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I had a chance to catch up with Cincinnati coach Butch Jones on Tuesday, with the Bearcats having wrapped up spring practice. Here are a few notes from our conversation.

• Jones is not yet ready to name a starting quarterback, leaving the competition between Munchie Legaux and Brendon Kay ongoing through the summer. "The big thing is an overall level of consistency that we're searching for," Jones said. "Both are a little bit different in their games, but the thing that we're searching for is the individual who can manage the offense with great efficiency, take care of the football, who is a coach on the field. A lot of great quarterback play is a lot like being a great point guard in basketball, knowing how to distribute the ball, identifying matchups and taking care of the football. It's the small details. I've been really encouraged by both individuals. They've shown tremendous work ethic, and great poise. The competition has made them both better."
• The players Jones noted who really stepped up their games this spring: defensive linemen Walter Stewart, Dan Giordano and Jordan Stepp; running backs George Winn and Jameel Poteat; receiver Kenbrell Thompkins; and offensive lineman Eric Lefeld. Watch for Stewart to emerge as the new leader on defense.
• Receiver is still an area with big questions. Thompkins and Alex Chisum both had nice springs, but depth is a concern. Anthony McClung was limited with an injury, while Dyjuan Lewis got hurt early in the spring and will not be back in time for fall practice. Lewis suffered a Lisfranc injury to his foot while going up for a ball and landing awkwardly. Jordan Luallen, making the transition to receiver, also was limited during the spring with an injury, though he returned for the final two practices. Jones expects to rely on him in the passing game, and needs Max Morrison, Chris Moore and Shaq Washington to have very productive summers.
• Cincinnati also was missing a few offensive linemen this spring because of injury, including starter Austen Bujnoch. Cory Keebler was also limited. But that gave other players valuable reps. Jones feels good about Dan Sprague at center. Sean Hooey returned and got extensive reps, and Jones also liked the way Kevin Schloemer practiced as well.
• On defense, Solomon Tentman has garnered some attention with his incredible return from a devastating knee injury. But Jones noted that Tentman is not even at 100 percent. Jones also praised Greg Blair and Nick Temple, who will be relied on both in the middle and on the outside at linebacker. "We are going to ask a lot of Nick," Jones said. "He has to be a rock of stability for us."
• The secondary looks to be the most experienced position in terms of number of starts, though veterans Deven Drane and Dominique Battle both sat out with injuries. That gave Trenier Orr valuable reps, and Arryn Chenault has emerged at safety next to Drew Frey.
• So what are the major question marks left? "It is the overall depth and continuity on the offensive line, that still remains an area of concern," Jones said. "I think again, depth at receiver, young individuals having to step up. Overall the middle of our defense, at defensive tackle, linebacker and the safety position as well."
• One other injury to note: defensive lineman Roney Lozano got hurt this spring and is not expected to return until the middle of the season.

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.

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

We continue our look at Big East title chances for each team in the league. Up today: Cincinnati. The Bearcats had a year to forget in 2010, going 4-8 after their terrific undefeated regular season in 2009. Can they rebound in a major way and win the league again?

Why Cincinnati will win the Big East

1. Talkin' about offense. There is no question the talent is there on offense for Cincinnati to put up video-game numbers. All-Big East first-team quarterback Zach Collaros returns, and so does Isaiah Pead at running back. Armon Binns and his 1,101 yards are gone, but D.J. Woods should be able to step in and fill the void. There also are unproven players in Dyjuan Lewis, Kenbrell Thompkins and Shaq Washington ready to emerge. Let's not forget about incoming running backs Jameel Poteat and Akise Teague, too. The skill positions are essentially set.

2. Better defense. Every starter returns, which means this defense will be vastly more experienced than it was last season. So the unit should be better, right? Moving Walter Stewart down to defensive end should help the defense be more aggressive, and JK Schaffer should once again help lead this defense. Every position group is as experienced as it has been in years, and that could mean huge things for the Bearcats.

3. Year 2. Coach Butch Jones may have been familiar with the way Brian Kelly did things, but there still is an adjustment period when you take over a program and become head coach. Kelly didn't exactly leave the cupboard fully stocked, which helped contribute to the subpar season. But with another year at Cincinnati, expectations should be raised.

Why Cincinnati won't win the Big East

1. How much better is the defense? No question the unit will be more experienced, but how much better will that make the Bearcats? There also are depth questions at linebacker and in the secondary. Cincinnati no doubt will be relying on true freshmen at linebacker. Junior college transfer Malcolm Murray could push for playing time in the defensive backfield as well. Many of you wondered why I picked Dominique Battle as a potential impact player. He is listed as a co-starter on the depth chart following spring practice, and hopes are high for him to return to form following a knee injury. But the knee remains a question, and so does the secondary.

2. Schedule. The Bearcats have a brutal four-game conference stretch that could make or break their season. They open against Louisville before playing at USF, at Pittsburgh and then home to West Virginia. Not exactly the ideal way to start conference play. Luckily for the Bearcats, there is a bye squeezed in between USF and Pitt.

3. Special teams. Place kicker Jacob Rogers is gone, leaving big questions in the kicking game. Nobody solidified the job in the spring, leaving Tony Miliano, Danny Milligan and punter Pat O'Donnell to battle in the fall. Jones also expects to have some incoming players challenge for the job as well. This position is going to be up in the air until the first week of the season.

