College Football Recruiting 2013: 10 Defensive Recruits That'll Be Cornerstones

With us taking a look at offense earlier, now we naturally make the transition over to defense. Today is a day where we're just making a couple predictions on who from the 2013 class will become stars and such.

For defense, it's a bit harder to become a bona fide "household name," so I'm not going to aim this piece in that fashion. Yet, you can become a cornerstone player on a defense where the onus is built around you and your strengths in combating an offense.

Here are 10 defensive recruits that will be cornerstone defensive players in college. 

10. Daniel McMillan, LB

McMillan is a 6'2", 220-pounder with excellent versatility. His athleticism will allow him to play various spots on the second level, and it could have on the field for all three downs.

With good instincts, ball vision, speed, range and some thump to his hits, McMillan has the makings of a linebacker that becomes your defensive leader at Florida. 

9. Cameron Burrows, DB

A big DB from Ohio, Burrows goes almost 6'2" and is in the 200-pound range. He has great speed and good cover skills.

Burrows shows good hips, mirror quickness, agility and has WR ball skills to make plays on the ball in flight. I think Burrows' size and skill set will allow him to be a top flight CB at Ohio State and a cornerstone player on the Buckeye back end in the future. 

8. Matthew Thomas, OLB

Personally I like Miami's and Alabama's chances for Thomas, as the Florida 'backer is a good one.

At 6'4" and 210 pounds, don't let his light-for-a-linebacker frame fool you. Thomas can get after the passer as a stand-up guy off the edge with the best of 'em.

I think, if he goes to 'Bama, he can play the Jack position, a la Courtney Upshaw. If he goes to Miami, look for him to play some Sam and Will, along with sub-package DE in Coral Gables. 

7. Su'a Cravens, DB/OLB

Cravens is too athletic and instinctive to be kept off the field for long. He's 6'1", 205 pounds and can be used for an array of things.

Whether you see him as a roaming free safety, a box-hitting strong safety or growing into an outside linebacker, Cravens can do it.

His speed, agility, ball skills and sheer playmaking ability as a defensive player is great and will allow him to be a standout cornerstone defender in college. 

6. Montravius Adams, DT

Adams could be the best DT in the country, as the 6'3", 285-pounder hails from Georgia and is explosive off the ball.

He has the skill set of a great one-gap penetrator, but his solid strength can allow him to two-gap if needed. Adams flies off the ball, and when he plays with a flat back, he's nearly unblockable.

Raw in his technique, once Adams gets seasoned up in college, this guy could see himself become a cornerstone defensive tackle. 

5. Antonio Conner, DB

Conner goes 6'2" and about 200 pounds. He's from Mississippi, and I predict he eventually lands at Ole Miss.

There, he will become one of the best safeties in the SEC and the country. His speed, range, ball vision, ability to shift through traffic in the box and open tackling is top notch.

He'll get seasoned up on route recognition and coverage awareness, and then develop into a cornerstone for the Rebels.

4. Kenny Bigelow, DL

Bigelow is a 6'3", 280-pound havoc wraeker in the defensive trenches. He's super athletic for a player on his size, explosive at the snap and is not afraid to mix it up at the point of attack.

Bigelow, a USC pledge, can play the three-technique or strong side end. I feel he's best suited as a quick three-technique guy and has the skill set to become the best player on the Trojans' defense is a few years.

3. Vernon Hargreaves III, CB

Hargreaves is the premier CB prospect in the country for 2013. The Florida native has excellent technique, instincts and natural cover skills.

He's rarely in delay coming out of transition, has great quickness to close, and has great short area burst in his plant and drive.

Hargreaves, wherever he goes, will become a top-flight corner, a team pillar and a cornerstone defender.

1-B. Reuben Foster, LB

Perhaps the best LB prospect in the history of modern recruiting, Foster is a 6'2", 245-pound 'backer headed to Alabama.

He has everything you want in a linebacker and the tools to be a great leader. Foster is someone you build around, recruit around and for, and assign the task of rallying a defense together as a unit.

He has more than enough traits to be cornerstone defensive player in Tuscaloosa. 

1-A. Robert Nkemdiche, DL

A 6'5", 270-pound beast of a player, Nkemdiche can do it all. He's a warrior in the trenches and can rush the passer and stop the run with ease.

Power is his game, but he also has little man quickness, has a 4.5 speed, easy movement and agility. DE, DT, 3-4 OLB, wherever Nkemdiche plays in college, the defense will be be built around him.

Book it.