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The countdown continues and our number two prospect in college football is... Quarterback Jake Locker, Washington (Senior):
Cons: As Locker enters his senior season he will have to answer questions regarding his durability; the injuries he sustained during his freshman (neck injury) and sophomore seasons (broken thumb) cannot be overlooked. Nevertheless, proving he is durable isn’t why Locker returned to Washington. The signal caller passed up NFL riches (for a year) to become more accurate and consistent as a quarterback. If that doesn’t happen, questions will begin to arise as to whether he will truly convert from a raw talent into a polished passer. While Locker has the rare ability to make the impossible look easy, he also has a maddening tendency to make the easy look impossible; too often he misses open targets with no pressure around him. If Locker is to solidify himself as a potential number one pick in 2011, he has to start making the easy plays. Locker also has to become more advanced at going through his progressions before deciding to bolt out of the pocket or tuck the ball and scramble. He needs to stop feeling phantom pressure and bailing out of the pocket; not every play is designed to be a bootleg. It’s not a major issue, but it should be noted that Locker was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 10th Round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft and signed to a six-year, $250,000 contract. We don’t question Locker’s commitment but NFL teams will take a closer look. Our View: Since his red-shirt freshman season when he become the 19th player in NCAA history to throw for more than 300 yards and run for over 100 yards in the same game, Locker has flashed elite potential. Entering his senior season at Washington, Locker is considered by most as the favorite to be the number one overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Contrary to popular belief Locker made the right decision to go back to Washington for another year of tutelage under Washington Head Coach Steve Sarkisian. It was a decision that comes with risk, but Locker will be better for it long-term. Prior to his junior season Locker was either hurt and off the field or a tease on it. Now that he has begun to put it together on the field in a pro-style offense, Locker’s inherent talent has NFL evaluators all atwitter. However, he was not ready for the big stage after just one good year; he still has consistency and accuracy issues that would be better adjusted with experience on the field as a senior than as an NFL rookie on the bench. Locker has the skills to become a dominant NFL quarterback, but his preseason draft status is contingent upon his remaining healthy and making strides as a passer—he still needs to improve on his throwing mechanics and reading defenses more intuitively. It would be nice to see Locker complete over 60 percent of his passes during his senior season. The career 53 percent passer hasn’t yet reached that mark over the course of a college season. If Locker can do that and remain healthy he should be in the running to be the top pick and a lock for the top five. 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 Collegiate Images 
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Pros: With Locker’s combination of arm strength and athletic ability, many believed he would have challenged Sam Bradford as the number one overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft had the Husky declared. The Washington native has the type of zip on his passes necessary to fit the ball in tight spots, as well as make all the throws required in the NFL. Locker also has the ability to create a throwing window in any situation, easily manipulating his release point to ensure the ball will not be batted down. When he gets the time to set his feet within the pocket and play with proper footwork the Pac-10 product has little trouble hitting receivers in stride with compact, perfect spirals. His running ability makes Locker the top dual-threat signal caller in the nation—he has already set the school record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,554, including a Pac-10 record 987 in his freshman season. His size allows him to be more physical than your typical scrambler, with the burst to break off a long run as well. Locker is also blessed with great instincts and tends to perform best when the lights are brightest. Whether against top-notch competition or in situations requiring steely play, Locker comes through and seems to enjoy the moment. His natural ability allows him to make difficult plays look easy and single-handedly keep his team in games or drive them down the field in clutch situations. Locker has a passion for the game and has displayed top-notch leadership skills as well.