2010 CFN Preview - Unit Rankings, DBs

CFN 2010 Preview Unit Rankings from top to bottom - Defensive Backs

Preview 2010 - Unit Rankings

Defensive Backs

2010 CFN Preseason Rankings
- 1 to 5 | 6 to 10 | 11 to 20 | 21 to 30 | 31 to 40 | 41 to 50 | 51 to 60
- 61 to 70 | 71 to 80 | 81 to 90 | 91 to 100 | 101 to 110 | 111 to 120
- CFN Preseason Rankings 2009 | 2008 | 2007

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CFN 2010 Unit Rankings
- Offenses | Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Receivers | Offensive Lines
- Defenses | Defensive Lines | Linebackers | Secondaries  | Special Teams

1. Texas
Considering Texas plays mostly against teams that rely on the pass, and considering most teams have to bomb away to keep up, giving up 15 touchdown passes (with seven combined coming against Texas Tech and Texas A&M) along with 25 picks was amazing. Everyone of note is back except for Earl Thomas, and while there will be moments when the better quarterbacks will connect for over 300 yards, the secondary should be among the most effective and productive in America.

2. South Carolina
The secondary had to undergo some major changes and came up with a tremendous year allowing just 11 touchdown passes and no more than two in any one game. Three fantastic starters return (Chris Culliver, Akeem Auguste, and Stephon Gilmore) to a pass defense that was second in the SEC and eighth in the nation and was 26th in pass efficiency defense, and it should be terrific once again with speed, skill, and NFL-caliber prospects.

3. North Carolina
Like the rest of the defense, the secondary is flush with talent and returning starters, two of which should again be all-stars. Not only can this group cover and create mistakes, but combined with a hellacious pass rush, will once again be one of the nation’s best pass defenses. The Tar Heels, led by free safety, Deunta Williams, do the two things really, really well: create turnovers and limit big plays. They return the same starting quartet that picked off 15 passes, took a couple back for touchdowns, and limited opponents to a nation’s-low 9.7 yards a completion.

4. LSU
Without the benefit of a killer pass rush, the secondary was terrific allowing 194 yards per game and finishing 19th in the country in pass efficiency defense. With more pressure on the quarterback from a more athletic group of ends, the fast, talented Tiger secondary could flourish. The DBs aren’t going to be big-time playmakers against the run, but they’ll be tough to go deep on. LSU has four corners in the secondary and should be able run with anyone. No one’s going to be faster than the starting foursome led by a corner situation that might be the best in America with Patrick Peterson and Morris Claiborne forming a special twosome.

5. Iowa
It’s not like the Iowa secondary isn’t beatable. It might have finished fourth in the nation in pass defense and third in pass efficiency defense, and it takes a desperate effort to produce big yards. When focused and with everything working, the secondary can be stifling, and if everyone is healthy and if Micah Hyde can shine, this will once again be a brilliant group. The Iowa secondary has been a brick wall over the last three seasons as one of the best in the nation in pass efficiency defense while coming up with plenty of picks. After taking the ball away 23 times in 2008, the defense picked off 21 last year. With three returning starters, there likely won’t be much of a drop off.

6. Alabama
Bama sent three starting defensive backs off to the NFL, but this year’s secondary has more talent. There isn’t a lot of experience, but on size, speed, and skills, this group is loaded. Mark Barron will be a steadying playmaking force who’ll help make the transition easier, and when the light goes on for players like Dre Kirkpatrick, John Fulton, and DeMarcus Milliner, good luck getting a passing game going.

7. Miami
Although depth will be an on-going concern, the starting unit has as much potential as anyone in the ACC. Harris is pro-caliber, DeMarcus Van Dyke is experienced, and the sky is the limit for Vaughn Telemaque and Ray-Ray Armstrong at safety. Provided everyone stays healthy, this will be a very, very good group that should only get better.

8. Tennessee
The secondary was one of the team’s biggest strengths finishing 12th in the nation in both pass defense and pass efficiency defense allowing just five touchdowns passes and one over the final five games. Losing Eric Berry is tough, but the safeties will be great, Art Evans and Eric Gordon will emerge as stars on the outside, and there’s good depth to rely on.

