Thanks to more top-tier defensive line talent than offensive line talent, the defense generally has a better chance to thrive during the week of practice and on game day. And with one of the better defensive front-seven groups in recent Shrine Game memory, lead by Tyeler Davidson, Darius Kilgo and Za’Darius Smith, the defensive line should be a big strength for the 2015 Shrine Game.
Also, high upside back seven options like Oregon’s OLB Tony Washington, Western Kentucky’s CB Cam Thomas and Eastern Washington’s SAF Tevin McDonald.
Defensive Tackle
- Tyeler Davison, Fresno State
Versatile interior defensive lineman are of huge value to NFL teams, and Tyeler Davison can play at nose tackle and 3-tehcnique thanks to his near-elite upper body strength and lateral activeness. He shows great balance after his initial pop, and stays low through contact, constantly winning the leverage battle. His swim move and ability to split doubles at a very high level should make him a headache to block when he’s at nose tackle in practice.
- Darius Kilgo, Maryland
Kilgo has great bulk at nose tackle, and fights to extend well on the interior and utilize his powerful hands. While he lacks quickness to be an effective pass rusher, he disengages with decisive hand exchange and plus hand strength to open space for other rushers. He’ll need to show he can finish as a tackler better with more balance in the backfield, sit in the hole better on interior rushes, and play with a consistent motor.
- Leterrius Walton, Central Michigan
A highly disruptive, long interior presence, Walton showed he can absorb and cause havoc against double teams, albeit not consistently turning it into production. But his lateral quickness, initial explosiveness off the line and body control after first contact could make him the most feared interior rusher by week’s end.
- Xavier Williams, Northern Iowa
- Chucky Hunter, TCU
- Travis Raciti, San Jose State
- Derrick Lott, Tennessee-Chattanooga
- James Castleman, Oklahoma State
- BJ Dubose, Louisville
- David Parry, Stanford
- Daryl Waud, Western University – Ontario
Defensive Ends
- Za’Darius Smith, Kentucky
While his teammate Bud Dupree has received first-round buzz, Za’Darius Smith has an NFL future thanks to his composed, controlled style as a backside edge player, keeping his hands and upper body positioned very well. He sets up his edge rushes at a high level, utilizing positioning, patience and hand placement to get around the edge. His ability to hold the edge well is what could eventually lead him to a situational starter role in the NFL, and he should be able to take advantage of the lackluster offensive tackles at the Shrine Game.
- Martin Ifedi, Memphis
Dealing with a knee injury during the year, Ifedi is a DE/5-technique hybrid defensive lineman, as his vision, subtle hand/arm usage as a rusher, and disengaging with body positioning at a high level. He’s been able to finish in the backfield in his career, and he’ll have the opportunity to do more of the same, especially on inside pinch rushes at the Shrine Game.
- Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State
The Buck Buchanan award winner this year (FCS’s top defensive player), Emanuel put together a highly productive season as an edge rusher, finishing in the backfield and adjusting off of his initial rush at a high level. He may be an NFL 3-4 outside linebacker, but he’ll need to show his edge ability can translate against FBS blockers.
- Davis Tull, Tennessee-Chattanooga
- Jermauria Rasco, LSU
- Anthony Chickillo, Miami (FL)
- Ryan Russell, Purdue
Linebackers
- Tony Washington, Oregon
Despite flashing top-end talent as an edge rusher, Washington was used in a variety of areas, including in coverage and in a more true linebacker role. With plus athletic ability and long speed, Washington will fit best as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL, but he’ll get the chance to be a true SLB or WLB in practice drills.
- Taiwan Jones, Michigan State
Taiwan Jones’s position switch to inside linebacker hasn’t been beneficial to his NFL value, as he’s better suited away from the inside due to his struggles to be effective in the run game on the perimeter and his limited ability to use his athleticism to his full advantage as a linebacker. That being said, barring he tests very well, he’ll have to find a defensive coordinator completely sold that he can be a 4-3 SAM in their defense, and he’ll be in the top-100 mix as long as he can make the most of the Shrine Game practices.
