[FEARtheSPEAR24]

#25 MISSOURI TIGERS
OFFENSE
Missouri’s muddled quarterback picture cleared up in early May with Tyler Gabbert’s surprising announcement that he intended to transfer. Gabbert, the younger brother of 2010 Tiger starter Blaine Gabbert, emerged from spring practice virtually even on the depth chart with sophomore James Franklin. With Gabbert out of the picture, the job will fall to Franklin, who played sparingly in certain offensive packages as Blaine Gabbert’s backup last season.
Franklin, a former 4-star recruit, will have plenty of experienced receivers to throw to. All 14 players who caught a pass for the Tigers last year are back, including leading receiver T.J. Moe (92 receptions for 1,045 yards) and Walter Camp All-America tight end Michael Egnew.
Missouri also returns its top three rushers. De’Vion Moore’s 517 yards led a balanced running back rotation that included Henry Josey (437 yards) and Kendial Lawrence (422). Four returning starters on the line should open up more running lanes and help protect the new quarterback. Left tackle Elvis Fisher has a string of 40 consecutive starts, and Dan Hoch and Austin Wuebbels are entering their third season as starters for a unit that boasts four seniors with a combined 108 starts.

DEFENSE
Despite losing its most feared playmaker in Aldon Smith, who also left early for the NFL, production from this unit could be better. Ends Jacquies Smith and Brad Madison combined for 13 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss last year, with Madison leading the team in both categories. Redshirt freshman Kony Ealy has received comparisons to Aldon Smith after adding 40 pounds from his listed weight of 210 when he first arrived on campus. The return of nose tackle Dominique Hamilton from an ankle injury will be critical to the success of the defense, which struggled when he was lost for the final six games of 2010. Heralded recruit Sheldon Richardson could also be a difference-maker. Considered the nation’s top line recruit two years ago, he’s finally expected to take Faurot Field after a junior college detour.
Missouri’s had a linebacker on the All-Big 12 team in six of the past seven years, and Zaviar Gooden could add to that number if he improves on an impressive sophomore campaign that saw him lead the Tigers with 85 tackles. Will Ebner and Luke Lambert have considerable starting experience, but injuries sidelined the two seniors for a combined 12 games last year. Strong safety Kenji Jackson is the lone returning starter from a secondary that helped the Tigers improve their national ranking from 104th to 37th in pass defense, but Missouri might possess more playmakers in its secondary than it’s had in years.

SPECIALISTS
Combining field goals and extra points, senior Grant Ressel has missed only five kicks in 132 attempts the past two years, with a long field goal of 50 yards. Trey Barrow handled the kickoff duties last year and will likely take over at punter.

FINAL ANALYSIS
Plenty returns from a team that reached 10 wins for the third time in four years, but the lack of experience at quarterback adds a lot of intrigue as the Tigers attempt to compete at the top of the reconfigured Big 12 Conference. Franklin will have only one game under his belt before a nationally televised Friday night game at Arizona State, and Big 12 play begins two weeks later with a Sept. 22 trip to Oklahoma.

KEY PLAYERS
T.J. Moe WR: Made miraculous catch and run to rally Tigers past San Diego State and continued big-play production en route to 1,045 yards.
Dominique Hamilton NT: Defense wasn’t the same when 300-pounder suffered season-ending ankle injury in Oklahoma win.
Michael Egnew TE: Continued the legacy of Tiger tight ends in first season as a starter by catching 90 passes and earning Walter Camp All-America honors.
Brad Madison DE: Started only two games last year but still led Tigers with 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles behind the line. ,
Zaviar Gooden LB: Posted a team-high 85 tackles in his first season as a starter.

2011 SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 3rd Miami (OH)
Sept. 9th at Arizona State
Sept. 17th Western Illinois
Sept. 24th at Oklahoma
Oct. 8th at Kansas State
Oct. 15th Iowa State
Oct. 22nd Oklahoma State
Oct. 29th at Texas A&M
Nov. 5th at Baylor
Nov. 12th Texas
Nov. 19th Texas Tech
Nov. 26th Kansas (@ Kansas City, MO)

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

#24 TEXAS LONGHORNS
OFFENSE
The lack of leadership, playmaking and game-planning on offense in 2010 were huge contributors to the Longhorns’ shocking 5–7 record. The aftermath of Mack Brown’s first losing season as a head coach since 1989 saw him replace five assistant coaches, including 13-year offensive coordinator Greg Davis. Now running the attack is Bryan Harsin, 34, formerly at Boise State, and co-offensive coordinator Major Applewhite, 33, UT’s running backs coach.
Harsin’s offense is full of motion and shifting and unbalanced lines, unlike Davis’, which kept things simple. Until Texas can get its quarterback situation figured out, no one knows how good the offense can be.
Most assumed when quarterback Garrett Gilbert signed with Texas in 2009 as the Gatorade National Player of the Year the Longhorns had found the heir to Vince Young and Colt McCoy. But Gilbert struggled mightily last year, throwing 10 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions, including five in a 39–14 loss at Kansas State. This spring Gilbert found himself in a four-way battle to keep his job with Connor Wood, Case McCoy (younger brother of Colt McCoy) and early enrollee freshman David Ash.
Sophomore Mike Davis, the team’s top returning receiver, appears to be the next big thing at wideout. But the search for playmakers elsewhere on offense continues. Fifth-year senior running backs Fozzy Whittaker and Cody Johnson figure to be pushed by freshman Malcolm Brown, one of the top recruits in the country.
The offensive line, one of the team’s biggest weaknesses in 2010, has to find three new starters and will do so under new position coach Stacy Searels, who had the same job at Georgia the past four years.

DEFENSE
The strength of the Longhorns will once again be the defense. New coordinator Manny Diaz, 37 — who came from Mississippi State to replace former coach-in-waiting Will Muschamp, now the head coach at Florida — is excited about his linebackers, led by seniors Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho, the team’s top two tacklers in 2010. Sophomore outside linebacker Jordan Hicks is a star on the rise.
Texas is loaded at safety with hard-hitting junior Kenny Vaccaro and four-year starter Blake Gideon.
Pass-rushing ends Sam Acho and Eddie Jones have to be replaced. Jackson Jeffcoat, the son of former NFL sack artist Jim Jeffcoat, and Alex Okafor, both 5-star recruits in 2010, will get the first shot. Senior Kheeston Randall is a proven commodity at tackle. But Diaz remains concerned, saying at the end of the spring, “We don’t have anyone on our line who an opposing team would be afraid to block. That has to change.”

SPECIALISTS
Texas should be solid on special teams with veteran kicker Justin Tucker, who was 23-of-27 on field goals in 2010, and impressive redshirt freshman punter William Russ. Punt returns were a nightmare last season because of several muffs, but Davis and freshman Quandre Diggs showed promise in the spring.

