By Raphielle Johnson

The Big East Conference released its selections for Players of the Week and the Honor Roll on Monday morning, with Syracuse players winning both Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week while a Scarlet Knight was named Special Teams Player of the Week. The honorees are as follows:

Big East Offensive Player of the Week: QB Ryan Nassib (Syracuse)

17-27, 229 yards and two touchdown passes; rushed for 58 yards on nine attempts.

Big East Defensive Player of the Week: FS Mike Holmes (Syracuse)

Six tackles and one sack, and scored a touchdown on a 57-yard blocked field goal return in the third quarter.

Big East Special Team Player of the Week: CB Brandon Bing (Rutgers)

Blocked two punts to set up scores (one of which was returned for a TD) in the Scarlet Knights’  31-0 victory over Norfolk State, while also racking up four tackles.

Honor Roll

Bilal Powell, RB, Louisville: 153 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in the Cardinals’ 23-16 loss to Kentucky.

Alex Silvestro, DE, Rutgers: Five tackles (four TFL) and a sack in the Scarlet Knights’ 31-0 win over Norfolk State.

B.J. Daniels, QB, USF: 15-22, 264 yards and two touchdown passes in the Bulls’ 59-14 win over Stony Brook.

Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia: 23 carries for 11 yards and a touchdown in the Mountaineers’ 31-0 win over Coastal Carolina. The senior back moved into eighth all-time on the conference’s career rushing list.

Gregg Pugnetti, P, West Virginia: Averaged 49.2 yards per punt on six attempts, including a long of 71 yards and two punts that were downed at the Coastal Carolina 1-yard line.

Hazelton out for the season

Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones announced in today’s coaches teleconference that WR Vidal Hazelton, who sat out last season as a transfer (USC) would be out for the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL suffered in Saturday’s loss at Fresno State. Coach Jones went on to mention that senior Marcus Barnett would move outside and fill Hazelton’s role. Barnett got his career at UC off to a thrilling start as a freshman, only to make his way into Brian Kelly’s doghouse each of the next two seasons. But adding this to other losses before the season even began, you have to wonder about the Bearcats’ depth at receiver.

By Raphielle Johnson

After Pittsburgh’s overtime loss at Utah on Thursday night the onus was on Cincinnati and Connecticut to show well in nationally televised road games. Do so and the Big East can at least remain in a holding pattern in regards to perception. But thanks in large part to losing the battle in the trenches both the Bearcats and Huskies return home licking their wounds and needing to rectify some serious issues. UConn led things off with a 30-10 loss at Michigan, a contest that turned for good on a D.J. Shoemate fumble at the Michigan 3 on 4^th & 1 with 2:29 remaining in the 3^rd quarter. But while that fumble may have shut the door there was a long list of issues that led to the Huskies being in such a predicament to begin with.

After forcing UConn into a three and out on the game’s first possession, Rich Rodriguez’s Wolverines went right to work, driving 96 yards on 14 plays and going ahead on a 12-yard run from Vincent Smith. The issues for the Husky defense: poor tackling and a front four outweighed by a large margin. Sound familiar? QB Denard Robinson, who was named the starter yet hadn’t done enough in fall camp to be declared the only man for the job, put together the best performance of his career. The sophomore rushed for 197 yards on 29 carries (1 TD; 6.8 yards per rush) while also completing 19 of 22 passes for another 186 yards and a score. But the most amazing statistic: ten different times Robinson rushed for a first down. Hank Hughes’ defense had no answers for the Wolverines’ spread option as Rodriguez moved to 5-0 (no wins by single digits) against Edsall all-time.

“It’s a totally different team because of the quarterback. It’s a totally different team,” said Coach Edsall. “I would say that Rich would feel very, very comfortable with this guy [Robinson] at quarterback because this is what Rich did when we played him at West Virginia with Pat White. I’m not saying that he’s Pat White because Pat was pretty good, but with time I think that this young man will have a chance to become a very good quarterback (quote courtesy of the Michigan Sports Network).”

Michigan eventually led 21-0 after a Michael Shaw touchdown run with 9:12 remaining in the second quarter before the Husky offense showed any sign of life. David Teggart converted a field goal from 32 yards out to put UConn on the board, but the offense was victimized by drops in the passing game and the inability to stay on the field (4-for-15 on third down) in order to buy the defense some extra time to rest (Michigan, by contrast, was 14-for-19 on third down). Simply put the visitors were lucky to head into the locker room down just 21-10.

The Wolverines ran nearly seven minutes off the clock to start the third quarter, with Brendan Gibbons making a field goal from 24 yards out to increase the lead to fourteen. But with a one-score game well within reach, UConn saw their best chance knocked out of the grasp or Shoemate inside the Michigan 5. “We had a chance to go in and make it a seven-point ballgame and you fumble the ball,” said Edsall. “Again it’s little things, technique things like get the ball on your outside arm and cover it up when you’re down in that area (quote courtesy of the Michigan Sports Network).”

Now 0-1 on the season, UConn returns home to take on Texas Southern at noon next Saturday. And with so many of the issues that sprung up in Ann Arbor being the same ones that plagued them through much of 2009, expect the fundamentals to be stressed heavily in the days of practice leading up to the home opener. While the same can’t be said for the two-time defending Big East champions, Cincinnati’s offensive linemen won’t have much fun going over the film from their late-night loss at Fresno State. The Bulldogs scored the game’s final 28 points after falling behind 14-0 to end the Bearcats’ 18-game regular season win streak, 28-14.

Pat Hill’s Bulldogs were one of the nation’s most inept teams when it came to sacking the quarterback, registering just nine in all of 2009. The total Saturday night: eight. Those sacks played a major role in the Bearcats finishing with just 15 yards on the ground and with QB Zach Collaros having little time to wait for his receivers to get open, the passing game sputtered as well (5.3 yards per attempt). On a night that saw the Cincinnati defense perform well against the run (49 yards on 30 carries), the Bearcat defense had some lapses in the passing game that proved fatal once their offense was neutralized.

Ryan Colburn, who completed 18 of 24 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns (one interception), led the Bulldogs on three consecutive scoring drives spanning the second and third quarters. Colburn hit Robbie Rouse for the first touchdown, getting the Bulldogs on the board four plays after a Cincinnati three and out was capped by a 20-yard loss (sack). After four more Bearcat offensive plays Fresno State went 42 yards on five plays, tying the game on a 16-yard pass from Colburn to Jamel Hamler. And while Colburn and company continued to move the football, Cincinnati essentially ground to a halt.

No drive in the second half went for more than 22 yards, and the absence of a running game or pass protection shut the door on any kind of comeback in the fourth quarter. “I was real proud of the way our team played tonight, especially our defense,” said Fresno State head coach Pat Hill. “I was really happy for them, because that is an explosive offensive football team. They played great tonight the Bulldog defense, we have something to build on there (quote courtesy of Fresno State Athletics).” Next up for the Bearcats is Indiana State in the home opener at noon.

Kentucky 23, Louisville 16

Despite a career-best 153 yards from senior running back Bilal Powell, the Cardinals lost to their in-state rival for the fourth consecutive time in front of a packed house at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Derrick Locke, who led Kentucky with 104 yards rushing, scored a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter as the Wildcats took a 13-0 lead into the second quarter. The Cardinals didn’t get on the board until Chris Philpott connected from 42 yards out early in the second quarter, and Kentucky took a 20-6 lead into the locker room. But the second half produced a far better performance from Charlie Strong’s squad, which simply had to come out and do a better job of executing the fundamentals.

“We knew we had a lot of new guys,” said linebacker Brandon Heath. “We were too anxious to make plays and everybody had to settle down, that’s what we did in the second half. We pretty much shut them out in the second half (quote courtesy of Louisville Athletics).” The Cardinal defense allowed just three points in the final thirty minutes, getting back into the contest on Powell’s 80-yard run with 8:41 left in the third quarter to answer a Ryan Tydlacka 41-yard field goal. The key for Louisville offensively will be to get Victor Anderson rolling (32 yards on eight carries) and instilling more confidence in senior QB Adam Froman (14-29, 127 yards and an interception). If those two can produce along with Powell this becomes a far better offense than the 2009 version.

While coaches don’t believe in moral victories, the second half offered positive signs for a team that in the first thirty minutes looked a lot like the one that limped to four wins last season. But if the young defense can stay in the proper positions and execute, and Froman (and his receivers) can get something going in the passing game Louisville will be a better football team. “We need to limit our dropped balls,” said tight end Cameron Graham. “Sometimes when you drop balls you try to concentrate too hard. You might look away too early. We need to concentrate and look the ball in and make plays for our offense (quote courtesy of Louisville Athletics).” Next up for Louisville is Eastern Kentucky, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 PM on Saturday.

