Top 60 NFL Draft prospects

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The Rocky Mountain News sports department has watched the videos, crunched the numbers, surveyed scouts and personnel executives throughout the league over the past six months to determine the top 100 prospects, regardless of position or team needs in the selection order, available in this year's draft.Here are the top 60.-- 1. Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSUSome have concerns about an old stress fracture in his right leg, but he still collected most of the defensive trophies (Outland, Nagurski, Lott and Lombardi) in 2007, played 52 career games with 31 starts and dominated in virtually all of those. A captain on a national championship team who played hurt and beat enough double- and triple-teams for back-to-back 60-tackle seasons. Even on a sore knee in '07, he was simply unblockable at times.-- 2. Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio StateSpeed (a 4.67 40 electronically timed) and power (he benched 225 pounds 37 times to lead all defensive linemen at the combine) make him the best pass rusher on the board. Had 21-1/2 sacks in last two seasons.-- 3. Chris Long, DE, VirginiaThe ACC Defensive Player of the Year with 14 sacks. Has been groomed by his father -- Hall of Famer Howie -- and his technique, especially his hands to free himself from blockers, is the best in the class.-- 4. Jake Long, T, MichiganWon Big Ten offensive lineman of the year award in back-to-back seasons. Surrendered just two sacks in last 25 starts and played both tackle spots for Wolverines. Holding top pick, Miami agreed to terms with Long on Tuesday.-- 5. Darren McFadden, RB, ArkansasHeight: 6-1 1/4; Weight: 211There are some off-the-field concerns and a toe injury has probably been underestimated by some. But explosive on the field, with the kind of big-play potential teams crave. McFadden is the top player on several teams' boards.-- 6. Sedrick Ellis, DT, Southern CalCoveted because he plays a big-man game with small-guy quickness. Dominated at the Senior Bowl workouts and had 8 1/2 sacks to go with 12 1/2 tackles for loss last year. Understands well how to get rid of blockers.-- 7. Keith Rivers, LB, Southern CalEasily at the top of weak LB class. Has had surgery on each ankle. Sees the play well and closes to ball with a fluid stride as a sure tackler.-- 8. Jonathan Stewart, RB, OregonRecent toe surgery should cause some to take pause, but if he recovers, this is a potential rushing champion. Ran consistent 4.4s despite being one of the biggest backs on the board. Bench-pressed 410 pounds at Oregon, the program's best ever for an RB.-- 9. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, IllinoisWith a 79-yard TD run and 55-yard catch vs. USC in rose Ball, Mendenhall can launched himself into the top 10.-- 10. Brian Brohm, QB, LouisvilleUnderrated Brohm is the best pro-QB-in-waiting in this class. The difference is accuracy (never completed less than 63.6 pct. of passes at UL). Brohm hits guys in stride, and in a catch-and-run league, that's essential.-- 11. Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy.Could be too good a position player to let him do what he does best - return kicks and punts (8 career TDs).-- 12. Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College.Most teams have him as top passer on the board. Was 25-7 as a starter and plays with an unflappable air.-- 13. Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida.Won't be 22 until November. Came out as a junior after 18 career starts. Has a huge reach and plays hard-- 14. Ryan Clady, T, Boise State.Arrived at college as a defensive lineman and exited as a junior and one of the nation's best left tackle prospects.-- 15. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State.Some question his competition, but he dominated nonetheless. Speed, quickness and top-shelf change of direction.-- 16. Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida.Could get pushed down board after being arrested in March. Cover-2 teams will be looking to grab him.-- 17. Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State.Just two seasons of major college ball and only one with more than six catches. Big-time returner/receiver who led Big Ten in all-purpose yardage in '07.-- 18. Jeff Otah, T, Pittsburgh.Proficient in run game and plays with good balance. Some scouts wonder about practice habits.-- 19. Limas Sweed, WR, Texas.Started 39 consecutive games. Plenty of big-play potential (19 catches of at least 30 yards).-- 20. Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas.Led Division I-A with average of 8.7 yards per carry. Also a front-line kick returner.-- 21. Chris Williams, T, Vanderbilt.Started last 24 games at left tackle. Some question his devotion to game, but he has footwork of a potential long-time starter.-- 22. Branden Albert, G, Virginia.Played three seasons for Cavaliers, started in all three. Good enough athlete to have drawn interest from several schools as a basketball player.-- 23. Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson.A quality edge rusher, coaches have told some scouts he needs to consistently be given challenges to maintain focus, energy.-- 24. Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas.Physically, has the skills, but some question his maturity at the moment.-- 25. James Hardy, WR, Indiana.Makes plays in the red zone (36 career TD catches) and consistently performed against defenses designed to slow him.-- 26. Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina.Started more than six games in a season only once but is a powerful run stuffer who explodes off the ball.-- 27. Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina.Rank might be a little high, because he doesn't always avoid contact. Had neck surgery but is one of the fastest players on the board.-- 28. Kenny Phillips, S, Miami.Has all the measurables of a big-time safety. Leads a weak class, and enough teams have a need to take him early.-- 29. Gosder Cherilus, T, Boston College.Struggled some at left tackle after three years on the right, but he's a big-framed lineman who plays with a fierce edge.-- 30. Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee.Of the inside linebackers who ran at the combine, his 4.54 40 was fastest. Smart, a strong personality who finishes tackles.-- 31. Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma, 6-3 3/4, 224Didn't run as well as expected in pre-draft workouts; had knee surgery 17 months ago. Still, many like potential because of size, ability to run after the catch.-- 32. DeSean Jackson, WR, California.Twenty-three percent of 226 touches went for at least 20 yards. Big-play threat on offense and in the return game, but size leads to questions about durability.-- 33. Fred Davis, TE, Southern Cal.Started as WR but wound up leading Trojans in every major receiving category last year, the first TE to do that there since 1985.-- 34. Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn.Some see an outside LB in a 3-4 look, but he gets to the QB. Missed two games with dislocated toes and missed the Senior Bowl with a shoulder injury.-- 35. Jamaal Charles, RB, Texas, 5-11, 200Explosive player, averaged just over 20 yards on 36 career TDs. Has what scouts call "long speed," and finished second in the 100 at the Big 12 track meet last year.-- 36. Calais Campbell, DE, Miami.Fell off after monster year in '06 (80 tackles, 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss) to a 50 tackles, six-sacks last year.-- 37. Sam Baker, T, Southern Cal.Arrived as a guard but switched to tackle where he was a four-year starter. Technician who usually does right thing.-- 38. Kevin Smith, RB, Central Florida.Rushed for 2,567 yards on a knee-buckling 450 carries in '07. Had 149 yards and two TDs vs. Texas, a game many teams take look at on film.-- 39. Martellus Bennett, TE, Texas A&M.Though he didn't play in a consistent passing offense, most teams believed he was the top TE for much of last year.-- 40. Curtis Lofton, LB, Oklahoma.Won't turn 22 until June. Started only 19 games but made the most of them. Earned Big 12 defensive player of the year with 152 tackles.-- 41. Dan Connor, LB, Penn State.Set school's career tackle mark (419). Some teams rate him just below ex-teammate Paul Posluszny, the 34th pick in '07.-- 42. Eddie Royal, WR, Virginia Tech.Undersized but has speed (4.39 at the combine) and is one of the most explosive kick returners.-- 43. Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware.Probably strongest arm in QB class, but has been a starter for only two seasons after transferring from Pitt.-- 44. Justin King, CB, Penn State.First Nittany Lions player to enter the draft early since LaVar Arrington in 2000. Reliable off the field and one of the fastest players in pre-draft workouts.-- 45. Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech.Some quibble with his size, but he plays a tough game.-- 46. Lawrence Jackson, DE, Southern Cal.Some players work out better, but this guy is just a ballplayer (twice All Pac-10, 30 1/2 career sacks.)-- 47. Chilo Rachal, G, Southern Cal.He plays with power and moves easily downfield. Many teams have him as second guard off the board.-- 48. Brad Cottam, TE, Tennessee.One of the biggest TEs at the combine and one of the fastest. Never started more than six games, but draft often is more about potential than production.-- 49. Earl Bennett, WR, Vanderbilt.Some are bigger, stronger and faster, but Bennett left as SEC's all-time leading receiver.-- 50. Duane Brown, T, Virginia Tech.Moved from TE in 2005. Power and enough quickness to join on punt coverage.-- 51. DaJuan Morgan, S, N.C. State.Watching him play, you don't see many mistakes. Played both safety spots last year and topped 80 tackles in each of past two years.-- 52. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers.Some concerned about size, but he was a durable college player.-- 53. Andre Caldwell, WR, Florida.Hasn't always played to the level of his physical abilities, but did play in 53 games for the Gators.-- 54. Donnie Avery, WR, Houston.Ran on an injured leg at the combine and still put up a 4.49 40. Tough, a little raw, but plays hard.-- 55. Pat Sims, DT, Auburn.Teams will make a decision on his potential. Played only two seasons in college and was only full-time starter in one.-- 56. Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame, 6-0 3/4, 304Played DT and DE for Irish. Plays with the balance and power expected from a former prep All-American in wrestling.-- 57. Early Doucet, WR, LSU.Has size, speed and explosiveness, but the question is why he averaged only 9.2 yards a catch last year.-- 58. Tavares Gooden, LB, Miami.Played all three LB spots, starting in the middle in '07, his only year as full-time starter.-- 59. Bryan Kehl, LB, Brigham Young.Smart guy who could be leader has risen on board recently.-- 60. Chad Henne, QB, Michigan.Tough guy; played with a dislocated shoulder last year. Holds school marks for completions, attempts, yards and TD passes.(Compiled by the Rocky Mountain News.)