https://www.reddit.com/r/NFL_Draft/comments/6c43gj/kipers_waytooearly_2018_rankings_top_draft/?st=J2WR4X45&sh=12ceb12eThis is a mix of seniors and underclassmen, but early on, I separate the two so you'll see more senior players, who are certain to be in the draft. By "underclassmen," I mean players who technically could return to school for another season. Those are true juniors and third-year sophomores. I've denoted the third-year sophomores with asterisks.
One more note: I'm still waiting to see how a few big-name quarterback transfers fare at their new schools, and so they're not included. Underclassmen Will Grier, Kyle Allen, Jarrett Stidham and Blake Barnett are prospects to keep an eye on.
On to the position rankings:
Quarterbacks Seniors
Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
Luke Falk, Washington State
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Matt Linehan, Idaho
Mike White, Western Kentucky
Underclassmen
*Sam Darnold, USC
Josh Allen, Wyoming
Josh Rosen, UCLA
Lamar Jackson, Louisville
Clayton Thorson, Northwestern
Darnold (6-4, 225), Allen (6-5, 216) and Rosen (6-4, 210) were in the top seven in my way-too-early Big Board. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jackson (6-3, 196) is a supreme athlete but a work-in-progress as a quarterback. He needs to show major improvement as a passer in 2017. It will be fun to watch Rudolph (6-4, 217) and Mayfield (6-1, 220) duel for the Big 12 title.
Running backs Seniors
Nick Chubb, Georgia
Royce Freeman, Oregon
Akrum Wadley, Iowa
Sony Michel, Georgia
Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt
Underclassmen
Saquon Barkley, Penn State
Derrius Guice, LSU
Bo Scarbrough, Alabama
Kamryn Pettway, Auburn
Damien Harris, Alabama
Chubb (5-10, 228) was actually on my way-too-early Big Board last year, and so I'd like to see him get back to his form from 2015, when he averaged 8.1 yards per carry. The Bulldogs also have Michel (5-11, 208), who has 48 catches over the past two seasons. Scarbrough (6-2, 240) broke out in the Peach Bowl and is a physical specimen, but Harris (5-11, 205) had the better all-around season.
Fullbacks Seniors
Jaylen Samuels, NC State
Khalid Hill, Michigan
Austin Ramesh, Wisconsin
Dimitri Flowers, Oklahoma
J.D. Moore, LSU
Underclassmen
Winston Dimel, Kansas State
George Aston, Pitt
Chandler Cox, Auburn
Alec Ingold, Wisconsin
Ryan Nall, Oregon State
Samuels has 120 catches the past two seasons as a tight end for the Wolfpack, but at 5-11, 240, he'll have to move to a fullback/H-back role to make it in the NFL. Hill (6-2, 255) is more of a traditional fullback.
Wide receivers Seniors
James Washington, Oklahoma State
D.J. Chark, LSU
Darren Carrington, Oregon
Dante Pettis, Washington
Jester Weah, Pitt
Underclassmen
Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
Calvin Ridley, Alabama
Antonio Callaway, Florida
Courtland Sutton, SMU
Deon Cain, Clemson
Pettis (6-0, 177) had 15 touchdown catches last season. Sutton (6-3, 200) had 76 catches and 10 touchdowns last season and played some basketball at SMU as a freshman.
Tight ends Seniors
Mike Gesicki, Penn State
Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin
DeAndre Goolsby, Florida
Marcus Baugh, Ohio State
Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State
Underclassmen
Mark Andrews, Oklahoma
C.J. Conrad, Kentucky
Ryan Izzo, Florida State
Dalton Schultz, Stanford
Hayden Hurst, South Carolina
Fumagalli (6-5, 233) could have a big 2017 after having only two touchdown grabs last season. Andrews (6-6, 247) has 14 career touchdowns on only 50 catches.
Offensive tackles Seniors
Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
Jamarco Jones, Ohio State
Mason Cole, Michigan
Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan
Tyrell Crosby, Oregon
Underclassmen
Trey Adams, Washington
Orlando Brown, Oklahoma
Mitch Hyatt, Clemson
Brian O'Neill, Pitt
Dalton Risner, Kansas State
At 6-8, 355, Brown is massive. Hyatt (6-6, 274) is a former five-star recruit who has started at left tackle for the Tigers since Week 1 of his freshman year. Okorafor (6-5, 275) started at left tackle for the Broncos while 2016 second-round pick Taylor Moton played right tackle.
Guards Seniors
Billy Price, Ohio State
Will Hernandez, UTEP
Cody O'Connell, Washington State
Braden Smith, Auburn
Scott Quessenberry, UCLA
Underclassmen
Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
Martez Ivey, Florida
William Clapp, LSU
Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama
Beau Benzschawel, Wisconsin
Nelson (6-5, 325) was on my preseason Big Board last year. He's incredibly powerful. Price (6-4, 305) has already started three seasons for the Buckeyes.
