2013 Outlook - Miami

Over much of the past two decades, the professional football factory of Coral Gables, better known as the University of Miami, has put out some of the top NFL talent year after year.  Throughout that time, the players and the program, continued to struggle with following NCAA rules, and it seems that we are back there again.  Promising HC Al Golden took over the program last year, just before the NCAA began their newest investigation into the program.  It resulted in the program having a considerable number of players suspended, and ending in a 6-6 season.  So how will Golden's second year go.

Despite being one of the more maligned QBs in recent Miami history, Jacory Harris left the program as the #2 passer of all-time.  This year, JR QB Stephen Harris will get his first chance to be the full time starter, and he will have his work cut out for him.  Last year's top back, Lamar Miller has gone pro, leaving the team's power back from a year ago, SR Mike James, as the primary ball carrier this year.  I am not sure James will be the guy for long though.  Very highly touted freshman, Duke Johnson will also line up in the backfield, and I expect him to get a majority of the carries by mid season.  The receiving corp is also going through major transition.  Tommy Streeter, Travis Benjamin, and Aldarius Johnson are all gone, and it leaves the team with a very inexperienced unit.  SO Phillip Dorsett is promising though, as is 6'7" SO TE David Perry.  It may take a year or two though before these guys become major factors.  The biggest asset for the "U" is their offensive front.  JR OT Seantrell Henderson is a mountain of a human being, and if he can stay healthy, he should secure the right side of that line very well.  JR Brandon Linder is an athletic OG who shows a lot of promise too.

As good as Miami's offenses have been, it has always been the defense that is the pride of this team.  Stars like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Vince Wilfork, and Jon Vilma, are just a few of the headliners that have made playing on the Hurricane defense a true aspiration for many a young football player in Miami.  This year's defense however, is a noticeable step down from units in the recent past.  JUCO transfer Darius Smith is the team's best player on the front.  He is good, but I wouldn't call him great.  Also, there is no one from the defensive front that looks as if they are going to get major pressure off the edge.  Olivier Vernon has  gone to the NFL, and there is now a hole that must be filled.  The linebackers however, should be one of the better units on this team again.   The speedy Ramon Buchanan return from injury to man his OLB position, and last year's standout tFR, Denzel Perryman will retun for his second year as the starting MLB.  These guys make a nice pair, and will cover a lot of ground, making a lot of tackles.  The secondary, another traditional stregnth, has a nice pair of safeties, but some questions at corner.    SR S Vaughn Telemaque is a good ball player, but not overly prolific.  His battery mate, Ray Ray Armstrong is definitely the better ball player, but he struggles with his attitude sometimes.  Last year's secondary was possibly the worst secondary for the "U" in the last 20 years, so despite some limitations, this year's group could very easily improve.


With the talent rich South Florida high schools in their backyard, Miami will return to prominence once again.  I just think it could take a few years.  Al Golden seems to be the kind of guy the program needed to restore some dignity.  Now as his recruiting classes begin to come aboard, and his scheme begins to become familiar, we can see how long it will take before the "U" rises again.

2013 Outlook - Virginia

It has been some time since the fate of a program lied so heavily on an NCAA eligibility decision.  This decision could have as much as a 3 win swing for Mike London's Virginia Cavaliers.

If the NCAA allows for Alabama transfer QB, Phillips Sims to become immediately eligible to play, the 2013 Cavaliers could win some games.  If they don't, that leaves the offense in the hands of JR Michael Rocco for one more year.  Rocco is decent, but he is nothing more than that.  He has to become more consistent, and that comes with time.  Knowing his days as a starter are numbered though could have a dramatic impact on his performance, in either direction.  The powerful yet small, Perry Jones will line up as the primary ball carrier for his SR campaign.  He could put up some yards this year.  He flirted with the thousand yard barrier, and I fully expect him to cross it this year.  The receiving corp is a bit of a question mark though.  Sometimes, the receivers can really make the QB.  Other times, it is the other way around.  If Sims is at QB, the receivers will look better than they are.  With Rocco under center, they could be exposed.  The o-line for Virginia is without any question the biggest strength of this offense.  SR OT Oday Aboushi is currently projecting as a first round selection in next year's draft, and his cohort, JR OT Morgan Moses, could be a first round talent for the 2014 draft if he stays his path.  These guys will give whomever is under center their best chance to succeed.

In recent years, this team has had some nice talent, especially in the secondary. Unfortunately, both Ras-I Dowling and Chase Minnefield have moved on, but the cupboard has not been left bare.  Upfront, the team is going to have to figure out how to replace Matt Conrath.  After moving inside, he became a force in the ACC.  Now, UVA will have to find someone to replace his presence and penetration ability.  I'm not sure any of the guys projected to start on this defensive front have that skill set.  Steve Greer returns to the middle of the linebacking corp, and he will bring the right attitude and good leadership with him.  He can tackle anything that moves, and considering the rest of the front seven, he may have to.  The secondary has SO CB Demetrious Nicholson returning.  He was a standout FR last year, but he benefited from having Chase Minnefield lined up on the other side.  He has talent, but can he emerge as a true number 1 corner is the question.

Even if Sims becomes eligible for this season, I still think Virginia will struggle to match last year's 8 wins.  They have some nice pieces, but also some big question marks.  Without Sims, I think UVA may be in for a long season.

2013 Outlook - Georgia Tech

Coming off an 8-5 season last year, you have to wonder if Paul Johnson and his Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are on their way up or on their way down.  I really like Johnson as a coach, and I think he has some real talent on the roster.  The only question is will they play as their talent suggests, or will the under perform again?

SR QB Tevin Washington will take the reins again this season, and he will really need to improve if this team is going to take the next step.  He is a pretty good athlete, but he has not shown that he has what it takes to be a good QB.  Last season, he started strong, but then completed only 38.7% of his passes over the last 8 contests.  He absolutely has to improve on that this year.  Now some of the incomplete passes last year could not be hung on Washington's neck though.  Speedster Stephen Hill continued his inconsistent play, dropping way too many passes, and this hurt the whole offense.  Hill is now a New York Jet, and it leaves Washington with two primary targets who have a combine total of zero catches at the collegiate level.  No doubt about it, this is a big question mark.  To put up points, the offense will rely on their option running game, led by SR Orwin Smith.  Smith is one of the more uinderrated backs in the nation.  I like his speed, and his toughness, and I think he is a good asset.  He has one of the better interior o-lines in the nation in front of him.  SR OG Omoregie Uzzi and JR OG Will Jackson are both very good pulling guards with a road grader mentality that I love.

