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Mandel's spring power 25

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Mothra

Mothra

The Man In The Box
'14 Bowl Upsets Champ
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/stewart_mandel/04/27/spring.rankings/index.html

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=558 border=0><TBODY><TR class=cnnPWHeader><TD align=middle width=50>Rank</TD><TD align=middle width=50>LW</TD><TD width=75></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #999 1px solid" width=381>Team</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>1</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>USC Trojans (13-0 in 2004)
Key returnees: QB Matt Leinart, RB Reggie Bush, RB LenDale White, WR Dwayne Jarrett, WR Steve Smith
Spring star: DT Sedrick Ellis. The redshirt sophomore showed he's ready to fill Mike Patterson's shoes.
Lowdown: With Leinart, Bush and LenDale White sitting out the spring, QB John David Booty emerged as the top backup, and tailback Desmond Reed made a case for more playing time. The defensive front seven looks ready to reload, but injuries/suspensions left the Trojans depleted at cornerback.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>2</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Texas Longhorns (11-1)
Key returnees: QB Vince Young, TE David Thomas, T Jonathan Scott, DT Rod Wright, SS Michael Huff
Spring star: RB Ramonce Taylor. In Cedric Benson's absence, the speedy sophomore will split carries with Selvin Young.
Lowdown: QB Young, whose running skills are well known to anyone who watched the Rose Bowl, continued his progress as a passer, thanks to improved WRs Limas Sweed and Jordan Shipley. The defense is still loaded, but the 'Horns will miss LB Derrick Johnson's playmaking abilities. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>3</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Tennessee Volunteers (10-3)
Key returnees: QB Erik Ainge, RB Gerald Riggs, DT Jesse Mahelona, LB Kevin Simon, CB Jason Allen
Spring star: WR Josh Briscoe. The true freshman enrolled early and immediately proved to be a big playmaker.
Lowdown: Mass injuries to the line and receivers limited the offense, but it appears a rejuvenated Ainge will reclaim his starting job from Rick Clausen come fall. The defense is unbelievably deep, particularly with the return of LB Kevin Simon, who missed most of 2004 after a knee injury. The secondary remains tenuous.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>4</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Ohio St. Buckeyes (8-4)
Key returnees: QB Troy Smith, WR Santonio Holmes, WR Ted Ginn Jr., LB A.J. Hawk, CB Ashton Youboty
Spring star: RB Erik Haw. The impressive freshman battled sophomore Antonio Pittman for the starting tailback spot.
Lowdown: With 18 returning starters, the Buckeyes look to pick up where they left off late last season, when they whipped Michigan and Oklahoma State. A more wide-open offense should mean ample touches for gifted playmakers Ginn and Holmes, while the O-line and running game should be stronger.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>5</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Florida Gators (7-5)
Key returnees: QB Chris Leak, C Mike Degory, WR Chad Jackson, LB Earl Everett, LB Brandon Siler
Spring star: QB Josh Portis. The true frosh quickly picked up Urban Meyer's offense to earn the No. 2 job.
Lowdown: Meyer's unique spread-option attack is likely to mystify many an SEC defensive coordinator. Leak and receivers Jackson, Andre Caldwell and Dallas Baker looked sharp during the spring, though a go-to tailback has yet to emerge. Sophomore safety Kyle Jackson is an emerging star on a veteran D.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>6</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Virginia Tech Hokies (10-3)
Key returnees: WR Eddie Royal, TE Jeff King, DE Darryl Tapp, CB Jimmy Williams
Spring star: QB Marcus Vick. The younger Vick regained the Hokies' trust -- and starting job -- following his season in exile.
Lowdown: The Hokies were young when they won the ACC and played Auburn tough in the Sugar Bowl last season. If Vick continues to progress, the passing game will be lethal, what with a bevy of talented receivers. Tech still has some holes to fill defensively but should have a dominant pass rush.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>7</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>LSU Tigers (9-3)
Key returnees: RB Alley Broussard, WR Dwayne Bowe, DT Claude Wroten, FS LaRon Landry
Spring star: CB Sammy Joseph. Having started as a freshman at Colorado, the transfer sewed up a job with the Tigers.
Lowdown: The Tigers return nearly their entire offense. New coach Les Miles hasn't named a starting QB, but JaMarcus Russell is the likely choice. The defense lost two stars in CB Corey Webster and DE Marcus Spears, but transfers Joseph and Chase Pittman (Texas) conveniently filled those positions.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>8</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Iowa Hawkeyes (10-2)
Key returnees: QB Drew Tate, WR Ed Hinkel, LB Abdul Hodge, LB Chad Greenway
Spring star: DT Matt Kroul. The redshirt freshman staked a clear claim to one of the two available starting spots at tackle.
