kiper's top players by position

[thedoctor]

Jan. 12, 2006 | Now that underclassmen are declaring for the NFL draft, the Top 5 list will take on a different look in the coming weeks. Instead of Top 5 Seniors by Position, it is now Top 5 Players by Position, based on seniors and underclassmen who are involved in the draft process. Expect many more changes in the next few weeks, since underclassmen have until Jan. 15 to declare for April's draft.

 

Quarterbacks

1. Matt Leinart, USC

2. Vince Young, Texas (Junior)

3. Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt

4. Brodie Croyle, Alabama

5. Charlie Whitehurst, Clemson

5a. Omar Jacobs, Bowling Green (Junior)

 

Running Backs

1. Reggie Bush, USC

2. DeAngelo Williams, Memphis

3. LenDale White, USC

4. Laurence Maroney, Minnesota

5. Maurice Drew, UCLA

5a. Joseph Addai, LSU

5b. Brian Calhoun, Wisconsin

 

Fullbacks

1. Lawrence Vickers, Colorado

2. J.D. Runnels, Oklahoma

3. Matt Bernstein, Wisconsin

4. Daccus Turman, South Carolina

5. David Kirtman, USC

 

Wide Receivers

1. Santonio Holmes, Ohio State (Junior)

2. Derek Hagan, Arizona State

3. Sinorice Moss, Miami

4. Chad Jackson, Florida (Junior)

5. Maurice Stovall, Notre Dame

5a. Hank Baskett, New Mexico

 

Tight Ends

1. Vernon Davis, Maryland (Junior)

2. Leonard Pope, Georgia (Junior)

3. Anthony Fasano, Notre Dame (Junior)

4. Dominique Byrd, USC

5. Marcedes Lewis, UCLA

5a. Owen Daniels, Wisconsin

5b. David Thomas, Texas

 

Tackles

1. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia

2. Winston Justice, USC (Junior)

3. Ryan O'Callaghan, California

4. Jeremy Trueblood, Boston College

5. Marcus McNeill, Auburn

5a. Andrew Whitworth, LSU

5b. Eric Winston, Miami

 

Guards

1. Jason Spitz, Louisville

2. Taitusi Lutui, USC

3. Max Jean-Gilles, Georgia

4. Kevin Boothe, Cornell

5. Rob Sims, Ohio State

5a. Davin Joseph, Oklahoma

 

Centers

1. Ryan Cook, New Mexico

2. Nick Mangold, Ohio State

3. Greg Eslinger, Minnesota

4. Mike Degory, Florida

5. Todd Londot, Miami (Ohio)

 

Place Kickers

1. Stephen Gostkowski, Memphis

2. Josh Huston, Ohio State

3. Connor Hughes, Virginia

4. Deric Yaussi, Wyoming

5. Kurt Smith, Virginia

 

Defensive Ends

1. Mario Williams, NC State (Junior)

2. Tamba Hali, Penn State

3. Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College

4. Kamerion Wimbley, Florida State

5. Manny Lawson, NC State

5a. Elvis Dumervil, Louisville

5b. Ray Edwards, Purdue (Junior)

5c. Jason Hatcher, Grambling

 

Defensive Tackles

1. Haloti Ngata, Oregon

2. Orien Harris, Miami

3. Claude Wroten, LSU

4. Brodrick Bunkley, Florida State

5. Kyle Williams, LSU

5a. Titus Adams, Nebraska

 

Inside Linebackers

1. D'Qwell Jackson, Maryland

2. Abdul Hodge, Iowa

3. Kai Parham, Virginia (Junior)

4. Gerris Wilkinson, Georgia Tech

5. Oliver Hoyte, NC State

 

Outside Linebackers

1. A.J. Hawk, Ohio State

2. DeMeco Ryans, Alabama

3. Chad Greenway, Iowa

4. Ernie Sims, Florida St. (Junior)

5. Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State

5a. Thomas Howard, UTEP

5b. Stephen Tulloch, N.C. State (Junior)

5c. Cameron Vaughn, LSU

 

Cornerbacks

1. Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech

2. Ashton Youboty, Ohio St. (Junior)

3. Antonio Cromartie, Florida State (Junior)

4. Anwar Phillips, Penn State

5. Johnathan Joseph, South Carolina (Junior)

5a. Kelly Jennings, Miami

5b. Marcus Hudson, NC State

5c. Jason Allen, Tennessee

5d. DeMario Minter, Georgia

5e. Alan Zemaitis, Penn State

 

Safeties

1. Michael Huff, Texas

2. Ko Simpson, South Carolina (Junior)

3. Donte Whitner, Ohio St. (Junior)

4. Anthony Smith, Syracuse

5. Danieal Manning, Abilene Christian (Junior)

5a. Bernard Pollard, Purdue (Junior)

5b. Dwayne Slay, Texas Tech

5c. Daniel Bullocks, Nebraska

 

Punters

1. John Torp, Colorado

2. Steve Weatherford, Illinois

3. Jeff Williams, Adams State (Colo.)

4. Tom Malone, USC

5. Sam Paulescu, Oregon State