The 2020 NFL draft class has a new No. 1 prospect. After a four-sack performance against Wisconsin, Ohio State's Chase Young has officially jumped Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa for the top spot in my rankings.
But the changes don't stop there on the draft board, and won't stop any time soon. While the class is taking shape as we hit Week 10 of the college football season, there is still nearly six months before the NFL descends on Las Vegas for the 2020 draft. And we have plenty more games, bowl season, showcase events, pro days and the scouting combine ahead on the calendar.
Here is my evaluation of the top 32 players for 2020 right now, updated from my Oct. 9 edition. Rankings will continue to be updated throughout the college football slate and right into draft season.
Note: Underclassmen are marked with an asterisk, and grades are from Scouts Inc.
1. Chase Young, DE, Ohio State*
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 265 pounds
Grade: 94 | Previous rank: 2
Young has 13.5 sacks (most in the country), 15.5 tackles for loss (tied for second) and five forced fumbles (second) through eight games. Let those numbers sink in for a minute. He has quickness and above-average bend, and he flashes the ability to convert speed to power, though he still has room for a little improvement getting off blocks. He best fits as a 4-3 defensive end, but he has experience dropping into coverage and could end up converting to a 3-4 outside linebacker role. He has been nothing short of dominant this season, head and shoulders above the rest of the edge rushers in the class, as we discussed this week.
2. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama*
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 218
Grade: 93 | Previous rank: 1
Simply put, Tagovailoa is a special talent. The lefty has elite accuracy at all three levels, displaying a smooth delivery, solid arm strength and excellent touch. His anticipation and fast eyes are high-end, and he has some twitch to him. Durability is a bit of a concern, and he is dealing with an ankle injury, but he's my top QB prospect. Tagovailoa has 2,166 passing yards, 27 touchdown passes (third in FBS) and just two interceptions this season. His 95.6 Total QBR leads the nation, and he is completing 74.7% of his passes. The junior has a good test in LSU on deck Nov. 9.
3. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama*
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 192
Grade: 92 | Previous rank: 3
Jeudy is a really fun prospect to watch. He's a truly polished route runner with soft hands, and he does an excellent job tracking the deep ball. Although he doesn't have elite size and strength, Jeudy should be an immediate impact player in the NFL. Consider that he has 52 catches for 682 yards and eight touchdowns (tied for 12th in the country) even while playing alongside other big-time playmakers. He's fallen short of 50 receiving yards only once in eight games.
4. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 237
Grade: 91 | Previous rank: 6
The big quarterback has a huge arm and good mobility, and in that regard he reminds me a little of the Bills' Josh Allen. There's a whole lot of ability there, but Herbert needs to find some more consistency and iron out some decision-making issues. He has thrown for 2,104 yards, 21 scores -- tied for eight in FBS -- and just one interception thus far. Herbert was terrific in a mid-October victory over Washington, in which he threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns.
5. Grant Delpit, S, LSU*
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 203
Grade: 91 | Previous rank: 4
A smooth safety, Delpit has good speed and ball skills. He shows great instincts on the back end (one interception), but he's inconsistent as a tackler: He has 43 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, in 2019. Delpit is really effective in an overhang position, where he can play closer to the line of scrimmage and affect the game against the run and pass.
6. Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State*
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 200
Grade: 91 | Previous rank: 5
A big, long corner, Okudah has smooth hips and quick feet. He occasionally lunges, but he also shows the ability to recover quickly in press coverage with his athleticism. He has the tools to become a No. 1 corner. I love his versatility, as he lines up on both sides and in the slot while helping out in run defense. In eight games, Okudah has hauled in three interceptions -- including a highlight-reel-worthy snag -- and he has 21 tackles, a forced fumble and three passes broken up.
7. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 318
Grade: 91 | Previous rank: 7
Brown is an easy mover for his size and does a good job locating the ball. He has quick hands, though he needs to be more effective with them. Brown has some versatility but probably ends up as a 3-technique in a one-gap-heavy scheme in the NFL. He has 4.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, 30 tackles and three passes broken up this season. Against Florida earlier this month, the big man returned a pair of fumbles for 53 total yards -- and it would have been more had he kept his balance on one of them while breaking down the sideline.
8. Isaiah Simmons, OLB, Clemson*
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 225
Grade: 91 | Previous rank: 10
The biggest question about Simmons at this point: What position does he play at the next level? He's a bulked-up converted safety who can play all over -- corner, safety, linebacker -- thanks to his excellent athleticism. He has smooth hips and long arms, and he is pretty talented in coverage. He has done it all so far, recording 6.0 sacks, 63 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss (tied for 14th in the country), four passes broken up and a forced fumble.
9. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma*
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 191
Grade: 90 | Previous rank: 8
Lamb is an above-average route runner with excellent separation skills and the ability to settle into pockets when facing zone coverage. He has some wheels to challenge vertically, the hands and body control to haul in the pass and the instincts to create after the catch. As a bonus, he can return punts. Lamb has hauled in at least one touchdown in seven of his eight games this season, giving him 11 (second in FBS) with an additional rushing TD, and he has caught 36 passes overall for 816 yards (seventh).
Jalen Hurts tosses a short pass to CeeDee Lamb, who escapes multiple defenders on his way to complete a 70-yard touchdown play.
10. CJ Henderson, CB, Florida*
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 202
Grade: 90 | Previous rank: 13
Primarily an outside corner who is at his best in man-to-man coverage, Henderson possesses smooth hips and easy speed -- he doesn't stress to stay in stride with receivers going vertical. Henderson locates the ball well and displays good ball skills, breaking up nine passes this season (tied for 13th in the country). Run support and physicality at the line of scrimmage are his weaknesses, but those will improve as he gets stronger.
11. Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama
Height: 6-7 | Weight: 312
Grade: 90 | Previous rank: 14
Davis flashes the ability to jar offensive linemen with initial contact and frequently gets pressure when turned loose. Davis lacks some body control and can be slow to redirect, which leads to some sacks being left on the field (he doesn't have any yet this season), but he is stout enough to control single blocks when he keeps his pad level low enough. He is highly gifted and scheme-versatile, but discipline will be a concern for scouts. Davis has 33 tackles this season.
12. Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 310
Grade: 89 | Previous rank: 32
Kinlaw has five sacks so far in 2019. He is twitchy with a quick first step and some good initial power to walk offensive linemen back, though I think he needs to develop a better counter off his bull rush. Kinlaw has a good motor, but I would like to see a little more nastiness fighting through double-teams. He waves the white flag a bit too early. He fits best in a one-gap-heavy scheme and is at his best when active as a run defender.
13. Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford*
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 190
Grade: 89 | Previous rank: 16
Adebo is a long corner with tons of speed and elite ball skills. Cardinal coach David Shaw raves about his work ethic and professional approach to the game. After recording four interceptions in 2018, Adebo has four more this season (tied for fifth in the nation) to go with 10 passes broken up (tied for seventh) and 28 tackles.
14. Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia*
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 320
Grade: 88 | Previous rank: 9
Thomas is a powerful left tackle who will need some time to develop his hands and footwork, but you can see the strong movement and natural ability. Although he will occasionally give up some ground to bull-rushers, he shows initial pop. His game is raw, but the athleticism and potential are there.
15. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 216
Grade: 88 | Previous rank: NR
Burrow appeared to be a fringe NFL prospect a year ago, but now he's become a potential first-rounder. He is making quicker decisions with the football, displaying complete control of the Tigers' offense and extending plays -- he's a better athlete than people give him credit for. And he's shown good accuracy throwing into tight windows, too. Burrow is currently No. 2 in the nation in both passing yards (2,805) and passing touchdowns (30), and his 91.4 QBR is fourth.
16. Jacob Eason, QB, Washington*
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 227
Grade: 87 | Previous rank: 15
Eason has a big, strong frame and an even bigger arm. I'm really starting to see his timing and anticipation improve on his throws. In eight games, Eason has 1,981 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and three interceptions. He still needs more game experience. Although he played in 13 games for Georgia in 2016, he threw just seven passes during the 2017 season before redshirting when he transferred to Washington in 2018. But he has high-level natural tools, including some good mobility for a quarterback with his size.
17. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson*
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 205
Grade: 87 | Previous rank: 21
I like Higgins' game a lot. He's an athletic playmaker who will catch anything in his neighborhood, as shown by his 27 catches for 588 yards and three touchdowns this season. Higgins doesn't have elite speed and still has some work to do getting off press coverage, but he has tremendous size. And he can make guys miss with his strength.
18. Curtis Weaver, DE, Boise State*
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 265
Grade: 87 | Previous rank: 31
Weaver uses his power to be effective as a pass-rusher. He extends his arms against tackles to find the quarterback. That ability shows up on the stat sheet, as he has 9.5 sacks this season in seven contests, third-most in the nation. Weaver also has the ability to make plays in the backfield as a run defender and can set the edge when his technique is sound. But there's some room for improvement when it comes to getting off his blocks.
19. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin*
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 219
Grade: 87 | Previous rank: 19
Taylor has been nothing short of incredible this season. After seasons of 1,977 and 2,194 rushing yards, he has gained 1,009 yards (fifth) and scored 15 times (third) on the ground in 2019. Taylor is an instinctive between-the-tackles runner who displays patience and burst. He will make defenders miss both in the hole and at the second level. In years past, he wasn't featured in the passing game, but Taylor has already set career highs in that regard this season, with 17 catches for 143 yards and four more touchdowns through eight games.
20. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama*
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190
Grade: 86 | Previous rank: 12
Ruggs is a burner who explodes off the line of scrimmage and is very savvy in his route running. He isn't afraid to work the middle of the field, but Ruggs needs to build some strength to generate better late separation. Thanks to that elite speed and some crisp cutting ability, he is a real threat to opposing defensive backs. Despite two games of fewer than 15 receiving yards this season, Ruggs has six touchdowns and 513 yards. He is averaging 19.7 yards per catch.
21. D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia*
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 215
Grade: 86 | Previous rank: 29
His game is all about explosion. He's a one-cut-and-go type who just explodes through the line of scrimmage, rushing for 727 yards and seven touchdowns so far this season. But Swift also has good hands and can run routes as a pass-catcher (13 receptions for 148 yards and a score), which is unusual for a college running back. He is well built with good strength, and if he gets going, he can be a real problem for opponents. However, he dances a little too much sometimes and gets into trouble.
22. Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado*
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 220
Grade: 85 | Previous rank: 17
This guy is a real weapon for any offense. Shenault can play any receiver position and is terrific with the ball in his hands. Don't expect him to run a normal route tree, instead snagging a lot of short catches underneath, but he is good on contested balls, and his ability to create after the catch stands out as a plus trait. Shenault will need some time to develop and learn effective deep routes, but his short-area quickness is something else. He has 34 catches for 514 yards and 13 carries for 99 yards through seven games, and he has five total touchdowns. He rolled off 189 scrimmage yards against USC this past weekend.
23. Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State*
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 264
Grade: 85 | Previous rank: NR
Gross-Matos is an effective hand fighter who makes it tough for offensive linemen to get their hands on him. He flashes an effective change-of-pace inside move, but he rarely overwhelms blockers with power or speed to power. He's more effective shooting gaps than he is stacking and shedding as a run defender. Gross-Matos is an above-average pass-rusher, as his 5.5 sacks through eight games shows.
24. Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 207
Grade: 85 | Previous rank: 25
Diggs played only six games in 2018 because of a broken foot, but he already has three picks, 22 tackles and two defensive touchdowns in eight 2019 games. He is a versatile athlete with great size and good straight-line speed. He has experience working on the perimeter but has also played the overhang and free-safety roles on defense -- and returned kicks. Diggs has tightness in his hips and will give up separation to quicker receivers out of their breaks, but he can be effective in coverage in press man and zone defense. He closes well and limits gains after the catch. And he will mix it up physically.