Lowdown: A rash of injuries this spring made it hard to get a read on the Hawkeyes, who need to improve their running game and fill all four starting jobs along the defensive line. But Tate is a potential Heisman contender, and the linebackers and secondary should be among the nation's finest. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>9</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Miami (FL) Hurricanes (9-3)
Key returnees: T Eric Winston, CB/KR Devin Hester, DE Baraka Atkins, SS Greg Threat
Spring star: LB Willie Williams. The famous (and infamous) star recruit has been too dominant to keep off the field.
Lowdown: A healthier offensive line and receiving corps helped new QB Kyle Wright shine, and young RBs Derron Thomas and Charlie Jones could eventually supplant veteran Tyrone Moss. The D-line looked tougher, and, even without Antrel Rolle, the 'Canes will be extremely deep in the secondary. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>10</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Michigan Wolverines (9-3)
Key returnees: QB Chad Henne, RB Michael Hart, WR Steve Breaston, LB LaMarr Woodley
Spring star: RB Kevin Grady. Michigan's most touted signee enrolled early and made his case for carries in the fall.
Lowdown: Though Braylon Edwards is gone, the return of freshman sensations Henne and Hart as well as proven threat Breaston should leave few worries on offense. The big question is the defense, which struggled at times last season and must replace DBs Ernest Shazor and Marlin Jackson.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>11</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Oklahoma Sooners (12-1)
Key returnees: RB Adrian Peterson, T Davin Joseph, WR Travis Wilson, LB Rufus Alexander
Spring star: MLB Zach Latimer. The junior proved he's capable of stepping into Lance Mitchell's old role.
Lowdown: This is Bob Stoops' biggest rebuilding job since he first arrived; the Sooners lost Jason White and 10 NFL draft picks (though it certainly helps to have Peterson). Junior Paul Thompson leads the QB hunt for now but could be surpassed by redshirt frosh Rhett Bomar. The secondary must improve. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>12</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Louisville Cardinals (11-1)
Key returnees: QB Brian Brohm, RB Michael Bush, G Travis Leffew, LB Brandon Johnson
Spring star: WR Mario Urruita. The 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman was one of the top playmakers all spring.
Lowdown: Despite losing Stefan LeFors, Eric Shelton and J.R. Russell, last year's top-rated offense hasn't missed a beat; Brohm threw for 390 yards and six TDs in the spring game. Bush and Kolby Smith make a powerful running duo. The D-line is solid, but no middle linebacker has emerged.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=558 border=0><TBODY><TR class=cnnPWHeader><TD align=middle width=50>Rank</TD><TD align=middle width=50>LW</TD><TD width=75></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #999 1px solid" width=381>Team</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>13</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Auburn Tigers (13-0)
Key returnees: WR Courtney Taylor, T Marcus McNeill, DE Stanley McClover, LB Travis Williams
Spring star: LB Merrill Johnson. The redshirt freshman and top backup notched 23 tackles in four scrimmages.
Lowdown: How do you replace Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams? QB Brandon Cox has looked solid in the past, and veteran Tre Smith leads a committee of tailbacks. New defensive coordinator David Gibbs inherited a deep, loaded front seven that will carry the Tigers early on.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>14</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Georgia Bulldogs (10-2)
Key returnees: RB Thomas Brown, T Max Jean-Gilles, DE Quentin Moses, S Greg Blue
Spring star: LB Brandon Miller. Last year's top recruit continues to challenge for the starting strongside spot.
Lowdown: The Bulldogs are also in rebuilding mode after losing stars David Greene, Fred Gibson, Reggie Brown, David Pollack, Thomas Davis and Odell Thurman. The defense is still in good shape, but QB D.J. Shockley and his receivers struggled. A strong O-line and running game should help. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>15</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Fresno St. Bulldogs (9-3)
Key returnees: QB Paul Pinegar, RB Bryson Sumlin, DE Garrett McIntyre, CB Richard Marshall
Spring star: WR Paul Williams. The previously unsung junior made dazzling long catches in every scrimmage.
Lowdown: Coach Pat Hill returns 17 starters from the team that beat Virginia in the MPC Computers Bowl. Pinegar is a four-year starter, Sumlin is among three former 1,000-yard rushers and the WR corps is deep. There are several holes to fill on the defensive line, but the LBs and CBs are solid. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>16</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Arizona St. Sun Devils (9-3)
Key returnees: WR Derek Hagan, TE Zach Miller, LB Dale Robinson, LB Jamar Williams
Spring star: LB Robert James. The sophomore essentially came out of nowhere to win the starting "devil" spot.
Lowdown: This is Dirk Koetter's deepest team. The Devils are loaded at WR and LB. QB Sam Keller, who threw for 370 yards in the Sun Bowl, is well equipped to succeed Andrew Walter. But a university investigation into the handling of troubled ex-RB Loren Wade could hang over the program into the fall. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>17</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Boise St. Broncos (11-1)
