This time I added some commentary. Concerning juniors I've listed....I realize not all of them will come out, but I still consider there to be chances that the ones I have listed will consider coming out early. There will be the most debate about this with Ainge and Henne. I agree they should stay for their senior year, but I think both could be 1st day draft picks if they come out. It could be a situation of cashing in their chips instead of risking injury or a bad senior season. Henne is more likely to go back though because he does have Mario Manningham to throw to. I listed 10 for DEs and WRs again because I feel those are the two deepest positions and have a chance for more than 5 players taken at that position in the 1st round of next years draft. I've been tempted to list 10 CBs too. As always, all comments are welcome. * indicates Junior ** indicates Soph. Quarterback 1. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame 2. Brian Brohm, Louisville* 3. Drew Stanton, Michigan St. 4. Troy Smith, Ohio St. 5. Kevin Kolb, Houston Barely missing the cut: Erik Ainge, Tennessee*; Chad Henne, Michigan*; John Beck, BYU; Zac Taylor, Nebraska There are several out there that would like to demote Brady Quinn after his performance against Michigan and in the 1st half against Michigan State. What Quinn showed in the 2nd half of the Michigan St. game and against Purdue is what makes him the top QB prospect in the country. There isn?t another QB in the country that puts the touch on the deep ball like Quinn does. Drew Stanton is a tough case to figure out. NFL scouts love him because of his size, athleticism and mechanics, but his production just isn?t there in the last two games. MSU?s loss against a lowly Illinois team can?t be put all on Stanton because he didn?t turn the ball over, but he didn?t make any plays either. For right now, I?ll keep him at 3rd, but Troy Smith is now snipping at his heels. Smith would be a prospect regarded as highly as Vince Young was if it wasn?t for his size. That?s such a hard thing for many fans to understand who have a legitimate argument in saying that Smith is a better passer than Vince is. The fact remains that shorter QBs do not get drafted high in the 1st round. Smith projects as a late 1st round to early 2nd round prospect at this point. Running Backs 1. Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma* 2. Kenny Irons, Auburn 3. Michael Bush, Louisville (out for season) 4. Marshawn Lynch, California* 5. Tony Hunt, Penn St. Barely missing the cut: Mike Hart, Michigan; Antonio Pittman, Ohio St.*; Ray Rice, Rutgers; Garrett Wolfe, No. Illinois It will be hard, again, for fans to understand how a back that has already ran for 1100 yards isn?t even in the top 5 RBs in the country. Remember this is how they project as draft prospects not how they rank against all other college players in the college game. Wolfe has major size issues at 5?7 177 lbs. Size does matter in the draft. That?s why Tony Hunt is in the top 5. Hunt has great size and great speed. Peterson has returned to form this season and has a big week scheduled on Saturday against Texas. A huge performance against the Longhorns would secure Peterson?s top RB status this season and could put him as the front runner in the Heisman race. Wide Receivers 1. Calvin Johnson, Ga. Tech* 2. Dwayne Jarrett, USC* 3. Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame 4. Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio St. 5. Robert Meacham, Tennessee* 6. Joel Filani, Texas Tech 7. Sydney Rice, S. Carolina** 8. Jason Hill, Washington St. 9. Anthony Gonzalez, Ohio St. 10. Rhema Mcknight, Notre Dame Barely missed: Steve Smith, USC; Limas Sweed, Texas*; Johnnie Lee Higgins, UTEP Calvin Johnson could easily end up being the #1 pick in next years draft. There was a question if his speed was legitimate. He proved that on a long run after catch last week against Va. Tech. He?s got phenomenal size to go with that speed. Last year, Vernon Davis was the athlete that had everyone in awe. This year it will be Calvin Johnson. Ted Ginn Jr. has shown that he can be a very good route runner and has great hands. He looked very raw last season. He looks so much more refined in his skills this season. Sydney Rice would benefit from another year in college, but he might be a late 1st round pick this season if he decides to come out. Tight Ends 1. Matt Spaeth, Minnesota 2. Chris Hopkins, Toledo 3. Jonny Harline, BYU 4. Scott Chandler, Iowa 5. Zach Miller, Arizona St.