Every Top 25 College Football Team's Defensive Catalyst for 2016
The high scores and bloated statistics might say otherwise, but college football is just as dependent on big defensive plays as any other sport.
The ability to make a stop in a key situation is usually what separates the great teams from the rest of the pack and what keeps the good ones from making it to the next level.
Most teams don't have the luxury of across-the-board dominance on defense, but they all have at least one player who tends to set things in motion. We're calling them the defensive catalyst, an individual who might not be the best overall player but tends to be most involved in the big plays on that side of the ball.
Using Bleacher Report's post-spring practice Top 25 as a guide, we've identified that one player on each of college football's top teams for 2016.
No. 25 Miami (Florida)
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LB Jermaine Grace
Grace has the rare opportunity to have consecutive seasons that would be classified as “breakout” years, assuming he's able to improve on his performance in 2015 as a junior.
That effort was mostly overshadowed by the midseason firing of coach Al Golden, but with new attention on the Miami program—bringing in Mark Richt as coach will do that—that means a whole new set of eyes can discover Grace this fall.
Last year, the 6'1”, 205-pound Grace led the Hurricanes with 79 tackles to go with two sacks, six tackles for loss and five pass breakups while starting 10 of 13 games. He also recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown against Georgia Tech.
No. 24 Wisconsin
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LB Vince Biegel
Biegel has been starting games for Wisconsin since his redshirt freshman year in 2013, starting on a full-time basis for two years. His third one in the middle of the Badgers defense figures to be his best, though it might be hard to top what he did last fall.
In 2015, the 6'4”, 242-pound Biegel had eight sacks and 14 tackles for loss among his 66 tackles, but he ended up only as a Big Ten third-team selection.
According to ESPN.com's Jesse Temple, that slight was part of the reason he didn't turn pro and opted to come back for his senior year.
"That has been on my mind every single day I come out here to work," Biegel said, per Temple. "That's been on my mind every single workout, pushing me that much harder to get that much better."
With teammate (and conference Linebacker of the Year) Joe Schobert having graduated, Biegel becomes even more important to Wisconsin's defense.
No. 23 Washington State
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DE Hercules Mata'afa
With a name like that, it doesn't take much to get noticed. Yet Mata'afa also produced on the stat sheet during his redshirt freshman season with 11 tackles for loss and a team-leading seven sacks.
Not bad for a backup, one who will move into a starting role in 2016 and should continue to be the Cougars' defensive spark.
"A year refining his technique and getting stronger should promote Mata'afa from honorable mention all-conference to first team this fall," ESPN.com's Ted Miller wrote of the 6'2”, 245-pound Mata'afa.
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No. 22 Oregon
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DL Henry Mondeaux
All we know about Oregon's defense to this point is that it will have a different look—compliments of new coordinator Brady Hoke switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3—and that it can't possibly be worse than the 2015 version.
Last year, the Ducks were 117th in total defense, and the majority of their top contributors in the front seven have moved on.
Among those who remain is Mondeaux, who was part of the defensive line rotation and had four sacks with 6.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore. That sack total is tops among returners, giving the 6'5”, 280-pounder (who can play tackle or end) a leg up in the competition.
Mondeaux was one of the few defensive bright spots for Oregon in its embarrassing triple-overtime Alamo Bowl loss, finishing with two tackles for loss.
No. 21 TCU
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LB Travin Howard
A safety when preparations began for the 2015 season, Howard was converted to linebacker during the preseason when injuries began to mount for TCU. The move was made partly out of desperation but proved to be huge for both the Horned Frogs and Howard, who quickly thrived in his new role.
The 6'1”, 210-pound Howard started 11 games last season and finished with a team-high 105 tackles, including 13 in TCU's comeback win over Oregon in the Alamo Bowl. That followed a 19-tackle performance in the rain-soaked revenge win over Baylor, with 12 of those being solo takedowns.
Howard also had eight tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, an interception and two pass breakups.
No. 20 Iowa
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CB Desmond King
King was the nation's top defensive back in 2015, as voted by those involved with the Jim Thorpe Award. As a junior, he had eight interceptions (tied for second-most in FBS), giving him 11 for his career.
That would have been plenty to warrant a jump to the NFL, but the 5'11”, 200-pound King opted to come back and finish what he started with the Hawkeyes.
And with that return, he ensures they'll have their defensive catalyst for another season.
