2008 CFN Preview - Unit Rankings

What offensive and defensive units are the best, like P.J. Hill and Wisconsin's offense, and which, potentially, need the most work? Based on talent along with potential production, at least how the teams look going into the season, here are the CFN Unit Rankings from 1 to 119.

2008 CFN Unit Rankings

Offenses

CFN 2008 Unit Rankings
2008 Preview | Quarterbacks | Running Backs
Receivers | Offensive Lines | Defenses | Defensive Lines
Linebackers | Secondaries | Special Teams  

1. Oklahoma
Consistency will be the key, especially on the road, but all the parts are there. The offense has the talent to be unstoppable, but there are a few question marks. Starting with the positives, Sam Bradford should once again be among the nation’s most effective and efficient quarterbacks and the line might be the best in America by a wide margin with all five starters returning, along with impressive depth. However, the top two returning running backs, DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown, are coming off knee injuries, and the receiving corps will be looking for immediate help with Malcolm Kelly moving on early to the NFL. Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson are great targets, but can they be more than just complementary receivers? Can the new superstar running back and receiver recruits shine right away? Again, though, with a line like OU has, everyone will get time to jell.

2. Florida
There are a lot of health concerns, but if and when everyone is 100%, this will be one college football's most devastating attacks. It all starts with Heisman winner Tim Tebow, who likely won't put up the stats he cranked out last year but could be a better passer as the coaching staff looks to keep its star fresh by limiting his workload. There will be more of a quarterback rotation and far more help from a four-headed monster at running back led by Kestahn Moore and USC transfer Emmanuel Moody to go along with speedsters Chris Rainey and Brandon James. Percy Harvin is one of the nation's most devastating playmakers, while the rest of the receiving corps should be unstoppable. The key will be a line with two very good, but very banged up seniors, Phil Trautwein and Jim Tartt, leading a talented group of underclassmen.

3. Ohio State
The Buckeyes are loaded with ten returning starters and the one new face to the mix, sophomore right tackle Bryant Browning, is on the verge of being a star. A shockingly balanced attack last year, averaging 197 yards per game both rushing and receiving, might lean even more heavily on the running game with Chris "Beanie" Wells a Heisman candidate working behind a durable, tough front five. The passing game gets back the dangerous receiving tandem of Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline, while QB Todd Boeckman will once again be a steady, efficient triggerman. The key will be to get more offensive scoring pop and to figure out how to mix in all the talented young backups. How will super-recruit Terrelle Pryor fit into the quarterback rotation, if at all? Can speedy tailback Brandon Saine get more carries? There's an embarrassment of riches to get excited about.

4. Missouri
If everyone plays as well as expected, this will once again be one of the five most productive offenses in the nation. It all starts with Heisman finalist Chase Daniel, an ultra-efficient passer who knows the offense backwards and forwards. Now in his third year as the starter and with 37 games under his belt, he'll make his dizzying array of weapons shine. The receiving corps is loaded with all-around playmaker Jeremy Maclin and tight end Chase Coffman, who'll be healthy again to start the year, unlike last season, while Danario Alexander and Tommy Saunders are strong targets to work with. The running backs will be fine with a good combination of players to rotate around, and the line should be fantastic if the starting five can stay healthy.

5. Georgia
The offense was opportunistic and it put points on the board, but it didn't move the ball nearly as well as you'd think considering the team put up 40 or more points six times. It was a balanced attack, but it's no coincidence the season changed and the Dawgs got good, really good, once the young offensive line fully jelled and RB Knowshon Moreno turned into a superstar. There's as much talent and potential on the three-deep depth chart as any team in America, but for all the promise and all the high school accolades, there are still question marks. Will the receivers start producing on a regular basis, or will they just look the part without really being the devastating group they should be? Will QB Matthew Stafford fulfill his destiny and become a top pro prospect? Will all the redshirt freshmen from a terrific 2007 class be ready for primetime right away? There are simply too many good players to be 74th in the nation in total offense again, and with a line like the Bulldogs have, and with the talent in the backfield, it won't be.

6. Clemson
The All-ACC trio of QB Cullen Harper, RB James Davis, and WR Aaron Kelly resisted the temptation of testing NFL waters, giving Clemson the key parts of one of the league’s top offenses. Add in Davis’ dynamic running mate, C.J. Spiller, and the Tigers have the ingredients to be balanced and downright combustible. The key to the success, however, lies with an offensive line that’ll be breaking in three new starters, including both tackles. Chris Hairston and Cory Lambert are being counted on to win the tackle jobs on a front wall that could dictate whether or not the Tigers reach their goals this season.   