FINAL ANALYSIS
Brown’s string of nine consecutive 10-win seasons before 2010 were a big reason ESPN signed on to launch the Longhorn Network for $300 million over 20 years. Now, the network launches this fall as Brown is trying to pick his program up off the deck. No one knows how quickly Texas can bounce back in 2011, but ESPN will be there to document every second.

KEY PLAYERS
Kheeston Randall DT: For a team that struggled to stop the run last season, his veteran presence in the middle of the line will be huge.
Keenan Robinson LB: A tackling machine who led the team in stops with 113 in 2010, Robinson moves from outside to the middle in 2011.
Emmanuel Acho LB: The team’s second-leading tackler in 2010, Acho is a leader who brings swagger and speed sideline to sideline.
Kenny Vaccaro S: The biggest hitter on the team. You hear him play football by the sound of his physical contact.
Mike Davis WR: Texas’ top returning receiver should be the next big thing at wideout in an offense that desperately needs playmakers.

2011 SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 3rd Rice
Sept. 10th BYU
Sept. 17th at UCLA
Oct. 1st at Iowa State
Oct. 8th Oklahoma
Oct. 15th Oklahoma State
Oct. 29th Kansas
Nov. 5th Texas Tech
Nov. 12th at Missouri
Nov. 19th Kansas State
Nov. 24th at Texas A&M
Dec. 3rd at Baylor

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

Will post 2 teams a day.. Here are #25 & #24

[Pew Pew]

Please have UCLA in the top 25. Please.

[chunk]

If you did this for all the D1 teams,I wouldn't have to get Steele's annual preview. Just kidding, nice job Spear.

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

#23 WISCONSIN BADGERS
OFFENSE
UW has featured a balanced attack since offensive coordinator Paul Chryst returned in 2005, but the Badgers could be a bit more run-heavy in 2011, particularly early. Chryst has to replace quarterback Scott Tolzien, who completed 72.9 percent of his passes in winning the Unitas Award last season and was 21–5 in two seasons a starter. Also gone is tight end Lance Kendricks, who led UW in catches (43), receiving yards (663) and touchdown catches (five) last season, as well as three experienced wide receivers.
Despite the loss of All-Americans Gabe Carimi at left tackle and John Moffitt at left guard, UW’s line should be very good. Three starters are back from last season and four other players have at least one start. And with James White (1,052 yards, 14 TDs) and Montee Ball (996, 18) returning, UW figures to have the best 1-2 tailback punch in the Big Ten.
Sophomore quarterback Jon Budmayr, who played in three games last season, should win the starting job in camp. If UW can run the ball early, Budmayr should have time to grow into the starting role before league play opens.

DEFENSE
UW must replace five players who started in the Rose Bowl against TCU. The most critical loss is at defensive end, where J.J. Watt (21 tackles for a loss, seven sacks) often dominated opponents. Line coach Charlie Partridge acknowledges that no single player will be able to match Watt’s productivity. Three players must elevate their level of production for the unit to be a strength — ends Louis Nzegwu and David Gilbert and tackle Patrick Butrym. Butrym was the most consistent tackle on the team last year, but he needs to be more disruptive and make more plays in the backfield, though. Nzegwu and Gilbert are solid against the run, in part because they face a power-running game every day in practice. Both need to apply more consistent pressure on the quarterback.
UW has the makings of a solid linebacker corps if outside linebacker Mike Taylor and middle linebacker Chris Borland can avoid injury. Borland missed the last 11 games last season after season-ending shoulder surgery.
The front seven should be stout against the run but must generate more consistent pressure on quarterbacks. The secondary struggled in coverage last season, and with the loss of cornerback Niles Brinkley, it appears the secondary won’t be significantly better in 2011.catches (36) and yards (459).

SPECIALISTS
The staff should be confident in punter Brad Nortman and kicker Philip Welch, both of whom enjoyed solid seasons in 2010 and will be seniors. The return and coverage units are the problem areas. UW must find a replacement for David Gilreath, who handled punt and kick returns. The coverage units allowed too many big returns last season.

FINAL ANALYSIS
Despite the loss of several outstanding starters, UW appears equipped to challenge Ohio State for the Leaders Division title and a berth in the first Big Ten Championship Game. UW should be able to run the ball effectively, meaning Budmayr won’t have to be spectacular to keep the offense humming.
Losing Watt is huge, but Borland was a defensive force as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2009. If he can stay healthy, the loss of Watt won’t be so profound.
The bottom line is that the staff has recruited enough talent, particularly on both lines, to compete for a division title.

KEY PLAYERS
Montee Ball, RB: Emerged late to lead team in rushing TDs with 18 and averaged 6.1 yards per carry.
Ricky Wagner, LT: Moves from right tackle to left tackle and is good enough to replace Gabe Carimi, the Outland Trophy winner.
Nick Toon, WR: Missed four games because of injuries last season but still led the wide receivers in catches (36) and yards (459).

2011 SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 1st UNLV
Sept. 10th Oregon State
Sept. 17th Northern Illinois (at Chicago, IL)
Sept. 24th South Dakota
Oct. 1st Nebraska
Oct. 15th Indiana
Oct. 22nd at Michigan State
Oct. 29th at Ohio State
Nov. 5th Purdue
Nov. 12th at Minnesota
Nov. 19th at Illinois
Nov. 26th Penn State

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

If you did this for all the D1 teams,I wouldn't have to get Steele's annual preview. Just kidding, nice job Spear.

lol thanks bro, I'm new to sbrforum. College Football is my favorite sport, cant wait for it to start

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

Please have UCLA in the top 25. Please.

as much as I would like to I cant do that bro sorry hah. Congrats on beatin Texas tho last year, have to admit I liked watching that beating

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

#22 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
OFFENSE
Kirk Cousins, honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2010, will be one of the best pocket-passing quarterbacks in the country. Cousins throws downfield effectively and is a superb leader as a third-year captain.
Edwin Baker is the Big Ten’s leading returning rusher among running backs. He ran harder and with improved vision in the spring. He is a difference-maker. Bruising Le’Veon Bell added leg strength and is seeking improved durability after rushing for 605 yards as a true freshman in 2010. Few programs have as talented a third-string running back as Larry Caper.The Spartans are stacked at wide receiver. Consistent, clutch split end B.J. Cunningham needs 10 catches to become Michigan State’s all-time leader in receptions. His more explosive counterpart Keshawn Martin is among the Big Ten’s best in all-purpose yardage. Big-bodied, athletic Bennie Fowler is a star on the rise.
Michigan State must replace starters at center and both offensive tackle positions, but will fill those slots with upgraded talent and athleticism at each position. Left guard Joel Foreman and right guard Chris McDonald are sturdy and battle-tested. Overall physicality is not yet up to coach Mark Dantonio’s expectations. Questions at left tackle, where gifted defensive line transplant Dan France is the likely starter, will determine how good this offense can be.

