Prospect Watch List 2011: Profiles

 –Zach Brown (LB, UNC): Entering the 2011 season most the talk is being focused on defensive ends, Quinton Coples and Donte Paige-Moss, not linebacker Zach Brown, in Chapel Hill. That is unfortunate because it is not everyday you can find  an 6-2, 230 pounder that has been clocked at 4.28 in the 40 yard dash. Guess that kind of speed should be expected for someone who has titles in the 100 and 200 meter dash in high school. He also holds the UNC record for the indoor 60-meter dash. Brown had a great 3 game stretch last season in which he recorded 14, 10 and 14 tackles against ACC rivals, with two of those games on the road. He also had a 70 yard interception return in the 10 tackle game against Virginia. Unfortunately for Brown, UNC is in the news for the second season in a row and not in a good way. Last year it was multiple suspensions of players for numerous NCAA violations, even though those suspensions gave Brown the opportunity to start. Then, this year, just weeks before practices are set to start, head coach Butch Davis was fired by UNC. In the midst of all this turmoil, Coples, Paige-Moss, and Brown could further display why they are all 1st round talents starting September 3rd against James Madison.

–Cliff Harris (CB, Oregon): Mel Kiper refers to Harris as a “speedster” in the return game. The Oregon State Police refer to him as a speeder on the road. Harris got pulled over for doing 118 mph in a 65 this June . Oh wait, it gets worse. Allegedly, Harris was also driving with a suspended license and there is some “interest” being perked on who rented the car in which Harris was driving.  Regardless, Oregon head coach, Chip Kelly has suspended Harris for at least the season opener. Good thing that game is against a lower level opponent like most big time colleges schedule to start the season. Oh wait, it gets worse. The Ducks begin the 2011 season against LSU in Cowboys Stadium on national TV. Harris broke out in the 2010 season. He was named second team All-American at cornerback and received All-American staus as a return man. Harris did so by leading the Pac-10 in interceptions with 6, leading the NCAA with passes defended with 23, and returning 4 punts for TDs (18.8 average per punt return). Standing 5-11 and weighting 170 pounds, Harris does not have optimalsize for a CB. Being clocked at 4.79 in something called the electronic 40 yard (per goducks.com) he does not display elite speed, either. Harris could just be the type of NFL prospect where “the proof is in the pudding.” It might just be a matter of if he can mature enough to get on the field this fall to show it.