ESPN College Football

Here's the final installment in our series looking at three players from each team who will burst onto the scene in the Big East. It could be an incoming or redshirt freshman, a transfer or just someone stepping into a new role.

Finish us off, Cincinnati.

Evan Davis, C: Davis moves front and center -- pardon the pun -- this season as a junior, taking over for longtime starter Chris Jurek. The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder has been a backup the past two years and looked ready to step into his bigger role during the spring.

Vidal Hazelton, WR: Hazelton doesn't seem like a newcomer, as much as we've talked about him the past two years. But he's now officially eligible, with one year left to play for the Bearcats. Based on all reports and all visual evidence, the Southern Cal transfer should have a huge impact immediately.

Dyjuan Lewis, WR: Arguably the top recruit from the 2010 signing class, Lewis is a 6-foot-2 wideout who was a star in high school in Indianapolis. He'd probably play a lot right away for most Big East teams. The question is whether he can find a spot in the loaded Cincinnati receiving corps.

More fresh faces.

This is the penultimate post in a series looking at three players from each team who will burst onto the scene in the Big East. It could be an incoming or redshirt freshman, a transfer or just someone stepping into a new role.

Today it's you, UConn.

D.J. Shoemate, RB: The USC transfer will be immediately eligible and said he chose UConn for a chance to play right away as a running back. He didn't do much with the Trojans while being used as a fullback and occasional receiver, but Shoemate was one of the top-rated athletes in the country coming out of high school. He could provide a nice complement to Jordan Todman in the Huskies' backfield.

Adam Masters and Jimmy Bennett, OT: Masters switched to left tackle this spring and played very well, giving him a chance to start at the crucial position. But Bennett -- who missed most of last year and this spring with knee injuries -- is expected to be healthy for fall camp and is a potentially dominant tackle at 6-foot-8, 301 pounds. One of these redshirt sophomores will hold a critical job for the Huskies this year.

Andrew Opoku, LB: The only true freshman to crack the Huskies' two-deep this spring, Opoku could help out behind current starter Jory Johnson at strongside linebacker or possibly at safety. Coach Randy Edsall rarely plays true freshmen, but the 6-foot-4 Opoku had an extra year of seasoning in prep school before coming to Storrs and got a head start by enrolling at UConn in January.

More fresh faces.

This is the sixth in a series looking at three players from each team who will burst onto the scene in the Big East. It could be an incoming or redshirt freshman, a transfer or just someone stepping into a new role.

Let's look at Louisville.

Josh Bellamy, WR: Last year in junior college, Bellamy had 38 catches for 705 yards and eight scores. The 6-foot, 205-pounder has good speed and knows how to run a route, and he could easily contribute right away to a receiving corps that lacks many proven stars.

Randy Salmon, DL: Salmon came to Louisville from junior college in January, using the spring to get acclimated. It's a good thing for the Cardinals, too, because defensive line is a sore spot. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Salmon has a good chance of winning a starting job right away.

Demar Dorsey, DB: Though Dorsey has yet to officially sign with the Cardinals or enroll, he announced last month that he would play for Charlie Strong. He originally signed with Michigan but was not admitted to school in Ann Arbor. He was one of the top defensive back recruits in the nation, and the secondary was a mess this spring for Louisville. Do the math, and it's not hard to envision Dorsey starting before too long.

More fresh faces.

This is the fifth in a series looking at three players from each team who will burst onto the scene in the Big East. It could be an incoming or redshirt freshman, a transfer or just someone stepping into a new role.

Your turn, Pittsburgh.

Tyrone Ezell, DT: The Panthers have Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih penciled in as starting defensive tackles, but the redshirt freshman Ezell turned a lot of heads in spring practice. The former highly-heralded recruit was named the scout team's defensive player of the year during his redshirt season. The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder will provide valuable depth and should get a lot of playing time.

Devin Street, WR: Another redshirt freshman, Street drew praise for the way he played this spring. Jon Baldwin and Mike Shanahan are the team's top two targets at wideout, but opportunity exists for a No. 3 receiver. Street, who's 6-foot-4, gives Pitt yet another towering target in the passing game.

Todd Thomas, WR: Pitt is so loaded with experience and talent that, apart from junior college cornerback Saheed Imoru, it may be able to redshirt virtually all of its 2009 signing class. The lone exception could be Thomas, one of the top recruits that Dave Wannstedt signed this February. Thomas spent a year at prep school and may be more physically mature than other incoming freshmen. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder is a versatile athlete who will get his first look at receiver, and though that position is already stacked, he may be gifted enough to force Pitt's coaches to put him on the field early.

More fresh faces.

Let's continue looking at three players from each team who will burst onto the scene in the Big East. It could be an incoming or redshirt freshman, a transfer or just someone stepping into a new role.

