2012 NFL Draft: Ranking the Top 25 Pro Prospects, September Edition

The 2012 NFL draft is only seven months away and you know that means.

It’s time to start preparing.

We’re only a month into the season, and already, we’ve seen some remarkable performances from college football’s biggest names.

Stanford QB Andrew Luck is still the golden boy of college football and the clear-cut favorite to be the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft, but Luck has some worthy challengers right on his heels.

We still have plenty of time left to evaluate the many star-studded prospects that will be looking to boost their stock with a huge 2011 campaign.

This is only the beginning of the ride to the 2012 draft and it’s already shaping up to be an exciting and unpredictable journey filled with twists and turns.

Here’s the first installment of the monthly rankings I’ll be doing for college football’s top eligible pro prospects.

Let's take a look at all the players that will have the scouts buzzing this season.

1. QB Andrew Luck, Stanford

It’s rare to see a returning star quarterback actually live up to the insane amount of hype that accumulates over the summer, but every now and then, a special type of player comes along and finally turns out to be as good as advertised.

Andrew Luck is that player. He is college football’s chosen one.

Forget about Jake Locker, Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn and all the rest of the cover-boy quarterbacks who failed to live up to their preseason press in the past. Andrew Luck is in a special class all by himself.

Luck has the absolute total package as far as skills are concerned. There’s not a desired trait that Luck doesn’t possess. The size, arm, the brains, the athleticism—he’s got it all.

Even though he’s already evoking comparisons to the likes of Peyton Manning and another former Stanford standout, John Elway, the NFL quarterback I feel he most closely resembles is 2009 No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford.

So far this season, Luck has completed 67 percent of his passes for 786 yards and 8 TDs.

He’s handled the hype well and soaked up the spotlight with grace.

The No. 1 pick is his to lose and that definitely doesn’t look like that's going to happen.

2. DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina

Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin were supposed to be two of the star defensive linemen in the ACC last year, but their season-long suspensions fittingly opened the door for teammate Quinton Coples to step up and show the conference what he had to offer.

Coples, a natural defensive end who was forced to man Austin’s spot inside at defensive tackle, didn’t let his weight disadvantage stop him from destroying opposing offenses.

The 6’6’’, 270-pound senior racked up 10 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss and was a constant menace to quarterbacks throughout his breakout 2010 campaign.

Coples has now moved back to defensive end where he should get to flash his elite pass-rushing skills on a more consistent basis.

With explosive quickness, terrific body control and the strength to overpower almost any blocker he goes up against, Coples is the type of complete defensive lineman that can change the way offenses have to scheme in both the passing and the running games.

Coples is a natural 4-3 edge-rusher who has the athletic ability to develop into a consistent 10-plus-sacks-per-year type of defensive end in the NFL.

His effort has been questioned this season, and there have been accusations that he’s been playing not to get hurt, but Coples has still managed to rack up 2.5 sacks and two tackles for loss in just four games.

3. WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon received very little publicity and attention before the start of the 2010 season but that quickly changed once Blackmon started putting up mind-boggling numbers.

Remarkably, Blackmon scored at least one touchdown and amassed over 100 receiving yards in all 12 of the games he played in last season, finishing the year as the most productive receiver in the country, catching 111 balls for over 1,700 yards and scoring 21 TDs.

What the 6’1’’, 210-pound junior lacks in true breakaway speed, he makes up for with his knack for making game-changing plays.

From a physical standpoint, Anquan Boldin is the NFL receiver that Blackmon most resembles.

Like Boldin, Blackmon lacks elite speed, but he manages to make up for it with his ability to catch everything thrown in his general direction.

He runs polished and precise routes, especially on deep go’s and post’s, and his concentration when the ball is in the air is unparalleled.

Blackmon is just as good of a prospect as another former Oklahoma State product Dez Bryant, and with the exception of one DUI, he doesn’t come with all of the baggage.

This season, Blackmon has continued to distinguish himself from every other receiver in the college ranks and he's kept his monstrous tear going, hauling in 38 catches for 450 yards and four TDs.

As we saw in Oklahoma State’s win over Texas A&M last Saturday, there are times when Blackmon makes foolish mistakes, but it’s what he gives you the other 99 percent of the time that is so valuable.

If he comes out after this year and doesn’t completely blow his 40 time, there’s no doubt that Blackmon will be a Top 10 pick in the 2012 draft.

4. OT Riley Reiff, Iowa

The Big Ten has produced some truly outstanding offensive tackles such as Jake Long and Joe Thomas in recent years, and it now looks like Iowa’s Riley Reiff is the latest star bookend to come along.

He’s in that Long and Thomas mold as the type of franchise left tackle that you can build an offensive line around.

Reiff has had scouts whispering since his redshirt freshman season when he burst his way into the lineup, starting 11 games and making his presence known in the trenches.

The 6’6’’, 300-pound junior has been the leader of the Hawkeyes line ever since.

Reiff has the power and strength to dominate in the running game but he also has the athleticism and footwork to more than hold his own as a pass blocker.

He’s grown into a leader, developed into a tenacious tone-setter along Iowa’s front five and become the type of balanced lineman that coaches covet.

Even though there are times when he gets overextended in pass protection and slips off blocks in the run game, you have to remember that Reiff is still developing and he’s on his way to becoming a fundamentally sound technician.

Footwork, nasty streak, athleticism, instincts, smarts, size, strength; you can rattle off all the traits you want, Reiff’s got it all.

