East Carolina Pirates

Troubling news from the website for North Carolina television station WRAL, reported on August 13, 2008: head coach Skip Holtz of the East Carolina Pirates announced that projected starting tailback Dominique Lindsay and senior defensive tackle Brandon Setzer are both facing knee surgery. Lindsay, who injured his knee on Tuesday night during practice, will be out for “an unspecified amount of time,” while Setzer will miss the entire 2008 season.

Tulsa Golden Hurricanes

A valuable spotlight on players to watch from the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes graces the pages of the Tulsa World for Friday, August 9, 2008. Writes Eric Bailey and Jimmie Tramel, though there is little doubt that Tarrion Adams, an all-Conference USA preseason pick, will be leaned upon heavily in his final season with the University of Tulsa, fantasy owners may also want to keep an eye on sophomore Jamad Williams and true freshman Willie Carter, particularly keeper leagues.

Williams, the two writers emphasize, is a solid rusher in his own right, having outdone former Tulane University great, Matt Forte, on the ground in a meeting between the Green Wave and the Golden Hurricanes during last season. Carter, in the meantime, is regarded as a powerback and should be seen taking snaps with the Tulsa offense either at tailback or fullback alongside Charles Clay or Tennial.

UCF Knights

In the Orlando Sentinel comes the news that head coach George O’Leary moved freshman recruit Brendan Kelly from tight end to running back, where he will join fellow freshmen Brandon Davis and Brynn Harvey, as well as upperclassmen Latavius Murray and Ronnie Weaver.

O’Leary elected to shift Kelly, notes the article, because he was looking for “a bigger player in the backfield.” At 6′3″ and 235 pounds, that the freshman was moved to tailback is no surprise, and will provide UCF’s backfield with a strong physical presence which should counter well the quickness and elusiveness of the team’s other smaller backs. That Kelly will be wearing Kevin Smith’s old number, 24, seems a promising portent for the 2008 season, and the native of Shoreham, New York, should fit in well, particularly since Kelly played tailback while attending Shoreham-Wading River High school, where, for his career, he rushed for 4936 yards and 52 total touchdowns.

MAC

Miami (OH) Redhawks

Pete Conrad of the Middletown Journal writes on Thursday, August 14, 2008 that the Miami (OH) Redhawks have, apparently for the first time in the history of college football, had all three of their starting linebackers - Caleb Bostic, Clayton Mullins, and Joey Hudson - named to the preseason 2008 Butkus Award list.

Northern Illinois Huskies

Junior Justin Anderson may be the tailback from Northern Illinois that fantasy owners everywhere have on their minds heading into preseason drafting this fall, but the Daily Chronicle out of Dekalb, Illinois, suggests that freshman running back from Moss Point, Mississippi, Me’co Brown, is the guy in the Huskies’backfield that is making all the noise with one full week of fall camp now in the record books.

Says Alex Kube of Brown, who in a recent practice blew by the freshman All-American at safety for NIU without so much as being touched, “I feel like if I can tackle Me’co, I can tackle anybody in the country. He has that type of ability. He’s very fast, very quick.”

Western Michigan Broncos

Reports the website MLive.com for Tuesday, August 12, 2008, two players having a surprising impact at the wide receiver position for the Western Michigan Broncos in fall camp are true freshmen Eric Monette and E.J. Riley, both of whom were previously players at Portage Central High School in Portage, Michigan. Though doubtful that they will earn much time on the playing field this upcoming season, head coach Ryan Cubit has spoken highly of both young men and given each the opportunity to play on as high as the second-team offense in practices thus far.

Mountain West

Brigham Young Cougars

The Brigham Young University website, BYU Newsnet, suggests that value might indeed be found in picking up freshman kicker for the Cougars, Justin Sorenson, in preseason drafts, particularly for those leagues that feature keepers as a central component of their primary function. Sorenson, who currently is working with presumed starter Mitch Payne, was a monster in high school, averaging 70 yards-per-kickoff and racking up 81 touchbacks over the span of 88 total kicks. The article also mentions that the freshman missed only one PAT for all of 2007, and currently holds the Utah state record for PATs scored in a high school career, as well as field goals converted (28) and the longest field goal ever made in the history of the state.

Colorado State Rams

The Daily Camera reports on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 that senior Billy Farris of Colorado State University has been identified as the Rams’ starting quarterback for the 2008 season. Notes head coach Steve Fairchild of his selection under center, “I really liked the leadership and demeanor Billy showed in the spring. But he didn’t take anything for granted at that point. He really took charge over the summer, during our conditioning program and the players’ workouts. That was where he earned the respect and confidence of his teammates.”

New Mexico Lobos

The Las Cruces Sun-News provides readers with the news that Chris Hernandez, junior wideout for the University of New Mexico Lobos, has been named as the replacement to former Lobos’ standout at wide receiver, Marcus Smith, and will start the 2008 season in the X-spot. A 6′3″, 191 pound athlete out of Mayfield High School, Hernandez is a player, says offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin, that “has all the potential in the world. I believe he was insecure in some ways last year. He wasn’t sure about reading the opposing defense and he wasn’t always comfortable in the offense. However, he made strides in both of those departments . . .” Baldwin continues, saying, “Chris has great hands and he worked hard in the offseason.”

Wyoming Cowboys

The rumors surrounding the starting quarterback position at the University of Wyoming continue to swirl this week, but head coach Joe Glenn named junior college transfer Dax Crum as the man under center to start the 2008 season. Glenn told the Wyoming Star-Tribune for Friday, August 15, 2008, however, that he and his coaching staff were “talking about it (Thursday night), and right now anticipate (an announcement today), but it hasn’t been settled yet. We’re going to stay on the same timeline as we have been, we just need to finish talking about it.”

Crum replaces 2007 starter Karsten Sween, who as a sophomore, threw for over 2000 yards passing and 12 touchdowns, but added to those numbers 17 total interceptions.

Sun Belt

Arkansas State Red Wolves

Notes The Log Cabin Democrat of Conway, Arkansas, August 13, 2008, with quarterback Corey Leonard coming back in the 2008 season healthier and wiser, wide receivers coach for Arkansas State, Tyler Siskey, is looking to veteran receivers Kevin Jones and Brandon Thompkins to become strong targets for Leonard to throw to in the upcoming season. Jones, a senior, last year caught 18 passes for 236 yards. In the meantime, Thompkins, the Red Wolves’ second-leading receiver in 2007, caught 41 passes for 503 yards and one touchdown.

The Cabin also suggests that junior wideout Jarriel Norman should see additional time on the field this year, this after catching just three passes in 2006 and being hurt in 2007. Notes head coach Steve Roberts of Norman, “Jarriel makes a ton of big plays for us. Having him back fully healthy after his knee surgery last year is great for our football team. He’s a guy who adds another dimension to our receiving corps.”

