College Football 2011: 12 Teams We're Sleeping On That We Shouldn't Be
The 2010 college football season taught us a lot of valuable lessons, but a lot of them were off the field. The one thing we can definitely take away from last season was how a team, not on many people’s radars, could put together an amazing season.
Some teams need a player like Cam Newton who will steal the show and seemingly will a team to victory. Others need a more balanced effort from players who won’t necessarily ever play a down in the NFL.
Whatever the situation may be, there will always be a team that “comes out of nowhere” and plays in some big name bowls. While there likely won’t be another team to win the national title in Auburn’s fashion for some time, here are 12 teams you shouldn’t be sleeping on for the 2011 season.
Florida
1 of 13
The Gators took a huge fall after the departure of legendary quarterback Tim Tebow. Then Urban Meyer left.
But after some serious soul searching, Florida seems to have done what it needs to do to get back to dominating the SEC East in hiring Will Muschamp. With him at the helm and a fantastic recruiting class, Florida is one of the trendier picks to rebound after a forgettable 2010 season.
Muschamp, formerly the defensive coordinator for the Texas Longhorns, will keep up the stellar defensive work in Gainesville despite losing Janoris Jenkins to disciplinary issues. It’s the offense that has everyone taking notice and is that unit that will be under the most scrutiny throughout the year.
The rise or continuing slide of the Florida Gators will largely be due to Charlie Weis’ ability to teach his offense to his players, particularly John Brantley, quickly. With eight returning starters on offense, there really won’t be any other excuse for poor performance. Their game at South Carolina on November 12th will likely determine the SEC East.
Texas
2 of 13
The Longhorns are the other trendy pick to be dominant again, largely because they are Texas and everyone just expects them to be good. It’s also because they can bring in some of the best talent in the country despite not going to a bowl game last season.
Everyone in Austin is raving about incoming running back Malcolm Brown, and Phil Steele has him as a first-team All-Big 12 selection without stepping foot on campus. It’s an offense playmaker like Brown who can really turn the Longhorns back into a top team.
Before him Jordan Shipley was the big playmaker that needed to get the ball, and his graduation left no one Garret Gilbert felt comfortable throwing the ball to. If James Kirkendoll or any other receiver can emerge as an elite and dependable receiver under new offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin, look out for the Longhorns.
N.C. State
3 of 13
NC State has never been a dominant team, even when Philip Rivers was around, but the Wolfpack could finally have a breakthrough this season. Had Russell Wilson stayed to play in Raleigh, we would be talking about this team not as an outsider looking in but a team looking to turn its talent into stardom.
They lost each of their four games by an average of less than a touchdown and Virginia Tech had to pull away late in order to beat them by 11. Their defense only gave up 21.3 points per game and Tom O’Brien has energized a fan base begging for its moment in the spotlight.
But the losses of two WRs, Owen Spencer and Jarvis Williams, as well as second-team All-American Nate Irving could be too much to recover from. Luckily for the Pack, another easy stretch to open the season could make them 7-0 heading into a matchup against Florida State on the road. With the Seminoles and Boston College being the only real road threats, all NC State has to do is hold home field advantage to have a spectacular season.
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Missouri
4 of 13
The Tigers are in the same spot that they were last year, going underrated by the public. They didn’t start out last season ranked but ascended to 7-0 after an upset of the then No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners followed by total collapses on the road to Nebraska and Texas Tech.
If there is any hope for a different ending to 2011, Mizzou desperately needs to win on the road. Games at Arizona State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and even Baylor could be disastrous losses, but their raucous home crowd gives a strong possibility of again winning every home game.
James Franklin has been a hit on campus and is already being touted as the next great thing. A depleted secondary is the only weakness on a defense that was nothing short of phenomenal last season, only giving up 16.1 points per game. Make no doubt, the only thing holding back the Tigers will be their schedule, and if they conquer that obstacle, this season could be really special for them.
Northwestern
5 of 13
Do you remember Dan Persa? You should. He’s kind of really good and will lead a team with 16 total starters returning to a great season, at least in terms of Northwestern football. How it ranks in a national scale has yet to be determined.
The Wildcats have been the most upset-minded team in the Big Ten as of late and have gone to a bowl every year since 2008. Taking the next step is all about consistency for this team who needs to be concerned in trading a win over No. 13 Iowa for wins over Purdue and Illinois.
Northwestern hasn’t had much of a defense in recent years but they don’t look to be starting anyone younger than a junior. With the leadership of Vince Browne and Brian Peters on defense and Dan Persa on offense, the Wildcats have the potential to beat nearly anyone on their schedule. Whether or not they actually do it is another thing entirely.
Maryland
6 of 13
Ralph Freidgen won the ACC Coach of the Year last year and was rewarded by getting fired. Fortunately for Randy Edsall, the Fridge left him quite a bit of talent.
Danny O’Brien headlines an underrated group of players on offense who will no doubt benefit from new offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, former LSU OC. O’Brien will make Crowton’s job easier because Crowton loves to pass and has been hindered in recent jobs by the lack of talent under center.
