College Football Preview 2014-2015: 13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Amir Carlisle

 


Coach: Brian Kelly (5th year)
2013-2014 Record: 9-4 (Independent, No Conference Record)

Schedule:
August 30th vs. Rice
September 6th vs. Michigan
September 13th vs. Purdue (in Indianapolis)
September 27th vs. Syracuse (in East Rutherford)
October 4th vs. Stanford
October 11th vs. North Carolina
October 18th @ Florida State
November 1st vs. Navy (in Landover, Maryland)
November 8th @ Arizona State
November 15th vs. Northwestern
November 22nd vs. Louisville
November 29th @ USC

After a humiliating 42-14 loss to Alabama in the 2013 National Championship game, the Fighting Irish were hoping to return to a BCS bowl under coach Brian Kelly and improving QB Everett Golson. But, before the season, Golson was suspended for the year and although senior Tommy Rees filled in nicely, Notre Dame was pretty average throughout 2013 and went 9-4. Golson returns from his suspension but will have to grab the starting QB job away from rising Malik Zaire. Along with a strong defense, experienced offensive line and some dangerous running backs, this Fighting Irish team should be much improved.

Malik Zaire

Backfield: Golson was very good in the 2012-2013 season, his first as a starter for Notre Dame. Although he wasn't asked to throw it deep very often, he showed a strong arm and the ability to scramble and make plays. He has looked good this spring, commanding the offense very well and showcasing an arm that has become very accurate. Don't count out Zaire though, a player who was redshirted last year, a lefty with even more speed than Golson and an extremely high ceiling. No lefty has ever started for Notre Dame in the school's history, but that shouldn't hurt Zaire's case. It should be an interesting competition that could last all the way down until Notre Dame's first game, against Rice. There may not be any stars in this backfield, but there is certainly talent and production. Cam McDaniel, who led the Fighting Irish in rushing yards in 2013 (with 705) returns along with sophomore Tarean Folston, a speedster who can change games in the blink of an eye. The loss of George Atkinson III, should give more opportunities to Greg Bryant, who sat out the 2013 season. The former five-star recruit had 95 yards in the spring game and certainly has a ton of potential if he can stay healthy (he has struggled with knee problems his entire football career).

Receivers: The top option for Notre Dame in the passing game should be senior DaVaris Daniels, a tremendous athlete who can beat defenses deep. Daniels is a great player, but he had an interesting off season, earning a suspension then being readmitted to the football team. If he can stay out of trouble he could really have an impressive 2014. Former running back and USC transfer Amir Carlisle could also be a dangerous player this year for the Fighting Irish. Carlisle, who caught 7 passes for 30 yards out of the backfield last year, is extremely quick and fill find openings in the opposing defense. Junior Chris Brown could also add a dangerous piece in the aerial attack and Torii Hunter's son, Torii Hunter Jr. has suffered with leg issues but could be a high potential player who could really grow this year. Notre Dame has come to be known as "Tight End University" as they have produced a ton of talented tight ends over the years including Tyler Eifert, John Carlson and a number of others. This year, senior Ben Koyack should be the next player at the position to grow into a stud. Koyack has excellent size but is still pretty nimble and should be pretty productive, especially in the red zone.

Offensive Line: The offensive line does return three starters but the two they lose are two veteran stars, including Zack Martin, a first-round draft pick. Senior center Nick Martin returns to anchor the interior of the unit. Martin is an experienced player who recognizes defenses very well and is an excellent communicator. Junior Ronnie Stanley, who stepped in for Christian Lombardi at right tackle this past season, could possibly stay at right tackle but also could move and fill Zack Martin's void at left tackle. Stanley is a brick wall at tackle, a 6'5", 320-pounder who is very tough and is a hard-worker. No matter where he starts he will be productive but Brian Kelly and staff might prefer him on the left side, giving them an experienced linemen who can protect Golson or Zaire's blindside. Alex Bars is a massive four-star find from Nashville who will provide valuable depth and be a major piece to the puzzle in the future. Another important addition to this Notre Dame offensive line is going to be guard Quenton Nelson, a pretty good athlete who was a steal from the East Coast (comes over from Red Bank, New Jersey).

Defensive Line: Gone are two of Notre Dame's biggest defensive contributors the past two seasons in defensive end Stephon Tuitt and massive defensive tackle Louis Nix. Although their losses will certainly hurt the front seven, Notre Dame still definitely has some talent on this defensive line. The most notable returnee is junior Sheldon Day, an NFL draft prospect with a super impressive motor. Day proved to be very productive a year ago, recording 33 tackles, with 5.5 of them being for a loss. With Nix and Tuitt gone he is the star on this line, and those numbers may increase rapidly. The other likely starter in the heart of this defensive line will be another junior, Jarron Jones. Jones uses his massive frame to bowl over weaker offensive linemen and plug up openings at the line of scrimmage. Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder will run an aggressive 4-3 this year which could push hybrid end/outside linebacker Ishaq Williams to full-time snaps at end. Williams is very quick off the edge and with a likely starting role, could record a lot of sacks this year. Expect Andrew Trumbetti, another East Coast steal for the Fighting Irish, to push for action in his first year in South Bend.

Linebackers: There is no denying the absence of Manti Te'o certainly hurt this Notre Dame defense, especially their rush defense, as they fell to 70th in the nation in rush defense. A lot of that responsibility fell to youth in the linebacker corps, and the Fighting Irish will lose yet another important piece to this unit. Dan Fox, who led Notre Dame with 95 tackles in 2013, is now gone. Sophomore Jaylon Smith needs to step up after a productive first year as starter. The outside linebacker had 67 tackles, 6.5 TFL and added an interception. Smith is a fabulous athlete and could be a very versatile player this season. The big question is who will replace Fox at middle linebacker. Jarrett Grace broke his leg last October and it is unknown whether he will be ready for the start of 2014. If he isn't, expect former walk-on Joe Schmidt to get starting snaps. Schmidt has managed to find snaps on this roster because of his hard-working mentality and fabulous instincts. The star of this year's recruiting class is inside linebacker Nyles Morgan, a prospect from Illinois, who is rated as the No. 5 inside linebacker in the 2014 recruiting cycle. Greer Martini was another nice pickup to help boost this linebacker group. Martini is a tough, versatile 'backer who should find ways to contribute on this defense.

Secondary: This appears like it could be the strength of this Notre Dame defense, after the pass defense allowed just under 200 yards per game last year, good for 15th in the nation. Junior cornerback KeiVarae Russell has the chance to be special. Already on NFL scouts radar, Russell ad 51 tackles and 1 interception last year and should continue to grow as a coverage player. Russell is smart and is very quick, he can be shutdown at times. Joining Russell in the defensive backfield will be steady veteran Austin Collinsworth, a safety returning for his senior season, and sophomore Max Redfield. Redfield is a former five-star recruit who should likely start at free safety and is ready to step up in a big way. Collinsworth will prove to be a versatile defensive stopper who can be dangerous in run support or in coverage situations. Collinsworth had three picks in 2013; he is great at reading the quarterback and making plays on balls. The addition of Florida transfer Cody Riggs will further improve this secondary and give the Fighting Irish another experienced playmaker. Riggs, who will be eligible right away for the start of this year, has great range and could compete for starting snaps. The cornerback who will start opposite Russell is a little bit of a question, sophomore Cole Luke impressed in the spring and should get an opportunity to start.

Special Teams: The return of senior Kyle Brindza is a huge boost for ND, as the veteran will handle both kicking and punting duties. Unfortunately, the Fighting Irish lose some great returners including George Atkinson III, ND's all-time leader in kickoff returns. Cam McDaniel and others could compete for kick return opportunities along with punt return duties.

