361 Days Until the 2013 NFL Draft
 

With the 2012 draft over, here's a look at my current positional rankings for 2013. I've also included a number after each player's team which indicates a round value estimation. Bare in mind, these are going to change a bit over the course of the next year.

Quarterback:

1. Matt Barkley USC Top 10
2. Landry Jones Oklahoma Top 10
3. Denard Robinson Michigan 1
4. Tyler Wilson Arkansas 2
5. Geno Smith WVU 2
6. Jordan Rodgers Vanderbilt 2
7. Mike Glennen NC State 2
8. Dane Crist Kansas 3
9. Caleb TerBush Purdue 3
10. Alex Carder WMU 4

Running Back:

1. Montee Ball Wisconsin 1
2. Andre Ellington Clemson 1
3. Orwen Smith Georgia Tech 1
4. Kenjon Barner Oregon 2
5. Jonathan Franklin UCLA 2
6. Mike James Miami (FL) 2
7. Stefan Taylor Stanford 2
8. Dennis Johnson Arkansas 3
9. Ed Wesley TCU 4
10. Washaun Ealey Jacksonville State 4

Wide Receiver:

1. Cobi Hamilton Arkansas Top 10
2. Keenan Davis Iowa 1 Top 10
3. Emory Blake Auburn 2
4. Terrence Williams Baylor 2
5. Tavon Austin WVU 2
6. Dan Buckner Arizona 2
7. Russell Sheppard LSU 2
8. Marlon Brown Georgia 3
9. Mike Shanahan Pitt 3
10. Kevin Dorsey Maryland 3

Tight End:

1. Joseph Fauria UCLA 1
2. Michael Williams Alabama 3
3. Jake Stoneburner Ohio State 3
4. Ben Cotton Nebraska 3
5. Colter Phillips Virginia 4
6. Philip Lutzenkirchen Auburn 5
7. Ryan Griffin UCONN 5
8. Asa Watson NC State 6
9. Jack Doyle Western Kentucky 6
10. Ray Otten SJSU 7

Offensive Tackle:

1. Alex Hurst LSU Top 10
2. Justin Pugh Syracuse 1
3. Rick Wagner Wisconsin 1
4. Reid Fragal Ohio State 1
5. Xavier Nixon Florida 2
6. Oday Aboushi Virginia 2
7. Dallas Thomas Tennessee 3
8. Fou Fonoti Michigan State 3
9. Jeff Nady Nevada 4
10. Tanner Hawkinson Kansas 5

Guard:

1. Jonathan Cooper UNC 1
2. Larry Warford Kentucky 1
3. Lane Taylor Oklahoma State 2
4. Chance Warmack Oklahoma 3
5. Travis Bond UNC 3
6. Omoregie Uzzi Georgia Tech 3
7. Chris McDonald Michigan State 4
8. Braden Hansen BYU 4
9. Theo Goins UCF 5
10. Ivory Wade Baylor 6

Center:

1. Barrett Jones Alabama 2
2. Khalif Holmes USC 2
3. James Ferenz Iowa 4
4. Dalton Freeman Clemson 4
5. Joe Madsen WVU 5
6. Trent Dupy Tulsa 5
7. Ben Habern Oklahoma 6
8. Matt Stankiewitch Penn State 6
9. Camden Wentz NC State 7
10. Steven Warner Louisiana Tech 7

Defensive End:

1. Alex Okefor Texas Top 10
2. Dion Jordan Oregon Top 10
3. John Simon Ohio State 1
4. Michael Buchanan Illinois 1
5. Malliciah Goodman Clemson 1
6. Wes Horton USC 2
7. Margus Hunt SMU 2
8. Craig Roh Michigan 3
9. Cameron Meredith Nebraska 3
10. Devin Taylor South Carolina 4

Defensive Tackle:

1. Jesse Williams Alabama Top 10
2. Star Lotulelei Utah 1
3. Kawann Short Purdue 2
4. Jordan Hill Penn State 2
5. Sheldon Richardson Mizz 3
6. Everett Dawkins Florida State 4
7. DeQuinta Jones Arkansas 4
8. Stacy McGee Oklahoma 5
9. Joe Vellano Maryland 6
10. Aaron Tipoti California 6

Outside Linebacker:

1. Brandon Jenkins Florida State 1
2. Chase Thomas Stanford 1
3. Gerald Hodges Penn State 1
4. Nico Johnson Alabama 2
5. Sean Porter Texas A&M 2
6. Jake Knott Iowa State 3
7. Alonzo Highsmith Arkansas 4
8. Khaseem Green Rutgers 5
9. Storm Klein Ohio State 6
10. Travis Brown Fresno State 6

Inside Linebacker:

