Preseason College Football Rankings 2011: Predicting Each Top 25 Team's MVP

The AP has finally delighted us all with the glorious gift of their Top 25 college football teams heading into 2011.

These teams, according to the poll, are the best 25 in the country.

While this will undoubtedly change more than Michael Jackson's face over the course of the next few months, it's what we have to work with for the nonce.

The following list labels the MVP for each AP Top 25 team and gives a reasonable explanations as to why each stakes his claim to said title.

They are not necessarily the best players on the team, although they may be, but the guys who are the most indispensable player on his respective squad.

Feel free to disagree...

25. USC Trojans: Matt Barkley

Even with the NCAA sanctions keeping the Trojans out of the postseason, Lane Kiffin's squad has plenty of talent and potential.

Guys like receiver Robert Woods are primed for big seasons.

That being said, there is no player who means more to USC than quarterback Matt Barkley.

Barkley finished last season with 26 touchdowns to only 12 interceptions and gained 2,791 yards through the air.

With a little better protection up front (he was sacked 16 times in 2010) Barkley is poised for a Heisman-like season.

24. West Virginia Mountaineers: Bruce Irvin

Probably not many of you outside of the Big East realize West Virginia was third in total defense in 2010.

Defensive end Bruce Irvin was a huge part of that.

Irvin is being inserted as a full-time end after playing primarily on third downs last season.

For some idea of the type of impact Irvin can have on a game, look no further than his sack numbers. He had 22 total tackles last season, and 14 of them were sacks, which was good enough to place him at second in the country.

With the attrition the Mountaineers suffered on the defensive side of the ball, Irvin's ability to sustain this type of production is essential for their success.

23. Auburn Tigers: Michael Dyer

At this point, the Auburn football program can be compared to a roller coaster. Right now, they are done climbing the steep hill, teetering on the edge of the long free-fall back to the bottom.

The success of last season is going to give way to an average season, at best, in 2011.

The reason?

Attrition.

Mainly Cam Newton, but Auburn was hit hard and is only returning six starters from last season's BCS Championship squad.

The key to their success is Dyer. He averaged six yards per carry and gained 1,093 yards on the ground in 2010.

While he only found the end zone five times last season, he will be a major focal point of the offense in 2011.

22. Florida Gators: Jelani Jenkins

Jenkins has been an explosive presence at outside linebacker to this point in his career.

Unfortunately, he has been a little less than consistent at times.

In 2011, the Gators are going to need him to be consistent in order to be successful in a very difficult SEC.

Jenkins finished last season with 77 tackles and one interception. He has the potential to be an All-SEC-type talent, but he will need to tighten the screws as far as fundamentals and reading blocks go.

New head coach Will Muschamp is a defensive wizard, and if anyone can get the best out of Jenkins, it's him.

21. Missouri Tigers: Michael Egnew

Talk about proven talent.

Egnew was a Walter Camp All-American in 2010 and one of the premier tight ends in the country, pulling in 90 catches for 762 yards and five touchdowns.

With new quarterback James Franklin taking the field, Egnew will be targeted at least as often in 2011. His lanky frame and athletic ability give Franklin a great target with which to get comfortable.

Yes, the Tigers return a ton of receiving talent, but no one will be of as much importance to this team as Egnew.

20. Mississippi State Bulldogs: Chris Relf

The Bulldogs had a serviceable passing game last season, but it was the rushing attack that carried the offense.

In 2011, both facets of the offense will be equally dangerous.

Relf has reportedly taken it upon himself to become more disciplined and develop into more of a leader. If he can improve on his accuracy issues, he has a talented group of receivers—led by Chad Bumphis—to utilize in the passing game.

Relf's passing numbers from last season are not overwhelming, as he threw only 13 touchdowns, six picks and finished the season with 1,789 yards, plus four touchdowns on the ground.

Dan Mullen has the Bulldogs heading the right direction, and for them to make some noise in the SEC West this season, Relf will have to step up.

19. Georgia Bulldogs: DeAngelo Tyson

Quarterback Aaron Murray is the star of the offense, and for the Bulldogs to have any success, he will need to avoid a sophomore slump.

However, for the Bulldogs to remain competitive, the defense must step up.

In the second season of defensive coordinator Todd Grantham's 3-4 scheme, Georgia finally has the appropriate personnel to make a difference.

JUCO recruit John Jenkins can plug the gap at nose tackle, allowing Tyson to move to his more natural position on the outside of the line. Tyson's size and speed will be more effective there, and the move will give him the opportunity to improve on his 35 tackles and 1.5 sacks from last season.

18. Ohio State Buckeyes: Andrew Sweat/Etienne Sabino

While the Buckeyes lost seven starters on defense, they still have some very talented guys hanging around.

