90. CB
John Talley, Sr. Duke
Probably the best cornerback you haven't seen, Talley is an
extraordinary ball-hawker with 11 career interceptions and 22 broken up
passes over the last two seasons. He's a tough tackler who's always
around the ball, and he has to make sure he can hold up after having
problems with his shoulder last year requiring off-season surgery. He's
way too valuable to be gone for any stretch of time.
89. RB
James Davis, Soph. Clemson
Davis turned in a fantastic true freshman season leading the team in
rushing despite missing all or part of three games with a wrist injury.
He can do a little of everything well with the speed and quickness to
bounce to the outside and the power to be a between-the-tackles runner
for tough yards. He also showed excellent hands as a steady
three-catch-a-game receiver. He's an every down back who should hit the
1,000-yard mark if he can stay healthy.
88. RB
Yvenson Bernard, Jr. Oregon State
Bernard single-handedly solved the team's rushing woes after fielding
one of the worst ground attacks in 2004. The smallish, quick back is a
Ken Simonton clone who turned into a surprisingly durable workhorse
highlighted by a 42-carry game against Cal. He ran for over 100 yards in
six of the final eight games and was a steady scorer with two scores in
four straight games over the middle of the season. He's also a terrific
receiver finishing fourth on the team in catches.
87. QB
Kevin Kolb, Sr. Houston
Kolb can be an All-America-caliber, Conference USA Player of the Year
type of quarterback at times, and he can look like a shaky true freshman
at others. Back for his fourth year as the starter, there's no denying
Kolb's talent or knowledge of the system, but he has to be far, far more
consistent and can't try to make plays that aren't there. He's big,
mobile and has a receiving corps that should help him put up huge
numbers. Now he has to make sure he doesn't have the meltdown passing
games like he had in losses to UTEP and Kansas where he threw for a ton
of yards, but also threw a ton of interceptions. With 36 starts under
his belt, expect him to come up with a better, more consistent season.
86. RB
Rafael Little, Jr. Kentucky
You could make a case that Little was the SEC's best player last year
leading the Wildcats in rushing, receiving, kickoff returns and punt
returns. He's a decent-sized back at 5-10 and 195 pounds with tremendous
quickness and wide receiver hands. All he needs is a little bit of a
crease and he's gone. Expect him to be even more effective this season,
even if his numbers don't improve, with other good backs able to take
the pressure off. Now he has to get healthy after dislocating his wrist
in spring ball.
85. DT
Andre Fluellen, Jr. Florida State
With the quickness of an end in the body of a 285-pound tackle, Fluellen
is on the verge of a big season. He benefited from having Brodrick
Bunkley right next to him, but Bunkley also got some help with Fluellen
occupying plenty of attention. He's a nice run stopper who's as
consistent as they come.
84. S
Aaron Rouse, Sr., Virginia Tech
Part linebacker and part safety, Rouse found a home last season in the
defensive backfield finishing third on the team in tackles. He's a big
6-4 and 221 pounds who hits like a ton of bricks to go along with
excellent speed and range. It'll be a shock if he's not in the hunt for
All-ACC honors.
83. QB
JaMarcus Russell, Jr. LSU
The huge 6-6, 252-pound junior got knocked out of the SEC Championship
game with a shoulder injury and missed the Peach Bowl, and now he's in a
fight to keep his number one job. If he doesn't have the best arm in all
of football, and that includes the NFL, he's in the top three. He showed
last season the ability to come through in the clutch, but he tends to
trust his arm too much and makes plenty of bad reads while forcing
things too much. He's not going to run for any yards, but he can be a
load in short-yardage plays.
82. LB
Mark Zalewski, Sr. Wisconsin
One of the team's best tacklers over the last two seasons with 138
stops, he's able to play either on the strongside or in the middle. He's
the leader of the defense and should hover around the 100-stop mark in
his second year on the inside. The biggest linebacker in the mix at 236
pounds, he's expected to grow into an All-Big Ten star.
81. S
Tom Zbikowski, Sr. Notre Dame
Easily one of the toughest players in America, the part-time boxer and
full-time leader of the Irish defense has grown into a whale of a
playmaker with 134 tackles over the last two years with six
interceptions. He's also an elite punt returner averaging 14 yards per
attempt with two touchdowns last season. He brings the attitude to the
defense.
