2011 NFL Draft Midseason Position Rankings

There comes a time in every man’s life when he has to suck it up and admit he’s wrong, and that time is now.

As I sit here at this very moment, watching Frost/Nixon on HBO and gazing at Frank Langella’s character as he owns up to his mistakes and takes on the burden of his miscues, I must in turn do the same.

Looking back on the last few months as I pumped up Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor to near mythical proportions trying to be that “edgy, go against the grain” guy, I realize now the foolishness and the misguided thoughts of my actions.

I entered my time as a Bleacher Report writer a few months ago with the mindset that I should treat covering my first college football season as simply a learning experience. And as they say—you learn more from your mistakes than anything else.

This weekend was a bit of a disaster as I watched the one player I’ve been pumping up all season, Terrelle Pryor, falter in his biggest test of the season and my national champion pick, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, sink into the college football abyss like the Titanic.

But hey, that's just college football for you. If it was so easy to predict, we all wouldn't love it as much as we do.

Well, now is the time to regroup, learn from my mistakes and get ready for a second half of the college football season that is shaping up to be loads of fun.

These will be the last NFL Draft rankings I probably put out until at least November, just because at this point, it’s so hard to pinpoint exactly who is really the best of the best just yet.

Here’s what I have to offer right now, but remember, things will change a whole lot in the next few months as we head closer to draft day at the end of next April.

I always try and stress to the people that like to live in the here and now that we still have a long way to go.

Quarterbacks

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 25: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal looks for a receiver against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 25, 2010 in South Bend, Indiana. Stanford defeated Notre Dame 37-14. (Photo by Jonathan D

Top Five Overall

1. Andrew Luck: Stanford

2. Jake Locker: Washington

3. Ryan Mallett: Arkansas

4. Terrelle Pryor: Ohio State

5. Christian Ponder: Florida State

Top Seniors
1. Jake Locker: Washington
2. Christian Ponder: Florida State
3. Nathan Enderle: Idaho
4. Greg McElroy: Alabama
5. Jerrod Johnson: Texas A&M
6. Colin Kaepernick: Nevada
7. Andy Dalton: TCU
8. Pat Devlin: Delaware
9. Ricky Stanzi: Iowa
10. Tyrod Taylor: Virginia Tech
11. Case Keenum: Houston
12. Jeff Van Camp: Florida Atlantic
13. T.J. Yates: North Carolina
14. Kevin Riley: Cal
15. Taylor Potts: Texas Tech

Top Underclassmen
1. Andrew Luck: Stanford
2. Ryan Mallett: Arkansas
3. Terrelle Pryor: Ohio State
4. Nick Foles: Arizona
5. Blaine Gabbert: Missouri
6. Cameron Newton: Auburn
7. Kirk Cousins: Michigan State
8. John Brantley: Florida
9. Kellen Moore: Boise State
10. Dayne Crist: Notre Dame

Running Backs

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 16: Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide rushes upfield against the Ole Miss Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Top Five Overall

1. Mark Ingram: Alabama

2. LaMichael James: Oregon

3. DeMarco Murray: Oklahoma

4. Ryan Williams: Virginia Tech

5. Brandon Bolden: Ole Miss

Top Seniors
1. DeMarco Murray: Oklahoma
2. Kendall Hunter: Oklahoma State
3. Daniel Thomas: Kansas State
4. Armando Allen: Notre Dame
5. Noel Devine: West Virginia
6. Bilal Powell: Louisville
7. Derrick Locke: Kentucky
8. Allen Bradford: USC
9. Delone Carter: Syracuse
10. Brandon Saine: Ohio State
11. Jonathan Williams: East Carolina
12. Evan Royster: Penn State
13. Roy Helu: Nebraska
14. Nic Grigsby: Arizona
15. Graig Cooper: Miami

Top Underclassmen
1. Mark Ingram: Alabama
2. LaMichael James: Oregon
3. Ryan Williams: Virginia Tech
4. Brandon Bolden: Ole Miss
5. John Clay: Wisconsin
6. Shane Vereen: Cal
7. Mikel Leshoure: Illinois
8. Quizz Rodgers: Oregon State
9. Jeff Demps: Florida
10. Jordan Todman: UCONN

Wide Receivers

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 03: A.J. Green #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs against the Louisiana State University Tigers at Sanford Stadium on October 3, 2009 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Top Five Overall

