i am very interested in seeing how devine does now that he will be the featured back...
Quarterback
1. Pat White, West Virginia
2. Matt Grothe, South Florida
3. Hunter Cantwell, Louisville
4. Tyler Lorenzen, Connecticut
5. Mike Teel, Rutgers
Quick thoughts: White is the best player in the game -- period. When Grothe becomes more of a pocket passer, the Bulls will be more consistent on offense.
Running back
1. LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh
2. Noel Devine, West Virginia
3. Andre Dixon, Connecticut
4. Mike Ford, South Florida
5. Donald Brown, Connecticut
Quick thoughts: A strong group; could be the best in the BCS leagues by the end of the season. The Pitt staff estimates McCoy left 600 yards on the field last fall because of his inexperience. Think about that.
Wide receiver
1. Kenny Britt, Rutgers
2. Marcus Barnett, Cincinnati
3. Tiquan Underwood, Rutgers
4. Derek Kinder, Pittsburgh
5. Mike Williams, Syracuse
Quick thoughts: Britt and Underwood are among the top five receiver combinations in the nation. Barnett is lanky, but he's quick and catches nearly anything thrown his way. Kinder was the league's best receiver last fall before an ACL injury in camp.
Tight end
1. Cedric Hill, South Florida
2. Kevin Brock, Rutgers
3. Nate Byham, Pittsburgh
4. Steve Brouse, Connecticut
5. Johnnie Burns, Louisville
Quick thoughts: This is a thin spot in the league. There is a lot of inexperience and plenty of guys who are pass-catchers first, run-blockers second. Burns, a former defensive end, is an intriguing athlete. Pitt's Dorin Dickerson, a former linebacker, will eventually unseat Byham and could be the league's best by the end of the season.
Offensive line
1. Greg Isdaner, West Virginia
2. Ryan Stanchek, West Virginia
3. Eric Wood, Louisville
4. Trevor Canfield, Cincinnati
5. Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh
Quick thoughts: Isdaner and Stanchek are among the elite in the nation, and Wood has been a grinder the past three years. Pinkston has elite talent, but was injured much of last season.
Kicker
1. Tony Ciaravino, Connecticut
2. Conor Lee, Pittsburgh
3. Pat McAfee, West Virginia
4. Delbert Alvarado, South Florida
5. Patrick Shadle, Syracuse
Quick thoughts: A good group from 40-45 yards and in. Lee and McAfee have made some big kicks.
Defensive line
1. George Selvie, South Florida
2. Terrill Byrd, Cincinnati
3. Jamaal Westerman, Rutgers
4. Arthur Jones, Syracuse
5. Gus Mustakas, Pittsburgh
Quick thoughts: This is the deepest spot on the defense. Selvie and Byrd both have first-team All-America ability, and Westerman doesn't get nearly enough publicity.
Linebacker
1. Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh
2. Reed Williams, West Virginia
3. Tyrone McKenzie, South Florida
4. Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut
5. Kevin Malast, Rutgers
Quick thoughts: McKillop isn't as athletic as Southern Cal's Rey Maualuga and Ohio State's James Laurinaitis, but McKillop is there in terms of production. McKenzie has serious potential, and Malast is the classic run-stuffer.
Defensive back
1. Mike Mickens, Cincinnati
2. Courtney Green, Rutgers
3. Nate Allen, South Florida
4. DeAngelo Smith, Cincinnati
5. Aaron Berry, Pittsburgh
Quick thoughts: The rise of playmakers on defense has allowed the Big East to jump the ACC. The secondary is a big reason: Mickens and Green are All-America candidates, and Berry could be the league's best cover corner by the end of the season.
Punter
1. Kevin Huber, Cincinnati
2. Pat McAfee, West Virginia
3. Rob Long, Syracuse
4. Delbe Alvarado, South Florida
5. Desi Cullen, Connecticut
Quick thoughts: Huber is the nation's best punter, and McAfee and Alvarado are better punters than kickers.
