Top 5 College Football Defensive Lines in 2012 College Football

2012 College Football Team Rankings – Top 5 Defensive Lines: Football coaches are always talking about the importance of winning the battle up front. There is no easier recipe for success than controlling the line of scrimmage, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The defensive line plays a big role in winning that all-important battle in the trenches. Whether the big guys on the line are the ones making the plays or the ones paving away for the rest of their teammates, a dominant defensive line is the groundwork for an excellent defense. It is no coincidence that nine of the last 10 national champs have ranked in the top 15 nationally against the run. With that in mind, here is a look at the top defensive fronts in college football for the 2012-13 season.

1.      LSU Tigers

Three talented juniors man the defensive front of LSU’s 3-4 base. Defensive end Sam Montgomery is the ultimate combination of power and technique, while fellow end Barkevious Mingo has as much potential as any lineman in the country. Last year, Mingo had 15 tackles for loss and eight sacks, and he started just four games. The forgotten member of the unit is nose tackle Bennie Logan, but he is one of the most productive players at the position. In addition to drawing double teams with his size, he made 57 tackles. Add it all up, and the Tigers probably have three first-round picks in next year’s NFL draft on their line.

2.      South Carolina Gamecocks

Not only is the Gamecocks’ defensive front fast and athletic, but the ceiling is off the charts for this unit. Senior defensive end Devin Taylor provides the experience, but a pair of sophomore will provide the excitement. Fellow end Jadeveon Clowney was the country’s No. 1 recruit last year, and he responded with an eight-sack campaign and forced five fumbles. Defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles joined Clowney on the Freshman All-American team. With a full year of experience in the SEC under their belt, South Carolina’s talented young stars will take an already-stout defensive line to the next level.

3.      Florida State Seminoles

Once defensive end Brandon Jenkins decided to return to school, the Seminoles defensive front was solidified as one of the country’s best. Jenkins is two years removed from leading the nation in sacks, and he continued to make plays in the backfield despite constant doubles team last year. Taking advantage of all the attention Jenkins gets will be upperclassmen Bjoern Werner and Everett Dawkins. The trio is an impressive blend of power and speed, and Jenkins and company will be making life difficult for quarterbacks and running backs all season. This same group helped hold Florida State’s final eight opponents to less than 20 points last year, and they should pick right back up where they left off.

4.      Georgia Bulldogs

While Jarvis Jenkins and the linebackers get the attention, they are able to make so many big plays because of the massive men paving the way on Georgia’s defensive line. Nose tackle John Jenkins is 350 pounds of power in the middle of the defensive front, and when he needs a breather, fellow 350-plus pounder Kwame Geathers can step in. Defensive end Abry Jones also tips the scale at more than 300 pounds, and former linebacker Cornelius Washington handles his business at the other end position by using a combination of strength and speed. The Bulldogs three-man front looks as a big as some teams’ four-man front, and they wear down and dominate opponents, even if the stats don’t necessarily show it.

5.      Texas Longhorns

After being named a First-Team All American last year, defensive end Alex Okafor decided to return for his senior year. He and Florida State’s Brandon Jenkins are the top two pass rushers in the country, and while Okafor doesn’t have quite the help of Jenkins, the Longhorns front line is still pretty fierce. Jackson Jeffcoat is a steadily improving junior at the other end position, and the rebuilding process of the interior line was speeded up by the addition of transfer Brandon Moore. Texas had a top-10 defense against the run last year nationally, and Okafor and company had the top run defense in the Big 12. This year’s unit should be a little better.

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