Short Routes: Hoosier QB Getting Hosed; Dare We Forget Darren McFadden?

From Pete Dymeck's desk at Pro Draft Guide

Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Kellen Lewis is in the ring fighting for his job.  Lewis was suspended in the spring, and backup quarterback Ben Chappell has yet to miss a beat.  While the job will likely be Lewis' on kickoff weekend, we suspect that any signs of detrimental performance could lead to him being pulled for the antsy Chappell.

Here's the major question looming at Arkansas: Who will replace former running backs Darren McFadden & Felix Jones?  Well, one running back may actually replace both.  Junior Michael Smith has been tearing up the practice field.  He has been breaking ankles with his ability to halt on the run and juke the defender out of his cleats.

He may end up losing a few carries to freshman RB De'Anthony Curtis, but we truly believe that Smith will replace both McFadden and Jones sufficiently enough for Razorback fans to forget about the recent history that was made and focus on the future, especially with a new head coach in town.

The Washington State Cougars have a silent but deadly weapon in wide receiver Jeshua Anderson.  Anderson will miss the next six weeks after having his hernia operated on.

The Clemson Tigers were expected to enter 2008 with one of the top defensive tackle tandems in the nation.  Well, one half of that tandem will miss the first half of the season (at least) due to a torn tendon in his quad.

DT Rashaad Jackson was expected to be a motivator and leader for this Clemson squad that has BCS aspirations.  This means that DT Dorell Scott will have to play twice as hard while Jackson is out.

The Michigan Wolverines are expected to mix things up this season, but the games have already begun.  U of M running back Carlos Brown has been practicing from behind center, but not at running back.  He has been sighted getting reps at quarterback.

While he is very unlikely to wind up being the Wolverines quarterback, it just goes to show that new head coach Rich Rodriguez is willing to mix things up.

Brown is likely to become the most prolific player on offense for Michigan in 2008.  Expect to see him in plenty of gadget plays.