- Jake Ryan, Michigan
While he’s been a leader for the Wolverines and a staple of the defense whenever he’s been healthy, Jake Ryan’s senior season college tape doesn’t show a clear role he can play in the NFL at a high level. He’s laterally limited in space, slow when transitioning as a pass rush rusher, and needs to disengage on the perimeter at a high level. He’ll need to prove he can play on the edge and in space if he hopes to stick as an outside linebacker in the NFL.
- AJ Tarpley, Stanford
- Bryce Hager, Baylor
- Edmond Robinson, Newberry
- Benjamin Heeney, Kansas
- Amarlo Herrera, Georgia
- Zachary Virgil, Utah State
- Quayshawn Nealy, Georgia Tech
- James Vaugthers, Stanford
- Deiontrez Mount, Louisville
Cornerbacks
- Cam Thomas, Western Kentucky
With plus length and a tall frame, Thomas’s willingness to press, tackle with power and attacks receivers with aggressiveness. Despite his length, he needs to position better against the run to be effective. Overall, Thomas’s length, frame, and physicality will allow him to thrive against bigger receivers, and could leave the Shrine Game as one of the best defenders in the game.
- Bobby McCain, Memphis
A bit undersized on the outside, McCain may have to prove his hip fluidity and athleticism as he works downfield can translate to the slot cornerback position. His finishing ability as a tackler and quickness in short-area coverage could prove successful there.
- Bernard Blake, Colorado State
Not overly bulky and likely below the 6’0 threshold, Blake has success in short and mid-range routes with active hands, a willingness to keep contact through his receiver’s routes, and plus timing when attacking the ball. If he can maintain that physicality against bigger receivers at the Shrine Game and finish at the catch-point, he could be considered an outside cornerback for NFL teams.
- Greg Henderson, Colorado
- Bryce Callahan, Rice
- Tye Smith, Towson
- Damian Swann, Georgia
- Curtis Riley, Fresno State
- Justin Coleman, Tennessee
- Craig Mager, Texas State
Safety
- Tevin McDonald, Eastern Washington
One of the best athletes at the Shrine Game, McDonald has made the most of his time at Eastern Washington after transferring from UCLA. With a SS/OLB hybrid upside thanks to strength as a tackler and flexibility/quickness to evade full contact, McDonald’s run game range allows him to be an ideal Nickel player. With his range in deep coverage as well based, McDonald has the tools and length to fit at either safety spot with ample development time. He has a chance to re-emerge as a top-100 option during practice.
- Dean Marlowe, James Madison
With ample NFL body type and length for safety, Dean Marlowe’s vision/anticipation is a clear plus, showing plus timing once he recognizes run/pass and adjusting to the blockers around him. He can be overaggressive at times and takes poor angles on the perimeter at times thanks to an over-trust of his quickness and athleticism, despite his adequacies there. He needs to play more under control, take better angles initially and trust his teammates in front of him to finish tackles. Seems improved in this area so far in 2014, however. He’s active near the line of scrimmage as a tackler, showing plus steps initially to finish tackles near or behind the LOS when possible. He shakes off second- level blockers well enough with lateral adjustments. He could extend away with his hands in coverage more effectively, following through on his breakups instead of relying upon read-react as much. The team doesn’t distinguish between free and strong safety in 2014 as clearly, leading to more adjustment experience at both positions.
- Jordan Richards, Stanford
A defensive leader for the Stanford defense, Richards received work vertically in zone coverage and attacking in the short area. He’s explosive when attacking upfield in the run game and finishes as an open field tackler at a high level. He needs to engage receivers in his zone with more aggressiveness and play with more decisiveness in his read steps when receivers attack the mid-field.
- Sam Carter, TCU
- Ronald Martin, LSU
- Corey Cooper, Nebraska
- Fritz Etienne, Memphis
- Detrick Bonner, Virginia Tech
- Damian Parms, Florida Atlantic
- Parrish Gaines, Navy
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