Two ND Guys,
n asterisk denotes a junior for the 2015 season.
1. *Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State Buckeyes
He'll miss the first game due to suspension, but he's No. 1 here. His dad was my No. 3-ranked defensive end in 1987 and eventually went No. 17 overall to Miami. The son won't fall that far. Bosa has size (6-foot-6, 275 pounds and could play bigger), versatility that will fit any scheme and the ability to go around blockers or right through them. He has 34.5 tackles for loss in two seasons, and remember that so many guys who produce that well early had a redshirt.
2. *Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss Rebels
The key with Tunsil is health, because that's been the one knock so far in a stellar two-year run. When healthy, he's the best pass-blocker in the draft, a guy who wouldn't look out of place if he had to play on Sundays this season. He's a nimble but powerful left tackle prospect, and has all the traits you look for at that spot. If he's healthy, he's an early pick.
3. *Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State Seminoles
While it doesn't dramatically shift his status as a prospect -- he'd be in good shape either way -- Ramsey will line up at cornerback this year after playing safety last season. A does-it-all talent who has already started 28 college games heading into this junior season, I would have rated him the top safety taken in the 2015 draft. He has the length, range and exceptional instincts to make plays all over the field, and I expect a smooth transition to corner. He is a truly gifted athlete.
4. *Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech Hokies
The pedigree is there; he is a major talent. Fuller has three older brothers who all went to VT and all landed in the NFL, and Kendall is the top prospect at this stage if you compare them. He has great instincts in coverage, plays physical and was an All-American in 2014, even though he wasn't at 100 percent. He has two years of starts under his belt, and just needs to stay consistent.
5. *Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida Gators
Most people probably have Hargreaves ahead of Fuller, but I'm split. Hargreaves lacks size, but he makes up for it in instincts and effortless fluidity in moving with receivers. Of course, he's not small, at 5-11 and about 195 pounds; he just lacks a margin for error compared to some. He has already played in 24 games and has picked off six passes. Best pure cover corner in the draft.
6. Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Stanley was wise to return to South Bend. His frame and upside are ahead of consistent performance, and another year will help. He already has 13 starts at right tackle as a freshman, followed by 13 at left tackle as a sophomore, so he'll marry plenty of experience to prototypical length and movement skills. He moves well laterally, and can flash great hand use, but he just needs more consistency. It's not always there at the same time.
7. *Jared Goff, QB, California Golden Bears
The system hands you numbers, but Goff is good enough to do damage anywhere. He has a cannon when he wants to really cut it loose, able to drill the ball down the field and into tight windows with ease, and he has effective movement skills and anticipation for a player with good length who seems to see the whole field. He can also move defenders with his eyes pretty well, and will continue to get better.
8. *Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State Nittany Lions
Will there be a player more under the microscope? Hackenberg had a tough sophomore season for various reasons -- a lack of blocking, a coaching transition and his own poor performances were all culprits -- but it's hard to look past the skill set. The arm is special, but he needs to get the ball out quicker. The size is there, but he's not running away from defenders. He needs to put it all together this season.
9. *Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss Rebels
If the numbers don't jump out, remember Nkemdiche moved inside after starting his Rebels career on the edge. He has exceptional movement skills for a player his size (6-4, 280 pounds). And although I want to see more production from him, he has been thrown into the mix early, all while making position adjustments, and has the potential to break out in 2015 as he gets comfortable.
10. *Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Nigeria-born Ogbah isn't a late bloomer as much as he was simply raw in terms of pass-rushing refinement early on at OSU. He broke though in 2014 with 17.5 tackles for loss, often showing exceptional quickness for a player standing 6-4 and carrying a lean 275 pounds. He can put a blocker on skates, but is also really fluid in the open field. Learn the name.
11. *A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama Crimson Tide
He packs 320-plus pounds, but isn't just a clogger -- Robinson can really move. He was an immediate impact player at Alabama, notching 5.5 sacks as a freshman. Though he can eat up blocks on the inside, he's actually in the backfield a lot, because he has got strength and impressive athletic ability for a man his size. To be an instant-impact player at Bama is usually a good sign, and Robinson should continue to get better.
12. *Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA Bruins
Supremely athletic with good instincts, Jack can cover and make plays in the backfield. There was a lot of hype about the two-way player status, but the ability really is there. It's hard to question the football instincts when he was an offensive AND defensive freshman of the year in the conference at the same time. Eric Kendricks isn't around in 2015, so Jack will need to lead this Bruins defense.
13. *Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State Buckeyes
For a high school quarterback, Lee's instincts last year were remarkable. Lee has outstanding burst to the ball when he diagnoses plays. And he won't just chase plays sideline to sideline; he can beat ball carriers (and pass-catchers) to the spot in the backfield. When they just told him to blitz, he was particularly effective.
n asterisk denotes a junior for the 2015 season.
