Pitt's Romeus Is Not In A Rush

Quarterbacks and offensive linemen all around the Big East were collectively disappointed to find out that defensive end Greg Romeus will be returning for his senior season with the Pittsburgh Panthers. The Big East’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year received a third round draft grade from the NFL Advisory Committee, which he understands is a conservative projection.

“I knew it could be higher than that, so it didn’t matter,” Romeus said of the grade and where he ultimately could get drafted. “Coach (Dave Wannstedt) basically told me that. If that (third round grade) was a reason (for me coming back), it wasn’t a big reason.”

More importantly, Romeus believes that another year at the collegiate level will help his career. He told College Football Insiders Radio that it wasn’t just one reason or another, but rather many factors which led to his decision to return to Pittsburgh for his senior campaign.

“The pros outweighed the cons,” Romeus said of staying in school. Like most college football players who must decide whether or not they are ready to make the jump to the NFL, Romeus leaned heavily on his family and head coach.

“It was a long decision. I didn’t make my mind up actually until the last week, a few days before the deadline. I talked to Coach. He talked to me. Toward the last few games he just told me he would look things up for me and tell me what the best option would be,” Romeus said. “He and my family all sat down and came to the conclusion that the best decision for me would be to stay. Every year it seems I have improved, not just physically but mentally, which is a big part of the game that you need to haave when it comes to going to the next level. I just think another year of experience would benefit me a lot more. There’s really no rush.”

Who else encouraged him? None other than Pittsburgh alumnus and current New York Jet Darrelle Revis, who provided advice and shared his own experience; as a junior, he was presented with the same choice.

“He (Revis) told me to just trust Coach,” Romeus told College Football Insiders Radio. Adding, “I knew Coach wouldn’t lead me in the wrong direction.” Wannstedt appears to have earned the type of trust in his players that can be the core of a program on the rise.

A high school basketball star, Romeus was a bit behind in the learning curve but made a solid contribution as a red-shirt freshman in 2007, recording 41 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss and four sacks. In 2008 those numbers leaped to 51 tackles, 15.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks. The 6’6”, 270-pound Romeus enjoyed a 2009 season in which he finished with eight sacks, 43 tackles, three forced fumbles, five passes defended and an interception on his way to Co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors, as well as an All-College Football Insiders third team selection.

So where does he need to improve? Romeus wants to lead the team and ensure they achieve all that they can in 2010.

“We have a lot of goals for next year and to come back and have a chance to win a championship would be something good. I’m happy with my decision and I don’t regret it.”

Next year, Pittsburgh returns some key pieces from a 10-3 team that nearly pulled off a conference championship. Something that will be vital is leadership, and Romeus is on it.

“Me, as a senior, I feel as if I have to get out there and lead the guys. I’m ready to take on that role, coming in there everyday and making sure we train as hard as we can.”

Romeus understands that next year could bring even greater opportunities for him, namely a college degree and a Big East Championship. He’s already gotten college football fans excited about the 2010 Panthers, admiring the program’s consistency.

“We’re just improving every day. Everybody understands that it starts in the off-season and it’s something that we’re all buying into. Every year that happens we see the results are getting better. We are looking forward to that.”

As for this coming weekend, if you think Romeus is rooting for Revis to win a championship of his own, think again. When asked if he would be rooting for the former Panther he answered in the negative.

“Living in my Miami, we learned not to like the Jets.”

Click Here To Listen To Entire College Football Insiders Interview With Greg Romeus

Photos Courtesy of Dennis Hubbard & University of Pittsburgh

Meineke Car Care Bowl – Pittsburgh 19, UNC 17

* Run Baby, Run: As he has all season long, freshman tailback Dion Lewis carried the load for the Pittsburgh offense. The Albany (New York) native turned in his 10th 100-yard game of the season and eighth in a row. His season-low 79 yards came on September 19th against Navy, which was also the only game he failed to average over four-yards per carry (3.4 versus the Midshipmen). Lewis’ 159-yard day against the Tar Heels was his fourth straight over 150 yards and seventh such performance of the season.

What the freshman tailback lacks in straight-line speed, he more than makes up for with burst—when he sees the hole, Lewis shoots through it. With excellent vision and instincts the Panther does a good job of weaving between the tackles, and is stronger than you think. His patience gives his linemen the opportunity to block. His first step is where the play is designed to go, after that it’s a lot of instinct. He’s extremely dangerous when he cuts back and goes against the grain. The little guy almost gets lost in between the tackles, then finds a little sliver and emerges from the scrum. Even in small spaces, he has the quickness to take a little side step to make someone miss. The lost fumble by Lewis is very uncharacteristic, the first of his career—he went 302 carries as a collegian without a fumble.

Lewis broke the legendary Tony Dorsett’s freshman rushing record at Pitt, which stood since 1973 at 1,686 yards. His 10 100-yard games matched Dorsett’s 1973 campaign, while Lewis’ 17 rushing touchdowns and 19 total scores are new marks for Panther freshmen. The rookie ball carrier finished the season with a total of 1,799 yards, second all-time in school history, passing Craig “Ironhead” Heyward (1,791 yards in 1987), looking up only to Dorsett’s Heisman Trophy season in 1976, when the Hall of Famer ran for 2,150 yards.

Lewis isn’t the next coming of Dorsett, but could anyone ask for more from the lightly recruited three-star recruit? After the game, head coach Dave Wannstedt evoked the name of not only Dorsett but Emmitt Smith and Ricky Williams as he spoke about how great backs get stronger as the game goes on. North Carolina’s Butch Davis compared him to a former Miami Hurricane.

“He reminds me of Clinton Portis,” Davis said of Lewis. “He has that same explosiveness in the hole as Portis. He can jump straight, sideways, spin and cut. Because of his speed and because of his quickness he doesn't take a lot of blows.”

We should also recognize Pitt’s fullback Henry Hynoski, who at 6’2” and 260 pounds has prototypical size for a lead back. He did a great job much of the day taking on North Carolina’s star-studded linebacking corps, neutralizing them on most of the Panther’s positive runs. Many of Lewis’ effective runs came following Hynoski into the hole. The sophomore also has decent hands making three catches on the day. Senior tight end Nate Byham did an excellent of job of blocking at the point of attack as well. At 6’4” and 265 pounds, Byham is a legitimate tight end.

