Some Multi-Conference Info Candy

[SoonerBS]

I've been accumulating articles on all the conferences at my site since last season ended. One category I have up is "multi-conference tidbits." This category covers articles that talk about teams from all conferences instead of info based on just one conference or a particular team. I cap the entire NCAA, so I like to know all I can on every team. One of my favorite things is to try and find some hidden treasures (teams that only played average seasons or even poor seasons last year, but should jump up in performance this year) to share. I'll be posting some of my finds in here as they relate to teams discussed from multiple conferences.

 

[SoonerBS]

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.

Ivan Maisel is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Send your questions and comments to Ivan at ivan.maisel@espn3.com.

 

[SoonerBS]

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]

Players who benefit from coaching transitions

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

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]

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?

Bruce 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]

We all know that Vegas seems to have a handle on what teams are looking better as the season progresses. After the 2008 season had ended, Vegas immediately put up odds on the chances of teams to win the National Championship. After most Spring Practices were finished, new odds came out. There were new odds because Vegas reassessed the progress and quality of teams. Bruce Feldman noted the different odds on certain teams in one of his Blog posts:

• 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.
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[SoonerBS]

Teams most likely to win the BCS title

Monday, April 6, 2009

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]

Great programs are usually centered around great players. The more great players a team possesses, the more likely the program will be successful for any given season. Below is an article that gives you some indication of these programs and their players:

Originally Published: April 30, 2009
2010 Mock Draft

McShay By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.


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.

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.

 

[GoSooners]

Great stuff BS...I saw on one sight where they think OU could have as many as 7 players go in the two rounds. I sure hope our 2010 recruiting class is good.

 

[GoSooners]

It will be nice when the powerhouses under construction get themselves built. The last 5 years the BCS has basically been between 6 teams every year. Florida, LSU, USC, Ohio St., Texas, OU. The BCS is so dull and predictable right now that we need at least 8 or 10 new teams to make it a mystery again who will win the title every year. This years pickens look even slimmer. Unless there is a case of unfortunate events for these teams I only see it as a 4 horse race between Florida, USC, OU and Texas....yawn

 

[SoonerBS]

Top 10 best players with no shot at the Heisman​

Monday, April 13, 2009


Even though the Heisman Trophy is supposed to be awarded to the country's top college football player, that doesn't always prove to be the case. In fact, there are plenty of instances where the best player has no real shot of winning the stiff-arm trophy. I know it's early, but this week's Top 10 list is best players with no shot of actually winning the Heisman:

1. Eric Berry, Tennessee safety: The past few seasons have been dismal for Vol fans, but at least they have Berry. The guy is a ball-hawking, playmaking, vicious-hitting DB that probably would've been a top-five NFL draft pick had he been eligible to come out this year. Last season he not only had seven INTs for an amazing 265 return yards, he also proved to be an intimidator in the back of the UT defense. It's not a stretch to say Berry is better at his position than his competitors by a wider margin than anyone else in the country is at theirs.
2. Brandon Spikes, Florida LB: Here is a great player on a great team. Spikes is a leader and he comes up big in big games. The snag, linebackers don't really have much hope of being awarded the Heisman, especially linebackers on the same team as Tim Tebow.
3. Taylor Mays, USC safety: Every wide receiver's nightmare, Mays is a shocking blend of size (6-foot-3, 235 pounds) and burst (4.3 40 speed). It's a combination that often has a wicked effect. Just ask Arizona. Last year, when the Trojans played the Wildcats, according to one UA assistant, Mays knocked three 'Zona players out of the game. While Mays is the most recognizable name on the USC team and that could get him some generous preseason Heisman hype, in his first three seasons his game hasn't been snaring lots of INTs and that's probably the only way he'd have to really get in the discussion.
4. Rob Gronkowski, Arizona TE: A 6-6, 265-pound junior, The Gronk is a matchup nightmare for defenses and the biggest reason why 'Zona went from having the Pac-10's No. 9 red zone offense to No. 1 last season. Their bread and butter was to line up three receivers on one side of the formation and split Gronkowski out to the other and just let him beat his man inside. Ten of his 47 catches went for TDs and that was with him missing three games due to mono.
5. Todd Reesing, Kansas QB: It's not hard to overlook a QB in the Big 12 when you have Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy and a whole bunch of others putting up ridiculous stats. It's also not hard to overlook a QB when he's 5-9 and playing for a non-traditional power, like Reesing at Kansas. Still, no one is grittier than the little Texan, who last year passed for almost 4,000 yards and had 32 TDs against just 13 INTs.
6. Jerry Hughes, TCU DE: Nobody had heard of this guy at this time last year, but Hughes had a breakout 2008 season, forcing six fumbles and leading the nation with 15 sacks for a very good Horned Frogs defense. Scarier still is that when teammates are asked who has been the biggest surprise this spring, some say Hughes because they feel like he's worked so hard to get that much better in 2009.
7. Rolando McClain, Alabama LB: A Butkus Award finalist last season as a sophomore, McClain plays in a storied program coming off a very good season. He should be in the mix for Butkus honors again, but it's a long shot he would generate much Heisman traction.
8. Colin Kaepernick, Nevada QB: One of the more exciting players in the country, Kaepernick is a dual-threat QB unlike any other around. At 6-6, 215, he is running threat somewhat in the mold of former Arkansas QB Matt Jones yet he is a better passer. Last season, Kaepernick threw for 22 TDs and just 7 INTs and passed for 370 yards in a 42-35 bowl loss to Maryland. Heady stuff for a guy who also has run for 240 yards in a game (UNLV) and had two runs for over 60 yards last season and a bunch over 30.
9. Mark Herzlich, Boston College LB: A rangy 6-4, 238-pound do-everything linebacker, Herzlich, the ACC's reigning Defensive Player of the Year has been aided playing behind two great defensive tackles in Ron Brace and B.J. Raji. Both are gone now, but word out of BC is that Herzlich looks like an even bigger force for the Eagles, making plays all over the field. Last season, Herzlich shined in all facets of play, leading BC with 110 tackles, had six INTs, eight passes broken up and 13 tackles for loss.
10. Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska DT: This guy emerged last season as a star for the Huskers, becoming the first lineman to lead the team in tackles in 35 years. The downside is even if the Huskers somehow come out and have a storybook 2009 and win the Big 12, it's crazy to think a defensive lineman would get most of the credit.

