Every NFL club annually seeks quality linemen for their defensive front, whether through the NFL Draft or veteran free agency. With 27 of 31 NFL clubs playing a straight 4-3 defensive set, tackles are a high priority on most team's list for new personnel.

The position demands a prospect to be in the 300-pound range, to hold the point of attack in run support, and to possess the mobility and quickness to penetrate the backfield as a pass rusher.

Stanford's Willie Howard will warrant a high selection. (Allsport)

The standards of excellence in the NFL today are Tampa Bay's Warren Sapp and Oakland's Darrell Russell, two defenders who can dominate any game from the inside. They combine every attribute necessary to excel in the pro game -- power, quickness, agility, toughness and speed.

This year's group of defensive tackles could be a bumper crop with the addition of several highly regarded underclassmen. Georgia's tandem of seniors Richard Seymour and Marcus Stroud have attracted hordes of NFL scouts over the past few seasons. Both players have the prototypical numbers NFL clubs seek in a pro prospect.

Seymour might be the best athlete at the position and ranks first overall going into the crucial late and postseason games. His efforts there could guarantee an early first round pick with an impressive showing.

Texas will also furnish the NFL with a pair of talented senior tackles in Casey Hampton and Shaun Rogers.

Underclassmen can have an even greater effect on the final strength of this class with Florida's Gerard Warren and Wisconsin's Wendell Bryant heading the short list. With the addition of either or both of these prospects, this position could be one of the real strengths of the 2001 NFL Draft 2001 underclassmen declare in early January.

The final test of any prospect's standing will be the critical postseason all-star games and the final spring workouts leading up to the draft. Juniors only participate in the individual workout portion of the postseason and must perform at a high level to warrant an early selection with no all-star games to improve their stock.

More draft analysis

1. Richard Seymour, Georgia
Senior, 6-5, 300
Big athletic lineman has the package NFL scouts look for in an interior defender. He is an explosive lineman who gets consistent penetration into the backfield and has learned to use his massive wingspan to the fullest to harass passers.

2. Willie Howard, Stanford
Senior, 6-4, 290
Mobile senior tackle has been one of the premier defenders on the west coast over the past three seasons. He combines power and quickness with the burst to the ball to make impact plays consistently.

Marcus Stroud has teamed with Richard Seymour to give Georgia a dominant set of tackles. (Allsport)

3. Marcus Stroud, Georgia
Senior, 6-6, 300
Huge senior tackle has been a force in the middle in the SEC the past three seasons. He has a huge frame and has learned to use his reach and bulk effectively to control the middle of the line.

4. Ennis Davis, Southern California
Senior, 6-4, 300
Massive tackle looks like a world beater one play and invisible the next. His combination of size, power and agility is rare for a 300-pound defender, but he will have to prove he can play at a more consistent level to rank among the elite at this position.

5. Casey Hampton, Texas
Senior, 6-1, 310
Powerful tackle has been the leader of the Texas line since his freshman season. He combines excellent strength, mobility and agility to make plays sideline to sideline.

6. Gerard Warren, Florida
Junior, 6-3, 310
Explosive junior tackle has been an impact performer on the Gators defense, displaying quickness and power from the inside regularly. He could move up further with a big workout if he declares for the 2001 NFL Draft.

7. Damione Lewis, Miami (Fla.)
Senior, 6-2, 290
Quick senior tackle has played through a broken toe this season, displaying the burst to the ball to make big plays. He uses his bulk well and relies on his quickness to get to the ball and make plays.

8. Shaun Rogers, Texas
Senior, 6-4, 310
Big athletic tackle has coupled with Casey Hampton to give the Longhorns an imposing tandem on the inside. He comes off the ball quickly with the power and speed to make plays in the backfield.

9. Kenny Smith, Alabama
Senior, 6-4, 290
Athletic senior lineman has played both inside and outside during his career. He has excellent mobility to move along the line and the strength to hold the point of attack well.

10. Mario Fatafehi, Kansas State
Senior, 6-2, 310
Powerful interior lineman has been the key defender in the tough Wildcat run defense over the past few seasons. He has a quick first step and a low center of gravity that allows him to penetrate the backfield and stuff plays at the point of attack.

Coyle, a full-time NFL scout, has published Draft Insiders' Digest, an NFL Draft and free agency publication for the last 10 years.

He attends practices, games and individual workouts across the country as well as breaking down game films to study the nation's top players. He writes for numerous pro weeklies on the NFL Draft and free agency in addition to game matchups and player profiles.

Coyle attends NFL minicamps in May and June and numerous training camps throughout the summer. He is a frequent guest on sports talk shows from coast-to-coast, and has also been a personnel consultant to several NFL teams in recent years.