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With the season coming into view, let's take a look at what we learned in the Big East this spring.

1. Running backs have to prove themselves. Isaiah Pead is gone. Antwon Bailey is gone. Ray Graham is coming off a serious knee injury. There are some major question marks at virtually every Big East school at this position headed into the fall. Chief among them -- how does Graham do a year removed from ACL surgery? How do Cincinnati, Syracuse and Louisville spread the ball to their various running backs? How does Temple replace the production of Bernard Pierce? Does Savon Huggins improve on his injury-shortened freshman season at Rutgers? How is Lindsey Lamar used in the backfield at USF? Can Lyle McCombs repeat as a 1,000-yard rusher for UConn?

2. Next sack leader? The Big East generally has some of the top leaders in sacks in the country. Last year, it was Trevardo Williams and Aaron Donald who emerged to finish in the Top 10. The year before, it was first-year Big East player Bruce Irvin. So who is the next Big East player to lead the charge? USF defensive end Ryne Giddins, Cincinnati defensive end Walter Stewart and UConn tackle Ryan Wirth all had terrific springs so keep those names in mind as the season begins.

3. Earth to offense. We had an inkling that the Big East defenses would be way ahead of the offenses this spring, and that all came to fruition once the spring games were played. Defenses essentially dominated at nearly every school. Syracuse did not score a point on offense; UConn had two total offensive touchdowns; USF quarterback B.J. Daniels went 9-of-26 for 88 yards in the Bulls' spring game; Chris Coyer and his receivers struggled in the Temple spring game; and the Pitt passing game was just so-so in its final scrimmage. While it is true defenses are usually ahead of the offenses in the early going of practices, it is obvious most every offensive unit needs to get much better this offseason.

4. Bridgewater: Rising star. It was apparent that Louisville had a special player in Teddy Bridgewater last season. But worries about a potential "sophomore slump" have been temporarily put to rest after the spring he had. Bridgewater was stellar in the spring game, going 19-of-21 for 257 yards and three touchdowns. Afterward, offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said that Bridgewater completed about 70 percent of his passes in the spring. "I know he's been lights out," Watson said. "He's really played very well. I challenged him with the things he needed to get better with and use all the tools he has available to him. As a young player, he didn't quite get it. Now he's getting it. You're seeing a lot more completions now. He's worked hard. He's doing a lot of good things with his eyes and playing well."

5. Athletes (almost) everywhere. One trend to watch is the conversion of quarterbacks to running backs/receivers. Cincinnati moved Jordan Luallen to receiver, and he is expected to see time as a Wildcat quarterback as well. Ashton Broyld has been moved to running back, though he also played receiver in the spring game. Louisville converted quarterback Dominique Brown to running back last fall, and he is in contention to win the starting job. Temple running back Jalen Fitzpatrick was recruited as a quarterback out of high school. Those four players have the potential to be huge assets to their team. There were a few other notable position switches as well -- Lindsey Lamar is now at running back at USF; and Jeremy Deering is now a receiver at Rutgers.

2011 overall record: 5-7
2011 conference record: 1-6 (T-7)
Returning starters: Offense: 8; defense: 7; kicker/punter: 3

Top returners
QB B.J. Daniels, RB Demetris Murray, WR Sterling Griffin, WR Andre Davis, LB DeDe Lattimore, LB Sam Barrington, DE Ryne Giddins, DT Cory Grissom

Key losses
C Chaz Hine, OG Jeremiah Warren, RB Darrell Scott, DE Patrick Hampton, DT Keith McCaskill, S Jerrell Young, CB Quenton Washington

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Darrell Scott (814 yards)
Passing: B.J. Daniels* (215-of-365 for 2,585 yards, 13 TDs, 7 INTs)
Receiving: Sterling Griffin* (530 yards)
Tackles: DeDe Lattimore* (94)
Sacks: Lattimore* (7)
Interceptions: Jerrell Young, Kayvon Webster*, JaQuez Jenkins* (two each)

Spring answers

1. Offensive line: The Bulls went into the spring with question marks at center and guard, thanks to the departures of two of the most consistent players up front last season, Chaz Hine and Jeremiah Warren. It appears Austin Reiter has the edge at center, while Damien Edwards did really well at left guard. He and Lawrence Martin will compete at right guard when Danous Estenor returns from injury to his left guard spot.