* The Arial Attack: After getting away with a potential interception early on—when Bill Stull tossed one under pressure and overthrew his receiver, dropping the ball into the hands of a UNC defensive back—the senior signal caller had a very solid performance to lead the Panther’s to the victory. The Pittsburgh native completed 17-24 passes for 163 yards. He has a decent arm, and when given time to set and throw, he’s a pretty passer. Stull has nice touch on his passes and when he’s on, the quarterback can be fairly accurate. For the season, Stull finished with 2,633 yards, 21 touchdown passes and eight interceptions (65.1 completion percentage), almost shocking numbers after such an inconsistent 2008 campaign—2,356 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions (57 completion percentage).

Leading receiver, true sophomore Jonathan Baldwin had a quiet day—three receptions for 31 yards, as did senior pass catching tight end Dorin Dickerson—four receptions for 21 yards. The duo had trouble making things happen against the speedy and athletic North Carolina secondary. Baldwin did show off his upper body strength using his stiff arm to get extra yards after the catch on his first grab of the game. Not many receivers climb the ladder like Baldwin, who always uses his hands to catch the football. He is a good and willing blocker. Typically for a man of his size—6’5” and 225 pounds—Baldwin is impressive after the catch. Dickerson who is undersized for a tight end—6’2” and 230 pounds—can line up at fullback and H-Back, in addition to tight end. Dickerson struggled to make plays after the catch and needs to work on his blocking, otherwise he will be limited at the next level. The senior also dropped a would- be touchdown—he was interfered with (flag thrown)—but Dickerson should have made the catch anyway.

Stull’s favorite target on the day came as a surprise, as freshman backup Mike Shanahan led Pittsburgh with five receptions for 83 yards. He worked the deep in route to perfection. Shanahan got deeper than the UNC linebackers on a regular basis and caught passes in front of the Tar Heels’ defensive backs. He has great size (6’5” and 220 pounds), good hands and runs his routes well. On the Panthers’ go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter, Shanahan made a big catch, taking a big hit. Entering the bowl game, the freshman pass catcher had just 10 career receptions—Shanahan could emerge as a solid number two receiver taking advantage of all the attention paid to Baldwin by making plays across the middle of the field.

In addition to his run blocking, Byham was very good helping out in pass protection. Left tackle Jason Pinkston was also impressive as a pass blocker. For the most part the junior did an excellent job on North Carolina’s speedy pass rushers. On the other side of the line, sophomore right tackle OT Lucas Nix had his trouble keeping their ends out of the backfield.

* Best Pro Prospect – Pittsburgh: DE Greg Romeus, Junior – 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD, 1 FF

First off, don’t leave your tight ends to block Greg Romeus. North Carolina tried and the junior end shed the block with ease and engulfed the North Carolina runner in the backfield for a loss of three yards. For a player who did not play organized football until his senior season of high school, Romeus displays some impressive instincts. He made a nice read on an end around that he attacked perfectly on the weakside–Romeus was disciplined in containment and let the play came to him. The difference-making end didn’t make the tackle but the UNC receiver retreated to get around Romeus and wound up losing 11 yards on the play. The junior also does a good job of getting his hands up. On one particular play he read the screen and batted the ball down, using his amazing wingspan. He’s really learning the game, which makes one hope he returns for his final season, even though he appears headed towards being a second round pick. Romeus can bring it off the edge, but he can also stunt and bring pressure from the inside. The Florida native keeps playing to the whistle—he doesn’t stand around if he can’t get into the backfield. He’s also very strong, ripping the football out of the hands of North Carolina’s tailback, even when the runner had both hands on the ball. He is an impressive athlete, who on occasion even dropped back in coverage. Romeus is 6’6” and 270 pounds so size is not an issue.

* More Pitt Defense: In addition to Romeus, the Panthers have one of the more talented front sevens in the country, beginning with a deep, productive and versatile defensive line. Manning the other defensive end position for Pitt is fellow junior Jabaal Sheard, who at 6’4” and 260 pounds can more than hold his own. Sheard is capable of getting off blocks, which allowed him to record two tackles for a loss, including a sack. Throughout most of the game, Sheard lined up extra wide on the strongside, outside of the tight end rather than tackle.

Senior defensive tackle Mick Williams is one of the quicker linemen around, using that first step and footwork to get into the offensive backfield. Williams recorded two sacks on the day, although on one of them was completely unblocked. He is only 6’1” and 280 pounds, which is why he won’t be a high draft pick despite being co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Big East. Fellow senior defensive tackle Gus Mustakas (6’3” and 285 pounds) is your classic overachiever—a high effort player who finds a way to make in impact. Even with Williams, Mustakas and possibly Romeus on the way out, Pittsburgh has more than enough talent coming back. In addition to Sheard, keep an eye on sophomores Myles Caragein (tackle), Chas Alecxih (tackle) and Brandon Lindsey (end), as well as freshman defensive end Shayne Hale, who is already 6’5” and 250 pounds.

At the next level, sophomore Max Gruder and freshman Dan Mason were impressive. Gruder is very active against the pass, not allowing much after the catch. On one tackle in the short passing game, the weakside linebacker forced a North Carolina fumble. He fills in nicely and is a sound tackler. The sophomore backs up his linemen well and gets in the mix at the line of scrimmage. He was all over any pass play on the flat to a back or tight end. Gruder recorded a game-high 11 tackles. Mason had good coverage and showed solid hands on his third and goal interceptions, just outside the goal line. He fills the hole well and wraps up when he gets there. There is a lot to like about this young linebacker. Sophomore Greg Williams (three tackles) was relatively quiet, but is another piece to what should be a stellar defense in 2010. Senior MIKE Adam Gunn made seven tackles, but he’s in trouble when engaged with blockers. Gunn lacks speed and isn’t very big (230 pounds), lacking the measurables to play at the next level. Another senior, corner Aaron Berry didn’t do much to help his stock this season. He has put up decent numbers but isn’t very big (180 pounds) and he doesn’t possess the breakaway speed NFL teams look for in their defensive backs, which is why he won’t be able to play man-to-man at the next level. He did make a great read, dropping back into the end zone, making it a tougher throw for the quarterback. Berry will likely get a look as a priority free agent for a team that plays predominately zone coverage in the secondary.

* Decision Time: The North Carolina Tar Heels have four very talented juniors—defensive tackle Marvin Austin, outside linebacker Bruce Carter, middle linebacker Quan Sturdivant and safety Deunta Williams—who could be first or second round picks should they declare for the 2010 NFL Draft—all four could go, but none of the four has to go.

