Andrea Adelson, ESPN Senior Writer 11y

2013 Top 25 player countdown: No. 8

No. 8 Jeremiah Attaochu, DE, Georgia Tech

Previous ranking: Not ranked.

Making the case for Attaochu: Expectations are high for Attaochu now that he has made the full-time move to defensive end in the new 4-3 defense the Jackets are going to run under Ted Roof. Last year as an outside linebacker/defensive end, Attaochu had 10 sacks (tied for seventh most on the school's single-season list) and was an honorable mention All-ACC pick. He goes into this season as an All-ACC preseason selection and made it on the preseason watch list for four individual defensive awards (Nagurski, Lombardi, Butkus and Bednarik). But it's not just outsiders who have high expectations. Attaochu expects much more out of himself at his new position, calling it a much better fit for him. Attaochu has worked on using his hands more, his leverage and his explosiveness this offseason in the hopes of being a much more complete end.

The countdown

  • No. 25 Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech

  • No. 24 Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina

  • No. 23 Nikita Whitlock, NG, Wake Forest

  • No. 22 Jerome Smith, RB, Syracuse

  • No. 21 Jamison Crowder, WR, Duke

  • No. 20 Devin Street, WR, Pitt

  • No. 19 Kareem Martin, DE, North Carolina

  • No. 18 Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State

  • No. 17 Jack Tyler, LB, Virginia Tech

  • No. 16 Ross Cockrell, CB, Duke

  • No. 15 Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State

  • No. 14 Alex Amidon, WR, Boston College

  • No. 13 Michael Campanaro, WR, Wake Forest

  • No. 12 James Gayle, DE, Virginia Tech

  • No. 11 Christian Jones, LB, Florida State

  • No. 10 Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt

  • No. 9 Lamarcus Joyner, DB, Florida State

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