He’s still learning how to dominate, but once it all comes together, Reiff has the chance to be one of those decade-long left tackles that don't come along very often.

5. QB Landry Jones, Oklahoma

You can say that Landry Jones benefits from playing on such a talent-laden team like Oklahoma, you can say that his numbers are inflated because of the pass-heavy system he plays in, however, one thing you simply can’t say is that this kid doesn’t have a great deal of talent.

We saw it back when he was a heralded high school recruit in New Mexico and we’ve seen it on full display now that he’s taken control of the Sooners offense.

Jones has the type of size and arm strength combination that just screams NFL starting quarterback.

No, he’s not in the same class as Andrew Luck, or his predecessor Sam Bradford, but he’s not far away.

Jones is a Matt Schaub-esque type of quarterback, who would fit in well with a team that likes to hurl the ball around a lot.

He doesn’t do many things that will really wow you, but he’s got the type of skill-set that would fit in perfectly in today’s passer-friendly NFL.

Right now, I’d say Jones is a borderline Top 10 pick, but if he leads Oklahoma to an undefeated season and puts up comparable numbers to last year, he’s really going to solidify his stock.

6. OT Matt Kalil, USC

USC took a hit when offensive tackle Tyron Smith, the No. 9 pick in this year's draft, opted to forgo his senior season, but don’t expect Coach Kiffin and his staff to be shedding too many tears.

Sure, Smith has been missed, but his departure opens the door for emerging tackle Matt Kalil to shine and soak up the spotlight.

Kalil, the younger brother of Ryan Kalil of the Carolina Panthers, was good enough to start every game at left tackle last season, forcing Smith to stay on the right side.

The former All-American recruit excelled in his first season as a starter and he’s picked up right where he left off.

Kalil has made it his mission to stonewall every opposing pass-rusher he goes up against and his run-blocking isn't too shabby either.

Don’t be surprised if you see the athletic 6’7’’, 295-pound junior in the NFL with his brother rather soon.

7. RB Trent Richardson, Alabama

In this day and age when two-back systems have become the norm in the NFL, it seems like the days of seeing running backs selected in the Top 10 are long gone, but every now and then, a special type of back comes along who is just too good to pass up.

Alabama’s Trent Richardson might just be that back.

You can call Richardson a lot of things, but there’s really only one word you need to sufficiently describe him: Beast.

Richardson, who looks like he was born in a weight room and never left, is one of the strongest and most powerful backs in the country, and he packs quite a punch when he meets contact from a would-be tackler.

After two consecutive seasons of producing over 700 yards on the ground, the 5’11’’, 220-pound junior has taken the relinquished rushing reins from Heisman-winning former teammate Mark Ingram and become the main man of the Alabama backfield.

Richardson has already rushed for 441 yards and scored nine TDs in the first four games of the season.

If he can show that he can handle a heavy workload as a workhorse back, Richardson’s stock will only continue to rise as the season wears on.

8. WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

Michael Floyd could have gone pro after his junior season and likely cracked the first round of the 2011 draft, but Floyd knew if he returned to South Bend and spent another year in Brian Kelly’s offensive system, he would have a great chance to really prove that he's one of college football’s top talents.

Floyd hauled in a career-high 79 catches and broke the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the first time in his career in 2010, and he showed the college football world that when it comes to tracking the ball and making the sure-handed catch, there’s no one in the game that can do it any better.

Floyd’s offseason got off to a shaky start with a DUI charge that kept him from participating in spring practices.

Kelly has since reinstated his star receiver and he’s returned the favor by hauling in 35 catches.

He has a knack for making impossible catches appear routine and Floyd may very well just have the best pair of hands in all of college football.

The 6’3’’, 225-pound senior reminds me of a combination of Braylon Edwards and Vincent Jackson.

Floyd’s got the ability to be a No. 1 receiving weapon for an NFL offense and if he continues on his current pace, he should be a Top-15 pick.

9. DT Jared Crick, Nebraska

The Nebraska defense is absolutely loaded with star power this season, but so far, the Cornhuskers haven’t been as dominant as many thought they would be.

One player in particular who has to step his game up is DT Jared Crick.

From what we saw last season, Crick has the talent to be the top defensive linemen in the country.

Last year, the 6’6’’, 285-pound senior assumed Ndamukong Suh’s role as a dominant defensive force, racking up a team-high 9.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss.

Even though he’s not as overwhelmingly destructive as Suh, Crick has all the same traits.

He’s extremely strong, he can shed blocks and most importantly, Crick can cause havoc. 

Crick is stout at the point of attack and he knows how to find his way into the opponent’s
backfield and disrupt plays before they can materialize.

Although he’s versatile enough to play in any type of defensive front, Crick has the type of size, strength and surprising lateral quickness to be a perfect 3-4 defensive end in the mold of this year’s No. 11 pick J.J. Watt.

10. WR Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

With the departures of A.J. Green and Julio Jones, it's time for a new receiving sheriff in the SEC, and South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery appears to be just the man for the job.

Since he wasn't eligible for the 2011 draft, Jeffery didn't garner the same type of national attention as Green and Jones last season, but that didn’t stop him from outperforming both of his former conference counterparts.

Jeffery hauled in a conference-best 88 receptions for over 1,500 yards in 2010 and finished as a finalist for the prestigious Biletnikoff Award.

The 6’4’’, 235-pound junior may not possess field-stretching speed, but he’s the kind of big Plaxico Burress-type of red-zone target that any NFL team would love to have.

