ESPN College Football

NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. broke down his top-five prospects at each position among juniors and seniors entering the 2013 draft.

You'll need ESPN Insider to see both (here are the juniors) (and here are the seniors), but here's a taste of what you can find among the seniors.

Quarterbacks

• No. 3: Landry Jones, Oklahoma
• No. 5: Geno Smith, West Virginia

Fullbacks

• No. 1: Braden Wilson, Kansas State

Receivers

• No. 2: Terrance Williams, Baylor
• No. 4: Tavon Austin, West Virginia

Offensive tackles

• No. 5: Tanner Hawkinson, Kansas

Centers

• No. 5: Ben Habern, Oklahoma

Inside linebackers

• No. 3: Arthur Brown, Kansas State

Cornerbacks

• No. 5: Demontre Hurst, Oklahoma

Punters

• No. 2: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State

This week's Senior Bowl and next month's NFL scouting combine will help decide who will hear their names called, and when, in April's NFL draft, but what about next year?

Mel Kiper unleashed his top five returning players for 2012, the top prospects at their positions in next year's draft.

Lots of interesting names. Here's where the Big 12 talents sit.

Quarterbacks

• No. 2: Landry Jones, Oklahoma
• No. 4: Geno Smith, West Virginia

Fullbacks

• No. 1: Braden Wilson, Kansas State
• No. 5: Ryan Clarke, West Virginia

My take: Good to see Wilson's name on this list. He's impressed coach Bill Snyder from the start, and Wilson was an underrated reason for K-State's success running the ball the past two seasons with Daniel Thomas in 2010 and Collin Klein/John Hubert in 2011. One of the Big 12's toughest players.

Receivers

• No. 1: Terrance Williams, Baylor
• No. 3: Tavon Austin, West Virginia

My take: Both of those names made me do a double take. Williams was a great player this season, and you perhaps best know him as the player who caught the game-winning touchdown to beat Oklahoma, but he's never looked to me like a player who could be the first receiver drafted. We'll see how he does in 2012 as Baylor's No. 1 receiver, with Nick Florence throwing him the ball instead of Robert Griffin III. Williams could become a star.

Austin always struck me as an undersized player, but there's no denying his playmaking ability. Few can match his game-breaking ability with the ball in his hands.

Offensive tackles

• No. 5: Tanner Hawkinson, Kansas

Centers

• No. 4: Ben Habern, Oklahoma

Defensive ends

• No. 1: Alex Okafor, Texas

My take: No surprise there. Okafor burst on the scene this season, and has that combination of size and speed you rarely see outside of players who become first-round picks.

Inside linebackers

• No. 4: Arthur Brown, Kansas State

Outside linebackers

• No. 4: Sean Porter, Texas A&M
• No. 5: Zaviar Gooden, Missouri

Cornerbacks

• No. 4: Demontre Hurst, Oklahoma

Punters

• No. 2: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State

We unveiled our All-Big 12 team last week with lots of talent.

Time for a new take, with a little help from the Big Ten Blog: The All-Underrated team.

My criteria: The conference's most underrated player at each position. This is, of course, subjective. This isn't for the second-best player at each position. It's for the player who doesn't get enough respect. The only rule: He can't be on my All-Big 12 team.

Here goes:

OFFENSE

QB: James Franklin, Missouri
RB: Christine Michael, Texas A&M
RB: John Hubert, Kansas State
FB: Braden Wilson, Kansas State
WR: Ryan Swope, Texas A&M
WR: Tevin Reese, Baylor
WR: Josh Cooper, Oklahoma State
TE: James Hanna, Oklahoma
OL: Clyde Aufner, Kansas State
OL: Philip Blake, Baylor
OL: Austin Wuebbels, Missouri
OL: David Snow, Texas
OL: Lonnie Edwards, Texas Tech

