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SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:36 PM

Breaking the huddle on spring practice

By Ivan Maisel
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: March 11, 2009

You don't have to be Todd Blackledge to know that Florida, Texas and USC -- which have won four of the past five BCS championships and finished in the top five last season -- will contend again this fall. All three teams have talent as well as experience. The mixture of those two ingredients is combustible, especially on autumn Saturdays.

Several teams skewed young last season and achieved some success, all with the hope that the payoff would come this fall, when they could mix talent and experience. It's not as easy as playing young players. If it were, then tossing freshmen out there would solve every team's woes.

The young players have to have talent, and they have to be sturdy enough as teenagers to remain healthy while they take a pummeling from opponents who may be three or four years older at an age when that represents a significant physical difference.

As spring ball begins in earnest this month, here are five teams, based on their record last season and the number of returning starters this season, that should be poised to take a big step forward.

1. Miami -- The Hurricanes, 7-6 last season, have generated all kinds of hype for next fall. Coach Randy Shannon has nurtured a very young team through two mediocre seasons. Now 17 starters return (if you count punter/kicker Matt Bosher twice, which we do). There's no longer any doubt about who will play quarterback. Jacory Harris is there. Robert Marve is not. If there's a question about newcomers at the U, it's the coaching staff. Mark Whipple, who will run the offense, may be the best coordinator hire of the college football offseason. John Lovett will run the defense. In other words, the table is set. The question, as it has been for five years, is whether the Hurricanes will arrive.

2. Oklahoma State -- With 17 starters returning from a team that finished 9-4, this is the year the Cowboys should break through, especially now that Big 12 South nouveau power Texas Tech must rebuild so much of its offense. Junior wide receiver Dez Bryant's knee-ligament tear in the Holiday Bowl has been surgically repaired. He should be fine in the fall. So should quarterback Zac Robinson and tailback Kendall Hunter. We'll find out early; the Cowboys open at home on Sept. 5 against Georgia.

3. Minnesota -- The Gophers have 19 returning starters, including wide receiver Eric Decker, who may be the best receiver north of Julio Jones. A healthy Decker helped Minnesota begin 7-1. An injured Decker left the Gophers' offense shorthanded as Minnesota lost its last four regular-season games. Like Miami, the biggest changes for Minnesota are among the guys wearing whistles. Offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch, 32, who comes from the NFL, has never been a coordinator. Offensive line coach Tim Davis is a steal. Defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove is a veteran who knows the Big Ten well. His defenses played well at Wisconsin under Barry Alvarez. At Nebraska under Bill Callahan, they didn't.

4. Vanderbilt -- The safe bet would be to assume that the Commodores, 7-6 last season, are one-hit wonders. They (barely) made a bowl game last season for the first time in 26 years. But nine starters return on each side of the ball, as well as punter Brett Upson. More experience can only help the offense. In eight games, the Commodores scored 16 points or fewer. That they actually won two of them is a tribute to the defense, which allowed only 20 points and 320 yards per game. One problem: Vandy adds LSU and Georgia Tech to the schedule.

5. Stanford -- The Cardinal went 5-7 last season, losing to UCLA and Oregon in the final 10 seconds. That's a memory that should spur the returning starters, which number 17 or 18, depending upon who goes at middle linebacker. One dark horse: fullback Owen Marecic. Midway through spring practice, coach Jim Harbaugh announced that the junior will play both ways next fall. Another not-as-dark horse: redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Luck, who is pushing fifth-year senior Tavita Pritchard for the starting job. If nothing else, Stanford has depth it hasn't had in years. The schedule remains tough (at TCU off, at Wake Forest on) but Stanford has five Pac-10 games on the Farm. That may tip the scales toward the Cardinal's first bowl berth in eight years.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:36 PM

More spring ball beginnings... and ends

March 13, 2009 6:07 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

Spring football is already in high gear. Nevada ends its spring practice on Saturday and 15 other teams start up this week. Here's a quick rundown of the teams commencing.

San Jose State, March 14

San Jose State has decided to simplify its offensive scheme this season, do away with the no-huddle and establish a power running game. The goal this spring will be to figure out how to get more consistent scoring production out of the offense.

BYU, March 16

The biggest hindrance to BYU's success last season was the lack of speed on defense, especially at the edges. Team speed should be a focus, but so should getting that winning mentality back. The Cougars finished 2008 with a two-game losing streak.

East Carolina, March 16

The Pirates return 20 players from last year's team, including quarterback Patrick Pinkney, who is back for his sixth season after obtaining a hardship waiver from the NCAA.

Central Michigan, March 17

Offense has never been a problem for Central Michigan, but the defense held the Chippewas back. The entire defense returns from 2008, but that squad finished last in the Mid-American Conference (104th nationally) in total defense allowing 423.77 yards per game.

Eastern Michigan, March 17

New head coach Ron English made his name as a defensive wunderkind at Michigan and Louisville and he'll be put to the test this spring with an Eagles defense that allowed 408.58 yards and 35.58 points per game.

Louisiana-Monroe, March 17

The Warhawks will have to replace starting quarterback Kinsmon Lancaster, who led the team in total offense with 221.17 yards per game. He was the team's leading signal caller and the second leading rusher.

Temple, March 17

Quarterback Chester Stewart replaces Adam DiMichele as the starting quarterback. Stewart played in 10 games in 2008, completed 50 percent of his passes for 524 yards and four touchdowns. Stewart also can scramble, which will give the Owls another rushing option.

Utah State, March 17

New coach Gary Andersen inherited a team that improved dramatically from the beginning of the year to the end. Although it didn't show in the win column, the Utah State cupboard is not bare.

Toledo, March 18

New coach Tim Beckman will have a 2,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher to work with this spring as he tries to teach a new system and get his players used to a new coaching staff. It will need to improve on its scoring offense, which was second-worst in the Mid-American Conference.

Troy, March 18

With Jamie Hampton still recovering from a knee injury, Levi Brown has an opportunity to strengthen his hold on the starting quarterback position. Brown has become quite the leader, even organizing some offseason 7-on-7 drills.

UAB, March 18

The focus for the Blazers this spring will be shoring up its defense. The defense ranked last in Conference USA in sacks and 108th nationally in passing defense allowing 262.92 yards per game. Three of the four starters from the defensive secondary need to be replaced, including both safeties.

Ball State, March 19

The Cardinals will have to replace star quarterback Nate Davis. Redshirt Kelly Page, who ran the scout team last year but was repped as the second-string quarterback, appears to be the favorite, but spring ball is wide open.

Buffalo, March 19

Zach Maynard will replace Drew Willy, who was credited with helping turn the Buffalo program around. Maynard is a dual-threat, but hasn't had a lot of chances to show what he can do.

UCF, March 19

Finding consistent quarterback play will be a point of emphasis this spring. Sophomore Rob Calabrese is the incumbent, but he had just three 100-yard games and passed for just 6 yards in the final game of the season.

Notre Dame, March 20

New offensive line coach Frank Verducci and running backs coach Tony Alford will begin to turn Notre Dame from an average rushing game into a rushing power. The Irish already have good backs, it's just getting the line to hold up its end of the bargain.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:37 PM

Powerhouses under construction

Monday, March 16, 2009 by Bruce Feldman

A few weeks ago I got asked a question on a radio show about which program I thought had the potential to become the next powerhouse. My answer was Oregon. Now I realize the Ducks have won at least 10 games four times since 2000, but to me this would be taking the jump from very good to great. So taking that a step further, this week's top 10 list is the programs with the best chance to reach true powerhouse status and win a national title within the next five years. (The one caveat is I'm looking at schools that have NOT won the title in the past decade.)

1. Alabama: Nick Saban has elevated the Tide very fast and had them one quarter away from playing for the title in Year 2. By all accounts he is recruiting well and is stocking his program with both playmakers and tough linemen. The two biggest hurdles in his way: getting past Florida and finding a quarterback.

2. Va. Tech: Frank Beamer had a very young team in 2008 and it still won 10 games. The Hokies are dangerous and the time might be ideal to make a title run now as the ACC seems to be growing up. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is talented but still raw as a passer. His young receivers still need polish although TB Darren Evans is coming off a 1,265-yard rookie season and he'll make things easier for everyone. You know as long as DC Bud Foster is around the Hokies will be salty on defense, but the vaunted special-teams units need to get back to form after having a very down season.

3. Oregon: I see the Ducks as an emerging force in the West. New head coach Chip Kelly has an exciting, wide-open system that is attractive to players. The program has some cachet and the Nike connection sure isn't hurting. USC is still the elite program on the West Coast but if Oregon can land a few more quality defensive players, the Ducks have a chance to make things very interesting. Who knows, if some of Oregon's JC transfers can come through on defense, the Ducks could end USC's run of Pac-10 dominance this fall.

4. Georgia: Hard not to call the Bulldogs a powerhouse given their norm has been double-digit win seasons since Mark Richt took over in Athens. However UGA has had only one top-five finish in the past six years. Injuries and some inexperience at key spots have led to its struggles, but it's hard not to think that if Georgia keeps consistently winning, it can't get a few more breaks to break through. Like the Tide, the Bulldogs need to find a new leader at quarterback and start the countdown until Tim Tebow moves on.

5. Tennessee: Lane Kiffin has dominated the offseason headlines for better or worse this winter. (It's mostly been worse.) But he did assemble a staff loaded with elite recruiters and guys with lots of experience developing talent, and that already has paid off big with some major head turners on the recruiting front, most notably landing all-everything TB Bryce Brown Monday. That was a huge pull for the Kiffin regime. It's also a big need. The Vols need major help on offense. Still do. They were 110th in scoring in 2008 and their skill talent is, at best, average, but Kiffin's new staff added a lot of speed and now Brown, who will cause a major splash on the recruiting scene. Now the Vols have to find a quarterback and more linemen.

6. North Carolina: Butch Davis probably will never turn Chapel Hill into a basketball school, but he's got the facilities and determination to make UNC a football power. The Tarheels made big strides in 2008, winning eight games, the school's most since 2001, and just wait, now Davis' recruits are really going to have a chance to make an impact. UNC brings nine starters back on D and a potent front seven.

7. Michigan: Make your Wolverines jokes now because once Michigan settles on its quarterback for the future, whether it's Tate Forcier or Denard Robinson, this program is going to be a force again in the Big Ten. Last year, Rich Rodriguez was patient and redshirted seven promising O-linemen. The best of the bunch might be Patrick Omameh, an unheralded sleeper recruit from Ohio State's backyard. Omameh's now a 280-pounder with the agility of a tight end and just one of many reasons for Michigan fans to think they could be challenging for the Big Ten title in 2010.

8. Notre Dame: The Irish have some key pieces in place to challenge for a BCS bowl: lots of experience and a very, very soft schedule. Better still, ND just landed the top LB recruit in the country, Hawaiian Manti Te'o, who brings some much-needed athleticism to the defense. The two biggest things that seem to be holding back the Irish: a mediocre O-line and Charlie Weis. Will new line coach Frank Verducci be the answer to the former and will Weis be able to get something out of his players as he settles back into his role as playcaller? Anyhow, even if Weis flops again in 2009, chances are the Irish will bring in someone else who should turn things around.

9. Clemson: Dabo Swinney finished off 2008 well and the Tigers have plenty of young difference-makers they have brought in over the past two years, but consistency has always been the issue. This call is a roll of the dice, but the Tigers are due, no?

10. UCLA: The Bruins were further than anyone on this list from national title talk in 2008, but Rick Neuheisel is turning this program around and put together an outstanding recruiting class last month, landing a bunch of coveted recruits. UCLA is still a long way from scaring USC, but the Bruins aren't going to be out of the top 10 for more than two more seasons.

Just missed the cut: Boise State, Oklahoma State, Ga. Tech, Ole Miss, USF and Nebraska.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:38 PM

Players who benefit from coaching transitions

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 | Feedback | Print Entry

I was intrigued by this story about Darius Darks, the Iowa State receiver who had gone to Facebook and really vented about the coaching transition in December by reportedly cursing former coach Gene Chizik and then donning a Michigan State jersey. (Anyhow, Darks has apologized and is talking about how the new regime might serve him well.) So this got me to thinking about which players are best served by recent coaching transitions.

1. Jake Locker, Washington QB: Will Locker flourish in his post-Ty Willingham era the same way Brady Quinn did at Notre Dame? My hunch is no, probably not to that degree, and that's not because new U-Dub coach Steve Sarkisian isn't a good QB tutor, but because the talent level around Locker is still really young and shaky. And for as great an athlete as Locker is, might he be better suited to play safety in the NFL rather than QB? That's what I've heard from a few NFL personnel folks, although they are curious to see how Sarkisian can develop him. It is worth noting that in Locker's injury-marred 2008 season, he did become more accurate, completing 54 percent of his passes (up from 47%), and that's not awful given the youth and consistency issues with the inexperienced receivers he had to throw to. Let's see what happens in Sarkisian's pro-style attack.

2. Chris Walker, Tennessee, DE: There are some concerns about D-line depth for the Vols, but word from inside the UT program is that Walker is poised for a breakout season. Last season, he was used sparingly and had 4 TFLs. Don't be surprised if he has four times that total in 2009. The new UT defensive staff has been gushing over Walker's quickness since the coaches first got a load of him and they love how he fits in their get-up-the-field scheme. At around 240 pounds, Walker isn't a huge DE, but DL coach Ed Orgeron says Walker is in the mode of those speedy edge-rushers he coached back in his Miami days.

3. Jacory Harris, Miami QB: The Canes have made another offensive coordinator change, but by dumping Pat Nix and bringing in the more experienced Mark Whipple from the NFL, the hunch here is that Randy Shannon made one of the best moves of his two-year stint as head coach. Players are raving about Whipple's bringing much more creativity to the UM offense, and the coach's ability to groom a QB (just ask Steelers star Ben Roethlisberger) is going to be a great asset for Harris, who now needs to develop better timing with a gifted crew of speedy young receivers.

4. Lee Ziemba, Auburn, OT: After a promising freshman year in 2007, Ziemba and his mates had a terrible season trying to work in then-Tigers O-coordinator Tony Franklin's offense. Now that that disaster is behind him, Ziemba is being coached by former CU line coach Jeff Grimes, who is geared toward bringing back a smash-mouth approach. Ziemba had bulked up 28 pounds, and it should be fun to see the Tigers get back closer to their roots.

5. Anthony Dixon, Miss. State, RB: New coach Dan Mullen has made a point in saying how well a power back fits in his scheme, and his history at Utah supports that. I have Dixon on here mainly because I suspect he just really needed a fresh start with new coaches and a new conditioning program to jump-start his career. By shedding 20 pounds this offseason in getting down to 235, he should be a legit weapon for State, something Mullen has very few of right now.
__________________

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:39 PM

From Steve in Chicago: Thanks for the Q&A with Robert Griffin. Since I know you're talking about how they're on the rise if you have to predict what will be the order of the best conferences this season. Is the Big Ten really making its move after some frustrating seasons?

Feldman: I'm not feeling the Big Ten, even though I see Michigan getting a lot better this year and getting back to bowl play. I just don't see one or two top-10 caliber teams there, given all of the talent and experience that both Penn State and Ohio State lost. I do look for the ACC to create a lot of buzz this fall. I expect that league to jump up and actually challenge the Big 12 for the No. 2 slot behind the SEC. I wouldn't be surprised if the ACC Coastal Division rivaled the Big 12 South in terms of quality. The reasons are that you have a Va. Tech program that should be poised to make a national title run and you have a trio of schools with relatively new head coaches that have invigorated dormant programs at UNC, Miami and Ga. Tech. Plus, and this is key, you have a host of teams in this league that took their lumps playing young QBs. Now those quarterbacks have some seasoning and they should flourish.

1) SEC

2) Big 12

3) ACC

4) Pac-10

5) Big Ten

6) Big East

7) MWC

8) WAC

9) C-USA

10) MAC

11) Sun Belt

Two other leagues that I think could make jumps are C-USA -- which could overtake the WAC (Watch out for Houston to make some noise this year) -- and the Sun Belt, which I think has narrowed the gap with the MAC now that the two Florida schools have grown up.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:40 PM

Some more from Bruce Feldman's BLOG:

• Since we're about midway through spring practice, where most teams have at least kicked off spring ball, I wanted to check in on how the experts are sizing up various teams to see whose stock is rising over the past two months and whose is falling.

Apparently, there's some enthusiasm for Michigan in Year 2 under Rich Rodriguez. The Wolverines went from being a 200-1 shot to win the 2010 BCS title game (on Feb. 3) to a 100-1 shot as of March 24. My hunch is there are three main reasons for this:

1. Rodriguez' history indicates a big jump from the first year of his system to the second. (His team won three more games in his second season at Glenville State. At Tulane, where Rodriguez ran the offense, the Green Wave went from 7-4 to 12-0. Then at Clemson, where he also ran the offense, the Tigers went from 6-6 to 9-3. At WVU, his team won six more in Year 2, jumping from 3-8 to 9-4.)

2. All the promising young talent that Michigan redshirted now gives the Wolverines some depth, but also adds more athleticism to their O-line;

3. In Tate Forcier and incoming freshman Denard Robinson, the Wolverines now have two QB options with the speed to make Rodriguez's offense that much more potent.

Clemson also made a sizable jump, going from 100-1 to 75-1. The Ole Miss Rebels, riding the wave of a big Cotton Bowl win, were bumped up, going from 60-1 to 50-1. Va. Tech went from 25-1 to 20-1. Of the elite teams, Texas went from 10-1 to 5-1 and Florida went from 4-1 to 7-2. I actually would have thought the Gators with Tim Tebow and Brandon Spikes returning would have been closer to 2-1 or even 3-2, but maybe that speaks to the respect for the rest of the SEC.

I was also surprised to see Oregon go from 20-1 to 30-1. Maybe that is folks being nervous about the status of RB LaGarrette Blount and figuring there will be growing pains for first-year head coach Chip Kelly. As I wrote before, I think the new blood will be good for the Ducks. Another number that had me scratching my head a little: UNC backslid from 50-1 to 75-1.

Georgia, Miami, Oklahoma State and Ga. Tech dropped from 50-1 to 60-1. Penn State went from 30-1 to 35-1. Pitt and Texas Tech made even bigger falls, going from 60-1 to 100-1. Maybe that's what dismal performances in bowl games can do.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:41 PM

Teams most likely to win the BCS title

Monday, April 6, 2009 | Feedback | Print Entry

When the NCAA basketball championship tips off tonight, it'll be fun to see whether preseason favorite North Carolina can overwhelm local favorite Michigan State. It's uncommon, I think, to have the favorite make it through the season and win it all. This week's Top 10 topic: teams with the best shot of winning the BCS title:

1. Florida: No shock here. And there are some parallels with the UNC hoops squad. You've no doubt heard comparisons between both teams' stars, Tim Tebow and Tyler Hansbrough. Both will go down as among the greatest players in college sports. Tebow may leave Gainesville as the greatest college football player ever. Each also has been dogged by skepticism about their pro prospects and backlash about the media's love for each. But UF is much more than just Tebow. The defense is loaded, and star LB Brandon Spikes is back, too. Other reasons to like UF to win it all: The next-best team in the SEC East, Georgia, has to replace its two best players, QB Matthew Stafford and RB Knowshon Moreno; UF's nonconference slate is very manageable, with the only top-50 caliber foe being FSU (and that game is in Gainesville). The biggest hurdle in the regular season is a trip to LSU.

2. Texas: Who cares if Colt McCoy didn't put up great numbers in UT's spring game? McCoy's numbers were ridiculous in 2008, and he has plenty of weapons back to do just as much damage this year. The Horns did lose a lot of talent on the D-line, but the secondary, which was so young in 2008, should be much improved this fall. More positives: The O-line should be solid. The nonconference slate is cake. Karma should be on Texas' side after last season, no? UT has two big hurdles in the regular season: against Oklahoma and at OSU.

3. Oklahoma: Having Sam Bradford and DT Gerald McCoy back probably kept the Sooners in everyone's preseason top 5. The Sooners do have a lot to replace on the O-line, though, and the defense needs more work in the back seven. Getting OSU in Norman is a big plus. The nonconference schedule is a bit tricky -- OU plays BYU in Texas and Miami in Miami -- but the Sooners figure to be favored in both.

4. Ole Miss: This may look crazy, but keep reading. The Rebels are fearless. They won at both Florida and LSU last season. They have a budding star at quarterback in Jevan Snead, some terrific receivers, and potentially the best D-line in the country. They also have the luxury of playing the softest nonconference schedule in the country, with two games against FCS teams, UAB and a Memphis team they beat every year. Better still, they get Alabama and LSU at home. Can the Rebs handle success and expectations now? We'll see. A Thursday night trip to South Carolina appears to be the toughest road game.

5. USC: I'm not that leery of the Trojans' having to replace QB Mark Sanchez. Inside the program, there has been a good buzz around Aaron Corp for months. The young O-line will be a lot better, and WR Damian Williams is a rising star. Defensively, there are concerns in the front seven, which is almost entirely new. Consistency will be an issue. USC's trip to Ohio State early will be fascinating, although the Buckeyes also have major holes they need to address. The big reason why I have the Trojans a few spots lower on this list is that their schedule doesn't fall well in the Pac-10. They have to go to Cal and Oregon -- not to mention visit South Bend to play what should be an improved Irish team, although we said that last year, too. Still, that's four challenging road games for what will still be a very young team.