Although he’s not as physically intimidating as Lions WR Calvin Johnson, Jeffery can strike the same amount of fear in the heart of an opposing secondary, as he presents a matchup nightmare for any cornerback that’s forced to try to cover him.

Some are saying Jeffery hasn’t lived up to his hype this season because he’s only caught 14 passes and one touchdown in the first month, however, part of that can be blamed on QB Stephen Garcia as well as the playcalling.

Jeffery is an elite receiving prospect, he just needs to get the passes thrown his way in order to show off his tremendous skills.

11. QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor

All aboard the Robert Griffin III bandwagon.

Griffin has taken college football by storm with his play in September and he’s propelled himself into the thick of the Heisman conversation and guided Baylor to a Top 15 national ranking.

He’s truly excitement personified and worth every penny of admission.

Don’t make the mistake of typecasting the 6’2’’, 220-pound junior as just your average athletic dual-threat quarterback.

He's much more dangerous than that.

If you watched the game against TCU, you know RG3 can seriously sling it.

His arm strength and touch on deep balls is something to marvel at.

It doesn’t hurt that no other quarterback, and maybe no other player in the entire country, can match Griffin’s God-given athleticism, and it’s a characteristic that sets him apart from the rest of the crowd.

He doesn’t just fit into that ‘great athlete playing quarterback’ mold either, a la Michigan’s Denard Robinson.

Not only does the junior signal-caller have the arm strength, he’s also got the accuracy you look for in a pro quarterback

Griffin completed 67 percent of his passes in 2010 and he finished the year with a 22-8 TD to INT ratio.

You also have to take into account the fact that he was still recovering from a serious knee injury last season and now that he’s back to full health, he has a chance to be even better.

This year, in just three games, he’s completed an unheard of 85 percent of his passes for 962 yards and thrown 13 TDs.

In 2010, we watched Griffin basically single-handedly revive the Baylor football program, as he guided the Bears to their first bowl game in 16 years, so the fact that he might only be getting started sounds pretty scary.

The only true concern that you can really say you have about RG3 is his size.

At just 6'2'', Griffin doesn’t possess the prototypical size you look for in a pro-style drop back passer, but then again, Matt Barkley is the same height and nobody seems to downgrade him for it.

Is Griffin still a little raw and rough around the edges?

Sure, but remember, he’s only played two seasons and change in college. He’s still got a ton of room to grow and develop.

Griffin truly has all the traits you look for—the mobility, the accuracy, the arm strength and the mental makeup—to become a starting quarterback in the NFL some day.

Even though he didn’t enter the season in the conversation with some of the other big-name quarterback prospects, Griffin has shown the type of intriguing skills that make him a must-watch player this season.

Remember, going into last season, Cam Newton wasn’t on the radar either, and he turned out to be the No. 1 pick.

I don’t know if Griffin is capable of making that kind of huge leap, especially with Andrew Luck in the picture, but there’s no doubt that he’s got a great opportunity to keep turning heads this season.  

It will be interesting to see if the budding phenom can keep the momentum going throughout the 2011 season, and if so, how high he can actually climb.

Stay tuned.

12. LB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

With the continued growth and popularity of the 3-4 defense in this NFL era, the 3-4 rush linebacker is becoming one of the draft’s premium positions.

If you can find an elite young pass-rusher to set loose off the edge in a 3-4 front, you better snag him up.

In recent years, we’ve seen a rising trend in converting smaller pass-rushing defensive ends into rush linebackers and we witnessed that this year with Aldon Smith.

While there are now defensive end prospects like Brandon Jenkins, Bruce Irvin, Donte Paige-Moss and Brandon Lindsey who could all potentially fit that mold, this year's best rush linebacker prospect is actually a real linebacker.

It’s Alabama’s steady defensive star, Courtney Upshaw.

At 6’2’, 265-pounds, Upshaw not only has the size, he also has the edge speed to be a an impact player in a 3-4 defense in the NFL.

Last year, Upshaw was one of the most consistent performers on a superbly talented Alabama defense.

He made a living in the opponent’s backfield, racking up 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

He doesn’t have the spectacular athletic package like Aldon Smith offered up this year, but Upshaw makes up for it with his physical demeanor and ability to make crucial stops when it counts.

13. CB Morris Claiborne, LSU

Patrick who?

Alright, I’ll admit, maybe it’s a little too early to say Morris Claiborne has made LSU fans forget about former star cornerback Patrick Peterson, but with the way Claiborne has played at the start of the season, it may not take much longer.

So far, Claiborne has been one of the cornerstones of LSU's dominant defense.

Although he’s not as flashy as fellow corner Tyrann Mathieu, you can just tell from one look at the physically gifted 6’1’’, 185-pound junior that he’s the real deal.

Although he could still stand to refine some of his basic technique and footwork, Claiborne has the explosive speed and rare length to mirror and shadow any receiver he goes up against.

Physically, you can’t build them much better than Morris Claiborne.

14. LB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State

Vontaze Burfict is going to be one of the true hot-cold prospects of the 2011 season.

There will be games when he just completely shuts things down and comes up with a few highlight reel hits but there will also be games when he disappears and gets caught in the background.

When Burfict is playing at his best, he’s one of the country's most dangerous defenders.

The 6’3’’, 250-pound junior can track down any ball carrier from sideline to sideline, yet even though Burfict can make tackles with the best of them, he’s still raw.

You’ll see the lapses in technique at different points in a game when Burfict will start to fade a little.

The point is, if he ever figures out how to harness all his energy properly for four quarters, he could develop into one of the top young linebackers in the NFL.

