CFB: Ranking the Top 10 College Football Players in Every BCS Conference

The players featured on this list are going to be the ones making the highlight-reel plays in the upcoming season.

The list is broken down by conference, with the top 10 (or 11 in some cases) players from each BCS conference ranked in ascending order from tenth to first.

Before you start, Tyrann Mathieu is not the best player in the SEC, although supremely talented, and that judgement is explained within.

As much as I would like to believe the hype machine, his numbers don't support the fact that he should be a Heisman candidate.

All that aside, this list is about two things: past performance and the potential for a huge season in 2012.

Feel free to disagree, except about Mathieu; there is no way to change my mind about that one.

Big East No. 10: Ryne Giddins, USF

Giddins is in for a big, big season.

USF hauled in Notre Dame transfer Aaron Lynch on the other end of the line, instantly taking pressure off of Giddins, who did a pretty solid job of handling himself without Lynch last season.

Giddins finished 2011 with 5.5 sacks, and had a game against UConn where he sacked the quarterback twice and finished with 11 tackles.

All Conference honors are a very real possibility this season.

Big East No. 9: Tino Sunseri, Pitt

Sunseri, more than anybody on the team with the exception of running back Ray Graham, benefits from the arrival of new head coach Paul Chryst.

Chryst has been the mastermind behind one of the most balanced, efficient offenses in football for the past several seasons.

Sunseri's throws will be limited, but with his talent and Chryst's ability to call plays, he will have a huge season for the Panthers.

Big East No. 8: Anthony McClung, Cincinnati

Cincy's offense has been motored by the play of their solid quarterbacks and physical wide receivers.

This season will be no different, as McClung has a huge shot to step up and be the difference-maker in an offense that needs a receiver of his caliber to succeed.

His speed and ability to make plays down-field will lead to a huge yards-per-catch average, even better than his 13.9 yards-per-reception in 2011.

Big East No. 7: Alec Lemon, Syracuse

Lemon averaged nearly 13 yards-per-catch last season in a 'Cuse offense that was less than explosive.

He runs solid routes, and has the speed and strength to be the most prolific receiver in the Big East, especially if he has a semi-competent quarterback.

Syracuse does not have a whole lot going for them, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and Lemon will offer the best bet at any sort of explosive offensive threat.

Expect him to put up nearly 1,000 yards receiving and double digit touchdowns in '12.

Big East No. 6: Lyle McCombs, UConn

UConn is in desperate need of a spark on the offensive side of the ball.

McCombs will be just what the doctor ordered in 2012.

The Huskies have limited options at quarterback, but this guy is the perfect option to be a difference maker.

He's versatile, having the capability to make a difference in both the short passing game and the rushing attack.

He finished last season with over 1,000 yards and just over four yards-per-carry.

However, with another season's experience under his belt and an improved offensive line, he will be in the running for Big East Offensive Player of the Year.

Big East No. 5: Khaseem Greene, Rutgers

Greene is a beast, and the focal point of a particularly nasty Rutgers defense.

He is all over the field, and absolutely wreaks havoc on offensive game plans.

In his biggest game of the season he totaled a whopping 17 tackles, and finished the season with 3.5 sacks.

The Big East is a more defensive-minded conference than you might imagine, and guys like Greene will help change the perception that this conference is weak and has little NFL ready talent.

Big East No. 4: Trevardo Williams, UConn

Underrated is not exactly the word for this guy, but perhaps we do overlook him, especially since he plays in the Big East.

Williams was a force for the Huskies last season from his defensive tackle position, registering 15 tackles for loss, and finishing second in the nation with 12.5 sacks.

UConn does not have much going for them, but Williams is a definite bright spot in their otherwise bleak football landscape.

Big East No. 3: Ray Graham, Pitt

In only eight games last season, Graham racked up 958 yards rushing, nine touchdowns, and 200 yards receiving.

He appears to be fully recovered, and has the physical tools, as well as the head coach, to become a legitimate Heisman candidate.

That's right; a Heisman candidate from the Big East.

