Spring practice is over and we are inching closer to September. Our player projections are in process and while they are not fully complete, we can see the preseason rankings taking shape, and they've been uploaded into the Draft Kit.
Much like those released in January, you can expect these rankings to change as news comes in and we finish out the statistical projections.
We've also updated team depth charts. You can find the depth information in the stat boxes located on the team pages. And returning starter information can be found in the draft kit.
Here is a look at the rankings.
Quarterback
There are still a few important quarterback battles that need to sort themselves out this August. The biggest being at Southern Miss. Can Austin Davis regain his starting sport from Martevious Young? The way Young played last fall and this spring, he has more than a fair shot at keeping the job. Or even worse, creating a rotating quarterback situation. Those with drafts in July are going to have to pick a side on this one and take a leap of faith.
The other is the Hawaii quarterback situation. It is pretty clear the coaching staff is looking forward to Bryant Moniz's return, the others just don't seem ready yet. But I'd proceed with caution with Moniz on draft day. Lots of upside due to the offense, but can he win the trust of his teammates and more importantly, perform well enough to keep the job all season long?
1) Case Keenum, Houston
2) Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
3) Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M
4) Dwight Dasher, Mid Tenn
5) Zach Collaros, Cincinnati
6) Robert Griffin, Baylor
7) Kellen Moore, Boise State
8) Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
9) Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
10) Kyle Padron, SMU
11) Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma St
12) Russell Wilson, NC State
13) Jake Locker, Washington
14) Diondre Borel, Utah St
15) G.J. Kinne, Tulsa
16) Dayne Crist, Notre Dame
17) Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
18) Austin Davis, Southern Miss
19) Martevious Young, Southern Miss
20) Andy Dalton, TCU
21) Ricky Dobbs, Navy
22) Landry Jones, Oklahoma
23) Tyler Bass, Memphis
24) Garrett Gilbert, Texas
25) John Brantley, Florida
26) Andrew Luck, Stanford
27) Bryant Moniz, Hawaii
28) B.J. Daniels, South Florida
29) Jamie Hampton, Troy
30) Matt Barkley, USC
31) Austen Arnaud, Iowa State
32) Dan Persa, Northwestern
33) Trevor Vittatoe, UTEP
34) Cameron Newton, Auburn
35) Christian Ponder, Florida State
36) Zac Dysert, Miami (OH)
37) Josh Nesbitt, Georgia Tech
38) Stephen Garcia, South Carolina
39) Austyn Carta-Samuels, Wyoming
40) Jacory Harris, Miami (FL)
41) Omar Clayton, UNLV
42) Kevin Prince, UCLA
43) Kevin Newsome, Penn State
44) Ryan Lindley, San Diego St
45) Ben Chappell, Indiana
46) Robert Marve, Purdue
47) Tyler Hansen, Colorado
48) Chris Relf, Miss State
49) Nick Foles, Arizona
50) Jordan Wynn, Utah
Running Backs
Much like last year there is little separating the top running backs in 2010. I'd feel equally as comfortable getting Jacquizz Rodgers as I would Bernard Pierce on draft day. And there is depth too. Backs like Chad Spann and Vai Taua could easily end up being the top fantasy running back in 2010. Despite the depth you know there will be an early run on running backs...there always is.
The biggest question on everyone's mind is how will Ryan Williams perform with the return of Darren Evans? Williams was one of the top running backs last year and not just from a fantasy perspective. He was one of the most dynamic backs in the country in 2009, and he will certainly get his. But the Hokies have been known to rotate backs in the past, and Evans will get his looks as well. Especially around the goal line. There is room for both, but the thought of split carries hurts Williams' value a tad.
The other big question mark is whether or not Harvey Unga will return. It has been relatively quiet in Provo, so it is anyone's guess. We are leaving him in the rankings for now.
1) Donald Buckram, UTEP
2) Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State
3) Lance Dunbar, North Texas
4) Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh
5) LaMichael James, Oregon
6) Daniel Thomas, Kansas State
7) Mark Ingram, Alabama
8) Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma St
9) Bernard Pierce, Temple
10) Noel Devine, West Virginia
11) Jordan Todman, Connecticut
12) John Clay, Wisconsin
13) Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech
14) Shane Vereen, California
15) Vai Taua, Nevada
16) Chad Spann, Northern Illinois
17) Montel Harris, Boston College
18) DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma
19) Baron Batch, Texas Tech
20) Anthony Allen, Georgia Tech
21) Michael Smith, Utah St
22) Alfred Morris, FLA Atlantic
23) Robbie Rouse, Fresno State
24) Frank Goodin, La-Monroe
25) Derrick Washington, Missouri
26) Evan Royster, Penn State
27) Alexander Robinson, Iowa State
28) Harvey Unga, Brigham Young
29) Delone Carter, Syracuse
30) Morgan Williams, Toledo
31) Toben Opurum, Kansas
32) Eugene Jarvis, Kent State
33) Ed Wesley, TCU
34) MiQuale Lewis, Ball State
35) Moise Plancher, South Florida
36) Chris Polk, Washington
37) Rodney Stewart, Colorado
38) Willie Geter, Bowling Green
39) Victor Anderson, Louisville
40) Derrick Locke, Kentucky
41) Andre Ellington, Clemson
42) Allen Bradford, USC
43) Martin Ward, Marshall
44) Charles Clay, Tulsa
45) Tauren Poole, Tennessee
46) Charles Sims, Houston
47) Sam McGuffie, Rice
48) Matthew Tucker, TCU
49) Seth Smith, New Mexico St
50) Mikel LeShoure, Illinois
Wide Receiver
Receiver will once again be the most hit-or-miss position in 2010. And we certainly are taking a bit of a risk putting a guy that has yet to make it through a complete season healthy at the top of the list.
Mohamed Sanu makes a bit of a surprise entry into the Top 5. Sanu touched the ball 113 times last season. The last three games he rushed the ball an average of 14.6 times. It is hard to imagine him maintaining that pace and putting up solid receiving numbers, but whether it is running or receiving, he's going to touch the ball often.
Some might be a big surprised at James Cleveland's ranking. The Cougs are loaded at receiver with Tyron Carrier, Patrick Edwards and a host of others. While Cleveland has the edge due to his size, they will spread the ball around and anyone of the three could lead the team in receiving in 2010. Still, there is probably not a safer bet than grabbing a Houston receiver.
1) Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
2) DeAndre Brown, Southern Miss
3) Vincent Brown, San Diego St
4) Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers
5) Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
6) Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M
7) James Cleveland, Houston
8) Damaris Johnson, Tulsa
9) Greg Salas, Hawaii
10) Randall Cobb, Kentucky
11) James Rodgers, Oregon State
12) Armon Binns, Cincinnati
13) Titus Young, Boise State
14) Tyron Carrier, Houston
15) Dwayne Harris, East Carolina
16) Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh
17) Eric Page, Toledo
18) Jerrel Jernigan, Troy
19) Aldrick Robinson, SMU
20) Rodney Bradley, Hawaii
21) Ronald Johnson, USC
22) Keith Smith, Purdue
23) Austin Pettis, Boise State
24) Patrick Edwards, Houston
25) Hubert Anyiam, Oklahoma St
26) Ryan Whalen, Stanford
27) Jerrell Jackson, Missouri
28) T.Y. Hilton, FLA Intl
29) A.J. Green, Georgia
30) Detron Lewis, Texas Tech
31) Alex Torres, Texas Tech
32) Owen Spencer, NC State
33) Donovan Varner, Duke
34) Kendall Wright, Baylor
35) Juron Criner, Arizona
36) Tandon Doss, Indiana
37) Kris Adams, UTEP
38) Bert Reed, Florida State
39) Scotty McKnight, Colorado
40) Darvin Adams, Auburn
41) Jock Sanders, West Virginia
42) Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina
43) Jereme Brooks, Utah
44) DeVier Posey, Ohio State
45) Greg Childs, Arkansas
46) Marvin McNutt, Iowa
47) Torrey Smith, Maryland
48) Damarlo Belcher, Indiana
49) Chris Owusu, Stanford
50) Uzoma Nwachukwu, Texas A&M
Tight End
Another down year for star power at the tight end position. The long and lean Lance Kendricks holds down our top spot. He's a natural receiver, and he operates in an offense that features the tight end. It should be a perfect fit.
A couple of sleepers to watch out for are Rob Housler and Vance McDonald. Most fantasy owners will probably remember Housler as he he racked up 519 yards receiving and four touchdowns in 2008 filling in for Jason Harmon. With Harmon returning last season, Housler opted to redshirt, and this is a move that should pay big dividends for fantasy owners.
A true freshman last year, McDonald got his feet wet, snagging 12 passes for 118 yards. With Tyler Wardlow moving on, McDonald figures to play a more prominent role in 2010. And with the lack of fantasy standouts this year at tight end, he is a guy to gamble on.
We love our Michigan State boys, the problem is there are too many in the mix and not enough balls to go around. But if injuries play a factor, you could see one emerge and take a majority of the snaps.
1) Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin
2) Ladarius Green, La-Lafayette
3) Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame
4) D.J. Williams, Arkansas
5) Joe Halahuni, Oregon State
6) George Bryan, NC State
7) Jeffery Anderson, UAB
8) Rob Housler, FLA Atlantic
9) Vance McDonald, Rice
10) Mike McNeill, Nebraska
11) Drake Dunsmore, Northwestern
12) Luke Stocker, Tennessee
13) Austin Holt, Brigham Young
14) Orson Charles, Georgia
15) Jamie Hatten, Marshall
16) Weslye Saunders, South Carolina
17) Cameron Graham, Louisville
18) Virgil Green, Nevada
19) Kyle Efaw, Boise State
20) Dwayne Allen, Clemson
21) Marcus Green, Miss State
22) Anthony Miller, California
23) Kyle Adams, Purdue
24) Ben Guidugli, Cincinnati
25) Coby Fleener, Stanford
26) Tim Biere, Kansas
27) Brandon Barden, Vanderbilt
28) Jordan Reed, Florida
29) Charlie Gantt, Michigan St
30) Kavario Middleton, Washington
31) Aron White, Georgia
32) Ryan Griffin, Connecticut
33) Brian Linthicum, Michigan St
34) Alston Umuolo, San Diego St
35) D.C. Jefferson, Rutgers
36) Jack Doyle, Western Kentucky
37) Jonathan Massey, Southern Miss
38) Barrett Matthews, Texas
39) Nick Melillo, Kentucky
40) Kevin Koger, Michigan
41) Chris Pantale, Boston College
42) Brad Taylor, Baylor
43) Andrew Jones, Missouri
44) Ben Thayer, Eastern Michigan
45) Morrell Presley, UCLA
46) Richard Gordon, Miami (FL)
47) David Paulson, Oregon
48) Allen Reisner, Iowa
49) Alvin Jordan Jr., La-Monroe
50) Madaris Grant, Ball State
Defense
Last year ranking the defenses was easy. Alabama and Florida were 1a and 1b, and there really wasn't much debate about it. It is tough to pick a true number one this year, let alone a top 25. But it's our job to put some sort of semblance of order to this hodgepodge of defenses.
The Buckeyes claim our top spot. They return a formindable defensive line, lead by future first round pick Cameron Heyward. They have a pair of corners that will attract NFL Scouts to the Horsehoe on Saturday afternoons as well. But what really vaulted them to the top is their schedule. Eight home games and non-conference games against Marshall, Ohio and Eastern Michigan are pretty tasty.
Florida and Alabama take huge hits in both quality and quantity of personnel lost. Combined they must replace 15 starters on the defensive side of the ball, 11 of whom had their name called in the 2010 NFL Draft. Not that there is a shortage of talent in Gainesville or Tuscaloosa. Top recruits flow into these schools like beer at a tailgate, but much like last season with USC, you have to expect some drop off.
Virginia Tech and TCU receive lofty rankings out of respect, but we're hardly sold on these perennial defensive powerhouses.
1) Ohio St Buckeyes
2) North Carolina Tar Heels
3) Boise St Broncos
4) Nebraska Cornhuskers
5) Iowa Hawkeyes
6) Texas Longhorns
7) TCU Horned Frogs
8) USC Trojans
9) Oklahoma Sooners
10) Florida Gators
11) Virginia Tech Hokies
12) Clemson Tigers
13) Alabama Crimson Tide
14) Temple Owls
15) Oregon Ducks
16) Northern Ill Wolfpack
17) Mississippi Rebels
18) Miami (Fla) Hurricanes
19) Rutgers Scarlet Knights
20) Auburn Tigers
21) Utah Utes
22) Air Force Falcons
23) Penn St Nittany Lions
24) UCLA Bruins
25) LSU Tigers
Kicker
Lastly we have the kickers, the off-forgotten men on draft day. The general rule of thumb is don't mess around with first-year starting kickers. Stick with the tried and true. The good news is a large number of starters return in 2010, giving us plenty of options.
Including 2009 Lou Groza Award winner Kai Forbath, who hasn't missed a field goal under 49 yards since Oct. 11, 2008 against Oregon. He's attempted 30 or more field goals in every season. Unfortunately he's only attempted 30 PATs in a season once. If you're looking for more balance, then Grant Ressel or Kyle Brotzman may better fit your needs.
1) Kai Forbath, UCLA
2) Grant Ressel, Missouri
3) Kyle Brotzman, Boise State
4) Blair Walsh, Georgia
5) Joe Phillips, Utah
6) Justin Kahut, Oregon State
7) Wes Byrum, Auburn
8) Erik Folk, Washington
9) Alex Tejada, Arkansas
10) Alan Gendreau, Mid Tenn
11) Ross Evans, TCU
12) Alex Henery, Nebraska
13) Philip Welch, Wisconsin
14) Nick Tausch, Notre Dame
15) Kevin Goessling, Fresno State
16) Kevin Fitzpatrick, Tulsa
17) Matt Hogan, Houston
18) Casey Barth, North Carolina
19) Dan Bailey, Oklahoma St
20) Matt Williams, Texas Tech
21) Caleb Sturgis, Florida
22) Dustin Hopkins, Florida State
23) Alex Zendejas, Arizona
24) Michael Taylor, Troy
25) Dan Hutchins, Pittsburgh