Previously featured:

• West Virginia
• USF
• Rutgers
• Syracuse
• Pittsburgh

2010 overall record: 4-8
2010 conference record: 2-5, seventh in Big East

Returning starters:

Offense: 5. Defense: 11. Punter/kicker: 1.

Top returners:

QB Zach Collaros, RB Isaiah Pead, WR D.J. Woods, OT Alex Hoffman, DT Derek Wolfe, DE Walter Stewart, LB JK Schaffer

Key losses:

WR Armon Binns, C Jason Kelce

2010 statistical leaders (* returners)

Rushing: Isaiah Pead* (1,029 yards)
Passing: Zach Collaros* (2,902 yards)
Receiving: Armon Binns (1,101 yards)
Tackles: JK Schaffer* (111 tackles)
Sacks: Brandon Mills* (six sacks)
Interceptions: Drew Frey* and Wes Richardson* (2 interceptions)

Spring answers

1. Better up front: The Bearcats' defense was bad last season, with lots of holes all over. One of the problems stemmed from the lack of a consistent pass rush on a thin defensive line. Players like Derek Wolfe and Brandon Mills played far too many snaps along that defensive front. Head coach Butch Jones feels better about the depth this season, with the addition of young players like Camaron Beard and Brad Harrah, plus the continued development of veterans like Dan Giordano and John Hughes. Moving Walter Stewart from linebacker to full-time defensive end should help with speed off the edge, and Wolfe should be one of the best interior tackles in the league. It's not an all-world line, but it should be a lot better.

2. Locked and loaded: Cincinnati led the Big East in scoring a year ago, and even with the loss of the league's top receiver in Armon Binns, the offense has the weapons to be very dangerous again. Quarterback Zach Collaros is a senior who's now fully in charge of the offense, and running back Isaiah Pead is the league's leading returning rusher after producing a 1,000-yard season in 2010. Junior-college transfer Kenbrell Thompkins emerged as a potential No. 1 wideout, and Anthony McClung and O.J. Woodard made strides. Add in explosive slot man D.J. Woods and incoming players Dyjuan Lewis and Jameel Poteat, and the Bearcats should be hard for defenses to handle in 2011.

3. Early start successes: Cincinnati had five recruits from its 2011 class enroll early, and Jones said the team went 5-for-5 in getting good players and future contributors from that group. Look for receiver Shaq Washington and defensive back Malcolm Murray to push for major playing time. If nothing else, the early enrollees help build depth for a team that didn't have much of a bench a year ago.

Fall questions

1. The back seven on 'D': While the defensive front figures to be improved, there still are questions on the rest of the defense. JK Schaffer is a rock at linebacker, but the Bearcats don't have much depth elsewhere at that position. All the defensive backs return from last season, but they did not play well in 2010 and had some struggles this spring. They need to become better tacklers and more aggressive on balls in the air. The defense showed some improvement in the spring but still has a long way to go.

2. Kicker questions: Jake Rogers was as reliable a placekicker as there was in the Big East the past few years. Tony Miliano, Danny Milligan and punter Pat O'Donnell battled to replace him this spring, but none of them clinched the job. Jones has said he'll probably wait until the week before the season opener to name his field-goal specialist.

3. Zach's backup: Collaros is completely entrenched as the starter and as valuable as any Big East player. But who would the Bearcats turn to if something happened to him? Chazz Anderson, who backed up Collaros last season and started the Syracuse game, decided to transfer after spring practice. The options include Georgia Tech transfer Jordan Luallen, oft-injured junior Brendon Kay, sophomore Munchie Legaux and early enrollee Stephen Weatherford. The No. 2 spot will likely remain up for grabs into fall practice.

Every Big East team needs to replace at least one major star, and I'm taking a look at how that process went this spring for each team. Up today is Cincinnati, and next week we'll pick up Rutgers and West Virginia once they are done with spring drills.

Biggest shoes to fill: Armon Binns

Binns led the Big East with 75 catches for 1,101 yards in 2010, hauling in 10 touchdown catches. His 6-foot-3 frame provided a nice safety blanket in the end zone.

Spring replacement: Kenbrell Thompkins

Butch Jones has sung the praises of Thompkins, a junior-college transfer who wasn't eligible last year. Thompkins should ascend to No. 1 status among the Bearcats receivers and was having a strong spring before he was slowed by a hamstring injury. Though two inches shorter than Binns, he brings playmaking ability with his speed and hands. Anthony McClung also made progress this spring after coming on late last season, and early enrollee Shaq Washington was impressive before suffering an ankle injury.

Summer outlook: First priority is to get Thompkins and Washington back to full health. Former highly-rated recruit Dyjuan Lewis finally becomes eligible this summer, though expecting too much out of him right away after a year away from organized team activities is unfair. With D.J. Woods back in the slot and expected improved play from the tight end position, Zach Collaros should have no shortage of targets in the passing game.

Here is Part II of my conversation with Cincinnati coach Butch Jones. You can read Part I here.

Let's switch over to offense and talk about the offensive line. You lose three starters from that group. How does that position look going into the spring?

Butch Jones: That's a position going into spring ball that we have to get solidified. Alex Hoffman is our leader up front, and he's provided great leadership. Evan Davis is an individual who, in his senior year, we're going to count on him to step up. Randy Martinez gained valuable experience last year. Sean Hooey is another individual who needs to step up. Then it's probably going to come down to Andre Cureton and Austen Bujnoch at another spot. Andre Cureton, when we got here he was 382 pounds and now he's down to 301. He's really done a good a job of taking care of his body and developing his body, and academically he was a 3.0 this quarter. So you can see where the program works. He and Bujnoch I expect to have a fierce competition for one of those spots on the offensive line.

