Top NFL Draft Prospects At Each Position For 2015 Season

Going into the 2015 season, who are the top NFL Draft prospects at each position? Who are the ones the NFL scouts are going to be looking at the hardest?  

Top NFL Draft Prospects For 2015

QB Cardale Jones, Jr. Ohio State


He’s the best pro quarterback prospect in college football – even if he doesn’t start. One of the most interesting shooting star stories in college football history, the No. 3 quarterback on the roster might have been the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft had he chosen to leave early. He’s still a project, but he’s 6-5, 250 pounds, mobile, and has an arm as good as any pro quarterback – and he’s a national champion. Thrown into the spotlight late against Michigan, he closed out the win and then went on a tear, winning the Big Ten title and rolling through the playoff finishing the season with 860 yards completing 61% of his passes with seven touchdowns and two picks, while running for 296 yards with a score. While he’s still in the midst of a quarterback battle, he was the only healthy option this offseason and might just be too good not to push further. However, he still needs to prove he can be a game-in-and-game-out performer, and while he’s the prototype next-level prospect, he needs a ton of polish. Able to unleash the arm and throw the deep ball on a regular basis, he hasn’t needed to come up with too many second-and-third reads, even against the elite defenses he faced. The spotlight is on – if he keeps on progressing, the NFL sky is the limit.
2015 Ohio State Preview

RB Leonard Fournette, Soph. LSU


He’s not eligible for the NFL until next year, but the superstar recruit of last year will have to do even more this season with no Terrence Magee or Kenny Hilliard to count on. The quarterbacks will run a bit, and it’s LSU, so there are always going to be more talented running backs waiting in the wings, but Fournette is the Heisman-caliber star the offense will work around. Les Miles has enjoyed a fantastic group of running backs in his time, but No. 7 might be the best of the bunch.
2015 LSU Preview

WR Laquon Treadwell, Jr. Ole Miss


While he might not fit the prototype of the ideal NFL receiver, he’s a next-level talent who’ll soon have a long, productive career on Sundays. First, he has to get back for the horrific leg injury suffered in the middle of the season against Auburn, but he’s on track to return and be back to form this year. Before getting hurt, he was in the midst of a marvelous season, catching 48 passes for 632 yards and five scores after making 72 grabs as a freshman. Ironically, he did the most damage in the Auburn game with ten catches for 103 yards and a score before getting hurt – coming an inch away from it being a 104-yard, two score day that likely would’ve given Ole Miss the win. At 6-2 and between 210 and 220 pounds, he’s a thick, tough target who’s more like a midrange possession receiver than a stretch-the-field blazer. His speed is fine, but that’s not really his game with a calling card as an ultra-reliable, consistent go-to guy.
2015 Ole Miss Preview

TE Hunter Henry, Jr. Arkansas


The stars of the Arkansas show are in the backfield with Alex Collins leading the way, but the pro types are giving the longest look at Henry, a 6-5, 250-pound receiver who caught 37 passes for 513 yards and two touchdowns with the ability to stretch the field and great route running skills. Expect him to play an even bigger role this year, even as a blocker. You can’t play tight end under this staff without being able to deliver a pop.
2015 Arkansas Preview

OT Ronnie Stanley, Sr. Notre Dame


The hope is for Malik Zaire to turn into the superstar who can carry the offense, and there’s no arguing against the idea of WR Will Fuller or C Nick Martin to be considered among the team’s best offensive stars, but Stanley is the best pro prospect on the O and he’ll be the main man of the deep and talented line. He has prototype size, pass protection skills and pounding ability. While he doesn’t have to anchor the line, he’ll be able to.
2015 Notre Dame Preview

OG Vadal Alexander, Sr. LSU


He’ll be a tackle this year, but he’s a guard at the next level. La’el Collins was the best blocker on the line, but the 6-6, 320-pound Alexander wasn’t far behind and is ready for the NFL now. A guard throughout last season, he’s agile enough to take over now at right tackle while Jerald Hawkins moves to Collins’ spot on the left side. With his bulk and strength, Alexander is a massive hitter on the inside – he’ll be a guard at the next level. Likely a late second-to-early-third round pick next year, he has rare size and the versatility NFL teams love. He might not be for every pro offense, but the all-star performer is a road grader who’ll put together a highlight reel of dominant blocks.
2015 LSU Preview

C Max Tuerk, Sr. USC


Tuerk is the linchpin of a young offensive line that should be one of the Trojans’ strengths this season. USC has been fortunate to have Tuerk this long, because his combination of size, experience and versatility usually results in an early exit to the NFL. The three-time All-Pac-12 pick has started games at every line position, rising to the all-league first team as a first-time center in 2014. Tuerk is a solid 6-6, 285-pounder, with the long arms, good feet and smarts to earn All-American nods this fall.
2015 USC Preview

