Ad Disclosure
The SEC has made a habit of sending elite pass rushers to the NFL.
The upcoming NFL Draft will be somewhat of an anomaly. The SEC’s top 10 sack artists from 2015 are all back in school, including five draft-eligible juniors who chose to delay their NFL careers. Next year’s draft class will be loaded, in other words.
Here’s a look at the SEC’s five best pass rushing candidates for the 2016 draft.
Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
The stats never quite aligned with the skills, and his off-field issues have made him the draft’s biggest mystery.
Still, the NFL welcomes all — particularly those with Nkemdiche’s rare combination of size, speed and athleticism.
The anonymous coaches, scouts are starting to weigh in, insisting that Nkemdiche’s name is off their draft board. Some mocks have Nkemdiche slipping to the second round. He won’t be the SEC’s first pass rusher selected, but you can argue on talent alone, he should be.
Does the trouble outweigh the talent?
We’ll see.
Leonard Floyd, Georgia
Floyd’s body shouts NFL impact. He’s 6-6, 244 and ran a 4.60 40-yard dash at the Combine.
Scouts pick on his weight, but he won’t have his hand in the ground in the NFL. Von Miller only weighs 250.
Most mock drafts have Floyd going in the top 15, some in the top 10 of the first round. He likely will be the first SEC pass rusher selected.
Floyd had just 4.5 sacks last season. We’ll look back in five years and wonder why he didn’t dominate more at Georgia.
Alex McAlister, Florida
McAlister is a better pass rusher than overall defender, almost to the point where that became his role. Fortunately, there are NFL roles for players with his skill-set, and he could end up standing up in a 3-4.
He finished with 6.5 sacks in just nine games last season.
He won’t go early, most are projecting him as a Day 3 pick, but his skills translate.
Reggie Ragland, Alabama
Don’t sleep on Ragland as a pass rusher. Nick Saban made a point of telling everybody at the Senior Bowl that Ragland is more than an inside run-stuffer. He started as an outside linebacker and has the ability and mentality to get to quarterback.
He didn’t have many sacks at Alabama because that wasn’t his role.
Most mocks have Ragland as a mid-to-late first-round pick, primarily as an inside linebacker. Like Clay Matthews, Ragland is capable of making plays from anywhere.
Jonathan Bullard, Florida
Bullard had 6.5 sacks in 2015, tied with McAlister for the Gators’ lead, but his upside isn’t as high. Bullard is viewed more as a man without a true position, which could impact his NFL future.
Outside of the SEC
Joey Bosa, Ohio State: Bosa was an early contender for the top spot but has settled in near the middle of the top 10 on many mocks.
Shaq Lawson, Clemson: He was injured in the championship game against Alabama, but he’s battling Bosa in most mocks to be the first defensive lineman off the board.
Myles Jack, UCLA: Everybody is looking for the next Miller, a linebacker with pass-rushing skills. Jack also appears to be a lock as a top 10 pick.
DeForest Buckner, Oregon: Much more of a power rusher at 6-7, 290, Buckner had 10.5 sacks for the Ducks this past season.
SEC in 2017
Myles Garrett, Texas A&M: Assuming he leaves early, he’ll contend for the top spot.
Derek Barnett, Tennessee: He’s battled Garrett for SEC sack honors each of the first two seasons. Another rising junior with a huge upside.
Tim Williams, Alabama: Is there a better pass-rushing linebacker in the country?
Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss: Doesn’t get as much attention as Garrett and Barnett, but with Nkemdiche gone, that will change in 2016.
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
