2011 NFL Draft Preliminary Rankings: Position Breakdown

Fans of the NFL draft are well aware that the draft is a year-round proposition. There's never any day to waste when it comes to scouting.

With the 2010 draft now in the books, it's time to start taking a peek at the young men who NFL teams will be coveting this upcoming season.

There are a lot of gifted players throughout the country that certainly possess the ability to be standout difference makers at the NFL level.

I know we're still more than 11 months away and a lot will change from this point. Nonetheless, it's always wise to get a good head start on evaluating the best of the best in college football.

Here's a list I've compiled of some of the players I feel will stand out as the true elite at their respective positions.

Hopefully it can give you a good idea of some of the players to take note of as we head into summer workouts.

Quarterbacks

Seniors
1. Jake Locker: Washington
2. Jerrod Johnson: Texas A&M
3. Case Keenum: Houston
4. Colin Kaepernick: Nevada
5. Christian Ponder: Florida State
6. Greg McElroy: Alabama
7. Andy Dalton: TCU
8. Pat Devlin: Delaware
9. Tyrod Taylor: Virginia Tech
10. Mitch Mustain: USC
11. Ricky Stanzi: Iowa
12. Nathan Enderle: Idaho
13. Ben Chappell: Indiana
14. Zach Frazer: UCONN
15. Trevor Vittatoe: UTEP

Eligible Underclassmen
1. Ryan Mallett: Arkansas
2. Blaine Gabbert: Missouri
3. Terrelle Pryor: Ohio State
4. Andrew Luck: Stanford*
5. John Brantley: Florida
6. Landry Jones: Oklahoma*
7. Nick Foles: Arizona
8. Jacory Harris: Miami
9. Kellen Moore: Boise State
10. Cam Newton: Auburn

Running Backs

Seniors
1. DeMarco Murray: Oklahoma
2. Daniel Thomas: Kansas State
3. Evan Royster: Penn State
4. Kendall Hunter: Oklahoma State
5. Noel Devine: West Virginia
6. Brandon Saine: Ohio State
7. Anthony Allen: Georgia Tech
8. Derrick Locke: Kentucky
9. Da’Rel Scott: Maryland
10. Shaun Draughn: North Carolina
11. Allen Bradford: USC
12. Armando Allen: Notre Dame
13. Emmanuel Moody: Florida
14. Donald Buckram: UTEP
15. Baron Batch: Texas Tech
 
Eligible Underclassmen
1. Mark Ingram: Alabama
2. Jordan Todman: UCONN
3. Ryan Williams: Virginia Tech*
4. John Clay: Wisconsin
5. Quizz Rodgers: Oregon State
6. Jermie Calhoun: Oklahoma*
7. Jeff Demps: Florida
8. Mikel Leshoure - Illinois
9. Jamie Harper: Clemson
10. Jermaine Thomas: Florida State

Wide Receivers

Seniors
1. Armon Binns: Cincinnati
2. Greg Little: North Carolina
3. Terrance Toliver: LSU
4. Niles Paul: Nebraska
5. James Rodgers: Oregon State
6. Ronald Johnson: USC
7. Austin Pettis: Boise State
8. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos: Iowa
9. Leonard Hankerson: Miami
10. Greg Salas: Hawaii
11. Marshall Williams: Wake Forest
12. Duval Kamara: Notre Dame
13. Gerald Jones: Tennessee
14. James Cleveland: Houston
15. Dane Sanzenbacher: Ohio State

Eligible Underclassmen
1. Jonathan Baldwin: PITT
2. Julio Jones: Alabama
3. A.J. Green: Georgia
4. Michael Floyd: Notre Dame
5. Deonte Thompson: Florida
6. Torrey Smith: Maryland
7. DeAndre Brown: Southern Miss
8. Ryan Broyles: Oklahoma
9. Tori Gurley: South Carolina*
10. DeVier Posey: Ohio State

Tight Ends

Seniors
1. Lance Kendricks: Wisconsin
2. DJ Williams: Arkansas
3. Weslye Saunders: South Carolina
4. Luke Stocker: Tennessee
5. Cameron Graham: Louisville
6. Joe Torchia: Virginia
7. Mike McNeil: Nebraska
8. Charlie Gannt: Michigan State
9. Jeffery Anderson: UAB
10. Mike Ragone: Notre Dame
11. Konrad Reuland: Stanford
12. Virgil Green: Nevada
13. Kyle Adams: Purdue
14. Greg Smith: Texas
15. Martell Webb: Michigan

