College Football Recruiting 2013: 10 Schools Loading Up on Defense

Offense is what wins games and puts fans in the seats. Period. We love to see long runs and deep passes go for touchdowns, as we're human and humans like to be entertained.

However, they say, "Defense wins championships." For this read, I'm going to give you 10 schools that are really sticking to that mantra and loading up their 2013 recruiting class with defensive players. 

So let's take a look at some schools that figure they need to upgrade and add to their defensive talent on their rosters via the 2013 class. 

Clemson

The Tigers are building a great class yet again, and defense has not gone overlooked this year. Clemson has eight commitments from defensive players out of their full class of 12.

Led by DE Robert Nkemdiche, the Tigers have been nabbing good defenders under Dabo Swinney for the past several years. Also, watch out for DE Elijah Daniel, DE Dane Rodgers and OLB Dorian 'ODaniel.

Notre Dame

Although Brian Kelly is well known for his offenses, he actually started his coaching career as a defensive coach.

So it's no shock that he already has eight defenders sewn up out of his 17-man class for 2013. It starts with OLB Jaylon Smith, who is among the best overall prospects in the nation.

Defensive end Isaac Rochell is a long and athletic edge defender, while OLB Alex Anzalone is another top-tier standout nationally. They're gonna be doing some big-time defending in South Bend soon enough. 

Ohio State

Urban Meyer hauled in a sick DL class last year that will surely be complemented by this defensive class in 2013. Meyer clearly knows that you win in the Big Ten with good defense.

Ohio State has eight pledges from defensive prospects out of their 14 overall commitments. The secondary will be soon locked up by a pair of top 25 overall prospects. No, not cornerback prospects, but overall.

Eli Woodard and Cam Burrows should be bookend CBs. DT Joey Bosa can play DE or DT, as can Billy Price.

Auburn

This is a defensive year for the Tigers. Plain and simple. When you get commitments from LB Reuben Foster, DT Dee Liner and DE Carl Lawson, you are clearly building a big-time defensive unit.

DE Tashawn Bower has a chance to become a standout in the SEC, while Auburn also features commitments from LB Trey Johnson and LB Cam Toney.

Gene Chzik is a defensive coach by trade, and that's clearly what he will hang his hat on while ruling on The Plains. 

Michigan

The Wolverines boast the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation and a main reason for that is their defensive commitments.

Linebacker Mike McCray is showing that he won't be scared from the LB class signed last year. DE Taco Charlton oozes big time potential and CB Gareon Conley is one of the best DB's in the country.

Defensive tackle Henry Poggi, OLB Ben Gedeon and CB Jourdan Lewis are no slouches either.

Look for Greg Mattison to use DB Dymonte Thomas all over the field in various roles, similar to how the Pittsburgh Steelers deploy Troy Polamalu around the field. 

Florida State

FSU is also a school that is really structuring their class by stacking up on defense. Nine of their 17 commitments are from defenders.

The two players that really fire me up are DT Maquedius Bain and LB E.J. Levenberry. Bain is a 6'5", 285-pound converted basketball player while Levenberry is a strong and stout physical run stuffer.

Continuing the tradition of great secondaries in Tallahassee, the Seminoles have four commitments from DBs in this class.

LSU

The SEC is a defensive league and LSU is always in contention for the SEC title. Why? They know talent when they see it.

This year, 10 out of the 19 commitments to LSU are from defensive players. From DBs Jeryl Brazil, Jeremy Cutrer and John Diarse, to LB Melvin Jones to DE Frank Herron, LSU's defense will continue to boast elite talent for years to come.

Florida

With Will Muschamp being one of the best defensive coordinators in the business, you have to just know that Florida will always look to stock up on defense.

Muschamp has 18 commitments for 2013 and 10 are from defensive players. Defensive tackle Caleb Brantley leads a group that also features LB Daniel McMillan and DB Nick Washington.

Keanu Neel and Quinton Powell are also standout DBs in this class.

Texas A&M

The Aggies hired Kevin Sumlin, and he will bring electric offense to College Station. However, the scheme that Sumlin wants to run on defense requires versatile, smart, athletic and tough defenders.

It appears, based on Sumlin's class, he's found 14 of those types of players out of his overall class of 24. Defensive tackle Isaiah Golden leads the group along with LBs Reggie Chevis and Darian Claiborne. 

Georgia

Georgia has 19 commitments, and 15 of them are from defensive players. And that doesn't count ATH Tramel Terry, who could wind up at CB if not WR. 

Mark Richt and Todd Grantham are spending this cycle stocking up their defense, and based on the looks of it, it's going to be tough to score points in Athens.

A recent pledge from LB Tim Kimbrough out of Indiana goes along with pledges from DB Shaq Wiggins, DB Tray Matthews, DE Naim Mustafaa, LB Johnny O'Neal and Reggie Wilkerson who could play CB.

Edwin Weathersby has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena League. He spent a year evaluating prep prospects & writing specific recruiting and scouting content articles for Student Sports Football (now ESPN Rise-HS). A syndicated scout and writer, he's also contributed to WeAreSC.com, GatorBait.net and Diamonds in the Rough Inc., a College Football and NFL Draft magazine.