6. Va. Tech: I'm always a bit worried about Tech whenever it has big expectations put on it going into a season. The Hokies tend to be most dangerous when people don't hype them up. But I still like QB Tyrod Taylor and their running game, and provided they can get their special teams back to form after a shockingly mediocre stretch last season, they deserve to be watched very closely in 2009. Playing Alabama early is tough, although the Tide has to rebuild its O-line and find a new starting quarterback. I also like that Tech gets Miami, UNC and Nebraska at Lane Stadium.

7. Boise State: The youngest good team in the country last season should be even better with another year of seasoning. The Broncos get a good crack at getting people on the bandwagon in a Thursday night home opener against a very potent Oregon team. Last season, BSU won at Autzen behind freshman QB Kellen Moore. I think they have a legit shot to beat the Ducks again, especially since Oregon has to replace a lot of good players on D. After that, it's all downhill to a perfect regular season, although going to Tulsa in mid-October won't be so easy.

8. LSU: The Tigers still have a ton of talent and rode a dominant bowl performance into the offseason, and that should take some concerns away from the quarterback questions that dogged them all of 2008. Even though their out-of-conference schedule is suspect, the Tigers' SEC slate doesn't fall too favorably: at Georgia, followed by a visit from Florida; later they have to go to Tuscaloosa and to Oxford.

9. Oklahoma State: I love the Cowboys' offense, and I think bringing in Bill Young to run the defense was a great move, but OSU has to go to Norman late and gets a visit from Georgia early. Also, playing Houston in Week 2 right after a big, physical Bulldogs team might be more treacherous than people think.

10. Notre Dame: Charlie Brown kept thinking he could kick those field goals, and we'll give Charlie Weis one last shot to make contact here. The Irish have very good receivers, and if they can get a lot better on the O-line, they should put up a ton of points. The defense shouldn't be awful any more. Better still, they will be facing one of the softest schedules of any team in the country, especially one that doesn't need to worry about surviving a conference title game at the end of it all. Yes, ND has to face USC, but it's in South Bend. After that, a late visit to Stanford is probably the next toughest game. ND also plays the two teams that were the worst BCS conference programs last year, Washington and Washington State.

Just missed the cut: Oregon, TCU, Penn State, Alabama and Ohio State.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:42 PM

Originally Published: April 30, 2009
Oklahoma dominates 2010 mock draft
Plenty of linemen on the board; two quarterbacks and one wide receiver make the cut
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McShay By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.
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The dust has barely settled following the 2009 draft, but that doesn't mean it's too early to look ahead to 2010, and below is Scouts Inc.'s very early look at how things could unfold in the first round in 2010.

The biggest story at this point is Oklahoma's domination of the draft board. The Sooners have the No. 1 overall pick in QB Sam Bradford but also have four of the top six selections and five projected first-rounders overall. Five offensive or defensive linemen land in the top 10 along with two quarterbacks, a tight end, a safety and a linebacker.

Only players who are entering their fourth year on campus are a part of this projection, including Bradford and Penn State OLB Navorro Bowman. The order of our first round reflects Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson's revamped power rankings -- which take into account the playoffs, free agency and the 2009 draft -- in reverse.

So, with the first pick in the 2010 NFL mock draft, the St. Louis Rams select …

1. St. Louis Rams -- Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
College football's most accurate passer could emerge as the top overall pick in 2010. The Rams should be in position to draft their future franchise quarterback after passing on Mark Sanchez in this year's draft.

2. Cleveland Browns -- Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Suh is an underrated talent with quickness, power and versatility.

3. Detroit Lions -- Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
The Lions should be in the market for a starting left tackle to protect the blind side of 2009 No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford.

4. Oakland Raiders -- Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
Oakland drafted a wide receiver (Darrius Heyward-Bey) at No. 7 overall this year rather than solidifying its offensive line with OT Eugene Monroe. The Raiders shouldn't make the same mistake in 2010.

5. Kansas City Chiefs -- Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
The Chiefs will have some bigger needs along the offensive and defensive lines, but Gresham projects as the premier tight end in the 2010 class. He could become the replacement for future Hall of Fame TE Tony Gonzalez, who was traded to the Falcons, providing QB Matt Cassell a legitimate pass-catching threat over the middle.

6. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) -- Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
A year from now the Seahawks could be in the market for Matt Hasselbeck's future replacement and don't be surprised if McCoy emerges as a top-10 pick by then.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
The Jaguars need to replenish their interior defensive line and McCoy is college football's most disruptive tackle when he's healthy.

8. San Francisco 49ers -- Taylor Mays, S, USC
Offensive tackle is a big need area but Mays possesses freakish physical tools and could anchor the 49ers' secondary for many years. It should also be pointed out that Mays will have competition for the honor of being first safety off the 2010 draft board if Tennessee's Eric Berry leaves school early.

9. Green Bay Packers -- Adam Ulatoski, OT, Texas
Ulatoski has good feet for his size and could develop into a top offensive tackle prospect as a senior with improved technique and consistency.

10. San Francisco 49ers (from CAR) -- Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas
With the second of their two first-round selections, the 49ers could look to upgrade their offensive line or pass rush. Kindle is a great fit in this scenario as an undersized end with excellent speed off the edge and fluid hips that allow him to occasionally drop into coverage.

11. Washington Redskins -- Ciron Black, OT, LSU
Black is a bit overrated at this point, but he has the physical tools to emerge as a high first-round pick a year from now.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia
New defensive coordinator Jim Bates is looking to get bigger and stronger up front. Atkins fits the mold as a squatty, quick and strong defender. However, he needs to rebound from a somewhat disappointing 2008 season in order to emerge as a premier defensive tackle prospect in next year's class.

13. Denver Broncos (from CHI) -- Jerry Hughes, OLB, TCU
Hughes is flying under the radar, but his initial burst and pass-rushing ability -- 15 sacks in 2008 -- could land him a spot in the middle of next year's first round.

14. Buffalo Bills -- Sam Young, OT, Notre Dame
Offensive tackle is the only need area the Bills failed to address in the most recent draft. As a result, expect the team to be in the market for a future starter such as Young a year from now.

15. Cincinnati Bengals -- C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
Spiller's speed and versatility could land him a spot in the mid-to-late portion of Round 1.

16. Miami Dolphins -- George Selvie, DE, South Florida
Selvie is a notch below elite in terms of physical tools, but his toughness and nonstop motor will be enticing to a team like the Dolphins.

To see where other big names land and who your favorite team might bring into the fold in 2010, become an ESPN Insider today. Insider

17. Tennessee Titans -- Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
Spikes lacks elite speed and needs to play with more consistent leverage. On the flip side, he's a hard-hitting emotional leader with very good instincts.

18. Seattle Seahawks -- Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU
LaFell is arguably the only 2010 senior wide receiver prospect worthy of first-round consideration at this point. LaFell has room to improve as a route runner but very few college receivers possess his combination of size, speed, athleticism and proven playmaking skills.

19. Houston Texans -- Trevard Lindley, CB, Kentucky
The Texans could be in the market for a playmaking defensive back early in next year's draft. Lindley is not overly physical and was knocked out of Kentucky's bowl game with a hyperextended elbow, but he is a fluid cover corner with outstanding speed and good overall ball skills.

20. New Orleans Saints -- Navorro Bowman, OLB, Penn State
Upgrading the speed and athleticism of their defense should continue to be a focal point for the Saints during next year's draft. Bowman has some off-the-field issues that must be investigated, but he's a fast-rising prospect with outstanding range for the position.

21. New York Jets -- DeMarcus Granger, DT, Oklahoma
Granger is arguably the most talented defensive lineman in the country, but durability and character issues have prevented him from reaching his full potential to this point. A healthy and productive 2009 campaign could land him a spot in Round 1.

22. Baltimore Ravens -- Marshwan Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati
Gilyard is an emerging talent with outstanding speed to stretch the field vertically, and he is also one of college football's premier return men.

23. Dallas Cowboys -- Javier Arenas, CB, Alabama
Arenas' recognition skills and technique in coverage still have room to improve, but he's a fast and fluid athlete with game-breaking ability in the return game.

24. New York Giants -- Brandon Lang, DE, Troy
Lang is still developing physically, but he has good size potential and great initial burst. He caught the attention of NFL scouts with 17.5 tackles for loss, including 10.5 sacks, in 2008.

25. Minnesota Vikings -- Nate Allen, S, South Florida
Allen is a bit of an unknown prospect at this point, but he possesses the size, athleticism and ball skills to emerge as a Day 1 prospect a year from now.

26. Indianapolis Colts -- Eric Norwood, DE, South Carolina
Norwood lacks ideal size (6-foot, 265 pounds) but he's a quick and instinctive pass-rusher who finished second in the SEC with nine sacks last year.

27. Arizona Cardinals -- Sergio Render, G, Virginia Tech
Render is the premier interior offensive lineman in the 2010 senior class. He needs to recover fully from offseason shoulder surgery in order to nail down a spot in Round 1.

28. San Diego Chargers -- LeGarrette Blount, RB, Oregon
The Chargers could look to find LaDainian Tomlinson's long-term replacement early in next year's draft. Blount is a bit of a long shot to be drafted this early once underclassmen are thrown into the mix, but don't be surprised if Blount lands a spot in Day 1 by putting up big numbers as the Ducks' top back this fall.

29. Atlanta Falcons -- Mark Herzlich, OLB, Boston College
What Herzlich lacks in athleticism he more than makes up for with hustle, instincts and toughness. His versatility will be highly regarded by teams that use hybrid defensive fronts.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
Cody is a mountain of a man, and he's an ideal fit as a nose tackle in the middle of a "30" front. However, he doesn't play with enough consistent leverage and needs to show a better motor in order to avoid a free fall in next year's draft

31. Philadelphia Eagles -- Greg Hardy, DE, Mississippi
Hardy possesses the size, speed and pass-rushing skills of a high first-rounder. But his inconsistent effort is well-documented, and it could cost him a year from now.

32. New England Patriots -- Micah Johnson, ILB, Kentucky
Johnson had a breakout junior season with 93 tackles in 11 games. If the 250-pound inside linebacker builds on that performance, he could land a spot late in next year's first round.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:43 PM

Great Expectations

Here are six NCAA players heading into the 2009 season who, for one reason or another, will have the spotlight shining directly on them.

By John Gizzi, senior NCAA writer

Draft talk continues to reverberate in pro circles, while at the collegiate scouting level talk already has shifted to 2010 draft prospects. As if we didn't have anything better to do than worry about next year's draft!

On the other hand, I was as guilty as anyone, listing a few players likely to go in the first round in 2010 in a recent piece. ESPN.com's Todd McShay (and others) has gone further than I have, projecting the entire first round, with Oklahoma's Sam Bradford going first.

Bradford has a lot to prove this season, however, and he's not the only one. There are several players in the coming year that will be under a microscope, and not merely for NFL purposes. We highlighted a few in an earlier story (including Bradford), and below are a few more, in no particular order.

RB Joe McKnight, Southern Cal

Unfortunately for McKnight, he came to the USC campus just one year after Reggie Bush left, and the comparisons began right away. Whether it has been due to nagging injuries or just an inflation of his abilities, McKnight has not delivered on the promise he may or may not have.

He'll be a true junior in 2009, and he can't afford more setbacks if he's to have an NFL career. The talent appears to be there, and NFL teams can spot talented underachievers, so it's not critical he has a monster year.

But he has to show something on the field this year, because there are always running backs at USC that he'll have to compete with, meaning his playing time is not guaranteed.

QB Daryll Clark, Penn State

Penn State caught people by surprise a year ago, coming within an Iowa field goal of making it to the BCS championship game. Clark deserves a lot of credit for leading a powerful offense into the Rose Bowl, but this year is going to be a different story as three senior wide receivers, Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood, have moved on.

While RB Evan Royster is back, Clark and the Nittany Lions have their work cut out for them. With Michigan still rebuilding and Ohio State having some holes to fill, the Big Ten is there for the taking. Clark will be on the spot to prove the success he had last year wasn't due to his veteran receivers.

QB Todd Reesing, Kansas

Rivals.com recently ran a story promoting Kansas as the favorite to win the Big 12 North, and if that is to happen Reesing is going to have to come up big in key games, something he did not do a year ago.

In games against the elite of the Big 12 (Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech), Reesing threw five TDs and had five interceptions, compared to 28 and six against everybody else. Overall, Kansas wasn't as strong in 2008 as the Jayhawks were in 2007, but it's not as if Texas and Oklahoma are noticeably worse heading into 2009, so Reesing's going to need to pick up his game.

In 2008, Reesing had six more picks and one fewer TD pass in 49 more attempts than he had in his breakout 2007 season, and no matter the cause he'll have to turn it around this year for Kansas to be taken seriously.

RB Jahvid Best and QB Kevin Riley, California

One of these years USC won't win the Pac-10, and California might just be the team to unseat the Trojans in 2009. Oregon looks strong, but the real dark horse in the conference is Cal, a team that has given USC some tough games in the Pete Carroll era.

If that is to happen, Best may have to rush for 2,000 yards -- and he has the talent to do it. The problem is that every team in the conference knows this, too, and will be loading up eight or nine defenders to force Riley to beat them.

Is Riley up to the task? Like his former competition, Nate Longshore, Riley has been inconsistent at best, so that answer is far from clear, no matter how innovative Jeff Tedford's offense may be.

Riley must develop some consistency in 2009, because no matter how good Best may be, he can't get past eight-and nine-man fronts and stay healthy, let alone produce.

RB Bryce Brown, Tennessee

If Brown is as good as he thinks he is, we may as well engrave the next three Heisman Trophy awards right now. It's unfair to put too much pressure on an 18-year-old, but let's not fool ourselves: The person most responsible for the Bryce Brown hype machine is Bryce Brown.

It's a new era at Tennessee, and though Pete Carroll protégé and NFL washout Lane Kiffin has made plenty of noise on his own, Brown is going to be the most talked-about Volunteer come September.

Good luck, kid.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:43 PM

May 5, 2009

Tom Dienhart
Rivals.com College Football Senior Writer

The stars don't just come out in the fall. They also shine at this time of the year as players jockey for starting jobs during spring practices.

Some positions are settled, but in most instances key position battles will be continued during training camps in August.

Still, spring practice was the time for players to make a statement to coaches before heading into summer workouts.

Here are some of the brightest stars this spring.

ALL-SPRING TEAM

OFFENSE
QB Taylor Potts, Texas Tech, Jr. His numbers in the spring scrimmage weren't off the charts – 20-of-27 for 211 yards with a TD – but Potts showed consistency and leadership in his first step to take over for Graham Harrell.

RB Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech, R-Fr. Time and again, he ripped off big gains with a shifting, spinning and churning style.

RB Chris Scott, Florida, Jr. A walk-on, Scott nonetheless pushed Emmanuel Moody, running 14 times for 80 yards in the spring game. Scott could be a nice surprise this fall.

Adron Tennell looked ready to step up and be Sam Bradford's top target.
WR Adron Tennell, Oklahoma, Sr. He grabbed a TD pass in the spring game and impressed coach Bob Stoops, whose team needs a big-time target with the top two wide receivers from 2008 gone.

WR Mike Williams, Syracuse, Sr. He returned to school in January with a vengeance after missing last season for academic reasons. Williams displayed sticky hands and improved blocking, topping it all off with an acrobatic TD catch in the spring game.

TE Rob Gronkowski, Arizona, Jr. He keeps improving, catching eight passes for 67 yards and a score in the spring game. He's a devastating blocker, too.

OL Ryan Blaszczyk, Rutgers, Sr. The center was relentless in scrimmages, setting the hard-edge tone Greg Schiano loves by consistently knocking his man off the ball. Blaszczyk will be one of the nation's top centers.

OL Clint Boling, Georgia, Jr. After earning AP All-SEC honors last fall as a sophomore, the tackle didn't let up this spring, when he earned the team's most outstanding offensive player honor.

OL Justin Boren, Ohio State, Jr. He made headlines with his noisy transfer from Michigan last year. Now, Boren has grabbed attention because of his strong play at guard and center in Columbus.

OL James Brewer, Indiana, Jr. He helped the running game shine in the spring game, gaining 281 yards on 65 carries with four TDs. The 6-8, 339-pound tackle will be a big key to the Hoosiers' new "Pistol" formation.

OL Nate Solder, Colorado, Jr. A former 240-pound tight end has turned into a 6-9, 300-pound road-grading tackle; he showed this spring he's ready to be one of the Big 12's top linemen.

DEFENSE
DE DaQuan Bowers, Clemson, Soph. He registered two sacks in the spring game and notched four more in two other scrimmages.

DT Brian Price, UCLA, Jr. He recorded two sacks in the final scrimmage and was a general all-around nuisance this spring.

DT Phil Taylor, Baylor, Jr. He's a transfer from Penn State. Coach Art Briles says Taylor is a rare blend of size and quickness, and he says he will be disappointed if Taylor isn't a first-team All-Big 12 performer.

DE Cliff Matthews, South Carolina, Jr. He showed great pass-rushing skills and was in such top shape that he also was used at tight end – which may continue in the fall.

LB Chris Galippo, USC, Soph. He was all over the field, showing a nose for the ball and instincts as the leader of an overhauled Trojans linebacking corps that also will include Malcolm Smith and Michael Morgan.

LB Keaton Kristick, Oregon State, Sr. He made plays from sideline to sideline and showed why many say he's the most underrated linebacker in the Pac-10. He will play in the NFL.

LB Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina, Jr. He was the nation's leader in solo stops last season at outside linebacker. This spring, he moved to the middle so Zach Brown can get on the field to give UNC a quicker linebacking corps.

DB Aaron Henry, Wisconsin, Soph. After missing the 2008 season with an ACL injury, the cornerback shined in the spring going head-to-head with wide receiver Nick Toon, who also was a spring star in Madison.

DB Josh Pinkard, USC, Sr. His transition from cornerback back to his more natural spot at strong safety went well. Pinkard will be a star on a rebuilt Trojans defense.

DB Trevard Lindley, Kentucky, Sr. The cornerback will be a Thorpe Award candidate after staying in school for his senior season. In the first scrimmage, he came from nowhere to pick off a pass. He wasn't challenged again.

DB Walter Thurmond, Oregon, Sr. With Patrick Chung and Jarius Byrd off to the NFL, Thurmond emerged this spring as a leader. He solidified the playmaking skills at cornerback that have made him a three-time All-Pac-10 choice.

SPECIALISTS
K Josh Czajkowski, N.C. State, Jr. He took the proverbial next step, going 7-for-9 on field-goal attempts with a long of 52.

P Bryan Anger, California, Soph. He burst on the scene last fall as one of the country's top punters. Anger continued to display a big leg in the spring while also working on developing touch.

HONORABLE MENTION
QB: Jarrett Brown, West Virginia; Andrew Luck, Stanford; Ryan Mallett, Arkansas; Greg McElroy, Alabama; Kyle Parker, Clemson.

RB: Antwan Cobb, Texas; Jeravin Matthews, Northwestern; Curtis McNeal, USC; Jamal Womble, North Carolina; Marcus Wright, Georgia Tech.

WR: Adrian Cannon, Maryland; Jamere Holland, Oregon; Wes Lyons, West Virginia; Denarius Moore, Tennessee.

TE: Michael Palmer, Clemson; Nick Tow-Arnett, Minnesota.

OL: Anthony Davis, Rutgers; Ben Habern, Oklahoma; Sam Robey, Florida; Jared Zwilling, Purdue.

DL: Stephen Paea, Oregon State.

LB: Kyle Bosworth, UCLA; Mark Herzlich, Boston College; Alex Hrebec, Kansas State; Marcus Washington, Georgia; Reed Williams, West Virginia.

DB: Johnny Patrick, Louisville; Patrick Peterson, LSU.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:44 PM

Ten teams with something to prove up front

By Olin Buchanan, Rivals.com College Football Senior Writer May 13, 5:00 am EDT

Offensive lines are like electricity: They’re largely taken for granted and not fully appreciated until they’re not working well.

Running backs and quarterbacks may be described as electrifying, but it’s the line that empowers them.

Running backs have fast feet; linemen get fast food. Quarterbacks (Heath Shuler, J.C. Watts, Jack Kemp) run for Congress; linemen run out for pizza.

But coaches know their importance. That’s why Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was concerned in March and criticized his linemen for a lack of effort in offseason conditioning.

“Those guys, at this point, just everything – whether it’s their work ethic, their attitude, those kinds of things – needs to improve,” Stoops said. “They haven’t had the winter everybody else has had. They, right now, are the weak link of the team.”

Of course, some of those linemen were able to redeem themselves in spring drills. But it’s what happens in the fall that counts. Last fall, Oklahoma’s offensive line arguably was the best in the nation. This season, with four new starters, it will be among the most scrutinized. With four new starters up front, Oklahoma’s is just one of several offensive lines that have something to prove this season.

1. Oklahoma: By now it’s common knowledge the Sooners lost four starting linemen who earned All-Big 12 recognition. That line protected Heisman-winning quarterback Sam Bradford and paved the way for two 1,000-yard running backs. Trent Williams is the lone returning starter, and he moves from right tackle to left tackle. Cory Brandon made a great impression this spring on the right side, but the Sooners still will be counting on guys that Stoops criticized in March. Bradford’s Heisman campaign and OU’s national championship hopes depend heavily on the line play.