Most evaluators would list Austin as possessing the most potential of the group. He can be such a force at the point of attack, twice tackling Lewis after a short gain. He is so quick and explosive for a man of his size (6’3” and 305 pounds). Using that quickness, Austin exploded into the backfield and got to Lewis at the goal line, but missed the tackle—he blew up the play, which resulted for no gain, but it could have been a better play. That epitomizes Austin, glimpses of greatness, but more often than not leaving you wanting more. At times, he gets blocked one-on-one by average players, which shouldn’t happen with his ability.

Normally consistent performers, neither Carter nor Sturdivant were very impressive from their linebacker positions. Each made four total tackles—three solos by Sturdivant and one solo by Carter—with no interceptions, pass breakups, sacks or tackles for a loss. The 6’3” and 230-pound Carter is normally a big playmaker, but wasn’t very active versus Pitt. In the second half he made a great open field tackle on Pittsburgh’s Dickerson, where he got to show off his sideline-to-sideline speed. Sturdivant did a nice job of covering Dickerson on a passing play with the Pittsburgh playmaker coming out of the backfield after having lined up at fullback. He’s an effective blitzer, who plays a hard and relentless brand of football—he will make plays on the other side of the field—but more was expected of the junior MIKE. You wonder if the physical power attack of Pittsburgh was something the Tar Heels weren’t ready for and neutralized their speed and athleticism. We have been big fans of both Carter and Sturdivant, and while one game doesn’t tell the whole story, if they are thinking of making the jump, one would have expected a better effort.

Williams didn’t turn in his best performance of the season either. The junior safety allowed Dickerson to run right by him on a potential touchdown, which Dickerson dropped. Williams interfered on the play and not very well, as Dickerson still got in the open and the ball hit him on the hands. Williams was not very physical and on one missed tackle he was simply sloppy, not wrapping up on the ball carrier after attacking the line of scrimmage. He displayed good coverage ability, as he ran stride for stride with Baldwin, and positioned himself well between Baldwin and the ball, ensuring the Pittsburgh playmaker could not get to the football.

* The Senior Defensive Linemen: Defensive end E.J. Wilson had a good showing in his final game wearing Carolina Blue. The senior recorded five tackles, a sack and forced two fumbles. He is an all effort player, and his first forced fumble was due to that hustle—it came 30 yards down field at the UNC one-yard line just outside of the end zone as Lewis was headed for a score. On his sack, he blew by Pitt’s right tackle and got his hand on Stull to force fumble (Pitt retained possession). At 6’3” and 280 pounds, Wilson is also very strong and stout at the point of attack, which is why some view him as a potential 3-4 end at the next level.

Defensive tackles Cam Thomas and Aleric Mullins are rotation-type players. Thomas displayed nice pop off the snap. He is a legitimate run-stuffing space eater and a potential nose tackle at the next level. Thomas checks in 6’4” and 325 pounds. Not as big, but no small man is Mullins, who is 6’3” and 305 pounds. Mullins showed the ability to get pressure on the quarterback and he is capable of getting a push up the middle. Of the two, Thomas should get drafted, while Mullins may have to earn his way on to a roster as PFA.

* The Front Seven–Stars of Tomorrow: Maybe the brightest star on the entire Tar Heels team regardless of class is sophomore defensive end Robert Quinn, however against Pittsburgh he was a non-factor other than one hit he got on the quarterback. Quinn had trouble getting by Pittsburgh’s left tackle (Pinkston). The sophomore is athletic with prototypical size (6’5 and 270 pound) and should begin the 2010 season on many preseason All-American lists. Fellow sophomores Quinton Coples and Michael McAdoo should be back as well, with Coples the likely man to replace Wilson in the starting rotation. In the fourth quarter, he got good pressure coming off the edge to force Stull out of the pocket and on the next play, Coples picked up a sack. The end is quick and explosive getting into the backfield. Quinn, Coples (6’6” and 275 pounds) and McAdoo (6’7” and 245 pounds) would make a fine frontcourt for Roy Williams on the hardwood. Should Austin make the jump to the NFL, they still possess a former four-star recruit in red-shirt sophomore Tydreke Powell (6’3” and 300 pounds). At outside linebacker sophomore Zach Brown and freshman Kevin Reddick are two more talented defenders. Brown made two tackles, while Reddick finished the game strong, making several plays in the second half. The freshman has good size and speed; he’s a sure tackler versus the run and very comfortable near the line of scrimmage.

* The Defensive Backs: Joining Williams in the UNC secondary were a trio of juniors—strong safety Da’Norris Searcy, along with corners Kendrick Burney and Charles Brown. Burney, a two-year starter is also considering making himself available for the 2010 Draft, but would be wise to return. He was beat one-on-one by Baldwin early on, who used a stiff arm, but otherwise had a solid night. Burney likes to play near the line of scrimmage and is an excellent tackler who his capable of getting in the backfield. Burney (4 tackles, 1 TFL) can deliver a big hit once he bursts through on a run blitz. Brown (5 tackles, 1 TFL) was also active throughout the contest. He had good coverage on a deep route by Baldwin on pass to the end zone. With Pittsburgh backed up at their own end zone (at the two-yard), the junior cover man stayed with Baldwin down the field, one-on-one, with no help. He also made a big time play getting underneath the block of the right guard on screen pass and wrapped up well on Lewis—read and react. The only blemish on the night was a dropped interception. The least heralded of the Carolina defensive backs is Searcy, who probably had the best game of the bunch. The strong safety made eight tackles, six of the solo variety to lead the team. He did a great job beating a Dickerson block to make play in the backfield going wide. Later, he had good pass coverage on Dickerson. The junior can also creep up and make a play near line of scrimmage and deliver a big hit against the run. Searcy returns kicks (93 yards on 4 returns) and punts (28 yards on 2 returns) as well for the Heels, adding value. He is an underrated football player.

* The Carolina Offense: The best offensive player for the Tar Heels was junior wide receiver Greg Little. The first offensive play for UNC was an end around to Little for a 31-yard gain. The former running back is a player the Heels can’t get the ball to enough. He made several outstanding catches, capable of going up to get the ball and catch it at its highest point. Little is an impressive athlete, who is developing as a wide receiver—he has good hands and catches the ball away from his body, which is what you want to see. Little caught seven passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns, numbers which could have been bigger with better quarterback play. Little went over 60 receptions for fifth best single-season in school history. This was the first game in which Little had multiple touchdown receptions.

“For the first time Greg Little got to play the position for a full year for the position we recruited him to play,” Davis said afterwards. “When we recruited him to play, we said this is a prototypical, big time wide receiver. He is big, he's strong, he has great hands, he has run after catch. He didn't know anything about being a receiver. We wasted a lot of time trying to make a running back out of him just to get some speed at that position.”

