1) USC OLB Brian Cushing, Sr. ILB Rey Maualuga, Sr. OLB Luther Brown, Jr. OLB Clay Matthews, Sr. There is a decent chance that Cushing and Maualuga are the first players drafted from their respective positions. Cushing is a great athlete who has an amazing speed to size ratio. He can pick up a TE or RB in the passing game, or can fly in from the outside to pressure the QB. Maualuga is as intense as they come, and hits like a truck. No ILB is feared more than he is. Let us not forget about Luther Brown. He was a top-shelf recruit out of High School, and has his best years ahead of him. Last but not least, they have Clay Matthews. The pedigree shows in his play. This unit will get some clean shots operating behind a sturdy D-Line. 2) Ohio State OLB Marcus Freeman, Sr. ILB James Laurinaitis, Sr. OLB Curtis Terry, Sr. There is a good chance that Freeman and Laurinaitis are the first players drafted from their respective positions. You just read that about USC's guys, right? Well, Freeman and Laurinaitis are just as good. All 3 LBs are Seniors. USC did get the nod over this unit, but it's only because Luther Brown edges out Curtis Terry. These guys are equally adept at covering the run and pass. They're extremely active and will constantly be seen around the ball. 3) Georgia OLB Akeem Dent, So. ILB Dannell Ellerbe, Sr. OLB Rennie Curran, So. Many folks feel that Ellerbe is the best ILB in the nation. While I don't think he is at this point, he's certainly not far off. Curran is undersized and young, but will be an NFL prospect as well. This LB corps plays as fast as any in the nation. While they're not big, they'll take on a block or be elusive enough to make guys miss. Ellerbe and Curran are like heat seeking missiles out there. They don't let up one bit. Dent is undersized as well, but will get very good playing around these guys. He's a former 4-star recruit. With Georgia's D-Line being as good as it is, the LBs will have free reign out there. 4) California OLB Zack Follett, Sr. ILB Worrell Williams, Sr. ILB Anthony Felder, Sr. OLB Mike Mohamed, So. Not just any team can pull off a 3-4 Defense. However, Cal has the personnel to do so. The first 3 guys on the list should all be looking at a shot to the pros. And, the aforementioned are all Seniors. Follett is a dominate force on the outside. Look for a high TFL count out of him this year. Williams and Felder will team well off of each other on the inside. Williams can hit, and Felder has the skills, athleticism, and ability to be playing OLB. Mohamed is young, but has already received solid coaching and is ready for the task ahead. This group is poised to make play after play. 5) Kansas OLB James Holt, Sr. ILB Joe Mortensen, Sr. OLB Mike Rivera, Sr. This may be the most underrated group in the nation. Despite the outstanding play of Rivera and Mortensen, folks still just don't give them much love. This is a mature group of Seniors who have loads of experience behind them. Rivera and Mortensen are each around 250lbs., and Holt isn't small at 235lbs. This group is big, physical, and likes to mix it up. The Jayhawk D-Line won't be the best around, so they'll all get plenty of action. They'll play to the challenge. 6) Boston College OLB Kevin Akins, Jr. ILB Mike McLaughlin, Jr. OLB Brian Toal, Sr. OLB Mark Herzlich, Jr. The Eagles are very deep at LB. The most talented of the bunch is Toal...maybe. If he can stay healthy for an entire year, he'll get plenty of looks. Herzlich is an absolute stud. He'll actually end up being better than Toal.This team was 2nd in the nation in run defense last year. The lost Dunbar, but the cupboards are not bare. While this is the starting lineup today, look for Herzlich and Francois to be in the mix. The entire rotation is experienced and goes after the ball. This will yet again be a very good run stopping machine. 7) Virginia OLB Jared Detrick, So. OLB Clint Sintim, Sr. ILB Antonio Appleby, Sr. ILB Jon Copper, Sr. The entire LB corps is back, and should be as good as ever. Sintim and possibly Appleby have NFL potential, while Copper is an unrelenting machine. Chris Long is gone, so this squad will have to be more productive be default. Look for Sintim to be a menacing force in opposing backfields, while Copper and Appleby hold down the fort. Detrick will be along for a fun ride. 8) Florida OLB A.J. Jones, So. ILB Brandon Spikes, Jr. OLB Dustin Doe, Jr. This group is small as a whole, but has great speed and talent to match. While they are young, they're all returning starters. Spikes is another phenomenal ILB who'll lead this young starting cast. He was a Rivals 5-star recruit, and is flanked by two 4-star recruits in Jones and Doe. They guys on the outside will make mistakes along the way, but will see a lot more success than failure. 9) Miami OLB Colin McCarthy, Jr. ILB Darryl Sharpton, Jr. OLB Glenn Cook, Sr. This LB corps has a good level of experience going into the 2008 season. McCarthy isn't a known name...yet This group has a good mix of size and speed. The Hurricane program has taken some hits the past few years, but is on their way towards turning the corner. The group will be very active and should be the strength of the Defense. Look for a couple of guys to surprise you this fall. 10) Texas OLB Sergio Kindle, Jr. ILB Rashad Bobino, Sr. OLB Roddrick Muckelroy, Jr. The Longhorns have some very good talent and experience within their LB group. The all took their lumps as youngsters, but are now ready to shine. Every one of the guys listed above has talent. It just hasn't fully come out. This is an athletic, tough group that will stick you. There really isn't one that can be looked upon as a target. If Kindle plays like he can, this team will terrorize many RBs. Others to watch... South Carolina has Brinkley back, and has shifted Norwood to OLB. If Brinkley can play to his pre-injury form, while Norwood adjusts to OLB, the LB group will be very good as a whole. Alabama can boast the talents of Rolando McClain, and will hopefully be able to do so for Prince Hall as well. If Hall makes it back, this team should catapult into the Top 10. Both of these guys could be playing on Sundays. Florida State has so much depth it's not even funny. However, a lot of their talent is still wet behind the ears. They need one more year before they can be considered an elite force. Then again, maybe not. Chuck Amato will have them fired up and ready to go. We'll keep a close eye on Nicholson and crew. West Virginia has Ivy and Williams, two very good LBs who are often overlooked. They lose Magro, but J.T. Thomas looks ready and able. Missouri gets Weatherspoon, Christopher, and reservist Lambert back. They should be one of the better groups in the Big 12 this year. Hawaii could crack the list with starters Leonard and Elimimian being the best duo in the WAC. Soares is coming on as well.