NFL Network’s Mike Mayock Debuts Top 10 Prospects Heading Into Scouting Combine

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

Mike Mayock watches college football’s best players. All year. That’s all he does. I only pick up on who’s good in college football from time-to-time, becoming especially attentive around Combine time, of course. Mike and I joked about his job a couple years ago during an interview because he thought it was “pretty sad” to be so devoted to this cause. Well, it’s turned into a nice career for the NFL Network Draft guru. He now rivals ESPN’s Mel Kiper as the foremost authority on the NFL Draft. Anyway, Mike released his Top 10 pre-Combine Draft prospects today.

1. Matt Ryan – QB, Boston College
2. Sedrick Ellis – DT, USC
3. Chris Long – DE, Virginia
4. Glenn Dorsey – DT, LSU
5. Vernon Gholston – DE, Ohio State
6. Jake Long – OL, Michigan
7. Ryan Clady – OL, Boise State
8. Keith Rivers – LB, USC
9. Phillip Merling – DE, Clemson
10. Leodis McKelvin – CB, Troy

Mike is heavy on the linemen this year. And I have to agree. Speaking generally, it’s a great class at those positions. As you can see, seven of his Top 10 prospects are offensive or defensive linemen. But Boston College QB Matt Ryan impressed him enough to make Matt not only the top-rated quarterback, but also the top-rated player. Period. It will be interesting to see how this group changes after the Combine.

(Note: I will be blogging the activities from the Media Work Room at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis next week; University of Hawaii WR Jason Rivers will be guest blogging for EMQB; I’ll have a number of individual player interview podcasts over at BPR; and more.)