Best Fits for Top 2016 Uncommitted Defensive End Recruits

Dominant defensive ends have the potential to punish passers, erase rushing lanes and provide a bit of nastiness off the edge. They're an essential element of any title-contending attack and can single-handedly derail the opposition's offensive game plan.

Several standout 2016 prospects are equipped to deliver impressive performances at the position on a consistent basis in college. Many of them remain uncommitted, still surveying opportunities on campuses across the country.

Here's a look at premier defensive end talents who continue to collect information on the recruiting trail, and an update on where they may be headed based on scheme and coaching staff familiarity.

4-Star Oluwole Betiku

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 95 overall; No. 6 strong-side defensive end

High School: Junipero Serra (Gardena, California)

Notable Offers: Cal, Maryland, Penn State, Oklahoma and UCLA

Recruitment Update

The Nigerian native rapidly ascended recruiting rankings as a junior, when he racked up 59 tackles—including 24 for loss—and 11.5 sacks. Oluwole Betiku, who initially lived in Maryland when he arrived in America, maintains interest in the Terps, and Penn State is a top contender due in large part to influence from legal guardian and former Nittany Lions star LaVar Arrington.

The 6'3 ½", 240-pound prospect took the Southern California football scene by storm in 2014, thriving on a star-studded Junipero Serra squad. Naturally, Pac-12 programs have developed a strong interest.

"UCLA has been recruiting me the hardest," Betiku told Ryan Bartow of 247Sports in March. "Cal has come in, and they sent me 10 handwrittens."

Best Fit: UCLA

Betiku told Bartow that he'd prefer to attend college in a pleasant climate, and Los Angeles serves up sunny-and-70 on a regular basis. From a football standpoint, he could create a lethal combination up front with 5-star Bruins defensive end commit Breland Brandt. 

UCLA will face elite quarterbacks on a consistent basis in conference action during coming years. Betiku is a budding talent who can regularly put passers on their butt.

4-Star Prince Sammons

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 71 overall; No. 5 strong-side defensive end

High School: Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (Cincinnati)

Notable Offers: Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and Texas

Recruitment Update

At 6'8", 280 pounds, Prince Sammons could eventually anchor a collegiate offensive line at tackle. Another native of Nigeria, he remains relatively raw and has attracted the attention of more than 20 programs.

Scholarships have arrived from Clemson, Missouri, Nebraska, LSU and Texas since the start of February. 

"He's a manchild," Scout's Dave Berk told Allen Trieu of The Detroit News. "He's only played two years and never knew what the game was before that. Where he might have the highest ceiling is as an offensive tackle, but 70 percent of the teams recruiting him are as a defensive end because his length is hard to find."

Sammons could ultimately become the object of a Big Ten recruiting battle between Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State. He secured 69 tackles and five sacks during the 2014 regular season, per Mike Dyer of Cincinnati.com.

Best Fit: Ohio State

Urban Meyer invests plenty of resources into recruiting Cincinnati and its surrounding suburbs. Sammons didn't grow up in Ohio, so we expect him to spend time on campuses in different regions during his recruitment.

Ultimately, Sammons' versatility and potential to develop into a mainstay on either side of the trenches will motivate Meyer and Buckeyes assistant Larry Johnson to get the job done. He would join an Ohio State defensive line loaded with length, offering increased versatility.

4-Star Erick Fowler

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 68 overall; No. 7 weak-side defensive end

High School: Manor (Manor, Texas)

Notable Offers: Alabama, Baylor, LSU, Texas and TCU

Recruitment Update

Erick Fowler is a fierce edge-rusher who can attack opponents from a stand-up role or wreak havoc with his hand in the dirt. The 6'1", 232-pound playmaker has room for necessary growth on his physical frame and ranks among the Lone Star State's finest 2016 defensive prospects. 

In-state interest mounted throughout 2014, with offers pouring in from every major FBS program in Texas. Following another dominant campaign last fall, his recruitment expanded with Alabama, Oklahoma State, Missouri and Michigan entering the mix.

Fowler found his way into the offensive backfield often during the past two seasons, tallying 148 tackles and 33.5 sacks.

Best Fit: Texas

Charlie Strong's immediate influence at Texas will show up on defense, fueled by several premier pickups in the 2015 class. Fowler would give him an explosive force along the perimeter who pairs perfectly with top-rated 2015 linebacker Malik Jefferson.

The Longhorns seem to be in an enviable position here. Fowler's family is "urging" him to commit to Texas, he told EJ Holland of 247Sports.

4-Star Damion Dickens

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 62 overall; No. 6 weak-side defensive end

High School: Holmes County (Lexington, Mississippi)

Notable Offers: Mississippi State, Missouri and Oklahoma

Recruitment Update

Damion Dickens hasn't accrued as much collegiate interest as many of his contemporaries, but that will quickly change if he flashes rare athleticism on the camp circuit this spring and summer. The 6'4", 225-pound prospect needs to pack on some pounds in order to create increased leverage, though the tools are already in place for him to become a premier pass-rusher. 

His junior season featured 83 tackles—24 for loss—and 17 sacks. Mississippi State and Missouri won't be his only SEC options for much longer if he continues to progress.

"(Dickens) is on the verge of blowing up," wrote Barton Simmons of 247Sports after evaluating him. "Though he's as raw as they come, his upside and edge explosiveness are tremendous."

