Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson, Jr.
Deshaun Watson took Clemson to the national championship game in 2015. The 6-1, 210-pound Heisman finalist is a dual-threat quarterback who threw for 4,109 yards and a 35:13 touchdown-interception ratio while rushing for 1,105 yards and 12 scores. He has shown good decision making with his throws and has delivered in big situations in college.
Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU, Jr.
The 2017 draft class, headed by Leonard Fournette, has the potential to be stacked at running back. Had Fournette been draft-eligible following his sophomore season, he probably would have supplanted Ezekiel Elliott as the top running back in the 2016 draft class. The 6-1, 230-pounder has an incredible mix of speed and downhill power and can even return kicks (he had a 100-yard return touchdown in the 2014 Music City bowl as a freshman).
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford, Jr.
Christian McCaffrey burst onto the scene in 2015 when he broke Barry Sanders' single-season record for all-purpose yards and was named a Heisman finalist. The son of former Broncos receiver Ed McCaffrey is a versatile player with excellent hands. McCaffrey can line up in the backfield, out wide, in the slot, or as a returner, though at 6-foot and 202 pounds, he's more likely to beat opponents with speed and explosion instead of power.
Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State, Jr.
Dalvin Cook has been a key part of Florida State's success the past two years, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in each of his two seasons in Tallahassee and breaking Warrick Dunn's single-season school record in 2015. The 5-11, 206-pound junior is a quick, shifty runner who knows how to make defenders miss in space. He has battled a few injuries at Florida State, but he's a dynamic player when healthy.
Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia, Jr.
Nick Chubb stepped into the feature back role at Georgia in 2014 after Todd Gurley was suspended for an NCAA rules violation, and the 5-10, 220-pounder never looked back. Chubb ran for 1,547 yards in his freshman season and was on his way to matching that in 2015 before tearing three ligaments in his knee. He runs with very good power, but he'll have to prove that his knee is fully healthy in 2016.
Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon, Jr.
Royce Freeman is a little different from past Oregon running backs that reached the NFL. While former Ducks such as LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas were known for their versatility and shiftiness, the 5-11, 230-pound Freeman is more of a power back in Oregon's spread offense, though he does have the hands to catch passes out of the backfield. He has been extremely productive at Oregon despite being overshadowed at times by some of the other members of this class.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC, Jr.
USC has produced quite a few NFL-caliber receivers in recent years, and JuJu Smith-Schuster could be the latest one. The 6-2, 215-pounder caught 89 passes for 1,454 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2015 after catching 54 passes for 724 yards and five scores as a freshman. Smith-Schuster can play in the slot or out wide and runs clean routes.
O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama, Sr.
O.J. Howard wasn't utilized as a receiver often in Alabama's power-run offense last season until the national title game, where he caught five passes for 208 yards and two scores. For perspective's sake, that game accounted for more than a third of his receiving yardage total and his entire touchdown production on the season. Howard has prototypical tight end size at 6-6 and 242 pounds, and he has shown the ability to stay in and block. It's just a matter of whether or not he will continue to be featured as a receiver in 2016.
Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama, Jr.
Derrick Henry didn't run for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns all by himself last season. The Heisman winner and second-round pick of the Titans had plenty of help from his offensive line, led by promising left tackle Cam Robinson. The 6-6, 327-pound junior has excellent size and showed great improvement last season. He's expected to anchor the Crimson Tide's line again this season.
Myles Garrett, Edge rusher, Texas A&M, Jr.
The 2017 class has the potential to be very deep at edge rusher, and Myles Garrett may be the best one of the bunch. The junior had 22 1/2 sacks and 32 tackles for loss in two seasons. He has a nice mix of speed and power off the edge, which should translate very well to the NFL.
Jonathan Allen, Edge rusher, Alabama, Sr.
Alabama's vaunted defensive line produced two Day 2 picks in the 2016 draft. Now it's Jonathan Allen's turn in the limelight. The 6-3, 294-pound edge rusher had 12 sacks in 2015, but he'll have to prove that he didn't simply benefit from playing alongside two future NFL defensive tackles in A'Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed.
Carl Lawson, Edge rusher, Auburn, Jr.
Carl Lawson had the chance to jump to the NFL after last season, but opted to stay at Auburn. Not many people would have doubted him if he did declare, though. The 6-2, 257-pounder has a ton of pass-rushing talent, and his traits are exciting to watch. However, Lawson hasn't been able to stay healthy at Auburn. He missed the entire 2014 season with a torn ACL, then missed six games in 2015 with a hip injury.
Raekwon McMillan, ILB, Ohio State, Jr.
Ohio State had six defensive players taken in the 2016 NFL Draft, and one of the next Buckeyes stars to join them could be Raekwon McMillan. The 6-2, 240-pound linebacker was a highly touted recruit and now steps into a leadership role on defense with Darron Lee and Joshua Perry in the NFL. He's an instinctive and physical linebacker who totaled 119 tackles last season in the heart of Ohio State's defense.
Desmond King, CB, Iowa, Sr.
Desmond King was a major reason why Iowa was in contention for the College Football Playoff until late in the 2015 season. The 5-11, 200-pound senior was a ball-hawk in 2015, pulling down eight interceptions (tying a school record) and breaking up 13 passes. He also can return kickoffs and punts.
Adoree' Jackson, CB/WR, USC, Jr.
Adoree' Jackson may be the best pure athlete in college football - and possibly in all of college sports. When he's not making plays on either side of the ball, the 5-11, 185-pound junior competes on the USC track team and is trying to qualify for the Olympics in the long jump. On the gridiron, Jackson is a dynamic playmaker who will primarily play cornerback and returner but can jump in at receiver in a pinch.
Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan, Soph.
Jabrill Peppers could be to the 2017 draft what Jalen Ramsey or Myles Jack was to the 2016 draft. The 6-1, 208-pound redshirt sophomore is a versatile defender who has played both safety and corner and is expected to play some strong-side linebacker next season. His combination of versatility and athleticism could be very attractive in next year's class.
Jamal Adams, S, LSU, Jr.
LSU seems to keep churning out NFL-caliber defensive backs, and Jamal Adams could be the latest one. The 6-1, 211-pound junior hauled in four interceptions and broke up six passes in 2015 and may improve on those numbers under first-year defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. He also has NFL bloodlines - his father is George Adams, a former first-round pick of the Giants in 1985.
..... - Newsday