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College football 2019 season preview: Ranking the Top 100 players – SEC dominates

By Nicholas Ian Allen

BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 08: LSU Tigers safety Grant Delpit (9) celebrates during a game between the LSU Tigers and Southeastern Louisiana Lions at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on September 8, 2018. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 08: LSU Tigers safety Grant Delpit (9) celebrates during a game between the LSU Tigers and Southeastern Louisiana Lions at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on September 8, 2018. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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EUGENE, OR – OCTOBER 07: University of Oregon ILB Troy Dye (35) reacts to a turnover during a college football game between the Washington State Cougars and Oregon Ducks on October 7, 2017, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, OR. (Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – OCTOBER 07: University of Oregon ILB Troy Dye (35) reacts to a turnover during a college football game between the Washington State Cougars and Oregon Ducks on October 7, 2017, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, OR. (Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Oregon Ducks surrendered 32 points or more in each of their four losses last season. If the Ducks hope to make a run at the Pac-12 title in 2019, the defense will need to step up. Fortunately, new defensive coordinator Andy Avalos has a quartet of 100-rated defenders to call on, including leading tackler Troy Dye, who also contributed 8.0 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception and seven pass breakups in 2018.

With 100-rated players Daniel Bituli and Darrell Taylor leading the way, Tennessee has one of the highest rated linebacker units in the country. Though Bituli has led Tennessee in tackles in each of the last two seasons, Taylor edges him out for a spot on our Top 100 because he’s a more disruptive all-around player. In 2018, Taylor racked up a team-high eight sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 11.5 run stuffs.

Michigan will field a new-look defense for Jim Harbaugh in 2019. Following the departure of first round draft pick Devin Bush, Khaleke Hudson is the new leader of the linebacker corps. Hudson is also the most experienced and productive player back for the Wolverines, and his 18 career Production Points are second only to 100-rated Central Michigan transfer Mike Danna among Michigan defenders.

Questions abound about the Miami Hurricanes in 2019, but we know the defense should be stout under new head coach and former defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. Defensive end Jonathan Garvin leads arguably the best defensive line in the ACC, and if he’s as productive this season as he was last year (17 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks), he could be an All-American.

Only three SEC teams have two 100-rated players projected to start on the defensive line. Auburn and LSU might be obvious, but with D.J. Wonnum and Javon Kinlaw, the South Carolina Gamecocks might be a surprising third. Thanks to the talented and productive duo, Will Muschamp’s unit ranks No. 7 nationally in the CFB Winning Edge defensive line rankings.

Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele has an embarrassment of riches on the defensive line as three of his starters rank among the top 55 players on this list. Nick Coe, the lowest ranked player in the group, is one of only 49 FBS players to enter the 2019 season with 20 or more career Production Points.

The Michigan Wolverines rank No. 7 overall and first in the Big Ten in O-Line Strength Rating (90.32), according to CFB Winning Edge – which blends each offensive line’s VGR+ averages with advanced on-field performance statistics. Guard Ben Bredeson is the highest rated player in of the unit (just ahead of Michael Onwenu, 99.71) and a preseason All-American candidate.

It’s rare for a sophomore to earn a 100 VGR+ rating, but Texas defensive back Caden Sterns did it. In 2018, Sterns posted 62 tackles, four interceptions, four PBUs, 3.0 tackles for loss, one sack and 5.5 run stuffs in 13 games as a true freshman, all of them starts.

Only Jerry Tillery (10) and Te’von Coney (10) earned more Production Points for Notre Dame in 2018 than defensive lineman Julian Okwara. The junior filled up the stat sheet with 38 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, eight sacks, 14 run stuffs, one interception, pass breakup and a forced fumble.

Phil Steele lists Oregon as the No. 1 offensive line in the country in 2019 in his preseason magazine, and the CFB Winning Edge offensive line strength ratings agree. All five Oregon offensive line starters have earned a VGR+ rating of 93 or better, headlined by All-Pac-12 guard Shane Lemieux, whose 38 career starts are second-most in the nation.