Defensively, this team also has some real talent.  Unfortunately, not much of it resides up front.  Since losing Derrick Morgan to the NFL, Tech has struggled getting an edge pass rush, and I don't really see that changing much this year.  Any pass rush they do get will likely come from OLB Jeremiah Attaochu.  He has improved each of the last two seasons, and now going into his JR year, I think he could emerge as the type of linebacker that opponents have to scheme for.  Even with Attaochu emerging though, the true strength of this defense is their secondary.  JR CB Louis Young has all of the tools you want in a corner, and he has NFL prospect written all over him.  Unfortunately though, he has been in trouble in the past, and now could be facing a suspension to start the year.  He will still be a great ball player, but he needs to grow up.  SR CB Rod Sweeting is another good ball player on this team.  He may not be as talented as Young, but he is good in his own right, and as a pair these two are quite formidable.  I also really like JR S Isaiah Johnson.  With 78 tackles last year, he has broken into the picture as one of the best safeties in the conference, and if he continues to improve, he will make this secondary one tough unit for opponents to deal with.

The Yellow Jackets are a good team, and they could be poised to make that jump to conference contender, but it will take a serious improvement in the passing game for the team to do that.  Washington needs to show better decision making and accuracy, and he needs receivers who can catch what is thrown to them.  If this can happen, Tech could challenge in the ACC in 2013.

2013 Outlook - Virginia Tech

For the last quarter century, Frank Beemer has roamed the sidelines of Virginia Tech football, and it feels like for each of those years, he has put forth a competitive team.  It seems like his 26th year will be no different.

JR QB Logan Thomas is a unique prospect, as he boasts a RG3 comparable skill set of passing and running.  This year he should be one of the top QBs in the country, and will earn strong consideration for an early day 1 selection come draft day.  He has the potential to be exceptionally productive, however, for Va Tech to score a lot of points this year, he may have to be.  Much of the rest of this offense is talented, but young and inexperienced, his receiving corp being the lone exception.  He will have a FR running the ball, and although athletic, it is hard to imagine him putting up similar numbers to last years starter, David Wilson.  Although his starting wide receivers are all SRs, they have not seen as many passes thrown their way.  The two guys who left the program after last season, Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin left as the two most prolific receivers in school history, not leaving a whole lot of looks for everyone else.  Even the o-line has been depleted of their starting experience.  The five projected starters this year have a total of 17 games started combined on their resume, and this could spell trouble for this group.

Those that follow Beemer Ball, know that the offense may be exciting, but it is the defense and special teams where the games are won.  This defense is stocked as usual with studs at every level.  The front will be relying on SR DT Antoine Hopkins to use his 318 lb frame to clog up running lanes, while super athlete JR DE James Gayle is set free to chance ball carriers and quarterbacks alike.  Gayle has the potential to be one of the most disruptive forces off the edge anywhere in the country.  If he can mature and develop more this year, watch out.  The linebackers will be led by SR MLB Bruce Taylor, who is consistently good quarterbacking this defense.  The secondary, which seems to always be a strength for the Hokies should be good yet again.  Although they have lost CB Jayron Hosley, JR CB Kyle Fuller seems ready to step into his place immediately.  They should also expect to get continued good output from his counterpart, JR Antone Exum as well.  Together, they make up one of the better CB tandems in the nation, and it will prove to be difficult for opponents to throw against this pair.

If the offensive line can put it together, and the Hokies get some production from some of their young guys on offense, I'd expect this team to be right in the mix for the ACC crown all season long.  The defense is certainly primed for the task.  If the younger guys cannot put it together, it will be fun to watch Logan Thomas make plays, but this team will be more to the middle of the ACC pack.

2013 Outlook - North Carolina

2 years ago I predicted that the Tar Heels were primed for a National Title run.  Then the Butch Davis story wrote its next chapter, and his usual blatant disregard for NCAA rules landed much of the roster in hot water, and resulted in some studs being out for the year (Quinn, Austin, Little).  UNC did not make their title run, and Butch Davis was later removed.  Now Larry Fedora takes over, a very talented roster.  How will they do this year?

JR QB Bryn Renner will take the snaps again this year.  He put up impressive numbers as a starter last year. If he continues to fulfill his exceptional hype, and keeps growing he could be one of the better QBs in the ACC this year.  SO RB Giovani Bernard will be the primary ball carrier.  He broke the 1000 yard barrier as a rFR, so there are some lofty expectations for him as well.  Now that Dwight Jones has moved on, the biggest threat in the receiving game will be either SR WR Erik Highsmith or SO TE Eric Ebron.  I like Ebron, as he can stretch a field, and he has soft hands to bring in some of Renner's darts.  The o-line is anchored by two studs.  JR OT James Hurst and SR OG Jonathan Cooper both grade out very well as pro prospects, and I expect them to create holes for Bernard to run through, and walls for Renner to throw behind.

Whereas the offense seems stocked with talent, the defense is good, but not as good.  The past few seasons has seen North Carolina lose a lot of talent on their defensive front.  Robert Quinn, Marvin Austin, Quinton Coples, and Donte Paige Moss have all come and gone, and unfortunately, I am not enamored with any of the guys who have assumed their positions.  SR DT Sylvester Williams is probably the best of the bunch, but even he is not at the level of the guys who I just mentioned.  Along with the front, the linebacking corp has had a lot of talent in recent years too.  Bruce Carter, Quan Sturdivant, and Zach Brown have all moved to the NFL.  The difference here is that Kevin Reddick is still in Chapel Hill, getting it done.  He is one of the top interior linebackers anywhere in the nation, and I expect him to have another very good season.  The secondary is the biggest question mark for this team, as all of the players are athletic, but young.  May favorite of the group is JR S, Tre Boston.  I think he grades out as a nice middle round prospect at this point, but he could use this season to develop and really get himself into the early round discussion for the 2014 draft.

UNC is one of the more stocked teams in the conference.  They have play makers at almost every unit on the field.  The biggest question in my mind is what will the adjustment period be for the team to get used to Larry Fedora and his schemes.  If they pick it up quickly, this team could be part of the ACC title picture this year.

2013 Outlook - Wake Forest

Going into his 12th year with the program, I really like what Jim Grobe has done with the Demon Deacons.  They are not yet ready to compete for the conference crown, but I think they have some nice pieces in place, and should surprise some teams this year.

JR QB Tanner Price is a very accurate passer who shows good mobility too.  I think he needs to develop his leadership a bit more, but for some that comes with time.  He is entering his Junior year, though, so we may start to see some of that from him.  JR RB Joshua Harris is a very good athlete too, but like Price, he needs to stay healthy if Wake Forest hopes to compete.  The receiving corp has lost their start from a year ago, Chris Givens.  Now, the diminutive Michael Campanaro is going to be asked to carry the load.  He may be small, but he plays with hart and hustle.  At the collegiate level, sometimes that is enough.  The o-line is a big question mark in 2013 though.  They have lost a lot of experience, leaving them to start three guys who are either FR or SO.  This is where it could all unravel for the Deacons.