DEFENSE

DE: Toben Opurum, Kansas
DT: Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, Baylor
DE: Meshak Williams, Kansas State
DE: Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas
LB: Steven Johnson, Kansas
LB: Elliot Coffey, Baylor
LB: Alex Elkins, Oklahoma State
CB: David Garrett, Kansas State
CB: Leonard Johnson, Iowa State
S: Terrance Bullitt, Texas Tech
S: Daytawion Lowe, Oklahoma State

SPECIALISTS

P: Trey Barrow, Missouri
PK: Michael Hunnicutt, Oklahoma
PR/KR: Jarvis West, Iowa State

Coach: Paul Rhoads, Iowa State

Colleague Mel Kiper Jr. recently put together his top-five juniors and seniors at each position. You'll recognize plenty of the Big 12 talents on his list. Here's where they landed:

SENIORS

Quarterbacks

• No. 4: Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
• No. 5: Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

Running backs

• No. 1: Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M

Fullbacks

• No. 1: Cody Johnson, Texas

Receivers

• No. 2: Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M
• No. 3: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

Tight ends

• No. 1: Michael Egnew, Missouri

Offensive tackles:

• No. 1: Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State
• No. 3: Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State

Outside linebackers:

• No. 2: Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
• No. 4: Keenan Robinson, Texas

Safeties

• No. 4: Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State

A few thoughts:

• I'm not the only one who keeps seeing the lopsided talents at the top on offense versus defense, right? Believe me when I tell you this, folks: Prepare for puntos mucho in the Big 12 this season.
• I wouldn't be too surprised to see Fuller above Broyles on this list. Broyles is obviously a better college receiver, but he may find his size (5-foot-11, 187 pounds) to be a challenge at the next level, and NFL teams won't have the same concerns over the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Fuller. I see them both having solid, lengthy, productive NFL careers, but Fuller is slightly less risky. Also, against NFL corners, Fuller's size offers a bigger target for quarterbacks and a better red zone option.
• Look at the offensive players who did make the list: Big 12 players were No. 1 at four positions and three positions had two Big 12 prospects in the top five. Not a bad senior class.

Now, the younger guys who will be draft-eligible after this season (not including sophomores with a redshirt season.)

JUNIORS

Quarterbacks

• No. 3: Landry Jones, Oklahoma
• No. 4: Robert Griffin III, Baylor

Fullbacks

• No. 2: Braden Wilson, Kansas State

Receivers

• No. 2: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
• No. 3: Josh Gordon, Baylor

Centers

• No. 3: Ben Habern, Oklahoma

Defensive ends

• No. 5: Brad Madison, Missouri

Outside linebackers

• No. 1: Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma
• No. 3: Zaviar Gooden, Missouri

Punters

• No. 2: Ryan Doerr, Kansas State
• No. 3: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State

Some more thoughts:

• I haven't really asked around about what NFL scouts think of Baylor's Griffin III, but this is the first time I've seen him show up on a list like this from our draft gurus, Kiper or McShay. Perhaps unfairly, Griffin's athleticism prompts some fans around the league to label him as a scrambler, but anyone who watched Baylor for any extended period of time last season got a clear look at how much he's grown as a passer from his freshman year in 2008 to last year's sophomore season following his 2009 knee injury. I'd expect it to continue, but could Griffin have a decision to make by the end of the season? He's told me he plans to stay for four years, but once the money starts to become more and more real, he wouldn't be the first guy to change his mind.
• As for receivers, well, Alshon Jeffery over Blackmon? Strongly disagree, both as a college receiver and in regard to their potential pro careers.
• Got 40 minutes to spare? Ask Bill Snyder what he thinks of Wilson sometime. You could probably keep him going for a few days. Players like Wilson are what Snyder is all about.
• Very surprised to see Gordon on this list this early. I love his athleticism and his ceiling is absolutely sky high, but his production to this point hasn't been there. Don't be surprised if that changes in 2011, but I hadn't seen his name thrown out on a list like this before.

