College Football 2012: The Most Valuable Offensive Player on Every FBS Team

March is almost upon us, and you know what that means, college football fans. 

Yes, it's time to get excited, because spring practice is right around the corner. 

While the 2012 season may not officially kick off for another six months, spring practice marks the true beginning of college football's offseason craziness period.

With national signing day now firmly in the rear-view mirror, it's time to shift our attention to the upcoming 2012 season, and that means that there will be plenty of debates to be had about different players, teams and conferences over the next few months.

While college football has lost many of its big-name stars like Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Justin Blackmon and Trent Richardson, there's no need to panic, because there are plenty of returning players who seem ready and prepared to make next season a memorable one. 

So who will be the key offensive stars to watch in 2012?

Well, here's a look at the most valuable offensive player on every FBS team for the 2012 season. 

Air Force Falcons: FB Mike DeWitt

Air Force may be losing top rusher Asher Clark and quarterback Tim Jefferson, two players who combined to rush for over 1,600 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2011, but the Falcons will have fullback Mike DeWitt back to lead the way for their triple-option rushing attack. 

Last year, DeWitt ran for 567 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.

In 2012, the 6'1'', 220-pound junior will be asked to carry an even bigger load, but DeWitt has the type of strength, durability and toughness to handle the increased responsibility. 

Akron Zips: RB Jawon Chisholm

When your team finishes 1-11, chances are that you're probably not going to receive much publicity, no matter how good your individual performance is. However, just because Akron RB Jawon Chisholm was overlooked in 2011, that doesn't mean he didn't have a terrific season. 

Chisholm was the shining star during an otherwise dark and gloomy campaign, as the 6'1'', 193-pound freshman announced himself to the MAC in spectacular fashion, rushing for 918 yards in his first season of action after redshirting in 2010. 

Akron probably won't be too much better next season, but Chisholm is definitely the type of player who is worth paying attention to. 

Alabama Crimson Tide: OT Barrett Jones

Alabama may be losing star running back Trent Richardson, last year's third-place Heisman finisher, but the Tide will be welcoming back most of the offensive line that paved the way for Richardson to run for 1,679 yards in 2011.

The leader of the front five will once again be Outland Trophy winner Barrett Jones, who has shown that he's capable of playing pretty much any position on the line.

After lining up at guard early in his career and then making the switch to left tackle in 2011, the speculation now is that Jones could be headed to center to take over for William Vlachos.

The 6'5'', 311-pound junior has already proven that he's the best offensive lineman in college football, and no matter where he lines up next season, Jones should have no problem asserting his dominance. 

Arizona Wildcats: QB Matt Scott

With new head coach Rich Rodriguez taking over at Arizona, it will be interesting to see how the Wildcats' offense can adapt to his spread scheme next season. 

Nick Foles, who was one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the country last season, will have to be replaced this offseason, and the most fitting candidate is Matt Scott. 

Scott is the type of athletic and mobile signal-caller that Rodriguez is looking for to run his offense, and his strategy to redshirt last season while Foles led the team for one more year could end up paying off in a big way for both him and the Wildcats in 2012. 

Arizona State Sun Devils: RB Cameron Marshall

New Arizona State head coach Todd Graham wasn't able to do much with Pittsburgh's offense during the one year he was in charge of the Panthers. However, there was one player who flourished in Graham's system: RB Ray Graham, who ran for 958 yards in just eight games.

It will be interesting to see if Graham is able to have a similar effect on Sun Devils running back Cameron Marshall in 2012. 

Last year, Marshall ran for over 1,000 yards and scored 18 touchdowns, so he has already proven that he's a very capable runner. However, with quarterback Brock Osweiler gone, the 5'11'', 215-pound junior is set to be the focal point of the offense next season, and it will be exciting to see how he handles the responsibility.

Arkansas Razorbacks: QB Tyler Wilson

Before the start of last season, some wondered if Tyler Wilson would be able to properly replace his highly-productive predecessor Ryan Mallett as the trigger man of Arkansas' offense. However, it didn't take long for Wilson to prove that he was a worthy successor to Mallett. 

The 6'3'', 220-pound junior ended up completing 63 percent of his passes and throwing for over 3,600 yards, as he led the Razorbacks to an 11-2 record and a top-five national ranking. 

This year, Wilson will be without three of his top receivers—Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Greg Childs, but he does have a budding star in WR Cobi Hamilton to rely on, as well as one of the best tight ends in the country in Chris Gragg. 

It also doesn't hurt that Knile Davis, the SEC's most productive running back in 2010, will be returning from a leg injury that kept him sidelined for all of last season. 

With Davis, Hamilton and Gragg surrounding him, Wilson will have a great opportunity to lead Arkansas to an SEC championship, and he may just have what it takes to make a serious run at the 2012 Heisman Trophy.

Arkansas State Red Wolves: QB Ryan Aplin

Some were surprised to see offensive guru Gus Malzahn leave Auburn to take over an off-the-radar program like Arkansas State. Malzahn knows, though, that he has a very talented team to work with for 2012. One player that the coach has to be excited about is QB Ryan Aplin, who threw for over 3,500 yards, added 588 on the ground and accounted for 29 total touchdowns in 2011, as he led the Red Wolves to their first 10-win season since 1986. 

The 6'1'', 205-pound senior is the type of athletic and versatile dual-threat signal-caller who should flourish in Malzahn's system. With Aplin back at the helm, Arkansas State has to be the early favorite to repeat as Sun Belt champs in 2012. 

Army Black Knights: RB Raymond Maples

Army had the most productive rushing offense in the country last season, averaging 346 yards on the ground per game, and one of the big reasons why was the performance of RB Raymond Maples. 

Last year, Maples managed to break the 1,000-yard rushing mark even though he only carried the ball 146 times—the second lowest total out of the 47 backs who managed to reach that feat in 2011. The 6'1'', 200-pound sophomore averaged 7.3 yards per carry and proved to be trouble for opposing defenses. 

With Maples back to lead the way, the Black Knights should once again have one of the most productive rushing attacks in the country in 2012. 

Auburn Tigers: RB Onterio McCalebb

With offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, quarterback Barrett Trotter and star running back Michael Dyer all gone, the Auburn offense is going to have quite a different look and feel next season.

The big story will be at quarterback, where Clint Moseley and Kiehl Frazier are set to battle for the starting spot this offseason, but the key position will likely be at running back, where the explosive Onterio McCalebb will be asked to carry a heavier load in 2012. 

McCalebb will have Tre Mason to help ease some of the burden, but the 5'11'', 174-pound junior will surely be asked to carry the ball more than eight times per game like he did last season. 

Still, McCalebb has shown that he can be a dangerous offensive weapon in both the running and the passing game, as he totaled 985 yards of offense and scored seven touchdowns in 2011. 

After an MVP showing against Virginia in the Chick-fil-a Bowl, McCalebb appears ready to embrace his new role as Auburn's top offensive playmaker. 

Ball State Cardinals: QB Keith Wenning

Ball State's offense probably isn't going to be talked about a whole lot this offseason, but the MAC better watch out because the Cardinals should have one of the top backfields in the conference next season, comprised of quarterback Keith Wenning and running back Jahwan Edwards. 

Wenning will be the offense's catalyst and the one who ultimately holds the unit's success in his hands. 

Last year, the 6'4'', 220-pound sophomore completed 64 percent of his passes for over 2,700 yards and hit 19 touchdown passes, as he guided the Cardinals to a 6-6 record. 

If Wenning can take the next step in his development next season, Ball State could end up being a factor in the MAC West division in 2012. 

Baylor Bears: WR Terrance Williams

The Baylor offense is certainly going to miss the explosive passing duo of QB Robert Griffin III and WR Kendall Wright, but the Bears will still have some dangerous weapons to work with next season, the most notable being WR Terrance Williams. 

Williams was on the receiving end of one of the top highlights of the 2011 season, as he was the one who hauled in Robert Griffin's 34-yard game-winning touchdown pass against Oklahoma. That wasn't the only big play that the 6'3'', 210-pound junior made last year, though, as he ended up finishing the season with 59 catches for 957 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

Williams looks like he's destined to be one of the most coveted senior receiver prospects for the 2013 NFL draft. 

Boise State Broncos: WR Matt Miller

It will be odd to see the Boise State offense take the field without QB Kellen Moore, as it feels like Moore has been a mainstay up there on the blue turf for what seems like the last decade. The Broncos will now have to find a new offensive identity with Joe Southwick taking over at quarterback, but Southwick will certainly benefit from having a talented receiver like Matt Miller to throw to. 

Last year, Miller hauled in 62 passes for 679 yards and scored a touchdown in eight different games in his first season of action. 

The 6'3'', 215-pound freshman has a bright future ahead of him, and if he can get consistent play from the quarterback position, Miller should be one of the most productive receivers in the Mountain West in 2012.

Boston College Eagles: QB Chase Rettig

Boston College quickly fell into obscurity last season after the Eagles started off the year 1-7, but there were some signs of encouragement late in the season when the team won three of its last five games against ACC competition. 

With QB Chase Rettig returning, Boston College should have a brighter outlook for the 2012 season, as Rettig is a talented quarterback who simply battled through inconsistencies last year. 

The 6'3'', 212-pound sophomore only completed 53 percent of his passes and only hit 12 touchdowns last season.

Still, Rettig did show some glimpses of his potential at times, and he showed that he's got the type of skills to lead the Boston College offense to success just as long as he can play at a more consistent level week-in and week-out.

Bowling Green Falcons: RB Anthon Samuel

Bowling Green has two very talented freshman running backs with Anthon Samuel and Jamel Martin, but it's Samuel who looks like he has the brightest future. 

Last year, Samuel averaged 5.9 yards per carry and ran for over 100 yards in five of the nine games he played in. 

The 5'11'', 183-pound freshman has the type of speed and strength combination to grow into one of the top overall backs in the MAC, and if he gets the proper amount of touches in 2012, he'll have a great chance to break the 1,000-yard rushing mark. 

Buffalo Bulls: RB Branden Oliver

There wasn't a lot that went right at Buffalo last year, as the Bulls finished the season with just three wins in 2011. However, one player gave fans something to get excited about, and that was running back Branden Oliver. 

