ESPN College Football

We've made a big deal all offseason about all the talent that was lost in the Big East from a year ago. Usually, we're talking about quarterbacks, running backs or linebackers.

But a lot also is missing from the kicking games. The Big East had some excellent specialists in guys like Kevin Huber, Pat McAfee, Conor Lee and Patrick Shadle. In a league with so much parity, the difference between winning and losing could come down to a missed 40-yard field goal or a shanked punt.

So let's look at how the kicking situations are shaping up at each Big East school this preseason:

Cincinnati:

Field goals are in good hands with junior placekicker Jake Rogers, a preseason Lou Groza Award candidate. But the Bearcats lose quite a weapon in All-American punter Huber. In fact, Kelly said at Big East media day that losing Huber concerned him more than missing 10 starters on defense.

"If I'm up late at night worrying about one thing, it's that," he said about not having Huber.

Rogers may end up handling punt duties as well. Freshman Patrick O'Donnell is also vying for the job.

Connecticut

The Huskies are in excellent shape. They have quirky but effective senior Desi Cullen back at punter, and Dave Teggart returns as the placekicker after being highly effective down the stretch a year ago.

Louisville

The Cardinals were brutally bad on field goals last year and return all three players who attempted kicks for them in '08. Somebody needs to emerge as a reliable option. Senior Cory Goettsche is trying to hold off Jon Payne to keep the punting job.

Pittsburgh

Dave Wannstedt lists the kicking game as one of his main worries this preseason. The Panthers lost Lee, a tremendously accurate kicker inside of 45 yards, and punter Dave Brytus. Dan Hutchins and Kevin Harper are the top two candidates at placekicker, while Hutchins is also the leader for punting duties. Kicking in the swirling winds at Heinz Field is never easy.

Rutgers

Like UConn, the Scarlet Knights have everything in place with returning punter Teddy Dellaganna and kicker San San Te.

South Florida

Maikon Bonani's amusement park fall means senior Delbert Alvarado will go back to handling field goals. He has a big leg but has been wildly inconsistent in the past. Alvarado is a solid punter, however.

Syracuse

Rob Long is one of the top punters in the Big East, if not the country. The Orange have to find a new field goal kicker to replace Shadle. True freshman Shane Raupers looks like the next guy in.

West Virginia

Bill Stewart is wondering who will pick up the slack left by McAfee, who excelled at both punts and field goals. Tyler Bitancurt has been the presumed leader at placekicker, with Scott Kozlowski at punter, but neither has established a firm hold on the job.