Aesopian
Hooters Waitress
- Joined:
- Jan 6, 2015
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My favorite teams
http://walterfootball.com/draft2018OLB3-4.php
1. Arden Key
9/23/17: In his first action of the season, Key played well with three tackles and a sack on limited snaps. He had other good pressures as well against Mississippi State. Key was held out against BYU and Chattanooga.
9/1/17: Key was one of the best players in college football in 2016. He recorded 56 tackles with 14.5 for a loss, 12 sacks, three forced fumbles and three passes broken up on the year. He flashed a ton of potential as a freshman for LSU, totaling 41 tackles with 6.5 for a loss, five sacks and one pass broken up. Key is a dangerous pass-rusher with excellent speed and the ability to bend around the corner. He is lightning fast off the edge and has a ton of upside to develop.
2. Dorance Armstrong, Jr.
9/23/17: In 2017, Armstrong has 10 tackles with two for a loss. Sources have said they continue to be impressed by Armstrong.
9/1/17: In 2016 as a sophomore, Armstrong had some serious production with 10 sacks, 20 tackles for a loss, 56 tackles and three forced fumbles while being a First-Team All-Big XII selection. One general manager told me that they think Armstrong is a stud and can't see him staying for his senior year in 2018. They said that Armstrong could be on a par or better than Boston College senior edge rusher Harold Landry. That general manager thought Landry would have been a late first- or second-round pick if he had entered the 2017 NFL Draft.
3. Harold Landry
9/23/17: Landry was a liability against the run against the Fighting Irish, recording only one tackle while Notre Dame ran for seven touchdowns and had two players exceed 200 yards rushing. On the vast majority of his plays, Landry went against a freshman right tackle, yet was ineffective. Landry also lost his few reps against Mike McGlinchey, plus got rag dolled by Quenton Nelson. It was an ugly performance for Landry. The senior notched five tackles and a sack in a loss to Wake Forest. In 2017, he has 12 tackles with two tackles for a loss, one sack and two passes broken up.
9/1/17: Landry had an impressive junior season as an edge rusher for Boston College, recording 16.5 sacks, 22 tackles for a loss, seven forced fumbles, four passes batted and 51 tackles. He contributed as a sophomore with 60 stops, and 4.5 sacks. Landry could fit best as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. A general manager told me they thought Landry would have been a late first- or second-round pick if he had entered the 2017 NFL Draft.
4. Sam Hubbard
9/23/17: Thus far in 2017, Hubbard has 10 tackles with three tackles for a loss and two sacks. He has had good moments but still doesn't always play up to his great skill set.
9/1/17: In 2016, Hubbard collected 46 tackles with eight for a loss, 3.5 sacks and two passes batted. While rotating into the game as a sophomore, he showed his potential with 6.5 sacks. Hubbard also had 28 tackles with an interception. The senior could explode in 2017 as he has an early round skill set. Hubbard has a lot of physical talent, but he hasn't produced up to it. He could rise high if that changes as a senior.
5. Josh Sweat
9/23/17: Because of Hurricane Irma, Florida State enters Week 4 having only played Alabama in Week 1. Sweat had five tackles with one sack in that outing. Sweat has a great skill set, but medical concerns will weight down his draft grade - see below\.
9/1/17: Sweat has a lot of talent and was starting to flash as a sophomore in 2016. He had seven sacks, 11.5 tackles for a loss, 41 tackles and one forced fumble on the year. Sources say that Sweat has a first-round skill set and could explode as a junior.
Sweat comes with major durability concerns, however. He still has instability in a few locations in his knee from an injury he suffered early in his senior year of high school. Sources say Florida State has tried a variety of methods to rehab the knee, which hasn't responded. Because he could have his NFL career limited to one contract, sources say they hear that Sweat is going to skip his senior year and enter the 2018 NFL Draft. The knee injury could cause him to slide even though he has Thursday-night edge-rushing talent.