Last year, Oliver ran for 1,395 yards, added 38 catches for 365 yards and scored 13 touchdowns, as he turned out to be Buffalo's only true offensive difference-maker. After accounting for 40 percent of his team's total production last season, the 5'8'', 200-pound sophomore proved that he was without a doubt the player who made the Buffalo offense go. 

Hopefully, the Bulls can find a few more weapons to complement their star in 2012. 

BYU Cougars: WR Cody Hoffman

BYU's Cody Hoffman was one of the best receivers that no one seemed to talk about last season.

Last year, Hoffman hauled in 61 passes for 943 yards and scored 10 touchdowns, proving to be just the type of receiving threat the the Cougars' offense needed. He also added value in the return game, averaging 24 yards per kick return. 

The big, athletic 6'4'', 208-pound sophomore presents a matchup nightmare for opposing cornerbacks, and he should once again be QB Riley Nelson's favorite target next season. 

Cal Golden Bears: WR Keenan Allen

USC's Robert Woods may be the most talked-about receiver in the Pac-12 this offseason, but he's not the only star pass-catcher in the conference who will be on display in 2012. 

Like Woods, Cal's Keenan Allen tore up plenty of Pac-12 defenses last season, as he racked up 98 catches for 1,343 yards. The 6'3'', 205-pound sophomore has terrific athleticism for his size, and he proved last year that he has no trouble finding open spaces in coverage and creating big plays. 

With Allen, his half-brother QB Zach Maynard and RB Isi Sofele all back to lead the way, Cal's offense could catch a lot of teams by surprise in 2012. 

Central Florida Knights: WR J.J. Worton

Central Florida may have to find a new quarterback to lead its offense, since starter Jeff Godfrey decided to transfer. Whoever ends up calling the signals next season, though, will at least have a great safety valve to rely on in receiver J.J. Worton. 

Last year, Worton was the Knights' most productive receiver, as the 6'2'', 193-pound freshman stepped up and hauled in 41 passes for 531 yards and scored four touchdowns in his first season of action.

It was clutch catches like this one against Southern Miss, and this diving grab against Boston College that give a true indication of the type of special receiver that Worton really is. 

Central Michigan Chippewas: QB Ryan Radcliff

The MAC is loaded with intriguing quarterbacks for next season, and one of the signal-callers to keep an eye on will be Central Michigan's Ryan Radcliff. 

Although the Chippewas struggled mightily in 2011, finishing just 3-9, their outlook for 2012 seems to be brighter since Radcliff and four of his top five receivers from last year, including budding star Titus Davis, are all returning.

Central Michigan should once again have one of the top overall passing offenses in the conference in 2012. If Radcliff can build on his performance from last year, when he threw for over 3,200 yards and hit 25 touchdown passes, then the Chippewas should be able to add a few more victories to the win column.

Cincinnati Bearcats: WR Anthony McClung

Cincinnati may be losing starting quarterback Zach Collaros, but the Bearcats will be bringing back two of the most talented receivers in the Big East conference, Anthony McClung and Kenbrell Thompkins.

That's certainly good news for 2012 starter Munchie Legaux. 

While both McClung and Thompkins are impressive athletic specimens, it was the former who took center stage in 2011, leading the team with 49 catches for 683 yards and six touchdowns. 

The 5'11'', 165-pound junior has the speed to stretch secondaries and create game-changing plays, which are two things that he should do plenty of in 2012. 

Clemson Tigers: WR Sammy Watkins

No other freshman in college football could compare to Clemson's Sammy Watkins last season, as the former 5-star recruit stepped into the Tigers' offensive lineup and became an immediate star. 

Watkins made an instant impact in 2011, emerging as the playmaking receiver that the Tigers needed. 

The explosive 6'1'', 180-pound freshman touched the ball 114 times on offense, finishing the year with 1,450 total yards. He also proved to be a threat in the return game, averaging 25 yards per kick return. 

Watkins will now enter the 2012 season as one of the premier players in college football, and he should receive plenty of Heisman hype over the course of the offseason. 

With Watkins, QB Tajh Boyd and RB Andre Ellington all returning, Clemson has the type of dangerous offensive trio to make a run at not just an ACC championship, but a national championship as well.

Colorado Buffaloes: WR Paul Richardson

Colorado finished second to last in the Pac-12 in total offense last season, and if the Buffaloes have any hope of climbing out of the basement, they're going to need some playmakers to emerge. 

One player to watch is receiver Paul Richardson, who caught 39 passes for 555 yards and scored five touchdowns in just nine games in 2011. The 6'1'', 175-pound Richardson has the type of speed, size and hands to be an effective weapon in the passing game, and if Colorado can figure out how to utilize him right, he could be in store for a big breakout campaign. 

Colorado State Rams: RB Chris Nwoke

Colorado State will have to replace starting quarterback Pete Thomas, who decided to transfer to N.C. State after coach Steve Fairchild was fired, but the cupboard certainly isn't bare for new head coach Jim McElwain. 

McElwain may not have a Trent Richardson or Mark Ingram caliber of back to work with at Colorado State, but he will have a very intriguing runner in Chris Nwoke. 

Last year, Nwoke ran for 1,130 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per carry. 

The 6'1'', 214-pound sophomore has a similar powerful build to both Ingram and Richardson, and he should flourish in McElwain's offensive system. 

Connecticut Huskies: RB Lyle McCombs

Most expected that D.J. Shoemate would be the one to take the torch from departed running back Jordan Todman and become the main man of the Connecticut backfield in 2011. However, after Shoemate was lost for the season with an ankle injury early in the year, Lyle McCombs was able to step in and really show the Big East what he was made of. 

McCombs ended up finishing second in the conference with 1,151 rushing yards, which means the 5'8'', 172-pound freshman will now enter the 2012 season as a known commodity. 

While he won't be able to catch anyone off guard next season, McCombs should once again be able to top the 1,000-yard rushing mark. 

Duke Blue Devils: QB Sean Renfree

Sean Renfree may be one of the most highly-touted recruits to ever sign with Duke, but so far during his career, all of that high school hype hasn't helped Renfree pick up many victories in Durham. 

Renfree certainly hasn't been the reason for the Blue Devils' struggles over the past few years, but the truth is, he's got to step it up if the team at least wants to avoid finishing at the bottom of the ACC Coastal division again in 2012. 

Last year, the 6'5'', 225-pound junior completed 65 percent of his passes and threw for 2,800 yards, but Duke still finished just 3-9. 

If Renfree can get a little more help from his surrounding cast, the Blue Devils could put a scare into a few ACC opponents like they did to Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech last year. 

East Carolina Pirates: WR Justin Hardy

It seemed certain that Lance Lewis would be the one to take over for Dwayne Harris and become the team's No. 1 receiving threat in 2011, but freshman Justin Hardy ended up surprising everyone when he emerged and stole some of Lewis' thunder last season.  

Hardy led the Pirates with 64 catches for 658 yards and six touchdowns, and the 6'0'', 181-pound freshman made it clear that he's going to be a force to be reckoned with in Conference-USA over the next few years. 

With Lewis gone, Hardy will now be the clear-cut top dog of East Carolina's receiver corps, and it will be interesting to see how he handles the new expectations. 

Eastern Michigan Eagles: QB Alex Gillett

Eastern Michigan's offense certainly wasn't groundbreaking in 2011, as the Eagles ended the season ranked 93rd nationally in total offense and 103rd in scoring offense. 

If the Eagles want to improve on those rankings in 2012, they're going to need veteran quarterback Alex Gillett to step his game up in 2012. Last year, Gillett only threw 198 passes, but he still managed to throw for over 1,500 yards and hit 14 touchdowns strikes. 

If the Eastern Michigan offensive coaching staff shows some more faith in the 6'1'', 215-pound junior next season and gives him some more opportunities to toss it around, Gillett could end up surprising some folks in the MAC. 

FIU Golden Panthers: RB Kedrick Rhodes

FIU may be losing WR T.Y. Hilton, arguably the most explosive player in school history, but the Golden Panthers will now be able to rely on another explosive playmaker, RB Kedrick Rhodes. 

Last year, Rhodes stepped into the starting running back role and became one of the star rushers in the Sun Belt, as he ran for 1,149 yards and scored eight touchdowns. 

The 5'11'', 175-pound sophomore will have to produce that same kind of rushing total next season if FIU wants to make it back to its third consecutive bowl game in 2012. 

Florida Gators: WR Andre Debose

When Andre Debose first arrived in Gainesville, many fans put unfair pressure on him, as they dubbed him the next Percy Harvin. While Debose hasn't come close to living up to the Harvin comparisons yet, a lot of that can be blamed on injuries. 

When the 5'11'', 191-pound sophomore has been healthy, he has shown flashes of his enormous potential. Last year, Debose only caught 16 passes, but when he did get the ball in his hands, he certainly made the most of it, averaging a whopping 27 yards per catch. 

With both of Florida's super-speedsters, Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey, now gone, the offense is going to need a new home-run threat, and Debose seems like the type of player who could be ready to fill that role.

Florida Atlantic: QB Graham Wilbert

It's hard to call anyone on college football's worst offense "valuable," but now that RB Alfred Morris is gone, I guess if you had to choose somebody, it would have to be QB Graham Wilbert 

The good news for Wilbert is that his 2012 season has to be better than his 2011 campaign. In his first year as a starter, the 6'6'', 225-pound junior endured a lot of growing pains, as he completed just 52 percent of his passes and tossed 15 picks. 

The good news is that Wilbert actually has some talent, and he's the type of tall pocket-passer who can make some quality throws if he gets proper protection (the Owls ranked 101st nationally with 34 sacks allowed in 2011).

If Wilbert can get some help from his surrounding cast, the Owls should at least be able to improve on their awful 1-11 record from a year ago. 

Florida State Seminoles: QB E.J. Manuel

Just like last year, Florida State will once again have high expectations to meet for the 2012 season, but after last year's disappointing 9-4 campaign, the Seminoles will be playing with a little extra motivation this time around. 

