Top 25 + 5, Week 3 2012

After an exciting week 2, where we saw a whole lot of top teams take unexpected losses, it is time to look at the new Top 25 + 5.  Lets take a look at where everyone falls.  We also peak in on the fastest risers and fallers in the nation.

1. Oregon Ducks (3-0)  0
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (3-0) 0
3. LSU Tigers (3-0) +1
4. Oklahoma Sooners (2-0) +1
5. Florida State Seminoles (3-0)  +1
6. Georgia Bulldogs (3-0)  +1
7.  Stanford Cardinal (3-0) +1
8.  Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-0) +2
9.  USC Trojans (2-1) -6
10. Texas Longhorns (3-0) +2
11. Clemson Tigers (3-0) +2
12. Florida Gators (3-0)  +4
13. West Virginia Mountaineers (2-0) +3
14. Michigan Wolverines (2-1) 0
15. South Carolina Gamecocks (3-0) +2
16. Michigan State Spartans (2-1)  -5
17. Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-1)  +2 
18. Wisconsin Badgers (2-1)  0
19. Kansas State Wildcats (3-0)  +2
20. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-1)   -11
21. Louisville Cardinals (3-0)  +1
22. Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0)  +1 
23. UCLA Bruins (3-0) +5
24. Boise State Broncos (1-1)  +2
25. Oregon State Beavers (1-0) +2

26. Oklahoma State Cowboys (2-1) +3
27. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-0) +3
28. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-1) +4
29. BYU Cougars (2-1) -9
30. TCU Horned Frogs (2-0) +5

Biggest Risers
35. Arizona Wildcats (3-0) +9
32. Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-0) +6
44. Utah Utes +6
51. Iowa State Cyclones (3-0) +6

Fastest Fallers
37. North Carolina Tar Heels (1-2) -13
38. Arkansas Razorbacks (1-2) -13
20. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-1) -11

Week 2, 2012 - On the Rise

Another week in the books, and this week there is movement on the big board.  Some guys have their stock rising quickly and now it is time to spotlight some of them.


Matt Barkley, QB, USC  23/30-187-6/1

Barkley was the highest rated QB in the nation coming into their week 2 game, and after a 6 touchdown performance, there are very few left doubting him.  Had he come out last year, he would have pushed RG3 for the second position in the draft, and this year, he seems to have a stranglehold on the top spot as he climes even further up the big board.





Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA 26-217-0

Franklin could have easily made this list last week, posting 214 yard on a gaudy 14.3 ypc, but that was against Rice.  Now after adding another 217 yards against Nebraska, Johnathan Franklin and his surprise UCLA Bruins are soaring.  Bottom line with Franklin is he has looked simply unstoppable the first two weeks of the year, and he is starting to attract some serious national attention.



Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia 9-2-1

Jones was already a highly rated pro prospect, but he continues to exceed even the loftiest of expectations.   He picked up 9 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 pick against SEC newcomer Mizzou on Saturday, and he also continues to climb up the big board.  Bad NFL squads with suspect defenses have to be excited about the possibility of getting their hand on a talent like Jones.





Kenjon Barner, RB, Oregon 34-201-3

Picking up 3 TDs in a game is not easy, nor is 5 over the first two weeks, but that is exactly what Ducks RB Kenjon Barner has done.  This team has a lot of talent, especially on offense, but Barner is leading the way.  Chip Kelly has found a way to mix the talents of both Barner and backfield mate De'Anthony Thomas to create great results and both guys are moving on up.

Top 25 + 5, 2012 Week 2

After an exciting week 2, where we saw a whole lot of top teams take unexpected losses, it is time to look at the new Top 25 + 5.  Lets take a look at where everyone falls.  We also peak in on the fastest risers and fallers in the nation.

1. Oregon Ducks (2-0)  0
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0) 0
3. USC Trojans (2-0)  0 
4. LSU Tigers (2-0)  0 
5. Oklahoma Sooners (2-0)  0 
6. Florida State Seminoles (2-0)  0 
7.  Georgia Bulldogs  (2-0)    0 
8.  Stanford Cardinal (2-0)    0 
9.  Virginia Tech Hokies  (2-0)   +1
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish  (2-0)   +1
11. Michigan State Spartans  (2-0)   +2 
12. Texas Longhorns  (2-0)   +3
13. Clemson Tigers (2-0)   +5 
14. Michigan Wolverines (1-1) +3
15. Florida Gators  (2-0)   +4
16. West Virginia Mountaineers  (2-0)   +5
17. South Carolina Gamecocks (1-0)   +5  
18. Wisconsin Badgers (1-1)  -9
19. Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-1)  -7
20. Kansas State Wildcats (2-0) +6  
21. BYU Cougars  (1-0)   +3
22. Louisville Cardinals  (1-0)   +2
23. Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0) +2 
24. North Carolina Tar Heels (1-1)  -10
25. Arkansas Razorbacks (1-1) -6

