ESPN College Football

Adam Rittenberg did this over at the Big Ten blog, and I thought it was an idea worth stealing.

We know the Big East isn't going to dominate the first couple of rounds of the NFL draft, but there are several good players from the league who can help teams. I'm no Mel Kiper Jr. -- one look at my hairdo tells you that -- and I realize the NFL is in many ways a different game than the college level.

Still, I've watched Big East players up close for the past few years and can tell when somebody can play. Here's one guy from each Big East team that I think could be a bargain in the NFL draft as a mid-round selection or even a free-agent pickup:

Cincinnati

Jason Kelce, C, 6-2, 280

Why him: Kelce arrived at Cincinnati as a walk-on linebacker, then started for two years at left guard before taking over the center duties as a senior. That tells you he's a hard worker willing to do whatever it takes to help a team and get on the field, and he was a part of two Big East championship teams. If nothing else, he could add depth to an offensive line with his versatility.

Connecticut

Scott Lutrus, LB, 6-2, 241

Why him: Lutrus is a student of the game and a better athlete than he gets credit for, as evidenced by his strong NFL combine numbers. He's got pretty good size, too, and is a solid tackler. There is some health risk here because he had shoulder/stinger problems his last two seasons at UConn. But as a late pick or free-agent signee, he is worth a gamble.

Louisville

Cameron Graham, TE, 6-3, 244

Why him: Graham might not stand out in any one area. He's not a speed merchant nor a physically imposing player. But he gets the most out of his ability and developed into a really reliable pass-catcher for Louisville as a senior. He could make a solid No. 2 or No. 3 tight end for some team in the right system.

Pittsburgh

Jason Pinkston, OT, 6-3, 317

Why him: Pinkston was a three-year starter for the Panthers and as steady a player as there was in the Big East. He earned all-league honors his last two seasons and performed well against some of the best pass-rushers the conference had to offer. He might not be big or athletic enough to play left tackle at the next level as he did in college, but he'll find a home somewhere on an NFL line.

Rutgers

Joe Lefeged, S, 5-11, 210

Why him: This isn't the strongest Scarlet Knights draft class of recent years, and Lefeged is likely the only Rutgers player who will get drafted. He tailed off after a hot start last season, but seemed to be affected by the Eric LeGrand injury as much as any of his teammates. What I like about Lefeged is that he's also a really good and very willing special-teams performer, so an NFL team will get that extra value from him.

South Florida

Mistral Raymond, DB, 6-1, 191

Why him: Is Raymond talented enough to play in the NFL? I don't know. I do know that he's a hard worker who rose from walk-on to team leader for the Bulls, and he's lanky and versatile enough to play either corner or safety. He'll probably be an undrafted free agent, but he's a guy I would want on my practice squad at the very least.

Syracuse

Rob Long, P, 6-2, 190

Why him: Anyone strong-willed enough to battle through a brain tumor with the positive attitude Long maintained is someone I'd want on my side. And don't forget he was one of the league's best punters throughout his career and also handled kickoffs and holding duties. Not many punters get drafted, but I'd offer him a contract if I were a GM looking to upgrade my special teams.

West Virginia

Chris Neild, DT, 6-1, 319

Why him: Mountaineers fans don't need to be reminded why Neild is such a valuable player. Let's hope that an NFL team sees it. In the right system, Neild would be an excellent contributor.

Scouts Inc. has come up with comprehensive draft boards for every position as we draw ever closer to the 2011 NFL draft (and, hopefully, a 2011 NFL season).

