Rick O'Brien: Top ten defensive ends

We cross over to the other side of the ball and begin our defensive-player rankings, kicking off with the best pass-rushing and run-stuffing ends in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Next week, staying on the D-line, we'll review the area's premier tackles and nose guards.

Here is our top-10 list of ends:

1. Connor Mahoney, Malvern Prep, senior, 6-foot-4, 270 pounds. Mahoney, ticketed for Northwestern, regularly makes his way into the backfield and corrals ballcarriers. On offense, at tackle, he has been a rock-solid blocker for Shawn Wilson and company.

2. Bryan Osei, Abington, senior, 6-2, 220. The Temple recruit, who doubles as a first-year offensive tackle, has been a two-way stalwart in the Ghosts' bid for the Suburban One League National Conference championship.

3. Jake O'Donnell, Central Bucks East, senior, 6-6, 235. A late bloomer, O'Donnell will get the chance to fulfill his vast potential when he plays for Al Golden at the University of Miami.

4. Justin Moody, George Washington, junior, 6-3, 265. The Eagles, idle this weekend after a last-minute loss to Frankford, will need Moody's muscle and aggressiveness to make a run at the Public League Class AAAA title.

5. Kiser Terry, Neshaminy, senior, 6-3, 245. Effective at squashing the run for the Redskins, Terry will join Osei on North Broad Street.

6. Tonah Kpassagnon, Wissahickon, senior, 6-7, 250. Through eight games, Kpassagnon, bound for Villanova, had notched 31 tackles, including two sacks. He has a 39-inch vertical leap.

7. Joe Wetty, Downingtown East, senior, 6-3, 220. Aided by Wetty's efforts, the Cougars are again in the thick of the Ches-Mont League National Conference race.

8. Matt Sinex, Ridley, senior, 6-2, 230. With Sinex as a regular playmaker, the 7-2 Green Raiders have yielded only 11.4 points per game.

9. Jonathan Vicari, Archbishop Wood, senior, 6-0, 220. Vicari, who began the year at linebacker, has been a force while playing alongside Boston College-bound brute Frank Taylor.

10. Kevin Regan, West Chester Henderson, senior, 6-2, 230. Like teammate Max Perisse, a 6-4, 240-pound tackle, Regan regularly beats blocks to make plays.