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This is the fifth year I have done this list and for those first time readers this is not a list of the top 10 NFL Draft prospects, but rather a list of MY top 10 favorite players. Players I would want on my team, not necessarily just for their skills, but also for their passion, brains, and heart. This list will include likely first rounders, but also players that will likely get drafted in the later rounds. Before I go any further, MY top ten favorite players:

1. Nate Byham, TE, Pittsburgh

Dorin Dickerson probably received most of the acclaim and recognition last season at tight end for the Pittsburgh, but the Panthers had another solid NFL prospect in Nate Byham. Byham lacked Dickerson’s numbers (49 catches, 10 touchdowns), but that was just fine with him. Byham was primarily used as a blocking tight end for the Panthers and did a heck of job doing it, even being picked first team All-Big East in 2008, despite only having 20 receptions. This season he made 2nd team, behind Dickerson. He is one of the top blockers in this year’s draft and should get drafted sometime in the mid rounds because of that. What makes Byham’s story so intriguing is the connection he has with his grandfather, Ron. As a widower/grandfather, Ron raised Nate as his mother struggled with drugs and alcohol. Despite being recruited by every program in the country, Byham chose to attend Pitt, primarily to be close to his grandfather. Watching Byham walk on the field during Pittsburgh’s Senior Day was very emotional as he was accompanied by his mother and his grandfather.

2. Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati
The heart and soul of a Cincinnati Bearcats team, Gilyard defines perseverance. In 2006, Gilyard had his scholarship revoked because of poor academics, and for six months lived nomadically in friends’ houses and even in his car. During that time, Gilyard worked many odd jobs to raise enough money to reenroll in school. The rest you can say is history. Gilyard finished his career at Cincinnati as the most accomplished receiver in school’s history. His senior season he had 87 receptions and 11 touchdowns. He also was a special teams demon in which he had two kick returns and one punt return for a touchdown. Gilyard should be an ideal slot receiver in the NFL. Gilyard has truly taken advantage of his second chance of playing football and should be drafted in the second round.

3. Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama
There are tags NFL draft analysts like to use and one is “safest prospect in the draft.” McClain is that prospect for me. The last time I gave an inside linebacker that tag was Patrick Willis, who also happened to be on my 2007 Favorite NFL Draft Prospects list. McClain is the protypical linebacker you want to captain your defense. He has the whole package: size (6-3, 258 lbs), speed (4.60 40), and football smarts. As the Butkus award winner, McClain led his dominant Crimson Tide defense to the national title. He is also the only true underclassman on this list (Toby Gerhart is a 4th year junior who is expected to graduate), but is already ready to dominate in the NFL. McClain has the size and versatility to be successful in either the 4-3 or 3-4 defense. He is already my preseason candidate for defensive rookie of the year.

4. Dexter McCluster, RB/WR/ATH, Ole Miss.
For years, the NFL was a league in which it was nearly impossible to get drafted if you were under 5-9. Now with the success of Darren Sproles, Bob Sanders, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Leon Washington, being small has never been more popular. Besides Dexter McCluster, other small prospects in this draft that have a chance at being drafted including Trindon Holliday (5-5), Brandon Banks (5-7), and Brandon James (5-7). However at 5-8 (5-9 generously), McCluster looks to be the first one of the 5-8 and under club to be drafted. McCluster is the ultimate playmaker as he rushed for 1,169 yards and 8 touchdowns, but also caught 44 receptions for 520 yards and 3 touchdowns. In 2009, McCluster’s versatility was awarded with being named All-SEC first team as an all-purpose player, second team as a running back, and second team as a wide receiver. NFL teams probably will use him as a 3rd down receiving back, slot receiver, and in the wildcat formation. At 172 lbs, McCluster benched press 225 lbs 20 times, which was tied for the most at the Combine among receivers. Not bad for a small guy.

5. Jon Asamoah, G, Illinois
At 6-5, 305 lbs, Jon Asamoah is a force in the interior line. Asamoah also has the versatility to also play tackle. After Mike Iupati, Asamoah will challenge to be the second interior offensive lineman to be drafted. He projects to be drafted somewhere in the 2nd-3rd round. But what makes Asamoah such an intriguing prospect is as much as he has succeeded on the field, he has been just as successful off the field. Asamoah boasts a 3.82 GPA while majoring in Community Health. After football, Asamoah wants to pursue a Ph.D and work in the health field as he has learned so much from his father, Samuel, who has struggled with diabetes. His father finally received a kidney transplant, after receiving dialysis treatments up to three times a day. Asamoah was not highly recruited out of high school. He was only a two star prospect. Now he looks to be drafted in the first three rounds.

6. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
There is no pretending, football still has racism involved. NFL teams and analysts are still trying to project Toby Gerhart as a fullback. Last time I checked, Gerhart was 6-0, 231 lbs and looked more like Michael Bush than a Mike Alstott. CBS Sports compares Gerhart to Brian Leonard of the Cincinnati Bengals who is currently considered the top white running back in the NFL. Outside of skin color, I do not see the comparison. Leonard is a 3rd down specialist who is known for his receiving skills. Gerhart on the other hand looks to be more of an every down player who only had 11 receptions in 2009. You got to root for a guy like Gerhart who is trying to change stereotypes. In high school, USC wanted him to play fullback, but Gerhart wanted to play running back, which is why he chose Stanford. The year is 2010, I thought the color of a person’s skin was an afterthought. When was the last time a white defensive back did not get compared to John Lynch or Jason Sehorn? I look at Toby Gerhart and I do see a white man, but I also see an NFL running back.