Best Fit: Mississippi State

An offer from Florida, Alabama or Ole Miss could drastically change the outlook here, but we're working with what Dickens currently has on the table. Mississippi State smothered several opponents last fall with a frenzied defensive approach, predominately operating with players who arrived on campus as under-the-radar 3-star recruits.

Dickens may not be ready for an every-down role immediately in Starkville, but we could see him chasing after quarterbacks as a situational pass-rusher while polishing other elements of his approach.

4-Star Josh King

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 51 overall; No. 4 strong-side defensive end

High School: Hinsdale South (Darien, Illinois)

Notable Offers: Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State

Recruitment Update

Multiple visits and sustained contact with the Buckeyes create an impression that Ohio State is the team to beat for Josh King's services. The 6'6", 250-pound Illinois product appears likely to land in the Big Ten, though other programs may have some catching up to do.

"King has long indicated he has Ohio State either at the top of his list or as one of his top choices," wrote Bill Kurelic of 247Sports following the defender's latest trip to Columbus.

His recent visits within the conference also include Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State and Wisconsin. He totaled 70 tackles—18 for loss—and five sacks as a junior.

Best Fit: Michigan State

Ohio State is an obvious candidate to land among King's finalists, but we get the feeling Urban Meyer may already have multiple premier pieces in place at the position (more to come on that later in this piece) by the time King sits down to make a decision.

Michigan State presents an intriguing opportunity for King to claim an early role in the Spartans' swarming defensive attack, lined up alongside 2014 freshman phenom Malik McDowell.

5-Star Marlon Davidson

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 27 overall; No. 3 strong-side defensive end

High School: Greenville (Greenville, Alabama)

Notable Offers: Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia and Mississippi State

Recruitment Update

Marlon Davidson spent last season attacking opponents alongside 5-star linebacker Lyndell Wilson at Carver High School in Montgomery, Alabama. However, a recent family tragedy brought him back to Greenville, where the battle still remains centered on in-state rivals Auburn and Alabama.

His older brother, Kenneth Carter, won a national title with Auburn in 2011. Davidson grew up leaning toward the Tigers when these two rivals met in the Iron Bowl.

Despite that history, Davidson is attempting to distance himself from the past when it comes to future considerations.

"Everybody thinks that (I'm going to Auburn). I'm looking to go anywhere in the country," he told Drew Champlin of AL.com. "I have high interest in Alabama."

Davidson isn't expected to announce his destination until national signing day. He notched 69 tackles—16 for loss—and nine sacks last season.

Best Fit: Auburn

We're siding with the popular belief that Davidson will end up in a Tigers uniform, and it's for the right reasons. Auburn has depth along the edge—aided by marquee 2015 signees Jeffery Holland and Byron Cowart—but not as much as Alabama has assembled through recent top-rated recruiting classes.

Davidson isn't afraid of competition, but his path to playing time appears clearer with Will Muschamp. A long-established rapport with the program also can't be overstated.

"My brother played there, and I know everything about them," he told Champlin.

5-Star Nick Bosa

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 11 overall; No. 2 strong-side defensive end

High School: St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Notable Offers: Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State

Recruitment Update

Nick Bosa will be a busy man during spring break. He plans to spend time at Florida, Florida State, Alabama and Auburn, according to Luke Stampini of 247Sports. 

The fearsome 6'4", 265-pound defender is the younger brother of Ohio State star Joey Bosa, who claimed Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore. The Buckeyes offered Nick as a freshman and are viewed as the formidable favorite to sign him in February.

Few high school players have ever developed the level of familiarity that Bosa shares with Urban Meyer. He secured 56 tackles—30 for loss—and five sacks as a junior.

Best Fit: Ohio State

Who better to replace Joey Bosa than his "little" brother?

Big bro is likely to bolt for the NFL after his junior season if he stays healthy, unless the urge to play in Columbus with Nick outweighs a desire for professional paychecks. Teams may consider Joey as the top overall pick, so look for him to pass the torch to his brother, who shares a similarly freakish skill set and level of tenacity.

5-Star Shavar Manuel

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 3 overall; No. 1 strong-side defensive end

High School: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)

Notable Offers: Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Miami and Ohio State

Recruitment Update

Shavar Manuel is widely viewed as a Seminoles lean, and his relationship with new high school teammates Malik Henry and Isaac Nauta—both Florida State commits who are considered top prospects at their respective positions—further enhances that sentiment.

According to Safid Deen of Tallahassee.com, there were reports he pledged to Florida State in February during a junior day visit, but those proved to be false. Miami and Florida are also fighting for the state's No. 1 overall recruit, while Alabama may ultimately present the biggest threat to him ending up in Tallahassee.

Manuel spent last season at Blake High School in Tampa, where he tallied 61 tackles and 20 sacks.

Best Fit: Florida State

All signs point to Tallahassee, and it makes sense. Manuel would perfectly complement top-ranked 2015 defensive end Josh Sweat as bookends up front for a star-studded defense. 

The Seminoles are in need of his pass-rushing abilities, and at 6'5", 262 pounds, he is well on his way toward commanding three-down consideration as a true freshman. In this case, the rich get richer.

Recruit ratings and related information courtesy of 247Sports.