Matt Miller's 2014 NFL Draft Big Board
Matt Miller@nfldraftscoutNFL Draft Lead WriterAugust 21, 2013Matt Miller's 2014 NFL Draft Big Board
Already excited about the 2014 NFL draft? Good.
Scouting players for the NFL draft is a yearlong process. As soon as one draft ends, research begins on building a watch list and then a Big Board for the next year's class. That's where we're at now.
As the summer comes to an end, my research of which players to watch gets prioritized, leaving me with a list of the top 500 draft-eligible players in college football. Not every player listed will declare for the draft or live up to expectations. There will be surprises, letdowns and newcomers along the way.
This is not a final list, but a look at where players are projected to find themselves drafted at the current time. Throughout the year, I will update this list every two to three weeks to give you a fresh look at the draft positioning of the best of the best in college football. If there's someone missing, it's likely because of limited time to evaluate prospects before the season kicks off.
Be patient. Great players will find their way onto the Big Board.
*Updated November 12, 2013*
Top 32 Players
Our own Josh Zerkle called the 2013 NFL draft "The Year of the Fatty." The 2014 crop may again be plump.
Headlined by superstar defensive end prospect Jadeveon Clowney, this season's draft class is anchored by four linemen in the top 10 compared to just one quarterback, no running backs and only one secondary player. Clowney, Taylor Lewan and Jake Matthews each have a chance to earn "top player of the decade" honors as draft prospects at their respective positions.
There is depth here to match the star quality, with notable names and college football stars littered throughout the top 150 players I have scouted heading into the season. And there's always room for surprise players and late bloomers.
Here's a look at my top 32 players as they sit currently.
Rank | Player | Pos. | School | Height | Weight |
1 | Teddy Bridgewater | QB | Louisville | 6'3" | 210 |
2 | Marcus Mariota | QB | Oregon | 6'4" | 214 |
3 | Jadeveon Clowney | DE | South Carolina | 6'5" | 270 |
4 | Jake Matthews | OT | Texas A&M | 6'5" | 305 |
5 | Anthony Barr | OLB | UCLA | 6'4" | 248 |
6 | Sammy Watkins | WR | Clemson | 6'1" | 205 |
7 | C.J. Mosley | LB | Alabama | 6'2" | 232 |
8 | Taylor Lewan | OT | Michigan | 6'7" | 315 |
9 | Khalil Mack | DE/LB | Buffalo | 6'3" | 248 |
10 | Mike Evans | WR | Texas A&M | 6'5" | 225 |
11 | Ryan Shazier | OLB | Ohio State | 6'2" | 226 |
12 | De'Anthony Thomas | RB/WR | Oregon | 5'9" | 170 |
13 | Antonio Richardson | OT | Tennessee | 6'6" | 332 |
14 | Tajh Boyd | QB | Clemson | 6'1" | 225 |
15 | Cyrus Kouandjio | OT | Alabama | 6'5" | 310 |
16 | Johnny Manziel | QB | Texas A&M | 5'11" | 210 |
17 | Derek Carr | QB | Fresno State | 6'3" | 215 |
18 | Cameron Erving | OT | FSU | 6'5" | 320 |
19 | Hasean Clinton-Dix | FS | Alabama | 6'1" | 208 |
20 | Cyril Richardson | OG | Baylor | 6'5" | 340 |
21 | Marqise Lee | WR | USC | 6'0" | 195 |
22 | Louis Nix | DT | Notre Dame | 6'2" | 345 |
23 | Ifo Ekpre-Olomu | CB | Oregon | 5'10" | 185 |
24 | Bradley Roby | CB | Ohio St. | 5'11" | 192 |
25 | Stephon Tuitt | DE | Notre Dame | 6'6" | 312 |
26 | Vic Beasley | DE/LB | Clemson | 6'2" | 235 |
27 | Will Sutton | DT | Arizona St. | 6'0" | 305 |
28 | Jason Verrett | CB | TCU | 5'10" | 176 |
29 | Jace Amaro | TE | Texas Tech | 6'5" | 260 |
30 | Trent Murphy | DE/LB | Stanford | 6'6" | 261 |
31 | Michael Sam | DE/LB | Missouri | 6'2" | 255 |
32 | Zach Mettenberger | QB | LSU | 6'5" | 235 |
2014 Quarterback Rankings
After a year in which only one quarterback (EJ Manuel) was selected in the first round, the 2014 NFL draft class looks strong.
