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I'm borrowing a page from the playbook of SEC blogger Chris Low and taking a moment to honor the Big East's top seniors in the 2010 season.

The league was full of young players, particularly at quarterback. But each team also was blessed with excellent seniors who provided leadership on and off the field. Today I recognize one outstanding elder statesman from each team:

Lawrence Wilson, LB, Connecticut: A rock on defense for the Huskies as a four-year starter, Wilson covers a ton of ground with his speed and instincts for the game. He led the league in tackles for a second straight year. And when his team needed a big play in the season finale against South Florida with the BCS bid on the line, he came up with a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Armon Binns, WR, Cincinnati: Senior leadership was an issue for the Bearcats all season during a disappointing 4-8 campaign. But Binns was always reliable and became unstoppable as the year went on. He led the Big East in every major receiving category, finishing 14th nationally with 1,101 receiving yards.

Bilal Powell, RB, Louisville: Head coach Charlie Strong placed a lot on Powell's shoulders in the preseason, calling the quiet tailback the face of the program. Powell responded with, by far, the best season of his career, rushing for 1,330 yards and 10 touchdowns. He doesn't say a lot, but he leads by example. And he runs as if each cent of his scholarship check depends on it.

Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh: When Sheard was arrested after a fight this preseason, Pitt coaches were quick to say the incident was way out of character for a guy who saved a woman from a burning house in high school. He showed his real character this season, picking up the slack for injured teammate Greg Romeus and turning into the most feared pass-rusher in the Big East while winning the league's defensive player of the year award. Sheard was also a leader in the locker room, calling guys out for their effort when the team struggled early this season.

Alex Silvestro, DE, Rutgers: Silvestro came to Rutgers weighing only about 220 pounds, but stepped in at defensive tackle when the Scarlet Knights needed help at the position. He moved between that and defensive end in his career and always contributed. The three-year starter led the team with 14.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks this year, earning defensive MVP honors for the Scarlet Knights.

Mistral Raymond, CB, South Florida: Raymond walked onto the team two years ago and quickly became one of the most respected members of the Bulls. His lanky frame allowed him to play corner or safety, depending on the team's needs, and he was the best defensive back South Florida had this season. He was one of the many seniors who stepped up and helped the Bulls turn their season around after a 0-2 start in Big East play.

Derrell Smith, LB, Syracuse: Smith moved all around in his Orange career, from running back to defensive end to outside linebacker and finally to middle linebacker. He took each move in stride and wound up as a three-year starter and cornerstone for the program's revival. He's shooting for his fourth straight all-Big East academic team honor as well.

Chris Neild, DT, West Virginia: The Mountaineers were loaded with valuable seniors -- Noel Devine, Jock Sanders, J.T. Thomas, Anthony Leonard and on and on and on. Few did so much important work with so little glory than Neild, whose job is to plug up the middle of the 3-3-5 defense by crashing into two offensive linemen on every play. Neild finished with only 31 tackles, but his stats don't begin to measure his true worth to one of the nation's top defenses.

The bell has rung on Week 1. Let's check the stocks.

Stock up

1. Ryan Nassib: Making his first start at quarterback for Syracuse, Nassib completed 17 of 27 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns in a win at Akron. That earned him Big East player of the week honors.

2. The West Virginia kicking game: The Mountaineers' kickoff coverage, which had been pretty awful the last couple of years, allowed only 94 return yards on six kickoffs against Coastal Carolina. New punter Gregg Pugnetti averaged 49.2 yards on six attempts, including a 71-yarder.

3. Jordan Thomas: The Rutgers true freshman got 15 touches in the opener against Norfolk State. While he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, he flashed his speed and quickness and showed he can be an asset to the Scarlet Knights' offense.

4. Steven Bravo-Brown: A true freshman walk-on, Bravo-Brown got thrown right into the fire for South Florida. The receiver had four catches for 48 yards against Stony Brook.

Stock down

1. The Cincinnati offense: The Bearcats were among the nation's top-scoring teams last year, and that figured to continue under Butch Jones. But Cincinnati mustered only 14 points at Fresno State -- none in the second half -- as the offensive line allowed eight sacks. And receiver Vidal Hazelton has been lost for the year to a torn ACL.

