Big East: Jourdan Brooks
Brooks had 346 yards rushing and five touchdowns as a sophomore this past season. He ran for 516 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman.
He entered the year competing for the starting job at tailback but didn't play much in the second half of the season as Joe Martinek became the featured runner. Brooks, a 6-foot-1, 235-pounder, showed potential as a power back his freshman year but never really got going in 2009.
Rutgers still has Martinek, who ran for 967 yards in 2009, and promising sophoore De'Antwan "Rocket" Williams at tailback for 2010.
Best case/Worst case rewind: Rutgers
Original post is here.
Best case in a nutshell: 12-1 and a Big East title.
Worst case in a nutshell: 6-6 and no bowl.
Reality: 8-4 and St. Petersburg Bowl.
That's just crazy talk: "Senior Dom Natale wins the starting quarterback job and benefits from having all day to throw behind the league's best offensive line. The running game, led by Joe Martinek and Jourdan Brooks, combine to form a solid 1-2 punch and Tim Brown paces a better-than-expected receiving group. Freshman Tom Savage starts coming in for a few series at quarterback, giving the offense a Chris Leak-Tim Tebow vibe."
Not too far off: "Playing the defending conference champs in the opener without an established quarterback or proven receivers turns out to be a disaster, as Cincinnati spoils the christening of the expanded stadium. Natale struggles to make plays ... Martinek and Brooks remind nobody of Ray Rice, and the offense stalls all season."
What really happened: The offensive line was a disappointment. Greg Schiano had to go to freshman Savage early and patch together the offense with a lot of Wildcat formations. The defense got better as the season went along. Rutgers won all the games it was supposed to win except Syracuse but didn't really pull off any upsets. That's why the Scarlet Knights finished much closer to the worst case scenario than my highly optimistic best case version.
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
Former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese talks to the Memphis Commercial Appeal about his new role as a consultant for Memphis.
"My job is not to get people into other conferences, because if that was what I was hired for, I would not have accepted it. What I said I could do is evaluate and tell you where your program is relative to other programs in the BCS."
- The Big East is likely to stay with the Papajohns.com Bowl in Birmingham, Jon Solomon writes in the Birmingham News.
- Bobby Petrino deserves blame for Louisville's decline, Rick Bozich writes in The Courier-Journal.
- Rutgers running back Jourdan Brooks, who was invisible in the opener, had a big game against Howard and is feeling more comfortable this year, Tom Luicci writes in The Star-Ledger.
- Cincinnati's first priority on Saturday will be stopping Jacquizz Rodgers, Bill Koch writes in the Cincinnati Enquirer.
- Delone Carter will try to fix Syracuse's running woes, Donnie Webb writes in the Syracuse Post-Standard.
- Scooter Berry really wants to play against Auburn, but the West Virginia defensive lineman doesn't know if his shoulder will let him, Bob Hertzel writes in the Times West Virginian.
- UConn coach Randy Edsall is looking for a deep threat to emerge at receiver, Desmond Conner writes in the Hartford Courant.
- Delbert Alvarado might be relieved of his kickoff duties for South Florida but will remain the field goal kicker and punter, Brett McMurphy says in the Tampa Tribune.
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
Since there are so many questions in my mailbag each week, and since we have a weekend's worth of games to review before we look forward, I've decided to bring the Tuesday mailbag back. There will be a mailbag on Friday, too, so you'll get a double dose of my smart-aleck answers and general lack of solutions.
Jeff from Pennsylvania writes: Do you think that it is possible that six running backs in the Big East could eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark this year? I know that this might sound impossible at first, but if you break it down it might not be that unreasonable. Victor Anderson: Close last year and Louisville's only offense; Dion Lewis: Pitt is a run-first team and looked good; Noel Devine: A lock barring injury; Jordan Todman: UConn is run-heavy offense; Delone Carter: Close in 2006 and looks to be a big part of Syracuse offense; Joe Martinek: With a freshman QB, Rutgers will be leaning on the junior. If this would happen, does this elevate the Big East to the best running conference in the country? Any thoughts?
Brian Bennett: Interesting question. Actually, Anderson did eclipse 1,000 yards in 2008, and so did Devine. I'd put them as locks, barring injury. Lewis is already a third of the way there, and I think Todman has a really good chance for the reasons you mentioned. The ones I wonder about are Carter, who has been injury-prone through his career and is playing in an as-yet unproductive offense, and Martinek, who likely will split carries with Jourdan Brooks, along with maybe Kordell Young and De'Antwan Williams. So right now, I'd put the over-under at four backs. Let's remember, though, that running backs take a lot of punishment over the course of a year, so injuries can play a big factor.
Dave from Pittsburgh writes: Brian, do you think the return of Mike Ford will help USF get out of the gates a little faster next week? Also, do you think they're just going through the motions and waiting for the Florida State game? What do you think of the ACC's struggles with FBS teams?
