Offenses |
Quarterbacks |
Running Backs |
Receivers |
Offensive Lines
Def. Lines
| Linebackers |
Secondaries
| Spec. Teams
1. Miami
The
defense will once again be among the best in the nation with
size, speed, and backups that would start for about 100 other
teams. The safeties are among the best in Miami history with
Brandon Meriweather and Kelly Phillips each deserving of
All-America consideration and Anthony Reddick and Lovon Ponder
more than good enough to step in without missing a beat.
Cornerback is the X factor needing Glenn Sharpe to be ready to
roll after suffering a knee injury last year and Randy Phillips
needing to step up and be a consistent playmaker. There are too
many great defensive ends and linebackers for the starting
spots, and the tackles have the potential to be a strength after
a little bit of starting experience.
2. Texas
Lost in the dominance of the 2005 offense was how good the
defense was finishing tenth in the nation and eighth in scoring
D. There are only four losses, but safety Michael Huff, corner
Cedric Griffin, linebacker Aaron Harris and tackle Rodrique
Wright were All-America caliber players. The cupboard is hardly
bare with a tremendous end tandem of Tim Crowder and Brian
Robison sure to be among the best in the country and more than
enough talent in the back seven to fill up the All-Big 12 team.
The big question marks are at tackle next to Frank Okam and at
middle linebacker, where Rashad Bobino and Roddrick Muckelroy
will battle it out, but there's not a lot to be worried about.
3. Oklahoma
The defense should be among the best in America even
though there aren't too many sure-fire, household name
All-Americans. It begins on the end with the return of Larry Birdine and Josh Williams to join Calvin Thibodeaux and C.J. Ah
You to improve upon the nation's fourth best sacking D. Rufus
Alexander is an All-America-to-be at outside linebacker, and
Zach Latimer in the middle isn't far behind. The secondary will
be a lot better than it'll get credit for.
4. Nebraska
All the press seems to be about
the offense, but it's the defense that'll carry the Huskers to
a big season. The front seven is loaded with talent, depth, and
NFL prospects led by ends Adam Carriker and Jay Moore. Nebraska
led the nation in sacks and tackles for loss, and should be
among the best in the nation with all the great players up front
and so many fantastic linebackers that the D might use a little
3-4. The question is the secondary that has speed, but needs to
be more productive after starting to come on over the second
half of last year.
5.
Florida
Most of the publicity will be focused on the offense, but
it'll be the defense that carries the Gators. The front seven
should be terrific as long as injuries don't strike the
linebackers. There are plenty of options on the line with tackle
Marcus Thomas and ends Ray McDonald, Jarvis Moss and Derrick
Harvey all good enough to be in the hunt for all-star honors. If
corners Reggie Lewis holds up, the secondary will
be fine even after losing three starters. Safety Reggie Nelson
is about to emerge as an all-star.
6. USC
What the D lacks in overall experience it makes up for in
ridiculous talent and athleticism. The linebacking corps is one
of the best in America with a third string that would form a
killer starting trio for about 95 other teams. The secondary
doesn't have any big names, but that will change quickly if some
of the superstar freshmen play well right away and if there's
good competition for the safety spots. End Lawrence Jackson and
tackle Sedrick Ellis are great players to build around on a line
that should have few problems getting into the backfield. The
return of former defensive coordinator and former Idaho head
coach Nick Holt adds even more punch.
7. California
Eight starters return to a defense that should just now be
hitting its stride with speed, athleticism and lots and lots of
talent. The front seven should be a rock if all the top
prospects come through as expected. The ends are deep, talented,
and should have few problems getting into the backfield all
season long, while Brandon Mebane is one of the nation's best
tackles. The linebacking corps is one of the best in the nation
with last year's recruiting class about to become tremendous.
Cornerback is set with Daymeion Hughes and Tim Mixon sure to
earn all-star honors, but the safeties are a big concern
with no developed depth and two new starters.
8. Auburn
If
you liked last year's Auburn defense, you'll enjoy more of the
same. The key move is the position switch of star safety Will
Herring to linebacker, but there are players to fill in on the
weakside if the experiment doesn't work out. The D is stronger
on the outside than the middle with tremendous tackling corners
David Irons and Jonathan Wilhite returning, and defensive ends
Marquies Gunn and Quentin Groves sure to be among the league's
best pass rushers. There's not a lot of size in the linebacking
corps, but that's by design going with smaller, more athletic
players. There could be big problems if there are any early
injuries at tackle.
9. Virginia Tech
The
Hokies led the nation in total defense last season and finished
second in scoring defense. While there are some major losses to
overcome, the same blitzing, attacking style that made the D so
successful last season should work again. Everything will
revolve around the back seven led by the 1-2 linebacking punch
of Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi. The secondary should be solid
even with top corner Jimmy Williams off to the NFL. The concern
is on the line that loses three all-stars and needs some tackles
to step up and shine right off the bat. Chris Ellis will be one
of the ACC's new star ends.
10.
