My Top 10 Favourite Prospects for the 2009 NFL Entry Draft.

Howdy folks, Matty here with another blog to keep you informed on the world of NFL and NCAA. I've compiled a list of my 10 favourite players who will be declaring for the NFL entry draft, give you some brief insight on them and let you know where I think they may be drafted. So, without further delay, lets get to the lucky man who starts this countdown off.

No. 10 -

Marcus Thigpen
RB/KR
Indiana Hoosiers
5'9" 199 lbs
Junior
94 rush attempts for 631 yards and 7 TDs
Projected Round: 5th-6th

Marcus Thigpen is the first player to make this list and he does so with an impressive burst of speed and acceleration. Thigpen may be one of the top return men in the country, his speed, lateral mobility and acceleration may be second to none. He's the perfect complimentary back that is becoming all the rage in the NFL today, he returns kicks amazingly, he can break the long run at any given time and he can catch passes out of the backfield. He will never be a feature back but he will always be very a dangerous weapon for any team. His play reminds me of Jerious Norwood, RB for the Atlanta Falcons.

No. 9 -

Duke Robinson
OL
Oklahoma Sooners
6'5" 330 lbs
Senior
1st Team All Big-12
Projected Round: 1st

The next player on my list is the road grating behemoth from Oklahoma, the Duke! Duke is a classic Sooners offensive lineman, he's big, he's mean and he's freakishly athletic. Coming out the Big-12, he's had plenty of challenges from interior defensive tackles and nasty defensive ends looping around but he's an incredibly smart offensive lineman and rarely finds himself out of position. I don't think it would be a stretch to see this big fella here end up in the first round going to a team like the Eagles or Steelers who would love to bring aboard the Georgia native. His play reminds me of Davin Joseph, OG for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

No. 8 -

Alphonso Smith
CB
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
5'9" 190 lbs
Senior
20 Career Ints, 4 Return TDs
Projected Round: 1st-2nd

The next athlete on the countdown is an exceptional talent and one of the reasons for the emergence of Wake Forest over the past few years, alongside LB Aaron Curry, Smith gives the Demon Deacons some credibility on the defensive side of the ball not to mention incredible career production. Smith is a great corner back who closes on the ball extremely well and has great ball skills and is able to read plays very nicely, he's not much of a run supporter but at his size I don't blame him. However, I believe he is the #2 corner in the draft behind Malcolm Jenkins from OSU. His play reminds me of Champ Bailey, CB for the Denver Broncos.

No. 7 -

Ramses Barden
WR
Cal Poly SLO Mustangs
6'6" 227 lbs
Senior
67 receptions, 1,257 rec. yards and 18 TDs
Projected Round: 3rd-4th

Not many people may have heard of Barden because he plays at 1-AA Cal Poly, but the boys at SLO play some good football and this fella in particular outshines them all. This is the definition of possession receiver and red zone threat. At 6'6" and weighing in at 227 pounds, this fella will win the jump ball match in the end zone more often than not, he has great career production and all the skills to make it to the next level. He'll probably have to do some training to boost his numbers at the combine since scouts will want to see the fluidity in his hips and his long speed, but I think he can pull it off. His play reminds me of Vincent Jackson, WR for the San Diego Chargers.

No. 6 -

Michael Oher
OT
Ole Miss Rebels
6'5" 325
Senior
1st Team All-SEC
Projected Round: 1st

Here he is ladies and gents, Big Mike himself, one of the best stories in the NFL Draft. Every year there is an athlete whose upbrining really makes you appreciate what they do even more, such players as Patrick Willis or Tamba Hali who overcome tremendous odds to make their dreams come true. Oher is another one of those players, a great LT and a cornerstone for a franchise in dire need of protection. His play reminds me of D'Brickshaw Ferguson of the New York Jets.

No. 5 -

Brian Cushing
LB
Southern California Trojans
6'3" 252 lbs
Senior
63 tackles, 9 tfl, 2.5 sacks, 1 int and ff
Projected Round: 2nd-3rd

One of my absolute favourite players in this years coming draft is the versatile Brian Cushing. This big fella is an athlete and knows how put his team first. When the Trojans were stacked at LB he played DE and he has always been on the move. He is a jack of all trades and a fantastic linebacker, he has great instincts, he doesn't miss many tackles and he is also capable of dropping back into coverage without missing a beat. If Cushing has one knock, it is his ability to stay on the field, shoulder and ankle injuries have caused him to miss some serious time but regardless, the boy is can play. His play reminds me of Terrell Suggs from the Baltimore Ravens.

No. 4 -

Alex Mack
C
California Golden Bears
6'4" 315 lbs
Senior
1st Team All American
Projected Round: 1st

This is my favourite offensive linemen in the draft, this guy personifies the term mean streak. Mack is the kind of football player you'd hate to face but love to have on your side. He's a big, nasty, tough, smart and capable football player that will no doubt anchor the center of an offensive line and make all the necessary calls for the next 10-15 years. He is an absolute animal and always finishes his blocks and heads down field to find more victims, if he falls out of the first round I will be shocked. His play reminds me of Tom Nalen from the Denver Broncos.

No. 3 -

Patrick Chung
S
Oregon Ducks
5'11" 212 lbs
Senior
2nd Team All American
Projected Round: 2nd-3rd

Here we go, Patrick Chung tops out the top three, this aggressive, nasty hitting safety is another player who I absolutely adore and would fit in just about any defensive system and flourish. He has great instincts and range that allow him to pick off passes and knock receivers out like a light, but unfortunately his over aggressiveness is his downfall as it sometimes leaves him out of position or he whiffs on a tackle but regardless, he is a dynamic player and one of my absolute favourites. His play reminds me of Ryan Clark from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

No. 2 -

Jasper Brinkley
LB
South Carolina Gamecocks
6'2" 275 lbs
Senior
1st Team All-SEC
Projected Round: 4th-5th

Number 2 on my list is the absolutely enormous MLB for the Gamecocks, Mr. Jasper Brinkley, as far as I'm concerned if it was not for his knee injury negating his entire 2007 campaign, this is a guy who would be a 1st rounder. He has all the tools to become an elite MLB in the NFL. He's big, he's mean, he plays sideline to sideline, he rarely misses tackles and when he tackles you, you go down. He might be a bit of a liability in coverage because he's an extremely large fella but he can definitely man the middle of a defense with low zones and playing the flats. I think if he works out well at the combine it would jump him into the 3rd round. His play reminds me of Karlos Dansby from the Arizona Cardinals.

No. 1 -

Tyson Jackson
DE
Louisiana State Tigers
6'5" 295 lbs
Senior
34 tackles, 8.5 tfl, 4.5 sacks, fr
Projected Round: 1st-2nd

Here he is, my favourite prospect coming out in this years NFL entry draft. However, anyone who knows me is probably not surprised by this since I am a huge LSU fan. Regardless of that fact, Tyson Jackson is without a doubt my favourite prospect because he just is the type of player that can do everything for you. In all likelihood he'll be a LE or 5-T in the NFL because of his stoutness against the run and his limited pass rush variety but I think he's the kind of player who comes to work and gets things done. If he gets to combine in shape and ready to go he could be a top 25 pick with teams like the Redskins, Bills, Steelers and Chargers needing his skills. His play reminds me of Shaun Ellis from the New York Jets.

There you have it ladies and gents, my top 10 favourite prospects for this years NFL Draft. Be sure to keep tabs on this blog and www.alldayfootball.com to see my upcoming mock draft as well as my top prospects list.