Bruce Feldman

 

[SoonerBS]

Great stuff BS...I saw on one sight where they think OU could have as many as 7 players go in the two rounds. I sure hope our 2010 recruiting class is good.

You know and I know that with Oklahoma this season their success hangs on how fast the new revamped offensive line comes along. Secondary concerns are the WRs and defensive secondary. Oklahoma will have a successful season, but whether or not they return to the Championship game will depend on their offensive line. Of course, you know how much of a stickler I am about the guys in the trenches . . . . .

 

[GoSooners]

You know and I know that with Oklahoma this season their success hangs on how fast the new revamped offensive line comes along. Secondary concerns are the WRs and defensive secondary. Oklahoma will have a successful season, but whether or not they return to the Championship game will depend on their offensive line. Of course, you know how much of a stickler I am about the guys in the trenches . . . . .

The offensive line is the one big thing holding me back too. And OU is a little bit more of a fragile team than people think. The linebacker play will again be shakey if Ryan Reynolds gets hurt. And so far he's been hurt in every season he has played. He's just one of those players who are suseptible to injury. Same goes with Demarco Murray and Auston English. It's never a given that these players will stay healthy through the season. And we really can't afford to lose any of them.

 

[SoonerBS]

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




<!--Heading Box End--> <!--Content Start--> 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]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]April 15, 2009[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]NationalChamps.net releases 3rd Annual Underdog Award Watch List[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]GIVEN TO THE NATION'S BEST PLAYER MID-MAJOR PLAYER[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In an effort to bring media attention to those players from smaller schools that are too often overlooked for the HEISMAN and other major awards, NationalChamps.net presents the annual UNDERDOG AWARD to recognize the best FBS Mid-Major player in the nation. In evaluating the rich talent found throughout the 54 schools not aligned in BCS conferences, our commitment to finding overall excellence in college football remains at the forefront of our efforts.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The players listed below have excelled and stand out from the many great mid-major players found throughout the college football landscape. NationalChamps.net has initially chosen 55 players for the 2009 UNDERDOG AWARD Preseason Watch List, which was primarily based upon those players’ 2008 performances.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]You can see the tough job we will have in whittling down such an excellent group of candidates. 2007 winner, QB Colt Brennan from Hawai'i, set the bar rather high for what it takes to win the UNDERDOG AWARD and QB Chase Clement from Rice carried on the tradition in 2008…and we know this year’s winner will again exemplify the amazing campaigns that those from smaller schools have so often supplied but are too often ignored for the national media recognition they deserve.[/FONT]
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[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]On Monday November 23 (the week of Thanksgiving), NationalChamps.net will present our list of semi-finalists. The finalists will be presented Tuesday December 1, and we will name the winner of the 2009 UNDERDOG AWARD after Championship Weekend on Wednesday December 9, 2009.[/FONT]