2. Pitt's red zone offense: The Panthers were inside Utah's 20 four times but came away with just one touchdown and three field goals. Pitt was one of the best teams in the country in red zone offense the past two years. It will need sevens, not threes, against upcoming opponents Miami and Notre Dame.

3. Connecticut's defensive front: We wondered about the Huskies' secondary. Turns out, UConn got pushed around up front by Michigan last week. The defensive line is undersized and lacks experience. "We've got to get a lot more physical," Randy Edsall said.

4. Louisville's wide receivers: Adam Froman completed just six passes to receivers against Kentucky, and none for more than 15 yards. Junior college import Josh Bellamy was hurt early and Troy Pascley continued to be inconsistent. The Cardinals lack players who can stretch the field and keep defenses honest.

Player of the year race: Offense

1. Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia: Devine assumes the top spot after rushing for 111 yards against Coastal Carolina.

2. B.J. Daniels, QB, South Florida: Daniels was strong out of the gate, throwing for 264 yards and two touchdowns and running for a score versus Stony Brook.

3. Dion Lewis, RB, Pitt: When your career low for rushing yards is 75, that means you've had a great career. Lewis will bounce back.

4. Jordan Todman, RB, Connecticut: As disappointing as the Huskies were, Todman still had 105 yards and a score against Michigan.

5. Nassib: Might as well give the reigning offensive player of the week some love.

Player of the year race: Defense

1. Robert Sands, S, West Virginia: Had 1.5 tackles for loss and anchored a defense that pitched a shutout versus Coastal Carolina.

2. Alex Silvestro, DE, Rutgers: Silvestro had four tackles for loss against Norfolk State.

3. Greg Romeus, DE, Pitt: Disappointing effort against Utah for the preseason favorite, as Romeus had no sacks or quarterback hurries in the loss.

4. Lawrence Wilson, LB, Connecticut: Team's defensive effort was poor, but Wilson continued to be a tackling machine with 12 stops.

5. Mike Holmes, DB, Syracuse: Won the league's official defensive player of the week award for his performance at Akron.

Dion Lewis vs. Noel Devine:

Lewis: 25 rushes for 75 yards (3.0 ypc) and one touchdown

Devine: 23 rushes for 111 yards (4.8 ypc) and one touchdown

Tom Savage vs. B.J. Daniels

Savage: 10-of-19 for 148 yards and one touchdown; rushed six times for 18 yards

Daniels: 15-for-22, 264 yards and two touchdowns; rushed five times for 23 yards and a score

Bob from Connecticut writes: How about a triplets list for defense (lineman, linebacker, and DB)?

Brian Bennett: At the end of June, I presented my list of the league's top offensive triplets, or combination of quarterback, running back and receiver. Defense isn't quite the same, because it's not like a nose tackle can fake a handoff to an outside linebacker and throw a bomb to the strong safety. Still, it's a fun idea, and hey, it's early July without a lot going on. So you shall get your wish, Bob.

Let's limit ourselves to one defensive lineman, one linebacker and one defensive back from each team. Here is the way I'd order them:

1. West Virginia

DL: Chris Neild
LB: J.T. Thomas
DB: Robert Sands
Rationale: It's hard to go wrong with this group. Neild is the best and fiercest nose tackle in the league, while Thomas should be the captain and a breakthrough player at linebacker as a senior. Sands just might be the best defensive player in the league at safety. If one of these guys doesn't hit you on a play, consider yourself lucky.

2. Pittsburgh

DL: Greg Romeus
LB: Dan Mason
DB: Dom DeCicco
Rationale: Romeus is the reigning league co-defensive player of the year, so there's an obvious place to start. At linebacker, I could have gone with either Mason or Max Gruder, but I think Mason is poised for stardom. Defensive back was the toughest call, because I also like Jarred Holley at safety and Antwuan Reed had a standout spring at corner. I chose the steady play of DeCicco at safety.