USF 59, Stony Brook 14

While the first game of the Skip Holtz era got off to a slow start, the Seawolves of Stony Brook proved to be of little match for B.J. Daniels and company. Special teams errors essentially spotted the Big South co-champions a 14-7 lead after Michael Coulter hit Brock Jackolski with a 27-yard strike with 5:30 remaining in the first quarter. But once the Bulls got going they were near impossible for Stony Brook to stop, racking up 563 yards and forcing four turnovers while scoring the final 52 points of the game. Daniels took to the new offensive system with relative ease, completing 15 of 22 passes for 264 yards and a pair of touchdowns while also rushing for 23 yards on five carries (one touchdown).

The goal is to keep Daniels from taking on as much of a burden as he had to last year, and given the number of players who were given opportunities in the run game that could actually happen. Freshman Marcus Shaw rushed for a team-high 86 yards on four carries (63 coming on the final TD of the game) while Demetris Murray (10 carries, 77 yards) and Moise Plancher (7 carries, 27 yards) received the bulk of the carries; if the Bulls are to preserve Daniels’ body throughout the season they’ll need to limit the number of hits that he takes. Evan Landi led all pass catchers with six receptions for 104 yards while Dontavia Bogan took a hitch 59 yards for a score on the first offensive play of the season.

23 players saw their first action for USF, who picked off four passes (Mark Joyce returned one for a 33-yard touchdown in the third quarter) and limited the Seawolves to 2-12 on third down. Stony Brook head coach Chuck Priore remarked after the game that you can wake up the “sleeping giant” after giving them a scare in the early going, and that’s exactly what happened after the shaky first quarter. And it’s also appropriate for the challenge that awaits the Bulls next weekend. The Bulls head north to take on Florida, and given the Gators’ poor offensive performance you can bet that they’ll be ready to get back onto the field.

Syracuse 29, Akron 3

Doug Marrone’s team holds the distinction of owning the Big East’s lone win over an FBS opponent, opening their season with a win for the first time since the 2003 season. Ryan Nassib threw for 229 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Delone Carter led all rushers with 91 yards and a touchdown. But there’s definitely work to be done between now and next weekend’s game at Washington, especially on special teams. There were issues receiving punts (swirling winds made this tricky) as well as two botched PATs; while they could get away with those miscues and three turnovers (two lost fumbles) against the struggling Zips they won’t be as lucky in Seattle.

Syracuse’s first offensive drive of the season gave fans a reason to cheer as Nassib and company drove 69 yards in 11 plays, culminating in a 23-yard strike to Aaron Weaver to put the first points on the board. Ross Krautman made a 47-yard field goal early in the second quarter to give Syracuse a 10-0 lead, with the two teams both scoring in the final 1:16 of the half (Akron field goal, Syracuse touchdown pass from Nassib to Van Chew) to make it 17-3 at the break. From there it was about the Syracuse defense closing out a solid performance (allowing just 166 yards and limiting the Zips to 4-for-17 on third downs) and the special teams even returning a blocked field goal for the touchdown that essentially sealed the outcome.

Overall the special teams did their damage in this area as well as coverage as the Zips seldom enjoyed good starting field position outside of the two fumbles recovered by their defense. With Jake Locker and company playing their home opener on the heels of a tough loss at BYU, Syracuse should be ready for the Huskies to come out of the gate flying next weekend. But if Saturday was an indicator of how things could go in the second year under Marrone then they should be more than ready.

West Virginia 31, Coastal Carolina 0

While the Mountaineers didn’t get off to a blazing start against the overmatched Chanticleers, they took care of business as Geno Smith completed 20 of 27 passes for 216 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his first career start. Noel Devine eclipsed the 100-yard mark (111 yards) while Jock Sanders (8 receptions, 71 yards) and Tavon Austin (5 receptions, 90 yards) did a good job in the passing game. But the most impressive aspect of the win was the defense, which limited Coastal Carolina to just over three yards per play overall and 63 yards rushing on 33 carries in posting its first shutout since a 38-0 pasting of Cincinnati in 2005.

The Mountaineers led just 10-0 at the half thanks to scores from J.D. Woods (4-yard reception) and Tyler Bitancurt (21-yard field goal), pulling away for good in the third quarter with scores from Jock Sanders and Ryan Clarke. Freshman Barry Brunetti was the only other quarterback to see time, playing in the fourth quarter following the Mountaineers’ final scoring drive early in the stanza. While the offense still has some kinks to work out ahead of Friday night’s visit to Marshall, the defense and special teams left head coach Bill Stewart pleased. West Virginia has now won nine straight home games.

Positives

• West Virginia defense and special teams: Coastal Carolina was overmatched, but it’s still impressive to limit a team to three yards per play.
• Bilal Powell: Career-high 153 yards rushing, including an 80-yard touchdown run that got Louisville back into the game.
• B.J. Daniels: The Bulls’ signal caller did a good job of moving the offense, and he also didn’t take many hits. Without an experienced backup, B.J.’s health will be key this season.

Negatives

• Conference perception: Pitt’s loss at Utah was by no means bad, especially when compared to the performances put up by Cincinnati and Connecticut. One win over an FBS opponent.
• Cincinnati offensive line: Giving up eight sacks to a team that had nine all of last season is inexcusable.
• Connecticut defense: The issues of last season (tackling in space, secondary execution) reared their ugly heads in Ann Arbor, and Michigan also exploited a defensive line that’s rather light in the britches. Not a good sign.

Next Week’s Schedule

West Virginia at Marshall (Friday, 7 PM ESPN2)

USF at Florida (Saturday, TBA)

Indiana State at Cincinnati (Saturday, Noon)

Texas Southern at Connecticut (Saturday, Noon SNY/Big East)

New Hampshire at Pittsburgh (Saturday, 1 PM)

Eastern Kentucky at Louisville (Saturday, 3:30 PM)

Syracuse at Washington (Saturday, 7 PM FSN)

Rutgers at Florida International (Saturday, 8 PM)

by RAPHIELLE JOHNSON

It’s never easy to win on the road, especially when your quarterback is making his first start, your change of pace running back (Ray Graham) is unable to go due to injury and most importantly the host has won seventeen straight home games. And in a game that featured more plays in which Pittsburgh and Utah looked to be in search of ways to give the win away, the Utes won in overtime 27-24 on a Joe Phillips 21-yard field goal. Pittsburgh received the ball first in the extra session but had the ball for just one play, as Tino Sunseri picked off by Utah defensive back Brian Blechen. From there it was a steady diet of Matt Asiata to work into range for the decisive kick.  

The Utes did a couple of things that proved critical to their victory. Offensively they exploited the weakness that is the coverage ability of the Pitt linebackers, hitting Jereme Brooks (five receptions, 87 yards and 2 TDs) and DeVonte Christopher (eight receptions, 155 yards and a touchdown) as QB Jordan Wynn finished with 283 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Utah also won the battle in the trenches on both sides of the football, epitomized by two things: the near-complete domination of DE Greg Romeus by left tackle John Cullen (the lone new starter on the offensive line, and also rated the best junior college lineman in America), and the three yards per carry allowed Dion Lewis (75 yards on 25 carries).  

Sunseri’s night was a mixed bag, getting off to a slow start that the Panthers navigated with some assistance from the aptly named Shaky Smithson (two fumbles) and a blocked punt to take an early 7-0 lead on Lewis’ 3-yard run. But Utah took control of the game as the Pitt offense sputtered (and seemingly forgot that Jon Baldwin was in fact on the field), heading into the locker room with a 14-7 lead thanks to the two connections between Wynn and Brooks. Once Pitt got the ball to Baldwin (who was locked up in an outstanding individual battle with corner Brandon Burton) they were able to get going, answering a 61-yard score from DeVonte Christopher with a 44-yard strike to the Biletnikoff Award candidate.  

After stopping the Utes on the ensuing drive (the Panther front four stepping up its’ play), Sunseri led the Panthers into field goal range and in Dan Hutchins they’ve got one of the best. His first attempt went through the uprights…but Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham called timeout just before the snap. Second attempt was wide left…but Whittingham called another timeout before that kick. With one remaining, Coach held onto it as Hutchins sent the game into overtime from 30 yards out. Next up for the Panthers is their home opener against New Hampshire next Saturday.  

Rutgers 31, Norfolk State 0 

Greg Schiano’s group got off to a slow start at Rutgers Stadium, lucky to head into the locker room at the half with a 6-0 lead. But they woke up in the third quarter (also, Norfolk State seemed to go through a cramping epidemic), scoring two touchdowns (one via a blocked punt) to take control of the game. Joe Martinek rushed for a game-high 109 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown, and as a team the Scarlet Knights rushed for 268 yards on fifty carries. Freshman Jordan Thomas got off to a good start in the first half and finished with 47 yards on 13 rushes, and De’Antwan “The Rocket” Williams came off the bench late to add 69 yards on six carries.  

