College football is back, and with it, so are everyone’s favorite stars from across the NCAA’s powerhouse conferences.
Of course, this season will include plenty of intrigue in and of itself, but for NFL fans, this is a chance to take a long look at some of the names who could be drafted into the pro ranks in less than a year. There will surely be a few unheralded players who establish themselves as viable prospects this fall, but for the most part, we already have a good idea of the players to keep an eye on over the next four-plus months.
Below, check out 30 of the top 2018 NFL Draft prospects heading into this season.
Trey Adams, Washington
Position: Offensive tackle
What scouts like: With impressive size and surprising quickness, Adams has all the makings of a franchise left tackle. While he won’t face many formidable pass rushers with Washington’s schedule, he’s capable of overpowering defenders with his immense strength.
Room for improvement: Adams isn't the longest tackle out there and will need to work hard to sustain his blocks. However, his quickness should help to mask that weakness.
Jaire Alexander, Louisville
Position: Cornerback
What scouts like: Alexander has impressed fans across the country with his aggressive style of play, from his enviable football instincts to his skill at intercepting the ball. He's also capable of contributing against the run.
Room for improvement: Alexander doesn't have elite speed, which could leave him vulnerable against the cream of the NFL's receiving crop. He's better suited to zone defenses than man-to-man coverage.
Josh Allen, Wyoming
Position: Quarterback
What scouts like: With Allen, it's all about the physicality. The Californian has a combination of size, arm strength and mobility that's rarely seen in the NFL, even among the game's elite signal callers. He parlayed those gifts into a 144.9 passer rating last season.
Room for improvement: Allen needs to improve his fundamentals. He's been known to overlook high-percentage looks at short gains in favor of forced deep balls, a tendency that will be punished in the NFL.
Dorance Armstrong, Kansas
Position: Defensive end
What scouts like: No one's going to mistake Kansas for a football powerhouse, but they do have one of the nation's best edge rushers in Armstrong. His quickness is his main calling card, but he's also capable of delivering powerful hits once he reaches the ball. He should be one of the best athletes available.
Room for improvement: Armstrong has a tendency to lean too heavily on his speed, allowing stubborn defenders to tie him up. He could also stand to shore up his defense against the run.
Saquon Barkley, Penn State
Position: Running back
What scouts like: A prototypical modern running back, Barkley has the speed, explosiveness and vision to become a star. He's been favorably compared to Ezekiel Elliott, who finished third in the NFL MVP voting as a rookie last fall.
Room for improvement: Barkley is widely viewed as the most complete running back prospect in the nation, but he could still stand to improve his decision making. He occasionally loses yardage due to his determination to find the perfect hole.
Andrew Brown, Virginia
Position: Defensive lineman
What scouts like: Brown's 285-pound frame should create a nice demand for his pass rushing abilities. He has a lightning quick first step off the snap, and his awareness and instincts appear good enough for the NFL.
Room for improvement: Some sources have raised issues about Brown's motivation - despite being one of Virginia's top recruits, he rode the bench for his first two seasons in college.
Bradley Chubb, NC State
Position: Defensive end
What scouts like: While he's not the most prominent player on the national level, Chubb spent the 2016 season terrorizing ACC quarterbacks. He's known for his quickness off the snap, as well as the lethal rip move he uses to shed tenacious blockers.
Room for improvement: Chubb is sometimes overmatched by savvy lineman who know to exploit his relative lack of lower body strength. NFL competition will only magnify that problem.
Sam Darnold, USC
Position: Quarterback
What scouts like: USC has developed its share of quarterback prospects over the years, and Darnold could be the best one in a while. He's got a cannon for an arm and a keen eye for making plays, and NFL coaches will love his cool under pressure.
Room for improvement: Darnold's throwing delivery, long and slow, can cause him to make poor throws under pressure. Physically, he's not as gifted as other potential picks at his position, like Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen.
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
Position: Defensive back
What scouts like: The latest in a long line of talented defensive backs to emerge from Nick Saban's Alabama squads, Fitzpatrick is at his best as a roaming safety. His versatility and instincts make him a valuable piece who can follow routes, grab picks and defend against the run.
Room for improvement: Fitzpatrick hasn't gotten much of a chance to practice one-on-one coverage against top receivers, which could hurt his draft stock.