<table border="0" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="7" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top">

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]NationalChamps.net 2009 UNDERDOG AWARD Watch List Candidates[/FONT]​

</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="59%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="4">[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]sorted by position[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]QB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Max Hall[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brigham Young[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]QB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tim Hiller[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr. [/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Western Michigan[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]QB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Colin Kaepernick[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Nevada[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]QB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Case Keenum[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Houston[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]QB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dan LeFevour[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Central Michigan[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]QB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kellen Moore[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Boise State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]QB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Trevor Vittatoe[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]UTEP[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Reggie Arnold[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Arkansas State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bryce Beall[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Houston[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="13%">[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td width="36%">[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Damion Fletcher[/FONT]</td> <td width="9%">[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td width="42%">[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Southern Miss[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]MiQuale Lewis[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ball State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Daniel Porter[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Louisiana Tech[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]James Starks[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Buffalo[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Curtis Steele[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Memphis[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Vai Taua[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Nevada[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Harvey Unga[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brigham Young[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brandon West[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Western Michigan[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Antonio Brown[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr. [/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Central Michigan[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DeAndre Brown[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Southern Miss[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tyron Carrier[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Houston[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Rashaun Greer[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Colorado State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]T.Y. Hilton[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Florida International[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Aldrick Robinson[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]SMU[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Naaman Roosevelt[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Buffalo[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ryan Wolfe[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]UNLV[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]TE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jamari Grant[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Florida Atlantic[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]TE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dennis Pitta[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brigham Young[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]TE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Cody Slate[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Marshall[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kevin Basped[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Nevada[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Alex Carrington[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Arkansas State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jerry Hughes[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]TCU[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Carl Ihenacho[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]San Jose State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE [/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brandon Lang[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Troy[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dontay Moch[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Nevada[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]C.J. Wilson[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]East Carolina[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ryan Winterswyk[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Boise State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Frank Zombo[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Central Michigan[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DT[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bruce Miller[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]UCF[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DT[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]D'Anthony Smith[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Louisiana Tech[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]LB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jason Beauchamp[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]UNLV[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]LB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Nick Bellore[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Central Michigan[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]LB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Cardia Jackson[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Louisiana-Monroe[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]LB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Boris Lee[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Troy[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Antonio Baker[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Louisiana Tech[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Barry Church[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Toledo[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Van Eskridge[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]East Carolina[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Anthony Gaitor[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Florida International[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Eddie Hicks[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Southern Miss[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brian Lainhart[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kent State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Davonte Shannon[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Buffalo[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kyle Wilson[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Boise State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]K[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Josh Arauco[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Arkansas State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]KR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A.J. Jefferson[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Fresno State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]KR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Damaris Johnson[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tulsa[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]KR/PR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Phillip Livas[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Louisiana Tech[/FONT]</td> </tr> </tbody></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="59%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="4">[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]sorted by school[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]K[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Josh Arauco[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Arkansas State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Reggie Arnold[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Arkansas State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Alex Carrington[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Arkansas State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]MiQuale Lewis[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ball State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]QB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kellen Moore[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Boise State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kyle Wilson[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Boise State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ryan Winterswyk[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Boise State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]QB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Max Hall[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brigham Young[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]TE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dennis Pitta[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brigham Young[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Harvey Unga[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brigham Young[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Naaman Roosevelt[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Buffalo[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Davonte Shannon[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Buffalo[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]James Starks[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Buffalo[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]LB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Nick Bellore[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Central Michigan[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td width="13%">[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td width="36%">[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Antonio Brown [/FONT]</td> <td width="9%">[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td width="42%">[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Central Michigan [/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]QB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dan LeFevour[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Central Michigan[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Frank Zombo[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Central Michigan[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Rashaun Greer[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Colorado State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Van Eskridge[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]East Carolina[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]C.J. Wilson[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]East Carolina[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]TE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jamari Grant[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Florida Atlantic[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Anthony Gaitor[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Florida International[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]T.Y. Hilton[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Florida International[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]KR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A.J. Jefferson[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Fresno State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bryce Beall[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Houston[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tyron Carrier[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Houston[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]QB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Case Keenum[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Houston[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brian Lainhart[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kent State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]LB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Cardia Jackson[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Louisiana-Monroe[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Antonio Baker[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Louisiana Tech[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]KR/PR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Phillip Livas[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Louisiana Tech[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Daniel Porter[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Louisiana Tech[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DT[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]D'Anthony Smith[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Louisiana Tech[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]TE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Cody Slate[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Marshall[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Curtis Steele[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Memphis[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kevin Basped[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Nevada[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]QB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Colin Kaepernick[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Nevada[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dontay Moch[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Nevada[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Vai Taua[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Nevada[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Carl Ihenacho[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]San Jose State[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DeAndre Brown[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Southern Miss[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Damion Fletcher[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Southern Miss[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Eddie Hicks[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Southern Miss[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Aldrick Robinson[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]SMU[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jerry Hughes[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]TCU[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Barry Church[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Toledo[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brandon Lang[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Troy[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]LB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Boris Lee[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Troy[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]KR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Damaris Johnson[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tulsa[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DT[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bruce Miller[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]UCF[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]LB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jason Beauchamp[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]UNLV[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WR[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ryan Wolfe[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]UNLV[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]QB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Trevor Vittatoe[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]UTEP[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]QB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tim Hiller[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Western Michigan[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffcc"> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RB[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brandon West[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sr.[/FONT]</td> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Western Michigan[/FONT]</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]