Defensively they have some good players too.  JR NT Nakita Whitlock is way undersized at 5-11, 260lbs, but he plays much, much bigger.  He is a disruptive force up front and he can be very difficult to handle sometimes.  The linebackers are going to be led by SR MLB Scott Betros, who is a tough, physical player.  He needs to not only replace the production, but the leadership lost with the matriculation of last years leader, Kyle Wilbur.  In the secondary, Wake Forest will have super SO, Bud Noel covering their opponents top threat.  As a FR, Noel tied for a FBS best 21 pass deflections.  If he continues to develop this year, he could be in line for a monster year.

Wake Forest will not be mistaken for Florida State anytime soon, but the are a very well coached program with some talented, if not undersized players.  If this team can stay healthy, I see them causing some trouble for anyone looking past them.

2013 Outlook - Maryland

Last year Randy Edsall took over the Maryland Terrapin program from longtime HC Ralph Friedgen, after demonstrating some success at UConn.  After going 2-10 in his first year, Edsall has to see that he has his work cut out for him.

Going into 2013, JR CJ Brown will be the starting QB for the Terps.  He is a good athlete, but not much of a passer at this point in his career.  He will need to better his 49% completion mark from a year ago if he is going to have any hope of helping this team improve.  True FR Wes Brown will be his primary ball carrier this year.  Wes Brown is talented, but has no experience at this level.  Edsall had some good RBs during his time at UConn though, so he stands a chance of developing the youngster over the next few seasons. SR WR Kevin Dorsey should be the most reliable target in the passing game, but there will be a few youngsters mixed in as well, including the very highly touted true frosh, Stefon Diggs.  The o-line is also a young bunch, so I really see this offense starting with the odds stacked against them.

Defensively, the team has a couple of good ball players to build around.  Up front, SR DT Joe Vellano is the top player.  He penetrates well, and that will be a necessity.  SR DL AJ Francis will need to be more productive though if this team is going to stop opponents from running on them in 2013.  At linebacker, SR Kenny Tate returns as the team's most talented player.  The former safety plays fast and hits well.  His play and attitude have to be contagious though for this ball club if they are going to win games.  In the secondary, hey have a bit of experience, but their most exciting player is SO S, Matt Robinson who returns from injury.  As a FR last year, he was leading the Terps in tackles when he was lost for the year, so getting him back will be a big plus.

Unfortunately for Edsall, the 2013 outlook for the Maryland Terps is not much better than that of the 2012 version of this team.  They have some good young athletes on the roster, but they are too inexperienced as a team to really pose a treat the the conference's elite teams at this time.  In another year or two however, this could be an entirely different story.

2013 Outlook - Boston College

Some folks are awfully high on BC's prospects heading into 2013.  Whereas I like the linebackers this school has produced, including two personal favorites Mark Herzlich and Luke Kuechly, I am very concerned that they will have their 4th offensive coordinator in the last 13 months.

JR QB Chase Rettig has some talent, but it is very difficult for any QB to make strides when their OC continually changes.  His newest coordinator is Doug Martin, who is known as a college QB guru of sorts, but Martin will have to work quickly to establish Rettig as a real threat in the ACC.  JR Deuce Finch will now be the man at RB following the dismissal of one of the most prolific RBs in ACC history, Montel Harris.  Finch has talent, but he will need to increase his output for this squad to be successful.  At receiver, JR Bobby Swigert is my favorite of Rettig's targets, but I am not sure his game translates to the next level.  If he does eventually make the NFL, I see him as a Blair White type. Useful, but not outstanding.  SR OT John Wetzel leads the boys up front.  This is a solid unit that could be an asset for this offense.

Over the past few seasons, it has been the defense that has been the bedrock of this Eagles team.  This year, the defensive front gets SR DT Kaleb Ramsey back from injury, and that should be a big help.  He has a knack for penetrating into the backfield, and that will be needed.  It seems that the linebacking corp gets handed over from one stud to another recently, and JR OLB Kevin Pierre-Louis could be the next in line for that title.  He has been very good in his own right the past year or two, so now that he will be "the man" we will get to see what he can really do.  The secondary is the weakest unit of this defense but they are not bad. They just lack the standout player that the other two units posses.

The bottom line is that the BC Eagles could be a good team this year, if the offense can find an identity.  If not, the defense will keep them in some games, but is not strong enough to carry the whole team alone.

2013 Outlook - North Carolina State

Since coming over from Boston College five years ago, HC Tom O'Brien has not been able to get NC State over the top.  Will 2013 be any different for him and his Wolfpack?

Going into his SR season, QB Mike Gleannon has been accurate and productive.  This year he will get his opportunity to live up to his billing as one of the most promising QBs in the country.  He is big and strong, and if he can get help from those around him, he could be a top producer this year.  SO RB Tony Creecy is fast, and catches well out of the backfield. The receiving corp is solid, but not spectacular.  They should be able to produce solid numbers with Gleannon tossing the ball, and a solid o-line in front.  Wentz, Allen, and Mattes are all SRs, and could be part of the best NC State o-line in the O'Brien era.

On the defensive side of the ball, NC State has an excellent secondary, and two other units in search of leaders.  Up front, SO DT Thomas Teal is the most promising of the bunch.  Unfortunately, the two DEs do not strike me as having the potential  to get real pressure on opposing QBs.  The linebackers will be without Terrell Manning and Audie Cole, their leaders from a year ago.  Will any of the current LBs step it up and take over this year?  The secondary however, is quite good.  JR CB David Amerson may be the best CB in the whole country.  He very well may be a top 5 pick in the 2013 draft if he comes out.  He will be very difficult for opponents to throw on.  SR safeties, Earl Wolff and Brandon Bishop are also very good players and this will make this one of the best secondaries in the nation.

NC State has a promising QB, and an exceptional secondary.  Their success however will hinge on their run defense and their offensive weapons' ability to take advantage of their opportunities.  If they can do those things, they will be bowl bound again.

2013 Outlook - Clemson

Dabo Swinney is one of my favorite coaches in college football, and he is entering his fifth year in Clemson.  Each of the last few season, Clemson has been on the brink of taking that next step to becoming part of the National Title discussion.  This year's team, is also on the brink, and they are serious consideration for my "Sneaky" pick of the year.

