2010 Defensive Tackle Rankings
A terrific class of available defensive tackles for the April draft is headlined by a pair of dominant prospects from the Big 12. There’s quality through the fifth round and as many as twelve players from this group could end up as starters. (updated: 2/21/2010)
RankRndNameAnalysis
11stNdamukong Suh
Nebraska
Hard working defender who plays with a non-stop motor. Athletic, fast on his feet and in his head. Resilient and stays with the action. Makes a lot of plays with his hustle yet stands to improve his playing strength. Justifiably the number one rated player heading towards April 2010.
21stGerald McCoy
Oklahoma
Explosive defensive tackle reminiscent of former OU great Tommie Harris. Quick, athletic and makes plays sideline-to-sideline. Offers better growth potential compared to Harris. Will enter the '10 draft and a top five selection.
31stBrian Price
UCLA
Explosive lineman who makes a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. Plays with great quickness and suddenness. Moves well about the field. Projects well as a three technique lineman.
41stDan Williams
Tennessee
Nasty lineman who plays with good pad level. Must up his production.
51stJared Odrick
Penn State
Explosive interior blocker constantly making plays behind the line of scrimmage. Knifes between blocks on the inside and plays heads up football. Lacks top bulk on the inside and may be limited to the number of schemes he'll be effective in.
61stTerrence Cody
Alabama
Massive nose tackle who can control the line of scrimmage. Displays tremendous leg drive, gets a lot of push up the field and creates a lot of problems for opponents. Too large and a big inconsistent. Scouts are concerned about his conditioning and off the field habits. Slightly overrated by those on the outside. If he has a dominant senior season then shows up at the combine in good shape he'll be a top 12 pick. Otherwise he could slide later than most people expect.
71-2Tyson Aluala
California
Hard working defender who plays with a non-stop motor. Smart, focused on by opponents and plays with great explosion. Loved in the scouting community. Offers potential as a conventional tackle or two-gap end.
81-2Arthur Jones
Syracuse
Explosive interior lineman poised to make a big move up draft boards. Can be a dominant game controller in the middle. Don't be surprised if he ends up as a top 15 pick next April.
92-3Cam Thomas
North Carolina
Straight-line defender who lacks instincts and strength.
103rdGeno Atkins
Georgia
Terrific one-gap or three technique tackle coming off of injury. Fires off the snap, gets leverage on opponents and plays with great explosion. Strong in his lower body and moves well laterally. Lacks great size for the inside and will be limited to the number of schemes he can play in. Slipping down draft boards after a poor senior season.
113rdEarl Mitchell
Arizona
Strong interior lineman who flashes athleticism and power. Plays with good pad level, bull rushing opponents off the line. Must improve his hand technique and physically mature but has a nice upside.
123rdDoug Worthington
Ohio State
Explosive lineman that's displayed a lot of ability the past two seasons. Quick off the snap and fires up the field between gaps. Must improve his strength, balance and learn to use his hands.
133-4Jeff Owens
Georgia
Highly rated prospect in the middle of a disappointing campaign. Explosive on the inside with good size. Boom or bust type prospect.
144thLamarr Houston
Texas
Athletic tackles who moves well in space. More of a one-gap lineman that lacks bulk and power.
154thMichael Neal
Purdue
Explosive lineman that plays with a good degree of quickness in his all-around game. Breaks down well playing with terrific knee bend and works hard throughout the action.
164thVince Oghobaase
Duke
Athletic interior lineman with potential in a conventional four man front or as a two-gap lineman. Plays with balance, flashes power and fluid moving in every direction. Knee issues and other injuries will raise red-flags.
174-5D'Anthony Smith
Louisiana Tech
Dominant interior lineman who could be ranked much higher by April.
185thMalcolm Sheppard
Arkansas
Explosive and athletic one-gap tackle who makes plays in all directions of the field. Plays with terrific pad level, quickly changes direction and stays with the action.
195thBrandon Deaderick
Alabama
Quick interior lineman who gives a lot of effort. Fights with his hands throughout the action and displays an array of moves. May have a home as a one-gap tackle.
205-6Linval Joseph
East Carolina
Big bodied, interior lineman that will be closely watched in 2010.
215-6Charles Alexander
LSU
Explosive one-gap tackle with a decent upside. Flashes ability yet must consistently play at a high level.
226thNate Collins
Virginia
Strong, powerful tackle who clogs the middle and gets a lot of push up the field. Shows minimal quickness in his game and must learn to use his hands better.
236thCorey Peters
Kentucky
Athletic interior lineman who also offers potential as a two-gap end. Must improve his strength for any chance at the next level.
247thAl Woods
LSU
Hard working, resilient interior lineman with marginal strength at the point.
257thJake Ricks
Auburn
Underrated prospect coming off a terrific senior season after breaking into the starting line-up. Offers potential as a conventional defensive tackle or two-gap end.
267-FAEkom Udofia
Stanford
Fluid interior defender who moves well and plays with great quickness. Easily blocked from the action and must get stronger.
277-FALorenzo Washington
Alabama
Good athlete with solid movement skills. Quick, flashes strength and a lot of ability. Must be watched.
287-FAJay Ross
East Carolina
Explosive interior lineman with a hot and cold game. Did not step up in 2009 as expected.
