As the college football season rolls on everyone is already talking about the upcoming draft prospects and who to watch out for. There is always talk about some of the key positions like quarterback, wide receiver and defensive end but the 2014 draft class has plenty to offer across the board. Here is my top player at each position at this point for the 2014 NFL Draft.

Quarterback: Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville Cardinals

While we are still months away from the draft there is little question who is the best quarterback in this year’s class. While Bridgewater may come from a smaller program he is an elite talent and will be the first overall pick in May. He has everything a scout looks for in a franchise quarterback; leadership, work ethic, accuracy, play recognition, ball placement and excellent touch on his throws. He has mobility but he is a pass-first quarterback and will only run when he needs to. Bridgewater is the best quarterback in the 2014 class and a strong will be the first player off the board.

Running Back: Bishop Sankey, Washington Huskies

Running back used to be the makings of a Super Bowl contender; if you had a star running back you were very likely a playoff team. But as the NFL has turned more and more to a passing league the emphasis on having a top running back has changed. While we may not see a running back drafted in the first round for the second year in a row, there is no denying Sankey can be a starter in the NFL. I’ve written about Sankey several times this year and we have only seen him evolve as a running back. He offers speed, power but most importantly the natural abilities like vision, patience and toughness. He is improving in pass protection and already has shown very nice hands and agility as a receiver, all of which will help him become an every-down running back in the NFL.

Wide Receiver: Sammy Watkins, Clemson Tigers

Last year there was some debate over who was the best wide receiver but Tavon Austin was the favorite and was liked enough that the Rams traded up to take him with the eighth overall pick. But this year there is a clear favorite and Watkins is that man and brings the potential to be taken as a top-five selection. Watkins is better than Austin and Justin Blackmon who was the first wide receiver selected in 2012. Watkins is more than just a speedster who can create separation, he does an excellent job catching passes in traffic and posses an excellent mind for his routes and always staying aware for where the football is. He is the type of wide receiver who can step in and immediately become the top weapon for that offense and in the right situation can be a Pro Bowl player immediately as a rookie.

Tight End: Eric Ebron, North Carolina Tar Heels

It has been a rough year at the tight end position and it’s absolutely been the spot with the most change in my rankings. I started out weeks before the year seeing Austin Seferian-Jenkins as the top tight end but after watching more prospects Colt Lyerla became my leading tight end prospect. Then Lyerla dealt with some clashes with coaches and left Oregon and the tight end class up in the air. After all the turnover, it’s clear Ebron is the best prospect in the 2014 class. He is the prototypical tight end prospect; he looks like a gigantic wide receiver with a huge frame but excellent speed to match. He has some issues with drops but has made strides and become an even bigger receiving threat. He is a nightmare to cover and actually does surprisingly well with his blocking. He is just another great talent to come out of North Carolina and has an excellent chance to be drafted in the first round.

Offensive Tackle: Jake Matthews, Texas A&M Aggies

For the second year in a row Texas A&M is set to have the best offensive tackle prospect in the draft. Luke Joeckel was the best last year and Matthews is just as good if not better than his teammate. Last year’s rookie offensive tackle class has gotten off to a torrid start but a big reason for that is the team moving them to the right side. When Matthews is drafted early in May that same mistake will not be made and you will see him starting immediately on the left side as a rookie. Matthews is a very good athlete but brings more of a physicality and aggressiveness to his game. Matthews is an elite offensive tackle prospect and will certainly end up as a top-five pick this year or even higher if a team with a quarterback is picking in the top three,

Offensive Guard: Cyril Richardson, Baylor Bears

While the 2014 offensive guard group may not be as strong as last year’s class, there is some great talent amongst the group with Richardson reigning atop the rankings. Richardson is a mauler, someone who relishes the physical battle in the trenches and excels at keeping his quarterback protected. He is the key clog for Baylor’s offensive line on an offense that is averaging 64.7 points per game. He is improving against the run but has done a very nice job against the pass and will have no problem stepping in immediately for an NFL team. He isn’t near the level of a Chance Warmack but he is a quality talent who could be taken late in the first round.

Center: Hroniss Grasu, Oregon Ducks

If there is one position that is stretched thin this year and leaves teams in desperate need hanging out to dry, it has to be at center. After last year when we saw the Cowboys reach for Travis Frederick, there is zero chance we see that again this year. But it is a valuable position on the offensive line and every quarterback needs a center to snap him the football and communicate assignments to the offensive line. But the best center for me this year and the player with the most potential is Grasu. While Grasu is still a bit of a project at center, he boasts rare athleticism for his position. Grasu is a perfect fit for a zone-blocking scheme and does an excellent job commanding his fellow linemen and directing them for their assignments. He won’t hear his name called on the first day of the draft but has a chance to be selected in the third or fourth round.

