2012 NFL Draft College Football Scouting Guide: Ranking the Top Prospects

With the grueling NFL lockout set to end, hopefully, some day soon, it’s time to celebrate the return of football by taking a look at a few players who will carry the game into a new era.

The 2012 NFL draft is just nine months away, and as you know, it’s never too early to start preparing.

Going into the season, Stanford QB Andrew Luck will serve as the face of the 2012 class, but there are plenty of worthy challengers who will be looking to steal the junior’s mythical media-anointed No. 1 crown.

WR Justin Blackmon, DE Quinton Coples and QB Landry Jones are just a few of the top players who will be trying to impress the NFL scouts in 2011.

And let’s not forget that every year, there are always a few under-the-radar breakout stars who emerge from out of nowhere to become highly thought of pro prospects.

QB Cam Newton and DT Nick Fairley reminded us of that.

Andrew Luck isn't the only player you’re going to need to keep an eye on this season. Depending on the number of early entrants, the 2012 draft could be one of the best collections of prospects in quite some time.

Here’s a look at college football’s top 25 eligible prospects for the 2012 NFL draft, along with individual position power rankings.

1. QB Andrew Luck, Stanford

It’s rare that you see a returning star quarterback actually live up to the monumental amount of hype that accumulates over the spring and summer, but every now and then, a special type of player comes along and finally turns out to be as good as advertised.

Andrew Luck is that player.

Luck has the absolute total package as far as skills are concerned.

The arm, the brains, the athleticism—he’s got it all.

And as we saw last season, the Stanford signal caller knows how to put his natural abilities to good use in order to guide his team to success. Luck carried the Cardinal on a nearly flawless 12-1 ride which culminated in the school's first ever BCS bowl win.

He’s already considered the consensus favorite to be the No. 1 pick of the 2012 draft, now all Luck has to do is handle the pressure properly and live up to expectations.

Luck’s certainly a remarkable talent, but we’ve seen many instances in the past when the star quarterback hype train gets derailed.

2. WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

Besides Cam Newton, Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon was the biggest breakout star of the 2010 season.

Blackmon rose from relative obscurity to take over the Big 12 in 2010, leading the conference with over 1,700 receiving yards and 20 touchdown catches.

Even though he’s proven to be an offense-changing type of weapon, a few have wondered if Blackmon’s lack of long speed could hinder him at the NFL level.

While it’s true, the 6’1’’, 205-pound junior isn’t likely going to blaze a sub 4.4. 40-yard dash at the Combine, Blackmon has shown that he has all the elite tools to be a No. 1 target at the NFL level.

If he manages to replicate his 2010 success this year, it’s hard to see Blackmon falling out of the top 10 if he ultimately decides to come out after this season.

3. DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina

Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin were supposed to be two of the star defensive linemen in the ACC last year, but their season long suspensions fittingly opened the door for Quinton Coples to rise up and show the conference what he had to offer.

Coples, a natural defensive end who was forced to man Austin’s spot inside at defensive tackle, didn’t let his weight disadvantage stop him from wreaking havoc on opposing offenses.

The 6’6’’, 275-pound senior racked up 10 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss and was a constant menace to quarterbacks throughout his breakout 2010 campaign.

Coples will now move back to defensive end where he should get to flash his quickness and elite pass-rushing skills on a more consistent basis.

4. CB Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska

Forget about corn, it looks like Nebraska’s new biggest export is coveted cornerback prospects.

First, we’ll get to see Prince Amukamara, who the New York Giants selected with at No. 19 in this year’s draft, and then next year, we're going to see Amukamara’s former cornerback counterpart, Alfonzo Dennard, take center stage as the first defensive back taken in 2012 draft.

No other DB in the country can match Dennard’s skill set or his overall athleticism.

Dennard is more athletic and naturally gifted than Amukamara, and hopefully, the 5’10’’, 205-pound senior will get a decent amount of passes thrown his way, so he can show off his tremendous talent for the pro scouts to see.

5. QB Landry Jones, Oklahoma

When you’re the quarterback for the No. 1 ranked team in college football, you’ve got a pretty nice stage to show the world what you bring to the table.

That’s the situation Oklahoma’s Landry Jones finds himself in for the 2011 season.

