ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Anyone can list their Top 25 teams for 2008. Here is what Mandel ( on 17 Jan 08) at SI thinks:
Posted: Thursday January 17, 2008 9:56AM; Updated: Thursday January 17, 2008 3:23PM
Ohio State fans, for instance, received a much-needed infusion of good news with the announcements that stars James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins (among others) are returning for their senior seasons, meaning the Buckeyes will return a staggering 39 of the 44 players on their season-ending two deep.
Georgia Bulldogs (11-2 in 2007)
Who's back: QB Matthew Stafford, RB Knowshon Moreno, DT Geno Atkins, LB Dannell Ellerbe, CB Asher Allen.
Who's not: RB Thomas Brown, WR Sean Bailey, DE Marcus Howard, S Kelin Johnson.
Skinny: Eight starters return for an offense that will be far more experienced, led by Moreno. The same defense that shut down Hawaii QB Colt Brennan will be loaded again.
Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2)
Who's back: RB Beanie Wells, WRs Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline, LB James Laurinaitis, CB Malcolm Jenkins.
Who's not: T Kirk Barton, DE Vernon Gholston*, LB Larry Grant.
Skinny: OSU was the unquestioned winner of the NFL derby, with likely first-rounders Laurinaitis and Jenkins opting to return. Wells is a potential Heisman winner.
USC Trojans (11-2)
Who's back: RBs Stafon Johnson and Joe McKnight, LBs Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga, S Taylor Mays.
Who's not: QB John David Booty, T Sam Baker, G Chilo Rachal*, DT Sedrick Ellis, LB Keith Rivers.
Skinny: Johnson and McKnight will form USC's most potent rushing tandem since Bush-White. Mark Sanchez will battle Mitch Mustain for the quarterback job.
Florida Gators (9-4)
Who's back: QB Tim Tebow, WRs Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy, LB Brandon Spikes, S Major Wright.
Who's not: WR Andre Caldwell, DE Derrick Harvey*, S Tony Joiner.
Skinny: Tebow, Harvin and USC transfer RB Emmanuel Moody help form a scary offense, but last year's young defense will need to make strides.
Missouri Tigers (12-2)
Who's back: QB Chase Daniel, WR/KR Jeremy Maclin, TE Chase Coffman, LB Sean Weatherspoon, S William Moore.
Who's not: RB Tony Temple, WR William Franklin, TE Martin Rucker, DT Lorenzo Williams.
Skinny: Heisman finalist Daniel and the speedy Maclin will be the core of what should be another explosive spread attack. The defense will be far more experienced.
LSU Tigers (12-2)
Who's back: QB Ryan Perrilloux, WRs Brandon LaFell and Demetrius Byrd, DE Tyson Jackson, LB Darry Beckwith.
Who's not: QB Matt Flynn, RB Jacob Hester, DT Glenn Dorsey, LB Ali Highsmith, CB Chevis Jackson.
Skinny: Perrilloux should have no problem stepping in, but the Tigers' defense was laden with seniors and several young players will have to step up.
Oklahoma Sooners (11-3)
Who's back: QB Sam Bradford, RB DeMarco Murray, G Duke Robinson, DE Auston English, DT DeMarcus Granger.
Who's not: RB Allen Patrick, WR Malcolm Kelly*, LB Curtis Lofton*, DB Reggie Smith*.
Skinny: No team was hit harder by NFL defections than OU, which lost its three best players. The offense is still stacked, but the defense now has several holes.
Auburn Tigers (9-4)
Who's back: QB Kodi Burns, RBs Ben Tate and Brad Lester, DE Antonio Coleman, CB Jerraud Powers.
Who's not: QB Brandon Cox, T King Dunlap, DE Quentin Groves, DT Pat Sims*.
Skinny: Burns provided a glimpse of Auburn's new spread-option look in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Groves will be missed, but the defense should be tough as always.
Wisconsin Badgers (9-4)
Who's back: RBs P.J. Hill and Zach Brown, TE Travis Beckum, DE Matt Shaunghessy, S Shane Carter.
Who's not: QB Tyler Donovan, DT Nick Haden, CB Jack Ikegwuonu*.
Skinny: The Badgers return nine starters on both sides of the ball. Much will depend on whether QB Allan Evridge can perform as consistently as Donovan.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-4)
Who's back: QB Graham Harrell, WR Michael Crabtree, G Louis Vasquez, CB Jamar Wall.
Who's not: WR Danny Amendola, LB Paul Williams.
Skinny: After closing the season with wins over Oklahoma and Virginia, the Raiders' second-ranked offense returns 10 starters, including All-America WR Crabtree. Scary.
Entire article: SI.com - Writers - Stewart Mandel: Georgia holds top spot with?maturing offense, feisty D - Thursday January 17, 2008 3:23PM
Posted: Thursday January 17, 2008 9:56AM; Updated: Thursday January 17, 2008 3:23PM
Ohio State fans, for instance, received a much-needed infusion of good news with the announcements that stars James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins (among others) are returning for their senior seasons, meaning the Buckeyes will return a staggering 39 of the 44 players on their season-ending two deep.
Georgia Bulldogs (11-2 in 2007)Who's back: QB Matthew Stafford, RB Knowshon Moreno, DT Geno Atkins, LB Dannell Ellerbe, CB Asher Allen.
Who's not: RB Thomas Brown, WR Sean Bailey, DE Marcus Howard, S Kelin Johnson.
Skinny: Eight starters return for an offense that will be far more experienced, led by Moreno. The same defense that shut down Hawaii QB Colt Brennan will be loaded again.
Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2)Who's back: RB Beanie Wells, WRs Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline, LB James Laurinaitis, CB Malcolm Jenkins.
Who's not: T Kirk Barton, DE Vernon Gholston*, LB Larry Grant.
Skinny: OSU was the unquestioned winner of the NFL derby, with likely first-rounders Laurinaitis and Jenkins opting to return. Wells is a potential Heisman winner.
USC Trojans (11-2)Who's back: RBs Stafon Johnson and Joe McKnight, LBs Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga, S Taylor Mays.
Who's not: QB John David Booty, T Sam Baker, G Chilo Rachal*, DT Sedrick Ellis, LB Keith Rivers.
Skinny: Johnson and McKnight will form USC's most potent rushing tandem since Bush-White. Mark Sanchez will battle Mitch Mustain for the quarterback job.
Florida Gators (9-4)Who's back: QB Tim Tebow, WRs Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy, LB Brandon Spikes, S Major Wright.
Who's not: WR Andre Caldwell, DE Derrick Harvey*, S Tony Joiner.
Skinny: Tebow, Harvin and USC transfer RB Emmanuel Moody help form a scary offense, but last year's young defense will need to make strides.
Missouri Tigers (12-2)Who's back: QB Chase Daniel, WR/KR Jeremy Maclin, TE Chase Coffman, LB Sean Weatherspoon, S William Moore.
Who's not: RB Tony Temple, WR William Franklin, TE Martin Rucker, DT Lorenzo Williams.
Skinny: Heisman finalist Daniel and the speedy Maclin will be the core of what should be another explosive spread attack. The defense will be far more experienced.
LSU Tigers (12-2)Who's back: QB Ryan Perrilloux, WRs Brandon LaFell and Demetrius Byrd, DE Tyson Jackson, LB Darry Beckwith.
Who's not: QB Matt Flynn, RB Jacob Hester, DT Glenn Dorsey, LB Ali Highsmith, CB Chevis Jackson.
Skinny: Perrilloux should have no problem stepping in, but the Tigers' defense was laden with seniors and several young players will have to step up.
Oklahoma Sooners (11-3)Who's back: QB Sam Bradford, RB DeMarco Murray, G Duke Robinson, DE Auston English, DT DeMarcus Granger.
Who's not: RB Allen Patrick, WR Malcolm Kelly*, LB Curtis Lofton*, DB Reggie Smith*.
Skinny: No team was hit harder by NFL defections than OU, which lost its three best players. The offense is still stacked, but the defense now has several holes.
Auburn Tigers (9-4)Who's back: QB Kodi Burns, RBs Ben Tate and Brad Lester, DE Antonio Coleman, CB Jerraud Powers.
Who's not: QB Brandon Cox, T King Dunlap, DE Quentin Groves, DT Pat Sims*.
Skinny: Burns provided a glimpse of Auburn's new spread-option look in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Groves will be missed, but the defense should be tough as always.
Wisconsin Badgers (9-4)Who's back: RBs P.J. Hill and Zach Brown, TE Travis Beckum, DE Matt Shaunghessy, S Shane Carter.
Who's not: QB Tyler Donovan, DT Nick Haden, CB Jack Ikegwuonu*.
Skinny: The Badgers return nine starters on both sides of the ball. Much will depend on whether QB Allan Evridge can perform as consistently as Donovan.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-4)Who's back: QB Graham Harrell, WR Michael Crabtree, G Louis Vasquez, CB Jamar Wall.
Who's not: WR Danny Amendola, LB Paul Williams.
Skinny: After closing the season with wins over Oklahoma and Virginia, the Raiders' second-ranked offense returns 10 starters, including All-America WR Crabtree. Scary.
Entire article: SI.com - Writers - Stewart Mandel: Georgia holds top spot with?maturing offense, feisty D - Thursday January 17, 2008 3:23PM
Upvote
0
Maybe I should back off my stance...BTW he has 5 in his top 15 as well...