With the type of talent that Florida State is returning on both sides of the ball, a run to the national championship is definitely possible in 2012. However, for that to happen, the Seminoles are going to need to get a big year out of QB E.J. Manuel. 

We know that Manuel has as much natural ability as any other quarterback in the country, as he's an athletic, strong-armed signal-caller who can beat a defense with both his arm and his legs. 

What we don't know, though, is if he has the intangibles to lead his team to a championship. 

The 6'5'', 245-pound junior will have one last chance to do it in 2012, and it will be interesting to see if he can make up for last year's disappointing campaign.

Fresno State Bulldogs: RB Robbie Rouse

With a very strong backfield comprised of QB Derek Carr and RB Robbie Rouse, Fresno State could be a dark-horse team to watch for in 2012. 

The offense's success will depend a lot on Rouse's ability to replicate the tremendous success he had running the football last year. The 5'7'', 185-pound junior finished eighth in the country with 1,544 yards on the ground in 2011, and he also added 32 catches for 228 yards and scored 14 total touchdowns. 

Rouse may not be the biggest back on the block, but he proved last year that he's a tough, strong and durable runner who can take control and put the offense on his back. 

Georgia Bulldogs: QB Aaron Murray

Georgia QB Aaron Murray certainly didn’t end the season the way that he was hoping for, as the Bulldogs were routed by LSU in the SEC championship game and then fell to Michigan State in disappointing fashion in triple-overtime in the Outback Bowl.

Still, you have to give the talented redshirt sophomore a lot of credit for helping his team reel off 10 straight wins after starting off the season 0-2. 

Murray, who threw for 3,149 yards and hit 35 touchdown passes in 2011, is one of the main reasons that head coach Mark Richt still has a job, and his performance gave Georgia fans plenty to look forward to for 2012.

The Bulldogs will go into 2012 as the favorite to win the SEC East once again, and if Murray can take the next step and evolve into an elite quarterback, Georgia will have to make travel plans back to Atlanta, while Murray may just have to find a way to New York City.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: QB Tevin Washington

Finding a quarterback who can run Paul Johnson's triple-option offense doesn't sound that hard, but it actually can be quite a tricky task. The all-important pivot player in the Flexbone scheme has to be more than just your average, athletic running quarterback—he has to be a smart and sound decision-maker. 

Georgia Tech's current starting signal-caller happens to be a great running quarterback and showed last season that he can run an offense with effectiveness while making tough decisions. 

Last year, Tevin Washington helped the Yellow Jackets finish second in the country in rushing yards per game. He also showed that he could throw the ball a little bit, completing 74 passes and hitting 11 touchdown passes. 

The 6'1'', 203-pound sophomore now has enough experience to really have the offense firing on all cylinders in 2012, and with Washington behind center, the Yellow Jackets should be a contender in the ACC Coastal division. 

Hawaii Warriors: WR Jeremiah Ostrowski

The bad news for Hawaii coach Norm Chow is that he's going to have to replace QB Bryant Moniz, who was one of the most productive passers in college football over the past two years.

The good news for Chow, though, is that whoever he sticks at quarterback is going to have two terrific receivers to throw to in Jeremiah Ostrowski and Billy Ray Stutzmann, who combined to catch 143 passes in 2011. 

Stutzmann may have had the better numbers last season, but Ostrowski could be the real receiver to watch in 2012. 

The 5'9'', 175-pound junior, who also plays point guard for the Warriors basketball team, is a terrific athlete whom Chow is going to love to exploit next season. 

Houston Cougars: RB Charles Sims

I'm sure it's not going to be easy for Houston to simply replace QB Case Keenum, who shattered most of college football's major passing records during his career with the Cougars. However, the offense will have a potential standout running back to rely on in 2012 to help make the transition from Keenum to David Piland a little easier. 

That running back is Charles Sims, who averaged 7.4 yards per carry, totaled 1,396 yards of offense and scored 13 touchdowns in 2011. 

Sims is the perfect type of back for Houston's pass-heavy offense, as he's just as capable of a receiver as he is a runner. 

Look for the 6'0'', 205-pound junior to become an even bigger part of the offense in 2012. 

Idaho Vandals: WR Mike Scott

Idaho's offense was one of the weakest in the country last season, but you certainly can't put the blame on the shoulders of WR Mike Scott. 

Scott seemed like one of the only players for the Vandals who was capable of producing on a weekly basis, as he led the team with 55 catches for 691 yards. 

If Idaho wants to find some more success on the offensive side of the ball in 2012, the Vandals would be wise to draw up plenty of plays for the talented 5'11'', 178-pound junior. 

Illinois Fighting Illini: QB Nathan Scheelhaase

Illinois' 6-0 start to the 2011 season seemed like a distant memory by the time December rolled around, because by that time, the Illini had dropped their last six games and faded into obscurity, which is why coach Ron Zook is no longer employed by the university. 

QB Nathan Scheelhaase has to share in the blame, as his play waned down the stretch run of the season and the offense seemed to lose its effectiveness because of it. It's not as if Scheelhaase had a terrible year, though. In fact, the 6'3'', 195-pound junior totaled over 2,700 yards of offense and accounted for 19 touchdowns. 

With Tim Beckman now taking over the team, it will be interesting to see what the new coaching staff will be capable of doing with the dangerous dual-threat signal-caller. 

If Scheelhaase can stay consistent for a full season, he has the chance to be a dynamic player, but that's a big if. 

Indiana Hoosiers: RB Stephen Houston

There wasn't a lot to get excited about at Indiana last fall, as the Hoosiers stumbled their way through an embarrassing 1-11 campaign, one which included losses to Ball State and North Texas. 

Still, there were a few bright spots, and one of them was RB Stephen Houston. 

Houston ran for over 800 yards and scored eight touchdowns in 2011, even though defenses made it a point to try to shut down the run, since Indiana's passing attack was so inconsistent. 

The 6'1'', 228-pound sophomore proved that he's tough to bring down, and if QB Tre Roberson can help him out and open up some more defenses next season, Houston should have some more room to do damage in 2012. 

Iowa Hawkeyes: QB James Vandenberg

For the second year in a row, Iowa will have to replace its top rusher. This time it's Marcus Coker, who ran for 1,384 yards last season. That means the Hawkeyes will be forced to rely on the passing game for success next season, which shouldn't be a big problem considering veteran quarterback James Vandenberg looks capable of guiding the offense with his arm in 2012. 

Last year, Vandenberg threw for over 3,000 yards and finished the year with a very impressive 25-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. 

Vandenberg may not have top target Marvin McNutt to throw to anymore, but he will have two very talented receivers in Keenan Davis and Kevonte Martin-Manley at his disposal once again in 2012. 

Iowa State Cyclones: QB Jared Barnett

Iowa State may have only gone 6-7 in 2011, but the campaign, which included a win over then No. 2-ranked Oklahoma State late in the season, was enough to get fans excited about the future. It was also enough for the school to buy into coach Paul Rhoads, who was handed a brand-new, 10-year contract. 

One of the big reasons for optimism in Ames is freshman quarterback Jared Barnett. 

Barnett may have only played in nine games, and his 6-6 touchdown to interception ratio doesn't exactly jump off the stat sheet. However, the 6'0'', 200-pound freshman learned some valuable lessons in his first season under center, and with his strong arm and athleticism, he's going to be a quarterback that no Big 12 defense will want to face. 

Kansas Jayhawks: RB James Sims

A lot is going to change at Kansas this offseason, as new coach Charlie Weis and new quarterback Dayne Crist should add some flavor to an offense that was stale in 2011. Last year, the Jayhawks finished 106th nationally in total offense and 95th in scoring offense. 

The unit's struggles were fully evident in the latter part of the season against Big 12 competition when the Jayhawks failed to score more than 10 points in four of their last five games. 

One player, however, actually did do some damage to opposing defenses: RB James Sims. 

Last year, Sims totaled 864 yards of offense, and he scored a touchdown in eight different games.

It will be interesting to see how Weis utilizes the 6'0'', 206-pound sophomore in his offense next season. 

Kansas State Wildcats: QB Collin Klein

Kansas State came out of nowhere in 2011, as the Wildcats shocked the college football world by finishing with a double-digit-win season, something not even the most optimistic of folks in Manhattan could have expected before the year started.

A lot of the success can be attributed to quarterback Collin Klein, who emerged as one of the Big 12's top offensive difference-makers this past season.

The Kansas State offense wasn't exactly the most productive unit in college football in 2011, as the Wildcats finished ranked 101st in total offense, but Klein was one of the true bright spots, as he used both his arm and his legs to slice through defenses.

The 6'5'', 225-pound junior proved that he was one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, as he accumulated over 3,000 yards of total offense and accounted for 40 of his team's 52 touchdowns.

Now that he has established a name for himself, it will be interesting to see what Klein can do for an encore in 2012.

Kent State Golden Flashes: QB Spencer Keith

After starting off the season 1-6 against a brutal schedule, Kent State could have packed it in and cruised to the finish line, but instead the Golden Flashes worked their way back to respectability and finished the year 5-7. 

A lot of that late-season success had to do with the improved play of QB Spencer Keith, who seemed like a different quarterback in the second half of the season. 

In his final five games, Keith threw for over 1,000 yards and hit eight touchdown passes while throwing no interceptions. 

If the 6'3'', 221-pound junior can carry that type of momentum into next season, Kent State should have a chance to finish with a winning record in 2012. 

Kentucky Wildcats: WR La’Rod King

It was obvious that the Kentucky offense missed receivers Randall Cobb and Chris Matthews last season, but the Wildcats did have a new receiver emerge on the scene. 

La'Rod King stepped up and became the team's go-to target in 2011, as he hauled in 40 passes for 598 yards and seven touchdowns. 

The 6'4'', 194-pound junior towers over most cornerbacks, and if Kentucky can find a quarterback who can get him the ball consistently, King should turn into a very dangerous receiving threat in 2012. 

Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns: QB Blaine Gautier

Most college football fans probably didn't know who Blaine Gautier was before the New Orleans Bowl. But if they didn't know him before, they certainly knew the Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback afterwards, as Gautier put on a show in the Superdome against San Diego State, throwing for 470 yards and helping his team get its first bowl win in over 40 years.

