B/R CFB 250: The Overall Top 250 Players in College Football

Bleacher Report College Football StaffJan 14, 2015

Bleacher Report's CFB 250 is an annual ranking of the best players in college football. Brian Leigh and Kynon Codrington have studied, ranked and graded the top athletes in the country based on specific criteria, narrowed that list down to 250 and sorted by position. Today, we present the top 250 players.

Other CFB 250 Positions

After breaking down it by position, we've finally reached the end: the top 250 players in college football.

In cases where two or more players had the same final grade, a subjective call was made by the authors. This call was based on an abstract "Wins Above Replacement" formula: Which players most exceed a replacement-level starter at their position?

Also keep in mind that these players were graded as college athletes, not on how they project to the NFL.

Targeted skills such as QB arm strength are important at both levels, but there is a difference between college arm strength and professional arm strength. If a quarterback slings it well enough to hit his marks in the SEC or the Big 12, it doesn't matter that he can't stretch the field against the NFC North. At least not here, it doesn't.

This is all about his college performance.

Note: Rankings and scores were made prior to conference championship games; they do not reflect what happened after.

Nos. 250-242

1 of 110

Accuracy: 21/25; Arm Strength: 16/20; Pocket Presence: 6/10; Mobility: 5/10; Football IQ: 16/20; Leadership: 12/15

Brandon Doughty spins an accurate ball and had a great senior season under first-year head coach Jeff Brohm. Doughty has good size (6'3") and will go down as one of the best quarterbacks in Western Kentucky history, as Marshall would surely attest.

Nos. 241-226

2 of 110

Accuracy: 21/25; Arm Strength: 17/20; Pocket Presence: 7/10; Mobility: 5/10; Football IQ: 17/20; Leadership: 12/15

Sean Mannion struggled without Biletnikoff Award winner Brandin Cooks, a first-round NFL draft pick in 2014. Regardless, his mixture of size (6’5”), arm strength and his resume of production over the past three years are things only a few active QBs can compete with.

Nos. 225-210

3 of 110

Speed: 14/20; Ball Skills: 16/20; Run Defense: 16/20; Coverage: 34/40

Kevin Johnson is an underrated player with the size (6’1”, 175 lbs), fluidity and toughness that defensive coaches love. He doesn’t have the matching speed or quickness, but physical cornerbacks such as Johnson are en vogue right now.

210. Josh Reynolds, WR, Texas A&M

80/100

Hands: 21/25; Route Running: 16/20; Blocking: 3/5; Release: 16/20; Speed: 12/15; Run After Catch: 12/15

He's not Mike Evans—at least not yet, he isn't—but Josh Reynolds is a 6'4" target with enough speed to stretch the field in Texas A&M’s offense. If the former JUCO transfer can fill out his frame and play with more physicality next season, he has a chance to become a superstar.

TOP NEWS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 26 GameAbove Sports Bowl Central Michigan vs Northwestern

Bleacher Report6h

Bleacher Report1d

Bleacher Report6h

Nos. 209-194

4 of 110

Pass Rush: 41/50; Run Defense: 32/40; Motor: 8/10

Markus Golden and Missouri’s other starting defensive end—whom we’ll get to later on in this list—combine to form the best pass-rushing tandem in the country. Golden came on strong at the end of the year and used his speed to make consistent plays in the backfield. He is an athletic freak who plays hard and only needs some small mechanical tweaks to become a superstar.

194. Hassan Ridgeway, DT, Texas

81/100

Pass Rush: 34/40; Run Defense: 41/50; Motor: 6/10

Hassan Ridgeway came from nowhere to become one of the best defensive players in the Big 12 this season. Only a sophomore, he has great size for the position (6’4”, 307 lbs) and enough quickness to shoot through gaps. The only thing that lacks is his motor. He doesn’t play angry enough. “If he ever gets mad...he will hurt somebody,” said defensive coordinator Vance Bedford, per Taylor Gaspar of Bleacher Report. “My man could be a beast.”

Nos. 193-178

5 of 110

Hands: 21/25; Route Running: 15/20; Blocking: 15/20; Release: 17/20; Speed: 14/15

Alabama does not target O.J. Howard as often as fans think it should (and almost any other team in the country would). But that does not devalue how good he has been when called upon. The constant threat of his presence does a lot to open up the Crimson Tide offense.

Nos. 177-162

6 of 110

Tackling: 30/35; Pass Rush: 10/15; Run Defense: 26/30; Pass Coverage: 17/20

Jake Ryan began his career as an outside linebacker and played pretty well in that role. But after kicking inside this season, it became clear that he was out of position. If not for his tenacity in the middle of Michigan’s defense, the Wolverines might have finished even worse than 5-7, and Brady Hoke might have been canned long before December.

Nos. 161-146

7 of 110

Pass Rush: 31/40; Run Defense: 45/50; Motor: 7/10

A’Shawn Robinson is a man-child—seriously...how was this guy born in 1995?—and the key member of Alabama’s run defense. He didn’t record a sack in 2014 after logging 5.5 as a true freshman, which is troubling, but that had more to do with the role Alabama asked of him following Brandon Ivory's departure. He is versatile enough to play 0-technique, 3-technique or 5-technique and will surely land on some preseason All-America lists next season.

Nos. 145-132

8 of 110

Speed: 16/20; Ball Skills: 17/20; Run Defense: 16/20; Coverage: 36/40

Damian Swann was picked on in 2013 after breaking out as a sophomore one year prior. No one was quite sure what to expect from him this season, but new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt got the most out of his fallen star, turning him back into an All-SEC-type player.

Nos. 115-101

10 of 110

Strength: 15/20; Pass Protection 25/30; Run Blocking 37/40; Explosion 8/10

Grasu is the heart and soul of Oregon's offensive line, which might be the most important unit on the team. When the blockers play well, the Ducks play well. And the key to the blockers playing well is the man in the middle.

101. Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Auburn

85/100

Ball Security: 9/10; Power: 17/20; Vision: 18/20; Hands: 12/15 Speed: 16/20 Agility: 13/15

In 2013, Artis-Payne was the power complement to Tre Mason. With Mason gone, he emerged as an every-down back capable of carrying Auburn’s offense. More than just a "system" runner, Artis-Payne proved his worth on frequent occasions and will be missed in 2015.

100. Eric Striker, OLB, Oklahoma

11 of 110

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Tackling

30/35

Eric Striker is built like a safety (6'0", 221 lbs) and has the speed to cut down angles in space. However, that same undersized build makes him a liability in tight areas, where he struggles to fight away from blocks or make an impact as a downhill tackler.

Pass Rush

18/20

He didn’t post All-America numbers, as many expected he might, but Striker proved in 2014 that he can get around the edge with the best of them. He is still learning how to keep his balance and avoid getting knocked off his line, but the raw burst and timing are plain to see on tape, allowing him to blitz from different depths and angles.

Run Defense

17/20

Striker defends the run well, considering his physical limitations. He doesn’t have the strength to play the hammer, but he never stops moving. He tracks the ball well and runs around with a chip on his shoulder, disrupting a high number of plays in rush defense.

Pass Coverage

21/25

Oklahoma has played Striker at nickelback, on occasion, because he is athletic enough to turn his hips and run with just about anyone. He is still working on the little things—gaining good depth, learning when to jump versus when to sink, etc.—but the raw tools are hard to ignore.

Overall

86/100

Striker—in addition to having the best name for a linebacker—is one of the last players quarterbacks want to see bearing down before they snap the ball. He followed up his breakout game in the 2014 Sugar Bowl with a season that was just as impressive as advertised.

99. Martrell Spaight, OLB, Arkansas

12 of 110

Danny Johnston/Associated Press

Tackling

32/35

Martrell Spaight led the SEC in tackles during the regular season, averaging more than 10 per game. He does not have outrageous speed, especially for a player who is slightly undersized (6'2", 231 lbs), but he’s fast enough to close on the ball and play the frontside bounce.

Pass Rush

16/20

Arkansas did not ask Spaight to rush the passer very often until the last few games of the year. There’s a reason for that. Even though he blitzes with authority, punishing at least one blocker each rep, he does not have the quickness or wiggle to consistently get through the line.

Run Defense

17/20

Spaight is a versatile run defender who does his best work as a run-through linebacker but can also splatter blockers and take on the Power O. He sets a hard edge to force runs back inside but also has the skills to disengage and go make a play for himself.

Pass Coverage

21/25

Spaight is a viable three-down linebacker who can cover in the slot when necessary. He gets his hands out on his man and reroutes him over the middle. In zone coverage, instincts help him conceal a lack of natural fluidity (although he’s also not what one could call "stiff").

Overall

86/100

Spaight led a resurgent Arkansas defense in the second half of the season, showing up with bigger and bigger plays each week. Injuries derailed him in his first year over from JUCO, but the former two-time NJCAA All-American paid huge dividends for the Hogs in 2014.

98. P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State

13 of 110

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Speed

17/20

P.J. Williams doesn’t pop off the tape with his speed, but he’s fast enough to do his job. He’s a long athlete who covers a ton of ground in man coverage and doesn’t let receivers separate on drags and slants. Prior to the Rose Bowl, Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost called Williams “the fastest defensive back [we have] played all season,” per Andrew Grief of The Oregonian.

Ball Skills

17/20

Williams is a coordinated player with great timing and decent athleticism. He doesn’t have incredible hands (only one interception 2014), but makes himself disruptive with long arms and field awareness. He has a good sense for diagnosing plays in zone coverage and can blow things up before they get started.

Run Defense

16/20

Williams is a fighter in the run game who actively sheds blocks on the perimeter. He was especially impressive in the ACC Championship Game against Georgia Tech, where his second-half contributions played a big role in stopping the triple option. He is not a consistent tackler—often he leads with his shoulder instead of wrapping up—but he understands the nuance of team run defense.

Coverage

36/40

One of the purest cover corners in the country, Williams excels in man-to-man situations, where his length and physicality are on full display. He suffered a couple of mental lapses in 2014, breakdowns that led to big plays or points, but was great on a down-to-down basis. If he can fix the tiny blemishes in his game, he has a chance to be special.

Overall

86/100

Williams is an ideal man-coverage corner with fluid hips, good speed and enough size (6’0”, 196 lbs) to blanket most receivers on an island. He wasn’t as consistent in 2014 as he was the year prior, but regardless, few cornerbacks can lock up one side of the field as well as Williams.

97. Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota

14 of 110

86/100

Williams is the No. 1 receiving option on a team that has won eight games in each of the past two seasons. Especially for a redshirt sophomore, that means something. He is a gifted physical specimen who seems to care about getting better, which should land him on some preseason All-American teams this summer if he stays in school.

96. Ishmael Adams, CB, UCLA

15 of 110

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Speed

18/20

Ishmael Adams is fast because he has to be; there’s no other way for a 5’8” cornerback to see the field. His agility helps him mirror receivers in man coverage and break on the ball in zone coverage. Go ask Arizona State—against whom Adams had a 100-yard kick return touchdown and a 95-yard interception return touchdown—how dangerous his speed can be.

Ball Skills

17/20

Adams has above-average ball skills that don’t always show up on paper. He only had four pass breakups in each of the past two seasons, but he does many of the little things that don’t lead to so-called “breakups.” Taller receivers can exploit Adams for obvious reasons, but he’s a bouncy athlete who does a decent job overcoming his height.

Run Defense

16/20

Adams is a tough, confident defender who is willing to mix things up on the edge. Because he’s such a twitchy athlete, he is able to shed blocks and funnel runs back inside. He’s not the greatest tackler in the country, but he’s serviceable enough in that regard.

Coverage

35/40

Best described as an instinctive corner, Adams plays better in zone coverage than in man. He can read quarterbacks’ eyes and is a constant threat to jump routes and take his interceptions to the house. But his aggressive tendencies can also backfire and lead to occasional coverage breakdowns.

Overall

86/100

Adams is the best player in a polarizing UCLA secondary. He, like his teammates, must work on playing with more consistency from week to week, but when he’s on, the undersized Adams can be a game-breaker in the defensive backfield and as a kick returner.

95. Travin Dural, WR, LSU

16 of 110

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Hands

22/25

Travin Dural has freaky proportions—hands included. He makes some hard-to-believe catches on the perimeter but hasn't shown the ability to make difficult catches in traffic over the middle.

Route Running

16/20

Dural is a perfectly average route-runner. He does his best work on simple patterns such as fly routes, relying more on physical tools than precision to gain separation.

Blocking

3/5

If you play for Les Miles, you're going to do some run blocking. Dural gives solid effort on the edge but doesn't have the strength to consistently lock up defenders.

Release

18/20

Dural can get off the line in multiple ways. The speed and burst that most young players rely on are his preferred weapons, but he also has long, lanky arms to engineer release moves and win shoulder position.

Speed

15/15

Dural was a high school track star who won the Louisiana state title in the 200-meter dash. His track speed translates to the football field, where he's a threat to catch a long touchdown each time he gets off the line.

Run After Catch

12/15

If it's not one-cut-and-go, Dural probably won't bust a big play. He has speed to turn the corner and make a short gain a long one, but he's not great at breaking tackles or finding creative running lanes.

Overall

86/100

Dural burst onto the scene as one of the best big-play receivers in the country this season. His numbers tailed off as LSU's quarterback play went to the dogs, but he still showed some flashes of stardom.

94. Jared Goff, QB, California

17 of 110

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Accuracy

23/25

Jared Goff has been a quick study in Sonny Dykes’ spread offense, hitting his marks at all levels of the field. He doesn’t play overly conservative but still ranks toward the top of the country in interception rate, having thrown just seven picks on 509 attempts this season. When his receivers get a step, he sprinkles enough touch on the ball to get it over the defensive back but not too far for his intended target.

Arm Strength

18/20

Goff his a wiry arm that isn’t overpowering but gets the job done. He is 6’4”, 210 pounds and should continue getting stronger as he spends more time in a college weight program. He can stretch the field vertically or to the sidelines, powering the ball with a tight spiral and good zip.

Pocket Presence

8/10

Cal does not allow many sacks despite dropping back to pass with regularity. A big part of the credit there goes to Goff, who has a great feel for the position and knows when to get the ball out of his hands. He isn’t perfect, but he’s far ahead of the learning curve for a player his age.

Mobility

6/10

Goff can move the pocket but isn’t a threat as a runner. He has long, skinny legs and is not difficult for defenders to tackle. Backup Luke Rubenzer relieves Goff in select packages, when the Bears want to use a more mobile QB.

Football IQ

18/20

Underclassmen have succeeded in Dykes’ offense (and other variants from the Mike Leach coaching tree), but few have done so in more impressive fashion than Goff. He was the less-touted QB from his recruiting class but beat Zach Kline for the job as a true freshman because he picked up the system so quickly. That Cal commits so few turnovers despite playing an attacking brand of offense is a testament to Goff's football IQ.

Leadership

13/15

Goff engineered a nice turnaround in his sophomore season after the Bears went 1-11 in 2013. Goff inspires confidence in his teammates and nearly led Cal to a bowl game when doing so seemed impossible. He did enough to win on the road against a good Arizona team before a last-second Hail Mary by the Wildcats.

Overall

86/100

Goff has an arm worth raving about and plays in the ideal offense for his skill set. Only a true sophomore, he is on pace to compete for some of the FBS career passing records as an upperclassman—but only if the NFL doesn’t snatch him up first.

93. Cody Prewitt, S, Ole Miss

18 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Ball Skills

17/20

Cody Prewitt does his best work in two-deep or single-high safety looks, roaming around the deep third and making plays on vertical throws. He has soft hands and great timing to bring balls down at their highest point.

Tackling

26/30

Receivers know to keep their head on a swivel against Ole Miss, lest they end up Internet famous for all the wrong reasons. But Prewitt does more than simply lay people out. He also breaks down and makes solid wrap-up tackles, although his consistency in this regard took a step back in 2014.

Run Support

22/25

Prewitt is a willing run defender who floods to alleys and doesn’t mind getting a lick on his helmet. However, he sometimes lets running backs come to him instead of sprinting through the play, which allows the offense to pick up small chunks of extra yards.

Pass Coverage

21/25

Prewitt is a good straight-line athlete with long limbs and superior coverage instincts. He is quick to see the play as it develops and knows where he must go to disrupt it. He does not, however, possess the fluid hips to mirror receivers. He is only useful in zone coverage schemes.

Overall

86/100

Prewitt is the emotional leader of an Ole Miss defense that played as well as any unit in the country this season. His big hits have gone viral, but he is more than just an in-the-box thumper looking for the next slot receiver to hit. He does a little bit of everything on the back end of that vaunted “Landsharks” defense.

92. Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss

19 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Hands

22/25

Evan Engram has soft hands and knows to catch the ball away from his body. He sees the ball into his grip and does not break stride to haul it in. This last point is important, separating Engram from similar athletic specimens who don’t post the same production.

Route Running

18/20

No tight end in the country runs better routes than Engram. Defenses pair him against safeties and their best coverage linebackers, but he still gets open time and time again. He works routes equally well to the inside and the outside, which keeps defenders guessing.

Blocking

15/20

Engram is a liability in the running game. There is no way around it. He doesn’t have the size (6’3”, 227 lbs) to get a push when he lines up off tackle, and he doesn’t seal the edge on cutback plays or end-arounds. Hopefully, this will change if/when he adds weight.

Release

17/20

It is difficult to grade Engram’s release as a tight end, since he is basically a wide receiver. Playing from the slot, though, he does a good job gaining separation, winning the inside shoulder with hand combat.

Speed

14/15

The play is not over when Engram catches the ball. He has agility to make the first (and second) man miss and speed to turn a crease into a long gain. His three receptions of 50-plus yards this regular season were the most among FBS tight ends. Only 22 receivers had a higher total.

Overall

86/100

Engram was an overlooked but vital piece of Ole Miss’ 2013 recruiting class. Eighteen future Rebels graded higher than him—highlighted by productive 5-stars Robert Nkemdiche, Laremy Tunsil, Laquon Treadwell and Tony Conner—but Engram’s contributions have been just as important as any of his classmates’.

91. Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon

20 of 110

86/100

Fisher proved to be a linchpin—if not the linchpin—in Oregon’s explosive offense. When he missed two games with a knee injury during the middle of the season (against Washington State and Arizona), the Ducks fell apart. As soon he returned, they put themselves back together.

90. Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State

21 of 110

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Pass Rush

42/50

Shilique Calhoun is not a high-volume sack producer, but he understands his role in the pass rush. He squeezes the pocket and occupies his assignments to free up the rest of the defense in blitz packages. He has the length and hands to disengage from a tackle and finish a broken play.

Run Defense

36/40

Here is where Calhoun excels. He has a big, thick frame (6’5”, 256 lbs) and the strength to hold the edge, which opens tackling lanes for Michigan State’s linebackers. But he also has the long arms and explosiveness to split gaps and make plays in the backfield. As a cherry on top, he has the speed and coordination to catch running backs on the edge or from behind.

Motor

8/10

Calhoun plays with the angry, chip-on-his-shoulder edge that typifies all Spartans defenses. He sprints through the whistle and rarely takes a play off. Whether he’s chasing the ball 20 yards downfield or suplexing a player in the backfield, he knows how to finish each down with conviction.

Overall

86/100

Calhoun broke out with three touchdowns in two games at the start of the 2013 season, and even though he hasn't scored since, he has parlayed that into a pair of fine seasons for Sparty. His stats are ho-hum, but they do not tell the story of how much he does for this defense. He is one of the most complete defensive linemen in the country.

89. T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama

22 of 110

Butch Dill/Associated Press

Ball Security

8/10

Fumbling was T.J. Yeldon’s biggest issue in 2013, when he put the ball on the rug five times and lost four of them. He was better this season but still holds the ball away from his body when it should be tucked high and tight.

Power

17/20

Yeldon doesn’t have the pure power of his forerunners (Eddie Lacy, Trent Richardson, Mark Ingram, Glen Coffee), but he knows how to finish runs. He is 6’2”, 221 pounds and makes assured downhill cuts in Alabama’s zone-blocking offense. He sizes up smaller defenders in the open field and is willing to take them on physically.

Vision

18/20

The ability to see the field allows for everything Yeldon does as a running back. At the line, he reads the frontside and the backside, perceiving the hole and the cutback lane. In the open field, he attacks off-balance defenders in a way that enables extra yardage.

Hands

13/15

Yeldon is a threat in the passing game whom Alabama leans on often. His size, hands and fluid running style make him a tailback in a receiver’s body. He runs smooth routes out of the backfield and even moonlights in the slot and on the perimeter.

Speed

18/20

Yeldon has better acceleration than long speed, which is not necessarily a bad thing. He goes from zero to 60 in a blur, surging through the hole before it swallows him. His initial speed is enough to blow past linebackers and slow-footed safeties, although he does not have the breakaway speed of similar-style running backs (e.g. former Arkansas star Darren McFadden).

Agility

12/15

Yeldon has deceptive agility. His stutter moves and jump cuts look awkward because of his upright running style, but they are effective. When defenders break through the line, he is slippery enough to turn a negative play into small, positive gain.

Overall

86/100

Yeldon is a proven commodity who makes difficult plays look easy. He never took off and became the super-duper megastar it looked like he’d become after his freshman season (2012), but he’s always been a versatile running back who plays his best in the biggest games.

88. Jacoby Glenn, CB, Central Florida

23 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Speed

17/20

Speed is one of the core tenets of Jacoby Glenn’s game. He is 6’0”, rangy and can cover ground with long, bounding strides. Speed allows him not just to track receivers downfield on vertical routes, but also to close on open receivers in zone coverage. It is one of the main things that makes him so valuable.

Ball Skills

18/20

Glenn is a gifted athlete with impressive body control. He can go up and make plays in the air or stick his hand between the man and the ball on slants. He has 26 pass breakups the past two seasons and led the American Athletic Conference with seven interceptions in 2014.

Run Defense

16/20

Glenn is a willing but ultimately average run defender. He doesn’t have the innate sense for run fits and tracking a ball-carrier that he has for patterns and tracking a receiver. He does, however, use his frame well as a tackler; he is capable of finishing plays on the edge.

Coverage

35/40

Glenn does his best work in zone coverage, where his reaction time, closing speed and field awareness combine to make him one of the best in the country. He doesn’t have the technique to consistently dominate in man coverage, but he’s no slouch in that regard either. And the tools are there for him to keep getting better.

Overall

86/100

Glenn has made a name for himself as one of the best big-play cornerbacks in America. The ahead-of-the-curve sophomore played a big role in taking UCF to the Fiesta Bowl last season and continued making strides despite his team's regression in 2014.

87. Landon Feichter, S, Purdue

24 of 110

Eric Francis/Getty Images

Ball Skills

17/20

Landon Feichter does not waste opportunities to make big plays for his team. He led Purdue with four interceptions in 2012 and finished tied for No. 2 in the Big Ten with five in 2014. He only had one pick in 2013, but that can be forgiven; he did, after all, play part of that season with two broken hands.

Tackling

27/30

Yes, his stats are inflated by the weakness of Purdue’s front seven, but Feichter is one of the best tackling safeties in the country. Bar none. Anything he lacks in top-end speed, he makes up for with solid form tackling and conviction in the open field.

Run Support

21/25

Purdue calls Feichter into the box against run-heavy opponents, relying on its leader to execute run fits and never back down from a challenge. It is rare that he lets his team down. Six of his 10 solo tackles against Wisconsin came against Melvin Gordon, highlighted by consecutive possessions in which he stripped the All-American running back (and recovered the fumble), then stuffed him for no gain on a 4th-and-1.

Pass Coverage

21/25

Feichter doesn’t have the closing speed or length to be a shutdown center fielder, but he makes the most of what he has. He patrols against underneath passes and has fluid enough hips to tag most slot receivers.

Overall

86/100

Feichter is not a household name, because no one on Purdue is a household name. But after a brief benching in 2014, the season he’s enjoyed has been right on par with any other safety in the country. He is solid in every sense of the word.

86. Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU

25 of 110

Orlin Wagner/Associated Press

Accuracy

22/25

Trevone Boykin can run hot and cold. When he's hot, he leads his targets well, putting them in position to gain yards after the catch. When he's cold—as he was in a near-loss at West Virginia—TCU's offense barely moves. Fortunately, the cold stretches have seldom occurred in 2014.

Arm Strength

17/20

Boykin has never lacked for arm strength, even before his breakout year. His ability to push the ball downfield keeps defenses honest, and he gets real zip on intermediate throws.

Pocket Presence

8/10

Despite his speed, Boykin does not rely on his legs when he doesn't have to. He trusts his arm and is inclined to beat the blitz the easy way instead of getting antsy and breaking the pocket. The tendency to tuck and run is common for mobile quarterbacks, but Boykin makes shrewd decisions.

Mobility

8/10

Before he was a CFB 250 quarterback, Boykin was actually a pretty capable slot receiver. And you can't excel in the slot without top-end quickness and lateral agility. Boykin has both, and he has not been afraid to flaunt those athletic gifts when TCU has most needed a play.

Football IQ

17/20

Boykin has done a good job letting the offense come to him, rarely trying to "do too much." He gets through his reads with haste and improvises when the situation calls for it. One could argue that this is his most improved area.

Leadership

14/15

TCU was rudderless under former quarterback Casey Pachall. Boykin has taken over full-time and given the Horned Frogs a backbone. A great deal of credit goes to Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham, but Boykin is the one going out there and making plays. He has lifted this team to new heights.

Overall

86/100

Boykin looked more natural at receiver than he did at quarterback in 2013. But the introduction of a spread offense prompted him to play like a Heisman contender this season, during which TCU went 12-1. The Horned Frogs are back to being national contenders, and Boykin is the biggest reason why.

85. Clive Walford, TE, Miami (Fla.)

26 of 110

86/100

Walford parlayed an average first three years into a wonderful senior season. He became a week-to-week contributor. True freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya benefitted greatly from having Walford as a safety net.

84. Nick Marshall, QB, Auburn

27 of 110

Brian Blanco/Getty Images

Accuracy

22/25

Nick Marshall has made striking improvements as a passer. Last season, he was timid throwing intermediate and vertical routes, doing most of his damage on screens. This season, he has missed fewer open receivers and shown confidence stretching the field. He is still less consistent than the players above him, but he's getting there.

Arm Strength

18/20

Marshall throws a fireball despite having a smaller, wiry frame (6'1", 210 lbs). He generates power from his upper body, which allows him to rocket the ball down the field from various angles. The ball comes off his arm a lot like it does Michael Vick's, albeit with slightly less steam.

Pocket Presence

8/10

The system Marshall plays in and the offensive line he operates behind do not require that he face a ton of pressure. When he has, he's shown flashes of brilliance mixed with occasional lapses in judgment. Still, he is as slippery as they come eluding pass-rushers.

Mobility

9/10

Marshall is a converted defensive back who probably could have played any skill position on the field. He has staggering lateral agility and makes more defenders miss than any other quarterback in the country. The home run speed is there, but his best trait isn't breaking long runs as much as turning small gains into chunk plays.

Football IQ

16/20

Auburn runs a highly effective but not overly complicated offense. Marshall leads the unit well, though, especially with the ball in his hands on the read-option. His decision-making is above average, but he showed some holes in the first half against Mississippi State.

Leadership

13/15

The Tigers know they are never out of a game when Marshall is under center. He has led them to some incredible, dramatic wins the past two years and took them to the national title game on the heels of a 3-9 season. However, he also got dismissed from Georgia for disciplinary reasons in 2012 and had to miss the first half of the season opener against Arkansas because of an offseason marijuana citation.

Overall

86/100

Marshall went from "athlete who plays quarterback" to "very athletic quarterback" in 2014. The distinction there is subtle but important. If he wanted to, he could lead the SEC in rushing. But his arm improved so much this year that he didn't have to.

83. Javorius Allen, RB, USC

28 of 110

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Ball Security

9/10

Javorius “Buck” Allen is a tactful runner who keeps the ball tight and shields it through contact. He lost a garbage-time fumble inside USC’s 10-yard line against Washington State but has otherwise been reliable.

Power

18/20

Even though he isn’t a vicious runner, Allen uses his size (6’1”, 220 lbs) to break tackles in the open field. His legs—the main source of his power—never stop churning, even when a group of defenders is trying to bring him down. If he ran with more fire and/or a lower pad level, he would finish even higher in this category.

Vision

17/20

Allen strings out runs with patience, reading his blockers and letting the play develop. When the cutback lane appears, he finds it—every time. In 2014, he posted big numbers with a pair of true freshmen on the offensive line. Even though those youngsters played well, Allen's vision made them look even better than they were.

Hands

13/15

USC’s offense relies—and has always relied—on a running back who can slip out of the backfield and make a play. Allen is no Reggie Bush in terms of route-running and explosiveness, but he’s a reliable safety valve with strong hands on screens and checkdowns.

Speed

17/20

Allen has good burst for a 220-pounder, firing out of the backfield at the first and second level. He doesn’t maintain that speed in the open field, where defensive backs are able to track him down from behind, but his acceleration makes him a wellspring for chunk yardage.

Agility

12/15

Allen is more fluid than agile, which is a subtle but important distinction. He has good balance and makes smooth cuts but doesn’t have the short-area quickness to dance around defenders. He runs through defenders more than he makes them miss.

Overall

86/100

Playing running back at USC is hallowed ground, like playing linebacker at Penn State. After a few rough years without a star, the Trojans found a gem in Allen, whose well-rounded game has made him precisely that.

82. Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida

29 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Pass Rush

44/50

Dante Fowler Jr. is technically a “Buck” linebacker but does his best work with his hand down as a 6-technique. He is 6’3” and 261 pounds with long arms and a rare blend of speed and power that makes him difficult to handle off the edge. More than that, though, he is a hand-to-hand technician with a deep array of pass-rushing moves who knows how to get to the quarterback. He wins with leverage and has the body control to dip around offensive tackles.

Run Defense

33/40

Fowler has the strength to occupy blockers and the hands to rip away and make plays on his own. But he also has a tendency to play over-aggressive to the point of recklessness, which at times has cost Florida in run support. If he learns to stay true to his assignments, he can turn into a high-level run defender. Until then, his gap discipline weighs him down.

Motor

9/10

Even when his offense has struggled, Fowler has maintained a consistent high energy level and refused to give up on a game. He is deranged in the most flattering way, willing to sacrifice his body for the good of the team. Frequent three-and-outs from the Gators offense have tested Fowler’s endurance, resolve and motor the past three seasons. To say he’s passed those tests would be an understatement.

Overall

86/100

Fowler is a special athlete with a high motor and the will to keep improving. He got better each year he was in Gainesville and will be missed as he transitions to the NFL. He was a perfect fit for Will Muschamp's multiple-front defense because he can line up anywhere along the front seven. Not many players can say that.

81. Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami (Fla.)

30 of 110

86/100

Prior to injuring his knee against Virginia Tech, Flowers was enjoying a career year at left tackle for Miami. He played through pain the rest of the way, and even though he wasn’t quite as impressive, he still ate up defensive linemen with his long arms, broad shoulders and deceptive foot speed for a man so exceptionally massive.

80. Tony Lippett, WR, Michigan State

31 of 110

Al Goldis/Associated Press

Hands

23/25

Tony Lippett catches passes of seemingly every type, looking most impressive when he controls his body, adjusts to a deep throw and somehow comes down with the ball. He casts a wide catch radius thanks to his instincts and the strength of his hands.

Route Running

18/20

No part of Lippett's game has improved more than his route running. He fires out of his breaks. He calibrates his speed. He always sells his patterns to defensive backs. He is a difficult matchup because he can beat you with so many routes.

Blocking

3/5

Lippett does not have the strength to be a dominant blocker, but he does have the attitude to be a useful one. Even during games in which he struggled, he stayed active and engaged by working his tail off as a downfield blocker.

Release

17/20

It's hard to be a high-level route-runner unless you have a strong release. Lippett does his best work against off-man coverage, setting up the defender and gaining the inside or outside shoulder. He has not been as good against press coverage, though, and will need to refine his arm technique (or simply get a lot stronger) to combat that in the future.

Speed

12/15

Lippett makes plays down the field in spite of his speed, not because of it. His longest gains have come on plays in which he burns the coverage and glides into the end zone. There are varying opinions on how Lippett will test in the 40-yard dash, but on tape he does not appear fast.

Run After Catch

13/15

Considering his physical limitations—lack of ideal strength/speed—Lippett actually does a good job after the catch. He has a mean stiff-arm and never gives up on a play until he hits the ground.

Overall

86/100

Lippett was average for three years but morphed into a No. 1 receiver this season. His ability to get open against man-to-man coverage made him a frequent target of Connor Cook and helped turn Michigan State into a team with a legitimate offense. That he did it, at the end of the season, while also starting at cornerback makes it all the more impressive.

79. J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State

32 of 110

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

Accuracy

23/25

J.T. Barrett throws an accurate ball with advanced touch. He drops passes into small windows, excelling where most players his age struggle: on passing downs. That he moves the chains against defensive-back-heavy sets is a testament to his ball placement.

Arm Strength

17/20

He doesn't have the same arm strength as Braxton Miller (who scored a 14/15 in that category on last year's CFB 250), but Barrett stretches the field well enough to function in Urban Meyer's offense. He has shorted a few deep comebacks to the sideline, but for the most part he has hit all his marks.

Pocket Presence

7/10

Barrett has made massive strides in this department since the first two games of the season. His offensive line improved too, but not as much as Barrett improved at feeling the rush and getting the ball out quickly.

Mobility

8/10

As a runner, Barrett falls somewhere between Miller and Kenny Guiton (Ohio State's backup in 2013). He plays from the pocket more often than Miller but proved against Michigan State and Minnesota that he can make defenders miss and has enough speed to break long runs.

Football IQ

18/20

Barrett has shown a quick learning curve in 2014, grasping what he did wrong in the first two games and fixing those errors. He has in many ways been an upgrade from Miller in terms of reading defenses and anticipating throws.

Leadership

13/15

At first it looked like Barrett might have to be carried through the season. By October, he was the one doing the carrying. He played his best game of the season in Ohio State's most important matchup, leading the Buckeyes to six consecutive touchdown drives at Michigan State. He was an easy figure for his teammates to rally behind.

Overall

86/100

Barrett was pressed into starting duty after Miller, the two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, injured his shoulder in fall camp. The early returns were predictable for an ill-prepared freshman QB, but Barrett made quick improvements and guided Ohio State back to national contention. He missed the Buckeyes' last three games with an ankle injury, but that doesn't discount the work he did in willing OSU that far.

78. Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor

33 of 110

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Pass Rush

43/50

Shawn Oakman is a solid pass-rusher, but that is a disappointment. There is no reason he shouldn’t be great. His size (6’9”, 280 lbs) and athleticism are a rare combination—players this big and strong are rarely this controlled and fluid—but he doesn’t have the technique to make consistent plays. His pure strength is too much for many tackles to handle, but some know how to deal with him.

Run Defense

36/40

Oakman does a lot of things well against the run. He is strong enough to hold the edge despite his size (i.e., high center of gravity) and violent enough to shed blocks when need be. He has also shown a penchant for making plays in the backfield, recording 8.5 non-sack tackles for loss in 12 regular-season games. Baylor was one of six teams in the country to hold opponents under three yards per carry during the regular season.

Motor

7/10

The biggest knock on Oakman is his motor. He doesn’t have the temperament of a down-to-down wrecking ball, taking plays off with regularity. He relies on size and strength to mask his effort and is fine with playing “well” instead of dominating. When he flashes, he looks like no other lineman in the country. But he doesn’t flash as often as he should.

Overall

86/100

Oakman is a frustrating player to evaluate. It is hard to divorce what he is from what he should be. What he is, however, is still one of the best linemen in the country. His ceiling is so much higher, but it’s not fair to hold that against him. He was still the star of a very good Baylor front seven. And he still made quarterbacks quiver in their cleats on every play.

77. Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State

34 of 110

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Pass Rush

35/40

Michael Bennett is a great interior pass-rusher who slumped at the start of the season but came on strong in the biggest moments. His numbers are not a true reflection of his productivity, as he often lines up as a 1-technique and is not asked to attack the quarterback. However, when the Buckeyes let him loose as a 3-technique, he has the quickness and hand skills to shoot past blockers, push the pocket and make plays.

Run Defense

44/50

The reason Ohio State plays Bennett as a 1-technique is because he’s so good against the run. He can occupy two gaps and free up his linebackers or slip through and make a tackle himself. Even though he isn’t the biggest defensive tackle (6’2”, 288 lbs), he is powerful enough to eat space and make larger offensive linemen work.

Motor

7/10

Starting the season slowly was not a good look for Bennett, who at times did not give max effort. When you play next to an end like Joey Bosa, it is easy to tell when you’re slacking. But the way Bennett finished the season was a testament to how hard he can play when he wants to. His performance in the Big Ten Championship Game, in which he played with a heavy heart following the death of teammate Kosta Karageorge, was one of the best and most memorable games by a defensive player all season.

Overall

86/100

Bennett gets second billing behind Bosa when people talk about Ohio State’s line. Back when Noah Spence was still eligible, he was often mentioned third. But the man in the middle has in many ways been the keystone of this defense. When he’s on, Ohio State can drop seven players into coverage and still feel good about winning the point of attack.

76. Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

35 of 110

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Hands

24/25

Jaelen Strong's hands are…well…strong. His huge frame (6'3"), body control and basketball-player leaping ability allow him to high-point passes in coverage. He keeps the ball away from his body and is the best back-shoulder target in college football, bar none.

Route Running

17/20

Strong has a complex route tree and executes his patterns like a veteran. He sells his breaks and gets in and out of cuts with precision. He is equally effective running short and deep routes, although the latter is what makes him most valuable.

Blocking

3/5

Blocking is an area of neither strength nor weakness. Strong is a willing blocker with long arms that allow him to engage, but he doesn't stand out for his work on the outside.

Release

18/20

Whatever Strong may lack in long speed, he makes up for with initial quickness. He has an excellent release in which he bursts off the line and creates separation with his long, bounding strides. He uses his body to shield defenders for inside and outside position.

Speed

12/15

Strong is not a burner, but he has enough speed to maintain the separation he creates off the line. He is a Brandon Marshall type who can get vertical but won't track down an overthrown ball.

Run After Catch

12/15

Strong does not have great elusiveness. He is long and bony, which makes it easy for defenders to get a hand on him. But he's physical and willing to lower his head and run through contact, which has helped him gain consistent small chunks of yardage after the catch.

Overall

86/100

Strong has been a gem for Arizona State. One of the biggest matchup problems in college football (literally), he helped the Sun Devils stay afloat in the College Football Playoff discussion with his Hail Mary reception against USC, then followed that up with general, week-to-week dominance.

75. Cody Kessler, QB, USC

36 of 110

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Accuracy

24/25

Cody Kessler ranks No. 2 in the country in completion percentage (70.7) despite playing in a pro-style system that does not rely on short, high-percentage routes. He is especially good down the middle of the field, where he places the ball high enough to mitigate risky throws.

Arm Strength

16/20

Kessler’s accuracy needs to be up there with the best in the country because he doesn’t have a big arm. He is undersized for the position (6’1”, 210 lbs) but doesn't generate torque a la Drew Brees or Russell Wilson. Even intermediate-length passes tend to float on him.

Pocket Presence

9/10

Here is where Kessler has made the biggest improvement. He was antsy when he first won the job as a sophomore in 2013, but now he has a strong command of the pocket. He feels the rush well and is shifty enough to avoid pressure and throw from difficult angles.

Mobility

6/10

Kessler has good footwork in the pocket but isn’t what anyone would call “mobile.” He’s a decent athlete (in terms of coordination); he’s just not very fast or smooth.

Football IQ

18/20

Timing is one of the most difficult things for a quarterback to master, and Kessler has it down cold. He gets the ball where it needs to be (see: accuracy), when it needs to be there. He anticipates where his receivers are going and knows how to throw them open.

Leadership

13/15

Kessler has been through a fair amount of schematic upturn the past two seasons, but he has never looked any worse for it. Former head coach Lane Kiffin and current head coach Steve Sarkisian were assistants together under Pete Carroll, but it still takes a dependable leader to bridge the gap between two coaching regimes. A few small breaks are all that separated USC (8-4) from a nine- or 10-win season.

Overall

86/100

Kessler struggled to gain his footing at the start of 2013 but improved under interim head coach Ed Orgeron and took off when the new regime came down from Washington this season. He’s a departure from the strapping, huge-armed template of most USC quarterbacks but brings his own set of unique abilities to the position.

74. Alvin Dupree, DE, Kentucky

37 of 110

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Pass Rush

44/50

Alvin Dupree is one of the most versatile pass-rushers in the country. His signature trait is explosiveness—beating tackles off the edge with a lightning first step—but he converts his speed to power and has an underrated bull-rush move. He has a decent frame (6’4”, 264 lbs) and is athletic enough to stand and play outside linebacker in a 3-4 alignment.

Run Defense

34/40

Dupree is solid but unspectacular against the run. He is strong enough to hold his own at the point of attack but is sometimes overwhelmed by bigger tackles. He doesn’t occupy space and free up linebackers as well as some of the other ends on this list, but he makes up for that with his speed and ability to make plays on his own. He finished second on Kentucky with 74 tackles this season.

Motor

8/10

Dupree led by example the past two seasons, helping Kentucky’s defense improve—however slowly—by playing hard on every snap. He is a relentless pass-rusher who learned from his time as a linebacker to never give up on a play and chase ball-carriers from sideline to sideline.

Overall

86/100

Kentucky’s defense has been unremarkable for most of the past decade, but Dupree and fellow end Za’Darius Smith gave it a pulse the past few seasons. His numbers were impressive as they were and might have been even better if not for offenses scheming around him. He is a rare athlete and a terrific leader whose influence on the younger Wildcats should be felt in Lexington long after he departs for the NFL.

73. Nick O'Leary, TE, Florida State

38 of 110

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Hands

22/25

Nick O’Leary is a sure-handed target whom Jameis Winston relies on in the red zone and on third downs. He does not have a huge wingspan, which limits his catch radius, but he makes the plays he’s supposed to make. (And he definitely gets bonus points for doing it bare-handed.)

Route Running

17/20

O’Leary is a polished route-runner who understands the nuance of his position. He does not have the quickness to sell defenders on fakes or plants, but he reacts to what he is given and understands how to drop into open space.

Blocking

18/20

He doesn’t have ideal size (6’3”, 247 lbs) for an in-line blocker, but O’Leary compensates with proper hand placement and maximum effort. He moves his feet well, gets his pads downhill and moves defenders off their spots in the running game and also fares well in pass protection.

Release

17/20

O’Leary is a savvy player with a savvy release to match. He wins the inside when he’s supposed to and keeps his pads low to disguise his route from defenders. This can cause the linebacker to drop a step and open up room for O’Leary to make a play underneath.

Speed

12/15

It’s rare to see O’Leary in the open field, so his speed is a bit of a question mark. He is fast enough that his speed doesn’t hinder him, but it’s hard to call him anything more than “above average.”

Overall

86/100

O’Leary is a valuable part of Florida State’s offense, even if he goes overlooked. The grandson of Jack Nicklaus has made a name for himself as a viable receiver, a great blocker and a player one should hide from when he gets rolling downhill.

72. Jaylon Smith, OLB, Notre Dame

39 of 110

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Tackling

32/35

Jaylon Smith overran too many tackles at the start of last season, failing to harness his natural speed. But he slowly figured out what he was doing as a freshman and made wild improvements in 2014, keeping his head behind the ball to become one of the rangiest tacklers in America.

Pass Rush

15/20

The raw tools are there for Smith to become a great pass-rusher. Unfortunately, he has thus far failed to put all of the pieces together. The only move he has is a speed rush, which is, as you might imagine, deadly. But he gets pushed off course too easily and doesn't have an innate sense for how to track a quarterback.

Run Defense

18/20

Smith defends the run with an edge that endears him to coaches, especially from a former 5-star recruit (per 247Sports). He brings a high motor to everything he does, and his burst allows him to split defenders, get into the backfield and bury a play for negative yardage.

Pass Coverage

22/25

Don’t be fooled by the size (6'3", 235 lbs): Smith is fast and fluid enough to cover just about anyone. He is still learning the nuances of zone coverage and working to refine his ball skills, but as a pure cover linebacker he is special.

Overall

87/100

Smith was one of Notre Dame’s best players as a true freshman in 2013 and improved in a leadership role this season. He couldn’t keep the ship from sinking when the depth chart was ravaged by injuries, but he still performed well. NFL draftniks will fall in love with him this summer.

71. Richard Leonard, CB, Florida International

40 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Speed

18/20

Speed and quickness are the lynchpins of Richard Leonard’s game. He gains ground on receivers in coverage and makes lightning-fast breaks on the ball. He is also one of the top returners in the country and scored three touchdowns of 60-plus yards this season (three defensive, one punt return). FIU head coach Ron Turner, who coached Devin Hester in his prime with the Chicago Bears, told the Miami Herald that he’s "never seen anything like it" with regard to Leonard’s game-breaking tendencies. Woah.

Ball Skills

17/20

Leonard gets a knock for his height (5'9"), which impedes him from extending to break up well-placed throws to taller receivers. But that’s about the only fault one can find with his ball skills. And even that is mitigated by his explosive vertical leap and his timing when he lunges at a pass.

Run Defense

16/20

Leonard is a physical defensive back who plays with an edge but doesn’t stand out in run support. You can tell that he wants to be better than he is, but he doesn’t have the strength to consistently shed blocks on the perimeter. He also needs to shore up his tackling.

Coverage

36/40

On a down-to-down basis, Leonard displays good coverage instincts and technique. He has rare quick-twitch agility, which allows him to mirror receivers and execute step-and-go breaks on comeback routes. The only problem with his coverage is consistency, as lapses in awareness or technique will lead to occasional (but not infrequent) breakdowns.

Overall

87/100

Leonard missed 2013 for academic reasons after a solid year in 2012. Suffice it to say that rust was not an issue. Most fans have never heard of him, but the do-it-all corner showed up play after play after play in his return to the field this season.

70. Joshua Perry, OLB, Ohio State

41 of 110

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Tackling

33/35

Joshua Perry is a downhill run-stuffer with great size (6'4", 254 lbs) that allows him to make clean tackles. He works in the run-through lane, tracks the ball-carrier and doesn’t let him bounce to the edge.

Pass Rush

16/20

There is an obvious drop-off from last year's Buckeye superstar, Ryan Shazier, to Perry. But it’s not as big as it looks on paper. Ohio State simply doesn’t ask much from Perry in terms of getting pressure, relying more on the strength of this year’s defense, the front four.

Run Defense

18/20

Perry has been relentless in pursuit and showcased plus athleticism against the run. Last year’s defense was about hammering plays toward Shazier, but this year’s defense has been more of a balanced, assertive attack from all three linebackers.

Pass Coverage

20/25

Perry does a few things well in coverage, impressing with his ability to diagnose and blow up screen passes. However, because he carries so much mass, he sometimes struggles to transition from his drop into matching receivers.

Overall

87/100

Each of Ohio State’s starting linebackers had his moments in 2014, but none was as consistently great as Perry. Was he Shazier? No. But Perry played as well as anybody could have asked in replacing Shazier on the weak side.

69. Spencer Drango, OT, Baylor

42 of 110

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Hands

22/25

Spencer Drango is a mauling offensive tackle who uses big, thick hands to control his assigned lineman. He has the strength to latch and hold on the rare occasion he doesn’t drive his opponent backward. His heavy hands are on display when he reaches the second level, too.

Power

12/15

Drango has a thick base in pass protection and is able to absorb bull rushes. He can pancake an opponent in the running game as well. The only concern here is footwork, which at times mitigates his natural strength. He needs to keep himself on balance to maximize his power.

Lateral Quickness

22/25

Drango has one of the quickest first steps in the country, gaining great depth off the line in pass protection or firing to seal the edge on running plays. He has an effortless kick-slide and does solid (albeit unsensational) work tracking smaller players at the second level.

Pass Protection

23/25

There is no true blueprint for beating Drango, who fared better against the speed rush in 2014 than he had in prior seasons. He is a complete pass-blocking tackle with strong hands, sound mechanics and advanced field awareness. He keeps his wits about him and his player in front of him, rarely falling victim to a mental lapse against complex blitz schemes.

Run Blocking

8/10

Drango displays better balance in the running game than he does at times in the passing game; he understands how to win with strength and leverage. He is not the nimblest athlete, which limits what he can do in terms of pulling and getting downfield, but he is adequate in both of these regards and makes up for a lack of raw speed with maximum effort.

Overall

87/100

Drango anchors a Baylor offensive line that goes overlooked each season. But don’t get it twisted: The 6’6”, 310-pound monster protecting quarterback Bryce Petty’s blind side is just as important to this offense as Petty and all of those skill players he throws to. He forewent the 2015 NFL draft and will likely land on numerous preseason All-America teams.

68. Gerod Holliman, S, Louisville

43 of 110

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Ball Skills

20/20

What more could you possibly ask for? Gerod Holliman is the quintessential ball hawk who reads quarterbacks’ eyes, tracks throws through the air and finishes plays with interceptions instead of pass breakups. His 14 picks this regular season tied a 46-year-old NCAA record.

Tackling

24/30

Holliman does not break down, wrap up and bring offensive players to the ground. When he makes a tackle, it is often after dropping his shoulder and laying a form-deficient hit. He must learn to implement the fundamentals of tackling if he ever wants to become a complete safety.

Run Support

19/25

Holliman is just as bad in run support as he is as an overall tackler. Oftentimes, those flaws overlap. He is timid in the box and struggles to diagnose plays, leading to instances where running backs escape from bad situations. It is not just that he struggles in run support but that he seems to have no interest in participating.

Pass Coverage

24/25

Here, again, is where Holliman makes up for his flaws in run support. He understands the nuance of pass coverage, of how to recognize and mirror different route concepts. He is a fluid athlete who reads his keys and almost never gets beat over the top.

Overall

87/100

Holliman intercepted passes at a historic rate in 2014, drawing such lofty comparisons as Ed Reed from Matt Miller of Bleacher Report. He helped a Louisville defense that lost two first-round NFL draft picks, and its head coach and coordinator from last year’s team remain just as dominant this season.

67. Amarlo Herrera, ILB, Georgia

44 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Tackling

32/35

Amarlo Herrera flows to the ball and knows how to finish plays. He looks smaller but plays bigger than his listed size (6’2”, 231 lbs), and he’s an active finisher of gang tackles.

Pass Rush

12/15

He didn’t log a sack in the final 10 games of the regular season, but Herrera proved against Clemson and South Carolina that he can rush the quarterback. He has vision to attack the creases and knows how to disengage from guards with hand boxing.

Run Defense

27/30

Herrera likes to throw his body around and does a good job hammering and splattering runs. He is a downhill player with an insatiable motor who never stops moving until the whistle.

Pass Coverage

16/20

Georgia leaves Herrera on the field on passing downs, in part because he’s an effective blitzer but also because he can cover. After flashing in the A-gap—i.e., making the quarterback think he will rush—he gains depth dropping into zone and is able to execute a spy without losing track of his assignment.

Overall

87/100

Ramik Wilson is bigger and more athletic (and might be considered the better NFL prospect), but Herrera is the best inside linebacker at Georgia. He is heady, instinctive and almost never seems to make a mistake.

66. Dadi Nicolas, DE, Virginia Tech

45 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Pass Rush

46/50

Dadi Nicolas is a freak athlete and one of the hardest players to block in the country. He has a light frame (6’3”, 231 lbs) but explodes off the line and is able to rip and dip with speed around the edge. He “only” had nine sacks during the regular season but made his impact felt with an absurd 25 QB hurries. Even when he didn’t bury the quarterback, he found a way to leave his mark on a play.

Run Defense

33/40

Nicolas is a hard worker who understands leverage and makes himself a viable run defender. He gets his hands beneath opposing tackles’ shoulder pads and fights to set the edge. He is also a savvy play-diagnoser who stays at home instead of crashing when he shouldn’t. All of this helps Nicolas combat his lack of size in run support. He will never shed blocks or push the pile well enough to excel in this area. But he has been coached well enough to not struggle, either.

Motor

8/10

Nicolas plays well under bright lights. He had two sacks against Ohio State and five QB hurries (to go with one sack) against Virginia. He is an intense competitor who doesn’t drain his energy in the first three quarters so he can play his best football in the fourth.

Overall

87/100

Nicolas is one of the most underrated players in the country and a big reason for Virginia Tech’s success—on defense!—the past two seasons. He tweeted in December that he will return for his senior year, which is huge news for Frank Beamer, Bud Foster and the rest of the Hokies coaching staff (and fanbase). If he gains some weight this offseason but doesn’t sacrifice any of his explosiveness, he’s an early favorite to lead the nation in sacks in 2015.

65. Zack Sanchez, CB, Oklahoma

46 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Speed

17/20

Zack Sanchez has functional speed but not ideal speed. He can tag most receivers down the field, but he doesn’t accelerate as fast as one might like. Kevin White of West Virginia made Sanchez look slow-footed on a deep touchdown in September.

Ball Skills

18/20

Quarterbacks have to think twice (and are smart to think a third time) before throwing the ball near Sanchez. He tracks passes like a free safety, especially in zone coverage, and has superlative hands. He intercepted a pass in each of the first four games of the season, a streak that gave him six picks in seven games dating back to 2013.

Run Defense

16/20

Sanchez is an OK run defender but a terrible tackler. He knows where he fits into the defense and is willing to mix things up, but he doesn’t finish the job by getting players to the ground. He is better near the line than he is in the open field, but opponents still have him circled as a player to target on the ground.