2. Alabama: Three starters and two NFL picks – tackle Andre Smith (first round) and center Antoine Caldwell (third round) – are gone from a group that unquestionably was the Tide’s offensive strength last season. Without Smith, Alabama struggled offensively against Utah in the Sugar Bowl. Junior college transfer James Carpenter showed promise in replacing Smith this spring, but there are questions at center. Quarterback Greg McElroy will be a first-time starter, so solid line play is even more crucial.

3. Penn State: The Lions must replace three starters from one of the best lines in the country. Two of them were taken in the NFL draft. Stefen Wisniewski moves from guard to center to fill the void left by A.Q. Shipley, while sophomores DeOn’tae Pannell (tackle) and Matt Stankiewitch (guard) are expected to take over starting roles. The Lions also must replace their top three receivers, so a strong running game is vital.

4. Arizona State: The Sun Devils have allowed a combined 89 sacks in the past two seasons and could not establish a consistent running game last season – and that was with experienced Rudy Carpenter at quarterback. Seldom-used Danny Sullivan is the starter this season. An unproven quarterback and a leaky line sound like a disaster waiting to happen. Three starters are back, though Garth Gerhart is moving from guard to center.

5. Notre Dame: Four starters are back, but is that a good thing? Notre Dame averaged less than 110 rushing yards to rank 100th nationally in rushing offense – and that’s while facing nine opponents that ranked 50th or worse in rushing defense. The Irish lost three games in which they had the lead in the fourth quarter, partly because they couldn’t run to protect the advantage. Notre Dame has a good passing attack, but the Irish will struggle until the line shows it can man up and get a consistent push.

6. Oregon: The Ducks were among the nation’s leaders in rushing offense in each of the past two seasons – when they had a strong, proven line. NFL draft picks Max Unger and Fenuki Tupou are among four lost starters who may be replaced by freshmen and sophomores. Will quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back LeGarrette Blount be as explosive behind a new set of blockers?

7. West Virginia: Tackle Selvish Capers is the only fulltime returning starter from a line that helped pave the way for one of the country’s most dynamic offenses. The loss of All-Big East tackle Ryan Stanchek leaves a big hole, as does losing guard Greg Isdaner, a three-year starter. New starters, such as sophomore guard Josh Jenkins - who was a highly regarded recruit - have high standards to meet. In addition, the Mountaineers no longer have the elusive Pat White at quarterback, which puts more emphasis on the blockers up front.

8. Texas A&M: The Aggies are good at the skill positions, but they’ve been atrocious up front. Consider this: Last season, the Aggies ranked 114th nationally in rushing offense and 115th nationally in sacks allowed, and that was with mobile quarterbacks. Three fulltime starters are back and Matt Allen - a transfer from LSU - has taken over at one guard spot, so maybe the blocking will improve. If it doesn’t, the Aggies are facing another losing season.

9. Tennessee: Center Josh McNeil, guard Vladimir Richard and tackle Chris Scott are returning starters from a line that was average at best last season. Will it be any better this season? Volunteer quarterbacks were sacked 25 times and the running game was largely ineffective in ’08.

10. BYU: The offensive line was one of the strengths for the Cougars in ’08, but freshman All-America tackle Matt Reynolds is the only returning starter up front. Senior R.J. Willing, a career backup at tackle, moves into the starting lineup at center. The Cougars are strong at the skill positions with quarterback Max Hall, running back Harvey Unga and tight end Dennis Pitta, but somebody has to block for them.
__________________

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:44 PM

Monday with Mike: Ten QB situations to watch

By Mike Huguenin, Rivals.com College Football Editor May 11, 6:55 am EDT

Spring practice is over everywhere and players are now hunkered down and ready to continue their offseason training programs.

But that won’t stop us from looking back at some intriguing quarterback situations that played out during spring ball.

At some places, the presumed new starter stepped in and did what was expected. At other places, there still is some angst about who will start this fall.

Here’s a look at 10 of the most interesting situations.

Alabama: John Parker Wilson did a fine job as the Tide’s starter last season – for what he didn’t do. The Tide went 12-2 because Wilson didn’t make mistakes. The flipside, of course, is that he didn’t make many big plays, either. Still, he did what he was asked by the coaching staff, and he and the Tide were successful. The new guy is Greg McElroy, who will be asked to be a game manager and, like Wilson, to avoid mistakes. Alabama’s defense will be one of the best five or so in the nation, so as long as the offense doesn’t mess things up, the Tide will be fine. But McElroy won’t have it as easy as Wilson because the offensive line won’t be as good as it was last season. Still, expect the Tide to run the ball and win with defense. If McElroy struggles, the offense could become a mess.

Arkansas: Hogs fans last season patiently waited for this spring, when Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett would become eligible. Mallett, a pocket passer, is a much better fit for coach Bobby Petrino’s offense than the Dick brothers last season. Mallett lacks mobility but has a strong arm, and if he plays as well as coaches expect, Arkansas will be a bowl team this season. If Mallett struggles, the Hogs are looking at another 5-7 season.

Clemson: Cullen Harper had a mediocre senior season in 2008, following up a great junior campaign with a thud. The assumption was Willy Korn would wrap up the starting job this spring, but that didn’t happen. Instead, Kyle Parker – more highly touted as a baseball player than a football player – will go into fall drills atop the depth chart. Parker might not have the same “wow” factor as Korn, but he was more consistent this spring and made fewer mistakes. Clemson finished 7-6 last season after a bunch of summer hype. The Tigers aren’t getting hyped this offseason, but if Parker (or Korn) comes through, an eight-victory season is possible.

Michigan State: Brian Hoyer was a steady game manager last season; he seemingly spent most of his time handing off to Javon Ringer. Now that both players are gone, you can expect the Spartans to air it out a bit more this season. Kirk Cousins, last season’s backup, will head into fall drills a bit ahead of Oklahoma transfer Keith Nichol. While it seems unlikely, Michigan State could challenge for the Big Ten crown if one of the quarterbacks jumps up and has a huge season. At the least, this should be a seven-win team.

Tennessee: The Vols were dreadful offensively last season, and it cost Phil Fulmer his job. The defense was excellent in ’08 and should be stout again. But the offense looks as if it will struggle again because there is not a top-level quarterback on campus. The new Vols staff didn’t sign any quarterbacks in February, and Jonathan Crompton – who was so bad he was benched last season – will go into fall drills as the starter. As poorly as Crompton played last season, he appears to be head and shoulders better than anybody else on the roster. That means if the Vols want to go bowling, the defense better bear down and the running game better come through.

Texas Tech: Another season, another 5,000-yard quarterback. Graham Harrell might be gone, but Taylor Potts can be expected to approximate Harrell’s numbers. As good as Harrell was in Mike Leach’s offense, history has shown that no matter who is lined up in the shotgun, he has success. It will be much tougher replacing wide receiver Michael Crabtree than replacing Harrell. Tech is going to win at least eight games; for the Red Raiders to get to 10, it will depend more on the defense and a revamped receiving corps coming through than Potts.

Utah: Brian Johnson was a great fit for the Utes’ spread attack, but he’s gone. Corbin Louks, a better runner than Johnson, emerged from spring ball as the starter, as expected. But he didn’t lock down the job. Junior college transfer Terrance Cain and true freshman Jordan Wynn remain in the mix, so the first 10 or so days of fall practice will be quite interesting. As befitting most football-playing freshman who enroll early, Wynn has some bulking up to do. Still, he has some folks in Salt Lake City saying the magic words – “Hey, he reminds me of Alex Smith” – and his upside is greater than that of the other two. Utah has to rebuild its receiving corps and its secondary and needs to replace pass-rushing defensive end Paul Kruger. But if the Utes get top-notch quarterback play, they could win the Mountain West again. And when you’ve finished unbeaten twice in five seasons, there’s no reason you shouldn’t dream big.

USC: The Trojans’ quarterback derby was probably the most-watched spring position battle in the nation. Sophomore Aaron Corp went into the spring with a slight edge, but he emerged from drills as the clear-cut No. 1. He is the most athletic USC quarterback in a while, and his mobility should allow the offensive coaches to do a few different things this season. Perhaps more interesting was the battle for the No. 2 job, where highly touted freshman Matt Barkley – who enrolled early – beat out former highly touted prep star Mitch Mustain. (We’d say Mustain’s mom is probably disappointed, but that would be a cheap shot, so we’ll refrain.) Hmm. What if Mustain were still at Arkansas, running Bobby Petrino’s offense – which is a perfect fit for him, by the way.

Virginia: The Cavs struggled last season after Jameel Sewell, who played well in 2007, was suspended for the year because of academic reasons. Well, Sewell is back, but the quarterback battle will go on into fall drills among Sewell, incumbent starter Marc Verica and converted cornerback Vic Hall. Verica is the best passer of the three, but his athleticism lags far behind the other two. This is a huge season for Cavs coach Al Groh, so given the Cavs’ paucity of talent at wide receiver – where you’d think a former cornerback could have made a big impact – he must either really like Hall or think he can’t trust Sewell. Unless one of that trio has a huge season, the Cavs likely will be bowl-less for the second season in a row. In that scenario, you wonder if Groh can survive.

West Virginia: The Mountaineers lost Pat White, who will go down as one of the two or three best players in school history. White – the only starting quarterback in NCAA history to go 4-0 in bowls – was an electrifying performer, and there’s no way anyone can match his feats. Enter fifth-year senior Jarrett Brown, who has won both of his starts in his career when White was hurt. Brown can’t be expected to do the same things as White, but he has some skills and WVU likely will pass more often this season. Despite White’s departure, WVU likely will go into the season as the Big East favorite. As long as Brown doesn’t implode, WVU should win the league.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:45 PM

CFN 2009 Pre-Preseason Rankings

Top 10

These are the teams that'll be the leaders in the national title chase, and at the very least, will be in the mix for their respective conference titles. The ranking is based on how good the team should be in 2009, while the Final CFN Season Ranking is based on how good a season the team had in 2008.

What was 2008's Pre-Preseason Top 10?
1. Ohio State
2. Georgia
3. Oklahoma
4. Florida
5. USC
6. LSU
7. Wisconsin
8. Missouri
9. West Virginia
10. Texas Tech

1. Florida 2008 Record: 13-1 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 1

The defending national champion was 2008’s most dominant team in the country in all phases, and now the pressure will be on to put together one of the greatest seasons in the history of college football. Want pressure? To be blunt, if Florida doesn’t win the national title for the third time in four years, the season will be a failure. Is that an unfair standard to set? Not for a team that gets back all 11 starters and all 11 backups to a defense that held the Oklahoma juggernaut to 14 points and finished ninth in the nation in total defense and fourth in scoring D. WR Percy Harvin left early for the NFL, and PK Jonathan Phillips was a steady weapon, but the special teams should still be among the best in the nation strong-legged Caleb Sturgis stepping into the placekicking job, P Chas Henry returning to the nation’s eighth best punting game, and Brandon James back as the nation’s best all-around returners. Oh yeah, and then there’s that beefy quarterback who wants a second Heisman and a third national championship. Tim Tebow needs to be steady early on with three starters on the offensive line gone along with his two top receivers, Harvin and Louis Murphy, also gone. The Gators are loaded at running back with Chris Rainey, Emmanuel Moody, and Jeff Demps forming a good rotation. Yes, there might be holes, but Florida is getting all the top recruits and Urban Meyer won’t be afraid to play his young prospects right away.

2. Oklahoma 2008 Record: 12-2 2008 Final CFN Season Rank:2
The Sooners are going to be a punchline, or will at least take the PR hit that Ohio State suffered over the last three years, but they’re going to be good … national title level good. This was going to be a good team no matter who was at the helm, but Sam Bradford’s shocking decision to return, and not be a top three pick, means the offense will have its moments when it resembles the juggernaut that ripped through the Big 12 over the second half of last season. However, don’t expect 60 points per game again with so much turnover on the O line that loses four starters. On the plus side, OT Trent Williams decided to come back for his senior year, as did TE Jermaine Gresham. A No. 1 wide receiver needs to be found, but the running tandem of Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray are back. The defense will carry the offense early on, and it should be fantastic, with nine starters returning including DT Gerald McCoy. The only losses are at safety with Nic Harris and Lendy Holmes gone.

3. Texas 2008 Record: 12-1 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 3
With Colt McCoy coming back for his final year, and with his top target, Jordan Shipley, getting a sixth year of eligibility, the offense has its identity. It also has an upgrade with the young players of last year ready to step up and play bigger roles, like Dan Buckner and Malcolm Williams. Fozzy Whittaker, Vondrell McGee, and thumping scorer Cody Johnson are back to run the ball behind a line that gets four starters back. The defense is the issue, even with some good prospects waiting to come through. All four starters are gone off the offensive front, and while LB Sergio Kindle decided to come back his senior year, his running mate, Rashad Bobino, is gone. Starting corner Ryan Palmer will be replaced by Curtis Brown, and the other three spots are set. There will be a battle to replace PK Ryan Bailey, but punters John Gold and Justin Tucker are back.

4. USC 2008 Record: 12-1 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 5
It’s USC, so there are always superstar prospects waiting in the wings, but the recruiting classes of the past few years will be put to the test with so much turnover from last season’s all-timer of a defense. S Taylor Mays is back, when he probably would’ve been a top ten pick, but nine starters are gone. Even USC can’t handle these many replacements. Meanwhile, the offense will be just fine, even with QB Mark Sanchez taking off early to the NFL. Mitch Mustain was a top-shelf QB recruit for Arkansas, while Aaron Corp is no slouch and will be in the mix. The defense will be fine in the secondary, loaded up front, and in trouble at linebacker with Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, and Kaluka Maiava gone. To make matters worse, both kickers are gone.

5. Oklahoma State 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 30
Last year OSU had a breakthrough season with one of the nation’s most dynamic offenses and a defense that, well, the offense was fantastic. The struggles at the end of last season should only serve as motivation going into this year for a veteran squad that should be good enough to knock off either Texas or Oklahoma. TE Brandon Pettigrew is off to the NFL, but WR Dez Bryant is back along with QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter, and in a shocker, OT Russell Okung, who might be the Big 12’s best blocker. The nation’s No. 6 offense gets back eight starters, and almost all the depth, with the one potential problem area up front with C David Washington gone. Defensively, the Cowboys weren’t horrific, at least compared to the rest of the Big 12, but only six starters are back with major changes needing to be made in the secondary. The team’s biggest loss could be P Matt Fodge, who helped OSU next over 39 yards per try.

6. LSU 2008 Record: 8-5 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 40
This isn’t the national title-caliber team of a few years ago, but it’s not all that far off from maturing into a possible SEC champion with the right breaks. Was the 38-3 Peach Bowl win over Georgia Tech an aberration, or was the mediocre season a proper indicator? Jordan Jefferson appears to be the answer at quarterback, and he gets a big break with WR Brandon LaFell changing his mind about leaving early. LG Herman Johnson and C Brett Helms are gone, but LT Ciron Black returns along with two other starters on the line to pave the way for RB Charles Scott and the great group of backs. The defensive back seven should be fantastic, even with the loss of LB Darry Beckwith, but the line is a problem with all the starters gone. And there’s the issue. LSU has been able to reload on the defensive front, but it’s asking a log to replace everyone.

7. Oregon 2008 Record: 10-3 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 24
Mike Bellotti has had some strong teams over the past few years, and his Ducks probably would’ve been playing for the national title in 2006 had Dennis Dixon not injured his knee, but this should be among his best teams yet. There will be a wee bit of a quarterback derby, but Jeremiah Masoli appears to be a burgeoning star to lead the way, while LeGarrette Blount will get more of the rushing workload with Jeremiah Johnson gone. Some key stars are gone off the defense, including S Patrick Chung and pass rushing terror Nick Reed, but six good starters return to a group that needs to be better against the run.

8. Ole Miss 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 15
Ed Orgeron set ‘em up, and Houston Nutt knocked ‘em down. Orgeron had his faults, but he was a strong recruiter and last year’s team proved it with its fantastic lines. While OT Michael Oher and DT Peria Jerry will be tough to replace, the return of star pass rusher, Greg Hardy, and three starters on the offensive line will help. The big story will be QB Jevan Snead, who got better and better as last season went on. He has good players around him in WR Shay Hodge and RBs Cordera Eason and Dexter McCluster, but he’ll have to be the leader and star throughout. The defense was so strong against the run last year won’t be quite as good with Jerry gone, but it’ll still be nasty.

9. North Carolina 2008 Record: 8-5 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 26
Of the five losses last year, there was a sloppy 41-10 blasting from NC State while the other four losses were by a grand total of nine points. Those four close defeats were all by three points or fewer, and now the team is far more mature and should be even better as long as a receiver can be found. Hakeem Nicks left early and Brandon Tate hurt his knee and is off to try to make it in the NFL, so Greg Little and Kenton Thornton have to try to get the passing game going. The great recruiting classes of the last few years should start paying off with better depth, while six starters return on offense and nine starters are back on defense including strongside star, Bruce Carter.

10. Alabama 2008 Record: 12-2 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 7
This was supposed to be the season Alabama became a national power again as the great recruiting classes were due to mature. Obviously, the timetable moved up a year early and now there’s no turning back. A quarter away from playing for the national title in 2008, the Tide has to show it’s ready to be a consistent superpower again with stars like WR Julio Jones and NG Terrence Cody to work around. The defense was the star throughout last year, especially against the run, and it gets back nine starters. Offensively, QB John Parker Wilson will be sorely missed, and now it’ll be a battle this spring for the starting job with junior-to-be Greg McElroy getting the first look. All-Everything left tackle Andre Smith is gone, along with C Antoine Caldwell, but enough talent returns to the offense to be at least as good as last year.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:46 PM

CFN 2009 Pre-Preseason Rankings

No. 11 to 25

These are the teams that'll be deep in the heart of the BCS race, but should be flawed just enough to be outside of the national title hunt. The ranking is based on how good the team should be in 2009, while the Final CFN Season Ranking is based on how good a season the team had in 2008.

11. Georgia Tech 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 22
Paul Johnson’s first year might have ended in a disaster with the Peach Bowl blowout against LSU, but it’s easy to forget just how many square pegs had to fit into round holes to make the offense work. The defensive line will be the early concern losing top NFL prospects Michael Johnson and Vance Walker, but the back seven returns intact. Of course, it’s all about the offense, and QB Josh Nesbitt and RB Jonathan Dwyer are a year more experienced after playing so well late. All 11 starters return to an offense that should be even more dynamic.

12. Penn State 2008 Record: 11-2 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 10
While this won’t be the tight Rose Bowl team of last year that was an Iowa field goal away from playing for the national title, it’ll still be the class of a mediocre Big Ten. QB Daryll Clark is back for his sixth year, but the biggest boost is the return of LB Sean Lee to the defense after suffering a preseason knee injury in 2008. The receiving corps has to start from scratch, but the running game should be nasty even with just two linemen returning to pave the way. Lee and Navorro Bowman should be the nation’s best linebacking tandem, but the defense has to replace the entire starting secondary. PK Kevin Kelly was a weapon who’ll be missed.

13. Ohio State 2008 Record: 10-3 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 12
It’s the Terrelle Pryor show now. Ohio State is a factory that reloads, but even a program as big as this suffers some down time once in a while. There won’t be that much of a slip on defense with seven starters returning, even if there aren’t many major James Laurinaitis-like stars. Pryor will be the leader of an offense that loses RB Beanie Wells and WR Brian Hartline to the NFL early, but three starters return on the line and there are just enough decent offensive prospects to hope for more scoring consistency.

14. California 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 27
Where have you heard this before? Cal is loaded, USC has to rebuild a bit, blah, blah, blah. The Bears have the team able to win the Pac 10, led by Heisman candidate RB Jahvid Best, who’ll get to run behind a good line with three returning starters. QB Kevin Riley will be the man now that Nate Longshore gone, and he gets his top receivers back. The defense loses star LB Zack Follett and running mate Worrell Williams, but the secondary returns intact. Bryan Anger will be among the nation’s best punters before his career is over.

15. Clemson 2008 Record: 7-6 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 45
The team showed tremendous heart to finish up well after all the turmoil. Head coach Dabo Swinney should have a piece of cake to deal with after having to turn things around in a hurry to earn the full-time gig. Getting RB C.J. Spiller back, when he should be in the NFL, is a major win, but all eyes will be on one-time super-recruit Willy Korn to see if he can be the quarterback Tiger fans were hoping for a few years ago. The O line that struggled so much at times last year will at least be more experienced with four starters returning, while nine starters are back from a defense that was loaded up by a few good recruiting classes.

16. Georgia 2008 Record: 10-3 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 14
Georgia has the brand and reputation worthy of being considered for the preseason top ten every year on name alone, but there’s work to be done here. You don’t get better by losing QB Matthew Stafford and RB Knowshon Moreno, but WR A.J. Green is special and RBs Caleb King and Richard Samuel are fantastic. The key is the line with all five starters returning, and that doesn’t include superstar OT Trinton Sturdivant, who’s trying to work his way back from a devastating knee injury. The defense has work to do on the line, and loses CB Asher Allen to the NFL a year early, but Georgia always reloads. The linebacking corps will be among the best in the SEC.

