College Football's Top Defensive Backfields for 2016 Season
With college football becoming a pass-heavier game season after season, the importance of having a fantastic secondary cannot be overstated. It's the No. 1 weapon in slowing down a modern offense.
Some teams have the reputation of recruiting elite defensive backs every year and developing them into fantastic defenders for the next level. These "Defensive Back Universities" are guaranteed to be among the best in controlling the skies, no matter what the depth chart looks like in the preseason.
Other programs are experiencing major turnarounds in pass defenses and are bringing back Thorpe Award contenders for the 2016 college football season. Those playmakers will be cornerstones for secondaries that should receive more and more attention this fall.
Here's a look at the top 10 defensive backfields for the 2016 season. These selections are based on a number of factors, which combine last year's success with returning talent for this year:
- Success in 2015. This comes down to the performance in categories such as yards allowed per pass attempt, yards allowed per game, opposing completion percentage and opposing QB rating/pass efficiency.
- Returning starters for 2016. This is the number of projected starters coming back for the 2016 season. Teams that return a fifth "starting" defensive back, such as a nickelback, are marked accordingly.
- Key players for 2016. This is a look at the five best defensive backs on the roster for the upcoming campaign. The more star power a team has, the better off it will be on this countdown.
Tell us who you think has the best defensive backfield in the country and which ones will break out for 2016 in the comments below.
Honorable Mentions
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North Carolina: The North Carolina pass defense had one of the most incredible improvements in recent memory last season, going from one of the worst nationally in 2014 to one that finished 15th in yards per attempt and 12th in efficiency. M.J. Stewart and Des Lawrence will lock down the corners as the Tar Heels look for even more improvement in 2016.
Northwestern: The Wildcats defense was elite in the secondary last fall, with top-five finishes in both yards per attempt and efficiency. However, it lost a pair of top-notch starters in Nick VanHoose and Traveon Henry, and Northwestern will face an uphill climb to keep that level of production up in 2016.
Penn State: Aided by an attack-first defensive front, Penn State feasted in pass defense last season with great numbers across the board. This fall, the Nittany Lions will need some new starters to step up under a new coordinator, but the foundation has been laid in Happy Valley.
Tennessee: Let's go from defensive coordinator Bob Shoop's old team to his new one in Knoxville. While not the most consistent one in the country, the Tennessee secondary held opposing quarterbacks to a completion percentage of 50.7. Shoop inherits that unit, which returns three starters, including the excellent Cameron Sutton at cornerback.
Wisconsin: Can new coordinator Justin Wilcox keep up the elite level of pass defense that Wisconsin enjoyed under Dave Aranda? He'll have to do it without the sensational safety tandem of Michael Caputo and Tanner McEvoy, but the Badgers are deep at cornerback for his first campaign in Madison.
10. Washington
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2015 stats: 6.7 YPA (45th), 226.5 YPG (68th), 58.0 completion percentage (63rd), 115.91 QB rating (30th)
Returning starters: 3
Key players: S Budda Baker, CB Sidney Jones, CB Kevin King, S JoJo McIntosh, S Darren Gardenhire
While Washington didn't have the best pass-defense metrics last season, it was a huge part in making the Huskies the No. 1 defense in the Pac-12. Now, the secondary will be the spotlight unit in 2016 with the return of some fantastic firepower in Budda Baker and Sidney Jones.
"After enduring a trial-by-fire 2014 season, the young DBs led by sophomores Budda Baker (FS) and Sidney Jones (CB) grew up in a hurry and became a top-tier Pac-12 unit in 2015," Jeffrey Gorman of UW Dawg Pound wrote. "They ranked 30th nationally and second in the conference in pass-efficiency defense, while also intercepting 15 passes. Perhaps their most impressive feat was allowing only 11 TD passes all year."
As Gorman noted, Baker and Jones have All-American potential this fall for a Washington team that many believe could be a dark-horse championship contender in the Pac-12. The two make plays all over the field for the Huskies, and they will be alongside a strong safety-turned-corner in Kevin King and the hard-hitting JoJo McIntosh.
Other programs have established reputations for fantastic secondaries, and they will enter 2016 after having better-looking seasons than the 7-6 Huskies. But Baker and Jones are legitimate stars, so don't sleep on Washington this fall.