* Barely Missed: Clark Harris, Rutgers; Martin Rucker, Missouri*; Greg Olsen, Miami, FL.* Greg Olsen has gone from the top of my list to barely missing the cut. He hasn?t shown as much of an ability to get open this year, but that?s only part of the problem. Kyle Wright hasn?t been able to find him either. Olsen would greatly benefit from another year in college because of the situation he has Miami this year. On the flip side, he might benefit from just leaving and cashing in his chips now rather than suffer another bad year in a bulimic offense. Spaeth is a very good blocker and a great pass catcher. He?s the best combination TE in the country and would fit in well with a zone-blocking scheme that is becoming fairly popular in the NFL. Chris Hopkins is the top pass catching TE in the country. He?s a true weapon in the deep middle of the field. Offensive Tackles 1. Joe Thomas, Wisconsin 2. Levi Brown, Penn St. 3. Sam Baker, USC* 4. Jake Long, Michigan* 5. Ryan Harris, Notre Dame Barely missed: Joe Staley, Central Michigan; Doug Free, No. Illinois; James Marten, Boston College Joe Thomas is a legitimate top 5 pick. He?s a dominant LT who looks good even though he?s coming off of a season ending injury last year. Ryan Harris is a player whose star is dropping. He?s suffering because of all the national television appearances that Notre Dame makes. He was beaten regularly against Michigan and has struggled run blocking. He?s very close to falling off my top 5 list. Doug Free is the key cog to Garrett Wolfe?s success. Guards 1. Justin Blalock, Texas 2. Manuel Ramirez, Texas Tech 3. Josh Beekman, Boston College 4. Jeremy Sheffey, West Virginia 5. Arron Sears, Tennessee Barely missed: Ben Grubbs, Auburn; Will Arnold, LSU*; Tim Duckworth, Auburn; Justin Blalock is by far the top OG prospect in this draft. He?s a mid-1st round pick largely because of his versatility. He can play RT very easily, which he has done so far this year. He?s a very good athlete and has been the best OL on the Texas line for the last two seasons. Texas Tech threw the ball 45 times last Saturday and didn?t give up a single sack against a Texas A&M team who had registered multiple sacks in every game up to that point. Manuel Ramirez is the leader of that line and it?s most consistent performer. Boston College has a great OL. It might be the best in the country. There will be several players drafted from this line in the next two years starting with Beekman this year. Centers 1. Ryan Kalil, USC 2. Mark Fenton, Colorado 3. Dan Mozes, West Virginia 4. Kyle Young, Fresno St. 5. Doug Datish, Ohio St. Barely Missed: Leroy Harris, N.C. State; Tony Brinkhaus, Minnesota* OL generally get labeled as big, dumb jocks. A good center should never fit that classification at least not on the football field. Mozes is probably the most intelligent of the 5 with Fenton close behind him. Kalil is the most gifted of this class. All five of these teams these players play for have found success in the running game this year, although Colorado?s success has taken a few weeks to find. Defensive Ends 1. Gaines Adams, Clemson 2. Quentin Moses, Georgia 3. LaMarr Woodley, Michigan 4. Charles Johnson, Georgia* 5. Tim Crowder, Texas 6. Adam Carriker, Nebraska 7. Tommy Blake, TCU* 8. Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame 9. Jarvis Moss, Florida 10. Dan Bazuin, Central MI Barely missed: Lawrence Jackson, USC*; Brian Smith, Missouri; Mkristo Bruce, Wash. St. Quentin Moses has been contained all season with double teams and his teammate Charles Johnson has benefited greatly from it. Moses is yet to record a sack while Johnson has recorded 4. One would like to see Moses overcome these double teams and I believe he will at some point. Gaines Adams has looked very impressive and already has 4 sacks this season. LaMarr Woodley has been one of the key figures in an aggressive Michigan defensive attack this season. He has 5 sacks torching top tackle prospects Joe Thomas and Ryan Harris for some of them. Jarvis Moss is probably the fastest DE in this class and is definitely a tweener prospect. It will be interesting to see how many from this group will be able to convert to a stand up LB type. Defensive