3. Cincinnati

DL: Derek Wolfe
LB: Walter Stewart
DB: Drew Frey
Rationale: Wolfe rivals Neild as an immovable object in the middle of the line, while Stewart is a dynamic playmaker who can play standing up or with his hand on the ground. Frey is the most experienced member of the secondary and will be counted on to lead a young group.

4. Rutgers

DL: Jonathan Freeny
LB: Steve Beauharnais
DB: Joe Lefeged
Rationale: The hardest decision here was which defensive linemen to pick, as Rutgers has several good ones, including Scott Vallone and Alex Silvestro. I went with Freeny, who had nine sacks in a mostly reserve role a year ago and could add to those totals as a starter in '10. I've written previously about Beauharnais special skills, and the hard-hitting Lefeged takes over Devin McCourty's leadership role in the defensive backfield.

5. Syracuse

DL: Chandler Jones
LB: Derrell Smith
DB: Shamarko Thomas
Rationale: How about a little love for the Orange? This might be the year when Chandler Jones breaks out of the shadow of his older brother, Arthur. You could put Smith or Doug Hogue here at linebacker and be in great shape. And Thomas had a terrific freshman year.

Rolling on with our post-spring position rankings in the Big East. We turn to the defense now and start up front with the linemen. Remember that depth matters as well as star power:

1. Pittsburgh: The Panthers had the best defensive line in the league a year ago, and that remains the case even without defensive tackle, and Big East co-defensive player of the year, Mick Williams. Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard are the best pair of defensive ends in the league, while tackles Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih are solid at tackle. There's depth, too, with emerging young players like Tyrone Ezell and Shayne Hale.

2. West Virginia: What was a thin position at times last year has become an area of strength for the Mountaineers. Chris Neild is a beast at nose tackle, while Scooter Berry and Julian Miller (nine sacks in '09) bring experience to the defensive end spots in the 3-3-5 scheme. Will Clarke looks like a future star, while junior college import Bruce Irvin is expected to add depth this summer.

3. Rutgers: Three of the four starters return, including senior Alex Silvestro and sophomore Scott Vallone. Jonathan Freeny should be ready for a starting role after recording nine sacks as a rush specialist a year ago, while Eric LeGrand, Justin Francis and redshirt freshmen Andre Civil and Isaac Holmes are around to provide excellent depth.

4. South Florida: Yes, George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul are gone. Still, new Bulls defensive coordinator Mark Snyder said the line had SEC-caliber depth this spring. Tackles Terrell McClain and Keith McCaskill and end Craig Marshall are the veterans of the group. If Ryne Giddins, Julius Forte and junior college star Claude Davis develop as expected, this line could be among the most feared in the league.

5. Connecticut: Kendall Reyes and Twyon Martin are moving into their third year as starters at tackle (though Martin found himself in the doghouse this spring). Promising sophomores Jesse Joseph and Trevardo Williams return at end along with Marcus Campbell, who missed last year because of academics. Getting converted linebacker Greg Lloyd back from knee surgery this summer would help provide depth, and UConn lacks some size on the edge.

6. Cincinnati: Derek Wolfe is an elite run-stopper in the middle, but the Bearcats will need improved production from Dan Giordano, John Hughes and Brandon Mills. Depth is a serious concern behind the starting unit.

7. Syracuse: Replacing Arthur Jones in the middle is no easy task. His younger brother, Chandler, could be ready to break out as a star defensive end after recording 10.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore. Mikhail Marinovich could join him in opposing backfields from the other end spot. This line held its own last year but lacks proven stars.

8. Louisville: The Cardinals' defensive line looked like a mess this spring, with no standout ends and lacked size and strength on the interior. Greg Scruggs was moved from end to tackle despite weighing just 270 pounds. It's been a couple of years since the Louisville defensive line truly could pressure opposing quarterbacks with any consistency; at least head coach Charlie Strong knows how to build a good defense.

