College Football Predictions: Tim Tebow and the 10 Biggest Holes to Fill
In college football, stars come and go every season and new faces emerge as the top dogs as old dogs move on to new stomping grounds or new careers.
When a team's best player runs out of eligibility or leaves early for the NFL draft, it can have drastic repercussions on the entire team.
Sometimes there's another player waiting in the wings who's a chance away from becoming a star.
And sometimes there isn't.
Here are the 10 players filling in the biggest shoes in the country. Gone are the likes of Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, and C.J. Spiller.
Welcome to the party John Brantley, Garrett Gilbert, and Andre Ellington.
10. Lane Kiffin Replacing Pete Carroll at USC
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The Hole: Pete Carroll
Okay, this one's not a player, but this is no ordinary coaching change. Carroll bolted USC after nine seasons to return to the NFL after leaving the New England Patriots in 1999.
Caroll will be taking over as the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks and has taken scrutiny for the timing of his defection.
He left the Trojans shortly before severe NCAA sanctions were put on the team and heads to an unfavorable situation in Seattle after passing up better offers for years from other teams in the league.
Did he know things were about to get ugly at USC when he decided to leave? You'll never be able to prove it.
Who's Filling It: Lane Kiffin
Kiffin has had a bit of a roller-coaster ride over the last few years, going from the offensive coordinator at USC to the head coach of the Oakland Raiders to the head coach at Tennessee and then at USC, all in a period of just four years.
He steps into a tough situation with the Trojans with NCAA sanctions stripping them of future scholarships as well as the chance to compete in the postseason.
It'll Be a Good Year If:
Kiffin is able to keep this team focused in a season that essentially means nothing. They can't compete for anything until 2012 or possibly 2011 if the school wins its appeal, so it'll be very hard to maintain order within the program.
9. Shane Vereen Replacing Jahvid Best at Cal
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The Hole: Jahvid Best
Best was one of the top running backs in the nation throughout his tenure as the starting running back at Cal.
Though he was plagued by injuries last year and wasn't able to participate in the last three games of the season, he still managed to rush for 867 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 213 yards receiving and an additional four touchdowns.
Who's Filling It: Shane Vereen
Vereen looks like a star in the making for the Golden Bears and will be taking over as the starting back in 2010.
He actually outperformed Best in terms of rushing production and elevated the offense over the last three games of the year without the highly regarded starter.
Though Vereen was able to rush for nearly 1,000 yards with 12 touchdowns while adding over 250 yards receiving, a lot of that came late in games with little to no pressure.
It'll Be a Good Year If:
Vereen is able to prove that he can be just as productive as he was last year without Best to lean on. He's going to be a focal point of defenses in 2010, and with the lion's share of carries come the expectations that this cub is ready to be the king.
8. Janoris Jenkins Replacing Joe Haden at Florida
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The Hole: Joe Haden
Haden was one of the top cornerbacks in the country in 2009, and that got him selected seventh overall by the Cleveland Browns in last year's NFL draft.
He recorded eight interceptions and 197 tackles throughout his career with the Gators, and even though this team has a ton of talent in the secondary, there's no one with the experience and leadership that Haden brought to the table.
Who's Filling It: Janoris Jenkins
He's been a starter for the Gators since he was a true freshman. Next season, he will have to prove he can be a leader in the secondary, because now it truly belongs to him.
He is a lockdown corner who can blanket his man, but he's also a very good tackler and a solid contributor in run support.
It'll Be a Good Year If:
Jenkins can emerge as the leader of the secondary and become more of a vocal player in the locker room and on the field. Haden was the one who got the troops in order; now Jenkins will have to prove he can do the same.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Garrett Gilbert Replacing Colt McCoy at Texas
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The Hole: Colt McCoy
McCoy left Texas as a legend. He might not have brought the Longhorns a championship in 2009, but he's going down as one of the best to ever play the game.
In his four years as the team's starting quarterback, he passed for 13,252 yards with 112 touchdowns. His quarterback rating of 173.75 in 2008 was the third-highest in the country.
Who's Filling It: Garrett Gilbert
Gilbert barely saw any action in 2009 before the National Championship Game. That's when Alabama knocked McCoy out of the contest and forced Gilbert into a starting role he was clearly not ready for.
He completed just 37.5 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Before that game, Gilbert had thrown just 26 passes throughout the season.
It'll Be a Good Year If:
Gilbert can be the caretaker of the offense, lean on his defense and running backs, and avoid mistakes. This team will be competing for a championship in 2010, and while there won't be much pressure on Gilbert to get them there, he's still in a position to screw it up.
6. Dayne Crist Replacing Jimmy Clausen at Notre Dame
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The Hole: Jimmy Clausen
One of the top quarterbacks in the nation last season, Jimmy Clausen might not have had too much success in the win-loss column, but he was the undeniable leader of the Fighting Irish and will be sorely missed now that he's with the Carolina Panthers.
Clausen passed for over 8,000 yards throughout his career with 60 touchdowns and 27 interceptions in three seasons with Notre Dame.
Who's Filling It: Dayne Crist
The five-star quarterback from the 2008 recruiting class will get his chance to take over this team in 2010, but there are question marks to answer. He's coming off a torn ACL and has only thrown 20 passes for his career.
With a new head coach in Brian Kelly and a new spread offense, things will be very different in South Bend.