After making his fair share of mistakes, filling in for an injured Sam Bradford in 2009, Jones came out and performed at a completely different level last season, throwing for over 4,700 yards and 38 TDs.

If Oklahoma manages to run the table and Jones puts up comparable numbers this year, the junior quarterback will find himself sitting in New York City in December, and he should also be in great position to be a first-round pick.

At 6'4", 220 pounds, Jones has the size, the arm and the makeup to be a Matt Schaub-type of pro passer.

6. OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford

The term franchise left tackle gets thrown around a lot these days, but one player who actually fits the bill is Stanford’s Jonathan Martin.

Martin, the top offensive linemen in the country, has the physical makeup that will have all the pro scouts drooling this season. The 6’6’’, 305-pound junior, who has been manning the tackle spot for the past two seasons, has the athleticism and power combination that’s desired in a top flight linemen.

Martin’s job is to protect Andrew Luck, one of the most precious properties in college football, and it's a duty he excels at.

7. DE Devin Taylor, South Carolina

Incoming 5-star recruit Jadeveon Clowney will be the talk of Columbia this offseason. But hopefully, Gamecock fans won’t forget that they already have a proven star at defensive end in Devin Taylor.

Taylor enjoyed a big breakout campaign last year, racking up 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss and demonstrating that he’s one of the most athletic and skilled pass-rushers in the country.

The 6’7’’, 250-pound junior is a humble budding star, who possesses the type of frame that would have any defensive line coach salivating.

Taylor is one the premier players in the SEC and with guys like Clowney, Melvin Ingram and Travian Robertson occupying attention, he should have some great opportunities to dismantle opposing offensive tackles in one on one battles this season.

8. WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

Michael Floyd could have gone pro after his junior season and likely cracked the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. But Floyd knew if he returned to South Bend and spent another year in Brian Kelly’s offensive system, he would have a chance to really prove that he's one of college football’s top talents.

Floyd’s offseason got off to a shaky start with a DUI charge that kept him from participating in spring practices, but Kelly has since said that his star receiver would be welcome back to the team if he fulfills all his proper preliminary obligations.

If the 6'3'', 225-pound senior suits up for the Irish, it automatically makes them a legitimate contender to get back to a BCS bowl game.

Floyd hauled in a career-high 79 catches and broke the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in 2010. He showed the college football world that when it comes tracking the ball and making the sure-handed catch, there’s no one in the game that can do it any better.

If you put the one off-field mistake to the side, you’ll see that Michael Floyd is a legitimate Top-15 caliber prospect who has a pair of hands that any NFL team would love to add to their passing game.

9. LB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State

Arizona State’s Vontaze Burfict is already one of the most intimidating and feared defenders in all of college football, and the scary part is, he may only just be cracking his potential.

The 6’3’’, 245-pound junior has been the face of the Arizona State defense since first stepping foot in the desert as a true freshman, and he's managed to tally 150 tackles in just his first two seasons.

Arizona State should be one of the most improved teams in college football in 2011, and with the increased exposure, Burfict will be able to show off his game to a nationwide audience and let every fan know who the top linebacker in the country really is.

Pac-12, beware.

10. WR Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M

At 6'4", 215 pounds, Jeff Fuller definitely passes the eyeball test. And if you’ve seen some of his highlights, you know that he’s got the substance to back up his intimidating physique.

Although Fuller’s production tailed off towards the end of last season, the big senior receiver was still able to compile an impressive state line of 72 catches for over 1,000 yards and 12 TDs.

Now that he has consistent play at quarterback with Ryan Tannehill manning the position, Fuller should be able to prove that the Big 12 receiver crop runs deeper than just Justin Blackmon and Ryan Broyles.

11. RB Knile Davis, Arkansas

Last season, Arkansas was celebrated for its potent passing offense, which accounted for over 4,300 yards and 36 TDs, however, the Razorbacks were far from a one dimensional attack.

RB Knile Davis finished second in the SEC with over 1,300 yards on the ground last year, and he proved to be the slashing big-play threat the Razorbacks needed.

The 6'0'', 220-pound junior, who averaged nearly 6.5 yards per carry in 2010, has a rare combination of power and speed, and he looks like he'll be one the most coveted NFL running back prospects in his class.