Eligible Underclassmen
1. Kyle Rudolph: Notre Dame
2. DeAngelo Peterson: LSU
3. Lansford Watson: Maryland
4. Kevin Koger: Michigan
5. Blake Ayles: USC
6. George Bryan: North Carolina State
7. Ladarius Green: Louisiana-Lafayette
8. Aron White: Georgia
9. D.C. Jefferson: Rutgers*
10. Kavario Middleton: Washington

Offensive Lineman

Seniors
1. Gabe Carimi: Wisconsin
2. Anthony Castonzo: Boston College
3. Lee Ziemba: Auburn
4. Joseph Barksdale: LSU
5. Rodney Hudson: Florida State
6. Nate Solder: Colorado
7. Clint Boling: Georgia
8. Justin Boren: Ohio State
9. Derek Sherrod: Mississippi State
10. Jason Pinkston: PITT
11. Mike Pouncey: Florida
12. Stefen Wisniewski: Penn State
13. Marcus Cannon: TCU
14. Cory Brandon: Oklahoma
15. Jarriel King: South Carolina

Eligible Underclassmen
1. Nate Potter: Boise State
2. Josh Oglesby: Wisconsin
3. Matt Reynolds: BYU
4. Andrew Datko: Florida State
5. Tyron Smith: USC
6. Blake DeChristopher: Virginia Tech
7. Stephen Good: Oklahoma
8. Ryan Miller: Colorado
9. Mike Brewster: Ohio State
10. Lamar Milstead: Virginia

Defensive Tackles

Seniors
1. Marvin Austin: North Carolina
2. Cam Heyward: Ohio State
3. Drake Nevis: LSU
4. Stephen Paea: Oregon State
5. Jerrell Powe: Ole Miss
6. Ian Williams: Notre Dame
7. Phil Taylor: Baylor
8. Mike Blanc: Auburn
9. Jarvis Jenkins: Clemson
10. Terron Sanders: Florida
11. Adrian Taylor: Oklahoma
12. Chris Neild: West Virginia
13. Ladi Ajiboye: South Carolina
14. Anthony Gray: Southern Miss
15. Derrick Hill: CAL

Eligible Underclassmen
1. Jared Crick: Nebraska
2. Jaye Howard: Florida
3. Lawrence Guy: Arizona State
4. Tydreke Powell: North Carolina
5. Jurell Casey: USC
6. Josh Chapman: Alabama
7. Dominique Hamilton: Missouri
8. Brandon Thompson: Clemson
9. Nick Jenkins: Virginia
10. Billy Winn: Boise State

Defensive Ends

Seniors
1. Adrian Clayborn: Iowa
2. Chris Walker: Tennessee
3. Jeremy Beal: Oklahoma
4. Greg Romeus: PITT
5. Cliff Matthews: South Carolina
6. Allen Bailey: Miami
7. Sam Acho: Texas
8. Jabaal Sheard: PITT
9. Kenny Rowe: Oregon
10. Pernell McPhee: Mississippi State
11. Ryan Kerrigan: Purdue
12. Ugo Chinasa: Oklahoma State
13. Clay Nurse: Illinois
14. Markus White: Florida State
15. Cameron Jordan: CAL

Eligible Underclassmen
1. Robert Quinn: North Carolina
2. Jack Crawford: Penn State
3. Nick Perry: USC*
4. Marcell Dareus: Alabama
5. Adewale Ojomo: Miami
6. Tom Keiser: Stanford
7. Da’Quan Bowers: Clemson
8. Aldon Smith: Missouri*
9. Datone Jones: UCLA
10. Broderick Binns: Iowa

Linebackers

Seniors
1. Michael Morgan: USC
2. Bruce Carter: North Carolina
3. Alex Wujciak: Maryland
4. Von Miller: Texas A&M
5. Greg Jones: Michigan State
6. Kelvin Sheppard: LSU
7. Quan Sturdivant: North Carolina
8. Josh Bynes: Auburn
9. Malcolm Smith: USC
10. Brian Rolle: Ohio State
11. Casey Matthews: Oregon
12. Brian Smith: Notre Dame
13. Bani Gbadyu: Penn State
14. Derrell Smith: Syracuse
15. Anthony Egbuwine: Georgia Tech

