ACC: Carolina's stacked D highlights deep draft pool
Few head coaches know the value of a strong defensive line better than Butch Davis.
A defensive line coach under Jimmy Johnson at the University of Miami and with the Dallas Cowboys, Davis molded the likes of Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland and the late Jerome Brown before his success in the trenches helped land him head coaching jobs with the Hurricanes and later with the Cleveland Browns and North Carolina Tar Heels.
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| Tar Heels DT Marvin Austin tops the list but not without some questions. (Getty Images) |
His 2010 defense, however, could prove to be his most talented group yet.
NFLDraftScout.com rates seven North Carolina senior defenders as potentially draftable prospects. Most notable among them are All-American safety Deunta Williams, outside linebacker Bruce Carter and defensive tackle Marvin Austin, assuming the latter is on the field in September, of course.
The hype surrounding UNC's defense is so heavy, in fact, it isn't only NFL scouts excited about the Tar Heels' talent. Austin has been at the center of an NCAA investigation into players receiving inappropriate benefits from agents.
Considering junior defensive end Robert Quinn is also considered by some scouts to be a coveted prospect, it isn't difficult to see why North Carolina -- and the ACC, in general -- is a hotbed for prospective NFL talent.
With 14 prospects listed among NFLDraftScout.com's preseason Top 50 seniors, the ACC -- not the SEC or Big 12 -- appears to be the country's most talented conference.
10. OLB Mark Herzlich, Boston College, 6-feet-4, 248, 4.75
Herzlich will, of course, have to prove he's fully recovered from his scary bout with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that sidelined him for the entire 2009 season. He'll also have to shake off a stress fracture in his right foot that has, to date, prevented him from taking the practice field with the Eagles. If healthy, however, Herzlich is special. NFL scouts think so, too. The 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year was graded by National as the top senior prospect in the country heading into last season.
9. WR Greg Little, North Carolina, 6-2, 214, 4.56
For all the talk about UNC's defense, Little could be a first-round prospect. The former running back still has a long way to go as a route-runner, but he flashes extraordinary hands and body control for a receiver of his size. Little caught 62 passes last year -- the fifth-highest total in UNC history -- and could shatter that mark in 2010.
8. S DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson, 6-0, 212, 4.54
The only player in the country to record at least eight interceptions and 100 tackles last season, McDaniel exploded onto the national scene with an All-American campaign. Scouts love his instincts and ball skills, but want to see what he'll do for an encore without the consistent tandem of Chris Chancellor and Crezdon Butler protecting the sideline. Chancellor and Butler had started 40 consecutive games for the Tigers, but with both attempting to play in the NFL in 2010, it will be up to McDaniel to shoulder the load for the Tigers.
7. OG Rodney Hudson, Florida State, 6-3, 284, 5.26
Perhaps the most highly touted prospect on this list, Hudson earned freshman All-American honors in 2007 and first-team All-ACC accolades after the '08 and '09 seasons. Having earned FSU's top OL grade an astonishing 23 times over his career, Hudson is a tough draw for any defensive tackle with his quick feet and tenacity. Hudson might struggle to carry over his success to the NFL, as his lack of ideal size and strength means he might only be a fit for zone-blocking teams.
6. OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College, 6-7, 298, 5.06
Few teams have a greater history of producing NFL talent along the offensive line than the Eagles. In Castonzo, the team boasts one of the more athletic talents in recent memory. Castonzo lined up at right tackle as a true freshman while protecting Matt Ryan in 2007, but moved to left tackle a year later and hasn't skipped a beat. Though he's entering his senior year having started all 41 games of his career, scouts would like to see him continue to develop his strength and tenacity in the running game.
5. CB Ras-I Dowling, Virginia, 6-2, 200, 4.54
One of the more intriguing press-cover corner prospects in recent years, Dowling has been a standout at Virginia his entire career. The team leader in passes broken up each of the past three seasons (31 total), Dowling is credited with locking down one side of the field and giving 2010 second-round pick Chris Cook (Minnesota Vikings) an opportunity to make enough plays on the other side to drive up his draft stock. A second-team All-ACC pick last year, Dowling should contend for first-team honors in 2010. If he runs the 40-yard dash in the mid 4.5s or lower, he could warrant a first-round selection.
4. QB Christian Ponder, Florida State, 6-2, 220, 4.68
Overshadowed a bit amid the hype surrounding Washington quarterback Jake Locker, Ponder enters his senior campaign rated just as highly as the Huskies passer by some pro scouts. It isn't difficult to understand why. Though a bit smaller than most scouts would like, Ponder's underrated arm strength and mobility combine with his high football IQ and accuracy to make him a legitimate first-round prospect. A shoulder injury suffered against Clemson knocked Ponder out early last year, but he still ranked first in the ACC with 301.89 passing yards per game. If Jimbo Fisher is to have success immediately, it will be Ponder who helps him attain it.
3. OLB Bruce Carter, North Carolina, 6-3, 230, 4.57
Considered by some to be the best pound-for-pound athlete in the country, Carter can be a terror for opposing offenses and special teams. The second-team All-ACC choice last season racked up 65 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and an interception he returned for a touchdown. He blocked five kicks in 2008. Scouts want to see him play with greater control. At this point, they're concerned that like former top-10 picks Aaron Curry (Seattle, 2009) and Keith Rivers (Cincinnati, 2008) Carter might struggle to harness his athleticism and turn it into consistency.
2. DE Allen Bailey, Miami (Fla.), 6-4, 288, 4.79
Regarded by some as the country's elite prep linebacker prospect when he signed with the Hurricanes, Bailey has built himself into one of the most feared defensive linemen in the country. A versatile defender who has seen action at defensive end and defensive tackle over the past two seasons, Bailey has led the 'Canes in tackles for loss (21) and sacks (12) during that time and appears poised for a true breakout campaign. As physically imposing as they come, Bailey has an upside that could make him a top-10 selection in the 2011 draft.
1. DT Marvin Austin, North Carolina, 6-3, 310, 4.96
The NCAA investigation hovering over his head certainly is reason enough for fans to know Austin's name, but NFL scouts have known it for a few years. The extremely highly touted prep prospect has been a standout for the Tar Heels since his freshman season. Gaudy numbers are tough to come by on a defense as stacked as this one, but Austin earned second-team All-ACC accolades last year with 42 tackles, six tackles for loss and four sacks. Austin would have earned a first-round selection in the 2010 draft -- despite it being one of the stronger defensive-tackle classes in recent memory. His rare size and athleticism combination could warrant a top 10 selection this April should his off-field decision-making and on-field consistency improve.
Rob Rang is a Senior Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.