His ability to produce is unrivaled in the conference, and with a legitimate quarterback in Tino Sunseri leading a balanced offensive attack, Graham has 1,300-plus yards and double digit touchdowns written all over him.

Big East No. 2: Aaron Donald, Pitt

Yes, the Big East has more teams in it than just Pitt.

That said, the Panthers definitely have a ton of talent, enough to lead them to a Big East title and BCS game.

On defense, that starts with Donald.

From his defensive tackle position, Donald posted ten sacks in 2011, and made a mess of the opposition's running game on a regular basis.

He's a big, athletic guy that has a quick first step and finds his way into opposing backfields as often as not.

After 16 tackles for a loss last season, Donald has the skills to more than duplicate that feat in 2012.

Big East No.1: Teddy Bridgewater, Louisvile

As a freshman, Bridegwater stepped up and was a large part of why the Cardinals had a successful 2011 season.

While his accuracy needed a little help, there is no arguing with his production, as he finished the season with over 2,000 yards passing and 14 touchdowns.

This guy has all of the skills and physical tools to be the best quarterback in the conference, and will have the Cardinals smack in the middle of the conference race late into the season.

ACC No. 10: Kyle Fuller, Va. Tech

As a sophomore in 2011, Fuller racked up 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and seven passes broken up.

This season, he figures to be even more effective, as Frank Beamer's defense returns ten starters.

Fuller has the potential to win All-American honors, especially when he improves on last season's numbers against ACC competition.

ACC No. 9: Bryn Renner, North Carolina

Larry Fedora's defense at UNC may need some work, but his offense is incredibly talented.

Renner finished his first season as a starter last year with over 3,000 yards passing, and completed over 68 percent of his attempts.

His backfield mate, Gio Bernard, opens up the passing game with his excellent rushing ability, and these two have a definite shot at joining each other on the All-Conference team at season's end.

ACC No. 8: Tajh Boyd

Not many folks outside of Clemson expected the resurgence we saw from the Tigers in 2011.

Much of their success was due to their explosive offense, anchored by the good decision-making of quarterback Tajh Boyd.

Boyd and teammate Sammy Watkins are the only two ACC players to be named to Heisman Pundit's Heisman watch list, and with good reason.

Boyd has a cannon for an arm, and although he tends to struggle away from the friendly confines of "Death Valley", he has the potential to make an under-the-radar run at the prestigious award.

He will have to over-come the loss of most of his offensive line, however, something which history teaches us is not an easy proposition.

ACC No. 7: Logan Thomas, Va. Tech

Thomas will be without his backfield mate, running back David Wilson, but he still has the tools and available play-makers to have a huge season for Tech.

His height and arm strength give him a huge advantage when searching for targets over the middle of the field, and his accuracy is good, if not exactly great.

He threw for over 3,000 yards last season and will do so again, but he really needs to improve his touchdown to interception ratio (19/10) if he is going to gain notoriety on a national scale.

ACC No. 6: Sammy Watkins, Clemson

Watkins burst onto the scene as a freshman last season, racking up 1,219 yards receiving, and hauling in 12 touchdown catches.

He seems primed for a run at a record setting season in 2012, a run-in with the law notwithstanding.

As long as the discipline he faces does not leave him out of too many games, Watkins will have another incredible season.

ACC No. 5: Brandon Jenkins, Florida State

Jenkins is a beast, putting together an eight sack season in 2011, and boasting the physical tools to be even more productive in 2012.

This Florida State defense has the potential to be very stingy, especially with Jenkins at one end.

At 6'3", 265 pounds, with good speed, he is a nightmare match-up for opposing offensive linemen, and will continue to be so, especially when backed up by a stout secondary.

ACC No. 4: Andre Ellington, Clemson

Yep, another member of that prolific Clemson offense.

Ellington is vastly underrated.

Last season, he averaged over five yards per tote, and gained over 1,200 yards on the ground.

In the 2012 campaign, where it's extremely likely teams will focus on the Tigers' passing game, Ellington will have a great shot at leading the ACC in rushing.

ACC No. 3: Demetrius Hartsfield, Maryland

Unless you are an avid follower of Maryland football, you probably have no idea who this guy is.

