Linebackers who can get to the passer are at a premium, and two of the top three linebackers in the nation are best known for their pass-rushing ability.

But we certainly don't short-change the linebackers who are big-time run-stuffers.

This is the seventh part of our breakdown of the nation's best players at each position. Today, we're picking the top 20 linebackers. Part one of our position breakdowns was on running backs, followed by wide receivers and tight ends, interior offensive linemen, offensive tackles, defensive tackles and defensive ends.

"Best" doesn't necessarily mean the most pro potential or even the most talent. Instead, it's a mix of what the player has accomplished and how we think the player will do this season. But production does trump potential.

We will look at a position a day until Monday, when we rank all 124 of the nation's quarterbacks. Next, we will look at cornerbacks.

Here are the linebacker rankings.

Jordan Hicks is a big-time player for the Longhorns. (Getty Images)

20. Jordan Hicks, Texas

You're the new starting quarterback for a Big 12 team that lost the school's single-season rushing leader and the best wide receiver in school history, a guy who was an NFL first-round draft pick after setting school records for yards and receptions in a season last fall.

The two best offensive linemen are gone, too.

Oh, yeah: Did we mention that you're replacing the best player in school history, a living, breathing icon who won the Heisman Trophy last fall?

Welcome to your world, Baylor senior quarterback Nick Florence.

Florence forever will be known as the guy who replaced Robert Griffin III. Besides winning the Heisman – at Baylor, remember – Griffin led the Bears to just their second 10-win season in school history in 2011.

He had help from tailback Terrance Ganaway, who rushed for 1,547 yards and 21 touchdowns, both single-season school rushing records, and was a sixth-round pick. And 108 of Griffin's 291 completions went to speedy wide receiver Kendall Wright, who

It's tough to have an elite defense without a solid pass rusher, so coaches at Florida State, LSU, South Carolina and Texas have to be doubly happy this season because each of that quartet has two of the nation's top 20 defensive ends. And one of them has the nation's best.

This is the sixth part of our breakdown of the nation's best players at each position; today, we're picking the top 20 defensive ends. Part one of our position breakdowns was on running backs, part two covered wide receivers and tight ends, part three dealt with interior offensive linemen, part four was on offensive tackles and part five highlighted defensive tackles.

"Best" doesn't necessarily mean the most pro potential or even the most talent. Instead, it's a mix of what the player has accomplished and how we think the player will do this season. But production does trump potential.

We will look at a position a day until Aug. 27, when we rank all 124 of the nation's quarterbacks. Next, we will look at

Realignment has hit Conference USA in a big way, and the league will look a lot different in 2013.

Houston, Memphis, SMU and UCF are leaving for the Big East after this season. FIU and North Texas are coming aboard from the Sun Belt and Louisiana Tech and UT San Antonio are joining from the WAC.

George O'Leary's team currently faces a postseason ban, but the school has appealed. (AP)This season's league race has some intrigue. It appears to be a three-team race in each division, with UCF, Southern Miss and East Carolina vying to wear the East crown, and SMU, Houston and Tulsa the main combatants in the West. Each team has issues, though.

UCF looks to be the best team in the league, but motivation could be a factor. The Knights recently were put on NCAA probation, and as it stands now, they are ineligible for postseason play this fall. But the school has appealed, and it has asked for an expedited ruling. There's a chance the appeal won't be ruled upon until after the season, which means UCF would be free to go to a bowl. The flipside: If the NCAA ends up denying

Today, we unveil the eighth (and last) set of our national unit rankings, on coaching staffs. Our rankings started with offensive backfields, and receiving corps, offensive lines, defensive lines, linebackers, secondaries and special teams have followed.

These rankings take into account what the coaches have accomplished and how we think their teams will do this season.

Here are the coaching staff rankings.

10. Oklahoma State

The hierarchy: Coach Mike Gundy, offensive coordinator Todd Monken, defensive coordinator Bill Young
The buzz: Gundy used to serve as his own OC, but once he gave that up and started focusing more on the big picture, Oklahoma State has gotten better and better. Gundy and his staff have done an excellent job on the recruiting trail maximizing their new facilities. Monken has NFL experience and should be a head coach soon. Young is a veteran who has seen every offense known to man. Offensive line coach Joe Wickline churns out productive units every

For the most part, the nation's best defensive tackles are spread out this season.

The Pac-12 has the best one. The Big Ten and SEC each have four of the top 15. And the Big 12? Zero of the top 15.

This is the fifth part of our breakdown of the nation's best players at each position; today, we're picking the top 15 defensive tackles. Part one of our position breakdowns was on running backs, part two covered wide receivers and tight ends, part three dealt with interior offensive linemen and part four was on offensive tackles.

"Best" doesn't necessarily mean the most pro potential or even the most talent. Instead, it's a mix of what the player has accomplished and how we think the player will do this season. But production does trump potential.

We will look at a position a day until Aug. 27, when we rank all 124 of the nation's quarterbacks. Next, we will look at defensive ends.

Here are the defensive tackle rankings.

15. Aaron Tipoti, California

Particulars:

Hey, have you heard: SEC teams have won six consecutive national titles!

Yeah, OK, if you're not a fan of an SEC team, you're likely sick and tired of hearing about the league's "greatness." Thus, this won't make you happy: A seventh consecutive title is a distinct possibility.

Alabama and LSU played for the national championship last season, with Alabama dominating in a 21-0 victory. Those two teams again look to be head and shoulders above everybody else in the league, and while it's unlikely both will be in Miami for the national title game Jan. 7, it seems a good bet that one of them will. Both are in the top three of nearly every preseason poll, and their Nov. 3 showdown in Baton Rouge – already selected as a prime-time game by CBS – likely will be the national game of the year.

After 20 seasons as a 12-team league, the SEC will be a 14-team conglomeration this fall with the addition of Missouri and Texas A&M from the Big 12. Despite the ill-fitting geography, Mizzou is

To see a prime sampling of the nation's best offensive tackles, make sure to tune into SEC West games this season.

Five of the top seven tackles in the nation play in that division, and LSU and Texas A&M each have two of the top five.

This is the fourth part of our breakdown of the nation's best players at each position; today, we're picking the top 20 offensive tackles. Part one of our position breakdowns was on running backs, part two covered wide receivers and tight ends and part three dealt with interior offensive linemen.

"Best" doesn't necessarily mean the most pro potential or even the most talent. Instead, it's a mix of what the player has accomplished and how we think the player will do this season. But production does trump potential.

We will look at a position a day until Aug. 27, when we rank all 124 of the nation's quarterbacks. Next, we will look at defensive tackles.

Here are the offensive tackle rankings.

20. Tanner Hawkinson, Kansas

Particulars: