1. Glenn Dorsey, LSU 6’2” 316 lbs

Dorsey has all the skills necessary to be a Warren Sapp clone.  His presence inside allow him to play the run well, in addition to rushing the QB.  He commanded double and triple teams at the collegiate level, and still managed to be a 1st team All-American.  He has plenty of explosion off the snap, and can play head-up on a guard or play in the gap to allow his quickness to penetrate and collapse the pocket.  Dorsey will be gone in the first 3 picks of the draft and should be a solid anchor for many years to come.  In addition, he is a high character guy and has a strong work ethic, two things that will allow him to succeed at the NFL level.

2. Sedrick Ellis, USC 6’0” 309 lbs

Ellis was a three year starter at NT for USC and during the Senior Bowl week he was called the best player on the field for either team.  Those two things say a lot for this soon-to-be top 10 pick.  Ellis is lighting quick off the ball, and will shoot the gap as quick as any DT.  He is equally adept at stopping the run, and although not a true 2-gap DT, his strength allows him to fend off blockers and get into the backfield.  In addition, he has great read-and-react ability, and the football instincts to dissect a play quickly.

3. Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina 6’5” 298 lbs

Balmer’s height make him better suited for the 4-3, lining up in the gap and collapsing the pocket.  His speed and quickness allow him to shoot the gab and be a disruptive force on the defensive line.  Balmer’s quic-twich capabilities make him thrive on the interior of the line right off the snap.  Balmer should be off the board in the later half of the 1st round.

4. Trevor Laws, Notre Dame 6’1” 304 lbs

Prototypical interior lineman, can play end or nose in the 3-4 like he did at Notre Dame, or DT in the traditional 4-3.  His strong upper body make him a great 2 gap D-tackle because he can take on the double team and keep blockers off the linebackers.  He is strong at the point of attack, and can be disruptive in the running game if the scheme calls for it.  Was named MVP as a Senior at Notre Dame and demonstrated his skills against the best competition at the Senior Bowl.  Laws should be off the board in the early to mid 2nd round.

5. Dre Moore, Maryland 6’4” 305 lbs

Moore has the lower body drive and power that teams need from their DT positions, but his only adequate hand strength and slow adaptation of the playbook is what puts him a notch below the rest of the DTs in this draft.  Moore was a force at the Senior Bowl, using an array of moves to get past and through offensive linemen.  He also has a burst through the gap that allows him to disrupt the backfield.  At 6’4” Moore could handle 10-15 more pounds to become an even better anchor at the point of attack.

Others of Note

(in alphabetical order)

Red Bryant, Texas A&M 6’4” 318 lbs

Bryant is a force in the middle of the defensive line, he can disrupt the running and passing game, however he was a bit inconsistent as a Senior, which drops him to the 2nd tier of DTs.

Marcus Harrison, Arkansas 6’3” 310 lbs

Strong 2-gap lineman that will do the dirty work of occupy blockers and clog lanes, but a torn ACL prior to his senior year, and a 2007 arrest raise red flags.

Frank Okam, Texas 6’4” 347 lbs

Okam ballooned to 350+ pounds at the NFL combine, so his weight will be an issue with whatever team drafts him.

Ahtyba Rubin, Iowa St. 6’3” 315 lbs

Powerful NT with limited counter moves against the offensive line.

DeMario Pressley, North Carolina St. 6’3” 301 lbs

Strong player that can disengage quickly from blockers, however, he struggles against the double-team and suffer as a true NT.  Better suited for a 4-3 situation.

Pat Sims, Auburn 6’2” 310 lbs

Strong, sure tackler who can shutdown gaps quickly.  Tough guy, played with broken bones in his hand in 2007, but needs to better his stamina.