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DEL.ICIO.USRanking ACC’s top defenders
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Pinehurst, N.C. — The ACC preseason meetings wrapped up Tuesday morning and now the caravan moves on to Birmingham for the SEC meetings on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. But before we leave this beautiful place, here are the top five defensive players to watch in the ACC this season:
1. Calais Campbell, Jr. DE, Miami. A lot went wrong at Miami last season but it wasn’t the fault of the defense. The Hurricanes fielded the best defense against the run in their history (67.9 yards per game) last season and Campbell was a big reason why. He also had 10.5 sacks and posted at least one sack in seven straight games. This guy is a junior and if he has the kind of year that everybody expects, next season he will be playing on Sunday.
2. Vince Hall, Sr., LB, Virginia Tech. Led the ACC with 128 total tackles (9.8 per game) and anchored a defense that led the nation in yards allowed per game (219.5). He joins with Xavier Abidi (another senior) to give the Hokies one of the best linebacker tandems on the planet.
3. Phillip Wheeler, Jr., LB, Georgia Tech. Incredibly athletic and almost impossible to knock off his feet. Last season Wheeler shared the defensive spotlight with fellow linebacker KaMichael Hall. This year he will be the star of a very good Yellow Jackets defense.
4. Kenny Phillips, Soph., FS, Miami. Best free safety in the country. Hurricane fans thought they would never have another safety as good as Sean Taylor or Ed Reed. This guy is just as good or may be better. Had four interceptions in 2006.
5. Chris Long, Sr. DE, Virginia. Long is a high-energy player who was virtually double-teamed on every single play last season. Still, he had five sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 21 quarterback pressures. He is the unquestioned leader of the Cavs and one of 10 starters returning for the Cavaliers on defense. If the name sounds familiar it should. He is the son of former NFL great Howie Long.
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Comments
By jacketguy
July 24, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this
watch and enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbMw4tOM1Io
By DAVID JOHNSON
July 24, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this
Watch out for Michael Johnson from GA. Tech.I Think he will make heads turn this year. He is tall,fast and have picked up some weight.Quarterbacks beware!!!
By gte578e
July 24, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this
I thought the list yesterday was okay at best. This list sucks. Wheeler is a great backer (I’m a Tech fan!), but Adibi and Hall are both first half of the first round kinda guys. There is no chance on earth that Long and Phillips are in that category.
I worry about Hall and Adibi on November 1!
By jackets fan
July 24, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
How about S Jamal Lewis from GT?
By techdude
July 24, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this
jacketguy, your video is awesome!
By Not disappointed
July 24, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this
jacketguy, awesome video. Ditto!! go Jackets!!
By gtgirl25
July 24, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this
Awesome video! I agree with the list for the most part. I love Michael Johnson….I expect him to step up this year. November 1st does worry me, but there is a lot of football in between now and then…first up…ND!
By The Ring Leader
July 24, 2007 11:12 PM | Link to this
Great video….
If anyone disagrees with Phillip Wheeler being on this list, they’ve obviously never seen him play football.
My boy Tashard (Choice) tells me that Phillips absolutely tears up the weight room and is getting bigger and stronger. He will be unstoppable this year. Count on a big NFL payday for him in the future.
On a different note, word has it that Matt Stafford and Joe Cox will be out indefinitely after causing an apparent herpes outbreak among the quarterbacks and offensive lineman in Athens. Stafford’s reaction says it all: “I just couldn’t resist.”
By TypicalBill
July 25, 2007 12:41 AM | Link to this
Wheeler is a Sr. this year.
By MATHGUY
July 25, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
RINGLEADER,
WILL YOU BE LEADING/SPEARHEADING THE INAUGURAL TICKLE PILE AFTER OUR LOSS TO THE IRISH? I WOULD LOVE TO PUT DOWN THE XBOX AND PARTICIPATE. LET ME KNOW
By jacketnation
July 25, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
Do any of you know who the best tightend is on the team? Michael Johnson. A four star tightend in college. At 6’7” he is the first one down the field on special teams almost every time. He has been great at DE. However, he would be awesome at Tightend. He is faster than any tightend on the ballteam and at 6’ 7” he could be a real terror. Pass this along and maybe it will get to John Bond