DEFENSE
Michigan State will have its strongest defensive line interior of the Dantonio era, led by junior Jerel Worthy, who was honorable mention all-conference in 2010. Tall defensive ends William Gholston and Tyler Hoover bothered Cousins’ vision in the spring. Gholston has star potential.
Coaches are challenging sophomore middle linebacker Max Bullough to eventually be better than two-time All-America Greg Jones. Bullough is more of an inside banger and film rat, but not quite as quick as Jones. Chris Norman is long, strong and poised for a breakthrough as a second-year starter, moving to the strong side.
In the secondary, two good starters return and two promising replacements are stepping in. Second-team All-Big Ten safety Trenton Robinson provides quality in all categories as the new leader of the unit. Field cornerback Johnny Adams is fearless and sticky. Sophomore strong safety Isaiah Lewis is a punishing hitter and more talented than his predecessor. If the talented new faces can continue State’s recent trend of same-page accountability in the back row, the Spartan defense will be stout.

SPECIALISTS
Kicker Dan Conroy was 14-of-15 in 2010 with a long of 50. Redshirt freshman punter Mike Sadler looks promising as the replacement for dynamic Aaron Bates. Martin is a quality return man, and the Spartans’ coverage units are improving as Dantonio’s roster continues to fill out and mature.

FINAL ANALYSIS
Michigan State may be as good, or possibly better, than a year ago, but will have trouble approaching last year’s shiny 11–2 record. Ohio State and Nebraska are now on the schedule, and both games are on the road. The Spartans must also travel to Notre Dame and Iowa.
Michigan State may not have an equal in the Big Ten at the offensive skill positions. Coaches expect the offensive line to get squared away by September, but it won’t be an area of strength. How well that unit comes along will determine whether Michigan State can make another run at double-digit wins.

KEY PLAYERS
Kirk Cousins, QB: Has the arm and accuracy to zip the 20-yard out, and the guts to play through pain and inspire teammates.
Edwin Baker, RB: May emerge as the best running back in the Big Ten. 
Jerel Worthy, DT: Needs to be less of a teddy bear and more of a grizzly if he wants to go from good to great.

2011 SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 3rd Youngstown State
Sept. 10th Florida Atlantic
Sept. 17th at Notre Dame
Sept. 24th Central Michigan
Oct. 1st at Ohio State
Oct. 15th Michigan
Oct. 22nd Wisconsin
Oct. 29th at Nebraska
Nov. 5th Minnesota
Nov. 12th at Iowa
Nov. 19th Indiana
Nov. 26th at Northwestern

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

#21 SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
OFFENSE
Finally with some experienced weapons in tow, Steve Spurrier’s South Carolina program has some substantiated expectations for a change. Not that the Ball Coach believes the Gamecocks are deserving, even though they won nine games in 2010 and reached the SEC title game for the first time in the program’s history.
“We don’t deserve much preseason ranking,” Spurrier says.Why not, Coach? For starters, the Gamecocks bring back All-America candidates at running back and receiver. Sophomore Marcus Lattimore rushed for 1,197 yards last season, breaking the school’s freshman rushing record by 349 yards. And now he’s getting his first legit opportunity in the school’s weight program. Alshon Jeffery does not wow with speed, but physicality and consistency allowed him to rack up eight 100-yard games last season.
As usual, much of the team’s success will be determined by its mercurial quarterback, Stephen Garcia. Suspended indefinitely to close out the spring — the fifth time he’s been suspended — Garcia could as easily flame out as he could spark the team. But when Garcia is on, he is on.
The offensive line is again a giant question mark, even though this is the first time since 2008 that it retains the position coach for a second straight season.

DEFENSE
As much as Lattimore was a game-changer for the offense, the Gamecocks are hopeful Jadeveon Clowney does the same for the defense. They’re not shy about that, either.
“Signing players like Jadeveon ups our expectations,” Spurrier says.
South Carolina allowed an average of 15 points in its nine wins. In its five losses, however, the Gamecocks were torched for 37.8 points.
Clowney is a 6'6", 245-pound machine designed to get to the quarterback. He’ll have help from All-SEC rusher Devin Taylor (7.5 sacks in 2010) on the opposite end. Throw in Melvin Ingram (nine sacks), who can play both tackle and end, and tackle Travian Robertson, and the Gamecocks have one of the best starting defensive lines in the country. Linebacker will be an improved position with the return of Shaq Wilson from a hamstring injury that cost him the 2010 season. Moving physical junior DeVonte Holloman from strong safety to Spur linebacker figures to bolster a group that was previously a bit undersized.
The secondary regularly struggled in 2010, but moving senior Akeem Auguste back to his familiar corner spot should go a long way toward steadying things. Expect Stephon Gilmore to bounce back at the opposite corner. D.J. Swearinger must take over as a leader at free safety.

SPECIALISTS
Spencer Lanning, who kicked field goals the past two seasons and punted the past three, will be sorely missed by the Gamecocks. The audition for both placekicker and punter will extend into August. There are some big-leg options, such as North Carolina transfer Jay Wooten and Joey Scribner-Howard, but no one has proven he can consistently put the ball through the uprights.

FINAL ANALYSIS
A bevy of opportunities is again out there for Offense PerGame SEC National South Carolina. A relatively soft division. A manageable schedule. A host of returning talent, along with the addition of the nation’s top recruit.
But there are some issues, most notably with Garcia at quarterback. And keep in mind that even in a breakthrough season, South Carolina still lost five games in 2010. A repeat in the SEC East is definitely a possibility — but the Gamecocks still have plenty to prove.

KEY PLAYERS
Marcus Lattimore, RB: Has pedal to metal in weight room to improve on terrific freshman season. He should be one of the best running backs in the nation in 2011.
Alshon Jeffery, WR: Safety net for any quarterback in the game. Catches everything. Faster than you think, too.
Stephon Gilmore, CB: Had decent sophomore season, but several lapses. Expect a bounce-back year before leap to NFL.

2011 SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 3rd East Carolina (in Charlotte, NC)
Sept. 10th at Georgia
Sept. 17th Navy
Sept. 24th Vanderbilt
Oct. 1st Auburn
Oct. 8th Kentucky
Oct. 15th at Mississippi State
Oct. 29th at Tennessee
Nov. 5th at Arkansas
Nov. 12th Florida
Nov. 19th The Citadel
Nov. 26th Clemson

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

#20 USC TROJANS
OFFENSE
Lane Kiffin’s specialty is offense, and in his second season as head coach, he will try to return the Trojans to the good, old, high-scoring days. Any team located just a couple of deep post patterns from Hollywood needs star power, and the Trojans will have their share. Quarterback Matt Barkley, who improved dramatically as a sophomore, will attempt to raise the bar again, with the help of what could be his most skilled set of wide receivers yet.
Robert Woods, the 2010 Pac-10 Offensive Freshman of the Year, becomes his new go-to guy. The other receiver position is wide open, but look for freshman George Farmer — a bigger, faster Woods clone from the same high school — to get an early shot at the job. Redshirt freshman Kyle Prater also should be a major contributor, if he’s healthy.
USC is no longer Tailback U, but that doesn’t mean it lacks gifted runners. Senior Mark Tyler should get the majority of the carries, although shifty sophomore Dillon Baxter and swift redshirt freshman D.J. Morgan will both get their opportunities. Fullback is a mystery, with true freshman Soma Vainuku the only non-walk-on listed on the roster.
The real key is an offensive line that has been badly depleted. Among the returning linemen, only left tackle Matt Kalil and center Khaled Holmes were starters a year ago. A talented but raw group of kids will have to figure it out quickly, or it will be a problem.

