With the season close to halfway over in the 2010-2011 NCAA Football Season, it seems like an appropriate time to roll out my midseason thoughts and positional rankings.
There has been plenty of speculation, debate, and productive discussion so far about what positions the San Francisco 49ers will need to look at early on in next year's draft. With the loss of confidence in current quarterback Alex Smith, a lot of Niner fans, along with some pundits even, have speculated that the Niners will need to look long and hard at that specific position next year. Fortunately, it seems as though there could be several options at the quarterback position in next years draft. Whether you consider yourself one of the few that still have great confidence in Smith, or somewhere in between, or possibly some of those who can't stand him, it possibly isn't such a bad idea to go after one, or even two quarterbacks in the draft next year.
Personally, I have been thrilled with this year's college football season; nothing short of exciting. Outside of the quarterback position, there have been several other positions that have had exciting and fun-to-watch players. The Heisman race is still pretty much wide open and there really isn't a clear-cut front runner just yet. There is still a ton of football left to play.
After viewing several positional rankings from a variety of different websites, there were enough disagreements on my behalf to come out with my own. Of course these rankings are based off of what I have seen coupled with my personal opinion. I am sure there will be some disagreement on my rankings as well. However, I will point out that I was fairly accurate with my rankings last year in the 100 in 100 articles I wrote and do plenty of research to back the rankings. In any case, disagreements make for good conversation. So feel free to roll out your own rankings, or any disputes that you have with the ones I have provided after the jump... or just any other general thoughts.
QUARTERBACKS
1. Andrew Luck -- Stanford -- 6'4", 235 LBS
2. Ryan Mallett -- Arkansas -- 6'6", 238 LBS
3. Jake Locker -- Washington -- 6'3", 226 LBS
4. Nick Foles -- Arizona -- 6'5" 245 LBS
5. Colin Kaepernick -- Nevada -- 6'2", 220 LBS
6. Ricky Stanzi -- Iowa -- 6'4", 240 LBS
7. Christian Ponder -- Florida State -- 6'3", 227 LBS
8. Andy Dalton -- TCU -- 6'3", 215 LBS
9. Jerrod Johnson -- Texas A & M -- 6'4", 243 LBS
10. Brandon Weeden -- Oklahoma State -- 6'4", 224 LBS
11. Pat Devlin -- Delaware -- 6'4", 220 LBS
12. Terrelle Pryor -- Ohio State -- 6'6", 235 LBS
13. Jacory Harris -- Miami -- 6'4", 200 LBS
14. Greg McElroy -- Alabama -- 6'2", 225 LBS
15. Blaine Gabbert -- Missouri -- 6'5", 240 LBS
16. Case Keenum -- Houston -- 6'2", 210 LBS
17. Stephen Garcia -- South Carolina -- 6'2", 227 LBS
18. Ben Chappell -- Indiana -- 6'3", 242 LBS
19. Kevin Riley -- California -- 6'1", 225 LBS
20. Kirk Cousins -- Michigan State -- 6'3", 202 LBS
RUNNING BACKS
1. Mark Ingram -- Alabama -- 5'10", 215 LBS
2. LaMichael James -- Oregon -- 5'9", 185 LBS
3. Ryan Williams -- Virginia Tech -- 5'10", 206 LBS
4. Evan Royster -- Penn State -- 6'1", 213 LBS
5. Noel Devine -- West Virginia -- 5'8", 190 LBS
6. John Clay -- Wisconsin -- 6'1", 248 LBS
7. DeMarco Murray -- Oklahoma -- 6'0", 214 LBS
8. Daniel Thomas -- Kansas State -- 6'2", 228 LBS
9. Kendall Hunter -- Oklahoma State -- 5'8", 198 LBS
10. Jordan Todman -- Connecticut -- 5'9", 193 LBS
11. Jaquizz Rodgers -- Oregon State -- 5'7", 188 LBS
