Top NFL Draft Eligible Prospects for 2016-17

Yes, it's that time of year again. College football season is winding down. The NFL has just about a month's left worth of games before the playoffs begin. After that? You know what it's time for.

THE NFL DRAFT BABY!

My favorite sporting event of the year! One of my favorite things about sports is the "team-building process". I absolutely love it and I get entrenched with it every year. It doesn't matter if it's the NFL Draft or if it's free agency. I become obsessed with every single bit of it. With that said, it's about time to start pumping out some NFL Draft-related columns on the blog.

Up first?

Why, it's the top draft eligible prospects of course. With thousands of kids playing college football every year, it's almost impossible for the average football fan to keep up with who NFL scouts are currently talking about. The following is a list I've compiled all from things I'm personally hearing, things other experts are saying, or just my personal opinion from watching these kids play this year. Now, this is the first list of prospects this season and I fully expect this list to change as guys officially return to school and we learn more about each player from the NFL Combine and such.

So anyway, ENJOY!

2016-17 Top NFL Draft Eligible Prospects

*I realize some of these players are underclassmen and could potentially return to school. However, that doesn't stop the fact that they are currently ranked in the top 5 of potential draft prospects for 2016. 

Quarterbacks:

1. Paxton Lynch (Memphis)

2. Jared Goff (Cal)

3. Carson Wentz (North Dakota State)

4. Christian Hackenberg (Penn State)

5. Connor Cook (Michigan State)

Running Backs:

1. Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State)

2. Derrick Henry (Alabama)

3. Paul Perkins (UCLA)

4. C.J. Prosise (Notre Dame)

5. Devontae Booker (Utah)

Wide Receiver:

1. Laquon Treadwell (Ole Miss)

2. Josh Doctson (TCU)

3. Micheal Thomas (Ohio State)

4. Corey Coleman (Baylor)

5. Tyler Boyd (Pittsburgh)

Tight Ends:

1. Hunter Henry (Arkansas)

2. Jake Butt (Michigan)

3. Jerell Adams (South Carolina)

4. O.J. Howard (Alabama)

5. Austin Hooper (Stanford)

Offensive Guards:

1. Cody Whitehair (Kansas State)

2. Christian Westerman (Arizona State)

3. Joshua Garnett (Stanford)

4. Vadal Alexander (LSU)

5. Denver Kirkland (Arkansas)

Offensive Tackles:

1. Laremy Tunsil (Ole Miss)

2. Ronnie Stanley (Notre Dame)

3. Taylor Decker (Ohio State)

4. Jason Spriggs (Indiana)

5. Spencer Drango (Baylor)

Centers:

1. Ryan Kelly (Alabama)

2. Max Tuerk (USC)

3. Cole Toner (Harvard)

4. Dan Voltz (Wisconsin)

5. Jack Allen (Michigan State)

Defensive Ends:

1. Joey Bosa (Ohio State)

2. DeForest Buckner (Oregon)

3. Emmanuel Ogbah (Oklahoma State)

4. Shaq Lawson (Clemson)

5. Jonathan Bullard (Florida)

Defensive Tackles:

1. Robert Nkemdiche (Ole Miss)

2. Kenny Clark (UCLA)

3. Jarran Reed (Alabama)

4. A'Shawn Robinson (Alabama)

5. Austin Johnson (Penn State)

Outside Linebackers:

1. Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame)

2. Myles Jack (UCLA)

3. Su'a Cravens (USC)

4. Joshua Perry (Ohio State)

5. Jordan Jenkins (Georgia)

Inside Linebackers:

1. Reggie Ragland (Alabama)

2. Kentrell Brothers (Missouri)

3. Cassanova McKinzy (Auburn)

4. Kendell Beckwith (LSU)

5. Scooby Wright (Arizona)

Cornerbacks:

1. Jalen Ramsey (Florida State)

2. Vernon Hargreaves (Florida)

3. Tre'Davious White (LSU)

4. Mackensie Alexander (Clemson)

5. Eli Apple (Ohio State)

Safeties:

1. Jayron Kearse (Clemson)

2. Jeremy Cash (Duke)

3. Vonn Bell (Ohio State)

4. Darian Thompson (Boise State)

5. Tony Conner (Ole Miss)