College Football Kickoff: Top NFL Draft Prospects To Watch In 2010

Although the NFL draft is nearly eight months away, it is never too early to begin speculating about who might be chosen in the annual selection process. While it is a waste of time to do a mock draft at this point, not yet knowing what the draft order will be, it is much more convenient to focus on which players are potential first-round picks.

Let's hope the 2011 draft isn't cancelled by some stubborn complications during the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiation. Assuming all will go on as planned, here is a list of prospects to help the reader get started for early draft preparation. The rankings will certainly change during the season and off-season due to performance, NFL combine results, injuries and off-the-field issues.

For now, start taking notes on these 32 prospects and the top underclassmen...and then do your own September mock draft if you wish.

Top 32 Seniors

1. Jake Locker - QB - Washington (6'3", 230)
2. Adrian Clayborn - DE - Iowa (6'3", 286)
3. Cameron Heyward - DE - Ohio State (6'5", 285)
4. Gabe Carimi - OT - Wisconsin (6'7", 315)
5. Bruce Carter - OLB - North Carolina (6'3", 230)
6. Allen Bailey - DE - Miami, FL (6'4", 288)
7. Prince Amukamara - CB - Nebraska (6'0", 200)
8. Greg Romeus - DE - Pittsburgh (6'5", 268)
9. Von Miller - OLB - Texas A&M (6'2", 240)
10. Stephen Paea - Oregon State (6'2", 310)
11. DeMarcus Love - OT - Arkansas (6'5", 315)
12. Christian Ponder - QB - Florida State (6'3", 227)
13. Evan Royster - HB - Penn State (6'1", 213)
14. DeMarco Murray - HB - Oklahoma (6'0", 214)
15. Greg Jones - ILB - Michigan State (6'1", 235)
16. Ras-I Dowling - CB - Virginia (6'2", 200)
17. Lee Ziemba - OT - Auburn (6'8", 320)
18. Marvin Austin - DT - North Carolina (6'3", 310)
19. Greg Little - WR - North Carolina (6'3", 215)
20. Stefan Wisniewski - C/OG - Penn State (6'3", 298)
21. Jerrell Powe - DT - Mississippi (6'2", 328)
22. Mark Herzlich - OLB - Boston College (6'4", 248)
23. Jeremy Beal - DE - Oklahoma (6'3", 260)
24. Curtis Brown - CB - Texas (6'0", 180)
25. DeAndre McDaniel - SS - Clemson (6'0", 212)
26. Terrence Toliver - WR - LSU (6'5", 206)
27. Deunta Williams - FS - North Carolina (6'1", 210)
28. Anthony Costanzo - OT - Boston College (6'7", 295)
29. Mike Pouncey - C - Florida (6'4", 310)
30. Pernell McPhee - DE - Mississippi State (6'4", 275)
31. Davon House - CB - New Mexico State (6'0", 180)
32. Ryan Kerrigan - DE - Purdue (6'4", 263)

Top Underclassmen

1. Andrew Luck - QB - Stanford (6'4", 235)
2. Mark Ingram - HB - Alabama (5'10", 215)
3. Robert Quinn - DE - North Carolina (6'5", 268)
4. Jonathan Baldwin - WR - Pittsburgh (6'5", 225)
5. Ryan Williams - HB - Virginia Tech (5'10", 211)
6. Ryan Mallett - QB - Arkansas (6'7", 238)
7. Matt Reynolds - OT - Brigham Young (6'6", 329)
8. Travis Lewis - OLB - Oklahoma (6'2", 232)
9. Patrick Peterson - CB - LSU (6'1", 211)
10. Marcell Dareus - DE - Alabama (6'3", 306)
11. A.J. Green - WR - Georgia (6'4", 207)
12. Jared Crick - DT - Nebraska (6'6", 285)
13. Kyle Rudolph - TE - Notre Dame (6'6", 265)
14. Jack Crawford - DE - Penn State (6'5", 256)
15. Jurrell Casey - DT - USC (6'1", 295)