College Football Recruiting 2012: Power Ranking the Top 25 Defensive Ends

Pass rushers are becoming more and more in demand, and with teams throwing so much, top defenses need more than one.

For the 2012 recruiting class, we have some flat out fantastic DE prospects that combine athleticism with size, speed, first step quickness and even strength to play the run.

Here is the second update for the top 25 DE prospects in the country for 2012 recruiting.

25: Greg McMullen

If you're a DL coach that prides himself on teaching and developing players with a blank canvas, McMullen is your man.

He's a 6'5", 260-pounder with a long and imposing frame that could get even bigger. Combine that with great athletic ability and a desire to learn more and improve, you may be getting a steal in this guy.

McMullen has committed to Nebraska.

24: Ken Ekanem

Ekanem is a 6'3", 240-pounder with excellent pursuit speed and quickness. Even though he is a stout 240 pounds, he is more of a finesse guy but in a good way.

He does it by being a better athlete than his opponents while also being aware of the down and distance. He seems to be able to read run and pass very quickly and plays both effectively.

Notre Dame, Pitt, NC State, Virginia, Boston College, Oregon, Virginia Tech and UNC are in the hunt.

23: Tom Strobel

Strobel is a giant DE at 6'6", 250 pounds and looks even bigger on the field. He really projects well as a left DE due to his size and strength to play the run.

I think Strobel would be able to bulk up and play DE in a 30 front. He can stop and stack at the point, shed offensive linemen and make plays versus the run.

Strobel is headed to Michigan.

22: Leonard Williams

Williams is a player that has a very high ceiling due to his versatility. He can play left end or 3-4 DE in various fronts.

At 6'5" and 250 pounds, he's strong at the point of attack, can stop and stack with ease and has great strength to shed and toss blockers. He anchors well against the run and is a super athletic pass rusher.

USC, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida State, Auburn and Florida State are after him.

21: Trent Taylor

Taylor's a great talent that I expect much out of in college. At 6'3" and 250 pounds, he had a great junior season, finishing with 96 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 15 sacks.

He's a solid athlete that can fly off the ball, shows great bend ability and doesn't allow himself to get washed upfield beyond the passer.

He also can play the run with strength and makes plays in his range.

He just switched to Tennessee from Miami last week.

20: Mario Ojemudia

At 6'2" and 220 pounds, Ojemudia is a bit light in the pants for a DE but makes up for it with speed and athletic ability.

He could even kick back and play some OLB in college. Ojemudia is excellent at the snap and in pursuit. He plays with a great passion and aggression level that has him never backing down from blockers.

Ojemudia is committed to Michigan.

19: Tyriq McCord

You'll hear me frequently use the term, "snap quickness" with pass rushers. Well, McCord has it and then some.

He's not the biggest DE out there at 6'3", 225 pounds, but he simply jumps on top of opposing linemen with ease. He can fly off the ball, get into a blocker's body, get around them and reach the QB. He plays with a high and revved up motor as well.

Georgia, USC, Florida and South Carolina are the prime four.

18: Hassan Ridgeway

Ridgeway is not a true attacking style player per se, as his game is more of a read and react style. He loves to get into the point of attack with a blocker, see if it's run or pass and go from there.

He's 6'4", 220 pounds and also spends time on offense in various roles. Ridgeway also shows an ability to bend and get around blocks.

He's headed for Texas.

17: Devonte Fields

Fields is going to be one of those defensive ends that a coordinator uses in all kinds of crazy ways. He can rush the passer, drop off in zone blitzes and cover running backs underneath, so there's a lot he can do.

Fields is a 6'4", 225-pounder which is excellent size, length and athleticism to factor even as a stand-up rusher. Look for him to make plays in college.

He's bound for TCU.

16: Jordan Watkins

Watkins is a mammoth DE that plans to get bigger. Already approaching 270 pounds, he wants to get to 280 pounds for his senior high school season.

He stands 6'5" and plays with good strength, length and athleticism. He won't wow you much in a speed category, but he has enough of everything to really be a factor down after down. Don't be shocked if he grows into a DT.

Stanford has him locked up.

15: Leonard Floyd

Floyd is a 6'5", 220-pounder that has a lot of natural ability and athleticism. He can really track ball carries, run like a deer and just ball out.

He'll need to learn some nuances of pass rushing, get bigger and stronger and maybe develop a bit of a nasty streak, but he'll be a good one.

He's committed to Georgia, where I think he'll play OLB in the Bulldogs' 3-4 scheme.

14: Chris Wormley

Wormley is one of the strongest DEs in the country at 6'5" and 250 pounds. He can really overwhelm a blocker and shows an ability to convert speed into power during his rush.

I think he can easily play in a 30 front as a DE due to his length, strength and shedding ability. He really uses his power well, tossing blockers aside and stopping the run. 

Wormley is headed to Michigan.

13: Troy Hinds

Hinds has been such a problem on the Utah high school football scene that many teams just shy away from him. At 6'5" and 225 pounds, he is an excellent pass rusher.