Brian Bennett: I'm not sure Ford, the tailback who was suspended for two games, will make that big of a difference. After all, he hasn't made a huge impact in some time for the Bulls, and he's probably a little rusty. South Florida actually had a back -- Moise Plancher -- run for over 100 yards against Western Kentucky. I'm not sure what the problem with the Bulls' slow starts is. It has to be hard to focus with games against Wofford, Western Kentucky and Charleston Southern. Coaches can talk about playing them one week at a time as much as they want, but kids know the names on the jerseys. Either way, the Bulls need to get sharper.
As for the ACC, it's quite embarrassing for that league. The one thing the Big East can say so far is that it has taken care of inferior competition with no near-upsets.
Jeremy H. from Cincinnati writes: OK, I understand you don't want to make this the Cincinnati all day, all the the time blog, but not one helmet sticker for a Bearcat? Hands down the two most impressive players yesterday in the Big East and quite possibly anywhere were Tony Pike and Mardy Gilyard. And many teams played games against laydown opponents so you can't discredit them that.
Brian Bennett: Gilyard definitely had an impressive game, with four touchdowns. The reason I didn't include him is that I limit the helmet stickers to five players per week, and I try not to include performances against FCS teams if there are other worthy candidates. It was impossible to avoid in Week 1, but not in Week 2.
Mark from Norfolk, Va., writes: Let's be honest: out of all the schools in the Big East, Pitt is the only one with any sort of real football history and legacy. When do we turn it around and return to glory?
Brian Bennett: I think Syracuse would object to that statement. Regardless, Pitt does have a storied legacy with multiple national titles. Will the Panthers get back to that? Well, college football has changed drastically. The power and the talent is now centered in places like Florida, Texas and California, and Pitt doesn't have the same money or resources as schools in the SEC or Big 12. Can Pitt become a force in the Big East and make the occasional run at national elite status? Sure. Will it be competing for national titles every year? I don't think that's realistic.
Josh C. from Martinsburg,W.Va., writes: Can you explain how Oklahoma State can lose to Houston and still be ranked in the top 25, when West Virginia was in that same position last year, ranked the same (8th) and when we lost to East Carolina, we fell out of the polls all together. Another example of ESPN and the Pollsters being bias against West Virginia is that we beat UNC in the bowl game last year but they managed to be ranked coming into the '09 season. I believe we get no love or respect from the college world no matter what we do.
Brian Bennett: I can't speak for the voters, and I don't have a vote in either major poll. But one key difference between the two situations is that Oklahoma State had a big win over Georgia the week before, while West Virginia had only beaten an FCS school (Villanova) before the ECU loss. Beating an SEC team carries weight, which the Mountaineers may find out this weekend if they can take down Auburn. My big question is how Oklahoma State can be ranked ahead of Houston? Didn't they just play that game in Stillwater?
Kamil from Kearny, N.J., writes: Hey Brian, I read this blog daily and love every minute of it but what's with all this Rutgers hating all of the sudden. You were very "bullish" on RU prior to the first game. Out of nowhere everything you write about Rutgers tends to be negative. They had a terrible first game while they were trying to work out some quarterback bugs. They seemed to have improved in the second game but no credit was given (yes, Howard was terrible but RU only let up seven points). Let's go back to being a bit more upbeat about RU.
Brian Bennett: I don't think I've been "hating" on Rutgers. But if you're wondering why the coverage seems more negative, I can sum that up rather succinctly: 47-15.
Best case
The schedule sets up perfectly for a dream run.
Rutgers gets Cincinnati at the right time, taking advantage of the Bearcats' adjustments on defense to squeak out a victory in the season opener. The Scarlet Knights then use the next two weeks against Howard and Florida International to iron out the wrinkles in their offense.
Senior Dom Natale wins the starting quarterback job and benefits from having all day to throw behind the league's best offensive line. The running game, led by Joe Martinek and Jourdan Brooks, combine to form a solid 1-2 punch and Tim Brown paces a better-than-expected receiving group. Freshman Tom Savage starts coming in for a few series at quarterback, giving the offense a Chris Leak-Tim Tebow vibe.
The team aces its lone nonconference test, at Maryland in Week 4, then continues its mastery of Pittsburgh in the Big East opener two weeks later. The toughest league road trip of the year, at UConn, becomes one-sided when Ryan D'Imperio knocks out Huskies quarterback Zach Frazer on the first play from scrimmage. Rutgers handily takes care of Syracuse and Louisville on the road, setting up a final-week showdown at home against West Virginia for the Big East title.
With the expanded stadium rocking and the eyes of New York City upon the game, the Scarlet Knights finally get the better of the Mountaineers when Savage dives into the end zone to complete the triple-overtime victory.
Though 12-0 and riding a 19-game winning streak, Rutgers does not make the BCS title game because of its weak nonconference schedule and general skepticism of the Big East. But after the Rose Bowl loses USC to the championship game, it breaks with tradition and matches the Scarlet Knights against Big Ten champ Penn State.