It's hard to compare Davis to just one other back, but a player that comes to mind is another former SEC standout, Ronnie Brown.

12. DE Brandon Jenkins, Florida State

With the emergence of the 3-4 defense in today’s NFL, we’ve started seeing a rising trend of smaller, quicker college defensive ends picking their hand off the ground and making the move to rush linebacker in the pros.

One of this year's heralded prospects who meets the criteria for such a switch is Florida State DE Brandon Jenkins, who has started to ascend to the level of pass-rushing phenom after his performance last year.

The 6’3’’, 255-pound junior finished the 2010 season with 21.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks, and he showed that he has a near unstoppable first step and burst off the ball that most offensive tackles just can’t keep up with.

Jenkins would flourish as a stand up outside ‘backer, so if he opts to forgo his senior season, the speedy rusher will certainly catch the attention of teams currently employing a 3-4 system.

13. DT Jaye Howard, Florida

Florida will have one of the nastiest defensive lines in the country this season, and the star of the show is going to be versatile defensive tackle Jaye Howard.

Howard, who will play both defensive tackle and defensive end this year, has the power, strength and quickness to be a disruptive force in the trenches.

Howard has a habit of wearing down any blocker that tries to stay with him for all four quarters and when the 6’3’’, 305-pound senior is at the top of his game, he finds his way into the opponent's backfield on a regular basis.

14. WR Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

With the departures of A.J. Green and Julio Jones, it's time for a new receiving sheriff in the SEC, and South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery appears to be the just the man for the job.

Since he wasn't eligible for the 2011 draft, Jeffery didn't garner the same type of national attention as Green and Jones last season, but that didn’t stop him from outperforming both of his former conference counterparts.

Jeffery hauled in a conference-best 88 receptions for over 1,500 yards in 2010 and finished as a finalist for the prestigious Biletnikoff Award.

The 6’4’’, 235-pound junior may not possesses field-stretching speed, but he’s the type of big red-zone target that any NFL team would love to have lining up on the outside.

15. LB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

Alabama’s linebacker corps is absolutely loaded with star power this year, and it doesn’t appear as if any other team can boast the same kind of depth and talent at the position.

"Jack" linebacker Courtney Upshaw is one of the standouts of the talented Tide crew.

Upshaw helped ease the loss of top-10 pick Rolando McClain by becoming an instant impact player last year, leading the team with seven sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss.

In the NFL, the 6'2'', 260-pound senior could find a living in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense, but his skill set lends itself best to a 3-4 scheme.

It’s hard to standout and make a name for yourself on a team like Alabama, but Upshaw has managed to show the college football world that he’s the type of backbone player who quietly keeps a defense going.

16. DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State

The Michigan State defense will not have an easy time trying to cover up the loss of star All-American linebacker Greg Jones. But the Spartans don’t have to hit the panic button just yet.

Even though Jones, who was the team's leading tackler and top defensive leader for the past three years, is gone, the Spartans should still be strong up front with big DT Jerel Worthy taking up space in the middle.

Worthy, who finished the 2010 season with eight tackles for loss and four sacks, may have the highest ceiling of any defensive tackle in the country. The 6'3'', 305-pound Worthy fits the mold of what NFL teams are looking for in a run stopper.

17. LB Manti Te'o, Notre Dame

Even though Notre Dame has recently produced rough and rugged defenders like Justin Tuck and Tom Zbikowski, some time over the last decade or so, the Irish defense acquired a reputation for being a little too soft.

Now, LB Manti Te’o is basically changing that line of thinking by himself.

Te’o has been the heart and soul of the Notre Dame defense since arriving in South Bend as a heralded Hawaiian 5-star recruit three years ago.

The 6'2", 245-pound junior is one of the most frightening characters you’ll come across in college football these days.

Te’o led the team with 129 tackles last year, and he has a great shot to top that number in 2011.

18. CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

Alabama coach Nick Saban specializes in molding difference-making defensive backs, and he’s done it yet again with his young rising star cornerback.

Saban might have one of the most talented secondaries of his career this year, and one of the marquee faces of that group will be CB Dre Kirkpatrick.

