College Football Nation: Arthur Jones
Second round
No. 37: Nate Allen, S, South Florida, to Philadelphia: No surprise here, as Allen was mentioned as a possible first-rounder at various points.
Third round
No. 65: Jerome Murphy, CB, South Florida to St. Louis: Here is proof that college production isn't always the most important thing to NFL scouts. Murphy struggled against some of the Big East's better receivers, but he has great physical tools and hopefully will find his niche in the pros.
Fourth round
No. 99: Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati, to St. Louis: If you watched any Bearcats games the past two years, you know that the Rams got an absolute steal. Think Sam Bradford will like having Gilyard around?
No. 101: Mike Williams, WR, Syracuse, to Tampa Bay: He was a first-round talent who was lucky to get picked this high given his off-the-field issues.
No. 107: Marcus Easley, WR, UConn, to Buffalo: Easley had great workouts, and though some thought he would go higher than this, it's still a great story for a guy who was a walk-on this time a year ago.
Fifth round
No. 157: Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse, to Baltimore: Jones was talked about as a possible first-rounder earlier in his career. This is a great value pick for a player who will always give maximum effort.
Sixth round
No. 177: Carlton Mitchell, WR, South Florida, to Cleveland: Mitchell looked impressive in his workouts, but falling to the sixth round makes you question if he made the right choice in skipping his senior year.
No. 182: Nate Byham, TE, Pittsburgh, to San Francisco: The best blocking tight end in the Big East during his career.
No. 204: Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati, to Carolina: Pike has to be disappointed that he fell this low and that he was drafted by the same team that took Jimmy Clausen a couple rounds earlier.
Seventh round
No. 226: George Selvie, DE, South Florida, to St. Louis: How much would you have bet against the notion that Selvie would be a seventh-round pick at this time last year? Selvie's production dropped after his breakout sophomore year, and now he'll have to prove himself again.
No. 227: Dorin Dickerson, TE, Pittsburgh, to Houston: Surprised to see Dickerson go this low after his great Combine performance. He's a tweener who needs the right team to showcase his skills.
No. 231: Selvish Capers, OT, West Virginia, to Washington: Capers has a lot of talent and potential.
No. 237: Ryan D'Imperio, LB/FB, Rutgers, to Minnesota: The Scarlet Knights' linebacker was drafted as a fullback although he never played it in college.
No. 238: Ricardo Mathews, DT, Cincinnati, to Indianapolis: Mathews didn't get as much attention on the Bearcats' defense as some other players but had a nice senior season.
No. 249: Robert McClain, CB, UConn, to Carolina: McClain had four interceptions last year and also served as the team's punt returner.
Here's a handy-dandy list of NFL Draft picks per Big East school:
South Florida: 5
Rutgers: 3
Cincinnati: 3
Connecticut: 2
Pitt: 2
Syracuse: 2
West Virginia: 1
Louisville: 0
And, finally, some notable players who weren't drafted (I'll have more later on those who signed free-agent contracts): Andre Dixon and Lindsey Witten from UConn; Aaron Webster and Alex Daniels from Cincinnati; Scott Long from Louisville; and Jarrett Brown from West Virginia.
I went undefeated last week for the fifth time in the last six weeks, but it's not much to brag about. There were only three games, all featuring heavy favorites at home (and I didn't exactly peg the way the games in Morgantown and Cincinnati would shake out). Besides, there's no time to boast when four hotly contested games will test my prognosticating ability this week.
Thursday
Rutgers 21, South Florida 19: The Bulls have more offensive firepower than the Scarlet Knights, but they'll be missing their best playmaking receiver in Carlton Mitchell, who's out with an ankle sprain. Rutgers' defense is improving each week, and I believe that Greg Schiano's complicated blitz schemes will befuddle freshman quarterback B.J. Daniels. There's still the matter of how the Scarlet Knights will score enough points, but I see a big play off a turnover or on special teams making the difference as South Florida loses its fourth straight in this series.
Friday
Cincinnati 30, West Virginia 21: The Mountaineers are not coming into this important game on a high note, having seen their offensive prowess decline and having several players bruised and banged up. Not a good situation going into a hostile Nippert Stadium. Whether it's Zach Collaros or Tony Pike leading the charge -- and both will see time at quarterback -- the Bearcats are going to score points, and they're more equipped to handle a speed-based spread offense than they are a power running game like UConn's.
