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As expected, three Big East players were drafted in the first round. That still qualified as big news for two league schools.

Rutgers' Anthony Davis went 11th to San Francisco, the highest draft pick in school history. Devin McCourty later joined him in the first round when New England took him No. 27 overall. The Scarlet Knights' only other first-round pick in their history came last year with Kenny Britt.

Rutgers is the first Big East school with two first-round picks in the same draft since Miami and Virginia Tech in 2004.

Former University of South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul made history tonight when he was selected with the 15th pick in the 2010 NFL draft by the New York Giants, becoming USF’s highest draft pick ever and the 12th selection in USF history.

Meanwhile, Jason Pierre-Paul became South Florida's highest-ever draftee when he went to the New York Giants at No. 15. The Bulls have only one other first-rounder in their short history, and that's 2008 selection Mike Jenkins, who was taken with the 25th overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys.

The Big East's three first-round selections were one more than the Pac-10, the same as the Big Ten and one fewer than the ACC. And of course, the Big East has fewer teams than any of those leagues.

A year ago at this time, the Big East was dealing with the loss of a plethora of stars, including some of the best players in league history. Guys like Pat White, Donald Brown, Kenny Britt, LeSean McCoy and Scott McKillop seemed difficult, if not impossible, to replace.

The league fared just fine in 2009 without those stars, and the good news for 2010 is that many of its top performers will be back. But that's not to say there aren't still some key losses that teams will have to adjust to this spring. Here's a look at the biggest shoes to fill this season in the Big East:

• Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati: The Bearcats aren't exactly hurting at wide receiver with Armon Binns, D.J. Woods and USC transfer Vidal Hazelton around. Still, someone must replace Gilyard's leadership and knack for making the big play at crucial times. What might be even more difficult to replace is Gilyard's production on special teams. The two-time Big East special teams player of the year was always a threat to score on kickoffs and punt returns. And hopefully someone will step in Gilyard's role as the best quote in the entire conference.
• Tim Brown, WR, Rutgers: Brown may not have received a ton of attention nationally, but he was vitally important to the Scarlet Knights. The speedster averaged 20.9 yards per catch and amassed 1,150 receiving yards and nine touchdowns as the team's only true deep threat. With a still very young receiving corps surrounding Tom Savage, Rutgers will need to find someone who can stretch the field the way Brown did.
• Mick Williams, DT, Pittsburgh: The 2009 co-defensive player of the year in the conference, Williams was a wildly disruptive force in the middle of that Panthers defensive line, as well as an inspirational leader. With fellow senior tackle Gus Mustakas also gone, Pitt needs more production from backups Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih, among others.
• Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers: McCourty was an underappreciated gem for the Scarlet Knights, a lockdown cornerback who also was seemingly everywhere on special teams. He was the leader of the secondary. Guys with his skills don't come around that often.
• Reed Williams, LB, West Virginia: The Mountaineers had to deal with Williams' absence for most of 2008 and at times this past season because of various injuries. But it was clear that they were a different team whenever Williams was healthy. A smart player (he's the 2009 Big East football scholar-athlete of the year ) who anchored the defense at middle linebacker, Williams was like a coach on the field.
• George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida: Say what you will about Selvie's dwindling production, but opposing offense still always had to account for him. And Pierre-Paul ascended to star status in his one year on campus. Combined, the two produced 26 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in 2009. The Bulls now need the next wave of pass-rushers to emerge, with former stud recruit Ryne Giddins one possible candidate.

The official league selections will come out tomorrow. Here are my choices for the best of the Big East, from a season's worth of observations and some consultation from league coaches:

Offense

QB: Tony Pike, Cincinnati

RB: Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh

RB: Noel Devine, West Virginia

WR: Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati

WR: Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh

TE: Dorin Dickerson, Pittsburgh

OT: Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh

OT: Jeff Linkenbach, Cincinnati

C: Moe Petrus, Connecticut

OG: John Malecki, Pittsburgh

OG: Zach Hurd, Connecticut

Defense

DE: Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh

DE: Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida

DT: Mick Williams, Pittsburgh

DT: Chris Neild, West Virginia

LB: Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut

LB: Kion Wilson, South Florida

LB: Derrell Smith, Syracuse

CB: Devin McCourty, Rutgers

CB: Aaron Berry, Pittsburgh

S: Aaron Webster, Cincinnati

S: Nate Allen, South Florida

Specialists

K: Tyler Bitancurt, West Virginia

P: Scott Kozlowski, West Virginia

KR: Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati

PR: Robert McClain, Connecticut

It was supposed to be a down year for the Big East.

