No. 4 is the anchor for the Big East's leader in total defense.
No. 4, Trevardo Williams, DE, Connecticut
Making the case: Connecticut finished ninth nationally in total defense and that success started up front with Williams. The 6-foot-2, 233-pound senior led the Big East with 11.5 sacks, was sixth in tackles for loss (13.5) and left UConn as the school's career leader in sacks with 30.5. A first-team All-Big East selection by both the conference and by ESPN.com, Williams finished 2012 with 43 total tackles, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. His three sacks were instrumental in a Nov. 24 upset at eventual conference champion Louisville, earning him Big East defensive player of the week honors. He started 30 career games for the Huskies, and the undersized end will now try his hand at the NFL, where Scouts Inc. ranks him 23rd among his position group.
Preseason ranking: No. 6
The countdown
No. 5 Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse
No. 6 Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers
No. 7 Alec Lemon, WR, Syracuse
No. 8 George Winn, RB, Cincinnati
No. 9 Montel Harris, RB, Temple
No. 10 Travis Kelce, TE, Cincinnati
No. 11 Yawin Smallwood, LB, UConn
No. 12 Greg Blair, LB, Cincinnati
No. 13 Ray Graham/Jawan Jamison, RBs, Pitt/Rutgers
No. 14 Mario Benavides, C, Louisville
No. 15 Adrian Bushell, CB, Louisville
No. 16 Sio Moore, LB, UConn
No. 17 Shamarko Thomas, S, Syracuse
No. 18 Scott Vallone, DT, Rutgers
No. 19 Jerome Smith, RB, Syracuse
No. 20 Devin Street, WR, Pitt
No. 21 DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
No. 22 Matt Brown, RB, Temple
No. 23 Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
No. 24 Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple
No. 25 Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt