The next best: Players built for the NFL
The players on this list have one or two key traits that have led to the success of other players making NFL rosters in the past.
These traits include speed, long arms, outstanding quickness, college production. The following players possess at least one of those traits, and some have two or three. For example, Eastern Washington RB Taiwan Jones has speed (4.35-second 40-yard dash), quickness (4.13 short shuttle) and college production (1,742 yards rushing in 2010).
(Note: Players listed alphabetically)
" Brandon Burton, DB, Utah
" Delone Carter, RB, Syracuse
" Chimdi Chekwa, DB, Ohio State
" Virgil Green, TE, Nevada
" Dwayne Harris, WR, East Carolina
" Roy Helu, RB, Nebraska
" Davon House, DB, New Mexico State
" Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State
" Taiwan Jones, RB, Eastern Washington
" Ricardo Lockette, WR, Fort Valley State
" Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh
" Derek Newton, OL, Arkansas State
" Niles Paul, WR, Nebraska
" Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State
" Greg Salas, WR, Hawaii
" Jordan Todman, RB, Connecticut
" D.J. Williams, TE, Arkansas
" Daniel Ziemba, OL, Auburn
Wild card: Alex Henery, K, Nebraska
-- Gil Brandt
Here's a look at the players left on my Hot 100 after the first three rounds:
Note: Tiers are listed alphabetically
Tier 5
Marcus Cannon, OL, TCU, 6-5, 358
Two-time All-Mountain West Conference selection. Must keep his weight down. He played tackle in college but might be best as a guard in the NFL.
Ricky Stanzi, QB, Iowa, 6-4, 223
Ran a 4.89 40. Has started 35 games. Needs more upper-body strength but is athletic. Good high school basketball player in Ohio.
Tier 6
Pernell McPhee (DL, Mississippi St.).
Tier 7
James Brewer (OL, Indiana).
Tier 8
Sam Acho (DL, Texas), Clint Boling (OL, Georgia), Kendall Hunter (RB, Oklahoma State), Da'Norris Searcy (DB, North Carolina), K.J. Wright (LB, Mississippi State).
Tier 9
Jordan Cameron (TE, USC), Chris Carter (LB, Fresno State), Quinton Carter (DB, Oklahoma), Edmond Gates (WR, Abilene Christian), Brandon Hogan (DB, West Virginia).
Tier 10
Tandon Doss (WR, Indiana), Ross Homan (LB, Ohio State), Casey Matthews (LB, Oregon), Colin McCarthy (LB, Miami), Jason Pinkston (OL, Pittsburgh), Luke Stocker (TE, Tennessee), Cedric Thornton (DL, Southern Arkansas).
