This is probably the worst strongside DE class that I have covered in 15 years, hands down.
There were ten strongside DEs in Rivals' top 141 overall players, including four 5-star guys. Only five of those ten guys have started games for the program that they signed with. That's pathetic.
Only 4 of the top 22 were taken in the 2018 or 2019 NFL Drafts.
Husker defensive coordinator Erik Chinander was the lead recruiter for the #5 guy on this list - he's now out of football, having played 5 games (all as a reserve) in his college career.
This list is really disappointing.
Nebraska signed one DE in this class - he has six tackles over three seasons in Lincoln. What a flop.
Rivals' #1-overall prospect in 2015 was a complete bust until he transferred to Maryland
1.) Byron Cowart, Auburn; 5-stars, 6.1 RR, #1 on the Rivals 100, #1-overall prospect in Florida; Completely turned his career around in 2018 after transferring to Maryland; Had 38 tackles, 5 TFL and two interceptions in his only season in College Park; He left due to lack of playing time at Auburn; Appeared in 26 games as a reserve DE before quitting the team in September 2017; Had 15 tackles and no sacks in his 3 year career at Auburn; Was taken in the 5th round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.
Had 34 1/2 tackles-for-loss in his career
2.) CeCe Jefferson, Florida; 5-stars, 6.1 RR, #20 on the Rivals 100, 8th-best prospect in Florida; Started 26 games over four seasons in Gainesville; Finished his career with 124 tackles, 34.5 tackles-for-loss, 10.5 sacks and a forced fumble; Was not selected in the 2019 NFL Draft.
3.) Kyle Phillips, Tennessee; 5-stars, 6.1 RR, #32 on the Rivals 100, 2nd-best prospect in Tennessee; Two-year starter at DE for the Vols; Reserve who appeared in 17 games between 2015 and 2016; Finished his career with 114 tackles, 16 TFLs, and eight sacks over four seasons; Was not selected in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Two-year starter for the Trojans and a 3rd round NFL Draft selection
4.) Rasheem Green, Southern Cal; 5-stars, 6.1 RR, #33 on the Rivals 100, 7th-best prospect in California; Two-year starter at DT for the Trojans; Declared early for the 2018 NFL Draft and was taken in the 3rd round by the Seattle Seahawks; Finished his career with 115 tackles and 16.5 sacks.
5.) Canton Kaumatule, Oregon; 4-stars, 6.0 RR, #40 on the Rivals 100, #1-overall prospect in Hawaii; Ended up transferring to Central Florida after multiple concussions, a shoulder injury, and a bum hamstring limited him to 5 games during his career at Oregon; But he never saw the field at UCF and ended up leaving the team; His main recruiter at Oregon was Erik Chinander.
6.) Jonathan Ledbetter, Georgia; 4-stars, 6.0 RR, #68 on the Rivals 100, 7th-best prospect in Georgia; Two-year starter at DE for UGa; Started 4 games in 2016; Appeared in 7 games as a true freshman in 2015; Finished career with 122 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles; Was not selected in the 2019 NFL Draft.
7.) Chauncey Rivers, Georgia; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #87 on the Rivals 100, 11th-best prospect in Georgia; Now at Mississippi State, Rivers had 24 tackles, 7 TFL and 2.5 sacks in 2018; Star of Netflix' "Last Chance U." series, Rivers sat out the 2017 season after failing to qualify at Mississippi State; Got the boot from UGa after his third marijuana-related arrest in a year; Spent 2016 at East Mississippi in Scooba, which is a verifiable dump (those who have been there know what I'm talking about); Has one more year of eligibility left.
8.) Jashon Cornell, Ohio State; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #123 on the Rivals 250, #1-overall prospect in Minnesota; Reserve DE over the past three seasons and will move to DT for 2019; Has 33 tackles and 3 sacks so far in his career; Redshirted in 2015.
9.) Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #130 on the Rivals 250, 6th-best prospect in Alabama; Two-year starter at left tackle; Appeared in 10 games as a reserve in 2016, and redshirted in 2015; Has one year left of eligibility.
10.) James Lockhart, Texas A&M; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #141 on the Rivals 250, 20th-best prospect in Texas; Now at Baylor, where he was a reserve DE in 2018; Had 11 tackles, 3 TFL and a sack last year; Sat out the 2017 season due to NCAA transfer regs; Appeared in 16 games as a reserve for aTm over 2015 and 2016 and tallied 7.5 tackles and one TFL.