Meet Demetrius Hartsfield, Maryland's stud linebacker.

The guy racked up 108 tackles in only nine games last season.

The Terps have little going for them, but with Hartsfield roaming the defensive side of the ball, they have at least one incredibly talented play-maker.

ACC No. 2: Giovani Bernard, North Carolina

Bernard averaged over five yards per carry last season while facing some very stout defenses in the ACC.

He found the end zone on the ground 13 times, and has the ability to hit the 20 touchdown mark in 2012.

Alongside quarterback Bryn Renner, Bernard forms one of the most potent backfields in the country.

ACC No. 1: David Amerson, N.C. State

It will be difficult for Amerson to duplicate his feats of 2011, when he finished the season with 13 interceptions, and emerged as one of the top corners, not just in the ACC, but in the nation.

While opposing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators may finally learn their lesson and not throw in his general direction, there is no doubt that his impact on the game is bigger than anybody in the conference.

Sure, there are some offensive studs in this conference, but Amerson is easily the best player in the ACC.

SEC No. 10: Tyler Bray, Tennessee

In case you were not paying attention to what Tyler Bray accomplished last season, you missed an incredibly solid season through only seven games.

Through those seven contests, he wound up tossing 17 touchdown passes to only six interceptions, and fell just short of 2,000 yards passing.

Given a full season in which he is healthy and performs at a solid level, he will emerge as one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC.

SEC No. 9: Barrett Jones, Alabama

There is not much to say about this Outland Award winner that has not already been stated.

It's very possible that Jones could win the award again, especially considering his penchant for laying down the law with opposing defensive lineman.

SEC No. 8: Jarvis Jones, Georgia

Jones finished last season with 13.5 sacks, good enough to place him in the top five in the nation.

As a member of a ferocious Georgia defense, which plays a style suited to his talents, Jones is going to be a force yet again this season.

The Dawgs have a solid shot at winning the SEC East, especially if Jones duplicates or even approaches the same numbers he posted last season.

SEC No. 7: Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina

As a freshman member of the dominant South Carolina defense, Clowney posted eight sacks.

With another year of experience to hone his skills and improve his technique, Clowney will emerge as one of the premier pass rushers in the nation.

Against the stout offensive lines he faced in his freshman season, Clowney more then held his own, and even showed the capability of dropping back into coverage with his superior athletic skills.

The Gamecocks' defense is going to be ferocious again this season, and Clowney will lead the way.

SEC No. 6: Sam Montgomery/Barkevious Mingo, LSU

Yep, Montgomery is officially a beast.

His speed and relentless rush off the edge is ridiculously effective.

LSU's defense was great last season, and it all started with a line book-ended by Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo.

This season, those two will form the most dangerous pass-rushing duo in the nation.

SEC No. 5b: Aaron Murray, Georgia

Murray has been a consistent threat for a Georgia team that has struggled in that area in recent seasons.

Last year, he threw for a ridiculous 35 touchdowns to only 14 picks, and accumulated over 3,100 yards through the air.

The Dawgs must develop another target for Murray other than Tavarres King, especially since he struggles at times to find receivers against great defenses.

Against LSU, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Boise State and South Carolina, he threw nine of his 14 picks, and the Bulldogs lost four of those five games.

SEC No. 5a: Tyrann Mathieu, LSU

Mathieu is one of the most controversial members of this list.

Some fans soak up ESPN's hype, calling him the best corner in the nation with the potential to win the Heisman.

However, while he does make incredibly timely plays, and is particularly lethal in the punt return game, he only had two interceptions all season.

I see him as an incredible talent, but not quite the stud the media hype machine makes him out to be.

SEC No. 4: James Franklin, Missouri

For the most part, I tried to stay away from players from Missouri and Texas A&M, until we see how they perform in the SEC.

However, in the case of Franklin, it's impossible to leave him off.

He threw a few too many interceptions (11), while tossing 21 scores, in 2011.

The thing that sets him apart, however, is his ability to make a difference with his feet.

He scored 15 times on the ground last season, and gained 981 yards rushing.