1. Manti Te'o Notre Dame 1
2. Patrick Larimore UCLA 2
3. Kevin Reddick UNC 3
4. Shayne Skov Stanford 3
5. Kenny Demans Michigan 4
6. Arthur Brown KSU 5
7. Bruce Taylor VT 5
8. Julian Burnett Georgia Tech 5
9. Jon Bostic Florida 6
10. Will Compton Nebraska 7

Cornerback:

1. Johnny Adams Michigan State Top 10
2. Jonathan Banks Mississippi State 1
3. Demontre Hurst Oklahoma 1
4. Micah Hyde Iowa 2
5. Desmond Trufant Washington 2
6. Brandon McGee Miami (FL) 3
7. Branden Smith Georgia 4
8. Rod Sweeting Georgia Tech 4
9. Broderick Brown Oklahoma State 5
10. Aaron Hester UCLA 6

Free Safety:

1. T.J. McDonald USC 2
2. Robert Lester Alabama 2
3. Dexter McCoil Tulsa 2
4. Baccarri Rambo Georgia 3
5. Javon Harris Oklahoma 3
6. Courtney Osborn Nebraska 4
7. Vaughn Telemaque Miami (FL) 5
8. Dalton Hilliard UCLA 5
9. Malcolm Bronson McNeese State 5
10. Rashard Hall Clemson 6

Strong Safety:

1. Ray Ray Armstrong Miami (FL) Top 10
2. Devonte Holloman SCAR 2
3. Nick Moody Florida State 2
4. Kenny Vaccaro Texas 2
5. Prentiss Wagner Tennessee 3
6. Terrence Garvin WVU 3
7. Drew Frey Cincinnati 4
8. Cooper Taylor Richmond 5
9. Shawn Williams Geogia 6
10. Cody Davis Texas Tech 6

Denard Robinson a first rounder?

Robinson is a potential Top 100 pick, but as a wide receiver prospect. I will be pretty shocked if he gets any looks as a quarterback unless he makes some monumental strides as a senior.

These are very odd rankings to me, like crazy odd, but I guess everyone has their own opinion.

Boy, it seems really similar to the case of Robert Griffin III. People were saying the exact same thing about him this time last year. Obviously, Robinson is going to have to improve. He's been developmental as a QB the last couple years. If he can throw 64% this year, and really show some strides from a pure passing stand-point, he could be next years RGIII. I'm not saying he is...yet, but there is that potential there.

Even as a special teams guy, he's such a great athlete, I think he is a top 100 prospect.

As far as these being fairly odd positional rankings...well, I haven't included any underclassmen in here yet.

Denard is not a pro qb prospect. He is a great running QB, great player, ok arm and good character. He could get selected as a Brad Smith type - I would use a 2nd rounder on him but no way is he a full time QB at the next level.

Tyler Wilson should be number 2 behind Barkley as well.

I never had really understood why people do that, as if underclassmen will not declare? Usually underclassmen control the first few rounds of the NFL draft.

But if you are only doing seniors, where in the world are these players? Not all great players but a few are at or near the top of their position if you only look at seniors.

But I guess you did only go 10 deep so maybe that is why.



RB
Rex Burkhead Nebraska
Ray Graham Pitt
Knile Davis Arkansas
Christine Michael Texas A&M
Latavius Murray UCF
Cierre Wood Notre Dame

FB
Ryan Hewitt Stanford
Zach Boren Ohio State
Lonnie Pryor Florida State



WR
Tavarres King Georgia
Rodney Smith Florida State
TJ Moe Missouri
Theo Riddick Notre Dame
Marcus Rucker Memphis


TE
Tyler Eifert Notre Dame
Chris Gragg Arkansas
Matt Furstenburg Maryland


OT
Xavier Sua-Filo UCLA
Brennan Williams UNC
Fou Fonoti Michigan State
Hugh Thornton Illinois

OG
Patrick Omameh Michigan RS


DE
Cornellius Carradine Florida State
Damion Square Alabama
Earl Okine Florida
Tyler Hoover Michigan State
Gerald Rivers Ole Miss
Taylor Wyndham Kentucky



DT
Casey Walker Oklahoma
Baker Steinkuhler Nebraska
Omar Hunter Florida
Jacobbi McDaniel Florida State

OLB
Michael Mauti Penn State
Devon Kennard USC
Jonathan Willard Clemson
Jamie Collins Southern Miss
Uona Kaveinga BYU
Walter Stewart Cincinnati RS
Kenny Tate Maryland
Ramon Buchanan Miami FL
Cameron Lawrence Miss State
Daren Bates Auburn
LaRoy Reynolds Virginia


ILB
Brandin Hawthorne Michigan
Demetrius Hartsfield Maryland
Etienne Sabino Ohio State


CB
Greg Reid Florida State
Jamar Taylor Boise State
TJ Bryant USC
Brodrick Brown Oklahoma State
Nigel Malone Kansas State
Travis Howard Ohio State

SS
D.J. Swearinger South Carolina
Jonathan Meeks Clemson
Jordan Kovacs Michigan
John Boyett Oregon

FS
Rashard Hall Clemson
Jarred Holley Pitt
Jim Noel Boston College

I'm going off of what I've seen and heard. It's still very early, and of course these are just initial interest picks. But I'll tell you upfront, I've also omitted some players that have injury concerns. That's why you don't see like Christine Michael on there.

