BTN's Top 5 Defensive Players of the past 5 years
Big Ten Network writer Brent Yarina posted an article on BTN's website for his top 5 defensive players in the B10 in the past 5 years. Brandon Graham comes in at #3.
http://btn.com/2012/08/22/celebrating-5-years-top-5-defensive-players-of-btn-era/
My foundest memories of both Graham and Kerrigan were watching these two throw Pryor around in the 2009 season.
1. Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
BTN era stats: 210 tackles, 57 TFLs, 33.5 sacks, 14 forced fumbles
Accolades: Set Big Ten record, matched FBS record with 14 career forced fumbles; 2010 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year; 2010 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year; 2010 unanimous first-team All-America.
2. James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
BTN era stats: 251 tackles, 15.5 TFLs, 9.5 sacks, 4 INTs, 1 forced fumble (2005-08 career stats: 375 tackles, 24 TFLs, 13.5 sacks, 9 INTs, 4 forced fumbles)
Accolades: Only Big Ten player to win two Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year awards (2007 and 2008); three-time consensus first-team All-America; 2007 Butkus Award; 2008 Ronnie Lott Trophy.
3. Brandon Graham, Michigan
BTN era stats: 135 tackles, 56 TFLs, 29 sacks, 6 forced fumbles (2006-09 career stats: 138 tackles, 56 TFLs, 29.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles)
Accolades: First defensive player in school history to be voted Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player twice (2008, 2009); co-winner of 2009 Chicago Tribune Silver Football; 2009 first-team All-Big Ten; 2009 Ted Hendricks Award finalist.
4. Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
BTN era stats: 141 tackles, 37.5 TFLs, 19 sacks, 7 forced fumbles
Accolades: 2009 and 2010 first-team All-Big Ten; 2010 consensus All-America; 2010 Ted Hendricks Award finalist; 2010 Orange Bowl MVP; 2009 National Defensive Performer of the Year by College Football Performance Awards.
5. Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State -
BTN era stats: 104 tackles, 9 TFLs, 7 INTs, 3 forced fumbles (2005-08 career stats: 196 tackles, 13.5 TFLs, 11 INTs, 4 forced fumbles)
Accolades: 2008 Jim Thorpe Award; three-time first-team All-Big Ten, including two consensus selections; 2007 Jim Thorpe Award finalist; 2007 first-team All-America (Pro Football Weekly); played in 2006 and 2007 national title games.
August 22nd, 2012 at 4:49 PM ^
I would rather have Brandon Graham over James Laurinaitis. I'd rather have Mike Martin, too.
August 22nd, 2012 at 4:56 PM ^
What I admired most about Brandon Graham were his leadership skills and positive attitude through all the coaching changes. He is a Michigan man.
August 22nd, 2012 at 4:59 PM ^
If ever a guy deserved to be on better teams , its Brandon Graham. Wish that guy has all the luck in the world in the NFL, hes had a rough start and he deserves better.
August 22nd, 2012 at 5:57 PM ^
Such a dominant force even when he was constantly the focus for the offense.
August 22nd, 2012 at 8:41 PM ^
Kerrigan too, I always forget what a monster he was just because of how bad Purdue is.
August 22nd, 2012 at 5:09 PM ^
T. K. MOTHER FUCKIN. O.....
August 22nd, 2012 at 5:10 PM ^
Why no Obi?
August 22nd, 2012 at 5:17 PM ^
I'd probably rank JJ Watt #4.
August 22nd, 2012 at 5:45 PM ^
If he had played for 3 years he would've been on the list, if he played 4 years he might've been #1. 36.5 tfl in 2 seasons is crazy.
August 22nd, 2012 at 6:31 PM ^
I think you could put vernon gholston on that list too. 30.5 TFL and 22.5 sacks in 2 seasons
August 22nd, 2012 at 11:13 PM ^
He only had 87 tackles, though. He's pushing it for being out of the last 5 years, too. His freshman year was 2005. Being such a big draft bust might have hurt his standing a little, too.
August 22nd, 2012 at 8:05 PM ^
Nice call. That's the name was trying to come up with. I'd take Clayborn out.
August 22nd, 2012 at 5:24 PM ^
From a purely technical standpoint, shouldn't Suh be on this list?
August 22nd, 2012 at 5:27 PM ^
I was pretty impressed with Lavonte David, who actually did play one season of B1G football. But whatever.
August 22nd, 2012 at 6:34 PM ^
According to that show, "The Big Ten's Greatest", he would have been.
Really annoying how they're shoehorning old Nebraska players/teams into all of this
August 22nd, 2012 at 8:06 PM ^
Suh deserved the Heisman
August 22nd, 2012 at 5:29 PM ^
How many tackles did he have in the UM game like 19
August 22nd, 2012 at 5:37 PM ^
If you're replying to the post above, I believe it was 17 tackles for David against Michigan - something like 14 of them solo. If Nebraska had been in the Big Ten for the entire time he was there, David would possibly have an argument for being at least in the neighborhood of this list if not on it as he had something like 140 solo tackles and almost that many assisted in his time at Nebraska, if I recall the stats correctly.
August 22nd, 2012 at 5:32 PM ^
August 22nd, 2012 at 5:42 PM ^
Yeah referring to the David post
August 22nd, 2012 at 5:42 PM ^
None of the great DTs are represented here like Alan Branch or Mike Martin.
August 22nd, 2012 at 6:26 PM ^
Reading comprehension check list is of the *past 5 years*
August 22nd, 2012 at 5:48 PM ^
Kerrigan was such a monster
August 23rd, 2012 at 6:07 AM ^
August 22nd, 2012 at 10:17 PM ^
Kerrigan, Claiborn, JJ Watt, Brandon Graham and Chris Jenkins.
I don't think Laurinitis makes the list, for my money he was a chase down defender that was taken advantage of going right at him......those guys I am not a fan of....stat sheets look great but impact is minimal imo.