Michigan
New defensive coordinator Ron English will be the man
under the microscope as he attempts to unwrap the athleticism
and talent that have been hiding behind the
just-safe-enough-to-get-beat D. There won't be wild blitz
schemes or anything crazy, but there'll be a bit more
aggressiveness in an attempt to come up with more big plays. The
potential is there to be great with a fast back seven with too
many good safeties to get on the field at once. The line should
be better with the likely emergence of Alan Branch as a star
tackle and LaMarr Woodley about to blow up as a pass rushing
terror on the outside.
|
11 |
LSU |
SEC |
|
12 |
Penn State |
Big Ten |
|
13 |
Ohio State |
Big Ten |
|
14 |
Clemson |
ACC |
|
15 |
Georgia Tech |
ACC |
|
16 |
Florida State |
ACC |
|
17 |
Tennessee |
SEC |
|
18 |
South Florida |
Big East |
|
19 |
Georgia |
SEC |
|
20 |
Boston College |
ACC |
|
21 |
Missouri |
Big 12 |
|
22 |
Colorado |
Big 12 |
|
23 |
Wisconsin |
Big Ten |
|
24 |
NC State |
ACC |
|
25 |
Mississippi |
SEC |
|
26 |
TCU |
M-West |
|
27 |
Mississippi State |
SEC |
|
28 |
Alabama |
SEC |
|
29 |
West Virginia |
Big East |
|
30 |
Arizona |
Pac 10 |
|
31 |
Pitt |
Big East |
|
32 |
Louisville |
Big East |
|
33 |
Iowa |
Big Ten |
|
34 |
Maryland |
ACC |
|
35 |
Connecticut |
Big East |
|
36 |
Syracuse |
Big East |
|
37 |
Arkansas |
SEC |
|
38 |
Tulsa |
CUSA |
|
39 |
Utah |
M-West |
|
40 |
Notre Dame |
Ind |
|
41 |
Iowa State |
Big 12 |
|
42 |
North Carolina |
ACC |
|
43 |
Washington State |
Pac 10 |
|
44 |
Texas Tech |
Big 12 |
|
45 |
Arizona State |
Pac 10 |
|
46 |
Virginia |
ACC |
|
47 |
Kansas |
Big 12 |
|
48 |
Kansas State |
Big 12 |
|
49 |
Baylor |
Big 12 |
|
50 |
Cincinnati |
Big East |
|
51 |
Fresno State |
WAC |
|
52 |
Michigan State |
Big Ten |
|
53 |
Southern Miss |
CUSA |
|
54 |
Boise State |
WAC |
|
55 |
Wake Forest |
ACC |
|
56 |
Texas A&M |
Big 12 |
|
57 |
Oregon |
Pac 10 |
|
58 |
Houston |
CUSA |
|
59 |
UTEP |
CUSA |
|
60 |
Toledo |
MAC |
|
61 |
UCLA |
Pac 10 |
|
62 |
South Carolina |
SEC |
|
63 |
Oregon State |
Pac 10 |
|
64 |
Oklahoma State |
Big 12 |
|
65 |
Minnesota |
Big Ten |
|
66 |
Washington |
Pac 10 |
|
67 |
East Carolina |
CUSA |
|
68 |
San Diego State |
M-West |
|
69 |
Colorado State |
M-West |
|
70 |
Duke |
ACC |
|
71 |
Purdue |
Big Ten |
|
72 |
Rutgers |
Big East |
|
73 |
BYU |
M-West |
|
74 |
Vanderbilt |
SEC |
|
75 |
Kentucky |
SEC |
|
76 |
Illinois |
Big Ten |
|
77 |
Marshall |
CUSA |
|
78 |
UAB |
CUSA |
|
79 |
Indiana |
Big Ten |
|
80 |
UCF |
CUSA |
|
81 |
Navy |
Ind |
|
82 |
Akron |
MAC |
|
83 |
Northern Illinois |
MAC |
|
84 |
Stanford |
Pac 10 |
|
85 |
Nevada |
WAC |
|
86 |
Northwestern |
Big Ten |
|
87 |
SMU |
CUSA |
|
88 |
New Mexico |
M-West |
|
89 |
Wyoming |
M-West |
|
90 |
Memphis |
CUSA |
|
91 |
Kent State |
MAC |
|
92 |
Arkansas State |
Sun Belt |
|
93 |
Miami Univ. |
MAC |
|
94 |
Western Michigan |
MAC |
|
95 |
Troy |
Sun Belt |
|
96 |
Hawaii |
WAC |
|
97 |
Bowling Green |
MAC |
|
98 |
Air Force |
M-West |
|
99 |
UNLV |
M-West |
|
100 |
Louisiana Tech |
WAC |
|
101 |
Ohio |
MAC |
|
102 |
Central Michigan |
MAC |
|
103 |
Tulane |
CUSA |
|
104 |
Rice |
CUSA |
|
105 |
Army |
Ind |
|
106 |
UL Lafayette |
Sun Belt |
|
107 |
Eastern Michigan |
MAC |
|
108 |
MTSU |
Sun Belt |
|
109 |
FIU |
Sun Belt |
|
110 |
Idaho |
WAC |
|
111 |
Ball State |
MAC |
|
112 |
UL Monroe |
Sun Belt |
|
113 |
Buffalo |
MAC |
|
114 |
North Texas |
Sun Belt |
|
115 |
Utah State |
WAC |
|
116 |
Florida Atlantic |
Sun Belt |
|
117 |
San Jose State |
WAC |
|
118 |
New Mexico State |
WAC |
|
119 |
Temple |
Ind |