Bleacher Report - Articles by Joshua House

The Future's Looking Bright: Top 10 Offensive Freshmen Of 2008

Joshua House — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 17:44:43 -0400

Some programs bring them in as saviors.

Many programs have them continue thier storied dynasties.

These men are called freshman, and a select special few actually crack the starting lineup.

Here are my top ten most successful freshman of the 2008 season, all of whom I believe will have very lucrative futures.

10. Julio Jones WR Alabama

Drawing comparisons to Randy Moss, he easily became John Parker Wilsons favorite target during the 2008 season. On a run based team, he led with 58 receptons and 924 yards. His impact on the team was immediate as his Crimson Tide team almost went undefeated and made an appearance in the Sugar Bowl.

Expect him to help out the new Tide QB this year by giving him a big fast target.

9. Jacquizz Rodgers RB Oregon State

This dimunitve but fast RB really made his presence known in a 27-21 upset victory against USC in which he gained 186 yards rushing on the mighty trojan defense!

His Beavers came within a game of playing in the Rose Bowl last year, but he suffered an injury, and the Beaver were without him against Oregon, and in the Sun Bowl, against Pitt. Expect him and Oregon State to contend for the Pac-10 again his sophomore season.

8. Ryan Tannehill WR Texas A&M

This QB turned WR was one of the strong points on an otherwise floundering A&M Team. He led the team in catches with 55 and had 844 yards with 5 td's in head coach Mike Shermans new pro-style offense.

Though the Aggies struggeled last year, I expect Tannehill to become a team leader and really help the Aggies succeed this year, and though he has expressed intrests in playing QB, I think his forte is at WR, and thats where he will likely stay.

7. Kendall Wright WR Baylor

One of the more underrated WR's in the country, Wright is an important part of the BU football revival program. He led the team in in receptions with 50, and had 645 yards with 5 TD's. He's got great speed, and great hands and will be a vital part of the team in the coming years.

Now before my intelligence is questioned, remember that he is accomplishing these feats at Baylor.

6. Bryce Beall RB Houston

A great RB out of the Conference USA Beall was a part of a high scoring, high octane offense last year. He had a whopping 1,247 yards with 198 attempts and 13 TD's. Listed at 5-11 and 198 pounds, he made most CUSA D-lines look silly.

With returning QB Csse Keenum, Houston is a heavy favorite to win the CUSA under second year head coach Sumlin.

5. A.J. Greene WR Gerogia

In arguably the toughest conference in college football, especially in a one known for its tough defenses, A.J. Greene led the conference in receiving yards, and receiving TD's. Greene had 56 receptions and 963 receiving yards with 8 touchdowns.

Another up and coming SEC WR, we will get a good showing in one of the most anticipated non-conference games against Oklahoma State to see if he can build upon an outstanding freshman season.

4. Darren Evans RB Virginia Tech

Playing with the ACC's most dominant team for the last several years, Darren Evans exploded onto the scene with 1,265 yards with 11 touchdowns in 287 attempts. He was the Orange Bowl MVP in the victory over Cincinnati with 153 yards and a 5.5 carrying average.

After many wrote them off last year after an upset loss to ECU, Beamer, in perhaps his greatest feat as a college coach, regrouped his team and they went on to win the ACC behind Tyrod Taylor, and of course, Darren Evans.

3. Terelle Pryor QB Ohio State

Replacing Todd Boeckman after the USC game, Pryor began to wow people with elusiveness and his running ability, and in his first start threw for 4 TD's. At 6-6 and 235, he already looks like a man among boys out on the field. He had 1,311 yards passing with 12 touchdows and only four interceptions to go with 631 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns in that category.

In his first full year at starter this coming year, Pryor can only improve and his presence makes Ohio State a favorite for the Big 10

2. Robert Griffin QB Baylor

A freak of an athlete, he doesn't fit the mold of the typical running QB. To go along with some amazing wheels, the kid can flat out throw. He broke the freshman record for passing attempts without an interception, had 2,091 yards passing, with 17 touchdown passes, and only 3 interceptions to go along with 846 yards rushing, and 13 touchdowns on the ground.

The hopes of Bear nation are all pinned on this kid, as he gears up for round two. Nobody will be sleeping on the Bears this season, but many expect the to get to their first Bowl game since 1994, and so do I.

1. Kellen Moore QB Boise State

Flying way under the radar coming into the '08 season, was Moore. Moore almost led Boise St. to an 11-1 season with a stellar 3,486 yards passing and 25 touchdowns. They almost busted the BCS last season, but unfortunately for them, Utah took those honors.

One of the few favorites to crack the BCS this year is Boise State, much in part thanks to Moore, who I expect to build upon last years success.

Texas Non-Conference Breakdown: Longhorns Won't Be Challenged Outside Big 12

Joshua House — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:35:56 -0400

The Longhorns' non-conference schedule begins with teams that will not challenge the skill or heart of this Longhorns team.

The 'Horns begin the season by facing the University of Louisiana-Monroe, a Sun Belt foe, at home. The best players on the Warhawks team are two senior safeties who might provide some good competition for some younger Longhorn receivers, but the Horns are expected to roll.

The Longhorns then travel to Wyoming to play in the mountains. Wyoming is coached by former Missouri offensive coordinator Dave Christensen, who is trying to breathe some life into a dormant Cowboys program.