Couple more points on the board with a talented defense led by safety Kenny Tate and the Terps will have people talking. That is, assuming they beat Miami and West Virginia at home to start the season. If the new offense takes off quickly and the defense plays to its potential, road trips to NC State and Florida State are the only real obstacles in the path of the Terrapins.
Ohio State
7 of 13
What kind of article would this be if it didn’t mention the Buckeyes? The talk of the college football offseason makes this list precisely because of all of the adversity they’re facing right now.
At the moment it seems as if Terrelle Pryor is done for good in Columbus while the other four suspended players will return after their suspension, assuming they have a season to play. However, this doesn’t spell disaster for the Ohio State.
Unlike the UNC scandal last season, the Buckeyes, at least for now, won’t lose more talent than Pryor, and freshman Braxton Miller has just as much talent as him and hopefully triple the humility. The likelihood of Ohio State playing in a bowl game next season is slim, but that doesn’t mean they can knock out a few top teams from a BCS game along the way.
North Carolina
8 of 13
Speaking of cheating, North Carolina makes this list pretty easily. The Tar Heels will once again have a ton of talent on their roster, but there may be an issue with the eligibility of stud DE Quinton Coples, which would be a huge blow to the team’s chances.
The X-factor will be touted quarterback Brynn Renner who has plenty of fans drinking a lot of the Carolina blue Kool-Aid. Ryan Houston returns to a backfield that struggled to find an identity last season battling injury.
Playing in the ACC Coastal will certainly help their chances to put together a stellar season with the only real challenge being Virginia Tech. The Tar Heels will likely run away to a 6-0 start if they can stop the triple option of Georgia Tech. They should prey on interception-happy Miami and new Clemson QB Tajh Boyd which would put them at 9-0 after romping past Wake Forest. All of this is assuming they keep all of their talent on the field.
Central Florida
9 of 13
Two words: Jeffrey. Godfrey.
The avid college football fan has probably heard of this talented QB but not too many others have. Fewer still remember that the Knights went 11-3 last season and even fewer remember that they gave up 17.1 points per game.
They don’t return as many players as they’d like but should still be a runaway favorite in C-USA East because of Godfrey and an experienced defensive line. Expect a lot of rushing yards from this team and only a slight drop off in defensive production. That puts the Golden Knights right back in the 10-win category, and if they can fend off Boston College and Tulsa, there’s a real possibility for an undefeated season.
Utah
10 of 13
The Utes have one of the easiest schedules in the country and only have to worry about USC and Arizona State. The only problem is they might not be ready for them in the first five weeks of the season. Or they could make a splash into the PAC-12 and defeat the Trojans on the road. And there’s also the possibility that they don’t have the depth to play their first full season in a BCS conference.
Jordan Wynn is the playmaker on offense and will be called on for big things with the losses of their top running backs and receiver Jereme Brooks. An experienced offensive line will make his job easier but a defense only returning five starters leaves a lot of questions.
But for every question there seems to be a potential answer with nearly all of the starters being juniors and seniors. If maturity can make up for the lack of depth, the Utes could be well on their way in 2011.
San Diego State
11 of 13
Ronnie Hillman is the best running back you’ve probably never heard of. Ryan Lindley is a passing machine who is already being projected as a late first-round draft pick for 2012. If they can find replacements for Vincent Brown and DeMarco Sampson at wide receiver and plug the holes on defense, Brady Hoke could get upset by his old team when they come to Michigan.
The Aztecs will be offensive juggernauts next season and only lost their four games last season by a combined 15 points. Games against Michigan, TCU and Boise State will be rough for a team returning only five starters on defense and losing their defensive-minded head coach. But they have the offensive talent to do it.
Michigan
12 of 13
The Aztecs’ loss is Michigan’s gain in a big way. The only thing holding the Wolverine’s back was defense last season and that likely remains the biggest problem in 2011.
Brady Hoke brings in a new perspective to the former powerhouse, but it may not mesh well with Denard Robinson’s abilities on offense. What the Wolverine’s gain on defense, they may just as quickly lose on offense.
But the enormity of talent returning suggests otherwise; only guard Stephen Schilling won’t be returning to an offense that put up close to 500 yards per game. They get eight home games as well. It may be Hoke’s first season, but Denard Robinson is the most dynamic quarterback in college football. All he needs a defense to help him out.
Mississippi St
13 of 13
The Bulldogs put together an amazing 2010 season and 2011 could easily surpass it. Fifteen returning starters turn them into a contender in the toughest division in college football, the SEC West.
They are one of the few teams to make this list while still being rated in most of the preseason top 25s but are still considered behind Arkansas and possibly Auburn in the minds of many. Chris Relf and Vick Ballard will change a lot of minds this season. And getting LSU, South Carolina and Alabama at home could be the added bonus that puts this team over the hump.
The only real question mark for Mississippi St is at linebacker where they have to replace all of their starters. If the Bulldogs can capitalize on their recruiting, the sky is the limit for this team with Dan Mullen at head coach.
For more updates on Virginia Tech, the ACC and national college sports, follow me on Twitter @VT_CaceClosed.
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