After coming so close to breaking the 3,000-yard passing mark in 2011, Gautier will now return for one more year to try to guide the Ragin Cajuns to a Sun Belt championship in 2012.

The 6'0'', 205-pound junior has the arm strength, accuracy and mobility to be one of the most productive signal-callers in the country next season. 

Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks: WR Brent Leonard

The Sun Belt will have plenty of receivers who are capable of earning All-Conference honors next season, and one of the players who should be right in the hunt is Louisiana-Monroe's Brent Leonard. 

Last year, Leonard led the team with 69 catches for 751 yards.

The 6'2'', 179-pound junior proved that he was the type of reliable target that quarterbacks love to have. 

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs: WR Quinton Patton

Louisiana Tech's Quinton Patton might just be the most underrated wide receiver in college football. 

Even though he received little recognition in 2011, Patton still put on a show, as he hauled in 79 passes for over 1,200 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. 

The 6'2'', 195-pound junior is one of the fastest and most explosive receivers in the country, and he has the speed to run circles around most defensive backs that he faces. 

Hopefully, Patton can garner a little more publicity in 2012, as he most definitely deserves it. 

Louisville Cardinals: QB Teddy Bridgewater

Louisville fans should send a thank-you letter to Miami for firing Randy Shannon, because that termination helped them land their future star signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater. 

Bridgewater, a Miami native who de-committed from the Canes and pledged his services to Charlie Strong and the Cardinals, immediately made good on his enormous high school hype last season. 

In his first year leading the Louisville offense, Bridgewater completed 64 percent of his passes, threw for over 2,100 yards and helped guide the Cardinals to a share of the Big East championship. 

Now the 6'3'', 205-pound freshman will set his sights on winning an outright league title and taking his team to a BCS bowl game.

With all three of his top wide receivers—Eli Rogers, Michaelee Harris and DeVante Parker—returning for the 2012 season, Bridgewater will definitely be capable of reaching that goal next season. 

LSU Tigers: RB Spencer Ware

With Spencer Ware, Michael Ford, Kenny Hilliard and Alfred Blue all returning for the 2012 season, LSU is set to have the deepest stable of running backs in college football once again. 

While all of them have something special and unique to offer, the real back to watch in 2012 will be Ware, who ran for over 700 yards and scored nine touchdowns last season. 

The bulky 5'11'', 223-pound sophomore possesses the power, strength and tenacity to pound the ball inside the tackles for the LSU offense. 

Ware may have to defer carries to his three backfield counterparts again next season, but he should still be a major factor in the Tigers' offensive success in 2012. 

Marshall Thundering Herd: WR Aaron Dobson

Marshall WR Aaron Dobson gained some national notoriety when he made this insane highlight-reel grab against East Carolina last season. 

It's those types of plays that show you just how gifted of a receiver Dobson really is. 

Last year, the 6'3'', 204-pound junior was one of the top receivers in Conference-USA, as he reeled in 49 passes for 668 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. 

Dobson is big, fast and has one of the best set of hands in the country, and he should be a big-time weapon for the Thundering Herd once again in 2012. 

Maryland Terrapins: WR Kevin Dorsey

Maryland fans may be anxiously awaiting the arrival of 5-star receiver recruit Stefon Diggs, but hopefully they don't forget that the Terps already have a receiver who deserves some praise, and that's Kevin Dorsey. 

Last year, Dorsey led the team with 45 catches for 573 yards, even though Maryland's quarterback play was mediocre to say the least. 

The 6'2'', 205-pound junior should form a dangerous trio with Diggs and fellow receiver Kerry Boykins.

Memphis Tigers: QB Taylor Reed

New Memphis coach Justin Fuente is going to have a lot of work to do trying to improve the team's offense, as the Tigers ranked 115th nationally in scoring offense and 116th in total offense last season. 

Luckily for Fuente, he seems to have a quality young quarterback that he can develop in Taylor Reed. 

Last year, Reed stepped into the starting role as a true freshman and did a pretty solid job, completing 57 percent of his passes for 1,690 yards and finishing with a very respectable 10-4 touchdown to interception ratio.

Fuente did a great job working with quarterbacks like Andy Dalton and Casey Pachall during his time as a co-offensive coordinator at TCU, and it will be interesting to see what kind of player he can mold Reed into.

Massachusetts Minutemen: QB Kellen Pagel

Massachusetts will become the newest member of the FBS ranks in 2012 when the Minutemen join the MAC. 

UMass has been one of the top FCS programs in the Northeast over the past decade, racking up three conference championships since 2003, so it will be interesting to see how the team handles the step up in competition. 

One player to watch on the Minutemen offense is QB Kellen Pagel. 

Last year, Pagel only played in eight games due to injury, but the 6'3'', 212-pound sophomore still managed to throw for over 1,700 yards and hit nine touchdown passes. 

Miami Hurricanes: WR Allen Hurns

Miami is losing a lot of offensive talent, as QB Jacory Harris, RB Lamar Miller and the team's top two receivers, Travis Benjamin and Tommy Streeter, will all have to be replaced for 2012. 

The Hurricanes do have some talented reinforcements waiting, though, and one player who should emerge as a real offensive difference-maker next season is WR Allen Hurns. 

Last year, Hurns caught 31 passes for 415 yards and scored four touchdowns, as he showed that he has the chance to be the next great Miami receiver. 

The 6'3'', 185-pound sophomore has the size, speed and route-running ability to make opposing cornerbacks just look flat-out silly.

Miami (Ohio) RedHawks: QB Zac Dysert

Last year, Zac Dysert finished second in the MAC to Western Michigan's Alex Carder with 3,513 passing yards, and he also finished second to Toledo's Terrance Owens with a 65.8 complete percentage. 

Next season, Dysert will be looking to get the top spot in both categories, and with most of his top receivers all returning, including star Nick Harwell, he'll have a great chance to do it. 

The question is, though, even if the 6'2'', 214-pound junior can finish as the best statistical passer in the MAC, can he actually lead his team to wins?

The RedHawks were just 4-8 last season, but with Dysert and Harwell both back to lead the way on offense, they should be able to make some noise in the East division in 2012. 

Michigan Wolverines: QB Denard Robinson

Even though Denard Robinson had already received a huge amount of hype before the start of last season, he still had to prove that he could beat top-notch competition. 

Toppling prominent programs such as Notre Dame, Nebraska, Ohio State and Virginia Tech in the same season certainly proved his worth. 

The 6'1'', 195-pound junior may have experienced some growing pains as a passer in his first year transitioning from Rich Rodriguez's spread system to Al Borges' more conventional passing attack, as he led the Big Ten with 15 interceptions.

Still, you do have to respect what Robinson was able to accomplish in 2011, as he accumulated 3,349 yards of total offense, accounted for 36 touchdowns and led the Wolverines to an 11-2 record and their first BCS bowl victory since 2000.

Robinson will now enter the 2012 season on the short list of Heisman favorites, and if he can keep improving as a passer, he should have the Wolverines right in the race to win the Big Ten Leaders division and make it back to a BCS bowl for the second year in a row.

Michigan State Spartans: RB Le’Veon Bell

Michigan State may be losing running back Edwin Baker a year early to the NFL, but the Spartans will be bringing back one of the best running backs in the country, Le'Veon Bell. 

Last year, Bell totaled over 1,200 yards of total offense and accounted for 13 touchdowns, and with Baker gone, he'll be asked to produce at an even higher rate in 2012. 

The 6'2'', 237-pound sophomore should be strong enough and durable enough to handle another big workload, though, and with Larry Caper spelling him when needed, Bell should be able to make a legitimate run at the Big Ten rushing title next season.

Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders: QB Logan Kilgore

Middle Tennessee State was uncharacteristically bad last season, as the Blue Raiders finished the year with just a 2-10 record. 

It was pretty clear which side of the ball was to blame for the team's problems, as the defense finished the year ranked 110th nationally in scoring defense in 2011. 

The offense, on the other hand, was actually one of the most productive units in the Sun Belt conference, and a big reason why was the play of QB Logan Kilgore. 

Kilgore completed 58 percent of his passes for over 2,200 yards and hit 18 touchdown passes, and the 6'3'', 186-pound sophomore appears ready to have an even bigger campaign in 2012. 

Minnesota Golden Gophers: QB Marqueis Gray

There wasn't a lot to celebrate in Minnesota during Jerry Kill's first season as head coach, as the Golden Gophers finished just 3-9, with two of those losses coming at home to New Mexico State and North Dakota State. There was plenty of blame to go around for the team's struggles, and while much of it ultimately fell on Kill's shoulders, QB Marqueis Gray also caught some heat. 

While Gray certainly didn't have a great season by any means in 2011, completing just 50 percent of his passes and hitting just eight touchdown strikes, he did prove that he's one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.

He totaled 2,461 yards of offense, which was 66 percent of his team's entire output for the year. 

If the 6'4'', 240-pound junior can improve his passing this offseason, he has the athleticism and versatility to really cause headaches for opposing defenses. 

Mississippi Rebels: RB Jeff Scott

With Brandon Bolden gone, it will be up to RB Jeff Scott to help revive Mississippi's stagnant offense in 2012. 

Scott may only be 5'7'', 175-pounds, but he's a speedy playmaker who can cause plenty of trouble for opposing defenses when he gets the ball in his hands. 

Last year, Scott averaged 4.6 yards per carry and scored six touchdowns in 10 games of action, but the Rebels are going to need him to step it up in a big way if they want to climb out of the SEC basement and gain back some respect in 2012. 

Mississippi State Bulldogs: RB LaDarius Perkins

Mississippi State fans may be worried about having to replace RB Vick Ballard, who ran for over 2,100 yards during his two seasons in Starkville.  But they may be pleasantly surprised by his successor, LaDarius Perkins, who could be in store for a breakout campaign in 2012.

Perkins only carried the ball 87 times in 2011, but he averaged nearly five yards per touch and showed plenty of glimpses of his speed and explosion. With Ballard no longer in the mix, the 5'10'', 185-pound sophomore will now be asked to be the bell cow back in the backfield, and he should excel in that role.