It will be interesting to see how he performs against SEC defenses, but given his level of talent, I expect little to no drop-off.

SEC No. 3: Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina

South Carolina fans have got to be ecstatic that Lattimore is supposed to be extremely healthy and returning to the field with a vengeance in 2012.

Lattimore was on pace to shatter the 1,500 yard mark rushing last season, and break the 20 touchdown plateau before suffering a brutal knee injury.

This guy is a legit Heisman contender.

SEC No. 2: Knile Davis, Arkansas

Davis gained 123 yards in his first three games of the 2010 season, then 1,199 over the rest of the season.

He led the conference in rushing that year, averaging a whopping 6.5 yards per carry in the toughest conference in America.

Returning from a season ending injury he suffered just prior to the start of last season, Davis will compete with Lattimore for the conference rushing title.

SEC No. 1: Tyler Wilson, Arkansas

That's right, not Alabama, not LSU, not Georgia, Florida or Auburn.

Arkansas has the top two players in the conference going into this season.

Wilson is an absolute stud, can make all the right throws, and has plenty of talented receivers and an extremely talented stable of running backs to help take the pressure off of him.

LSU is going to be tough to knock off, but with Wilson and Davis leading this offense, the Hogs have a very real shot at taking the SEC title.

Pac-12 No. 10: Stepfan Taylor, Stanford

Taylor had Andrew Luck and the passing game distracting attention from him last season, but he is a solid running back, in his own right.

He found the end zone a total 12 times, but will see that total go up as he becomes a serious focal point of the Cardinal offense.

His 5.5 yards per carry average was excellent in 2011, and he will at least equal his efforts next season.

Pac-12 No. 9: T.J. McDonald, USC

McDonald is a monster at his safety position.

Ninth might be a little low for him, but I really expect to see his production go down a bit with a less talented defensive line than he was able to operate behind in 2011.

That said, he hits hard, is solid in run support and coverage, and has a knack for the big play.

The instincts he displays on the field cannot be taught.

Pac-12 No. 8: Keenan Allen, Cal

Allen is underrated.

It's that simple.

He averaged nearly 14 yards per catch last season, hauling in six touchdowns.

As receivers go, Allen has the very real potential to be a big time play-maker at the next level, and will continue his production in college for one more season.

Pac-12 No. 7: Cameron Marshall, Arizona State

Going into his senior season at ASU, Marshall often gets overlooked.

Next season, he will be the primary focus of the Sun Devils' new offense, and with his athleticism, he has the ability to break the 1,500 yards plateau.

He has a nose for the end zone, finding pay-dirt a total of 19 times.

Expect more of the same in 2012.

Pac-12 No. 6: Keith Price, Washington

Price's knee issues, and the obvious way they were still affecting him in spring practice, are a concern.

If he can get over those health issues, Price will compete with Matt Barkley for the most productive quarterback in the Pac-12.

He is explosive at times, both with his feet (when healthy) and through the air.

While the Huskies have limited talent surrounding him, he has the ability to change a game all on his own.

Pac-12 No. 5: De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon

This man is speed incarnate.

He pulls away from defenders with acceleration that even Usain Bolt might envy.

Now that LaMichael James is gone, as well as Darron Thomas, De'Anthony Thomas is going to have a field day, especially with his extra touches.

Heisman?

Pac-12 No. 4: Marquess Wilson, Washington State

Wilson does not get the credit he deserves, mainly because he operates on a less than solid team on the west coast.

He has never had a great quarterback, and yet manged to average over 18 yards per catch his freshman season, and backed that up by averaging 16.9 per catch in 2011.

He is easily at least the second best wide receiver in the Pac-12, and should compete with USC's Robert Woods for All-Conference honors.

Pac-12 No. 3: Robert Woods, USC

He's a beast.

Woods caught a whopping 111 passes in 2011, 15 of them going for scores.

Expect more of the same next season, as Woods gets to be the main target for Matt Barkley.

His athletic ability makes him a match-up nightmare, and coupled with Barkley, Woods will carry the Trojans to a Pac-12 title.

