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Top 10 prospects at each position for 2017 NFL draft

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and Alabama inside linebacker Reuben Foster are among the top prospects for the 2017 draft. AP Photo, USA Today Sports

My preseason Big Board for the 2017 NFL draft is up, but I know many of you want to go well beyond 25 names. So here's a couple hundred more, broken down by position.

Important to note: This is a mix of seniors and underclassmen, but early on I separate the two so you see more senior players, as those are guys who are certain to be in the draft. By "underclassmen," I mean players who technically could return to school for another season. Those are true juniors and third-year sophomores. I've denoted the third-year sophomores with asterisks.

Quarterbacks

Seniors

1. C.J. Beathard, Iowa
2. Mitch Leidner, Minnesota
3. Chad Kelly, Mississippi
4. Davis Webb, California
5. Seth Russell, Baylor

Underclassmen

1. Deshaun Watson, Clemson
2. Brad Kaaya, Miami (Fla.)
3. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
4. Luke Falk, Washington State
5. Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina

Russell, Falk, and Trubisky are the new additions here. Webb is already off to a great start after his transfer to Cal. He threw for 441 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Hawaii in Australia. Beathard offers a lot of intrigue, as he has impressive physical tools but you want to see him stretch the field a bit and show what kind of arm he has.

Running backs

Seniors

1. Kareem Hunt, Toledo
2. Corey Clement, Wisconsin
3. Elijah McGuire, Louisiana-Lafayette
4. Justin Davis, USC
5. Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State

Underclassmen

1. Leonard Fournette, LSU
2. Dalvin Cook, Florida State
3. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
4. Nick Chubb, Georgia
5. Royce Freeman, Oregon

The junior class here is pretty exciting. When your No. 5 guy packs 230 pounds and had sneaky Heisman-like numbers last year, it's a reminder that the production is everywhere. The No. 1 thing to watch for with all of them: health. It's just a reality that it will determine so much. If you haven't seen Hunt, dial up some MACtion during the week this year.

Fullbacks

Seniors

1. Sam Rogers, Virginia Tech
2. Freddie Stevenson, Florida State
3. Jaymar Parrish, Pitt
4. Nate Iese, UCLA
5. Prescott Line, Michigan State

Underclassmen

1. Daniel Marx, Stanford
2. Chris Herndon, Miami (Fla.)
3. Jaylen Samuels, NC State
4. Dimitri Flowers, Oklahoma
5. J.D. Moore, LSU

What we're seeing with a lot of these fullbacks is they can catch the ball. Rogers is an example, as he has the classic fullback bowling-ball build (5-foot-11, 230 pounds), but he also has 48 career receptions and will get a bunch more.

Wide receivers

Seniors

1. Jehu Chesson, Michigan
2. Corey Davis, Western Michigan
3. Travin Dural, LSU
4. Mack Hollins, North Carolina
5. Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington

Underclassmen

1. JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC
2. Mike Williams, Clemson
3. Malachi Dupre, LSU
4. Ricky Seals-Jones, Texas A&M
5. Travis Rudolph, Florida State

A lot of raw physical talent and production here. Smith-Schuster is explosive in his movements but also plays with strength at the catch point. Williams has length and hands, but he'll run by you. Dupree is a natural who needs more accurate targets. Seals-Jones has a huge frame -- 6-5 and nearly 240 pounds. Chesson will need to be useful this year for the Michigan passing game.

Tight ends

Seniors

1. O.J. Howard, Alabama
2. Jake Butt, Michigan
3. Jordan Leggett, Clemson
4. Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas
5. Evan Engram, Mississippi

Underclassmen

1. Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech
2. Brandon Lingen, Minnesota
3. DeAndre Goolsby, Florida
4. Cam Serigne, Wake Forest
5. Jeb Blazevich, Georgia

Howard has a big name based on his pedigree coming into Bama and some freshman flashes, but until he blew up against Clemson (often uncovered for some reason) in the title game the statistics were underwhelming. Butt was reliable and showed off strong hands and the ability to get down the field. Jim Harbaugh likes his tight ends.

Offensive tackles

Seniors

1. Adam Bisnowaty, Pitt
2. Chad Wheeler, USC
3. Avery Gennesy, Texas A&M
4. Conor McDermott, UCLA
5. Zach Banner, USC

Underclassmen

1. Cam Robinson, Alabama
2. Roderick Johnson, Florida State
3. Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
4. Tyrell Crosby, Oregon
5. **Orlando Brown, Oklahoma

Robinson already has a lot of experience as he enters his junior season. Overall, the underclassmen need to have a year where elite measurables and athleticism are paired with consistency. That's not a new theme. Bisnowaty has flown under the radar some, but he now has three seasons of starts at left tackle and has a real shot to stay there at the next level.

Offensive guards

Seniors

1. Dan Feeney, Indiana
2. Dorian Johnson, Pitt
3. Greg Pyke, Georgia
4. Caleb Peterson, North Carolina
5. Johnny Caspers, Stanford

Underclassmen

1. **Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
2. Tyrone Crowder, Clemson
3. Billy Price, Ohio State
4. Damien Mama, USC
5. Brian Allen, Michigan State

With the underclassmen in particular, in each case the guy is a linchpin along the offensive line. Price, for instance, is one of just a few returning starters for the Buckeyes on the offensive side of the ball. Nelson can flat out take defenders where they don't want to go. A powerful player.

