Spring
Preview
2008
The 20 Big Questions - No. 4
By
Pete Fiutak
-
The 2008 Big Spring Questions
No. 20 - Top 40
Non-Conference Games
No. 16-19 - BCS Busters,
Rule Changes & More
No. 15 -
Ranking the
Conferences
No. 14 -
Who Could Be This
Year's Kansas?
(breaking through big after a bad year)
No. 13 - 5 Teams That Could
Tumble
No. 12 -
Who Could Be This Year's
Missouri?
(going from good to special)
No. 11 - Ten Coaches Who
Need Big Seasons
No. 10 - The New Superstar
Coaches
No. 9 -
Everyone Will Be
Complaining About ...
No. 8 -
Everyone Will Be
Buzzing About ...
No. 7 -
The Pressure Is On ...
No. 6 -
The Relatively Unknown
Players
You'll Care About
No. 5 - Every League's Pain In the Butt Team
4.
Who
are some of the already known players ready to go nuclear in 2008?
Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame
Of course, this is assuming he actually wins the job. Clausen was
last year's overhyped prep quarterback of the moment, and while no one's
ever as good as the press clippings, at least right away, he never had a
chance. Thrown to the wolves as a true freshman, he had one of the
nation's most porous lines to work behind and a deep-green receiving
corps to throw to. No, 1,254 yards, seven touchdowns, six interceptions,
and job insecurity isn't what everyone had in mind, and no, he's not
going to be Brady Quinn this season, but the overall experience will be
there all across the offense and yeah, he actually is good.
Brian Cushing, LB USC
After a tremendous, tenacious pass rushing season as an undersized
defensive end, Cushing moved to outside linebacker where he only made 25
tackles, mainly because he had a bum ankle that was never right. Even
with the mediocre season, he could've turned pro early and likely
would've been a top 50 pick. After undergoing ankle surgery, expect him
to grow into one of the nation's most productive defenders as he cleans
up everything Rey Maulauga doesn't get to.
James Davis & C.J. Spiller, RBs Clemson
Welcome to the new Darren McFadden/Felix Jones, Ronnie Brown/Carnell
Williams, Reggie Bush/LenDale White. Well, the Davis/Spiller tandem
isn't really like the former USC duo, but it'll be among the most
dangerous in the country after Davis reversed field and chose to return
for his senior season. A touchdown machine with 36, to go along with
3,130 yards, he's a tough back with speed. Spiller is a speed back with
speed. The junior toyed with the idea of transferring last year, but
chose to stick in Death Valley and ran for 768 yards and three
touchdowns. While he would've been a Heisman-stat superstar had Davis
left, Spiller will be more than effective as the No. 1A option in a
loaded offense.
Arian Foster, RB Tennessee
Following a major sophomore slump, thanks mostly to an ankle injury,
Foster came back roaring with a nice 1,193-yard, 12-touchdown season as
the steady leader of the Tennessee ground game. After flirting with
turning pro early, he wisely chose to return and now should be the focal
point of a Vol attack that's breaking in a new starting quarterback and
a new offensive coordinator. He's in the SEC, and he's not really a
home-run hitter, so there won't be Darren McFadden-like stats, but he
should be a consistent 100-yard performer.
Graham Harrell, QB Texas Tech
Kliff Kingsbury, B.J. Symons, Sonny Cumbie, Cody Hodges ... Texas
Tech has had a slew of marginally talented quarterbacks who put up big,
ridiculous numbers. Harrell is different. Oh sure, he's cranking out the
stats, leading the nation in total offense and throwing for 10,689 yards
and 89 touchdowns in just over two seasons, but he's an actual NFL
prospect. Sort of like Colt Brennan showed that he just wasn't a system
quarterback at Hawaii, Harrell might finally break through as he leads a
loaded offense that gets Bilitnikoff winner Michael Crabtree back and
loses just one starter, WR Danny Amendola. After throwing 48 touchdown
passes with 11 400-plus yard performances, he should be even better.
Chase Holbrook, QB New Mexico State & Chris Williams, WR New Mexico
State
After doing a little bit of thinking about jumping ship to
the NFL early, Holbrook chose to return for his final year after
realizing he'd likely have been a late second day pick. So far he's
thrown for 8,485 yards and 60 touchdowns with 27
interceptions in two seasons. However, after an ultra-efficient
sophomore season, he struggled with interceptions throughout
last season throwing 18, with two or more tossed in six games.
At 6-5 and 240 pounds, he has the size, he has the arm, and he
has the knowledge of the offense. Now with his prime receivers
returning, he should be in for a huge final season and should
take over for Colt Brennan as the WAC's big passing star.
Williams caught 56 passes for 772 yards and 11 touchdowns in just under
eight games, but it was that eighth, a win over Idaho, that cost him his
season suffering a broken collarbone. On the positive side, one of the
nation's quickest, most productive receivers is back for a final year
and, if he stay healthy, will be one of the nation's most productive
receivers. a wisp at only 5-8 and 157 pounds, he can't take too many big
shots, but he's uncoverable.
Jorvorskie Lane, RB Texas A&M
One of the nation's most unstoppable short-yardage forces over the
last few years, he was underutilized by the former coaching staff and
went bizarre stretches without getting the ball. Even so, he ran for 44
touchdowns in three years and has been terrific when given a chance to
be a workhorse. After slimming down this off-season, and with a new
coaching staff ready to give him the ball, the thunder will come on a
more regular basis.
George Selvie, DE South Florida
More like a big linebacker than a true defensive end, the 6-4,
242-pound junior went from making 84 tackles as a freshman to 58 as a
sophomore, but he blew up as a pass rusher with 14.5 sacks and a
nation-leading 31.5 tackles for loss. While put up the overall numbers,
he struggled late in the year coming up with just one sack in the final
five games once teams started putting everyone on him. He'll have to be
used to double and triple teams, but with an off-season to get stronger,
and with the national buzz generated, the pressure will be on from the
start.
Willie Tuitama, QB Arizona
For what seems like the ninth season in a row, Tuitama is supposed
to be college football's next really big thing. A combination of
injuries and team inefficiency have kept him from becoming a special
player, but he has shown glimpses of greatness. Running a Texas
Tech-like spread passing game that he's had a year to figure out, the
opportunities will be there for a huge season. Throwing for 28
touchdowns and 3,683 yards were nice, but he has to start leading the
way to more wins. Those should finally start coming on a more regular
basis ... really.
Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB Ohio State
Ohio State has been a national punching bag after losing the
last two national championship games, but the ire hasn't been directed
at Beanie. With a scary combination of speed, power, and breakaway
ability, the junior, who's coming off a 1,605-yard, 15-touchdown season,
is on the true short list of Heisman candidates and will be a top 15
pick if he
chooses to come out next year. With a veteran line to work behind and a
loaded offense to take the heat off, the only thing keeping Wells from
an obnoxious-stat season will be the blowouts. He won't be playing in
most fourth quarters.
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