2016 NFL Draft: Matt Miller's Preseason Watch List

Pack your bags, double-check your directions and get ready for one hell of a road trip. That's what every regional scout in America is doing as college football gets underway, and at Bleacher Report, the work is the same. 

With the 2015 season right around the corner, the job of NFL and media scouting departments is to identify those players worth looking at this year. NFL teams and their staffs of 10 scouts are attacking a list of over 500 players from over 100 schools that need to be looked at this fall. When you're a one-man show, the work is a little different but nonetheless challenging, as you try to get together a list of who needs to be watched.

Thus the Watch List is born.

This preseason Watch List isn't a set of rankings—these players aren't yet ranked, which is why they're listed alphabetically. The rankings will come soon enough. This is more of a resource for you—the fan—to use each Saturday as you're watching college football. 

The players listed here are thought, at this time, to be the best of the best. That doesn't mean they're the only players who will be drafted, as part of the fun is finding that Ali Marpet at Hobart when you're out on the road. That said, if a player isn't on the radar before the year, it's a tough road to get noticed. You need a big year statistically, or you must be the type of player opposing coaches will rave about to scouts when they come in with a bag of doughnuts and a carton of coffee each week.

Much will change as the season unfolds, but take this list as your preseason guide to watching college football in 2015.

Quarterbacks

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

The 2016 quarterback class has potential, but taking a glance at the group before the season begins, there isn't anyone who jumps out and overwhelms you with talent. Last year, we had Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota to be excited about before the season began—and they were selected with the first two picks of the 2015 draft. This year is different.

Christian Hackenberg (Penn State) was a 5-star recruit, according to 247Sports, the No. 1 quarterback in his class and a star before he put on his white helmet. But he struggled with the departure of Bill O'Brien to the Houston Texans and wasn't a great fit in new head coach James Franklin's dink-and-dunk passing game. The tools are there—and Hackenberg is better than his numbers indicate—but there are flaws, too.

Cardale Jones has the most true potential of anyone in the class, but he's started three games in his career and may not win the starting gig at Ohio State this year. He could be the first quarterback selected or a forgotten man by this time next year.

The same could be said of Cal's Jared Goff, who has a ton of arm talent and huge numbers in the Air Raid system but has a lanky frame and hasn't been asked to execute in a pro-style offense. Will he be this year's Bryce Petty—a great college quarterback destined to be questioned by the acclimation to the NFL?

2016 Top Quarterbacks (alphabetical)

Barrett, J.T. / Ohio State
Boykin, Trevone / TCU
Brissett, Jacoby / NC State
Coker, Jake / Alabama
Cook, Connor / Michigan State
Dobbs, Joshua / Tennessee
Doughty, Brandon / Western Kentucky
Frohnapfel, Blake / UMass
Goff, Jared / California
Hackenberg, Christian / Penn State
Hogan, Kevin / Stanford
Howard, Skyler / WVU
Johnson, Jeremy / Auburn
Jones, Cardale / Ohio State
Kessler, Cody / USC
Kiel, Gunner / Cincinnati
Lindquist, Jeff / Washington
Prescott, Dak / Mississippi State
Rudolph, Mason / Oklahoma State
Russell, Seth / Baylor
Sudfeld, Nate / Indiana
Swoopes, Tyrone / Texas
Towles, Patrick / Kentucky
Wentz, Carson / NDSU

Running Backs

Eric Gay/Associated Press

The two-year streak of no running back being drafted in the first round ended this year when Todd Gurley (No. 10 overall) and Melvin Gordon (No. 15 overall) both heard their names called on the first night. Looking ahead to 2016, you're going to love this draft if you're a fan of running backs.

Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State) is all you want in a running back. He's powerful, he can be elusive in short spaces, and he has the vision to find creases and exploit them. Elliott hasn't been asked to do much as a receiver, so he needs more experience there. But as a runner, he's special. 

Elliott will get the hype (and Heisman talk), but we can't sleep on studs like James Conner (Pitt), Devontae Booker (Utah) and Derrick Henry (Alabama). There is no shortage of running back talent this year, and unlike in some previous seasons, the best backs are coming out of pro-style offenses, not predominantly spread schemes like at Oregon or Baylor.

Top 2016 Running Backs (alphabetical)

Allen, Leon / Western Kentucky
Barr-Woods, Storm / Oregon State
Booker, Devontae / Utah
Breida, Matt / Georgia Southern
Burks, Brandon / Troy
Canzeri, Jordan / Iowa
Carson, Tra / Texas A&M
Clement, Corey / Wisconsin
Collins, Alex / Arkansas
Conner, James / Pittsburgh
Coprich, Marshaun / Illinois State
Cox, Marcus / Appalachian State
Davis, Justin / USC
Dayes, Matt / NC State
Dixon, Kenneth / Louisiana Tech
Drake, Kenyan / Alabama
Elliott, Ezekiel / Ohio State
Farrow, Kenneth / Houston
Ferguson, Josh / Illinois
Folston, Tarean / Notre Dame
Foster, D.J. / Arizona State
Gordon, Michael / Arkansas State
Gray, Johnathan / Texas
Green, Aaron / TCU
Green, Derrick / Michigan
Greene, Travis / Bowling Green
Hansbrough, Russell / Missouri
Henry, Derrick / Alabama
Howard, Jordan / Indiana
Hunt, Kareem / Toledo
Jackson, Darius / Eastern Michigan
Jackson, Don / Nevada
James, Paul, Rutgers
Johnson, Devon / Marshall
Jones, Aaron / UTEP
Lasco, Daniel / California
Linwood, Shock / Baylor
Lowe, Robert / Texas State
Lynch, Akeel / Penn State
Madden, Tre / USC
McGuire, Elijah / Louisiana-Lafayette
Perkins, Paul / UCLA
Powell, Christian / Colorado
Powell, Shaquille / Duke
Pumphrey, Donnel / San Diego State
Shumpert, Ashton / Mississippi State
Stanback, William / Central Florida
Swain, Chris / Navy
Taylor, Anthone / Buffalo
Thomas, Jahad / Temple
Tucker, Shane / Middle Tennessee
Tyner, Thomas / Oregon
Waller, Marteze / Fresno State
Washington, DeAndre / Texas Tech
Wick, Shaun / Wyoming
Wilds, Brandon / South Carolina
Williams, Jamaal / BYU
Williams, Jonathan / Arkansas

Wide Receivers

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

If you like big, strong, fast wide receivers (and who doesn't?), this is your year. 

Headlined by Ole Miss star Laquon Treadwell, the 2016 receiver crop features the type of game-changing targets offensive coordinators go crazy for. Treadwell looks like a sober Josh Gordon, and even coming off of a bad leg break in 2014, he could easily be a top-five pick if he continues to play at his previous levels.

Two of the more talented receivers also face off-field questions. Tyler Boyd (Pitt) was arrested for DUI, and Auburn's Duke Williams was suspended for the season opener and has missed multiple practices this August, according to head coach Gus Malzahn. Both have talent but face obstacles in proving to NFL general managers that they are worth the risks. 

And finally, here's an underclassman to watch: USC's Darreus Rogers. Every scout I talk to that has gone through USC this summer raves about his size, speed and talent. As a redshirt sophomore, Rogers is eligible for the 2016 draft.

Top 2016 Wide Receivers (alphabetical)

Addison, Bralon / Oregon
Bolden, Victor / Oregon State
Boyd, Tyler / Pittsburgh
Braverman, Daniel / Western Michigan
Burbrink, Ryan / Bowling Green
Brown, Chris / Notre Dame
Cajuste, Devon / Stanford
Carroo, Leonte / Rutgers
Cesar, Rashon / Louisiana Monroe
Coleman, Corey / Baylor
Coley, Stacy / Miami
Cooper, Pharoh / South Carolina
Cracraft, River / Washington State
Dangerfield, Jared / Western Kentucky
Davis, Corey / Western Michigan
Davis, Quinshad / North Carolina
Doctson, Josh / TCU
Dural, Travin / LSU
Erickson, Alex / Wisconsin
Foster, D.J. / Arizona State
Fuller, William / Notre Dame
Grant, Jakeem / Texas Tech
Hamilton, DaeSean / Penn State
Harden, Donovan / Georgia State
Harris, Carlos / North Texas
Higgins, Rashard / Colorado State
Holley, Ajalen / Louisiana Monroe
Howard, Pig / Tennessee
Jarmon, Hunter / Oregon State
Jones, Cayleb / Arizona
Jones, Corey / Toledo
Jones, Isaiah / East Carolina
Kemp, Marcus / Hawaii
Lucas, Keevan / Tulsa
Marshall, Byron / Oregon
Mathews, Mitch / BYU
McKay, Mekale / Cincinnati
Miller, Braxton / Ohio State
Mitchell, Malcolm / Georgia
Morgan, Teldrick / New Mexico State
North, Marquez / Tennessee
Payton, Jordan / UCLA
Peake, Charone / Clemson
Reynolds, Josh / Texas A&M
Robinson, Corey / Notre Dame
Robinson, Demarcus / Florida
Rogers, Darreus / USC
Roland, Shaq / Prairie View A&M
Russell, Alonzo / Toledo
Seals-Jones, Ricky / Texas A&M
Sharp, Hunter / Utah State
Sharpe, Tajae / UMass
Shepard, Sterling / Oklahoma
Sperbeck, Thomas / Boise State
Spruce, Nelson / Colorado
Taylor, Taywan / Western Kentucky
Taylor, Trent / Louisiana Tech
Thomas, Michael / Ohio State
Treadwell, Laquon / Ole Miss
Villamin, Jordan / Oregon State
Washington, Shaq / Cincinnati
Williams, Duke / Auburn
Williams, Mike / Clemson
Willoughby, Ron / Buffalo
Wilson, De'Runnya / Mississippi State

Tight Ends

Justin Hayworth/Associated Press

It's been a while since there was a stud tight end prospect in college—you could say Eric Ebron (2014 draft) was more of an athlete than a game-changing option for North Carolina. This year just might change that with a loaded group of tight ends who are full of potential and production.

The most recognizable name here will be O.J. Howard from tight end factory Alabama. He's big, strong and fast, and he can dominate when he's locked in. The issue has been an inconsistent effort, but perhaps being the go-to guy in the Crimson Tide passing game will get him in gear.

Iowa's Jake Duzey is another great prospect from a long line of talented tight ends coming out of Iowa City. He looks like the total package and could push for the top tight end spot once the rankings come out. The same goes for Arkansas' Hunter Henry. The Razorbacks are expected to compete this year, and Henry will be a huge part of that.

Top 2016 Tight Ends (alphabetical)

Adams, Jerell / South Carolina
Brown, Pharaoh / Oregon
Butt, Jake / Michigan
Carter, Kyle / Penn State
Carter, Kivon / Colorado State
Clute, Kellen / Oregon State
Cope-Fitzpatrick, Jalen / USC
Cross, Alan / Memphis
Deaver, Braxton / Duke
Duzey, Jake / Iowa
Engram, Evan / Ole Miss
Freeman, Billy / San Jose State
Gipson, Jarred / Nevada
Gordon, Dillon / LSU
Grinnage, David / NC State
Griswold, Darion / Arkansas State
Henry, Hunter / Arkansas
Higby, Tyler / Western Kentucky
Hodges, Bucky / Virginia Tech
Holtz, J.P. / Pittsburgh
Hooper, Austin / Stanford
Howard, O.J. / Alabama
Leggett, Jordan / Clemson
Liggins, Jeremy / Ole Miss
Malleck, Ryan / Virginia Tech
McGee, Jake / Florida
McGowan, LaQuan / Baylor
Mundt, Johnny / Oregon
Perkins, Joshua / Washington
Phillips, Jake / UNLV
Price, Josiah / Michigan State
Price, Sean / South Florida
Rome, Jay / Georgia
Ruiz, Joel / Georgia State
Scheu, Steven / Vanderbilt
Smith, Caleb / Oregon State
Smith, Jonnu / Florida International
Vannett, Nick / Ohio State
Vitale, Dan / Northwestern
Walker, Steven / Colorado State
Williams, Bryce / East Carolina

Tackles

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Evaluating offensive tackles is one of the most fun—and hardest—parts of the job. But watching Ronnie Stanley (Notre Dame) is easy. The big man is smooth, agile and strong at the point of attack, and he shows pro-level technique on the edge.