First-team All-American in 2017
11.) Austin Bryant, Clemson; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #149 on the Rivals 250, 13th-best prospect in Georgia; Two-year starter at DE for Clemson; 3rd-team All-ACC in 2018 and was a first-team All-American defensive end in 2017; Missed the first half of the 2016 season with a foot injury and was a reserve DE as a true freshman in 2015; Finished career with 153 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 20 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and an interception; Was taken in the 4th round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
Two-year starter for Mark Dantonio
12.) Raequan Williams; Michigan State; 5.9 RR, #153 on the Rivals 250, 2nd-best prospect in Illinois; Two-year starter at nose tackle; Third-team All-Big Ten in 2018 and honorable-mention All-Big Ten in 2017; Started 3 games in 2016 and redshirted in 2015; Has 112 tackles, 21.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles over three seasons in East Lansing.
13. Adam McLean, Maryland; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #160 on the Rivals 250, 2nd-best prospect in Maryland; Was a starter in 2018 after only appearing in 10 games as a seldom-used reserve over the previous two seasons; Had 36 tackles and one sack last year; Failed to qualify out of HS and didn't enroll at UMaryland until 2016.
Three-year starter and a 3rd round NFL Draft selection
14.) Dre'Mont Jones, Ohio State; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #170 on the Rivals 250, 7th-best prospect in Ohio; Three-year starter at DT for the Buckeyes; First-team All-Big Ten in 2018; Redshirted in 2015; Finished 3-year career with 111 tackles, 22 TFL, 9.5 sacks and a forced fumble; Was taken in the 3rd round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.
15.) Isaiah Washington, Louisiana State; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #219 on the Rivals 250, 8th-best prospect in Louisiana; No longer in football; Spent 2017 at Mississippi Gulf Coast (Mississippi JUCO); Had 3 tackles and a forced fumble as a true freshman at LSU in 2015; Missed all of 2016 after rupturing an ACL in preseason drills.
16.) Fletcher Adams, Mississippi State; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #220 on the Rivals 250, 4th-best prospect in Mississippi; Part-time starter at DE over the past two seasons and a reserve in 2016; Redshirted in 2015; Has 62 tackles, 6 TFL, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble over three seasons in Starkville.
17.) Ryan Buchholz, Penn State; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #222 on the Rivals 250, 5th-best prospect in Pennsylvania; Medically retired last August due to chronic back problems; Started six games in 2017 at DE while dealing with a foot injury; Reserve in 2016 and redshirted in 2015; Finished career with 34 tackles and 6 sacks over two seasons at Pedo U.
18.) Shameik Blackshear, South Carolina; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 5th-best prospect in South Carolina; Will be a graduate transfer at TCU in 2019; Was mostly a reserve DE over 32 games in the past three seasons; Finished his Gamecocks career with 34 tackles and a sack; Was critically wounded by multiple gunshots at an apartment complex in 2015, but managed to survive.
19.) Scott Patchan, UMiami; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 53rd-best prospect in Florida; Reserve DE who had 29 tackles, 2.5 TFL and a sack in 2018; Hampered by two knee surgeries, Patchan briefly moved to tight end and appeared in just three games over 2016 and 2017 for the U; Redshirted in 2015.
20.) Russ Ude, California; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 32nd-best prospect in Georgia; Now out of football; Was a seldom-used defensive tackle who appeared in 8 games between 2016 and 2017 and had one career tackle; Redshirted in 2015.
Two-year starter for Chris Petersen
21.) Benning Potoa'e, Washington; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 2nd-best prospect in Washington state; Two-year starter at outside LB who will move to DE for 2019; Has 87 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles over three seasons; Redshirted in 2015.
22.) Darius Fullwood, Virginia Tech; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 9th-best prospect in Maryland; Transferred to FCS William & Mary for the 2019 season; Appeared in 24 games over the past three seasons as a seldom-used DT and did not log any stats.
....snip....
36.) DaiShon Neal, Nebraska; 3-stars, 5.6 RR, #1-overall prospect in Nebraska; Appeared in seven games as a reserve in 2018 and had 3 tackles on the season; Redshirted in 2015; Has appeared in 27 games over three seasons and has six (6) career tackles.
https://n.rivals.com/position_rankings/football/2015/SDE
There were ten strongside DEs in Rivals' top 141 overall players, including four 5-star guys. Only five of those ten guys have started games for the program that they signed with. That's pathetic.