Saturday
Pitt 35, Notre Dame 33: Regular readers of this blog won't be surprised with this pick, since I've been saying since the offseason that Pitt would win this game. I'm a little more nervous for the Panthers because of Notre Dame's loss to Navy; no doubt the Irish will be desperate coming to Heinz Field. And that offense can really score. Even though they had just 21 points against Navy, the Irish never punted, got to the red zone six times and rolled up more than 500 yards. But Notre Dame's Swiss cheese defense will have just as many problems stopping Pitt's versatile attack, and the Panthers will find a way to win just as they did last year in South Bend.
Louisville 17, Syracuse 14: For most of the year, I would have said Syracuse was the better team and would beat Louisville for a third straight year. But given all of the Orange's roster depletions -- losing start defensive tackle Arthur Jones was the latest blow -- I have to give the edge now to the Cardinals, who pushed West Virginia to the wire last week on the road. This won't be a pretty game or one that many people will want to watch, but it could be the last chance for an '09 victory for either school.
Last week: 3-0
Season: 45-8 (85 percent)
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
The Big East doesn't put out an official preseason all-conference team. But I do. Below are my picks for the best in the league for 2009. Pittsburgh leads the way with six selections.
Offense
QB Tony Pike, Cincinnati
RB Noel Devine, West Virginia
RB Victor Anderson, Louisville
WR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
WR Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh
OT: Anthony Davis, Rutgers
OG: John Malecki, Pittsburgh
C: Ryan Blaszczyk Rutgers
OG: Art Forst, Rutgers
OT: Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh
TE: Nate Byham, Pittsburgh
Defense
DE: George Selvie, South Florida
DT: Arthur Jones, Syracuse
DT: Scooter Berry, West Virginia
DE: Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh
LB: Ryan D'Imperio, Rutgers
LB: Scott Lutrus, Connecticut
LB: Reed Williams, West Virginia
CB: Aaron Berry, Pittsburgh
CB: Brandon Hogan, West Virginia
S: Nate Allen, South Florida
S: Robert Vaughn, Connecticut
Specialists
P: Rob Long, Syracuse
PK: Jake Rogers, Cincinnati
KR: Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
PR: Jasper Howard, Connecticut
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
We've talked about guys who've had big springs, guys who might emerge and guys who came out of nowhere.
But there were also players who missed all or part of the spring because of injuries, suspension, academics or whatever. And several of them are key parts to their team. Here's a look at some players who need to come through this fall after being absent for at least part of spring ball.
Cincinnati: Linebacker Andre Revels was held out of most of the spring after minor offseason knee surgery. The senior is one of the few experienced players on the Bearcats' defense and will be counted on this fall. Young defensive back Dominique Battle was expected to compete for a starting cornerback job this spring but was sidelined at times with an ankle injury.
Connecticut: The Huskies were remarkably injury- and issue-free this spring. They'll hope that continues this fall.
Louisville: The Cardinals are a different team offensively when receiver Scott Long is healthy. Unfortunately, he missed most of last season with injuries and sat out the spring following ACL surgery. He should be good to go in the summer.
Pittsburgh: Starting cornerback Aaron Berry was suspended for the final part of spring drills for violating team rules. Pitt needs him to have his act together and be on the field.
Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights had a lot of important players miss time this spring with various injuries, including safety Joe Lefeged, leading returning rusher Kordell Young, running back Jourdan Brooks and several of their young receivers.
South Florida: Seemingly every offensive linemen the Bulls missed time with an injury or another problem this spring. Obviously, Jake Sims (finger), Zach Herman (concussion), Sampson Genus (knee) and Jeremiah Warren (academics) all will be needed in the fall for South Florida to contend.
Syracuse: First-team all-Big East defensive tackle Arthur Jones tore his pectoral muscle before the spring and was unavailable. The timetable for his return isn't clear, but Syracuse would have a hard time without him.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers could use Jock Sanders back in the lineup. The speedy receiver/running back was suspended for the spring after a DUI arrest. He will try to return to the team once he completes his court case.
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
It's never too early to start thinking about 2009 college football awards, apparently.
The Rotary Lombardi Award announced its preseason watch list today, and three Big East players made the cut.
South Florida defensive end George Selvie is the headliner. Selvie was a semifinalist for the award, given to the nation's best lineman or linebacker. Syracuse defensive tackle Arthur Jones, currently sidelined by a torn pectoral muscle, and Pitt tight end Nate Byham also made the list.
Players who didn't make this early list still are eligible for the award. Some guys who may force their way into the discussion from the Big East include Pitt's Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard, UConn's Scott Lutrus, West Virginia's Reed Williams and Rutgers' Ryan D'Imperio.