Let's start on the offensive side of the ball and take a look at where some Big East hopefuls are ranked. First, the skill positions:

• Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh: second round

• Jordan Todman, RB, Connecticut: third round

• Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh: fourth round

• Delone Carter, RB, Syracuse: fourth round

• Bilal Powell, RB, Louisville: fifth round

• Anthony Sherman, FB, Connecticut: fifth round

• Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia: sixth round

• Henry Hynoski, FB, Pittsburgh: seventh round

• Armon Binns, WR, Cincinnati: seventh round

Now, the offensive linemen/tight ends:

• Jason Pinkston, OT, Pittsbugh: fifth round

• Cameron Graham, TE, Louisville: sixth round

• Zach Hurd, OG, Connecticut: sixth round

• Ryan Bartholomew, C, Syracuse: seventh round

• Jason Kelce, C, Cincinnati: seventh round

Now let's move to the defensive side and see where Scouts Inc. rates some Big East defenders:

• Terrell McClain, DT, South Florida: second round

• Jabaal Sheard, DE/LB, Pittsburgh: second round

• Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville: third round

• Greg Romeus, DE, Pittsburgh: fourth round

• Brandon Hogan, CB, West Virginia: fourth round

• Robert Sands, S, West Virginia: fourth round

• Lawrence Wilson, LB, Connecticut: fifth round

• Scott Lutrus, LB, Connecticut: fifth round

• Joe Lefeged, S, Rutgers: sixth round

• Chris Neild, DT, West Virginia: sixth round

• Derrell Smith, LB, Syracuse: sixth round

• J.T. Thomas, LB, West Virginia: sixth round

• Doug Hogue, LB, Syracuse: sixth round

• Greg Lloyd, LB, Connecticut: seventh round

These projections aren't gospel by any means, but they should give you a pretty good idea of how Big East hopefuls are being viewed right now.

Now that we're down to the final players on the Big East postseason Top 25 list -- it shouldn't take too much sleuthing on your part to figure out the remaining names -- let's take a look at who missed the cut.

First, let's examine the players from the preseason list who failed to make the postseason order:

Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia. (Preseason No. 2): Devine is the most shocking absence on this list, based on what we thought this summer. Can't blame him entirely, as he never quite recovered from a toe injury he suffered at LSU, or the exacerbating ankle sprain he had against Louisville later in the season. Devine finished with just 936 rushing yards, only seventh in the Big East, and only topped 85 yards once from the LSU game on.

Greg Romeus, DE, Pittsburgh (Preseason No. 4): Another guy who seemed like a lock, the 2009 league co-defensive player of the year injured his back in the preseason and then tore his ACL when he tried to come back against UConn. But his loss was Brandon Lindsey's gain.

B.J. Daniels, QB, South Florida (Preseason No. 6) and Tom Savage, QB, Rutgers (Preseason No. 7): Remember the Daniels vs. Savage debate? That became null once Savage struggled, got hurt, was benched and eventually transferred. Daniels needed most of the season to find any sort of rhythm as well.

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers (Preseason No. 12): Sanu remains one of the most physically-gifted guys in the league. But he suffered like every other offensive player on the Scarlet Knights, and his overuse in the Wildcat wore him down. He's as versatile as anyone, but his production was down.

Jock Sanders, WR, West Virginia (Preseason No. 13): Sanders did have the second-most receptions in the league with 69. But I thought Tavon Austin was the more valuable West Virginia receiver. And Sanders remained more of a possession guy, averaging only 10.6 yards per catch and recording just four receiving touchdowns.

Scott Lutrus, LB, Connecticut (Preseason No. 18): Once again, injuries cut short Lutrus' season, though he was valuable when healthy.

Vidal Hazelton, WR, Cincinnati (Preseason No. 20): We'll never know how good Hazelton could have been for Butch Jones, as his one and only season with the Bearcats ended after just one half with a knee injury in the opener.

Steve Beauharnais, LB, Rutgers (Preseason No. 21): I thought Beauharnais would establish himself as a star after a promising rookie campaign. Didn't happen.

Tino Sunseri, QB, Pittsburgh (Preseason No. 23): I was wrong in the Tino vs. Geno debate, but Sunseri didn't have a bad season. He completed 64.5 percent of his passes as a first-year starter. But the consistency wasn't there, and he had some bad games.

Now let's take a look at some of the guys who almost made my Top 25 postseason list but just missed the cut, in alphabetical order by school:

JK Schaffer, LB, Cincinnati: Finished second in the Big East in tackles with 111, but I couldn't justify taking any Cincinnati defenders on the list.