80. OG
One of the rocks on the line over the last three years, the 6-3,
305-pound senior has started 25 straight games seeing time at both guard
and center. He has earned All-Big 12 honors over the last two seasons
growing into a technically sound blocker. He's a punishing run blocker
with a high motor.
79. QB
Chris Leak, Sr. Florida
Only at Florida can a legitimate Heisman candidate be this close
to losing his job. Leak will try to finish off his career as more than
just a transitional player between the Steve Spurrier era and the
hopeful return to national title prominence under Urban Meyer. While he
isn't the type of quarterback who fits the spread offense style, he's
hardly immobile and makes up for his average running skills with good
decision making ability and a career completion percentage of 61%.
Expect him to make more plays outside of the pocket more this season. He
has a nice arm, but not an elite one, and his 6-0, 210-pound size makes
him a marginal NFL prospect. His overall umbers dropped last year after
throwing for 3,197 yards in 2004, but that's not a big deal since he
became more efficient and cut his interception total in half. Now he has
to keep producing to hold off the star-in-waiting, Tim Tebow.
79. LB
H.B. Blades, Sr. Pitt
One of the nation's best linebackers, the two-time All-Big East
performer led the Big East with 121 tackles and was excellent in pass
coverage moving over from the strongside to the middle. The son of
former Miami Hurricane star Bennie Blades has 286 career tackles with
the range to always be around the ball and the size to provide a big pop
when he gets there.
78. WR
Joel Filani, Sr., Texas Tech
FIlani is a 6-3, 222-pound playmaker who blew up at the Z position last
season leading the Big 12 with an 87 yard-per-game average. While not a
blazer, he has developed great hands after a rough start to his career,
and is explosive cranking out 21 catches for 418 yards and four
touchdowns over a two game span against Nebraska and Kansas State. Most
importantly, he's a steady target who's great on third downs.
77. OG
Able to play tackle or guard, the 302-pound senior started last season
at both tackle spots before settling in at left guard where he'll stay
... for now. He's an All-Big Ten caliber blocker no matter where he
lines up.
76. DT
Jay Alford, Sr. Penn State
The Second Team All-Big Ten performer is the only returning starter on
the line and should be one of the nation's best all-around tackles. He's
not a huge space-eater at 6-3 and 288 pounds, and he's tremendously
quick on the inside. When he gets on a roll, he can dominate. Now he has
to show he can handle all the attention of being the focus of every
team's blocking scheme.
75. LB
Stephen Nicholas, Sr. South Florida
One of the nation's best linebackers, Nicholas has seen time at both
outside positions and has been dominant at each spot with 224 career
tackles, with 12.5 sacks and 38.5 tackles for loss. While he's not huge
at 6-3 and 226 pounds, he hits like a Mack truck and has phenomenal
range. Despite his lack of size, he would've been around an early round
draft pick had he left early. On the Butkus Award watch list for each of
the past two seasons, he'll receive his share of All-America
recognition.
74. RB
Darren McFadden, Soph. Arkansas
McFadden exploded onto the scene taking over the star role early on and
finished with five 100-yard games in his final seven outings. At 6-2 and
210 pounds, he can run with power and has an extra gear that makes him
one of the SEC's premier home run hitters. If that wasn't enough, he
proved this spring that he has the hands to be used more in the passing
game. There's a chance he'll see a little time at wide receiver in
certain formations; he's that good and that versatile. The only problem,
at least early on, will be an injured toe suffered in an off-the-field
altercation.
72. OT
Herbert Taylor, Sr. TCU
About to be a four-year starter, the 6-4, 287-pound all-star will be one
of the Mountain West's best tackles and the leader of the line. As the
only returning starter he needs to be even better this year. There are
few better pass protectors allowing just one sack last season.
71. WR
Dorien Bryant, Jr. Purdue
While there have been some tremendously productive receivers in the Joe
Tiller era, Bryant was the most heralded recruit and arguably has the
most talent. He had a better season than he got credit for considering
the shaky play of the quarterbacks, and there wasn't a more dominant
receiver in America over a three game stretch when Bryant caught 40
passes for 421 yards and three touchdowns against Notre Dame, Iowa and
Northwestern. His production tailed off once Curtis Painter took over,
but he was still a producer. While he's not huge, he's too quick to
cover one on one.
