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Top 10 draft prospects by position

Posted April 01, 2010 @ 10:55 a.m. ET
By Nolan Nawrocki

Three weeks before the NFL draft, PFW personnel analyst Nolan Nawrocki ranks the prospects, showing the top 10 at each position. Players are ranked according to the likelihood of their success in the NFL, not necessarily in the order Nawrocki believes they will be drafted.

Click here to see the top 100 draft prospects regardless of position.

QUARTERBACKS

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Sam Bradford Oklahoma 7.25 6042 236 4.90e Jr., X
2. Jimmy Clausen Notre Dame 6.40 6025 222 4.85e Jr., X
3. Colt McCoy Texas 5.90 6011 216 4.82 Ath
4. Tim Tebow Florida 5.80 6026 236 4.73 H-B
5. Armanti Edwards Appalachian State 5.50 5110 181 4.42 X, WR, Ath
6. Tony Pike Cincinnati 5.35 6056 223 4.94 X
7. Levi Brown Troy 5.33 6034 229 4.86  
8. Daryll Clark Penn State 5.32 6017 235 4.74 RB, Ath
9. John Skelton Fordham 5.29 6053 243 4.91  
10. Mike Kafka Northwestern 5.27 6031 225 4.93 X

FULLBACKS

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Toby Gerhart Stanford 5.55 6000 231 4.56 X, BB, RB
2. John Conner Kentucky 5.23 5111 246 4.67  
3. Rashawn Jackson Virginia 5.15 6010 239 4.78 X, LB, Ch.
4. Manase Tonga Brigham Young 5.09 5112 245 4.86 Age
5. Anthony Harding Fresno State 5.05 5114e 225e 4.65e  
6. Joe Tronzo Louisville 5.00 5106 244 4.75e  
7. Cory Jackson Maryland 4.95 6000 249 4.80e  
8. Matt Clapp Oklahoma 4.80 6024e 230e 4.70e X, RB
9. Jack Corcoran Rutgers 4.75 6000 229 4.65e  
10. Rendrick Taylor Clemson 4.70 6010 269 4.80e  

RUNNING BACKS

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. C.J. Spiller Clemson 6.85 5105 196 4.31 X, RS
2. Ryan Mathews Fresno State 6.00 5115.0 218 4.51 Jr.
3. Jahvid Best California 5.95 5101 199 4.38 Jr., RS, X
4. Joe McKnight USC 5.75 5113.0 198 4.43 Jr.
5. Dexter McCluster Mississippi 5.55 5086 172 4.53 X, WR, RS
6. Ben Tate Auburn 5.45 5110 220 4.47  
7. Montario Hardesty Tennessee 5.40 5116 225 4.51 XX
8. Jonathan Dwyer Georgia Tech 5.39 5112 229 4.66 Jr., FB
9. LeGarrette Blount Oregon 5.35 6004 241 4.67 Ch.
10. Anthony Dixon Mississippi State 5.33 6006 233 4.68 X, Ch.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Dez Bryant Oklahoma State 6.50 6020 225 4.50e Jr., Ch.
2. Demaryius Thomas Georgia Tech 6.20 6032 224 4.50e X, Jr.
3. Golden Tate Notre Dame 5.90 5102 199 4.48 Jr., KR, BB
4. Arrelious Benn Illinois 5.80 6010e 220e 4.50e Jr., RS
5. Eric Decker Minnesota 5.55 6031 217 4.55 X, BB
6. Riley Cooper Florida 5.55 6033 222 4.56 BB, Ch.
7. Andre Roberts The Citadel 5.53 5107 195 4.46  
8. Carlton Mitchell South Florida 5.50 6027 215 4.49 Jr.
9. Damian Williams USC 5.50 6005 197 4.53 Jr.
10. Mardy Gilyard Cincinnati 5.50 5117 187 4.62 X, KR

