Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The 2014 college football season is officially underway and so is NFL’s Future prospect evaluation process. With week one in the books, I’ve logged nearly 60 hours of CFB under my belt already. With this in mind there’s no better time to release our post-preseason 2015 NFL Draft prospect rankings. It’s way too early to say how the 2015 class will stack up to last year’s or any previous year’s but it’s safe to assume this class will be headlined by a crop of underclassmen…isn’t it always. That said, I’ve rated underclassmen that I think have the best chance to declare for the draft (top-50 prospects).
1. Leonard Williams, DT/DE, USC
There isn’t much not to like with Williams. I liken him to a less powerful, more athletic Ndamukong Suh without the baggage. Williams has played inside and outside at SC and I think his best work came on the outside where he could use lateral speed and long arms to keep tackles off balance in run and pass protection. Williams could be the closest prospect to emerge from the collegiate ranks that resembles J.J. Watt’s game, which is why he’s my No. 1 rated player at these early stages of the process.
2. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
The similarities with Colin Kaepernick don’t end with their running ability. Mariota is probably the more polished of the two coming out of college as a passer. Not to say there isn’t work to be done with Mariota but teams will struggle to poke too many holes in the package that is Marcus Mariota.
3. Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
It was fun watching Ogbuehi progress from game one at tackle to the end of the season. Ogbuehi’s technique was noticeably improved as the season progressed. The former guard moves over to LT after spending last season on the right side. If he can prove he can handle speed off the edge on the left side, the future is bright.
4. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Jameis has his fair share of question marks, mostly off-the-field. That said, he has a special set of skills that will push him into the conversation as the top overall pick. Week one had its ups and downs for Winston but I have little doubt that he’ll rebound to full 2013 form.
5. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The drought on first round RB’s will be over in 2015. Todd Gurley is a special back that teams may be willing to hedge their bets on early in the draft. Gurley will run you over, has nimble feet, can pass protect, and catches the ball out of the backfield. He’s everything many thought Trent Richardson was going to be and draws favorable comparisons to Marshawn Lynch.
6. Shawn Oakman, DT/DE, Baylor
6-foot-8, 285 pounds. Need I say more. Oakman moves like a much smaller man and has shown he’s able to dominate inside or outside. Oakman’s versatility will make him an intriguing option for all 32 teams. Like Ziggy Ansah in 2013, Oakman is just scratching the surface of an enormous ceiling – scary to think of given his success in limited opportunities.
7. Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Many have questioned whether the Iowa LT can hang on the left side at the next level. I’m in the camp that he can. If he can’t, I think he’s a plug and play guard or right tackle. I was a huge Zack Martin fan in 2014 and I think Scherff is a more skilled version of Martin.
8. Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
He’s got size, speed, aggressiveness, solid technique, tackling ability. For my money he’s the top draft-eligible corner in college football. Watching Peters shut down Brandin Cooks was impressive but turn on any UW game and you’ll find much of the same. At 6-foot-0, 198 pounds he has the size NFL teams covet and I would take him over Justin Gilbert every day of the week and twice on Sunday…Gilbert went 8th overall in 2014.
9. Landon Collins, S, Alabama
When Vinnie Sunseri tore his ACL in 2013, Bama fans knew they had a guy in Landon Collins that could more than fill his spot. Collins is an interchangeable piece in the backend with the size, speed, and instincts to be a top 10 player in this draft.
10. Randy Gregory, Edge, Nebraska
Gregory is going to face his share of double teams after dominating Big Ten OL’s last season. If he can duplicate his 2013 production, Gregory is heading for consideration as a top draft pick in 2015. His speed off the edge is special. That’s not to say he’s a finished product. He’s not. Much of this ranking is based on what I believe will be a leap forward in block shedding, strength, and proving he can move in space. If he doesn’t improve in these areas he’s a borderline day one prospect for me. If he does, his ceiling is as a top-five talent.
11. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
If Ifo was a 6-foot + corner he’d easily be a lock as a top ten prospect. How much will teams shy away because of his lack of prototypical size. At 5-foot-9, the Oregon corner will have his detractors. That said, he’s fast, physical, instinctive, and has the production to back up his game.
12. Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
This ranking is a bit conservative. I think Peat could challenge Ogbeuhi and Scherff for the rights to be called the top tackle when its all said and done. He possesses prototypical LT size and overall he’s almost a lock to be a first-round pick if he comes out early. Peat’s technique still needs a little work – particularly working in space and with balance in the run game.
13. Vic Beasley, Edge, Clemson
If your team is in the market for a pure speed rusher, Beasley is your guy. If Beasley goes to a team that uses him to his strengths, look out. His first step explosiveness is special. That said, he will struggle as a three-down edge player in the NFL due to teams willingness to run right at him. I would liken Beasley to Barkevious Mingo, who was taken 6th overall in 2013.
14. Devin Funchess, TE, Michigan
Is he a WR or a TE? You’re guess is as good as mine. What I do know is he’s a pretty good football player. If Devin Funchess learns to hang onto the football with more consistency, he may be the most dynamic offensive player in the draft, not named Marcus Mariota. Funchess is a freak at 6-foot-5, 235 pounds. Whether it’s as a flex TE or WR, Funchess is worth a look very early in the draft.
15. Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State
How many sub-290 pound DT’s line up and dominate on the nose? The answer…not many. Bennett has lined up all over the OSU defense and has been an impact player at each position. His combination of strength and burst should have teams salivating at the opportunities to exploit all possibilities.
16. Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington
17. Dante Fowler, Edge, Florida
18. Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
19. Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
20. Cedric Reed, DE, Texas
21. Leonard Floyd, Edge, Georgia
22. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
23. Jeremy Cash, S, Duke
24. Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
25. Mario Edwards Jr., DE, Florida State
26. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
27. Noah Spence, Edge, Ohio State
28. Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
29. Ellis McCarthy, DT, UCLA
30. Carl Davis, DT, Iowa
31. Breshad Perriman, WR, UCF
32. P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
Best of the rest: Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State Mike Davis, RB, South Carolina Jesse James, TE, Penn State Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn La’el Collins, OG, LSU Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina Nelson Agholor, WR, USC DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville Spencer Drango, OT/OG, Baylor Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State Kurtis Drummond, S, Michigan State Lorenzo Mauldin, Edge, Louisville Denzel Perryman, LB, Miami Bernardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State Christian Covington, DT, Rice Hauoli Kikaha, Edge, Washington Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