7. Texas Tech
The machine should be humming better than ever with almost everyone returning. Expect close to 500 passing yards per game, a lot of points, and a whole bunch of fun for what could be the best offense yet under head coach Mike Leach. The only starter gone from last year is WR Danny Amendola, and Edward Britton and Detron Lewis are expected to fill in the gap without a problem. The phenomenal pitch-catch combination of Graham Harrell to Michael Crabtree will once again set all sorts of records, while the mammoth, veteran offensive line will give everyone time to work. The one issue is a running game that took a major step back last season, but now it has four options in the rotation to try to generate more production, or at least more yards per carry.

8. Texas
It wasn't always consistent and it had problems at times getting revved up, but the offense quietly finished 13th in the nation in yards and 14th in scoring. Even with huge losses at running back (Jamaal Charles) and in the receiving corps (Limas Sweed, Nate Jones and TE Jermichael Finley), the production should keep on coming with promising replacements at the skill spots and with a strong, veteran line that should be even better after a decent 2007. Conducting the show is the underappreciated Colt McCoy, who's one of the Big 12's better quarterbacks but gets lost in the shuffle. The one big concern is veteran depth. If there are injury problems, a slew of first year players, including several true freshmen, will have to grow up quickly.

9. Wisconsin
The offense wasn't nearly as efficient as it should've been with nine starters returning in 2006, but injuries to the line, the receiving corps, and to P.J. Hill had something to do with that. Now the attack welcomes back eight starters led by Hill and a phenomenal corps of running backs with three good options to carry the load. The tight end combination of Travis Beckum and Garrett Graham might be the best in the nation, and the line returns four starters with the one hole, center, all patched up. The question mark is at quarterback where neither Allan Evridge nor Dustin Sherer stood out in practices, while the receiving corps doesn't have any sure-thing weapons. There's a whole slew of young, athletic talent, but it would've been nice to have had more veterans to help out the new passer. That, along with the problems the Badger line has had in pass protection over the last few years, will mean it'll be all about running the ball, running the ball, and running it some more early on.

10. USC
Mark or Mitch? The battle between Mark Sanchez and Mitch Mustain to replace John David Booty at quarterback isn’t exactly over. Sanchez got the nod in April, but he got hurt and is questionable for the start of the season. Mustain has done nothing but impress the staff since transferring from Arkansas. Whoever gets the ball will have gobs of speed and explosiveness surrounding him. After getting a taste of action as a freshman, RB Joe McKnight is on the tarmac and preparing for national lift-off. The receivers are a year older, with the size, athleticism, and addition of former Hog Damian Williams to dominate opposing secondaries. The line loses four starters, putting the onus on sophomores Kristofer O’Dowd, Butch Lewis, and Zack Heberer to perform like vets.          

11	Tennessee
12	LSU
13	West Virginia
14	Oklahoma State
15	Penn State
16	BYU
17	Kansas
18	Utah
19	Illinois
20	Oregon
21	Fresno State
22	Texas A&M
23	Pitt
24	South Florida
25	Nebraska
26	Arizona State
27	Northwestern
28	Auburn
29	California
30	Virginia Tech
31	Purdue
32	Boise State
33	Arizona
34	Boston College
35	Florida State
36	UCLA
37	Michigan State
38	Kansas State
39	Oregon State
40	Alabama
41	Louisville
42	Central Michigan
43	Arkansas
44	Rutgers
45	Virginia
46	Tulsa
47	Michigan
48	Miami
49	Ole Miss
50	Maryland
51	Minnesota
52	Connecticut
53	Colorado
54	Washington State
55	Washington
56	Nevada
57	Ball State
58	Iowa
59	Cincinnati
60	South Carolina
61	Mississippi State
62	North Carolina
63	Wake Forest
64	Notre Dame
65	Georgia Tech
66	TCU
67	Kentucky
68	Iowa State
69	New Mexico State
70	Indiana
71	Baylor
72	Florida Atlantic
73	Navy
74	NC State
75	New Mexico
76	Syracuse
77	Southern Miss
78	Northern Illinois
79	Toledo
80	Houston
81	Hawaii
82	Duke
83	Vanderbilt
84	Colorado State
85	UNLV
86	Wyoming
87	Louisiana Tech
88	Bowling Green
89	Memphis
90	UTEP
91	East Carolina
92	Stanford
93	Miami Univ.
94	Air Force
95	Marshall
96	Idaho
97	Western Michigan
98	Troy
99	Tulane
100	Arkansas State
101	Rice
102	UCF
103	Kent State
104	San Diego State
105	Akron
106	North Texas
107	Ohio
108	San Jose State
109	SMU
110	Buffalo
111	UL Monroe
112	UL Lafayette
113	UAB
114	Eastern Michigan
115	Temple
116	Middle Tennessee
117	Army
118	Utah State
119	FIU