Defensive End: Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina Gamecocks

The most talked about prospect leading up to the 2013 season and during the college football season has been Clowney. Even before the big hit against Michigan that was replayed every day on SportsCenter for what seemed like two months, Clowney was widely-known in the draft community. While some will look at a lack of statistics this season the box score doesn’t tell the story of how disruptive he has been. Clowney is the type of player on defense who the offensive coordinator has to run every play away from and is always accounting for where he is on defense. Clowney is a once in a decade prospect; a defensive end who we rarely see and every NFL team would love to have. There is zero debate who is the best defensive prospect this year and Clowney is also the best prospect in the draft.

Defensive Tackle: Louis Nix III, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

There is plenty of talent in the 2014 defensive tackle class but unfortunately there has also been a lot of disappointment this season. Nix hasn’t delivered to the point many hoped for, Daniel McCullers has been inconsistent and Will Sutton has just fallen further down the rankings. But off talent alone Nix is still the best defensive tackle in this year’s class and he will be a top-20 pick in just a few months. The size is evident with Nix the second you watch him appear on your television, he is a monster of a football player at 6’3 330 lbs. But he also brings an excellent burst off the snap and surprising quickness to get penetration and create interior pressure inside the backfield. There is speculation he has been dealing with injuries this season, which would explain his struggles. He will have time to get healthy and show everyone why he is the best defensive tackle this year.

Inside Linebacker: A.J. Johnson, Tennessee

Tennessee has a long tradition of producing plenty of top prospects on offense but now they are emerging as a place to find defense and they have done it again with Johnson. While it has been a bit of a rebuild year for the Volunteers there has been noticeable improvement from their defense especially from Johnson. While he has struggled at times especially against a faster team like Oregon he has shown great instincts and a nose against the run. Johnson doesn’t have the athleticism to keep up with faster running backs and tight ends, but his instincts and quick reaction make him a force against the run. He does an excellent job wrapping up the ball carrier and uses a clean technique and has excellent awareness that has helped him get his hands up to break up some passes. Johnson has a small chance to be taken in the first round but will likely be the first middle linebacker off the board in the second round.

Outside Linebacker: Anthony Barr, UCLA Bruins

The era of the linebacker has slowly changed and teams are now looking for great athletes who may need a little polish but possess excellent pass-rushing ability and can drop back into coverage. Barr is the perfect example of a prototypical outside linebacker but he certainly has a lot of room to grow. He draws a lot of comparisons to Dion Jordan who was drafted third overall last year. Both players are incredibly similar, great athletes who switched from offense to outside linebacker and are still learning the position. While Barr may not be as quick as Jordan, he possesses more strength and is further ahead than Jordan was at this time last year. Barr isn’t on the level of a Clowney or Von Miller but he has the potential to be similar to Miller and has an excellent chance to be a top-five pick.

Cornerback: Jason Verrett, TCU Horned Frogs

The 2014 cornerback class is deep with first-round talent and plenty of options for teams in need of help in the secondary. Bradley Roby and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu are both great talents but Verrett is the best cornerback this year. Verrett is a well-rounded corner, someone who can come in and seal the outside against the run or play lockdown coverage. Verrett shows excellent instincts in coverage and has the athleticism to match up to faster wide receivers. Once the ball is in the air he has great ball skills and the ability to go up and grab the interception or break up the pass. He doesn’t beat a wide receiver with great size or strength but instead uses his quick reactions and football IQ. He knows how to read the quarterback and react quickly to jump in and break up the route just as the ball arrives to the wide receiver. He is small at 5’11 but he has some room to add on muscle and that will help him become more physical in coverage and against the run.

Safety: Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix, Alabama Crimson Tide

Even after a short suspension that allowed other safety prospects to emerge and move up in the rankings, Clinton-Dix is without a doubt the best safety prospect in the draft for me. While Alabama may not have a great track record at cornerback, we have already seen how former safety Mark Barron has thrived for Tampa Bay. While it’s still early in the draft process I actually like Clinton-Dix more than Barron when he entered the draft. I really like Clinton-Dix in coverage where he shows excellent ball skills, awareness and speed.

He has no problem delivering a big hit to break up a pass across the middle but he also has the instincts to break up plays with his hands and knock the ball away from the wide receiver. He continues to show improvement with his ball skills and rarely lets the opportunity for an interception slip through his hands. He is the leader of Alabama’s secondary and while he is still working to become more aggressive against the run, you have seen him become more willing to come down in the box and disrupt the running game. Now that the suspension is out of his way, Clinton-Dix can return to the football field and dominate as he makes his push to be a top-15 selection.