Big East lunchtime links: UConn's Dixon ready for last chance
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
Andre Dixon was Connecticut's leading rusher in 2007 and one of the most popular players among fans because of his prominent dreadlocks. But Dixon disappeared last season, hardly playing and then getting slapped with a DUI charge near the end of the year.
Now, Dixon is back for his senior year and promising big things, Chip Malafronte writes in the New Haven Register.
"Everyone has bumps in the road," Dixon said. "I just fell a lot farther than most people. I had every opportunity to do more, to push myself and to push others last year, and I felt I left some things on the table and let others pass me.
"This year there's no more holding back.I know this is my last time around, and I'll do whatever it takes to make the most of it."
• The Syracuse Post-Standard's Donnie Webb looks at pectoral injuries and what history can tell us about Arthur Jones' recovery. Many athletes need between four and six months to come back, but it can take longer to regain full strength.
• Greg Auman of the St. Petersburg Times has some interesting background tidbits on new South Florida receivers coach Phil McGeoghan, who has little coaching experience.
• History buff Bill Stewart mixed in tales of the Dog Soldiers from the Cheyenne nation in his football talk to a rotary club, Brad McElhinny writes in the Charleston Daily Mail.
My Pac-10 counterpart Ted Miller did this earlier in the week, and I'm blatantly stealing the idea. Want to know how accurate recruiting rankings are? Let's take a look at this year's All-Big East team and see how each player was rated by the two major star-system recruiting services (where the two differ, I note the high and low end):
OFFENSE
QB Pat White (two to three stars)
RB Donald Brown (two to three stars)
RB LeSean McCoy (four to five stars)
WR Mardy Gilyard (two stars)
WR Kenny Britt (three to four stars)
TE Nate Byham (four to five stars)
OT Will Beatty (one to two stars)
OT Ryan Stanchek (two stars)
OG George Bussey (zero to one star)
OG C.J. Davis (two stars)
C Eric Wood (two stars)
DEFENSE
DL Connor Barwin (two stars)
DL Cody Brown (two stars)
DL George Selvie (one to two stars)
DL Arthur Jones (three to two stars)
LB Scott McKillop (three stars)
LB Tyrone McKenzie (two to three stars)
LB Mortty Ivy (two stars)
CB Mike Mickens (two stars)
CB Darius Butler (one to two stars)
S Brandon Underwood (three stars)
S Courtney Greene (one to two stars)
Thoughts:
Big East teams don't get a lot of "five-star" guys, but plenty of four-star players make their way into the league. I find it very interesting that the only two players on this list to reach that level were McCoy -- a no-brainer -- and Byham, who had a solid but hardly spectacular year in a league without many productive tight ends.
Offensive linemen are probably the hardest guys to evaluate, and whoever was evaluating the Big East prospects proved that. Not one of the All-Big East first team offensive linemen earned more than two stars, and the former walk-on Bussey and left tackle Beatty were rated the same as your average throw-in prospect. This isn't a bad crop, either; Wood, Beatty and Stanchek should all get drafted, with Davis and Bussey having a shot, too.
And, yes -- someone really watched Selvie and Butler play and rated them as one-star prospects. That really happened. To be fair, Selvie played center in high school and his best quality -- desire -- is hard to measure. But we're talking about a two-time All-American. And Butler's athleticism is hard to deny.
I get that White was hard to judge as a quarterback, and that a lot of teams were recruiting him as a receiver or just an all-around athlete. But for him to garner only two or three stars is absurd. Here are some of the players who were ranked as the top dual-threat quarterbacks in 2004: Robbie Reid, Kirby Freeman, Nick Patton, Larry Lerlegan and D.T McDowell. Would you trade any of them for Pat White? Heck, would you trade all of them for Pat White?
There are always going to be can't-miss prospects, and there are going to be players who improve greatly through sheer hard work and maturation. Recruiting rankings can be a useful guide and fun to look at, but if you think they predict which players will turn out to be the best in their leagues, think again. Keep this list in mind come next Wednesday, and remember to curb your enthusiasm.
With the NFL draft deadline for underclassmen passing today, we know who's staying and who's leaving in the Big East. So who are the top stars for 2009?
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| Kim Klement/US Presswire | |
| Matt Grothe will enter his fourth year as a starter in 2009. |
There will no doubt be players who emerge out of obscurity -- who thought Donald Brown would do what he did in 2008? -- but for now, here's my list of the top Big East players heading into next season:
1. Matt Grothe, South Florida: Easily the most recognizable name for non-league observers, the senior quarterback will enter his fourth year as a starter and will become the Big East's all-time career yardage leader as soon as Week 1. He still has to cut down on his interceptions, though.