17. Nebraska 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 35
After a nice turnaround in Bo Pelini’s first season, the Huskers will be hoping to take a big step forward as one of the favorites to win the North. The defensive back seven should be better, but the big key was the return of DT Ndamukong Suh, who should probably be off to the NFL instead of dominating the Big 12. The offensive line will be fine and Roy Helu is a good back, but the passing game will be a concern early on with Patrick Witt and Zac Lee battling to replace QB Joe Ganz, while receivers Nate Swift and Todd Peterson have to be replaced.

18. Virginia Tech 2008 Record: 10-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 11
If the Hokies could win the ACC title and get over the BCS game hump with the 2008 team, they have a chance to be truly special this year. Tyrod Taylor will be the unquestioned starting quarterback, while Darren Evans will be one of the nation’s top backs. The offense that was so awful at times throughout last year gets eight starters back, while the defense should be fantastic despite the loss of CB Macho Harris and inside linebackers Purnell Sturdivant and Brett Warren.

19. Miami 2008 Record: 7-6 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 53
Is Miami ready to be this year’s Alabama? The star recruiting classes should be ready to mature and be special, but the season will ride on the skinny frame of QB Jacory Harris now that Robert Marve has transferred. Seven starters return to an ultra-athletic defense that should be among the best in the ACC, while the offense gets nine starters back and should have a stronger passing game led by Aldarius Johnson and Sam Shields. Matt Bosher returns to handle most of the kicking duties.

20. Utah 2008 Record: 13-0 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 4
The Utes won’t be anywhere near the powerhouse that was in the national title discussion at the end of last year, but they’ll still be really, really good. The loss of DE Paul Kruger early to the NFL is painful, but the big hole to fill is at quarterback where steady star Brian Johnson is gone; Corbin Louks will get the first look. The three starting receivers and RB Darrell Mack are gone, but there are good players waiting to step up. Nine starters return on defense, led by Sylvester Stevenson and a strong linebacking corps. Louie Sakoda was an all-timer of a kicker who won’t be easily replaced.

21. Tennessee 2008 Record: 5-7 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 66
Vol fans won’t have Phil Fulmer to kick around anymore. Lane Kiffin has to prove he can actually coach, at least be a head coach, with his first job to spark the offense that was so woeful under offensive coordinator Dave Clawson, who left to take over the Bowling Green head coaching job. Eight offensive starters return with the biggest question at quarterback. Will it be Jonathan Crompton or B.J. Coleman or Nick Stephens? The defense was great last year, but the performance was lost on the college football world because of the offense. If Eric Berry isn’t the best safety in America, and maybe the best defensive player, if it’s not USC’s Taylor Mays, and five other strong starters return. The big issue could be on the defensive line with DE Robert Ayers and DT Demonte Bolden gone.

22. Pitt 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 13
Another year, another season when Pitt is supposed to be really, really good. The team was actually strong last year, even with the weird 3-0 Sun Bowl loss to Oregon State, and now it loses its best player on offense (RB LeSean McCoy) and defense (LB Scott McKillop). However, QB Bill Stull should be decent and he has a strong receiving corps to throw to. Three starters return to the offensive line, while seven starters are back on what should be one of the Big East’s best defenses. Replacing PK Conor Lee and P Dave Brytus won’t be easy.

23. West Virginia 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 29
Last season really wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t a BCS year, but it was still a decent campaign under Bill Stewart. Now the big question will be whether or not Jarrett Brown is really ready for the full-time job now that Pat White is gone. The offensive line is the other issue with four starters gone including LB Greg Isdaner, who took off a year early. Fortunately, the defense that was so good throughout last season should pick up the slack for any problems on offense. LB Mortty Ivy is gone, but eight starters return. The Mountaineers were second in the nation in net punting, but Pat McAfee is gone.

24. Boise State 2008 Record: 12-1 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 6
The Broncos will end up ranked much higher than this based on record, but talent-wise, they’re just on the edge of the to 25 … that’s not a rip. This is a team worthy of playing with the big boys on a regular basis with QB Kellen Moore and RB Jeremy Avery returning to the backfield, working behind three starters on the line. The receiving corps needs work, but should be fine. The defense that never gets enough credit has to replace linebackers Kyle Gingg and Tim Brady, but gets almost everyone else back including all-stars DE Ryan Winterswyk and CB Kyle Wilson.

25. TCU 2008 Record: 11-2 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 8
All-America DE Jerry Hughes is back, but most of the stars on the tremendous defense of last year are gone. Just four starters return on defense, but there were some decent backups ready to step in and the secondary should be among the best in the Mountain West. The offense might not be a steamroller, but QB Andy Dalton leads a good group with a solid backfield and Jimmy Young back as the best receiver.
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SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:46 PM

2008 clock changes shortened game

May 14, 2009 10:30 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- There was a bit of concern when two new clock changes were implemented last season, but after further review, they shortened the game without negative results.

Last year the play clock was changed to 40 seconds. The moment a play ended, the official put his hand up, 40 seconds went on the clock and the offense could snap it. In the past, the referee designated when it was ready for play and there was a 25 second clock. There were different paces. The change eliminated that. The teams determined the pace, but made it a consistent play clock. It sped the game up because teams weren't waiting on officials.

The second change made last year was to the clock when the ball went out of bounds. In years past, the clock didn't start until the next snap. Now, when the offical inbounds the ball and puts it on the hashmark, the clock starts immediately (other than the last two minutes). It eliminated more dead time. The fear from the coaches, though, was that it would eliminate plays, too. ACC coordinator of officials Doug Rhoads said the games were shortened by an average of 12 minutes and only lost an average of nine offensive plays. That's about one play per team per quarter.

"It didn't impact the loss of plays, it did speed the game up so I think it did what we wanted," Rhoads said. "It didn't alter what the game looked like but it sure made it quicker, and that was the goal."

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:47 PM

Non-BCS post-spring rankings

May 15, 2009 10:57 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

Spring practice is over, and it's now up to the players to determine what type of team they want to be a part of. These rankings are different than my last set because they reflect the teams having gone through spring football and filling major needs. These rankings are probably closer to what the rankings will look like at the start of the season, but a couple teams still have big questions to answer and holes to fill.

1. TCU -- This spring the Horned Frogs made up for their losses on defense and developed some good depth on both sides of the ball. The Horned Frogs have a favorable schedule and should be the frontrunner as a BCS buster when the season begins.

2. Boise State -- The Broncos have just five seniors on the team, but the young guys got it done last year and can do so again. An early win against Oregon sets the tone for the entire season.

3. Notre Dame -- It's hard not to like the Irish, especially with lots of talent returning on offense and an incredibly favorable schedule. The Irish also bring in some high-level recruits who should be able to provide immediate help.

4. BYU -- The Cougars changed their attitude this spring and decided to detach themselves from the expectations of fans and media and start focusing on the fun aspects of football. Whether that will translate into wins, especially with a tough nonconference schedule, is to be determined.

5. Utah -- The Utes still have questions on offense, mostly at quarterback, and there's a lot of young, unproven talent at the skill positions. The defensive front will be the strength, while the question is whether the secondary can be as strong as in the past.

6. East Carolina -- The reigning Conference USA champs will again be favored with almost the entire team returning. Players said they were more confident this spring and are ready to take the next step toward changing the program.

7. Nevada -- The Wolf Pack might have the best running game in the country this year with quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running backs Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott. But if Kaepernick can throw, this team could be every bit as dangerous as Boise State.

8. Houston -- The offense is going to be strong, but the defense suffered some major losses to graduation. The Cougars had a good spring, though, and developed some of the depth waiting in the wings.

9. Troy -- I know the Sun Belt isn't one of the higher-level conferences, but the Trojans are for real. They're offense will give its opponents fits and their defense is littered with potential draft picks.

10. Navy -- The Midshipmen lost their entire backfield, but quarterback Ricky Dobbs had a great spring and the rest of the team came along as spring progressed. I even think we'll see a passing game in the Navy offense this year.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:47 PM

Revised Top 25 After Spring Practices

Schlabach By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com
Archive

Spring practices are over, and the start of the 2009 college football season is less than four months away.

Here's the third version of our way-too-early preseason Top 25, and there are several noticeable changes. Florida, with quarterback Tim Tebow and possibly the country's best defense coming back, remains a very solid No. 1. But Oklahoma and Texas flipped spots, with the Longhorns moving up to No. 2 and the Sooners falling to No. 3.

Alabama and LSU fell a few spots, and USC and Ohio State moved up a notch or two. Ole Miss was the biggest riser, going from No. 11 to No. 7. Not since Archie Manning played quarterback for the Rebels has there been this much excitement about football in Oxford.

Michigan State and Rutgers (and every other Big East team) are out. North Carolina and BYU are in.

The Big 12 and SEC continue to dominate the college football landscape with five teams from each league in the Top 25. Four ACC teams among the Top 25 could be a sign that conference is coming back, and the Pac-10 and Big 12 each have three teams in the Top 25.

1. Florida Gators
With 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tebow and all 11 starters coming back on defense, the Gators are clearly the team to beat this season. Linebacker Brandon Spikes and perhaps the most talented secondary in the country lead what should be a ferocious defense. Tebow will take more snaps from under center, and coach Urban Meyer is determined to make him a more polished passer. Tight end Aaron Hernandez emerged as a big playmaker during the spring, and Carl Moore and Deonte Thompson's consistent play alleviated some of the anxiety about losing speedy receiver Percy Harvin to the NFL draft. Florida plays eight of its 12 games in the Sunshine State, but road games at LSU on Oct. 10 and at South Carolina on Nov. 14 are potential stumbling blocks.

2. Texas Longhorns
Longhorns fans will tell you this is what the polls should have looked like at the end of the 2008 regular season -- with Texas ranked ahead of Oklahoma. The teams will play again in Dallas on Oct. 17, when the Big 12 South title and a potential spot in the BCS Championship Game might be decided. With quarterback Colt McCoy and receivers Jordan Shipley and Malcolm Williams coming back, the Longhorns should again have one of the best passing offenses in the country. But Texas has to run the football better than it did last season, when it ended a 10-year streak of having produced a 1,000-yard rusher. Vondrell McGee emerged as the most reliable runner in the spring, after Cody Johnson and Fozzy Whitaker were hampered by injuries. Incoming freshman Chris Whaley also will be given a chance to win the tailback job. The defense has to replace All-American end Brian Orakpo and defensive tackle Roy Miller, but Sergio Kindle is a blossoming superstar. The Longhorns play Texas Tech at home on Sept. 19, and road games at Missouri on Oct. 24 and at Oklahoma State on Oct. 31 might be difficult.

3. Oklahoma Sooners
With reigning Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford, running back DeMarco Murray and tight end Jermaine Gresham coming back, the Sooners have as many playmakers as any team in the country. But Oklahoma's fortunes this season might be determined by the guys up front. The Sooners must replace four starting offensive linemen, including All-Big 12 tackle Phil Loadholt and guard Duke Robinson. Right tackle Trent Williams moves to the left side to protect Bradford's blind side, and Cory Brandon emerged as a force at right tackle in the spring. Senior receiver Adron Tennell finally looked like a true deep threat in the spring after recovering from torn knee ligaments, giving Bradford another option in the passing game. Running back Mossis Madu also looked good playing slot receiver. The Sooners were still working to replace both starting safeties, and they must develop some depth on the defensive line.

4. USC Trojans
We won't have to wait long to find out if the Trojans do indeed simply reload after losing so many star players to the NFL draft. After hosting San Jose State in their Sept. 5 opener, the Trojans play at Ohio State on Sept. 12. Either Aaron Corp or freshman Matt Barkley will be making his second career start at quarterback in that game. There will be a lot of talent around whoever starts at quarterback, including receiver Damian Williams and as many as six tailbacks who could start on most other Pac-10 teams. Eight starters must be replaced on defense, including linebackers Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga and defensive end Clay Matthews. The Trojans feel pretty good about their linebacker corps, and end Everson Griffen finally emerged as a potential difference-maker during spring practice. Along with the road trip to Ohio State, USC faces difficult road games at California on Oct. 3, at Notre Dame on Oct. 17, at Oregon on Oct. 31 and at Arizona State on Nov. 7.

5. Virginia Tech Hokies
If the Hokies are going to truly emerge as a BCS National Championship contender, quarterback Tyrod Taylor will have to improve his passing skills. He displayed an improved throwing motion during spring practice, which at least gives coach Frank Beamer hope that his offense won't be so one-dimensional this season. Tailback Darren Evans is as good as any tailback in the ACC, and the offensive line figures to be more athletic than it has been the past couple of seasons. Virginia Tech's young wide receivers will have to be better after struggling last season. Coordinator Bud Foster's defenses are always good, but there were questions on the defensive line and in the secondary coming out of spring practice. The ACC figures to be one of the more improved leagues in the country, but the Hokies play most of their difficult league foes at home, including Miami, Boston College, North Carolina and NC State. Tech opens the season against Alabama in Atlanta's Georgia Dome on Sept. 5 and also plays Nebraska at home on Sept. 19.

6. Ohio State Buckeyes
It's hard to imagine the Buckeyes' being as good as last season without star players such as Chris "Beanie" Wells, James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins. But quarterback Terrelle Pryor will probably be better in his second season as a starter, and the offensive line might be much better after underperforming the past few seasons. The Buckeyes feel good about tailbacks Dan "Boom" Herron and Brandon Saine, and receivers DeVier Posey and Taurian Washington showed glimpses of productive play during spring practice. Michigan transfer Justin Boren looks like a star at left guard, and Andy Miller and Mike Adams were still battling at left tackle at the end of spring drills. Sophomore Michael Brewster is one of the better centers in the country. Ohio State's defensive line is as deep and talented as any unit in the country. But there are two new starters at linebacker, and cornerbacks Jenkins and Donald Washington won't be easily replaced. The Buckeyes open the season with difficult non-Big Ten games against Navy and USC, and play league road games at Penn State on Nov. 7 and at Michigan on Nov. 21.

7. Mississippi Rebels
It might seem as if the Rebels are getting too much credit for their thrilling 47-34 victory over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. But on paper, at least, they have fewer questions than every other SEC team except Florida. With quarterback Jevan Snead, receiver Shay Hodge and versatile Dexter McCluster coming back, the Rebels have plenty of firepower on offense. Defensive end Greg Hardy came back for his senior season and should be more effective after playing much of last season with a foot injury. Outside linebacker Patrick Trahan and free safety Kendrick Lewis are blossoming stars, and slimmed-down nose tackle Jerrell Powe should help Ole Miss replace departed star Peria Jerry. The Rebels' biggest concern heading into spring practice remains left tackle, where converted tight end Bradley Sowell tries to replace NFL first-rounder Michael Oher. The Rebels will play a very soft nonconference schedule (road game at Memphis and home games against Southeast Louisiana, UAB and Northern Arizona) and three of their most difficult SEC games (Alabama, Tennessee and LSU) will be played in Oxford.

8. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide were ranked No. 1 in the BCS standings for five weeks last season, before their campaign ended with consecutive losses, including a stunning 31-17 defeat against Utah in the Sugar Bowl. It's hard to forget what the Utes did to Alabama's offensive line, which played without suspended left tackle Andre Smith. Smith, the Outland Trophy winner, is gone for good, along with All-SEC center Antoine Caldwell and starting right guard Marlon Davis. The Tide also must replace quarterback John Parker Wilson, one of the most accomplished passers in school history. Juco transfer James Carpenter takes over for Smith at left tackle and will protect new quarterback Greg McElroy's blind side. Nine starters are back on defense, but safety Rashad Johnson is a big loss in the secondary. Alabama opens the season against Virginia Tech, but plays most of its difficult SEC games at home. Its Oct. 10 road game at Ole Miss might decide which SEC West team plays in the SEC championship game.

9. Penn State Nittany Lions
The defending Big Ten champions have to replace their entire starting receiver corps and rebuild both of their lines, but they still seem to be the second-best team in what will probably again be a watered-down league. Quarterback Daryll Clark is efficient, and tailbacks Evan Royster and Stephfon Green form a pretty good one-two punch (if Green recovers from offseason ankle surgery). The Nittany Lions will have three new starters on the offensive line, and Stefen Wisniewski moves from guard to center. Derek Moye, Chaz Powell and Graham Zug will have to step up at receiver, after Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood all departed. Linebacker Sean Lee returns from a knee injury that caused him to miss all of the 2008 season. The Nittany Lions will have one of the country's best linebacker corps if Navorro Bowman puts his off-field problems in the rearview mirror. Penn State's non-Big Ten schedule (home against Akron, Syracuse, Temple and Eastern Illinois) is far from challenging, and fellow Big Ten favorites Ohio State and Iowa play in Happy Valley.

10. Oklahoma State Cowboys
We knew Cowboys coach Mike Gundy was a man. Now we're going to find out if he's a legitimate coach. Few teams in the country return as much firepower as Oklahoma State, which welcomes back quarterback Zac Robinson, tailback Kendall Hunter and receiver Dez Bryant. The Cowboys ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring, total offense, rushing and pass efficiency, generating more than 3,100 yards both through the air and on the ground in 2008. But Oklahoma State struggled to stop most teams last season, and new defensive coordinator Bill Young must rebuild a defensive line that couldn't rush the passer and a secondary that couldn't cover receivers. Derek Burton looked good in the spring after moving from defensive end to tackle, and Jeremiah Price emerged as a consistent pass-rusher. The offensive line must jell after losing center David Washington and guard Steve Denning. Oklahoma State opens the season against Georgia in Stillwater on Sept. 5 and also plays Texas and Texas Tech at home.

11. Oregon Ducks
For the first time in 15 seasons, Oregon will open a football season without coach Mike Bellotti on the sideline. Bellotti retired from coaching and becomes the school's athletic director July 1. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly replaces Bellotti and his honeymoon won't last long. The Ducks open the season Sept. 3 at Boise State and then play consecutive home games against Purdue, Utah and California. Oregon must replace six players who were selected in the NFL draft, including safety Patrick Chung, cornerback Jairus Byrd and center Max Unger. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is back and is a threat to run or throw the ball. Running back LeGarrette Blount has battled off-field problems and a foot injury. Three starters must be replaced on the offensive line, along with receiver Jaison Williams. Only one starting defensive lineman returns, and the losses in the secondary were heavy.

12. LSU Tigers
What was more stunning last season? Watching LSU's once-ferocious defense allow 134 points combined in losses to Florida, Georgia and Ole Miss or watching the Tigers completely dismantle Georgia Tech 38-3 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl? The Tigers were plagued by poor quarterback play and a surprisingly porous defense during their national title defense last season. Coach Les Miles hired former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis to shore up the defense, and the Tigers responded with more aggressive play during spring practice. Sophomore Jordan Jefferson, who started the final two games at quarterback last season, showed more consistency during the spring. Tailback Charles Scott and receiver Brandon LaFell are proven playmakers, and the offensive line should be pretty solid. The defensive line must be rebuilt, but end Rahim Alem and tackle Drake Nevis looked like solid players during the spring. The Tigers play three of their most difficult SEC games on the road: at Georgia on Oct. 3, at Alabama on Nov. 7 and at Ole Miss on Nov. 21.

13. California Golden Bears
This might very well be the season in which California finally breaks through in the Pac-10. The Bears have been close before -- they climbed as high as No. 2 in the national rankings before finishing 7-6 in 2007. Coach Jeff Tedford has earned the reputation of a quarterback guru, but Cal's passers have been pretty mediocre in recent seasons. Kevin Riley will have to hold off Brock Mansion and Beau Sweeney to win the starting job this year. But the Cal offense starts with tailback Jahvid Best, who ran for 1,580 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. He missed spring practice after undergoing foot and elbow surgeries. All-American center Alex Mack will have to be replaced up front, and the receiver corps is far from a finished prospect. Three of the team's four starting linebackers must be replaced, including star Zack Follett. The Cal secondary is one of the most underrated in the country, after finishing sixth in pass-efficiency defense and ranking third nationally with 24 interceptions last season. Cal will have to play better on the road this season, with games at Minnesota, Oregon, UCLA and Arizona State looming on the schedule.

14. Boise State Broncos
We might know before the first Saturday of the season whether the Broncos are again a legitimate BCS bowl game contender. Boise State opens the season Thursday, Sept. 3 against Oregon on the blue turf of Bronco Stadium. The opener is being called the most anticipated home game in school history. With six starters coming back on both offense and defense from a team that finished 12-0 during the regular season in 2008, Boise State fans have plenty of reason to be excited. Quarterback Kellen Moore and receivers Austin Pettis and Titus Young lead a high-octane passing attack. The offensive line needs to be more consistent, after 11 different combinations played in 13 games last season. All four starters are back in a very talented secondary, led by cornerback Kyle Wilson. If the Broncos can beat the Ducks, they'll face two difficult road games: at Fresno State on Sept. 18 and at Tulsa on Oct. 14.

15. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Will the Yellow Jackets be even better running coach Paul Johnson's triple-option spread offense in Year 2? Or will opposing defenses catch up with his offense? Georgia Tech returns all but two starters on offense, including running backs Jonathan Dwyer and Roddy Jones. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt missed much of spring practice with a wrist injury, and needs to become a better passer to keep defenses honest. The offensive line remains the No. 1 concern after many projected starters missed the spring because of injuries. Georgia Tech must replace three star defensive linemen: end Michael Johnson and tackles Darryl Richard and Vance Walker. Georgia Tech plays many of its most difficult ACC foes at home: Clemson on Sept. 10, North Carolina on Sept. 26, Virginia Tech on Oct. 17 and Wake Forest on Nov. 7. The Yellow Jackets play three games in the first 12 days of the season and don't have an open date until the week before the Nov. 28 regular-season finale against rival Georgia.

16. Georgia Bulldogs
The Bulldogs won't have the star power they had last season, when quarterback Matthew Stafford and tailback Knowshon Moreno led one of the SEC's most explosive offenses. Senior Joe Cox takes over after spending the past three seasons behind Stafford. Cox threw 66 touchdowns as a high school senior and showed good command of the offense during spring practice. Caleb King and Richard Samuel are being counted on to replace Moreno, but freshman Carlton Thomas was the most impressive runner during spring practice. The offensive line should be better with tackle Trinton Sturdivant returning from a knee injury that caused him to miss all of the 2008 season. The Bulldogs struggled to find a pass-rusher during spring practice, and projected starting defensive end Justin Houston will miss the first two games of the season because of a suspension. Georgia opens the season at Oklahoma State on Sept. 5 and also plays Arizona State at home on Sept. 26. The Bulldogs play only six home games and travel to Arkansas and Tennessee during SEC play.

17. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
There are no more excuses for coach Charlie Weis, who returns 10 starters on offense and a ton of experience across the roster. With quarterback Jimmy Clausen and receivers Golden Tate and Michael Floyd coming back, the Fighting Irish should be explosive on offense. Notre Dame must improve its running game, which ranked 100th nationally in 2008, and new offensive line coach Frank Verducci helped it make strides during spring practice. Coordinator Jon Tenuta takes over the defensive play-calling duties, and the Irish are going back to a 4-3 scheme. Opponents can expect the Irish to be more aggressive with safety and linebacker blitzes. Notre Dame plays seven home games, along with an Oct. 31 neutral-site game against woebegone Washington State in San Antonio. Only one game on Notre Dame's schedule -- home against USC on Oct. 17 -- seems to be especially difficult. The Irish might need to win at least nine games to show Weis is truly making progress.

18. TCU Horned Frogs
The Horned Frogs have built their reputation on defense during coach Gary Patterson's successful tenure, but TCU's offense might be reason for optimism in 2009. Quarterback Andy Dalton is entering his third season as a starter, after helping the Horned Frogs set single-season school records for points (437) and touchdowns (56) last season. Top wide receiver Jimmy Young also is back, along with tailbacks Joseph Turner and Ryan Christian. The Horned Frogs must replace seven starters on defense, but end Jerry Hughes is back after leading the country with 17 sacks in 2008. The secondary must replace two starters, but Rafael Priest and Nick Sanders form one of the country's best cornerback tandems. TCU plays two ACC opponents on the road (at Virginia on Sept. 12 and at Clemson on Sept. 26) and plays at BYU on Oct. 24. The Horned Frogs host defending MWC champion Utah at home on Nov. 14.

19. Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa won six of its last seven games -- spoiling Penn State's BCS title hopes in the process -- to end the program's recent slide with a 9-4 record in 2008. The Hawkeyes have to replace tailback Shonn Greene, the country's second-leading rusher with 1,850 yards last season, and star defensive tackles Mitch King and Matt Kroul. But with quarterback Ricky Stanzi and one of the country's best offensive lines coming back, Iowa might be good enough to challenge Ohio State and Penn State for the Big Ten title. Iowa lost four games by only 12 points combined last season. The Big Ten schedule is difficult, with road games at Penn State on Sept. 26, at Wisconsin on Oct. 17, at Michigan State on Oct. 24 and at Ohio State on Nov. 14.

20. Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Cornhuskers improved from 5-7 to 9-4 in coach Bo Pelini's first season in 2008, and the pieces are in place for even more improvement this season. Ndamukong Suh is one of the best defensive tackles in the country, but the Cornhuskers were still sorting out their linebacker corps at the end of spring practice. Pelini stressed forcing more turnovers during spring practice, after Nebraska finished 107th nationally in turnover margin in his first season. Steady quarterback Joe Ganz will have to be replaced, along with wide receivers Nate Swift and Todd Peterson. The Cornhuskers' offense might resemble the old Big Red Machine, relying heavily on tailbacks Roy Helu Jr. and Quentin Castille and mobile quarterback Zac Lee's running. The schedule is pretty manageable with non-Big 12 games against three Sun Belt Conference foes and a Sept. 19 road game at Virginia Tech. Nebraska plays Big 12 road games at Missouri and Kansas, but plays Texas Tech and Oklahoma at home.

21. North Carolina Tar Heels
It didn't take Butch Davis long to turn the Tar Heels around, as they finished 8-5 in 2008, doubling their victory total from his first season. Much of UNC's firepower on offense is gone, with receivers Hakeem Nicks, Brooks Foster and Brandon Tate departing. Quarterback T.J. Yates will have to stay healthy, and the Tar Heels need to get more production from tailbacks Shaun Draughn and Ryan Houston. The right side of the offensive line also must be rebuilt. UNC won't have to outscore many opponents if its defense is as good as advertised. The Tar Heels have perhaps the ACC's best defensive line, led by tackles Marvin Austin and Cam Thomas. Middle linebacker Quan Sturdivant is another budding star. The Tar Heels will have to navigate a difficult ACC schedule, which includes road games at Georgia Tech on Sept. 26, at Virginia Tech on Oct. 29, at Boston College on Nov. 21 and at NC State on Nov. 28.

22. Kansas Jayhawks
After winning 20 games in two years and back-to-back bowl games for the first time in school history, the Jayhawks wouldn't figure to have much room for improvement. But with quarterback Todd Reesing returning for his senior season, along with tailback Jake Sharp and top wideouts Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier, Kansas should again challenge for the Big 12 North title. The Jayhawks will have to replace all three of their starting linebackers, who were the heart and soul of a defense that struggled at times last season. Kansas plans to use a 4-2-5 scheme to better defend the Big 12's high-octane passing attacks. The offensive line also must be rebuilt after the Jayhawks lost their center and starting guards. Jeremiah Hatch moves from left tackle to center, and converted end Tanner Hawkinson is the projected left tackle. The schedule figures to be more difficult, as Kansas plays Big 12 South opponents Oklahoma (home), Texas Tech (road) and Texas (road). In fact, five of Kansas' last seven games will be played away from Lawrence.

23. Utah Utes
The team that finished 13-0 and stunned Alabama by two touchdowns in the Sugar Bowl last season has plenty of holes to fill in 2009. Utah returns only four starters on offense and must replace quarterback Brian Johnson. The top three receivers from 2008 also are gone, along with the right side of the offensive line. Quarterback Corbin Louks was trying to hold off juco transfer Terrance Cain and freshman Jordan Wynn during spring practice, but the three-man race probably won't be settled until preseason camp. Seven starters are back on defense, but the Utes must replace star defensive end Paul Kruger and cornerbacks Sean Smith and Brice McCain. Coach Kyle Whittingham feels very good about ends Koa Misi and Derrick Shelby. The loss of All-American kicker/punter Louie Sakoda also can't be underestimated. The Utes will be good enough to win 10 games again, but they'll have to win at least one of three difficult road games: at Oregon on Sept. 19, at TCU on Nov. 14 and at BYU on Nov. 28.

24. Brigham Young Cougars
There are no slogans for the Cougars this season, after last year's "Quest for Perfection" ended with a 10-3 record. The Cougars will be lucky to leave their 2009 opener with a victory. They open the season against Oklahoma at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium in Arlington, Texas. BYU also plays home games against Florida State on Sept. 19, TCU on Oct. 24 and Utah on Nov. 28. Quarterback Max Hall returns, but four starters on the offensive line must be replaced. The Cougars also lost top receivers Austin Collie and Michael Reed. The offense might be OK if tailback Harvey Unga stays healthy. Eight starters return on defense, but BYU still had questions at cornerback at the end of spring practice.

25. Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles moved a step closer to returning to the BCS hunt last season, finishing 9-4 and blasting Wisconsin 42-13 in the Champs Sports Bowl. Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher is convinced Christian Ponder is a potential NFL quarterback and he showed flashes of such ability last season. The offensive line, which had been FSU's Achilles' heel the past few seasons, should be a strength with all five starters returning. FSU is counting on young tailbacks Ty Jones and Jermaine Thomas, and young players will also have to step up at receiver after Greg Carr graduated and Preston Parker was kicked off the team. Defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews faces a sizable rebuilding job, but junior Markus White is a potential star at defensive end. FSU plays three of its first four games at home, including a Labor Day night contest against Miami. The Seminoles play difficult road games at BYU on Sept. 19 and at defending national champion Florida on Nov. 28, along with road games against ACC foes Boston College, North Carolina, Clemson and Wake Forest.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:48 PM

Good players who are about to go nuclear.

By Pete Fiutak

These are the players who you know about, they might have earned all-conference status, but now they’re about to become the biggest players of 2009. These are college football’s new superstars.

Dezmon Briscoe & Kerry Meier, WR Kansas
Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin, Dez Bryant, Juaquin Iglesias … it was certainly easy to get lost in the Big 12 wide receiver shuffle last season. But KU’s Kerry Meier tied Crabtree in receptions with 97 grabs for 1,045 yards and eight touchdowns, and Briscoe was third in the conference in touchdown catches with 15, to go along with 92 grabs for 1,407 yards. The two Jayhawk targets should be in for big years once again with veteran Todd Reesing under center again. It’s possible the twosome could combine for 200 catches.

John Clay, RB Wisconsin
The Badgers always crank out backs that rank among the nation’s best, and Clay could be the best the program has had since Ron Dayne. A star recruit a few years ago, Clay should blow up now that P.J. Hill moved on to the next level. He has the size and 6-2 and 230 pounds, and while he might not have Michael Bennett wheels, he was a star high school sprinter who ran in the 4x100 state finals two years in a row. The 884 yards and nine touchdowns of last year might have just scratched the surface on what should be a huge career.

Dexter Davis, DE Arizona State
Davis hasn’t made too much of a splash on a national scale, but that’s not his fault. The Pac 10’s leading returning pass rusher has 27.5 career sacks and 113 tackles over the last three seasons, and now he should be in for his biggest season yet. At 6-2 and 252 pounds, he’s not just a beefed up linebacker playing on the end. With tremendous pop off the line and closing ability, he could be the next Terrell Suggs. Watch for him to be on the short list for all the major awards for defensive linemen.

Colin Kaepernick, QB Nevada
While he might not be the next Vince Young, Kaepernick certainly plays a lot like the former Texas superstar. The Nevada junior ran for 1,130 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, averaging 7.02 yards per carry, and he also finished 31st in the nation in passing throwing for 2,849 yards with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. While he might be running a bit less with Luke Lippincott getting a sixth year of eligibility to go along with Vai Taua in the Wolf Pack backfield, he’ll still be among the nation’s best all-around playmakers. He’ll get a national stage early on in the opener against Notre Dame.

Case Keenum, QB Houston
Sam Bradford threw for 4,720 yards and 50 touchdowns in 14 games on his way to the Heisman. Keenum threw for 5,020 yards and 44 scores while finishing second in the nation in passing behind Graham Harrell. Keenum also ran for 221 yards and seven touchdowns, but he’ll make his money at the next level winging it around. While he only threw for 252 yards in the Armed Forces Bowl win over Air Force, he threw for 360 yards or more in the other 12 games of last year and went over 400 yards five times including the final three games of the season. Get ready to watch up in September shootouts against Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

Sergio Kindle, DE/LB Texas
While he only made 45 tackles last season, Kindle was on the short list for all the All-America teams as a linebacker. Late in the year when superstar pass rusher Brian Orakpo went down, Kindle took over on the end and finished with 12.5 tackles for loss and ten sacks. Orakpo made 11.5 sacks. Now, Kindle is expected to spend most of his time as a pure pass rushing end where he should blow up and get the press Orakpo received last year. He could move back to linebacker from time to time, but for the most part he’ll be a terror into the backfield and could become one of the nation’s sack leaders.

Kendall Hunter, RB Oklahoma State
Cal’s Jahvid Best is the nation’s leading returning rusher, Ball State’s MiQuale Lewis is second, and Hunter is third. Lewis will have a hard time repeating last year’s success with so many big losses on the Cardinal offense, including four starters off the line, and Best will have to show he can stay healthy for a full season. Hunter ran for 1,555 yards and 16 touchdowns last season coming off a 696-yard, four touchdown freshman campaign. OSU has all the key parts back on offense, including most of the starters on the line, meaning Hunter should get past the 1,500-yard mark again and be in the hunt for the Doak Walker Award from the start.

Charles Scott, RB LSU
Scott ran for 1,174 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, tying Knowshon Moreno for the most touchdowns by anyone in the SEC, but he hasn’t received much in the way of national attention. Part of the problem was LSU’s struggles compared to the national title season of 2007, and part of the issue was the lack of production late in the year rushing for 10 yards against Ole Miss and 28 against Arkansas, both losses, before scoring three times in the Chick-fil-A Bowl win over Georgia Tech. He might have been held to 35 yards against Florida, but he ran for 92 yards and two scores against Alabama and 144 yards and two scores against Georgia. With a strong offensive line returning and what should be an improved passing game, Scott should be in the hunt for 20+ touchdowns and well over 1,200 rushing yards.

Sean Weatherspoon, LB Missouri
The Tiger defense might have tanked last season, but Weatherspoon did what he could to carry the front seven by leading the Big 12 in tackles. He finished fifth in the nation with 155 stops, while his solo stops alone would’ve made him 38th in the conference. Not just a run stopper, he picked off three passes, taking two for touchdowns, and he led the team with 18.5 tackles for loss and tied for second in sacks with five. With Mizzou rebuilding on both sides of the ball, he’ll be the team’s signature star and in the hunt for the Butkus Award all year long.
__________________

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:49 PM

Who is the pain-in-the-butt team in each league?

By Pete Fiutak

While these teams might not be good enough to win a conference title, they come back improved enough to ruin someone else's season. Here are the teams that'll be the pains in the butt for the big boys.

ACC
NC State – Tom O’Brien’s squad came from out of nowhere last November and went on a four-game winning streak, screwing up Wake Forest, North Carolina, and Miami along the way thanks to a defense that forced 14 turnovers over the span. Most of the key pieces are back, and if the secondary can reload and QB Russell Wilson takes another step forward in his development, the Wolfpack could be the sleeper in the ACC title race.

Big 12
Texas A&M – The talent simply isn’t there to be any sort of threat in the Big 12 South race, but that doesn’t mean Mike Sherman’s crew can’t end a few national title dreams. The line play can’t be any worse, and it won’t be, Jerrod Johnson (if he holds on to the job) is good enough to explode for a big game or two, and the young team won’t be taken too seriously and can sneak up on everyone. Oklahoma gets the Aggies right after a trip to Nebraska and just before it goes to Texas Tech. Oklahoma State opens the year with A&M on the road, and Texas also has to go to College Station. Getting Kansas State, Iowa State, and Colorado from the North, and missing Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri, is a big break.

Big 10
Northwestern – Northwestern is still Northwestern. As good as it has been at times over the last several years, it’s hard for teams to look past NU when Ohio State, Michigan, or Penn State is coming up. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald legitimately believes the potential is there for consistent trips to the Rose Bowl, and he might be right. There’s no Ohio State or Michigan (it’s still Michigan) to deal with and Penn State and Wisconsin have to come to Evanston. The Wildcats should go bowling again and with talent, depth, and the potential to beat at least two of the league’s better teams.

Big East
Syracuse – The Orange gets the role of spoiler almost by default with the other seven teams in the hunt for the Big East title. Fine, so maybe Louisville might need some help to be in the race in late November. SU was even worse than the 3-9 record might have shown with only two wins over FBS teams while failing to come within single-digits in any of the nine defeats. New head man Doug Maronne should instantly add more pop to the nation’s 114th ranked attack. There’s only one road trip in the first eight games meaning the team should be comfortable for games against South Florida, West Virginia and Cincinnati. Consider it a major plus is SU wins one of those games, and it’ll be parade time if it can win two.

Conference USA
UAB – Joe Webb, Joe Webb, Joe Webb. A punching bag for so many years, the Blazers were more competitive last year even though they weren’t consistent. Webb might not win many first-team all-star honors in a conference with Houston’s Case Keenum, he’s one of the league’s best all-around talents. There will be issues, particularly in the secondary, but the team got better as the season went on and it should flirt with a winning conference record at the expense of several teams looking to come up with big years.

MAC
Eastern Michigan – The offense was devastating over the final few games last year, but it was too little, too late. While QB Andy Schmitt returns after finishing the season with 1,000 passing yards and eight scores in the final two games, the focus will be on the defense with new head coach Ron English likely to improve things right away. In an already excellent MAC West, any wins over teams like Western Michigan, Central Michigan, and/or Northern Illinois could mess up the conference race.

Mountain West
UNLV – Most of the key parts are back on an offense that should be the most explosive yet in the Mike Sanford era. While the defense isn’t going to be a brick wall, eight starters are back and it should be a bit better in the back seven. Last year the Rebels went 2-6 in Mountain West play, but there was a one-point loss to Air Force and a seven point loss at BYU; a more experienced, healthy team would’ve won those games. It shouldn’t take that much to go from being a 5-7 team to having a winning season and a bowl bid. With the top teams, Utah, BYU and TCU all needing to rebuild, don’t be shocked if UNLV beats at least one of them, if not two.

Pac 10
Stanford – Head coach Jim Harbaugh has already bothered USC with a win two years ago and a garbage time score in last year’s loss. Now he’s hoping to annoy enough other teams to get to a bowl game. The recruiting classes have been strong, the secondary should improve considering it’s the focus of the staff, and RB Toby Garhart is a star to work around. The back half of the season should be interesting with four home games in the final five (with the one road trip at USC). With winnable conference home games against UCLA and Washington, and visits from Arizona State, Oregon, along the crosstown trip from Cal, the Cardinal should make plenty of Pac 10 noise.

SEC
Vanderbilt – Oh sure, Vandy was the story of the early part of last season and it made plenty of noise with a bowl appearance, but it’s still Vanderbilt. It’s not like most SEC teams will be focusing on this game when there are so many bigger name games to deal with. However, this year’s Commodore team should be better, far better, with an upgrade at receiver helped by a few transfers, a strong defensive front seven, and a good enough running game to get by. There are problems in the secondary and the quarterback play has to be better, but anything less than a second straight bowl win will be a major disappointment. Ole Miss, Georgia, and Kentucky could have major problems coming out of Nashville with a win.

Sun Belt
FIU – After years of trying to make the program competitive, Mario Cristobal should finally have a team good enough to be an interesting player for the Sun Belt race … at least on offense. QB Paul McCall and nine starters are back on offense that improved as the year went on. The defense needs to replace almost all the key players, but it’ll be athletic. There are way too many holes to fill to think about a bowl game, but the team that went 3-4 in Sun Belt play should be good enough to have a winning conference record.

WAC
Utah State – It might be hard to get too excited about a team that went 3-9 and is undergoing a coaching change, but the team was better than past years and there’s plenty of experience returning. New head man Gary Andersen welcomes back QB Diondre Borel, a sparkplug who’ll carry the attack, while eight starters are back on defense, Andersen’s specialty. The team won’t be good enough to win the WAC, but it’ll be strong enough to potentially get to six games and a bowl if there’s a little bit of luck.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:50 PM

How’s your unit? (The areas that could prove to be the downfall of the mighty.)

By Pete Fiutak

Every top team (at least those we project to be around the top 25 for most of the year) will have at least one major area of concern going into the season. While all the big-time programs reload, there’s one unit, one spot, that needs to be worked on and improved or else it could be an Achilles heel and the team’s downfall (think quarterback for last year’s preseason top 15 Wisconsin team or the entire offense for Auburn). Here are the most important unit issues to deal with this off-season.

Alabama Quarterback
John Parker Wilson might not have been flashy and he might not have always come through with the big win, but he was the team’s leader who got the starting call for 40 games in a row. Greg McElroy isn’t Wilson and he is hardly a sure-thing for the No. 1 spot, but he’s been around long enough to know what he’s doing. He could be a good caretaker, but it’s Star Jackson who has everyone buzzing with his pocket passing skills. If they don’t shine, true freshman A.J. McCarron might have an opening to take the job this fall.

Boise State Receivers
The running game was hardly a problem last season, but it was QB Kellen Moore and the passing game that made the 2008 Broncos special finishing 13th in the nation and 11th in efficiency. It’ll be Austin Pettis and a major hope for the rest of the young corps to come around with Jeremy Childs, Vinny Perretta and Julian Hawkins gone after combining for 134 catches and 12 touchdowns. On the plus side, Pettis led the team with nine touchdown grabs. However, he needs help. Moore will make everyone around him better, and he’ll get the time to operate, but the receiving corps has to be ready to roll when Oregon comes to town on September 5th.

