2008 CFN Preview - Unit Rankings ... DBs

CFN 2008 Preview Unit Rankings - Defensive Backs Ranked 1 to 119

2008 CFN Unit Rankings

Defensive Backs

CFN 2008 Unit Rankings
2008 Preview | Offenses | Quarterbacks | Running Backs
Receivers | Offensive Lines | Defenses | Defensive Lines
Linebackers | Secondaries | Special Teams  

1. Ohio State
There's a lot to be excited about as the nation's best pass defense brings everyone back. As long as there isn't a long suspension problem with Donald Washington, Jamario O’Neal, and Eugene Clifford in the doghouse this off-season, everything should be fine. Jenkins should be in the NFL right now, but he'll be an All-America shut-down performer no one will want to throw at. There are strong backups, next-level starters, and for so much returning experience, enough youth to build around for next year, too. More interceptions would be nice, and everyone will have to do more with the pass rush to likely be a little bit weaker, but there's no reason to worry.

2. USC
SC has had the Pac-10’s best pass defense two years running. There’s more than enough returning talent and former prep All-Americans to run that streak to three, although a few more interceptions would be nice. In Kevin Ellison and Taylor Mays, USC is home to a couple of hard-hitting enforcers with All-America potential. If Josh Pinkard is even close to where he was a couple of years ago, no program in the country will be able to match them at the position. Sure to get picked on early, Shareece Wright needs to give opposing quarterbacks a reason to not look to his side.

3. Vanderbilt
Yup, the secondary really should be that good considering all four starters are pro prospects. D.J. Moore should start to get recognition as one of the nation's best all-around corners, while Myron Lewis is a big corner who can handle himself well. The safety tandem of Reshard Langford and Ryan Hamilton can hit like a ton of bricks and should be even more effective against the pass. The depth is there at all four spots. The safeties can pop, but the stars are on the outside with Moore and Lewis forming one of the nation's best tandems. Seniors Allen and Strong are good enough to step in and produce at any time. This is nitpicking in a big way considering Hamilton is improving and could turnout to be special, but there needs to be more picks and more broken up passes. Again, nitpicking.

4. Georgia
The secondary was a major concern going into last year with top corner Paul Oliver kicked off the team, but the pass rush saved the day early and allowed the young prospects to jell into a strong unit. While there's no questioning the talent, teams that could protect the passer were able to produce on the Dawg back four. Tennessee's Erik Ainge was effective, and so was Troy's Omar Haugabook, but once the DBs got their feet wet, they were nasty. Georgia picked off only two passes in the first eight games, and 13 in the final five; by then it wasn't just because of the pass rush. FS  Jones will be one of the SEC's best, Asher Allen is one of the league's best all-around corners, and C.J. Byrd and Prince Miller are solid.

5. Clemson
With all four starters returning to the nation’s 13^th-ranked pass defense, good luck throwing on the Tigers this season. The corners, juniors Chris Chancellor and Crezdon Butler, are solid, but it’s the safety tandem of Michael Hamlin and Chris Clemons that stands out. Hamlin is an All-America candidate, a 6-3, 205-pound enforcer who hits like a linebacker, while Clemson has been top three in stops the last two years, racking up 94 tackles, two tackles for loss, and two interceptions as a junior.

6. Mississippi State
The secondary struggled in 2006 to find the right combination and came out roaring in 2007 finishing seventh in the nation in pass defense and 20th in pass efficiency defense. Led by Derek Pegues, this is a ball-hawking group that produced despite a lack of steady pass rush up front, and it should be among the most productive in the nation again if Anthony Johnson is the same corner he was before breaking his leg. The corners can certainly cover, but the difference between the secondary being good and being special is its tackling ability. Johnson and Marcus Washington aren't afraid to hit anyone, and Jasper O'Quinn is strong in the open field.