Is Cureton still at tackle?

BJ: We've moved him to guard. Sean Hooey is at left tackle. Evan Davis is at center.

You've got a senior quarterback who was All-Big East last year in Zach Collaros. How good do you feel about that position this spring?

BJ: Obviously, I'm very excited about Zach. In just one year, he can walk into a room, and he can teach the offense. We can go out and practice tomorrow, and he can call the whole offense and the plays, the right protections. He understands the philosophy and what we want. I think the biggest transformation he had last year was being a full-time starter, and how do you manage the football game. The quarterback position is such a decision making process. Understanding down and distance and the time management and little scenarios and situational offense goes with it, sometimes being able to throw the ball away because it's the only play, and not forcing balls. So I think that was a great learning process. That one year in the system has really, really helped him grow and mature. And I've seen him make great strides in leadership.

It's going to be a fierce battle this spring to see who our No. 2 quarterback is going to be. I'm excited about all the individuals, from Chazz Anderson, who's been here as long as Zach, and then you throw in Jordan Luallen, the transfer from Georgia Tech, and then Brendan Kay, who's been in the program for a number of years and then Munchie Legaux. I'm excited to see what they bring to the table. Our quarterbacks will be live this spring. Zach will be the only one who's not, because you've got to be smart. We've got to find out who can make pays, and again it goes back to that mindset of physicality that we want.

What can you tell us about Luallen?

BJ: With Jordan coming in, it's been a transition from Georgia Tech, two totally different offensive systems. He can make some plays with his legs. The big thing for him is just the throw game and the overall mechanics of throwing the football. He did a great job on scout team last year, but it's a lot different when you're just holding a card up and telling him, 'Throw the ball to him.' The decision-making process will be big for him, but he's got all the intangibles you would want from a quarterback.

At running back, Isaiah Pead is the leading returning rusher in the Big East. What are your expectations for him?


BJ: The big thing with him is, first and foremost, being able to play without the ball. I'm talking about ball-faking, being a complete running back, pass protection, all the little things that great backs bring to the table. We've really challenged him in terms of body position and pass protection and continuing to put him out on the perimeter in some no-back formations. The overall discipline of making the right reads and right decisions when we run the football. A great running back always makes the offensive line right. Just the complete discipline that comes with that position, being patient, eyes on the proper reads. I'm excited to get him out on the field and see the progress he's made.

And Darrin Williams is healthy now as his backup?


BJ: Darrin is back. George Winn is an individual who played sparingly last year that I think will add to the overall depth of the running back position. And this may be another position where you may see some true freshmen as well.

Is it fair to say you didn't run the ball as much as you wanted last year because you were playing catchup so much?


BJ: Sometimes the scenario of the games dictated things. Obviously, I'm a firm believer that you have to be able to run the football. ... We've got to do a great job of being fundamentally sound up front and have our backs understand their reads. And this season we're going to be forced to be creative a little bit in the run game as well, with just our lack of experience and depth up front. We're really going to work hard in the run game, but we also want to be a balanced and explosive offense when we throw the football.

At receiver, you lost Armon Binns but bring back D.J. Woods. Is he the leader of that position now?


BJ: I think Kenbrell Thompkins is the leader of that group. Kids have great respect for him. It's an area where we're looking for consistency and we're going to need to have players emerge. We really don't have much returning experience. So obviously we're going to look to Kenbrell Thompkins. And then two young kids I'm extremely ecstatic about are Anthony McClung, who played for us as a true freshman, and then another freshman who enrolled early is Shaq Washington. He has not disappointed us. He's going to have some great playmaking skills, he's extremely competitive, and he's going to play this year.

D.J.'s big thing is the same issue he had last year, which is consistency. Then, O.J. Woodard is an individual, a fifth-year senior, who needs to step up for us and have a big spring. Then there's a junior college player, Damon Julian, we'll look to him. And this is another position where we may play some freshmen as well.

What about Dyjuan Lewis? He won't be eligible until this summer, but can he help you this year despite sitting out a year?


BJ: The light at the end of the tunnel is becoming brighter for him. It's been a very, very difficult year for this young man. To be able to go to school but not participate is very challenging. He's done a good job to date, and he has just one more quarter left. He's got all the talent in the world; now it's just going to be the functional intelligence and the speed of the game and all the things associated with that position. I do expect him to help us next year and we're counting on him to help us next year.

Lastly, people don't make much of special teams, but how will you replace a very consistent kicker in Jake Rogers?


BJ: You're on top of your game. Probably out of everything going on position-wise, that's the biggest question mark, when you have to replace an individual like Jake Rogers and what he's meant to us, and the consistency that he's brought to us. Tony Miliano, who we redshirted last year from Elder High School, is going to get a great opportunity to showcase what he can do. Danny Milligan has also kicked in his career, and Pat O'Donnell was also a good kicker in high school. Then we'll bring a couple individuals in this summer to compete at that position as well. We probably won't name who our starting kicker is until the week of Austin Peay [the 2011 season opener].

Spring practice is just around the corner -- South Florida will be on its new practice fields next week, while other Big East teams will follow suit shortly after.

So here's a look at what to expect from each league team this spring.