Fantasy owners may also want to keep an eye on JUCO transfer Jahbari McLennan, a wide receiver who comes to the Red Wolves from Trinity Valley Junior College. In 2007, the native of Austin, Texas caught 29 passes for 550 yards and six touchdowns, landing him an all-conference selection for last season. Siskey seems particularly high on McLennan, telling reporters, “Jahbari has a chance to make a big play at any time. He’s really catching on and understanding the small things. He can just mix that with his athletic ability, and he’s doing a great job.”

Florida International Golden Panthers

The Florida Times-Union for Monday, August 11, 2008, hosts an article on the GP’s and the hopes head coach Mario Cristobal holds that his players can in 2008 bring an end to what staff writer Antonio Gonzalez refers to as a “losing culture” of collegiate football at the school.

A key component to such a turnaround will be the quarterback play of sophomore Wayne Younger and backups Paul McCall and Colt Anderson. Younger was solid last year, throwing for 1357 yards and nine touchdowns, and ended up second on the team for rushing with 536 yards in his freshman season, but was injured near the end of the year with a broken collarbone. McCall, at that point, came in for the last two games of 2007 and performed magnificently, passing for over 400 yards and five touchdowns, with just one interception.

As good as the passing attack might be in the hands (or arm, as the case may be) of Younger or McCall, FIU will still require breakaway players at the wide receiver position in order to keep opposing linebackers and defensive backs on their toes.

Perhaps the most talented of those the FIU head coach might draw upon in the upcoming year is T.Y. Hilton, a finalist, notes the article, for Miami-Dade County’s Athlete of the Year Award. A speedster with great hands, Hilton should inject a much needed down-field / vertical component to the Panthers’ aerial attack and is expected to produce almost immediately. Hilton was recruited by Mississippi, West Virginia, and Florida.

Troy Trojans

Head coach Larry Blakeney, tells the The Birmingham News of Thursday, August 14, 2008 that he is “staking his reputation” on freshman wide receiver and transfer from the Oklahoma Sooners, Josh Jarboe. Jarboe, a native of Decatur, Georgia, was recently dismissed from the University of Oklahoma’s football team when a YouTube video showing Jarboe engaged in a series of rap lyrics that appeared to glorify the use of guns and violence made its way onto the Internet.

The freshman recruit had previously been expelled from Cedar Grove High School as a senior after he was discovered carrying a pistol in his vehicle while parked on school property.

Troy is now awaiting a ruling from the NCAA as to whether or not Jarboe will be eligible to play in the upcoming season; in question is whether Jarboe was actually “enrolled” at Oklahoma for the fall semester (he had previously taken two classes during summer school in Norman) and should be forced to sit out a year according to the NCAA’s transfer rules, or if he was not actually a student at the university and therefore can be considered a brand new enrollee at Troy.

Frustrating as it might be, fans of the Troy Trojans (along with fantasy owners looking at picking up what might be one of the hottest sleeper quarterbacks in the Sun Belt) won’t be getting a true feel for the scrambling ability of sophomore quarterback Jamie Hampton anytime soon, as Hampton is protected by the “touch” rule during full-pad scrimmages.

Notes the Dothan Eagle of Sunday, August 10, 2008, neither will those hoping to catch a glimpse at what looks to be the future of Troy football get a strong read on how well Hampton can actually take a hit from opposing defenders - a point of key interest for many, particularly as the Trojans’ quarterback has put on 25 pounds of muscle since last season and comes in weighing around 210 pounds.

Fortunately, what did become obvious during Troy’s first scrimmage is that Hampton’s arm looks strong and his passing extremely accurate. On the day, the sophomore went 18 for 26, 149 yards and a score. Better yet, not one interception was thrown while Hampton was on the field. That kind of production is simply an extension of an excellent spring; in the span of two scrimmages, Hampton threw for over 500 yards and hit five touchdowns, with just one interception marring his overall numbers.

WAC

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

The Shreveport Times for Monday, August 18, 2008 tells readers that in a 122-play scrimmage held by the Louisiana Tech football team on Sunday evening, wide receiver Josh Wheeler, who has missed quite a bit of fall camp due to an injury, had a wonderful outing, grabbing three receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown. Wheeler, entering this season as a senior, played in only four games last year, but was excellent as a sophomore, catching 25 passes for 503 yards and four touchdowns. His leadership and experience should make him a solid presence in a Tech offense that, though favoring the rush thanks to the likes of Patrick Johnson and Daniel Porter, ought to still have plenty of firepower in the passing game with ex-Georgia Tech quarterback Tyler Bennett or former Auburn quarterback Steven Ensminger throwing the ball downfield.

Hawaii Warriors

Talk to anyone familiar with the Hawaii Warriors program this year, and, in talking about the potential for a shift toward a much more prevalent ground attack on offense for 2008, you’re sure to hear the name Leon Wright-Jackson mentioned. Yet, according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin for Thursday, August 14, 2008, while Wright-Jackson has seen a large number of repetitions in the Warriors’ backfield so far this fall, so too has lesser well-known tailback for the University of Hawaii, Daniel Libre.

It wasn’t until Kealoha Pilares was injured last season that then-coach June Jones drew upon the former wideout in Libre and started him against the Fresno State Bulldogs. In that game, the now-senior carried only eight times but turned it into 61 net yards on the ground. And in the final regular-season contest versus Washington, Libre accumulated 143 yards for the day.

Kaneshiro tells readers of his article that Libre has thus far in fall camp been splitting carries with both Wright-Jackson and junior tailback David Farmer; all three bring an unique strength to the running game, with Libre serving as “the scatback of the bunch.”

San Jose State Spartans

Head coach Dick Tomey for the San Jose State Spartans appears to have shored up his starting quarterback position for the 2008 season, with Myles Eden looking as if he’ll be the man to go for the Spartans in the first game of the year against UC-Davis.

Yet, good as that news might be, as the Times-Herald reports on Wednesday, August 13, 2008, SJSU is still struggling to come up with a comprehensive game plan for remanufacturing their ground game.

Developing a successful rushing attack, notes Laurence Miedema of the Times-Herald, will be crucial to the team in 2008, as the Spartans have a 13-6 record when they rush for 100 yards or more in a game, but only 4-13 when they do not. The return to eligibility of Yonus Davis (sixth season of eligibility) will help significantly, but if and only if he can stay healthy. He has all the ability in the world, having rushed for 1007 yards back in 2006, but the question remains to be asked, just how will Davis fair returning to the playing field for the first time in a year due to a serious injury to his ankle and upon him receiving a waiver to compete for a sixth year.

ACC

Florida State Seminoles
The Tallahassee Democrat of Sunday, August 10, 2008, provides readers with an evaluation of the Florida Seminoles wide receiver corps for 2008, as offered by none other than senior quarterback, Drew Weatherford.

Jacksonville’s The Times-Union for Friday, August 15, 2008, reports that Florida State Seminoles starting punter Graham Gano will likely play a major role not only on FSU’s punt and kick return units, but also act as the Seminoles’ starting field goal kicker this season as well.