 

[russ1945]

I am really surprised that people are at this point writing articles about who could go where in the 2010 draft and who might win the next Heisman. The real stories lie in something else that apparently no one has taken the time to research or report on. Namely, why did so many players who returned choose not to go in this years draft. Each story is unique and look how many at Florida and OU stayed who could have left. I know one factor is that the NFL came out and said they would not set any salary c
aps or limitations for the next draft but there is more to it than that. I think there is more to it than just getting a degree also. We all know Tebow and Spikes are after a repeat, that Bradford, Gresham, and Gerald McCoy want another shot, and that guys like McCoy at Texas want another shot at the BCSNC and possibly a Heisman. What about the rest of them, and there are a lot, who came back. Why? I think that is much more interesting than listing potential draft picks for 2010. If any one has come across that kind of an article I would love to read it. Maybe it is a hard story to pry out of some of them and maybe some are mum on the subject altogether but I would love to see a list on all of the players listed above and a little blurb about why they came back instead of going in this years draft.
That kind of insight could influence how one wagers whereas a list about next years draft puts no money in my pocket next season.

 

[SoonerBS]

[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]Welcoming The New Coordinators

[/FONT] [FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]The Coordinators You Should Care About
[/FONT]

By Richard Cirminiello While new head coaches, such as Gene Chizik and Dan Mullen, were gobbling up lots of attention since signing new contracts, there have been an equal number of coordinators getting promotions around the country. No, their impact won’t be as profound or their salaries as robust, but their opportunities to initiate change and a new direction should not be dismissed. More and more, coordinators and position coaches are seeing their responsibilities and profiles increase, putting the following new hires in a position to steal a few more headlines than normal this upcoming season.

Just look at last year for example of the importance of these decisions: Texas hired Will Muschamp, who recharged the ‘Horn D and got named as Mack Brown’s successor. New Auburn offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, on the other hand, didn’t last the season, becoming a microcosm for all that went wrong in 2008.

20. Gary Nord, Purdue (offensive coordinator) – Nord has been brought on board by Danny Hope to ignite a Boilermaker offense that reached a low point in the Joe Tiller era a year ago. With more than a quarter-century of college coaching, he comes armed with experience and a reputation as one of the game’s brighter offensive minds. His ability to recruit the state of Florida and comfort level with Hope from their decade together at Louisville and Oklahoma were also key factors in this hire being made.

19. Gary Tranquill, Boston College (offensive coordinator) – Sometimes, familiarity does not breed contempt. Tranquill and new boss Frank Spaziani go way back to their days together in Virginia and at the Naval Academy in the 1980s. While his deep resume, including head coaching experience, will help Spaz’s transition to head coach, his age and rep for being overly conservative are concerns on the Heights. When last seen more than three years ago, the 68-year old Tranquill was earning the nickname Gary “NyQuil” from frustrated Carolina fans.
18. Rocky Seto, USC (defensive coordinator) – Even as both of his coordinators headed north to Seattle, Pete Carroll maintained a degree of continuity in his staff by promoting from within. Seto has been with the Trojans since 1999, primarily concentrating on the back seven. He had a chance to join Steve Sarkisian at Washington, but opted to remain at his alma mater, despite the fact that Carroll will continue calling all of the defensive plays. More than anything else, the new gig provides an opportunity for Seto to raise his profile to a national level.