DEFENSE
This is the unit that has everyone worried. A year ago, the defense gave up 400.1 yards per game, the most in recent school history. It certainly didn’t resemble any of the famous defenses previously directed by coordinator Monte Kiffin, Lane’s 71-year-old father who was a legendary NFL assistant.
If there is a strength to this unit, it is up front, where there is a talented core of experienced players led by end Nick Perry. The linebacking was something less than credible a year ago, and if such players as Chris Galippo and Devon Kennard don’t take it up a notch, watch out for freshman Lamar Dawson.
The secondary is led by All-Pac-12 candidate T.J. McDonald at free safety, pesky cornerback Nickell Robey and spring star Tony Burnett, a former walk-on who looks like the other starter at corner.

SPECIALISTS
New special teams coach John Baxter made startling improvements in this unit in his first season. Now he begins with a strong-legged freshman, Andre Heidari, as his likely placekicker and Kris Albarado, another freshman, as his punter. Heidari will kick off. Woods, Farmer and Curtis McNeal will return kicks.

FINAL ANALYSIS
By the old Pete Carroll glory day standards, USC has been in something of a slump for the past two seasons, Carroll’s last and Kiffin’s first. The surprising record over that span is an undistinguished 17–9.
For Kiffin to get the Trojans’ mojo back, he will need his questionable offensive line to mesh early and provide the strong-armed Barkley with the kind of protection he needs. If that happens, the Trojans — featuring Tyler, Morgan, Woods and Farmer — could score plenty of points. Defensively, though, there has to be a major improvement, especially with the schedule calling for road trips to Oregon and Notre Dame.
At least the first-year Pac-12 schedule allows Kiffin to play five conference home games and seven overall. The problem is, in order to return to 10 victories, he might have to win all of them.

KEY PLAYERS
Matt Barkley, QB: If he keeps improving, Barkley can be one of the best quarterbacks in the country. 
Robert Woods, WR: Mr. Excitement as a Freshman All-America receiver, and he figures to only get better. 
T.J. McDonald, FS: He’s the leader and best tackler on a defense that needs to improve quickly. 

2011 SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 3rd Minnesota
Sept. 10th Utah
Sept. 17th Syracuse
Sept. 24th at Arizona State
Oct. 1st Arizona
Oct 13th at California
Oct. 22nd at Notre Dame
Oct. 29th Stanford
Nov. 4th at Colorado
Nov. 12th Washington
Nov. 19th at Oregon
Nov. 26th UCLA

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

#19 MIAMI HURRICANES
OFFENSE
As a sophomore in 2009, Jacory Harris was considered a Heisman Trophy candidate and a sure bet as the next star at Quarterback U. But Harris isn’t even certain of being a starter after a woeful junior season marred by injuries and interceptions. Pushing Harris for the starting job is Stephen Morris, who started the last four regular-season games after Harris sustained a concussion. Morris was only 2–2 in his starts but impressed with his poise, arm strength and athletic ability.
Lamar Miller and Storm Johnson might be the two fastest tailbacks in the ACC and are expected to provide the long-distance capability lacking in the team’s running game in recent years. But they both may take a back seat to Mike James, a tough and smart runner who has the edge in experience.
Receivers LaRon Byrd and Travis Benjamin have unique physical talent, but their contributions haven’t always matched their skills because of dropped passes and mental gaffes. Offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch plans to use a scheme primarily employing two tight ends. Blake Ayles, a USC transfer who will be eligible immediately, is the biggest and most experienced among a half-dozen tight ends fighting for playing time.
The offensive line, which returns four starters, is the team’s strongest position group.

DEFENSE
More question marks than sure things on this side of the ball. The interior of the defensive line could be a big worry. Tackle Marcus Forston is a talent who’s fallen far short of his potential because of injuries. The end positions look like a strength with Adewale Ojomo and Olivier Vernon, who combined for 11 sacks last year and could push that number up around 20 this season.
Outside linebacker Sean Spence is the best player Miami will put on the field. Bulked up to 224 pounds, Spence is a ferocious hitter who does most of his damage behind the line of scrimmage. He could move to the middle if neither Jordan Futch nor Jimmy Gaines proves capable.
Both cornerbacks will be first-time starters at the position. Brandon McGee is fast and quick but has struggled in limited duty. The other starter figures to be JoJo Nicolas, who moved to corner from safety during spring practice. The starting safeties are set with Vaughn Telemaque and Ray-Ray Armstrong, a ferocious hitter. But, like every other position on defense, safety depth is virtually nonexistent.

SPECIALISTS
Matt Bosher’s departure means that a new placekicker, punter and kickoff specialist will have to be found. Junior college transfer Dalton Botts will be the punter while either Jake Wieclaw or Matt Goudis will kick. Miami has no shortage of potential kick and punt returners.

FINAL ANALYSIS
Al Golden inherits a team with a solid talent base that has the capacity, if everything goes right, to contend for the school’s first ACC Coastal Division title. But there are also many challenges awaiting the Hurricanes’ new coach. Foremost among them is ridding his new team of its penchant for undisciplined, boneheaded mistakes. Last season, Miami ranked near the bottom nationally in both penalties and turnovers.
Golden is also tasked with finding a starting quarterback, creating depth on a depleted defense and re-energizing a fanbase that lost patience with the team’s bumbling ways. The schedule — which includes trips to FSU, Virginia Tech and North Carolina — won’t be Golden’s friend, either.

(Many people may assume this is a biased opinion because I am an FSU fan, but where I've placed them in my top 25 is MORE than generous)

KEY PLAYERS
Sean Spence, LB: Arguably the ACC’s best linebacker; provides big hits and does his best work behind the line of scrimmage. 
Lamar Miller, RB: It’s up to Miller and his backfield cohorts to return Miami’s ground game to prominence. 
Olivier Vernon, DE: Skilled pass-rusher could easily double his 2010 sack total of six. 

