2012 College Football Preseason Second-Team All-American Defensive Players: When I finished determining the selections for my preseason Second-Team All-Americans on the defensive side of the ball, it became clear that calling the unit the second team was a bit misleading considering all the talent. Heck, even the First-Team All-Americans on offense might have trouble scoring against this group. After all, a dominant defense tends to beat a dominant offense, and the SEC has the national titles to prove it. With that in mind, here are my picks for the second team defense for the 2012 college football season.
2012 College Football Preseason Second-Team All-American Defensive Players
Defensive End: William Gholston, Michigan State Spartans
Gholston is 6-7 and weighs in at 275 pounds, but he has the speed and agility of a linebacker. He finished last season with 70 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss, and five sacks. Only a junior, he will emerge as one of the best edge rushers in the country.
Defensive End: Alex Okafor, Texas Longhorns
After bypassing the NFL for his senior season, Okafor will go back to doing what he does best – harassing quarterbacks. He had 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks last year, and he piles up his numbers despite being double teamed on nearly every snap.
Defensive Tackle: Star Lotulelei, Utah Utes
He will never pile up a ton of stats, but he eats up space and absorbs double teams as the nose tackle for Utah’s 3-4 defense that led the Pac-12 in scoring last year. Lotulelei did manage 45 tackles last season, but his real value comes in his ability to make life easier for his teammates by dominating at the point of attack.
Defensive Tackle: Johnathan Hankins, Ohio State Buckeyes
Hankins possesses rare quickness for the defensive tackle spot, allowing him to be a playmaker on the interior of the Ohio State line. Last year, he amassed an impressive 68 tackles, including 11 for loss. He also added three sacks. Hankins not only gets good penetration, but he finishes plays, as well.
Linebacker: Chase Thomas, Stanford Cardinal
He is a physical force off the edge for the Cardinal, finishing last season with 8.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. Thomas can get into the backfield and make plays as well as any outside linebacker in the country.
Linebacker: Denicos Allen, Michigan State Spartans
Arguably the most physically-gifted outside linebacker in the country, Allen was already dominant as a sophomore last season and was still refining his technique. Coming off a year when he tallied 83 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, Allen is poised to become the next dominant pass rusher from the linebacker spot.
Linebacker: C.J. Mosley, Alabama Crimson Tide
His interception in the BCS title game was one of several flashes of brilliance from Mosley during his sophomore season with Alabama. He will be a full-time starter for the first time this season, and he has the speed, strength and playmaking ability to become a star in his expanded role.
Cornerback: Johnny Adams, Michigan State Spartans
Adams is small, speedy and does it all. He had 51 tackles last year to go along with four sacks and three interceptions. Whether it is a quarterback, ball carrier or receiver, Adams is an equal opportunity pest.
Cornerback: Nigel Malone, Kansas State Wildcats
The junior college transfer was picked on early and often by the pass-happy Big 12 last year, and Malone responded with a team-leading seven interceptions. His natural instincts were obvious, and he will be even better with a year of FBS experience under his belt.
Safety: Bacarri Rambo, Georgia Bulldogs
He might just be the best ball hawk at the position. Rambo is coming off a year when he led all safeties with eight interceptions, finishing second in the country in the category. Plain and simple, the guy creates turnovers and makes game-changing plays.
Safety: Kenny Vaccaro, Texas Longhorns
Vaccaro has earned his reputation as the hardest hitter at the safety spot in the country. Whether he is wiping out a running back or dislodging a ball from a potential receiver, big hits are his specialty. He is incredible leaping sack in the Holiday Bowl last year was a statement moment from a guy that will be making highlight reel plays all season.
Punter: Brad Wing, LSU Tigers
With his ability to change field position and pin opponents close to their own end zone, Wing is the most-underrated member of the LSU defense. He averaged 44.4 yards per punt last year, dropping 27 of his 59 attempts inside the 20 and topping 50 yards 20 times.
Stop by NSAwins.com daily throughout the NCAA Football season for daily Hesiman Trophy 2012 Odds and Vegas College Football Lines plus daily updated 2012 BCS National Championship Futures Odds and 2012 College Bowl Odds. Also be sure to get Expert 2012 College Football Predictions weekly from the nation’s top College Football handicappers only on NSAwins.com!
| 2 EASY STEPS to BET on the 2012 College Football Odds! STEP 1: CLICK HERE to OPEN SBG Global Account STEP 2: Deposit with Credit Card or Deposit by Check and get upto a 265% BONUS instantly FREE. |
