Updated: November 18, 2009

1. Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee Going into his senior season Dan Williams carried a solid draftable grade but he was overshadowed by some other defensive tackles with higher profiles and more headlines. However, based on the way Williams is playing this year he will have the last laugh on Draft Day. Williams has very good size at 6’3 and 327 pounds and he has shown the ability to both stuff the run and get penetration. A stalwart on the Volunteers defense, Williams has really taken to Monte Kiffin’s scheme and as a result his draft stock is soaring. Last week against Ole Miss, Williams seemed to be involved in every play around the line of scrimmage, racking up 9 tackles including 2 for losses. For some reason Williams still isn’t getting a lot of attention nationally but pro scouts have definitely taken notice of his play. After entering the year as a mid-round possibility Williams is now considered to be one of the top senior prospects at his position and he has put himself in contention to be a second or third round pick next April.

2. Danario Alexander, WR, Missouri With Jeremy Maclin and Chase Daniel moving on to the NFL many wondered how Missouri would be able to maintain their high-powered passing attack. Luckily for Tiger fans Danario Alexander has stepped right into the role of #1 wideout and has proven to be a capable replacement for Maclin. Alexander has been nothing short of amazing the past two weeks against Baylor and Kansas State, racking up 23 catches for 414 yards and 4 touchdowns. Needless to say numbers like that tend to catch the attention of pro scouts. Standing 6’5 and weighing 215 pounds, Alexander is exactly the type of big, physical pass catcher that is en vogue in the NFL these days. The major concern with Alexander is timed speed so workouts will be crucial when it comes to his draft stock but there is no question that he is a big-time talent. In fact, most don’t remember but Alexander actually beat out Maclin for a starting job early in their Mizzou careers before he was sidetracked by an injury. Expect Alexander to get some looks as early as the third round from teams that are in the market for a big possession receiver and a nice red zone target.

3. Daryl Washington, OLB, Texas Christian As T.C.U. continues to steamroll every opponent in their path the Horned Frog players are starting to get more and more attention from NFL scouts. Not only has the Texas Christian offense been extremely potent but the defense has been stifling as well. Pass rusher Jerry Hughes gets most of the press but Daryl Washington has been just as big of a part of that impressive defense. Washington plays inside linebacker at T.C.U. but he likely move outside to take advantage of his quickness and athleticism at the next level. What stands out most about Washington is his pure speed, which allows him to cover a lot of ground and wreak havoc in backfields. Last week in the Horned Frogs marquee matchup against Utah, Washington put up 7 tackles including a key tackle for a loss of Utes running back Eddie Wide early in the game. What did not appear in the box score was how Washington’s changed the offensive gameplan and his effect on contests really can’t be measured with just statistics. At the very least Washington is entrenched as a mid-round prospect but if he continues to play well down the stretch and works out like everyone expects him to a spot in the early rounds is a real possibility.

4. Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers After a big win against then ranked South Florida, Rutgers has once again found themselves in the Top 25. The Scarlet Knights defense led the way, shutting out the Bulls and creating key turnovers that changed the momentum of the game. The star of that defense has been cornerback Devin McCourty, who has lived up to all of the preseason expectations. McCourty isn’t the biggest cover guy in the world (5’11, 190) but his speed and versatility will make him an attractive and valuable commodity for the next level. Despite his modest stature McCourty has shown both the willingness and ability to tackle and he has even forced a fumble or two. In addition to his cover skills on defense McCourty has also been an integral component of Rutgers special teams. McCourty is averaging over 25 yards per kick return this season and also had a 17 yard punt return last week. Add in a blocked punt against South Florida and you have a special teams ace that pro scouts will salivate over. The Tennessee Titans stole his twin brother, Jason, in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft but there is absolutely no way that Devin will be around that long on Draft Day.

5. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford This guy just continues to dominate the Pac-10 and Pete Carroll’s USC Trojans were his latest victims. In one of the biggest upsets of the year Stanford beat Southern Cal 55 to 21 by running Toby Gerhart down their throats to the tune of 29 carries for 178 yards and 3 touchdowns. On the season Gerhart has already racked up nearly 1,400 yards on the ground and 19 touchdowns, numbers that have thrust him into the thick of the Heisman Trophy race. Stanford is now making a run toward the Pac-10 title and Gerhart is their top pro prospect. Gerhart is a bit of a RB / FB ‘tweener and that will hinder him in the draft but he has proven himself to be a workhorse power back and could thrive in the right situation. When teams go back and watch the tape of Toby Gerhart they will see a back with a great burst through the hole who runs downhill and fights for every yard. Gerhart will probably be overlooked on Draft Day but he is a good football player who some team is going to be very happy to have on their roster.