As Bruce Springsteen, James Gandolfini and Jon Bon Jovi cheer from the sidelines, Rutgers blows out the Nittany Lions and captures the attention of L.A. and New York City. Joe Paterno retires after the game, but Greg Schiano turns down the Penn State job to sign a new lucrative contract extension. With Savage back and Anthony Davis deciding to play one more year, the Scarlet Knights are talked about as a dark horse 2010 national title contender.
Worst case
The schedule, it turns out, was not easy enough.
Playing the defending conference champs in the opener without an established quarterback or proven receivers turns out to be a disaster, as Cincinnati spoils the christening of the expanded stadium.
Natale struggles to make plays, starting a season-long, four-man quarterback controversy that tears the team apart from the inside. Martinek and Brooks remind nobody of Ray Rice, and the offense stalls all season.
Maryland holds serve at home, and Pitt finally snaps its losing streak against Rutgers with a win in Piscataway. UConn springs the upset in East Hartford, and with the season spiraling out of control, the Scarlet Knights lose to South Florida at home to fall to 4-5.
The team rebounds to beat Syracuse and Louisville but is blown out by West Virginia in the season finale. The final record stands at 6-6, but there's no bowl eligibility because of the two victories over FCS teams, raising more criticism about the schedule.
Davis turns pro. Penn State wins the national title. Syracuse has a winning year and starts to swipe more recruits out of the New York/New Jersey area. Springsteen and Bon Jovi form a country-and-western group. "The Sopranos" creator David Chase announces plans for a spinoff that will focus solely on Vito's exploits in Vermont.
Friday Big East mailbag: Supersized edition
By now I'm sure you've seen the news on the possible Big East bowl lineup starting in 2010. I'm eager to hear what you have to say about it. There are definitely pros and cons to the situation, though you'd be hard pressed not to admit that the league has at least improved its current deal. And you really can't properly judge it until we also know whom the opponents will be on the other side.
Anyway, hit me up with your opinions, and we'll discuss all the angles next week in the mailbag.
I'm also still seeking your opinions on villains. What coaches, players, teams, administrators, etc., have tormented your programs the most over time, and which ones are the biggest villains now? Please send me your suggestions, and you might even make a guest appearance in my post on Monday morning.
OK, the housekeeping is over. Let's get to a whole bunch of your emails, which are blissfully about football and not imaginary expansion scenarios:
Andrew A. from Martinsburg, W. Va., writes: First, I must say I really enjoy reading your blog. Do you find it rather absurd that Notre Dame is ranked 23rd in the USA today poll? I am a huge fan of West Virginia and the Big East and I find it hard to believe that Pitt, Cincinnati, Rutgers, and West Virginia are all outside the USA today Top 25 while Notre Dame is in it. I know that the Big East is somewhat down and many people don't know what to expect, but I think Notre Dame is a much bigger question mark. At least the Big East teams have had recent success. But, I guess that's what the Notre Dame nation can do for you.
Dave from East Brunswick, N.J., writes: It is simply inexcusable for the Big East blogger to not rank a single Big East team in his power poll. You really think ND deserves a spot in the Top 25 over any Big East team? What a joke!
Brian Bennett: Big East fans are sensitive about Notre Dame? You don't say!
Just kidding, of course. I am in the unique position of having seen five of the Big East teams in person in the spring and having watched the beginning of a Notre Dame practice this month. So I've got a pretty good idea of the personnel for all involved. Look, when you do these preseason rankings, you usually base a lot of it off returning players, and the Irish have an incredible 18 starters back. There's no reason to think the Irish won't be better, and they should be good to go to start the season. All the Big East teams have serious question marks at important places.
Now, I'm convinced there are at least two league teams that are Top 25 worthy and just as many that could beat Notre Dame (I'm already on record predicting Pitt beats the Irish this season). I'm just not sure which two Big East teams those are yet, so I'm being cautious until I see results on the field.
Ken from Philadelphia writes: Hey Brian, I'm so glad the UConn/ND deal appears to be dead. The way the deal was set up they might as well played all of the games in South Bend. On that note who do you think is a better college coach, Charlie Weiss or Randy Edsall? Weiss lands better players out of high school and did fine with Willingham's recruits but can't seem to develop his own, and Edsall gets FCS talent and turns them into very good players.
Brian Bennett: Well, first of all, I'm hearing that the series isn't necessarily dead. It's a near certainty that the two teams won't play under the discussed conditions -- i.e., Notre Dame never coming to East Hartford -- but there still may be a deal brokered with different terms. And I think you hit the nail on the head, at least so far, on the Weis/Edsall comparison. This is a big year for Weis, obviously, and he has a mature group of players that he recruited. Let's give him a chance to show what he can do with that. As for Edsall, I think he's one of the very best pure coaches in the game, and UConn is lucky to have him.