Coverage

36/40

In coverage, Sanchez is good but inconsistent. The freelancing tendencies that define him—the things that make him so valuable—can sometimes backfire and lead to big plays for the offense. Better discretion should come with experience, and once it does, he will have all the technical skills and physical tools needed to be a great cover corner.

Overall

87/100

Sanchez has made a name for himself with his aggressive, ball-hawking ways. He is not the safest cornerback to leave on an island without safety help, but he makes more good things happen for his defense than just about anyone.

64. DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

47 of 110

Garry Jones/Associated Press

Hands

23/25

DeVante Parker is a big (6'3"), strong target with a catch radius to match his dimensions. He struggled with drops at the start of his college career but mended those issues as an upperclassman.

Route Running

17/20

Parker does not have the most advanced route tree, but the routes most responsible for his production—slants, comebacks, etc.—are routes he runs as well as anyone. He does this not with precision, necessarily, but with a nuanced understanding of how to use his frame to his advantage.

Blocking

3/5

It's wrong to say that Parker struggles as a blocker. He doesn't. But he doesn't block as well as one expects from a player his size. Whether that's a product of technique or of effort is difficult to answer, but it's something Parker definitely needs to work on.

Release

18/20

Parker can beat press coverage on simple patterns, and his release technique improved in 2014. In past years he would struggle with the timing of his release, tipping the direction of supposedly complex routes, but now he is able to bait receivers one way and beat them the other.

Speed

13/15

Parker matches great size with close-to-great speed. He is fast enough to run under the deep ball but doesn't have the breakaway speed to outpace defensive backs with the ball in his hands.

Run After Catch

13/15

Parker improved after the catch more than any other area as a senior. He had always finished runs by falling forward but is now able to slip and shed tackles altogether.

Overall

87/100

Parker missed the first half of the season with an injury but ignited Louisville's offense when he returned. He is one of the most complete skill players in the country. Good luck trying to find a weakness in his game.

63. Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

48 of 110

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Pass Rush

45/50

Derek Barnett is a gifted young pass-rusher with the speed to give offensive linemen problems. He fires off the line and dips his shoulder to get around the edge and make plays. He has a big frame (6’3”, 267 lbs) but doesn’t have a deep array of power moves. He is at his best working outside-in.

Run Defense

34/40

Barnett is a big-play run defender. He led the SEC with 10.0 non-sack tackles for loss this regular season, using the aforementioned speed to knife through the line and make plays. He is not as useful on a down-to-down basis, struggling at times to shed blocks or anchor the edge. If he adds strength to his frame this offseason, he should improve. But for now, he is a little "boom or bust."

Motor

8/10

Barnett has a motor that doesn’t quit. He plays as well (if not better) on the road as he does at home, and he gets stronger as the game wears on. He spearheaded Tennessee’s comeback win at South Carolina with a third-down sack at the end of the fourth quarter and a crucial sack in overtime. If he senses a tired opponent, he attacks.

Overall

87/100

Tennessee’s 2014 recruiting class was supposed to be the group that changed the program. Barnett was supposed to be a contributor in that, but he wasn’t supposed to be the star. His freshman season, though, stacks up with the best by a defensive player in SEC history. He is already good enough for the Vols to build their defense around, and he only stands to improve with added time around college coaches.

62. Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M

49 of 110

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Pass Rush

45/50

Myles Garrett broke Jadeveon Clowney’s SEC freshman sack record (11.5 in 13 games), needing only nine games to register 11 sacks. He has a massive, chiseled frame (6’5”, 255 lbs) and converts power to quickness on rip moves and spin moves. His numbers, however, are inflated by level of competition. Eight of his 11 regular-season sacks came against Lamar, Rice and Louisiana-Monroe. He was a fraction too slow to beat bigger, better tackles off the edge and not quite strong enough to rely on his power moves with consistency. But all of that should come with time and experience.

Run Defense

34/40

Garrett was billed as a pure pass-rusher who might need time to become an early down run defender. But he was better than his billing in this regard, playing well on the edge and crashing down in run support. The Aggies struggled to execute their run fits behind him, but Garrett did his job to occupy blockers and had the speed to make some plays on his own. He still plays a little too high, which mitigates his pure strength, but that, again, should come with time and experience.

Motor

8/10

It’s nice to see a highly regarded freshman who doesn’t read his press clippings. Garrett plays as hard as any member of the Aggies defense, earning the respect of his teammates with more than just his 5-star billing. He chases quarterbacks through the duration of his pass-rushing snaps but also runs downfield to make tackles in run support.

Overall

87/100

Garrett was the No. 2 overall player (and top-ranked defender) on the 247Sports composite rankings and did not take long to justify that title. He is a fully grown man in the trenches, which is scary because he appears to still be growing. If he learns to stay low and hones the minor flaws of his technique, he can make the All-America team as soon as next season. If he doesn’t, he’s already an All-Conference-type performer.

61. Will Likely, CB, Maryland

50 of 110

51 of 110

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Hands

21/25

Tyler Lockett is a smaller receiver (5'11") with smaller hands to match. He does not have what one would call a drop "problem," but he does drop more passes than most of the receivers on this list. However, he atones for that by adjusting well on deep passes and making athletic plays in traffic.

Route Running

16/20

Lockett runs a deadly post-corner with one of the best double moves in the country. That is his bread and butter—and it's a good bread and butter to have—but he struggles in other areas of route running, such as not losing speed through his breaks.

Blocking

3/5

Lockett blocks better than one would expect for a player his size, but not by much. He's a fighter who works hard on every down, but physical defenders are able to rip past him.

Release

18/20

There are nuances to Lockett's release that need fine-tuning, but for the most part he is one of the best in the country. His three-step footwork provides a quick advantage against man coverage.

Speed

14/15

Quickness and burst are Lockett's biggest assets. He prefers to beat defenders off the line, but he can also gain separation at the intermediate and deep levels. Even if a cornerback is stride-for-stride when the ball is thrown, Lockett will turn on the jets at the last second.

Run After Catch

15/15

Lockett is dangerous with the ball in his hands, whether on short passes or punt returns. He sets up his blockers, waits for the hole to develop and runs with great speed and vision.

Overall

87/100

Lockett is one of the best offensive players in Kansas State history—a history that includes some pretty good ones. He is a threat to score from anywhere on any given play, and he has done so on the biggest stages.

59. Anthony Harris, S, Virginia

52 of 110

Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images

Ball Skills

17/20

Anthony Harris has innate coverage instincts that exceed most college safeties. He reads and reacts in an instant, breaking on the ball and making plays in the air. With soft hands and firm body control, he is always a threat to come down with an interception.

Tackling

27/30

Harris is a sure tackler who closes space on offensive players in the open field and never lets them out of his grasp. He finished with 10 or more total tackles five times in a six-game stretch during ACC play.

Run Support

21/25

Virginia trusts Harris to play in the box and function as an extra linebacker, a role he has proved capable of filling. He has a clear understanding of run fits and takes good angles to funnel or pursue ball-carriers.

Pass Coverage

22/25

Harris makes judicious coverage decisions, playing aggressively when the situation calls for it but rarely burning the team with over-aggression. He is a senior with quick hips and good long speed that allows him to cover vertical routes.

Overall

87/100

Harris was the bright spot for a bad Virginia team in 2013 and a big reason for the Wahoos’ improvement this season. He didn’t match last year’s gaudy interception total—an FBS-leading eight—but was an even better player across the board.

58. Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana

53 of 110

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Ball Security

8/10

Tevin Coleman does not have chronic fumbling problems like some of the other big names on this list, but he could stand to be a little more protective of the ball. He was infamously benched for three series after fumbling twice in the first quarter against Michigan.

Power

18/20

You wouldn’t know it looking at his explosiveness numbers, but Coleman is built like a power back. He is 6’1”, 210 pounds and has a thick lower body that allows him to grind out extra yards. His upright running style prevents him from becoming a between-the-tackles workhorse, but he’s strong enough to fall forward on most runs.

Vision

18/20

Coleman has boom-or-bust vision. He creates big plays out of holes that many running backs might have missed but sometimes tries to force the issue and sacrifices positive yards. Still, his ability to hit the home run makes this much more of a strength than a weakness. He's like a really good power hitter with a mediocre batting average. Think Ryan Howard, circa 2008.

Hands

13/15

Coleman does not have an advanced route tree, typically only catching checkdowns and screens. But he has performed well in those situations, flashing a soft pair of hands and the ability to turn and get upfield.

Speed

18/20

When Coleman finds a crease, he’s gone. Long gone. His straight-line speed can rival that of any running back in the country. It’s impressive how he hits the hole, too, with his unique blend of size and speed combining for a powerful gush of momentum.

Agility

12/15

Coleman doesn’t have a ton of wiggle. He is more prone to running past defenders than around them. But he does have an abnormally quick first cut, which speaks to his agility despite his lack of secondary moves in space.

Overall

87/100

Coleman was a beast in 2013, but because he missed the last three games of the year with an injury, nobody seemed to notice. After 2014, he could no longer be ignored. Even though he plays for Indiana, the nation got on board with Coleman this season, accepting him as an All-America candidate despite the sad state of his team.

57. Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise State

54 of 110

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Ball Security

7/10

Jay Ajayi holds the ball away from the body with little regard for its safety. He fumbled five times in the first 10 games this season, losing three of them. This is the area of his game that demands the most improvement.

Power

17/20

Ajayi is a solid downhill runner who seeks contact between the tackles. He bounces off smaller defenders and holds his own against bigger ones. At 6’0”, 216 pounds, he has the beef to grind out positive yards on each carry, although his lower body needs to catch up with his upper body in terms of strength.

Vision

18/20

This might be the best (and is definitely the most underrated) part of Ajayi's game. He sees the field and squeezes through small holes better than almost any other running back his size. He keeps his head on a swivel when he gets to the second level, assessing the layout of his blockers to decide on the optimal route.

Hands

14/15

Fine, I take it back. This is the best part of Ajayi’s game. After mostly running checkdowns in 2013, he expanded his repertoire with flares and angle routes this season, displaying natural hands and a feel for how to get open. He caught 12 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown against Ole Miss.

Speed

17/20

Ajayi is faster than people give him credit for, although he’s not what one would call a “burner.” On inside runs, he accelerates through the hole and is often too quick for the linebackers. On outside runs, he can typically win the corner. But don’t expect him to gash you with 40- or 50-yard runs.

Agility

14/15

Whatever Ajayi lacks in breakaway speed, he makes up for with lateral agility. He has the legs of a smaller, nimbler player, which allows him to cut on a dime and make defenders miss in space. He also has a pretty killer juke move.

Overall

87/100

Ajayi is the latest—and probably the best—in a long line of great Boise State running backs. One look at him in street clothes says he’s a power back, but the more you watch him play, the more you realize he’s a nuanced, shifty runner who does a little bit of everything well.

56. Anthony Zettel, DT, Penn State

55 of 110

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Pass Rush

35/40

Anthony Zettel is a converted defensive end with a smaller frame (6’4”, 274 lbs) than most at his new position. However, he knows how to use this to his advantage as a pass-rusher, knifing between small blocking gaps as a 3-technqiue tackle. The technical skills he learned during his time on the outside make him a difficult matchup for stone-footed guards and centers. He led Penn State with eight total sacks during the regular season, ending the year on a stretch in which he recorded one sack in five of six games.

Run Defense

43/50

Zettel does not have the mass of his former teammate, 318-pound tackle DaQuan Jones, but he does everything in his power to compensate for his size during run support. He can’t hold the point of attack against double-teams without getting moved off the ball, but he is quick enough to get into the backfield and make negative plays on his own. According to the S&P+ ratings at Football Outsiders, Penn State finished the regular season with the No. 3 run defense in the country, which speaks well to Zettel’s work up the middle.

Motor

9/10

One of the fieriest players in the Big Ten, Zettel stands out for his passion and his will to compete each down. Even when he’s overmatched by size, he uses leverage and burst to get underneath a guard or center and avoid being paved out of the gap. He is a relentless fighter who never stops scraping until the final whistle.

Overall

87/100

Zettel made the move from end to tackle look easier than he had any right to, especially given his size. He took quickly to Bob Shoop’s system and gave the Nittany Lions a rock at a position of need. The defense carried Penn State to a bowl game this season, and Zettel helped solidify the unit. Without him, the team might have lost seven or eight games.

55. A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina

56 of 110

John Raoux/Associated Press

Strength

18/20

A.J. Cann has remarkable strength that is distributed through his hands, arms, hips and midsection, allowing him to overpower defenders in myriad ways. He is 6’3”, 313 pounds, and does his best work in the short area.

Pass Protection

26/30

The most valuable thing Cann does against the pass rush—and something that is easy to overlook—is recognize different pressure packages. He is a four-year starter with great field awareness who identifies and reacts to all sorts of stunts, twists and blitzes and rarely lets a free man run up the middle. Functionally, his powerful punch, flexible knee bend and overall core strength make him a solid pass-blocker who can easily withstand a bull rush.

Run Blocking

36/40

Cann is at his best opening holes in the power-running game. He uses strength and leverage to clear defenders away from their assignments and has such strong hands that they cannot disengage from his latch. He does not, however, make much of an impact at the second level, where his lack of mobility renders him a non-factor.

Explosion

7/10

As a run-blocker, Cann does a good job firing out of his stance and initiating the point of contact. As a pass-blocker, he is decent but does not explode with the same urgency, which sometimes leads to an immediate defensive pressure up the middle.

Overall

87/100

He doesn’t get the credit he deserves—offensive guards rarely do—but Cann was the best player on a South Carolina offense that ranked among the best in the SEC this season. His thick, square frame and his insatiable urge to hit people make it seem like he was bred to be a lineman.

54. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska

57 of 110

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

Ball Security

7/10

The weakest component of Ameer Abdullah’s game is ball security. For a player with so many reps under his belt, he puts the ball on the ground…a lot. He fumbled 20 times in his first three seasons and appeared to fix the problem in 2014 but relapsed in the biggest game of the season at Wisconsin.

Power

17/20

Abdullah has functional power. He is a high-motor runner who gains occasional yards after contact, but he is tougher than he is strong. He won’t move the pile in a goal-line setting, but he’s forceful enough to gain yards after contact between the 20s.

Vision

18/20

Abdullah is a smart runner who sees holes before they open up and hits them at just the right moment. Cynics will say he’s “running to his scheme,” which he is, but it takes a back with good vision to run to his (or any) scheme this well. Plus, when the initial assignment is not there, he has shown the ability to identify the optimal cutback lane.

Hands

13/15

Nebraska doesn’t overuse Abdullah out of the backfield, saving him for the biggest possible moments. When he has been targeted, though, he has proved to be a serviceable pass-catcher who snatches the ball away from his body and doesn’t let the reception break his stride.

Speed

18/20

Abdullah is a bullet with strong legs and breakaway speed. He turns the corner on stretch plays, finishes long runs with touchdowns and consistently gains yardage on kick returns. The most impressive part of his speed might be his stamina, which essentially allows him to "hold the turbo button" throughout the duration of the play.

Agility

14/15

No college running back has better agility than Abdullah. He sets up would-be tacklers with his balance on side-to-side cuts, changing direction on a dime. He also has a deep arsenal of open-field moves that constantly stump defenders trying to figure out how to stop him during tape study.

Overall

87/100

Abdullah capped a long, fruitful career with an outstanding senior season in which he carried Nebraska’s offense. The 5’9” I-back is a potent ball of energy and one of the best non-quarterback leaders in the country.

53. Ben Heeney, ILB, Kansas

58 of 110

Jerry Larson/Associated Press

Tackling

34/35

Ben Heeney is a physical tackler who seeks and destroys opponents. That is not to say he’s a huge hitter—just that when he wraps up an opponent, he almost never lets him go. He also takes smart pursuit angles to chase down players in space.

Pass Rush

11/15

Heeney is a traditional inside linebacker—i.e., not the type to get after the quarterback. His pass-rushing snaps are limited because he doesn’t have the size (6’0”, 230 lbs) or quickness to consistently burst through protection.

Run Defense

27/30

Despite his lack of measurables, Heeney is a force against the run. He is a max-effort player who flows from the inside out and finishes when plays are funneled toward him. However, it would be remiss not to mention that Samaje Perine set an FBS record with 427 rushing yards when Kansas played Oklahoma. That is an ugly stain for Heeney to have on his resume.

Pass Coverage

16/20

Heeney is a useful defender in man coverage. He is quick enough to turn his hips and run with receivers up the field. In zone coverage he reads the quarterback’s eyes, breaks well on the throw and has the ball skills to make a play.

Overall

88/100

Heeney has been the lone standout player at Kansas for, well, pretty much his entire career. But a lack of team success should not devalue the impact he has made in Lawrence (and on the Big 12) as one of the best defensive players in program history.

52. Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State

59 of 110

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Hands

23/25

Rashard Higgins has a massive catch radius and does a great job high-pointing passes. He attacks instead of waiting for the ball to reach him, which allows him to come down with 50-50 throws.

Route Running

17/20

For a sophomore, Higgins runs advanced routes and has a sophisticated feel for defenses. He knows where to plant and drop against zone coverage, and he sets up cornerbacks for double moves down the field.

Blocking

3/5

Despite having a lean frame (6'2", 188 pounds), Higgins does not shy away from his physical obligations. He does not have the raw strength to consistently hold the edge, but he gets downfield when a teammate hits the second level and helps them turn long gains into huge ones.

Release

17/20

Opponents started playing press against Higgins as a means of limiting his after-the-catch abilities. But he improved his release throughout the season and eventually became quite good at fighting for separation off the line.

Speed

14/15

Higgins has breakaway speed that allows him to turn one missed tackle into a huge gain. Even when defensive backs take smart pursuit angles, he is fast enough to beat them to the corner and turn upfield.

Run After Catch

14/15

Here is where Higgins goes from being a solid receiver to a superstar. He is light on his feet and has superior vision, which allows him to dance through defenders and break short completions for 40- or 50-yard plays.