But despite the numbers on the ground the Rutgers offensive line wasn’t at its best, especially in the first half when the Spartan defense still had its legs. Things didn’t turn for the better up front until after the first drive of the second half was snuffed out on fourth and 1 just across midfield, as the NSU defense won the battle at the line of scrimmage and stopped Martinek for a loss. “I knew that we had a young line [coming into the season] that’s a work in progress, and it’s a work in progress,” said Coach Schiano. As last year’s much ballyhooed unit learned chemistry is essential to offensive line play, and it’s something that Rutgers will need to work on as they prepare for the trip to Florida International next Saturday.  

The Scarlet Knight defense also got off to a slow start, but once they woke up it was just about over for the Norfolk State offense. Steve Beauharnais led a balanced effort with seven tackles and Rutgers limited the Spartans to 156 total yards and 0-for-12 on third down. And cornerback Brandon Bing made his presence known in the kicking game, blocking a pair of Norfolk State punts (one of which was returned by Joe Lefeged for a touchdown) while also making four tackles. Norfolk State managed just 25 yards rushing and 3.2 yards per play overall, and while many will discount this as a “quality of opponent” game it’s a good reference point for a young football team. That being said, Rutgers will need to play much better football on the road next week.  

Positives

• Rutgers running backs: Joe Martinek, Jordan Thomas and De’Antwan Williams leading the way in a 268-yard night on the ground.
• Tino Sunseri’s game-tying drive: He did a good job of leading the Panthers down the field on the final drive, and overall had a good fourth quarter.
• Brandon Bing: A solid night overall for the RU defense was highlighted by Bing’s performance on that side of the ball as well as on special teams. The better he and Joe Lefeged play the better that secondary becomes.

Negatives

• Pitt’s line play: Utah won the battle in the trenches on both sides of the football. New Hampshire won’t offer much in the way of a physical challenge but it is an opportunity to improve upon technique ahead of the Miami (FL) game on the 23^rd.
• Tom Savage: He didn’t turn the ball over and the run game was where Rutgers was going to win, but the Big East’s most experienced starter needs to slow the game down a little. “I think Tom was racing a little bit. I’ve talked to him a lot,” remarked Coach Schiano. “You don’t have to be anything but you. Sometimes you get a lot of notoriety and who knows, maybe you start, oh, do I [have] to do this. I think this game will help him a ton.”
• Pitt’s linebackers: Utah exploited this group to no end in the passing game, a bad sign with the likes of Miami, Notre Dame and Cincinnati on the schedule (in addition to other units that have the wide receivers/tight ends to work the middle of the field). This has to be remedied if the Panthers are to ultimately win the Big East.

Quotes courtesy of ASAPSports.com

*********Follow NBE Sports on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NBESports*****

You can get tickets to all these match-ups and more by visiting StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online for tickets to any NCAA event or NBA, MLB, NHL game or UFC, WWE or concert tickets at an arena near you.

by RAPHIELLE JOHNSON

No more predictions or bickering about polls; the time for teams to prove people either correct or incorrect has finally come. And while there are a couple of matchups involving Big East teams that won’t have much of a national impact (unless said teams lose), there are contests that will either confirm the conventional opinion of the conference (no need to state it; we all know what that is) or rip it to shreds with an impressive showing. The most important contest involves #15 (AP/Coaches) Pittsburgh, the preseason favorite to win the Big East, as they travel west to take on Utah (t-24^th Coaches) in Salt Lake City (8:30 PM, Versus).

The last meeting between these two took place in the 2005 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, in which the Utes (led by then-coach Urban Meyer and QB Alex Smith) concluded an undefeated season by embarrassing the Panthers 35-7. But Pitt, who was playing for a lame duck head coach (Walt Harris) at the time, is far more talented and a far more stable program as well. In sophomore RB Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh has a bona fide Heisman contender who rushed for a conference-best 1,799 yards and 17 touchdowns as a true freshman. Lewis and WR Jonathan Baldwin have appeared on award watch lists this summer, and there are other skill position players who can step up in Frank Cignetti’s offense.

But there is a big question mark, one that will get an answer one way or the other on Thursday night, and that is how QB Tino Sunseri performs in his first start as a Panther. With so many talented players at his disposal the key for Sunseri will be to take care of the football; the Utes were second in the Mountain West last season with 17 interceptions (Air Force; 20). But they do have to replace three of four starters in the secondary from last season, including two (Robert Johnson and R.J. Stanford) who heard their names called in the 2010 NFL Draft. The one returning starter: corner Brandon Burton, who was tied for second in the MWC last year with 10 pass breakups; he and Baldwin will see a lot of each other at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

The Panthers will also be tested defensively, especially by a tandem at running back that gave opponents fits for much of 2009. Backs Eddie Wide and Matt Asiata, listed as co-starters on this week’s depth chart, have led the Utes in rushing each of the last two seasons (Asiata in 2008, Wide in 2009). If Greg Romeus, Jabaal Sheard and the rest of that Pitt defensive line is neutralized by an offensive line that boast four returning starters and two Outland Trophy watch list members (center Zane Taylor and left guard Caleb Schlauderaff) it could be a long night for the visitors. The key for Pitt: force QB Jordan Wynn (who lit up Cal for 338 yards passing and played well as a true freshman) to have to make plays in negative down and distance situations; they can ill-afford to give away an average of 4+ yards on first down.

The one thing that could work in the Panthers’ favor on Thursday night: history. This is the first road opener for Pitt featuring two ranked teams since 1976, when Tony Dorsett and company kicked off a national title campaign with a 31-10 win at Notre Dame. Also, the last time Pitt opened a season in the state of Utah they beat the Utes’ bitter rival (BYU) 27-17 in 1987. In a game that could go down to the wire, the presence of two Groza Award watch list members (Pitt’s Dan Hutchins and Utah’s Joe Phillips) is worth noting as well. One of these two could be asked to win the game, and with the added edge of home field (plus their first national TV appearance since announcing the move to the Pac-10 in 2011) expect the Utes to be more than ready to go.

Thursday 7:30 PM (ESPN3) Norfolk State at Rutgers

These two schools have met just once, and that didn’t go too well for the Spartans as Ray Rice and company spanked them 59-0 back in 2007. While Norfolk State looks a little better in regards to possibly scoring this time around, the prospects for actually winning look quite grim. Rutgers will have to keep tabs of preseason All-MEAC selection RB DeAngelo Branche, but a defense led by safety Joe Lefeged and linebacker Antonio Lowery could make a move towards duplicating last season’s 34 turnovers forced. Offensively, sophomore QB Tom Savage begins the season as the unquestioned starter with his need to stay healthy being almost as important as his production.

Unfortunately for RU, Kordell Young is out due to injury but leading rusher Joe Martinek returns and will be aided by the addition of freshman Jordan Thomas. If these two, along with Mohamed Sanu at wide receiver, produce as they’re capable of Rutgers should roll. In fact, even if the Scarlet Knights should get off to a sloppy start don’t expect them to not finish the Spartans off with relative ease. This opener allows the other receivers, who need to step up lest opponents focus solely on Sanu, to get their feet wet and build some confidence. Also keep an eye on TE D.C. Jefferson, who could be one of the Big East’s best with a full season at the position under his belt.

Saturday 3:30 PM (ABC/ESPN) Connecticut at Michigan

The second of three big games for the Big East this weekend takes UConn to Ann Arbor for their first-ever meeting with the Wolverines. It’s the first game in a newly-expanded Michigan Stadium, and given the offseason this game could be seen as vital for head coach Rich Rodriguez. Coach Rodriguez, who found himself at the center of still ongoing NCAA inquiries at Michigan and West Virginia, needs to get off to a good start in his third season at Michigan and will likely play more than one quarterback on Saturday.

Denard Robinson seemed to have held the lead for the starting nod throughout camp with incumbent Tate Forcier and true freshman Devin Gardner still in hot pursuit. The key for the UConn defense in slowing down the Michigan spread: sure tackling in space, an issue for much of last season. But head coach Randy Edsall had a surprise for the masses on Monday, releasing the depth chart with Greg Lloyd not only present but starting at middle linebacker. Originally declared a medical redshirt due to an ACL injury suffered in the Syracuse game last season, Lloyd teams up with Lawrence Wilson and Scott Lutrus in one of the nation’s best linebacking units.

