With the college football regular season nearing a close, NFL in-season evaluations are being finalized as well. Reviewing film, anticipating junior declarations and beginning the postseason all-star circuit are next on the agenda for NFL teams once the regular season is finished.
With a lackluster class in general, top linemen talent and two standout receivers rise to the top of our Big Board. Keep in mind we don’t include juniors in our rankings until they have officially declared after the season.
1. DE Alvin Dupree, Kentucky
Dupree started off his 2014 campaign with ample excitement over his upside, and he’s developed even further this season with great body control, lateral quickness and suddenness, and instinctive reactions to opposing blockers. His combination of production, development and potential could make him a top-10 pick by draft day.
2. OT Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M
Ogbuehi entered the year with as much hype as Jake Matthews and Luke Joeckel before him. While he’s had ups and downs this year, and was pushed back to the right tackle spot, he’s still a first-round talent, and has a great chance of going in the top-10 picks.
3. OT La'el Collins, LSU
Collins has physically dominated opposing defenders throughout his senior season, engaging and drive-blocking better than any blocker in the country. His feet are just good enough in pass protection, and he finishes blocks as well as any in the country.
4. WR DeVante Parker, Louisville
After being hurt the early part of the season, Parker has re-established himself as one of the country’s best receivers. A long-strider, Parker high-points the ball very well, transitions to a runner smoothly, and consistently gets release from defensive backs down the field.
5. WR Kevin White, West Virginia
White wasn’t on most NFL radars to start the season, but with his finishing ability at the catch point, polish across his route-tree, sure-handedness and subtle separation techniques, he’s earned a first-round grade, and could work his way to the top-10 if his workout numbers match his fantastic 2014 play.
6. DT Michael Bennett, Ohio State
A plus interior pass-rusher, Bennett has continued to be the catalyst for success for the Buckeye defense this year, generating pressure and consistently forcing and embracing double teams. He’s been asked to play on multiple spots on the line, so 3-4 and 4-3 teams will have interest in the later part of round one.
7. DE Vic Beasley, Clemson
He hasn’t been as dominant as he was a year ago, but with his edge speed and prior production, along with this class not being as strong as a year ago, and Beasley could still find his way into the top-20 pick. Workouts and measurements will be key for Beasley after the season.
8. DT Danny Shelton, Washington
The team’s other defenders get plenty of attention, but it’s Shelton’s space eating and ability to take advantage of one-on-one match-ups that has consistently allowed his teammates to produce. He’ll be viewed as a nose tackle prospect for 4-3 and 3-4 teams.
9. OT Ty Sambrailo, Colorado State
Despite hailing from a Mountain West program, Sambrailo could emerge as a first-round option for NFL teams, thanks to his movement, controlled blocks, plus body-type and consistent success against all type of rushers.
10. WR Rashad Greene, Florida State
The country’s best route runner and Jameis Winston’s most sure-handed target, Greene will leave Florida State as one of the most productive receivers in school history. While he doesn’t have wow size, speed, or athleticism to make him a top-20 pick, he’s as safe of a receiver prospect as you’ll find in the draft process.
11. OT Brandon Scherff, Iowa
Scherff’s length and good (not great) athletic ability will worry teams looking to take him in the top-20 picks, but his power, use of leverage, hand strength and efficiency shout NFL starter. He meets that “just enough” requirement as a pass-blocker and is a devastating run blocker.
12. CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon
With sub-6-foot size and worse-than-expected play as a senior, Ekpre-Olomu is no longer a lock for the first-round. He has the potential to be a standout nickel cornerback at the very least, and despite his 2014 struggles, his hand activity, positioning and ball skills all are at NFL levels.
13. S Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss
Playing both strong and free safety in his college career, Prewitt’s success as the defensive leader for the Rebels is thanks to his anticipation, reaction speed in multiple defensive sets, and versatility to play in a variety of situations. His explosiveness as a tackler is another major plus.
14. DT Carl Davis, Iowa
Davis’s flashes as a junior showed top-end potential, but his lackluster senior season thanks to inconsistent pass-rushing play has added concerns to his scouting report. He’s committed to the Senior Bowl already, and that stage will give him the chance to impress NFL teams more than he did in 2014.
15. DE Lorenzo Mauldin, Louisville
The key pass-rusher for the Cardinals, Mauldin has the opportunity and talent to follow in Marcus Smith’s footsteps and be the next surprise first-rounder from Louisville. Active off the line and displaying a high motor with plus-hand skills, Mauldin has the tools to develop into a seven-to-10-sack a year defensive end in the NFL.
16. RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska
Abdullah has been the country’s best senior running back this year from start to finish, carrying the Nebraska’s offensive load with great balance in traffic, vision at the second level and explosiveness up and through the hole. He likely won’t garner first-round interest from NFL teams, but he should have a long NFL career as a starter.
