Big East: Kashif Moore
Big recruiting week.
- A commitment to get better has propelled former Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead.
- Jasper Howard's mom will watch the draft with UConn receiver Kashif Moore.
- Is it possible for Pitt to run the ball 70 percent of the time?
- Offensive line remains a project at Rutgers on the eve of the spring game.
- ESPN.com Notre Dame blogger Matt Fortuna weighs in on Aaron Lynch's move to USF.
- Syracuse tight end Nick Provo talks about his draft chances.
- San Diego State is moving "full steam" toward the Big East.
- Temple is in the mix for local defensive end Myles Nash.
All eight Big East teams have completed their pro day workouts for NFL scouts.
Keep in mind that only a few Big East teams made times and performances available. Here are a few of the highlights:
Cincinnati: Running back Isaiah Pead clocked a 4.47 in the 40-yard dash. But it was probably tight end Adrien Robinson who turned the most heads, as he ran a 4.51 and 4.58 in the 40. Scouts Inc. analyst Kevin Weidl had praise for Robinson, whose only opportunity to impress scouts in person was at the school's pro day.
UConn: Kendall Reyes and Kashif Moore skipped doing the 40-yard dash and instead focused on position work. It's a smart move because both did outstanding at the NFL combine. More than 20 NFL teams were represented.
Louisville: The Cardinals did not have anybody invited to the NFL combine, so senior players had to rely on their pro day. It was receiver Josh Bellamy who stood out, after he ran a 4.42 in the 40. Bellamy also worked out at cornerback.
Pitt: Unheralded cornerback Buddy Jackson had a good showing, running somewhere in the 4.3 range, while defensive tackle Chas Alecxih improved on his performance at the combine. Alecxih apparently caught the stomach virus in Indianapolis, which affected his performance. Brandon Lindsey improved some of his numbers, too. Lucas Nix also showed well.
Rutgers: Receiver Mohamed Sanu helped himself, improving on his 40 time, with a 4.41. Sanu ran a 4.67 at the combine, and told local reporters after pro day last week he was drained in Indianapolis. Fullback Joe Martinek ran a 4.4 in the 40.
USF: New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was in attendance for the Bulls' pro day. Running back Darrell Scott, who decided to leave school early, was the only USF player invited to the combine, so it was an opportunity for his teammates to try to make an impression.
Syracuse: Defensive end Chandler Jones brought many more scouts to Syracuse pro day -- 37 in all. According to the Post-Standard, that was the biggest pro day turnout since 2002.
Temple: Running back Bernard Pierce was one of 17 Owls who worked out for 32 NFL scouts. Pierce reportedly improved on his already-terrific 40 time from the combine, with some clocking a time of 4.34. Evan Rodriguez did not run the 40.
Now that you have the quick recaps, here is an updated look at where Todd McShay and Mel Kiper have some of the Big East players.
McShay has his NFL mock draft
4.0 up, with Syracuse's Jones going at No. 27 overall to the New England Patriots. McShay says Jones is one of the most underrated prospects in the entire draft. UConn defensive tackle Reyes is in the first round, too, at No. 31, also to the Patriots. Future teammates, perhaps? McShay does not have anybody from the Big East in the second round.
Jones is the only player listed on McShay's top 32. Kiper has no Big East players on his Big Board , which only ranks the top 25. Not much change in Kiper's top 5 players by position . It still features Reyes, Syracuse safety Phillip Thomas and Temple fullback Rodriguez.
Keep in mind that only a few Big East teams made times and performances available. Here are a few of the highlights:
Cincinnati: Running back Isaiah Pead clocked a 4.47 in the 40-yard dash. But it was probably tight end Adrien Robinson who turned the most heads, as he ran a 4.51 and 4.58 in the 40. Scouts Inc. analyst Kevin Weidl had praise for Robinson, whose only opportunity to impress scouts in person was at the school's pro day.
UConn: Kendall Reyes and Kashif Moore skipped doing the 40-yard dash and instead focused on position work. It's a smart move because both did outstanding at the NFL combine. More than 20 NFL teams were represented.
Louisville: The Cardinals did not have anybody invited to the NFL combine, so senior players had to rely on their pro day. It was receiver Josh Bellamy who stood out, after he ran a 4.42 in the 40. Bellamy also worked out at cornerback.
Pitt: Unheralded cornerback Buddy Jackson had a good showing, running somewhere in the 4.3 range, while defensive tackle Chas Alecxih improved on his performance at the combine. Alecxih apparently caught the stomach virus in Indianapolis, which affected his performance. Brandon Lindsey improved some of his numbers, too. Lucas Nix also showed well.
Rutgers: Receiver Mohamed Sanu helped himself, improving on his 40 time, with a 4.41. Sanu ran a 4.67 at the combine, and told local reporters after pro day last week he was drained in Indianapolis. Fullback Joe Martinek ran a 4.4 in the 40.
USF: New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was in attendance for the Bulls' pro day. Running back Darrell Scott, who decided to leave school early, was the only USF player invited to the combine, so it was an opportunity for his teammates to try to make an impression.
Syracuse: Defensive end Chandler Jones brought many more scouts to Syracuse pro day -- 37 in all. According to the Post-Standard, that was the biggest pro day turnout since 2002.
Temple: Running back Bernard Pierce was one of 17 Owls who worked out for 32 NFL scouts. Pierce reportedly improved on his already-terrific 40 time from the combine, with some clocking a time of 4.34. Evan Rodriguez did not run the 40.
Now that you have the quick recaps, here is an updated look at where Todd McShay and Mel Kiper have some of the Big East players.
