2007
Preseason Rankings
Shooting for a Bowl - No. 50 to No. 59
Some lower-level BCS conference teams and top mid-majors
There's
one very important distinction in the CFN preseason rankings: these
are based on how good the teams are going into the season and NOT
how they're going to finish. Some teams have easier
schedules than others, some get tougher road games and some will
need a little bit of time to jell meaning they might be better than
their final record might indicate. Going into the year, these are
how good the teams appear to be from No. 1 through 119.
CFN 2007 Preseason Rankings
1 to 10 |
11 to 20 |
21 to 29 |
30 to 39 |
40 to 49
60 to 69 |
70 to 79 |
80 to 89 |
90 to 99 |
100 to 109 |
110 to 119
50.
Wake Forest
-
Wake Forest |
Offense| Defense
|
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... last year wasn't the fluke
many want to believe it was. The Demon Deacons played good, sound
football with a good offensive line, a strong running game, and peerless
special teams. The same formula might work again with several good
backs, four returning starters up front, and Sam Swank back to handle
the kicking duties. The defense should be even better than last year
when it finished 12th in the nation in scoring defense.
The ranking is too high because ... lost in all the success was
an offense that got by on efficiency and not making mistakes, but it's
not like it went anywhere. If QB Riley Skinner isn't flawless again when
it comes to ball security, the overall machine might break down.
Everyone will take the Demon Deacons seriously now, and everyone will
make Skinner win games through the air. He won't be able to do it
against the better ACC teams.
Relative Strengths: Offensive Line, Running Back
Relative
Weaknesses:
Wide Receiver,
Secondary
51.
Washington
-
Washington
Preview |
Offense
|
Defense
|
Depth
Chart
The ranking is too low because ... if Jake Locker is half as good
a passer as he's expected to be, the offense should shine. Louis Rankin
and J.R. Hasty should form a nasty running combination, while there are
good receiver prospects to get excited about. Defensively, the front
seven shouldn't be bad as long as the linebacking corps doesn't have to
do too much. The front four should control games at times.
The ranking is too high because ... the defensive back seven will
be a liability if the linebackers aren't great. The secondary will
likely get torched by all the good Pac 10 passing games. While the
offense has good looking prospects, there aren't a lot of sure things to
rely on, and that'll be a problem on the road in the opener at Syracuse
and against a brutal, brutal first half of the year (at Syracuse,
Boise State, Ohio State, at UCLA, USC, at Arizona State, Oregon).
Relative Strengths: Running Back, Defensive Line
Relative
Weaknesses: Secondary, Linebacker
52.
Illinois
-
Illinois Preview |
Offense |
Defense |
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... the program is loaded with
exciting young talent that will scare the living bejeebers out of
several Big Ten big boys. Juice Williams is one of the league's most
dangerous quarterbacks with the running skills to keep everyone on their
toes, and now he has an elite target to go to with the expected
emergence of star recruit Arrelious Bean. The defense was
underappreciated all through last year, and now there's more help from
the recruiting ranks to help tackling machine J Leman and top tackle
Chris Norwell.
The ranking is too high because ... your completion percentage is
probably higher than Juice's. Defensive coordinators will let Williams
throw as much as he wants to; that's not a plus for the Illini. There
might be a ton of hype, but the team has done absolutely nothing so far
under Ron Zook. This is still a very, very young team that'll have to go
through some major growing pains before it realizes its potential. .
Relative Strengths: Linebacker, Quarterback
Relative
Weaknesses: Running Back, Defensive Line
53. NC
State
-
NC State
|
Offense |
Defense
|
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... the coaching is far, far
better. Tom O'Brien and his staff are a significant upgrade over the
last few regimes, and the result should eventually be steadier and
consistent play. The defense might not be flashy, but it has the
potential to be extremely good with a strong line and three senior
linebackers. The running back trio of Toney Baker, Andre Brown and
Jamelle Eugene will be solid enough to carry the offense.
The ranking is too high because ... the quarterback situation is
a major question mark. Daniel Evans, Harrison Beck and Justin Burke are
still battling to become the main man, and none of them will throw any
sort of a scare into the better ACC defenses. The secondary will be
merely average, while the offensive line has to replace both tackles and
should struggle for a while.
Relative Strengths:
Running Back, Defensive Line
Relative
Weaknesses: Quarterback, Offensive Line
54.
Vanderbilt
-
Vanderbilt Preview |
Offense
|
Defense |
Depth
Chart
The ranking is too low because ... this is an experienced,
potentially dangerous team with nine returning starters on offense and
seven back on defense. Considering this is Vandy, there's surprising
star power on both sides of the ball led by WR Earl Bennett and LB
Jonathan Goff. There are several legitimate All-SEC candidates to get
excited about, and QB Chris Nickson is growing into a dangerous
all-around player who'll give the big boys some big-time fits over the
next few years.