Dan from Morgantown, W. Va., writes: Interesting ranking of conferences. Of course, I'm going to support the Big East, but I can't argue that it's (at least for now -- let the season play out) a down year for the conference. I think the real problem is the lack of star power. In the last few years the Big East had Pat White, Steve Slaton, Brian Brohm, Ray Rice, and LeSean McCoy. Do you think the Big East isn't getting more attention because of the lack of star power, or because they really don't think any of the teams are that good?
Brian Bennett: The lack of star power is a huge factor. Let's be honest: the pundits/voters have likely not seen most (or any) of the Big East teams in person during the spring or summer. So they're basing their opinions on names on the roster more so than the actual talent on hand. Of course, that also means a lot of these players haven't proven themselves in big-time roles. It's quite possible that the Big East has a lot of breakout stars this season that we don't know much about yet. The good thing is, if that happens, no one will remember this preseason discussion about how down the league is.
O. Badub from Morgantown, W.Va., writes: Great blog, I read it nearly every day (don't tell my boss!). Anyway, do you think Cincy's transition to a 3-4 will help or hurt their season? The NFL's Green Bay Packers are making the same change and most people are saying their defense will be worse this season because of it. Doesn't it make sense that this transition would be harder for a college team than for an NFL team? After all, college coaches have to recruit for they system instead of having the luxury of signing veterans who already fit it.
Brian Bennett: I think possibly we're making too much about the change. Brian Kelly has said that he wanted to go to the 3-4 because he was constantly running personnel on and off the field last year. With as many spread offenses as defenses now face, teams are rarely in a four down linemen/three linebackers set anymore anyway. The 3-4 will just be Cincinnati's base, but they'll have the ability to go to four down linemen or to a nickel package at any time. The real key, I think, is having hybrid-type players who can switch between playing with their hands on the ground and standing up as a linebacker. Kelly obviously thinks he has those type of players on his roster, including guys like Curtis Young.
Jennifer from Dayton writes: So many people are worried about the UC defense this season. Obviously they won't be as good as last season's but I think they will be OK. My concern is with the offense. Coach Kelly makes very unorthodox decisions at times during games. Last season they passed the ball on fourth-and-one several times as well as going on fourth down while in their own territory. With many new faces on defense, do you think they will put more of an emphasis on running the ball?
Brian Bennett: I'm not too worried about the Cincinnati offense. True, the Bearcats were not by any means a juggernaut on offense in Big East play last year and suffered through some serious scoring droughts. But they were also constantly juggling quarterbacks, which had to have a big effect, and they had a terrific defense and a great punter, so there was no need to gamble. This year, I think Kelly opens things up with an experienced Tony Pike. I agree, and I think Kelly would too, that the short-yardage running game needs serious improvement over last year. I think they're hoping that Isaiah Pead gives them more of a threat in the backfield, as
well as two veterans in John Goebel and Jacob Ramsey.
Ethan from Scarsdale, N.Y., writes: Initially, I would have assumed that Kordell Young would get the bulk of the carries this year for Rutgers. After his recent injury (it seems as though we are always talking about his recent injuries) who do you foresee taking the majority of the carries this year for the Scarlet Knights?
Brian Bennett: It's a shame that Young just can't seem to stay healthy. I'm not sure he'll ever be full speed. I think that Greg Schiano will split the carries again, but that Joe Martinek and Jourdan Brooks will likely be the main two backs. They both are different types of runners with different skill sets, so they could provide a nice complement to one another. I'm not sure either one is an every-down workhorse. Rutgers probably will have to run the ball effectively early on with its passing game still coming together.
Craig S. from Boston writes: Saw an article about this year's suspected Heisman race and how it's identical to last year's. Got me to thinking, hypothetically, if Donald Brown played for an Oklahoma or a Texas or a West Virginia and he put up similar numbers would he have been a finalist? Would he have been able to put up similar numbers? Was it the fact that his team didn't post the wins that kept him off the Heisman radar? Was he not considered a talented enough athlete? Or am I just being a homer because I went to UConn.
Brian Bennett: I don't think there's any question that if a player led the nation in rushing with more than 2,000 yards on a national title contender, he would have been a serious threat in the Heisman race. Of course, let's also remember that Brown was about the only viable option UConn had last year because its passing game was so bad. I doubt any real national title contender would have given the ball to one player as much as the Huskies did with Brown.
Kamil from Kearny, N.J., writes: I have been going to Rutgers' games for about 5 years and never really had problems obtaining tickets for the highly talked about games. For the last few days I have been trying to get my hands on decent seats for the home opener vs Cincinnati but the task is easier said than done. The only tickets for sale are ones located in the end zone or the ones on the second tier. Do you think it's because Rutgers actually has a larger than ever following or is it just the hype for the shiny new stadium?
Brian Bennett: I would have to say it's a combination of a few factors. 1.) It's a big, big league game against the defending Big East champs. 2.) It's on Labor Day, without much other competition. 3.) Rutgers has a lot of momentum from last year's seven-game winning streak, and people are excited about this year's team. 4.) There's a newly-expanded stadium to check out.
