ESPN College Football

• The 2011 Big East schedule offers few marquee nonconference games.

• Syracuse has plenty of experience on the offensive line going into the spring.

• UConn's Andre Dixon is still working on his NFL dream.

• Cincinnati officials explain the reasoning for moving two league games to Paul Brown Stadium.

• USF will get lots of national exposure with its schedule.

• There has been no progress in the Delone Carter case, Jim O'Hara writes in the Syracuse Post-Standard.
• Bill Stewart doesn't mind letting his recruits play in all-star games, Mitch Vingle writes in the Charleston Gazette.
• Former UConn running back Andre Dixon was drafted by Hartford's UFL team, Desmond Conner writes in the Hartford Courant.
• The Big Ten and Notre Dame are on the minds of Dave Wannstedt and other Pitt officials, Duane Rankin writes in the Erie Times News.
• What if the Big Ten does nothing, Dennis Dodd asks in his CBSSports.com column.

• Injured South Florida receiver A.J. Love still hopes to play this season, Scott Carter writes in the Tampa Tribune.
• Former Cincinnati star Mardy Gilyard was robbed at gunpoint near campus, Jennifer Baker writes in the Cincinnati Enquirer.
• A few freshmen, including quarterback Barry Brunetti, have arrived at West Virginia, Mike Casazza writes in the Charleston Daily Mail.
• Syracuse recruiting coordinator Greg Adkins talks about his process to the Syracuse Post-Standard's Nolan Weidner.
• Former UConn tailback Andre Dixon is trying out for Hartford's UFL team, Desmond Conner writes in the Hartford Courant.
• Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez experienced expansion before and says the Big East teams are well positioned to compete in a supersized Big Ten, Dave Birkett writes for AnnArbor.com.

It's your favorite Big East blogger's birthday today, and cash always makes a nice gift. Of course, it's always better to give than receive, so I'll be giving out some answers to your e-mails now:

Charles from Tampa writes: With the injury to A..J. Love, USF has a lack of depth at quarterback and the wide receiver positions. I have attended every USF home game for the past two seasons and I have not been impressed with Dontavia Bogan at all, so I have no trust in him as our go-to wide receiver. Who could you see from the incoming recruiting class stepping up and playing a big role in the Bulls' passing game?

Brian Bennett: Bogan did have a big spring game, but with the way defenses are hamstrung in those glorified exhibitions it's hard to read too much into such performances. He has a lot of potential but hasn't really delivered. South Florida coaches were worried about depth at the position before Love got hurt, so it's a real concern.

As far as incoming recruits, that's always a guessing game before they arrive on campus, and there's no guarantee a true freshman will make an impact. South Florida only has two receivers coming in: Deonte Welch and Jamaal Montague. Of the two, Welch was more touted as a recruit. But I think it will be on guys like Sterling Griffin, Lindsey Lamar and Evan Landi -- none have much experience -- to raise their games along with Bogan.

---

Dennis R. Philadelphia writes: I know I'm broaching this subject too soon, but it's kind of a downtime with college football so I think it's fun to think about. Is it possible for Pitt to produce four first-round picks next year in the draft? Assuming on-field performance stays level (not that unreasonable) and some early entries, Greg Romeus, Jon Baldwin, Dion Lewis and Jason Pinkston all are first-round caliber. Am I crazy for thinking this?

Brian Bennett: I'd be shocked if Baldwin does not go in the first round next year. He's that good. Romeus could improve his stock to that level with a big senior year. I don't think Pinkston is a first-round player; he's very solid but lacks the elite size of an NFL tackle.

Lewis is the most interesting case study. For those wondering, Pitt officials told me he is in fact eligible for the draft after this, his sophomore year because he spent an extra half-year at prep school. But would an NFL team want to spend a first-round pick on a running back who is about 5-foot-7, maybe 5-8? I doubt it, though Lewis could well deserve such status.

---

Ryan J. from Madison, W. Va., writes: We all know that Bill Stewart thinks he has a shot at winning the national title in 2011. Why not this year? We have a ton of skill players on offense and the defense is loaded with returning starters. To me it seems we have a better shot this year than next with so much experience on both sides of the ball.

Brian Bennett: Stewart wasn't ruling out 2010. I think he was just suggesting that maybe next year will be even better because A) quarterback Geno Smith will be in his second year of starting; B) the offensive line will bring its core group back; and C) the Mountaineers get LSU at home instead of on the road. But you're right in that this year's team is loaded on defense and has Noel Devine and Jock Sanders for their senior years. Might as well capitalize on that too, if you can.

