ESPN College Football

It is time to evaluate the receiver position in the Big East. For the postseason rankings, I am going to include tight ends as well. Before the season started, I did them separately, but it makes more sense to do them together.

This is a position group that has a clear-cut 1-2. To me, the rest are pretty interchangeable, as no other group really stood out to me this season.

1. West Virginia. Slam dunk to have the Mountaineers on top, given the way Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey performed this season. Each had 1,000-yard seasons -- the first time in school history two players hit that mark. Bailey led the Big East with 12 receiving touchdowns, and was No. 1 in receiving yards per game. Austin was third in receiving yards per game and second in receptions per game. Add in Ivan McCartney, also ranked among the top-10 receivers in the Big East and that says it all. Preseason ranking: No. 2.

2. Rutgers. Mohamed Sanu had an unbelievable season for Rutgers with a school and Big East record 115 receptions. He dominated at receiver, leading the league in receptions per game and finishing second in receiving yards per game. That domination meant his teammates did not get as many opportunities -- Brandon Coleman only had 17 receptions; Mark Harrison 14, Quron Pratt had 32. But when you have an unstoppable force like Sanu, you keep going to him. Preseason ranking: No. 1.

3. Syracuse. When you think of the Orange, you don't necessarily think of high-profile receivers. But Alec Lemon and Nick Provo teamed to have outstanding seasons this year. Both posted career years, Provo made the Big East first team and Lemon made the second team. The two combined for 119 catches and 13 touchdowns. Depth wasn't great, but the performance of Lemon and Provo make up for that and vaults Syracuse here. Preseason ranking: No. 5.

4. Cincinnati. I thought the Bearcats receivers had a down year. D.J. Woods didn't really live up to his potential, and Anthony McClung led the team with 683 yards. That is the fewest yards for the team's leading receiver since 2006. What really sticks out: when Zach Collaros got hurt, the receivers as a whole never really stepped up the way they should have to help Munchie Legaux. Preseason ranking: No. 3.

5. Louisville. The Cardinals did get much better play out of their receivers, and were helped with the impact freshman DeVante Parker and Eli Rogers made. They didn't have anybody with eye-popping numbers, but they did have consistent enough performances out of this group. Preseason ranking: 7.

6. USF. The Bulls were really hurt by injuries at this position, and never really had a go-to guy emerge. Sterling Griffin was en route to a good season before he got hurt; A.J. Love got hurt as well. That left the position in the hands of many young, inexperienced guys. I thought Deonte Welch really had a nice second half. He was their best receiver when Griffin was out. Preseason ranking: 6.

7. UConn. Considering the way the Huskies struggled in the pass game, Kashif Moore, Isiah Moore and Ryan Griffin all put together solid seasons for UConn. Both Moores ranked in the top 10 in the Big East in receiving, and Griffin was the second-best tight end behind Nick Provo. Depth was lacking at the position -- as only five players caught double-digit passes, and only three are true wide receivers. Preseason ranking: 8.

8. Pitt. The Panthers got their tight ends and running backs involved heavily in the pass game, probably because there was depth lacking at the actual receiver position. Devin Street put together a solid season, with 754 yards receiving, and Mike Shanahan was decent. But otherwise, big plays were lacking. Passing game woes obviously had an impact. Preseason ranking: 4.

Last week, we took a look at the up-and-coming freshmen in the Big East. Now it is time to take a look at all of the departing senior talent. There is a ton across every team in this league. Sixteen of the 29 players honored on the All-Big East first team are seniors. There are still five bowl games left to be played, but it is worth taking a look at how many seniors are departing.

I will take a closer look at some of these "super seniors" in a future post.

Cincinnati

• Seniors: 21
• Starters: 12
• Key losses: Zach Collaros, Isaiah Pead, Randy Martinez, D.J. Woods, Evan Davis, John Hughes, Wes Richardson, Alex Hoffman, JK Schaffer, Adrien Robinson, Tom DeTemple, Derek Wolfe.

UConn

• Seniors: 13
• Starters: 7
• Key losses: Mike Ryan, Moe Petrus, Kashif Moore, Isiah Moore, Dave Teggart, Twyon Martin, Kendall Reyes.

Louisville

• Seniors: 17
• Starters: 9
• Key losses: Victor Anderson, Josh Bellamy, Josh Chichester, Ryan Kessling, Dexter Heyman, William Savoy, Greg Scruggs, Chris Philpott.