26. Boise State Broncos (0-1) 0
27. Oregon State Beavers (1-0) +4
28. UCLA Bruins (2-0) +6
29. Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-1) -13
30. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-0) +3

Biggest Risers
44. Arizona Wildcats (2-0) +10
38. Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-0) +9
43. Wake Forest Demon Deacons +9
59. Maryland Terrapins (2-0) +9

Fastest Fallers
29. Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-1) -13
24. North Carolina Tar Heels (1-1) -10
42. Iowa Hawkeyes (1-1) -10

Week 1, 2012 - On the Rise

After each week, I like to take a look at some individual players whose performance has their stock on the rise.  This week, 4 players stood out as guys who are on the upswing.  Lets take a look.

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee 6-93-1
      After the Vols lost Da'Rick Rodgers for the year, folks wondered who would pose a threat to opposing defenses opposite Justin Hunter.  Lets call that question answered.  The JUCO transfer Patterson stepped it up in a big way against the Wolfpack, and simply looked uncoverable at times.  At 6'3", 205 lbs, Patterson has both the size and skills necessary to take attention off Hunter (who had 9 grabs of his own in week 1), and should help make this Tennessee offense one of the sneaky good units in the nation.

Le'Veon Bell, RB, Michigan State 44-210-2
     On a night where the Spartans were in a tough battle with the Boise State Broncos, MSU really needed to rely on the running game to get this win.  New QB Andrew Maxwell was less than impressive, and if not for Bell, this game definitely would have went the other way.  Bell was a workhorse, staying on the field, giving and taking a beating, while picking up a tough 210 yards to kick off the year. If he continue to produce in this manner, Sparty will continue to rise in the polls.

Duke Johnson, RB, Miami 7-135-2
     One of the more common positions to see Freshmen make an impact from is Running Back.  With their defense not showing up for this game, the Hurricanes needed to get a good performance from their offense to beat conference rival Boston College in week 1.  Freshman, Duke Johnson was the key factor to making that happen.  135 yards and 2 touchdowns is a nice week, but what made it outstanding was that he did it on only 7 carries in relief of starter Mike James.  At 19+ yards per carry, the Hurricane fans have to be excited about what Johnson brings, and as Miami sports personality, Armando Salguero tweeted during the game, "If Johnson keeps this up, they will be changing his name from Duke to King very soon."


Other Week 1 Players on the Rise
Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama
Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Andre Ellington, RB, Clemson
Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Taylor Martinez, QB, Nebraska

Top 25 + 5 Week 1

Most of week 1 is now in the books, and there is some early fluctuation in the EZFootballFutures Top 25 + 5 rankings.  Lets take a look at how teams fared, and where they stand 1 week in.  We also look at the top 3 risers and fallers after our first week.

1. Oregon Ducks (1-0)  0
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (1-0) +2
3. USC Trojans (1-0)  0 
4. LSU Tigers (1-0) -2
5. Oklahoma Sooners (1-0)  0 
6. Florida State Seminoles (1-0)  0 
7.  Georgia Bulldogs  (1-0)   +1
8.  Stanford Cardinal (1-0)   +1 
9.  Wisconsin Badgers (1-0)   +1   
10. Virginia Tech Hokies  (1-0)   +1 
11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish  (1-0)   +1  
12. Nebraska Cornhuskers  (1-0)   +1 
13. Michigan State Spartans  (1-0)   +1  
14. North Carolina Tar Heels (1-0)   +1
15. Texas Longhorns  (1-0)   +1 
16. Oklahoma State Cowboys  (1-0)   +4 
17. Michigan Wolverines (0-1) -10
18. Clemson Tigers (1-0)  -1 
19. Arkansas Razorbacks (1-0)  -1
20. Florida Gators  (1-0)   +1 
21. West Virginia Mountaineers  (1-0)   +2
22. South Carolina Gamecocks (1-0)  0
23. BYU Cougars  (1-0)   +1  
24. Louisville Cardinals  (1-0)   +1 
25. Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0) +1

26. Boise State Broncos (0-1) -7
27. Kansas State Wildcats (1-0) +5 
28. South Florida Bulls (1-0) 0
29. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (0-0) 0
30. TAMU Aggies (0-0) 0

Biggest Risers
47. Texas Tech Red Raiders (1-0) +6
27. Kansas State (1-0) +5
16. Oklahoma State (1-0) +4

Fastest Fallers
61. Penn State Nittany Lions (0-1) -23
53. Pittsburgh Panthers (0-1) -17
17. Michigan Wolverines (0-1) -10

Week 1 2012 Hot Stocks

So with the initial Hot Stocks list of 2012, lets once again remind everyone what this list is, and what it isn't.  This Hot Stocks list reviews the 25 best college football players as they project to the pros.  This is not going to completely fluctuate each week.  It will however change as I continue to learn more about the players.  One of the factors that effect a players rating is performance though, so as the individuals play each week, their grades will change some.

