Stanford Cardinal QB Andrew Luck has been the prospective No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft for several weeks now, but it’s starting to look like he might actually stick around for his senior year. If he does stay, four SEC players and one ACC player are the most likely to benefit — as much as maybe playing for the Carolina Panthers can be considered a benefit.
Teams looking for a quarterback will likely consider Auburn Tigers QB Cam Newton and Arkansas Razorbacks QB Ryan Mallett first, if our Luck has run out (nice!). But teams drafting highly often have more than just quarterback issues. Carolina’s entire offense is terrible, but is Jimmy Clausen really the weakest link? How much more effective would he be with Georgia Bulldogs WR A.J. Green in his holster?
A pair of defenders, LSU Tigers CB Patrick Peterson and Clemson Tigers DE Da’Quan Bowers, also merit consideration. Both have ranked highly in various mock drafts, with Bowers being named a possible No. 1 by OK I CAN’T REMEMBER where I saw that. Not just being a Southern conference homer here, as those are the only names listed at the .com link, as written by a Buffalo Bills fan.
Of course, Green still has to declare for the draft himself, which is currently up in the air — though probably not as up in the air as the Dawgs fan would prefer.