Kirkpatrick, a 6’3’’, 190-pound junior, took a major step forward in his first season as a starter after enduring a few early struggles.

Kirkpatrick is still learning what it takes to be successful against the best competition, but he's already displayed top notch coverage ability, and he can lock on and mirror any receiver that's put in front of him.

19. QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor

No one is quite sure yet what Baylor’s Robert Griffin III is going to be at the NFL level.

A quarterback, a running back, a wide receiver, maybe even a mix of all three?

Nobody's completely certain. The only thing we do know is that Griffin is one of the most dynamic athletes in all of college football and that he has somehow managed to finally put Baylor on the Big 12 map.

The 6’2’’, 215-pound dual threat speedster accounted for over 4,000 yards of total offense in 2010, carrying the Bears to a long-awaited winning season and their first bowl game since 1994.

Griffin, who completed 67 percent of his passes for over 3,500 yards last year, may not be your prototypical pro-style passer, but he’s proven to be the type of game-changing playmaker who warrants serious interest as a developmental prospect.

It’s a little too early to start calling him the next Mike Vick, but it’s clear that Robert Griffin III is a special player who deserves the type of attention we reserve for only elite caliber college football players.

20. RB Trent Richardson, Alabama

You can call Alabama RB Trent Richardson a lot of things, but there’s really only one word you need to sufficiently describe him.

Power.

Richardson is one of the strongest and most powerful backs in the country, and he packs quite a punch when he meets contact from a would be tackler.

After two consecutive seasons of producing over 700 yards on the ground, the 5’11’’, 220-pound junior will now take the relinquished rushing reins from Heisman-winning former teammate Mark Ingram, as he looks to fit in as the main man of the backfield.

There are some who are already convinced that Richardson is the better back than Ingram, who was taken with the 28th pick by the New Orleans Sains in this year’s draft.

Now it’s time for Richardson to prove he’s really worth the all praises we’ve been hearing about for the past two years.

21. WR Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

Ryan Broyles may very well be the best wide receiver in all of college football, but that still doesn’t change the fact that he’s 5'10' and change.

No matter how many more receptions Broyles adds to his collegiate resume, it won’t stop critics from questioning if he’s big enough to be the top dog of an NFL receiving corps.

Broyles led the country with 131 catches last season, so we know he has what it takes to be a productive player. But the senior receiver will get downgraded for his size and the type of pass-happy system he plays in at Oklahoma.

The last highly productive 5'10" receiver to come out of Oklahoma was Mark Clayton, and he didn't amount to much in the NFL.

Broyles has enough speed and smarts to make a good deal of plays in the NFL, but there could be a few personnel people who project him strictly to be a No. 2 receiving option in an NFL offense.

22. DT Billy Winn, Boise State

QB Kellen Moore may get most of the attention as the leader of Boise State’s big blue machine, but it’s actually DT Billy Winn who has the brightest future out of any Broncos player.

Winn is one of the top defensive tackle prospects for the 2012 NFL draft, and he was one of the main reasons the Boise State defense finished second in the country in total defense a year ago.

The 6’4’’, 290-pound senior finished the 2010 season with 4.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss, but his moderately impressive stats don’t really tell the whole story.

Winn is the type of tackle that you can build an entire defense around. He’s got the athleticism of an edge-rushing defensive end, coupled with the strength and power of a bull-rushing nose tackle.

Moore will once again be the spotlight player in Boise this year, but the senior QB might have to defer some of the attention to Winn, who has the potential to become a coveted commodity.

23. CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State

Florida State returns one of the most impressive cornerback combinations in the country with Xavier Rhodes and Greg Reid coming back.

Both Reid and Rhodes are premier talents with evident pro potential, and while the veteran Reid has already established himself in the ACC, Rhodes looks like he’s ready to ascend to true lockdown status this season.

The 6’2’’, 205-pound sophomore already has some Seminoles fans thinking Deion 2.0.

That might be a bit premature, but the truth is, Rhodes does in fact have a great shot to be one of the faces of the Florida State football revival.

The Freshman All-American finished the 2010 season with 12 pass breakups and four interceptions, and that campaign could turn out to be just the starting point of what’s shaping up to be a terrific, although possibly short, career.

