NFL Draft Big 12 prospect preview

In this year's draft, the Big 12 had five of the first six picks. That included the first four overall with Sam Bradford, Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy and Trent Williams.

While that probably won't happen again, there is still plenty of talent in the conference. Here is a look at some of those players:

Travis Lewis | 6'2, 230 pounds | OLB | Oklahoma *
The unquestioned leader of the Oklahoma defense is a tackling machine. Over the past two seasons he's had 253 stops. He's done so thanks to a great effort and sideline-to-sideline agility. Lewis brings an attitude to the field that can't be denied. This year he'll be counted on to fire up teammates and make a lot of the calls. He's a deceptively solid pass rusher as well and should only get better.

Prince Amukamara | 6'1, 200 pounds | CB | Nebraska
Amukamara is a lanky press cover cornerback who likely would have been at least a second-round pick this year. He finished 2009 with 54 tackles and five interceptions, but it was his first season as a starter. He's got the build of a safety and is a good tackler. The biggest knock on Amukamara is his lack of elite speed. But he has a jam and physical style to negate the speed problems.

Jared Crick | 6'6, 285 pounds | DT | Nebraska *
The understudy to Ndamukong Suh last season, don't discount Crick solely as the beneficiary of single blockers. He held his own to the tune of 9.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss and 73 tackles. He equally good as a pass rusher and run stopper. Against Baylor, he had five sacks. Crick may have to bulk up some, but even as a sophomore, he showed he was a pro-ready player.


Von Miller | 6'3, 240 pounds | OLB | Texas A&M
Miller may be a one-trick pass rusher, but that trick is stellar. Few pass rushers have a first step like Miller's. He shows great snap awareness to get around the corner.

Aaron Williams | 6'1, 190 pounds | CB | Texas *
Texas features a trio of NFL prospects at cornerback, but none is better than Williams. He's long and tall with excellent speed. He's played a lot in the slot and had the foot quickness to hold up against shifty receivers. Williams needs to get much stronger, though, as he has trouble making tackles.

Curtis Brown | 6'0, 180 pounds | CB | Texas
An excellent off-coverage field corner, Brown could be an asset in a zone scheme. He's a patient cornerback and doesn't bite on  He shows good agility and hip fluidity. He can get physical with receivers, but tends to lose positioning.

Jerrod Johnson | 6'5, 243 pounds | QB | Texas A&M
Johnson really emerged in 2009 as a solid quarterback option. He threw for 30 touchdowns and has great size. His arm can get balls all over the field, but sometimes he falls too in love with its strength. Johnson can also be too tentative in the pocket and needs to learn to plant his feet better. He has the right coaching in place, so Johnson's development is based solely on his desire.

Blaine Gabbert | 6'5, 240 pounds | QB | Missouri
Gabbert is something of a wild card. Even with a lingering ankle injury, the strong-armed Gabbert was excellent in 2009. But it was his first year as a starter. In the gimmicky Missouri passing game, it's somewhat hard to judge Gabbert appropriately. His arm looks strong, and he's athletic. Gabbert could be one of the best prospects in the nation. Or he could be the product of a spread offense. This year will help show what kind of player he is.

Daniel Thomas | 6'2, 227 pounds | RB | Kansas State
In his first season at Kansas State, Thomas was a star. Running for 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns, Thomas relied a lot on his strength and ability to shed blocks. Thomas doesn't have great speed, and that may knock him down some. He also has to improve his field vision.

DeMarco Murray | 6'1, 214 pounds | RB | Oklahoma
This is it for Murray. Up to this point, he's been living off the promise he showed as a freshman. But injuries and better play by Chris Brown have stunted Murray's progress. When Murray is playing to his potential, he shows good quickness and some power. His receiving skills are plus for a running back and is a good kick returner.

Roy Helu | 6'0, 215 pounds | RB | Nebraska
Helu is an exceptionally dangerous runner in the open field on pitches. It's not that he's very fast, but he's quick. Helu is good seeing a hole and hitting it with some power. Stamina and heart aren't issues with Helu. But he has had some issues with carrying the ball and some shoulder troubles.

Nate Solder | 6'9, 305 pounds | OT | Colorado
There were moments in 2009 that Solder looked like one of the best offensive tackles in the nation. There were others where he looked terrible and easily got pushed around. He's extremely raw and needs to refine his technique a great deal. If he can do that, Solder could develop into an elite left tackle. A converted tight end, Solder's athleticism is off the charts. He has quick feet and moves around with ease.