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The countdown continues and our number three prospect in college football is... Wide Receiver A.J. Green, Georgia (Junior):
Cons: The junior receiver is thin and will need to bulk up before he moves on to the NFL. Even at the college level Green hasn’t been much of a threat for yards after contact. Not only does Green lack the strength and bulk to break tackles, he often doesn’t try, instead choosing to slide to the turf or dart for the sideline. His lack of prototypical bulk (215-220 pounds for his frame) could also lead to durability concerns—the Bulldog pass catcher missed three games as a sophomore due to injury. Green missed one game after he suffered a bruised lung/injured rib and then two more with a shoulder injury to end the regular season before he returned for the Independence Bowl. At his current weight and strength Green will have a limited route tree in the NFL; it remains to be seen whether or not he can take the pounding associated with going over the middle. Our View: Even the top defenses in the SEC (Florida, Alabama, Tennessee) weren’t able to slow down the South Carolina native, which is why he may be the most dangerous offensive weapon in college football heading into the 2010 season. While Green has to get stronger and heavier, he is still an elite prospect entering his junior season. Green has almost everything that scouts look for: height, hands, pro-style experience and athleticism. Few players in the NFL currently combine Green’s height and agility and as such he has the potential to develop into a scheme-busting #1 wide receiver. If Green continues to progress and has a productive, healthy junior season, he’s a lock for the top-15 in 2011 and could very well crack the top five. His numbers dipped slightly in 2009 (53 receptions, 808 yards, six touchdown receptions, 15.2 YPC)) from his true freshman season (56 receptions, 963 yards, eight touchdown receptions, 17.2 YPC) when Matthew Stafford was throwing him the pigskin. Whether or not the first team All-SEC performer contends for All-America honors and the Biletnikoff Award (he was one of ten semifinalists in 2009) will depend on the quarterback play at Georgia, which appears to be in flux heading into the 2010 campaign. Players Profiled To Date: 1. Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford 2. Jake Locker, Quarterback, Washington 3. A.J. Green, Wide Receiver, Georgia 4. Marcel Dareus, Defensive Lineman, Alabama 5. Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, LSU 6. Robert Quinn, Defensive End, North Carolina 7. Cameron Heyward, Defensive End, Ohio State 8. Ryan Williams, Running Back, Virginia Tech 9. Adrian Clayborn, Defensive End, Iowa 10. Mark Ingram, Running Back, Alabama 11. Anthony Castonzo, Offensive Tackle, Boston College 12. Julio Jones, Wide Receiver, Alabama 13. Allen Bailey, Defensive Lineman, Miami 14. Greg Romeus, Defensive End, Pittsburgh 15. Prince Amukamara, Cornerback, Nebraska 16. Gabe Carimi, Offensive Tackle, Wisconsin 17. Ryan Mallett, Quarterback, Arkansas 18. Marvin Austin, Defensive Tackle, North Carolina 19. Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame 20. Bruce Carter, Outside Linebacker, North Carolina 21. Aaron Williams, Cornerback, Texas 22. DeAndre McDaniel, Safety, Clemson 23. Stephen Paea, Defensive Tackle, Oregon State 24. Jonathan Baldwin, Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh 25. Matt Reynolds, Offensive Tackle, BYU 26. Jurrell Casey, Defensive Tackle, USC 27. Ras-I Dowling, Cornerback, Virginia 28. Akeem Ayers, Outside Linebacker UCLA 29. Nate Solder, Offensive Tackle, Colorado 30. Rahim Moore, Free Safety, UCLA 31. Da'Quan Bowers, Defensive End, Clemson 32. Quan Sturdivant, Outside Linebacker, North Carolina * * * * * Available Now: Get your copy of the 2010 Post-Draft Recap & Rookie Fantasy Football Analysis right here. Coming Soon: The 2011 NFL Draft Bible Prospectus, featuring the stars of tomorrow! Photo Courtesy of SEC Sports Media 
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Pros: At 6’4” and 200-plus pounds A.J. Green is about to enter his junior season as Georgia’s main offensive threat. Green is almost impossible to cover one-on-one as his short-area burst, height and leaping ability are simply too much for one defensive back to handle. Green might not have the elite top-end speed many are expecting him to have (4.3); it is clearly more than functional as we believe it to be in the 4.4-range. He shows exceptional ability at finding soft spots in zone coverage and even when he is engaged in tight coverage, Green’s impressive frame, leaping ability, aggressiveness and mid-air acrobatics allow him to come down with jump balls. A one-time state champ on the hardwood, this Bulldog knows how to box out defenders. Green’s extreme athleticism makes him perhaps college football’s most natural catcher of difficult passes since Calvin Johnson. In other words, Green’s window to catch the ball is huge. He isn’t just tall; he has spider-man-long arms and legs that give him an almost springy bounce to his run and seemingly endless reach. The junior wide out also has big, soft hands and is capable of making catches in stride and over his shoulder. He is difficult to jam at the line of scrimmage as his arms and quickness prevent opposing corners from getting their hands into his chest. Green also has great pro-style experience in terms of coaching, scheme and quarterback play. He can also make an impact on special teams, which he displayed last season by blocking a fourth quarter field goal attempt in a tie game.