Linebackers should be Big East beasts

By Darrell Laurant  |   Friday, July 21, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

College Football
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The predicted top defensive players in the Big East this season.

DEFENSIVE LINE
1. RAMEL MEEKINS, RUTGERS. Senior, 6-0, 275, Westwood, NJ. In his first year as a starter, Meekins had a lot to do with the Scarlet Knights breaking their Bowl drought, producing 63 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Shorter than most D-linemen, he's learned to take advantage of superior leverage to manhandle blockers and has proven opportunistic, recovering two fumbles against Arizona State in the Insight.com Bowl.

2. KEILEN DYKES, WEST VIRGINA. Junior, 6-4, 290, Youngstown, OH. Although his tackle production slipped from 37 to 29 last season, Dykes proved more aggressive, recording eight tackles for loss and five sacks. He was already an accomplished run-stuffer when he came to Morgantown and now says, "I'm just trying to work on my pass rushing a little more, bending the edge." And maybe bending a quarterback or two in the process.

3. DAN DAVIS, CONNECTICUT. Junior, 6-1, 264, Plainfield, NJ. The first thing you notice about Davis is the odd number he wears as a defensive end -- No. 6. The next thing you notice, if you're an opposing quarterback, is how quickly he comes at you. Davis had nine tackles for loss and three sacks last season, but was handicapped by injury problems at the other defensive end position that allowed teams to run plays away from him. That problem appears to be in the past: Both Davis and opposite end Jason Ward had two sacks in UConn's spring game, in which the defense dominated.

4. TERRILL BYRD, CINCINNATI. Sophomore, 6-1, 285, Cincinnati. Halfway through his freshman year, Byrd began receiving the ultimate compliment -- double teams. That experience, and the fact that he started from the first game in 2005, has put him ahead of a lot of other talented sophomore D-linemen. His quickness and low center of gravity don't hurt, either.

Honorable Mention: Rhema Fullers, Connecticut; Adrian Grady, Zack Anderson and Amobi Okoye, Louisville; Charles Sallet, Pitt.

LINEBACKERS
1. H.B. BLADES, PITT. Senior, 6-0, 240, Plantation, FL. If that name sounds familiar, it should --- this is the son of former NFL DB Bennie Blades and the nephew of Brian Blades, another ex-pro. A two-time All-Big East choice, he was named to Playboy's preseason All-American team on the strength of a 121-tackle season in 2005, tops in the conference. Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said in the spring: "As a senior, he (Blades) has put his name on this team." H.B. caused a family uproar by signing with Pitt instead of Miami, but he has, indeed, created his own identity there. By the end of the season, he should be one of Pitt's top five tacklers all-time -- he currently ranks 16th.

2. KEVIN McLEE, WEST VIRGINIA. Senior, 6-1, 255, Uniontown, PA. Another player with excellent bloodlines. His father, Kevin Sr., was a 1,000-yard running back for the University of Georgia, two uncles played Division I football (Michigan State and West Virginia) and he's a distant cousin of the late Ernie Davis, the 1959 Heisman Trophy winner. McLee rushed for over 1,000 yards himself as a prep senior, but also led his team in tackles and was funneled into defense at WVU. Last season, he had 78 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks and was named first-team All Big East. For dessert, he played a dominant game against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl -- eight tackles, two for losses.

3. KELVIN SMITH, SYRACUSE. Senior, 6-2, 233, Spring Valley, NY. One of three pro prospects who emerged during an otherwise dismal 2005 Orange season, Smith racked up 84 tackles while spending an inordinate amount of time on the field. Moreover, he had his best games against his best opponents -- eight tackles against West Virginia, six against Florida State, 12 against Notre Dame. Smith's uncle, Keith Bulluck, is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.

Honorable Mention: Danny Lansanah, Connecticut; Ben Moffitt, South Florida; Abe Brown, Louisville; Chancy Lewis, Rutgers; Clint Session, Pitt; Nate Harris, Louisville.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
1. DARRELLE REVIS, PITT. Junior, 6-0, 190, Alliquippa, PA. The co-leader of the Pitt defense with H.B. Blades, he was All Big East in 2005 and a Freshman All-American in 2005. According to Panther defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads: "Darrelle is physical and mean -- he'll knock your head off. But he's also graceful." Teams began throwing away from Revis last season, but he still managed four interceptions to go with 41 tackles. As a punt returner, he hauled one back 79 yards for a touchdown against Cincinnati.

2. TANARD JACKSON, SYRACUSE. Senior, 6-1, 193, Silver Spring, MD. Along with Kelvin Smith, Jackson was a stabilizing force on the Syracuse defense last season, collecting 42 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery. The improvement of Dowayne Davis and the rest of the Orange secondary can only help Jackson, who rarely saw a ball thrown in his direction. One of the top players in the D.C. area as a senior, he had 19 career interceptions as a prep.

3. ERIC WICKS, WEST VIRGINA. Senior, 6-1, 210, Pittsburgh. People forget that West Virginia got off to a slow start last season, barely struggling past woeful Syracuse, 18-7. But that shaky first game was also a signature statement for Wicks, who had four tackles, a sack, caused a fumble and returned an interception 31 yards for the Mountaineers' first touchdown. For the season, Wicks produced 61 tackles, 6 1/2 for loss, and three sacks. He will always be remembered by devout WVU fans for stopping Brian Brohm's two-point conversion run to give the Mountaineers a 46-44 overtime victory over Louisville.

4. COURTNEY GREEN, RUTGERS. Sophomore, 6-0, 180, New Rochelle, NY. Courtney Greene may not turn out to be the best safety Rutgers has ever produced, but he's off to a good start toward that goal. A freshman All-American last season, Green finished second to H.B. Blades in the Big East with 9.7 tackles a game, 116 total. That put him on the Nagurski Award watch list this season, as well as a number of preseason All-Big East teams.

Honorable Mention: Brandon Sharp and Rod Council, Louisville; Mike Mickens, Cincinnati; Dowayne Davis, Syracuse; Mike Jenkins, South Florida.

PUNTER

1. BRENDAN CARNEY, SYRACUSE. Senior, 6-5, 203, Valley Forge, PA. When your team has the worst offense in the Big East -- and one of the worst in the country -- your punter is bound to get a lot of practice. That helped to make Brendan Carney the top punter in the Big East, and a strong leg did the rest. A cool customer at unloading deep in his own territory, Carney had a 42.6 average last season and ranks 10th on his school's all-time list with 117 punts. Look for a lot more this season.

Honorable Mention: Joe Radigan, Rutgers.

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