Offensively, Zach Frazer won’t have to worry about Michigan’s best defensive back (Troy Woolfolk), who is out for the year due to a dislocated ankle suffered in fall drills. This is a good development for a receiving corps that needs some players outside of Kashif Moore and tight end Ryan Griffin to step up. But the Huskies know where their offensive bread is buttered: on the ground behind one of the Big East’s best lines. Backs Jordan Todman, Robbie Frey and USC transfer D.J. Shoemate will all tote the football on Saturday, and if the Michigan defense hasn’t improved (10^th in the Big Ten in rushing defense) it could be a long day for the home team.

UConn has won both of their prior meetings against a Big Ten member but it should also be noted that both wins came over Indiana. In terms of football history the Hoosiers are a long way away from the Wolverines, who also have the motivation of an embarrassing two-year run that has the fan base on edge and ready to howl for their head coach’s head. If the Husky defense, especially the secondary, plays the way it did in the PapaJohns.com Bowl they could end up heading back to Storrs with a historic win in tow. But even if a shootout were to occur, Coach Edsall may still have enough to pick up his first win over Coach Rodriguez.

Saturday 3:30 PM (ABC/ESPN) Kentucky at Louisville

The battle for the Governor’s Cup will be one that attracts many viewers, from the 55,000 in the newly expanded Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium to the many nationwide looking to see what’s in store with both head coaches (UK’s Joker Phillips and UL’s Charlie Strong) coaching their first game as the man in charge. The Wildcats have won the last three meetings, forcing a pair of key turnovers late to beat the Cardinals 31-27 last season in Lexington. QB Mike Hartline opens the season as Kentucky’s starter for the third consecutive season with the hope that he can end his senior campaign in a better fashion than his prior two, while senior Adam Froman gets the nod for Louisville.

But three of the four best offensive players in this game are running backs: Kentucky’s Derrick Locke and Louisville’s Victor Anderson and Bilal Powell. Anderson rushed for 110 yards and a score in last year’s meeting, but Powell was shut down (12 carries, two yards) in the loss. Add in Kentucky senior WR Randall Cobb, who can make a variety of things happen with the football in his hands, and you’ve got a matchup that should result in some points. The key for Louisville: the improvement of their defense under Coach Strong and defensive coordinator Vance Bedford, both of whom possess impressive coaching credentials from prior stops. For Kentucky, they’ll need defensive coordinator Steve Brown to work some more magic with six starters (including CB Trevard Lindley) needing to be replaced.

In the first season under Brown’s tutelage the UK defense jumped from 118^th to 53^rd in total defense, and despite the personnel losses there are experienced played back on all three levels. DE DeQuin Evans and CB Randall Burden are two of the key contributors defensively, and job one will be to shut down Anderson and Powell. If Kentucky can do that and force Froman to have to win the game with his arm it could be a long afternoon for the Cardinals, and the same goes for the Louisville defense in regards to slowing down Locke and Cobb. A win here gets the victorious team headed in the right direction as both boast slates that could get them out of the first month 3-1.

Saturday 3:30 PM (Big East Network) Coastal Carolina at #25/t-24 West Virginia 

The Geno Smith era gets underway in Morgantown as the Mountaineers host a Coastal Carolina squad that returns 22 starters from last season. The Chanticleers, picked to finish 3^rd in the Big South, also boast an All-American in the secondary in the form of Josh Norman (8 interceptions in 2009) and an all-conference candidate on offense (TE David Duran). While it will be tough sledding for CCU in terms of actually winning the game, they could be a pesky foe as Liberty was for WVU last year (the Flames shared the Big South title with Stony Brook). But the problem for CCU could be their rushing defense, which ranked a putrid 95^th nationally last season.

This sets up as the kind of game that could see not only Noel Devine go off, but also offers some of the other backs on the Mountaineer depth chart get some reps as well. Add in the versatile Jock Sanders and fellow receiver Tavon Austin, and Bill Stewart’s team looks a safe bet to take care of business at home. Besides the way in which Smith runs the offense, the production at wide receiver is also worth keeping an eye on. For Sanders and Austin there are more than a few players who need to step up and make their presence known in order for WVU to be successful in 2010. Does WVU make this one tougher than it should be and look ahead to the matchup at Marshall next week? That may be the only thing that stops them against the Chanticleers.

Saturday 6 PM (ESPN3) Syracuse at Akron

The Orange hit the road in a game that likely won’t make waves nationally unless they happen to lose, with the Zips taking the field in the first game of the Rob Ianello era. Coach Ianello made his decision in regards to his starting quarterback earlier this week as well, handing the reigns to sophomore Patrick Nicely. Nicely started seven games as a true freshman in 2009, but Matt Rodgers (who began 2009 as the starter before going down with a season-ending knee injury) is also available and ready if needed. The Zips were a rough outfit to watch offensively last season, ranking 11^th in the MAC in total offense (300.9 ypg) while averaging just over 19 points per game. LB Derrell Smith leads a Syracuse defense that returns 12 starters (yes, 12) and 73% of the tackles made in 2009, and the unit held the Zips to just 50 yards in the second half of last year’s meeting (28-14 SU win).

Offensively the difference in last year’s game was RB Delone Carter, who rushed for 170 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries, and it’s a good thing that the senior was reinstated early in fall camp. Along with Carter (who will start) in the backfield are the experienced Antwon Bailey and freshman Prince-Tyson Gulley, who steps into the role vacated by the academically ineligible Averin Collier. QB Ryan Nassib, who beat out Charlie Loeb for the starting job in the spring, needs to expand the offense through the air in order to free things up in the running game and he’ll need some wide receivers to step to the forefront. Van Chew and Alec Lemon are the listed starters but who will make plays downfield?

That’s the key question that needs answering on Saturday, and if it can be answered in the affirmative it would be a positive sign heading into their trip to Washington next weekend. The Zips were solid defensively and return three starters at linebacker, including Brian Wagner (an impressive 132 tackles as a freshman in 2009) and Mike Thomas. Very good against the pass last season (4^th in the MAC in pass defense), the Zips have to replace three starters in the secondary. This could bode well for the Syracuse passing game, but they weren’t exactly world beaters through the air in 2009. Look for the Akron to be energetic, as it’s rare that they get to host an opponent from a BCS conference, but this is a game that the Orange should win.

Saturday 7 PM Stony Brook at USF 

The Bulls kick off a “Holtz New Era” on Saturday night, hosting a Stony Brook squad that returns the majority of their key contributors that won a share of the Big South title last season. But while Chuck Priore’s squad will offer some resistance and the Bulls will take the field under a new staff for the first time this should be a convincing win for the Bulls. QB B.J. Daniels won’t have as many designed runs in the new offensive system but his athleticism is still something that opponents will need to account for. Moise Plancher and Bradley Battles (who had a very good fall camp) are the co-starters at running back, a position that has a number of bodies even with the dismissal of Mike Ford. And banged up at wide receiver (no Sterling Griffin or A.J. Love), players outside of Dontavia Bogan will have to opportunity to make their mark.

On both sides of the football the Seawolves have to replace seven starters from a season ago, but they also boast a pair of preseason All-America candidates in RB Edwin Gowins (890 yards, nine touchdowns) and K Wesley Skiffington (15-17 FGs, 26-30 PATs). Also worth noting is that this is Stony Brook’s first-ever game against an FBS opponent, so while they should be fully motivated to play (so long as Hurricane Earl doesn’t throw their travel plans for a serious loop) this is a level that they’ve never dealt with. This should also mean a good opportunity for the USF defense, especially the line, to get its’ bearings in advance of next week’s trip to Gainesville. Job one is to win; avoiding any major injuries is job two.

Saturday 10 PM (ESPN2) Cincinnati at Fresno State

The motto for the Fresno State program under Pat Hill has been a rather simple one: “Anyone, Anyplace, Anytime”. The Bulldogs have taken on many tough non-conference opponents and have been competitive more times than not (this mindset could have an adverse impact on their conference title hopes; Hill has yet to win a WAC crown), and this is a dangerous opener to the Butch Jones era despite RB Ryan Mathews being a San Diego Charger. Last season’s meeting was an interesting one that the Bearcats won 28-20, as Fresno State possessed the football for an astonishing 43:42 while gaining 443 yards. The Bulldogs rushed for 290 yards, exposing a chink in the Cincinnati defensive armor that didn’t prove fatal until Tim Tebow and company got a hold of the Bearcats in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

Running the football for the Bulldogs will likely be a platoon that includes Robbie Rouse and A.J. Ellis among four players listed on the depth chart. Rouse has the most experience of the four (429 yards last year), and Coach Hill expects all four to see time. But the one man the Cincinnati defense will need to keep tabs on is WR Rashad Evans, a burner who played well as a freshman in 2008 but missed all of 2009 due to injury. The Cincinnati defense, which goes back to a 4-3 scheme under co-defensive coordinators Tim Banks and Jon Jancek, has to improve against the pass (78^th in 2009) and they will be tested by QB Ryan Colburn (who should be improved in his senior campaign).

