ESPN College Football

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.

Vidal Hazelton's medical miracle comeback never happened for Cincinnati, though the receiver says he was ready to go.

He tore the ACL in his left knee in the opener against Fresno State but vowed to play again before the season ended. Hazelton was medically cleared to play in the penultimate game against Connecticut but was held out because the Bearcats' compliance department thought there was still a chance he could get approved for a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. He found out before the finale against Pittsburgh that his college career was coming to an end, but then a snowstorm hit Nippert Stadium.

"It was snowing and our season wasn't going well, so it didn't make sense to risk it," Hazelton said.

So Hazelton's Cincinnati career lasted just a little more than one half of a game. He transferred to Cincinnati from USC after his junior year and petitioned to become immediately eligible. But the NCAA didn't buy his appeal, which was based on his desire to be closer to his sick grandfather in Georgia. Then the coach he hoped to play for, Brian Kelly, left for Notre Dame. Hazelton said the NCAA turned him down for a sixth year because he needed to show that two lost years were out of his control; though he had an ankle injury that limited him at USC, that wasn't considered major enough for a special waiver.

Hazelton really hasn't played football in two years and was hampered by the ankle problem his last year with the Trojans. The injury in the opener this season just seemed cruel.

"It was really frustrating, because in that Fresno game I was kind of getting my feet wet," he said. "I was having a pretty good game.

"I was pretty down about it that Sunday. But for some reason, I woke up Monday and just had really good spirits. I was laughing and smiling with everybody just to let them know I was OK. I didn't have any down days after that. I honestly didn't."

Hazelton is ready to move onto the next chapter of his life, which he hopes is an NFL career. He has moved to Los Angeles, where he has begun training at the Athletes Performance Institute. He's working several hours a day with other NFL hopefuls like former USC players Allen Bradford and Jurrell Casey and Hawaii's Greg Salas.

Just four months removed from his ACL surgery, Hazelton says he's still only about 85 or 90 percent. But he's confident that he can do enough to impress the pro scouts during workouts, even in what looks to be a strong class of receiver prospects this spring.

"Yeah, it hurts me not having a lot of film," he said. "But a lot of scouts came to our practice [at Cincinnati]. If somebody wants to watch me work out, I'm sure I'll be all right."

Though it didn't work out the way he envisioned, Hazelton said he has no regrets about transferring to Cincinnati. Or maybe one: that he couldn't do more to help this year as the team struggled to a 4-8 record.

"It was tough, but I think they're going to be a lot better next year," he said. "Nobody wants to feel that way again."

After two straight Big East titles and BCS game appearances, Cincinnati came crashing down to earth with a 4-8 record in 2010.

Several factors conspired against the Bearcats in this disappointing season. There was the coaching transition, of course, as Butch Jones took over for Brian Kelly. There was a difficult early schedule that included games at Fresno State and NC State and versus Oklahoma, all of which Cincinnati lost. Injuries played a part, as starting receiver Vidal Hazelton went down in the opener with a torn ACL, and the team's most experienced cornerback (Dominique Battle) missed most of the year with a knee injury.

The Bearcats led the league in points scored and total offense but finished last in points allowed thanks to an undersized, inexperienced defense that gave up nearly 34 points per conference game. Unlike last season, when they could win shootouts late in the year because of their prolific offense, they continually ended their own drives with mistakes. Their abysmal minus-15 turnover margin was second-worst in the FBS.

Intangibles were at play as well. Jones had to fight a sense of entitlement that stemmed from those two straight championships. Senior center Jason Kelce told the Cincinnati Enquirer earlier this month that the team lacked the hunger it had in previous years.

So what can Cincinnati do to get back to the postseason in 2011?

Jones has a strong nucleus returning. The team loses only six starting seniors, none of them on defense. Quarterback Zach Collaros, running back Isaiah Pead and receiver D.J. Woods are all among the best at their position in the Big East, so the offense should thrive again, especially with a year of Jones' system under their belts. The Bearcats will miss start wideout Armon Binns, but freshman Anthony McClung showed promise late in the year, and former star recruit Dyjuan Woods and junior college transfer Kenbrell Thompkins will become eligible.