Freshman wideout Erik Highsmith is the up and comer on the UNC offense. He can make things happen after the catch—quick acceleration and strong running with the football. But he also had a bad fumble—when turning up field the freshman needs to secure the ball better. Another pass catcher who could have a breakout 2010 season is junior tight end Zack Pianalto. In addition to his two receptions for 26 yards, Pianalto made a nice one-handed grab for a would-be touchdown, which was negated by an illegal formation penalty. He has soft hands and is a good athlete, who can make things happen after the catch. UNC moved the junior around—he lined up at split back and in the backfield. He needs to get bigger and stronger—he had no chance to block Romeus when asked to do so one-on-one.

The running game centers around power back Ryan Houston, who is built like a brick house (6’2” and 245 pounds). Houston is limited, purely a between the tackles runner, but he is good at what he does. The junior is a physical runner and once he gets his momentum going he is difficult to bring down—he either breaks the tackle or will at the very least fall forward. Typically, he won’t make many tacklers miss in the backfield, although he made nice cutback to make Romeus miss—it looked like he surprised the Pitt defensive end. Houston is an excellent short yardage back and often gives that second effort to get the yardage that is needed. He is tough to deal with late in games as a defense gets worn down.

Photos Courtesy of University of Pittsburgh, Dennis Hubbard & UNC Athletic Communications

Meineke Car Care Bowl: Prospect Watch

By Justin Van Fulpen

Here are the following players to keep your eye for the 2010 NFL Draft in the MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL.

Pittsburgh:

QB Bill Stull – Stull has really come on this season and has opened a few eyes in the NFL, but most scout just think he is more of just a guy than a prospect, but he should get a look as a free-agent.

TE Nate Byham – Byham has shown that he can both be a blocker and a pass receiver. The senior also possesses decent size; he projects as a 5th or 6th round pick.

OG Joe Thomas – Thomas is a good run blocker, but needs to improve as a pass blocker. Right now he is considered a free-agent type.

DE Greg Romeus – Romeus is a physically gifted defensive end who can rush the pass as well as play the run. He is only a junior and many people around the league believe that he will declare; if he does look for him to be an early 2nd round pick.

ILB Adam Gunn – Gunn is a hard-nosed player who swarms to the ball and is good against the run, but doesn’t do a great job against the pass. Right now is a free-agent type.

CB Aaron Berry – Berry doesn't have great size and wide receivers have shown the ability to take advantage of him when he plays man-to-man. Right now he is a free-agent type.

North Carolina:

DE EJ Wilson – Wilson has great size for a defensive at 6'2" and 280 pounds, along with excellent speed and quickness. The Tar Heel is a very good tackler who does possess pass-rush ability. Many scouts view him as a 3-4 defense end at the next level. He should be a 6th round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

DT Marvin Austin – An athletic defensive tackle, Austin is also able to play defensive end in the 3-4 defense. Should the junior declare, he is projected to be selected late in round one.

DT Cam Thomas – Thomas is a massive defensive tackle at 6'3" and 330 pounds, and he may be able to play nose tackle at the next level, which could boost his draft stock. He carries a mid-late round pick.

DT Aleric Mullins – Mullins has good size but he hasn't played a ton because of the presence of Thomas and Austin. The NFL will like his ability to be a rotation type player on the defensive line and he should sign as free-agent.

ILB Quan Sturdivant - Sturdivant is a sideline-to-sideline inside linebacker who could step in and play middle linebacker in the NFL, but he is only a junior. It Sturdivant decides to declare, the Tat Heel would likely be be a 2nd round pick.

OLB Bruce Carter – There is talk that Carter has already made his mind up to come back to North Carolina for his senior season, but he could ultimately decide to come out and be a 2nd round pick due to his size and athleticism at outside linebacker.

CB Kendric Burney – Burney doesn’t have great size, but he will come up and hit; a very strong tackler for a cornerback. There is some talk about him coming out early and if he elects to forgo his senior season, expect him to be selected in the middle rounds.

S Deunta Williams – Williams has great size at 6'2" and 205 pounds, in addition to having a knack for making big plays. He is only a junior but should he declare he could wind up being a 2nd round pick.

For more NFL, NFL Draft news, you can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jvanfulpen.

Photos Courtesy of Dennis Hubbard & UNC Athletic Communications

Draft Watch: Notre Dame @ Pittsburgh

1) Notre Dame Offensive Line vs. Pittsburgh Defensive Ends: Most games are won in the trenches and this one will be no different. How the Fighting Irish offensive line holds up against the explosive unit up front for the Panthers will dictate whether or not the Golden Domers will have a chance at pulling off the upset.

Pittsburgh has recorded a whopping 39 sacks this season and most of the pressure comes from their front four led by junior Greg Romeus, who has a team-high 7.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries and four passes defensed. The former basketball player is still developing as football player, with his pass rushing skills serving as the strength of his game. At 6’ 6” and 270 pounds, Romeus has prototypical size and is an exceptional athlete. He also has a tremendous wingspan, which allows him to keep offensive linemen from getting into his body, as well as knock down passes when he doesn’t get all the way to the quarterback. Senior defensive tackle Mick Williams (three sacks) leads the team with 13 tackles for a loss and is a force against the run using his quickness to knife by blockers to meet ball carries in the backfield. Those are the leaders, but they have depth as well. At defensive tackle, sophomores Myles Caragein (five sacks) and Chas Alecxih (four sacks) come off the bench to put pressure on the quarterback. Similar to Williams (6’ 1”/280 pounds), Caragein (6’ 2”/275 pounds) and Alecxih (6’ 5”/272 pounds) are undersized and will need to put on some weight if they are going to play on Sundays. At end, junior Jabaal Sheard starts opposite of Romeus and is still working on his pass rushing skills (2.5 sacks), but is coming along rather well as a run stopper (30 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss). Sophomore Bandon Lindsey who looks more like a linebacker (6’ 2”/240 pounds) has recorded four sacks and four quarterback hurries off the bench and could replace Romeus as the team’s top pass rusher in 2010 should Romeus declare for the NFL Draft.

