Philadelphia Eagles Draft Central

The defensive line talent seen in the Southeastern Conference makes it difficult to make an all-conference squad. Barnett made the honor roll three times in three years. The Nashville native was the first freshman ever to start on the line for Tennessee in 2014, making 20.5 tackles for loss (which led the SEC) and 10 sacks on the year. Barnett led the Vols with 10 more sacks in 2015, earning a spot on the Associated Press All-Bowl Team with eight tackles and a sack versus Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. In his junior year, Barnett was a first-team All-SEC pick and first-team All-American by multiple outlets with 18 tackles for loss and 12 sacks (which ranked sixth in the FBS).

The Huskies' defense is full of NFL talent, but Jones could be the highest-rated of them all. Washington has made a living recruiting out of California, and this Golden State native was almost an instant starter as a freshman (he started 12 of 13 games, two interceptions, seven pass break-ups). As a sophomore, league coaches named his first team all-conference after he led the Pac-12 with 14 pass break-ups in addition to picking off four passes and forcing three fumbles. While not knocking away as many passes in 2016 (six, also three INT), Jones was a first-team All-Pac 12 pick for the conference champions.

It's been an interesting journey for Douglas from an unknown at junior college to first-team All-Big 12 selection and NFL prospect. Lightly recruited out of East Orange, New Jersey, Douglas struggled through a redshirt year at Nassau Community College in New York. He took on a playmaking role in 2013, intercepting three passes and breaking up three others. Douglas' game took off the following year; he garnered first-team junior college All-American status with 7.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and 15 pass breakups. Offers came from Florida State and Louisville, but he decided to stay nearer to home in Morgantown. He played in 11 games in 2015 (eight tackles, one INT) before once again stepping up to tie for the national lead with eight interceptions (along with 70 tackles, 3.5 for loss, and eight pass breakups) in 2016.

Hollins owned a python and boa during high school and bred African Cichlid fish -- a hobby most college football players wouldn't consider. Before he set up his exotic pet store, however, he'll need to take a shot at becoming an NFL receiver. Hollins signed with Fork Union Military Academy out of high school, not because of grades or off-field issues, but because he wanted to be noticed by more schools in the recruiting process. It worked. He redshirted in Chapel Hill as a walk-on in 2012, then contributed on special teams (nine tackles) the following year, nearly leaving because he didn't yet have a scholarship. That changed soon, as Hollins garnered honorable mention All-ACC notice despite not starting a game as a sophomore (35-613, eight TD). He was a third-team all-conference pick in 2015, starting five of the last six contests (30-745, 24.8 per reception, eight TD). Unfortunately, he couldn't explode into the football stratosphere during his senior year due to a collarbone injury that required surgery (16-309, four TD in seven games).

Pumphrey and Ron Dayne are now the top two rushers in FBS history, even though San Diego State's small and quick runner (listed at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds) couldn't be any different in style than the brutish former Heisman Trophy winner. Pumphrey beat the record in his final game, finishing off an All-American season where he led with nation with 2,133 rushing yards on 349 carries (tied for most in FBS) and 17 scores (along with 27-231 receiving). He won the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year this fall, repeating the honor he was given in 2015 for covering 1,653 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns on 309 carries. He also led the Aztecs with 28 receptions, accumulating 416 yards and three scores. Pumphrey set a school record with 1,867 yards while scoring 20 times as a sophomore, earning the first of three first-team All-Mountain West accolades. As a freshman, he only started one game but still had 256 totes for 1,244 yards and 15 touchdowns (with 22-234, two TD receiving).

In an unfortunate turn of events, Gerry was deemed ineligible for Nebraska's bowl game against Tennessee in the Music City Bowl on December 30th. He took responsibility for his mistake, apologizing for his lack of attention to his academics. Gerry always fulfilled his job duties on the field for the Cornhuskers, including in a 2016 regular season where he was named third-team All-Big Ten (68 tackles, 5.5 for loss, four interceptions and eight pass breakups.) He had been an honorable mention all-conference pick the previous two years (88 tackles, seven for loss, five INT in 2014; 79 tackles, four INT, seven PBU in 2015). Nebraska coaches got the South Dakota all-state pick and state 100-meter champion on the field right away in 2013, starting him three times at linebacker (32 tackles, two for loss).

Comparisons between Qualls and former squat teammate Danny Shelton (picked 12th overall in 2015 by Cleveland) are inevitable. The California native was a prized recruit, and even ran for over 1,800 yards and 23 scores in his final two years in high school. Qualls played 14 games as a reserve (13 tackles, two for loss) as a redshirt freshman, then started eight games the following year (26 tackles, 4.5 sacks). Ddespite missing three games with ankle injuries, Pac-12 coaches thought enough of his 2016 play to vote him first-team all-conference (38 tackles, five for loss, three sacks) as the Huskies won the league crown and gained a college football playoff berth. Scouts appreciated Qualls' effort in the semifinal against Alabama, where he played almost exclusively as a stand-up edge rusher despite his 300-plus-pound frame.