2015 Defensive players

Jimmy Chitwood

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lost amidst the 31-0 dismantling of BYU by Michigan in the Big House were two key facts:

1) despite being handicapped by an offense that totaled (during the entire game) a mere 55 yards passing (on 28 attempts), 55 yards rushing (on 22 attempts), and punted the ball 11 times, BYU's defense actually held Michigan scoreless in the second half and played very good football.

2) the BYU defense's top two players on the day were White defensive backs. safety Michael Wadsworth, a former walk-on who wasn't even on the two-deep to start the year, finished tied for a team-high with 10 tackles (6 solo). Wadsworth has started the last 3 games for the Cougars and has had team-highs in tackles twice (11 against Boise State and 10 at Michigan) while emerging as a team leader. one "wonders" why he hasn't seen the field aside from special teams throughout his career until injuries to the "real" players happened this season ...

at cornerback, sophomore Michael Hannemann has played better every game this season. against Michigan, he gave up only one completion, a highlight-reel catch that i'll post below in which he was in good position but was simply beaten by a superb effort. otherwise, he was a complete White-out to the opposition, including breaking up 2 passes in beautiful fashion. he played strong in run support, as well, tying for the team lead with Wadsworth with 10 tackles (5 solo). he played through an injury much of the second half, and ended up leaving the game with a couple minutes left. it remains to be seen if he will play tonight against UConn.

[video=youtube;a2R_jsR9FRw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2R_jsR9FRw[/video]
the only completion Hannemann gave up on the day
 

Heretic

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lost amidst the 31-0 dismantling of BYU by Michigan in the Big House were two key facts:

1) despite being handicapped by an offense that totaled (during the entire game) a mere 55 yards passing (on 28 attempts), 55 yards rushing (on 22 attempts), and punted the ball 11 times, BYU's defense actually held Michigan scoreless in the second half and played very good football.

2) the BYU defense's top two players on the day were White defensive backs. safety Michael Wadsworth, a former walk-on who wasn't even on the two-deep to start the year, finished tied for a team-high with 10 tackles (6 solo). Wadsworth has started the last 3 games for the Cougars and has had team-highs in tackles twice (11 against Boise State and 10 at Michigan) while emerging as a team leader. one "wonders" why he hasn't seen the field aside from special teams throughout his career until injuries to the "real" players happened this season ...
No doubt. One of the announcers on tonight's UConn vs BYU game said that Wadsworth was one of the better safeties he's seen this year after a particular play he made to disrupt a receiver from catching the ball. At 6'2", 221lbs, he has size and plays physical. He's very active on the field, shows good speed, and knows exactly where he needs to be on the field, which indicates he's mentally-equipped as well. Like Nebraska FB Andy Janovich, Wadsworth's a former walk-on (of course) that finally gets noticed as a playmaker only after the first game of the final season of his career.
 

Leonardfan

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Wisconsin LB Joe Schobert currently leads the FBS in sacks with 9 :clap2:

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celticdb15

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Leonardfan

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Bad news as Drew Ott suffered a torn ACL - this is terrible as he was one of the best pass rushers in the Big Ten and a rising draft prospect. Hopefully he can come back in time for the pre draft process and it won't hamper his draft stock that much.
 

DixieDestroyer

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LB Jake Ganus once again leads the UGA defense with 12 tackles & an INT. Yet, his afroletic defensive team mates couldn't get it done against the Vols. While Greyson Lambert & the OL did their part(s), the BlackDawg D let UT take the victory. I expect ThUGA to lose at least 2-3 more games this year with that coal black (sans Ganus) D.
 

Heretic

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Bad news as Drew Ott suffered a torn ACL - this is terrible as he was one of the best pass rushers in the Big Ten and a rising draft prospect. Hopefully he can come back in time for the pre draft process and it won't hamper his draft stock that much.
That's a shame. I saw the play where it happened and it was just a freak accident. I don't think there was any contact with a defender, just the way he landed while rushing the punter/QB/kicker...can't remember.

Too late to get a medical redshirt. I was also looking forward to him playing and doing well against Nebraska later on in the year after Pelini snubbed him because he wasn't affletic enough. Knowing the NFL, he'll probably go undrafted now and end up as a UDFA.
 

DixieDestroyer

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UGA LB Jake Ganus only had 5 tackles (.5 TFL) against Florida on Saturday, BUT he still leads the "BlackDawgs" defense in total tackles (55), assists (33), interceptions (2) & fumble recoveries (1). :)
 

Leonardfan

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Ganus has been very productive. I hope that parlays him into the combine and senior bowl. I will try to do a top 10 dlinemen/lb/db list for the college season to this point tonight.
 

Leonardfan

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Here is a compilation of some of our top guys with a quarter of the season to go:

PLAYERTEAMASTTOTALCOMBSACKYDSLPDINTYDSLONG
Carl Nassib, DEPSU15274214-97011010
Trey Hendrickson, DEFAU1214268-520000
Nate Meier, DEIOWA2821497-440000
Kyle Kragen, DECAL2325485-270000
Justin Lawler, DESMU1431455-240000
Tyler Roberts, DETROY1422364-190000
Kylie Fitts, DEUTAH1011214-210000
Joey Bosa, DLOSU921304-160000
Sam Hubbard, DEOSU108184-230100
Matt Dimon, DEOKLA1313263-160000
PLAYERTEAMASTTOTALCOMBSACKYDSLPDINTYDSLONG
Nick Mangieri, DLIND1221337-250000
Alex Hansen, DLAFA1717345-200000
Nate Terhune, DLKENT189274-280000
Luke Maclean, DLEMU2319424-230000
Connor Wujciak, DLBC416204-210000
Henry Mondeaux, DLORE110114-270000
Alex Balducci, DLORE188264-290000
Matt Ioannidis, DLTEM819274-240000
Joey Ivie, DLFLA510154-270000
Jason Neill, DTUTSA1022324-210000
Hunter Snyder, DLFAU78154-350000
Anthony Zettel, DTPSU1719363-230000
Adam Gotsis, DLGT1120313-130000
PLAYERTEAMASTTOTALCOMBSACKYDSLPDINTYDSLONG
Joe Schobert, LBWIS27295610-780000
Calvin Munson, LBSDSU3525607-58028667
Matt Milano, LBBC1233457-460000
Matt Linscott, LBTLSA2839675-310100
Vince Biegel, LBWIS2318415-330000
Tyler Matakevich, LBTEM3741784-25054726
Matt Galambos, LBPITT1630464-35025351
Nick Holt, LBWKU2738654-270100
Zack Shaw, LBIND1020304-190000
Riley Bullough, LBMSU3730674-170000
Kyler Fackrell, LBUSU3024543-110000
Jake Ganus, LBUGA3322551-30200
Connor Strachan, LBBC2233552-19021616
PLAYERTEAMASTTOTALCOMBSACKYDSLPDINTYDSLONG
Taylor Barton, DBILL20173700035449
Dylan Haines, STEX725321-14035029
Nate Gerry, SNEB2129501-9036643
Anthony Cioffi, DBRUTG628342-120355
Weston Steelhammer, DBAFA2027471-9032121
Jordan Simone, DBASU1459734-240222
Michael Caputo, SWIS2222441-50244
Tanner McEvoy, SWIS1119301-10024141
Clayton Fejedelem, DBILL41468700021818
Nate Holley KENT3647832-14 11010
 

celticdb15

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Very nice list! Attention #NFL #Scouts looking for underrated playmakers this list is chalked full of productive guys on and off the field. Unlike the array of thugs they bring in year after year and wonder why they have character problems!
 

celticdb15

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Jimmy Chitwood

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Jimmy Chitwood

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South Dakota State, of the FCS, features a nearly all-White defense (with only 1 cornerblack *TM* marring the Whiteout). yet "despite" this lack of "affleticism," they are one of the elite defensive units in the nation.

they've only allowed one opposing team to throw for over 200 yards on the season, and that was Saturday thanks to the Herculean efforts of outstanding wideout Anthony Warrum.

despite Warrum's big day, the Jackrabbits held the nation's #2 rusher (now #3) Marshaun Coprich to a meager 65 yards and no touchdowns on 22 carries (with a long of 9 yards). he'd come into the game averaging over 150 rushing yards per contest.

not surprisingly, SDSU went on to prevail over the #2-ranked Illinois State Redbirds.
 

TwentyTwo

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Freshman Linebacker (6-2" 240) Brant Mitchell -Georgia Tech w the 32 yard "Pick Six" vs Va.Tech tonight...looks like a future Prototypical NFL LBer

South Alabama LB Blake Dees was the Sun Belt Conf. Defensive Player of the Week.. (last week) ...had 20 tackles & a forced fumble that led to TD

Excellent updates yall!
 
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Jimmy Chitwood

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Jimmy Chitwood

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North Carolina linebacker Jeff Schoettmer: interception and 60-yard return

******************

Rutgers cornerback-turned-safety Anthony Cioffi has an interception, which he returned 51 yards, against Nebraska in the first half.
 

DixieDestroyer

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LB Jake Ganus (again) leads the ThUGA BlackDawgs in tackles (11) in their win against Auburn today.
 
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LB Jake Ganus (again) leads the ThUGA BlackDawgs in tackles (11) in their win against Auburn today.

My guess is that Ganus is the last white defensive starter that Georgia will ever have. He's only there because of odd circumstances. Georgia fans are still wondering why he's not playing fullback.
 

DixieDestroyer

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My guess is that Ganus is the last white defensive starter that Georgia will ever have. He's only there because of odd circumstances. Georgia fans are still wondering why he's not playing fullback.

True...yet he's the best defensive player on the team & 1 of the best LBs in the SEC. What's more; David Pollack (3x All American) is the most decorated defensive player in UGA history, and he was recruited as a "3 star" fullback (of course).
 

Leonardfan

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More bad news on the defensive player front as Jordan Simone as torn his ACL. This is the third senior who was a viable draft prospect to injury his knee along with Adam Gostis and Drew Ott.
 
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