Halfway mark: Six months 'til draft, how the top 45 prospects stack up

Despite battling injuries, USC linebacker Rey Maualuga (right) has 41 tackles and an interception this season. AP

By Tony Pauline, Special to SI.com, TFYDraft.com

The NFL draft is less than six months away and scouts from all 32 teams continue to travel the country searching for the nation's best next level talent. The league's worst teams (including the winless Lions and Bengals) already have an eye on April 25.26 and are targeting players they hope can turn around the fortunes of their losing franchises. Here's a list of the top 45 players eligible for next April's draft. All have a realistic opportunity to be first-round picks.

1. Rey Maualuga/LB/USC: The Trojans top prospect has struggled with injuries this season yet is a dominant defender who plays hard every snap.

2. Andre Smith*/OT/Alabama: Smith is an outstanding blind side pass protector whom scouts think can also flourish at the right tackle position.

3. Malcolm Jenkins/CB/Ohio State: The Buckeyes have a long history of placing quality cornerbacks into the NFL. Jenkins could be the best one to come out of Columbus in two decades.

4. Taylor Mays*/S/USC: Mays is a forceful run defender with great ball skills. He's also a terrific athlete and will strengthen the middle of any defense in the NFL.

5. Michael Crabtree*/WR/Texas Tech: Crabtree, a former quarterback in high school, has proven himself to be a game controlling receiver who is impossible to defend.

6. Chris Wells*/RB/Ohio State: Wells is a big, powerful interior runner who should quickly produce as a feature runner in the NFL. He is a well-rounded ball carrier who takes over games.

7. Brian Orakpo/DE-OLB/Texas: Orakpo is watching his draft stock skyrocket after a number of brilliant performances against top competition. He's a game-impacting pass rusher that can line up at defensive end or outside linebacker.

8. William Moore/S/Missouri: One of the Big Twelve's most consistent players, Moore intimidates opponents who dare cross his path in centerfield. He's a great athlete with tremendous size.

9. Knowshon Moreno*/RB/Georgia: Moreno could be the most complete running back in April's draft if he opts for the NFL. He's an aggressive North/South runner with a lot of upside.

10. James Laurinaitis/LB/Ohio State: "Little Animal" lives up to his name, as the Ohio State linebacker craves contact. Laurinaitis is a solid prospect yet not the top five draft pick many contend.

11. Jeremy Maclin*/WR/Missouri: Maclin is a game changing skill player with home run hitting speed. He is a threat to score from anywhere on the field as a receiver or kick returner.

12. Aaron Curry/OLB/Wake Forest: Curry has been on a tear this season and scouts love his all around game. He's developing into a complete linebacker as a senior and playing a more disciplined brand of football.

13. Terrence Cody*/NT/Alabama: Cody is not yet the finished product but a large, dominant defensive linemen who controls the line of scrimmage.

14. Jermaine Gresham*/TE/Oklahoma: The Sooners play making junior is already drawing comparisons to many of the pass catching greats at the tight end position to come from the college ranks.

15. Eugene Monroe/OT/Virginia: Monroe has been a slight disappointment this season. NFL scouts originally considered him a top ten pick but Monroe's erratic play could push him into the middle of the round.

16. Brandon Pettigrew/TE/Oklahoma State: Pettigrew is a complete tight end and offers immediate starting potential in the NFL.

17. Sen'Derrick Marks*/DT/Auburn: One of the best defensive linemen in the SEC, Marks is an explosive tackle with the athleticism necessary to be used as a 3.4 defensive end.

18. Darrius Heyward-Bey*/WR/Maryland: Heyward-Bey possesses home run hitting speed and is a threat to take it the distance any time he's on the field.

19. Jason Smith/OT/Baylor: The Bears left tackle is one of the best kept secrets heading towards the draft. He's an athletic pass protector with the ability to flourish in a variety of blocking schemes.

20. Michael Johnson/DE/Georgia Tech: NFL scouting services rated Johnson as the nation's number one senior prospect in August. He's a great pass rusher but can be a liability against the run.