With the first batch of Big East spring practices beginning next week, it's time to take a look at the strongest and the weakest position groups for each team. We're considering these position groups as they stand in the spring only.
This will go in reverse alphabetical order, so first up are the West Virginia Mountaineers:
Strongest position: Running back
This will go in reverse alphabetical order, so first up are the West Virginia Mountaineers:
Strongest position: Running back
- Key returnees: Senior Noel Devine (1,465 yards, 13 touchdowns), sophomore Ryan Clarke (250 yards, eight touchdowns), sophomore Shawne Alston.
- Key departure: Mark Rodgers transferred.
- The skinny: West Virginia brings back a load of starters overall and has plenty of experience on the offensive and defensive lines, at linebacker and in the secondary. But the running backs by far have the fewest question marks, thanks mostly to the somewhat unexpected return of Devine, a true superstar. Clarke made huge strides as a big, rumbling back last year and could be in line for more carries this season. And the Mountaineers can always put Jock Sanders or Tavon Austin in the backfield for the occasional hand-off and not miss a beat.
- Key returnees: Sophomore Geno Smith (32-of-49 for 309 yards, one touchdown and one interception in 2009), sophomore Coley White
- Key departure: Jarrett Brown (13 starts, 2,144 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, nine interceptions and 466 rushing yards with six rushing scores in '09)
- The skinny: At least for the spring, quarterback is a major concern for the Mountaineers. Smith is the presumed starter, but offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen expressed doubts last week about whether the youngster would be ready to participate in spring drills after his foot injury in January. White saw just a couple of snaps in one game last year and does not appear to be in the team's long-term plans at quarterback. Other than that, there's nothing, except for receiver Bradley Starks, who serves as the emergency signal-caller. The numbers will be boosted by the summer arrival of signees Barry Brunetti and Jeremy Johnson, but for the spring, this is a position of much doubt.
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.
BIG EAST SCOREBOARD
Saturday, 12/17
Final Temple 37 Wyoming 15 Final Ohio 24 Utah State 23 Final San Diego State 30 Louisiana-Lafayette 32
Tuesday, 12/20
Wednesday, 12/21
Final 18 TCU 31 Louisiana Tech 24
Thursday, 12/22
Saturday, 12/24
Final Nevada 17 21 Southern Miss 24
Monday, 12/26
Tuesday, 12/27
Final Western Michigan 32 Purdue 37 Final Louisville 24 North Carolina State 31
Wednesday, 12/28
Final Toledo 42 Air Force 41 Final California 10 24 Texas 21
Thursday, 12/29
Final Florida State 18 Notre Dame 14 Final Washington 56 12 Baylor 67
Friday, 12/30
Final Brigham Young 24 Tulsa 21 Final Rutgers 27 Iowa State 13 Final Mississippi State 23 Wake Forest 17 Final Iowa 14 14 Oklahoma 31
Saturday, 12/31
Final Texas A&M 33 Northwestern 22 Final/OT Georgia Tech 27 Utah 30 Final Illinois 20 UCLA 14 Final Cincinnati 31 Vanderbilt 24 Final Virginia 24 25 Auburn 43
Monday, 1/2
Final 19 Houston 30 22 Penn State 14 Final Ohio State 17 Florida 24 Final/3OT 17 Michigan State 33 16 Georgia 30 Final 20 Nebraska 13 9 South Carolina 30 Final 10 Wisconsin 38 5 Oregon 45 Final/OT 4 Stanford 38 3 Oklahoma State 41
Tuesday, 1/3
Final/OT 13 Michigan 23 11 Virginia Tech 20
Wednesday, 1/4
Final 23 West Virginia 70 15 Clemson 33
Friday, 1/6
Final 8 Kansas State 16 6 Arkansas 29
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