In this edition of my Big Board: Two new quarterbacks enter, including the reigning Heisman winner, plus I have a new No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 1 wide receiver from my preseason rankings.
A reminder:
The write-ups here won't change much week to week. Only a few games have been played so far, so I'm still waiting to see who has taken a step forward.
Keep in mind that several prospects listed here have started only one season, so my projections are based on size, athletic ability, statistics and what I hear from people around the league.
Speaking of size, what's listed here is provided by the school. These numbers could vary greatly when players show up at the NFL combine. True height and weight really matter for almost every position.
Note: One asterisk denotes player is a junior, and two asterisks denote player is a redshirt sophomore for the 2017 season.
1. **Sam Darnold, QB, Southern California
Darnold has everything NFL teams want in a starter. He has a big frame (6-foot-4, 225 pounds), makes quick decisions and is an accurate, natural passer. He completed 67.2 percent of his passes last season and ranked second in the nation in Total QBR (86.8). Darnold has thrown too many interceptions to start the 2017 season -- four in two games -- and he has an unorthodox, long delivery that will have to be tweaked. But the third-year sophomore is an exciting prospect who could go No. 1 overall in April's draft.
2. *Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Coming off a stellar freshman season in 2015, Rosen was a sleeper pick to win the Heisman Trophy last year. Things didn't go well, as he had only 10 touchdown passes in six starts before injuring his shoulder and missing the rest of the season. He already has nine touchdown passes -- and no picks -- in two games this season, including a comeback win over Texas A&M in Week 1. The 6-4, 218-pound Rosen throws a great ball, and NFL scouts are watching him closely.
3. *Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
The 6-5, 233-pound Allen didn't have a great game against Iowa to open the season, but judge him on his entire body of work. He is super raw, but he can really sling it. His numbers weren't great last season -- 28 touchdown passes, 15 interceptions while completing 56 percent of his passes -- but NFL teams will take into account the talent around him. The Wyoming offense lost 47 touchdowns from last season's team, along with its center.
4. *Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Barkley is a lights-out athlete with a great lower body and quick feet who shows tremendous balance. He rushed for 1,496 yards and 18 touchdowns last season and had 1,076 yards as a freshman. He already has 359 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns this season. Barkley (5-11, 230) will also help out in the passing game; he has 55 career catches. He plays extremely hard, too.
5. **Derwin James, S, Florida State
James played only two games in 2016 after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee. The former five-star recruit was terrific as a freshman for the Seminoles with 91 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. FSU coaches are going to use the 6-3, 211-pound James all over the field this season, and it started in the opener versus Alabama.
6. Harold Landry, OLB, Boston College
After leading the nation in sacks (16.5) last season, Landry could have been a late first- or early second-round pick if he had entered the 2017 draft. He also had 22 tackles for loss. There is value in his versatility. The 6-3, 257-pound Landry can play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense or end in a 4-3. He has a sack and 2.0 tackles for loss so far in 2017.
7. *Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
With 161 catches and 14 touchdown receptions in his first two collegiate seasons, the cat-quick Ridley (6-1, 188) has been one of the nation's top wide receivers since he stepped onto the field. What I really like about him is his competitiveness. He's a nightmare to try to tackle in the open field. He torched Florida State's talented secondary in the season opener with seven catches for 82 yards and a touchdown.
8. *Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
There is some projection here because Fitzpatrick (6-1, 203) has played both corner and safety and will move around this season. The versatility is a plus, and coach Nick Saban loves him. Fitzpatrick had eight interceptions in his first two collegiate seasons, and four of those were returned for touchdowns. I also like that Fitzpatrick will get after it on special teams. He had 11 special-teams tackles in 2016.
9. *Arden Key, OLB, LSU
The 6-6, 265-pound Key is a fantastic pass-rushing talent who can close quickly on quarterbacks. He has 17 sacks in two seasons (12.0 in 2016). He needs to improve against the run, but that should come in time when he adds weight to his frame. After taking a leave of absence from the LSU team in the spring, Key had shoulder surgery and hasn't played yet this season. He's expected to start at Mississippi State this weekend.
10. *Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson
Clemson just keeps producing first-round picks. Wilkins could be next. At 6-4, 300 pounds, he moves inside and outside for the Tigers. Wilkins is a Jonathan Allen-type lineman. He could be an end in a 3-4 defense or a 3-technique tackle in a 4-3. Wilkins had 3.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss last season. He had 1.5 sacks in the win over Auburn last weekend, and now he'll have a chance to get after Lamar Jackson & Co. in Louisville in Week 3.
11. *Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
Guice isn't the athletic specimen Leonard Fournette is, but I liked everything I saw from him last season. Guice rushed for 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns -- and averaged 7.6 yards per carry -- while Fournette battled injuries. Guice (5-11, 218) showed good burst running between and outside the tackles, and he's a physical runner. He has four rushing touchdowns in two games so far in 2017.
12. *Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
I wrote about Brown earlier this week, and the 6-8, 345-pound left tackle was outstanding in the Sooners' win at Ohio State. He helped protect OU quarterback Baker Mayfield from a defense that is loaded with NFL talent. Brown is nimble for a big man, getting to the second level with ease. He has great feet and can slide easily outside to pick up blitzing linebackers. Don't worry about Brown having to move to the right side in the NFL -- I think he's a left tackle all the way.