2011 SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 5th at Maryland
Sept. 17th Ohio State
Sept. 24th Kansas State
Oct. 1st Bethune-Cookman
Oct. 8th at Virginia Tech
Oct. 15th at North Carolina
Oct. 22nd Georgia Tech
Oct. 27th Virginia
Nov. 5th Duke
Nov. 12th at Florida State
Nov. 19th at South Florida
Nov. 25th Boston College

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

#18 WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
OFFENSE
West Virginia’s offense has gone through a makeover. Dana Holgorsen was brought in from Oklahoma State as the new offensive coordinator and head coach in-waiting. A Hal Mumme “Air Raid” offense disciple, Holgorsen — and a whole new offensive staff — will try to bring back the fast tempo WVU lost when Rich Rodriguez departed.
Quarterback Geno Smith is among seven starters returning on offense. Smith has had two foot surgeries, but when healthy, he’s effective. His 2,763 passing yards and 2,980 total yards were school records for a sophomore. He finished last season No. 1 in the Big East in pass efficiency (144.7) and No. 2 in total offense (229.2 ypg) and passing yards per game (212.5).
Smith will demand more of the spotlight because of Holgorsen’s offense and the loss of Noel Devine, WVU’s all-time all-purpose yardage leader. Shawne Alston, a bigger back at 5'11", 219 pounds, will probably take Devine’s spot.
The receiving corps will certainly receive more work. Holgorsen likes the talent on hand. “It’s probably the best-looking group I’ve had,” he says.
Leading the way will be big-play junior Tavon Austin, a second-team All-Big East selection in 2010. Watch, however, for a breakout season from 6'3" sophomore Ivan McCartney.For the second year in a row, WVU returns four starters on the offensive line.

DEFENSE
Defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel has his work cut out. In the last four years, WVU’s defenses have ranked No. 8, 11, 31 and 3 nationally in scoring. But gone are anchors Scooter Berry and Chris Neild from the front of the 3-3-5 odd stack. The good news is that end-turned-tackle Julian Miller returns, and Bruce Irvin is being inserted as an every-down end. Irvin played mostly on third downs last season, yet led the Big East in sacks with 14, a number that ranked second nationally.
Linebacker could be a problem area, with only one returning starter, Najee Goode. WVU also lost a trio of talented defensive backs, including Robert Sands, who declared early for the NFL Draft. The Mountaineers do, however, return Spur safety Terence Garvin, who led the team in tackles last season. Also back is cornerback Keith Tandy, whom the school is touting as an All-America candidate. He led the Big East in interceptions with six last season.

SPECIALISTS
In the area of special teams, there are more than a few areas of concern. Among them is the search for the team’s fourth punter in four years. Also, WVU is hoping kicker Tyler Bitancurt returns to form. He converted 13-of-15 field goal attempts as a freshman but hit only 10-of-17 last season. Punt and kickoff return play also needs improvement.

FINAL ANALYSIS
There’s a new sheriff in Morgantown. In a bit of a twist, the old sheriff is still around. In is Holgorsen, who takes over the offense this season and the team next season. Also in, though, for this season only, is Bill Stewart, who retained his head coaching job for 2011. “Our chemistry,” Stewart says, “has to be one of high value.” The coach is referring to his team, but chemistry among the staff will be key. If it meshes, WVU should be in fine shape. Holgorsen’s track record with offenses is stellar. Casteel also has a fine national reputation.
The Mountaineer schedule sets up nicely. LSU visits Morgantown. And in Big East play, WVU hosts Connecticut, Louisville and Pitt.

KEY PLAYERS
Geno Smith, QB: When healthy, Smith is calm, efficient — and one of the Big East’s best signal-callers. 
Tavon Austin, WR: The most lethal offensive threat on WVU’s roster. 
Bruce Irvin, DE: Mostly played on passing downs in 2010 — and still led the Big East in sacks. 

2011 SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 4th Marshall
Sept. 10th Norfolk State
Sept. 17th at Maryland
Sept. 24th LSU
Oct. 1st Bowling Green
Oct. 8th Connecticut
Oct. 21st at Syracuse
Oct. 29th at Rutgers
Nov. 5th Louisville
Nov. 12th at Cincinnati (Paul Brown Stadium)
Nov. 25th Pittsburgh
Dec. 1st at South Florida

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

#17 FLORIDA GATORS
OFFENSE
While there is a lot new about the 2011 Gators, there are some songs that remain the same. For one, there is the chirping about the quarterback. John Brantley returns for his senior season after the disaster that was 2010. Brantley was the recipient of much of the blame as the Gators stumbled to an 8–5 record. He ended up sharing the position with two other players for the last half of the season.
New coach Will Muschamp has made it clear that Brantley will be the starter despite a brutal performance in the spring game. Florida is hoping that new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis can salvage a good season out of his quarterback, who waited for his chance behind Tim Tebow, flopped badly and now has to learn a whole new offense.
Brantley will be playing behind a re-tooled offensive line and throwing to a group of receivers who have done little in their college careers. But Florida’s coaches believe players like wide receiver Quinton Dunbar and running back Chris Rainey are on the verge of something special. Rainey missed five games because of suspension last year and only had 366 yards, but he averaged 7.2 yards per carry. He will be featured in Weis’ offense. “I can see the field so much better and pick out the spots where I want to run,” Rainey says.
Last year’s other two quarterbacks have found a home, Jordan Reed at tight end and Trey Burton at fullback.

DEFENSE
The Gators could very well be a team that relies on its defense, even though seven starters must be replaced. The backups a year ago received plenty of playing time and are poised to take on leading roles.
Florida should be better up front with sophomores Sharrif Floyd and Dominique Easley at tackles and Ronald Powell playing the hybrid end-linebacker Buck position — which Muschamp used when he was with the Miami Dolphins and had Jason Taylor.
Jelani Jenkins may be the key to the defense, because he’s got the talent to be an All-SEC player as an outside backer. The middle will be manned by Jon Bostic, who made a big impact last season. The secondary is a concern, especially after All-SEC cornerback Janoris Jenkins was dismissed from the team in late April following his second arrest in three months on possession of marijuana.
A year ago, Florida fared well statistically on defense, but some of the numbers were misleading. The Gators failed to make big plays when it mattered most in losses to Alabama, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina and Florida State.

SPECIALISTS
The biggest challenge on special teams will be to replace Chas Henry, the nation’s best punter a year ago who doubled as the field goal kicker. Caleb Sturgis returns from a back injury to be the placekicker, and freshman Kyle Christy is expected to handle the punting duties. Florida can be dynamic in the return game, with Andre Debose handling kickoffs and Rainey running back punts.

FINAL ANALYSIS
Florida has a team with young and mostly unproven talent and a coach who is in his first year. You add in one of the nation’s toughest schedules, and it could be a recipe for disaster. Of course, the last time Florida had a such a tough stretch the media nicknamed it “The Gauntlet.” That was in 2006, the year of Urban Meyer’s first national championship.
Muschamp put together a great staff to work with a team that is not short on talent. Don’t look for the Gators in a BCS bowl this year, but they will be a factor in the SEC East race.

KEY PLAYERS
John Brantley, QB: The senior has all the tools and has a year’s worth of experience, but you have to wonder about his confidence level. 
Chris Rainey, RB: After a tumultuous 2010 season, Rainey returns with a new offense that will feature his many attributes. 
Jelani Jenkins, LB: Gator defense needs a big year from the talented but inconsistent outside linebacker. 

