College Football 2011 Preview: The Top 25 Players in the Big East

Danny FlynnMar 20, 2011

There were many people who made the assertion that the Big East was awful last year and the league became the butt of numerous jokes around college football.

I, for one, don’t think that label is deserved.

Sure, I’m a Big East football fan, so maybe my view is skewed a bit, but I have to disagree with the notion that the Big East doesn’t belong with the big boy conferences of college football.

Yes, the league is still sixth in the pecking order of the major BCS conferences, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the league is trending downward.

With an influx of new coaches, parity hit the league hard last year, with usual cellar dwellers such as Syracuse and Louisville taking strides and becoming bowl eligible.

There’s still no true marquee team right now like there was a few years ago when Rich Rodriguez had West Virginia running through everybody, but this season is shaping up to be an exciting and competitive affair.

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The conference loses a lot of star power from last year, but there's enough up-and-coming talent to replenish the ranks.

Here's a look at the top 25 players in the Big East for the 2011 season.

1. QB Geno Smith, West Virginia

Is this the year?

Is this the year Geno Smith becomes a national college football star?

He’s got the arm and the talent, and now with Dana Holgorsen on board, he’s got a coordinator whose going to let him sling it instead of throwing bubble screens and check downs all game long.

The opportunity is there for Smith to put up huge numbers while leading West Virginia back to a BCS bowl game, but he still has to work on one thing, consistency.

We saw flashes of Smith’s enormous potential in 2010, but there were also times when we watched him struggle to move the offense with rhythm, although a part of that had to do with inept play calling.

Last season, the 6’3’’ 210 lb. junior threw for over 2,700 yards and 24 TDs while completing 64 percent of his passes, and that was on offense that led the Big East in rushing attempts.

Thinking about what Geno Smith is capable of doing in Dana Holgorsen's system is a scary thought, and it’s one that should get the Mountaineer faithful mighty fired up for the upcoming season.

2. RB Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati

Last season, we had two break out running back stars in the Big East, Connecticut’s Jordan Todman and Louisville’s Bilal Powell, who combined to rush for over 3,000 yards.

Now that both Todman and Powell are off to the NFL, it’s time to start thinking about who this year’s top Big East back will be.

At this point, Cincinnati’s Isaiah Pead seems like as good of a candidate as anybody considering the senior speedster comes into the year as the top returning rusher after his 1,000 yard campaign in 2010.

The Bearcats sure do throw the ball a heck of a lot, but when they do hand it off to Pead, he makes things happen. He averages a whopping 6.5 yards per carry.

3. DE Brandon Lindsey, PITT

The injury to All-Star defensive end Greg Romeus early in the 2010 season seemed like it would be a major blow for the Pittsburgh defense, but in actuality, it allowed Brandon Lindsey, a one time 4-star recruit, to step up and make a name for himself in his fourth year with the program.

Lindsey finished the season with 10 sacks and led the conference with 18 tackles for loss.

The 6’2’’ 250 lb. junior still plays like a linebacker at times, but he’s shown that he can do one thing very well and that’s find his way into the opposition’s backfield.

Romeus and Jabaal Sheard will be missed, but Lindsey, along with returning defensive tackles Chas Alecxih and Myles Caragein, provide the Panthers with one of the most stout defensive lines in the conference this year.

4. WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia

Whether he ultimately ends up back at wide receiver or at his more natural position of running back, Tavon Austin will be the Mountaineers most explosive offensive weapon either way next season.

After the departures of WR Jock Sanders and RB Noel Devine, Austin will now be counted on to be the star of the show on offense.

As we saw with Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon last year, incoming offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen can work wonders for his receivers and Austin should be the main beneficiary this season.

The 5’9’’ 175 lb. junior totaled over 1,000 all purpose yards and scored nine TDs in 2010 and those numbers should only increase this year with Holgorsen calling the shots.

5. DT Kendall Reyes, UConn

Like usual, the Big East probably won’t have many high picks in the 2012 NFL draft, but one player who will intrigue the pro scouts is UConn defensive tackle Kendall Reyes.

Reyes, who finished the 2010 season with 10 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, is a powerful and agile interior lineman who has the athleticism needed to play in the pros.

