College Football Defensive Lines
By Doug Upstone
We’ve covered the offensive lines; now let’s dig into the other side of the line of scrimmage, the defense. Here we want to know the meanest, nastiest dudes in college football, who are frothing at the mouth to hit somebody and knock them down. We’ll also explore conference by conference those less talented units that will be plowed under like a bad crop of corn.
Let’s find out who are stop units that will play in the opponents backfield and those that will pushed back into the secondary.
SEC Conference
1 – South Carolina
2 - Georgia
3 – Alabama
4 – Florida
5 – LSU
6 – Tennessee
7 - Mississippi
8 - Arkansas
9 - Auburn
10 – Ole Miss
11 - Kentucky
12 - Vanderbilt
ISS Scouting Report – A very strong case can be made that five of the top 10 defensive lines in the country will reside in the Southeastern Conference. South Carolina has playmakers like DE Devin Taylor and DT Travian Robertson. Also joining the Gamecocks defensive front is the top overall freshman in the country, Jadeveon Clowney at 6’6, 245 pounds and a pass rusher extraordinaire. Not much difference between Georgia and Alabama ability-wise with new faces, but the Bulldogs will be better in their second year playing a 3-4 style and 340-pound John Jenkins is a load at nose tackle. Florida and LSU always find interchangeable parts that work and Tennessee’s group is going to have to cover for a lack of playmakers at linebacker. This will be Bobby Petrino’s finest D- Line at Arkansas. Auburn can only hope a Nick Fairley type is ready to emerge and help the depleted Tigers defense.
Best pass rusher – Devin Taylor, South Carolina
Best freshman playmaker - Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
Big Ten (12) Conference
1 – Nebraska
2 – Ohio State
3 – Michigan State
4 – Penn State
5 – Wisconsin
6 – Iowa
7 - Michigan
8 – Purdue
9 – Illinois
10 – Northwestern
11 – Indiana
12 – Minnesota
ISS Scouting Report – As good as the Nebraska defense has been under Bo Pelini, this contingent could be the best. With DT Jared Crick at the masthead, the Children of the Corn are three deep at tackle and two deep at end. Lord only knows what will happen this fall in Columbus, however there will still be a collection of athletes on defense and senior Nathan Williams will be called upon to lead them. The difference between Michigan State and Penn State is the Spartans have more bodies to rush the passer. Wisconsin and Iowa need new youngsters to step up, Michigan couldn’t be any worse than last year and Purdue has young players with promise. Of the poorer front line defenses, when Northwestern is on television, keep an eye on DE Vince Browne (seven sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss), he’s as ESPN’s Stu Scott would say “a playyer”.
Best pass rusher – Vince Browne, Northwestern
Best defensive assistant – Greg Mattison, Michigan
Big 12 (10) Conference
1 – Texas
2 – Oklahoma
3 – Missouri
4 – Texas A&M
5 – Oklahoma State
6 - Texas Tech
7 – Iowa State
8 – Baylor
9 – Kansas
10 – Kansas State
ISS Scouting Report – Kheeston Randall will lead a much improved Texas defensive line which has players with big upsides like Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat. Oklahoma’s defense was too often exposed for lack of effort and concentration; however coach Bob Stoops feels he has the right group in 2011 that will rededicate themselves. A veteran line returns for Missouri and coach Mike Sherman upgrades the Texas A&M defense annually and expects a big senior campaign from Jonathan Mathis. Oklahoma State’s defense has holes, but more athletes in recent memory, while Texas Tech switches to 4-2-5 scheme and has the players to do so. Iowa State and Kansas can’t rush the passer, Kansas State can’t stop the run and Baylor moved more players around in the spring it started to look like Lady Gaga’s backup dancers.
Best pass rusher – Jacquies Smith, Missouri
Best D-Line hitter – Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma
ACC Conference
1 – Florida State
2 – North Carolina
3 – Miami-FL
4 – Virginia Tech
5 – Clemson
6 – Maryland
7 – Boston College
8 – N.C. State
9 – Georgia Tech
10 – Virginia
11 – Wake Forest
12 – Duke
ISS Scouting Report – Jimbo Fisher is proving why he was so highly regarded to be a head coach. Despite having his roots in the offense, Florida State is the preseason ACC favorite because of its defense. With athletes like DE Brandon Jenkins, Fisher should be pumped up. North Carolina was supposed to have the best defense in the country last season, but do to NCAA investigation and suspensions, it never materialized. Instead this year the Tar Heels will have one the better D-Lines in the ACC. The Hurricanes need more discipline from their guys at the line of scrimmage; Clemson has to replenish big time talents and collectively could get close. New coach Randy Edsall is shifting Terps around, and N.C. State is attempting to create more pressure with added blitzing techniques. Georgia Tech’s line has experience, but lacks difference-makers. Virginia, Wake Forest and Duke tried to change defenses in the middle of the season in 2010 and nothing worked. What will be different this year?