2009 overall record: 9-4

2009 conference record: 3-4, T-4th in Big East

Returning starters

Offense: 6. Defense: 6. Punter/kicker: 2

Top returners

QB Tom Savage, WR Mohamed Sanu, RB Joe Martinek, TE D.C. Jefferson, DE Alex Silvestro, DT Scott Vallone, LB Antonio Lowery, S Joe Lefeged

Key losses

WR Tim Brown, OT Anthony Davis, CB Devin McCourty, LB Ryan D'Imperio, C Ryan Blaszczyk, DE George Johnson

2009 statistical leaders (* returners)
Rushing: Joe Martinek* (967 yards)
Passing: Tom Savage* (2,211 yards)
Receiving: Tim Brown (1,150 yards)
Tackles: Damaso Munoz (81)
Sacks: Jonathan Freeny* (9.5)
Interceptions: Four players tied with two

Spring answers

1. More than Mo: The Scarlet Knights had just one proven receiver -- sophomore Mohamed Sanu -- coming into the spring. But Tim Wright, Mark Harrison and Quron Pratt all elevated their games and started to fulfill their vast potential during practice. Rutgers now feels good about its passing game going into the fall.

2. Solid on D: Despite losing stars such as Devin McCourty, Ryan D'Imperio and George Johnson, Greg Schiano has plenty to work with on defense. The defensive line is as deep and talented as it's ever been during Schiano's tenure. Sophomore Steve Beauharnais looks ready to take off at middle linebacker. And Logan Ryan made a lot of plays in the secondary.

3. Stapleton a fixture: One answer on the offensive line appears to be junior Desmond Stapleton. Buried behind Anthony Davis the past two years, Stapleton needed to assert himself this spring. By all accounts, he did just that and figures to earn a starting spot at one of the tackle positions.

Fall questions

1. O-line, O-line, O-line: With the exception of Stapleton, the offensive line was a giant question mark most of the spring. Howard Barbieri's knee injury didn't help matters, and neither did having Desmond Wynn sidelined for most of practice. Rutgers has more playmakers this year on offense, but it won't matter if the line can't protect Tom Savage.

2. Running game explosiveness: Schiano wants more big plays out of his running game. Joe Martinek just missed reaching 1,000 yards last season but was more of a steady player than a star. He responded to Schiano's challenge with an excellent spring performance even behind the makeshift line. But a couple of true freshmen will get a look this fall as Schiano tries to increase the speed in the backfield.

3. What happens if Savage goes down? The Scarlet Knights' sophomore quarterback is on his way to a stellar career. But it's not easy to keep a quarterback healthy all year, and all Rutgers has behind him right now is Steve Shimko, who will have a hard time making defenses respect the deep passing game. Chas Dodd arrives in the summer, but it's a lot to ask for Dodd to be as advanced as Savage was when he showed up.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers quarterback Tom Savage was talking about the need to mentor the "young guys" on his team when he corrected himself.

"Well, not 'young guys,'" he said, "because I'm still a young guy."

It's hard to tell sometimes with these Scarlet Knights. Their two most recognizable stars are true sophomores in Savage and do-it-all receiver Mohamed Sanu, who established themselves as the faces of the program in 2009. Sometimes, young players rising to the spotlight so quickly could cause issues with the rest of the team.

But Savage and Sanu aren't your normal youngsters.

"They're such humble guys, and that allows the older guys to not feel like they're stealing their thunder," head coach Greg Schiano said. "They know their place yet they're strong leaders, and you don't see that very much. A lot of great young players are very boisterous or out in front all the time.

"Not these guys. They're grinders."

The roots of success for both took hold this time a year ago.

Sanu wasn't the typical true freshman; he turned 19 in the summer of 2008 -- the result of being held back a year to work on his English after living in Sierra Leone as a kid -- and was ruled ineligible to play as a high school senior. He enrolled at Rutgers in January as a safety and was moved to wide receiver late in spring practice because of a pressing need at the position.

No problem. Sanu -- who was a quarterback in high school -- became the team's second-leading receiver, a dangerous runner in the Wildcat formation and Rutgers' best all-around offensive playmaker.

Savage didn't enroll early, but he made the 90-minute drive from Springfield, Pa., to watch all but one of the Scarlet Knights' spring practices from the sidelines last year. He scheduled his high school classes so that he could skip lunch and leave early, and he'd switch from his school uniform into regular clothes in a bathroom near the practice fields. Despite particularly cold and rainy weather last spring, Savage braved the elements to soak up as much knowledge as he could.