Overall

88/100

Higgins was one of the breakout stars of the season, posting huge game after huge game for Colorado State. Only a sophomore, he will return in 2015 and have an even bigger load to bear without quarterback Garrett Grayson.

51. Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss

60 of 110

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

Hands

21/25

Laremy Tunsil has strong, quick hands and delivers a strong punch. He has a firm grapple and doesn’t let defenders break his blocks. The only demerit comes for hand placement, which Tunsil occasionally struggles with. If he learns to keep his hands inside—something that should, in theory, come with coaching and experience—he has a chance to keep improving as a junior.

Power

13/15

Tunsil gets explosive power off the ball, which makes him a useful blocker on short-yardage runs. He is one of the few members of Ole Miss’ line that Hugh Freeze and his staff feel comfortable running behind when they need a yard or two.

Lateral Quickness

23/25

You can’t teach this type of quickness to a 6’5”, 305-pound tackle. In pass protection, that manifests with his ability to stay in front of speed-rushers. In the run game, he is mobile enough to get downfield and coordinated enough to engage would-be tacklers.

Pass Protection

23/25

Tunsil gains depth with his first step and has the fluid hips to mirror pass-rushers off the edge. He also has the strength to set a heavy anchor and is rarely pushed back by a bull rush. He does not have a weakness in pass protection, and he’s only growing better and more consistent.

Run Blocking

8/10

Tunsil is a hardworking run-blocker with quickness to seal the edge and strength to push defenders back. He is not as good on the ground as he is against the pass, in part because of the aforementioned hand-placement problems, but he is far from a liability. Still, it would be nice to see Ole Miss establish a half-decent rush offense one of these seasons.

Overall

88/100

Tunsil was slowed by a shoulder injury at the end of the regular season and broke his fibula in the Peach Bowl, but injuries are about the only thing that can slow him down. After starting at left tackle and allowing only one sack as a true freshman in 2013, he continued to improve in his second season at Ole Miss, justifying his rating as a top-five player in the 2013 recruiting class.

50. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon

61 of 110

Steve Dykes/Getty Images

Speed

17/20

More quick than fast, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu relies on agility more than speed to stay with receivers. He has fluid hips and maintains pace when he changes directions, which helps him compensate for lacking ideal top-end speed.

Ball Skills

18/20

Ball skills are another way Ekpre-Olomu compensates for lacking ideal height (5’10”) and speed. He has exceptional timing and coverage instincts. His reaction time allows him to make up ground, and his hands and run-after-catch ability (Ekpre-Olomu also returns punts for the Ducks) make him a dangerous big-play weapon.

Run Defense

17/20

Ekpre-Olomu is willing to throw his body around and do anything his defense asks from him in run support. He does not get caught sleeping and is able to shed blocks and become a force player, although his tackling regressed a bit in 2014.

Coverage

36/40

Normally a great cover corner, Ekpre-Olomu showed some cracks in the armor this season. He has the athletic ability and ball skills to overcome his height against taller receivers but does not recognize fade patterns as quickly (or defend them as well) as he should. Washington State burned Ekpre-Olomu for three touchdowns when it played the Ducks.

Overall

88/100

Ekpre-Olomu gives Oregon a defensive superstar to pair with its offensive talent. The quick-footed cornerback suffered some lapses in coverage this season, but for the most part he helped the Ducks field a playoff-worthy defense.

49. Nick Vigil, OLB, Utah State

62 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Tackling

32/35

Nick Vigil has good size (6'2", 230 lbs) and enough strength to stop players in their tracks. He is more of a gang-tackler than a solo-stopper, but his willingness to stick his nose into the hole, combined with his speed to track players along the outside, makes him the sort of linebacker one can count on to destroy plays.

Pass Rush

18/20

Nick is a better athlete than his brother, Zach, which is why Utah State likes to play him off the edge. He doesn’t have the lanky frame one imagines for a pass-rusher, but he is slippery enough to avoid hand engagement and dart into the backfield.

Run Defense

18/20

Vigil moonlights at running back, and the instincts he uses on offense have translated to the other side of the ball. He is able to sift through the wash and make a play in traffic or set the edge and force a run back inside.

Pass Coverage

20/25

Here is where Vigil needs some work. He is more of an explosive athlete than a fluid athlete, and it shows when he tries to turn his hips in coverage. He is still figuring out how to get to his landmarks without taking his eyes off the play.

Overall

88/100

Vigil has emerged, alongside brother Zach, to give Utah State a promising piece for the future. After first-round NFL draft prospect Kyler Fackrell tore his ACL this season, Vigil made sure the Aggies were no worse for his absence.

48. Erick Dargan, S, Oregon

63 of 110

Ryan Kang/Associated Press

Ball Skills

18/20

Erick Dargan has a nose for the ball and always finds his way into the action. He led the Ducks with five interceptions as a reserve in 2012 and again with six this season. He is the "leading thievery guy" on this team, no doubt, and one of the best overall in the country.

Tackling

27/30

Dargan is a clean wrap-up tackler who is comfortable making plays in space. He led the team with 82 total tackles in the regular season, highlighted by a 10-solo-tackle performance against UCLA and a nine-solo-tackle performance against Stanford.

Run Support

22/25

Although he does his best work in the open field, Dargan is also a willing run defender in the box. He mixes things up around the line of scrimmage and is willing to stick his head into traffic and plug a hole.

Pass Coverage

21/25

Dargan combines strong-safety tackling skills with free-safety coverage skills. He is 5’11” with fluid hips to turn and run with vertical assignments. He is not quick enough to mirror slot receivers, but very few safeties are.

Overall

88/100

Dargan stepped into the starting lineup in the middle of 2013 and quickly made his mark on Oregon’s defense. He only got better in 2014, matching and in many ways surpassing the production of his All-American teammate, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, in the secondary.

47. Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M

64 of 110

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Hands

21/25

It is vexing to watch Cedric Ogbuehi struggle with his hands, knowing that he is capable of being so much better than he is. His punch is inconsistent, his placement is hit-or-miss and his decisions are often reactionary. He does, however, have very good hand strength that allows him to control a defender once he gets a solid grip on them.

Power

13/15

Power is not the crux of Ogbuehi’s game, but it’s an underrated part of what makes him successful. He started all 13 games at guard during Johnny Manziel's Heisman Trophy season in 2012, exhibiting enough strength to hold his own—and oftentimes win—against the biggest, strongest, meanest interior defensive linemen in the SEC.

Lateral Quickness

24/25

Ogbuehi is the quickest offensive tackle in college football and might be one of the quickest to ever play the position. He is incredibly light on his feet and moves like a tight end in space. Even when he’s beaten off the snap, he is athletic enough to recover.

Pass Protection

22/25

Physical tools make Ogbuehi one of the better pass-blockers in college football. The ability to play loose and flexible, the foot speed, the aforementioned recovery time: all of it helps him make plays that other tackles can’t make. Unfortunately, he can’t rise any further up these rankings until he improves his upper-body technique.

Run Blocking

8/10

Again, Ogbuehi’s physical tools make him one of the better run-blocking tackles in college football, despite a lack of technical refinement. His power and ability to get upfield—both of which are staples of Texas A&M’s running game—make him a valuable contributor, and maybe even a great one. But he could still be so much better if he ever started playing with a mean streak or refrained from coming too high off the ball.

Overall

88/100

Ogbuehi was not one of the six best offensive tackles in the country this season—but only because he spent most of it playing out of position. The switch from right tackle to left tackle did not go as smoothly as anticipated, but once Ogbuehi moved back to his natural spot, he reminded folks of his talent. He is not as good as he should be, but he's still pretty darn good.

46. Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

65 of 110

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Speed

18/20

Speed runs in Trae Waynes’ family. His mother, father and brother all ran track in college, and even though Trae took the football route, the singlet did not fall far from the tree. He has the speed to turn and run with receivers on the rare occasion that they get a clean release.

Ball Skills

17/20

Waynes is tall (6’1”) and rangy and uses his length to play the ball in coverage. He is flagged for a fair amount of pass-interference penalties, but that is a welcome side effect of Pat Narduzzi’s scheme. He isn’t a huge ball hawk in terms of interceptions, but he proved he could make plays in traffic against Stanford in last year’s Rose Bowl and snagged two interceptions against Nebraska in 2014.

Run Defense

16/20

Waynes is a strong, physical tackler but not a great all-around run defender. He struggles at times to diagnose what he sees, waiting an extra beat before shooting inside or shirking his blocker on the edge.

Coverage

37/40

It’s rare to find a cornerback as comfortable as Waynes is on an island. He wins with length, technique and physicality in man coverage, jamming receivers off the line and funneling them to the sideline. He has great coverage instincts, knows when to break on the ball and does a smart job reading quarterbacks’ eyes in the backfield.

Overall

88/100

The second half of last year’s “No Fly Zone” secondary, Waynes was every bit as vital to the Spartans’ Rose Bowl run as Thorpe Award winner Darqueze Dennard. He didn’t take the giant leap forward that some expected him to take in 2014, but he was still one of the most reliable shutdown corners in the country.

45. Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss

66 of 110

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Hands

24/25

Laquon Treadwell has vise-grip hands that allow him to snatch the ball out of the air. He is not afraid to run across the middle, take a hit and come down with a catch in traffic. His strength makes it difficult (impossible?) for defenders to separate his body from the ball.

Route Running

17/20

Treadwell shows a precocious understanding of route concepts, excelling in the technical aspects of getting open. He separates not just with his physical gifts (size, speed, strength, etc.) but also with cuts, fakes and precise footwork.

Blocking

5/5

Because of his size (6'2", 229 pounds), Treadwell sometimes functions like a tight end in the running game. He is powerful at the point of contact, capable of driving defensive backs to whatever spot he wants.

Release

17/20

Treadwell fights through contact against press coverage, using his physicality to gain an advantage. His first step is not the quickest, but he is so good at the point of attack that it often doesn't matter.

Speed

12/15

Treadwell is a remarkable athlete but not necessarily a burner. He doesn't pose a threat going vertical, doing his best work in the short and middle thirds. In 22 career games, he has only caught one pass for 40-plus yards.

Run After Catch

13/15

Even though he doesn't break long runs, Treadwell is a monster after the catch. He turns short gains into medium gains and medium gains into chunk plays by lowering his frame and powering through defensive backs.

Overall

88/100

Treadwell blossomed as a sophomore after working behind Donte Moncrief as a possession receiver in 2013. A gruesome (and tragically timed) ankle injury ended his season in the Auburn game, but he's expected to return as an All-American candidate next fall.

44. Doran Grant, CB, Ohio State

67 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Speed

18/20

Doran Grant was named the “Fastest Man on Ohio State’s Campus” after winning a runoff this summer, and he did not failed to live up to that title. He may not ever clock the fastest 40 time, but on tape, he has the juice to tag receivers from behind.

Ball Skills

17/20

Despite his average height (5’11”), Grant has the athletic ability and ball skills to hang with any receiver in man coverage. He posted a 41.2-inch vertical during SPARQ testing as a high school senior in 2011, and he puts those skills to use on 50-50 throws down the field.

Run Defense

17/20

Grant does not defend the run as well as his former teammate, Bradley Roby, but it’s clear that he took notes when he and Roby were playing together. He keeps his eyes in the backfield and is willing to come up and fill space once he recognizes the run.

Coverage

36/40

Grant has made drastic improvements in man coverage after getting toasted in the Big Ten Championship Game and Orange Bowl last season. His hips have looked smoother, and his field awareness has been smarter. Tony Lippett dropped some passes when Ohio State beat Michigan State in East Lansing, but for the most part it was Grant who held the Spartans' best player in check.

Overall

88/100

Grant was the lone returning starter from an Ohio State secondary that underachieved (to put it lightly) in 2013. His own performance was a big reason for that underachievement, but the addition of co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash and the promotion to a leadership position awakened Grant to have a career season in 2014.

43. Quin Blanding, S, Virginia

68 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Ball Skills

17/20

Quin Blanding is a natural interrupter who finishes plays in coverage. His hands are still improving in terms of making interceptions, but he is 6’4” with long arms that enable him to disrupt and break up passes.

Tackling

28/30

Less than one year removed from high school, Blanding is already one of the best tacklers in the country—at any position. He uses every fiber of his long, lean frame to bring offensive players to the ground and finished with 123 total tackles in 12 games.

Run Support

22/25

Blanding does a lot of things well in run support, especially filling alleys on interior runs. He does not lose sight of the ball-carrier amid a forest of blockers and linebackers. It would, however, be nice to see him shoot some more gaps and make more plays in the backfield.

Pass Coverage

21/25

Blanding has the long legs, speed and range that typify a great deep safety. He is able to take away the back end of the field in zone coverage. He does not have the technique to mirror precise route-runners in man coverage, but that should come with time and coaching.

Overall

88/100

Blanding submitted one of the best true-freshman seasons by a defensive player since...ever? Probably since ever. He was the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2014 recruiting class, per the 247Sports composite rankings, and did not wait long to become a superstar at the college level.

42. A.J. Johnson, ILB, Tennessee

69 of 110

Wade Payne/Associated Press

Tackling

33/35

A.J. Johnson is a high-volume tackler with speed to make plays on the edge and quickness to slide through the line. He posted 80 tackles as a freshman in 2011, 138 tackles as a sophomore the following season and never failed to post 100 tackles in the subsequent two years.

Pass Rush

11/15

Tennessee does not ask Johnson to participate in the pass rush. He is better served in coverage than he is getting after the quarterback and has only recorded three sacks in 46 career games (although he does have 16 QB hurries).

Run Defense

27/30

Johnson has good instincts and is willing to do the little things: get downhill and plug the hole, track the ball on the backside, replace the vacated gap, etc. He struggles at times to shed blocks, but that’s about the only fault to find in his run defense.

Pass Coverage

17/20

It’s rare to find a player with Johnson’s mass (6’2”, 245 lbs) who can also move his hips in coverage. He is built like a two-down linebacker but plays like a true three-downer. He walls off the middle and has improved at reading quarterbacks, although his ball skills leave a bit to be desired.

Overall

88/100

Johnson’s regular season—and potentially his career—came to an abrupt end when the school suspended him pending a sexual assault allegation. Because he has only been suspended, though, we have given him the benefit of “innocent until proven guilty” and included him on this list. He is one of the most productive inside linebackers of the past decade.

41. Landon Collins, S, Alabama

70 of 110

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Ball Skills

16/20

Landon Collins has good but not great ball skills. He makes quick breaks in short zone coverage but doesn’t play deep throws as well, something Auburn was able to exploit in the Iron Bowl. Most of his breakups and interceptions have come against teams with questionable passing games.

Tackling

28/30

Collins is a hunter in the open field whose closing speed and tackling help limit yards after the catch. He seeks and destroys near the line of scrimmage, too, and has even earned some brownie points by covering kicks.

Run Support

22/25

Last year, Collins eased into his role against the run, slowly figuring out the proper angles and fits. This year, he has made impressive strides but is still a notch below the best run defenders at the position. The physical tools are there, he just needs a slightly better feel for play diagnosis.

Pass Coverage

22/25

Collins is a Gold Glove center fielder in the deep third, patrolling the back line of Alabama’s defense with closing speed and range. He has struggled at times with field awareness (especially during Alabama’s loss at Ole Miss) and is a bit unrefined in man coverage, but overall he’s a plus pass defender.

Overall

88/100

Another year, another dominant Alabama safety. Collins paired with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to give the Tide an imposing back line in 2013 and improved with added leadership responsibilities as a junior. It’s amazing how Nick Saban and Kirby Smart keep consistently churning these guys out.

40. Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

71 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Hands

22/25

Andrus Peat does not have the strongest hands, at times letting rushers shed his grapple and continue their progression toward the quarterback. But he doesn’t have weak hands either, and he combats his lack of raw grip-strength with smart hand placement.

Power

12/15

Because of his “thinner” frame (6’7”, 316 lbs), Peat does not generate the same power as some of the other tackles on this list. He overextends his upper body and does not utilize leverage well enough to compensate for his relative lankiness.

Lateral Quickness

23/25

Considering his long, 316-pound frame, it is almost unfair for Peat to have the quickness and coordination he possesses. He moves side to side with natural balance that allows him to mirror and stay in front of oncoming rushers.

Pass Protection

22/25

Peat uses the quickness mentioned above to protect the blind side of his quarterback, gaining great depth with his drop and forcing defensive ends to take wide angles. He has a dirty little habit of lunging, though, and needs to learn to play with more patience.

Run Blocking

9/10

Despite lacking the power that is typical of dominant run-blockers, Peat grades out fantastically well in the ground game. He doesn’t always drive opponents backward, but he occupies them long enough to open holes off the line of scrimmage. More than that, though, he has the quickness, speed and preternatural blocking instincts to get downfield and excel as a lead blocker.

Overall

88/100

Peat was the lone holdover from a Stanford offensive line that dominated in 2013. The group as a whole did not live up to expectations in 2014, and even Peat struggled, on certain occasions, to match his previous production. But for the most part, he continued to play at a level that few in college football can match.

39. Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska

72 of 110

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

Pass Rush

47/50

Randy Gregory is a tall, lanky pass-rusher (6’6”, 240 lbs) with some of the longest arms in the country. He doesn’t have great quickness off the edge but is so good with his arms that he doesn’t need it. His power is unique for a player so long, and he understands how to disengage from a tackle with hand placement. He sets up his opponent, then rips inside or outside and gets to the quarterback.

Run Defense

34/40

Gregory is solid but flawed as a run defender. He has the power to shed blocks and the speed to track most running backs around the edge, but he struggles with play diagnosis. Opponents take advantage of his mental flaws by beating Nebraska on misdirection plays, neutralizing his physical advantage by forcing him to think. He must learn to watch the play instead of the ball if he ever wants to be a true three-down lineman.