Duke Blue Devils
Reports the Scout.com for Tuesday, August 12, 2008, Duke Blue Devils quarterback Thaddeus Lewis hit 9-of-12 passing attempts for 92 yards, while teammate Zack Asack hit six-of-14 for 67 yards and a touchdown during a situational scrimmage held on Tuesday afternoon.

Miami Hurricanes
The Oakland Press for August 10, 2008 provides readers with an interesting piece on Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cannon Smith, who, according to staff writer Tim Reynolds, is looking to be “just another Miami quarterback” in the light of being the son of Fred Smith, chairman of FedEx, and also having had to attend one year at Hargrave Military Academy (as opposed to the University of Mississippi) after he was charged with possession of ecstasy as a high school senior.

North Carolina State Wolfpack
The website for television station WRAL reports on Tuesday, August 12, 2008, that head coach for the NC State Wolfpack, Tom O’Brien, acknowledged Tuesday that both redshirt junior Toney Baker at tailback and JUCO Clem Johnson, in the mix to play safety this season, had undergone surgeries in the past couple of days.

Virginia Cavaliers
The Roanoke Times for Monday, August 11, 2008 tells readers that this past weekend’s “Meet the Team Day” at the University of Virginia was tempered with the prohibiting of quarterbacks from the Cavaliers’ mingling and/or speaking with members of the press in attendance.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Winston-Salem Journal for Wednesday, August 13, 2008, makes claim to the fact that tailback Jonathan Dwyer of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is more and more appearing to look “comfortable” in head coach Paul Johnson’s new offense.

Virginia Tech Hokies
As reported in an earlier edition of this column, former quarterback for the Virginia Tech Hokies, Cory Holt, was moved to the wide receiver position during late spring / early summer, this in hopes of the fifth-year senior getting additional time on the field in 2008 in preparation for a run at the 2009 NFL Draft.

Big XII

Baylor Bears
Head coach for the Baylor Bears, Art Briles, is two weeks away from the start of the 2008 season, yet no closer to identifying, says the Houston Chronicle of Wednesday, August 13, 2008, a starter at the quarterback position. (Ed. Note: We still root for B-Sizzle, Blake Szymanski)

Kansas Jayhawks
In what is being called by the Kansas City Star as the continuation of the “great Kansas running-back exodus of 2008,” an article dated Friday, August 15, 2008 notes that sophomore tailback from the Kansas Jayhawks, Donte Bean, has announced his intentions of transferring from the school’s football program effective immediately.

Missouri Tigers
The Belleview News-Democrat for Wednesday, August 13, 2008, tells readers that though sophomore running back for the Missouri Tigers, Derrick Washington, has edge out junior Jimmy Johnson for the starting job of tailback for the 2008 season, coaches plan to utilize Johnson’s size frequently in the role of the Tigers “short-yardage back.”

From the pages of the Missouri periodical, the News-Tribune, comes a story highlighting freshman offensive lineman for the Missouri Tigers, Travis Ruth, and a recent injury which was operated upon Wednesday in hopes of repairing a fractured / broken bone in the upper portion of Ruth’s foot.

The Daily Camera reports on Wednesday, August 13, 2008, that Missouri Tigers tight end Chase Coffman will miss at least two weeks of practice due to having sustained a broken pinkie finger last week.

Oklahoma Sooners
To hear the coaching staff at the University of Oklahoma tell it, the best offensive player on the field heading into the upcoming season is not Sam Bradford at quarterback, nor is it tailback DeMarco Murray;  instead, it is junior tight end for the Sooners, Brody Eldridge.

Something to take note of from the Tulsa World of Thursday, August 7, 2008 - Offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners, Kevin Wilson, told reporters recently that sophomore Mossis Madu, who is a native of Norman, Oklahoma, “has looked as good as” star tailback DeMarco Murray and additional featureback Chris Brown, both of whom return to the Sooners this season after suffering injuries to their knees.

Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Tulsa World for Friday, August 15, 2008 tells readers that wide receiver for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, William Cole, apparently sustained a serious injury to his knee on Wednesday; coaches are currently waiting for the results of an MRI done on Thursday to determine the level of damage done.

Texas A&M Aggies
The Houston Chronicle for Thursday, August 14, 2008 reports that Jorvorskie Lane, former tailback and now fullback for the Texas A&M Aggies, suffered a neck injury in practice on Wednesday morning; concerned that he had suffered a mild concussion, head coach Mike Sherman told reporters that Lane had succumb to a “stinger” and could be back on the practice field in another day or two.

Texas Longhorns
The Dallas Morning News for Friday, August 15, 2008 reveals that the Texas Longhorns are experimenting with using 255 pound fullback Cody Johnson as a tailback in specialty situations, even though three other running backs - Vondrell McGee, Fozzy Whittaker, and Chris Ogbannaya - already crowd the backfield going into the 2008 season.

Texas Tech Red Raiders
The race to become the starting tailback at Texas Tech in 2008 is admittedly a tight one, but reading the article published on RedRaiders.com on August 13, 2008, it becomes clear that perhaps a favorite is emerging in sophomore running back Aaron Crawford over Shannon Woods.

Big East

Connecticut Huskies
According to the website Courant.com, the University of Connecticut Huskies - the least penalized team in the Big East last season, and ranked 20^th nationally in terms of average yards-per-game - are taking a proactive approach to continuing that trend in the upcoming football season.

Reports the Republican-American of Tuesday, August 12, 2008, those who watch closely the Connecticut Huskies football program will likely see two freshmen - Jordan Todman and Michael Smith - contributing on the playing field with the start of the upcoming season.

Syracuse Orangemen
Dave Rahme of The Post-Standard writes on Sunday, August 10, 2008 that one of the most interesting players to watch on the Syracuse offense this season very well may be Bruce Williams, a senior defensive back moved to wide receiver position by the Orangemen coaching staff in order to provide depth there.

In light of the previous entry, it should be said that sometimes with each gain comes significant loss.  And such is the case, describes the website Syracuse.com for Sunday, August 10, 2008, as the Syracuse Orangemen lost sophomore wide receiver Dan Sheeran to a broken right fibula sustained during this past Saturday’s practice.

Big Ten

Indiana Hoosiers
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette for Wednesday, August 13, 2008 shares the news that sophomore Mitchell Evans of the Indiana Hoosiers has been moved by the coaching staff for the third time in less than two years - this time, from backup quarterback to wide receiver.

Independents

Notre Dame
The Fort Wayne, Indiana Journal-Gazette offers readers of its Tuesday, August 12, 2008 edition valuable insight regarding head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Charlie Weis, and his approach to the Notre Dame ground game starting in 2008.

An interesting article is provided by The Journal-Gazette of Sunday, August 10, 2008, which highlights the last few months in the life of junior Notre Dame tight end, Will Yeatman, and his attempts to return to football after being arrested this past January on a drunk driving charge.

