We've reached the midway point of the college football season, providing plenty of opportunities for the nation's top NFL prospects to showcase their talent. We've obviously still a long, long way from next spring's draft, but we can already see the board starting to take shape with some standout performers.
We have a new No. 1 prospect this week, and several other players who are moving up or down the board. We've also addressed below how recent off-field news could potentially affect the stock of two of our top-10 prospects.
Here is our latest ranking of the Top 32 prospects for the 2015 NFL draft.
(Notes: Underclassmen are noted with an asterisk, and the scouting write-ups will stay the same for each ranking update except in cases in which new material is needed.)
1. Leonard Williams, DE, USC Trojans (Grade: 96)*
6-foot-5, 290 pounds
Williams moves up to the No. 1 spot in this week's rankings, as we've had more of an opportunity to watch his performance; this adjustment is mostly just an acknowledgement of what a complete game he has and how he has been playing up to that level so far this season. He possesses excellent strength and speed for his size, and has the versatility to create mismatches all along the D-line. His best projection is as a 5-technique defensive end, but he has the quickness and point-of-attack skills to perform inside as a 3-technique (especially in pass-rushing situations), and enough athleticism to occasionally line up as a traditional left defensive end. As a pass-rusher, he isn't going to gain the edge with pure speed, but he has good initial quickness and a wide array of moves. He possesses an above-average motor and plays with an edge.