Aaron Donald's place among the elite college DT's

[pittpitt]

Where does Aaron Donald rank/place among the elite college DT's of the last 20-30 years? He put up record TFL numbers and insane sack numbers for a DT at Pitt, then proved none of it was a fluke and his size wasn't an issue by going into the NFL and arguably being the most dominant rookie DT ever and was D-ROY.

Where does he rank compared to guys like Suh, Sapp, Dorsey, Harris, Ngata, etc. in college?

 

[panther94]

He's got to be near the top,but if he puts up similar numbers for 2-3 more years at the NFL level, I'd say he's number one. The guy is a monster!

Hail to Pitt!!!

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

He's ranked ninth in the AP, seventh in the UPI.

 

[thebadby2]

Where does Aaron Donald rank/place among the elite college DT's of the last 20-30 years? He put up record TFL numbers and insane sack numbers for a DT at Pitt, then proved none of it was a fluke and his size wasn't an issue by going into the NFL and arguably being the most dominant rookie DT ever and was D-ROY.

Where does he rank compared to guys like Suh, Sapp, Dorsey, Harris, Ngata, etc. in college?

He;s right in there with them. Hard to "rank" a DT that way since stats are only part of the equation. The kinds of DTs you reference--including AD--influence the game in so many ways that don;t show up in the stats.

Reggie White is probably the best ever. Suh, IMO, is the second best ever and by far the best in the NFL right now. Not many players influence the game from the DT spot the way that he does. AD deserves to be mentioned with those all time greats as a college player, and he is off to a helluva start in the NFL. I'd say Suh is the only interior DL more dominant than AD right now.

 

[HailtoPitt]

 

[Pitt-Chains]

Could you imagine if he had another threat on his D line or blitzing LB's ???

 

[JSSTartan]

11 games vs. 14 games too....

 

[pittpitt]

How about asking the question this way:
If SI or ESPN came out with their "best college players by position in the BCS era" article in a couple years after Donald has firmly established himself as an NFL star (he started in the Pro Bowl, I don't think I'm reaching here), and they put both Suh and Dorsey on the 1st team and bumped Donald to 2nd or lower, would you think the list was BS?

 

[lilspainishflea]

I've been seriously watching football only for the duration of the BCS era, but Suh and Donald are head and shoulders above anyone else I've ever seen. I am not sure which was better in their final collegiate season; those two were the only ones that could completely take over a game from the DT position.

 

[Teh Teh]

Wow great one page presentation ... Says it all

 

[Teh Teh]

I've been seriously watching football only for the duration of the BCS era, but Suh and Donald are head and shoulders above anyone else I've ever seen. I am not sure which was better in their final collegiate season; those two were the only ones that could completely take over a game from the DT position.

Rams will have a great defense this year

 

[HOF Coach]

Aaron Donald has earned every consideration to be listed at the top of any list of DT's from any era of college football.