The Big East should boast some outstanding defenses in 2003. VT, Miami and Pittsburgh all return at least 7 starters from last year and have quality depth, so it wouldn�t surprise me if all were improved this season. West Virginia, BC and Syracuse don�t return quite as many starters, but all of them have talented playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. For all the buzz that offense generates, the conference champion will be probably be the team that plays the best defense and special teams. Here is one opinion of the best defensive players in the league:

Defensive Ends:
Claude Harriott, 6�4", 270, Sr., Pittsburgh
Nathaniel Adibi, 6�3", 260, Sr., Virginia Tech

Why they are first team: Harriott is a tremendous player capable of dominating a game, particularly when he is pass rushing off the edge. His numbers last year speak for themselves: 78 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles, a number that placed him second nationally. You better have a plan to stop him; most teams just start the double teams as soon as he gets off the bus. He registered 3 sacks against the Hokies last year and he is a first round candidate in the next NFL draft.

Adibi had a good season last year as he played the run consistently and also got to the quarterback 9 times. The Corey Moore comparisons were unfair, as Nathaniel has much better size but not nearly the same explosive first step Moore had. With that being said, Adibi may very well take it up another notch this season and go from very good to outstanding. He makes a lot of plays from the backside, which is a tribute to his consistent effort.

Others who could be first team: Cols Colas, Virginia Tech - Colas has an explosive first step and led the Hokies with 19 tackles for a loss last year. He also contributed 9 sacks. Colas is very intense, and he uses his incredible speed to create a lot of negative plays; Raheem Orr, Rutgers - a former blue chip high school recruit, Orr had been a solid two year starter for the Scarlet Knights. He had 9.5 tackles for a loss last year, but you get the feeling he is capable of a lot more. As a senior, he will need to take his game up a notch or two if Rutgers wants to compete.

Defensive Tackles:
Vince Wilfork, 6�2", 340, Jr., Miami
Louis Gachelin, 6�1", 280, Sr., Syracuse

Why they are first team: On a Miami defensive line that was loaded, most NFL people agreed that Wilfork was the best pro prospect of the bunch. In fact, if he plays as anticipated, he very likely will be a top five pick in the 2004 draft. Wilfork is huge as a run stuffer inside, plus he has quick feet. He was productive splitting time, as he had 15 tackles for a loss last year along with seven sacks. Wilfork is the best defensive lineman VT will play this year.

Gachelin is an effort guy that had 17 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks, a very high number for an inside player. He also plays next to a good player in Christian Ferrara, and that will help give him more opportunities to make plays.

Others who could be first team: Kevin Lewis, Virginia Tech - Lewis is the most experienced player inside for the Hokies. He is tough, has a great motor and has good technique. He certainly has first team ability, but I am going with Gachelin for now because Lewis still is recovering from a torn pectoral muscle, and VT may rotate a lot of people at defensive tackle this year; Christian Ferrara, Syracuse - Ferrara is a load inside as a nose tackle, and he does all the dirty work so others around him can make plays. He had injuries that limited his productivity last season, but he should be even better this season; Santonio Thomas, Miami - any defensive tackle from Miami warrants consideration, and Thomas is a tough hombre inside. His biggest impediment to some type of recognition from the league is whether he can hold off former blue chip recruit Orien Harris for the starting job.

Linebackers:
Jonathan Vilma, 6�2", 220, Sr., Miami
D.J. Williams, 6�2", 250, Sr., Miami
Grant Wiley, 6�1", 230, Sr., West Virginia

Why they are first team: Vilma has, and will continue to have, great defensive tackles in front of him, which allows him to run free to the ball. When he gets there, he�s always in a nasty mood. One of the biggest hitters in the league, he is the only unanimous all-league choice from last season who is returning. Vilma led the Canes with 133 tackles last year.

Williams isn�t as instinctive as Vilma, but he�s a freak athlete who had 108 tackles total, 16 of which were for a loss. He is versatile enough to stay with tight ends in the passing game and stuff the run from the strong side. Williams was the bluest of blue chip high school recruits, and John Madden proclaimed that Williams had an NFL physique - while he was in high school. He is another Hurricane first rounder next year.

Wiley is a tremendous player who is somewhat reminiscent of Ben Taylor. He runs well and is athletic, but his feel for the game is probably his greatest attribute. Wiley is the glue of a young WVU defense, and he is up to the challenge. He had 133 tackles, including 13.5 for loss last season. He did that despite having a fairly significant amount of coverage responsibility in the WVU defense. He was a first team all league selection last year as well.