24. LB Travis Lewis, Oklahoma

It’s difficult for a young, unproven player to step in and immediately become a leader of a defense, but that’s just what LB Travis Lewis did when he arrived in Norman.

Lewis has led the Sooners in tackles each of the last three seasons, and he’s on track to make it a clean sweep as a senior.

Lewis could have made the jump to the NFL after last season, and he probably would have been a second or third-round pick. But after weighing his options and realizing that he had the opportunity to improve his stock with one more season, he made the right decision to return to school, and the Sooners couldn’t be happier to have him back.

Lewis, who finished with 109 tackles in 2010, will once again be the undisputed leader of an Oklahoma defense that's shaping up to be one of the best in college football this season.

25. DT Jared Crick, Nebraska

Nebraska’s defense may be one of the most talent-stocked units in America, but there’s one player in particular who will keep offensive linemen shaking in their cleats, and that’s DT Jared Crick.

Crick, who gave an admiral effort trying to mask the departure of star Ndamukong Suh,  is one of the most talked about NFL prospects of the 2012 class and with good reason.

The 6’6’’, 285-pound senior assumed Suh’s role as a dominant defensive force last year, racking up a team-high 9.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss.

This season, Crick will once again be the face of one of college football’s most imposing defensive lines, and he’ll get the chance to show scouts that he’s more like Ndamukong Suh and not former Cornhusker NFL flameout Adam Carriker, who some have unfortunately likened Crick to.

Quarterbacks: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Nick Foles, Arizona

2. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

3. Ryan Lindley, San Diego State

4. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State

5. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

6. Kellen Moore, Boise State

7. Chris Relf, Mississippi State

8. John Brantley, Florida

9. Case Keenum, Houston

10. Dominique Davis, East Carolina

Quarterbacks: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Jordan Jefferson, LSU

2. Tyler Lantrip, Nevada

3. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina

4. Chandler Harnish, Northern Ilinois

5. B.J. Coleman, Chattanooga 

6. G.J. Kinne, Tulsa

7. Bryant Moniz, Hawaii

8. Russell Wilson, Wisconsin

9. Dan Persa, Northwestern 

10. Jacory Harris, Miami 

Quarterbacks: The Top 10 Juniors

1. Andrew Luck, Stanford

2. Landry Jones, Oklahoma

3. Robert Griffin III, Baylor

4. Matt Barkley, USC

5. Geno Smith, West Virginia

6. E.J. Manuel, Florida State

7. Darron Thomas, Oregon

8. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas 

9. Brock Osweiler, Arizona State 

10. Jeff Tuel, Washington State

Running Backs: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Doug Martin, Boise State

2. Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M

3. Tauren Poole, Tennessee

4. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati

5. Brandon Bolden, Ole Miss

6. Vick Ballard, Mississippi State

7. Montel Harris, Boston College

8. Victor Anderson, Louisville

9. Jeff Demps, Florida

10. Lennon Creer, Louisiana Tech

Running Backs: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Roddy Jones, Georgia Tech

2. Jason Ford, Illinois

3. Bobby Rainey, Western Kentucky

4. Ryan Houston, North Carolina

5. Boom Herron, Ohio State

6. Marc Tyler, USC

7. Davin Meggett, Maryland

8. Jermaine Thomas, Florida State

9. Rodney Stewart, Colorado

10. Bryce Beall, Houston

Running Backs: The Top 10 Juniors

1. Knile Davis, Arkansas

2. Trent Richardson, Alabama

3. Chris Polk, Washington

4. LaMichael James, Oregon

5. Johnathan Franklin, UCLA

6. Ed Wesley, TCU

7. David Wilson, Virginia Tech

8. Edwin Baker, Michigan State

9. Stepfan Taylor, Stanford

10. Montee Ball, Wisconsin

Wide Receivers: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

2. Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M

3. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

4. Joe Adams, Arkansas

5. Kendall Wright, Baylor

6. Greg Childs, Arkansas

7. Chris Owusu, Stanford

8. Jermaine Kearse, Washington

9. DeVier Posey, Ohio State

10. Juron Criner, Arizona

Wide Receivers: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Nick Toon, Wisconsin