As usual, Notre Dame will face a daunting schedule that includes 10 teams that made bowl appearances in 2013. Even so, don't count out Notre Dame, who has enough talent on both sides of the ball to win double-digit games. Remember, Everett Golson has never lost a game in the regular season of his collegiate career and even if he doesn't start, Zaire has the chance to be special. If Kelly can find new leaders and some pass rush, expect Notre Dame to be very dangerous.

College Football Preview 2014-2015: 14. LSU Tigers

Travin Dural

14. LSU Tigers 

Coach: Les Miles (10th year)
2013-2014 Record: 10-3 (5-3 SEC)

Schedule:
August 30th vs. Wisconsin (in Houston)
September 6th vs. Sam Houston State
September 13th vs. Louisiana-Monroe
September 20th vs. Mississippi State
September 27th vs. New Mexico State
October 4th @ Auburn
October 11th @ Florida
October 18th vs. Kentucky
October 25th vs. Ole Miss
November 8th vs. Alabama
November 15th @ Arkansas
November 27th @ Texas A&M

For the fourth straight season, LSU won double-digit games, going 10-3 after an Outback Bowl victory over Iowa. Though the team lost to Alabama once more (they have been 0-3 against 'Bama since the "Game of the Century") and lose some major contributors to that 2013 team. Along with the graduation of quarterback Zach Mettenberger, the Tigers lose a number of dangerous skill position players and the defense suffers some major losses. It is still LSU, and it is still Les Miles, the Tigers should once more continue to be a threat in the SEC West.

Backfield: Under new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, QB Zach Mettenberger showed tons of improvement in his second and final year in Baton Rouge. The Tigers will sorely miss Mettenberger, but LSU has two talented quarterbacks competing to replace him. One is incoming freshman Brandon Harris and Anthony Jennings, who started and played well in LSU's victory in that Outback Bowl. Both have looked really good this spring, especially Harris, who enrolled early to compete for this job. Harris has the raw tools to be a great quarterback, gifted with tremendous speed and a huge arm that can make all the deep throws. Though, throwing in a freshman at quarterback to compete against some of the nation's best defenses rarely works the way you want. Jennings has at least seen some college action, throwing 29 passes in 2013. Jennings is pretty dangerous with his legs and seems to have a better grasp of the offense than Harris. The competition appears close and it might last for a long time, possibly all the way up to the team's first game, August 30th in Houston. The nation's No. 1 incoming recruit, running back Leonard Fournette, arrives in Baton Rouge with lofty expectations. Some people have called Fournette the next Adrian Peterson, and his coach Les Miles compared him to Michael Jordan at SEC Media Days. Fournette will come in and contribute, but he might not start right away. Senior Terrence Magee backed up now departed Jeremy Hill last season, rushing for 626 yards and eight touchdowns. Another senior Kenny Hilliard, who has had a great career with the Tigers, is also bound to get carries. With Fournette, Magee and Hilliard, this backfield is stacked, which should take pressure off whoever starts at quarterback.

Receivers: Not only do the Tigers lose Mettenberger, they also lose their top two receivers in Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry, who are both now in the NFL. Together the two recorded 136 receptions, 2,345 yards and 18 touchdowns and they will be sorely missed. The top options now in the LSU passing game include sophomore Travin Dural, former Penn State quarterback Rob Bolden and two true freshman, Trey Quinn and Malachi Dupre. There isn't much experience here, but there is certainly talent. Dupre is the No. 1 receiver in this 2014 recruiting cycle, while Quinn is the No. 3, giving LSU two amazing talents that can help now and in the future. Bolden, who transferred from Penn State after the Jerry Sandusky scandal, is a quick possession receiver who can be very dangerous in the middle of the field (Note: as of press time, Bolden was considering transfer from LSU). Dural, who caught seven passes and two touchdowns last year has to step up big time. He is also quick and can burn defenders deep occasionally; if Harris does indeed start, Dural and him could form a scary combination. At tight end, junior Dillon Gordon gives LSU another option in the passing game. Gordon had six receptions last year but is expected to be more of a contributor in 2014-2015.

Offensive Line: Other than the very deep stable of running backs, the offensive line is definitely the strength of this LSU team. Four starters return to lead this unit, which was already pretty strong last season. Senior La'El Collins is an All-American caliber tackle and has transformed into a legit NFL prospect. The 6'5" beast of a linemen will start at left tackle for the Tigers and is extremely strong and smart. Joining Collins on this O-Line will be left guard Vadal Alexandar, another massive linemen, who returns for his junior season. Center Elliott Porter gives the Tigers an important anchor in the heart of the line who can be pretty dominant at times. Along with those other three returning starters, right tackle Jerald Hawkins returns for his sophomore season after putting together a pretty strong freshman campaign. Guard Evan Washington could possibly start at right guard, opposite of Alexander; the senior will provide valuable experience. The addition of guard Garrett Brumfield, a local product from Baton Rouge who is the nation's top guard prospect, gives LSU another talented linemen to work with.

Defensive Line: LSU has had a long line of great, impact defensive linemen over the past couple of years. This 2014 team will be led by junior Danielle Hunter, an athletic defensive end who could be ready for a breakout year in Baton Rouge. Hunter has great size and fantastic speed off the edge, he could be a very disruptive force this year for the Tigers. On the other side, senior Jermauria Rasco returns after leading the Tigers with four sacks in 2013. Rasco is another athletic end who could be very disruptive this season. Up the middle, LSU will rely on junior Quentin Thomas, a player with a very high motor and also the ability to rush the quarterback and force him into mistakes. Sophomore defensive end Tashawn Bower is ready for a big 2014. Bower has all the tools to become a fantastic pass rusher; great size, athleticism, instincts and great stamina. Four-star Travonte Valentine is ready to make plays in his first year with the Tigers. Not very athletic, Valentine relies on his huge size and his strength to stuff up running lanes.

Linebackers: This linebacker corps looks a lot different this year but there is certainly a lot of talent on this team. It does return senior D.J. Welter, a tackling machine who recorded 80 tackles last season. Welter, who will start for LSU at middle linebacker, will give the Tigers a quick 'backer who can also help in coverage situations. Also returning is junior Kwon Alexander, an outside linebacker who could be extremely dangerous this year. Alexander had 6.5 tackles for loss last year and should continue to improve as a pass rusher. He also is a pretty nice help in run defense, he had 65 tackles last year. Les Miles and this staff did a great job picking up a number of impact linebackers in this year's class. LSU went into Big Ten country to land four-star inside linebacker Clifton Garrett, a great athlete who could turn into a fabulous playmaker for years to come in Baton Rouge. Outside linebacker Donnie Alexander is a nice four-star addition to these linebacker corps from nearby New Orleans. He could possibly compete for a starting role at the other outside linebacker position opposite of Alexander.

Jalen Mills

Secondary: LSU's pass defense was its usual fantastic self in 2013, holding opponents to just under 200 yards per game. Three starters are gone, but there is still plenty of experience. Junior free safety Jalen Mills looked great this spring; he spent most of last year at cornerback but he looks very comfortable at free safety. The addition of safety Jamal Adams definitely helps the Tigers. He may not start this year but he will find a way to make an impact. Adams is a great athlete with fantastic versatility. Joining Adams will be Arlington, Texas stud Edward Paris Jr., another safety who will find ways to contribute. Paris is another great athlete who can hit very hard and will definitely be a help in coverage. Both cornerbacks will most likely be a little bit inexperienced but playmaking sophomore Rashard Robinson has the chance to grow into a dominant coverage corner. Starting alongside Robinson will be Tre'Davious White, another fabulous athlete with loads of potential. The good news is both Robinson and White along with the rest of this secondary, will get time to adjust to their roles. Wisconsin, Sam Houston State nor Louisiana-Monroe are good passing teams, which will help this pass defense.

Special Teams: Australian punter Jamie Keehn returns for a junior year after a great 2013 campaign. He averaged 41 yards last year and he has a huge leg with improving accuracy. Sophomore kicker Colby  Delahoussaye is also back after a strong 2013 in which he went 13 for 14 on field goal opportunities. The return game has a number of dangerous weapons that could be major factors.