7. South Carolina
As long as everyone stays healthy, this will be one of the nation’s most productive secondaries. It's the real deal with Captain Munnerlyn, Carlos Thomas, and Emanuel Cook all good enough to see time in an NFL camp in the near future, while the reserves are promising with Akeem Auguste and Mark Barnes future stars of the SEC. More interceptions would be nice, after coming up with just 14 last year as a team, but they should come. Yeah, Carolina was No. 1 in the SEC, and fourth in the nation, against the pass, but that's partly because everyone ran the ball on the Gamecocks. Tim Tebow was able to throw without a problem, and Matthew Stafford, Andre Woodson, Cullen Harper and Erik Ainge all threw for over 200 yards. Staying healthy is a must, and that's not a given considering the injury issues across the board from Munnerlyn's foot to Cook's knee to Barnes' shoulder.

8. Oregon
Three stars from one of the Pac-10’s best secondaries are back with an eye on becoming the best unit in the conference. The big coup was getting back Rover Patrick Chung, one of the Pac 10’s best all-around safeties after he came within an eyelash of turning pro early. Although they still need to tighten up a bit in coverage, these Ducks will make a ton of big plays and a ton of quarterbacks regret throwing in their direction. Chung has a penchant for separating receivers from the ball, and Jairus Byrd and Walter Thurmond combined for a dozen picks a year ago.

9. Auburn
In one of the biggest shockers of the SEC season, the Tiger secondary that looked like it had the potential to struggle turned into the nation's sixth best pass defense even without the help of a steady pass rush. Now the defensive backfield should shine with a strong starting foursome, with either Aairon Savage or Walter McFadden serving as a great second corner option. More interceptions would be nice with the Tigers taking away 14 last year, but that's nitpicking. This should be one of the team's biggest strengths.

10. Tennessee
While the offensive line will be good and the running backs and receivers are potentially explosive, the secondary will be the strength of the team. Eric Berry and Demetrice Morley should be in the NFL right now, while the corners will be terrific once all the pieces are back and healthy. With the rest of the defense merely average, the secondary has to play up to its capability after allowing a whopping 239 yards per game.

11	Cincinnati
12	Michigan
13	Wake Forest
14	Florida State
15	TCU
16	Texas Tech
17	Virginia Tech
18	Oregon State
19	North Carolina
20	Maryland
21	Utah
22	UCF
23	New Mexico
24	LSU
25	Connecticut
26	Wisconsin
27	Oklahoma
28	South Florida
29	Arizona State
30	Rutgers
31	Boston College
32	Texas
33	California
34	Kansas
35	Pitt
36	West Virginia
37	Florida
38	UCLA
39	Penn State
40	Missouri
41	Michigan State
42	Iowa
43	Kansas State
44	Virginia
45	Colorado
46	Alabama
47	Washington
48	Kentucky
49	Notre Dame
50	Arizona
51	San Jose State
52	Georgia Tech
53	Illinois
54	Miami
55	Miami Univ.
56	BYU
57	Purdue
58	NC State
59	Arkansas
60	Boise State
61	Southern Miss
62	Fresno State
63	Baylor
64	Iowa State
65	Texas A&M
66	Western Michigan
67	Ohio
68	Houston
69	Troy
70	Indiana
71	Stanford
72	Washington State
73	Nebraska
74	Ole Miss
75	Oklahoma State
76	Louisville
77	Northwestern
78	Wyoming
79	Hawaii
80	Air Force
81	Kent State
82	Louisiana Tech
83	Nevada
84	Bowling Green
85	Florida Atlantic
86	Toledo
87	Buffalo
88	Duke
89	Minnesota
90	San Diego State
91	Colorado State
92	Northern Illinois
93	Syracuse
94	Tulsa
95	Temple
96	Central Michigan
97	Middle Tennessee
98	UAB
99	UNLV
100	Akron
101	Marshall
102	UL Monroe
103	Ball State
104	Arkansas State
105	FIU
106	Idaho
107	Eastern Michigan
108	New Mexico State
109	East Carolina
110	Memphis
111	Tulane
112	Navy
113	UTEP
114	Rice
115	Utah State
116	SMU
117	North Texas
118	UL Lafayette
119	Army