Cincinnati

Spring practice starts: March 29
Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

• Fixing the defense: There's little doubt that improving the defense is the first order of business in Clifton. The Bearcats ranked last in the Big East last season while giving up 28 points per game. The good news is that all 11 starters on that side of the ball are back. The bad news is those are the same guys who couldn't get it done a season ago. An extra year of maturity should help, and Butch Jones expects more depth and competition on defense, including the arrival of junior-college import Malcolm Murray at safety.

• Restocking the Binns: Cincinnati should still be strong on offense with the return of senior quarterback Zach Collaros and senior Isaiah Pead, the leading returning rusher in the Big East. Yet the loss of the league's most productive receiver in 2010, Armon Binns, means the Bearcats need to find a few more guys to make plays at receiver. D.J. Woods is an obvious choice as the new go-to guy, but he'll have to solve his fumble problems. Transfer Kenbrell Thompkins, who couldn't get eligible last season, will look to step forward. Another sidelined receiver, freshman Dyjuan Lewis, won't be cleared to join in team activities until the summer.

• Looking for leaders: One of the problems during the 2010 4-8 season, as voiced by departing senior Jason Kelce and implied by Jones, was a lack of leadership on the team. Hey, it happens sometimes when your program has been to back-to-back BCS games and young players feel an undeserved sense of entitlement. Jones has been trying to change that, and we should be able to tell during the spring whether some new leaders have emerged.

Connecticut

Spring practice starts: March 15
Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

• Back to the future: For the first time since the end of 1990s, and for the first time ever as an FBS-level program, the Huskies will have someone other than Randy Edsall leading them through practice in March. Former longtime Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni took over when Edsall left for Maryland, and Pasqualoni hired new coordinators (George DeLeone on offense and Don Brown on defense) to mix in with the holdovers from Edsall's staff. UConn has been doing things the same way for a long time, and with pretty strong results. How will the team react to Pasqualoni's new-look, old-school ways?

• Backfield in motion: Quarterback Zach Frazer is gone. Star tailback Jordan Todman left early for the NFL. Fullback Anthony Sherman graduated. Everything behind center is new. The quarterback position looks pretty wide open, with sophomore Michael Box perhaps having the edge after making one (very unsuccessful) start in 2010. Early enrollee Michael Nebrich is one to watch. How will the Huskies replace Todman? Good question. Robbie Frey decided to concentrate on graduate school, leaving USC transfer D.J. Shoemate as the only experienced ballcarrier. Freshman Lyle McCombs' status is unclear for spring after his offseason arrest, and the two running backs in the signing class won't arrive until summer. Right now, it's anybody's guess as to who might carry on the UConn running back tradition.

• Reloading at linebacker: The Connecticut defense brings a lot back, but one position that needs refilling is linebacker. Lawrence Wilson, who led the Big East in tackles the past two seasons, and Scott Lutrus, a four-year starter and solid leader, both exhausted their eligibility. Sio Moore looks like a rising star and had some huge games in 2010, but the other two positions have large shoes to fill.

Louisville

Spring practice starts: March 23
Spring game: April 15

What to watch:

• Smooth sailing for Bridegwater?: The Cardinals' most pressing issue is at quarterback, where senior co-starters Justin Burke and Adam Froman are gone. Highly-touted recruit Teddy Bridgewater will participate in the spring, and how quickly he picks up the college game and coordinator Mike Sanford's system could go a long way to determining what happens this fall. If he needs more time, senior Will Stein will happily take the reins.

• Rebuilding the O-line: The key to Louisville's offensive success was its senior-laden line, which proved to be the best in the Big East a year ago. But now four new starters must be found to go along with center Mario Benavides. The new guys must get up to speed and develop chemistry quickly for the running game and presumed new starter Jeremy Wright to duplicate last season's progress.

• Last line of defense: Louisville's defense was most vulnerable at its back end at times last season, and now the Cardinals must replace both starting cornerbacks (including All-Big East first team performer Johnny Patrick), no to mention two senior linebackers. An obvious candidate to take over some leadership is safety Hakeem Smith, who was the Big East rookie of the year. The plus side is that Charlie Strong and coordinator Vance Bedford will have more young talent to work with.

Pittsburgh

Spring practice starts: March 15
Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

• Golden Graham?: There will be no more drastic change in the Big East this spring than the offense at Pittsburgh, which will go from a run-based pro-style attack to Graham's no-huddle, wide-open, points-per-minute machine. Can the Panthers get this new offense up and running this spring? Does Graham have the players to make it work? And how will his offense, so successful in Conference USA, translate into the more rugged Big East? All those questions will be fascinating to follow.

• Quarterback competition: Junior Tino Sunseri started every game in his first year at the controls in 2010, and he played well at times. But a new style and new coaching staff means that he might have an edge, but not necessarily an insurmountable one, in this spring's competition. Redshirt freshman Mark Myers is multi-talented and will be given a look, along with classmate Anthony Gonzalez and Kolby Gray. The current staff has no loyalty to Sunseri, so he'll need to perform at a high level this spring to keep his job.

• Shoring up the 'D': It's no secret that Pitt struggled in defending the pass last season. Graham's offense may be more explosive, but he doesn't want to have to get into shootouts all the time. He and defensive coordinator Keith Patterson have experience running 3-3-5 and 4-2-5 formations and may go to more of those kinds of looks to counter the increasing spread offenses throughout the league. First Pitt will have to get better play from its secondary and linebackers in pass coverage, and that starts this spring.

