Top Returning Pac-12 Defensive Ends For 2017
With the glut of talented quarterbacks in the league, which Pac-12 defensive ends are in the best position to apply the consistent pressure needed to slow down the best passing games?
With the glut of talented quarterbacks in the league, which Pac-12 defensive ends are in the best position to apply the consistent pressure needed to slow down the best passing games?
The entire All-Pac-12 First Team defensive line is now auditioning for NFL scouts, meaning there are openings for a new collection of ends to step to the forefront. And while the league doesn’t have any household names on the edge today, that situation is liable to change during the upcoming fall. The Pac-12 has long been a producer of next-level defensive ends, and the return to health of Utah senior Kylie Fitts will provide a much-needed overall boost to a position in charge of harassing some of the country’s premier passers of 2017.
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5. Justin Hollins, Oregon
He’s young and he’s raw, but there’s a lot to like about the potential of Hollins. He bounced back after missing 2015 to injury, filling the Torrodney Prevot void by moving into the lineup on the edge. And while there’s still work to be done, Hollins laid a foundation with 51 tackles, 9.5 stops for loss and three sacks last season. The new staff in Eugene will really like his measurables, a rangy 6-6, 235-pounder with the long gait and closing speed to emerge as a problematic pass rusher for this year’s Duck opponents.
4. Rasheem Green, USC
The Trojans’ former blue-chip recruit began to perform like one in 2016 as a sophomore, earning honorable mention All-Pac-12. Now, Troy can’t wait to see what Green can do following a full year in Clancy Pendergast’s system. At 6-5 and 280 pounds, Green is a prototypical strongside end, with the size to defend the run and the athleticism to ignite the pas rush. In his first significant action, he was fourth on the team with 55 tackles and tops with a half-dozen sacks.
3. JoJo Wicker, Arizona State
Tenacious, hardworking and disruptive. Wicker possesses the qualities that coaches want in a weakside end. He began turning the corner as a sophomore, parlaying 39 tackles and 11 stops behind the line into a spot on the All-Pac-12 Second Team. But to take the next step, he’ll have to increase his 2.5 sacks from 2016. Wicker is extremely quick off the snap and aggressive with his hands, so there’s no reason why he can’t get to the quarterback more often in 2017.
2. Kylie Fitts, Utah
The past season was supposed to be Fitts’ breakout year for the Utes. Instead, he was shut down after two games, the result of a foot injury. Fortunately for Utah, the former UCLA transfer opted to return to school for a fifth season as an amateur. Fitts was terrific in his 2015 Ute debut, notching 40 tackles, seven sacks, 10 passes defended and four forced fumbles. He’s a disruptive playmaker at 6-4 and 265 pounds, with the hops and instincts to disrupt the quarterback’s field of vision.
1. Hercules Mata’afa, Washington State
Mata’afa operates with perpetual energy up front for the Cougars. He’s linebacker-sized at 6-2 and 255 pounds, yet he can compete at any position along the D-line. Mata’afa will never be outworked at the line of scrimmage, and his quickness, strength and motor allow him to consistently make plays for minus yards. A Second Team All-Pac-12 pick in 2016, he has now collected 24.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in his first two seasons on the Palouse.
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