Missouri Tigers: QB James Franklin

When QB Blaine Gabbert decided to leave Missouri a year early for the NFL, some people around Columbia wondered if James Franklin could properly replace the top-10 draft pick.

Franklin alleviated all those concerns in his first year as a starter.The dual-threat signal-caller totaled 3,846 yards of offense and accounted for 37 touchdowns in 2011, and he managed to do it going up against one of the toughest schedules in the country. 

The sophomore signal-caller gave plenty of glimpses of his immense potential this past season, and with him back at the helm for 2012, the Tigers have the chance to be a major factor in the SEC East.

Franklin is one of the top playmaking quarterbacks in the country, and now that he has his feet under him, it should be fun to see how he fares against some of the top defenses in the country.  

Navy Midshipmen: RB Gee Gee Greene

Navy may be losing its top two rushers, QB Kriss Proctor and FB Alexander Teich, but the Midshipmen look like they should have a talented rusher to help carry the load in 2012 in RB Gee Gee Greene. 

Greene showed last season that he was a great fit for Navy's triple-option attack, as he averaged 7.8 yards per carry on just 64 touches and scored seven touchdowns.

The 5'8'' ,180-pound junior should see the ball much more often next season, and Greene definitely has what it takes to become Navy's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2009.

Nebraska Cornhuskers: RB Rex Burkhead

You can't build a much better back for Nebraska's run-oriented offense than Rex Burkhead. 

Burkhead may not be the most explosive back in the country, but he's got the power and the willingness to consistently pound it inside the tackles, which he showed in his first year as a starter in 2011.

The 5'11'', 210-pound junior bulldozed his way for 1,357 yards on the ground and scored 17 touchdowns this past season, as he proved to be a more-than-capable replacement for Roy Helu. 

With Burkhead and dual-threat quarterback Taylor Martinez both returning to the Nebraska backfield next season, the Cornhuskers should have the type of powerful rushing attack it takes to compete for a Big Ten Legends crown in 2012. 

Nevada Wolf Pack: QB Cody Fajardo

Replacing one of the best players in school history is never an easy task, however, Cody Fajardo did an admirable job filling in for Colin Kaepernick at Nevada last season. 

Even though he had to split snaps with Tyler Lantrip throughout the year, Fajardo still totaled over 2,400 yards and 17 touchdowns and earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2011. 

With Lantrip now gone, Nevada's pistol offense will be Fajardo's to run by himself. 

After a valuable learning experience last season, the athletic 6'2'', 205-pound freshman now seems like he's ready to take the next step in 2012. 

New Mexico Lobos: WR Deon Long

I was sad to see Deon Long leave West Virginia after his freshman season, as Long seemed to be the type of kid who had a really bright future ahead of him.

After ending up in New Mexico, Long was finally able to make the most of his potential, as he quickly developed into an impact player for the Lobos offense, leading the team with 47 catches for 809 yards and scoring four touchdowns. 

If that's what the 6'0'', 190-pound freshman is capable of in his first season of action, just think of what Long could have in store for 2012. 

New Mexico State Aggies: OT Davonte Wallace

New Mexico State loses most of its top skill position talent from a year ago, but the Aggies do return one of the top offensive linemen in the WAC, OT Davonte Wallace. 

Last year, the 6'4'', 290-pound Wallace opened up plenty of holes for RB Kenny Turner, and only allowed five sacks for the entire season. 

For his efforts, Wallace was awarded with second-team All-WAC honors. 

With center Mike Grady gone, the junior tackle will now step up and be counted on as the leader of the offensive line for 2012. 

North Carolina Tar Heels: RB Giovani Bernard

After missing his entire first season with an ACL injury, North Carolina RB Giovani Bernard came out and didn't miss a beat in 2011, as he looked exactly like the highly-rated recruit that Tar Heel fans were so excited to see before the injury.

This past season, Bernard totaled 1,615 yards of offense, scored 14 touchdowns and put constant stress on opposing defenses all season long.

The 5'10'', 205-pound freshman is the type of offensive weapon that has to be accounted for on every snap, and he will be the main key to North Carolina's offensive success next season.

North Carolina State Wolfpack: QB Mike Glennon

N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien received a lot of criticism for sticking to his word and going with Mike Glennon as his starter while letting Russell Wilson transfer to Wisconsin.

It didn't help that Wilson proceeded to guide the Badgers to a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl appearance. However, the move should end up paying major dividends in 2012. 

Last year, Glennon gained some valuable experience, and the 6'6'', 225-pound junior got the chance to show off his tremendous arm strength, as he threw for over 3,000 yards and hit 31 touchdown passes. 

The scary part is that Glennon should be even better next season, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him have the Wolfpack contending with Florida State and Clemson in the ACC Atlantic division in 2012. 

North Texas Mean Green: QB Derek Thompson

Although North Texas finished just 5-7 in 2011, QB Derek Thompson actually played pretty decent football in his first season as a starter. 

Thompson completed 57 percent of his passes for over 1,700 yards and hit 11 touchdown passes in 2011. 

The 6'4'', 220-pound sophomore still may have a lot of room for improvement, but he showed signs of encouragement last season, and he should be able to use his first campaign as a learning experience for 2012. 

Northern Illinois Huskies: WR Martel Moore

Northern Illinois may have to fill two important holes at quarterback and running back following the departures of Chandler Harnish and Jasmin Hopkins, but one thing that the Huskies won't have to worry about searching for is a new top receiver, because Martel Moore has that covered. 

Last year, Moore finished tied for the team lead with 47 catches, and he averaged 15.9 yards per catch and found the end zone seven times. 

The 6'2'', 182-pound junior should provide whoever ends up taking over for Harnish at quarterback with a trusted target to rely on all season long in 2012. 

Northwestern Wildcats: QB Kain Colter

Because of QB Dan Persa's injury troubles, Northwestern's offense was never really quite able to get on track in 2011. However, Persa's absence did allow backup Kain Colter the opportunity to step in and get a feel for the offense last season.

Colter ended up totaling 1,327 yards of offense and accounting for 15 touchdowns during his time under center. 

The athletic 6'0'', 190-pound sophomore is a dangerous, dual-threat signal-caller who could really catch some Big Ten opponents by surprise in 2012. 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish: RB Cierre Wood

Much of the offseason discussion around South Bend this summer will revolve around the quarterback position, however, the real key Notre Dame player to watch in 2012 won't be Tommy Rees, Gunner Kiel or Andrew Hendrix. 

Nope, instead it'll be RB Cierre Wood, who looks capable of making a legitimate run at a Heisman Trophy next season.

The seriousness of his candidacy will, of course ,depend on his team's overall success, but if the Irish can put together a big season, Woods could definitely hear his name mentioned among the favorites at some point next season. 

Last year, the 6'0'', 215-pound sophomore ran for over 1,100 yards and scored nine touchdowns, and Woods should be in store for an even bigger campaign in 2012.  

Ohio Bobcats: QB Tyler Tettleton

Most people probably didn't predict that Ohio would win 10 games last season, but most people probably couldn't have foreseen that QB Tyler Tettleton would be as good as he was in his first season as a starter.

Tettleton stepped in and made an instant impact in 2011, throwing for over 3,300 yards, running for 658 yards and accounting for 38 total touchdowns, as he guided the Bobcats to the top of the MAC East. 

The 5'11'', 198-pound sophomore is the type of versatile, dual-threat quarterback who can do damage to a defense in a variety of different ways.

Ohio State Buckeyes: QB Braxton Miller

Urban Meyer plus Braxton Miller equals?

Well, we'll find out the answer to that equation this September when Miller becomes the latest signal-caller to lead Meyer's spread offense. 

Meyer has had a great deal of success when he's had talented and athletic signal-callers like Alex Smith and Tim Tebow running his offense, and it will be interesting to see what he's capable of doing with Miller, who is a former 5-star recruit. 

Last year, Miller took over for struggling starter Joe Bauserman in the third game of the season against Miami, and he ended up having an up-and-down first year, as the Buckeyes dropped seven of their last 11 games. 

There were only two games when the 6'3'', 210-pound freshman completed 10 or more passes, but he did show that he has some tremendous running ability, and he would seem be an ideal fit for Meyer's spread option system. 

Oklahoma Sooners: QB Landry Jones

Oklahoma may have been the most disappointing team of the 2011 season, as the Sooners finished ranked outside the top 10 after starting off the year ranked No. 1 in both major polls. However, with QB Landry Jones returning, along with a host of other key playmakers, the Sooners should have a great chance to redeem themselves in 2012. 

Jones may not have lived up to his preseason Heisman hype this past season, but he was still one of the top passers in college football, as he threw for over 4,400 yards and hit 29 touchdown passes. 

If the 6'4'', 230-pound junior can cut down on the interceptions and play better in big spots in 2012, then Oklahoma should be right back in contention to win the Big 12. 

Oklahoma State Cowboys: RB Joseph Randle

It's never easy to replace a running back who ran for over 1,500 yards and scored 16 touchdowns on two separate occasions during his college career.

Oklahoma State didn't seem to have much trouble finding a replacement for Kendall Hunter last season, though, as his successor, Joseph Randle, stepped in and had no trouble picking up the slack. 

Even though Oklahoma State was predominantly a passing team, finishing fourth in the country with 595 pass attempts, Randle still managed to run for over 1,200 yards and score 26 touchdowns.

Now that the ultra-productive passing duo of QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon are both headed to the NFL, the 6'1'', 190-pound junior will now play an even bigger part as the featured playmaker of Oklahoma State's offense next season.

It's a role in which Randle should thrive.

Oregon Ducks: RB De’Anthony Thomas

Beware Pac-12 defenses, because the Black Mamba is on the loose. 

Playmaker, game-breaker and difference-maker are all terms that you could use to sufficiently describe Oregon’s ultra offensive weapon De’Anthony Thomas. The fact is, though, no matter what word or term you want to use to try to sum up Thomas as a football player, it probably wouldn’t come close to really doing him and his rare talents justice.

The sensational speedster is simply the type of player that you have to see to truly believe.