1. A.J. Green: Georgia

2. Michael Floyd: Notre Dame

3. Ryan Broyles: Oklahoma

4. Julio Jones: Alabama

5. Jonathan Baldwin: Pitt

Top Seniors
1. Chris Matthews: Kentucky
2. Titus Young: Boise State
3. Denarius Moore: Tennessee
4. Leonard Hankerson: Miami
5. Niles Paul: Nebraska
6. Greg Little: North Carolina
7. Ronald Johnson: USC
8. Dwayne Harris: East Carolina
9. Austin Pettis: Boise State
10. Armon Binns: Cincinnati
11. Terrence Toliver: LSU
12. James Rodgers: Oregon State
13. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos: Iowa
14. Mark Dell: Michigan State
15. Jerrel Jernigan: Troy State

Top Underclassmen
1. A.J. Green: Georgia
2. Michael Floyd: Notre Dame
3. Ryan Broyles: Oklahoma
4. Julio Jones: Alabama
5. Jonathan Baldwin: Pitt
6. DeVier Posey: Ohio State
7. Greg Childs: Arkansas
8. Jeff Fuller: Texas A&M
9. Jermaine Kearse: Washington
10. Darvin Adams: Auburn

Tight Ends

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 03: Kyle Rudolph #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish breaks away from Quinton Rochardson #28 of the Washington Huskies after catching the ball on October 3, 2009 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Wa

Top Five Overall

1. Kyle Rudolph: Notre Dame

2. Lance Kendricks: Wisconsin

3. Luke Stocker: Tennessee

4. Deangelo Peterson: LSU

5. Virgil Green: Nevada

Top Seniors
1. Lance Kendricks: Wisconsin
2. Luke Stocker: Tennessee
3. Virgil Green: Nevada
4. DJ Williams: Arkansas
5. Jeffery Anderson: UAB
6. Zack Pianalto: North Carolina
7. Daniel Hardy: Idaho
8. Rob Housler: Florida Atlantic
9. (WR) Mike McNeill: Nebraska
10. Andre Smith: Virginia Tech
11. Weslye Saunders: South Carolina
12. Allen Reisner: Iowa
13. Charlie Gantt: Michigan State
14. Eric Peitz: Colorado State
15. Alston Umuolo: San Diego State

Top Underclassmen
1. Kyle Rudolph: Notre Dame
2. Deangelo Peterson: LSU
3. George Bryan: North Carolina State
4. Michael Egnew: Missouri
5. Anthony Miller: Cal
6. Adrien Robinson: Cincinnati
7. Kevin Koger: Michigan
8. David Paulson: Oregon
9. Ladarius Green: Louisiana-Lafayette
10. Brandon Barden: Vanderbilt

Offensive Tackles

Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod

Top Five Overall

1. Derek Sherrod: Mississippi State

2. Anthony Castonzo: Boston College

3. Jason Pinkston: Pitt

4. Joseph Barksdale: LSU

5. Chris Hairston: Clemson

Top Seniors
1. Derek Sherrod: Mississippi State
2. Anthony Castonzo: Boston College
3. Jason Pinkston: Pitt
4. Joseph Barksdale: LSU
5. Chris Hairston: Clemson
6. James Brewer: Indiana
7. James Carpenter: Alabama
8. Nate Solder: Colorado
9. Lee Ziemba: Auburn
10. Byron Stingily: Louisville
11. Dannny Watkins: Baylor
12. Gabe Carimi: Wisconsin
13. D.J. Young: Michigan State
14. Adam Grant: Arizona
15. Marcus Gilbert: Florida

Top Underclassmen
1. Kelechi Osemele: Iowa State
2. Tyron Smith: USC
3. Al Netter: Northwestern
4. Matt Reynolds: BYU
5. Mike Adams: Ohio State
6. Yoshi Hardrick: Nebraska
7. Bradley Sowell: Ole Miss
8. Andrew Datko: Florida State
9. Blake DeChristopher: Virginia Tech
10. Landon Bradley: Virginia

Interior Offensive Lineman

Eric Francis/Getty Images

LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 04: Head Coach Bo Pelini of the Nebraska Cornhuskers talks with Keith Williams #68 during a break in second half action of their game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Memorial Stadium on September 4, 2010 in Lincoln, Neb

Top Five Overall

1. Keith Williams: Nebraska

2. (OT) DeMarcus Love: Arkansas

3. Rodney Hudson: Florida State

4. Marcus Cannon: TCU

5. Mike Pouncey: Florida

Top Seniors
1. Keith Williams: Nebraska
2. (OT) DeMarcus Love: Arkansas
3. Rodney Hudson: Florida State
4. Marcus Cannon: TCU
5. Mike Pouncey: Florida
6. Stefen Wisniewski: Penn State
7. Zach Hurd: UCONN
8. Justin Boren: Ohio State
9. Kristofer O’Dowd: USC
10. (OT) Orlando Franklin: Miami
11. Colin Baxter: Arizona
12. (OT) Clint Boling: Georgia
13. Ryan Bartholomew: Syracuse
14. Chase Beeler: Stanford
15. Stephen Schilling: Michigan