I'll be at that game, by the way, and I think the atmosphere could be special. I can't wait.
Bryan M. from Louisville writes: I don't really have a question, but just wanted to thank you for the blog entries on Louisville. The Pitino saga took over, so it was refreshing to see some football updates, despite the team sounding like they are not ready for prime time. Give it to me straight, how bad is it going to be this year for the Cards?
Brian Bennett: Louisville didn't have the sharpest practice in the world when I saw the Cards, but it was the first day of two-a-days after about a week of workouts, and a few offensive stars were on the sidelines. So I can forgive that.
My opinion on Louisville remains about the same as it was this spring: I think this team has as good a collection of skill players at receiver and running back as there is in the league, along with a solid linebacking corps. My questions are at quarterback, the secondary and the offensive and defensive lines, as well as overall depth. If they can stay healthy and get good enough play from those worrisome areas, the Cardinals could make a run at a bowl game. If not, then it could be a long, long year.
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
NEWPORT, R.I. -- The status of Rutgers' leading returning rusher is once again in doubt.
Kordell Young, who missed the spring while recovering from a knee injury, has had a setback this summer and will be limited in preseason camp, coach Greg Schiano said at Big East media day. The Scarlet Knights will wait and see how he progresses before they decide how to move forward.
Young had a team-best 554 yards on 142 carries last year, but he played in only eight games because of knee trouble. He also missed nearly all of 2007 with a knee injury.
Rutgers has other options, including Joe Martinek, who averaged 5.3 yards per carry to lead the team's tailbacks, and Jourdan Brooks, who ran for 516 yards.
Brooks missed most of the spring with injuries but is healthy now, Schiano said. True freshman De'Antwan Williams will also get a look this preseason, the coach said.
Spring absentees who need to come through in the Big East
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
We've talked about guys who've had big springs, guys who might emerge and guys who came out of nowhere.
But there were also players who missed all or part of the spring because of injuries, suspension, academics or whatever. And several of them are key parts to their team. Here's a look at some players who need to come through this fall after being absent for at least part of spring ball.
Cincinnati: Linebacker Andre Revels was held out of most of the spring after minor offseason knee surgery. The senior is one of the few experienced players on the Bearcats' defense and will be counted on this fall. Young defensive back Dominique Battle was expected to compete for a starting cornerback job this spring but was sidelined at times with an ankle injury.
Connecticut: The Huskies were remarkably injury- and issue-free this spring. They'll hope that continues this fall.
Louisville: The Cardinals are a different team offensively when receiver Scott Long is healthy. Unfortunately, he missed most of last season with injuries and sat out the spring following ACL surgery. He should be good to go in the summer.
Pittsburgh: Starting cornerback Aaron Berry was suspended for the final part of spring drills for violating team rules. Pitt needs him to have his act together and be on the field.
Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights had a lot of important players miss time this spring with various injuries, including safety Joe Lefeged, leading returning rusher Kordell Young, running back Jourdan Brooks and several of their young receivers.
South Florida: Seemingly every Bulls offensive linemen missed time with an injury or another problem this spring. Obviously, Jake Sims (finger), Zach Herman (concussion), Sampson Genus (knee) and Jeremiah Warren (academics) all will be needed in the fall for South Florida to contend.
Syracuse: First-team all-Big East defensive tackle Arthur Jones tore his pectoral muscle before the spring and was unavailable. The timetable for his return isn't clear, but Syracuse would have a hard time without him.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers could use Jock Sanders back in the lineup. The speedy receiver/running back was suspended for the spring after a DUI arrest. He will try to return to the team once he completes his court case.
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
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Martinek the man this spring at Rutgers
The tailback position at Rutgers last year might as well have had a revolving door on it. Four different players took turns being the main ballcarrier, and all four return this season.
But as spring practice drew to a close, only one running back was left standing. Injuries to Kordell Young, and Jourdan Brooks and a switch to receiver by Mason Robinson meant that Joe Martinek had to do most of the work.
In Saturday's spring game, Martinek had 19 carries for 79 yards and three touchdowns.
"I think Joe is really, really sore," head coach Greg Schiano said. "He had a lot of carries this spring, but he didn't open his mouth and just kept playing. It would've been easy for him to moan and groan when all the other guys got injured.
"It wasn't easy for him and at times I could see him letting up, we can't do that with him. We have to keep driving him forward because he has the makeup to be a great running back if we can just keep pushing him to that point."
Martinek is New Jersey's all-time leading rusher, amassing 7,589 yards and 80 touchdowns at Hopatcong High School. Yet he said his only major offers came from Vanderbilt and the Scarlet Knights, who wanted him as a defensive back.
But Martinek played running back for the scout team his redshirt season and made enough of an impression to get a chance last year. Eventually.
He began the season buried behind Young, Robinson and Brooks. In the first eight games, he only ran the ball 17 times, all of the carries coming against Navy and Morgan State.