The 6’4’’ 295 lb. senior has the skill-set to line up at any position along the defensive line but you’re most likely going to find him inside.

UConn should once again have an intimidating defensive front with Reyes, fellow DT Twyon Martin and ends Jesse Joseph and Trevardo Williams.

6. DE Bruce Irvin, West Virginia

West Virginia needs to find more ways to get Bruce Irvin on the field, it’s that simple.

Mainly used as a third down pass-rushing specialist last season, Irvin thrived in his first year donning the blue and gold, leading the Big East and finishing second in the nation with 14 sacks.

The one time highly-touted JUCO prospect certainly lived up to his hype and then some.

Irvin doesn’t necessarily fit the ideal makeup of a defensive end in a three-man front, but the 6’3’’ 235 lb. senior makes up for his lack of size with his tremendous speed off the edge.

If Jeff Casteel can figure out some schemes to get Irvin on the field more often, then Big East quarterbacks should be very worried.

7. CB Keith Tandy, West Virginia

CB Brandon Hogan and S Robert Sands, two future NFL draft picks, are both gone, which means there’s going to be some serious turnover in the West Virginia secondary this season.

The one player who will have to continue to progress in the backend is CB Keith Tandy.

Tandy really stepped his game up as a junior last year and ended up leading the conference with six interceptions.

The 5’10’’ 195 lb. senior has gone from coverage liability to premier player in the span of one season and he’ll now have to handle the burden of being one of the leaders for a Mountaineer defense that lost seven starters from a talented 2010 group.

8. LB Sio Moore, UConn

Lawrence Wilson and Scott Lutrus were Connecticut’s two big name linebackers entering the 2010 season, but it was an unheralded sophomore by the name of Sio Moore who turned out to be the real difference maker of the unit.

Moore, who rarely saw the field as a freshman, emerged as a tackling machine in 2010, racking up 110 total stops.

With both Lutrus and Wilson now off to the NFL, it’s Moore’s time to truly step out of their shadows and cement himself as one of the conference’s top defenders.

The 6’1" 230 lb. junior has proved that he’s great at tracking down ball carriers from sideline to sideline and he should once again break the 100-tackle mark in 2011.

9. RB Ray Graham, Pitt

There were more than a few people last year who were left wondering what exactly the cause was of Dion Lewis’ decline after his eye-opening freshman campaign.

The answer?

Ray Graham.

After a terrific showing in the offseason, Pittsburgh coaches knew that they needed to get Graham more carries in 2010, which ended up dipping into Lewis’ production.

Graham finished his sophomore season with over 900 yards on the ground and 10 total touchdowns and averaged 6.2 yards per carry.

With Lewis making the decision to test the NFL waters early, the backfield now belongs solely to Graham and the 5’9’’ 195 lb. junior should make the most of it.

10. OT Mike Ryan, UConn

I know personally, when I think of Connecticut football, the first thing that usually comes to mind is a hard-nosed rushing attack. It makes sense considering the Huskies have led the Big East in rushing attempts two out of the last three years.

One thing that allows UConn to be so successful on the ground is their great play up front.

This year, the Huskies have two of the Big East’s most outstanding linemen in tackle Mike Ryan and center Moe Petrus.

Ryan has been sitting out spring practice with a knee injury but he should be ready to battle in the trenches again once September rolls around.

The 6’5’’ 330 lb. senior, who has been a full time starter since 2009, has matured into one of the Big East’s best hole openers and he’s equally effective as both a run and a pass blocker.

11. QB Zach Collaros, Cincinnati

There’s no denying that Cincinnati didn’t begin the post Brian Kelly era with a very big bang.

The Bearcats finished near the basement of the Big East in 2010 with a record of 4-8. But when trying to figure out who was to blame for the less than lackluster season, you would have a hard time pointing the finger at the offense.

Cincinnati finished first in the Big East in total offense and QB Zach Collaros showed flashes of greatness at times.

If Collaros, who threw for over 2,900 yards and 26 TDs last season, can play every game like he did in a 69-38 beat down of Rutgers, then Cincinnati should be in store for a big season in 2011.

12. S Phillip Thomas, Syracuse

When I was watching the Syracuse-West Virginia game last year, one thing that really stood out to me was how fast and athletic the Orange defense had all of a sudden become.