9. UCLA
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2015 stats: 5.8 YPA (8th), 203.2 YPG (36th), 57.1 completion percentage (49th), 118.42 QB rating (26th)
Returning starters: 4
Key players: S Jaleel Wadood, S Randall Goforth, CB Fabian Moreau, CB Marcus Rios, S Adarius Pickett
As UCLA makes a transition to a new defensive look up front in 2016, the Bruins backfield should be secure. UCLA did a great job in limiting opponents in yards per attempt last season, and four starters from that secondary will be back for the Bruins.
Jaleel Wadood and Randall Goforth are a strong pairing who will challenge for All-Pac-12 honors in 2016. Fabian Moreau showed great promise early in 2015 before suffering a season-ending injury. If he's able to return to his old form—he missed all of spring practice—Moreau will be a true weapon in shutting down opposing star receivers. Marcus Rios is an experienced and physical presence at corner, while Adarius Pickett seemed to take over the nickel position held by new wide receiver Ishmael Adams.
The Bruins have a solid amount of depth behind these projected starters, as spring injuries allowed for more snaps for key reserves. According to Matthew Joye of the Daily Bruin, former walk-on Charles Dawson was a standout in UCLA's Spring Showcase, and senior Tahaan Goodman flashed more consistency at safety than in years past.
The UCLA secondary will have more pressure on it in pass coverage for 2016 as the defense moves from a 3-4 to a 4-3 scheme. Judging by the returning experience and their great success last fall, the Bruins should be able to handle it and then some.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
8. Iowa
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2015 stats: 6.2 YPA (19th), 219.6 YPG (65th), 53.8 completion percentage (18th), 109.79 QB rating (13th)
Returning starters: 3
Key players: CB Desmond King, CB Greg Maybin, S Miles Taylor, S Brandon Snyder, CB Maurice Fleming
Iowa's numbers as an entire secondary unit weren't fantastic last season, but the Hawkeyes had the Thorpe Award winner at cornerback. By returning him and two other starters, Iowa deserves a spot on this countdown.
Desmond King was a machine last year for the Hawkeyes as they raced out to a 12-0 start and a Rose Bowl berth. He had eight interceptions and 13 pass breakups, giving him the fifth-most passes defensed in the entire country for 2015. It's unlikely that he'll put up those kinds of numbers again this fall—quarterbacks will try to avoid him like the plague—but he'll still be an All-American cornerstone for Iowa.
Around King, Iowa has returning starters Greg Maybin and Miles Taylor, who will provide even more confidence in the back for the Hawkeyes defense. Brandon Snyder is projected to replace Jordan Lomax at safety, and senior Anthony Gair has plenty of experience and an ability to play both cornerback and safety.
Iowa's strength in the secondary goes beyond King, as there's a great chance its numbers will go up in 2016. This secondary will be one of the best all-around position units in the Big Ten and could be the key to another huge season in Iowa City.
7. Florida
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2015 stats: 6.0 YPA (12th), 182.1 YPG (13th), 54.4 completion percentage (27th), 111.36 QB rating (17th)
Returning starters: 2
Key players: CB Jalen Tabor, S Marcus Maye, CB Quincy Wilson, NB Duke Dawson, S Nick Washington
The first of back-to-back SEC schools on this countdown that claim they're the real "DBU," Florida has some rebuilding to do in its secondary for 2016. However, the players who are coming back should anchor another special unit that you've come to expect in Gainesville.
Vernon Hargreaves III got all the attention as Florida's top cornerback, but Jalen Tabor had the better season in 2016 for the Gators. Now, he's the No. 1 cover man in the Swamp, where he'll be paired with Quincy Wilson in the starting lineup. At safety, Marcus Maye is among the nation's best, as he decided to come back to school to lead Florida's new-look secondary.
Duke Dawson is projected to take over the nickelback spot formerly held by Brian Poole. Nick Washington will try to bring the hard-hitting energy of a Keanu Neal at safety after making several big plays for the Gators as a reserve last fall.
Even though the names are different, one should reasonably expect Florida to have an elite secondary in 2016. It's one of the things the program has done best over the last several seasons, and the leadership of Tabor and Maye should keep that going this fall.