Before this season, I didn’t think it was possible to build a more perfect weapon for the Oregon spread offense than LaMichael James.

A certain dazzling 5'9'', 160-pound freshman has forced me to rethink that opinion, though.

Thomas, who finished his first season with 2,235 total yards and 18 touchdowns, is a budding superstar who will now have the opportunity to take on an even bigger role in 2012. 

Oregon may be losing its two top backfield weapons—QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James—a year early to the NFL, but have no fear, Chip Kelly has another star growing in his backfield, and this new one may just be capable of bringing home the Heisman hardware that his predecessor never could.

Oregon State Beavers: WR Markus Wheaton

Oregon State endured a forgettable season in 2011, as the Beavers finished with a disastrous 3-9 record and missed out on the postseason for the second year in a row.  

Coach Mike Riley is going to have some work to do if he wants to guide the Beavers back to respectability in 2012, but he does have a few intriguing offensive pieces to work with, the main one being explosive WR Markus Wheaton. 

Because of his team's struggles, Wheaton didn't receive much national attention in 2011, but that should definitely change next season. 

Even though he had to deal with inconsistent play at the quarterback position throughout most of the year, the 6'1'', 178-pound junior still managed to haul in 78 passes for 986 yards in 2011. 

The former high school track star will be looking to find the end zone more than once during his senior year, and with the type of game-changing speed that Wheaton possesses, he should have no trouble getting behind opposing secondaries on a consistent basis in 2012. 

Penn State Nittany Lions: RB Silas Redd

2012 is sure to be an odd season in Happy Valley, as the Jerry Sandusky scandal is still hanging over the program, and the team will be playing with heavy hearts after the passing of Joe Paterno back in January.

While the Nittany Lions won't be expected to compete for a Big Ten title next season, that doesn't mean that they'll be a pushover. Penn State still has some serious talent on both sides of the ball, and the key player on offense will be RB Silas Redd.

Last year, Redd proved that he was one of the best backs in the Big Ten when he ran for 1,241 yards, the fourth best total in the conference.

The 5'10'', 209-pound sophomore is a strong, durable back who can carry a heavy workload, which is something he'll have to do once again for the Penn State offense in 2012.

Pittsburgh Panthers: RB Ray Graham

If there's one thing that new Pittsburgh coach Paul Chryst proved during his time as Wisconsin's offense coordinator, it's that he knows how to produce top-notch rushing attacks, which is great news for Ray Graham. Last year, Graham was one of the leading rushers in college football before a knee injury robbed him of the final five games of 2011. 

Even though he only carried the ball 164 times, Graham still managed to finish with 958 yards on the ground and nine touchdowns. 

The 5'9'', 175-pound junior may not be the most intimidating back in the country, but he's certainly one of the most explosive and he possesses deceptive strength and power for his small frame. 

Judging from what Chryst was able to do with Montee Ball last season, it seems that if Graham can fully recover from his knee injury, he's definitely going to be the front-runner to win the Big East rushing title in 2012. 

Purdue Boilermakers: QB Caleb TerBush

Purdue tinkered with a two-quarterback system last season, giving Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve both a shot to lead the offense at different times. However, it was TerBush who was the standout of the two, as he completed 61 percent of his passes for over 1,900 yards and 14 touchdowns. 

The 6'5'', 225-pound junior was a big reason that Purdue was able to get back to its first bowl game since 2007. 

With four out of his top five receivers from last season returning, TerBush will have the proper ammunition at his disposal to really put together a strong passing attack in 2012. 

Rice Owls: TE Luke Wilson

After upsetting Purdue in Week 2, Rice's season quickly went downhill soon after that, as the Owls ended up losing seven of their last 10 games. 

While the offense isn't exactly stocked with top-tier talent for 2012, there is at least one player that pro scouts will take an interest in: tight end Luke Wilson. Last year, Wilson caught 29 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns, but next season, he'll be counted on to be an even bigger receiving weapon in the passing game. 

If the 6'5'', 250-pound junior can get some more consistent play out of QB Taylor McHargue, Wilson should be able to show scouts that he has what it takes to make it at the NFL level.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights: RB Jawan Jamison

After finishing last season ranked 112th in the country in rushing offense, Rutgers will be looking to establish a much more consistent ground game in 2012. 

Luckily for the Scarlet Knights, they have three capable backs in Jawan Jamison, Savon Huggins and Jeremy Deering. While Huggins is the most highly-touted player of that group, it was Jamison who made the biggest impact last year, as he toted the rock 231 times for 897 yards and scored nine touchdowns. 

The 5'8'', 198-pound freshman proved that he could be a work horse for the offense. While Huggins and Deering will likely steal away some carries from him next season, Jamison should still remain the key figure in Rutgers' backfield in 2012. 

San Diego State Aztecs: WR Colin Lockett

The San Diego State offense may be in a bit of a rebuilding mode after the losses of its two key players, QB Ryan Lindley and RB Ronnie Hillman.

The Aztecs do still have two key receiving weapons in WR Colin Lockett and TE Gavin Escobar, though. 

Both Lockett and Escobar should give incoming quarterback Ryan Katz, a transfer from Oregon State, two solid targets to throw to, but it's Lockett who'll be the one who should really be able to stretch the field. 

Last year, the 6'0'', 175-pound sophomore led the team in receiving, hauling in 58 passes for 970 yards and eight touchdowns.

He also had a strong showing as a returner, averaging 22.6 yards per kickoff return. 

That's not too shabby for a guy who switched from cornerback to wide receiver just last offseason. 

San Jose State Spartans: WR Noel Grigsby

San Jose State had one of the most surprisingly strong passing attacks in the country last season, as the Spartans finished 23rd nationally in passing offense in 2011. A big reason for that type of success through the air was WR Noel Grigsby, who hauled in 89 catches for 886 yards. 

The 5'11'', 170-pound sophomore will once again team with talented tight end Ryan Otten and fellow receiver Chandler Jones to give whoever ends up as the starting quarterback next season three very dangerous targets to throw to in 2012. 

SMU Mustangs: RB Zach Line

When most people think of a June Jones-led offense, they probably think about a high-flying passing attack, but last year, Zach Line proved that there's room for running backs to shine in Jones' system as well.

Line distinguished himself as the top overall running back in Conference-USA when he led the conference with 1,224 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. 

The 6'1'', 230-pound junior is a big, physical and powerful back who has surprising athleticism for his size. 

Look for Line to challenge for his second consecutive Conference-USA rushing crown in 2012. 

South Alabama Jaguars: QB C.J. Bennett

South Alabama will be making the move to the Sun Belt next season, and leading the Jaguars on their journey up to the FBS ranks will be QB C.J. Bennett, a former 3-star recruit out of Tampa, Florida. 

Last year, Bennett completed 55 percent of his passes for 1,640 yards and hit seven touchdown passes.

It will be interesting to see how the 6'2'', 220-pound freshman can handle Sun Belt competition, along with opponents like North Carolina State, Hawaii and Mississippi State next season. 

South Carolina Gamecocks: RB Marcus Lattimore

Marcus Lattimore's knee is probably going to be the most scrutinized body part in all of college football next season, as it's going to be very interesting to see how Lattimore will be able to bounce back after a torn ACL cut his 2011 season short. 

It's a shame to see such a talented player go down with such a serious injury, but if the 6'1'', 232-pound sophomore can get fully rehabilitated and make a big comeback next season, it will undoubtedly be one of the biggest stories of 2012. 

Lattimore has only played in 20 games in his college career, but he's still been able to amass 2,609 yards of total offense and 30 touchdowns. 

The former 5-star recruit is one of the most talented and physically-imposing players in college football, and if he can get his knee right, he should be able to inflict plenty of punishment on SEC defenses in 2012. 

South Florida Bulls: QB B.J. Daniels

When South Florida QB B.J. Daniels went to Tallahassee and beat Florida State 17-7 as a freshman back in 2008, many assumed that he was destined for future stardom. However, Daniels has just never been able to cash in on his potential. 

Have there been glimpses of greatness?

Sure, but there have also been plenty of mistakes and battles with inconsistency over the past three years as well.

As far as natural talent and athleticism goes, Daniels is right up there with any other quarterback in the country, but the 6'0'', 217-pound junior has yet to take the proper steps and improve as a passer. 

Last year, Daniels totaled over 3,100 yards of offense and accounted for 19 touchdowns in just 11 games, but his inability to get things done in clutch late-game situations was a big reason the Bulls finished just 5-7.

The 2012 season will be his final chance to show the Big East that he has what it takes to lead his team to a championship, and it will be interesting to see if Daniels is finally up for the challenge.

Southern Miss Golden Eagles: WR Tracy Lampley

Last year, WR Tracy Lampley saved his coming-out party for his team's most important game of the season, as Lampley turned out to be one of the stars of Southern Miss' huge upset victory over Houston in the Conference-USA championship game. The supremely fast 5'9'', 168-pound junior caught six passes for 125 yards and scored two touchdowns in the 49-28 beatdown of the Cougars. 

With last year's top two receivers, Kelvin Bolden and Ryan Balentine, both gone, the Golden Eagles are going to need Lampley to put up performances like that one on a more consistent basis in 2012. 

With his type of speed and playmaking ability, Lampley should emerge as one of the breakout stars in Conference-USA next season. 

Stanford Cardinal: RB Stepfan Taylor

No one knows what life after Andrew Luck will be like for the Stanford Cardinal, and it doesn't help that the offense is losing two of the top offensive linemen in the country—OT Jonathan Martin and OG David DeCastro—on top of losing one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time.

Still, the Cardinal are welcoming back one critical player to the offensive huddle for the 2012 season, and that's running back Stepfan Taylor. 

Because he happened to play in the same backfield as college football's most talked-about star, Taylor has been one of the most overlooked players in the country these past two years. But all you have to do is ask any Stanford fan, and they'll tell you just how important of a piece he has been to the Cardinal's success.

The 5'11'', 208-pound junior rushed for 2,467 yards and scored 28 touchdowns over the past two seasons, and he'll be asked to be an even bigger work horse now that Luck is gone. 