Thanks largely to a very good group of underclassmen, we'll see a better crop of passers coming into the NFL over the next two or three seasons. The biggest question is, which underclassmen will head to the NFL?
The clear favorite for the top quarterback spot is Teddy Bridgewater, and there's little reason to think he would skip out on the 2014 draft. Marcus Mariota has Colin Kaepernick-like qualities and could also push for a top-10 selection. Senior quarterback Tajh Boyd has played his way into a Top 15 spot, and Derek Carr and Zach Mettenberger are pushing themselves up as the season progresses.
Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Overall Rank | Class |
1 | Teddy Bridgewater | Louisville | 6'3" | 210 | 1 | Jr |
2 | Marcus Mariota | Oregon | 6'4" | 214 | 2 | rSo |
3 | Tajh Boyd | Clemson | 6'1" | 225 | 14 | rSr |
4 | Johnny Manziel | Texas A&M | 5'11" | 210 | 16 | rSo |
5 | Derek Carr | Fresno St. | 6'3" | 215 | 17 | rSr |
6 | Zach Mettenberger | LSU | 6'5" | 235 | 32 | rSr |
7 | Aaron Murray | Georgia | 6'1" | 220 | 68 | rSr |
8 | Brett Hundley | UCLA | 6'3" | 222 | 85 | rSo |
9 | David Fales | San Jose St. | 6'2" | 220 | 93 | Sr |
10 | A.J. McCarron | Alabama | 6'3" | 214 | 94 | rSr |
11 | Stephen Morris | Miami (Fla.) | 6'2" | 215 | 121 | Sr |
12 | Jimmy Garoppolo | Eastern Illinois | 6'2" | 222 | 152 | Sr |
13 | Jeff Mathews | Cornell | 6'3" | 225 | 159 | Sr |
2014 Running Back Rankings
For the first time since 1963, not one running back was selected in the first round. That may not change in 2014.
There are talented running backs available, but as of now, not one player you would regret missing out on in the first round. Lache Seastrunk has amazing speed, but his vision and scheme versatility have to be proven. Ka'Deem Carey and Marion Grice are potential starting running backs, but each has flaws that could push them outside the first round, where the priority now is on quarterbacks, offensive linemen and defenders.
Here are the top draft-eligible running backs for 2014.
Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Overall Rank | Class |
1 | Marion Grice | Arizona St. | 6'1" | 204 | 40 | Sr |
2 | Lache Seastrunk | Baylor | 5'9" | 210 | 47 | rJr |
3 | Melvin Gordon | Wisconsin | 6'1" | 207 | 51 | rSo |
4 | Ka'Deem Carey | Arizona | 5'10" | 198 | 65 | Jr |
5 | Bishop Sankey | Washington | 5'10" | 200 | 86 | Jr |
6 | Andre Williams | Boston College | 6'0" | 227 | 96 | rSr |
7 | Carlos Hyde | Ohio State | 6'0" | 242 | 128 | Sr |
8 | Charles Sims | West Virginia | 6'0" | 213 | 139 | |
9 | James Wilder, Jr. | FSU | 6'1" | 229 | 141 | Jr |
10 | Damien Williams | Oklahoma | 5'11" | 214 | 151 | Sr |
11 | Ladarius Perkins | Miss. State | 5'10" | 195 | 163 | rSr |
12 | James White | Wisconsin | 5'10" | 198 | 175 | Sr |
13 | Antonio Andrews | WKU | 5'11" | 212 | 191 | Sr |
14 | Jerome Smith | Syracuse | 5'11" | 218 | 195 | rJr |
15 | Alfred Blue | LSU | 6'1" | 222 | 205 | Sr |
2014 Wide Receiver Rankings
Not since A.J. Green and Julio Jones were available in the 2011 NFL draft have we seen a one-two duo like Sammy Watkins and Marqise Lee.
The two talented juniors have top-10 ability and, with continued success, could push themselves up the board even higher. It's remarkable considering that neither has amazing size, and yet they're considered can't-miss prospects.
Outside of the top two, there's good depth here. Rutgers' Brandon Coleman is a big, physical target with speed to move after the catch, and Vanderbilt's Jordan Matthews is a premier possession receiver. And we can't forget about Oregon offensive weapon De'Anthony Thomas. He'll likely be lining up at receiver (as well as running back and return man) in the NFL.
Here are the top draft-eligible wide receivers for 2014.
Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Overall Rank | Class |
1 | Sammy Watkins | Clemson | 6'1" | 205 | 6 | Jr |
2 | Mike Evans | Texas A&M | 6'5" | 225 | 10 | rSo |
3 | De'Anthony Thomas | Oregon | 5'9" | 170 | 11 | Jr |
4 | Marqise Lee | USC | 6'0" | 195 | 21 | Jr |
5 | Jordan Matthews | Vanderbilt | 6'3" | 205 | 35 | Sr |
6 | Jarvis Landry | LSU | 6'0" | 195 | 39 | Jr |
7 | Allen Robinson | Penn State | 6'3" | 204 | 44 | Jr |
8 | Odell Beckham, Jr | LSU | 5'11" | 193 | 46 | Jr |
9 | Paul Richardson | Colorado | 6'1" | 172 | 50 | rJr |
10 | Brandon Coleman | Rutgers | 6'5" | 220 | 55 | rJr |
11 | Brandin Cooks | Oregon St. | 5'10" | 186 | 57 | Jr |
12 | Donte Moncrief | Ole Miss | 6'2" | 226 | 70 | Jr |
13 | DeVante Parker | Louisville | 6'2" | 205 | 78 | Sr |
14 | Kasen Williams | Washington | 6'2" | 212 | 88 | Jr |
15 | Jared Abbrederis | Wisconsin | 6'1" | 188 | 98 | rSr |
16 | Mike Davis | Texas | 6'2" | 195 | 104 | Sr |
17 | Josh Huff | Oregon | 5'11" | 205 | 106 | Sr |
18 | Devin Street | Pittsburgh | 6'3" | 192 | 108 | rSr |
19 | Cody Hoffman | BYU | 6'3" | 215 | 134 | Sr |
20 | Jalen Saunders | Oklahoma | 5'9" | 157 | 118 | Sr |
21 | Jeremy Gallon | Michigan | 5'8" | 184 | 119 | rSr |
22 | Rashad Greene | FSU | 6'0" | 180 | 144 | Jr |
23 | Tevin Reese | Baylor | 5'10" | 172 | 165 | Sr |
24 | Robert Herron | Wyoming | 5'9" | 187 | 173 | rSr |
25 | TJ Jones | Notre Dame | 6'0" | 195 | 176 | Sr |
26 | Eric Ward | Texas Tech | 5'11" | 206 | 187 | rSr |
27 | Tracy Moore | Oklahoma St. | 6'1" | 215 | 192 | rSr |
28 | Shaq Evans | UCLA | 6'1" | 210 | 194 | rSr |
2014 Tight End Rankings
Draft fans and analysts have been blessed with a nice run of tight ends lately. The 2013 class included Tyler Eifert and Zach Ertz—two big, tall, long receiving tight ends with major route-running upside. The 2014 class will give us another close call for the top spot with Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Colt Lyerla.
The two Pacific Northwest tight ends are both big, and with their length, they present matchup nightmares for defensive coordinators. They'll provide a must-watch battle for the No. 1 tight end spot all season long.
Here are the top draft-eligible tight ends for 2014.
Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Overall Rank | Class |
1 | Jace Amaro | Texas Tech | 6'5" | 257 | 29 | Jr |
2 | Eric Ebron | UNC | 6'4" | 245 | 34 | Jr |
3 | A. Seferian-Jenkins | Washington | 6'6" | 276 | 43 | Jr |
4 | C.J. Fiedorowicz | Iowa | 6'6" | 265 | 76 | Sr |
5 | Xavier Grimble | USC | 6'5" | 255 | 109 | rJr |
6 | Arthur Lynch | Georgia | 6'5" | 258 | 114 | rSr |
7 | Colt Lyerla | Oregon | 6'5" | 246 | 124 | Jr |
8 | Marcel Jensen | Fresno St. | 6'5" | 257 | 162 | rSr |
9 | Gabe Holmes | Purdue | 6'5" | 248 | 201 | rSr |
2014 Offensive Tackle Rankings
Following a year in which four of the first 11 draft picks were offensive tackles, you would think a drop-off in talent level is expected. It's not.