12. Vai Taua -- Nevada -- 5'10", 220 LBS
13. Shane Vereen -- California -- 5'10", 200 LBS
14. Derrick Locke -- Kentucky -- 5'9", 195 LBS
15. Jeff Demps -- Florida -- 5'8", 185 LBS
16. Armando Allen -- Notre Dame -- 5'10", 203 LBS
17. Stevan Ridley -- LSU -- 6'0", 223 LBS
18. Caleb King -- Georgia -- 5'11", 211 LBS
19. Allen Bradford -- USC -- 5'11", 235 LBS
20. Brandon Saine -- Ohio State -- 6'1", 219 LBS
FULLBACKS
1. Stanley Havili -- USC -- 6'1", 230 LBS
2. Shaun Chapas -- Georgia -- 6'2", 245 LBS
3. Nick Bendzuck -- Michigan State -- 6'2", 240 LBS
4. Owen Marecic -- Stanford -- 6'1", 243 LBS
5. Bradie Ewing -- Wisconsin -- 6'0", 234 LBS
TIGHT ENDS
1. Lance Kendricks -- Wisconsin -- 6'4", 241 LBS
2. Kyle Rudolph -- Notre Dame -- 6'6", 260 LBS
3. D.J. Williams -- Arkansas -- 6'2", 250 LBS
4. Preston Dial -- Alabama -- 6'3", 237 LBS
5. Luke Stocker -- Tennessee -- 6'6", 253 LBS
6. Charlie Gantt -- Michigan State -- 6'5", 255 LBS
7. Mike McNeil -- Nebraska -- 6'4", 235 LBS
8. Konrad Rueland -- Stanford -- 6'6", 267 LBS
9. Allen Reisner -- Iowa -- 6'2", 246 LBS
10. Cameron Graham -- Louisville -- 6'4", 253 LBS
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Julio Jones -- Alabama -- 6'4", 212 LBS
2. A.J. Green -- Georgia -- 6'4", 205 LBS
3. Ryan Broyles -- Oklahoma -- 5'11", 185 LBS
4. Greg Little -- North Carolina -- 6'3", 214 LBS
5. Michael Floyd -- Notre Dame -- 6'3", 220 LBS
6. Greg Salas -- Hawaii -- 6'2", 210 LBS
7. Devier Posey -- Ohio State -- 6'2", 200 LBS
8. Jonathan Baldwin -- Pittsburgh -- 6'5", 225 LBS
9. Leonard Hankerson -- Miami -- 6'3", 215 LBS
10. Ronald Johnson -- USC -- 6'0", 190 LBS
11. Austin Pettis -- Boise State -- 6'3", 201 LBS
12. Armon Binns -- Cincinnati -- 6'3", 210 LBS
13. Cecil Shorts -- Mount Union -- 6'0", 192 LBS
14. Terrence Toliver -- LSU -- 6'4", 206 LBS
15. DeAndre Brown -- Southern Miss -- 6'6", 228 LBS
16. Jordan White -- Western Michigan -- 6'1", 215 LBS
17. Malcolm Williams -- Texas -- 6'3", 225 LBS
18. Vincent Brown -- San Diego State -- 6'0", 195 LBS
19. Dwayne Harris -- ECU -- 6'0", 205 LBS
20. James Kirkendoll -- Texas -- 5'11", 185 LBS
TACKLES
1. Gabe Carimi -- Wisconsin -- 6'7", 318 LBS
2. Anthony Castonzo -- Boston College -- 6'7", 295 LBS
3. Jason Pinkston -- Pittsburgh -- 6'4", 305 LBS
4. DeMarcus Love -- Arkansas -- 6'5", 315 LBS
5. Orlando Franklin -- Miami -- 6'7", 318 LBS
6. Joseph Barksdale -- LSU -- 6'5", 319 LBS
7. Marcus Cannon -- TCU -- 6'5", 350 LBS
8. Matt Reynolds -- BYU -- 6'6", 329 LBS
9. Derek Sherrod -- Mississippi State -- 6'6", 305 LBS
10. Nate Solder -- Colorado -- 6'9", 302 LBS
GUARDS
1. Rodney Hudson -- Florida State -- 6'2", 288 LBS
2. Stephen Schilling -- Michigan -- 6'5", 305 LBS
3. John Moffitt -- Wisconsin -- 6'5", 323 LBS
4. Clint Boling -- Georgia -- 6'5", 310 LBS
5. London Sapolu -- Hawaii -- 6'1", 290 LBS
CENTERS
1. Stefen Wisniewski -- Penn State -- 6'3", 298 LBS
2. Kristopher O'Dowd -- USC -- 6'5", 305 LBS
3. Mike Pouncey -- Florida -- 6'4", 310 LBS
4. Mike Brewster -- Ohio State -- 6'5", 298 LBS
5. Colin Baxter -- Arizona -- 6'4", 298 LBS
SLASH
1. Denard Robinson -- Michigan -- 6'0", 195 LBS
SAFETIES
1. DeAndre McDaniel -- Clemson -- 6'1", 210 LBS
2. Rahim Moore -- UCLA -- 6'1", 195 LBS
3. Deunta Williams -- North Carolina -- 6'2", 210 LBS
4. Tyler Sash -- Iowa -- 6'1", 210 LBS
5. Ahmad Black -- Florida -- 5'10", 190 LBS
6. Mark Barron -- Alabama -- 6'2", 200 LBS
7. Quinton Carter -- Oklahoma -- 6'1", 195 LBS
8. David Sims -- Iowa State -- 5'10", 209 LBS
9. Terrance Parks -- Florida State -- 6'2", 218 LBS
10. Dejon Gomes -- Nebraska -- 5'11", 200 LBS
11. Lance Mitchell -- Oregon State -- 6'2", 207 LBS
12. Brian Lainhart -- Kent State -- 6'1", 207 LBS
13. Anthony Wilcox -- Arizona -- 6'2", 205 LBS
14. Johnny Brown -- Mississippi -- 5'11", 207 LBS
15. Robert Sands -- West Virginia -- 6'4", 215 LBS
CORNERBACKS
1. Patrick Peterson -- LSU -- 6'1", 211 LBS
2. Prince Amukamara -- Nebraska -- 6'1", 205 LBS
3. Ras I-Dowling -- Virginia -- 6'2", 200 LBS
4. Janoris Jenkins -- Florida -- 5'11", 186 LBS
5. Curtis Brown -- Texas -- 6'0", 180 LBS
6. Chimdi Chewka -- Ohio State -- 6'0", 190 LBS
7. Aaron Williams -- Texas -- 6'1", 192 LBS
8. Rashad Carmichael -- Virginia Tech -- 5'11", 190 LBS
9. Omar Bolden -- Arizona State -- 5'10", 194 LBS
10. James Dockery -- Oregon State -- 6'1", 181 LBS
11. Davon House -- New Mexico State -- 6'0", 190 LBS
12. Brandon Harris -- Miami -- 5'11", 195 LBS
13. Darian Hagan -- California -- 6'0", 180 LBS
14. Kendric Burney -- North Carolina -- 5'9", 190 LBS
15. Chris Culliver -- South Carolina -- 6'0", 197 LBS
16. Shareece Wright -- USC -- 5'11", 185 LBS
17. Chris Rucker -- Michigan State -- 6'2", 195 LBS
18. Brandon Burton -- Utah -- 6'0", 185 LBS
19. Jimmy Smith -- Colorado -- 6'2", 210 LBS
20. Alfonso Dennard -- Nebraska -- 5'10", 195 LBS
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
1. Robert Quinn -- North Carolina -- 6'5", 268 LBS
2. Jeremy Beal -- Oklahoma -- 6'3", 260 LBS
3. Sam Acho -- Texas -- 6'3", 260 LBS
4. Von Miller -- Texas A & M -- 6'2", 240 LBS
5. Cliff Mathews -- South Carolina -- 6'4", 260 LBS
6. Akeem Ayers -- UCLA -- 6'4", 255 LBS
7. Jack Crawford -- Penn State -- 6'5", 256 LBS
8. Kenny Rowe -- Oregon -- 6'3", 235 LBS
9. Ryan Kerrigan -- Perdue -- 6'4", 263 LBS
10. Mark Herzlich -- Boston College -- 6'4", 240 LBS
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
1. Greg Jones -- Michigan State -- 6'2", 235 LBS
2. Quan Sturdivant -- North Carolina -- 6'2", 235 LBS
3. Casey Mathews -- Oregon -- 6'2", 235 LBS
4. Obi Ezeh -- Michigan -- 6'2", 245 LBS
5. Don'ta Hightower -- Alabama -- 6'4", 250 LBS
6. Josh Bynes -- Auburn -- 6'2", 240 LBS
7. Elijah Joseph -- Temple -- 6'2", 240 LBS
8. Nate Irving -- South Carolina State -- 6'1", 235 LBS
9. Kelvin Sheppard -- LSU -- 6'3", 240 LBS
10. Tank Carder -- TCU -- 6'2", 235 LBS
DEFENSIVE ENDS
1. Adrian Clayborn -- Iowa -- 6'3", 285 LBS
2. Cameron Heyward -- Ohio State -- 6'5", 288 LBS
3. Marcell Dareus -- Alabama -- 6'3", 306 LBS
4. Allen Bailey -- Miami -- 6'4", 288 LBS
5. Jared Crick -- Nebraska -- 6'5", 285 LBS
6. J.J. Watt -- Wisconsin -- 6'6" 285 LBS
7. Adrian Taylor -- Oklahoma -- 6'4", 303 LBS
8. Lawrence Marsh -- Florida -- 6'4", 290 LBS
9. Cameron Jordan -- California -- 6'4", 285 LBS
10. Pernell McPhee -- Mississippi State -- 6'4", 285 LBS
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
1. Marvin Austin -- North Carolina -- 6'3", 305 LBS
2. Stephen Paea -- Oregon State -- 6'1", 311 LBS
3. Jerrell Powe -- Mississippi -- 6'2", 328 LBS
4. Jarvis Jenkins -- Clemson -- 6'4", 310 LBS
5. Kendrick Ellis -- Hampton -- 6'5", 340 LBS
KICKERS
1. Kai Forbath -- UCLA -- 6'0", 191 LBS
2. Devin Barclay -- Ohio State -- 5'10", 204 LBS
3. Adi Kunalic -- Nebraska -- 6'0", 190 LBS
PUNTERS
1. Ryan Donahue -- Iowa -- 6'2", 190 LBS
2. Keenyn Crier -- Arizona -- 6'1", 200 LBS
3. Chas Henry -- Florida -- 6'3", 215 LBS