6. Clelin Ferrell
9/23/17: Ferrell was excellent against Auburn using his speed to constantly beat the left tackle around the corner. In 2017, Ferrell has 14 tackles with one sack and one forced fumble.
9/1/17: Ferrell had an impressive redshirt freshman season for the Tigers in 2016 as he totaled 44 tackles with 12.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks and two passes batted. Ferrell has a good skill set with size, so he could easily rise with his year of experience.
7. James Hearns
9/23/17: Hearns has 15 tackles with 2.5 for a loss and two sacks for 2017. He played well against Clemson after having an underwhelming performance against North Carolina.
4/24/17: Sources say that Hearns is a bigger version of Devonte Fields. They say that Hearns is loose, limber, quick and fast to close. He needs to be more consistent, but his pass rush talent is developed. In 2016, Hearns totaled 42 tackles with 10 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, two passes batted and five forced fumbles. Hearns could produce a big 2017 season.
8. Marcell Frazier
9/23/17: Frazier has eight tackles with 1.5 sacks this season.
9/1/17: Missouri has been a factory for NFL defensive line talent in recent years. With Charles Harris on the other side, Frazier was able to do some damage in 2016. The junior came on strong at the end of the season. On the year, Frazier notched 7.5 sacks with 33 tackles. He had two sacks as a backup in 2015. Frazier could be poised for a big 2017 season as it looked like the light came on for him late in the 2016 season.
9. Porter Gustin
9/23/17: Gustin has 15 tackles with three tackles for a loss and three sacks so far in 2017.
9/1/17: Gustin may end up growing into a defensive end, but he showed some edge skills as a freshman and sophomore. In 2015, he totaled 5.5 sacks while also chipping in 25 tackles with 6.5 for a loss. It was an impressive season from a freshman, and he was only a rotational player with two starts. As a sophomore, Gustin notched 68 tackles with 5.5 sacks and four passes batted. He started at outside linebacker and could be a good fit for 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL.
10. Marquis Haynes
9/23/17: Haynes has 12 tackles with two for a loss and .5 sacks so far in 2017.
9/1/17: As a junior, Haynes played well and illustrated that he can be a difference-maker as a situational defender. In 2016, Haynes had 53 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, three passes batted, one interception and seven sacks. His sophomore season was even better with 43 tackles, 16.5 for a loss, 10 sacks, three forced fumbles and two passes batted. He recorded 31 tackles with nine tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks as a freshman.
Haynes is fast off the edge and has some natural pass-rushing skills to him. He is a heat-seeking missile off the edge who is a natural pass-rusher. Haynes also has functional strength that was illustrated by bull rush sacks through Alabama's Cam Robinson and Florida State's Roderick Johnson in 2016.
However, Haynes is extremely undersized and will have to move to outside linebacker in the NFL. Even for that position, he will need to get stronger, but he has a real knack for producing sacks in the clutch and had an impact in Ole Miss beating Alabama in 2015. Haynes has to get better in run defense or he will just be a situational rusher in the NFL.
11. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
9/23/17: In the early going of 2017, Okoronkwo has 3.5 sacks with 19 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and one forced fumble. He has been a leading defender for the Sooners with a nice performance to help Oklahoma win at Ohio State.
9/1/17: Okoronkwo was a dangerous edge defender for the Sooners in 2016. The juniot totaled 71 tackles with 12 tackles for a loss, nine sacks, three passes batted and two forced fumbles. It was a breakout season after serving as a backup in the previous seasons.
12. Austin Bryant
9/23/17: Bryant used his speed to clean up a lot of disruption against Auburn, chasing down quarterback Jarrett Stidham for four sacks in the game. Bryant also has 13 tackles and four tackles for a loss this season.
9/1/17: Bryant missed eight games for Clemson in 2016. As a result, he had 13 tackles with two sacks on the season. In 2015, he had 23 tackles with 1.5 sacks. Clemson feels that Bryant has a lot of ability and is excited about him for 2017.