As usual, LSU lost their fair share of talent early to the NFL, especially on defense. But, it is LSU and once more they have a fabulous recruiting class that will provide depth and immediate help at need positions. The SEC West will of course be stacked and an early meeting against Wisconsin does not help, but if the Tigers find an effective quarterback anything is possible, even a chance at the inaugural College Football Playoff.

MLB Midseason Report

Jose Abreu, AL Rookie of the Year

The 2014 All-Star game is in the books, with the American League coming out on top, 5-3 over the NL. The second half of 2014 is fast approaching and it will surely be full of some major surprises, exciting wild card races and great baseball. Here are some of my thoughts and predictions at the midway point of 2014:

Most Surprising Team: Milwaukee Brewers

Every year, the MLB sees a dark horse rise from its ranks and make a deep playoff run. So far, Milwaukee certainly has been that team, and they have the pieces to win the National League. Outfielder Carlos Gomez, infamous for his free swinging mentality and antics on the field, is seeing the ball extremely well at the plate. Gomez is hitting .304 with 14 homers at the break. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy is smashing the ball as well and also is one of the game'a elite defensive catchers. Along with third basemen Aramis Ramirez, underrated outfielder Khris Davis and oh yeah, Ryan Braun, the Brewers have all the offense they need. If the bullpen can stay healthy and strong, Milwaukee can certainly make a run in the NL.

Most Disappointing Team: Boston Red Sox

Tampa Bay could certainly be on this list (they join Boston in the cellar of the AL East) but come on, these are the reigning World Series champs! The Red Sox are 43-52 and 9.5 games out of first in the East. The team has not been able to recapture the magic of 2013 and the chemistry they had a year ago just doesn't seem to be there. Unless the Sox can make some moves before the deadline, this team will struggle to even have a sniff at the playoffs and defending their crown.

AL Rookie of the Year: Jose Abreu, DH/1B, Chicago White Sox

The past couple of seasons, Cuba has been a talent-rich pipeline for MLB teams. Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman, Oakland outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and exuberant Dodger Yasiel Puig are just some of the big names that have come from the country. Abreu is another, a power hitter who has been mashing the ball. Abreu leads the MLB in home runs with 29, and also has 73 RBI and a .630 slugging percentage. He has been a big reason why Chicago, despite a depleted roster, hasn't completely fallen out of the AL Central chase. Masahiro Tanaka certainly has been impressive for the Yankees but what Abreu is doing is absolutely crazy.

NL Rookie of the Year: Billy Hamilton, OF, Cincinnati Reds

There may not be a more exciting player to watch in baseball than Hamilton. The speedster is constantly stealing bases, even against the best catchers in the game. He can stretch singles into doubles and tag up and score even on shallow pop-ups. The Reds are sticking in the NL Central chase, and Hamilon is a big reason why. 

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners

The starter for the AL in the All-Star game, "King Felix" has been unhittable this year. The ace is rolling, with an 11-2 record, along with a 2.12 ERA. His variety of pitches and excellent movement have made him the best pitcher in baseball. Seattle is hanging on tight in the AL West, with Hernandez, they could continue making strides. Don't count them out of a Wild Card spot at all.

NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw, NL Cy Young 

No pitcher in baseball is as hot as Kershaw, who continues to improve. The southpaw also has an 11-2 mark on the year paired with a dominant 1.78 ERA. Pair that with a no-hitter and the Dodgers' success this year and it is tough not to give him the award.

AL MVP: Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels
There is no denying Trout is the best player in the American League and possibly the entire MLB at 2014's midway point. Trout is hitting 22 home runs, with 73 RBI, 10 stolen bases along with a .310 batting average. Mixed in with his excellent fielding and big arm in the outfield, Trout is having a monster season. With the Angels very much in the race in the American League, Trout has all the qualifications he needs to win the award.

NL MVP: Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies
Tulowitzki has always been one of the best players in the league when he is healthy but he has struggled with a number of injuries throughout his career. I mean, a 6'3" shortstop with considerable power, Tulowitzki has always had the tools to be great. This year, Tulo has been extremely impressive, hitting for contact (.345 batting average) and also showing his immense power (21 home runs, 52 RBI and a .613 slugging percentage). If Tulo continues to stay healthy, he should run away with the NL MVP award.

World Series Prediction: Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
With the addition of Jeff Samardzija from Chicago, the A's pitching staff just became very impressive. Scott Kazmir, whose career looked over before the year, Sonny Gray and a deep bullpen, the Athletics have the best collection of arms in the MLB. The offense is great as well with underrated stars Josh Donaldson and Brandon Moss along with quickly improving Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland has all the pieces to run through the American League. The National League race is pretty wide open, no team appears to have the upper hand. Though, the Dodgers could easily separate themselves from the pack. They have the best 1-2 punch of pitchers inside the NL (Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke) and a number of exciting players on the offensive end. If Yasiel Puig can play smart and realize his full potential and the Dodgers stay pretty healthy, they can make a move in the NL.

College Football Preview 2014-2015: 15. Wisconsin Badgers

Melvin Gordon

15. Wisconsin Badgers

Coach: Gary Andersen (2nd year)
2013-2014 Record: 9-4 (6-2 Big Ten)

Schedule:
August 30th vs. LSU (in Houston)
September 6th vs. Western Illinois
September 20th vs. Bowling Green
September 27th vs. South Florida
October 4th @ Northwestern
October 11th vs. Illinois
October 25th vs. Maryland
November 1st @ Rutgers
November 8th @ Purdue
November 15th vs. Nebraska
November 22nd @ Iowa
November 29th vs. Minnesota

In the first year removed from the Bret Bielema era, the Badgers proved to be very dangerous, winning 9 games (easily could have been 10, they were screwed in their loss to Arizona State). Last year saw a number of bright spots including the play of junior running back Melvin Gordon, who returns as a possible Heisman candidate. With a number of other playmakers returning on both sides of the ball, this Badgers team has the talent to improve on those nine games and possibly win the Big Ten West Division.

Backfield: The Badgers once again entered spring with a quarterback competition, this time between junior Joel Stave and Tanner McEvoy. Stave was the starter in 2013 and had a decent season, throwing for 2,494 yards and 22 touchdowns. Though he does have some issues, he is prone to mistakes, throwing 13 interceptions last year and completing just 61% of his passes. He showed a lot of improvement last season, but McEvoy is a talented player with a big arm who could definitely push Stave. Gordon, who rushed for 1,609 yards last year and averaged nearly eight yards per carry, could have an even better 2014. He is a big play threat who can break open games with his electrifying speed. The scary news for opponents is that he isn't the only lethal back returning as sophomore Corey Clement is back. Clement ran for 547 yards in 2013, despite being the No. 3 back on this depth chart behind Gordon and James White, who is now graduated. He also is a speedster that can change games, much like Gordon. Gordon and White led Wisconsin to 3,053 yards on the ground last year, a single-season record for FBS teammates.

Receivers: It is a good thing the Badgers have big play threats in the backfield, because they certainly are lacking in them at receiver. Gone is Jared Abrederis, leaving a number of unproven options in the passing game. Alex Erickson and Jordan Frederick are the Badgers leading returning receivers. Erickson had 9 receptions for 127 yards while Frederick had 10 catches for 106 yards. To make matters worse, both were dealing with injuries in the spring. Senior Kenzel Doe is small but quick and could be a Wes Welker type guy for these Badgers; a possession receiver who can find space and move the chains. Two three-star recruits, Natrell Jamerson and Krenwick Sanders, were nice pickups from the Southeast who can help stretch the field. Gone is tight end Jacob Pedersen, who was a security blanket for Stave in his time with the Badgers. Senior Sam Arneson and incoming freshman Beau Benzschawel, another three-star find, will compete for snaps to replace Pedersen.

