Kiper's Top 5 Prospects by Position

[MTK]

Wide receiver Mike Williams of USC is atop the Big Board and California quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the projected No. 1 overall pick in my latest mock draft, but only one of the two is the top player at his position.

Williams moved past Michigan's Braylon Edwards atop the receivers list but Rodgers still ranks behind Utah's Alex Smith among quarterbacks, even though Rodgers' local connection gives him the edge as the San Francisco 49ers decide which passer is better suited to be the top selection in this month's NFL draft.


And wide receiver is not the only position with a new leader or significant changes in my latest rankings of the top five prospects at each position. There is a new man on top at middle linebacker, while all five players on the latest fullback list are new to the rankings and three players have shuffled in at tight end. There are also two new entries apiece at defensive end, center and punter.



OFFENSE
Quarterback
1. Alex Smith (jr.), Utah (same)
2. Aaron Rodgers (jr.), California (same)
3. Jason Campbell, Auburn (same)
4. Charlie Frye, Akron (same)
5. Kyle Orton, Purdue (same)


Running Back
1. Ronnie Brown, Auburn (same)
2. Carnell Williams, Auburn (3)
3. Cedric Benson, Texas (2)
4. J.J. Arrington, California (5)
5. Ryan Moats, Louisiana Tech (unranked)
DROPPED
Vernand Morency (jr.), Oklahoma State (4)

Fullback
1. Justin Green, Montana (unranked)
2. Jon Goldsberry, Purdue (unranked)
3. Madison Hedgecock, North Carolina (unranked)
4. Will Matthews, Texas (unranked)
5. Branden Joe, Ohio State (unranked)
DROPPED
Paul Jefferson, Penn State (1)
Branden Joe, Ohio State (2)
Kyle Eckel, Navy (3)
Kevin Dudley, Michigan (4)
Keith Joseph, Texas A&M (5)


Wide receiver
1. Mike Williams (jr.), USC (2)
2. Braylon Edwards, Michigan (1)
3. Troy Williamson (jr.), South Carolina (4)
4. Roddy White, UAB (3)
5. Mark Clayton, Oklahoma (same)

Tight End
1. Heath Miller (jr.), Virginia (same)
2. Alex Smith, Stanford (same)
3. Kevin Everett, Miami (unranked)
4. Bo Scaife, Texas (unranked)
5. Garrett Cross, California (unranked)
DROPPED
Adam Bergen, Lehigh (3)
Tony Curtis, Portland State (4)
Steve Fleming, Arizona (5)

Tackle
1. Alex Barron, Florida State (same)
2. Khalif Barnes, Washington (same)
3. Jammal Brown, Oklahoma (same)
4. Michael Roos, Eastern Washington (unranked)
5. Adam Snyder, Oregon (4)
DROPPED
Adam Terry, Syracuse (5)

Guard
1. Marcus Johnson, Ole Miss (same)
2. Evan Mathis, Alabama (unranked)
3. Scott Young, BYU (unranked)
4. Logan Mankins, Fresno State (3)
5. Chris Kemoeatu, Utah (2)
DROPPED
Elton Brown, Virginia (4)

Center
1. Chris Spencer (jr.), Ole Miss (same)
2. David Baas, Michigan (same)
3. Jason Brown, North Carolina (same)
4. Eric Ghiaciuc, Central Michigan (unranked)
5. Junius Coston, North Carolina A&T (unranked)
DROPPED
Ben Wilkerson, LSU (4)
Scott Mruczkowski, Bowling Green (5)

Kickers
1. Mike Nugent, Ohio State (same)
2. Dave Rayner, Michigan State (same)
3. Matt Payne, BYU (4)
4. Nick Novak, Maryland (unranked)
5. Tyler Jones, Boise State (same)
DROPPED
Rhys Lloyd, Minnesota (3)

DEFENSE
Defensive end
1. Dan Cody, Oklahoma (same)
2. Shawne Merriman (jr.), Maryland (No. 2 at OLB)
3. Demarcus Ware, Troy (No. 4 at OLB)
4. Marcus Spears, LSU (2)
5. Erasmus James, Wisconsin (3)
DROPPED
Matt Roth, Iowa (4)
David Pollack, Georgia (5)

Tackle
1. Travis Johnson, Florida State (same)
2. Mike Patterson, USC (3)
3. Shaun Cody, USC (5)
4. Anttaj Hawthorne, Wisconsin (2)
5. Luis Castillo, Northwestern (same)

Inside linebacker
1. Barrett Ruud, Nebraska (2)
2. Odell Thurman (jr.), Georgia (3)
3. Alfred Fincher, Connecticut (unranked)
4. Channing Crowder (so.), Florida (1)
5. Adam Seward, UNLV (same)
DROPPED
Lofa Tatupu (jr.), USC (4)


Outside linebacker
1. Derrick Johnson, Texas (same)
2. Thomas Davis (jr.), Georgia (3)
3. Darryl Blackstock (jr.), Virginia (5)
4. Kevin Burnett, Tennessee (unranked)
5. Matt McCoy, San Diego State (unranked)
* Shawne Merriman and Demarcus Ware moved from OLB to DE

Cornerback
1. Adam "Pac-Man" Jones (jr.), West Virginia (same)
2. Antrel Rolle, Miami (same)
3. Carlos Rogers, Auburn (same)
4. Marlin Jackson, Michigan (5)
5. Justin Miller (jr.), Clemson (unranked)
DROPPED
Fabian Washington (jr.), Nebraska (4)

Safety
1. Brodney Pool (jr.), Oklahoma (same)
2. Josh Bullocks (jr.), Nebraska (3)
3. Gerald Sensabaugh, North Carolina (unranked)
4. Oshiomogho Atogwe, Stanford (unranked)
5. Sean Considine, Iowa (4)
DROPPED
Ernest Shazor (jr.), Michigan (2)
Vincent Fuller, Virginia Tech (5)


Punter
1. Dustin Colquitt, Tennessee (same)
2. Paul Ernster, Northern Arizona (unranked)
3. Chris Kluwe, UCLA (4)
4. Reggie Hodge, Ball State (unranked)
5. Bryce Benekos, UTEP (same)
DROPPED
D.J. Fitzpatrick, Notre Dame (2)
Gary Cook, UNLV (3)