College Football 2011: 50 Bold Predictions for the Upcoming Season
The 2011 college football season kicks off in less than four months, and that means it’s time to start focusing in on which teams and players will be worth watching this season.
One of the reasons we all love college football so much is that when it comes to excitement and unpredictability, no other sport compares.
Although we all try to speculate and predict what each season has in store for us, the sport always has a way of shocking even the most cerebral of fans.
Last summer, there was nobody expecting that guys like Cam Newton, Justin Blackmon and Nick Fairley would play key roles in shaping the 2010 season, yet they did just that.
It just goes to show that when it comes to college football, predictions usually hold little weight.
Even so, the anticipation usually always gets the best of us, and we all try to become college football prophets each offseason.
So I've decided to give into the temptation and do just that.
Here’s 50 bold predictions for the upcoming season.
Lance Lewis Will Lead the Country in Receiving
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Receivers such as Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon, South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery and Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles are going to be the ones showered with the most preseason attention this summer. However, East Carolina’s Lance Lewis has a shot to outproduce all of them this season.
With the departure of Dwayne Harris, Lewis, who finished with over 1,100 receiving yards and 14 TD catches in 2010, will now be the go-to receiver in East Carolina’s pass-heavy attack.
Look for the 6’3’’ senior to put up huge numbers as QB Dominique Davis’ main target.
Auburn Will Finish with Five Losses
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All those critics who bashed Auburn for hiring Gene Chizik sure did disappear awful quickly, didn't they?
Chizik proved his doubters wrong by leading the Tigers to an undefeated season, an SEC championship and a national title in just his second year on the job.
The only problem is that many of the key players from last year’s squad, including star QB Cam Newton and ferocious DT Nick Fairley, have moved on, leaving tons of holes.
Auburn does have quality players to plug in, and they have a star RB duo with Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb but a drop-off is to be expected this season.
Florida State Will Take Down Oklahoma
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Sept. 17 is a date you must mark on your calendar.
That’s the night Florida State will host No. 1 ranked Oklahoma in one of the most anticipated games of 2011.
Last year, the Sooners dismantled Jimbo Fisher’s gang 47-17 in Norman, and it’s a loss that Fisher will have his team focusing on all offseason.
If new QB E.J. Manuel can handle the pressure of such a big moment, the Seminoles should have a great shot at payback.
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Geno Smith Will Throw for over 4,000 Yards
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As a West Virginia alum, I’ll admit it was painful to watch former coordinator Jeff Mullen waste so much offensive talent over the past few years.
That’s why I rejoiced when it was announced that Dana Holgorsen would be taking his Air Raid offense to Morgantown this season.
The main beneficiary of the switch is sure to be QB Geno Smith.
Smith, who threw for over 2,700 yards and 24 TDs in his first year as a starter last season, has one of the strongest arms in college football, and he's perfectly built to thrive in Holgorsen’s system.
Look for the junior QB to put up absolutely obscene numbers, throwing to receivers like Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey.
Teams Will Figure Oregon out
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It’s common for baseball pitchers to struggle against an opposing lineup the second and third time through the order because hitters become more familiar with what’s coming after each at bat.
Oregon’s high powered offense, which annihilated nearly every defense they faced last season, could face a similar problem this year.
Defensive Coordinators will have a whole offseason to dissect and study all the intricacies of Oregon’s fast-paced, no-huddle spread attack, and they won't be at such a disadvantage.
The Ducks will still be in good shape with the dynamic backfield duo of QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James but don’t expect them to overwhelm teams in the same fashion that they did in 2010.
Jordan Jefferson Will Actually Be Good
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It wasn’t a season to remember for the LSU offense last year. The Tigers finished 11th in the SEC in total offense, averaging just 343 yards per game.
A big problem was the play at quarterback, as Jordan Jefferson failed to ever find a consistent rhythm. Jefferson finished the year with a disappointing 7-10 TD to INT ratio.
The former 4-star recruit has the type of talent it takes to be a solid player, but he first has to figure out how to harness his skills.