2. Dwight Jones, North Carolina

3. T.Y. Hilton, Florida International

4. Lance Lewis, East Carolina

5. Gerrell Robinson, Arizona state

6. Travis Benjamin, Miami

7. Jarius Wright, Arkansas

8. Patrick Edwards, Houston

9. Marquis Maze, Alabama

10. Jarrett Boykin, Virginia Tech

Wide Receivers: The Top 10 Juniors

1. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

2. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

3. Roy Roundtree, Michigan

4. Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers

5. Jheranie Boyd, North Carolina

6. Josh Gordon, Baylor

7. Rueben Randle, LSU

8. (QB) Denard Robinson, Michigan

9. Tavon Austin, West Virginia

10.Taverres King, Georgia

Tight Ends: The Top 10 Seniors

1. David Paulson, Oregon

2. Michael Egnew, Missouri

3. Ladarius Green, Louisiana

4. George Bryan, North Carolina State

5. Coby Fleener, Stanford

6. Rhett Ellison, USC

7. Kevin Koger, Michigan

8. Brian Linthicum, Michigan State

9. Brandon Barden, Vanderbilt

10. (WR) Tyler Urban, West Virginia

Tight Ends: 10 Other Seniors to Watch

1. James Hanna, Oklahoma

2. Beau Reliford, Florida State

3. Tim Biere, Kansas

4. Deangelo Peterson, LSU

5. Blake Ayles, Miami

6. Adrian Robinson, Cincinnati

7. Josh Chichester, Louisville

8. Brad Herman, Iowa

9. Kyle Efaw, Boise State

10. Nick Provo, Syracuse

Tight Ends: The Top 10 Juniors

1. Orson Charles, Georgia

2. Phillip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn

3. Dwayne Allen, Clemson

4. Lucas Reed, New Mexico

5. Jake Stoneburner, Ohio State

6. Kyler Reed, Nebraska

7. D.C. Jefferson, Rutgers

8. Michael Williams, Alabama

9. Ryan Griffin, Connecticut

10. Chris Pantale, Boston College

Offensive Tackles: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Cordy Glenn, Georgia

2. Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State

3. Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State

4. Mike Adams, Ohio State

5. Andrew Datko, Florida State

6. Matt Reynolds, BYU

7. Nate Potter, Boise State

8. Matt McCants, UAB

9. Dan Hoch, Missouri

10. Al Netter, Northwestern

Offensive Tackles: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Landon Walker, Clemson

2. Bradley Sowell, Ole Miss

3. Mike Ryan, Connecticut

4. Blake DeChristopher, Virginia Tech

5. Jeff Allen, Illinois

6. Don Barclay, West Virginia

7. Marcel Jones, Nebraska

8. Mitchell Schwartz, California

9. Brandon Mosley, Auburn

10. Elvis Fisher, Missouri

Offensive Tackles: The Top 10 Juniors

1. Jonathan Martin, Stanford

2. Matt Kalil, USC

3. Riley Reiff, Iowa

4. Justin Pugh, Syracuse

5. Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin

6. Bobby Massie, Ole Miss

7. Oday Aboushi, Virginia 

8. Alex Hurst, LSU 

9. Tanner Hawkinson, Kansas

10. Xavier Nixon, Florida 

Interior Linemen: The Top 10 Seniors

1. David Molk, Michigan

2. (OT) Rokevious Watkins, South Carolina

3. Ken Plue, Purdue

4. Ryan Miller, Colorado

5. (OT) Senio Kelemete, Washington

6. Ben Jones, Georgia

7. Quinton Saulsberry, Mississippi State

8. Lucas Nix, Pittsburgh

9. Joe Looney, Wake Forest

10. Mike Brewster, Ohio State

Interior Linemen: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin

2. Joel Foreman, Michigan State

3. Jaymes Brooks, Virginia Tech

4. William Vlachos, Alabama

5. (OT) Alex Hoffman, Cincinnati

6. Ben Bojicic, Bowling Green

7. Trevor Robinson, Notre Dame

8. Moe Petrus, Connecticut

9. (OT) Yoshi Hardrick, Nebraska

10. Kyle Dooley, TCU

Interior Linemen: The Top 10 Juniors

1. Brandon Washington, Miami

2. Larry Warford, Kentucky

3. Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina

4. David DeCastro, Stanford

5. Barrett Jones, Alabama

6. Peter Konz, Wisconsin

7. Omoregie Uzzi, Georgia Tech

8. Khaled Holmes, USC

9. Ben Habern, Oklahoma

10. Lane Taylor, Oklahoma State

Defensive Tackles: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Jaye Howard, Florida