It'll Be a Good Year If:
Crist is able to prove his knee is healthy and master Kelly's offensive system. That's what you'll really be looking for from him personally, but what he really needs to do take this team to more than six wins next year.
5. Janzen Jackson Replacing Eric Berry at Tennessee
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The Hole: Eric Berry
Berry was the top safety in all of college football in 2010, and that got him drafted fifth overall by the Kansas City Chiefs.
He's a big hitter, a solid tackler, and can cover a ton of ground about as fast as any safety in the country. Throughout his career at Tennessee he recorded 241 tackles and 14 interceptions, dominating the Vols secondary.
Who's Filling It: Janzen Jackson
Jackson has a huge hole to fill, but the coaching staff thinks he's on the verge of stardom and that the sophomore will shine in his role as a a full-time starter as the quarterback of the secondary.
He started nine games last season and emerged as a big hitter and playmaker with a very, very high ceiling. He can fly across the field so fast that it almost looks like you're watching the game in fast-forward.
It'll Be a Good Year If:
Jackson is able to avoid the off-field issues that cost him three games last year and nearly got him charged with armed robbery. When it comes to to his skills on the field, there's not much to be worried about. It's when Jackson steps out of the locker room and is on his own that the worries arise.
4. Dont'a Hightower Replacing Rolando McClain at Alabama
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The Hole: Rolando McClain
McClain dominated in his role as Alabama's star middle linebacker in 2009. He was a brick wall as a run-stuffer and a panther in pass-rushing situations.
There are few players who bring more to the table on defense than McClain did. He was crucial last season, and while the talent is there to replace him, it's hard to say he won't be missed.
Who's Filling It: Dont'a Hightower
Dont'a Hightower was a devastating knee injury away from being one of the top linebackers in the country a year ago, and the word out of Alabama is that he's looking better than ever after a long and strenuous rehab.
Coming out of high school, he was highly touted, and the hype proved to be real when he lined up as a starter on opening day as a true freshman and then finished the year a First-Team All-Freshman selection.
It'll Be a Good Year If:
Hightower is able to stay healthy and continue to realize his potential at the rate he did a couple years ago. He's the man now, and that means it's time to step up and show his teammates what he can do.
3. Jared Crick Replacing Ndamukong Suh at Nebraska
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The Hole: Ndamukong Suh
Suh was a monster in the middle for the Cornhuskers last season and served as the linchpin for the defense. Everything started with the pressure the defensive line was able to get at the point of attack, and most of that can be attributed to Suh.
He was the second player selected in the NFL draft after a stellar All-American season that got Nebraska back on track.
Who's Filling It: Jared Crick
Jared Crick began the 2009 season as the body that occupied space beside Suh and took up some additional space. By the end of the year, he'd earned his own reputation as an exceptional defensive tackle.
Crick was named First-Team All-Big 12 as a sophomore, and now in his junior year he is primed to become one of the leaders of the Cornhuskers' defense and a serious force in the middle.
It'll Be a Good Year If:
Crick is able to prove he can be just as effective, if not more so, than he was last year now that Suh is no longer there to take the pressure off. Crick will assume the responsibility of being the anchor of Nebraska's defense; if they're going to improve, he has to too.
2. Andre Ellington Replacing C.J. Spiller at Clemson
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The Hole: C.J. Spiller
Spiller was THE highlight player of the 2009 season. The Tigers running back was a playmaker in every sense of the word. He was a threat to take it the distance any time he touched the ball out of the backfield, on a route, or returning a kick.
With 5,536 all-purpose yards in his four years with Clemson, Spiller proved he was the battery to the offense.
Who's Filling It: Andre Ellington
With Spiller gone, Clemson won't be able to rely on one back to plug the hole, but Ellington should get the majority of the tackles and presents the closest playing style of the running backs still on the roster.
Ellington is lightning-fast, can get downfield and be a deep ball threat, and will take it the distance almost as well as his mentor did. Behind him, Jamie Harper is the big back that will wear down the opponents, but the real pressure is on Ellington.
It'll Be a Good Year If:
Ellington is able to bring some semblance of Spiller in the same way he did last year with 491 yards and four touchdowns off just 68 carries. The Tigers will be worse in 2010—that can't be denied—but it'll be on Ellington to avoid embarrassment.
1. John Brantley Replacing Tim Tebow at Florida
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The Hole: Tim Tebow
How will we describe Tebow to future generations? Will he go down as the best player of his generation, the best player ever? There's an argument there for either of those.
The former Florida quarterback won the Heisman and carried his team to two national championships. His numbers during his Heisman season in 2007 were really just awe-inspiring.
3,286 yards passing, 895 yards rushing, 55 touchdowns, and just six turnovers.
Who's Filling It: John Brantley
John Brantley has bigger shoes to fill next season than any player in college football.
Fortunately for Gators fans, he just might be the man for the job. Brantley will be starting in place of Tebow in 2010 and, from what he's shown so far, seems more than up to the task.
Obviously he isn't going to step in and do exactly what Tebow did, but Brantley is somewhat underrated, and people will be surprised just how good this kid is when he gets unleashed when the action starts.
It'll Be a Good Year If:
Brantley is able to help this team avoid a serious drop-off in success in the post-Tebow era. For as much talent as he has and as high as expectations are for Brantley this season, all he needs to do to start is avoid making mistakes and let the defense win games.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