The defense remains an issue, and this offseason will be crucial in the weight room for the Bearcats to add some bulk. Jones has to fill in some gaps through recruiting and may look to a junior college player or two to provide immediate help.

Next year's schedule will be slightly easier, with difficult games against Tennessee and NC State but highly winnable contests against Austin Peay, Akron and Miami of Ohio. For the first time in a few years, the Bearcats won't be picked among the favorites for the Big East. But they should improve enough to get back to a bowl in 2011.

B.J. Daniels is questionable, UConn will be without a starting defensive tackle, and Vidal Hazelton's college career is apparently over.

Cincinnati

Out
Adrian Robinson Shoulder
Vidal Hazelton, WR Knee
Ryan Paxson, LB Knee
Darrin Williams, RB Ankle

Questionable
Alex Delisi, LB Knee
Adrian Witty, DB Leg

Connecticut

Out
Twyon Martin, DT Leg

Questionable
Mike Ryan, OT Leg

Probable
Scott Lutrus, LB Arm

Pittsburgh

Questionable
Ray Graham, RB Back

Probable
Cameron Saddler, WR Back

Rutgers

Out
James Kim, TE Knee
Casey Turner, RB Groin

Doubtful
Brandon Bing, CB Leg

Questionable
D.C. Jefferson, TE Ankle
Joe Martinek, RB Ankle
Mohamed Sanu, WR Leg
J.T. Tartacoff, WR Head

South Florida

Out
Patrick Hampton, DE Ankle
Richard Kelly, FB Thumb
A.J. Love, WR Knee
Luke Sager, DT Shoulder

Questionable
B.J. Daniels, QB Leg

Probable
Craig Marshall, DE Foot

West Virginia

Out
Chris Snook, FB Head

Probable
Jeff Braun, OL Shoulder
Noel Devine, RB Ankle
Chris Neild, DT Hamstring

One last regular-season stock report:

Stock up

1. Revolution No. 9: Whether the Big East does anything else after this, adding TCU as its ninth football member was a bold stroke that instantly enhances the league's reputation while concurrently crippling the Mountain West. The conference has forever been changed.

2. Bobby Eveld: How about a true freshman walk-on quarterback leading South Florida to victory at Miami? Amazing story, and I'll have more on Eveld later Wednesday.

3. Shawne Alston: The West Virginia running back is becoming more prominent as Noel Devine can't stay healthy, and Alston -- who had 71 yards on 16 carries at Pitt last week -- could be the featured ball-carrier for the Mountaineers next season.

4. Connecticut's turnover margin: The Huskies struggled with giving the ball away earlier in the season, but now they've flipped the script. In conference play, they lead the league with a plus-7 margin, including a Big East-best 14 takeaways. That's a major reason why the Huskies are in position to make a BCS game.

5. USF's tailbacks: Mo Plancher and Demetris Murray combined for 143 yards against Miami, and in three of the last four games one of them has eclipsed 100 yards. The Bulls' running game still doesn't blow you away, but it's vastly improved over last year. As a tandem, Plancher and Murray have combined for 1,153 yards this season.

6. Kick returners : Connecticut's Nick Williams got enough attempts to qualify for national rankings this week and took over as the No. 1 returner in the FBS. He's averaging an absurd 42.1 yards per attempt, aided by two long touchdowns. The Big East also has two other players in the top 13: Louisville's Victor Anderson (fifth) and South Florida's Lindsey Lamar (13th)

Stock down

1. Villanova's heel-dragging: Moving up to the FBS is a large undertaking and a difficult decision. But if Villanova doesn't make a call until April, that means the school will have taken seven months to give the league an answer. Throw in the three years before the Wildcats could actually join the Big East, and that's a long time to wait for a team that may or may not even be competitive right away.

2. Vidal Hazelton's Cincinnati contributions: You can't help but feel bad for Hazelton, the former USC transfer who had one year of eligibility with the Bearcats. The school has determined that he won't get a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA, so the receiver who tore his ACL in the opener will try to play this Saturday against Pitt. (He dressed but did not play at UConn). Hazelton's entire on-the-field contribution at Cincinnati could wind up being little more than half a game.

