All this week Husker Corner.com will be breaking down each position in the Big 10 Conference. Today we talk defensive backs. We will be ranking each position from 12 to 1. Twelve being the group that is lacking depth, doesn’t have any proven player, and/or needs to improve the most. One will be the strongest group of defensive backs.
12 Indiana: Giving up 27 touchdown passes in 2010, and finishing the season ranked 114th in pass defense, new head coach Kevin Wilson has a big challenge on defense. They will need a huge improvement from the defensive backfield. Aside from sophomore safety Greg Heban, Indiana lacks talent at any other DB spot.
11. Michigan: The Wolverines have as much talent as anyone in the conference in corners J.T. Floyd and Troy Woolfolk. After them there is no real experience. New head coach, Brady Hooke will come in and makeover a very weak defensive backfield. Look for sophomore Carvin Johnson, who moves from hybrid linebacker to full-time safety, to be a big time play maker in the future. He will also be doubling as a punt returner.
10. Minnesota: As good as the front 7 is for the Gophers, the back four are equally as bad. The Gophers finished 34th in pass defense in 2010. That’s all good and well, but they lose a starter at both corner and safety. Troy Stoudermire is a speedster who moves over from wide receiver to corner, and proved in the spring that he can hit hard. He will play opposite of 6th year senior Kim Royston. The Gophers have a lot of question marks after those two.
9. Northwestern: There is a lot of question marks for the Wildcats like can the starting corners stay healthy, who will be the other safety opposite Brian Peters. David Arnold and Ibraheim Campbell will battle it out this fall for the slot next to Peters. Jordan Mabin returns at corner. Jeravin Matthews emerged this spring as the corner opposite Mabin, but will his success continue? Only time will tell.
8. Iowa: I am not one of many who are buying into the Shaun Prater hype. Prater is an Omaha, Nebraska native who will be a senior in 2011, he finished the 2010 season with 68 tackles and 4 interceptions. Micah Hyde is the other corner, he also had 4 interceptions, one for a touchdown in the Insight Bowl. Greg Castilo could be a young play maker for the Hawkeyes.
7. Purdue: Sophomore Ricardo Allen is on the verge of super stardom. He had three interceptions last season, two that he took back for scores. He will lead a group of talented players in a young Boilermakers secondary. Junior Josh Johnson seemingly was around the ball on every play last season. He tied for second in the league with three forced fumbles and added an interception, seven passes defended, a fumble recovery and 53 tackles. He is a nice compliment to Allen.
6. Illinois: Senior Tavon Wilson and Junior Supo Sanni both return, but can they stay healthy. Wilson contended for all-conference honors last season, and Sanni has the same potential. Senior Trulon Henry was All-Big 10 honorable mention last season, and should have the same type of season in 2011. He moves from safety back to his natural spot on the field at corner.
5. Michigan State: “Make A Play” was the quote the Spartans lived by to improve from 112th nationally in 2009, to 60th in 2010. Sparty pulled in 17 interceptions last season. Senior Trenton Robinson led the Spartans with four interceptions and tied for first on the team in passes defended with eight. Robinson will contend for all-conference honors this fall. Junior Johnny Adams was the first player selected for Michigan State’s spring game. He earned second-team All-Big 10 honorlast season. Adams recorded three interceptions, 10 passes defended, and recovered a blocked punt.
4. Nebraska: With the loss of first round draft pick Prince Amukamara, the Huskers will turn to senior Alfonzo Dennard as the top defender on the team. Dennard finished the 2010 season with 31 tackles, a forced fumble and 4 interceptions, one for a 31 yard touchdown. The Huskers will turn to junior Ciante Evans, to fill Dennards role. He filled in for Dennard in the Missouri game in 2010. You may remember his stop on 4th and goal when Mizzou QB Blaine Gabbert tried sneaking into the endzone on a quarterback keep. Evans finished the season with 9 total tackles. Junior Courtney Osborne returns, after appearing in every game last season. He finished 2010 with 41 tackles, an interception, a sack and five tackles for loss.
3. Ohio State: Despite loosing 3 starters from 2010, the Buckeyes return a lot of players with playing experience and talent. Senior Tyler Moeller returns from a torn pectoral muscle for his 6th year. In just 5 games in 2010 he forced two fumbles, had an interception and 4.5 tackles for loss. It is unclear weather or not Moeller will play safety or linebacker. Senior Travis Howard had 13 tackles and 2 interceptions last season. One for a 30 yard touchdown return.
2. Wisconsin: All-Big 10 selection Antonio Fenelus leads the Badgers secondary in 2011. He had 56 tackles, a forced fumble and 4 interceptions, one for a touchdown. Opposite Fenelus will be is Devin Smith, who finished with 30 tackles, and an interception. Aaron Henry moved from corner to safety last season, and finished with two interceptions, seven pass breakups, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. He received All-Big 10 honors last season. This group will be one of the most talented in the country.
1. Penn State: Senior D’Anton Lynn will lead the Lions defensive backfield in 2011 at the starting corner spots. He finished 2010 strongly, recording 75 tackles and 3 interceptions. Senior Drew Astorino will be the top safety for Penn State, he had 70 tackles and 1 interception in 2010. Fellow senior Nick Sukay will be the other starting safety on the team. He had 29 tackles and 3 interceptions in 2010. If he returns to his 2009 stature where he had 40 tackles and 2 interceptions Penn State will be in even better shape then they are already in. Junior Stephon Moris will be the young buck of the group. He finished 2010 with 39 tackles. Look for that number to improve a long with adding more interceptions then the one he recorded in 2009.