Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson leads Athlon Sports' list of the top college football players to watch this fall
The 2016 NFL Draft is complete as 253 players have taken the first steps in their professional football careers. From a college football standpoint, the focus now shifts to next year. Which players are next in line to hear their name called when the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft commences next spring?
Here are Athlon Sports’ top 50 college players to keep an eye on this fall. Make no mistake; this list will change, especially once the action resumes on the field, but you can’t really go wrong with a list that’s headlined by a pair of Heisman Trophy finalists from last season and a guy who could very will win it this year.
Power Five Conference 2017 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch
ACC I Big 12 I Big Ten I Pac-12 I SEC I Notre Dame
Athlon Sports' Early Top 50 for 2017 NFL Draft
| RK | Player | POS | School | YR |
| 1 | Deshaun Watson | QB |  |
JR |
| 2 | Leonard Fournette | RB |  |
JR |
| 3 | Christian McCaffrey | RB/RS |  |
JR |
| 4 | Myles Garrett | DE/OLB |  |
JR |
| 5 | DeMarcus Walker | DE |  |
SR |
| 6 | Desmond King | CB |  |
SR |
| 7 | JuJu Smith-Schuster | WR |  |
JR |
| 8 | Cam Robinson | OT |  |
JR |
| 9 | Charles Harris | OLB |  |
JR |
| 10 | Jonathan Allen | DT | |
SR |
| 11 | Jalen Tabor | CB |
 |
JR |
| 12 | Jamal Adams | S | |
JR |
| 13 | Roderick Johnson | OT | |
JR |
| 14 | Royce Freeman | RB |  |
JR |
| 15 | Adoree Jackson | CB | |
JR |
| 16 | Tre'Davious White | CB | |
SR |
| 17 | Devonte Fields | OLB |  |
SR |
| 18 | Zach Banner | OT | |
SR |
| 19 | Anthony Walker | ILB |  |
JR |
| 20 | Raekwon McMillan | ILB |  |
JR |
| 21 | Eddie Jackson | SS | |
SR |
| 22 | Adam Bisnowaty | OT |  |
SR |
| 23 | Derek Barnett | OLB |  |
JR |
| 24 | Malik McDowell | DT |  |
JR |
| 25 | Jabrill Peppers | S |  |
JR |
| 26 | Quin Blanding | S |  |
JR |
| 27 | Lewis Neal | LB | |
SR |
| 28 | O.J. Howard | TE | |
SR |
| 29 | Davon Godchaux | DE/DT | |
JR |
| 30 | Mike Williams | WR | |
SR |
| 31 | Travin Dural | WR | |
SR |
| 32 | Dalvin Cook | RB | |
JR |
| 33 | Chad Kelly | QB |  |
SR |
| 34 | Brad Kaaya | QB |  |
JR |
| 35 | Nick Chubb | RB |  |
JR |
| 36 | Jake Butt | TE | |
SR |
| 37 | Cordrea Tankersley | CB | |
SR |
| 38 | Daeshon Hall | DE | |
SR |
| 39 | Chris Wormley | DT | |
SR |
| 40 | Dan Skipper | OT |  |
SR |
| 41 | Jordan Leggett | TE | |
SR |
| 42 | Kendell Beckwith | ILB | |
SR |
| 43 | Dan Feeney | OG |  |
SR |
| 44 | Tony Conner | SS | |
SR |
| 45 | Josh Harvey-Clemons | SS/OLB | |
SR |
| 46 | Bucky Hodges | TE |  |
JR |
| 47 | Pat Elflein | OG | |
SR |
| 48 | Jourdan Lewis | CB | |
SR |
| 49 | Lowell Lotulelei | DT |  |
JR |
| 50 | Jeremy Sprinkle | TE | |
SR |
