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New tackles join the Big Board
A pair of well-regarded tackles measure up against better competition and make the cut
By Mel Kiper
ESPN.com
Getting the feel for how good an offensive tackle can be isn't an easy science. Just asking who got beat isn't enough. From how physical a guy is, to his footwork, to his arm length, to his ability to make adjustments -- the list can go on and on.
But competition is key. A pair of new tackles join the Board this week after showing up big in big games. Fans in Wisconsin have been commenting for months about the absence of Gabe Carimi on this list, and while I liked Carimi enough to consistently keep him among the Top 5 players at his position, I really wanted to see him put together a more consistent stretch, and do it against big-time competition. After another solid week in a huge win, he gets the nod this week. As well, another tackle from the SEC has joined the mix.
As always, juniors and draft-eligible sophomores are noted with an asterisk.
1) Andrew Luck *, Stanford QB 6-4 235
Analysis: Arm, footwork, size, smarts and poise are all there. Solid year, with 16-4 TD-INT ratio through six games. Last week: No. 1
2) A.J. Green *, Georgia WR 6-4 207
Analysis: After a four-game suspension, Green has been unstoppable. Scheduling downer: He won't face off against LSU's Peterson this season. Last week: No. 2
3) Prince Amukamara, Nebraska CB 6-1 202
Analysis: Safety size with lockdown corner skills. Amukamara has necessary speed and leads a deep CB class. QBs totally avoiding him. Last week: No. 3
4) Patrick Peterson *, LSU CB 6-1 211
Analysis: Amazing size-speed combo. Essentially takes a WR out of the game plan. Will be interesting to see if Cam Newton is willing to challenge him at all. Last week: No. 4
5) Robert Quinn *, North Carolina DE 6-4 267
Analysis: A freakish athlete with decent size, great quickness and pass-rush skills. Ineligible for the year, but scouts still in awe of talent. Last week: No. 5
6) Marcell Dareus *, Alabama DE 6-3 306
Analysis: There's a chance Dareus could be a 3-4 DE, but I think he's better suited as a 4-3 DT. Explosive, disruptive, with a great motor. Last week: No. 6
7) Da'Quan Bowers *, Clemson DE 6-4 277
Analysis: A great athlete at his size, Bowers leads the nation in TFL and continues to fly up the Board. Prototype as a 4-3 DE, he's put it all together. Last week: No. 11
8) Jake Locker, Washington QB 6-3 228
Analysis: Solid TD-INT ratio, but completion percentage actually down from last year. Arm, athleticism and intangibles are there. Last week: No. 7
9) Adrian Clayborn, Iowa DE 6-3 282
Analysis: Clayborn isn't moving down as much as Bowers simply had to move up. Solid recently after a slow start to 2010. Last week: No. 8
10) Mark Ingram *, Alabama RB 5-10 216
Analysis: Ingram is averaging more yards per rush than he did last year, when he won the Heisman. Solid, shifty and a terror once he reaches the second level. Last week: No. 9
11) Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue DE 6-4 259
Analysis: Disruptive, relentless pass-rusher with decent power versus the run. Kerrigan's now a regular recipient of chips, TEs and double-team help. Last week: No. 10
12) Akeem Ayers *, UCLA OLB 6-4 251
Analysis: His exceptional athleticism makes him so versatile. He can rush the passer or cover from the linebacker position. Perfect as an OLB in a 3-4. Last week. No. 12
13) Ryan Mallett*, Arkansas QB 6-7 238
