AN EARLY LOOK AHEAD – 2009
January 14th, 2009 by Daniel Freer
Bummer….the 2008 season is over.
As the University of Florida stashed more championship bling in their trophy case, I began to wonder “what to do during the off-season”?
The college football off-season can be quite dreary for the die-hards…it’s like being forced to listen to the Mamma Mia movie soundtrack while at gunpoint…it’s like (as some other movie once mentioned) “getting hit by a truck full of hot garbage juice”
The off-season can be rough and unpleasant….like a Pierce Brosnan vocal solo.
However, we can start to be positive…and look forward to the 2009 season. Players who had huge 2008 seasons, like Houston QB Case Keenum (photo, thanks IconSMI), may just go nuts in ’09.
Here is an early (early, early) look ahead to the 2009 season, and some top projected players
TIM TEBOW – Florida: Gainesville went nuts on Sunday, and not just because the Gators won another BCS National Championship. The Living Legend, QB Tim Tebow, decided to return for his senior season…basically guaranteeing a pre-season #1 ranking for the Gators when the first polls come out in August. First, Tebow has to heal from shoulder surgery on his throwing (right) shoulder…but that should not be an issue by 2009 kicks off. The Gators will be loaded again on both sides of the ball, even if WR Percy Harvin leaves early for the NFL, while many of their SEC counterparts are losing major talent.
CASE KEENUM – Houston: How about a surprise non-BCS player, and team, for 2009? Look to Houston and its QB, Case Keenum. Keenum threw for nearly 5000 yards in 2008…and that was with his key skill-position players being underclassmen, players like WRs Tyron Carrier, L.J. Castile, and RB Bryce Beall. The Cougar QB somewhat flew under the radar in 2008, because arguably the top fantasy performer in the nation played about 5 miles from the UH campus…Rice QB Chase Clement. With Clement graduating, the city of Houston, and the fantasy world, could belong to Keenum next season.
KENDAL HUNTER – Oklahoma State: Another player who did not get enough recognition in 2008, as the Big XII was totally infested with big-time offensive players. Hunter, who will be a junior in 2009, ran for over 1500 yards in 2008, leading the Big XII in rushing. With the conference losing a number of top QBs after the 2008 season, 2009 could be the year Hunter gets his due….even if he has to share the spotlight with his big-time Cowboys teammates like WR Dez Bryant and QB Zac Robinson
KELLEN MOORE – Boise State: As a redshirt-freshman in 2008, Moore started every game at QB for the Broncos, and did not lose until TCU beat them in Poinsettia Bowl (by one point). At times Moore looked like a freshman, but most of the time lived up to his being the highest-regarded prep recruit to show up in Boise. Even though the Broncos All-Everything RB Ian Johnson…they return top WR Austin Pettis, and RBs Jeremy Avery and D.J. Harper…so Moore will have plenty of weapons as he leads BSU to another WAC title and possible BCS Bowl bid.
JIMMY CLAUSEN – Notre Dame: Huh? You say. However, if you saw any of the Hawaii Bowl, Clausen finally had that big game that everyone Domer was waiting for…over 400 yards passing and 6 TDs against a halfway-decent Warriors defense….at least one experienced in dealing with high-octane passing offenses. If I have a “stretch-pick” for fantasy-breakout player in 2009…it is Clausen. With talented young WRs like Golden Tate and Michael Floyd to throw to, 2009 could be the year that the Fighting Irish return to some sort of greatness…and could justify signing head coach Charlie Weis to that 10-year contract a couple of seasons ago.
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