3. Pittsburgh's cornerbacks: Pitt's corners seemed to have regressed late in the year Antwuan Reed and Ricky Gary were called for four penalties in the South Florida game, and West Virginia decided to test them last week. It worked, as Geno Smith threw three touchdown passes and three completions of more than 35 yards on just 12 attempts.

4. Rutgers' sacks allowed: The Scarlet Knights have already given up 55 sacks on the season, and that's before facing the powerful West Virginia defense this week. The most sacks any team has allowed in a season the last five years is 59 by Miami of Ohio in 2009. Rutgers could shatter that this weekend.

Could Cincinnati receiver Vidal Hazelton return as soon as this week?

Sounds unlikely, but Hazelton is trying to make it back in near-record time after tearing an ACL in the Sept. 4 opener at Fresno State. The senior and former USC transfer said last month that he was hoping to return before the end of the season.

First, though, Cincinnati needs to find out whether it's possible for Hazelton to earn a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA. Head coach Butch Jones said Monday that the school is investigating the chances of success for petitioning for that extra season and hopes to come to a conclusion later this week.

"If we could get another year, that would be a huge benefit for him on the field and off the field, academically, as well," Jones said. "It would be a huge boost for us as well."

But if there's no chance of being eligible next year, Hazelton is shooting for playing again in the final two regular-season games for Cincinnati. The Bearcats are at Connecticut this week.

Jones said Hazelton has been practicing on a limited basis recently.

"We'll try to involve him much much more in this week of preparation and practice," Jones said. "We'll see how that goes. We're going to proceed with extreme caution, just to make sure everything is fine. But he'll have more of a role when we start practice on Tuesday."

Returning from a torn ACL in less than three months would be mighty impressive, especially at a position that requires lots of running and cutting. Hazelton, if he can contribute, would add to an already wildly productive receiving corps that helped Cincinnati gain 661 total yards and score 69 points on Rutgers last week.

It would be better to see Hazelton get a full offseason of recovery and then play an entire season next year, especially since the Bearcats still have a lot of work to do to gain bowl eligibility. But that may not be possible, given that he's already used a transfer year. The biggest fear is that he rushes back and gets hurt again.

Injured Cincinnati receiver Vidal Hazelton is trying to return this season, according to a story from Cincinnati Enquirer's Bill Koch.

Hazelton, a senior who transferred from USC, tore his left ACL in the season opener at Fresno State and was presumed lost for the season. But his rehab is ahead of schedule, and he says he wants to come back for the season finale against Pittsburgh on Dec. 4.

"I'm determined," he told the Enquirer. "I definitely want to come back. It’s starting to pay off. The doctors are telling me they’re amazed by how fast I’m healing.”

If Hazelton is indeed ready, it will be an interesting decision whether he should come back. ACL recoveries are getting quicker than ever, but for a receiver to come back that fast and have his usual speed and cutting ability would be pretty amazing. Hazelton would risk re-injuring the knee and severely damaging his NFL hopes.

“I look at like you’ve only got one life to live,” Hazelton said. “I’m not going to put myself in that situation. Neither is the doctor. I’m going to get it looked at by a whole bunch of doctors and make sure everything is good. If I feel good, I’m going to play. I’m not going to hold back from nothing."

Hazelton could also try and gain a medical redshirt and play next season for the Bearcats. But as a senior who has already sat out a year under NCAA transfer rules, he is not guaranteed to get a sixth year of eligibility, and the NCAA is unpredictable in its decision. He cannot apply for that redshirt until after the season, and it could take weeks or months after that before he gets an official decision.

Hazelton might also want to see where the Bearcats are by Dec. 4. What if Cincinnati is playing for a Big East title in the finale? Hazelton could then come back and contribute toward a possible BCS game. Or what if the Bearcats are heading toward 6-6 or worse? Would it then be worth it to come back?