TIGHT ENDS

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Jermaine Gresham Oklahoma 6.35 6052 261 4.68 Jr., X, DNP
2. Rob Gronkowski Arizona 5.90 6062 264 4.75e Jr., X, DNP
3. Dennis Pitta Brigham Young 5.70 6044 245 4.71 H-B, Age
4. Aaron Hernandez Florida 5.55 6025 243 4.61 Jr., Ch.
5. Ed Dickson Oregon 5.55 6040 244 4.65e  
6. Dorin Dickerson Pittsburgh 5.50 6013 226 4.47 H-B
7. Jimmy Graham Miami (Fla.) 5.50 6062 260 4.53  
8. Tony Moeaki Iowa 5.45 6030 245 4.71 X
9. Anthony McCoy USC 5.40 6044 259 4.78  
10. Clay Harbor Missouri State 5.37 6025 252 4.68 FB, H-B

CENTERS

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Maurkice Pouncey Florida 6.15 6044 304 5.26 Jr., OG
2. Matt Tennant Boston College 5.39 6045 300 5.18 X
3. Ted Larsen North Carolina State 5.26 6025 304 5.24  
4. J.D. Walton Baylor 5.25 6025 300 5.24  
5. Joe Hawley UNLV 5.23 6032 297 5.26  
6. Jeff Byers USC 5.12 6033 301 5.25e X, Age
7. Eric Olsen Notre Dame 5.10 6037 306 5.32  
8. Sean Allen East Carolina 5.09 6030 306 5.30e  
9. Andrew Lewis Oklahoma State 5.07 6040 298 5.25e  
10. Charlie Tanner Texas 5.07 6040e 305e 5.30e  

OFFENSIVE GUARDS

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Mike Iupati Idaho 6.30 6051 331 5.29  
2. John Jerry Mississippi 5.55 6053 328 5.18  
3. Jon Asamoah Illinois 5.45 6040 305 5.05e C
4. Mike Johnson Alabama 5.37 6052 312 5.41  
5. Shawn Lauvao Arizona State 5.35 6027 315 5.23  
6. Zane Beadles Utah 5.33 6043 310 5.30e OT, C
7. Mitch Petrus Arkansas 5.29 6030 310 5.34 C
8. Ciron Black LSU 5.23 6044 327 5.56  
9. Sergio Render Virginia Tech 5.20 6027 318 5.30e Ch.
10. Shelley Smith Colorado State 5.17 6027 300 5.09  

OFFENSIVE TACKLES

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Russell Okung Oklahoma State 6.70 6052 307 5.21  
2. Bryan Bulaga Iowa 6.60 6053 314 5.24 Jr., OG
3. Trent Williams Oklahoma 6.55 6045 315 4.84 X, OG
4. Anthony Davis Rutgers 6.20 6050 323 5.39 Jr., Ch.
5. Vladimir Ducasse Massachusetts 6.05 6043 332 5.26  
6. Rodger Saffold Indiana 5.95 6045 316 5.24 X, OG
7. Bruce Campbell Maryland 5.70 6063 314 4.83 Jr., X
8. Charles Brown USC 5.60 6053 303 5.20e X
9. Jared Veldheer Hillsdale (Mich.) 5.50 6081 312 5.07  
10. Selvish Capers West Virginia 5.45 6045 308 5.13  

DEFENSIVE ENDS

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Derrick Morgan Georgia Tech 6.55 6-3 266 4.79 Jr.
2. Brandon Graham Michigan 6.25 6013 268 4.74  
3. Everson Griffen USC 5.95 6033 273 4.68 Jr., OLB
4. Corey Wootton Northwestern 5.60 6060 270 4.80e X, OLB
5. Jason Pierre-Paul South Florida 5.50 6046 270 4.73 Jr., Ch.
6. Carlos Dunlap Florida 5.45 6056 277 4.71 Jr., Ch.
7. Jermaine Cunningham Florida 5.40 6033 266 4.70e  
8. C.J. Wilson East Carolina 5.38 6027 290 4.88  
9. Hall Davis Louisiana-Lafayette 5.37 6036 271 4.88  
10. Alex Carrington Arkansas State 5.35 6052 285 4.94  

