Category rankings: Defensive tackles
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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 tackles.
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Quickest
Bonds highlightsClick 5. Chris Bonds, Columbia (S.C.) Richland Northeast Here to view this Link.
Has recorded a 4.7 40-yard dash and a 34-inch vertical leap; he's as quick as a cat.
McAllister highlightsClick 4. Demonte McAllister, Tampa (Fla.) Alonso Here to view this Link.
Another defensive tackle that has such a good speed that he could also play defensive end.
Jones highlightsClick 3. Abry Jones, Warner Robins (Ga.) Northside School Here to view this Link.
Comes off the ball so quick he may be able to play defensive end in college.
Sentimore highlightsClick 2. Darrington Sentimore, Destrehan, La.Here to view this Link.
Controlled the line of scrimmage with his quickness in the state championship game last December.
McDaniel highlightsClick 1. Jacobbi McDaniel, Greenville (Fla.) Madison Here to view this Link.
For two hours he fired off the ball and embarrassed lineman after lineman at the U.S. Army Junior Combine in San Antonio.
OTHER QUICK LINEMEN: Josh Boyd, Philadelphia (Miss.) Philadelphia; Gary Brown, Quincy (Fla.) West Gadsden; Corey Gaines, Tallahassee (Fla.) Godby; Derek Johnson, Hoxie (Ark.) Hoxie; Luther Robinson, Ft. Pierce (Fla.) Westwood.
Strongest
Fluker highlightsClick 5. D.J. Fluker, Foley, Ala.Here to view this Link.
Defensive tackle tosses his opponents around like rag dolls; could also be an offensive tackle.
McFarland highlightsClick 4. Jamarkus McFarland, Lufkin, Texas Here to view this Link.
The No. 1 rated defensive tackle prospect overall benches 365 pounds and squats 485.
Campbell highlightsClick 3. William Campbell, Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech Here to view this Link.
Used a powerful bull rush to dominate the offensive linemen at the U.S. Army All-American Combine.
Simon highlightsClick 2. John Simon, Youngstown (Ohio) Cardinal Mooney Here to view this Link.
Most Ohio football experts consider him the strongest player in the state; claims 40 reps of 225 pounds.
Quinn highlightsClick 1. Dillon Quinn, Pawling (N.Y.) Trinity Pawling Here to view this Link.
Had a dominating performance at the Premier Showcase in New Jersey and has a 520-pound bench press.
OTHER STRONG LINEMEN: DeAndre Coleman, Seattle (Wash.) Garfield; Latu Heimuli, Salt Lake City (Utah) Highland; Calvin Howell, San Antonio (Texas) Warren; Jacobbi McDaniel, Greenville (Fla.) Madison; Tyler Stockton, Princeton (N.J.) Hun School.
Best athlete
Bonds highlightsClick 5. Chris Bonds, Columbia (S.C.) Richland Northeast Here to view this Link.
Another athletic lineman who could play several positions along the defensive line.
Kohout highlightsClick 4. Jordan Kohout, Waupun, Wis.Here to view this Link.
Two-way star could play several positions at the next level because of his athleticism.
Gaines highlightsClick 3. Corey Gaines, Tallahassee (Fla.) Godby Here to view this Link.
Worked out on both sides of the ball at the U.S. Army All-American Combine and used his feet to get the upper hand of his competitors.
McDaniel highlightsClick 2. Jacobbi McDaniel, Greenville (Fla.) Madison Here to view this Link.
His bull rush dominated opponents at the U.S. Army Combine but he also has great athleticism and technique.
Davenport highlightsClick 1. Chris Davenport, Mansfield, La.Here to view this Link.
On film he moves like a dancing bear; at the Baton Rouge Nike Camp he ran on the balls of his feet just like a sprinter.
OTHER GREAT ATHLETES: Abry Jones, Warner Robins (Ga.) Northside; Jamarkus McFarland, Lufkin, Texas; Demonte McAllister, Tampa (Fla.) Alonso; Dillon Quinn, Pawling (N.Y.) Trinity Pawling; Darrington Sentimore, Destrehan, La.
Best run stuffer
Drew highlightsClick 5. John Drew, Columbus (Ga.) Northside Here to view this Link.
Had a tremendous showing at the Gainesville Nike Camp.
Campbell highlightsClick 4. William Campbell, Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech Here to view this Link.
Was impossible to move at the U.S. Army All-American Combine.
McFarland highlightsClick 3. Jamarkus McFarland, Lufkin, Texas Here to view this Link.
He had an amazing 67 unassisted tackles from his interior defensive line position in '07.
Downs highlightsClick 2. Josh Downs, Bastrop, La.Here to view this Link.
Two-way starter not only help lead his team to a state championship; plays with great leverage.
Heimuli highlightsClick 1. Latu Heimuli, Salt Lake City (Utah) Highland Here to view this Link.
At 6 feet 3, 296 pounds this baby bull is almost impossible to move off the line of scrimmage.
OTHER RUN STUFFERS: D.J. Fluker, Foley, Ala.; Calvin Howell, San Antonio (Texas) Warren; Brandon Moore, Montgomery (Ala.) Carver; Tyler Stockton, Princeton (N.J.) Hun School; Jamar Travis, Brewton (Ala.) W.S. Neal.
Best pass rusher
McAdoo highlightsClick 5. Jared McAdoo, Chapel Hill, N.C.Here to view this Link.
Had 20 tackles for losses and recorded 13 sacks last year.
Jones highlightsClick 4. Abry Jones, Warner Robins (Ga.) Northside School Here to view this Link.
Recorded 13 sacks as a junior while leading his team to a state championship.
McDaniel highlightsClick 3. Jacobbi McDaniel, Greenville (Fla.) Madison Here to view this Link.
Recorded 12 sacks, and showed every possible technique a defensive lineman could use at the U.S. Army Combine.
Adams highlightsClick 2. Corey Adams, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro Here to view this Link.
Recorded 117 tackles and 24 sacks while winning a state championship.
Brown highlightsClick 1. Gary Brown, Quincy (Fla.) West Gadsden Here to view this Link.
Registered 113 tackles and an amazing 26 sacks this past season.
OTHER PASS RUSHERS: Josh Boyd, Philadelphia, Miss.; Demonte McAllister, Tampa (Fla.) Alonso, Jamarkus McFarland, Lufkin, Texas; Dillon Quinn, Pawling (N.Y.) Trinity Pawling; Luther Robinson, Ft. Pierce (Fla.) Westwood.
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