McShay has his NFL mock draft
4.0 up, with Syracuse's Jones going at No. 27 overall to the New England Patriots. McShay says Jones is one of the most underrated prospects in the entire draft. UConn defensive tackle Reyes is in the first round, too, at No. 31, also to the Patriots. Future teammates, perhaps? McShay does not have anybody from the Big East in the second round.
Jones is the only player listed on McShay's top 32
. Kiper has no Big East players on his Big Board , which only ranks the top 25. Not much change in Kiper's top 5 players by position . It still features Reyes, Syracuse safety Phillip Thomas and Temple fullback Rodriguez.
It appears that Big East players had mixed performances at the NFL combine, which just wrapped up in Indianapolis.
Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead, UConn receiver Kashif Moore, Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones and UConn defensive tackle Kendall Reyes had solid performances, and likely helped themselves.
Of the 18 Big East players there, those four probably had the most notable performances. And it is still unclear if players like Jones, Reyes and Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu will be drafted in the first round.
To find out how your favorite player did in all the measurable categories, just click on his name:
Chas Alecxih, DT, Pitt
Justin Francis, DE, Rutgers
John Hughes, DT, Cincinnati
Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
Brandon Lindsey, DE, Pitt
Kashif Moore, WR, UConn
Lucas Nix, OG, Pitt
Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati
Nick Provo, TE, Syracuse
Antwuan Reed, CB, Pitt
Kendall Reyes, DT, UConn
Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
Darrell Scott, RB, USF
Dave Teggart, K, UConn
Phillip Thomas, S, Syracuse
Andrew Tiller, OG, Syracuse
Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati
Desmond Wynn, OG, Rutgers
Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead, UConn receiver Kashif Moore, Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones and UConn defensive tackle Kendall Reyes had solid performances, and likely helped themselves.
Of the 18 Big East players there, those four probably had the most notable performances. And it is still unclear if players like Jones, Reyes and Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu will be drafted in the first round.
To find out how your favorite player did in all the measurable categories, just click on his name:
Chas Alecxih, DT, Pitt
Justin Francis, DE, Rutgers
John Hughes, DT, Cincinnati
Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
Brandon Lindsey, DE, Pitt
Kashif Moore, WR, UConn
Lucas Nix, OG, Pitt
Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati
Nick Provo, TE, Syracuse
Antwuan Reed, CB, Pitt
Kendall Reyes, DT, UConn
Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
Darrell Scott, RB, USF
Dave Teggart, K, UConn
Phillip Thomas, S, Syracuse
Andrew Tiller, OG, Syracuse
Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati
Desmond Wynn, OG, Rutgers
The NFL combine is underway in Indianapolis, so it is time to get caught up on Big East players who may have helped or hurt their draft stock during workouts so far.
One prospect to watch is UConn receiver Kashif Moore. Among all participants who have run the 40, Moore posted the fifth-best time -- 4.42 seconds, and was among the top performers in the vertical jump, broad jump, bench press, 20-yard shuttle run and 3-cone drill. Todd McShay of Scouts Inc. believes Moore helped his stock and will have teams re-evaluating him on tape with his performance. McShay writes:
Moore talked about his solid performance at the combine with Desmond Conner of The Hartford Courant, saying in part, "I think I opened some eyes."
Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu didn't fare as well in the 40, running a 4.67. Sanu isn't the fastest player in the world, and nobody expected him to blaze to a top speed. But his time was below his average, and McShay thought Sanu looked tight. Still, ESPN NFC West blogger Mike Sando reports that Sanu didn't drop any passes in several of the drills he watched. In an interview before his workout, Sanu indicated he had already met with the Patriots.
Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead also helped his draft stock, running a 4.47 in the 40 -- tied for fifth among all running backs. One columnist suggested that Pead had possibly the best skills among all running backs at the combine.
One prospect to watch is UConn receiver Kashif Moore. Among all participants who have run the 40, Moore posted the fifth-best time -- 4.42 seconds, and was among the top performers in the vertical jump, broad jump, bench press, 20-yard shuttle run and 3-cone drill. Todd McShay of Scouts Inc. believes Moore helped his stock and will have teams re-evaluating him on tape with his performance. McShay writes:
He had some problems tracking and adjusting to the deeper throws, but Moore he caught the ball well overall and flashed the ability to pluck it away from his frame. He was a late-round prospect heading into this week, but with this performance Moore will send scouts back to the tape to see if his testing matches his on-field performance.
Moore talked about his solid performance at the combine with Desmond Conner of The Hartford Courant, saying in part, "I think I opened some eyes."
Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu didn't fare as well in the 40, running a 4.67. Sanu isn't the fastest player in the world, and nobody expected him to blaze to a top speed. But his time was below his average, and McShay thought Sanu looked tight. Still, ESPN NFC West blogger Mike Sando reports that Sanu didn't drop any passes in several of the drills he watched. In an interview before his workout, Sanu indicated he had already met with the Patriots.
Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead also helped his draft stock, running a 4.47 in the 40 -- tied for fifth among all running backs. One columnist suggested that Pead had possibly the best skills among all running backs at the combine.
With the NFL combine underway, our friends over at Scouts Inc. have done quite an impressive job putting together a list of grades for the top prospects leading into the draft.
Take a look at their rankings for:
For a quick overview on Big East players, here are some that were highlighted:
Take a look at their rankings for:
For a quick overview on Big East players, here are some that were highlighted:
- In the category of competitiveness/toughness for receivers, Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu ranks No. 4 . He also is listed in the Top 10 among most draftable receivers. UConn receiver Kashif Moore didn't get a draftable grade, but he was invited to the combine.
