College Football's Top 25 Players and Their NFL Comparison

Stanford's Andrew Luck has been compared to some current and former NFL quarterbacks.

Is Luck the next Peyton Manning or John Elway?

It might be nice to just let Andrew Luck become the next great NFL superstar. But it's human nature to look for a perfect match as we try to explain how good we think a player is really going to be at the next level.

So who might be some other NFL comparisons for college football's Top 25 players today?

Russell Wilson, Wisconsin

Russell Wilson = Tony Romo

Russell Wilson's dream season at Wisconsin hit a snag the past few weeks, but he could still pull off something special if the Badgers win out.

It seems that every season Tony Romo shows flashes of greatness, only to hit a snag that ends up costing Dallas a memorable year.

Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

Brandon Weeden = Kerry Collins

Teammates on their respective teams call each one grandpa, since both are much older than their teammates.

Both are big, physical quarterbacks with strong arms.

Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

Justin Blackmon = Andre Johnson

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy recently said the OSU fans better enjoy Justin Blackmon's final games this season because he can't imagine Blackmon will return for his senior season.

He's probably right.

Blackmon is a great possession receiver who will go over the middle and make the most of every catch. He's also physically imposing like the Houston Texans' Andre Johnson.

Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State

Vontaze Burfict = James Harrison

Arizona State's Vontaze Burfict just loves to play football and punish opponents.

He's also been known to play a little dirty and talk some trash.

Sound anything like the Steelers' James Harrison?

Landry Jones, Oklahoma

Landry Jones = Matt Ryan

It would be too easy to link Landry Jones with St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, an OU alumnus.

But Atlanta's Matt Ryan and Jones are both big gunslingers who each get their teams close to the brass ring but come up short.

Luke Kuechly, Boston College

Luke Kuechly = Clay Matthews

Since the day Luke Kuechly arrived on the Boston College campus he's been making tackles.

Just pencil the guy in for about 150 tackles every season.

He's intense, but not too flashy.

OK, so maybe he's not a perfect fit with Clay Matthews, but they are close.

Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

Alshon Jeffery = Roddy White

It seems more and more receivers are these physical specimens, which makes them much harder for defensive backs cover.

Alshon Jeffery is another one of these guys. Much like Atlanta's Roddy White, he can get open even when he's double teamed, and he can physically dominate defenders when necessary.

Mark Barron, Alabama

Mark Barron = Antrel Rolle

Mark Barron chose to skip the riches of the NFL after last season to come back and try to win another championship with Alabama.

He may have also considered that another good season would help his draft status.

Much like Antrel Rolle of the New York Giants, Barron is a versatile athlete that has a lot to offer.

Mike Brewster, Ohio State

Mike Brewster = Nick Mangold

There is the easy Ohio State connection, but Mike Brewster has been on top of his game since arriving in Columbus.

Whichever NFL team gets Brewster should have a franchise center, much like the Jets do with Nick Mangold.

Morris Claiborne, LSU

Morris Claiborne = Patrick Peterson

Hey, they were teammates at LSU and they both love to be left on an island to cover a team's best receiver.

They also share a knack for returning kicks.

Sammy Watkins, Clemson

Sammy Watkins = Calvin Johnson

Sammy Watkins is the most talked-about true freshman in college football this fall.

He has displayed sprinter speed, great hands and a knack for scoring.

Sounds a lot like Detroit's Calvin Johnson.

Robert Griffin III, Baylor

Robert Griffin III = Josh Freeman

Stop with the Cam Newton or Mike Vick references. That's not who Robert Griffin III is.

He's a closer fit to Tampa Bay's Josh Freeman, who was a standout for Kansas State. Freeman is physically bigger, but their games are a good match.

Quinton Coples, North Carolina

Quinton Coples = Mario Williams

Mario Williams wound up being the Houston Texans' No. 1 overall selection in the 2006 NFL Draft, and many experts questioned taking him so high, as they felt there were more proven players on the board.