DE Joey Bosa, Jr. Ohio State


There’s some question about some Buckeyes and their first round draft status depending on how they do this year, but Bosa is an NFL starter right now – he just happens to be playing one more year for the Buckeyes. At his size and with his motor and athleticism, he’s a tone-setting pass rusher on a defense full of tone-setters. Think J.J. Watt – the NFL scouts are.
2015 Ohio State Preview

DT A’Shawn Robinson, Jr. Alabama


The 6-4, 312-pound lineman was the nation’s No. 1 ranked defensive tackle and considered the top all-around lineman coming out in 2013 – some thought he might end up on the offensive side. A five-star recruit, he made an immediate impact despite starting just two games, making 38 tackles with a team-leading 5.5 sacks with eight tackles for loss. Last season he was a monster against the run, eating up 49 stops with 6.5 tackles for loss. The prototype for what Alabama likes to do defensively, he’s an NFL-ready tackle who can fit in any scheme with great quickness off the ball and tremendous toughness to hold up inside as an anchor. Taken away from the Longhorns, the Texas native has it all as long as the motor is running full-tilt all the time.
2015 Alabama Preview

OLB Myles Jack, Jr. UCLA


Jack may not have played up to his full potential as a sophomore, but it won’t become a trend. With NFL scouts set to pay close attention, and a position switch opening up more opportunities, he’s determined to make an even bigger splash in what could be his Bruin finale. Jack is moving from outside to inside linebacker in an effort to get him even closer to the ball. He’s the rare 230-pounder who’s strong enough to fill gaps on running downs, yet also drop into coverage to blanket much smaller receivers. Jack has an All-American ceiling, which he plans to reach this fall.
2015 UCLA Preview

ILB Reggie Ragland, Sr. Alabama


Would he turn pro early or come back as the leader of another great Crimson Tide defense? The 6-2, 252-pounder returned, and it’ll be a shocker if he’s not one of the top three inside linebackers taken in next year’s draft. A rock-solid long time part of the run defense, he took over the weakside position last season and was seemingly in on everything, finishing second on the team with 93 tackles with 1.5 sacks, a pick, and 10.5 tackles for loss. A big hitter who gets physical, he came up with 13 tackles against LSU and ten more the following week against Mississippi State – he’ll be a lock to hit the double-digit mark several times. How good is he? Alabama insiders are suggesting he might be the best linebacker yet in the Nick Saban era.
2015 Alabama Preview

CB Vernon Hargreaves III, Jr. Florida


A star right off the bat, he came up with a big true freshman season and has kept on rolling. The 5-11, 198-pound junior is smart, tough, and a fantastic hitter in the open field with big tackling ability and the instincts to always sniff out the play a half step before it happens coming up with three interceptions, 13 broken up passes – 24 for his young career – and 50 tackles. The stats are staying strong even though everyone is staying away from him, and he’ll still come through as a lockdown defender on everyone’s No. 1 target. He’ll still get challenged by the better receivers – Amari Cooper did whatever he wanted in Alabama’s win – but he’ll be among the best cover-corners in America and a top draft pick whenever he comes out.
2015 Florida Preview

S Darian Thompson, Sr. Boise State


The First Team All-Mountain West star finished second on the team with 71 tackles with seven picks and five tackles for loss. At 6-2 and 208 pounds, he has excellent size and phenomenal ball-hawking skills, coming up with two against Nevada and starting out with an interception in each of his first two games after picking off four in 2012. A great hitter with the right frame for a strong safety – he hit San Diego State and Arizona for ten tackles each – he has next-level potential if he can come up with one more big year.
2015 Boise State Preview

PK Roberto Aguayo, Jr. Florida State


Aguayo actually had to ponder whether to consider early entry into the 2015 NFL Draft. Yeah, he’s that rare of a placekicker. He’s had arguably the best first half to a career of any kicker in college football history, winning the Groza Award in 2013 and becoming a finalist a year ago. Aguayo is the total package at the position, clutch, accurate and able to reach the goalposts from beyond 50 yards. Through two seasons, the All-American has hit all 149 of his extra point attempts and 48-of-52 field goal tries.
2015 Florida State Preview

P Tom Hackett, Sr. Utah


Hackett is the unsung hero of the Utah defense, because he’s one of the most effective punters in college football. The one-time walk-on from Australia captured the 2014 Ray Guy Award given to the country’s most complete punter. He’s the total package at the position, averaging 46.7 yards and attempt, while also leading the country in punts inside the opponents’ 10-yard line. The precocious Hackett is an artist with his right foot.
2015 Utah Preview