Originally Published: March 30, 2009

SEC powerhouses lead D-line factories

Tennessee, Florida churn out NFL defensive linemen; Florida State, Miami hit-or-miss

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McShay By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.
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Athletic big men are the toughest to come by in college football. In fact, they are often what separate the good programs from the powerhouses. So it comes as no surprise that the top producers of NFL defensive-line talent are all household names.

Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami and Tennessee all meet the minimum requirements of 11 defensive linemen drafted, including at least three first-rounders in the past decade. As we all know, though, there can be a large discrepancy between players drafted and players who produce in the NFL. That's where the trust factor comes in for NFL scouts.

Which players have made Tennessee and other SEC schools the most successful defensive-line factories in recent years? Who are the biggest busts from the schools that fall short? Become an ESPN Insider to find out. Insider

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