The Rivals.com recruiting experts have broken down countless hours of film and racked up plenty of frequent flyer miles to see the top prospects compete at events across the country. In the process of evaluating overall talent, several prospects gained notice for their mastery of specific skills.
We've selected the best of the best in each category for every position and ranked them. Rivals.com recruiting analyst Barry Every breaks down the defensive ends.
5. Michael Brockers, Houston Chavez
Brockers highlightsCOMMITMENT: LSU PARTICULARS: 6-6/255 THE BUZZ: He is a giant athlete with potential that has not been tapped.
4. Justin Chaisson, Las Vegas Bishop Gorman Chaisson highlightsCOMMITMENT: Oklahoma PARTICULARS: 6-5/252 THE BUZZ: He had an overpowering performance at U.S. Army Combine.
3. Devon Kennard, Phoenix Desert Vista Kennard highlightsPARTICULARS: 6-3/257 THE BUZZ: Has the most powerful lower body I've seen on film this year.
2. Melvin Fellows, Garfield Heights (Ohio) High Fellows highlightsCOMMITMENT: Ohio State PARTICULARS: 6-5/245 THE BUZZ: On film, he seems to toy with offensive linemen.
1. Malliciah Goodman, Florence (S.C.) West Florence Goodman highlightsCOMMITMENT: Clemson PARTICULARS: 6-4/255 THE BUZZ: He is a dominant defensive end and clearly one of the best overall players in the nation.
5. William Ming, Athens (Ala.) High
Ming highlightsPARTICULARS: 6-4/250 THE BUZZ: He is an old-school, two-way mauler that loves to mix it up along the line of scrimmage.
4. Melvin Fellows, Garfield Heights (Ohio) High Fellows highlightsCOMMITMENT: Ohio State PARTICULARS: 6-5/245 THE BUZZ: He has superior lateral movement, and he's too tough and strong for linemen to move.
3. Justin Chaisson, Las Vegas Bishop Gorman Chaisson highlightsCOMMITMENT: Oklahoma PARTICULARS: 6-5/252 THE BUZZ: If you run to his side of the field you are most likely going to be swallowed up by his long arms.
2. Nick Kasa, Broomfield (Colo.) Legacy Kasa highlightsPARTICULARS: 6-7/245 THE BUZZ: Another long-armed giant. It's hard for offensive lineman to get to his body.
1. Donte Moss, Jacksonville (N.C.) Northside Moss highlightsCOMMITMENT: North Carolina PARTICULARS: 6-4/235 THE BUZZ: Moss can really move, and he uses his arms well to ward off offensive lineman.
5. Donte Moss, Jacksonville (N.C.) Northside Moss highlightsCOMMITMENT: North Carolina PARTICULARS: 6-4/235 THE BUZZ: Two-way star has speed and size coming off the edge. He also plays running back, similar to native North Carolinian Julius Peppers.
4. Craig Drummond, Chicago Morgan Park Drummond highlightsPARTICULARS: 6-5/260 THE BUZZ: Had a great performance at the Army Combine and racked up 18 sacks in 13 games last season.
3. Sam Montgomery, Greenwood (S.C.) High Montgomery highlightsPARTICULARS: 6-4/230 THE BUZZ: A basketball player turned defensive end, the athletic Montgomery had 15 sacks last year.
2. Ryne Giddins, Seffner (Fla.) Armwood Giddins highlightsPARTICULARS: 6-4/235 THE BUZZ: Quickness and power were the keys to his game. He recorded 21 sacks last season.
1. Devon Kennard, Phoenix Desert Vista Kennard highlightsPARTICULARS: 6-3/257 THE BUZZ: Kennard uses his superior leg drive and quick twitch muscles to dominate the opposition. He made 24.5 sacks last season.
5. Ed Stinson, Homestead (Fla.) South Dade Stinson highlightsCOMMITMENT: Florida State PARTICULARS: 6-4/227 THE BUZZ: Another basketball player turned defensive end who likes to show off his athleticism.
4. Dyron Dye, Sanford (Fla.) Seminole Dye highlightsPARTICULARS: 6-4/215 THE BUZZ: Dye showed at the US Army Combine that he can accelerate off the snap.
3. Alex Okafor, Pflugerville (Texas) High Okafor highlightsCOMMITMENT: Texas PARTICULARS: 6-5/232 THE BUZZ: He was so quick at the Fort Worth Nike Camp that the coaches there thought he was an NFL prospect.
2. Fletcher Cox, Yazoo City (Miss.) High Cox highlightsCOMMITMENT: Mississippi State PARTICULARS: 6-4/240 THE BUZZ: Cox uses his experience in track to get started the instant the ball is snapped.
1. Devon Kennard, Phoenix Desert Vista Kennard highlightsPARTICULARS: 6-3/257 THE BUZZ: His great anticipation of the snap count often allows him to be in the backfield before the handoff.