Derrius Guice, LSU
Position: Running back
What scouts like: Guice can motor downfield with the best of them, using his impressive speed and knack for sneaking by defenders to make big gains. Despite having five or fewer carries in four games, he led the SEC in rushing yards last season.
Room for improvement: Guice isn't much of a factor as a receiver, which will damage his utility in an increasingly positionless league.
Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
Position: Defensive end
What scouts like: Hubbard is a quality edge defender with the size and speed to contribute to any NFL defense. Scouts especially like his movement skills, and he's become adept at defending against the run.
Room for improvement: Hubbard registered just 3.5 sacks in 2016, and evaluators would love to see him take a more active role this year.
Lamar Jackson, Louisville
Position: Quarterback
What scouts like: Jackson, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, is a prototypical dual-threat quarterback with a strong arm and an uncanny ability to slip past defenders. Playing in Bobby Petrino's system has helped him develop a solid understanding of how to run an offense.
Room for improvement: Jackson's accuracy is a bit suspect - he rarely threw the ball in high school and completed just over 56 percent of his passes last season. He's also a tad undersized for an NFL quarterback.
Derwin James, Florida State
Position: Safety
What scouts like: James' athleticism is off the charts. He has the strength and speed to be a longtime contributor, and with the ability to play both defensive back and linebacker, he can be a major asset for any defense.
Room for improvement: James doesn't have the quickness to cover marquee slot receivers, and he can be tricked by play action maneuvers. He still projects as an immediate starter in the NFL.
Arden Key, LSU
Position: Defensive end/Linebacker
What scouts like: Thanks to his size, speed and instincts, Key should be the best pass rusher available if he declares. One former NFL defensive end believes Key has a greater upside than Myles Garrett, the top pick in the 2017 Draft.
Room for improvement: Occasional lapses in awareness and consistency are the biggest gripes about Key, but those traits should develop with time. He's one of the most complete prospects in the country.
Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
Position: Wide receiver
What scouts like: Kirk has the speed to find the end zone on any given reception, so he could be a big weapon for an NFL offense. He's great at evading defenders and has proven himself to be a reliable route runner.
Room for improvement: At 5-11, Kirk is undersized for a wide receiver. He's been able to overcome that weakness at the college level, but adding some muscle without sacrificing speed would make him even more enticing to NFL teams.
Harold Landry, Boston College
Position: Defensive end
What scouts like: Another player with great pass rushing instincts, Landry is renowned for his speed. He has an arsenal of slick moves, is lighting quick off the edge and can competently defend against the run.
Room for improvement: Landry may need to bulk up to achieve stardom in the NFL. Not particularly long or strong, he lacks the power to go toe-to-toe with the best offensive linemen in the league.
Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
Position: Defensive end
What scouts like: With elite run stopping abilities and a developing knack for rushing the passer, Lewis will be one of the best all-purpose defensive linemen on the board. His powerful play would inject an intimidation factor into whatever unit he joins.
Room for improvement: Lewis doesn't possess elite speed or explosiveness, which could keep him from achieving NFL stardom.
Tarvarus McFadden, Florida State
Position: Cornerback
What scouts like: With the size and strength to go up against any receiver, McFadden excels in press coverage. The modern NFL's emphasis on passing makes a first-rate cornerback a necessity for every team, and he has the potential to morph into just that.
Room for improvement: McFadden has a bad habit of losing his man on shorter routes, which has led to a number of unnecessary touchdowns in the red zone.
Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
Position: Offensive tackle
What scouts like: McGlinchey has the skill to be an NFL contributor for years to come. He's great at keeping his balance, going after the opposition's top pass rushing threat and abandoning a double team when the time is right.
Room for improvement: For all his technical know-how, McGlinchey isn't the most physically gifted lineman around. He still needs to bulk up more, and his lack of quickness can be exploited by a capable defender.
Da'Ron Payne, Alabama
Position: Defensive tackle
What scouts like: Payne is a physically dominant defensive lineman who can stop the run and enable key sacks with his reliable blocking. He dominated against guards last fall, and he appears to have plenty of room to grow.
Room for improvement: A lack of quickness is the main weakness in Payne's game. He can be slow on his first step after the snap, allowing the most adept linemen to hold their blocks against him.