Pitt

• Seniors: 17
• Starters: 9
• Key losses: Lucas Nix, Greg Gaskins, Jordan Gibbs, Antwuan Reed, Max Gruder, Greg Williams, Brandon Lindsey, Chas Alecxih, Myles Caragein.

Rutgers

• Seniors: 16
• Starters: 8
• Key losses: Desmond Wynn, Caleb Ruch, Art Forst, Joe Martinek, Justin Francis, Manny Abreu, David Rowe, San San Te.

USF

• Seniors: 17
• Starters: 6
• Key losses: Jeremiah Warren, Chaz Hine, Quenton Washington, Jerrell Young, Patrick Hampton, Keith McCaskill.

Syracuse

• Seniors: 18
• Starters: 7
• Key losses: Van Chew, Andrew Tiller, Michael Hay, Antwon Bailey, Kevyn Scott, Mikhail Marinovich, Nick Provo.

West Virginia

• Seniors: 22
• Starters: 8
• Key losses: Don Barclay, Julian Miller, Bruce Irvin, Najee Goode, Keith Tandy, Eain Smith.

Making the rounds ...

• The Big East was planning its media rights future before Pitt and Syracuse left. Alignment talk dominated Big East basketball media day.
• D.J. Woods is struggling for Cincinnati.
• Louisville expects Teddy Bridgewater to get better with age.
• Pitt quarterback Tino Sunseri is ready to rebound.
• Rutgers coach Greg Schiano plans to start the same offensive line this week.
• Syracuse coach Doug Marrone believes in his offensive philosophy.
• USF running back Darrell Scott has lost fumbles in the last two games, but they are correctable mistakes.
• West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith says he has nothing to prove against Syracuse.

Game on, Louisville.

• Tennessee's receivers will be a big test for Cincinnati's defensive backs. Receiver D.J. Woods says the game "isn't the Super Bowl." The same columnist who dismissed Cincinnati as a C-USA team writes Zach Collaros could be the best quarterback the Vols face this season. On this 9-11 weekend, take the time to watch this video on Bearcats walk-on receiver Jacob Giltrow, who was an Army Ranger who served in Iraq.
• D.J. Shoemate is almost 100 percent for UConn. Who has the edge between UConn and Vanderbilt? Jeff Jacobs of The Hartford Courant wants the expansion madness to end.
• Louisville is wary of FIU receiver/returner T.Y. Hilton headed into tonight's game. A huge opportunity awaits FIU.
• Pitt recruiting report.
• Rutgers running back Jeremy Deering is prepared to show he is 100 percent. Savon Huggins can expect a rude greeting from the fans. The skilled North Carolina defensive line presents a matchup issue.
• Syracuse's defense is walking a fine line with such youth and inexperience. I missed this last week, but it's worth a read: How Syracuse is trying to recruit New York City. Eric Crume learned plenty in his Carrier Dome debut.
• USF football players are mourning Lee Roy Selmon at his funeral today in Tampa.
• West Virginia kicker Tyler Bitancurt is more confident. The cornerbacks are going to be challenged against Norfolk State. Thoughts from Dana Holgorsen off his radio show.

Taking a look around the league ...

• Q&A with Butch Jones after practice Monday. D.J. Woods has grown up. Isaiah Pead is expected to return kicks.
• Former Boston College receiver Shakim Phillips has transferred to UConn and will be eligible in 2012. UConn interim athletic director Paul Pendergast could make the move permanent.
• Cornerbacks are the issue for Louisville when it comes to the secondary. Louisville commit Will Gardner, a quarterback out of Georgia, tore his ACL in the opener and is out for the season. His high school coach says the Cardinals are sticking with their scholarship offer. Freshman receiver Jerrell Moore is no longer on the roster.
• Juantez Hollins has won the Pitt starting left tackle job. Take a look at the depth chart.
• Manny Abreu is back at practice for Rutgers, but has a lot of catching up to do. Recruiting director Tariq Ahmad is on a mission to help rebuild Haiti. Gary Nova is gaining a cool reputation as a backup quarterback. Jeremy Deering is easing back into action.
• A minute with Syracuse freshman safety Durell Eskridge. A smaller, faster linebacker group has big shoes to fill.
• Lou Holtz reiterates he is cheering for his son to beat Notre Dame. USF linebacker DeDe Lattimore is making big strides.
• West Virginia linebacker Jewone Snow is trying to make a name for himself. A history lesson on how West Virginia nearly joined the ACC. The offensive line has prepared as a unit.