The league entered the season with no ranked teams and much uncertainty. Every team had at least one major question mark, and several stars were lost in the 2009 NFL draft.

Instead, the conference had one of its strongest showings and most exciting seasons ever. Two teams -- Cincinnati and Pittsburgh -- cracked the top 10, five total league teams appeared in the Top 25 at some point and three finished in the final rankings. Cincinnati provided the Big East a legitimate powerhouse, going 12-0 and coming up a controversial Big 12 second short of possibly crashing the BCS title game.

While the Bearcats were clearly the league's best team, the conference remained very balanced. Cincinnati beat Pitt by one point, Connecticut by two and West Virginia by three. West Virginia beat Pitt on a last-second field goal, while Pitt pulled the same trick on UConn.

South Florida got its usual September day in the sun by beating Florida State before slinking back into the shade by mid-October. Rutgers won eight games, including a blowout of South Florida and a thriller over UConn, but couldn't get a signature win. Syracuse, despite a 4-8 record, showed signs of progress under first-year coach Doug Marrone, while Louisville ended the Steve Kragthorpe era after missing a bowl for the third straight year.

In all, the league was highly competitive each week and finished 32-8 against nonconference opponents. The Big East provided lots of great stories -- like Cincinnati's run, UConn's strength in the light of tragedy and Greg Paulus' transition from point guard to quarterback -- and several dramatic games, including the Cincinnati-Pitt finale and virtually every game Connecticut played. Many young stars, from Dion Lewis to Mohamed Sanu to Zach Collaros, came of age under the bright lights and will be making plays in this league for years.

If that's what a down year looks like, may the Big East never find its way up.

Offensive MVP: Pitt running back Dion Lewis

Had Tony Pike stayed healthy all year, he may have run away with this award. But that doesn't diminish the amazing achievements by Lewis, who did the unthinkable by dominating the conference as a true freshman. He finished third in the nation in rushing with 1,640 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. He eclipsed 100 yards nine times and went over 150 yards in five of his last seven games. The rest of the Big East can't believe they have to face this guy for at least two more years.

Defensive MVP: Pitt defensive tackle Mick Williams

This was a very difficult choice. Several defensive players had standout years, but there was no one obvious guy like Scott McKillop last year. I asked a few coordinators around the league for help with this pick, and the consensus was that Williams and fellow Pitt defensive lineman Greg Romeus were the two most disruptive, headache-inducing defenders in the conference this year. I give Williams the nod over Romeus because he had 15 tackles for loss from the defensive tackle position, which is very impressive, and his work on the inside helped make it possible for Romeus to rush the passer on the edge.

Special teams MVP: Cincinnati returner Mardy Gilyard

Rutgers' Devin McCourty had a great year on special teams as well, but Gilyard had the uncanny ability to make a huge play when his team needed it most. Never was that more evident than his 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Pitt. Gilyard returned two kickoffs and a punt back for scores this year and was a threat to go all the way every time he touched the ball.

Newcomer of the year: Lewis

If he's the offensive player of the year, then this is obvious. There were other top-notch newcomers who might have won this in other years, including Rutgers' Sanu and South Florida's Jason Pierre-Paul.

Coach of the year: Cincinnati's Brian Kelly

Kelly might not have any more room on his mantle for this award since it would be the third time in three years he's won it. UConn's Randy Edsall deserves strong consideration as well for the way he kept his team together and led with grace after the death of Jasper Howard. But 12-0 is 12-0, especially when you replaced virtually your entire defense.

Biggest surprise: Connecticut

Not so much that it finished 7-5, which was about as expected, but because the Huskies rebounded from tragedy to close the year strong while becoming an offensive power.

Biggest disappointment: South Florida

I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise anymore, but after yet another 5-0 start that included a win at Florida State, the Bulls sure should have done better than 7-5 and the International Bowl. Yes, Matt Grothe's injury didn't help. But when you consider that five of the team's victories came over two FCS teams, Western Kentucky, Syracuse and Louisville, that 7-5 mark looks even drearier.

Game of the year: Cincinnati 45, Pitt 44, Dec. 5

The Big East saved its best for last, as the schedule worked out perfectly to create a de facto championship game at Heinz Field. And what a game it was, with Cincinnati coming back from a 21-point first-half deficit and 14-point fourth quarter hole to win on a touchdown pass in the final minute. It's a game that will remembered by both sides for a long, long time.

Joe Lefeged learned the value of preparation last year while playing next to Rutgers' star safety Courtney Greene.

"He could diagnose plays before they even started, based on what the offensive lines was doing or how the receivers were lining up," Lefeged said. "He was calling out plays before they even happened on the field."

