Every year the Football Writers Association of America asks its members to nominate players for the 2012 FWAA All-America Team, and they start with an initial ballot of nominations for the defense along with a nomination for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
Here are my nominations for the defensive ballot:
Defensive Line:
Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
The guy is a monster defensive end. SC has one of the best front fours in the nation, and Clowney is the leader. 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
Demontre Moore, Texas A&M
Leads the nation in tackles for loss with 19, tied for first in sacks with 11.5. Yowsa!
John Simon, Ohio State
10.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks.
Quanterus Smith, Western Kentucky
Leads the nation in sacks with 11.5, tenth nationally with 14.5 tackles for loss.
Linebackers:
Jarvis Jones, Georgia
Five forced fumbles, tied for national lead despite missing two games. 15 tackles for loss.
C.J. Mosley, Alabama
Linebacker, Alabama. Do you need much more? Two interceptions, one for touchdown, 69 total tackles, four for loss.
Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
Just a playmaker. Seems like whenever the Irish need one on defense, he's making them. 87 total tackles and five interceptions as a linebacker, tied for second nationally.
Defensive Backs:
Dee Milliner, Alabama
It wouldn't be a ballot without a ‘Bama player. Honestly, there are a few candidates that would quality, but I'm going with Crimson Tide defensive back. Milliner is tied for seventh in the nation with 15 passes defended in a conference that doesn't throw the ball all that much, and has two interceptions on the season so far.
Bradley Roby, Ohio State
Roby is second in the nation in passes broken up, first in passes defended, and his two interceptions came in that big win against Nebraska.
Ifo Ekpre-Olumo, Oregon
No, I have no idea how to pronounce his name, but he's got three interceptions and 16 passes defended, 13 broken up. Not enough? Four forced fumbles and one of his interceptions was returned for a touchdown.
Jordan Poyer, Oregon State
Oregon State was awful last year on defense. Now they're not. Poyer is a big reason for that. Five interceptions, one returned for a touchdown.
Nagurski Trophy:
It comes down between Jones and Te'o, and I'm going wit Te'o because, well, Notre Dame's defense is awesome and has them in the hunt for a national title or more likely, a BCS bowl.