2007 Athlon Awards: Defensive Linemen

1. LSU
LSU held its opponents to less than 100 yards per game on the ground in 2006 and finished third nationally in total defense, and the most formidable three-man tackle rotation in America is back intact. All three are in the 6'1"-6’3", 290-300-pound range, and All-American Glenn Dorsey is the anchor of the group. Marlon Favorite and Charles Alexander also return after sharing the other tackle job. Tyson Jackson is a menacing presence at end who led the 2006 Tigers with 10 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

2. Texas
Texas finished third nationally in run defense and tied for 10th in sacks in 2006, and a veteran group returns up front for the Horns. Like LSU, Texas boasts an imposing three-man tackle contingent, and the leader of the pack is 6'5", 320-pound Frank Okam. Texas’ tackles rarely put up eye-popping numbers — their job is to tie up the other teams’ blocking for the linebackers to make the hits — and there are none better at what they do. Okam and the other two returning tackle regulars — Roy Miller and Derek Lokey — did manage to combine for 16 tackles behind the line.

3. USC
USC’s defensive line is spearheaded by 2006 All-American Sedrick Ellis at nose tackle. Ellis proved to be a dominating force in the middle, notching 34 tackles, with eight behind the line and 4.5 sacks. Fili Moala and Chris Barrett started all 13 games between them at tackle in 2006 and both are back. Moala also started three early-season games at nose tackle while Ellis was out with an injury. End Lawrence Jackson enters his senior season with 35 career tackles for loss, 20 sacks, three blocked kicks and two interceptions.

4. Florida State
The Seminoles came in 12th nationally against the run and 18th overall in 2006, and three regulars are back in the front four. Andre Fluellen, a tackle by trade, played noseguard last season after Paul Griffin, a former junior college All-American, went down with an injury early in the season. Head coach Bobby Bowden is happy to have Griffin back, and so is Fluellen, who goes back to tackle after posting a career-high eight tackles for loss while playing out of position. With Everette Brown, Neefy Moffett, Eli Charles and Alex Boston all back, the Noles are also two-deep at the end positions.

5. Georgia Tech
The ornery Georgia Tech defense returns three starters along its front from last year, beginning with senior end Adamm Oliver. A second-team All-ACC performer in 2006, Oliver has started 29 games, including the last 26 in a row. Darrell Robertson, whose career highlight was an interception returned for a touchdown against Duke in 2005, is the other bookend. Robertson at 6'5", 245, and 6'7", 250-pound Michael Johnson are the team’s most effective pass rushers. Junior Darryl Richard is a force at tackle.

Next Up:
6. Rutgers
7. TCU
8. Auburn
9. Wisconsin
10. UCLA

Del.icio.us | Digg it | Athlon Sports RSS Feeds