INSTANT IMPACT FRESHMEN

Julio Jones, WR, Alabama-The nation's #1 rated wide receiver out of high school and Bama fan's #1 reason for optimism going into the 2008 season is the spectacular Julio Jones. Jones is a 6'4, 210 pound receiver who has been named the starter going into the season opener against Clemson this Saturday. Julio is a freak of an athlete with the ability to have a tremendous freshman season catching passes from senior John Parker Wilson. His impact should be immediate in Tuscaloosa and don't be surprised if a lot of people are talking Heisman especially if he has a huge game against Clemson. Julio has also already earned the respect from his teammates.

Sportscrack 1st team All-American Andre Smith had this to say regarding Julio's impact on their team:

"He's not out boasting about, what (he's) going to do. He just lets his actions speak louder than his words."

Here is a highlight of Julio catching a bomb from Wilson and giving a stiff arm during fall practice...


Darrell Scott, RB, Colorado-Scott was the #1 rated RB coming out of high school in California and spurned numerous offers including one from Texas to pick the Buffaloes. Currently listed #2 on the depth chart behind sophomore Demetrius Sumler, it is just a matter of time before Scott gets the majority of the carries and makes a name for himself in the Big 12 conference. Coach Dan Hawkins has stated he wants all of his RB's to get a lot of carries to keep them fresh but there is little doubt Scott is the most talented of the group and will get more carries as he improves his pass blocking. Here is a Darrell Scott interview with Lemming before his senior season in Ventura, Ca...

Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame-Floyd comes into Notre Dame as the most highly touted WR since Maurice Stovall. Unlike Stovall though Floyd isn't a work in progress and already runs great routes, has consistent hands, and knows most of the plays which will enable him to make an instant impact starting next week against San Diego State. The 6'3, 205 pound receiver from Minnesota is currently second on the depth chart behind senior WR David Grimes but don't be surprised if he is the starter by the second week of the season against Michigan. Floyd provides QB Clausen a big target who has the body to separate himself from DB's to the contrary of the smaller Grimes. Expectations were huge coming into fall camp for Floyd and he has yet to disappoint.

Recruiting stalker and ND apologist Tom Lemming had this to say about Floyd:

"Michael Floyd," said CBS College Sports recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, "will be able to run the routes, will be able to block, will be able to handle the pressure of being the best wide receiver prospect to walk in the door since Randy Moss tried to (and was turned away in 1995), because Michael has both feet on the ground.

"He sees the big picture. He's not going to have the highs and lows of being a prodigy. He's got such an even temperament and mature perspective. And he's a leader, so people will follow him."

Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame-Another Notre Dame player to be on the lookout is starting tight end Kyle Rudolph. The #1 rated TE coming out of Elder High School in Cincinatti, Rudolph has passed junior Will Yeatman on the depth chart and was named the starter after sophomore Mike Ragone went down with a knee injury last week.

At 6'6 and 250 pounds he provides another big target for QB Jimmy Clausen and will also be a tremendous deep ball threat according to head coach Charlie Weis:

“He runs down the field faster than the rest of them,” Weis said.
"I'm very, very high on Kyle Rudolph," Weis said. "What Kyle Rudolph lacks a little bit in explosion at the line of scrimmage — in comparison to a more veteran player — he makes up in straight-line speed. I mean, the kid gets down the field in a hurry. He's got great ball skills. Anytime you've got a tight end who can run, who is at least an adequate blocker, you know you've got something."

A.J. Green, WR, Georgia-What Matthew Stafford has been missing since he arrived in Athens since leaving his Texas high school days is a tall, play making WR who can stretch the field. Actually if you ask Bulldog fans they will tell you he has been missing one who can actually catch the ball consistently. No worries UGA fans because Stafford finally has one. A. J. Green will not start against Georgia Southern but his impact should be immediate. The 6'4 lanky receiver who has been compared to Randy Moss in some recruiting circles currently is the #2 flanker behind senior WR Mohamed Massaquoi but should be in a lot of offensive plays where the offensive coordinator Mike Bobo looks to spread the defense apart. Green made an early commitment to the Bulldogs during his junior season in high school and will look to be the go-to target for Stafford during his freshman season. At 6'4 and 200 pounds, Green looks the part of a dominant receiver and his hands look more like bear paws ready to haul in game changing TD's this fall in the SEC.

Despite nursing a hip flexor injury for the better part of summer practice, wide receiver coach John Eason has seen enough of Green to know he has a good one:

"He doesn't know everything obviously yet; he has not played in a game," Eason said. "There's a lot of potential there and it's potential that we've seen flashes of a guy that could be pretty good."

DaQuan Bowers, DE, Clemson-Bowers is a freak. An early enrollee, Bowers will start this Saturday against Alabama as Clemson looks to win their first ACC title since 1991. The #1 rated DE coming out of high school, Bowers is a 6'4, 270 pound specimen who can run a faster 40 time then a lot of runningbacks and receivers. Bowers will remind Clemson fans of Gaines Adams quickly.

Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State-Never heard of this guy before today. Okay, all kidding aside we all know about Pryor and the Corvettes and the shady recruiting. Currently listed #3 on the depth chart behind Todd Boeckman and Joe Bauserman, he is essentially a co-#2 with Bauserman who will used much like Tim Tebow was his freshman season in Gainesville. The USA Today Player of the Year stands at 6'6 and looks a lot like Vince Young when lined up behind center. His athleticism is off the charts and he should see significant time this year including the home opener against Youngstown State.

Will Hill, S, Florida-The freshman strong safety from New Jersey sits currently #2 on the depth chart behind Ahmad Black but should see plenty of playing time this year. Hill wears #10 and should become a permanent fixture in the Gator's secondary which just happened to be atrocious last year. I expect Hill to be starting by midseason and he should also provide an impact on special teams because athletically he is so far ahead of the upperclassmen. Once his football knowledge catches up with his talent look out because the sky is the limit for Hill.

Marcus Robinson, DE, Miami-With all the attention fellow classmates LB Arthur Brown and DT Marcus Forston received during their recruiting process it comes as a bit of a surprise neither will be starting this Thursday but Robinson will be. A converted linebacker out of high school, Robinson's athleticism and the Hurricane's numerous suspensions have given him a chance to make his mark against Charles Southern. A bit undersized, Robinson will be used much like Terrell Suggs was at Arizona State. Sometimes he will have his hand down and other times he will be playing a hybrid outside linebacker. His impact will be immediate as the Canes field an extremely young squad under second year coach Randy Shannon.

Rahim Moore, S, UCLA-A five star prospect out of the Los Angeles area, Moore decided to stay close to home with UCLA and has already nailed down the starting strong safety position for the Bruins. Moore shows great maturity for a freshman and can play cornerback also if the Bruins need him. Expect the talented Moore to remind UCLA fans of Eric Turner when he bulks up a little bit.

Others to look out for on a campus near you: Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh; Stephfon Green, RB, Penn State; Gerell Robinson, WR, Arizona State; Richard Samuel, RB, Georgia; Blake Gideon, S, Texas; Earl Thomas, S, Texas; Ethan Johnson, DE, Notre Dame; Blake Ayles, TE, USC; Don'ta Hightower, LB, Alabama

2 MORE DAYS

"There's a lot of blood, sweat, and guts between dreams and success."
-Bear Bryant

BIG EAST FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2008

MATT FAIRCHILD BREAKS DOWN THE BIG EAST AND GIVES HIS PREDICTIONS
The Big East conference is kind of like the Rodney Dangerfield of College Football. They don't get a lot of respect because of the gimmick offenses and the defenses made of undersized blind Canadians. And by Canadians I mean football players from the Northeast who wouldn't stand a chance in the South and by blind I mean they suck for the most part. Don't get me wrong there are some really good players in the conference but anyone of these teams would struggle from week-to-week playing a tough SEC schedule. Hell, Rich Rodriguez finally came to his senses! Kidding Mountaineers fans, kidding. Let's take a look at the Dangerfields...

THE ELITE TEAMS:

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS-As some of you may have heard a coach by the name of Rich Rodriguez, otherwise known as DickRod for the uninformed, decided to leave his cushy job at his alma mater to go to big bad Michigan. In short nobody liked the move and most people consider DickRod an assbag who will fail miserably in Ann Arbor and prove how much of a whore he has become. But you know what? Fuck him! Time to move on everybody.
QB Pat White returns for what seems like his 8th season in Morgantown(actually his 4th starting) after winning conference player of the year honors the past two seasons. White is a great college player and one of my favorite players to watch. The kid is so silky smooth I want to lick him up and then poop him out in a waffle cone only to be consumed again. Yeah, he is that good. Steve Slaton is gone but he was overrated anyways and now enters the Devine one named Noel. Noel is a small back who only averaged 8.6 YPC as a true freshman. Yeah, he blows. Devine is like one of those wind-up dog dolls that jump around and bark all the time. He should have a monster season along with White. The offense will sure as shit put a lot of points on the board but the question remains if they will able to stop anybody?
Nope. Their defense could be awful this year with only 4 returning starters. Of course it won't matter too much since they play in the Big East and they get Rutgers and South Florida in Morgantown. A huge Thursday night game against Auburn in Morgantown will help the conference gain some respect it thinks it deserves and a Friday night game against Pittsburgh at Heinz could determine who wins the conference. I see at least 10 wins with a healthy Pat White. They won't contend for a National Title but they will get in a BCS bowl game.


