Sammy Brown, Williams Nwaneri among nation's best still available: All-Uncommitted Team - Defense

Official visits are about to ramp up in the coming weeks, which means it's a good time to take a look at the best prospects available. 

While defensive linemen and edge-rushers continue to take the longest to make decisions, nearly half of the nation's top defensive backs are already off the board.

Here's a look at the nation's top uncommitted defensive prospects.

It's the All-Uncommitted Team.

>>> All-Uncommitted Offense: Dylan Raiola, Jerrick Gibson lead the way

Defensive line

While quarterbacks tend to come off the board more quickly than any position in football, defensive line and edge-rusher are positions known for going the distance.

The class of 2024 is no exception.

In fact, it's an extreme example of the rule.

Currently, none of the nation's top 17 defensive line prospects are committed to a school.

As a reference point, 25 of the nation's top 29 quarterbacks are off the board.

There's still a lot up in the air with this group. 

DL Williams Nwaneri (Lee’s Summit North; Missouri)

Williams Nwaneri was listed as a "not rated" prospect in the spring of his sophomore year, then jumped into the top-200 by early summer. 

Since then, however, the 6-foot-6, 265-pound lineman has truly skyrocketed.

Nwaneri is On3's No. 2 prospect nationally and sits at No. 3 on 247Sports. 

Although he has a top 10, the Missouri product is believed to be favoring Oklahoma slightly ahead of Tennessee.

Still, eight other schools are looking to continue to climb those rankings.  

DL David Stone (IMG Academy; Florida)

David Stone is rated the nation's No. 7 overall prospect by 247Sports, and few recruits seem to be having more fun with the recruiting process.

The 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive lineman has made clear for some time that Michigan State and Oklahoma are the primary teams to beat, as he has reguarly called both programs "home" and even dressed as a Michigan State pledge for Halloween.

Stone recently visited Oregon and Florida, two schools that are trying to enter the fray.

But it still looks to be a battle between the Sooners and Spartans right now. 

DL Eddrick Houston (Buford; Georgia)

Rated anywhere from the nation's No. 1 defensive lineman to No. 8, Eddrick Houston seems to be pretty wide open in the recruiting process.

Obviously Georgia seems like a natural fit, but Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Ohio State and many others are hoping to secure official visits and encourage Houston to leave home. 

DL Aydin Breland (Mater Dei; California)

The top defensive lineman in the West region, Aydin Breland is a standout for national champion favorite Mater Dei.

A 6-foot-5, 320-pound interior defensive lineman, Breland is the nation's No. 4 defensive lineman overall and has suitors from all over the country,

USC has made him a massive priority, but schools from all over the country are in the mix.

Breland visited Colorado, Miami, Penn State and Texas A&M this spring. 

Edge-rushers 

Only two of the nation's top-20 edge-rushers have come off the board, and none in the top five.

It's still wide open. 

EDGE Elijah Rushing (Salpointe Catholic; Arizona)

The nation's No. 1 edge-rusher and No. 8 overall prospect according to 247Sports, Elijah Rushing is beginning to sort through his options.

Rushing intends to take official visits to Oregon (June 2), Notre Dame (June 9). Arizona (June 16) and Tennessee (June 23).

The Ducks have been in the mix for a long time for the 6-foot-6, 235-pound edge-rusher, but his recruitment is far from certain.

As a junior, Rushing registered 75 tackles, 59 hurries and 11.5 sacks. 

EDGE Colin Simmons (Duncanville; Texas)

While Rushing has the No. 1 spot in 247Sports' rankings, Colin Simmons is the player most consistently picked as the nation's No. 1 edge-rusher.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound defender is a consensus five-star recruit and is rated as a top-six prospect nationally by nearly every recruiting service.

Simmons broke Duncanville's storied sack record as a junior (22.5) and was named the top player in his district. 

As for his recruitment, Simmons has kept things pretty close to the vest.

He has visited several programs, including Arizona State, Florida, Miami and Texas A&M, but has yet to announce an official visit plan.

Most of the SEC is actively pursuing him, and the conference is likely the odds-on-favorite to add him into the fold.

The question is, "Where is he headed?"

EDGE Dylan Stewart (Friendship Collegiate Academy; Washington D.C.)

In a year in which many top players are all over the map in recruiting rankings, Dylan Stewart is a consensus top-4 edge-rusher nationally.

