April 21, 2006
Rob Rang, Senior Analyst, NFLDraftScout.com
Special to CSTV.com
Despite a mass exodus of premier players from 2005 to the NFL, like spring flowers, defenders are blossoming across the country in an effort to take the place of the departed All-Americans.
Gone are household names A.J. Hawk, D'Qwell Jackson, Michael Huff and Haloti Ngata. But among the young defenders prepared to bloom in their place are several of the nation's most productive sack artists from last season. The group is highlighted by
Linebackers are also a strength. Big names like Paul Posluszny, H.B. Blades and Patrick Willis return, as do Mike Alson and Ameer Ismail, two linebackers who might lack the name appeal of their counterparts, but certainly don't lack the production.
The pickings could be slimmer at defensive back, which was arguably the deepest position group to depart for the NFL. Most of the high-profile cornerbacks are gone, but productive talent is certainly on the way to fill the void.
Below is a detailed analysis of the country's elite defenders, as well as several others to keep a close watch on:
1. Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State, 6-2, 230, SR:
For all of the acclaim given to Ohio State's A.J. Hawk, it was Posluszny who earned the greater hardware in 2005, winning the Butkus Award as the nation's elite linebacker and the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player. Posluszny's role in
Posluszny is far from just the typical athlete, however. He made the Dean's List in his first five semesters at
Posluszny suffered a brief scare during
2. Patrick Willis, LB, Mississippi, 6-2, 232, SR:
Perhaps due to
Willis' blend of size and athleticism makes him an intriguing defender. He had been a productive linebacker before his breakout 2005 season, finishing with more tackles for loss (11) and sacks (5) in 2004 than he did last season. However, with the respected Ed Orgeron, formerly a defensive coach with both Southern California and Miami, taking over the head coaching duties for Ole Miss last season, Willis emerged with strong numbers and the Chucky Mullins Courage Award.
Unfortunately, like Posluszny, Willis was forced to miss spring drills. Willis underwent successful surgery to his right foot last December and has been sidelined since. He is expected to be ready for August drills.
3. H.B. Blades, LB, Pitt, 6-0, 240, SR:
Blades, a two-time first-team All-Big East selection, led the conference with 121 tackles and ranked 13th nationally with 11 tackles per game in 2005. That's impressive production considering it was his first season at middle linebacker after playing the strong-side position throughout his early career. Blades enters his senior season with 286 tackles and 18.5 tackles for loss along with 24 career starts.
Blades has strong football bloodlines as his father, Bennie, and his uncles Al and Brian, were standouts at the University of Miami and went on to successful careers in the NFL.
4.
Bazuin's accomplishments for
The 2005 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Bazuin already ranks as the team's career leader with 25 sacks. Fans won't have to wait long to see Bazuin in action on the national stage as the Chippewas open the 2006 season at home on national television against Boston College on Aug. 31st.
5.
Tall, lanky edge rusher who emerged from David Pollack's shadow to once again give the Bulldogs one of the fiercest sack artists in the country. A first-team All-SEC performer in 2005, Moses finished second in the SEC with 11.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss. Before last season, Moses had shown flashes of brilliance, registering a combined 9.0 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss in limited duty over his first two years, but had no starts.
Moses was considered a possibility to enter the NFL Draft a year early after his strong initial season as a starter in 2005, but he decided to return to
6.
Though Mario Williams and Mathias Kiwanuka earned much of the national attention, there may not have been a more dominant defensive end in the country over the last month of the 2005 than
Like Moses,
7.
Don't look now, but the Trojans have another All-American candidate at defensive end. While first-team Pac-10 selection Frostee Rucker was nothing to sneeze at in 2005, the team clearly was missing the dominant presence Kenechi Udeze, Mike Patterson and Shaun Cody provided in recent seasons. Jackson, already a two-year starter, has developed into a similar dominating force. He impressed in 2003 as a redshirt freshman by recording 32 tackles and 6 sacks. This past season, however,
8. Tom Zbikowski, S, Notre Dame, 5-11, 210, SR:
As good as Brady Quinn and Jeff Samardzija were for the Irish offense in 2005, Zbikowski might have been just as effective for Notre Dame in the deep secondary. The third-team All-American finished with 71 tackles and a team-leading five interceptions. His instincts and recovery speed set him apart from an otherwise leaky Notre Dame pass defense.