THE CONTENDERS:

SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS-Almost everybody in the media are licking the Bulls balls this summer thinking they are the most talented team in the conference. Personally I don't like to lick Bulls balls. I love a lot of aspects on their squad including the 17 returning starters who won 9 games last year and at one point reached #2 in the country but their most important player I can't stand. QB Matt Grothe has Reggie Ball-like symptoms of making some of the dumbest fucking decisions you will see a QB make in a game. Maybe he brings it all together for his senior season but I just don't see it happening.

PITTSBURGH PANTHERS-I know what you are saying, "Pitt can't win with a coach like Wannstedt leading the way" but I actually think they will compete in this conference because of RB Lesean McCoy and LB Scott McKillop. Both are among the top 10 at their respective position in the nation and both have the ability to control some aspect of the game. Their defense should be the best in the Big East and if they can learn how to score some TD's when in the red zone this team could surprise a lot of people including West Virginia again.

RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS-Rutgers should be able to put a lot of points on the board this season despite the loss of RB Ray Rice to the NFL. Senior QB Mike Teel has all four of his top WR's back including All-Big East Tiquan Underwood. The defense returns 8 starters but let's be honest they aren't that good. Last year they finished tied for 2nd to last in the conference and should improve even without Rice. They will go as far as Teel leads them.


FALLING BACK TEAMS:

CINCINNATI BEARCATS-Brian Kelly's program should again be solid but they won't repeat last year's #17 finish. QB Ben Mauk isn't returning for his 11th season of college football and ND transfer Demetrius Jones is recovering from a bum shoulder.

LOUISVILLE CARDINALS-Only 9 returning starters to a program slowly going down in shambles after Bobby Petrino slithered out of town, the Cardinals have a hot shot QB prospect in Hunter Cantwell.

CONNECTICUT HUSKIES-It is true that UCONN is the defending Big East co-champions and coach Randy Edsall is one of the best in the Big East at getting his team ready for battles they have no right to win. But it still is UCONN and the talent isn't there to compete.

TEAMS THAT SUCK AND BLOW AT THE SAME TIME:

SYRACUSE ORANGEMEN-Coach Robinson has finished dead last in his first 3 seasons and they still are the worst team this year by far. Until the get players like Donovan McNabb or Marvin Harrison they will not be able to compete for a bowl.

BEST GAME: WEST VIRGINIA AT PITT (November 28th)-You remember what happened last year during this contest right? All WVU had to do was beat a 28 point dog at home to go to their first ever BCS Title game and yet they completely screwed the pooch and lost. Pitt should be much better this season and the Mountaineers are looking for revenge. It should be a hell of a battle.

WORST GAME: NORTHEASTERN AT SYRACUSE (September 20th)-Watching these two teams could be hazardous to your health both mentally and physically.

MOST OVERRATED GAME: No idea(?)-I'm completely stumped on this one. Most of their games are exciting at the least.

BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER: West Virginia QB Pat White can do it all whether running the ball or throwing some perfect spirals. He is the Charlie Ward of his era.

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: South Florida defensive end George Selvie is a returning 1st team All-American who led the nation in tackles for loss with 31.5 with 14.5 being the quarterback variety.

BEST FRESHMAN: Pittsburgh WR Jonathan Baldwin is 6'6 and should be used as a big target in the red zone offense. A little raw coming out of high school, his talent will get him on the field quickly for coach Wanny.

MOST LIKELY TO GET ARRESTED: Willie Williams is no longer playing for Louisville after getting kicked out so this makes it a little more difficult and as far as I know there isn't a Vick in the conference. I'm going to go with Mikhail Marinovich of Syracuse. He already has been arrested once for a school break in and if we have learned anything over the years it is you can never put your trust in a Marinovich.

MOST LIKELY TO BE FIRED: Syracuse coach Greg Robinson will be gone if they finish in the Big East basement yet again as I suspect they will.

PLAYER WHO WILL BE BETTER THAN WHAT PEOPLE THINK: Rutgers left tackle Anthony Davis is just a sophomore but is a star in the making. He will be earning millions on the next level and I would die for him to be wearing a Notre Dame uniform

DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AWARD: Why are there only 8 teams in the conference? The Big East needs to add at least 2 more teams. My alma mater Georgia State is finally getting a football program in 2010 and they would be a good fit since they will be playing in the Georgia Dome and they don't know how to play defense.

THE WINNER IS:
Everybody is high on South Florida this season but I don't see it. I still think West Virginia, with a healthy Pat White, is the team to beat and will be making their 3rd BCS bowl game in 4 years under White. The kid is a legend!

JOE PATERNO PUTS THE FEAR INTO HIS PLAYERS

The old geezer still has it. I might not understand a word he says but JoePa doesn't put up with shit from anybody. It's really too bad he shit on himself about 4 times in this clip. I would be scared to death of an old man coming at me after he shit all over himself.

Letter to JoePa's attorney: the poo comment is satire and no, I do not wish to be sued.

My shirt will remain tucked by the way. No reason to piss off JoePa.