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Top 10 impact college football defenders in 2017

Minkah Fitzpatrick Alabama 2018 NFL Draft

Dexter Lawrence, defensive tackle, Clemson

Dexter Lawrence Clemson college football defenders

It’s rare that two sophomore defensive tackles make a list such as this one, but we wouldn’t dream of not including both Ed Oliver and Dexter Lawrence. Both of these kids are phenomenally gifted and made huge impacts as true freshmen last season.

Lawrence is just a monster inside, measuring in at 6-foot-5, 340 pounds. He doesn’t have plodding feet, though, Rather, he moves with the agility of a jungle cat. He’s already convinced some that he’ll be a lock for the No. 1 overall pick in 2019.

“Mark it down now: The No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 draft is gonna be [Clemson’s 6-foot-5, 340-pound defensive tackle] Dexter Lawrence,” one NFL coach told Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports. “There is nothing like him in this draft in terms of size and quickness. He’s ridiculous.”

Last year in his freshman season he brought in 62 tackles, 8.5 for a loss and 6.5 sacks, falling on a couple of fumble recoveries to boot. He was a key player for Clemson’s national championship run and still has plenty of untapped potential to unearth in the coming years.

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