After putting a bow on the 2020 NFL Draft with team-by-team recaps it is now time to look to the future. The 2020 college football season “should be” getting underway in a little over two months. When (if?) the season starts, Deep Fried Draft will be right there bringing you all of the things you are accustomed to seeing from me.
Like last year, I am entering the 2021 NFL Draft season with 300 names on my watch list.
Today, we are going to look at the defensive linemen. These players will be listed only by class and not in any sort of official ranking.
2021 Preliminary Defensive Line List
SENIORS
| LaBryan Ray | Alabama | Sr | 6’4 | 294 |
| Xavier Kelly | Arkansas | Sr | 6’3 | 270 |
| Tyrone Truesdell | Auburn | Sr | 6’2 | 310 |
| Khyiris Tonga | BYU | Sr | 6’4 | 321 |
| Elijah Ponder | Cincinnati | Sr | 6’2 | 275 |
| Niles Pinckney | Clemson | Sr | 6’1 | 300 |
| Mustafa Johnson | Colorado | Sr | 6’2 | 285 |
| Kyree Campbell | Florida | Sr | 6’2 | 304 |
| Marvin Wilson | Florida State | Sr | 6’4 | 318 |
| Quinton Bohanna | Kentucky | Sr | 6’3 | 361 |
| Neil Farrell | LSU | Sr | 6’4 | 298 |
| Naquan Jones | Michigan State | Sr | 6’4 | 338 |
| Jordon Scott | Oregon | Sr | 6’1 | 322 |
| Austin Faoliu | Oregon | Sr | 6’3 | 293 |
| Rashad Weaver | Pittsburgh | Sr | 6’5 | 270 |
| Lorenzo Neal | Purdue | Sr | 6’2 | 315 |
| Brandon Pili | Southern Cal | Sr | 6’3 | 325 |
| Tyree Turner | UAB | Sr | 6’0 | 285 |
| Levi Onwuzurike | Washington | Sr | 6’3 | 288 |
| Darius Stills | West Virginia | Sr | 6’1 | 292 |
Marvin Wilson and LaBryan Ray lead the way for this senior class of defensive line prospects. Wilson, had he played a full season in 2019, likely would have been a first-round selection in the 2020 draft. Instead, Wilson enters as the top defensive interior prospect this year. Khyiris Tonga of BYU could be the best pure nose tackle of this class.
UNDERCLASSMEN
| Rashad Colson | FIU | Jr | 6’5 | 310 |
| Tyler Shelvin | LSU | Jr | 6’3 | 346 |
| Jaylen Twyman | Pittsburgh | Jr | 6’2 | 290 |
| Jay Tufele | Southern Cal | Jr | 6’3 | 315 |
| Thomas Booker | Stanford | Jr | 6’4 | 298 |
As of right now, the underclassmen lack a certain panache. Jalen Twyman is probably the best of the bunch. One player I want to see more of is Rashad Colson of FIU. He flashed dominance when I saw him in person at the Camellia Bowl in Montgomery.
Next up, we look ahead to the 2021 linebacker class.
