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Top 5 Massachusetts College Football Players Filled With Defensive Talent

Boston College:

Mark Herzlich: Linebacker, Sr. 6-4 238

Coming off a season where Herzlich earned the 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year Honors, Herzlich might be one of the most feared players in Massachusetts’s college football. Last season he was also a finalist for the Butkus Award. He led the Eagles with 110 total tackles, six interceptions and averaged 5.79 tackles a game, which was good for 11th in the nation. Although, his football future is still unknown, Herzlich should still be recognized for what he has accomplished this past three seasons on the field.

Matt Tennant: Center, Sr. 6-4 294

Returning for his senior season, Tennant has started every game at center for the past two seasons for the Eagles. He was part of an offensive line that only allowed 21 sacks and helped tailback Montel Harris break BC freshman records with 900 yards on the ground. Tennant was also named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List for this upcoming season.

UMass:

Vladimir Ducasse: Tackle, Sr. 6-6 282

Vladimir Ducasse has been playing since his true freshman campaign in 2006.  As a sophomore, he earned a starting spot as a left tackle on the offensive line. In over 20 career starts he has had a 100-yard rusher in at least 15 of those games. He has also done an amazing job at protecting his quarterback over the past three years. He was recognized on the 2008 CAA All-Conference First Team and was named to the 2009 Preseason All-American Honors from The Sports Network.

Jeromy Miles: Safety, Sr. 6-2 207

Miles, a transfer from Navy, led the Minutemen in tackles last season with 104. Arguably might be one of the best pure athletes on the team and is a born leader. Last year he was named to the CAA All-Conference First Team, was a 2008 Sports Network Second Team All-American, and joined teammate Vladimir Ducasse in earning 2009 Preseason All-American Honors from the Sports Network. Last season, as a junior he made his 200^th career tackle against Maine.

Northeastern University:

Nate Thellen: Defensive Back, Jr. 6-2 208

Thellen is coming off a season where he was named third-team All-CAA team and finished third in the CAA in interceptions. He also had a career high nine tackles against Syracuse. For the upcoming 2009 season, he was named to the 2009 Sports Network Preseason All-American second team. Look to Thellen to be one of Huskies leaders on defense this season.

Tags: Boston College, College, football, Northeastern University, UMass