
Mark Sanchez and Ryan Perrilloux will forever be linked in history as the most coveted players of the 2005 recruiting class but at this juncture their career paths could not have diverged more drastically. Sanchez, who had his own legal problems looks like a Heisman candidate despite hobbling on one knee behind the sturdiest offensive line in the nation. In his first game since being banished from LSU, Perrilloux spent his Saturday getting harassed by Yellow Jackets. On Saturday, USC sent the message that the road to the national championship, goes through the Trojans. Jacksonville State established that the road to Perrilloux will have a red carpet.
In it’s most humiliating loss since their 77-0 thrashing against Oklahoma, the Texas A& M offense could only muster up 14 points in a loss to Arkansas— State.
There were questions that were partially answered, questions that were answered with authority and new questions created?
How long will Tyrod Taylor’s redshirt actually last? The answer is shrouded in mystery and depends not on how prepared Taylor is but how good Frank Beamer perceives his team as a whole is. Hope for Sean Glennon is lost, but the rest of the offense is abysmal as well. He could toss Tyrod Taylor back into the wolves as he did during his freshman season or label this a rebuilding season and return to form in 2009.
Has Juice Williams progressed as a passer? Seems like after spending an off-season taking snaps with Donovan McNabb proved useful for the Juice, who threw for a career high 451 passing yards and 5 touchdowns as the running game faltered. If the passing game becomes more potent this season, Illinois’ sophomore receiver Rejus Benn will step into the national spotlight.
When will June Jones shake up SMU? He already has by adding quarterback Justin Willis' name to the list of QB's displaced by regime changes. However, unlike Mitch Mustain, Taylor Bennet and Ryan Mallett, Willis was already an established quarterback. Willis spent his first 2 season's starring in a spread offense where he threw for 5,000 yards, 51 touchdowns, connected on 62% of his throws and rushed for 1,000 yards and reached paydirt 6 times on the ground. Despite his success using his arm, June Jones' came to the conclusion that Wiliis wasn't cut out for the run and shoot and demoted Willis to 3rd string. However, Willis has stayed classy by refusing to transfer.
Will Caleb King steal Knowshon Moreno’s thunder? It has yet to be seen how Coach Richt will rotate these two against a BCS opponent but if you look strictly at the numbers Moreno will become a more complete back but Caleb King will simply assume Thomas Brown's responsibilities.
The new season has not only introduced new questions but will also bring new names with unique game to the forefront.
Chris Rainey- Percy Harvin can’t moonlight as a running back forever and given the physical toll Tim Tebow’s body took as the Gators’ leading rusher last year Urban Meyer has to shed his antipathy for traditional tailbacks if they want to keep their star quarterback’s limbs intact. Tebow was protected pretty well in 2007, getting sacked only 13 times but took 264 hits, including 171 on runs last season and in 2008 the Gators rushing remedy has arrived.
From the moment he arrived in Gainesville Emmanuel Moody’s lofty expectations had no limitations. Meanwhile, true freshman Chris Rainey was redshirted after suffering a shoulder injury as praise as fans anticipated USC transfer Emmanuel Moody. However, over the course of spring and summer practices
During his standout All-American prep career Rainey totaled more than 7,000 yards and 90 touchdowns. After bulking up from 150 to 185 lbs., Rainey should be more durable than his 1 carry, 10 yard freshman season. In the Gators ESPN televised spring gamee Rainey, who runs a 4.24 40 yard dash stole the show from Moody.
Jock Sanders- Since Noel Devine and Pat White have justifiably been the center of the hype machine around the nation, Sanders hasn’t garnered
much pub. Despite the early departure of Steve Slaton, Owen Schmitt and Darius Reynaud to the NFL Draft, Sanders gives the Mountaineers one of the most dynamic backfields in the nation. Noel Devine conjures up images of Barry Sanders in his running style, sophomore Jock Sanders, is an all-purpose scatback from St. Petersberg, Florida in the mold of Reggie Bush.
In Coach Bill Stewart’s spread offense, Sanders is being touted as more valuable to West Virginia’s fortunes than Devine.
In Saturday’s season opener against Villanova, Sanders sparsely got carries out of the backfield but was instrumental to the passing game in the slot. Sanders recorded 8 receptions for 62 yards, most of which came after the catch and 2 touchdowns.
Robert Griffin- Griffin is a new addition to the Big 12’s overflowing cupboard of talented quarterbacks. A 6-3, 200-pound true freshman Griffin beat out two other quarterbacks including former Miami Hurricane starter Kirby Freeman for the starters job. Griffin is a dual threat with blazing
Olympic caliber speed on turf and as the Big 12’s 400 meter hurdles champion.
Noel Devine- The auspiciously named, Devine, has the running style and elusiveness in open space to create a mythical narrative of his college football career that outshines his storied high school career.
Relative to his size, Devine does not possess the highest top end speed but his acceleration, quick bursts out of cuts and his stop on a dime ability have given him a reputation as the most elusive halfback since Reggie Bush. Unlike Bush however, Devine’s diminutive stature, could enable him to run more successfully in between the tackles and large blockers obscuring his location before he springs out. This season, the Mountaineers offense will expand his role to include increased carries as the #1 ball carrier and screen passes for him in open space.
Statistical prediction: 1,200 yards, 14 TD's. Barring injury to his slight frame, Devine will excel in West Virginia’s spread offense. Devine is most fascinating player in the nation and in my opinion the Mountaineers aren’t very deep at tailback.
Jonathan Dwyer— As the triple option era slowly creeps into Bobby Dodd Stadium, there are bound to be a plethora of missteps. Luckily, as Tech’s balanced offense begins to revamp it’s personnel, they have sophomore Jonathan Dwyer to anchor the backfield.