Although Jefferson looked shaky in LSU’s spring game, he reportedly made great strides during the rest of the spring, and he could now be ready to finally step up and become an impact player for the Tigers.
LSU Will Win the SEC
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If Jefferson elevates his game, the rest of the pieces are in place for LSU to make a run at an SEC title.
The Tigers have one of the most talented defenses in America, and they have enough playmakers on offense to win every game on their schedule.
The SEC West is going to be tough this year, but LSU has what it takes to rise to the top.
Michigan Will Have a Decent Defense
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Last year, it seemed like Michigan’s defense was attempting to redefine the word awful.
The Wolverines finished dead last in the Big Ten in total defense and scoring defense, allowing 450 yards and 35 points per game.
An inexperienced secondary and shoddy scheming by Greg Robinson were the two main culprits, but neither should be a problem in 2011.
New coordinator Greg Mattison has some talented players to work with such as DT Mike Martin, S Jordan Kovacs and DE Ryan Van Bergen, and he should be able to bring the Michigan defense back to respectability this year.
UCLA RB Johnathan Franklin Will Arrive
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The Pac-12 is filled with great running backs this year.
Backs like Oregon’s LaMichael James and Washington’s Chris Polk are sure to receive the most preseason attention, but the real star of the conference could turn out to be Johnathan Franklin out of UCLA.
Franklin, who rushed for over 1,100 yards last season, is a home run waiting to happen.
The speedy junior could be in store for a colossal campaign in 2011.
Neither Boise State nor TCU Will Win the Mountain West
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The popular preseason pundit pick to win this year's Mountain West crown will either be new kid on the block, Boise State, or old bully, TCU. But one team that can’t be overlooked is San Diego State.
Sure, the Aztecs will miss head coach Brady Hoke, who skipped town to take the Michigan job, but Hoke did a great job of building the program into a contender.
QB Ryan Lindley and RB Ronnie Hillman make up one of the best backfields in the country, and the defense should be good enough to contend for a conference championship.
The fact that San Diego State will have home-field advantage in matchups with Boise State and TCU certainly doesn’t hurt either.
Vontaze Burfict Will Knock Somebody out
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Pac-12 ball carriers beware, Arizona State LB Vontaze Burfict is back and ready to hit.
Burfict is the best linebacker in America, and he’s one of the most physically intimidating players in all of college football.
You can bet that a few bells will be rung in 2011.
The Big East Will Gain Its Respect Back
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The Big East turned out to be college football’s whipping boy last season.
Don’t get me wrong, when your BCS representative is a Connecticut team that finished the season at 8-5, you deserve to take some shots.
The Big East is still a worthy conference though.
Yes, the competition has evened out as West Virginia has come back down to earth, and teams like Syracuse and Louisville have begun to rebuild, but we shouldn't downgrade the conference because there's some parity.
The Big East will always be sixth in the BCS pecking order, that’s just the sheer nature of the beast. But that doesn’t necessarily mean there aren’t quality teams in the conference.
There were zero Big East teams that finished in the postseason Top 25 poll in 2010, but that’s sure to change this season.
Andrew Luck Will Be Second Guessed
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Right now, Stanford QB Andrew Luck is the golden boy of college football and the consensus preseason favorite to be the No. 1 pick in next year’s NFL Draft.
Remember though, quarterbacks that have been in this precarious situation have often stumbled under the pressure.
Just ask Matt Leinart, Jake Locker and Brady Quinn.
Now don’t get me wrong, Luck is the real deal. But if Stanford loses a game or two, the second-guessing naysayers are going to start popping up, saying Luck should have just taken the money and run when he had the chance.
Luck can certainly handle the spotlight but as history has shown, his current pressure-filled position is not an enviable one to be in.
Michael Floyd Will Make at Least Three Breathtaking Catches
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Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd made a dumb mistake by driving under the influence this offseason, and he’s paying the price right now.
Floyd’s been suspended from the team until further notice, but once he’s reinstated, the senior star will prove why he’s such a valuable commodity.
Floyd is one of the most naturally gifted college receivers we’ve seen in years, and there are few players who can adjust to passes like he can.
