Nagurski list proves Big East isn’t all offense

By Darrell Laurant  |   Thursday, May 15, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

College Football
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There is a tendency to think of the Big East, at least in recent years, as a hotbed of unbridled offense.

And there is some truth in that. West Virginia's blowout of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl showcased the potent quintet of Pat White, Steve Slaton, Noel Devine, Darius Reynaud and Owen Schmitt. Rutgers became the first school ever to produce a 2,000-yard rusher (Ray Rice), a 3,000-yard passer (Mike Teel) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Tiquan Underwood and Kenny Britt) in a season, Brian Brohm threw for over 4,000 yards at Louisville, Cincinnati's Ben Mauk was almost as prolific, and Pitt's LeSean McCoy was arguably the nation's best freshman back. Then there was South Florida's Matt Grothe, another double-threat quarterback.

Nevertheless, the conference also produced some convincing answers to all this 'O', and seven of those stop-unit members are listed on the 2008 watch list for the Nagurski Trophy honoring the nation's best defender.

South Florida and Cincinnati provided two players each to that list; Rutgers, Pitt and Syracuse added one each. Louisville, Connecticut and West Virginia are all rebuilding their defenses this year.

USF DE George Selvie might be said to be the leader of this contingent. He had 14.5 sacks as a sophomore, 20 for his career, and has amassed the remarkable figure of 46.5 tackles for loss in his Bulls career. His 31.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage led the nation last year, and one more would have given him an NCAA record. Amazingly, the 6-foot-4, 242-pounder only notched six sacks as a senior at Pine Forest High School in Pensacola.

And if Selvie didn't tackle an opponent, chances are Tyrone McKenzie did. McKenzie is the leading career tackler in college football, having registered 121 stops in 2007 and 129 with Iowa State in 2006. Switched to middle linebacker to replace the departed Ben Moffitt this season, the 6-2, 235-pounder from Riverside, Fla., might be in a position (literally) to surpass both of his previous totals totals.

Mike Mickens and Terrill Byrd have formed a sort of Mr. Inside, Mr. Outside combo on the Bearcat defense. Mickens, also a preseason Playboy All-America candidate, ranked in the top 20 nationally in passes defended (six interceptions, six breakups) and is fourth in Cincinnati history with 10 career picks. He also hits with a ferocity that belies his 6-0, 170-pound frame.

Meanwhile, Byrd guarded the line of scrimmage quite effectively in 2007, producing 56 tackles (37 of them solo), 17 tackles for loss, eight sacks and six quarterback hurries. A 6-0, 271-pounder, he can move with the deceptive speed of a grizzly bear.

The focus on the Syracuse defensive line in 2007 was on defensive end Jameel McClain. But while McClain was getting a steady diet of double teams, 6-4, 290-pound teammate Arthur Jones blossomed, racking up 17.5 tackles for loss, ninth best in the nation. Hamstrung by an awful offense, the Orange defense spent long period of time on the field, and Jones demonstrated admirable durability and stamina.

Speaking of durability, Rutgers safety Courtney Greene stepped into the starting lineup in his first game as a freshman and has never left -- 38 consecutive starts. As a junior, he had 101 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and an interception. He pondered leaving for the NFL draft before deciding to return for his senior season.

Finally, there's Pitt linebacker Scott McKillop, who had so many tackles last season (an astonishing 151) that his defensive teammates started to good-naturedly complain that he was hogging the ball-carriers. A 6-2, 245-pounder from Export, Pa., McKillop also had three sacks, nine tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, seven passes broken up and an interception.
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