Also, this is not a mock draft.  Although many of the guys on the list will eventually be drafted, this is not meant to indicate a specific order, as mock drafts include the drafting team needs. Underclassmen are marked with an *.

So lets get down to business.  Below are the EZ Football Futures Hot Stocks.

1. Robert Woods*, WR, USC
          Simply put, Robert Woods has everything it takes to become an elite wide receiver at the next level.  I have not seen a receiver like him since Calvin Johnson was at Georgia Tech.  Few, if any corners can match up to him one-on-one, and he is a big time difference maker for an offense.

2. William Gholston*, DE, Michigan State
          This guy is a freak.  At 6'7", you would expect him to be a bit slower, but he is not.  He is deadly coming off the edge.  He has an excellent burst, and pass rushers are worth a premium at the next level.

3. Barkevious Mingo*, DE, LSU
          Mingo will have a lot of NFL teams drooling when he declares for the draft.  Mingo is a solid all around end who can seal the edge and get after the QB.  He plays on an excellent defense, and he should have a great opportunity to shine.

4. Jarvis Jones*, DE/OLB, Georgia
          Jones may be the single best overall ballplayer in the nation.  He has the ability to play with his hand in the dirt, or upright.  He has exceptionally fast hands, and a violent streak necessary to be a dominant linebacker in the NFL.

5. Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin
          Top notch OTs are difficult to find in the NFL.  O-linemen from Wisconsin are like gold at the next level.  When those two things combine, you have Wagner.  He projects better than Matt Kalil who was picked 4th overall this past April.

6. Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
          An elite DT in the NFL can be a difference maker.  If that guy can penetrate, he can shut down a run game, or put direct pressure on an opposing QB.  Star Lotulelei can be that kind of guy.

7.  Jackson Jeffcoat*, DE, Texas
          Jeffcoat has the ability to get in the backfield, and that will be a reason he will be a highly sought after talent when he makes the jump to the NFL.  If Texas improves to the levels I expect, Jeffcoat should get the chance to move up this list.

8.  Manti Te'o, MLB, Notre Dame
          Had Te'o come out last year, he likely would have been the top interior linebacker taken.  He has all of the tools to be successful, and he still has room to grow. He may not come in as a rookie and take the league by storm, but he can be a long term pro-bowler for a team.

9. Matt Barkley, QB, USC
          QBs are so valuable.  Barkley is the best in college football this year.  He is not as athletic as many others, but he is an excellent leader, and he knows how to win.  Depending on how things shake out he very well could wind up being the first name called next April.

10. David Amerson*, CB, North Carolina State
          Amerson is the top corner in the nation, and with a pass happy league, the NFL values guys who can match up with a receiver as well as Amerson does.  He led the nation in picks a year ago, and he should be at or near the top of that list again this season.

11. Alex Okafor, DE, Texas
          Okafor is the second standout DE from Texas.  He is a better athlete than his teammate, but he is still more raw.  He does have the ability to play standing up at the second level, and that flexibility is a real asset to him.

12. Logan Thomas*, QB, Virginia Tech
          Logan Thomas is an exceptional athlete at the QB position, but he is also a very good QB with an elite arm.  If he can continue to develop his decision making, he could be a guy who impacts the league in similar ways to what Cam Newton did last season.

13. Keenan Allen*, WR, California
          Allen is not as fast as some receivers out there, and he is not as strong as some others, but he runs great routes, and has great hands.  Allen is a great weapon because he does so many things so well.  His overall game should make him a very good contributor for a long time.

14. Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
          Top notch OGs worthy of a first round consideration are rare.  Last year Stanford's David Decastro was that guy.  This year, Cooper is one of the two who are worthy of that consideration.  He has an excellent all around game, and he can be a dominant road grader at the next level.

15. DJ Fluker*, OT, Alabama
          The Crimson Tide have so many elite o-linemen this year, and Fluker is the top of that elite crew.  Fluker projects to be an exceptional pass blocker at the next level.  Although I expect he would be a top 15 selection if he declares, I think staying for his Senior season would make him a top 3 consideration in 2014.