2. Cornerback: The Bulls have plenty of returning starters, but one of the biggest holes to fill was at cornerback with the departure of Quenton Washington. Junior college transfer Fidel Montgomery stepped right in and showed why he deserved to win the starting job, making plays for most of the spring.

3. Andre Davis emerges: We all saw glimpses of how good Andre Davis could be last season, when he played extensively as a true freshman because of injuries at the position. He got even better this spring and is currently listed as the starter ahead of Sterling Griffin, who led the team in receiving yards last season. Davis is the type of player who can stretch the field -- and clearly B.J. Daniels has much more confidence in him now that he is a year older.

Fall questions

1. Cory Grissom's return. Grissom broke his ankle toward the end of spring practice, and coach Skip Holtz is hopeful that his big tackle will be back in time for the start of the season. But as of right now, there is no real set timetable for his return -- it just a matter of how well he heals. Without him, USF is not as deep at the position as it would want. But there is some talent there in Elkino Watson, Luke Sager and Todd Chandler.

2. Safety. This is a pretty deep position for the Bulls, who are hoping for improved play out of this position. Starter Jon Lejiste was out for the spring, but Mark Joyce and JaQuez Jenkins did really well in his absence. Lejiste is going to have a fight on his hands when he returns, but no doubt the Bulls are happy about having some competition here going into the spring.

3. Using Lindsey Lamar. While Murray is the starter at running back, Lamar was moved to the position in the spring and coaches were happy with how he came along. Now the big question is how can Lamar provide some of the big plays out of the backfield the Bulls are going to need to complement the bigger Murray.

Three more teams play spring games Saturday. Here is a quick preview of each:

UConn. You can bet all eyes are going to be on the quarterback position, where five players are still competing for the starting job. Junior college transfer Chandler Whitmer, true freshman Casey Cochran, 2011 starter Johnny McEntee, Scott McCummings and Michael Nebrich are all still in the mix, and coach Paul Pasqualoni has yet to indicate the direction he is leaning. This competition could very well stretch into the fall, the way it did last season. On the running back front, the Huskies got some tough news this week when they learned D.J. Shoemate's career was over because of a shoulder injury. That is obviously a tough blow, because hopes were high for the USC transfer. But Max DeLorenzo has had a terrific spring, so watch out for him as a player who can really provide a nice complement to Lyle McCombs.

USF. The Bulls got some tough news this week as well when starting defensive tackle Cory Grissom broke a bone in his ankle. You can bet the inside rotation is going to be something the Bulls will work on in the spring game as they try to get a handle on how to replace Grissom, who should be out for an extended period this season. Luke Sager, Elkino Watson and Todd Chandler form the trio of players who will be relied upon to help out. B.J. Daniels has had a good spring, but a big key is going to be the way he develops chemistry and rhythm with his receivers. USF has got tons of talent, but now they have to put it together and mesh with their starting quarterback. Lindsey Lamar has gotten good reviews since his move to tailback, but what type of role does he have for the season? Secondary is another area where USF hopes to improve -- junior college cornerback Fidel Montgomery has had an outstanding spring.

Syracuse. There has not been much news out of Syracuse this spring because coach Doug Marrone decided to shut down access to coaches and players so they can focus on getting themselves better. There was one open practice in Rochester that did not reveal much. The scrimmage gives fans in Syracuse an opportunity at their only glimpse of the team before the fall. Several reports out of Syracuse indicate that multi-threat quarterback Ashton Broyld could have a bigger role in the offense this season. There are several burning questions for this team, including who is going to emerge at running back, how Marcus Sales fits back into the team, and what the defensive front is going to look like after so many departures.

Nearly every Big East team practiced this past weekend. Here are a few notes from each:

UConn: The Huskies had their first practice in pads Saturday, but did not scrimmage; that is planned for this upcoming Saturday. Early reports indicate that both Casey Cochran and Chandler Whitmer have looked good at quarterback. Coach Paul Pasqualoni also commented on the dismissal of backup cornerback Tevrin Brandon.

Louisville: The Cardinals also held their first practice in pads Saturday. One player who already is standing out is redshirt freshman running back Corvin Lamb. Running back Dominique Brown has added 10 pounds and looks much more physical.

