Graham Pocic, C

07/31/2012 - Top-five Illinois prospects for the 2013 NFL Draft: 5. C Graham Pocic...The Illinois projected offensive starters boasts just a pair of seniors, including three-year starting center Pocic, who is the lone offensive player on this list. It's rare to see tall players snapping the football with most centers, both college and pro, measuring at 6-4 or shorter, but Pocic is listed at 6-7 and is the tallest player on the Illini offensive line. At every program around the country, it's important to keep high-profile prep recruits in-state and Illinois was able to do that with Lemont-product as he received scholarship offers from Michigan, Florida, Penn State and several other prominent schools. After redshirting in 2008 and serving as the back-up in 2009, Pocic became the starting center as a sophomore (13 starts) and helped the Illinois offense break school records for points in a season and points per game. He started all 13 games again last season as a junior and is the unquestioned leader of the Illini offensive line in 2012, a group that will need as much guidance as possible. Pocic is physically strong and aggressive with the grit to finish through the whistle and tough-out the battles in the trenches. With several talented interior defensive linemen coming from Big Ten programs the past few years, including his own teammates, Pocic has been routinely tested as the rock of the Illinois line. Although not likely to be a day one or two pick like the first four prospects on this list, Pocic currently projects as a mid-to-late round player and a borderline top-five senior at his position. - Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com

Full Graham Pocic News Wire

It's rare to see tall players snapping the football with most centers, both college and pro, measuring at 6-4 or shorter, but Pocic is listed at 6-7 and is the tallest player on the Illini offensive line.

At every program around the country, it's important to keep high-profile prep recruits in-state and Illinois was able to do that with Lemont-product as he received scholarship offers from Michigan, Florida, Penn State and several other prominent schools.

After redshirting in 2008 and serving as the back-up in 2009, Pocic became the starting center as a sophomore (13 starts) and helped the Illinois offense break school records for points in a season and points per game. He started all 13 games again last season as a junior and is the unquestioned leader of the Illini offensive line in 2012, a group that will need as much guidance as possible.

Pocic is physically strong and aggressive with the grit to finish through the whistle and tough-out the battles in the trenches. With several talented interior defensive linemen coming from Big Ten programs the past few years, including his own teammates, Pocic has been routinely tested as the rock of the Illinois line. Although not likely to be a Day 1 or 2 pick like the first four prospects on this list, Pocic currently projects as a mid-to-late round player and a borderline top-five senior at his position.

--Dane Brugler