Rutgers

Spring practice starts: March 29
Spring game: April 30

What to watch:

• Line change: The first thing to focus on this spring for the Scarlet Knights is the front five on offense. The offensive line has been a mess for the past two years and was an utter disaster a year ago. Head coach Greg Schiano is counting on junior-college center Dallas Hendrickson to provide some immediate help, and that another year will lead to better things for the returnees. Rutgers needs answers at right tackle, especially, and if the line can't block its own defense in spring practice, you'll know there's trouble.

• A Frank re-assessment: Former Pitt offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti takes over the Scarlet Knights' playcalling duties this spring, and his pro-style background seems like a perfect match for what Schiano likes to do. Look for Cignetti to try to establish a stronger running game this spring (while waiting for mega-recruit Savon Huggins to arrive this summer) and abandon the Wildcat formation and other gimmicks that Rutgers desperately turned to the past two years. His work with sophomore starter Chas Dodd will also be critical, since there are no other experienced quarterbacks on campus.

• Recharging the defense: You always expect a Schiano-led defense to be rock solid, but that defense wore down last season and ended up allowing more points in conference play than anybody. Three of the starting four defensive linemen are gone, as well as the team's leading tackler -- linebacker Antonio Lowery -- and safety Joe Lefeged. Schiano has recruited well and has lots of young players ready to step into bigger roles. Spring will be the time we start to learn who's ready to handle increased responsibilities.

South Florida

Spring practice starts: March 3
Spring game: April 2

What to watch:

• Transfers accepted: Running backs Darrell Scott and Dontae Aycock have strong credentials; Scott was one of the more sought-after recruits in the country before disappointing at Colorado, while Aycock was set to play for Auburn. Both become eligible this year and will show their stuff this spring. The two big-bodied ballcarriers could add some power and explosiveness to the Bulls offense. Notre Dame transfer Spencer Boyd should bring depth, at the very least, to the secondary.

• B.J. still the main Bull?: Junior B.J. Daniels seemed to reassert himself as the starter with a big performance in the Meineke Car Care Bowl win over Clemson. But before that, there were serious questions about whether sophomore Bobby Eveld might unseat him. Daniels goes into the spring with an obvious edge, but he'll be pushed by Eveld and redshirt freshman Jamius Gunsby. He'll need to perform at a consistent level to stiff-arm questions about his job security.

• Receiver reconstitution: No doubt, receiver was the position that needed the largest upgrade a year ago. The bad news is, the Bulls lost leading pass-catcher Dontavia Bogan, who was nearly a one-man show at wideout in 2010. On the flip side, A.J. Love and Sterling Griffin return from injury. And Skip Holtz hopes getting thrown into the fire last season sped the development of guys like Evan Landi, Joel Miller and Lindsey Lamar. At the very least, the position has a lot more experience and depth than it did a year ago at this time.

Syracuse

Spring practice starts: March 8
Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

• Displacing Delone: Senior Delone Carter brought the thunder to the Syracuse running game the last two years, and he may have been the least favorite ballcarrier for opposing tacklers to bring down. With him gone, it remains to be seen whether the smaller Antwon Bailey can be an every-down back, or if youngsters like Prince-Tyson Gulley and Jerome Smith are ready for an increased role in the offense.

• Linebacker makeover: It would be hard for any team to lose a more productive linebacker tandem than the Orange did with seniors Doug Hogue and Derrell Smith. They were both crucial to what defensive coordinator Scott Shafer liked to do. The lone returning starter is Marquis Spruill, who played as a true freshman last year. Could a newcomer like junior-college transfer Siriki Diabate be ready to help immediately?

• Wideout wonders: Marcus Sales helped rescue an ailing passing game with his breakout performance in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Is Sales ready to play like that all the time now, or was he a one-game wonder? Will Van Chew continue the improvement he showed last season before getting injured? Can the Orange get more out of Alec Lemon? What new faces might help at receiver? The answers to these questions will be key to the attack under Nathaniel Hackett, who was promoted to offensive coordinator this offseason.

West Virginia

Spring practice starts: March 28
Spring game: April 29

What to watch:

• Dana days: Mountaineer Nation is salivating at the thought of what Dana Holgorsen will do to revive the offense. Holgorsen has had an immediate and incredible impact at the last two places where he called plays, and some solid work in the spring is required to do the same in Morgantown. A couple of things are for sure: the Mountaineers will be throwing it around a whole bunch during practice, and fans will breathlessly gobble up every small detail. Another thing to watch will be the chemistry between Holgorsen's hand-picked offensive staff and Bill Stewart, the man he'll replace at the end of the season. That relationship will also be dissected relentlessly.

• Defense reload or rebuild?: Most people assume West Virginia will continue to field an excellent defense because of coordinator Jeff Casteel. That may be true, but no team lost more defensive talent than the Mountaineers, who must replace frontline players like tackle Chris Neild, linebacker J.T. Thomas, safety Robert Sands and cornerback Brandon Hogan, among others. There's still a lot to like here, including ends Julian Miller and Bruce Irvin and corner Keith Tandy, but for Casteel must find new contributors to keep his 3-3-5 humming along.

• Who's in the backfield?: It's not yet know just how much quarterback Geno Smith will be able to do during spring practice after his offseason foot surgery. Obviously, the more reps he can take, the better he'll be able to get Holgorsen's system down. And there's no experience behind him. West Virginia will be cautious with Smith, though, because the fall is way more important. With Noel Devine gone and Tavon Austin seemingly making his move to receiver permanent, there will be competition for the starting running back spot. Shawne Alston and Ryan Clarke are bulldozers who could add an interesting wrinkle to Holgorsen's spread if they get the job done.

