Draft Headquarters Week Nine Stock Watch

Last Saturday night's game between USC and Stanford proved to be a matchup at the national level that allowed for a handful of prospects to elevate their status in the eyes of scouts. For a look at who I was impressed with, here is Draft Headquarters Week Nine Stock Watch:

Risers

Matt Barkley QB USC - Although Stanford remained undefeated in their triple-overtime win over USC, the shining star of the epic Saturday night battle was Trojans junior quarterback Matt Barkley, who established himself in my eyes as the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2012 NFL Draft behind Andrew Luck. Poised, confident, and a fantastic game manager, Barkley offers outstanding intangibles at the quarterback position to lead a team. Although he only possesses an above average skillset, Barkley has the type of instincts that are hard to find. Displaying fantastic touch and precision on nearly every throw he makes, Matt has very good accuracy to all parts of the field and has displayed the necessary traits that I look for in a franchise quarterback in the NFL. Saturday night's game was one that offered several players the chance to improve their standing as a prospect, and Barkley certainly took advantage of that, cementing himself as my No. 2 quarterback prospect in the upcoming draft.

Chris Polk RB Washington - Although he hasn't received quite as much exposure as other running backs so far this season, Washington's Chris Polk is coming off of two fantastic games back-to-back. Against Stanford last week, Polk carried the ball 15 times for 144 yards (9.6-yards per carry) and two touchdowns before exploding this past weekend against Arizona, rushing for another 144 yards and four touchdowns on 34 carries (4.2-yards per carry), while also catching four passes for 100 yards and one more touchdown. A bowling ball of a running back at 5'11, 222 lbs who rarely goes down at first contact, Polk has the traits that I look for in a between-the-tackles every-down ball carrier for a team at the next level. With no running back having established themselves as the No. 2 back in the draft behind Alabama's Trent Richardson, Polk is making a case to scouts that he deserves to be considered. I currently have a second-to-third round grade on Polk.

T.J. McDonald S USC - Another Trojan who made his presence felt on Saturday night was safety T.J. McDonald. A playmaker and reliable last line of defense for the Trojans, McDonald was all over the field, recording five tackles and one tackle for loss against the undefeated Stanford Cardinal. What I like about T.J. is that he possesses the range of a free safety as well a the intimidating, hard-hitting presence of a strong safety, showing that he is a complete safety who could fit into several different schemes at the next level. McDonald is considered one of the top safety prospects for the 2012 NFL Draft, and if he opts to declare, which some think he will, he should be one of the first two-or-three players drafted at his position this spring.

Jarvis Jones OLB Georgia - One under-the-radar pass rusher this season has been Georgia's Jarvis Jones. A former USC linebacker who transferred back home, Jones won't need help finding exposure after recording four sacks this past weekend against Florida; he has totaled 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks through the first eight games for the Bulldogs. A redshirt sophomore who is eligible for the draft, Jones projects as a fine 3-4 outside rush linebacker prospect at 6'3, 241 lbs. With the 2011 draft class appearing to be lacking in pass-rushing talent, Jones could jump at the opportunity to declare with the type of big season he is having.

Juron Criner WR Arizona - Through most of the 2011 season thus far, Arizona's Juron Criner was being considered one of the larger disappointments entering last week's game against UCLA; and then he went off. Over the last two weeks against conference foes UCLA and Washington, Criner has hauled in 21 passes for 219 yards and five touchdowns. Working his way back from an appendectomy at the beginning of the year, Criner has turned around the disappointing season and has regained his All-American form from a year ago. Although his straight-line speed is still going to be a question mark, Criner has the chance to be a great value pick for a team in the early-mid rounds.

Casey Hayward CB Vanderbilt - One of the most under-appreciated players in the country, Vanderbilt's Casey Hayward is off to a terrific senior season for the Commodores. Totaling 32 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, and eight pass breakups through eight games, Hayward has proven to be productive defensive back throughout his career at Vanderbilt (13 interceptions, 29 passes broken up in just under four years). A ballhawk with the natural instincts that I absolutely love to see in a defensive back, Hayward offers the size and length (5'11, 188) desired at the position as well as the versatility to play in both man and zone coverage that warrant being looked at early in the draft. I have Hayward rated higher than other scouts and believe that he has the chance to be a true steal for a team in the early-to-mid rounds of the draft this spring.

Fallers

Tauren Poole RB Tennessee - Coming off of a 1,054-yard, 11 touchdown season as a junior in 2010, many scouts anticipated that Tennessee's Tauren Poole had what it takes to establish himself as one of the top senior running backs in the country; that has not been the case so far in 2011. Managing just 3.7-yards per carry on 134 carries, Poole has rushed for only 500 yards and two touchdowns through Tennessee's first eight games. Tauren lacks the explosion and quick-twitch abilities that I look for in a running back, merely acting as an average between-the-tackles runner who struggles to create on his own. I wouldn't expect to see Poole drafted before the fifth-or-sixth round this spring.