Kiper’s Big Board rankings: Best prospects at every position

Here we go with another shot at updated rankings for the 2023 NFL draft. April 27 is coming quickly, and I’ve adjusted my rankings based on on-field workouts and athletic testing at the combine, numbers we’ve gotten from pro day workouts and buzz I’ve heard from NFL scouts, coaches and execs. As I mentioned last month, we finally have official measurements for all of the top prospects, including confirmation on Alabama quarterback Bryce Young‘s true height and weight.

Below are updated rankings of the top 25 prospects in this class, along with the top 10 prospects at every position. This is not a mock draft — these are my personal rankings, not where I’d slot each prospect in Round 1. (My new mock draft is here.) You can also check out the combined 2023 rankings of my fellow analysts Todd McShay, Jordan Reid and Matt Miller.

Let’s get into my top 25, with the position-by-position rankings at the bottom (updated April 11):

Jump to: Position rankings

HT: 6-foot-3 | WT: 314 pounds | Previously: 1

Carter is clearly a complicated prospect. In mid-March, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing for his alleged role in a Jan. 15 car wreck that killed a former Georgia teammate and a recruiting staffer. Carter was sentenced to 12 months of probation and assessed a $1,000 fine and 80 hours of community service. As part of his plea, his attorney told ESPN the state is forever barred from bringing additional charges. He also showed up at his pro day 9 pounds heavier than he was at the NFL combine, and he couldn’t finish the position drills.

The reality is Carter’s stock hasn’t dropped in the eyes of NFL teams, and so I’m not dropping him in my rankings. On the field, he is a fantastic prospect. I moved him to No. 1 in my December Big Board update, and he finished the season playing the best ball of his career. He had 12 quarterback pressures in his final three games for the back-to-back national champs. He was fantastic after he returned in late October from missing two games due to a knee issue. Check out this show of force in the SEC title game against LSU. He’s explosive at the snap and finishes well around the ball, even though he had just six career sacks.

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HT: 5-10 | WT: 204 | Previously: 3

The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner has an incredibly quick release. He’s accurate and is an anticipatory thrower who knows how to hit receivers where they need the ball to run after the catch. He doesn’t make many mistakes. He’s one of the best “processors” I’ve scouted over the past decade, meaning he goes through read progressions to find his target or knows exactly the right time to escape the pocket.

The questions about Young are purely related to his size; he measured 5-foot-10 and weighed in at 204 pounds at the combine. That’s almost identical to Kyler Murray‘s measurements at the 2019 combine (5-foot-10, 207), but Young doesn’t have the same lower-body build as Murray. Can Young’s frame hold up at the next level? If he was bigger, he’d be the shoo-in for the No. 1 pick. His arm is more than good enough for him to be a great NFL signal-caller. After a 47-touchdown, seven-interception season in 2021, Young had 32 touchdown passes and five picks last season, and his 86.2 QBR ranked sixth among all signal-callers in the FBS.

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HT: 6-3 | WT: 253 | Previously: 2

Anderson’s sack numbers were down (10) from his historic 2021 season (17.5), and he ranked sixth in the country with 19.5 tackles for loss after being No. 1 (34.5) in 2021. He had a stunning 130 pressures over the past two seasons, which is 45 more than the second-best defender (San Jose State’s Viliami Fehoko). He is a dominant and complete edge rusher who might have been the No. 1 pick this past April if he had been eligible for the draft. Anderson doesn’t take plays off, is versatile and plays the run well. He’s explosive off the line of scrimmage. Nick Saban & Co. used him as a stand-up outside linebacker, as a down defensive end and even at tackle, where he can blow up guards and centers at the snap. Anderson also went through every drill at the combine, showing he’s not afraid of competition.