13. Lorenzo Carter
9/23/17: Carter has been much improved as a senior while starting to play up to his athletic potential. He showed dangerous edge-rushing skills against Notre Dame and made a lot of big plays to help the Bulldogs win in South Bend. In 2017, Carter has 14 tackles with three sacks.
9/1/17: Carter has flashed during is career at Georgia, yet hasn't put everything together in one season yet. Perhaps that will happen as a senior. He started out his career with 4.5 sacks as a freshman to go with 41 tackles. Carter was quiet during his sophomore year with 19 tackles and zero sacks. In 2016, he recorded 44 tackles with five sacks and two forced fumbles. Carter came on late lsat season, so perhaps he will have a big senior year. Carter has a nice skill set with speed, athleticism and length.
http://walterfootball.com/draft2018DE3-4.php
3-4 DE/OLB Edge Rushers
1. Christian Wilkins
9/23/17: Against Louisville, Wilkins caused some disruption while making one tackle. He put together a strong game against Auburn with a handful of tackles and two sacks. In 2017, Wilkins has 12 tackles with 2.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks.
9/1/17: Wilkins played well for Clemson in 2016 as part of a tough defensive line that controlled the point of attack. The sophomore recorded 48 tackles with 13 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and 10 passes batted. Wilkins made 33 tackles and two sacks as a freshman in 2015. He has a nice skill set with upside.
Wilkins had to play a lot of defensive end last year because of injury. He displayed a nice ability to play there, but his NFL home is on the inside. As a pass-rusher, Wilkins was able to get after the quarterback with pressure coming around the corner. He looked the most dangerous when lining up over guards and firing past them to cause disruption in the backfield. While he played a lot of end, at his weight, Wilkins really doesn't have edge rusher speed for the NFL. He will have to rush from the inside as a pro, but that is his natural position anyway. Wilkins was a solid run defender, too. He has a strong, thick lower body to hold his ground at the point of attack.
2. Trenton Thompson
9/23/17: Thompson notched three tackles and one for a loss against Samford. Thus far in 2017, he has totaled 12 tackles with three for a loss. Sources say that Thompson is a definite first-round talent, but they want him to play more consistent football. They also say his body type is a little odd for a three-technique and his body type fits a 3-4 defense end better.
9/1/17: Thompson really improved throughout the 2015 season and started to flash a special skill set. The sophomore totaled 56 tackles with 9.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks and a pass broken up. Thompson ended his junior year in superb fashion by dominating the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against TCU, recording three sacks.
One of the hardest things to find for a NFL defense is an interior defensive lineman capable of being a steady pass-rusher. Thompson is that rare kind of defender as he has a lot of ability to get after the quarterback. In the pass rush, he is a fast interior defender who routinely fires by guards to collapse the pocket. Thompson can bolt by guards, can use his speed to loop around the line on stunts, and can close on the quarterback in an instant. Thompson is very fast at firing his gap to create disruption in the backfield with an impressive ability to redirect to chase down quarterbacks and running backs. The speed also extends to run defense, as he can flow down the line to get in on tackles near the line of scrimmage.
3. Vita Vea
9/23/17: This year, Vea has nine tackles with a sack.
9/1/17: Vea was a load at the point of attack for Washington in 2016. On the year, he totaled 39 tackles with 6.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks, one force fumble and two passes batted. Vea has a serious combination of size, length, strength, and quickness at the point of attack.
For the NFL, Vea projects as a heavy nose tackle who can be tough at the point of attack. He is a big, thick and strong. Vea can use his size and strength eat up blockers and generally holds gap integrity. He has a quick burst off the snap, and there are times where his size, power, and quickness overwhelm smaller interior linemen. Vea is at his best when he tries to bull his way into the backfield to cause disruption. With his upper body strength and the power in his base, Vea can push off or through blocks. He has a good motor and gives a second effort, too.
