College football preview
By MARK STEWART
mstewart@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 30, 2007
AP PRESEASON TOP 25
1. Southern California: The backfield is loaded with running backs, Heisman hopeful John David Booty returns at quarterback and the defense should be the best in the Pacific 10. The Trojans should have little problem winning at least 10 games for the sixth straight year.
2. Louisiana State: The Tigers lost four National Football League first-round draft picks yet still have enough muscle left to make a serious title run. Watch out for Glenn Dorsey, a beast in the middle who makes a lot of plays for a defensive tackle.
3. West Virginia: Running back Steve Slaton and quarterback Patrick White are All-American candidates and the Mountaineers have five other players who received all-conference mention in 2006. The program's third straight top-10 finish, and maybe more, appears to be a good bet.
4. Texas: The Longhorns lost highly regarded defensive coordinator Gene Chizik to Iowa State but return their top passer, runner and receiver from 2006. The program's streak of six straight seasons of at least 10 victories appears safe.
5. Michigan: Seven Wolverines were drafted into the NFL last spring, but a loaded offense featuring Heisman candidates Chad Henne and Mike Hart will keep the team at the top of the Big Ten and in the thick of the national title hunt.
6. Florida: Before you talk about repeating as national champion, you must first talk about rebuilding, er, reloading. Seventeen starters are gone from the 2006 team, but the Gators have recruited well and are set at quarterback with sophomore Tim Tebow.
7. Wisconsin: The Badgers' defense will be fast and physical and their offense features playmakers Travis Beckum at tight end and P.J. Hill at running back. The unit's overall experience should allow quarterback Tyler Donovan to ease into his role as the full-time starter.
8. Oklahoma: Patrick Allen will prove to be a more than capable successor to Adrian Peterson at running back. The key to the Sooners' national title run will be redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Bradford, who will be surrounded by nine returning starters on offense.
9. Virginia Tech: Sixteen starters return to a team that won six of its last seven games in 2006. A defense that features All-American-caliber linebackers Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi could be especially nasty.
10. Louisville: The defense has some rebuilding to do, but the Cardinals won't fall far despite the loss of coach Bobby Petrino. Don't be surprised if they're still undefeated in November.
11. Ohio State: The Buckeyes lost Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith and a host of other playmakers but reload with a defense that returns All-American linebacker James Laurinaitis and all-conference end Vern Gholston.
12. California: Thanks to quarterback Nate Longshore and receiver DeSean Jackson, the Bears have the best offense in the Pacific 10 outside of USC. They're awfully raw in the defensive front seven, though. That unit's development will determine the kind of run California makes in the league.
13. Georgia: Injuries helped derail a 5-0 start last season. As long as the Bulldogs stay healthy and develop on the offensive and defensive lines, they could get past Florida in the Southeastern Conference's East Division.
14. UCLA: Have the Bruins arrived? They return 10 starters on both offense and defense from the team that won three of its last four games last year and stunned USC in the regular-season finale.
15. Tennessee: Erik Ainge completed a school-record 67% of his passes last season but with the team's top three rushers returning, the senior quarterback figures to spend a little more time handing off this season.
16. Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights' highly rated defense took a hit, but with the return of running back Ray Rice, quarterback Mike Teel and 12 other starters, they will be in the thick of the Big East race again. Another 10-plus victory season is well within reach.
17. Florida State: The Seminoles finished below .500 in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the first time ever last season, but it won't happen again unless they have a run of injuries. Watch out for a new and improved Drew Weatherford, who maintained his job as quarterback with consistent preseason practices.
18. Auburn: Everyone excited about Alabama coach Nick Saban's return to the SEC shouldn't forget about the Tigers, who own the series between the two schools of late.
19. Penn State: The Nittany Lions have been overshadowed in the Big Ten but play Wisconsin, Ohio State and Iowa at home. Don't be surprised if they emerge as a title contender.
20. Nebraska: Bill Callahan's rebuilding effort picked up steam last season when the Cornhuskers won the Big 12 North Division. The arrival of quarterback Sam Keller, a transfer from Arizona State, could put the Cornhuskers back on top of the league.
21. Arkansas: Tailback Darren McFadden's Heisman Trophy run could be hampered by a depleted offense that returns just two starters on the line. The Razorbacks will need more in the rough and tumble SEC.
22. Texas Christian: The Horned Frogs enter the season on an eight-game winning streak and, thanks to the return of running back Aaron Brown and three offensive linemen, are thinking big this year. If they beat Texas Sept. 8, they could go undefeated.
23. Hawaii: With Colt Brennan under center, June Jones could be headed for his finest season as Rainbows coach. Look at their schedule and it's hard to imagine them losing a game until late November.
24. Boise State: Orange Bowl hero Ian Johnson, the nation's second-leading rusher in 2006, returns to a team that owns a national-best 13-game winning streak. The Broncos could run the table again if they get past early season tests at Washington and against Southern Mississippi.
25. Texas A&M: Aggies bruiser Jovorskie Lane (6 feet, 263 pounds) gets the most attention but the team returned three backs who gained more than 650 yards last season.