He has a great burst off the edge, can close to finish and he has great pursuit ability. He can play the run with strength but also has the range to chase.

Hinds has committed to BYU.

12: Se'Von Pittman

Pittman is a 6'4", 225-pound defensive end who does what an end is supposed to do—rush the passer. He flies off the ball and crashes down hard off the edges all night.

Athletic and agile, Pittman does a solid job staying clean and has a burst to close and finish. He can be a bit of a one-trick pony at times, as he lacks strength, but a college strength program will improve that.

He's committed to Michigan State.

11: Martin Aiken

At 6'4", 240 pounds, Aiken is an intriguing player. He's explosive off the ball, powerful at the point of attack, converts speed to power, and can close on the passer well.

He had a junior season with numbers such as 106 tackles, 36 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. He shows a great fight to pressure and is a menace for an offensive line night after night.

Clemson secured him during the summer.

10: Jonathan Bullard

Bullard is an extremely physical DE at 6'4", 250 pounds and tough. He loves, even dares, offenses to run at him as he excels at anchoring, stacking, shedding and destroying ball carriers.

He's a great player that is only going to get better. He had a junior year that saw him nab 107 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 16 sacks.

Watch out for Florida, Alabama, Clemson, Nebraska, Miami, Auburn, Tennessee and South Carolina.

9: Jelani Hamilton

Hamilton first caught my eye by having a solid Under Armour combine showing in January. From a solid St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) program, he is a solid defensive end prospect.

He shows the ability to become a good end, as he can play the pass and run. He has adequate snap quickness, solid use of hands, strength and a burst. He also flashes good range to chase ball carriers around in stopping the run.

He's headed to Miami.

8: Dante Fowler

Fowler is a tweener prospect that can be listed as a defensive end or outside linebacker. Wherever he's listed, just know he is a dynamic defender and pass rusher.

At 6'3", 240 pounds, he can play the run well and chase ball carriers all over the field. On third downs, Fowler revs up his motor and gets after the passer with speed, quickness and explosion.

Fowler's committed to Florida State, but Florida is thick in the hunt.

7: Jordan Jenkins

At 6'3", 250 pounds, Jenkins may be able to come in as a true freshman and make an impact as a sub rusher from day one—he's that athletically gifted. You watch him on tape and you see a burst and ability to beat blockers at the snap.

He can bend well off the edge and close on the QB in a flash. He plays the run well and just needs to get seasoned

Alabama and Florida are the top two suitors.

6: Channing Ward

Ward is a 6'4", 240-pound pass rushing specialist who could play OLB in a 3-4 scheme. He has good athleticism and plays well with his hands.

He shows a burst at the snap and bend ability. Yet what really makes Ward special is knowing that his hands can be a weapon. Most rushers just try to outrun blockers and get stuck when engaged. Ward can get free.

LSU, Ole Miss and Mississippi State seem to be the major players.

5: Adolphus Washington

Washington is another pass rusher and among the elite in the country this year. At 6'5", 250 pounds, Washington has the size to play the strong side in college, but also the athleticism, speed and quickness to man the weak side as well.

He has a long frame to stay clean, he can convert speed into power quickly and forcefully, and he bends solidly. Washington is also a noted hoops prospect, which is why you hear the Julius Peppers comparisons.

Ohio State, Michigan, Kentucky, Michigan State, Miami and Alabama are his top five.

4: Chris Casher

Casher is a 6'4", 240-pounder that is among the finest pure athletes in the country, regardless of position. He's so athletic, he even doubles as a wide receiver at times for his high school team.

Casher is also known as one of the smartest, most instinctive and aware players in the nation. He plays with excellent speed, strength, balance and quickness and can just lay people out as well.

He's headed to Florida State

3: Darius Hamilton

Hamilton is a 6'4", 245-pound defensive prospect that can do it all.

Most ends at the high school level only focus on their pass rushing prowess, yet Hamilton shows the strength to anchor and shed against the end.

Toss that in with his elite pass rushing ability, and you see a five-star prospect on the defensive edge.

Rutgers leads Florida, Cal, Oregon, Alabama and a few others to get him.

2: Noah Spence

Spence is the top pure pass rusher in the country and easily has the quickest first two steps in America. He flies off the ball and gets after the QB with tenacity, passion and sheer speed.

At 6'4", 245 pounds, Spence is a super athletic edge defender that can also track and hawk a RB down form the backside. He has great range and could even play at OLB in a 3-4 setup.

Maryland, Florida, USC, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pitt and Rutgers are all in the race.

1: Mario Edwards

The most complete edge defender in the country, Edwards is a 6'4", 265-pound monster of a defensive end. In fact, ESPNU lists him as the premier prospect in the nation over Dorial Green-Beckham.

Edwards has the strength to play the run, anchor, stop and stack at the point and shed blocks. Then he has the speed to chase and pressure passers all night long.

He is solid to Florida State.