Even though I'm a pretty big student of the college game, I inevitably have "who the hell are you and what do you think you're doing on Mel Kiper's Big Board," moments when I check out NFL draft boards.
I'm trying to remedy that embarrassing and potentially painful situation for you by putting together a post about NFL draft prospects that you've likely never heard of. Now some on this list, like Ryan Tanneyhill, are names you might know, but did you have any clue the former WR would be a first round pick as a QB? I didn't. I assumed he was a Chevrolet Collegiate Scholar and he would be more successful than me using his mind. That and becoming a gritty NFL #3 WR that doesn't wear gloves were the only plausible career paths for Ryan before I heard this.
North Carolina's defense also boasts two first round picks. All that talent has equated to a 6-5 record with 2 of those 6 wins coming in the vaunted Atlantic Coast Conference. The only real danger in conference play is developing epilepsy while trying to play defense against Maryland. This pair did hold Clemson to 59 points, which is would be more impressive if Taj Boyd didn't play the entire second half with his entire uniform on backwards, including the helmet, to taunted the future first rounders.
So take a look, and be enlightened by the knowledge you gain. Then, and only then, can you can you tell your friends about Danari Poe on draft day and watch the last semblance of respect that they had literally disappear before your eyes.
| 7 | Quinton Coples | DE | 1 | North Carolina | Sr | 6-6 | 285 | 4.76 |
| 8 | Zach Brown | OLB | 1 | North Carolina | Sr | 6-2 | 230 | 4.48 |
| 20 | Ryan Tannehill | QB | 4 | Texas A&M | rSr | 6-4 | 222 | 4.65 |
| 26 | Janoris Jenkins | CB | 4 | North Alabama(Formerly Florida) | Sr | 5-10 | 182 | 4.46 |
| 30 | *Dontari Poe | DT | 4 | Memphis | rJr | 6-5 | 350 | 5.36 |
| 38 | Kendall Wright | WR | 5 | Baylor | Sr | 5-10 | 190 | 4.42 |
| 55 | *Vontaze Burfict | ILB | 4 | Arizona State | Jr | 6-3 | 250 | 4.67 |
| 90 | Joe Adams | WR | 10 | Arkansas | Sr | 5-11 | 190 | 4.38 |
| 110 | David Molk | C | 4 | Michigan | rSr | 6-2 | 288 | 5.18 |
| 128 | Brian Quick | WR | 14 | Appalachian State | rSr | 6-4 | 216 | 4.63 |
Dwight Jones's stock is sure to rise as his production has caught up with his size/speed combination this season.
As always, take these rankings with a grain of salt because the #1 on my big board, is apparently 147th on theirs:
| 47 | Mike Martin | DT | 14 | Michigan | Sr | 6-1 | 304 | 4.98 |