The halfway mark of the college football season is here, and the 2019 NFL draft class is clearing up little by little. With each week, players will move up and down the board. And with half a year still between us and draft night, there will be plenty of change still to come.
Seven new players enter the top 32, and a pair of quarterbacks exit. Alabama added three more players to the mix (five total), including the exciting safety Deionte Thompson.
Here are my top 32 players for next year's draft, updated from the Oct. 2 version.
Note: Underclassmen are marked with an asterisk.
1. Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State*
Grade: 95 | Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 263 | Previous: 1
An elite talent (with elite bloodlines), Bosa isn't just a gifted pass-rusher; he always knows where the ball is and is active against the run. He projects best as a 4-3 defensive end in the NFL but is scheme-versatile with his length and power. Bosa had six tackles for loss (TFL) and four sacks in three games before suffering an abdominal injury against TCU on Sept. 15. He announced he will withdraw from school to focus on recovery and preparing for the draft. This isn't the type of injury that will worry NFL scouts.
2. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston*
Grade: 95 | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 292 | Previous: 2
You don't want to have to block this dude. Oliver explodes out of his stance, has elite initial quickness and is totally disruptive and usually unblockable one-on-one. He has great range and always plays hard. He has 46 tackles, including a ridiculous 11.5 for a loss and two sacks, through six games. He is very powerful and compares to Aaron Donald. Watch out.
Deandre Baker reads the pass and picks off Middle Tennessee QB Brent Stockstill on fourth down.
3. Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan*
Grade: 95 | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 283 | Previous: 3
Two years after he arrived in Ann Arbor as the most celebrated recruit in the country, Gary has somehow matched the hype. A powerful run defender and edge setter, he has an outstanding combination of size and athleticism and will fit any scheme: explosive, sudden and a nightmare to block. His closing burst has helped him to a pair of sacks and 4.5 TFL this season.
4. Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
Grade: 94 | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 340 | Previous: 4
Lawrence has remarkable agility and athleticism for his size, giving him great range for a run defender. He needs to be better about pad level, but single blockers can't move him at all. His power is overwhelming. The numbers haven't jumped out yet this year, as he has recorded just one tackle for a loss; but there's a lot of talent here, and he is playing with one of the best lines in the country.
5. Greedy Williams, CB, LSU*
Grade: 93 | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 184 | Previous: 5
A tall corner with long arms and at his best in press-man coverage, he has great quickness and is smooth for a dude with his length. Williams can bait quarterbacks into mistakes, and then he has the closing speed to take advantage; he has two interceptions this season for the Tigers. He looks like a play-right-away type when he gets to the next level.
6. Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson*
Grade: 93 | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 310 | Previous: 6
At his best in a 3-technique role, Wilkins is scheme-versatile and has experience playing inside and outside -- and he wreaks havoc either way. He has great foot speed, and when he doesn't get home, he gets his hands in passing lanes. Well-liked and a leader in the locker room, Wilkins projects as a three-down starter. With Clemson this season, he has 5.5 TFL and two sacks as a force at the line of scrimmage.
7. Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss*
Grade: 92 | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 325 | Previous: 7
The one-time top high school offensive tackle in the nation, Little has carried it over into SEC play. A smooth mover for his size, he can be outstanding in pass protection if he gets a little better with his hands. He has good quickness as a run-blocker and takes smart angles, though he's not a mauler.
8. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn*
Grade: 91 | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 325 | Previous: 8
Tall but still bulky, Brown is a versatile defensive lineman who likely fits best as a 3-technique (DT) in a one-gap-heavy NFL scheme. While his sack production has been just OK over his career at Auburn, he does have two this season, and the tape indicates he is a disruptive pass-rusher who can consistently stand up offensive linemen. Brown is a very easy mover for his size. Through seven games, he has six TFL and four QB hurries.
9. Devin White, ILB, LSU*
Grade: 91 | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 240 | Previous: 9
A converted running back, White is a physical specimen who moves with explosiveness and control. Always around the ball, he shows good range in coverage, and he won't have to come off the field much in passing situations. White has 66 tackles, including seven for loss, while also forcing a fumble. You see some Eric Kendricks in him.
10. Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama*
Grade: 91 | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 301 | Previous: 10
An immediate starter in Tuscaloosa, Williams has progressed as you might expect -- going from starter at right tackle, then to left, and he now is squarely on the radar of NFL scouts. After a bad year for offensive tackles in the 2018 draft, Williams could be part of a rebound in 2019. He handles speed off the edge extremely well and is quick out of his stance, but he occasionally fails to finish.
11. Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama*
Grade: 91 | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 196 | Previous: NR
A serious climber over the past few weeks, Thompson has two interceptions, five passes broken up and 39 tackles this season through seven games. He has good range and can make plays on the ball when it is in the air. He's a real ball hawk.
12. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson*
Grade: 90 | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 265 | Previous: 11
Ferrell is an ascending player with very good, if not elite, physical tools. He grades out as an every-down NFL starter, though he could be used as a 3-4 outside linebacker or a 4-3 defensive end. Through just six games, his quick first step and active hands have helped him to eight tackles for loss and six sacks (tied for 15th in the nation).
13. Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State*
Grade: 90 | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 300 | Previous: 12
Simmons plays with a natural leverage at the line. He has above-average awareness, good range and more strength than his frame would suggest, but he can certainly improve his hand usage. The junior has 8.5 tackles for loss this season. He fits best in a one-gap-heavy scheme and plays a lot of snaps. There is some character history here, though, that teams will take into account.
14. Zach Allen, DE, Boston College
Grade: 90 | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 285 | Previous: 13
He is sudden with his movement, and his quick first step and lateral agility have turned into sacks. He also converts speed to power as a pass-rusher. And he is a solid run defender, one of only two linemen who had 100 tackles in 2017. (He has 36 so far this season, including 11 for a loss and 4.5 sacks.) You see a little Cameron Jordan (Saints) in Allen.
15. DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia
Grade: 89 | Height: 5-11 | Weight: 185 | Previous: 14
An instinctive corner, Baker does a good job of reading receivers' routes in man coverage and is excellent in dealing with route combinations. While not big, he contains well and has no fear mixing it up in run support. Extremely experienced, Baker has a pair of interceptions this season with 82 return yards, and he has broken up eight passes.
Justin Herbert finds WR Dillon Mitchell for his third touchdown pass of the day, extending the Ducks' first-half lead.
16. Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama*
Grade: 88 | Height: 6-7 | Weight: 316 | Previous: 15
One of the most intimidating players in college football, Davis is tall and powerful. A menace in the middle, particularly on passing downs, he has agility and quick hands and will fight his way through double-teams. He will get high with the hands, at times, but he also does a good job of disengaging once he locates the ball. The stats aren't wildly impressive this season (0.5 sacks and three TFL), but he has helped clog the middle of a run defense that is allowing less than 4 yards per carry and has yielded just three rushing scores.
17. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon*
Grade: 88 | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 233 | Previous: 16
Herbert has elite size and good arm strength. He mixes some zip with touch but tends to stare down his primary target a tad too long. He will be a running threat -- he has three games with at least 30 rushing yards this season -- and he also has some athleticism. Herbert is averaging nearly 10 yards per passing attempt this season, and he has a 17-5 touchdown-interception ratio for the Ducks. He has a lot of room for development, including in the decision-making process, but there is talent here.
Tua Tagovailoa swings a pass out to Irv Smith Jr., who races 76 yards up the sideline for a quick Alabama touchdown.
18. Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
Grade: 88 | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 241 | Previous: 18
Excellent take-off quickness and flexibility make Sweat a handful for offensive tackles, who are frequently off balance while trying to slow him down. He has good range against the run, but he struggles if you run right at him. That's really the issue: He needs some added bulk to his frame. However, his elite speed and strong change-of-direction skills off the edge have produced 7.5 sacks and 10 TFL this season for the Bulldogs.
19. N'Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State*
Grade: 88 | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 220 | Previous: 17
A big target with good body control, Harry will go and get it for you, and he consistently rewards his quarterback for throwing him 50-50 balls. Even at 6-foot-4, he is a threat after the catch and regularly runs right through contact. Not a flier, he is still a dangerous deep threat. Additionally, he isn't afraid to do the dirty work in the middle of the field, and he is a tough blocker. He has been held under 60 yards receiving just once this season, and he already is at 481 yards on the season and has collected five touchdowns (plus an additional rushing score).
20. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama*
Grade: 88 | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 295 | Previous: NR
Williams is starting to get a lot of attention this season on an extremely good Alabama defensive line. He does a great job with his hands and has a nose for putting pressure on the quarterback. Through seven games, he has 7.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks, along with eight quarterback hurries. He's also stout against the run. I'm really impressed with how he's taken his game to another level this season.
21. Ryan Finley, QB, NC State
Grade: 87 | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 212 | Previous: 20
Finley shows very good touch and anticipatory accuracy, is adept at leading receivers and gets the ball out on time. He rolls through progressions quickly and shows good poise and feel inside the pocket. His fast eyes going through progressions stand out. He does have to eliminate the two or three questionable decisions each game, but he's on track with just three interceptions this season -- and 10 touchdowns. Finley has the Wolfpack at 5-0.
22. A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss*
Grade: 87 | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 230 | Previous: 22
Brown often looks longer than his 6-foot-1 frame, with a better-than-average catch radius and the ability to pluck the ball out over his head; he also will make tough catches in traffic. And he moves quicker than most players his size. He needs to improve his route-running and clean up the occasional focus drop. Brown already has 50 catches for 650 yards this season. With D.K. Metcalf down for the year, he'll be even more important in the Rebels' pass game.
23. Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama*
Grade: 87 | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 241 | Previous: NR
A big 123-yard performance at Arkansas in early October helped get him on the board, and he just continues to get attention in the Crimson Tide's electric offense. On 17 receptions this season, Smith has 334 yards. He wasn't on the radar in the preseason, but he has a lot of speed and athleticism for a big tight end. He has catches for 76, 47 and 42 yards this season. He can be a tough matchup, especially when in multiple-TE sets.
Michael Scarnecchia finds Deebo Samuel on an 8-yard pass for his third touchdown throw of the day.
24. Bryce Love, RB, Stanford
Grade: 86 | Height: 5-10 | Weight: 202 | Previous: 23
Incredibly productive, Love is an explosive runner with the burst to turn the corner and the speed to pull away when he gets a seam. He has the foot speed to bounce between gaps and make defenders miss. He also shows a willingness to wait on blocks. He needs to get more involved as a pass-catcher (just six receptions this year). Injuries also will be a concern. He missed time earlier this season and hasn't played since leaving the Notre Dame game with an ankle injury. The numbers are down a little, as his yards per carry have dropped from 8.1 last year to just 4.3, but he seems to be turning the corner after a tough season debut against San Diego State.
25. Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma*
Grade: 86 | Height: 5-9 | Weight: 168 | Previous: 25
Brown is a burner, and though he lacks ideal size, he has the ability to win vertically and create chunk yardage after the catch. Brown also has soft hands and can pluck the ball away from his body even while he's in fifth gear. He will get pushed around a bit at times by bigger press-man corners, but he is a savvy route runner and explodes from the line of scrimmage. Averaging 20.5 yards per catch, Brown has seven touchdowns and 675 yards this season for the Sooners.
26. Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
Grade: 86 | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 215 | Previous: 26
A hard-hitting strong safety with a very good size-speed combination, Abram can intimidate the opposition. He is a powerful finisher with an explosive closing burst, and he flies to the line of scrimmage in run support. Abram holds up well in the deep-half zone and is very quick. He has 43 tackles this season and an interception.
27. Trey Adams, OT, Washington
Grade: 86 | Height: 6-8 | Weight: 327 | Previous: 28
Adams is out for the season with a back injury. A powerful blocker who can move defenders in the run game, Adams also has a wide frame and long arms, so even speed rushers have a tough time getting around him. He could redshirt and return to Washington next season.
28. Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky
Grade: 86 | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 260 | Previous: NR
A versatile linebacker with the ability to play on the inside or the outside regardless of the front, Allen has outstanding range as a run defender with above-average closing speed. The one-time high school wide receiver has room to grow as a pass-rusher. He also needs to work on his change-of-direction skills in coverage. Still, he does have 10.5 TFL and six sacks this season, along with a pair of forced fumbles, three passes broken up and five QB hurries.
29. Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina
Grade: 85 | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 210 | Previous: 32
Samuel is electric with the ball in his hands, whether after the catch, on a carry or returning kickoffs. There's a noticeable second gear, and he flashes the ability to run away from pursuit when he gets a crease. As a pass-catcher, he needs to limit trapping the ball, but he can make tough catches. Additionally, there is room for him to grow as a route runner. He has 33 catches for 382 yards and four touchdowns.
30. Noah Fant, TE, Iowa*
Grade: 85 | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 241 | Previous: NR
He has the burst to regularly separate from linebackers and his size creates matchup problems for defensive backs. Fant also possesses the speed to stretch the field and the quickness to threaten after the catch. He has great body control and is a natural pass-catcher, but his blocking needs work. He lacks the strength to be effective as an in-line blocker, but he does have the frame and quickness to develop into an adequate space blocker. Through six games, Fant has 23 catches for 297 yards and six touchdowns.
31. Devin Bush, OLB, Michigan*
Grade: 84 | Height: 5-11 | Weight: 233 | Previous: NR
Bush has good instincts as a pass-rusher, displaying patience and good closing speed when he gets a line to the quarterback. He shows good range and quickness, as well as decent tackling ability. However, he is undersized and he struggles to disengage when a blocker gets into his pads. He has the potential to be a three-down starter in the NFL. Through seven contests, he has 44 tackles, including six for loss and 3.5 sacks.
32. D'Andre Walker, OLB, Georgia
Grade: 84 | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 245 | Previous: NR
Walker jumps into the top 32 after a strong start to the 2018 season, recording five sacks, six TFL and five QB hurries, along with three forced fumbles. He flashes good snap anticipation and has a quick first step. He does a particularly good job keeping blockers off his body with his long arms and is slippery as a pass rusher, showing good natural instincts. However, he will occasionally be late locating the ball and can be sucked inside a bit too much. Walker could end up being a pass-rush specialist in the NFL.