 Southern
California
Coach Pete Carroll has called this group
the biggest, fastest, most aggressive LB corps he has
ever had under his reign. Forget about it…this
unit is tops and they play a big role as to why the
Trojans are atop so many rankings. Two NationalChamps.net
Preseason All-Americans dot their starting three in
Rey Maualuga and Keith Rivers. They did lose Dallas
Sartz at one of the outside spots…no problem,
for they just continue to plug in prep superstars. Brian
Cushing (one of the most decorated recruits on the entire
team) moves back to his preferred OLB slot and the backups
include six players who were top 10 at their position(s)
coming out of high school. If there has been a more
qualified group at LB over the past ten years, none
was due to having more individual talent(s) than this
corps.
 Ohio
State
The
Ohio State LB tradition continues to roll. This group
was tops in 2005 before they replaced all three participants
in 2006, and, through all the changes, James Laurinaitis
emerged to win the Nagurski Award (nation's top defensive
player) in just his sophomore season. This corps’
only loss is John Kerr, but this is a much more talented
group on paper than last year’s corps. Marcus
Freeman is an All-Big Ten selection and will be in his
second year as a starter. He had 15 stops in the National
Championship Game and helped transform OSU, again, into
one of the nation’s better defenses. If depth
were the sole factor in determining these ratings, the
Buckeye LBs are heads above everyone else outside of
USC. Even the third team guys are comprised of top rated
prep talents. Dot the “i” and let them run
wild, Jim.
 Virginia
Tech
Much like USC, the Hokies have two senior
LBs that cracked the NationalChamps.net Preseason All-American
list. Xavier Adibi teams with Vince Hall, who defensive
coordinator Foster calls the best LB ever to play in
Blacksburg. Both have been making All-ACC lists since
their freshmen campaigns. With backers such as these,
Tech posted four shutouts and allowed more than 13 points
in only three games last fall en route to the becoming
the nation’s stingiest (scoring and total) defense.
With a solid group of linemen in front of these playmakers,
the awards lists are only going to grow for this "lunch
pail" bunch.
 Nebraska
When healthy, this group is tops in
the Big 12. Senior Bo Ruud is the leader and has posted
big numbers over the last few years. Now, he will be
in the chase for Big 12 Defensive Player of The Year.
He and Cory McKeon have been the mainstays for the past
two seasons, both receiving All-Conference and All-American
honors at different points in their careers. Steve Octavien
may be the most talented in this group. If he can stay
injury free after sitting out most of 2006 with a knee
injury, this group will be capable of running (and run
stopping) with just about anyone.
 South
Carolina
In 2006, the Gamecocks had to replace
their top four LBs, and then they lost Cody Wells at
the midpoint of the season. That meant upwards of six
different players earned starts. Every one of them is
back, and DE Casper Brinkley now moves from his DE spot
to play aside his brother Jasper, a First Team All-SEC
selection. Much like Ohio State, this group is deeper
than most and playing time will be tough to come by,
which means fresh churning legs for 60 full minutes.
The Brinkley brothers make this corps the best in ‘SEC
Country’. They are so talented that Spurrier wouldn’t
trade this group for any he has coached before…and
that is saying a lot coming from the ole ball coach.
Just
Missed:
Boston College, Clemson, Oregon
State, Penn State, Texas
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