Astute fans might remember when Zbikowski signed with Notre Dame as a highly touted prep quarterback. His transition first to strong safety and then to free safety over the past few seasons has been an impressive one. Zbikowski isn't satisfied with just his performance on the football field, however, as he is also pursuing opportunities as a boxer. An accomplished amateur boxer with a 75-15 record in 90 career fights, Zbikowski is currently scheduled to appear in a four-round heavyweight fight in
9. LaRon Landry, S, LSU, 6-2, 205, SR:
Landry has earned SEC accolades since his freshman season. He is an athletic, instinctive and incredibly productive free safety who led LSU in tackles in 2003 and 2004, and enters his senior season with 241 career tackles to go along with nine interceptions and 18 passes broken up.
LaRon is the younger brother of Georgia Tech standout Dawan Landry, who finished his career with the Yellow Jackets this past season and is a potential selection in this month's NFL Draft.
10. Michael Griffin, S,
Though
OTHERS TO WATCH:
Mkristo Bruce, DE, Washington State, 6-6, 258, SR: Blessed with prototype size and surprising speed off the edge, Bruce has developed into one of the top pass rushers in the Pac-10. He earned second-team honors last year after posting 67 tackles, including 10 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries.
Leon Hall, CB, Michigan, 5-11, 195, SR: Hall has been called
Baraka Atkins, DL, Miami, 6-4, 263, SR: The versatile Atkins has seen action at defensive tackle and end for the Hurricanes, and could be on the verge of a breakout final season. Atkins has 34 career starts and leads all returning Hurricanes with 13 career sacks.
Brandon Mebane, DT, Cal, 6-3, 305, SR: Over the past several years, the defensive tackle from the Pac-10 that every team had to account for was
Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska, 6-6, 280, SR: Though fans outside of the Big 12 might not have noticed, the Blackshirt defense roared back to life last season.
Ameer Ismail, LB, Western Michigan, 6-2, 228, SR: It was just a few years ago when it seemed ridiculous to think a MAC quarterback could go on to success in the NFL. Chad Pennington, Byron Leftwich and some guy named Roethlisberger have since changed that perception. Ismail could change the minds of those who think MAC linebackers can't make it at the next level. He returns for his senior season after leading all Division-I linebackers in average tackles for loss per game last year (1.82).
LaMarr Woodley, DE/LB, Michigan, 6-2, 274, SR: With the 3-4 defensive scheme becoming en vogue in the NFL again, rush linebackers like Woodley have become even more intriguing to scouts. Woodley, with 20 starts in his 36 career games, has 141 career tackles, along with 36 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. He has been recognized as a Big Ten honoree after each of the past two seasons.
Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami, 6-0, 190, SR: The latest in a long line of talented
Daymeion Hughes, CB, Cal, 6-2, 198, SR: Hughes was a first-team All-Pac-10 cornerback in 2005 who finished with 62 tackles and challenged quarterbacks to throw his way. They weren't often successful. The angular corner finished with 12 passes broken up and five interceptions in a pass-happy conference.
Eric Weddle, S, Utah, 6-0, 202, SR: While there are certainly safeties across the country with more acclaim, Weddle deserves attention. A first-team Freshman All-American as a cornerback, Weddle was moved to strong safety and earned conference accolades in his first season at the new position. In his second season at the position in 2005, he was recognized as the Mountain West Conference's Defensive Player of the Year after posting 78 tackle, 11 tackles for losses, four sacks, four interceptions, 12 passes broken up and three forced fumbles.
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