Key returnees: QB Jared Zabrasnky, RB Lee Marks, T Daryn Colledge, LB Korey Hall
Spring star: CB Quinton Jones. The formerly little-used tailback will likely to take over for departed star Gabe Franklin.
Lowdown: Zabransky returns to lead what should be another powerful Dan Hawkins offense, and an experienced defensive front should be strong against the run. The biggest obstacle to a third-straight 11-win season will be the schedule -- at Georgia and Oregon State, home against Bowling Green. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>18</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Florida St. Seminoles (9-3)
Key returnees: RB Leon Washington, RB Lorenzo Booker, LB Ernie Sims, LB A.J. Nicholson
Spring star: DT Clifton Dickson. A standout throughout spring, the projected starter had two sacks in the final scrimmage.
Lowdown: FSU tweaked its offense this spring, using more motion and two-back sets, but it didn't seem to help; the young O-line struggled, and redshirt freshmen QBs Xavier Lee and Drew Weatherford failed to overtake Wyatt Sexton. The defense, however, showed it will be dominant yet again.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>19</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Purdue Boilermakers (7-5)
Key returnees: RB Jerod Void, WR Kyle Ingraham, DE Ray Edwards, SS Bernard Pollard
Spring star: T Sean Sester. The 6-8 redshirt freshman seized an opportunity to lay claim to the right tackle job.
Lowdown: Senior QB Brandon Kirsch, who started six times in place of Kyle Orton, takes over for good, and Joe Tiller has installed an option component to take advantage of his mobility. The defense, which led the Big Ten in sacks, returns all 11 starters, but needs to improve against the pass.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>20</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-4)
Key returnees: WR Jarrett Hicks, RB Taurean Henderson, CB Khalid Naziruddin, S Vincent Meeks
Spring star: QB Cody Hodges. The fifth-year senior took command with a 20-of-26, 237-yard spring game.
Lowdown: Coming off a huge Holiday Bowl win over Cal, Mike Leach's offense is poised to put up even more big numbers under Hodges, particularly with its veteran receivers. The defense, which returns eight starters, installed several new looks and should be strong in the secondary.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>21</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Pittsburgh Panthers (8-4)
Key returnees: QB Tyler Palko, WR Greg Lee, LB H.B. Blades, CB Bernard Lay
Spring star: RB Rashad Jennings. The freshman wasted no time establishing himself as the Panthers' feature back.
Lowdown: Dave Wannstedt spent his first spring installing a power-running mentality that should make the Panthers more balanced and, in turn, more dangerous offensively. Similarly, the defense will have more of a "pro" look, but it may lack enough impact players along the line to be dominant.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>22</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>California Golden Bears (10-2)
Key returnees: RB Marshawn Lynch, C Marvin Philip, T Ryan O'Callaghan, S Donnie McCleskey
Spring star: WR Sam DeSa. The sophomore stepped up as a threat in the Bears' otherwise depleted WR corps.
Lowdown: The Bears lost 11 starters, including Aaron Rodgers and J.J. Arrington, but should still be decent. Juco transfer Joe Ayoob and redshirt freshman Nathan Longshore finished spring in a dead heat at QB. Transfers Albert Ma'afala (DT) and Desmond Bishop (LB) plugged holes on defense.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>23</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Bowling Green Falcons (9-3)
Key returnees: QB Omar Jacobs, RB P.J. Pope, WR Charles Sharon, T Rob Warren
Spring stars: WR Cory Partridge. The redshirt freshman had 140 yards and three TDs in the Falcons' spring game.
Lowdown: The sensational Jacobs threw for 4,002 yards, 41 TDs and just four picks last season, and he'll have just as many weapons around him this year, including Sharon, Partridge and Steve Sanders. Defense is a question mark, but hey, it's the MAC -- no 17-9 games in the forecast.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>24</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-5)
Key returnees: RB P.J. Daniels, WR Calvin Johnson, DE Eric Henderson, LB Gerris Wilkinson
Spring star: WR James Johnson. The speedy redshirt freshman emerged as a viable No. 3 receiver.
Lowdown: Oft-maligned QB Reggie Ball solidified himself as the starter. Calvin Johnson was dominant all spring and will be one of the nation's top receivers. A season-ending injury to DT Darryl Richard hurts, but the Jackets have eight returning defensive starters and decent depth.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=cnnPWRank>25</TD><TD class=cnnPWLW>--</TD><TD class=cnnPWLogo align=middle></TD><TD class=cnnPWTeam vAlign=top>Wyoming Cowboys (7-5)
Key returnees: QB Corey Bramlet, WR Jovon Bouknight, DT Dusty Hoffschneider, CB Derrick Martin
Spring star: C Drew Severn. Having moved over from guard, the senior will replace four-year starter Trenton Franz.
Lowdown: The Cowboys have improved drastically in two seasons under Joe Glenn, and this year's team will be one of the school's most experienced (17 returning starters, all juniors and seniors) in recent memory. With Utah rebuilding, Wyoming should be the class of the Mountain West. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
On the cusp: Texas A&M, Minnesota, Virginia, Notre Dame, UCLA.
 