Christensen's training camp was tougher than usual, and he has already weeded out the weak in his organization, which tells me that, in the long run, he will do just fine.

Senior DT John Fletcher will give Texas freshman center Mason Walters a good taste of what is to come in his college career. Other than that, expect domination by the Horns.

The 'Horns then get the University of Texas-El Paso at home this year. UTEP is expected to win the Conference USA title, and they should be the first team to push back against the Longhorns.

Miners QB Trevor Vittatoe is the most dynamic player on the Miners' team, and depending on how the 'Horns handle Vittatoe, Texas fans can determine whether the secondary, under Will Muschamp, is for real or if the secondary will continue to be a liability for the 'Horns defense.

The last non-conference opponent on the schedule is the University of Central Florida Golden Knights.

Head coach George O'Leary has done an admirable job with the Knights, coaching them to their best-ever season and to a Conference USA championship.

This year is another rebuilding year for the Golden Knights, and coming off a road game against Oklahoma State, expect Brown to pull most of the starters early in order to keep them fresh for the remainder of the Big 12 schedule.

All in all, it's another cupcake schedule for the Longhorns. A few questions, such as the development of the Longhorns' young RBs, may be answered in the duration of these games, but not much else. We won't know the mettle or the heart of this Longhorn team until conference play starts.

Texas Longhorns: If History Repeats.....

Joshua House — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:14:07 -0400

We've all heard the old saying, "History Repeats itself." Well, if this old quip is true, than the Longhorns will be very happy at the end of this season. Lets compare the situation from the 2005 National Championship run, and this years team.

In 2005, Texas was ranked No. 2 right behind USC, with two Heisman trophy winners and the defending national champions. This year, most experts and analysts have Florida at No. 1 with Texas right behind them. The Gators also have a Heisman winning QB in their lineup, just like in 2005.

This year, the longhorns are again underdogs, with the big question being, "Can the Longhorns attack that SEC defense?" while that year the question was, "how will Texas stop Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart?" We also have the QB controversy, with the debate being is Colt the better quarterback, or is Tebow? I'm sure a Heisman trophy debate will rage very soon as the season nears its end.

This past year, the Longhorns have just come off a last second victory over a traditional Big Ten power, Ohio State, while in 2004, Texas had just come off a last second victory over Michigan. This past year, Florida beat Oklahoma to win the National Championship, while in 2004 USC beat Oklahoma to win the National Championship.

Maybe the most important historically repetitive fact is the fact that this years National Championship will be played in the Rose Bowl, the place where Texas has won a National Championship, and a BCS Bowl. Texas is perfect at the Rose Bowl. By the way, the Longhorns' defensive coordinator is from Auburn, just like in '05. Lets hope Texas can finish this cycle by winning another National Championship.

Colt McCoy Looks to Lead Texas Longhorns to National Title

Joshua House — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:49:32 -0400

Since the end of the 2007 season, many in Longhorn nation said and thought that 2009 would be the year that the Longhorns won the national championship. With a successful 12-1 season in which the Longhorns almost tasted perfection, expectations will be even higher as this team prepares to do battle with the nations best.

After his past three years as the Longhorns starter, McCoy has rewritten almost every single quarterback record, he is the winningest QB in school history, and was the Heisman runner up last year, but anything less than perfection and that national title will make his legacy at Texas, a disapointment.

These Longhorns are his to lead either towards success and a place in history forever, or to be remembered as yet another Longhorn team that couldn't quite reach the stars.

The defense this year will be lead by senior Sergio Kindle, who will play multiple positions in the defense this year. The coaches have already made it known that it will be his job to get to the quarterback at all cost, and after a great spring showing, it looks like he'll be able to do just that.

A strength in the defense this year perhaps since Micheal Huff roamed the field will be the secondary.

Key returners will be Blake Gideon, he of the famed dropped pick against Tech, and Earl Thomas, both sophomores, but after a meager showing of just six Interceptions last year, this secondary looks to bounce back in a big way under second year defensive coordinator, Will Muschamp.

Muschamp, the head coach in waiting, is under pressure this year to produce big numbers, especially after his pay went up to $900,00. At LSU and Auburn, at the end of his second year at each school, his defense was ranked number one in the country, and the same is expected at Texas.

With a year at Texas under his belt, Muschamp should be right at home this year. We already glimpsed some of the ferocity that this years defense will have after two picks in the spring game, though Kindle sat out the spring game, out of injury risk.

An exciting battle to watch unfold this year is the one between the running backs. Last year, it was run by committee with no one player shining over the other. This year, the early favorite was Cody Johnson, but now the position is once again in dispute after Whittaker and McGee both had excellent springs.

Head coach Mack Brown is also ready to try out the Longhorns big bruiser recruit, Chris Whaley, the kind of running back that Texas was accustomed to recruiting in the late '90s.

He should and is expected to follow the mold of players like Ricky Williams, and Cedric Benson. For the first time in years, Texas did not have a running back top 1,000 yards in '08 so the running game is expected to produce big time this year.

With a new college football season in the distance, these Texas Longhorns are ready to go to work, and win games. They are ready to lay down to rest the demons of inconsistancy that has plauged this team for the past three years, and bring the National Championship back home to Texas.