"I kept working hard and the leaders on this team kept showing me the way," he said. "I had to learn some things and get comfortable and confident in myself."
In the ninth game against Syracuse, he rumbled for a 45-yard touchdown. The following week he had his breakout game at South Florida, going for a career-high 98 yards on 21 carries and scoring twice. He was also the Scarlet Knights' leading rusher in the Papajohns.com Bowl win over NC State and finished the year with the highest yards-per-carry average among the tailbacks (5.3).
He is a fearless runner who doesn't shy away from contact.
"I've always tried to fight for that extra yard," he said.
He's also a terrific all-around athlete who starred in track and field in high school. He won the state javelin title, finished second in the high jump and placed third in the triple jump as a senior. He may join the Scarlet Knights' track team at some point and try the decathlon.
"That's in the back of my mind right now," he said. "Football is all I'm worried about right now."
That's because he is not guaranteed anything for the fall despite his strong spring. Brooks and Young should both be healthy and ready to compete for carries. Schiano said Brooks and Martinek were in a tight competition before Brooks had a knee injury. Robinson could also move back to tailback. Schiano wouldn't rule out a committee situation like the Scarlet Knights had last year.
"It's not by design," he said. "I like having one guy and then a guy to rest him. It just didn't play out that way last year with the competition. So we'll see."
Martinek showed this spring that he's capable of bearing a bigger load. But he's also fine with going through another revolving-door process.
"I just know all the running backs are going to continue to work hard," he said. "Whoever is in there will do a good job."
No conference lost more talent at running back than the Big East.
Gone are the nation's leading rusher (UConn's Donald Brown), the nation's regular-season leader in rushing touchdowns (Pitt's LeSean McCoy) and the first Syracuse back to surpass 100 yards in five straight games (Curtis Brinkley).
The conference's cupboard is far from bare, however, with young stars like Victor Anderson and Noel Devine back for more. With spring practice rapidly approaching, here's how each Big East team is feeling about its running game right now:
Feeling great:
• Louisville: Anderson ran for 1,047 yards and eight scores as a redshirt freshman and is a highlight waiting to happen. He'll get some help from Bilal Powell, who will look to bounce back from a subpar sophomore season, and redshirt freshman Darius Ashley. The Cardinals' running game should be their main strength; the only question is how good their offensive line will be.
• West Virginia: The explosive Devine had 1,289 yards as a sophomore and still has plenty of room to improve. With Pat White gone, more of the running responsibilities will likely fall to him. The Mountaineers will also try to develop a competent fullback after lacking one in 2008 and may add in young playmakers Mark Rodgers and Tavon Austin as they utilize the I-formation more often. Getting Jock Sanders back from suspension would be a big boost.
The enigma:
• South Florida: How does one judge the Bulls' running game? On the one hand, South Florida finished third in the Big East in rushing yardage. On the other hand, take out quarterback Matt Grothe, and the Bulls had no player gain more than 407 yards on the ground. Some of that can be blamed on injuries, while some can be blamed on a spread-the-ball-around offensive philosophy. With a new offensive coordinator in Mike Canales, perhaps this is the year a guy like Mike Ford or Jamar Taylor erupts for a big season, alleviating some of the pressure on Grothe.
Some questions:
• Cincinnati: Jacob Ramsey and John Goebel formed a decent two-headed tailback monster -- let's call it Jacohn Goebsey -- while combining for 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 games. Still, the Bearcats ranked last in the Big East in rushing offense and yards per carry in 2008. And they particularly need to get better in in short yardage situations. Look for sophomore Isaiah Pead to make an impact as well.
• Connecticut: The Huskies will look to replace Brown through a combination of a more electric passing game and by splitting carries between Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman. Dixon had off-the-field issues last year, while Todman might not be sturdy enough to be an every-down back. Both will need to answer those questions, starting this spring.
• Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights averaged just 3.9 yards per carry last season, third-worst in the Big East. The good news is that they have loads of capable ball carriers, including Kordell Young, Joe Martinek and Jourdan Brooks, and an offensive line that returns intact. Still, with a new quarterback and key receivers gone, the running game has to get better.
Big questions:
• Pittsburgh: There's no obvious successor to McCoy, though Dave Wannstedt likes the young backs on his roster. And don't forget the loss of senior LaRod Stephens-Howling, who played a nice Robin to McCoy's Batman. Someone will probably emerge as a featured runner here; it's just that no one knows right now who that will be.
• Syracuse: Brinkley had an historic season on his way to 1,164 yards. Complicating matters is the departure of offensive coordinator, a running-back guru who emphasized the power ground game. The Orange have some promising young tailbacks in Doug Hogue, Antwon Bailey and Delone Carter, but with a new staff and a new offensive system, they will have to prove themselves.
Five Big East spring battles to watch
With spring practice rapidly approaching, players are about to take their battle positions in the Big East.
