College football position preview
A look at top defensive backs, LBs, linemen
USA TODAY is getting ready for the college season by breaking down the best players at each position in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Up next: the defensive backs.
1. Grant Delpit, LSU (Jr.)
LSU’s defensive star stuffs the run, has a nose for the football – he tied for the Southeastern Conference lead with five interceptions in 2018 – and can rush the passer. The reigning consensus AllAmerican pick pegs to be even better.
2. Bryce Hall, Virginia (Sr.)
Teaming prototypical NFL size at 6-1 and 200 pounds with great ball skills and top-end speed, Hall is a great stand-in for Virginia’s growth as a program. Having Hall on the outside gives the defense a shot to play with nearly any offense on the schedule.
3. Kristian Fulton, LSU (Sr.)
Fulton’s a bit of a wild card due to his overall lack of experience; he went through hoops to regain his eligibility after joining LSU in 2016 and has just one full season of SEC play. But Fulton flashed the sort of talent base as a junior that makes him not just one of the top defenders in the country but one of the great rising talents at any position.
4. Andre Cisco, Syracuse (Soph.)
He has a tough act to follow: Cisco earned All-American honors as a freshman and was the Atlantic Coast Conference defensive rookie of the year after
becoming the first freshman in 20 years to lead the nation in interceptions.
5. Jaylon Johnson, Utah (Jr.)
One of the top CB recruits in the class of 2017, Johnson quickly cracked into his potential in an all-conference sophomore season with four interceptions.
6. CJ Henderson, Florida (Jr.)
Henderson followed up a dynamic
freshman season with an equally effective 2018, helping Florida rank in the top 21 nationally in yards allowed per game, yards allowed per attempt and opposing quarterback efficiency rating. He’ll have a heavy load as the Gators’ unquestioned stopper on the outside.
7. Caden Sterns, Texas (Soph.)
Sterns was a major reason Texas made a significant breakthrough in Tom Herman’s second season. As a true freshman, he had 62 tackles and a teamhigh four interceptions. The Longhorns can feel extremely secure with him patrolling the back end of the defense against the high-powered offenses in the Big 12.
8. Paulson Adebo, Stanford (Soph.)
Adebo went from a scout-team redshirt in 2017 to a Pac-12 star a year later, raising expectations as he heads into his second full season as a key cog on the Stanford defense. He combines nice size, strong hands, great timing and a very high ceiling.
9. Jordan Fuller, Ohio State (Sr.)
Fuller is both highly productive – he led the Buckeyes in tackles last season – and nearly irreplaceable given his experience and leadership qualities. He played the best football of his college career during the final three games of 2018 as Ohio State beat Michigan, Northwestern and Washington.
10. Greg Eisworth, Iowa State (Jr.)
The former junior college transfer was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and a first-team all-conference pick after making 87 tackles to go with an interception and a sack. That he made such an immediate impact is a major reason Iowa State made a 20-spot leap nationally in yards allowed per play between 2017 and 2018.
Five just missing the cut
Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame; Jeff Gladney, TCU; Lavert Hill, Michigan; Xavier McKinney, Alabama; J.R. Reed, Georgia.