My full top 50 big board is available, and updates as players move up and down, in my 2021 College Football Preview. If you’re interested you can Venmo or PayPal $10 to MrMiller7 and check it out. Here is a look at how I have each position group SO FAR! Scouting and big boards can change daily!
Quarterback
1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson, Junior
2. Trey Lance, NDSU, Junior
3. Justin Fields, Ohio State, Junior
4. Kyle Trask, Florida, Junior
5. Kellen Mond, Texas A&M, Senior
It’s no secret that Trevor Lawrence tops the board, but Lance and Fields can also be franchise changing quarterbacks, and may challenge Lawrence for the No. 1 spot. After the star trio things get a little shaky. Trask and Mond have great upside but do not belong in the same tier has the other three.
Running Back
1. Najee Harris, Alabama, Senior
2. Travis Etienne, Clemson, Senior
3. Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State, Junior
4. Kenny Gainwell, Memphis, Opt-out
5. Master Teague, Ohio State, Junior
Much like the quarterbacks, the running back position is top heavy and the top guys are going to be hard to pass. Harris, Etienne and Chuba have all but solidified theirselves as the top three with Kenny Gainwell close behind. Gainwell, recently opted-out, and has been a relative unknown in his one season at Memphis but is also a great receiver out of the backfield and has a Christian McCaffrey type feel to his game.
Receivers
1. JaMarr Chase, LSU, Opt-out
2. Jaylen Waddle, Alabama, Junior
3. Rashod Bateman, Minnesota, Opt-out
4. DeVonta Smith, Alabama, Senior
5. Sage Surratt, Wake Forest, Senior
Chase, Waddle and Smith have already received a lot of attention, and rightfully so, but Bateman and Surratt are big body receivers that could be dangerous in the redzone. Bateman and Surratt would pair perfectly for any team with an undersized speed receiver already on roster.
Tight Ends
1. Pat Freiermuth, Penn State, Junior
2. Kyle Pitts, Florida, Junior
3. Brevin Jordan, Miami, Junior
4. Charlie Kolar, Iowa State, Junior
5. Brant Kuithe, Utah, Junior
The tight end position has first round talent again this year with potentially three guys with first round grades. Kyle Pitts and Pat Freiermuth seem to be locks for round one and Brevin Jordan from Miami could see his stock climb in a weak ACC.
Offensive Tackle
1. Penei Sewell, Oregon, Junior
2. Samuel Cosmi, Texas, Senior
3. Dillon Radunz, NDSU, Senior
4. Walker Little, Stanford, Senior
5. Jalen Mayfield, Michigan, Junior
The tackle position is one of the deepest in this draft and could see a number of guys go in round one. Sewell leads the pack but Cosmi and Radunz could also hear their names called in the top 15. While Little and Mayfield aren’t in the same tier, they appear to be round one guys as well.
Interior Linemen
1. Wyatt Davis, Ohio State, Junior
2. Trey Smith, Tennessee, Senior
3. Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma, Junior
4. Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC, Junior
5. Deonte Brown, Alabama, Senior
The NFL is trending towards interior pass rushers and interior lineman are seeing their value skyrocket. Davis and Smith, if healthy, are round one talents and the best guards since Quenton Nelson.
Edge
1. Gregory Rousseau, Miami, Opt-out
2. Joseph Ossai, Texas, Junior
3. Joe Tryon, Washington, Opt-out
4. Chris Rumph, Duke, Junior
5. Patrick Jones, Pitt, Senior
The EDGE class is historically weak and might not even have a top 10 draft pick. Rousseau is talented, but only played one season at Miami and will have trouble raising his stock in an opt-out season. Ossai is moving to edge this season from linebacker and I love that move for him. He already has the length and bulk to play the position and could see a huge boost in his stock by beating up Big 12 tackles.
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Defensive Line
1. Marvin Wilson, Florida State, Senior
2. Tyler Shelvin, LSU, Opt-out
3. Kwity Paye, Michigan, Senior
4. Carlos Basham Jr, Wake Forest, Senior
5. Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan, Junior
Wilson and Shelvin are true defensive linemen but Paye, Basham and Hutchinson could all be listed as DL or EDGE guys. The ladder three are incredibly diverse players and have the athletic ability to be stand up rushers but also the bulk to play on the interior.
Linebackers
1. Micah Parsons, Penn State, Opt-out
2. Hamilcar Rashed Jr, Oregon State,
3. Dylan Moses, Alabama, Senior
4. Chazz Surratt, North Carolina, Senior
5. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame, Junior
The linebacker class has a star in Micah Parson, maybe even a top-five pick, but it is also deeper than usual. Dylan Moses returns from missing the 2019 season but was a first round lock before his injury. Hamilcar Rashed Jr. is not unknown for now but when scouts turn on his tape they will fall in love just like I did. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (JOK, Jok, Joker) is an undersized, athletic player. JOK plays a similar role to Isaiah Simmons at Clemson and could also be viewed as a box safety in the NFL.
Corners
1. Patrick Surtain, Alabama, Junior
2. Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech, Opt-out
3. Shaun Wade, Ohio State, Junior
4. Paulson Adebo, Stanford, Junior
5. Tyson Campbell, Georgia, Junior
If you like run support corners Patrick Surtain II is your guy. Sutain isn’t afraid of getting physical at the line of scrimmage or in the run game. Add in his great instincts and ball skills and you’ve got my CB1 and a top player in the class.
Safeties
1. Andre Cisco, Syracuse, Junior
2. Jevon Holland, Oregon, Junior
3. JaCoby Stevens, LSU, Senior
4. Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State, Senior
5. Caden Sterns, Texas, Junior
The safety class lacks depth but has two potential stars in Cisco and Holland. Both safeties can be found wherever the ball is, Cisco has 12 interceptions in just 22 games played while Holland has nine in 27 games.