Analysis: Not even Locker can match Mallett for arm strength. Has improved accuracy and can drill the deep intermediate routes. Last week: No. 13
14) Allen Bailey, Miami DE 6-4 288
Analysis: Still developing at DE after making the switch last year. Bailey could project as a 3-4 or 4-3 DE. Just a pair of sacks, but he's also solid in the run game. Last week: No. 14
15) Cameron Heyward, Ohio State DE 6-6 282
Analysis: Comes off a forgettable week where he and the Buckeyes were gashed by the Wisconsin O-line. Still elite; will be watching to see how he bounces back. Last week: No. 15
16) Ras-I Dowling, Virginia CB 6-2 200
Analysis: Like Peterson and Amukamara, Dowling is now feeling the freeze with QBs not throwing in his direction. Last week: No. 16
17) Julio Jones *, Alabama WR 6-4 211
Analysis: Jones has been solid this year and has shown both toughness in playing hurt and better concentration. He had dropped some big passes last year. Last week: No. 17
18) Nate Solder, Colorado OT 6-9 313
Analysis: Solder has bounced back after I called him out regarding some lackluster performances. Still improving, he's a big-time physical talent. Last week: No. 19
19) Jon Baldwin *, Pittsburgh WR 6-5 225
Analysis: Great physical skills and size, Baldwin has had a rocky season in the Pitt offense and needs more opportunities. Last week: No. 21
20) Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State OT 6-6 305
Analysis: Debuts on the Big Board after another solid performance in the win over Florida. An athlete who really moves his feet well, Sherrod has been steady. Last week: NR
21) Bruce Carter, North Carolina OLB 6-3 230
Analysis: Smart, reliable outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense. Could add size but uses speed to cover entire field. Needs to develop rush skills. Last week: No. 22
22) Rahim Moore *, UCLA S 6-1 196
Analysis: Just a single INT for Moore this year after leading the nation last year. QBs always know where he is in 2010. Last week: No. 23
23) Ryan Broyles *, Oklahoma WR 5-11 179
Analysis: Remarkable production at Iowa State with 15 catches. Broyles hasn't seen a corner who can stay with him or zone scheme that can blanket him. Last week: No. 24
24) Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin OT 6-7 327
Analysis: Carimi has been on the edge of the Big Board all year and jumps in this week after a really solid performance against a talented Ohio State D-line. Last week: NR
25) Marvin Austin, North Carolina DT 6-3 305
Analysis: Austin may not be eligible, and certainly his place here is tenuous as other prospects emerge, but his talent is of the first-round variety. Last week: No. 25
A pair of well-regarded tackles measure up against better competition and make the cut
By Mel Kiper
ESPN.com
Getting the feel for how good an offensive tackle can be isn't an easy science. Just asking who got beat isn't enough. From how physical a guy is, to his footwork, to his arm length, to his ability to make adjustments -- the list can go on and on.
But competition is key. A pair of new tackles join the Board this week after showing up big in big games. Fans in Wisconsin have been commenting for months about the absence of Gabe Carimi on this list, and while I liked Carimi enough to consistently keep him among the Top 5 players at his position, I really wanted to see him put together a more consistent stretch, and do it against big-time competition. After another solid week in a huge win, he gets the nod this week. As well, another tackle from the SEC has joined the mix.
As always, juniors and draft-eligible sophomores are noted with an asterisk.
