Mel Kiper Top 25(Update 1/6/06)

[Maikeru-sama]

Updated: Jan. 6, 2006, 1:03 PM ET

Top 5 players by positionBy Mel Kiper Jr.
Special to ESPN Insider
Archive

Jan. 6, 2006 | Now that underclassmen are declaring for the NFL draft, the Top 5 list will take on a different look in the coming weeks. Instead of Top 5 Seniors by Position, it is now Top 5 Players by Position, based on seniors and underclassmen who are involved in the draft process. Expect many more changes in the next few weeks, since underclassmen have until Jan. 15 to declare for April's draft.


Quarterbacks
1. Matt Leinart, USC
2. Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt
3. Brodie Croyle, Alabama
4. Darrell Hackney, UAB
5. Charlie Whitehurst, Clemson
5a. Barrick Nealy, Texas State
5b. Kellen Clemens, Oregon
5c. Bruce Eugene, Grambling


Running Backs
1. DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
2. Laurence Maroney, Minnesota (Junior)
3. Joseph Addai, LSU
4. Jerome Harrison, Washington State
5. Leon Washington, Florida State
5a. Andre Hall, South Florida
5b. P.J. Daniels, Georgia Tech


Fullbacks
1. Lawrence Vickers, Colorado
2. J.D. Runnels, Oklahoma
3. Matt Bernstein, Wisconsin
4. Daccus Turman, South Carolina
5. David Kirtman, USC


Wide Receivers
1. Santonio Holmes, Ohio State (Junior)
2. Derek Hagan, Arizona State
3. Sinorice Moss, Miami
4. Chad Jackson, Florida (Junior)
5. Hank Baskett, New Mexico
5a. Maurice Stovall, Notre Dame
5b. Brandon Williams, Wisconsin
5c. Greg Lee, Pittsburgh (Junior)
5d. Travis Wilson, Oklahoma
5e. Jonathan Orr, Wisconsin


Tight Ends
1. Vernon Davis, Maryland (Junior)
2. Leonard Pope, Georgia (Junior)
3. Owen Daniels, Wisconsin
4. Dominique Byrd, USC
5. David Thomas, Texas
5a. Marcedes Lewis, UCLA
5b. Joe Klopfenstein, Colorado
5c. Tim Day, Oregon


Tackles
1. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia
2. Ryan O'Callaghan, California
3. Jeremy Trueblood, Boston College
4. Marcus McNeill, Auburn
5. Andrew Whitworth, LSU
5a. Eric Winston, Miami


Guards
1. Jason Spitz, Louisville
2. Taitusi Lutui, USC
3. Max Jean-Gilles, Georgia
4. Kevin Boothe, Cornell
5. Rob Sims, Ohio State
5a. Davin Joseph, Oklahoma
5b. E.J. Whitley, Texas Tech


Centers
1. Nick Mangold, Ohio State
2. Greg Eslinger, Minnesota
3. Ryan Cook, New Mexico
4. Mike Degory, Florida
5. Marvin Philip, California


Place-Kickers
1. Stephen Gostkowski, Memphis
2. Josh Huston, Ohio State
3. Connor Hughes, Virginia
4. Deric Yaussi, Wyoming
5. Kurt Smith, Virginia


Defensive Ends
1. Mario Williams, NC State (Junior)
2. Tamba Hali, Penn State
3. Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College
4. Kamerion Wimbley, Florida State
5. Manny Lawson, NC State
5a. Elvis Dumervil, Louisville
5b. Ray Edwards, Purdue (Junior)
5c. Jason Hatcher, Grambling
5d. Charlton Keith, Kansas


Defensive Tackles
1. Orien Harris, Miami
2. Claude Wroten, LSU
3. Brodrick Bunkley, Florida State
4. Kyle Williams, LSU
5. Titus Adams, Nebraska


Inside Linebackers
1. D'Qwell Jackson, Maryland
2. Abdul Hodge, Iowa
3. Gerris Wilkinson, Georgia Tech
4. Oliver Hoyte, NC State
5. Leon Williams, Miami