The Irish counter with a veteran offensive line that has four seniors on the first team and averages nearly 6’ 6” and 315 pounds, however the group hasn’t had a particularly impressive 2009 campaign. Senior right tackle Sam Young is the best of the bunch, but as a true freshman it appeared he was well on his way to being a first round pick. While he is a good athlete and at 6’ 8” and 320 pounds the senior is an imposing figure, but the fact is he is not playing the left tackle and that has raised questions amongst scouts. Young has not improved his footwork or technique the way talent evaluators have hoped despite his experience. No longer a first round talent, Young could go anywhere from the second-to-fourth rounds, depending on how he finishes the season and fares in the off-season. Left tackle Paul Duncan is also a monster of a man at 6’ 7” and 315 pounds, but lacks what the pros look for in terms of mobility, which is why it is doubtful he will be asked to protect the blind side at the next level. Duncan is likely a priority free agent at this point, but should he get an opportunity to showcase what he can do at an NFL camp, he could be developmental player worth investing in. One player who may have helped his draft status this season is center Eric Olsen, who at 6’ 4” and 305 pounds brings excellent size. The New York City native is also a versatile talent, who started at guard last season before Charlie Weis decided to move him over to center. Olsen looks like a solid mid-round choice. The reason for the move was the Irish wanted to get sophomore guard Trevor Robinson (6’ 5”/305 pounds) into the starting lineup. When it’s all said and done, the young road grater could turn out to be the best pro of the group.

2) Irish Air Attack: Quarterback Jimmy Clausen throwing to wide outs Michael Floyd and Golden Tate make Notre Dame one of the most feared teams in the nation when they take to the air. Clausen, a junior, is putting together quite a statistical season—well on pace to career highs in yards (3,693), touchdown passes (27) and completion percentage (67.9 percent). Even more impressive is his three interceptions (on pace for four) after he threw the ball to the other team 17 times as a sophomore. Clausen has an NFL arm and throws one of the prettiest deep balls of any quarterback in the nation. Just as impressive has been his toughness fighting through turf toe and a bruised hand, not to mention his clutch play in the fourth quarter. Many of Notre Dame’s wins have been of the come from behind variety. Coaches will surely take note of his ability to make plays in pressure situations, as well as at less than 100 percent. Even so, the signal caller is not quite a finished product. He doesn’t always use the whole field and many of his numbers come courtesy of acrobatic catches made by his talented wide outs. Clausen will have to make a decision at the end of the season, he could be a top 10 overall pick should he declare. Tate, a fellow junior, could also make an early exit from South Bend. The pass catcher has displayed excellent hands, ability to make plays after the catch, as well as stretch the field. The Tennessee native has already topped 1,000 yards (for the second straight year) and leads Notre Dame with his 65 receptions, 1,059 yards and 10 touchdown receptions. He lacks ideal size (5’ 11” and 195 pounds), but is very strong, both his lower body and his hands. The high school tailback averages 16.3 yards per receptions and 7.5 yards per carry (two rushing touchdowns) and could see some time taking the snap when the Irish go to their version of the “wildcat”. Maybe the most talented player on Notre Dame is Michael Floyd, just a sophomore. Floyd missed five games with a broken collarbone, but returned last week and did not miss a beat catching 10 balls for 141 yards and a touchdown in the Irish’s loss to Navy. Floyd has prototypical size (6’ 3”/220 pounds) and speed, which is why he looks like a future first round pick. In four games, Floyd has five touchdowns and averages 21.7 yards per catch. Even when double teamed Floyd is almost unstoppable on deep routes, his vertical leap allows him to make catches in traffic. Notre Dame will be without talented sophomore tight end Kyle Rudolph who is out for the remainder of the regular season with a shoulder injury.

3) Panther Air Attack: Bill Stull, yes Bill Stull may have played himself into a draftable grade with his play as a senior. Watching the Pittsburgh offense this season, it is hard believe this is the same group that lost the Sun Bowl to Oregon State 3-0 last season. Stull was 7-of-24 passing (29.2 percent) for 52 yards versus the Beavers. His junior numbers were nothing to right home about—57 percent completion rate, nine touchdown passes, 10 interceptions and 25 sacks. At certain points they would strike up the band for first downs and no one had Stull on their draft board. Oh what a difference a year can make. Stull is completing 67.6 percent of his passes with 17 touchdowns to just four interceptions (eight sacks). He is making better decisions, quicker, with improved accuracy. The senior is also connecting on big plays averaging 8.58 yards per pass compared to 7.14 last season. However, the hometown boy isn’t going to be the first Pitt quarterback to be drafted in the first round since Dan Marino (Joe Flacco doesn’t count), but could have played himself into being a late round selection, at the very least a priority free agent. A big reason for Stull’s success is the emergence of sophomore receiver Jonathan Baldwin and senior tight end Dorin Dickerson. Baldwin showed flashes as a freshman and is truly flourishing in his second season—leading the team with 35 receptions for 698 yards (four touchdowns). He has great size at 6’ 5” and 225 pounds, which allows him to go up and get the football, a mismatch for most college corners. Baldwin lacks prototypical speed, but still manages to be a big play threat (19.9 yards per receptions). In one-on-one coverage he is extremely hard to contain. As much as Stull has elevated his game, Dickerson has been a true revelation as a senior. He came in highly touted and rivals anyone on the roster as the most impressive athlete on the team. Seeing time at linebacker and wide receiver earlier in his career, Dickson has finally found a home at tight end, although he may not stay there as some view him as an H-Back or even a fullback at the next level. Dickerson is a touchdown maker with 10 scoring grabs on the season among his 39 receptions (450 yards). Against Syracuse last week, Dickerson caught seven passes for a career-high 118 yards. At 230 pounds, he is undersized for a tight end, but he can stretch the field and is dangerous after the catch.

Photos Courtesy of University of Pittsburgh, Notre Dame Sports Information

Big East Week 8 Preview

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON

South Florida 26, Pittsburgh 23

Tune in to watch two very talented defensive lines, both with more than one future NFL prospect, most notable are Greg Romeus and George Selvie. This is a difficult game to call because both teams are very similar. Each have tremendous pass rushes, hard nosed linebackers but have offenses that are prone to stalling. An important match-up in this game will be the South Florida secondary versus the Pittsburgh receivers. Last week Jonathan Baldwin was held to only one catch and others like tight end Dorin Dickerson picked up the slack. South Florida has one of the Big East's top cornerbacks in Jerome Murphy, who had his ups and downs against Cincinnati a week ago. Keep an eye on the Murhpy-Baldwin battle. Two key difference makers are freshmen Dion Lewis from Pittsburgh and USF's B.J Daniels. The talented Daniels had his freshman moments against Cincinnati, but don't be surprised if the quarterback has a breakout game this week. The Pitt defense might not do as well against the scrambling youngster. Lewis, who leads the Big East in rushing, will test the Bulls' rush defense.