Best pass rusher – Brandon Jenkins, Florida State
Best NFL prospect – Quinton Coples, North Carolina
Pac-12 Conference
1 – USC
2 – Arizona State
3 – California
4 – UCLA
5 – Washington
6 – Oregon
7 – Colorado
8 – Arizona
9 – Stanford
10 – Utah
11 – Oregon State
12 – Washington State
ISS Scouting Report – Junior DE Nick Perry leads a USC contingent of linemen that features a nice mix of youth and experience (four seniors among top 8). The loss of DT Lawrence Guy is why Arizona State dropped from the top preseason spot in the conference, deciding to go pro. Players like Jamaar Jarrett and Junior Onyeali can take on expanded roles and succeed. UCLA has bigger upside over their Cal counterparts, but the Bears players responded well to NFL veteran coach Clancy Pendergast, while the Bruins are breaking in a new defensive coordinator. The light bulb went on for Washington players late in the year and the transition should continue to be positive. Oregon lost a boatload of defensive players in the line, but believe their depth and maturity will keep them improving as the season progresses. DT Will Pericak leads a herd of Buffaloes and Arizona has strength up the gut, but its defense ends have not started in a conference clash. Stanford’s defense is more opportunistic then talent-laden and Utah comfortably uses 10 linemen which suggest they are all about the same. Remember when the Oregon State defensive front covered up for secondary flaws, not anymore.
Best pass rusher – Junior Onyeali, Arizona State
Best name with ability – Alameda Ta’amu, Washington
Big East Conference
1 – Pittsburgh
2 – West Virginia
3 – Cincinnati
4 – Connecticut
5 – South Florida
6 – Syracuse
7 – Rutgers
8 – Louisville
ISS Scouting Report – Todd Graham steps into a super situation at Pittsburgh having arguably the best players on both sides of the line of scrimmage in the league. The defense is going from a pro-style 4-3 to attacking 3-4 and there are more than enough excitable types to be disruptive. A slight edge to West Virginia over Cincinnati because the Mountaineers have the pedigree and DE Bruce Irvin. All four starters are back for Connecticut, assuring the line should be stout and same assistants are in place despite the coaching change. South Florida might be more highly thought of by the middle of October. Syracuse has several slots on defense to fill including both tackles. Wasn’t it just yesterday Rutgers coach Greg Schiano was considered a super recruiter and defense-minded coach? Other than DE Greg Scruggs, only a Chinese shoe factory has more youth up front than Rutgers.
Best pass rusher – Bruce Irvin, West Virginia
Best NFL prospect – Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh
Mountain West Conference
1 – Boise State
2 – TCU
3 – Wyoming
4 – San Diego State
5 – Air Force
6 – Colorado State
7 – New Mexico
8 – UNLV
ISS Scouting Report – It was just a few years ago Boise State was a band of overachievers, who knew how to play the game and gave tremendous effort. That kind of talk is all gone as the Broncos has talent and three of the their top four defensive linemen are back from a stop unit that was Top 7 in seven different defensive categories last season. Even with significant graduation losses, the cupboard is seldom bare with Gary Patterson at TCU. While the Wyoming offense moves like a wagon train across the gridiron, the Cowboys defense can lasso opposing offenses with their best front four in years. DE Josh Biezuns is the leader of an up the field troop. San Diego State showed marked improvement from the previous years and the D-Line clogs up everything for other Aztecs to make tackles. Colorado State’s best players are not in the line and New Mexico and UNLV are who we thought they were.
Best pass rusher – Shea McClellin, Boise State
Best name coaches love – Billy Winn, Boise State
Conference USA
1 – SMU
2 – Memphis
3 – Southern Miss
4 – Central Florida
5 – Marshall
6 – Tulsa
7 – Rice
8 – Houston
9 – Tulane
10 – UAB
11 – UTEP
12 – East Carolina
ISS Scouting Report – The June Jones plan is working to perfection at SMU, as the talent level increases each season and this year all the starters from the 3-4 defensive front return. Senior DE Taylor Thompson will play on Sunday’s. Memphis has solid players like Dontari Poe at defensive tackle, yet overall the defense doesn’t force many miscues and the offense turns out turnovers like Pillsbury. Southern Miss and Central Florida normally come up with a couple of good players on the line and Marshall held its last five opponents to under 20 points per game, and have Vinny Curry and Delvin Johnson back to create chaos. Tulsa, Rice and Houston are making large to subtle changes in their defenses, which could cause more uncertainty. Tulane has three decent defensive linemen which is three better than most years. UAB and UTEP have a volume of returning players that haven’t shown much and East Carolina conceded 40 or more points in 10 of 13 contests.