Offensive Line: The offensive line should be a considerable strength for Wisconsin, who returns four starters from a solid unit in 2013. With a lot of experience back, this should be a major reason why the Badgers rushing attack will be so effective. Junior Tyler Marz returns at left tackle, a strong linemen with good instincts. At the opposite side of the line is right tackle Rob Havenstein, who has 28 career starts entering his senior year. Havenstein fits the mold of a Wisconsin linemen; a massive hard-nosed linemen. He is 6'8" and 327 pounds and he will be a major help to Stave or McEvoy, whoever does start. The interior linemen also have valuable experience, including senior Kyle Costigan and senior Dallas Lewallen. Combined, the pairing have also made 28 starts, including 21 from Costigan. Costigan will start at the right side, while Lewallen will start on the left, both are pretty good athletes who will lead the way for Gordon and Clement.

Defensive Line: In 2013, the Badgers had the fifth best rush defense in the entire nation and overall, had the seventh best defense. Though, eight starters are gone on the defense and the whole front seven is gone. Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda will hope to make his defense more aggressive and it starts with a lot of blitzes. Although all four starters are gone on the defensive line, this unit still has a lot of talent including redshirt freshman Chikwe Obasih. Obasih was extremely impressive this spring and could push for major playing time, possibly starting. Nose guard Warren Herring, a senior, is a beast and could put together a big 2014. He has great size and is a physical weapon in the heart of the Wisconsin defense. Pushing for possible playing time at defensive tackle could be local Wisconsin commit Billy Hirschfield. Hirschfield has a great motor and good size, he could be a very disruptive force for the Badgers now and in the future.  The other defensive end spot is likely to be handled by another senior in Konrad Zagzebski, who also has plenty of experience despite not starting very often. Zagzebski has nice size and is a great athlete, he fits in very well with Aranda and his new defense.

Linebackers: The leader of this defense the past couple of years, inside linebacker Chris Borland, exhausted his eligibility, leaving a major hole in the middle of the Wisconsin "D". Sophomore Vince Biegel had a great season a year ago, racking up 25 tackles with two sacks. He isn't the best athlete on this defense but he is still tough and relies on his valuable instincts. Starting at outside linebacker is senior Marcus Trotter, a disruptive playmaker. Trotter recorded 24 tackles in 2013 and could put together more in a new starting role. Another senior, Joe Schobert, also had 24 tackles last year and recorded 2.5 tackles for loss. Schobert is a run stopper who can possibly be a force as a blitzing 'backer. Dominic Cizauskas is an inside linebacker who could compete for snaps behind Schobert or the likely other starter in senior Derek Landisch. Cizasuskas is another pipeline find for Andersen and staff and has a bright future ahead of him. This unit lost some real talent, but it still has a lot of experience and it could still be one of the best defenses in the nation at stopping the run.

Darius Hillary

Secondary: This should be the strength of this Wisconsin defense, as three starters return, including the team's leading returning tackler, safety Michael Caputo. Caputo, a junior, is a steady veteran with fantastic range and a player who doesn't make highlight plays, but will make the right plays. He is going to start at strong safety, though the free safety is a question. The real strength of this defensive backfield is at cornerback, where junior Darius Hillary and Sojourn Shelton are fantastic players. Hillary had 30 tackles and an interception in 2013 and is a good athlete can make acrobatic defensive plays. Shelton, a sophomore, is quick and agile and should turn into a more formidable player in coverage. A pair of incoming safeties, Austin Hudson (who arrives from Tampa, Florida) and Lubern Figaro are two thee-star products have great potential.

Special Teams: Junior kicker Jack Russell has had a great career with the Badgers so far and returns, giving the Badgers a real strength in the special teams. Though, Tennessee commit, Rafael Gaglianone could give him quite a challenge for kicking duties. Kenzel Doe will help in the return game.

The Badgers will do what the Badgers do; run the ball behind a veteran offensive line and play strong, hard-nosed defense. The schedule does offer some tough tests especially right away against LSU in Houston and finishes up with Wisconsin's three biggest threats inside the Big Ten West, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. Though, if Stave or McEvoy can improve the passing game and the defense can find some leaders, this team should be a dark horse national title threat.

College Football Preview 2014-2015: 16. USC Trojans

16. USC Trojans

Cody Kessler

 

Coach: Steve Sarkisian (1st year)
2013-2014 Record: 10-4 (6-3 Pac-12)

Schedule:
August 30th vs. Fresno State
September 6th @ Stanford
September 13th @ Boston College
September 27th vs. Oregon State
October 4th vs. Arizona State
October 11th @ Arizona
October 18th vs. Colorado
October 25th @ Utah
November 1st @ Washington State
November 13th  vs. California
November 22nd @ UCLA
November 29th vs. Notre Dame

It is amazing how the right coach with the right attitude and connection with his players can change a team's season. After a disastrous start to the 2013 season under Lane Kiffin, they started off 3-2, the Trojans went 6-2 under interim coach Ed Orgeron, with victories over Stanford and other big conference games. Although the Trojans decided not to bring back Orgeron (they hired former Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian) this roster is still filled with the fantastic talents that led them to that 6-2 finish.  Although this schedule is filled with tough games as usual, USC is starting to return to the dominant program they once were and they have a chance to win the Pac-12 South.

Backfield: Cody Kessler seemed more comfortable and smarter under Orgeron during the second half of the season and ended up throwing for 2,968 yards, 20 touchdowns, while completing 65% of his throws. Kessler doesn't have a huge arm but has an accurate arm. He isn't an incredibly fast but he can make plays with his legs and he has excellent pocket awareness. Backup quarterback Max Wittek will sit out this year, earn his degree and then transfer. That leaves redshirt freshman Max Browne as the starter if anything happens to Kessler. Browne, a five-star commit for Lane Kiffin and USC last year, has looked strong in the spring. The Trojans are gifted with a deep stable of playmakers inside this backfield. Junior Javorius Allen is the team's leading returning rusher, rushing for 785 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2013. He is a versatile back that can do a number of different things; he has a dangerous mix of speed and strength and he can make plays as a receiver. Joining him will be Tre Madden, who ran for 703 yards last year and should still get a fair bunch of carries and junior Soma Vainuku will likely be the starter at fullback.

Receivers: Kessler has one of the nation's best receivers to throw the ball to in junior Nelson Agholor, a speedy playmaker with excellent hands. Agholor proved to be a big play threat last year, averaging 16.4 yards per reception. Few defensive backs have the speed to keep up with Agholor, who can beat defenses with a quick first step. Joining Agholor will be sophomore Darreus Rogers, a player who works the middle of the field very well. Agholor's big-play ability deep opens up lanes underneath for Rogers, who had 22 catches a year ago. George Farmer was a big-name recruit for USC coming out of high school but his career with the Trojans has been filled with injuries. Last year, a torn ligament in his leg forced his season to end. If he can manage to stay healthy he could be a great complement to Agholor in the passing game. Four-star athlete Juju Smith will likely spend most of his time at receiver. Smith is a tremendous athlete who could make a major impact for the Trojans immediately. Another incoming freshman Adoree Jackson is a local product from California, who saw practice time playing both ways. He looked very good as a cornerback and might not get a ton of looks at receiver but he should still be able to make plays on both sides of the ball. Senior Randall Telfer returns at tight end. Last year, Telfer saw very little action because of Xavier Grimble, but Grimble is now gone, opening up opportunities for Telfer.

Realistic Expectations for Cleveland in 2014-2015

LeBron James

The Decision 2.0 has come and passed and LeBron is heading back home. Four years after he broke acity's heart and won two title while appearing in four NBA Finals in Miami, LeBron decided to return to Cleveland, making the Cavs a heavy favorite for the NBA Finals in 2014-2015. Since LeBron left for the Heat, Cleveland had the lowest winning percentage in the NBA with a brutal .311 mark in that span. But, with LeBron and Andrew Wiggins (assuming the Cavaliers do not deal him to Minnesota in an attempt to land Kevin Love) it definitely appears the Cavaliers have the star power to win an NBA title. Before we get too excited, can the Cavs actually win an NBA title in the first year of LeBron's return? Are they really the best team in the NBA now?

