Aug. 18, 2000 SportsLine.com/Lindy's reports

Keith Adams, LB, Clemson (Jr., 5-11, 220)
	Undersized, but ultra-productive -- hey, the guy had 186 tackles, including 35 for loss and 16 for sacks last season -- Adams rates as the best offense-wrecker in the nation. Talk about a do-it-all player: Rumor is that Adams might be used this season as a running back in short-yardage situations. More...
	Tackles	TFL	INT	PBU	Sacks	Starts
1999	186	35	0	3	16	12
Career	231	35	0	3	16	12

Jamie Winborn, LB, Vanderbilt (Jr., 6-0, 232)
	He's wrapped up more ball-carriers than anyone in the SEC for each of the past two seasons -- 141 as a freshman and 131 last season. He punishes good and bad teams alike; he combined for 47 tackles (eight for loss) in games against SEC East powers Florida, Tennessee and Georgia.
	Tackles	TFL	INT	PBU	Sacks	Starts
1999	141	23	0	2	5.5	11
Career	272	38	0	4	13.5	22

Jashon Sykes, LB, Colorado (Jr., 6-3, 230)
	Sykes holds down the "Hawk" position in Colorado's defense, a spot designed for a playmaker. If he makes those big plays early in the season, everyone will know it because the Buffs play a highly visible opening stretch of games that will make or break their year. More...
	Tackles	TFL	INT	PBU	Sacks	Starts
1999	134	15	0	4	3	11
Career	186	22	1	5	5.5	15

Carlos Polk, LB, Nebraska (Sr., 6-2, 250)
	As the man in the middle, he was plenty busy last season with 83 tackles, 12 on the other side of the line. Considering that the Cornhuskers lost valuable experience at their outside linebacker positions, there will probably be even more for Polk to clean up this season.
	Tackles	TFL	INT	PBU	Sacks	Starts
1999	83	12	0	3	6.5	12
Career	137	23	1	4	8.5	12

Dan Morgan, LB, Miami (Fla.) (Sr., 6-3, 230)
	He inherited the middle linebacker position when Nate Webster declared for the NFL draft, moving over from the weak side. The switch means that Morgan will increase in value in the Miami scheme, and he can do more good by being a mentor to true freshman stud D.J. Williams. More...
	Tackles	TFL	INT	PBU	Sacks	Starts
1999	139	15	0	4	5	12
Career	394	29	0	7	10	31

Saleem Rasheed, LB, Alabama (So., 6-3, 220)
	Everybody loves him in Tuscaloosa. He's a home-state kid with mind-bending athletic skills and an impressive academic resume. After leading the team in tackles as a true freshman, he looks as if he could be one of the best ever at Alabama. More...
	Tackles	TFL	INT	PBU	Sacks	Starts
1999	84	8	0	1	3	12
Career	84	8	0	1	3	12

Markus Stele, LB, Southern California (Sr., 6-3, 220)
	His skills are still a little raw, but with defensive-back speed, Steele delivered on the hype after his arrival from junior college. How good is he? Well, the Trojans don't give uniform No. 55 to just anyone. They give it to guys like Junior Seau, Willie McGinest, Chris Claiborne... and Markus Steele.
	Tackles	TFL	INT	PBU	Sacks	Starts
1999	91	12	1	6	3	12
Career	91	12	1	6	3	12

Pernell Griffin, LB, East Carolina (Jr., 6-3, 240)
	Steve Logan's team is trying to catch Southern Miss in Conference USA, and players like Griffin are a good place to start. He had a season-high 19 tackles against the Golden Eagles last season, and had 17 in a victory against Miami.
	Tackles	TFL	INT	PBU	Sacks	Starts
1999	121	6	2	6	4	11
Career	220	7	2	6	6	22

Eddie Strong, LB, Ole Miss (Jr., 6-2, 248)
	Strong was a playmaker on the outside last season, which was nice, but the coaches thought he could get even more involved this season. So they have planted him in the middle of the Ole Miss defense, where he will be able to roam sideline to sideline, impossible for the offense to avoid.
	Tackles	TFL	INT	PBU	Sacks	Starts
1999	72	7	1	4	3.5	10
Career	138	11	2	4	6	15

Brian Allen, LB, Florida State (Sr., 6-2, 225)
	Somebody from Florida State has to be on this list, and right now it's Allen, who was second on the team with 101 tackles last season. He could later be joined by Tommy Polley, who's working his way back from a knee injury... and freshman Kendyll Pope already has been earmarked as the next great 'Noles 'backer.
	Tackles	TFL	INT	PBU	Sacks	Starts
1999	105	3	1	2	5	10
Career	188	9	6	2	8	13

Roylin Bradley, LB, Texas A&M (Sr., 6-1, 230)
	A&M has four wonderful starting linebackers and depth to die for... so much so that it's not really fair. Bradley is the player who shows up most often on the highlight reels; his seven sacks and 16 tackles behind the line of scrimmage were team highs in 1999.
	Tackles	TFL	INT	PBU	Sacks	Starts
1999	63	16	0	1	7	11
Career	164	37	0	4	20	24

Byron Thweatt, LB, Virginia (Sr., 6-2, 233)
	Thweatt basically went through last season with one arm after suffering a stinger in his left shoulder in the opener, playing through it to earn second-team all-ACC honors. He's healthy now, and the Cavs' defense has been repaired. Virginia won't be giving up 611 yards again -- as it did to Illinois in a bowl game.
	Tackles	TFL	INT	PBU	Sacks	Starts
1999	66	5	1	2	1	11
Career	262	16	3	10	5	33

R E L A T E D   L I N K S

All-America checklist: Quarterbacks All-America checklist: Running backs All-America checklist: Receivers All-America checklist: Tight ends All-America checklist: Offensive linemen All-America checklist: Defensive linemen All-America checklist: Defensive backs All-America checklist: Special teams Spotlight: Jashon Sykes Morgan in the middle of Miami's plans Spotlight: Saleem Rasheed

T O P   N E W S