2012 NFL Draft tackle rankings: Matt Kalil paces class on the come up

by Dan Kadar on Sep 20, 2011 9:01 AM EDT in 2012 NFL Draft

It's still early in the college football season, but now is as good of a time as any to update individual position rankings for the 2012 NFL Draft.

If anyone has watched Southern California this season, it's clear that left tackle Matt Kalil has taken that next step to becoming an elite talent. While he may not be Jake Long or Joe Thomas, he's getting pretty close to being that good. Stanford's Jonathan Martin isn't far behind, and he's looked even better this year. The same can be said of Iowa's Riley Reiff a mauler of a tackle. This class is on the come up and could only get better.

Note: The position rankings aren't currently in line with the site's top 200. After each position ranking is released, a new top 200 will be published.

1. Matt Kalil | 6'6, 295 pounds | OT | Southern California * - Prospect notes

2. Jonathan Martin | 6'6, 305 pounds | OT | Stanford * - Prospect notes

3. Riley Reiff | 6'6, 300 pounds | OT | Iowa * - Prospect notes

4. Andrew Datko | 6'6, 305 pounds | OT | Florida State- Prospect notes

5. Kelechi Osemele | 6'6, 354 pounds | OT/G | Iowa State - Prospect notes

6. Matt Reynolds | 6'6, 322 pounds | OT | BYU - Prospect notes

7. Zebrie Sanders 6'5, 307 pounds | OT | Florida State - Prospect notes

8. Xavier Nixon | 6'5, 295 pounds | OT | Florida

9. Mike Adams | 6'8, 300 pounds | OT | Ohio State - Prospect notes | Red Flag Alert

10. Levy Adcock | 6'5, 318 pounds | OT | Oklahoma State - Prospect notes

11. Nate Potter | 6'6, 295 pounds | OT | Boise State - Prospect notes

12. Barrett Jones | 6'5, 311 pounds | OT | Alabama * - Prospect notes

13. Ricky Wagner | 6'6, 320 pounds | OT | Wisconsin - Prospect notes

14. Brandon Mosley | 6'5, 305 pounds | OT | Auburn

15. Tony Bergstrom | 6'5, 315 pounds | OT | Utah

16. Blake DeChristoper | 6'5, 305 pounds | OT | Virginia Tech

17. Josh Oglesby | 6'7, 330 pounds | OT | Wisconsin

18. Jermarcus Hardrick | 6'7, 320 pounds | OT | Nebraska

19. Al Netter | 6'6, 300 pounds | OT | Northwestern

20. Bobby Massie | 6'6, 312 pounds | OT | Ole Miss *

21. Tanner Hawkinson | 6'6, 293 pounds | OT | Kansas *

22. Matt McCants | 6'7, 295 pounds | OT | UAB

* denotes underclassman

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Comments

Hardrick is a big man.

May I suggest you list him as Jermarcus “Yoshi” Hardrick? I love that nickname.

Nebraska’s OL finally had a good game, against a good DL to boot. Hopefully this trend continues.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Sep 20, 2011 12:59 PM EDT reply actions

May I suggest you list him as Jermarcus "Yoshi" Hardrick?

Never.

Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.

by Dan Kadar on Sep 20, 2011 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Aw, why not?

That’s what he goes by.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Sep 20, 2011 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't have any issues with Kalil being the top dog in O Line Prospects...

I think it’s unquestionable. However my question is, how sure are we that he is going to declare for this draft? He’s only a junior, and with some guys you just don’t know. Heck, look at Jared Crick, Alfonzo Dennard, and Justin Blackmon.

by jkp1516 on Sep 20, 2011 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

For right now, it’s impossible to know if any junior is going to declare. My mindset is that I’ll have all juniors and seniors together. After the declare date passes, I’ll take out whoever stays in.

Indications are, though, that Kalil is going to come out. That’s according to Tony Pauline of SI.com.

Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.

by Dan Kadar on Sep 20, 2011 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Crick and Fonzo always gave the indication they were coming back.

I wasn’t really worried t all about that.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Sep 20, 2011 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Different situations

Kalil is a junior at a school that has zero shot at a bowl game or national championship so really what can he accomplish?

Nebraska under Bo Pelini is starting to keep their top guys from entering the draft like Suh, Amukamara, Crick, Dennard. This is one reason why I’m not including Peter Konz or Ricky Wagner in my mock draft because Wisconsin lineman don’t leave early. I’m hesitant to put Luke Kuechley on my mock as well. Some schools keep their talent, some schools expect you to leave because they have someone just as good behind them.

Justin Blackmon was a redshirt soph in a draft which maybe he was worried a little with AJ Green and Julio Jones being ahead of him? I don’t know I thought for sure he would come out last year and I was wrong.

Each player is a different situation. I don’t think you can say why would Kalil enter when Crick, Dennard, and Blackmon didn’t each play a different position. It’s different.

I'm just a dude who likes talking to other dudes about other dudes.........in a straight way.

by tj.hendricks on Sep 21, 2011 4:41 AM EDT up reply actions