2 SEC defensive linemen named among NFL.com’s 11-best CFB defensive linemen of 2018
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The SEC has some of the nation’s best defensive linemen, even as Clemson has built a four-headed monster along its defensive line.
However, the SEC has produced six first-round NFL Draft picks along the defensive line the past two seasons, and that streak will almost certainly continue in 2019.
On Friday, NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein released his list of the top-11 college defensive linemen to watch, and two SEC defenders made the cut.
Checking in at the No. 10 spot was Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat, who recorded an SEC-high 10.5 sacks last season. Zierlein credited Sweat’s long strides for giving him elite closing speed:
He can rush with extremely long strides that allow him to close out quarterbacks much more quickly than expected. He also uses those strides and arm length to ensnare ball carriers way out on the perimeter.
Up in the No. 3 spot was Alabama star Raekwon Davis, who had 8.5 sacks in 2017. Zierlein loves Davis’s versatility and brute strength:
Davis is among the new breed of defenders who fit cleanly in both 4-3 and 3-4 fronts. His frame is chiseled with outstanding lean muscle mass, long arms and a solid anchor at the point of attack. Davis is well-schooled at striking first, getting arm extension and shedding blockers to attack ball carriers.
See Zierlein’s full comments on the two SEC stars, as well as the other nine players on the list, here.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