Pac-10

Arizona Wildcats
With the recent rash of injuries taking place amongst Pac-10 quarterbacks (USC’s Mark Sanchez, UCLA’s Drew Olsen, Washington’s Jake Locker), the Tucson Citizen for August 11, 2008 reports that the University of Arizona is making sure that backup to starter Willie Tuitama, freshman Matt Scott, is getting plenty of practice with the first-team offense as a means of preparing for the worst should Tuitama go down during the season.

By now, most fantasy owners are likely well aware of the fact that sophomore tailback for the Arizona Wildcats, Nic Grigsby, was ejected from a team scrimmage held this past Saturday night at Arizona Stadium, this after cornerback Devin Ross hit Grigsby low during one play.

Speaking of Keola Antolin, the Tucson Citizen for Monday, August 11, 2008 tells readers that head coach Mike Stoops has been so impressed with the 5′8″ youngster teammates have knick-named “Mighty Mouse” that he is making comparisons of Antolin to former college runningbacks Maurice Jones-Drew, Quentin Griffin, and Darren Sproles.

Arizona State Sun Devils
According to the East Valley Tribune of August 14, 2008, the tailback making the greatest impression in fall camp thus far for the Arizona State Sun Devils is a walk-on freshman by the name of James Morrison.

California Bears
In the race to replace former California Bears standout at wide receiver, DeSean Jackson, the Times-Herald of Vallejo, California for Tuesday, August 12, 2008 writes that freshman wide receiver, Marvin Jones, “looks to be ready to pick up where [Jackson] left off.”

Oregon Ducks
Oregon’s Statesman Journal for August 12, 2008 states that freshman quarterback for the Oregon Ducks, Chris Harper, was withheld from practice on Monday of this week, this after injuring a rotator cuff in his shoulder.

Oregon State Beavers
The Portland Tribune for Monday, August 11, 2008, highlights the fact that junior quarterback for the Oregon State Beavers, Sean Canfield, has thus far missed the majority of practices held since the start of fall camp, this as he continues to feel the aftereffects of a surgery done in January of this year to repair a torn labrum suffered in last season’s contest against the USC Trojans.

Stanford Cardinal
The Daily Camera for Wednesday, August 13, 2008 reveals that head coach for the Stanford Cardinal, Jim Harbaugh, following the team’s first scrimmage of fall camp on Tuesday, released what is described as “a temporary depth chart” with Tavita Pritchard ahead of Alex Loukas and Jason Forcier in the race for the starting quarterback position in the 2008 season.

This column generally tries to stay away from news related to the offering of scholarships to prep level players; however, in reading the San Francisco Chronicle of August 8, 2008, this author couldn’t help but find interesting this recent rumor coming out of Stanford.

University of Southern California Trojans
The Daily News of Los Angeles, California for Sunday, August 10, 2008, notes that freshman recruits for the USC Trojans, Curtis McNeal (tailback) and Nick Perry (defensive end), will likely miss a second full week of practice with the team because they have yet to be certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Within the same article comes the news that freshman quarterback for the Trojans, Aaron Coup, looked good working with the first team offense during this past Sunday evening’s scrimmage.

Washington Huskies
The Seattle Times for Sunday August 10, 2008 released the news that head coach for the Washington Huskies, Ty Willingham, danced around questions from reporters on Saturday who sought answers regarding the status of sophomore quarterback, Jake Locker, who on Thursday afternoon injured his left hamstring during practice.

As Jake Locker continues to watch practices from the sidelines due to an injured foot, The Seattle Times for Tuesday, August 12, 2008 notes that backup quarterback for the Washington Huskies, Ronnie Fouch, is getting valuable time with the first string offensive unit, taking, states offensive coordinator, Tim Lappano, “90 percent of the reps” at this point.

Sophomore wideout for the Huskies, Curtis Shaw, according to The Seattle Times for August 12, 2008, has left the team due to “personal reasons,” and will likely not return in time to play a role on this year’s University of Washington football team.

Interesting news out of the University of Washington is reported by The Wenatchee World for Friday, August 8, 2008:  former UW star running back J.R. Hasty announced last Thursday that he would resuming his collegiate football career in 2008 at FCS/Division II school, Central Washington University.

Washington State Cougars
Jeshua Anderson, a 400-meter hurdles champion at the collegiate level and projected standout at wide receiver for the Washington State Cougars in the 2008 season, is expected to miss up to six weeks with the team, this after the sophomore was forced to undergo surgery for a hernia.

It’s already been a crazy start to the freshman year for incoming football recruit at Washington State, Cory Mackay.

The Seattle Times for Friday, August 8, 2008 notes that senior tight end for the Washington State Cougars, Devin Frischknecht, is a star waiting to rise on the WSU offense in the 2008 football season.

SEC
Georgia Bulldogs
Ask Tripp Chandler, tight end for the Georgia Bulldogs, how he feels about the opportunity to play for UGA as a starter in 2008, and he’ll suggest, as he does to Dave Hale of the website Macon.com, that he “doesn’t just want to be great” this upcoming football season, but feels sincerely that “he’s obligated to be.”

The website Macon.com mentions in the same article as the one discussing UGA tight end Tripp Chandler that a potential sleeper for the Bulldogs at wide receiver in 2008 very well may be Kris Durham, a 6′5″ junior from Calhoun, Georgia.

Kentucky Wildcats
The Jacksonville Sun reports on Tuesday, August 12, 2008, that former Kentucky Wildcats quarterback, Curtis Pulley, has contacted Florida A&M about the possibility of transferring to the MEAC institution.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

The website Nola.com reports on Monday, August 11, 2008 that head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Sylvester Croom, has suspended starting free safety Derek Pegues for the team’s 2008 season opener, a game against Louisiana Tech on August 30^th.Pegues, noted school officials, is believed to have violated the school’s class attendance policy, a regulation maintaining that should a student miss four or more absences in a semester, their ability to participate in collegiate sports at the university will be hindered by a minimum of a one game suspension.

South Carolina Gamecocks
The Daily Camera (August 13, 2008) reports that South Carolina’s redshirt freshman quarterback, Stephen Garcia, sprained his ankle in a recent practice, and will more than likely miss at least a week of practice in order for his right ankle to heal.

Come back later today for the mid-major notes…

AKRON

• Fifth-year coach J.D. Brookhart is expecting much more efficient quarterback play from either junior Chris Jacquemain or redshirt freshman Matt Rodgers. The offensive line should be much stronger and there is plenty of depth at running back. The wide receiving corps is untested.
• This season will mark the Zips’ final one playing at the venerable Rubber Bowl. Akron will open its long-awaited on-campus stadium InfoCision Stadium on Sept. 19, 2009, against Indiana.
• Akron returns five All-MAC players in LT Chris Kemme, DE Almondo Sewell, LB Kevin Grant, RB Dennis Kennedy (from 2006), and RB turned DB Bryan Williams. Williams is one of the nation’s best kickoff return specialists.
• True freshman RB DeVoe Torrence will be watched closely on and off the field. Having been acquitted of charges of having sex with a minor, the five-star recruit Torrence signed earlier this summer with the Zips. From nearby Massillon, Ohio, Torrence originally was committed to Ohio State but was dropped by the Buckeyes when charges surfaced. He could be a real gem for the Zips.
• WR Andre Jones, thought to be a top returning free safety in the MAC, was moved to wide receiver to fill a glaring hole in Akron’s attack. He was the top punt returner in the conference a year ago.