No. 19 North Carolina
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S Donnie Miles
North Carolina had one of the worst defenses among power-conference teams in 2014, ranking 120th overall that season. The Tar Heels still ranked 96th last year, though their per-play average dipped from 6.53 to 5.50 yards.
While there are many ways to account for this improvement—bringing in Gene Chizik as defensive coordinator stands out the most—the play of Miles in his first season as a full-time starter was as integral as anything else.
As a redshirt sophomore, he finished with 128 tackles, including a whopping 22 in the Russell Athletic Bowl loss to Baylor when UNC was ravaged for 645 rushing yards.
That number could have been a lot higher if the 5'11”, 210-pound Miles wasn't so adept at chasing down ball-carriers. He had five games with at least 10 tackles in 2015.
No. 18 Washington
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DB Budda Baker
Most of the attention this offseason has been focused on the promising young offensive duo of quarterback Jake Browning and Myles Gaskin, and understandably so.
But if not for Baker and the Huskies' underrated defense carrying the team for most of 2015, those freshman skill players might not have been able to develop as well.
Baker was an integral part of Washington's Pac-12-leading defense last year, which allowed 18.8 points and 351.8 yards per game. The 5'10”, 184-pound Baker started 12 games at safety as a sophomore and finished with two interceptions, seven pass breakups and 49 tackles.
No. 17 USC
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LB Cameron Smith
There are no plans to have Smith handle a hybrid defensive role like Su'a Cravens did in 2014-15, but if USC needed someone to take on multiple positions, there probably wouldn't be a better choice.
He showed his versatility in 2015 as a true freshman, the first to start a season opener at inside linebacker for the Trojans since 1978, in terms of his ability to impact the game all over the field.
In only 10 games—Smith tore knee ligaments in November and missed the remainder of the season as well as spring practice this year—he was second on the team with 78 tackles while tying cornerback Iman Marshall for the team lead with three interceptions.
All three of those picks came in a key home win over then-unbeaten Utah, returning one for a touchdown.
Assuming he's able to return to full strength this fall, the 6'2”, 245-pound Smith seems like the perfect person to play in the middle of new USC defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast's 5-2 front.
No. 16 Michigan State
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DT Malik McDowell
McDowell's Michigan State career began with signing-day drama, but since getting into uniform, it's been nothing but promising play and continued improvement.
The Spartans hope for more of that in 2016, when he ascends into a leadership role on a defensive line devoid of much experience beyond him.
The 6'6”, 280-pound McDowell has six sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in two seasons, getting 13 TFL last year, teaming with end Shilique Calhoun to form one of the Big Ten's best defensive line duos.
It's going to be mostly on him this season, though, and McDowell could end up playing multiple positions up front to maximize his involvement.
No. 15 Georgia
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LB Lorenzo Carter
Georgia got a relatively uninspiring performance from its linebacker corps in 2015, with UAB transfer Jake Ganus having the best production and often outplaying NFL draft picks Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins.
Even less impressive was the play of Carter, who had just 19 tackles and zero sacks in 2015 after a promising freshman year.
But now Carter will get the benefit of working with a standout defensive mind in new coach Kirby Smart. According to Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee, Smart "has had success grooming linebackers for the better part of a decade at Alabama." He is just the man to get the best out of the former 5-star prospect.
Carter, who plays at 6'6” and 242 pounds, is primed to have a breakout season if he can put it all together.
No. 14 Stanford
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DE Solomon Thomas
Some first impressions stick with you, and ever since Thomas announced his commitment to Stanford with nerd glasses and a miniature potted tree, he seemed destined for big things on The Farm.
Thomas had to wait a year for this to happen, though, as the 6'3”, 275-pounder was redshirted in 2014 because the Cardinal had plenty of depth on the defensive line. The same wasn't the case last year, when Thomas was second on the team with 10.5 tackles for loss to go with 3.5 sacks.
"I'm looking forward to him having a breakout year," Stanford coach David Shaw told ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg. "Not just Pac-12-wise but potentially nationally. His game has just grown so much since end of the season. I'm excited about where he's headed."
No. 13 Louisville
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LB Devonte Fields
When able to play, Fields has been nothing short of dominant and always seems to be making an impact. Unfortunately, he's only had two full seasons at the FBS level since his freshman year in 2012, but both were outstanding.
The 6'4”, 245-pound senior began his career at TCU, where was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and went into 2013 as the conference's preseason Defensive Player of the Year choice. However, he got hurt and was shut down after three games.
An off-the-field incident led to his dismissal from TCU, but after a year at the junior college level, he joined Louisville last season and returned to his old self.