You could tell that the Mountaineers vastly underestimated the team speed that Syracuse possessed and it definitely showed throughout the game.

One of the better looking defensive players who really stuck out to me in that contest was safety Phillip Thomas.

Thomas, who is the team’s top returning tackler from a year ago, has the look of the type of player whose on the verge of stardom.

The 6’0’’ 190 lb. junior, who finished with 92 tackles in 2010, will team with his brother from another mother, Shamarko Thomas, to give Syracuse the best safety tandem in the Big East this season.

13. LB J.K. Schaffer, Cincinnati

Let’s not kid ourselves, the Cincinnati defense was bad in 2010. At times, you had to wonder if there even was a defense out on the field. Still, that doesn’t mean that there weren’t a few Bearcats out there who were performing at a high level.

One of those few players was linebacker J.K. Schaffer.

Shaffer has tallied over 100 tackles each of the last two seasons.

The 6’1’’ 220 lb. senior looks like a linebacker/safety hybrid and he can cover ground with the best of them.

If he can get some more help around him, Shaffer should continue to shine in his final season in a Cincinnati uniform.

14. CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson, UConn

I’ll admit, I’m still not exactly sure how to pronounce Blidi Wreh-Wilson’s name just yet, but what I do know is that he has the look of a budding shutdown corner.

Wreh-Wilson seems similar talent-wise to former UConn CB Darius Butler, who now plays for the New England Patriots.

Wreh-Wilson and fellow cornerback Jerome Junior are quite a tandem. The two juniors each picked off four passes in 2010, but it was Wreh-Wilson who really stood out as the type of corner you would want to shy away from if you’re an offensive coordinator.

The 6’0’’ 190 lb. junior could be ready to take that next step this season.

15. OT Don Barclay, West Virginia

If you watched any of the West Virginia-Marshall game last year, then you know that the Mountaineer offensive line was far from perfect.

Yes, the line had its fair share of troubles in 2010, but it’s also a group that’s shaping up to be one of the best the Big East has to offer this season.

One of the leaders of the quintet is tackle Don Barclay.

Barclay, a 6’4’’ 305 lb. senior, has manned the left tackle spot for the last two seasons and he’s improved each year, earning first team All-Big East honors in 2010.

16. DT Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati

When I heard that Mel Kiper had ranked Derek Wolfe as one of the top defensive tackles available for the 2011 NFL draft before the start of last season, I thought it was a bit premature, but then again, I tend to disagree with most of what Mel Kiper says.

It’s not that I did’t think Wolfe had the talent, it’s just that he was a player who still had a lot of developing to do.

Maybe the hype got to Wolfe’s head a bit, because he didn’t seem like the same player we saw in 2009, although you could chalk that up to the fact that there were so many new faces around him last season.

Now that the defensive line is more experienced with guys like Brandon Mills and Dan Giordano returning, Wolfe should have the opportunity to thrive as a senior.

17. S Hakeem Smith, Louisville

A big reason why Louisville was able to turn things around last season was the play of their secondary. The Cardinals finished second in the Big East in pass defense, letting up an average of just 167 yards per game.

The key returning starter from that unit is safety Hakeem Smith.

Smith, who was not a very highly-touted recruit coming out of high school, used his redshirt season in 2009 to hone his skills and get stronger and it definitely showed last year.

The 6’1’’ 185 lb. sophomore led the team with 88 tackles and performed like a seasoned veteran instead of a first year starter.

The Louisville secondary will miss Johnny Patrick, an NFL-caliber cornerback, but Smith should help ease the loss as he’s now going to be the key defensive back on the team.

18. TE Ryan Griffin, UConn

With Cameron Graham off to the NFL, the title of top tight end in the Big East is now up for grabs.

It looks like Connecticut’s Ryan Griffin is just the guy to fill the role.

Griffin has hauled in 53 passes for over 500 yards over the last two seasons, but one thing he has to get better at is making himself more available in the red zone. The 6’6’’ 245 lb. junior only has one receiving touchdown in his career.

With the Huskies breaking in a new quarterback this season, expect Griffin to get a lot of balls thrown his way as a safety valve option.

