GREAT BLUE NORTH DRAFT REPORT
NEWS AND INFORMATION ON THE NFL DRAFT
 
Home

2012 DRAFT PREVIEW: DTs

Overview: Like several other positions in the 2012 draft class, it appears there should be some decent talent available at DT, but there is still a lot of sorting out to be done. It is also unlikely that any DTs are going to quite as early this coming April as is in 2010 when DTs Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy were the 2nd and third picks respectively by Detroit and Tampa Bay, or this past April when former Alabama DE Marcel Dareus was the third overall pick by Buffalo. That said juniors Jerel Worthy of Michigan State and Miami's  Marcus Fortson, as well as seniors Kheeston Randle of Texas and Clemson NT Brandon Thompson are currently considered to be potential mid-to-late first round prospects, while there is a deep group of possible second-day candidates at the position led by Alabama NT Josh Chapman, Penn State's Devon Still, Tydreke Powell of North Carolina and Jaye Howard of Florida. The 2012 DT class could also get more interesting in a hurry if any of emerging juniors Kawann Short of Purdue, 350-pound Dontari Poe of Memphis or Baker Steinkuhler of Nebraska opt to leave school early this winter. NFL scouts are also intrigued tosee how North Carolina junior Sylvester Williams fares at the D1A level this fall. Williams is a highly regarded, 320-pounder who dominated at the junior college level last fall and while very raw has unusual athletic ability for a guy that size. And speaking of size, 380-pound Liberty DT Asa Chapman is nothing if not hard to miss. He's also hard to move off the line of scrimmage. Overall, though, there may not be as many quality small-school DTs vying for a spot in the upcoming draft as there have been in the past couple of seasons, although Eastern Washington's Renard Williams is one worth warching. 

Top 20 DT Prospects
#
Player
H/W
School
CL
#
Player
H/W
School
CL
1
Jerel Worthy 6-3, 305 Michigan State JR
11
Kaleb Ramsey 6-3, 295 Boston College
SR
2
Marcus Forston 6-3, 300 Miami JR
12
Derek Wolfe 6-4, 300 Cincinnati SR
3
Brandon Thompson 6-2, 310 Clemson SR
13
J. R. Sweezy 6-5, 295 North Carolina State SR
4
Kheeston Randle 6-5, 295 Texas SR
14
Mike Martin 6-2, 300 Michigan SR
5
Josh Chapman 6-1, 315 Alabama SR
15
Travian Robertson 6-3, 305 South Carolina SR
6
Devon Still 6-4, 305 Penn State SR
16
Tony Jerod-Edie 6-4, 300 Texas A&M SR
7
Tydreke Powell 6-2, 315
North Carolina SR
17
Renard Williams 6-2, 305 Eastern Washington SR
8
Jaye Howard 6-3, 305 Florida SR
18
Dominique Hamilton 6-4, 305 Missouri
SR
9
Kendall Reyes 6-4, 295 UConn SR
19
Chas Alecxih 6-5, 285 Pittsburgh SR
10
Alameda Ta'amu 6-3, 330 Washington SR
20
Micanor Regis 6-2, 305 Miami SR

Future file: It usually takes young DTs a year or two to really establish themslves as legitimate prospects once they make the move to the collegiate ranks. Young DTs pro scouts will be keeping an eye on this fall for future reference this fall include sophomores Akeem Spence of Illinois and 350-pound Kwame Geathers of Georgia, along with redshirt freshman George Uko of Southern California and 330-pound Christian Littlehead of Oklahoma State.

    If you have comments or suggestions, e-mail the Editor, Great Blue North Draft Report. The GBN can also be reached by phone at (613) 692-1088 or regular mail at 320 Shadehill Crescent, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2J 0L6.

    Great Blue North Draft Report Privacy Policy.

    The GREAT BLUE NORTH DRAFT REPORT is a division of SQUITERLAND ENTERPRISES, Ottawa, Ontario,Canada