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The Defensive End and Outside Linebacker position are now closer than ever.
Many OLBs could be DEs and vice versa. Hence the combined rankings. Players
denoted with "TW" are 'tweeners and are sort of in-between the two positions.
The Senior crop is not particularly strong this year. However, there are
several Juniors who could make this an excellent class.
The top senior prospect is South Carolina's Kalimba Edwards. At 6'6, 260
he has the size for either position. His 4.6 speed makes his |
fast enough for both as well. He will likely be a top 15 selection. The
top Overall prospect is North Carolina's Julius Peppers, a fabulous athlete
who could be the top overall prospect in the country. He is a dominator,
a game changer and a sure fire top five pick. Mississippi State always
has a great defense and this year the ring leader is Mario Haggan. Haggan
was the inside backer but has switched to DE. He projects as a big OLB
or a smaller DE in the pros. The same goes for Florida's Alex Brown and
| LSU's
Bradie James. James' teammate Jarvis Green is one of the few true DEs.
Kenny King, Will Overstreet and Kenyon Coleman also fall into that category.
Coleman is an intriguing player in that he was a projected 1st Round pick
before an injury hit. There is some talent at DE coming in from the Juniors.
Namely Kentucky's Dennis Johnson and Texas' Cory Redding. Both were high
school phenoms who have yet to put it all together in college. It |
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would be best for
both of them to stay one more 
year. A sleeper
DE is Syracuse's Dwight Freeney who is a pass rushing demon but rates low
beacuse he is only 6'0.
At OLB, Edwards is the top prospect, that is, if he doesn't switch to DE.
Behind Edwards is Alabama's great Junior Saleem Rasheed. If he has a good
 |
year he could be a 1st
Round pick. NC State's Levar Fisher is a great playmaker and projects to
the late 1st or early 2nd. Bryan Knight of Pitt is one to keep an yey on,
he plays with great intensity. The Big Ten has a trio of good 'backers
in Napolean Harris, Victor Hobson and Courtland Bullard. With another year,
Hobson could be a late 1st Rounder. |
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1.JULIUS
PEPPERS - DE
North Carolina
6'6 - 270 - Jr |
2.KALIMBA EDWARDS
- TW
South Carolina
6'6, 260 - Sr |
3.MARIO HAGGAN
- TW
Mississippi
State 6'3, 255 - Jr |
4.SALEEM RASHEED
- OLB
Alabama
6'3, 230 - Jr |
5.ALEX BROWN
- DE
Florida
6'3, 260, Jr |
6.JARVIS GREEN
- DE
Lousiana State
6'3, 265, Sr |
7.LEVAR FISHER
- OLB
NC State
6'1, 229 - Sr |
8.BRADIE JAMES
- TW
Louisiana State
6'3, 230 - Jr |
9.KENYON COLEMAN
- DE
UCLA
6'6, 275 - Sr |
10.BRYAN KNIGHT
- OLB
Pittsburgh
6'2, 230 - Sr |
11.NAPOLEAN
HARRIS - OLB
Northwestern
6'3, 240 - Sr |
12.WILL OVERSTREET
- DE
Tennessee
6'3, 270 - Sr |
13.KENNY KING
- DE
Alabama
6'3, 275 - Jr |
14.CORNELIUS
GREEN - DE
Miami
6'4, 255 - Sr |
15.DENNIS JOHNSON
- DE
Kentucky
6'7, 260 - Jr |
16.VICTOR HOBSON
- OLB
Michigan
6'2, 235 - Jr |
17.AKIN AYODELE
- TW
Purdue
6'2, 250 - Sr |
18.COURTLAND
BULLARD LB
Ohio State
6'3, 220 - Sr |
19.CORY REDDING
- DE
Texas
6'4, 245 - Jr |
20.DWIGHT FREENEY
- DE
Syracuse
6'0, 255 - Sr |
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