But the Bearcats also return a number of contributors on one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, with QB Zach Collaros taking over full-time for the graduated Tony Pike. Fresno State was solid against the run in 2009, but dreadful against the pass (111^th nationally), and while Collaros can run he’s also a good passer who has a number of dangerous weapons at wide receiver and tight end to throw to. Armon Binns, D.J. Woods and TE Ben Guidugli all played major roles in 2009’s title run, and into the spotlight in place of Mardy Gilyard is USC transfer Vidal Hazelton. Big things are expected of Hazelton, and there are also three very good running backs in Isaiah Pead, Darrin Williams and John Goebel.

DE Chris Carter (First Team All-WAC) and S Lorne Bell (Second Team All-WAC) lead the Fresno State defense, a unit that will play with emotion but could find itself shorthanded in dealing the Bearcat offense. This will most certainly be a challenge for Cincinnati but it will be disappointing if they fail to take care of business in the Valley.

*********Follow NBE Sports on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NBESports*****

You can get tickets to all these match-ups and more by visiting StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online for tickets to any NCAA event or NBA, MLB, NHL game or UFC, WWE or concert tickets at an arena near you.

By Raphielle Johnson  

Cincinnati:  Goebel looks to bounce back from an injury-filled 2009 (Tuesday)

While the Bearcats have been blessed with a deep backfield, one component was missing for much of last season due to injuries. Senior John Goebel, who rushed for 607 yards as a sophomore in 2008, missed much of 2009 due to a pulled hamstring (which he re-aggravated by coming back too soon) and a broken hand. Now back healthy Goebel will share the spotlight with Isaiah Pead and Darrin Williams, making up a three-headed attack that should flourish in their offensive system. And in a funny transition for Goebel he’s seen as the “big back”  when the early portion of his career saw him described as the smaller back in the mix. But at least he’s healthy and able to contribute on the field consistently this year. 

            No real surprises as Bearcats break camp (Wednesday)

The issue for Cincinnati going into camp was the need to develop depth in three areas: offensive line, defensive line and linebacker. And while the only major injury to occur at any of these three areas was the torn ACL suffered by LB Solomon Tentman, the needed depth did not come to the forefront either. Butch Jones (who was profiled on Saturday) and his staff will need these areas to add some contributors as the season wears along, or at the least not get hit by any serious injuries if they’re to win a third consecutive Big East title. The current two-deep has more than enough talent to get the job done, but in a collision sport there’s no such thing as a guarantee that all hands on deck in September will be healthy and available in November.  

Connecticut:  Opoku moved to tight end (Wednesday)

Could freshman Andrew Opoku finally have a home in regards to his position? The North Brunswick, NJ native enrolled back in January as a safety only to be moved to outside linebacker during spring practice, and on Tuesday he was switched to tight end. Opoku, who played wide receiver in high school, noted following Tuesday’s practice that the area in which he needs the most work is blocking. With the “Husky” linebacker spot being four deep without Opoku and starter Ryan Griffin missing some practice due to a few bumps it made sense to shift the freshman. But with Griffin and John Delahunt ahead of him it’s a longshot that Opoku takes the field at Michigan in the season opener.  

      Martin looking to remain out of the dog house (Saturday)

One of the stories of the spring was the displeasure that head coach Randy Edsall had with the work of defensive end Tywon Martin, who dropped to third string at one point before finishing drills as a co-starter. Add in injuries to Greg Lloyd Jr. and Marcus Campbell and it’s a good thing that Martin has turned things around going into game week. The front four will be key against Michigan’s spread option attack, and if they can hold their own the Huskies have a very good chance of leaving Ann Arbor with the win.  

Louisville:  Froman gets the starting nod (Monday)

Both the Cardinals and rival Kentucky (Mike Hartline) made their decisions on Monday, with Charlie Strong handing the reins to the offense to senior Adam Froman. One of three competitors who saw time last season for a unit that lacked punch, Froman missed out of the preseason battle last year due to injury. The goal of offensive coordinator Mike Sanford and quarterbacks coach Mike Groh is to avoid a similar “musical chairs” scenario, and the best way to do that is for Froman to take control and perform. The physical tools are there; starting Saturday can Froman get the job done?  

            Coach Strong minces no words following practice (Wednesday)

One thing that the arrival of Charlie Strong brings to the Louisville program is the expectation of excellence, and to say the least the Cardinals didn’t bring their best effort to the field on Wednesday. Coach Strong moved the practice session to Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium with the thought being that guys would be more than ready to go, and that didn’t happen. Coach Strong made it known that his team had “wasted a day; we came out and we didn’t compete”. To say the least the bar’s been raised (in regards to what’s expected on a daily basis) in the Derby City; whether or not there’s a significant increase in wins remains to be seen.  

Pittsburgh:  Pitt’s biggest obstacle in 2010? The schedule. (Saturday)

Ranked 15^th in the first Associated Press poll of the season and a near-consensus pick to win the Big East, Dave Wannstedt’s Panthers will have their work cut out for them thanks to their schedule. It all begins with the trip out to Salt Lake City to take on Utah Thursday night, and a key for the Panthers in the opener will be the playcalling mastery of offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti (Sunday). With QB Tino Sunseri making his first start in a hostile environment it will be even more important for Cignetti to push the right buttons in regards to the plays he calls; the easier it is for Sunseri to get the ball to his playmakers the better the Panthers’ chances are.  

Rutgers:  Running back tandem looking to make an impact (Friday)

While Joe Martinek did well as the feature back in 2009, rushing for 967 yards and nine touchdowns to lead Rutgers, the offense missed out of a speed component at the position due in large part to the health of Kordell Young. But that could (and should) change this season due to true freshman Jordan Thomas, a speedy back who rushed for a school record 3,308 yards for Union-Endicott HS. While such a number may be a bit unrealistic at the level he now runs at, it’s expected that Thomas contribute. First there was Terell Willis and Bruce Presley, then Ray Rice and Brian Leonard. Could Martinek (redshirt junior) and Thomas get to that status at some point?  

            Savage ready to get the season going (Sunday)

The feeling for starting quarterback Tom Savage as the regular season opener on Thursday approaches is far different than what it was last year as a true freshman. From “sheer athletic terror” to “butterflies”, the sophomore feels like he’s ready to get things going. And with a number of areas that have uncertainties going into the opener against Norfolk State it’s a good thing that Savage feels far more prepared this year than last. The Scarlet Knights will need the Big East’s most experienced quarterback (12 career starts) to be just that.  

USF:   While the stars may be gone, Bulls defense enjoys the luxury of depth (Monday)

It’s not easy to replace the likes of Jason Pierre-Paul, Nate Allen and George Selvie to name three of the five starters lost on the USF defense. But while they won’t have many household names in the first season of the Skip Holtz era, the Bulls will enjoy the luxury of having a number of options all over the field. And for a team that gave up twice as many points in the second quarter as the first in 2009 Big East games, those extra legs should be a bonus in 2010.  

            St. Petersburg Times USF beat writer Greg Auman broke down the 2010 Bulls in this season preview, as well as a video interview with QB B.J. Daniels on his thoughts concerning the new offensive system.  

Syracuse:  Drop in weight leads to an increase in reps for Tiller (Wednesday)

Beating Miami for the services of Andrew Tiller out of Nassau CC was seen as a major coup for Doug Marrone in his first season coaching his alma mater. But there was one major issue for Tiller last season: his weight (408 pounds). The poor conditioning limited the transfer’s opportunity to contribute, but after dropping 70 pounds in the last year he’s got the starting right guard job heading into preparations for the season opener at Akron. Combining with fellow Nassau CC transfer Mike Hays (tackle) on the right side of the line, look for Tiller to clear the way for Syracuse’s stable of running backs all season (health withstanding).  

            Defensive tackle Haney out for the year (Tuesday)

The last thing Syracuse needed was another season-ending injury, but that’s exactly what happened when senior Ollie Haney tore a pectoral muscle in last Saturday’s Ernie Davis Club scrimmage. Haney’s loss makes seven Orange players who will not play this year due to injury or academic issues. Syracuse also has three freshmen who still haven’t been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse: DE Jason Bromley, LB Malcolm Cater and DB Keon Lyn.  

West Virginia:  Nine seniors emerge as starters on first depth chart (Wednesday)

Following last Saturday’s final scrimmage the Mountaineer coaching staff put together their depth chart going into the season opener against Coastal Carolina, and it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that nine of the starters are seniors. However, one of those seniors is not right guard Eric Jobe, who is now second behind redshirt freshman Cole Bowers. Seven seniors will start on the defensive side of the football, including Brandon Hogan, who regained his starting role at corner from sophomore Brodrick Jenkins.  