After two straight Big East titles and BCS game appearances, Cincinnati came crashing down to earth with a 4-8 record in 2010.

Several factors conspired against the Bearcats in this disappointing season. There was the coaching transition, of course, as Butch Jones took over for Brian Kelly. There was a difficult early schedule that included games at Fresno State and NC State and versus Oklahoma, all of which Cincinnati lost. Injuries played a part, as starting receiver Vidal Hazelton went down in the opener with a torn ACL, and the team's most experienced cornerback (Dominique Battle) missed most of the year with a knee injury.

The Bearcats led the league in points scored and total offense but finished last in points allowed thanks to an undersized, inexperienced defense that gave up nearly 34 points per conference game. Unlike last season, when they could win shootouts late in the year because of their prolific offense, they continually ended their own drives with mistakes. Their abysmal minus-15 turnover margin was second-worst in the FBS.

Intangibles were at play as well. Jones had to fight a sense of entitlement that stemmed from those two straight championships. Senior center Jason Kelce told the Cincinnati Enquirer earlier this month that the team lacked the hunger it had in previous years.

So what can Cincinnati do to get back to the postseason in 2011?

Jones has a strong nucleus returning. The team loses only six starting seniors, none of them on defense. Quarterback Zach Collaros, running back Isaiah Pead and receiver D.J. Woods are all among the best at their position in the Big East, so the offense should thrive again, especially with a year of Jones' system under their belts. The Bearcats will miss start wideout Armon Binns, but freshman Anthony McClung showed promise late in the year, and former star recruit Dyjuan Woods and junior college transfer Kenbrell Thompkins will become eligible.

The defense remains an issue, and this offseason will be crucial in the weight room for the Bearcats to add some bulk. Jones has to fill in some gaps through recruiting and may look to a junior college player or two to provide immediate help.

Next year's schedule will be slightly easier, with difficult games against Tennessee and NC State but highly winnable contests against Austin Peay, Akron and Miami of Ohio. For the first time in a few years, the Bearcats won't be picked among the favorites for the Big East. But they should improve enough to get back to a bowl in 2011.

Cincinnati coach Butch Jones said Tuesday that more true freshmen could soon see the playing field for the Bearcats.

That includes Munchie Legaux, the Louisiana athlete who played quarterback in high school. Legaux could get some time at receiver this week against Miami of Ohio, Jones said. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to start saying that name on a regular basis.

Jones has already employed another true freshman at receiver in Anthony McClung. The injury to Vidal Hazelton and the ineligibility of Kenbrell Thompkins and Dyjuan Lewis forced his hand.

“You look at Munchie Legaux," Jones told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "In August, was he ready to play receiver? No. Did we ever think he would have to play receiver in August? No, because we’re sitting there and you had Vidal Hazelton. You had Kenbrell Thompkins. You had Dyjuan Lewis. Now those three individuals are off your team.”

Another true freshman, Devan Drane, could see time at cornerback with the season-ending injury to starter Dominique Battle. True frosh Roney Lozano, Antwan Darling and Adrian Witty have already played this year.

"Maybe some weren’t ready game one and now game five are ready," Jones said. "Some will probably be ready game six or game seven. It’s about putting the best personnel on the field, not just on offense and defense, but on special teams as well, to win football games. We’ve got some very talented freshmen."

When Cincinnati settled for a field goal on its opening drive last week against Indiana State, there was no celebrating on the sidelines.

Instead, as quarterback Zach Collaros recalls, players were hanging their heads in frustration. At halftime of that game against one of the worst FCS programs around, the Bearcats led only 12-7. This came after mustering just two touchdowns in a 28-14 loss to Fresno State in the opener.

The offense that was the best in the Big East a year ago and predicted by many to be explosive again this year had suddenly become plodding.

"We were frustrated because we had great expectations for ourselves," Collaros said. "That kind of got us in a funk."

The Bearcats responded by scoring 28 points in the fourth quarter to blow last weekend's game open. Still, this offense hasn't yet looked like the one that scored 117 points in last season's first two games, or even like new coach Butch Jones' old high-scoring attack at Central Michigan. It ranks fifth in the Big East in scoring and just seventh in total offense, a neighborhood never known during the Brian Kelly era.

Cincinnati is hoping to get back to those high-flying days Thursday night at NC State (ESPN, 7:30 ET).

"Our offense has something to prove this week," offensive guard Alex Hoffman said. "We've kind of got a chip on our shoulders, especially as an offensive line."

Collaros was sacked eight times at Fresno State and hurried countless more. After that game, Jones opened up the competition at every offensive line spot, though he made just one change to the starting lineup, with Randy Martinez moved up to start at guard. Jones said he thought the line made "great strides, but we're still a work in progress."

They will also have their hands full against a blitz-happy NC State team that will be a whole lot more physical than lowly Indiana State.

"Our chemistry has been great this week, and we're all on the same page," Hoffman said. "We're going to protect Zach a lot better. He's not going to get touched."

A huge year was expected from Collaros, who turned in dazzling numbers in four starts replacing the injured Tony Pike last season. Collaros' stats through two games this year are solid -- he's completing 60 percent of his passes and has three touchdowns with no interceptions. But he also held onto the ball too long at times against Fresno, leading to some of those sacks.

"I was trying to make too many plays in the second half," he said. "I was trying to win a game by myself."