Tackles 1. Quinn Pitcock, Ohio St. 2. Frank Okam, Texas* 3. Brandon Mebane, California 4. Marcus Thomas, Florida 5. Alan Branch, Michigan* Barely missed: Marcus Harrison, Arkansas*; Justin Harrell, Tennessee(injured); Jay Alford, Penn St.; Amobi Okoye, Louisville Quinn Pitcock has appeared to be dominant in every game he has played in this season. He was in the backfield so much against Texas that he should have had to file for permanent residency. Frank Okam and Marcus Thomas are the most athletic of this group. Thomas has also been a large disruption in backfields this season and has 2 sacks. Florida has a stellar DL this season and Thomas is the Sr. leader of it. Brandon Mebane is one of my favorite prospects in this entire draft class. I really enjoy watching him play. He?s got a great motor and plenty of ability. Outside Linebackers 1. Paul Posluszny, Penn St. 2. Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma 3. Tony Taylor, Georgia 4. Earl Everett, Florida 5. Tim Shaw, Penn St. Barely missed: Dan Connor Penn St.*; Juwan Simpson, Alabama; Lawrence Timmons, Florida St.* Posluszny will be the top OLB prospect this year easily. It?s not that the other guys aren?t good. It?s just that Posluszny made such a great name for himself that he?d have to have an Andy Katzenmoyer type of flop season for him to not be regarded as the top LB in this class. Penn St. has 3 LBs in this class that are difference makers. Connor wouldn?t surprise me if he stayed for his senior year, but I?m considering the possibility at this point of his coming out. Alexander, Taylor, and Everett will all three be on display in this week?s action. Alexander will try to make an impact against Texas. Taylor will be needed to put some extra pressure on Erik Ainge. He?s the best blitzing linebacker in the class. Everett will need to help his defense with a big play or two against a stout LSU team. Inside Linebackers 1. Buster Davis, Florida St. 2. David Harris, Michigan 3. Pat Willis, Mississippi 4. Nate Harris, Louisville 5. Anthony Waters, Clemson (out for season) Barely missed: Vince Hall, Va. Tech; Thaddeus Washington, Colorado; Brandon Siler, Florida; Buster Davis has his coming out party against Miami in the 1st game of the year for FSU. He disrupted Wright and Co. all night and was a key to the Seminoles victory. He is a huge difference maker. David Harris is the leader of Michigan?s defense who has been playing brilliantly this season. Pat Willis is in a situation of being passed up by two prospects even though he has played well. Davis and D. Harris have just been having incredible seasons. Cornerbacks 1. Leon Hall, Michigan 2. C.J. Wilson, Baylor 3. Daymeion Hughes, California 4. Antoine Cason, Arizona* 5. Marcus Hamilton, Virginia Barely missed: Chaz Williams, UL Monroe; Marcus McCauley, Fresno St.; Fred Bennett, South Carolina; Darelle Revis, Pittsburgh* Leon Hall does not have the most interceptions, but he is the best cover corner I have seen this season. He locked down either McKnight or Samardzija when Michigan defeated Notre Dame. Quinn soon learned to throw to the opposite side of the field. C.J. Wilson has 4 INTs and is always matched up with his opponents? top receivers. He did a great job on Jason Hill and will have shots at Joel Filani and Limas Sweed at some point this season. Daymeion Hughes has been very opportunistic this season having returned 2 INTs for TDs. Safeties 1. LaRon Landry, LSU 2. Brandon Meriweather, Miami, FL. 3. Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame 4. Reggie Nelson, Florida* 5. Aaron Rouse, Va. Tech Barely missed: Michael Griffin, Texas; Brandon Massey, Missouri; Chris Hampton, S. Carolina* Landry could end up projecting as a better prospect than Michael Huff by the time the season is over. Zbikowski is so high because of he is the best true SS in this class. Nelson is a dynamic Jr. who has 4 INTs and returned one for a TD. Michael Griffin has had a disappointing year. He?ll have an opportunity to move back into the top 5 against OU this weekend.
Nice stuff. Only thing I really disagree with is Bush being #3. I still belive he's the 2nd best back but completley understand the drop because injuries will do that to you. Other thing is I'm very high on Cason. I think he's the top CB in the Draft. Pending his combine I think he could go anywhere from top 25 to top 15.
