Rating the Nation: Top Defensive Players for 2005

Defensive Ends:
1. Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College
2. Mario Williams, N.C. State
3. Manny Lawson, N.C. State
4. Tamba Hali, Penn State
5. Eric Henderson, Georgia Tech
6. Loren Howard, Northwestern
7. Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech
8. Parys Harralson, Tennessee
9. LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
10. Ray Edwards, Purdue

Defensive Tackles:
1. Rodrique Wright, Texas
2. Jesse Mahelona, Tennessee
3. Haloti Ngata, Oregon
4. Orien Harris, Miami
5. Gabe Watson, Michigan
6. Dusty Dvoracek, Oklahoma
7. Baraka Atkins, Miami
8. Le Kevin Smith, Nebraska
9. Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State
10. Gerald Anderson, Georgia

Inside Linebackers:
1. Abdul Hodge, Iowa
2. D’Qwell Jackson, Maryland
3. Anthony Schlegel, Ohio State
4. Spencer Havner, UCLA
5. Leon Williams, Miami
6. Trent Bray, Oregon State
7. Aaron Harris, Texas
8. Freddie Roach, Alabama
9. Ted Sims, Kansas State
10. George Hall, Purdue

Outside Linebackers:
1. Chad Greenway, Iowa
2. A.J. Hawk, Ohio State
3. Will Derting, Washington State
4. Dan Connor, Penn State
5. Ahmad Brooks, Virginia
6. Ernie Sims, Florida State
7. Paul Posluszny, Penn State
8. Kai Parham, Virginia
9. Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State
10. Rocky McIntosh, Miami

Cornerbacks:
1. Alan Zemaitis, Penn State
2. Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech
3. Jason Allen, Tennessee
4. Charles Gordon, Kansas
5. Michael Huff, Texas
6. Ashton Youboty, Ohio State
7. Kelly Jennings, Miami
8. Will Blackmon, Boston College
9. Darrell Hunter, Miami of Ohio
10. Travis Johnson, Ole Miss
*Note- Florida State CB Antonio Cromartie will miss the 2005 season due to injury therefore he is not ranked. He would be ranked #4.

Free Safeties:
1. Ko Simpson, South Carolina
2. Nate Salley, Ohio State
3. LaRon Landry, LSU
4. Jaxton Appel, Texas A&M
5. Pat Watkins, Florida State

Strong Safeties:
1. Darrell Bing, Southern Cal
2. Daniel Bullocks, Nebraska
3. Bernard Pollard, Purdue
4. Greg Threat, Miami
5. Jarrad Page, UCLA

Punters:
1. Tom Malone, Southern Cal
2. Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor
3. D.J. Fitzpatrick, Notre Dame
4. John Torp, Colorado
5. Jeremy Kapinos, Penn State