NFL draft's top prospects
School: University of South Carolina
Hometown: Rock Hill, South Carolina
Height/Weight: 6-5 / 266 lbs.
Strengths: "Exceedingly rare combination of size, explosiveness, strength, speed and technique. Times the snap well and possesses true explosiveness out of his stance to cross the face of the left tackle. Exceptional burst off the snap with lateral agility and an array of pass rush moves."
-Rob Rang, CBSSports.com analyst
Read more here: 2014 NFL mock draft: Texans go pass rusher at No. 1, but it's not Clowney
Johnny Manziel, QB
School: Texas A&MHometown: Kerrville, Texas
Heigh/Weight: 6-0/207 lbs
Strengths: "Ranks among the more dynamic college football players in recent history. Remarkable maneuverability. Excellent agility and burst, as well as straight-line speed, but what makes Manziel so difficult to contain is his vision. Seems to possess eyes in the back of his head, showing incredible spatial awareness of those around him."
Mike Evans, WR
School: Texas A&MHometown: Galveston, Texas
Heigh/Weight: 6-5/231 lbs
Strengths: "Highly physical receiver who uses his size and strength to simply bully defenders. Possesses an NFL-ready body, aiding him in his fight through press coverage, pushing off to generate consistent (if illegal) separation, when boxing out defenders on jump balls and in providing excellent downfield blocking for teammates."
Darqueze Dennard, CB
School: Michigan StateHometown: Dry Branch, Georgia
Height/Weight: 5-11/199 lbs.
Strengths: "Well-built for the position with broad shoulders, long arms and good overall musculature. Confident, physical defender on the perimeter at his best providing man to man coverage and when attacking in run support. Doesn't extend an arm in press coverage, instead quickly turning to run with receivers, demonstrating the fluid hips and acceleration. Leans into receivers and uses the sideline to help narrow the space in which quarterbacks can attack. Good patience and body control to adjust when the ball is thrown. Doesn't panic, instead reaching to rip the ball away as the receiver attempts to catch it. Good ball skills. Locates the football and shows the hand-eye coordination to pluck it outside of his frame. Very good awareness and competitive spirit against the run. Fights through blocks and will take out the knees of oncoming blockers if necessary to leave teammates in position to make the splashy play. Physical and reliable open-field tackler who wraps his arms to secure the stop."
- Rob Rang
Justin Gilbert, CB
School: Oklahoma StateHometown: Huntsville, Texas
Height/Weight: 6-0/202 lbs.
Strengths: "In terms of pure athleticism, Gilbert is the class of the 2014 draft. He possesses remarkably light feet, allowing him to quickly drop in his backpedal while keeping his eyes trained on his receiver (and also sneaking a peek on the quarterback). The depth gained allows him to be patient when flipping his hips to turn and run downfield or plant and explode in either direction as receivers attempt to cross in front of him. Gilbert changes directions fluidly and has impressive acceleration to handle deep coverage responsibilities against speedy receivers. Gilbert possesses prototypical height and overall frame for the position with broad shoulders and long arms. He extends well to snatch the ball out of the air and times his leap well. Gilbert is a willing tackler, who closes quickly and effectively. Whether on kick returns or after interceptions, Gilbert's patience, vision and acceleration make him a threat to go the distance."
Eric Ebron, TE
School: North CarolinaHometown: Greensboro, NC
Height/Weight: 6-4/250 lbs.
Strengths: "Smooth, gliding athlete with easy acceleration to speed past defenders in coverage and finish. Agile feet and dangerous after the catch to create with quick cuts to make defenders miss. Quick release off the LOS with route fluidity and natural flexibility. Smooth adjustments to pluck the ball with his hands away from his body - large catching radius. Physical when he wants as a blocker with strong initial power at the point of attack. Very good toughness and plays unintimidated and confident. Good football awareness and plays alert. Versatile experience lining up in-line, but mostly in the slot - also plays on special teams coverage. Still far from his ceiling."
- Rob Rang
Zack Martin, OG
School: Notre DameHometown: Indianapolis, Indiana
Height/Weight: 6-4/308 lbs.
Strengths: "Very good at keeping his feet underneath him while keeping his butt low to handle both speed and power. He does play with good quickness (but not explosiveness) off the snap, showing knee bend and core strength to anchor, as well as the lateral agility to mirror more athletic defenders. He also shows better athleticism than you might think when blocking on the move, demonstrating above average straight-line speed to get to the second level, as well as the nastiness to bury his target into the ground."
Aaron Donald, DT
School: PittsburghHometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Height/Weight: 6-1/285 lbs.
Strengths: "Comes off the snap like he's shot out of a cannon. His first step routinely beats opponents for immediate pressures. Has an effective arm-over swim move, though he doesn't use this often enough. His stature gives Donald the leverage advantage which he uses well to get under the pads of opponents and drive them into the backfield on bull-rushes."
Anthony Barr, OLB
School: UCLAHometown: San Pedro, California
Height/Weight: 6-5/255 lbs.
Strengths: "Perhaps most impressive qualities are Barr's balance, lateral agility and acceleration, which he uses to break down in the open field as well as when exploding into ballcarriers for ferocious hits."
Sammy Watkins, WR
School: ClemsonHometown: Fort Myers, Florida
Height/Weight: 6-1/211 lbs.
Strengths: "Smooth acceleration and doesn't take long to get up to full speed. Follows blocks well with controlled burst to weave through defenders - multiple gears to win at every level of the field."
Blake Bortles, QB
School: UCFHometown: Oviedo, Florida
Height/weight: 6-5/232 lbs.
Strengths: "Good height and a NFL-build. Very athletic mover and picks up chunks of yards with his legs. Anticipates pressure and uses his mobility to move the pocket. Quick feet with very good pocket footwork and maneuverability."
Hasean Clinton-Dix, FS
School: AlabamaHometown: Orlando, Florida
Strengths: "Possesses a lanky, athletic build with light feet, excellent fluidity and straight-line speed to handle deep and nickel coverage responsibilities. Good awareness. Tracks the action well, showing impressive key and diagnosis skills to get a jump on the ball or when attacking the line of scrimmage in run support. Decisive. When he sees the play developing Clinton-Dix doesn't waste time debating, instead exploding towards the ball, showing explosive closing ability. Very good ball-skills. Can climb the ladder and extend outside of his frame to pluck the ball. Physical defender, who looks to deliver the intimidating shot."
- Rob Rang