297-FAAleric Mullins
North Carolina
Large rumbling defensive lineman who gives top effort. Focused on in the middle but a straight-line defender who struggles changing direction.
307-FATorrell Troup
UCF
Fluid, athletic tackle with good movement skills as well as explosion. Flashes power and has adequate size. Must start making more plays on the field.
31FAKade Weston
Georgia
Massive defender who moves well about the field and displays a lot of power to his game. Space eater and commands double teams. Lacks quickness and looks a bit overweight.
32FABoo Robinson
Wake Forest
Disruptive force in the middle of the line who can play on the nose or as a conventional tackle. Quick off the snap, constantly doubled by opponents and always around the ball making positive plays,
33FACordarrow Thompson
Virginia Tech
Explosive, interior one-gap tackle that displays great quickness in his game.
34FAKevin Dixon
Troy State
JC transfer who took his game to another level this season. Quick, explosive and makes plays in all directions of the field. Offers an upside.
35FAAndre Neblett
Temple
Undersized yet quick, explosive defensive tackle who moves well about the field. Potential three technique lineman.
36FATravis Ivey
Maryland
Nice sized lineman who flashes power yet lacks balance and has been marginally productive in college.
37FASwanson Miller
Oklahoma State
Quick, fluid one-gap tackle easily handled at the point of attack.
38FAErnest Williams
Pittsburgh
Explosive first move lineman with a great step off the snap. Lacks bulk on the inside and constantly handled by opponents.
39FARicardo Mathews
Cincinnati
Smallish one-gap defensive tackle who could fill a role as a three technique lineman.
40FALeroy Burgess
North Carolina State
Quick interior lineman who gets push up the field and shows a decent amount of lower body strength. Has an upside but must smooth out the rough edges of his game.
41FAAbe Koroma
Western Illinois
Forceful defensive tackle who quickly gets off the snap and is tough to knock off his feet. Excellent movement skills and consistently plays with leverage.
42FAAverell Spicer
USC
Quick interior lineman who could play the three technique position.
43FADarryl Jackson
Kean
Athletic, wide bodied lineman perfectly built for the nose. Han an upside yet an inconsistent motor.
44FAJustin Lawrence
Morgan State
45FAAlan-Michael Cash
North Carolina State
Hard working one gap tackle with limited size and upside. Plays with a warrior mentality and will have a place in the NFL.
46FAFred Givens
Wyoming
Explosive, interior lineman who plays on the nose yet is better as a one-gap tackle. Underrated and could end up on a practice squad.
47FADaniel Calvin
Kansas State
48FARajon Henley
Texas Tech
49FANathan Pepper
South Carolina
50FASean Lissemore
William & Mary
51FABrandon Gilbeaux
Delaware
52FAMychal Savage
Youngstown State
53FAJoe Joseph
Miami-Fl
Fluid defensive tackle that shows terrific quickness and flashes skill. Skilled yet raw in all aspects of his game and needs to turn it up several notches to have a shot at the next level.
54FAHoward David
Brown
Explosive one-gap lineman who could be used as a three-technique tackle.
55FABudd Thacker
Florida State
Workman like defensive lineman with limited athleticism and marginal upside.
56FAMacKenzie Jacobs
Liberty
57FACaleb Blakesley
Kansas
Hard working interior lineman with marginal size and upside.
58FAJaron Baston
Missouri
Powerful interior lineman who plays with good pad level and holds his ground against blocks. More of a straight-line defender and really struggles if asked to twist or stunt.
59FADeMarcus Granger
Oklahoma
Athletic prospect who flashes dominance but has an injury history. Explosive on the inside and a solid pass rusher.
60FABrandon Sesay
Texas Tech
61FATrey Bryant
Baylor
Solid athlete who must crank up the intensity.
Updated 2/21
RankRndNamePosYear
11stNdamukong Suh
Nebraska
DT5Sr
21stEric Berry
Tennessee
S3Jr
31stGerald McCoy
Oklahoma
DT4Jr
41stRussell Okung
Oklahoma State
T4Sr
51stJoe Haden
Florida
CB3Jr
61stDez Bryant
Oklahoma State
WR3Jr
71stAnthony Davis
Rutgers
T3Jr
81stJason Pierre-Paul
South Florida
DE3Jr
91stBruce Campbell
Maryland
T3Jr
101stDerrick Morgan
Georgia Tech
DE3Jr
111stBrian Price
UCLA
DT3Jr
121stDamian Williams
USC
WR4Jr
131stRolando McClain
Alabama
ILB3Jr
141stEarl Thomas
Texas
S3So
151stDan Williams
Tennessee
DT5Sr
161stSam Bradford
Oklahoma
QB4Jr
171stSergio Kindle
Texas
OLB4Sr
181-2Mike Iupati
Idaho
G4Sr
191stTaylor Mays
USC
S4Sr
201stBryan Bulaga
Iowa
T3Jr
211-2Demaryius Thomas
Georgia Tech
WR4Jr
221-2Brandon Graham
Michigan
DE4Sr
231stJimmy Clausen
Notre Dame
QB4Jr
241stJared Odrick
Penn State
DT4Sr
251-2Arrelious Benn
Illinois
WR3Jr
SI.com
PhiladelphiaEagles.com
Sportsnet New York
Fox Sports Radio