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HT: 6-4 | WT: 229 | Previously: 4

Levis’ stats won’t blow anyone away, but he didn’t have a great supporting cast of playmakers around him. He had 19 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions last season, and his 60.9 QBR ranked 59th in the country. But when I went through and watched all of his starts at Kentucky, I was really impressed with his game. Levis has a rocket launcher for an arm and makes some “wow” throws. That has gotten the Penn State transfer into trouble at times, but it’s clear watching him that he believes he can fit the ball into any window. My comparison for him is Matthew Stafford.

Levis played in a pro-style offense at Kentucky, and he’s not going to need much time to adjust to the NFL. He can maneuver the pocket and throw on the run. Many of Levis’ turnovers came when he tried to use his arm to force throws, and he’s going to be punished for mistakes at the next level. He is the real deal, though, and there are lots of Levis fans in the NFL.

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HT: 6-3 | WT: 214 | Previously: 5

Stroud had 85 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions over the past two seasons. He ranked first in the country in yards per dropback (8.9), second in QBR (88.9) and third in yards per attempt (9.5). He is quite simply a fantastic thrower of the football. He has smooth mechanics and good (not great) arm strength, and he can throw with touch to all levels of the field.

We saw Stroud’s flaws in his worst game of the season, a two-interception performance in the loss to Michigan to close the regular season. He has to get better when he’s off schedule and when plays break down. I’d like to see him use his legs to scramble for first downs; he can be a little too rigid in the pocket. And then we saw him at his best as he threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns in the narrow loss to Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinals. He actually did use his legs a few times in that one, and he was decisive and nearly flawless as a passer. All three of these passers have very similar grades on my board. Stroud also had a stellar throwing session at the combine.

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HT: 6-4 | WT: 244 | Previously: 6

I wrote before the season that I was putting Richardson in my Big Board because of his potential. You can’t coach his talent and physical ability, and NFL coaches will see the tools and try to develop him. He had an up-and-down season, throwing 17 touchdown passes and nine interceptions while running for nine scores. His 71.2 QBR ranked 30th in the country.

Richardson is still very raw — his mechanics and footwork need a lot of work. He has accuracy issues on shorter throws that should be easier. And yet, the arm strength and the dual-threat ability are so intriguing that a team near the end of Round 1 absolutely could take him and let him develop. What I say about the draft is that we’re trying to project who a prospect could be, not evaluate exactly what he is right now. Richardson hasn’t come close to his ceiling. He’s a polarizing prospect within the league, but he lit up the combine with his speed and physical ability.

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HT: 5-11 | WT: 181 | Previously: 7

Witherspoon allowed 16 receptions on 54 targets as the primary defender last season. He gave up just 3.3 yards per attempt and zero touchdowns while breaking up 14 passes and picking off three more. Impressed yet? He was extremely consistent all season. He doesn’t get handsy with receivers, so his game will translate well to the NFL. He also will tackle when needed. Witherspoon didn’t work out at the combine because of a minor injury; he ran a mid-4.4s 40-yard dash at his pro day in early April.

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HT: 6-4 | WT: 313 | Previously: 11

I just switched Skoronski from a tackle to a guard in my rankings, though opinions differ on him across the league. Some see him as a great left tackle; others believe he could be an All-Pro guard. His arm length is shorter than average for tackles (32 1/4 inches), and that could scare away some teams. Skoronski started 33 games at left tackle for the Wildcats, and he just kept getting better. He is a technician who can bend. He shrugs off quick pass-rushers and can contain rushers who try to win with power. He allowed just nine pressures and one sack last season, even though his team struggled. He could be Northwestern’s second top-15 offensive tackle pick in three years (joining Rashawn Slater in 2021).

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HT: 5-11 | WT: 215 | Previously: 9

Robinson did absolutely everything for Texas. He ran inside and outside, caught passes and scored a bunch of touchdowns. I’m a big fan. Robinson’s 2021 season ended when he dislocated his left elbow, but he showed elite ability in those 10 games. He led the FBS in broken tackles forced per game (4.1) and averaged 112.7 rushing yards per game. He is a cut-and-go runner with outstanding vision and explosiveness. Another thing I like about Robinson’s game: He catches passes with his hands, not his body. He had 19 catches last season, averaging 16.5 yards per reception. I think NFL teams could use him even more in the passing game.