Most teams took Sunday off from practice, so here is a quick weekend roundup with scrimmage information from several teams.

Cincinnati: The Bearcats are still looking for more consistency out of their receivers. Coach Butch Jones said, "We still need to get tougher, and fight through some adversity things. The big thing is mental conditioning, mental toughness, and overall execution. We are still searching to find a receiving corps that’s consistent day in and day out."

D.J. Woods is the leader among that group, but there is a lot of young talent hoping to contribute, including Kenbrell Thompkins, Anthony McClung, Damon Julian, Dyjuan Lewis, Alex Chisum, Shaq Washington, Ralph David Abernathy IV and Chris Moore.

Connecticut: Coach Paul Pasqualoni hopes to have middle linebacker Jerome Williams back in October. Williams hurt his knee in the spring but has yet to recover. ... There still no decision at quarterback after a scrimmage Thursday.

Louisville: Jeremy Wright had several nifty runs in the team's scrimmage Saturday, while tight end Chris White led the team in receiving -- including a 70-yard touchdown pass from Will Stein. Linebackers Daniel Brown and Dexter Heyman were the playmakers on defense.

Pitt: Coach Todd Graham has been encouraged with the way the offense has taken to playing hurry up. So far in fall practice, they have been snapping the ball 17 seconds after a play ends, down from 22 in the spring. Graham wants that number down to 10 to 12 seconds. He also had high praise for Zach Brown, who has shaken off the rust from the first few practices. He believes Brown and Ray Graham could be a dynamic duo.

Rutgers: True freshman Savon Huggins had a smashing debut in Rutgers' first scrimmage Saturday, rushing for 168 yards on 26 carries -- including a 52-yard touchdown run. Among other notable stats: Quarterback Chas Dodd went 12-of-27 for 250 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Tim Wright, coming off a knee injury, had four catches for 45 yards and two touchdowns. Running backs Jawan Jamison and Jeremy Deering sat out, along with defensive end Manny Abreu.

Syracuse: The injury bug hit the Orange once again over the weekend. Sophomore offensive tackle Sean Hickey will miss the 2011 season after tearing his ACL and lateral meniscus. Hickey did not play in any games last season. Three other offensive linemen already are out of practice -- Nick Lepak (concussion), Ian Allport (concussion) and Jarel Lowery (knee). Hickey was expected to push for playing time.

USF: The Bulls ran about 100 plays in their first scrimmage Saturday. Quarterback B.J. Daniels was held out to rest his hamstring injury, and the second and third teams took the majority of the reps. Bobby Eveld went 12-for-20 for 150 yards, while true freshman Matt Floyd went 18-for-25 for 161 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown to Deonte Welch. True freshman Elkino Watson also had a nice day with five tackles for loss and two sacks.

West Virginia: Coach Dana Holgorsen singled out running backs Dustin Garrison and Andrew Buie once again after practice Saturday, saying they were the two freshmen who have stood out the most so far in practice.

Which players have the potential to go from good to great in the Big East?

Josh Chichester, TE, Louisville. Now that he has made the transition from receiver to tight end, the potential is there for Chichester to become the best tight end in the league. His size, 6-foot-8 and 258 pounds, gives him the ability to be unguardable for opposing defenses.

B.J. Daniels, QB, USF. Folks have been waiting on a breakout season for the third-year starter. This could be it now that he has more consistency with his coordinators and some momentum off a good bowl game from last season. A tweaked hamstring should not impact him much during camp.

Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse. Early reports out of Syracuse camp indicate Jones is wreaking havoc during practice. His goal is to get double-digit sacks this year. With questions inside, he could be relied up on even more to hold down the line.

D.J. Shoemate, UConn. Given the history at churning out 1,000-yard running backs, the potential is there for Shoemate to follow. The offensive line and tight end positions are solid, giving him an even better opportunity.

Geno Smith, West Virginia. Smith already is one of the elite quarterbacks in the Big East. But will the new Dana Holgorsen offense make him one of the elite quarterbacks in the country?

Tino Sunseri, QB, Pitt. Sunseri is now in an offensive scheme that could lead to incredible numbers. He feels comfortable running the hurry-up, and has the ability to make all the throws. He should definitely be able to improve on his touchdowns (16) and yards (2,572) from last season.