Vidal Hazelton and Armon Binns got the most preseason attention, but it's actually junior slot man D.J. Woods who's leading Cincinnati in receiving. Woods is also tops in the Big East in catches (29), receiving yards (489) and touchdowns (four). He'll be a big key for the Bearcats when they travel to Louisville Friday night. I caught up with Woods earlier this week for a little Q&A time:

You guys played really well against Oklahoma and then continued that against Miami of Ohio. Do you feel like this team is starting to come together and turn things around?

D.J. Woods: Most definitely. I just feel like we have a different tempo to us. We hit a couple of bumps in the first couple of games and right now we're coming together as one. It feels good and we're working hard and practicing hard. So I think everything is clicking right now.

What helped you guys get going before that Oklahoma game?


Woods: Actually, to be honest, losing. Just not doing what we do usually, you know, fast pace, going up and down the field and scoring. We never had so many three-and outs-before. We all had a team meeting and talked about what we need to do. A couple of leaders stepped up and called everybody out and made sure we did what we needed to do. So we had to step up and do our job.

Is this now the offense you expected to see this year?


Woods: We can play a lot more together still. We're not satisfied. We're still installing. There are still little technique things we need to get down. Right now, what we're doing is average, but we can expect a lot more of ourselves.

You've become a big-time playmaker this year. What has been the key to your development?


Woods: Just me playing the slot, I think coach [Butch] Jones focuses on that spot a little more so I've kind of taken over that role here. This summer, coaches were always talking about making the big play every play, and I'd tell them, "If you need somebody, I'll be there." It feels good to have a big role, but at the same time I have a lot of responsibility. I love that having that responsibility.

Did you feel you needed to step things up when Vidal got hurt in the first game?


Woods: Most definitely. Me and Vidal, we'd compete every day in the littlest things, whether it was catching the ball or who had the most TDs in practice. Since he got hurt, I've had to step up my leadership. I think I'm doing that right now. I've just got to get rid of the mental errors.

You're averaging nearly 17 yards per catch, which is unusually high for an inside receiver. How have you been able to do that?


Woods: I just think I'm trying to make plays fast. The offense is moving me around a lot. We have a drill where you catch the ball and you have to get up the field no matter where you're at. I'm looking to do that and make a couple of people miss, and I feel like I'm doing that. I'm kind of just running for my life right now.

After your two fumbles against Oklahoma, you were carrying a football around practice. Are you still doing that?


Woods: I'm just doing silly things, like holding a football when I'm at my apartment, or if I'm going to class carrying one with me or talking to myself to make sure I tuck it in and stuff. I don't want to make the mistakes I've made. I don't want to let the team down any more. My coaches, my family, everybody was let down by me making stupid mistakes like that. So during warmups and meetings and stuff like that, I just make sure I have a ball in my hands.

Have you feel like you've gotten better with your ball security?


Woods: Coaches have been on me this week even in the littlest drills that I've got to carry it high and tight and have my chin to the ball every single play. That's kind of instilled in my head right now. So if I keep that mindset every single play, I shouldn't have a problem.

You guys have a long winning streak in Big East play. How important is it to you to keep that going?

Woods: It's very important. But to be honest, we're not worried about any game after Louisville. Louisville is tough and they're not the same team as before, so we need to come out with a fire under our feet. We're coming out to make a statement. We're kind of the underdog right now and we want to show the world what we can do and how things have turned around for us.

Cincinnati coach Butch Jones said Tuesday that more true freshmen could soon see the playing field for the Bearcats.

That includes Munchie Legaux, the Louisiana athlete who played quarterback in high school. Legaux could get some time at receiver this week against Miami of Ohio, Jones said. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to start saying that name on a regular basis.

Jones has already employed another true freshman at receiver in Anthony McClung. The injury to Vidal Hazelton and the ineligibility of Kenbrell Thompkins and Dyjuan Lewis forced his hand.

“You look at Munchie Legaux," Jones told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "In August, was he ready to play receiver? No. Did we ever think he would have to play receiver in August? No, because we’re sitting there and you had Vidal Hazelton. You had Kenbrell Thompkins. You had Dyjuan Lewis. Now those three individuals are off your team.”

Another true freshman, Devan Drane, could see time at cornerback with the season-ending injury to starter Dominique Battle. True frosh Roney Lozano, Antwan Darling and Adrian Witty have already played this year.

