Offense
Quarterback
Brett Smith (Wyoming): Smith does not get the hype of Johnny Manziel because he plays for a smaller program, but Smith is a similar player. Smith is an athletic improviser but also has the size and arm strength that Johnny lacks. Smith doesn’t have Manziel’s gaudy numbers or plays, but this is someone that play at a higher level in the NFL.
Running Back
Karlos Williams (FSU): I was kind of surprised at William’s switch to running back because of how much I liked him as a safety. All he has done is play very good football as a back. He is a solid athlete who possesses great size to punish defenders. This is a deep class of backs but Williams could still be a great late-round addition.
Tyler Gaffney (Stanford): Gaffney is not an outstanding back but he is very consistent. He is able to use vision, patience and tough running style. He is not going blow anyone away with athletic ability, but his all around skill set is still valuable as a reliable back.
Wide Receiver
Jared Abbrederis (Wisconsin): Abbrederis is a strong, big-bodied receiver who has very good acceleration to make his way downfield. He doesn’t get talked about enough because of the run heavy nature of his offense, but he has all the talent to be an impact player in the NFL.
Devin Street (Pitt):Street is another long receiving threat who can dominate at the catch point and has the athletic ability to make plays after the catch. He has the potential to be a red zone nightmare but his name gets lost among the star power of this class.
Alex Neutz (Buffalo): Not an elite athlete, Neutz makes his plays with some of the best hands in the draft. He is not going to blow the top of a defense, but he has the ability to make plays over the middle and could become an incredibly reliable receiver.
Tight End
Marcel Jensen (Fresno State): Due to the nature of the Fresno State offense, Jensen does not get featured nearly as much as he should. Jensen is a huge target who possesses the frame and strength to be a pretty balanced tight end.
Offensive Tackle
Wesley Johnson (Vanderbilt): Johnson is not the usual, freak of nature, SEC, offensive lineman. Rather he is just a very smart, technical player who is able to win with fundementals. He is not going to blow up a combine, but his mental part of the game will prove valuable somehow at he next level.
Michael Schofield (UMichigan): Lost in how bad the interior of the line is playing, the Wolverines two tackles have been playing very well. Schofield is another player who while not being the strongest is quick and smart in his blocking. He will need to add some weight in the NFL, but his mental game has him much closer than some of the raw guys projected so highly.
Offensive Guard
La’El Collins (LSU): Getting experience as a left tackle this year, Collin’s more natural position is still at guard. He is a strong, violent blocker who loves getting down in the run game. He is not as keen as a pass protector, but he brings that same mentality and has a ton of upside.
Billy Turner (NDSU): Also playing tackle currently, Turner is another athletic monster that kicks ass as a run blocker. He is a small school kid so won’t get the big name recognition, but this kid can play.
Center
Weston Richburg (Colorado State): Richburg has all the athletic ability to be a stud but just needs to work on polishing his game a bit more. Despite that, his raw potential is more than enough for a team to use a Top 150 pick on him.
4-3 Base Defense
Defensive Tackle
Aaron Donald (Pitt): A lot will question Donald’s size and how it translates to the next level. However, there is no doubt in my mind that Donald will be a very impactful player in the pros. His use of hands, leverage and quickness off the ball make him incredibly hard to block and he has spent most of his college career in the backfield of the opposition.
George Uko (USC): A big part of USC’s defensive resurgence has been their defensive interior. Uko’s violent play makes him a bull to block and his relentlessness is a big plus to any team. He has experience as a 5-Tech but could easily slide inside.
Defensive End
Demarcus Lawrence (Boise State): Lawrence is a great, long athlete who is an absolute monster of a pass rusher. He fires off the ball with ferocity and uses athleticism to work up field. He is no one trick pony either. He has the awareness to be effective in the run game, just needs to add some more size.
Larry Webster (Bloomsburg): A former DII basketball player, Webster is only in his second year of collegiate football and has all the makings of an NFL pass rusher. He has the size (6’7”) and the athletic ability to be an incredible defender, but he needs to add bulk to be an every down player. He has dominated at his level of football and with coaching could do the same in the NFL.
Linebacker
Chris Borland (Wisconsin): Borland is short, but he is certainly not small. Borland is a 245-pound, wrecking ball of muscle whose tenacity as a defender makes him an absolute animal. He flies around and will hit anything and everything that moves. Not only that, but his athletic ability and strength make him a great blitzer and a solid coverage backer. If he falls because of size, a team is going to get an absolute steal.
Telvin Smith (FSU): Another player who is a bit undersized, Smith plays a lot bigger than he is. He plays the run well and he is great in coverage. Not only that, he is also a phenomenal athlete. Maybe he has to brought along slowly as he adds weight in the NFL, but a palyer with Smith’s smarts and ability make an impact in the NFL.
Max Bullough (MSU): Bullough is a smart, hard hitting player who brings consistency as a run defender and also is decent in coverage. He is not a “wow” player, but his overall game is very solid.
Cornerback
Andre Hal (Vanderbilt): Hal is very physical and is also a pretty good athlete. He loves getting into it with receivers and will attack the ball in coverage. He is not getting a ton of hype because he plays for Vanderbilt and some think he is a bit small, but he palys much bigger than he is and will be a player in the NFL.
Pierre Desir (Lindenwood): Desir is a long corner who possesses all the size, speed and fluidity needed to be an NFL DB. He has great ball skills and uses his frame and physical nature to shut down receivers. He is easily the top DII prospect out there.
Safety
Jimmie Ward (NIU): Some issues are to be had with Ward’s size, but he makes up for it with literally everything else. He is athletic and rangy which helps in coverage and is also an aggressive run defender. He is almost a complete player outside of size concerns, but he is certainly going to impact a lot fast in the NFL than it would seem.
Ryan Shaw (Arkansas-Pine Bluff): Shaw is a phenomenal athlete who plays like his hair is on fire. He can be a bit to aggressive at times, but he flashes great overall ability. He should have a great combine and put his name on the map.