JR QB Tajh Boyd had a great year last season in his first year as a starter.  If he can avoid the same plague that has afflicted second year QBs in Clemson during recent history, he could really put up special number in 2013.  He has the potential to avoid the slump, considering the weapons at his disposal.  SR RB Andre Ellington is a good back, coming off a thousand yard season, and his backup, SO Mike Bellamy has a lot of potential.  The primary wide outs are both sensational.  JR DeAndre "Nuke" Hopkins and SO Sammy Watkins are going to be very difficult for opponents to cover.  Watkins is one of the very best anywhere in the country.  The o-line is young, except for C Dalton Freeman.  He brings athleticism and experience to a line, that will really need it.

Over the past two years, Clemson has been the best pass rushing team in the ACC, but DaQuan Bowers and Andre Branch have both been drafted into the NFL.  Except for SR DE Malliciah Goodman, this is a very young defensive front.  I cannot see them replicating the output from a pass rush perspective, but the may be able to be more disciplined, which may offset some of the loss.  At linebacker, super sophomores OLB Tony Steward and MLB Stephone Anthony both could emerge as stars in the ACC if they continue to develop.  The secondary is an experienced unit, but the most exciting player is their youngest.  SO CB Bashaud Breeland is a fast, athletic former wide receiver who if he continues to build his technique could be on the draft radar in the next year or two.

Clemson has a talented roster, and if they can put it all together this year, they will surprise some people.  I think this is a sneaky good team, definitely worth watching.

2013 Outlook - Florida State

After landing superb recruiting classes each of the last two years (and well on their way to another one), Florida State has graduated from the "used to be good once upon a time" discussions to "best team in the land" talks.

SR QB EJ Manuel does not get the credit he deserves as a signal caller.  He is a very accurate passer, and if he stays healthy this year, he will be more productive too.  He also has a great supporting cast.  His cadre of RBs should keep opposing defenses honest, and he has some very good young weapons at his disposal.  His SO WRs, Christian Green and Rashard Greene are both emerging talents who could easily top 700 yards a piece this year.  The most exciting target however is rFR Kelvin Benjamin, a 6'6" 245 lb receiver who will get some on field looks this year, but like enter the starting lineup next season.  The offensive line is the weakest part of this offense having lost their bookends, Zebrie Sanders and Andrew Datko from a year ago.

Defensively, this team could be spectacular.  Their defensive line is amongst the best in the country.  SR Brandon Jenkins will lead teammates Bjoern Werner and Tank Carradine as one of the most intense pass rushes anywhere in the nation.  SO DT Timmy Jernigan has emerged as a legit defensive star too.  This line is simply scary.  The linebackers lost their leader when Nigel Bradham left for the NFL, but the guys who are still in Tallahassee are good ball players.  The secondary is another outstanding unit.  JR CB Xavier Rhodes is one of the more talented pass defenders in the country, and Greg Reid is an adequate corner, and a superb return man.  The Safety pair is young and very exciting.  JR LaMarcus Joyner can develop into an all-american candidate this season if he keeps improving, and SO Karlos Williams is the definition of upside.

Bottom line for the Seminoles... they are very good.  Last season they were slightly over hyped.  This season, they are legitimate contenders.

2013 Big 10 Outlook

EZ Football Futures 2013 Pre-Season Big 10 Hot Stocks

QB     Denard Robinson, Michigan

RB     Rex Burkhead, Nebraska

WR    Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin

WR    Kofi Hughes, Indiana

TE      Jake Stoneburner, Ohio State

OT     Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin

OT     Taylor Lewan, Michigan

OG    Spencer Long, Nebraska

OG    Chris McDonald, Michigan State

C        Travis Frederick, Wisconsin

DE     William Gholston, Michigan State

DE     Michael Buchanan, Illinois

DT     Johnathan Hankins, Ohio State

DT     Kawann Short, Purdue

OLB  Johnathan Brown, Illinois

ILB    Gerald Hodges, Penn State

ILB    James Morris, Iowa

OLB   Denicos Allen, Michigan State

CB      Johnny Adams, Michigan State

CB      Ricardo Allen, Purdue

S         Isaiah Lewis, Michigan State

S         Jordan Kovacs, Michigan

EZ Football Futures 2013 Predicted SEC Final Standings

Leaders

1. Wisconsin Badgers

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

3. Penn State Nittany Lions

4. Purdue Boilermakers

5. Illinois Fighting Illini

6. Indiana Hoosiers

Legends

1. Michigan Wolverines

2. Nebraska Cornhuskers

3. Michigan State Spartans

4. Iowa Hawkeyes

5. Northwestern Wildcats

6. Minnesota Golden Gophers

EZ Football Futures 2013 Predicted Big 10 Conference Champion

2013 Outlook - Minnesota

Jerry Kill will enter his second year as the head coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, and this season may look a lot like last year's 3-10 campaign.

Another Big 10 team, and another signal caller who is a better athlete than a passer.  MarQueis Gray is a former wide out turned QB, and like many cut from that cloth, he is a better running with the football than throwing it.  Whereas that could be an issue for most programs, for Minnesota I am not sure how much it will adversely effect them considering that Gray does not have an abundance of talent around him.  JR RB James Gillum transfers to Minneapolis, but I am not all that excited about him.  Also, none of the receiving weapons seem all that dangerous either.  Event the big boys upfront lack a standout to anchor that line.

Defensively there seems to be a little more promise.  Unfortunately for the Gophers, that promise is not with the front four.  Looking over this roster, it is difficult to anticipate much of a pass rush, as no one stands out as exceptional at penetrating.  There is some talent at linebacker though.  SR MLB Mike Rallis is an overall quality player, and backing him up this year is former Florida Gator, JR Brendan Beal.  Beal is somewhat typical of a Florida player.  He has good speed, good instincts, and good power.  The more he gets on the field, the better Minnesota will be.  In the secondary, converted wide out, SR Troy Stoudermire is the teams top player.  He shows a good nose for the ball, but his technique can still use some improvement.  He is opportunistic though, so if the opposing team makes a mistake, he will usually take advantage.

Overall, the 2013 version of the Golden Gophers do not project to be much better than the 2012 version was.  Kill needs to hit the recruiting trail, and start landing some better talent if he wants to develop this program into a factor in the Big 10.

2013 Outlook - Northwestern

For each of the last two year, I have looked at Northwestern, and been teased into thinking they were about to take a major step forward.  For each of the last two years, I have watched with disaapointment, as they have not seemed to take those steps.  Will this year be any different?

Dan Persa had been the primary reason to be excited about this team in years past.  He was the most accurate passer in Big 10 history, and he could run with the ball too, but now he is gone.  He is being replace by former WR Kain Colter.  The JR will step in as the full time QB after occupying the spot part time in Persa's absence last year.  He is a good athlete, but his passing skills still need to develop.  The rest of the offense leaves something to be desired.  I am not sold on JR Mike Trumpy as a primary ball carrier, and I am not sure if there are any receivers whom Colter can rely on.  The brightest spot is SO C, Brandon Vitabile, who shows some real promise in the position.

