Took all guys rated 4-stars or better - that's how I ended up with 16.
Ten of the 16 started at least one game for a P5 program in 2017.
One guy was an All-American, one guy broke LSU's single-season sack record, and another guy made headlines for what he did on the sidelines during the National Championship Game.
Started 8 games in 2017 but hasn't lived up to his 5-star rating
1.) Keisean Lucier-South, UCLA; 5-stars, 6.1 RR, #14 on the Rivals 100, 4th-best prospect in California; Started 8 games at linebacker for UCLA in 2017; Was a reserve DE in 2016; Redshirted in 2015; Has 59 tackles, 6.5 TFL and a sack through two seasons.
Three-year starter who had 14 1/2 sacks in his career
2.) Josh Sweat, Florida State; 5-stars, 6.1 RR, #34 on the Rivals 100, #1-overall prospect in Virginia; Three-year starter at DE for the Seminoles; Declared early for the 2018 NFL Draft; Finished career with 138 tackles, 14.5 sacks, a forced fumble and an INT.
Has a bright future if he can lay off the weed
3.) Natrez Patrick, Georgia; 4-stars, 6.0 RR, #42 on the Rivals 100, 4th-best prospect in Georgia; Two-year starter at MIKE linebacker for UGa; Georgia's 2nd-leading tackler in 2016; Started two games as a true freshman in 2015; Missed the 2017 college football playoffs after entering a drug rehab program, following his third arrest for marijuana; Has 116 tackles, 9.5 TFL, and 2 sacks through three seasons.
4.) Jalen Dalton, North Carolina; 4-stars, 6.0 RR, #62 on the Rivals 100, #1-overall prospect in North Carolina; Starting defensive tackle for UNC in 2017; Started two games in 2016; Has 70 tackles, 10.5 TFL, and 3 sacks through three seasons in Chapel Hill.
5.) D'Andre Walker, Georgia; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #85 on the Rivals 100, 10th-best prospect in Georgia; Was Lorenzo Carter's backup at SAM LB in 2017; Despite not starting, was second on the team with 5.5 sacks this past year; Has 68 tackles and 16 TFL over three seasons in Athens.
First-team All-American in 2017
6.) Clelin Ferrell, Clemson; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #135 on the Rivals 250, 5th-best prospect in Virginia; Two-year starter at DE for Clemson after redshirting in 2015; First-team All-American and first-team All-ACC in 2017; Has 113 tackles, 30.5 TFL, 15.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles through two seasons; Is returning for 2018.
7.) Andrew Butcher, Tennessee; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #178 on the Rivals 250, 16th-best prospect in Georgia; Took a medical exemption a year ago, and never played a down of college football; Had 4 knee surgeries between 2015 and 2016.
8.) Marques Ford, Rutgers; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #186 on the Rivals 250, 29th-best prospect in Florida; Now at Bethune-Cookman, his 3rd program in as many years; Was Rutgers' only 4-star recruit in their 2015 class; Didn't play in 2015, and went to Jones County Junior College (Mississippi) in 2016.
Now at Tennessee State after his bizarre meltdown in the National Championship Game
9.) Mehki Brown, Alabama; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #210 on the Rivals 250, 20th-best prospect in Georgia; Transferring to FCS Tennessee State in 2018; Earned notoriety during the 2018 National Championship game when he punched a Georgia player and then got into it on the sidelines with Bama staff member Kerry Stevenson; Appeared in 4 games for Bama last season and redshirted the season before.
Starting LB for Bama's 2017 National Championship team
10.) Anfernee Jennings, Alabama; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #211 on the Rivals 250, 10th-best prospect in Alabama; Starting LB for Alabama in 2017; Had 41 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 forced fumbles and one sack on the season; Was a heavy contributor as a reserve LB in 2016; Redshirted in 2015.
11.) Jamario Bell, Arkansas; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #238 on the Rivals 250, 4th-best prospect in Arkansas; Appeared in two games in 2017 but did not register any stats; Redshirted in 2015 and didn't see the field in 2016; Has switched positions three times - DE, tight end, and now outside LB.
12.) Darrell Taylor, Tennessee; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #243 on the Rivals 250, 13th-best prospect in Virginia; Opened the 2017 season as a starter at DE but lost time as season went on and was suspended in October; Reserve in 2016 and redshirted in 2015; Has 36 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks, and two forced fumbles through two years in Knoxville.
Broke LSU's single-season record for sacks in 2016
13.) Arden Key, Louisiana State; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #247 on the Rivals 250, 23rd-best prospect in Georgia; Three-year starter at DE/OLB for LSU; Had 12 sacks in 2016, an LSU record for most sacks in a season; Second-team All-SEC in 2016 and a Freshman All-American in 2015; Declared early for the 2018 NFL Draft; Finished career with 130 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 21 sacks and 28 quarterback hurries.
14.) Michael Barnett, Georgia; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 4th-best prospect in South Carolina; Reserve DT for UGa in 2017; Redshirted in 2016; Has 10 tackles over two seasons in Athens.
Two-year starter for the Longhorns
15.) Charles Omenihu, Texas; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 37th-best prospect in Texas; Two-year starter at DE for the Longhorns; Has 71 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles through three seasons in Austin.
16.) Rick Wade, UCLA; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 48th-best prospect in California; Started 5 games in 2017 at DE for the Bruins; Had 33 tackles, 5 TFL, and a sack; Special teams player/reserve DE in 2016; Redshirted in 2015.