Greene has moved on to the NFL, but his kind of meticulous preparation has continued. Lefeged, a junior strong safety, has learned how to do many of the things Greene excelled at, while senior cornerback Devin McCourty has become perhaps not only the team's best defensive player, but its leader.

"Devin gets us together at night to watch film after meetings, and that really helps in practice," Lefeged said.

McCourty, who's staked his claim as the Big East's top cornerback this season, also draws high praise from head coach Greg Schiano.

"I think he prepares incredibly hard, and I am talking one of the top five I have been around, either college or pro," Schiano said Monday. "He works very hard at it and practices very hard. Every day he goes out there, he is playing a football game in practice. So then it is no mystery that when he gets in the games, he makes plays."

The Scarlet Knights' defense may lack a lot of household names, but in typical Schiano fashion, it is developing into one of the toughest in the league as the season wears on. That showed in last week's 31-0 win over South Florida, as the Bulls were held to just 159 total yards. Rutgers created four turnovers and had seven sacks in that game.

The defense held down the fort early in the year when the offense was searching for its legs under true freshman quarterback Tom Savage and some new receivers. Now the offense is beginning to come around for the 7-2 Scarlet Knights, helping make a strong finish possible.

For the season, the Scarlet Knights are allowing just 15.6 points per game, though some of that is a result of a weak schedule. The number that's most impressive, regardless of opposition, is the 29 takeaways, which ranks second best in the nation. That figure includes 13 interceptions, which ought to give pause to this week's opponent, Syracuse. The Orange, with Greg Paulus still learning the ropes, have thrown more interceptions (15) than all but four teams in the FBS.

So is the Rutgers defense licking its chops to go after Paulus?

"We don't really look at it like that," said Lefeged, who has an interception and two forced fumbles this year. "We look to make turnovers and force fumbles against whoever we go against. Any given quarterback can light it up."

You can count on the Scarlet Knights to be well prepared for Paulus, however. Lefeged said this is the first year since he's been on the team that the entire defensive unit comes in on its own to watch film together. He credits excellent unity and chemistry as the reasons for the defensive success.

"We're jelling together as a team," he said. "And it's starting to show right now."

• Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers: McCourty forced a fumble on a punt return, blocked a punt and tied for the team lead with nine tackles in the Scarlet Knights' 31-0 win over South Florida.

• Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati: The sophomore set career highs with 18 carries for 175 yards and scored a touchdown in the Bearcats' 24-21 win over West Virginia.

• Dion Lewis, RB, Pitt: The freshman ran for 153 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries in Pitt's 27-22 win over Notre Dame.

• Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pitt: The sophomore had five catches for 141 yards and a score against Notre Dame.

• Trent Guy, PR/KR, Louisville: Guy had nearly as many return yards (137) as his entire team had offense (151) and his 44 yard punt return set up the winning score in a 10-9 Cardinals victory.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Now what for Rutgers?

The Scarlet Knights' opener could hardly have been more disastrous. Picked by some, including yours truly, to win the Big East, they didn't look like they belonged in the same league as Cincinnati in a 47-15 home loss before a national audience.

	Rich Kane/Icon SMI
	True freshman receiver Mohamed Sanu was one of the few bright spots for Rutgers, hauling in 10 catches for 101 yards.

"We were a step behind physically, mentally, coaching ... the whole deal," head coach Greg Schiano said.

Even the team's supposed strengths -- defense and the offensive line -- failed to perform anywhere near expectations. The Bearcats neutralized Rutgers' front seven by going with a no-huddle, four-wide receiver scheme and having quarterback Tony Pike get rid of the ball quickly out of the shotgun. The Scarlet Knights got very little pressure and could not cover Cincinnati's receivers with linebackers and safeties -- or anyone else. Tackling, surprisingly, was also an issue.

The offensive line, which returned all five starters from a year ago, did not control the point of attack after Rutgers' first drive. Granted, the Scarlet Knights all but abandoned the running game after falling behind quickly, allowing Cincinnati to tee off on the pass rush, but the performance from what everybody assumed was the Big East's best line was uninspiring.

"We still have a lot of young guys on the offensive line," Schiano said. "We need to make large improvements before we're a dominant offensive line."

At least Schiano figured out his quarterback situation, by default. Dom Natale threw three interceptions in the second quarter, while the Jabu Lovelace package (he was 0-for-2 passing and ran for -2 yards on three carries) seems like a waste of time. The only spark from the offense came once true freshman Tom Savage came in to start the second half. The rookie showed a nice pocket presence and a strong arm, and it's hard to fathom why Schiano would start anyone but Savage from here on out.