Expect Floyd to make a few more dazzling catches as he tries to impress the NFL scouts in his final season.
The New Celebration Rule Will Not Be Celebrated
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Break out the old thesaurus, check the synonyms for dumb, and you’ll know exactly how I feel about college football’s new celebration penalty.
If you haven’t heard, this season, a rule will go into effect that will empower officials to call back touchdowns if they feel a player taunted his opposition before he crossed the goal line
So far, there have been exactly zero people who have embraced the rule, and it’s obviously going to be a point of contention this season once that first flag comes out.
If an excessive celebration penalty ends up costing a team a game, everything is going to break loose.
Knile Davis Will Outrun Trent Richardson
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The SEC is loaded with great running backs this year, but two that appear to stand out above the rest are Arkansas’ Knile Davis and Alabama’s Trent Richardson.
Davis is the conference’s leading returning rusher after running for over 1,300 yards in 2010 while Richardson is finally set to become the No. 1 option in the Tide backfield.
It should be interesting to see which player will come up with the most production.
Davis and Richardson, who are both juniors, appear to be first-round caliber running back prospects, so they could be jockeying for positioning based on their 2011 performance.
Devin Taylor Will Be This Year's Version of Da'Quan Bowers
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Da’Quan Bowers may have plummeted in this year’s draft, but that doesn’t diminish what he was able to accomplish in 2010. The former Clemson DE finally put his pass-rushing talents to good use, finishing first in the country with 15 sacks.
If you’re looking for a pass-rusher who could have a Bowers like impact this season, check out South Carolina DE Devin Taylor.
Taylor, a 6’7’’, 250 lb. junior, finished the 2010 season with 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss, and he could be in store for an even bigger season this year.
North Carolina Will Be Nasty
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I don't know how many wins North Carolina will have this season, and frankly, I don't care. I just want to watch the Tar Heels play.
Quinton Coples, Dwight Jones, Tydreke Powell, Donte Paige-Moss, Zach Brown, Bryn Renner, the list goes on and on.
This team is loaded with talent.
Keep them under control, Butch.
You Will Learn How to Spell Scheelhaase
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Illinois loses three key players, RB Mikel Leshoure, LB Martez Wilson and DT Corey Liuget, from last year’s squad, but the Illini are also welcoming back one of the most gifted young signal-callers in college football, Nathan Scheelhaase.
Scheelhaase, a 6’3’’, 195 lb. sophomore, took a few lumps in 2010, but the extremely talented dual-threat QB also made huge strides in his first season as a starter.
Look for Scheelhaase to emerge as one of the rising stars of the Big Ten this season.
Al Golden Will Be a Success
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Miami made a wise decision when they hired Al Golden to replace the underachieving Randy Shannon.
Shannon may have been a terrific recruiter, but he failed to get the most out of his talented crop of players.
Now that duty will fall on Golden’s shoulders.
Judging from the attitude he brought with him down to Coral Gables, it seems like he’s the perfect coach to motivate this Hurricanes team.
BYU Will Enjoy the Independent Life
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BYU has decided it wants to emulate Notre Dame by going the independent route, and it might just turn out to be a move that pays off.
The Cougars suffered through a mediocre 2010 campaign, but the team has a star in the making in sophomore QB Jake Heaps, and they’ve got a real chance to gain some national recognition this season.
If BYU can upset Texas in Week 2, it could set the stage for a big run this season.
Ryan Mallett Who?
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Former Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett was able to put up huge stats in Bobby Petrino’s pass-heavy offensive system, but often times, he wilted under pressure and failed to deliver when it mattered most.
Look for Mallett’s successor, Tyler Wilson, who looks to be just as talented, to deliver in clutch situations this season.
Wilson has one of the best WR trios in America to throw to, and he should flourish in Petrino’s system.
Robert Griffin III Will Become Everyone's Favorite Player
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From an entertainment standpoint, there are very few college football players who can match Baylor QB Robert Griffin III.
Griffin III, who totaled over 4,000 yards of offense in 2010, is a big play waiting to happen, and he’s almost single-handedly revitalized the Bears.
Turner Gill Won't Survive the Season
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It’s never fun to speculate about the job security of a football coach because remember, all these guys have families who are affected too.
Sometimes though, it just seems like some coaches just aren’t great fits for certain schools.
The Turner Gill-Kansas combination is one that just never seemed right to me.
Judging by last year’s debacle, Gill might be rethinking his decision to head down to Lawrence.
The Jayhawks, who finished the year 3-9 and averaged just 17 points per game, were a tough team to watch last season, and it doesn’t seem as if things are about to instantly get a whole lot better.
Gill, who I actually feel is pretty good coach, has made more enemies than friends so far, and if he can’t get things turned around quickly, people will start calling for his head.
Florida and Texas Will Be Mediocre Again
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Last season, both Texas and Florida started off the year ranked in the top five, and neither team ended up coming close to justifying such a ranking.
Florida finished the season 8-5 while Texas finished just 5-7, failing to make a bowl game.
Florida QB John Brantley and Texas QB Garrett Gilbert both entered the year with high expectations, but neither managed to inspire much hope.
These are two teams that routinely dominated throughout the last decade, but it seems some of their luster and invincibility has worn off, and they’re both going to have to prove they have what it takes to get back to the top of the mountain.
Case Keenum Will Bounce Back
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When Case Keenum fell victim to an ACL tear early on in 2010, down with him went Houston’s shot at a successful season. The Cougars, a team that was expected to challenge for a Conference USA championship, struggled mightily and ultimately finished 5-7.
Now that Keenum, who has thrown for over 13,000 yards in his career, is back on board, Houston has a great chance to be an offensive juggernaut.
Dan Mullen Will Turn Chris Relf into a Star
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Dan Mullen is doing some great things down in Starkville. He’s done a terrific job building up a Mississippi State program that many consider to be one of the hardest jobs in the SEC.
Mullen’s spread offense has a chance to be very potent this season, and QB Chris Relf will be the one who ignites the engine.
Although he's not Tim Tebow 2.0, Relf is the type of dynamic quarterback that perfectly suits Mullen’s offense, and he’ll have a great opportunity to shine this season.
Bill Stewart Will Go out a Winner
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Bill Stewart has never been fully embraced by the West Virginia fanbase and often times, whether fair or unfair, he’s faced a lot of criticism for his in-game coaching strategies.
Now in his last year as the leader of his beloved Mountaineers, Stewart has a chance to finally shut his critics up.
If Stewart can reach the BCS bowl that has alluded him these past three years, all will be forgiven.
This Year's Surprise Team Will Be....
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There are a few different teams in each major conference that are flying under the radar, but one team I really like is the Virginia Cavaliers.
Coach Mike London, who is now in his second year, is changing the attitude of the team for the better, and you have to believe that Virginia is ready to take a step up.
The offense may take a few games to get their feet on the ground, but the defense should be one of the best in ACC with guys like CB Chase Minnifield, DE Cam Johnson, DT Nick Jenkins and LB Steve Greer.
The player to remember is WR Kris Burd, who has a chance to be a game-changer on offense.
Dan Persa Will Lead at Least Two Fourth Quarter Comebacks
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Northwestern QB Dan Persa may not have the prototypical size or the big arm that you would want your quarterback to have, but the size of his heart is unmatched. It was unfortunate to see Persa go down with a knee injury late in the season because it’s obvious what type of competitor he really is.
The 6’1’’ senior has one more season to make some magic happen, and he should come up with a few more memorable late-game drives.
Joker Phillips Will Do More with Less
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Joker Phillips kept the Kentucky train rolling last season, leading the Wildcats to their fifth straight bowl game in his first year on the job.
Getting them back to a sixth straight postseason affair will not be easy, considering the team loses so much offensive firepower from a year ago.
Phillips knows what he’s doing though.
The Kentucky coach should put together a feisty squad, led by intriguing QB Morgan Newton, that’s capable of racking up enough wins to keep the streak going.
