| Authored by Jeff Risdon - 14th October, 2008 - 4:44 pm
 This is should be seen as more of an opinion about what this will look like come April than it is a contemporary ranking. Three weeks are barely in the books and few of the upper-echelon prospects have played against significant competition.
Remember, this is a very fluid list. I included several underclassmen with the understanding that they may choose to go back to school in 2009. Some are more likely to delcare than others: running backs, quarterbacks, cornerbacks, and defensive ends leave school early at a much higher rate than linebackers, interior linemen, and safeties. Underclassmen will be marked with an asterisk. Some “name” underclassmen are left out for various reasons.
I will be posting scouting reports periodically in the “Draft Prospects” section, once they can be fleshed out a little more.
1. Chris Wells*, RB, Ohio State--has every chance to be as good as Peterson or McFadden, if the foot heals
2. Michael Oher, T, Mississippi--finally living up to expectations, which are sky high
3. Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State--the next great Buckeye CB in the NFL
4. Michael Crabtree*, WR, Texas Tech--eerily similar to Calvin Johnson
5. Vontae Davis*, CB, Illinois--very fluid natural cover man who can also play safety
6. Matthew Stafford*, QB, Georgia--his agility and accuracy on the move are underrated
7. Jeremy Maclin*, WR, Missouri--taller, bigger, and faster than the more heralded Percy Harvin, and he’s shown better hands to boot.
8. Andre Smith, T, Alabama--outstanding footwork and relentless drive, keeps improving his craft
9. Rey Maualuga, LB, USC--big, fast, physical presence a perfect fit as a 3-4 ILB
10. Eugene Monroe, T, Virginia--more physical than the recent UVA linemen (Ferguson, Albert) 11. Duke Robinson, G, Oklahoma--could be the first G in the Top 10 in years for a reason
12. Will Moore, S, Missouri--excellent center-fielder type who can lay the lumber
13. Alex Mack, C, California--might be the best overall player regardless of position
14. Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest--makes plays all over the field and is near impossible to block
15. James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State--improving in coverage, still needs to work on getting off blocks
16. Brian Cushing, LB, USC--the injury flags are a legit downer, or else Cushing would be a top 5 prospect
17. Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech--boom/bust type must improve his leverage to match his explosive quickness
18. Knowshon Moreno*, RB, Georgia--reminds me of the pre-injury Kevin Jones
19. Darius Heyward-Bey*, WR, Maryland--runs great routes and catches everything near him
20. Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest--playmaker lacks height but tackles well for his size
21. Tyson Jackson, DT, LSU--improving his pass rush moves and play recognition
22. Javon Ringer, RB, Michigan State--power back with great burst and vision, reminds some of Tony Dorsett
23. George Selvie*, DE, South Florida--pass rush specialist with outstanding quickness and long speed, will be a 3-4 OLB a la Kamerion Wimbley
24. Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin--best hands of the TE bunch, and he reliably gets open
25. Percy Harvin*, WR/ATH, Florida--has a lot of Desean Jackson in him
26. Brandon Spikes*, LB, Florida--has looked dominant in 2008 coming off a toe injury
27. Sam Bradford*, QB, Oklahoma--very upwardly mobile if he continues how he started
28. Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
29. Marcus Freeman, LB, Ohio State
30. Darry Beckwith, LB, LSU
31. Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas--freakish athlete has improved his pass protection skills
32. Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
33. Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
34. Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia--trending up for his 3-4 experience
35. Jamon Meredith, T, South Carolina
36. Myron Rolle*, S, Florida State
37. Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri
38. Taylor Mays*, S, USC--unbelievable size and speed doesn’t play like a football player often enough
39. Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut
40. Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss
41. CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson
42. Terrance Taylor, DT, Michigan
43. DeAngelo Smith, CB, Cincinnati
44. Dannell Ellerbe, LB, Georgia--moving up
45. Arian Foster, RB, Tennessee
46. Bruce Johnson, CB, Miami FL--would be in top 25 with better size
47. Jason Smith, T, Baylor
48. Patrick Chung, S, Oregon
49. Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma
50. Kevin Barnes, CB, Maryland
51. Louis Murphy, WR, Florida
52. Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama
53. Jason Phillips, LB, TCU
54. Eric Wood, C, Louisville
55. Phil Loadholt, T, Oklahoma
56. Matt Shaughnessy, DE, Wisconsin
57. Ciron Black*, T, LSU
58. Rhett Bomar, QB, Sam Houston State
59. Fenuki Tupou, OL, Oregon
60. BJ Raji, DT, Boston College
61. Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Mississippi
62. Nic Harris, S, Oklahoma
63. Cody Brown, DE/OLB, Connecticut
64. Ryan Palmer, CB, Texas
65. Tyrone McKenzie, LB, South Florida
66. Domonique Johnson, CB, Jackson State
67. Hunter Cantwell, QB, Louisville--moving up, slightly
68. Trevor Canfield, G, Cincinnati
69. Keith Ellison, S, USC
70. Mohammed Massaquoi, WR, Georgia
71. Jason Watkins, T, Florida
72. Michael Hamlin, S, Clemson
73. Brooks Foster, WR, North Carolina
74. Derek Pegues, DB, Mississippi State--will move up once he settles as a corner
75. C.J. Spillman, S, Marshall
76. Mike Mickens, CB, Cincinnati--moving steadily down
77. Jahi Word-Daniels, CB, Georgia Tech
78. Victor “Macho” Harris, DB, Virginia Tech
79. Augustus Parrish, G, Kent State
80. Jonathan Casillas, LB, Wisconsin--prototypical Tampa-2 OLB
81. Antoine Caldwell, C, Alabama
82. Evander Hood, DT, Missouri
83. Cornelius Ingram, TE, Florida--injury a real red flag
84. Keenan Lewis, CB, Oregon State
85. James Davis, RB, Clemson--steadily falling
86. Pat White, WR/ATH, West Virginia
87. Pannel Egboh, DE, Stanford
88. Bear Pascoe, TE, Fresno State
89. Alex Magee, DT, Purdue--very upwardly mobile
90. Tom Brandstater, QB, Fresno State
91. Ramses Barden, WR, Cal Poly
92. Brian Mandeville, TE, Northeastern
93. Orion Martin, DE, Virginia Tech
94. Londen Fryar, CB, Western Michigan
95. James Bright, G, BYU
96. George Smith, WR, Vanderbilt
97. Anthony Parker, G, Tennessee
98. Herman Johnson, OL, LSU--falling stock
99. Joshua Mauga, LB, Nevada
100. Alex Boone, T, Ohio State--on a steep decline
101. Jeff Owens, DT, Georgia
102. Darius Hill, TE, Ball State
103. Curtis Painter, QB, Purdue
Updated 9/29/08
Jeff.Risdon@RealGM.com |