And in regards to the quarterback position freshmen Barry Brunetti and Jeremy Johnson are listed as co-backups behind Geno Smith and both could see time against the Chanticleers. On Friday Mike Casazza of the Charleston Daily Mail added a piece on freshman left tackle Quinton Spain along with a note on the improved positioning of redshirt freshman wide receiver J.D. Woods. Woods would likely see the field in four receiver sets, but overall the Mountaineers need some guys outside of Jock Sanders to step up. Look for a number of players to get their shot on Saturday.  

Awards Watch Lists

Lombardi: DE Julian Miller (West Virginia), LT Jason Pinkston (Pittsburgh), DE Greg Romeus (Pittsburgh), LB Derrell Smith (Syracuse), LB J.T. Thomas (West Virginia) and LB Lawrence Wilson (Connecticut) 

Rimington (nation’s best center): Ryan Bartholomew (Syracuse), Mario Benavides (Louisville) and Moe Petrus (Connecticut) 

Walker (nation’s best running back): Victor Anderson (Louisville), Noel Devine (West Virginia), Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh), Bilal Powell (Louisville) and Jordan Todman (Connecticut) 

Lowe’s Senior Class Award: DL Chris Neild (West Virginia) and LB Derrell Smith (Syracuse)

*********Follow NBE Sports on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NBESports*****

You can get tickets to all these match-ups and more by visiting StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online for tickets to any NCAA event or NBA, MLB, NHL game or UFC, WWE or concert tickets at an arena near you.

By Raphielle Johnson

• Fresno State (Cincinnati): The return of Rashad Evans at wide receiver (Sunday)

Of course the biggest news involving Pat Hill’s program was the move from the WAC to the Mountain West (along with Nevada), a move that may end up being the first seismic change on the collegiate athletics landscape since the ACC knocked down the first domino by adding Miami and Virginia Tech in 2003. But that’s of no concern to Cincinnati, who opens up their season at Fresno on September 4^th. Something to take note of: redshirt sophomore Rashad Evans’ return to the field after missing 2009 due to a slow-healing hamstring injury.

In Bryant-Jon Anteola’s piece in the Fresno Bee, Evans expresses his eagerness to get back on the field, and the Bulldogs have also used him as a wildcat-style quarterback in fall practice. Bigger and faster than he was as a freshman in 2008, Evans’ speed and playmaking ability make it a necessity for offensive coordinator Jeff Grady to come up with a variety of ways in which to get the ball into his hands. Look for Evans to also be a primary target for QB Evan Coburn in the passing game.

• Michigan (Connecticut): Three-horse race for the starting quarterback nod (Monday)

The quest to be the starting quarterback for the Wolverines on September 4^th isn’t limited to just incumbent Tate Forcier (who just last week earned his “wings”) and favorite Denard Robinson. Devin Gardner, who enrolled for his freshman year back in January, has made his way into the race with just a week left before the true beginning of game week preparations. In his piece for AnnArbor.com, Jeff Arnold focuses on the 6-foot-4, 210-pounder’s composure and work ethic, two characteristics that have kept Gardner in the competition to this point.

• Kentucky (Lousiville): Both teams announce starting QBs for the season opener (Monday)

Louisville head coach Charlie Strong made his decision known on Monday, naming Adam Froman the starter for the season opener against in-state rival Kentucky. But he wasn’t to be alone in the Commonwealth as Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips announced that Mike Hartline would be his starter. But does this mean that the competition is over? Not in the least, noted Rick Bozich of the Louisville Courier-Journal, with the expectation in both camps being that all parties involved will continue to put their best foot forward despite the announcements.

• Utah (Pittsburgh): Notes released on the latest update to the depth chart (Monday)

One important development for the Utah defense is the arrival of junior college transfer Star Lotulelei (sophomore), who was finally cleared to take part in practice following his transfer from Snow JC. His dimensions: 6 feet 4, 330 pounds. Makes sense that Utah would refer to him as “mammoth” in their official release. Lotulelei is listed third at defensive tackle on the updated depth chart, which can be accessed in the PDF file on the linked page. And with the opener against Pitt coming on a Thursday, Kyle Whittingham and company began “game week” preparations on Monday for the 15^th-ranked Panthers.

• Norfolk State (Rutgers): Spartans need Wicker to step up (Thursday)

Not much in the way of updates on the Spartans but with both of their starting wide receivers from 2009 gone, they need senior Jeremy Wicker to step up as their leading man on the outside. Wicker, who played well in an early season matchup with Kentucky corner (and now Philadelphia Eagle) Trevard Lindley, was derailed by a high ankle sprain for much of 2009. Add in the fact that P.J. Hayden is academically ineligible this season and it becomes even more important that the senior become their best playmaker on the outside.

• Akron (Syracuse): Quarterback competition still undecided after Saturday’s scrimmage (Sunday)

Did Patrick Nicely distance himself from Matt Rodgers in the race to be the Zips’ starting quarterback on September 4^th? Not in the eyes of head coach Rob Ianello, who stated following Saturday’s scrimmage that he had yet to make a decision on who the starter will be. Nicely worked with the first team and Rodgers the second in the scrimmage, and they finished with similar stat lines. Ianello notes that he and his staff could make a decision sometime this week, but don’t be surprised if the Orange don’t know which one they will see take the first snap until early next week either.

• Stony Brook (USF): Seawolves ready to make a name for themselves nationally (Monday)

After arguably the most successful school year in the history of its athletics department, Stony Brook looks to keep the ball rolling in 2010-11. And what better way to start than an impressive effort at USF in the season opener? Doric Sam of the Stony Brook Statesman previews the upcoming season for the Seawolves, who were 6-5 overall (5-1 Big South, t-1^st) in 2009, and this is a team that won’t lie down in Tampa on September 4^th. Players to keep an eye on include RB Edwin Gowins, QB Michael Coulter and reigning Big South Defensive Player of the Year LB Tyler Santucci.

• Coastal Carolina (West Virginia): Childers, O’Neal play well in Saturday’s scrimmage (Sunday)

While the Chanticleers may not be as talented as eventual national champion Villanova (WVU’s opening opponent last year) was, they’ve got some players to keep an eye on. One is converted tight end Jamie Childers, who has played well at the position since making the switch from quarterback. Childers led all pass catchers with 86 yards on three catches in the scrimmage, while senior Eric O’Neal rushed for a team-high 61 yards on 11 carries just a few days after sophomore Marcus Whitener supplanted him atop the depth chart.

By Raphielle Johnson  

Before getting into some team-specific notes, the Associated Press released its first Top 25 poll of the season on Saturday, and two Big East teams found their way into the rankings. Preseason favorite Pittsburgh was ranked 15^th while rival West Virginia rounded out the poll at number 25. Two-time conference champion Cincinnati tallied the most points of any team not ranked (108) while Connecticut (32 points) also received mention on some voters’ ballots. More watch lists for end of season awards were also released in the last week or so, with the Butkus, Groza, Hornung and Mackey committees all releasing their lists. Big East representation is as follows:  

Butkus (nation’s best linebacker): Doug Hogue (Syracuse), Greg Lloyd (Connecticut; out for the season), Scott Lutrus (Connecticut), Derrell Smith (Syracuse) and Lawrence Wilson (Connecticut)

Groza (nation’s best placekicker): Tyler Bitancurt (West Virginia) and Dan Hutchins (Pittsburgh)

Hornung (nation’s most versatile player): WR Doug Beaumont (Louisville), WR Jock Sanders (West Virginia) and WR Mohamed Sanu (Rutgers)

Mackey (nation’s best tight end): Ryan Griffin (Connecticut), Ben Guidugli (Cincinnati) and D.C. Jefferson (Rutgers) 

Cincinnati:  Defense beginning to show signs of progress (Wednesday)

The last three seasons have seen the Bearcats go from the 4-3 to the 3-4 and back to the 4-3 defensive scheme with Brian Kelly and company moving on to Notre Dame after last season. All that shifting, while it doesn’t seem like much, offers up quite the adjustment period for a unit that has to replace five starters going into the 2010 season. Defensive coordinator Tim Banks offered up some praise for his unit following Wednesday’s scrimmage at Higher Ground but also mentioned that their tackling needs to improve. The Bearcats had issues on that side of the football in the second half of last season, culminating with their blowout loss in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.  

