by Travis Normand

The following players are who I am considering for my defensive All-America ballot (which I must submit by today).  I can vote for four defensive linemen, three linebackers, and four defensive backs.  Narrowing the list down to 11 players is a lot harder than you would think.

In no particular order:

[1] Defensive Linemen:

• DL Damontre Moore, Texas A&M
• DL Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
• DL Quanterus Smith, Western Kentucky
• DL Jesse Williams, Alabama
• DL Chris Jones, Bowling Green
• DL Travis Johnson, San Jose St.
• DL Will Sutton, Arizona St.
• DL Sam Montgomery, LSU
• DL Barkevious Mingo, LSU

[2] Linebackers

• LB Khaseem Greene, Rutgers
• LB Eric Kendricks, UCLA
• LB Anthony Barr, UCLA
• LB CJ Mosley, Alabama
• LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia
• LB Manti Te’o, Notre Dame

[3] Defensive Backs

• DB Phillip Thomas, Fresno State
• DB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon
• DB DeMarcus (Dee) Milliner, Alabama
• DB Jason Verrett, TCU
• DB Jordan Poyer, Oregon State