19. WR DJ Woods, Cincinnati

DJ Woods could have let his critical fumble in an early season loss to Oklahoma affect him for the rest of the season, but luckily, he put it behind him and bounced back to have a solid 2010 campaign.

Woods finished the year with 57 catches for nearly 900 yards and eight TDs.

The 6’0’’ 175 lb. senior is a perfect fit for the Cincinnati offensive attack, and with departures of WR Armon Binns and TE Ben Guidugli, Woods should now be the go-to receiver for QB Zach Collaros.

20. DE Julian Miller, West Virginia

This season, the West Virginia defense will have some new faces up front for the first time in quite a while, but one player they’re glad to have back is Julian Miller, who will man the defensive end spot for a third straight year.

Miller, who entered the program as 220 lb. recruit, has taken it upon himself to bulk up and get stronger over the last few years and the results are evident.

The 6’4’’ 260 lb. senior now looks more like a basketball forward than a defensive end.

Miller, who has NFL potential, has accumulated 17 sacks over the last two seasons and has proved to be one of the best pass rushers in the Big East.

The Miller-Bruce Irvin combination is sure to wear out opposing offensive tackles in 2011.

21. S Terence Garvin, West Virginia

The early departure of free safety Robert Sands is a big blow to West Virginia, especially when you compound it with the fact that the team is also losing bandit safety Sidney Glover.

The Mountaineers will have their work cut our for them trying to replace those two, but luckily they have strong safety Terence Garvin, one of the most unheralded players in the conference, returning to lead the way.

Garvin led West Virginia with 76 tackles last season and he’ll now be counted on to be a key leader on a defense that’s breaking in a lot of new players this year.

22. LB DeDe Lattimore, South Florida

South Florida has quietly produced a bunch of quality NFL defensive prospects in recent years.

Terrell McClain, Mike Jenkins, Jason Pierre-Paul, Jerome Murphy, George Selvie, Stephen Nicholas, and Nate Allen are a few of the names that immediately come to mind.

The next player who will join that group is LB DeDe Lattimore.

Lattimore finished second on the team with 69 tackles as just a freshman last season, and he proved to be the type of athletic playmaker that we’re used to seeing on the Bulls defense.

Lattimore, a 6’2’’ 230 lb. sophomore, is a fast and feisty linebacker who takes pride in hunting down ball carriers.

23. WR Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers

Let’s be blunt, Rutgers was a mess in 2010. Whether it be the offense or the defense, they didn’t seem to play either all that well.

The offense was a disaster, averaging less than 300 yards a game, and the lack of cohesiveness obviously had an effect on WR Mohamed Sanu.

Sanu, who was one of the conference’s true revelations in 2009, failed to replicate his freshman success last year.

Whether it be the emergence of fellow receiver Mark Harrison, who stole some of his thunder, or the terrible play calling that plagued the team (Note to Rutgers, scrap the Wildcat), things just didn’t seem to break right for Sanu.

Even so, the 6’2’’215 lb. junior still finished with nearly 900 total yards of offense.

If the Rutgers offensive staff can find a way to properly use the versatile Sanu, he should have a big bounce-back year.

24. RB Jeremy Wright, Louisville

I’m going to miss watching Bilal Powell this season. He turned out to be one of my favorite Big East players last year.

Hopefully, Jeremy Wright can match the excitement that Powell provided in 2010.

Wright, who averaged 5.5 yards on limited carries last year, has the potential to match what Powell accomplished last season, but he’s going to have to get himself healthy first. Wright is sitting out spring practice with a sports hernia.

If he’s 100 percent by September, the 5’11’’ 200 lb. sophomore will team with forgotten back, Victor Anderson, to give Louisville a terrific one-two rushing punch.

25. QB B.J. Daniels, South Florida

So, which version of B.J. Daniels should we be expecting this season?

The one we saw struggle throughout the 2010 regular season, or the one that put up an MVP performance against a tough Clemson defense in the Meineke Bowl?

It’s a valid question, and the answer will determine how far this South Florida team can go this upcoming season.

The Bulls have some holes to fill, especially along the offensive line, but they also have the talent to compete for a conference championship.

The team's success will hinge mainly on the performance of Daniels, who finished with an 11-13 TD to INT ratio last year. If he plays with consistency, this South Florida team could make some noise.

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