BALL STATE

• TB MiQuale Lewis is hoping for an injury free season. When healthy, Lewis is one of the top five tailbacks in the MAC. In his short playing time last season, Lewis rushed for 447 yards, which was 84 yards fewer that leading rusher Frank Edmonds had in the entire season.
• The Cardinals will succeed if their defense makes improvements across the board. Ball State had the most dangerous offense in the Mid-American Conference last year, yet it lost six games, giving up at least 38 points in three of the defeats. They will fail if they don’t handle the hype. Ball State is among the favorites to win the Mid-American Conference championship, and its fan base is expecting enormous success. But if this team gets caught up in what could be, it could flame out.
• No player in the program means more to Ball State than QB Nate Davis. Illinois coach Ron Zook last season said Davis (right, Icon SMI) was the best quarterback in the Midwest, and that included those in the Big Ten. Davis already holds Ball State’s career records for touchdown passes and 300-yard passing games, and the junior is primed to be even better this year than he was the past two seasons.
• Coaches were excited when they signed WR Briggs Orsbon last winter. Playing time is up for grabs at the team’s third receiver position, and Orsbon will have a chance to make an impact. Osborn was a top-20 incoming MAC recruit according to VanDelaySports.com
• ILB Wendell Brown is back in action after missing 2007 with a torn pectoral muscle. Brown was among the team’s leading tacklers in 2006, and his presence in the lineup should help the defense improve.

BOWLING GREEN

• BG must replace three starters on the offensive line, including center Kory Lichtensteiger, who was drafted in the 4^th round by the Denver Broncos. There are veterans at the guard spots and fifth-year seniors ready to take over at the tackles, but projected starting center Brian Bojicic will be making his first collegiate snap in the opener.
• QB Tyler Sheehan was 303-of-467 for 3,264 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2007. He will be challenged to do even better this fall and has a veteran group of receivers to produce even bigger numbers in 2008.
• RB Eric Ransom will be an important part of the offense both running and catching the ball. His big-play ability will be an added dimension. He did have a 53-yard touchdown reception against Minnesota in the 2007 season-opener but was lost for the year after suffering a knee injury in the next game. A native of Texas, he had a standout junior college career before coming to Bowling Green last season.
• Backup QB Andrew Beam If Sheehan falters or is hurt, Beam can be ready after playing the last two seasons at San Joaquin Junior College. Beam has been working with the team during the summer and at 6-feet-4, 230 pounds, he has the size to make a difference.
• WR Anthony Turner has played quarterback and running back and now the fifth-year senior is being tried at wideout. In 2007, Turner led the Falcons in rushing and his play was a major key to Bowling Green’s 4-0 finish to the regular season. He rushed for nine touchdowns, threw for three and caught one scoring pass last season.

BUFFALO

• Eighteen starters are back from the Buffalo team that closed the season winning four of their last seven games, including an overtime triumph in its season finale at Kent State.
• UB faces another brutal schedule early in the season. With three road games against likely bowl and conference-title contenders Pittsburgh, Missouri and Central Michigan before an open date October 4, the Bulls cannot let their confidence get shook. They’ll also be hurting for certain in the event QB Drew Willy suffers an injury. He’s a senior and the veteran leader in and out of the huddle. Without him, the Bulls lack on-field direction and the offense would likely stall without a single proven backup QB on the roster.
• A breakout star should be Jamal Chisam. He has been injured for the majority of this career but if he remains healthy, will have an impact at linebacker. Chisam started as a true freshman in 2004 then sat out both his sophomore and junior seasons with injuries. He was listed as a starter last season before being sidelined by an ankle injury.
• WR Brad Beggs graduated a year early and will not return to the team and signee Darius Willis did not qualify academically but hopes to re-enroll in January and have four seasons of eligibility remaining. Willis, a QB/LB prospect was the only signee who didn’t qualify.
• TB James Starks suffered a small fracture in his right hand during off-season workouts in July but should be ready for the Bulls’ season opener against UTEP on August 28. Starks has to wear the cast for the next 1-2 weeks but his only limitations are catching the football out of the backfield.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN

• Central Michigan junior quarterback Dan LeFevour has become larger than life. Literally. The junior signal-caller, the Mid American Conference’s 2007 Offensive Player of the Year, is the centerpiece of the Chippewas’ hopes of securing a third straight MAC title and they aren’t bashful about their high expectations for the program and their star quarterback. CMU’s LeFevour is proclaiming “Champions Come Standard at CMU” on a billboard measuring 30 feet by 60 feet on the back of the scoreboard of Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers. That venue also happens to face Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, and the ad was placed just in time to greet MAC media representatives as they gathered for The Chippewas’ offensive juggernaut averaged a conference-leading 34.8 points and 447 yards per game. But more importantly there will be familiarity between the coaching staff and the players, unlike this time last year. the MAC’s annual football media day at Ford Field. While the offense appears set, it could again be an interesting year on defense for a team that, in spite of all of its offensive firepower, frequently had to pull games out late to overcome a sieve-like defense that allowed a MAC-worst 460 yards per game and yielded 36.9 points per game.
• In 2007 LeFevour became only the second player in FBS history to throw for more than 3,000 yards and rush for more 1,000 yards in a single season, joining current NFL QB Vince Young in such exclusive company. LeFevour also came within one rushing touchdown last season of joining Florida’s Tim Tebow in the 20 passing TDs/20 rushing TDs club, passing for 27 scores and rushing for 19.
• WR Taylor Bradley - The Chips already possess a potent receiving attack with junior Bryan Anderson, who racked up 1,132 yards receiving last season and last year’s MAC Freshman of the Year, Antonio Brown. But an option moving quickly up the depth chart is the sophomore Bradley, whose season was limited to four starts in 2007 due to injuries but is healthy entering fall. Taylor’s speed and athleticism could see him emerge as a starter this season at either the slot or outside.
• Freshman RB Jahleel Addae was an early commit to West Virginia before finally deciding on Central Michigan. Addae rushed for over 1,400 yards and had 15 rushing touchdowns in his senior year at Riverview HS in Valrico, Fla. Addae will be given a strong look in the fall to earn playing time and with the Chips again expected to go to a running back-by-committee plan.
• WR Bryan Anderson continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery but is expected to be ready to go during fall camp after sitting out the spring session. RB Ontario Sneed’s status is still unsettled after sitting out the spring recovering from a fractured forearm.

