Is Mario Edwards a Better Prospect Than Jadeveon Clowney Was a Year Ago?

Every season when we're in the thick of the recruiting process, we always drool over the potential some of these top athletes have. So much so, that many often begin to compare some of these kids to other players who have already paid their dues at the higher levels.

While that's not really fair to the players that came before them, that's just the way it is with recruiting these days.

However, over the last two years or so, there have been two dominant defensive ends. Last season it was Jadeveon Clowney, who went to South Carolina, and this season it happens to be Mario Edwards, who is still uncommitted. Both players were receiving all of the exposure and scouts and coaches are going nuts over the potential both players have to offer.

But who's better? Let's take a look.

Jadeveon Clowney

Clowney had so much hype coming in as a freshman that it would have been impossible to ever fulfill those expectations. Some even tried to compare him to NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor before he even suited up at the college level.

The first thing I notice about Clowney when I watch film is the speed he has. He's not exactly going to overpower offensive linemen with his strength, but his speed and quickness off the ball will absolutely overwhelm his opponent. It doesn't take long to notice that when watching the video, as he's able to chase down a speedy running back in high school.

He's a very athletic defensive end, but does lack strength to get by offensive linemen. Of course this can be worked on in the gym, but at this point in his career, if he doesn't beat the opposition off the snap, there's a good chance he won't get to the quarterback quickly.

Mario Edwards

Edwards is quicker than fast and has the strength that Clowney lacks. He has the strength to get off the block and make plays in the backfield. He's not going to blow by you like Clowney will, but he has a motor that doesn't stop and he will not give up on the play until the whistle blows. The opponent better be well-conditioned to compete with Edwards all game long.

Edwards also has a ton of moves that he puts on offensive linemen. He's already picked up the swim move, the bull rush and he has the quickness to pick up the speed rush as well. These types of things put him ahead of several different defensive ends his age and will make him a serious problem at the college level immediately.  

So Who's Better?

They're both extremely talented players, but they both have different styles of play. Clowney is a finesse player that will blow by the offensive line. Edwards is a power player that relies mainly on his strength to get into the backfield. Both are very effective at what they do, but it really comes down to how you like your defensive linemen.

If I had to pick one, I'd go with Edwards because he has the strength to draw double-teams already and make things easier for his teammates on the defensive line. He also has the moves and techniques that you rarely see from a player at his age. You can't go wrong with either of these players, but if I had a pick, it would be Mario Edwards.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers college football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]