College pass-rushers to watch in 2012



Jarvis Jones

The start of the college football season is right around the corner. For those of us always thinking about how the San Diego Chargers can improve, it’s never too early to evaluate the best college football players in the country. So, with that in mind, I’ve read several college football preview magazines and Web sites over the last month and have comprised lists of prospects at all the key positions.

Today, I begin by identifying the pass-rushers Chargers’ fans should watch and learn more about as the season progresses.

Some may believe that San Diego’s first-round selection of South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram last April gave everything the Chargers needed in the pass-rushing department. But even if Ingram turns into a stud at the NFL level, San Diego could still very well be in the market for another young pass-rusher next April, as veteran Shaun Phillips is in his thirties and the rest of the bunch haven’t proven to be mainstays.

If Chargers general manager A.J. Smith is looking to grab another future quarterback hunter—which he should be—he would be wise to focus on the following prospects this season:

1.      Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones: He was an All-American and the SEC’s sack leader, with 13.5, last year. Standing 6-3 and weighing 241 pounds, Jones, a junior, also had an astounding 49 hurries, which helped him become a finalist for the Butkus Award. He’s expected to be a top-five pick if he comes out for the 2013 draft.

2.     LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery: This 6-4, 245-pound junior had nine sacks, 13.5 tackles for losses, and a forced fumble in 2012. Expected to make the transition to a 3-4 pass-rushing outside linebacker in the NFL, Montgomery is considered to have great athleticism and a very high motor.

3.     LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo: A 6-5, 240-pound junior, he had eight sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, and 13.5 tackles for losses in 2011, even though he started just three games. With his explosive first step and quickness off the edge, many believe he has a bright future as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense at the NFL level.

4.     Ohio State defensive end John Simon: A senior, he had seven sacks and 16 tackles for losses in 2011. At 6-2, 260 pounds, he made first team All-Big Ten last season and is considered to have an excellent first step. This fall he will be the seventh two-time captain in Buckeyes history.

5.     Texas defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat: The son of former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jim Jeffcoat, this 6-5, 245-pound junior had 21 tackles for losses, eight sacks, nine quarterback hurries, and three pass breakups in 2011. He was also voted second-team All-Big 12. 

6.      Florida State defensive end Brandon Jenkins: This 6-3, 260-pound senior posted 21.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, and 104 tackles over the last two seasons, Although he’s improved as a run defender, he’s more renowned as a pass-rusher and could be best-suited as a quarterback-hunting outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

7.      Auburn defensive end Corey Lemonier: One of the rising pass-rushing stars in the nation, this 6-4, 240-pound junior posted 9.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hurries, 13.5 tackles for losses, and five forced fumbles last season. He appears to be another defensive end who will convert to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme at the NFL level.

8.      Illinois defensive end Michael Buchanan: A 6-6, 240-pound senior, he possesses the body type the Chargers could find enticing for a pass-rushing outside linebacker spot in their 3-4 defense. In 2011 he had 64 tackles, 13.5 tackles for losses, and 7.5 sacks. This year will be huge for him, as he no longer has to be overshadowed by Whitney Mercilus. He suffered a broken jaw in the middle of June but should be ready for the season.

9.      South Carolina defensive end Devin Taylor: This senior from Beaufort, South Carolina, is a freakish athlete at 6-8, 267 pounds. This fall will be his third season as a starter, and he has 15 sacks thus far in his college career. He also defends the run very well.

10.  Stanford defensive end/linebacker Chase Thomas: About to be a fourth-year starter, this 6-4, 245-pound senior had 9.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for losses, and five forced fumbles in 2011. He has 20 sacks and eight forced fumbles thus far in his college career.

11.  Michigan State outside linebacker Denicos Allen: A bit undersized at 5-11, 232 pounds, this junior had a monster year in 2011, registering 11 sacks, 83 tackles, and 18.5 tackles for losses.

12.  Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan: A 6-7, 241-pound senior, he had 7.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for losses last season, allowing him to earn All-PAC-12 honors. He’s considered a superior athlete with a very quick first step and will probably move to outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense at the NFL level.

13.  Texas A&M outside linebacker Sean Porter: This 6-2, 230-pound senior had 9.5 sacks and 17 tackles for losses last season. With speed that causes nightmares for opposing offensive linemen, he’s about to enter his third year as a starter for the Aggies.

14.  Texas A&M outside linebacker Damontre Moore: At 6-4, 250 pounds he’s played the “Joker” position in the Aggies’ defense. He had 17.5 tackles for losses, 8.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery last season. If he improves on those numbers this fall as a junior, it will be interesting to see if he comes out for the draft a year early.

15.  Duke defensive end Kenny Anunike: A redshirt senior, this 6-5, 260-pounder had five tackles for losses, four sacks, and a forced fumble in just four games last season (he missed eight games with a knee injury). If he can put together a full season, and keep up the pace he had going during his shortened year in 2011, his stock should definitely rise.

16.  Texas defensive end Alex Okafor: A senior, he’s heading into his third season as a starter. At 6-4, 260 pounds he had seven sacks, 14 quarterback hurries, 14 tackles for losses, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 2011. His tremendous effort led to a spot on the All-Big 12 first team.

17.  Mississippi State defensive end Denico Autry: A JUCO transfer, he hasn’t played a down of major college football, but his numbers at East Mississippi Community College lead many to believe he’ll be a force to be reckoned with this fall. In 2011 the 6-5, 255-pound quarterback hunter had 11 sacks, 13.5 tackles for losses, a ridiculous 41 hurries, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.

18.  Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner: A 6-4, 272-pound junior, he had seven sacks, eight hurries, and eight pass breakups during his first full year as a starter in 2011. He also had a fumble recovery and a pick-six.

19.  TCU defensive end Stansby Maponga: A first-team All-Mountain West selection in 2011, this 6-2, 265-pound junior had 55 tackles, 13.5 tackles for losses, nine sacks, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries during his sophomore year.

20.  San Jose State defensive end Travis Johnson: At 6-3, 244 pounds, this senior has 19 career sacks thus far. He made first-team All-WAC last year after recording 15 tackles for losses, 9.5 sacks, two blocked kicks, a safety, and a fumble recovery.

21.  Western Kentucky defensive end Quanterus Smith: A 6-5, 249-pound senior, he had 11 tackles for losses, 7.5 sacks, and four quarterback hurries in 2011. He also made second-team All-Sun Belt.

22.  Southern Mississippi defensive end Jamie Collins: This 6-4, 239-pound senior will most likely have to switch to a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. He had 98 tackles, 19.5 tackles for losses, 6.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 2011.

23.  Florida International defensive end Tourek Williams: A 6-4, 262-pound senior, he had 13 tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks, and nine hurries in 2011. He also made second-team All-Sun Belt and was voted by the league’s coaches and media as the conference’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

24.  Northern Illinois defensive end Sean Progar: A 6-2, 254-pound redshirt senior, he made second-team All-MAC last season after posting 11 tackles for losses, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick.

25.  South Florida defensive end Ryne Giddins: A 6-3, 266-pound redshirt junior, he had 5.5 sacks, 11 tackles for losses, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 2011.

26.  Marshall defensive end Jeremiah Taylor: A junior, this 6-4, 259-pounder had  7.5 tackles for losses, 3.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery last season. Although his sack number wasn’t all that impressive, he posted 11 hurries, so 2012 could be a breakout year for him.

After reading the magazines and Web sites, it seems as though this is a very deep class of pass-rushers. It wouldn’t be a shocker if at least 10 of them are selected in the first two rounds of next April’s draft. Hopefully Smith is able to get one of them to form a dominant tandem with Ingram for many years to come.