- UConn center Moe Petrus is listed as the No. 3 center in the toughness category. Pitt guard Lucas Nix has the highest draftable grade among Big East offensive linemen. Desmond Wynn of Rutgers and Petrus also got draftable grades as well. Petrus wasn't invited to the combine.
- Syracuse tight end Nick Provo received a draftable grade, ranking right around the middle of all tight ends available.
- In the power/balance category for running backs, Darrell Scott of USF is ranked No. 3. Isaiah Pead of Cincinnati also received a Top 10 draftable grade. Scott did receive a draftable grade as well, but it wasn't very high.
- And not to leave the defense out, here is Todd McShay's latest big board , featuring Chandler Jones at No. 28.
It is time to evaluate the receiver position in the Big East. For the postseason rankings, I am going to include tight ends as well. Before the season started, I did them separately, but it makes more sense to do them together.
This is a position group that has a clear-cut 1-2. To me, the rest are pretty interchangeable, as no other group really stood out to me this season.
1. West Virginia. Slam dunk to have the Mountaineers on top, given the way Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey performed this season. Each had 1,000-yard seasons -- the first time in school history two players hit that mark. Bailey led the Big East with 12 receiving touchdowns, and was No. 1 in receiving yards per game. Austin was third in receiving yards per game and second in receptions per game. Add in Ivan McCartney, also ranked among the top-10 receivers in the Big East and that says it all. Preseason ranking: No. 2.
2. Rutgers. Mohamed Sanu had an unbelievable season for Rutgers with a school and Big East record 115 receptions. He dominated at receiver, leading the league in receptions per game and finishing second in receiving yards per game. That domination meant his teammates did not get as many opportunities -- Brandon Coleman only had 17 receptions; Mark Harrison 14, Quron Pratt had 32. But when you have an unstoppable force like Sanu, you keep going to him. Preseason ranking: No. 1.
3. Syracuse. When you think of the Orange, you don't necessarily think of high-profile receivers. But Alec Lemon and Nick Provo teamed to have outstanding seasons this year. Both posted career years, Provo made the Big East first team and Lemon made the second team. The two combined for 119 catches and 13 touchdowns. Depth wasn't great, but the performance of Lemon and Provo make up for that and vaults Syracuse here. Preseason ranking: No. 5.
4. Cincinnati. I thought the Bearcats receivers had a down year. D.J. Woods didn't really live up to his potential, and Anthony McClung led the team with 683 yards. That is the fewest yards for the team's leading receiver since 2006. What really sticks out: when Zach Collaros got hurt, the receivers as a whole never really stepped up the way they should have to help Munchie Legaux. Preseason ranking: No. 3.
5. Louisville. The Cardinals did get much better play out of their receivers, and were helped with the impact freshman DeVante Parker and Eli Rogers made. They didn't have anybody with eye-popping numbers, but they did have consistent enough performances out of this group. Preseason ranking: 7.
6. USF. The Bulls were really hurt by injuries at this position, and never really had a go-to guy emerge. Sterling Griffin was en route to a good season before he got hurt; A.J. Love got hurt as well. That left the position in the hands of many young, inexperienced guys. I thought Deonte Welch really had a nice second half. He was their best receiver when Griffin was out. Preseason ranking: 6.
7. UConn. Considering the way the Huskies struggled in the pass game, Kashif Moore, Isiah Moore and Ryan Griffin all put together solid seasons for UConn. Both Moores ranked in the top 10 in the Big East in receiving, and Griffin was the second-best tight end behind Nick Provo. Depth was lacking at the position -- as only five players caught double-digit passes, and only three are true wide receivers. Preseason ranking: 8.
8. Pitt. The Panthers got their tight ends and running backs involved heavily in the pass game, probably because there was depth lacking at the actual receiver position. Devin Street put together a solid season, with 754 yards receiving, and Mike Shanahan was decent. But otherwise, big plays were lacking. Passing game woes obviously had an impact. Preseason ranking: 4.
This is a position group that has a clear-cut 1-2. To me, the rest are pretty interchangeable, as no other group really stood out to me this season.
1. West Virginia. Slam dunk to have the Mountaineers on top, given the way Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey performed this season. Each had 1,000-yard seasons -- the first time in school history two players hit that mark. Bailey led the Big East with 12 receiving touchdowns, and was No. 1 in receiving yards per game. Austin was third in receiving yards per game and second in receptions per game. Add in Ivan McCartney, also ranked among the top-10 receivers in the Big East and that says it all. Preseason ranking: No. 2.
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Kim Klement/US PRESSWIREWest Virginia's Stedman Bailey led the Big East in touchdowns and yards receiving per game.
Kim Klement/US PRESSWIREWest Virginia's Stedman Bailey led the Big East in touchdowns and yards receiving per game.3. Syracuse. When you think of the Orange, you don't necessarily think of high-profile receivers. But Alec Lemon and Nick Provo teamed to have outstanding seasons this year. Both posted career years, Provo made the Big East first team and Lemon made the second team. The two combined for 119 catches and 13 touchdowns. Depth wasn't great, but the performance of Lemon and Provo make up for that and vaults Syracuse here. Preseason ranking: No. 5.
4. Cincinnati. I thought the Bearcats receivers had a down year. D.J. Woods didn't really live up to his potential, and Anthony McClung led the team with 683 yards. That is the fewest yards for the team's leading receiver since 2006. What really sticks out: when Zach Collaros got hurt, the receivers as a whole never really stepped up the way they should have to help Munchie Legaux. Preseason ranking: No. 3.
5. Louisville. The Cardinals did get much better play out of their receivers, and were helped with the impact freshman DeVante Parker and Eli Rogers made. They didn't have anybody with eye-popping numbers, but they did have consistent enough performances out of this group. Preseason ranking: 7.