Defensively, the Wildcats look like they do on offense.  They have some decent guys, but no one who gets me real excited.  JR DE, Tyler Scott returns from injury and will try an provide a pass rushing presence off the edge, but I am not sold on him yet.  The linebackers are all adequate, but they lack a true standout who can strike fear into their opponents.  Even worse yet is the Wildcats' secondary.  1 FR, 2 SO, and 1 SR will start for this unit.  Not only do they lack experience, but none of these guys seem to have an overly impressive skill set either.  Maybe the defense surprises me, and someone steps up to be "the man", but right now, I don't see it.

After a couple of promising, yet disappointing seasons, I have lowered my expectations for Northwestern.  Maybe now with little expected, they will prove to not disappoint at all.

2013 Outlook - Iowa

Two years ago Iowa was my “Sneaky” pick of the year.  I had expected with the talent they boasted a real chance for them to squeeze into the national title picture, unexpectedly.  Unfortunately, Iowa proved me wrong, and have been on a bit of a backslide since.  Can they turn things around this year?

SR QB James Vandenberg has everything that it takes to be one of the top QBs in the conference this year.  He has had time to learn the offense, and this year will be his second as a starter.  I think he could put up some impressive numbers, but I am not certain that they will translate into wins.  The running game has again been depleted by transfers, and it looks like one of two true FR will be getting the primary running duties.  That alone, isn’t the issue though.  There are no standout WRs for Vandenberg to count on, although I do like his 6’7” TE, JR CJ Fiedorowicz.  Also, typically a strength, I am a bit concerned about the boys on the line.  Losing OT Riley Reiff will no doubt hurt this unit, and I simply don’t see anyone ready to step up and replace him.  Coach Ferentz regularly produced quality o-linemen though, so maybe there is someone who with the right mentoring can surprise me.

Just like the offense, the defense seems to have one good leader, and then a whole bunch of question marks.  Over the past few seasons, the Hawkeyes have produced a handful of quality NFL d-line prospects.  Unfortunately this has left the cupboard bare, as the younger guys have not developed into adequate replacements.  This year the defensive front will have three underclassmen starters, and that could be an issue.  At MLB, JR James Morris is a big time play maker.  He will continue to improve as the year progresses, and that will be good for Iowa.  Unfortunately, the secondary is not so blessed as to have a top notch leader like Morris.  These guys are all serviceable, but no one stands out from the pack.


I will not be calling Iowa my Sneaky pick this year.  I think they have some bright spots, but I am not expecting a big push for the Big 10 title this year from this group.

2013 Outlook - Michigan State

Last year the Michigan State Spartans really emerged at a big time player in the Big 10.  This year, their defense is poised for great things, but will their offense be able to keep up?

For the past three years, the team has had a constant under center in Kirk Cousins.  Cousins may not have been the best QB in the country, but he was intelligent and one of the best leaders you could have asked for.  Losing him will hurt.  JR Andrew Maxwell has been groomed to be Cousins’ replacement, but there is little doubt that this team should take a step back this year based on QB play alone.  JR RB LeVeon Bell has been getting some pre-season hype, but I have not been overly impressed with him thus far.  I think he will need to do more to help this team win and to establish himself as a legitimate prospect.  The receivers have been depleted, and they now have a very inexperienced group.  Combined with a new QB, it could take a bit of time to build some synergy.  The big guys up front will be led by SR OT Fou Fonoti who is a day 3 prospect right now, but the guy to be most excited about is SO C Travis Jackson.  If he can build on his solid FR season, he could be one of the better Cs in the nation by this time next year.

The defense in East Lansing is something to be excited about.  This unit has a whole lot of talent, and most of these guys are still JRs.  The defensive line boast one of the most freakish athletes anywhere in the country in JR DE William Gholston.  This guy is a monster, and he gets into the opposing backfield quite frequently.  If he comes out after this season, he is looking at early first round consideration it would appear.  Former DE Tyler Hoover has moved to DT, giving them a big athletic presence there too, making this one of the scariest d-lines in the nation.  At linebacker, the Spartans are stocked, with standouts Denicos Allen and Max Bullough both in their JR year.  These guys penetrate well and cover a lot of ground.  In the secondary, the corners are outstanding.  JR Johnny Adams is currently projecting as an early first rounder, and on the other side, Darqueze Dennard is emerging into a complete player too.  JR S Isaiah Lewis is looking to take the next step, and he could emerge as an All-American candidate this season too.

Based on the defense alone, you would but MSU amongst the best in the country.  But the offense is a little too immature to support that type of production.  I see this team being difficult to score on, and thus in almost everyone of their games in 2013, but it is hard to see them pushing for the Big 10 crown.

2013 Outlook - Michigan

Second year head coach Brady Hoke has gotten the ship turned around at Michigan.  All of a sudden the defense has come to play, and the offense is scoring points.  Will Michigan be for real again, or was last year just an illusion?

There is absolutely no illusion about the Heisman hopeful at QB for Michigan.  Denard Robinson is one of the most electric players in the nation, and he will again push Michigan to a bunch of wins.  If he continues to improve passing the ball, and becomes a bit more selective about when he chooses to run, this team will be in a whole lot of games.  JR RB Fitzgerald Toussaint will serve this team well if he continues where he left off in the last 4 games from last season.  SR WR Roy Roundtree will be counted upon to restore his production to that of two seasons ago if this team is to take the next step.  Up front, JR LT Taylor Lewan will anchor the line as he competes for a day one selection in next years draft.  The biggest concern will be how much the loss of C David Molk will hurt.

On the defensive side of the ball, SR DE Craig Roh will be relied upon to put some pressure on opposing signal callers.  He has good size and a good motor and that will be valuable.  If the hyped yet under performing SR DT William Campbell can finally live up to his billing, this could be a solid front in 2013.  The linebackers are all good but not great types.  No one stands out from this group.  However, in the secondary, SR S Jordan Kovacs will roam loose.  This guy has a great attitude, and plays the safety position the way it was meant to be played.  He is not the most athletic player out there, but he is tenacious.

The bottom line with the 2013 Wolverines is they are for real.  They will be a factor in the Big 10 this year, but they are still a step away from being contenders on the national scene.

2103 Outlook - Nebraska

From the minute the Cornhuskers made the jump from the Big 12 to the Big 10 there was a new power for the rest of the Big 10 to contend with.  Now in their second season in the conference, Bo Pelini and his team seem poised to make a jump to compete for the conference crown.

