It was a long weekend in college football. Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, a top prospect for the 2020 NFL draft, suffered a devastating season-ending hip injury. As we continue to learn more about what happens next, his draft picture becomes a little more murky. But for now, the lefty remains in my top 32.
Obviously, a lot will happen between now and April, for both Tagovailoa and the rest of a talented class. While the draft board is taking shape as we hit Week 13 of the college season, there are still five-plus months before the NFL descends on Las Vegas for the 2020 draft. And we have plenty more games, bowl season, showcase events, pro days and the scouting combine ahead on the calendar.
Here is my evaluation of the top 32 players for 2020 right now, updated from my Oct. 30 edition. Rankings will continue to be updated throughout the college football slate and right into draft season.
Note: Underclassmen are marked with an asterisk, and grades are from Scouts Inc.
1. Chase Young, DE, Ohio State*
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 265 pounds
Grade: 94 | Previous rank: 1
Despite missing the past two games, Young has 13.5 sacks (No. 2 in the country), 15.5 tackles for loss (tied for seventh) and five forced fumbles (second). Let those numbers sink in for a minute. He has quickness and above-average bend, and he flashes the ability to convert speed to power, though he still has room for a little improvement getting off blocks. He best fits as a 4-3 defensive end, but he has experience dropping into coverage and could end up converting to a 3-4 outside linebacker role. He has been nothing short of dominant this season, head and shoulders above the rest of the edge rushers in the class.
2. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 216
Grade: 92 | Previous rank: 15
Burrow appeared to be a fringe NFL prospect in August, but he has become a potential first-rounder and perhaps even the No. 1 pick. He is making quicker decisions with the football, displaying complete control of the LSU offense and extending plays. And he's shown elite anticipatory accuracy throwing into tight windows, too, as evidenced by an FBS-best 78.6% completion percentage. His pocket presence and toughness really stand out to me. He moves around the pocket like a pro, sensing pressure and protecting the football all while keeping his eyes downfield. And when he takes a hit, he pops right back up. Burrow is currently No. 2 in the nation in both passing yards (3,687) and passing touchdowns (38), and his 93.2 Total QBR is third.
3. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama*
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 192
Grade: 92 | Previous rank: 3