LeBron never did win a title his first seven years with Cleveland, though he did make one lone appearance with them in the 2006-2007 season. That year, Cleveland's starting lineup was this: Larry Hughes, Sasha Pavlovic, LeBron, Drew Gooden and Anderson Varejao. Of course, they were absolutely dominated by San Antonio in the Finals, but it proved just how much LeBron matters to a team. Immediately after LeBron's announcement, Las Vegas made him the favorite to win the title this next season. With the star power of LeBron, Kyrie Irving, Wiggins and possibly even Love (?) it certainly makes sense. But, wait just a moment, didn't a LeBron-led Heat team that was just as talented as this Cavs team is now, lose in five games to the Spurs in the Finals? And that Spurs team has everyone back including Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, Tim Duncan and Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard along with important role players like Boris Diaw and Patty Mills. Additionally, the Thunder still have the reigning MVP Kevin Durant, a healthy Russell Westbrook and a quickly improving Serge Ibaka, the Rockets have James Harden, Dwight Howard and are likely to add Chris Bosh. Inside the East, a Bulls team with a healthy Derrick Rose is very dangerous and they could still add their own superstar in Carmelo. So, lets not carried away to quickly just because LeBron heads to Cleveland. Sure, if they add Kevin Love they add yet another superstar and will have all the pieces to win a title. They will have a stretch four that can open lanes for Kyrie's ability to get into the lane, and an impact player down low. But, right now, they are still probably the 2nd or 3rd best team in the NBA (before Carmelo decides) in my opinion.

Oh, and then there is the whole deal with the rookie head coach. Former Euroleague head coach David Blatt was a pretty surprising and unknown hire for the Cavaliers, and now he has to coach the best basketball player in the world and deal with a ton of scrutiny. Imagine the transition, moving from the Euroleague to the NBA with serious expectations for a title. Kyrie and LeBron have never played together and neither have ever played under Blatt so there will time to gel for all three. Early in his time with Miami, the Heat struggled because Bosh, Wade and LeBron all needed the ball. Finding an effective offense that uses Kyrie, LeBron and possibly even Love in the right way is an extremely difficult task. Though, Kyrie has supported Blatt, who is a great offensive mind and the coach appears ready to be up to this challenge.

Who knows, maybe in the next couple hours or days, K-Love could be the next big name Cleveland brings in. If that happens, there is no denying they are the best team in the NBA. But right now, the Spurs, Thunder, Rockets, Bulls are still going to be major threats. LeBron is smartly trying to dampen the expectations, saying he doesn't expect a championship this first year. He will bring one eventually, he is too talented not now to snatch up at least one ring while in Cleveland. But, unless they add K-Love or another major piece I don't think that championship will come right away.

College Football Preview 2014-2015: 17. Ole Miss Rebels

Bo Wallace

17. Ole Miss Rebels

Coach: Hugh Freeze (3rd year)
2013-2014 Record: 8-5 (3-5 SEC)

Schedule:
August 28th vs. Boise State (in Atlanta)
September 6th @ Vanderbilt
September 13th vs. Louisiana
September 27th vs. Memphis
October 4th vs. Alabama
October 11th @ Texas A&M
October 18th vs. Tennessee
October 25th @ LSU
November 1st vs. Auburn
November 8th vs. Presbyterian
November 22nd @ Arkansas
November 29th vs. Mississippi State

In Hugh Freeze's first two years Ole Miss has won 15 games, showing sudden improvement after the program seemed to be falling apart under former coach Houston Nutt. But, this could be a breakout year for Ole Miss who returns 15 starters and once again brings in a Top 25 class after the surprising Top 10 class they brought in for 2013. Although the SEC West will be brutal again this season (even with Alabama, LSU and Texas A&M rebuilding) the Rebels now have the talent, the depth and the experience to have a breakthrough 2014 season.

Backfield: Senior quarterback Bo Wallace is now the most experienced quarterback in the SEC and he should be a big reason why many believe Ole Miss can take the next step. The dual threat can move very well in the pocket and also can make the big throws to beat defenses. He threw for 3,346 yards as a junior and with another year of seeing SEC defenses under his belt, that number could only increase. The loss of Jeff Scott at running back hurts but there is still a ton of talent in the backfield starting with junior I'Tavius Mathers. The electric playmaker actually led Ole Miss in rushing yards last season with 563 yards, averaging nearly six yards per carry. Jaylen Walton, a junior, also has experience and put together a strong 2013 and is also quick and elusive, like Mathers. If these backs stay healthy and Wallace makes some plays with his legs, Ole Miss could have one of the nation's most dangerous rushing attacks.

Receivers: Gone is Bo Wallace's favorite target, Donte Moncrief, who had 59 catches for 938 yards last year but graduated. That leaves sophomore Laquon Treadwell, a big piece in the 2013 recruiting class, as the top receiving option. Treadwell proved that he was one of the SEC's most explosive players, proving to be very dangerous after the catch. He had 72 receptions for 608 yards as a true freshman, he has the talent to put up crazy numbers. Senior Vince Sanders returns, giving the Rebels another dangerous target in the passing game. Not extremely explosive, Sanders is a good route runner with decent speed who just finds ways to get open. Add in sophomore tight end Evan Engram, an All-SEC player in 2013, these receiving corps have excellent experience and loads of talent. Engram is very athletic for a tight end and has good hands, catching 21 passes last year. Two incoming freshman, four-stars Markell Pack and Dayall Harris, add even more speed and depth to this group. Both are local Mississippi products and can be home run threats for Wallace to throw to, both have good hands.

Offensive Line: A number of important pieces on this O-Line are gone, including three starters. Center Evan Swindall was a pretty important piece and was very experienced and his position will not be easily replaced. The good news is that sophomore Laremy Tunsil returns and will most likely start at left tackle. Tunsil was another gem from that 2013 class and had a pretty impressive true freshman campaign. Tunsil really fits this offense well, he has the athleticism to keep up with the Rebels' up-tempo offensive scheme. Guard Aaron Morris will hopefully be healthy for the 2014 season after a torn ACL last year. Morris is a good athlete and should likely join Tunsil on protecting the quarterback on the left side. Replacing Swindall at center will likely be junior Ben Still, a smart, experienced veteran. The top talent in the 2014 recruiting class is guard Rod Taylor, a talent from Jackson, Mississippi, who is the No. 2 rated guard in this year's class. He is also a good athlete and is very durable; he should be able to compete for a starting slot right away with the questions Ole Miss does have on this line.

Defensive Line: The No.1 prospect in the 2013 recruiting class cycle, Robert Nkemdiche, looked pretty good in 2013. The versatile defensive stud can play all across the line but will spend most of his time at defensive tackle. He has an impressive motor and a nose for the ball, he was extremely impressive this spring. His speed and strength were on clear display this spring and he seemed to be comfortable as well. Joining him will be junior defensive end C.J. Johnson, who proved to be a pretty effective pass rusher last season. Johnson is a very dangerous player when healthy, he has great speed off the edge. Joining Nkemdiche up the middle will be junior defensive tackle Isaac Gross, who led the team in sacks last year. With those three returning, this pass rush should be pretty strong, it was a pretty major weakness on this team in 2013. Two true freshman, Garrald McDowell and Breeland Speaks, will provide some valuable depth to this unit.