Burfict has to learn how to control his emotions if he ever wants to reach his full potential. If he can do that, he has the chance to be a truly special defender in the pros.

15. OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford

Andrew Luck is college football’s most precious piece of property, so it’s only fitting that Luck’s got one of the best bodyguards in the business to protect his back.

Stanford’s Jonathan Martin fits the franchise left tackle mold and he’s got everything that pro scouts covet in a top flight offensive lineman.

The 6’6’’, 305-pound junior has remarkable athleticism, lateral quickness and footwork for his size and he’s shown that he has the type of power and strength to dominate in the running game.

At this point, Martin is still a better pass-blocker than he is a run-blocker, but he’s got the potential to develop into a versatile bookend who can be the anchor of an NFL offensive line for years to come.

16. DE Brandon Jenkins, Florida State

With the emergence of the 3-4 defense in today’s NFL, we’ve started seeing a rising trend of smaller, quicker college defensive ends picking their hand up off the ground and making the move to rush linebacker in the pros.

One of this year's heralded prospects who meets the criteria for such a switch is Florida State DE Brandon Jenkins, who has started to ascend to the level of pass-rushing master after his performance last year.

The 6’3’’, 255-pound junior finished the 2010 season with 21.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks, and he showed that he has a near-unstoppable first step and burst off the ball that most offensive tackles just can’t keep up with.

It will be interesting to see what teams value Jenkins as the most, a 4-3 end or a 3-4 rush linebacker.

Jenkins would flourish as a stand-up outside ‘backer, so if he opts to forgo his senior season, the speedy rusher will certainly catch the attention of NFL teams currently employing a 3-4 system.

17. CB Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska

Some of the top corners in this year's crop will be trying to outdo their highly touted predecessors.

LSU’s Morris Claiborne will be trying to outdo Patrick Peterson, Virginia’s Chase Minnifield will be trying to outdo Ras-I Dowling, but one top corner who has already proven that he can outdo a highly coveted teammate is Nebraska’s Alfonzo Dennard.

Dennard outplayed former Cornhusker cornerback counterpart Prince Amukamara throughout 2010 and stole the spotlight away, as he showed the scouting community that Amukamara wasn’t the only player with first-round potential in the Nebraska secondary.

Very few players can match Dennard’s natural athletic gifts. His hops, speed and strength combination is one that you don’t see often.

And Dennard is more than just a great athlete who happens to play corner.

His coverage skills are top-notch.

Dennard blanketed almost every receiver he faced last year.

He can play bump-and-run, he can turn his hips and go, plus he has the type of recovery speed that allows him to take some chances on the ball.

Dennard isn’t quite Patrick Peterson, but he’s in that Joe Haden category of being a great athlete who has the potential to turn into a Pro Bowl cornerback down the line.

He started off the year banged up, but now that Dennard is back, all he has to do is perform as well as he did last season and he'll have a great shot to be the first cornerback off the board in the 2012 draft.

18. RB Andre Ellington, Clemson

It’s too early to start calling Andre Ellington the next Chris Johnson, but if you’ve seen him carry the football, you can see why the comparison could be made.

Like Johnson, Ellington has the type of rare acceleration and game-changing speed to force a defense to stay dialed in to where he is on the field at all times.

The 5’10’’, 190-pound junior has the type of vision and cutback ability to find the hole and get to the second level in a flash.

Now that Jamie Harper is gone, Ellington is making the most of his opportunity to be the top dog of the Clemson backfield, rushing for 371 yards on 77 carries (4.8 YPC).

Durability and past injury concerns may bump down his stock just a bit and there are some questions as to whether or not he’ll be able to pound it inside the tackles on a consistent basis in the pros.

Still, it’s hard not to get excited about a back with this type of speed and natural playmaking ability.

If Ellington produces at a high rate this season and proves he can stay injury free, he has a great shot to be one of the first backs off the board if he decides to forgo his final season.

19. DE Devin Taylor, South Carolina

The word "raw" gets thrown out a lot when looking at young college pass-rushers, and it’s certainly a word that fits South Carolina’s Devin Taylor.

You hear scouts and analysts talk about body frames a lot when it comes to college defensive end prospects. NFL teams look for ends who can fill out, put on another 15-20 pounds and carry their weight without losing their quickness and burst.

In this year’s defensive end crop, there’s no other prospect who possesses a frame as intriguing as Taylor.

The 6’7’’, 260-pound junior just looks like the type of athlete that NFL coaches will be eager to get into a professional training and lifting program.

Taylor enjoyed a big breakout campaign as a sophomore last year, racking up 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss, demonstrating that he’s one of the most athletic and skilled pass-rushers in the country.

There are still times when Taylor’s technique suffers and he gets lost in the shuffle, but the flashes you see at different points during a game are enough to keep any scout interested.

If Taylor can bulk up to 275 pounds once he gets to the pros and still hold onto his speed off the edge, he could develop into one of the most dangerous defensive ends in the NFL.

20. QB Matt Barkley, USC

USC has had a nice run of producing first-round quarterbacks in recent years with Mark Sanchez, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, and the quarterback who looks to be the next in that line is the Trojans’ current offensive sheriff, Matt Barkley.

Barkley, who came in as a freshman and snatched the starting job from Aaron Corp, is a battle-tested field general who is every bit as talented as his highly touted predecessors.

The 6’2’’ 220-pound junior threw for over 5,500 yards and 41 TDs in his first two seasons on the job and the scary thing is, Barkley could be ready to have his best year yet in 2011.