Pitt: The Panthers scrimmaged Saturday, and running back Isaac Bennett delivered the highlight -- a 70-yard touchdown run. Bennett has had a nice spring camp, building off the momentum from the end of last season. Bennett will be relied upon to be a contributor this season with Ray Graham coming off a knee injury. Sophomore transfer Ray Vinopal forced a fumble, which Lloyd Carrington returned 60 yards for a score. The Panthers also practiced Sunday and got a visit from former West Virginia coach Bill Stewart.

USF: Coach Skip Holtz told reporters after the first day in pads Saturday that Lindsey Lamar had moved back to running back to help shore up depth at that position. Holtz also talked about the emerging leadership on the team after a few days of practice.

Syracuse: The Orange began practice last week, but practices have been closed until further notice.

Temple: The Owls have already completed seven practices and held their second scrimmage Saturday. There have been a few standouts, but best of all, no major injuries of note. Temple will hold its Cherry and White Spring Game at Lincoln Financial Field, a first for the school. The practice facility -- where the game is usually played -- is currently undergoing a $10 million expansion.

We have come to the final group in the 2011 postseason position rankings: special teams. This one is all encompassing -- kickers, punters, returners, and team coverage -- which has made it quite the task to evaluate as one group. Some teams had returns that excelled and kickers that were so-so. Some had great kickers but a so-so return game.

I tried to give equal weight to all parts. In the end, I took the rankings in several special-teams categories and used an average ranking to help determine these. Special weight was given to game-changing plays as well.

1. Cincinnati. The Bearcats ranked in the top two in four of the five statistical categories I used to evaluate special teams as a whole. The only area lacking was field goals, but I thought overall Tony Miliano had a decent year for a true freshman, even considering his missed kick against West Virginia. Ralph David Abernathy IV emerged as a dynamite kickoff man, and Pat O'Donnell was the best punter in the Big East again. Kickoff coverage was solid as well. Preseason ranking: 5.

2. UConn. Nick Williams averaged just 5.6 yards a return on punts. He was not particularly dynamic on kickoff returns, either, ranking No. 4 in the Big East after going into the season as one of the top returners in the league. UConn was one of two Big East teams without a kickoff return for a touchdown. But still, the Huskies were solid in every other category. Dave Teggart once again was the Big East first-team kicker, and Cole Wagner averaged 41.1 yards a punt. Preseason ranking: 1.

3. West Virginia. Tavon Austin was hands down the best returner in the Big East this season, and one of the best in the nation. But since this is an evaluation of special teams as a whole, everything is taken into account. West Virginia had the worst punting situation in the Big East, and ranked last in kickoff coverage. There were several critical blocked field goals as well. Special teams absolutely improved as the year went on, and some players made big plays -- Eain Smith comes to mind. But Austin alone wasn't enough to elevate the group higher. Preseason ranking: 7.

4. Rutgers. Once again, the Scarlet Knights were highly effective at blocking kicks -- a staple under coach Greg Schiano. Jeremy Deering was solid in the kickoff return game as well. But San San Te had the worst field goal percentage in the Big East (64.5 percent), and kickoff coverage ranked No. 7 in the conference. Rutgers only had an opportunity to return 16 punts last season, averaging about 6 yards a return. Preseason ranking: 6.

5. Pitt. The Panthers lost their punter and field goal kicker from a year ago and did perhaps better than expected in special teams overall. Punter Matt Yoklic was second in the league in punts, though Kevin Harper did struggle at times with his field goals. Losing Cameron Saddler really hurt the punt return game as well. Preseason ranking: 8.

6. Syracuse. Ross Krautman led the Big East in field goal percentage (78.9) but he only had 19 attempts on the season, second fewest in the Big East. Punt returns were essentially nonexistent -- with only 12 attempts for an average of 3.1 yards a return. Jeremiah Kobena was a nice addition at kickoff returner, but the Orange still ranked No. 6 in the Big East in that category and kickoff return coverage as well. Preseason ranking: 4.

7. Louisville. Chris Philpott had a disappointing season, ranking No. 7 in the league in field goal percentage (66.7). He and Josh Bleser averaged 37.3 yards a punt. Punt returning ranked No. 7 in the Big East as well, and aside from Adrian Bushell's 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, that category was just average for the Cardinals. Preseason ranking: 3.