D.J. Woods, WR, Cincinnati: Finished third in receptions, second in receiving yards and third in receiving touchdowns among Big East players. But he had so many turnovers that hurt the team, he had to miss the cut.

Sio Moore, LB, Connecticut: Announced himself with 110 tackles and a humongous game against West Virginia. But Randy Edsall continually downplayed Moore's overall game, perhaps just to make sure he didn't get ahead of himself.

Jesse Joseph, DE, Connecticut: Had better stats than Kendall Reyes, who did make the list. I thought Reyes had a little more impact in big games. Joseph was very deserving as well.

Cameron Graham, TE, Louisville: He was easily the best tight end in the Big East in 2010. But it was a bad year for tight ends overall.

Ray Graham, RB, Pittsburgh: This was a tough call. Graham is clearly one of the most exciting players in the league, and he averaged 6.2 yards per carry. Here's the thing, though: more than 40 percent of his rushing yards this year came against New Hampshire and Florida International, he never had more than 75 rushing yards in a league game and he had some costly fumbles. I thought Dion Lewis was more valuable in Big East play. With Lewis gone, Graham will be on the preseason 2011 list, for sure.

Mark Harrison, WR, Rutgers: The only Scarlet Knights player I seriously considered for this list after a miserable season in Piscataway. Harrison had 829 yards, nine touchdowns and a league-best 18.8 yards per catch. So why'd he miss? Almost a third of his yards and four of his scores came in the blowout loss at Cincinnati. He was invisible the first four games before a big performance against UConn. He basically had two great games. Harrison is extremely talented and improved immensely. His time on the Top 25 list is coming.

Dontavia Bogan, WR, South Florida: Where would the Bulls have been without Bogan? He was clearly their best receiver and stepped his game up as a senior. But 685 receiving yards was a little underwhelming for this list.

Bruce Irvin, DE, West Virginia: I get that Irvin is a fan favorite. I also get that he had 14 sacks. But Irvin really only played on third downs and in obvious pass-rushing situations. He was a specialist, albeit a very special one.

Julian Miller, DE, West Virginia: Miller is more of a complete defensive end, and I would have put him on the list ahead of Irvin.

Keith Tandy, CB, West Virginia: Tandy led the Big East with six interceptions. Loved his improvement. But even he admitted that Brandon Hogan was the best cornerback on his team and in the league. Tandy was in the right place at the right time for a lot of those picks.

The NFL combine has wrapped up, and we can all go back to not caring how quickly a guy can navigate a set of cones in shorts and a T-shirt for another year. But first, let's hit some final numbers.

Here is where Big East players ranked among the top overall performers in each drill at Indianapolis:

40-yard dash

Connecticut running back Jordan Todman tied for eighth at 4.40 seconds.

Bench press

Syracuse offensive lineman Ryan Bartholomew tied for fourth with 34 reps on the 225-pound bench. UConn fullback Anthony Sherman tied for 10th with 32.

Vertical leap

Pittsburgh receiver Jon Baldwin tied for second at 42 inches.

Broad jump

Baldwin tied for fifth at 10-feet-9 inches.

Who helped themselves the most? Bartholomew had a really nice showing. Baldwin put up excellent numbers as expected. Connecticut linebacker Scott Lutrus turned heads with some of his performances.

Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. said Todman, the 2010 Big East offensive player of the year, was one of the biggest winners of the combine experience. He writes:

"The draft class at running back isn't helped by the fact that many teams have more than one running back on their rosters they feel they can win with. But in a class that was already weak, Todman jumped. He ran a 4.40 in the 40 and was among the top performers in a number of other workouts, highlighting his athleticism. He's one of the few guys in this class who scouts feel can make NFL defenders miss, and at 203 pounds, he isn't a total scat back."

On Monday, I looked at the results posted by Big East offensive linemen, running backs, receivers, tight ends and preliminary numbers for the linebackers. Let's check in now on some more updates by top performers for the defensive guys from the league (performance ranks are listed by position).