The Trojans have had some struggles early on this season and it’s clear that outside of WR Robert Woods, USC lacks a lot of offensive playmakers, but that hasn’t stopped Barkley from throwing for 1,119 yards and 10 TDs.

His lack of prototypical size is a bit concerning but Barkley is a proven leader who can make all the throws and he knows exactly how to march an offense down the field during crunch time.

He’s got all the intangibles that NFL teams are looking for in a starting signal-caller.

21. CB Chase Minnifield, Virginia

As the son of former Cleveland Browns corner Frank Minnifield, Chase Minnifield already has the bloodlines to succeed in the NFL; now he’s on his way to convincing scouts that he’s got the skills to be a consistent starting corner just like his dad.

This year’s senior cornerback class took some major blows with the early draft declarations of key players like Patrick Peterson, Brandon Harris and Aaron Williams.

It’s a group that now needs some new faces at the forefront and Virginia’s Chase Minnifield is right up there with the best of his senior cornerback peers.

Minnifield took advantage of Ras-I Dowling’s injury troubles in 2010 and really carved out a name for himself.

The talented 6’0’’, 185-pound senior finished second in the ACC with six interceptions last season.

Minnifield has a great backpedal for his size and he knows how to use his quick footwork to his advantage.

He may not be a true "shutdown" corner, but Minnifield is smart and instinctive and he knows how to succeed in a variety of different coverages.

22. LB Zach Brown, North Carolina

The North Carolina defensive front seven is loaded with future NFL talent and one of the real players to watch in that group is LB Zach Brown, who took a huge step forward last season and really boosted his pro stock.

Brown wasn’t even a full-time starter in 2010, yet he still finished second on the team with 72 tackles, outperforming both Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant.

The 6’2’’, 230-pound senior could end up playing either inside or outside in the pros but it’s likely he’ll end up manning the weak side in a 4-3 system like he does now.

Brown is a quick-twitch athlete who has the range to track down ball-carriers from sideline to sideline and he’s strong enough to shed blockers and make tackles in the open field.

D.J. Williams and Jon Beason are two good reference points when trying to project Brown as a pro player.

23. WR Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M

If Jeff Fuller were playing in any other conference in America, he would probably be one of the most talked-about players in college football, but since he has to share the spotlight with fellow Big 12 receivers Justin Blackmon and Ryan Broyles, Fuller hasn't gotten his proper due.

At 6'4", 215 pounds, Fuller definitely passes the eyeball test, and if you’ve seen some of his highlights, you know that he’s got the substance to back up his intimidating physique.

Although Fuller’s production tailed off towards the end of last season, the big senior receiver was still able to compile an impressive stat line of 72 catches for over 1,000 yards and 12 TDs.

Now that he has consistent play at quarterback with Ryan Tannehill manning the position, Fuller should be able to prove that the Big 12 receiver crop runs deeper than just Blackmon and Broyles.

The big senior has already hauled in 17 passes and scored two touchdowns in A&M’s first three games.

Fuller is a huge target with great hands and his deceptive speed makes him almost impossible to contain with just single coverage.

24. DT Billy Winn, Boise State

These days, college defensive tackles who can fit in as both a 3-4 defensive end and a 4-3 under tackle are considered to be coveted commodities, and this year, Boise State’s Billy Winn is the type of versatile interior lineman who will have the scouts salivating.

Winn was one of the main reasons that Boise State’s  defense shut down opponent’s running games last season and finished as the second-ranked unit in the country.

The 6’4’’, 290-pound senior finished the year with 4.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss.

There were times last year when Winn was just flat-out unblockable, as he would either blow by or overpower whichever lineman got in his way.

The big Bronco is the type of rare tackle that you can build a defensive front seven around.

He’s got the athleticism of an edge-rushing defensive end, coupled with the strength and power of a bull-rushing nose tackle.

QB Kellen Moore will once again be the star player for Boise’s big blue machine, but Moore better be prepared to share some of the spotlight with Winn, who is set to put his stamp on the college football map in 2011.

25. CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

If there’s one thing Alabama coach Nick Saban knows how to do, it’s mold top-notch defensive backs.

Saban might have one of the most talented secondaries of his career this year, and one of the marquee faces of that group is CB Dre Kirkpatrick.

Kirkpatrick, a 6’3’’, 190-pound junior, took a major step forward in his first season as a starter after enduring a few early struggles.

The former 5-Star recruit is super long and super athletic and his size-speed combination will endear him to NFL scouts.

Kirkpatrick is still learning what it takes to be successful against the best competition that college football has to offer, but he's already displayed top-notch coverage ability, and he can lock on and mirror any receiver that's put in front of him.

He also shows no fear when playing the run.

If Kirkpatrick progresses and takes the next step in becoming a well rounded corner, he should develop into a first-round-caliber talent this season.

Quarterbacks: Top 10 Overall Prospects

1. Andrew Luck, Stanford (Jr.)

2. Landry Jones, Oklahoma (Jr.)

3. Robert Griffin III, Baylor (Jr.)

4. Matt Barkley, USC (Jr.)

5. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M (Sr.)

6. Nick Foles, Arizona (Sr.)

7. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State (Sr.)

8. Ryan Lindley, San Diego State (Sr.)

9. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State (Sr.)