Others who could be first team: Vegas Robinson, Virginia Tech - Robinson is a very good athlete and was productive before injuries slowed him last year. If he can stay healthy - an ankle can be a tricky thing - he should have a tremendous senior season; Roger McIntosh, Miami - he forms the final piece of what probably is the best linebacker corps in the country. McIntosh is still young, but he runs very well and will be greatly improved in his second season as a starter; Mikal Baaqee - Baaqee attacked the weight room and added at least 25 pounds to his frame. Bud Foster raved about his work in the spring as well. As with all young linebackers, he will be better diagnosing plays with a year under his belt. Baaqee is tough and active, and he will probably lead the Hokies in tackles.

Cornerbacks:
DeAngelo Hall, 5�11", 200, Jr., Virginia Tech
Antrel Rolle, 6�1", 197, Jr., Miami

Why they are first team: Hall is the best corner in the Big East, and he will prove it this year. He is a breathtaking athlete that has good size and loves to hit. He is also the fastest player ever in the VT program. Despite having good hands, Hall dropped a number of sure interceptions last year. He�ll hold onto the ball this year, and in doing so, he might very well get all-America recognition, if he gets enough snaps on defense. By the end of this season, he will be the standard by which all VT cornerbacks, dead, alive, unborn, are measured.

Rolle was a starter for a Miami secondary that led the nation in pass defense. He is a solid tackler and obviously a good cover guy. He may also switch off and play some safety, but for now I will keep him at corner. He was a first team selection for the league last year.

Others who could be first team: Shawntae Spencer, Pittsburgh - Spencer has been splitting time for years, but he is a very good player who will lead the Panther secondary. With Pitt�s pass rush, he�ll also have the opportunity to get some interceptions; Will Blackmon, BC - he was a big time recruit who showed great flashes of athletic ability as a true freshman last year, including a big kick return against the Hokies. If he continues to improve, he could be the best BC corner in some time; Steve Gregory, Syracuse - the good news: as a true freshman he fared well enough to lead the league in pass breakups; the bad news: everyone threw at him so much he led the league in pass breakups. Despite Ernest Wilford toasting him, Gregory had a very good season under the circumstances, and he should become even better in 2003.

Safeties:
Sean Taylor, 6�3", 220, Jr., Miami
Jimmy Williams, 6�2", 213, So., Virginia Tech

Why they are first team: Taylor is an absolute beast. In my opinion, as a sophomore he was the best defensive player on Miami�s whole team. He led the team with 4 interceptions, and with his size he delivered some vicious hits in run support. Even though safeties traditionally drop some on draft day, he is going to be a first rounder whenever he goes to the NFL. He isn�t former Oklahoma stud Roy Williams, but he isn�t that far away, either.

Williams is a projection of sorts, but if you are reading this article you know all about Jimmy already. He is a fantastic athlete with the body control to play some corner. What is most impressive about Williams is his range. Literally he can go sideline to sideline to make plays and he did that late last year with regularity (at least in the running game). Now that he understands the scheme a little better, he should be dynamic this year.

Others who could be first team: Maurice Sykes - he was a first team all league pick last year, but had shoulder surgery and sat out spring ball. Rolle then shifted over to play some safety, and Rolle played so well there that there might be a chance of Sykes being Wally Pipp�ed (only at Miami can a returning all league player miss practice - practice - insert Allen Iverson voice here - and possibly lose his starting job); Jahmile Addae, WVU - as a sophomore last year Addae made a lot of plays, as he had 99 tackles, four interceptions and 16 passes defensed. He plays bandit for WVU, a hybrid like VT�s whip linebacker, but WVU calls him a safety, so I don�t think it is too much of a stretch to list him here.

Kicker: Sandro Sciortino, 5�10", 207, Sr, Boston College

Sciortino set a school record with 23 field goals last season, and he may get even more attempts this year if BC's new quarterback (whoever that may be) struggles to lead the offense. Pittsburgh�s David Abdul had a solid freshman season, hitting 13 of 20 attempts, and he too could challenge for first team honors.

Punter: Andy Lee, 6�2", 205, Sr., Pittsburgh

Lee was a first team selection last year, as he averaged over 43 yards per punt. He also has shown the finesse necessary to pin teams deep in their own part of the field. VT�s Vinnie Burns improved a lot last year, averaging over 40 yards per punt with better hang time. He has the leg to have a huge impact this year.

Kick Returner: Nate Jones, 5�10", 180, Sr., Rutgers

Jones was sixth in the country, averaging 28.3 yards per kickoff return, and he brought two back for touchdowns, with the most memorable against the speed of Tennessee. He was the Big East�s Co-Special Teams Player of the Year last season.

Punt Returner: DeAngelo Hall, 5'11", 200, Jr., Virginia Tech

Hall is a fantastic punt returner and should earn first team status. If he returns punts regularly, expect Hall to break 3-4 for touchdowns over the course of the season. Roscoe Parrish of Miami also has breakaway speed, although he wasn't overwhelmingly effective last season.

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