Only 4 of the top 22 were taken in the 2018 or 2019 NFL Drafts.
Husker defensive coordinator Erik Chinander was the lead recruiter for the #5 guy on this list - he's now out of football, having played 5 games (all as a reserve) in his college career.
This list is really disappointing.
Nebraska signed one DE in this class - he has six tackles over three seasons in Lincoln. What a flop.
Rivals' #1-overall prospect in 2015 was a complete bust until he transferred to Maryland
1.) Byron Cowart, Auburn; 5-stars, 6.1 RR, #1 on the Rivals 100, #1-overall prospect in Florida; Completely turned his career around in 2018 after transferring to Maryland; Had 38 tackles, 5 TFL and two interceptions in his only season in College Park; He left due to lack of playing time at Auburn; Appeared in 26 games as a reserve DE before quitting the team in September 2017; Had 15 tackles and no sacks in his 3 year career at Auburn; Was taken in the 5th round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.
Had 34 1/2 tackles-for-loss in his career
2.) CeCe Jefferson, Florida; 5-stars, 6.1 RR, #20 on the Rivals 100, 8th-best prospect in Florida; Started 26 games over four seasons in Gainesville; Finished his career with 124 tackles, 34.5 tackles-for-loss, 10.5 sacks and a forced fumble; Was not selected in the 2019 NFL Draft.
3.) Kyle Phillips, Tennessee; 5-stars, 6.1 RR, #32 on the Rivals 100, 2nd-best prospect in Tennessee; Two-year starter at DE for the Vols; Reserve who appeared in 17 games between 2015 and 2016; Finished his career with 114 tackles, 16 TFLs, and eight sacks over four seasons; Was not selected in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Two-year starter for the Trojans and a 3rd round NFL Draft selection
4.) Rasheem Green, Southern Cal; 5-stars, 6.1 RR, #33 on the Rivals 100, 7th-best prospect in California; Two-year starter at DT for the Trojans; Declared early for the 2018 NFL Draft and was taken in the 3rd round by the Seattle Seahawks; Finished his career with 115 tackles and 16.5 sacks.
5.) Canton Kaumatule, Oregon; 4-stars, 6.0 RR, #40 on the Rivals 100, #1-overall prospect in Hawaii; Ended up transferring to Central Florida after multiple concussions, a shoulder injury, and a bum hamstring limited him to 5 games during his career at Oregon; But he never saw the field at UCF and ended up leaving the team; His main recruiter at Oregon was Erik Chinander.
6.) Jonathan Ledbetter, Georgia; 4-stars, 6.0 RR, #68 on the Rivals 100, 7th-best prospect in Georgia; Two-year starter at DE for UGa; Started 4 games in 2016; Appeared in 7 games as a true freshman in 2015; Finished career with 122 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles; Was not selected in the 2019 NFL Draft.
7.) Chauncey Rivers, Georgia; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #87 on the Rivals 100, 11th-best prospect in Georgia; Now at Mississippi State, Rivers had 24 tackles, 7 TFL and 2.5 sacks in 2018; Star of Netflix' "Last Chance U." series, Rivers sat out the 2017 season after failing to qualify at Mississippi State; Got the boot from UGa after his third marijuana-related arrest in a year; Spent 2016 at East Mississippi in Scooba, which is a verifiable dump (those who have been there know what I'm talking about); Has one more year of eligibility left.
8.) Jashon Cornell, Ohio State; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #123 on the Rivals 250, #1-overall prospect in Minnesota; Reserve DE over the past three seasons and will move to DT for 2019; Has 33 tackles and 3 sacks so far in his career; Redshirted in 2015.
9.) Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #130 on the Rivals 250, 6th-best prospect in Alabama; Two-year starter at left tackle; Appeared in 10 games as a reserve in 2016, and redshirted in 2015; Has one year left of eligibility.
10.) James Lockhart, Texas A&M; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #141 on the Rivals 250, 20th-best prospect in Texas; Now at Baylor, where he was a reserve DE in 2018; Had 11 tackles, 3 TFL and a sack last year; Sat out the 2017 season due to NCAA transfer regs; Appeared in 16 games as a reserve for aTm over 2015 and 2016 and tallied 7.5 tackles and one TFL.