25. Terrell Lewis, OLB, Alabama*
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 252
Grade: 85 | Previous rank: 28
Lewis missed the 2018 season because of a torn ACL, but he is a menace off the edge, as evidenced by his six sacks, nine tackles for loss and 12 QB hurries in seven games this season. He has the ideal size, speed and athleticism to develop into an every-down edge rusher in the NFL.
26. Julian Okwara, DE, Notre Dame
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 248
Grade: 84 | Previous rank: 18
Okwara is a long, athletic hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker with good range. He flashes good speed to power as a pass-rusher -- he has five sacks and two forced fumbles so far in 2019 -- and stacks tight ends as a run defender. Okwara is just scratching the surface in terms of his potential, though. He needs to develop an effective inside move and improve his ability to counter. He fits better as a 3-4 OLB than a defensive end.
27. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State*
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 217
Grade: 84 | Previous rank: NR
Dobbins has above-average balance and core strength. He shows average quickness through the hole and he builds to above-average playing speed. Dobbins is a little tight and isn't an ankle-breaker in space, but he's shifty between the tackles. As a pass-catcher, he flashes soft hands and is efficient after the catch. Through eight games, Dobbins is second in the nation in rushing yards (1,110) and has run it into the end zone nine times.
Justin Fields accounts for three touchdowns while J.K. Dobbins scores twice to lead Ohio State to a dominant 38-7 win over Wisconsin.
28. Marvin Wilson, DT, Florida State*
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 311
Grade: 84 | Previous rank: NR
Wilson moves really well for his size and is a quick penetrator on the interior of the line. He isn't a sack artist -- he has five this season -- but he proves disruptive against both the pass and run. Wilson has tallied 41 tackles and a forced fumble in 2019, and he's become a real leader for the Seminoles.
29. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 200
Grade: 84 | Previous rank: 11
I really like the way Fulton makes "splash" plays. He has really good ball skills and stops and starts so quickly, despite average straight-line speed. He bats balls and shows good instincts in coverage. Now Fulton needs to get a bit stronger, as bigger receivers can push him around at times. Scouts will also be mindful of off-field concerns; the corner was suspended for the 2017 season after allegedly tampering with a drug test. Although he has just one interception in 2019, he has eight passes broken up through eight games.
30. Zack Baun, OLB, Wisconsin
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 235
Grade: 83 | Previous rank: NR
I really love Baun's versatility and motor. He plays with great effort and has some shock in his hands coming off the edge. In eight games, Baun has 7.5 sacks (tied for 12th in FBS), 12.5 tackles for loss (tied for 11th) and two forced fumbles. Injuries have limited him over his college career, but NFL evaluators are starting to see his upside. We still need to see how he performs versus elite competition -- he was solid but not a standout over the weekend against Ohio State.
31. A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa*
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 280
Grade: 83 | Previous rank: 30
Epenesa is an active hand fighter and displays good effort when rushing the passer, getting his arms in passing lanes. He has the strength -- and size -- to set the edge against the run when he needs to. But Epenesa lacks lower-body flexibility and closing speed, and he still needs a little improvement getting off blocks. He has produced 3.5 sacks and eight QB hurries in eight games in 2019.
32. Jared Pinkney, TE, Vanderbilt
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 260
Grade: 83 | Previous rank: 22
Pinkney flashes as a route runner, separates well for his size and has enough speed to threaten down the seam. He tracks the ball well and shows good body control adjusting to passes and a wide catch radius. As an in-line run-blocker, he has some problems sustaining and needs to get stronger at the point of attack, but his athletic ability and frame make him an effective blocker in space when his technique is sound. Pinkney has 15 catches for 157 yards in seven games this season, averaging 10.5 per reception.