Schedule: Practice starts today

What’s new: The receiving corps. Kansas State's possible top three targets may all be new faces. Brodrick Smith is a Minnesota transfer, Chris Harper is from Oregon. And Aubrey Quarles missed all of last season.

• Kansas
• Baylor
  

Here's three Wildcats with relatively low profiles around the conference who you'll be hearing from in 2010.

Chris Harper, WR

You've heard a bit about Harper on the blog before, but he figures to be part of an all-new lineup at receiver for Kansas State, alongside Aubrey Quarles, who sat out the 2009 season, and fellow transfer Brodrick Smith, who racked up 12 catches for four touchdowns in the spring game. Smith came from Minnesota, but Harper, who came to Manhattan as a quarterback, came from Oregon. He's got speed and size at 6-foot-1 and 234 pounds, and if he can adjust to the position change, he'll be able to use both. Harper chose to make the switch to receiver near the beginning of spring practice, giving way to Collin Klein, Carson Coffman and Sammuel Lamur at quarterback, and early reviews were positive.

Braden Wilson, FB

Wilson may never get the press he deserves, even after the season begins. He'll be the primary lead blocker as a sophomore, first-year starter for the conference's best running back, and any lack of recognition won't be because of a lack of effort on the part of coach Bill Snyder. Earlier this spring, Snyder couldn't stop complimenting his 6-foot-3, 244-pound trailblazer. "He may make a mistake, but if he does, he'll make it at 120 miles an hour," he said.

Alex Hrebec, LB

Hrebec should be one of the leaders of a young linebacking corps that loses two seniors. A sturdy 5-foot-11, 251-pound junior, Hrebec could be among the tackling leaders for the Wildcats this season. Hrebec made just 32 tackles in 2009, but 21 of them came in games against Tennessee Tech and Iowa State, becoming the first Kansas State player to record double-digit tackle totals in consecutive games since 2006. As a redshirt freshman in 2008, he started half the Wildcats games and made 68 tackles. His off-the-field efforts were also recently recognized, landing him on the nomination list for the AFCA Good Works Team.

More Fresh Faces:

• Texas Tech
• Texas A&M
• Texas
• Oklahoma State
• Oklahoma
• Nebraska
• Missouri
  

Every spring has its movers. Nobodies earning their first real on-field action. Backups blossoming into featured roles. Starters becoming stars. There’s a few of each on this list, which looks at the spring risers on offense for each team in the conference. We'll look at the defensive risers later this week.

No longer unknowns

Luke Joeckel, LT, Texas A&M

When was the last time an offensive lineman became the story of the spring? That’s exactly what Joeckel did in College Station, enrolling early and leaving spring as the starting left tackle for one of college football’s best offenses. Joeckel came to the Aggies as the No. 6 tackle prospect in the country and No. 83 on the ESPNU 150, but he didn’t make his coaches wait long for him to make good on his potential.

Taylor Martinez, QB, Nebraska

This spring, Martinez made sure there was no debate in Lincoln over who was the Huskers’ fastest quarterback. But now he’ll have a chance this fall to prove he’s the Huskers’ best quarterback, alongside Cody Green, who struggled in the spring game, and Zac Lee, who sat out the spring after surgery on his throwing arm. Martinez stole the show at the Red-White game, throwing for two touchdowns and running for 60 yards on nine carries.

Marshall Musil, FB, Oklahoma

Musil was a non-factor in 2009, buried on the depth chart behind starter Matt Clapp. But the redshirt freshman surpassed senior Brandon Crow to leave the spring as the starter, and had a memorable day in a rainy spring game. With DeMarco Murray held out of action as a precautionary measure, Musil ran for 92 yards and a workman-like 29 carries. He might not get that many carries all of next season, but he proved that if he needs to, he can be counted on.

Justin Britt, OL, Missouri

With left guard Austin Wuebbels fighting off back spasms, Missouri coaches got a long look at the redshirt freshman this spring, who also worked at right guard. He could find time in the rotation after his impressive performance at left guard, or even start as the replacement for three-year starter and All-Big 12 performer Kurtis Gregory, the lone lost lineman for the Tigers.