16. Sam Montgomery*, DE, LSU
         Like Texas, the LSU DEs are both standouts.  Montgomery is a more polished product than his counterpart, but he lacks some of the overall athleticism that Mingo has.  Montgomery is a very good technical player and he can use that strong technique to make plays.

17. Johnny Adams, CB, Michigan State
          While not a great a cover man as Amerson, Adams is a athletically gifted player who plays a physical, tough form of football.  He has the wheels to stay with most receivers, and a good nose for the football too.

18.  Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
          Eifert is the best TE in the nation this year.  He is one of the new breed of TEs sweeping the NFL.  He is a big body with the skills of the wide out.  He will stretch opposing defenses up the seam.  With the success of Jimmy Graham, and Rob Gronkowski, Eifert will be in high demand.

19. Johnathan Hankins*, NT, Ohio State
          Nose tackles are often though of a big bodies who plug up holes.  Hankins is a bit different.  He is a big body, but he can do som much more than just plug holes or eat up blockers.  He is very athletic for his size, and will make some 3-4 defense in the NFL very happy.

20. Johnathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
          Playing in the SEC, Johnathan Banks has faced the best competition anywhere in the nation.  Not only has he faced them, but he has excelled against them.  He doesn't pick as many passes as Amerson, and he is not as physical as Adams, but he is more complete than either.

21. Oday Aboushi, OT, Virgina
          Aboushi is an athletic tackle who can keep speed rushers off his quarterback.  With some of the talent on this list, and already in the league, a guy like Aboushi will be a hot commodity if he keeps his play up.

22. Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
          Short is a very good prospect because of how complete a player he is.  From a defensive tackles perspective, there is nothing he cannot do, and do well.  His ability to do so much for a defense will be what has teams excited when they see him play.

23. Marcus Lattimore*, RB, South Carolina
          Lattimore suffered a big injury a year ago, but now he is back faster, stronger, and leaner.  He has the ability to take over a game on offense, and even in a pass heavy league, Lattimore will be a sought after addition to many NFL clubs.

24. Shane Skov, MLB, Stanford
          Skov reminds me of an old school middle linebacker.  He plays a hard nosed brand of football.  He is also a very smart player and should project well at the next level.

25. Michael Buchanan, DE/OLB, Illinois
          Last year, Whitney Mercilus exploded onto the scene from Illinois.  Buchanan has the potential to be even better.  I expect his explosion to be difficult to deal with for tackles in the Big 10.

Pre-Season Top 25 + 5

With just about all of the team outlooks complete for the upcoming season, it is time to take a look at the first Top 25 + 5 for this coming college football season.  Lets take a look, and let the debating begin.

1. Oregon Ducks
2. LSU Tigers3. USC Trojans
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
5. Oklahoma Sooners
6. Florida State Seminoles
7. Michigan Wolverines
8. Georgia Bulldogs
9. Stanford Cardinal
10. Wisconsin Badgers
11. Virginia Tech Hokies
12. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
13. Nebraska Cornhuskers
14. Michigan State Spartans
15. North Carolina Tar Heels
16. Texas Longhorns
17. Clemson Tigers
18. Arkansas Razorbacks
19. Boise State Broncos
20. Oklahoma State Cowboys
21. Florida Gators
22. South Carolina Gamecocks
23. West Virginia Mountaineers
24. BYU Cougars
25. Louisville Cardinals

26. Ohio State Buckeyes
27. California Golden Bears
28. South Florida Bulls
29. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
30. TAMU Aggies

2013 Outlook - BYU

Last year, HC Bronco Mendenhall led his BYU Cougars to a 10-3 record.  How long can this team keep up this pace as an Independant?  With no conference affiliation, the team has to perform at that kind of level or better for any chance of a significant Bowl invite.  Will they be able to do that again this year?



SR QB Riley Nelson is an atypical BYU QB.  He is small and quick and lacks the arm strength that BYU QBs have been known for.  As a starter, he has not has a full season yet, and thus his production reflects that.  This year however, Nelson goes in as the clear cut starter, and if he can stay healthy, he should be productive.  At RB, the team will rely on JR Michael Alisa.  Alisa took over as the primary back last season about half way through the year.  This year, he is slated to be the team's feature back, and he could be in line for a nice year.  As far as weapons go, Nelson has two very nice ones to throw to this year.  JR WR Cody Hoffman, and SO WR Ross Apo are both nice size/speed combo guys.  Each has good hands, and runs nice routes.  Both should be effective.  The fellas up front are going to be led by the Braden Boys.  SR OG Braden Hansen will be one of the better guards in the country. I'm not predicting All-American, but I think he is just below that level.  SR OT Braden Brown has been effective during his time in the starting lineup, and i expect him to have another solid year.  Overall, this offense has the pieces to be good.

