Steve Turner's Big 12 College Review

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BIG 12 CONFERENCE


BAYLOR

HEAD COACH: GUY MORRIS

The hope is for more overall explosion with Guy Morris and offensive coordinator Brent Pease installing a more open passing attack. The Bears have enough decent receivers to make this interesting, but it'll take a little while For a team that scored 11 points or less in seven games, they have to do whatever's possible to put points up on the board. With an experienced group of skill players returning, that should be possible. Quarterbacks Projected Starter - Aaron Karas, Jr. - Karas has the starting job as the most experienced quarterback on the roster. He completed almost 60% of his passes and was effective at times, but he threw 13 interceptions to only six touchdowns. He's a good runner with a little bit of mobility, but he's not necessarily a great rushing threat. With his accuracy, all he needs is a little time to throw and more reps in the offense.


Top Backups - Davon Vinson, Soph. - The 222-pound Vinson is a bigger quarterback than Karas, but not nearly as effective a passer. He's a decent runner with good all-around skills, but he's not going to bring his talents to the field this year requesting, and receiving, a transfer. - Shawn Bell, RFr; - With Vinson transferring, it's up to Bell, a decent prospect with good overall skills, to become a player. True freshman Terrence Parks will be in the mix as well. Running Backs Projected Starter - Rashad Armstrong, Sr. - Armstrong isn't big, but the former JUCO transfer turned into a productive rusher leading the team with 647 yards and four touchdowns. He closed out the season strong rushing for 103 yards against Oklahoma and 112 yards and two touchdowns against Oklahoma State. The hope is that he's academically eligible by the start of the season. Word is that he'll be ready to go. -


Fullback Jonathan Evans, Jr. - Evans can run a little bit, but he's mostly a blocker. At 240 pounds and with experience, he'll find a spot on the field even though Morriss doesn't use the a true fullback all that often. Top Backups - Jonathan Golden, Sr. - Golden was second behind Armstrong with 392 yards. The 210-pound senior led the team with eight touchdown runs and caught four passes for 57 yards and a score. Until Armstrong is back, he'll be the starting back again. Anthony Krieg, Jr. - Krieg had an ankle problem limiting his production. He didn't do much last season with Armstrong and Golden taking over most of the load, but he was a factor in 2001 rushing for 245 yards and a touchdown. -


Jontahan Sisk, RFr. - Sisk has added some weight bulking up to 221 pounds. He'll backup Evans when a fullback is needed. Receivers Projected Starters - Robert Quiroga, Sr. - Quiroga was a solid complement to Reggie Newhouse last year finishing second on the team with 49 catches for 556 yards and a touchdown. He's big with outstanding speed. The 6-3, 188-pound senior will need to be the team's number one receiver. - Marques Roberts, Jr. - Roberts was a factor as a freshman catching 20 passes for 311 yards and two scores. He had a down year catching six passes for 117 yards and a touchdown starting six games and playing in 11. He's a good all-around athlete and should regain his form at the Z. - John Martin, Jr. - A smart possession receiver with a little bit of experience catching 42 career passes for 496 yards and two touchdowns. His production dropped from 32 catches to 8. Tight end Shane Williams, Sr. - He saw a little bit of starting time last season finishing the year with two catches for 11 yards. Even though he's more of a blocker than a receiver, he'll play a bigger role in the passing game this year.


Top Backups - J Fields, Soph. - Fields played in seven games, but he didn't catch a pass. He's a big receiver with decent speed. He's expected to push for time behind John Martin at the H. - Baylor Barbee, Jr. - Barbee hasn't seen much action, but the 6-5, 210-pound junior will need to play a big role behind Roberts at the Z. - Tight end Billy Crawford, Jr. - Crawford has mostly played as a defensive end, fullback and on special teams. He turned into a tight end last year playing in two tight end sets. Offensive Line Projected Starters - Tackle Quintin Outland, Jr. - The 333-pound junior has started in 14 straight games and should be much better with the more experience. He has good movement for a player of his size and could end up turning into one of the team's best blockers. - Guard Akeem Rettig, RFr. - Retting is young and inexperienced, but he's 362 pounds and should turn into a mauling run blocker. As you can guess, at that weight he's not particularly light on his feet.


Center Cedric Fields, Sr. - The 278-pound Fields is one of the veterans of the line playing both center and guard. He switched over to center last year after playing mostly at left guard and turned out to be a solid all-around blocker even though he had a problem with a bad ankle. - Guard Joe DeWoody, Jr. - DeWoody has gone from being an afterthought reserve to the top of the depth chart at right guard. The junior will also be one of the backup centers and could move in the middle as the year goes on. Tackle Lequalan McDonald, Soph. - McDonald is a 352-pound mountain trying to get fit. He was as high as 365 pounds as few months ago, but is working to become in better shape so he can handle the starting role on the right side. Top Backups T Brad Schlueter, Jr. - Knocked out of last year with a wrist injury, the 277-pound junior will return to a backup role seeing time behind Outland on the left side.


T Glen Oskin, Soph. - Oskin played in every games last season as a reserve behind Outland. The 303-pound sophomore will move to the right side to play behind McDonald. He's versatile enough to play anywhere on the line. Baylor's defense couldn't stop anyone last season allowing 41.3 points and 405.2 yards per game. This year, seven starters return to a group that should be more athletic, but not all that experienced with no developed depth and some injury concerns at a few key spots. The tackles are starting from scratch, but they need to shine to take the pressure off the small and average linebacking corps. Morriss compares his aggressive defense to Mississippi State's. Defensive Line Projected Starters - Defensive end Dominick Cravens, Sr. - The former JUCO transfer became a fixture on the right end last year making 31 tackles, 2.5 sacks and eight quarterback hurries. He has good speed coming off the edge, now he has to become a consistent pass rusher. - Defensive tackle Michael Gary, RFr. - Gary looked like he had the potential to be a contributor on the line, but he hurt his knee early in the season and got a medical redshirt. He's big, but now he has to be healthy and start making plays. - Defensive tackle Lorenzo Davis, Soph. -The 312-pound Davis is the team's biggest defensive lineman and will need to become the team's best run stuffer. He hasn't made much of an impact so far making three tackles in the games. - Defensive end Khari Long, Jr. - Long started in four games last season and played seven more as a reserve making 41 tackles and led the team with 4.5 sacks. He's the team's best pass rusher and should be the top playmaker.


Top Backups - DT Luke Groth, Jr. - The 266-pound junior doesn't have the size, but he's far more experienced than any of the BU tackles. That's not saying much considering he has three career tackles. He mostly played at tight end last season. - DE Joe Simmons, Sr. - Simmons played a big role last year making 38 tackles and two sacks. He doesn't have the overall talent of Cravens or Long, but he'll be a top backup. - DE Montez Murphy, Soph. - Murphy could make a big impact this season with a great combination of size and speed. He needs to get used to the defense after sitting out last year, but he should be in the rotation behind Long.


Linebackers Projected Starters - Stephen Sepulveda, Sr. - Sepulveda is a former walk-on who's grown into a decent tackler. He isn't big, but he sticks in nose into every situation making 47 tackles and six tackles for loss last year. He's experienced, and should be decent in the middle. - Justin Crooks, Jr. - The 230-pound Crooks has played since he was a true freshman becoming a strong player on the weak side. He made 45 tackles last season with two sacks and four tackles for loss. Until John Garrett comes back, he'll be a starter.


Top Backups - John Garrett. Sr. - Garrett made 33 tackles as the team's best linebacker before tearing up his knee against Kansas. He's still rehabbing the knee to try and get ready for the season. - Colin Allred, Soph. - Allred isn't experienced, but he's tough and could turn into a top reserve. He'll push Sepulveda for time in the middle. - Michael Tolbert, Jr. -Tolbert can play in the middle or on the outside. He's the biggest linebacker on the roster with experience making 40 tackles last year. Secondary


Projected Starters - Cornerback Tyson Hampton, Jr. - Hampton is a big corner and became a dependable backup making 18 tackles. He started the season against Cal before getting moved to a reserve role playing in nine games. He needs to be a lockdown corner from the start. - Free safety Maurice Lane, Soph. - Lane made 48 tackles as one of the bigger hitting players on the team. He's still young and still learning on the job, so now he's expected to make more plays when the ball is in the air. - Outside safety Derrick Cash, Sr. - Cash is one of the best players on the team leading the Bears with 50 solo tackles. He's 216 pound playing as much as a third linebacker as a defensive back. That's not to say he can't cover with the speed to handle most receivers.