Quarterback
1. Pat White, West Virginia
2. Matt Grothe, South Florida
3. Hunter Cantwell, Louisville
4. Tyler Lorenzen, Connecticut
5. Mike Teel, Rutgers
Quick thoughts: White is the best player in the game -- period. When Grothe becomes more of a pocket passer, the Bulls will be more consistent on offense.
Running back
1. LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh
2. Noel Devine, West Virginia
3. Andre Dixon, Connecticut
4. Mike Ford, South Florida
5. Donald Brown, Connecticut
Quick thoughts: A strong group; could be the best in the BCS leagues by the end of the season. The Pitt staff estimates McCoy left 600 yards on the field last fall because of his inexperience. Think about that.
Wide receiver
1. Kenny Britt, Rutgers
2. Marcus Barnett, Cincinnati
3. Tiquan Underwood, Rutgers
4. Derek Kinder, Pittsburgh
5. Mike Williams, Syracuse
Quick thoughts: Britt and Underwood are among the top five receiver combinations in the nation. Barnett is lanky, but he's quick and catches nearly anything thrown his way. Kinder was the league's best receiver last fall before an ACL injury in camp.
Tight end
1. Cedric Hill, South Florida
2. Kevin Brock, Rutgers
3. Nate Byham, Pittsburgh
4. Steve Brouse, Connecticut
5. Johnnie Burns, Louisville
Quick thoughts: This is a thin spot in the league. There is a lot of inexperience and plenty of guys who are pass-catchers first, run-blockers second. Burns, a former defensive end, is an intriguing athlete. Pitt's Dorin Dickerson, a former linebacker, will eventually unseat Byham and could be the league's best by the end of the season.
Offensive line
1. Greg Isdaner, West Virginia
2. Ryan Stanchek, West Virginia
3. Eric Wood, Louisville
4. Trevor Canfield, Cincinnati
5. Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh
Quick thoughts: Isdaner and Stanchek are among the elite in the nation, and Wood has been a grinder the past three years. Pinkston has elite talent, but was injured much of last season.
Kicker
1. Tony Ciaravino, Connecticut
2. Conor Lee, Pittsburgh
3. Pat McAfee, West Virginia
4. Delbert Alvarado, South Florida
5. Patrick Shadle, Syracuse
Quick thoughts: A good group from 40-45 yards and in. Lee and McAfee have made some big kicks.
Defensive line
1. George Selvie, South Florida
2. Terrill Byrd, Cincinnati
3. Jamaal Westerman, Rutgers
4. Arthur Jones, Syracuse
5. Gus Mustakas, Pittsburgh
Quick thoughts: This is the deepest spot on the defense. Selvie and Byrd both have first-team All-America ability, and Westerman doesn't get nearly enough publicity.
Linebacker
1. Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh
2. Reed Williams, West Virginia
3. Tyrone McKenzie, South Florida
4. Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut
5. Kevin Malast, Rutgers
Quick thoughts: McKillop isn't as athletic as Southern Cal's Rey Maualuga and Ohio State's James Laurinaitis, but McKillop is there in terms of production. McKenzie has serious potential, and Malast is the classic run-stuffer.
Defensive back
1. Mike Mickens, Cincinnati
2. Courtney Green, Rutgers
3. Nate Allen, South Florida
4. DeAngelo Smith, Cincinnati
5. Aaron Berry, Pittsburgh
Quick thoughts: The rise of playmakers on defense has allowed the Big East to jump the ACC. The secondary is a big reason: Mickens and Green are All-America candidates, and Berry could be the league's best cover corner by the end of the season.
Punter
1. Kevin Huber, Cincinnati
2. Pat McAfee, West Virginia
3. Rob Long, Syracuse
4. Delbe Alvarado, South Florida
5. Desi Cullen, Connecticut
Quick thoughts: Huber is the nation's best punter, and McAfee and Alvarado are better punters than kickers.
