the season. Fairley showed better effort toward the end the season, however.

Quickness: For player of his size, Fairley has a great burst off the snap. Most of his game is centered around his quickness off the ball. Played basketball in high school and it shows in his foot speed. People will always compare Fairley to Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy and in the quickness category, he’s right there with them.
Run defend: Is a long-armed defender who can be disruptive in the run game. Even where the run isn’t coming right at him, Fairley can impact the run game simply by reaching his arms out and rerouting the ball carrier. Does a lot of his work against the run against single blockers. Fairley doesn’t always do well against multiple blockers. Still, he can be an asset against the run by taking up multiple blockers.

Strength: Doesn’t have the kind of strength where he can beat double teams on a consistent basis. Looks like he can get stronger in his lower body. Can get pushed bak too often. Has a frame to add 20 pounds without it having a negative impact on his game.

Tackling: Fairley is a scary tackler. Every time he has room to make a hit, it’s an explosive one. If football doesn’t work for Fairley, his tackling shows he clearly has a future in pro wrestling. He frequently liked to suplex players. Several of Fairley’s tackles could get him fined in the NFL, so it will be interesting to see if he’ll continue his tackling technique at the next level.

Technique: Shows good hand fighting. Uses his hands well to keep blockers out of his pads. Has long arms, which is beneficial to his technique. Doesn’t take false steps that get him out of position.

Final word: Fairley was unquestionably the breakthrough player in the 2010 college football season. No one expected him to tally 11.5 sacks and 24 tackles for loss as a junior. In his first full season starting, Fairley was a force on his way to the Lombardi Award.

The question some will have about Fairley is if he’s a one-year wonder. As a redshirt sophomore in 2009. Fairley struggled with inconsistency and only had 28 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Prior to that, Fairley attended Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) Community College. Considering that Fairley only played one year on the defensive line in high school, he’s not exactly a seasoned tackle.

Still, he is a dangerous, gap-shooting defensive tackle. His attitude could transform a lackadaisical defense into a ferocious one. He’s the kind of player rival teams will hate because of his sometimes-dirty play. Although Fairley doesn’t apologize for the way he plays, it’s unlikely he’ll get away with the same tactics in the NFL.

What he’ll be able to get away with is firing gaps and getting after the ball carrier. Fairley has uncanny quickness and will be a terror blitzing. Everyone is going to compare him to Suh, and that’s not fair. Maybe a more-apt one for Fairley is Kevin Williams of the Vikings.

Pass rush: Shows signs of being a very good edge rusher. Is very good at getting his shoulder down, bending his knees and working around the outside. Lined up at every game in 2009 at right end, which is impressive for a sophomore. Needs to develop a counter move to go with a terrific outside rip move.

Pursuit: Has shown the agility to move around and isn’t just a straight forward pass rusher. Doesn’t look stiff in the hips and is flexible in the torso. Plays with a lot of effort, so pursuit isn’t a question. Has the kind of quickness to break to the outside to beat offensive tackles to the inside.

Run defense: Gets off blocks well, which helps him against the run. Outstanding short area quickness that helps him fire through to the tackle. However, Quinn needs to get stronger to better handle the run. Is better working the edge instead of standing his ground and driving his legs. As mentioned, he has the lateral movement to get outside and make plays.

Strength: Possesses decent strength. Doesn’t have tight skin, but consistently jolts blockers with his first hand move. Sheds blocks especially well with an arm swipe. Still developing in this area and has the frame to get much stronger. Can be easily washed out by double teams.

Tackling: Explosive on contact, as evidenced when he had an nasty effort sack against Duke in 2009. Better tackling in the open field than most college defensive ends. Does a nice job of sinking his hips and firing through the ball carrier. Gives a great effort at all times.

Technique: Quinn gets so much pressure because of his leverage and hand usage. He does really well dipping to the outside and quickly disengaging.

Final Word: Robert Quinn is an incredibly hard prospect to judge. When he’s played, he’s played well. But he’ll have sat out a whole year after the NCAA ruled him ineligible for accepting $5,642 in benefits from an agent. Still, it’s hard to look too negatively at a player who had 19 tackles for a loss and 11 sacks as a sophomore in 2009. Quinn showed he has the talent as a pass rusher to be worth a top 10 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. His quickness is very good and he an uncanny ability to get around the corner after the passer.

Some teams may have medical concerns about Quinn. In high school, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Even though doctors told Quinn his playing career may be over, he persevered. One thing that can’t be questioned about Quinn is his effort. He’s a classic to-the-whistle player and gives a great second effort.

