Ranking the Top Defensive Tackles

[jiggafini19]

Having spent most of the weekend doing some evaluations of my own for the alma mater, I decided to do some homework on America's best defensive tackles just for fun. This is just my humble opinion, but here are the ten guys that I like best:

1. Marvin Austin Washington (D.C.) Coolidge 6-3/300/4.83
Pretty much a no brainer here. He has freakish ability that he could probably play DE in college. Best on the board and ND will pursue him until the end.

2. John Brown Lakeland (FL) Lakeland 6-2/285
Probably headed to Florida State when all is said and done. Played for the State Champion Lakeland squad that defeated Sam Young and Dan Wenger's St. Thomas Aquinas team last year. Lakeland was also #1 in America. Brown is a stud. Production could slip as opponents try to veer away from him.

3. Joseph Barksdale Joseph Barksdale Detroit (MI) Cass Tech 6-5/305/4.9
I've liked him since Day One and his Ohio State combine this past weekend will probably vault him into a lot of other people's lists. Not on the Rivals or Scout pre-eval Top 100 lists. That will change.

4. Andre Jones El Paso (TX) Andress 6-4/305/5.66
Future Texas Longhorn that ND offered. Great run stuffer that occupies space and commands high school double teams. He will only get better at the next level.

5. Myles Wade Portland (OR) Benson Tech 6-2/290/5.1
This guy is on both the Rivals and Scout Top 100 lists, so I'm not sure why he only has offers from Oregon and Oregon State. There are some technique issues that can easily be ironed out in college, but other than that everything else is good stuff to like. High energy kid that plays hard.

6. Donte'e Nicholls Pompano Beach (FL) Ely 6-2/270/
See me in February about where he ranks on this list because I like him the more I see him. lIkes Florida, Georgia and ND.

7. Torrey Davis Seffner (FL) Armwood 6-5/290/-
He'll either be a Gator or Nole, and whoever gets him will be pretty lucky to gain his services. Has all of the skills to play DE, but the frame says DT all of the way.

8. Ted Laurent Powder Springs (GA) McEachern 6-2/285/4.9
Ole Miss Verbal who will stay under the radar because he's already committed. He led his team in tackles two years in a row as a DT.

9. Will Blackwell West Monroe (LA) West Monroe 6-4/289/5
He's awesome and I'd have no problem with ND getting him. It will be tough to pull him out of the South, though.

10. Ian Williams Longwood (FL) Lyman 6-1/300/5.1
It was either this guy or Pou Palelei out of Vegas. I like this kid better. Again, Florida is the favorite here. If they get him and Torrey Davis, Urban will have one of the best DT duos in America for the Class of 2007.

 

[scooper]

There are rumors that John Brown is already an FSU silent.

 

[IRISHMAN]

right now marvin austin might be a slight lean to USC, he's said that he's more of a city boy.

i think ND has a good shot with will blackwell.

 

[jiggafini19]

right now marvin austin might be a slight lean to USC, he's said that he's more of a city boy.

i think ND has a good shot with will blackwell.

I'm not going to be the one going around saying "I told you so", but I'm not holding my breath on Austin. I really hope they take three other guys to go along with him.

I'd love to see Barksdale, Wade and Brent with possibly landing Austin as the fourth DT.

I just get a feeling that what USC has to offer is more appealing to Austin.

If he comes to ND, he'll start in 2007.

 

[scooper]

I just get a feeling that what USC has to offer is more appealing to Austin.

Cheap housing?

 

[irishnd31]

Cheap housing?

Snoop Dog?

Fun Practices?

 

[Folsteam_Ahead]

Cheap housing?

he's got all kinds of choices. houses near the beach, upscale apartments near the nightlife, jail cells...

 

[irishnd31]

Nick Lechey?

Paris Hilton?

 

[irishnd31]

I'm not going to be the one going around saying "I told you so", but I'm not holding my breath on Austin. I really hope they take three other guys to go along with him.

I'd love to see Barksdale, Wade and Brent with possibly landing Austin as the fourth DT.

I just get a feeling that what USC has to offer is more appealing to Austin.

If he comes to ND, he'll start in 2007.

Yeah, You play for USC, you graduate,go to the NFL, kill your wife, and go free.

SQUEEZE THE JUICE!!!!

 

[Irish Envy]

Getting back on topic, I only really feel confident in one of those guys ending up at Notre Dame and that is Myles Wade if he ever gets an offer. Yikes!

