College Football Recruiting 2011: Power Ranking the Top 25 Defensive Tackles

As we go through the 2010 high school football season it's time to re-evaluate the talent of the 2011 recruiting class and hand out some new positional rankings. 

Based on performances throughout the summer in various camps around the country there's been some noticeable shifts in opinion from every recruiting outlet you'll come across. 

That's the nature of the business; sports are a show me now game, and when it comes to recruiting, there's no difference. 

We'll take a look at the top 25 of every position and keep you up to date with the biggest names to watch out for this year.

Here's the updated rankings for the top 25 defensive tackles of the 2011 class.

25. Angelo Blackson, Auburn

Commitment: Auburn

Blackson stars as a two-sport athlete at the high school level and has the potential to play both football and basketball in college. 

At 6'5" and 295 lbs he's got great size for a defensive tackle, but plays a lot of end in high school due to his quick feet and athleticism. 

24. Corey Marshall, Virginia Tech

Commitment: Virginia Tech 

Marshall is a defensive end on the high school level and at 6'1" and 250 lbs, he's got the size and speed to remain their, but his skill-set is definitely primed for the inside. 

He's got a great motor, can penetrate well and plays with really good intensity. But he's raw and uses poor technique that will get him in a lot of trouble at the next level. 

23. Mickey Johnson

Commitment: Uncommitted 

If there's one thing that stands out about Johnson, it's his strength. Pound for pound, he might be one of the strongest prospects in the 2011 class at any position. 

Right now re relies more on his physical tools than technique, but when he gets low and creates leverage, the battle is almost always won. 

22. Lonnie Gosha

Commitment: Uncommitted 

Lonnie Gosha is on the small side for a defensive tackle at 6'3" and 245 lbs, but he plays a lot bigger than he's listed and is actually quite good at taking on the double team. 

An athletic prospect who's against both the run and the pass, Gosha needs to bulk up in order to deal with the wear and tear playing in the trenches will have, but the potential is there. 

21. Danny Shelton

Commitment: Uncommitted

Shelton is a two-way lineman who could wind up being a real gem at offensive guard, but most schools are recruiting him as a defensive tackle. 

He's got solid technique, keeps his pads low and drives hard with his legs, but does tend to struggle when it comes to disengaging from his man. 

20. Phillip Dukes

Commitment: Uncommitted 

Dukes has great size for a defensive tackle at 6'3" and 295 lbs, but has the versatility to play both end and tackle.

That's his role at the high school level and he's got a good enough skill set at either position to do the same in college. 

19. Kris Harley, Virginia Tech

Commitment: Virginia Tech 

One of the few bright spots of Virginia Tech's unusually weak recruiting class, Harley should be a perfect fit for the Hokies at nose guard. 

He gets low, drives with a lot of power and can overpower bigger players due to his strength and motor. 

18. Christian Heyward

Commitment: Uncommitted 

Heyward is a really quick 275-lb defensive tackle who explodes into his blockers from the moment the ball is snapped, but he's also agile enough to get around contact if the chance is presented. 

A two-way player and two-sport athlete, Heyward also starts at tight end and stars for his high school basketball team. 

17. Chase Farris, Ohio State

Commitment: Ohio State

Chase Farris is a little on the thin side for the defensive tackle position, but he's got the type of frame to build off of and could easily top over 300 lbs in a couple years.

He plays both offensive tackle and defensive end in high school, but lacks the athleticism to be elite on the outside. He could, however, be a nasty force in the middle.

16. Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma

Commitment: Oklahoma

Philips is one of three 4-star defensive tackles committed to Oklahoma so the minutes could be sparse for one or more of them in the early goings. 

Of the three, Philips is by far the most athletic though and moves about as well as any defensive tackle in the class. He's been described as a matchup nightmare. 

15. Todd Peat

Commitment: Uncommitted 

Peat is like a hurricane in the middle of the trenches and has a knack for just causing havoc from whistle to whistle.

He's got great hand movement and has great burst off the ball. If you had to point out an issue with his game it would be a disturbing injury history that has a lot to do with his style of play.

14. Jordan Wade, Oklahoma

Commitment: Oklahoma 

Wade has great size for a defensive tackle at 6'4" 290 lbs but what's really impressive about his game is the speed at which he plays with. 

He's quick at the point of attack and has really incredible closing speed; there might not be a better defensive tackle in pursuit.

13. Antwaun Woods, USC

Commitment: USC

Woods is a big boy and has the makings of a future nose tackle at the NFL level if he's able to fine tune his skills and build up some muscles in the gym.