I was thinking this looks like a pretty reasonable top-25 for Mandel, and then I saw the last 3 spots - BG, GaTech, and Wyoming! He'll be lucky if one of those teams is ranked at the end of the year.

Picking Iowa #8 is smart - they've finished #8 three years in a row in the AP poll.

Having Texas and tOSU both in the top-5 (which I think they will be) will add even more hype to that night game - not that it needs any more.
 
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"How is Haw the spring star when Pittman is still slated to start?"


In a spring game where we really needed someone to step up at TB, Haw led the game in rushing (and was to many Buckeye fans the game's offensive bright spot). But you have to realize whoever made up these rankings likely didn't see any of the games this spring; they probably just checked the box scores...
 
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KevinBuck said:
"How is Haw the spring star when Pittman is still slated to start?"


In a spring game where we really needed someone to step up at TB, Haw led the game in rushing (and was to many Buckeye fans the game's offensive bright spot). But you have to realize whoever made up these rankings likely didn't see any of the games this spring; they probably just checked the box scores...
Click to expand...

Haw got most of his yards in the second half against the backups, if I'm not mistaken, so you're probably right about Mandel simply checking the stat sheet for the game.
 
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Another Mandel Spring Review - Questions Answered

Follows on (I think) from his earlier article.

Spring in review

Key practice-field developments around the nation

Matt Leinart is good. Vince Young is fast. Adrian Peterson is hard to tackle.

These are not things we learned this spring -- because we already knew them.

Spring football is about the unknown. Who will replace departed stars such as Jason White and Carnell Williams? Which previously unseen players will emerge as next season's stars? To that end, here is a snapshot of what took place on various practice fields across the country this spring:

Teams that answered their biggest questions ...

Miami: The 'Canes got exactly what they wanted out of spring: a quarterback they can count on. Sophomore Kyle Wright, showing why he was the nation's top-rated high school signal-caller two years ago, went 10-of-13 for 159 yards and two touchdowns in the spring game and beat out redshirt freshman Kirby Freeman for the starting job. It also helped that Miami's injury-plagued offensive line of a year ago started returning to form.

USC: With All-America DTs Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson off to the NFL, head coach Pete Carroll was thrilled to see Patterson's replacement, redshirt sophomore Sedrick Ellis, step up and play at a similar level. Sophomore LB Keith Rivers, heir apparent to Matt Grootegoed, also drew raves. Of course, the Trojans will have a whole new set of questions if, as reported as a possibility, RB LenDale White and three other starters fail to remain academically eligible.

Virginia Tech: How is Marcus Vick doing? The answer came promptly at the end of spring when Frank Beamer elevated the junior QB -- who was suspended from school last season -- from No. 3 to No. 1 on the depth chart after going 31-of-53 for 406 yards in three scrimmages. With the large majority of last season's ACC title team returning, the Hokies are counting on a more mature Vick to provide the same type of leadership as departed three-year starter Bryan Randall.

Ohio State: You know you have a good team when the biggest question mark is at kicker, but in this case, the Buckeyes have to replace one of the most valuable in college football history, Mike Nugent. They may still be in good shape. In a kicking scrimmage held two nights before the spring game, Josh Huston, expected to be granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA (he missed two full seasons to injury), hit 8-of-9 field-goal attempts, including kicks from 50 and 51 yards.

Texas Tech: A fifth-year senior like predecessors B.J. Symons and Sonny Cumbie, Cody Hodges took advantage of an injury to redshirt freshman Graham Harrell to grab firm hold of the Red Raiders' coveted quarterback job, going 20-of-26 for 237 yards in the spring game. Meanwhile, Robert Johnson, who lost out to Cumbie in last year's QB race, moved to receiver and instantly became one of the top playmakers in Mike Leach's offense.