Rutgers, come on down:

Casey Turner and Jawan Jamison, RB: Coach Greg Schiano is hoping to inject some explosiveness into the running game, and incoming freshmen backs Turner and Jamison promise just that. They'll both be given a long look this fall camp, and if one or both of them proves ready to play early, don't be surprised if they're given some significant handoffs even with veteran tailback Joe Martinek returning.

Logan Ryan, CB: The redshirt freshman ended the spring listed as a backup at corner, but he showed enough promise that he could eventually overtake Brandon Bing as the starter. Along with fellow redshirt freshman Darrell Givens, Ryan could be a star cornerback for a long time in this league.

Tim Wright, WR: Wright didn't catch a single ball last year as a sophomore but was one of the biggest standouts of the spring. At 6-foot-4, he's a big target with plenty of speed, and he appears to have figured things out now. Pairing him with Mohamed Sanu and Mark Harrison could give Rutgers one of the best receiving groups in the league.

More fresh faces.

Here's the third part of a series looking at three players from each team who will burst onto the scene in the Big East. It could be an incoming or redshirt freshman, a transfer or just someone stepping into a new role.

Up today is South Florida:

Terrence Mitchell, CB: Mitchell represented a huge recruiting coup for Skip Holtz, who lured the standout away from Florida State just before signing day. Given South Florida's youth in the secondary, Mitchell -- whom ESPN's Scouts Inc. rated as the 12th best cornerback in the class of 2009 -- has an excellent chance of seeing early playing time and perhaps even starting right off the bat.

Claude Davis, DE: A big-time prospect from the junior college ranks, Davis enrolled in January and went through spring practice. At the two-year level, he recorded 18 sacks in two years. The 6-foot-4, 247-pound Davis would love to have the kind of first-year impact that Jason Pierre-Paul had last season at defensive end, but Pierre-Paul was a special case. Davis should find a significant role on the defense.

Curtis Weatherspoon, LB: Like Davis, Weatherspoon enrolled in January from junior college and got spring practice reps. He's currently listed as a backup linebacker after earning juco All-American honors at defensive back. Look for the 6-2, 205-pound Weatherspoon to break into the lineup on nickel and dime packages and provide depth at linebacker.

More fresh faces.

Here's the second part of a series looking at three players from each team who will burst onto the scene in the Big East. It could be an incoming or redshirt freshman, a transfer or just someone stepping into a new role.

Let's turn to Syracuse:

Justin Pugh, OT: Pugh redshirted last year but ended the spring listed as the starter at the all-important position of left tackle. The 6-foot-5, 287-pounder from Pennsylvania played in the prestigious Big 33 high school all-star game. He could be tasked with protecting the blind side of new starting quarterback Ryan Nassib.

Aaron Weaver, WR: Weaver transferred to the Orange after Hofstra shut down its football program right before he was about to enter his senior year. Weaver led the team with 63 catches for 797 yards last year, and while he will be playing at a much higher level, the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder can at the very least add depth to a young receiving corps.

Olando Fisher, S: Fisher came over from Nassau Community College and enrolled in January so he could go through spring practice. He's listed as a backup strong safety now, but the 5-foot-11, 200-pounder could see some time at linebacker and figures to play a lot on special teams as well.

More fresh faces.

Today we begin a new series looking at three players from each team who will burst onto the scene in the Big East. Could be a incoming or redshirt freshman, a transfer or just someone stepping into a new role.

We'll go in reverse alphabetical order, starting with West Virginia:

Ivan McCartney, WR: A late recruiting coup for the Mountaineers, and the team's lone ESPNU 150 signee, McCartney could have an instant impact as a true freshman. The 6-foot-1 wideout, who's a cousin of Chad Ochocinco, fills a need at West Virginia, which lost two senior receivers in Wes Lyons and Alric Arnett and saw two freshmen -- Deon Long and Logan Heastie -- leave the program. The slot positions are covered with Jock Sanders and Tavon Austin, but deep threats on the outside are lacking. McCartney will have to get up to speed quickly, but receiver is a position where young players can get on the field in a hurry.

Bruce Irvin, DE: The junior college linemen committed to both Arizona State and Tennessee before eventually signing on the dotted line for Bill Stewart, and he could provide immediate help. An All-American last season, Irvin had 16 sacks at Mt. San Antonio Community College. He should compete for playing time along a veteran defensive line that returns three starters and now has more depth than a year ago. Stewart wants more of a pass rush this season, and Irvin could be key to that.

Terence Garvin, S: Garvin saw limited time last season as a true freshman, getting a season-high 11 plays in the South Florida game. This year, he's got a good chance of starting at the spur safety position, where he'll be teamed alongside standouts Robert Sands and Sidney Glover. That should allow him to make a lot of plays. Redshirt freshman Darwin Cook is coming on at the safety position as well.