1. *Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State Buckeyes
He'll miss the first game due to suspension, but he's No. 1 here. His dad was my No. 3-ranked defensive end in 1987 and eventually went No. 17 overall to Miami. The son won't fall that far. Bosa has size (6-foot-6, 275 pounds and could play bigger), versatility that will fit any scheme and the ability to go around blockers or right through them. He has 34.5 tackles for loss in two seasons, and remember that so many guys who produce that well early had a redshirt.
2. *Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss Rebels
The key with Tunsil is health, because that's been the one knock so far in a stellar two-year run. When healthy, he's the best pass-blocker in the draft, a guy who wouldn't look out of place if he had to play on Sundays this season. He's a nimble but powerful left tackle prospect, and has all the traits you look for at that spot. If he's healthy, he's an early pick.
3. *Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State Seminoles
While it doesn't dramatically shift his status as a prospect -- he'd be in good shape either way -- Ramsey will line up at cornerback this year after playing safety last season. A does-it-all talent who has already started 28 college games heading into this junior season, I would have rated him the top safety taken in the 2015 draft. He has the length, range and exceptional instincts to make plays all over the field, and I expect a smooth transition to corner. He is a truly gifted athlete.
4. *Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech Hokies
The pedigree is there; he is a major talent. Fuller has three older brothers who all went to VT and all landed in the NFL, and Kendall is the top prospect at this stage if you compare them. He has great instincts in coverage, plays physical and was an All-American in 2014, even though he wasn't at 100 percent. He has two years of starts under his belt, and just needs to stay consistent.
5. *Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida Gators
Most people probably have Hargreaves ahead of Fuller, but I'm split. Hargreaves lacks size, but he makes up for it in instincts and effortless fluidity in moving with receivers. Of course, he's not small, at 5-11 and about 195 pounds; he just lacks a margin for error compared to some. He has already played in 24 games and has picked off six passes. Best pure cover corner in the draft.
6. Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Stanley was wise to return to South Bend. His frame and upside are ahead of consistent performance, and another year will help. He already has 13 starts at right tackle as a freshman, followed by 13 at left tackle as a sophomore, so he'll marry plenty of experience to prototypical length and movement skills. He moves well laterally, and can flash great hand use, but he just needs more consistency. It's not always there at the same time.
7. *Jared Goff, QB, California Golden Bears
The system hands you numbers, but Goff is good enough to do damage anywhere. He has a cannon when he wants to really cut it loose, able to drill the ball down the field and into tight windows with ease, and he has effective movement skills and anticipation for a player with good length who seems to see the whole field. He can also move defenders with his eyes pretty well, and will continue to get better.
8. *Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State Nittany Lions
Will there be a player more under the microscope? Hackenberg had a tough sophomore season for various reasons -- a lack of blocking, a coaching transition and his own poor performances were all culprits -- but it's hard to look past the skill set. The arm is special, but he needs to get the ball out quicker. The size is there, but he's not running away from defenders. He needs to put it all together this season.
9. *Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss Rebels
If the numbers don't jump out, remember Nkemdiche moved inside after starting his Rebels career on the edge. He has exceptional movement skills for a player his size (6-4, 280 pounds). And although I want to see more production from him, he has been thrown into the mix early, all while making position adjustments, and has the potential to break out in 2015 as he gets comfortable.
10. *Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Nigeria-born Ogbah isn't a late bloomer as much as he was simply raw in terms of pass-rushing refinement early on at OSU. He broke though in 2014 with 17.5 tackles for loss, often showing exceptional quickness for a player standing 6-4 and carrying a lean 275 pounds. He can put a blocker on skates, but is also really fluid in the open field. Learn the name.
11. *A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama Crimson Tide
He packs 320-plus pounds, but isn't just a clogger -- Robinson can really move. He was an immediate impact player at Alabama, notching 5.5 sacks as a freshman. Though he can eat up blocks on the inside, he's actually in the backfield a lot, because he has got strength and impressive athletic ability for a man his size. To be an instant-impact player at Bama is usually a good sign, and Robinson should continue to get better.
12. *Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA Bruins
Supremely athletic with good instincts, Jack can cover and make plays in the backfield. There was a lot of hype about the two-way player status, but the ability really is there. It's hard to question the football instincts when he was an offensive AND defensive freshman of the year in the conference at the same time. Eric Kendricks isn't around in 2015, so Jack will need to lead this Bruins defense.
13. *Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State Buckeyes
For a high school quarterback, Lee's instincts last year were remarkable. Lee has outstanding burst to the ball when he diagnoses plays. And he won't just chase plays sideline to sideline; he can beat ball carriers (and pass-catchers) to the spot in the backfield. When they just told him to blitz, he was particularly effective.