California Linebackers
Cal is always known for its great offenses, but the defense was better last season thanks to a linebacking corps that was all over the field. Zack Follett would’ve been the star of the of the Pac 10 linebackers except for all the success from the USCers. He’s gone after doing a little bit of everything, Worrell Williams was a rock on the inside, and Anthony Felder had a nice season as one of the team’s leading tacklers. There are decent veterans returning in Eddie Young and Devin Bishop, but it could take half the season before the defense jells and produces like it did in 2008. If that’s true, there will be problems with a sneaky-tough September to deal with playing Maryland, at Minnesota and at Oregon before getting USC in Berkeley.

Clemson Offensive Line
This was the team’s downfall from day one last year. Actually, it was the downfall from before day one with problems throughout spring ball. The line was constantly changing and was never consistent in any one phase. There are some excellent skill players in RB C.J. Spiller and QB Willy Korn who can carry the team to a big season, but it’s not going to happen unless the line, which at the very least is full of veterans, can improve.

Florida Receivers
The defense gets everyone back, the offensive line is solid, and there’s Mr. Tebow under center to run the whole show. However, as good as the Gators were last year and as good as they’ll be this year, they have to prove they can get back to the promised land without Percy Harvin and the extremely underappreciated Louis Murphy. Florida wouldn’t have won the BCS Championship without Harvin, while Murphy always seemed to come up with the backbreaking play to put games away. David Nelson became a star late in the season and there are a slew of uber-talents from the last few recruiting classes, highlighted by T.J. Lawrence, looking to be the new playmakers. Florida is going to be terrific, but it’s not going to win another national title without a big year from the receivers.

Georgia Defensive Line
The Dawgs always have good players ready to step in and shine at the skill spots. Joe Cox isn’t Matthew Stafford, but he’s a veteran backup quarterback who’ll be fine now that it’s his offense to run. The O line should be terrific, A.J. Green leads a good receiving corps, and the defensive back seven will be good, as always. Georgia will find new replacements for an underwhelming defensive front with the biggest goal to find steady pass rushers. There will be several interesting battles going on with Justin Houston a strong prospect to be the team’s new star. No matter who gets the jobs, finishing 72nd in the nation in sacks, and 10th in the SEC, isn’t going to cut it.

Georgia Tech Defensive Line
With all the talk about the new offense when Paul Johnson took over the Yellow Jackets last season, and all the publicity over the success late in the season, the tremendous defensive front wasn’t given its proper due. Johnson inherited a heater of a defensive front four, led by Michael Johnson and Vance Walker, that finished second in the ACC in sacks and tackles for loss and helped the D allow just 120 rushing yards per game. With only one starter returning, Derrick Morgan, the spotlight will be on. There are great prospects waiting in the wings, but this will still be an early area of concern.

LSU Defensive Line
Over the last few years, no team in the country has been better at cranking out star college defensive linemen than LSU. The place has been a factory, but there are ten-mile wide holes needing to be filled from a line that had multi-million dollar talent and $5 worth of production (at least when compared to the talent level). New defensive line coach Brick Haley has some good prospects in Al Woods and Lazarius Levingston to start with, but there isn’t a Glenn Dorsey who’ll dominate from day one and be the star for the defense to build around.

Nebraska Quarterback
Joe Ganz would’ve been in the mix for all-star honors in just about any other year. In last year’s Big 12? Yeah, right. Ganz will be appreciated far more now that he’s gone. Even though the Huskers are hardly complete, they might be the kings of the Big 12 North if they can get some steady play from the new starting quarterback, whoever that might be. Cody Green was the hot shot freshman who was supposed to be the early leader for the job before he suffered a slight hip injury. With Patrick Witt choosing to transfer, the Huskers will be down to Zac Lee and Kody Spano for a bulk of spring ball. Green will be back, but for a player right out of high school in such a key position, he needs all the work he can get.

North Carolina Wide Receiver
Carolina has the potential to win the ACC, but it’s not going to happen if opposing defenses can tee off on the running game. The defense is loaded and there’s plenty of promise on an offense that should get better and better as the season goes on. However, the passing game that was the ACC’s most efficient is missing its top targets with Hakeem Nicks, Brooks Foster, and Brandon Tate gone. Tate will still be missed even though he was knocked out early last year with a knee injury. Greg Little is the main returning target, and he’s still getting used to the position after starting out as a running back.

Ohio State Running Back
Things aren’t quite as bad as they might appear. You might not be able to name any Buckeyes other than Terrelle Pryor, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t talent all across the board. The linebackers will turn out to be fine, the corners have some great former hot shot recruits waiting to shine, and the offensive line might be better even though several new starters will step in. What the OSU doesn’t have is Beanie Wells. With Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie off to the NFL, the passing game isn’t going to start exploding and Pryor needs all the help he can get for the ground game. Star recruits Carlos Hyde and Jaamal Berry will likely be thrown to the wolves early on this fall, but it could be Dan Herron’s job to lose after spring ball.

Oklahoma Offensive Line
Unfortunately, the OU O line might be remembered for being unable to power the ball in to the end zone in a key moment in the national championship loss to Florida. It was the nation’s best front five and was a major reason why the record-setting offense was so unstoppable. OT Trent Williams will be starting in the NFL soon, but his return will be welcomed by a Sooner offense that loses all its other star blockers. While the Sooners will replace superstar linemen with others who will be superstars, it should take a little while for the machine to be nearly as smooth as it was over the second half of last season.

Oklahoma State Safeties
It’s all there. The offense will be unstoppable with the star weapons returning to almost assure OSU will finish among the top five in the nation in yards. The Cowboys will simply outbomb its way to wins, but to win the Big 12 South they’ll need to find a way to get to Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, and all the other good conference passers. The defensive line needs to do more than just generate pressure; it needs to come up with more sacks. Until that happens, the secondary needs more production from the safeties even though two new starters need to be found. Shane Jarka and Swanson Miller are good prospects who could be the Big 12’s biggest under-the-radar difference makers in the race.

Ole Miss Defensive Backs
The Rebel pass defense was the worst in the SEC allowing 222 yards per game even though there were games against Memphis, Wake Forest, and Auburn. Texas Tech, Florida and South Carolina all had big games, too. There might not be a who’s who of passing attacks on the schedule, but if Ole Miss wants to come up with the huge season its fans are hoping for (in other words, an SEC West title), the secondary will have to be a strength by the end of the year. Don’t let the stats fool you as the season goes on; it’ll all come down to an SEC title game against Florida or Georgia if the Rebels can get there. Look at the Arkansas game on October 24th for the true indicator of whether or not things have improved.

Oregon Offensive Line
The Duck running game was fantastic thanks to a terrific stable of backs, along with mobile QB Jeremiah Masoli, and they had plenty of room to move behind a big-time offensive line that got better and better as the season went on. Now, four starters are gone, including all-everything center Max Unger, but there are decent veterans ready to step in and produce. It’s going to take a little while to come up with the right combination. Finding the right players for the right spots will be job one. Getting everyone on the same page is vital with at trip to Boise State early on.

Penn State Receivers
There are major problems in a few areas that were big strengths last year. Offensive line, secondary, defensive end, and most importantly, wide receiver, will all need work. The Nittany Lions lose an epic class of targets that was so strong over the last four years as Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood aren’t going to be quickly replaced. QB Daryll Clark is a good veteran who’ll make the new targets better, but there isn’t anyone who’ll be as good, at least right away, as any of the top three former stars. The top returning wide receiver is Graham Zug, but he only caught 11 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns.

Texas Running Backs
Was it the offensive line or the running backs? Colt McCoy led the team in rushing, and that wasn’t a positive in any way. The talent is there in the backfield, with more help to be added to the mix with Tre Newton showing the potential to be a factor and Chris Whaley the star recruit who should see time right away. Vondrell McGee, Foswhitt Whitaker and Cody Johnson form the working definition of running back by committee production, and now they need to do more to make sure McCoy doesn’t have to carry the ground game. By design, expect McCoy to run less which means the backs will have to produce more.

USC Quarterback
Of course, much of the attention will be on the defense, especially the linebackers, but the reloading might not take all that long, if at all. The big question mark is at quarterback where Mitch Mustain, Aaron Corp and Matt Barkley will battle it out to see who gets the keys to the car. New quarterback coach Jeremy Bates will play a key role in getting a bit more consistency out of a passing game that was good, but wasn’t as devastating as it should’ve been on a consistent basis. Yes, USC finished first in the Pac 10 in both passing and passing efficiency, but it’s not like there was a ton of competition in a league woefully short on good air attacks. But it’s not about passing stats at USC; it’s about playing for a national championship. John David Booty couldn’t do it. Neither could Mark Sanchez or Carson Palmer. The Trojans can go to Pasadena for the national title, instead of another Rose Bowl, if one of the quarterback options turns out to be a star right away. The Ohio State game comes up early on the slate.

Virginia Tech Offensive Line
The defense will get the most work this spring with several new starters needing to shine in key spots. But it’s Virginia Tech; everything will be fine. The offense that was 103rd in the country in yards and 90th in scoring needs to be far better until the D can come around. The line has to be far, far better in pass protection after allowing 42 sacks. To be far, mobile QB Tyrod Taylor had a lot to do with the bad stats, but the line really was a problem. Pounding away for the ground game won’t be enough.

West Virginia Offensive Line
The Mountaineers always come up with good linemen who fit the system. However, considering this will be the first year without Pat White under center since the program became a part of the college football elite again, the last thing the team needs is a shaky front five. New starting quarterback Jarrett Brown will be more than fine, and he could be special if the line replaces the three lost starters. Considering last year’s line was so average, this group could be the difference between a good season and a trip to the BCS.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:50 PM

The teams that will surprise.

By Pete Fiutak

The Ole Miss …
Ole Miss wasn’t expected to do too much last year, but Houston Nutt inherited a tremendous defensive line, a solid quarterback in Jevan Snead, and a good enough group of players to build into a big season that came out of the blue. Two years ago it was Illinois and Kansas that shocked the college football world and came up with huge seasons. Going into this year, what ten teams have a chance to go from being an afterthought to playing in a 2010 bowl game?

Auburn
It’s not like the Tigers were all that far away from having a good year. Going 5-7 doesn’t fly around Auburn, and worse yet, getting blasted by Alabama really doesn’t sit well. However, the Tigers lost four games by five points or fewer and would’ve won those games if they had any semblance of consistency on offense. After finishing 104th in the nation in total offense and 110th in scoring, if new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn can work his magic and provide more pop to the attack, a winning season will be a lock.

Clemson
The Tigers rallied over the second half of the season with four wins in the final five regular season games, highlighted by a 31-14 blowout of South Carolina. While the bowl loss to Nebraska ended things with a thud, it was a good performance that showed why the team has the potential to come back strong. Like Ole Miss last year, a new head coach is in place to reap the rewards from some great recruiting classes. Helped by the return of RB C.J. Spiller, and considering the offensive line can’t be any worse and the defensive line can fall out of bed and come up with more sacks, the potential is there for Clemson to finally be a real, live player in the ACC title race.

Colorado
It was another disappointing season under Dan Hawkins, but the Buffs went 5-7 with a win over West Virginia. The program is half empty view would point out that CU won four of its five games by a touchdown or less, and beat West Virginia, Kansas State, and Iowa State by a total of eight points. However, there was a rash of injuries that destroyed any hope of a consistent season on either side of the ball. Now the valid excuse of last year should turn into a positive with an influx of top players coming back. If the Buffs can go 5-7 last year with so many problems, this year they should be at least three games better if they can stay healthy.

Michigan
Things can’t be any worse. After the stunningly bad 3-9 campaign in the first year under Rich Rodriguez, the potential is there for a far better year with more of the pieces in place to run the attack. Turnovers were the biggest problem, with a comedy of errors at times and 30 giveaways on the year, the sputtering offense screwed up more than it helped at times. It’s not going to be a Rose Bowl season this year and Michigan won’t be Michigan again for at least another season, but the team should be far better. While last year’s loss to Toledo showed that the program can’t take anyone lightly, the schedule isn’t all that bad with four home games to start against Western Michigan, Notre Dame, Eastern Michigan and Indiana coming to the Big House. Delaware State and Purdue are also on the slate.

Minnesota
It was a tale of two seasons for Minnesota. The team looked like a world-beater for the first eight games, and then it all fell apart as the turnovers started flowing and the offense went into the tank. An injury to WR Eric Decker was a big problem, but the defense going bye-bye was the bigger issue. Losing the coordinators will be a bit of a problem, but with some good recruiting classes, a shiny new stadium, the return of Decker and QB Adam Weber, and a schedule with just enough winnable games to get back to a bowl game, the Gophers could rise up and be a surprise team if the offense can find a running game again and if the defense keeps taking the ball away.

North Carolina
This was one of teams on last year’s list of teams that could surprise, and it did with a nice 8-5 season even though there was a collapse in the last four games. The recruiting classes have been so good, and the upgrade in the overall athleticism so impressive that the Tar Heels have the potential to jump up even further and win the ACC title. It’ll take some more pop from an offense that loses some key players, and the defense needs to do more against the pass, but seven of the first ten games are at home before going on the road for key dates at Boston College and NC State. The young team should be jelled by late November; at least that’s Butch Davis’s hope.

Notre Dame
Fine, so Notre Dame, like North Carolina, was on this list last year, too. But the Irish really did make a jump back into the spotlight with a 7-6 season that might not have seemed like much, but was night-and-day better than the 2007 debacle. While the last two years were hardly acceptable to Irish fans, the team really did need to be rebuilt with new talent. The biggest sin was that the young recruits didn’t rock right away, but there’s a chance, and a good one, that there’s another big jump in overall production with so many key players returning with so much experience. And then there’s a schedule with only two true road trips until mid-November, and one of those games is at Purdue.

Oklahoma State
The Cowboys went 9-4 last season with the three regular season losses coming against the stars of the South, Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma before losing the Holiday Bowl against Oregon. So why are they on this list after such a successful year? There’s a chance they’ll be even better … a lot better. The nation’s ninth ranked scoring offense and sixth ranked offense overall gets everyone back of note other than TE Brandon Pettigrew. Zac Robinson, Dez Bryant, Kendall Hunter and Russell Okung are all stars who’ll help combine for an attack that won’t be light on the firepower. If they can beat Georgia in the season opener, the hype will kick in for what should be a big start. Playing Missouri, at Texas A&M and Baylor won’t be walks in the park, but if the Cowboys can get by Georgia, they’ll likely be 7-0 with Texas coming to town. Win that, and barring a monster upset, they’ll be 11-0 before going to Oklahoma.

Tennessee
Now it’s time to see if the guy can actually coach. At least Lane Kiffin has put together a strong assistant coaching staff to help out the cause, and if nothing else, the overall change in the program’s attitude and energy should make a difference. Despite going 115th in the nation in total offense and 107th in passing efficiency, the Vols still had chances to come up with a winning season going 5-7 with a loss to UCLA that easily could’ve gone the other way. Losses to Auburn and Wyoming were also close to being on the plus side of the ledger sheet. Games against Florida and Alabama will almost certainly be losses anyway, so they might as well be on the road. There are only four away games (Ole Miss and Kentucky are the other ones) and the home slate, outside of a game against Georgia, isn’t bad.

Vanderbilt
The Commodores got over the bowl hump and to a post-season game for the first time since 1982, but it was hardly smooth sailing. Vandy was the hot story to start the season, going 5-0 with wins over South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Auburn, but it sputtered from then on with five losses in the final six games and with an offense that was the third worst in America. It was a cute story that had an amazing ending with a Music City Bowl win over a Boston College team that lost the ACC title game. The program will go back to being a punching back for the rest of the SEC, right? Maybe not. The entire offensive line is back and should be fantastic, the receiving corps might be without Justin Wheeler, who injured his knee, but it’s getting a major upgrade with Terence Jeffers coming in from UConn and Tray Herndon transferring over from Minnesota. The secondary has issues, but the front seven should be fantastic.
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SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:51 PM

Non-BCS has 16 on Rimington Watch List

May 20, 2009 6:30 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

The Rimington Award released its annual spring watch list on Wednesday and 16 players from the Independents and non-automatic qualifying schools were on the 44-player list.

The WAC leads all non-AQ conferences with five selections, including Hawaii's John Estes, who was a 2007 and 2008 First Team All-WAC selection.

The Rimington is awarded to the player who receives the most first-team votes from the following All-American teams:

* American Football Coaches Association
* Walter Camp Foundation
* Sporting News
* Football Writers Association of America

The list of non-AQ nominees is as follows:

Eddie Adamski, Northern Illinois, RS senior
Carl Barnett, Houston, RS senior
Joe Bernardi, Fresno State, junior
Ben Bojicic, Bowling Green, RS sophomore
Thomas Byrd, Boise State, sophomore
Ronnie Castillo, San Jose, State, senior
Eric Cook, New Mexico, senior
John Estes, Hawaii, senior
Trask Iosefa, San Diego State, junior
Colin Miller, Central Michigan, junior
Lon Roberts, Louisiana Tech, RS junior
Jake Seitz, UAB, senior
Brad Serini, FIU, junior
Mark Thompson, Middle Tennessee, RS senior
Tim Walter, Colorado State, senior
Dan Wenger, Notre Dame, senior

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:51 PM

Injured players looking to come through in fall

May 21, 2009 11:00 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

Several major players missed some or all of spring football this year because of injuries they suffered during the regular season. Those players need to make a comeback in order to ensure their team's success in the fall.

Here are a few of the players who are expected to make some major contributions once they're completely healthy.

• Patrick Edwards, WR, Houston: Everyone saw the YouTube video of Edwards crashing into a cart full of band equipment just outside the end zone at Marshall. The accident left Edwards, who was the team's leading receiver at the time, in surgery with a broken fibula and tibia, but he returned quickly, participated in non-contact drills and should be ready for the fall.

• DeAndre Brown, WR, Southern Miss: Brown suffered a broken leg in the New Orleans Bowl after landing awkwardly after leaping for a pass. Brown, the nation's leading freshman receiver, didn't participate in spring drills, but told coach Larry Fedora that he's faster than he was before he was injured.

• Luke Lippincott, RB, Nevada: Lippincott suffered a torn ACL against Texas Tech last season and missed almost all of his senior season. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility late in the spring, and did the bare minimum during spring football while continuing to heal. He was first-team All-WAC in 2007.

• Alex Allen, RB, Akron: Allen was expected to take over for Dennis Kennedy, but he's struggled to come back from a hip injury he suffered last season. The Zips don't have many other options at running back especially after Dale Martin tore his Achilles tendon during the team's final spring practice.

• Klay Kubiak, QB, Colorado State: Colorado State came out of the spring with no starter at quarterback and the effort was so poor that coach Steve Fairchild called it embarrassing. Kubiak is recovering from shoulder surgery, but could be the starter in the fall.

• Tim Hiller, QB, Western Michigan: After the Broncos bowl loss to Rice, coach Bill Cubit announced that Hiller had played the back half of the season with a torn ACL. He spent the spring recovering from it and will be a key returner for the Broncos run for the MAC West.

• Dominique Lindsay, RB, East Carolina: Lindsay was supposed to be the starting running back last season, but tore his ACL during fall camp and has been recovering ever since. He participated in some spring drills and will be a key component in ECU's defense of C-USA East.

• Andre Anderson, RB, Tulane: Anderson is the best offensive weapon the Green Wave has and his return is important for the team to improve on its 2-10 record. Anderson suffered a fractured dislocation of his right shoulder in October and participated in non-contract spring drills.

• Asher Clark, QB/TB, Air Force: Clark was supposed to challenge for the starting quarterback role with Tim Jefferson, but a meniscus tear in his knee cut his spring and his learning of the quarterback position short. Clark also was the team's top returning rusher.

• Donovan Porterie, QB, New Mexico: Porterie is trying to win the starting quarterback job back after suffering a knee injury last season. He participated in some spring drills, and he'll continue to fight for his starting spot through the fall.
__________________

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:52 PM

Five non-BCS players who came out of nowhere

May 20, 2009 12:30 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

How many times during the fall have you watched a game and thought, who the heck is that guy? I've done it on more than one occasion as some undiscovered talent goes racing down the field with an amazing catch or makes a ridiculous tackle.

That's why I've put together a list of five players who emerged this spring that no one knew much about.

• Omar Sawyer, WR, Utah State: After being challenged by new coach Gary Andersen to produce more offense, Sawyer gained 196 yards on three catches during the Aggies spring game. He also had touchdown catches of 72 and 80 yards.

• Alfred Morris, RB, Florida Atlantic: Morris was a backup fullback before injuries decimated the running back corps and Morris was moved for need. Turned out to be a great idea as Morris rushed for 277 yards and three touchdowns during his two spring scrimmages at running back.

• Marcus Rucker, WR, Memphis: Rucker was named the offensive MVP of the Memphis spring game after grabbing four passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. Coach Tommy West said Rucker could complement standout Carols Singleton.

• Tonny Glynn, RB, New Mexico State: The Aggies haven't been known for their running game during the past four years, but new head coach DeWayne Walker emphasized it during the spring and came away with Glynn and Marquell Colston. Glynn had 85 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in the spring game.

