College Football's Scariest Defenders

If the movie Little Giants taught us anything, it’s that in the game of football, intimidation is key.

When a defense has that one intimidating player who can put a scare into opposing offenses, it can change the entire complexion of a team.

We saw that last season with guys like Nick Fairley, Von Miller and J.J. Watt, and this year, there are plenty of players who are capable of striking fear in the hearts of opponents.

Let’s have a look at a few of college football’s most intimidating defenders for the 2011 season.

LB Manti Te'o, Notre Dame

Manti Te’o is blessed with those special linebacker eyes that can frighten any offensive player who makes the mistake of looking across the line of scrimmage.

Te’o, who has already drawn comparisons to former USC LB Rey Maualuga, is certainly a frightening character who brings a ton of toughness to a Notre Dame defense that's been accused of being soft in recent years.

The 6’3’’, 245-pound junior led the Irish with 133 tackles in 2010, and he’ll enter this season looking for All-American honors.  

LB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State

If there’s any college defender who deserves the "This guy is just an animal" label, it’s Arizona State’s Vontaze Burfict.

Known for playing out of control at times in the past, Burfict found himself in some hot water recently after engaging in a locker room fight with Arizona State WR Kevin Ozier.

Yes, the season hasn’t even started yet, and the junior ‘backer is already looking to knock somebody out, even if it’s his own teammate.

If Burfict can harness his energy and keep his focus on beating up the players in the other jerseys, he could become college football’s most dominant defender in 2011.

DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina

The North Carolina defensive line took a few major hits with the losses of Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin before the start of last season, but their absences allowed the Tar Heels to find an absolute star in Quinton Coples.

Coples stepped in for Austin at defensive tackle and made an instant impact, racking up 10 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss.

The 6’6’’, 275-pound senior has established himself as one of the premier pass-rushers in college football, and he should flourish now that he’s moving back to his more natural position of defensive end in 2011.

If he has another big season, Coples should be a Top 10 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. 

DT Jared Crick, Nebraska

The Nebraska defense is absolutely loaded with star power this season, and players like LB Lavonte David and CB Alfonzo Dennard should quickly make a name for themselves in the Big Ten Conference.

One player in particular who will keep offenses shaking is DT Jared Crick.

This season, Crick will be the face of college football’s most imposing defensive line. He is one of the top pro prospects of the 2012 class and with good reason.

The 6’6’’, 285-pound senior assumed Ndamukong Suh’s role as a dominant defensive force last year, racking up a team-high 9.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss.

LB Tank Carder, TCU

If you’ve got a name like Tank, you better be tough enough to live up to it, and TCU LB Tank Carder certainly is.

Carder is the type of linebacker who is perfectly built to thrive in Gary Patterson’s 4-2-5 defensive scheme, and he served as the fulcrum of college football’s top-ranked defense last season.

The 6’3’’, 240-pound senior will again join up with talented teammate Tanner Brock to give the Frogs one of the best linebacker duos in America.

DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State

Michigan State won’t have an easy time figuring out how to cover up the loss of star All-American MLB Greg Jones, but the Spartans don’t have to hit the panic button just yet.

Even though Jones, the team's leading tackler and top defensive leader the past three years, is gone, the Michigan State defense should still be strong up front with big DT Jerel Worthy taking up space in the middle.

The 6’3’’, 305-pound Worthy is one of the most powerful defensive linemen in America, and he'll have a major effect on opponents' running games this season.

DE Bruce Irvin, West Virginia

So much for a learning curve.

Last season, Bruce Irvin stepped into the West Virginia defensive lineup fresh out of Mount San Antonio Junior College and immediately proved he was a rare pass-rushing prodigy.

Even though he played limited snaps and was only primarily used in passing situations, Irvin still managed to lead the Big East with a whopping 14 sacks.

The 6’3’’, 235-pound senior is a special physical specimen who is capable of embarrassing any offensive tackle who is unlucky enough to face him.

LB Dont'a Hightower, Alabama

As a whole, the Alabama defense is the scariest group in college football, so it’s only right that their leader be a linebacker like Dont’a Hightower.

Hightower is the focal point of the best linebacker unit in the country, and he’s already solidified himself as one of the best at the position. He slowly gained back his form last year after missing most of the 2009 season with a knee injury, and he showed he can line up virtually anywhere on the field and make an impact.

The 6'4'', 260-pound junior finished second on the team with 69 stops, and he now looks ready to kick his game up a notch to become one of the top defensive players in the country.

DE Devin Taylor, South Carolina

Incoming 5-star recruit Jadeveon Clowney, one of the most highly-touted freshman in recent memory, will be the talk of Columbia this offseason.

But hopefully Gamecock fans won’t forget that they already have a proven star at the defensive end position in Devin Taylor.