7. Eric Norwood, OLB, South Carolina
Many of the prospects on this list are on it because of their academic achievement in college. After graduating from high school with a 1.8 GPA and being rejected three times by South Carolina’s admissions office, graduating from college would be a miracle, let alone graduating with close to a 3.0 GPA. But Eric Norwood did just that. He also has been rather successful on the football field, earning All-American honors this past year. At 6-1, 252 lbs, Norwood is a pass rushing specialist. In his college career, he recorded 29 sacks and 54.5 tackles for loss (both South Carolina records). Norwood spent his first two years in college playing defensive end before making the successful transition to outside linebacker. He looks to be an ideal 3-4 OLB and should be drafted between the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Norwood was the vocal leader on the Gamecocks’ defense last year. He originally declared for the 2009 NFL Draft, but came back to improve his draft stock and earn his degree in Criminal Justice.

8. Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA
As an FWAA member, I got to make 4 picks at the defensive back position for the FWAA All-American team. I chose Eric Berry, Earl Thomas, Joe Haden, and Alterraun Verner. The first three players are household names and all could be top 15 picks in this year’s draft. Verner, on the other hand, is hoping to be drafted in either the 3rd or 4th round. He lacks the ideal speed of a top cornerback, but makes up with his solid hands, ideal size, and technique. This past season he had five interceptions and two touchdowns. He finished his career at UCLA with 12 interceptions. Verner is also an honor roll student who is a Mathematics-Applied Science major. With that, an NFL playbook should not be too difficult for a Verner to understand. A hardworking player with brains, Verner has a chance to be a solid player and a mid round steal.

9. Blair White, WR, Michigan State
Most readers are familiar that I am a huge Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger fan. I have an autographed framed picture from Rudy on my desk with the title: Dream Big, Never Quit. Just like Rudy, Blair White was a walk-on. To add to the storybook comparison, it was current NFL player and Michigan State star running back Javon Ringer who stood up for White and praised him for his terrific work ethic. Ringer’s words helped get White a scholarship for his last two years of college. White truly has taken that scholarship in stride. He finished the 2009 football season with 70 receptions for 990 yards and 9 touchdowns. At 6-2, 200 lbs, White has the physical tools to be an NFL player, unlike Rudy. However, what White has done on the field, is nothing compared to what he down off it. He earned first-team Academic All-American honors for his 3.89 GPA in human biology. After football, he looks to become a dentist. White is projected to be drafted around the 5th round, mostly due to his subpar 40 speed. However, he should be able to make an NFL squad with his experience on special teams. Dentistry school will have to wait for now.

10. Myron Rolle, SS, Florida State
The Myron Rolle story is known to about every football fan: an All-American football player graduated college with a 3.75 GPA in 2.5 years, takes a year off of football to study in England as a Rhodes Scholar. After studying at Oxford for a year and earning a M.A. in medical anthropology, Myron is ready to get back to playing football. Some NFL teams are skeptical of drafting Rolle because he could leave football at anytime to pursue other opportunities. I think this is hogwash, and believe teams should jump at a chance to take Rolle. Teams also may be scared that he was away from the game for a year. First round prospects like Jermaine Gresham and Rob Gronkowski didn’t even play the 2009 season because of injury. Besides all the off the field honors, awards, philanthropy, Rolle is still one heck of a player. Out of high school, he was the number one prospect in the country. At 6-2, 223 lbs, Rolle has protypical size for an NFL safety, but lacks ideal speed (projected 4.60). Because he graduated college early, Rolle is still only 23 years old. Expect Rolle to be drafted in the mid rounds. Rolle is good for the NFL and will be a great addition to whichever city drafts him.

2009 Favorite NFL Draft Prospects

Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss.
James Casey, TE, Rice
Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri
Connor Barwin, DE, Cincinnati
Pat White, QB, West Virginia
Alex Mack, C, California
Louie Sakoda, K/P, Utah
Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State
Scott McKillop, ILB, Pittsburgh
Sammie Stroughter, WR, Oregon St.

2008 Favorite NFL Draft Prospects

Wesley Woodyard, LB, Kentucky
Mark Bradford, WR, Stanford
Martin Rucker, TE, Missouri
Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
Harry Douglas, WR, Louisville
Chris Long, DE, Virginia
Josh Barrett, S, Arizona St.
J Leman, ILB, Illinois
Kory Lichtensteiger, C, Bowling Green

2007 Favorite NFL Draft Prospects

Patrick Willis, WR, Ole. Miss
Eric Weddle, S, Utah
Joe Newton, TE, Oregon St.
Brian Leonard, FB, Rutgers
Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida
Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan
Marcus Hamilton, CB, Virginia
Garrett Wolfe, RB, Northern Illinois
Johnnie Lee Higgins, WR, UTEP
Dan Bazuin, DE, Central Michigan

2006 Favorite NFL Draft Prospects

Joe Klopfenstein, TE, Colorado
Mike Kudla DE/LB, Ohio State
D’Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia
Mike Hass, WR, Oregon St.
Elvis Dumervil, DE, Louisville
Manny Lawson, DE/LB, NC State
Garrett Mills, H-Back, Tulsa
Thomas Howard, OLB, UTEP
Max Jean-Gilles, G, Georgia
Devin Hester, ATH, Miami

Michael is President of The Football Expert.com, and also NFL Draft Director and Senior Writer. Michael has been following the NFL Draft for more than ten years. He has been quoted in numerous publications, both internet and print. His mock drafts have been on numerous NFL team sites.

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