Motor

7/10

That Gregory does not win with burst is sometimes a product of effort. He plays hard most downs but has a tendency to take plays off. Some of this might be attributed to injuries, which nagged him his entire junior season, but it still raises minor concerns. He is too good to finish the regular season with seven sacks in 10 games (even if he also recorded 10 QB hurries).

Overall

88/100

Gregory has been a productive college player but is probably best suited for the NFL, where he won’t command as many double-teams and has a chance to become a superstar. His power, arms and pass-rushing technique are rare to see from a player so inexperienced. If he works on his motor and his game awareness—two things that fall distinctly under the purview of “coachable traits”—there will not be a good way to stop him.

38. Denzel Perryman, ILB, Miami (Fla.)

73 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Tackling

32/35

Denzel Perryman makes tackles that almost no other college linebacker can make. His unique blend of speed and power enables him to track down and terminate players at all levels of the field. The only thing he needs to work on is wrapping up. For all of his highlight-worthy tackles, he lets a few too many easy ones slip away.

Pass Rush

11/15

Miami does not ask Perryman to get after the passer, knowing that his size limitations (6’0”, 242 lbs) make him better suited to coverage on passing downs. He had two sacks and zero quarterback hurries during the 2014 regular season.

Run Defense

28/30

Perryman is a downhill wrecker who actively seeks contact. He throws his body around to plug up holes and finish plays. He is strong enough to shed blocks from meaty offensive linemen but quick enough to sift through traffic and find creative routes to the ball.

Pass Coverage

18/20

Few inside linebackers defend the pass as well as Perryman. He is quick to pick up on routes and has the fluid hips and speed to cover running backs, slot receivers and tight ends in man coverage. He also takes affront to any opponent who thinks, however tacitly, that being covered by a linebacker gives him a matchup advantage. That is an attitude coaches and fans love to see in their defensive stars.

Overall

89/100

Perryman is a big hit waiting to happen. He doesn’t have the size of certain former Hurricanes linebackers (some of which also wore No. 52), but his energy, his speed and his capacity to end up on SportsCenter will leave a lasting mark in Coral Gables.

37. Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford

74 of 110

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Hands

23/25

Ty Montgomery catches the ball away from his body and rarely drops a pass, although he did struggle with drops in a rain-soaked game at Notre Dame. He is 6'2" and has the colossal hands of an even bigger player.

Route Running

17/20

Stanford has relied on Montgomery to run a multitude of routes the past few seasons, some of which have exposed his weaknesses. He is a technician in the short area but does not always keep his pace on breaking routes.

Blocking

4/5

Montgomery is a willing blocker who does not take plays off and works hard to seal the edge. He does not have the strength or leverage to combat bigger defenders, but for the most part he gets the job done.

Release

17/20

Any cornerback who struggles with his first step will have difficulty guarding Montgomery. He has great acceleration and instincts, which allow him to get defenders off balance. He does not, however, have advanced hand-to-hand release moves, which will sometimes result in getting stuck against a jam.

Speed

14/15

Montgomery is one of the most fluid runners in college football. His long speed allows him to get over the top of secondaries and track down lofted deep balls. He has also been utilized as a running back and punt returner because of his ability to turn the corner.

Run After Catch

14/15

Stanford gets the ball to Montgomery as often as it can, in a variety of ways, because it knows how dangerous he is after the catch. He is shifty in the open field, makes decisive cuts and has a realistic chance to score on any play.

Overall

89/100

Montgomery has been Mr. Everything for Stanford's passing game. He is a shifty runner and punt returner who has blossomed into a No. 1 receiver despite maddening play from his quarterback.

36. Quandre Diggs, CB, Texas

75 of 110

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Speed

17/20

Quandre Diggs is a terrific athlete but does not have great pure speed. When Texas plays a team with a track star at receiver (e.g., Mario Alford of West Virginia), Diggs will play the opposite man so Duke Thomas can cover the burner. Still, as long as a team does not have two track stars at receiver, Diggs does not have trouble staying with his assigned man.

Ball Skills

17/20

Diggs likes to play aggressive and does a good job breaking up passes. His instincts allow him to jump routes and defend a high number of balls. Unfortunately, he also has frying-pan hands that have cost the Longhorns some easy interceptions over the years.

Run Defense

18/20

It’s hard to find a college cornerback who defends the run better than Diggs. Whether he’s on the outside or in the slot, his understanding of the finer points of run support—slipping blockers, funneling the ball inside, etc.—make an already stout Texas defense even harder to penetrate.

Coverage

37/40

Diggs is not that big, long cornerback du jour who can blanket receivers in press-man coverage, but he finds other ways to contribute. Specifically, he reads the quarterback in zone coverage and has the instincts, closing speed and power to break on open receivers at the last second and separate the ball from the man. His NFL future lies in the slot, but in college he is well-equipped to play wherever his coaches need him.

Overall

89/100

Diggs capped a successful four years in Austin with the best season of his career in 2014. The younger brother of former Longhorn Quentin Jammer does not have ideal size (5’10”) or speed but contributes to the defense in myriad ways.

35. Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State

76 of 110

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Pass Rush

46/50

Emmanuel Ogbah wins with quickness and power. He is a difficult mismatch for most offensive linemen because he knows how to use both skills. At 6’4”, 270 pounds, he has the size and strength to bull rush a tackle or even get pressure from inside. But he also has the long arms and explosiveness to disengage and get around the edge. He finished second in the Big 12 with 11 sacks and first with 78 sack yards this regular season.

Run Defense

35/40

Ogbah is not the greatest run defender, but he’s useful for his versatility. He is strong enough to hold the point of attack or set the edge but also has the speed to make plays on his own. He is still raw and learning how to use leverage, which can sometimes get him into trouble. But for the most part, he does his job.

Motor

8/10

When he’s feeling it, Ogbah is a machine who can’t be stopped. He channeled his inner Hulk against Florida State in Week 1 and later in the season against Kansas. He feeds off making early plays, growing stronger with each sack, hurry, hit or tackle for loss. If he could bring that same intensity each week, he would rank even higher.

Overall

89/100

Ogbah was a valuable rotational lineman in 2013 and stepped into a leadership role this season. The defense on the whole regressed, but that was to be expected given how many players Oklahoma State lost (pretty much everyone). He was a deserving recipient of the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year award, which is scary because he hasn’t reached his ceiling. A little more fine-tuning could turn him into an All-American.

34. Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

77 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Hands

22/25

Jack Conklin has heavy hands that drive defenders backward. Because of this, he packs a powerful punch in pass protection. In the run game, his hand placement needs a little bit of refinement, as he doesn’t always gain inside position. But once he does, his hands are strong enough to maintain control of his man.

Power

13/15

Conklin dropped 30 pounds of fat from his body this offseason but did not sacrifice much (if any) of his power. At 6’6”, 303 pounds, he has long arms and a precocious understanding of leverage that allows him to hold up against defensive ends of any size. He distinctly got the better of Joey Bosa when Ohio State played Michigan State this season.

Lateral Quickness

22/25

The weight Conklin dropped this offseason did wonders for his lateral agility. He has a quick reach step that allows him to attack the end man on the line of scrimmage on outside running plays, and he has no trouble moving side-to-side against speed rushers.

Pass Protection

24/25

According to most sources, Conklin has never given up a sack. Ever. In 25 career starts, the only debatable play was one in which Connor Cook ran into the defender against Maryland. Either way—zero sacks allowed or one sack allowed—the way Conklin uses his hands, feet and arms to size up and fend off defenders has made him the premier pass-blocker in college football.

Run Blocking

8/10

Conklin improved as a run-blocker in 2014 and is a versatile part of Michigan State’s ground game. He is at his best pulling across the line and executing kick-out blocks, using his mobility to excel where many great pass-blockers struggle.

Overall

89/100

A former walk-on whose father played ball at Michigan, Conklin has spent the past two years making bigger-name schools look foolish. He was a Freshman All-American in 2013 and only got better as a redshirt sophomore this past season, anchoring the blind side for a resurgent Michigan State offense.

33. Su'a Cravens, S, USC

78 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Ball Skills

17/20

Su’a Cravens’ ball skills were a minor point of dispute after 2013, when he intercepted four passes but only recorded one pass breakup. This year, though, he proved he could play like a ball hawk, breaking up eight passes and returning an interception for a touchdown against Oregon State.

Tackling

26/30

Cravens makes plays that few other safeties can make. He has the closing speed of a tall cornerback but the size (6’1”, 225 lbs) of a small linebacker, allowing him to both catch and tackle offensive players who reach the second level.

Run Support

24/25

No part of Cravens’ game has improved more than his run defense. His timing, awareness and willingness to get physical all took major leaps forward in 2014. USC even experimented with Cravens at linebacker—a brief stint that helped him finish toward the top of the country with 11 non-sack tackles for loss.

Pass Coverage

22/25

Cravens has been a quick study in pass coverage. He plays on instinct (as opposed to following his assignment) more than some coaches might be comfortable with, but his instincts are so good that he can get away with it. With fluid hips and ideal closing speed, he is able to make up ground on the rare occasion that his instincts lead him wrong.

Overall

89/100

Cravens made big strides as a sophomore in 2014, which is scary considering how well he played as a freshman the previous year. He checks every box for a modern safety and proved he could adapt to multiple systems after USC replaced defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast with Justin Wilcox.

32. Jordan Hicks, OLB, Texas

79 of 110

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Tackling

34/35

Jordan Hicks is a thumper with the size, strength and toughness to blow things up in the A-gap. He moves well for a player coming back from an achilles injury, and the speed with which he recovered makes him a dangerous pursuit tackler in space.

Pass Rush

16/20

Hicks has the long build and relentless motor to be a better pass-rusher than he is. There are moments (such as the TCU game this Thanksgiving) when he puts his tools together and makes his presence felt in the backfield. But those moments are far too infrequent.

Run Defense

18/20

Run support used to be Hicks’ weakness. This year, it evolved into a strength. His aggressive tendencies were coached up by Charlie Strong and Vance Bedford, who taught him proper run fits, and he got better at shedding blocks.

Pass Coverage

21/25

Hicks does not excel in coverage but is good enough to stay on the field on passing downs. He gets depth off the line of scrimmage and sees the field well enough to hold his zone while also spying the quarterback.

Overall

89/100

Hicks returned from a hip injury in 2012 and an Achilles injury in 2013 to finally stay healthy and put together a memorable season. Even if we weren’t rooting for him, though, it would have been hard to miss how well he played in Strong’s aggressive defense.

31. Kevin White, WR, West Virginia

80 of 110

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Hands

23/25

Kevin White has strong, reliable hands that function like pincers. He clamps down on the ball and never lets go. Because his hands are so big and strong, he is able to make otherwise difficult catches look routine.

Route Running

18/20

White has improved his route running in 2014, although he is still one tier behind the most polished players on this list. He fights his way open on slants and runs a dangerous curl, the latter finding success because defenders overplay him going vertical.

Blocking

4/5

When he's not getting flagged for holding, White is up there with the best perimeter blockers in the country. His big frame (6'3", 210 pounds) allows him to body up cornerbacks and seal them away from the action.

Release

18/20

White is physical off the line of scrimmage, which allows him to beat press coverage. He has an NFL-ready chop move that wins space on both outside and inside releases.

Speed

13/15

White has great speed for a player with his proportions. He has long legs and a powerful lower body that allow him to get over the top. He might not post the fastest 40 time, but he has functional speed that translates to the field.

Run After Catch

13/15

This is not the strongest part of White's game, but he has shown flashes. He doesn't break long runs with regularity, but when he does, he breaks them in a way that is unique. He has quick feet and picks up extra yards by running through smaller defenders.

Overall

89/100

White went from unknown to superstar in 2014, breaking out as the next great receiver in Dana Holgorsen's offense. He is big, athletic and physical and had his best games against the best teams on his schedule.

30. Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State

81 of 110

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Ball Skills

18/20

Jalen Ramsey is the consummate pest. He invites himself into the action and is always around the ball. He is light on his feet and trusts his instincts, which enables him to break on a quarterback’s first read and make a play.

Tackling

26/30

Ramsey was ahead of the curve as a tackler last season, and even though he didn’t improve as a sophomore, the fact that he didn’t regress means he still gets high marks. He is smaller than most safeties (6’1”, 204 lbs) but uses his compact frame to his advantage, staying low and winning with leverage.

Run Support

21/25

Here is where Ramsey still needs work. He is slow to diagnose running plays and does not have the size or strength to compensate by shedding blocks. When he does diagnose the play, however, he will finish with a strong tackle or funnel the runner back to his teammates.

Pass Coverage

24/25

Ramsey began his career at cornerback; in 2013, he became the first Florida State true freshman since Deion Sanders to start his first career game at the position. He has since moved to nickelback (by way of free safety) and continued to blanket receivers with his smooth hips, speed and anticipation.

Overall

89/100

Ramsey played an integral role on last year’s defense and was a leader on this year’s solid (albeit underachieving) group. When the ‘Noles most needed a play, he was always the one who made it. Tape from the Notre Dame and Miami games will go on his NFL draft reel if/when he declares in 2015.

29. Malcom Brown, DT, Texas

82 of 110

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Pass Rush

35/40

Malcom Brown is a big-bodied tackle with impressive size (6’2”, 320 lbs) and surprising burst. He made great strides this season in terms of upper-body strength and quickness, allowing Texas to play him everywhere from 1-technique to 5-technique. As a result, he led the Longhorns with 6.5 sacks during the regular season and also recorded five quarterback hurries.

Run Defense

46/50

Run defense is Brown’s specialty. He has no trouble occupying blockers, holding them at the point of attack until his linebackers can flood and make a play. He is a plug in the middle of running lanes with the raw strength to slap and shuck his way out of blocks and make tackles when the ball comes his direction.

Motor

8/10

Brown is the rare 300-pounder who will chase a play from sideline to sideline. Part of that has to do with his underrated mobility, but most of it has to do with heart. He benefited greatly from playing under Charlie Strong and Vance Bedford—two of the best defensive motivators in the country—this season.

Overall

89/100

Brown parlayed a very good sophomore season into a magnificent junior campaign, making the leap from an All-Conference-type player to that of an All-American. He was the anchor of a Texas defense that lifted its team to a bowl game after a slow start. If he forgoes the 2015 NFL draft, he will be a preseason favorite for the major national defensive awards.

28. Chris Hackett, S, TCU

83 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Ball Skills

18/20

Chris Hackett is the sweeper of TCU's secondary. He makes momentum-shifting plays in big moments against quality opponents. All six of his interceptions this regular season came against power-conference teams, including a nifty red-zone pick in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma.

Tackling

26/30

He’s not the thickest safety in college football (6’2”, 195 lbs), but Hackett is an active tackler who cleans up messes at all levels of the field. He presses the ball-carrier and does not get caught lunging. He finished second on the team with 88 tackles in 2013 and made a similar impact this season.

Run Support

22/25

Hackett does a lot of the little things for TCU’s run defense. He sets the edge when he has to and does not let shifty running backs bounce around him on the outside. He is a swarming, active safety who enjoys mixing things up near the line of scrimmage as much as policing the back end.

Pass Coverage

23/25

Defensive coordinator Dick Bumpas and head coach Gary Patterson rely on their safeties to make coverage calls—a job that requires great field awareness. Hackett is a paragon of this concept and is rarely found out of position. He has good range on the back end but is quick enough to line up in the slot or play the intermediate zones too.

Overall

89/100

Hackett kept TCU’s pass defense near the top of the national rankings (No. 9 in opposing QB rating) despite the loss of cornerback Jason Verrett and safety Elisha Olabode. His playmaking on the back end of Bumpas’ 4-2-5 scheme has played an important role in the Horned Frogs’ success.

27. Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA

84 of 110

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Accuracy

23/25

Brett Hundley throws a catchable ball with a tight spiral and smart placement. Deep accuracy used to be a problem area, but he has since turned it into a strength. He completed more than 70 percent of his passes in the regular season, averaging more than eight yards per attempt.

Arm Strength

18/20

Hundley has the strongest arm of any dual-threat quarterback and is right on par with Jameis Winston and Christian Hackenberg. He drives the ball into tight windows on slants and can push it down the length of the field.

Pocket Presence

7/10

The biggest knock on Hundley is how he fares against pressure. Some of that is warranted—he has a tendency to hold on to the ball too long and take unnecessary sacks—but he has not been as bad as some have made him out. Despite a leaky offensive line, UCLA is one of the most efficient offenses in college football.

Mobility

9/10

Hundley is a dangerous runner who can handle a 15- to 20-carry workload without looking any worse for it. He spent the early part of the season trying to "prove" he could be a pocket passer for NFL scouts, but he got back to his strengths during Pac-12 play.

Football IQ

18/20

Jim L. Mora is a former NFL head coach with a sophisticated college offense. Hundley picked it up well enough to start as a redshirt freshman (and rewrite much of the FBS freshman record book) and has steadily improved the past two years.

Leadership

14/15

UCLA was not the playoff contender some expected this season, but there is no shame in going 9-3. When an injury forced him to leave the Texas game, Hundley was active and engaged on the sideline, leading the team despite not being able to play. He came back for the Bruins' next game and had his best performance of the season in a 62-27 win at Arizona State.

Overall

89/100

Hundley is a divisive quarterback. He has led UCLA to one of the best three-year runs in program history, but it still feels like he's underachieved. It only feels that way, however, because the number of tools he brings to the table are so rare to find in one player. We want him to be better than he is because he can be. And that is not true of very many players.

26. Mike Hull, ILB, Penn State

85 of 110

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Tackling

34/35

Mike Hull finished the regular season with 134 total tackles, leading the Big Ten by more than 20. He is decisive and has the speed to track ball-carriers around the edge or into the open field.

Pass Rush

11/15

Hull has a small frame (6’0”, 232 lbs) and didn’t make an impact as a pass-rusher even before he kicked inside from his previous role as an outside linebacker. He does, however, keep opponents honest with his pre-snap activity, freeing up those who do plan to rush by flashing before the play.

