2007 CFN All-Americans
Safeties
CFN 2007 All-Americans and Top 25 Players
2007 Preview |
Quarterbacks
|
Running Backs |
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends |
Off. Tackles |
Guards |
Centers
Defense Def. Ends |
Def. Tackles |
Linebackers |
Cornerbacks
Punters |
Kickers |
Kick Returners
2007 CFN Preseason First Team All-Americans
1.
Kenny Phillips, Jr. Miami
2. Jonathan Hefney, Sr. Tennessee
3. Myron Rolle, Soph. Florida State
4. Taylor Mays, Soph. USC
5. Chris Horton, Sr. UCLA
6. Tom Zbikowski, Sr. Notre Dame
7. Jamal Lewis, Sr. Georgia
Tech
8. Courtney Greene, Jr. Rutgers
9. Derek Pegues, Jr. Miss State
10. Marcus Griffin, Sr. Texas
11. Kevin Ellison, Jr. USC
12. Josh Barrett, Sr. Arizona State
13. Marty Tadman, Sr. Boise State
14. Quintin Demps, Sr. UTEP
15. Tyrell Johnson, Sr. Arkansas State
16. Barry Church, Soph. Toledo
17. Andre Sexton, Soph. Oklahoma State
18. Anthony Scirrotto, Jr. Penn
St*
19. Damon Nickson, Sr. Middle
Tennessee
20. Otis Wiley, Jr. Michigan State
21. Tony Joiner, Sr. Florida
22. Marcus Watts, Sr. Kansas State
23. Nic Harris, Jr. Oklahoma
24. Eric Wicks, Sr. West Virginia
25. Patrick Chung, Jr. Oregon
*Assuming
he's eligible |
Kenny Phillips, Jr. Miami
Phillips
is an almost certain top ten draft pick next year with 6-2, 202-pound
size, big-time hitting ability, and the speed of a corner. Smart enough
to always be in the right position, he took his game to another level in
spring ball, flying all around the field delivering big pop after big
pop. A superstar recruit for the program two years ago, he has lived up
to the hype and then some with 159 tackles, nine tackles for loss, ten
broken up passes and five interceptions. The numbers would've been even
better if he hadn't missed three games with a broken thumb.
Jonathan Hefney, Sr. Tennessee
While
undersized at 5-9 and 185 pounds, the senior free safety is a superior
hitter and sure-thing tackler with 226 career stops with nine picks.
2006 was his best season yet with 96 tackles, led by an incredible
17-tackle game against Air Force, with five interceptions. Tough as
nails and speedy like a corner, he's be a sure-thing top ten draft pick
if he was about ten pounds heavier and a little bit bigger overall.
Along with being one of the nation's elite defensive backs, he's a top
punt returner.
2007 CFN Preseason Second Team All-Americans
Myron Rolle, Soph., Florida State
The 6-2,
218-pound sophomore was supposed to be good, but he lived up to the
impressive hype and more as a true freshman with 77 tackles, an
interception, five broken up passes and 5.5 tackles for loss. He's big,
strong, fast, and handled himself well at strong safety. A prototype for
the position, he's one of the ACC's biggest hitters with enough speed to
be great at free safety if needed. He'll be a multi-millionaire very
soon
Taylor Mays, Soph. USC
Mays is a budding
superstar after just one season on campus. Forced into action in 2006,
he responded with 62 tackles and a team-high three picks, en route to
Freshman All-American honors. At 6-4 and 225 pounds, Mays hits like a
linebacker, yet is as fast as any Trojan, a rare blend that’s making the
next-level scouts drool.
2007 CFN Honorable Mention All-Americans
(in alphabetical order)
Courtney Greene,
Jr. Rutgers
Greene has started
every game of his 25-game Rutgers career at strong safety. A
second-team all-Big East selection after racking up 82 tackles and a
team-high four interceptions, he’s got terrific range as a run defender
and will be counted on to be more of a leader in 2007.
Marcus Griffin,
Sr. Texas
The
one returning starter to the Longhorn secondary is Griffin, who finished
second on the team with 90 tackles with an interception and three broken
up passes. While he's not the talent his brother Michael is, he's a good
hitter who should do even more against the pass after moving from strong
safety to free safety.
Chris Horton, Sr. UCLA
The enforcer of the
defensive backfield, Horton was everywhere in 2006, leading the Bruins
with 95 tackles and picking off three passes. An outstanding open field
tackler, he figures to be even more disruptive in his second year as the
starter.
Jamal Lewis, Sr. Georgia Tech
Lewis
will man the strong safety spot again after finishing second on the team
with 74 tackles with three interceptions and 6.5 tackles for loss. The
All-ACC star began his career at corner before finding a home at safety.
He has good instincts, is all over the field, and is a sure tackler in
the open field.
Derek Pegues, Jr. Mississippi State
The home run hitter on the MSU defense with two interception returns for
touchdowns last season, Pegues has All-SEC written all over him. After
playing corner his first two seasons, and making 32 tackles with four
interceptions last year, he'll use his speed, 5-10, 196-pound size, and
experience at free safety, at least to start the season. With his
abilities as a kick and punt returner, along with his versatility, he'll
have a big decision next off-season about whether or not to turn pro
early.
Tom Zbikowski, Sr. Notre Dame
The secondary should be a little bit better, and it has a star to build
around in the 6-0, 210-pound Zbikowski. Extremely fast to begin with, he
went from being a bulky boxer to a lean, mean, pure defensive back, and
the new frame appeared to pay off big this spring. A huge hitter and an
intimidating force, making 79 tackles last year and 220 in his career,
he should be all over the field even more, now that he's even quicker,
and he needs to be better against the pass after breaking up just two
passes and failing to come up with an interception. He's also a star
punt returner.