Almost a full week has passed since the conclusion of the NFL draft, which means it's time for us to start looking ahead to next year's draft. It's early in the game, but I've begun putting together a list of seniors who look to me like they could be top-50 picks in the 2015 draft. These ratings are going to change as we get more information, such as confirmed times in sprints, but I think these are all very good players.
Here are 10 seniors to get us started, listed in alphabetical order. I'll be adding more names in the coming weeks as we begin to identify the top 50 seniors for the upcoming season.
La'el Collins, OT, LSU
Collins started 13 games at guard as a sophomore before moving to left tackle in 2013. Scouts love this player, who returns after earning second-team All-SEC honors last year.
Trey DePriest, LB, Alabama
A middle linebacker, DePriest was Ohio's high school defensive player of the year in 2010, played as a true freshman at Alabama and started the past two seasons. Last year he had 65 tackles and two sacks.
Reese Dismukes, C, Auburn
Dismukes was first-team All-SEC last year. At 6-foot-2, 300 pounds, he is a good run blocker and a very smart player.
Cameron Erving, OT, Florida State
Erving is a converted defensive lineman. If you have any questions about his abilities, check out his performance last September against Pittsburgh's Aaron Donald, who was drafted in the first round this year by the St. Louis Rams. This is another really good player from southern Georgia, which quietly has become fertile ground for talent.
Anthony Harris, S, Virginia
Harris is an excellent athlete who played quarterback in high school. He had eight interceptions while playing strong safety last season and also made 80 tackles.
Tre Jackson, G, Florida State
Jackson earned first-team All-ACC honors last season and will be a three-year starter for the Seminoles. He has long arms and is a very big man, at 6-foot-3, 335 pounds.
A.J. Johnson, LB, Tennessee
Another kid from Georgia (but northern Georgia), Johnson will be a four-year starter for Tennessee. He had 138 tackles in 2012, the fourth-best in college football that season.
Lorenzo Mauldin, DE, Louisville
Mauldin is a pass rusher whom many rate as the equal of Marcus Smith, who was the No. 26 pick in this year's draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He returns after totaling 9.5 sacks last season.
Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
Ogbuehi has started at right guard and right tackle and will start at left tackle this season. I think he could give Texas A&M a player in the top 10 for the fifth year in a row.
Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Scherff will be returning as a fifth-year senior. He has started 23 games at left tackle and is a typical long-armed Iowa offensive lineman.
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