• Demario Davis, LB, Arkansas State: Davis is still working on his fundamentals, but appears to be a great replacement for Ben Owens, who led the team in tackles last year. During the spring game, Davis had three ta

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:53 PM

Four rising programs and four falling programs

May 21, 2009

Matt Hayes

How big is this season at Notre Dame? Even President Barack Obama has chimed in, punctuating one of those cheesy, pay-to-yuk-it-up political fundraisers in Indianapolis by stating Notre Dame football is an issue "we may not resolve within my four years." Yeah, well, everyone knows how to run a program until you're in the Big Chair. Take heart, Irish fans. Captain Hope has just given your team more oomph this fall. Anyone who thinks ND coach Charlie Weis won't use this as motivation -- hey guys, the leader of the free world thinks you blow! -- thinks a national playoff is coming soon, too.

Weis and the Irish have been beaten down for two years now while developing young, dynamic players. The coach is feeling heat, the players are insulted, the storm is brewing.

But there's one teensy problem to this doom and gloom scenario: winning beats everything. Even Hope and Change.

Or is that hope for change?

Every year at the end of spring drills, we examine programs on the rise and on the decline. And here comes Notre Dame, with everything seemingly against it, primed for a return to the nation's elite.

Four on the rise

Notre Dame. The difference between this year's team and Weis' first two that went to BCS bowls: more talent and speed. Now it's a matter of finishing games. If ND finishes off three double-digit leads it blew last season -- the difference between a young, fragile team and a team steeled by previous experiences -- you're looking at a nine-win team playing in the Gator Bowl against Clemson. In other words, a 10-win team.

The Irish aren't that far away, especially with a manageable schedule and an offense more dangerous than in Weis' first two seasons.

There's more speed on defense, and any team that can rush the passer and cover in the secondary can create turnovers and force mistakes. ND will get those 10 wins this fall -- and maybe more.

Oklahoma State. The Cowboys are the hot pick to become this year's Texas Tech. I'll go one step further: how about this year's Oklahoma? Oklahoma State could've -- and maybe should've -- beaten Texas last year in Austin (a 28-24 loss), and this year's game is in Stillwater. As for the Sooners, OU has gotten worse (see: rebuilt offensive line) and the Cowboys have gotten better (see: Bill Young as defensive coordinator).

This is what happens when a big-money booster (T. Boone Pickens) and a tireless coach (Mike Gundy) find each other: recruits are drawn to immaculate facilities and a young, charismatic and innovative leader. The Cowboys have three legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates (Zac Robinson, Kendall Hunter, Dez Bryant), and the first 11-win season in school history (the last 10-win season was 1988) isn't that far away.

North Carolina. Mack Brown proved in the 1990s that you could bring talent to Chapel Hill and win consistently. Now Butch Davis is doing exactly what he did at Miami: building his team around punishing, athletic defensive linemen and elite skill players on offense.

Davis has signed 26 five- and four-star players in his three recruiting classes, and much like the personnel situation at Notre Dame, the experience will kick in this fall. The Tar Heels lost four games last year by a combined nine points, but if quarterback T.J. Yates stays healthy, this team wins 10 games for the first time since 1997's 11-win season under Brown.

Miami. This, I'm baffled by: Robert Marve somehow has made more news this offseason than the Miami Hurricanes.

While we're all so enthralled (really, just ESPN) with Marve's choice of colleges after he left Miami because he lost the starting job (quick hint, everyone: he won't win the job at Purdue, either), we've forgotten that Jacory Harris is a big-time talent. Watch how he develops in Year 2 without a hint of quarterback controversy -- and under the tutelage of new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple.

There's a common thread among the four teams on the rise: an upgrade in recruiting. The Canes have recruited better than any of the four, and consistent, efficient play at quarterback -- something the team has lacked in coach Randy Shannon's two seasons -- will change everything.

Four on the decline

Louisville. Cards athletic director Tom Jurich told Sporting News Today's Dave Curtis earlier this month that coach Steve Kragthorpe is his guy, that's he's not panicking despite growing unrest among a passionate fan base that got a taste of the BCS hierarchy under former coach Bobby Petrino.

We've heard all the excuses (all aimed at Petrino; zero self-evaluation), and frankly, I don't care anymore. Any way you color it, the black and white bleeds through: Kragthorpe's teams have won 11 games in two seasons despite playing with the best quarterback in the game (Brian Brohm) in Year 1, and last season with an experienced, senior quarterback (Hunter Cantwell) who had success under Petrino.

Louisville, with its SEC geography, SEC-type lunatic fans and SEC deep pockets (these are all good things), should own the Big East. That's it.

Texas A&M. The entire coaching community shuddered when Kentucky fired basketball coach Billy Gillispie after two seasons. You better believe Mike Sherman, whose first year in College Station was awful, is feeling the reverberation from Kentucky's decision.

Competing in the Big 12 South Division is all about competing for players in recruiting, and Sherman at least made inroads with a strong class in February. But the reality is A&M now is behind both Oklahoma State and Texas Tech in the South -- and Baylor, with charismatic coach Art Briles and dynamic quarterback Robert Griffin -- is closing fast after beating the Aggies by 20 last year.

Perception overwhelms reality when it comes to antsy, big money boosters. And right now, A&M is last in a six-team division. That can't last long.

West Virginia. WVU had a BCS-ready team -- a national title contender -- in coach Bill Stewart's first season. It finished the year scrapping out a victory in a useless late December bowl game.

There were numerous instances of poor coaching, poor clock management, poor decision-making. You know, the things you didn't see when Rich Rodriguez was in Morgantown.

The most damning issue from Year 1 under good-guy Stewart: WVU lacked emotion and intensity. Say what you want about Rodriguez's demanding style, but he got everything and more out of recruits no one else wanted (see: Pat White, Steve Slaton, Darius Reynaud, Owen Schmitt). Stewart got a big bag of Meineke Bowl out of this group.

Tennessee. A decline with an asterisk: The Vols have serious personnel issues, and it's going to take more than one big recruiting class to fix it. Given time -- and a ton of patience -- new coach Lane Kiffin will bring championship-caliber talent to Knoxville. You can't win big games in the SEC without an elite quarterback or a team full of experience protecting a quarterback who doesn't make mistakes. Right now, Tennessee isn't close to either.

This fall won't be much better than last year, and the Vols likely will start a true freshman at quarterback in 2010. Again, not a good sign in the meat-grinder conference. By 2011, we'll know if Tennessee will make the turn under Kiffin.
__________________

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:53 PM

FBS 2009 Spring Stats = updated May 10th (best view in medium text)

To the left of the team names are their 2008 stats; record, rushing yards per game, passing
yards per game, total defense yards per game. To the right are yardage lost percentages by
position based on roster departures due to graduation, eligibility, transfer, dismissal, etc.

All team data has been checked against that team's official website for latest 2009 roster
except for Fresno State (using scout.com) and for Notre Dame (using rivals.com). Rushing stats
are player's net positive totals, in order to remove quarterback sacks from rushing samples.

RBG = percentage of rushing yards gone
QBG = percentage of passing yards gone
WRG = percentage of receiving yards gone
OLG = number of offensive linemen gone, not including long-snappers, based on number of games played
DTG = percentage of defense total tackles gone based on 10+ tackles or team's top 22 tacklers
DSG = number of defensive starters gone

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _ACC Atlantic_______ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
9-5 145.6 176.5 268.1 Boston College ----- 15% 70% 36% 1.0 47% 4
7-6 128.4 217.8 299.9 Clemson ------------ 47% 92% 45% 1.2 27% 3
9-4 182.8 192.8 294.9 Florida State ------ 39% 7% 58% 0.0 58% 6
8-5 161.5 206.7 364.9 Maryland ----------- 19% 6% 52% 4.6 51% 8
6-7 132.3 206.0 390.9 North Carolina State 45% 27% 19% 2.7 35% 4
8-5 123.1 186.9 296.7 Wake Forest -------- 13% 3% 48% 0.1 68% 8

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _ACC Coastal________ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
4-8 108.5 197.7 356.9 Duke --------------- 28% 2% 47% 3.0 51% 6
9-4 274.2 99.2 313.5 Georgia Tech ------- 5% 11% 4% 1.8 29% 3
7-6 130.5 196.8 315.1 Miami-Florida ------ 17% 51% 29% 3.3 41% 5
8-5 139.3 198.8 365.4 North Carolina ----- 11% 52% 69% 2.4 21% 2
5-7 106.4 203.2 333.3 Virginia ----------- 62% 16% 83% 1.7 47% 5
10-4 181.6 129.1 279.4 Virginia Tech ------ 0% 43% 6% 1.9 38% 4

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _BIG EAST___________ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
11-3 122.1 253.0 321.9 Cincinnati --------- 3% 17% 29% 1.8 71% 10
8-5 220.5 139.7 278.0 Connecticut -------- 83% 48% 51% 1.7 31% 5
5-7 175.5 212.2 368.8 Louisville --------- 24% 100% 17% 1.6 41% 5
9-4 155.6 203.4 317.2 Pittsburgh --------- 94% 1% 48% 3.8 49% 4
8-5 135.5 270.4 326.9 Rutgers ------------ 5% 98% 67% 0.9 40% 5
8-5 166.8 239.6 287.0 South Florida ------ 17% 3% 36% 3.2 45% 6
3-9 154.3 121.5 414.5 Syracuse ----------- 66% 0% 17% 2.0 39% 6
9-4 214.0 150.5 328.9 West Virginia ------ 35% 94% 21% 5.5 34% 4

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _BIG TEN____________ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
5-7 170.5 269.3 350.3 Illinois ----------- 0% 0% 13% 2.3 53% 5
3-9 168.3 181.3 432.2 Indiana ------------ 56% 52% 35% 0.3 30% 1
9-4 189.8 181.7 291.3 Iowa --------------- 77% 17% 43% 2.6 21% 3
3-9 148.7 143.2 366.9 Michigan ----------- 39% 64% 14% 0.0 44% 6
9-4 143.4 213.3 355.8 Michigan State ----- 88% 87% 11% 2.0 26% 3
7-6 106.8 219.1 383.6 Minnesota ---------- 2% 0% 14% 1.0 35% 2
9-4 143.2 216.7 340.5 Northwestern ------- 73% 88% 81% 1.8 31% 3
10-3 194.2 150.2 293.8 Ohio State --------- 54% 32% 64% 3.1 42% 4
11-2 208.2 243.1 280.1 Penn State --------- 10% 18% 61% 3.7 46% 7
4-8 125.0 249.6 358.9 Purdue ------------- 88% 97% 74% 1.8 32% 4
7-6 212.5 188.1 329.1 Wisconsin ---------- 44% 39% 14% 2.8 42% 6

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _BIG 12 North_______ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
5-7 129.2 194.0 381.6 Colorado ----------- 0% 5% 29% 1.0 42% 7
2-10 140.1 248.4 451.3 Iowa State --------- 33% 5% 28% 2.3 33% 4
8-5 127.7 305.6 396.7 Kansas ------------- 15% 0% 8% 3.4 43% 4
5-7 135.5 269.6 479.1 Kansas State ------- 28% 91% 32% 3.6 25% 3
10-4 155.1 330.4 411.5 Missouri ----------- 39% 99% 68% 2.0 45% 7
9-4 171.9 281.0 349.8 Nebraska ----------- 37% 100% 57% 2.7 35% 6

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _BIG 12 South_______ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
4-8 197.3 180.7 393.2 Baylor ------------- 15% 2% 20% 2.0 20% 3
12-2 201.9 349.4 367.7 Oklahoma ----------- 1% 3% 48% 4.6 24% 2
9-4 250.3 242.2 405.5 Oklahoma State ----- 1% 1% 35% 2.0 35% 5
12-1 167.8 308.3 342.9 Texas -------------- 17% 0% 42% 1.0 25% 5
4-8 66.3 178.2 461.9 Texas A&M ---------- 52% 19% 18% 0.5 45% 4
11-2 119.2 413.2 382.6 Texas Tech --------- 49% 95% 44% 2.9 38% 4

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _C-USA East_________ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
4-8 119.3 116.3 334.3 Central Florida ---- 5% 0% 0% 2.1 39% 5
9-5 129.8 214.0 333.0 East Carolina ------ 65% 0% 37% 1.1 30% 3
4-8 164.3 172.7 418.1 Marshall ----------- 88% 0% 61% 2.0 40% 4
6-7 195.5 111.2 353.8 Memphis ------------ 21% 10% 40% 5.3 31% 4
7-6 194.6 241.1 365.0 Southern Mississippi 5% 0% 24% 2.1 34% 3
4-8 170.8 197.3 429.9 U A B -------------- 7% 0% 4% 0.0 42% 4

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _C-USA West_________ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
8-5 164.6 401.6 413.5 Houston ------------ 4% 4% 18% 3.0 52% 7
10-3 148.8 327.2 452.2 Rice --------------- 91% 97% 65% 3.0 21% 2
1-11 56.7 272.9 479.5 S M U -------------- 63% 13% 4% 2.3 21% 4
5-7 127.9 284.2 469.8 Texas-El Paso ------ 29% 0% 18% 0.9 44% 4
2-10 126.6 110.6 391.3 Tulane ------------- 5% 11% 36% 1.8 34% 6
11-3 271.7 301.9 379.1 Tulsa -------------- 51% 96% 33% 2.9 22% 3

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _MID-AMERICAN East__ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
5-7 166.8 231.5 397.6 Akron -------------- 80% 1% 27% 0.9 36% 5
6-6 136.3 225.8 343.4 Bowling Green ------ 25% 0% 49% 2.8 50% 7
8-6 143.1 237.6 408.2 Buffalo ------------ 0% 99% 20% 3.0 12% 2
4-8 232.3 169.7 395.3 Kent State --------- 51% 89% 34% 1.7 32% 4
2-10 118.4 217.9 395.5 Miami-Ohio --------- 1% 1% 14% 3.0 55% 5
4-8 134.3 232.9 348.6 Ohio U ------------- 0% 0% 25% 2.8 37% 4
5-7 97.5 202.9 387.8 Temple ------------- 12% 78% 43% 2.6 16% 2

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _MID-AMERICAN West__ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
12-2 187.2 258.0 368.2 Ball State --------- 14% 99% 46% 4.0 36% 4
8-5 135.8 289.8 423.8 Central Michigan --- 40% 26% 26% 2.5 9% 1
3-9 152.3 269.3 408.6 Eastern Michigan --- 9% 0% 27% 1.3 46% 4
6-7 173.2 163.8 298.5 Northern Illinois -- 7% 21% 54% 2.0 42% 7
3-9 152.2 187.8 381.4 Toledo ------------- 0% 2% 46% 0.0 17% 1
9-4 118.3 294.7 395.3 Western Michigan --- 4% 0% 66% 1.8 63% 7

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _MOUNTAIN WEST______ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
8-5 269.6 82.2 341.5 Air Force ---------- 42% 39% 34% 2.0 48% 4
10-3 136.1 310.4 355.3 Brigham Young ------ 23% 0% 56% 4.0 38% 3
7-6 155.5 248.2 410.1 Colorado State ----- 84% 91% 26% 1.2 54% 5
4-8 209.5 131.3 335.3 New Mexico --------- 63% 2% 29% 2.0 50% 7
2-10 80.7 239.3 460.8 San Diego State ---- 19% 0% 24% 1.8 33% 5
11-2 221.3 201.1 217.8 T C U -------------- 23% 0% 27% 3.2 56% 7
5-7 122.3 223.3 423.7 U N L V ------------ 51% 1% 27% 3.1 35% 3
13-0 157.8 244.5 289.2 Utah --------------- 41% 94% 69% 2.9 35% 4
4-8 182.3 117.7 329.7 Wyoming ------------ 93% 48% 19% 2.0 31% 3

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _PACIFIC 10_________ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
8-5 171.2 244.0 313.0 Arizona ------------ 12% 97% 26% 2.9 34% 4
5-7 105.2 220.3 335.0 Arizona State ------ 32% 94% 40% 1.0 34% 5
9-4 197.7 189.8 315.2 California --------- 0% 43% 34% 2.2 34% 3
10-3 285.8 204.8 389.6 Oregon ------------- 36% 0% 49% 5.1 45% 7
9-4 170.9 249.0 312.2 Oregon State ------- 10% 0% 61% 3.1 61% 8
5-7 201.7 152.2 379.6 Stanford ----------- 30% 3% 15% 2.0 22% 4
4-8 83.9 200.5 337.4 U C L A ------------ 43% 2% 9% 1.4 31% 5
12-1 199.5 259.8 221.8 U S C -------------- 7% 95% 23% 0.0 61% 8
0-12 110.1 163.8 451.8 Washington --------- 26% 0% 16% 2.4 17% 2
2-11 106.2 146.0 443.4 Washington State --- 3% 19% 58% 0.8 40% 5

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _SEC East___________ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
13-1 233.1 213.9 285.3 Florida ------------ 25% 0% 47% 3.6 1% 0
10-3 150.1 277.7 312.0 Georgia ------------ 74% 96% 51% 0.0 30% 5
7-6 128.8 171.8 332.4 Kentucky ----------- 27% 0% 18% 1.4 51% 6
7-6 95.4 222.5 291.9 South Carolina ----- 59% 71% 53% 1.8 49% 5
5-7 127.7 145.8 263.5 Tennessee ---------- 64% 1% 39% 2.5 46% 6
7-6 135.6 122.6 319.6 Vanderbilt --------- 41% 34% 45% 0.0 20% 2

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _SEC West___________ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
12-2 186.0 171.1 263.5 Alabama ------------ 53% 95% 26% 2.8 16% 2
5-7 121.7 259.6 375.2 Arkansas ----------- 0% 98% 3% 2.0 20% 1
5-7 144.7 165.4 317.8 Auburn ------------- 19% 0% 41% 2.0 33% 4
8-5 175.9 201.3 325.5 L S U -------------- 7% 12% 25% 2.5 30% 4
9-4 187.5 221.2 308.2 Mississippi -------- 4% 1% 29% 3.0 35% 3
4-8 107.1 174.3 327.5 Mississippi State -- 0% 27% 36% 1.5 58% 6

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _SUN BELT___________ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
6-6 208.2 195.5 336.5 Arkansas State ----- 1% 0% 25% 4.5 23% 3
7-6 150.2 254.8 400.4 Florida Atlantic --- 76% 0% 6% 1.7 70% 7
5-7 106.8 218.3 369.1 Florida Int'l ------ 58% 0% 8% 0.5 41% 8
5-7 109.0 241.7 366.3 Middle Tennessee --- 11% 92% 1% 0.0 37% 5
1-11 129.0 235.7 482.6 North Texas -------- 14% 98% 72% 0.6 13% 2
8-5 171.5 246.6 328.1 Troy --------------- 34% 33% 66% 4.7 44% 7
6-6 264.4 185.5 429.6 UL-Lafayette ------- 86% 84% 51% 0.0 23% 3
4-8 155.5 184.6 444.4 UL-Monroe ---------- 33% 92% 25% 2.0 12% 2
2-10 144.8 142.2 375.3 Western Kentucky --- 27% 91% 17% 1.9 46% 6

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _WESTERN ATHLETIC___ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
12-1 157.6 288.5 308.2 Boise State -------- 47% 6% 48% 2.3 37% 6
7-6 188.0 204.9 410.8 Fresno State ------- 0% 100% 15% 2.0 24% 2
7-7 97.5 251.3 360.9 Hawaii ------------- 38% 11% 44% 2.6 80% 9
2-10 138.2 187.8 470.8 Idaho -------------- 7% 8% 39% 2.8 38% 6
8-5 188.1 156.0 377.1 Louisiana Tech ----- 29% 43% 39% 0.6 30% 4
7-6 280.0 230.8 400.2 Nevada ------------- 3% 5% 59% 2.8 28% 4
3-9 74.7 301.3 379.6 New Mexico State --- 0% 100% 70% 1.7 46% 6
6-6 97.9 196.2 311.7 San Jose State ----- 50% 13% 57% 1.4 37% 5
3-9 138.8 196.5 411.3 Utah State --------- 1% 28% 19% 1.7 45% 4

W-L RUSH PASS T-DEF _FBS INDEPENDENTS___ RBG QBG WRG OLG DTG DSG
3-9 242.8 46.3 339.5 Army --------------- 63% 0% 45% 3.8 43% 3
8-5 293.3 60.9 346.7 Navy --------------- 77% 73% 79% 4.0 32% 4
7-6 117.5 245.4 329.8 Notre Dame --------- 1% 1% 11% 2.1 36% 5

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:54 PM

Teams most likely to be most improved teams of 2009

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 | Feedback | Print Entry

Since optimism is brewing around Seattle and the Washington Huskies are coming off an 0-12 season, Bob Condotta looks at some of the biggest one-season improvements in college football and detects one key similarity in most of these upstarts:

A soft schedule is one of the biggest common threads among teams that made huge leaps in recent years. Minnesota was the most improved team last season, going from 1-11 to 7-6. But four of those wins came against Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Montana State and Florida Atlantic. Illinois was the most improved team of 2007, going from 2-10 to 9-4, and was helped by facing Western Illinois, Ball State and a horrible Syracuse team.

Obviously, another similarity is that all these teams had to pretty much stink the year before. Many teams probably made significant improvements in going from, say, 8-4 to 10-2, but it doesn't show up as much. This week's top 10 subject is the teams with the best shot to make the biggest jump in wins:

1. Notre Dame (7-6): How far out on a limb is this? The Irish have tons of three-year starters returning, some very good skill players and one of the softest schedules in the country. They'll face a handful of teams that have suffered some incredibly bad news this offseason. Charlie Weis' team should be favored in every game except for when USC comes to South Bend, and the Irish could go 11-1 without beating a single ranked opponent. If they can become even just a decent running team, they'll be in a BCS bowl game. They could get throttled in it by, say, Texas or Oklahoma, but they'll at least be in it.

