2008 Spring Football: Emerging Teams

With a strong back seven and budding stars Darrius Massenburg and Marvin Austin on the defensive line, the Carolina defense will be able to compete.  The biggest question marks for this team are at quarterback and running back. 

Who will start between returning starting QB T.J. Yates and redshirt freshman Mike Paulus?  Can the athlete Greg Little carry the load at running back? 

Time will tell, but this team has the talent to make a move in the ACC.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Last year: 7-6 (4-4)
Key games in 2008: at Mizzou (10/11), at Texas (10/25), at Texas Tech (11/8), Oklahoma (11/29)

Oklahoma State’s defining moments of last year were highlighted by inconsistent play—getting blown out by Troy on national television and then beating Texas Tech and Nebraska —and Head Coach Mike Gundy’s infamous rant. 

This year, Oklahoma State seeks to get from under Oklahoma and Texas’s shadow in its quest to the top of the highly competitive Big 12 South. 

With rising junior quarterback Zac Robinson (2824 yards passing, 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions) leading a high-powered spread offense into the 2008 season, the Cowboys will certainly be able to compete offensively with the best of them.  In terms of extra amenities, Oklahoma State booster-extraordinaire T. Boone Pickens has ensured that the Cowboys have top-notch athletic facilities, including the self-named Boone Pickens Stadium, which should be renovated in time for the start of next season.

Fans in Stillwater should have plenty to be excited about for the upcoming year, that is, if the Cowboys can handle their brutal road schedule.

Oregon State Beavers

Last year: 9-4 (6-3)
Key games in 2008: at Penn State (9/6), USC (9/25), Arizona State (11/1), Oregon (11/29)

With the help from Head Coach Mike Riley, the Oregon State Beavers are quietly solidifying themselves as a mainstay in Pac-10 football.  With the most wins over a two year period (19-8) in the 111-year history of the Oregon State football program, Riley’s program seeks to continue that momentum in 2008.

Oregon State will do so without three-year starting running back Yvenson Bernard, but his replacement, redshirt freshman Ryan McCants, is already being compared to Beaver all-time great Stephen Jackson. 

In addition to McCants, star receiver and All-American punt returner Sammie Stroughter is back with the team.  While the spotlight will be on Stroughter, the highlight of the team will be the defense—which led the nation against the run, ranked fourth in sacks, sixth in turnovers, and eighth in overall defense.  Although several members of the front seven must be replaced, senior linebacker Bryant Cornell will lead the corps at middle linebacker.

UCLA appears to be the trendy pick to emerge as a Pac-10 power, but keep an eye on the Beavers.

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