Outside safety Willie Andrews, Soph. - Andrews played in every game making 26 tackles and an interception. He's was one of the most impressive players this spring, and should become a top player at one of the safety positions. Cornerback Matt Johnson, Sr. - The most experienced corner on the team. Johnson has the speed and quickness to stay with most team's top receiver, but he doesn't have the size, at only 5-9 and 173 pounds, to battle the bigger ones. He made 46 tackles and broke up five passes. Top Backups - S Larry Bynum, Sr. - He's not all that big, but he's an experienced player seeing time in every game last year making seven tackles. He'll play behind Andrews. - S Maurice Linquist, RFr. - He has the size and athleticism to be a solid safety. All he needs is experience before he becomes one of Baylor's better defenders. CB Ahmad Rhodes, Sr. - The former JUCO transfer played in ten games as a reserve making three tackles. He'll back up Johnson.


COLORADO

HEAD COACH: GARY BARNETT

The recipe for the University of Colorado’s 2003 football team has some most interesting ingredients. Take a total of 10 snaps by all the quarterbacks in the program, combine with only one returning starter on the offensive line, mix with no game action last fall by any of the healthy cornerbacks in the spring, add a non-conference schedule featuring four opponents that most schools would face over four years instead of four weeks, and one might think the end result could be a cake left out in the rain, to paraphrase an old song. But Gary Barnett, in his fifth season as head coach of the Buffaloes, and his staff are looking forward to the challenge. “It is fun; nothing is ever the same, that’s the challenge of it all from our end of it,” Barnett said. “I have no idea how it’s going to turn out. I know one thing, we’re not going to force a square peg in a round hole.” However, if those schools lining up across from Colorado think the two-time defending Big 12 Conference North Division champions are down, they’ll be severely mistaken. While there are some question marks, the cupboard is any-thing but bare and the Buffs are still very much a top 25 pro-gram with designs on becoming the first school in the Big 12 to claim three straight division titles.


Colorado returns 43 lettermen from its 9-5 squad in 2002, the first in school history to play 14 games. Spending the bulk of the season in the nation’s top 25, the Buffs rebounded from a 1-2 start to win eight of its next nine games, in eventually finishing ranked No. 20 after consecutive season-ending losses to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game and to Wisconsin (in overtime) in the Alamo Bowl. Despite the sour ending, it was the best comeback in school history after opening a season with two losses in the first three games. Injuries basically caught up with CU by the end of the sea-son, and for the second straight year, the Buffaloes placed the brunt of the load on the shoulders of a backup quarterback.


Though the Buffs couldn’t repeat as league champions, CU’s 14-2 record in its last 16 conference games is currently the best in the league and the fourth best all-time in the seven-year history of the Big 12. “You have to look back and marvel at the job that our seniors did, and our coaches did, holding the team together through a lot of hard times, and to have it persevere and excel the way it did,” Barnett said. “I hate to be trite and say it speaks volumes to… but it does, it speaks volumes to the kind of character we have on this football team, the kind of leadership and the job our assistant coaches did.” Eleven starters from 2002 are back, three on offense and eight on defense, with another five returning that have some starting experience in their careers. Guard Marwan Hage and receivers Derek McCoy and John Donahoe are the starters back on offense, with tailback Bobby Purify, tight end Quinn Sypniewski and tackle Karl Allis as three others with plenty of time on the field, including several starts. But having to find replacements at quarterback, four starters on the line, and perhaps most important to CU’s running success the last two years, fullback Brandon Drumm, it’s no wonder that Barnett will be looking for his defense to carry the team through as the Buffs will attempt to navigate one of the nation’s toughest non-league schedules. “I think the defense comes in with the highest degree of consistency, with the most experience returning, and therefore is going to have to carry the burden of this football team early,” Barnett said. “I also think that defensively, scheme-wise, we’ll take a step forward. Last year, in the infant stages of us being in that scheme, we were pretty simple, and we learned a lot this past year. We’ve had a chance to talk to some other programs that were running it and I think that we’ll be able to take the next logical step with our defense in its evolution this year.” The Buffs switched up from its 4-3 base defense it had been running since 1995 to a 4-2-5 scheme last year, dropping the outside linebacker position in lieu of a third (weak) safety.


It was the first move in gearing future CU defenses to become quicker and faster, especially with how offenses have evolved over the past decade. The players that will line up on defense for the Buffs rep-resent the most diverse group in recent memory when it comes to eligibility. Five seniors, a junior, two sophomores and three freshman redshirts were the first-teamers when spring opened, but the blend of veterans and youth has the look of forming a pretty good defense… with the speed the coaches are looking for. Ends Marques Harris and Gabe Nyenhuis, tackle DeAndre Fluellen, linebacker Sean Tufts and free safety Medford Moorer were the five seniors the defense was to be built around in the spring, with a sixth, cornerback Phil Jackson, to rejoin the fold in the fall once healed from shoulder surgery. But injuries to Harris and Fluellen saw Matt McChesney and Brandon Dabdoub rise to the occasion, as both were one-timer starters.


Tackle Sam Wilder, a junior, completes the defensive front, while sophomores J.J. Billingsley, Akarika Dawn and Brian Iwuh have designs on starting at two of the safety slots, though Billingsley missed the last half of spring to concentrate in academics. Freshman redshirt Sammy Joseph had a great spring in competing for the corner slot opposite Jackson in the fall. And there are others, including several frosh redshirts, capable of making noise and landing high on the depth chart. Youngsters will likely have a role in filling the second ILB spot, as the competition there will be wide open into August.


Barnett’s list of the five most pressing questions regarding his 2003 Buffaloes included, “Who’s going to win the quarter-back position? Which four guys are going to play along with Marwan Hage on the offensive line? Who’s our place-kicker going to be? Who will be our punt returner? Can we survive the 2003 preseason schedule?” Ah, the quarterback position. The players on the roster, including those arriving in August, have a total of 10 collegiate snaps in games on their resumes. Sophomores Joel Klatt and Erik Greenberg and frosh redshirt James Cox duked it out in the spring, with Klatt emerging just ahead of the other two at the conclusion of April drills. How young is the position? The fourth QB, Colt Brennan, is a freshman walk-on (from Worchester Academy) who joined the team in January.


As expected, the battle will carry into the fall, with the coaches to see what two incoming freshmen can bring to the table, but it’s likely the starter will come from the trio who received most of the spring snaps. As for who will team up with Hage on the offensive line, there are at least six players who will continue to vie for starting positions into the fall.


The only other senior O-lineman is guard Karl Allis, who missed the bulk of the spring healing from a chronic foot injury. Sophomore tackles Gary Moore and Clint O’Neal have the most experience after Allis, but after those two, the depth is peppered with freshman redshirts, including two at center, where Mark Fenton emerged from the spring as the top snapping candidate. Another frosh redshirt, Jack Tipton, got plenty of reps at guard in Allis’ absence.


Placekicking was an Achilles heel for the Buffs last fall; when all was said and done, there were 15 missed field goal attempts and three botched extra points, and though three of the kicks were blocked, there were simply too many misses and often in left the Buffs in precarious position, including the overtime loss in the bowl game. Three kickers contended for the job in the spring, with junior J.T. Eberly slightly ahead of freshman recruit Kevin Eberhart, Colorado’s all-time leading kick scorer in high school (Eberhart was a December graduate and enrolled at CU for the spring semester). Sophomore Justin Zaitz remains in the hunt, and another recruit, Mason Crosby, will join the trio in the fall.


As for the punt game, sophomore John Torp will take over for Mark Mariscal, who won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s best punter in 2002. Torp had a solid 49.7 average for three kicks in games, and often matched Mariscal in practice. As for the top punt return man, it rests on if Jeremy Bloom opts to play football after another successful winter on the international ski circuit. A 2002 United States Olympic team member, Bloom returned to punts for touchdowns last year and ranked fifth nationally. Donahoe had a solid spring returning punts, so if Bloom comes back, he’ll have to win his job back in the fall. A third consecutive division title is something the 2003 team will be shooting for, but the road will be treacherous getting to that point.


The Buffaloes will line up across from intrastate rival Colorado State in Denver, christen the Folsom Field expansion against a revenge-minded UCLA, follow that up against defending Pac-10 champion Washington State, and then travel to the deep south to play at Florida State in what will almost unbelievably be the first meeting ever between the two traditional powers. Our annual refresher: when Barnett returned to CU as head coach in 1999, he coined the phrase, “Return to Dominance” (or RTD). The proclamation included a list of things he felt would accomplish the mission. CU came very close to fulfilling all of them in its run to the 2001 Big 12 championship, as well as in defending its North Division title last year.


The “report card” for 2002: Install a balanced offense and bringing back the constant threat of the big play. The offense was fairly well balanced the first three of the Barnett years, especially in play selection, but last year, the scales tipped to rushing mainly because of injuries and what CU felt it could do in the passing game. Amazingly, CU rushed 65% of the time, for 65% of its yards, with passing doing the 35% for 35% thing. The Buffs had 58 plays of 20 yards or longer, the same exact number as in 2001, with 157, gaining 10 or more yards. Being able to run the football for a first down on third-and-short. The Buffs converted at a 38 percent clip on third downs, a little lower than in ’01 (41%), but were 73 percent (37-of-51) on third-and-short (one, two or three yards). On rushing tries alone, CU was 35- of-71 overall on third downs (51%, better than 2001’s 49%). And the Buffs have converted on 61 percent of its fourth down tries in the last 42 games (39-of-64), many of which were good, old-fashioned smash mouth power running plays. Inspiring awe and fear into the opponent.


