2011 NFL Draft: Terrelle Pryor Tops The Big Board Heading into Week 6

Well folks, we’re officially nearing the midpoint of the college football regular season.

Time flies, doesn’t it?

So far Alabama has looked dominant as usual, while teams such as Ohio State and Oregon have stated their case to be in the mix for National Championship consideration.

We’re still far too early in the evaluation period to get a real definitive feel of how next year’s draft will play out, but we've seen a few of the elite prospects in the country prove their worth with some great individual performances.

The senior class isn’t one that’s filled with numerous star-caliber players, but there's a bunch of underclassmen who look like they have that “special stuff.”

The impending lockout could be a major factor in who decides to come out after the season, and it will be interesting to see how many of the top juniors and redshirt sophomores decide to declare if there’s no NFL season next year.

Here’s a look at how I have the players rated after five weeks of play. Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor still tops the list even though he’s got a whole bunch of doubters out there. It saddens me to see that America still isn’t ready to embrace a great young black quarterback like Pryor, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to deny his elite ability.

Here’s a look at an updated version of the Flynn Forty and some individual position rankings.

Like I said, it’s far too early to set anything in concrete yet. But there are certain players who have shown their NFL potential already this season, and I’d like to acknowledge those young men who’ve been blessed with some terrific talent.

Look for my in-depth 2011 NFL Draft Midseason Report at the conclusion of Week 7.

The Flynn 40

1. Quarterback: Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State*
2. Quarterback: Andrew Luck, Stanford**
3. Cornerback: Patrick Peterson, LSU*
4. Wide Receiver: Michael Floyd, Notre Dame*
5. Defensive End: Aldon Smith, Missouri**
6. Outside Linebacker: Bruce Carter, North Carolina
7. Quarterback: Jake Locker, Washington
8. Cornerback: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
9. Running Back: Mark Ingram, Alabama*
10. Defensive End: Robert Quinn, North Carolina*
11. Outside Linebacker: Akeem Ayers, UCLA*
12. Wide Receiver: A.J. Green, Georgia*
13. Defensive Tackle: Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
14. Safety: Mark Barron, Alabama*
15. Offensive Tackle: Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State
16. Defensive End: Marcell Dareus, Alabama*
17. Cornerback: Aaron Williams, Texas*
18. Quarterback: Ryan Mallett, Arkansas*
19. Defensive End: Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
20. Defensive Tackle: Jaye Howard, Florida*
21. Linebacker: Dont’a Hightower, Alabama**
22. Tight End: Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame*
23. Cornerback: Brandon Harris: Miami*
24. Running Back: LaMichael James, Oregon**
25. Defensive Tackle: Christian Ballard, Iowa
26. Outside Linebacker: Dontay Moch, Nevada
27. Cornerback: Chris Culliver, South Carolina
28. Wide Receiver: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma*
29. Defensive End: Allen Bailey, Miami
30. Defensive End: Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
31. Inside Linebacker: Alex Wujciak, Maryland
32. Wide Receiver: DeVier Posey, Ohio State*
33. Defensive Tackle: Sione Fua, Stanford
34. Offensive Tackle: DeMarcus Love, Arkansas
35. Safety: Lance Mitchell, Oregon State*
36. Running Back: DeMarco Murray: Oklahoma
37. Outside Linebacker: Chris Walker, Tennessee
38. Offensive Tackle: Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
39. Quarterback: Christian Ponder, Florida State
40. Wide Receiver: Titus Young, Boise State

Quarterbacks

Top 10 Seniors
1. Jake Locker: Washington
2. Christian Ponder: Florida State
3. Colin Kaepernick: Nevada
4. Andy Dalton: TCU
5. Greg McElroy: Alabama
6. Jerrod Johnson: Texas A&M
7. Jeff Van Camp: Florida Atlantic
8. Nathan Enderle: Idaho
9. Pat Devlin: Delaware
10. Tyrod Taylor: Virginia Tech

Top Five Underclassmen
1. Terrelle Pryor: Ohio State
2. Andrew Luck: Stanford
3. Ryan Mallett: Arkansas
4. Cam Newton: Auburn
5. Nick Foles: Arizona

Running Backs

Top 10 Seniors
1. DeMarco Murray: Oklahoma
2. Daniel Thomas: Kansas State
3. Armando Allen: Notre Dame
4. Kendall Hunter: Oklahoma State
5. Jonathan Williams: East Carolina
6. Brandon Saine: Ohio State
7. Noel Devine: West Virginia
8. Derrick Locke: Kentucky
9. Evan Royster: Penn State
10. Bilal Powell: Louisville

Top Five Underclassmen
1. Mark Ingram: Alabama
2. LaMichael James: Oregon
3. Brandon Bolden: Ole Miss
4. Shane Vereen: Cal
5. Mikel Leshoure: Illinois

Wide Receivers

Top 10 Seniors
1. Titus Young: Boise State
2. Denarius Moore: Tennessee
3. Leonard Hankerson: Miami
4. Austin Pettis: Boise State
5. Chris Matthews: Kentucky
6. Greg Little: North Carolina
7. Dwayne Harris: East Carolina
8. Ronald Johnson: USC
9. Armon Binns: Cincinnati
10. Niles Paul: Nebraska

