Luck, Barkley highlight top 2012 draft-eligible players
By Gil Brandt NFL.com
Senior Analyst
Published: May 16, 2011 at 09:10 p.m. Updated: May 17, 2011 at 12:18 p.m.
Excerpts on the QB, RB, WR, and TE prospects listed in the top 50
We've got a very long way to go until the 2012 NFL Draft, but here is how I size up the top-100 draft-eligible prospects heading into the 2011 college football season. It should serve as no surprise who is my No. 1.
1. Andrew Luck, Jr., QB, Stanford
Luck, who possesses ideal size and arm strength for the quarterback position, has two years of eligibility left at Stanford. His father, Oliver Luck, was the 44th overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft (second round by the Houston Oilers).
2. Matt Barkley, Jr., QB, USC
In 2009, Barkley became the first true freshman to ever start a season opener at USC, helping guide the Trojans to a 56-3 win over San Jose State. Barkley, who is also a team captain, has two years of eligibility left at USC. Despite playing just two seasons, Barkley already ranks ninth overall at USC in career total offense.
5. Justin Blackmon, Jr., WR, Oklahoma State
Blackmon, who has two years of eligibility left at OSU, was the 2010 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and Biletnikoff Award winner. He had 111 catches for 20 touchdowns, averaging 16.1 yards per reception.
6. Alshon Jeffery, Jr., WR, South Carolina
A 2010 first-team All-SEC selection, Jeffery possesses the size and speed needed at the position in the NFL. Last season, Jeffery had 88 receptions for 1,517 yards.
10. Landry Jones, Jr., QB, Oklahoma
Named after former Dallas Cowboys coach and Hall of Famer Tom Landry, Jones has the size and arm strength teams look for in quarterbacks but is not a good runner. He completed 65 percent of his passes for 38 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions in 2010. Oklahoma does a great job of coaching quarterbacks; former Sooner Sam Bradford was the No. 1 overall pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2010.
11. Trent Richardson, Jr., RB, Alabama
Richardson hails from the same high school as Emmitt Smith, the Hall of Famer and the NFL's all-time career rushing leader. The versatile Richardson averaged 5.7 yards per carry over two seasons with the Crimson Tide, and also has been a very good kick returner. Richardson ran for 144 yards and a touchdown in an early season showdown against Penn State.
17. Michael Floyd, Jr., WR, Notre Dame
A three-year starter, Floyd is the school's all-time receiving touchdowns leader (28) and second in catches (171). He's big and fast, but he's also had off-field troubles he'll have to work out.
20. Ryan Broyles, Sr., WR, Oklahoma
He has the speed and quickness to be explosive, much like the Eagles' DeSean Jackson. Broyles had 131 receptions last season for 1,622 yards and 14 touchdowns.
24. Ryan Lindley, Sr., QB, San Diego State
He's a strong-armed QB who will depart as the Aztecs' all-time leading passer. Lindley has passed for 9,537 yards and 67 touchdowns.
25. Michael Egnew, Sr., TE, Missouri
A first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2010, Egnew had 90 catches and five touchdowns. He was a better receiver than blocker last year.
34. Nick Foles, Sr., QB, Arizona
Foles was very accurate last season, completing 67.1 percent of his pass attempts for 20 touchdowns.
35. LaMichael James, Jr., RB, Oregon
Last year's Doak Walker Award winner is coming off a huge year in which he scored 24 touchdowns and averaged 5.9 yards per carry.
42. Jeff Fuller, Sr., WR, Texas A&M
Fuller, the son of former 49ers WR Jeff Sr., had 72 catches and 12 touchdowns in 2010.
46. Juron Criner, Sr., WR, Arizona
A first-team All-Pac 10 selection, Criner had 82 receptions and 11 touchdowns in 2010.
49. Ryan Tannehill, Sr., QB, Texas A&M
Tennehill played wide receiver for two years before starting at QB during the middle of 2010. He passed for 449 yards and four touchdowns in his first start.
50. Kirk Cousins, Sr., QB, Michigan State
Cousins, who will be starting for the third year, is a tough player with a good arm. He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection last season.
EDIT:Here are the QB, RB, WR, and TE players listed in the next 50:
52. Mohamed Sanu, Jr., WR, Rutgers
53. Greg Childs, Sr., WR, Arkansas
57. Cyrus Gray, Sr., RB, Texas A&M
60. David Paulson, Sr., TE, Oregon
67. Isaiah Pead, Sr., RB, Cincinnati
70. Terrelle Pryor, Sr., QB, Ohio State
73. George Bryan, Sr., TE, North Carolina State
75. Chris Owusu, Sr., WR, Stanford
76. Brandon Bolden, Sr., RB, Mississippi
78. Ladarius Green, Sr., TE, Louisiana-Lafeyette
82. Knile Davis, Jr., RB, Arkansas
84. Brandon Weeden, Sr., QB, Oklahoma State
85. Dan Herron, Sr., RB, Ohio State
86. Doug Martin, Sr., RB, Boise State
87. Montel Harris, Sr., RB, Boston College
91. Nick Toon, Sr., WR, Wisconsin
92. Case Keenum, Sr., QB, Houston
93. Kendall Wright, Sr., WR, Baylor
100. Jeff Demps, Sr., RB, Florida
I am a little surprised that RB Knile Davis is listed at #82, as I thought he would have been ranked higher.