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2015 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper’s top 10 defensive tackles

By Patrick Schmidt

Nov 10, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive end Leonard Williams (94) celebrates after intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter against the Arizona State Wildcats at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated Arizona State 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive end Leonard Williams (94) celebrates after intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter against the Arizona State Wildcats at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated Arizona State 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mel Kiper is continuing to unveil his top players at each position for the 2015 NFL Draft and released his top five senior defensive tackles and top five juniors at the position we should keep a close eye on during the upcoming college football season.

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The top senior on Kiper’s board and a potential first round pick is Michael Bennett from the Ohio State Buckeyes. He is coming off a season that saw him rack up 11.5 tackles for loss and should improve on that number this season. He is flanked by defensive ends Noah Spence and Joey Bosa which should give Bennett some chances to thrive when he’s not faced with constant double teams.

Carl Davis from Iowa and Danny Shelton from Washington come in next on Kiper’s list and are mammoth tackles at more than 320 pounds and capable od occupying multiple blockers in a one-gap scheme.

Grady Jarrett from Clemson and Tyeler Davison from Fresno State round out the top five seniors at defensive tackle on Kiper’s list.

The best defensive tackle and perhaps the best defender in the nation is Leonard Williams from USC who is the top underclassmen at tackle and a potential top-five pick if he declares for the draft, which would appear likely. He had 12.5 tackles for loss last season and at 6-5, 290-pounds is athletic enough to play at end. He should line up all over the Trojans line next season and be the front-runner for Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

You don’t have to go too far to find the second best underclassmen as UCLA’s Ellis McCarthy is poised to improve upon his strong season in 2014 as the 6-4, 330-pound former top recruit is getting better by the day as he picks up the nuances of the position.

Another former top recruit should continue the pipeline from Tallahassee to the NFL as Eddie Goldman from Florida State will try to fill the shoes of 2014 second rounder Timmy Jernigan this season with the Seminoles and could end up a better player than Jernigan if he can refine his technique and play with more consistency.

Christian Covington from Rice, Jordan Phillips from Oklahoma and Malcom Brown from Texas round out the list of top draft-eligible underclassmen.

Who do you think will be the first defensive tackle taken in next year’s draft? Who is a player who could emerge this season that Kiper didn’t list?

Sound off with your thoughts in the comments section below.

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