1) Andrew Luck *, Stanford QB 6-4 235
Analysis: Arm, footwork, size, smarts and poise are all there. Solid year, with 16-4 TD-INT ratio through six games. Last week: No. 1
2) A.J. Green *, Georgia WR 6-4 207
Analysis: After a four-game suspension, Green has been unstoppable. Scheduling downer: He won't face off against LSU's Peterson this season. Last week: No. 2
3) Prince Amukamara, Nebraska CB 6-1 202
Analysis: Safety size with lockdown corner skills. Amukamara has necessary speed and leads a deep CB class. QBs totally avoiding him. Last week: No. 3
4) Patrick Peterson *, LSU CB 6-1 211
Analysis: Amazing size-speed combo. Essentially takes a WR out of the game plan. Will be interesting to see if Cam Newton is willing to challenge him at all. Last week: No. 4
5) Robert Quinn *, North Carolina DE 6-4 267
Analysis: A freakish athlete with decent size, great quickness and pass-rush skills. Ineligible for the year, but scouts still in awe of talent. Last week: No. 5
6) Marcell Dareus *, Alabama DE 6-3 306
Analysis: There's a chance Dareus could be a 3-4 DE, but I think he's better suited as a 4-3 DT. Explosive, disruptive, with a great motor. Last week: No. 6
7) Da'Quan Bowers *, Clemson DE 6-4 277
Analysis: A great athlete at his size, Bowers leads the nation in TFL and continues to fly up the Board. Prototype as a 4-3 DE, he's put it all together. Last week: No. 11
8) Jake Locker, Washington QB 6-3 228
Analysis: Solid TD-INT ratio, but completion percentage actually down from last year. Arm, athleticism and intangibles are there. Last week: No. 7
9) Adrian Clayborn, Iowa DE 6-3 282
Analysis: Clayborn isn't moving down as much as Bowers simply had to move up. Solid recently after a slow start to 2010. Last week: No. 8
10) Mark Ingram *, Alabama RB 5-10 216
Analysis: Ingram is averaging more yards per rush than he did last year, when he won the Heisman. Solid, shifty and a terror once he reaches the second level. Last week: No. 9
11) Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue DE 6-4 259
Analysis: Disruptive, relentless pass-rusher with decent power versus the run. Kerrigan's now a regular recipient of chips, TEs and double-team help. Last week: No. 10
12) Akeem Ayers *, UCLA OLB 6-4 251
Analysis: His exceptional athleticism makes him so versatile. He can rush the passer or cover from the linebacker position. Perfect as an OLB in a 3-4. Last week. No. 12
13) Ryan Mallett*, Arkansas QB 6-7 238
Analysis: Not even Locker can match Mallett for arm strength. Has improved accuracy and can drill the deep intermediate routes. Last week: No. 13
14) Allen Bailey, Miami DE 6-4 288
Analysis: Still developing at DE after making the switch last year. Bailey could project as a 3-4 or 4-3 DE. Just a pair of sacks, but he's also solid in the run game. Last week: No. 14
15) Cameron Heyward, Ohio State DE 6-6 282
Analysis: Comes off a forgettable week where he and the Buckeyes were gashed by the Wisconsin O-line. Still elite; will be watching to see how he bounces back. Last week: No. 15
16) Ras-I Dowling, Virginia CB 6-2 200
Analysis: Like Peterson and Amukamara, Dowling is now feeling the freeze with QBs not throwing in his direction. Last week: No. 16
17) Julio Jones *, Alabama WR 6-4 211
Analysis: Jones has been solid this year and has shown both toughness in playing hurt and better concentration. He had dropped some big passes last year. Last week: No. 17
18) Nate Solder, Colorado OT 6-9 313
Analysis: Solder has bounced back after I called him out regarding some lackluster performances. Still improving, he's a big-time physical talent. Last week: No. 19
19) Jon Baldwin *, Pittsburgh WR 6-5 225
Analysis: Great physical skills and size, Baldwin has had a rocky season in the Pitt offense and needs more opportunities. Last week: No. 21
20) Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State OT 6-6 305
Analysis: Debuts on the Big Board after another solid performance in the win over Florida. An athlete who really moves his feet well, Sherrod has been steady. Last week: NR
21) Bruce Carter, North Carolina OLB 6-3 230
Analysis: Smart, reliable outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense. Could add size but uses speed to cover entire field. Needs to develop rush skills. Last week: No. 22
22) Rahim Moore *, UCLA S 6-1 196
Analysis: Just a single INT for Moore this year after leading the nation last year. QBs always know where he is in 2010. Last week: No. 23
23) Ryan Broyles *, Oklahoma WR 5-11 179
Analysis: Remarkable production at Iowa State with 15 catches. Broyles hasn't seen a corner who can stay with him or zone scheme that can blanket him. Last week: No. 24
24) Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin OT 6-7 327
Analysis: Carimi has been on the edge of the Big Board all year and jumps in this week after a really solid performance against a talented Ohio State D-line. Last week: NR
25) Marvin Austin, North Carolina DT 6-3 305
Analysis: Austin may not be eligible, and certainly his place here is tenuous as other prospects emerge, but his talent is of the first-round variety. Last week: No. 25