Toney Clemons, WR, Colorado


Clemons, a Michigan transfer, had sky-high expectations coming into this spring, before he finally becomes eligible this fall. He delivered, impressing his teammates enough to be selected first in the team’s draft for the spring game, where he caught four passes for 33 yards.

Looking for a bigger role

Harrison Jeffers, RB, Texas Tech

Jeffers is the third man in a crowded, talented and young Red Raiders backfield, but he played well this spring with starter Baron Batch limited as a precaution. He led the team in rushing in the spring game with 68 yards, and in an earlier scrimmage, ran for 139 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries.

Fozzy Whittaker, RB, Texas

Whittaker carried the ball just 53 times for 212 yards last season, but has overcome a handful of other backs to become one of the two featured runners for the Longhorns, alongside Tre’ Newton. Four Longhorns rushed for more yards than Whittaker last season. It’s possible none do it in 2010.

Braden Wilson, FB, Kansas State

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder gushed on Wilson’s effort this spring, saying “he may make a mistake, but he's doing it at 120 miles an hour. I just love the way he practices.” He was the lead blocker for the Big 12’s leading rusher, Daniel Thomas, as a freshman, and also rushed for 110 yards on just 11 carries. Look somewhere else for a sophomore slump.

Philip Blake, OL, Baylor

Blake moved from tackle to center this spring, and impressed Baylor coach Art Briles. High praise in reaching for a high bar set by the man he’s replacing, three-year starter and All-American J.D. Walton, who was drafted in the third round of last month’s NFL Draft.

Kale Pick, QB, Kansas

Pick began the spring as a pigeon-holed runner with five quarterbacks looking to take his job. He left as his team’s best passer and a much heavier front-runner for the starting gig, while keeping his versatility as a runner. He gave the fans in the spring game a nice preview of what could be on the way, throwing a gorgeous 72-yard touchdown pass and a 37-yarder for the win. Those assured no one will see him as just a runner anymore.

Stars shining brighter

Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State

Common sense said new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen’s spread offense meant fewer touches for running back Kendall Hunter. While it might mean fewer carries, it won’t mean fewer touches. Holgorsen said Hunter was even better than he thought he’d be, and coach Mike Gundy forecasted about 250 touches for the senior in 2010. Of those, 170 would be rushes, but the offense will look to get the shifty Hunter in space where he can make tacklers miss. If Gundy’s prediction comes true, it won’t be hard for Hunter to eclipse his disappointing numbers as a junior.

Austen Arnaud, QB, Iowa State

Arnaud saw his production drop across the board in 2009, even as his team enjoyed its most successful year at quarterback. But Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads says Arnaud was his team’s most improved player and will be looking for more big wins with big numbers as a senior.

Today's the last stop on my North tour, Missouri. By the time I make it back, I'll have taken four flights and driven a shade over 1,000 miles since Thursday morning, while visiting the last five North schools.

I'm gonna go home and sit in a chair for a day or 10.

• Nebraska is changing the way practice is run this spring, report Steven M. Sipple and Brian Rosenthal of the Lincoln Journal Star.
• Iowa State is unveiling its 2010 team poster piece by piece. Here's part one.
• Jeff Woody is chasing after a list of goals he's set for himself, writes Randy Peterson of the Des Moines Register.
• After checking the tape, Tommy Tuberville was encouraged by his team's play in Saturday's scrimmage, reports Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
• Braden Wilson drew praise from Bill Snyder, reports Kellis Robinett at the Wichita Eagle.
• Linebacker Justin Springer figures to be a key piece of the Jayhawks defense, writes J. Brady McCollough of the Kansas City Star.
• The Dallas Morning News' Kevin Sherrington examines just how important Robert Griffin III will be to Baylor's future fortunes.