Fields had 11 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss, the latter figure ranking second all-time in Louisville history, making the seamless transition from defensive end to linebacker.
No. 12 Houston
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LB Steven Taylor
Part of the formula Houston used to win 13 games and knock off three power-conference opponents in 2015 was a risk-taking defense that led FBS with 35 forced turnovers. Ten different players intercepted a pass and seven forced at least one fumble, with Taylor being one of the few who got involved in both areas.
As a junior, the 6'1”, 225-pound Taylor had two picks—including one he returned 25 yards in the Cougars' shutout win over Vanderbilt—and forced two fumbles while also recording 10 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss among his 92 tackles.
Taylor is one of only five Houston starters back on defense, so expect his involvement to increase even more this fall.
No. 11 Notre Dame
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LB Nyles Morgan
Notre Dame was in desperate search of playmakers this spring on the defensive side, with injuries wreaking havoc on the depth chart and keeping most position battles from being waged.
But amid the chaos, Morgan's play was strong enough to indicate he's in line for big things during his junior year.
The 6'1”, 245-pound Morgan only had 17 tackles in 2015, down from 47 during his freshman season, when he started four games for the injured Joe Schmidt. He was Schmidt's backup last year, though that experience should bode well as the Fighting Irish look to replace six defensive starters.
"Nyles Morgan is going to have a heck of a year," Notre Dame linebackers coach Mike Elston said, per Mike Vorel of the South Bend Tribune.
No. 10 Ohio State
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LB Raekwon McMillan
Only the most knowledgeable Ohio State fans are going to able to watch the defense early on this season without consulting a program. But even the most casual viewer won't have trouble identifying the man in the middle who seems to be involved in every play, since McMillan was doing that last year amid the Buckeyes' stacked lineup of future NFL players.
As a sophomore the 6'2”, 240-pound McMillan was OSU's leading tackler with 119, more than double what he had in 2014 (54) as a reserve. He did most of his damage away from the line, with only 1.5 sacks and four tackles for loss, but with Joey Bosa and others off to the pros, expect him to find himself in opposing backfields far more often in 2016.
No. 9 Ole Miss
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DE Marquis Haynes
In evaluating first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche, scouts and analysts had to look past the lack of statistics to find the Ole Miss defensive tackle's true impact on the game. Part of the reason he didn't pop up much in the box score is because Haynes was compiling most of those numbers off the edge.
The 6'3”, 220-pound Haynes was a monster during his sophomore year, notching 10 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss after he had a school freshman record 7.5 sacks in 2014.
As a result, Haynes is the Ole Miss defender who is popping up on early 2017 mock drafts. ESPN's Todd McShay has him going 29th overall.
No. 8 Baylor
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DB Travon Blanchard
Baylor's defense didn't tend to get much attention outside of the freakish size of defensive end Shawn Oakman and the interior dominance displayed by tackle Andrew Billings. With them no longer around, the Bears will have to find other players in 2016 to make plays and occasionally slow down opponents.
Considering how much teams had to pass against Baylor, allowing only a 57.7 percent completion rate and intercepting 14 passes is impressive. Blanchard was right in the middle of that work, picking off two passes and breaking up another six passes as a sophomore.
The 6'2”, 210-pound nickel corner also had four forced fumbles, two sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and an impressive 66 solo tackles among his 84 takedowns.
No. 7 Tennessee
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LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
A two-year starter for Tennessee, Jalen Reeves-Maybin is part of Butch Jones' first recruiting class and a player who epitomizes the program's rise over the last four years. Now he's among the Volunteers' captains, just another label to go along with those of team leader and defensive catalyst.
"Just to see us take that climb from the bottom of the SEC to where we are now and have the expectations placed on us now, it's been a fun process," Reeves-Maybin said after Tennessee's spring game, which he missed while nursing a shoulder injury. "I want to take us as high as we can go."
Last year the 6'0”, 225-pound Reeves-Maybin had 105 tackles, tallying triple digits for a second straight year, while recording six sacks, 14 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
No. 6 Oklahoma
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LB Jordan Evans
Oklahoma may be shifting from a 4-2-5 alignment to one with three linebackers on the second level, which will make Evans' role in the defense even more pronounced than it was heading into 2016. And with Dominique Alexander turning pro after his junior year, that means Evans is the catalyst in the middle for the Sooners.