Several starting jobs will be up for grabs around the league. Some of the highest-profile skirmishes will include the Rutgers quarterback competition, the fights to succeed LeSean McCoy and Scott McKillop at Pitt and the 10 new starting spots on Cincinnati's defense.
Here are five other key position battles to keep an eye on this spring, presented in no particular order:
• Connecticut quarterback: This is a duel that began last season, when both Zach Frazer and Cody Endres split time filling in for the injured Tyler Lorenzen. With Lorenzen graduated, one of them has to claim the job outright. There are a lot of similarities between the two, including size, playing experience and strengths and weaknesses. Both will be operating on somewhat of a clean slate this spring with new offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead. Expect this battle to continue into fall camp.
• Louisville quarterback: The Cardinals signed junior college quarterback Adam Froman, who is on campus and will be ready for spring drills. They didn't sign him so he could ride the bench. But head coach Steve Kragthorpe insists there will be an open competition to succeed Hunter Cantwell, and there's no one on the roster with much of a résumé. Junior Tyler Wolfe has looked impressive at times in practice but needs to pick up the finer points of the position. NC State transfer Justin Burke and sophomore Zack Stoudt will also try to impress this spring.
• Rutgers running back: The Scarlet Knights could have used a revolving door in their backfield last season. At different times, Kordell Young, Jourdan Brooks, Joe Martinek and Mason Robinson all had moments as the featured back. Young led the way with 550 yards in just seven games but has had trouble staying healthy. With Rutgers breaking in a new starting quarterback this season, the running game might have to carry a bigger load this year, and someone needs to put his mark on this position.
• South Florida running back: The Rutgers tailback position was a model of consistency compared to the Bulls' backfield in 2008. Mike Ford, Moise Plancher, Benjamin Williams, Jamar Taylor and Richard Kelly all split time there thanks to injuries, ineffectiveness and a spread-the-ball philosophy by former offensive coordinator Greg Gregory. All but Williams are back this spring to resume their competition, and a new playcaller could change the way South Florida uses its backs. Quarterback Matt Grothe desperately needs someone dependable behind him so he doesn't have to carry so much of the offense on his shoulders.
• West Virginia receiver: The Mountaineers want to feature more of a true downfield passing attack this season, which means they will need to identify some go-to receivers. Several candidates will vie for that role this spring, even with slot receiver Jock Sanders currently suspended. Alric Arnett showed flashes of great promise in 2008 and caught two scores in the Meineke Car Care Bowl; he just needs to be more consistent. Wes Lyons can be a major factor with his 6-foot-8 frame. Bradley Starks is an athletic guy who's made the adjustment from quarterback. And hotshot freshman Logan Heastie is already enrolled and ready for the spring. The competition to become the No. 1 wideout should be fun to watch.
Which battles are you most looking forward to watching this spring?
Britt's departure leaves huge void for Scarlet Knights
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
It was no surprise that Rutgers junior receiver Kenny Britt declared for the NFL Draft today. Britt had an outstanding season (87 catches, 1,371 yards) and will likely be a high draft choice.
The question is, where does Rutgers go from here? The Scarlet Knights not only lose Britt but senior and three-year starter Mike Teel at quarterback and their second-leading receiver in Tiquan Underwood. That's a lot of offense to replace.
Tim Brown will be the leading returning receiver next season, but at just 5-foot-8 he's nowhere the threat that the 6-foot-4 Britt posed. Dennis Campbell will be another senior wideout, but he's just 5-foot-9. Perhaps a newcomer like freshmen Keith Stroud or Marcus Cooper will emerge or incoming prospect Aaron Hayward will make an impact. Rutgers also may try to become more run-oriented next year as the offensive line matures and improves, using the talents of Kordell Young, Joe Martinek and Jourdan Brooks at running back.
One thing's for sure: Rutgers has big shoes to fill.
Big East year-end rankings: Running backs
Now that we're finished with our team reviews, it's time to get back to our year-end positional rankings. We continue today on the offensive side of the ball with the most star-studded position in the Big East this year: Running backs.
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| David Butler II/US Presswire | |
| Donald Brown rushed for 1,822 yards during the regular season. |
1. Donald Brown, Connecticut: Hard not to put the nation's leading rusher on top of the Big East rankings.
2. LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh: McCoy might have more physical gifts than Brown and definitely produces more highlight-reel plays. If both return next year as they've said they will do, this will be a great running back rivalry to follow.
3. Victor Anderson, Louisville: Noel Devine ran for more yards, but I like Anderson better for his pass-catching abilities and his consistency. The redshirt freshman should be a star for years to come in this league.
4. Noel Devine, West Virginia: Perhaps no back is more explosive, but Devine also tends to abandon the blocking schemes and try to cut back across the grain too much. Sometimes that leads to big plays, but it can also drive his coaches crazy.