Top Five Underclassmen
1. Michael Floyd: Notre Dame
2. A.J. Green: Georgia
3. Ryan Broyles: Oklahoma
4. DeVier Posey: Ohio State
5. Julio Jones: Alabama

Tight Ends

Top 10 Seniors
1. Luke Stocker: Tennessee
2. Lance Kendricks: Wisconsin
3. Virgil Green: Nevada
4. DJ Williams: Arkansas
5. Zack Pianalto: North Carolina
6. Jeffrey Anderson: UAB
7. Rob Housler: Florida Atlantic
8. Eric Peitz: Colorado State
9. (WR) Mike McNeil: Nebraska
10. Konrad Reuland: Stanford

Top Five Underclassmen
1. Kyle Rudolph: Notre Dame
2. Deangelo Peterson: LSU
3. Anthony Miller: Cal
4. Adrien Robinson: Cincinnati
5. Michael Egnew: Missouri

Offensive Linemen

Top 10 Seniors
1. Derek Sherrod: Mississippi
2. DeMarcus Love: Arkansas
3. Anthony Castonzo: Boston College
4. Justin Boren: Ohio State
5. Mike Pouncey: Florida
6. Joseph Barksdale: LSU
7. Colin Baxter: Arizona
8. Gabe Carimi: Wisconsin
9. Rodney Hudson: Florida State
10. Clint Boling: Georgia

Top Five Underclassmen
1. Kelechi Osemele: Iowa State
2. Josh Oglesby: Wisconsin
3. Matt Reynolds: BYU
4. Ryan Miller: Colorado
5. Nate Potter: Boise State

Defensive Tackles

Top 10 Seniors
1. (DE) Cameron Heyward: Ohio State
2. Christian Ballard: Iowa
3. Sione Fua: Stanford
4. Marvin Austin: North Carolina
5. Stephen Paea: Oregon State
6. Jarvis Jenkins: Clemson
7. Drake Nevis: LSU
8. Ian Williams: Notre Dame
9. Phil Taylor: Baylor
10. Jerrell Powe: Ole Miss

Top Five Underclassmen
1. (DE) Marcell Darues: Alabama
2. Jaye Howard: Florida
3. Jurrell Casey: USC
4. Nick Fairley: Auburn
5. Jared Crick: Nebraska

Defensive Ends

Top 10 Seniors
1. Adrian Clayborn: Iowa
2. Allen Bailey: Miami
3. Ryan Kerrigan: Purdue
4. Sam Acho: Texas
5. Cam Jordan: Cal
6. Jeremy Beal: Oklahoma
7. Cliff Matthews: South Carolina
8. Greg Romeus: Pitt
9. Brooks Reed: Arizona
10. Pernell McPhee: Mississippi State

Top Five Underclassmen
1. Aldon Smith: Missouri
2. Robert Quinn: North Carolina
3. Da’Quan Bowers: Clemson
4. Armond Armstead: USC
5. JJ Watt: Wisconsin

Linebackers

Top 10 Seniors
1. Bruce Carter: North Carolina
2. (DE) Dontay Moch: Nevada
3. Alex Wujciak: Maryland
4. (DE) Chris Walker: Tennessee
5. Von Miller: Texas A&M
6. Michael Morgan: USC
7. Brad Jefferson: Georgia Tech
8. Greg Jones: Michigan State
9. Brian Duncan: Texas Tech
10. Jonathan Cornell: Ole Miss

Top Five Underclassmen
1. Akeem Ayers: UCLA
2. Dont’a Hightower: Alabama
3. Travis Lewis: Oklahoma
4. Nigel Bradham: Florida State
5. Justin Houston: Georgia

Cornerbacks

Top 10 Seniors
1. Prince Amukamara: Nebraska
2. Chris Culliver: South Carolina
3. Curtis Brown: Texas
4. Brandon Hogan: West Virginia
5. Chris L. Rucker: Michigan State
6. Jimmy Smith: Colorado
7. Lametrius Davis: Hawaii
8. Ramon Broadway: Arkansas
9. Brandyn Thompson: Boise State
10. Ras-I Dowling: Virginia

Top Five Underclassmen
1. Patrick Peterson: LSU
2. Aaron Williams: Texas
3. Brandon Harris: Miami
4. Omar Bolden: Arizona State
5. Janoris Jenkins: Florida

Safeties

Top 10 Seniors
1. Deunta Williams: North Carolina
2. DeAndre McDaniel: Clemson
3. Quinton Carter: Oklahoma
4. Dejon Gomes: Nebraska
5. Jermale Hines: Ohio State
6. Nate Williams: Washington
7. Shiloh Keo: Idaho
8. Johnny Brown: Ole Miss
9. Jasper Simmons: Missouri
10. Joe Lefeged: Rutgers

Top Five Underclassmen
1. Mark Barron: Alabama
2. Lance Mitchell: Oregon State
3. Rahim Moore: UCLA
4. Brandon Taylor: LSU
5. Tyler Sash: Iowa