NFL Draft 2015: Ranking the Top 10 Group of Five Players

Sep 21, 2013; East Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies cornerback Byron Jones (16) reacts after intercepting a pass intended for Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Jehu Chesson (86) in the second quarter at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

The Group of Five conferences have a nice track record of producing NFL talent. Here are the Top 10 Group of Five players in this year’s NFL Draft. 

The restructuring of conferences have given the Power Five more power than ever, as mid-majors become less and less relevant. It’s even showing now in the NFL Draft, with only one Group of Five players expected to be taken in the first round. And he’s considered a sleeper.

More from College Football News

• Michigan State vs. Maryland: Location, time, prediction, and more
• Ranking college football’s top 10 quarterbacks after Week 3
• Things are going to get much darker for the Houston Cougars
• Biggest winners and losers from College Football Week 3
• #10 Alabama football: 3 takeaways from close road win against USF

We’ll get to that player later.

But when it comes to the Group of Five, as always, there are going to be plenty of steals. Take the Pro Bowl this past year. There were 116 players that played or were at least voted in.

Of that number, 86 came from Power Five conferences. But that still leaves 30 players from lower divisions or the Group of Five, and the majority came from the Group of Five. These players are obviously harder to judge based on their on-field performances because of their lack of on-field competition, but that does not mean it can’t be done.

You have to base it on potential, what they had around them in college, and how they fared against the major college football teams they did go against. Using those tools, we did the best we could in ranking the top 10 Group of Five players in this year’s NFL Draft. Here is how they stack up.

Next: Begin Slideshow