Cal Bears bullish along defensive front

Defensive Line

1. California
Tackle Brandon Mebane is an Athlon preseason first-team All-American. Mebane broke through the line in ’05 for 9.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Matt Malele and Mika Kane both bring in excess of 300 pounds and extensive experience to the tackle rotation. Nu’u Tafisi, a second-team all-conference honoree, and Phillip Mbakogu combined for 20 tackles for losses and nine sacks and return at the ends. Abu Ma’afala started four games after sitting out 2004 following his transfer from Hawaii. He is as ornery against the run as he is rushing the passer and is available at both tackle and end.

2. Iowa
Ends Kenny Iwebema and Bryan Mattison spend a lot of time in opponents’ backfields. Iwebema notched 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection. Mattison added 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Tackle Mitch King was named Freshman All-America after breaking through for 10.5 tackles behind the line and forcing three fumbles. Tackle Matt Kroul registered 48 tackles and an interception. Ryan Bain notched 21 tackles as a true freshman and backs up both King and Kroul.

3. Oklahoma
John Williams went down with a knee injury in the opener and was lost for the year. Larry Birdine’s season ended in August with a torn biceps. Both of them return, and so do their replacements — C.J. Ah You, the 2005 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, and Calvin Thibodeaux, who racked up a team high 10 sacks. Tackle Carl Pendleton enters his third year as a starter. Joining him on the inside are DeMarcus Granger and Gerald McCoy, the 2005 USA Today high school Defensive Player of the Year.

4. Notre Dame
Starters return at all four positions. Left end Victor Abiamiri made himself at home in opponents’ backfields, quietly collecting 15 tackles for losses and eight sacks. Chris Frome started the first six games at right end before a knee injury in the USC game ended his season. Ronald Talley and Justin Brown went the rest of the way, and all three are back. Tackle Derek Landri has accumulated 19 career tackles for losses. Trevor Laws is a 290-pound run stuffer who blocked two field-goal attempts in 2005.

5. Wisconsin
Tackles Nick Hayden and Justin Ostrowski will keep the inside running lanes shut down. Both players pack 300 pounds-plus and can run. Hayden made 56 tackles last year with nine tackles for loss and a team-high 5.5 sacks. End Matt Shaughnessy emerged as one of the best young players in the league as a true freshman, registering 7.5 tackles for loss, batting down two passes and making first-team Freshman All-America.

6. Florida
7. Georgia Tech
8. UCLA
9. USC
10. TCU

6th Annual Athlon Awards
Quarterbacks – Published Thursday, June 29, 2006
Running Backs – Published Friday, June 30, 2006
Receivers – Published Saturday, July 1, 2006
Offensive Line – Published Monday, July 3, 2006
Defensive Line – Published Tuesday, July 4, 2006
Linebackers – Published Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Defensive Backs – Published Thursday, July 6, 2006

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