I don’t love drafting running backs in Round 1, but Robinson deserves this ranking; I grade based on ability, not my first-round philosophy. Now he just needs to find a team that values him, because he’s a three-down back.

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10. Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

HT: 5-9 | WT: 182 | Previously: 16

Flowers, who had 200 catches and 31 touchdowns in his college career, is one of my favorite prospects in this entire class. He’s so elusive, so quick in and out of his breaks. He can play out of the slot or lined up outside. He can take a jet sweep to the house. He just gets open and makes plays. He forced 25 missed tackles last season, the third most in the country for a wideout. Flowers’ size won’t wow teams, but if they just put on the tape, they’ll see why he’s a first-round talent.

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HT: 6-1 | WT: 197 | Previously: 8

Gonzalez started 18 games at Colorado — including six as a true freshman in 2020 — before transferring to Oregon before the 2022 season. After an inconsistent game in the season-opening loss to Georgia, he was a lockdown corner the rest of the way. He picked off four passes in 2022; he has the hands of a receiver. Gonzalez has excellent length and has the recovery speed (4.38-second 40-yard dash at the combine) to make up for mistakes in his technique. He also put up a 41.5-inch vertical jump at the combine, which tied for second among the corners — a half-inch behind Deonte Banks (Maryland).

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HT: 6-1 | WT: 196 | Previously: 17

Smith-Njigba had a lost 2022 season, finishing with five catches because of a nagging hamstring injury. The injury shouldn’t affect his play in 2023, and I still think he could be a star at the next level. He was impressive at the combine, though he didn’t run the 40-yard dash.

This is the same wideout who led Ohio State in catches (95) and yards (1,606) in 2021, even on a team with two wide receivers drafted in Round 1 of the 2022 draft. He has stellar burst and explosiveness out of breaks. He’s a hands catcher who can run the entire route tree, and he can make defenders miss after the catch. Most of Smith-Njigba’s work came from the slot in 2021 — all but eight of his catches came while aligned there. He led the FBS in receiving yards per route run (4.0).

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HT: 6-2 | WT: 238 | Previously: 15

I had Smith in my top 25 during the season, before he tore his right pectoral muscle and missed the rest of the season. He is another rising prospect from the combine — he ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and had a 41.5-inch vertical. As I noted in my post-combine list, he is the second-heaviest player to run a sub-4.4 40 and have a vertical jump of more than 40 inches since 2006 (Vernon Davis is the other). Smith had just 6.5 sacks over the past two seasons, but an NFL team could fall in love with his traits. He has also gotten rave reviews about his interviews with coaches and execs in the pre-draft process.

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HT: 6-6 | WT: 313 | Previously: 12

After a season at guard, Johnson kicked outside to left tackle for the Buckeyes in 2022. He was impressive, allowing two sacks and just 10 pressures as C.J. Stroud‘s protector. The former five-star prospect has a great chance to be the top tackle in this class. He moves his feet well in pass sets and in the run game, and he has the quickness to keep up with speedy edge rushers. Johnson has everything NFL teams look for in a day one starter at left tackle. Plus, if you’re comparing arm length, he has almost four inches on Skoronski.

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HT: 6-5 | WT: 311 | Previously: NR

Jones started 19 games for the back-to-back champs over the past two seasons, filling in for Jamaree Salyer in 2021 before taking over the left tackle job full-time last season. And he should stay on the left side and be a future All-Pro. Jones has great feet in pass protection and can plow over defenders in the run game. He didn’t allow a single sack on 446 pass-block snaps last season.