2011 SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 3rd Florida Atlantic
Sept. 10th UAB
Sept. 17th Tennessee
Sept. 24th at Kentucky
Oct. 1st Alabama
Oct. 8th at LSU
Oct. 15th at Auburn
Oct. 29th vs. Georgia (at Jacksonville)
Nov. 5th Vanderbilt
Nov. 12th at South Carolina
Nov. 19th Furman
Nov. 26th Florida State

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

#16 ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
OFFENSE
Duplicating the production of the nation’s No. 9 total offense will not be easy for the Razorbacks, even with virtually all their top running backs and receivers returning. Tyler Wilson is the likely replacement for record-setting quarterback Ryan Mallett. Wilson doesn’t have the snap delivery and a howitzer arm like Mallett, but he’s heady and relatively accurate and throws on the run well.
Arkansas might boast the best crop of receivers in the country, and their skills are diverse. Joe Adams is dangerous in the slot as an open-field terror. Jarius Wright increased his already impressive speed in the offseason, and he’s a terrific downfield blocker. Greg Childs, who is coming off knee surgery, and Cobi Hamilton are big-play threats and fade-route experts. This group needs to cut down on its drops to be considered the best.
Knile Davis led SEC running backs with 1,322 rushing yards, but the junior will be pushed by classmate Ronnie Wingo, whose dedication to running between the tackles rose to a new level in the spring. Dennis Johnson, who has recovered from injury, can’t be forgotten, while senior Broderick Green is lost for the year with a torn ACL.
The offensive line will have two new tackle starters out of a mix that includes Anthony Oden, Grant Freeman, Jason Peacock and true freshman Brey Cook. Interior linemen Travis Swanson, Alvin Bailey and Grant Cook have all been starters. The line struggled a bit in the spring.

DEFENSE
The defense, often overlooked in Petrino’s first three seasons, had a strong spring with the talent level rivaling the more hyped offense. The Razorbacks rose 53 spots to No. 36 nationally in total defense last season and should improve on that finish with a veteran group.
The returning starters are headlined by a pair of 2010 captains, end Jake Bequette and linebacker Jerry Franklin, along with safety Tramain Thomas and cornerbacks Isaac Madison and Darius Winston.
The defensive tackle rotation is one to rival the SEC’s best, with D.D. Jones and Byran Jones (both out in the spring recovering from surgery) supported by junior college transfer Robert Thomas, Alfred Davis and seniors Lavunce Askew and Zach Stadther. Arkansas’ coaches believe the Hogs will be a strong run-stopping unit and be able to apply pressure better with a four-man rush than in years past.
Franklin has a shot at leading the team in tackles for four consecutive years. He and Jerico Nelson will be the leaders of the linebacking corps.

SPECIALISTS
Zack Hocker is back at kicker after a freshman season in which he made 16-of-19 field goals, including 7-of-9 from 40 yards and out. Dylan Breeding showed a stronger leg in the spring after averaging 42.5 yards per punt. Adams was the nation’s No. 5 punt returner with a 15.6-yard average, and Johnson, a kickoff return ace, is back from injury.

FINAL ANALYSIS
Arkansas must find a way to reach its potential in the running game early in 2011 to take pressure off Wilson and the passing attack. The good news is that even if the offense struggles a bit early, the Razorbacks’ defense should be good enough to win some games.
Alabama and LSU are the favorites in the SEC West, but if things break right for the Hogs, a division title isn’t out of the question.

KEY PLAYERS
Knile Davis, RB: Came on strong in the last half of the 2010 season to lead all SEC running backs with 1,322 yards, including five games of 130 or more yards. 
Greg Childs, WR: One of the SEC's best in 2010 before suffering a knee injury, Childs posted 659 receiving yards and six touchdowns in eight games. 
Jake Bequette, DE: A graduate student who’s headed to law school in the future, Bequette is a team leader who recorded seven sacks and five hurries in 2010. 

2011 SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 3rd Missouri State
Sept. 10th New Mexico (Little Rock, AR)
Sept. 17th Troy
Sept. 24th at Alabama
Oct. 1st Texas A&M (Arlington, TX)
Oct. 8th Auburn
Oct. 22nd at Ole Miss
Oct. 29th at Vanderbilt
Nov. 5th South Carolina
Nov. 12th Tennessee
Nov. 19th Mississippi State (Little Rock, AR)
Nov. 25th at LSU

[RPP]

Ark has the Heisman winner in Knile Davis.

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

#15 TCU HORNED FROGS
OFFENSE
The face of the Horned Frogs will have a new look. Andy Dalton has moved onto the NFL, which leaves the reins to Casey Pachall, a sophomore who arrived at TCU as a highly touted recruit in January 2009. Pachall has the skills, but it remains to be seen whether he can come close to replacing Dalton’s leadership.
Pachall has big-play receivers in Josh Boyce and Antoine Hicks, plus the speedy Skye Dawson. Boyce led TCU in receiving with 646 yards as a freshman in 2010. The Frogs may use their tight ends more to give Pachall time to develop his sea legs early in the season with shorter, high-percentage passes to big targets Logan Brock and Corey Fuller.
Ed Wesley leads a stacked group of running backs that includes Matthew Tucker and Waymon James, who were the Frogs’ second- and third-leading rushers last season, and two backs with a ton of hype — redshirt freshman Dwight Smith, who shined in the spring, and Aundre Dean, a one-time UCLA Bruin and a former 4-star recruit.
A bigger area of concern than the loss of Dalton is the offensive line. Only guard Kyle Dooley returns as a full-time starter to a unit that held opponents to just nine sacks in 2010. Left tackle James Dunbar and center James Fry are tasked with replacing All-Americans Marcus Cannon and Jake Kirkpatrick, respectively.

DEFENSE
TCU’s defensive line should be a strength, led by ends Stansly Maponga and Braylon Broughton. Maponga showed his potential as a redshirt freshman in 2010, while Broughton, now a senior, could finally live up to the advance billing that began when he was named the Mountain West Conference Preseason Freshman of the Year in 2008. Defensive tackle D.J. Yendrey and nose tackle Jeremy Coleman had good springs, too.
The entire linebacker corps returns, including starters Tank Carder and Tanner Brock, the soul of the Frogs’ 4-2-5 scheme. Carder, a first-team All-American in ’10, did not practice during the spring after undergoing shoulder surgery in early January, but coaches know what to expect from the experienced senior.
The one area of concern for the defense is the secondary, if not in athletic ability then in sheer experience. Only one full-time starter returns, cornerback Greg McCoy, though weak safety Tekerrein Cuba logged five starts in 2010. The rest of the spots will be first-time starters, although coach Gary Patterson was pleased with their progress during spring practice.

SPECIALISTS
Placekicker Ross Evans and punter Anson Kelton return for their fourth seasons as starters and should be a strength. Dawson and McCoy will try to fill the void left by Jeremy Kerley, who was always a threat for a big return.

