The top prospects for the 2016 NFL Draft will be talked about a lot over the next few weeks. One of the common themes will be how deep this year’s class of top defensive players is. Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey, UCLA linebacker Myles Jack, Ohio State defensive end joey Bosa and Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland are among the top players available on that side of the football and it wouldn’t be a surprise if each of those players go on to be Pro Bowl players in the NFL one day. One of the most interesting aspects of the level of talent that will graduate to the NFL this year is how much star power is still being left behind at the college level. Here is a look at the five best defensive players in college football heading in to the 2016 season.
Myles Garrett
Texas A&M Aggies
Garrett will spend another year at Texas A&M building up his resume as an early favorite to be the top pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Aggies’ star defensive end if coming off an incredible 2015 season in which he recorded 53 tackles, 14.0 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks. It’s shocking that those numbers were actually worse on paper than what he did the year before when he broke Jadeveon Clowney’s SEC freshman record for sacks with 12.5 while recording 59 tackles and 19.5 tackles for a loss. The 6’5’’, 260-pound defensive end is an absolute beast coming off the edge and it’s clear that he is the best defensive player in the country heading in to the 2016 season.
Desmond King
Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes turned a lot of heads when they went 12-0 in the regular season in 2015 It was a strong defense that led the charge for them with star cornerback Desmond King among the key players. King made 72 tackles with eight interceptions while also serving as Iowa’s primary kick and punt returner. He won the Thorpe Award as college football’s top defensive back and was a consensus All-American. King turned a lot of heads when he made the decision to return to the Hawkeyes for his senior season and he is primed to be one of the best defensive players in college football again in 2016.
Adoree’ Jackson
USC Trojans
Jackson is another star cornerback that has had a tremendous impact in multiple areas. He made 12 starts at cornerback a year ago and finished with 35 tackles, eight pass deflections, a forced fumble and an interception that he returned for a touchdown. He also contributed on the Trojans’ offense and special teams as the only player in the entire country to record at least 400 receiving yards, 600 kick return yards, 200 punt return yards and 30 defensive tackles last season. Jackson has garnered a lot of comparisons to future NFL Hall of Fame defensive back Charles Woodson and it will be interesting to see what he has in store for an encore in 2016.
Jourdan Lewis
Michigan Wolverines
The list of talented cornerbacks continues with Lewis, who is coming off a tremendous junior season at Michigan in 2015. Lewis registered 52 tackles, 20 passes defended and two interceptions for the Wolverines and many had him pegged as a lock to be an All-American. The 5’10’’, 175-pound corner looked a lot bigger than he is on the field and he also contributed on special teams with an average of 25.2 yards on 15 kickoff returns. Michigan’s new defensive coordinator Don Brown has a solid part of cornerbacks to work with in Lewis and Jabrill Peppers and that is another reason why Wolverines’ fans are so excited for the 2016 season.
Marcus Maye
Florida Gators
The Gators lost cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III to the NFL as a lock to be a first round pick in this year’s draft, but they will have star safety Marcus Maye back for his senior season. Maye is coming off an outstanding 2015 season in which he had 82 tackles, six pass breakups, five forced fumbles and two interceptions and there is a good chance Florida will rely even more heavily on him in their secondary in 2016. The 6’1’’, 207-pound Maye will return as one of the best defensive players in the country and arguably the most talented player at his position.
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