West Virginia 25, Connecticut 17

The Huskies are always a tough opponent. They’re gritty and possess a consistent rushing attack. With all that has happened this week there’s going to be a little extra fight in them. The status of quarterback Jarrett Brown, who suffered a concussion from last week’s game, is critical to the Mountaineers success. He’s likely to start but his status is a game-time decision. This game will probably close up to the very end but the difference maker is Noel Devine.

Syracuse 33, Akron 21

This is a huge game for this Syracuse football team. Last year they dropped a home game versus the Zips and it was the low point of the season. It’s a must win, not only to spare the embarrassment to losing two in row to Akron but to turn around the season. After a two-game winning streak the Orange followed up with a sloppy performance against South Florida and contest against West Virginia where everythign went wrong. Off a bye week, the team should be prepared for this one. Mike Williams is quietly having an All-American caliber season leading the conference with 712 yards and 45 receptions and won’t face a defender who can cover him in this one. The defense has done a lot of shuffling especially on the defensive line, so it should be interesting to see how some of the lineup changes affect the unit plays.

Cincinnati 26, Louisville 14

Last year Cincinnati snapped a five-game losing streak to the Cardinals. Look for Cincy to make it two in row in this battle of former Conference USA programs. Defensively, the Bearcats has improved and are continuing to get better each week. Linebacker Andre Revels and cornerback Drew Fey have been playing well of late with senior safety Aaron Webster. Quarterback Tony Pike is questionable but that shouldn’t stop the Bearcats from remaining undefeated, at least not this week.

Last week: 3-1, Season 35-6

Photos Courtesy of USF Athletics Communications, Syracuse University Athletics

Big East: Week 5 Preview

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON - BIG EAST INSIDER

West Virginia 38, Colorado 20

Get ready for a Buffalo beat down. Three weeks ago when Colorado faced Toledo, the Buffaloes could not stop the run or the pass allowing 624 yards in the loss, including two 100-yard rushers. They could not defend the mobile quarterback Aaron Opelt, so don’t expect them to have any less trouble containing Jarrett Brown. Despite coming off of a four-interception game against Auburn, the turnover bug won’t bite the Mountaineers this week. Expect a big game from Brown and look for him to hit receivers Alric Arnett and Jock Sanders for a couple of long pass plays early.

Pittsburgh 26, Louisville 14

Both teams come into this contest off a loss. The Pittsburgh defense has been in shambles, especially the secondary. They gave up a ton of yards through the air last week against NC State and looked overmatched blowing a 14-point lead. However, don’t worry about the unit in this one. Expect cornerback Aaron Berry to have a bounce back game. Defensive end Mick Williams is coming off a performance in which he had 4.5 tackles for a loss, combined with Greg Romeus, gives them a powerful defensive line. The Panther’s D will have their strongest performance yet this Friday under the lights leading the way for the victory.

South Florida 22, Syracuse 14

It’s the prototypical sandwich game. After last week’s inspiring victory over instate goliath Florida State in Tallahassee, the USF Bulls might be looking ahead to their game next week against conference favorite Cincinnati. However, a trip to the Carrier Dome resides between the team’s two biggest games of the early season. From top to bottom, it’s clear Syracuse isn’t as talented as the Bulls, but there are a couple reasons why they’ll hang around. Arthur Jones and brother Chandler Jones have been relentless up front and linebacker Derrell Smith has been a sure tackler and outstanding on run blitzes. Syracuse receiver Mike Williams is a game changer, he’s always in the mix on any Syracuse scoring drive. Williams is tall and has fantastic hands. What makes him even more difficult to defend is how many different routes he can run. He’s not a one trick pony. The problem for the Orange is that none of the names mentioned can help protect the quarterback. If South Florida’s defensive line can dominate in the trenches against a good FSU offensive line what are they going to do against Syracuse? The answer is easy…manhandle them. The crowed may be in favor of the Orange, but the field turf won’t be. Players like Craig Marshall and George Selvie are explosive and will take advantage. They and the rest of the deep defensive line will be in the face of quarterback Greg Paulus all game long. The only way Syracuse pulls off the upset is if their secondary can limit their mistakes and force a couple of key interceptions by freshman B.J. Daniels. But don’t count on it. Bank on Daniels being the leading rusher in the game and South Florida pulling out a fifth straight victory.

Cincinnati 45, Miami (Ohio) 26

It’s the battle for the victory a bell, a rivalry trophy that has not been secured by Miami since 2005 and don’t expect that to change this Saturday. Even though the Bearcats put up a ton of yards against Fresno State last week their offense stalled a bit. Don’t expect that to happen against a Red Hawks defense that has been struggling against the pass. Tony Pike and Cincinnati win in a rout.

Photo Courtesy of WVU Sports Communication

CFI Countdown: #22 Pittsburgh Panthers

2008 Record: 9-4 (Big East: 5-2)
Bowl Game: Lost Sun Bowl to Oregon St. 3-0
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Stadium: Heinz Field (65,050)
Head Coach: Dave Wannstedt
Overall: 25-23 (5th season)
@ Pittsburgh: 25-23 (5th season)
Link to Pitt Football Page

After three very disappointing non-bowl seasons to begin the Dave Wannstedt era, the Panthers made their first bowl since the 2004 season. Now it’s time to win one (last bowl win came in 2002) and who knows…maybe even a conference crown. Pittsburgh has one Big East title (shared in 2004) since joining the conference in 1993 and has not reached double figures in victories since 1981, when they rolled off the third of three straight 11-1 seasons.

When the Panthers Have the Ball

Offensive Coordinator: Frank Cignetti, Jr. (1st season)
Scheme: Pro Style
Starters Returning: Seven
Key Losses: RB LeSean McCoy, WR Derek Kinder, OG C. J. Davis, RB LaRod Stephens-Howling, FB Conredge Collins

Senior Bill Stull and junior Pat Bostick have taken most of the reps at quarterback the past two seasons. Neither has played well, much less taken hold of the job when the opportunity has presented itself. Stull appears to be the starter heading into 2009 and is respected for his leadership and intangibles. Bostick is considered the more physically gifted of the two, but has been shaky in the decision-making department. Regardless of who wins the job, he would be wise to throw the ball up to 6’ 5” sophomore Jonathan Baldwin as much as possible. They also have excellent depth at tight end in seniors Nate Byham and Dorin Dickerson, both capable contributors in the passing game. What the Panthers hope to replicate is the production they received from tailback LeSean “Shady” McCoy. Their most talented runners are a pair of freshmen, Dion Lewis and Chris Burns. Four starters return to what should be a solid offensive line, led by left tackle Jason Pinkston. If the line and the offense as a whole are to take the next step, two highly-touted sophomores will need to step up—Lucas Nix, who is expected to start at right tackle, and Chris Jacobson, who is competing for playing time at guard.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) WR Jonathan Baldwin (SO), 2) TE Nate Byham (SR), 3) OT Jason Pinkston (JR)

