Predicting My Top 5s for 2011

I'm very bored at the moment, and thought this thread may jump start things a bit. What I'm going to do here is post my top 5s for the moment, followed by what I believe my own personal top 5 will be on April 20th of next year. Yeah, it's a harrowing task, but again, very bored. LET'S BEGIN.

To note, I've left some positions out that I don't really have a strong opinion on things changing much.

Quarterback

NOW:
1. Andrew Luck, Stanford**
2. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas*
3. Jake Locker, Washington
4. Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M
5. Ricky Stanzi, Iowa

LATER:
1. Andrew Luck, Stanford**
2. John Brantley, Florida*
3. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas*
4. Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M
5. Jake Locker, Washington

First things first, Luck is the best prospect in the country. Secondly, Ryan Mallett is light years from being the best player he can be, but is still a dynamic physical talent. If he can put it together, he could go above Luck just based on all he's capable of with his arm. John Brantley is a kid to watch closely, a much better pro prospect than Tebow, and his emergence in the first round does nothing but help JB's stock.

As for Locker? I just have no idea why he's considered a top level prospect. He's fast... that's about it. OK arm strength, average accuracy, bad technique, at least Tebow was a winner.

Note, Blaine Gabbert would be just behind that group, maybe ahead of Locker (though I didn't want to completely blow everyone's minds).

Running Back

NOW
1. Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh**
2. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech**
3. Mark Ingram, Alabama*
4. Evan Royster, Penn State
5. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma

LATER
1. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech**
2. Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh**
3. Mark Ingram, Alabama*
4. Allen Bradford, USC
5. Jordan Todman, UConn

Ryan Williams is a monster, and his prototype everything will put him in the top ten. Lewis and Ingram will go based on what the team drafting is looking for. Allen Bradford is a big, strong back with speed that just needs consistent carries, and could explode for this year's SC team. Todman is a sleeper, but has great speed and could be one of the nation's leading rushers. Royster falls out because he just doesn't appear to have any great tools to make him a front of the committee guy. Murray is too hot and cold right now, but could jump up if he has a big season.

Wide Receiver

NOW
1. AJ Green, Georgia*
2. Julio Jones, Alabama*
3. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame*
4. Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh*
5. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma*

LATER
1. AJ Green, Georgia*
2. Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh*
3. Julio Jones, Alabama*
4. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame*
5. Greg Childs, Arkansas*

AJ Green is a stud, he's top 5. Baldwin is a freak of nature that I think will be a big part of a Pittsburgh team that won't lose very many games next year. If they can find even decent QB play, he'll skyrocket. Julio Jones needs to really establish himself this season, because if he doesn't Floyd may hop over him too. Greg Childs is a nice mini-sleeper, if Mallett gets it together, it will be to the GREAT benefit of this kid. Nice fun fact, all five of these guys are listed at 6-3 or taller.


Tight End

1. Luke Stocker, Tennessee
2. Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame*
3. Weslye Saunders, South Carolina
4. George Bryan, NC State
5. Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin

Nothing real important to say here. I like Zack Pianalto from UNC as a sleeper to rise quickly. Konrad Reuland from Stanford is another guy that could be rated highly after the season working with Luck.


Offensive Tackle

NOW
1. Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
2. Anthony Costanzo, Boston College
3. Matt Reynolds, BYU*
4. Nate Solder, Colorado
5. Blake DeChristopher, Virginia Tech*

LATER

1. Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
2. Nate Solder, Colorado
3. Nate Potter, Boise State*
4. Anthony Costanzo, Boston College
5. Blake DeChristopher, Virginia Tech*

Carimi stays at the top due to pedigree and the fact that he's on top now even with some technique work to do. He could still get a lot better. After that, I'm not going to lie to you, I'm just a fan of OTs named Nate. Solder is a former Tight End who has the athleticism to be a beast of a blindside tackle, and Potter is a rapidly developing underclassmen. He didn't even start the season in the lineup but finished as Kellen Moore's top blocker. Costanzo is right there with the top three, and could easily emerge as the best senior tackle available. Matt Reynolds to me screams Right Tackle, but DeChristopher might be more proven at the spot coming from run-dominant VTech.


Interior Lineman

1. Rodney Hudson, Florida State
2. John Moffitt, Wisconsin
3. James Wilson, Florida*
4. Mike Pouncey, Florida
5. Justin Boren, Ohio State

I really don't consider myself a really good evaluator of interior line prospects, that said, I know the top two are both very, very good. After these five, Carl Johnson could make three Florida linemen taken in the first three or so rounds (Johnson as a tackle moving inside to guard).

 

Defensive End

NOW
1. Richard Quinn, North Carolina*
2. Marcel Dareus, Alabama*
3. Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
4. Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh
5. Allen Bailey, Miami

LATER
1. Richard Quinn, North Carolina*
2. Marcel Dareus, Alabama*
3. Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh
4. Armond Armstead, USC*
5. Sam Acho, Texas

The defensive end position is going to be a warzone over the next year. Tons of great prospects, all with their own personal skills. Quinn and Dareus are in the top 5, no questions asked. Romeus may prove to be the best passrusher in the nation next year. Armstead is a guy that Mr E loves, and has been shredding so far this offseason waiting his chance to shine. I'd take his potential to be dominant over years of questions with Allen Bailey. Acho is a defender in the Brian Orakpo mold for UT, and should avoid the fall that his other former teammate Sergio Kindle faced this year. I really thought about putting UNC's other end Mike McAdoo up here, too.