"Maybe some weren’t ready game one and now game five are ready," Jones said. "Some will probably be ready game six or game seven. It’s about putting the best personnel on the field, not just on offense and defense, but on special teams as well, to win football games. We’ve got some very talented freshmen."

When Cincinnati settled for a field goal on its opening drive last week against Indiana State, there was no celebrating on the sidelines.

Instead, as quarterback Zach Collaros recalls, players were hanging their heads in frustration. At halftime of that game against one of the worst FCS programs around, the Bearcats led only 12-7. This came after mustering just two touchdowns in a 28-14 loss to Fresno State in the opener.

The offense that was the best in the Big East a year ago and predicted by many to be explosive again this year had suddenly become plodding.

"We were frustrated because we had great expectations for ourselves," Collaros said. "That kind of got us in a funk."

The Bearcats responded by scoring 28 points in the fourth quarter to blow last weekend's game open. Still, this offense hasn't yet looked like the one that scored 117 points in last season's first two games, or even like new coach Butch Jones' old high-scoring attack at Central Michigan. It ranks fifth in the Big East in scoring and just seventh in total offense, a neighborhood never known during the Brian Kelly era.

Cincinnati is hoping to get back to those high-flying days Thursday night at NC State (ESPN, 7:30 ET).

"Our offense has something to prove this week," offensive guard Alex Hoffman said. "We've kind of got a chip on our shoulders, especially as an offensive line."

Collaros was sacked eight times at Fresno State and hurried countless more. After that game, Jones opened up the competition at every offensive line spot, though he made just one change to the starting lineup, with Randy Martinez moved up to start at guard. Jones said he thought the line made "great strides, but we're still a work in progress."

They will also have their hands full against a blitz-happy NC State team that will be a whole lot more physical than lowly Indiana State.

"Our chemistry has been great this week, and we're all on the same page," Hoffman said. "We're going to protect Zach a lot better. He's not going to get touched."

A huge year was expected from Collaros, who turned in dazzling numbers in four starts replacing the injured Tony Pike last season. Collaros' stats through two games this year are solid -- he's completing 60 percent of his passes and has three touchdowns with no interceptions. But he also held onto the ball too long at times against Fresno, leading to some of those sacks.

"I was trying to make too many plays in the second half," he said. "I was trying to win a game by myself."

Jones has cautioned all along that, despite those four starts last year, Collaros is basically still a first-year starter at quarterback.

"Zach is still going through the evolution stages," Jones said. "People look at those four games, but it's still different when you're the starting quarterback. There's so much that goes into the leadership at that position, from making the right reads and the right decisions."

Collaros also no longer has as many weapons around him as he once did. Receiver Vidal Hazelton was lost for the year with a torn ACL in the Fresno game. Wideouts Kenbrell Thompkins and Dyjuan Lewis are ineligible. Running back Isaiah Pead missed the Indiana State game with swelling in his knee. The starting receivers are still strong, but Jones said there have been too many incompletions.

"Dropped passes are like turnovers in our offense," he said.

When the Bearcats are completing passes and avoiding negative plays, they get into a hyper tempo in their no-huddle offense. The pace picked up considerably in that third quarter outburst last week, and that's the way Cincinnati wants to play.

If that happens at NC State, then maybe this offense will look like its old familiar self.

"If we execute the way we know how, there's no question we'll put up big points and big numbers," Collaros said.

The bell has rung on Week 1. Let's check the stocks.

Stock up

1. Ryan Nassib: Making his first start at quarterback for Syracuse, Nassib completed 17 of 27 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns in a win at Akron. That earned him Big East player of the week honors.

2. The West Virginia kicking game: The Mountaineers' kickoff coverage, which had been pretty awful the last couple of years, allowed only 94 return yards on six kickoffs against Coastal Carolina. New punter Gregg Pugnetti averaged 49.2 yards on six attempts, including a 71-yarder.

3. Jordan Thomas: The Rutgers true freshman got 15 touches in the opener against Norfolk State. While he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, he flashed his speed and quickness and showed he can be an asset to the Scarlet Knights' offense.

