We did the offense on Monday. Now for the defense. Again, I try to honor a player at each of the proper positions instead of (for instance) having four ends represent the defensive line (as some All-American teams do):
Defensive End
1st Team: Whitney Mercilus, Illinois; Sam Montgomery, LSU
2nd Team: Andre Branch, Clemson; Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
3rd Team: Vinny Curry, Marshall; Nick Perry, USC
Honorable Mention
Frank Alexander, Oklahoma
Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas
Barkevious Mingo, LSU
Dion Jordan, Oregon
Bruce Irvin, West Virginia
Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma
Quinton Coples, North Carolina
Shea McClellin, Boise State
Comment: Mercilus was a terror off the edge, leading the nation with 14.5 sacks, while Montgomery was the best player on LSU’s fearsome defensive line.
Defensive Tackle
1st Team: Devon Still, Penn State; Kawann Short, Purdue
2nd Team: Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati; Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State
3rd Team: Jerel Worthy, Michigan State; Logan Harrell, Fresno State
Honorable Mention
Brandon Thompson, Clemson
Kendall Reyes, Connecticut
Mike Daniels, Iowa
Mike Martin, Michigan
Alameda Ta’amu, Washington
Comment: It was a strong year for interior defensive linemen in the Big Ten, with Short notching 17.5 tackles for loss (despite the loss of Ryan Kerrigan to the draft) and Still getting 17 to lead the Nittany Lions.
Outside Linebacker
1st Team: Sammy Brown, Houston; Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
2nd Team: Lavonte David, Nebraska; Jarvis Jones, Georgia
3rd Team: Sean Spence, Miami; Chase Thomas, Stanford
Honorable Mention
Danny Trevathan, Kentucky
Zach Brown, North Carolina
Chris Borland, Wisconsin
Mychal Kendricks, California
Nigel Bradham, Florida State
Emmanuel Acho, Texas
Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma
Comment: Brown’s 28 tackles for loss led the nation, but he also had 88 tackles and 12.5 sacks. Upshaw made plays all year long for the Tide, collecting 17 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
Inside Linebacker
1st Team: Luke Kuechley, Boston College
2nd Team: Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
3rd Team: Dont’a Hightower, Alabama
Honorable Mention
Audie Cole, North Carolina State
Tank Carder, TCU
Carmen Messina, New Mexico
Chris Marve, Vanderbilt
Adrien Cole, Louisiana Tech
Comment: Keuchley is simply the best tackler college football has seen in a long time. Te’o had another fine season for the Irish.
Cornerback
1st Team: Morris Claiborne, LSU; Tyrann Mathieu, LSU
2nd Team: Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama; Dave Amerson, North Carolina State
3rd Team: Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt; Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech
Honorable Mention
DeQuan Menzie, Alabama
Desmond Trufant, Washington
Nickell Robey, USC
Chase Minnifield, Virginia
Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina
Micah Hyde, Iowa
Keith Tandy, West Virginia
Jordan Poyer, Oregon State
Comment: Between the two, Claiborne is the purest corner, but Mathieu is the better overall football player. They were the keys to LSU’s SEC title run.
Free Safety
1st Team: Bacarri Rambo, Georgia
2nd Team: T.J. McDonald, USC
3rd Team: Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State
Honorable Mention
Robert Lester, Alabama
Trenton Robinson, Michigan State
Aaron Henry, Wisconsin
Eric Reid, LSU
Comment: In an amazing year for SEC defensive backs, Rambo stood out at the free safety spot, snagging a league-high 7 interceptions.
Strong Safety
1st Team: Winston Guy, Kentucky
2nd Team: Mark Barron, Alabama
3rd Team: Brandon Taylor, LSU
Honorable Mention
Eddie Pleasant, Oregon
Tavon Wilson, Illinois
Antonio Allen, South Carolina
Delano Howell, Stanford
Comment: Barron had another fine season, but Guy was special for the Wildcats, collecting 120 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and intercepting two passes.
Trufant’s inclusion is a bad joke. He may have forced a few turnovers, but watching him try to play man was painful. Brandon Kauffman (of mediocre-even-for-an-FCS-team Eastern Washington) absolutely abused him in the first game of the season, and it never got much better.