Run Defense

28/30

He doesn’t have the size or strength to be a true downhill run defender, but Hull does all the little things at a very high level. His transition to inside linebacker was made seamless by his instincts, which allow him to diagnose plays and read and fill cutback lanes. The burst with which he attacks the line of scrimmage is unique.

Pass Coverage

16/20

Hull is a solid pass defender. He is fluid enough to cover running backs on angles and circles, and he is savvy enough to check for run and then sink into zone. Once there, he has solid pass-recognition skills and is competent enough to make plays on the ball.

Overall

89/100

Penn State’s offense was a train wreck in 2014, and that’s putting it kindly. There is no way the Nittany Lions would have qualified for a bowl without a dominant defense, and there is no way they would have fielded such a dominant defense without Hull, the latest interior standout at Linebacker U.

25. Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

86 of 110

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Hands

23/25

Early in the season, Ronnie Stanley struggled to affect defenders at the point of contact. But with time he grew into his new position (left tackle) and developed an assertive punch. Overall, he has strong, heavy hands that allow him to control defenders through the duration of the play.

Power

12/15

Stanley lacks the power of his former teammate, Zack Martin, but is powerful enough to get by. He is more determined than strong as a run-blocker, displaying the grit and toughness needed to turn average raw power into better-than-average results.

Lateral Quickness

23/25

Stanley is a former basketball player with impressive balance, agility and lateral quickness for an athlete his size (6’5.5”, 315 lbs). He plays on the balls of his feet and demonstrates the proper knee bend to anticipate and react to different types of pass-rushers.

Pass Protection

24/25

With long arms and fluid athleticism, Stanley has become one of the best pass-blockers in college football. He did not allow a single pressure in the three games graded by Pro Football Focus, shutting down future NFL defensive linemen against Stanford, Florida State and Arizona State. He has a useful blend of foot speed, hand placement, work ethic and competitiveness that should only improve as he earns more reps at left tackle.

Run Blocking

8/10

Stanley comes off the ball smoothly and has the aforementioned nastiness that is refreshing to see in a run-blocker. He also has the mobility to get downfield. If he works on adding strength to his lower body, he could soon become a wrecking ball in the ground game.

Overall

90/100

Notre Dame would have been OK with a small drop-off after losing Martin, a first-round NFL draft pick, at left tackle. Instead, Stanley flipped from right tackle to the blind side and gave the Irish way more than a small drop-off. He gave them a moderate improvement.

24. Nelson Agholor, WR, USC

87 of 110

Harry How/Getty Images

Hands

23/25

Nelson Agholor catches most passes cleanly, away from the body, then secures the ball and heads upfield. He is a lanky athlete with good arm extension who is not afraid to make plays over the middle.

Route Running

18/20

You won't find many smoother route-runners than Agholor. He is a fluid athlete who gets in and out of breaks and has an advanced route tree, thanks in large part to the pro-style systems he has played in at USC.

Blocking

3/5

Agholor does not have the upper-body strength to seal bigger defensive backs on running plays. But he makes up for this with great effort as a downfield blocker, where he can be seen running in front of ball-carriers, searching for a defender to engage.

Release

18/20

Agholor uses arm extension to fight his way off the line and foot speed to gain space against press coverage. When he earns an inside release, he takes smart angles through coverage to make himself an open target.

Speed

14/15

Speed is the most important part of Agholor's game. He has long speed to stretch the field as a vertical threat, but he also has stop-and-start speed to deceive would-be tacklers and defensive backs.

Run After Catch

14/15

Agholor is at his best after the catch—a product of the speed discussed above. He can hit the hole and go on shorter timing routes, reading blockers like a veteran running back, and has the gumption to reverse fields when the defense overpursues.

Overall

90/100

Agholor is the latest in a long line of great USC receivers. He learned from—and in many ways played better than—former Biletnikoff winner Marqise Lee in 2013 before letting his own star shine this season. But once he did, that star shone big and bright.

23. Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech

88 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Speed

17/20

Kendall Fuller is not the fastest straight-line runner, but he’s not far off. Where he really excels is with closing speed, which helps both in coverage and run support. Coming out of high school, Bleacher Report compared Fuller to Asante Samuel, which seems like an apt description of his speed and raw athleticism.

Ball Skills

18/20

Fuller plays the ball well in man and zone coverage, using his length to get between the ball and the man. He led the country with 10 pass breakups in August and September (five games) and jumped a Mitch Trubisky slant for a pick-six against North Carolina in October.

Run Defense

18/20

Run support is an underrated aspect of Fuller’s game, and actually one of his strongest. He’s physical, he sheds blocks, and he’s willing to mix things up along the edge, all of which make him a valuable component of the Hokies rush defense. He is also a dangerous run-blitzer who disguises his intentions and does a good job timing his break.

Coverage

37/40

In man coverage, Fuller uses length and physicality to knock receivers off their line and harry them down the field. In this respect, he is a lot like former Hokies star Brandon Flowers. But Fuller has also shown great field awareness in zone coverage, picking when and where he’ll take chances based on whether he has help over the top.

Overall

90/100

Fuller is the final Fuller progeny to play at Virginia Tech, and there’s a good chance he’ll wind up the best. That is high praise after brother Kyle became a first-round NFL draft pick in 2014, but Kendall is further ahead as a sophomore than almost any cornerback in recent memory. Kyle included.

22. Duke Johnson, RB, Miami (Fla.)

89 of 110

J Pat Carter/Associated Press

Ball Security

7/10

The biggest knock on Duke Johnson is the way he carries the football. He is surprisingly good between the tackles but does not maintain proper form in the open field. Specifically, he loosens his grip on the ball when he attempts to make people miss, focusing too hard on the defender and not enough on himself.

Power

17/20

Johnson is short (5’9”) but compact (206 lbs) and does an effective job running between the tackles. He runs with a low pad level to absorb contact and bounce off defenders and has a powerful stiff-arm. Despite this, he has a penchant for getting tripped up at his ankles, which is something he needs to work on.

Vision

19/20

Johnson is a patient runner with preternatural vision that allows him to gain maximum yardage. He strings out stretch plays until he sees a lane to shoot through, but he knows to take the sure yardage when the defense has defended him well. He turns around defenders in the secondary and does a smart job reading downfield blocks.

Hands

14/15

Miami throws to Johnson as an extension of the running game, utilizing his speed with quick flares and screens. He is also a capable route-runner who can deke linebackers with angles and wheels. Most underrated of all, he is a strong pass-blocker who punches defenders with his hands to keep the quarterback upright on passing downs.

Speed

19/20

Johnson’s second gear was a bone of contention before the season, but he proved critics wrong with long gain after long gain after long gain. He is lightning at the second level, separating from defensive backs with a short-legged, powerful stride.

Agility

14/15

This is the money-maker. Johnson has a quick, natural jump cut and is able to change direction without breaking stride or losing speed. He puts defenders on their heels and explodes past them as they attempt to regain their balance.

Overall

90/100

After a breakout freshman season and an injury-shortened sophomore season, Johnson fully realized his potential in 2014. His low-to-the-ground running style and ability to help in all phases of the game make him the best scatback in the country.

21. Hau'oli Kikaha, DE, Washington

90 of 110

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Pass Rush

48/50

Hau’oli Kikaha is the best pure pass-rusher in the country. He led the nation in sacks (19) during the regular season but looked even more impressive on tape than on paper. He comes flying off the ball and often turns the corner before the tackle even gets a hand on him. And even when the tackle can get a hand on him, he has functional power and knows how to rip or swim through the block and get to the quarterback.

Run Defense

33/40

Kikaha does not play the run as well as the pass. Washington lets him stand up and play linebacker—which is technically how he’s listed on the depth chart—but no matter where he lines up, he struggles to shed downhill blockers in space. He compensates by making so many plays in pursuit, but it is still something he must work on.

Motor

9/10

Kikaha is a violent competitor with a nonstop motor. He feeds off the energy of the home crowd but also gets fired up for electric road environments (e.g., recording 2.5 sacks at Oregon in 2014). The bigger the moment, the harder Kikaha plays.

Overall

90/100

For a while it looked like Kikaha might be star-crossed. He tore his ACL in 2011, rehabbed it all offseason, then tore it again in fall camp the following year. But he stayed on the field in 2013, then came back in the best shape of his life as a senior. He is an easy player to root for and a not-so-easy player to go up against.

20. La'el Collins, OT, LSU

91 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Hands

22/25

La’el Collins has big, strong hands that allow him to latch onto defenders and never let them out of his grip—provided he engages them high enough. He does, however, sometimes let his hands drop too low, inviting rushers to swim over the top with a counter.

Power

14/15

At 6’5”, 321 pounds, Collins has a thick base and rare natural power that allows him to drive opponents off the line. It is rare to see him pushed back in pass protection or even trifled with against the run.

Lateral Quickness

23/25

Collins has more quickness than people give him credit for. He is not a rare athlete in a vacuum, but his feet are uncommon for a 321-pounder. He gets depth off the line with a quick-trigger kick-slide against speedier defensive ends.

Pass Protection

22/25

Collins is a solid pass-blocker whose best traits are sometimes his worst. Specifically, the aggressive tendencies that define him as a tackle sometimes get him off balance and leave him susceptible to countermoves. For the most part, though, those aggressive tendencies are a positive more than a negative, as is Collins’ pass blocking on the whole.

Run Blocking

9/10

Opposing defenses know that LSU wants to run the football but still can’t seem to stop the run. A big part of that is a testament to Collins, who dominates the line of scrimmage and makes SEC defensive linemen look like they belong in the MAC. As good as he is at the point of attack, what makes Collins so special is his ability, as a tackle, to get to the second level.

Overall

90/100

Collins was the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2011 recruiting class and developed into everything LSU hoped he would be. He played guard in 2012 before moving to left tackle as an upperclassman and becoming the best all-around blocker in the SEC.

19. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

92 of 110

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Ball Security

8/10

Once considered a strength of Melvin Gordon’s game, ball security has quickly become an issue. He went 322 carries without a fumble at the start of his career but coughed one up against Bowling Green in September and two in his record-setting game against Nebraska.

Power

19/20

Gordon does not receive enough notoriety for his power. He is 6’1”, 213 pounds, doesn’t appear to have a single ounce of fat on his body and never stops pumping his legs. He lowers his pads to pick up extra yards in the hole and shrugs off arm tackles in the open field.

Vision

18/20

Gordon is a decisive runner with great in-line vision. He spots small, negligible creases and gets there with a single cut. Once he gets to the second level, he either sees and exploits off-balance defenders or calculates the pursuit angle and beats them to the edge.

Hands

12/15

Wisconsin does not ask Gordon to do much in the passing game, leading to obvious questions about his hands. Whenever it has thrown him the football, though, he has not shown an obvious deficiency. But he’s so unproven that it’s hard to grade him any higher.

Speed

19/20

Gordon has better acceleration than long speed, but penalizing him for his long speed would be nitpicking. He is a long, forceful strider who can sprint through the linebackers and peel out from safeties for huge gains.

Agility

14/15

Gordon moves from side to side as easily as he stops and starts. It is one thing for a player to identify small creases in a defense; it’s another for him to cut and slide his way through said creases. Gordon is a master at contorting his body without losing balance.

Overall

90/100

Gordon did not inherit the role of a lead back until his junior season in 2014, even though it was clear what kind of talent he possessed. However, even with the bigger workload, he maintained one of the highest per-carry averages in FBS history, gashing defenses for chunk plays on a consistent basis.

18. Zach Vigil, ILB, Utah State

93 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Tackling

33/35

Zach Vigil had 105 tackles as a sophomore in 2012 and slowly improved that total to 125 in 2013 and 145 this regular season. He is a tireless worker who never gives up on a play—cue the refrain about being a former walk-on—and has the strength to wrap players up and bury them in the dirt.

Pass Rush

14/15

Vigil does a great job getting after the quarterback, especially for a player with the size of a 4-3 inside linebacker (6’2”, 240 lbs). He has the strength to run through running backs and move tight ends and the quickness to slip by clunky offensive linemen.

Run Defense

27/30

Since Vigil became the starter in 2012, Utah State has finished No. 7, No. 2 and No. 16 in the country in yards-per-rush allowed. That is not a coincidence. Vigil is one of the rare inside linebackers who can get downhill and finish a play with power but also shed blocks or track runners on the perimeter.

Pass Coverage

16/20

Here is where Vigil needs to make the most improvement. He isn’t a bad pass defender necessarily. But his hips are a little stiff, and he sometimes looks lost in zone coverage, struggling to sink into his spot after checking the run.

Overall

90/100

Utah State had a good season despite losing its offensive leader (quarterback Chuckie Keeton) and its best defensive player (outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell) to torn ACLs. A lot of the credit for that goes to redshirt senior Vigil, who kept the defense toward the top of the national rankings with the best season of his already impressive career.

17. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

94 of 110

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Accuracy

23/25

Jameis Winston has not been as accurate in 2014 as he was in 2013, but he’s made enough good throws to score well. He leads receivers down the field on vertical routes, dropping the ball where they and only they can catch it. He trusts his arm enough to attack small windows in big moments, which has helped Florida State engineer some memorable comebacks.

Arm Strength

19/20

Winston has a cannon, plain and simple. He is 6’4”, 230 pounds and gets every square inch of that frame behind his throws. Scouts will say his motion is elongated—that he has a “baseball release”—but he doesn’t have a problem getting velocity against pressure. He clocks a 97 mph fastball for the Seminoles baseball team.

Pocket Presence

9/10

Good luck trying to blitz FSU. Winston has the rare, innate ability to stand in the pocket until the last possible second and deliver an accurate throw. He is willing to take a hit when necessary, and he sets his shoulders well on designed rollouts.

Mobility

7/10

247Sports classified Winston as a dual-threat QB coming out of high school, but he hasn’t run with frequency at Florida State. His running style is awkward and clunky but serviceable, not unlike that of Ben Roethlisberger. He isn’t what one would call “fast,” but he’s an athlete capable of making defenders miss in space.

Football IQ

17/20

Winston has thrown (a lot) more interceptions as a sophomore than he did as a freshman. The difference has been a slight regression in his decision-making; too often he tries to make something happen instead of opting for a safer throw. Still, he sees the field as well as any college quarterback, especially in the deep third. He learns from mistakes and adjusts to what a defense gives him, which has led to some huge second halves.

Leadership

15/15

Florida State has won the first 26 starts of Winston’s career. Before him, the most consecutive wins by a QB at the start of his career was 19. His off-field antics landed him a suspension against Clemson, but even though he wasn’t allowed to play, he was vocal and supportive on the sideline. The father of Winston’s backup, Sean Maguire, credited Winston for the role he played in prepping his son to start, per Natalie Pierre of AL.com.

Overall

90/100

Winston is one of the most successful players in college football history. What else do you want us to say? His off-field issues are myriad, but between the stripes he is a proven winner with a firm place in the mythology of the sport.

16. Nate Orchard, DE, Utah

95 of 110

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Pass Rush

47/50

Nate Orchard is a disruptive pass-rusher whom Utah counts on in multiple roles. But he’s at his best when he plays the Wide 9 and is allowed to focus on attacking the quarterback. He is a daunting blend of size (6’4”, 255 lbs) and quickness who understands how to convert speed to power. His 1.46 sacks per game led the nation during the regular season.

Run Defense

35/40

Orchard reinvented his body during his four years at Utah, filling out his frame to become a viable run defender. He added 60 pounds of muscle after beginning his career as a wide receiver and now has the mass to hold his own at the point of attack. He doesn’t diagnose running plays as well as one would like and only had 2.5 non-sack tackles for loss during the regular season, but he does enough things well to earn high marks.

Motor

9/10

Utah has a high-motor defense, and Orchard is its unquestioned leader. The rest of the unit looks up to him and draws its passion for the game from his. He was a team captain in 2014 and proudly wore the “C” below his left shoulder. It’s hard to find a player more deserving of that honor.

Overall

91/100

Orchard helped Utah make its first bowl game as a member of the Pac-12, and he did it in impressive fashion. He had four sacks in a road win at UCLA and 3.5 sacks in a road win at Stanford, toppling two of the league’s most established powers. He is a heat-seeking missile on passing downs who beats blockers in multiple ways and does not shy away from the burden of leadership.

15. Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida

96 of 110

97 of 110

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Hands

23/25

Brandon Scherff packs a powerful punch and is judicious with his hand usage. He waits for the defender to get close before attacking in one quick motion, not unlike a Venus flytrap. He understands proper hand placement and is able to control oncoming rushers.

Power

14/15

Videos of Scherff hang-cleaning 437 pounds went viral this offseason and do not belie how powerful he is on the field. He drives defenders out of the hole against the run and does not give an inch of slack against a bull-rush.

Lateral Quickness

22/25

If there’s anything Scherff struggles with, it’s quickness. He shifts his weight well but has tight hips and is sometimes caught off-balance against a speed rush. Overall, though, this isn’t an area of weakness so much as an area of not-strength. For a 6’5”, 320-pound lineman, he has surprisingly nimble feet.

Pass Protection

22/25

Scherff is not a lockdown left tackle against the pass, but he’s not far off. He sometimes gets caught playing on his heels and lets a defensive end slip by for a hurry. Those missteps, however, do not happen very often, and Scherff makes up for them with his blitz pickup.

Run Blocking

10/10

Scherff is the type of lineman that a team can build a running game around. He is the best drive-blocker in college football, controlling his area and pushing defenders to whatever spot he pleases. His passion, strength and snap-to-snap toughness make him such a good run-blocker that NFL teams have consideredmoving Scherff to guard.

Overall

91/100

Scherff is the latest in a long line of great Iowa tackles, and some think he might be the best. He overcame an injury scare at the start of the 2014 season to play even better than advertised, mauling Big Ten linemen in the passing and (especially) running games.

13. Paul Dawson, OLB, TCU

98 of 110

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Tackling

33/35

Paul Dawson has great speed—a staple of TCU linebackers—and is able to pursue running backs or wide receivers over the middle and make plays. He compensates for having a smaller frame (6'2", 230 lbs) by wrapping up and driving players to the ground.