Staying in the Midwest, Michigan State's Jack Conklin and Ohio State's Taylor Decker both look very good as powerful athletes at left tackle. And in the South, Laremy Tunsil from Ole Miss has the No. 2 tackle spot locked up heading into the season.

As for sleepers, Tyler Johnstone from Oregon has the kind of athleticism that made Kyle Long and Jake Fisher top-tier prospects coming out of Eugene.

Top 2016 Tackles (alphabetical)

Austin, Jonah / LSU
Banner, Zach / USC
Benenoch, Caleb / UCLA
Bisnowaty, Adam / Pittsburgh
Clark, Le'Raven / Texas Tech
Conklin, Jack / Michigan State
Decker, Taylor / Ohio State
Drango, Spencer / Baylor
Haeg, Joe / NDSU
Harlow, Sean / Oregon State
Hawkins, Jerald / LSU
Heck, Jon / North Carolina
Ifedi, Germain / Texas A&M
Johnstone, Tyler / Oregon
Lewis, Alex / Nebraska
Marz, Tyler / Wisconsin
Murphy, Kyle / Stanford
Shell, Brandon / South Carolina
Skipper, Dan / Arkansas
Spriggs, Jason / Indiana
Stanley, Ronnie / Notre Dame
Theus, John / Georgia
Tunsil, Laremy / Ole Miss
Wheeler, Chad / USC

Guards

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After watching Jonathan Cooper and Chance Warmack get drafted in the top 10 back in 2013, the guard position has seen a bit of a decrease in draft value. That's not to say a guard couldn't go in the top 10 again, but Cooper's struggles in Arizona may be a warning sign to teams. 

The guard class this year is good, but not good enough to warrant a top-10 pick—at least not yet. Vadal Alexander (LSU) has first-round talent, but he's likely to see playing time at tackle this year and could see his draft position shift to the edge. Pat Elflein (Ohio State) is a technically savvy blocker with good power, and Missouri's Connor McGovern looks like Hercules in pads. Both players could slide into the No. 2 guard spot.

Top 2016 Guards (alphabetical)

Alexander, Vadal / LSU
Andrews, Gavin / Oregon State
Bell, Justin / Ole Miss
Ehinger, Parker / Cincinnati
Elflein, Pat / Ohio State
Elmer, Steve / Notre Dame
Feeney, Dan / Indiana
Gruenschlaeger, John / Kentucky
Kirkland, Denver / Arkansas
Morris, Aaron / Ole Miss
Pyke, Greg / Georgia
Rigsbee, Jordan / California
Simmons, Jordan / USC
Teofilo, Vi / Arizona State
Turner, Landon / North Carolina
Westerman, Christian / Arizona State
Whitehair, Cody / Kansas State

Centers

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Scouting centers has become en vogue as scouts and general managers start to re-emphasize the middle of the line, and the 2016 class looks like a great year to grab an anchor for the offensive line.

Three centers—Evan Boehm (Missouri), Nick Martin (Notre Dame), Mike Matthews (Texas A&M)—are all competing for the top spot right now, and each is incredibly talented. It also helps that Missouri has become an offensive line pipeline to the NFL, and that Martin and Matthews have football bloodlines with older brothers (Zack and Jake, respectively) who were drafted in the first round.

