Editor's note: This is the third in a series of capsules previewing the NFL draft. Coming Friday: Quarterbacks and specialists.
Sun Devils
1. Justin Burks, 6 foot 3, 236 pounds, senior, linebacker -- Burks is a hard-nosed linebacker who led ASU with 95 tackles last season. He recorded three tackles in the East-West Shrine Game. Burks started for two years, earning All-Pac-10 honors as a senior. He finished his collegiate career with 173 tackles and four sacks.
2. Drew Hodgdon, 6 foot 3, 285 pounds, senior, center -- Hodgdon was a three-year starter on the offensive line. He's known as a hard worker both on and off the field. Appropriately, Hodgdon was twice named the Hard Hat champion, presented to the team's hardest worker in the weight room. Hodgdon returned from a broken foot last season to earn All-Pac-10 honorable mention accolades.
3. Chris McKenzie, 5 foot 9, 181 pounds, senior, cornerback -- McKenzie was one of ASU's fastest players last season. He recorded a career-high 42 tackles as a senior. McKenzie showed improvement after transferring from Glendale Community College. He finished his ASU career with 81 tackles and three interceptions.
4. Jimmy Verdon, 6 foot 4, 280 pounds, senior, defensive lineman -- Verdon ended his collegiate career on a high note, earning second-team All-Pac-10 honors. He was named ASU's Defensive Player of the Year. Verdon appeared in 49 games the last four seasons, totaling 155 tackles, 10 sacks, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions. He stands a good chance of getting selected on the second day of the draft.
5. Andrew Walter, 6 foot 5, 235 pounds, senior, quarterback -- Walter is the cream of ASU's crop. He was considered a late first- or early second-round pick last season. Walter returned for his senior year, setting almost every passing record in school history. He's ASU's career leader in touchdown passes, passing yards, completions, attempts, interceptions, passing percentage and total offense. Walter has an ideal build for the NFL. He's tall and lanky and has a cannon for an arm. Walter is comfortable when he steps back in the pocket, and he throws one of the most accurate deep balls among quarterbacks in the draft. Walter has been criticized for his lack of speed and Jake Plummer-like decisions. If Walter can fully recover from off-season shoulder surgery and add some bulk to his upper body, he'll be an NFL-ready quarterback within two years.
Running Backs
1. Ronnie Brown, 6 foot, 233 pounds, senior, Auburn -- Brown has been compared to Jerome Bettis, but he moves a little faster. At the NFL Combine, Brown clocked a 4.43-second time in the 40-yard dash and impressed scouts with his ability to hit holes and break away from defenders. Brown had just one 1,000-yard season at Auburn, although he has the potential to be a premier NFL back.
Prediction: Miami Dolphins, second pick.
2. Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, 5 foot 11, 217 pounds, senior, Auburn -- Williams provided the perfect complement to Brown last season. He's a slash-type runner who likes to make cuts and can slip through the smallest holes. If Williams stays healthy, he could be a 1,000-yard rusher as a rookie.
Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fifth pick.
3. Cedric Benson, 5 foot 10, 250 pounds, senior, Texas -- Benson fits the mold of Ricky Williams, just without the dreadlocks and marijuana-tainted blood. Benson is a power rusher with great speed. He's capable of carrying the ball 25 to 30 times per game. Last season, Benson won the Doak Walker Award, presented to the nation's top running back.
Prediction: Arizona Cardinals, eighth pick.
4. J.J. Arrington, 5 foot 8, 214 pounds, senior, California -- One of the fastest running backs in the draft, Arrington clocked a 4.4-second time in the 40-yard dash. He led the nation in rushing yards (2,018) and yards per carry (7.0) last season. Despite his small stature, Arrington is a strong back, and he's not afraid to take a hit.
Prediction: Chicago Bears, 39th pick.
5. Vernand Morency, 5 foot 9, 210 pounds, junior, Oklahoma State -- Morency showed he's a big-time back when starting for Oklahoma State last season. Like former Oklahoma State running back Tatum Bell, Morency hits the hole at top speed and doesn't shy away from contact. If Morency, 25, were three years younger, he would be a first-round pick.
Prediction: Cleveland Browns, 67th pick.
Sleeper pick: Bobby Purify, 6 foot, 210 pounds, senior, Colorado -- Purify is a bruiser with great speed. He has the same running style as former Colorado running back Chris Brown, who now plays for the Tennessee Titans. Purify averaged 4.9 yards per carry last season. He has been overlooked because of injuries, but he's still a very consistent runner.
Prediction: New York Giants, 186th pick.
Linebackers
1. Derrick Johnson, 6 foot 3, 242 pounds, senior, Texas -- Johnson was born to play linebacker. His style has been compared to the likes of Chicago's Brian Urlacher and San Francisco's Julian Peterson. Johnson is an incredibly mobile linebacker who waits for the right time to attack. He once recorded 30 tackles and four forced fumbles in a high school game.
Prediction: Detroit Lions, 10th pick.
2. Shawne Merriman, 6 foot 4, 272 pounds, junior, Maryland -- Merriman is the ideal player for a team that operates in a 3-4 defensive set. At his size, Merriman is capable of taking on offensive linemen. He's also fast enough to drop back in coverage. He has tremendous off-the-ball acceleration, and he knocks people flat on their backside when he hits them. Merriman will make an immediate impact on his new team.
Prediction: Dallas Cowboys, 11th pick.
3. Demarcus Ware, 6 foot 4, 251 pounds, senior, Troy State -- Ware is another player who has defensive coordinators salivating over his versatility. He has long arms and great closing speed from within 10 yards. Ware is a raw talent, having played organized football for just six years. Ware impressed at the NFL Combine, showing off his leaping ability and soft hands. He finished his Troy State career with 201 tackles and 27.5 sacks.
Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs, 15th pick.
4. Darryl Blackstock, 6 foot 2, 247 pounds, senior, Virginia -- Blackstock plays with reckless abandon. He's one of the most athletic defensive prospects in the draft, sporting a 40-plus-inch vertical and a 4.7-second time in the 40-yard dash. The only knock on Blackstock is that he doesn't play as strong as a man of his stature. When Blackstock hits the weight room, he should develop into a true NFL linebacker.
Prediction: Green Bay Packers, 24th pick.
5. Odell Thurman, 6 foot, 233 pounds, senior, Georgia -- If not for a troubled past, Thurman would have been the top defensive player taken in the draft. Thurman gets his jollies out of destroying opposing running backs. He prides himself on playing hard and hitting even harder. Thurman plays like he has something to prove -- the right attitude for an NFL linebacker.
Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles, 35th pick.
Sleeper pick: James Grigsby, 5 foot 11, 250 pounds, senior, Illinois State -- Grigsby earned Division I-AA Gateway Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors the last three seasons. He boasts top-notch speed and plays like a hide-and-strike linebacker. He's not well known, but that figures to change sooner than later.
Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers, 228th pick.
-- Compiled by Matt Reinick