NFL Draft SEC West prospect preview

It could be argued strongly that no division in college football is as singularly talented as the SEC West. Each of the six teams in the division has some modicum of solid NFL talent. No team has more than Alabama, though. The defending national champions have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. But it is LSU's Patrick Peterson who is the clear-cut top prospect in the division. Here's a look at the SEC's West division. Juniors have asterisks after their name.

Patrick Peterson | 6'1, 211 pounds | CB | LSU *
As far as physical cornerbacks go, Peterson is one of the best to along in a long time. He has the size to redirect a receiver on the line and disrupt routes. One of Peterson's best assets is his hand checking, which he uses to close the natural window on receiver's outside shoulder. Shows very good high-point awareness. However, Peterson is not a perfect cornerback. He's struggled at times against quick receivers and gets beaten on double moves.

Julio Jones | 6'4, 210 pounds | WR | Alabama *
A physical presence at the line of scrimmage, Jones knows how to use his strength to get open. For a player with his physical nature, Johnes has surprising quickness and a real suddenness to his game. Can work underneath, over the middle or over the top. Runs solid routes and cuts sharply. Hands are good but not great. Has had issues in the past dropping the ball. Has missed time  because of injury. Good blocker.

Ryan Mallett | 6'7, 238 pounds | QB | Arkansas *
The obvious trait people see with Mallett is his arm strength. When a receiver gets open deep, Mallett can make the throw, no matter the location. His throwing motion is technically correct and won't need to adjust it for the pros. What Mallett will need to adjust, though, is his intermediate passing. His timing is off at times and will overthrow on underneath routes. Mallett also has to work some on his footwork.

Mark Barron | 6'2, 215 pounds | S | Alabama *
Barron is a safety who likes to get physical with his opponents and is an aggressive tackler. His reaction skills are prevalent when he's supporting the run. Add his good size and athleticism, and Barron has the makings of a good box safety. But it's Barron's range that makes him a likely starter in the NFL. His hips may be somewhat stiff changing direction, but he manages to cover a lot of ground due to his pure speed.

Marcell Dareus | 6'3, 280 pounds | DE | Alabama *
There was arguably no more impressive player in the national title game than Dareus. He's a disruptive player on the front line who plays extremely hard. Dareus gets such a good initial push because of his lower body strength. He really fires off the line to get around offensive linemen. He's pro ready as a pass rusher but needs to improve against the run. He needs to learn to just dig in instead of getting high and losing leverage.

Mark Ingram | 5'10, 215 pounds | RB | Alabama *
There is no running back in college football with vision like Ingram. His first two steps are extraordinary. He's patient behind the line letting his line set up natural running lanes. His body control between the tackles is elite and he has a low running style. He has a chance to be a true workhorse back in the NFL. What holds Ingram back the most is his lack of great speed. However, that's not his only issue. His blocking leaves a lot to be desired and he doesn't seem to play with a lot of technique. He's also nothing special catching the ball.

Terrance Toliver | 6'5, 206 pounds | WR | LSU
Toliver is the latest big LSU wide receiver with solid hands but lacking in playmaking ability. He has the makings of a good No. 2 receiver on the boundary. There are knocks on Toliver – he has trouble with the jam, his hands are inconsistent – but his quickness and leaping ability are good. He has good high-point agility to climb the ladder and make a catch. If he can work on his deficiencies, he'll live up to a second-round rating.

Josh Bynes | 6'2, 239 pounds | MLB | Auburn
Bynes looks the part of a physical 3-4 inside linebacker who tracks the ball really well. He can make plays all over the field and does so with a physical style. He's a big-time hitter but is also a sound form tackler. As a senior, Bynes needs to show improvement in the mental part of the game. He's not as instinctive as you'd like for an ILB and needs to work on pre-snap recognition.

Lee Ziemba | 6'8, 310 pounds | OT | Auburn
One of the most durable left tackles in the nation, Ziemba has been a constant for Auburn since his freshman year. He's played through a slight knee injury in the past and is tough. He's especially proficient in run blocking when he can drop down and anchor the left side. Where Ziemba has had problems is penalties. He gets caught holding too frequently. His hand placement needs improvement. Could also work on the move better.

Joseph Barksdale | 6'5, 315 pounds | OT | LSU
Barksdale looks the part of a natural tackle due to his athleticism and ability to move around in space. He played on the right side his first three years at LSU and is a very good run blocker. He's known to have plus athleticism for a tackle and really improved his play in 2009. He has a good kick slide and shows the foot quickness to handle pass rushers.

Jerrell Powe | 6'2, 340 pounds | DT | Mississippi
Finally in 2009 Powe showed what made him a blue chip recruit coming out of high school. He had issues in the past with his weight and grades, but finally got both in check last year. He shows a good short-area burst but is also stout at the line. He plays with a lot of intensity, but teams will have to do their due diligence for his interview and research.

D.J. Williams | 6'2, 250 pounds | TE | Arkansas
There is a lot Williams can add to a football team. General thinking would say he's too small to stay at tight end, so a move to H-back is probable. There, he can show off his good hands and ability to break tackles after the catch. He has good speed for a big guy and can make some defenders miss in the open field.

Pernell McPhee | 6'4, 285 pounds | DE | Mississippi State
In his first year of top-level college football, McPhee showed he has the power to hold up against the run. He projects as a 3-4 end because of his size, but he has a surprising first step. If he can develop more as a pass rusher, he may be a top 100 pick.

Notable seniors to watch:
Greg McElroy | 6'2, 225 pounds | QB | Alabama
James Carpenter | 6'5, 300 pounds | OT | Alabama
DeMarcus Love | 6'5, 315 pounds | OT | Arkansas
Zac Etheridge | 6'0, 212 pounds | S | Auburn
Mario Fannin | 5'11, 227 pounds | RB | Auburn
Richard Murphy | 6'1, 205 pounds | RB | LSU
Drake Nevis | 6'1, 292 pounds | DT | LSU
Kelvin Sheppard | 6'3, 239 pounds | MLB | LSU
Markeith Summers | 6'2, 205 pounds | WR | Mississippi
K.J. Wright | 6'4, 250 pounds | OLB | Mississippi State
Derek Sherrod | 6'6, 300 pounds | OT | Mississippi State