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There could be three defensive linemen taken in the top six picks – the first time that's happened since 2001.

The end board is strong with pass rushers available into the second day. But the tackle board is paper thin.

Defensive end Chris Long spent four years at Virginia developing into a potential top-five NFL draft pick.

But then he had little choice but to develop.

Long spent those four years honing his defensive skills on a daily basis in practice against offensive tackles D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Branden Albert.

Ferguson became the highest player drafted from Virginia since 1967 when the AFL and NFL merged drafts when the New York Jets selected him fourth overall in 2006. Albert could join Long in the top 10 selections of the 2008 draft.

"I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for guys like D'Brickashaw and Branden," Long said.

The first two years were particularly trying for Long. Ferguson was an elite college blocker, earning All-ACC honors in each of Long's first two seasons on campus. Long became Ferguson's punching bag as he was trying to figure out how to be a productive college player.

"It's humbling when you get beat every day in practice," Long said. "The games are easier than practice by far. I was always very fortunate and appreciative of not only the type of player Brick was but also the way he approached practice. He forced me to raise my game and my level of intensity."

Long did raise his game, becoming a team captain when Ferguson left campus in 2006 and the Hendricks Award winner in 2007 as the best defensive end in college football.

AP

LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey won the Lombardi, Lott, Nagurski and Outland trophies in 2007.

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Glenn Dorsey, LSU: Dorsey became college football's most decorated player in 2007, winning the Lombardi, Lott, Nagurski and Outland trophies for his prowess as a defensive tackle at LSU. When I asked him if there was any award he coveted but didn't win, there was no pause in his answer. "The national championship was the ultimate award," Dorsey said. "I felt like I achieved everything I wanted." Just another of the many reasons the NFL likes him – not only is he a great player, he's a great team player.

Kroy Biermann, DE, Montana: Biermann won the Buchanan Award as the best defensive player at the NCAA Division I-AA level (now the NCAA football championship subdivision). Don't undersell that honor. Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis and Jared Allen also won the award in advance of Pro Bowl NFL careers. Biermann led the Big Sky with 15 sacks last season and finished second in school history with 32 in his career. He could wind up an NFL linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

Joseph Bryant, DT, Texas A&M: Bryant is a two-time captain and four-year starter for the Aggies. He didn't play like a mid-round draft pick in 2007. But he dropped from 340 pounds last fall to 313 by his campus workout in March to rebuild his draft stock. Draft projection: 3-4 rounds.

2. Chris Harrington, DE, Texas A&M: Draft projection: 4-5 rounds.

3. Kenny Iwebema, Iowa (and Arlington): Draft projection: 5-6 rounds.

One of a kind: The University of Virginia retired Chris Long's jersey number 91 during halftime ceremonies at his final home game. "It was humbling," he said. "I felt as undeserving as anybody. That's truly an honor at Virginia – but only if they make a movement to start recognizing the players who came before me in the past 10 to 15 years who I feel were equal and better players than me. ... Guys like Patrick Kerney, who was just awesome. What they did for the school and the program was immeasurable."

All in the family: Long, of course, is the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long. He's not the only player on this draft board whose father wears a Super Bowl ring from the Raiders. UCLA end Bruce Davis is the son of former Raiders OT Bruce Davis. Nevada-Las Vegas end Jeremy Geathers is the son of Jumpy Geathers, who spent 14 seasons in the NFL as a defensive lineman with Atlanta, Denver, New Orleans and Washington. "I have a great knowledge of the game from my family," Jeremy Geathers said. "You get to learn a lot of the old-school techniques. Plus you get his knowledge of the game. My father coached me to do everything, how to prepare for and handle all situations."

Favorite team: Most draft-eligible players do not profess favoritism for any particular NFL team. They just want to be drafted and will go wherever the job takes them. But Iowa end Bryan Mattison already has an allegiance to the Baltimore Ravens. His father Greg was hired by the Ravens as linebacker coach this off-season. The Mattisons met on the field once before – the 2005 Outback Bowl when Bryan's Hawkeyes met his father's Florida Gators. Greg was the defensive coordinator. The Mattisons know they will probably see each other again on opposite sidelines. "The only person it would be hard on is my mom," Bryan said. "Who knows? Maybe some day I'll see him on our sideline."

Raleigh assembly line: Tackle Demario Pressley started at North Carolina State on one of the greatest defensive fronts in college football history in 2005. Ends Mario Williams and Manny Lawson and tackle John McCargo were all first-round selections off that line in 2006 and tackle Tank Tyler a third-rounder in 2007. Now it's Pressley turn for the NFL. "They taught me a lot of things, especially John and Manny," Pressley said. "Manny really worked with me on my techniques, and John helped me on my pass rush."

West Coast dominance: Southern Cal's Sedrick Ellis was twice voted the Morris Trophy winner as the Pac 10's best defensive lineman by the conference's coaches. "That's a great honor," he said. "I hold that as one of the best awards because of who votes on it. I hold it in the highest regard."

Legendary sackers: Miami's Calais Campbell set a state of Colorado high school record for career sacks with 57. Florida's Derrick Harvey set a state of Maryland high school single-season record for sacks with 31. In the college ranks, Quentin Groves left Auburn as the school's all-time sack leader with 26.

Playing hoops: DE Angelo Craig spent the winter of 2005 playing for the University of Cincinnati basketball team. Calais Campbell led the state of Colorado in rebounding as a senior in high school, and Eastern Michigan's James Jones was an all-state basketball selection in suburban Detroit. DT Chris Norwell of Illinois left his Cincinnati high school as its all-time leading scorer and rebounder, and DT Pat Sims started on a basketball team that played for the state championship in Florida. Just about every athletic pass rusher in the NFL draft dreamed of one day playing in the NBA – but most stopped growing. Sims stopped growing at 6-2 but filled out to 310 pounds. He's still dreaming of basketball. "Don't let the size fool you," he said. "I can shoot, I can handle, I can do everything you need."

On the mat: Basketball wasn't the only winter option for athletes of size. Notre Dame DT Trevor Laws went 49-0 as a junior to win the state (Minnesota) super-heavyweight wrestling title and was ranked No. 1 in the nation. He finished his high school career 142-5 and pondered wrestling scholarship offers from Minnesota and Iowa before accepting Notre Dame's football offer. "I missed wrestling immensely," Laws said. "I love it. When I was doing it, it was so demanding, so tough. I couldn't wait for the season to end. But I love football, too. I wish I could do both."

Speed on both sides of the ball: TCU's Tommy Blake was a 2,000-yard rusher as a senior in high school at Aransas Pass. He put his speed to work on the other side of the ball at TCU, leading the Mountain West in sacks in 2006 and finishing his career with 23. "I didn't see myself in the NFL as a running back, but I did see myself in the NFL doing something," Blake said. "I figured it would be on defense. Some schools recruited me as a tailback, as a linebacker, as an end..."

Titanic battle: When Michigan met Ohio State in the 2007 regular-season finale, college football witnessed one of the best individual matchups of the season. Michigan All-American OT Jake Long squared off that day against the Big Ten's Defensive Lineman of the Year. Gholston beat Long for the only sack he allowed all season. Then he went to the other side and got two more sacks to set an Ohio State single-season record with 14. "That was a big battle for me," Gholston said. "I had a tough time getting around him."

Moving around: There are a few transfers on this draft board: DE Kurt Hout moved from Northern Colorado to Ferris State (Mich.), DE Dorian Smith from Alabama A&M to Oregon State, and DT Nate Robinson from Rutgers to Akron.