Paint It Black Bitches

2011 NFL Draft prep under way with release of National's grades
By Tony Pauline, Special to SI.com, TFYDraft.com

While most of NFL nation is gearing up for the start of training camps at the end of the month, the scouting process for next April's draft is already in full swing. Grades for more than 1,400 draft eligible college seniors recently were sent to league franchises by National, the predominant scouting organization in the NFL.

The seniors are assigned several grades based on different criteria, with playing skill being the most prominent grade of all.

Grades range as high as 9.0, which represents a potential superstar, to as low as 1.0, given to a player whose football career will likely finish in college. Only on rare occasions are players handed grades of 8.0 or higher. Top-rated players usually receive a grade of 7.0 or higher, which translates into a possible first round pick. Grades of 6.0 or higher represents a prospect with the potential to be a top seventy-five selection in the following year's draft.

Of the graded seniors in 2009, Ndamukong Suh, Greg Hardy and Brandon LaFell all received a 7.0, the highest grade of the class. Nebraska's Suh went on to become the second pick in April's draft. LSU's LaFell was a third-round choice while Hardy fell into the sixth round after a disappointing senior season at Ole Miss, proving these pre-season grades ultimately take a backseat to on-field performance.

Moving toward the 2010 season, it looks like once again next year's draft will offer plenty of talent on the defensive line and at offensive tackle. The senior class is weakest at wide receiver, tight end and running back.

Here are the top 25 NFL prospects from the senior class as graded by National.

1. Prince Amukamara/CB/Nebraska/7.3: Amukamara offers NFL size (6-feet, 201 pounds) which he uses to shut down opponents regularly. His game has shown tremendous improvement the past two seasons and scouts are excited about his upside.

2. Adrian Clayborn/DE/Iowa/7.3: Clayborn is a terrific pass rusher who must improve his skills defending the run.

3. Mark Herzlich/OLB/Boston College/7.2: Herzlich's grade is equal to the one he received last year after his cancer diagnoses.

4. Allen Bailey/DL/Miami-Fl/6.9: For years the Miami program put quality defensive linemen into the NFL yet they've not had one selected in the first round since 2004 (Vince Wilfork). Bailey, who can play a variety of positions up front, is set to reverse the recent trend.

5. Von Miller/OLB/Texas A&M/6.9: Miller will begin the season as the premier 3-4 outside linebacker.

6. Greg Romeus/DE/Pittbugh/6.8: Romeus has been a force for the Panthers defense since his freshman season. He's a terrific athlete with an NFL body (6-5, 267).

7. Marvin Austin/DT/North Carolina/6.7: Austin draws a variety of opinions in scouting circles. His physical ability is on a par with any defender in the senior class. His gameday intensity is not.

8. Christian Ponder/QB/Florida State/6.7: Ponder, who already completed his Master's Degree at FSU, scored a big number on the pre-season Wonderlic. He lacks the eye-popping stats on the college level yet is considered the most NFL-ready passer in the senior class.

9. Jake Locker/QB/Washington/6.7: Scouts applauded Locker's decision to return to college for another season. He has the athletic skills and leadership ability to be the centerpiece of a franchise yet needs to improve the consistency of his throwing mechanics.

10. Stephen Paea/DT/Oregon State/6.5: Paea, who measures 6-1½, 306, compares favorably in style and substance to another Pac-10 performer, former first-round pick Sedrick Ellis.

That's right bitches. For the second year in a row the Cornhuskers boast the best player in the nation (or at least according to knowledgable scouts). It should be pretty obvious now that Bo Pelini is the best defensive mind in college football and Big 12 offenses better boost their offensive stats in the weeks before and after facing Nebraska because the Blackshirts are officially back and Prince Amukamura is going to make sure one side of the field stays off limits for opposing passers.