Continuing our series where we boldly (see: foolishly) make wild guesses as to what the makeup of the depth chart will probably look like come the August 30th kick off against YSU, today we take a look at the 2-time defending Big 10 Champions’ defense. Keeping in mind at least the last 3 national champions have all featured talent heavy, experience laden defenses, this core, at least on paper, seem to fit the bill.
An absurdly premature guesstimation of what the ‘08 defense will resemble:
Defensive End (6): Cameron Heyward (SO), Lawrence Wilson (JR), Thad Gibson (SO), Mark Johnson (DE), Solomon Thomas (FR), Tom Ingham (JR)
Defensive Tackle (6): Todd Denlinger (JR) , Doug Worthington (JR), Dexter Larimore (SO), Nader Abdallah (SR), Rob Rose (JR), Bryan Gray (SR)
Linebackers (10): James Laurinaitis (SR), Marcus Freeman (SR), Curtis Terry (SR), Ross Homan (SO), Austin Spitler (JR), Brian Rolle (SO), Tyler Moeller (SO), Andrew Sweat (FR), Etienne Sabino (FR), Jermale Hines (SO)
Cornerbacks (6): Malcolm Jenkins (SR), Donald Washington (JR), Chimdi Chekwa (SO), Andre Amos (JR), Shaun Lane (SR), James Scott (SO)
Safeties (8): Anderson Russell (JR), Kurt Coleman (JR), Aaron Gant (SO), Jamario O’Neal (SR), Nick Patterson (SR), Nate Oliver (FR), Rocco Pentello (FR), Eugene Clifford (FR)
And for good measure, some speculation as to what the depth chart might look like:

Considering how many returning starters this defense brings back, the really only truly open position battles remaining are that of the Sam Linebacker (which could also be contingent upon Curtis Terry’s role in the offense at fullback), and the defensive tackle spots.
With the girth Rob Rose’s amassed during the off-season, it would probably be unlikely to expect to see him at defensive end again, but a line of Lawrence Wilson, Cam Heyward (moved inside to DT), Rose, and Thaddeus Gibson could present nightmares for opposing offensive lines (assuming Rose is finally able to live up to the monster potential he first showed in the Army All-American Game 2 years ago).
The never really materialized aforementioned suspensions of Donald Washington and Jamario O’Neal would also theoretically shake up the depth charts, but in all likelyhood only the Youngstown State and OU games would be impacted. It’d be shocking, to say the least, if either of those two were to miss the SC game.