USA TODAY International Edition
SEC defensive tackles have much to offer NFL
As the NFL draft nears, USA TODAY Sports is providing positional rankings for each positional group. Today: defensive tackles.
1. JONATHAN ALLEN, ALABAMA 6- 3, 286
There’s no doubt who tops this list. Allen has it all: production, versatility, size, athleticism and speed, and he should be a starter with whoever drafts him from the start. He arrived at Alabama as an outside linebacker. Though his role shifted, the skills stayed the same. As a senior in 2016, Allen won the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, both of which celebrate the best defender in college football. He recorded two first- team all- Southeastern Conference placements and leaves Alabama second in program history in sacks ( 281⁄ 2).
There might be concern about his size at the next level, but Allen’s special talent for rushing the quarterback and stopping the run should make him a top- 10 pick. At the NFL scouting combine, previous shoulder surgeries got a closer look.
2. CALEB BRANTLEY, FLORIDA 6- 3, 307
He is closer to the prototypical size NFL evaluators look for in the position, but the big question on Brantley is whether he can handle the full load of a season. The Gators rotated their defensive linemen, so Brantley — while one of the stars of the group — stayed fresh and wasn’t a three- down player. Brantley is explosive out of his stance and commanded double- team blocks. He showed several different pass rush moves — his initial push to the chest of linemen is the most lethal. ( Alachua County, Fla., court records show that Brantley was charged with misdemeanor battery in connection with an incident April 13 in which a woman was knocked out after being hit in the face, according to the Associated Press.)
3. CHRIS WORMLEY, MICHIGAN 6- 5, 298
The biggest assets Wormley brings are experience and leadership, as his Michigan coaches have gushed about the three- year starter’s character. At his size, Wormley is athletic enough to flash explosiveness and burst off the snap, as seen by his firstteam, all- Big Ten 2016 season in which he recorded nine tackles for losses and six sacks. His one glaring issue: a motor that sometimes shuts down. With his physical gifts, Wormley could step in as a starter down the road.
4. LARRY OGUNJOBI, CHARLOTTE 6- 3, 305
Ogunjobi is a player who has huge potential but is more of a project. He would be best served by diving into a strict weight training program in the NFL to add strength. Because he doesn’t have ideal size, he must fine- tune his technique, so he should benefit from coaching at the next level. Ogunjobi first played football as a high school sophomore, so he’s a little underdeveloped. That also means his ceiling could be sky high.
5. MALIK MCDOWELL, MICHIGAN STATE 6- 6, 295
He could be ranked much higher if not for two shortcomings. He has experience in playing multiple positions along the defensive line, but he hasn’t fully grasped the intricacies of playing inside. Secondly, he relies far too much on his athleticism to make plays, compromising his form. That might have worked at times at Michigan State. But in the NFL, McDowell will need to show more consistency in his technique. His dip in production in 2016 ( 34 tackles, seven for losses, and 11⁄ sacks) might have 2 stemmed from an ankle injury, but he could have the frame to become great. But it will take work to get there.
6. DALVIN TOMLINSON, ALABAMA 6- 3, 310
It shouldn’t be a surprise to see two Alabama tackles among the top six. The Crimson Tide constantly churn out elite- level defensive players. Tomlinson is much more of a run stuffer than a pass- rushing tackle. He’s not going to blow past linemen off the snap, but he uses his strength and leverage to occupy blockers effectively. Tomlinson has torn his anterior cruciate ligaments in both knees, but, because of his size and understanding of the complex defensive front Alabama coach Nick Saban used, he could find playing time as a rookie in the right system.
7. JALEEL JOHNSON, IOWA 6- 3, 316
After coming on strong in his final two years with the Hawkeyes, especially in his senior season, Johnson has shot up several draft boards. He earned a firstteam, all- Big Ten selection in 2016 after leading Iowa in sacks ( 71⁄ 2) and tackles for losses ( 10). The one thing NFL coaches are going to love about him is that he doesn’t give up on plays. Johnson, though, could still work on keeping his frame lower to the ground to maximize his leverage against blocks.
8. ELIJAH QUALLS, WASHINGTON 6- 1, 313
A first- team all- Pac- 12 season in 2016, including a solid showing against Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal, helped secure Qualls’ place among the top defensive tackles in the draft. Despite his size, Qualls flashes athleticism and an ability to stuff the run along the interior of the defensive line. The concerns? Qualls needs to redistribute his weight, and he sometimes takes plays off. But if surrounded by the right coaching staff at the next level, Qualls could become an early- down contributor as a rookie.
9. MONTRAVIUS ADAMS, AUBURN 6- 4, 304
A three- year starter for the Tigers, Adams’ best asset might be a thick and powerful lower body that helps him drive into linemen and disrupt the timing of rushing and passing plays. His junior season underwhelmed, but he bounced back with a strong 2016 ( 43 tackles, eight for losses, four sacks) that showcased much more consistency. His athleticism isn’t among the top for other players at the position, and he likely won’t be one to generate much pass pressure. But he has the potential and size to become a steady run stuffer at the next level.