To stay as a 4-3 end, Quinn needs to get stronger to help support the run. But he showed in 2009 that he has the athleticism to move to outside linebacker in a 3-4 system. Gets compared to DeMarcus Ware of the Cowboys, but isn’t quite as complete of a player. However, he has the upside to get there. Offseason workouts will be huge for Quinn.

Coverage/Zone Defense Skills: For as freaskishly athletic as Carter is, you’d expect him to be a much better pass defender. However, his zone coverage is lacking and he’s late to react when the ball is in the air. He has the agility and foot speed to cover tight ends, but needs to get a better understanding of routes. Is a real terror against screen passes. Against them, Carter can show off his combination of athleticism and speed.

Instincts/Recognition: Returning for his senior year, Carter should only show more improvement in this area. He has been questionable at times in the past on reading plays pre-snap and making adjustments. Has to use his speed and quickness to make up for being a step late at times breaking on the ball. If Carter doesn’t improve in this area as a senior, it may lead some teams to question his work ethic in the film room.

Pass Rush: Carter is somewhat miscast at North Carolina in that he’s too frequently asked to drop back in coverage. If he played in a defensive scheme that called for more pressure from the linebackers, the opinion of Carter might be higher here. But as it is, he’s somewhat green in the pass rush. He clearly has the tools to be an excellent pass rusher but doesn’t get to show it often. With his struggles to shed blocks and the extra attention he’ll get in 2010, don’t look for Carter to show a lot of tangible improvement in this area.

Pursuit/Lateral Movement and Agility: Carter is incredible in pursuit. He can change direction instantly and gets up to his top speed quickly. He takes proper angles toward the ball carrier and can be a violent hitter. He shows fluid hips which helps his change-of-direction ability and stop on a dime in the open field. As aggressive of a player as Carter is, he maintains good balance in his movement. Ran a reported 4.39 40-yard dash.

Quickness/Explosion: Displays plus quickness, especially at the snap. Really fires out of his stance to get around the corner and at the ball carrier. Gets to show his explosion on field goals and extra points. Blocked five kicks last year because he knows how to properly time the snap and fire out of the blocks.

Strength/Ability to Shed Blocks: Strictly on a play-to-play basis, this is where Carter needs to show the most improvement. Carter has plenty of raw strength – his bench press is 440 pounds and he has a 374-pound power clean. But that strength doesn’t always translate when shedding blocks. Has said he’s up to 240 pounds but plays at 230. If he Carter is put on a 3-4 team, he may have to play at about 250.

Versatility: For now, Carter should be first considered a weak-side linebacker in a 4-3 scheme. His pass rush skills haven’t matured quite as much as maybe they should have. But with proper coaching, Carter has the athletic talents to move into a 3-4 OLB role if he can add some strength to shed blocks better.

Final Word: At the moment, Carter is as much of an athlete as he is a football player. His athletic skill is unquestioned. He’s fast, agile and strong. But he hasn’t put it all together on the field yet. In 2009, he had 7.5 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries and two sacks – hardly impressive stats.

Carter returned to school to get his degree. What that extra year of college football should do for him could be invaluable.

Agility/Hips: A converted running back, Prince shows great flexibility in his hips and top-notch agility. He has the ability to change direction quickly. Is able to chop his feet to change direction. Flips his hips quick and effectively.

Ball Skills: Plays the ball well. Able to locate and track the ball. Plays mostly with his back to the quarterback, but shows an ability to flip and find the ball. 5 interceptions in 2009 may seem minor, but few teams challenged Amukamara, so this number is much more impressive.

Body Control: Has the balance and quickness of a running back. Shows great foot speed and burst. Very balanced and aware of his body. Able to adjust to the ball in flight. Very impressed with his ability to shuffle his feet and sprint.

Instincts/Recognition: Although under-experienced, Amukamara’s instincts are top-notch. Has a good ability to read the receiver and jump routes. Anticipates the route well. Reads the quarterback when given the ability to play with his face to the passer.

Man coverage/turning ability/press skill: Very good at re-routing receivers. A physical corner, Amukamara is at his best in man coverage. Excels at bump and run against college receivers, but may not be as dominant against NFL level receivers. Shows a good press at the line. Is quick enough to recover if his press fails. Detractors will point at the excellent Nebraska pass rush and the fact that Amukamara was not asked to hold his coverage for long periods of time.