70. QB
John David Booty, Jr. USC
Booty's career hasn't exactly gone as planned. He was supposed to get a
long look as the starter as a true freshman after graduating a year
early from high school, but some guy named Leinart went off and won the
Heisman and then decided to stick around another year when he could've
been the number one pick in the draft. Now Booty has a back injury to
deal with. He has a big arm and he certainly knows the system, but he
has to prove he can stay healthy and his decision making has to be spot
on. He was making great progress before his back spasms struck knocking
him out of spring ball.
69. LB
Justin Warren, Sr. Texas A&M
Warren has lived up to his recruiting hype and then some after leading
the team in tackles last season. He's a 245-pound guided missile who's
always around the ball and always cleaning things up. A first team
All-Big 12 selection last season, his numbers should skyrocket with more
room to roam in the 4-2-5 alignment.
68. C
Dan Mozes, Sr. West Virginia
One of the nation's best centers, the 290-pound veteran is back in the
middle for his fourth straight season. He's the perfect leader for the
line with the experience of seeing a bit of time at guard along with his
duties at center. He has been nicked up from time to time with a
shoulder problem a few years ago and an ankle issue for a game last
season, but he's hardly injury prone. His motor is always running.
67. RB
Darius Walker, Jr. Notre Dame
With all the fireworks from the passing game, is it possible that Walker
had an underrated season? All he did was carry the Notre Dame ground
game with seven 100-yard days and a 90-yard game against Ohio State
while also growing into a reliable receiver. He's lightning quick and
tough as nails with the ability to run inside or out.
66. TE Greg Olsen, Jr. Miami
The sky's the limit for the soon to be first round draft choice. Olsen
has it all from fantastic hands to good deep speed to good blocking
ability in a 6-5, 252-pound frame. There are few better route runners
and few tight ends in college football that can match what he can do in
the open field. He'll likely be the team's leading receiver and the
number one option on third downs.
65. WR
Jarrett Hicks, Sr., Texas Tech
Hicks has been one of the nation's top producing receivers over the last
two seasons with moments of explosion and unstoppable stretches. He's
great at finding his way in the end zone with 173 career grabs for 2,525
yards and 28 touchdowns. At 6-3 and 208 pounds, he's too physical for
most defensive backs. At the X position, he has enough speed to be a
solid deep threat.
64. RB
Mike Hart, Jr. Michigan
When
healthy, Hart is one of the nation's best running backs and a threat for
All-America honors. He was a bit overused as a freshman getting 274
carries over the final ten games of the season, got dinged up early on
against Notre Dame in his sophomore year, got healthy enough to run for
435 yards over a three game span, and then got hurt again and was never
right the rest of the way. He's a quick 5-9 and 198 ponds with great
hands and a combination of quickness and power. He tore off a 64-yard
run last year, but he's not a home-run hitter.
63. OT
Doug Free, Sr. Northern Illinois
The rest of the college football world has finally starting to recognize
how good the 6-7, 302-pound senior is. Free will be a ten-year NFL cog
and an early first day draft pick next year thanks to his freakish
combination of tight end speed and defensive tackle strength. The
next-level scouts would probably like to see him add another 15 pounds
to his relatively lanky frame, but that's nitpicking. It'll be his
quickness and athleticism that gets him the big payday.
62. S
Wesley Smith, Sr. Memphis
One of the nation's best defensive backs, the 6-3 Smith hits like a
linebacker and covers like a corner. He's the unquestioned leader of the
defense earning three straight first team All-Conference USA honors with
269 career tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks and five
interceptions.
61. QB
Pat White, Soph. West Virginia
White is one of the premier running quarterbacks in college football,
and now that he knows what he's doing, he should be a stronger passer.
He hasn't had to throw much with all the success of the ground game. He
had a great Sugar Bowl performance completing 11 of 14 passes, but was
erratic throughout the season and didn't make enough secondaries pay for
cheating up against the run. No longer a green freshman, he'll be more
of a leader and will take more chances with his throws with more
confidence in what he's doing. Of course, he'll make his biggest plays
on the move. As a runner, he tore off four 100-yard games highlighted by
a 220-yard rushing day against Pitt.
