1. Jonathan Allen (Alabama)– I think you all know what I’m about to say now: You better have game if you have two first names and this kid was one of the best defensive players in the country last year. He’s a strong kid with a powerful upper body to create movement and force himself through blockers. He has strong hands to stack, track and shed blockers with violence and he uses a variety of hand tactics such as a rip-pull technique that allows him to toss and rip along with accelerating past offensive linemen. He’s very active on stunts and displays lateral movements and shows outstanding bursts for a man of his size (6’3, 286 pounds). He doesn’t fit the description of your typical pass rusher but he’s a pass rush threat due to his powerful hands and his punch to control his point of attack.
2. Malik McDowell (Michigan State)– He was a two-year starter in East Lansing that lined up primarily on the interior of the defensive line of that base front and would also see some snaps at the edge of the defensive line. He has a smooth lower body athleticism to sidestep blockers and uses his hands violently to bring down runners. He can bend well for his body type and can dip and arch around edge blockers. When his motor is revved up, he keeps it going and gives 125 percent on each play and plays the position with a certain edge and anger. As stated at the beginning, he’s versatile and can play all over the line and on special teams.
3. Chris Wormley (Michigan)– He was another key piece to that stout defense in Ann Arbor for Jim Harbaugh and Michigan. He’s a stocky and well-distributed guy with a great lateral quickness for a man his size. He converts his first step to power and extends his reach to drive blockers backward, sets a hard edge due to knee bend, strong base and violence in his punch and has strong hands to stack and rip through block attempts. He’s extremely controlled in his pass rushing efforts and doesn’t slow down when attempting to pursue the quarterback.
4. Caleb Brantley (Florida)– Pass rushers normally are the flashy ones and they will always receive the credit and recognition. Most quarterbacks will tell you that the guys they have to pay the most attention too are the defensive tackles in the interior that are “pocket pushers” and those guys are just as troublesome and effective as any edge rusher. Let’s meet Caleb Brantley, a 6’3, 305-pound defensive tackle with a compact and powerful frame. His spring off the snap is electric and shows the initial quickness to penetrate gaps and create some havoc in the backfield. He wins every battle in the trenches due to his ability to stay low and control his positioning on a blocker.
5. Eddie Vanderdoes (UCLA)– Vanderdoes is better at stuffing the run than attacking quarterbacks. Does show some lateral agility to elude blockers as well as the vision and spatial awareness to “feel” blockers around him. He’s powerful; incorporating a strong slap to knock would-be blockers away and the leg drive to simply walk opposing blockers into the pocket. Better yet, he often arrives with a thud as a tackler.
