{"id":395779,"date":"2014-07-30T12:40:08","date_gmt":"2014-07-30T17:40:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/?p=395779"},"modified":"2022-09-12T15:43:18","modified_gmt":"2022-09-12T20:43:18","slug":"asnkrsdaya-22-nfls-top-sneakerheads-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/asnkrsdaya-22-nfls-top-sneakerheads-defense\/","title":{"rendered":"Snkrs Day All-22: The NFL’s Top Sneakerheads on Defense"},"content":{"rendered":"
With the NFL season approximately five weeks away and training camps already in full swing, football fans are anticipating another exciting season on the gridiron. As league parity remains at an all-time high, fan bases are intrigued at the notion of their favorite franchise representing their respective conferences in Arizona during Super Bowl XLIX this February.<\/p>\n
As anticipation builds, we have decided to capture this emotion by providing you with a list of the Snkrs Day All-22,\u00a0<\/strong>a positional breakdown of the top sneakerheads in the NFL.<\/p>\n Last Friday, we detailed the top sneakerheads on offense. Today, we take a look at the defensive starters of the All-22 roster.<\/p>\n This former Clemson Tiger\u00a0may be best known for his elaborate dance moves whenever he racks up a sack, but for followers of the sneaker culture, his rotation of solid footwear is more of the focal point. After being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2012 NFL Draft, Branch has developed a solid reputation as an edge rusher with immense potential for becoming an all-pro candidate in the near future.<\/p>\n While Branch’s profile may remain niche amongst die-hard NFL fans, his knack for having the best sneaker collection amongst his peers has been well documented. With a collection that consists of Kanye-designed sneakers, such as the highly coveted Louis Vuitton Dons, Branch seems to enjoy indulging in the more high-end sneakers market. With staples such as YSL high-tops that are fittingly nicknamed the \u201cFrench Jordans\u201d according to Rudy Gay<\/a>, Balenciaga Arenas in various colorways and Christian Louboutins also comprise Branch’s collection. However, before you sneakerheads get too riled up, Branch has his fair share of retro Jordans and Nike trainers, too.<\/p>\n Jacksonville will look to make some noise this season in a seemingly resurgent AFC South, and while Andre Branch may not be a household name at the moment, the 2014 season could possibly dispel that notion.<\/p>\n A look at Branch’s on-the-field heat: <\/p>\n Whether he\u2019s vouching for a direct message to a recently engaged Katherine Webb or hoarding exotic animals, Darnell Dockett is definitely a unique character. Despite his various eccentric moments, this ten-year NFL veteran has been able to amass a very reputable sneaker collection. Ranging from retro Air Jordans to highly sought after Nike trainers, Dockett remains focused in what he prefers to lace-up away from the gridiron.<\/p>\n Some of Dockett’s most notable sneaker moments include rocking a crisp pair of “Carmine” 6s during a shoot for the Arizona Cardinals, in addition to donning the “Oregon Ducks” Diamond Turf Trainer during his time off. Dockett has also provided his Instagram followers with a peak into his collection of kicks, which\u00a0includes all three\u00a0colorways of the Nike Air Yeezy 2, as seen below.<\/p>\n Dockett hopes to lead a strong Cardinals defense to prominence within a stout NFC West this season. Regardless of how the season may shake out, expect nothing but heat from this Cardinal going forward, as he is\u00a0an NFL sneakerhead mainstay.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As a defensive tackle, your game is overlooked due to the amount of time spent immersed within the trenches of the line of scrimmage. While that may be true for Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor, his knack for having dope kicks has made him a prominent name within the sneaker culture. This Maryland native fills a perfect role within our All-22 team, and he serves as\u00a0a solid addition to the list of current and former Cleveland Browns that have prominent sneaker collections.<\/p>\n Taylor incorporates many nostalgia kicks into his rotation, such as the Nike Air Zoom Turf 97 \u201cOregon,\u201d along with every retro Air Jordan imaginable and several Nike Basketball pieces. Taylor frequently provides his Instagram followers with a look into his growing dilemma of having his sneaker collection take up most of his living space within his home. What a problem to have…<\/p>\n Nonetheless, Taylor bolsters our interior line of sneakerheads and looks to\u00a0continue his stellar play this upcoming season in the always competitive AFC North.