Local stars among NFL talent pool
There will be more than a handful of players with Midwest connections at the Scouting Combine attracting intense scrutiny from NFL teams over the next several days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Two Wisconsin Badgers are practically guaranteed to be picked in the first round of the draft, which will be held April 28-30, even if there isn’t a labor agreement by then. They should be joined in Round One by at least one, and possibly three, Fighting Illini, as well as a Purdue Boilermaker, a Notre Dame Fighting Irish player, and Boston College’s Anthony Castonzo, a graduate of Lake Zurich High School.
The NFL invited 329 players to the Combine, and of the following dozen players with connections to the Midwest, 6 to 8 of them should come off the board by the end of the first round or early in the second.
OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College, Lake Zurich HS: Virtual first-round lock who set the BC career record by starting 54 games, including the last 41 at left tackle. Very good athleticism and size (6-7, 308) and adept at protecting the quarterback#146;s blind side. Scouts say the Hawthorn Woods resident will need some work on run-blocking as an NFL starter.
QB Scott Tolzien, Wisconsin, Fremd HS: Possible late-round pick who has been extremely accurate and completed 72.9 percent of his passes in 2010. The Rolling Meadows resident (6-3, 205) won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which rewards performance and character and was Academic-All-Big Ten.
LB Martez Wilson, Illinois, Simeon HS: Led the Illini and finished third in the Big Ten with 112 tackles. Missed 2009 season with herniated disc in his neck but played all 13 games in 2010 and had 11 frac12; tackles for loss and 4 sacks. Great size (6-4, 250) and should provide pass-rush help. A late first-rounder or early second-rounder if neck injury doesn#146;t scare teams away.
RB Mikel LeShoure, Illinois:Versatile every-down back and productive player with solid run and pass-catching skills who could sneak into the first round, depending on how well he runs at the Combine. The Champaign native set Illini record with 1,697 rushing yards in 2010. Consensus No. 2 RB in the draft behind Mark Ingram.
DT Corey Liuget, Illinois:Junior who has been projected as a probable first-round pick with an excellent combination of size (6-3, 300) and quickness, enabling him to hold the point of attack vs. the run and create havoc in the backfield. Had 12 frac12; tackles for loss and 4 frac12;sacks last season.
OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin: Sure-fire first-round pick with great size (6-7, 315) who started 49 games at left tackle. Outland Trophy winner and Big Ten#146;s offensive lineman of the year is a better run blocker but good enough in pass protection to play left tackle.
RB John Clay, Wisconsin:Mid-to-late-round pick who had a career average of 5.43 yards per carry and left with a year of eligibility remaining following back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
TE Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin: Consenus top-3 TE in the draft. Middle-round pick who led the Badgers in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, but at 6-3 and 240 is a little undersized and doesn#146;t figure to be much of an asset as a blocker in the NFL.
DE J.J. Watt, Wisconsin: At 6-foot-6 and 286 pounds, comparisons to Julius Peppers are inevitable, and he#146;s a first-round lock. An every-down player who can rush the passer and hold the point of attack, he#146;s a great fit in either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense.
TE Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame: A first-round talent with an exceptional size-athleticism ratio, Rudolph will not work out at the Combine as he continues to recover from hamstring surgery that sidelined him halfway through last season. He hopes to be ready for Notre Dame#146;s pro day on April 7.
RB Armando Allen, Notre Dame: Possible late-round pick who had surgery on both hips and missed the last part of his senior season. Was more productive as a junior and lacks great size (5-foot-9, 205 pounds) and speed (4.5 40-yard dash), but he#146;s a good pass catcher and has returned kicks.
DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue:Is expected to go in the first round, although he#146;s somewhat of a #146;tweener because at 6-foot-4 and 259 pounds, he#146;s undersized for a DE in the NFL. But he led the nation last year with 26 tackles for loss and was almost impossible to block at times.
bull; Follow Bob#146;s Bears reports via Twitter@BobLeGere. Check out his blog, Bear Essentials, at dailyherald.com.