ESPN Insider: TOP FIVE DRAFT-ELIGIBLE PROSPECTS AT EACH POSITION

[bubba9497]

TOP FIVE DRAFT-ELIGIBLE PROSPECTS AT EACH POSITION


http://proxy.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=kiper_jr_mel&id=1941767

OFFENSE

Quarterback

1. Charlie Frye, Akron (same)
2. Jason Campbell, Auburn (same)
3. Dan Orlovsky, Connecticut (same)
4. Kyle Orton, Purdue (same)
5. Andrew Walter, Arizona State (same)

Running Back

1. Cedric Benson, Texas (same)
2. Ronnie Brown, Auburn (same)
3. Carnell Williams, Auburn (same)
4. Anthony Davis, Wisconsin (same)
5. J.J. Arrington, California (same)

Fullback

1. Paul Jefferson, Penn State (same)
2. Branden Joe, Ohio State (same)
3. Keith Joseph, Texas A&M (same)
4. Will Matthews, Texas (same)
5. Issa Banna, Northwestern St. (La.) (same)

Wide receiver

1. Mike Williams, USC (same)
2. Braylon Edwards, Michigan (same)
3. Mark Clayton, Oklahoma (same)
4. Mark Bradley, Oklahoma (unranked) 5. Roddy White, UAB (4)
DROPPED
Fred Gibson, Georgia (5)

Tight End

1. Alex Smith, Stanford (same)
2. Garrett Cross, California (same)
3. Kevin Everett, Miami (same)
4. Eric Knott, Michigan State (same)
5. Victor Sesay, Missouri (same)

Tackle

1. Alex Barron, Florida State (same)
2. Jammal Brown, Oklahoma (same)
3. Adam Terry, Syracuse (same)
4. Chris Colmer, N.C. State (same)
5. Logan Mankins, Fresno State (same)

Guard

1. Marcus Johnson, Ole Miss (2)
2. Elton Brown, Virginia (3)
3. David Baas, Michigan (1)
4. Dan Buenning,, Wisconsin (same)
5. C.J. Brooks, Maryland (same)

Center

1. Ben Wilkerson, LSU (same)
2. Vince Carter, Oklahoma (same)
3. Dylan Gandy, Texas Tech (same)
4. Scott Mruczkowski, Bowling Green (same)
5. Drew Hodgdon, Arizona State (same)

Kickers

1. Mike Nugent, Ohio State (same)
2. Dave Rayner, Michigan State (same)
3. Nick Novak, Maryland (same)
4. Rhys Lloyd, Minnesota (same)
5. Matt Payne, BYU (same)

DEFENSE

Defensive end

1. Dan Cody, Oklahoma (same)
2. Erasmus James, Wisconsin (same)
3. Matt Roth, Iowa (4)
4. Marcus Spears, LSU (5)
5. David Pollack, Georgia (4)

Tackle

1. Travis Johnson, Florida State (same)
2. Shaun Cody, USC (same)
3. Anttaj Hawthorne, Wisconsin (same)
4. Mike Patterson, USC (5)
5. Dusty Dvoracek, Oklahoma (4)

Inside linebacker

1. Barrett Ruud, Nebraska (same)
2. Lance Mitchell, Oklahoma (same)
3. Adam Seward, UNLV (unranked)
4. Kirk Morrison, San Diego State (3)
5. Mike Goolsby, Notre Dame (same)

Outside linebacker

1. Derrick Johnson, Texas (same)
2. Kevin Burnett, Tennessee (same)
3. Marcus Lawrence, South Carolina (same)
4. Derek Curry, Notre Dame (same)
5. Michael Boley, Southern Miss (unranked)
DROPPED Ryan Claridge, UNLV (5)

Cornerback

1. Antrel Rolle, Miami (same)
2. Bryant McFadden, Florida State (same)
3. Carlos Rogers, Auburn (unranked)
4. Corey Webster, LSU (2)
5. Eric Green, Virginia Tech (same)

Safety

2. Vincent Fuller, Virginia Tech (same)
1. Oshiomogho Atogwe, Stanford (same)
3. Gerald Sensabaugh, North Carolina (same)
4. Sean Considine, Iowa (unranked)
5. Donte Nicholson, Oklahoma (4)
DROPPED
Herana-Daze Jones, Indiana (5)

Punter

1. Dustin Colquitt, Tennessee (same)
2. Cole Farden, Oklahoma State (same)
3. Gary Cook, UNLV (same)
4. Chris Kluwe, UCLA (same)
5. Bryce Benekos, UTEP (same)


