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The 2014 college football regular season is in the books, which means that draft season will soon be upon us. (Speaking of which, my first mock draft for 2015 comes out next Wednesday.)
There is still a ton left to be determined, including the decisions of several underclassmen prospects, but what follows is a good snapshot of where the 2015 draft class stands right now. We saw a couple of linemen debut this week, and one star pass-rusher continue his rise into the top three.
Here is our latest ranking of the Top 32 prospects for the 2015 NFL draft.
(Notes: Underclassmen are noted with an asterisk, and the scouting write-ups will stay the same for each ranking update except in cases in which new material is needed.)
1. Leonard Williams, DE, USC Trojans (Grade: 96)*
6-foot-5, 290 pounds
Williams said recently that he hasn't made a decision on whether to enter the 2015 draft, but if he does, he has a chance to be selected very early. He has showcased an impressive all-around game this season, even while playing through injuries. He possesses excellent strength and speed for his size, and has the versatility to create mismatches all along the defensive line. His best projection is as a 5-technique defensive end, but he has the quickness and point-of-attack skills to perform inside as a 3-technique (especially in pass-rushing situations), and enough athleticism to occasionally line up as a traditional left defensive end.
2. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon Ducks (Grade: 95)*
6-4, 224 pounds
Mariota likely will win the Heisman Trophy this Saturday, and he'll be leading the Ducks into a national semifinal matchup with Florida State on Jan. 1. He has shown improvement this season in terms of his accuracy and consistency -- two areas that NFL teams that will be watching closely -- and he is a dynamic athlete who puts stress on a defense with his mobility both as a runner and a thrower. Mariota has a quick, compact, over-the-shoulder release with well-above-average arm strength, so he can make all of the NFL throws. He has outstanding intangibles and a very good mental makeup.
3. Shane Ray, DE, Missouri Tigers (Grade: 95)*
6-2, 240 pounds
Ray continues to rise on our draft board. He has a bit of a tweener frame, with below-average height and a lean build, but he has been incredibly productive this season, has elite speed for the position, and he explodes off the line with his first step, quick feet and hands and an effective spin move. He has initial pop but needs to improve his ability to convert speed to power. He's an active and disruptive force against the run, making a lot of plays in pursuit, and he has a relentless motor.
4. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama Crimson Tide (Grade: 94)*
6-1, 205 pounds
Cooper is a Heisman finalist and a potential top-10 pick. He has just average size for the receiver position, and good but not elite top-end speed, but his separation and ball skills more than make up for it. He is a great route-runner who does an excellent job of tracking the ball and competing for it in the air, and he has very good run-after-catch skills. This guy is a star who has had an outstanding season: 115 catches for 1,656 yards (14.4 YPC) and 14 touchdowns. Ohio State will have its hands full with him in their national semifinal.
5. Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska Cornhuskers (Grade: 94)*
6-6, 245 pounds
There's no question that Gregory is a great pass-rusher, but he is very lean and will definitely need to add weight to get stronger against the run at the NFL level. He's improved at it this season, but he can still get pushed too far outside and at times gives ground. But he has good range to make plays in pursuit, and he has above-average lateral quickness and closing speed, combined with his effective rip-and-swim moves, length and finishing ability. His best fit at the next level is as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
6. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State Seminoles (Grade: 93)*
6-4, 235 pounds
Winston's stock has the potential to fluctuate throughout the draft process. He is a top-tier talent with room to get even better, and based on what we've seen of him during games and on tape, he appears to be a very good on-field leader. The issues with Winston are obviously related to his off-field behavior (including the 2012 sexual assault allegation against him, which didn't result in criminal charges), and it's hard to know at this point what NFL teams will ultimately conclude about whether he is a guy who can be the face of their franchise. How he does during the pre-draft process, particularly the psychological testing component, will be a determining factor.
7. Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa Hawkeyes (Grade: 92)
6-5, 320 pounds
Scherff projects to me as the Zack Martin of this draft class. His lack of ideal length puts into question whether he can become an NFL offensive tackle, but I think he still has a shot to become one, and at worst he has what it takes to be an excellent guard at the next level. He displays excellent toughness, he's good in pass protection, is an elite run-blocker and is a powerful, nasty finisher.
8. DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville Cardinals (Grade: 92)
6-3, 207 pounds
We already really liked Parker's talent coming into the season, but what he has done since returning to the field after missing the first seven games of the season with a foot injury is really impressive. He has caught 35 passes for 735 yards (21.0 YPC) and five TDs in five games back. He has an above-average size-speed combo with the ability to run under the deep ball and make defenders miss, and to pick up extra yards after the catch. He has good separation skills and can pluck the ball out of the air and make over-the-shoulder catches.
9. Danny Shelton, DT, Washington Huskies (Grade: 92)
6-2, 332 pounds
Shelton has just been a beast this season, and has emerged as a legitimate first- or second-round prospect. He's on the shorter side with a wide, thick and powerful frame. He does an excellent job of occupying blocks (he demands double-teams), and he's a better athlete than most nose tackles, with the quickness and strength to make plays versus the run. Stamina will always be an issue for a player his size, but when he has the energy level, he has proved to be a playmaker both in pursuit and as a bull-rusher.
10. Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia Bulldogs (Grade: 91)*
6-3, 226 pounds
Floyd is a nightmare speed rusher who is also athletic enough to hold up in coverage and is effective as a sideline-to-sideline run defender. As a prospect, he compares favorably to a young Barkevious Mingo as a productive pass-rusher with an extremely high ceiling. He explodes out of the blocks with elite get-off speed and acceleration, and he shows good natural bend and body control. He has flashed the potential to effectively convert speed to power as a pass-rusher despite needing to improve his strength.
11. Landon Collins, S, Alabama Crimson Tide (Grade: 91)*
6-0, 212 pounds
Collins is a really impressive athlete for a safety with his compact build, quick feet and good body control in coverage. He's a good open-field tackler who plays with a chip on his shoulder, and while he can look a bit lost at times (including taking some poor angles when the ball is in the air), he has impressive ball skills to go with good length, leaping ability and hand-eye coordination.
12. Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State Seminoles (Grade: 91)*
6-4, 315 pounds
Goldman is a former top-rated recruit who has really put it all together this season. He first caught my attention when I studied the tape of Florida State's win over NC State, and from what I've seen this season he has looked like the Seminoles' best defensive player. He has a thick build, moves well and can be overpowering for blockers. He suffered an ankle injury in FSU's ACC title game win over Georgia Tech, but he's expected to play in the national semifinal against Oregon.
13. Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M Aggies (Grade: 91)
6-5, 304 pounds
Ogbuehi has played both tackle spots for the Aggies this season. He is excellent in pass protection with outstanding quickness and natural athleticism, and he shows good mobility as a zone blocker in the running game. He needs to improve his lower-body strength and leverage after initial contact, but overall he is good as a run-blocker as well. He rates well in terms of toughness and character.
14. Kevin White, WR, West Virginia Mountaineers (Grade: 91)
6-3, 211 pounds
White has gone from being a mid-round prospect in the preseason to the No. 3 wide receiver on our board. He's a late-riser in part because this is just his second full season at West Virginia, having transferred from Lackawana College in January 2013. He has mid-4.4 speed to go with his excellent size for the position, and while he is a little tight in his movement skills and will need time to develop more as a route-runner, he has natural instincts when it comes to separating when the ball is in the air. White has the quickness and strength needed to beat the press and is a vertical threat who is also dangerous after the catch.
15. Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida Gators (Grade: 90)*
6-2, 271 pounds
Fowler is a big and strong edge-setter in the run game who has really good striking ability as a tackler and the ability to jar the ball loose with his long arms. He has growth potential as a pass-rusher but lacks elite physical traits and isn't yet a polished finisher. He does have above-average first-step quickness for his size, and in particular has flashed some effectiveness as an inside rusher at nose tackle or a 3-technique in nickel and dime packages.
16. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin Badgers (Grade: 90)*
6-1, 207 pounds
I was on the sideline for Gordon's record-setting game with 409 yards rushing against Nebraska this season (the record has since been broken by Oklahoma freshman Samaje Perine), and what impressed me most about Gordon was his patience and vision, as he did a great job of waiting for creases to open and then exploding through them with great acceleration off his plant foot. He also has good lateral agility to make defenders miss in small creases, and he has good, but not elite, top-end speed (he isn't a Jamaal Charles-level burner). He has shown improvement in the passing game.
17. Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes (Grade: 90)*
6-6, 325 pounds
Flowers has a massive frame that allows him to recover in pass protection and open up lanes in the running game, along with above-average agility and a quick first step for his size. His football instincts are good overall, he takes good angles, he plays with an edge and has excellent intangibles.
18. Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson Tigers (Grade: 89)
6-3, 220 pounds
Beasley has been active and productive all season long. His first-step quickness and closing speed are notches below elite, but he displays good speed-to-power potential as a pass-rusher. He is at his best when shooting gaps, and shows good instincts and the ability to quickly locate the ball as a run defender. He has the potential to develop into a sideline-to-sideline tackler. The big concern for him is his NFL position fit, as he's undersized for a player who is at his best working up the field.
19. T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh Panthers (Grade: 89)
6-4, 313 pounds
Clemmings played poorly last season after transitioning from defensive line to offensive tackle after Pittsburgh was ravaged by injuries on its O-line, in large part because he had no idea what he was doing. But he was on our radar heading into 2014 based on his raw physical tools and high upside, and it's clear that his offseason work paid off. He's still very much a work in progress, but he has an excellent combination of length, agility and upper-body power.
20. Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan Wolverines (Grade: 89)*
6-4, 235 pounds
We've changed Funchess' position designation in our draft rankings from tight end to wide receiver, as he's been playing there for Michigan and it seems like his more likely position at the NFL -- although you could consider him something of a hybrid at this point. He is a downfield threat as a pass-catcher with his size and speed, and he also flashes the ability to make the first defender miss and has the strength to pick up yards after contact. He has already declared for the draft.