Top 2016 Centers (alphabetical)

Allen, Jack / Michigan State
Beamish, Nick / Central Michigan
Blythe, Austin / Iowa
Boehm, Evan / Missouri
Brendel, Jake / UCLA
Burden, Freddie / Georgia Tech
Crowder, Mack / Tennessee
Doyle, Taylor / Texas
Fuller, Kyle / Baylor
Horn, Joel / Montana State
Hunt, Joey / TCU
Kelly, Nick / Arizona State
Kelly, Ryan / Alabama
Knott, Alan / South Carolina
Lee, Eric / UTEP
Long, Hunter / Georgia
Mangiro, Angelo / Penn State
Martin, Nick / Notre Dame
Matthews, Mike / Texas A&M
Mitchell, Josh / Oregon State
Pocic, Ethan / LSU
Rowell, Artie / Pittsburgh
Seumalo, Isaac / Oregon State
Shuler, Graham / Stanford
Skura, Matt / Duke
Smothers, Mitch / Arkansas
Still, Ben / Ole Miss
Toth, Jon / Kentucky
Tuerk, Max / USC
Voltz, Dan / Wisconsin
Wixson, Kirby / Louisiana Tech

Defensive Linemen

TROY WAYRYNEN/Associated Press

Go ahead and get excited about the 2016 defensive line class. This could be a good one.

DeForest Buckner is more talented than his former teammate Arik Armstead, who was good enough to be drafted No. 17 overall last year. Alabama's A'Shawn Robinson is a beast with some Marcell Dareus to his game, and UCLA's Kenny Clark looks like the next athletic freak at 3-4 defensive end. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

With top-end talent and good depth across the board, the defensive line may be the deepest of all positions heading into the season. 

Top 2016 Defensive Linemen (alphabetical)

Adams, Montravius / Auburn
Arnold, Jay / Texas A&M
Augusta, Josh / Missouri
Billings, Andrew / Baylor
Blackshear, Beau / Baylor
Brantley, Harold / Missouri
Brown, Christian / West Virginia
Buckner, DeForest / Oregon
Butler, Vernon / Louisiana Tech
Cherry, Demetrius / Arizona State
Clark, Kenny / UCLA
Collins, Maliek / Nebraska
Day, Sheldon / Notre Dame
Dixon, Gerald / South Carolina
Dukes, Phillip / South Carolina
Gotsis, Adam / Georgia Tech
Grimble, Jalen / Oregon State
Hamilton, Jelani / Miami
Jarrett, Tyrique / Pittsburgh
Johnson, Austin / Penn State
Jones, Chris / Mississippi State
Kallon, Francis / Georgia Tech
Latu, Mo / Arizona State
Lawrence-Stample, Nile / Florida State
Maddy, Luther / Virginia Tech
Oakman, Shawn / Baylor
Peko, Kyle / Oregon State
Rankins, Sheldon / Louisville
Reed, Jarran / Alabama
Robinson, A'Shawn / Alabama
Rochell, Isaac / Notre Dame
Simmons, Delvon / USC
Tapper, Charles / Oklahoma
Tago, Noke / Oregon State
Tupou, Josh / Colorado
Vaeao, Destiny / Washington State
Valentine, Vincent / Nebraska
Vanderdoes, Eddie / UCLA
Ward, Jihad / Illinois
Washington, Adolphus / Ohio State
Woods, Antwaun / USC
Zettel, Anthony / Penn State

Edge Defenders

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

Of all the non-quarterbacks on this list, Ohio State's Joey Bosa has the best chance to be drafted No. 1 overall heading into the season. That's thanks to a combination of his talent, his upside and the importance of the defensive end position. At 6'5" and 285 pounds, Bosa will undoubtedly draw comparisons to J.J. Watt, Julius Peppers and Mario Williams.

Ole Miss defender Robert Nkemdiche was a star prep recruit, and while he has size and athleticism, he's failed to make the same type of impact that Bosa has at Ohio State. If he turns it on in 2015, he could rise to top-five or top-10 status.

Emmanuel Ogbah, Darron Lee and Leonard Floyd are other candidates for a Round 1 grade, and in the preseason, all three look like future NFL stars. 