Outside Linebackers
1. A.J. Hawk, Ohio State
2. DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
3. Chad Greenway, Iowa
4. Thomas Howard, UTEP
5. Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State
5a. Cameron Vaughn, LSU
5b. Rocky McIntosh, Miami


Cornerbacks
1. Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech
2. Antonio Cromartie, Florida State (Junior)
3. Kelly Jennings, Miami
4. DeMario Minter, Georgia
5. Anwar Phillips, Penn State
5a. Marcus Hudson, NC State
5b. Jason Allen, Tennessee
5c. Tye Hill, Clemson
5d. Marcus Maxey, Miami
5e. Alan Zemaitis, Penn State
5f. Cedric Griffin, Texas


Safeties
1. Michael Huff, Texas
2. Anthony Smith, Syracuse
3. Bernard Pollard, Purdue (Junior)
4. Dwayne Slay, Texas Tech
5. Daniel Bullocks, Nebraska


Punters
1. John Torp, Colorado
2. Steve Weatherford, Illinois
3. Tom Malone, USC
4. Jeff Williams, Adams State (Colo.)
5. Sam Paulescu, Oregon State

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/insider/columns/story?columnist=kiper_jr_mel&id=2282715

 

[Hostile]

Quarterbacks
1. Matt Leinart, USC
2. Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt
3. Brodie Croyle, Alabama
4. Darrell Hackney, UAB
5. Charlie Whitehurst, Clemson
5a. Barrick Nealy, Texas State
5b. Kellen Clemens, Oregon
5c. Bruce Eugene, Grambling

I can't believe he has Clemens that high. Vince Young will be 1 or 2 soon. Omar Jacobs around Cutler or Croyle on some boards I suspect. Drew Olsen from UCLA could move up boards as well.

Running Backs
1. DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
2. Laurence Maroney, Minnesota (Junior)
3. Joseph Addai, LSU
4. Jerome Harrison, Washington State
5. Leon Washington, Florida State
5a. Andre Hall, South Florida
5b. P.J. Daniels, Georgia Tech

Of course Bush will top this list soon.

Fullbacks
1. Lawrence Vickers, Colorado
2. J.D. Runnels, Oklahoma
3. Matt Bernstein, Wisconsin
4. Daccus Turman, South Carolina
5. David Kirtman, USC

I like Runnels a little better.

Wide Receivers
1. Santonio Holmes, Ohio State (Junior)
2. Derek Hagan, Arizona State
3. Sinorice Moss, Miami
4. Chad Jackson, Florida (Junior)
5. Hank Baskett, New Mexico
5a. Maurice Stovall, Notre Dame
5b. Brandon Williams, Wisconsin
5c. Greg Lee, Pittsburgh (Junior)
5d. Travis Wilson, Oklahoma
5e. Jonathan Orr, Wisconsin

Where's Haas form oregon State? Is he a Jr.? I thought he was a Senior.

Tight Ends
1. Vernon Davis, Maryland (Junior)
2. Leonard Pope, Georgia (Junior)
3. Owen Daniels, Wisconsin
4. Dominique Byrd, USC
5. David Thomas, Texas
5a. Marcedes Lewis, UCLA
5b. Joe Klopfenstein, Colorado
5c. Tim Day, Oregon

No way is Lewis rated that low. No way.

Tackles
1. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia
2. Ryan O'Callaghan, California
3. Jeremy Trueblood, Boston College
4. Marcus McNeill, Auburn
5. Andrew Whitworth, LSU
5a. Eric Winston, Miami

O'Callaghan that high? He's good but nowhere near that good. Where's Jonathon Scott? I know nothing about Trueblood and I like BC O-linemen. Shame on me.

Guards
1. Jason Spitz, Louisville
2. Taitusi Lutui, USC
3. Max Jean-Gilles, Georgia
4. Kevin Boothe, Cornell
5. Rob Sims, Ohio State
5a. Davin Joseph, Oklahoma
5b. E.J. Whitley, Texas Tech

I know nothing about Spitz at all. Time to read.