---

Brandon from Storrs, Conn., writes: Any guesses on why Lindsey Witten and Andre Dixon still are without an NFL team to call their own. From what I read it seemed Witten was a guaranteed free agent at least?

Brian Bennett: Witten has reportedly signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Dixon will try out with the New York Giants. I thought both might fare a little better. But from an NFL perspective, both are somewhat undersized for what they do. Though, I wouldn't be surprised to see both latch on because we know they're both well coached.

---

Tom C. from Greece writes: I can't get enough of this blog being isolated from college football in Greece, so I appreciate it a lot. I want to know what you think of Pitt's out-of-conference schedule and what it will say if they win all five games -- granted one is a FCS team and the other a low-tier FBS. Thanks and keep up the food work.

Brian Bennett: The blog's reach keeps expanding around the globe. Careful with the ouzo. As for Pitt's nonconference schedule, it's challenging to say the least. The Panthers open at Utah, go to Notre Dame and get Miami at home. And even their FCS opponent, New Hampshire, is no pushover. If Pitt can go 5-0 against that schedule, then it will have a chance to have a special season, and there will be no excuse for not winning the Big East.

---

Sean O'Connor from Charleston, S.C., writes: Cincinnati: Best group of wideouts in the nation in 2010? Your thoughts?

Brian Bennett: The Bearcats definitely are loaded at wideout, with Armon Binns, D.J. Woods and Vidal Hazelton as starters, plus possible contributions from Kenbrell Thompkins and Marcus Barnett. They're the best group in the Big East, by far. Best in the nation? That's a bold claim. I want to see what Hazelton does after a year off and see if Binns can repeat his success as a junior. Right now, though, you'd be hard pressed to find too many receiving units that are better on paper.

The NFL's fortnight of drafting -- what, it was only three days? Really? -- came to an end this weekend. I already touched on the first-round results on Friday. Here's a look at where Big East players went the rest of the draft, with some quick comments on each pick:

Second round

No. 37: Nate Allen, S, South Florida, to Philadelphia: No surprise here, as Allen was mentioned as a possible first-rounder at various points.

Third round

No. 65: Jerome Murphy, CB, South Florida to St. Louis: Here is proof that college production isn't always the most important thing to NFL scouts. Murphy struggled against some of the Big East's better receivers, but he has great physical tools and hopefully will find his niche in the pros.

Fourth round

No. 99: Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati, to St. Louis: If you watched any Bearcats games the past two years, you know that the Rams got an absolute steal. Think Sam Bradford will like having Gilyard around?

No. 101: Mike Williams, WR, Syracuse, to Tampa Bay: He was a first-round talent who was lucky to get picked this high given his off-the-field issues.

No. 107: Marcus Easley, WR, UConn, to Buffalo: Easley had great workouts, and though some thought he would go higher than this, it's still a great story for a guy who was a walk-on this time a year ago.

Fifth round

No. 157: Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse, to Baltimore: Jones was talked about as a possible first-rounder earlier in his career. This is a great value pick for a player who will always give maximum effort.

Sixth round

No. 177: Carlton Mitchell, WR, South Florida, to Cleveland: Mitchell looked impressive in his workouts, but falling to the sixth round makes you question if he made the right choice in skipping his senior year.

No. 182: Nate Byham, TE, Pittsburgh, to San Francisco: The best blocking tight end in the Big East during his career.

No. 204: Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati, to Carolina: Pike has to be disappointed that he fell this low and that he was drafted by the same team that took Jimmy Clausen a couple rounds earlier.

Seventh round

No. 226: George Selvie, DE, South Florida, to St. Louis: How much would you have bet against the notion that Selvie would be a seventh-round pick at this time last year? Selvie's production dropped after his breakout sophomore year, and now he'll have to prove himself again.

No. 227: Dorin Dickerson, TE, Pittsburgh, to Houston: Surprised to see Dickerson go this low after his great Combine performance. He's a tweener who needs the right team to showcase his skills.

No. 231: Selvish Capers, OT, West Virginia, to Washington: Capers has a lot of talent and potential.

No. 237: Ryan D'Imperio, LB/FB, Rutgers, to Minnesota: The Scarlet Knights' linebacker was drafted as a fullback although he never played it in college.

