After NFL combine, let the rankings begin
Chris Wormley, with nine tackles for losses and six sacks in 2016 with Michigan, is among the top defensive tackles in the draft,
Sports Weekly is taking a position-by-position look at prospects for the NFL draft, which runs April 27-29 in Philadelphia. This week: Defensive tackles.
1. JONATHAN ALLEN, ALABAMA
Height, weight: 6-3, 286 There’s no doubt who tops this list. Allen has it all: production, versatility, size, athleticism ad speed, and he should be a starter from Day 1 with whichever team drafts him. 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-SEC 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 unique talent to rush the quarterback and stop the run should make him a top-10 pick.
2. CALEB BRANTLEY, FLORIDA
Height, weight: 6-3, 307 He is closer to the prototypical size NFL evaluators look for in the position, but the big question about Brantley is whether he could handle the full load of an NFL 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. The potential, however, is there. Brantley is explosive out of his stance and commanded double-team blocks at Florida. He didn’t post eyepopping sack totals, but Brantley showed several different passrush moves — his initial push to the chest of linemen is the most effective — and at the very least he should be able to disrupt the timing of opposing offenses when he arrives in the NFL.
3. CHRIS WORMLEY, MICHIGAN
Height, weight: 6-5, 298 The biggest assets Wormley brings are experience and leadership, as his coaches at Michigan have gushed about the three-year starter’s character. At his size, Wormley is athletic enough to flash explosiveness and speed off the snap, as seen by his first-team all-Big Ten 2016 season in which he recorded nine tackles for losses and six sacks. The one glaring issue for Wormley is a motor that sometimes shuts down. But because of his physical gifts, he could step in as a starter down the road.
4. LARRY OGUNJOBI, NORTH CAROLINA-CHARLOTTE
Height, weight: 6-3, 305 Ogunjobi has huge potential but is more of a project. He’d be best served by diving into a strict weight-training program in the NFL to add strength to his frame. Because he doesn’t have ideal size, he’ll need to 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 still a little underdeveloped. That also means his ceiling could be sky-high.
5. MALIK MCDOWELL, MICHIGAN STATE
Height, weight: 6-6, 295 He could be ranked much higher, and would be, if not for two things. He has experience playing multiple positions along the defensive line, but he still hasn’t fully grasped the intricacies of tackle. Second, 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⁄ 2 sacks) might have been largely because of an ankle injury, but he could have the frame to become great. It will take work, however, to get there.
6. DALVIN TOMLINSON, ALABAMA
Height, weight: 6-3, 310 It shouldn’t be a surprise to see two Alabama tackles in the top six of this list. 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 well to occupy blockers. Tomlinson has torn his anterior cruciate ligament 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
Height, weight: 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 work on keeping his frame lower to the ground to maximize his leverage against blocks.
8. ELIJAH QUALLS, WASHINGTON
Height, weight: 6-1, 313 A first-team all-Pac 12 season in 2016, including a solid showing against Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinals, 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 concern with Qualls is that he needs to redistribute his weight and that 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
Height, weight: 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 was underwhelming, 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. Next week: Safeties