Washington State Will Make a Bowl
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For the past three seasons, Washington State has been absolutely terrible.
The Cougars are a combined 5-32 in coach Paul Wulff’s tenure, but sunnier days could be on the horizon.
QB Jeff Tuel and WR Marquess Wilson are two nice offensive pieces to build around, and the defense returns nearly every key player from last season.
The Cougars have six winnable games on their schedule, and if they could somehow manage to come away victorious in all six, they would be one of the best success stories of 2011.
We'll All Wish Brandon Bolden Played for a Better Team
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The Ole Miss Rebels were bad last year, and it looks they’re not going to be much better in 2011.
There's only one Mississippi player that seems worth the price of admission and that's RB Brandon Bolden.
Since he doesn’t tote the rock for a conference power, Bolden, who averaged six yards per carry and scored 17 TDs last season, doesn’t get the same type of exposure as his SEC counterparts, but he’s definitely worthy of the attention.
Keith Price Will Make Washington Fans Forget About Jake Locker
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When Washington high school hero Jake Locker initially signed with the Huskies, it was expected that he would be the savior of the program, however, things just never quite worked out.
With Locker off to the NFL, it’s time for a new face to emerge as the leader of the Washington offense, and that player is sophomore QB Keith Price
Aided by the help of offensive skill talent like RB Chris Polk and WR Jermaine Kearse, Price will have a chance to be everything Locker should have been.
The dual threat QB is still unproven at this point, but he’s definitely got the type of skills to fill Locker’s shoes.
Two Words: Kent State
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If you’re looking for a super sleeper from one of the Non-BCS conferences, watch out for Kent State out of the MAC.
The Golden Flashes have a stout defense and one of the most underrated receivers in America in Tyshon Goode.
If QB Spencer Keith can cut down on his mistakes, Kent State could challenge for a MAC title.
Jadeveon Clowney Won't Live Up to the Hype
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If you were to believe all of the hardcore recruiting aficionados, Jadeveon Clowney, the nation’s top recruit, should be playing in the NFL right now, not in college.
Clowney’s supposedly the best prospect to enter college football in years, and he’s already been given the royal recruiting treatment, appearing on magazine covers and ESPN.
You have to wonder if that type of instant celebrity could affect a young 18-year-old’s psyche.
Remember, dominating against a 200 lb-high school linemen is one thing. Doing it against the hogs of the SEC is another.
Just ask last year’s top recruit, Ronald Powell.
Clowney may have all the measurables, but let’s let him take a snap in an actual college football game before we go putting him in the Hall of Fame.
People Will Fear USC Again
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Lane Kiffin’s first season at USC was marred by the mess that former Trojan Reggie Bush left, but Kiffin and his staff have done a great job getting past the scandal, and the team is now poised to become a dominant force once again.
Led by QB Matt Barkley, the Trojans should return to their winning ways in 2011, and the talent is in place for a double-digit win season.
Kelechi Osemele Will Become the Next Coveted Tackle Prospect
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There are a lot of eligible tackle prospects for you hardcore NFL draft fans to keep an eye on this year.
Jonathan Martin of Stanford, Matt Kalil of USC and Nate Potter of Boise State are a few of the names to remember, but the real player to watch is Iowa State’s Kelechi Osemele.
Osemele, a 6’5’’, 295 lb. senior, is a big, athletic left tackle who has all the traits that NFL teams love.
Marcus Coker Will Make the Big Ten His Personal Playground
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As usual, the Big Ten is filled with a ton of quality running backs this year, but the one player I’m most intrigued to see is Iowa’s Marcus Coker.
Coker had his coming out party in the Insight Bowl against Missouri when he set an Iowa Bowl record with 219 rushing yards.
The 6’0’’, 230 lb. sophomore is a pure powerhouse who will inflict punishment on any defense he goes up against.
I'll Blackout at the West Virginia-LSU Game
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I'm heading back down to Morgantown for this one and I'm bringing a 30 of Natty Light and bad intentions with me.
Let's Go!!!
This Year's Breakout Player Will Be...
