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| Pittsburgh's Aaron Donald |
San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith has
invested draft picks on four defensive linemen over the last four
years—defensive end Vaughn Martin (2009 fourth round), nose tackle Cam Thomas
(2010 fifth round), defensive end Corey Liuget (2011 first round), and
defensive end Kendall Reyes (2012 second round). After making those picks, some
may believe that Smith is in no rush to take another defensive lineman in next
April’s draft. But after the disastrous six-game losing streak last season,
Smith has learned the importance of depth in the trenches, and he’d be wise to
take serious looks at the following prospects this fall:
1. Utah
nose tackle Star Lotulelei: A massive senior listed at 6-4, 320 pounds, he had 44
tackles, nine tackles for losses, and 1.5 sacks last season. With supreme
athleticism for a man his size, he appears to be the complete package as a nose
tackle prospect. He could be the man to take on double-teams during a long NFL career.
2. Pittsburgh
defensive end Aaron Donald: At 6-0, 275 pounds, this junior has experience
playing the 5-technique in a 3-4 scheme, and there are those who believe he’s
the best defensive lineman in the nation. In 2011 he had 47 tackles, 19 tackles
for losses, 12 sacks, and a forced fumble. As a result of that outstanding
effort, he was named second-team All-America by FoxSports.com.
3. Ohio
State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins: A 6-4, 317-pound junior, it will be
interesting to see if he’s a possibility to play nose tackle in the NFL. In
2011 he had 67 tackles 14 tackles for losses, and three sacks. He has a very quick first
step for a man his size.
4. Purdue
defensive tackle Kawann Short: A 6-3, 310-pound senior, he’s heading into his
fourth year as a starter. In 2011 he had 54 tackles, 17 tackles for losses, 6.5
sacks, two blocked kicks, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble.
5. Georgia
nose tackles John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers: Jenkins, a 6-3, 351-pound senior,
was the Bulldogs’ defensive co-MVP in spring practices this year. Geathers is a
6-6, 350-pound junior who’s also expected to dominate this season. Jenkins started just half the season in 2011 and had 28 tackles, six tackles for losses, three sacks, and 10 quarterback pressurs. Geathers, meanwhile, didn't see much playing time but will probably make a bigger impact in 2012.
"Both are really, really coming
on," Georgia defensive line coach Rodney Garner said in Blue Ribbon's preview. "My thing is
I've just got to really stay on them about fundamentals, just being hard on
them about steps, pad level, hand placement, just little things. … I don't want
them to get any false sense of 'We're here,' and we may not be quite there. But
I've been very, very, very pleased with both kids."
6. Michigan
State defensive end William Gholston: This 6-7, 278-pound junior may not have a spot in a 3-4
defense, but he’s certainly an intriguing prospect who’s expected to dominate
this fall. In 2011 he had 70 tackles, 16 tackles for losses, five sacks, and a
fumble recovery.
7. Arkansas defensive tackles Bryan Jones and Robert Thomas: At 6-2, 312 pounds Jones is considered a hidden gem ready to break out this fall, his junior season. Meanwhile the 6-3, 308-Thomas, another junior, collected four sacks against the first-team offense in the Razorbacks’ spring game.
8. Louisville defensive tackle Roy Philon: At 6-3, 290 pounds he could have a future as a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme such as the one the Chargers currently employ. He’ll be a junior this fall and had six tackles for losses in 2011.
9. South Florida defensive tackle Corey Grissom: He had 38 tackles, six tackles for losses, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 2011. Unfortunately this 6-2, 317-pound senior broke his ankle during a spring practice this past April, so it’s unclear if he’ll be ready to start the season.
10. Vanderbilt defensive tackle Rob Lohr: This 6-4, 290-pound senior possesses the body type to transition to defensive end in a 3-4 defense. In 2011 he had 41 tackles, 11.5 tackles for losses, and five sacks.
11. Michigan defensive tackle Will Campbell: At 6-5, 322 pounds, this fifth-year senior may turn out to be a nose tackle in the NFL. Off-the-field incidents and uninspired play have prevented him from taking advantage of his immense size and talents.
"I know that I loved the improvement he had during the course of the spring," Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke said in Blue Ribbon's preview. "I think there's got to be a consistency with it. But in Will's defense, he's played offense, he's played defense. The guy really has settled in now to being that guy up front. He's taking great pride in how he goes to work every day and where he wants to end up."
12. Alabama nose tackle Jesse Williams: This 6-4, 320-pound senior had 24 tackles, four tackles for losses, a half-a-sack, and three quarterback hurries last season. A native of Australia, he’s one of the strongest college football players in the nation, as evidenced by the fact he can bench press 600 pounds.
13. SMU defensive lineman Margus Hunt: His stats aren’t all that impressive, but this 6-8, 280-pound senior is a physical freak who won gold medals in the shot put and discus at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing, becoming the first junior athlete to ever achieve such a double. In 2011 he had 28 tackles, 7.5 tackles for losses, and three sacks, with all three quarterback takedowns coming in the Mustangs’ win over Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl. The place Hunt, a native of Estonia, has excelled most, however, has been on special teams, where he’s blocked 14 kicks during his career, four of which he recorded last year. Additionally, with a wingspan of 82 inches, he’s able to put up 225 pounds 35 times on the bench press, which is outrageous for his arm length, and his track coach says he runs a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash. To sum it up, Hunt is an amazing athlete, and it will be interesting to see if that translates to success on the gridiron.
14. Maryland defensive tackle Joe Vellano: At 6-2, 285 pounds, this senior could fit as a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. In 2011 he had 54 tackles, 7.5 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. His efforts led him to being voted a second-team All-American by both Walter Camp and the Associated Press, and he made the All-ACC first team.