However, in Paul Johnson’s triple option Dwyer is not necessarily the #1 halfback but is instead the unconventional B-back. In the Tech offense, Dwyer, the D-Back, will lineup at the fullback position in a 3-point stance but unlike most blocking fullbacks, is the primary ball carrier. The B-back’s role in Tech’s offense is to run between the tackles.
In his debut as the Tech B-back Dwyer ran roughshod for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 11 carries. In his freshman campaign Dwyer covered 436 yards of turf and grass, reached the goal posts 9 times and averaged 5.9 yards per carry. At 6 feet and approximately 222 lbs., Dwyer has the total package.
This package was on display on a jaw dropping run midway through Tech’s self imposed death penalty to Samford’s 2008 football season. With the score at 55-0 in the 3rd quarter Dwyer took the handoff on 1st & 10 at Tech’s own 30 and darted up the middle. When the offensive line faltered Dwyer violently smacked into a defensive tackle. Unfazed, Dwyer backpedaled then spun left as a heap of 6 defenders whiffed and fell flat on their bellies. Improvising Dwyer glided around the left end before cutting up field where he bounced off two defenders, eluded another and cut back into the middle of the field. With the power portion behind him, Dwyer glided towards paydirt.
By season’s close the Institute of Technology’s annual throwdown with the Georgia Bulldogs will be billed as the showcase for the top running back in Georgia.
Darrius Heyward-Bey— The 2008 NFL Draft class of wide outs was historically mediocre. Conversely, the 2009 class of eligible receivers features a plethora of infallible 1st round receivers. Unfortunately, Maryland’s lethargic offense and erratic passers have hindered Heyward from becoming a household name.
Heyward’s resume lacks the All-American accolades of Jeremy Maclin, Michael Crabtree’s exclusively vertical passing offense or Percy Harvin’s SEC Championship MVP and national championship exposure. Rather than the triumvirate of Tim Tebow, Graham Harrell and Chase Daniel Maryland has turned its vertical attack over to Sam Hollenbach, Jordan Steffy and Chris Turner. Excuse my enthusiasm because it's not every day my hometown Turtles Take note now though because pro scouts already have.
Jahvid Best- Jahvid Best was relatively unknown as a freshman running back outside of Cal faithful and defenders with whiplash. For Cal fans longing to fill the void left by DeSean Jackson in the excitement department, Best is the guy to rebound with. As a track star in high school, Best sprinted to the 100m California State Championship in 10.31 seconds. As Justin Forsett's backup Best rushed for 221 yards and 2 touchdowns in 29 limited carries. In his first start of 2008, Best rushed for 111 yards and 1 touchdown.
Week 2 picks (0-0 for season)
#1 USC's B squad narrowly upset #1 USC's A squad in intrasquad scrimmage, when Coach Pete Carroll yanks Sanchez to give Mitch Mustain a few reps.
#2 Georgia inches past Central Michigan: 38-27... However, beware Lefevour.
#3 Ohio State beats Ohio: 41- 7
#4 Oklahoma crushes Cincinnati: 55-10
Miami Hurricanes @ #5 Florida Gators
At the height of hurricane season, Floridians are bracing for the impact of nature's fury in Hurricane Hanna and the debut of man made Hurricane Marve. Marve earned Florida's Mr. Football in 2006 by trouncing a litany of records, some of which were Tim Tebow's. A year ago, as a true freshman, Marve was in contention to be the week 1 starter until an accident nearly cost him a finger.
Marve is a dual threat in the same sense of Tim Tebow, but his collegiate debut in one of the loudest environments in college football won't be smooth
Defensively, Miami must be dominant because the Hurricanes don't have an offensive equivalent to Percy Harvin, Chris Rainey, Aaron Hernandez etc. However, you could also argue the Hurricane's don't have an equivalent to Brandon Spikes, Carlos Dunlap, Jermaine Cunninagham. And yet after all that you'd think I was picking the Gators to win. In a season altering win, Javarris James and Graig Cooper will control the clock, and take the pressure off Marve.
27-24,--Hurricanes win a nailbiter.
#6 Missouri pours it on SE Missouri State: 63-9... The in-state rivalry continues.
#7 LSU beats Troy Trojans: postponed... Les Miles is robbed again at a different "Men of Troy". I predict no one shows up, literally.
#8 West Virginia beats ECU: 51- 20. Pat White throws 4 touchdowns, runs for 1 and sends a message to Heisman voters.
Southern Miss upsets #9 Auburn: Even with their revamped offense, Auburn's quarterback situation is downright awful.
#10 Texas upends UTEP: 42-12
#11 Wisconsin beats Marshall: 27-20
#12 Texas Tech beats Nevada: 56-24
#13 Alabama pounds Tulane: 34-17
#14 Kansas bulllies Louisiani Tech into submission: 57-16
#15 Arizona State beats Stanford: 30- 27
#15 BYU stifles Washington: 31-17. The Huskies will not put up as much of a fight against the Huskies as they did against Hawaii. Washington quarterback, Jake Locker has not developed into an effective passer, and while BYU doen't pose as much of an aerial threat, their defense, offensive line and rushing attack are more physical than Hawaii. If BYU is going to infiltrate the BCS, tomorrow is just a warm up for UCLA next weekend.
#17 South Florida ravages UCF: 56-10
#18 Oregon beats Utah State: 31-3
#19 Penn State beats Oregon State: 41-17
#20 Wake Forest dispenses of Mississippi: 24-17
#21 Fresno State has week off. Is it a state holiday in California or something?
#22 Utah crushes UNLV: 28-10
#23 UCLA takes coincidenal week off to travel crosstown and to take in Pete Carroll's intense USC practices.
#24 Illinois beats Eastern Illinois: 51- 17

Maria Kirilenko
Jessica Gomes



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