17. ILB Denzel Perryman, Miami
Perryman has been one of the country’s best linebackers the past two seasons, and despite not having ideal size and bulk, he fits the mold of recent undersized linebackers that have the active play in traffic and finishing ability outside the box.
18. ILB Eric Kendricks, UCLA
Brother of Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks, the UCLA linebacker has great size and explosiveness to finish tackles with great pop, as well as utilizing his athleticism across the field. His timing and high football IQ could give him a higher grade than his brother.
19. G Laken Tomlinson, Duke
With a thick body type coupled with quick feet and a composed athletic style, Tomlinson is able to adjust and slide in both run and pass plays. The top ranked senior guard’s upper and lower body strength along with his lower half athleticism gives him the tools to develop into a potential first-round worthy option.
20. OT Tyrus Thompson, Oklahoma
While not always consistent, Tyrus Thompson’s combination of size, length and foot quickness as a pass blocker are impressive. While his streakiness will be a concern for some teams, his upside as a top-level athlete at left tackle will make him sought after by NFL teams.
21. G Hroniss Grasu, Oregon
An experienced leader and plus athlete, Grasu has had longevity at Oregon thanks to his quickness, decisiveness and technique as a blocker. While his lack of great power is his biggest concern, zone-blocking teams know he’ll be a long-term NFL starter.
22. DE Hau'oli Kikaha, Washington
Kikaha has been one of the defensive leaders and most productive players for the very talented Washington unit, in large part thanks to his strength at the point of attack, active hands and plus adjustments as he attacks the backfield. Knee injury concerns in his past may worry teams.
23. WR Ty Montgomery, Stanford
The dynamic Stanford receiver and returner, Montgomery’s speed and big play ability will certainly pique NFL interest. He’s still an adequate route runner and overall separating receiver, but he’ll likely need to be in the slot or schemed-for at the next level, which could push his value out of the first-round despite his playmaking ability.
24. DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA
After missing all of 2013 with hip surgeries, Odighizuwa has returned, utilizing his elite length as both an interior rusher and space eater. His combination of length and quickness should continue to cause disruption upfront into his NFL career.
25. S Kurtis Drummond, Michigan State
After a great junior season with ample NFL talent around him, Drummond has been inconsistent this year, flashing his big-play ability and range at times, while taking poor angles and mis-diagnosing plays in others. If he can become more efficient, he could become an elite NFL starter.
26. WR Tony Lippett, Michigan State
Lippett has turned into Connor Cook’s favorite weapon in the Spartan offense, thanks to his strong hands, body control to the catch-point, and ability to turn catches into long gains and touchdowns. He’s still a bit raw as a route runner, but his 6-3 size will certainly excite NFL teams.
27. G A.J. Cann, South Carolina
With great anchoring ability, vision as a blocker and lateral quickness, Cann has emerged on South Carolina’s line this year to showcase all the tools NFL teams want in a top-two round offensive guard prospect.
28. TE Jeff Heuerman, Ohio State
In a tight end class that doesn’t boast much talent, the Ohio State product hasn’t put up great numbers this year. But his 2013 pass-catching performances, coupled with his improvements as a blocker initially and down the field, could still make him a top-two round option.
29. S Clayton Geathers, UCF
A versatile safety for the Knights, Geathers has shown the ability to fill and deliver great contact as an in-the-box safety, as well as transition vertically and protect centerfield. His limitations in speed at times as well as inconsistent decisions when attacking pass catchers will likely push him to the second-half of Day 2.
30. WR Justin Hardy, East Carolina
The wildly productive receiver in the ECU offense, Hardy will draw some comparisons to Michael Crabtree thanks to his play in a similar offense and ability to finish catches in the slot and on the perimeter. What he lacks in dynamic size or burst, he makes up for in reliability and separation skills on every play.
31. OT TJ Clemmings, Pittsburgh
A former defensive end at Pittsburgh just two years ago, Clemmings has the arm length, initial pop when engaged and lateral control and quickness to be a top-flight NFL pass blocker with improved technique and fundamentals.
32. DE Trey Flowers, Arkansas
A powerful edge player for the Razorbacks, Flowers has the frame and strong hands to control blockers as a strong-side rusher in the NFL. He does offer elite power in the short-area, winning with hand strength, but his lack of top-end agility and high-level edge speed may limit his draft grade.
Top juniors to watch
While we won’t officially include juniors in our rankings until after the season and upon their final declarations to leave the school, here are our top 10 juniors, assuming they declare for the 2015 NFL Draft.
1. Leonard Williams, DT, USC
2. Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
3. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
4. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
5. Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
6. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
7. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
8. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
9. Benardick McKinney, LB, Miss. State
10. Shane Ray, OLB, Missouri
Eric Galko is the owner and director of scouting at Optimum Scouting and OptimumScouting.com, as well as a Sporting News contributor. Follow him on Twitter: @OptimumScouting