After Florida beat Georgia on Saturday, I wrote, "It says something about [Dante] Fowler that I never think he's productive enough in the box score even as he led Florida in tackles for loss last year [10.5] and is doing so again this year [7.5]." Fowler is just one of those talents where you can see the ability so clearly while reviewing games that, at least in my case, you probably think something's wrong when the numbers don't pile up. But sometimes you have to try to forget the numbers and be more concerned with disruption, with how teams are trying to block him and with his effort level. Fowler is the big mover this week on the Big Board, but yes, I always prefer if the numbers would make me feel better about what I'm seeing.
I'll keep scouting reports consistent week to week throughout the season and make changes regarding recent performances only, unless my evaluation shifts. That said, let's dive back into "the process" and another season.
An asterisk denotes a junior for the 2014 season; two asterisks denote a redshirt sophomore.
1. *Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon Ducks
Another solid if not spectacular performance against Stanford, which matters given how that defense has stifled him previously. I noted last week I'm also seeing some good anticipation throws. (He can afford to let guys get wide open because he can run around all day.) He combines above-average accuracy and anticipation with an ability to get through his progressions and elite athleticism. How well he can take apart a defense with tools other than his legs matters in terms of how he is viewed as a prospect, but his ability to throw on the run or simply take off and pick up chunk yardage is a major plus.
2. *Leonard Williams, DE, USC Trojans
Was constantly disruptive against WSU, and he unfortunately laid a devastating (and season-ending) hit on the Cougs' Connor Halliday. Just a special, versatile player. Provides impact wherever he lines up. Quick for his size, he can move all over and won't get pushed around when he's inside. At his size (6-5, 290 pounds), he's a special athlete who could line up as a defensive end and drive a tackle back or line up on the outside shoulder of a guard and create problems with power and quickness. He's the kind of disruptive, versatile lineman who can succeed in any system. A potential No. 1.
3. *Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama Crimson Tide
Faces his toughest test of the season at LSU -- with a gazillion scouts and general managers in attendance, too. He's neither a pure burner nor an impossible matchup threat given his size (6-1, 210 pounds), but there's nothing he doesn't do well, and he's probably more explosive than he looks because his movement is so precise. He separates with ease, has a good sense of how to find space against a zone and will make contested catches. His work rate is legendary and will be a big selling point.
4. *Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska Cornhuskers
Had a quiet game by his standards against Purdue, but no change here. A super-athletic pass-rusher with a lean frame and exceptional quickness, he could be a 3-4 outside linebacker or add some weight and be useful in a 4-3 scheme. How well he can hold up at the point of attack, particularly against the run, will be an area scouts focus on, but in a passing league, the greater focus will be on continued development as a pass-rusher.
5. Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M Aggies
While the team has hit the skids, I haven't seen any big reason to drop Ogbuehi. A very good athlete, Ogbuehi is an easy mover, but he's made strides in his power game, and when he gets those long arms on a defender, he can control him. Right now Ogbuehi gets a higher grade as a pass-blocker because he has the strength to handle power and the quick feet and long arms to keep speed at bay, but he could improve his technique -- sometimes it's a little too easy for this kind of athlete.
6. Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa Hawkeyes
I've had him here all year, and he's been pretty solid, continuing dominant form in the run game and showing small strides as a pass-blocker. I've said before he can be better in pass protection, but he is pretty good, just not super nimble. He is the best run-blocker in the class along with La'el Collins. Scherff uses a powerful base and a powerful punch to jolt defenders, and he can move well and line up blocks in space. He's a classic "finisher" in the run game.
7. *Shane Ray, DE, Missouri Tigers
Maybe my favorite player to watch this year. There's just not one good way to keep him blocked, and he's piling up numbers, too. He plays with tremendous energy, beats blockers in multiple ways and gets to the passer, so it's going to work out. What I like about Ray is he combines a relentless effort level with a range of pass-rushing moves. He's not just a speed-rusher off the edge; he'll get on the inside shoulder of a tackle and drive through, creating pressure from the inside. Super productive.
8. *Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor Bears
Continues to make plays in the backfield. There's work to be done, but there's so much potential. He has basketball-center length at 6-9 but also packs on more than 280 pounds, which he carries well and allows him to drive blockers. When he gets his long arms extended into blockers (or in passing lanes), he can shed quickly. How Oakman is used will be a question, but he's a tantalizing specimen.
9. *Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia Bulldogs
He'll be back soon, and it's safe to say his stock wasn't hurt by a month of rest. I rank Gurley higher than he will probably be drafted, given the way the NFL values running backs, but he could go in Round 1. He's a powerful runner with the ability to run away from a defense. When Gurley gets past the line of scrimmage, watch out. He can run high, which raises durability concerns that will certainly play into his draft stock.
10. **Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State Seminoles
I noted before that my initial drop on Winston was well-informed, but as another fog has lifted, the more I hear, the more I know he simply can't fall too far, and his position here reflects that. Again, he still needs to prove doubters wrong -- and they exist. That said, he has an extraordinary mind and ability for football. He has special instincts, with ideal natural gifts for the position -- vision, size, arm strength, athleticism. He also has the ability to manipulate the pocket, see pressure early and deliver the ball to the right target. Consistency with ball placement and timing will need to improve. And again, the off-field stuff matters.
11. **Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia Bulldogs
Didn't have a great week as the Florida O-line overpowered him on a number of plays, and leverage will be a priority for improvement. A green but talented young player with great range against the run and the ability to blow away blockers with his first step and overall athleticism, but he's also undersized (6-4, 230 pounds), and evaluators will key on his ability to hold up and play with leverage. He profiles as a 3-4 outside linebacker with the ability to both rush the passer and drop into space and cover.
