College Football Recruiting 2012: Ranking the Top 10 Defensive Linemen

I remember reading a write up on Tommy Tuberville awhile back and him stating that the key to success on the field in college football really is your defensive line. He went on to state that in college football, if you have a great group in the defensive trenches, then you have a chance to control the ball game.

Defensive line is a key spot on the field, and this 2012 class has some key players among the group. There are some talented pass rushing ends, and some dominant run stuffers in the middle. It's early, but we have 10 defensive lineman that we really like so far in the 2012 recruiting class.

And here they are...

10. Malcolm Brown, DT

Brown currently plays the zero-technique/ nose tackle spot in his high school squad's 3-4 defensive scheme, but likely will become a penetrating 4-3 tackle in college. He's 6'2", 280 pounds and has good first step quickness at the snap. He's very quick to read and react to double teams and has solid strength to anchor.

When asked to get upfield, he does a solid job of getting skinny to slip creases and has solid athletic ability for a defensive lineman.

He's favoring Texas and Texas A&M right now, with other offers from Oklahoma, Tennessee, Nebraska, TCU, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Kansas State.

9. Donte Fowler, DE

6'3", 240 pounds, Fowler will enjoy the big time spotlight he'll command going into his senior season thanks to a super productive junior season. He had over 100 tackles and 20 sacks from his defensive end/linebacker spot in Florida.

He has a solid understanding of his assignments in zone coverage and the athleticism and lateral movement to factor as a pass defender. Yet, on passing downs, Fowler can put his hand down and blow by an offensive tackle with pure speed and quick feet.

He's already pledged to Florida State.

8. Ellis McCarthy, DT

McCarthy went to the Army All-American game underclassmen combine and made a name for himself by playing well overall against national talent. 6'5", 308 pounds, he is a physical marvel. There is nothing sloppy about McCarthy's frame and he is a very solid athlete for a big man.

He moves around well with great quickness and plays with tremendous strength and power. He really works on his pass rush plan and always looks for new moves. What's neat about McCarthy is he really understands the importance of using his hands in all facets of his game.

USC and UCLA have already offered and LSU and Oregon are in the mix. 

7. Dakota Ball, DT

Ball is a 6'2", 285 pound defensive tackle who was an all-state selection as a junior in Georgia. He has the tools and athletic ability to become a swing lineman in college, where he could play both end and tackle equally. Ball also is a solid tight end and could see time there in college as well.

On defense, he loves to pin his ears back and rush the passer. Ball attacks the line of scrimmage with the force and tenacity to jump on top of blockers and he is strong enough to keep his linebackers clean by occupying offensive linemen.

He grew up a Georgia fan, but committed to Alabama last fall.

6. Vince Valentine, DT

Valentine may be the top pure run stuffing defensive tackle in the 2012 recruiting class. 6'4", 305 pounds, he is very strong on his feet in the middle. Valentine reads and reacts quickly to double teams and can drop and anchor very well.

He makes a mess on the interior and is the prototypical single gap run stuffer. He's reliable to be where his gap and fit is and will gobble up ball carriers all contest long. He's a two-downer right now though, as he must improve his pass rushing ability.

He already has over 12 scholarship offers but it looks like Oklahoma is the favorite.

5. Chris Casher, DE

Casher will go back and forth between being listed as a defensive end and an ATH. 6'4", 225 pounds, he posted seven sacks in spot duty as a an edge rusher. The debate and knock on him as a defender is he wants to play offense in college.

But Casher's speed and quickness off the edge may be too good to ignore, as once he can add weight and goes full tilt into becoming an end, he has a chance to be a great one. He has excellent hand quickness and the agility to move laterally in pursuit of ball carriers.

Casher is from Alabama, but is a solid commit to Florida State.

4. Arik Armstead, DE/DT

Ok so I did it. I listed Armstead as an offensive lineman yesterday and today I'm listing him as a defensive lineman. The debate continues as he can be a great left tackle or defensive lineman. Even on the defensive side, he could play strong side end or grow into a tackle.

6'8", 280 pounds, he played defensive end as a junior and showed great athleticism for a big man with a solid burst out of his stance. Armstead is so athletic that he will also play college basketball as he is a top notch prospect on the hardwood as well.

He will play for both Lane Kiffin and Kevin O'Neil at USC.

3. Noah Spence, DE

Spence is a 6'4", 245 pound defensive end from Pennsylvania. He has a long wing span and arms to stay clean, rarely letting blockers into his body. He also possesses a burst off the line that is among the very elite in the country.

He put up a dominating 23 sacks as a junior and displayed a high powered motor as well as lateral quickness to work down the line in pursuit against the run. Spence is very instinctive and a disruptive presence on the field, a constantly menace to opposing offenses.

He likes Florida, Pitt and his father's alma mater North Carolina State, but has fielded offers from every major program in the country.

2. Eddie Goldman, DT

6'4", 310 pounds, Goldman is a force in the middle. He has equal amounts of strength and quickness to do what he wants, when he wants. He can dominate a game from his DT position. He's the type of player that has offensive line coaches telling their protections all week, "break the huddle and see where he is immediately, then set our protection based off of him."

He fires out of his stance, has the power and strength to walk a blocker back to the passer, and has a short burst to finish in the pocket. He's strong vs. double teams, has strength to anchor and reacts to the run extremely well.

Really, the question is who hasn't offered Goldman?

1. Mario Edwards, DE

Edwards takes the top spot out of the gate, but trust me, Spence and Goldman are nipping at his heels. Yet Edwards is a 6'4", 260 pound end, a pure pass rusher. He has a spin move that is like Dwight Freeney's and can also use strength and power to bull rush and walk blockers back.

Edwards also has the speed and motor to chase down ball carriers in pursuit. He really gets after it and is a marvel to see play—a man his size should not move like a smaller player. He has great agility, quickness, change of direction and balance on the field.

Offers are from all of the national powers, with Florida State and Texas as the early leaders.