Pac-12 No. 2: Star Lotulelei, Utah

Yeah, you never heard of him, but this guy could be the most NFL ready tackle by the end of next season.

He absolutely blows up every gap he is asked to fill, and makes running the ball extremely difficult.

This Utah defense is stout, and this young man has the talent to explode into national consciousness this season, especially alongside the rest of a very talented defense.

Pac-12 No. 1: Matt Barkley, USC

Who else?

Barkley enters this season as the prohibitive favorite to win the Heisman.

It's really difficult to argue with that prediction, given his penchant for big plays and on target passes.

Forget the best player in the Pac-12; Barkley is top three in the country,

Big 12 No.10: Seth Doege, Texas Tech

Call him a "system quarterback" if you will, but 4,004 yards in one season and an NCAA single game record of 90.9 completion percentage is no joke.

Doege, in his next season as the starter for the Red Raiders, needs to step up a bit more against top flight competition, but he undoubtedly has the potential to top the 4,000 yard mark yet again.

Big 12 No. 9: Tavon Austin, West Virginia

In a conference littered with stand-out receivers, Austin has the chance to make his mark.

He's speedy, a difference maker in the return game, and runs solid routes.

If he can build off his four touchdown performance in last season's Orange Bowl, Austin may find himself a very real contender for the Biletnikoff.

Big 12 No. 8: Stansly Maponga, TCU

Gary Patterson's successful teams have been built on solid defense, and Maponga is going to have to be a force in order for them to match their usual level of fierceness in 2012.

He finished last season with nine sacks from his defensive end position, and is a difference-maker in the pass-rushing game.

The Big 12 is a different ball game from the MWC, but I expect Maponga to have another excellent season, even so.

Big 12 No. 7: Jake Knott, Iowa State

You don't often see a player from Iowa State on a list such as this, but Knott is a definite exception to the rule.

He's a high-motor guy who consistently makes solid tackles and good reads in the open field.

Paul Rhoads has got a very talented linebacker on his defensive squad with this guy, and his performance will help the 'Clones take another step in the right direction.

Big 12 No. 6: Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State

You may wish to credit some of Randle's success to the prolific passing game the Cowboys fielded last season.

However, that would be completely underselling him.

He scored 26 touchdowns last season, 24 of them on the ground.

That's good enough for 4th in the nation.

Expect him to get a few more carries than last season without Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon hogging the spotlight, and expect him to capitalize in a big way.

Big 12 No. 5: Quandre Diggs, Texas

Diggs is an integral part of a very talented Texas defense.

He finished last season with four picks and 12 passes defended.

Easily one of the best cornerbacks in the nation, and he will prove it again this season.

Big 12 No. 4: Collin Klein, Kansas State

Klein's passing skills may leave a little something to be desired, but when it comes to mobile quarterbacks, he is second to none.

He finished second in the nation, behind only Montee Ball, with 27 rushing touchdowns last year, and gained over 1,100 yards on the ground.

He's going to have another huge season for the Wildcats, even if teams are more focused on stopping their rushing attack.

Should he improve his accuracy a bit, he could wind up as a dark horse Heisman candidate.

Big 12 No. 3: Alex Okafor, Texas

Okafor is a force from his defensive end position, and will break the ten sack mark in 2012 after racking up seven last season.

On a defensive line book-ended by himself and Jackson Jeffcoat, Okafor is going to be a standout for Mack Brown's defense.

Big 12 No. 2: Landry Jones

Other than his struggles throwing the interception away from home (nine of his fifteen happened on the road), Jones appears to be the consummate Heisman candidate.

He amassed a crazy good 4,463 yards through the air last season, and again has the weapons to surpass the 4,000 yard mark.

With fewer picks in big games, Jones could become the favorite for the Heisman.

Big 12 No.1: Geno Smith, West Virginia

When Dana Holgorsen took over at West Virginia, the expectations for Geno Smith were extremely high operating in that offense.

Smith did not disappoint.

He finished 2011 with 31 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions, as well as two rushing scores.

In his second year running Hoglorsen's system, Smith is easily going to match or surpass last season's numbers, especially in a conference not known for its passing defense.

