As Senior Bowl all-star practices kicked off Monday in Mobile, NFL Network’s Mike Mayock released his top-five player rankings at each position. Mayock's ranks have not yet made their way onto NFL.com, so after reading this writeup, consider yourself early to the party. We don't like to be late.
(* = underclassman.)
Quarterbacks
1. Andrew Luck*, Stanford
2. Robert Griffin III*, Baylor
3. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
4-5. Open to competition.
Notes: Mayock left open slots four and five and says he's waiting for the next tier to create separation. Per Mayock, the "next" group is comprised of Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State), Brock Osweiler* (Arizona State), Nick Foles (Arizona), Kirk Cousins (Michigan State), and Ryan Lindley (San Diego State). In terms of potential to be top-five draft-eligible passers, undersized Kellen Moore (Boise State) and Russell Wilson (Wisconsin) did not warrant mentions from Mayock, although he did praise Moore's football intelligence and compared Wilson to Doug Flutie.
Running Backs
1. Trent Richardson*, Alabama
2. David Wilson*, Virginia Tech
3. Lamar Miller*, Miami
4. Doug Martin, Boise State
5. LaMichael James*, Oregon
Notes: Mayock's most notable top-five running back snub is Chris Polk (Washington), whom we've independently heard ranks second to Richardson on multiple teams' pre-Senior Bowl draft boards. Mayock's rankings tend to change throughout "draft season," so perhaps he'll move Polk into the top tier after grinding more tape. Richardson won't be challenged for the top spot in this year's tailback class. Wilson and Miller are speed merchants in the Jamaal Charles/Chris Johnson/LeSean McCoy mold. There are mixed opinions about James, who has a reputation for shying from contact. Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead could pass James before this week is through.
Wide Receivers
1. Justin Blackmon*, Oklahoma State
2. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
3. Kendall Wright, Baylor
4. Alshon Jeffery*, South Carolina
5. Chris Givens*, Wake Forest
Notes: Givens' inclusion was interesting because he has received little fanfare since declaring for the draft on December 31. Givens beat out more high-profile receivers like Dwight Jones (North Carolina) and T.J. Graham (NC State) for first-team All-ACC honors as a junior and is expected to run in the 4.38-4.44 range at February's Scouting Combine. It's worth noting that Givens tallied 96 total yards in Wake Forest's 2011 matchup with Notre Dame. Mayock was in attendance as the Fighting Irish color commentator. Amid concerns about Jeffery's fitness and ability to beat press coverage, Blackmon, Wright, and Floyd seem to have emerged as the draft's consensus top-three receivers. Unfortunately, none of the above is attending the Senior Bowl.
Tight Ends
1. Dwayne Allen*, Clemson
2. Coby Fleener, Stanford
3. Orson Charles*, Georgia
4. Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette
5. Michael Egnew, Missouri
Notes: Fleener, who has drawn generous comparisons to Rob Gronkowski, declined a Senior Bowl invite for undisclosed reasons. Fleener remains this year's clear-cut top "in-line" tight end with the ability to impact games both as a blocker and receiver. Allen and Charles are "joker" tight ends, as Josh Norris likes to call them, posing matchup problems for defenses by lining up in the slot and stretching the field vertically. Green, who is in Mobile, has added ten pounds in the last year and should run in the 4.6s at the Combine. He is a lanky tight end at 6-foot-6, 237. Another terrific athlete, Egnew ran a 4.6-flat last spring and goes 6-foot-5, 251. Coming from Mizzou's Mike Leach-like spread offense, Egnew has Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman working against him as former Tigers tight ends who could catch but block too poorly for an NFL impact.
Offensive Tackles
1. Riley Reiff*, Iowa
2. Matt Kalil*, USC
3. Jonathan Martin*, Stanford
4. James Brown, Troy
5. Zebrie Sanders, Florida State
Notes: Mayock's ranking of Reiff as this year's top tackle goes against conventional wisdom, as Kalil is widely considered the best pass protector eligible for the 2012 draft. We'll be looking for an explanation in the coming months. Martin protected Andrew Luck's blind side for the Cardinal. Brown is a sleeper from the Sun Belt Conference. Mayock did not include Ohio State's Mike Adams, who by all accounts dominated on the first day of Senior Bowl practice.