Vea needs to show improvement in the pass rush during 2017. The junior needs to develop some pass-rushing moves to go with his bull rush. He has to become more consistent in creating pressure and laying hits on the quarterback in order to be a highly in-demand draft prospect. Otherwise, he could be viewed as just a nose tackle.
4. Bradley Chubb
9/23/17: Chubb notched two tackles and .5 sacks versus Furman. Against Marshall, he had one sack, three tackles for a loss and seven tackles. Chubb has 14 tackles with 5.5 for a loss, 1.5 sack and one pass broken up on the year.
9/1/17: Chubb was a tough defender for the Wolfpack in 2016, totaling 58 tackles with 22 tackles for a loss, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one pass batted. As a sophomore in 2015, he collected 5.5 sacks. Chubb has scheme flexibility along with a nice combination of size, speed, and instincts at the point of attack.
5. Andrew Brown
9/23/17: This season, Brown has seven tackles with two for a loss and a forced fumble.
9/1/17: Brown is a sturdy defender at the point of attack and impressed last year. Scouting sources say that Brown has a first-round skill set entering the 2017 season. In 2016, he totaled six sacks, 13 tackles for a loss and 38 tackles. Brown has good size to be a base end with quickness and athleticism to get after the quarterback.
6. Duke Ejiofor
9/23/17: Ejiofor is off to a good start with two sacks and eight tackles so far in 2017.
9/1/17: Ejiofor goes under the radar playing at Wake Forest, but he was a real force in 2016. On the season, Ejiofor totaled 10.5 sacks, 50 tackles, four passes broken up, forced fumbles and one interception. He had 4.5 sacks as a sophomore.
7. Jerry Tillery
9/23/17: Tillery is up to 16 tackles with one sack in 2017. He's played well for Notre Dame.
9/1/17: Tillery had 37 tackles with three tackles for a loss in 2016. The sophomore played better than the numbers illustrate and caused some havoc at the point of attack. Tillery has the skill set to develop into more production in 2017 and maybe 2018.
1. Arden Key
9/23/17: In his first action of the season, Key played well with three tackles and a sack on limited snaps. He had other good pressures as well against Mississippi State. Key was held out against BYU and Chattanooga.
9/1/17: Key was one of the best players in college football in 2016. He recorded 56 tackles with 14.5 for a loss, 12 sacks, three forced fumbles and three passes broken up on the year. He flashed a ton of potential as a freshman for LSU, totaling 41 tackles with 6.5 for a loss, five sacks and one pass broken up. Key is a dangerous pass-rusher with excellent speed and the ability to bend around the corner. He is lightning fast off the edge and has a ton of upside to develop.
2. Dorance Armstrong, Jr.
9/23/17: In 2017, Armstrong has 10 tackles with two for a loss. Sources have said they continue to be impressed by Armstrong.
9/1/17: In 2016 as a sophomore, Armstrong had some serious production with 10 sacks, 20 tackles for a loss, 56 tackles and three forced fumbles while being a First-Team All-Big XII selection. One general manager told me that they think Armstrong is a stud and can't see him staying for his senior year in 2018. They said that Armstrong could be on a par or better than Boston College senior edge rusher Harold Landry. That general manager thought Landry would have been a late first- or second-round pick if he had entered the 2017 NFL Draft.
3. Harold Landry
9/23/17: Landry was a liability against the run against the Fighting Irish, recording only one tackle while Notre Dame ran for seven touchdowns and had two players exceed 200 yards rushing. On the vast majority of his plays, Landry went against a freshman right tackle, yet was ineffective. Landry also lost his few reps against Mike McGlinchey, plus got rag dolled by Quenton Nelson. It was an ugly performance for Landry. The senior notched five tackles and a sack in a loss to Wake Forest. In 2017, he has 12 tackles with two tackles for a loss, one sack and two passes broken up.