4. Steven Bravo-Brown: A true freshman walk-on, Bravo-Brown got thrown right into the fire for South Florida. The receiver had four catches for 48 yards against Stony Brook.

Stock down

1. The Cincinnati offense: The Bearcats were among the nation's top-scoring teams last year, and that figured to continue under Butch Jones. But Cincinnati mustered only 14 points at Fresno State -- none in the second half -- as the offensive line allowed eight sacks. And receiver Vidal Hazelton has been lost for the year to a torn ACL.

2. Pitt's red zone offense: The Panthers were inside Utah's 20 four times but came away with just one touchdown and three field goals. Pitt was one of the best teams in the country in red zone offense the past two years. It will need sevens, not threes, against upcoming opponents Miami and Notre Dame.

3. Connecticut's defensive front: We wondered about the Huskies' secondary. Turns out, UConn got pushed around up front by Michigan last week. The defensive line is undersized and lacks experience. "We've got to get a lot more physical," Randy Edsall said.

4. Louisville's wide receivers: Adam Froman completed just six passes to receivers against Kentucky, and none for more than 15 yards. Junior college import Josh Bellamy was hurt early and Troy Pascley continued to be inconsistent. The Cardinals lack players who can stretch the field and keep defenses honest.

Player of the year race: Offense

1. Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia: Devine assumes the top spot after rushing for 111 yards against Coastal Carolina.

2. B.J. Daniels, QB, South Florida: Daniels was strong out of the gate, throwing for 264 yards and two touchdowns and running for a score versus Stony Brook.

3. Dion Lewis, RB, Pitt: When your career low for rushing yards is 75, that means you've had a great career. Lewis will bounce back.

4. Jordan Todman, RB, Connecticut: As disappointing as the Huskies were, Todman still had 105 yards and a score against Michigan.

5. Nassib: Might as well give the reigning offensive player of the week some love.

Player of the year race: Defense

1. Robert Sands, S, West Virginia: Had 1.5 tackles for loss and anchored a defense that pitched a shutout versus Coastal Carolina.

2. Alex Silvestro, DE, Rutgers: Silvestro had four tackles for loss against Norfolk State.

3. Greg Romeus, DE, Pitt: Disappointing effort against Utah for the preseason favorite, as Romeus had no sacks or quarterback hurries in the loss.

4. Lawrence Wilson, LB, Connecticut: Team's defensive effort was poor, but Wilson continued to be a tackling machine with 12 stops.

5. Mike Holmes, DB, Syracuse: Won the league's official defensive player of the week award for his performance at Akron.

Dion Lewis vs. Noel Devine:

Lewis: 25 rushes for 75 yards (3.0 ypc) and one touchdown

Devine: 23 rushes for 111 yards (4.8 ypc) and one touchdown

Tom Savage vs. B.J. Daniels

Savage: 10-of-19 for 148 yards and one touchdown; rushed six times for 18 yards

Daniels: 15-for-22, 264 yards and two touchdowns; rushed five times for 23 yards and a score

• Dave Wannstedt said Pitt's mistakes against Utah were mostly mental and are correctable.

• The friendship between Bill Stewart and Doc Holliday runs deep.

• Speaking of old friends, Skip Holtz and Urban Meyer go way back, too. Now they're rivals for the first time.

• Vidal Hazelton suffered a tough break.

• Rutgers may try the hurry-up offense.

• Charlie Strong wants more out of his receivers.

• Syracuse is sticking with a freshman kicker for at least another week.

• UConn added a defensive lineman.

Even as most people were praising Cincinnati's receiving corps as one of the best in the nation this preseason, head coach Butch Jones was quietly nervous about the depth.

Sure, the starters were great, but Jones' up-tempo system demands that a lot of players rotate in at receiver to stay fresh. The depth started taking hits when junior college import Kenbrell Thompkins was ruled ineligible, when highly touted freshman Dyjuan Lewis wasn't cleared and when Jamar Howard got hurt in the spring.

All of those developments, however, pale in comparison to the loss of Vidal Hazelton.

