The Huddle: Baddest Men on the Planet

By Powers Kane
Love of Sports Correspondent

The age-old axiom that defense wins championships is irrefutable.

While offensive creativity has helped small conference teams level the playing field nationally, there still remains a sizeable differential in overall defensive play between the contenders and the pretenders.

On any good defensive unit there’s one man, an athlete of exceptional talent and unquenchable determination, who opponents fear and desperately try to avoid.

Here, for your pleasure, are the eight baddest men in college football.

The Eight Baddest

1. James Laurinaitis, Senior LB, Ohio State

When Ohio State starting strongside linebacker Bobby Carpenter broke his leg on the first play from scrimmage in the 2005 Michigan game, Buckeye coach Jim Tressel took a risk and decided to entrust the defense to a true freshman, Laurinaitis. He hasn’t regretted the decision since. All Laurinaitis has done in rewarding Tressel’s faith is start every game since, win the Butkus and Nagurski Awards at the conclusion of the ’07 season and generally terrorize Big Eleven opponents. Wanna know where he gets his nasty demeanor? Look no further than good old mom and pops. His father, Joe, is a pro wrestling legend otherwise known as “Animal” from the Legion of Doom, a.k.a. The Road Warriors. His mom is a former bodybuilder who once deadlifted 315 pounds! In other news, my dad can operate a manual transmission.

2. Eric Berry, Sophomore DB, Tennessee

In the best defensive conference in the country, Berry’s combination of strength and coverage ability make him the elite cornerback in the SEC. He’s an elite playmaker and already the Vols’ defensive leader as a sophomore. He led all Tennessee freshman last year with 86 tackles and intercepted five passes, including one returned 96 yards for a touchdown off Florida God/QB Tim Tebow. Still doubting whether he’s bad enough for this list? OK, consider that as a FRESHMAN, Berry had 222 interception return yards, which ranked as the second-highest total in SEC history (five INTs for 222 yards - you do the math)! His return yardage broke a 37-year-old UT record and already ranks third on the All-Time SEC list. The kid was only 18 years old at the time. I believe you can witness the Tebow interception right ……. here:

3. Jan Jorgensen, Junior DL, BYU

BYU isn’t known for their defensive heritage. Quick … name one BYU All-American ever from the defensive side of the ball? You can’t, can you? Well, that might change this year as the Cougars return one of the baddest defensive ends in the country, Jan “The Predator” Jorgensen. Yes, his name sounds like a Nordic explorer, but his play has All-American written all over it. Anchoring a defensive unit ranked 10th in total defense in ’07, Jorgensen racked up 14 sacks for a combined loss of 91 yards, ranked 12th nationally with 20 tackles for a combined loss of 115 yards and had 40 solo tackles. Gee, I wonder who teams will be double teaming this season?  Regardless, the “Filthy Swede” will be one of the most dominant defensive players in the land.

4. Rey Maualuga, Senior LB, USC

Maualuga’s the heir to the Junior Seau, Willie McGinest, Clay Matthews, Chris Claiborne, Lofa Tatupu line of great USC linebackers. The sight of Maualuga across the line, tribal tattoos covering both arms and flowing locks bursting from the back of his helmet has sent many a Pac 10 running back into instant sweats. Initially known for his vicious hits, but lack of mastery over the intricacies of the position, “Big Rey” has steadily improved. His 79 tackles (41 solo) and six sacks helped him to earn All-Pac 10 First Team for the second straight year and the Defensive Player of the Game award in last season’s Rose Bowl. Watch him absolutely steamroll Illinois’ poor Juice Williams twice in the Granddaddy of them all:

5. Patrick Chung, Senior “Rover”, Oregon

A playmaker who could start at any of the four secondary positions, Oregon coaches prefer to allow him to play as a Rover to utilize his extensive athletic gifts. Chung was a freshman All-American in 2005 and an All-Pac 10 selection the last two seasons. He combines the instincts and the physical gifts that allow him to cover receivers one-on-one over the middle or he can also bounce outside to help double a receiving threat deep, as well as force the run like a linebacker. Chung isn’t a Deion Sanders all-finesse-no-stones defensive back. For proof, look no further than his tremendous block on an interception return last year against Michigan. Chung came face-to-face with NFL No. 1 draft pick Jake Long and laid him flat on his back! Then he continues on to block ANOTHER lineman a few yards down the field! Yup, that man is B-A-D, BAD!! (Chung is #15 in the video.)

6. Myron Rolle, Junior DB, Florida State

The best defensive player in the ACC is also one hell of a student - inducted into the Omnicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. As great as his classroom prowess is, it’s his skill as a shut down corner that earns Rolle a spot on this list. He posted 67 tackles in ’07 - 36 of them solo - and has 144 total tackles in the first two seasons at FSU. He’s a dominant presence in the Seminole secondary, often forcing opposing defenses to throw to the other side of the field. And he runs Tim Tebow over like he’s standing still in this video right here:

7. Brandon Spikes, Junior LB, Florida

Florida must have known they had their new middle linebacker when Spikes recorded a tackle on his first play as a collegiate player. In order to get back into the BCS championship game, the Gators will call upon Spikes, one of the nation’s best linebackers, to step up his game yet again. Not that he’s a slouch by any means. He started all 13 games at the Mike position last season, recording 131 tackles, which was second in the SEC. He also earned First-Team All-SEC along with Gators quarterback Tim something-or-other. Along with his skill on the field, he’s also quite the fashionista! OK, that may be a bit of a stretch. He wore a much-discussed (and photographed) pink suit on the Gator’s plane ride to the 2006 BCS title game in Arizona. (FYI, the outfit was made by his mother.) Only when you’re one of the baddest men in college ball can you even dream of pulling this off …

8. Greg Hardy, Junior DE, Ole Miss

Hardy’s one of those athletic freaks whose name has been mentioned as a possible Top 15 pick in the NFL Draft. He was second in the SEC in sacks last season, with 10, and was second in tackles for loss, with 18. He has explosive speed around the corner and the bulk at 250 pounds to be a run-stopper as well. The 6-foot-5 defensive end was also used as a situational tight end for Ole Miss last season and has three touchdown catches in his career. Not too shabby, eh!?!

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