2. George Selvie, South Florida: The two-time All-American defensive end will join his teammate as the face of the league on the defensive side.
3. Tony Pike, Cincinnati: Coach Brian Kelly said during the season that he thought Pike could develop into the Big East's best player his senior year. Given his first chance to start the season at quarterback, Pike will try to back those words up.
4. Noel Devine, West Virginia: Devine had some ups and downs this season, but it was his first full year of starting at running back. With Pat White gone, the Mountaineers will need him to take on more responsibility in 2009.
5. Victor Anderson, Louisville: After a breakout freshman campaign, Anderson should be in line for a huge sophomore season. The question is whether he'll have enough help around him on the rebuilding Cardinals' offense.
6. Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati: Gilyard becomes the Bearcats' go-to receiver with the graduation of Dominick Goodman, and he should remain a dangerous kickoff return man a year after winning Big East special teams player of the year honors.
7. Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh: The gifted 6-foot-5 receiver seems poised to deliver on his immense potential as a sophomore -- if Pitt can find a quarterback to get him the ball consistently.
8. Jock Sanders, West Virginia: Devine's mighty-mite partner should once again pose a big-play threat at receiver and running back in the Mountaineers' revamped offense.
9. Arthur Jones, Syracuse: The athletic defensive tackle should be the biggest name on defense besides Selvie to start the year.
10. Jarrett Brown, West Virginia: Replacing White at quarterback, Brown will have a lot of attention focused on him from the start.
Honorable mention: Anthony Davis, LT, Rutgers; Ryan D'Imperio, LB, Rutgers; Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh; Scott Long and Doug Beaumont, WR, Louisville; Scott Lutrus, LB, Connecticut; Reed Williams, LB, West Virginia.
Here are my selections for the 2008 All-Big East team:
OFFENSE
QB: Pat White, West Virginia
RB: Donald Brown, Connecticut
RB: LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh
WR: Kenny Britt, Rutgers
WR: Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
TE: Nate Byham, Pittsburgh
OT: Ryan Stanchek, West Virginia
OT: Anthony Davis, Rutgers
OG: C.J. Davis, Pittsburgh
OG: Greg Isdaner, West Virginia
C: Eric Wood, Louisville
DEFENSE
DL: Cody Brown, Connecticut
DL: George Selvie, South Florida
DL: Connor Barwin, Cincinnati
DL: Arthur Jones, Syracuse
LB: Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh
LB: Tyrone McKenzie, South Florida
LB: Mortty Ivy, West Virginia
CB: Mike Mickens, Cincinnati
CB: Darius Butler, Connecticut
S: Carlton Williams, South Florida
S: Courtney Greene, Rutgers
SPECIALISTS
P: Kevin Huber, Cincinnati
K: Pat McAfee, West Virginia
KR: Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
PR: Jasper Howard, Connecticut
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
Randy Edsall knows who Connecticut's starting quarterback will be, but he's not telling anyone outside the team until Saturday, Desmond Conner writes in the Hartford Courant.
"The decisions are made and anybody that needs to know what the decisions are has been told," he said.
Edsall also said Thursday that he didn't know anything about a report earlier in the week that cornerback Darius Butler would play offense exclusively. But later in his conference call with reporters, he mentioned that there could be new starters at defensive back. A little gamesmanship, perhaps?
• More bad news for South Florida: linebacker Brouce Mompremier's career may be finished, Brett McMurphy reports in the Tampa Tribune. Mompremier worked his way back onto the field after a scary neck injury in September. But he suffered another head injury at Louisville, and the senior did not play at Cincinnati.
• The Bearcats bounced back from an awful showing at UConn to keep their Big East dreams alive, Bill Koch writes in the Cincinnati Enquirer.
• New Louisville defensive line coach Ken Delgado has brought some unusual techniques, including martial arts, Pilates and constant sled work, C.L. Brown writes in The Courier-Journal. Whatever he's doing is working, as the defensiv line has been one of the team's main strengths.
• Arthur Jones remains a bright light on the Syracuse defense, capable of being bubbly and optimistic off the field and ferocious on it, Donnie Webb writes in the Syracuse Post-Standard.
• Pittsburgh insists that its defensive performance in the Rutgers loss was the exception and not the rule, Paul Zeise writes in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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