The USC transfer, who was arguably the most talked-about newcomer in the Big East this season, is already done for the year after tearing his ACL on a kickoff return in the Fresno State game. Hazelton had six catches for 63 yards before the injury. You've got to feel terrible for a guy who sat out all of last year under transfer rules only to get less than one game his senior season.

Hazelton did not redshirt at USC, so there's a possibility that he could gain another year of eligibility. That's something that won't be determined until after the year, however, and who knows with the NCAA?

Hazelton brought size, strength and big-play ability to the wide receiver group. Now there's even more pressure on Armon Binns to be the Bearcats' No. 1 wideout. D.J. Woods had a strong first half against Fresno State and is one of the better slot receivers in the league. Marcus Barnett will assume Hazelton's role on the outside opposite Binns.

Barnett was a star his freshman year before finding himself in Brian Kelly's doghouse as a sophomore and junior. He has a lot of experience and ability, but his skinny frame -- his nickname is "Bones" -- means he will not be the same physical target that Hazelton was. He seems better suited as a slot guy.

"I don't think it will affect [us] that much in terms of what we do offensively and in terms of personnel groupings," Jones said. "But any time you take a person like Vidal out of the offense, obviously it concerns you a little bit because of his talent and playmaking ability.

"I'm excited for Marcus Barnett. ... Now is his opportunity to come in and make amends for the last couple of years, so we'll see how that goes."

Cincinnati, surprisingly, already has some offensive question marks after scoring just 14 points against Fresno State -- its lowest total in almost two years. Zach Collaros was sacked eight times and hurried even more. While Jones said not all of the sacks could be blamed on the offensive line -- Collaros clearly held onto the ball too long on several plays -- he's considering some personnel changes up front.

We all thought the Bearcats would have an explosive offense in 2010. Now that's not as certain. And with games coming up this month at NC State and against Oklahoma, Jones and his team could find themselves in an early hole if they don't make the right adjustments.

The season is upon us.

Games begin Thursday, and we'll be full bore into college football by the weekend. So it's a final chance to make some predictions, and here are my picks for some various Big East 2010 awards/honors:

Big East winner: Pittsburgh

The schedule is downright frightening. The Panthers have some question marks, particularly along the offensive interior. And the league is as balanced as it's ever been. But I've been picking Pitt all offseason, and this is a team with as much or more high-end talent as anybody in the Big East, led by Dion Lewis, Jon Baldwin and Greg Romeus. If the Panthers are who we thought they were, as Dennis Green might say, then they should be able to navigate their difficult schedule and win their first outright Big East title.

Offensive MVP: West Virginia running back Noel Devine

Lots of candidates here, including last season's winner (Lewis), Cincinnati's Zach Collaros, Rutgers' Tom Savage, et al. I just feel like Devine is primed for a huge year as a senior, eager to prove he can do it all to satisfy the NFL scouts. And with a more experienced offensive line and potentially a more consistent passing game, he could find even more running room for his explosive bursts. It's awfully tough to go against Lewis; then again, winning an award like this two years in a row is hard for any player because the expectation levels increase.

Defensive MVP: West Virginia safety Robert Sands

Again, I'm going away from conventional wisdom here in not picking Romeus, last year's co-defensive player of the year. Sands was a play-making monster in the second half of last season and should continue to build on that with a veteran defense around him. And if you're wondering why I would pick the offensive and defensive players of the year from West Virginia and then choose Pitt as the champion, there is precedent: last season, Pittsburgh had the offensive and both co-defensive players of the year, yet finished second.

Surprise team: Connecticut

A strong season by UConn wouldn't surprise anyone who follows this blog or the Big East in general. Still, there are a lot of people who don't know much about the Huskies, and Randy Edsall's team could very well win the league's BCS bid for the first time. Remember that UConn gets West Virginia, Pitt and Cincinnati at home this season.

Team most likely to disappoint: Cincinnati

Only because expectations have been built so high. It's pretty hard to top 12-0, especially when you change coaching staffs and play a schedule that includes road games against N.C. State, Fresno State, West Virginia and UConn and a home-away-from-home matchup with Oklahoma. The Bearcats are a definite Big East contender, but many of their fans might be disappointed with a 9-3 type of season.

