Offenses |
Quarterbacks |
Running Backs |
Receivers |
Offensive Lines
Defenses
|
Def. Lines
| Secondaries
| Spec. Teams
1. Penn State
This should be one of the nation's best linebacking corps
if and when Paul Posluszny comes back healthy from the knee injury
suffered in the Orange Bowl. Tim Shaw and Dan Connor don't get the
publicity of Posluszny (at least, in Connor's case, positive publicity),
but they're almost as effective. These three should come close to
cranking out 300 tackles and should clean several mistakes made by the
young defensive line. The backups are more than solid with three good
prospects looking for time to try and be more in the mix in 2007.
2. USC
A concern going into last season, the linebacking corps
might be the best in America if all the parts are intact. This is a very
big, very fast group with seven All-America caliber talents not counting
the big-time freshmen coming in this summer. The return of Thomas
Williams from a knee injury and Dallas Sartz from a shoulder problem
gives the corps a big boost, while the progression of Rey Maualuga and
Keith Rivers as experienced veteran should mean few mistakes.
3. California
It'll be a major disappointment if this doesn't grow into
one of the nation's best linebacking corps. There's a great mix of
reliable veterans and rising young stars with last year's fantastic
recruiting class about to pay off in a big way. Everyone can run and
everyone can hit like a ton of bricks. Desmond Bishop is a strong leader
in the middle, while speedy Anthony Felder and the superstar recruit of
2005, Worrell Williams, will wreak havoc on the outside.
4. Nebraska
This is one of the Big 12's deepest and more productive
corps with six players all able to start without a problem. Bo Ruud is
an All-Big 12 performer who'll have a hard time getting a starting spot
with the return of Steve Octavien from a broken leg. Phillip Dillard is
a rising star in the middle, but he'll have to battle leading tackler
Corey McKeon for time. With Stewart Bradley back after suffering a
season-ending knee injury, the coaching staff has envious problem of
trying to find time for all the talent.
5.
Miami
There aren't any national stars, at least not yet, but the
return of Tavares Gooden from a shoulder injury, Darryl Sharpton from an
ankle and knee problem will make this a very good, very deep corps. It's not all that
big, but everyone can run and there will be big-time competition all
season long for playing time. Glenn Cook will have a fight on his hands
with Sharpton for the job in the middle, while veteran Jon Beason will
have to use his experience to grow into more of a playmaker.
6. Virginia Tech
As long as Brenden Hill and Corey Gordon can combine to replace
the 82 tackles and all-around playmaking ability of James
Anderson, this should be a fantastic corps. Vince Hall and
Xavier Adibi are among the nation's best linebacking tandems and
should wreak havoc all season long on the inside and in the
backfield. Finding quality depth on the inside will be a big
issue early needing smallish Purnell Sturdivant and Brett Warren
to be more than just decent special teamers.
7. South Florida
The 1-2 punch of Stephen Nicholas and Ben Moffitt is one
of the best in the nation and should combine for close to 200 tackles
and over 30 tackles for loss. Pat St. Louis is the unsung third member
of the group, but he finished second on the team in tackles. The
reserves haven't gotten a lot work since the front three have been so
good, and there's a huge drop-off from the first to the second team.
8. Oklahoma
The corps has the potential to be among the best in the
country if all the high school superstars come though. Rufus Alexander
will be on the short list for most All-America teams on the weakside,
while Zach Latimer is a rock-solid tackler in the middle. Demarrio
Pleasant is way overdue to breakout, but he'll be pushed for time by
last year's four-star recruiting trio of Curtis Lofton, Lamont Robinson
and Ryan Reynolds .
9. Florida
Brandon Siler and Earl Everett will be one of the SEC's
best 1-2 linebacking punches, and then all bets are off. Brian Crum
looks the part, but has yet to show off any of his skills on a regular
basis. If he doesn't rock on the strongside and if Jon Demps isn't 100%
healthy after seeing his promising true freshman season cut short, there
could be trouble.
10.
Texas
The potential is there for this to grow into a dominant
corps by the end of the season. The big question mark is in the middle
trying to replace All-American Aaron Harris. Rashad Bobino will move
over from the weakside to give it a shot, but he'll have serious
competition from star-in-waiting redshirt freshman Roddrick Muckelroy.