6. USF. The Bulls were really hurt by injuries at this position, and never really had a go-to guy emerge. Sterling Griffin was en route to a good season before he got hurt; A.J. Love got hurt as well. That left the position in the hands of many young, inexperienced guys. I thought Deonte Welch really had a nice second half. He was their best receiver when Griffin was out. Preseason ranking: 6.
7. UConn. Considering the way the Huskies struggled in the pass game, Kashif Moore, Isiah Moore and Ryan Griffin all put together solid seasons for UConn. Both Moores ranked in the top 10 in the Big East in receiving, and Griffin was the second-best tight end behind Nick Provo. Depth was lacking at the position -- as only five players caught double-digit passes, and only three are true wide receivers. Preseason ranking: 8.
8. Pitt. The Panthers got their tight ends and running backs involved heavily in the pass game, probably because there was depth lacking at the actual receiver position. Devin Street put together a solid season, with 754 yards receiving, and Mike Shanahan was decent. But otherwise, big plays were lacking. Passing game woes obviously had an impact. Preseason ranking: 4.
The NFL officially released its list of players heading to the NFL combine in Indianapolis, and 20 Big East players made the cut. More than 300 prospects are set to gather beginning Feb. 22, to be tested, interviewed, evaluated and graded in the lead up to the NFL draft in April.
Here are the Big East representatives:
Chas Alecxih, DE, Pitt
Justin Francis, DE, Rutgers
Najee Goode, LB, West Virginia
John Hughes, DT, Cincinnati
Bruce Irvin, DE, West Virginia
Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
Brandon Lindsey, DE, Pitt
Kashif Moore, WR, UConn
Lucas Nix, OG, Pitt
Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati
Nick Provo, TE, Syracuse
Antwuan Reed, CB, Pitt
Kendall Reyes, DT, UConn
Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
Darrell Scott, RB, USF
Dave Teggart, K, UConn
Phillip Thomas, S, Syracuse
Andrew Tiller, OG, Syracuse
Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati
Desmond Wynn, OG, Rutgers
Breakdown by school:
Pitt: 4
Syracuse: 4
Cincinnati: 3
UConn: 3
Rutgers: 3
West Virginia: 2
USF: 1
Here are the Big East representatives:
Chas Alecxih, DE, Pitt
Justin Francis, DE, Rutgers
Najee Goode, LB, West Virginia
John Hughes, DT, Cincinnati
Bruce Irvin, DE, West Virginia
Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
Brandon Lindsey, DE, Pitt
Kashif Moore, WR, UConn
Lucas Nix, OG, Pitt
Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati
Nick Provo, TE, Syracuse
Antwuan Reed, CB, Pitt
Kendall Reyes, DT, UConn
Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
Darrell Scott, RB, USF
Dave Teggart, K, UConn
Phillip Thomas, S, Syracuse
Andrew Tiller, OG, Syracuse
Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati
Desmond Wynn, OG, Rutgers
Breakdown by school:
Pitt: 4
Syracuse: 4
Cincinnati: 3
UConn: 3
Rutgers: 3
West Virginia: 2
USF: 1
Last week, we took a look at the up-and-coming freshmen in the Big East. Now it is time to take a look at all of the departing senior talent. There is a ton across every team in this league. Sixteen of the 29 players honored on the All-Big East first team are seniors. There are still five bowl games left to be played, but it is worth taking a look at how many seniors are departing.
I will take a closer look at some of these "super seniors" in a future post.
Cincinnati
I will take a closer look at some of these "super seniors" in a future post.
Cincinnati
- Seniors: 21
- Starters: 12
- Key losses: Zach Collaros, Isaiah Pead, Randy Martinez, D.J. Woods, Evan Davis, John Hughes, Wes Richardson, Alex Hoffman, JK Schaffer, Adrien Robinson, Tom DeTemple, Derek Wolfe.
- Seniors: 13
- Starters: 7
- Key losses: Mike Ryan, Moe Petrus, Kashif Moore, Isiah Moore, Dave Teggart, Twyon Martin, Kendall Reyes.
- Seniors: 17
- Starters: 9
- Key losses: Victor Anderson, Josh Bellamy, Josh Chichester, Ryan Kessling, Dexter Heyman, William Savoy, Greg Scruggs, Chris Philpott.
- Seniors: 17
- Starters: 9
- Key losses: Lucas Nix, Greg Gaskins, Jordan Gibbs, Antwuan Reed, Max Gruder, Greg Williams, Brandon Lindsey, Chas Alecxih, Myles Caragein.
- Seniors: 16
- Starters: 8
- Key losses: Desmond Wynn, Caleb Ruch, Art Forst, Joe Martinek, Justin Francis, Manny Abreu, David Rowe, San San Te.
- Seniors: 17
- Starters: 6
- Key losses: Jeremiah Warren, Chaz Hine, Quenton Washington, Jerrell Young, Patrick Hampton, Keith McCaskill.
- Seniors: 18
- Starters: 7
- Key losses: Van Chew, Andrew Tiller, Michael Hay, Antwon Bailey, Kevyn Scott, Mikhail Marinovich, Nick Provo.
- Seniors: 22
- Starters: 8
- Key losses: Don Barclay, Julian Miller, Bruce Irvin, Najee Goode, Keith Tandy, Eain Smith.
Here are the Big East players of the week, as selected by the conference:
Offense: Jawan Jamison, RB, Rutgers. Jamison rushed for a career-high 200 yards and scored two touchdowns on 34 carries in a 20-3 win against Cincinnati. Jamison became the third freshman running back in school history to rush for 200 yards in a game, and is the first since Ray Rice in the 2005 season.