First-team All-American in 2017
11.) Austin Bryant, Clemson; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #149 on the Rivals 250, 13th-best prospect in Georgia; Two-year starter at DE for Clemson; 3rd-team All-ACC in 2018 and was a first-team All-American defensive end in 2017; Missed the first half of the 2016 season with a foot injury and was a reserve DE as a true freshman in 2015; Finished career with 153 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 20 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and an interception; Was taken in the 4th round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
Two-year starter for Mark Dantonio
12.) Raequan Williams; Michigan State; 5.9 RR, #153 on the Rivals 250, 2nd-best prospect in Illinois; Two-year starter at nose tackle; Third-team All-Big Ten in 2018 and honorable-mention All-Big Ten in 2017; Started 3 games in 2016 and redshirted in 2015; Has 112 tackles, 21.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles over three seasons in East Lansing.
13. Adam McLean, Maryland; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #160 on the Rivals 250, 2nd-best prospect in Maryland; Was a starter in 2018 after only appearing in 10 games as a seldom-used reserve over the previous two seasons; Had 36 tackles and one sack last year; Failed to qualify out of HS and didn't enroll at UMaryland until 2016.
Three-year starter and a 3rd round NFL Draft selection
14.) Dre'Mont Jones, Ohio State; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #170 on the Rivals 250, 7th-best prospect in Ohio; Three-year starter at DT for the Buckeyes; First-team All-Big Ten in 2018; Redshirted in 2015; Finished 3-year career with 111 tackles, 22 TFL, 9.5 sacks and a forced fumble; Was taken in the 3rd round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.
15.) Isaiah Washington, Louisiana State; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #219 on the Rivals 250, 8th-best prospect in Louisiana; No longer in football; Spent 2017 at Mississippi Gulf Coast (Mississippi JUCO); Had 3 tackles and a forced fumble as a true freshman at LSU in 2015; Missed all of 2016 after rupturing an ACL in preseason drills.
16.) Fletcher Adams, Mississippi State; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #220 on the Rivals 250, 4th-best prospect in Mississippi; Part-time starter at DE over the past two seasons and a reserve in 2016; Redshirted in 2015; Has 62 tackles, 6 TFL, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble over three seasons in Starkville.
17.) Ryan Buchholz, Penn State; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #222 on the Rivals 250, 5th-best prospect in Pennsylvania; Medically retired last August due to chronic back problems; Started six games in 2017 at DE while dealing with a foot injury; Reserve in 2016 and redshirted in 2015; Finished career with 34 tackles and 6 sacks over two seasons at Pedo U.
18.) Shameik Blackshear, South Carolina; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 5th-best prospect in South Carolina; Will be a graduate transfer at TCU in 2019; Was mostly a reserve DE over 32 games in the past three seasons; Finished his Gamecocks career with 34 tackles and a sack; Was critically wounded by multiple gunshots at an apartment complex in 2015, but managed to survive.
19.) Scott Patchan, UMiami; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 53rd-best prospect in Florida; Reserve DE who had 29 tackles, 2.5 TFL and a sack in 2018; Hampered by two knee surgeries, Patchan briefly moved to tight end and appeared in just three games over 2016 and 2017 for the U; Redshirted in 2015.
20.) Russ Ude, California; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 32nd-best prospect in Georgia; Now out of football; Was a seldom-used defensive tackle who appeared in 8 games between 2016 and 2017 and had one career tackle; Redshirted in 2015.
Two-year starter for Chris Petersen
21.) Benning Potoa'e, Washington; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 2nd-best prospect in Washington state; Two-year starter at outside LB who will move to DE for 2019; Has 87 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles over three seasons; Redshirted in 2015.
22.) Darius Fullwood, Virginia Tech; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, 9th-best prospect in Maryland; Transferred to FCS William & Mary for the 2019 season; Appeared in 24 games over the past three seasons as a seldom-used DT and did not log any stats.
....snip....
36.) DaiShon Neal, Nebraska; 3-stars, 5.6 RR, #1-overall prospect in Nebraska; Appeared in seven games as a reserve in 2018 and had 3 tackles on the season; Redshirted in 2015; Has appeared in 27 games over three seasons and has six (6) career tackles.
https://n.rivals.com/position_rankings/football/2015/SDE