8. USF. I think the Bulls were the biggest disappointment in this category. Lindsey Lamar, who was the first-team Big East selection at returner last year, had zero this year and ranked No. 9 in the league in kickoff return average. His average was down some six yards from last season. When Terrence Mitchell got hurt and missed the second half of the season, no one was dynamic at punt returner, either. Maikon Bonani ranked No. 3 in field goal percentage but fairly or not is going to be remembered for missing a field goal that would have beaten Rutgers, and eventually gotten the Bulls bowl eligible. Preseason ranking: 2.

Here are the Big East players of the week, as selected by the conference:

Offense: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers. Sanu set league and school records with 16 receptions in the Scarlet Knights’ 38-26 win over Ohio, shattering the previous mark of 13 catches set in 1993 and held by six players. He finished with career highs of 176 receiving yards and two touchdown catches in the win, giving him 29 receptions in the last two games. Sanu ranks as the national leader in receptions (12.0 per game) and is eighth nationally in receiving yards (121.0 ypg).

Defense: JK Schaffer, LB, Cincinnati. Schaffer had a team-high nine tackles with an interception in a 44-14 win against NC State. Schaffer’s 16-yard interception return set up a Cincinnati scoring drive and helped the Bearcats take an early 21-0 lead against the Wolfpack. Schaffer is the league leader in passes defended (six).

Special teams: Pat O’Donnell, P, Cincinnati. O’Donnell was helped establish field position in a 44-14 win over NC State as he averaged 59.7 yards on three punts, pinning the Wolfpack inside the 20-yard line twice.

Weekly Honor Roll

Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati. Rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries and had three receptions for 24 yards and a TD in a 44-14 win over NC State.

B.J. Daniels, QB, USF. Completed 15 of 24 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 130 yards and a TD on 15 carries in a 52-24 win against UTEP.

Lindsey Lamar, WR, USF. Had 215 all-purpose yards and two touchdown receptions in a 52-24 win against UTEP. Had four receptions for 85 yards and had 94 kickoff return yards on five attempts.

Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse. Completed 16 of 24 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-30 overtime win against Toledo.

Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia. Completed 38 of 65 passes for 463 yards (all school records) and two touchdowns in a 47-21 loss to No. 2 LSU.

Greetings from South Bend, Ind., where the weather is warm and the living is fantastic! Here are my three things to watch for USF headed into its game against No. 16 Notre Dame.

1. USF offensive line. The Bulls have three new starters, and also have moved guard Chaz Hine to center. I will be watching to see how the center-quarterback exchange goes, especially with the loud crowd noise early on. Hine has plenty of starting experience, but has never started a game at center so this one should be something for Bulls fans to watch. Redshirt freshman Quinterrius Eatmon is starting at right tackle in his fist career start there as well.

2. B.J. Daniels. Much has been made about wanting to see more consistency out of Daniels now that he is going into his third year as a starter. That is a must. But watch for him to run more this season. Perhaps USF will have some designed runs for him in this game to keep the defense honest. Offensive coordinator Todd Fitch said earlier this offseason that he wants to get Daniels more involved in the run game because they have to take advantage of his athleticism. He was limited there last season as he learned a new offense, so he could be turned loose to do more this season.

3. Speedsters. USF has plenty of speedy players on its roster. There will be more of an effort to get fast guys like Terrence Mitchell and Lindsey Lamar more involved, either out of the backfield or in the receiving game. But Notre Dame keeps the field long, so the grass could slow these players down and potentially neutralize them. So keep an eye on whether the Bulls can play as fast as they want.

Every Big East team has wrapped up fall camp. So where does USF stand headed into the season? Here are a few lingering questions:

1. Revamped linebackers. The Bulls made a switch among their linebackers, moving Sam Barrington from the middle to the strong side, and promoting Mike Lanaris to the starter in the middle. DeDe Lattimore will start on the weak side. That gives USF its most experienced trio of linebacker starters, something that should most certainly help a revamped defensive line. If everybody stays healthy, this linebacker group could be the best in the league.

2. Offensive line. One of the biggest questions on offense has been getting three new starters on the offensive line ready to go. The Bulls did shift right guard Chaz Hine to center, making way for Danous Estenor to take over at right guard. Jeremiah Warren remains at left guard, with Quinterrius Eatmon and Mark Popek at the tackle spots. The backup offensive line has taken shape as well. The big test, of course, is opening on the road against Notre Dame. We will see how this unit handles the pressure.

