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