NFL Draft: Player Rankings

In this first addition of my player rankings, I will be ranking 5 to 10 players at each position. I will also include a sleeper at the end of each position. My sleepers are a player I believe will be taken late day 1 and into day 2 that I think can make a impact in the NFL. There won't be any explanation process in this ranking. My next mock draft will likely run a days weeks before the NFL Combine. After the Combine, I will post an updated mock draft and player rankings.


Quarterback
1. JaMarcus Russel, LSU
2. Brady Quinn, ND
3. Drew Stanton, Michigan St.
4. Kevin Kolb, Houston
5. Matt Moore, Oregon St.
sleeper - John Beck, BYU

Breakdown: Russel has the highest ceiling of the bunch but I think he is being overhyped. Stanton and Kolb each have underrated athletic ability and the potential to be solid starters. Moore is going to be a very good career backup.

Halfback
1. Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
2. Marshawn Lynch, Cal
3. Michael Bush, Louisville
4. Brandon Jackson, Nebraska
5. Kenny Irons, Auburn
6. Antonio Pittman, OSU
sleeper - Lorenzo Booker, FSU

Breakdown: Peterson, Lynch and Bush are the cream of the crop for running backs. Peterson has excellent skills but will have to answer durability questions; as will Bush. Lorenzo Booker is going to excel as a 3rd down back, much like Kevin Faulk.

Fullback
1. Brian Leonard, Rutgers
2. Jason Snelling, Virginia
3. LeRon McClain, Alabama
4. Stan White Jr., OSU
5. Deon Anderson, Connecticut

Breakdown: Brian Leonard is versatile and may end up at halfback or H-back. He could become the next Mike Alstott. Stan White Jr. has solid hands out of the backfield.

Wide Receiver
1. Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech
2. Ted Ginn Jr., OSU
3. Dwayne Bowe, LSU
4. Sidney Rice, South Carolina
5. Anthony Gonzalez, OSU
6. Dwayne Jarrett, USC
7. Robert Meachum, Tennessee
sleeper - Jason Hill, Washington St.

Breakdown: Calvin Johnson is the best player in college football. Both Bowe and Rice have an excellent combination of speed and size. Jarrett is dropping due to lack of speed. Jason Hill is a solid wideout who will make a good slot receiver on most teams.

Tight End
1. Greg Olson, Miami
2. Zach Miller, Arizona St.
3. Matt Spaeth, Minnesota
4. Joe Newton, Oregon State
5. Clark Harris, Rutgers
sleeper - Ben Patrick, Delaware

Breakdown: Not as flashy as some previous tight end classes. Olson and Miller are the only two with potential to start right away. At 6'7", Newton has great size and could provide a reliable red zone target.

Offensive Tackle
1. Joe Thomas, Wisconsin
2. Levi Brown, Penn State
3. Tony Ugoh, Arkansas
4. Joe Staley, Central Michigan
5. Marshal Yanda, Iowa
sleeper - Doug Free, Northern Illinois

Breakdown: This is a solid class of tackles led by Thomas. Thomas, Brown and Ugoh could all end up as franchise left tackles. Free was part of the line that led the way for the fleet footed Garret Wolfe.

Offensive Guard
1. Ben Grubbs, Auburn
2. Josh Beekman, Boston College
3. Arron Sears, Tennessee
4. Justin Blalock, Texas
5. Tim Duckworth, Auburn
sleeper - Andy Alleman, Akron

Breakdown: Grubbs is the only guard in the bunch that could break into the first round. Sears has potential to be a first year starter. Beekman should also be good, looking at BC's pedigree for breeding offensive lineman.

Offensive Center
1. Ryan Kalil, USC
2. Kyle Young, Fresno State
3. Samson Satele, Hawaii
4. Enoka Lucas, Oregon
5. Uche Nwaneri, Purdue

Breakdown: Kalil leads the group of centers with his experience in a pro style offense at USC. In Hawaii, Satele did mostly shotgun snaps, so he'll have to show the ability to get the ball in the right spot under center.

Defensive End
1. Gaines Adams, Clemson
2. Jamaal Anderson, Oklahoma
3. Adam Carriker, Nebraska
4. Charles Johnson, Georgia
5. Tim Crowder, Texas
6. Quentin Moses, Georgia
7. Jarvis Moss, Florida
8. Lamarr Woodley, Michigan
9. Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame
10. Jay Moore, Nebraska
sleeper- Ikaika Alama-Francis, Hawaii

Breakdown: Defensive ends this year are deep and talented. As many as 5 could go in round 1. Woodley, Moses and Moss may all be switched to a 3-4 OLB. Alama-Francis has the potential to develop into a stud on the end.

Defensive Tackle
1. Amobi Okoye, Louisville
2. Alan Branch, Michigan
3. Tank Tyler, NC State
4. Justin Harrell, Tennessee
5. Quinn Pitcock, OSU
sleeper- Ryan McBean, Oklahoma St.

Breakdown: The 19-year old Amobi Okoye is one of the stories of the year in sports. Okoye has an outstanding motor and can get in the backfield. Branch and Tyler are each big bodies that can anchor a line.

Outside Linebacker
1. Lawrence Timmons, FSU
2. Paul Posluszny, Penn State
3. Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma
4. Michael Okwo, Stanford
5. Earl Everett, Florida
sleeper- Jon Beason, Miami

Breakdown: This outside linebacker class isn't especially deep. Posluszny was a great college player who should be a dependable pro. Beason is undersized but can move well.

Inside Linebacker
1. Patrick Willis, Mississippi
2. Buster Davis, FSU
3. Brandon Siler, Florida
4. Zach Diles, Kansas State
5. David Harris, Michigan
sleeper- Jon Abbate, Wake Forest

Breakdown: Willis is an athletic linebacker that can make plays across the field. Davis reminds me of a bowling ball, when he gets rolling there is no stopping him.

Cornerback
1. Leon Hall, Michigan
2. Aaron Ross, Texas
3. Chris Houston, Arkansas
4. Darrele Revis, Pittsburgh
5. Daymeion Hughes, Cal
6. Marcus McCauley, Fresno St.
7. Eric Wright, UNLV
sleeper - C.J. Gaddis, Clemson

Breakdown: Hall is the best all-around corner of this class. He reminds me of Nate Clements. McCauley had a great junior season but struggled last year and in the Senior Bowl. Wright has great athleticism and could develop into a top tier cornerback.

Safety
1. LaRon Landry, LSU
2. Reggie Nelson, Florida
3. Eric Weedle, Utah
4. Brandon Meriweather, Miami
5. Michael Griffin, Texas
sleeper- Michael Johnson, Arizona

Breakdown: Landry, a 4 year starter, is a ballhawk that knows where to be and when. Nelson is a playmaker from the safety position and flies all over the field. Meriweather is going to have a fun time answering questions about his part in the brawl.