College Football Predictions: 8 Seniors That Will Have Disappointing Seasons

Senior year of college is the light at the end of the tunnel. People shake off the ways of their youth and become mature adults—hopefully.

The journey known as the college life will end in a few months. During this time, people reflect on their adventures, what they have learned about the world and themselves, and wonder if they would ever again pull an all-nighter just to complete math equations.

College football players start thinking about their future in the game. Will they play football professionally, or will they “go pro in something other than sports,” in reference to those NCAA advertisements? Regardless of which paths they choose, their senior seasons on the football field could hold many clues to their futures.

In this slideshow, I will discuss some major college football players entering their senior campaigns who will find themselves disappointed in their 2012 performance. In regards to the NFL Draft, hopefully their previous bodies of work on the gridiron will impress NFL franchises.

I will not say the players listed will play poorly in 2012, but I will say these players will not perform up to the level preseason prognosticators might expect. I will base my reasoning in as much factual information as possible. In other words, I will not randomly pick a player simply to wish bad luck on him.

So, let’s take a look at eight of these players. As always, I invite you to take any of your frustrations in regards to these selections to the comments section below.

Landry Jones, University of Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones is on the 2012 Heismanpundit.com Heisman Trophy Watch List. I do not think he will come close to winning the 2012 Heisman Trophy, though.

Interceptions will continue to haunt Jones in 2012. Jones has never thrown fewer than 12 interceptions in a season with the Sooners.

Most importantly, though, Jones will have a completely different wide receiver corps in 2012 compared to 2011. Aside from Ryan Broyles graduating, Oklahoma lost Jaz Reynolds, Trey Franks and Kameel Jackson to suspensions in May.

A program like Oklahoma can easily replace talent, but Jones will have to build chemistry with the new guys on the fly. According to Jason Kersey of newsok.com, Sooners head coach Bob Stoops said many of the transfer players brought in were unavailable in the summer.

New targets could mean more interceptions for Jones, because it could take some time before everyone gets on the same page.

Some might be wondering if Jones is even the unquestioned starting quarterback for 2012. Rising sophomore Blake Bell showed his scrambling ability in 2011 with 13 rushing touchdowns on just 44 attempts. According to Kellis Robinett and Rustin Dodd of Kansas.com, Stoops said this about Bell’s projected usage in 2012:

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“Blake’s an excellent athlete and he continues to do well…He throws the ball well, but we’re not going to alternate quarterbacks. So it is pretty much the same. Red zone and short yardage, those situations.”

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Bell was the No. 65 overall player in the Class of 2010, according to ESPNU, so he has potential. Apparently that potential will not manifest itself in the form of a starting quarterback until at least 2013. However, if Jones really struggles in 2012, who knows if Bell comes in? Remember, Jones himself began his college football career coming in as Sam Bradford’s backup.

Jones will enter the 2013 NFL Draft as a likely first-round selection, but I predict he will not enter the draft with a BCS National Championship, the thing he returned to college to earn. This will be a disappointment.

Onterio McCalebb, Auburn University

The offensive leadership for the Auburn University football program will change in 2012. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and running back Michael Dyer have both moved on to Arkansas State. The Tigers also bring in a new starting quarterback.

Athlon Sports ranked Auburn No. 30 nationally in its 2012 preseason poll. Considering Auburn won the BCS National Championship for the 2010 season, the Tigers’ expectations have dropped off considerably in just two seasons.

Athlon Sports said “many of the questions that Auburn hoped to resolve during last year’s ‘rebuilding’ remain unanswered.” Such doubts will certainly not help the Tigers against SEC West rivals Alabama and LSU.

Running back Onterio McCalebb is the senior on the team with the highest expectations. McCalebb made the 2012 Maxwell Award Watch List.

In the absence of Dyer, though, McCalebb will have to prove himself as the workhorse No. 1 running back. In addition to having an increased role in the offense, McCalebb will have to learn a completely different offensive system under new coordinator Scott Loeffler. According to Athlon Sports:

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“Loeffler has maintained an air of secrecy about his offense—refusing to even label it—but it seems certain that many hallmarks of Gus Malzahn’s no-huddle attack will be retired.”

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I predict these changes will not treat McCalebb well in 2012. McCalebb’s rushing totals will increase due to more carries, but I think his averages will decrease. That means no more 6.5 career yards per carry for McCalebb after 2012 comes to a close.

Robbie Rouse, Fresno State University

Fresno State University replaced long-time head coach Pat Hill with Tim DeRuyter. The school also moved into a new conference for 2012: the MWC.