Pursuit: Very able and willing, but this is one area where his lack of elite speed does hurt. Will not catch receivers or backs from behind. Could benefit from taking better angles down field. Comes up to attack the run well and racks up tackles in run support.

Speed: Is more quick than fast. Great in short bursts, but may be outran by receivers. Fortunately he is able to use his vision, strength and agility to contend with receivers.

Tackling/Run Support: An able and willing tackler. Not afraid to play in the box and attack the line of scrimmage. Has been used on corner blitzes and shows great natural instincts when closing on the ball. Actually had 2 sacks in 2009.

Zone coverage: Shows the skills to excel in zone coverage, but has not been used much as a zone cover man. Is tall with long arms, which enables him to reach the ball at its highest point. Has the footwork to sink in to coverage, and the quickness to recover and come up to the ball.

Final Word: Only a two-year starter at Nebraska, he does not have the experience of other top cornerbacks in the class. However, Amukamara has more talent than those players. Although somewhat untested, he has gone up against top wide receivers in the Big 12 and is plenty battle tested.

Given the top grade by National scouts during the preseason, Amukamara must live up to his hype in 2010.

Pass Rush/Closing ability/Moves and counter moves: Playing in a zero technique at times, Austin was not asked to purely rush the passer. What he does excel at is collapsing the pocket and creating pressure on the quarterback by driving interior linemen backward. Has exceptional closing speed. When he breaks free of his blocker and closes on the quarterback, he does so quickly. Tries to use a spin move, but loses depth when spinning and opens himself up to blockers. Would benefit from a shoulder dip or power move instead of adding finesse moves (a juke and spin move).

Pursuit/Lateral movement and agility: Has the speed to run down screens and counters. Moves his feet well. Can shuffle down the line. Loose hips. His closing speed is impressive. Against Boston College, Austin breaks free of the guard and closes 5yds on the quarterback in one second (hand-timed)- causing a fumble that he almost recovers. His speed and athletic ability are somewhat unreal. Foot speed is dangerous and can slide past guards with ease. Austin never gives up on a play and even when putting himself out of position, he fights to get back to the ball.

Quickness/Explosion: Can be slow off the line of scrimmage at times. Would be quicker off the ball if he fired out of his stance low instead of standing up at the point of attack. Is much more athletic than the majority of defensive tackles. Moves with ease. Is athletic enough to play defensive end. When he does explode, Austin is unstoppable. Has the ability to push and collapse the pocket.

Run defend/Recognition: Recognizes the run quickly and effectively. Reads the line well and works down the line of scrimmage to the hole. Is very good at sniffing out a counter or trap and adjusting to the play. Is smart enough to pull down his blocker if he realizes he cannot get away from the block- freeing up tackling lanes for his teammates.

Size/Length/Hand size: Has ideal size for a defensive tackle. Has the bulk to plug holes, but is still a lean and athletic player. Is a new breed of tackle- lean, athletic and quick.

Strength/Ability to shed blocks: Slips blocks more than anything. Does not have to overpower many college blockers, but must improve at this to compete in the NFL. Locks his arms and keeps his eyes up. Able to locate the ball while engaged and is strong enough to disengage from the blocker.

Tackling: Works off blocks well and can make tackles while engaged. Is a strong and able tackler. Is aggressive at the point of attack. Looks for the high-kill shot a little often, but is a sure tackler.

Technique/Hand use/Leverage: Will stand up out of his stance too often. Must fire out lower, and with better pad height. Can be pushed off the ball, but has the strength and agility to slip blockers and recover. Makes many tackles after being initially popped by a guard or center. Tries to play patty-cake too often with blockers, he almost looks hesitant to engage the interior lineman. Improved as the season progressed at driving the center back off the ball. Dominated Virginia Tech in the 2nd half. Austin is an aggressive player who can take over a game with his ability to collapse the pocket and pressure the quarterback. Against Boston College Austin showed much better technique, firing off the ball low and using his hands to free himself from blockers.

Versatility: Has experience lining up over the center, but has the athletic ability to play any position on the defensive line. While Austin looks most likely to line up as a three-technique tackle in the NFL, we believe he could slide outside to defensive end in a 3-4 scheme and become a dominating player.

Final Word: In scouting defensive tackles lately, we have been blessed to see the likes of Glenn Dorsey, Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy and Sedrick Ellis. In 2009 we proclaimed Ndamukong Suh the best defensive player we had ever scouting- and we are sticking to this. However, Marvin Austin is the most athletic defensive tackle we have seen to date. His ability to chase down the ball carrier and his freakish speed make him among the most dangerous defensive players in college football. He has the full arsenal of strength, size, speed and awareness that NFL General Managers are looking for in today’s defensive tackle.