Defense: Dexter Heyman, LB, Louisville. Heyman had seven tackles, including a sack and 3.5 tackles for loss, along with an interception in leading Louisville to a 34-20 win at UConn. Heyman led a defense that limited the Huskies to just 76 rushing yards, helping the Cardinals to their fourth win in their past five games.
Special teams: Adrian Bushell, CB, Louisville. Bushell returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to send Louisville on its way against UConn.
Weekly Honor Roll
JK Schaffer, LB, Cincinnati. Had 13 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack in a 20-3 loss at Rutgers.
Kashif Moore, WR, UConn. Had seven receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown in a 34-20 loss to Louisville.
Sio Moore, LB, UConn. Had 13 tackles, a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss in a 34-20 loss to Louisville.
Brandon Jones, CB, Rutgers. Had four tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and an interception in a 20-3 win against Cincinnati.
DeDe Lattimore, LB, USF. Had 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in a 6-3 loss to Miami.
Offense: Jawan Jamison, RB, Rutgers. Jamison rushed for a career-high 200 yards and scored two touchdowns on 34 carries in a 20-3 win against Cincinnati. Jamison became the third freshman running back in school history to rush for 200 yards in a game, and is the first since Ray Rice in the 2005 season.
Defense: Dexter Heyman, LB, Louisville. Heyman had seven tackles, including a sack and 3.5 tackles for loss, along with an interception in leading Louisville to a 34-20 win at UConn. Heyman led a defense that limited the Huskies to just 76 rushing yards, helping the Cardinals to their fourth win in their past five games.
Special teams: Adrian Bushell, CB, Louisville. Bushell returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to send Louisville on its way against UConn.
Weekly Honor Roll
JK Schaffer, LB, Cincinnati. Had 13 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack in a 20-3 loss at Rutgers.
Kashif Moore, WR, UConn. Had seven receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown in a 34-20 loss to Louisville.
Sio Moore, LB, UConn. Had 13 tackles, a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss in a 34-20 loss to Louisville.
Brandon Jones, CB, Rutgers. Had four tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and an interception in a 20-3 win against Cincinnati.
DeDe Lattimore, LB, USF. Had 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in a 6-3 loss to Miami.
Louisville appeared to be in control of this game in the early going, but UConn scored 10 unanswered points and the Cardinals lead 14-10 at halftime.
Adrian Bushell got Louisville on the board first with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Then on the Cardinals' only offensive scoring drive, they dominated on the ground and capped the series with a touchdown run by Dominique Brown. UConn does not have a high-powered offense, so overcoming a double-digit deficit is not something the Huskies aren't built to do.
But they slowly started a comeback. They missed an opportunity after getting to the Louisville 7-yard line and settling for a 24-yard field goal by Dave Teggart. But they were able to take advantage of a critical mistake from Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Dwayne Gratz intercepted Bridgewater late in the second quarter, and UConn turned around and got a 5-yard touchdown run from Kashif Moore. Neither team has been particularly good on third down (Louisville has 2 conversions, UConn just 1). UConn has 165 total yards of offense; Louisville has 105 total yards of offense -- just 5 more than Bushell's interception return.
Adrian Bushell got Louisville on the board first with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Then on the Cardinals' only offensive scoring drive, they dominated on the ground and capped the series with a touchdown run by Dominique Brown. UConn does not have a high-powered offense, so overcoming a double-digit deficit is not something the Huskies aren't built to do.
But they slowly started a comeback. They missed an opportunity after getting to the Louisville 7-yard line and settling for a 24-yard field goal by Dave Teggart. But they were able to take advantage of a critical mistake from Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Dwayne Gratz intercepted Bridgewater late in the second quarter, and UConn turned around and got a 5-yard touchdown run from Kashif Moore. Neither team has been particularly good on third down (Louisville has 2 conversions, UConn just 1). UConn has 165 total yards of offense; Louisville has 105 total yards of offense -- just 5 more than Bushell's interception return.
Let us take a look back at Week 5, and a look ahead to Week 6 in the weekend rewind.
The good: Pitt running back Ray Graham had 226 yards rushing in a win over USF, and West Virginia running back Dustin Garrison had 291 yards rushing in a win over Bowling Green. The last time the conference had two 200-yard rushers in the same weekend was Nov. 16, 2006, when Pat White (220) and Steve Slaton (215) did it for West Virginia in a 45-27 win over Pitt. Incredibly enough, Slaton and Rutgers back Ray Rice also hit 200 on the same day that same season. Slaton had 203 against Marshall and Rice had 201 against North Carolina on Sept. 2, 2006. ... Rutgers won a Big East road opener for the second time in school history, taking down Syracuse 19-16 in overtime. ... West Virginia continued to roll on offense, beating Bowling Green 55-10. The Mountaineers scored the last 52 points of the game. ... The Big East has four teams among the top 10 nationally in sacks in 2011. Rutgers is fourth nationally at 3.5 sacks a game, while Cincinnati, Connecticut and USF are tied for 10th with three sacks a game.
The bad: Here we are in October, and there are no undefeated teams left in the Big East for the second straight season. The Big East is the only AQ conference without one, meaning no long-shot national championship odds exist anymore. For a league that had higher expectations this season, that certainly qualifies as a disappointment. Add the Louisville and UConn losses to two non-AQ teams at home and you have a pretty miserable weekend for the Big East. The Cardinals were shut out in the second half of their loss to Marshall and have scored just 17 second-half points all season. They also have serious problems with their run game, getting just 60 total yards. UConn, which was supposed to be led by its defense, had a terrible performance against Western Michigan. The Huskies allowed Alex Carder to throw for 479 yards -- that set a new school record. Meanwhile, Syracuse and Rutgers combined for nine turnovers, five missed field goals and a missed extra point in their Big East opener. ... As for USF, the Bulls dropped to 0-7 in Thursday night games and have lost four straight to Pitt. They allowed the Panthers to run 91 offensive plays -- the most by a Big East team this season.
