Compiled By Dave Krider and MaxPreps Staff Writers
National Defensive Player of the Year
Nick Perry, King High School, Detroit, Mich.
2007 MaxPreps All-American Defense
First Team Defense
DL DaQuan Bowers
6-4/267/Senior
Bamberg-Ehrhardt (Bamberg, S.C.)
Next Stop: Clemson
All-American Credentials: South Carolina's Player of the Year was a triple threat for Bamberg-Ehrhardt, using his freakish athletic ability to dominate on offense, defense and special teams. At defensive end he tallied 97 tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. At tailback (not a misprint) he ran for 1,219 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also returned kicks.
DL Jurrell Casey
6-1/245/Senior
Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.)
Next Stop: Undecided
All-American Credentials: One of the most productive defensive linemen in the country, Casey accumulated 134 tackles - including a 20-tackle effort Sept. 21 against Carson - and seven sacks. His efforts helped the Jackrabbits to a 13-1 record and Section title.
DL Marcus Forston
6-3/290/Senior
Northwestern (Miami, Fla.)
Next Stop: Miami
All-American Credentials: Forston was the anchor for a 6A championship defense that allowed fewer than 10 points per game and shutout five opponents. The future Hurricane recorded 72 tackles and 20 sacks, including three in the state championship game against Orlando Boone.
DL Nick Perry
6-4/230/Senior
King (Detroit, Mich.)
Next Stop: Undecided
All-American Credentials: The Detroit Mackenzie transfer was the biggest surprise in the country this year. He set a Michigan state record with an amazing 36 sacks, tallying 147 tackles in all, including 68 for losses. King became Detroit's first public school state champion after posting a 14-0 record.
LB Arthur Brown
6-2/220/Senior
East (Wichita, Kan.)
Next Stop: Miami
All-American Credentials: While brother Bryce dominated on the offensive side of the ball, the three-time All-State selection led the Wichita East defense. Brown finished with 80 tackles and 8.5 sacks despite missing two games due to injury.
LB Nigel Bradham
6-2/230/Senior
Wakulla (Crawfordsville, Fla.)
Next Stop: Florida State
All-American Credentials: Bradham filled it up in every defensive category for the 8-3 War Eagles. The future Seminole notched 83 solo tackles, including 17 behind the line of scrimmage, picked off three passes - returning one for a touchdown - and recovered a pair of fumbles.
LB Etienne Sabino
6-3/235/Senior
Dr. Krop (Miami, Fla.)
Next Stop: Ohio State
All-American Credentials: Sabino averaged almost 14 tackles per game to finish with 139 during a 7-3 campaign. The future Buckeye notched 18 tackles for losses, recovered two fumbles, made one interception and blocked both a punt and field goal.
DB Nolan Brewster
6-2/200/Senior
Mullen (Denver, Colo.)
Next Stop: Texas
All-American Credentials: Brewster led Mullen with five interceptions and 118 tackles. He also was the leader in kick returns as Mullen posted a 12-1 record and reached the Class 5A state semifinals. He had 275 tackles during his career.
DB T.J. Bryant
6-1/175/Senior
Lincoln (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Next Stop: Undecided
All-American Credentials: When he wasn't busy returning punts and kicks, Bryant was a shut down corner, picking off four passes and breaking up eight others. Bryant also registered 24 tackles for the 10-2 Trojans.
DB Will Hill
6-3/205/Senior
St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.)
Next Stop: Florida
All-American Credentials: The St. Peter's Prep star is the two-time New Jersey Offensive Player of the Year, but defense is his true calling. He had 32 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups and recovered a fumble at safety for the 11-1 Marauders.
DB Patrick Johnson
6-1/190/Senior
Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.)
Next Stop: Miami
All-American Credentials: Johnson did a little bit of everything for the Tigers, but really shined at cornerback, where he picked off five passes. The future Miami Hurricane earned Player of the Year honors by the Sun Sentinel in one of the nation's most talent-rich regions.
Punter Jeff Locke
6-2/195/Senior
Mountain Ridge (Glendale, Ariz.)
Next Stop: UCLA
All-American Credentials: Locke averaged 43.2 yards per punt with an outstanding hang time approaching five seconds on many attempts. He also kicked 11 field goals, including a state-record 63-yarder. He kicked 29-of-32 extra points and 85 percent of his kickoffs were touchbacks.
Second Team Defense
DL Shayne Hale
6-4/235/Senior
Gateway (Monroeville, Pa.)
