2010 CFN Preview - Unit Rankings, Spec. Teams

CFN 2010 Preview Unit Rankings from top to bottom - Special Teams

Preview 2010 - Unit Rankings

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2010 CFN Preseason Rankings
- 1 to 5 | 6 to 10 | 11 to 20 | 21 to 30 | 31 to 40 | 41 to 50 | 51 to 60
- 61 to 70 | 71 to 80 | 81 to 90 | 91 to 100 | 101 to 110 | 111 to 120
- CFN Preseason Rankings 2009 | 2008 | 2007

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CFN 2010 Unit Rankings
- Offenses | Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Receivers | Offensive Lines
- Defenses | Defensive Lines | Linebackers | Secondaries  | Special Teams

1. Miami
Thanks in large part to the right leg of Matt Bosher and the potential of the return game, the ‘Canes will once again vie for the ACC’s best all-around special teams unit. If Travis Benjamin can push Thearon Collier and start realizing all of his own potential, Miami will have a hidden edge in the return game.

2. UCLA
For a team looking to rebuild in so many phases, PK Kai Forbath and P Jeff Locke are undisputed luxuries. Forbath is, well, practically a lock whenever he lines for a field goal attempt, and Locke is just getting started as the next big thing in a Bruin punter. If returner Josh Smith can pick up where he left off in Boulder, this could be America’s best all-around special teams units.

3. Georgia
The return game should be explosive and the coaching staff is making a concerted effort to improve the coverage teams. The kicking game is peerless and should win the Dawgs at least two games with a huge advantage in punter Drew Butler and placekicker Blair Walsh. The kicking game is the best in America with Butler the nation’s top punter last year by far, averaging close to three yards per kick more than the No. 2 punter, and Walsh in the mix for this year’s Lou Groza.

4. TCU
TCU might have the best special teams in America. Yeah, it would be nice if PK Ross Evans had a deeper leg, and yeah, it might be nice if the punting game netted more than 35 yards per try, but that’s nitpicking. Jeremy Kerley and the kickers are fantastic. TCU led the nation in kickoff returns and were 12th in punt returns.

5. Nebraska
Special teams were a point of emphasis last offseason, and the work paid off. The coverage teams could stand to be a bit tighter, but that’s nitpicking. PK Alex Henery and returners Niles Paul and Tim Marlowe are terrific and should once again give the Huskers a major advantage in most games.

6. Stanford
New coordinator Brian Polian has to be pinching himself after inheriting such a complete special teams unit. Showing no glaring holes, the Cardinal has a veteran punter and kicker, covers kicks like a blanket, and features one of the most dangerous collections of return men in America. In Chris Owusu, Richard Sherman, and even junior Delano Howell , the Cardinal has athletes for the return game, who will force the other team to kick the ball away from them. As if the offense needs more help, these returners are going to be a boon to field position.

7. Boise State
The special teams were among the best in America and they will be once again as long as the punt return game is solid. The coverage teams are fantastic allowing just 19.1 yards per kickoff return and 6.9 yards per punt return, and kickoff returners are tremendous. Kyle Brotzman could be a bit stronger inside the 40, but overall, this will be a strength and a big advantage in every game.

8. Arizona State
With Thomas Weber and Trevor Hankins as the foundation, Arizona State has the starting points of one of the Pac-10’s premier special teams units. Just how effective it winds up being will depend on the play of the coverage units and the development of Miles as the primary return specialist.

9. Iowa
The Hawkeye special teams are going to be fantastic as long as the kicking situation is settled (and it’s not like it was that bad). Punter Ryan Donohue is fantastic, the return game is great, and the coverage teams are outstanding allowing just 18.4 yards per kickoff return and 5.7 yards per punt return.

10. Florida State
Few holes and loads of potential characterize this year’s special teams unit. PK Dustin Hopkins and PR Greg Reid are emerging stars in just their second seasons on campus, and Shawn Powell is an asset of a punter. If the cover teams can plug a few holes, Florida State can vie for the ACC’s premier group, giving a major boost to the offense and defense.

COULD EASILY BE IN TOP TEN

Arizona	Pac 10
Georgia Tech	ACC
LSU	SEC
Oregon State	Pac 10
Tulsa	C-USAW
Utah	M-West

SOLID, WILL BE A POSITIVE

Air Force	M-West
Auburn	SEC
Ball State	MAC
Baylor	Big 12
Boston College	ACC
BYU	M-West
California	Pac 10
Cincinnati	Big East
Clemson	ACC
FIU	Sun Belt
Florida	SEC
Fresno State	WAC
Hawaii	WAC
Houston	C-USAW
Iowa State	Big 12
Kansas State	Big 12
Kent State	MAC
Kentucky	SEC
Louisiana Tech	WAC
Maryland	ACC
Michigan State	Big Ten
Minnesota	Big Ten
Mississippi State	SEC
Missouri	Big 12
Navy	Ind
NC State	ACC
North Carolina	ACC
Notre Dame	Ind
Ohio	MAC
Ohio State	Big Ten
Oklahoma	Big 12
Oklahoma State	Big 12
Oregon	Pac 10
Pitt	Big East
Rutgers	Big East
South Carolina	SEC
Syracuse	Big East
Temple	MAC
Texas	Big 12
Texas Tech	Big 12
UCF	C-USAE
UL Lafayette	Sun Belt
USC	Pac 10
Utah State	WAC
Virginia Tech	ACC
Wake Forest	ACC
West Virginia	Big East
Wisconsin	Big Ten
Wyoming	M-West

 
AVERAGE

Alabama	SEC
Army	Ind
Central Michigan	MAC
Connecticut	Big East
East Carolina	C-USAE
Idaho	WAC
Indiana	Big Ten
Kansas	Big 12
Michigan	Big Ten
New Mexico State	WAC
Northern Illinois	MAC
Ole Miss	SEC
Purdue	Big Ten
SMU	C-USAW
South Florida	Big East
Southern Miss	C-USAE
Tennessee	SEC
Toledo	MAC
Troy	Sun Belt
Vanderbilt	SEC
Virginia	ACC
Washington	Pac 10
Western Michigan	MAC

NEEDS WORK

Arkansas	SEC
Buffalo	MAC
Colorado State	M-West
Illinois	Big Ten
Louisville	Big East
Nevada	WAC
New Mexico	M-West
Northwestern	Big Ten
Penn State	Big Ten
Rice	C-USAW
Texas A&M	Big 12
UNLV	M-West
Western Kentucky	Sun Belt

A PROBLEM

Arkansas State	Sun Belt
Colorado	Big 12
Duke	ACC
Middle Tennessee	Sun Belt
UL Monroe	Sun Belt
Akron	MAC
Florida Atlantic	Sun Belt
Marshall	C-USAE
North Texas	Sun Belt

THE BOTTOM TEN

Bowling Green	MAC
Eastern Michigan	MAC
Memphis	C-USAE
Miami Univ.	MAC
San Diego State	M-West
San Jose State	WAC
Tulane	C-USAW
UAB	C-USAE
UTEP	C-USAW
Washington State	Pac 10

CFN 2010 Unit Rankings
- Offenses | Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Receivers | Offensive Lines
- Defenses | Defensive Lines | Linebackers | Secondaries  | Special Teams

2010 CFN Preseason Rankings
- 1 to 5 | 6 to 10 | 11 to 20 | 21 to 30 | 31 to 40 | 41 to 50 | 51 to 60
- 61 to 70 | 71 to 80 | 81 to 90 | 91 to 100 | 101 to 110 | 111 to 120
- CFN Preseason Rankings 2009 | 2008 | 2007