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The Big East won't have a heavy presence at next week's Under Armour Senior Bowl, but some of the top seniors from the league in 2010 will be participating.

The game announced the invitees from the league Thursday afternoon, adding six alongside the previously announced inclusion of Noel Devine. Here is the list of invitees:

Connecticut: Lawrence Wilson, LB

Louisville: Johnny Patrick, DB; Bilal Powell, RB

Pittsburgh: Jason Pinkston, OL

Rutgers: Joe Lefeged, DB

West Virginia: Noel Devine, RB; Chris Neild, DL

Also, Rutgers announced on Thursday that defensive end Jonathan Freeny and linebacker Antonio Lowery will play in the inaugural Eastham Energy College All-Star Game this Sunday. West Virginia safety Sidney Glover, South Florida receiver Dontavia Bogan and center Sampson Genus, and Louisville defensive end Rodney Gnat are also listed on the rosters for that game. It will be held at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

The Big East doesn't come up with an official preseason all-conference team. But I do.

Here are my picks for the league's best this year.

Offense

QB: Zach Collaros, Cincinnati

RB: Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh

RB: Noel Devine, West Virginia

WR: Jon Baldwin, Pittsburgh

WR: Armon Binns, Cincinnati

WR: Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers

TE: Ben Guidugli, Cincinnati

OT: Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh

OG: Zach Hurd, Connecticut

C: Moe Petrus, Connecticut

OG: Alex Hoffman, Cincinnati

OT: Don Barclay, West Virginia

Defense

DE: Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh

DT: Chris Neild, West Virginia

DT: Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati

DE: Jonathan Freeny, Rutgers

LB: Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut

LB: Derrell Smith, Syracuse

LB: J.T. Thomas, West Virginia

CB: Brandon Hogan, West Virginia

CB: David Rowe, Rutgers

S: Robert Sands, West Virginia

S: Joe Lefeged, Rutgers

Specialists

K: Tyler Bitancurt, West Virginia

P: Rob Long, Syracuse

Return specialist: Tavon Austin, West Virginia

Thoughts: Toughest calls were at second offensive tackle, second defensive end, linebacker, cornerback and second safety. Linebacker in particularly was a stacked position. I seriously considered Scott Lutrus, Doug Hogue, Dan Mason, JK Schaffer and Walter Stewart. You could almost put all those names in a hat and pick any three and be OK. There really aren't any proven star cornerbacks in this league; Hogan should be that guy but has been inconsistent, while Rowe is coming on. I debated Lefeged and Dom DeCicco at safety next to Sands. Freeny got the call at defensive end for his sack potential, but I was tempted to go with a wild card like Bruce Irvin, while Julian Miller and Jabaal Sheard got serious consideration.

• 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.

It happened three years ago, but Joe Lefeged still remembers it vividly.

The Rutgers safety flew into the backfield and leveled Syracuse quarterback Andrew Robinson in a 2007 win. The hit forced a fumble, and Robinson didn't get up right away.

"It was," Lefeged says, smiling wildly, "a lot of fun."

Lefeged calls that his favorite big hit of his career so far. He should get plenty of chances to eclipse it this season.

The senior is one of the leaders on the Scarlet Knights defense and the veteran voice in the secondary now that Devin McCourty is gone. Lefeged is entering his third year of starting and holds the reputation as one of the biggest hitters in the league. That's a reputation he loves.

"A big hit changes a football game," he said. "It changes momentum. It gets the team involved and excited, it gets the crowd excited. You notice it instantly."

Lefeged made his mark early in his career. In the first month of his freshman year, he delivered a punishing blow to Maryland quarterback Jordan Steffy, which knocked him out of the game. The helmet-to-helmet hit was so vicious that Terps coach Ralph Friedgen accused Lefeged of intentionally trying to hurt Steffy, though Greg Schiano took exception to that claim.

Regardless, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Lefeged lives for those moments when he can lower his shoulder and deliver the boom. But he also knows he has to pick his spots.

"The timing has to be right, the positioning and leverage have to be right," he said. "If you miss a big hit, especially playing safety, it will probably be a touchdown. So you have to find the right moment. But once you get it, it's a sweet feeling."

Lefeged said the other big hitters among the Scarlet Knights are fellow safety Khaseem Greene, linebacker Steve Beauharnais, defensive end Jonathan Freeny and even receiver Mohamed Sanu. "When he gets a crack-back block, he knocks people out," Lefeged says of Sanu.

Lefeged doesn't just throw haymakers. He also scored on a 91-yard kickoff return against West Virginia and blocked two punts last year. He's developed into a strong vocal leader on and off the field.

"I'm the most experienced player in the secondary, and it's my job to make sure everybody is focused and on the same page for us to be as good as we can be," he says.

And if that includes laying the wood on a few receivers and quarterbacks along the way, even better.

