Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert declared for the NFL Draft on Tuesday, and as a result, made a big debut on ESPN Draft analyst Mel Kiper's Big Board.
The periodically updated list of the top 25 overall prospects in the incoming draft class ranks Gabbert No. 9 overall, a spot above Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller.
"Missouri's Blaine Gabbert
jumps onto the list this week as a guy who declared while certainly with an eye to the unsettled situation in the draft market when it comes to QBs," Kiper writes. "After Andrew Luck, there's no true consensus as to who will emerge as No. 2. And if Luck opts to stay, we're obviously left with a real fluid situation."
Gabbert joins former Tigers receiver Jeremy Maclin as just the second Gary Pinkel recruit to leave Missouri early, and certainly helped his stock with a dominant, 434-yard performance in the Insight Bowl against Iowa before a late interception swung the game in the Hawkeyes' favor.
Here's what Kiper had to say in his brief analysis of Gabbert: "Strong arm, good mobility, prototype in terms of physical skills. Ranked all year in my top QBs. Jumps with draft declaration, improved stock."
Here's a quick look at the Big 12's other prospects on Kiper's Big Board.
No. 6: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
No. 10: Von Miller, LB/DE, Texas A&M
No. 15: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State