College Preview: Top 32 Prospects
It’s the midway point of the college season, so it seemed a good time to update the list of the top players – at least as of now – who may be available come April 2010.
The fact the Chiefs are 0-5 on the season is an indication they will again get one of those early draft picks at the annual selection meeting.
Picking the top 32 players in October is strictly a project for discussion and information. Once the NFL gets done scrutinizing some of these guys, by April they won’t be a first or second-round pick.
That won’t be the case with Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh (left). Just about everybody in the league believes this talented and athletic young man will be among the first three players selected in the ‘10 draft.
Right now there are more top talents on the defensive side of the ball than offense. There are more cornerbacks and wide receivers than other positions. Quarterbacks are not plentiful but there are a handful considered top choices and there’s only one running back that any NFL teams are talking about among the senior prospects.
We talked with personnel types for several teams and then pooled their top 32 lists. Right now most scouts peg the number of sure-fire first-round players at 15 or so. With another 10 who are considered first/second round talents.
Again, a reminder here: these are just the players who have no eligibility left on the college level after the ‘09 season. Juniors and sophomore redshirts are not factored in. We will update those players next week and then we’ll bring the two lists together before the end of the college season.
So here are the top 32 seniors:
| # | Player | Pos. | College | Ht. | Wt. |
Notes |
| 1. | Ndamukong Suh | DT | Nebraska | 6-4 | 302 | Consensus No. 1 player in ‘10 |
| 2. | Taylor Mays | S | Southern Cal | 6-3 | 235 | All skills necessary on defense |
| 3. | C.J. Spiller | RB | Clemson | 5-11 | 195 | TDs run, catch, punt-kick ret. |
| 4. | Russell Okung | OT | Ok. State | 6-5 | 302 | Just a shade below ‘09 OTs |
| 5. | Greg Hardy | DE | Mississippi | 6-4 | 265 | Ankle-foot injuries a concern |
| 6. | Trent Williams | OT | Oklahoma | 6-5 | 318 | Maybe better RT than LT |
| 7. | Colt McCoy | QB | Texas | 6-2 | 212 | If he was bigger, he’d be #1 |
| 8. | Brandon Lafell | WR | LSU | 6-3 | 206 | Skinnier version of DBowe |
| 9. | Tim Tebow | QB | Florida | 6-3 | 245 | What position does he play? |
| 10. | Brandon Spikes | ILB | Florida | 6-3 | 256 | 11 tackles, 2 sacks vs. LSU |
| 11. | Arthur Jones | DT | Syracuse | 6-3 | 295 | Injured hammy hurting him |
| 12. | Ricky Sapp | OLB | Clemson | 6-4 | 248 | Pass rusher off the edge |
| 13. | Patrick Robinson | CB | Florida State | 5-11 | 194 | Shoulder, ankle injuries in ‘09 |
| 14. | Jerry Hughes | OLB | TCU | 6-2 | 257 | Small LB gets to the passer |
| 15. | Sean Weatherspoon | OLB | Missouri | 6-1 | 245 | Has all the LB skills to succeed |
| 16. | Terrence Cody | DT | Alabama | 6-4 | 365 | Mountain of a pro nose tackle |
| 17. | Eric Decker | WR | Minnesota | 6-3 | 215 | Top athlete; baseball pick 2x |
| 18. | Selvish Capers | OT | West Virginia | 6-5 | 298 | Athletic; needs to add weight |
| 19. | Brandon Ghee | CB | Wake Forest | 6-0 | 190 | Good speed, loves to hit |
| 20. | Syd’Quan Thompson | CB | California | 5-9 | 191 | Small, but athletic, returner |
| 21. | George Selvie | DE | So. Florida | 6-4 | 245 | Explosive pass rusher |
| 22. | Trevard Lindley | CB | Kentucky | 5-11 | 180 | Speedy cover corner |
| 23. | Jared Odrick | DT | Penn State | 6-4 | 298 | Pass rush skills on the inside |
| 24, | Perrish Cox | CB | Ok. State | 6-0 | 198 | Can cover and top returner |
| 25. | Darrell Stuckey | SS | Kansas | 5-11 | 205 | Good speed and he hits big |
| 26. | Sergio Kindle | OLB | Texas | 6-4 | 255 | Athletic but inconsistent |
| 27. | Brandon Graham | DE | Michigan | 6-1 | 263 | Smallish, but can rush the QB |
| 28. | Tony Pike* | QB | Cincinnati | 6-6 | 226 | Fastest rising senior in ‘09 |
| 29. | Jeremy Williams | WR | Tulane | 6-1 | 205 | Solid receiver & returner |
| 30. | Charles Brown | OT | So. California | 6-5 | 292 | Great raw physical tools |
| 31. | Mardy Gilyard | WR | Cincinnati | 6-0 | 187 | Solid receiver & top returner |
| 32. | Jacoby Ford | WR | Clemson | 5-9 | 185 | Big playmaker who runs deep |
*-injured Thursday night against So. Florida. Left wrist injury; not his throwing hand.
