Offenses |
Quarterbacks |
Running Backs |
Receivers |
Offensive Lines
Defenses
|
Def. Lines
| Linebackers |
Spec. Teams
1. Miami
Statistically, this won't be the nation's number one pass defense
again, but it won't be far off. There's a little bit of a question mark
at corner needing Glenn Sharpe to return 100% from a torn ACL and hoping
for either Randy Phillips or Bruce Johnson to go from being decent
backup to a solid starter, or else hope for star recruit Ryan Hill to
live up to expectations right away. The safeties are among the deepest
and most talented Miami has ever had with Brandon Meriweather and Kenny Phillips each on the short list for
All-America honors and Anthony Reddick, once he returns from a knee
injury, isn't far behind. Lovon Ponder is a great looking young safety
who has to somehow find his way on the field.
2. LSU
Even with the loss of top corner Ronnie Prude this will be one
of the SEC's best secondaries. The safety combination of LaRon Landry
and Jessie Daniels is one of the nation's best, while Chevis Jackson is
on the verge of being a perennial All-SEC performer at corner. There's
enough speed among the reserve to still field a decent group if disaster
strikes.
3. Texas
Texas was eighth in the nation in pass defense and fourth in
pass efficiency defense, but that's partly due to not playing too many
teams that threw the ball on a regular basis. Texas Tech put up 369
yards (albeit in a blowout) and Matt Leinart cranked out 365 yards in
the national title game. What gets lost is how well this group tackles.
Tarrell Brown and Aaron Ross might be the best hitting corners in the
country, while Michael Griffin could follow Michael Huff's lead and win
the Thorpe Award. There's good depth with the luxury of having backup
corners in Ryan Palmer and Brandon Foster who are faster than the
starters.
4. Auburn
This could be the SEC's best secondary led by a tremendous
pair of corners in David Irons and Jonathan Wilhite, and a great reserve
in Montavis Pitts. Everyone in the Tiger secondary can tackle with Irons
and Wilhite among the best hitting corners in the country allowing 199
yards per game and a total of eight touchdown passes. The move of Will
Herring to linebacker means former running back Tristan Davis has to use
his speed to be a steady force at free safety, while Eric Brock and
Steve Gandy have to be rocks right away at strong safety. Watch out for
Aairon Savage who looked like a natural at safety this spring after
moving over from corner.
5.
South Florida
The nation's sixth best pass defense should
be even better with the league's best corner tandem in Mike Jenkins and
Trae Williams and helped by the return of Danny Verpaele after missing
last year with a broken foot. How strong is the USF secondary? The
team's fourth leading tackler last season, Carlton Williams, is a
backup. There's excellent speed and athleticism among the reserves with
several good options to form a good rotation.
6. Connecticut
The nation's number four pass defense returns
three starters and enough depth and experience to have a nice rotation
all year long with big-time competition for some of the starting spots.
Darius Butler isn't going anywhere as one of the Big East's brightest
young cornerbacks, and Marvin Taylor should grow even further in his
role at free safety.
Speedy Tyvon Brach is an
emerging star on the other side of Butler.
Safeties Allan Barnes, Donnell Ford
and Donta Moore will start the season as reserves, but they could all
see starting time at some point.
7. Michigan
This could be a fantastic group
if the coaching staff figures out where to put everyone. Leon Hall will
start at one corner spot, and then everything is up for grabs with
too many good safeties to find spots for now that Ryan Mundy is back and
healthy after a shoulder problem. Brandent Englemon, Willie Barringer,
Jamar Adams and Brandon Harrison will all see starting time this year at
one or both of the safety spots. Charles Stewart appears to be the
answer on the other side of Hall, but Morgan Trent will also be in the
hunt.
8. Oklahoma
The Sooners didn't really have to go through many lumps last
year with so many young players seeing meaningful time, but the
secondary wasn't as good as it's going to be this year now that Reggie
Smith, Darien Williams and Nic Harris are mature sophomores. The corner
situation is rock solid with Smith moving over from strong safety and
D.J. Wolfe an all-star on the other side, so the focus will be at safety
where the competition will be fierce for starting spots up until the
opener.
9. Florida
Things aren't that bad despite losing three very good
starters in Dee Webb, Vernell Brown and
Jarvis Herring. It all starts with the supremely talented Reggie Nelson,
who spent most of last year as a nickel back and made plays all over the
field. He's a next-level talent at either safety position. Tony Joiner
and Kyle Jackson help to solidify a great safety situation. Corner is
another story needing Reggie Lewis to go from being a nice backup to a
reliable number one, and hoping for Tremaine or Jermaine McCollum to be ready to roll on
the other side.