Defensively, the biggest concern for the team will be their front 3.  They lost their best player, Hebron Fangupo and now have to rely on some good, but not great players.  NT Romney Fuga flashed some nice potential in '09, but had disappointing season a year ago, ending with a medical red-shirt.  He is back for his 6th year of eligibility, and the Cougars will need for him to return to his '09 form.  The linebacking corp is amongst the best in the nation.  All four starters have the chance to put up all-independent seasons this year.  The inside backers, SRs Uona Kaveinga and Brandon Ogletree are a little undersized, but play big.  The outside backers, JRs Spencer Hadley and Kyle Van Noy are both playmakers.  This should be the best unit on the defense, easily.  The secondary has two standouts as well.  SR CB Preston Hadley had a fine season a year ago, and could build upon that this year.  JR S, Daniel Sorensen, may not be the most physical of players, but he is reliable, and he too could repeat or better last season's performance, which was good enough for all-independent honors.

The bottom line on BYU is that they are good.  Repeating their 10 win performance from a year ago is a real possibility, especially when you factor in their schedule.  They should win every game they play in Provo this year.  Their contests will come in 4 road games versus Utah, Boise State, Notre Dame, and Georgia Tech.  Winning even one of those four would line them up for another 10 win campaign.

2013 Outlook - Notre Dame

Every year a get a big kick out of the football fans who rip up the experts on Twitter for even mentioning Notre Dame, calling them irrelevant.  How can they be irrelevant when they bring up such an emotional response from people, and moreover, I have some news... Notre Dame is a good team, and they are on the verge of being Nationally Relevant on the field again, possible this year.



Ever since the days of Montana and Theismann, so many expectations have been placed on the shoulders of Notre Dame QBs, most of whom have failed, either in college or in the pros.  Most recently, Dane Crist has folded at Notre Dame, and he has since transferred to Kansas.  It was expected that JR Tommy Rees would be the starter, but I expect for it to be SO Andrew Hendrix under center on 9-1 against Navy.  Hendrix has a more complete skill set than Rees, and I think he is a better fit for Brian Kelly's offense.  I also think that it will not be long until Gunner Kiel is under center for the Irish.  He was the top QB prospect to come out of high school this past season, and he has signed to play for Kelly at Notre Dame.  Regardless of who is at QB this year, they will have JR Cierre Woods at RB.  Many experts really like Woods, but some really don't.  I fall in the camp with those who don't.  I think he has some talent, but I don't see it translating into exceptional success at either the college or pro levels.  At receiver, the Irish have lost their top weapon, Michael Floyd as he is now teaming with Larry Fitzgerald in Arizona.  This leaves JR TJ Jones as the top receiver, and TE Tyler Eifert as the top offensive weapon anywhere on the field.  Eifert is very, very good, and it will not surprise me at all to see him taken in the first round next April.  He is the best TE in the nation, and for good reason.  Up front, JR OT Zack Martin leads a talented bunch who are not newbies, but are not  overly experienced starters either. Martin is pretty good now, and with two more year to play in college, he could be a first or second day selection in the 2014 draft.

Defensively, this team is led by the best interior linebacker in the nation, but that should not indicate that the front or back four are slouches.  Up front, the Irish lost their best pass rusher when DE Aaron Lynch transferred to South Florida.  Although he will be missed, SO DE Stephon Tuitt and SO NT Louis Nix will continue to develop into a nasty pair for this line.  The aforementioned SR ILB, Manti Te'o passed up the NFL to come back from one more year in South Bend, and he will have to be accounted for on every single play by opposing OCs.  He is the best at what he does, and come April, he should hear his name called fairly early on the first night.  JR OLB, Prince Shembo is also pretty good, and should be watched this year too.  He is not at the level of a Te'o, but he is in position to emerge as a real player in his own right this season.  The secondary is fast, but they lack some experience.  I think SR S Jamoris Slaughter is pretty good though, and I expect him to help his draft stock significantly with a strong year.

I know that some see Notre Dame as a has-been, but the Fighting Irish are back.  Brian Kelly has done a great job with this team since taking over, and I think now that they team is in the third year in his system, they should really start making strides.  The return of Tyler Efiert and Manti Te'o is very important to this program, and I see them making some real noise this year.