JR QB Taylor Martinez will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders, but if he continues to improve as a passer this year, he could begin to turn the corner.  We know he can run, but can he make plays with his arm?  If we find out he can, this could be a very good offense.  At RB, SR Rex Burkhead is one of the very best in the conference, and also one of the best in the nation.  He will garner consideration as a first or second day selection in the next draft, and he has a top backup in Ameer Abdullah too.  The wide receivers have a potential star in SO Kenny Bell.  He has elite speed and if they offense can learn to take advantage of it, they could have a real threat there.  The o-line is a bit young and inexperienced, but if they can put it together this offense can be quite good.

Defensively, the Cornhuskers are a squad who will be looking for a leader.  They lost their top three players from a year ago (Jared Crick, Levonte David, and Alfonso Denard).  If they can find someone to step up and fill the leadership role, they should be alright.  Up front, a lot of sucess this team has will be dependant upon the play of SR Cameron Meredith.  He is a good edge rusher, and if he can get some pressure, that will help the whole defense.  SR LB Sean Fisher is another guy who could step it up in 2013.  He is not the most athletic of linebackers, but he has added some stregnth, and he plays with good technique.  The secondary has two SR safeties and two JR CBs.  The corners will need to play better than last year, as they struggled to find another player to put across from Denard.

The 2013 Nebraska Cornhuskers should be a very good team.  With the right players stepping it up and taking it to the next level, they will be a real factor in the Big 10 race.

2103 Outlook - Indiana

After a 1-11 start to his head coaching career at Indiana, Kevin Wilson has to believe that there is no where to go but up.  Unfortunately, I am not expecting a stellar rise from the Hoosiers in 2013.

On offense, folks in Bloomington are excited about SO QB Tre Roberson.  He is no doubt exciting, but he is more an athlete than a QB.  Watching QBs Gunner and Dusty Kiel has to hurt, and relying on an athlete to be the QB does not spell lots of wins.  If Roberson can develop throwing skills, and can learn to read a defense, he has a chance, but right now it looks to be tough.  JR RB Stephen Houston who transferred into Indiana last year will be the primary ball carrier this year.  He is pretty good, but not stellar.  With a young o-line up front, it could be a long year for him too.  The most talented weapon for the Hoosiers on offense is JR WR Kofi Hughes.  Hughes has the combination of size and speed that NFL scouts look for, and if he finds a QB that can get him the ball, he has the chance to be a standout for this team.

Defensively, the Hoosiers also have some holes.  The defensive line is led by two SR DTs.  Unfortunately neither of these guys projects well at the next level, and against some of the Big 10 talent they will face, may find themselves over matched.  The linebackers will be relying on JUCO transfer, Jacarri Alexander to be their play maker.  He has very good speed, and bring a good "linebacker mentality" to the field with him.  If he can not only make plays, but help raise the level of play of his teammates, the unit may do alright.  Just like the linebackers, the secondary will also rely on a JUCO transfer to set their tone.  Antonio Marshall plays a physical brand of football.  If he can run with the Big 10 receivers is the only question.

Although there are a couple of bright spots on the roster, I see the 2013 Hoosiers being a similar team to last year's squad.  Hopefully they can come out of the gate strong against Indiana State, UMass, and Ball State because the schedule after that looks quite daunting.

2013 Outlook - Penn State

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being wonderful, and 1 being awful, the 2012 season for Penn State football was a -50.  Yet despite all of the drama, surrounding the program, beginning with the horrid charges against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky (whos trial progresses as I write this), and ending with the death of beloved HC Joe Paterno, somehow this team put up a 9-3 record, and we a factor all the way through Thanksgiving.  Bill O'Brien takes over what may very well be the most difficult job anywhere in the NCAA right now, and 2013 will tell us a lot about how this team responds under the leadership of someone other than iconic Joe Pa for the first time in a lifetime.

Like some other teams in the Big 10, PSU has some questions as to whom will be under center in 2013.  SR Matt McGloin has been in the mix for a few years now, but has not been overly effective.  SO Paul Jones shows some promise, and if I had to guess, I'd suspect that Jones will get more snaps this year, as O'Brien tries to install his offense.  JR RB Silas Redd is the team's top back.  He may not project well as a pro yet, but he still finds ways to help his team out.  He gobbles up yards, and if he can improve on last season's performance, he will help PSU to some victories.  SR Devon Smith is the top wide out for the Nittany Lions this year, and he is talented, but has underachieved in his time in Happy Valley. There are no real standouts on the o-line either, with SR C Matt Stankiewitch as their top player.  What will be most interesting to see with the Penn State offense if if either JR TEs,  Gary Gilliam or Kevin Haplea can emerge as viable targets in what is likely to be an offense that relies heavily on the TE.  we may need to wait until some of O'Brien's own recruits are in the fold to see what this offense will really look like.

On defense, PSU will have some talent to play with.  Last year DT Devon Still was an impact up front.  This year, SR DT Jordan Hill will step into the spotlight to replace him.  Hill may not be as athletic as Still, but he is strong and quick for his size.  I think he will be good, and should improve as the year goes on.  If SR DE Pete Massaro can stay healthy, he will get some pressure on opposing QBs and this could make this defense very tough.  The school known as "Linebacker U" has two more good ones this year, as SRs Gerald Hodges and Michael Mauti will both be all over the field.  Both has good speed, and are tough, hard nosed football players who can impact game outcomes.  The secondary is a bit young in 2013, and this could prove to be a challenge for the Nittany Lions.  As compared to last season, I really think this unit could have some issues, and this may be the most obvious area to try and attack Penn State, especially during the early season.

I think Penn State will do OK in 2013.  I don't expect them to match their 9 wins from a year ago, but I think Bill O'Brien will transition this program into their new era with integrity and class.  I think what has happened in Happy Valley over the past year has been terrible, but I also think Central Pennsylvanians are a resilient people, and it won't be long before the school again shouts with pride, "We Are..."

2013 Outlook - Purdue

The Purdue Boilermakers head into the 2013 season with a lot of role players, but very few standouts.  With an unsettled QB situation on top of this, Danny Hope has his work cut out for him this year.

A team's offensive identity is often defined by the team's QB.  If this proves to be true, the 2013 Boilermakers may have themselves somewhat of an identity crisis.  There are three guys in this unit, all of whom could start, and all of whom will likely take snaps.  JR Rob Henry is the best athlete of the bunch, but also is probably the worst passer in this unit.  Former Miami Hurricane, Robert Marve is probably the best passer in the group, but is injury prone.  It appears that SR Claeb TerBush may actually get the call on Sept 1st, but as of now it is undecided.  Whomever lines up under center, they will be surrounded by a bunch of good, but no great players.  SR RB Ralph Bolden has had 3 seasons cut short due to injury, so there is no way to count on him in 2013.  SR WR Antavian Edison, and JR WR OJ Ross are both good talents, but with their off-the-field issues, it could cause them to miss some playing time.  Up front, SR OG Peters Drey is their best player, but even he grades out as a late round draft consideration right now.