Pass Rush

16/20

Because he is a 4-2-5 outside linebacker, Dawson is not asked to rush the passer as often as his peers. When he’s been given the green light, however, he has shown timing and burst to get after the quarterback. He just doesn’t have the body type or technical skills to consistently beat tackles off the edge.

Run Defense

19/20

Dawson has good strength for a player his size that allows him to take on blockers. He is not one to back down from a challenge, and he rarely makes a mistake. More than that, he has innate read-and-react instincts to sense when a hole is opening and burst through or plug the gap.

Pass Coverage

23/25

The outside linebacker in TCU’s defense is tasked with guarding all sorts of players: running backs, tight ends and—most importantly—slot receivers. Dawson has quick feet, fluid hips and enough speed to hang with each type of pass-catcher, and he also has the instincts and hands to intercept passes and make plays when he drops into zone.

Overall

91/100

Dawson combined with Marcus Mallet to form a dangerous linebacking duo in the middle of TCU’s 4-2-5 defense. The senior showed up on a play-to-play, week-to-week basis, making his presence known by forcing big turnovers and playing sound in the run game.

12. Shane Ray, DE, Missouri

99 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Pass Rush

47/50

Shane Ray is a one-dimensional pass-rusher who doesn’t need a second dimension. His speed is so good that right now, he doesn't need to improve on winning with power. He has an explosive first step that makes it difficult for tackles to get in front of him, and even on the rare chance they do, he counters with a lightning-fast spin move.

Run Defense

35/40

Ray is an active run defender who makes plays, once again, with his speed. He is great in pursuit or knifing through the line to blow up a tailback for negative yards. His frame (6’3”, 245 lbs) limits how well he can set the edge and impedes him from playing 5-technique, but he is actually quite strong for a 7-tech. According to Mike Huguenin of NFL.com, Ray can bench press 430 pounds.

Motor

9/10

Ray is a hustle guy at heart who wears a scowl on his face and plays angry. He is relentless in pursuit, whether it be a quarterback or running back he’s after. He was ejected from the SEC Championship Game after a targeting call on QB Blake Sims, although the play, while properly flagged, is not what one would call “dirty.” His motor is a nine out of 10, but he needs to learn to keep it in check.

Overall

91/100

Ray was a productive backup in 2013 and was expected to play at a high level this season. But no one could have foreseen the leap he made from productive backup to conference Defensive Player of the Year. He and Markus Golden formed an even better duo than Kony Ealy and Michael Sam and are the biggest reason for Missouri’s back-to-back SEC East titles.

11. Scooby Wright, ILB, Arizona

100 of 110

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Tackling

34/35

Scooby Wright moved from strong-side linebacker to the middle of Arizona’s defense this season, in large part because of his nose for the football and ability to tackle. He is a magnet who blows past blockers and has the heft (6’1”, 246 lbs) to bring down an opponent of any size.

Pass Rush

14/15

Arizona takes advantage of Wright’s versatility—i.e, the fact that he has also played outside linebacker—by lining him up on the edge and letting him get after the passer. It is rare for a player this good at roaming the middle to also excel at ripping past offensive linemen and chasing opposing quarterbacks.

Run Defense

28/30

Wright is a side-to-side run-stuffer with innate football instincts that allow him to shoot through the line and make negative plays in the backfield. He does his best work as a run-through defender but can also scrape to the edge or fill gaps like a cork in a bottle.

Pass Coverage

15/20

Coverage is the weakest part of Wright’s game, although he slowly improved this season. He has the athleticism to be better than he is but needs to work on his awareness and dedicate as much time and effort to pass defense as he does to playing in the box.

Overall

91/100

Wright introduced himself to the world when he intercepted Marcus Mariota on the first play of Arizona’s upset over Oregon in 2013. But 15 minutes of fame were not enough for the now-sophomore linebacker, who has only gotten better—and more well known—over the subsequent year and a half.

10. Leonard Williams, DT, USC

101 of 110

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Pass Rush

36/40

Leonard Williams has the size (6’5”, 300 lbs) to play defensive tackle and the speed to play defensive end. He oscillates between those roles for USC and is the Trojans’ best pass-rusher from both the interior and the edge. When he’s playing 3-technique, he uses his burst and athleticism to dart past interior blockers. When he’s playing 5-technique, his strength is often too much for tackles to handle.

Run Defense

46/50

Again, Williams’ blend of size and quickness makes him a force against the run. He can knife into the backfield and make plays on his own, but he can also get under a tackle and set a hard edge. When USC’s defense goes heavy, and Williams gets to play alongside other 300-pounders, it almost always wins the point of attack.

Motor

9/10

Williams is a max-effort player who showed toughness by playing through an ankle injury (that many thought would keep him out of the lineup) in September. “You always worry about motor with defensive linemen,” an anonymous professional scout told NFL.com, “but I have zero concerns with Leonard Williams’ motor.” Neither do the rest of us.

Overall

91/100

Williams would be a bigger name if USC had won more games the past two seasons. But even though his team underachieved—relative to its own lofty standards—he will go down as one of the most gifted players in program history. And when you play for the Cardinal and Gold, that means something.

9. Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State

102 of 110

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Hands

24/25

Rashad Greene sees the ball through the catch and almost never has a lapse in concentration. He is a possession receiver at heart, using strong hands and arm extension to make difficult catches in traffic.

Route Running

19/20

Greene sets up defenders as well as anybody. He pushes to their inside shoulder, then explodes to the outside for separation. He has found a way to get open with regularity in 2014 despite playing with a young supporting cast (i.e., having defenses game-plan around him).

Blocking

3/5

Despite lacking ideal size (6'0", 180 pounds), Greene is one of the better blocking receivers in college football. He sticks his nose where it doesn't belong and blocks with maximum effort.

Release

18/20

Greene uses short-area quickness to earn separation against cornerbacks. His hands and feet work in synchronicity, allowing him to bait and then explode past press coverage.

Speed

14/15

Greene does not have former-track-star burners, but he's close. His agility is better than his long speed, but the latter is good enough that he consistently takes the top off defenses.

Run After Catch

14/15

Here more than anywhere is where Greene's agility shines. He is slippery in the open field, and he knows how to read and set up blocks. Running after the catch is the strongest part of Greene's game.

Overall

92/100

Greene led Florida State in receiving for the fourth consecutive season in 2014, a rare feat for a player in the modern era. He is not a physical specimen like his former teammate, Kelvin Benjamin, but he's smart, fast, reliable and prone to making big plays in big moments.

8. Senquez Golson, CB, Ole Miss

103 of 110

Joe Murphy/Getty Images

Speed

18/20

Senquez Golson can match any receiver stride-for-stride down the field. Even Sammie Coates of Auburn, who allegedly runs a sub-4.25 in the 40-yard dash, could not separate from Golson on deep routes and had to use his size to make highlight-reel catches against Ole Miss. Golson plays at something near a 4.43 40-time himself, per NFLDraftScout.com.

Ball Skills

19/20

No cornerback in America plays the ball better than Golson, who led the SEC with nine total interceptions and picked off six passes in five games during the heart of conference play. He is a former outfielder for the Ole Miss baseball team (and draft pick of the Boston Red Sox) with innate tracking instincts and the timing and athleticism needed to compensate for being 5’9”.

Run Defense

17/20

Golson is a valuable contributor for an Ole Miss run defense that ranks near the top of the country. He is a four-year starter who understands where he fits against the run, sheds blocks and breaks down to tackle bigger players. He had eight solo tackles against Boise State in Week 1, three of which came against powerful running back Jay Ajayi.

Coverage

38/40

Golson has tremendous instincts that show up mostly in zone coverage but also when he’s matched up in man. In zone coverage, he reads the quarterback and has rare quick-twitch agility to break on the ball based on what he sees. In man coverage, he has the technical skills to mirror receivers and match their patterns down the field.

Overall

92/100

Interceptions made Golson a household name in 2014, but there is more to what he does than creating turnovers. A lot more. The 5’9” senior has overcome size limitations and blossomed into the nation’s best cornerback.

7. Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson

104 of 110

John Raoux/Associated Press

Pass Rush

47/50

Vic Beasley is a unique athlete who wins with speed off the edge. He plays with his hand down and surprises offensive tackles with his burst off the ball, shooting past their outside shoulder and into the backfield. He has the frame of a 3-4 outside linebacker (6’3”, 235 lbs) with long arms to disengage and rip, and he even added some power stuff to his game in 2014.

Run Defense

36/40

Beasley added muscle to his frame this offseason, and the improved strength showed up in run support. He was solid but inconsistent in 2013, winning tackles for loss with his speed but getting moved off the point against power-running concepts. This year, though, he set a harder edge and helped Clemson shut down every running back it saw (sans Todd Gurley). The Tigers allowed just 2.78 yards per attempt during the regular season.

Motor

9/10

Not long ago, Clemson was known for having a soft, low-motor defense. Beasley is one of the main instigators who flipped that reputation. He plays hard on every snap and is willing to track a quarterback once he leaves or steps up in the pocket. His conditioning was a (small) problem in 2013 but did not present an issue this season.

Overall

92/100

Beasley’s numbers took a small drop in 2014, but after an All-America season in 2013, that can be forgiven. And even though it didn’t always show up in the box score, he was a better all-around player as a senior than he was the year prior. Where once he only won with speed, he now wins with a little bit of everything. He is the physical and emotional leader of what might have been the best defense in the country.

6. Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA

105 of 110

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Tackling

34/35

Eric Kendricks is one of the most prolific tacklers in college football history. He holds the UCLA record for career tackles with 471 (before the bowl game), the 12th-highest total by an FBS player since 2000. He brings ball-carriers down with brute force, rarely needing an assist from a teammate.

Pass Rush

12/15

UCLA does not ask Kendricks to rush the passer often, but when it does, he has proved himself capable. His agility, balance and natural football instincts help him identify gaps and elude would-be blockers.

Run Defense

28/30

NFL scouts will say Kendricks is too small (6’0”, 228 lbs) to defend the run, but size has never been an issue in college. He flows to the ball and has read-and-react instincts that are difficult to quantify but easy to see on tape. He also has the speed to pursue faster players and make tackles from behind or on the edge.

Pass Coverage

18/20

Kendricks has fluid hips and plus speed and is comfortable carrying receivers down the field. He had a pick-six in Week 1 against Virginia but was even more impressive on the plays in which his man/zone wasn’t targeted. Although he can sometimes get handsy, he falls squarely into the new breed of undersized inside linebackers who can cover.

Overall

92/100

Kendricks came to UCLA in the shade of his brother’s shadow. Mychal Kendricks, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year at Cal in 2011. But the younger Kendricks has done more than simply match his older sibling’s production. He has in many ways become the best linebacker in the family.

5. Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

106 of 110

USA TODAY Sports

Pass Rush

46/50

Joey Bosa is a violent pass-rusher who overwhelms tackles with power. He has the frame of an undersized 5-technique (6’5”, 278 lbs) but the speed and quickness of a 7-technique. He excels playing the “longstick” and consistently beats blockers on the edge. It is rare for a player this young (true sophomore) to have such a deep arrangement of pass-rushing moves.

Run Defense

37/40

Bosa sets a hard edge, winning with leverage to control and command his blocker. He gets a solid push off the line to force the running back inside. But his best attribute is the ability to shed blocks and split defenders and make plays in the backfield. As well as he plays team run defense, he plays individual run defense even better.

Motor

9/10

Motor is the first thing that comes to mind when one brings up Bosa's strengths. He is a mad man who plays with an endearing amount of heart. He also has a habit of playing well on the biggest stages, whether it be the 2013 Big Ten Championship Game or an overtime nail-biter at Penn State.

Overall

92/100

Bosa came on strong at the end of his true freshman season and parlayed that into a dominant sophomore year. You would be hard-pressed to find a more advanced underclassman in the country—even if you stretch back a decade. He is the type of player one can build a defense around, which is precisely what Ohio State has done.

4. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia

107 of 110

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Ball Security

9/10

Todd Gurley keeps the ball high and tight, no matter the situation. Even when he makes sharp cuts, the ball stays glued to his chest. A high-volume runner with a violent downhill style is required to hold on to the football, and Gurley does it better than anyone.

Power

19/20

Gurley is built like a safety (6’1”, 226 lbs) and runs like a small locomotive. He drops his head to absorb contact and almost never gets tackled by one player. If he breaks into the second level of a defense, the best a defensive back can hope for is to grab him, hold him, slow him down and wait for help to arrive.

Vision

18/20

At his best, Gurley is making one cut and getting upfield as fast as possible—something that does not require great vision. When that first hole is not available, however, he identifies the cutback lane and attacks it with conviction. Defenses that over-pursue against Gurley will be hoisted by their own petard.

Hands

13/15

It is hard to find a “power back” with better hands than Gurley. He catches the ball cleanly and turns up the field in one fluid motion, as if he just accepted a handoff. His ability to contribute in the passing game makes him a true three-down running back.

Speed

19/20

Speed is the source of Gurley’s power. He reaches top gear in a heartbeat, bursting through the line like he was just shot out of a cannon. If you think this grade seems high, see if you can track down footage of Gurley getting caught from behind. Whether it’s a handoff, a catch or a kick return, he is gone as soon as he hits the open field.

Agility

13/15

Gurley has good agility and is able to circumvent defenders (even though he prefers to go through or past them). His footwork and balance are rare for a player his size, separating him from NFL tales of caution such as former Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

Overall

92/100

A four-game suspension and a torn ACL limited Gurley to six games in 2014. But when he was on the field, he was exactly as good as advertised. Maybe even better. He is the best college running back since Adrian Peterson.

3. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

108 of 110

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Hands

24/25

LSU game notwithstanding, Amari Cooper has fantastic hands. He catches the ball away from his body and tucks it in one smooth motion, and he's willing to fight through traffic.

Route Running

19/20

Cooper knows how to gain separation on a variety of routes. Critics will knock the percentage of bubble screens he catches, but even those are set up by defenders respecting his route running and giving him added slack.

Blocking

3/5

Cooper is not a great blocker, but he's a good one. He is willing to mix it up and get physical but sometimes whiffs on blocks because he is overexerting himself. His effort is typically good but comes with occasional lapses.

Release

19/20

No one in college football gets off the line as well as Cooper, a quick-twitch athlete with excellent technical proficiency. "He just does a lot of releases," LSU cornerback Tre'Davious White told The Advocate about guarding Cooper. "You never know what he’s going to come with."

Speed

14/15

Cooper is a burner. He can beat defenses over the top with a deep route or take it to the house after one missed tackle. He claims he ran a 4.31 40-yard dash after Alabama's pro day in March, and his tape validates that time.

Run After Catch

14/15

More than just his speed, Cooper's vision makes him the most dangerous run-after-catch receiver in college football. He reads blocks like an NFL veteran, changes direction on a dime and accelerates to burst through the hole.

Overall

93/100

Cooper had 1,000 receiving yards as a true freshman in 2012 but slumped as a sophomore in 2013. With questions about which Cooper would show up in 2014, the speedy receiver submitted an All-American type of season, carrying Alabama's offense in its first year under coordinator Lane Kiffin.

2. Danny Shelton, DT, Washington

109 of 110

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Pass Rush

37/40

Danny Shelton is explosive for a player so humongous (6’2”, 339 lbs). He has in-line speed to shoot the gaps and get to the quarterback and enough stamina to hunt the QB down and finish the play. And even when he doesn’t beat his blockers off the line, he uses his size to bull-rush offensive linemen and get pressure—sometimes after a pre-snap barrel roll.

Run Defense

47/50

Shelton separates himself from most nose guards with his ability to make tackles on his own. Despite his size, he has quick feet, speed and instincts. When he gets into the backfield, he can swallow up a running back himself instead of simply forcing the run outside. And even when he’s not making plays himself, he will occupy multiple blockers and free up lanes for linebackers to come down and make tackles.

Motor

9/10

You won’t see many linemen play as hard as Shelton does. He wears his weight well and does not stop moving until the whistle. Even if that means chasing a running back 30 yards downfield, he will do it. He’s as wild as his hair makes him seem.

Overall

93/100

Shelton presents a mismatch for almost every blocker he faces. He is too big and strong for most guards and centers but too quick and explosive for the few who can handle his strength. He is the hardest interior lineman to block in the country—and frankly, it’s not all that close.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

110 of 110

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Accuracy

24/25

Marcus Mariota is an accurate passer at all levels of the field. He hits receivers in stride on timing routes and drags, allowing them to gain yards after the catch. When he has a man open deep, he puts the ball on a string and drops it right into the basket.

Arm Strength

18/20

Mariota doesn't have a huge arm, but he does have a pretty big one. He relies on accuracy and touch more than velocity, but he can push the ball downfield when one of his receivers gets over the top. His arm strength is particularly impressive once he gets outside the pocket.

Pocket Presence

9/10

Injuries along the offensive line forced Mariota to dance around the pocket and escape some impossible pressures this season. For the most part, he passed those tests with ease. His ability to keep plays alive saved the Ducks in some of their biggest moments.

Mobility

9/10

Mariota is 6'4", 219 pounds and runs like a wide receiver. He is a long strider with great acceleration who can see when a hole is developing and burst through it. Oregon doesn't call as many designed runs for Mariota as it did some of its previous quarterbacks, but when it does, he makes them count.

Football IQ

19/20

Oregon's offense is dangerous because it beats you without beating itself. Mariota's historically low interception rate is the most meaningful illustration of that concept. He mitigates the risk on otherwise risky play calls, allowing Oregon to stay aggressive and turn small leads into big leads, and big leads into huge ones.

Leadership

14/15

Mariota is not a fiery, scream-in-your-face type of leader, but that is not the only way to lead a team. Instead he leads with a cool composure, a charm that says "we got this" in the biggest moments. He is an intense competitor who stood on his head to hold the Ducks together when their season was jeopardized by injuries.

Overall

93/100

Mariota is the quintessential Oregon quarterback and a prospect NFL scouts have been drooling over since 2012. Big, fast, skilled, smart—he checks every box.