Best pass rusher – Vinny Curry, Marshall
Best NFL prospect – Vinny Curry, Marshall
WAC Conference
1 – Hawaii
2 – Nevada
3 – Fresno State
4 – Louisiana Tech
5 – Idaho
6 – Utah State
7 – San Jose State
8 – New Mexico State
ISS Scouting Report – For all its gaudy offensive numbers, why Hawaii was able to win 10 games a year ago was because of an improved defense that could pressure the quarterback and Warriors led the nation in forced turnovers with 38. Senior tackles Vaughn Meatoga and Kaniela Tuipolotu are back to create havoc. Hiring defensive coordinator Andy Buh was a stroke of genius as he turned Nevada’s once struggling defense into a playmaking bunch and that should continue this season. DT Logan Herrell leads a thinned out Fresno State defense and Matt Broha has to ramp up the Louisiana Tech pass rush or the Bulldogs could be punished again for over 30 PPG. Idaho has depth in the defensive line with unremarkable ability and Utah State is switching to 3-4 scheme which means adjustments. San Jose State returns all 11 starters from a group that was torched for 34.7 PPG and New Mexico State will attempt to not roll over and play dead again.
Best pass rusher – Logan Herrell, Fresno State
Best junior D- Linemen – Travis Johnson, San Jose State
Independents
1 – Notre Dame
2 – BYU
3 – Navy
4 – Army
ISS Scouting Report – Two years ago, Notre Dame’s defensive line was slower than dial-up service and could be punished like the Houston Astros pitching staff. Not anymore with players in the trenches like seniors Ethan Johnson and Kapron Lewis-Moore and the Irish coaches are really excited about freshman Louis Nix III at nose tackle. Veteran Provo observers believe this is BYU’s best front seven in over a decade, with active and athletic DE Matt Putnam. The Navy lost nine defensive starters from a season ago and Jabaree Tuani is the lone individual back in the D-Line. The best remark one can make about Army’s initial stop troops is at least a couple of them are familiar with each other as brothers Jarrett and A.J. Mackey should start together.
Best pass rusher – Jabaree Tuani, Navy
Best inside run stopper – Rommey Fuga, BYU
MAC Conference
1 – Miami-O
2 – Toledo
3 – Kent State
4 – Northern Illinois
5 – Ohio U.
6 – Temple
7 – Western Michigan
8 – Central Michigan
9 – Bowling Green
10 – Akron
11 – Buffalo
12 – Ball State
13 – Eastern Michigan
ISS Scouting Report – Miami has nine starters returning from a speedy and active defense and DT Austin Brown the main disruptor. This doesn’t mean anything, but the Redhawks start three players on defense named Brown. Toledo should have a good year with seniors Johnie Roberts and Malcolm Riley plugging up the middle. Roosevelt Nix was the MAC defensive player of the year as a freshman and is back in Kent State’s line. Northern Illinois and Ohio suffered heavy losses and are counting on past recruiting efforts to fortify their defenses. Temple graduated two all-MAC defensive tackles, yet still has DE Adrian Robinson in the fold. Of the three directional Michigan universities, Western is in the best shape with four returning starters. Taking a page from Sesame Street, of the schools in the conference that start with the letter ‘B’, Bowling Green has the most depth at defensive tackle. Coming off a 1-11 campaign, having three senior starters in the line may be good or bad for Akron.
Best pass rusher – Roosevelt Nix, Kent State
Best frosh impact – Andre Sturdivant, Toledo
Sun Belt Conference
1 – Troy
2 – Arkansas State
3 – Florida Int.
4 – West. Kentucky
5 – UL Monroe
6 – North Texas
7 – Louisiana
8 – Mid. Tenn. State
9 – Florida Atlantic
ISS Scouting Report – Troy’s defense was more porous then in recent years, but not because of Jonathan Massaquoi, who returns for junior year after amassing 13.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss off the edge. Arkansas State should be strong at the point of attack with experience and depth for the Red Wolves. FIU will try and carry forward from last year’s astonishing season and count on DT Joshua Forney and Tourek Williams to produce. Western Kentucky continues to add high caliber players in the trenches and UL Monroe’s 3-3-5 defense is a challenge to matchup with. Louisiana needs its upperclassmen to shine, while Middle Tennessee State has just three defensive starters back in Murfreesboro and not one on the line. Florida Atlantic’s defense is extremely young and will have to depend on NT Jarvis Givens to lead by example.
Best pass rusher – Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy
Best chance for improvement – Ken Dorsey, UL Monroe