60. QB Colt Brennan, Jr. Hawaii
Think Timmy Chang with a bigger arm and some mobility. After a long,
tough road being exiled from Colorado, Brennan ended up at Hawaii from
Saddleback Community College. He turned out to be one of the nation's
best all-around quarterbacks leading the country in total offense while
becoming the WAC's most prolific passer. He's 6-3 and 190 pounds with
the mobility to buy himself time to throw and occasionally take off. Of
course, at Hawaii, it's all about throwing the ball, and Brennan threw
for over 300 yards in ten games including the final seven with four
400-yard days and a 515-yard, seven touchdown explosion against New
Mexico State. While he threw 13 interceptions, he spread them out with
no more than two in any one game. Considering he threw 515 times, that's
not bad.
59. P
Daniel
Sepulveda, Sr. Baylor
Named the nation's best punter last year winning the Ray Guy Award,
Sepulveda has to come back healthy after injuring his knee playing
basketball. He's a big bomber with a career average of 44.85 yards per
kick on a whopping 211 boots, and he has put 62 inside the 20. As long
as his knee is fine, which it's supposed to be, he'll be one of the
nation's best.
58. S
Kenny Phillips, Soph. Miami
He was as good as advertised. One of 2005's top recruits stepped and
starred from the start showing off the 4.4 speed to be in on seemingly
every play and the smarts of a long-time veteran. He's a good-sized
hitter at 6-2 and 200 pounds with moves like a cornerback.
57. WR
Steve Smith, Sr. USC
Smith could've gone pro this year but returned to join Dwayne Jarrett to
form the nation's best 1-2 receiving tandem. He showed no problems from
the broken leg that knocked him out in 2004 with the same speed and
quickness he had before the injury. He's a decent sized target at 6-0
and 195 pounds and has some of the best wheels on the team.
56. RB
Albert Young, Jr. Iowa
One of
the nation's top unsung rushers, Young returned from a leg injury that
cost him all of 2004 to run for eight 100-yard games while rushing for
1,002 yards in Iowa's eight Big Ten games. He blends decent power with
tremendous speed and great hands. He has the ability to tear off yards
in chunks, but his longest run last season was only 36 yards. Expect
that to change. The scary part is that he's even faster after being a
year removed from the injury.
55. LB
Brandon Siler, Jr. Florida
While he didn't dominate like he did as a freshman, Siler still had a
strong sophomore season finishing second on the team in tackles for 141
in his first two seasons. He's a great pass rusher and more than strong
in pass coverage. If he can be a bit more physical against power running
teams, he'll be an All-SEC star.
54. WR
Tyrell Sutton, Soph. Northwestern
Sutton took over in the first game of his true freshman season and was
unbelievable the rest of the way. Not only was he a workhorse for the
ground game with three games with more than 30 carries, and one with 29
carries, he was a reliable receiver highlighted by a ten-catch day
against Purdue. He's not all that big at 5-9 and 190 pounds, but he's
great at flying through the hole with elusive open field speed.
53. OT
Levi Brown, Sr. Penn State
One of the nation's best offensive linemen, the 6-5, 328-pound senior
was an All-American last year and now has to be even better as the only
returning starter to the line. He's a durable, dominant all-around
blocker who'll be the one the offense runs behind.
52. QB
Drew Weatherford, Soph. Florida State
Weatherford arguably the most underrated quarterback in the nation last
season considering what he had to handle. Basically forced to carry the
entire Seminole offense as a true freshman, he didn’t get any support
from the running game and received little help from the banged up
offensive line. Even so, he ended up setting the ACC record for the most
passing yards by a freshman and led the team to the conference title. He
threw too many interceptions, but that was because he had to keep
bombing away. In the two biggest games of the year, the ACC championship
and the Orange Bowl, he only threw one pick. While he's not going to run
for big yards, he's not immobile.
51. OT
Arron Sears, Sr. Tennessee
The All-America caliber lineman can play either tackle or guard, but
he's best and most useful on the outside. As the only returning starter
on the line, he might be moved around where needed, like he was in the
win over LSU when he saw time at four different spots. He's a strong and
surprisingly mobile 6-4 and 338 pounds with two years of starting
experience under his belt.