3. Receivers. There is plenty of talent at receiver, but who is going to do what where? It seems as if the possibilities are endless with the crew the Bulls have coming back. Offensive coordinator Todd Fitch said Lindsey Lamar, Victor Marc and Joel Miller all have a chance to play slotback and tailback. Terrence Mitchell is going to be used more at receiver. Sterling Griffin has had a nice camp as he recovered from ankle surgery. True freshmen Andre Davis and Ruben Gonzalez also should play, giving USF plenty of options.

Here is your Big East preseason all-conference team:

Offense

QB Geno Smith, West Virginia
RB Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati
RB Ray Graham, Pitt
OG Jeremiah Warren, USF
OG Zack Chibane, Syracuse
C Moe Petrus, UConn
OT Mike Ryan, UConn
OT Don Barclay, West Virginia
TE Ryan Griffin, UConn
WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia
WR Mark Harrison, Rutgers

Defense

DE Brandon Lindsey, Pitt
DE Bruce Irvin, West Virginia
DT Kendall Reyes, UConn
DT Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati
LB JK Schaffer, Cincinnati
LB Sio Moore, UConn
LB Max Gruder, Pitt
CB Keith Tandy, West Virginia
CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson, UConn
S Hakeem Smith, Louisville
S Jarred Holley, Pitt

Special teams

K Dave Teggart, UConn
P Pat O'Donnell, Cincinnati
RS Lindsey Lamar, USF

Welcome to your Friday edition of the Big East mailbag. Hope everyone has a terrific weekend.

Ritchie T. in Mims, Fla., writes: How can USF win anything since you don't even have one WR ranked in the top 10 ? How bad must they be that out of eight teams, you don't find one guy that could make the list? Unless their defense can shut everyone out, other teams will put eight in the box and shut them down.

Andrea Adelson: Look at the USF receivers and tell me who deserves to be in the top 10. Try to be unbiased when you do so. There are so many question marks. I thought about putting Sterling Griffin in there but he is totally unproven. A.J. Love? You could make a case but he is coming off an ACL injury. Lindsey Lamar? Known more for special teams at this point. I think this is the biggest question mark on the offense, and my rankings reflect that. As for your contention that USF has "nobody" on offense, I did have B.J. Daniels ranked No. 4 -- pretty high for a player who has been as inconsistent as he has been. So that means I expect him to be able to elevate a receiving corps that needs to be elevated.

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Dave in Connecticut writes: If they want to peel back the curtain of amateurism with pay-for-play, then do so completely and remove the university from the equation all together. If athletes are no longer amateurs, then they should not be left under the guise of university control. Most -- if not all -- schools have athletic foundations today; so, just franchise these as for-profit businesses. Boosters and donors would become shareholders; they would own and run the athletics department. Each foundation would still be affiliated with only one school and only "hire" students from that school for their teams. The foundations could pay the tuition, room, board, etc. for their employees -- or just pay them outright as a job. From the university's perspective, these student-athletes would be just like any other student with a job paying for and attending classes.

Adelson writes: Dave, how exactly would this make everything better? First of all, I am not sure that these athletic foundations would have the money to be able to pay out what it costs for scholarships, and then also help the athletic departments in the way that they do. Not every foundation is rolling in cash. I still am hoping in the whole "amateur" enterprise, even though college sports is bigger business today than ever. You would just be talking about athletes for hire -- and I still think there would be some players looking for ways to put even more dollars in their pockets no matter whether they are paid from a foundation or not.

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Drew in Cincinnati writes: Andrea, great job on the blog. However, you are correct that Cincinnati Bearcat fans would be questioning your placement of Geno Smith over Zach Collaros in the QB rankings. Much of your argument lies in the "potential" that Geno Smith might have with Coach (Dana) Holgorsen. However, I think that argument might be a little thin, as "potential" is extremely subjective. For example, if we used "potential", Travis Kelce might have the "potential" to be the best tight end in the Big East...etc., etc. Instead, with these two, there appears to be a proven and immediate track record that should have Collaros as No. 1 in the ranking. Shouldn't we rely more on the stats at hand?

Adelson writes: Thanks, Drew. I did look at stats, as I mentioned in the write-up in the quarterback rankings. Zach Collaros had a league-high 14 interceptions last season, and his completion percentage was less than 60 percent. He threw for two more touchdowns and 139 more yards than Smith last season. Now tell me, do those stats jump out at you and say Collaros should be the overwhelming favorite as the No. 1 quarterback? You are right, I do mention "potential" a lot in these rankings. But once again, we can take a look at the stats of the quarterbacks who have played under Holgorsen and project out a better season for Smith.

