Projected Final Standings:
| 1. | Cincinnati | 10-2 |
| 2. | West Virginia | 9-3 |
| 3. | South Florida | 9-3 |
| 4. | Rutgers | 8-4 |
| 5. | Connecticut | 6-6 |
| 6. | Pittsburgh | 5-7 |
| 7. | Syracuse | 4-8 |
| 8. | Louisville | 4-8 |
Pre-Season All-Conference:
QB- Tony Pike, Cincinnati, Sr.
RB- Noel Devine, West Virginia, Jr.
RB- Victor Anderson, Louisville, So.
WR- Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati, Sr.
WR- Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh, So.
TE- Nate Byham, Pittsburgh, Sr.
C- Robb Houser, Pittsburgh, Sr.
OL- Anthony Davis, Rutgers, Jr.
OL- Selvish Capers, West Virginia, Sr.
OL- Mike Hicks, Connecticut, Sr.
OL- Jeff Linkenbach, Cincinnati, Sr.
DE- Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh, Jr.
DE- George Selvie, South Florida, Sr.
DT- Arthur Jones, Syracuse, Sr.
DT- Scooter Berry, West Virginia, Jr.
LB- Scott Lustrus, Connecticut, Jr.
LB- Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut, Jr.
LB- Reed Williams, West Virginia, Sr.
CB- Aaron Berry, Pittsburgh, Sr.
CB- Devin McCourty, Rutgers, Jr.
S- Nate Allen, South Florida, Sr.
S- Robert Vaughn, Connecticut, Sr.
Intriguing Story Lines:
1. Greg Paulus Playing at Syracuse
The college football headline of the summer, the idea of Paulus playing Divison 1 football is a very rare sight. Paulus, former top quarterback recruit out of high school, went instead to Duke to play (and ride the bench as a senior) basketball for four years. It should be quite interesting to see if he can recoup his high school stardom and lead a new, youthful offense in bringing Syracuse out of the Big East pit.
2. Jarrett Brown Replacing Pat White
To make this clear, for what Pat White did for the West Virginia organization, Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, and Sam Bradford would all find it challenging to replace him. White won four bowl games as the starter, a feat never accomplished before him. He was constantly the best player on the field, even with the likes of Steve Slaton and Noel Devine on the field. Jarrett Brown is different from White in that he isn’t as much of a playmaker, but may be a better passer. That could be for the better, such as the team having more deep plays not running the ball, or the worse, as in teams don’t have to have ends and linebackers protect the outside from an extreamly mobile quarterback. Brown has Shaq-like shoes to fill, but if he can manage this team into Big East contention once again, it will be a job well done.
3. Can Pitt Put It All Together?
Having Top 10 and Top 15 recruiting classes over a 3 year stretch usually means one of two things. One, your Notre Dame, Florida, or USC. Or, two, it means you should be one of the top teams in the country. Pittsburgh, under Dave Wanstadt, has done a great job of keeping in-state talent away from Penn State, as well as find players outside the state to bolster the team. Still, the Panthers have questions at quarterback and running back, and at linebacker. Wandstadt needs to get his ultra-talented players to perform this season, or else he could be on the chopping block, and have another coach swoop in and guide his recruiting efforts to a much better record. Anything less that Big East Top 3 is a failure, and maybe even that’s not good enough.
End of Season Awards:
MVP: Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati
Offensive Player of the Year: Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia
Defensive Player of the Year: George Selvie, DE, South Florida
Newcommer of the Year: Greg Paulus, QB, Syracuse
Surprise Player of the Year: Carlton Mitchell, WR, South Florida
Top 5 NFL Prospects for 2010:
1. Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse
After considering leaving school early a year ago, Jones returns to be fighting for the Top DT spot in a great draft for the position. His play at nose tackle for Syracuse lead him to be one of the load bright spots, as he racked up 13 tackles for a loss last season alone. His pass rushing dominance in a interior lineman weak conference means he should have another huge season and maybe push himself into the Top 10 on draft boards.
2. Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
After a draft with more finesse lineman in Eugene Monroe, Jason Smith, and Michael Oher, Anthony Davis, a likely 1st rounder in next years draft if he declares after his junior year, is a load to get passed. At 6-6, 325, he has the obvious size to run block against the most powerful of lineman, but also has the athletism to pass block as well. If he can work on handling speed rushes on the outside consistently (vs. South Florida and George Selvie), he could vault himself into the Top 10 of next year’s draft.
3. George Selvie, DE, South Florida
Starting at South Florida with a wide receiver-like body, Selvie dominated in the pass rush game as soon as he began playing. Now, three seasons later, Selvie is an even more devastating pass rusher with a wide array of moves and tremendous quickness, but has bulked up to 245. While he has a little more room to bulk up, Selvie is the perfect weight to dominate in college, and could become a Julius Peppers/Jason Taylor type player at the next level. If he can improve as an overall defensive end, especially in the run support game, he could emerge as a solid 1st rounder.
4. Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati
When you watch Mardy Gilyard this season, you could be watching a player very similar to Jeremy Maclin in possible NFL success. While he’s not as deadly quick as Maclin was, and maybe doesn’t have the moves to be a dominating return-man, but he has great speed, hands, and body positioning for a small guy, plus is a better route runner than Maclin. He is slated as one of the top 3 seniors coming into the 2010 draft, he could slide out of round 1 due to many talented junior receivers. If he can maintain his production from a year ago, and show consistent hands as he had during his career, he emerge more on the national stage.
5. Nate Allen, S, South Florida
In one of the best safety classes ever (projected so far, still too early to tell), Nate Allen is holding his own as a 1st round talent. With guys like Taylor Mays, Eric Berry, and Myron Rolle, all linked to the NFL for years now, possibly all being in this 2010 draft class, Allen will be jostling with them and others for 1st round slots at safety. Allen has great vision for a safety, and understands tackling paths and where the play is going that are so important for a free safety in the NFL.
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