The toughest thing annually on this list to gauge, because no one would admit they were in either. When the running game clicked, opponents were on their heels, and the morphing defense, as it got comfortable in its new scheme, showed at times that it could shut down the most powerful of opponents, i.e., Kliff Kingsbury and Texas Tech.


Game day discipline, as in cutting down on the number of penalties and correctable mistakes. Many of the penalties were due to aggressive defensive play; CU had only 23 o offensive penalties in 13 regular season games, a number most teams would envy. CU has clamped down on opponent long plays (only 15 of 40 or more yards the last 27 games), has minimized long opponent returns (only 15 of 30 or more yards, and nine of those were kickoffs), and has had only four kicks blocked in 38 games, while blocking 13). Dictating the game against unranked and lesser opponents. From start to finish, CU dictated the action four times in 2002, but did take over the game early in the second half on another three occasions. CU played the nation’s 13th toughest schedule in the NCAA.


Returning as a mainstay in the national polls, similar to CU’s consecutive 143-week run between 1989 and 1997. The Buffs opened the year at No. 6, and would be ranked for all but three weeks of the year in finishing No. 20 for the season. Playing games in November, December and January that have significant meaning. Other than landing in a bowl game that had a December 28 date, the Buffs met this goal for the second straight year. The Big 12 will be as tough as ever. “You look at our division, it’s going to be us, Nebraska, Kansas State, and I think you have to throw Missouri in there,” Barnett said. “You look at the south and they’re going to be five deep. There are no easy Saturdays in the Big 12.” Fortunately (or unfortunately), the Buffs will have plenty of practice at not having an “easy” Saturday in 2003.


IOWA STATE

HEAD COACH: DAN McCARNEY

You’ve heard it over and over. Defense wins championships. Certainly the evolution of Iowa State’s football program under head coach Dan McCarney from cellar-dweller to first-division finisher has included dramatic improvement on the defensive side of the ball. Since McCarney took over a winless ISU program before the start of the 1995 season, the limelight has been on offensive achievement. All-American and Heisman Trophy runner-up Troy Davis’ pair of 2,000-yard rushing seasons and the heroics of quarterback Seneca Wallace got most of the headlines and sold most of the tickets. But the magnitude of Iowa State’s improvement, three-straight bowl appearances, 23 wins over the last three seasons, the school’s highest ever national rankings, would not have been possible without consistent improvement on defense, particularly in the trenches against the run. Iowa State has allowed progressively fewer yards against the run every season since McCarney’s first team (1995) allowed 296.6 rushing yards per game. That figure dropped to 174.6 yards per game in 2002, against a schedule that included nine bowl teams.


With all-Big 12 defensive tackle Jordan Carstens leading nine returning starters for the 2003 season, that defense will be tested by a schedule that includes seven bowl teams. A year ago, Iowa State played road games at Big Ten champion Iowa, at Big 12 champion Oklahoma and faced Kansas State, Texas, Colorado and Boise State, each a 2002 bowl participant. Iowa State’s solid numbers against a brutal schedule affirm the Cyclones’ defensive improvement. This season’s schedule features home games against Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, Kansas State and Colorado. Road games at Nebraska and Texas Tech are slated. It will take continued progress against this daunting schedule to make it four-straight bowl games in 2003.


The 2003 season will mark McCarney’s ninth year as Iowa State head coach. McCarney’s tenure ranks second in longevity among Big 12 Conference coaches to Bill Snyder of Kansas State. ISU is the only school to have finished in the Big 12’s North Division the past three seasons. The Cyclones are one of 31 NCAA Division 1-A football programs and six Big 12 schools to have earned a post-season bowl berth in each of the last three seasons. Local interest in the Cyclone football has never been higher. That backing makes Iowa State’s Jack Trice Stadium a tough place to play. ISU has won 14 of its last 19 home games. Iowa State’s depth, a sparse commodity on both sides of the ball early in the McCarney regime, now allows the Cyclone head coach a wider field of choices on offense and defense.


Continued improvement in the trenches will be a key on offense, too. The Iowa State interior offensive line returns three of four starters. The 2002 season marked the first time a McCarney team didn’t feature a 1,000-yard rusher. In part, that was because the Cyclones featured three backs that earned significant playing time. All three, Hiawatha Rutland, Michael Wagner and Brian Thompson, return and competition at that position will include redshirt freshman Steve Hicks. The biggest question mark will be who replaces record-breaking quarterback Seneca Wallace. The fleet runner and superb passer tallied a school career-record 6,118 yards of total offense in just two seasons. There will be no replacing Wallace. But McCarney feels that he has four strong candidates who can fit into the Cyclones’ offensive plans this season. Returnee Cris Love, junior college transfer Waye Terry, and redshirt freshmen Austin Flynn and Kyle Van Winkle will audition for the starting signal-caller role this spring and fall.


Whoever is the Iowa State quarterback in 2003, he’ll have the best stable of wide receivers in school history. The return of starters Lane Danielsen, Jack Whitver, Jamaul Montgomery and Lance Young gives the Cyclones speed, experience and sure-handed receiving. Iowa State has won 23 games in the last three years, only the second time that has happened in school history. The Cyclones beat three bowl teams last season (Iowa, Nebraska and Texas Tech), an ISU first. Another tough schedule awaits. The Cyclones will be ready.


McCarney’s Thoughts on 2003: What are the issues you’ve talked about with your staff, in terms of things you must do in this spring season? “Like always, we go back through the season and critique every play, every series, every quarter. We look at the wins we had, the things we did well, all the highs and all the positives, and see what we did to achieve those things so that we can keep doing them. Then we look at all the setbacks or problems, disappointments, or those kinds of things to see what we have to do. Was it a specific call, was it an adjustment we had to make, was it personnel, was it a mismatch? We have to go back through and critique all those things. We have a great nucleus of veterans coming back, which is the good news. We have to be sure we take each of those kids to another level and make them improve and elevate their game. It’s that time of year where it’s wide open for all the redshirts, the walk-ons, the juniors and seniors that have been here for awhile and haven’t played much to make their move and earn a spot on this football team.


OFFENSE Quarterback Seneca Wallace is gone. It is not that simple. The all-conference quarterback was the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy at mid-season last fall and left a pile of school records behind him. In just two seasons, Wallace set a school record for career total offense and generated an all-time ISU single-season passing mark, throwing for 3,245 yards in 2002. A passer first, his ability to take off and run was part of his game. Obviously, you don’t replace a player like Wallace. But McCarney is confident that a three-way contest for the 2003 starting job will produce a quarterback capable of leading the Iowa State offense. The search will begin with 6-5, 214-pound returnee Cris Love. The junior made four appearances at quarterback last season and played in five games in 2001 as Wallace’s backup the past two seasons. In all, he has thrown for 243 yards and two TDs in a reserve role. The Texan has the advantage of familiarity of the offense and is the only Cyclone quarterback with game day experience. Love’s challengers have no game experience but both have been in the program for a year. Junior Waye Terry joined Iowa State for the 2002 season. His 6-3, 207-pound frame served him well at Rochester (Minn.) Community College in 2000, where he led his team to a post-season bowl game. In 2001 at Foothill (Calif.) College, he completed 157-of-284 for 2,249 yards with 28 touchdowns. He also led all California junior college quarterbacks with 410 yards rushing. Redshirt freshman Austin Flynn, a native of Deer Park, Texas, stands, 6-1 and 186 pounds. A deft passer, he threw for 2,683 career yards with 27 TDs and averaged 8.6 yards per rush in high school. Former Roland-Story quarterback, Kyle Van Winkle will also get a look.


OFFENSIVE LINE Other than quarterback, this position may hold the season’s success in balance. There is leadership. Two-year starter Bob Montgomery earned second-team all-Big 12 honors from the league’s writers and coaches in 2002. He has started the last 24 Iowa State games. Former junior college All-American Collin Menard will backup Montgomery. Casey Shelton, who began his Iowa State career in the defensive line, returns after making huge strides last season. The rapidly developing Johannes Egbers will serve as an able backup.


Luke Vander Sanden was an inspiration to his teammates last season. The junior, who figured prominently in Iowa State’s plans last fall, broke an ankle in pre-season practice. Expected to be out eight weeks or longer, the Inwood, Iowa, native made it back for Iowa State’s 36-14 win over Nebraska. Unfortunately, he broke the same ankle in that game and was lost for the rest of the season. He moves to center and will be backed up by Matt Bockes, a three-year starter as Iowa State’s deep snapper. A pair of young Iowans will battle at right guard. Seth Zehr, an all-stater from Fort Dodge, Iowa, who redshirted his initial collegiate season, will face a challenge from Aaron Brant of Cuba City, Wis. Brant graduated from high school in December and will be with the team in spring practice. His giant, 6-7, 307-pound frame seethes with potential.