2013 Outlook - Boise State

I recently heard a question posed by a college football expert, "Other than Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, which current head coach would you like to have to build your college program with?"  Many folks comment on names like Bob Stoops, or Chip Kelly.  I love both of those guys, but my first choice (including Saban and Meyer) would be Chris Petersen.  No coach in football, college or pro, has a better track record of doing more with less.  In 6 years at Boise State, Petersen has compiled a 73-6 record!  No, I did not make a mistake.  He has won 73 games, while only losing 6.  Sure, the question will be asked, who have they played? But the bottom line is that you can only beat who they put in front of you, and he does it.  How about this year?  Will they put up another 10+ win season in their final year before moving over to the Big East?



4 year starter Kellen Moore has left the program with more wins that any QB in the history of college football.  Now for the first time in a long while, there will be someone new under center.  JR Joe Southwick looks to be that guy.  In his two years as Moore's backup Southwick has played sparingly, but when he has played, he has looked good.  Of course it is much easier to look good when the opposing defense has not prepared for you.  I expect Southwick to become a productive QB for Petersen, but just not to the level of Moore.  That would be unfair to expect of anyone.  At RB, Doug Martin has also graduated onto the NFL, leaving SR DJ Harper slated as the primary ball carrier.  Harper is good, and should be productive this year, but again, I see a step backwards from last year's team.  At receiver, SO Matt Miller and JR Geraldo Boldewijn will be the two primary targets.  Miller really has a bright future, and Boldewijn should make a very nice second option.  Up front, the team lost some talent, including OT Nate Potter and C Thomas Byrd, but they return some very good players too.  JR OT Charles Leno should easily earn All-Conference honors and will get some serious consideration for All-American honors too.  SR OG Joe Kellogg will also earn All-Conference honors this year as well.

As much as the team lost offensively this year, they lost even more defensively.  Last year the team was loaded with studs up front, including draft picks Shea McClellin, Tyrone Crawford, and Billy Winn.  There are some talented guys left in Boise to man the defensive front, but there is little doubt in my mind the unit will take a collective step backwards.  SO JUCO transfer Demarcus Lawrence who will be lining up at DE is the most likely candidate to become the front's next star.  At linebacker, the Broncos are also going to be inexperienced.  Highly touted MLB Blake Renaud is looking poised for a breakout season this year as a SO, which would be a welcome site for Petersen and his staff.  The secondary which was hurt by injuries a year ago also lost some talent, but some of it returns, making this the most experienced unit on this defense.  SR CB Jamar Taylor return from his injury and he should be quite good.

There is no doubt in my mind that this version of the Boise State Broncos will not be as good as last year's team, but the will be exceptionally well coached, and should still dominate the Mountain West.  Next year they will take a step up in competition, but I think they will be well positioned to immediately challenge for the Big East title.

2013 Big East Outlook

EZ Football Futures 2013 Pre-Season Big East Hot Stocks

QB     Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville

RB     Ray Graham, Pittsburgh

WR    Devin Street, Pittsburgh

WR    Brandon Coleman, Rutgers

TE      Evan Landi, South Florida

OT     Justin Pugh, Syracuse

OT     Mark Popek, South Florida

OG    Chris Jacobson, Pittsburgh

OG    Adam Masters, UConn

C       Mario Benavides, Louisville

DE     Ryne Giddens, South Florida

DE     Trevardo Williams, UConn

DT     Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh

DT     Scott Vallone, Rutgers

OLB  Khaseem Green, Rutgers

ILB    Preston Brown, Louisville

ILB    Steve Beauharnais, Rutgers

OLB   DeDe Lattimore, South Florida

CB      Logan Ryan, Rutgers

CB      K'Waun Williams, Pittsburgh

S         Jared Holley, Pittsburgh

S         Hakeem Smith, Louisville

EZ Football Futures 2013 Predicted Big East Final Standings

1. Louisville Cardinals

2. South Florida Bulls

3. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

4. Pittsburgh Panthers

5. Cincinnati Bearcats

6. Connecticut Huskies

7. Syracuse Orange

8. Temple Owls

EZ Football Futures 2013 Predicted Big East Conference Champion

2013 Outlook - Temple

Temple was another program who used the considerable amount of realignment that has been happening to put themselves in a better place.  The Owls will begin play in their new home (which also happens to be their old home), the Big East, this season, but I am not so sure that Steve Addazio and company will find the Big East to be as favorable as the MAC which they are leaving.