21. Marcus Peters, CB, Washington Huskies (Grade: 89)
5-11, 193 pounds
Peters was dismissed from the Washington program earlier this season after having been held out of games on more than one occasion for behavioral issues. Obviously, NFL teams are going to want to take a closer look at the reasons for his dismissal. But in terms of his talent, he has prototypical size for the cornerback position to go with above-average top-end speed. He gets into trouble in coverage on occasion because of a lack of proper footwork and technique, but makes up for it with good athleticism and fluidity, and he's effective in press technique because of his physicality.
22. Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington Huskies (Grade: 88)*
6-2, 224 pounds
Thompson is undersized for an outside linebacker (he will never be a strong take-on guy), but he makes up for that with excellent speed and athleticism. His credentials as an outstanding athlete have been on full display this season, as the Huskies have used him extensively at running back, where he has thrived, but he projects as a defender at the next level. He has sideline-to-sideline range against the run and very good coverage skills, and he is a fundamentally sound and reliable tackler, with the ability to deliver a big hit.
23. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon Ducks (Grade: 88)
5-9, 185 pounds
Ekpre-Olomu is a twitched-up athlete with clean movement skills who makes quick transitions out of breaks and shows an explosive closing burst in coverage. He can hold up in man coverage on an island and is physical and aggressive in run support, as well. Ekpre-Olomu is a big-time playmaker for the Ducks, with very good ball skills to go with good instincts.
24. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia Bulldogs (Grade: 88)*
6-0, 230 pounds
Gurley's torn ACL will have an impact on his draft stock, and the progress he shows in his recovery and how he checks out with the medical staffs of the NFL teams will be determining factors in where he gets drafted. But this is a guy who was a potential top-20 pick before the injury, so there's still a chance a team drafting at the end of the first round could take him. If you're comfortable with investing that high of a pick in a running back, and you aren't worried about his long-term durability because of this injury or previous ones, you have the chance to hit the lottery with him -- even late in the first round (although at this point I'd say he's more likely to wind up in the second round). He's a rare talent who has the potential to be an exceptional back at the next level -- a hard, downhill runner who complements his tremendous power with breakaway speed.
25. Kevin Johnson, RB, Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Grade: 87)
6-foot, 175 pounds
Johnson is lean and has short arms but is still an aggressive and physical press corner. He's also a willing tackler in run support. He doesn't have elite speed, but he is fast and fluid enough as an athlete to run with most receivers, and he makes up for it with excellent instincts and recognition skills -- reading quarterbacks, anticipating receivers' breaks and rarely getting caught out of position.
26. Malcom Brown, DT, Texas Longhorns (Grade: 87)*
6-foot-3, 317 pounds
Brown is an underclassman, but I think he'll be selected within the top 50 picks if he leaves school after this season. He's a 320-pounder with an impressive combination of quickness and power who plays all along the line of scrimmage for the Longhorns. He's versatile, very disruptive and has a good motor.
27. La'el Collins, OT, LSU Tigers (Grade: 87)
6-4, 324 pounds
Collins projects as either a right tackle or guard in the pros, given his massive frame. As a run-blocker, he fires off the ball with very good straight-line burst, and has the lower-body strength and strong hands to drive defenders off the line. He also shows good awareness and toughness. Collins is average in pass protection, showing a strong anchor, but he can get into trouble, occasionally lunging and falling off some blocks.
28. Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State Sun Devils (Grade: 87)*
6-4, 212 pounds
Strong has had a very good season, and his combination of production (75 catches, 1,062 yards, 14.2 YPC, 10 TDs) and physical tools is going to be intriguing to NFL teams. He has very good ball skills, with a big catch radius and the ability to make contested catches in traffic.
29. A.J. Cann, G, South Carolina Gamecocks (Grade: 87)
6-2, 319 pounds
Cann is a high-character lineman with awareness and toughness. He isn't an elite athlete, nor is he overpowering at the point of attack, but he possesses good quickness, agility and balance for the position, allowing him to hold up well in pass protection. He does a good job with his first step and overall angles as a run-blocker.
30. Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford Cardinal (Grade: 86)*
6-7, 312 pounds
Peat has the ideal physical tools you look for in a starting NFL left tackle. He displays good length, a strong anchor, a powerful upper body and excellent overall agility in pass protection. As a run-blocker, he has the power base to drive defenders off the ball. On tape, his football instincts appear to be good, and he flashes a nasty side on occasion. He has been a little inconsistent this season, which is why we moved him down the board this week.
31. Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State Spartans (Grade: 85)*
6-1, 182 pounds
Waynes has good length and speed for the cornerback position, and is at his best in a press-man or Cover 2 role. He has above-average field awareness and can track the ball well and maintain good position in coverage. He's also willing to come up in run support and is a sure open-field tackler.
32. Denzel Perryman, LB, Miami (FL) Hurricanes (Grade: 85)*
5-11, 248 pounds
This guy is a stud. He's the quarterback of the Hurricanes' defense and displays good anticipation and diagnostic skills, but what really stands out is his tackling ability. He's a thumper who can deliver the big hit and occasionally jar the ball loose, and he shows good body control in space. Perryman possesses the strength to hold his own against and to shed blockers, and above-average range versus the run.