Woods ranks as the No. 5 DT on Scout, but falls at the way to No. 23 on Rivals. He's got a ton of potential and might prove to be one of the best in the class if he can develop properly. 

12. Marquis Anderson, Oklahoma

Commitment: Oklahoma

Anderson is listed at 6'3" and 260 lbs, but he looks even smaller than that and some scouts point toward his size as a major issue. 

He's an intense player who works hard and never quits on a play, but he doesn't have the athletic ability of the elite prospects and there's concerns that the double teams he eats at the high school level won't come as easy in college. 

11. Mustafa Jalil, Cal

Commitment: Cal

Mustafa Jalil is a huge prospect at 6'4", 300 lbs and one of the few pure nose tackles in the 2011 class. He's an excellent piece in the middle for Cal, but could potentially play one of the end spots due to his athleticism and pursuit.

Scout ranks him as the No. 10 defensive tackle, but he could end up being better than that.

10. Marquise Wright, Pitt

Commitment: Pitt

Marquise Wright fits into the debatable category as he's ranked as the No. 4 defensive tackle on Rivals and 62nd overall in the country, but drops all the way to No. 16 at his position on Scout, outside of the top 100 overall prospects.

Truth is, he's somewhere in between and at 6'3" and 265 lbs, he probably needs a year to bulk up.

9. Todd Barr

Commitment: Uncommitted

Barr has the look of a defensive tackle, but moves like a big linebacker. At 6'3" and 265 lbs, Barr could wind up at defensive end depending on where he lands. 

A really potent pass-rusher with a great motor, Barr can harass quarterbacks by penetrating through the middle or coming around from the backside. 

8. Gabe Wright

Commitment: Uncommitted

Wright's technique is raw, but he's very athletic and quick at the point of attack. He hits his man hard and drives, but doesn't stay low and has poor hand movement. 

If he can polish up his skills and learn to disengage blockers better, Wright could be one of the best defensive tackles in the class. 

7. Quincy Russell, Texas

Commitment: Texas

Quincy Russell is one of the top defensive tackles in the country and at 6'3" and 283 lbs, he's able to dominate the battle in the middle like very few can.

He's an elite run-stopper and a better-than-advertised pass-rusher. Both Scout and Rivals list in the top 10 at his position.

6. Viliami Moala

Commitment: Uncommitted

The 6'4" and 340-lb defensive tackle is by far the biggest of the elite prospects at his position. Moala can play as a run-stuffing, penetrating defensive tackle or clog up the middle with a constant double-team as a nose tackle. 

Even at his size, Moala is very quick off the ball and can make plays in the backfield and on the edges. That's really the key to his game; he's not just a space eater there to take on blockers.

5. Michael Bennett, Ohio State

Commitment: Ohio State

He's got a nasty side to him you love to see in lineman and has an attacker's mentality that allows him to thrive in the trenches and push his body around with intensity.

Bennett is one of the strongest DTs in the class and does a great job of staying low and getting underneath his opponent. Scouts see him as a raw prospect who would need time to develop though.

4. Sheldon Richardson, Missouri

Commitment: Missouri

The JUCO transfer was the top-rated defensive tackle of the 2009 class and will finally get his chance at Missouri two years later. 

He's got the size of a defensive tackle, at 6'4" and 270 lbs, but the speed and athleticism to be just as good at defensive end. 

3. Desmond Jackson, Texas

Commitment: Texas

He does a great job of penetrating the offensive line and consistently finds his way into the backfield to blow up run plays or force quarterbacks out of the pocket if he can't sack them himself.

A high effort, great motor player, Jackson is relentless in pursuit and never gives up on a play. At 6'1" and 280 pounds, he'll chase ball-carriers 10 or 20 yards down the field without skipping a beat.

2. Anthony Johnson, Louisiana State

Commitment: Louisiana State

Johnson is a big, physical, bull-rushing defensive tackle that prefers to plow straight through his opponent rather than try to get around them.

He's definitely on the raw side and doesn't have a wide array of moves; which is why he relies so much on his strength. The tools are there for a devastating anchor for LSU's line in a couple years, but he needs to polish off his skills first.

1. Tim Jernigan

Commitment: Uncommitted

At 6'2", 275 lbs, Jernigan is an athletic big man who moves extremely well for his size and can get into the backfield in a hurry.

He has all the tools to become an elite college defensive lineman. He's strong, stays low to the ground, drives with his legs, and has a relentless motor.