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HT: 6-5 | WT: 333 | Previously: NR

Wright is the best pure right tackle in this draft. He could end up at No. 9 to the Bears, who have a huge need for a right tackle. He started 42 games in college, playing both tackle spots and right guard for the Vols. Wright got better every season. Go watch his tape against Alabama and Will Anderson Jr. — he dominated a potential top-three pick. Wright was called for eight penalties in 2021 but just two last season, so he cleaned up his game.

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HT: 6-2 | WT: 193 | Previously: 10

I’m a fan of Porter, a lanky and physical defender who can reroute receivers with the best of them. He has really long arms. He is aggressive, although he had just one career interception in 30 career starts. His 4.46-second 40-yard dash (with a 1.50-second 10-yard split) at the combine was great for his size.

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HT: 6-4 | WT: 246 | Previously: 19

A transfer from San Diego, where he had 20 touchdown catches in 2018 and ’19 combined, Kincaid had 16 scores for the Utes over the past two seasons. He has excellent hands — check out this touchdown grab — and he has great speed, though he didn’t run at the combine. Utah often used him out of the slot, and he torched safeties trying to cover him. Kincaid also improved as a blocker last season. He fits the mold of what NFL teams want from their “move” tight ends.

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HT: 5-11 | WT: 171 | Previously: 22

We discussed Addison early in the 2022 season when he had seven catches for 172 yards and two scores. What stands out about him is his route-running ability. He just gets open, and he can do it in so many ways. He can make up ground with late bursts to track the ball. He explodes off the line of scrimmage. Addison had 100 catches for 1,592 yards and 17 touchdowns at Pitt in 2021. He struggled a little bit with an unspecified injury over the last two months in 2022, but he finished the season with 59 catches for 875 yards and eight scores. He was used out of the slot more at Pitt — he had 76 catches and 14 touchdowns when lined up there in 2021 — but could play anywhere at the next level.

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HT: 6-3 | WT: 239 | Previously: 13

I moved McDonald into my Big Board in February, thanks to a dominant performance at the Senior Bowl. He was unblockable. There was some concern over his frame, but he weighed in at 241 pounds in Mobile, Alabama, which assuaged some concerns about whether he could hold up at the next level (he was two pounds lighter at the combine). McDonald is a speed rusher who is super explosive; he had the best broad jump of any of the edge rushers at the combine (11 feet).

He had five sacks last season, but he put up 11.5 in 2021 and 10.5 in 2020, so he has a history of production. He’s going to be coveted by teams that run a 3-4 because such teams always have a need for high-end edge rushers.

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HT: 6-6 | WT: 271 | Previously: 20

I wrote about Wilson in our draft notebook in November, and my guy Jordan Reid has been on him since he watched the 2021 tape. Wilson was a consistent menace off the edge for the Red Raiders. He had seven sacks and 15 total tackles for loss, showing explosion at the snap as a pass-rusher, taking on blockers and holding his ground in the run game. For edge rushers, it’s all about physical traits and tools, and the 6-foot-6 Wilson has everything teams want in that regard. Wilson broke a foot late in the season, so he didn’t go through drills or athletic testing at the combine.

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HT: 6-1 | WT: 166 | Previously: 23

As I wrote in my mock draft 2.0, Forbes is a boom-or-bust corner. He has a knack for the incredible play — he had 14 picks over the past three seasons. He also can get beat deep at times. Some of that is because he was asked to lock down the top receiver on every team and he didn’t get much help. On tape, though, I really like Forbes’ aggressiveness and fight. The question is his weight — he was just 166 pounds at the combine after being listed at 180 pounds in college. That’s small. I still think he’s a Round 1 prospect — he obviously will put on weight as he gets older — but he’s not a top-15 lock. What helps Forbes is that he ran a lightning-fast 4.35-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis (with an elite 1.48 10-yard split).

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HT: 6-5 | WT: 258 | Previously: NR

Murphy has a quick burst out of his stance and can close quickly off the corner. He also plays the run well and is physical at the point of attack. He had 11 sacks in his first two seasons at Clemson and had 6.5 in 2022. He moves inside to tackle at times, so that versatility will help his stock for NFL teams. I wrote in September that I wanted to see his sack production rise before moving him up, and while he didn’t have elite numbers, he did improve. He has a chance to go in the top 15 picks because teams always reach for edge rushers.

