The 10 Biggest Shoes To Fill in the 2010 College Football Season

While I'm sure it is easy for many to throw out such names as Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, and Toby Gerhart, I'm not sure those teams will feel much fall, if any, due to the departure of their particular talents as players. 

What I'm looking for are guys and/or coaches that left in 2009 who will most likely have a very serious impact on the wins and losses of their team because they are no longer on campus for their respective teams.

These guys/coaches are the glue that keeps it all together, and they will all be greatly missed by their alma maters and/or previous coaching stints.

10.  Jonathan Dwyer, RB: Georgia Tech

While Paul Johnson has turned Georgia Tech into ACC contenders and champions in all of two years, he'll be saying goodbye to the guy who really made his triple-option attack hum. 

Jonathan Dwyer was the centerpiece in the triple-option flexbone attack for Georgia Tech over the past two years.  In two years under Johnson, Dwyer rushed for identical 1,395-yard seasons in leading their offense.

While quarterback Josh Nesbitt is a stud, not having a HUGE 'first' option like Dwyer in the attack will likely mean a bit of a fall for this offense.

How does Georgia Tech respond? Not likely that they will enjoy another 11-win season, ACC Championship, and eventual BCS bowl berth. 

Look for at least a couple of those wins to be chopped off due to Dwyer's 'non-presence' in the backfield for the Jackets.

9.  Carlos Dunlap, DE: Florida

While Tim Tebow will be missed on the offensive side for the Gators, you also simply don't replace the new-age "freak" in Carlos Dunlap, either. 

Any team that played the Gators last year threw a predominant amount of help towards Jevon Kearse's 2.0 twin on the outside in Dunlap. 

While Dunlap's statistics from 2009 aren't overwhelming, teams simply had to play around him with roll-outs, double-teaming, and other offensive schemes to keep him away from simply dominating them.  

Without his presence, the Gators have a tough year in front of them in replacing such a talent.  

8.  Brandon Spikes, LB: Florida

Yep.  Back-to-back Gators are on my list.  While I don't have many excuses for doing such a thing, ask any offensive coordinator in the SEC if both of these guys weren't constantly on their minds while scheming around them. 

While Carlos was the "freak," Brandon was the force.  Not only was Brandon the force behind Carlos, he was the heart and soul of the defense. 

While Carlos was setting things up in front, Brandon was doing the deed in the back with big hits, intimidating tackles, and interceptions for TDs.   

No doubt these guys will both be missed by Gator faithful.  Hard to replace two guys who may well be in mention of the best ever at their position while they played at Florida.

7.  Pat Angerer, LB: Iowa

This guy's senior year can only be compared to such a Big 10 LB legend as Pat Fitzgerald.  While he may not excel at the next level, he was the guy who was always in the right place at the right time. 

While many may discount his total package of pure athletic ability, this guy was a true throwback in knowing how to play defense.  Before many snaps were played, Mr. Angerer knew what was going on. 

His hard hitting alone will be missed, but it is his leadership and command of the Hawkeye defense on the field that will be missed most. 

Can Iowa replace Pat Angerer? We'll see.  However, I doubt that without his presence in the middle for the Hawks that it ends in a dream season Orange Bowl bid.

6. Jeremiah Masoli, QB: Oregon

I won't go into much detail on this one, other than Masoli will likely not play a down for the Ducks in 2010 as the incumbent starter for an Oregon team coming off of a Pac-10 Championship and one that "was" expecting to repeat.

Will it have a huge and lingering affect on the Ducks is the real question?  Simply hard for me to say that it won't. 

I'll be shocked if the Ducks win the Pac-10, much less see a nine- or 10-win season without him, much less the Top 10 rankings they enjoyed for many weeks last year.

5. Jerry Hughes, DE: TCU

Rank all the great pass rushers in college football as highly as you want, but Jerry Hughes from TCU may have been the best of the best over the past two seasons.

While Dunlap has all the intangibles, Hughes has the true "heart" to play football.  And he played every snap for the Horned Frogs under one of the best coaches in the entire country in Gary Patterson.   

While TCU has a lot of parts back for 2010, the loss of Hughes is well..."huge."

If you think Florida can't lose a Carlos Dunlap or Brandon Spikes, just ask TCU if they can lose a Jerry Hughes?  Talk about a non-stop engine; this guy simply never quit.

Will TCU be great next year without Hughes?  Hard to see them returning a ton of players and even challenging again for BCS Championship recommendation without him. 

4.  Dan LeFevour, QB: Central Michigan

Not many have put up more records at QB for their respective school than Dan LeFevour.  While they have consistently been MAC conference contenders with him under the helm, it is awfully tough to see them win more games over the last four years without him under center. 

The three-time MAC conference champion will only let his record speak the deal.

When a guy leads his team to a 12-2 record in his senior season as the greatest QB in the history of the program, we all have to expect a bit of a slide at Central Michigan. 

I'm likely ranking this one WAY too low as Central Michigan may be lucky to win four games in conference play next year, let alone win the conference, let alone gain 12 wins.  

Five wins total might be the reality of this team next year without Dan LeFevour. 

3.  Mike Leach, Head Coach: Texas Tech

One of only a handful of coaches in the Big 12 who had guided his team to a bowl game in the entire 10-year duration of his stay at Texas Tech.

Before mastermind Mike Leach stepped on campus at Texas Tech, the Big 12 was a rough-and-tumble running league.

Before he left, he turned it into the flag football offensive juggernaut that it has become over the past three years.

Texas Tech also enjoyed a No. 1 ranking all of two years ago late into the season.

Enter Tommy Tuberville. Can anyone see a difference in offensive philosophy other than me?

Doubtful.

It will be a struggle in Lubbock for simply the huge changeover in offense.  It will also be a struggle for the simple reality that Leach was a gambler.  Tuberville is a compete 180 of the recruits and mentality of the program. 

This is a likely No. 1 train-wreck waiting to happen.

2.  Terrance Cody, NT: Alabama

The 400-pound JUCO turned into a beast for Alabama. 

3-4 or 4-3 for Nick after the title?

For a team that won it all, basically due to their defense, could they possibly change to a 4-3 defense?  Color me surprised, but I'll be shocked if they don't revert to Nick's preferable defensive alignment.

If 'Bama doesn't switch to a 4-3? 

That mean's he feel's that they can "fill" in for Cody.  Not likely. 

I look for Nick to make an adjustment this year in putting former "hurt" LB Donta Hightower in at DE and then move towards a conventional 4-3 defense with Rolando in the middle and Hightower off of the edge at DE instead of LB.

They can't fill the middle with another Cody. 

'Bama fans? I'm pretty sure there are many on here. 

1.  Cincinnati, Head Coach: Brian Kelly

A no-brainer to me.  Obviously, Brian Kelly has accepted the job at Notre Dame. 

Will Cincinnati repeat as Big East Champs and entertain a BCS bowl bid, and possible BCS National Championship bid without him?

Consider this one absolute gold. 

NO WAY IN HECK is Cincinnati going to go undefeated next year up until their bowl game, but likely encounter one of the biggest drops in NCAA history as they lose six games or more. 

This is a team that may not even get a bowl invite directly after an undefeated regular season.   

Brian Kelly is that good.

What do you think?