Centers
1. Nick Mangold, Ohio State
2. Greg Eslinger, Minnesota
3. Ryan Cook, New Mexico
4. Mike Degory, Florida
5. Marvin Philip, California

I can't believe Eslinger isn't #1. Cook is a guy who will surprise a lot of people.

Place-Kickers
1. Stephen Gostkowski, Memphis
2. Josh Huston, Ohio State
3. Connor Hughes, Virginia
4. Deric Yaussi, Wyoming
5. Kurt Smith, Virginia

Pass on kickers in the draft.

Defensive Ends
1. Mario Williams, NC State (Junior)
2. Tamba Hali, Penn State
3. Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College
4. Kamerion Wimbley, Florida State
5. Manny Lawson, NC State
5a. Elvis Dumervil, Louisville
5b. Ray Edwards, Purdue (Junior)
5c. Jason Hatcher, Grambling
5d. Charlton Keith, Kansas

Kiwanuka still tops my list. I just really like this kid. Dumervil may play OLB in the NFL. NC State's bookend DEs are good.

Defensive Tackles
1. Orien Harris, Miami
2. Claude Wroten, LSU
3. Brodrick Bunkley, Florida State
4. Kyle Williams, LSU
5. Titus Adams, Nebraska

Haloti Ngata will top this list. Where's Rod Wright? DT is deeper than I thought. Wroten will drop due to some ganja.

Inside Linebackers
1. D'Qwell Jackson, Maryland
2. Abdul Hodge, Iowa
3. Gerris Wilkinson, Georgia Tech
4. Oliver Hoyte, NC State
5. Leon Williams, Miami

Where are Ahmad Brooks and Spencer Havner? I do like Hodge.

Outside Linebackers
1. A.J. Hawk, Ohio State
2. DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
3. Chad Greenway, Iowa
4. Thomas Howard, UTEP
5. Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State
5a. Cameron Vaughn, LSU
5b. Rocky McIntosh, Miami

I'd love to steal Carpenter in the 2nd. I mean I would fele euphoric.

Cornerbacks
1. Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech
2. Antonio Cromartie, Florida State (Junior)
3. Kelly Jennings, Miami
4. DeMario Minter, Georgia
5. Anwar Phillips, Penn State
5a. Marcus Hudson, NC State
5b. Jason Allen, Tennessee
5c. Tye Hill, Clemson
5d. Marcus Maxey, Miami
5e. Alan Zemaitis, Penn State
5f. Cedric Griffin, Texas

I thought Griffin was a Safety? Jimmy Williams is the prize.

Safeties
1. Michael Huff, Texas
2. Anthony Smith, Syracuse
3. Bernard Pollard, Purdue (Junior)
4. Dwayne Slay, Texas Tech
5. Daniel Bullocks, Nebraska

If Laron Landry declares vault him to the top.

Punters
1. John Torp, Colorado
2. Steve Weatherford, Illinois
3. Tom Malone, USC
4. Jeff Williams, Adams State (Colo.)
5. Sam Paulescu, Oregon State

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/insider/columns/story?columnist=kiper_jr_mel&id=2282715

Pass on Punters in the draft too.

Thanks Mick.

 

[Tobal]

Rod Wright shouldn't be on that list Hos he's got all world talent but it never shows up on the field. Samrt guy too, just never ever makes plays.

Michael Griffin is the FS

 

[Hostile]

Rod Wright shouldn't be on that list Hos he's got all world talent but it never shows up on the field. Samrt guy too, just never ever makes plays.

Michael Griffin is the FS

Wright's playing style translates well at the Pro Level though Tobal. Call him a "blocker magnet."

:wink2:

He's a big, run stuffing space eater. He'll be high on most lists.

I thought so on Griffin. Thanks.

