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Top five non-seniors by positionA few changes at the OT slot here as bowl season commencesEmailPrintComments By Mel Kiper Jr.
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The lists of top NFL prospects below are composed of non-seniors. Here you'll find guys such as Andrew Luck, Robert Quinn and Akeem Ayers. These guys could enter the 2011 NFL draft or could stick around for another year. We'll know more about that in the winter.



I made one series of changes from the last edition -- I flipped around guys at the OT slot. Tyron Smith is now No. 2 there, behind Matt Reynolds. Smith isn't playing in a bowl game (USC sanctions); Reynolds is done with his.



All stats are from the current season.



QUARTERBACKSRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWTCMPATTYDSTDINTSKD
Andrew Luck6-42362453493,0512875
Blaine Gabbert6-62352604182,75215721
Cam Newton6-62501652462,58928621
Ryan Mallett6-62382423643,592301121
Nick Foles6-52452543762,91119718Analysis: Luck just continues to show NFL personnel that he's got the goods to be a first overall pick. You have to love the big jump in completion percentage too. He makes good decisions so consistently. Mallett continues to show improvement. I mentioned Luck's progress, but Mallett is right there as well in terms of increased completion rate. This guy is proving to be more than just a big arm. Newton is the newest addition.
RUNNING BACKSRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWTATTYDSAVGTDRECYDS
Mark Ingram5-102151468165.61120252
Mikel Leshoure6-12302521,5136.01415175
LaMichael James5-91852811,6826.02113169
Shane Vereen5-102042311,1675.11322209
Jordan Todman5-91933341,6955.1141994Analysis: Ingram looks solid but dropped a bit on my Big Board. He edges James because personnel folks still see him as having more between-the-tackles appeal. Rodgers has shown outstanding durability, limiting questions about his small stature. Leshoure has been hugely productive, and can get outside even with his strong frame.
FULLBACKSRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWTATTYDSAVGTDRECYDS
Henry Hynoski6-226012332.8023155
Cody Johnson5-112501345924.46449
Taylor Gentry6-2250000.0012102
Joe Suhey6-12277131.9014152
Devon Ramsay6-2250000.00215Analysis: Hynoski is a ram and can catch a little out of the backfield, too. Suhey mainly blocks for Evan Royster but has shown versatility as a guy who can catch the ball. I love Johnson, a true fullback who still gets his share of carries. He's built like a cinder block.
WIDE RECEIVERSRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWTRECYDSAVGLONGTDFUM
A.J. Green6-42124977115.75090
Julio Jones6-4220751,08414.56870
Justin Blackmon6-12071021,66516.81180
Torrey Smith6-1200671,05515.780120
Ryan Broyles5-111831181,45212.381130Analysis: Loaded class with lots of size. Green is an immense talent. He's far more of a skilled route-runner than a lot of people realize. Jones is showing his toughness this year and has taken off. He's a legit top-10 option now. He's been playing hurt and keeps improving. Blackmon is the guy to watch. Now on the Big Board, he's not a pure numbers guy -- he really understands the position.
TIGHT ENDSRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWTRECYDSAVGLONGTDFUM
Kyle Rudolph6-62652832811.79530
George Bryan6-52653234410.83730
Michael Egnew6-4241836988.42940
David Paulson6-42412137017.66140
Ladarius Green6-62304479418.06370Analysis: Rudolph has a great chance to be the top tight end in this draft class if he chooses to go pro early. Paulson and Ellison, two Pac-10 guys, have been here for weeks. When you think of Oregon, you think of LaMichael James and the spread offense, but Paulson has been a dependable pass-catcher for the Ducks.
OFFENSIVE TACKLESRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWT
Matt Reynolds6-6322
Tyron Smith6-5280
Nate Potter6-6293
Andrew Datko6-6303
Kelechi Osemele6-5335 Analysis: Reynolds isn't a young man by the standards of this list, based on his Mormon mission. I still see him as a fringe first-round guy, but he's in that range, and things could improve. Potter is here, though I originally saw him as a guy who would end up at guard. Osemele is underrated and well-coached. He's a mauler with good size for the position, and he doesn't allow sacks.
OFFENSIVE GUARDSRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWT
Cordy Glenn6-5320
Ryan Miller6-8310
Lucas Nix6-6305
Rokevious Watkins6-4325
Chris Jacobson6-3290 Analysis: Glenn played better as the season progressed for Georgia, but that was a constant theme in Athens. Nate Potter (pictured above) was formerly at the top of this list, but Boise State is using him at tackle. The Buffaloes' Miller is massive: 6-foot-8 and 310 pounds. Watkins is the most recent addition to this group.
CENTERSRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWT
Mike Brewster6-5293
William Vlachos6-1289
David Molk6-2285
Ben Jones6-3300
Moe Petrus6-2292 Analysis: Most people expected to see Pryor and the Ohio State passing game develop this season, but the offense under Jim Tressel always will be about pounding the football, and Brewster has been a key to that. Ask Michigan. Keep an eye on Molk out of UM. He's been a big part of the improvement in that running game and has decent athleticism.
DEFENSIVE ENDSRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWT
Da'Quan Bowers6-4280
Robert Quinn6-5270
J.J. Watt6-6292
Quinton Coples 6-6245
Vince Browne 6-5265 Analysis: Quinn is an athletic beast, and as long as he's held in as high regard as I know from personnel, it's hard to drop him despite all the troubles. Bowers (pictured above) was an intriguing talent who's now become dominant, and his TFL rate is outstanding; he's now at No. 2 on the Big Board. Watt is a player the Wisconsin coaches rave about and the top defensive player on that squad.
DEFENSIVE TACKLESRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWT
Nick Fairley6-5298
Marcell Dareus6-4306
Muhammed Wilkerson6-5305
Jurrell Casey6-1305
Jared Crick6-6285 Analysis: Casey (pictured above) once topped this list but has been jumped by others. Fairley, however, has become a machine in terms of destroying offenses. Dareus is here because I see him as a 4-3 DT -- I had him projected as a 3-4 defensive end before. Crick has put aside the question of whether he would suffer in the absence of the mighty Ndamukong Suh, who simply ate up blockers last year. Fairley is now up to No. 6 on the Big Board.
INSIDE LINEBACKERSRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWT
Dont'a Hightower*6-4260
Tank Carder6-2232
Martez Wilson6-4250
Lavonte David6-1210
Jerry Franklin6-1241 Analysis: Of all position groups, this list has stayed the most similar from game to game. Some think Hightower was the more talented of the Alabama linebackers last year before his season was cut short because of injury. I think he's dropped from that level, but he's still a talent. Marve could move up, but he couldn't do everything on a defense that needs a little help from the Vandy offense.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERSRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWT
Akeem Ayers6-4255
Justin Houston6-3258
Travis Lewis6-2232
Sean Spence6-0220
Nigel Bradham6-2241 Analysis: Ayers has proved he can be as productive with the spotlight on him after a breakout season in 2009. His physical talents aren't in question, and his pass-rushing skills have improved. The one to watch here is Houston, who has taken off this year, particularly as a pass-rusher. He looks ideally suited to become a 3-4 outside linebacker at the next level.
CORNERBACKSRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWT
Patrick Peterson6-1222
Janoris Jenkins5-11184
Brandon Harris5-11195
Aaron Williams6-1195
Alfonzo Dennard5-10195 Analysis: Peterson is as accomplished a speed-size combination as you'll find at the corner position, with the safety size, foot skills and speed of a much smaller corner. He continues to show why many think he's the top overall physical talent in the draft class. We know he has return skills. Williams (pictured above) is another in a line of talented secondary players out of Texas. Keep an eye on Burton, who has risen.
SAFETIESRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWT
Rahim Moore6-1196
Robert Sands6-5221
Mark Barron6-2210
Kenny Tate6-4220
Delano Howell5-11198 Analysis: Like the senior class of safeties, the juniors are a deep and talented group. Moore drew raves last year when he started intercepting everything and is firmly on scouts' radar. He still could show a lot more, however. Barron is a physical presence at the back of the Bama secondary, but his coverage game has been spotty at times. Hill has been pushed by Urban Meyer regarding his effort. Martin is a recent addition.
KICKERSRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWT
Blair Walsh5-10183
Derek Dimke6-1180
Philip Welch6-3197
Grant Ressel6-1190
Erik Folk5-11197 Analysis: Walsh is a fantastic kicker at his level. Any NFL kicker would have been pleased with Walsh's line from last year. But he's also 18-for-21 this season after going 20-for-22 last year, with a somewhat stunning 4-for-5 mark from beyond 50 yards. Leg strength isn't a question. Ressel is a solid recent addition.
PUNTERSRANKNAMESCHOOLHTWT
Bryan Anger6-4207
Drew Butler6-2210
Brian Stahovich6-1195
Ryan Quigley6-3191
Kyle Martens6-6200 Analysis: Anger has held tight in the top spot since I moved him there. It had previously been held by Butler (pictured above).