The Big East recently came out with its summer preview, complete with notes and a section on rising stars in the league.
Here are the players the league lists with the potential for breakout seasons:
It is hard to argue with most every player on the list. I think Bridgewater and Donald had their breakout seasons a year ago, so I would have had them in an entirely separate group because I think both already have arrived.
The one player I would single out from this group is Lattimore. From everything I have been told, he is poised to have a monster season and challenge Khaseem Greene as the top linebacker in the league. Remember that Chris Cosh's defensive scheme relies heavily on the linebackers. Last year, Kansas State had great defensive turnaround thanks, in part, to linebacker play. Arthur Brown made the Big 12 first team and had 101 tackles to finish ninth in the conference.
Cosh's background is in working with linebackers as well, so that bodes well for the Bulls and Lattimore.
Here are a few other players I think could have been included on the list:
For those wondering, these are my newcomers to watch and transfers to watch.
What do you guys think? Who has the potential to be a breakout star in 2012?
Here are the players the league lists with the potential for breakout seasons:
- Teddy Bridgewater, So., QB, Louisville
- Levi Brown, Jr., DT, Temple
- Chris Coyer, Jr., QB, Temple
- Brandon Coleman, So., WR, Rutgers
- Dyshawn Davis, So., LB, Syracuse
- Aaron Donald, Jr., DE, Pitt
- Sterling Griffin, Jr., WR, USF
- DeDe Lattimore, Jr., LB, USF
- Jawan Jamison, So., RB, Rutgers
- Munchie Legaux, Jr., QB, Cincinnati
- Eli Rogers, So., WR, Louisville
- Marcus Sales, Sr., WR, Syracuse
- Yawin Smallwood, So., LB, UConn
- Chandler Whitmer, Jr., QB, UConn
It is hard to argue with most every player on the list. I think Bridgewater and Donald had their breakout seasons a year ago, so I would have had them in an entirely separate group because I think both already have arrived.
The one player I would single out from this group is Lattimore. From everything I have been told, he is poised to have a monster season and challenge Khaseem Greene as the top linebacker in the league. Remember that Chris Cosh's defensive scheme relies heavily on the linebackers. Last year, Kansas State had great defensive turnaround thanks, in part, to linebacker play. Arthur Brown made the Big 12 first team and had 101 tackles to finish ninth in the conference.
Cosh's background is in working with linebackers as well, so that bodes well for the Bulls and Lattimore.
Here are a few other players I think could have been included on the list:
- Sio Moore, Sr., LB, UConn
- Andre Davis, So., WR, USF
- DeVante Parker, So., WR, Louisville
For those wondering, these are my newcomers to watch and transfers to watch.
What do you guys think? Who has the potential to be a breakout star in 2012?
Andrea Adelson | email
College Football- ESPN.com Big East/Nation blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2010
- Wrote for The Orlando Sentinel
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Andrea Adelson
Adelson joined ESPN.com in 2010 after spending time as a college football columnist at The Orlando Sentinel. She has covered college football since her days as a University of Florida student, and lives in Orlando, Fla.
Matt Fortuna
Fortuna joined ESPN.com in 2011 after working for MLB.com and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, where he covered college sports. He grew up in New York and is a Penn State graduate.
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