Rivals' list of weakside defensive ends in the 2015 recruiting class
Ten of the 16 started at least one game for a P5 program in 2017.
One guy was an All-American, one guy broke LSU's single-season sack record, and another guy made headlines for what he did on the sidelines during the National Championship Game.
Started 8 games in 2017 but hasn't lived up to his 5-star rating
1.) Keisean Lucier-South, UCLA; 5-stars, 6.1 RR, #14 on the Rivals 100, 4th-best prospect in California; Started 8 games at linebacker for UCLA in 2017; Was a reserve DE in 2016; Redshirted in 2015; Has 59 tackles, 6.5 TFL and a sack through two seasons.
Three-year starter who had 14 1/2 sacks in his career
2.) Josh Sweat, Florida State; 5-stars, 6.1 RR, #34 on the Rivals 100, #1-overall prospect in Virginia; Three-year starter at DE for the Seminoles; Declared early for the 2018 NFL Draft; Finished career with 138 tackles, 14.5 sacks, a forced fumble and an INT.
Has a bright future if he can lay off the weed
3.) Natrez Patrick, Georgia; 4-stars, 6.0 RR, #42 on the Rivals 100, 4th-best prospect in Georgia; Two-year starter at MIKE linebacker for UGa; Georgia's 2nd-leading tackler in 2016; Started two games as a true freshman in 2015; Missed the 2017 college football playoffs after entering a drug rehab program, following his third arrest for marijuana; Has 116 tackles, 9.5 TFL, and 2 sacks through three seasons.
4.) Jalen Dalton, North Carolina; 4-stars, 6.0 RR, #62 on the Rivals 100, #1-overall prospect in North Carolina; Starting defensive tackle for UNC in 2017; Started two games in 2016; Has 70 tackles, 10.5 TFL, and 3 sacks through three seasons in Chapel Hill.
5.) D'Andre Walker, Georgia; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #85 on the Rivals 100, 10th-best prospect in Georgia; Was Lorenzo Carter's backup at SAM LB in 2017; Despite not starting, was second on the team with 5.5 sacks this past year; Has 68 tackles and 16 TFL over three seasons in Athens.
First-team All-American in 2017
6.) Clelin Ferrell, Clemson; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #135 on the Rivals 250, 5th-best prospect in Virginia; Two-year starter at DE for Clemson after redshirting in 2015; First-team All-American and first-team All-ACC in 2017; Has 113 tackles, 30.5 TFL, 15.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles through two seasons; Is returning for 2018.
7.) Andrew Butcher, Tennessee; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #178 on the Rivals 250, 16th-best prospect in Georgia; Took a medical exemption a year ago, and never played a down of college football; Had 4 knee surgeries between 2015 and 2016.
8.) Marques Ford, Rutgers; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #186 on the Rivals 250, 29th-best prospect in Florida; Now at Bethune-Cookman, his 3rd program in as many years; Was Rutgers' only 4-star recruit in their 2015 class; Didn't play in 2015, and went to Jones County Junior College (Mississippi) in 2016.
Now at Tennessee State after his bizarre meltdown in the National Championship Game
9.) Mehki Brown, Alabama; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #210 on the Rivals 250, 20th-best prospect in Georgia; Transferring to FCS Tennessee State in 2018; Earned notoriety during the 2018 National Championship game when he punched a Georgia player and then got into it on the sidelines with Bama staff member Kerry Stevenson; Appeared in 4 games for Bama last season and redshirted the season before.
Starting LB for Bama's 2017 National Championship team
10.) Anfernee Jennings, Alabama; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #211 on the Rivals 250, 10th-best prospect in Alabama; Starting LB for Alabama in 2017; Had 41 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 forced fumbles and one sack on the season; Was a heavy contributor as a reserve LB in 2016; Redshirted in 2015.
11.) Jamario Bell, Arkansas; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #238 on the Rivals 250, 4th-best prospect in Arkansas; Appeared in two games in 2017 but did not register any stats; Redshirted in 2015 and didn't see the field in 2016; Has switched positions three times - DE, tight end, and now outside LB.
12.) Darrell Taylor, Tennessee; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #243 on the Rivals 250, 13th-best prospect in Virginia; Opened the 2017 season as a starter at DE but lost time as season went on and was suspended in October; Reserve in 2016 and redshirted in 2015; Has 36 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks, and two forced fumbles through two years in Knoxville.
Broke LSU's single-season record for sacks in 2016
13.) Arden Key, Louisiana State; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #247 on the Rivals 250, 23rd-best prospect in Georgia; Three-year starter at DE/OLB for LSU; Had 12 sacks in 2016, an LSU record for most sacks in a season; Second-team All-SEC in 2016 and a Freshman All-American in 2015; Declared early for the 2018 NFL Draft; Finished career with 130 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 21 sacks and 28 quarterback hurries.
14.) Michael Barnett, Georgia; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 4th-best prospect in South Carolina; Reserve DT for UGa in 2017; Redshirted in 2016; Has 10 tackles over two seasons in Athens.
Two-year starter for the Longhorns
15.) Charles Omenihu, Texas; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 37th-best prospect in Texas; Two-year starter at DE for the Longhorns; Has 71 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles through three seasons in Austin.
16.) Rick Wade, UCLA; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 48th-best prospect in California; Started 5 games in 2017 at DE for the Bruins; Had 33 tackles, 5 TFL, and a sack; Special teams player/reserve DE in 2016; Redshirted in 2015.
Rivals' list of weakside defensive ends in the 2015 recruiting class
