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Updated: August 16, 2010, 3:20 PM ET
Top 20 prospects for 2011 NFL draft
Jake Locker, Robert Quinn highlight the prospects to watch in 2010

By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.
Archive
With the college football season about to begin, here are the top 20 pro prospects to watch in 2010.

* denotes underclassman


Jake Locker QB 6-3 229
Best assets: Arm strength, athleticism, and improving mechanics/accuracy.
Must improve: Decisions under fire.

Robert Quinn *DE 6-4 235
Best assets: First step, balance when bending the edge as a rusher and closing burst.
Must improve: Strength.

Prince Amukamara DC 6-0 203
Best assets: Awareness in zone coverage, closing burst, ball skills and run support.
Must improve: Transition speed when turning and running vertically.

A.J. Green *WR 6-4 208
Best assets: Route-running savvy, silky smooth athleticism, competitiveness and ball skills.
Must improve: Durability.

Marcell Dareus *DT 6-2 303
Best assets: Quickness (hands/feet) and pass rushing.
Must improve: Stamina/motor in new role as full-time starter.

Andrew Luck *QB 6-4 235
Best assets: Size, football intelligence, pocket presence and passing touch.
Must improve: Consistency of footwork for accuracy purposes.

Ras-I Dowling DC6-1201
Best assets: Size, body control, instincts and run support.
Must improve: Fluidness of hips when turning and running.

Nate Solder OT 6-8 300
Best assets: Length, athleticism and awareness.
Must improve: Become a stronger finisher.

Allen Bailey DE 6-3 287
Best assets: Versatility, quickness for size, interior pass-rush moves and tackling.
Must improve: Diagnostic skills.

Janoris Jenkins * CB 5-11 189
Best assets: Man-to-man cover skills and ball skills.
Must improve: Occasional over-aggressiveness.

Mark Herzlich OLB 6-4 247
Best assets: Range, strength and toughness.
Must improve: Tackling skills.

Ryan Mallett * QB 6-7 238
Best assets: Rifle arm, smooth delivery and experience in pro-style systems.
Must improve: Cut down on risk taking.

Marvin Austin DT 6-3 303
Best assets: Outstanding quickness for size, which he uses to penetrate and disrupt.
Must improve: Inconsistent motor.

Cameron Heyward DE 6-5 278
Best assets: Size, versatility, strength versus the run and inside pass rushing.
Must improve: Array of pass-rush moves.

Rodney Hudson OC 6-2 277
Best assets: Awareness, quickness and hand usage.
Must improve: Bulk.

Gabe Carimi OT 6-6 318
Best assets: Size, strength at the point of attack (run and pass), and tough-guy mentality.
Must improve: Feet and agility.

Adrian Clayborn DE 6-3 285
Best assets: Size, discipline, upper body power and relentlessness as a pass-rusher.
Must improve: Initial burst and leverage.

Travis Lewis * OLB 6-2 232
Best assets: Recognition skills, instincts, athleticism, pursuit angles and tackling technique.
Must improve: Strength.

Mark Ingram * RB 5-10 215
Best assets: Vision, balance and power.
Must improve: Consistency in pass protection.

Von Miller OLB 6-3 238
Best assets: Versatility, passion, first step, body control on the edge and closing burst.
Must improve: Bulk, strength (even as a 3-4 OLB prospect).


Todd McShay is the director of college scouting for Scouts Inc. He has been evaluating prospects for the NFL draft since 1998.

Patrick Peterson not in the top 20?! C'mon man!

From Bruce Feldman's Freak List this year:

#2. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU Tigers
Wonder why a lot of folks think Peterson is the best cornerback in the country? Get a load of the numbers he produced in the Tigers' spring testing: He went 11 feet and one inch in the broad jump (second on the team), 39 inches in the vertical (second on the team) and squatted 535 pounds (second on the team). Oh, and he also ran two 4.37 laser-timed 40s, according to LSU strength coach Tommy Moffitt. "And he weighed 220 pounds when he did that," Moffitt said. "He's 6-foot-1 and some change. The guy is a freak. Freak. Honestly, this guy would outrun [former LSU sprint champ] Trindon [Holliday] in the 40. In the 100, it wouldn't be close, and Trindon would probably get him in the 60, but in the 40, Patrick's gonna win. Trindon would be so mad if he heard me say that."