It has been more than a month since the release of my "too early" Big Board for the 2016 NFL draft, a ranking that includes 2015 underclassmen. For this, I'll go a little deeper into each position group so you'll get an idea of more than 100 of the top NFL prospects for 2016. It goes without saying that these rankings are preliminary, as I have countless hours of evaluation still ahead for the 2016 class.
A couple of important notes about the rankings below:
• I've split them into seniors and underclassmen; it's important to have a baseline number of seniors because those players are certain to be a part of the 2016 NFL draft process (if they so choose).
• I won't go too heavy into actual scouting reports, as those are still works in progress.
With those parameters in mind, here's an early look at the top offensive line prospects -- tackles, guards and centers, 30 players in total -- in the 2016 draft class.
Top 5 senior offensive tackles
1. Taylor Decker, Ohio State Buckeyes
2. Spencer Drango, Baylor Bears
3. Kyle Murphy, Stanford Cardinal
4. Tyler Marz, Wisconsin Badgers
5. Le'Raven Clark, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Notes: I thought Decker could have landed in Round 1 in the 2015 draft, but he'll be back to anchor what should be a dominant offensive line. Drango is going to be remarkably seasoned by the time the draft arrives; if he stays healthy this season, he'll have started over 50 games in his collegiate career.
Top 5 underclassmen offensive tackles
1. Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss Rebels
2. Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
3. Jack Conklin, Michigan State Spartans
4. Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M Aggies
Notes: Most people know about Tunsil's talent; the key for him will be health. If he's 100 percent, he's a top-10 pick. Stanley got a lot of love going into the draft process last year, but he was wise to stay in school. The talent outpaces the tape, and more experience will help. Conklin is a stud too few know about. He keeps Connor Cook clean.
Top 5 senior guards
1. Landon Turner, North Carolina Tar Heels
2. Vadal Alexander, LSU Tigers
3. Christian Westerman, Arizona State Sun Devils
4. Cody Whitehair, Kansas State Wildcats
5. Jordan Rigsbee, California Golden Bears
Notes: I love watching Turner in the run game; he'll put defenders on their backs on occasion. Alexander is a huge guy (6-foot-6, 320 pounds), but he moves well.
Top 5 underclassmen guards
1. Pat Elflein, Ohio State Buckeyes
2. Denver Kirkland, Arkansas Razorbacks
3. Steve Elmer, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
4. Greg Pyke, Georgia Bulldogs
5. Dan Feeney, Indiana Hoosiers
Notes: Elflein really came into his own last season. He had dominating performances over the Buckeyes' last three games, when the rushing attack broke loose.
Top 5 senior centers
1. Max Tuerk, USC Trojans
2. Nick Martin, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
3. Mike Matthews, Texas A&M Aggies
4. Ryan Kelly, Alabama Crimson Tide
Notes: Tuerk isn't just a good center; he's arguably the most versatile lineman in the country based on his track record. He's started at every spot on the line other than right guard (and he'd probably be pretty good there, as well). Martin's brother, Zack, just finished up a brilliant rookie season for the Dallas Cowboys. He also came out of Notre Dame.
Top 5 underclassmen centers
1. Isaac Seumalo, Oregon State Beavers
2. Dan Voltz, Wisconsin Badgers
3. Ethan Pocic, LSU Tigers
4. Kyle Fuller, Baylor Bears
5. Jon Toth, Kentucky Wildcats
Notes: That's Say-You-Maw-Low on the pronunciation, folks. He is no sleeper at this point, as he came out of high school as one of the best guards in the country. Voltz is a good one, and more proof that the Badgers' assembly line for producing offensive linemen is still cranking.