DEFENSIVE TACKLES

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Gerald McCoy Oklahoma 7.50 6041 295 5.06 Jr., DE
2. Ndamukong Suh Nebraska 7.30 6037 307 5.09 X, NT
3. Dan Williams Tennessee 6.25 6020 327 5.24 NT
4. Jared Odrick Penn State 6.10 6050 304 5.06 X, DE
5. Tyson Alualu California 5.85 6023 295 4.92  
6. Lamarr Houston Texas 5.75 6026 305 4.89  
7. Linval Joseph East Carolina 5.70 6044 328 5.13 Jr.
8. Brian Price UCLA 5.65 6011 303 5.14 Jr.
9. Terrence Cody Alabama 5.65 6033 354 5.71 NT, Ch.
10. Al Woods LSU 5.55 6035 309 5.16  

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Rolando McClain Alabama 6.35 6033 249 4.69 Jr., X, OLB
2. Sean Lee Penn State 5.85 6021 236 4.76 X, OLB
3. Brandon Spikes Florida 5.65 6027 249 5.06 OLB, Ch.
4. Donald Butler Washington 5.50 6007 235 4.64  
5. Jamar Chaney Mississippi State 5.33 6006 242 4.58 X
6. Phillip Dillard Nebraska 5.27 6002 242 4.73 X, OLB
7. Pat Angerer Iowa 5.25 6002 235 4.73 X
8. Darryl Sharpton Miami (Fla.) 5.23 5116 229 4.65e X, OLB
9. Mike McLaughlin Boston College 5.20 6002 242 4.89 X
10. Micah Johnson Kentucky 5.12 6014 258 4.88 X

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Sergio Kindle Texas 6.30 6027 250 4.68 DE, Ch.
2. Sean Weatherspoon Missouri 6.15 6014 239 4.53  
3. Jerry Hughes TCU 6.05 6016 255 4.66  
4. Daryl Washington TCU 5.90 6016 230 4.64  
5. Navorro Bowman Penn State 5.70 6004 242 4.64 Jr., Ch.
6. Eric Norwood South Carolina 5.60 6007 245 4.76  
7. Ricky Sapp Clemson 5.55 6037 252 4.67 X, DE
8. Koa Misi Utah 5.55 6025 251 4.74  
9. Jason Worilds Virginia Tech 5.50 6011 254 4.51 Jr., DE
10. Rennie Curran Georgia 5.45 5105 229 4.69 Jr.

CORNERBACKS

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Joe Haden Florida 6.35 5106 189 4.44 Jr., PR
2. Patrick Robinson Florida State 6.00 5117 190 4.42  
3. Devin McCourty Rutgers 5.95 5106 193 4.42 KR
4. Kyle Wilson Boise State 5.90 5100 185 4.44 PR
5. Jerome Murphy South Florida 5.75 6002 196 4.54 FS, Ch.
6. Chris Cook Virginia 5.65 6020 212 4.49  
7. Kareem Jackson Alabama 5.55 5104 196 4.48 Jr.
8. Kevin Thomas USC 5.50 6000 192 4.46 X
9. Brandon Ghee Wake Forest 5.45 5111 192 4.38 X
10. Myron Lewis Vanderbilt 5.45 6015 204 4.46  

STRONG SAFETIES

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. T.J. Ward Oregon 5.50 5101 199 4.59 X, FS
2. Major Wright Florida 5.45 5114 206 4.48 Jr.
3. Reshad Jones Georgia 5.42 6012 214 4.56 Jr.
4. Larry Asante Nebraska 5.40 5117 211 4.66  
5. Darian Stewart South Carolina 5.37 5110 216 4.54  
6. Chad Jones LSU 5.37 6021 221 4.59 Jr., BB
7. Darrell Stuckey Kansas 5.35 5114 207 4.51 FS, KR
8. Kam Chancellor Virginia Tech 5.33 6032 232 4.71  
9. Harry Coleman LSU 5.32 6014 206 4.61  
10. Barry Church Toledo 5.27 6014 217 4.69  