Stats watch
UConn at West Virginia, noon, Big East Network
Louisville at North Carolina, noon, ESPN2
Pittsburgh at Rutgers, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU
Syracuse at Tulane, 8 p.m., Cox Louisiana
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Vincent Pugliese/US PresswireRay Graham has eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark twice this season.
Vincent Pugliese/US PresswireRay Graham has eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark twice this season.The bad: Here we are in October, and there are no undefeated teams left in the Big East for the second straight season. The Big East is the only AQ conference without one, meaning no long-shot national championship odds exist anymore. For a league that had higher expectations this season, that certainly qualifies as a disappointment. Add the Louisville and UConn losses to two non-AQ teams at home and you have a pretty miserable weekend for the Big East. The Cardinals were shut out in the second half of their loss to Marshall and have scored just 17 second-half points all season. They also have serious problems with their run game, getting just 60 total yards. UConn, which was supposed to be led by its defense, had a terrible performance against Western Michigan. The Huskies allowed Alex Carder to throw for 479 yards -- that set a new school record. Meanwhile, Syracuse and Rutgers combined for nine turnovers, five missed field goals and a missed extra point in their Big East opener. ... As for USF, the Bulls dropped to 0-7 in Thursday night games and have lost four straight to Pitt. They allowed the Panthers to run 91 offensive plays -- the most by a Big East team this season.
Stats watch
- West Virginia cornerback Keith Tandy had two interceptions against Bowling Green, marking his second career two interception game.
- UConn receiver Kashif Moore had eight receptions for a career-high 112 yards and two touchdowns against Western Michigan.
- USF receiver Sterling Griffin had five receptions for a career-high 109 yards against Pittsburgh.
- Cincinnati linebacker JK Schaffer had seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a half sack, a forced fumble and a 17-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Miami (Ohio).
UConn at West Virginia, noon, Big East Network
Louisville at North Carolina, noon, ESPN2
Pittsburgh at Rutgers, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU
Syracuse at Tulane, 8 p.m., Cox Louisiana
Big East media day is almost here, so I thought you would like to see what the league has planned for its annual preseason get together Aug. 2 in Newport, R.I.
The league will produce a live studio show from media day on BIGEAST.tv for the Big East Digital Network. The show is available for free, and will be the first place fans can see the results of the preseason media poll. In addition, the show will feature interviews with players, coaches and other guests.
Fans may submit questions for coaches and players via the conference’s Facebook page and Twitter(#bemediaday) between now and the date of the show.
Now here is the list of players scheduled to attend. Remember, this list is subject to change. I will be there as well, bringing you plenty of news, notes and video interviews.
Cincinnati
Zach Collaros, QB
JK Schaffer, LB
Connecticut
Kendall Reyes, DT
Moe Petrus, OL
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB
Kashif Moore, WR
Louisville
Victor Anderson, RB
Josh Chichester, TE
Chris Philpott, K
Greg Scruggs, DE
Pittsburgh
Jared Holley, DB
Mike Shanahan, WR
Myles Caragein, DL
Rutgers
Joe Martinek, FB
David Rowe, DB
USF
Jeremiah Warren, OL
Quenton Washington, CB
Syracuse
Antwon Bailey, RB
Ryan Nassib, QB
Chandler Jones, DE
Mikhail Marinovich, DE
West Virginia
Bruce Irvin, DE
Geno Smith, QB
Keith Tandy, CB
The league will produce a live studio show from media day on BIGEAST.tv for the Big East Digital Network. The show is available for free, and will be the first place fans can see the results of the preseason media poll. In addition, the show will feature interviews with players, coaches and other guests.
Fans may submit questions for coaches and players via the conference’s Facebook page and Twitter(#bemediaday) between now and the date of the show.
Now here is the list of players scheduled to attend. Remember, this list is subject to change. I will be there as well, bringing you plenty of news, notes and video interviews.
Cincinnati
Zach Collaros, QB
JK Schaffer, LB
Connecticut
Kendall Reyes, DT
Moe Petrus, OL
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB
Kashif Moore, WR
Louisville
Victor Anderson, RB
Josh Chichester, TE
Chris Philpott, K
Greg Scruggs, DE
Pittsburgh
Jared Holley, DB
Mike Shanahan, WR
Myles Caragein, DL
Rutgers
Joe Martinek, FB
David Rowe, DB
USF
Jeremiah Warren, OL
Quenton Washington, CB
Syracuse
Antwon Bailey, RB
Ryan Nassib, QB
Chandler Jones, DE
Mikhail Marinovich, DE
West Virginia
Bruce Irvin, DE
Geno Smith, QB
Keith Tandy, CB
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:
To make these rankings, I considered returning starters, accolades for returning starters, depth and potential.
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AP Photo/Mike CarlsonMark Harrison caught 44 passes for 829 yards and 9 touchdowns last season.
AP Photo/Mike CarlsonMark Harrison caught 44 passes for 829 yards and 9 touchdowns last season.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:
We wrap up our look at Big East title chances for each team with Connecticut. The Huskies made it to a BCS game last season thanks to a solid defense, strong special teams and an offense that was inconsistent at times. Can they repeat the feat with a similar formula in 2011?
