We always want to focus on the top players who will be in next year’s NFL Draft, the stars who grab the headlines. While Jadeveon Clowney, Anthony Barr and Bradley Roby are great players not enough attention is given to some other really great prospects. Here I take a look at five defensive prospects who are under-the-radar and will be names to watch the rest of this season before they head to the NFL.
Vinnie Sunseri Strong Safety, Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama has long been known for their defense and sending top prospects to the NFL every year it seems like. One year it will be Mark Barron and the next year it's Dee Milliner. There is always one top defensive back prospect who everyone falls in love with and this year it’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
But there is another safety roaming in the secondary for the Crimson Tide, someone who has been overshadowed by Clinton-Dix but is an intriguing NFL prospect on his own. Sunseri has a tendency to make big plays and we saw that against Texas A&M. Sunseri grabbed a tipped pass and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown. The return was highlighted by Sunseri juking Johnny Manziel and then sprinted for the end zone. It marked the second straight week in that Sunseri intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown.
He is a ball hawk who does an excellent job reading the quarterback’s eyes and then jumping the route. He isn’t a great athlete but he has good awareness and instincts, and has a mind for the game. Being the son of a coach has certainly helped him early in his career, he has a high football IQ and knows exactly where to be on defense. He will continue to be overshadowed by Clinton-Dix and other stars on the Alabama defense but Sunseri has a future in the NFL. His high football IQ, instincts and ball-hawking skills will be coveted at the next level.
Taylor Hart Defensive End, Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks are one of the most recognized programs in the country, but when fans think of them they immediately think of their video-game style offense. It’s the same thing for the NFL Draft where many have focused on quarterback Marcus Mariota, wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas and tight end Colt Lyerla. But there is some serious talent on the defensive side of the ball. Sunseri is the son of Florida State defensive assistant Sal Sunseri
One of my favorite defensive line prospects in the draft and a player who I think doesn’t get enough recognition is Hart. The first thing that stands out about Hart is his monster size. He stands at 6’6” 292 pounds. What makes Hart special though is his quickness and burst off the line. He has rare speed for his size and can chase down mobile quarterbacks or fast running backs. You see how quickly he can burst off the snap and beat the tackle immediately where he gains the advantage and it’s all over after that. One big plus for Hart that coaches will love is his versatility. He can play defensive end in either the 43 or 34 or defense, but he can also flip inside to defensive tackle in the 43. He could slim down, but that’s not the biggest issue that is holding him back.
He is inconsistent, he doesn’t bring the same quick burst off the edge on every play and a lot of that is because of his stance and technique. When he gets in a bad stance he loses the same burst and the tackle will get the advantage over him and take him out of the play. Hart needs work but his potential is through the roof and once he can improve his technique he should become a more consistent player and a starter in the NFL.
C.J. Barnett Free Safety, Ohio State Buckeyes
If you want an example of how good Barnett can be you should have tuned in for the Buckeyes games on Saturday against Wisconsin. Facing a team that loves to run the football with Melvin Gordon and James White, Barnett was a heat-seeking missile flying to the ball-carrier and wrapping up to prevent big plays.
Tackling was something Barnett struggled with last year, but an area where he has made strides this year. He really has done a nice job squaring up his shoulders and bringing the running back down. Barnett converted from corner to safety as a freshman and does a decent job in coverage staying close to his man. But Barnett is going to make his money because he is magnetically drawn to the football and his ability to fly all over the field. He is in on almost every tackle, reading the play and reacting quickly to try and make a play.
The big concern for Barnett is his health. He sat out the opener against Buffalo this year, and has missed multiple games throughout his career including most of the 2010 season. When he is on the field though he has shown very nice improvement against the run and becoming a sound tackler, which has really helped elevate his stock this year. While many see him as a fourth-round selection, don’t be surprised when you see Barnett shooting up draft boards and being selected in the second round when May rolls around.
Anthony Johnson Defensive Tackle, LSU Tigers
LSU is another program with a long history of turning out top defensive prospects year after year, especially on the defensive line. Coach Les Miles has done an excellent job bringing in talent and developing his players into highly coveted players come draft day.
While Johnson is well known by some in the draft community and is seen as the second or third best defensive tackle in this class, he still should be higher. Right now Johnson is projected to go in the middle or early portion of the second round. While plenty of players would love that distinction, Johnson is clearly a first-round talent. He has earned the nickname “The Freak” for a reason thanks to his superb athleticism and physical style of play. Johnson has the versatility to line up anywhere on the interior defensive line and he will fight like few others. He is an aggressive player who bursts off the snap quickly and then uses his power to beat back the blocker.
One area he does need to improve on his the use of his hands as he showed last year as a rotational player he still struggled with his placement and being more violent with them. He made huge strides last year as a sophomore and is doing that again this year as his stock continues to rise and he makes his case for being a top-20 selection. Johnson will quickly become the hot new name amongst the defensive line and don’t be surprised when you hear his name called with a top-20 pick on draft day.
Dion Bailey Strong Safety, USC Trojans
Let’s face it the USC football program is a mess and no further evidence is needed besides the fact that Lane Kiffin was fired this week. Kiffin was part of the problems for the Trojans’ struggles this season offensively. But while the rest of the program struggled, Bailey has stepped up this season and become a bright spot for the USC football team.
Bailey started out as a safety when he arrived at USC but coaches made the decision to move him to linebacker. He started at outside linebacker during the 2011 and 2012 season, earning numerous honors including Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and named to the All-Pac-12 second team in 2011. In 12 games last season at strongside linebacker last year, Bailey had 80 tackles including eight for a loss and four interceptions. It was a solid year for Bailey but the team made the decision to move him back to safety this season. Bailey has a nose for the football and that applies to his ability to make plays with interceptions, but he also does an excellent job getting to the ball carrier quickly as proven by his eight tackles for loss last season. We have seen it again this year as just in four games he already has two interceptions, two pass deflections and a sack.
Bailey was undersized for a linebacker and likely would have struggled to make it to the NFL if not for the position switch this year. While coaches will love his instincts and playmaking ability the biggest thing that stands out is that he is a player who you have to drag off the field. Even when he has dealt with minor injuries he is learning the game and watching what his teammates are doing from the sidelines all a part of him becoming a smarter football player.
One of the big reasons many players don’t succeed in the NFL is because the passion for the game and putting in all the work it takes isn’t there. Passion is not something Bailey lacks and now as he headlines the Trojans defense, he is pushing his draft stock up and will be a player many will fall in love with at the next level.