The defense nearly had to start from scratch just two years ago when nine brand new starters were thrown right into the fire. After experiencing a great year, 11 starters are back, creating one heck of a brick wall of a defense. All the top reserves are coming back and there is enough talent here now to keep the NFL well stocked for a while. The current star of the defense is the Senior Linebacker, Brandon Spikes, with 93 tackles. The player who still needs to step up in order to become a star is the Senior Linebacker, Ryan Stamper. The unsung star that is currently on the rise is Will Hill. The best prospect for going pro is Brandon Spikes, and he is also one of the top three candidates for all star, followed by Jermaine Cunningham and Joe Haden.
On the Defensive Line:
It was a surprise when Jermaine Cunningham returned for a senior year, but he's back and he should be on the All-American short list with six sacks, 52 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. He had improved greatly over the spring season and has improved his quickness and toughness. He should be coming up with a huge season when you consider that there are other players up front that need to be worried about as well.
Carlos Dunlap tends to be more like a big tackle rather than a true end, but he is definitely a force to be reckoned with. He may not have been a starter in every game, he was a situational pass rusher big time, and he led the team with 9.5 sacks, 39 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss. He was the national championship's Defensive MVP, and he known for making big things happen on special teams as well as on defense.
Junior Terron Sanders does not appear special on the inside, but he is a brick wall of a man on the outside as well as being a strong tackle. He made 21 tackles along with 4 tackles for loss. He started in 12 games last year, stepping up and performing fantastically in some of the biggest games that were played including LSU and Georgia. He is going to serve as a key element in the puzzle this year.
Lawrence Marsh started 13 games last year, and is an excellent interior pass rusher considering his size. With 28 tackles, 3 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss, he should be coming back better than ever.
Omar Hunter was a top recruit for the team going into last year, but he saw minimal time starting so that he could preserve his redshirt status.
Justin Trattou is one of the most versatile DLs on the team, and he finished with 27 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, and started for most of the year. He is not yet a superior pass rusher, but he is a good player all around.
Jaye Howard is going to work well as a big end for the 3-4, and while he didn't see a ton of action, he did manage 8 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Duke Lemmens was a large factor during the off season and saw plenty of time playing with the first teamers, having made 7 tackles and 2 sacks. He always seems to be going 100 mph and he's the type to make things happen.
- Watch Out For: Hunter, Sanders, Marsh. Hunter is the type of talent that is going to resolve the entire defensive front and he has grand potential.
- Strength: The Defensive Line's strength is their Size.
- Weakness: The Defensive Line's weakness is their Tackles for Loss.
Outlook: Marsh and Cunningham definitely belong in the NFL. Marsh and Sanders are tough and talented veterans. Howard and Hunter may be even better for the team's interior. No one is running on this group which is clearly deep and very talented.
Score: 8.5
Linebackers:
Potentially the best defensive player in the nation right now is the USC safety Taylor Mays, but Brandon Spikes may just be No. 1A. He choose to come back for a senior season when he had the alternative rather than being a top 15 pick in the Draft for the NFL, with 93 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 interceptions and 8 tackles for loss. He has the smarts, burst, quickness and size to put him in the right position.
A.J. Jones, a junior, does a little bit of everything well, and while he is a bit small, he is plenty versatile and tough, and he can be used in a number of different ways. He may only have made 2.5 tackles for loss, but that's amidst 35 tackles last season.
Ryan Stamper can play well in the middle behind Brandon Spikes, and if something ever happens to the superstar he will almost certainly go there. He has proven that he can definitely take on bigger roles and hold his on accordingly with a 45 tackle record and a sack.
Dustin Doe has bulked up some, so that he will be able to do more, but he is going to have to battle hard in order to get his same job back. Two years ago he had 85 team tackles but last year he only had 30.
Lorenzo Edwards was originally considered to be a safety, but now he's redshirted and a proper spot has been found for him. He is settling in on the strong side, just behind A.J. Jones. He is tremendously quick and has an unlimited range.
Brandon Hicks has been seeing starter time on the weak side, and he can also step in and make bigger plays when its needed. He made 2 sacks and 34 tackles and he has been an outstanding teamer.
- Watch Out For: A major battle to transpire for the job on the weak side. Stamper may get the start, but he may also be needed as a middle backup.
- Strength: The biggest strength for the linebackers is their depth.
- Weakness: The biggest weakness for the linebackers is the rotation.
Score: 10
Defensive Backs:
Joe Haden is not only a lock down defender, but he is also one of the best out of all of the tackling corners currently playing in college football. He has led his team with 87 tackles, 61 solo stops, 12 broken-up passes and 3 interceptions. He has matured greatly and now is a much tighter pass defender.
Janoris Jenkins started 12 games last year, had 39 tackles, 1 sack, 11 broken-up passes and 3 interceptions. He is excellent at beating receivers up and is great against quicker receivers.
Ahmad Black has enough speed for him to play corner and he's tough enough that he can be a strong safety, and he started in this way every game. He may not be big or built like a typical safety, but he managed to finished fourth in the team with 7 interceptions and 59 tackles.
Major Wright finished third on his team in terms of tackles with 4 interceptions, 6 broken-up passes and 66 stops. He's in the best shape of his entire career right now.
Will Hill is going to have to find a spot somewhere, with 1 interception and 48 tackles. He definitely took things further this last spring, as he's packing a real wallop now.
Wondy Pierre-Louis began last year's first three games before he became a reserve. He had 1 interception and 19 tackles, and now he is taking the place behind Janoris Jenkins as a corner.
Dorian Munroe was going to start as a strong safety but he was injured. Now he's back, he's either going to play safety or end up on special teams. He did play fantastically during the off season, looking how he was supposed to be before he sustained an injury.
Markihe Anderson is recovering from knee injuries that had kept him down over the past seasons. He is becoming greater at getting to the football while it is in the air, and he could potentially become a nickel or a dime back, especially behind Joe Haden as a strong player on special teams.
- Watch Out For: Above all else, watch out for hill. He is the biggest of all recent big time recruits and he definitely plays like it during the offseason.
- Strength: The biggest strength for the defensive backs is their depth.
- Weakness: The biggest weakness for the defensive backs is healthy backups, because of Munroe and Anderson's injuries.
Score: 10
Special Teams:
Brandon James is one of the best all around return players in the nation, averaging with 23.1 yards average per kickoff return, and two years ago he averaged 28 yards two years ago. He also averaged 14.1 yards for each punt return and two touchdowns, after having averaged 18.1 yards two years ago.
Jonathan Phillips nailed 12 field goal attempts and only missed one kick, which was 42 yards against Alabama. While he hasn't shown off great range, he is still ultra reliable.
Caleb Sturgis has the bigger leg, and also handled kick offs. Though he did not get any attempts, he still could get some deep ball chances.
Chas Henry averaged 43.4 yards with each kick with 21 of them put inside the 20. After struggling two years ago with an average of 39.3 yards with each kick, he as added more pop for better results.
- Watch Out For: Sturgis is going to get a few attempts. Phillips may also have a good show to boot 45-yarders.
- Strength: The biggest strength for the special teams is their productive veterans.
- Weakness: The biggest weakness for the special teams is their kick off coverage.
Score: 9
Photo Credits: cracklow's faux toes
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