When the Other Team Has the Ball

Defensive Coordinator: Phil Bennett (2nd season)
Scheme: Multiple 4-3
Starters Returning: Seven
Key Losses: LB Scott McKillop, FS Eric Thatcher, LB Austin Ransom, DT Rashaad Duncan

It all starts up front for the Panthers defensively. Defensive end Greg Romeus showed flashes as a sophomore and is poised to break out this season using his speed and athleticism to get into the backfield. He also knows how to use his length—he blocked three of Pitt’s 10 blocked kicks. On the opposite side Jabaal Sheard got his hands on seven passes, making his share of impact plays. Keeping defenses honest will be senior tackle Mick Williams who can be a force in his own right. They must replace two starters at the next level, including defensive leader Scott McKillop, but in sophomore SAM Greg Williams, they add another dynamic piece to their front seven. Both starting corners are back, including senior Aaron Berry, who will make opposing quarterbacks think twice about throwing his way. As a unit, the secondary recorded 16 interceptions in 2008 and should be among the best in the country once again.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) DE Greg Romeus (JR), 2) CB Aaron Berry (SR), 3) LB Greg Williams (SO)

The Schedule

With Youngstown St., Buffalo (on the road), and Navy to kick off the schedule, the Panthers face a pair of 2008 bowl teams but should get off to a quick start. A game to circle is their trip to Raleigh to face the Wolfpack—a win there and Pitt could be headed towards a special season. They host Notre Dame in an out of conference game as well. As for the Big East race, they play South Florida and defending champ Cincinnati at home, with visits to Rutgers and border rival West Virginia. They play the Bearcats and Mountaineers in the final two weeks of the season in contests that could decide the conference.

Pivotal Point

It begins and ends with their quarterback play. Last season as a group they combined for 2,356 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, while completing just 55.9 percent of their passes. That inaccuracy would begin to explain how a nine-win team that finished second in their conference was held scoreless in their bowl game. As a freshman in 2007, Bostick was the primary starter but was on shaky ground most of the way, throwing eight touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Stull stepped in last season and was not much better—throwing nine scoring strikes and 10 interceptions (Bostick’s 2008 ratio was one-to-four). Slightly above average play would go a long way.

CFI Final Analysis

Look for the 2009 Panthers to win nine or even 10 games, win the Big East conference, and make their second trip to a BCS Bowl. It will not only be the school’s best season under Coach Wannstedt—an alum who was brought here to bring back the glory days—but maybe their best season in over 25 years. They’re not there yet, but they have turned the corner in Western Pennsylvania.

College Football Insiders Top 25 Countdown:
The Next 25 (26-50) Plus 18 Bowl Teams
#25 West Virginia Mounainteers
#24 Tennessee Volunteers
#23 Clemson Tigers

Contact Daniel Mogollon via email dan@collegefootballinsiders.com

Photo Credit: University of Pittsburgh

College Football Insiders Preview: Big East

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON - Big East Insider

It may not possess the talent pool of the SEC, school recognition of the Big Ten, or National Championship contenders of the Big 12, but the Big East isn’t the cream-puff conference that many in the college football world believe them to be. Whether it’s the rapidly developing programs, the top of the line post-season record, or recent success in its BCS appearances, the Big East has established itself as a football conference to be reckoned with. The competitiveness and depth of the league has made for an exciting conference race down the stretch each year, and 2009 should be no different.

The Favorites: South Florida & West Virginia: This season, a legitimate case can be made for five different teams winning the conference. But when the two deepest and most athletic teams meet in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay on October 30th, it should determine who wins the conference title. Losing Pat White is more than just a setback for West Virginia—not only did they lose their leading passer, scorer, and the two-time Offensive Conference Player of the Year (2007, 2006), they lost the face of the program and the undisputed team leader. The good thing is that White’s former backup, Jarrett Brown, has not only won both games he started in his career, but has never a lost a game in which he entered with the lead. Even though the senior doesn’t bring the security Pat White did at quarterback, he does instill some confidence because of his mobility, which makes him a more than capable fit in West Virginia’s system. Running back Noel Devine put together a sophomore season in which he rushed for 1,289 yards at 6.3 yards per carry. Between his big play ability and the athleticism of returning wide receivers Alric Arnett and Jock Sanders, West Virginia has the offensive firepower to win a conference title. The Mountaineers also return six starters from a defense that held opponents to only 17.0 points a game, the best in the conference led by a strong defensive line. South Florida has captured the attention of the nation for two consecutive seasons by breaking into the top 10 in the polls. However they haven’t been able to maintain that momentum past mid-October, collapsing down the stretch each time including losing four of their last five in 2008. What will it take this year for the Bulls to break free from this pattern of feeling, but not overcoming the pressure? Discipline, discipline, discipline. From being the most penalized (111) team in the league to the ill-advised throws made by Matt Grothe, South Florida has given away games and wasted red-zone opportunities far too often in recent seasons. The key again this year offensively rests on the shoulders of Grothe, who must curb his interceptions (18 touchdowns, 14 interceptions in 2009). His mobility and arm strength make him both a Unitas Award and Big East POY candidate. Helping Grothe is an athletic group of running backs (led by Mike Ford) and wide outs (Jessie Hester, Dontavia Bogan, A.J. Love and Carlton Mitchell). The defense contains star athletes, again led by defensive end George Selvie, the conference sack leader in 2007, as well as defensive backs Jerome Murphy and Nate Allen.

The Contenders: Cincinnati & Pittsburgh: Last year’s champion Cincinnati brings back what might be the most proven quarterback in the conference, (Tony Pike), the top wide-receiver (Mardy Gilyard) and a solid rushing tandem (John Goebel and Jacob Ramsey). However, on the other side other ball, the Bearcats only return one starter and are very unproven at linebacker. Pittsburgh must be mentioned as one of the candidates to win to the conference because of a returning defense that was outstanding in the second-half of last season. Led by junior defensive end Greg Romeus, who has the most sacks of any returning player in the conference (he finished third in 2008), and second-team All Big East cornerback Aaron Berry, Pittsburgh returns seven defensive starters. But the quarterback play last year for the Panthers was simply awful. Both quarterbacks Bill Stull and Pat Bostick are sure to make it difficult for the Panthers to win games against tough defenses and after losing superstar half-back LeSean McCoy, they may have to rely too much on freshman running backs Dion Lewis and Chris Burns for offensive punch.

