Comparing top ranked defensive ends coming out of HS

By Killer nuts -06 January 2013
29 Comments
- Football

Jadaveon Clowney, Robert Nkemdiche, Da'shawn Hand. All three have been, are, or will be the top rated player in the country coming out of high school as a defensive end. We know Clowney has turned into a big time player and future NFL top pick. Nkemdiche looked like a monster in the all star game practices and game and I've heard many times on this site that some people think Hand was the best player in the country last year, not just in his class. Does anyone have a feel for which of these guys is more highly thought of coming out of high school? The shipped has sailed on Clowney and Nkemdiche but I'd LOVE for the Bucks to get hand if he resembles those first 2 at all. Anybody want to put those guys in perspective for me?

kareemabduljacobb on 6 Jan 2013 - 4:50pm #

I think Clowney just for his sheer size and speed... He's about 6'6 260 and runs a 4.5/4.6.

d1145fresh on 6 Jan 2013 - 4:58pm #

I haven't watched Hand enough to know for sure but I would say Clowney. He plays with a mean streak that I love in DE. Nkemdiche looks great but I haven't seen the it factor that Clowney has.

Buckeyes125 on 6 Jan 2013 - 5:03pm #

Nkemdiche plays with a fantastic motor, but I would take Clowney because he is proven. Only negative about Clowney is he takes some plays off

STRAWMAN on 6 Jan 2013 - 5:07pm #

There are only two players I've seen that I think could have made the jump from high school to the NFL and be semi-productive their first year. Those two would be Clowney and Adrian Peterson. Clowney's highlight film from high school is just nasty.

UncleBuck on 6 Jan 2013 - 5:07pm #

Clowney is the best D lineman of this century.

cinserious on 7 Jan 2013 - 3:38am #

suh might have a case there.

"Get him a body bag, Yeah!"

CC on 7 Jan 2013 - 4:12pm #

It is WAY too early to call him the best d-lineman of the century even if we are literally talking about 2000 through 2013.

Suh stacks up very favorably as one of the best d linemane every.

osubuck57 on 6 Jan 2013 - 5:17pm #

Clowney!!

SCOTTC.

BUCKS4REAL on 6 Jan 2013 - 5:44pm #

Clowney hands down. Literally could have gone pro out of high school.

buckatron32 on 6 Jan 2013 - 5:47pm #

I haven't seen Hand play yet, but if he is in the same class as the other two, I hope Urban is able to lock him up. Him along with the linebackers we are recruiting will make this defense the strongest in the country, which is what is needed to win championships.

Ethan on 6 Jan 2013 - 6:30pm #

If I recall correctly, Mike Farrell of Rivals said that Clowney was the best prospect Rivals had ever evaluated. Given that his performance in his first two years backs that up, hard not to pick him as the top guy.

ajg OSU 5 on 7 Jan 2013 - 3:26am #

I actually remember Mike saying something earlier this year about Hand being better than Clowney. I think he said Hand, Clowney, and Nkemdiche in that order

Muck Fichigan

brglr14 on 6 Jan 2013 - 6:31pm #

there are still many who believe clowney takes to many plays off, needs to play like he did vs mich all the time

I dont know karate but i do know crazy and i'm not afraid to use it.
&amp

UrbanCulture on 6 Jan 2013 - 7:08pm #

Clowney is a freak of nature, but keep in mind the one play vs michigan, though monstrous, was his only significant play of the game (if you don't count being double teamed)

Silverbuck8 on 7 Jan 2013 - 12:54am #

Keep in mind thats what great players often do, that play was much needed after Meechigan just got the phantom first down. Then he also followed that up with a great hit on Denard.

BKshepherd on 6 Jan 2013 - 7:41pm #

I think Deisel will be the best. Already flashing greatness and he has a tremendous upside. Can you imagine.....Spence, Bosa, Diesel and Hand? Which two or three do you double team?

703Buckeye on 6 Jan 2013 - 8:53pm #

I've had the pleasure of seeing Hand play in-person, he will be a monster. Hand is also a very good wrestler, that will make him even more of a headache for o-linemen.

"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter

OSUnathen on 6 Jan 2013 - 8:56pm #

If Clowney can stay healthy,put on 25 more pounds, not take plays off and not get a big head he will be the in Canton for sure. He the best pure pass rushing DE I've seen in long time. I've never seen someone that quick off the ball and with that 4.6 speed it just won't be fair.

jestertcf on 6 Jan 2013 - 9:31pm #

I have heard that Clowney would have been drafted straight out of high school. I can see him as the next Julius Peppers. If the right coach can light a fire under him, so he stops taking plays off then he can be even more special. I admit that sounds ridiculous, but if he can get a firey Jim Mora type coach then oh my goodness.

~Because we couldn't go for three~

Kiley2418 on 7 Jan 2013 - 10:10am #

my thoughts exactly!!! peppers or a young jevon kearse ..... he is crazy fast and it would be unfair to compare any of these up and comming hs recruits to him....

CC on 6 Jan 2013 - 10:54pm #

Clowney was the d equivalent of Pryor. The rest are "just" the best of their class.
TP and JC are once every few year type players IMO.

Crimson on 6 Jan 2013 - 11:34pm #

At least Clowney turned out well. Pryor, well, not so much.

Jhesse17 on 7 Jan 2013 - 1:29am #

TP's JR Year: 3526 total yards, 65% completions, 8.6 Y/A, 5.6 YPC, 31 total TDs, 11 INTs.

Peyton Manning's JR year: 3156 total yards, 64% completions, 8.7 Y/A, -3.1 YPC, 20 total TDs, 12 INTs.

But you're right. TP was pretty underwhelming.

sir rickithda3rd on 7 Jan 2013 - 2:09am #

ok well compare tps junior yr to newton tebow or manziel.... when your considered the lebron james of college football you would think noone could touch them statistically

mark may wins douchebag of the year... again

Buckeyevstheworld on 7 Jan 2013 - 2:26am #

If you put TP in the offenses they run, he's probably breaking records left and right. You give Pryor that OLine Manziel has, and Ohio State might have back to back undefeated seasons.

"YOLO" = I'm about to do something extremely ignorant/stupid & I need an excuse to do it.

Jhesse17 on 7 Jan 2013 - 3:10pm #

Cam Newton doesn't have a true junior year because he transferred, meaning his true JR year was spent sitting on the bench. But, Cam Newton's RS JR season: 4327 total yards, 66% completions, 10.2 Y/A, 5.6 YPC, 50 TDs and 7 INTs. So a slight advantage in a much better offense for his talents, and an extra year of experience.

Tim Tebow's JR year: 3419 total yards, 64% completions, 9.4 Y/A, 3.8 YPC, 42 TDs and 4 INTs. So a wash while surrounded by better weapons and in a better offense.

btalbert25 on 7 Jan 2013 - 10:17am #

Ugh, let's not get another TP debate going.

btalbert25 on 7 Jan 2013 - 10:19am #

I haven't watched nearly enough South Carolina football to know for sure, but are people just saying he takes plays off because he's not constantly involved in every tackle? Are they counting all the times he's double teamed so it doesn't appear he's doing much as "taking plays off". He can be very disruptive to an O-Line just by drawing extra attention and doesn't necessarily have to be involved in the tackle or sack.