College football's 10 best defenders

As the old sports adage goes: Defense wins championships.

To that end, here's a look at the 10 best defenders in college football:

Scooby Wright III, LB, Arizona

Wright flew under the radar as a recruit, entering Arizona with just a two-star rating. But that's all been forgotten after a stellar sophomore season that saw the California native earn some serious hardware: the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award, and the Lombardi Award.

Finishing last season with 163 tackles, Wright led the nation in tackles for a loss with 29. The 6-foot-1, 246-pound linebacker rounded out his stat line with 14 sacks and six forced fumbles.

Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Bosa was a vital part of Ohio State's successful national championship run. A unanimous First Team All-American pick, the 6-foot-6, 275-pound defensive end finished last season with a championship ring to go along with his 55 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 13.5 sacks.

Even President Barack Obama recognized Bosa's stardom by doing the defensive end's signature "Bosa Shrug" during the Buckeyes' visit to the White House. Winning.

Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor

Baylor's Oakman isn't just terrifying in meme form, he's also scary for rivals lining up across from him on the field.

The intimidating 6-foot-9, 280-pound defensive end impressed many by racking up 51 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks last season. But analysts suspect that stellar stat line doesn't reflect Oakman's full potential.

Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly continually sings the praises of his outside linebacker.

"I think we all know Smith is one of the most versatile and athletic linebackers in the country," Kelly said. "So we're really excited about Jaylon and what he's been able to do."

Smith is an exciting prospect who followed a solid freshman campaign with a sophomore season that saw his stat line grow to 65 solo tackles, nine total tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. As the Fighting Irish's schedule gets harder, a healthy Smith will likely be key to holding back any high-powered offense.

Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State

In 40 games for the Spartans, Calhoun consistently proved himself worthy of the hype as a vital part of one of the nation's top defenses, collecting 52 solo tackles, 29 tackles for loss, and 16.5 sacks.

Opting for another college year instead of making the leap to the pros, Michigan State can rest easy knowing it has the defensive end in its arsenal for the upcoming season.

Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State

No one has to tell Ramsey he's the best player in college football - the Florida State defensive back reassures himself of that all the time.

Ramsey, who's spent time at both cornerback and safety, has the numbers to back up his bravado. His 79 tackles, 9.5 sacks, two interceptions, and a team-leading 12 pass breakups contributed to a campaign that saw the Seminoles suffer their only loss during the Rose Bowl. This season, he's going back to where he started: wreaking havoc as a corner.

Not only gifted on the football field, Ramsey is also a track star for Florida State, competing in relay, sprinting, and long jump.

Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida

Hargreaves has been consistently good during his college career, even when Florida wasn't.

After garnering some attention as a true freshman, the cornerback turned his game all the way up as a sophomore, frustrating his opponents with 50 tackles and 13 pass breakups while sitting second on the team with three interceptions. He also earned himself a 2014 Bednarik semifinalist nod.

Whatever the upcoming season holds for Hargreaves is sure to be unpleasant for the Gators' rivals.

S'ua Cravens, LB, USC

USC's Cravens has the power to frustrate any offensive coordinator, as he can easily transition into any role his team needs him to fill.

Joining the Trojans as a safety, Cravens was moved to linebacker, giving him the opportunity to showcase his versatility. Playing as a hybrid strong safety and strong-side outside linebacker last season, the 6-foot-1, 225-pounder recorded 68 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, five sacks, nine pass breakups, and three interceptions.

Tanner Vallejo, LB, Boise State

Vallejo made Boise State fun to watch last season. The intensity he brought to the (sometimes blue) field was unrivaled, translating into 100 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks.

And then there were the fabulous, soul-crushing hits. Have you ever seen a spinning spinebuster on Smurf Turf? No mercy.

Myles Jack, LB, UCLA

Jack burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2013, playing both ways for UCLA and capturing the attention of the nation.

The emergence of Paul Perkins last season meant Jack was no longer needed at running back, allowing him to concentrate on linebacker and that focus payed off. Jack notched 87 tackles including eight for a loss.

With Eric Kendricks gone to the NFL, Jack will be asked to shoulder more of the load on the Bruins' defense in 2015 and with his skill set and athleticism, he'll be more than up to the task.