McFadden stakes claim as nation's top draft talent

Darren McFadden showed he could still produce eye-popping numbers with an entire defense focused on him against Alabama. AP

By Tony Pauline, TFY Draft Preview

Week 3 in the college football season featured outstanding performances by several running back prospects and left tackles. However, a few skill players watched their draft stock take a hit after poor play.

Risers

Darren McFadden/RB/Arkansas: He continued to run hard with his team down 21-0 to Alabama and was a prime force in the comeback by Arkansas. He carried the ball 33 times, totaling 195 rushing yards and two scores even with the Alabama defense keying on him. He also added three receptions. McFadden looked like a franchise back and justified his ranking as the probable first pick of April's draft.

D.J. Hall/WR/Alabama: The big-play wideout had 100 yards receiving against Arkansas before the first quarter ended on Saturday, and finished with 172 yards and a pair of touchdown receptions. He came up big during critical stages of the game, giving Bama its' early lead. A natural pass catcher, he is one of the more underrated receivers in the senior class.

Rafael Little/RB/Kentucky: The smallish ball carrier was a major factor in helping end Louisville's dominance over Kentucky. He had 151 yards on 27 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. He also added two receptions. As it stands now, Little will enter the draft as one of the top third-down and change-of-pace runners available.

Michael Oher/OT/Mississippi: He looked outstanding even though 'Ole Miss was handily beaten by Vanderbilt. The 330-pound left tackle was stout in pass protection and paved the way for Rebel running backs. NFL scouts are excited over his athleticism. Throughout the game Oher did a great job blocking in motion, pulling across the line of scrimmage and annihilating defenders in the secondary. The junior has first-round potential if he leaves for the draft.

Jeff Otah/OT/Pittsburgh: Another left tackle on the rise, Otah looked stellar during the Panthers' close loss to Michigan State. Otah threw several key blocks that sprung ball carriers free for large gains, and his pass blocking was terrific. A junior-college transfer who broke into the starting lineup last year, Otah has shown steady progress the past two years and is heading towards the draft's first day.

James Laurinaitis/LB/Ohio State: An intense defender who plays with a non-stop motor, Laurinaitis was responsible for a number of drive-stopping plays in the Buckeyes victory over Washington. He intercepted a pair of passes, including one in the second quarter when the Huskies were on the verge of scoring. He also made several key tackles on third down.

Keith Rivers/OLB/USC: His play against Nebraska was exceptional, reinforcing why the senior is the number one prospect at outside linebacker. Rivers was a main cog in a Trojan defense that made life miserable for Sam Keller and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He made plays from sideline to sideline. His skills in pursuit and pass coverage are outstanding.

Jordan Dizon/LB/Colorado: He came into the Florida State game as the nation's leading tackler and was omnipresent all night against the Seminoles. At 5- 11, 221 pounds, he has the speed, productivity and intensity that will have one-gap defenses working hard to acquire his services.

Sliders

Adarius Bowman/WR/Oklahoma St: His play has been uninspiring. During Oklahoma State's embarrassing loss to Troy, Bowman seemingly gave half-hearted efforts and dropped an easy pass that would have resulted in a score.

Brandon Cox/QB/Auburn: Graded as a potential late-round pick entering the season, Cox may have locked himself out of the draft based on poor play. His most recent performance, a 4-of-10 passing effort with two interceptions, had him riding the bench early in the loss against Mississippi State.

Jonathan Hefney/S/Tennessee: Rated by some as the number one senior safety prospect coming into the season, Hefney looked confused and overwhelmed against Florida. In addition to his poor open-field tackling, he was caught out of position and beaten on passes.

Branden Ore/RB/Virginia Tech: Though he had his best performance of the season last week, Ore is having a disappointed year. Considered an underclassman with first-day draft potential, he's yet to break the century mark on the ground. More was expected of him during the early part of the schedule.

Notes: Keller's performance against USC last weekend was poor, according to several NFL scouts. He moved the ball in the first half and had Nebraska ahead at one point in the game, yet he couldn't get his team into the end zone. Worse yet, two Keller interceptions led to Trojan scores before halftime, which changed the complexion of the game. ...

One quarterback exceeding the expectations of NFL scouts is Matt Ryan of Boston College, one of SI.com's Week 1 risers. In Atlanta against Georgia Tech, Ryan passed for 435 yards and completed more than 70% of his throws. Most importantly for Ryan, he's proving his worth as an accurate deep passer and answering the questions scouts had about his arm strength.