Top Underclassmen
1. David DeCastro: Stanford
2. Barrett Jones: Alabama
3. Ryan Miller: Colorado
4. Nate Potter: Boise State
5. Mike Brewster: Ohio State
6. Trevor Robinson: Notre Dame
7. Cordy Glenn: Georgia
8. William Vlachos: Alabama
9. Stephen Good: Oklahoma
10. Alex Hoffman: Cincinnati

Defensive Tackles

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 02: Marcell Dareus #57 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Florida Gators at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Top Five Overall

1. (DE) Marcell Dareus: Alabama

2. Jerel Worthy: Michigan State

3. Nick Fairley: Auburn

4. (DE) Cameron Heyward: Ohio State

5. Christian Ballard: Iowa

Top Seniors
1. (DE) Cameron Heyward: Ohio State
2. Christian Ballard: Iowa
3. Stephen Paea: Oregon State
4. Marvin Austin: North Carolina
5. Sione Fua: Stanford
6. Jarvis Jenkins: Clemson
7. Drake Nevis: LSU
8. Ian Williams: Notre Dame
9. Jerrell Powe: Ole Miss
10. Phil Taylor: Baylor
11. Kenrick Ellis: Hampton
12. Anthony Gray: Southern Miss
13. Terrell McClain: South Florida
14. Adrian Taylor: Oklahoma
15. Chris Neild: West Virginia

Top Underclassmen
1. (DE) Marcell Dareus: Alabama
2. Jerel Worthy: Michigan State
3. Nick Fairley: Auburn
4. Jaye Howard: Florida
5. Jared Crick: Nebraska
6. Muhammad Wilkerson: Temple
7. Jurrell Casey: USC
8. Mike Martin: Michigan
9. Billy Winn: Boise State
10. Kheeston Randall: Texas

Defensive Ends

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 7: Aldon Smith #85 of the Missouri Tigers is congratulated by teammates during the game against the Baylor Bears at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on November 7, 2009 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Top Five Overall

1. Aldon Smith: Missouri

2. Adrian Clayborn: Iowa

3. Robert Quinn: North Carolina

4. Allen Bailey: Miami

5. Ryan Kerrigan: Purdue

Top Seniors
1. Adrian Clayborn: Iowa
2. Allen Bailey: Miami
3. Ryan Kerrigan: Purdue
4. Sam Acho: Texas
5. Jeremy Beal: Oklahoma
6. Cam Jordan: Cal
7. Cliff Matthews: South Carolina
8. Greg Romeus: Pitt
9. Pernell McPhee: Mississippi State
10. Jabaal Sheard: Pitt
11. Pierre Allen: Nebraska
12. Wayne Daniels: TCU
13. Ugo Chinasa: Oklahoma State
14. Markus White: Florida State
15. Brooks Reed: Arizona

Top Underclassmen
1. Aldon Smith: Missouri
2. Robert Quinn: North Carolina
3. Da’Quan Bowers: Clemson
4. JJ Watt: Wisconsin
5. Quinton Coples: North Carolina
6. Datone Jones: UCLA
7. Adewale Ojomo: Miami
8. Armond Armstead: USC
9. Ryan Van Bergen: Michigan
10. Jason Peters: Georgia Tech

Inside Linebackers

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 02: Dont'a Hightower #30 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Florida Gators at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Top Five Overall

1. Dont’a Hightower: Alabama

2. Jonathan Cornell: Ole Miss

3. Brad Jefferson: Georgia Tech

4. Greg Jones: Michigan State

5. Quan Sturdivant: North Carolina

Top Seniors
1. Jonathan Cornell: Ole Miss
2. Brad Jefferson: Georgia Tech
3. Greg Jones: Michigan State
4. Quan Sturdivant: North Carolina
5. Alex Wujciak: Maryland
6. Ross Homan: Ohio State
7. Josh Bynes: Auburn
8. Mario Harvey: Marshall
9. Kelvin Sheppard: LSU
10. Derrell Smith: Syracuse
11. Nate Irving: North Carolina State
12. Casey Matthews: Oregon
13. Colin McCarthy: Miami
14. Mike Mohamed: Cal
15. Culmer St. Jean: Wisconsin

Top Underclassmen
1. Dont’a Hightower: Alabama
2. Garrick Williams: Texas A&M
3. Martez Wilson: Illiniois
4. Courtney Upshaw: Alabama
5. Barquell Rivers: Virginia Tech
6. Chris Marve: Vanderbilt
7. Tank Carder: TCU
8. Korey Williams: Southern Miss
9. James Michael-Johnson: Nevada
10. Chris Galippo: USC

Outside Linebackers

Andrew Burton/Getty Images

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - SEPTEMBER 25: Bruce Carter #54 of the North Carolina Tar Heels intercepts a pass intented for Keith Stroud #15 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second quarter at Rutgers Stadium on September 25, 2010 in New Brunswick, New Jers

Top Five Overall

1. Bruce Carter: North Carolina

2. Akeem Ayers: UCLA

3. (DE) Dontay Moch: Nevada

4. Travis Lewis: Oklahoma

5. Mason Foster: Washington

Top Seniors
1. Bruce Carter: North Carolina
2. (DE) Dontay Moch: Nevada
3. Mason Foster: Washington
4. Von Miller: Texas A&M
5. (DE) Chris Walker: Tennessee
6. Brian Duncan: Texas Tech
7. Michael Morgan: USC
8. Mark Herzlich: Boston College
9. K.J. Wright: Mississippi State
10.(DE) Eddie Jones: Texas
11. Lawrence Wilson: UCONN
12. Brian Rolle: Ohio State
13. Jeremiha Hunter: Iowa
14. Adrian Moten: Maryland
15. A.J. Jones: Florida

Top Underclassmen
1. Akeem Ayers: UCLA
2. Travis Lewis: Oklahoma
3. Nigel Bradham: Florida State
4. Justin Houston: Georgia
5. Keenan Robinson: Texas
6. Thomas Keiser: Stanford
7. (DE) Adrian Robinson: Temple
8. Zach Brown: North Carolina
9. Darius Fleming: Notre Dame
10. Jerrell Harris: Alabama

Cornerbacks

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 04: Patrick Peterson #7 of the LSU Tigers against of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Georgia Dome on September 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Top Five Overall

1. Patrick Peterson: LSU

2. Prince Amukamara: Nebraska

3. Brandon Harris: Miami

4. Omar Bolden: Arizona State

5. Aaron Williams: Texas

Top Seniors
1. Prince Amukamara: Nebraska
2. Curtis Brown: Texas
3. Chris Culliver: South Carolina
4. Brandon Hogan: West Virginia
5. Chris L. Rucker: Michigan State
6. Jimmy Smith: Colorado
7. Shareece Wright: USC
8. Ras-I Dowling: Virginia
9. Ramon Broadway: Arkansas
10. Kendric Burney: North Carolina
11. Lametrius Davis: Hawaii
12. Chimdi Chekwa: Ohio State
13. Brandyn Thompson: Boise State
14. Mario Butler: Georgia Tech
15. Talmadge Jackson: Oregon

Top Underclassmen
1. Patrick Peterson: LSU
2. Brandon Harris: Miami
3. Omar Bolden: Arizona State
4. Aaron Williams: Texas
5. Janoris Jenkins: Florida
6. Alfonzo Dennard: Nebraska
7. Brandon Burton: Utah
8. Trevin Wade: Arizona
9. Shaun Prater: Iowa
10. Tashaun Gipson: Wyoming

Safeties

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 11: Mark Barron #4 of the Alabama Crimson Tide intercepts a pass intended for Brett Brackett #83 of the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 11, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Gett

Top Five Overall

1. Mark Barron: Alabama

2. Lance Mitchell: Oregon State

3. DeAndre McDaniel: Clemson

4. Deunta Williams: North Carolina

5. Quinton Carter: Oklahoma

Top Seniors
1. DeAndre McDaniel: Clemson
2. Deunta Williams: North Carolina
3. Quinton Carter: Oklahoma
4. Jermale Hines: Ohio State
5. Dejon Gomes: Nebraska
6. Nate Williams: Washington
7. Jaiquawn Jarrett: Temple
8. Johnny Brown: Ole Miss
9. Shiloh Keo: Idaho
10. Tejay Johnson: TCU
11. Jay Valai: Wisconsin
12. Joe Lefeged: Rutgers
13. Ahmad Black: Florida
14. Brian Lainhart: Kent State
15. Dom DeCicco: Pitt

Top Underclassmen
1. Mark Barron: Alabama
2. Lance Mitchell: Oregon State
3. Rahim Moore: UCLA
4. Robert Sands: West Virginia
5. (LB) Sean Spence: Miami
6. Delano Howell: Stanford
7. Brandon Taylor: LSU
8. Tyler Sash: Iowa
9. Will Hill: Florida
10. Markelle Martin: Oklahoma State