6. Riley Cooper, WR, Florida Gator wideouts haven’t always had the greatest track record in the NFL and at times that stigma has effected them on Draft Day. Guys like Reidel Anthony, Travis Taylor, Reche Caldwell, and Chad Jackson are classic examples. However, recent products such as Andre Caldwell, Louis Murphy and Percy Harvin have begun to change that perception and Riley Cooper will attempt to follow in his former teammates footsteps. The 6’3 Cooper may not have elite timed speed but he is a great athlete who is plenty fast with the pads on. Just ask South Carolina’s secondary, who he averaged over 37 yards per catch against and burned for a long touchdown last week. There is no question that Cooper has really stepped up and is getting the job done on the field this year so if he can perform well in pre-Draft workouts his stock could soar in the coming months. At this point Cooper appears to be a legitimate mid-rounder with the potential to move up further.

7. Mike Johnson, OG, Alabama The Crimson’s Tide’s power running game is their calling card and Mike Johnson has helped clear the way for Heisman Trophy candidate Mark Ingram. Johnson certainly isn’t flashy but he hardly ever lets a defensive lineman get the best of him, let alone give up sacks or tackles in the backfield. Johnson also does a good job in the mental aspects of the game and he is rarely penalized for false starts or holding. With very good size at 6’6 and 305 pounds, Johnson is a mauler of an offensive guard who would fit in well with a strong running team. The leader of Alabama’s blocking group, Johnson was recently named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his stellar play against Mississippi State. Already considered to be one of the top senior guard prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft, it wouldn’t be a shock if some team fell in love with Johnson and plucked him off the board a round or two earlier than expected. Regardless of where he is selected Johnson has the potential to be a long-time starter in the NFL.

8. George Johnson, DE, Rutgers Teammate Devin McCourty made most of the memorable plays in the Scarlet Knights upset win over South Florida but defensive end George Johnson did his part as well. In fact, Johnson was a force to be reckoned with against the Bulls, racking up 3 tackles (all for losses) and sacking B.J. Daniels twice. Johnson has steadily improved this season and he now has 6.5 sacks on the year. Not only has Johnson shown a knack for rushing the passer but he has also been fairly effective against the run. A four-year contributor, Johnson isn’t flashy but scouts will view his consistency as an admirable quality. Johnson is an intriguing late round possibility for a team that wants to find a rotational player and the success that his former teammate Jamaal Westerman is having with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent should aid his cause. If Johnson continues to produce and performs well during workouts he could secure himself a draftable grade.

9. Joe Webb, QB, Alabama-Birmingham With fellow quarterback prospects like Tony Pike and Sean Canfield moving up draft boards and getting most of the attention Joe Webb is flying under the radar a bit. A terrific athlete with a big arm, Webb may not get a lot of ink but he could wind up being selected ahead of some other high-profile college signal callers. Last week against Memphis Webb threw for a career high 378 yards, which probably felt good since he had been used primarily as a runner this year. In fact, Webb has almost as many rushing yards (1,158) as he does passing yards (1,730) this season. U.A.B. isn’t a big-time program but they have produced some good NFL players, most notably Roddy White, and Webb is a legitimate pro prospect. A classic dual-threat quarterback, Webb profiles as a developmental guy who could also contribute as a Wildcat quarterback at the next level. How Webb’s unique skill set will translate to the next level remains to be seen but some NFL team will likely take a chance on his talent, either late or as a free agent.

10. Naaman Roosevelt, WR, Buffalo The Buffalo Bulls aren’t exactly known for pumping out pro talent but that has begun to change in recent years. Head Coach Turner Gill has really turned the program around and after sending Trevor Scott and Jamey Richard to the NFL a couple of years ago it looks as though Naaman Roosevelt will soon follow. Roosevelt isn’t a household name and he doesn’t possess eye-popping physical tools but he has quietly emerged as one of the nation’s premier wide receivers. A good all-around pass catcher with impeccable hands and even better route running ability, all Roosevelt does is produce. Roosevelt almost single-handedly beat the Ohio Bobcats this past week, hauling in 8 receptions and scoring all three of the Bulls touchdowns. Roosevelt isn’t going to win scouts over in workouts and his lack of speed (4.65) will likely prevent him from being an early round pick. However, Roosevelt should be able to make a seamless transition to the next level and could turn out to be a solid contributor as a late rounder.

The Not-So-Hot List

Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss After being part of the Hot List on more than one occasion this year Greg Hardy has fallen victim to the one thing that could cripple his stock, a season-ending injury. The main knocks on Hardy have been some potential character issues and durability concerns. Unfortunately Hardy was not able to put the latter to rest and he will now miss the rest of his senior season with a broken wrist. Hardy still has the raw ability of a Top 15 pick but a laundry list of injuries will wreak havoc on his draft stock, pushing him down much further than most realize. Further complicating matters is that Hardy’s former teammate Peria Jerry, who also had some injury concerns coming out of college, landed on the injured reserve as a rookie in the NFL. Hardy could still crack the first round and may end up being a steal for some team but he will have to battle the “Injury Prone” label from now until Draft Day. For more on Hardy be sure to check out Draft Countdown’s interview with the Ole Miss star as well as a recent blog entry examining how this latest setback will affect his stock.