While Austin may not be the pure player Suh is, he is a deadly combination of Suh’s ability to collapse the pocket and Gerald McCoy’s speed and athleticism.

Accuracy: Locker has had issues in the past with his accuracy. He showed improvement in this area last season playing in a pro-style offense but still have some concerns. Locker has the arm to make every deep pass, but his accuracy becomes inconsistent. Showed marked improvement on underneath routes but still tends to strong-arm the ball on short throws. Accuracy seems to be based more on arm strength than rhythm and touch.

Arm strength: One of Locker’s more intriguing traits is his arm strength. His arm will be one of the strongest in the 2011 draft and compares favorably to the strongest in the NFL. While arm strength isn’t necessarily the most important trait in a quarterback, it’s certainly something nice to have in the arsenal.

Athleticism/mobility: Possesses as much athleticism and mobility as someone could want in a starting quarterback. A high school baseball star, Locker clearly has athletic chops. His feet are quick and he’s agile enough to elude defenders. Reportedly runs a 4.4 40-yard dash, which is probably an exaggeration.

Decision making: In the past, Locker’s athleticism has been a detriment to his decision making. He would too quickly pull the ball down and run instead of reading his progressions. He still tends to carry that issue and gets too antsy in the pocket. This forces the line to hold their blocks longer, which leads to more pressure.

Field vision: This is the other area where Locker needs to show improvement as a senior. He is generally a one-read and throw quarterback. Against teams that can disguise coverage, Locker has issues. He needs to do a better job of working through his reads. Early in his career, Locker often had to go to his No. 1 option because the skill position at Washington were lacking. That’s the case no more, so if Locker’s field vision doesn’t improve this year, his ranking will suffer.

Mechanics: Locker’s mechanics make him just as good or better than any draft-eligible quarterback in college, especially his release. Locker tends to hold the ball low on his chest as he drops back. You’d like to see him hold it a little higher, but Locker’s next move is lightning quick. He cranks the ball back in an instant and fires it right over his ear. He doesn’t windup at any point and doesn’t waste a motion. As is the case with most college quarterback, Locker has spent most of his time in the shotgun. As he plays under center more, he’ll get more comfortable reading defenses as he drops back.

Pocket awareness/poise: As mentioned in the decision making category, Locker has a tendency to move around a lot in the pocket. Needs to show as a senior that he can set his feet, plant and throw. When he shuffles his feet, Locker’s accuracy drops considerably. Appears to feel the blitz fine. Has the strength throughout his frame to handle hits.

Final word: Quarterbacks as athletic and strong-armed as Locker don’t come around often. In his first year in head coach Steve Sarkisian’s pro-style offense, Locker improved as a pocket passer. Add his incredible ability and speed and you have a front-line football player. He showed better pocket presence in 2009 but still needs to improve in that area. He can be very good in the play action game and can throw effortlessly on the move.

Locker seems to finally be realizing his upside after being slowed by injuries as a sophomore. It’s scary, but we likely haven’t seen the best of Locker yet. If he can improve some on his touch, Locker has the look of a No. 1 overall pick.

Locker was a two-sport star in high school and was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 10th round of the MLB Draft. . Locker has had several injuries, including a broken thumb, a neck issue, a hamstring that slowed him as a sophomore and currently has an injured hand.

When you look at Locker as a whole, he smacks of a boom or bust prospect. His deficiencies – accuracy, field vision and pocket presence – are the same as quarterbacks who often bust. But it’s impossible to ignore his athleticism, arm strength, toughness and potential to improve more under Sarkisian.

Running back:
CJ Spiller (Clemson)
Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech)
Jahvid Best (Cal)
Ryan Matthews (Fresno State)
Joe McKnight (USC)
Toby Gerhart (Stanford)
Montario Hardesty (Tennessee)
Ben Tate (Auburn)
Anthony Dixon (Mississippi State)

Wide Receiver
Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State)
Golden Tate (Notre Dame)
Brandon LaFell (LSU)
Damian Williams (USC)
Jordan Shipley (Texas)
Demaryius Thomas (Georgia Tech)
Arrelious Benn (Illinois)
Dexter McCluster (Ole Miss)
Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati)
Jacoby Ford (Clemson)
Danario Alexander (Missouri)
Dezmon Briscoe (Kansas)

Tight End:
Jermaine Gresham (Oklahoma)
Aaron Hernandez (Florida)
Ed Dickson (Oregon)
Anthony McCoy (USC)
Dennis Pitta (BYU)