Top 2016 Edge Defenders (alphabetical)

Allen, Jonathan / Alabama
Barnett, Derek / Tennessee
Barnett, Lavonte / Oregon State
Bean, Jimmy / Oklahoma State
Bosa, Joey / Ohio State
Bullard, Jonathan / Florida
Calhoun, Shilique / Michigan State
Cockran, Theiren / Minnesota
Correa, Kamalei / Boise State
Cowser, James / Southern Utah
Devall, Denzel / Alabama
Dimick, Hunter / Utah
English, Darius / South Carolina
Fanaika, Jason / Utah
Fields, Devonte / Louisville
Floyd, Leonard / Georgia
Fackrell, Kyler / Utah State
Hamilton, Darius / Rutgers
Jenkins, Jordan / Georgia
Kalambayi, Peter / Stanford
Kaufusi, Bronson / BYU
Lawson, Carl / Auburn
Lawson, Shaq / Clemson
Lee, Darron / Ohio State
Maggitt, Curt / Tennessee
McCalister, Alex / Florida
Nkemdiche, Robert / Ole Miss
Ott, Drew / Iowa
Silverberry, Mouhon / Cincinnati
Nicolas, Dadi / Virginia Tech
Ogbah, Emmanuel / Oklahoma State
Perry, Joshua / Ohio State
Robertson, Pete / Texas Tech
Rose, Mike / NC State
Ross, James / Michigan
Smith, Terrance / Florida State
Spence, Noah / Eastern Kentucky
Striker, Eric / Oklahoma
Turay, Kemoko / Rutgers
Woodard, Jonathan / Central Arkansas
Yarbrough, Eddie / Wyoming

Linebackers

Dean Hare/Associated Press

If you're looking for the next Luke Kuechly, head to South Bend, Indiana, and take a look at No. 9. That's Jaylon Smith, and he's dang good at his job.

The Notre Dame "Mike" linebacker is all over the field, showing the range to line up in man coverage on slot receivers and the speed and toughness to pull the chain as a pass-rusher. He does it all for the Fighting Irish and has the makeup of a legitimate top-10 pick—which is saying a lot for a middle linebacker.

Smith will get the buzz, but he's not the only marquee prospect here. Scooby Wright was a tornado against offenses in 2014, wracking up 14 sacks and leading the Arizona Wildcats in tackles. And down at Alabama, Reggie Ragland looks like another Crimson Tide linebacker with Round 1 talent. 

Top 2016 Linebackers (alphabetical)

Alexander, Dominique / Oklahoma
Beckwith, Kendell / LSU
Biegel, Vince / Wisconsin
Brothers, Kentrell / Missouri
Brown, Kelby / Duke
Brown, Richie / Mississippi State
Burgess, James / Louisville
Butler, Larry / Southern Nazarene
Carter, Reggie / Georgia
Davis, Ed / Michigan State
Ellis, Brooks / Arkansas
Fiso, Salamo / Arizona State
Frost, Kris / Auburn
Gillam, Addison / Colorado
Hardrick, Rodney / Oregon
Jack, Myles / UCLA
James, Cory / Colorado State
Kwiatkoski, Nick / West Virginia
Longa, Steve / Rutgers
Longino, Antonio / Arizona State
Mageo, Rommel / Oregon State
Martinez, Blake / Stanford
Matakevich, Tyler / Temple
McKinzy, Cassanova / Auburn
Morrison, Antonio / Florida
Norris, Jared / Utah
Northrup, Reggie / Florida State
Ragland, Reggie / Alabama
Rhodes, Luke / William & Mary
Reeves-Maybin, Jalen / Tennessee
Ross, James / Michigan State
Saulo, Caleb / Oregon State
Scherer, Michael / Missouri
Simmons, Ryan / Oklahoma State
Smith, Jaylon / Notre Dame
Vigil, Nick / Utah State
Walker, Joe / Oregon
Wright, Scooby / Arizona

Cornerbacks

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Vernon Hargreaves or Jalen Ramsey—pick your poison. Both are incredibly talented cover men coming out of the state of Florida, so good luck choosing a favorite. Hargreaves is silky smooth and confident, and he has the recovery speed to toy with wide receivers. Ramsey, who played safety last year behind Ronald Darby and P.J. Williams, is a rare athlete with freakish ability in the open field. They're 1A and 1B right now on my list.

