2017 AAC Top Returning Defensive Players

The 2017 season is only two weeks away and it is time to talk defense. The AAC has a love/hate relationship with the defensive side of the ball. Sometimes, defenses take over and give us an old fashioned 13-9 type of game. Other times, the defense is nowhere to be found with teams like Memphis and South Florida putting up basketball game scores.

Individually, the 2016 season was a high-water point for the AAC with Haason Reddick of Temple and Obi Melifonwu of UConn both going in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft. Both are very talented, but neither has quite the upside of this new group led by defensive lineman Ed Oliver of Houston.

Let's take a look at who else is back in 2017.

Tackles:

1. Auggie Sanchez, USF: 119 tackles. 9.2 tpg.
2. Micah Thomas, Navy: 107 tackles, 7.6 tpg.
3. Jonathan Cook, Memphis: 88 tackles, 6.8 tpg.
4. Matthew Adams, Houston: 82 tackles, 7.5 tpg.
5. Vontae Diggs, UConn: 84 tackles, 7.0 tpg.
6. Junior Joseph, UConn: 81 tackles, 6.8 tpg.
7. Jarrod Franklin, Tulane: 78 tackles, 6.5 tpg.
8. Jordan Williams, ECU: 77 tackles, 6.4 tpg.
9. Genard Avery, Memphis: 80 tackles, 6.2 tpg.

It seems like Auggie Sanchez has been at USF for six years, but this is finally his final year in Tampa. He, along with Memphis linebacker Genard Avery, are among the defensive players of the AAC looking at futures in the NFL. Props have to go to Jordan Williams of East Carolina for going from redshirting at Shaw University as a freshman to starting multiple years at ECU. 

Diggs and Joseph of UConn could easily lead the league in tackles this fall unless something is done to fix that dreadful offense. 

Sacks:

1. Petera Wilson, Tulsa: 6.5 sacks.
2. Justin Lawler, SMU: 6.0 sacks.
3. DJ Palmore, Navy: 6.0 sacks.
4. Auggie Sanchez, USF: 6.0 sacks.
5. Bruce Hector, USF: 6.0 sacks.
6. Jesse Brubaker, Tulsa: 5.5 sacks.
7. Ed Oliver, Houston: 5.0 sacks.
8. Ade Aruna, Tulane: 5.0 sacks.
9. Genard Avery, Memphis: 5.0 sacks.

It will be a new day for rushing the passer this year as the top five sack artists from 2016 are gone to the NFL. A player to watch this season is defensive lineman Justin Lawler of SMU. Despite being a bit undersized, Lawler has 11 career sacks and lived in the backfield with 15 tackles for loss last season.

One other thing to note is a number of linebackers getting in the action. Sanchez of USF and Avery of Memphis both had 5+ sacks along with Petera Wilson's 6.5 sacks last fall. Wilson had a total of 16 tackles last season with nearly half for loss. 

Tackles for loss:

1. Ed Oliver, Houston: 23.0 tfl.
2. Justin Lawler, SMU: 15.0 tfl.
3. Jesse Brubaker, Tulsa: 13.5 tfl.
4. DJ Palmore, Navy: 11.5 tfl.
5. Luke Carrezola, UConn: 11.0 tfl.
6. Genard Avery, Memphis: 11.0 tfl.
7. Ade Aruna, Tulane: 10.0 tfl.
8. Tony Guerad, UCF: 10.0 tfl.
9. Kevin Mouhon, Cincinnati: 9.5 tfl.

So many expected Ed Oliver to make some noise heading into the fall. Few had him pegged for the ridiculous numbers he put up this fall. 290-pound defensive tackles do not do this.

And just for good measure...

Interceptions (4 or more):

1. Parry Nickerson, Tulane: 4 INT.
2. Jordan Wyatt, SMU: 4 INT.
3. Deatrick Nichols, USF: 4 INT.

Forced Fumbles (3 or more):

1. Jordan Wyatt, SMU: 4 FF.
2. Ed Oliver, Houston: 3 FF.