He was thrust into action during the second half of the opener against Cincinnati after senior Dom Natale suffered through a three-interception nightmare. Savage went 8-3 as a starter, missing one game because of an injury. It's never easy for a true freshman to command a huddle full of upperclassmen, but Savage found his way.

"When you're still a young guy, you have to earn respect in the locker room," he said. "I didn't feel like I could gain that until I started going out there and making plays. What I learned is that people look for you to speak up and assert yourself. I'm using that now."

Taking charge came more naturally for Sanu.

"I had to be who I am," he said. "You don't have to be a senior or a junior to be a leader. You just have to be confident and step up and make plays."

Schiano placed both freshmen on his players' leadership council last year, which wasn't unusual since he tries to have representation from every class. Unlike previous freshmen who mostly acquiesced to the older guys, though, Savage and Sanu spoke their minds and "were integral and respected members" of the council, Schiano said.

It helps that they're both among the team's hardest workers. Sanu said a typical day for he and Savage usually involves around eight or nine hours in the Hale Center complex. They'll watch film, practice extra throws or go over the playbook long after their team requirements have ended.

"We're rarely in our rooms," Sanu said. "We just love the game and want to get better all the time."

Savage is a perfectionist. Offensive lineman Art Forst recalled a game last season in which the young quarterback was having one of his best days. But Savage missed one read, and that's all he could talk about the rest of the game. After throwing an interception near the goal line at practice last week, Savage slumped his shoulders as he walked toward the sidelines and threw his helmet to the ground.

The dedication and desire from both stars can't help but filter down to the rest of the team, and that gives reason to hope that this otherwise green bunch can compete in the Big East this season.

The stat Schiano likes to recite is that 62 of his 85 scholarship players this season will have three or four years of eligibility remaining. That's as young of a team as he can remember having. So while true freshmen like Sanu, Savage and promising linebacker Steve Beauharnais made an immediate impact last year, Schiano redshirted most of his 2009 signing class, including ESPNU 150 recruits Antwan Lowery and Darrell Givens. Last year, he said, was the first time in his nine years at Rutgers that he had enough depth to hold back players of that skill level.

"I know we're young but at the same time, it's probably the most talented group I've ever seen here," senior defensive lineman Alex Sivestro said.

If several underclassmen prove as precocious as Savage and Sanu, the Scarlet Knights could improve on last year's nine wins. Even if not, they appear set up for a run at their first Big East title in the next two or three years.

"We're focused on this year because it's all we can worry about now," Savage said. "But obviously, if you do the math, we're all young and we're going to be here for a while. And that's fun to think about."

Spoken like a grizzled veteran.

The spring superlatives series rolls on today with Rutgers, which gets us back in order after the little reverse-alphabetic switch. Let's look at which positions are strongest and which are weakest for the Scarlet Knights heading into the spring:

Strongest position: Defensive line

Key returnees: DT Scott Vallone (nine tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four fumble recoveries), DE Alex Silvestro (12 tackles for loss, two sacks), DE Jonathan Freeny (9.5 sacks), DT Eric LeGrand (two sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss), DT Charlie Noonan (two sacks).

Key departures: DE George Johnson and DT Blair Bines.

The skinny: Despite the loss of two strong senior contributors, the Scarlet Knights still have loads of depth on the defensive front. Greg Schiano told me this week that the combination of Vallone, LeGrand and Noonan could be the best set of defensive tackles he's had at Rutgers. Freeny and Silvestro have shown the ability to get to the passer. And young players who were redshirted a year ago, like Andre Civil and Isaac Holmes, should be ready to play.