The strength of the entire team might be the linebackers, and guys like Sweat and Sabino will be a big part of that.

These two guys should end up being responsible for the majority of the Buckeyes' tackles, and both of them have the ability to stuff the run or jump back into coverage on a tight end when necessary.

The Buckeyes' chances at having a winning season are contingent upon the defense being extremely solid yet again, and Sabino and Sweat will be the key to a solid defense.

17. Michigan State Spartans: Jerel Worthy

Worthy is a big dude.

At 6'3" and 310 lbs, he is pretty effective at plugging gaps in the middle of the defensive line.

While some would argue Kirk Cousins or Edwin Baker might be more valuable, Worthy is the most talented returning player the defense can boast.

As a team that is predicated on solid defense as the Spartans are, Worthy is going to be the one to step up and fill the leadership hole left by linebackers Eric Gordon and Greg Jones.

In a conference filled with mobile quarterbacks and strong run games, a guy like Worthy, who can plug the middle and create some pressure, will be essential if the Spartans want to hang around in the conference race.

16. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Michael Floyd

In a roster loaded with talent, Floyd is arguably the most talented.

The dude is explosive. He averaged 13 yards per catch on 79 receptions last season and snagged 12 touchdowns.

The emergence of running back Cierre Wood and tight end Tyler Eifert will give an added boost to an already-solid offense.

However, Floyd is the most important piece in the Irish's BCS puzzle.

Dayne Crist is the starting quarterback, but Tommy Rees is not far behind him in skill, and can take over and be comfortable immediately if necessary.

The defense has several key players whose production will be important for the Irish, but their depth on defense means if one of those guys gets injured, there is no need to panic.

Floyd's health is an absolute must for the Irish; without him the receivers get really iffy.

15. Arkansas Razorbacks: Tyler Wilson

No doubt about it, this spot used to belong to Knile Davis.

Before the running back suffered a season-ending injury, it seemed reasonably certain he would be the catalyst for the Hogs' explosive offense.

The onus is now on Wilson—and in a big way.

He will have to make Arkansas fans forget about Ryan Mallett, and he'll have to do it without his star running back.

You can fully expect Wilson to do just that—and do it well.

He looked very sharp when he got playing time in 2010, and has some solid running backs and great wide receivers surrounding him.

Expect Wilson to be near the top of the SEC quarterbacks by season's end.

14. TCU Horned Frogs: Tanner Brock

Gary Patterson fields one of the top defenses in the nation on a regular basis.

With guys like linebackers Tanner Brock and Tank Carder flying around, the Horned Frogs terrorized everybody last season.

The problem for the Frogs in 2011 could be some inexperience in the secondary; only one full-time starter is returning.

If the secondary does struggle, that will shift much of the burden for the defense to be successful on the back of Tanner Brock.

Brock will once again be one of the team leader's in tackles, and he and Carder will have to be effective in coverage and blitz packages.

Without Brock at his best, this defense suffers a significant downgrade.

13. Virginia Tech Hokies: Jayron Hosley

Hosley was an All-American last season at the field corner spot. He finished 2010 with nine interceptions and 39 tackles.

This season, he will test his abilities at the boundary position.

On a team with little experience at linebacker, plus a new starting quarterback and wide receiver, the play of the cornerbacks will have to make up for some deficiencies at other positions.

Hosley could well be the best corner in the country and will prove it in 2011.

12. South Carolina Gamecocks: Marcus Lattimore

Lattimore will be the most important player for Steve Spurrier this season.

Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is a playmaker, but quarterback Stephen Garcia could best be described as "mercurial"—and that's being generous. Garcia is more inconsistent than a lawyer...

That leaves it up to Lattimore, the sophomore running back who burst on the scene last season, to do his thing and gain yards up the middle, thus opening up the passing game for Garcia and Jeffery.

As goes Lattimore, so will go the Gamecocks, especially in SEC play on the road.

11. Wisconsin Badgers: Russell Wilson

The Badgers were a Top 25 team heading into spring camp, but definitely belonged in the lower half of the rankings due to the questions at quarterback.

The arrival of Russell Wilson changed their status in a big way.

Wilson is a cerebral leader who can extend plays and will be lethal in Paul Chryst's play-action schemes.

While running back Montee Ball will be a big part of the offense, the Badgers have James White to back him up, and they lose no talent in that exchange.

Chris Borland leads the defense, and his presence is essential for the Badger defense to be close to elite, but Wilson will be the catalyst for an offense that could put up 40-plus points a game for the second consecutive season.

Without Wilson, Wisconsin would be pedestrian, at best.

10. Nebraska Cornhuskers: Rex Burkhead

This was a tough one.

Burkhead is slated to take over the rushing duties for the Huskers in their inaugural Big Ten season.