Instead, the 2014 class may be even better than those drafted in 2013. Taylor Lewan, Jake Matthews and Cyrus Kouandjio all rank higher at this time than Eric Fisher, Luke Joeckel or Lane Johnson did heading into the 2012 college football season.
And there's depth. Antonio Richardson, James Hurst and Cameron Erving are legitimate first-round prospects. At the University of Miami, former prep star Seantrel Henderson has the goods to make a D.J. Fluker-like impact on the draft class.
All in all, this is an incredibly strong group. Here are the top offensive tackles.
Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Overall Rank | Class |
1 | Jake Matthews | Texas A&M | 6'5" | 305 | 4 | Sr |
2 | Taylor Lewan | Michigan | 6'7" | 308 | 8 | rSr |
3 | Antonio Richardson | Tennessee | 6'6" | 332 | 13 | Jr |
4 | Cyrus Kouandjio | Alabama | 6'5" | 310 | 15 | Jr |
5 | Cameron Erving | FSU | 6'5" | 310 | 18 | rJr |
6 | James Hurst | UNC | 6'6" | 305 | 42 | Sr |
7 | Cedric Ogbuehi | Texas A&M | 6'5" | 300 | 52 | rJr |
8 | La'el Collins | LSU | 6'5" | 315 | 61 | Jr |
9 | Sean Hickey | Syracuse | 6'5" | 291 | 100 | rJr |
10 | Jack Mewhort | Ohio State | 6'6" | 308 | 102 | rSr |
12 | Seantrel Henderson | Miami (Fla.) | 6'7" | 325 | 110 | Sr |
13 | Morgan Moses | Virginia | 6'6" | 325 | 123 | Sr |
14 | JaWuan James | Tennessee | 6'6" | 318 | 143 | Sr |
13 | Billy Turner | NDSU | 6'5" | 310 | 156 | Sr |
14 | Cornelius Lucas | Kansas St. | 6'8" | 328 | 171 | rSr |
15 | Jeremiah Sirles | Nebraska | 6'5" | 310 | 183 | rSr |
16 | Kenarious Gates | Georgia | 6'5" | 318 | 198 | Sr |
2014 Guard Rankings
The 2013 NFL draft saw two guards drafted in the top 10 picks—something I never thought I would witness in the modern draft era. While we won't see that level of talent in this year's class, there are several guard prospects who will receive first-round consideration.
The top of the 2014 class is a throwback to the days of big, powerful, nasty interior line play. Cyril Richardson and Gabe Jackson are both huge, earth-moving men in the middle. For zone-running teams, Zack Martin and Xavier Su'a-Filo offer quicker, more agile options. No matter your scheme, this class has a projected starter for you.
Here are the top guards available for the 2014 draft.
Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Overall Rank | Class |
1 | Cyril Richardson | Baylor | 6'5" | 335 | 20 | rSr |
2 | Gabe Jackson | Miss. State | 6'3" | 335 | 38 | rSr |
3 | Zack Martin | Notre Dame | 6'4" | 305 | 59 | rSr |
4 | Xavier Su'a-Filo | UCLA | 6'3" | 305 | 74 | rJr |
5 | Anthony Steen | Alabama | 6'3" | 312 | 83 | rSr |
6 | Spencer Long | Nebraska | 6'3" | 315 | 122 | rSr |
7 | Chris Burnette | Georgia | 6'2" | 322 | 149 | rSr |
8 | Brandon Thomas | Clemson | 6'3" | 305 | 154 | rSr |
9 | Zach Fulton | Tennessee | 6'5" | 324 | 171 | Sr |
10 | Chris Watt | Notre Dame | 6'3" | 312 | 184 | rSr |
2014 Center Rankings
Travis Frederick was the only center drafted in the first round last year, and even that was a surprise. It would also be a surprise for any of these centers to hear their names called before the third round.
Travis Swanson, Russell Bodine and others have strengths, but also enough flaws to keep them out of the top two rounds. Unless technique and strength have been added over the offseason, we could see a year in which no centers are drafted in the top 100 picks.
Here are the top center prospects in the 2014 NFL draft.
Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Overall Rank | Class |
1 | Hroniss Grasu | Oregon | 6'3" | 295 | 71 | rJr |
2 | Travis Swanson | Arkansas | 6'4" | 314 | 82 | rSr |
3 | Tyler Larsen | Utah State | 6'3" | 312 | 115 | Sr |
4 | Weston Richburg | Colorado St. | 6'4" | 298 | 120 | rSr |
7 | Bryan Stork | Florida St. | 6'3" | 312 | 150 | rSr |
8 | Gabe Ikard | Oklahoma | 6'3" | 298 | 167 | rSr |
9 | B.J. Finney | Kansas St. | 6'3" | 305 | 179 | rJr |
2014 Defensive End Rankings
Everyone in college football and the NFL knows about Jadeveon Clowney, and we'll be watching closely all season to see if the man can live up to the myth. Chances are, he can—he's that good. Clowney ranks as the top defender I've ever scouted—just ahead of Von Miller and Ndamukong Suh. But he's not the only talented pass-rusher in this class.
Former Notre Dame end Aaron Lynch is at South Florida now, and his athleticism is very appealing. He's also raw, so his stock could fluctuate depending on how well he plays early. Stephon Tuitt is a premier 3-4 defensive end coming out of Notre Dame, while Kareem Martin and Scott Crichton are solid 4-3 ends.
A sleeper to keep an eye on? Utah's Trevor Reilly.
Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Overall Rank | Class |
1 | Jadeveon Clowney | S. Carolina | 6'5" | 270 | 3 | Jr |
2 | Stephon Tuitt | Notre Dame | 6'5" | 303 | 25 | Jr |
3 | Vic Beasley | Clemson | 6'2" | 235 | 26 | rJr |
4 | Trent Murphy | Stanford | 6'6" | 261 | 30 | rSr |
5 | Michael Sam | Missouri | 6'2" | 255 | 31 | rSr |
6 | Jackson Jeffcoat | Texas | 6'4" | 245 | 49 | Sr |
7 | Ed Stinson | Alabama | 6'4" | 282 | 79 | rSr |
8 | Chris Smith | Arkansas | 6'2" | 266 | 87 | Sr |
9 | Kareem Martin | UNC | 6'5" | 265 | 90 | rSr |
10 | Taylor Hart | Oregon | 6'6" | 287 | 91 | rSr |
11 | George Uko | USC | 6'3" | 247 | 107 | rJr |
12 | Kony Ealy | Missouri | 6'5" | 275 | 125 | rJr |
13 | Demarcus Lawrence | Boise State | 6'3" | 245 | 127 | rJr |
14 | James Gayle | Virginia Tech | 6'4" | 255 | 129 | rSr |
15 | Scott Crichton | Oregon St. | 6'3" | 265 | 130 | rSr |
16 | Trevor Reilly | Utah | 6'5" | 255 | 138 | rSr |
17 | Chaz Sutton | S. Carolina | 6'3" | 256 | 158 | rSr |
18 | Josh Mauro | Stanford | 6'6" | 282 | 190 | rSr |
2014 Defensive Tackle Rankings
If you love watching the War Daddies on the middle of the defensive line, you're going to like this class.
Louis Nix is a massive nose tackle prospect and all-around stud for Notre Dame, but he'll be pushed by pass-rushers like Timmy Jernigan, Will Sutton and Anthony Johnson for the top defensive tackle spot all season long. It will come down to the personal preference of each NFL team, but the early money is on Nix holding on to the top spot.
The depth at tackle is impressive, and in most years, second-round prospects Sutton and Ra'Shede Hageman would be first-round prospects at this point.
Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Overall Rank | Class |
1 | Louis Nix | Notre Dame | 6'2" | 326 | 22 | rJr |
2 | Will Sutton | Arizona St. | 6'0" | 290 | 27 | rSr |
3 | Michael Bennett | Ohio State | 6'3" | 285 | 37 | Jr |
4 | Ra'Shede Hageman | Minnesota | 6'5" | 310 | 45 | rSr |
5 | Anthony Johnson | LSU | 6'2" | 295 | 69 | Jr |
6 | Dominique Easley | Florida | 6'2" | 283 | 77 | Sr |
7 | DaQuan Jones | Penn State | 6'3" | 333 | 80 | Sr |
8 | Daniel McCullers | Tennessee | 6'6" | 365 | 84 | Sr |
9 | Danny Shelton | Washington | 6'1" | 318 | 111 | Jr |
10 | Timmy Jernigan | FSU | 6'2" | 298 | 117 | Jr |
11 | Aaron Donald | Pittsburgh | 6'0" | 285 | 134 | Sr |
12 | Ryan Carrethers | Arkansas St. | 6'2" | 328 | 137 | rSr |
13 | Calvin Barnett | Oklahoma St. | 6'2" | 300 | 168 | Sr |
14 | DeAndre Coleman | California | 6'5" | 315 | 172 | rSr |
15 | Khyri Thornton | Southern Miss | 6'3" | 308 | 197 | Sr |
16 | Bruce Gaston | Purdue | 6'2" | 310 | 199 | rSr |
2014 Inside Linebacker Rankings
The 2014 draft class at inside linebacker may be a letdown after years of top-notch inside linebacker prospects. So far, there is no Luke Kuechly or Manti Te'o here.
The top is led by senior Shayne Skov, but others are capable of pushing up the board with solid play in their final seasons. It's too early to establish anyone as the clear-cut leader and likely first inside linebacker drafted.
Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Overall Rank | Class |
1 | Shayne Skov | Stanford | 6'3" | 244 | 41 | rSr |
2 | Chris Borland | Wisconsin | 5'11" | 248 | 58 | rSr |
3 | A.J. Johnson | Tennessee | 6'2" | 243 | 67 | rSr |
4 | Yamin Smallwood | UConn | 6'3" | 236 | 73 | rJr |
5 | Lamin Barrow | LSU | 6'2" | 232 | 103 | rSr |
6 | Max Bullough | Michigan St. | 6'2" | 241 | 126 | Sr |
7 | Andrew Jackson | Western Kentucky | 6'0" | 258 | 133 | rJr |
8 | Jack Tyler | Virginia Tech | 6'0" | 228 | 193 | rSr |
2014 Outside Linebacker Rankings
The outside linebacker position has risen to the limelight thanks to the rejuvenation of the 3-4 defense and marquee pass-rushers from the standing position. It is this trend that has led to the transition of some defensive ends to the OLB position.
Former running back Anthony Barr looks like the next great prospect on the edge as a do-it-all linebacker for UCLA. C.J. Mosley can play inside or outside linebacker and may be best suited on the inside at the next level. He could be a top-10 pick himself.
The depth of this group is amazing, with six players carrying a first-round grade heading into the season.
Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Overall Rank | Class |
1 | Anthony Barr | UCLA | 6'4" | 245 | 5 | Sr |
2 | C.J. Mosley | Alabama | 6'2" | 232 | 7 | Sr |
3 | Khalil Mack | Buffalo | 6'2" | 245 | 9 | rSr |
4 | Ryan Shazier | Ohio State | 6'2" | 230 | 12 | Jr |
5 | Kyle Van Noy | BYU | 6'3" | 235 | 36 | rSr |
6 | Adrian Hubbard | Alabama | 6'5" | 252 | 48 | rJr |
7 | Christian Jones | FSU | 6'3" | 232 | 60 | rJr |
8 | Morgan Breslin | USC | 6'1" | 250 | 64 | Sr |
9 | Denzel Perryman | Miami (Fla.) | 6'0" | 240 | 71 | Jr |
10 | Jeremiah Attaochu | Georgia Tech | 6'3" | 242 | 92 | Sr |
11 | Boseko Lokombo | Oregon | 6'3" | 232 | 97 | rSr |
12 | Carl Bradford | Arizona St. | 6'1" | 241 | 105 | rJr |
13 | Prince Shembo | Notre Dame | 6'1" | 252 | 131 | Sr |
14 | Dee Ford | Auburn | 6'2" | 238 | 146 | rSr |
15 | Jonathan Brown | Illinois | 6'1 | 235 | 153 | Jr |
2014 Cornerback Rankings
The cornerback position continues to dominate the wish lists of every NFL general manager. In a league that's becoming more reliant on the passing game, a great cornerback is invaluable.
Luckily for scouts and fans alike, the 2014 class has exceptional depth at the position. With top-tier players Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Bradley Roby and Jason Verrett all vying for the top spot, there are unique players and player types to be found in this class.
After the first round there is still considerable quality to be found. If all expected underclassmen enter, this could be one of the stronger cornerback classes in recent memory.
Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Overall Rank | Class |
1 | Ifo Ekpre-Olomu | Oregon | 5'10" | 190 | 23 | Jr |
2 | Bradley Roby | Ohio State | 5'11" | 192 | 24 | rJr |
3 | Jason Verrett | TCU | 5'10" | 176 | 28 | Sr |
4 | Justin Gilbert | Oklahoma St. | 6'0" | 200 | 33 | Sr |
5 | Aaron Colvin | Oklahoma | 6'0" | 182 | 54 | Sr |
6 | Loucheiz Purifoy | Florida | 6'0" | 185 | 56 | Jr |
7 | Marcus Roberson | Florida | 6'0" | 195 | 62 | Jr |
8 | Kyle Fuller | Virginia Tech | 6'0" | 190 | 66 | Sr |
9 | Darqueze Dennard | Michigan St. | 5'11" | 188 | 75 | Sr |
10 | Antone Exum | Virginia Tech | 6'0" | 220 | 89 | rSr |
11 | Jaylen Watkins | Florida | 5'11" | 182 | 99 | Sr |
12 | E.J. Gaines | Missouri | 5'10" | 195 | 101 | Sr |
13 | Pierre Desir | Lindenwood | 6'1" | 205 | 112 | rSr |
14 | Rashaad Reynolds | Oregon St. | 5'10" | 187 | 136 | rSr |
15 | Ross Cockrell | Duke | 6'0" | 182 | 142 | rSr |
16 | Bennett Jackson | Notre Dame | 6'0" | 185 | 145 | Sr |
17 | Deshazor Everett | Texas A&M | 6'0" | 182 | 155 | Jr |
18 | Carrington Byndom | Texas | 6'0" | 180 | 158 | Sr |
19 | Damian Swann | Georgia | 5'11" | 190 | 164 | Jr |
20 | Deion Belue | Alabama | 5'11" | 185 | 167 | Sr |
21 | Wayne Lyons | Stanford | 6'1" | 193 | 175 | Jr |
2014 Free Safety Rankings
The overall talent at free safety in college football is tough to gauge right now, which is why you'll see that no safety has a preseason first-round grade. That can change, though, and quickly.
Playmakers like Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix can show better vision and ball skills, two things that would quickly put him into the first round. C.J. Barnett of Ohio State has the overall ability to push himself up the board, too; it's just a matter of seeing the players take that next step from good to great once the pads come on.
Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Overall Rank | Class |
1 | Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix | Alabama | 6'1" | 208 | 19 | Jr |
2 | Lamarcus Joyner | FSU | 5'8" | 195 | 63 | Sr |
3 | Dion Bailey | USC | 6'0" | 200 | 95 | rJr |
4 | Tre Boston | UNC | 6'1" | 205 | 113 | Sr |
5 | C.J. Barnett | Ohio State | 6'0" | 203 | 132 | Sr |
6 | Terrence Brooks | Florida St. | 5'11" | 197 | 135 | Sr |
7 | Jemea Thomas | Georgia Tech | 5'10" | 195 | 170 | rSr |
8 | Kenny Ladler | Vanderbilt | 6'0" | 205 | 177 | Sr |
2014 Strong Safety Rankings
Much like the free safety rankings, you will see no first-round prospects at strong safety. At least not in the preseason.
The good news, though, is that there's nice variety in this group of players. In an NFL that's valuing dual-threat safeties more and more, this is a class that can bring instant-impact ability. Guys like Craig Loston and Dion Bailey will straight-up hit you over the middle. If you want ball hawks, Ahmad Dixon and Hakeem Smith have good upside there.
This isn't a top-heavy group, but I'm a fan of the overall talent and depth.
Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Overall Rank | Class |
1 | Craig Loston | LSU | 6'2" | 205 | 53 | rSr |
2 | Deone Bucannon | Washington St. | 6'1" | 215 | 81 | Sr |
3 | Ahmad Dixon | Baylor | 6'0" | 205 | 116 | Sr |
4 | Ty Zimmerman | Kansas St. | 6'1" | 205 | 140 | rSr |
5 | Hakeem Smith | Louisville | 6'1" | 188 | 147 | rSr |
6 | Isaiah Lewis | Michigan St. | 5'10" | 210 | 160 | Sr |