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NFL Scouting Combine 2016 participants: Defensive line

By Charles Rahrig V

Nov 21, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Joey Bosa (97) lines up against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Joey Bosa (97) lines up against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Here are the defensive line participants for the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

This past season in college football, everyone got to see what a truly dominant defensive line can do for a team as the Alabama Crimson Tide dominated the defensive side of the football because of their line. The game of football is won in the trenches and winning the battle up front allows the rest of the guys on defense to do their job.

This year’s draft class is probably the deepest that there has ever been for the defensive line. It’s very well possible that 15 – 20 defensive lineman could be drafted in the first round based off the depth of this class alone.

That means at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, defensive line prospects are going to have to work their hardest to separate themselves from the others in their own class.

Here is a list of all defensive line participants for the annual scouting combine.

"Mehdi Abdesmad (DE), Boston CollegeSterling Bailey (DE), GeorgiaJimmy Bean (DE), Oklahoma StateAndrew Billings (DT), BaylorRonald Blair (DE), Appalachian StateJoey Bosa (DE), Ohio StateDeForest Buckner (DE), OregonJonathan Bullard (DE), FloridaVernon Butler (DT), Louisiana TechShilique Calhoun (DE), Michigan StateKenny Clark (DT), UCLAMaliek Collins (DT), NebraskaJames Cowser (DE), Southern UtahSheldon Day (DT), Notre DameKevin Dodd (DE), ClemsonJason Fanaika (DE), UtahAdam Gotsis (DT), Georgia TechJavon Hargrave (DT), South Carolina StateJoel Heath (DT), Michigan StateWillie Henry (DT), MichiganMatt Ioannidis (DT), TempleBranden Jackson (DE), Texas TechQuinton Jefferson (DT), MarylandAustin Johnson (DT), Penn StateChris Jones (DT), Mississippi StateMatt Judon (DE), Grand Valley StateUfomba Kamalu (DE), Miami (Fla.)Bronson Kaufusi (DE), BYUDarius Latham (DT), IndianaNile Lawrence-Stample (DT), Florida StateShaq Lawson (DE), ClemsonDean Lowry (DE), NorthwesternLuther Maddy (DT), Virginia TechChris Mayes (DT), GeorgiaAlex McCalister (DE), FloridaCarl Nassib (DE), Penn StateGiorgio Newberry (DE), Florida StateYannick Ngakoue (DE), MarylandDadi Nicolas (DE), Virginia TechRobert Nkemdiche (DT), Ole MissShawn Oakman (DE), BaylorVictor Ochi (DE), Stony BrookEmmanuel Ogbah (DE), Oklahoma StateRomeo Okwara (DE), Notre DameDrew Ott (DE), IowaD.J. Pettway (DE), AlabamaSheldon Rankins (DT), LouisvilleD.J. Reader (DT), ClemsonJarran Reed (DT), AlabamaHassan Ridgeway (DT), TexasA’Shawn Robinson (DT), AlabamaDeVaunte Sigler (DT), Jacksonville StateNoah Spence (DE), Eastern KentuckyCharles Tapper (DE), OklahomaLawrence Thomas (DT), Michigan StateRon Thompson (DE), SyracuseVincent Valentine (DT), NebraskaJihad Ward (DT), IllinoisAdolphus Washington (DT), Ohio StateAntwaun Woods (DT), USCConnor Wujciak (DT), Boston CollegeAnthony Zettel (DT), Penn State"

The big name that people will be looking at is Joey Bosa. Bosa is an absolute animal of a defensive and should be one of the first players to come off the board at the draft.

Other names to keep an eye on is A’Shawn Robinson and Robert Nkemdiche. Both are promising defensive tackles and could prove to be superstars at the next level.

h/t: ProFootballTalk

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