At right tackle, junior Cale Stubbe, another former defensive lineman played in all 14 games last season in the offensive line and Kory Pence who saw action last season, will challenge for playing time.


TIGHT END The departure of Kyle Knock, who made 11 receptions for 82 yards and one TD, puts the spotlight on Kenny Segin, a junior who made two catches for 26 yards last season. He is a sturdy blocker. Brett Kellogg began his career on defense but will be counted on this fall. James Wright, a junior college transfer from Kilgore (Texas) College, is adding to his 6-3, 258-pound frame. The Houston native caught seven passes for 175 yards last season on an undefeated Kilgore team.


RUNNING BACK For the first time during Dan McCarney’s seven-year term as Iowa State head coach, the Cyclones did not boast a 1,000-yard rusher in 2002. This was partly because of ISU’s tailback-by-committee effort last season, forced on the Iowa State coaching staff due to nagging injuries. Another factor was quarterback Seneca Wallace who rushed for 437 yards as a senior. Nevertheless, ISU tailbacks combined for 1,461 yards on 396 carries last fall, preserving the run/pass balance that McCarney so covets. Michael Wagner has rushed for 1,081 career yards on 291 carries. He played a major role in victories over ranked foes, rushing for 107 yards on 19 carries against Nebraska and 102 yards on 32 tries against Texas Tech. It was Wagner who made two major blocks on Seneca Wallace’s much-heralded 12-yard TD run in which the quarterback ran more than 135 yards to reach paydirt. One of Wagner’s combatants will be sophomore Brian Thompson. The Plantation, Fla., native, the 2001 ISU offensive scout team player of the year, burst on the scene in the 2002 home opener against Kansas. He rushed for 92 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns – all in the fourth quarter. The elusive slasher rushed for 305 yards on 83 carries and four scores last season. Hiawatha Rutland, led Iowa State rushers with 614 yards on 160 carries last season. He also led Cyclone backs with 18 receptions for 90 yards. Rutland, who hails from Bradenton, Fla., is also a good blocker. Injuries limited his contributions last fall. The wild card in the backfield is redshirt freshman Stevie Hicks. ISU’s offensive scout team player of the year rushed for more than 3,000 yards in his junior and senior high school seasons at Creighton Prep in Omaha, Neb. His performance in practice did nothing to dampen the excitement that surrounds his Cyclone future. McCarney has always used the fullback mainly as a blocker. Last year’s starter, Joe Woodley, split time at fullback and linebacker. He had five yards on seven carries and a pair of touchdowns last season. But in redshirt freshman Ryan Kock, McCarney feels he has a big, (6-4, 242), strong rumbler who runs exceptionally well for his size and can lay down the wood as a blocker. The Iowa State coaching staff feels so good about Kock that it moved two-year starter Woodley to linebacker full-time. Woodley’s departure moves senior Derek Walters up to be Kock’s back-up.


RECEIVERS Everyone is back. This receiving corps should be as good as any in school history. Wide receiver Lane Danielsen is back after making 63 catches for a school record 1,073 yards in 2002. The senior, who is as dangerous on a reverse as he is running crisp patterns, has made 117 career receptions (fifth in school history) for 1,918 yards (second in school history) and nine touchdowns (tied for eighth in school history). Danielsen should become the all-time ISU receiver in the former two categories this season. McCarney refers to Danielsen and senior split end Jack Whitver as “the Bopsy Twins.” They are both former walk-ons from the state of Iowa whose sure hands make them dependable receivers. Whitver had 52 receptions (ninth in school history) for 685 yards (10th in school history) last season. Flanker Jamaul Montgomery, known for his acrobatic catches is perhaps the team’s best overall athlete. He was fourth on the team last season with 36 receptions for 485 yards and five TDs. Senior Lance Young, who contemplated leaving school to participate in the NFL draft this winter, was third on the team with 43 catches for 704 yards and six touchdowns. He also averaged 21.1 yards on 28 kickoff returns last fall. Senior David Banks-Bursey made six receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown. The lone non-senior is redshirt freshman Jon Davis. The Papillion, Neb., native would have played in any other season. But the depth ISU had at receiver allowed McCarney to redshirt Davis. Big things are expected from the 6-3 Davis, who made two catches for 73 and a touchdown in the 2002 spring game. Davis spent last season adding bulk to his frame and will be ready for action this fall. Andy Kohler is a seven-foot high jumper. That vertical capability and the junior’s 6-4, 210-pound frame make him a formidable adversary. Punt returner Todd Miller and T.J. Klith will also get a look.


DEFENSIVE LINE You can almost chart the improvement in Iowa State’s ability to stop the run in concert with the development of seniors Jordan Carstens and Tyson Smith. Carstens, once a 228-pound walk-on, is now a two-time all-Big 12 tackle who checks in at 6-5, 303. A first-team academic All-American, he will start the season as one of the Big 12’s best interior linemen. As a junior, Carstens made 103 tackles, including 13 behind the line of scrimmage. He also tallied five sacks. The Bagley, Iowa, native has 232 career tackles and could finish his career as one of the top three tacklers among interior linemen in school history. A 2003 bowl-bound Iowa State would need a big season from senior rush end Tyson Smith. Smith came on strong last season, ranking third on the team with 104 tackles. He was the team co-leader with six sacks and caught 11 opponents behind the line of scrimmage for 28 yards. Senior Shaheed Richardson and sophomore Cephus Johnson start spring ball backing up Carstens and Smith, respectively. If the present of the Iowa State defense is Carstens and Smith. The future is now with nose guard Nick Leaders. The younger brother of teammate Andy Leaders and son of all-Big 12 Cyclone defender Mike Leaders, Nick Leaders was phenomenal last season as a true freshman. McCarney elected not to redshirt Nick. It was the right move, right away. In his first college game against third-ranked Florida State, Leaders made seven tackles, four of them solo in a game that went down to the last play. Tabbed as the Cyclones’ top newcomer last season, he was named a first-team freshman All-American by collegefootballnews.com. Finishing the season with 75 tackles with nine stops behind the line of scrimmage and five sacks, he’s already a defensive anchor, along with Carstens and Smith. Brent Nelson starts spring ball backing up Leaders. Defensive end Tim TeBrink was recruited without a position. McCarney signed him because he was a hard-nosed competitor. TeBrink has found a home at end, where he had 49 tackles last season. Redshirt freshman Beau Klaffke will get his first taste of college play this fall.


LINEBACKER Chris Whitaker has battled injuries his entire Cyclone career. But his presence on and off the field has been such that he was elected a co-captain as a junior. He has 107 career tackles, including 12 stops at Texas last season. Erik Anderson, like Whitaker, played as a true freshman. He saw action mostly on special teams his first season and had 19 tackles last fall. Speedy Nik Moser, who was a place-winner in the Big 12 Conference indoor 400-meters as a freshman, and was ISU’s special teams player of the year last season will make a bid for playing time. Brandon Brown’s presence on the field showed in the final statistics. As a sophomore, Brown was second on the team with


DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD Never has an Iowa State secondary returned so many experienced, talented players. This group is one reason that the Cyclone defense will play such a key role in the extent of ISU’s overall success this fall. At left cornerback, junior Anthony Forrest moves over from his former role as a starter at strong and free safety. In his first collegiate season, he was a Sporting News freshman all-Big 12 honoree. Forrest made 74 tackles last fall, and is expected to be a leader on the field in 2003. Johnny Smith III has had some starting experience and has 42 career tackles. The right corner position is held down by Ellis Hobbs III. The junior, who came to ISU as a running back made a successful transition to the defensive backfield. A starter last season, Hobbs made 51 tackles, had two interceptions and broke up 12 passes. Starting this spring, three-year letterwinner Harold Clewis adds valuable game day experience, with 48 career tackles and seven passes broken up. The individual who asserted himself most obviously last season was strong safety JaMaine Billups. As a prep out of Omaha, Neb., he was considered one of the nation’s most coveted secondary recruits. But Billups, who was also a great running back, wanted to play on the offensive side of the ball. McCarney gave him that chance. In his first two seasons, Billups’ biggest moment was a 74-yard punt return for a touchdown in the Cyclones’ 2000 Insight.com Bowl victory over Pittsburgh. He made the switch to defense last season and it was an auspicious effort. When Forrest went down early in the season-opener against No. 3 Florida State, Billups stepped in and made nine tackles against the Seminoles. He led Iowa State defensive backs with 97 tackles in 13 games. Billups’ performance earned him all-conference honors from Big 12 coaches. Free safety Marc Timmons is a veteran who has made a major contribution to each of Iowa State’s three bowl teams. Tied for ninth on the all-time ISU career interception list with six picks, he has 168 career tackles while breaking up 21 passes. Steve Paris will challenge Timmons. Paris returned an interception for a touchdown against Tennessee Tech in 2002 and is expected to see more action this season.


