In this edition of my Big Board: Three new entrants from my last update -- which means three have dropped off -- plus some movement in the top five. There's also a new No. 1 defensive lineman.
A reminder:
The write-ups here won't change much week to week.
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 schools. 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 -- seven in four games -- and he has an unorthodox, long delivery that will have to be tweaked. His Total QBR has dropped because of the turnovers (74.0), but he's again completing passes at the same rate -- 67.1 percent. The third-year sophomore is an exciting prospect who could go No. 1 overall in April's draft.
2. *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 853 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns this season. Barkley (5-11, 230) will also help out in the passing game; he has 23 catches already this season, after having 48 in his first two seasons at Penn State. He plays extremely hard, too.
3. *Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Coming off a stellar freshman season in 2015, Rosen was a sleeper pick to win the Heisman Trophy last season. 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 had a hot start in 2017 with nine touchdowns and no picks through two games -- including a comeback win over Texas A&M in Week 1 -- but he has two picks in each of his past two games, both Bruins losses. He does lead the FBS in passing yards (1,763) and touchdowns (16). The 6-4, 218-pound Rosen throws a great ball, and NFL scouts are watching him closely.
4. *Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Allen (6-5, 233) 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 -- and his numbers aren't great this season, either -- three touchdown passes, three interceptions while completing 54.8 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. The schedule hasn't been kind to the Cowboys, either, with a game at Iowa and one versus Oregon. Have patience.
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 using the 6-3, 211-pound James all over the field this season, and it started in the opener versus Alabama.
6. *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.
7. *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. He 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, and he's up to 2.5 sacks through four games in 2017.
8. *Arden Key, OLB, LSU
The 6-6, 265-pound Key is a fantastic pass-rushing talent who can close quickly on quarterbacks. He had 17 sacks in his 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, has played in only two games this season and is working his way back into shape.
9. *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 picked up a knee injury and might miss some time. Let's hope it doesn't linger.
10. 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 3.0 tackles for loss through four games in 2017.
11. *Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
I wrote about Brown earlier this season, when 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.
12. Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
I wrote about Chubb's performance against Florida State earlier this week -- he was dominant with two sacks and a forced fumble. Like Landry, Chubb (6-4, 260) 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 shows good takeoff from the edge as a pass-rusher, and he has an excellent mix of speed and power. He already has 7.5 tackles for loss this season.
13. *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. Williams suffered a sprained MCL and PCL in his left knee at USC and could miss a significant chunk of the season.
14. *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. His 576 yards after the catch last season ranked eighth in the country. He has 19 catches and four receiving TDs -- plus a kickoff return TD -- so far in 2017. From everything I've heard, Kirk is a studious guy, too.
15. *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, and he has 20 catches for the season.
16. *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 two interceptions, two tackles for loss and a sack so far this season.
17. *Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner made his Big Board debut in my last update. 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 (63.1 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. He played just OK in the loss to Clemson but remember that he doesn't have nearly the same talent around him as he did a year ago (and his defense gave up 613 yards).
18. *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 has 33 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks this season. His brother, Terrell, is also an NFL prospect -- he's my No. 4-ranked underclassman safety.
19. *Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
Sutton is a phenomenal talent, but he has been inconsistent this season. He had 76 catches and averaged 16.4 yards per catch last season and had 19 total touchdowns in 2015-16. But he really has only one good game this season -- a four-touchdown performance vs. North Texas. He was almost shut out in a loss to TCU (one catch for zero yards). The 6-4, 215-pound Sutton is a big-bodied matchup nightmare on the outside when he's right.
20. 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 gave up only 192 yards. He has 2.0 tackles for loss this season.
21. Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
You might remember McGlinchey from my preseason Big Board last season. He decided to remain in school for his senior year. McGlinchey is a massive athlete (6-8, 315) who looks like a tight end with pads on. He could probably play tight end in a pinch. He played right tackle in 2015, then replaced first-round pick Ronnie Stanley on the left side last season, and he has stayed at left tackle in 2017. I think his NFL future might be at right tackle, however.
22. *Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State
McFadden was tremendous in his first season as a starter at FSU, picking off eight passes in 2016. He doesn't have an interception through two games this season, but it's early. At 6-2, 198, McFadden is a big corner with ball skills. Those are two traits NFL teams love. He's athletically gifted.
23. *Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
Oliver was the Buffaloes' third corner last season behind Day 2 draft picks Chidobe Awuzie and Ahkello Witherspoon, and his talent shows on film. He's long and athletic (6-1, 190). He also competes on the Colorado track team and has twice been All-Pac-12 in the decathlon. He also contributes as a punt returner -- he had a TD on a return in 2016. Oliver has two interceptions this season. His father, Muhammad, was a ninth-round pick by the Broncos in 1992.
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 has 2.0 sacks through three games in 2017. Along with Tyquan Lewis and Nick Bosa, Ohio State has an immensely talented defensive line.
25. *Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State
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 -- he has started 32 games at Oklahoma State -- who has been consistent throughout his career. He ranks No. 2 in FBS in Total QBR this season (89.1). He has several weapons, including stud wideout James Washington.