Don’t get caught napping on these 14 players with nothing but upside…

How sleepy is this list? Damien Berry is the only one I could find on film (IconSMI)

Restorative sleepers

Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State - off redshirt/grayshirt, great offensive coaches and have seen his name in two different papers. There is a reason I have him listed first as a sleeper because I think he has a great opportunity, but i will temper my excitement by saying he went undrafted in the 24-team 16-round NCAA Project league that values youth moreso than others.

James Montgomery, Washington State - formerly of Cal, and Cougars can’t be that bad again. Can they? Weird injury last year kept him out, I expect him to contribute if healthy.

Derrick Hall, Tulsa – JUCO could be the #1 on the juggernaut, but lots of RB to fight with. Mr. Steele calls for Hall to be the starter ahead of Jamad Williams.

Damien Berry, Miami (FL) – (right) Schedule is brutal, but lots of talent and Berry put on good weight in expectation of the lead role. I know he had 8 TD last year but he has generated no excitement in mock drafts this 2010 pre-season. Health of RB/WR Graig Cooper will have inverse impact on Berry.

Pat Shed, UAB – an offense in need of new leader, a conference bereft of defense, we may have a deep fantasy sleeper.

Alex Green, Hawaii – more than a blocker in Mouse Davis’ run and shoot, Alex Green might be the next Nate Ilaoa. My wife just asked me why I was giggling with joy.

Al-Terek McBurse, Purdue – new #1 RB (given Ralph Bolden injury) with a new QB in Robert Marve.

Ronnie Wingo, Arkansas - a bit of a logjam in Fayetteville, but I feel Wingo is the top back in the Bobby Petrino offense. And Petrino commits to running more.

Deep-REM sleepers

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Introduced to new head coach Paul Wulff during the off-season , the Washington State Cougars have the daunting task of finding a suitable replacement for now-departed star quarterback, Alex Brink. Attempting to institute a new no-huddle spread offense, Wulff has yet to identify a competent starter under center for 2008 .

The offense is dependent on a QB that can throw accurately through the air and remain mobile enough to scramble on the ground.  As the fall quickly approaches, fantasy owners need to become a heck of a lot more familiar with senior quarterback Gary Rogers (right, Icon SMI).  It appears, as of now, that Rogers has established himself as the favorite to head up the Cougars offense once late August rolls around.

Heading into spring scrimmages, Rogers carried a slight advantage over his competition (junior Kevin Lopina emerged as his major competitor) given that he’s played at real-time speed in actual games as a back-up to Brink.  His numbers to date have been anything but impressive.

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In most seasons, anyone seriously considering a true-freshman (especially a QB) as a “breakout player” would have been securely fastened in a straight-jacket and kept away from the general population.

At least at most websites but I am part owner of this thing so here we go.

However, it is rare for a highly-recruited high school QB to sign with (much less be able to locate on a map) a lower-level non-BCS program in a not-so-mid-major conference.

All while de -committing from the Texas Longhorns to do this.

Enter Riley Dodge , the incoming freshman QB at North Texas.
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The Scene: Bryant-Denny Stadium, November 17th, 2007. A back-up tailback scores the game-tying third-quarter touchdown in one of the biggest upsets of the season, as Louisiana-Monroe stunned Alabama 21-14 in front of announced crowd of over 92,000…the vast majority Crimson Tide fans.

That back-up tailback, Frank Goodin (right, Icon SMI) , is now the starting tailback for the Warhawks for the 2008 season.

It would be wise for all fantasy players to get familiar with the quick and diminutive RB (5-9, 196), for he will be one of the key break-out players this season.

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