Jones has cautioned all along that, despite those four starts last year, Collaros is basically still a first-year starter at quarterback.

"Zach is still going through the evolution stages," Jones said. "People look at those four games, but it's still different when you're the starting quarterback. There's so much that goes into the leadership at that position, from making the right reads and the right decisions."

Collaros also no longer has as many weapons around him as he once did. Receiver Vidal Hazelton was lost for the year with a torn ACL in the Fresno game. Wideouts Kenbrell Thompkins and Dyjuan Lewis are ineligible. Running back Isaiah Pead missed the Indiana State game with swelling in his knee. The starting receivers are still strong, but Jones said there have been too many incompletions.

"Dropped passes are like turnovers in our offense," he said.

When the Bearcats are completing passes and avoiding negative plays, they get into a hyper tempo in their no-huddle offense. The pace picked up considerably in that third quarter outburst last week, and that's the way Cincinnati wants to play.

If that happens at NC State, then maybe this offense will look like its old familiar self.

"If we execute the way we know how, there's no question we'll put up big points and big numbers," Collaros said.

Even as most people were praising Cincinnati's receiving corps as one of the best in the nation this preseason, head coach Butch Jones was quietly nervous about the depth.

Sure, the starters were great, but Jones' up-tempo system demands that a lot of players rotate in at receiver to stay fresh. The depth started taking hits when junior college import Kenbrell Thompkins was ruled ineligible, when highly touted freshman Dyjuan Lewis wasn't cleared and when Jamar Howard got hurt in the spring.

All of those developments, however, pale in comparison to the loss of Vidal Hazelton.

The USC transfer, who was arguably the most talked-about newcomer in the Big East this season, is already done for the year after tearing his ACL on a kickoff return in the Fresno State game. Hazelton had six catches for 63 yards before the injury. You've got to feel terrible for a guy who sat out all of last year under transfer rules only to get less than one game his senior season.

Hazelton did not redshirt at USC, so there's a possibility that he could gain another year of eligibility. That's something that won't be determined until after the year, however, and who knows with the NCAA?

Hazelton brought size, strength and big-play ability to the wide receiver group. Now there's even more pressure on Armon Binns to be the Bearcats' No. 1 wideout. D.J. Woods had a strong first half against Fresno State and is one of the better slot receivers in the league. Marcus Barnett will assume Hazelton's role on the outside opposite Binns.

Barnett was a star his freshman year before finding himself in Brian Kelly's doghouse as a sophomore and junior. He has a lot of experience and ability, but his skinny frame -- his nickname is "Bones" -- means he will not be the same physical target that Hazelton was. He seems better suited as a slot guy.

"I don't think it will affect [us] that much in terms of what we do offensively and in terms of personnel groupings," Jones said. "But any time you take a person like Vidal out of the offense, obviously it concerns you a little bit because of his talent and playmaking ability.

"I'm excited for Marcus Barnett. ... Now is his opportunity to come in and make amends for the last couple of years, so we'll see how that goes."

Cincinnati, surprisingly, already has some offensive question marks after scoring just 14 points against Fresno State -- its lowest total in almost two years. Zach Collaros was sacked eight times and hurried even more. While Jones said not all of the sacks could be blamed on the offensive line -- Collaros clearly held onto the ball too long on several plays -- he's considering some personnel changes up front.

We all thought the Bearcats would have an explosive offense in 2010. Now that's not as certain. And with games coming up this month at NC State and against Oklahoma, Jones and his team could find themselves in an early hole if they don't make the right adjustments.

• West Virginia has a plan for fixing its kickoff coverage. Jeff Braun could solve the team's problem at right tackle.

• Dan Mason's mental grasp of the game is catching up with his physical tools, and that has him looking like a future star for Pittsburgh.

• Johnny McEntee already helped UConn secure a key recruit and might someday help at quarterback too.

• South Florida lost lineman Mark Popek to a knee injury, but it wasn't as serious as originally feared.

• Syracuse freshman receiver Jarrod West, a former Stanford recruit who was in line for playing time this season, has a broken foot and is out indefinitely.

• A weekend scrimmage looms large for Rutgers running back De'Antwan Williams. Jonathan Freeny wants to prove he's more than just a pass-rushing specialist.

• Freshman cornerback Adrian Witty is impressing for Cincinnati. Meanwhile, freshmen Dyjuan Lewis and Ty Phillips have yet to be cleared by the NCAA.

• Walk-on running back Blayne Donnell is hoping for a chance at Louisville.

Cincinnati's vaunted receiving corps just lost one potential key piece for 2010.

Kenbrell Thompkins, a junior college transfer and former Tennessee signee, had his request to be immediately eligible denied by the national letter of intent appeals committee. Tennessee refused to release Thompkins from his letter of intent after Lane Kiffin left the Volunteers to coach USC.

The appeals committee did grant Thompkins some relief, allowing him to sit out this year as a transfer and have two years of eligibility remaining. The standard penalty for breaking a letter of intent is one year's loss of eligibility.

We could talk about how unfair it is that a coach can recruit a player, then leave for another school, and the player isn't then free to transfer to another school. But that's another topic, and the system is so ludicrously tilted against athletes I'm not sure there's even any debate.

Either way, Cincinnati is still set at its starting wideout spots with Armon Binns, D.J. Woods and Vidal Hazelton. But Butch Jones is concerned with the depth behind the starters, since his high-tempo offense requires a lot from its receivers. Marcus Barnett and perhaps incoming freshman Dyjuan Lewis will have to step up, because Thompkins had been impressive in the spring and was in line for a lot of playing time.

