National Signing Day 2012: Tracking the Top 25 Defensive Linemen Prospects

With so much offensive firepower these days, teams need to have a strong defense to be able to compete. With defense, it all starts in the front, also known as the defensive line.

Continuing from the end of last week, I'm just going to give you the top 25 DL prospects' latest tracker news. Nothing too big time here, just a short update.

Starting up.

25. Dakota Ball (Alabama)

Ball plays with a good motor, competitiveness and effort. He's 6'2" and nearly 300-pounds. He will bring a lunch-pail mentality to the Alabama defensive front.

24. Carlos Watkins (Clemson)

Watkins, a Clemson commit, is 6'4", 280 pounds and can get around blockers by being a superior athlete along with speed and quickness. He's got a high ceiling.

23. Ondre Pipkins (Michigan)

Pipkins is locked into Michigan, as the big DT will look to come in and be an immediate space eater. No change here.

22. Leonard Williams (USC)

UPDATE: Williams has committed to USC.

Williams is a talented DE who can play in any front at 6'5", 250-pounds. He's looking at schools like USC, Miami, Florida, Auburn and Florida State.

21. Javonte Magee (Baylor)

Magee's recruitment was quite wide open and varying, yet he's set for Baylor. He's 6'6" and 270 pounds and could play DE or move inside to DT for the Bears. 

20. Jonathan Bullard (Florida)

Athletic and explosive, Bullard is an extremely physical DE at 6'4", 250 pounds. He excels at anchoring, stacking, shedding and destroying ball carriers.

19. Jonathan Taylor (Georgia)

Taylor is committed to Georgia, and at 6'4", 307 pounds, he could play NT or DE in Todd Grantham's 3-4 scheme. He should be counted as one for the prime time down the road. 

18. Troy Hinds (BYU)

Hinds is solid to BYU, as the 6'5", 240-pounder has solid snap quickness and a sound motor. He should be an early-impact guy in Provo. 

17. Justin Shanks (Florida State)

I thought Shanks was just about 295-ish, but now I think he's around 320-ish, he looks that thick to me.

He's to become a solid DT in college, as he's committed to Florida State but has visited USC and Tennessee.

16. Se'von Pittman (Ohio State)

Pittman is slated for Ohio State, as he switched from Michigan State. He's a pure DPR-type, where he loves to just get upfield.

15. Aziz Shittu (Stanford)

UPDATE: Shittu has committed back to Stanford.

The latest on Shittu is that he has a top three of Stanford, Cal and USC. He was a one-time pledge to Stanford but has opened things up and will announce will on NSD.

14. Jelani Hamilton (Miami)

Hamilton appeared interested in in LSU and North Carolina late last summer, but he has stuck with Miami through and through. Not much change here. 

13. Tommy Schutt (Ohio State)

At 6'3", 290 pounds, Schutt plays with great explosiveness at the snap. Combine that with a great motor and very good strength, and you see why Urban Meyer insisted on having him come to Ohio State and not Penn State.

12. Sheldon Day (Notre Dame)

At 6'2", 280 pounds, Day does it with quickness at the snap and sheer will. He's got solid strength and will entrench himself in the Irish strength and conditioning program.

11. Dante Fowler (Florida)

UPDATE: Indeed Fowler has switched to Florida.

Fowler appears to be still committed to Florida State. If he's going to switch to Florida, it's going to happen between now and Wednesday afternoon—let the countdown begin.

10. Jordan Jenkins (Georgia)

Measuring 6'3", 245 pounds, Jenkins can bend well off the edge and close in on the QB in a flash. He plays the run well and just needs to get seasoned. He's headed to Georgia.

9. Channing Ward (Ole Miss)

Ward, at 6'4", 240-pounds, has a thick frame to combine with his good athleticism. I expect him to have an early impact on the Rebel program.

8. Chris Casher (Florida State)

Casher has been pledged to Florida State for almost all of the cycle, and he's not wavering. At 6'4", 240 pounds, he's athletic and instinctive; look for him to play DE for the 'Noles. 

7. Ellis McCarthy (UCLA)

McCarthy committed to Cal at the Army game, and it looked like he was locked in—wrong! Just a few days after the game, UCLA convinced him to switch and he's now a Bruin.

6. Adolphus Washington (Ohio State)

Washington is a 6'5", 250-pound DE who is headed to Ohio State. He and Noah Spence should make a dangerous tandem off the edges in Columbus for years to come. 

5. Darius Hamilton (Rutgers)

UPDATE: Hamilton has committed to Rutgers.

The latest on Hamilton is that it appears he's keen on Cal, Florida, Rutgers and Miami. I think with the departure of Greg Schiano, Rutgers could see Hamilton sign with Florida.

4. Malcom Brown (Texas)

Brown is a Texas lock, so no change here. At 6'2", 280 pounds, he looks like a great future three-technique, as his quickness at the snap is formidable

3. Eddie Goldman (Florida State)

UPDATE: Goldman has committed to Florida State.

The latest on Goldman is that the stud DT will be announcing on NSD. He's down to a final four of Florida State, Auburn, Miami and Alabama.

2. Noah Spence (Ohio State)

Spence is the top pure pass rusher in America. He's a 6'4", 245-pound athletic DE who has great range and shows a sharp burst to finish. He's headed to Ohio State.

1. Mario Edwards (Florida State)

The most complete edge defender in the country, Edwards is 6'4", 297 pounds and wrecks havoc all over the field. He could become a DT or stick to being a monster of a defensive end.

He's solid to Florida State now.