Defensive line

Pittsburgh's Jabaal Sheard had the fifth-fastest 40-yard dash time at 4.69 seconds. He was 12th in the broad jump.

Linebackers

Scott Lutrus put up strong numbers, finishing first in vertical leap (38 inches) second in the 60-yard shuttle, third in the three-cone drill, fourth in the 20-yard shuttle, tied for fifth in the broad jump and tied for seventh in the 40 at 4.68 seconds. Here's what our Scouts Inc. team wrote about Lutrus's performance:

"Lutrus (6-2½, 241) far exceeded expectations based on what we've seen on film. ... We now have to go back to the tape to see if we missed something during our initial evaluation and figure why his explosiveness and lateral quickness are so much better at this point."

Syracuse's Doug Hogue was fifth in the 40 at 4.63 seconds. He tied for fifth in the broad jump, tied for sixth in vertical leap and was 12th in the three-cone drill.

West Virginia's J.T. Thomas tied for seventh in the 40, tied for 10th in the 20-yard shuttle, and tied for 13th in the 60-yard drill.

Connecticut's Greg Lloyd tied for 14th in the three-cone drill.

UConn's Lawrence Wilson tied for 13th in both the vertical leap and 40-yard dash. Would you have guessed Lutrus would beat teammate Wilson in the 40?

Safeties

West Virginia's Robert Sands showed off his array of skills. He tied for second with a 35-inch vertical leap and had the best broad jump at 10 feet, four inches. His 40 time of 4.57 seconds was third.

Cornerbacks

Rutgers' Joe Lefeged, a safety in college who was listed with the cornerbacks at the combine, tied for the fifth-best 40 time at 4.43 seconds. He also tied for 11th in the vertical leap and 14th in the broad jump.

West Virginia's Brandon Hogan tied for 10th on the bench press with 19 reps at 225 pounds.

The NFL combine officially began on Wednesday, as players arrived in Indianapolis and started interviews with team officials.

There are more interviews Thursday, along with measurements and medical examinations. Workouts start on Friday, and here is the schedule for position groups:

Friday: Specialists
Saturday: Offensive linemen, tight ends
Sunday: Quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs
Monday: Defensive linemen, linebackers
Tuesday: Defensive backs

It will be fun to follow the Big East players as they strut their stuff for scouts. Who will be the top player drafted from the league? My money is still on Pittsburgh receiver Jon Baldwin, whom I expect to put up dazzling numbers in his combine workouts.

Here again is the full list of Big East players scheduled to participate in Indianapolis:

Cincinnati (3)

Armon Binns, WR

Jason Kelce, OL

Jake Rogers, K

Connecticut (6)


Zach Hurd, OL

Anthony Sherman, FB

Jordan Todman, RB

Lawrence Wilson, LB

Greg Lloyd, LB

Scott Lutrus, LB

Louisville (3)


Cameron Graham, TE

Johnny Patrick, CB

Bilal Powell, RB

Pittsburgh (6)

Jon Baldwin, WR

Henry Hynoski, FB

Dion Lewis, RB

Jason Pinkston, OL

Greg Romeus, DE

Jabaal Sheard, DE

Rutgers (1)


Joe Lefeged, S

South Florida (1)

Terrell McClain, DT

Syracuse (4)

Ryan Bartholomew, OL

Doug Hogue, LB

Delone Carter, RB

Derrell Smith, LB

West Virginia (6)

Noel Devine, RB

Brandon Hogan, CB

Chris Neild, DT

Jock Sanders, WR

Robert Sands, S

J.T. Thomas, LB

The official invitation list to the NFL combine is out, and 30 Big East players will be showing off their skills at the premiere pre-draft event.