No. 238: Ricardo Mathews, DT, Cincinnati, to Indianapolis: Mathews didn't get as much attention on the Bearcats' defense as some other players but had a nice senior season.

No. 249: Robert McClain, CB, UConn, to Carolina: McClain had four interceptions last year and also served as the team's punt returner.

Here's a handy-dandy list of NFL Draft picks per Big East school:

South Florida: 5

Rutgers: 3

Cincinnati: 3

Connecticut: 2

Pitt: 2

Syracuse: 2

West Virginia: 1

Louisville: 0

And, finally, some notable players who weren't drafted (I'll have more later on those who signed free-agent contracts): Andre Dixon and Lindsey Witten from UConn; Aaron Webster and Alex Daniels from Cincinnati; Scott Long from Louisville; and Jarrett Brown from West Virginia.

• Jim Leavitt, South Florida and a bunch of lawyers met for nearly six hours for mediation over the weekend without a resolution being reached, Greg Auman reports in the St. Petersburg Times.
• Former Syracuse receiver Mike Williams needs a big showing at the NFL combine, Russ Lande says in the Sporting News.
• UConn's Andre Dixon is holed up in preparation for the draft workouts, Desmond Conner writes in the Hartford Courant.
• Anthony Davis, Jason Pierre-Paul and Arthur Jones are listed among the Top 45 prospects heading to the combine by SI.com.
• Cincinnati hosted several top junior prospects over the weekend, Tim Adams reports for Bearcatlair.com and the Cincinnati Enquirer.
• The Home News Tribune's Keith Sargeant interviews former Rutgers star Shaun O'Hara, who just endowed a scholarship at his alma mater.

No lunchtime links today, because there aren't any. It's a slow time, though Rutgers is expected to name two new assistant coaches this afternoon. So instead, I thought I'd give you the full list of Big East players who have been invited to the NFL combine, which begins Feb. 24 in Indianapolis:

• Nate Allen, S, South Florida
• Alric Arnett, WR, West Virginia
• Jarrett Brown, QB, West Virginia
• Nate Byham, TE, Pittsburgh
• Selvish Capers, OT, West Virginia
• Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
• Dorin Dickerson, TE, Pittsburgh
• Andre Dixon, RB, Connecticut
• Marcus Easley, WR, Connecticut
• Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati
• Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse
• Scott Long, WR, Louisville
• Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
• Carlton Mitchell, WR, South Florida
• Jerome Murphy, CB, South Florida
• Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
• Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati
• George Selvie, DE, South Florida
• Mike Williams, WR, Syracuse
• Kion Wilson, LB, South Florida
• Lindsey Witten, DE, Connecticut

A postseason ranking of the Big East's Top 30 players ...

No. 20

Andre Dixon, RB, Connecticut, Sr.

Preseason ranking: NR

Why him here: Dixon was another guy who entered 2009 with several question marks.

After leading UConn in rushing as a sophomore, he disappeared his junior year behind Donald Brown. In Randy Edsall's doghouse early and again late because of an arrest, Dixon was hoping to redeem himself as a senior.

And that's exactly what he did. He rushed for 1,093 yards and 14 touchdowns, joining teammate Jordan Todman in going over the 1k mark. Dixon memorably ran for 114 yards and the winning score at Notre Dame, and he had 126 yards and a score in the Papajohns.com Bowl victory over South Carolina.

At 6-foot-1, 210 pounds and the ability to run for tough yards, Dixon should get a chance to run on Sundays.

No. 21: Bill Stull, QB, Pittsburgh
No. 22: Nate Allen, S, South Florida
No. 23: Marcus Easley, WR, Connecticut
No. 24: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
No. 25: Jarrett Brown, QB, West Virginia
No. 26: George Selvie, DE, South Florida
No. 27: Kion Wilson, LB, South Florida
No. 28: Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh
No. 29: Lindsey Witten, DE, Connecticut
No. 30: Jeff Linkenbach, OT, Cincinnati

Several Big East players were part of the winning side in Saturday's East-West Shrine Game, a showcase event for NFL hopefuls.

South Florida linebacker Kion Wilson had the biggest day from the Big East contingent. He had six tackles and a forced fumble in the East's 13-10 win.

"He has the potential to be a very good special-teams player, which he'll have to do if he wants to make it on the next level," wrote ESPN's Scouts Inc. in a game-day blog. "He's undersized, but has shown excellent instincts throughout the week."