Taylor, who is an absolute nightmare to try to block, enjoyed a breakout campaign last year, racking up 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss, and demonstrating that he’s one of the most athletic and skilled pass-rushers in the country. 

The 6’7’’, 250-pound junior will be the leader of one of college football's best defensive lines this season. 

DT Mike Martin, Michigan

Let’s face it, the Michigan defense was atrocious last season, but the Wolverines have a chance to be greatly improved this year, especially since they welcome back their strong inside presence, Mike Martin, at defensive tackle. 

Martin is seemingly made up of pure muscle, and he plays like an immovable object.

The 6’2’’, 300-pound senior is one of the strongest defenders in college football, and he should continue swallowing up double-teams this season.

LB Kenny Tate, Maryland

Maryland fans should be grateful that Kenny Tate, the team’s undisputed top player, is returning for his senior year.

Tate could have left for the NFL after last season and would have likely been a second-day pick, but instead the 6’4’’, 220-pound athletic behemoth will be roaming around the field for the Terps at his new linebacker position this season.

Tate, who racked up 90 tackles and picked off three passes in 2010, is a big, physical hitter who should welcome the switch since he’ll now get the opportunity to lay the wood more often.

LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College

Boston College’s Luke Kuechly is a tackling machine who has a radar for ball carriers unlike any other player in college football.

Kuechly has already totaled an eye-popping 325 tackles in just his first two seasons, and he shows no signs of slowing down in 2011.

He'll never be the best pure athlete on the field, but Kuechly has outstanding instincts and intelligence for the linebacker position. He’s been the heart and soul of the Boston College defense since he first stepped onto the field.

LB Shayne Skov, Stanford

When you think about Stanford, QB Andrew Luck is obviously the first player who comes to mind. But the Cardinal are far from a one-man team.

On defense, LB Shayne Skov may not have as much national notoriety as his heralded teammate, but he might just have as much of an impact on the team’s success this season.

Skov, who led the team with 84 tackles last year, is a fearless linebacker who plays the game with a mean streak. The 6’3’’, 245-pound junior packs a punch every time he takes down a ball carrier, and he’s the type of defensive player who always manages to leave his imprint on every game he plays.

DT Alameda Ta'amu, Washington

At 6’3’’ and 330 pounds, it’s easy to say Washington’s Alameda Ta’amu passes the eyeball test.

The good thing is Ta’amu backs up his monstrous presence with his play in the trenches.

Surprisingly agile and athletic for his size, the senior defensive tackle is a tough matchup for any offensive lineman who draws the unfortunate task of having to block him.

Now that he’s committed himself to being great and lost much of his unneeded weight he had when he first arrived at Washington, Ta’amu has a chance to be the most dominant defensive lineman in the Pac-12 this year.

DE Brandon Jenkins, Florida State

The Florida State defense has made the transformation from laughingstock to formidable unit in the span of just one season, and one of the key players has been super pass-rusher Brandon Jenkins. 

Jenkins, a 6’3’’, 255-pound junior, finished the 2010 season with 21.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks, and he showed that he has a near-unstoppable first step and burst off the ball most offensive tackles just can’t keep up with.

With guys like Jenkins, LB Nigel Bradham and CB Xavier Rhodes leading the way, the Seminoles should have one of the best defenses in all of college football this season.

S Ray-Ray Armstrong, Miami

We all know Miami’s history of producing star safeties like Ed Reed, Sean Taylor and Kenny Phillips, and it now looks like the Hurricanes could have another player to add to that illustrious group.

Ray-Ray Armstrong is developing in to one of the top safeties in college football, and he could be ready to have a true breakout campaign in 2011.

Armstrong, who finished with 78 tackles and three interceptions last season, fits the mold of what you expect from a Miami safety. The 6’4’’, 215-pound junior is big, mean and super-athletic, and he’s about to take over the ACC this year.

DE/LB Ronald Powell, Florida

Florida's Ronald Powell failed to live up to his No. 1 overall recruit hype as a freshman, but now that he knows what it takes to compete in the SEC, "Powie" should be able to develop into the elite edge-rusher many expect him to become.

Playing the hybrid Buck position for the Florida defense, Powell will have a great shot to produce a double-digit sack season as the premier player on one of college football’s most talented defensive lines.

DT Kawann Short, Purdue

It’s understandable that a young player could become frustrated because he is forced to play second fiddle to an older veteran. But if Kawann Short was upset at having to defer much of the attention to last year's Big Ten sack master, Ryan Kerrigan, the big 300-pound junior certainly didn’t show it.

Short went about his business, collecting 4.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss, and he displayed the type of rare skills that caught every onlooker's attention.

Now that Kerrigan’s gone, it’s time for Short to step out of his former teammate’s shadow and follow a similar path to stardom.