10. Virginia Tech
As always, the Virginia Tech special teams will be among the
best in the country. Placekicker Brandon Pace and punter Nic Schmitt are
All-America candidates, and now the return game has to step up after a
mediocre 2005. Eddie Royal is too speedy not to do more as the team's
main kick returner, while the rest of the top receivers will also
provide a little help.
|
11 |
Tennessee |
SEC |
|
12 |
Arizona |
Pac 10 |
|
13 |
Ohio State |
Big Ten |
|
14 |
Colorado |
Big 12 |
|
15 |
NC State |
ACC |
|
16 |
Boston College |
ACC |
|
17 |
Pitt |
Big East |
|
18 |
Tulsa |
CUSA |
|
19 |
Florida State |
ACC |
|
20 |
Georgia |
SEC |
|
21 |
Clemson |
ACC |
|
22 |
Mississippi State |
SEC |
|
23 |
Baylor |
Big 12 |
|
24 |
Mississippi |
SEC |
|
25 |
Maryland |
ACC |
|
26 |
Syracuse |
Big East |
|
27 |
Kansas |
Big 12 |
|
28 |
San Diego State |
M-West |
|
29 |
USC |
Pac 10 |
|
30 |
California |
Pac 10 |
|
31 |
Wisconsin |
Big Ten |
|
32 |
Utah |
M-West |
|
33 |
Louisville |
Big East |
|
34 |
Alabama |
SEC |
|
35 |
TCU |
M-West |
|
36 |
North Carolina |
ACC |
|
37 |
Notre Dame |
Ind |
|
38 |
Virginia |
ACC |
|
39 |
Cincinnati |
Big East |
|
40 |
Fresno State |
WAC |
|
41 |
UCF |
CUSA |
|
42 |
South Carolina |
SEC |
|
43 |
East Carolina |
CUSA |
|
44 |
Colorado State |
M-West |
|
45 |
Houston |
CUSA |
|
46 |
Nebraska |
Big 12 |
|
47 |
Iowa |
Big Ten |
|
48 |
Georgia Tech |
ACC |
|
49 |
Penn State |
Big Ten |
|
50 |
Missouri |
Big 12 |
|
51 |
West Virginia |
Big East |
|
52 |
Arkansas |
SEC |
|
53 |
Texas Tech |
Big 12 |
|
54 |
Michigan State |
Big Ten |
|
55 |
Southern Miss |
CUSA |
|
56 |
Boise State |
WAC |
|
57 |
UTEP |
CUSA |
|
58 |
Akron |
MAC |
|
59 |
UCLA |
Pac 10 |
|
60 |
Minnesota |
Big Ten |
|
61 |
Indiana |
Big Ten |
|
62 |
Toledo |
MAC |
|
63 |
Kent State |
MAC |
|
64 |
Oregon |
Pac 10 |
|
65 |
Iowa State |
Big 12 |
|
66 |
Kansas State |
Big 12 |
|
67 |
Arizona State |
Pac 10 |
|
68 |
Wake Forest |
ACC |
|
69 |
Oregon State |
Pac 10 |
|
70 |
Oklahoma State |
Big 12 |
|
71 |
Washington State |
Pac 10 |
|
72 |
Duke |
ACC |
|
73 |
Rutgers |
Big East |
|
74 |
Vanderbilt |
SEC |
|
75 |
Navy |
Ind |
|
76 |
Illinois |
Big Ten |
|
77 |
UAB |
CUSA |
|
78 |
Northern Illinois |
MAC |
|
79 |
Stanford |
Pac 10 |
|
80 |
New Mexico |
M-West |
|
81 |
Wyoming |
M-West |
|
82 |
Arkansas State |
Sun Belt |
|
83 |
Miami Univ. |
MAC |
|
84 |
UNLV |
M-West |
|
85 |
UL Monroe |
Sun Belt |
|
86 |
Texas A&M |
Big 12 |
|
87 |
Washington |
Pac 10 |
|
88 |
BYU |
M-West |
|
89 |
Purdue |
Big Ten |
|
90 |
Kentucky |
SEC |
|
91 |
Marshall |
CUSA |
|
92 |
Nevada |
WAC |
|
93 |
Northwestern |
Big Ten |
|
94 |
Memphis |
CUSA |
|
95 |
SMU |
CUSA |
|
96 |
Troy |
Sun Belt |
|
97 |
Bowling Green |
MAC |
|
98 |
Air Force |
M-West |
|
99 |
Rice |
CUSA |
|
100 |
Louisiana Tech |
WAC |
|
101 |
Hawaii |
WAC |
|
102 |
MTSU |
Sun Belt |
|
103 |
Florida Atlantic |
Sun Belt |
|
104 |
Idaho |
WAC |
|
105 |
Tulane |
CUSA |
|
106 |
Buffalo |
MAC |
|
107 |
UL Lafayette |
Sun Belt |
|
108 |
Western Michigan |
MAC |
|
109 |
Ohio |
MAC |
|
110 |
Army |
Ind |
|
111 |
FIU |
Sun Belt |
|
112 |
Utah State |
WAC |
|
113 |
Central Michigan |
MAC |
|
114 |
Ball State |
MAC |
|
115 |
Eastern Michigan |
MAC |
|
116 |
North Texas |
Sun Belt |
|
117 |
San Jose State |
WAC |
|
118 |
New Mexico State |
WAC |
|
119 |
Temple |
Ind |