6. LSU
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2015 stats: 6.4 YPA (26th), 224.3 YPG (65th), 56.3 completion percentage (42nd), 122.83 QB rating (51st)
Returning starters: 5 (including nickel)
Key players: CB Tre'Davious White, S Jamal Adams, CB Kevin Toliver, S Rickey Jefferson, NB Dwayne Thomas
LSU was far from its normal DBU standards in 2015. A young unit finished outside the top 25 in most major pass-defense categories, as the Tigers finished with a 9-3 record. But this defensive backfield has almost everybody back for 2016, and it has the potential to be the top secondary in the country by season's end.
That young talent from last season now has experience, and the depth is tremendous in Baton Rouge, especially at corner. As Billy Gomila of And The Valley Shook noted this spring, LSU returns all four traditional starters in its secondary plus its nickelbacks and dimebacks. Cornerback Tre'Davious White still has room to improve after a campaign in which he finished second team All-SEC, and star sophomore Kevin Toliver will line up opposite him after a stunning debut season.
Jamal Adams and Rickey Jefferson should be attack-minded buzzsaws in new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda's unique, attack-minded defensive scheme. Nickelback Dwayne Thomas had a busy day in LSU's spring game attacking the quarterback and breaking up pass plays.
All this experience should pay off in a huge way for LSU as the secondary transitions to life under an elite defensive coordinator in Aranda. The defensive back glory days should be here again for the Bayou Bengals.
5. Oklahoma
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2015 stats: 6.0 YPA (12th), 202.8 YPA (33rd), 52.6 completion percentage (14th), 108.50 QB rating (9th)
Returning starters: 3
Key players: CB Jordan Thomas, S Steven Parker, S Ahmad Thomas, CB Dakota Austin, CB Will Johnson
While Oklahoma has a few question marks for its 2016 defense, it can feel secure in the talent of a secondary that played a huge role in getting the Sooners to a Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff berth. Three starters return from OU's defensive backfield, which posted outstanding numbers in a pass-happy league.
Steven Parker was an all-around playmaker at safety last season for the Sooners, and he'll partner with the talented Ahmad Thomas for another campaign. With all due respect to the talents of Zack Sanchez, who left school early for the NFL draft, Jordan Thomas looked like the best cornerback on the roster last fall. OU's rotation at cornerback will help offset the loss of Sanchez and keep this unit firing on all cylinders.
"OU's depth at the position comes at a convenient time as OU might not get the same luck with playing as many backup quarterbacks as they did in 2015," Joe Buettner of the Dallas Morning News wrote. "The experience the secondary was handed, however, should provide them with the tools to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Baylor, Houston, TCU, Oklahoma State and Ohio State."
The Oklahoma secondary will be one of the busiest in college football again this fall, and it has all the pieces to be one of the best yet again. Leadership, athleticism and playmaking ability are all over this unit.
4. Florida State
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2015 stats: 5.6 YPA (4th), 191.6 YPG (21st), 56.4 completion percentage (46th), 110.94 QB rating (7th)
Returning starters: 2
Key players: S Derwin James, CB Marquez White, CB Tarvarus McFadden, S Trey Marshall
Florida State lost All-American defensive back Jalen Ramsey and a few more veterans from its secondary in the offseason, but the Seminoles are more than prepared for the transition. FSU faced a huge number of pass attempts last season and still posted top-10 finishes in yards per attempt and opposing quarterback efficiency.
One of the breakout stars of the 2015 college football season, Derwin James, will play an even bigger role in the Florida State defense this fall. James is an all-around stud who can rush the passer as well as he can break up pass plays. He'll return to the starting lineup with senior cornerback Marquez White, whom quarterbacks tried hard to avoid down the stretch of last season.
The rest of the starting lineup will most likely be filled by highly touted cornerback Tarvarus McFadden and veteran safety Nate Andrews. McFadden brings tremendous size at 6'2" and impressive polish to the cornerback spot opposite White. Andrews and Trey Marshall are both returning from tough injuries in 2015, and they'll bring more starting experience to this exciting unit.
The next wave of defensive back talent in Tallahassee is quite impressive, with underclassmen Calvin Brewton, Marcus Lewis and A.J. Westbrook pushing for playing time. Incoming freshman Levonta Taylor, who was the No. 1 cornerback in the class of 2016, could play a big role as early as this fall thanks to his versatility and explosiveness. FSU's streak of excellent secondaries is in no danger of slowing down.