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UConnJ in Westbrook, Conn., writes: Re: naming "athletic dorms" for paying customers- the issue is that some schools actually have the jocks mingle with the rest of the student body. UConn does this; I'm from Ann Arbor and this was always one of the (many) bones of contention between UM and OSU (guess which does which).

Adelson writes: Does it matter who lives in the dorm as long as somebody wants to pony up and put a name on it?

We wrap up our look at team position rankings with special teams. There are plenty of strong kickers and returners in the league. I did not separate them, though, because those would be more like individual rankings. Those are coming soon.

1. Connecticut. The Huskies have one of the best kickers in the league in Dave Teggart and one of the best kickoff returners in the league in Nick Williams putting them in the top spot here. Williams led the NCAA in kickoff return average last season with 35.3 yards per kick. Teggart was the Big East first-team selection, making 25 of 31 field goals. They should be better this year, even with the loss of Robbie Frey.

2. USF. The Bulls also have an excellent kicker-returner duo in Maikon Bonani and Lindsey Lamar. Bonani made 17 of 21 kicks last year, while Lamar was the first-team All-Big East selection, returning two kickoffs for touchdowns and averaging 26 yards per return. Add in punt returner Terrence Mitchell and this is one of the best units in the league.

3. Louisville. The Cardinals have one of the best in the league in Chris Philpott, who punts and kicks. Josh Bleser is solid in splitting the punting duties with Philpott. Victor Anderson and Jeremy Wright are back as kickoff returners -- both averaged 30-plus yards per return last season. Wright's kick return helped the Cardinals win the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl last year. Doug Beaumont is gone as punt returner, but he is the only loss. This unit has a chance to be No. 1 at year's end.

4. Syracuse. The Orange have one of the best kickers in the league in Ross Krautman, who missed just one of his 19 field goal attempts last season. They do lose their top punt returner in Mike Holmes, along with punter Rob Long so there are questions at some of the most important spots on special teams. But Krautman, and the return of Dorian Graham and Prince-Tyson Gulley returning kicks puts this unit just ahead of the Bearcats.

5. Cincinnati. This is a mixed bag for the Bearcats. They have the best punter in the league in Pat O'Donnell, who also happens to be a physical freak in the weight room. They should be decent in the return game with the return of D.J. Woods, who will compete with Anthony McClung, Shaq Washington and Kenbrell Thompkins to return kicks and punts. Darrin Williams is in the mix for kickoff returner, too. But kicker is a huge question mark. Jacob Rogers was solid last season. Now there is uncertainty in the competition between Tony Miliano and Danny Milligan. Coach Butch Jones says he won't name a starter until game week.

6. Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights also have question marks here. Kicker San San Te returns, but he needs to be better from longer distances (2-of-7 from 40-plus yards). Punter Teddy Dellaganna is gone and so is kickoff returner Joe Lefeged. True freshman Anthony DiPaula enrolled early and takes over at punter. Mason Robinson is back at punt returner, and Jeremy Deering and Mark Harrison make a good combo returning kicks.

7. West Virginia. The Mountaineers need more consistency from kicker Tyler Bitancurt, who missed his final four kicks of last season. He made just 10 of 17 attempts and looked shaky in the spring. West Virginia has a new holder and a new punter in Corey Smith, and hopes for improvement in the return game.

8. Pittsburgh. The Panthers have to replace both kicking specialists, including Big East first-team punter Dan Hutchins. At punter, you have walk-ons Matt Yoklic and Drake Greer, neither of whom has punted in a collegiate game. Kevin Harper takes over as kicker and had a good spring game. The Panthers also replace their long-snapper, so there will be a period of adjustment for this unit when the season starts. Cameron Saddler is a bright spot at returner.

Previous rankings

• Offensive line
• Receiver
• Running back
• Tight end
• Quarterback
• Defensive line
• Linebacker
• Safety
• Cornerback

We continue our team position rankings today with receiver. This is an area of great potential for plenty of teams around the league, especially with some of the high-octane offenses that we are going to see. Only three teams return their leading receiver from last season. The overriding theme seems to be this: there is a lot of talent, but much of it is unproven. So how are these receivers going to step up?

