Category rankings: Defensive ends
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The Rivals.com recruiting experts have broken down countless hours of film and racked up plenty of frequent flyer miles to see the top prospects compete at events across the country. In the process of evaluating overall talent, several prospects gained notice for their mastery of specific skills.
We've selected the best of the best in each category for every position and ranked them. Rivals.com recruiting analyst Barry Every breaks down the defensive ends.
Coming Next: Offensive line
STRONGEST
5. Michael Brockers, Houston Chavez
Brockers highlightsClick Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: LSU
PARTICULARS: 6-6/255
THE BUZZ: He is a giant athlete with potential that has not been tapped.
Chaisson highlightsClick 4. Justin Chaisson, Las Vegas Bishop Gorman Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Oklahoma
PARTICULARS: 6-5/252
THE BUZZ: He had an overpowering performance at U.S. Army Combine.
Kennard highlightsClick 3. Devon Kennard, Phoenix Desert Vista Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-3/257
THE BUZZ: Has the most powerful lower body I've seen on film this year.
Fellows highlightsClick 2. Melvin Fellows, Garfield Heights (Ohio) High Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Ohio State
PARTICULARS: 6-5/245
THE BUZZ: On film, he seems to toy with offensive linemen.
Goodman highlightsClick 1. Malliciah Goodman, Florence (S.C.) West Florence Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Clemson
PARTICULARS: 6-4/255
THE BUZZ: He is a dominant defensive end and clearly one of the best overall players in the nation.
OTHERS: Craig Drummond, Chicago Morgan Park; Anthony LaLota, Princeton (N.J.) Hun School; William Ming, Athens (Ala.) High; Donte Moss, Jacksonville (N.C.) Northside; Craig Payne, Ontario (Calif.) Colony.
BEST AGAINST THE RUN
5. William Ming, Athens (Ala.) High
Ming highlightsClick Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-4/250
THE BUZZ: He is an old-school, two-way mauler that loves to mix it up along the line of scrimmage.
Fellows highlightsClick 4. Melvin Fellows, Garfield Heights (Ohio) High Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Ohio State
PARTICULARS: 6-5/245
THE BUZZ: He has superior lateral movement, and he's too tough and strong for linemen to move.
Chaisson highlightsClick 3. Justin Chaisson, Las Vegas Bishop Gorman Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Oklahoma
PARTICULARS: 6-5/252
THE BUZZ: If you run to his side of the field you are most likely going to be swallowed up by his long arms.
Kasa highlightsClick 2. Nick Kasa, Broomfield (Colo.) Legacy Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-7/245
THE BUZZ: Another long-armed giant. It's hard for offensive lineman to get to his body.
Moss highlightsClick 1. Donte Moss, Jacksonville (N.C.) Northside Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: North Carolina
PARTICULARS: 6-4/235
THE BUZZ: Moss can really move, and he uses his arms well to ward off offensive lineman.
OTHERS: DeOnte Arnett, Forestville (Md.) Military Academy; Malliciah Goodman, Florence (S.C.) West Florence; Devon Kennard, Phoenix Desert Vista; Anthony LaLota, Princeton (N.J.) Hun School; Alex Okafor, Pflugerville (Texas) High.
BEST PASS RUSHER
Moss highlightsClick 5. Donte Moss, Jacksonville (N.C.) Northside Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: North Carolina
PARTICULARS: 6-4/235
THE BUZZ: Two-way star has speed and size coming off the edge. He also plays running back, similar to native North Carolinian Julius Peppers.
Drummond highlightsClick 4. Craig Drummond, Chicago Morgan Park Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-5/260
THE BUZZ: Had a great performance at the Army Combine and racked up 18 sacks in 13 games last season.
Montgomery highlightsClick 3. Sam Montgomery, Greenwood (S.C.) HighHere to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-4/230
THE BUZZ: A basketball player turned defensive end, the athletic Montgomery had 15 sacks last year.
Giddins highlightsClick 2. Ryne Giddins, Seffner (Fla.) Armwood Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-4/235
THE BUZZ: Quickness and power were the keys to his game. He recorded 21 sacks last season.
Kennard highlightsClick 1. Devon Kennard, Phoenix Desert Vista Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-3/257
THE BUZZ: Kennard uses his superior leg drive and quick twitch muscles to dominate the opposition. He made 24.5 sacks last season.
OTHERS: Fletcher Cox, Yazoo City (Miss.) High; Dyron Dye, Sanford (Fla.) Seminole; Melvin Fellows, Garfield Heights (Ohio) High; Alex Okafor, Pflugerville (Texas) High; Craig Roh, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chaparral.
QUICKEST FIRST STEP
Stinson highlightsClick 5. Ed Stinson, Homestead (Fla.) South Dade Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Florida State
PARTICULARS: 6-4/227
THE BUZZ: Another basketball player turned defensive end who likes to show off his athleticism.
Dye highlightsClick 4. Dyron Dye, Sanford (Fla.) Seminole Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-4/215
THE BUZZ: Dye showed at the US Army Combine that he can accelerate off the snap.
Okafor highlightsClick 3. Alex Okafor, Pflugerville (Texas) High Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Texas
PARTICULARS: 6-5/232
THE BUZZ: He was so quick at the Fort Worth Nike Camp that the coaches there thought he was an NFL prospect.
Cox highlightsClick 2. Fletcher Cox, Yazoo City (Miss.) HighHere to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Mississippi State
PARTICULARS: 6-4/240
THE BUZZ: Cox uses his experience in track to get started the instant the ball is snapped.
Kennard highlightsClick 1. Devon Kennard, Phoenix Desert Vista Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-3/257
THE BUZZ: His great anticipation of the snap count often allows him to be in the backfield before the handoff.
OTHERS: Ryne Giddins, Seffner (Fla.) Armwood; Malliciah Goodman, Florence (S.C.) West Florence; Sam Montgomery, Greenwood (S.C.) High; Donte Moss, Jacksonville (N.C.) Northside; Olivier Vernon, Miami American.
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