While the defense is loaded with playmakers, and quarterback Taylor Martinez may turn out Heisman-like numbers, Burkhead's production will be the difference between a BCS bowl game and the Gator Bowl.

Martinez will not be effective at all without some sort of consistent running game, and Burkhead will provide that.

9. Oklahoma State Cowboys: Shaun Lewis

Lewis, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, was a force on the field last season. He tallied three forced fumbles, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and eight tackles for loss.

On a squad not particularly known for defensive prowess in recent seasons, Lewis will be the leading factor in the Cowboys' success if they make a run at Oklahoma's conference dominance.

The defense is young, and Lewis is just a sophomore, but he will need to be a leader from his linebacker position.

The offense is going to do their thing and score a boatload of points, but Lewis' presence on the defensive side of the ball will be the difference between a Big 12 title and fourth place.

8. Texas A&M Aggies: Jeff Fuller

Fuller may be the most underrated wide receiver in the game. He is a game-changer and became the first Aggie receiver in history to break the 1,000-yard plateau.

Fuller's explosive speed was a huge contributor to his 1,066 yards gained and 14.8 yards per catch average in 2010. His return to A&M for his senior season means the Aggies keep him as a deep threat on offense, and he will likely be back returning kicks as well.

Cyrus Gray and Ryan Tannehill are both going to be important to this offense, but Fuller puts them over the top and cements their status as legitimate contenders.

7. Stanford Cardinal: Andrew Luck

Did you expect anybody else?

The man is probably the most talented player in the country.

An argument might be made for O-lineman Jonathan Martin or linebacker Shayne Skov, but no one comes close to topping Luck.

Even with a new head coach and without his top two receivers from 2010, Luck has the skill and experience to take Stanford to the BCS title game.

Expect him to connect with receiver Chris Owusu early and often.

6. Florida State Seminoles: Greg Reid

The offense is uber-experienced, with the exception of quarterback E.J. Manuel.

On defense, the secondary will have to cover for some minor deficiencies in the front seven.

Enter Greg Reid.

The man is an absolute force in the secondary, totaling 61 tackles, 11 passes defended and three interceptions in 2010.

His coverage ability is second to none, but the added dimension he brings to the return game makes him the primary player in the Noles' run to the BCS.

5. Boise State Broncos: Kellen Moore

It might seem blatantly obvious, but that doesn't make it any less true.

Moore is one of the most valuable players in the nation, forget just at Boise State.

He will have the opportunity to prove that last season's numbers were not a fluke in 2011, as his top two pass-catchers have departed to play on Sundays.

The tired old argument about his number being inflated by Boise State's play in a weak conference are ridiculous. Against BCS conference opponents over the past two seasons, Moore has amassed 700 yards and seven touchdowns to go with no interceptions.

4. LSU Tigers: Tyrann Mathieu

Last season's version of the Tigers found their lock-down corner in star Patrick Peterson.

Mathieu has a nose for the ball and seems to turn up in the middle of every big play the defense makes. He was the Cotton Bowl defensive MVP as a freshman and spent last season as the nickelback.

This season, Mathieu will get the opportunity to take over for Peterson, and he will be better than fellow corner, Mo Claiborne.

Whether or not the offense is effective, the defense—led by Mathieu—will keep the Tigers in every game.

3. Oregon Ducks: Darron Thomas

While LaMichael James may post better numbers, the nod has to go to Thomas in this offense. He has to make split-second decisions and handle the ball a ridiculous number of times.

Thomas finished 2010 with more than 2,800 yards through the air and 30 touchdowns to go with just nine interceptions.

However, he may find himself pressured more this season than he was last season.

As long as he can keep himself from "sleeping" in the Ducks' frenetic offense, Thomas has a shot to break the 2,500-yard plateau yet again.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide: Dont'a Hightower

Let's not kid ourselves: With nine starters returning, Alabama is going to be scary good on defense.

And Hightower will be the leader.

He amassed a ridiculous 70 tackles in the 2010 campaign—and that was while dealing with an injury to his knee.

A healthy Hightower should scare the crap out of SEC offensive coordinators.

In tandem with fellow linebacker Courtney Upshaw, Hightower's high impact style of play will be vital to whatever success the Tide enjoy in 2011.

1. Oklahoma Sooners: Landry Jones

Jones' 2010 numbers are video-game like. He threw up 4,718 yards through the air, 38 touchdowns and 12 picks.

And yet the Sooners still lost two games.

Both of those games where on the road, and in those contests, Jones threw four touchdowns and three interceptions.

If the Sooners make the BCS title game this season, it will be on the strength of Jones' arm.

Remember what happened in 2009 when OU was ranked No. 1 preseason, then Sam Bradford went down in Game 1 with an injury?

The Sooners will be in just as much hot water if something happens to Jones.