Taylor has shown that he has the strength and durability to handle a heavy workload, and he should have no problem stepping up and being the bell cow back that Stanford needs him to be in 2012.

Syracuse Orange: WR Alec Lemon

Syracuse may have experienced a disappointing set back season in 2011, but there were some bright spots last year. 

One of the most notable was WR Alec Lemon, who turned out to be one of the best receivers in the Big East, as he caught 68 passes for 834 yards and scored six touchdowns. 

Lemon outworked almost every defensive back he faced in 2011, and that effort certainly paid off. 

The 6'2'', 202-pound junior will now be asked to be one of the leaders of the offense for next season, and it's a responsibility that Lemon should have no trouble handling. 

TCU Horned Frogs: QB Casey Pachall

If you're looking for an early dark-horse 2012 Heisman contender, then look no further than TCU QB Casey Pachall.

This past season, Pachall had the unenviable task of trying to replace one of the most successful and consistent quarterbacks in college football history, Andy Dalton. Even though there were a few bumps in the road early on, he quickly made Horned Frogs fans forget about Dalton.

After starting off the season 3-2 with two tough losses to Baylor and SMU, Pachall and the rest of the team really hit a groove down the home stretch of the season, racking up eight straight wins to end the year 11-2.

Pachall's best performance of the season came on the road against Boise State, when he torched the Broncos secondary, throwing for 473 yards and five touchdowns and leading the Horned Frogs to a thrilling 36-35 upset victory.

The 6'5'', 215-pound redshirt sophomore turned out to be one of the most efficient passers in the country, as he ended up completing 66 percent of his passes for 2,921 yards while only tossing seven interceptions.

Pachall will now be in charge of leading TCU into the Big 12 next season, and after displaying the type of prowess he did last season, it seems likely that he should be able to handle the step up in competition without a problem.

Temple Owls: RB Matt Brown

Temple will have to replace one of the best running backs in school history, Bernard Pierce, who left school a year early for the NFL, but the Owls definitely seem like they have a capable successor in Matt Brown. 

Brown finished last season with over 1,000 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns. 

While the 5'5'', 170-pound junior certainly isn't the same type of overwhelming physical specimen that Pierce is, he has proven that he's an effective runner who knows how to get the job done when the ball is in his hands. 

Tennessee Volunteers: QB Tyler Bray

It's not likely that Tennessee would have beaten teams like LSU, Alabama, South Carolina and Arkansas last year even if QB Tyler Bray had been in the lineup, but I can guarantee you that the Volunteers would have been much more competitive than they were without him, as they ended up losing by a combined score of 138-23 in those four games. 

That just goes to show you how vital Bray has become to Tennessee's offensive success. 

The 6'6'', 210-pound sophomore has done some much-needed maturing since his first campaign under center in 2010, and he now looks ready to prove that he's one of the best signal-callers in the SEC next season. 

Bray is a prototypical, tall, pro-style pocket passer who possesses the type of arm strength to make every possible throw on the field.

With receivers Da'Rick Rogers and Justin Hunter at his disposal, Bray should have Tennessee's passing offense really cranking in 2012. 

Texas Longhorns: RB Malcolm Brown

Malcolm Brown arrived in Austin amid a lot of fanfare as a highly-touted 5-star recruit, and he certainly didn't seem to have much trouble living up to expectations early on, as Brown led the team with 742 rushing yards as a freshman in 2011. 

The powerful 6'0'', 217-pound freshman is one of the most physically-gifted running backs in the country, and with Joe Bergeron and incoming recruit Johnathan Gray spelling him when needed, he should have no problem staying healthy and fresh in 2012. 

If Texas wants to become a factor in the Big 12 again next season, the Longhorns are going to need Brown to play a pivotal role, as their quarterback situation looks shaky to say the least. 

Texas A&M Aggies: WR Ryan Swope

Jeff Fuller may have received all of the preseason attention, but when it came time to produce this past season, the best receiver on Texas A&M actually turned out to be the less-heralded Ryan Swope. 

With Fuller battling bouts of inconsistency, it didn't take long for Swope to become the favorite trusted target of QB Ryan Tannehill. The 6'0'', 206-pound junior led the Aggies with 89 catches for 1,207 yards and 11 touchdown receptions in 2011. 

Losing Tannehill may hurt his production a bit, but whoever ends up being A&M's quarterback next year, whether it's Jameill Showers or Matt Davis, it won't matter, because no matter who it is, you can bet that they'll be looking in Swope's direction quite often in 2012. 

Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners: QB Eric Soza

Eric Soza gained quite a reputation when he was a four-year starter at Texas' Beeville high school. Now he's looking to gain a new reputation at the University of Texas San-Antonio, as he prepares to guide the Roadrunners into their new home in the WAC. 

Last year, Soza threw for over 2,100 yards and 14 touchdowns, and he added 285 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. 

Texas State Bobcats: RB Terrance Franks

After redshirting his first season, Terrance Franks stepped into the Texas State offense last year and exploded, rushing for 963 yards and scoring nine touchdowns. 

The 5'10'', 184-pound freshman is a former track star who has the speed and quickness to really frighten a defense.

Franks will now be the Texas State offense's key player, as the Bobcats prepare to make the move to the WAC conference. 

Texas Tech Red Raiders: RB Eric Stephens

When Eric Stephens went down for the season with an injury after five games last season, Texas Tech's rushing attack went down with him.

The Red Raiders ended up finishing last in the Big 12 in rushing, only averaging 125 yards on the ground per game in 2011. 

With a healthy Stephens back in the fold, that should change in 2012, as the 5'8'', 195-pound junior looks like he could be the real deal. 

Stephens is averaging 5.2 yards per carry for his career, and if his knee holds up, he should emerge as one of the best backs in the Big 12 next season. 

Toledo Rockets: QB Terrance Owens

With 32-year-old offensive coordinator Matt Campbell now taking over the head-coaching position at Toledo, you would have to expect that the Rockets' offense should be in store for another big year next season after finishing ninth nationally in total offense and eighth in scoring offense in 2011. 

Much of that offensive success had to do with star receiver Eric Page, who will have to be replaced after leaving a year early for the NFL, but a lot of it also had to do with the quarterback duo of Terrance Owens and Austin Dantin.

Owens and Dantin combined to throw for over 3,400 yards last season. While the two split most of the reps, it was Owens who really stood out the most, as he completed 72 percent of his 230 attempts for over 2,000 yards and finished with an outstanding 18-3 touchdown to interception ratio.

The 6'4'', 180-pound sophomore looks like he's bound to be a star in the MAC, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Campbell lean on Owens even more heavily in 2012. 

Troy Trojans: QB Corey Robinson

Troy had a surprisingly down year last season, as the Trojans finished just 3-9 in 2011. 

There's reason to be optimistic about next season, though, and the cause for the optimism is returning quarterback Corey Robinson. 

Last year, Robinson completed 62 percent of his passes for over 3,400 yards and hit 21 touchdown passes. 

If the 6'1'', 215-pound sophomore can find a way to cut down on his interceptions and mistakes next season, the Trojans should be able to climb right back into the Sun Belt race in 2012. 

Tulane Green Wave: RB Orleans Darkwa

Last season, RB Orleans Darkwa was one of the lone bright spots on a Tulane offense that could only muster up 21 points and 340 yards per game in 2011.

Even though defenses keyed in on the talented back, Darkwa still managed to run for 924 yards and score 13 touchdowns in 2011. 

The 6'0'', 214-pound sophomore had his best game of the season against the team's toughest opponent, Houston, when he ran for 123 yards and scored two touchdowns against the Cougars.

Tulane could use more performances like that one out of Darkwa if the Green Wave want to avoid another embarrassing season in 2012.  

Tulsa Golden Hurricane: RB Ja’Terian Douglas

Tulsa may be losing dependable starting quarterback G.J. Kinne, but the Golden Hurricane will still have plenty of talent at the offensive skill positions with guys like Trey Watts, Bryan Burnham and Willie Carter. 

The real player to watch, though, could be RB Ja'Terian Douglas. 

Last year, Douglas averaged a whopping 7.9 yards per carry on 114 touches, and he proved an explosive back who can change the complexion of an offense. 

After last year's eye-opening campaign, you would have to expect that the 5'11'', 180-pound sophomore will be featured even more prominently in the offense in 2012. 

UAB Blazers: QB Jonathan Perry

New UAB head coach Garrick McGee proved during his time at Arkansas that he can mold great quarterbacks, as McGee helped both Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson develop into top signal-callers in the SEC. However, McGee won't exactly have that kind of talent to work with now that he's with the Blazers. 

What McGee will have, though, is an intriguing, athletic quarterback in Jonathan Perry, who he should be able to develop into an effective passer.

Last year, Perry was forced into action after senior starter Bryan Ellis went down with an injury early in the year. While there were times when the 6'2'', 205-pound sophomore struggled, he also showed some flashes of his potential, as he totaled over 2,300 yards of offense and accounted for 13 touchdowns. 

It should be very interesting to see what type of quarterback McGee can mold Perry into for the 2012 season.

UCLA Bruins: RB Johnathan Franklin

Over the last two years, UCLA RB Johnathan Franklin has been one of the most consistent backs in college football, as he has rushed for over 2,100 yards and scored 14 touchdowns during that time. However, because of the Bruins' struggles as a team, Franklin's performance has gone largely unnoticed outside the state of California. 

That could be about to change this season, though, as Franklin looks poised to have his best year yet under new head coach Jim Mora. 

The 5'10'', 193-pound junior has the speed and explosion to burst through the hole and get to the second level, and once he gets into the open field, he possesses the agility to shake would-be tacklers. 

If Franklin can get consistent play from his offensive line on a weekly basis, he could have a serious shot of challenging for the Pac-12 rushing title next season. 

UNLV Rebels: RB Dionza Bradford

UNLV's offense was far from a juggernaut last season. In fact, there were times when the unit was just downright awful, as the Rebels ended the year ranked 117th nationally in total offense and 113th in scoring offense. 

If head coach Bobby Hauck wants to get the offense moving in the right direction, he would be wise to rely on talented running back Dionza Bradford. 