Why the Huskies will win the league title:
1. Defense. Nine starters return for UConn, including four of the best in the league in defensive tackle Kendall Reyes, defensive end Jesse Joseph, linebacker Sio Moore and cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson. Reyes and Joseph form one of the top defensive line duos in the entire league and no doubt will be the anchors of a unit that has the potential to be even better than last season. This team knows how to win with good defense.
2. DJ Shoemate. Plenty has been made about the loss of Jordan Todman, who ran for 1,695 yards last season. Losing Todman is no doubt huge, but Shoemate and Lyle McCombs are in line to try to help make up for the loss of such a key player on the team. Three starters on the offensive line return, including first-team left tackle Mike Ryan and second-team center Moe Petrus. So that should help the run game as well.
3. Special teams. It is hard to argue there is a better kicker in the league than Dave Teggart. Not only is he as solid as they come, he thrives in pressure situations. Add in kick returner Nick Williams and punt returner Taylor Mack and you have perhaps the best special-teams unit in the league.
Why the Huskies won't win the league title
1. Who's the quarterback? Huskies fans are probably getting tired of the same question over and over throughout the offseason, but this is the biggest one still remaining for the team. Coach Paul Pasqualoni knows it, and is eager to get this one resolved quickly so his team can begin moving forward with its new leader on offense. It still will be a four-man race between Michael Nebrich, Michael Box, Scott McCummings and Johnny McEntee. UConn survived last season without a solid quarterback, but you would like to have more dynamic play out of this position -- especially since you can bank on teams making whoever emerges beat them with his arm.
2. Receiver questions. In addition to quarterback and running back, the receiver spot also has questions. Leading returning receiver Michael Smith is academically ineligible, leaving UConn thin at this position. Kashif Moore and Isiah Moore return, but there is a definite need to get more depth here. The Huskies were already going to be banking on young players like Geremy Davis and Tebucky Jones Jr. to step up. That need is going to increase now.
3. Linebacker. The biggest question on defense is at linebacker, where the team lost leading tackler Lawrence Wilson and Scott Lutrus, two four-year starters. Moore is more than capable of leading this unit, but several others are going to have to step up to help. Jory Johnson, Jerome Wilson and Mike Osiecki are the main candidates. Let's not forget the possibility of seeing true freshmen Marquise Vann and Jefferson Ashiru here as well.
Previously featured:
Why the Huskies will win the league title:
1. Defense. Nine starters return for UConn, including four of the best in the league in defensive tackle Kendall Reyes, defensive end Jesse Joseph, linebacker Sio Moore and cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson. Reyes and Joseph form one of the top defensive line duos in the entire league and no doubt will be the anchors of a unit that has the potential to be even better than last season. This team knows how to win with good defense.
2. DJ Shoemate. Plenty has been made about the loss of Jordan Todman, who ran for 1,695 yards last season. Losing Todman is no doubt huge, but Shoemate and Lyle McCombs are in line to try to help make up for the loss of such a key player on the team. Three starters on the offensive line return, including first-team left tackle Mike Ryan and second-team center Moe Petrus. So that should help the run game as well.
3. Special teams. It is hard to argue there is a better kicker in the league than Dave Teggart. Not only is he as solid as they come, he thrives in pressure situations. Add in kick returner Nick Williams and punt returner Taylor Mack and you have perhaps the best special-teams unit in the league.
Why the Huskies won't win the league title
1. Who's the quarterback? Huskies fans are probably getting tired of the same question over and over throughout the offseason, but this is the biggest one still remaining for the team. Coach Paul Pasqualoni knows it, and is eager to get this one resolved quickly so his team can begin moving forward with its new leader on offense. It still will be a four-man race between Michael Nebrich, Michael Box, Scott McCummings and Johnny McEntee. UConn survived last season without a solid quarterback, but you would like to have more dynamic play out of this position -- especially since you can bank on teams making whoever emerges beat them with his arm.
2. Receiver questions. In addition to quarterback and running back, the receiver spot also has questions. Leading returning receiver Michael Smith is academically ineligible, leaving UConn thin at this position. Kashif Moore and Isiah Moore return, but there is a definite need to get more depth here. The Huskies were already going to be banking on young players like Geremy Davis and Tebucky Jones Jr. to step up. That need is going to increase now.
3. Linebacker. The biggest question on defense is at linebacker, where the team lost leading tackler Lawrence Wilson and Scott Lutrus, two four-year starters. Moore is more than capable of leading this unit, but several others are going to have to step up to help. Jory Johnson, Jerome Wilson and Mike Osiecki are the main candidates. Let's not forget the possibility of seeing true freshmen Marquise Vann and Jefferson Ashiru here as well.
Previously featured:
2010 overall record: 8-5
2010 conference record: 5-2, T-1st in Big East
Returning starters:
Offense: 6, defense: 9, punter/kicker: 2
Top returners:
DE Jesse Joseph, DL Kendall Reyes, LB Sio Moore, CB Blidi-Wreh Wilson, C Moe Petrus, OT Mike Ryan, WR Kashif Moore
Key losses:
RB Jordan Todman, LB Lawrence Wilson, LB Scott Lutrus, QB Zach Frazer
2010 statistical leaders (* returners)
Rushing: Jordan Todman (1,695 yards)
Passing: Zach Frazer (1,425 yards)
Receiving: Michael Smith* (615 yards)
Tackles: Lawrence Wilson (123 tackles)
Sacks: Jesse Joseph* (8.5 sacks)
Interceptions: Blidi Wreh-Wilson* and Jerome Junior* (4 interceptions)
Spring answers
1. Defensive line strength: You could make the argument that this will be the best defensive line the Huskies have ever had. Every key contributor is back, including Jesse Joseph and Kendall Reyes, who were playing as well as any defensive lineman down the stretch of last year's Fiesta Bowl season. Marcus Campbell should return from suspension and injury to add some more speed off the edge. UConn is deep, experienced and athletic in the trenches on defense, and that usually portends good things.
