We're bringing you college highlights of the top edge rusher prospects entering the 2016 NFL Draft based on Mike Mayock's top five position-by-positionpost-combine rankings.
JOEY BOSA, OHIO STATE
Height: 6-5, Weight: 269
OVERVIEW FROM NFL.COM
Bosa plans to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncle as NFL first-round picks; John Bosa was picked 16th overall by Miami in 1987 coming out of Boston College, while Eric Kumerow was picked in the same spot, again by the Dolphins, the following year. Joey Bosa's own potential as an elite prospect has been clear since arriving in Columbus, as he made his way into the starting lineup 10 times as a true freshman (13.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks) to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. As a sophomore, he captured unanimous All-American honors, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award (led the conference with 21 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks) and was named a finalist for three national awards as the nations top defender: the Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy, and Ted Hendricks Award. His junior year got off to a slow start, however, as he was suspended for the opener for violating team rules. Statistically, his 2015 season was not as impressive as the year before (16 tackles for loss, five sacks) but Big Ten coaches still named him the conferences Defensive Lineman of the Year because of his rare combination of strength against the run and consistent presence in the backfield.
LEONARD FLOYD, GEORGIA
Height: 6-6, Weight: 244
OVERVIEW FROM NFL.COM
It's tough not to think of former Georgia star linebacker Boss Bailey when watching Floyd, a long, lean pass rusher. An all-state pick in his Georgia high school days, Floyd played a year at Hargrave Military Academy before heading to Athens (as many Georgia recruits do). He started eight of 13 games played in 2013, receiving All-Freshman SEC notice after making 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Floyd was awarded the Bulldogs' Defensive MVP in 2014 (though he missed the team's bowl game having knee surgery) to go along with honorable mention all-conference honors from league media (8.5 tackles for loss, six sacks). In his final year between the hedges, Floyd led the Bulldogs in sacks for the third straight year (4.5) and tied for the team lead with 10.5 tackles for loss, garnering second-team All-SEC notice from league coaches. The 2015 Butkus Award finalist is no joke off the edge, as many college tackles would confirm.
NOAH SPENCE, EASTERN KENTUCKY
Height: 6-2, Weight: 251
OVERVIEW FROM NFL.COM
Spence's talent is unquestioned, but his judgement off the field will be foremost on the minds of NFL scouts as they evaluate him for the 2016 draft. A first-team All-Big Ten pick for Ohio State in 2013 as a sophomore, Spence ran into trouble for failing two drug tests. After being permanently banned from the Big Ten for the failed test, he underwent treatment for an addiction to Ecstasy. Instead of leaving for the 2015 draft, Spence decided to transfer to Eastern Kentucky to get his degree and to prove to himself and scouts that he had matured. It appears he made the right choice, racking up 22.5 tackles for loss, with 13.5 sacks for the Colonels to become a AP FCS All-American. At his size, Spence could play end or linebacker in the NFL, giving him a chance to succeed wherever he winds up -- if his life off the field is in order.
SHAQ LAWSON, CLEMSON
Height: 6-3, Weight: 269
OVERVIEW FROM NFL.COM
Great things were expected from Lawson, who was the top-rated prep school player in the country out of Hargrave Military Academy after a successful high school career in South Carolina. He played well as a reserve for two seasons behind the ever-stacked Tiger defensive line, racking up double-digit tackles for loss each year (10 in 2013, 11 in 2014). With the departure of the likes of Vic Beasley and Malliciah Goodman, Lawson finally got a chance to start in 2015 and made the most of it, constantly exploding into the backfield to finish among the nation's leaders in tackles for loss (25.5) and sacks (12.5). Lawson's personal accomplishments (consensus All-American, first-team All-ACC) led to great team success, as he and fellow junior Kevin Dodd and sophomore Heisman Trophy candidate Deshaun Watson helped the Tigers to an undefeated regular season, ACC title, and national championship game appearance.
KAMALEI CORREA, BOISE STATE
Height: 6-3, Weight: 243
OVERVIEW FROM NFL.COM
For three straight years, a member of the Boise State Broncos has left school early for the NFL Draft. Correa follows defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (picked by Dallas in the second round of the 2014 draft) and running back Jay Ajayi (fifth round, Miami, 2015). This year's early entrant is Correa, native of Honolulu, Hawai'i. He earned second-team All-Mountain West accolades in 2015, leading the Broncos with 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks on the year. Two of those sacks came in his last game with the Broncos, a win over Northern Illinois in the Poinsettia Bowl. Those numbers were actually down from Correa's sophomore year stats, when he was named first team all-conference after leading the Mountain West with 12 sacks and finishing third with 19 tackles for loss. In his true freshman year, 2013, he played in every game as a reserve (12 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, sack).
EMMANUEL OGBAH, OKLAHOMA STATE
Height: 6-4, Weight: 273
OVERVIEW FROM NFL.COM
Ogbah's family moved from Nigeria to the Houston when he was nine years old, with the hopes of finding a better way of life. The child given the middle name Ikechukwu (which means "God's power") flourished athletically in his new country, eventually becoming a finalist for the greater Houston high school defensive player of the year. He chose Oklahoma State partially due to his appreciation of former OSU offensive tackle Russell Okung, a fellow native of Nigeria who had great success with the Cowboys and in the NFL. Ogbah (AWG-buh) played in every game as a redshirt freshman, tying for the team lead with four sacks. Once inserted into the starting lineup, Ogbah starred, winning the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year with 17 tackles for loss including 11 sacks. He played well again as a junior (17.5 tackles for loss, conference-high 13 sacks), earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year this time around, as well as All-American honors from USA Today, the Walter Camp Foundation, and others. The Ted Hendricks Award finalist couldnt break through against Ole Miss tackles Laremy Tunsil and Fahn Cooper in the team's Sugar Bowl loss, but NFL scouts still see his potential as a top pass rusher at the next level.