9/1/17: Landry had an impressive junior season as an edge rusher for Boston College, recording 16.5 sacks, 22 tackles for a loss, seven forced fumbles, four passes batted and 51 tackles. He contributed as a sophomore with 60 stops, and 4.5 sacks. Landry could fit best as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. A general manager told me they thought Landry would have been a late first- or second-round pick if he had entered the 2017 NFL Draft.
4. Sam Hubbard
9/23/17: Thus far in 2017, Hubbard has 10 tackles with three tackles for a loss and two sacks. He has had good moments but still doesn't always play up to his great skill set.
9/1/17: In 2016, Hubbard collected 46 tackles with eight for a loss, 3.5 sacks and two passes batted. While rotating into the game as a sophomore, he showed his potential with 6.5 sacks. Hubbard also had 28 tackles with an interception. The senior could explode in 2017 as he has an early round skill set. Hubbard has a lot of physical talent, but he hasn't produced up to it. He could rise high if that changes as a senior.
5. Josh Sweat
9/23/17: Because of Hurricane Irma, Florida State enters Week 4 having only played Alabama in Week 1. Sweat had five tackles with one sack in that outing. Sweat has a great skill set, but medical concerns will weight down his draft grade - see below\.
9/1/17: Sweat has a lot of talent and was starting to flash as a sophomore in 2016. He had seven sacks, 11.5 tackles for a loss, 41 tackles and one forced fumble on the year. Sources say that Sweat has a first-round skill set and could explode as a junior.
Sweat comes with major durability concerns, however. He still has instability in a few locations in his knee from an injury he suffered early in his senior year of high school. Sources say Florida State has tried a variety of methods to rehab the knee, which hasn't responded. Because he could have his NFL career limited to one contract, sources say they hear that Sweat is going to skip his senior year and enter the 2018 NFL Draft. The knee injury could cause him to slide even though he has Thursday-night edge-rushing talent.
6. Clelin Ferrell
9/23/17: Ferrell was excellent against Auburn using his speed to constantly beat the left tackle around the corner. In 2017, Ferrell has 14 tackles with one sack and one forced fumble.
9/1/17: Ferrell had an impressive redshirt freshman season for the Tigers in 2016 as he totaled 44 tackles with 12.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks and two passes batted. Ferrell has a good skill set with size, so he could easily rise with his year of experience.
7. James Hearns
9/23/17: Hearns has 15 tackles with 2.5 for a loss and two sacks for 2017. He played well against Clemson after having an underwhelming performance against North Carolina.
4/24/17: Sources say that Hearns is a bigger version of Devonte Fields. They say that Hearns is loose, limber, quick and fast to close. He needs to be more consistent, but his pass rush talent is developed. In 2016, Hearns totaled 42 tackles with 10 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, two passes batted and five forced fumbles. Hearns could produce a big 2017 season.
8. Marcell Frazier
9/23/17: Frazier has eight tackles with 1.5 sacks this season.
9/1/17: Missouri has been a factory for NFL defensive line talent in recent years. With Charles Harris on the other side, Frazier was able to do some damage in 2016. The junior came on strong at the end of the season. On the year, Frazier notched 7.5 sacks with 33 tackles. He had two sacks as a backup in 2015. Frazier could be poised for a big 2017 season as it looked like the light came on for him late in the 2016 season.
9. Porter Gustin
9/23/17: Gustin has 15 tackles with three tackles for a loss and three sacks so far in 2017.
9/1/17: Gustin may end up growing into a defensive end, but he showed some edge skills as a freshman and sophomore. In 2015, he totaled 5.5 sacks while also chipping in 25 tackles with 6.5 for a loss. It was an impressive season from a freshman, and he was only a rotational player with two starts. As a sophomore, Gustin notched 68 tackles with 5.5 sacks and four passes batted. He started at outside linebacker and could be a good fit for 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL.
10. Marquis Haynes
9/23/17: Haynes has 12 tackles with two for a loss and .5 sacks so far in 2017.