Quinton Coples, who is 6'6" like Williams, may get some similar critiques, but there's no question he's loaded with potential.

Matt Kalil, USC

Matt Kalil = Joe Thomas

That's a pretty lofty comparison, considering Cleveland's Joe Thomas is a perennial All-Pro.

But that's the type of player Matt Kalil could become for the right NFL team.

Maybe the Browns could draft Kalil and lock down both sides of the line.

Matt Barkley, USC

Matt Barkley = Mark Sanchez

It's not because these two guys both went to USC. Instead, it's more of the unknown you get with Matt Barkley.

He's a superstar one week and the next he's whining about an opponent.

The New York Jets are still trying to figure out which Mark Sanchez will show up each week.

Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama

Janoris Jenkins = Asante Samuel

Janoris Jenkins is playing his final season at North Alabama after too many run-ins with legal authorities as a Florida Gator.

But that doesn't take away from his abilities.

At Florida he was one of the nation's best defensive backs and he will be highly sought after in the NFL.

Samuel was a fourth-round pick, but he's proven to be one of the NFL's best. Both players also have roots in Florida.

Manti Te'o, Notre Dame

Manti Te'o = Patrick Willis

Manti Te'o is an impact player. He does it quietly with his actions on the field, but opponents know he's out there.

Same goes for San Francisco's Patrick Willis. There's not an NFL team that doesn't have to game plan for Willis.

Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

Michael Floyd = Brandon Marshall

Now Michael Floyd has a better head on his shoulders than Brandon Marshall, but Floyd has the potential to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.

Marshall's production has been hurt by playing for the woeful Dolphins, but whoever gets Floyd just might have a Marshall clone in terms of on-the-field possibilities.

Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska

Alfonzo Dennard = Tramon Williams

Last year at Nebraska, the defensive back hype was all on Prince Amukamara, who became a first-round pick.

But Alfonzo Dennard was sort of overlooked. Well, not anymore. He's stepped up in Amukamara's absence and become one of the nation's best defensive backs.

Tramon Williams was overlooked by all of the NFL coming out of Louisiana Tech. Now he's an All-Pro with Green Bay.

Barrett Jones, Alabama

Barrett Jones = D'Brickashaw Ferguson

Naturally, both of these offensive linemen are hulking human beings who can push around other very large men.

But both do it with such precision and success that they are truly special players.

Tyrann Mathieu, LSU

Tyrann Mathieu = Troy Polamalu

It's tough to make any comparisons to Tyrann Mathieu, but he loves to make big plays and make big hits.

That's something Troy Polamalu has been doing his whole career with the Steelers.

It's also nice to see two players who don't let their overall size get in the way of their performance.

Tajh Boyd, Clemson

Tajh Boyd = Jason Campbell

This comparison is a bit unfair to Tajh Boyd since Oakland's Jason Campbell is injured and not playing right now.

But Boyd reminds me of Campbell when he played for Auburn. Opponents think he runs the ball more than he does, and then he burns them with his arm.

Kellen Moore, Boise State

Kellen Moore = Tim Tebow

OK, Kellen Moore is not built like Tebow and he doesn't run like Tebow.

But both are lefties and neither one has any business starting for an NFL team.

Trent Richardson, Alabama

Trent Richardson = Chris Johnson

Trent Richardson is finally the go-to back at Alabama and has he been impressive.

He may fall just short of winning the Heisman, but Richardson could be the best back in next year's NFL draft.

Richardson is built like the Titans' Chris Johnson, and he could be more like the Johnson of a few years ago for one lucky team.

Andrew Luck, Stanford

Andrew Luck = Ryan Fitzpatrick

Most people like to compare Andrew Luck to Peyton Manning, but the Stanford quarterback is much more like Buffalo's Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick is a Harvard graduate, and Luck will earn a degree from the Harvard of the west.

Let's hear it for the brainiac QBs!