The following league players are scheduled to participate in the set of drills before scouts from Feb. 23 to March 1 in Indianapolis:

Jon Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh

Ryan Bartholomew, OL, Syracuse

Armon Binns, WR, Cincinnati

Delone Carter, RB, Syracuse

Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia

Cameron Graham, TE, Louisville

Brandon Hogan, CB, West Virginia

Doug Hogue, LB, Syracuse

Zach Hurd, OL, Connecticut

Henry Hynoski, FB, Pittsburgh

Jason Kelce, OL, Cincinnati

Joe Lefeged, S, Rutgers

Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh

Greg Lloyd, LB, Connecticut

Scott Lutrus, LB, Connecticut

Terrell McClain, DT, South Florida

Chris Neild, DT, West Virginia

Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville

Jason Pinkston, OL, Pittsburgh

Bilal Powell, RB, Louisville

Greg Romeus, DE, Pittsburgh

Jake Rogers, K, Cincinnati

Jock Sanders, WR, West Virginia

Robert Sands, S, West Virginia

Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh

Anthony Sherman, FB, Connecticut

Derrell Smith, LB, Syracuse

J.T. Thomas, LB, West Virginia

Jordan Todman, RB, Connecticut

Lawrence Wilson, LB, Connecticut

Syracuse running back Delone Carter made a strong impression in Saturday's East-West Shrine Game in Orlando, Fla.

Carter led all rushers with 54 yards on 11 attempts with a touchdown and earned MVP honors for the East, which won the game 25-8. Scouts Inc.'s Todd McShay said in his stock report that Carter was among those who helped themselves the most all week at the all-star showcase.

Of all the running backs here, Carter showed the most quickness and was the most consistent runner. While he still has weaknesses in his game -- he dances around too much at times and is not a great pass catcher -- he runs hard. He's very competitive and fights for extra yards. Much more than we saw on tape, he also showed a good initial burst to turn the corner. We gave him a fourth-round grade off game tape and if nothing else, he showed he is worth of being picking in the mid-rounds after this week.

Connecticut linebacker Greg Lloyd was the leading tackler for the East squad with five stops. It's still puzzling how Lloyd became all but invisible for the Huskies this season.

South Florida's Terrell McClain -- who drew some buzz last week -- and UConn's Scott Lutrus each had one stop in the game.

One player who might have helped himself, according to McShay, was Armon Binns. The Cincinnati receiver had one catch for 11 yards in the game.

Binns, 6-3 and 204 pounds, is a big receiver but not very physical and it showed this week as he had a hard time getting off press coverage. He also lacks quickness and suddenness in his routes and had a hard time creating separation, which was one of the concerns we had about him heading into the week. While he flashes and makes acrobatic catches, he'll too often have mental lapses and drop balls he should be catching.

The East-West Shrine Game is on tap for Saturday, but the most important work for scouts came in the week leading up to the contest. Our ESPN experts were in Orlando to watch the players during practice and offered their thoughts on who stood out the most .

Todd McShay listed Connecticut fullback Anthony Sherman and South Florida defensive tackle Terrell McClain among his top performers.

On Sherman: "He's undersized (5-11, 240 pounds) and fullbacks border on extinct in the NFL, but I was impressed with Sherman. He's competed all week. He's tough and has some power at the point of attack. He also has good hands. He caught the ball smoothly and got up the field. It's a pretty good fullback class and right now he's No. 6 in the class. He's a longshot to get drafted yet he's done nothing but help himself this week"

On McClain: "He is strong at the point of attack and just doesn't give ground. He controls blockers with his hands. He has violent hands to get off blocks and he has a power rush."

McShay also talks about McClain in this video.

Syracuse's Delone Carter got some positive reviews earlier in the week for his strong running style, though there were questions about his hands in the passing game. Teammate and linebacker Doug Hogue was not practicing late in the week, and no reason was given for his absence.

Also scheduled to compete in the game from the Big East are Syracuse center Ryan Bartholomew, UConn's Scott Lutrus and Greg Lloyd and Cincinnati's Armon Binns.