Scott Vallone, NT, Rutgers. A move to the nose tackle position could help Vallone really emerge as a dominant player. He was a freshman All-American in 2009, so the potential is there in his new role.

D.J. Woods, Cincinnati. Is Woods next in line to get the major numbers racked up from Armon Binns (1,101 yards in 2010) and Mardy Gilyard (1,191 yards in 2009)?

Time to move on in our preseason countdown of the top 25 players in the Big East. As a reminder, we are projecting the best 25 players this coming season based on past performance, the way they impact their teams, and with input from other coaches and players around the league. Freshmen, transfers and other newcomers are not included in the list.

No. 16 Cincinnati WR D.J. Woods

Woods returns to the explosive Bearcats offense as the top receiver back from a year ago. In 2010, he caught 57 passes for 898 yards and eight touchdowns right behind Armon Binns. With Binns gone, Woods has the opportunity to become the top target for quarterback Zach Collaros.

As the slot receiver, he has the ability to make some pretty explosive plays. His long last year went for 69 yards, tied for the longest reception on the team. The potential is absolutely there for a 1,000-yard season. That potential has gotten national notice, as Woods was named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list earlier this summer.

The countdown:

No. 25 Dave Teggart, PK, UConn

No. 24 B.J. Daniels, QB, USF

No. 23 Tino Sunseri, QB, Pitt

No. 22 Victor Anderson, RB, Louisville

No. 21 Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati

No. 20 Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

No. 19 Jarred Holley, S, Pitt

No. 18 Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

No. 17 Julian Miller, DE, West Virginia

Don't forget about our chat today at 4 p.m. ET. Taking questions now. On to the links ...

• Greg Schiano starts his 11th season at Rutgers with a perception problem again. Five questions facing the Scarlet Knights. Joe Martinek, the fullback.
• Louisville kicked off practice this morning. Here are five questions going into practice.
• Five questions for UConn, too. Receiver Leon Kinnard plans to transfer.
• Penn State offensive tackle Tom Ricketts has transferred to Pitt. Todd Graham had some travel woes on his way back from media day.
• Corey Edsall, son of former UConn coach Randy Edsall, plans to walk on at Syracuse.
• Year 2 is upbeat for USF and Skip Holtz. Everybody has reported for the Bulls as they begin practice this afternoon.
• Dana Holgorsen is completely different than what West Virginia quarterbacks have been used to in the recent past. With the addition of Jake Spavital as quarterbacks coach, what is Holgorsen's role? The Mountaineers picked up commitment No. 18 from defensive end Korey Harris out of Florida.
• D.J. Woods is a player to watch for Cincinnati this year.

All the college football watch lists have been released, so here they all are, with your Big East representatives:

Bednarik Award, best defensive player
Bruce Irvin, West Virginia
Brandon Lindsey, Pitt
Kendall Reyes, UConn
Keith Tandy, West Virginia

Biletnikoff Award, best receiver
Tavon Austin, West Virginia
Van Chew, Syracuse
Mark Harrison, Rutgers
Mike Shanahan, Pitt
Michael Smith, UConn
D.J. Woods, Cincinnati

Butkus Award, best linebacker
Max Gruder, Pitt

Walter Camp Award, best overall player
Geno Smith, West Virginia
Brandon Lindsey, Pitt

Lou Groza Award, best kicker
Maikon Bonani, USF
Ross Krautman, Syracuse
Dave Teggart, Connecticut

Rotary Lombardi Award, best lineman
Moe Petrus, UConn
Kendall Reyes, UConn
JK Schaffer, Cincinnati
Brandon Lindsey, Pitt
Julian Miller, West Virginia
Bruce Irvin, West Virginia
Don Barclay, West Virginia
Chandler Jones, Syracuse

Mackey Award, best tight end
Ryan Griffin, Connecticut
Josh Chichester, Louisville
D.C. Jefferson, Rutgers
Nick Provo, Syracuse

Maxwell Award, college football player of the year
Zach Collaros, Cincinnati
Ray Graham, Pitt
Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati
Geno Smith, West Virginia

Bronco Nagurski Trophy, most outstanding defensive player
DE Bruce Irvin, West Virginia
DE Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh
DT Kendall Reyes, Connecticut
LB J.K. Schaffer, Cincinnati
CB Keith Tandy, West Virginia
DT Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati

Davey O'Brien watch list, best quarterback
Zach Collaros, Cincinnati
Geno Smith, West Virginia
Tino Sunseri, Pitt

Outland Trophy, best interior lineman
OT Don Barclay, West Virginia
C Chris Jacobson, Pittsburgh
OT Lucas Nix, Pittsburgh
C Moe Petrus, Connecticut
DT Kendall Reyes, Connecticut
DT Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati

Rimington Trophy, best center
Mario Benavides, Louisville
Joe Madsen, West Virginia
Moe Petrus, UConn

Jim Thorpe Award, best defensive back
Keith Tandy, West Virginia

Doak Walker Award, best running back
Victor Anderson, Louisville
Ray Graham, Pittsburgh
Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati

It is time to rank the Big East wide receivers. There is plenty of talent at this position, so let's see how the list shakes out.

1. Tavon Austin, West Virginia. If I am going with him as "NEXT" in the Big East, then he is going to be ranked No. 1. Now that he is going into his second year as a receiver, he feels totally at ease with his role and should have a monster year with Dana Holgorsen in charge.

2. Mark Harrison, Rutgers. I like Harrison because he seems to have the complete package. He is big (6-foot-3, 230 pounds), he is fast (4.38 speed) and he is a go-to guy (829 yards, 9 touchdowns last season). With a more focused offensive system in place, he should be even better in 2011.

3. D.J. Woods, Cincinnati. Though Woods was second in the league in receiving last season (898 yards), he could be overshadowed by some of the young talent the Bearcats have, including Kenbrell Thompkins, Shaq Washington and Anthony McClung. Still, Woods is the leading returning receiver in the league.

4. Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers. Sanu fought through an injury-plagued season in 2010, but when healthy he is one of the more dynamic players in the league. You have to love the size and versatility of Rutgers' receivers.

5. Mike Shanahan, Pitt. Shanahan should be the direct beneficiary of Jon Baldwin leaving and the new high-flying offense coming to the Panthers. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Shanahan is more of a possession-type receiver but he definitely is one of the most valuable pieces of this offense.

6. Stedman Bailey, West Virginia. Look for his numbers to increase in the Holgorsen offense. He should form a nice one-two combo with Austin in Morgantown. Bailey has terrific hands and catches everything that comes his way.

7. Van Chew, Syracuse. Chew leads a Syracuse crew that returns its top three receivers from last season. He may be underrated because the Orange are not known for their huge passing numbers, but look for them to work on the deep ball more this season.

8. Devin Street, Pitt. Purely based on potential here in the new Todd Graham offense. Street is a big-time deep threat. If Tino Sunseri can get him the ball and make explosive big plays, Street will be among the best in the league.

9. Josh Bellamy, Louisville. Receiver is a big question for the Cardinals, but with Bellamy returning, he should be the go-to player for Teddy Bridgewater and Will Stein. He has the size (6-foot, 206 pounds) to make plays and, now that he is going into his second year in the offense, should be much improved.

10. Marcus Sales, Syracuse. Sales really seemed to turn a corner this spring with Chew out. The two make a good tandem for the Orange, and he should have better numbers this season.

Previous player rankings:

• Offensive linemen

I had a chance to catch up with Cincinnati quarterback Zach Collaros to find out how the offseason is going, what he thinks of all the pub going to Geno Smith and how he good he thinks this offense can be this season.

AA: What have been the biggest things you have worked on this offseason?

ZC: We’re running a lot as an offense, working hard on tempo, getting lined up faster, working on execution, working with receivers, getting our timing down on routes, doing 7-on-7s. As a senior class, we've taken it upon ourselves to lead the activities. We've embraced the role of leadership, we’ve had a positive summer, and grown closer as a team. Hopefully that translates onto the field.

AA: How about you? How have you improved this summer?

ZC: Physically, it’s the best I've felt in a long time. We're in great condition -- the strength coaches always have us in great condition. In terms of football, I’m working on things that translate onto the field -- getting the ball off, not taking sacks. A big factor in summer is watching film, not just on the first two games, but stuff you did last year in ways you can improve. It hasn’t been just me. Others have gotten after it in that aspect and that's going to help.

AA: A lot of people are talking about Geno Smith as being the best quarterback in the Big East. How do you feel when you hear that?