... and teams that didn't

Oklahoma: Fans knew this would be a rebuilding year after the Sooners lost 12 starters, but spring was even rougher than expected. Not only did the three candidates to replace White at QB -- Paul Thompson, Rhett Bomar and Tommy Grady -- fail to distinguish themselves, but the young receivers dropped passes, the new offensive line starters got whupped and DT Dusty Dvoracek tore his bicep and could be out up to five months. Bob Stoops better have some magic left in him.

Auburn: If there was any doubt as to how special Auburn's 2004 backfield was, it got confirmed last Saturday when Ronnie Brown, Carnell Williams and Jason Campbell all went in the first round of the NFL Draft. Unfortunately their replacements, QB Brandon Cox and RBs Tre Smith, Kenny Irons and Carl Stewart, spent much of the spring getting humbled by the Tigers' defense. "We're still light years away from having the offense we'll need to compete for a championship," said coach Tommy Tuberville.

Florida State: Once a QB factory, the 'Noles apparently will enter a fifth straight season with uncertainty at the position. Coaches gave redshirt freshmen Xavier Lee and Drew Weatherford every opportunity to unseat shaky incumbent Wyatt Sexton, but they couldn't do it. "I don't think I can say [Sexton] is where we want him," offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden told reporters, "but he still clearly operates everything a little more smoothly than Drew and Xavier."

Georgia: The Bulldogs, having lost QB David Greene and WRs Fred Gibson and Reggie Brown (who made 82 percent of the Dawgs' receptions in '04), struggled in the passing game most of spring. The coaches aren't too worried about senior QB D.J. Shockley, who has extensive game experience, but junior Sean Bailey was the only consistent receiver. One encouraging sign from the spring game: redshirt freshman Kenneth Harris caught four balls for 95 yards.

Iowa: Though the Hawkeyes return 12 starters from last season's 10-2 team, they lost all four starters from a dominant defensive line. Coach Kirk Ferentz found two capable replacements in sophomore Kenny Iwebema and redshirt freshman Matt Kroul, but injuries to several other contenders, including DE Bryan Mattison, left the other spots up in the air. "Outside of Ken and Matt," Ferentz told the Des Moines Register, "it's going to be a little bit of guesswork." ctd
Click to expand...
 
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Oklahoma: Fans knew this would be a rebuilding year after the Sooners lost 12 starters, but spring was even rougher than expected. Not only did the three candidates to replace White at QB -- Paul Thompson, Rhett Bomar and Tommy Grady -- fail to distinguish themselves, but the young receivers dropped passes, the new offensive line starters got whupped and DT Dusty Dvoracek tore his bicep and could be out up to five months. Bob Stoops better have some magic left in him.
Click to expand...

Did anyone else watch this game? The offense looked horrible. I swear the announcers said "the defense has an edge because they know the plays" at LEAST 142 times. Even though that is true, the offensive line was decimated on every play. I really hope this is a down year for choklahoma, I am sick of them being glory boys and then getting pasted every year. . .
 
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tones3778 said:
Is it just me, or does anyone else think this is absurd?
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No Tate is a player and a half. He is quite a fighter, and we saw just how talented he can be first hand. My favorite play is not the bomb against LSU, but the play where he got his helmet ripped off against UM and he still stood there and made the throw.

I think this is a pretty good list, and you have to like that finally someone put scUM and OU low. Florida might be a little hyped, but they have the players to succeed if Urban's offense continues its success.
 
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I swear there is a rule that if you make a top 25 preseason poll, the Florida Gators must be in the top 10, and then state that this year will be the year that QB Chris Leak will light the college world on fire.

As for OSU, I really liked the way Marcus Freeman played in the spring game. Not sure how much PT he'll get with our LB corp being as stacked as it is, but he really stepped it up big time out there and made the most out of his opportunity.
 
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No Tate is a player and a half. He is quite a fighter, and we saw just how talented he can be first hand. My favorite play is not the bomb against LSU, but the play where he got his helmet ripped off against scUM and he still stood there and made the throw.
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I like Tate also. He is tough, has good quick feet, and is a winner. He does a great job staying alive and finding receivers late.
 
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No Tate is a player and a half. He is quite a fighter, and we saw just how talented he can be first hand. My favorite play is not the bomb against LSU, but the play where he got his helmet ripped off against scUM and he still stood there and made the throw.

I think this is a pretty good list, and you have to like that finally someone put scUM and OU low. Florida might be a little hyped, but they have the players to succeed if Urban's offense continues its success.
Click to expand...
couldn't agree more. id take tate over all 3 of our guys in a heartbeat. the play against scum... damn.. :bow: that alone should get him on a heisman list.
 
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