Eligible Underclassmen
1. Akeem Ayers: UCLA
2. Dont’a Hightower: Alabma
3. Trent Lewis: Oklahoma
4. Adrian Robinson: Temple
5. Zach Brown: North Carolina
6. Keenan Robinson: Texas
7. Nigel Bradham: Florida State
8. Jerrell Harris: Alabama
9. Sean Spence: Miami
10. Chris Marve: Vanderbilt

Cornerbacks

Seniors
1. Prince Amukamara: Nebraska
2. Kendric Burney: North Carolina
3. Curtis Brown: Texas
4. Marcus Gilchrist: Clemson
5. Ras-I Dowling: Virginia
6. Brandon Hogan: West Virginia
7. Chimdi Chekwa : Ohio State
8. Rashad Carmichael: Virginia Tech
9. Chris Harris: Kansas
10. Darian Hagan: CAL
11. Chris Rucker: Michigan State
12. Charles Brown: North Carolina
13. Jai Eugene: LSU
14. Davon House: New Mexico State
15. Niles Brinkley: Wisconsin

Eligible Underclassmen
1. Patrick Peterson: LSU
2. Aaron Williams: Texas
3. Brandon Harris: Miami
4. Janoris Jenkins: Florida
5. Trevin Wade: Arizona
6. Shaun Prater: Iowa
7. Brandon Boykin: Georgia
8. Casey Hayward: Vanderbilt
9. Neiko Thorpe: Auburn
10. Dominique Battle: Cincinnati

Safeties

Seniors
1. DeAndre McDaniel: Clemson
2. Deunta Williams: North Carolina
3. Chris Culliver: South Carolina
4. Quinton Carter: Oklahoma
5. Jermale Hines: Ohio State
6. Ahmad Black: Florida
7. Tejay Johnson: TCU
8. Eric Hagg: Nebraska
9. Jasper Simmons: Missouri
10. Jeron Johnson: Boise State
11. Duke Ihenacho: San Jose State
12. Jay Valai: Wisconsin
13. Dom DeCicco: PITT
14. Jaiquawn Jarrett: Temple
15. Brett Greenwood: Iowa

Eligible Underclassmen
1.Mark Barron: Alabama
2.Will Hill: Florida
3.Rahim Moore: UCLA
4.Robert Sands: West Virginia
5.Tyler Sash: Iowa
6. Kenny Tate: Maryland
7. Robert Golden: Arizona
8. Brandon Taylor: LSU
9. Markelle Martin: Oklahoma State
10.Charles Mitchell: Mississippi State

Top 25 Overall
1. Quarterback - Jake Locker: Washington (Senior)
2. Defensive Tackle - Marvin Austin: North Carolina (Senior)
3. Defensive End - Adrian Clayborn: Iowa (Senior)
4. Quarterback - Ryan Mallett: Arkansas (Junior)
5. Wide Receiver - Jonathan Baldwin: PITT (Junior)
6. Defensive End - Robert Quinn: North Carolina (Junior)
7. Cornerback - Patrick Peterson: LSU (Junior)
8. Defensive Tackle - Cam Heyward: Ohio State (Senior)
9. Offensive Tackle - Gabe Carimi: Wisconsin (Senior)
10. Safety - Mark Barron: Alabama (Junior)
11. Linebacker - Akeem Ayers: UCLA (Junior)
12. Wide Receiver - Julio Jones: Alabama (Junior)
13. Defensive End - Chris Walker: Tennessee (Senior)
14. Linebacker - Michael Morgan: USC (Senior)
15. Running Back - Mark Ingram: Alabama (Junior)
16. Offensive Tackle - Anthony Castonzo: Boston College (Senior)
17. Wide Receiver - A.J. Green: Georgia (Junior)
18. Cornerback - Aaron Williams: Texas (Junior)
19. Running Back - DeMarco Murray: Oklahoma (Senior)
20. Cornerback - Prince Amukamara: Nebraska (Senior)
21. Linebacker - Bruce Carter: North Carolina (Senior)
22. Tight End - Kyle Rudolph: Notre Dame (Junior)
23. Defensive Tackle - Jared Crick: Nebraska (Junior)
24. Offensive Tackle - Lee Ziemba: Auburn (Senior)
25. Safety - DeAndre McDaniel: Clemson (Senior)

*denotes redshirt sophomore