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Originally Posted by htismaqe
My problem with Claude Wroten is that he's small, doesn't have the frame to add weight, and reportedly struggles with lower body strength. His biggest strength is 1-gap rushing the passer. He's a complimentary player and IMO, that's not what we need.
I look at Jacksonville with Henderson and Stroud. We have Henderson (Ryan Sims), we need Marcus Stroud.
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How about this guy?
Jesse Mahelona DT 6’2 297 Tennessee
By: Robert Davis
Jesse Mahelona left Hawaii to play JuCo ball at Orange Coast College in California, and immediately made a name for himself. Despite playing only two games as a sophomore because of a broken ankle, he had every major program after him, and Tennessee won out for his services. As a junior in 2004, Mahelona made a major impact on the Vols interior line. He had 42 tackles with 18.5 of them for loss, and 5 sacks. Prior to this season, he was named to the Playboy All-American list.
Mahelona is the ideal 4-3 defensive tackle. He has a great burst off the line, and displays the ability to consistently penetrate the line. For a 300lber, he also shows great closing speed and the ability to chase down plays from behind. What makes Mahelona special is that he combines that penetration ability with great natural strength and the ability to hold his ground at the point of attack. While he is best suited for the 4-3, he could play in a 3-4 alignment on the edge.
Other than lacking ideal height for a defensive tackle, there isn’t a whole lot to knock in Mahelona’s game. He doesn’t have a great deal of experience, as he only played one season at JuCo before transferring to Tennessee.
There are a few defensive tackles near the top of the draft that could crack the Top 15. Mahelona has as good a shot as anyone to achieve that. For a team that wants someone to disrupt plays from the inside, Mahelona is the best tackle for them. But with a few other tackles that have better natural size, and they may be placed higher on some teams boards.