EASTERN MICHIGAN

• Eastern Michigan enters fall camp looking to build upon its momentum from last season and the team, from the coaches to the players, believes that this Eagles squad is fully ready to compete for a MAC title. That level of confidence has a large basis in the fact that the Eagles were the only conference squad last season to pin a loss on the two-time defending MAC champion Central Michigan Chippewas and the fact that the Eagles were able to finish above .500 in divisional play while claiming the Michigan MAC Trophy (by defeating both Central Michigan and Western Michigan), all significant accomplishments for a program that has not had a winning record in over a decade.
• If Eastern Michigan’s fortunes are indeed on the upswing, junior quarterback Andy Schmitt and the offense will be key ingredients. The junior signal caller has bulked up to about 240 pounds and his dual threat abilities will likely keep opposing defenses guessing. Schmitt battled injuries last season which limited him but still managed 14 passing touchdowns and another six rushing scores. Schmitt was also the team’s second-leading rusher from last season and should benefit this season from an offensive line that loses only one starter from 2007.
• The Eagles will look to replace their top rusher from last season, Pierre Walker, with a pair of unproven but talented backs in senior Terrence Blevins and sophomore speedster Dwayne Priest. The receiving corps returns most of its starters, losing only Travis Lewis from last season. Junior Jacory Stone will be counted on to become a bigger part of the offense after coming on strong at the end of last season to lead the Eagles in receiving while senior Tyler Jones and junior DeAnthony White will be counted on as well with White one of the squad’s top playmakers and a threat to score at any time. RB Jayson Jones and WR Nate Beard left the team after spring.
• WR Dontayo Gage demonstrated last season that he is a threat to score on either special teams or as a receiving/running option out of the offense. Gage, a junior, led the Eagles with 1,215 all-purpose yards in 2007 and has nearly sprinter-class breakaway speed. Gage also became the first player in EMU history last season to top 1,000 yards (1,016) in kickoff returns in a single season.
• PK Joe Carrithers, a sophomore transfer out of Palomar (CA) JC originally recruited by Cincinnati, was a late signee to the squad after spring. The Eagles’ placekicking was a major sore spot last season (converting on only 7-12 FG attempts) and the spring performances of P Zach Johnson and K Sean Dutcher, who is no longer on the EMU roster, only further convinced the coaching staff that a PK was a major priority before starting the season.

KENT STATE

• Staying healthy is a focal point for Kent State in 2008 and so is holding onto the ball. The Golden Flashes ranked 12^th in the MAC in turnover margin (-0.92) last season and scored just 15 touchdowns on 41 red-zone trips. Their red-zone defense didn’t fare much better, ranking 11^th in the MAC in 2007.
• RB Eugene Jarvis is the key to KSU having a huge season. Jarvis rushed for 1,669 yards and 10 scores last year. Coach Doug Martin is still waiting for at least two wide receivers to step up. Moving senior Jamseon Konz from OLB to TE has proven to be a stroke of genius as he is the best athlete on the team. Junior WR Phil Garner is the odds-on favorite to become Kent State’s best pass-catching threat. Garner caught 27 balls for 284 yards and one score. Those numbers should see a big increase this fall.
• Phase II of the Dix Stadium renovation project has been completed. The $4 million undertaking included installation of a state-of-the-art video board and sound system.
• A member of the KSU track team (hurdler), junior Greg Keys has returned to the secondary after one season at running back.

MIAMI (OH)

• The strength of Miami’s defense will be their starting linebacking trio of junior Caleb Bostic and seniors Joey Hudson and Clayton Mulllins. Mullins claimed MAC honors as the league’s defensive player of the year after finishing in the top 10 nationally with 143 tackles. As a unit the Redhawks’ linebackers posted 345 tackles and were key factors for a unit that topped the MAC in scoring defense and was second in total defense.
• Miami struggled on offense last season thanks to a combination of injuries and inexperience, averaging only 19.2 points per game which placed them 11th in the MAC and 108th nationally. The RedHawks are hopeful that a year of seasoning will mean that junior quarterback Dan Raudabaugh will be able to guide the offense with more confidence. In 2007 Raudabaugh took over as the starter after Mike Kokal went down with injury but likely would have stepped into the starting role at some point anyway with Kokal struggling badly. Raudabaugh showed some signs of becoming a solid collegiate signal caller but suffered through some serious decision-making breakdowns that cost the RedHawks in crucial situations.
• If Raudabaugh struggles in fall camp or early in the season, however, don’t be surprised to see redshirt freshman Clay Belton in the mix. Belton had a strong spring and is seen by many as the RedHawks’ quarterback of the future but Montgomery hopes to avoid any quarterback controversy. “Right now Daniel is our starter,” noted Montgomery.
• A breakout star should be WR Chris Givens. The versatile sophomore can be used as both a slot and outside receiver and has impressed the coaching staff with his ability to go over the middle. Givens snared 25 passes for 430 yards as a true freshman in 2007.
• RB Andre Bratton sat out spring while recovering from knee surgery but is back with the team in fall camp and reports indicate that the team is working with him on becoming a better pass receiving threat out of the backfield.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

• New Coach Jerry Kill welcomes back 19 starters and 55 lettermen. The key to a successful season for the Huskies lies in last year’s injured players returning to good health and playing with confidence. The Huskies have a solid offensive unit, led by quarterback Dan Nicholson, tailback Justin Anderson and receivers Britt Davis and Matt Simon. The offensive line is strong, but Nicholson, Anderson, Davis and Simon all are coming off serious injuries.
• Defensively, the Huskies need their Mr. Everything, defensive end Larry English, to be healthy after recovering from a torn pectoral muscle. The linebackers will be an asset if middle linebacker Tim McCarthy is healthy. The secondary has some new faces, but overall the depth and talent is an upgrade from last year.
• Alex Kube He had a big season as a freshman in 2007. The coaching staff moved Kube from the secondary to linebacker to take advantage of his playmaking ability.
• Kicker Mike Salerno has the chance to join the ranks of successful all-conference kickers from Northern Illinois. The Huskies have quietly become Kicker U after the success of Kent Baker, Steve Azar and Chris Nendick.
• RB Justin Anderson, who suffered a knee injury late last season, is healthy. Anderson lost 12 pounds in the offseason. Freshman WR Chase Mejia is no longer on the team.