In other Bearcats news, tight end Travis Kelce has been suspended for the season for a violation of team rules. Kelce was behind both Ben Guidugli and Adrien Robinson on the depth chart. He's best known for running in a touchdown against Rutgers out of the Wildcat formation in last year's season opener.

The next time I talk to you guys, I'll be in Newport for Big East media day, where we'll have some meaty football issues to discuss.

On to the last mailbag of July:

Bob from Houston writes: Should we expect a well-articulated plan of how/when the conference is attempting to rework its current football contract with ESPN? Or would ESPN (and probably any other network) be more likley to opt for a "wait and see," in lieu of a possible Big 10+2 or A-She-She raid of the Big East?

Brian Bennett: While it's possible that commissioner John Marinatto might lay out some more specifics on the Big East's plans going forward, I doubt it. Marinatto and the league have taken the stance that they'd rather formulate their strategy in private without offering many details. And remember that the ESPN contract still has a few more years on it, so there's no rush to make changes to the deal.

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Grant from Louisville writes: In looking at U of L's schedule this year, do you think that if Charlie Strong's team can go 6-6, we'll get a shot at a bowl, or do we probably need seven wins? I'm looking at it, we should have a shot to win the first two games (UK, EKU), then we'll probably drop one to Oregon State, have a shot at Arkansas State, beat Memphis, potentially split the Cincinnati and UConn games at home, lose to Pitt, maybe lose to Syracuse, split USF & WVU, pull an upset at Rutgers. Basically what I'm saying is we'll have to split the home game stretches to have a shot. Do you agree with that?

Brian Bennett: Getting to a bowl at 6-6 really depends on what other teams do and what bowl slots will be available. I have said 6-6 is the ceiling for this team, and with Louisville's solid reputation for traveling to postseason games, I think some bowl game would love to have the Cardinals.

However, as you laid out in your scenario, an awful lot has to go right. Louisville will not be favored to beat Cincinnati, UConn or West Virginia, and beating Rutgers on the road looks very difficult as well. USF might be the best chance for a conference upset, especially given how well Louisville has historically played against the Bulls at home.

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Tom from Rochester, N.Y. writes: Entering Year 2 with Doug Marrone, there is a lot more optimism amongst 'Cuse fans. Where do you see the program heading down the road, three years, five years? Recruiting is starting to pick up, Greg Robinson's leftovers are leaving the program, will Syracuse once again be competing for the Big East title? Or has the Robinson period limited the peak?

Brian Bennett: I like the direction Marrone is taking with this program. Recruiting is getting better, but it still needs to reach another level for Syracuse to have the type of talent needed to win a Big East title. I think the Orange should at least contend for a bowl berth this season, with the postseason being a realistic expectation in 2011 and 2012. Robinson left a smoking crater in Syracuse, so it's probably at least another four-to-five years before the Orange can be considered legitimate conference title contenders. The good news is that it's easier to rebuild in the Big East than elsewhere.

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Dylan S. from Scotch Plains, N.J., writes: Do you believe that the Pinstripe Bowl is a perfect fit for Rutgers this year? It seems like everyone has been predicting it, so what is your take?

Brian Bennett: Put it this way: If Rutgers gets bowl eligible and does not win enough games to claim the BCS bid or the Champs Sports Bowl berth -- which is exactly what I think will happen -- then I'll be shocked if the Scarlet Knights are playing anywhere but Yankee Stadium this postseason. If I'm a Rutgers fan, I'm already making plans for that game (refundable deposits only, of course).

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Newman from Clifton writes: This might be the most ridiculous question I've ever sent you, but hear me out. If he were still around, would Mardy Gilyard start for the Bearcats this year? I would put Vidal Hazelton and Armon Binns ahead of him. Kenbrell Thompkins impressed in the spring game, DJ Woods is still maybe the best small-play possession reciever on the team, and Dyjuan Lewis is expected to push for time. Brandon Carswell just transferred here from USC too.

Brian Bennett: I think you've had too much sun this summer. Mardy Gilyard is one of the best, big-game players in "new" Big East history (since 2005). Newman!

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Jim C. from New Brunswick, N.J., writes: I noticed in your last mailbag that someone had suggested a "Tri-State" trophy series. While this would be interesting I, like you, enjoy a one-on-one trophy game better and have been thinking that one is in dire need of happening: UConn-Rutgers for the Jasper Howard Trophy. After the events of last year (especially how exciting the game was with Tim Brown catching that spectacular game winning TD with "Jazz" written on his eye black because he and Howard were best friends growing up) I think it could be one of the classiest trophy games around.

I know as a Rutgers fan we more or less already consider UConn one of, if not our biggest rival, so this would add just a touch more of that college football mystique. Any thoughts? Any way you could suggest this to some people who could get it done?

Brian Bennett: I love this idea. I know a lot of people at both schools read this blog. Consider it submitted.

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Lane from Indianapolis writes: I love a good lobster (or a couple) ... How do you fare in a good lobster-eating contest against the other media attendees at the Big East Media Clambake? What's the number of lobsters you're targeting to eat during the event? Maybe you guys can do this Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest style ...

Brian Bennett: I'm lucky to finish one. It's usually the only lobster I eat all year, but it's an annual highlight. Besides, you don't want to linger too long in that buffet line when those big ol' offensive and defensive linemen wade through. You might lose a finger.