CFB Recruiting 2013: Preseason Power Ranking the Top 10 DL Prospects

Last week, in honor of resetting our boards and rankings before the kickoff of the season, we took a look at the offensive side of the ball where we ranked the top 10 quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers/tight ends and offensive linemen all last week.

Naturally, after looking at the new offensive boards, we turn to the defensive side of the ball. The trenches is where it all starts offensively and defensively, so we're going to start our defensive ranking with the top 10 defensive line prospects.

Whether you want a speed rushing end or a stout run-stuffing tackle, this board features the elite players that man the defensive trenches in the 2013 recruiting class.

10. Justin Manning, DT

Manning is a Dallas native that on the hoof doesn't appear to be a DT. He's 6'2", and a svelte 275-pounds, which looks like he weighs a lot less and leads you to think he's a linebacker.

Yet Manning puts his hand in the dirt and causes a lot of problems for an offense. He uses excellent speed and athleticism to get around blockers and make a plays in the backfield.

Scout.com reports he is going to visit Oklahoma, TCU, Texas A&M, USC and LSU. 

9. Caleb Brantley, DT

Brantley hails from Florida and is a load of a DT in the middle. He plays at about 6'3", 300-pounds and has the ability to one and two-gap.

Brantley is very strong on his feet and can surge into a blocker and walk them back into the passer, as a rusher. When he reads the run, he'll use strong hands and upper-body strength to stack a block, then drop his weight to anchor down and make a mess to clog holes.

He's committed to Florida. 

8. Demarcus Walker, DE/DT

Walker is our second consecutive Florida native, being from Jacksonville. At 6'4", 280-pounds, he can play both end and tackle while showing good quickness, athleticism and strength.

Walker committed to Alabama late last week, where he will likely line up at DE in the Crimson Tide's base 30-front defense. Walker has the ability to use good snap quickness, length to stay clean from blockers, strength to shed and pursuit speed to make finishing plays. 

7. Dee Liner, DT

Liner is from Alabama and also is a combo/swing DL prospect. He can play both end and tackle, but I think the 6'3", 275-pounder may be best inside.

Quickness and speed at the snap are the best traits in Liner's game, as chances are when you pop tape of him playing he's the first DL off the ball. Liner has good strength when he's on the move and can convert it well from his rush speed.

He could be an excellent fit as a gap-penetrating 3-technique at Auburn. 

6. Eddie Vanderdoes, DT

While he plays some DE for his Northern California-area highs school team, Vanderdoes is going to be a college DT, book it. The only way he plays DE is if he is in a classic 3-4 defense.

At 6'4", and over 300-pounds, Vanderdoes probably is the strongest player on this list. He shows solid snap quickness, but his heavy hands, upper body power and leg drive can overwhelm a blocker.

It's going to be hard for OLs to move Vanderdoes off his mark at USC, where his strength will also help push the pocket form the middle too as a pass rusher. 

5. Tim Williams, DE

If you want a pass rusher that could develop into a complete DE, Williams could be your guy. The 6'4", 230-pound Louisiana native can explode off the ball and crash down hard off the edges.

Williams has good length to stay clean, flashes hand quickness to fight punch placement on him and can bend very well on the edge. He has a great burst to finish on the passer, while showing lateral quickness and pursuit speed to chase from the backside.

It still may be hard to get him away from LSU, yet Miami and Florida State could indeed be the main two suitors.

4. Montravius Adams, DT

From the state of Georgia, Adams is an uber-quick DT that can really insert himself in gaps to make routine TFLs. Adams goes in the 6'3" range and weighs close to 290-pounds.

Adams has great snap quickness, can surge upfield and has the hand quickness to combat blockers trying to work into his body. He's athletic for his size and shows the strength to power through fronts if he has to.

Look for Adams to be a terrific fit as a 3-technique college defensive tackle, which I predict will be at Auburn.

3. Kenny Bigelow, DT

Bigelow is one of the better athletes on this list and the Delaware native is 6'3", 297-pounds. Bigelow can get off the ball in hurry and play like a beast at the point of attack.

He relishes physicality and contact, showing a willingness to rumble with mass inside. Bigelow then will use this split second to read run or pass, to which if it's the former he can quickly locate the ball and use lateral quickness to make the stop.

If it's the latter, Bigelow, a USC pledge, will use more power that he's converted from speed, a great fight to pressure and a burst to finish on the passer.

2. Carl Lawson, DE

Lawson is a 6'2", 255-pound DE from Georgia with excellent athletic ability, strength, snap quickness and speed. He can bend well when attacking the pocket as a rusher and is pretty productive.

Against the run, Lawson can stop and stack well, flashing some shedding ability here and there. He isn't the longest framed guy, so he has to stay on the move or face trying to shed/escape blockers.

When he's rolling and active, he's a tough block for an OT and commands chip help on the edges. Committed to Auburn, look for Lawson to develop into a great SEC DE. 

1. Robert Nkemdiche, DE

Nkemdiche is the top DL prospect in the country and also is the No. 1 recruit overall for 2013. From right outside Atlanta, Nkemdiche is a 6'5", 270-pound monster that is headed to Clemson.

With a quick first step, overwhelming point of attack strength, shedding ability, athleticism and explosive speed he has all the tools to be a dominant edge defender. Once he hones in a consistent pass rush plan and improves his hand use, Nkemdiche has All-American potential.

Edwin Weathersby has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena League. He spent a year evaluating prep prospects & writing specific recruiting and scouting content articles for Student Sports Football (now ESPN Rise-HS). A syndicated scout and writer, he's also contributed to WeAreSC.com, GatorBait.net and Diamonds in the Rough Inc., a College Football and NFL Draft magazine.