9. Florida
After a nightmare of a 2007 season, the Gator pass defense was fantastic in 2008 and 2009 with one of the stingiest secondaries in America. Joe Haden and Major Wright will be missed, but there’s a slew of great freshman to provide quality depth while players like Will Hill and Janoris Jenkins appear ready to step up with more responsibility. This won’t be the pass defense of the last few years, but it’ll be awfully strong.

10. Oklahoma
As always, OU has speed and talent to burn in the secondary. While the Sooner DBs will get burned here and there by the big play, they can all move and they can all tackle. With good depth and great options at each spot, expect another year with one of the most productive pass defenses in America. Sam Proctor and Quinton Carter might not be special, but they’re rock solid veterans who should do a good job of helping the new corners. They can both hit and they can both move, and while it would be nice to get a little more out of Proctor, this is one of the team’s strengths.

COULD EASILY BE IN TOP TEN

Air Force	M-West
Arizona	Pac 10
Arizona State	Pac 10
Boston College	ACC
Colorado	Big 12
Nebraska	Big 12
TCU	M-West
Virginia Tech	ACC
West Virginia	Big East

 
SOLID, WILL BE A POSITIVE

Auburn	SEC
Boise State	WAC
BYU	M-West
California	Pac 10
Clemson	ACC
Connecticut	Big East
Florida State	ACC
Georgia	SEC
Georgia Tech	ACC
Kentucky	SEC
Michigan	Big Ten
Minnesota	Big Ten
Mississippi State	SEC
Missouri	Big 12
Ohio State	Big Ten
Oregon	Pac 10
Oregon State	Pac 10
Penn State	Big Ten
Pitt	Big East
Rutgers	Big East
South Florida	Big East
Texas A&M	Big 12
Texas Tech	Big 12
UCLA	Pac 10
USC	Pac 10
Vanderbilt	SEC
Virginia	ACC
Wake Forest	ACC
Wisconsin	Big Ten

AVERAGE

Arkansas	SEC
Baylor	Big 12
Cincinnati	Big East
East Carolina	C-USAE
Hawaii	WAC
Illinois	Big Ten
Iowa State	Big 12
Kansas	Big 12
Kansas State	Big 12
Louisiana Tech	WAC
Michigan State	Big Ten
Middle Tennessee	Sun Belt
Navy	Ind
NC State	ACC
Northwestern	Big Ten
Notre Dame	Ind
Ohio	MAC
Oklahoma State	Big 12
Ole Miss	SEC
San Jose State	WAC
Stanford	Pac 10
Syracuse	Big East
Utah	M-West
Washington	Pac 10
Wyoming	M-West

NEEDS WORK

Arkansas State	Sun Belt
Army	Ind
Bowling Green	MAC
Buffalo	MAC
Central Michigan	MAC
Duke	ACC
Eastern Michigan	MAC
FIU	Sun Belt
Florida Atlantic	Sun Belt
Fresno State	WAC
Houston	C-USAW
Indiana	Big Ten
Kent State	MAC
Louisville	Big East
Maryland	ACC
Miami Univ.	MAC
New Mexico State	WAC
Northern Illinois	MAC
Purdue	Big Ten
San Diego State	M-West
Southern Miss	C-USAE
UCF	C-USAE
UL Lafayette	Sun Belt
UNLV	M-West
Washington State	Pac 10
Western Michigan	MAC

A PROBLEM

Akron	MAC
Ball State	MAC
Colorado State	M-West
Idaho	WAC
Marshall	C-USAE
Memphis	C-USAE
North Texas	Sun Belt
SMU	C-USAW
Temple	MAC
Toledo	MAC
Troy	Sun Belt

THE BOTTOM TEN

Nevada	WAC
New Mexico	M-West
Rice	C-USAW
Tulane	C-USAW
Tulsa	C-USAW
UAB	C-USAE
UL Monroe	Sun Belt
Utah State	WAC
UTEP	C-USAW
Western Kentucky	Sun Belt

CFN 2010 Unit Rankings
- Offenses | Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Receivers | Offensive Lines
- Defenses | Defensive Lines | Linebackers | Secondaries  | Special Teams
 
2010 CFN Preseason Rankings
- 1 to 5 | 6 to 10 | 11 to 20 | 21 to 30 | 31 to 40 | 41 to 50 | 51 to 60
- 61 to 70 | 71 to 80 | 81 to 90 | 91 to 100 | 101 to 110 | 111 to 120
- CFN Preseason Rankings 2009 | 2008 | 2007