            Who will win the backup quarterback job? (Sunday)

This is an important question for any team, much less one that’s seen its’ starting quarterbacks go down with injury at some point in each of the last three seasons. Incumbent Chazz Anderson, thought to naturally ascend into the role with the promotion of Zach Collaros, has a battle on his hands in the form of Brendon Kay (two passes thrown in 2009). Unfortunately for Cincy they also saw freshman linebacker Solomon Tentman go down with a knee injury on Saturday, and this could be a serious blow to their depth should he be out for an extended period of time (the article mentions that an ACL tear was feared).  

Connecticut:  DE Marcus Campbell lost for the season with a torn ACL (last Sunday)

A tough loss for the Huskies, who were already down one body in the front seven when LB Greg Lloyd (who the coaches moved to DE) wasn’t fully recovered from a knee injury suffered late last season and had to take a medical redshirt as a result. The same fate awaits Campbell, who sat out 2009 due to academic reasons. Jesse Joseph and Travardo Williams are the Huskies’ most experienced defensive ends, meaning that they’ll have to rely on a number of inexperienced players in Campbell’s absence.  

            QB Cody Endres and OG Eric Kuraczea suspended indefinitely (Wednesday)

As if UConn needed further sapping of its depth following the Campbell injury, Endres and Kuraczea were both suspended indefinitely for a violation of university and athletic department policies. There’s been some speculation but that would be unfair to do here; the main question is who slides into their spots on the depth chart with the trip to Michigan two weeks away. The backup quarterback job (behind starter Zach Frazer) looks to be open, with Michael Box, Johnny McEntee and even freshman Leon Kinnard all having a chance to stake their claim to the job. As for Kuraczea’s spot behind Mathieu Olivier at left guard, redshirt freshman Steve Greene is the most likely option.  

Louisville:  Linebackers will be crucial in the new defensive system (Sunday)

The Cardinals don’t have a lot in the way of experience behind Antwon Canady and Brandon Heath, but some of the newcomers (in both years and position) will be needed to step up if they’re to be successful in the first season of the Charlie Strong era. If you remember Strong’s work as defensive coordinator at Florida then you know just how important the linebackers are; they’ll see a lot of opportunities to make plays funneled in their direction. If players such as Deon Rogers, Mike Privott, Eugene Sowell and Dexter Heyman can step up for position coach Brian Jean-Mary look for the Louisville defense to make substantial strides.  

            Chichester coming to grips with new role (Wednesday)

It should come as no surprise that sometimes a player isn’t too fond of a position change, and this was the case for Josh Chichester, who makes the move from wide receiver to tight end. Once Stephon Ball went down to injury in the spring the coaches took the opportunity to move the 6-9 Chichester to tight end, and his size could be even more of an issue now that he’s in a more central position. And keep in mind the role that Mackey Award winner Aaron Hernandez played in Florida’s offense; Josh may have needed time for the move to grow on him but could end up far more productive in 2010.  

Pittsburgh:  Two personnel moves for the Panthers (Friday)

Freshman defensive tackle Khaynin Mosley-Smith was declared academically ineligible and will attend a prep school this year in hopes of rejoining the program in 2011. While this hurts the Panthers’ depth for this year they had a number of options to turn to in the middle, possibly making him a redshirt possibility had he been eligible. Also, long snapper John Fieger was suspended for the remainder of camp due to a violation of team rules. Fieger is expected back for the season opener at Utah.  

            Graham and Romeus sit out Saturday’s practice (Sunday)

Running back Ray Graham (knee) and defensive end Greg Romeus (back spasms) both sat out Saturday’s practice, and Romeus has gone through just one full pads practice due to injury in fall camp. Also of note is the play of redshirt freshman Devin Street, who has firmly entrenched himself in the rotation. Head coach Dave Wannstedt also praised the special teams and defensive end Justin Hargrove, who is also making a move into the Panther rotation at his position.  

Rutgers:  A little too much “spirit” spices up Saturday’s practice (Saturday)

While QB Tom Savage had no issue with being hit by safety Khaseem Greene in Saturday’s scrimmage, his offensive linemen did and the play touched off a minor skirmish as a result. WR Mark Harrison went down early in the scrimmage with a head injury but luckily for the Scarlet Knights freshman Jeremy Deering has been one of the solid performers thus far. Depending on how long Harrison is shelved the Tampa native could see his role expand even more; his play in camp may have necessitated such an increase even before the injury.  

Syracuse:  Orange looking for fourth receiver in their rotation (Thursday)

Alec Lemon, Van Chew and Aaron Weaver look to have their spots in the rotation sewn up at this point in fall camp. But who’s the fourth man at wide receiver? Marcus Sales and Dorian Graham were prime contenders when camp began, but walk-on Cody Morgan has done well of late in the eyes of head coach Doug Marrone. Also of importance for Syracuse in this piece are the battles at tight end (three players fighting for the top spot), left guard (Zach Chibane looks to have the lead) and the fact that offensive lineman Lou Alexander won’t be on campus until January. Apparently the College of the Canyons transfer has academic issues to work out back in California, ruling him out for this season.  

USF:   Closure comes in the form of a scholarship for Miller (Sunday)

Wide receiver Joel Miller, who was a principal figure in the case that eventually led to the firing of former head coach Jim Leavitt, looks to be well on his way to earning a full scholarship from new head coach Skip Holtz. Coach Holtz noted in this piece that should it happen, Miller will have received his scholarship because he’d earned it and not out of sympathy. Also of note is that redshirt freshman offensive guard Josh Garvin has made the decision to no longer play football. While the loss of a body is never good for a team’s depth the Bulls should be able to manage his absence. Also linebacker Sam Barrington, who missed a portion of camp to deal with off-field issues, is back practicing with the team.  

            Bogan and Raymond shine in the second scrimmage (Saturday)

WR Dontavia Bogan caught a pair of touchdowns in Saturday’s scrimmage, the second “depth chart scrimmage”  that Coach Holtz has held. Also Mistral Raymond, who entered fall camp as a starting safety, showed well at corner and will likely move either Quenton Washington or Kayvon Webster out of the starting lineup. In the depth chart that was release following the scrimmage Raymond is listed with Washington as the co-starter at one of the cornerback positions.  

West Virginia:  Bailey staking his claim to a spot in the wide receiver rotation (Thursday)

Stedman Bailey, who played with starting quarterback Geno Smith at Miramar (FL) High, has played well at wide receiver in fall drills and should have a role alongside incumbents Jock Sanders and Tavon Austin. And in other good news for the Mountaineers, freshman QB Jeremy Johnson returned to the team on Wednesday following a bout with homesickness. Johnson was (and still is) expected with classmate Barry Brunetti to compete for the backup job behind Smith. As for Saturday’s scrimmage the Mountaineer offense had trouble moving the football, struggling to move the football at times. Head coach Bill Stewart expressed his continued concern with the West Virginia running game, with the coaching staff also experimenting with the right side of the offensive line.

*********Follow NBE Sports on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NBESports*****

You can get tickets to all these match-ups and more by visiting StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online for tickets to any NCAA event or NBA, MLB, NHL game or UFC, WWE or concert tickets at an arena near you.

Five more awards announced have their preseason watch lists this week: the Bednarik (awarded to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player), Biletnikoff (awarded to the nation’s best wide receiver), Camp (awarded to the nation’s most outstanding football player), Maxwell (also awarded to the nation’s most outstanding football player), and the Guy (awarded to the nation’s best punter). The Big East players named to each of the watch lists are as follows:

Bednarik: DE Greg Romeus (Pittsburgh), FS Robert Sands (West Virginia), LB Derrell Smith (Syracuse) and LB Lawrence Wilson (Connecticut)

Biletnikoff: Jonathan Baldwin (Pittsburgh) and Armon Binns (Cincinnati)

Walter Camp: RB Noel Devine (West Virginia) and RB Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh)

Maxwell: WR Jonathan Baldwin (Pittsburgh), QB Zach Collaros (Cincinnati), RB Noel Devine (West Virginia), RB Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh), RB Isaiah Pead (Cincinnati), QB Tom Savage (Rutgers) and RB Jordan Todman (Connecticut)

Guy: Rob Long (Syracuse)

As for the injuries that have hit the wide receiver position within the Big East in the first two weeks of practice (not even a full 14 days), it’s a good thing the conference went with a running back from each school for the cover of its media guide. Rutgers and Syracuse have seen receivers expected to be important cogs within their respective offenses go down, with the Scarlet Knights knowing that their lost receiver will be out for the season. Tim Wright, who won the job opposite Mohamed Sanu in spring practice, went down with a knee injury on Tuesday and was officially declared out for the season on Wednesday. The man who gets the first shot at replacing Wright is Mark Harrison, who fell just short of getting the top spot on the depth chart at the end of the spring. Harrison averaged just over sixteen yards per reception in 2009 but had just five catches on the season.