10. Kellen Moore, Boise State (Sr.)

Quarterbacks: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Russell Wilson, Wisconsin

2. John Brantley, Florida

3. Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois

4. Dan Persa, Northwestern

5. Case Keenum, Houston

6. Zach Collaros, Cincinnati

7. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina

8. Dominique Davis, East Carolina

9. G.J. Kinne, Tulsa

10. Austin Davis, Southern Miss

Quarterbacks: 10 Underclassmen to Watch

1. Geno Smith, West Virginia

2. Darron Thomas, Oregon

3. Aaron Murray, Georgia

4. Brock Osweiler, Arizona State

5. Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois

6. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas

7. Danny O’Brien, Maryland

8. Denard Robinson, Michigan

9. E.J. Manuel, Florida State

10. Alex Carder, Western Michigan

Running Backs: Top 10 Overall Prospects

1. Trent Richardson, Alabama (Jr.)

2. Andre Ellington, Clemson (Jr.)

3. Lamar Miller, Miami (R-Soph.)

4. David Wilson, Virginia Tech (Jr.)

5. LaMichael James, Oregon (Jr.)

6. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati (Sr.)

7. Chris Polk, Washington (Jr.)

8. Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M (Sr.)

9. Doug Martin, Boise State (Sr.)

10. Tauren Poole, Tennessee (Sr.)

Running Backs: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Vick Ballard, Mississippi State

2. Brandon Bolden, Ole Miss

3. Jeff Demps, Florida

4. Montel Harris, Boston College

5. Roddy Jones, Georgia Tech

6. Boom Herron, Ohio State

7. Bobby Rainey, Western Kentucky

8. Jason Ford, Illinois

9. Victor Anderson, Louisville

10. Davin Meggett, Maryland

Running Backs: 10 Underclassmen to Watch

1. Stepfan Taylor, Stanford

2. Johnathan Franklin, UCLA

3. Montee Ball, Wisconsin

4. Ray Graham, Pittsburgh

5. Edwin Baker, Michigan State

6. Cameron Marshall, Arizona State

7. Eric Stephens, Texas Tech

8. Matthew Tucker, TCU

9. Kenjon Barner, Oregon

10. Ronnie Wingo Jr., Arkansas

Wide Receivers: Top 10 Overall Prospects

1. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State (Jr.)

2. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame (Sr.)

3. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina (Jr.)

4. Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M (Sr.)

5. T.Y. Hilton, Florida International (Sr.)

6. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma (Sr.)

7. Kendall Wright, Baylor (Sr.)

8. Juron Criner, Arizona (Sr.)

9. Greg Childs, Arkansas (Sr.)

10. Brian Quick, Appalachian State (Sr.)

Wide Receivers: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Chris Owusu, Stanford

2. Nick Toon, Wisconsin

3. Joe Adams, Arkansas

4. Chris Rainey, Florida

5. DeVier Posey, Ohio State

6. Jermaine Kearse, Washington

7. Dwight Jones, North Carolina

8. Marquis Maze, Alabama

9. Marvin Jones, California

10. Jarrett Boykin, Virginia Tech

Wide Receivers: 10 Underclassmen to Watch

1. Rueben Randle, LSU

2. Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech

3. Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers

4. Eric Page, Toledo

5. Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas

6. Darrin Moore, Texas Tech

7. Roy Roundtree, Michigan

8. Emory Blake, Auburn

9. Markus Wheaton, Oregon State

10. Tavon Austin, West Virginia

Tight Ends: Top 10 Overall Prospects

1. Dwayne Allen, Clemson (Jr.)

2. Michael Egnew, Missouri (Sr.)

3. Jake Stoneburner, Ohio State (Jr.)

4. Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette (Sr.)

5. Orson Charles, Georgia (Jr.)

6. Coby Fleener, Stanford (Sr.)

7. Deangelo Peterson, LSU (Sr.)

8. Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame (R-Soph.)

9. David Paulson, Oregon (Sr.)

10. George Bryan, North Carolina State (Sr.)

Tight Ends: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Brandon Barden, Vanderbilt

2. Eric Lair, Minnesota

3. Rhett Ellison, USC

4. Brian Linthicum, Michigan State

5. Kevin Koger, Michigan

6. Evan Rodriguez, Temple

7. (WR) Tyler Urban, West Virginia

8. Tim Biere, Kansas

9. Beau Reliford, Florida State

10. Josh Chicester, Louisville

Tight Ends: 10 Underclassmen to Watch

1. Phillip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn

2. Kyler Reed, Nebraska

3. Michael Williams, Alabama

4. Lucas Reed, New Mexico

5. Justin Jones, East Carolina

6. Colter Phillips, Virginia

7. Jordan Reed, Florida

8. Joseph Fauria, UCLA

9. Ryan Griffin, Connecticut

10. Chris Pantale, Boston College

Offensive Tackles: Top 10 Overall Prospects

1. Riley Reiff, Iowa (Jr.)

2. Matt Kalil, USC (Jr.)

3. Jonathan Martin, Stanford (Jr.)

4. Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State (Sr.)