Logan Thomas, Tyler Bray, Tyler Wilson and Geno Smith.

No david amerson in the top 10 cb's? Ooookay...

Asa Watson is a rs-jr.

I think he only ranked seniors.

The theme was no underclassmen. Ooookay?

I can't imagine people were saying anything close to what they say about Robert Griffin. Have you seen Denard throw the ball?

I'm far too lazy to go back and look, but no, people were not saying the exact same things last year about Griffin.

Has he played any receiver before though? I get that he's fast, but does he have good hands?

I see him more as a wildcat back.

You really seem to undervalue Tyler Wilson, and Tyler Bray isn't on there at all. I might be in the minority thinking that Matt Barkley is super overrated as well, but it might just be me not liking USC prospects.

I'm from Michigan. Of course I've seen Denard throw. It's been ugly, no dispute. But you're wrong. Mel Kiper even said on Friday's coverage of the NFL Draft that RGIII was a guy that, last year, was being scouted to move to WR in the NFL. I'm trying to find Youtube confirmation on that.

If you go back, statistically, RGIII has been a more proficient passer than Robinson ever has. RGIII was only below 60% his freshman year. Denard has been struggling to get to 60%. But I do know this about Denard: He's a hard worker and he has made strides throwing the ball since Hoke took over. Athletically, he's one of or the best prospects in the draft. If he really wants to play QB in the NFL, I expect a good year from him in 2012.

Again, I might be undervaluing some guys, and I might be overvaluing Denard. But with his athletic ability, if he can show pro scouts that he's making strides in throwing the ball, he can easily be a 1st round pick.

If Mike Mauti is healthy, he's first round talent with 2nd/3rd round injury concerns.

I'm sensing a little Big 10 bias, but it's as good a list as any.

I follow Michigan a bunch since my dad is a michigan guy through and through, so I have seen Denard play.

Since I mainly follow Uconn, I watched RGIII play us his freshman year.

RGIII was a better passer as a frosh than Denard is now. Back then, Griffin was making plays any way he could, so that was a lot of running. Not because he was a terrible passer, just out of need. That Baylor team was pretty awful back then, but you were just awed by him.

For Denard, I just don't see him being a QB. He seems to be better with a scramble first mentality. I just don't see him being a guy you can draft to go through the progressions before thinking about taking off running. Can he develop that? Possibly, but I don't see it any time soon.

I don't think even a highlight reel of his passes will help him. Totally anecdotal, but I remember a ton of passes where he would scramble around throw up a duck and the receiver made a great catch for big yardage.

That being said, there could be some crazy development this next year. I don't know if he is one of those guys that is dead set on being a QB at the next level. If he is dead set on it, he better be working like crazy to improve the nfl style qb stuff. If not, enjoy being the face of a revitalized big blue and let the NFL guys decide where they play you.

Robinson strikes me as a bit more athletic and bit better passer than Antwaan Randle-El.

But still not an NFL QB

The Denard/Griffin comparison is just as bad as the Griffin/Newton comparison IMO.

Denard/Randle El makes alot of sense though.

Guys I think are really good looking prospects for the 2013 draft:

Matt Barkley-QB
Robert Woods-WR
Marcus Lattimore-RB
Manti T'eo-MLB
David Amerson-CB
Tyler Bray-QB
Tyler Wilson-QB
Keenan Allen-WR
William Gholston-DE
Jackson Jeffcoat-DE
Sam Montgomery-DE/OLB
Jarvin Jones-DE/OLB
Kevin Reddick-LB
Alex Okafor-DE
Landry Jones-QB
Logan Thomas-QB
Johnathan Hankins-DT
Johnathan Banks-CB
Star Lotuleilei-DT
Bradley Roby-CB
Sean Porter-OLB
Marquess Wilson-WR
Michael Dyer-RB
Spencer Ware-RB
Knile Davis-RB
Montee Ball-RB
Da'Rick Rogers-WR
Tyler Eifert-TE
DJ Fluker-RT
Barrett Jones-OG
TJ McDonald-S
Barkevious Mingo-DE

I don't know why people aren't talking about Kevin Reddick, Williams Gholston, and Bradley Roby more. Well, I guess Roby is only a redshirt sophomore but he is destined to be a #1 probably in 2014 if not 2013. Gholston will be a top 10 pick at DE, just watch.