ZC: I love being counted out. I’ve always looked at myself as an underdog. It adds that extra motivation you need more after coming off the season we had last year. It adds fuel to the fire, and reason to work harder, people doubting you.

AA: You lost Armon Binns, so who is going to step up in his place?

ZC: Losing Armon hurts. He was a comfort zone for me. We came in together, we grew up together in the program, so losing him will take away that comfortability for me. Anthony McClung, Kenbrell [Thompkins],DJ [Woods] -- I can't say enough about how they've come in and taken over the leadership role. We don’t miss a beat when it comes to 7-on-7s. They’re working hard, setting a good example for the younger kids. All three of those guys did a great job with that, along with them, OJ Woodard is working hard as well. As for the tight ends, Travis Kelce is back on the depth chart now, of course Adrien Robinson is still here, Blake Annen is here. It all starts up front, though; those guys up front have been doing a great job.

AA: What gives you the confidence to know your offensive line is going to be better?

ZC: Alex Hoffman has taken the lead with that group, as well as Randy Martinez. Those are two great guys in the program, great leaders for the younger guys. They’re helping them to develop, and I’m very confident in those guys. It all starts with them. If they can protect and run block, the offense has a nice feeling.

AA: Given all the potential, what are your expectations for the offense?

ZC: I think it's the same as it was last year. We had a lot of potential, and we had a lot of high expectations. High expectations are a good thing because you want to reach those expectations. We didn't last year. Turnovers killed us and not scoring touchdowns and kicking field goals and all that stuff. It comes down to execution. The experience will help me.

AA: How do you work on cutting down those turnovers?

ZC: It all starts with the quarterbacks. I have to cut down on the interceptions. I had a lot of them last year coming from behind, forcing too many balls in there. Me making better decisions is what it all starts with. We fumbled a lot last year, which you can't do. If we cut back on that, we're going to have a really good season. In practice every day, we have a five-minute period dedicated to ball-security drills. I think some of it was unlucky last year. The balls didn't bounce our way. We want to change that this year.

AA: Defense was the weak link, though. How is that unit going to be better?

ZC: Well, they’re all returning, which is a good thing. They all have a year of experience and are sick of people telling them they were the weak link and stuff like that. They want to be better. We have great leaders like JK [Schaffer], Cam Cheatham has stepped up. They're good football players. I know they work very hard in the weight room, they’re watching film and I have a lot of confidence the results on field are going to be much better this year.

AA: What goals have you set for yourself this season?

ZC: I just want to win more games, get back to a bowl game and win the Big East. For myself, I want to have a higher completion percentage, to be in the 64, 65 percent range. As long as I can lead my team to wins. I want my teammates to look at me as a leader. If I can accomplish that, I will be happy.

We wrap up our look at team position rankings with special teams. There are plenty of strong kickers and returners in the league. I did not separate them, though, because those would be more like individual rankings. Those are coming soon.

1. Connecticut. The Huskies have one of the best kickers in the league in Dave Teggart and one of the best kickoff returners in the league in Nick Williams putting them in the top spot here. Williams led the NCAA in kickoff return average last season with 35.3 yards per kick. Teggart was the Big East first-team selection, making 25 of 31 field goals. They should be better this year, even with the loss of Robbie Frey.

2. USF. The Bulls also have an excellent kicker-returner duo in Maikon Bonani and Lindsey Lamar. Bonani made 17 of 21 kicks last year, while Lamar was the first-team All-Big East selection, returning two kickoffs for touchdowns and averaging 26 yards per return. Add in punt returner Terrence Mitchell and this is one of the best units in the league.

3. Louisville. The Cardinals have one of the best in the league in Chris Philpott, who punts and kicks. Josh Bleser is solid in splitting the punting duties with Philpott. Victor Anderson and Jeremy Wright are back as kickoff returners -- both averaged 30-plus yards per return last season. Wright's kick return helped the Cardinals win the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl last year. Doug Beaumont is gone as punt returner, but he is the only loss. This unit has a chance to be No. 1 at year's end.

4. Syracuse. The Orange have one of the best kickers in the league in Ross Krautman, who missed just one of his 19 field goal attempts last season. They do lose their top punt returner in Mike Holmes, along with punter Rob Long so there are questions at some of the most important spots on special teams. But Krautman, and the return of Dorian Graham and Prince-Tyson Gulley returning kicks puts this unit just ahead of the Bearcats.