3. Georgia
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2015 stats: 5.9 YPA (10th), 156.5 YPG (1st), 51.7 completion percentage (10th), 104.98 (7th)
Returning starters: 4
Key players: S Dominick Sanders, CB Malkom Parrish, CB Aaron Davis, S Quincy Mauger, CB Rico McGraw
The stat most commonly used in determining the top pass defense in the country, yards allowed per game, had Georgia on top for 2015. That number is a little deceiving, as the Bulldogs faced two option-running teams in Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech toward the end of the season that helped those numbers. (Georgia faced the 19th-fewest pass attempts but still finished in the top 10 in the better yards per attempt stat.)
Still, this Georgia secondary was one of the best in college football last season, and it has every starter coming back for the 2016 campaign. Dominick Sanders, who had six interceptions last season for the Bulldogs, and Quincy Mauger form a fantastic safety duo. According to Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald, Rico McGraw and Juwuan Briscoe are pushing Aaron Davis for more playing time opposite Malkom Parrish at cornerback.
"We're going to challenge those guys in the secondary to compete out there," Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said, per Weiszer. "The guys that have been around and played a lot of snaps, they have no guarantee of keeping those snaps because there are some talented guys behind them, and we're going to let them play."
Georgia recruited well across its defense under former head coach Mark Richt, and now Smart and defensive coordinator Mel Tucker—both former defensive back coaches for elite Alabama defenses—have the opportunity to take this experienced unit even further.
2. Alabama
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2015 stats: 6.1 YPA (15th), 200.6 YPG (33rd), 50.5 completion percentage (8th), 105.22 QB rating (8th)
Returning starters: 3 (including "Star" defensive back)
Key players: S Eddie Jackson, CB Marlon Humphrey, CB Minkah Fitzpatrick, S Ronnie Harrison, S Maurice Smith
The Alabama secondary went from a punch line to the one doing the punching last season, and now the most established defensive talent in Tuscaloosa for what the Tide hope will be a national title defense resides in the backfield.
The star of the secondary show at Alabama is Eddie Jackson, who moved from cornerback to safety last season to great success with six interceptions and two pick-sixes. Marlon Humphrey wasted little time in locking down a cornerback job for the Crimson Tide, and Minkah Fitzpatrick—who is now lining up opposite Humphrey at corner—patrolled the nickelback position.
"Similar to how Alabama's defensive line could attack in waves this past season, the secondary might be able to do likewise in 2016 and give opposing offenses a multitude of looks," Bleacher Report's Christopher Walsh wrote earlier this year. "The talent is there again, with some experience mixed in that will only improve over the spring and summer."
Ronnie Harrison and Maurice Smith stepped up in the spring, and Alabama will find ways to utilize the talents of former 5-stars Tony Brown and Kendall Sheffield this upcoming season. The secondary at Alabama is always overflowing with former blue-chip stars. Now they'll be the ones leading the way for another elite Nick Saban defense.
1. Michigan
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2015 stats: 5.4 YPA (1st), 158.3 YPG (3rd), 47.5 completion percentage (1st), 94.61 QB rating (1st)
Returning starters: 3
Key players: CB Jourdan Lewis, S Delano Hill, CB Jeremy Clark, CB Channing Stribling, S Dymonte Thomas
On a snap-by-snap basis last season, no defensive backfield in the country did better stopping the pass than Michigan. The Wolverines ranked first in yards per attempt, completion percentage and quarterback rating, as they truly were a nightmare for opposing signal-callers.
And the scary thing is it could be even better in 2016, even with the move of talented safety Jabrill Peppers to outside linebacker. The Wolverines return Jourdan Lewis, perhaps the best lockdown cornerback in the entire country, as well as veteran safety Delano Hill. Channing Stribling and Jeremy Clark each have starting experience at cornerback, combining for five picks in 2016.
According to Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com, new starting safety Dymonte Thomas had an excellent spring, capping it with a stunning interception in the Wolverines' spring game. Thomas will bring more veteran leadership to this loaded secondary, which can go deep with the likes of Tyree Kinnel, Lavert Hill and David Long.
New Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown had one of the best secondaries in the country last season at Boston College. Now he inherits the best—a foundation for what could be a legendary defense in Ann Arbor for 2016.
Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports. All stats courtesy of CFBStats. Depth charts taken from Our Lads.
Justin Ferguson is a National College Football Analyst at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