"I was a little nervous going out there," said the highly recruited Savage, who completed 15 of 23 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown in his debut. "The older guys helped me out and got me cooled down.

"It was awesome going out there, and I definitely got my feet wet. I just want to move forward now."

The receiver position caused a lot of worry in the offseason but proved to be one of the few solid areas in the opener. Tim Brown (seven catches, 86 yards) showed he could be a No. 1 target, while true freshman Mohamed Sanu (10 catches, 101 yards) looks like a future star.

For whatever reason, a lot of Schiano's teams seem to come out of the gates slowly and improve as the year goes along. Rutgers got blown out at home by Fresno State in last year's opener and started 1-5 before turning things around. At least the players have the experience of knowing how to bounce back.

"We'll find out what kind of team we are," cornerback Devin McCourty said. "Maybe last year will be fortunate for this team. We understand you have to just keep playing and prepare for the next game because it can snowball on you."

It's unlikely that the Scarlet Knights will build a similar hole for themselves this year, simply because of the schedule. They have two FCS teams -- Howard and Texas Southern -- in their next four games, which also include a home date with Florida International and a trip to Maryland, which also got blown out in Week 1.

The next Big East game doesn't come until Oct. 16, when Pitt visits Piscataway. By then, conceivably, Savage will have had time to grow and the team will have straightened its issues out.

But there's no denying that Monday's loss dealt a blow to the excitement around the program. A record crowd of 53,737 filled the newly expanded Rutgers Stadium for the opener, and even the emergence of Savage probably won't get fans excited to come out for Howard, Texas Southern and Florida International.

"I just hope that people have learned this is a resilient program, a resilient team and a resilient coach," Schiano said. "This program will be back and be fine. We'll be exciting and we will win games.

"We've got to do it, though, because this is an event-driven era. You've got to be an event, and part of the event is winning."

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty experienced an odd sensation when spring practice began last week. For the first time in his athletic career, he was lining up without his identical twin, Jason.

Oh, brother, where art thou?

	Duncan Williams/Icon SMI
	Cornerback Devin McCourty is taking on a leadership role on Rutgers' defense.

"Yeah, definitely it's weird," he said. "With him not here, it's like a new stage in both of our lives. It's a new process, but I'm starting to get used to it."

Devin redshirted his first year at Rutgers, while Jason played on special teams as a true freshman. They both started at cornerback for the Scarlet Knights the past two seasons. Now Jason is preparing for a possible pro career, leaving only one McCourty on this year's team.

Devin doesn't buy into that whole notion that twins can read each others' minds and whatnot. Still, there's no denying the incredibly close connection the McCourty brothers shared.

"You're going to be in tune with somebody when you share the same room with them your whole life and every sport you've ever played, you've played together," Devin says. "You just have a feel for where they're going to be and what they're going to do next. You see it in NFL players who've played together so long; they all have a feel for whatever the other person's going to do. That's what I had with Jason."

The two brothers still talk every day, Jason updating his NFL preparations and Devin dishing out Rutgers happenings. The more important communication for Rutgers right now, though, will be going on between Devin and his current teammates.

It's not just Jason who is missing this spring. The Scarlet Knights lost senior stalwart Courtney Greene to graduation at safety, and they are practicing without Joe Lefeged, last year's other starting safety who's recovering from a shoulder injury. That leaves Devin McCourty as one of the few experienced defensive backs available this spring.

"When you have a guy like Courtney starting here for four years, replacing everything he does is tough," McCourty said. "He was a great player who made a lot of calls last year.

"It's my fifth year here, and coach is looking at me as a leader and guys are looking up at me. If I can help the safeties by making some calls or doing anything, that's what I'll try to do out there."

Jason McCourty tied for the team lead with two interceptions last year, running one back for a touchdown. His possible replacements lack much game experience. Fifth-year senior Billy Anderson, a seldom-used career reserve, came into the spring listed as the first-string cornerback opposite of Devin McCourty.

Jason was seen as having better cover skills early in his career, while Devin was viewed as the more physical of the two. Devin finished fifth on the team in tackles last season with 57, five ahead of his brother.

Both brothers are leaders on and off the field. Jason was a team captain in 2008 and was named Rutgers' male scholar-athlete of the year by the Big East. Devin has made the Big East all-academic team for three straight years.

Defensive back is a position where communication and trust are the underlying principles. Devin may never again find the same sort of connection he had with his twin, but this spring is about establishing new relationships and a new identity for the Rutgers secondary.

"I'm taking a leadership role and working with the young corners a lot, building bonds with all of them," he said. "Right now, it's like I'm a teacher and they're the student. I'm hoping by Game 1, we'll be have a perfect bond out there and be able to compete and get things going."