Centers

Seniors

1. Ethan Pocic, LSU
2. Pat Elflein, Ohio State
3. Jon Toth, Kentucky
4. Tyler Orlosky, West Virginia
5. Cameron Tom, So. Mississippi

Underclassmen

1. Sean Welsh, Iowa
2. Mason Cole, Michigan
3. Nick Linder, Miami (Fla)
4. Austin Schlottmann, TCU
5. Toa Lobendahn, USC

Welsh is the latest in the production line at Iowa. Not often that a junior has already played in 27 games. Cole is a critical player for a Michigan offense that has to run the ball effectively.

Defensive ends

Seniors

1. Jonathan Allen, Alabama
2. Dawuane Smoot, Illinois
3. Deatrich Wise Jr., Arkansas
4. Isaac Rochell, Notre Dame
5. DeMarcus Walker, Florida State

Underclassmen

1. Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
2. Charles Harris, Missouri
3. Carl Lawson, Auburn
4. Derek Barnett, Tennessee
5. Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State

Garrett is the biggest name here, and pass rushing from this position could again be a strength in the draft class. Garrett has 23 sacks in two seasons. I felt Allen was an almost certain first-rounder had he entered the draft last season, and is a luxury returner for Nick Saban this year. Bama will be scary at times up front.

Defensive tackles

Seniors

1. Carlos Watkins, Clemson
2. Chris Wormley, Michigan
3. Jarron Jones, Notre Dame
4. Tanzel Smart, Tulane
5. Jaleel Johnson, Iowa

Underclassmen

1. Malik McDowell, Michigan State
2. Charles Walker, Oklahoma
3. Caleb Brantley, Florida
4. Davon Godchaux, LSU
5. Lowell Lotulelei, Utah

Not a bunch of big names here, but a lot of talent. McDowell is the one top-10 name on my current Big Board, a mix of length and explosiveness that can be overwhelming for any blocker who doesn't have some assistance. Wormley was a force for the Wolverines last year and getting him back is big for that defense.

Inside linebackers

Seniors

1. Reuben Foster, Alabama
2. Kendell Beckwith, LSU
3. Keith Kelsey, Louisville
4. Hardy Nickerson, Illinois
5. Richie Brown, Mississippi State

Underclassmen

1. Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State
2. Anthony Walker, Northwestern
3. Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
4. Nyles Morgan, Notre Dame
5. Josey Jewell, Iowa

The Buckeyes have been loaded over the past couple years (any of you catch the 2016 draft?) and even then McMillan was able to work his way into the starting group as a freshman and sophomore. That says a lot. Jewell is a player who really emerged last season -- he shows great instincts and is constantly around the ball.

Outside linebackers

Seniors

1. Tim Williams, Alabama
2. Devonte Fields, Louisville
3. Jarrad Davis, Florida
4. Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee
5. Josh Carraway, TCU

Underclassmen

1. Marquis Haynes, Mississippi
2. Elijah Lee, Kansas State
3. Dante Booker, Ohio State
4. Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
5. Taylor Young, Baylor

Williams is another Bama defender who could have entered the draft with a first-round grade, but he also comes back trying to show he's more than a situational player. He was in only about 20 percent of defensive snaps last season. Haynes has some special pass-rushing skills, but a sprinter's frame. Last year he played around 220 pounds.

Cornerbacks

Seniors

1. Desmond King, Iowa
2. Tre'Davious White, LSU
3. Cordrea Tankersley, Clemson
4. Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
5. Cole Luke, Notre Dame

Underclassmen

1. Teez Tabor, Florida
2. **Marlon Humphrey, Alabama
3. Sidney Jones, Washington
4. Jordan Thomas, Oklahoma
5. Adoree' Jackson, USC

The senior class here is particularly impressive; you can make a case for a few of these guys as first- or second-round picks had they entered the 2016 draft. Jones is the sleeper to watch among the underclassmen, as he has been quietly putting on a show for the Huskies and will be under more scouting scrutiny this season.

Safeties

Seniors

1. Marcus Maye, Florida
2. Chidobe Awuzie, Colorado
3. Eddie Jackson, Alabama
4. Josh Harvey-Clemons, Louisville
5. Tony Conner, Mississippi

Underclassmen

1. Jamal Adams, LSU
2. **Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
3. Marcus Williams, Utah
4. Dominick Sanders, Georgia
5. Budda Baker, Washington

The physicality really stands out here. Both Adams and Peppers can cover in space but also essentially become an extra linebacker. The modern safety has to be a Swiss Army Knife, and you see plenty of that with this group.

Kickers

Seniors

1. Jake Elliott, Memphis
2. Bobby Puyol, Connecticut
3. Conrad Ukropina, Stanford
4. Andy Phillips, Utah
5. Nick Weiler, North Carolina

Underclassmen

1. Matthew McCrane, Kansas State
2. Daniel Carlson, Auburn
3. Michael Badgley, Miami (Fla)
4. Joey Slye, Virginia Tech
5. Aidan Schneider, Oregon

McCrane is an impressive 25-for-26 on field goal attempts over his first two seasons, though he was just 7-for-7 last year due to an injury. Another season like his freshman campaign (18-for-19) will keep him in this spot heading to his senior year.

Punters

Seniors

1. Dalton Schomp, Florida Atlantic
2. Hayden Hunt, Colorado State
3. Justin Vogel, Miami (Fla)
4. Austin Rehkow, Idaho
5. Rigoberto Sanchez, Hawaii

Underclassmen

1. Johnny Townsend, Florida
2. Joe Davidson, Bowling Green
3. JK Scott, Alabama
4. Trevor Daniel, Tennessee
5. Will Gleeson, Mississippi

Schomp led the nation last season with an average of 48 yards per punt. That would play on Sundays.