To make these rankings, I considered returning starters, accolades for returning starters, depth and potential.

1. Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights have proven talent and depth at this position, putting them at the top spot in these rankings. When healthy, Mark Harrison and Mohamed Sanu form one of the top 1-2 punches in the entire league. Add in Brandon Coleman, who had an outstanding spring, along with Tim Wright returning from injury and the top four looks as solid as it gets. Let's not forget incoming speedsters Miles Shuler and Tejay Johnson, who have the potential to play as well.

2. West Virginia. The Mountaineers have Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and a whole bunch of questions at the position. But with the new offense Dana Holgorsen is bringing in, other receivers have a chance to be more effective. Austin is about as close as you can come to a surefire first-team All-Big East player. Ryan Nehlen had a nice spring and could be the surprise of the season. So could Tyler Urban, a converted tight end. How will Brad Starks do after shoulder surgery? Will Ivan McCartney live up to his potential? There is talent here and great potential if everybody lives up to expectations.

3. Cincinnati. The Bearcats are stocked with talent, but many of these skill players have got to gain experience and fast with Armon Binns, Marcus Barnett, Vidal Hazelton and Ben Guidugli gone. D.J. Woods is expected to be a first-team All-Big East selection. But beyond he and Anthony McClung, you have got young guys -- junior college transfers Kenbrell Thompkins and Damon Julian, redshirt freshman Dyjuan Lewis, freshmen Shaq Washington, Chris Moore, Alex Chisum and Max Morrison. Thompkins showed great promise in the spring.

4. Pittsburgh. The Panthers lose their leading receiver in Jon Baldwin, but the duo of Mike Shanahan and Devin Street could each be 1,000-yard receivers. Behind them, though, there are some questions and inexperience. Junior Cameron Saddler is going to have to step up. Redshirt freshmen Salath Williams, Drew Carswell, junior college transfer Josh Brinson and true freshman Justin Jackson are all young but have a chance to be big contributors. Pitt also is waiting to hear whether UNC transfer Brendon Felder will have his petition for immediate eligibility granted.

5. Syracuse. The Orange have plenty of solid returning receivers in Van Chew, Marcus Sales and Alec Lemon but what this team is really lacking is big-play potential. In five games last season, Syracuse failed to complete a pass that went longer than 30 yards. In fact, Ryan Nassib averaged 6.5 yards per pass attempt. A healthy Jarrod West could help those numbers improve. Dorian Graham has to work on his hands, too.

6. USF. The Bulls lose leading receiver Dontavia Bogan, but they return injured players Sterling Griffin and A.J. Love to the mix, which is going to be huge. Lindsey Lamar and Evan Landi also return, along with Terrence Mitchell, Joel Miller and Faron Hornes. Deonte Welch had a nice spring game and is listed as a backup behind Landi. True freshman Andre Davis has the potential to contribute as well. The Bulls have plenty of depth here but there are still some questions about this group, especially with Griffin and Love coming off injuries.

7. Louisville. The Cardinals lose their top two receivers, and have got to figure out a way to make big plays and stretch the field with a young group. Josh Bellamy appears to be the go-to man headed into 2011, and much is going to be expected of Andrell Smith and Michaelee Harris. Both are coming off injuries and were unable to practice in the spring. True freshmen are most likely going to be relied upon, giving Eli Rogers and DeVante Parker and opportunity to play.

8. Connecticut. A playmaker has got to emerge from this group to help out whoever is going to be playing quarterback. The Huskies lost leading receiver Mike Smith because of academics. Kashif Moore, Ryan Griffin and Isiah Moore return but UConn is going to need some of its redshirt freshmen like Geremy Davis and Tebucky Jones Jr. to step up. The Huskies are not preparing to run the spread, so the potential for a 1,000-yard receiver in this group is low.

Previous rankings:

• Offensive line

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

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

Cincinnati

Spring practice starts: March 29
Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

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

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

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

Connecticut

Spring practice starts: March 15
Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

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

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

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

Louisville

Spring practice starts: March 23
Spring game: April 15

What to watch:

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

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

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

Pittsburgh

Spring practice starts: March 15
Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

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

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

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

Rutgers

Spring practice starts: March 29
Spring game: April 30

What to watch:

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

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

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

South Florida

Spring practice starts: March 3
Spring game: April 2

What to watch:

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

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

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

Syracuse

Spring practice starts: March 8
Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

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

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

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

West Virginia

Spring practice starts: March 28
Spring game: April 29

What to watch:

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

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

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

I put South Florida atop my way-too-early 2011 Big East power rankings this month. Do the Bulls deserve such hype? Let's examine some of the factors that determine how much offseason buzz USF should garner.