Big Ten No. 10: Braxton Miller, Ohio State

His performance last season was not exceptional, but once Miller started grasping the offense and making better decisions, he made progress by leaps and bounds.

His obvious inexperience came back to bite the Buckeyes at times, but Miller has the physical tools and quarterbacking acumen to become one of the best OSU quarterbacks in the past decade.

I don't foresee a Heisman this season, but with progress at the same speed as last season's, Miller may compete in 2013.

Big Ten No. 9: Kawann Short, Purdue

Short finished last season with 6.5 sacks, and several offensive line destructions.

At 6'3", 310 pounds, Short blows up rushing attempts and also has the speed to knife through the line for a sack.

He will only improve this season, and will break the ten sack plateau with relative ease.

Big Ten No. 8: Silas Redd, Penn State

Redd has to carry the Penn State offense, especially since the quarterback situation is so unsettled.

He averaged over five yards per carry and finished with seven touchdowns last season as a sophomore.

This season, he will continue to carry the momentum he had late last season, and challenge Wisconsin's Montee Ball for title of "best running back in the Big Ten."

Big Ten No. 7: Gerald Hodges, Penn State

Hodges knows how to fill up the stat sheet from his linebacker position.

He finished the season with four passes broken up, two interceptions, 4.5 sacks and 97 tackles, in spite of missing time due to injury.

The Nittany Lions are losing loads of talent across the front seven, and Hodges will have plenty of opportunity to make plays.

Big Ten No. 6: Denard Robinson, Michigan

Like him or not, Robinson is a very talented guy.

His play late in last season, particularly against Ohio State, should give Wolverine fans hope that he will continue to progress this season.

That said, his mercurial nature may assert itself again, and he could regress rather then progress.

However, I expect a season similar to his 2010 campaign next year, which puts him square in the running for Big Ten Player of the Year.

Big Ten No. 5: John Simon, Ohio State

The Ohio State defense was not quite up to it's usual standards last season, and that was understandable given all the turmoil and turnover the team suffered.

However, Simon was a solid performer on a sometimes less than stingy unit, and has some help this season.

Simon was a key part of the Buckeyes' limited defensive success last season, and will have an even bigger season in 2012.

His ability to knife through the line and get to the quarterback will put him in the 10 sack, 15 tackle-for-loss range.

Big Ten No. 4: Chris Borland/Mike Taylor, Wisconsin

Borland is one of the top linebackers in the nation, alongside Mike Taylor.

The two led the team in tackles last season, and Borland hits with authority, as evidenced by his massive hit on Michigan State receiver Keshawn Martin in the Big Ten title game.

Taylor and Martin will both compete for All-Conference honors, and likely battle each other for defensive player of the year.

Borland moved positions last year, and should be even more comfortable in the middle of the defense in his second season there, while Taylor has a nose for the ball and makes solid plays with regularity.

Big Ten No. 3: Rex Burkhead, Nebraska

Burkhead does not get the respect he deserves, mainly because he does not blow you away with his speed, or break ankles with his moves.

He runs with authority, and seems to thrive in crunch time.

In his final year as a Husker, Burkhead will continue his hard-hitting style, and find himself in the top three backs in the Big Ten.

If the breaks go his way, he even has a shot to compete for the Heisman.

Big Ten No. 2: Denicos Allen, Michigan State

Yep, Allen is a great linebacker that does not get enough press.

He gathered 10 sacks for the season, including three against Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game.

Forget one of the better 'backers in the conference; Allen may be one of the best in the nation.

He makes it very difficult to run the ball effectively, and has the speed to make plays all over the field.

Pay attention to this guy; he will make huge plays in 2012.

Big Ten No. 1: Montee Ball, Wisconsin

It will be extremely difficult to duplicate last season's record tying touchdown producing performance, but Ball might be the guy to do so.

The Badgers will focus very heavily on their rushing game, and Ball, while not alone, will be the star of the offense.

Sconnie's offensive line is always huge, mobile and very strong, and will be so again this season, paving the way for an extremely big season for Ball yet again.