2010 FBS Positional Analysis: Defensive Backs

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08/05/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - They are the last line of defense. Their job is to keep the ball in front of them and never allow a playmaker to get behind them. They can control the ebb and flow of the game by limiting the playing field for opposing QBs.

Here are the top defensive backs heading into the 2010 FBS season:

CORNERBACKS:

PATRICK PETERSON, LSU

Peterson comes into 2010 on most preseason All-American lists and could very well be the best defensive player in the SEC overall. As a sophomore in 2009, the 6-1, 211-pounder picked up Second-Team All-American honors, racking up 52 total tackles. A freak of nature, with superior size, speed and athletic ability, this Tiger will earn plenty of postseason awards when 2010 comes to a close. LSU will once again be in the thick of the SEC race this year and Peterson will have a lot to do with that.

PRINCE AMUKAMARA, NEBRASKA

On everyone's short list when it comes to naming the favorites for this year's Thorpe Award, Amukamara is the complete package. As a junior in 2009, the 6-1, 205-pounder emerged as one of the nation's best cornerbacks, tallying 64 tackles, two sacks, five INTs and a team-high 11 PBUs, en route to First-Team All-Big 12 honors. With above-average athleticism as a shutdown cover guy, Amukamara is poised for a huge senior campaign. The Cornhuskers will close out their stay in the Big 12 this year and although they may not take home the conference crown, Amukamara is sure to pile up the awards.

RAS-I DOWLING, VIRGINIA

This Cavalier has evolved into one of the more reliable cover corners in the FBS. The 6-2, 200-pound Dowling is a two-time Second-Team All-ACC selection, after earning Freshman-All-American honors in 2007. He finished his junior campaign in 2009 with 58 total tackles, with one sack, one fumble recovery, three INTs and eight PBUs. His size and athleticism certainly have him projected as a first-round NFL draft pick. Virginia isn't ready to contend for an ACC title this year, but opposing QBs certainly know enough to stay away from Dowling's side of the field.

KENDRIC BURNEY, NORTH CAROLINA

Burney is not the biggest cornerback (5-9, 190), but more than makes up for it with athleticism and the ability to always be in the right place. This Tar Heel has started all 38 games in his collegiate career. On one of the most talented defenses in the country, Burney stands out in the secondary. A First-Team All- ACC selection in 2009, he finished the year with 52 total tackles, five INTs and one fumble recovery. North Carolina won't give up a whole lot of points this year and Burney will definitely be a big reason why.

RASHAD CARMICHAEL, VIRGINIA TECH

The ACC seems to be chock-full of top-notch defensive backs, and this Hokie certainly must be mentioned among them. After tallying just 20 total tackles his first two seasons in Blacksburg, the 5-11, 195-pound Carmichael burst on the scene as a junior, amassing 55 tackles, with four TFLs, one sack and a team-high six INTs, en route to All-ACC Honorable Mention. A hard-worker who understands his position and where he needs to be at all times, Carmichael may not match his interception total from last year, but that will be because opposing QBs are sure to look the other way when going down the field.

OTHERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON: Omar Bolden (Arizona State), Aaron Williams (Texas), Curtis Brown (Texas), Brandon Harris (Miami-Florida), Shareece Wright (USC).

SAFETIES:

DEANDRE MCDANIEL, CLEMSON

The 6-1, 210-pound McDaniel made the move from linebacker to safety this past season and it paid off, as he finished fourth on the team in tackles (102), with an astounding eight INTs, en route to All-American honors. With a linebacker's mentality in the secondary, McDaniel always finds himself around the ball. He should mature into more of a vocal leader in 2010 and while the sky is perhaps too high a limit for the Tigers as a whole, there is no ceiling for this ultra-talented playmaker.

MARK BARRON, ALABAMA

The defending national champions were fueled by the Heisman Trophy campaign of Mark Ingram last year as well as a stout defense. The secondary played a big part in the latter's success, highlighted by a sophomore in Barron. The 6-2, 210-pounder was a First-Team All-SEC member and Third-Team All-American, who finished the year with 76 total tackles, seven INTs and 18 PBUs. The Crimson Tide may just roll to a second straight national title, with Barron once again putting himself front and center.

RAHIM MOORE, UCLA

A First-Team All-American and First-Team All-Pac-10 selection in 2009, the 6-1, 195-pound Moore had a monster sophomore season, leading the nation in interceptions with 10, while piling up 49 tackles. With superior size, speed and athleticism, Moore is a complete safety, with the chance of getting even better in 2010 - a scary thought for the teams scheduled to play the Bruins.

DEUNTA WILLIAMS, NORTH CAROLINA

A former wide receiver who has made the full transition to safety and has flourished in Chapel Hill. One of the crown jewels of a star-studded defense, the 6-2, 215-pound Williams is a top-notch playmaker with great ball skills. Last season, he was a First-Team All-ACC selection, finishing the year with 47 tackles, six INTs and eight PBUs. If he becomes a bit more physical as a senior, he is worthy of being named among the top safeties at the FBS level.

QUINTON CARTER, OKLAHOMA

Carter took over the starting spot at free safety in 2009 and flourished in the role, collecting 88 tackles (second on the team) and four INTs, en route to All-Big 12 Second-Team honors. A sure tackler with good size (6-1, 200), expect big things once again from this talented Sooner.

OTHERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON: Ahmad Black (Florida), Jermale Hines (Ohio State), Eric Hagg (Nebraska), Chris Culliver (South Carolina), Tejay Johnson (TCU).

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Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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