The 6-foot-6, 240-pound defender, who registered 16 sacks as a junior, holds nearly 40 scholarship offers.

So far, Stewart has scheduled official visits to Ohio State (June 16) and South Carolina (June 23).

That tracks, as the Buckeyes are considered the early favorite.

Still, there's a long way to go.

Linebackers

Half of the nation's top 20 linebackers are already off the board, including Demarcus Riddick (No. 2; Georgia), Myles Graham (No. 4; Florida) and Adarius Hayes (No. 7; Florida).

So far, the Gators lead the way at the position.

But a lot of top-tier talent is still available, which could dramatically shift that hierarchy.

LB Sammy Brown (Jefferson; Georgia)

Sammy Brown is picked as the nation's No. 1 linebacker by every services except On3, which has him at No. 3. 

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound thumper is viewed by many as head-and-shoulders above the rest of the field at his position.

For example, Brown is 247Sports' No. 5 overall recruit, while the next highest-rated 'backer (Riddick) sits outside the top 50. 

So, where is the position group's biggest prize headed? 

Georgia is obviously. team to watch closely for Brown, but he has scheduled five official visits (so far?) - Tennessee (May 26), Clemson (June 2), Georgia (June 9), Oklahoma (June 16) and Ohio State (June 23). 

LB Justin Williams (Oak Ridge; Texas)

Justin Williams is a consensus top-3 linebacker by every major recruiting services, and claims ESPN's No. 1 spot - ahead of Brown in the overall standings.

As a junior, Williams racked up 105 tackles, 18 tackles-for-loss and 8.5 sacks.

Oregon is believed to be the heavy favorite to land his services, but there's still a ways to go before pen touches paper on Signing Day. 

Cornerbacks

Five of the nation's top 15 cornerbacks are off the board, led by class headliner Ellis Robinson IV, who committed to Georgia as the nation's No. 4 overall prospect. 

Also of note, while Auburn doesn't have a top-20 cornerback commit, the Tigers do have a pair of four-star additions in Moody (Alabama) playmaker A'mon Lane and Anniston (Alabama) standout Jayden Lewis. 

CB Kobe Black (Connally; Texas)

Kobe Black comes in anywhere from No. 2 to No. 6 nationally in the cornerback rankings. 

While Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma and others are hard at work to secure Black, he is thought to be a significant Texas lean.

The Longhorns are in the in-state school, and Black has visited on multiple occasions. 

CB Charles Lester III (Riverview; Florida)

Universally-regarded as a top-five cornerback nationally, Charles Lester III is considered a heavy Florida State lean.

But that may be tested next month with official visits to Colorado (June 9) and Ohio State (June 16). 

The 6-foot-1, 171-pound athlete played quarterback, wide receiver and cornerback for his high school team, and could take another massive leap as he adds strength and hones in on the cornerback position. 

CB Bryce West (Glenville; Ohio)

Coveted cornerback Bryce West is viewed as an Ohio State lean, but he has scheduled official visits to Michigan (June 9), USC (June 16) and Ohio State (June 23).

The Buckeyes seem like the clear-cut favorite, but next month's visits will be key to wrapping things up. 

Safeties

Roughly half of the nation's top safeties are already off the board, which has led to good news for Alabama (Jaylen Mbakwe; No. 2), Penn State (Quinton Martin; No. 4) and Texas (Hunter Moddon; No. 6).

S KJ Bolden (Buford; Georgia)

The nation's No. 1 safety or No. 1 athlete depending on which service one uses, KJ Bolden is a special playmaker with NFL upside.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound defensive back holds 40 offers, making him one of the nation's most sought-after recruits, and has set official visits to Clemson (June 2), Georgia (June 9), Ohio State (June 16) and Auburn (October 6). 

It is always difficult to lure elite talent out of Georgia, but clearly most of the country is going to try.

DB/ATH Terry Bussey (Timpson; Texas) 

Like Bolden, some view Terry Bussey as the nation's No. 1 safety while others list him as the No. 1 athlete.

Either way, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound playmaker is one of the nation's most electric football players on both sides of the ball.

Simply put, his stats look like video game numbers - 2,177 yards and 26 touchdowns passing with 2,596 yards and 46 touchdowns rushing at quarterback and 115 tackles with five interceptions (four pick-sixes) on defense 

Frankly, those don't even seem possible. 

Bussey recently released a top 11 of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, TCU, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M.

It seems there's still a long way to go before his recruitment is decided.