Taylor Mays is highly overrated and he shouldnt even be able 2 hold Eric Berry’s jock strap. Berry is a cant miss IMO…and I try 2 stay away from saying that about any player.
Suh would be a beast, his game against Mizzou reminded me of Jared Allen vs the Packers: A one man domination show. I’m sure a lot of people would be against drafting another DT with our top pick, but imagine him with Jackson and Dorsey, we’d have the potential for the top DL in the league, then spend our 3 (hopefully) picks in the second on the O-line. Possibilities, endless possibilities…
Bob is this the state of the Chiefs. When 6 games into the season we are looking at the 2010 draft ?? PnS
Assuming Suh finishes the year as he started, I want him for the Chiefs. I do not want to take a DL again but we are desparate on those positions. Then I want a C and two starting OL.
Anon. yes even thought Mad Chief believes it is ok to see lollypops and rainbows with our current Chiefs. What else can we talk about? We have beat two QBs, OL, DL, draft picks, hope, and coaches to death and all we have to show for it is 0-5 record. That leaves 2010 and the draft, even after only 5 games.
el cid says:
“Anon. yes even thought Mad Chief believes it is ok to see lollypops and rainbows with our current Chiefs.”
LMAO!
For the record, I don’t see “lollypops and rainbows” for the current Chiefs roster. However, I don’t see a six-foot hole and a tombstone that says ‘2009 Chiefs’ either.
Nice retort, Mad Chief, glad you are not Vegas, NFL scheduling, prime time schedulers, NFL Network. Those guys indicate the 09 Chiefs are underdogs across the board. But what do they know about pro football and our Chiefs.
Yeah, we’re the underdogs. We’re coming off a 2-14 year…and are 0-5 so far this year. The only way we might not be underdogs, was if we played the Rams. At Arrowhead.
But, that’s okay. Respect has to be earned. And the Chiefs haven’t done it. Period. I understand that.
Still, I see no reason to bury this teams season after only 5 games. There’s a lot of football left to play. Hey, we could still go 11-5 and win the division. I’d be shocked…but stange things happen sometimes.
Do you think we should just quit now? Make sure we get that number 1 pick?
That is your only option – Respect or quit?? I believe many feel that you put lipstick on a pig, you still have a pig. And it is not some form of disloyalty to point out that it is still a pig. So I will not quit on the team, in fact I imagine the team will quit long before me. But things are not good, improving, or even adequate with the Chiefs and I will continue to say so.
can Suh play NT?
el cid
yeah but then you got a pretty pig and if you can keep a secret then ssshhhhh
p.s. im from the south
yes blake he can play nt
ANNONYMOUS dude nothing wrong with lookin towartds the future didnt you ever look for the christmas presents when your parents hid them thats kinda what were doin but for god sake stay outta your moms top dresser drawer, trust me ok just trust me and its not a light saber
It was a pun ……I haven’t been in moms drawer since 1973 the year she past away .I was 22yrs old you do the math. You must still have one though!!!!! PnS
Hmm I think it would be better if we won 3 games then we would have the 6-11th pick or something like that.. It’s much easier to trade out of those spots and still get a lot of trade value out of it… Geting the curse of the guaranteed money would hurt the chiefs financially, maybe even just a little. I don’t mind winning a few games, there is a lot of talent out there
My vote is for Bradon Spikes or Taylor Mays
No way to speculate on the draft yet. Free agency will dictate much of what we need. Any fixes from there will reshuffle the draft board.
Just about anyone mentioned so far would be an upgrade for the Chiefs. Hard to miss this year in the top 10. Except for Spiller. I see him all the time and for the life of me I can’t understand the hype. He will be a bust. People get too infatuated with speed.
Even though we’ve had wasted picks at DT for years, this is a new regime, and they are not beholden to mistakes by the prior regime. A dominant NT is the key to the 3-4, we don’t have one, and we need one.
If we drafted Suh and moved Dorsey to the nose, we would have a very good and deep dline to build a defense around.
Suh is not a nose guard, he is a prototype 5tec rde.
We would have our Ty Warren (Jackson) and Richard Seymour (Suh) and possibly Hampton (Dorsey)
should be interesting.
Pioli built the Patriots with Seymour at #6, Ty Warren at #14 and Wilfork mid-late first. That mold will be followed till we win games.
word
Even though Suh looked good against Missouri & is highly touted by pro scouts, I just don’t know if I can bear another 1st rounder D-lineman. Yes, he would solidify our promising young D-line for many years to come. But geez, these defensive guys are averaging 2 to 3 years of job training before they start turning heads.
PATIENCE is not my virtue. We need a C and at least 1 G & 1 T, WR & Safety. & we are only 5 games into the season.
It’s a total crapshoot at this stage.
annonymouse
damn your sense of humour sucks as bad as your opinions.