One former Big Ten football beat writer's list of the conference's top 10 NFL Draft prospects:

1. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State: The best player on the Big Ten's best team. An immediate starter with Pro Bowl potential.

2. Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan: Showed little improvement as a senior, but should be the third tackle selected behind Auburn's Greg Robinson and Texas A&M's Jake Matthews.

3. Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State: 143 tackles and a 4.38 40-yard dash time. He's rated behind Buffalo's Khalil Mack because...

4.  Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota: Anybody who stands 6-foot-5, weighs 310 pounds and runs the 40 in under 5.0 seconds is a load to block.

5. Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State: Those OVI charges aren't helping his cause. His senior film isn't raising his stock, either.

6. Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State: Could be the first running back selected, which means he's likely to go in the second round.

7. DaQuan Jones, DT, Penn State: Next up in an impressive group of defensive linemen coached by new Ohio State assistant Larry Johnson. 




8. Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin: Forget his height, weight and 40 time. This guy can play.

9. Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana: Rising on everybody's draft board and could surpass Penn State's Allen Robinson as the first Big Ten receiver drafted.

10. C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa: Any NFL offense is more imaginative than what Iowa runs, which should maximize Fiedorwicz's underrated talents.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Shepherd's Howard Jones is regarded as one of the top small-college prospects in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Notre Dame College senior Doniel Gambrell is already receiving attention as a 2015 prospect because of what he did against Jones.

First let's start with details on Jones. He's 6-foot-2 1/2 and weighs 235 pounds. He attended the NFL Scouting Combine as a defensive end, running the second fastest 40-yard dash among players listed at the position behind South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney. Jones posted a swift 4.6 seconds.

Some NFL scouts view Jones as a defensive end. Others view him as an outside linebacker. NFLDraftScout.com ranks Jones as the 170th best prospect in the draft class. If that ranking holds, he would be selected in the fifth round.

Jones helped Shepherd finish 12-0 in the regular season and win the inaugural Mountain East Conference title. Shepherd played Notre Dame College and defeated the Falcons, 57-17. Jones faced one of his biggest challenges that afternoon, which is where Gambrell enters this draft tale .

Jones had seven tackles and a sack against the Falcons. But Notre Dame College coach Adam Howard said Gambrell, a  6-foot-6 right tackle, provided enough resistance to attract attention from the scouts who tracked Jones last season.

"Scouts are looking at him because of that game," Howard said. "He had a good game against Jones. Doniel is 6-6 and has an incredible wingspan. His measurables are off the charts."

Gambrell has an intriguing background. He attended Glenville High School and started his college career at Division I Eastern Michigan. He will enter next season as a three-year starter at NDC.

In short, he could become the first player in NDC's five-year football history to receive a serious NFL look.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Bradley Roby can run fast. Carlos Hyde hurt himself running. Ryan Shazier didn't run.

Consider it a typical NFL Scouting Combine for a major college program.

Ohio State sent six players to the combine, including three of its biggest names from the 2013 roster.

As expected, Roby demonstrated the physical prowess, running the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, the seventh fastest time among combine participants. The 5-foot-11, 194-pound Roby is a draft enigma. His measurable qualities all check out well -- he also completed 17 reps in the bench press -- yet his 2013 film isn't as impressive as his 2012 tape.

Still, no Buckeye boosted his stock more in Indianapolis than Roby, a potential first-round pick.

Hyde, a physical running back, suffered a hamstring injury while running the 40-yard dash. His time of 4.66 ranked in the middle of the running back pack. The 6-foot, 230-pound Hyde, unlike Roby, has impressive 2013 film.

Shazier opted against running the 40 at the combine because of a minor hamstring injury. He participated in the bench press (25 reps), vertical jump (42.0 inches, which is higher than Roby's leap of 38.5), broad jump (130.0 inches), 3-cone drill (6.91 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (4.21). The 6-foot-1, 237-pound Shazier neither boosted nor hurt his draft stock. One of the nation's most productive linebackers, Shazier won't last beyond the second round.

Offensive tackle Jack Mewhort, center Corey Linsley and wide receiver Corey Brown also participated in the combine. Mewhort is the top pro prospect among the trio, but tackle is considered a deep position. Mewhort put up 28 reps in the bench press and ran the 40 in 5.37 seconds.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy