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2014 NFL Draft Prospects: 3-4 Defensive Ends

The top 2014 3-4 defensive end prospects available for the 2014 NFL Draft. * - denotes 2015 prospect. ** - denotes 2016 prospect.

This page was last updated May 18, 2013. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

2012 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DE | DT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | NT | 4-3 OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2013 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DE | DT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | NT | 4-3 OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2014 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | 3-4 DE | NT | 3-4 OLB | 4-3 OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

Stephon Tuitt*, DE, Notre Dame
Height: 6-6. Weight: 303.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2013): Top-25 Pick.
5/18/13: Tuitt was one of last season's breakout stars who led Notre Dame to the National Championship game. He was a dominant force for the Fighting Irish with his combination of power and surprising quickness. Tuitt recorded 12 sacks with 47 tackles, three forced fumbles, one pass break up and a 77-yard fumble return for a touchdown (against Navy) in 2012.

Manti Te'o received all the headlines, but Tuitt and Louis Nix were phenomenal for the Fighting Irish. Like the rest of the Notre Dame defense, Tuitt had a disappointing performance to end the season against Alabama.

Tuitt was a backup as a freshman, yet had 30 tackles with two sacks. The junior could be even more of a force in 2013 now that he has a year of starting experience, but he will see a plethora of double-teams. Tuitt has the size to play defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense or defensive end in a 3-4 set.

Trent Murphy*, DE/OLB, Stanford
Height: 6-6. Weight: 261.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
5/18/13: Murphy was perhaps the best player on Stanford's tough defense in 2012. That is saying something with other good prospects like Ben Gardner, Henry Anderson, Ed Reynolds, Chase Thomas and Shayne Skov all being legitimate pro prospects.

Murphy is a physical force who beats linemen with power and technique. He also has speed and explosiveness to get by as an edge-rusher. Murphy totaled 56 tackles with 10 sacks, 18 tackles for a loss, four passes broken up, one interception and a forced fumble last season. He racked up 40 tackles with 10 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks in 2011. Murphy is a versatile player who has lined up in a variety of spots in Stanford's 3-4 defense.

Personal: Majoring in science, technology and society.

Aaron Lynch**, DE, South Florida
Height: 6-6. Weight: 262.
Projected 40 Time: 4.74.
Projected Round (2014): 1-3.
5/18/13: The Notre Dame transfer was forced to sit out the 2012 season, but he may only need one more season of college to prove that he is a first-round prospect. As a freshman, he played really well for Notre Dame in 2011, recording 33 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Lynch was just scratching the surface of his talent.

Lynch left the Fighting Irish due to homesickness for Florida and landed with the Bulls. He should dominate the Big East in 2013.

Personal: Majoring in interdisciplinary social science. Son of Alice Lynch.

Henry Anderson*, DE/DT, Stanford
Height: 6-6. Weight: 282.
Projected 40 Time: 4.90.
Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
5/18/13: Anderson is a strong and physical defender at the point of attack. He totaled 51 tackles with 13 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, five passes broken up and a forced fumble in 2012. It was Anderson's first season of playing time and he could be even better in 2013. Trent Murphy and Ben Gardner will demand a lot of blocking attention, so Anderson should see some favorable matchups. He's a good fit in a 3-4 defense.

Personal: Majoring in political science. Won the Tommy Vardell Award epitomizing excellence in both athletics and academics.

Dominique Easley, DE, Florida
Height: 6-2. Weight: 282.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
5/18/13: Easley had 26 tackles in 2012 and led the Gators with four sacks. He also had 8.5 tackles for a loss and one pass batted. Easley missed two games with nagging injuries. He was quiet in the first half of the season but finished the season well. Easley was strong, fast and disruptive. He is very capable of a huge senior year to rise high in the 2014 NFL Draft. The junior made a good decision to come back to school.

Easley played defensive tackle in 2011. The sophomore flashed real disruptive speed at the point of attack, recording 37 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks.

Easley suffered a torn ACL late in 2011, and that could have contributed to him starting slowly last season. The Gators play a hybrid defense, so he has experience as a 4-3 end and five-technique defensive end in a 3-4. Easley was a top recruit coming out of high school and is a good athlete.

Ben Gardner, DE, Stanford
Height: 6-4. Weight: 275.
Projected 40 Time: 4.87.
Projected Round (2013): 2-4.
5/18/13: Gardner had a strong 2012 season with 49 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, five passes batted and a huge forced fumble (against Notre Dame). He is a strong and smart defender. Gardner is very physical with offensive linemen and played better than his numbers indicate. He had 35 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks in 2011.

Personal: Majoring in science, technology and society.

DeAndre Coleman, DE/DT, California
Height: 6-5. Weight: 320.
Projected 40 Time: 5.34.
Projected Round (2014): 3-4.
5/18/13: California had a rough 2012 season, but Coleman played solid football. The junior totaled 48 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks and one pass breakup. He totaled 19 tackles with six tackles for a loss and two sacks in 2011.

Coleman could fit as a 3-4 defensive end or a 4-3 defensive tackle in the NFL. He may not be quick enough to play a traditional 4-3 defensive end at the next level. Personal: Social welfare major. Son of Randy Washington and Deborah Coleman.

Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
Height: 6-6. Weight: 311.
Projected 40 Time: 5.37.
Projected Round (2014): 3-4.
5/18/13: Hageman had an impressive 2012 season and was one of the better interior defensive linemen in the Big Ten. The junior totaled 35 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, two passes broken up, one forced fumble and six sacks. He had 13 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in 2011.

Hageman was backup early in his career after switching to defensive tackle from tight end. If the senior can build on his breakout 2012 season, he could rise up the rankings.

Personal: Majoring in youth studies. Son of Eric Hageman and Jill Coyle.

Kelcy Quarles*, DT, South Carolina
Height: 6-4. Weight: 298.
Projected 40 Time: 5.05.
Projected Round (2014): 3-5.
5/18/13: Quarles has a solid sophomore season last year, totaling 38 tackles, eight tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks. He totaled 28 tackles in 2011.

Quarles seems capable of producing more after gaining more experience and strength. He could produce a big season in 2013 with all the attention Jadeveon Clowney draws.

Personal: Majoring in public health.

Jeoffrey Pagan*, DE/DT, Alabama
Height: 6-4. Weight: 290.
Projected 40 Time: 4.74.
Projected Round (2014): 4-6.
5/18/13: Pagan came off the bench in 2012 and contributed some solid run defense. The sophomore totaled 23 tackles, four tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks as a rotational player. With Quinton Dial and Damien Square in the NFL, Pagan should take on a starting role in 2013 as a junior. He has the skill set to produce more as a junior and/or senior.

Leon Orr*, DT, Florida
Height: 6-4. Weight: 315.
Projected 40 Time: 5.21.
Projected Round (2014): 5-6.
5/18/13: The Gators lost their starting defensive tackles, Sharrif Floyd and Omar Hunter, to the 2013 NFL Draft. Orr played well in reserve duty in 2012 and could be poised for a big junior season. The sophomore had 15 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss and one sack in 2012. Orr has an intriguing combination of size and quickness.

Ed Stinson, DE/DT, Alabama
Height: 6-4. Weight: 292.
Projected 40 Time: 4.99.
Projected Round (2014): 5-7.
5/18/13: Stinson was a tough run-defender at the point of attack, but doesn't offer much pass rush. He had 30 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks last season. The sophomore he had 19 tackles with five tackles for a loss, one sack, one forced fumble and a pass broken up. Stinson was part of a rotation, but should play more in 2013 with Quinton Dial and Damien Square in the NFL.

Anthony Chickillo*, DE, Miami
Height: 6-4. Weight: 269.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2014): 5-7.
5/18/13: Chickillo was a five-star recruit before breaking into the starting lineup as a freshman in 2011. He totaled 38 tackles with five sacks and one forced fumble. Chickillo totaled four sacks with 45 tackles and 6.5 tackles for a loss in 2012. He needs to increase his production as a junior and senior to live up to his billing. Chickillo has a combination of strength and speed to produce more.

Ray Drew*, DE/DT, Georgia
Height: 6-5. Weight: 273.
Projected 40 Time: 4.99.
Projected Round (2014): 5-7.
5/18/13: Drew is expected to step up with the Bulldogs losing the stars of their defense to the NFL. He had 23 tackles with one tackle for a loss last year as a sophomore backup.

Drew worked his way onto the field as a freshman in 2011; no easy accomplishment as Georgia had a lot of experienced defensive linemen ahead of him. Plus, the Bulldogs utilize a 3-4 defense, so it is harder for linemen to get snaps. Drew totaled eight tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss in 2011.

Drew looks a natural five-technique defensive end for a 3-4 defense, but he has the quickness and the frame to be a 4-3 tackle if he puts back on the 10-20 pounds that he previously lost.

Personal: Mass media arts major.

Kony Ealy*, DE, Missouri
Height: 6-5. Weight: 275.
Projected 40 Time: 4.71.
Projected Round (2014): 6-7.
5/18/13: Ealy contributed a decent sophomore season with 37 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, seven passes batted and a forced fumble. However, he had Sheldon Richardson causing a lot of disruption on the line. Missouri needs Ealy to step up and produce more as a junior now that Richardson is in the NFL.

Personal: Majoring in business management. Son of Willie Ealy and Nettie Jones.

Jeffrey Whitaker, DT, Auburn
Height: 6-4. Weight: 307.
Projected 40 Time: 5.03.
Projected Round (2014): 7-FA.
5/18/13: Whitaker was held back by injuries last year and only really played in six games. The junior totaled only 12 tackles and .5 sacks. He had 25 tackles, two tackles for a loss and a forced fumble in 2011. Whitaker needs to produce more to help his draft stock.

Personal: Communications major. Son of the late Gwendolyn Brown; raised by aunt Cynthia Joseph.

Mantis 05-18-2013 10:19 am xxx.xxx.xxx.159 (total posts: 1)

Tuitt will run atleast a 4.75 at the combine. Mark my words. And he's going to play at 315 lbs this year. My God!

Thea 11-10-2012 08:50 am xxx.xxx.xxx.145 (total posts: 1)

hi tiffany!i don't think i've coeetnmmd on your past few posts but i've read them and truly savored them from your inspiring weight loss (i even made my hubby read that post) to this one!you are living the dream, cupcake! your photography is gorgeous.your 2010 is off to a rocking start!xoelyse

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2014 NFL Draft Prospects: 3-4 Defensive Ends

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