In rating the top five defensive tackles in the 2016 recruiting class, I wanted to see how much different I thought of them compared to the composite rankings.

According to 247Sports.com’s composite rankings, 10 of the top 16 defensive tackles in the nation signed with SEC schools. Alabama signed three of them.

  • Derrick Brown, Auburn (5-star, 4th overall)
  • Rashard Lawrence, LSU (5-star. 5th overall)
  • Benito Jones, Ole Miss (5-star, 6th overall)
  • Antwuan Jackson, Auburn (4-star, 7th overall)
  • Edwin Alexander, LSU (4-star, 8th overall)
  • Julian Rochester, Georgia (4-star, 10th overall)
  • Raekwon Davis, Alabama (4-star, 11th overall)
  • Kendell Jones, Alabama (4-star, 12th overall)
  • Michail Carter, Georgia (4-star, 15th overall)
  • Quinnen Williams, Alabama (4-star, 16th overall)

After looking at some Hudl film and random YouTube highlights and highlights of competition at the various All-Star games, here’s where I am with the top 5 defensive tackles in this bunch.

First observation: There’s a definite drop after the top three, who look like elite prospects who could be three-and-out type of players.

The remaining defensive tackles have a lot of talent, but the holes in their respective games are easier to spot and will need more coaching and seasoning to resolve.

1. Benito Jones, Ole Miss

Jones wins me over with his effort and his ability to make plays downfield with the pursuit. That’s the stuff you can’t coach. He’s not the biggest in this group — he’s actually the smallest at 6-2, 285 — but he’s the most versatile and probably has the best upside because he works so hard. He’s explosive and athletic. One of those eventual 300-pounders who will occasionally line up at different spots on the line and even drop into short zone coverage.

2. Rashard Lawrence, LSU

It was tough to choose between Lawrence and Derrick Brown. I watched both on a couple of occasions to be sure of this, but Lawrence does so much damage against the run that he’s likely to develop into the player who can single-handedly shut down the interior run game. The havoc Lawrence causes between the tackles is impressive.

3. Derrick Brown, Auburn

Brown’s skills might not be as well defined as Lawrence, but his versatility is well represented and Brown has the ability to be a three-down lineman with his natural pass rushing skills. If there was any one issue that stood out, it’s that he plays too high at times and gives himself up. In high school, he was so physically imposing that he got away with that, but he’ll have to clean that up in the SEC

4. Antwuan Jackson, Auburn

Jackson, 6-2, 305, probably will play some defensive end and seems like a very good fit for a 3-4 because he can transition between end and tackle very well. Jackson’s main asset is quickness, and when he stays low he can provide all kinds of problems with his initial moves and ability to get off the ball quickly.

5. Julian Rochester, Georgia

When all things are equal, you take the biggest guy. Edwin Alexander, Raekwon Davis, Michail Carter and Rochester were all pretty equal but Rochester is almost 6-foot-6, weighs 321, and making plays outside of the tackles is something he’s very comfortable doing. He’s pretty long and in many cases he’d be a heck of an offensive line prospect. At times on film he manhandled guys so badly it was unfair.