As a junior, the 6'2”, 233-pound Evans was second to Alexander with 83 tackles despite playing in only 11 of 13 games (with 10 starts). He had at least nine tackles in five different appearances, including twice after he returned from a midseason knee injury. He also banged up his shoulder in the Orange Bowl, which limited his play this spring, but Evans is confident he'll be ready to go when the 2016 season begins.
"I have to take care of my body and get back to where I need to be," he told Jason Kersey of the Oklahoman. "I definitely would want to get in there and get things going."
No. 5 LSU
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LB Kendell Beckwith
LSU is poised to have one of its most veteran defenses ever thanks to the return of Beckwith, one of a handful of draft-eligible players who bucked the recent trend and decided to come back to Baton Rouge for his senior year. Head coach Les Miles referred to Beckwith's decision as a "windfall" because of the experience Beckwith brings, as well as the impact he can make on every play, per James Moran of Tiger Rag.
Last year the 6'2”, 252-pound Beckwith was second on the team with 84 tackles, trailing only graduated linebacker Deion Jones' 100. His 10 tackles for loss were also second-best, and he recorded four of them in LSU's Texas Bowl win over Texas Tech.
No. 4 Michigan
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LB Jabrill Peppers
The way Michigan has moved Jabrill Peppers around during his career, it's surprising the team hasn't asked him to put on 50 pounds so he could play on the interior of the defensive line. It's basically the only area he hasn't been, as he started at cornerback in 2014 and then went to safety last spring before shifting to linebacker this spring.
But when you're as talented, athletic and versatile as Peppers, you go where you're needed.
The 6'1”, 208-pound junior—who also plays on offense and special teams, but let's stick to the defensive stuff for now—started 12 of 13 games in the secondary in 2015 and recorded 45 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 10 pass breakups. By moving him up a level, the Wolverines are hoping he can become more involved in stopping the pass before it even happens.
"I can think of five different positions he could be really good at in football," Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh told Bleacher Report's Ben Axelrod. "Can somebody be the Willie Mays of football? Can somebody be the five-tool player, the five-position player? Maybe. Maybe that'll end up being Jabrill Peppers."
No. 3 Florida State
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S Derwin James
Florida State has said goodbye to one of its best defensive backs in program history in Jalen Ramsey, the first-round pick who played all over the secondary during his Seminoles career. But if you read what those who cover FSU are observing, it will seem like Ramsey never left when watching James at work.
"James already has commanded the respect of his teammates, both younger and older," Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post wrote.
The 6'3”, 213-pound James is coming off a Freshman All-American season in which he had 91 tackles, third-most by a first-year player in FSU history and 33 more than any other freshman in Jimbo Fisher's coaching tenure. That tally included 4.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss.
James didn't intercept any passes, but he broke up four while also forcing a pair of fumbles and recovering one.
No. 2 Clemson
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LB Ben Boulware
With only four starters back from the unit that ranked 10th nationally in yards allowed per game, Clemson is basically starting over on defense. Boulware is one of two returners from the front seven, along with tackle Carlos Watkins, and he's the only returner who had at least 60 tackles in 2015.
Boulware was third on the team with 82 tackles a year ago, operating from the middle of Clemson's linebacker unit where he could move up or back depending on the situation. The Tigers defensive line and edge-rushers handled most of the work at the line, though Boulware did manage 3.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss.
It was his work in the open field that stood out, though. The 6'0", 240-pound Boulware intercepted two passes, forced three fumbles and broke up seven throws, serving as an extra defensive back over the middle.
No. 1 Alabama
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LB Tim Williams
Alabama's defense was so dominant and deep last year that its top two sack men weren't even part of the starting lineup. Williams and Jonathan Allen combined for 22.5 sacks as juniors, despite not being on the top line of the depth chart.
Both are back for their senior years and will play a significant role in the Crimson Tide's push for a second straight national title. Allen is the better all-around player, but Williams is the one whose efforts can do the most damage.
As a pass-rushing specialist in 2015, Williams was off the field more often than on but still managed to make his presence felt nearly every time. Of his 19 tackles, 10.5 counted as sacks and 12.5 as tackles for loss, and he was also credited with four quarterback hurries and one pass breakup.
The 6'4", 237-pound Williams is expected to take on a much larger role this fall, playing every down as a starter, though his primary responsibility will still be to disrupt the pocket.
"Williams is the guy most likely to dominate a game," 247Sports' Travis Reier wrote. "With his next-level first step, he's simply too much for most offensive tackles to handle in passing situations."
All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports, unless otherwise noted. All statistics provided by CFBStats, unless otherwise noted.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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