OHIO

• Four years into his tenure at Ohio, Coach Frank Solich is re-inventing the Bobcats once again. Gone will be the tradition I-formation that OU used to milk all-time leading rusher Kalvin McRae the last three seasons. Now Ohio will lean on athletic junior quarterback Theo Scott along with pass-catching tight ends Andrew Mooney and David Carter and an ever-improving group of wideouts to control the offense. Ohio returns 15 starters and a whopping 68 letter winners from last season.
• Ohio’s success in 2008 hinges on improved play from its defense. The Bobcats allowed 29.9 points a game last year and better than 407 yards of total offense per contest. With an offense poised for another breakout season, the Cats are hoping to not have to outscore everyone on the schedule. With seven starters, and 35 letter winners, returning on that side of the ball, Ohio should have the experience and depth to make that improvement.
• A potential star this year may be WR LaVon Brazill. A bit player last season, the sophomore wideout has impressed with his dedication to his craft during the offseason. Easily one of the most improved players during spring drills, Brazill has sharpened both his ball-catching, and route-running skills and now has the technical expertise to go with his athleticism. He’ll provide a nice complement opposite speedster Taylor Price on the outside.
• QB Franshaw “Boo” Jackson The junior college transfer from California enrolled at Ohio in time for spring practice and wowed the coaching staff with his ability to pick up the offense on the fly. Jackson was so good during the spring that Solich didn’t rule out the fact the newcomer may find himself in the starting role should fellow junior Theo Scott struggle.

TEMPLE

• Quarterback Adam DiMichele, who suffered a broken leg that ended his season with four games left. DiMichele is healthy and ready to run the offense. There is potential at the tailback spot, but no real experience as redshirt freshman Joe Jones and former wide receiver Marquise Liverpool vie for the starting spot.
• A potential break out star is NT Andre Neblett who participated on 42 tackles last year, 8 1/2 for loss, including 4 ½ sacks.
• A newcomer to watch is WR Vince Hill. Hill may not be eligible but he is a 4-star recruit who had eligibility issues after signing with Minnesota. If he can go - look out MAC. The Owls were trying to resolve eligibility issues on stud prospect WR Vaughn Carraway and DE Muhammad Wilkerson. TB Eric Reynolds, who originally signed with Boston College, was told he wouldn’t be eligible at BC and is at Temple.
• WR Jason Harper has moved to the position from RB while Jared Williams, who played both sides of the ball in the spring, is now at CB.

TOLEDO

• The Rockets yielded 34 or more points in 10 of their 12 games last season. The Rockets allowed 39.2 points per game in 2007, ranking 116^th in the country in points allowed. The return of several defensive starters from injuries is a big factor in reversing that trend. Defensive end Sean Williamson, who has 28 career starts, is back after suffering an injury in 2007. DE Douglas Westbrook and safety Tyrrell Herbert should bolster the defense with their return. The Rockets have the talent and determination to avoid a third straight losing season, but the defense must hold up against a tough early season schedule against the likes of Arizona, Fresno State and Michigan.
• The most important player for UT is SS Barry Church who is on the cusp of becoming a star player known throughout the country. The junior has 163 tackles and seven interceptions in his first two years and ready for a big season with the return of free safety Tyrrell Herbert.
• A newcomer to watch is much ballyhooed RB Morgan Williams. Williams was a prep standout at Canton McKinley rushing for at least 2,400 yards in each of his two seasons. Her sat out last season but is eligible to compete for playing time at running back and has looked great thus far in practice.
• Running back Gordon Warner might be redshirted this season according to Coach Tom Amstutz while sophomore D.J. Lenehan has secured the backup quarterback spot behind starter Aaron Opelt.
• Freshmen receivers who showed that they might be ready to play this season are Kenny Stafford, Sam Gaymon and Kaunda Hancock who’s moving up the depth chart and getting praise from the coaching staff.

WESTERN MICHIGAN

• The Broncos will succeed if the defense, specifically the secondary, plays to its ability. Western Michigan’s secondary is probably the most talented in the MAC, but it didn’t always play to that level last year. The Broncos made only 10 interceptions in 2007, tying for the third fewest in the conference, while giving up 20 touchdown passes.
• The Broncos will struggle if QB Tim Hiller relapses into some of his bad habits of last year. He’s the unquestioned starter now after an inconsistent performance in 2007 when he had 20 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions. Hiller must continue to improve, like he did at the tail end of last year and in spring practice, in order for the offense not to take a step back.
• TB Brandon West has had to share time in the backfield the past two years with Mark Bonds. Bonds graduated, and the full-time job now belongs to West. West rushed for a team-best 848 yards last year while splitting time with Bonds. West, a speedster, is capable of doubling that total this year.
• Much heralded transfer Doug Wiggins has moved from wide receiver to safety. Wiggins is sitting out this season after transferring to the Broncos from Miami (Fla.). He was viewed as a big-time receiver prospect.

Nick Gerogosian is the man at www.VanDelaySports.com. He loves MAC sports like a fat kid love cake. We are so happy to have him here.

From a fantasy draft standpoint, here is what you lost in terms of options from 2007.  QB Chad Henne who was a 3^rd round pick for the Dolphins.  His backup, Big Tex Ryan Mallett transferred to Arkansas.  All-everything RB Mike Hart is also gone.  Don’t forget your top-2 WR’s in Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington. Two OL (including #1 overall NFL draft pick, Jake Long) and the $4 million that you paid West Virginia for new head coach, Rich Rodriguez.  I simply cannot wait to see how it unfolds.

Here are the names that will need to replace these guys.  Michigan will have a few choices at RB.  Carlos Brown (top right, Icon SMI) put up a stat line of 75-382-4 and likely gets the first look at this position.

What may dilute his value is the team having Brandon Minor still on roster and he could produce given his past 5.7 and 4.3 yard per carry averages in limited duty.  Minor carried 90 times for 385 yards and a TD in 2007 so the numbers are not too different from Brown.    Kevin Grady was caught drinking and driving and will be suspended for a number of games according to Coach Rodriguez.

At QB, red-shirt freshman Steven Threet (a Georgia Tech transfer) will shoehorn drop-back passing skills into the spread-option attack. With only 1 returning starter on the O-Line, this could get interesting.  Can you say International Bowl in 2008?

At WR, things could be slim or fertile depending on the direction Rich Rod goes with the offense.  As shown in a previous analysis by John Huss, Rodriguez will maximize any level of talent if he sees a opportunity.  He has Greg Matthews to throw the ball too and he put up 39 catches, 366 yards and 3 TDs last season.  While that sample size isn’t much to go with, it does show a glimmer of hope.  The team also returns TE Carson Butler who tallied 20 receptions, 246 yards and 2 scores. 

Michigan returns only 10 starters from last year, most of those on defense. So the defense will rely on DE Brandon Graham who had 8 ½ sacks last year and starting DB’s Morgan Trent and Donovan Warren who collectively combined for 6 picks last year.  The kicking game was, and has been, atrocious for years.  Does anyone remember Appalachian State?

Anything more than 8 wins would be considered excellent for this year’s edition of the Michigan Wolverines. OR maybe just 1 win and have it be at Columbus!!  I say International Bowl or some random invite for the 5^th ranked Big Ten team this year.

Dennis Dixon was a treat to watch running O-Coordinator Chip Kelly’s “speed spread” attack, but an open competition to determine Dixon’s successor is more of a preference of style than player.