5. Cincinnati. This is a mixed bag for the Bearcats. They have the best punter in the league in Pat O'Donnell, who also happens to be a physical freak in the weight room. They should be decent in the return game with the return of D.J. Woods, who will compete with Anthony McClung, Shaq Washington and Kenbrell Thompkins to return kicks and punts. Darrin Williams is in the mix for kickoff returner, too. But kicker is a huge question mark. Jacob Rogers was solid last season. Now there is uncertainty in the competition between Tony Miliano and Danny Milligan. Coach Butch Jones says he won't name a starter until game week.

6. Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights also have question marks here. Kicker San San Te returns, but he needs to be better from longer distances (2-of-7 from 40-plus yards). Punter Teddy Dellaganna is gone and so is kickoff returner Joe Lefeged. True freshman Anthony DiPaula enrolled early and takes over at punter. Mason Robinson is back at punt returner, and Jeremy Deering and Mark Harrison make a good combo returning kicks.

7. West Virginia. The Mountaineers need more consistency from kicker Tyler Bitancurt, who missed his final four kicks of last season. He made just 10 of 17 attempts and looked shaky in the spring. West Virginia has a new holder and a new punter in Corey Smith, and hopes for improvement in the return game.

8. Pittsburgh. The Panthers have to replace both kicking specialists, including Big East first-team punter Dan Hutchins. At punter, you have walk-ons Matt Yoklic and Drake Greer, neither of whom has punted in a collegiate game. Kevin Harper takes over as kicker and had a good spring game. The Panthers also replace their long-snapper, so there will be a period of adjustment for this unit when the season starts. Cameron Saddler is a bright spot at returner.

Previous rankings

• Offensive line
• Receiver
• Running back
• Tight end
• Quarterback
• Defensive line
• Linebacker
• Safety
• Cornerback

We continue our team position rankings today with receiver. This is an area of great potential for plenty of teams around the league, especially with some of the high-octane offenses that we are going to see. Only three teams return their leading receiver from last season. The overriding theme seems to be this: there is a lot of talent, but much of it is unproven. So how are these receivers going to step up?

To make these rankings, I considered returning starters, accolades for returning starters, depth and potential.

1. Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights have proven talent and depth at this position, putting them at the top spot in these rankings. When healthy, Mark Harrison and Mohamed Sanu form one of the top 1-2 punches in the entire league. Add in Brandon Coleman, who had an outstanding spring, along with Tim Wright returning from injury and the top four looks as solid as it gets. Let's not forget incoming speedsters Miles Shuler and Tejay Johnson, who have the potential to play as well.

2. West Virginia. The Mountaineers have Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and a whole bunch of questions at the position. But with the new offense Dana Holgorsen is bringing in, other receivers have a chance to be more effective. Austin is about as close as you can come to a surefire first-team All-Big East player. Ryan Nehlen had a nice spring and could be the surprise of the season. So could Tyler Urban, a converted tight end. How will Brad Starks do after shoulder surgery? Will Ivan McCartney live up to his potential? There is talent here and great potential if everybody lives up to expectations.

3. Cincinnati. The Bearcats are stocked with talent, but many of these skill players have got to gain experience and fast with Armon Binns, Marcus Barnett, Vidal Hazelton and Ben Guidugli gone. D.J. Woods is expected to be a first-team All-Big East selection. But beyond he and Anthony McClung, you have got young guys -- junior college transfers Kenbrell Thompkins and Damon Julian, redshirt freshman Dyjuan Lewis, freshmen Shaq Washington, Chris Moore, Alex Chisum and Max Morrison. Thompkins showed great promise in the spring.

4. Pittsburgh. The Panthers lose their leading receiver in Jon Baldwin, but the duo of Mike Shanahan and Devin Street could each be 1,000-yard receivers. Behind them, though, there are some questions and inexperience. Junior Cameron Saddler is going to have to step up. Redshirt freshmen Salath Williams, Drew Carswell, junior college transfer Josh Brinson and true freshman Justin Jackson are all young but have a chance to be big contributors. Pitt also is waiting to hear whether UNC transfer Brendon Felder will have his petition for immediate eligibility granted.

5. Syracuse. The Orange have plenty of solid returning receivers in Van Chew, Marcus Sales and Alec Lemon but what this team is really lacking is big-play potential. In five games last season, Syracuse failed to complete a pass that went longer than 30 yards. In fact, Ryan Nassib averaged 6.5 yards per pass attempt. A healthy Jarrod West could help those numbers improve. Dorian Graham has to work on his hands, too.