2. Michigan (3-9): The jump in Rich Rodriguez's teams from Season 1 to Season 2 has been well documented, and let's be honest: After going 3-9, the team has lots of room to grow. It also will be much, much more seasoned on the offensive line and will finally have a quarterback with the wheels to add spice to the offense, even if that new quarterback is inexperienced. The Wolverines will open the 2009 season with four straight home games. The nonconference schedule will be very manageable with all four games at home, and the fourth will be against FCS team Delaware State.

3. Ohio (4-8): No less an expert than Phil Steele picks the Bobcats to win the MAC East title, and there are plenty of reasons to board the bandwagon. Start with Ohio's defense and special teams, which should be the best or close to it in the MAC. The Bobcats also will return almost all their top skills guys from last season. And they won't have to face Central or Western Michigan, the two favorites of the MAC West.

4. Baylor (4-8): Art Briles' team will have 16 starters back, including QB Robert Griffin, a dynamic talent who has made this program relevant again. Briles has surrounded Griffin with some speedy playmakers, and 350-pound Penn State transfer Phil Taylor will anchor the defense. To say Briles has big expectations for Taylor would be an understatement. When I spoke to the coach a few months ago, he said he'll be disappointed if Taylor doesn't make the All-Big 12 first team this season. My hunch is Baylor will match last season's win total by mid-October.

5. UCLA (4-8): Bruins coach Rick Neuheisel took over a very inexperienced, undermanned team last year. The Bruins' O-line was a disaster, and it got even worse after being hit hard by injuries. Some transfers and some quality big recruits will make a huge difference up front, and UCLA infused some necessary speed on both sides of the ball. I expect them to come on very strong late in the season.

6. Washington (0-12): New coach Steve Sarkisian apparently has made a big difference in QB Jake Locker already. The Huskies will have 18 starters back, including one of the West's top defensive linemen in Daniel Te'o-Nesheim. Their linebackers also should be solid. They're probably staring at a 1-4 start anyway, but look for them to knock off at least one of the Arizona schools and be competitive in almost all their Pac-10 games.

7. Southern Miss (7-6): The Golden Eagles are, along with Houston, my dark-horse contenders for that BCS-buster role. USM finished last season strong and will have 19 starters back. Plus, the team added some playmaking potential, as defensive linemen Willie Packer and Joel Ross and OLB-DE Scottie Williams all will be eligible to play this season. USM will travel to Kansas, Houston and ECU, but I still expect it to be a force in C-USA this season and crack the Top 25.

8. Colorado (5-7): I'm not ready to go as far as coach Dan Hawkins did in December when he predicted 10 wins this season, but CU has a lot of impressive athletes on both sides of the ball. You would think the Buffs, who were 100th in the country in scoring last season, would be due for a major leap in production. (Wait, a Big 12 team was that far down in the country in scoring last season?!?) Special teams also need to make big improvements. The best news on the schedule front is they won't have to face Oklahoma, but they will have to go to Texas and Oklahoma State. They have a good chance to be favored in all six of their home games, although the season finale against Nebraska is very iffy. It should be noted that the home team has won the previous three meetings between the schools.

9. Stanford (5-7): Jim Harbaugh has shown that he can not only motivate but also recruit. And even so, he'll have 17 starters back, not including hot-shot QB Andrew Luck, who beat out incumbent Tavita Pritchard. The Cardinal open with consecutive road games, but don't be surprised if they win both at Washington State and at Wake Forest and open 4-0. I expect they could go 3-1 in their first four games at worst.

10. UTEP (5-7): Mike Price again has a potent passing game ready to give opponents fits. He also has an experienced O-line. The Miners also won't have to face Southern Miss or East Carolina.
__________________

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:55 PM

College football teams poised to improve this season
June 3, 2009

Matt Hayes and Dave Curtis

A year ago, Alabama was coming off a six-loss season that included an embarrassing home stumble against Louisiana-Monroe. The Tide responded with 12 victories in 2008 and remained in the national championship discussion until December.

So who's this year's Alabama?

Sporting News college football writers Matt Hayes and Dave Curtis offer five teams apiece -- schools they believe will show the most improvement in the win column from 2008 to 2009:

Matt Hayes' top five

1. UCLA Bruins, plus-5
2008: 4-8
2009: 9-4
Here's why: Every once in awhile, we're reminded why college football is unexpectedly beautiful: Redshirt freshman QB Kevin Prince wasn't a big recruit and wasn't really in the plans for Rick Neuheisel and Norm Chow at UCLA. Now he has control of the offense, showing a live arm and a feel for Chow's successful offense. This team wasn't nearly as bad as its record last year. It simply gave away too many turnovers from the quarterback spot. Big, physical wideouts and improved protection will ease Prince's transition and allow UCLA to move back into the upper third of the Pac-10.

2. Southern Methodist Mustangs, plus-5
2008: 1-11
2009: 6-7
Here's why: After all the turmoil and carnival sideshow from Year 1 under June Jones, this reality stands clear: Those who stuck it out through the debacle of 2008 will be rewarded this fall. Jones has a better feel for his players and Conference USA, and his two recruiting classes are beginning to shape the roster. Half of the Mustangs' eight league losses last year were by seven points or fewer, and QB Bo Levi Mitchell will be more comfortable in the run-and-shoot offense.

3. Colorado Buffaloes, plus-+4
2008: 5-7
2009: 9-4
Here's why: Dan Hawkins proclaimed the goal of 10 wins this fall, and this team isn't that far from it. As much as anything, the Buffs need to stay healthy on the offensive line and build some continuity and consistency. CU is much better on the interior lines than when Hawkins arrived three years ago. Losing speedy WR/KR Josh Smith last week hurts, but the emergence of uber-talented TB Darrell Scott gives the running game a pile-mover who will open up play-action for QB Cody Hawkins.

4. Oklahoma State Cowboys, plus-3
2008: 9-4
2009: 12-1
Here's why: We all know about the triple threat of Heisman Trophy candidates QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter and WR Dez Bryant. The difference this fall will be the impact of new defensive coordinator Bill Young. He knows the league (remember Kansas, 2007?) and the Cowboys have speed and athleticism on that side of the ball. The defense simply has to get multiple stops in big games -- something it couldn't do last year, but will get done this fall. And that still may not be enough for the Big 12 to avoid another postseason disaster (see: Texas beats Oklahoma, Oklahoma State beats Texas, Oklahoma beats Oklahoma State).

5. NC State Wolfpack, plus-3
2008: 6-7
2009: 9-4
Here's why: Maybe this is the plan all athletic directors should follow: Hire a terrific recruiter to build personnel, and when it eventually fails, hire a teacher/disciplinarian. As bad as it looked early last fall, the players and new coach Tom O'Brien -- the most underrated coach in the game -- finally clicked in the second half and the 'Pack won four of their last five. Terrific sophomore QB Russell Wilson is a dynamic threat, but this team badly needs TB Toney Baker -- who missed most of the last two seasons with a knee injury -- and incoming freshman James Washington to create balance with the running game.

Dave Curtis' top five

1. Washington Huskies, plus-5
2008: 0-12
2009: 5-7
Here's why: Well, the Huskies can't win any fewer. And a perfect storm of circumstances makes them the pick to win a bunch more. The program's energy alone should do a 180 with Steve Sarkisian in charge. A watered-down trip through the nonconference (hello, Idaho; see ya, BYU) will help. UW's best offensive player (Jake Locker) and second-best defensive player (E.J. Savannah) are healthy and eligible, respectively. And the bottom of the Pac-10 ranks as poor as ever -- road games against Arizona State and Washington State look like wins.

2. Arkansas Razorbacks, plus-4
2008: 5-7
2009: 9-4
Here's why: Where Bobby Petrino goes, wins follow. He'll be this season's example of the second-year bump enjoyed at the highest level by Bob Stoops, Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer, among others. If Ryan Mallett can quit breaking fingers, he's the best quarterback in the SEC West. Four wins seems a given in nonconference play (Missouri State, Eastern Michigan, Troy and Texas A&M in Dallas). And the defense will tackle well enough to manage a 4-4 SEC record and a win in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

3. Illinois Fighting Illini, plus-3
2008: 5-7
2009: 8-5
Here's why: Turnovers and poor tackling doomed the Illini last season, especially against better-disciplined teams such as Northwestern and Iowa. The youth up front on both sides of the ball will develop, and Illinois will benefit from catching Missouri and Fresno State in down seasons. Look for Juice Williams-to-Arrelious Benn to become the most potent offensive tandem in the Big Ten.

4. Auburn Tigers, plus-3
2008: 5-7
2009: 8-5
Here's why: Don't expect another tumultuous season on The Plains. The new coaching staff, with its limousines on recruiting trips and Big Cat Weekend for unofficial visits, has at least unified the program. Tommy Tuberville's recruits will keep this defense strong, and by midseason, new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn will turn one of Auburn's quarterbacks into a proficient passer.

5. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, plus-3
2008: 7-6
2009: 10-4
Here's why: A no-huddle offense, plus eight starters back on defense, should equal the Golden Eagles' return to the top of Conference USA. They'll grab at least one upset when they face Virginia and Kansas on consecutive weeks in September, with back Damion Fletcher (suspended for spring practice) and receiver DeAndre Brown (if healthy) carrying the squad.

SoonerBS · 06-06-09, 10:58 PM

I have information collected on every team in the FBS division, so if you have any questions, just leave them in here and I'll try and answer them for you.

I'll update this thread as the Summer goes along . . . . .

SoonerBS · 06-07-09, 01:36 PM

This is from Bruce Feldman at ESPN:

Top 10 potential BCS busters

Monday, June 1, 2009 | Feedback | Print Entry

It has become more apparent in the past few years that teams from outside the glamour conferences can in fact become gatecrashers to the BCS party and do some damage when they get there. This week's Top 10 -- Best Shots to be a BCS Buster:

1. Boise State: The Broncos have a chance to get the buzz rolling early when they host Oregon. Last season, an incredibly young BSU team went to Autzen Stadium and knocked off the Ducks. Almost the entire Broncos team is back and the returning players all figure to be better, especially sophomore QB Kellen Moore. If BSU gets by Oregon, it's all way downhill from there. They go to Fresno State (BSU has won seven of eight games against the Bulldogs by an average of 24 ppg). The next-toughest hurdles would be at Tulsa and at Louisiana Tech and a home game with Nevada. That schedule is good IF Boise beats Oregon. If not, the Broncos could win the rest, going 11-1, and still not be a top-15 team.

2. BYU: There is a lot to like about this year's Cougars. Start with experienced QB Max Hall, a physical running game led by Harvey Unga, some big-play potential now that speedy WR McKay Jacobsen is back, a salty defense led by DE Jan Jorgensen (the MWC's all-time sacks leader) and their two toughest conference games, against TCU and Utah, are both at home. The bad news: They have to play mighty Oklahoma in their opener in Arlington, Texas. They also have to face FSU. I think the Cougars can beat the Noles, but I don't like their chances against the Sooners. Still, going 11-1 against this schedule, which should include four top-25 opponents, is more than respectable. And, if they upset the Sooners, then run the table while OU goes on to win the Big 12, BYU would have a legit shot at playing for the BCS title. That's a lot of pressure on a suspect O-line, especially since OU might have the country's top D-line.

3. Southern Miss: The Golden Eagles are back and have a bunch of players who would be starting in the SEC. If phenom WR DeAndre Brown is back to 100 percent by midsummer as Larry Fedora expects, USM will have a dynamic offense. Sophomore QB Austin Davis has a bunch of playmakers around him and the O-line is all back. Defensively, Fedora has his entire D-line back and it gets a big infusion of size and athleticism in DLs Willie Packer and Joel Ross and DE/OLB Scottie Williams. The road schedule won't be easy, though, with games at Kansas, Louisville, Houston and ECU. Still, USM might have more talent than any of them. But that's four road games against solid competition. Maybe USM can afford one slip and still get to a BCS game.

4. Houston: Kevin Sumlin is a rising star in the coaching business and his team should be dangerous this season. QB Case Keenum is an underrated gem with wonderful pocket presence and is just one of those undersized, Texas-bred quarterbacks who light up the scoreboard all season. He has a lot of speed around him and UH imported some talented juco O-linemen. The D does have a lot of holes to fill but UH is going to win a lot of shootouts. The game at Oklahoma State could be a 70-55 kind of affair. Then, UH gets a week off before hosting Texas Tech; Mike Leach protégé UH offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen gets to try to take down his mentor. The Cougs have the talent to keep both games very interesting. Road trips to Tulsa and UTEP also will be worth watching. Ten wins might seem like a lot but I think it's very realistic and would get them into the top 25.

5. TCU: This might be Gary Patterson's fastest team. Once again, TCU should be nasty on defense and junior QB Andy Dalton has some capable weapons to work with. The middle of the D is new, but Patterson says it's going to be more athletic than it was last year. The Horned Frogs have to go to Virginia, Clemson and BYU and get Utah at home. Going 10-2 might not be good enough for a BCS spot, but they might have enough speed to get to 11 wins.

6. ECU: After making a big early-season splash last season the Pirates fizzled. QB Patrick Pinkney is back again and will need to be much more consistent. He does have his entire O-line back and RB Dominique Lindsay is also back after missing 2008 with a knee injury. On D, five of the team's top six tacklers are back. But it's hard to be too optimistic when you see what awaits them in the nonconference schedule: at WVU and at UNC in consecutive weeks and later in the season they host a Virginia Tech team that might be in the top five.

7. Utah: I expect the Utes to take a step back this season. Bruising RB Matt Asiata is back, but not that much of the offense from last season joins him. The D again should be tough. I do wonder how much the Utes will miss star specialist Louie Sakoda, though. They also have three rough road games: at Oregon, at TCU and at BYU. I'd be stunned if they win two of those three.

8. Central Michigan: The Chips have a borderline Heisman hopeful in Dan LeFevour and they have a lot of experience around him. They can also make some noise with road wins at Arizona and Michigan State to open the season. I don't think it's out of the question to expect that, given both of those teams are breaking in new QBs and LeFevour & Co. have a lot of seasoning from playing in some hostile places. Another hurdle will be playing at BC, but the Eagles too have to establish a new QB and they lost a ton of talent on D. Having said all of that it's so hard for any MAC team to crash a BCS bowl. These guys can't afford anything less than an unbeaten season.

9. FAU: The Sun Belt doesn't get much respect, but the league's talent level is improving every year and its schools generally schedule some real heavyweights out of conference. I think Troy has the best chance to win this league, but the Trojans have to go to Florida and that's too steep for them. FAU, which returns a proven winner in QB Rusty Smith and his top seven receivers, is capable of winning the league and putting up a lot of points on anyone on its schedule. The Owls two toughest nonconference games are at Nebraska and at South Carolina. I think they'd be very fortunate to win one of those two especially since the Owls have to replace their top six tackles from 2008. Still, they have a much better shot taking down the Huskers and Cocks than Troy does winning at UF. Troy also has to go play an improving Arkansas team on the road as well.

10. Nevada: The Pack are a long, long shot but they are a fun team to watch. Lanky QB Colin Kaepernick is a little like a cross between Robert Griffin and Terrelle Pryor. He's also got a few quality RBs to balance out the offense some. Their D-line's also pretty good. In terms of the schedule, the Pack would need a lot of help. They open at Notre Dame, which I think is going to be improved. The problem is if Nevada upsets the Irish in the opener. Chances are no one will put any stock in the Irish again the rest of the season and that would devalue the win quite a bit. The Pack host Mizzou, which figures to be down. If they win those games and come into the final game at Boise with both teams somehow unbeaten and pull the upset, that would get Nevada into a BCS bowl, but I think that's highly unlikely. Going 10-2 is still probably on the north side of optimistic.

nevadaside · 06-08-09, 12:29 AM

Sooner,

Stoked to see you adding this wealth of info here. I will be referencing this post often.
I know you do your homework early & your posted records show that it pays off for you.......& all who read what you post.

I think there will be some sleepers to cash in on early this year.

On my radar:
OLE MISS (big time)
MIAMI
UNC
NCST
MINN
IOWA
ARK
MARYLAND (weird team but has so much potential when they want to play, mostly at home)
NEVADA (my home team, hope they get after it hard this year)

Will be over at your empire for sure this year........can't wait for your early season plays, you absolutely KILL it right out of the gate. Between you, pags, gyno, & a few others it should be another great season KILLING those damn Books.

All of your efforts are always much appreciated & fun as hell to read.

Here's to the upcoming NCAAF season..........

SoonerBS · 06-08-09, 03:28 PM

Originally posted by nevadaside

Sooner,

Stoked to see you adding this wealth of info here. I will be referencing this post often.
I know you do your homework early & your posted records show that it pays off for you.......& all who read what you post.

I think there will be some sleepers to cash in on early this year.

On my radar:
OLE MISS (big time)
MIAMI
UNC
NCST
MINN
IOWA
ARK
MARYLAND (weird team but has so much potential when they want to play, mostly at home)
NEVADA (my home team, hope they get after it hard this year)

Will be over at your empire for sure this year........can't wait for your early season plays, you absolutely KILL it right out of the gate. Between you, pags, gyno, & a few others it should be another great season KILLING those damn Books.

All of your efforts are always much appreciated & fun as hell to read.

Here's to the upcoming NCAAF season..........

Thanks, NS!

I'm still in the process of putting the pieces together on these teams, so take this with a grain a salt for now, but let me assess this list you put up a bit and you're welcome to disagree:

OLE MISS -- Without a doubt, Ole Miss is going to be good if they don't succumb to the pressure of being on EVERYBODY'S radar. It is that element that I am a bit wary of though. Last season they were not in the national spotlight in the preseason, but this year they are. The linesmakers will definitely give them their respect this year, so I'm not expecting as many "value" bets as what we got last season with this team. My thoughts initially is to play on them everytime they are underdogs -- which will not be often.

MIAMI -- I think you could be right on this one. I certainly think that Shannon needs for this to be the year as his honeymoon is about to run out. The key to Miami's success this season will be how fast the players respond to the new systems set up by a new OC and a new DC. There has been a lot of applause by fans, Alumni and national media on Shannon's offseason hires, but sometimes it takes a year or two for players to adjust to new coordinators and their schemes. Miami can't afford another year or two. They certainly have good personnel and experience this year though, so let's listen close to how things go in the Fall camp.

UNC -- This team is a wait and see team with me. They bring back good experience on the defensive side of the ball, but offensively they have some questions on the offensive line. Anyone that follows my handicapping knows that I put a lot of weight on the guys in the trenches. After a cushy opener with Citadel, UNC has a pretty tough 3 game schedule against UCONN, East Carolina and Georgia Tech. The game on the road against UCONN should tell us a lot about this team.

NCST -- I like this team. Last season seemed like a surprise until you consider the past success of their coach with teams he has had. He's just a damn good coach. NCST brings back a lot of experience and loses very little. I think there is a good chance they will beat South Carolina in their opener. I agree with you here, they could be a good ATS team this year despite their success from last season.

MINN -- I think this team is way too overhyped and valued this year. Yes, they bring back almost all their talent and experience from last season, but be careful -- their wins came against some very easy competition, but they lost to the good competition. What does that tell us? Their record last year was likely orchestrated by scheduling. BUT, look at their schedul this year, they are getting ready to take a major step up! I could always be wrong, but I think it's likely they will be overvalued and I plan to fade them every opportunity I get until they prove me wrong.

IOWA -- Here's a team I see similar to Ole Miss this season. They surprise nobody in being a better team and so their lines may be overvalued. I also have a big question on who will replace their star of last season -- Shonn Greene. Their running game last season was the key to their success and it will need to be that again.

ARK -- Arkansas finished last year with a better record than I thought they would. A lot of that has to do with Petrino's coaching. This season, they come back with a lot more experience, a year of running Petrino's system under their belt, and a better QB (if he's healthy) in Ryan Mallet. I agree, there's some money to be made on this team as they should do nothing but improve this year.

MARYLAND -- NS, I'm going to disagree with you here on Maryland. I think Maryland is a good fade this team this season. One of the best bets I'm looking at in the first week is Cal over Maryland. This exerpt from an article I found really sums up my feelings as well on this team: "On the other hand, however, half of last year’s starters have graduated, more than any other ACC school, and both lines were decimated in the process. QB Chris Turner is still trying to become more than just a journeyman, and the defense is a work-in-progress that’s going to struggle against the better offenses. In other words, go ahead and try to evaluate the Terps at your own peril." I do not like betting "on" teams that are projected to struggle with both their offensive and defensive lines. I don't care how good their skill positions are suppose to be.

NEVADA -- Yes, without a doubt, Nevada should be one of the most productive offenses in the nation this season if everyone remains healthy. The only two things I don't like right now is the fact that they are getting so much public attention in preseason AND the fact that their defense could be as bad as it was last season. We'll just have to pick and choose our spots with this team.

SoonerBS · 06-08-09, 03:56 PM

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SoonerBS · 06-08-09, 03:57 PM

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