There will be some competition for the starting QB position.  JR Chris Coyer seems to have the inside track right now, considering he has some experience in Addazio's system, but Penn State transfer, Kevin Newsome is now eligible to play, and he has considerably better upside.  Regardless of who is under center, they are going to have their work cut out for them.  SR Matt Brown will become Temple's primary ball carrier now that Bernard Pierce has moved on to play on Sunday's.  Brown is quick, but his 5'5" 165lb frame will prevent him from being an every down back.  This will mean that someone else will need to pick up some carries, most likely SO Jalen Fitzpatrick.  At receiver, this team has almost no one with experience. The guy with the most yards under his belt who is returning to the team is JR Deon Miller, but he only had 253 yds all of last year.  Up front, the team is also very inexperienced, with the only featured starter being SR OT Martin Wallace.

On the defensive side of the ball, things are not looking much better.  The pair of SRs and pair of JRs who will line up up front are physically strong, and should hold up well against the run, but they are both as a group, and as individuals, highly unaccomplished in their collegiate careers thus far.  This makes it hard for me to be too high on them.  At linebacker, this is another inexperienced unit which is a big question mark going into the season.  SR OLB Akeem Smith is the most prolific tackler in this unit returning, and he only had 43 a season ago.  The secondary will likely be the defense's strongest unit, but they are not particularly deep, and they lack any star power from the projected starters.  Star power is not a necessity to have a highly performing unit, but not having that guy who you can rely on certainly does make it more difficult on game days.

The Big East is the weakest of the nation's power conferences.  But Temple is still taking a step up in competition, and frankly I'm not sure that they would have even been in the upper half of the MAC this season.  Steve Addazio will have to have some recruiting success, and soon, otherwise this program may be a doormat for the conference for the next few years.

2013 Outlook - Syracuse

Going into his fourth season as the HC of the Syracuse Orange, Doug Marrone has kept this team in the middle of the Big East pack most of the time.  Their record typically hover around or slightly below .500, and at some point, the Orange will need to position themselves to make a run.  Unfortunately, I don't see that happening during their final season of Big East play.



Offensively speaking, SR QB Ryan Nassib is this team's bright spot.  He has done well as the starter, especially last season.  He should have his best season yet this year, and I expect him to be one of the better QBs in the Big East.  Unfortunately for Nassib, his two primary targets from a year ago, and his top ball carrier are all gone.  SR WR Marcus Sales returns to the team after serving a season long suspension though.  He is talented, but his needs to get more focused on team, and less focused on himself if he wants to contribute.  SR WR Alec Lemon also returns at receiver, but he needs to stay healthy to develop into a legitimate offensive weapon.  At RB, the inexperienced SO Adonis Ameen-Moore is currently slated as the starter, but he will get some pressure from FR QB Ashton Broyld for carries.  Either way, there is not a whole lot of experience at the position to rely on for the Orange.  Up front, JR OT Justin Pugh is the standout of the unit.  He has very nice potential to develop into one of the best o-linemen in Syracuse history.  Unfortunately, none of the other guys on this front strike me as anything more than average ball players.  As a group, I am concerned that Syracuse may continue to struggle, unless Pugh's play can elevate those around him.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Orange have lost their top playmaker as DE Chandler Jones has moved onto the NFL.  Left to carry the load up front will be SR DE Deon Goggins.  Goggins has shown the ability to penetrate into the backfield.  Now we will have to see if he can do it again, without the benefit of Jones garnering so much attention from the opposing team.  The linebackers will be led by JR MLB Marquis Spruill and SO OLB Dyshawn Davis.  Both guys played well a year ago, and both could be in line for a breakout season this year.  Unfortunately for the defense, the secondary has no such luck.  This unit comes into the season as the biggest question mark.  Without a true standout, it may prove to be difficult to control the passing attacks of some of their opponents this year.  The unit does have some experience though, projecting to start 3 JRs and a SR, so maybe they can get things done based off this knowledge.

I think the upcoming season may prove to be similar to seasons past under Marrone.  I expect this team to finish a game or two below .500 again despite what I look for to be QB Nassib's best season yet. I feel like the Orange lack the depth of some of the better teams in the conference, and I fear next year could be even worse with a new QB and a tougher schedule as they move into the ACC.

2013 Outlook - UConn

Randy Edsall had a very successful tenure at UConn.  While he was there, the Huskies were consistently competitive in the Big East, often pushing for the conference crown.  Last season, Paul Pasqualoni took over when Edsall left for Maryland.  In his first season, the Huskies struggled a bit, finishing 5-7.  Will this year be their return to the winning ways of the past, or will this season be the second of their downslide?



