The college football season is over -- how about that great title game? -- and it's time for my first Big Board since before bowl season. Much has changed: A Pac-12 defender has moved into the top 10, another running back has moved into the top five and teammates from an SEC school not named Alabama joined the top 25.
With the Jan. 16 deadline looming for underclassmen to declare for the NFL draft, some of the prospects in my Big Board and on my position rankings are still undecided. I'm leaving them in for now until they make their decisions one way or the other.
One more thing: Prepare yourself for Mock 1.0, which will be out next week.
One asterisk denotes a junior, and two asterisks denote a redshirt sophomore for the 2016 season.
1. *Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
Garrett had a frustrating season, hampered by a high ankle sprain he suffered in late September, and his sack numbers (8.5) were down from his freshman (11.5) and sophomore (12.5) seasons. The injury took away some of the explosiveness that makes him such a promising talent. But when he's on, as he was when he had 4.5 sacks against UTSA in mid-November, he's a brilliant, natural pass-rusher. The injury shouldn't affect Garrett's draft status. At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, he has the length, strength and ability to bend the edge. I think he's a top-five lock.