Linebackers: Injuries really hit this group bad but sometimes that the good news is that gave a lot of little-used guys valuable experience. Now, with this group healthy and a lot of impressive depth, these linebackers could be a real strength. Denzel Nkemdiche (the brother of Robert and a big reason why he came to Ole Miss) was an All-SEC talent in 2013 and is very reliable. Senior Serderius Byrant is also back after an All-SEC season as well. Although he is undersized, just 5'9", 218 pounds, Bryant is tough and has great instincts. They will both compete for snaps at outside linebacker, the question is at middle linebacker. Senior Deterrian Shackelford and Keith Lewis will compete for the snaps. Shackelford is a good athlete who can hit the offensive player an jar the ball loose, while Lewis is a proven veteran who can be a real help in coverage. Four-star outside linebacker DeMarquis Gates could be heading for a redshirt year as Nkemdiche and Bryant will take away any chances of snaps he could have.



Cody Prewitt

Secondary: Freeze and defensive coordinator Dave Wommack run a 4-2-5, hoping to prevent defenses from making plays through the air. This secondary is very young but is very talented and has some playmakers including sophomore Tony Conner and senior safety Cody Prewitt. Conner, a rangy athlete will roam around the field and make important plays. Prewitt recorded six interceptions last year, helping him earn All-American honors in 2013. His instincts and great hands help him jump routes and make those important interceptions, he could have another fantastic year. The likely starter at strong safety is junior Trae Elston, another good athlete who also can force turnovers. The cornerback positions are a slight issue as nobody knows who will start alongside Mike Hilton. Senior Senquez Golson will fight for the bulk of snaps, though Derrick Jones has a ton of potential and could become a starter. Southern Miss transfer Anthony Alford will also compete for snaps, most likely at safety. The former quarterback for the Golden Eagles was very impressive this spring and should push for more snaps this year.

Special Teams: This is the big issue for the Rebels as they lose both kicker Andrew Ritter and punter Tyler Campbell. True freshman Gary Wunderlich has a great leg who can play both kicker and punter for the Rebels. Senior kicker Andrew Fletcher will also compete for the kicking position and has the experience that Wunderlich doesn't have.

The Rebels will begin their year with a meeting in Atlanta against a dangerous Boise State team and the conference schedule is extremely difficult, as expected in the SEC. If Wallace and the rest of the Rebels' offensive weapons can stay healthy and the front seven shows considerable improvement this will be a breakthrough season for Ole Miss.

College Football Preview 2014-2015: 18. Clemson Tigers

Charone Peake

18. Clemson Tigers

Coach: Dabo Swinney (6th year)

2013-2014 Record: 11-2 (7-1 ACC)

Schedule:
August 30th @ Georgia
September 6th vs. South Carolina State
September 20th @ Florida State
September 27th vs. North Carolina
October 4th vs. NC State
October 11th vs. Louisville
October 18th @ Boston College
October 25th vs. Syracuse
November 6th @ Wake Forest
November 15th @ Georgia Tech
November 22nd vs. Georgia State
November 29th vs. South Carolina

Dabo Swinney has a huge challenge on his hands this season, replacing three-year starter Tajh Boyd at quarterback and stud receivers Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant, coming off an 11-2 season. Although it was pretty much a very successful season as the Tigers beat Georgia (when they were healthy) and also beat Ohio State in the Orange Bowl. It will be somewhat of a rebuilding season with those studs gone but don't overlook Clemson, who is always in the mix inside the ACC no matter what they lose.

Backfield: Boyd was a fantastic quarterback in his time with the Tigers, but he could never get Clemson over the top and win a national championship, despite winning the conference and making multiple BCS bowls in his time. Senior Cole Stoudt is likely to replace Boyd and he has the arm strength and football knowledge to be pretty successful, even with many offensive weapons around him missing. True freshman Deshaun Watson was one of the nation's top quarterback commits and he could be a great package quarterback this year for Clemson; coming in near the red zone or in short-yardage situations, where they need his great running ability. The unfortunate thing for Stoudt is who tough Clemson's schedule is early in the season, road meetings against Georgia and Florida State don't give the quarterbacks much time to get adjusted to the starting role. The running back situation is a question mark as Roderick McDowell graduated. That leaves senior D.J. Howard, junior Zac Brooks and redshirt freshman Wayne Gallman competing for the bulk of the snaps. Howard had 213 yards last year as a junior and is ready to step up after a career as a backup in Clemson. Brooks' health is a concern and although Gallman is quick he is not a proven ball carrier.

Receivers: The loss of Watkins and Bryant means Clemson is missing 2,292 yards, 143 receptions and 19 touchdowns. Senior Adam Humphries is ready to step up in a big way, he is a speedy possession receiver who is a great route runner. Returning with him is junior Charone Peake, who tore his ACL early last season. When he was healthy, Peake proved to be a very dangerous receiving option making a number of big plays. Humphries and Peake are very talented and experienced but it will be interesting to see if they can handle the increased workload as the top receiving options now. Also returning is explosive sophomore Mike Williams who landed 316 yards and 3 touchdowns, he is a major big-play target. This recruiting class is stocked with young receivers with potential including four-star recruits Artavis Scott, Trevion Thompson and Demarre Kitt. All three have great hands with some playmaking potential and gives these receiving corps some serious depth. At tight end, junior Stanton Seckinger and Sam Cooper will hope to make an impact, but Swinney and staff brought in two tight end commits that make plays in Milan Richard and Cannon Smith.

Offensive Line: The O-Line is not really a strength but it does have some solid pieces including junior center Ryan Norton. Norton is tenacious with pretty nice athleticism for a center. At the two guard slots, expect two seniors to start in David Beasley and Kalon Davis. Both have great size and versatility, they could possibly play multiple positions along the line. The big question on this unit is who will protect Stoudt's blind side at left tackle? Junior Isaiah Battle is a 6'7" beast of a linemen that can push around smaller pass rushers. Three-star Justin Falcinelli is a talented product from Maryland who could compete for playing time either at that left tackle position or possibly on the right side.



Vic Beasley

Defensive Line: Throughout Swinney's team with the Tigers the offense has been one of the best in the nation while the defense has been more of a nuisance, blamed for most of their struggles, including when they let up 70 points to West Virginia in the 2012 Orange Bowl. But, this year they could be one of the nation's best and it starts with the defensive line. Senior Vic Beasley, who would have been a 1st or 2nd round selection, is back for his final season with the Tigers after a monster 2013 season. He put together an All-American campaign, recording 13 sacks and 23 tackles for loss. He will spend most of his time at defensive end but he has the athleticism off the edge to make plays as a standup linebacker. The other defensive slot will be manned by senior Corey Crawford who is also a pretty decent pass rusher. He isn't as quick off the edge as Beasley, relying more on instincts and his great size and strength. Up the middle, another senior, Grady Jarrett will hope to make plays. Jarrett doesn't get a lot of respect but he has the motor and size to rack up a lot of tackles at the defensive tackle position. Senior DeShawn Williams will compete for playing time with some others and some true freshman for the other DT spot.

Linebackers: The return of senior Stephone Anthony is also very important for this defense, as the middle linebacker is a great tackler who had 131 tackles in 2013. Anthony has the speed to become a great pass rusher and has a nose for the ball. Along with Anthony, the move of former safety Travis Blanks to linebacker really helps this unit. The junior will likely play the "Sam" position on defense, a safety/linebacker hybrid who will roam all across the field. He has proven to be a hard hitter who can find ways to make plays in the backfield, although he struggles with consistency. The third linebacker position is made for senior Tony Steward. Steward was a former big time commitment for the Tigers but he has struggled with knee problems and finding general consistency throughout his tenure with Clemson. If he can stay healthy he could really make an impact as a pass rusher, because Beasley and Crawford will open up lanes for these linebackers, occupying blockers. Fort Lauderdale product Richard Yeargin III will add important depth at outside linebacker.