5. Curtis Brinkley, Syracuse: Brinkley always had the talent, he just couldn't stay healthy or get enough help up front. That all came together in a 1,164-yard season for the senior. The Orange have a couple of promising young backs in Doug Hogue and Antwon Bailey waiting in the wings.
6. Kordell Young, Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights used a lot of tailbacks this season, including Jourdan Brooks and Joe Martinek. But it was Young who led them in rushing despite playing only seven games. Had he stayed healthy all season, he might have made a run at 1,000 yards.
7. Jacob Ramsey/John Goebel, Cincinnati: Had to combine these two since they formed a nearly pure platoon this season. Combined, they produced more than 1,200 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Many Bearcats fans believe true freshman Isaiah Pead may be the most talented tailback on campus.
8. The South Florida stable: It's nearly impossible to sort out the Bulls' backfield. Five different running backs saw significant carries, and none rushed for more than Mike Ford's 373 yards. Ford and Jamar Taylor missed time with injuries, while Moise Plancher, Benjamin Williams and Richard Kelly all rotated rushing duties. And once again, quarterback Matt Grothe was the team's leading rusher.
9. Brock Bolen, Louisville: Often mislabeled as merely a fullback, the sturdy Bolen has speed and athleticism, as any defender he's ever hurdled can tell you. The thunder to Anderson's lightning this year, Bolen has pro scouts interested in his Brian Leonard-like versatility.
10. Jock Sanders, West Virginia: The only player listed on both the running back and wide receiver rankings, Sanders is a hybrid. He was West Virginia's best option on goal-line situations, and when he lined up as the deep back in the I-formation, defenses didn't know where he was going to go.
Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights have had four different tailbacks take starring roles this season. Last 
week, redshirt freshman Joe Martinek ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns at South Florida. The week before, Kordell Young had 143 yards against Syracuse. Earlier this season, Jourdan Brooks and Mason Robinson each had big games, but their roles have diminished of late. Coach Greg Schiano said he determines who will be the featured back each week based on the opponent. "We have to look and see what do we think we're going to try to do most in the run game, and then who fits that description best and try to rep it that way during the week," he said. "It's hard to get more than two backs ready for a game. There's always a third guy that is ready and a fourth guy that's ready, but they don't get many repetitions. I can't tell you right now who that guy will be."
Cincinnati: Should the Bearcats be concerned about kicker Jake Rogers? He lost his job early in the season after missing a few extra points, and coach Brian Kelly wondered about his confidence. But then 
Rogers came back and tied a school record with 13 straight converted field-goal attempts. Since then, however, Rogers has missed four straight kicks, including all three tries at Louisville. The conditions were poor at wet and windy Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, and Kelly said that had more to do with Rogers' problems than anything. "It's the development of a kicker," Kelly said. "Earlier in the year, he struggled mentally. This time, it was technique. He has a natural draw on his kicks, but they didn't draw because of the wet balls. He hit all of them well, but he missed all of them to right. Then he overcompensated. I'm sure he'll be able to correct it for this weekend."
West Virginia: The Mountaineers could be without starting center Mike Dent for a second straight game 
this week at Louisville. A mainstay in the lineup the past two seasons, Dent missed the Cincinnati game with a neck injury. Now he has swelling in the neck, and team officials aren't sure what the problem is. Dent could play this weekend, but coach Bill Stewart is fearful of further damage to his neck. Sophomore Eric Jobe got the start versus Cincinnati and likely will be the snapper on Saturday. "Eric Jobe is good.," Stewart said. "He's just not Mike Dent. Mike Dent isn't good, he's great. We had two pro scouts watching tape on him. He's got a chance to play at the next level.''
Pittsburgh: Fourth down doesn't necessarily mean it's time to punt for Pittsburgh. The Panthers have 
shown an inclination to go for it on fourth down this year, and usually with success. They have converted 13 of their 17 fourth-down attempts, a 76.5 percent rate that ranks sixth-best in the nation. An outstanding running game and a strong offensive line gives coach Dave Wannstedt confidence in going for the gamble. "I think that every time we get in a fourth-down situation our players want to go for it," he said. "That's a normal reaction. They're like the fans and the media. I think you have to look at the defense and what we feel we can execute and then try and make up a sound decision as to what your chances are of making it. You don't want to do something just to do it. We have been outstanding though."
Syracuse: Quarterback Cam Dantley has struggled in his past few games and was pulled for Andrew 
Robinson in the Connecticut loss. Dantley was just 3-of-12 for 19 yards against Rutgers and 4-of-16 for 38 yards with an interception against UConn. Robinson hasn't been much better in relief, going a combined 4-of-14 for 29 yards and throwing two picks in those same two games. Cody Catalina even got a couple of looks under center versus the Huskies. Coach Greg Robinson isn't saying yet who will be the starter this week at Notre Dame.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Andrea Adelson
Adelson joined ESPN.com in 2010 after spending time as a college football columnist at The Orlando Sentinel. She has covered college football since her days as a University of Florida student, and lives in Orlando, Fla.