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HT: 6-4 | WT: 248 | Previously: 18

Mayer had 67 catches for 809 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022, the latter of which led the country among tight ends. In three seasons at Notre Dame, he had 180 catches for 2,099 yards and 18 scores. NFL teams want tight ends who can stretch the deep middle of the field and block well enough to line up next to offensive tackles. That’s Mayer, who can be a force in the red zone. Linebackers simply can’t cover him (and safeties struggle with his size). He has a wide catch radius and could produce as a pass-catcher in the NFL. He’s a complete player.

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HT: 6-0 | WT: 197 | Previously: NR

Banks has a great frame and is not afraid to get physical. He tackles in the run game and will stick to receivers like glue in coverage. After missing all but two games last season because of injury, he was fantastic for the Terps in 2022, breaking up eight passes with an interception. He also seemed to up his game in the biggest matchups on their schedule. Banks’ tape is one of the most impressive I’ve seen in this class in terms of man coverage. He also has a lot of experience; he started eight games as a true freshman in 2019. He ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash and put up a 42-inch vertical leap at the combine.

2023 NFL draft rankings at every position

Quarterbacks

1. Bryce Young, Alabama
2. Will Levis, Kentucky
3. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
4. Anthony Richardson, Florida
5. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
6. Clayton Tune, Houston
7. Stetson Bennett, Georgia
8. Jake Haener, Fresno State
9. Max Duggan, TCU
10. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA

Just missed: Aidan O’Connell, Purdue

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Running backs

1. Bijan Robinson, Texas
2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
3. Devon Achane, Texas A&M
4. Zach Charbonnet, UCLA
5. DeWayne McBride, UAB
6. Kendre Miller, TCU
7. Tyjae Spears, Tulane
8. Israel Abanikanda, Pitt
9. Tank Bigsby, Auburn
10. Chase Brown, Illinois

Just missed: Sean Tucker, Syracuse

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Fullbacks/H-backs

1. Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State
2. Josh Whyle, Cincinnati
3. Brayden Willis, Oklahoma
4. Jack Colletto, Oregon State
5. Monte Pottebaum, Iowa
6. Derek Parish, Houston
7. Princeton Fant, Tennessee
8. Ryan Jones, East Carolina
9. Ryan Miller, Furman
10. Javon Williams Jr., Southern Illinois

Just missed: Tyrick James, Tulane

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Wide receivers

1. Zay Flowers, Boston College
2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
3. Jordan Addison, USC
4. Quentin Johnston, TCU
5. Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
6. Josh Downs, North Carolina
7. Marvin Mims, Oklahoma
8. Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss
9. Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
10. Jayden Reed, Michigan State
10. A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
10. Tank Dell, Houston

Just missed: Michael Wilson, Stanford

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Tight ends

1. Dalton Kincaid, Utah
2. Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
3. Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
4. Darnell Washington, Georgia
5. Brenton Strange, Penn State
6. Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
7. Sam LaPorta, Iowa
8. Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan
9. Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion
10. Will Mallory, Miami

Just missed: Cameron Latu, Alabama

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Offensive tackles

1. Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
2. Broderick Jones, Georgia
3. Darnell Wright, Tennessee
4. Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
5. Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse
6. Blake Freeland, BYU
7. Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
8. Tyler Steen, Alabama
9. Dawand Jones, Ohio State
10. Joey Fisher, Shepherd

Just missed: Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland

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Guards

1. Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
2. O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
3. Steve Avila, TCU
4. Chandler Zavala, NC State
5. Braeden Daniels, Utah
6. Andrew Vorhees, USC
7. McClendon Curtis, UT-Chattanooga
8. Anthony Bradford, LSU
9. Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama
10. Jordan McFadden, Clemson