Weakest position: Offensive line

Key returnees: OG Desmond Wynn, OG Howard Barbieri, OG Art Forst, OG Caleb Ruch

Key departures: LT Anthony Davis, C Ryan Blaszczyk, RT Kevin Haslam

The skinny: Rutgers' O-line was a major disappointment last year, and now the unit loses arguably its top three performers, including a likely first-round NFL pick in Davis. This will be a revamped group, which might not be a bad thing considering the way the 2009 line performed. Still, Schiano has to find replacements at both tackle spots, potentially looking to a guy like Desmond Stapleton to step forward. Former super sub Barbieri will have to take on a larger role, while the talented Forst could emerge as a star. There's a lot to work with here, but also a lot to work on.

This Part II of my interview with Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. You can read Part I here.

On the defensive line, you lost a couple of guys but it seems like one of your most experienced units overall. How do you feel about that group?


GS: I like the group of guys we have there. I think there is experience and there's a lot of young guys we've redshirted, which is something we've never been able to do with our defensive line position, and that's going to be critical for depth. We have Scott Vallone and Charlie Noonan and Eric LeGrand, and those three guys as a group are probably the best we've had on the inside since we've been here.

And then you look at the outside, and there's [Alex] Silvestro and [Jonathan] Freeny and [Justin] Francis. We're going to be able to roll some guys and we've got good young guys that we redshirted. And when you start with defense, it starts with your front. So if these guys can perform the way that I believe they will, it's going to give us a chance.

So you think defensive line is where we might see some young guys make an impact this spring and fall?


GS: We roll eight guys and sometimes 10 guys through the front. So a lot of different guys will be out there in any given game. So hopefully some of those guys I talked about that we redshirted, you look for those guys and say can they come in and give you 15, 18, 20 plays a game? What a big help that is, when you get to the fourth quarter and you have to rush the passer. If your best and most experienced guys are 18-to-20 plays fresher, that's going to lead to some good things.

At linebacker, Ryan D'Imperio and Damao Munoz are gone, but you still have some experience and Steve Beauharnais, who really came on late as a true freshman. How good can he be?


GS: I think it's a good mix because we have experience with [Antonio] Lowery and Manny [Abreu] and then we have Steven, who the last half of the year got more action. And Steven is really a talented football player. And I think Ka'Lial Glaud is a guy you're really going to see figure into the mix. He played on all our special teams last year, he was a highly-recruited kid and he has the leadership, toughness and all those things a linebacker needs. So I think it's going to be a good mix there, and again, it's easier to play when you're playing behind a good front.

You lost Devin McCourty at cornerback. How do you replace a guy that valuable, and do you need some younger guys to step up at that position?


GS: We have some experienced guys in David Rowe and Brandon Bing who played a lot of football for us. David started from Week 3 on. He had played a lot for us as a nickelback his freshman year and then started nine games his sophomore year, so he brings a lot of experience. Brandon played a lot, mostly in third-down situations in sub packages. And then we have a bunch of young kids that we redshirted -- [Darrell] Givens, [Brandon] Jones, [Logan] Ryan, [Abdul] Smith -- those guys were all very good prospects coming out of high school, and now is their chance.

The thing I like is, we have two experienced guys in front of them. So if they don't come on quickly enough, hopefully the experienced guys give you a little buffer. Brandon Jones played the latter part of the year and played well -- he had an interception in the South Florida game -- and did some good things at the nickelback spot. So I think we've done a good job recruiting that position and we've been able to create some depth. It's always nice when you can roll guys in there gradually rather than be forced to play them.

But you're right. You don't replace Devin. He did so many things. There was one game where I think he played 110 plays, special teams and defense. That's two players.

Joe Lefeged is one of your few seniors back there at safety. Is he a guy you're counting on for leadership?


GS: Without a doubt. Joe has been a playmaker since the day he walked on campus. He's an impact guy and he's incredibly talented. He's grown up as a leader, and he's a guy we look to lead that secondary. And I really like the young guys. Khaseem Greene and Deron Harmon, those guys all played last year, and Pat Kivlehan.

So I think defensively, we've got a chance. We were a top 20 defense in most categories a year ago, and we've got a lot of the same guys back. We've been running this defense now for five years, which is a long time. So these guys have heard it over and over again, and I think we're starting to get to where systematically and programmatically, the defense is beginning to create some tradition. That's important when you try to build something.

How about the coaching staff? You replaced three guys, though a couple of them have been with you before. How is the chemistry there so far?