FINAL ANALYSIS
If the offensive line jells enough to give Pachall time to relax, he could survive the growing pains associated with first-year starting quarterbacks and be very effective. Wesley and Boyce are legitimate big-play weapons who could help take the pressure off the new quarterback. TCU should be as dominant as ever on defense with several key players returning.
The question is not whether the talent level is the same as 2010 (it is), but whether the Frogs can find a similar mix of leadership and magic. With a favorable schedule, TCU, although likely not a BCS-caliber team in 2011, should lose no more than two games and earn its eighth consecutive bowl appearance.

KEY PLAYERS
Tank Carder, LB: Others may have more tackles but no one personifies the TCU defense more than Carder. 
Josh Boyce, WR: His two first-quarter TD receptions shocked Utah and led to a 47–7 blowout last November. 
Stansly Maponga, DE: The sophomore has the natural tools to be the next Jerry Hughes. 

2011 SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 2nd at Baylor
Sept. 10th at Air Force
Sept. 17th UL Monroe
Sept. 24th Portland State
Sept. 30th SMU
Oct. 8th at San Diego State
Oct. 22nd New Mexico
Oct. 28th BYU (Arlington, TX)
Nov. 5th at Wyoming
Nov. 12th at Boise State
Nov. 19th Colorado State
Dec. 3rd UNLV

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

Ark has the Heisman winner in Knile Davis.

The dude is a straight beast but the o-line of the razorbacks scares me. Especially since he plays in the SEC.

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

#14 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
OFFENSE
Technically, the offense returns seven starters, but questions abound for this unit, especially considering the team’s 1,000-yard rusher (Dan Herron), top returning receiver (DeVier Posey) and best blocker (Mike Adams) all are slated to miss the first five games of the season because of an NCAA-imposed suspension.
At quarterback, for example, the coaches could opt for weathered backup Joe Bauserman, hot shot freshman Braxton Miller, pocket passer Taylor Graham or dual-threat Kenny Guiton in Pryor’s absence. The quartet will compete for the job well into fall camp.
“They all have their days,” tailback Jordan Hall says. “Some days some look better than the others, but they’re all working.”
Hall could lead the Buckeyes in rushing attempts, but the depth behind him is abundant. Jaamal Berry is ready to contribute regularly, and redshirt freshman Rod Smith appears poised to take over as the team grinder with Herron out.
Up front, Mike Brewster is the centerpiece. He’ll be flanked by physical, developing players who are more athletic than past OSU linemen. Tight end Jake Stoneburner also helps in the trenches, but he should be a more viable receiving option this season given the cast of no-names after Posey at wideout.

DEFENSE
Even with a relatively unproven defensive group, the coaches like the depth and athleticism on this side of the ball and believe the Buckeyes can improve on the totals of 23 sacks and 30 takeaways recorded last season.
Nate Williams and John Simon give the Buckeyes a pair of highly active and disruptive defensive linemen, and young Johnathan Hankins excels at plugging up the middle. Andrew Sweat and Etienne Sabino lead the linebacking corps and should lead the team in tackles.
The secondary typifies the whole defense — raw, athletically gifted and hungry. Travis Howard assumes the role of OSU’s top cover corner, and Tyler Moeller and Christian Bryant are playmakers. Safety is a bit of a concern, though, with Orhian Johnson and C.J. Barnett yet to put together a full season of consistent production.

SPECIALISTS
Once again, Ohio State will have a new placekicker. Once again, the Buckeyes should be productive from this spot. This time the top leg belongs to Drew Basil, who already has proven his worth on kickoffs. Ben Buchanan is back at punter and needs to improve on a rather weak average of 41.0 yards per kick. The return game was middling last season, and kick protection and coverage units were dreadful, which simply can’t continue.

FINAL ANALYSIS
This is a mystery team, for sure. Who the Buckeyes will tab to run the offense is up in the air, and the wide receiver spot is, quite frankly, a mess.
Look for the Buckeyes to once again rely on an aggressive defense, work to get more consistent results on special teams and hope to find some sort of offensive identity by the time they travel to Miami (Fla.) in Week 3. The passing game could be pedestrian, but there is quality depth in the backfield. And OSU may finally have a versatile offensive line that can open holes in and out of the box.
Are the Buckeyes a BCS bowl team? It’s possible, even with all of the off-the-field drama. This is still Ohio State — it’s not as if the cupboard is bare.

KEY PLAYERS
Mike Brewster, C: A legit All-America candidate, he’ll be called on to help lead the offense. 
John Simon, DL: A team strongman who has developed into an all-around force up front. 

2011 SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 3rd Akron
Sept. 10th Toledo
Sept. 17th at Miami
Sept. 24th Colorado
Oct. 1st Michigan State
Oct. 8th at Nebraska
Oct. 15th at Illinois
Oct. 29th Wisconsin
Nov. 5th Indiana
Nov. 12th at Purdue
Nov. 19th Penn State
Nov. 26th at Michigan

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

#13 GEORGIA BULLDOGS
OFFENSE
It may be too much to expect Isaiah Crowell to be the next Marcus Lattimore. The Georgia football offense may need just that, however.
Quarterback Aaron Murray had a fantastic freshman season, but the offense still faltered at times. That was thanks to the 10th-ranked rushing attack in the SEC, a huge disappointment considering a veteran group of tailbacks and offensive line.
So now Crowell, the ballyhooed freshman from Columbus, Ga., enters the scene. If the result is a more consistent running game, Georgia should be back in business and compete for the SEC East crown.
Of course that assumes no sophomore jinx for Murray, who won’t have A.J. Green or Kris Durham to throw to this year. He still has tight end Orson Charles (26 catches, 422 yards in ’10), but if other receiving targets don’t emerge — junior Tavarres King likely will be the top option at wideout — Murray’s numbers could take a dip.

DEFENSE
Georgia enters the second year of Todd Grantham’s 3-4 defense anticipating an improvement — for two reasons.
First, the players should have a better understanding of the schemes. Next, while the two best players from last year (Justin Houston and Akeem Dent) are gone, Grantham believes he’s getting the right personnel to fit his system.
It starts at nose tackle, where junior college recruit John Jenkins, a 6'4", 340-pounder, provides the big, physical presence the team lacked in the middle of the line last year. DeAngelo Tyson, who filled that role, now moves to his more natural defensive end position.
The secondary returns almost intact, which may or may not be a blessing. It was an inconsistent unit last year, prone to giving up the big play, especially on third down. Alec Ogletree, one of the unit’s bright spots last year at safety as a freshman, was shifted to inside linebacker.
The other question is who will replace the playmaking ability of Houston, who had a team-high 10 sacks. Jarvis Jones, a transfer from USC, could fill that role at one outside linebacker spot. Stud recruit Ray Drew will be given a chance to fill the other outside spot.

SPECIALISTS
There may not be a better combination of special teams performers in the nation. Kicker Blair Walsh is as dependable as they come (he hit 20-of-23 last year), punter Drew Butler (the son of longtime NFL kicker Kevin Butler) is a former Ray Guy award winner, and Brandon Boykin has three career 100-yard kick return touchdowns.