9/1/17: As a junior, Haynes played well and illustrated that he can be a difference-maker as a situational defender. In 2016, Haynes had 53 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, three passes batted, one interception and seven sacks. His sophomore season was even better with 43 tackles, 16.5 for a loss, 10 sacks, three forced fumbles and two passes batted. He recorded 31 tackles with nine tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks as a freshman.
Haynes is fast off the edge and has some natural pass-rushing skills to him. He is a heat-seeking missile off the edge who is a natural pass-rusher. Haynes also has functional strength that was illustrated by bull rush sacks through Alabama's Cam Robinson and Florida State's Roderick Johnson in 2016.
However, Haynes is extremely undersized and will have to move to outside linebacker in the NFL. Even for that position, he will need to get stronger, but he has a real knack for producing sacks in the clutch and had an impact in Ole Miss beating Alabama in 2015. Haynes has to get better in run defense or he will just be a situational rusher in the NFL.
11. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
9/23/17: In the early going of 2017, Okoronkwo has 3.5 sacks with 19 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and one forced fumble. He has been a leading defender for the Sooners with a nice performance to help Oklahoma win at Ohio State.
9/1/17: Okoronkwo was a dangerous edge defender for the Sooners in 2016. The juniot totaled 71 tackles with 12 tackles for a loss, nine sacks, three passes batted and two forced fumbles. It was a breakout season after serving as a backup in the previous seasons.
12. Austin Bryant
9/23/17: Bryant used his speed to clean up a lot of disruption against Auburn, chasing down quarterback Jarrett Stidham for four sacks in the game. Bryant also has 13 tackles and four tackles for a loss this season.
9/1/17: Bryant missed eight games for Clemson in 2016. As a result, he had 13 tackles with two sacks on the season. In 2015, he had 23 tackles with 1.5 sacks. Clemson feels that Bryant has a lot of ability and is excited about him for 2017.
13. Lorenzo Carter
9/23/17: Carter has been much improved as a senior while starting to play up to his athletic potential. He showed dangerous edge-rushing skills against Notre Dame and made a lot of big plays to help the Bulldogs win in South Bend. In 2017, Carter has 14 tackles with three sacks.
9/1/17: Carter has flashed during is career at Georgia, yet hasn't put everything together in one season yet. Perhaps that will happen as a senior. He started out his career with 4.5 sacks as a freshman to go with 41 tackles. Carter was quiet during his sophomore year with 19 tackles and zero sacks. In 2016, he recorded 44 tackles with five sacks and two forced fumbles. Carter came on late lsat season, so perhaps he will have a big senior year. Carter has a nice skill set with speed, athleticism and length.
http://walterfootball.com/draft2018DE3-4.php
3-4 DE/OLB Edge Rushers
1. Christian Wilkins
9/23/17: Against Louisville, Wilkins caused some disruption while making one tackle. He put together a strong game against Auburn with a handful of tackles and two sacks. In 2017, Wilkins has 12 tackles with 2.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks.
9/1/17: Wilkins played well for Clemson in 2016 as part of a tough defensive line that controlled the point of attack. The sophomore recorded 48 tackles with 13 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and 10 passes batted. Wilkins made 33 tackles and two sacks as a freshman in 2015. He has a nice skill set with upside.
Wilkins had to play a lot of defensive end last year because of injury. He displayed a nice ability to play there, but his NFL home is on the inside. As a pass-rusher, Wilkins was able to get after the quarterback with pressure coming around the corner. He looked the most dangerous when lining up over guards and firing past them to cause disruption in the backfield. While he played a lot of end, at his weight, Wilkins really doesn't have edge rusher speed for the NFL. He will have to rush from the inside as a pro, but that is his natural position anyway. Wilkins was a solid run defender, too. He has a strong, thick lower body to hold his ground at the point of attack.
