Big moves made in latest ESPN 300

DE Josh Sweat: No. 4 to No. 1
The updated ESPN 300 brings the first change at the top for the 2015 class. While a defensive lineman still occupies the No. 1 slot, the five-star Sweat ascended from the No. 4 spot with his combination of ability, athleticism and upside. Playing on the same Oscar Smith D-line last season as 2014 five-star Andrew Brown, it was easy to get a little overshadowed, but since the former No. 1-rated recruit moved on to Virginia, Sweat has quickly commanded his own spotlight. The newest top prospect needs to continue to fill out his lengthy frame, but Sweat has done a nice job of adding needed size thus far. Close to just 200 pounds last spring, Sweat arrived in Oregon for The Opening at 240 and has managed to maintain, and even in some areas, improve his impressive athleticism while adding size. The top-rated DE displayed his tremendous athleticism while at the all-star event by being the only lineman to make the final 10 of the SPARQ Championship and finishing second overall despite not being completely healthy. Sweat's rise to No. 1 is not simply because he is a good athlete, but he is also a good football player. He needs to continue to work so that his freakish athleticism completely and consistently translates to his play, but this is a defender capable of being a menacing presence.

With his length, good first-step quickness and active hands, he can create problems as a pass-rusher, and his athleticism can allow him to be a versatile defender who needs to be accounted for at all times. A talented, athletic prospect, Sweat still demonstrates room to improve and grow both physically and as a player to the point where he could be just scratching the surface of his abilities. The race for the top spot is far from over, but performance, improvement, athleticism and upside are all factors that helped Sweat rise from the talented pack and land at No. 1 in this update.

DE Byron Cowart: No. 5 to No. 2
While Sweat claimed the top spot, it wasn't an easy decision as a few prospects were seriously debated. One of those prospects remains a real contender. Cowart, who climbed from No. 5 to No. 2, is a big, 6-foot-3, 258-pound DE out of Florida. He is a versatile D-lineman who can utilize his size and power to get the job done at DE and can slide inside and use his quickness to create mismatches. Cowart has also demonstrated that he is not willing to lean solely on his natural size and ability, and the five-star has established himself as one of the most intense, focused and competitive prospects in this class. As the evaluation process continues, it seems Cowart is one of those prospects who has risen because he has minimal downside.

CB Iman Marshall: No. 20 to No. 8
Marshall not only gains a five-star rating, but also jumps into the top 10 overall. One of the most hotly debated positions in this class has been the top of the cornerback group. Between Kevin Toliver II, Kendall Sheffield and Marshall, there are valid arguments that can be made for any of them to be Nos. 1, 2 or 3. Marshall made a significant impression earlier this month at The Opening when continually matched up against top-tier competition. This position will continue to be scrutinized throughout the fall, but we feel comfortable with where each guy is slotted at this time.

QB-DT Blake Barnett: No. 56 to No. 16
Rarely have we bumped a quarterback from a fourth to a fifth star at this stage. From a projection standpoint, we are becoming more convinced that there is very little downside and an extremely low bust factor with Barnett. As a result, we decided to add a fifth star and place him right on the heels of top-ranked QB Kyler Murray, into the top 20 overall. Pound for pound, there's a very valid argument that Barnett is the best total package this class has to offer when it comes to measurables and the critical factors you look for in the position. He's only going to get bigger and better over time.

DT Kahlil McKenzie: No. 95 to No. 37
The 2015 class features an outstanding group of defensive line prospects, including some promising interior players. With the talent so strong and scheme value being a debatable factor, this is one of those years where you could almost have two DT categories: one-gap and two-gap. Among that talented group of defensive big men is McKenzie, who made the jump from just inside the top 100 to firmly inside the top 50. McKenzie, a recent Tennessee commit, is a hot topic among Vols fans. He is a massive and strong nose tackle prospect who can be a tough, stout presence against the run, capable of taking on double-teams and helping those around him do their job. The big man also demonstrates he can be an effective power-rusher who can disrupt the pocket. Several years ago, when more programs operated out of an I-formation/downhill-type attack, you could argue his stock would've been even a little higher. But in today's era of more spread and space, it is tough to place interior "occupiers" within the top 25 overall when they don't offer the same pass-rush ability as some others. The 2015 class consists of some big, powerful DTs, like McKenzie and Daron Payne, who can offer great value to certain schemes and sit close to each other in the updated 300, while being squarely in the mix with the class' other D-linemen.