I think DeRuyter’s changes on offense will negatively affect running back Robbie Rouse’s production. DeRuyter has installed a no-huddle spread offense to replace the pro-style set Hill ran. According to Athlon Sports:

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“Rouse will no longer have a fullback clearing the way except in short-yardage and goal line situations. Rouse’s 329 attempts last season were a school record. For a guy who’s all of 5’7” and 185 pounds, that’s quite a pounding.”

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In their second game of 2012, the Bulldogs visit the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Athlon Sports’ No. 4 overall team for 2012 will put a ton of pressure on Rouse to deliver his A-game. Yes, Fresno State has a spread offense now, but so do the Ducks, whose defense practices against guru Chip Kelly’s version every day.

Of course, Rouse will not play against the Oregons of the college football world every week, but this game should set the tone for the rest of the season.

Rouse made the 2012 Maxwell Award Watch List, so high expectations have been placed upon him. I just do not see Rouse being an elite college football running back in 2012. Even last season, Rouse was unable to average five yards per carry (4.7).

Clearly Rouse’s role will change in conjunction with the new schemes, but workhorse running backs and spread offenses seem like complete opposites to me.

James Vandenberg, University of Iowa

The word “disappointing” actually appears in Athlon Sports’ preview of University of Iowa football. It says:

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“There is without question a new attitude with all the coaching changes and with Iowa coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons. But what hasn’t changed much is the personnel, and that’s why Iowa could be headed for another season like a year ago.”

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Iowa finished 2011 at 4-4 in the Big Ten and 7-6 overall, losing to Landry Jones’ Oklahoma Sooners in the Insight Bowl.

The quarterback of a middle-of-the-road FBS team should not make the Maxwell Award Watch List. James Vandenberg has made this list in 2012, though.

Vandenberg passed for 3,022 yards in his first season as a starter, which is nice, but 3,000 passing yards does not stick out anymore in college football. Eight FBS players threw for at least 4,000 yards in 2011.

The Hawkeyes will lose most of its star offensive players from last season. Running back Marcus Coker and wide receiver Marvin McNutt are gone. So is running back Mika’Il McCall. Running back Jordan Canzeri tore his ACL in spring practice and will likely miss the 2012 season.

Iowa’s returning rushing leader from 2011 is De’Andre Johnson, who totaled 79 rushing yards. That could be a major issue.

According to Phil Steele’s 2012 Preseason All-Big Ten Team, Vandenberg is not one of the top four quarterbacks in the conference. Vandenberg is, however, one of the four Big Ten quarterbacks on the 2012 Maxwell Award Watch List. According to dailyiowan.com, ESPN has ranked Vandenberg the second best Big Ten quarterback.

What do these predictions say? Well, Vandenberg could be great or just okay in 2012. Athlon Sports agrees, suggesting Vandenberg has the talent to put together a strong season but has not consistently proven himself in the past.

To make matters more challenging for Vandenberg, Iowa breaks in a new offensive coordinator and three new starting offensive linemen in 2012.

CBSSports.com projects Vandenberg as a fifth-or-sixth round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft. This matches the theme with Vandenberg here: good but not great.

An average Vandenberg in 2012 would disappoint Hawkeyes supporters.

Christine Michael, Texas A&M University

Welcome to the SEC, Texas A&M University!

The Aggies bring with them a new head coach in Kevin Sumlin and a new starting quarterback to replace Ryan Tannehill. Especially with the new signal-caller, the running game will have to step up.

Running back Christine Michael has the talent to play in the SEC, but I do not think this season will treat him well. Despite having a nationally recognized offensive line leading the way, Michael will encounter quite a few problems in the SEC in 2012.

First, Michael suffered season-ending injuries in both 2010 and 2011. As a result, Michael has played 17 games in the last two seasons. Durability could be an issue.

Second, Texas A&M will enter the SEC West. The Aggies’ schedule includes schools like Florida, Arkansas, LSU, Auburn and Alabama. Will Muschamp, Gene Chizik and Nick Saban are flat-out superstar defensive coaches. LSU will have an elite defense as well. The Big 12 was a power football conference, but SEC defenses take the cake.

Michael made the 2012 Maxwell Award Watch List. The injury problems with his legs and the improved defensive competition have influenced me to put Michael on this list of potentially disappointing players.

With that said, for Michael’s sake, I hope he can last a full season.

Khaseem Greene, Rutgers University

Rutgers University linebacker Khaseem Greene was the 2011 Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Greene led the Big East with 141 tackles.

Greene began his collegiate football career at safety, but moved down a level to linebacker in 2011 to make Rutgers’ defense faster. Whatever plans head coach Greg Schiano made on defense worked, as the Scarlet Knights went 9-4 after finishing 4-8 in 2010.

In 2012 though, Greene and Rutgers will face new—and quite frankly unforeseen—challenges.