UConn's Andre Dixon led the East team in rushing, but had only 24 yards on seven carries.

"Dixon has surprisingly looked hesitant at times today," Scouts Inc. wrote. "He's a downhill runner on film and during practices this week, so we didn't expect to see the stutter steps at the line of scrimmage today. He has room to improve as a receiver with his hands away from his frame and running crisper routes, but he's athletic enough to do it. He's also a willing pass-blocker who will step up and take on blitzing linebackers. Despite today's struggles, he'll be a good value for someone in the middle rounds."

The Huskies' Lindsey Witten had one tackle, and it was behind the line of scrimmage.

West Virginia's Alric Arnett, who had a strong week of practice leading up to the game, made three catches for 54 yards.

Pitt's Aaron Berry recovered a fumble for the East team.

Continuing the countdown of the best Big East games of 2009:

No. 2

Connecticut 33, Notre Dame 30, Nov. 21 in South Bend.

Why this one: The previous four top games of 2009 all involved tough Connecticut losses in the final minute. Well, finally, the Huskies finished on the right side of the ledger, doing it in dramatic fashion by beating Notre Dame in double overtime. After falling behind 14-0 early, the UConn running game exerted its will in the second half. Both Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman went over 100 yards, and Dixon's 4-yard run in the second overtime set off an emotional celebration.

What it meant: Connecticut coach Randy Edsall called it the best win in school history, and the team relieved itself of the burden of trying to win a game for fallen teammate Jasper Howard. UConn would not lose again the rest of the season. The result also helped knock Notre Dame out of consideration for the Gator Bowl, opening another postseason spot for the Big East.

Player of the game: Jordan Todman ran 26 times for 130 yards and a touchdown, and also returned a kickoff 96 yards for a score.

Play of the game: Todman's kickoff return touchdown in the third quarter tied the game at 17 and gave UConn the spark it needed to believe.

Memorable quote: "You've got to understand what this team has gone through," Edsall said. "That first win we got [after Howard's death] was going to be special. And what better place than here?"

Previously:

No.3: Rutgers 28, Connecticut 24
No. 4: West Virginia 28, Connecticut 24
No. 5: Cincinnati 47, Connecticut 45
No. 6: Pitt 24, Connecticut 21
No. 7: Cincinnati 24, West Virginia 21
No. 8: West Virginia 19, Pitt 16
No. 9: South Florida 17, Florida State 7
No. 10: Syracuse 37, Northwestern 34

Continuing the countdown of the best Big East games of 2009:

No. 6


Pittsburgh 24, Connecticut 21, Oct. 10 at Heinz Field

Why this one: Pitt looked doomed in this game. Late in the third quarter, Andre Dixon rumbled into the end zone for a 21-6 UConn lead. But then the Panthers turned things on, igniting their best comeback of the season. Bill Stull and Jonathan Baldwin hooked up for a touchdown pass just before the fourth quarter began, and Pitt limited the Huskies to just 6 total yards in the fourth quarter. It all came down to a field goal as time expired, and Dan Hutchins drilled the 18-yard chip shot.

What it meant: Pitt stayed alive in the Big East race, while UConn suffered one of its many heartbreaking losses in conference play.

Player of the game: Baldwin had eight catches for 104 yards and a touchdown and was the most dominating player on the field.

Play of the game: Stull hit tight end Nate Byham for a 7-yard gain on fourth-and-4 from the UConn 35 early in the fourth quarter, continuing a drive that ended with the tying touchdown.

Memorable quote: "I think all of our coaches are on the verge of having a heart attack," Stull said. "But it's encouraging when you see that we didn't play exactly how we wanted but we still won. It's going to be a little exciting and a little scary when we do put everything together."

Previously:

No. 7: Cincinnati 24, West Virginia 21
No. 8: West Virginia 19, Pitt 16
No. 9: South Florida 17, Florida State 7
No. 10: Syracuse 37, Northwestern 34

The official and final list of NFL scouting combine invitees isn't quite complete, but the Sporting News has put together an early list of who's going. This list does not include juniors who have declared or will declare for the draft, and some seniors will be added later.

