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The 11 best defensive players B1G teams will face during bowl season
By Jim Tomlin
Published:
When Big Ten teams take the field for bowl season, they will line up some serious offensive talent.
The likes of Ohio State’s Justin Fields and J.K. Dobbins, Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor and Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan have had special seasons on offense in the B1G.
But they will face special new challenges during bowl season.
B1G teams will have to kick up their offensive schemes because they will face some of the toughest defensive players in the country,
Here are the 11 best defensive players Big Ten teams will face while chasing postseason glory in the next few weeks.
11. LB Kuony Deng, California
Matchup: Illinois vs. California, Redbox Bowl, Santa Clara, California, Dec. 30, 4 p.m. ET (Fox)
The skinny: Deng was overshadowed by first-team All-American Evan Weaver (more on him later) but Deng, a junior, tied for 18th in the nation and was tied for third in the Pac-12 with 111 tackles.
10. LB Troy Dye, Oregon
Matchup: Wisconsin vs. Oregon, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California, Jan. 1, 5:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
The skinny: Dye led the Ducks in tackles with 75 (a team-high 46 solo) for a Pac-12 champion Oregon defense that held seven opponents to 10 points or fewer.
9. DB Nigel Warrior, Tennessee
Matchup: Indiana vs. Tennessee, Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, Florida, Jan. 2, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
The skinny: The Vols defensive back tied for second in the SEC and tied for 17th nationally with 4 interceptions on the season to lead Tennessee. The Vols won 5 in a row to close the regular season.
8. DL Jay Tufele, USC
Matchup: Iowa vs. USC, Holiday Bowl, San Diego, California, Dec. 27, 8 p.m. ET (FS1)
The skinny: The first-team All-Pac-12 player had 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss for the Trojans. Tufele also had 39 tackles including 6 against Stanford and 5 against Oregon.
7. DE Carlos Basham, Wake Forest
Matchup: Michigan State vs. Wake Forest, Pinstripe Bowl, Bronx, New York, Dec. 27, 3:20 p.m. (ESPN)
The skinny: Basham, a first-team all-ACC pick, led the Demon Deacons defense with 17 tackles for loss, second in the conference. His 10 sacks were tied for 16th nationally and third in the ACC.
6. S Xavier McKinney, Alabama
Matchup: Michigan vs. Alabama, Citrus Bowl , Orlando, Florida, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
The skinny: McKinney, a first-team All-SEC coaches’ team pick and a first-team All-American according to USA Today, led Alabama with 85 tackles (55 solo). He also had 3 interceptions.
5. LB Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
Matchup: Michigan vs. Alabama, Citrus Bowl , Orlando, Florida, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
The skinny: The first-team coaches’ pick for the All-SEC team had 73 tackles on the season and led the Crimson Tide with 7.5 sacks, good for second in the league.
4. DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn
Matchup: Minnesota vs. Auburn, Outback Bowl, Tampa, Florida, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN)
The skinny: A second-team member of the CBS All-American team, Davidson had 7.5 sacks and teamed with Derrick Brown (more on him later) to form a fantastic D-line for the Tigers. Auburn was 19th in the nation in total defense despite a brutal schedule.
3. LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Matchup: Ohio State vs. Clemson, Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Arizona, Dec. 28, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
The skinny: Another consensus first-team All-American, Simmons was also named the ACC defensive player of the year. He had 92 tackles and 6 sacks for a Tigers team that led the nation in total defense at 244.7 yards a game — barely edging Fiesta Bowl opponent Ohio State (247.6 ypg).
2. LB Evan Weaver, California
Matchup: Illinois vs. California, Redbox Bowl, Santa Clara, California, Dec. 30, 4 p.m. ET (Fox)
The skinny: Weaver, a consensus first-team All-American, led the nation in tackles with 173 (95 solo) including 11 tackles for loss. He was the backbone of a defense that had to shine because Cal’s offense finished last in the Pac-12 in scoring and total offense.
1. DT Derrick Brown, Auburn
Matchup: Minnesota vs. Auburn, Outback Bowl, Tampa, Florida, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN)
The skinny: Davidson is important to Auburn’s stout defense but Brown is the monster who makes it go. At 6 feet 5, 318 pounds, the consensus first-team All-American saved his best for the biggest games. The senior averaged 6.75 tackles per game in the final four games and had 3.5 tackles for loss in the Iron Bowl victory over Alabama.
Longtime newspaper veteran Jim Tomlin is a writer and editor for saturdaytradition.com and saturdaydownsouth.com.