FINAL ANALYSIS
The Bulldogs dipped last year, then they lost their best players on both sides of the ball, among other starters. The optimism rests with the influx of recruits, the return of Murray, the second year in the 3-4 defense, and a favorable league schedule that does not include Alabama or LSU — the two top teams in the West. This might not be a vintage Georgia team that is capable of competing for a national title, but the Bulldogs should be in the hunt to win the relatively mediocre SEC East.

KEY PLAYERS
Aaron Murray, QB: Started all 13 games as a freshman, passing for 3,049 yards — the second-most ever for an SEC freshman. 
Orson Charles, TE: Averaging 16.2 yards per catch in his career, and at 6'3" and 240 pounds has the speed to make plays in the open field. 
Bacarri Rambo, S: The junior had 82 tackles last year, along with three forced fumbles and three picks. Can play either safety position. 

2011 SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 3rd Boise State (Atlanta, GA)
Sept. 10th South Carolina
Sept. 17th Coastal Carolina
Sept. 24th at Ole Miss
Oct. 1st Mississippi State
Oct. 8th at Tennessee
Oct. 15th at Vanderbilt
Oct. 29th Florida (Jacksonville, FL)
Nov. 5th New Mexico State
Nov. 12th Auburn
Nov. 19th Kentucky
Nov. 26th at Georgia Tech

[FEARtheSPEAR24]

#12 STANFORD CARDINAL
OFFENSE
With quarterback Andrew Luck’s surprising return to Palo Alto, Stanford should once again have one of the nation’s top offenses. The Cardinal need to replace receivers Doug Baldwin and Ryan Whalen, but senior Chris Owusu is healthy again after getting into just eight games last season. Owusu is a big-play threat who adds a different dimension to the offense.
As good as Luck is — he was expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft had he left school — he has benefited the past two seasons from one of the most dominant offensive lines in the country. That unit will have to undergo some rebuilding as it loses three starters, including first-team All-America center Chase Beeler. But two other All-Pac-10 first-team selections — left tackle Jonathan Martin and right guard David DeCastro — return to The Farm.
The Cardinal should once again have a strong running attack, led by 1,000-yard rusher Stepfan Taylor. Stanford can go four-deep at tailback, where it returns over 90 percent of its rushing yards from last season. The Cardinal also have a deep group of tight ends, led by Coby Fleener and Zach Ertz. And that’s not even counting Levine Toilolo, who was Stanford’s projected starter before suffering a season-ending injury last year. But it all revolves around Luck, who enters the season as a Heisman Trophy favorite after finishing as the runner-up to Auburn’s Cam Newton last season.

DEFENSE
The Cardinal showed immense improvement from 2009 and have the pieces in place to have another strong defense.
Inside linebacker Shayne Skov finished the season on a strong note and should be one of the conference’s top defensive players. Stanford also is solid in the back line with returning safeties Delano Howell and Michael Thomas. Cornerback Richard Sherman will be missed, however.
The Cardinal face the difficult task of replacing nose tackle Sione Fua, who consistently commanded double-teams. Incoming freshman James Vaughters could get into the playing rotation immediately at linebacker. Stanford also will be adjusting to new defensive coordinator Derek Mason, who replaced Vic Fangio when he followed Jim Harbaugh to the San Francisco 49ers.

SPECIALISTS
One of Stanford’s most significant losses is kicker Nate Whitaker, who was named first-team All-Pac-10 after connecting on 17-of-19 field goals. His younger brother, Eric, is battling Jordan Williamson for the right to replace him. David Zychlinski and David Green are competing at punter. Zychlinski punted most of last season, but Green started the final two games. Owusu is a dangerous kick returner — he returned three for touchdowns two years ago — and Drew Terrell is back as punt returner

FINAL ANALYSIS
The Cardinal have the personnel and experience to make another run at a BCS game, but the biggest question is how they will function in the absence of Harbaugh, who set a certain tone and culture for the program. New head coach David Shaw was Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator, so there is some continuity there.
The Cardinal should once again put up a lot of points. If they can withstand the losses of Fua, Sherman and inside linebacker Owen Marecic on defense, they should challenge Oregon for the Pac-12 North title. Stanford’s only loss last season was at Oregon, and the Cardinal get the Ducks at home this season.

KEY PLAYERS
Andrew Luck, QB: Heisman runner-up’s return to campus makes Stanford a conference contender again. 
Shayne Skov, LB: Strong finish to 2010 makes him an All-Pac-12 candidate this season. 
Stepfan Taylor, RB: Had seven 100-yard games last season, including five straight in one midseason stretch. 

2011 SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 3rd San Jose State
Sept. 10th at Duke
Sept. 17th at Arizona
Oct. 1st UCLA
Oct. 8th Colorado
Oct. 15th at Washington State
Oct. 22nd Washington
Oct. 29th at USC
Nov. 5th at Oregon State
Nov. 12th Oregon
Nov. 19th California
Nov. 26th Notre Dame

[The DiB]

as much as I would like to I cant do that bro sorry hah. Congrats on beatin Texas tho last year, have to admit I liked watching that beating

Hey pal, if you're gonna cut and paste, at least give credit to Athlon. This isn't your work.

Carry on.

[fishmonger]

This is like a free Athlon sports preview. Thanks for all the work you have put into this.

[skers11]

continue your thread bro

dont let these haters get to you

[skers11]

Hey pal, if you're gonna cut and paste, at least give credit to Athlon. This isn't your work.

Carry on.

^ this hater

[MoneyLineDawg]

South Carolina behind Florida is a joke.....They beat the piss out of them in the swamp to win the SEC East last season and have much more continuity in their program going into 2011.....Garcia is back now and will lead them back to Atlanta

[The DiB]

continue your thread bro

dont let these haters get to you

www.athlonsports.com

Click on whatever team on the top to read spear's preview

[BigdaddyQH]

This comes straight out of Athlon. The only thing he has done is dropped Ohio State from Athlon's #9 ranking, down to #14. Plagerism at it's best. He is quoting Athlon word for word. Do yourself a favor fear. Either give credit where credit is due, or stop posting in here. We are too sharp in here to buy your B.S. You make it sound as if you wrote this, and you did not. Do not bother with some B.S. apology. Just leave. Some guy asked you to rank UCLA in the Top 25, and you respond: "as much as I would like to I cant do that bro sorry hah." The reason you can't do that is because you are totally clueless, and must go by what Athlon tells you to go by. Skers, if you do not know what you are talking about, butt out.

[bornselling]

This comes straight out of Athlon

[HoldEmHook!!]

Whom ever put this out is out of thier mind.....Wisky is toooo low and West Vir. is in its own shit storm......

[HoldEmHook!!]

ND, Vtech, and Boise should not be ranked ahead of LSU in my opinion.....FSU by virtue of a weak ACC schedule could end up in the mix but will get blasted at the end of the year in a BCS bowl......just my feelings