Martinas Rankin, Mississippi State
Position: Offensive tackle
What scouts like: Rankin, a left tackle, excels at run blocking. He's also a veteran leader in the Mississippi State locker room, indicative of the right makeup for NFL success.
Room for improvement: Rankin got off to a slow start for the Bulldogs last season, and his draft stock could take a hit if he stumbles out of the gate again.
Calvin Ridley, Alabama
Position: Wide receiver
What scouts like: Ridley is an elite route runner who can use his explosiveness to create separation from even the best cornerbacks in the country. He's a versatile receiver who can line up anywhere, and he'll face some sterling defensive competition this year.
Room for improvement: Ridley needs time to reach his top speed - he sometimes gets held up at the line of scrimmage due to press coverage. At 6-1 and 190 pounds, his lack of size holds him back from can't-miss status.
Josh Rosen, UCLA
Position: Quarterback
What scouts like: With a smooth throwing motion and a rocket arm, Rosen has the physical tools to become a prolific passer in the NFL. His quick footwork helps him avoid big losses when under duress.
Room for improvement: Rosen can be a negative presence in the locker room - sources say that his own UCLA teammates aren't particularly fond of him. He's also prone to making bad decisions under pressure, hurting his completion percentage.
Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
Position: Quarterback
What scouts like: With size and arm strength to spare, Rudolph certainly looks the part of an NFL starting quarterback. He's put up terrific numbers for Mike Gundy's offense, posting a 158.9 passer rating and 4,091 passing yards in 2016.
Room for improvement: Gundy's offense, effective though it may be, doesn't bear much resemblance to an NFL-style playbook. Rudolph doesn't have much experience with reading the entire field or taking snaps under center.
Bo Scarbrough, Alabama
Position: Running back
What scouts like: While he has surprising speed, Scarbrough is best known for his power, which he uses to plow through opposing defenders. He's drawn favorable comparisons to another Alabama running back: 2016 draft pick Derrick Henry.
Room for improvement: Scarbrough's speed is solid for his size, but it isn't elite, and he's already suffered multiple injuries to his lower body. Some regard his football instincts to be mediocre, as he sometimes struggles to anticipate and capitalize on openings.
Courtland Sutton, SMU
Position: Wide receiver
What scouts like: Sutton lacks elite speed, but he makes up for that with his tendency to make contested catches. He's a tall, muscular receiver with a fiery competitive streak and a track record of success.
Room for improvement: As mentioned, Sutton isn't fast enough to create significant separation from top cornerbacks, though his length helps him complete plays. At SMU, he hasn't seen much elite competition, though he should face his share of double coverage this fall.
Vita Vea, Washington
Position: Defensive tackle
What scouts like: At 6-5 and 340 pounds, Vea undoubtedly possesses the size to compete in the NFL, but that's not the only thing he has going for him. He's also notably quick after the snap, making him a tough matchup for any interior lineman.
Room for improvement: In a game that values pass rushing more than any other defensive skill, Vea is just so-so at stopping the air game. Washington doesn't have the toughest schedule this year, so he'd be well served to attack the quarterback whenever he can.
James Washington, Oklahoma State
Position: Wide receiver
What scouts like: With his knack for making big plays, Washington could be a first-rate receiver in the NFL. His speed will make him hard to overlook, and his ability to track the ball is second to none.
Room for improvement: Like most Oklahoma State receivers, Washington's route running skills need work. He's also been known to occasionally drop easy passes, partially offsetting his big-play ability.
Christian Wilkins, Clemson
Position: Defensive lineman
What scouts like: Wilkins is a great interior pass rusher with a combination of size, strength and explosiveness that makes him a rare specimen. He can make his teammates better by taking on difficult double teams.
Room for improvement: While he's filled the role at Clemson, Wilkins lacks the speed to be an NFL edge rusher. There's also concern about his conditioning, with some observers suggesting he'll need to stay in top shape in order to sustain a long career.
Connor Williams, Texas
Position: Offensive tackle
What scouts like: Williams is an exceptionally versatile lineman, with plenty of skill and know-how on both running and passing plays. Scouts also praise his demeanor - he has a 3.67 GPA at the University of Texas' prestigious business school.
Room for improvement: Williams isn't quite as long as most of the game's elite tackles, so he'll need to be quick with his punch on tough matchups. Other than that, he's one of the most complete linemen in the nation.
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