5. Cordy Glenn, Georgia (Sr.)

6. Nate Potter, Boise State (Sr.)

7. Levy Adcock, Oklahoma state (Sr.)

8. Mike Adams, Ohio State (Sr.)

9. Jeff Allen, Illinois (Sr.)

10. Andrew Datko, Florida State (Sr.)

Offensive Tackles: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Al Netter, Northwestern

2. Matt Reynolds, BYU

3. Brandon Mosley, Auburn

4. Matt McCants, UAB

5. Marcel Jones, Nebraska

6. Bradley Sowell, Ole Miss

7. James Brown, Troy

8. Mitchell Schwartz, California

9. Don Barclay, West Virginia

10. Markus Zusevics, Iowa

Offensive Tackles: 10 Underclassmen to Watch

1. D.J Fluker, Alabama

2. Morgan Moses, Virginia

3. Bobby Massie, Ole Miss

4. Xavier Nixon, Florida

5. Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin

6. Justin Pugh, Syracuse

7. LaAdrian Waddle, Texas Tech

8. Cyril Richardson, Baylor

9. Tanner Hawkinson, Kansas

10. Alex Hurst, LSU

Interior Linemen: Top 10 Overall Prospects

1. Brandon Washington, Miami (Jr.)

2. David DeCastro, Stanford (Jr.)

3. (OT) Barrett Jones, Alabama (Jr.)

4. Lucas Nix, Pittsburgh (Sr.)

5. Ryan Miller, Colorado (Sr.)

6. (OT) Rokevious Watkins, South Carolina (Sr.)

7. Larry Warford, Kentucky (Jr.)

8. Ben Jones, Georgia (Sr.)

9. Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin (Sr.)

10. Ken Plue, Purdue (Sr.)

Interior Linemen: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Mike Brewster, Ohio State

2. Jaymes Brooks, Virginia Tech

3. Joel Foreman, Michigan State

4. Moe Petrus, Connecticut

5. Philip Blake, Baylor

6. Joe Looney, Wake Forest

7. (OT) Senio Kelemete, Washington

8. David Molk, Michigan

9. Quentin Saulsberry, Mississippi State 

10. Williams Vlachos, Alabama

Interior Linemen: 10 Underclassmen To Watch

1. Peter Konz, Wisconsin

2. Omoregie Uzzi, Georgia Tech

3. Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina

4. Lane Taylor, Oklahoma State

5. Patrick Lewis, Texas A&M

6. Chance Warmack, Alabama

7. Ben Habern, Oklahoma

8. Khaled Holmes, USC

9. T.J. Johnson, South Carolina

10. Branden Hansen, BYU

Defensive Tackles: Top 10 Overall Prospects

1. Jared Crick, Nebraska (Sr.)

2. Billy Winn, Boise State (Sr.)

3. Brandon Thompson, Clemson (Sr.)

4. Jerel Worthy, Michigan State (Jr.)

5. Alameda Ta’amu, Washington (Sr.)

6. Kawann Short, Purdue (Jr.)

7. Jaye Howard, Florida (Sr.)

8. Kheeston Randall, Texas (Sr.)

9. Devon Still, Penn State (Sr.)

10. Josh Chapman, Alabama (Sr.)

Defensive Tackles: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Mike Martin, Michigan

2. Kendall Reyes, Connecticut

3. Tydreke Powell, North Carolina

4. Kaleb Ramsey, Boston College

5. Logan Harrell, Fresno State

6. Mike Daniels, Iowa

7. Travian Robertson, South Carolina

8. Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati

9. Kaniela Tiupulotu, Hawaii

10. Dominique Hamilton, Missouri

Defensive Tackles: 10 Underclassmen to Watch

1. Marcus Forston, Miami

2. Michael Brockers, LSU

3. Dontari Poe, Memphis

4. Kwame Geathers, Georgia

5. Josh Boyd, Mississippi State

6. Akeem Spence, Illinois

7. Everett Dawkins, Florida State

8. Omar Hunter, Florida

9. Baker Steinkuhler, Nebraska

10. Justin Washington, Arizona

Defensive Ends: Top 10 Overall Prospects

1. Quinton Coples, North Carolina (Sr.)

2. Brandon Jenkins, Florida State (Jr.)

3. Devin Taylor, South Carolina (Jr.)

4. Brad Madison, Missouri (Jr.)

5. Vinny Curry, Marshall (Sr.)

6. Alex Okafor, Texas (Jr.)

7. Jake Bequette, Arkansas (Sr.)

8. Melvin Ingram, South Carolina (Sr.)

9. Andre Branch, Clemson (Sr.)

10. Trevor Guyton, California (Sr.)

Defensive Ends: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Vince Browne, Northwestern

2. Frank Alexander, Oklahoma

3. Ethan Johnson, Notre Dame

4. Cam Johnson, Virginia

5. (DT) Malik Jackson, Tennessee

6. Tyrone Crawford, Boise State

7. Jason Peters, Georgia Tech

8. (DT) Julian Miller, West Virginia

9. Broderick Binns, Iowa

10. Ryan Van Bergen, Michigan

Defensive Ends: 10 Underclassmen to Watch

1. Chandler Jones, Syracuse

2. Cameron Meredith, Nebraska

3. Stansly Maponga, TCU

4. Collins Ukwu, Kentucky

5. Whitney Mercilus, Illinois

6. Wes Horton, USC

7. (DT) John Simon, Ohio State

8. Tyler Hoover, Michigan State

9. Margus Hunt, SMU

10. Kapron Lewis-Moore, Notre Dame

3-4 Rush Linebackers: Top 10 Overall Prospects

1. Courtney Upshaw, Alabama (Sr.)

2. Donte Paige-Moss, North Carolina (Jr.)

3. Bruce Irvin, West Virginia (Sr.)

4. Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh (Sr.)

5. Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma (Jr.)

6. Nathan Williams, Ohio State (Sr.)

7. Jacquies Smith, Missouri (Sr.)

8. Barkevious Mingo, LSU (R-Soph.)

9. Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy (Jr.)