FREE SAFETIES

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Eric Berry Tennessee 6.65 5115 211 4.46 Jr., CB
2. Earl Thomas Texas 6.40 5102 208 4.46 Jr., CB
3. Taylor Mays USC 6.20 6030 231 4.36  
4. Nate Allen South Florida 5.90 6005 205 4.50e  
5. Morgan Burnett Georgia Tech 5.80 6013 209 4.47 Jr., SS
6. Kendrick Lewis Mississippi 5.20 5114 189 4.74  
7. Kurt Coleman Ohio State 5.10 5100 187 4.56  
8. Mike Newton Buffalo 5.00 5100 197 4.51 X
9. Van Eskridge East Carolina 4.95 6000 194 4.65e  
10. Shann Schillinger Montana 4.85 5116 199 4.52  

PLACEKICKERS

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Leigh Tiffin Alabama 5.10 6001 198 4.90e KO
2. Aaron Pettrey Ohio State 5.07 6006 198 4.95e X
3. Brett Swenson Michigan State 5.05 5077 173 5.00e KO
4. Yannick Reyering Virginia 4.80 6041 204 4.70e KO
5. Hunter Lawrence Texas 4.75 5106 184 5.20e  

PUNTERS

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Matt Dodge East Carolina 5.23 6014 223 5.20e  
2. Zoltan Mesko Michigan 5.10 6042 235 4.75e  
3. Brent Bowden Virginia Tech 5.00 6023 197 5.03  
4. Robert Malone Fresno State 4.85 6014 233 4.85e  
5. Mike Brandtner Iowa State 4.80 6004 204 5.00e  

RETURN SPECIALISTS

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Brandon Banks Kansas State 5.25 5072 149 4.25  
2. Trindon Holliday LSU 5.23 5051 162 4.31  
3. Brandon James Florida 5.15 5064 186 4.45e X, RB, Ch.
4. Tim Brown Rutgers 5.10 5066 151 4.50e  
5. LeRoy Vann Florida A&M 5.00 5081 177 4.60e  

LONG-SNAPPERS

Rk Name School Grade Height Weight Speed Notes
1. Clint Gresham TCU 4.80 6024 235 4.80e  
2. Michael Windt Cincinnati 4.50 6011 249 4.90e  
3. Morgan Cox Tennessee 4.60 6026 248 4.85e  
4. Carter Brunelle Baylor 4.50 6015 237 4.90e  

Key to symbols used above:
6041 — Player's height is shown as a four-digit number, with the first digit signifying feet, the second and third inches, and the fourth, eighths of an inch. In this example, it's 6-foot-4 1/8.
Age — Player is overaged.
ATH — Player has the athletic ability to play multiple positions and could be drafted higher because of it.
BB — Has played minor-league baseball and could pursue baseball career at professional level.
Ch. — Character (i.e., history of arrests, team suspensions or off-field problems) can affect status.
DNP — Player did not play football in 2009.
E — Player had eligibility remaining.
Jr. — Player is a junior.
So. — Player is a sophomore.
MI — More information is needed to accurately rate this player.
QB — Player can also play quarterback (applies to other positions, too, such as S for safety, H-B for H-back, RS for return specialist, LS for long-snapper, PRS for pass-rush specialist, ST for special-teamer, KO for kickoff specialist, etc.).
X — May have a medical problem, past or present, that could affect where player is drafted.
XX — More serious injury concern.
XXX — Definite injury concern.
LS-5.05 — Player has separate grade of 5.05 as a long-snapper.

Nolan Nawrocki will answer selected questions from readers each Tuesday leading up to the draft, beginning April 6. Send your draft-related questions to Nawrocki at ASKquestions@pfwmedia.com.

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