GS: I think this is the best coaching staff I've had here in the nine years I've been at Rutgers. Randy Melvin and Phil Galiano were here before as coaches, so they know exactly what we do here. As always, things evolve so they've got to get caught up on some things. But more importantly, I know them as people and as coaches, so that helps. P.J. Fleck, who's going to coach the wide receivers, I've been very pleased with him in the short time he's been here. I think he's an excellent football coach and a neat guy to be around because he has a lot of energy. Robb Smith did a very good job last year running the special teams for the first time, and we showed marked improvement. I like the staff. In Year 10, it's nice when you like the staff and feel comfortable with it.

With such a young team, do you change the way you run spring practice? Or do you run it the same way you would with a more veteran team?


GS: We're going to do a couple different things, not because they're young but because when you've been some place 10 years -- this is our 10th spring -- you've got to shake some things up a little bit just to keep it fresh. And I think this team needs some different things. The neat thing about college football is every team has its own identity each year, and we're still trying to figure out ours. I think one thing is, we've got to do some hard-nosed, tough things this spring and get tougher. We've worked on it all offseason in our winter program, and I think we need to continue it in the spring. We're going to do a lot of different things, but one thing we're never going to get away from is being a hard-nosed Northeast football team.

Does that mean more hitting in practice, or just other kinds of drills?

GS: Maybe a little more hitting. We scrimmage a lot already, and when we scrimmage they bring you lunch so it's a pretty good day. Maybe little more individual stuff, knocking each other around a little bit. We'll be putting them in positions that really challenge them a little more than maybe when you have an experienced team.

You found some success last year using the Wildcat with Mohamed Sanu. Is that something we can expect to see a lot of again this year?


GS: It will definitely be a component of the offense, no doubt about it. You have to make sure you don't overdo anything. I think it's been a big weapon of a lot of people in college and pro football and I don't see that changing. The thing about the Wildcat is it changes the numbers offensively. You only have 11 guys and all of a sudden you have a guy who takes the snap and is an eligible runner. It's the reason people ran option football and do the zone read stuff, and the Wildcat is no different. It's an opportunity to tilt the numbers in the offense's favor.

It will be a part of our offense; it'll never be 50 percent or more, that kind of a deal. But I think we're blessed with a guy who can do it and do it very well in Mohamed, and the thing that makes him a little different is, he legitimately can throw the ball. He did that a few times but I think we'll do that a lot more. When you can throw the ball, that changes the dynamic of it in a big way.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

West Virginia defensive line coach Bill Kirelawich expresses his concerns over the position to the Charleston Gazette's Mitch Vingle. And no, Tevita Finau is still not on board.

• Alex Silvestro and Jonathan Freeny are battling to win the Rutgers defensive end job vacated by Jamaal Westerman, Tom Luicci writes in The Star-Ledger.

• Syracuse went back to the pre-Greg Robinson strength and conditioning methods, and it appears to have paid dividends this summer, Dave Rahme says in the Syracuse Post-Standard. (Get a load of the picture of Delone Carter in the article, and you might agree).

• The Cincinnati Enquirer's Bill Koch takes a look at the Bearcats' options to replace punter Kevin Huber.

• How will Pitt replace Conor Lee? Kevin Gorman examines the possibilities in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

• Jim Leavitt talks about possible Big East expansion and his thoughts on Central Florida in Greg Auman's St. Petersburg Times blog.

• The Sporting News offers its list of college football's hardest hitters, and Cincinnati safety Aaron Webster represents the Big East.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

• Pitt's John Malecki, who moved from defensive line to offensive guard last year, is now being tried at backup center, Kevin Gorman writes in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

• Speaking of backup centers, Joey Madsen is a name to watch on the West Virginia O-line, Mitch Vingle write in the Charleston Gazette.

• Freshman receiver Daniel Bryant got a look at cornerback during South Florida's practice, Greg Auman notes in the St. Petersburg Times.

• Rutgers' Alex Silvestro is getting comfortable at defensive end after moving from tackle, Keith Sargeant says in the Home News Tribune.