Robert Killebrew is a solid outside defender, while Drew Kelson and
Jeremy Campbell bring good speed to the weakside.
|
11 |
Auburn |
SEC |
|
12 |
Michigan |
Big Ten |
|
13 |
Georgia Tech |
ACC |
|
14 |
Ohio State |
Big Ten |
|
15 |
Clemson |
ACC |
|
16 |
Florida State |
ACC |
|
17 |
Colorado |
Big 12 |
|
18 |
Mississippi |
SEC |
|
19 |
West Virginia |
Big East |
|
20 |
Tulsa |
CUSA |
|
21 |
Tennessee |
SEC |
|
22 |
Boston College |
ACC |
|
23 |
Missouri |
Big 12 |
|
24 |
Georgia |
SEC |
|
25 |
Wisconsin |
Big Ten |
|
26 |
TCU |
M-West |
|
27 |
Pitt |
Big East |
|
28 |
Louisville |
Big East |
|
29 |
Arizona |
Pac 10 |
|
30 |
Alabama |
SEC |
|
31 |
Maryland |
ACC |
|
32 |
Arkansas |
SEC |
|
33 |
Washington State |
Pac 10 |
|
34 |
Kansas State |
Big 12 |
|
35 |
Wake Forest |
ACC |
|
36 |
LSU |
SEC |
|
37 |
NC State |
ACC |
|
38 |
Mississippi State |
SEC |
|
39 |
Connecticut |
Big East |
|
40 |
Syracuse |
Big East |
|
41 |
Utah |
M-West |
|
42 |
Iowa State |
Big 12 |
|
43 |
Virginia |
ACC |
|
44 |
Texas A&M |
Big 12 |
|
45 |
Michigan State |
Big Ten |
|
46 |
Cincinnati |
Big East |
|
47 |
Southern Miss |
CUSA |
|
48 |
Texas Tech |
Big 12 |
|
49 |
Houston |
CUSA |
|
50 |
BYU |
M-West |
|
51 |
Iowa |
Big Ten |
|
52 |
North Carolina |
ACC |
|
53 |
Notre Dame |
Ind |
|
54 |
Boise State |
WAC |
|
55 |
Fresno State |
WAC |
|
56 |
UTEP |
CUSA |
|
57 |
Toledo |
MAC |
|
58 |
Washington |
Pac 10 |
|
59 |
Purdue |
Big Ten |
|
60 |
Kentucky |
SEC |
|
61 |
Marshall |
CUSA |
|
62 |
Navy |
Ind |
|
63 |
Oregon |
Pac 10 |
|
64 |
Kansas |
Big 12 |
|
65 |
Oklahoma State |
Big 12 |
|
66 |
Arizona State |
Pac 10 |
|
67 |
UCLA |
Pac 10 |
|
68 |
South Carolina |
SEC |
|
69 |
Baylor |
Big 12 |
|
70 |
Minnesota |
Big Ten |
|
71 |
East Carolina |
CUSA |
|
72 |
New Mexico |
M-West |
|
73 |
San Diego State |
M-West |
|
74 |
Oregon State |
Pac 10 |
|
75 |
Rutgers |
Big East |
|
76 |
Vanderbilt |
SEC |
|
77 |
Illinois |
Big Ten |
|
78 |
UAB |
CUSA |
|
79 |
Ohio |
MAC |
|
80 |
Stanford |
Pac 10 |
|
81 |
Nevada |
WAC |
|
82 |
Northwestern |
Big Ten |
|
83 |
Wyoming |
M-West |
|
84 |
Colorado State |
M-West |
|
85 |
Memphis |
CUSA |
|
86 |
Arkansas State |
Sun Belt |
|
87 |
Northern Illinois |
MAC |
|
88 |
Western Michigan |
MAC |
|
89 |
Central Michigan |
MAC |
|
90 |
Duke |
ACC |
|
91 |
Indiana |
Big Ten |
|
92 |
UCF |
CUSA |
|
93 |
Akron |
MAC |
|
94 |
SMU |
CUSA |
|
95 |
Louisiana Tech |
WAC |
|
96 |
Hawaii |
WAC |
|
97 |
Army |
Ind |
|
98 |
Eastern Michigan |
MAC |
|
99 |
FIU |
Sun Belt |
|
100 |
Ball State |
MAC |
|
101 |
North Texas |
Sun Belt |
|
102 |
Troy |
Sun Belt |
|
103 |
Bowling Green |
MAC |
|
104 |
UNLV |
M-West |
|
105 |
Air Force |
M-West |
|
106 |
MTSU |
Sun Belt |
|
107 |
UL Lafayette |
Sun Belt |
|
108 |
Idaho |
WAC |
|
109 |
Miami Univ. |
MAC |
|
110 |
Buffalo |
MAC |
|
111 |
Tulane |
CUSA |
|
112 |
Rice |
CUSA |
|
113 |
Kent State |
MAC |
|
114 |
New Mexico State |
WAC |
|
115 |
Utah State |
WAC |
|
116 |
UL Monroe |
Sun Belt |
|
117 |
Florida Atlantic |
Sun Belt |
|
118 |
San Jose State |
WAC |
|
119 |
Temple |
Ind |