BIG BOARD TOP 25

1. Cedric Benson Sr. RB Texas
Four straight years with over 1,000 yards.
2. Ronnie Brown Sr. RB Auburn
A complete, explosive back who does it all.
3. Carnell Williams Sr. RB Auburn
Very creative and deceptively strong runner.
4. Mike Williams Jr. WR USC
Terrific combo of size and strength.
5. Dan Cody Sr. DT Oklahoma
A fiery, intense end who's coming on strong
6. Erasmus James Sr. DE Wisconsin
Outstanding pass rusher who can play the run.
7. Derrick Johnson Sr. LB Texas
Strength, speed and a nose for the ball.
8. Travis Johnson Sr. DT Fla. St.
Vastly improved and a dominant performer.
9. Braylon Edwards Sr. WR Michigan
Has the size, speed and athleticism to dominate.
10. Matt Roth Sr. DE Iowa
An outstanding natural pass rusher.
11. Alex Barron Sr. OT Fla. St.
6-6, 320 and an excellent pass blocker.
12. Shaun Cody Sr. DL USC
Vesrsatile performer at DT or DE.
13. Jammal Brown Sr. OT Oklahoma
Equally adept at pass and run blocking.
14. Marcus Spears Sr. DE LSU
Had 13 tackles for loss and six sacks in '03.
15. David Pollack Sr. DE Georgia
Incredible intensity and passion.
16. Antrel Rolle Sr. CB Miami
Great in coverage and a good tackler.
17. Charlie Frye Sr. QB Akron
Another standout MAC passer.
18. Bryant McFadden Sr. CB Fla. St.
Good athletic ability and willing in run support.
19. Adam Terry Sr. OT Syracuse
Perhaps the nation's most athletic tackle.
20. Mark Clayton Sr. WR Oklahoma
The best WR in years after the catch.
21. Carlos Rogers Sr. DB Auburn
Auburn's best defensive player this season.
22. Alex Smith Sr. TE Stanford
Leads the Cardinal in receptions.
23. Mark Bradley Sr. WR Oklahoma
Also a special-teams standout.
24. Marcus Johnson Sr. OG Ole Miss
45 consecutive starts heading into November.
25. Corey Webster Sr. DB LSU

[Renegade7]

Wow. No Kiwi or Heath Miller.

[JMac]

Good to see Oklahoma representing well. No we just need them to take care of business tonight.

[BleedinBurgundyandGold]

this is clearly a VERY preliminary list with no Alex Smith, no Matt Leinart, no Heath Miller, etc.

[jtyler42]

Well this list is all seniors...

Looks pretty to accurate to me w/out the juniors on there...

We need to add more draft picks somehow this off-season so we can at least get 2-3 of these top guys...

[KDawg]

I don't agree with a good portion of the list anyways... Obviously all the stuff I'm posting is my opinion... And I don't have as much in depth and insider info as Mel Kiper... But I'll list what I would change anyways

Quarterback is out of date...

Rodgers should be 1, Smith two... Campbell is not the second best QB prospect, he may not even be top 5.

Runningback is off as well, Anthony Davis, despite how much I like him, is too injury prone and hasn't proven much when healthy in the second half of the season... JJ Arrington should be the #3 prospect in my opinion behind only Cadillac and Cedric.

Wide receiver... Mark Bradley? I completely disagree. Chris Henry is a better prospect than he is... Hell, Rasheed Marshall who could be making the switch to WR in the NFL could be a better WR prospect.

Tight End... Heath Miller will be one... Everett should be two...

The OLineman rankings actually look good to me, with the exception that Jamaal Brown should be the #1 tackle and Elton Brown the #1 guard.

Defensive End I disagree big time with...

1. Pollack
2. Kiwi
3. Spears
4. James
5. Cody

DT looks ok, except that Kiper seems to have a hard on for Travis Johnson, who I don't feel is at the level of Antaaj.... If Rodrique Wright declares he WILL be #1 at this position.

Inside Linebacker isn't bad... McCune should be up there somewhere... and Mitchell, Morrison and Ruud should be in the top 4 as well, which they are...

OLB is pretty much Derrick Johnson then no real stud prospects... OTHER than Thomas Davis out of Georgia who can play him so OLB as well as his usual safety spot... But he should be a safety first in the NFL.

CB Rolle and Rogers should be 1a and 1b...

safety, uhm... Where' Thomas Davis? Is he an underclassman? I always forget with him...

[w33dh0l3]

Heath Miller is a senior isn't he? This article is blasphemy, hes #1.

[Gibbs4Life]

heath miller is only a junior and hasn't declared his eligibility yet. But ive heard he's lean towards going to the draft.

[Mr. S]

I thought Heath Miller was a senior. I can understand why others are off the list, notably Matt Leinart and Kiwi.

[heyholetsgogrant]

How can Chirs henry be one of the top guys, hes clearly third in the WR category in my book

[TheSteve]

I think Aaron Rodgers is going to be a bust. I pity the team that drafts him. He didn't impress me much in his bowl game, and he stares down his WR's too much. Lienert will end up having the better pro career by far.

[Oldskool]

Mel "the hair" Kiper's list is usually WAAY off this time of year anyhow.

No need to get any panties in a bunch :)

[[[ghost]]]

bullshiznit list, many great college prospects didn't make that list, but after all, it is ESPN

[the big slim]

Originally posted by w33dh0l3
Heath Miller is a senior isn't he? This article is blasphemy, hes #1.

Are you sure you aren't thinking of Heath Shuler????????

[PennState11]

I dont think Vincent Fuller should be the #1 saftey. What happened to Jamaal Brimmer a saftey from UNLV?

[Vegas-Born]

How about my Rebels getting a couple of Mentions...Go UNLV baby.