Even the most casual NFL fan is more than aware of the young superstars like Desean Jackson and Chris Johnson. These players have dominated both opposing teams and post game highlight reels very early in their careers. These superstars are not the only young players that are changing games on Sundays, however. The NFL is a rich with young talent, and much of goes largely unnoticed.
For the next few weeks, we’ll be writing about the top young talent that you may or may not have heard of in each division. The focus is going to be on players that under 26 years old, and haven’t yet been named to the Pro Bowl, though many have developed into Pro Bowl level talents. The NFC South is a division with a wide range of talent. There are teams that are considered to be playoff locks in New Orleans and Atlanta, a young team on the rise in the Buccaneers, and a team just beginning the rebuilding process in Carolina. Which of these teams has done the best job in stockpiling young talent?
1. RB Jonathon Stewart, Carolina – Sharing the backfield for his entire career has been frustrating for both Stewart and the fantasy football aficionados that have drafted him. However, it appears that the Panthers may let Deangelo Williams walk, which would finally leave Stewart as the featured RB in an offense that will heavily rely on the running game in 2011. Stewart, who is one of the most athletic RBs in the league, has great hands and will provide a valuable option for rookie QB Cam Newton to look for out of the backfield. It certainly appears that the stage is set for Stewart to prove that he is an elite RB in 2011.
2. QB Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay– Freeman made a huge leap in 2010, which was his first full year as a starter. He far exceeded the expectations the Buccaneers had for him, finishing the year with a 95.9 passer rating, 25 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions. He also proved himself to be the leader of the offense, something Tampa Bay had been lacking. Freeman’s next benchmark will be to guide Tampa Bay to the playoffs.
3. LB Curtis Lofton, Atlanta– Lofton has been a model of consistency for the Falcons, missing only one start in his three year career. He’s posted over 110 tackles in each of the past two years, and he’s proven himself to be one of the best run stopping LB’s in the league. He now needs to focus on his skills in pass coverage, which is something he has struggled with in the past.
4. WR Mike Williams, Tampa Bay– Marred by concerns surrounding his character, Williams dropped to the third round in 2010 before Tampa Bay elected to take a chance on him. Williams silenced many of his doubters by having an outstanding rookie year, catching 65 passes for nearly 1000 yards and 11 touchdowns. Paired with Freeman and Blount, Tampa Bay has built an offense that has the potential to give NFC South fits for the next decade.
5. DE Charles Johnson, Carolina– The Panthers had a huge void to fill when they lost All Pro DE Julius Peppers. There weren’t many people expected Johnson to do much to help, though. The first few years of Johnson’s career were unremarkable, but 2010 was a break out season for the former Georgia Bulldog. After having only four starts in the previous three years, Johnson started 16 games and racked up 62 tackles and 11.5 sacks. His unique mix of experience (entering his 5th season) and youth (24 years old) make him a valuable asset for a rebuilding Carolina squad.
6. DT Sedrick Ellis, New Orleans¬- A top ten pick in 2008, Ellis has at times struggled to live up to the expectations of being a high pick. In 2010, things finally began to come together. He started all 16 games for the first time in his career, recorded 44 tackles and 6 sacks. The Saints will need his continued improvement if they had to improve upon their 2010 defense in 2011. 
7. CB Tracy Porter, New Orleans– Porter, a second round pick in 2008, spent most of his rookie year on the injured reserve list. The next season, Porter started 12 games and was elevated to hero status with a stellar performance in the playoffs, culminating in his Super Bowl clenching interception that he returned for a touchdown. Porter followed that run with 12 more starts in 2010, but didn’t make the same big plays he did in 2009. He’s struggled with injuries and consistency, but he is still one of the most underrated CBs in the NFL.
8. DT Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay– As the third overall pick in the 2010 draft, McCoy entered his rookie year with huge expectations. And to be honest, McCoy’s impact in his rookie year was somewhat underwhelming. His season certainly wasn’t a bad one; McCoy racked up 28 tackles in 13 starts. However, McCoy will need to make many more plays in the future to live up to the invested Tampa Bay has made in him.
9. FS Thomas DeCoud, Atlanta– After playing primarily on special teams in 2008, DeCoud exploded onto the scene for Atlanta in 2009. He started all 16 games, piling up 68 tackles, 3 interceptions, and two forced fumbles. He took a step back in 2010, but overall still had a solid season, earning himself a reputation as one of the top DBs in the division. With a couple more big plays, DeCoud could gain himself some Pro Bowl consideration in 2011.
10. RB LeGarrette Blount, Tampa Bay– Former Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher rarely admits making a mistake. So when Fisher said that he regrets daily his decision to release Blount, that’s a high compliment. Although Blount, an undrafted free agent, flashed enormous talent during the 2010 preseason, few people could have anticipated the impact he would have had for the Buccaneers. Blount hurdled and ran over defenders on his way to a 1000 yard season in spite of only starting seven games. Blount has many areas to improve upon, primarily with both his hands and vision, but with his athleticism he should be a force again in 2011.
Honorable Mention:
OL Jeff Otah & Geoff Schwartz, Carolina
DT Corey Peters, Atlanta
WR Robert Meachem, New Orleans
CB Aqib Talib, Tampa Bay
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