13. *Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
Welcome to the Big Board, Heisman Trophy winner. I was asked a lot about him last year, and I said I wanted to see major improvement in Jackson's passing to consider him an NFL quarterback prospect. Well, it's early, but his start to the season has been promising. Jackson's completion percentage is way up (64.7 from 56.2 in 2016), he has put on some good weight and his delivery looks more fluid. And he has done all of that while retaining his dynamic athleticism and speed. The matchup versus Clemson this weekend is important because the Cardinals' schedule gets easier afterward. Jackson will have NFL prospects chasing after him all game. I'm excited to see how he plays, and I know NFL teams are watching, too.
14. *Vita Vea, DT, Washington
At 6-4, 346 pounds, Vea is more than a space-eater. He has some quickness and can penetrate along the interior. He had 5.0 sacks and 39 total tackles last season. I think Vea can be an every-down player in the NFL, not just a two-down tackle. He reminds me of Haloti Ngata, who had three consecutive NFL seasons with 5.0 sacks or more.
15. *Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
Kirk's size (5-11, 200) might ding him in the eyes of scouts, but he's a tremendous receiver and return man with excellent speed. He had 163 catches and 16 receiving touchdowns in his first two collegiate seasons, plus three punt-return TDs in 2016. He has 11 catches and a touchdown so far in 2017. From everything I've heard, Kirk is a studious guy, too. His 576 yards after the catch last season ranked eighth in the country.
16. *Connor Williams, OT, Texas
After digging into Williams' 2016 tape, I really liked what I saw. He's a pure left tackle prospect with great feet and balance, and he just didn't get beat in pass protection. But Williams (6-6, 315) didn't have a great game to open the season against Maryland. He did get beaten in that game, and that was discouraging. I think he'll pick it up, though, and play like he did last season. He faces a big test this weekend at USC.
17. *Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
You should get to a TV at some point this season to check out the Mustangs. Sutton is a phenomenal talent. He had 76 catches and averaged 16.4 yards per catch last season -- and had 19 total touchdowns from 2015-16 -- but he's still under the radar. The 6-4, 215-pound Sutton is a big-bodied matchup nightmare on the outside. He leads the country this season with five receiving touchdowns, including four in a win over North Texas.
18. *Ronald Jones II, RB, USC
Jones has gone under the radar among running backs, but he impressed me as a pure runner in 2016, and he looks stronger this season. He had 2,069 rushing yards and averaged 6.3 yards per carry in his first two seasons at USC, and he's already up to five rushing touchdowns on 6.7 YPC in 2017. He was great against Stanford. I'd like to see the Trojans involve him in the passing game to cater to his skill set -- he has only 20 career catches.
19. Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
Like Harold Landry, Chubb could have entered the 2017 draft and been in the first-round discussion. He had 10.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss last season after posting 5.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 2015. Chubb (6-4, 260) showed good takeoff from the edge as a pass-rusher, and he has an excellent mix of speed and power. He already has 5.0 tackles for loss this season.
20. *Tremaine Edmunds, OLB, Virginia Tech
At 6-5, 250 pounds, Edmunds is a gifted athlete and physical specimen. And he lives in the backfield. A year after recording 106 total tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, he's already up to 21 total tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks through two games this season. His brother, Terrell, is also an NFL prospect -- he's my No. 4-ranked underclassman safety.
21. *Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
This is an upside pick because Ferrell hasn't played a ton. He's only a third-year sophomore. But I like what I've seen, and he came on strong last season with 6.0 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. At 6-5, 260 pounds, Ferrell has the size that makes scouts turn their heads, and he showed some quickness off the edge. He has a sack already this season.
22. *Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama
Harrison has gone overlooked at times on a loaded Crimson Tide defense, but he's a really good player. He's aggressive and loves to hit. Harrison (6-3, 216) can cover, too. He had two interceptions last season, including a pick-six at Tennessee. He has 13 tackles and a sack in two games this season.
23. Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
The Wolverines had a senior-laden defensive line in 2016, and Hurst didn't start. But the 6-2, 282-pound tackle had 4.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss and stood out while consistently splitting double-teams and getting into the backfield. Now a starter, Hurst impressed in the Wolverines' win over Florida in Week 1, in which Michigan allowed only 192 yards. He had a tackle for loss.
24. *Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State
Hubbard isn't a pass-rusher on the same talent level as former Buckeye Joey Bosa, but he's consistently solid and reliable. At 6-5, 265 pounds, Hubbard stands out on a super-talented Ohio State defense. Hubbard had 3.5 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss in 2016 after recording 6.5 sacks, 8.0 tackles for loss and an interception the season before. He already has 2.0 sacks through two games in 2017. Along with Tyquan Lewis and Nick Bosa, Ohio State has an immensely talented defensive line.
25. *Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State
Here are Rudolph's numbers in 30 starts for the Cowboys: 642-for-1,020 passing (62.9 percent) for 9,352 yards with 61 touchdown passes, 17 interceptions and a Total QBR of 75.6. That's great, and all of his weapons -- including stud wideout James Washington -- returned this season. Rudolph (6-5, 230) has a good, not great, arm, and he's not scared to take chances down the field. He's a poised, veteran leader who has been consistent throughout his career. Oklahoma State hasn't played a tough game yet this season, but I like what I've seen from him.