It has been some time since the UConn Huskies had a reliable QB under center.  Last season, all three QBs on the roster took game snaps, and none emerged as the answer.  Now, all three return, and they get to compete with two new comers for the position.  It is anyone's guess as to who may take the first snap of the season on 8-30 against UMass, but someone is going to have to step up and take control of this offense if the team is to succeed.  SO RB Lyle McCombs is young and very quick, and is the Huskies best player on the offensive side.  He will need to mature as a runner this season, learning patients and how to follow his blocks better.  He has the talent to be very productive in the Big East though, so it should be fun to watch.  At receiver, Clemson transfer, Bryce McNeal will be the team's primary target.  He is very talented, and should be a great weapon for who ever finds themselves under center.  SR TE Ryan Griffin is also a reliable target to look at, and he should compete for all conference honors this year again.  Up front, the unit has some experience, but lacks the star power of some of the other teams in the conference.  They should be better than serviceable though, and with the lightning quick feet of McCombs, they won't have to hold their blocks for too long.

The Huskies defense is showing more promise this year than the offense.  Of the four down linemen, both SR DEs are going to be worth watching.  Jesse Joseph emerged two seasons ago as a real pass rushing threat, but disappeared last season.  Trevardo Williams has continued to improve each season, and earned 2nd team all Big East honors last season.  If Williams continues his upward trajectory, and Joseph can return to form, this will be a dangerous duo off the edges. At linebacker, Sio Moore continue to be a reliable tackler who can make plays for this team.  He may not be the biggest or fastest linebacker out there, but he is consistently good, which is a quality the Huskies will need to rely on this year.  In the defensive backfield, SR CB Dwayne Gratz is the standout of the group.  He covers well, and has a good feel for the ball once it is in the air.  He should continue to improve this year.  SR Blidi Wreh-Wilson will line up on the other side, and he too is good at hawking for the ball.  This combo will be formidable this year, and I expect improved pass defense numbers from a year ago.

The past few years have featured more questions than answers for the UConn Huskies football program.  They have some talented players, but they need to figure out how to get the most from them, and how they can raise the game of their teammates.  They are not very deep anywhere on the field though, so injuries have the potential to completely decimate this club.  Even though they only won 5 last year, I think replicating that performance would be a nice goal for this season.

2013 Outlook - Cincinnati

Only a few seasons back, Cincinnati represented the Big East in the BCS Orange Bowl and then a year later in the BCS Sugar Bowl, as conference champions.  Since then, the team has lost a lot.  They lost HC Brian Kelly to Notre Dame.  They lost their top receivers, Mardy Gillyard and Armon Binns.  Now they have lost DL Derek Wolfe, RB Isaiah Pead, and QB Zach Collaros.  I'm not saying that the cupboard is bear, but even replicating their 10 win season from a year ago will be quite challenging.



JR QB Munchie Legaux was the primary backup to Zach Collaros last season, and now he will get his time in the sun.  Legaux is a pretty good athlete, but has not yet proven he can be a good passer.  He will need to up his completion percentage big time if he is going to be a successful Bearcat signal caller.  Adding to the questions for this year is what will the Bearcats do for a primary runner.  RB Isaiah Pead had back-to-back thousand yard seasons before heading to the NFL, and now it seems as if the ball carrying duties will fall to SO Jameel Poteat.  Poteat came out of high school as one of the very highly touted RBs, but has not really done anything with the carries he has gotten.  If he can live up to the hype, Cincinnati will be in good shape.  If not, there will be trouble.  At receiver, JUCO transfer Kenbrell Thompkins will be the top weapon.  He began to showcase himself last season, and could be poised for breakout numbers if someone can reliably get him the ball.  JR WRs, Jordan Luallen and Anthony McClung are nice complementary pieces for this offense.  As for the o-line, just like the other offensive units, there are question marks.  There is not a lot of starting experience in this group, and if this team is to be successful, at least one or two of these guys will need to emerge as legitimate leaders.

Defensively, the team has more experience, and thus fewer question marks than the offense.  Up front, both SR DEs, Dan Giordano and Walter Stewart are good defenders.  Stewart is probably the more versatile of the two as he is the better athlete, but both guys are reliable producers, and should really anchor this defense.    Except for SR OLB Maalik Bomar, the linebackers are a young bunch.  Bomar is experienced as a starter, but his production has not been to the level I expected yet.  He has the talent to produce though, so maybe this is the season he puts it all together.  In the secondary, SR S Drew Frey leads a group that seems ready to take that next step.  Frey is already a standout, but this year both CBs, JR Devin Drane and SR Camerron Cheatham look poised to take that next step.  If they do this will be a very difficult defense to throw on.  Now running on them is likely going to be a different story.

After 10 wins a year ago, and back to back BCS Bowls the two years prior, Cincinnati looks to be a much different program.  There are many question marks on the offense.  Some of these guys will really need to step it up or the Bearcats will find themselves mid pack or worse in the Big East this year.