2. Solid across the back: Another position that returns every important piece is the secondary. Blidi Wreh-Wilson has developed into one of the premier cornerbacks in the Big East, and Jerome Junior has come on at safety. The group matured as last season went on and played very well this spring. Given its experience up front and in the back, there's no wonder this defense dominated the offense for large portions of the spring.
3. Special on special teams: No Big East team has fewer questions on special teams than the defending champs. UConn returns all-league kicker and end-of-season hero Dave Teggart as well as punter Chad Christen. Nick Williams led the country in kickoff return average a year ago. About the only issue is replacing long-snapper Derek Chard.
Fall questions
1. Who's under center: The four-man battle for the starting quarterback job didn't really clear itself up this spring. Each candidate had ugly numbers in the spring game and some of the scrimmages. Only Michael Box has ever started a game, and it was a forgettable 26-0 loss at Louisville last season. Scott McCummings and Michael Nebrich have talent, and Johnny McEntee showed off his accuracy in an offseason trick-shot viral video. New coach Paul Pasqualoni will keep the competition going this fall in hopes that someone grabs it by the horns.
2. Heir to Jordan: Will UConn keep its strong running back tradition alive? The position had little depth this spring after 2010 Big East Offensive Player of the Year Jordan Todman declared early for the NFL draft. USC transfer D.J. Shoemate got most of the first-string reps and had a decent spring, and freshman Lyle McCombs returned from suspension midway through the spring to show some potential. Neither appears to have all the tools that Todman or Donald Brown had, however, and the coaching staff will give some incoming freshmen a look at the spot this August. With a low-wattage passing game, UConn will need to be strong on the ground again.
3. Linebacker replacements: Connecticut lost a pair of four-year starters at linebacker in Lawrence Wilson and Scott Lutrus. Luckily, Sio Moore emerged as a force at the position last year with a 100-plus-tackle campaign, and he'll be the leader of the group. The other two spots are still undetermined. Jerome Williams, Mike Osiecki and Jory Johnson got heavy reps there this spring, and UConn played around with some different formations. The defense should be the overall strength of the team, but there are still big shoes to fill here.
2010 conference record: 5-2, T-1st in Big East
Returning starters:
Offense: 6, defense: 9, punter/kicker: 2
Top returners:
DE Jesse Joseph, DL Kendall Reyes, LB Sio Moore, CB Blidi-Wreh Wilson, C Moe Petrus, OT Mike Ryan, WR Kashif Moore
Key losses:
RB Jordan Todman, LB Lawrence Wilson, LB Scott Lutrus, QB Zach Frazer
2010 statistical leaders (* returners)
Rushing: Jordan Todman (1,695 yards)
Passing: Zach Frazer (1,425 yards)
Receiving: Michael Smith* (615 yards)
Tackles: Lawrence Wilson (123 tackles)
Sacks: Jesse Joseph* (8.5 sacks)
Interceptions: Blidi Wreh-Wilson* and Jerome Junior* (4 interceptions)
Spring answers
1. Defensive line strength: You could make the argument that this will be the best defensive line the Huskies have ever had. Every key contributor is back, including Jesse Joseph and Kendall Reyes, who were playing as well as any defensive lineman down the stretch of last year's Fiesta Bowl season. Marcus Campbell should return from suspension and injury to add some more speed off the edge. UConn is deep, experienced and athletic in the trenches on defense, and that usually portends good things.
2. Solid across the back: Another position that returns every important piece is the secondary. Blidi Wreh-Wilson has developed into one of the premier cornerbacks in the Big East, and Jerome Junior has come on at safety. The group matured as last season went on and played very well this spring. Given its experience up front and in the back, there's no wonder this defense dominated the offense for large portions of the spring.
3. Special on special teams: No Big East team has fewer questions on special teams than the defending champs. UConn returns all-league kicker and end-of-season hero Dave Teggart as well as punter Chad Christen. Nick Williams led the country in kickoff return average a year ago. About the only issue is replacing long-snapper Derek Chard.
Fall questions
1. Who's under center: The four-man battle for the starting quarterback job didn't really clear itself up this spring. Each candidate had ugly numbers in the spring game and some of the scrimmages. Only Michael Box has ever started a game, and it was a forgettable 26-0 loss at Louisville last season. Scott McCummings and Michael Nebrich have talent, and Johnny McEntee showed off his accuracy in an offseason trick-shot viral video. New coach Paul Pasqualoni will keep the competition going this fall in hopes that someone grabs it by the horns.
2. Heir to Jordan: Will UConn keep its strong running back tradition alive? The position had little depth this spring after 2010 Big East Offensive Player of the Year Jordan Todman declared early for the NFL draft. USC transfer D.J. Shoemate got most of the first-string reps and had a decent spring, and freshman Lyle McCombs returned from suspension midway through the spring to show some potential. Neither appears to have all the tools that Todman or Donald Brown had, however, and the coaching staff will give some incoming freshmen a look at the spot this August. With a low-wattage passing game, UConn will need to be strong on the ground again.
3. Linebacker replacements: Connecticut lost a pair of four-year starters at linebacker in Lawrence Wilson and Scott Lutrus. Luckily, Sio Moore emerged as a force at the position last year with a 100-plus-tackle campaign, and he'll be the leader of the group. The other two spots are still undetermined. Jerome Williams, Mike Osiecki and Jory Johnson got heavy reps there this spring, and UConn played around with some different formations. The defense should be the overall strength of the team, but there are still big shoes to fill here.
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.