 

[irishnd31]

Getting back on topic, I only really feel confident in one of those guys ending up at Notre Dame and that is Myles Wade if he ever gets an offer. Yikes!

It's still too early to get nervous. If it is November and we haven't committed any top flight DT's then I will start to get a little on edge. For now, I sit back and enjoy the recruiting battles taking place.

 

[Indydomer]

We have to get one of those guys early. Maybe it will sway some of the other dt's our way. We can't just hold out for austin like we did with mccoy last year.

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

Offer Myles Wade Now!

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

Getting back on topic, I only really feel confident in one of those guys ending up at Notre Dame and that is Myles Wade if he ever gets an offer. Yikes!

I'm very optimistic about ND recruiting in general, but incredibly pessimistic about this year's DT recruiting.

But, that's how I was at the beginning of last season in regard to the OL.

 

[jiggafini19]

Nah, I like their standing with Barksdale.

Playing time should not be an issue for these guys. Everything else will be what falls into place, mainly Weis' ability to close.

I'm pretty much not getting my hopes up anymore. ND is Offense U now and they'll get everyone who's anyone on that side of the ball. Everything on defense thus far is a total crapshoot.

 

[mwinely]

What has to change to improve the defensive recruiting? Just a little more time - or do you think it will change this year? Do they need another successful season, or just one bug name recruit to swing the pendulum in our favor?

 

[loweND]

I'm pretty much not getting my hopes up anymore. ND is Offense U now and they'll get everyone who's anyone on that side of the ball. Everything on defense thus far is a total crapshoot.

Not quite sure I agree with you here Jigga. I think there's definitely some reason to be optimistic about our defensive recruiting. LAst year, I thought our DB recruiting was an incredible success. I don't think we need to make a big splash at DB in this class. I'd love it if we could nail two good DBs. I'm hoping for Gilchrist and Wright. Add those guys to Brown, Walls and McNeil and you have one killer future secondary.

At LB, it seems as though our coaches have been incredibly selective. Sounds like we still have an outside shot at Gallippo since we keep recruiting him, and since he came to the BG game. I do wonder what's going on with guys like Clay Mathews, Barquell Rivers, Andrew Dailey and Steve Paskorz. It seems as though we need LBs but we're not offering any of these guys. I wonder why? Either way, it's not like we're getting turned down by guys. It just seems like we're not going after them.

DT is a big mystery to me. It seems like we're focusing our recruiting on four guys, but we don't seem to be doing very well with any of them - and yet - no new offers.

Seems like our coaches have some tricks up their sleeve when it comes to LB and DT, and I think DE is really working out nicely with the addition of Neal and what seems like good standing with Martin and Trattou.

Any way, I guess what I'm saying is - our defensive recruiting seems to be moving a little slower, but still has the potential to be awesome.

 

[jiggafini19]

DT is a big mystery to me. It seems like we're focusing our recruiting on four guys, but we don't seem to be doing very well with any of them - and yet - no new offers.

Any way, I guess what I'm saying is - our defensive recruiting seems to be moving a little slower, but still has the potential to be awesome.

Me too. The way it seems to be coming across, there is much more interest by Wade in ND than there is ND interest in Wade and I can't quite figure that out. I think the odds on Will Blackwell and Luther Davis are extremely low, while Austin is even, Barksdale even to high and Wade high.

I'm concerned that Notre Dame is being perceived as this offensive powerhouse, which make perfect sense because of Weis and Quinn, but looking back through their history the best teams in the modern era had balance of both. We've seen what has happened with team's that have been one sided (2002 and 2005). They need to create an excitement on defense just as they have on offense with Weis, Quinn, Clausen, etc.

I like that they're being selective with the talent, but I'm also somewhat curious that they've offered more running backs and wide receivers than defensive tackles and linebackers.

 

[loweND]

Maybe the staff is thinking about moving some of these guys around. I think one thing to consider at LB is that we're looking decent with Lorenzo Edwards - and while most people consider him a safetey, I think he'd play Apache in our defence.

Here's a guess at how I think the coaches see our defensive recruiting finishing up:

DT: One of Austin or Barksdale + Blackwell + one other
DE: Neal, Martin, Trattou
LB: Nagel, L. Edwards, Martez Wilson and one of B. Rivers, Dailey, Mathews or Gallippo
(I think the few LB offers is a very good sign that there's still a chance for Gallippo)
DB: Gilchrist, Barnes, Wright, Williams

And, I think if our recruiting ends up anything like this - we'll have done really well.

