Preseason 25
Best Ends 1.
Calais Campbell, Jr. Miami
2. Tommy Blake, Sr. TCU
3. Bruce Davis, Sr. UCLA
4. Ian Campbell, Jr. Kansas State*
5. Albert McClellan, Jr. Marshall
6. Derrick Harvey, Jr. Florida
7. Quentin Groves, Sr. Auburn
8. Ken Iwebema, Sr. Iowa
9. Chris Long, Sr. Virginia
10. Titus Brown, Sr. Miss State
11. Adamm Oliver, Sr. Georgia Tech
12. Lawrence Jackson, Sr. USC
13. Tyson Jackson, Jr. LSU
14. Vernon Gholston, Jr. Ohio State
15. Joe Clermond, Sr. Pitt
16. Chase Ortiz, Sr. TCU
17. Tyler Clutts, Sr. Fresno State
18. Louis Holmes, Sr. Arizona
19. Jameel McClain, Sr. Syracuse
20. Willie VanDeSteeg, Jr. Minnesota
21. Jamaal Westerman, Jr. Rutgers
22. Leger Douzable, Sr. UCF
23. Larry English, Jr. No Illinois
24. Xavier Mitchell, Jr. Tennessee
25. Erik Walden, Sr. Middle Tenn
*Campbell is part LB, part DE this year but is being counted as
a DE
Tommy
Blake, Sr. TCU Blake flirted
with the idea of turning pro early, and then chose to come back in what
should be an All-America season. In three years he's made 134 tackles,
19 sacks and 36.5 tackles for loss with a blend of blinding quickness
and good size. Up to 252 pounds, he's filled out his 6-3 frame and
should be even stronger against the run. Calais
Campbell, Jr. Miami The 6-8,
282-pound Campbell came up with a breakout season finishing third on the
team with 84 tackles to go along with 10.5 sacks and 205.5 tackles for
loss. With his size and tremendous pass rushing ability, he's in a
salary drive season as he could be a first round pick in next year's
draft if he has another huge season. Not just a great athlete, he has
the work ethic and the motor to live up to his preseason hype.
2007 CFN Preseason Second Team All-Americans Ian
Campbell, Jr. Kansas State After a
stunning breakout season with 67 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 11.5
sacks at an end, Campbell will move to an outside linebacker in the new
scheme. In reality, he'll likely play a hybrid of end and linebacker to
do whatever is needed, but wherever he lines up, he'll be one of the Big
12's most dangerous defenders who'll need to be accounted for on every
play. At 6-5 and 232 pounds, he has decent size, to go along with far
too much speed for most tackles. The former walk-on was surprisingly
strong against the run and could be devastating in all areas with more
room to move.
Bruce
Davis, Sr. UCLA Davis was able to
speed rush his way to 17.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in 2006.
Just 6-3 and 237 pounds, he’s a blur coming off the edge with the
explosive first step and equally incendiary demeanor that’s often too
much for opposing tackles to handle.
2007 CFN Honorable Mention All-Americans
(in alphabetical order)
Titus Brown, Sr. Mississippi State
The only returning starter to the defensive front, the 6-3, 250-pound
Brown needs to be the steady pass rusher the rest of the line rotates
around after making 38 tackles and 7.5 sacks. He's a former linebacker
who bulked up over the last few seasons yet maintained his quickness. At
255 pounds, he's now a legitimate end and the one player opposing
offensive coordinators will have to gameplan for. At the very least,
he's good for a few big plays a game.
Quentin Groves, Sr. Auburn The Auburn
line was going to be good, and then it got a big boost with the slightly
unexpected return of its pass rushing terrorfor another year.
The 6-4, 254-pound senior rebounded nicely from a good, but not great
sophomore campaign cranking out 9.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss along
with 37 tackles, all career highs. He finally became more consistent and
he started to shine against the top teams, something he didn't do in his
first two seasons, with three sacks against Florida, two against
Alabama, and six tackles against South Carolina. Now he has to start
producing in the post-season with only one tackle in three bowl
appearances (coming against Virginia Tech in the 2005 Sugar Bowl).
Derrick Harvey, Jr. Florida Harvey's an
All-America caliber end who'll soon be very rich playing at the next
level. He's not huge at 245 pounds, but he has room to still get a
little bigger with a lanky 6-4 frame. He only made 35 tackles, but he
was a blur into the backfield making 11 sacks and 13 tackles for loss
highlighted by a three-sack, one forced fumble performance against Ohio
State. After splitting time last year with Ray McDonald, he took over
the job full-time and now is the one the line will build around once
he's back and healthy after suffering a hernia in spring ball.
Ken Iwebema, Sr. Iowa
Iwebema missed most of the second half of last year with a shoulder
injury and only made 27 tackles with three sacks. When he's right, the
6-4, 267-pound senior is among the best all-around ends in the Big Ten
with excellent pass rushing skills and good strength against the run.
Extremely consistent in all areas, his return instantly makes the line
better.
Chris Long, Sr. Virginia The 6-4,
284-pound senior is the son of former NFL great, Howie Long, and while
he's not as good as his dad, is a big time talent with quickness into
the backfield and good toughness against the run. He was fifth on the
team with 57 tackles, to go along with 4.5 sacks and 12 tackles for
loss. He has 47 quarterback hurries over the last two years.
Albert McClellan, Jr. Marshall In one monster season,
McClellan went from a nice freshman prospect to a defensive force,
terrorizing the rest of Conference USA for 77 tackles, 19 tackles for
loss, 11 sacks and four forced fumbles. Much more than just an edge
rusher, he’s also stout against the run and one the program’s hardest
workers outside the stadium.
