We're replacing DT Byron Jerideau and DE Devan Taylor. DE Chaz Sutton is penciled in as Taylor's replacement opposite Clowney: as mentioned above he had 5 sacks in a backup role primarily playing in the Rabbit Package. He's not as long as Taylor (who is?) but is a bit more physical.

We'll have a trio of talented DTs in J.T. Surratt (6-2, 307), Gerald Dixon Jr. (6-3, 318), and Phillip Dukes (6-2, 315) competing for Jerideau's spot. Will also see some of Deon Green (6-4, 287). Surrett is currently penciled in as #1 on the depth chart after spring camp, with Dukes backing Quarles...

We return Clowney who everyone knows, and Kelcey Quarles (6-4, 298). Quarles is IMO an All-SEC caliber DT who is set to have a career year for USC...

At DB, we return primary starters at CB in Victor Hampton and Jimmy Legree, as well as SS starter Brison Williams. We'll need to replace D.J. Swearinger, and have a depth chart of Kadetrix Marcus (6-1, 195), T.J. Gurley (5-10, 183), and Chaz Elder (6-2, 199). Marcus is the most experienced, and Gurley came on like gangbusters last season before injuring his ACL - he's expected to be ready for fall camp but I expect we'll go on a heavy rotation until he gets his legs under him...

LB is the biggest question-mark. We replace all 3 starters (including our Spur LB) as well as the 2nd-team. We have a post-spring camp depth chart of Kaiwan Lewis (6-0, 221) and T.J. Holloman (6-2, 228) at Mike, and Cedrick Cooper (6-2, 213) and Marcquis Roberts (6-1, 242) at Will. At this time our LBs are not quite as big as our departed ones who were all 230+, but they are much faster and more athletic, and we should see more blitzing and tackles from our LBs in 2013.

At Spur, we replace a very talented DeVonte Holloman (6-2, 242) with Sharrod Golightly (5-10, 195) and Jordan Diggs (6-0, 214). As with the other LBs we'll lose size here in addition to the obvious experience, but Holloman was a bit too big for the Spur role which requires more mobility to assist in pass coverage: Holloman only totaled 57 tackles in his one year at Spur, while the smaller and faster Antonio Allen (6-2, 202 his final year) totaled 70 and 88 tackles his 2 seasons at the position. We should see more tackles from this spot in '13, IMO...