This is the first article in a series previewing the top NFL prospects by position for the 2010 draft.

The traditional pro-style passer has become a dying breed in college football. As the spread-option offense has taken over the collegiate landscape, pro-style offenses largely have been phased out, placing a higher premium on passers comfortable with operating from under center and making the progression reads necessary in the pro game. Meanwhile, it has diminished the value of shotgun operators not comfortable with the intricacies of an NFL offense. As a result, colleges running NFL offenses, such as Washington and Notre Dame, could significantly enhance the draft value of their young quarterbacks, while more unorthodox offenses, such as those run at Florida, Texas and Oklahoma, are expected to detract from the value and cloud the future of their big-name QBs.

Note: "e" indicates the height, weight or 40-time is estimated.

SENIOR PROSPECTS

1. Tim Tebow, Florida
6-3e, 230e, 4.8e

Motivated and driven to prove he is more than an athletic "system" quarterback, Tebow might be the most determined player ever to don a college jersey. With Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver going on record to say it would be difficult to pass on a local Heisman Trophy winner with superstar status, many evaluators believe he will not escape the first round, especially given his rare intangibles and competitiveness. However, as a QB, he is still very much a project, having operated out of a shotgun offense that highlights his running skills more than his passing prowess.

2. Colt McCoy, Texas
6-2e, 210e, 4.65e

McCoy still completes a high percentage of passes, is very smart and generally does what he is asked to do, but evaluators who have passed through Austin, expecting to see a top-15 pick based on all his hype, have been thoroughly disappointed. While acknowledging McCoy still has an opportunity to fit into the first round given the frequent mistakes made evaluating QBs, evaluators see McCoy as a similar player to Rex Grossman with better intangibles, producing mightily in an unorthodox offense that simplifies his reads and allows his tunnel vision to be concealed. He is a dink-and-dunk passer who too often throws off balance and open-shouldered.

3. Daryll Clark, Penn State
6-1e, 230e, 4.65e

Clark struggled against an undefeated Iowa squad early in the season after guaranteeing a victory, showing he still needs to mature. Yet, few question his natural competitiveness, and he did respond well from the low point, picking apart Michigan last week. As a partial qualifier entering Penn State, it took him time to adapt to the offense, and he's still far from a finished product, but he possesses a rifle arm and a similar stature as Jaguars QB David Garrard. He can't be expected to contribute immediately, except in a situational short-yardage running role, but in due time with a patient coach, he has NFL starter potential.

4. Tony Pike, Cincinnati
6-5 7/8, 209, 4.89

Pike has become a media darling on an undefeated, very well-coached team that has played into his mystique. However, he is built like a stick and did nothing to silence major-league questions about his fragility when he broke his non-throwing arm against South Florida — the same forearm that required a plate and six screws to be inserted last season. He did not play against Louisville, and the timetable for his return is up in the air. He shows touch and accuracy on the move, but he works almost exclusively out of the gun, will only be a two-year starter and lacks a big-time arm. He is still a relatively raw project.

5. Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State
5-11, 181, 4.55e

It would be easy for any evaluator to flunk Edwards as a future NFL quarterback based on his substandard measurables, and he might never be more than a backup similar to Seahawks QB Seneca Wallace. However, the southpaw is accurate, plays smart and possesses playmaking ability. Plus, he showed he could produce against better competition, keying a victory over Michigan as a sophomore. He still must pass strict medical examinations after suffering a serious lawnmowing accident before the season, which forced him to miss the opener, but he could bring value as a receiver and returner and be a "Wildcat" threat.

UNDERCLASSMEN

1. Jake Locker, Washington (Jr.)
6-3e, 220e, 4.45e

Not all evaluators like Locker's lofty stature, considering he has battled injuries throughout his career. And not all are sure he has broken his habit of running at the first flash of coverage. However, since head coach Steve Sarkisian arrived on campus, Locker has settled down, begun to trust his instincts more in the pocket and honed his accuracy. He is so gifted athletically that he could play four positions, including free safety, receiver or running back. His competitiveness, toughness, leadership, arm strength and athletic ability all suggest he could be the draft's most coveted talent. 

2. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma (Jr.)
6-4e, 215e, 4.9e

Some evaluators still wonder why Bradford chose to stay in school and why he returned to the field after injuring his shoulder. The selfish move would have been to have surgery after landing squarely on his shoulder during the first game. The overly competitive and team-first QB has fought individual interests and delayed a press conference last week when he was expected to announce he would have season-ending surgery, displaying his outstanding intangibles and leadership. Ultimately, though, he decided to have season-ending surgery and expects to enter the 2010 draft. He has a very quick stroke, is extremely intelligent and is very accurate despite lacking elite physical tools. He still projects as an early pick.

3. Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame (Jr.)
6-2e, 220e, 4.85e

When Clausen entered Notre Dame with an underdeveloped body, his arm strength looked no better than that of his older brothers, Rick and Casey, both of whom possessed marginal arm strength and were not drafted out of Tennessee. But he picked up some tricks of the trade along the way and entered N.D. as the golden boy. He has not been the savior Charlie Weis expected, but he is very well-coached in a pro-style offense, has developed physically and has learned to rotate his hips better into his throws. He still makes his receivers work for the ball and has limited mobility, but he is smart, confident and has proven capable of commanding comeback victories. He has also fought through a turf toe injury, which needs to be considered during evaluations. 

4. Christian Ponder, Florida State (Jr.)
6-2e, 215e, 4.8e

Ponder is not yet ready for the NFL ranks and could greatly benefit from another year working under Seminoles offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, who is on record as saying Ponder could become the best player he has coached at the position, which also includes Raiders 2007 No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell. Ponder's accuracy and leadership ability have stood out the past two games against Georgia Tech and North Carolina, when he led a 30-27 come-from-behind victory and was deadly accurate. Despite working with an average supporting cast, he has been very productive and extremely efficient distributing the ball to multiple receivers.

5. Jevan Snead, Mississippi (Jr.)
6-3e, 215e, 4.8e

Snead entered the season with major expectations. After catching the flu early in the season, he fell apart against South Carolina and struggled even more mightily to handle the heavy pressure Alabama brought in a lackluster outing that saw him complete 11-of-34 passes for 140 yards with zero TDs and four interceptions. Program sources say the Texas transfer has been battling a confidence issue and has struggled grasping the offense. Despite possessing a strong arm, accuracy and placement have been issues, with a completion percentage hovering around the 50 percent mark. He looked more comfortable in recent weeks as the game has been simplified for him, but he has not progressed as expected and would be better-served returning to school and letting the game slow down for him.

Next Friday: Top RB prospects

PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series, with the first issue now ready for mailing. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe — click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.