The Sleeper: Rutgers: If there’s one thing for sure, it’s that the Scarlet Knights have an offensive line that can bring them to the promised land in Miami (site of the Orange Bowl). Returning all five starters from last season, Anthony Davis leads a colossal front-five that will undoubtedly give running backs Kordell Young, Jourdan Brooks and Joe Martinek the space they need for a strong ground attack. What Rutgers does lose is their quarterback Mike Teel and stud wide-receiver Kenny Britt, as well as speedster Tiquan Underwood. They do return Tim Brown who caught 27 balls for 565 yards, and will rely on highly touted recruiting classes of the past two years. The Knights may not have the meat and potatoes front like West Virginia, or the talented South Florida secondary, but they do return spectacular tackling linebacker Ryan D’Imperio and very solid cornerback Devin McCourty on defense. In such a compact conference, the schedule for Rutgers works heavily in their favor. Not only do they play four conference home games, which only half the teams in the league do, but by far their toughest conference games are at home. If they are in the driver’s seat down the stretch, home field advantage in games versus South Florida and West Virginia late in the season could be enough to squeeze them into the Orange Bowl.

Offensive Player of the Year: QB Tony Pike (Cincinnati) vs. QB Matt Grothe (South Florida) vs. RB Noel Devine (West Virginia): Bearcat quarterback Tony Pike threw for 2,407 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. He is projected to surpass those numbers this year since he is expected to start from the get-go. Cincinnati’s offense scheme gives Pike the opportunity to put up some serious stats, and having the best wide receiver in the conference (Mardy Gilyard) doesn’t hurt either. Matt Grothe’s mobility and cannon arm are sure to put up top passing/rushing numbers in the conference. If he keeps his interceptions to a minimum and his Bulls are competing for a Big East title, don’t be surprised if Grothe becomes the favorite for the award. Noel Devine’s sophomore season wasn’t a slump, but seemed a bit that way because the expectations were so high. With Pat White gone, look for offensive attention to shift toward Devine. His numbers last year were excellent as he averaged 99.2 yards a game. More touchdown conversions will equal a better chance for the offensive player award.

Honorable Mention: QB Jarrett Brown (West Virginia), RB Victor Anderson (Louisville), RB Jordan Todman (Connecticut), RB Mike Ford (South Florida), WR Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati)

Defensive Player of the Year: DE George Selvie (South Florida) vs. DE Greg Romeus (Pittsburgh): When healthy, George Selvie is an All-American. His junior year was a bit if a disappointment as he had to deal with a foot injury and constant double-(and triple-) teams from opponents. But this year, with a more experienced line and a clean bill of health, Selvie is likely to return to his dominant form. His sack numbers should once again reach double-digits. Selvie isn’t just a tremendous pass rusher but relentless at stopping the run. Out of Pittsburgh is Greg Romeus who, like Selvie, is a strong pass rusher. The big man racked up 7.5 sacks last year and the second team all-conference selection is likely to have another strong season for the Panthers. He should compete with Selvie for the conference sack lead.

Honorable Mention: DT Arthur Jones (Syracuse), LB Scott Lutrus (Connecticut), LB Ryan D'Imperio (Rutgers), CB Aaron Berry (Pittsburgh), FS Nate Allen (South Florida)

Breakout Seasons: RB Delone Carter (Syracuse) & WR Jessie Hester (South Florida): Plagued with injures for the past two seasons, Delone Carter has barely seen the field since his freshman season in 2006. In his short career, Carter was able to raise eyebrows in upstate New York despite a lack of touches and a less than impressive offensive line. In the eight games that he was the lead ball carrier as a freshman, Carter rushed for 664 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. He’s shown a nose for the first down marker and, occasionally, the ability to take over drives. With an improving O-Line and a new offensive scheme, don’t be surprised to see Carter among the conference leaders in yards and touchdowns. This could be the year the Bulls get that complete season from a wide-out as senior Jessie Hester returns as the team’s leader in receptions (54) and yards (579). Hester is a skillful player and came along very nicely down the stretch while the rest of the team struggled. In the past, USF has mixed and matched their pass targets so much that it has been difficult for one player to break out…that will change this season.

Best Pro Prospect: Arthur Jones, Syracuse: He isn’t Warren Sapp. He isn’t Kevin Williams. He isn’t Tommie Harris. He’s just Art Jones, which is pretty darn good. It is difficult to compare the 291-pound defensive tackle to past greats at his position. He isn’t the widest, but plugs in holes. He isn’t the fastest, but finds a way to catch runners up-field. He isn’t the most explosive, but constantly disrupts the quarterback. Jones is constantly making an impact when he is on the field, and his tackling skills will have him playing football at the next level. The fifth-year senior gives opposing quarterbacks fits, and he’s also an aggressive run stopper, one who recorded a total of 20.5 tackles for a loss in his past two seasons despite being the main focus of the opposing offensive line each week. But what makes Jones such a valuable prospect is his versatility. He can be a pass rushing tackle in a 4-3 or a more focused run stopper—he has tremendous discipline and is scarcely out of position. His combination of quickness and stoutness gives him the ability to perhaps play the outside in a 3-4 scheme. Either way, Jones will find a spot on an NFL team and make an impact. He is coming off shoulder surgery, but coaches have stated that his rehab has gone splendidly. If there is a reason to watch any Syracuse football games this season, it’s to watch Jones thrive in the attacking defense the new coaching staff has implemented.

College Football Insiders’ Picks:

Conference Champion: South Florida: Winning out in a three-team tiebreaker and heading to the Orange Bowl for the first time in school history will be South Florida. Unlike season’s past, the Bulls will finally live up to all the pre-season hype. The system tweaking by newly hired offensive (Mike Canales) and defensive coordinators (David Blackwell/Joe Tresey) will make the difference in 2009.

Offensive Player of the Year: Noel Devine, West Virginia: The explosive back will be among the leaders in all-purpose yards by the season’s end. Look for him to vastly improve his touchdown mark of four from a year ago.

Defensive Player of the Year: George Selvie, South Florida: George Selvie looks to become only the second Big East player to win two defensive player of the year awards (Corey Moore of Virginia Tech won in 1998 & 1999). If it wasn’t for injures Selvie might be in a NFL camp right now. Needless to say, he is a pro prospect that will flourish in his senior campaign.

Photo Credit: WVU Sports Communication, University of Pittsburgh, USF Athletics Communications