Secondary: The move of Blanks to linebacker does mean there is one less impact safety in this defensive backfield, but this unit should still be strong and still does have experience. Senior Robert Smith is an important returner for this secondary, he is a smart veteran who put together a great 2013, collecting 79 tackles. Joining Smith will be another safety in sophomore Jayron Kearse, an athlete who has great size and could be a real help in coverage situations. At cornerback, redshirt freshman Mackensie Alexander could put together a fantastic year after being a five-star stud in the 2013 recruiting class. He has turned heads in the spring with his speed and it is clear he oozes with potential. He could possibly start at cornerback but he also has the versatility to compete for snaps at safety. Swinney and defensive coordinator Brent Venables will need experience at cornerback though, meaning senior Martin Jenkins could start or Garry Peters.

Special Teams: Clemson will definitely miss kicker Chandler Catanzaro, the ACC's No.2 all-time scorer. Whoever will replace him will have huge shoes to replace, it will likely be junior Ammon Lakip. Junior punter Bradley Pinion returns he was pretty impressive last year, averaging nearly 38 yards per punt.

Even with some big names gone, Clemson has turned into a program that can reload and has players ready to step in and make an impact. If weapons step up around Stoudt (like Humphries, Peake or any one of the freshman) this offense could still definitely be explosive and the defense has the chance to be one of the nation's stingiest. Inside the relatively weak ACC, the Tigers are still competitive enough to hang with Florida State inside the Atlantic Division.

College Football Preview 2014-2015: 19. Kansas State Wildcats

Daniel Sams

19. Kansas State Wildcats

Coach: Bill Snyder (23rd year)
2013-2014 Record: 8-5 (5-4 Big 12)

Schedule:
August 30th vs. Stephen F. Austin
September 6th @ Iowa State
September 18th vs. Auburn
September 27th vs. UTEP
October 4th vs. Texas Tech
October 18th @ Oklahoma
October 25th vs. Texas
November 1st vs. Oklahoma State
November 8th @ TCU
November 20th @ West Virginia
November 29th vs. Kansas
December 6th @ Baylor

Considering the fact that the Wildcats lost their heart and soul when Collin Klein graduated, going 8-5 and posting a winning mark in the Big 12 was a major success. Junior college transfer Jake Waters and speedy Daniel Sams manned the quarterback position left vacant after Klein, while the defense proved to be one of the Big 12's strongest. With Waters returning at QB and a ton of offensive weapons surrounding him, the Wildcats have the legitimate talent to make a run at a conference championship.

Backfield: Coach Bill Snyder did what he does best; develop a JUCO recruit into a fantastic player at the FBS level. Waters, the top ranked QB recruit coming out of the JUCO ranks last year, threw for 2,469 yards with 18 touchdowns and grew better as the season progressed. He split time with Sams, a dual threat, in 2013-2014 but Sams moved to wide receiver this offseason, resting the quarterback duties fully on Waters. Waters has a huge arm with deceptive mobility and he rarely makes mistakes, he could be a breakout talent this season. John Hubert, who rushed for 1,048 yards last year, is gone at running back, opening up the door for either senior DeMarcus Robinson or talented freshman Dalvin Warmack. Robinson has been very quiet in his career in Manhattan and had just five carries last season but the tools are there for him to have a big year. He is an elusive back with pretty decent speed and he is very shifty. If he doesn't put it together expect Warmack to get some opportunities. Warmack is a speedy offensive weapon from Blue Springs, Missouri who had a monster senior season in high school. Rob Gronkowski's brother, Glenn, is likely the starter at fullback, the sophomore is a decent blocker who can make plays coming out of the backfield as a receiver.

Receivers: Once just a special teams demon, senior Tyler Lockett has developed into one of the nation's best receivers. Lockett had 81 receptions and 1,262 yards in his junior campaign and will benefit from Waters' move to full-time quarterback; the two seemed to have a great connection in 2013. Lockett is a versatile receiver that can burn you deep and can also do severe damage after the catch. Returning alongside him is senior Curry Sexton, another experienced, proven pass-catcher. Not nearly as explosive as Lockett, Sexton relies on his great hands and ability to find the soft spots in defenses. Sams' move from quarterback to receiver should give the 'Cats another explosive threat on the outside to work with. His impressive speed was on display last year when he racked up 807 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground as a QB. JUCO product Andre Davis arrives from Santa Rosa, California, to give K-State another weapon. Senior tight end Zach Trujillo returns and could make some plays in the passing game.

Offensive Line: Even with three-time All-Big 12 center B.J. Finney returning, the offensive line has some notable holes on it. Finney is a great overall center with experience and pretty impressive athleticism. Junior Cody Whitehair is also back, and he could move to left tackle this year, he is gifted with valuable versatility. Starting alongside him on the left side of the line will likely be guard Will Ash, a sophomore with a very high ceiling. Ash towers over defenders, he is 6'2" and nearly 340 pounds, but he still moves pretty well for being that big. Two Colorado commits, offensive tackle Alec Ruth and center Dalton Risner add depth to the unit, very important considering the unit is not very deep at all.



Ryan Mueller

Defensive Line: Defensive end Ryan Mueller came out of nowhere to have a monster 2013 season, racking up 11.5 sacks along with 18.5 tackles for loss. Those 11.5 sacks were good enough for eight nationally and with seven starters gone on this defense, Snyder and the Wildcats will rely on Mueller even more. The senior has great athleticism and the high motor to make plays all across the field, he could put together an even more impressive season. Up the middle, junior Travis Britz returns to give Kansas State another valuable talent on the D-Line. Britz has a big frame, at 6'4", 290+ pounds but he is exceptionally quick for a defensive tackle and he can be very disruptive, he had 3 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss last year. The other defensive tackle slot is a bigger question, as Chris Brown, Valentino Coleman and JUCO commit Terrell Clinkscales will compete for the job. Clinkscales is the fourth-rated DT in this year's junior college class and a four-star stud who has the talent to put together an impressive year; even if he doesn't start he could still find ways to make an impact. The other defensive end spot will be platooned by the combination of Laton Dowling and Marquel Bryant, with Bryant likely getting the bulk of the snaps.

Linebackers: Although Blake Slaughter, the team's leading tackler last season is gone the Wildcats still have some hope for this linebacker group because of the return of Jonathan Truman. Truman was second on the team in tackles in 2013, recording 89 and also managing to rack up 4.5 tackles for loss. Senior Dakorey Johnson returns to man the middle linebacker position and provides valuable experience and is a great wrap-up tackler. The strength of this recruiting class is at the linebacker position as Snyder landed a number of junior college talents and also some other impact recruits. Outside linebacker D'Vonta Derricott is a ferocious beast of the edge who was dominant in the JUCO ranks. He could give them a dynamic pass rusher who can make his impact felt on every single play. Starting at one of the outside linebacker slots should be junior Charmeachealle Moore, an experienced 'backer with great instincts and developed coverage capabilities.

Secondary: Much like the rest of this defense, the secondary also loses a very important contributor, as four-year starter Ty Zimmerman graduated this off season. Zimmerman was an athletic safety who was a hard-hitter who could also be very important in coverage. The loss of Zimmerman will hurt but junior Dante Barnett returns ready for a big year at free safety. Barnett struggled early last year but improved dramatically and was the star of Kansas State's 31-14 beating of Michigan in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. Versatile senior Randall Evans can do it all; the experienced playmaker can play either safety or cornerback and has the athleticism and knowledge to play either very effectively. The other cornerback position could go to another junior college transfer, in Danzel McDaniel. The talent from Dodge City CC in Kansas, has good size and has the makeup of a shutdown corner. The big question is who will replace Zimmerman at that strong safety spot. Nobody emerged in the spring and it could be a glaring weakness for this team. Perhaps true freshman Kaleb Prewett, a young versatile star, can spend time there. Also expect him to contribute at cornerback or even on special teams.

Special Teams: The return of Lockett is not just pivotal in the passing game, the senior can do severe damage as a returner. The explosive athlete has been one of the nation's best kickoff returners for years but has also grown into a player who can make plays as a punt returner as well. Kicker Jack Cantele returns for his senior season after knocking down 11 of 13 on his field goal attempts.

