Hardy should easily be the top player in these rankings but his effort is as questionable as anyone in the country. At times he dominates, at others he disappears. However, some of his inconsistent play last year might be attributed to nagging injuries. When Hardy is on, he displays great athleticism and a superb burst off the line.

Kindle is a slightly hard player to grade. Until last season, he didn't live up to his billing as a top recruit. When he was at his best, he was playing outside linebacker rushing the passer. This season he'll line up at defensive end. He has the size and strength to play either spot. That, coupled with his upside, earns him this ranking.

Hughes will likely move from defensive end in college to outside linebacker in the pros. He shows a solid first step, which helped him lead the nation in sacks in 2008. He shows above average lateral quickness, but needs to learn how to shed blocks better.

Altough he's not flashy or possessing great size, Graham has made his name at Michigan as being a dependable all-around player. He's one of the better natural defensive ends in the draft due to his strength at the point of attack. His lower body strength helped him attain 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss in 2008.

In 2007, Selvie was arguably the dynamic and dominant player in the nation when he had 14.5 sacks and 31.5 tackles for loss. Last season he was troubled by injuries and double teams. When he's single covered, Selvie has as good of a first step as anyone in the nation. If he can play like he did in 2007 and show he can help more against the run, he could be a first-round player again.

At his size, Wootton shouldn't have the quickness and lateral movement he does. His closing speed is scary and his long arms help him get great leverage. Wootton would be ranked higher in these rankings, but he's still recovering from a severe knee injury suffered in last season's bowl game. If he's healthy, watch out.

Everyone keeps expecting Sapp to break through and live up to his promise as the next Gaines Adams. Sapp has a lean, angular frame and has had some issues putting on weight. He's not a factor against the run and needs to develop better pass rush moves. Still, his athleticism means he could skyrocket up this list. That is if he's able to successfully overcome offseason knee surgery.

Write-up coming soon!

The comparisons Lang gets to DeMarcus Ware are simply unfair. While Lang is a very good player, he's not a physical and athletic freak like Ware was at Troy. What Lang is, however, is a solid pass rusher with a good hand punch and great backside closing speed. If he can display a better burst off the line in 2009, he could rise up the rankings.

Because he's not the fastest, Kirlew won't wow many pro teams. However, last season he proved to be as productive as any defensive end in the nation, finishing with 10.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. He rarely was double teamed last year and it will be interesting to see how he plays with added attention this year.

Coleman is very similar is body and playing ability to former Purdue star Anthony Spencer. He's strictly a rush linebacker at the next level. He came on last season with 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks.

Cunningham struggles some against the run, but he showed great improvement in 2008 as a pass rusher. He's still technically raw, but his physical tools are intriguing. He needs to get stronger, but has already added 15 pounds to his frame.

Write-up coming soon!

Write-up coming soon!

After breaking rhough with a stellar 2007 season, Middleton struggle in 2008 while constantly face double teams. He's a solid all-round en prospect, but clearly needs to get better at splitting double teams and beating chip blocks.

Still maturing into his frame, Young shows solid pass rush ability. Young knows how to use his length to his advantage to get leverage at the line. He's an intelligent lineman who knows how to use his hands to keep blockers away. If he gets stronger, he'll only continue to rise up the rankings.

A two-time all-conference first team player, Jorgensen doesn't blow people away with his athleticism. What he does is play hard and continue working until the whistle.

A natural defensie end prospect for the next level, Wilson has good size and ability. He's put together two good seasons in a row. In 2008, he had 10.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for a loss. He's solid against the run and has good enough athleticism to make it at the next level.

Size might be an issue with Davis, but he's been very productive in his collegiate career. His 27 career sacks come largely thanks to his ability to dip low and get leverage around tackles. His initial step is good enough to stay at defensive end, if he can become a little more stout against the run. If not, he's a good 3-4 linebacker candidate.

There is very little Dunlap can't do as a defensive end. He's powerful at the point of attack and displays a good burst off the snap. He's more athletic than people give him credit, as displayed by his two blocked punts against Vanderbilt last season. Dunlap is a great, versatile player who looks like a future top-10 pick.

During his first two years at USC, Griffen has mostly been a pass-rush specialist. He doesn't have great stats, but he's shown the ability to consistently get into the back field. He has a solid combination of strength and speed around the edge. He's only going to get better.

What makes Morgan so intriguing is his size. He'll probably be able to play end in a 3-4 or the 4-3. To warrant this ranking, Morgan needs to consistently play up to his ability, especially against quality opponents.

During parts of the 2008 season, Romeus looked like he was already ready for the NFL. He really shined against Iowa and Oregon State, notching four of his nine sacks for the year. He's a strong athlete who should only get bigger.

The coaching staff at Ohio State speaks highly of Heyward, a starter since his true freshman year. For his size, Heyward has surprising agility and quickness, which he uses to effortlessly get off blocks. He's a high-motor player that might not blow people away with his pass rushing but is about as solid of an end as there is in college football.