2014 NFL Draft: Prospect List – Defense

January 1,2013; Tampa, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half of the 2013 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the Michigan Wolverines 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

This year will be focused on Jadeveon Clowney, but this a defensive class with a great deal of star power coming from many of the usual suspects.  Alabama once again finds itself dotting just about every position with talented prospects as does Texas and Florida State.  The notable drop off is from LSU where so many underclassmen left this past year, they need to reload, but will back in a big way sooner than later.  The Big Ten as a whole seems to be coming back in a big way this year after a putrid performance in this weekend’s draft, but it continues to be the SEC’s world and we are all just living in it.  Again, these prospects are sorted alphabetically.  They are not being ranked.

Defensive Ends

Jason Ankrah, Nebraska

Morgan Breslin, USC

Dominique Easley, Florida

Ben Gardner, Stanford

James Gayle, Virginia Tech

Ryne Giddins, South Florida

Taylor Hart, Oregon

Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas

Cassius Marsh, UCLA

Kareem Martin, North Carolina

Walker May, Vanderbilt

Chris Smith, Arkansas

Ed Stinson, Alabama

Chaz Sutton, South Carolina

Will Sutton, Arizona State

Notable Underclassmen

Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina

Scott Crichton, Oregon State

Kony Ealy, Missouri

Stephen Tuitt, Notre Dame

Defensive Tackles

Will Clark, West Virginia

DeAndre Coleman, Cal

Austin Dorsey, Texas

Justin Ellis, La Tech

Bruce Gaston, Purdue

Da’Shede Hageman, Minnesota

Kerry Huder, Texas Tech

Demontre McAllister, Florida State

Daniel McCullers, Tennessee

Patrick Mertens, Wyoming

Carsun Reid, Princeton

Donte Rumph, Kentucky

Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, Boise State

Notable Underclassmen

Timmy Jernigan, Florida State

Louis Nix III, Notre Dame

Outside Linebackers

Denicos Allen, Michigan State

Lamin Barrow, LSU

Johnathan Brown, Illinois

Michael Doctor, Oregon State

Christian Jones, Florida State

Khalil Mack, Buffalo

C.J. Mosley, Alabama

Corey Nelson, Oklahoma

Roosevelt Nix, Kent State

Prince Shembo, Notre Dame

Keith Smith, San Jose State

Tyler Starr, South Dakota

Kyle Van Noy, BYU

Notable Underclassmen

Anthony Barr, UCLA

Adrian Hubbard, Alabama

Ryan Shazier, Ohio State

Inside Linebackers

Chris Borland, Wisconsin

Greg Blair, Cincinnati

Max Bullough, Michigan State

Andrew Jackson, Western Kentucky

James Morris, Iowa

Shayne Skov, Stanford

Jack Tyler, Virginia Tech

Zach Virgil, Utah State

Notable Underclassmen

Trey DePriest, Alabama

Cornerbacks

Ricardo Allen, Purdue

Deion Belue, Alabama

Bene Bewikere, San Jose State

Carrington Byndom, Texas

Aaron Colvin, Oklahoma

Ross Cockrell, Duke

Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State

John Fulton, Alabama

Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State

Torin Harris, USC

Bennett Jackson, Notre Dame

Gabe Lynn, Oklahoma

Davonne Nunley, Miami (OH)

Shaquille Richardson, Arizona

Jason Verrett, Texas Christian

Marcus Williams, North Dakota State

Notable Underclassmen

Quandre Diggs, Texas

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon

Louchiez Purifoy, Florida

Bradley Roby, Ohio State

Tim Scott, North Carolina

Safeties

C.J. Barnett, Ohio State

Brian Blechen, Utah

Tre Boston, North Carolina

Alden Darby, Arizona State

Ahmed Dixon, Baylor

Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State

Isaiah Lewis, Michigan State

Craig Loston, LSU

Tanner Miller, Iowa

A.J. Marshall, Wake Forest

Dezmen Southward, Wisconsin

Hakeem Smith, Louisville

Demetrius Wright, USC

Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State

Notable Underclassmen

Hasean Clinton-Dix, Alabama

Corey Moore, Georgia

Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama