Although I fully agree with Ketch that the more super-blue chip DT's we can get, the better, the actual data does not support the idea that the top programs have made it rain with super blue DT's who turned into NFL draft choices. There are simply not enough of these types of players to make them the centerpiece of your defensive tackle recruiting strategy.
Over the last 15 seasons only 3 programs have won more than 1 football national championship: Alabama (6), Clemson (2) and Georgia (2)
Since this is the small fraternity that we are looking to join, I did a breakdown of the NFL drafted DT's for those 3 schools. Here's what I found:
Alabama has had 15 DTs drafted over the last 15 years (Average 1 every year)
Of those drafted, only 3 were Rivals 6.1 or 6.0 DT recruits (Average 1 every 5 years)
- 2018 Daron Payne (Rivals Rating: 6.0)
- 2016 A'Shawn Robinson (Rivals Rating: 6.1)
- 2013 Jesse Williams (Rivals Rating: 6.1)
1 out of every 5 DTs drafted were super blue chip DT recruits
Clemson has had 12 DTs drafted over the last 15 years (Average 4 every 5 years)
Of those drafted, only 3 were Rivals 6.1 or 6.0 DT recruits (Average 1 every 5 years)
- 2023 Bryan Bresee (Rivals Rating: 6.1)
- 2019 Christian Wilkins (Rivals Rating: 6.1)
- 2019 Dexter Lawrence (Rivals Rating 6.1)
1 out of every 4 DTs drafted were super blue chip DT recruits
Georgia has had 9 DTs drafted over the last 15 years (Average 3 every 5 years)
Of those drafted, only 1 was a Rivals 6.1 or 6.0 DT recruit (Only 1 in 15 years)
- 2023 Jalen Carter (Rivals Rating: 6.0)
1 out of the 9 drafted DTs were super blue chip DT recruits
The reality is that none of these programs has had a significant number of super blue-chip DTs drafted over the last 15 years. They've all had to identify and develop the lion's share of their DTs from the non-elite categories of recruits.
* Interesting side note that you probably would not have guessed:
Since Kirby Smart has been head coach at Georgia, Texas has had more DTs taken in the NFL draft than Georgia (5 vs 4).
Over the last 15 seasons only 3 programs have won more than 1 football national championship: Alabama (6), Clemson (2) and Georgia (2)
Since this is the small fraternity that we are looking to join, I did a breakdown of the NFL drafted DT's for those 3 schools. Here's what I found:
Alabama has had 15 DTs drafted over the last 15 years (Average 1 every year)
Of those drafted, only 3 were Rivals 6.1 or 6.0 DT recruits (Average 1 every 5 years)
- 2018 Daron Payne (Rivals Rating: 6.0)
- 2016 A'Shawn Robinson (Rivals Rating: 6.1)
- 2013 Jesse Williams (Rivals Rating: 6.1)
1 out of every 5 DTs drafted were super blue chip DT recruits
Clemson has had 12 DTs drafted over the last 15 years (Average 4 every 5 years)
Of those drafted, only 3 were Rivals 6.1 or 6.0 DT recruits (Average 1 every 5 years)
- 2023 Bryan Bresee (Rivals Rating: 6.1)
- 2019 Christian Wilkins (Rivals Rating: 6.1)
- 2019 Dexter Lawrence (Rivals Rating 6.1)
1 out of every 4 DTs drafted were super blue chip DT recruits
Georgia has had 9 DTs drafted over the last 15 years (Average 3 every 5 years)
Of those drafted, only 1 was a Rivals 6.1 or 6.0 DT recruit (Only 1 in 15 years)
- 2023 Jalen Carter (Rivals Rating: 6.0)
1 out of the 9 drafted DTs were super blue chip DT recruits
The reality is that none of these programs has had a significant number of super blue-chip DTs drafted over the last 15 years. They've all had to identify and develop the lion's share of their DTs from the non-elite categories of recruits.
* Interesting side note that you probably would not have guessed:
Since Kirby Smart has been head coach at Georgia, Texas has had more DTs taken in the NFL draft than Georgia (5 vs 4).