2. Billy Winn, Boise State

3. Jared Crick, Nebraska

4. Tydreke Powell, North Carolina

5. Kheeston Randall, Texas

6. Kendall Reyes, Connecticut

7. Mike Martin, Michigan

8. Brandon Thompson, Clemson

9. Josh Chapman, Alabama

10. Alameda Ta’amu, Washington

Defensive Tackles: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Mike Daniels, Iowa

2. Dominique Hamilton, Missouri

3. Devon Still, Penn State

4. Kaniela Tuipulotu, Hawaii

5. Travian Robertson, South Carolina

6. Armond Armstead, USC

7. J.R. Sweezy, North Carolina State

8. Kaleb Ramsey, Boston College

9. Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati

10. Logan Harrell, Fresno State

Defensive Tackles: The Top 10 Juniors

1. Jerel Worthy, Michigan State

2. Dontari Poe, Memphis

3. Kawann Short, Purdue

4. Jacobbi McDaniel, Florida State

5. Marcus Forston, Miami

6. Baker Steinkuhler, Nebraska

7. Josh Boyd, Mississippi State

8. Jamarkus McFarland, Oklahoma

9. Terrence Stephens, Stanford

10. Omar Hunter, Florida

Defensive Ends: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Quinton Coples, North Carolina

2. Jake Bequette, Arkansas 

3. Vinny Curry, Marshall

4. Ethan Johnson, Notre Dame 

5. Cam Johnson, Virginia

6. Vince Browne, Northwestern

7. (DT) Malik Jackson, Tennessee

8. Shea McLellin, Boise State

9. Broderick Binns, Iowa

10. Frank Alexander, Oklahoma

Defensive Ends: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Andre Branch, Clemson

2. Matthew Masifilo, Stanford

3. Melvin Ingram, South Carolina

4. Richetti Jones, Oklahoma State

5. (DT) Julian Miller, West Virginia

6. Jason Peters, Georgia Tech

7. James Brooks, Arizona State

8. Taylor Thompson, SMU

9. Ryan Van Bergen, Michigan

10. Louis Nzwegwu, Wisconsin

Defensive Ends: The Top 10 Juniors

1. Devin Taylor, South Carolina

2. Brad Madison, Missouri

3. Donte Paige-Moss, North Carolina

4. Alex Okafor, Texas

5. Cameron Meredith, Nebraska

6. Oliver Vernon, Miami

7. John Simon, Ohio State

8. Tyler Hoover, Michigan State

9. Nick Perry, USC

10. Kapron Lewis-Moore, Notre Dame

Linebackers: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Courtney Upshaw, Alabama 

2. Travis Lewis, Oklahoma 

3. Kenny Tate, Maryland

4. (DE) Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh

5. Emmanuel Acho, Texas

6. Nigel Bradham, Florida State

7. (DE) Bruce Irvin, West Virginia

8. Tank Carder, TCU

9. Lavonte David, Nebraska

10. Zach Brown, North Carolina

Linebackers: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Keenan Robinson, Texas

