2008 Opponent Position Preview: Defensive Backs | by Pat

There's a lot to be posted and little time to do it, so the defensive back preview will be cut down. Feel free to add your own analysis in the comment section.

And make sure to check back often today as we have a full day planned. Coming very soon is the summary of the opponent position preview along with speculation on where the individual Irish units might rank when compared to the opposition.

Later today, we'll debut the 2008 BGS Reader Season Prediction Poll and let everyone have a chance to put in their guess as to ND's 2008 record. Friday morning we'll post the BGS predictions. There may also be a few shorter posts mixed in as the countdown to kickoff gets closer and closer to zero.

SAN DIEGO STATE

CB - Aaron Moore. RS Junior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 59 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 4 INT, 7 BrUp
CB - Vonnie Holmes. Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 26 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 4 INT, 3 BrUp
SS -T.J. McKay. Senior. New Starter.
2007 stats: 19 tackles.
FS - Corey Boudreaux. RS Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 84 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 3 INT, 8 BrUp.

MICHIGAN

CB - Donovan Warren. (#25 CB) Sophomore. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 52 tackles, 1.0 sack, 1.5 TFL, 1 INT, 5 BrUp.
CB - Morgan Trent. (#34 CB) RS Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 41 tackles, 0.0 sacks, 2.0 TFL, 2 INT, 8 BrUp.
SS - Brandon Harrison. Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 42 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 6.5 TFL, 1 INT, 4 BrUp.
FS - Stevie Brown. (#26 FS) Junior. New Starter.
2007 stats: 28 tackles, 1 INT, 1 BrUp.

MICHIGAN STATE

CB - Ross Weaver. RS Junior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 19 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1 BrUp.
CB - Chris Rucker. Sophomore. New Starter.
2007 stats: 24 tackles, 1 INT, 1 BrUp.
SS - Otis Wiley. (#31 SS) Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 49 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 4 INT, 5 BrUp.
FS - Kendell Davis-Clark. RS Junior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 72 tackles. 4.0 sacks, 5.5 TFL, 8 BrUp.

PURDUE

CB - Brandon King. Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 44 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1 INT, 3 BrUp.
CB - David Pender. Junior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 44 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1 INT, 6 BrUp.
SS - Dwight Mclean. Junior. New Starter.
2007 stats: JUCO
FS - Torri Williams. (#33 SS) RS Senior. New Starter.
2007 stats: 17 tackles, 1.0 sack, 1.5 TFL, 2 INT, 1 BrUp.

STANFORD

CB - Wopamo Osaisai. RS Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 45 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1 INT, 8 BrUp.
CB - Kris Evans. RS Junior. New Starter.
2007 stats: 40 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 7 BrUp.
SS - Bo McNally. (#16 FS) RS Junior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 114 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 7.5 TFL, 2 INT, 6 BrUp.
FS - Taylor Skaufel. Sophomore. New Starter.
2007 stats: 35 tackles, 1 BrUp.

NORTH CAROLINA

CB - Jordan Hemby. RS Sophomore. New Starter.
2007 stats: 0 tackles.
CB - Kendric Burney. Sophomore. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 50 tackles, 1.0 sack, 4.5 TFL, 1 INT, 4 BrUp.
SS - Trimane Goddard. (#19 SS) RS Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 59 tackles, 1.0 sack, 2.5 TFL, 2 INT, 5 BrUp.
FS - Duenta Williams. (#24 FS) Sophomore. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 57 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 3 INT, 2 BrUp.

PITTSBURGH

CB - Aaron Berry (#62 CB) Junior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 19 tackles, 1.0 sack, 1.0 TFL, 2 INT, 5 BrUp.
CB - Jovani Chappel. Junior. New Starter.
2007 stats: 17 tackles.
SS - Dom DeCiccio. Sophomore. New Starter.
2007 stats: 6 tackles.
FS - Eric Thatcher. (#40 FS) RS Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 53 tackles, 1 INT, 3 BrUp.

WASHINGTON

CB - Mesphin Forrester. RS Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 93 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 2 INT, 2 BrUp.
CB - Quinton Richardson. RS Freshman. New Starter.
2007 stats: redshirt
SS - Darin Harris. RS Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 73 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1 INT.
FS - Nate Williams. Sophomore. New Starter.
2007 stats: 32 tackles, 5 BrUp.

BOSTON COLLEGE

CB - Roderick Rollins. Junior. New Starter.
2007 stats: 26 tackles, 1.0 sack, 1.0 TFL,
CB - DeLeon Gause. Sophomore. New Starter.
2007 stats: 39 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1 INT.
SS - Paul Anderson. Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 58 tackles, 2 INT, 6 BrUp.
FS - Wes Davis. Sophomore. New Starter.
2007 stats: 6 tackles.

NAVY

CB - Rashawn King. Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 53 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1 INT, 2 BrUp.
CB - Kevin Edwards. Sophomore. New Starter.
2007 stats: 27 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 2 BrUp.
SS - Jeff Deliz. RS Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 13 tackles, 1.0 TFL
FS - Wyatt Middleton. Sophomore. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 88 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1 BrUp.

SYRACUSE

CB - Mike Holmes. Sophomore. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 64 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 2 BrUp.
CB - Da'Mon Merkerson. Sophomore. New Starter.
2007 stats: 4 tackles.
SS - A.J. Brown. Senior. New Starter.
2007 stats: 38 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 2 INT, 1 BrUp.
FS - Randy McKinnon. Sophomore. New Starter.
2007 stats: 6 tackles.

SOUTHERN CAL

CB - Cary Harris. (#16 CB) Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 48 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1 INT, 7 BrUp.
CB - Shareece Wright. Junior. New Starter.
2007 stats: 29 tackles, 1.0 sack, 3.5 TFL, 4 BrUp.
SS - Kevin Ellison (#5 SS) Senior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 57 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 8.0 TFL, 2 INT, 6 BrUp.
FS - Taylor Mays. (#1 FS) Junior. Returning Starter.
2007 stats: 65 tackles, 1.0 INT, 6 BrUp.

2008 Opponent Defensive Back Rankings

1. Southern Cal - Mays leads another top ranked unit from the Trojans.
2. Michigan - Two excellent corners and two athletic, but somewhat inconsistent safeties.
3. Michigan State - Wiley is a very good safety. Somewhat experienced at the other spots.
4. Stanford - McNally highlights a group with average corners.
5. Pittsburgh - Some inexperience, but Berry and Thatcher are a good combination.
6. North Carolina - Still young, but now playing with some experience.
7. Purdue - Torri Williams finally returns from two years worth of injuries.
8. Washington - One of the more experienced units on a young team.
9. Boston College - Need to replace a lot of talent from the 2007 team.
10. San Diego State - Have returning experience from last year's 104th ranked unit.
11. Navy - Only one new starter, but Deliz is coming off of injury.
12. Syracuse - Young and inexperienced.