2. Trenton Thompson
9/23/17: Thompson notched three tackles and one for a loss against Samford. Thus far in 2017, he has totaled 12 tackles with three for a loss. Sources say that Thompson is a definite first-round talent, but they want him to play more consistent football. They also say his body type is a little odd for a three-technique and his body type fits a 3-4 defense end better.
9/1/17: Thompson really improved throughout the 2015 season and started to flash a special skill set. The sophomore totaled 56 tackles with 9.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks and a pass broken up. Thompson ended his junior year in superb fashion by dominating the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against TCU, recording three sacks.
One of the hardest things to find for a NFL defense is an interior defensive lineman capable of being a steady pass-rusher. Thompson is that rare kind of defender as he has a lot of ability to get after the quarterback. In the pass rush, he is a fast interior defender who routinely fires by guards to collapse the pocket. Thompson can bolt by guards, can use his speed to loop around the line on stunts, and can close on the quarterback in an instant. Thompson is very fast at firing his gap to create disruption in the backfield with an impressive ability to redirect to chase down quarterbacks and running backs. The speed also extends to run defense, as he can flow down the line to get in on tackles near the line of scrimmage.
3. Vita Vea
9/23/17: This year, Vea has nine tackles with a sack.
9/1/17: Vea was a load at the point of attack for Washington in 2016. On the year, he totaled 39 tackles with 6.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks, one force fumble and two passes batted. Vea has a serious combination of size, length, strength, and quickness at the point of attack.
For the NFL, Vea projects as a heavy nose tackle who can be tough at the point of attack. He is a big, thick and strong. Vea can use his size and strength eat up blockers and generally holds gap integrity. He has a quick burst off the snap, and there are times where his size, power, and quickness overwhelm smaller interior linemen. Vea is at his best when he tries to bull his way into the backfield to cause disruption. With his upper body strength and the power in his base, Vea can push off or through blocks. He has a good motor and gives a second effort, too.
Vea needs to show improvement in the pass rush during 2017. The junior needs to develop some pass-rushing moves to go with his bull rush. He has to become more consistent in creating pressure and laying hits on the quarterback in order to be a highly in-demand draft prospect. Otherwise, he could be viewed as just a nose tackle.
4. Bradley Chubb
9/23/17: Chubb notched two tackles and .5 sacks versus Furman. Against Marshall, he had one sack, three tackles for a loss and seven tackles. Chubb has 14 tackles with 5.5 for a loss, 1.5 sack and one pass broken up on the year.
9/1/17: Chubb was a tough defender for the Wolfpack in 2016, totaling 58 tackles with 22 tackles for a loss, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one pass batted. As a sophomore in 2015, he collected 5.5 sacks. Chubb has scheme flexibility along with a nice combination of size, speed, and instincts at the point of attack.
5. Andrew Brown
9/23/17: This season, Brown has seven tackles with two for a loss and a forced fumble.
9/1/17: Brown is a sturdy defender at the point of attack and impressed last year. Scouting sources say that Brown has a first-round skill set entering the 2017 season. In 2016, he totaled six sacks, 13 tackles for a loss and 38 tackles. Brown has good size to be a base end with quickness and athleticism to get after the quarterback.
6. Duke Ejiofor
9/23/17: Ejiofor is off to a good start with two sacks and eight tackles so far in 2017.
9/1/17: Ejiofor goes under the radar playing at Wake Forest, but he was a real force in 2016. On the season, Ejiofor totaled 10.5 sacks, 50 tackles, four passes broken up, forced fumbles and one interception. He had 4.5 sacks as a sophomore.
7. Jerry Tillery
9/23/17: Tillery is up to 16 tackles with one sack in 2017. He's played well for Notre Dame.
9/1/17: Tillery had 37 tackles with three tackles for a loss in 2016. The sophomore played better than the numbers illustrate and caused some havoc at the point of attack. Tillery has the skill set to develop into more production in 2017 and maybe 2018.