6. USF. The Bulls lose leading receiver Dontavia Bogan, but they return injured players Sterling Griffin and A.J. Love to the mix, which is going to be huge. Lindsey Lamar and Evan Landi also return, along with Terrence Mitchell, Joel Miller and Faron Hornes. Deonte Welch had a nice spring game and is listed as a backup behind Landi. True freshman Andre Davis has the potential to contribute as well. The Bulls have plenty of depth here but there are still some questions about this group, especially with Griffin and Love coming off injuries.

7. Louisville. The Cardinals lose their top two receivers, and have got to figure out a way to make big plays and stretch the field with a young group. Josh Bellamy appears to be the go-to man headed into 2011, and much is going to be expected of Andrell Smith and Michaelee Harris. Both are coming off injuries and were unable to practice in the spring. True freshmen are most likely going to be relied upon, giving Eli Rogers and DeVante Parker and opportunity to play.

8. Connecticut. A playmaker has got to emerge from this group to help out whoever is going to be playing quarterback. The Huskies lost leading receiver Mike Smith because of academics. Kashif Moore, Ryan Griffin and Isiah Moore return but UConn is going to need some of its redshirt freshmen like Geremy Davis and Tebucky Jones Jr. to step up. The Huskies are not preparing to run the spread, so the potential for a 1,000-yard receiver in this group is low.

Previous rankings:

• Offensive line

Eric Dickerson and Craig James formed the "Pony Express" in their SMU days, a dynamic duo that will forever stand as one of the best in college football history.

Now the two are teaming up for the inaugural Pony Express Award, which will honor the top two- and three-player tandems from across the nation. According to the press release, the top tandem or trio will be honored for their "work ethic, desire, on- and off-field leadership and playmaking ability to best fuel their team."

The West Virginia duo of Geno Smith and Tavon Austin is the only Big East representative on the list. Understandably, expectations are high for Smith to have a 3,000-yard season and Austin to have a 1,000-yard season under new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen.

But I am surprised that the Cincinnati tandem of Zach Collaros and Isaiah Pead are not at least on the watch list. Collaros threw for 2,902 yards last season en route making the Big East first team at quarterback. Pead ran for 1,209 yards and made the second team at running back. You could even extend this out to a trio of Collaros, Pead and D.J. Woods, in line for a 1,000-yard season with the departure of Armon Binns.

Others from the Big East who deserve mention:

West Virginia defensive ends Bruce Irvin and Julian Miller. Irvin ranked No. 2 in the nation last season with 14 sacks, and Miller added nine, making them one of the top sack duos in the nation. They both ranked in the top 30 in the NCAA stats.

Others with potential:

Kendall Reyes, Jesse Joseph, Connecticut. Reyes put together a good season in 2010, making the All-Big East first team with 10 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, while Joseph led the team with 8.5 sacks.

Victor Anderson, Jeremy Wright, Louisville. No question Bilal Powell leaves big shoes to fill for the Cardinals, and it might take two running backs to fill them. Anderson had a nice spring as he attempts to overcome injuries that have slowed his progress. Wright was out for the spring game with a sports hernia. Though he is not fully recovered yet, he is expected to be healthy in time for spring practice.

Tino Sunseri, Ray Graham and Mike Shanahan, Pittsburgh. If Todd Graham can get the same results in his first year at Pitt that he did at Tulsa, then there is the potential for 3,000 yards from Sunseri and 1,000 yards each from Graham and Shanahan. Last season, Tulsa ranked No. 5 in the nation in total offense, No. 13 in passing offense and No. 15 in rushing offense.

Chas Dodd, Mark Harrison, Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers. With all the talent the Scarlet Knights have at the skill positions, there is the potential for a solid season. You can add Savon Huggins to the list, but that all depends on how he performs during fall practice.

Mikhail Marinovich, Chandler Jones, Syracuse. The two defensive ends return to their starting positions and have a chance to become leaders on defense and wreak more havoc than last season. Jones was an All-Big East second-team selection last season.

B.J. Daniels, Darrell Scott, USF. Daniels finished last season much better than he started, and expectations are for him to pick up where he left off. If Scott can come in and contribute the way many anticipate, this could be one of the best tandems in the league.