2010 finish: The Bulls won five of their last seven games, including solid wins against Miami and Clemson away from home. That's the kind of finish that gets people talking about a program heading into the following season.

Coaching: It's often a good bet that teams will improve in their second year under a new coach, as they become fully familiar with the new system. Skip Holtz has won everywhere he's been, and his staff has not suffered any defections in the offseason. Given that he came in under difficult circumstances last January and installed a different type of offense, there's every reason to suspect progress in Year 2.

Schedule: South Florida has only one road nonconference game, though it's a doozy. The Bulls open the season at Notre Dame, a team that will draw some considerable offseason buzz for many of the same reasons. A win there would put the program in the spotlight. The next three out-of-league games at home against Ball State, Florida A&M and UTEP shouldn't pose too many threats. A Nov. 26 home date against Miami will be interesting as the Hurricanes will be looking for revenge and playing under a first-year coach. All in all, it's a manageable schedule with a couple of opportunities for marquee wins.

The drawback is that USF has four away games in Big East play and only three at home in 2011.

Returning players: The Bulls return just 10 starters (four on offense, six on defense) from their Meineke Car Care Bowl lineup, which is a small number for a buzz team. But while many seniors leave, the team still has a lot of returning players who saw valuable time.

The Bulls will have to replace three starting offensive linemen and three of the four starting defensive linemen, along with their leading rusher and receiver and top defensive back (Mistral Raymond). But they were deep on defense and have ready-made replacements up front with guys like Ryne Giddins, Julius Forte and Patrick Hampton. Finding someone to take over Terrell McClain's run-stuffing role might be the most difficult task.

Dontavia Bogan is gone, but A.J. Love and Sterling Griffin return from injury, and the Bulls will hope players like Evan Landi, Lindsey Lamar and Terrence Mitchell evolve as playmakers. Mo Plancher led the team in rushing but operated in a tandem with Demetris Murray, who is back. Colorado transfer Darrell Scott and Auburn transfer Dontae Aycock become eligible and should add to the running game.

Once again, the fortunes of the team might rest on quarterback play. B.J. Daniels looked very good in the bowl game, and he'll have Bobby Eveld to push him all offseason. Daniels will be the most experienced quarterback in the Big East in career starts in 2011, for what that's worth.

Conclusion: South Florida has a lot of factors you like to see when determining a buzz team. More returning starters, especially on the offensive line, would help, and there are several players who need to take a step forward in the offseason. Is Daniels the guy we saw in the bowl game or the one who struggled much of the season? Overall, I think USF deserves heavy consideration as one of the league favorites in 2011, but the conference will have many contenders.

What do you think?

Here are three keys for South Florida when the Bulls take on Clemson in Friday's Meineke Car Care Bowl:

Control Da'Quan Bowers: Maybe Bowers will be weighed down from carrying all those trophies he won this season. Not much else has worked. Bowers leads the nation with 15.5 sacks and should command a tremendous amount of attention from the South Florida offensive linemen, tight ends and backs. The Bulls have had enough trouble passing the ball under ideal circumstances and will have almost no chance of success if Bowers is in the face of B.J. Daniels and Bobby Eveld all afternoon. If they can keep him contained, they could find some big plays against the much more vulnerable Clemson secondary.

Stop the Clemson running game: The Tigers' Jamie Harper is a load at 230 pounds, and he ran for more than 140 yards against both Florida State and Wake Forest late in the year with Andre Ellington injured. But the Clemson offense really struggled when the running game wasn't working. The Bulls did a great job slowing down UConn All-American back Jordan Todman in the regular-season finale. They need that same kind of effort in this game to force Kyle Parker and/or Tajh Boyd to beat them.

Create unorthodox opportunities: Odds are that neither offense is going to march up and down the field in this one. The Bulls could use something big out of the return game, where Terrence Mitchell and Lindsey Lamar have been tremendous this season. Or perhaps the defense can come up with a turnover to step up a score. Somehow, some way South Florida needs to find other ways to put points on the board.