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

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

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

1. West Virginia

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

2. Pittsburgh

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

3. Cincinnati

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

4. Rutgers

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

5. Syracuse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Strongest position: Defensive line

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

Key departures: DE George Johnson and DT Blair Bines.

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

Weakest position: Offensive line

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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

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

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


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

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

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


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

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


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

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

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

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


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

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

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

• Pitt center Robb Houser suffered an ugly, season-ending ankle injury against Rutgers last year and will have to be ready for the Scarlet Knights' pressure on Friday, John Grupp says in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
• Cincinnati receiver Mardy Gilyard says his coaches are fired up to be going against South Florida and ex-colleague Joe Tresey, Bill Koch writes in the Cincinnati Enquirer.
• Bill Stewart says the Marshall-West Virginia game will be closer than people think, Mike Casazza writes in the Charleston Daily Mail.
• Randy Edsall wants more leadership out of his defensive upperclassmen, Desmond Conner writes in the Hartford Courant.
• Cincinnati and South Florida are similar in that they're both located in major cities with pro sports franchises, Joey Johnston writes in the Tampa Tribune.
• Rutgers' Jonathan Freeny may be second in the Big East in sacks, but former teammate Jamaal Westerman has challenged him to do even more, Keith Sargeant says in the Home News Tribune.
• The Syracuse Post-Standard's Donnie Webb wonders why Greg Paulus is such a lightning rod.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

More reliable than Wall Street, here comes the weekly Big East stock report. Your bonus category this week is coach of the year race.

Stock up

1. South Florida's defensive line: I ranked the Bulls' D-line No. 2 in my preseason position rankings primarily because I didn't know how good the newcomers would be. All questions were answered in the Florida State game, when this group played like one of the best in the country. "It would be a challenge for an NFL offensive line against this team," Syracuse coach Doug Marrone said this week.

2. B.J. Daniels: This may be heresy, but when I saw Daniels run the show for the Bulls, I didn't think Matt Grothe as much as I did a young Pat White. Not as fast as White, but with a stronger arm. Maybe Daniels will be the one who eventually breaks Grothe's yardage record.

3. Jonathan Freeny: The junior is developing into the pass-rusher that Rutgers needs, with four sacks already on the season.

4. Delone Carter: The Syracuse back had four touchdowns against Maine. He's built like a fire hydrant and runs with 100 percent effort.

5. Cameron Saddler: The Pitt freshman was one of the lone bright spots in the NC State loss, with 111 total yards and some nice kick returns. He's becoming a weapon in the offense at receiver.

Stock down

1. Pitt's discipline: The dumb penalties and missed assignments have to get fixed in a hurry before the Panthers start Big East play.

2. Louisville's red zone production: The Cardinals have scored just seven touchdowns in 17 trips inside the 20 and have missed three field goals in the red zone. And when they did score a touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it 23-13 at Utah last week, Steve Kragthorpe didn't go for two to make it a one score contest. He said later he was thinking about winning the game at that point; seems like an extra point would help in that regard.

3. UConn's hands: Seven fumbles against Rhode Island is crazy. At least the Huskies recovered four of them -- and won 52-10.

4. Cincinnati's kickoff coverage: The Bearcats gave up 26 yards per return to Fresno State. Hey, we've got to find something to criticize this team for, right?

5. Saturday tailgating: This week in the Big East, anyway. There are only two games involving league teams on Saturday, and both of them will kick off by 1 p.m.

Player of the year race: Offense

1. Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati: Has completed 70.5 percent of his passes for 1,223 yards, 11 touchdowns and two interceptions. Runaway leader at this point.

2. Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati: Has 32 catches for 442 yards and six touchdowns.

3. Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh: Has rushed 86 times for 493 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns.

4. Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia: Has rushed 51 times for 320 yards (6.3 ypc) and five touchdowns.

5. Mike Williams, WR, Syracuse: Has 28 catches for 437 yards and three touchdowns.

Player of the year race: Defense

1. George Selvie, DE, South Florida: Leader of the league's nastiest unit.

2. Lindsey Witten, DE, UConn: Numbers down the last two games, but he's also been dealing with a stomach bug.

3. Lawrence Wilson, LB, UConn: Leads league with 42 tackles and has been strong in absence of Scott Lutrus.

4. Nate Allen, S, South Florida: Showed his potential with a great game at Florida State.

5. Aaron Webster, S, Cincinnati: Bearcats still looking good on defense, and he's their leader.

Coach of the year race:

1. Brian Kelly, Cincinnati: The way he replaced so many parts and made this team even better makes him the front-runner for a third straight trophy.

2. Jim Leavitt, South Florida: Losing Matt Grothe and still winning at Florida State says a lot.

3. Doug Marrone, Syracuse: Has the Orange at .500 for the first time since 2006.

4. Randy Edsall, Connecticut: Lost a slew of draft picks but has the Huskies at 3-1.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

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

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

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

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

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

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

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