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Moving from\u00a0the New York Giants to the Oakland Raiders is a bit of a culture shock for many, but to go from one storied organization to another is also an interesting voyage. For Justin Tuck, the hopes of building upon his stellar resume of two Super Bowl titles and two All-Pro teams during his tenure New York Giants will be a tall feat, as he looks to achieve success with the revamped Oakland Raiders defense. While the climate may be different in the Bay Area, not much will change on the sneaker front for Tuck. As noted by his former teammate Victor Cruz, who happens to be another member of our All-22 list, Tuck was\u00a0one of the top sneakerheads on the New York Giants during his tenure.<\/p>\n While a majority of Tuck\u2019s collection consists of Air Force Ones and Nike Air Max kicks, this type of variation and nostagila seems to be the perfect deviation to add diversity to our list. However, don’t be mistaken, Tuck has his fair share of Jordan heat that makes regular appearances on the \u2018Gram, as seen below.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Despite his gruesome injury during the NFC Championship game, NaVorro Bowman solidified himself as one of the best linebackers in the league. Pairing with fellow All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis, the tandem of Willis and Bowman create a very formidable interior on the 49ers’ vaunted defense. While Willis and Bowman may be similar on the field. off of it, Bowman steals the show when it comes to kicks.<\/p>\n With a solid combination of Under Armour trainers and Jordan kicks, Bowman doesn\u2019t seem to mind mixing endorsers, as his affection for His Airiness is clearly evident. And while Bowman’s collection may not share the huge numerical count that we have seen from other players within our list, Bowman keeps things pretty consistent, elevating him above other linebackers in the NFL.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the span of 24 months, Dannell Ellerbe has helped lead his team to a Super Bowl victory, garnered a lucrative contract in an incredible city and bolstered his reputation as one of the more productive linebackers in the league. And despite his recent success, Ellerbe has not deterred from his adoration for\u00a0sneakers. Ellerbe is a self-proclaimed sneaker addict, as underscored\u00a0by his Instagram.<\/p>\n Ellerbe incorprates LeBrons, Air Jordans, Nike Trainers and ASICS into\u00a0his rotation. His selection of immense variety makes him an easy choice for\u00a0our All-22 team. Ellerbe\u00a0also does not shy away from vibrant colors, and it seems the South Florida culture has been welcomed by the former Georgia Bulldog.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This former Ohio State Buckeye is the only rookie on our list, which is a tall order for the soon-to-be 22-year-old. Nevertheless, Shazier represents the linebacker position well. As noted on\u00a0his Instagram account, retro Air Jordans comprise most of his collection, and he seems to be a huge fan of the Jordan lineage.<\/p>\n Going forward, it will be interesting to witness how Shazier’s access to various events and potential endorsements may sway his footwear aesthetic.<\/p>\n Heck, the guy even rocked a pair of the Air Jordan 11 Low \u201cInfrared\u201d during his first official NFL shoot. Case closed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fresh off becoming the league\u2019s second highest-paid defensive back, Joe Haden is starting to receive the credit he deserves for his on-field performance. However, away from the gridiron, Joe Haden needs to be mentioned amongst top-tier sneakerheads. The quiet and unassuming defensive back from Maryland has a plethora of shoes that ranges from customs kicks to retro Air Jordans and LeBrons.<\/p>\n While he doesn\u2019t shy away from high fashion sneaker models, Haden keeps a healthy balance of kicks, as our very own George Kiel witnessed in Season One of Sneak Peek<\/a>. Going forward, it will be interesting to see how the duo of Haden and recently drafted Justin Gilbert bolster the\u00a0already strong Cleveland Browns defense.<\/p>\n To sum it up, Haden\u2019s abundance of kicks is much like his play on the field: dominant and consistent.<\/p>\n
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