17. Billy Napier, Clemson (offensive coordinator) – Rather than go outside the institution, Dabo Swinney removed the interim tag from Napier, who handled the job and called plays over the second half of 2008. Short on experience and long on potential, he’ll first have to undo some of the problems created during the end of Rob Spence’s tenure. With his upside, energy, and ability to reel in top recruits, you can understand why Swinney wanted to keep him decked out in orange. The OC job at the age of 29, though? After last year’s mess, Napier will be under the microscope to quickly make things better.

16. Rob Spence, Syracuse (offensive coordinator) – Depending on where you’re standing, Spence is either staring at an insurmountable challenge or a golden opportunity. The Orange has been brutal on offense for much of this decade, but if Spence can somehow reverse that trend, they might build a bust of him outside the Carrier Dome. The fifth offensive coordinator in the last six years at Syracuse, he’s expected to install elements of the no-huddle offense and a few more wrinkles than the program has seen lately. Spence built his reputation at Toledo, but followed that up with a very disappointing four-year stint at Clemson.

15. Gregg Brandon, Virginia (offensive coordinator) – Al Groh is giving Brandon the green light to run his version of the spread offense in an attempt to spark one of the ACC’s most feeble attacks. Something had to be done after the Cavs finished 114^th nationally in scoring offense, showing a complete lack of explosiveness. Brandon is fresh off a six-year stop as the Bowling Green head coach, where he compiled a respectable 44-30 record. He favors a balanced offense with lots of misdirection, a la former boss Urban Meyer, but will need the athletes and the full blessing of Groh to truly remodel this offense.

14. John Morton, USC (offensive coordinator) – Few schools provide a better launching pad for its coordinators than USC. Just look what’s happened in recent years to neophytes, like Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian, and Nick Holt. The Trojans’ passing game coordinator and receivers coach the last two years, he cut his coaching teeth as an assistant in the NFL for five years with three different teams. It should be noted that while Morton has the title, Jeremy Bates, recently with the Denver Broncos, will call plays and be the quarterbacks coach. Bates plans to coach from the field level, while Morton operates in the coaches’ box.

13. Andy Ludwig, Cal (offensive coordinator) – After doing his part to lead Utah to a perfect season and a No. 15 ranking in scoring, Ludwig’s star has never been brighter. A success at Fresno State, Oregon, and with the Utes, he’s become known for his ability to develop quarterbacks and oversee balanced, yet unpredictable, attacks. His track record with the likes of David Carr, Billy Volek, Kellen Clemens, and Brian Johnson bodes well for whoever gets the nod at quarterback. He was actually with Kansas State for about two months before deciding that a return to the Pac-10 was best for his career and family.

12. David Yost, Missouri (offensive coordinator) – Yost was the natural fit to replace outgoing Dave Christensen, who’s moved on to coach Wyoming. He’s been with Gary Pinkel for the past 13 years, and has quietly had a huge role in Mizzou’s recent success on offense as the quarterbacks coach. Much more than ensuring continuity in the offense, promoting Yost is good news for the next wave of Tiger hurlers Blaine Gabbert, Blaine Dalton, Ashton Glaser. If the offense keeps on rolling in Columbia, he’s liable to follow Christensen into the head coaching ranks.

11. Greg Robinson, Michigan (defensive coordinator) – Long before Robinson would was a washout as a head coach, he was widely considered to be a pretty good defensive assistant. Rich Rodriguez is holding out hope that a 10-37 record in four years at Syracuse didn’t rob him of his passion for the game. With far more talent than he had at his disposal in New York, Robinson hopes to install an up-tempo system that’ll get after the quarterback and create plenty of turnovers. He’s being shielded from heavy recruiting, which was not a strength, in favor of his expertise as an Xs and Os guy.

10. Ted Roof, Auburn (defensive coordinator) – In luring Roof out of the Big Ten, Gene Chizik sort of got a carbon copy of himself. Roof is a young, aggressive teacher with head coaching experience and a strong background as a defensive coordinator. He first made headlines with Georgia Tech from 1999-2001 before suffering the consequences of a failed experiment as the head guy with Duke. He had no problems landing on his feet, however, and did a bang-up job in 2008 with a Minnesota D that was last in the country a year earlier. His penchant for attacking will be an easy sell on the Plains.