 

[ghst187]

Wide Receivers: not a great group
1. Santonio Holmes, Ohio State (Junior): TG part II, plus he returns kicks, if he's on the board when we pick he'd be the BPA and we'd be dumb to pass
2. Derek Hagan, Arizona State: I'm not overly sold
3. Sinorice Moss, Miami: ditto but I like the last name
4. Chad Jackson, Florida (Junior): still skeptical of UF WRs
5. Hank Baskett, New Mexico
5a. Maurice Stovall, Notre Dame: Bigtime sleeper. Ridiculous size and athleticism, right coach and situation could turn this guy into something special
5b. Brandon Williams, Wisconsin
5c. Greg Lee, Pittsburgh (Junior)
5d. Travis Wilson, Oklahoma: Bigtime sleeper potential also. Great size and athleticism. Got lost in OU WR shuffle and mass NFL exodus.
5e. Jonathan Orr, Wisconsin


Tight Ends
5b. Joe Klopfenstein, Colorado: this guy is pretty good

Tackles
1. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia: too light, only played between 265-295 this season. Will need to pack on some pounds
3. Jeremy Trueblood, Boston College: I think this guy has a Dallas target on his back
4. Marcus McNeill, Auburn: I think this guy has a Dallas target on his back

Guards
3. Max Jean-Gilles, Georgia: Dallas target on his back
5a. Davin Joseph, Oklahoma
5b. E.J. Whitley, Texas Tech: these last two guys are pretty good, steals in the 3rd round, criminal theft in the 4th.

Centers: all these guys are too light, >300. I fear Al Johnson syndrome.
1. Nick Mangold, Ohio State
2. Greg Eslinger, Minnesota
3. Ryan Cook, New Mexico
4. Mike Degory, Florida
5. Marvin Philip, California


Place-Kickers: Where is the dude from Colorado, I take it he's an underclassman because he's one of the top 3 easily. I like Huston a lot from OSU. I'd be willing to use a second day pick on someone like him.
1. Stephen Gostkowski, Memphis
2. Josh Huston, Ohio State

Defensive Ends
1. Mario Williams, NC State (Junior): i see great NFL success
2. Tamba Hali, Penn State: didn't see enough of him
3. Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College: this guy could be like Peppers, just ridiculous size, speed, and athleticism
5a. Elvis Dumervil, Louisville: like this guy but he's too short to play DE fulltime and certainly not in the 3-4. He'd have to do the Ware DE/LB hybrid thing.
Defensive Tackles: Ngata will move into the top 2 on this list but I don't like his injury history.
1. Orien Harris, Miami
2. Claude Wroten, LSU
3. Brodrick Bunkley, Florida State
4. Kyle Williams, LSU
5. Titus Adams, Nebraska


Inside Linebackers: I'm not sure any of these guys fit the 3-4 LB mold, too lightweight. However, I do like Hodge a lot.
1. D'Qwell Jackson, Maryland
2. Abdul Hodge, Iowa
3. Gerris Wilkinson, Georgia Tech
4. Oliver Hoyte, NC State
5. Leon Williams, Miami


Outside Linebackers: Hawk is a freak. I think Carpenter fits our scheme the best after Hawk.
1. A.J. Hawk, Ohio State
2. DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
3. Chad Greenway, Iowa
4. Thomas Howard, UTEP
5. Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State

Cornerbacks: very underwhelming group
1. Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech: not a great CB, should play FS in the NFL but will refuse because of $$$
5a. Marcus Hudson, NC State
5b. Jason Allen, Tennessee: this guy is a FS also and if he recovers from injury and plays FS he can do very well in the NFL. If he plays CB, he'll struggle.
5f. Cedric Griffin, Texas: see Jason Allen.

Safeties: there are more good ones to come...Laron Landry if he declares, Bing...and more
1. Michael Huff, Texas: not too shabby
4. Dwayne Slay, Texas Tech: not crazy about his coverage ability but love his size and hitting
5. Daniel Bullocks, Nebraska: good coverage guy, good player, solid but not spectacular

Punters: who cares?

 

[jbsg02]

Griffin should be one of the top 2 or 3 safties next year

 

[Tobal]

You might be right HoS, but I got really tired of seeing USC's guards kill Texas linbackers.

I haven't watched it again with my "study hat" and I know USC has a good oline but USC's line manhandled Texas D-line.

 

[ghettogandhi]

DeQwell Jackson and Vernon Davis will be studs- I would take Vernon Davis at 18- he will be a stud in the run and passing game- the guy is Merriman on the offensive side of the ball

REMEMBER THAT NAME- VERNON DAVIS