Best underclassmen available in the 2018 NFL Draft

Alexander's stock has been climbing after an excellent combine showing. The former Louisville Cardinal was limited to only six games in his junior season due to injuries but projects as a first-round pick in a thin cornerback class.

Allen's physical tools could be enticing enough for the Browns to take him first overall. He completed only 56 percent of his passes in his junior season at Wyoming but threw for 1,812 yards and rushed for 204 more in 11 games.

One of the best running back prospects in recent memory, Barkley is likely a top five pick after an impressive three-year career at Penn State. He rushed for 3,843 yards and added 1,195 yards as a receiver in his three seasons, also contributing as a kick returner. Barkley has the receiving skills to be an immediate three-down back.

A three-year starter at Iowa, Daniels played guard in his true freshman season but moved to center over the last two years. He's an elite center talent who could go as early as the late first round.

One of the top quarterbacks available, Darnold became a household name with his amazing performance in the 2016-17 Rose Bowl vs. Penn State. Darnold completed 67 percent of his passes in his redshirt freshman season but regressed to 63 percent last season, still throwing for more than 4,100 yards.

Edmunds was an impressive all-around linebacker for the Hokies over the last two seasons. He finished with 94 tackles and 4.5 sacks during his sophomore season and was even better last year with 108 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He could go as high as the top 10 picks.

A versatile defensive back with the ability to play either cornerback or safety, Fitzpatrick was a playmaker at Alabama. He peaked with six interceptions during his sophomore season in 2016. Fitzpatrick has been a consensus All-American in consecutive years.

The former backup to Leonard Fournette at LSU, Guice made the starting job his own in 2017. He rushed for 1,251 yards and 11 touchdowns last season after rushing for 1,387 yards while relieving Fournette in his sophomore season.

A transfer from North Carolina and JUCO, Hughes was a breakout star for UCF last season with four interceptions and three scores as a return man. He could go as early as late first round.

While Hurst is an underclassman, he's older than most of the draft competition after a failed career as a professional baseball player. A leader for the Gamecocks, Hurst had 100 receptions for 1,281 yards and three receiving touchdowns in his three seasons playing college football.

James rebounded from missing nearly all of 2016 due to injury to have a huge year for the Seminoles in 2017. He had 84 tackles, two picks and a touchdown in 12 games while playing safety, similar numbers to what he produced two years earlier. He has a chance to be a top 10 pick.

A wide receiver turned cornerback, Jackson established himself as one of the top corners in the country over the last season. Showing his great hands, he finished his junior year with eight interceptions and two touchdowns. His ability to create turnovers should make him a first-round pick.

The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner, Jackson has put up video game numbers at Louisville over the last two seasons. He threw for 3,543 yards and 30 touchdowns, as well as rushed for 1,571 yards and 21 touchdowns, in his Heisman season. Jackson nearly topped that last year with 3,660 passing yards and 27 passing touchdowns, along with 1,601 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns last year. Late draft buzz has put Jackson in first-round pick territory.

An outstanding performer for three years at USC, Jones rushed for 3,619 yards and 32 touchdowns during his college career. He peaked with 1,550 yards and 19 touchdowns last season, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.

A great contributor as both a wideout and return man, the speedy Kirk had 2,856 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns as receiver in three seasons and also added seven return touchdowns. The Aggies made a concerted effort to get him touches, showing potential first-round draft talent.

Miller returned from a foot injury to play left tackle for the Bruins in his junior season and has climbed up draft boards with a very good combine showing. Standing at a mammoth 6-9, Miller is likely a first-round pick.

Moore worked his way into high pick consideration after an outstanding junior season at Maryland for a mediocre team. He finished with 80 receptions for 1,033 yards and eight touchdowns in 12 games, also contributing on punt returns.

Payne weighs more than 300 pounds, but looks can be deceiving when it comes to his athleticism. He caught a touchdown pass in the Sugar Bowl, also plugging up the middle with 53 tackles and one sack in his junior season. He's likely to be the second defensive tackle selected behind Vita Vea.

Acclaimed for his route running, Ridley had more than 900 yards receiving last season despite a ground-and-pound Alabama offense. For his three-year career, Ridley had 2,781 yards receiving and 19 receiving touchdowns. He's likely to be the first wide receiver selected on draft day.

Rosen rebounded from an injury-plagued sophomore season to throw for 3,756 yards and 26 touchdowns for UCLA last year. He completed nearly 61 percent of his passes for his college career. He's under consideration for the top pick in the draft and will almost certainly go in the top 10 picks.

Smith has shown a nose for the football in his three-year career at Georgia. He was the Dick Butkus Award winner in his junior season with 137 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 15 games and could potentially be the first linebacker called on draft day.

The 6-4 Sutton has a chance to be a terror in the red zone at the next level. He caught 31 touchdowns over the last three seasons, finishing his career with more than 3,200 receiving yards.

Vander Esch was a breakout performer in his junior season for Boise, finishing with 141 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions. He missed significant time in his sophomore season to injury but has rebounded to be a potential first-round pick.

A physical wonder at 6-4, 347 pounds, Vea is a plug-and-play defensive tackle with the ability to stop the run and rush the passer. He had 43 tackles and 3.5 tackles in his junior season at Washington after finishing with 39 tackles and five sacks in 2016.

Ward is considered perhaps the top cornerback on the board after tearing up the combine. He ran a lightning-fast 4.32 40-yard dash and was a consensus All-American for the Buckeyes in his junior season.