In his first year on the field, the 6'0'', 210-pound freshman averaged an impressive 4.6 yards per carry, and he should be even more productive now that he has a feeling for what it's like to run against collegiate competition. 

Bradford will once again team with fellow back Tim Cornett to give the Rebels a nice one-two rushing combo to build around for 2012. 

USC Trojans: QB Matt Barkley

It seems like it's going to be a pretty fun summer for USC QB Matt Barkley.

Not only will Barkley get to spend the offseason being hailed as the favorite to win the 2012 Heisman Trophy, he'll also get the same type of treatment that Andrew Luck received as the consensus favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NFL draft. 

Barkley deserves all the praise that's going to be heaped upon him after throwing for over 3,500 yards and tossing 39 touchdown passes as he guided the Trojans to a 10-2 record in 2011. 

The 6'2'', 220-pound junior is the type of leader that USC needs to help bring the program back to the national stage after spending two years on probation. 

There's sure to be a lot of pressure placed on Barkley's shoulders in 2012, but he's got the type of talented team around him to make a legitimate run at a BCS championship. 

Utah Utes: RB John White

Because many fans around the Pac-12 were focusing their attention on more notable backs like Oregon's LaMichael James, Washington's Chris Polk and Stanford's Stepfan Taylor, John White IV didn't receive a whole lot of publicity last season. However, after running for 1,520 yards, scoring 17 touchdowns and finishing second in the conference in rushing in 2011, it's obvious that he deserved it. 

White will now enter 2012 as the leading returning rusher in the conference, and the 5'8'', 185-pound junior will once again be the focal point of an offense that could be a lot more dangerous than some people might expect. 

With QB Jordan Wynn coming back, the Utes should have one of the most dangerous backfields in the conference for 2012. 

Utah State Aggies: QB Chuckie Keeton

Making your first career start on the road in hostile SEC territory against the defending national champions isn't exactly an ideal situation for a young freshman quarterback, but if Utah State's Chuckie Keeton was rattled in last year's season-opener against Auburn, he certainly didn't show it. 

Keeton completed 21 of his 30 pass attempts and added two rushing touchdowns against the Tigers, as he brought the Aggies to the brink of pulling off what would have been one of the biggest upsets of the season. But it was not to be, as Auburn eventually found a way to come back in the fourth quarter and eke out a 42-38 victory.

Still, that type of performance in that type of environment says a lot about what kind of future Keeton has. 

The 6'2'', 185-pound freshman may miss highly productive running back Robert Turbin, but he now appears ready to truly make the offense his in 2012. 

UTEP Miners: QB Nick Lamaison

After a stellar showing at Mt. San Antonio College, Nick Lamaison couldn't make much of a dent at the University of Tennessee, so the former JUCO signal-caller opted to transfer and eventually he found his way down to UTEP. 

After the departure of Trevor Vittatoe, Lamaison stepped into the starting role in 2011 and threw for over 1,700 yards and hit 12 touchdowns in just 10 games last season. 

The Miners only finished with a 5-7 record last year, but with top receiver Mike Edwards coming back, Lamaison should have the chance to finish his career strong in 2012. 

Vanderbilt Commodores: RB Zac Stacy

When running back Warren Norman went down with an injury early on in the 2011 season, Vanderbilt desperately needed a running back to step up and fill the void, and that's just what Zac Stacy did, as he became one of the biggest surprise stories in the SEC.

Stacy ended up rushing for 1,193 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns, and it was bulldozing runs like this one against Kentucky that really helped him get noticed in the conference. 

The 5'9'', 208-pound junior is a stocky, compact powerhouse who can only be brought down with gang-tackling. 

Stacy will have to defer some carries to Norman next season, but he should still have plenty of opportunities to truck would-be tacklers once again in 2012. 

Virginia Cavaliers: RB Perry Jones

Virginia might just have one of the best running back duos in the country that no one talks about with Perry Jones and Kevin Parks. 

Jones and Parks combined to rush for 1,624 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2011, and they could be in store for an even bigger year next season. 

Both backs will be worth keeping an eye on, but the real player to watch will be Jones. The 5'8'', 185-pound junior may not be the biggest back, but he's capable of making things happen when he gets the ball in his hands, as Jones averaged nearly five yards per carry in 2011.

Parks will cut into his number of touches next season, but Jones should be in store for another highly-productive campaign in 2012.

Virginia Tech Hokies: QB Logan Thomas

Now that speedy running back David Wilson has left the Virginia Tech backfield, we're going to find out a lot about QB Logan Thomas in 2012. Most importantly, we'll find out if Thomas can step up and lead the Hokies to an ACC championship without Wilson there to back him up. 

We know that the 6'6'', 254-pound sophomore has the talent, as we saw plenty of flashes of Thomas' potential in 2011 when he threw for over 3,000 yards and accounted for 31 total touchdowns. 

Thomas has the size, arm and mobility to be a nightmare for opposing defenses, but he's going to have to show some more consistency in 2012. Without Wilson lining up behind him, he's going to have to become the true offensive leader that the Hokies need him to be. 

Wake Forest Demon Deacons: QB Tanner Price

Because the ACC is filled with notable quarterbacks like Clemson's Tajh Boyd, Florida State's E.J. Manuel, N.C. State's Mike Glennon, North Carolina's Bryn Renner and Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas, chances are, you're probably not going to hear a lot about Wake Forest QB Tanner Price this offseason. 

Still, Price is the type of quarterback who could really make a name for himself within the conference next season.

The 6'2'', 205-pound sophomore threw for over 3,000 yards and had an impressive 20-6 touchdown to interception ratio in 2011.

While he's certainly going to miss top receiver Chris Givens, who left for the NFL a year early, Price should form a strong passing tandem with receiver Michael Campanaro in 2012. 

Washington Huskies: QB Keith Price

Don't be surprised if you hear the words Keith Price and Heisman Trophy in the same sentence at some point next season. While the talented Washington quarterback may not stand much of a chance of actually winning the award, he does look like he's about to state a convincing case, especially after that eye-opening performance in a 67-56 shootout loss to Baylor in the Alamo Bowl.

It may be too early to start calling Price the next Robert Griffin just yet, but it's obvious that the 6'1'', 195-pound junior has a ton of natural ability, even if he isn't the same caliber of runner that RG3 is.

After throwing for over 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns this past season, Price definitely looks capable of putting up Griffin-like passing numbers in 2012. 

Washington State Cougars: WR Marquess Wilson

A lot of people around Pullman, Washington are excited about the arrival of new coach Mike Leach, and one person who should be ecstatic is WR Marquess Wilson. 

Because Washington State has been such a non-factor these past few years, Wilson hasn't received the credit he deserves as one of college football's top wide receivers. However, that should change next season now that Leach is calling the shots for the Cougars. 

Last year, Wilson hauled in 82 passes for 1,322 yards and scored 12 touchdowns, and the 6'4'', 183-pound sophomore should best those numbers in 2012, playing in Leach's pass-happy system. 

Western Michigan Broncos: QB Alex Carder

The MAC has produced a few notable NFL quarterback prospects in recent years, with the most famous being Ben Roethlisberger back in 2004. Now it looks like the next highly-coveted conference signal-caller that scouts will have their eyes on is Western Michigan's Alex Carder. 

Carder possesses the size, skill set and strong arm that NFL teams are looking for, and if he has the type of senior season that some are expecting, his name could really start to climb up draft boards. 

Last year, the 6'2'', 225-pound junior completed 67 percent of his passes and accounted for over 4,100 total yards of offense and 35 touchdowns. 

West Virginia Mountaineers: QB Geno Smith

When Dana Holgorsen arrived in Morgantown in December of 2010, many wondered what type of impact the passing guru coach would have on quarterback Geno Smith. 

As it turned out, Smith was just the type of strong-armed signal-caller to lead Holgorsen's pass-happy attack, as he ended up completing nearly 66 percent of his passes for over 4,300 yards and hit 31 touchdown passes compared to just seven interceptions in 2011. 

Now that the 6'3'', 214-pound junior has learned all of the nuances of Holgorsen's offensive system, it will be very interesting to see how Smith fares in the Big 12 next season, especially given the type of 70-point show that he and the Mountaineers ended the season with against Clemson in the Orange Bowl. 

With his two top receivers, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey, both returning, along with dangerous running back Dustin Garrison, Smith will have the type of firepower around to him to really make West Virginia's offense explode in 2012. 

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers: TE Jack Doyle

Western Kentucky may be losing one of the top overall players in school history, RB Bobby Rainey, who finished fifth in the country in rushing last season, but the Hilltoppers will welcome back one of the most talented tight ends in the country, Jack Doyle. 

Last year, Doyle hauled in 52 passes for 614 yards, which earned him second-team All-Sun Belt honors. 

After failing to find the end zone in 2011, the 6'6'', 248-pound junior should be able to find his way there on a few occasions next season. If Doyle can get more consistent play out of the quarterback position, he'll have the chance to put up some monster numbers in 2012. 

Wisconsin Badgers: RB Montee Ball

Montee Ball shocked pretty much everybody when he announced that he would pass on the opportunity to enter the 2012 NFL draft and instead return to Wisconsin for his senior season. 

After Ball rushed for over 1,900 yards, accounted for 40 total touchdowns and came in fourth in the Heisman voting this past season, most simply assumed that he had nothing left to prove in the college ranks. However, Ball will now be looking to build on his success from 2011 when he returns to lead the Badgers' offense next season. 

It will be tough to replicate the kind of gaudy numbers that he put up during Wisconsin's run to the Rose Bowl last year, but Ball proved in 2011 that he has the type of toughness, playmaking ability and durability to get the job done on a consistent basis. 

Wyoming Cowboys: QB Brett Smith

Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater wasn't the only freshman quarterback who made a big splash for his team in 2011. Wyoming's Brett Smith also guided his squad to success last season, as he led the Cowboys to an 8-4 regular season record in the Mountain West. 

Smith completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,622 yards and threw 20 touchdown passes this past season.

The 6'3'', 195-pound freshman looks like he's a rising star and the type of strong-armed pocket passer who should do plenty of damage through the air out in Wyoming over the next couple of years.