Top 5 Players From 2010: Number 3

Here are the number three players from 2010, see if you agree with us!

Matt's Number 3: LB DeDe Lattimore

Checking in at number three on my list is sophomore linebacker Devekeyan (DeDe) Lattimore. Lattimore broke onto the scene last year as a freshman, winning a starting job on the defense and became a wrecking force at the linebacker position.

The 6’2” 237-pound linebacker out of Athens, Georgia worked his way onto the field, playing sparingly as a reserve to begin the season. Yet, as the season wore on, Lattimore continued to improve and won a starting job on the first team defense.

Lattimore finished the 2010 season with 69 total tackles, including 6.5 tackles for a loss. He also had 2.5 sacks as well.

Lattimore is a very physical player, coming up to the line and making hard hits and stopping opposing running backs. He is also very fast and fits well in Mark Snyder’s defensive schemes. Snyder likes to keep Lattimore on the outside, allowing him to use his speed to fly to the ball carrier. He had a monster stop against Rutgers where he was able to get off the line and wrap up the ball carrier in the backfield and helped the Bulls notch another win on the year.

Lattimore was named to ESPN’s All Big East freshman team after his break out season and for 2011, he is looking to improve and have a bigger year.

Mike's Number 3: CB Mistral Raymond

If there's one word I can use to sum up Mistral Raymond's impact on this football team, it would be inspiration. Raymond made a huge impression on the field as well as in the hearts of his fellow players. He was selected captain for the squad this year, which was the ultimate sign that his teammates view him as a leader.

On the field this season, Raymond didn't rack up a lot of great looking numbers, but he never failed to make his presence known. I have him at my #3 most important player on the team because his leadership, combined with his hard-hitting ability, was a lethal combination and was a source of fear for Big East competition. The defense was quite honestly what kept this USF team alive all season, so it's only appropriate that one of the most important players on the defense graces our list. Mistral Raymond finished the season with 12 games played, 56 tackles, 7 passes defensed, and a critical interception at Cincinnati. There is a big gap left by Raymond in the USF secondary this year, but we can only hope someone steps in and becomes half the leader that Mistral Raymond was.

What do you think, USF fans? Should they be rated higher than this or lower on the list? Lattimore was a beast in just his freshman year, so the sky is the limit for him. Raymond was a huge influence on the entire team, but may have lacked a bit in the statistics. Leave your thoughts below. Go Bulls!