Just missed: Warren McClendon, Georgia

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Centers

1. John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota
2. Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin
3. Olu Oluwatimi, Michigan
4. Luke Wypler, Ohio State
5. Juice Scruggs, Penn State
6. Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame
7. Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas
8. Alex Forsyth, Oregon
9. Nick Broeker, Ole Miss
10. Jake Andrews, Troy

Just missed: Alan Ali, TCU

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Defensive ends

1. Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
2. Myles Murphy, Clemson
3. Keion White, Georgia Tech
4. Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
5. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
6. Tuli Tuipulotu, USC
7. Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
8. Zach Harrison, Ohio State
9. Tavius Robinson, Ole Miss
10. YaYa Diaby, Louisville

Just missed: Isaiah McGuire, Missouri

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Defensive tackles

1. Jalen Carter, Georgia
2. Calijah Kancey, Pitt
3. Bryan Bresee, Clemson
4. Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern
5. Mazi Smith, Michigan
6. Jaquelin Roy, LSU
7. Karl Brooks, Bowling Green
8. Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
9. Colby Wooden, Auburn
10. Siaki Ika, Baylor

Just missed: Gervon Dexter, Florida

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Inside linebackers

1. Trenton Simpson, Clemson
2. Drew Sanders, Arkansas
3. Jack Campbell, Iowa
4. Daiyan Henley, Washington State
5. Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama
6. Dorian Williams, Tulane
7. DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
8. Dee Winters, TCU
9. Noah Sewell, Oregon
10. Owen Pappoe, Auburn

Just missed: Nick Herbig, Wisconsin

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Outside linebackers

1. Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
2. Nolan Smith, Georgia
3. Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
4. BJ Ojulari, LSU
5. Derick Hall, Auburn
6. Byron Young, Tennessee
7. Yasir Abdullah, Louisville
8. Dylan Horton, TCU
9. Andre Carter II, Army
10. Mike Morris, Michigan

Just missed: Thomas Incoom, Central Michigan

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Cornerbacks

1. Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
2. Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
3. Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
4. Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
5. Deonte Banks, Maryland
6. DJ Turner, Michigan
7. Kelee Ringo, Georgia
8. Cam Smith, South Carolina
9. Julius Brents, Kansas State
10. Tyrique Stevenson, Miami

Just missed: Garrett Williams, Syracuse

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Safeties

1. Brian Branch, Alabama
2. Ji’Ayir Brown, Penn State
3. Jartavius Martin, Illinois
4. Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
5. Riley Moss, Iowa
6. Sydney Brown, Illinois
7. Jammie Robinson, Florida State
8. Anthony Johnson Jr., Iowa State
9. Jordan Battle, Alabama
10. JL Skinner, Boise State

Just missed: Jarrick Bernard-Converse, LSU

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Kickers and Punters

1. Chad Ryland, Maryland (K)
2. Bryce Baringer, Michigan State (P)
3. Jake Moody, Michigan (K)
4. Michael Turk, Oklahoma (P)
5. Adam Korsak, Rutgers (P)
6. Jack Podlesny, Georgia (K)
7. Brad Robbins, Michigan (P)
8. Paxton Brooks, Tennessee (P)
9. Christopher Dunn, NC State (K)
10. Ethan Evans, Wingate (P)

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Returners

1. Derius Davis, TCU
2. Tank Dell, Houston
3. Charlie Jones, Purdue
4. Malik Knowles, Kansas State
5. Aron Cruickshank, Rutgers
6. Tre Tucker, Cincinnati
7. Jayden Reed, Michigan State
8. Eric Garror, Louisiana
9. Natrone Brooks, So. Mississippi
10. Demario Douglas, Liberty

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Long-snappers

1. Alex Ward, UCF
2. Robert Soderholm, VMI
3. Chris Stoll, Penn State
4. Matt Hembrough, Oklahoma State
5. Austin Mock, Liberty
6. Joe Shimko, NC State