by CollegeFootballNews.com

When linebackers Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing decided to forego the NFL Draft for one more year, it ensured that the Trojans would have one of the nastiest back sevens in the country. Not only are the two seniors All-America-caliber, but the secondary is sensational. Safeties Kevin Ellison and Taylor Mays are among six players with starting experience. Even without current pros Sedrick Ellis and Lawrence Jackson, the defensive line will be just fine. On the outside, speedy Everson Griffen is good enough to make folks forget about Jackson. On the inside, senior Fili Moala is about to shed his anonymity while making a strong push for All-American honors and a spot in the first round of next year's NFL Draft.

2. Ohio State

Sackmaster Vernon Gholston and productive all-around LB Larry Grant are gone. That's about the only negative on what was the nation's best total and scoring defense. The stunning decisions by LB James Laurinaitis and CB Malcolm Jenkins to return for their senior seasons, when they would've been first-round draft picks this year, makes the already good-looking defense something special. All four starters return to the secondary that helped lead the way for the nation's best pass defense. Laurinaitis and running-mate Marcus Freeman will make up for the potential issue at the third linebacking spot, while Lawrence Wilson, Cameron Heyward, and Thaddeus Gibson are great-looking ends who should be camped out in opposing backfield. The key will be the tackles. Mediocre last season, at least by Buckeye standards, Todd Denlinger, Doug Worthington, Dexter Larimore and Nader Abdallah are expected to be far better.

3. Georgia

Considering last season was supposed to be a problem with no experience and several holes to fill, finishing 14th in the nation in total defense and 18th in scoring D, allowing 323 yards and 20 points per game, showed how quickly the team rebuilds. Now the defense is loaded with former high school all-stars who have grown into great college players. There's depth, options, and the potential for an even better rotation with a loaded defense that'll be dominant at times. The only downside is the lack of a sure-thing pass rushing end, with Marcus Howard gone, but there will be pressure from all four spots up front, led by the tackle pair of Geno Atkins and Jeff Owens, while the linebacking corps will be solid, if not spectacular. The secondary grew into something special by the end of the year, and now it should be terrific led by soon-to-be all-stars CB Asher Allen and FS Reshad Jones.

4. LSU

The nation's No. 3 defense in each of the last three years might fall off a little bit with the loss of defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, DT Glenn Dorsey, LB Ali Highsmith, SS Craig Steltz and both starting corners, but it's not like things are going to fall off the map. The defensive line might even be better, even without Dorsey, with tackles Ricky Jean-Francois (academics) and Charles Alexander (knee) joining Al Woods and Marlon Favorite on the inside to form a brick wall, and tackle-sized Tyson Jackson on the end looking for a big season to cash in on for next year's NFL draft. Speed and athleticism should make up for concerns at outside linebacker and cornerback, while MLB Darry Beckwith and the safeties should be tremendous.

5. Auburn

Auburn always comes up with productive defenses no matter what the talent level is like, but this year, unlike last season when the coaching staff had to play around with several different combinations, defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads has a loaded group with seven returning starters. The right players appear to be in the right spots with future NFL millionaire Sen'Derrick Marks in his more natural tackle spot after spending last year on the end, LB Tray Blackmon finally ready to be counted on in the middle after a slew of off-the-field issues marring the first part of his career, and the secondary ready to be among the best in the nation again. The linebacking corps is steady, but needs to prove it can be spectacular. The defensive backfield might not have a bunch of household names, but that should change with Jerraud Powers on the verge of being recognized as one of the SEC's best all-around corners and the safety tandem of Mike McNeil and Zac Etheridge ready to blow up. The one concern is depth on the line and the secondary; it needs time to develop.

6. Boston College

Matt Ryan got most of the pub last fall, but the defense was the backbone of a program that often had trouble putting points on the board. Even without LB Brian Toal and DT B.J. Raji, Boston College finished second nationally in run defense and No. 19 in total D, despite beginning the season without any true stars. The cornerstones of this year's crew will be DE Alex Albright, DT Ron Brace, and LB Mark Herzlich, who'll help form a sturdy front wall that'll again be tough to run on. The pass defense, however, will be easier for opponents to navigate. Fiery S Jamie Silva and top CB DeJuan Tribble are gone, putting pressure on Marcellus Bowman and DeLeon Gause, respectively, to bridge the gap.

