Alabama and Auburn signed important defensive ends. Which school signed the better ones?
Auburn pulled off a huge move when it reeled in Byron Cowart and Edgewood Academy four-star Prince Tega Wanogho Jr.
Alabama had no late dramatics with defensive ends, but still signed two four-star prospects.
Which school got the better group?
Alabama signed Mekhi Brown and Anfernee Jennings.
247Composite ratings: Two 4-stars
Alabama added two defensive ends with good potential in Mekhi Brown and Anfernee Jennings, but both are likely years away from making a major impact. Brown has a good frame at 6-foot-4, 222-pounds, but he’s going to need to put on weight and get stronger to earn playing time at Alabama. Jennings has shown flashes of brilliance, but played against weak competition in high school so there are still question marks about him. He has a quick first step, but relies mostly on athleticism on this point and will need time to become more refined. Both are good candidates to redshirt next season.
Auburn signed Byron Cowart and Prince Tega Wanogho Jr.
247Composite ratings: One 5-star, One 4-star
It doesn’t get much better than signing the nation’s top defensive end. To put it simply, Cowart is a beast. He’s got a “high motor,” he’s athletic and he’s plenty strong enough.
At the Under Armour All-America Game, he was unstoppable. Even with Auburn returning multiple defensive linemen, it’s inconceivable to imagine Cowart not making an impact assuming he stays healthy. He has first-round NFL kind of talent. Wanogho Jr. is very talented too, though he’s likely two years away from making a real impact. He’s only played football for a single season since arriving from Nigeria, but he’s ridiculously athletic and strong. He’ll need to redshirt after suffering a serious injury during a basketball game, but he’s the ideal low-risk/high-reward type player. He has no bad habits yet and can be molded into whatever defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and defensive line coach Rodney Garner want.
AL.com states that the winner would be Auburn. “This one is about as much of a slam dunk as it gets. Auburn did a terrific job with its defensive end group, headlined by Cowart, who some analysts consider to be the top player in the country. Wanogho Jr. is a mystery, but there isn’t a player with a higher ceiling in Alabama this year. Jennings and Brown are two talented players and good gets for Alabama, but Auburn is the clear winner at this spot.”
OK, Fine. 