KANSAS

HEAD COACH: MARK MANGINO

Coming off his first year as head football coach at the University of Kansas, Mark Mangino is looking for steady improvement and development from his players this season, beginning with the 15-practice spring season scheduled to start March 10. As the program looks to take strides this year, the Jayhawks have a strong nucleus back as KU returns 40 letterwinners, including 15 on offense, 22 on defense and three specialists. In addition, the Jayhawks return six starters on offense, seven on defense and both kickers in punter Curtis Ansel and placekicker Johnny Beck. It’s a team that returns a talented duo in the backfield in senior quarterback Bill Whittemore and sophomore running back Clark Green, and five of the top seven receivers from last season. But the spring practices will be used to develop depth at every position, including the offensive line, where only one of five starters returns this season. It’s a program that features three returning defensive linemen, three returning regulars in the secondary plus a handful of young prospects at the linebacker position.


Also back are six of the top 10 tacklers on defense, including sophomore Nick Reid who led KU with six sacks and is the Jayhawks’ top returning tackler this season. Despite a strong returning nucleus, the Jayhawks are still relatively inexperienced as five of seven starters are in their first or second year on defense at Kansas.


QUARTERBACK Returning to lead the Jayhawk offense is Bill Whittemore, who was named as the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year last season by the league’s coaches despite only appearing in nine contests. Whittemore completed 151-of-305 passes for 1,666 yards and 11 touchdowns in addition to rushing for 549 yards and 11 scores in his debut season. Whittemore averaged 246.1 total yards per game, which ranked as the fourth-best total offense per game in the league and the 27th nationally. The 6-0, 195- pound native of Brentwood, Tenn. broke the KU single-season touchdowns responsible for record after being involved in 22 scores (11 rush, 11 pass) for the Jayhawks last year. In addition, he ranked in the top-10 on several other single-season lists, including total offense (4th - 2,215 yards), passing attempts (5th -305), passing completions (6th - 151), passing touchdowns (t-10th - 11) and rushing yards by a quarterback (2nd - 549). Despite only playing in nine games in his KU career, he begins his senior year just 32 passing yards shy of entering KU’s top-15 career passing yards list. Sophomore Brian Luke, who saw limited action last season competing 17-of-47 passes for 214 yards, and redshirt freshman Joe Hogan will vie for playing time as backups. Kevin Long, who also spends time at the tight end position and on several special team units, and John Nielsen could also add depth at quarterback.


RUNNING BACKS The running back position has the potential to be a strong point of offense this upcoming season with the return of standout sophomore tailback Clark Green along with senior tailback Harold McClendon, senior fullback Dan Coke and junior fullbacks Brandon Watkins and Austine Nwabuisi. As a redshirt freshman last fall, Green led KU in rushing with 813 yards and was the Jayhawks’ second-leading receiver with 37 receptions for 408 yards. Green, a native of Tampa, Fla., was KU’s top rusher in nine of 12 games a year ago and put together two 100- plus yard performances on the ground. McClendon, Coke, Watkins and Nwabuisi all saw limited action but with another year of experience under their belts could look to contribute often this sea-son. Also in the mix at running back are redshirts Jon Cornish and Jerome Kemp, who were highly-touted recruits a year ago. WIDE


RECEIVERS The Jayhawk receiving corps will benefit from the return of five of the top seven receivers from last season including Green, senior Derick Mills and junior Brandon Rideau. The three combined for 86 receptions for 941 yards for an 11 yards per catch average. In addition, sophomore Mark Simmons and senior tight end Adrian Jones also return this season. Simmons, who was one of six true freshmen to see action a year ago, had 23 receptions for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Mills is the most experienced receiver returning, having earned three letters on the way to 40 career receptions for 509 yards and four touchdowns. Several young receivers will add to the depth at wide receiver including redshirt freshmen Charles Gordan and Dominic Roux and transfer Gary Heaggans. Also earning looks for playing time this spring are Justin Williams, Drew Wedel and Chris Steppeg. TIGHT ENDS Senior Adrian Jones, who had 10 receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown a year ago, returns as the leading candidate at tight end this season. Jones, who is an excellent blocker, saw extended playing time last season after David Hurst moved from tight end to offensive guard. Vying for playing time and looking to add depth at tight end is sophomore Denver Latimore, junior Kevin Long, junior college transfer Lyonel Anderson and freshman Kevin Borders. Latimore saw some action in two-tight ends sets last fall and both he and Long saw action on special teams.


OFFENSIVE LINE Headlining the offensive line this spring will be junior Tony Coker, who started the first nine games of the season before being slowed by an injury late in the year. Coker is the only starter returning from a line that lost Justin Sands, Greg Nicks, Hurst and Tony Damiani, in addition to key reserve John Harvey, to graduation. But Coker isn’t the only player with experience returning as sophomore Justin Henry, who has seen playing time at both guard positions and at center, showed steady improvement throughout last season. Also in the mix on the line are seniors Danny Lewis and Nick McCaslin, who look to improve with added experience in spring practices. Coming off their redshirt season and in contention to contribute immediately are Travis Dambach, David Ochoa, Chris Roberts, and Bob Whitaker who all saw action on the scout team last season and figure to benefit from the competition for playing time this spring.


DEFENSIVE LINE A pair of highly talented juniors headline the defensive line in tackle Travis Watkins and end David McMillan. Watkins, who has played both end and tackle in his KU career, started all 12 games last season and finished the year with 37 tackles, two tackles for loss, four pass breakups and five quarterback hurries. McMillan was the Jayhawks’ fifth-leading tackler last season with 55 total stops, nine tackles for loss and a team-best 12 quarterback hurries. In addition, sophomore Tim Allen, who started seven games at nose tackle, and seniors Cory Kipp, Sid Bachmann and Tony Strickland all saw action and made good strides by gaining experience throughout the year. This spring, more assistance at the end position could come from senior Reggie Curry and redshirt Kyle Knighton and in the mix at the tackle position is Roy Teng.


LINEBACKERS Sophomore Nick Reid ranks as the leading returning tackler from last season after appearing in 12 games and starting the final six contests at outside linebacker. Reid, who also tallied a team-high six sacks, had 62 tackles last year and looks to improve those numbers with the departure of Greg Cole and Leo Etienne. The duo, who will graduate this spring, combined for 202 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and six sacks last fall. Reid and fellow sophomores Kevin Kane, Brandon Perkins and Darren Rus, in their short time on campus, showed impressive strength and improvement last season and hope that carries over into spring ball. Also returning this spring are sophomores Banks Floodman and Nick Clapp, who were forced to sit out last season after suffering season-ending injuries early in the year. Floodman was credited with 41 tackles as a true fresh- man in 2001 while appearing in all 11 games and starting the final two contests. Also looking for extended playing time is senior Glenn Robinson, who started five games and had 18 tackles last year, and is a standout on special teams. Juniors Greg Tyree and Josh Holmolka and sophomore Jeff Mulholland add depth to the position.


SECONDARY Three of four starters return in the secondary, including cornerbacks Remuise Johnson and Donnie Amadi and strong safety Zach Dyer. Johnson picked off six passes in his debut season to go along with 40 tackles and a team-high 15 pass breakups. Dyer, who played for two and a half years at quarterback, made an immediate impact in the Jayhawk secondary totaling 48 tackles in just five games in the backfield. The 6-2, 210-pound safety started four of five games and was the Jayhawks’ leading tackler in two contests in addition to recording double-figure tackles in three of five games. Donnie Amadi started the first 10 games for KU, recording 41 tackles, including 32 solo stops. Several talented youngsters, some with game experience, will be competing for playing time and provide quality depth during the spring season including Bobby Birhiray, Ronnie Madi and Leo Bookman. Furthermore, Jonathan Lamb will look to make an instant impact during the fall.


KANSAS STATE

HEAD COACH: BILL (TERMINATOR) SNYDER

One of the goals for success in the Kansas State football program is to improve each day. If the Wildcats are able to accomplish that feat, transitioning from an 11-2 season in 2002 toward head coach Bill Snyder’s 15th season in Manhattan, the 2003 Wildcats could be formidable indeed. The 2003 spring football season, according to Snyder, is an attempt to fill holes, generate unity, but most certainly, to improve. Offensively, the Wildcats return some players who received national attention a year ago, including senior quarterback Ell Roberson, junior running back Darren Sproles and senior offensive lineman Nick Leckey. Roberson and Sproles became the first pair of K-State players to have 1,000-yard rushing seasons in the same year. Defensively, the loss of two defensive tackles, middle line-backer Terry Pierce and Thorpe Award winner Terence Newman will force the Wildcats to find some newcomers able to step up to help K-State continue its six-year trend of finishing in the top five nationally in total defense.