On defense, the team does have two standouts who will help them win some games.  One of those standouts, SR DT Kawann Short passed on the NFL to return to West Lafayette.  This year, he will be one of the most watched players in the nation, as he currently has a first round grade in my book.  The linebackers have experience, but not overwhelming talent.  They do many things well, but are outstanding at nothing.  In the secondary, JR CB Ricardo Allen has all of the skills to be outstanding, and he plays well, but he doesn't project at the next level because there is not an overwhelming demand for 5'9" corners in the NFL.

If Short and Allen are let loose, the Boilermakers will win some football games in 2013, and may even pitch an upset somewhere along the way.  The need to try and settle on one QB though, and all of the Purdue players need to keep themselves healthy and out of trouble, something that has been a struggle for much of the past two seasons.

2013 Outlook - Illinois

The Illini are another team in transition, as they will take the field under the tutelage of first year HC Tim Beckman.  Last year's squad went 7-6, primarily on the backs of their defense.  If this year's team in going to succeed, again it will be the defense that will be relied upon the most.

JR QB Nathan Scheelhaase will be under center again.  He is a good athlete, but I am not sold on him being much of a QB.  Former OC, Paul Petrino compared Scheelhaase to former Louisville signal caller Stefan LeFors, but I don't see it.  I think LeFors is a much smarter QB than Scheelhaase.  We will see if he develops this year into something more than an also ran.  Both the running back and receiving units are going to be manned bu some young guys still trying to establish themselves.  Without a great QB, I see this being a challenge.  Up front, the team is luck to have a leader at C like SR Graham Pocic.  His leadership will be welcome by the otherwise young offense.

Again, the Illini will need for their defense to step up and lead them to some victories this year.  On the defensive front, they start two very good playmakers, with a lot of potential.  SR DE Michael Buchanan is getting a lot of hype right now, as he should, as one of the best pure pass rushers in the nation. If he can turn out numbers similar to that of former teammate Whitney Mercilus, the unit will get after opposing QBs.  JR DT Akeem Spence is another contributor who is flying a bit under the radar right now.  If he steps up his play, this could be a very good front.  JR LB Jonathan Brown will also get a lot of attention in 2013.  He is a very talented ball player.  He is fast, strong, and plays the position well.  SR CB Terry Hawthorne will be asked to lead the secondary and to finally fulfill the immense potential we heard he had back in 2009 as a true FR.

Illinois should win some games in 2013, but I don't see them challenging for a top position in the Big 10 yet.  Much will depend on the development of their QB, and the rest will lay on the shoulders of a apt defense.

2013 Outlook - Ohio State

The biggest change for Ohio State will be on the sideline.  Last year, interim HC Luke Fickell was in an impossible situation following the very successful, yet ending in disgrace, tenure of Jim Tressell.  Now the Buckeyes have something to look forward to, and that is all because of Urban Meyer.

Meyer inherits a young, inexperienced offense.  Braxton Miller will get the call as the full time starter this year.  He is not nearly the athlete that Terrelle Pryor is, but he is still more than capable of running Meyer's offense.  Remember, Meyer won a National Championship with Chris Leak, so Braxton Miller will be just fine.  As for the other skill positions, Jordan Hall should line up as the starting tailback, but I don't expect it to take long before SO Rod Smith starting getting carries.  He is their most talented back, and Meyer will want him to gain some game reps.  At WR, SO Devin Smith is the team's top returner despite only picking up 294 years all season.  He flashes some potential, but has a long way to go.  Upfront, the big fellas lost two very good players in Mike Adams and Mike Brewster.  4 JRs and 1 SR will be asked to pull the load, and they should do alright.

The strength of this Buckeyes ball club is on their defense, specifically their front 4.  JR NT Johnathan Hankins and SR DE John Simon are two of the best at their position anywhere in the nation, and both will garner strong consideration for a first round selection in next year's draft.  SR DE Nathan Williams returns from injury, and he is another very talented ballplayer, with very good upside.  SO OLB Ryan Shazier joins two SRs in the starting lineup this year for Ohio State.  Shazier played well last year as a FR, so I expect him to continue to improve.  The most exciting player in this unit however is still SO MLB Curtis Grant.  I expect to see him on the field a lot more in 2013, and he has the potential to be talked about in Ohio State circles with guys like Speilman, Katzenmoyer, and Hawk.  In addition to MLB, the secondary at Ohio State has a storied history of producing top notch NFL talent.  This year's unit is led by SR CB Travis Howard.  Right now, Howard projects as a day two selection on draft night, but a strong SR season could boost his stock.

Things are really looking up for Ohio State.  In 2013, they will go as far as their defense takes them.  Next year however, this could be one of the scariest offenses in college football.

2013 Outlook - Wisconsin

Last year the Wisconsin Badgers were as good as anyone in the Big 10. If not for last second losses on deep prayers against Michigan State and Ohio State, this team would have finished 13-1.  This season, I think Wisconsin can be just as good as last years squad.

Russell Wilson was the do it all offensive leader for the Badgers last year at QB.  Now, he is in Seattle battling for snaps with the Seahawks.  Former Maryland signal caller, Danny O'Brien is now the new QB in Madison, and although he fits the offense very well, I just do not see him replicating the output Wilson had last year.  Having said that, QB will not be a weakness for this team that holds them back.  With super producer Montee Ball returning at RB, and big fellas Ricky Wagner and Travis Frederick leading the way up front, I expect for Wisconsin to put up a lot of yards, especially on the ground.  Jared Abbrederis returns as the top receiving threat, but Wisconsin is not typically an overly pass happy team.  He should pair with O'Brien to be productive, but not prolific.  Any way you slice it though, the Bagers will put up yards, and translate that into points.

The defense last year was a bit up and down.  They had their bright spots, but they also struggled a bit in some areas.  Having JR DE David Gilbert return to the lineup will be a big addition.  Gilbert is quick off the edge, and although he is not yet JJ Watt, he was really outstanding in the 4 games he played last season before getting hurt. The linebackers are the stregnth of this defense.  JR MLB Chris Borland and SR OLB Mike Taylor make up an awesome 1-2 combination.  Together they will cover a lot of ground, and I'd expect to see one, if not both of these guys, in on almost every defensive play.  The only question with them is, can they stay healthy.  Last season, the secondary was inconsistent, despite having two 1st Team Big Ten All-Americans in the lineup.  This year they loose them both, and that should be a little nerve racking.  If this team has one serious concern, I think it to be the secondary.