Interior Offensive Linemen
1. David DeCastro*, Stanford
2. Peter Konz*, Wisconsin
3. Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin
4. Cordy Glenn, Georgia
5. Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State
Notes: Glenn and Osemele are college tackles slated to move inside as pros. DeCastro is often compared to Steve Hutchinson as an NFL-ready guard coming from Stanford's pro-style offense. He is the lone guard tentatively expected to be drafted in the first round this April.
Defensive Ends
1. Quinton Coples, North Carolina
2. Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
3. Whitney Mercilus*, Illinois
4. Nick Perry*, USC
5. (tie) Chandler Jones*, Syracuse
Andre Branch, Clemson
Notes: Coples measured in at an impressive 6-foot-6 and 281 pounds during Monday's Senior Bowl weigh-in and was the nation's highest rated senior entering the last college season. His production dipped a bit in 2011, however, and NFL scouts were concerned that Coples played "not to get hurt." Ingram is a freak athlete with rare versatility, capable of playing defensive end, tackle, and perhaps even outside linebacker in a 3-4. Draftniks are divided on Mercilus, who led the NCAA in sacks (16) and forced fumbles (9) before declaring for the draft on January 3.
Defensive Tackles
1. Devon Still, Penn State
2. Jerel Worthy*, Michigan State
3. Michael Brockers*, LSU
4. Brandon Thompson, Clemson
5. (tie) Fletcher Cox*, Mississippi State
Dontari Poe*, Memphis
Notes: Out for the Senior Bowl with a sprained big toe, Still is considered far and away the top 4-3 tackle eligible for the 2012 draft. At the Combine, Still is expected to measure in at around 6-foot-5, 307. "Scheme versatile," he should appeal to 3-4 teams as well at that size. Brockers, a redshirt sophomore, is a less experienced version of Still. Worthy is more of a 4-3 tackle only at a listed 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds. Poe (6'4/350, listed) may be the top true nose tackle in 2012.
Linebackers
1. Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
2. Luke Kuechly*, Boston College
3. Dont'a Hightower*, Alabama
4. Zach Brown, North Carolina
5. Vontaze Burfict*, Arizona State
Notes: Mayock uses the term "linebacker" loosely with Upshaw, who played outside 'backer in Nick Saban's 3-4 defense. Upshaw is a power player and may land on the line as a 4-3 end in the pros. Kuechly is this year's top true middle linebacker prospect. Hightower will likely play inside in a 3-4. Brown is a weak-side prospect for 4-3 teams. Burfict has a big name after earning first-team All-American honors as a sophomore. His performance dropped off significantly as a junior, however, and Burfict did not even earn 2011 all-conference honors in the Pac 12.
Cornerbacks
1. Morris Claiborne*, LSU
2. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
3. Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
4. Leonard Johnson, Iowa State
5. Dre Kirkpatrick*, Alabama
Notes: Mayock presumably ranked Jenkins based on his 2010 tape at Florida, because buzz among small-school insiders is that he was not dominant in one year at North Alabama. Mayock has compared Johnson to Kansas City's Brandon Flowers for his highly competitive play. Claiborne won the 2011 Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back and is a consensus top-five player. Kirkpatrick is ranked relatively low here, perhaps due to his recent marijuana arrest.
Safeties
1. Mark Barron, Alabama
2. Harrison Smith, Notre Dame
3. George Iloka, Boise State
4. Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State
5. (tie) Janzen Jackson*, McNeese State
Antonio Allen, South Carolina
Notes: Barron was among the top-rated prospects to decline Senior Bowl invites, but Smith, Iloka, Martin, and Allen are all in Mobile. Per Mayock, some NFL teams have first-round grades on Smith, whom he describes as physical with underrated range. Be wary of most draftniks' "scouting reports" on safeties, because without All-22 film defensive backs that play deep in the secondary are impossible to properly evaluate. Mayock does have the All-22 access.
(* = underclassman.)
Quarterbacks
1. Andrew Luck*, Stanford
2. Robert Griffin III*, Baylor
3. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
4-5. Open to competition.
Notes: Mayock left open slots four and five and says he's waiting for the next tier to create separation. Per Mayock, the "next" group is comprised of Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State), Brock Osweiler* (Arizona State), Nick Foles (Arizona), Kirk Cousins (Michigan State), and Ryan Lindley (San Diego State). In terms of potential to be top-five draft-eligible passers, undersized Kellen Moore (Boise State) and Russell Wilson (Wisconsin) did not warrant mentions from Mayock, although he did praise Moore's football intelligence and compared Wilson to Doug Flutie.
Running Backs
1. Trent Richardson*, Alabama
2. David Wilson*, Virginia Tech
3. Lamar Miller*, Miami
4. Doug Martin, Boise State
5. LaMichael James*, Oregon
Notes: Mayock's most notable top-five running back snub is Chris Polk (Washington), whom we've independently heard ranks second to Richardson on multiple teams' pre-Senior Bowl draft boards. Mayock's rankings tend to change throughout "draft season," so perhaps he'll move Polk into the top tier after grinding more tape. Richardson won't be challenged for the top spot in this year's tailback class. Wilson and Miller are speed merchants in the Jamaal Charles/Chris Johnson/LeSean McCoy mold. There are mixed opinions about James, who has a reputation for shying from contact. Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead could pass James before this week is through.
Wide Receivers
1. Justin Blackmon*, Oklahoma State
2. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
3. Kendall Wright, Baylor
4. Alshon Jeffery*, South Carolina
5. Chris Givens*, Wake Forest
Notes: Givens' inclusion was interesting because he has received little fanfare since declaring for the draft on December 31. Givens beat out more high-profile receivers like Dwight Jones (North Carolina) and T.J. Graham (NC State) for first-team All-ACC honors as a junior and is expected to run in the 4.38-4.44 range at February's Scouting Combine. It's worth noting that Givens tallied 96 total yards in Wake Forest's 2011 matchup with Notre Dame. Mayock was in attendance as the Fighting Irish color commentator. Amid concerns about Jeffery's fitness and ability to beat press coverage, Blackmon, Wright, and Floyd seem to have emerged as the draft's consensus top-three receivers. Unfortunately, none of the above is attending the Senior Bowl.
Tight Ends
1. Dwayne Allen*, Clemson
2. Coby Fleener, Stanford
3. Orson Charles*, Georgia
4. Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette
5. Michael Egnew, Missouri
Notes: Fleener, who has drawn generous comparisons to Rob Gronkowski, declined a Senior Bowl invite for undisclosed reasons. Fleener remains this year's clear-cut top "in-line" tight end with the ability to impact games both as a blocker and receiver. Allen and Charles are "joker" tight ends, as Josh Norris likes to call them, posing matchup problems for defenses by lining up in the slot and stretching the field vertically. Green, who is in Mobile, has added ten pounds in the last year and should run in the 4.6s at the Combine. He is a lanky tight end at 6-foot-6, 237. Another terrific athlete, Egnew ran a 4.6-flat last spring and goes 6-foot-5, 251. Coming from Mizzou's Mike Leach-like spread offense, Egnew has Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman working against him as former Tigers tight ends who could catch but block too poorly for an NFL impact.
Offensive Tackles
1. Riley Reiff*, Iowa
2. Matt Kalil*, USC
3. Jonathan Martin*, Stanford
4. James Brown, Troy
5. Zebrie Sanders, Florida State
Notes: Mayock's ranking of Reiff as this year's top tackle goes against conventional wisdom, as Kalil is widely considered the best pass protector eligible for the 2012 draft. We'll be looking for an explanation in the coming months. Martin protected Andrew Luck's blind side for the Cardinal. Brown is a sleeper from the Sun Belt Conference. Mayock did not include Ohio State's Mike Adams, who by all accounts dominated on the first day of Senior Bowl practice.