9. Jim Chaney,, Tennessee (offensive coordinator) – First-year head coach Lane Kiffin looked to the NFL for both his offensive and defensive coordinators. Chaney spent the last three seasons as the tight ends coach of the St. Louis Rams, but is better known for his work as the Purdue offensive coordinator from 1998-2005. It was during that time that the Boilermakers really flourished offensively, leading the Big Ten in passing five times and ranking in the top 10 in total offense six times. Purdue hasn’t been the same since he left. A coincidence? Kiffin doesn’t think so.

8. Nick Holt/span>, Washington (defensive coordinator) – Now that Holt has built the Husky nation into a mass of believers, he better deliver on the promise of a turnaround. He’s got an infectious personality, which will impact recruiting in the future, and a resume that includes two tours of duty at USC wrapped around an unsuccessful stint as the Idaho head coach. He can sell and he can motivate, but can he still whip together a nasty defense without all of that five-star Trojan talent at his disposal? That’s the challenge facing Steve Sarkisian’s buddy and right-hand man in Seattle.

7. Mark Whipple, Miami (offensive coordinator) – It took a while for Randy Shannon to decide on a replacement for Patrick Nix, but he finally settled on Whipple a month after Patrick Nix was canned. A success wherever he’s been, he won a national championship as the head coach of UMass and a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers as Ben Roethlisberger’s mentor. Last season, he was an assistant on Andy Reid’s Philadelphia Eagles staff. Whipple should have a positive influence on QB Jacory Harris and the young ‘Cane offense, especially after Nix, Rich Olson, and Dan Werner flamed out on the job.

6. Steve Addazio, Florida (offensive coordinator) – Addazio has morphed into one of the hot names at the assistant level, getting strong consideration in recent months for the top openings at Syracuse and Boston College. That’s bound to happen these days when you work in Gainesville. He’ll spend 2009 as the successor to Dan Mullen, a promotion from being the offensive line coach. Urban Meyer will still be closely involved in the gameplan, and the playbook isn’t being altered, so don’t expect many noticeable changes. Meyer’s last three offensive coordinators, Mullen, Mike Sanford, and Gregg Brandon, have gone on to be head coaches. Addazio is bucking to be No. 4.

5. Bill Young, Oklahoma State (defensive coordinator) – Young was a natural fit for the Cowboys and a darn shrewd hire by Mike Gundy after Tim Beckman took the Toledo job. A graduate of the school and one of the nation’s best-kept secrets among coordinators, he’s been a success wherever he’s been, peaking as the defensive head of Kansas from 2002-2007. After watching his team struggle getting to the quarterback and defending the pass, Gundy is counting on Young to do for the ‘Pokes what he did for the Jayhawks in his last tour of the Big 12.

4. Kevin Steele, Clemson (defensive coordinator) – Dabo Swinney’s recruiting prowess is apparently not limited to high school athletes. Luring Steele away from Nick Saban’s Alabama staff has been one of the coups of the offseason. He’s got big-game experience from stops in Knoxville, Lincoln, Tallahassee, Tuscaloosa, and the NFL, and will provide another boost to recruiting. Ironically, it was Steele’s D that shut down the Tigers in last year’s opener, beginning a tailspin for the nation’s No. 9 program. With so many Clemson coaches now having ties to ‘Bama, Swinney might want to consider wearing a houndstooth hat on the sidelines next fall.

3. John Chavis, LSU (defensive coordinator) – Chavis wasn’t out of work for very long. Les Miles scooped him up in January and put him in charge of reconfiguring a defense that underachieved in 2008. The architect of all those stingy Tennessee defenses of the last 14 seasons, he’s a no-nonsense coach with an intimate knowledge of the SEC, a huge bonus for his new employer. So, what do you do when you’ve butted heads for years with a coach, whose defenses are hard-working, aggressive, and fundamentally sound? If you’re Miles, you hire him before anyone else can get him.

2. Monte Kiffin, Tennessee (defensive coordinator) – Yes, Kiffin is the father of new Volunteer coach Lane Kiffin. No, that relationship isn’t the reason he’s the new defensive coordinator. Renowned for his work in the NFL with his often-imitated “Tampa 2” defense, he’s returning to the college game for the first time since 1982. He puts a premium on speed over size, mixes up his looks without changing personnel, and will take chances in order to create turnovers. There were whispers that teams had begun to catch up to what Kiffin was doing with the Bucs. Maybe so, but it took the rest of the league more than a decade to narrow the gap, which speaks volumes about his tactical ability.