I expect for the Badgers to be a very good team in 2013, but with their secondary, probably not National Title contenders.  They will however win a lot of games, and will no doubt be in the mixt for the Rose Bowl in January.

2013 SEC Outlook

EZ Football Futures 2013 Pre-Season SEC Hot Stocks

QB     Tyler Wilson, Arkansas

RB     Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina

WR    DaRick Rogers, Tennessee

WR    Justin Hunter, Tennessee

TE      Jordan Reed, Florida

OT     DJ Fluker, Alabama

OT     Luke Joeckel, TAMU

OG    Chance Warmack, Alabama

OG    Chris Burnette, Georgia

C        Barrett Jones, Alabama

DE     Barkevious Mingo, LSU

DE     Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina

DT     John Jenkins, Georgia

DT     Anthony Johnson, LSU

OLB  Jarvis Jenkins, Georgia

ILB    CJ Mosley, Alabama

ILB    Nico Johnson, Alabama

OLB   Sam Montgomery, LSU

CB      Johnathan Banks, Mississippi State

CB      Tyrann Mathieu, LSU

S         Eric Reid, LSU

S         Bacarri Rambo, Georgia

EZ Football Futures 2013 Predicted SEC Final Standings

SEC East

1. Georgia Bulldogs

2. Florida Gators

3. South Carolina Gamecocks

4. Tennessee Volunteers

5. Missouri Tigers

6. Vanderbilt Commodores

7. Kentucky Wildcats

SEC West

1. LSU Tigers

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

3. Arkansas Razorbacks

4. TAMU Aggies

5. Auburn Tigers

6. Mississippi State Bulldogs

7. Ole Miss Rebels

EZ Football Futures 2013 Predicted SEC Conference Champion

2013 Outlook - Kentucky

If there is one word to describe the Kentucky Wildcats in 2013 it would be "young".  When examining the starting lineups on both sides of the ball, you will find that every single unit on this team will be starting at least one player who is a SO or FR.  In the single best conference in the country, that is a serious issue.

The offense will be starting a SO or FR at QB, a SO at RB, 1 SO at WR, a SO at TE and both a SO and FR on the o-line.  Sure, some of these guys are athletic, and will be a youthful mindset to the position, this could make for a lot of growing pains, especially against some of the outstanding defenses they will be facing in 2013, including Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.  SR OG Larry Warford and SR WR LaRod King bring the most experience to the offense, but neither of these guys projects at this point to be anything more than a day 3 consideration for the 2013 draft.

On the defensive side of the ball, there is more of the same.  1 SO starter on the d-line, 2 SO starters at linebacker, and both a SO and rFR getting the call in the secondary.  To win in the SEC you have to be able to play defense.  This means you have to get pressure on opposing QBs and take advantage of the mistakes they make.  SR DE Collins Ukwu has the reputation of being a fierce pass rusher, but he has not put up the production to back that up.  If he doesn't get it together this year, opposing QBs will have enough time to pick apart this inexperienced secondary, and that will translate into a lot of losses.

Joker Phillips has a tough year in front of him in 2013.  The good news is that with this much youth on the roster, if they can all work to develop, then next year and the year after the outlook will be a lot brighter.

2013 - Vanderbilt

Although this program is improving, I am predicting the Vandy story of 2013 to be a lot like their story most years.  The have themselves a fine program made up of a lot of good players who do things the right way.  Unfortunately, they are out of their league in terms of football skills playing in the SEC, and I just don't see a whole lot changing this year.

At QB, SR Jordan Rodgers (younger brother of GB QB Aaron Rodgers) should have his best year.  He is a smart QB who can run when necessary.  He is accurate, but does not have elite arm strength.  His favorite receiver is JR Jordan Matthews, who like Rodgers, does a lot well, but is not particularly outstanding at anything.  The receiving corp will be better than last years, but not by enough to add wins.  At RB, Zac Stacy is going to become the most prolific rusher in Vandy history by mid season, if he stays healthy.  Having said that he isn't a superstar, and cannot do it alone.  The o-line is average at best, and unfortunately, except at RB, the team really does not have the dept to compete week in, week out.

The Commodores defense is built similar to its offense.  They have some good guys, but no one who really stands out.  The defensive front will need exceptional play from SR DT Rob Lohr if they are going to hold up.  The linebackers and secondary will benefit from having the starting positions filled entirely by JRs and SRs.  Their experience and intelligence will be what allows them to hold up against superior athletic competition.

I like the way that Vanderbilt runs its program, but this season I think they are going to have some trouble on the field.  I see them struggling to even repeat last season 6 win performance.  They are going to need to pull an upset or two somewhere along the way for that to happen.

2013 Outlook - Missouri

In his 12 years at the helm of Mizzou, Gary Pinkel has developed one of the better run football programs in the country.  His team's are consistently competitive, and they seem to do it with less talent than some of their opponents.  This year, the program moves from the Big 12 to the SEC, and although it may cause some growing pains, I expect them to be more trouble than some anticipate this season, and even better in the years following.

Since Pinkel arrived in Columbia, he has had the blessing of solid long term QB play.  From Brad Smith, to Chase Daniel, to Blaine Gabbert, the Mizzou QBs have always been solid producers.  The Tigers have every reason to believe that James Franklin is the next in that line of QBs.  He has a very strong arm, is difficult to tackle, and is tough as nails.  TJ Moe will be his primary target this year, with the exciting FR Dorial Green-Beckham also getting some looks.  SR RB Kendall Lawrence looks as if he will lead the way in the backfield, but what the Tigers really need is for JR RB Henry Josey to be healthy.  If he is, they will have a solid and deep running game.  If not, this may be a weakness for this squad.  The big fellas up front are nothing to write home about, which may reduce the output of the whole offense.

One defense, the Tigers have a very talented linebacking corp.  SR MLB Will Ebner returns to man the middle and he has some great athletes along side him in SR Zavier Gooden and JR Andrew Wilson.  These guys will make plays, but they cannot do it alone.  Upfront, the Tigers need to produce a pass rush, and their best chance for that will be to get rFR Shane Ray on the field.  Unfortunately he is not currently projected as a starter, and frankly, I'm not sure why.  In the secondary, superstar athlete EJ Gaines will man one corner position for this, his JR year.  Unfortunately for Mizzou, none of his battery mates are nearly as talented, and thus leaves this team exposed.

Again, Pinkel is a very good coach, and he schemes well which will help his team stay in football games.  They move to the SEC this year though, which is a step up in competition, and that will likely result in 6 or more losses this year.