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| Ben Liebenberg / NFL.com |
| Mark Sanchez has moved ahead of Matthew Stafford in Mike Mayock's list of the best QB prospects. |
With 46 underclassmen having been granted special eligibility, here's a breakdown of the top five college football players at each position heading into the 2009 NFL Draft:
» Mayock's top 20 prospects
| Mike Mayock's top prospects by position for the 2009 NFL Draft | |||
| Rank | Player | School | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterbacks | |||
|
1
|
*Mark Sanchez | USC | Tremendous skills, 16 college starts |
|
2
|
*Matthew Stafford | Georgia | Elite arm, inconsistent in pocket |
|
3
|
*Josh Freeman | Kansas State | Tremendous arm/athletic, speed-up process |
|
4
|
Pat White | West Virginia | Excellent arm/accuracy, the new 'slash'? |
|
5
|
Stephen McGee | Texas A&M | Physical/athletic, injured as a senior |
| Running backs | |||
|
1
|
*Knowshon Moreno | Georgia | Lateral quickness, love his finish |
|
2
|
*Chris "Beanie" Wells | Ohio State | Downhill runner, inconsistent durability |
|
3
|
*Donald Brown | Connecticut | Great quickness, makes people miss, patient |
|
4
|
*LeSean McCoy | Pittsburgh | Vision and cutback ability, questionable long speed |
|
5
|
*Shonn Greene | North Carolina State | Fast riser, durability issues |
| Fullback | |||
|
1
|
Tony Fiammetta | Syracuase | Old-school blocker, robotic-but-able receiver |
|
2
|
Quinn Johnson | LSU | Lead blocker/special teams, 5 career catches |
|
3
|
Brannan Southerland | Georgia | Versatile blocker and receiver, durability issues |
| Wide receivers | |||
|
1
|
*Michael Crabtree | Texas Tech | Great ball skills/competitor, questionable long speed |
|
2
|
*Percy Harvin | Florida | Big-play ability, durability/usage |
|
3
|
*Jeremy Maclin | Missouri | Explosive R.A.C., production/added value RS |
|
4
|
*Darrius Heyward-Bey | Maryland | H-W-S specimen, inconsistent hands |
|
5
|
*Brian Robiskie | Ohio State | Best route-runner, great value |
| Tight ends | |||
|
1
|
Brandon Pettigrew | Oklahoma State | Old-school TE like Jason Witten, not a blazer |
|
2
|
Cornelius Ingram | Florida | Gifted athlete, missed '08 (torn ACL) |
|
3
|
Shawn Nelson | Southern Miss | Gifted vertical receiver, willing blocker |
|
4
|
Jared Cook | South Carolina | Tremendous measurables, vertical threat |
|
5
|
*James Casey | Rice | Natural ball skills, not a blocker |
| Centers | |||
|
1
|
Max Unger | Oregon | 4-position OL, will struggle with speed |
|
2
|
Eric Wood | Louisville | Tough guy/finishes well, struggles to redirect feet |
|
3
|
Alex Mack | California | Intelligent/great technique, on ground too much |
|
4
|
A.Q. Shipley | Penn State | Short arms/good player, understands technique/leverage |
|
5
|
Antoine Caldwell | Alabama | Can play all 3 interior OL spots, tough guy |
| Guards | |||
|
1
|
Andy Levitre | Oregon State | Former LT, must kick inside |
|
2
|
Duke Robinson | Oklahoma | Massive brawler, will struggle with speed |
|
3
|
Kraig Urbik | Wisconsin | 4-position OL, solid technician/long career |
|
4
|
Tyronne Green | Auburn | Tremendous Senior Bowl week, great initial pop/must sustain |
|
5
|
Herman Johnson | LSU | Largest baby in La. history, scheme-specific player |
| Offensive tackles | |||
|
1
|
Eugene Monroe | Virginia | Kept Branden Albert at guard, gifted pass protector |
|
2
|
Jason Smith | Baylor | Think Ryan Clady, needs run-game improvement |
|
3
|
*Andre Smith | Alabama | Surprisingly nimble feet, beware weight fluctuation |
|
4
|
Michael Oher | Mississippi | Naturally gifted LT, highly inconsistent |
|
5
|
*Eben Britton | Arizona | Solid technician, needs more sand in pants |
| Defensive ends | |||
| Rk | Player | School | Comment |
|
1
|
Robert Ayers | Tennessee | Great burst at Senior Bowl, one-year wonder? |
|
2
|
Tyson Jackson | LSU | Scheme diverse, might kick inside |
|
3
|
Everette Brown | Florida State | Right DE or rush LB, significant upside |
|
4
|
Paul Kruger | Utah | Great motor/stacks edge, not an elite edge burst |
|
5
|
Michael Johnson | Georgia Tech | Physical specimen, Too much bad tape |
| Defensive tackles | |||
|
1
|
B.J. Raji | Boston College | Run stuffer can push pocket, stay at 328 pounds!!! |
|
2
|
Peria Jerry | Mississippi | 1-gap penetrator, must stay healthy |
|
3
|
Evander "Ziggy" Hood | Missouri | Energizer Bunny, scheme will be crucial |
|
4
|
Ron Brace | Boston College | Gifted run defender, limited pass-rush ability |
|
5
|
Fili Moala | USC | Physical specimen, must be more consistent |
| Inside linebackers | |||
|
1
|
Rey Maualuga | USC | Explosive point of attack, can struggle in space |
|
2
|
James Laurinaitis | Ohio State | Consistent technician, clean off the field |
|
3
|
Jasper Brinkley | South Carolina | No comment |
|
4
|
Darry Beckwith | LSU | Athletic and solid tackler, engulfed by big bodies |
|
5
|
Jason Phillips | TCU | Productive/hard-nosed, had postseason knee surgery |
| Outside linebackers | |||
|
1
|
Aaron Curry | Wake Forest | Scheme diverse/high-level performer, safest pick in draft |
|
2
|
Brian Orakpo | Texas | Talented conversion guy, explosive off edge |
|
3
|
Brian Cushing | USC | Love attitude/passion, 4-3 SAM/3-4 ILB? |
|
4
|
Clay Matthews | USC | Special talent, Nickel OLB |
|
T-5th
|
Larry English | Northern Illinois | Can run the arc, level of competition |
|
T-5th
|
Aaron Maybin | Penn State | Can he sustain 250 pounds or stop the run? |
| Cornerbacks | |||
|
1
|
Malcolm Jenkins | Ohio State | Great length/very physical, CB or FS? |
|
2
|
Vontae Davis | Illinois | Highly gifted skill-set, inconsistent on/off field |
|
3
|
Darius Butler | Connecticut | Best feet/C.O.D. at Senior Bowl, must tackle consistently |
|
4
|
Alphonso Smith | Wake Forest | Great instincts/ball skills, size/speed questions |
|
5
|
*Jairus Byrd | Vanderbilt | Quick feet/thin frame, loves to compete |
| Safeties | |||
|
1
|
Louis Delmas | Western Michigan | Aggressive vs. run/good tackler, average in man-to-man |
|
2
|
Patrick Chung | Oregon | Very solid box safety, likes press/dislikes off-man |
|
3
|
William Moore | Missouri | Jekyll or Hyde, physically gifted |
|
4
|
Rashad Johnson | Alabama | Made 11 INTs in two years, CB body |
|
5
|
Chip Vaugn | Wake Forest | Good size/speed, special teams gunner |
* -- underclassman granted special eligibility