1. Gus Malzahn, Auburn (offensive coordinator) – And you thought Tony Franklin’s spread offense would cause culture shock at Auburn. For the second year in-a-row, Auburn is going away from the script with its new offensive coordinator, handing the keys to Malzahn, a mad scientist, who arrives with a hurry-up, no-huddle offense and a thick bag of tricks. Bad fit? We’ll see. It’ll all depend on personnel and patience, which were issues in his lone year with Arkansas in 2006. In Tulsa over the last two seasons, his attack was in full bloom, cranking out huge chunks of yardage through the air and on the ground, while leaving opposing defenses in a state of confusion. No doubt, this is a gutsy hire by Gene Chizik. If, however, it works, it could be years before the rest of the SEC figures out a counterattack. [FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

 

[SoonerBS]

10 breakout players from spring practices​

Monday, May 4, 2009 | Feedback | Print Entry
It's always fun to see which players show that they are ready to blossom in the spring, and every year we see a bunch of new guys emerge. Here are the Top 10 revelation guys who will make the biggest impact in the fall.
No. 1: Greg McElroy, Alabama, QB: The Tide have a bunch of big holes to address on offense, namely along the O-line and at quarterback, where John Parker Wilson was a solid, if unspectacular, leader. McElroy, who replaced Chase Daniel at Texas prep powerhouse Southlake Carroll High, really seized the opportunity this spring. And even though Nick Saban is not one just to throw out accolades, he touted the Texan as his QB after a very impressive spring, capped by a two-TD performance in the Tide's spring game.
"He's far and away our best quarterback right now," Saban told reporters. "He knows somebody's gotta beat him out. You know that. I know that." McElroy won't have the seasoned, physical O-line that Wilson had, but he will have a more polished Julio Jones to work with. However, I still think the Tide is another year away from crashing the top 5, although McElroy at least flashed some reasons for even more optimism.

Gary A. Vasquez/US Presswire
Is Malcolm Smith poised to become the next great USC linebacker?


No. 2: Malcolm Smith, USC, OLB: We know that USC lost more linebacker talent than arguably any team has ever lost after one season, but Pete Carroll still has plenty of reasons to be pumped. Start with Smith. Former Trojan WR Steve Smith's kid brother was all over the field for the Trojans this spring. He's physical, he's smart, and he really has a nose for the ball. Veteran teammate Taylor Mays predicts Smith will be the Trojans' next great linebacker. And if Smith and his young mates can step up, the Trojans figure to have a pretty salty defense again because they should be very strong in the secondary and capable up front. Linebacker was the big concern heading into spring. No. 3: Jack Crawford, Penn State, DE: Like linebacker at USC, Penn State has major concerns at defensive end, since the program just lost its top three DEs, including first-rounder Aaron Maybin, but Crawford is rapidly coming on. Crawford, who shows the nifty hands from growing up boxing, continues to fill out and refine his technique. At 6-5, 262, he could be a very scary player for rival offenses to deal with over the next three seasons. If he can provide some of the big-play threat that Maybin brought last season, the Nits could be back in the top 10 again in 2009.
No. 4: Jake Locker, Washington, QB: OK, is this finally the time when the super-athletic Locker breaks out? You should never read too much into spring stats, but we'll give new UW coach Steve Sarkisian the benefit of the doubt here. The goal was to get Locker to complete over 60 percent of his passes and the speedy quarterback looked much sharper than that in the Huskies' spring game. He connected on 16 of 18 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns, and those other two could've been caught. Now, even if Locker were to complete 70 percent of his passes, I wouldn't be suggesting that a winless team in 2008 will become a Top 25 team in 2009, but it could be a team that causes a lot of problems for the rest of the Pac-10.
No. 5: Pernell McPhee, Mississippi State, DT: New MSU coach Dan Mullen's staff found a junior college talent that probably could play anywhere in the SEC in McPhee, a late bloomer who dazzled the State staff at times this spring. McPhee, a Pahokee, Fla, product, wasn't a big recruit coming out of high school a few years back. He was only about 220 pounds, but grew into being a 260-pound force at DE at Itawamba JC. He could've signed anywhere after last season, but opted to stick with MSU and boy is Mullen thrilled.
The Bulldogs are playing McPhee as their three-technique inside and nobody can block him, says MSU assistant Tony Hughes, who has coached defensive standouts Michael Meyers and Grady Jackson and says McPhee can be the same type of dominator. "He's quick. He's fast. He's flexible. You can't single-block him," adds Hughes. "The guy is like a rubber band. And he loves to practice."
No. 6: Wes Lyons, WVU, WR: The 6-8, 220-pound senior hasn't been much of a factor in the WVU offense in his career, catching just 22 passes and zero TDs. However, after sliding the towering receiver into the slot, Lyons -- 100 percent injury-free for really the first time in his career -- responded with a huge spring, catching eight TDs passes.
No. 7: Patrick Trahan, Ole Miss, OLB: The onetime Auburn linebacker came to Oxford with big expectations last year. Trahan struggled getting into school, and his conditioning suffered. It also took him some time to get acclimated to the Rebels' scheme. He did finish the year strong with a terrific game in the Rebels' romp over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. But now Trahan, by far the team's most athletic linebacker, is ready to take off. Sources inside the program say he was often the best player on the field in the spring and was playing behind a loaded D-line, so he should be ready to pile up tackles in the SEC this fall.
No. 8: Michael Ames, Boise State, OT: The Broncos have been searching for more help on the O-line, and Ames, a freshman walk-on who hadn't played in a football game since the 2004 season, looks like one of their answers. Ames, who spent 2006 and 2007 away serving a church mission and turns 22 this summer, impressed the BSU staff with his intelligence and his work ethic. "You want to coach a guy like him," offensive line coach Scott Huff told the Idaho Statesman. "He's smart, he works his butt off, you won't find a guy who works harder on the field. He studies his plays, and he wants to be good."
No. 9: Chris Walker, Tennessee, DE: No player has responded any better to the coaching change in Knoxville than the 235-pound junior, who in his previous two seasons hadn't been much of a factor. Monte Kiffin's new defensive scheme calls for defensive ends flying up the field, and suits Walker well. UT coaches have raved about Walker's explosiveness from the moment they first watched him, hailing him as the program's second-best athlete (behind phenom Eric Berry). All throughout spring, Walker was unblockable, flying into the backfield, making sacks and forcing fumbles. Don't be surprise if he quadruples his sack total from 2008 (three) this season.

