ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. has always considered Alabama wideout Amari Cooper his top wideout in the 2015 draft class, and he reiterated those sentiments on a conference call with AL.com earlier this week.

“In terms of Cooper and White, I’m still going with Cooper,” Kiper said. “I’ve been consistently with Amari Cooper all along.

“I still have Cooper as the higher rated player. It doesn’t mean Kevin White won’t be a great player. I do think Cooper has a better chance to come in right away because he’s a great route runner, he has three years of productivity, so I would give Cooper the edge to help out right away. But I think White’s going to have a great career, and I think (Louisville wideout) DeVante Parker is going to have a really good career.

“You don’t have to love one and not like the other. Love them both. It’s just that I would separate the two by: Cooper’s had three years of production, not one like Kevin White. His workout was really good. In fact, he’s only four pounds lighter and one inch shorter, and he has bigger hands and a better 3-cone (drill) and a better short shuttle.

“He’s not only quick. He’s fast. A lot of guys are fast not quick or quick not fast. He’s both, and he’s probably the hardest working player in this draft. That’s why I would give Cooper the edge.”

That’s rather high praise from the most respected draft analyst in the biz. For what it’s worth, Cooper set an SEC record with 124 catches for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior in 2014, and he recorded 228 catches and 31 touchdowns during his three-year career.

White transferred from Lackawanna Community College in Scranton, Penn., and played two years at West Virginia. He had only 35 catches as a junior before breaking out for 109 catches, 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago. Parker logged 43 catches for 855 yards and 5 touchdowns a year ago as Louisville battled injuries at the quarterback position.

Kiper has Cooper listed as his No. 3 overall prospect in the draft, and has White right behind him at No. 4 overall. The NFL Draft will kick off with the first round from Chicago on Thursday, April 30.