1. Brandon Jenkins -- Florida State. At 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds, Jenkins emerged as the best defensive end in the conference last season. He finished with eight sacks but really started to dominate games at times. Now a senior, he will be looking to emerge as one of the nation's top few pass rushers. He's a local player for the Noles who is expected to be drafted very high next April. Speed is the name of the game and he has plenty of it off the edge.
2. Bjoern Werner -- Florida State. At 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds, he really put his name on the national map as a sophomore last season. Everyone talks about Jenkins in Tallahassee but Werner was just as good for most of the season. He plays with a non-stop motor and should help form the best tandem of defensive ends in all of college football.
3. Ryne Giddins -- South Florida. At 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, Giddins was recruited nationally coming out of high school. He decided to stay home and has been a solid player in each of his first two seasons. He's ready to break out now, going into his junior season and he has all the tools to become a real difference maker.
4. James Gayle -- Virginia Tech. At 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, the rising junior started to really elevate his game last season. He finished the year with seven sacks and started making noise as one of the better pass rushers in the conference. Their coaches are expecting him to really take off and become a dominant player this season.
5. Kareem Martin -- North Carolina. At 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, he has a tremendous combination of size and athleticism. He finished last season with 40 tackles and four sacks while not seeing the field on a full-time basis because of the depth and talent the Tar Heels had. This is his year to shine and he should have a huge junior season.