Other first-round talents include Cam Sutton (Tennessee), Kendall Fuller (Virginia Tech) and Keivarae Russell (Notre Dame). As of now, the cornerback class looks top-heavy without great depth, but every player listed below has shown themselves to be worthy of a top-125 grade.

Top 2016 Cornerbacks (alphabetical)

Adams, Ishmael / UCLA
Alexander, Mackensie / Clemson
Allen, Greg / Kansas
Apple, Eli / Ohio State
Boddy-Calhoun, Briean / Minnesota
Burns, Morgan / Kansas State
Calhoun, Taveze / Mississippi State
Canady, Maurice / Virginia
Carrington, Lloyd / Arizona State
Countess, Blake / Auburn
Crawley, Ken / Colorado
Deayon, Donte / Boise State
Facyson, Brandon / Virginia Tech
Fuller, Kendall / Virginia Tech
Hargreaves, Vernon / Florida
Hill, Kendall / Oregon
Jackson, Eddie / Alabama
Jackson, William / Houston
Jette, Randall / UMass
Jones, Cyrus / Alabama
Jones, Jonathan / Auburn
Leonard, Richard / FIU
Likely, Will / Maryland
Logan, Paris / Northern Illinois
Lucas, Jordan / Penn State
Lyons, Wayne / Michigan
McDaniel, Danzel / Kansas State
Mims, David / Texas State
Moreau, Fabian / UCLA
Murray, Eric / Minnesota
Myrick, Jalen / Minnesota
Peterson, Kevin / Oklahoma State
Redmond, Will / Mississippi State
Ramsey, Jalen / Florida State
Russell, KeiVarae / Notre Dame
Sanchez, Zack / Oklahoma
Scott, Larry / Oregon State
Seymour, Kevon / USC
Sims, LeShaun / Southern Utah
Sutton, Cameron / Tennessee
White, D.J. / Georgia Tech
White, Tre'Davious / LSU
Whittaker, J.J. / San Diego State
Worley, Daryl / West Virginia

Safeties

Eugene Tanner/Associated Press

Hard-hitters. Playmakers. Game-changers. The 2016 safety class is full of them, and it's led by Ohio State's Vonn Bell as the top prospect.

Bell, a strong safety, has range and a violence to his game. On the other end, free safety Darian Thompson from Boise State is a long, lean, rangy cover man with seven interceptions and five tackles for a loss on his resume last season. Add in hybrid players like Su'a Cravens, who will spend time at linebacker for USC, and Deon Bush as a cornerback/safety at Miami, it's easy to see why the safety class is getting so much publicity as the season approaches.

Top 2016 Safeties (alphabetical)

Andrews, Nate / Florida State
Annese, Tony / Central Michigan
Barnett, Dante / Kansas State
Bell, Vonn / Ohio State
Bush, Deon / Miami
Byard, Kevin / Middle Tennessee
Caputo, Michael / Wisconsin
Cash, Jeremy / Duke
Conner, Tony / Ole Miss
Craves, Su'a / USC
Edwards, DeVon / Duke
Gerry, Nate / Nebraska
Harvey-Clemons, Josh / Louisville
Holley, Nate / Kent State
Jackson, Eddie / Alabama
Johnson, Isaiah / South Carolina
Joseph, Karl / West Virginia
Kearse, Jayron / Clemson
Killebrew, Miles / Southern Utah
Kitchens, Montres / Troy
Lane, Mitch / Louisiana Monroe
Lomax, Jordan / Iowa
Matthews, Trent / Colorado State
Mauger, Quincy / Georgia
McDonald, Adrian / Houston
Middleton, Doug / Appalachian State
Noland-Lewis, Cyril / Oregon State
Mills, Jalen / LSU
Ramsey, Jalen / Florida State
Redfield, Max / Notre Dame
Simone, Jordan / Arizona State
Shumate, Elijah / Notre Dame
Sterns, Jordan / Oklahoma State
Stewart, Orion / Baylor
Thompson, Darian / Boise State
Whitfield, Kodi / Stanford
Williamson, R.J. / Michigan State
Woods, Xavier / Louisiana Tech