Here is the list of players from the Big East who will be participating in the East-West Shrine Game, a showcase for seniors and NFL hopefuls:

• Anthony Sherman, FB, Connecticut

• Armon Binns, WR, Cincinnati

• Delone Carter, RB, Syracuse

• Doug Hogue, LB, Syracuse

• Greg Lloyd, LB, Connecticut

• Lawrence Wilson, LB, Connecticut

• Ryan Bartholomew, OL, Syracuse

• Scott Lutrus, LB, Connecticut

• Terrell McClain, DT, South Florida

• Zach Hurd, OL, Connecticut

The 86th annual game will be held Jan. 22 in Orlando.

Ted Miller talks with UConn linebacker Scott Lutrus about the Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Connecticut didn't look like a BCS bowl team when it was 3-4 and coming off a 26-0 loss to Louisville. It looked like a team spinning into the toilet, a promising season heading toward the sewer.

Team meetings are often overrated -- an unfocused, unmotivated, divided team doesn't just suddenly transform because guys deliver a fire-and-brimstone speech or two -- but UConn's players seem to believe they saved their season with one.

Part of that was good leadership from upperclassmen, guys such as linebacker and team captain Scott Lutrus. And there was star power: All-American running back Jordan Todman also appealed to his team to turn things around.

"We realized at that point there was kind of a fork in the road and we were going down the wrong path," quarterback Zach Frazer said.

But Frazer specifically recalled a speech that came from an unlikely person: True freshman offensive lineman Gus Cruz, who reminded them of Jasper Howard, a Huskies cornerback who was senselessly stabbed to death on campus the previous year

Said Frazer, "You don't really think a freshman is going to stand up and speak, but some powerful words came out of his mouth... He just reminded us that, 'Hey, Jas isn't here this season, but I'm sure he's watching down.' He didn't go through that experience last year, but he's a team member and he kind of put that in our vision."

It took guts to speak up. And it took something else to create a message that resonated with the team. Cruz said he was motivated by a quote on the wall of the football complex that the Huskies see every day: "Play every play like it's the last play you'll ever play."

Cruz wondered if everyone was doing that.

"I said if Jasper were here, this wouldn't be happening," he said.

What happened thereafter is the Huskies won five games in a row, won the Big East and now will play Oklahoma in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Saturday.

Team meetings don't always work. But sometimes they do.

Said Cruz, "We've been doing pretty good after that."

In October, while Connecticut was struggling to a 3-4 start and losing its first two Big East games, a young player stood up in the back of the room during a team meeting. He told the rest of the team, simply, "Jazz wouldn't have this."

That message came through loud and clear. The last thing any of the Huskies want to do is dishonor the memory of Jasper "Jazz" Howard.

"We all knew what kind of player Jazz was and how mad and frustrated he would have been with the way we were playing," said senior linebacker Scott Lutrus, who recounted the story of the young player's message. "It hit home for all of us how negative it was not having him here. I think that helped us turn things around."

Howard has been gone since Oct. 18, 2009, when he was stabbed to death on campus. Hours earlier, the defensive back played his final game for UConn in a win over Louisville. But Howard's spirit and memory remain a vital part of this team, a source of strength and inspiration. And he has been in the Huskies' hearts during this improbable run to the school's first BCS game.

"We think about him every day," receiver Kashif Moore said. "Not only do we play for ourselves and our families and the university and the state of Connecticut, but we play for him. We play the game how he would want us to and how he would play the game."

The bonds for Moore are tighter than for others. A close friend, he held Howard in his arms as his teammate lay bleeding to death. Since then, Moore has called Howard's mother every night before he plays a game.

Those who weren't as close to Howard receive daily reminders of his presence. A large photo of Howard in uniform greets visitors to the lobby of UConn's Burton Family Football Complex, along with a quote Howard gave to reporters hours before his death: "You have to play each play like it's the last play you'll ever play."

Last year's team received the Football Writers Association of America Courage Award for how it dealt with the tragedy. A string of agonizing losses followed Howard's death until an emotional, overtime triumph over Notre Dame after which coach Randy Edsall was moved to tears in his postgame interview.

UConn would go on to win its final four games, including a bowl spanking of South Carolina. It is on a similar late-season roll this year, having won five straight heading into Saturday's Tostitos Fiesta Bowl showdown with Oklahoma.

"The adversity this team has had to overcome the last two years is just remarkable," Edsall said.

Edsall's office is decorated with photos of Howard's daughter, who was born a few months after the stabbing. And after clinching the BCS bid Dec. 4 at South Florida on a last-second field goal, Edsall couldn't help but think of Howard again. He said then he hoped the Discover Orange Bowl would select the Huskies, because Howard is from north Miami and his family could attend the game.

As of Sunday night, it was unclear if any of Howard's relatives would make it to the Fiesta Bowl. But his mother, stepfather, two sisters, girlfriend and daughter received an ovation from the Rentschler Field crowd in Connecticut's home finale. Howard would have been a senior this season, and he was the last player announced on Senior Day. Edsall has named him an honorary captain for this year's team.

"Jazz is still with us and is a part of this senior class," Lutrus said. "He's here every day."

UConn is a heavy underdog to Oklahoma and will face some major challenges in the game. But the Huskies know what to do when things get tough: Play like it's the last play they'll ever play. That's the only way Howard would have had it.

Scott Lutrus has been a stalwart for Connecticut since arriving in Storrs. The fifth-year senior is a four-year starter who has provided great leadership from his linebacker position. So who better to reflect on where the Huskies have been and where they're going than Lutrus? I caught up with the UConn captain as the team began its preparations for the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma.

It must be pretty easy getting fired up for practice now, knowing what lies ahead.

Scott Lutrus: Yeah, being in this position, with the bowl game and what's at stake going out there, practice has been tremendous. They're some of the best we've had all year from an intensity standpoint and the excitement by everyone on the team. It's going really well.

Has it sunk in yet that you're going to the Fiesta Bowl?

SL: I don't know if it's hit everyone yet. Maybe not until we get out there. The week of the game, maybe reality hits us that it's the biggest game of our lives. It's definitely a huge one, and I think we'll be ready.

Have you had any time to reflect on what you accomplished this season?

SL: We had some time off around finals just to sit back, away from practice, and look at things. From where we came from early in the year, from 0-2 in the conference to win the Big East and now go to the Fiesta Bowl. That's really what hit home, what we've accomplished and the team we became the second half of the year. You know, we struggled in starting off 0-2, but then we saw a huge turnaround in practice just from a team standpoint. This is the closest the team has been all year, and I think it really showed in the five-game winning streak and going to a BCS game.

Can that momentum carry over into the postseason despite the long break between games?

SL: I hope so. I believe so. Winning those games definitely helped, especially with the last game to get to where we are. I definitely think that's a reason why we're practicing so well. We know what we accomplished to get to this game but we also know what we can accomplish with this win. To finish with a six-game winning streak and go out as Fiesta Bowl champions would be huge for this team and this program.

You've had some experience in the past with long layoffs before bowl games. How much does that help your preparation this time around?

SL: It's difficult to go a month without playing a game, but we had that experience the last three years with our bowl games being pretty late, so that definitely helps. I think it's to our advantage to have that extra time to prepare, especially with our coaching staff that is so experienced and does so well watching film.

Randy Edsall said this program is past the "up-and-coming" stage. Do you think that UConn is now an established program?

SL: Absolutely, I agree with that. It's been seven, eight, nine years or however many years it's been since we became an [FBS] program, and going to five bowl games, winning a share of the Big East title and now going to a BCS game -- it's incredible what we've accomplished. It says a lot about our coaching staff and the players we bring in. We don't get the big-time recruits like other schools in the Big East or around the country, but look at how well we finish and how well we do every year.

At the same time, you must know that hardly anybody expects you to win this game.

SL: I don't think anyone is expecting us to win this game. But we're used to that. We're used to being the underdogs. At Big East media day every year, look at where they rank us compared to where we finish. It's nothing to us but a little chip on our shoulders. A little disrespect. We're used to being the underdogs, and we'll prepare like we do any other week and try to go win this game.