Newcomer of the year: Cincinnati receiver Vidal Hazelton

Hazelton comes into an offense tailor-made for receivers to put up huge stats, and the talented former USC Trojan should be ready to make a major impact in his one and only season in the Big East.

Freshman of the year: Rutgers receiver Jeremy Deering

Taking a stab at a wild card here. With injuries to the Scarlet Knights receiving corps, there is opportunity for the speedy Deering, who can also make a major impact on special teams and with some Wildcat stuff. I also seriously considered West Virginia's Ivan McCartney and South Florida's Terrence Mitchell.

Coach of the year: Randy Edsall, Connecticut

With Brian Kelly and his Vulcan death grip on the coach of the year award gone, Edsall will be the popular choice if he leads the Huskies to the breakthrough season many are predicting.

Can't-miss game: West Virginia at Pittsburgh, Nov. 26

The Backyard Brawl is always an event, and this year it could be for the Big East title. Pitt and WVU enter the season as the only two ranked teams, and look at the scores of the past three years to see just how close this rivalry has been: 13-9 (Pitt in '07), 19-15 (Pitt in '08) and 19-16 (WVU in '09).

One of the main reasons Vidal Hazelton chose Cincinnati after transferring from USC in 2008 was to be closer to his grandfather. James Hazelton, who Vidal describes as one of his biggest fans, had been diagnosed with cancer at his home in Georgia.

"He couldn't get on a plane anymore, and I wanted him to be able to drive to my games," Hazelton said. "He's doing well now, going through the radiation process. He's really excited for the season."

Bearcats fans share that same enthusiasm about the idea of finally seeing Hazelton playing for their team this season. The senior receiver was denied a waiver for immediate eligibility by the NCAA and sat out the 2009 season under transfer rules. Now Hazelton may be ready to make the biggest impact of any Big East newcomer in 2010.

He was the No. 3 prospect in the recruiting class of 2006, according to ESPN's Scouts Inc. As a sophomore with the Trojans, he caught 50 passes for 540 yards and four touchdowns. His junior year was marred by an early ankle injury.

Though Cincinnati had a superstar wideout last year in Mardy Gilyard and another highly productive one in Armon Binns, coaches would say that Hazelton was at times the best receiver in practice.

"The scout team was kind of like my motivation, because that was the only thing I had to look forward to every day," Hazelton said. "The coaches would be on me every day to make sure I gave a good look to the defense."

Still, first-year Bearcats coach Butch Jones says sometimes it's easy for a player to go through practice without the pressures of knowing the entire offense or having to perform on game day. Jones saw Hazelton go through a transition in spring practice as he tried to knock the rust off and get down to serious preparation. Now, he looks ready.

"He's hungry, and he's a football junkie," Jones said. "You'll see him carrying a laptop around and be on YouTube watching different receiver videos and all that.

"I think you'll see an individual who can make all the plays. He's a very good route runner, and he's going to be a playmaker."

At 6-foot-3 and 213 pounds, Hazelton has the size and strength to be a good blocker, something he says he takes pride in, and to go over the middle. He's got speed to stretch defenses as well, and he wants to show that he can average more than the 10.8 yards per catch he posted at USC.

"I don't want to be labeled as a possession receiver," he said. "So when I get the ball, I just want to do good things and make a lot of plays."

Cincinnati needs Hazelton to replace the playmaking abilities of Gilyard, who was one of the most prolific receivers in Big East history. If he comes close to doing so, the Bearcats should have the best receiving corps in the conference and one of the best in the nation. Binns, also a senior, had 888 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns last season, while junior D.J. Woods caught 51 passes for 640 yards and four scores.

"Everybody brings something different to the table," Hazelton said. "Binns, if you throw it up, he's got unbelievable ball skills in the air. D.J. is fast and runs really good routes, so he's an excellent slot guy. Bones [Marcus Barnett], for somebody who's kind of skinny, he's got a lot of heart. He's not afraid to catch the ball over the middle."

Hazelton said he expects his grandfather to make the seven-hour drive to watch each of the Bearcats' home games this year. With that receiving group, James Hazelton should never be bored.