Next Stop: Undecided
All-American Credentials: A linebacker for most of his high school career, Hale played primarily defensive end as a senior. "(He) just dominated this year," Gateway head coach Terry Smith said. Despite spending some time at defensive end, he finished with 116 tackles, including nine sacks and 25 more for losses. His best game was 15-tackle, two-sack performance against powerful Pittsburgh's Plum High Sept. 28.
DL Toby Jackson
6-4/255/Senior
Griffin (Griffin, Ga.)
Next Stop: Georgia
All-American Credentials: Jackson earned Class AAAA Defensive Player of the Year honors in the Peach State, beating out some impressive candidates from national power Northside Warner Robins and super recruit DeAngelo Tyson of Statesboro. The future Bulldog helped Griffin limit eight of 11 opponents to 17 points or less.
DL Devon Kennard
6-4/235/Junior
Desert Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.)
All-American Credentials: The next Terrell Suggs? Like Suggs, also an Arizona native, Kennard is a sack specialist that moonlights at the running back position - just like Suggs during his days at Hamilton High. A first team All-Arizona selection, Kennard racked up 101 tackles and a state-leading 24 sacks while rushing for 445 yards and five touchdowns for the 9-5 state finalists.
DL Marcus Robinson
6-2/226/Senior
Homestead (Homestead, Fla.)
Next Stop: Miami
All-American Credentials: Robinson made 118 tackles, including 21 sacks and another 12 for losses. He also caused seven fumbles and recovered three as the defensive anchor on a young, inexperienced team that gave powerful Northwestern one if its toughest games of the year - a 28-18 win for the 6A champion Bulls on Sept. 7.
LB Brendan Beal
6-4/245/Senior
Liberty (Bethlehem, Pa.)
Next Stop: Florida
All-American Credentials: Beal, who transferred from New Jersey this fall, made 127 tackles, including 11 sacks and 18 others for losses. His best game was an 18-tackle effort against Easton. He separated his shoulder in the first quarter of his final game, but finished the game.
LB Dorian Bell
6-1/215/Junior
Gateway (Monroeville, Pa.)
All-American Credentials: One of the top juniors in America, Bell racked up 131 tackles and 12 sacks, at time overshadowing teammate and fellow All-American Shayne Hale. Bell and Hale led a Gator defense that held six opponents to seven points or less.
LB Ramon Buchanan
6-3/195/Senior
Palm Bay (Melbourne, Fla.)
Next Stop: Miami
All-American Credentials: Yet another future 'Cane, Buchanan made 108 solo tackles, including 10 sacks. He also had 34 assists and recovered four fumbles. Buchanan helped the Pirate defense crank it up when it mattered most, limiting eight of their last 10 opponents to 14 points or less.
DB Dee Finley
6-3/205/Senior
Auburn (Auburn, Ala.)
Next Stop: Florida
All-American Credentials: CSTV's No. 2 defensive back prospect and No. 18 prospect overall lived up to that lofty status by recording 70 tackles and seven interceptions as a senior for the 8-4-1 Tigers, earning first team All-State honors.
DB Janoris Jenkins
6-0/170/Senior
Pahokee (Pahokee, Fla.)
Next Stop: Florida
All-American Credentials: Jenkins led Pahokee to a 14-0 record, Florida's Class B state title and No. 2 ranking in the state. Despite his 170-pound frame, the future Gator was a fearsome hitter, tallying 99 tackles, including 21 behind the line of scrimmage, and three sacks to go along with five interceptions. Jenkins earned Sun Sentinel small school Player of the Year honors.
DB Rahim Moore
6-2/185/Senior
Dorsey (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Next Stop: UCLA
All-American Credentials: In 12 games, Moore made 112 tackles and six interceptions. A three-year starter at safety, the 4.5 speedster finished his career with 19 interceptions. He also had 18 catches - six for touchdowns - as a receiver.
DB Vaughn Telemaque
6-2/190/Senior
Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.)
Next Stop: Undecided
All-American Credentials: While fellow Jackrabbit All-American Jurrell Casey controlled the line of scrimmage, Telemaque patrolled the secondary, making 71 tackles, eight interceptions, and two sacks. Telemque was also a dangerous punt returner, averaging over 15 yards per return.
Punter Ryan Doerr
6-3/185/Senior
Katy (Katy, Texas)
Next Stop: South Carolina
All-American Credentials: Doerr wasn't used all that much, but did his job well when he was called upon. The South Carolina pledge averaged 42.2 yards per punt, dropping 10 of 29 inside the 20-yard line. Doerr also handled kickoff duties, getting touchbacks on 57 of 108 attempts.
* MaxPreps' Kevin Askeland, Steve Spiewak and Mitch Stephens contributed to this report.