What are your initial thoughts about the Oklahoma offense you'll face?

SL: They're a great football team with a balanced offense. They've got some playmakers, a great quarterback, they're fourth in the nation in passing offense. We know it will be a great challenge for us. But we've played explosive offenses like this before, and we're working hard and we will have a good scheme going in. We're going to do well.

They have that high-tempo spread. Does it remind you of Cincinnati, perhaps?

SL: I think that's a great comparison because Cincinnati has that spread, up-tempo. It's a very similar offense. We've got to make sure we're in shape for this game, but we're preparing for that.

Does it give you confidence that Cincinnati almost beat Oklahoma this year and you beat Cincinnati by double digits?

SL: It does and it doesn't. That game was early in the year and anything can happen. For example, we were the only Big East team that Rutgers beat and we go on to win the Big East. So games early in the season really don't even matter to us too much. You can't look at it like, 'Cincinnati's a Big East team and they almost beat them so we can.' But there's no point going into this game thinking we can't win. We think we can win and that's the attitude we have to have.

The defense really picked things up the last half of the season. What was the key to that?


SL: I think the way we practiced and prepared each week. After the Louisville game [a 26-0 loss], we turned it around as a team in our preparation. And especially the defense. We really came together and understood what we needed to do to win each week. That showed through the last half of the season.

As a senior and four-year starter, how excited are you to end your career in this way?


SL: There's no better way to go out than this. Signing up here five years ago, I didn't think we'd be in this position, to go to five bowl games and now going to the biggest game we could go to. There's no better way to go out, and these seniors are proud of everything we accomplished. But we've got one more to play, and we're going to go out and look for that win.

Here is the injury report for Saturday's games:

Cincinnati

Out:
Ryan Paxson, LB

Doubtful:
Chris Williams, DB

Out For Season:
Vidal Hazelton, WR Knee
Solomon Tentman, LB Knee

Pending Surgery
Arryn Chenault, DB Knee
Alex Delisi, LB Knee

CONNECTICUT

Out:
Scott Lutrus, LB Upper Extremity
Jonathan Jean-Louis, RB Torso

Out For Season:
Marcus Campbell, DE Knee
Geremy Davis, WR Knee

LOUISVILLE

Out:
Brandon Heath, LB Finger
Kamal Hogan, RB Concussion
Kamran Joyer, OL Foot
Troy Pascley, WR Knee

Probable:
Pete Nochta, TE Knee

Out For Season:
Stephon Ball, TE Knee
Anthony Conner, CB Knee
Joe Evinger, OL Back
Michaelee Harris, WR Knee

Pittsburgh

None reported

Rutgers

Out:
Robert Joseph, FB Lower Body
Phil Lewis, WR Upper Body
Quron Pratt, WR Upper Body
Casey Turner, RB Lower Body
Devon Watkis, OL Lower Body

Questionable:
Matt McBride, OL Lower Body

Probable:
Sorie Bayoh, DE Lower Body
Steve Shimko, QB Upper Body
J.T. Tartacoff, WR Lower Body

Out For Season:
Rob Horrell, LSN Knee
Tim Wright, WR Knee

South Florida

Out:
Sterling Griffin, WR Ankle
A.J. Love, WR Knee
John McGhin, OG Hip

SYRACUSE

Out:
Ryan Gillum, LB Upper Body
Kevyn Scott, CB Lower Body

Out For Season:
Ri'Shard Anderson, CB Shoulder
Cody Catalina, TE Knee
Carl Cutler, FB Knee
Ollie Haney, DL Chest
Jared Kimmel, DE Knee
Jarrod West, WR Foot

Some notable players on here, including Lutrus. The UConn linebacker missed a large portion of the game against Michigan and was in and out of the lineup last year with a stinger problem. Randy Edsall has yet to comment on the nature of Lutrus' injury or how long he can expect to be out.

Heath is Louisville's best and most experienced linebacker. UPDATE: Pitt has decided to stop complying with the new Big East policy of reporting injuries after only one week.