 

[Indydomer]

I don't understand it either. They have to know something we don't know or they would be offering more guys. It is crazy to think that we will come up close to empty handed at the dt position again this year.

 

[scooper]

Maybe the staff is thinking about moving some of these guys around. I think one thing to consider at LB is that we're looking decent with Lorenzo Edwards - and while most people consider him a safetey, I think he'd play Apache in our defence.

Here's a guess at how I think the coaches see our defensive recruiting finishing up:

DT: One of Austin or Barksdale + Blackwell + one other
DE: Neal, Martin, Trattou
LB: Nagel, L. Edwards, Martez Wilson and one of B. Rivers, Dailey, Mathews or Gallippo
(I think the few LB offers is a very good sign that there's still a chance for Gallippo)
DB: Gilchrist, Barnes, Wright, Williams

And, I think if our recruiting ends up anything like this - we'll have done really well.

I don't feel good about Austin, Barksdale or Blackwell, but the coaches obviously know more than we do.

Your ends look good and very possible. Ditto your linebackers.

As of today, I'm thinking Harrison Smith as one of the DB's.

 

[jiggafini19]

The entire defense is a toss up as far as I can see. It seem like the guys who are the most interested don't have offers and the ones who do are all even money at best.

Neal is in. Trattou seems as though he will be. ND is 50-50 on Martin.

At DT, pull the names out of a hat. I think they'd be able to close Wade and Brent easily, getting early verbals from both. Doesn't appear to be happening.

Nagel is in. Dailey looks strong, Martez Wilson looks strong, Kyle Jackson or Brian Smith at MLB look strong.

As of now, ND is lookng at Barnes and Edwards at safety. If they're taking one, I think Edwards is the best bet.

I'm sure they're hoping to be half done by the time Georgia Tech rolls around and I think they can accomplish that. I think most of that will be with offensive players, however.

 

[scooper]

Wade, Brent and another unknown would probably be about a B- in my book as far as recruiting DT's is concerned. Wade, Brent and one of Austin/Barksdale would be a solid A. Those two are the big dogs. Getting one would be huge.

I am pleasantly surprised with how well DE recruiting is going. I also like the direction the LB's are going. They seem to be valuing athleticism in going after larger SS types who can move up to LB.

 

[loweND]

As of now, ND is lookng at Barnes and Edwards at safety. If they're taking one, I think Edwards is the best bet.

Not hearing good things about Major Wright?

 

[jiggafini19]

Not hearing good things about Major Wright?

He's very open. I think Lorezno Edwards and ND have much more of a stronger mutual interest in one another at this point.

It really is tough to tell right now. This class is so versitile that it could be a combination of any handful of guys that ND ends up with.

 

[Irish Envy]

Just some insight on why ND is only going after 4 DTs. In an article today, they mentioned that they envision Trattou having the talent to move inside from DE to DT.

Considering his current size 6-4, 250, after participating in the Notre Dame conditioning program, he could easily be 275-280 and would easily be of good size for the DT spot.

 

[scooper]

A DT with that athleticism would be nice. Only a couple guys will be asked to contribute immediately, so there's room for a guy who needs to bulk up. In the mean time, he could still play some end.

 

[jiggafini19]

Just some insight on why ND is only going after 4 DTs. In an article today, they mentioned that they envision Trattou having the talent to move inside from DE to DT.

Considering his current size 6-4, 250, after participating in the Notre Dame conditioning program, he could easily be 275-280 and would easily be of good size for the DT spot.

Like Paddy Mullen.

Paddy is getting really jacked up. He's been working on his speed (ran a 4.73), pumping iron. He's up to 275 and has kept in touch with Coach Mendoza frequently. He also works out at Velocity Sports Performance five days a week in St. Louis.

Sounds like they're going to be moving guys around, getting athletic in as many spots as they can.

 

[BigMattWW04]

I believe that soon enough Barksdale will come to his senses and realize that he could start as a true freshman for Notre Dame. Austin I wouldn't hold my breath over. Wade's father I know loves Notre Dame, and he could possibly even commit on spot if/when he gets a ND offer.

 

[scooper]

Barksdale's participating in Ted Ginn Sr's bus trip this summer to all the camps. That alone gives me creepy buckeye vibes about him. The bucknuts feel pretty good about him and "insiders" are starting to talk in code about him like ND fans were talking about Clausen leading up to his commitment.