15. North Carolina defensive tackle Sylvester Williams: A 6-3, 320-pound senior, he’s a prospect who may be able to play nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme as a pro. He had 54 tackles, seven tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception last season.
16. Florida State defensive tackle Everett Dawkins: This 6-3, 304-pound redshirt senior earned All-ACC honorable mention last year after registering 25 tackles, three tackles for losses, two sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception. If he were to join a team running a 3-4 scheme in the NFL, he would most likely play defensive end.
17. Ball State defensive tackle Nathan Ollie: A 6-1, 295-pound junior, he had 42 tackles, 10 tackles for losses, six sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 2011.
18. Bowling Green defensive tackle Chris Jones: At 6-1, 293 pounds, this senior could be a possibility to play defensive end in a 3-4 scheme at the NFL level. In 2011 he earned first-team All-MAC honors after producing 47 tackles, 14 tackles for losses, 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and a safety.
19. Middle Tennessee State defensive tackle Jimmy Staten: A 6-4, 300-pound redshirt junior, he had 29 tackles, four tackles for losses, and a sack last season. He has the frame to make the transition to a 3-4 defensive end in the NFL.
7. Arkansas defensive tackles Bryan Jones and Robert Thomas: At 6-2, 312 pounds Jones is considered a hidden gem ready to break out this fall, his junior season. Meanwhile the 6-3, 308-Thomas, another junior, collected four sacks against the first-team offense in the Razorbacks’ spring game.
8. Louisville defensive tackle Roy Philon: At 6-3, 290 pounds he could have a future as a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme such as the one the Chargers currently employ. He’ll be a junior this fall and had six tackles for losses in 2011.
9. South Florida defensive tackle Corey Grissom: He had 38 tackles, six tackles for losses, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 2011. Unfortunately this 6-2, 317-pound senior broke his ankle during a spring practice this past April, so it’s unclear if he’ll be ready to start the season.
10. Vanderbilt defensive tackle Rob Lohr: This 6-4, 290-pound senior possesses the body type to transition to defensive end in a 3-4 defense. In 2011 he had 41 tackles, 11.5 tackles for losses, and five sacks.
11. Michigan defensive tackle Will Campbell: At 6-5, 322 pounds, this fifth-year senior may turn out to be a nose tackle in the NFL. Off-the-field incidents and uninspired play have prevented him from taking advantage of his immense size and talents.
"I know that I loved the improvement he had during the course of the spring," Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke said in Blue Ribbon's preview. "I think there's got to be a consistency with it. But in Will's defense, he's played offense, he's played defense. The guy really has settled in now to being that guy up front. He's taking great pride in how he goes to work every day and where he wants to end up."
12. Alabama nose tackle Jesse Williams: This 6-4, 320-pound senior had 24 tackles, four tackles for losses, a half-a-sack, and three quarterback hurries last season. A native of Australia, he’s one of the strongest college football players in the nation, as evidenced by the fact he can bench press 600 pounds.
13. SMU defensive lineman Margus Hunt: His stats aren’t all that impressive, but this 6-8, 280-pound senior is a physical freak who won gold medals in the shot put and discus at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing, becoming the first junior athlete to ever achieve such a double. In 2011 he had 28 tackles, 7.5 tackles for losses, and three sacks, with all three quarterback takedowns coming in the Mustangs’ win over Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl. The place Hunt, a native of Estonia, has excelled most, however, has been on special teams, where he’s blocked 14 kicks during his career, four of which he recorded last year. Additionally, with a wingspan of 82 inches, he’s able to put up 225 pounds 35 times on the bench press, which is outrageous for his arm length, and his track coach says he runs a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash. To sum it up, Hunt is an amazing athlete, and it will be interesting to see if that translates to success on the gridiron.
14. Maryland defensive tackle Joe Vellano: At 6-2, 285 pounds, this senior could fit as a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. In 2011 he had 54 tackles, 7.5 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. His efforts led him to being voted a second-team All-American by both Walter Camp and the Associated Press, and he made the All-ACC first team.
15. North Carolina defensive tackle Sylvester Williams: A 6-3, 320-pound senior, he’s a prospect who may be able to play nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme as a pro. He had 54 tackles, seven tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception last season.
16. Florida State defensive tackle Everett Dawkins: This 6-3, 304-pound redshirt senior earned All-ACC honorable mention last year after registering 25 tackles, three tackles for losses, two sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception. If he were to join a team running a 3-4 scheme in the NFL, he would most likely play defensive end.
17. Ball State defensive tackle Nathan Ollie: A 6-1, 295-pound junior, he had 42 tackles, 10 tackles for losses, six sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 2011.
18. Bowling Green defensive tackle Chris Jones: At 6-1, 293 pounds, this senior could be a possibility to play defensive end in a 3-4 scheme at the NFL level. In 2011 he earned first-team All-MAC honors after producing 47 tackles, 14 tackles for losses, 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and a safety.
19. Middle Tennessee State defensive tackle Jimmy Staten: A 6-4, 300-pound redshirt junior, he had 29 tackles, four tackles for losses, and a sack last season. He has the frame to make the transition to a 3-4 defensive end in the NFL.
One must think the Chargers plan on having Liuget
and Reyes starting at the defensive end spots for the next several years.
Still, as already mentioned, depth is crucial on the defensive line, and there’s
no guarantee that Martin, scheduled to be a free agent next offseason, will
return to San Diego in 2013. Throw in the fact that the Chargers aren’t exactly
set at nose tackle, and one has to believe Smith will be tempted to select one
of the mammoth prospects capable of becoming a total disruption in the middle
of the defensive line.
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