ALL-AMERICANS
OFFENSE
QB - Colt Brennan, Hawaii, 6-3, 201, Sr.
RB - Darren McFadden, Arkansas, 6-2, 215, Jr.
RB - Steve Slaton, West Virginia, 5-10, 190, Jr.
WR - Jarrett Dillard, Rice, 5-11, 185, Jr.
WR - DeSean Jackson, California, 6-0.172, Jr.
TE - Travis Beckum, Wisconsin, 6-4, 224, Jr.
T - Jake Long, Michigan, 6-7, 315, Sr.
T - Sam Baker, USC, 6-5, 3-5, Sr.
G - Jeremy Perry, Oregon State, 6-2, 329, Jr.
G - Will Anderson, Louisiana State, 6-5, 330, Sr.
C - Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas, 6-4, 307, Jr.
DEFENSE
E - Calais Campbell, Miami, 6-8, 280, Jr.
E - Bruce Davis, UCLA, 6-3, 234, Sr.
T - Glenn Dorsey, LSU, 6-2, 303, Sr.
T - Sedrick Ellis, USC, 6-2, 305,
LB - James Laurinaitis, Ohio State, 6-3, 240, Jr.
LB - Vince Hall, Virginia Tech, 6-0, 238, Sr.
LB - Keith Rivers, USC, 6-3, 235, Sr.
CB - Antoine Carson, Arizona, 6-0, 185, Sr.
CB - Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech, 5-10, 200, Jr.
FS - Kenny Phillips, Miami, 6-2, 210, Jr.
SS - Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame, 6-0, 205, Sr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K - Arthur Carmody, Louisville, 5-8, 165, Sr.
P - Chris Miller, Ball State, 6-2, 205, Jr.
HEISMAN HOPEFULS
Arkansas RB Darren McFadden: McFadden's electrifying runs and his occasional forays as a quarterback will make him a factor in the Heisman Trophy race for a second straight year. McFadden finished a distant second to Ohio State's Troy Smith last year and if he isn't on his game could be passed by these candidates this season.
Hawaii QB Colt Brennan: To make a Heisman run playing in the Western Athletic Conference, you'd better have great statistics and Brennan is sure to have those. Last season he had passed for 5,549 yards and established NCAA season records for 300-yard games (14) and touchdowns (58).
Michigan RB Mike Hart: The Wolverines' senior lacks McFadden's big-play ability but is a tough runner who just keeps plugging away. Michigan has had a lot of talented players during Hart's time in the program, but history shows that he is the one who makes the team's offense go. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry and gained 1,562 yards last season.
USC QB John David Booty: Don't be surprised if the Trojans win their fourth Heisman of the decade, especially if they contend for the national title, as expected. Booty led the Pacific 10 in total offense and pass efficiency last season, and that came with the rust of a three-year layoff spent as Matt Leinart's backup.
West Virginia QB Patrick White: Mountaineers running back Steve Slaton was fourth in the Heisman voting last year, but we like White this year. In addition to running for 101.6 yards per game, he completed 66% of his passes and would have ranked ninth in the nation in pass efficiency rating (159.7) but fell one attempt short of qualifying.
Louisville QB Brian Brohm: The senior has been banged up over the years but still produces. He has thrown for 6,751 yards and 41 touchdowns. This year, his Heisman chances are boosted by a group of receivers other signal-callers would drool over and a team that could repeat as Big East champion.
SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER
We won't have to wait long to find out where many of the nation's top teams stand. September is filled with cross-sectional showdowns that will have a profound effect on the rankings.
No. 15 Tennessee at No. 12 California, Saturday: Last year, Tennessee jumped out to a 35-0 lead over ninth-ranked California and won, 35-18. Volunteers quarterback Erik Ainge is the man to watch this year. He'll play despite a broken pinky finger on his throwing hand.
No. 9 Virginia Tech at No. 2 Louisiana State, Sept. 8: LSU quarterback Matt Flynn will have just two college starts under his belt before the Hokies' defense makes him do some mental gymnastics with its various blitz packages. The Tigers' defense will bring the heat, too. Don't expect a lot of points to be scored in this showdown.
No. 22 Texas Christian at No. 4 Texas, Sept. 8: The two programs haven't played each other since they were part of the Southwest Conference in 1995. The resumption of this rivalry couldn't have come at a better time for TCU, which has a team of capable of making a run at a BCS bowl berth this season.
No. 1 USC at No. 21 Nebraska, Sept. 15: Give Pete Carroll credit. He doesn't shy away from competition. In this matchup, Cornhuskers quarterback Sam Keller, an Arizona State transfer, gets another shot at the Trojans. He threw for 347 yards - and five interceptions - in a 10-point loss to USC two years ago.
Alabama vs. No. 17 Florida State in Jacksonville, Sept. 29: The Crimson Tide plays Arkansas and Georgia in the first month, but this will be the first chance for Nick Saban to see where his team stands against a talented opponent away from home.
Honorable mention: Washington State at Wisconsin, Saturday; Oklahoma State at Georgia, Saturday; Miami at Oklahoma, Sept. 8; Oregon at Michigan, Sept. 8.
