Underclassmen lead top draft-eligible pass-rushers

Pass-rushers always rank high on NFL wish lists come draft season. The pickings were slim in 2008, which in my opinion led to some teams reaching for overrated talent such as Vernon Gholston (Jets, No. 6 overall) and Derrick Harvey (Jaguars, No. 8 overall). Depending on how many of the top underclassmen leave school early, there could be a much deeper crop of sack artists in next April's draft.

Below is a breakdown of the top five pass-rushers that could be available in the 2009 draft. The rankings are based purely on pass-rushing potential, not overall skill level. (* denotes draft-eligible underclassmen)

1. Everette Brown*, DE/OLB, Florida State
Brown is peaking down the stretch. Six of his nine sacks this season have come in FSU's last three outings. Brown is a bit undersized but he is fast and athletic, and he is a perfect fit as a rush-linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. He is using his initial quickness, body control and closing burst to generate pressure both around the corner and on inside stunts. A fourth-year junior, Brown is practically a lock to bolt school early for the 2009 draft. If that's the case, he will be in the mix to be the first of his kind -- the 'tweener DE/OLB hybrid -- selected.

2. Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas
Orakpo displays good anticipation, above-average initial burst and he hugs the rail tightly when turning the corner as an edge rusher. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound senior also displays more power than his frame would indicate. He uses quick and strong inside moves to keep opposing offensive tackles guessing. Orakpo was off to a torrid start with nine sacks in Texas' first eight games but he suffered a setback with a sprained left knee in the Texas Tech loss and did not play last week versus Baylor. Durability concerns could hurt Orakpo, but I still believe he's first-round material.

3. George Selvie*, DE/OLB, South Florida
Despite missing nearly three full games with a high ankle sprain, Selvie still has five sacks to his credit this season. When he's fully healthy, no pass-rusher in college football is more feared. Last year he led the nation with 31.5 tackles for loss and finished second with 14.5 sacks. While he lacks ideal size (6-3½, 250) and top-end speed, Selvie is instinctive, quick, powerful and relentless. He projects as a mid-first round choice in either 2009 or 2010.

4. Jerry Hughes*, DE/OLB, TCU
Hughes has burst onto the national scene as one of the most disruptive defenders in college football this season. He currently leads the nation with 14 sacks in 11 games played (1.27 per game). At 6-2 and 242 pounds, Hughes will make the move to rush-linebacker in the NFL. In addition to his outstanding initial burst and speed to turn the corner, Hughes displays enough fluidity to occasionally drop into coverage at the next level. There's no word regarding his intentions following this season but Hughes looks like first-round material whenever he throws his hat in the NFL draft ring.

5. Greg Hardy*, DE, Ole Miss
Hardy can be an absolutely devastating pass-rusher when he flips the switch. Just check out his 1.5-sack showing versus Florida this season or his three-sack performance versus Alabama last year. Problem is, his motor runs as hot-and-cold as any defender in college football today. He also is dealing with a nagging foot injury that kept him out of the Auburn game and may do the same versus Louisiana-Monroe this Saturday. Needless to say; Hardy's boom-or-bust qualities are a turnoff to many NFL teams.

10 others worth mentioning
• Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia
• Michael Johnson, DE/OLB, Georgia Tech
• Jermaine Cunningham*, DE, Florida
• Auston English*, DE/OLB, Oklahoma
• Brandon Graham, OLB, Michigan
• Brandon Williams*, DE, Texas Tech
• Sergio Kindle*, OLB, Texas
• Antonio Coleman*, DE/OLB, Auburn
• Cody Brown, DE/OLB, Connecticut
• Connor Barwin, DE/OLB, Cincinnati

Below is a look at our updated rankings of the top 32 prospects for the 2009 NFL draft. The top 10 is unchanged and the underclassmen continue to dominate the rankings as Missouri's Jeremy Maclin is knocking on the door of the top 10 and Oklahoma's Jermaine Gresham has cracked the list. Until the official decision date in mid-January, we will continue to include in our top 32 and overall rankings all underclassmen we deem worthy of a first-day (Rounds 1 and 2) grade.

(Note: * denotes draft-eligible junior; ** denotes draft-eligible third-year sophomore)

Scouts Inc.'s Top 32 Prospects
Player	Position	School	Height	Weight	Grade
1. Andre Smith*	OT	Alabama	6-4⅞	341	98
2. Sam Bradford**	QB	Oklahoma	6-3½	218	98
3. Vontae Davis*	CB	Illinois	5-11⅞	203	98
4. Malcolm Jenkins	CB	Ohio State	6-0	195	97
5. Matthew Stafford*	QB	Georgia	6-2½	235	97
6. Michael Crabtree**	WR	Texas Tech	6-2½	208	96
7. Eben Britton*	OT	Arizona	6-5½	310	96
8. Michael Johnson	DE	Georgia Tech	6-7	259	96
9. Michael Oher	OT	Mississippi	6-5	330	95
10. Brian Orakpo	DE	Texas	6-3½	255	95
11. Jeremy Maclin**	WR	Missouri	6-0⅝	198	95
12. Aaron Curry	OLB	Wake Forest	6-1¾	247	95
13. Chris "Beanie" Wells*	RB	Ohio State	6-1	235	95
14. Terrence Cody*	DT	Alabama	6-4½	375	95
15. Mark Sanchez*	QB	USC	6-2½	225	95
16. Sen'Derrick Marks*	DT	Auburn	6-0⅞	289	94
17. Rey Maualuga	ILB	USC	6-1⅞	260	94
18. Russell Okung*	OT	Oklahoma State	6-5¼	303	94
19. James Laurinaitis	ILB	Ohio State	6-2	240	93
20. Eugene Monroe	OT	Virginia	6-5⅛	310	93
21. Brian Cushing	OLB	USC	6-2¾	253	93
22. Everette Brown*	DE	Florida State	6-4¼	252	93
23. Geno Atkins*	DT	Georgia	6-1¾	294	93
24. Knowshon Moreno**	RB	Georgia	5-10⅜	207	93
25. Greg Hardy*	DE	Mississippi	6-4⅛	267	92
26. Brandon Pettigrew	TE	Oklahoma State	6-5⅝	260	92
27. George Selvie*	DE	South Florida	6-3⅞	240	91
28. Percy Harvin*	WR	Florida	5-10¾	187	91
29. LeSean McCoy**	RB	Pittsburgh	5-11	205	91
30. Jermaine Gresham*	TE	Oklahoma	6-5	266	91
31. Taylor Mays*	S	USC	6-3½	225	91
32. Darrius Heyward-Bey*	WR	Maryland	6-1⅞	203	90

Todd McShay is the director of college football scouting for Scouts Inc. He has been evaluating prospects for the NFL draft since 1998.

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