BTB Preseason Awards Show: Part II

A huge thanks to LTP for hosting/doing the grunt work for these awards. The final results are now up, but you'll have to go over there to find them (at least for today). We're going to go ahead and reveal our picks for the 1st team defense today, and do a compare/contrast tomorrow.

On with the show:

BEAUFORD'S 1ST TEAM ALL CONFERENCE DEFENSE

CB: Morgan Trent MI
CB: Vontae Davis IL
SS: Anthony Scirrotto PSU
FS: Shane Carter WI
OLB: James Laurinitis OSU
OLB: Marcus Freeman OSU
MLB: Greg Jones MSU
DE: Maurice Evans PSU
DE: Greg Middleton IN
DT: John Gill NW
DT: Terrence Taylor MI

Eyebrow Raisers

If there is anybody on this list capable of inducing a serious eyebrow raise, it's Morgan Trent at corner. Here's why I picked him:

1) He's got a ton of experience. Cornerback is, in my opinion, the hardest position to play. You've got to have raw athleticism combined with schematic knowledge (when you have help, when you don't) and the ability to anticipate the offensive playcall. It's as much a thinking man's position as any on the field - and experience plays a huge role in that development.

2) The athleticism is there; this has never been questioned:



3) Donovan Warren - who has garnered some all conference votes himself - is on the other corner. For the first time in a long time, Michigan has two cornerbacks who are legitimately shut-down. There is no escaping them; only hoping that inexperienced safety play will bring them down. Trent will have the opportunity to make big plays - and I think his experience and athleticism will allow him to do so.

4) I couldn't bring myself to vote for another Ohio State defender...

Fringe Picks

There really isn't anyone else on this list that I feel that I have to defend too heavily. Maybe John Gill at Northwestern? He's listed on the Outland Trophy and Nagurski trophy watch lists, and he is one of 4 returning linemen. If our ridiculously early preview of Northwestern is to be believed, line play is going to be paramount to the Wildcat's success this year. I can only assume that a new defensive coordinator will make this a priority, and as such, Gill can be expected to have a monster season.

Duh

Everyone else. This list was much easier to pick than the offense, and (sneak preview!) the matches of our picks to the BTB picks reflect this.