50 Best of the Non-BCS: Number 8
# 8: Safety Barry Church, Toledo
The Verdict: One thing that constantly amazes me about the big name talking heads on ESPN is that they always fail to mention Church when it comes to discussing the nation's top defensive backs. It's not just that Church was a First Team All-MAC selection in 2008 - rather, it's that the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Church was a First Team All-MAC selection each of the past three years. A member of this year's Thorpe Award Watch List, Church has outstanding range for his size and shows the ability to read spread offenses as good as any defender in the country, regardless of conference affiliation. He's a sure tackler with great form, but also an athletic playmaker who shows the ability to make plays in pass defense. A virtual lock to be picked in next spring's NFL draft, Church's hybrid skillset reminds us a lot of former New Mexico star and NFL great Brian Urlacher.
