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

07/29/2012 - In his senior season, Pocic has become a leader of the offensive line, Beckman says, making sure his linemates show up for extra practices and film sessions. Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase said he appreciates the extra work Pocic puts in with the line. "It's easy for the young guys to follow a guy like him, because they know he cares about them and he cares about what this program is doing," Scheelhaase said. "He's invested a whole lot into it, and now he's just reaping the benefits." On the other hand, Buchanan uses other leadership methods, Beckman said. "Graham's the guy who makes sure that everything's going right," Beckman said. "Michael's more of, ???Hey, follow me, watch me do this, you do what I do.' Two different types of leaders, but two that you definitely need." - The Daily Herald

07/18/2012 - 2012 OUTLAND TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST: Graham Pocic, Illinois, C, has been selected to the Preseason Outland Trophy Watch List for the 2012 college football season, which goes to the best interior lineman in college football, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America. Pocic enters 2012 having started 26 consecutive games at center for the Illini. He was an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection in 2010 when he helped pave the way for the top rushing offense in the Big Ten and 11th-best in the nation. Pocic is also on the Rimington Trophy watch list, which goes to the nation's top center. - Illinois football

07/10/2012 - 2012 RIMINGTON TROPHY AWARD PRESEASON WATCHLIST: Graham Pocic, Illinois, Senior, has been selected to the 2012 preseason watch list for the The Rimington Trophy, presented annually to the Most Outstanding Center in NCAA Division I-A College Football. - The Rimington Trophy