Interior Offensive Linemen
1. David DeCastro*, Stanford
2. Peter Konz*, Wisconsin
3. Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin
4. Cordy Glenn, Georgia
5. Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State
Notes: Glenn and Osemele are college tackles slated to move inside as pros. DeCastro is often compared to Steve Hutchinson as an NFL-ready guard coming from Stanford's pro-style offense. He is the lone guard tentatively expected to be drafted in the first round this April.
Defensive Ends
1. Quinton Coples, North Carolina
2. Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
3. Whitney Mercilus*, Illinois
4. Nick Perry*, USC
5. (tie) Chandler Jones*, Syracuse
Andre Branch, Clemson
Notes: Coples measured in at an impressive 6-foot-6 and 281 pounds during Monday's Senior Bowl weigh-in and was the nation's highest rated senior entering the last college season. His production dipped a bit in 2011, however, and NFL scouts were concerned that Coples played "not to get hurt." Ingram is a freak athlete with rare versatility, capable of playing defensive end, tackle, and perhaps even outside linebacker in a 3-4. Draftniks are divided on Mercilus, who led the NCAA in sacks (16) and forced fumbles (9) before declaring for the draft on January 3.
Defensive Tackles
1. Devon Still, Penn State
2. Jerel Worthy*, Michigan State
3. Michael Brockers*, LSU
4. Brandon Thompson, Clemson
5. (tie) Fletcher Cox*, Mississippi State
Dontari Poe*, Memphis
Notes: Out for the Senior Bowl with a sprained big toe, Still is considered far and away the top 4-3 tackle eligible for the 2012 draft. At the Combine, Still is expected to measure in at around 6-foot-5, 307. "Scheme versatile," he should appeal to 3-4 teams as well at that size. Brockers, a redshirt sophomore, is a less experienced version of Still. Worthy is more of a 4-3 tackle only at a listed 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds. Poe (6'4/350, listed) may be the top true nose tackle in 2012.
Linebackers
1. Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
2. Luke Kuechly*, Boston College
3. Dont'a Hightower*, Alabama
4. Zach Brown, North Carolina
5. Vontaze Burfict*, Arizona State
Notes: Mayock uses the term "linebacker" loosely with Upshaw, who played outside 'backer in Nick Saban's 3-4 defense. Upshaw is a power player and may land on the line as a 4-3 end in the pros. Kuechly is this year's top true middle linebacker prospect. Hightower will likely play inside in a 3-4. Brown is a weak-side prospect for 4-3 teams. Burfict has a big name after earning first-team All-American honors as a sophomore. His performance dropped off significantly as a junior, however, and Burfict did not even earn 2011 all-conference honors in the Pac 12.
Cornerbacks
1. Morris Claiborne*, LSU
2. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
3. Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
4. Leonard Johnson, Iowa State
5. Dre Kirkpatrick*, Alabama
Notes: Mayock presumably ranked Jenkins based on his 2010 tape at Florida, because buzz among small-school insiders is that he was not dominant in one year at North Alabama. Mayock has compared Johnson to Kansas City's Brandon Flowers for his highly competitive play. Claiborne won the 2011 Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back and is a consensus top-five player. Kirkpatrick is ranked relatively low here, perhaps due to his recent marijuana arrest.
Safeties
1. Mark Barron, Alabama
2. Harrison Smith, Notre Dame
3. George Iloka, Boise State
4. Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State
5. (tie) Janzen Jackson*, McNeese State
Antonio Allen, South Carolina
Notes: Barron was among the top-rated prospects to decline Senior Bowl invites, but Smith, Iloka, Martin, and Allen are all in Mobile. Per Mayock, some NFL teams have first-round grades on Smith, whom he describes as physical with underrated range. Be wary of most draftniks' "scouting reports" on safeties, because without All-22 film defensive backs that play deep in the secondary are impossible to properly evaluate. Mayock does have the All-22 access.