OFFENSE In 2001, it was Josh Scobey running behind an offensive line that used nine different starters and eight different combinations in 12 games. Last year, Darren Sproles ran behind an offensive line that not only stayed basically intact but was solid enough to develop some quality depth. The 2003 Wildcat O-line returns senior Nick Leckey and junior Mike Johnson among those who started games for the ‘Cats in 2002. Leckey was a consensus All-Big 12 first-teamer a year ago and comes into the 2003 season having made 25 consecutive starts at left guard. Leckey, who started two of the nine games he played as a true freshman in 2000, was also a first team All-America pick last year by CBS SportsLine.com. Leckey has played a great deal of center over the past two seasons and the O-line combinations to be developed this spring will continue to have him at both center and guard. Johnson started all but two games at right guard for K-State in 2002, and he returns this spring atop the depth chart at that position. Leading the spring depth chart at the other guard spot is senior Ryan Lilja, a 300-pounder who played as a reserve at a guard spot after transferring from Coffeyville, Kan., CC. K-State will need to replace both tackles from a year ago. Thomas Barnett leaves Manhattan after six seasons (one as a medical redshirt) and 43 career starts, while both Dralinn Burks and Billy Miller, who shared the right tackle spot, both finished their eligibility in 2002. Leading candidates for the starting tackle spots this spring are junior Jon Doty and 305-pound senior Ben Rettele. Rettele is the only one of the two with a start for the Wildcats on the O-line, opening the 2001 game against Texas A&M for his lone career start to date. Pushing Doty and Rettele for the top spots at tackle are promising sophomore Jeromey Clary, who saw a great deal of playing time in 2002 as a true freshman, and junior transfer Peni Holakeituai, who redshirted in Manhattan a year ago. A number of players will get opportunities at inside interior line spots this spring. Jesse Keaulana-Kamakea saw considerable playing time in 2002 for the Wildcats at a backup guard spot, Ryan Schmuecker will open spring drills in the No. 2 spot on the depth chart at center, and 315-pounder Chris Boggas will get an opportunity at a guard spot.


WIDE RECEIVERS The Spring 2002 workouts began with the Wildcats needing to replace the top six players on the receptions list from the year before and only two players who had a catch in their Wildcat career. Taco Wallace emerged from the pack to be the Wildcats’ leader in catches (39) and receiving yards (704) during the march to the 11-2 season and the Holiday Bowl victory. But Wallace has also departed after ending his eligibility. The other receiver to emerge for K-State in 2002 was James Terry, who will return. Terry tied Wallace for the team lead in touchdown catches with five in 2003, and had an impressive 20 yards per catch on his 28 receptions for last year’s ‘Cats. Terry led K-State with five catches for 90 yards in the Holiday Bowl win over Arizona State. He will open 2003 with at least one catch in the last seven games in which he’s played, as he missed last year’s game at Baylor. Four of his catches were for at least 40 yards. Derrick Evans, whose second career touchdown catch was the game-winner in last December’s Holiday Bowl, also returns for the ‘Cats in 2003. Evans was fourth on the team with 13 catches a year ago, making six catches in the first two games of the season. The third returning letterman from 2002 is sophomore Davin Dennis, who had three catches last year. Those pushing the returnees include seniors LaRoy Bias and John Cooper, as well as juniors Antoine Polite and Tony Madison.


TIGHT ENDS The tight end spot was one with both talent and depth in 2002, and should be even better this season with the return of Thomas Hill and Travon Magee, who finished 2002 in the top two spots on the depth chart. Hill was third on the team with 17 catches last year, having at least one catch in 10 of the Wildcats’ 13 games. Hill finished with 294 yards in receiving and a pair of touchdowns. His blend of size, speed and hands earned him honorable mention All-Big 12 status by both the coaches and the Associated Press. Magee also has outstanding speed, hands and size, and will push Hill throughout the spring and fall for the starting spot. Brian Casey earned a letter in 2002 and returns at tight end, while freshman Rimmon McNeese redshirted last year.


QUARTERBACKS Taking center stage in each of the last two springs for Kansas State has been a pitched battle for the starting spot at quarterback. Ell Roberson comes into Spring 2003 as the starter following a breakout year at quarterback. But despite the departure of Marc Dunn, Roberson will still be getting pushed in practice by an ever-improving Jeff Schwinn. Roberson set quarterback-rushing records at Kansas State last year for a single-play (91 yards against Nebraska), a single-game (228 vs. Nebraska), a single-season (1,032) and a career (1,843). In addition to all that prowess on the ground, Roberson greatly improved his passing ability in 2002, improving his completion percentage from .397 to .520 and his pass efficiency rating from 90.5 to 136.5. He suffered only four interceptions in 175 attempts last year, while throwing for 1,580 yards. Roberson finished the season as the Offensive MVP in the Holiday Bowl and as a third team All-Big 12 selection by the league’s coaches. Schwinn was third on the depth chart last year, but proved throughout the season in practice that he is a capable passer. In his three appearances for the Wildcats during games last year, he completed 7 of 12 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. Dylan Meier will open the spring in the No. 3 spot on the depth chart after redshirting in 2002. Allen Webb, a transfer from Indiana, will also get his first time on the field as a Wildcat after arriving on campus in time for spring drills with the 2003 squad.


RUNNING BACKS There are a number of ways to figure the depth and talent at running back for Kansas State as it goes into spring 2003. First, there have been seven 1,000-yard seasons by Wildcat rushers. One was accomplished last season by a quarterback -Roberson. Two others have been the back-to-back record-setting seasons of Josh Scobey, now an Arizona Cardinal, and Darren Sproles, still a Wildcat. Next, nine players are on the spring depth chart as returning lettermen at the running-back spots. Finally, no less than 18 different Wildcats got at least one carry for the ‘Cats in 2002, with 11 returning this fall. Sproles has gained the most attention of the group of returnees after setting eight school records last year, including most yards in a season both rushing (1,465) and all-purpose (1,800), while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. The 5-foot-7 junior will open the 2003 season within range of becoming K-State’s all-time leading rusher. He is currently ninth on the career rushing list, with his 1,675 yards ranking just behind Roberson’s 1,843. Depending on Roberson’s running in 2003, a second straight 1,000-yard season by Sproles could push him past the man atop the career rushing list, as he needs just 862 yards to match the 2,537 of Eric Hickson (1994-95, ‘96-97). Behind Sproles at tailback is senior Danny Morris, who played in seven games before missing the rest of the 2002 season with an injury, and sophomore Carlos Alsup, who had 70 yards last year carrying the ball in only five games after being moved over from defense following Morris’ injury. Fullback Travis Wilson had an outstanding junior season with the Wildcats after transferring from Michigan State. He also averaged better than six yards per carry, finishing fifth on the team with 126 yards. An effective and tenacious blocker, Wilson led Sproles through many holes in 2002 and finished the year by earning honorable mention on the All-Big 12 team picked by the league’s coaches. Sophomore Ayo Saba made his mark quickly for Kansas State, scoring touchdowns on each of his first three carries as a collegian and finishing his freshman year with eight touchdowns on his 39 carries, scoring at least one TD in seven different games. His 48 points were fourth on the team for the ‘Cats in 2002 and were the most by a freshman non-kicker in school history. Victor Mann is also an outstanding returnee at fullback, having gained 97 yards in his first season with K-State. Senior Lance Kramer, sophomore Paul O’Neil and redshirt freshman Donnie Anders will be in the mix this spring at the two running back spots.


DEFENSE One of the strongest and deepest position groups of the 2002 season emerged as one of the most dominating defensive lines at K-State in some time. The Wildcats allowed only 69.5 rushing yards per game last year, completely erasing the previous school record of 96.5 yards. The loss, though, of three of the four starters, means that many players who got valuable time a year ago will be battling for spots. Andrew Shull is the lone returning starter, coming back at defensive end after starting 11 of the Wildcats’ 13 games last year. He led K-State with 10 sacks a year ago, one of only seven Wildcats in history to have double figures in sacks in a season. Shull also led K-State with 17 tackles for losses and forced four fumbles, earning second team All-Big 12 honors from AP. Thomas Houchin also returns for his senior year at a defensive-end spot, having started the two games Shull missed. Houchin was 10th in tackles last year, but tied with Corey White for the team lead in QB hurries with 14. Houchin had 2.5 sacks a year ago. Junior Alax Carrier and sophomore Scott Edmonds are also strong candidates for the top spots at ends this spring, with Kevin Huntley having made great progress in a redshirt year in 2002. Senior Lee File will also provide depth at this position. Tank Reese and Corey White finished their eligibility last year, leaving both defensive-tackle positions up for grabs this spring. Two-year letterman Justin Montgomery will open the spring atop the depth chart at one tackle spot, entering his junior season with 54 career tackles in 22 games as a Wildcat. Montgomery started seven games as a redshirt freshman in 2001, with his only start of 2002 coming against Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl. Andrew Bulman, an outstanding performer in the weight room for the Wildcats, will battle for the starting spot at the other tackle with junior Jermaine Berry, who sat out last season as a redshirt after transferring from Butler County, Kan., CC. Bulman had 12 tackles in nine games for K-State last year. Sophomore Derek Marso and junior Jerad Cowan will push those at the top of the charts at the tackle spots, along with red-shirt freshman Quintin Echols.