2. Danny Trevathan, Kentucky

3. Bobby Wagner, Utah State

4. Sean Spence, Miami

5. Garrick Williams, Texas A&M

6. Jerry Franklin, Arkansas

7. (DE) Adrian Robinson, Temple

8. Audie Cole, North Carolina State

9. (DE) Jacquies Smith, Missouri

10. Chris Marve, Vanderbilt

Linebackers: The Top 10 Juniors

1. Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State

2. (DE) Brandon Jenkins, Florida State

3. Manti Te’o, Notre Dame

4. Dont’a Hightower, Alabama

5. Luke Kuechly, Boston College

6. Nico Johnson, Alabama

7. Shayne Skov, Stanford

8. (DE) Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma

9. Uona Kaveinga, BYU

10. Zaviar Gooden, Missouri

Cornerbacks: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska

2. Coryell Judie, Texas A&M

3. Chase Minnifield, Virginia

4. Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt

5. Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma

6. Shaun Prater, Iowa

7. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama

8. Keith Tandy, West Virginia

9. Brandon Boykin, Georgia

10. Tavon Wilson, Illinois

Cornerbacks: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Greg McCoy, TCU 

2. Gary Gray, Notre Dame

3. Antonio Fenelus, Wisconsin

4. Omar Bolden, Arizona State (Injured)

5. Donnie Fletcher, Boston College

6. Leonard Johnson, Iowa State 

7. D’Anton Lynn, Penn State

8. Isaiah Frey, Nevada

9. Tashaun Gipson, Wyoming

10. Jordan Mabin, Northwestern

Cornerbacks: The Top 10 Juniors

1. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

2. Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech

3. Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina

4. Cliff Harris, Oregon

5. Morris Claiborne, LSU

6. Josh Robinson, Central Florida

7. Johnny Adams, Michigan State

8. Greg Reid, Florida State

9. Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Connecticut

10. Jeremy Brown, Florida

Safeties: The Top 10 Seniors

1. Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State

2. Mark Barron, Alabama

3. Delano Howell, Stanford

4. Trenton Robinson, Michigan State

5. Robert Golden, Arizona

6. George Iloka, Boise State

7. Eddie Whitley, Virginia Tech

8. Winston Guy, Kentucky

9. Harrison Smith, Notre Dame

10. Lance Mitchell, Oregon State

Safeties: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Sean Cattouse, California

2. Damien Jackson, Ole Miss

3. Aaron Henry, Wisconsin

4. Tony Dye, UCLA

5. Tramain Thomas, Arkansas

6. Tysyn Hartman, Kansas State

7. Duke Ihenacho, San Jose State

8. Blake Gideon, Texas

9. Kenji Jackson, Missouri

10. Drew Astorino, Penn State

Safeties: The Top 10 Juniors

1. T.J. McDonald, USC

2. Robert Lester, Alabama

3. Janzen Jackson, Tennessee

4. Ray Ray Armstrong, Miami

5. DeVonte Holloman, South Carolina

6. Jarred Holley, Pittsburgh

7. John Boyett, Oregon

8. Orhian Johnson, Ohio State

9. Prentiss Waggner, Tennessee

10. Courtney Osborne, Nebraska

Top 10 Special Teams Prospects

1. P Bryan Anger, California

2. KR Damaris Johnson, Tulsa

3. K Danny Hrapmann, Southern Miss

4. P Drew Butler, Georgia

5. K Blair Walsh, Georgia

6. K David Ruffer, Notre Dame

7. PR Keshawn Martin, Michigan State

8. P Shawn Powell, Florida State

9. K Will Snyderwine, Duke

10. K Derek Dimke, Illinois

Top 10 Small School Prospects

1. CB Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama

2. QB B.J. Coleman, Chattanooga

3. WR Tavoy Moore, Idaho State

4. DT Renard Williams, Eastern Washington

5. CB Asa Jackson, Cal Poly

6. LB Marcus Dowtin, North Alabama

7. OT David Pickard, Southern Illinois

8. RB Travaris Cadet, Appalachian State

9. TE Kavario Middleton, Montana

10. QB Aaron Corp, USC

Top 10 Redshirt Sophomores: Offense

1. RB Lamar Miller, Miami

2. QB Aaron Murray, Georgia

3. OT Morgan Moses, Virginia

4. TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame

5. WR Josh Boyce, TCU

6. RB Eddie Lacy, Alabama

7. WR Stedman Bailey, West Virginia

8. QB Danny O’Brien, Maryland

9. C Travis Swanson, Arkansas

10. QB Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech

Top 10 Redshirt Sophomores: Defense

1. CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State

2. LB Jelani Jenkins, Florida

3. DE Barkevious Mingo, LSU

4. S Hakeem Smith, Louisville

5. DT Justin Washington, Arizona

6. DE Nosa Eguae, Auburn

7. LB Chris Borland, Wisconsin

8. DT Kwame Geathers, Georgia

9. DE Stansly Maponga, TCU

10. DT Jordan Kohout, Wisconsin