Defensive Tackle

NOW
1. Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
2. Jerrell Powe, Ole Miss
3. Marvin Austin, North Carolina
4. Jared Crick, Nebraska*
5. Jurrell Casey, USC*

LATER
1. Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
2. Jared Crick, Nebraska*
3. Jerrell Powe, Ole Miss
4. Jurrell Casey, USC*
5. Stephen Paea, Oregon State

Heyward is a stud, and top flight prototype 34 Ends go high in the NFL draft. Crick is a riser to keep an eye on, I believe Suh when he said that Crick could be just as good as he was very soon. Powe is a big NT that's much more than a big fat man. He's really somewhere between Dan Williams and Terrence Cody, very large but still a quality athlete. Jurrell Casey could move up if he dominates at his increased weight. Paea gets the nod over Austin in the battle of high effort vs low effort. Hard working tackles are in right now.


Outside Linebacker

1. Akeem Ayers, UCLA*
2. Von Miller, Texas A&M
3. Travis Lewis, Oklahoma*
4. Bruce Carter, North Carolina
5. Mark Herzlich, Boston College

Inside Linebacker

1. Greg Jones, Michigan State
2. Don'ta Hightower, Alabama*
3. Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina
4. Chris Galippo, USC*
5. Casey Matthews, Oregon

To be honest here, I'm pretty happy with what I have. Guys like VT's Barquell Rivers, Nate Irving from NC State, USC's Malcolm Smith, Georgia's Justin Houston, and UConn's Greg Lloyd are other guys I like.

Cornerback

NOW
1. Patrick Peterson, LSU*
2. Aaron Williams, Texas*
3. Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
4. Ras-I Dowling, Virginia
5. Kendric Burney, North Carolina

LATER
1. Patrick Peterson, LSU*
2. Aaron Williams, Texas*
3. Kendric Burney, North Carolina
4. Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
5. Janoris Jenkins, Florida*

Peterson and Williams will be tough to top, the question is which of the two emerges on top. Williams will probably have a better season/tape, but Peterson is screwed by his situation. Burney is just a guy I really like, tough corner that knows how to make plays. Amukamara isn't far behind as far as senior corners go, and I've just never been a huge Dowling fan. Jenkins is the Gator/Nole corner that always seems to rise up with great 40 times. Keep and eye on Javes Lewis from Oregon, big hitting rover that is more a corner in the NFL.

Safety

NOW
1. DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson
2. Mark Barron, Alabama*
3. Deunta Williams, North Carolina
4. Rahim Moore, UCLA*
5. Chris Culliver, South Carolina

LATER
1. Rahim Moore, UCLA*
2. DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson
3. Will Hill, Florida*
4. Mark Barron, Alabama*
5. Deunta Williams, North Carolina

Call the Moore choice a hunch, I just love the way the kid plays. He's a natural. McDaniel has some off the field stuff that would be enough to get Moore slightly ahead, all other things even. Will Hill (NJ kid) is a dynamic talent, and could fly up the boards if he plays up to expectations in a full time starting role. I've seen both Barron and Williams rated as the top safety in the class, that's how deep the position is next year. And Culliver drops off through no fault of his own, I actually think his stock will rise over the year.

 

aaahhh balls. I'll just call it a chance for WW to test out those fancy mod buttons.

 

This is the best time to disagree about prospects, when anything is possible.

There are a ton of real quality tackle prospects available for next season. Eight different seniors could legitimately emerge as top 2 round prospects with good seasons in '10, and four of them could be the top tackle taken. Then, you throw in three UCs that I really like, and you have a loaded class.

The top four seniors: Carimi, Costanzo, Solder, and Barksdale. I don't hate him, but I know better than to give LSU players any credit short of proven skill. He has to have a big year for me to put him in my top five. The other four are Ziemba, Pinkston, Jarriel King, and Clint Boling. The UCs are the Potter, DeChristopher, and Reynolds. That's a ton of talent.

O'Dowd is probably right there after the five I mentioned, along with Andrew Jackson, Wisniewski, and a guy to watch, Ben Ijalana from Villanova.

I love Ayers and Moore, if Price went back to school that would have been a dominant defense. I'd love to get either one for the Jets defense, they are both perfect fits.

 

Just throwing it in there for the World Cup. One of the few times that an American can proudly support his Italian heritage (especially over the last year).

 

I think the quarterback situation isn't nearly as clear cut as a lot of people seem to think. Have to be honest, I just don't get why people hype Jake Locker so much. The kid didn't even get a first round grade from the advisory committee, he's a long, LONG way away from being the #1 pick. You can't really criticize a lack of polish on Johnson when Locker is even further back in his development as a QB. Based on what I've seen from Jerrod I honestly feel he can put together a really good season next year, I can't necessarily say the same for Locker.

Stanzi has issues, but the senior QB class is a little shaky at this point. I probably should have made it Nathan Enderle from Idaho. Either way, it'll be the underclassmen that determine the value of this QB class. I think I know what I'll see from Locker and Johnson (along with Stanzi, etc), but the trio of Luck, Mallett, and Brantley will be the key to everything.

As for Dont'a Hightower, he's a real unique football player. He lost most of his sophomore year with a bad injury (meniscus, ACL, MCL), but if he comes back healthy he'll be just as important to that Tide D as Marcel Dareus or Mark Barron. He might not go as high as a Rolando McClain because I think McClain was just a purely great MLB, but I think that with his versatility he'll be a fairly high pick. He's a huge linebacker, and has that strength to anchor a defense and can also be used to get after the quarterback. He could be a very nice option in a defense that likes versatility (cough the Jets cough).