Nate Costa (6-1, 220) has been listed atop the depth chart since Fall camp started and represents the duel threat option as a runner and passer that made Dixon so dangerous. Justin Roper (6-6, 205), who led the Ducks to their Sun Bowl stomping of USF, represents a more polished pocket passer without the Dixon-esque athleticism and running abilities. Most believe Belloti and his staff would like to see one emerge and many have speculated that they hoped it would be Costa to give the offense the balanced threat that made them so difficult to defend last year when Dixon was healthy. The only problem is Roper has been more effective and more impressive in scrimmage play this Fall, and there seems to be an increasing chance that there could be some sort of time split entering the season. That is bad news from a fantasy perspective because if one of these sophomores can emerge as the clear starter, he could be an interesting sleeper option this season as well as future years. I especially like Costa if he can secure the job because of his duel threat skills, but at this point he has to be treated with a “wait and see” approach. Keep an eye out in the first few weeks of the season to see if one emerges, and you may have a very intriguing later season bye week backup depending on the match-up.

The running back position also presents question marks along with the possibility of a breakout quality player. Sr. Jeremiah Johnson (5-10, 205) has been listed as the starter thus far after spelling Jonathan Stewart for 344 yards and five touchdowns in six games last year, but he is coming off an ACL injury. The higher ceiling and greater fantasy intrigue lies in JC transfer, Jr. LaGarrette Blount (6-2, 229). Blount was the talk of Spring in Eugene after rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his two seasons in junior college. Blount has the size and durability to be an every down back and potentially post Stewart-type numbers if he can win the feature tailback role. Kelly has reportedly been creating and heavily using packages to get both of these backs on the field at the same time and often. Considering Johnson’s size and stature that would suggest a multi-use role for him to get touches from all over the formation with Blount shouldering the heavier load in the natural ground game. Monitor this situation as well and be ready to pluck an interesting sleeper if one emerges with big numbers in the first few weeks, especially if it is Blount.

The WRs will be led by 6-5, 240 lb Jaison Williams who pulled down 55 passes for 844 yards and eight TDs last year. He isn’t on many top WR lists, but if you like big WRs and need a solid wideout late in drafts a big season could be in store. A deep collection of wideouts will line up alongside Williams this year including four talented sophomores that should make a formidable WR corps in the next few years. The Ducks also boast a very interesting TE in Junior Ed Dickson. After a breakout year as a sophomore with 43 catches for 453 yards and three scores, Dickson will be one of the focal points of the offense this season and could emerge as a top 10-15 fantasy tight end.

The defense returns seven including all-everything rover Patrick Chung who pulled his name out of NFL draft eligibility at the last second. This unit should be the strength of the team, at least until the offense settles in with its new personnel. Whether or not they will be good enough for fantasy consideration is yet another “wait and see” scenario. The special teams returns Groza award semifinalist kicker Matt Evensen who has shown consistency (16 of 20 last year) but not a booming leg (long of 47).

There are plenty of places and positions of fantasy interest on this team. Williams at WR and Dickson at TE could be later round gems, while the RB and QB position battles could produce viable fantasy talent once the dust settles. For those of you who hate the uniforms so much you can’t stand to watch, you may be missing out on watching a collection of very interesting fantasy sleepers emerge in Eugene.

The offense will again be lead by spunky QB Jake Christensan, provided he doesn’t get beat out by an unheralded QB recruit. Jake had an unspectacular yet efficient 2007 campaign. He completed 198 of 370 attempts for 2,269 yards for 17 TDs while being intercepted only 6 times.

Presently, I am not offering you much to choose from at RB so focus on some late round WR selections if you are a Hawkeye fan.

On that note, Darrell Johnson-Koulianos was the leading receiver last year as a freshman. Look for him to improve on 38 catches, 482 yards and 2 TDs. Not worth a fantasy selection unless he can get off to a fast start. Now if you are looking for upside potential, Trey Stross could be a big play WR. Stross lead the Hawkeyes with a gaudy 17 yards per catch last year. While only catching a total of 16 balls, he accumulated 272 yards and 4 scores, so he is a homerun threat anytime he is involved. 25% of his catches went for touchdowns.

With the special teams, wasn’t there a time where it seemed like Iowa always had a great kicker? Must be me, because its been awhile now….Iowa actually had two kickers last year (Daniel Murray and Austin Signor), who combined to miss 4 extra points in only 28 tries and converted a measely 10/16 field goals.

My pre-season call is for the Iowa Hawkeyes to get back to a Bowl game in 2008 with a winning record. This team will not compete for either a Big Ten title or even a spot on the Fantasy College Blitz’s Top 25 fantasy teams. Ferentz should keep his job for at least another year.

He also earned a cease and desist letter, but he chooses not to talk about it.

“The whole thing was meant to measure perception vs reality…a ‘reality check’ to the fan perception of the poll,” said Matt Ryan. “I had counted on the rest of the nation being as gung-ho as the SEC was on the first go-around to participate and it was just not the case.”

Todays poll deals with the Big Twelve, the land of quarterbacks in 2008. Poll was structured for users to rank each coach in each conference on four variables:

(1) Recruiting
(2) Player Development
(3) Gameday
(4) Program Control

Big Ten had a little less than 300 responses, here are the results (Low numbers are best, random thoughts below):

Fantasy College Blitz Big Twelve Coaching Survey

• From the "Winning Cures All Ills" department, I guarantee that Gary Pinkel would not have ranked #2 before 2007 season. He scored no worse that third in each category.
• Stoops is the best coach, the best recruiter, but the worst control of his program. I think he deserves all three.
• You Big 12 fans must prepare themselves for the force of nature that is Art Briles at Baylor . You have SEVERLY underestimated his skills, and at least one school will not know what just hit them after an upset win (and no, that is not Iowa State)

He also earned a cease and desist letter, but he chooses not to talk about it.

“The whole thing was meant to measure perception vs reality…a ‘reality check’ to the fan perception of the poll,” said Matt Ryan. “I had counted on the rest of the nation being as gung-ho as the SEC was on the first go-around to participate and it was just not the case.”

Todays poll deals with the Big Ten, the breadbasket of college football (at least that what they told me in Ohio history class in fourth grade). Poll was structured for users to rank each coach in each conference on four variables:

(1) Recruiting
(2) Player Development
(3) Gameday
(4) Program Control

Big Ten had a little less than 300 responses, here are the results (Low numbers are best, random thoughts below):

Fantasy College Blitz Big Ten Coaching Survey

• Ron Zook holds a huge lead in the recruiting rank, but the only thing Tim Brewster has proven in Minnesota is his ability to recruit yet he is ranked 8 of 11 coaches there.
• Pat Fitzgerald has been widely criticized for being outcoached the last two years, but most give him a pass for the circumstances that led to his taking over at Northwestern. Fans think he has control over his program, perhaps Year Three will be a charm.
• Forbes said Kirk Ferentz was the most overpaid coach in America - so I am surprised he was ranked as highly as this given the social mood against the rich lately.