The ranking is too high because ... there are still issues even
with all the returning talent. The corners are hardly elite, while the
running game should be average unless Chris Nickson takes off on a
regular basis. This is the best Commodore team in several years, but it
still has to learn how to win, especially at an SEC level. Few teams
will take this game lightly anymore, and despite the promise and
potential, the talent isn't there compared to most teams in the league.
Relative Strengths: Offensive Line, Wide Receiver
Relative
Weaknesses: Running Back, Secondary
55.
Kansas
State
-
Kansas State
|
Offense Preview |
Defense
|
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... there's more than enough
experience on defense to come up with a big year. All-American Ian
Campbell will be used partly as an outside linebacker and partly as an
end in a mixed 3-4, and he should wreak havoc in opposing backfields,
while safety Marcus Watts leads a good secondary that should be the
team's strength. On offense, the rushing tandem of Leon Patton and James
Johnson should be devastating.
The ranking is too high because ... Josh Freeman still isn't
ready for primetime. The rising star quarterback still needs a lot of
work to do before he's the type of consistent playmaker who'll be
counted on game in and game out. While his talent is undeniable, he's
not going to make the average receiving corps better, at least over the
first half of the season. The offensive line has more than enough depth
to come up with a good rotation, but there's not much in the way of
talent.
Relative Strengths: Defensive Line, Secondary
Relative
Weaknesses: Wide Receiver, Offensive Line
56.
Michigan
State
-
Michigan State Preview |
Offense
|
Defense |
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... the offense should be able to
run the ball without much of a problem with Javon Ringer, A.J. Jimmerson
and Jehuu Caulcrick forming one of the Big Ten's deepest running back
corps, and a big, physical line to work behind. Defensively, the safety
tandem of Otis Wiley and Nehemiah Warrick are good pieces of the new
puzzle, while the linebacking corps is quick and athletic. It shouldn't
take too much tweaking to turn things around.
The ranking is too high because ... the schedule is nasty enough
to make this a disappointing season, even if the team is appreciably
better. The receiving corps has to replace the top three targets and QB
Brian Hoyer is still a bit of an X factor, even though he has a little
bit of experience. The defense will need to take some chances for a
while to generate some sort of a pass rush, while the corners will have
to play big early on.
Relative Strengths: Running Back, Linebacker
Relative
Weaknesses: Wide Receiver, Cornerback
57.
New Mexico
-
New Mexico
Preview
|
Offense |
Defense |
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... the Lobos should be back to
being the Lobos of recent vintage with a tough defense and a strong,
pounding ground game. Rodney Ferguson might be turn out to be the
Mountain West's best back, but the passing game won't be ignored with a
lethal tandem of Travis Brown and Marcus Smith for rising star
quarterback Donovan Porterie to work with. Defensively, the linebacking
corps will be stellar, while the corner tandem of DeAndre Wright and
Glover Quin is the best in the conference.
The ranking is too high because ... depth is a major, major
concern. There's little among the skill players, and even less on the O
line. The talent on defense was there last year and it never came
together to live up to the potential, so the jury is still out on
whether or not everyone will play up to their capabilities.
Relative Strengths: Running Back, Linebacker
Relative
Weaknesses:
Offensive Line,
Defensive Line
58.
Pitt
-
Pitt Preview |
Offense |
Defense
|
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... the main weakness early
on, quarterback, could eventually grow into a positive if Bill Stull
is consistent or Pat Bostick plays up to his billing. Everyone
around the new starter will shine with a good receiving corps, a
nice back in LaRod Stephens-Howling, and decent enough offensive
line to win with. The defensive line will be better than last year's
group that got shoved all over the place.
The ranking is too high because ... the defense doesn't have
the star power of last year, and losing steady, much-improved passer
Tyler Palko will take a while to get over. The future of the
secondary is bright, but it'll take a while before all the young
players start to shine. THe linebacking corps will also need a few
games to get its feet wet.
Relative Strengths: Wide Receiver, Secondary
Relative
Weaknesses: Quarterback, Linebacker
59. Central
Michigan
- Central Michigan
Preview |
Offense
|
Defense
|
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... the main pieces from last
year's MAC champion offense are back with QB Dan LeFevour leading the
way, RB Ontario Sneed doing a little bit of everything, and rising WR
Bryan Anderson sure to be even better. Making things even better for the
running game is the addition of Notre Dame transfer Justin Hoskins.
Defensively, the line should be fine after a few weeks, while the back
seven should grow into a strength.
The ranking is too high because ... former head coach Brian Kelly
was special, and while new head man Butch Jones should be fine, he's not
Kelly. The defensive line has to overcome the loss of Dan Bazuin, while
the offensive line has to retool after losing two key starters. The
defense won't be among the MAC's best, so if the offense has any issues
for any stretch of time, a repeat championship isn't going to happen.
Relative Strengths: Quarterback, Running Back
Relative
Weaknesses:
Offensive Line, Defensive Line
