10/30/2015 football Edit

First and 10: Biggest hitters

Woody Wommack

Football Recruiting Analyst

In this week's edition of First and 10, the Rivals.com national analyst team breaks down the 10 biggest hitters in the 2016 class.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Lamar isn't afraid to meet running backs in the hole and when he does he always brings the lumber. Lamar is a throwback player in terms of a big, physical linebacker that fits perfectly in the middle of a defense. Lamar is committed to Clemson. -- Woody Wommack, Southeast analyst

Ed Oliver

Houston (Texas) Westfield

Oliver is one of the more explosive guys in the country along the defensive line. From his defensive tackle spot, he is quick to locate his target and bring it to the ground with authority. He sheds blocks with the same ability and he plays with a violent edge in the trenches. His motor is always on the go, and he makes sure his opponent feels it when he arrives. Oliver is committed to Houston.

-- Jason Howell, Mid-South analyst

Nick Bosa

Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) Saint Thomas Aquinas

Bosa's college-ready frame allows him to pack quite a punch, and it's usually a quarterback on the receiving end of it. Bosa is incredibly explosive for a player of his size and can get up to speed in a hurry. His ability to make jarring hits is simply a case of size and quickness coming together to do damage. An Ohio State commit, Bosa will follow his brother Joey's footsteps to Columbus. -- Rob Cassidy, Southeast analyst

Ben Davis

Gordo, Ala.

Davis' long arms allow him to close on quarterbacks in a hurry, but while his strength is wrapping up, he can lower his shoulder as well. Davis plugs holes well against the run and pops pads with the best of them. His raw power allows him to produce big hits without being at a full sprint, as his upper-body strength is rarely matched at the high school level. Alabama is the favorite to land Davis.

-- Cassidy

Erick Fowler

Manor, Texas

In the last two years, I have not seen a more violent player in-person. Fowler is a powerful presence on the edge of the defense. His quickness allows him to get downhill in a hurry and he drives through the ball carrier. He arrives angry and he finishes his tackles. His opponent may not be able to remember exactly what happened when he hit them, but they know they do not want to experience it again. Fowler is committed to LSU.

-- Howell

Derrick Brown

Sugar Hill (Ga.) Lanier

Four-star DT Derrick Brown is one our ten biggest hitters in the 2016 class https://t.co/nRpy4k9Fmj

https://t.co/EsC8Odtjxa- Rivals.com (@Rivals) October 30, 2015

When the Rivals100 prospect gets his 6-foot-4, 320-pound body moving toward an offensive target, he really packs a punch. His highlight tape is full of bone-jarring hits, most of them against smaller quarterbacks or running backs. Brown is considering Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi State and others.

-- Wommack

ATH

Brandon Wellington

Bellevue (Wash.) Eastside Catholic

The Washington commit has shown incredible quickness off the edge from the outside linebacker spot and pursues the football with aggression. Wellington is not afraid to lower his shoulder on ball carriers and doesn't shy away from contact, holding his ground when the action comes his way. He has the versatility to play at multiple levels of a defense and should be a valuable asset for the Huskies the next few years.

-- Blair Angulo, West analyst

Keandre Jones

Olney (Md.) Good Counsel

Jones really stepped up his game this season and is much more physical. Getting stronger was something he really emphasized this offseason and it is very evident on the field. In one game this season, he knocked two players out of the game because of big hits and his hits have continued to raise eyebrows throughout this season. Despite Randy Edsall's firing at Maryland, Jones remains committed to the Terps. But watch out for Florida, Ohio State, Florida State, Kentucky and a few others. He will be taking an official visit to Florida after this season and there is a chance more could get scheduled.

-- Adam Friedman, Mid-Atlantic

Jaquan Yulee

Chesapeake (Va) Indian River

Yulee is a thumper in the middle of the defense. There have been many occasions where he stops the lead blocker in the hole and still makes the tackle. Yulee is one of the more physical inside defenders in the country and does a very good job of stopping runners in their tracks. Yulee has remained committed to Alabama since June but he has taken a visit to Virginia Tech, a school many people think he could end up at.

-- Friedman