The combine runs from Feb. 24 to March 2 in Indianapolis. Here are the Big East players who've been invited so far:

Cincinnati: WR Mardy Gilyard, QB Tony Pike

Connecticut: RB Andre Dixon, WR Marcus Easley, DE Lindsey Witten

Louisville: WR Scott Long

Pittsburgh: TE Nate Byham, TE Dorin Dickerson

Rutgers: CB Devin McCourty

South Florida: S Nate Allen, CB Jerome Murphy, DE George Selvie, LB Kion Wilson

Syracuse: DT Arthur Jones

West Virginia: WR Alric Arnett, QB Jarrett Brown, OT Selvish Capers

The rosters for postseason all-star games are fluid and will continue filling up in the coming days. But here are the players from the Big East who we already know have been invited to one of the two big showcase games ...

Senior Bowl

Nate Allen, S, South Florida

Jerome Murphy, CB, South Florida

George Selvie, DE, South Florida

East-West Shrine Game

Kevin Haslam, OL Rutgers

Andre Dixon, RB, UConn

Lindsey Witten, DE, UConn

Nate Byham, TE, Pitt

Kion Wilson, LB, South Florida

Alric Arnett, WR, West Virginia

Jarrett Brown, QB, West Virginia

Instant analysis of the Papajohns.com Bowl, which Connecticut won 20-7 over South Carolina:

How the game was won: The Huskies had been brutalized defensively in the final month of the regular season, but they played like an iron curtain against the offensively suspect Gamecocks. They shut down the run and got heavy pressure on South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia. UConn took advantage of the Gamecocks' many mistakes, controlled field position and did what it does best on offense: run the ball and add a few shots downfield in the passing game.

Turning point: Garcia scrambled for a short gain but then coughed the football up while being hit late in the fourth quarter. UConn's Scott Lutrus recovered the loose ball. Eight Andre Dixon rushes later and the Huskies were in the end zone for an insurmountable 20-0 lead.

Stat of the game: While the Gamecocks kept shooting themselves in the foot with dropped passes and turnovers, Connecticut did not commit a penalty.

Player of the game: Dixon had 33 carries for 125 yards and a score. It's not a great per-carry average, but the senior went over 1,000 yards for the season (joining teammate Jordan Todman) and helped UConn control the clock against a pretty stout defense.

Unsung hero: Kendall Reyes. The defensive tackle was dominant up front against the South Carolina offensive line, leading the charge for a Huskies pass rush that overwhelmed Garcia and compared favorably to anything the Gamecocks saw in the SEC.

What it means: In the last Big East game of bowl season, UConn turned in the league's best performance. What a finish for a team that went through so much heartache throughout the middle of the season. The Huskies won their last four games and should go into 2010 receiving heavy consideration for the Top 25 since they return the bulk of their roster. After Cincinnati's terrible showing against Florida, UConn saved a little league face by beating an SEC team for the first time ever, albeit a mediocre one at best.

A brief primer on Saturday's Papajohns.com Bowl battle between Connecticut (7-5) and South Carolina (7-5):

WHO TO WATCH: Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon. The UConn running backs combined for more than 2,100 yards and 27 touchdowns this season. The Huskies' passing game greatly improved in the second half of the year, but the game plan still begins with running the ball. Todman and Dixon will have to get it down against a stout SEC defense that ranked in the top 15 nationally in yards allowed this season. South Carolina has played some excellent running backs in the SEC this year but might not have faced a tandem this good.

WHAT TO WATCH: Forget about strength against strength. The real question in this game is weakness versus weakness. UConn couldn't stop anybody late in the year and turned most of its games into shootouts. The Gamecocks, despite Steve Spurrier calling plays, had one of the most impotent offenses in the SEC and the country this season, though they dropped 34 points on Clemson in a season-ending win. Which team can get the most out of its disappointing side of the ball?

WHY TO WATCH: UConn is one of the best stories in college football this season, rebounding from the tragic death of cornerback Jasper Howard in October to make the postseason. There will be a lot of nonpartisan fans rooting for the Huskies. Beyond that, Randy Edsall has a strong young nucleus returning next year and could use this game as a springboard. It's another chance for the Big East to prove itself against the SEC, and with these teams featuring a clash of styles, it should be an interesting matchup.

PREDICTION: Todman and Dixon should find some running room, but I don't know if Zach Frazer and the passing game can solve the South Carolina secondary. UConn should play with a lot of emotion, but give the ol' Ball Coach this much time to prepare and you're asking for trouble. South Carolina wins 34-28.