It has not been a standout start to the season for the nation's top defensive tackle prospects. There doesn't look to be a Star Lotulelei in the group this year, let alone an Ndamukong Suh or Haloti Ngata. The defensive tackles for next year's draft are more like the 2012 class that featured three first-round picks in Dontari Poe, Fletcher Cox and Michael Brockers.
2014 NFL Draft defensive tackle rankings
Jonathan Daniel
The headliner of the upcoming group remains Louis Nix of Notre Dame. He's been up and down early this year – notably getting neutralized by Oklahoma. Arizona State's Will Sutton bulked up before the season and it hasn't really helped him like some thought. It hasn't hurt as much as others have written, but he's not making a lot of splash plays yet. Dominique Easley of Florida would probably be the top player, but a torn ACL will allow other players to rise above him.
This group is going to be fluid up until the draft in May. Keep an eye on Ego Ferguson of LSU, DaQuan Jones of Penn State and Kenny Hyder of Texas Tech. They could be risers throughout the rest of the season.
| 1. Louis Nix | 6'3, 326 pounds | Defensive tackle | Notre Dame - Preseason notes |
| 2. Will Sutton | 6'1, 305 pounds | Defensive tackle | Arizona State |
| 3. Dominique Easley | 6'2, 280 pounds | Defensive end | Florida |
| 4. Ra'Shede Hageman | 6'6, 311 pounds | Defensive tackle | Minnesota |
| 5. Anthony Johnson | 6'3, 304 pounds | Defensive tackle | LSU * |
| 6. Daniel McCullers | 6'6, 377 pounds | Defensive Tackle | Tennessee |
| 7. Calvin Barnett | 6'2, 300 pounds | Defensive tackle | Oklahoma State |
| 8. George Uko | 6'3, 275 pounds | Defensive tackle | Southern California |
| 9. Tim Jernigan 6'2, 298 pounds | Defensive tackle | Florida State * |
| 10. DaQuan Jones | 6'3, 318 pounds | Defensive tackle | Penn State |
| 11. Ego Ferguson | 6'3, 309 pounds | Defensive tackle | LSU * |
| 12. Danny Shelton | 6'1, 327 pounds | Defensive tackle | Washington * |
| 13. Kerry Hyder | 6'2, 280 pounds | Defensive tackle | Texas Tech |
| 14. DeAndre Coleman | 6'5, 315 pounds | Defensive tackle | California |
| 15. Beau Allen | 6'2, 334 pounds | Defensive tackle | Wisconsin |
| 16. Wade Keliikipi | 6'3, 306 pounds | Defensive tackle | Oregon |
| 17. Roosevelt Nix | 5'11, 267 pounds | Defensive tackle| Kent State |
| 18. Darious Cummings | 6'2, 301 pounds | Defensive Tackle | Florida |
| 19. Aaron Donald | 6'0, 275 pounds | Defensive tackle | Pittsburgh |
| 20. Taylor Hart | 6'6, 292 pounds | Defensive tackle | Oregon |
| 21. Grady Jarrett | 6'1, 295 pounds | Defensive tackle | Clemson * |
| 22. Derrick Hopkins | 6'0, 306 pounds | Defensive tackle | Virginia Tech |
| 23. Shamar Stephen | 6'5, 322 pounds | Defensive tackle | Connecticut |
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