My 2008 College Football Preview

                -Michael Shaw and Sam McGuffie, Running Backs, Michigan – Rich Rodriguez’s first recruiting class in Ann Arbor included these two gems.  McGuffie, an internet sensation and Michael Shaw, a state-champion sprinter, have both established themselves as front-runners to be the top-two on the depth chart, as true freshmen.  Wow.  The coaches have been raving about their quickness and speed.  Rich Rodriguez knows speed from West Virginia (See:  Steve Slaton and Noel Devine).  These diaper dandies will both be fantastic in 2008 and everyone will know them by mid-season.

                -LaGarrette Blount, Running Back, Oregon – Blount has a tough act to follow in Eugene replacing Johnathan Stewart, who left for the Carolina Panthers of the NFL after last year.  No problem for the Ducks though, who grabbed this Junior College stud from Florida.  While not a freshman, 2008 will be his first year playing Division 1 football.  Remember this name.  Why?  Well, because he will lead the Pac-10 in rushing.  Yep.  I said it. QB Dennis Dixon is gone, so Oregon will have to rely more on their Running Backs.  Good for Blount, who is a bull at 235 lbs and reminds some already of John Stewart.  Blount will be outstanding.         

                -Julio Jones, Wide Receiver, Alabama – One of the most highly touted recruits in the history of Alabama, Jones enrolled early and impressed everyone in the spring.  He has been impressive so far this fall as well, evidenced by his performance in the Tide’s latest scrimmage in which he had 125 yards receiving to lead the team.  Head Coach Nick Saban’s promise to play a lot of true freshmen this year means Jones will be the focal point of the passing offense.  Remember him, he is one of the most talented receivers in the Southeastern Conference and should easily crack the 1,000 yard barrier this fall.

BOLD PREDICTIONS

Here comes the fun part, the bold, and often death-defying predictions that every college football writer is obligated to make.  I am aiming to take a new approach at predictions and give my take which I’m sure is not the opinion of your typical “expert.”  Let’s see how I do against them this year.

-The new clock changes for this year will again be a disaster and the NCAA will go back to the original rules for good in 2009.

-The Michigan Wolverines will be your surprise team in the Big Ten and will not miss a bowl game.

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