Players Invited to 2011 NFL Draft

Written by Steve Janus

We are just a few days away from the start of the 2011 NFL draft. The first round is scheduled for this Thursday at 8:00 ET. The second and third rounds will follow on Friday, while rounds four through seven will take place on Saturday. All seven rounds of the draft are held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

While the NFL is in the middle of a lockout, the draft figures to be as entertaining as ever with a record 25 prospects expected to be in attendance for the first round. Earlier this offseason the NFL Players Association had urged players to skip the event, but in the end the players decided that they couldn’t pass up a once in a lifetime opportunity.

You have to wonder if the NFL is simply trying to keep their fans interest with the record number of invitees, or if they are simply trying to show up the Players Association and their boycott attempt. Either way you can’t blame the kids for wanting to take part, especially since the NFL covers all expenses for the players and their immediate families.

The NFL first started inviting players to the draft back in 1993. Back then they only invited six players. which gives you a pretty good idea of just how much this event has grown over the years. Having the players their only adds to the excitement that surrounds this event.

The list of invitees are headlined by Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green, Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller, LSU corner Patrick Peterson, Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert, Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley, Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones, and Nebraska corner Prince Amukamara.

Predicting who will go where in the draft is nearly impossible, and with 25 players invited this year I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of them ended up sitting through the entire first day without hearing their name called. While it isn’t the best feeling for the players who go and don’t get drafted early, it’s entertaining to watch these guys fidget around in the green room.

One player that got invited to the event that isn’t projected to go in the first round of most expert mock drafts is Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams. While Williams has a great shot at making a career in the NFL, it appears he was invited simply because he is from New York. Alabama running back Mark Ingram is the only running back projected to go in the first round. It appears

Other players that might not hear their named called on Thursday are Kentucky wide receiver Randall Cobb, Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, UCLA safety Rahim Moore, and Baylor offensive guard Danny Watkins.

Here is complete list of the 25 players invited to the 2011 NFL Draft:

Prince Amukamara,CB Nebraska
Akeem Ayers, LB UCLA
Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa
Randall Cobb,WR Kentucky
Marcell Dareus, DT Alabama
Nick Fairley, DT Auburn
Blaine Gabbert, QB Missouri
AJ Green, WR Georgia
Mark Herzlich, LB Boston College
Mark Ingram, RB Alabama
Cameron Jordan, DE California
Julio Jones, WR Alabama
Ryan Kerigan, DE Purdue
Corey Liuget, DT Illnois
Von Miller, LB Texas A&M
Rahim Moore, S UCLA
Cam Newton, QB Auburn
Patrick Peterson, CB LSU
Mike Pouncey, OL Florida
Aldon Smith, DE Missouri
Tyron Smith, OT USC
Phil Taylor, DT Baylor
Danny Watkins, OG Baylor
JJ Watt, DE Wisconsin
Ryan Williams, RB Virginia Tech

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