Five College Football Players Most Likely to Disappoint in 2009

While expectations run high in the spring and escalate even higher through the summer, it's all about what happens in the fall.

While almost all of the players who have the most expected of them were the most sought after during the recruiting process, there's no guarantee of year to year success.

In many cases, the secret is out; in other cases, it's just losses of the supporting cast. While college football brings plenty of celebration, there is also always plenty of disappointment to go around.

As I get closer to my team-by-team preview for The Sports Chat Place, it is already apparent that certain players may have tougher sledding than the national media would have you believe.

1. Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State

The Buckeyes have made a habit of being on the wrong end of the scoreboard when the lights are shining the brightest and the most eyes are watching, and all hopes are with Pryor to turn things around.

The problem with the 6'6", 235-pounder being the savior this season is that the Buckeyes lost their starting WRs and RB to the NFL, along with the heart and soul of their defense and probably one of the best DBs in the country.

While reloading is way of life in Columbus, and the overall schedule is soft outside of an OOC game against USC (opponents' winning percentage ranks 80th among all teams in 2008), Pryor is still a work in progress, and the Buckeyes will be lucky to grab another gifted trip to a BCS game.

2. Kevin Riley, QB, Cal

True story. I was in Las Vegas last year the weekend of the Cal-Maryland game, talking to a friend as we walked through a raucous casino floor, and my friend turns to me and says, "Kevin Riley just doesn't seem to be having his best day."

So a guy walking in the other direction who you wouldn't think would even be able to hear our conversation yells over, "He's frickin' awful." Pretty much says it all, and yes, he can be.

3. Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia

With Pat White gone, all attention will be on Devine when the Mountaineers have the ball. While Devine has all of the tools and could easily find himself in New York for the Heisman presentation, he will have his work cut out for him.

While it's one thing to be one of many options in a loaded offense, it's another story to carry the weight on your shoulders. Defenses will certainly be keying on Devine this year.

4. Mark Ingram/Roy Upchurch, RBs, Alabama

Ingram is a very good back, don't get me wrong, but the pressure is going to be on. While competition at a position is usually a good thing, it may not be a good thing for Ingram, as I expect him to lose plenty of playing time, if not most of it.

Last year Tide fans saw the impact of a true freshman in Julio Jones. This year Trent Richardson should be able to deliver plenty of excitement as well in Tuscaloosa.

5. Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois

Like his Illini team in general, Benn has been a model of inconsistency throughout his career, and he gets one more year to prove he was all that was billed as a top high school recruit. Illinois was a win one/lose one team for most of the year last year, and most Ron Zook teams are good year/bad year, so this one could be a good one.

A lot of Benn's productivity will fall on QB Juice Williams, who should be one of the top QBs in the country this year. If Benn is going to avoid the underachiever tag, he's going to need to make the easy catches.