Aggie DEs America's best?

Why are the defensive ends at the top of the list? It's a tough call over the wideouts and the safeties, but the quality of the players A&M has, along with their depth and experience, gets them the call. It helps when you have the nation's best player in the group and another player who could be a first round draft pick with a strong senior season.

Height/Weight: 6'5", 262 lbs.

2015 stats: 59 tackles, 19.5 TFL, 12.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 1 INT, 1 blocked kick

As his stat sheet from last season shows, Garrett really does do it all. With his freakish speed and athleticism, NFL scouts already have him at the top of the 2017 draft -- even though it's not a certainty that he'll leave.

There is no better pass-rushing defensive end in college football. In fact, it's not really close. Garrett is too fast and too strong for most left tackles, and he's worked diligently to improve his secondary moves to get away from the linemen that do get their hands on him.

During his freshman season, opponents ran the ball at Garrett in an effort to wear him out. They did the same in 2015 with a whole lot less results, but he still took heat for being too far upfield and allowing backs to get past him and into the secondary -- largely because the outside linebackers were out of position. Even though these situations are largely not his fault, his run defense may be his only real weakness.

If Garrett stays healthy this year and continues the improvement he's shown from one year to the next, the FBS record for career sacks is in sight. If he returns for his senior season, he'll destroy it. He's smart and his motor goes nonstop. He'll start the year as a pre-season All-American and will likely go up from there.

Height/Weight: 6'6", 260 lbs.

2015 stats: 54 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles

On most teams, Hall would be the premier defensive lineman and the source of a lot of media attention. At A&M, he's the guy who plays across from Myles Garrett, but that discounts his performance and his importance. Hall proved last year that you're going to have to pick your poison when dealing with A&M's front four, because either Garrett or Hall is going to be in a one-on-one matchup. You place all your attention on Garrett at your peril.

2015 was the first season Hall was really healthy and he showed why the Aggies wanted him so badly to close out the 2013 class. He's obviously tall and athletically gifted, and he made a lot of plays in the opposing backfield last year. His output wasn't consistent, though, as he started off the season hot, then was quiet for a few games, then got hot again down the stretch. A&M will be looking for him to be more of a presence in its biggest games, against LSU, Alabama, Auburn and Ole Miss.

If Hall improves on his 2015 campaign -- and having a full spring practice and a summer's worth of workouts suggests he'll be better prepared than ever before -- Garrett may not be the only guy who gets the call on the first night of the draft. Hall should get first-team preseason All-SEC consideration, but he probably will continue to be overlooked. Another 2015 season would impress, but he's capable of more.

Height/Weight: 6'3", 240 lbs.

2015 stats: 18 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks

If Cunningham played for most any other program in the nation using four down linemen, he'd probably start. He's that good. Instead, he plays behind Garrett and Hall, meaning he'll only get one season to start -- and that's not this year.

Cunningham isn't as big as Hall or Garrett, so that puts him at a bit of a disadvantage against the run. He is, however, extremely fast and gets off the snap very quickly. In limited playing time, he's proven he can be an effective edge rusher.

Cunningham's role will be similar to what it was last year: rotating in with Jarrett Johnson (and perhaps James Lockhart) to spell Garrett and Hall. In spite of that limited playing time, he should improve on last year's totals. Five sacks wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility.

Height/weight: 6'3", 260 lbs.

2015 stats: 22 tackles, 3 TFL

When Cunningham comes into the game, he usually comes in with fellow reserve bookend Jarrett Johnson. Johnson's job isn't to rush the quarterback, but to contain. In his role last year as Garrett's backup, he proved he can do that job pretty well.

Johnson isn't flashy, but he's tough, consistent and plays with maximum effort on every snap. He plays along the line of scrimmage, not behind it, and tackles well. He's a guy every line needs, and he'll probably get a chance to truly show what he can do when he moves into a starting role (if Garrett leaves) in 2017.

Height/Weight: 6'3", 260

2015 stats: 4 tackles in 4 games

One of the more interesting takeaways from Friday Night Lights and the spring game was the use of Lockhart, the top defensive end prospect in Texas just a year ago. While most other ends were set on one side, he played both left and right defensive end. The reason is simple: John Chavis is interested in giving him an extended look to see if he can be part of the rotation this year, and a strong spring didn't hurt his cause. He's already as big as Jarrett Johnson but has quickness closer to that of Cunningham. He will eventually be a key element of the defensive front line, but that may be in 2017 as opposed to this year.

Height/weight: 6'3", 228 (as of national signing day)

2015 stats at Converse Judson: 44 tackles, 23 TFL, 12 sacks, 4 forced fumbles

Robinson was arrested shortly after National Signing Day, but it appears any punishment will not include losing his scholarship. Legal matters aside, the 3-star signee was sought out personally by Chavis for his ability to rush the passer. Robinson racked up 32 sacks his last two seasons of high school, and his speed caught the eye of A&M's defensive coordinator. Chavis used undersized, but very fast, ends at LSU and Robinson could fit that bill. 230 pounds is still a bit slender, though, and A&M has no need to rush him with the depth they have at the position right now. But the Aggies have a talented player they can develop for a season while watching how standouts like Garrett and Hall do business. He's a potential 2016 redshirt, but will be a factor in 2017.