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Colorado WR Paul Richardson.
Richardson, who finished with 34 catches for over 500 yards and six TDs as a freshman, is primed for a huge season in 2011.
The 6’1’’, 175 lb. sophomore will be QB Tyler Hansen’s No. 1 target, and he should have a great opportunity to make a name for himself in the new Pac-12 conference.
Scandal Will Strike Once Again
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Every other day, it seems like there’s a new scandal or investigation that plagues the college football world, so you have to expect that something big will hit the sport this season.
While there probably won’t be a story that can rival the Cam Newton saga we endured last year, rest assured, something will surface that will put a damper on the 2011 season.
North Carolina State Will Take the Next Step
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Coach Tom O’Brien took a little while to get N.C. State moving in the right direction, but it looks like the Wolfpack are finally ready to contend for an ACC Championship.
QB Mike Glennon could be a star if he plays up to his potential, and the rest of the pieces are in place for this team to really make a move up the ACC ladder.
Watch out for the Wolfpack in 2011.
Ohio State Will Rally
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Things aren’t looking good in Columbus right now.
Ohio State will be without key players, QB Terrelle Pryor, RB Boom Herron, WR DeVier Posey and OT Mike Adams, for the first five games of the 2011 season. And as if that wasn’t enough, coach Jim Tressel has compounded the problem by lying to the NCAA about his knowledge of the infractions committed by his players .
The question now becomes, how will the Buckeyes face this adversity?
We'll see.
Alabama Will Lead the Country in Total Defense
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Have you seen these linebackers?
Courtney Upshaw, Dont’a Hightower, C.J. Mosley, Jerrell Harris and Nico Johnson?
That’s not fair.
I know Alabama's defensive line needs some patchwork, but when you’ve got linebackers like that and three future first-round picks in CB Dre Kirkpatrick and safeties Mark Barron and Robert Lester roaming around in the secondary, you’re going to be awful hard to move the ball on.
The Big 12 Will Be a Battleground
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Oklahoma will be the No. 1 ranked team in all of the land to start the season, so the Sooners will be the obvious favorite to win the new 10-team version of the Big 12. But Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Missouri will all be looking to challenge them this season.
Don’t hand the Sooners the title just yet.
The battle for the Big 12 title should be a slugfest.
The Preseason Top 25 Will Be Blown to Pieces by October
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I understand the idea of preseason polls. I understand that going into the season, people want to try to forecast who the top teams will be. However, every year, the polls almost always manage to fall apart at the seams by the time we get into October.
That won’t change this year.
The media will overrate and underrate different teams, and it will all work itself out in the end, and once again, we’ll all question what the point of having preseason polls really is.
It’s always been my opinion that we should wait until at least Week 8 before having an official poll. There's just too many variables in college football that make it impossible to predict who the best team in the land is in August.
Nick Foles Will Win the Heisman
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It’s been a strange journey for Arizona QB Nick Foles.
After an illustrious high school career at Texas’ Westlake High School, Foles originally committed to play for Michigan State, but he only lasted a year in East Lansing before realizing he would be better served suiting up elsewhere.
At Arizona, Foles has shown flashes of greatness over the past two years, yet he’s never been able to put a full season’s worth of consistency together.
If the 6’5’’, 240 lb. senior can finally make the most of his potential, he has a chance to lead the Wildcats to a Pac-12 championship and receive the accolades his talent warrants.
Nebraska Will Win the National Title
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We know that the Cornhuskers will have a championship-caliber defense, led by DT Jared Crick, LB Lavonte David and CB Alfonzo Dennard, but it still remains to be seen if Nebraska’s offense is up to snuff.
QB Taylor Martinez, who experienced the usual highs and lows for a freshman, is capable of being a star, but he needs to make sure his head’s on straight first.
Coach Bo Pelini has the talent to take over the Big Ten and run the table, now we just have to see if this team is capable of getting it done.
Nebraska is my pick to win this year’s national championship.
2011 Will Be a Wild Ride
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Les is ready.
Are you?
September 1st, the fun begins.
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