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Centers Seniors
Martinas Rankin, Mississippi State
Frank Ragnow, Arkansas
Bradley Bozeman, Alabama
Coleman Shelton, Washington
Brian Allen, Michigan State
Underclassmen
Brendan Moore, Maryland
James Daniels, Iowa
Drew Kyser, Memphis
Alec Eberle, Florida State
Michael Deiter, Wisconsin
Rankin (6-5, 307) showed some athleticism while playing left tackle last season, but he could move to center in 2017. I'm projecting him as a center in the NFL. Ragnow (6-5, 312) is a two-year starter.
Defensive ends Seniors
Bradley Chubb, NC State
Da'Shawn Hand, Alabama
Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest
KJ Smith, Baylor
Underclassmen
Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
Josh Sweat, Florida State
Porter Gustin, USC
Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech
A former five-star recruit, Hand (6-4, 273) goes unnoticed sometimes among Alabama's talent, but he has first-round ability. Gustin (6-5, 250) has 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss in two seasons. Ferguson (6-5, 256) had 14.5 sacks in 2016.
Defensive tackles 1. Maurice Hurst, Michigan 2. Derrick Nnadi, Florida State 3. Lowell Lotulelei, Utah 4. Andrew Brown, Virginia 5. James Looney, California
Underclassmen
Christian Wilkins, Clemson
Vita Vea, Washington
Da'Ron Payne, Alabama
Trenton Thompson, Georgia
Harrison Phillips, Stanford
At 6-5, 340, Vea is a mountain, but he did have five sacks last season. Phillips (6-4, 258) is likely to be a 3-technique in the NFL. He had 7.5 sacks last season.
Inside linebackers Seniors
Azeem Victor, Washington
Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama
Micah Kiser, Virginia
Rashaan Evans, Alabama
Josey Jewell, Iowa
Underclassmen
Cameron Smith, USC
T.J. Edwards, Wisconsin
Kendall Joseph, Clemson
Andre Smith, North Carolina
Jahlani Tavai, Hawaii
Dion Hamilton (6-0, 233) is coming off an ACL tear suffered late in the season. Cameron Smith (6-2, 245) started as a freshman for the Trojans. Kiser (6-2, 235) had 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 2016.
Outside linebackers Seniors
Harold Landry, Boston College
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
Marquis Haynes, Mississippi
Matthew Thomas, Florida State
Mike McCray, Michigan
Underclassmen
Arden Key, LSU
Malik Jefferson, Texas
Jerome Baker, Ohio State
Denzil Ware, Kentucky
Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
Okoronkwo (6-1, 240) had nine sacks last season and will probably play defensive end in 2017. Ware (6-2, 255) had 5.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss in 2016.
Cornerbacks Seniors
Jordan Thomas, Oklahoma
Anthony Averett, Alabama
Greg Stroman, Virginia Tech
Donovan Wilson, Texas A&M
Deion Harris, North Dakota
Underclassmen
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
Tarvarus McFadden, Florida State
Jaire Alexander, Louisville
Iman Marshall, USC
Denzel Ward, Ohio State
Thomas had an up-and-down season in 2016 but finished with two interceptions after having five in 2015. Marshall (6-2, 200), another former five-star prospect, has six interceptions in two seasons.
Safeties Seniors
Quin Blanding, Virginia
Marcus Allen, Penn State
Godwin Igwebuike, Northwestern
Damon Webb, Ohio State
Kieron Williams, Nebraska
Underclassmen
*Derwin James, Florida State
Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
Chase Hansen, Utah
Jordan Whitehead, Pitt
Terrell Edmunds, Virginia Tech
I'd like to see Blanding (6-4, 210) make more plays. He has six interceptions and only 5.5 tackles for loss in three seasons. Hansen (6-3, 216), who has also played quarterback for the Utes, had three interceptions, including a pick-six, in 2016.
Kickers Seniors
Daniel Carlson, Auburn
Jonathan Barnes, Louisiana Tech
Gary Wunderlich, Mississippi
Drew Brown, Nebraska
Jason Sanders, New Mexico
Underclassmen
*Eddy Pineiro, Florida
Emmit Carpenter, Minnesota
John Baron II, San Diego State
Parker Shaunfield, So. Mississippi
Matthew Wright, Central Florida
Wunderlich (6-0, 175) led the country in field goal percentage (95.7), missing only a 55-yard kick.
Punters Seniors
JK Scott, Alabama
Johnny Townsend, Florida
Trevor Daniel, Tennessee
Austin Barnes, Eastern Michigan
Joe Davidson, Bowling Green
Underclassmen
Michael Dickson, Texas
Jake Bailey, Stanford
Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah
Dylan Klumph, California
*Mason King, Louisville
Scott (6-4, 185) averaged 47.2 yards per kick last season.