It's Final Four time. No, not basketball. The final four of our Big East Top 25 player countdown, based on performance and impact last season:
No. 4
Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia, Soph.
Preseason rank: Not ranked
2010 numbers: Completed 241 of 373 passes for 2,763 yards, with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Making the case for Smith: Here is my choice for the best Big East quarterback of 2010, no matter how the coaches voted on the all-league team. Smith had the highest completion percentage in the league (64.8 percent), and his touchdown-to-interception ratio was better than any other conference signalcaller. He also led the way in passer efficiency rating.
Was Smith perfect? No. His three interceptions against Syracuse played a huge role in that home upset. But don't forget that after Noel Devine got hurt, Smith had to burden most of the load on offense as a first-year starter. His heroics against Marshall won't soon be forgotten in Morgantown. And when the Mountaineers made their late-season push, he had eight touchdown passes and just one interception in the four-game winning streak.
The scary thing is, with Dana Holgorsen's new offense coming in, Smith can get so much better. He's already one of the Big East's best.
Previously
No. 25: Zach Hurd, OG, Connecticut
No. 24: Dave Teggart, K, Connecticut
No. 23: Derrell Smith, LB, Syracuse
No. 22: J.T. Thomas, LB, West Virginia
No. 21: Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville
No. 20: Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh
No. 19: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
No. 18: Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati
No. 17: Kendall Reyes, DL, Connecticut
No. 16: Jason Pinkston, OT, Pittsburgh
No. 15: Jon Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
No. 14: Robert Sands, S, West Virginia
No. 13: Brandon Lindsey, DE, Pittsburgh
No. 12: Doug Hogue, LB, Syracuse
No. 11: Brandon Hogan, CB, West Virginia
No. 10: Terrell McClain, DT, South Florida
No. 9: Chris Neild, DT, West Virginia
No. 8: Lawrence Wilson, LB, Connecticut
No. 7: Zach Collaros, QB, Cincinnati
No. 6: Delone Carter, RB, Syracuse
No. 5: Armon Binns, WR, Cincinnati
No. 4
Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia, Soph.
Preseason rank: Not ranked
2010 numbers: Completed 241 of 373 passes for 2,763 yards, with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
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Charles LeClaire/US PresswireGeno Smith may be even better in Dana Holgorsen's new offense.
Was Smith perfect? No. His three interceptions against Syracuse played a huge role in that home upset. But don't forget that after Noel Devine got hurt, Smith had to burden most of the load on offense as a first-year starter. His heroics against Marshall won't soon be forgotten in Morgantown. And when the Mountaineers made their late-season push, he had eight touchdown passes and just one interception in the four-game winning streak.
The scary thing is, with Dana Holgorsen's new offense coming in, Smith can get so much better. He's already one of the Big East's best.
Previously
No. 25: Zach Hurd, OG, Connecticut
No. 24: Dave Teggart, K, Connecticut
No. 23: Derrell Smith, LB, Syracuse
No. 22: J.T. Thomas, LB, West Virginia
No. 21: Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville
No. 20: Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh
No. 19: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
No. 18: Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati
No. 17: Kendall Reyes, DL, Connecticut
No. 16: Jason Pinkston, OT, Pittsburgh
No. 15: Jon Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
No. 14: Robert Sands, S, West Virginia
No. 13: Brandon Lindsey, DE, Pittsburgh
No. 12: Doug Hogue, LB, Syracuse
No. 11: Brandon Hogan, CB, West Virginia
No. 10: Terrell McClain, DT, South Florida
No. 9: Chris Neild, DT, West Virginia
No. 8: Lawrence Wilson, LB, Connecticut
No. 7: Zach Collaros, QB, Cincinnati
No. 6: Delone Carter, RB, Syracuse
No. 5: Armon Binns, WR, Cincinnati
Brian Bennett | email
College Football- ESPN.com Big Ten blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2008
- Wrote for The Courier-Journal
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