Can anybody top Chase Young? That could be a question we're asking ourselves until April's 2020 NFL draft. The Ohio State pass-rusher is coming off a spectacular game, and he is proving to be the top prospect in a loaded class.
Check out my updated Big Board rankings for the Class of 2020, which include several moves up and down the board. These are my top 25 prospects as it stands right now, along with my position-by-position rankings. You can jump to those rankings here.
A few notes before we dig in:
These aren't detailed scouting reports just yet. I still have a lot of work to do on these players, and what they do this season really matters.
I've included asterisks next to the names of the underclassmen, who could still return to school for at least one more season.
Height and weight are based on what we have from schools. We don't get official numbers until the 2020 combine in March.
1. Chase Young, DE, Ohio State*
HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 265 | Previously: 1
A lot has changed since my last Big Board, when I moved up Young to the top spot. He missed two games after being suspended for taking a loan from a family friend in 2018, then returned with three sacks in a dominant performance against Penn State. His 16.5 sacks have already broken the Buckeyes' single-season record, and they could have four games left. He's having a phenomenal season and is the clear top prospect in the class. Now, does that mean he'll go No. 1? No, because we know how much teams value quarterbacks. The NFL loves twitchy edge rushers who can get after quarterbacks, though, and that's Young. He caught my eye as a true freshman in 2017, and he really came on last season, picking up the production with Nick Bosa sidelined. Young finished with 9.5 sacks and 14.5 total tackles for loss in 2018.
2. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
HT: 6-foot-3 | WT: 215 | Previously: 6
There's no longer any question about whether Burrow is legit. The Heisman front-runner leads FBS in completion percentage (78.6%) and ranks second in passing yards (4,014) and touchdowns (41). He's also averaging 10.9 yards per attempt and has a Total QBR of 92.9. His improvement has been one of the greatest stories of the season. With a great release, much better accuracy at all levels of the field and enough athleticism to maneuver the pocket to evade rushers, Burrow reminds me of Tony Romo. Coaches rave about his leadership and toughness too. Burrow has a chance to be the No. 1 overall pick in April (if the team that gets that pick doesn't need a pass-rusher).