7. Clemson

While there are openings and uncertainty at linebacker, the rest of the defense is in good shape with size and speed up front and depth and experience in the secondary. CAT safety Michael Hamlin heads a backfield that boasts four returning starters and a slew of letterwinners. Even without DE Phillip Merling, the Tigers have recruited well enough in recent years to dominate in the trenches and create outside pressure. Mega-recruit DaQuan Bowers has an ACC body and 15 spring practices behind him. One of the most heralded recruits to ever sign with Clemson, he'll join Ricky Sapp to give the defense a scary and speedy pass-rushing tandem.

8. South Carolina

A major disappointment last year thanks to a slew of injury problems, the D is loaded and could be among the best in the SEC if everyone can stay on the field. The biggest boost is the return of LB Jasper Brinkley after suffering a knee injury, while the linebacking corps will undergo a bit of a change with end Eric Norwood swapping spots with LB Cliff Matthews. There's plenty of star power with Brinkley, Norwood, CB Captain Munnerlyn, SS Emanuel Cook, and DT Ladi Ajiboye all certain to earn all-star honors, and now someone has to stop the run. South Carolina finished first in the SEC in pass defense, but that's partly because everyone pounded the ball. That should change with massive size in the front seven and most of the key parts healthy again.

9. Michigan

While there's plenty of uncertainty on offense, Scott Shafer's defense should be solid after bouncing back from a disastrous start. The line has the potential to be among the best in the nation, but now all the talent needs to turn into more production with tackles Terrance Taylor and Will Johnson and ends Tim Jamison and Brandon Graham needing to dominate. The secondary was terrific last year, and it will be again even with new safeties to go with strong corners Morgan Trent and Donovan Warren. The question is the linebacking corps that should be decent, but nothing special outside of Obi Ezeh in the middle.

10. Oregon

For a change, most of Oregon's stars this season will be on the defensive side of the ball. The Ducks lose little from Nick Aliotti's ball-hawking unit, retaining all six of the players who earned all-conference recognition a year ago. Up front, ends Nick Reed and Will Tukuafu are talented pass rushers who can also defend the run. The Jerome Boyd-led linebackers have a chance to be the best group in Eugene in years. The secondary, featuring Patrick Chung, Jairus Byrd, and Walter Thurmond, will be among the best in the West. Offenses should have their best luck running the ball right at a line that's understaffed at defensive tackle.

11 Texas
12 California
13 Connecticut
14 Florida State
15 Wisconsin
16 Kansas
17 Oklahoma
18 Mississippi State
19 Cincinnati
20 Georgia Tech
21 Pitt
22 TCU
23 West Virginia
24 Illinois
25 Tennessee
26 Texas Tech
27 Florida
28 Virginia Tech
29 UCLA
30 Wake Forest
31 Penn State
32 Missouri
33 South Florida
34 Oregon State
35 Michigan State
36 Iowa
37 North Carolina
38 Kansas State
39 Virginia
40 Maryland
41 Vanderbilt
42 Arizona State
43 Colorado
44 Miami
45 Rutgers
46 Indiana
47 Miami Univ.
48 Utah
49 Alabama
50 Washington
51 Stanford
52 UCF
53 BYU
54 Purdue
55 Kentucky
56 Washington State
57 NC State
58 Notre Dame
59 Arkansas
60 Nebraska
61 Ole Miss
62 New Mexico
63 Boise State
64 Southern Miss
65 Oklahoma State
66 Fresno State
67 Louisville
68 Baylor
69 Arizona
70 Iowa State
71 Northwestern
72 Wyoming
73 Texas A&M
74 Hawaii
75 Duke
76 Western Michigan
77 Ohio
78 Houston
79 Troy
80 Air Force
81 East Carolina
82 San Jose State
83 Kent State
84 Minnesota
85 Louisiana Tech
86 San Diego State
87 Nevada
88 Colorado State
89 Northern Illinois
90 Bowling Green
91 Syracuse
92 Tulsa
93 Florida Atlantic
94 Temple
95 Toledo
96 UNLV
97 Akron
98 Marshall
99 Central Michigan
100 Memphis
101 Tulane
102 Middle Tennessee
103 UL Monroe
104 Buffalo
105 UAB
106 Ball State
107 Arkansas State
108 FIU
109 Idaho
110 Navy
111 UTEP
112 Eastern Michigan
113 Rice
114 Utah State
115 UL Lafayette
116 Army
117 SMU
118 New Mexico State
119 North Texas