Offensive Tackle:
Russell Okung (Oklahoma State)
Bryan Bulaga (Iowa)
Trent Williams (OU)
Anthony Davis (Rutgers)
Charles Brown (USC)
Vladimir Ducasse (UMass)
Rodger Saffold (Indiana)
Sam Young (Notre Dame)

Offensive Guard:
Mike Iupati (Idaho)
John Jerry (Ole Miss)
Ciron Black (LSU)
Mike Johnson (Alabama)
Shawn Lauvao (Arizona State)

Center:
Maurkice Pouncey (Florida)
JD Walton (Baylor)
Mitch Petrus (Arkansas)
Eric Olsen (Notre Dame)

Defensive End:
Derrick Morgan (Georgia Tech)
Carlos Dunlap (Florida)
Jason Pierre-Paul (South Florida)
Corey Wootton (Northwestern)
Jerry Hughes (TCU)
Greg Hardy (Ole Miss)
Everson Griffen (USC)
George Selvie (South Florida)
Jermaine Cunningham (Florida)
Alex Carrington (Arkansas State)
Charles Young (Hampton)

Defensive Tackle:
Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)
Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma)
Dan Williams (Tennessee)
Jared Odrick (Penn State)
Brian Price (UCLA)
Tyson Alualu (Cal)
Terrence Cody (Alabama)
Lamarr Houston (Texas)
Geno Atkins (Georgia)
Arthur Jones (Syracuse)
Jeff Owens (Georgia)
Cam Thomas (North Carolina)
Dane Robinson (Buffalo)

Outside Linebacker:
Sergio Kindle (Texas)
Brandon Graham (Michigan)
Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri)
Navorro Bowman (Penn State)
Ricky Sapp (Clemson)
Roddrick Muckelroy (Texas)
Koa Misi (Utah)
AJ Edds

Inside Linebacker:
Rolando McClain (Alabama)
Brandon Spikes (Florida)
Daryl Washington (TCU)
Sean Lee (Penn State)
Pat Angerer (Iowa)

Cornerback:
Joe Haden (Florida)
Kyle Wilson (Boise State)
Patrick Robinson (FSU)
Trevard Lindley (Kentucky)
Javier Arenas (Alabama)
Devin McCourty (Rutgers)
Kareem Jackson (Alabama)
Brandon Ghee (Wake Forest)
Amari Spivey (Iowa)
Donovan Warren (Michigan)
Dominique Franks (Oklahoma)

Safety:
Eric Berry (Tennessee)
Earl Thomas (Texas)
Taylor Mays (USC)
Chad Jones (LSU)
Nate Allen (USF)
Morgan Burnett (Georgia Tech)
Reshad Jones (Georgia)
Robert Johnson (Utah)
Darrell Stuckey (Kansas)

5’11, 194 pounds | Cornerback | Oklahoma

Agility: Franks is really smooth in his movements and one of the more athletic cornerbacks in the draft. His hips are fluid and he can flip with ease.

Ball Skills: Has above-average hands to get interceptions. Knows when to get his hands up to make a play on the ball. Times his jumps pretty well and has a solid vertical leap.

Instincts: Franks’ recognition skills indicate that he maybe should have returned for his senior season. He makes unnecessary risks and reads the quarterback more than he reads the receiver. Beaten too easily by double moves and pump fakes.

Man coverage: Not much of a press man cornerback, Franks tends to play further off the line to rely on his athleticism. Doesn’t have the playing strength to redirect receivers. Has tremendous recovery speed if he gets beat.
Size: Possesses adequate size and strength. Average arm length, but he knows how to use what he has.

Speed: Good straight-line speed – ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the combine. Doesn’t lose his speed when changing direction. Looks to have a second gear.

Tackling: Average as a tackler. Doesn’t always like to mix it up and is more willing to just move the receiver to the sideline. Shouldn’t be relied on much in run support. Mostly a leg lunger. Pursues pretty good, however.

Zone coverage: Mostly played in man coverage, but looked really good in zone formations. Because of Franks’ athleticism and closing speed, he can give a good cushion, tricking the quarterback into thinking his receiver is open. Still, he has shown his inexperience here. May need to learn some about coverage shifts and follow a safety’s call.

Final word: Franks is a two-year starter who maybe should have returned for another year. His athleticism and agility is excellent. He definitely looks the part and can become a starting cornerback. But there are some real concerns about his instincts and football intelligence.