LINEBACKERS The return of Josh Buhl and Bryan Hickman at outside linebacker will certainly help alleviate the opening in the middle created by the departure of Terry Pierce for the NFL Draft. The starting linebackers for K-State finished first, second and fourth in tackles for the Wildcats in 2002, and the trio started all 13 games for K-State. Leading the defensive stats was Buhl, who returns for his senior season after starting 22 games in the last two years. Buhl’s 135 tackles were tied for 11th on the single-season list for the Wildcats, with his 77 solo tackles marking the third-best season in school history. Buhl was selected to the All-Big 12 second team by the AP and third team by the coaches. On the other side, Hickman was one of the most improved players on the team in 2002. He was fourth in tackles with 79, fourth with 13 tackles for loss and picked off three passes, including two against Oklahoma State. Hickman, who had three games with double figures in tackles, including a career-high 11 against Iowa State, earned All-Conference honorable mention from both the coaches and AP last year. In the middle, the spring battle will be between a pair of sophomores in Matt Butler and Ted Sims. Butler had 23 tackles in 13 games as a freshman a year ago, while Sims saw action in three games. Juniors Jerad Johnson and Maurice Thurmond each lettered a year ago for the Wildcats after having strong seasons on special teams. Thurmond finished with 28 tackles as a sophomore in 2002.


DEFENSIVE BACKS Arguably one of the best performances by a Kansas State player in any season was turned in by Terence Newman in 2002. Newman’s dominating season resulted in his selection for the Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation’s top defensive back in college football. At many points in 2002, opposing teams decided to throw away from Newman. The good news from that strategy for the Wildcats was the opportunity for other players to mature, a factor which will be important in 2003. Randy Jordan will open the spring atop the depth chart at the cornerback slot he patrolled last season. Jordan was ninth on the tackle chart for the Wildcats last year, finishing with 46 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups. In the mix for the other corner spot, as well as positions in the rotation this spring is one veteran, junior David Rose, one redshirt, junior Louis Lavender, and two junior-college transfers from Garden City, Kan., CC, Corey Reddick and Cedrick Williams. Rose played in all 13 games for the Wildcats last year, getting 11 tackles. Lavender sat out 2002 after transferring from West L.A. College. Reddick was a honorable mention NJCAA All-America selection a year ago for the Broncbusters, while Williams ended his time at Garden City with 12 career interceptions.


Rashad Washington started all 13 games at strong safety for Kansas State last year, finishing third on the defensive chart with 80 tackles. Washington was an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick by the AP last year and will return as one of the top safeties in the league in 2003. Junior Marcus Patton opens the spring as the backup at strong safety after getting 19 tackles in 13 games last year. Jesse Tetuan, who had 21 tackles and a pair of interceptions in a breakout freshman season a year ago, will battle senior James McGill for the top spot at free safety this spring. Tetuan had a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown at Baylor that created some momentum for the Wildcats in that victory.


MISSOURI

HEAD COACH: GARY PINKEL

Missouri's offense should be unstoppable as long as Brad Smith is playing. The running backs are strong, the offensive line is experienced and talented, and the receiving corps has potential. It all comes down to Smith who has the weight of the entire program on his shoulders.


Quarterbacks Projected Starter Brad Smith, Soph. - Smith emerged from the opening snap of 2002 as one of the most dangerous players in college football rushing for 1,029 yards and throwing for 2,333 more. He's 6-3 with great speed and toughness playing through the second half of last year with a dinged up thumb. Even with his injury, his passing skills didn't suffer completing 54% of his passes with 15 touchdown passes and six interceptions. After one season, he's already eighth on Missouri's all-time total offense list.


Top Backups Santonio Riccio, Soph. - Riccio firmly established himself as the No. 2 quarterback this spring with good mobility and a strong arm. He isn't as big as Smith, but he's a good sized quarterback that should be fine in an emergency.


Running Backs Projected Starter - Zack Abron, Sr. - Abron emerged into a top back last year rushing for 758 yards and 15 touchdowns. He's one of the better goal line backs in the Big XII able to barrel for the tough yards when needed. With good hands, he never fumbles and is also a decent receiver catching six passes for 46 yards and two touchdowns.


Top Backups - Tim Starks, Sr. - Starks has great speed and good moves for a 203-pound back. The former defensive back should emerge as a strong backup behind Abron. Damien Nash, Soph. - Nash was one of Pinkel's top recruits, but he tore up his knee in junior college last year. Once he gets to 100%, he should be the most dangerous back in the mix with tremendous quickness and good power. He was timed at 10.3 in the 100.


Receivers Projected Starters - Darius Outlaw, Sr. - The former quarterback returns to the team after getting a sixth year of eligibility. He turned into a weapon last year finishing second on the team with 46 catches for 552 yards and three touchdowns. Now that he knows how to play the position, he should shine even brighter. Thomson Omboga, Jr. -After missing a few games with a rib injury, Omboga missed the last few games of last year after getting suspended for violating team rules. He's a big, experienced receiver finishing third on the team with 21 catches for 253 yards and a touchdown. Sean Coffey, Soph. - The 6-6 Coffey will get the starting nod at the Z. He was the team's top midrange threat averaging 13.2 yards per catch. He took over Justin Gage's No. 12 jersey, and is expected to take over Gage's production as well. Tight end J.D. McCoy, Sr. - McCoy is coming off a knee injury that knocked him out late last year. He's expected to be 100% by this fall to give the Tigers another strong blocker on the line. He's a decent, but not great, pass catcher making eight grabs for 58 yards and a touchdown. Top Backups Chris Crosby, Soph. - The 6-3 Crosby has a ton of talent and is expected to make a huge impact after showing great potential in practices last year. He'll back up Outlaw at the X. Arnold Britt. Soph. - Britt is another big receiver with good speed. He'll be a factor at the H behind Ombogo. Tight end Clint Matthews, Jr. - Matthews isn't the blocker McCoy is, but he might be a little bit better receiver with more time. He saw plenty of practice time with McCoy recovering from his knee injury.


Offensive Line Projected Starters - Tackle Rob Droege, Sr. - The 6-6, 300-pound senior is one of the best tackles in the country. He's a mauling run blocker with great feet able to pull and move as well as any lineman in college football. He's also one of the team's smartest players with a 3.83 average.


Guard Tony Palmer, Soph. - Palmer was a great player as a redshirt freshman becoming one of the team's best guards. He has a non-stop motor and the intensity to grow into something special. Center A.J. Ricker, Sr. - Ricker is a top candidate for the Rimington Award as one of the nation's best centers. He's a big veteran with 34 straight starts as the team's anchor. He's a mauling in the running game and is outstanding at finishing off his blocks. Guard Cliff Young, Sr. - Young is an experienced player with great run blocking skills, but he still has to work on his pass blocking ability. He started off the season on the weak side before solidifying himself on the strong side. Tackle Scott Paffrath, Jr. - Paffrath got bigger in the off-season. Now he's a good sized player with his decent athleticism. He's tough as nails playing down the stretch with an injured arm.


Top Backups G Joe Gianino, Jr. - Gianino was a part-time starter working on the weak side last year. He bulked up 15 pounds to be a more imposing force. C Scott Sells, Sr. - Sells won't push for the starting job with Ricker in the middle, but he's a solid backup and an experienced reserve. On defense, the Tigers didn't progress well having problems late in the year stopping anyone. This year's crew is young, but there's depth everywhere with some outstanding newcomers to the secondary and good options just about everywhere else.