As for Syracuse, the first day of practice for Delone Carter (and third day of practice overall) ended up being a bad one for freshman Jarrod West. West left practice without sock or cleat on his right foot early in the session, and head coach Doug Marrone didn’t sound too optimistic when discussing the injury with reporters following practice. With the Orange having a number of possession receivers but lacking difference makers on the outside the hope was that West, who was an all-state selection in Pennsylvania last year and originally committed to Stanford, would be a player they could count on to make a difference. Of course the true severity of the injury is still unknown, and you can only hope for good news if you’re a Syracuse fan.

John F. Silver of the Manchester Journal-Inquirer wrote a piece on Connecticut left tackle Jimmy Bennett, who’s sat out the last two seasons and is competing with Adam Masters for the starting nod. Bennett, from Alexandria, VA, was one of the Huskies’ best recruits two seasons ago and after redshirting injured his knee last season. But his return from injury hasn’t tempered the expectations of the coaching staff, which thinks Bennett has the ability to be the best offensive lineman UConn has produced during the Randy Edsall era.

As for West Virginia, who has found itself in the news more for issues involving the NCAA rules manual recently, the focus is on starting quarterback Geno Smith and his ability to lead the offense and distribute the football. Smith is just one of two new starters on the Mountaineer offense, and while he’s got a number of capable skill players at his disposal they’ll only be as good as he allows them to be. Also, Mike Casazza of the Charleston Daily Mail focused on the journey to health of left guard Chad Snodgrass, who is currently second on the depth chart behind Josh Jenkins. At the least Snodgrass remaining healthy gives West Virginia more line depth, a luxury that any team would desire.

And while it’s never a bad thing to have a visitor who possesses the resume of a Lou Holtz (who spoke to the team on Wednesday), USF didn’t go through the best of days on the injury front in Vero Beach. With RT Jake Sims out due to concussion-like symptoms, the Bulls saw another tackle go down late in practice in the form of Mark Popek (right knee). Popek, who started five games last season as a true freshman, was second on the depth chart at left tackle going into fall camp. With the number of injuries/departures at wide receiver the last thing head coach Skip Holtz needs is to have another position get hit hard by injuries. But the good news is that WR Sterling Griffin was at practice (still not participating) without the protective boot he’d been sporting due to injury.

Other Links:

Cincinnati is expecting big things from Isaiah Pead this season, and head coach Butch Jones won’t be standing in the way of the sophomore’s progress.

Louisville: A number of newcomers will provide the Cardinals with much-needed depth- and playmaking ability- at wide receiver this season.

Pittsburgh: While they do have big holes to fill in the middle of the defensive line with Mick Williams and Guz Mustakas having graduated, the Panthers aren’t without options. And it’s also helped the defense that sophomore middle linebacker Dan Mason is ready to take on a leading role.

by MATT WHITFIELD

A little over ten years ago a running back by the name of William Green came out of Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, N.J. with All-American accolades and went on to an impressive career at Boston College before being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 1st round of the 2002 NFL Draft. Now, fast forward to 2010 and another running back by the name of Nigel Jones has the chance to be something special.

As only a sophomore last season Jones rushed for 1,179 yards and 19 touchdowns on the heels of a freshman year where he rushed for 1,206 yards and 14 touchdowns. Holy Spirit went 8-3 last season and made it all the way to the semifinals where they lost to perennial power St. Joseph’s of Montvale.

Jones, at 5-foot-11 and 203-pounds describes himself as a ‘work horse running back.’

“I would describe myself as a work horse running back with good size speed and power,” he said. “I love the big people that block for me and watch my back every carry.”

Jones so far has an offer from Rutgers coming very soon and heavy interest from Pittsburgh.

“I have one offer coming in September from Rutgers that will be my first and Pittsburgh has shown a lot of interest in the past two years,” said Jones.

Jones, who is being recruited as a running back at the next level, talked about his strengths on the field with NBE recently.

“I’m a very balanced player, I can run and get the corner or cut it up and pound the ball in between the tackles,” said Jones. “I also believe my work ethic can take me a long way on the college level. I pride myself on being a hard worker on the field and the weight room.”

Jones feels he can work on catching the ball out of the backfield and slot. However, to rush for over a thousand yards as a freshman and a sophomore at this high school level is a feat not many others can accomplish. Jones will surely have more coaches and scouts come through his high school in the coming months as Jones may be New Jersey’s top recruit for the Class of 2012.

*********Follow NBE Sports on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NBESports*****

You can get tickets to all these match-ups and more by visiting StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online for tickets to any NCAA event or NBA, MLB, NHL game or UFC, WWE or concert tickets at an arena near you.

By Raphielle Johnson

With Averin Collier’s status still up in the air for academic reasons (it does not look good in terms of him playing this season), Doug Marrone was looking at going into a season with just one experienced running back at his disposal (Antwon Bailey). But Syracuse received quite the depth chart boost on Monday with the clearance of 1,000-yard rusher Delone Carter. Carter, kicked out of school in April for punching another student (February 27^th snowball incident), was cleared by the school’s judicial review board on Monday to re-enroll. While not in Syracuse for practice and the team’s media day at the Carrier Dome, Collier is expected back sometime this week.

There’s no overstating the importance of this news; behind Bailey there was a surplus of inexperienced backs, and the addition of Carter will allow Coach Marrone and running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley some time in developing those youngsters. Also, junior college transfer Lou Alexander (offensive tackle) looks to be on his way towards being cleared to join the team, and his presence will provide the offensive line with more depth and added competition. Lastly, in their quest for a downfield playmaker at wide receiver the Orange will look to Dorian Graham. Graham, who missed all of last season due to a shoulder injury, moves from cornerback to wide receiver and possesses some freakish athletic measurements.

Wide receiver talk segues into the injury woes that have hit USF at the position in their first full week of practice. Senior wideout Colby Erskin, who’d been granted a sixth year of eligibility for medical reasons (three prior ACL tears), tore the ACL in his left knee on Saturday, ending his season before it even began. Add this to the departure of Carlton Mitchell (NFL), four players deciding not to return and projected starters Sterling Griffin and A.J. Love both missing the first month of the season (at least) due to their own injuries. This is not a good start for Skip Holtz and company, who will likely lean heavily on Lindsey Lamar to make things happen from that position.

In other wide receiver news, Cincinnati learned that they will not have the services of junior college transfer Kenbrell Thompkins per NCAA transfer rules. Thompkins, who signed an LOI to play for Lane Kiffin at Tennessee, was not released from the letter by the new coaching staff and as a result will have to sit out the season. However, Thompkins will have two years of eligibility beginning with the 2011 season. Cincinnati will be fine at wide receiver without him, and he should at the very least help out the secondary as they get their reps in against the offensive scout team. Tight end Travis Kelce will not play this season due to a violation of team rules.

Connecticut kicked things off on Monday, and the big move for Randy Edsall’s team actually came in the form of a coaching move. Coach Edsall will handle the safeties this season, allowing first-year secondary coach Darnell Perkins to work solely with the cornerbacks. The Huskies have to replace Robert McClain at free safety and the overall youth is such that it could help them to hear a more familiar voice for the time being. UConn ranked 88^th in pass defense in 2009, and that area could be the difference between contending for the Big East title and simply going to another bowl game.

As for Rutgers, the absence of backup quarterback Steve Shimko (shoulder injury) could open the door for true freshman Chas Dodd to earn the #2 nod in his stead. Tom Luicci of the Newark Star-Ledger writes that the coaches have been impressed with Dodd’s demeanor and ability. But regardless of who wins the backup job the hopes of the Scarlet Knights will rest on the health of Tom Savage; they cannot afford for him to go down due to injury. Pittsburgh is looking for a big season from redshirt junior linebacker Tristan Roberts, who moved ahead of Greg Williams at WILL linebacker due to his play in the spring. Roberts getting the job done will provide even more depth to a unit that’s expected by many to be the best in the conference this season.

Louisville DE Malcolm Tatum is hoping to hold onto his starting job for the entire season, as he lost that spot after just two games in 2009. C.L. Brown of the Louisville Courier-Journal also wrote on Monday that linebacker Deon Rogers, who switched from Georgia to Louisville once the Cardinals hired Charlie Strong, was cleared to join the team. Scout.com ranked Rogers 53^rd in the nation among linebackers and gave him a three-star rating.

West Virginia, which met the deadline to respond to the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations, will be looking for significant production from spur Terrence Garvin given the many responsibilities for his position within their 3-3-5 scheme. Given the overall strength of the Mountaineer defense, Garvin (one of two new starters on defense) should have plenty of opportunities to make things happen. At the very least he’ll have experienced voices on the field letting him know where he needs to be.