Mohamed Sanu entered the 2012 NFL Draft as a junior. The Scarlet Knights have completely changed their offensive line (though this should be a good thing). A clear No. 1 starting quarterback will lead the offense, but neither Chas Dodd nor Gary Nova have claimed that spot yet.

The biggest change, though, came in the coaching staff. On Jan. 26, Schiano left the program he built from the bottom of the FBS to a consistent bowl performer. Schiano is now the head coach of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers also brought in many of Schiano’s assistant coaches from Rutgers.

Schiano is a defensive-minded coach. The Scarlet Knights’ new head coach, Kyle Flood, was the former offensive line coach. Will this signal a change in focus from defense to offense?

New defensive coordinator Robb Smith was formerly the special teams coordinator. New linebackers coach Dave Cohen was formerly the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan, a MAC school.

Though the Rutgers defense has talent and has performed amongst the national elite under Schiano’s staff, I think the unit could take a step back in 2012. There are high expectations for Rutgers’ defense heading into 2012, but with all the coaching moves, I do not see the defense being as good as it was under Schiano.

Thanks to Greene’s performance in 2011, he made the 2012 Bednarik Award Watch List. CBSSports.com also projects Greene as a third-round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft and the No. 103 overall draft-eligible player. Greene made his mark, though, under a completely different coaching staff.

After the 2012 season, many questions about the future of Rutgers football could get answered. One burning question in Piscataway for this season, though: can Greene replicate his success from 2011 in 2012? I think Greene will indeed play well in 2012, but not to the tune of 140 tackles.

Greene is also recovering from an ankle injury he suffered in the 2011 Pinstripe Bowl. According to Tom Luicci of nj.com, Greene did not participate in contact drills during spring practices, but should be ready for training camp and the regular season. The effects of this injury on Greene’s 2012 season have yet to be determined.

Jordan Poyer, Oregon State University

Oregon State University cornerback Jordan Poyer has what I used to call Rick Nash Syndrome: a truly elite player on an otherwise not-so-good team.

On June 5, I wrote for Bleacher Report that Poyer will be one of the nation’s best cornerbacks this season, but will go up against some fantastic wide receivers in 2012. I still believe Poyer will be great, but he will not do enough to make the Beavers a winning team.

It is difficult to judge a cornerback objectively. Statistics do not always tell the story at this position. A good cornerback forces the quarterback to avoid throwing in his direction, which would result in fewer opportunities for tackles, passes defended and interceptions. Prognosticators still look at statistics often when determining the best cornerbacks, though.

I myself looked at statistics and player rankings when I put Poyer on my top cornerbacks list. Poyer made the 2012 Bednarik Award Watch List, so I must have picked the right guy. However, I think Poyer could be exposed this season.

Poyer will face nine players on either the 2012 Biletnikoff Award Watch List or the 2012 Mackey Award Watch List. None of these players come from Oregon, but the Ducks boast one of the nation’s most dangerous lineups. With that said, Poyer will have stiff competition almost every week.

Poyer will need his best every week to beat these guys. Based on what happened defensively in 2011, Poyer might not get all the help he needs.

Alternatively, opposing quarterbacks could avoid throwing Poyer’s way. Poyer led the Pac-12 in passes defended last season, though, so he is getting opportunities.

I just do not see Poyer being the Superman-like figure that the Beavers might need on defense in 2012.

Penn State University Senior Class

I hope Penn State University’s football program can make the best out of the situation that the NCAA has handed them. The sanctions placed on Penn State are what I think is disappointing.

I think even the seniors who decide to transfer will create disappointing scenarios for other schools. How would incumbent starters or other players on those schools’ rosters feel if a former Penn State player came in with one month to go before the regular season and shook up the depth chart? After all, considering Penn State’s football tradition, these players are probably good enough to play most anywhere.

Joe Paterno, the coach that gave these players the opportunity to play major college football, has died. Obviously they had to wonder how long Paterno would last even when they signed with the program, but who would have thought Paterno’s coaching career would have ended this way?

These players will never get the chance to play for a Big Ten championship, a bowl game berth, or the BCS National Championship if they stay at Penn State. What makes everything extremely disappointing is that none of the crimes that led to these penalties were football-related.

Penn State football could go out and play with more motivation than ever to prove it is still an elite program. The players can dedicate their season to the victims of the crimes and to whatever positive influences Paterno made on their lives. The actual football games, though, have become meaningless in a way.

Disappointment clouds over this entire program, but I think the seniors could be feeling it the most.

Final Thoughts

When late July comes around, we start thinking about the good in college football. I hate to offer you somewhat depressing content, but I suppose if you read this, you were interested.

Just think: better days—like college football-filled Saturdays—are nearby.