12. *Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford offense hasn't been great, but Peat has been really steady. He just doesn't give up pressure often at all. The guy just has a perfect frame for the position, and he's quicker than a man his size should be. He's both powerful and nimble, with the ability to drive a defender back in the run game and the exceptional length and above-average footwork you look for from a pass-blocker.
13. *Landon Collins, S, Alabama Crimson Tide
Nearly leading the team in tackles, which shows you how well he gets to the ball. Super versatile, he's what every NFL coach wants right now. Collins can play deep -- making good reads and taking the right angle to the ball -- and he also has the ability to line up close to the line of scrimmage and run with tight ends. A strong tackler, Collins is fearless in taking on running backs, but he shows good technique and doesn't just throw himself at the ball.
14. *Melvin Gordon III, RB, Wisconsin Badgers
Another week where he's great and emerges healthy -- which is the biggest key at this point. Gordon is an easy accelerator, and he cuts with explosiveness and little wasted motion. He will miss a hole here and there in search of a bigger lane, but he has good vision, isn't afraid of contact and has breakaway speed when he gets in space. Here's hoping health doesn't become an issue because of the workload.
15. *Dante Fowler, DE, Florida Gators
Fowler is 6-foot-2, 265 pounds, can play on his feet in space, will set the edge for you, can drive upfield and spin back inside, and also will flip inside where he can win with quickness. The guy isn't dominant in one area, but he's pretty good pretty much anywhere you line him up. He has good lateral quickness and will chase the play. I think there's more productivity to be found, but he's a potential top-15 pick because you can see he's capable of so much.
16. DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville Cardinals
He doesn't play defense, which was the only problem against Florida State, a game in which he had 214 yards receiving. Has great length, long arms, good hops and a strong, chiseled, lean frame that will remind some of A.J. Green, and he does a good job with body position when the ball is in the air -- it all adds up to a guy with a huge catch radius. He will make plays down the field, and he's good with the ball in his hands.
17. Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson Tigers
No real highs and lows this year -- just solid. I've had him in this range all year, and he has played well coming back from a breakout season. He offers great quickness and closing speed as a pass-rusher, and he's really impressive when he creates any space. Where he can struggle is when a good blocker gets his hands on him and forces him to play with leverage and counter. He can be highly disruptive, however, and has been in 2014.
18. Danny Shelton, DT, Washington Huskies
The crazy TFL pace has dipped a little, but he's still getting into the backfield. Shelton isn't really a gap penetrator, but he can shove his way into the backfield with strength. Shelton isn't "quick," but he moves pretty well for a huge man and is something of a clogger-plus. A massive defensive tackle at nearly 340 pounds, Shelton has some ability to disrupt, and he has good instincts in his ability to find the ball.
19. La'el Collins, OT, LSU Tigers
Will be on display against Bama -- a game where the Tigers need to run. A big, powerful tackle with good length and the ability to really drive people backward in the run game, Collins could have entered the draft last year. He came back, and I think he has showed improvement. A definite first-round talent now, he's another player you could see drafted and moved inside to guard if a team wants to get him on the field right away. He started there all of his sophomore season.
20. *Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State Sun Devils
In terms of pure matchup headaches, Strong might be the best wide receiver in the class. He has great size and can make catches when covered. He has a willingness to attack the ball and use strong hands to catch almost anything thrown his way, even against contact. He's not a burner -- you see a little Mike Evans -- but when he's moving, he's plenty fast.
21. *Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington Huskies
Hasn't played defense for the last two games and has instead handled the RB workload. But he's still a defender if we're talking draft value. On defense, Thompson is undersized as an outside linebacker and in some ways positionless still, but he's an extraordinary athlete. The key for Thompson is to be able to play in space because he can get eaten up if a good blocker gets him engaged. But he's an effective tackler and playmaker, which is saying something for a guy who has played safety, running back and cornerback.
22. *Marcus Peters, CB, Washington Huskies
Moved him up, and he's now my No. 1 CB. I think he would be the first cornerback taken if the draft were this week. A very good athlete with good size for the position and top-of-the-charts ball skills, Peters has developed into arguably the top cornerback in the Pac-12. He has played well in 2014 when he's been able to stay on the field -- the coaches made him sit out the Illinois game -- so coachability will be something to watch, but he's a competitor.
23. Alvin "Bud" Dupree, OLB, Kentucky Wildcats
Had another 2.5 TFL last week after debuting here. A big-time athlete at 6-4 and 260-plus pounds, Dupree is going to test well at the combine, where he will run in the 4.68 range. He has explosive quickness off the snap and the ability to turn that into power and drive tackles back. I think how he's valued will be in part based on how NFL teams see him as a fit and how well he shows he can play in space. But the guy is a tremendous kid, a tremendous worker and a special athlete, so I'm betting teams will be excited to get him in.
24. Kevin White, WR, West Virginia Mountaineers
Scheme is part of it, but he's been bottled up the last two weeks, with 55 total receiving yards. White lacks elite quick-twitch explosiveness, but he is able to create space, has good length at 6-3, can dominate defenders on contested catches and has been far more consistent with his hands this season. To me, he also looks stronger than he was last season, and I think it has made him a little faster. Last year was his first at WVU after transferring from junior college.
25. *Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State Spartans
This will be a showcase game for Calhoun and the whole MSU defense. Calhoun has impressive quickness and the ability to close in a hurry when he creates space as a pass-rusher. He has the look of a lanky defender who would specialize in getting upfield quickly, but he also shows plenty of strength and leverage against the run.