Although once more Kansas State suffers a number of losses on both sides of the ball, Bill Snyder has built a formula for winning: landed junior college players who can fill specific needs. If Waters continues to improve and Sams can develop into a deep threat this offense could be very fun to watch, although perhaps one-dimensional. If defensive end Mueller continues his dominance the defense should still be solid and the Wildcats could very well be a darkhorse in the Big 12 and in the nation.

College Football Preview 2014-2015: 20. UCF Knights

J.J. Worton

20. UCF Knights

Coach: George O'Leary (11th year)
2013-2014 Record: 12-1 (8-0 American Athletic)

Schedule:
August 30th vs. Penn State (Dublin, Ireland)
September 13th @ Missouri
September 20th vs. Bethune-Cookman
October 2nd @ Houston
October 9th vs. BYU
October 18th vs. Tulane
October 25th vs. Temple
November 1st @ UConn
November 14th vs. Tulsa
November 22 vs. SMU
November 28th @ South Florida
December 4th @ East Carolina

Despite the fact they were a great program in the Conference USA under the tenure of George O'Leary, 2013-2014 still came as a major surprise. The Knights went 12-1, undefeated in the inaugural year of the American Athletic Conference, beat Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl and their lone loss was a three-point loss to SEC power to South Carolina. Although Blake Bortles and Storm Johnson both left for the NFL early, O'Leary and UCF have developed a staying power and a weaker AAC means they could still be a national title threat.

Backfield: It certainly is not going to be easy to replace Bortles, who threw or 3,581 yards and 25 touchdowns in his junior year before being drafted No. 3 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. A number of different candidates are in serious competition to replace him, including sophomore Justin Holman, redshirt freshman Pete DiNovo and true freshman Tyler Harris. Boise State transfer Nick Patti, who will eligible this year, should also be in the mix. Neither have much experience, Holman is the only player who has thrown a pass in a Central Florida uniform, he was 9 for 14 with 75 yards in mop up duty for Bortles. He should have the slight edge because of how comfortable he is in the Knights' offense but Harris has potential and is a quick learner and DiNovo has a big arm. Johnson left a year early as well, leaving a big hole in the backfield after he rushed for 1,139 yards last season. Sophomore William Stanback is likely to replace him, the powerful back ran for 443 yards and 6 touchdowns last year. He isn't very explosive but he is a short-yardage playmaker and can run over people. Three-star back C.J. Jones should also contend to be in the mix in the backfield; a talent from Port Orange, Florida could be a nice change of pace to Stanback, he is explosive and elusive.

Receivers: Most people might remember senior receiver J.J Worton for his spectacular one-handed grab in the end zone against Temple, perhaps the catch of the year. He can make excellent grabs but he is also a very productive overall pass-catcher. Worton had 47 receptions for 721 yards and also recorded 7 touchdowns. He is a great route runner and has pretty dangerous speed and his superb athleticism enables him to grab everything thrown near him. Also back in the receiving corps is senior Rannell Hall and junior playmaker Breshad Perriman. Hall was the Knights' leading receiver last year and managed 886 yards while Perriman proved to be a big play threat, averaging nearly 21 yards per catch. Tight end Justin Tukes is a proven option in the passing game, while excelling as well as a blocker. He had just one touchdown last year but if he stays healthy he could become a real threat in the red zone. Expect three-star prospects Jordan Franks and Tre'Quan Smith, both dangerous playmakers from Florida. Franks also is gifted with great size, standing at 6'4" and could be very productive his first season in Orlando.

Offensive Line: Some important pieces are gone on Central Florida's offensive line, which was one of the nation's strongest lines in the nation in 2013-2014. All-AAC studs Justin and Jordan McCray graduated this offseason, leaving a big hole on their line. The good news is that senior Torrian Wilson is back, an experienced linemen with real talent. He could move from left tackle to left guard this year to fill the big need at that position. Wilson has an impressive motor with a solid frame and an expansive knowledge of UCF's offensive system. The left tackle slot is likely to be manned by gigantic sophomore Chester Brown, a 6'5", 325 pound beast of a player. Although young, his size is very impressive and he has been very impressive this spring. The right side of the O-Line is a major question mark, as the Knights will have to break in two new starters on that side. Aaron Evans is a redshirt freshman with an NFL body and pretty great athleticism. He could really help Stanback grow as a back with him opening lanes. Two offensive line prospects also come in with this class, both could have an impact. Wyatt Miller, a three-star find from Georgia has the tools to become a really talented offensive tackle and Luke Palmer adds depth.

Defensive Line: The Knights had the nation's 29th ranked defense, allowing just 362 yards per game, much of that is thanks to the defensive line, who can apply pressure to the quarterback. Second-team All-AAC performer Thomas Niles returns at one of the defensive end spots. Niles is a speedy threat off the edge who is a great wrap-up tackler; he had four sacks in 2013. Also back on the D-Line is defensive tackle Demetris Anderson, another junior. Anderson started in all 13 games for Central Florida last year and proved to be a very productive player, recording 24 tackles and 7 tackles for loss. O'Leary and staff raided the junior college ranks by adding talented defensive tackle Lance McDowell (they also added linebacker Errol Clarke II). McDowell, who is from Nassau Community College in New York, has the frame and strength to make some big plays for the Knights' defense. Junior Miles Pace is back at the other defensive end position, who appeared in eight games last season. He recorded 4 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in those appearances and his athleticism could help him grab some more of those statistics this year.

Terrance Plummer

Linebackers: Senior Terrance Plummer returns to lead the UCF defense, after an impressive 2013 in which he had 110 total tackles and 2 interceptions while also forcing two fumbles. Plummer has great speed and a nose for the ball, he is gifted with incredible instincts, he can make tackles all across the field. He was an All-AAC linebacker who could be even better this year with even more snaps under his belt. Senior Troy Gray is also returning after a strong campaign last year, starting at outside linebacker. Gray had 62 tackles and two interceptions last year, he is not a very dangerous pass rusher but he is an underrated coverage 'backer with great athleticism. Clarke, a JUCO transfer from Garden City Community College (Kansas), could see some serious action this year. He began his career at Cincinnati and was very productive while at Garden City, he was a three-star prospect this year. The other outside linebacker position is a relative question after the team lost Sean Maag. Sophomore Justin McDonald and senior Michael Easton will compete for the open spot.

Secondary: Central Florida's pass defense was a real weakness in 2013, as it allowed nearly 240 yards per game through the air, good for 76th in the entire nation. Though, it could be a real strength this year with all four starters returning in the defensive backfield, including talented safeties Brandon Alexander and Clayton Geathers. Both are playmaking seniors, who can make big plays; Alexander landed three picks and Geathers two, along with 100 tackles, managing an All-AAC season. Both of these safeties are great coverage players, which should help take some pressure off the Knights' cornerbacks. Sophomore Jacoby Glenn was decent in his first year as starter but he has the potential to be great. A great athlete with hard-hitting ability, Glenn should see big improvements this season. The likely starter at the cornerback slot should be senior Jordan Ozerities, who had 59 tackles. The gem of this year's recruiting class is safety Kyle Gibson, a four-star talent who has all the tools to be a great player at the collegiate level. Excellent range with great tackling ability, Gibson could contribute right away.

Special Teams: This could also be a major strength for the Knights, as they return kicker Shawn Moffitt and punter Caleb Houston. The senior, Moffitt, was 21 of 23 from field goals and Houston was quite productive. Worton and Hall aren't just great receivers; they are also both dangerous in the return game, especially Worton, who averaged 12 yards per punt return.

Even with questions at both quarterback and back and also the offensive line, the Knights have the talent to win double-digit games. The AAC is extremely weak with Louisville and Rutgers now gone and outside of early tests against Missouri and Penn State (in Dublin) the Knights have a very favorable schedule. O'Leary and the Knights have reached a point of sustainability where, even with some severe losses, they still have enough talent and experience to be in serious contention.