Kirby Lee/US Presswire
TCU is looking to Edward Wesley to carry the load for the Horned Frogs in 2009.


No. 10: Edward Wesley, TCU, RB: Having to replace Aaron Brown, a back who ran for over 2,500 yards in his career, wasn't going to be easy, but coach Gary Patterson gushed about Wesley, a redshirt freshman he compares to former TCU star Robert Merrill. "He's got the same vision sideways, only he's faster," Patterson said. That means Wesley should be a big part of a running back rotation for a potential top-10 team.

 

[UoweDucks]

[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]Welcoming The New Coordinators

[/FONT] [FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]The Coordinators You Should Care About
[/FONT]

By Richard Cirminiello While new head coaches, such as Gene Chizik and Dan Mullen, were gobbling up lots of attention since signing new contracts, there have been an equal number of coordinators getting promotions around the country. No, their impact won’t be as profound or their salaries as robust, but their opportunities to initiate change and a new direction should not be dismissed. More and more, coordinators and position coaches are seeing their responsibilities and profiles increase, putting the following new hires in a position to steal a few more headlines than normal this upcoming season.

Just look at last year for example of the importance of these decisions: Texas hired Will Muschamp, who recharged the ‘Horn D and got named as Mack Brown’s successor. New Auburn offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, on the other hand, didn’t last the season, becoming a microcosm for all that went wrong in 2008.

13. Andy Ludwig, Cal (offensive coordinator) – After doing his part to lead Utah to a perfect season and a No. 15 ranking in scoring, Ludwig’s star has never been brighter. A success at Fresno State, Oregon, and with the Utes, he’s become known for his ability to develop quarterbacks and oversee balanced, yet unpredictable, attacks. His track record with the likes of David Carr, Billy Volek, Kellen Clemens, and Brian Johnson bodes well for whoever gets the nod at quarterback. He was actually with Kansas State for about two months before deciding that a return to the Pac-10 was best for his career and family. [FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

What a joke. Ludwig was basically fired from Oregon.

I am very skeptical of this hire from cals perspective. Ludwig is a very predictable OC.

 

[GoSooners]

As far as the new coordinators go, I don't know about the rest, but I think Chaney (OC Tennessee), Whipple (OC Miami-Nix was awful) and Bill Young (DC OSU) will make the biggest impact on their respective teams. Greg Robinson could possibly make an impact with Michigan. He's much better in an assistant role than a HC job. Plus he's tasted success as the Denver Broncos DC in their Super Bowl seasons.