10. Adrian Robinson, Temple (Sr.)

3-4 Rush Linebackers: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Darius Fleming, Notre Dame

2. Dezman Moses, Tulane

3. Kyle Wilber, Wake Forest

4. Manny Abreu, Rutgers

5. Jack Crawford, Penn State

6. Kentrell Lockett, Ole Miss

7. Matt Broha, Louisiana Tech

8. Tank Wright, Arkansas

9. Richetti Jones, Oklahoma State

10. Josh Biezuns, Wyoming

3-4 Rush Linebackers: 10 Underclassmen to Watch

1. Michael Buchanan, Illinois

2. Nosa Eguae, Auburn

3. Chase Thomas, Stanford

4. Nick Perry, USC

5. Sam Montgomery, LSU

6. Cornelius Washington, Georgia

7. Devon Kennard, USC

8. Toben Opurum, Kansas

9. Ryne Giddins, South Florida

10. Jesse Joseph, Connecticut

4-3 Linebackers: Top 10 Overall Prospects

1. Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State (Jr.)

2. Zach Brown, North Carolina (Sr.)

3. Luke Kuechly, Boston College (Jr.)

4. Dont’a Hightower, Alabama (Jr.)

5. Kenny Tate, Maryland (Sr.)

6. Manti Te’o, Notre Dame (Jr.)

7. Travis Lewis, Oklahoma (Sr.)

8. Keenan Robinson, Texas (Sr.)

9. Lavonte David, Nebraska (Sr.)

10. Tank Carder, TCU (Sr.)

4-3 Linebackers: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Danny Trevathan, Kentucky

2. Mychal Kendricks, California

3. Emmanuel Acho, Texas

4. Nigel Bradham, Florida State

5. Chris Marve, Vanderbilt

6. Korey Williams, Southern Miss

7. Jerry Franklin, Arkansas

8. Bobby Wagner, Utah State

9. Sean Spence, Miami

10. Sammy Brown, Houston

4-3 Linebackers: 10 Underclassmen to Watch

1. Jelani Jenkins, Florida

2. Kevin Reddick, North Carolina

3. Zaviar Gooden, Missouri

4. Nico Johnson, Alabama

5. Kenny Demens, Michigan

6. Arthur Brown, Kansas State

7. Gerald Hodges, Penn State

8. Jake Knott, Iowa State

9. Bruce Taylor, Virginia Tech

10. Terrell Manning, North Carolina State

Cornerbacks: Top 10 Overall Prospects

1. Morris Claiborne, LSU (Jr.)

2. Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska (Sr.)

3. Chase Minnifield, Virginia (Sr.)

4. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama (Jr.)

5. Xavier Rhodes, Florida State (R-Soph.)

6. Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina (Jr.)

7. Cliff Harris, Oregon (Jr.)

8. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama (Sr.)

9. Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech (Jr.)

10. Coryell Judie, Texas A&M (Sr.)

Cornerbacks: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Brandon Boykin, Georgia

2. Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt

3. Shaun Prater, Iowa

4. Keith Tandy, West Virginia

5. Tavon Wilson, Illinois

6. Omar Bolden, Arizona State (Injured)

7. Trevin Wade, Arizona

8. Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma

9. Donnie Fletcher, Boston College

10. Leonard Johnson, Iowa State

Cornerbacks: 10 Underclassmen to Watch

1. Greg Reid, Florida State

2. Johnny Adams, Michigan State

3. Demontre Hurst, Oklahoma

4. Josh Robinson, Central Florida

5. Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State

6. Darius Winston, Arkansas

7. Leon McFadden, San Diego State

8. Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Connecticut

9. Corey Broomfield, Mississippi State

10. Jeremy Brown, Florida

Safeties: Top 10 Overall Prospects

1. Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State (Sr.)

2. T.J. McDonald, USC (Jr.)

3. Mark Barron, Alabama (Sr.)

4. Ray-Ray Armstrong, Miami (Jr.)

5. Robert Lester, Alabama (Jr.)

6. Delano Howell, Stanford (Sr.)

7. Trenton Robinson, Michigan State (Sr.)

8. Winston Guy, Kentucky (Sr.)

9. George Iloka, Boise State (Sr.)

10. Eddie Whitley, Virginia Tech (Sr.)

Safeties: 10 Seniors to Watch

1. Lance Mitchell, Oregon State

2. Duke Ihenacho, San Jose State

3. Tony Dye, UCLA

4. Charles Mitchell, Mississippi State

5. Robert Golden, Arizona

6. Harrison Smith, Notre Dame

7. Aaron Henry, Wisconsin

8. Sean Cattouse, California

9. Tramain Thomas, Arkansas

10. Brandon Taylor, LSU

Safeties: 10 Underclassmen to Watch

1. Kenny Vaccaro, Texas

2. Prentiss Waggner, Tennessee

3. Vaugnn Telemaque, Miami

4. DeVonte Holloman, South Carolina

5. Micah Hyde, Iowa

6. Jarred Holley, Pittsburgh

7. Hakeem Smith, Louisville

8. Courtney Osborne, Nebraska

9. John Boyett, Oregon

10. Orhian Johnson, Ohio State

The Top 5 Kickers

1. David Ruffer, Notre Dame

2. Will Snyderwine, Duke

3. Danny Hrapmann, Southern Miss

4. Blair Walsh, Georgia

5. Derek Dimke, Illinois

The Top 5 Punters

1. Drew Butler, Georgia

2. Shawn Powell, Florida State

3. Bryan Anger, California

4. Kyle Martens, Rice

5. Brad Nortman, Wisconsin