Defensive Line Projected Starters - Defensive end Brian Smith, RFr. - Even at only 210 pounds, Smith is a great looking player with tremendous speed coming off the edge. He won't be an every down player, but he could end up leading the team in sacks. Defensive tackle Atiyyah Ellison, Jr. - The former JUCO transfer moved from end to tackle this spring taking over for the loss of Keith Wright. At 290 pounds, he's better suited for the inside and should grow into a top tackle following a 41 stop season. Nose tackle C.J. Mosley, Soph. - Mosley is one of the rising stars of the line coming off a 41 tackle, three sack redshirt freshman season. The 289-pounder will battle Russ Bell for the starting job on the nose. Defensive end Zach Ville, Jr. - Ville was scheduled to be a one of the team's top linemen last season, but an emergency appendectomy in fall practice ended all of that. The junior looked better than ever this spring taking over Ellison's former spot on the end. Top Backups - DT Russ Bell, Sr. - Bell moved from tackle to nose this spring pushing Mosley for time. He saw plenty of action in the tackle rotation last season making 36 tackles and three sacks. DT Fabian Bean, RFr. - The 269-pound Bean can play either end of tackle. He gained weight over the last year and should be a more physical player. Linebackers Projected Starters - Brandon Barnes, Sr. - The former free safety took over the starting linebacker job replacing Sean Doyle. Barnes made 54 tackles last season and should shine with his speed in the corps. James Kinney, Jr. - Kinney was a tackling machine last season making 148 tackles, six sacks, 11 tackles for loss and recovered three fumbles. He's going to have to be the star of the defense with even more responsibility heaped on him. He's a strong, physical linebacker with good enough speed to drop into pass coverage.


Top Backups Henry Sweat, Jr. - Sweat will battle Barnes for one of the staring jobs. He isn't quite the athlete Barnes is, but he could turn into a better run stuffer. Derrick Ming, Soph. - Ming is one of the best combinations of speed and strength in the linebacking corps. He'll see plenty of action in the rotation to utilize his overall talent. Secondary Projected Starters - Cornerback Calvin Washington, Soph. - Washington is a good sized corner with tremendous speed moving ahead of A.J. Kincaide into a starting spot this spring. He played in every game as a true freshman making seven tackles.


Free safety Nino Williams, Jr. - The JUCO All-American came in this spring and took over the starting job. He's a solid tackler with good quickness and nice size. Rover Dedrick Harrington, RFr. - Harrington is one of the best overall athletes in the secondary. He's 6-4, 223 pounds and can move. Expect him to grow into one of the team's top tacklers and one of the most intimidating hitters. Whip Jason Simpson, Soph. - Simpson was a top player as a freshman making 64 tackles. He's one of the team's most physical players and should grow into an All-Big XII caliber talent. Cornerback Michael Harden, Sr. - Harden was Mizzou's best coverman last year breaking up 15 passes, making two interceptions and making 59 tackles. He added more muscle to his frame so he should be even better against bigger receivers this year.


Top Backups S Justin Scott, Soph. - Scott will see time behind Harrington at the Rover spot. He's a hard hitter with great quickness making 41 tackles and four tackles for loss last year. FS Marcus King, Jr. - King adds more experience to the secondary after starting seven games last season. The former corner is a good player making 48 tackles, but Williams is a star and won't be easily replaced. CB A.J. Kincaide, Soph. - Kincaide is a fast corner with a little bit of starting experience turning into a good player by the end of last year. He'll push for time behind Washington, but he'll see plenty of action throughout the secondary to utilize his 4.4 speed.


Special Teams - Placekicker Mike Matheny, Sr. - Matheny has a good leg, but he didn't use it too much from long range. He came on after Alex Pettersen struggled and hit 9 of 13 field goals to give the Tigers a steady kicking presence. Punter Brock Harvey, Sr. - Harvey became a great weapon last year upping his average from 39.5 to 42.5. All he needs to do is work on his accuracy a bit putting ten kicks in the end zone. If he can angle some of those off a little better, he could be a First Team All-Big XII performer.


NEBRASKA

HEAD COACH: FRANK SOLICH

Nebraska is still going to run the ball out of the I, but there are going to be a few minor changes. New offensive coordinator Barney Cotton is going bring the Nebraska passing game into the 21st century in baby steps by starting out incorporating more short passes. There are a couple of problems with this. 1) Jammal Lord can't throw these passes with any consistency, 2) Nebraska doesn't have any receivers to threaten anyone and 3) the line is learning how to pass block. All is not lost though as there's more speed at receiver than the program has had in years and there are several intriguing running backs to roll behind a great line.


Quarterbacks Projected Starter Jammal Lord, Sr. - The offense didn't move the ball much last year and was positively stagnant at times. Don't blame Lord. He had some gigantic shoes to fill taking over for favorite son Eric Crouch and ended up doing a fine job rushing for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns while throwing for twelve scores. He's big and has great moves, but he has to find more of an accurate passing touch on his medium range throws if the offense is going to do much through the air. Top Backups - Mike Stuntz, Jr. - Stintz played a little bit last season completing 10 of 25 passes for 100 yards. He's a little more of a passing option than the other quarterbacks. Joe Dailey, Fr. - A great all-around quarterback and the starter of the future, Dailey is expected to come to camp this fall and make an immediate push for the backup job. Curt Dukes, RFr. - Dukes was supposed to push for the starting job over the course of last season, but it didn't happen. He's a good runner and was in a battle for the backup spot with Garth Glissman, but he, along with Glissman, have transferred. He has decided to go to Duke. Garth Glissman, Soph. - A relative unknown, Glissman looked great this spring showing the best passing accuracy of the quarterbacks and a good feel for the offense. Even though he had a shot at the number two job, he's transferring out of the program.


Running Backs Projected Starter David Horne, Soph. - Last season was supposed to be the Dahrran Diedrick show, but Horne changed that by being Nebraska's most effective tailback. He bulked up in the off-season to add more power to his speed game and to handle the workhorse pounding he's going to take. If he stays healthy, he should be a lock for 1,200 yards. Fullback Judd Davies, Sr. - One of the best fullbacks in the country, Davis returns for what seems like his 14th season as a Husker. He's a great blocker who'll be one of the leaders of the offense. He won't carry the ball all that much being used more and more as a pure blocker. Look out for him to become more of a receiver out of the backfield.


Top Backups Cory Ross, Soph. - He might be only 5-6, but Ross has some power and some killer moves. As one of the few shining stars in the spring game, Ross has proven he can be relied on to make some big plays. Josh Davis, Sr. - A great kickoff returner, Davis will be trying to make more of an impact in the backfield. He ran for 162 yards last season. Robin Miller, Sr. - Miller hasn't done much in his Husker career, so now the 230-pound back wants to go out with a bang as a power back in the rotation. DeAntae Grixby, Sr. - Grixby isn't going to replace Davies and is only 215 pounds, but he'll still be a part of the offense and should see a few carries at fullback. Marques Simmons, Soph. - A speed back, Simmons is a 4.4 guy who can hit the home run, but he decided to leave the program after finishing the spring fourth on the depth chart. He rushed 13 times for 57 yards and a touchdown last year, and will transfer to Iowa.


Receivers Projected Starters - Ross Pilkington, Soph. - The only real receiving threat, Pilkington is a decent overall receiver catching 14 passes for 301 yards including a 90-yard grab against Iowa State. If he doesn't have a big season, the offense isn't going to go anywhere. Mark LeFlore, Soph. - LeFlore is one of several options that could end up starting alongside Pilkington. LeFlore made six catches as a true freshman and carried the ball a little bit on reverses. He's a great athlete and could grow into the role. Tight end Matt Herian, Soph. - Possibly the best receiving threat on the team, Herian only caught seven passes, but he averaged 43 yards per grab and scored four touchdowns. Now he has to become a blocker.


Top Backups Isaiah Fluellen, RFr. - He can flat out fly with sprinter's speed, but he has hamstring problems. Jack O'Halleran, Jr. - The walk-on made plays all spring long showing good toughness and nice hands. Tight end Phil Peetz, Sr. - At 270 pounds, Peetz is more of a blocking tight end leaving the receiving to Herian. Tight end Chris Septak, Jr. - Septak became a top player this spring as a dependable receiver and a decent blocker.


Offensive Line Projected Starters Tackle Richie Incognito, Soph. - After turning in a fantastic freshman season, Incognito was moved over to center. After the emergence of Josh Sewell in the middle, Incognito returned to his spot at left tackle where he'll be one of the best in the Big XII. He's big, punishing and can move. Guard Mike Erickson, Jr. - An Academic All-Big XII performer, Erickson wasn't bad on the field getting better and better as last year went on replacing Toniu Fonoti. He's become a great run blocker. Center Josh Sewell, Sr. - Sewell's emergence has become a godsend. After coming out of nowhere to look great this spring, Incognito was able to move back to tackle and now the line looks solidified. He'll have to keep battling to keep the job, but he has been exactly what the line has needed so far. Guard Junior Tagoa'i, Sr. - The 300-pound Tagoa'i is one of the few new starters on the line, but he has a little bit of experience and should fill-in nicely at right guard. He's a big run blocker that has been dominating at times with 18 pancake blocks against Texas A&M. The problem? He was recently arrested on suspicion of domestic assault.


Tackle Dan Vili Waldrop, Sr. - If Incognito is the best player on the line, Vili Waldrop is No. 1A (at least on potential.) At 350 pounds, he's a big tackle with enough quickness to be a potentially decent pass blocker. His forte is run blocking and could develop into one of the better blockers in the Big XII.


Top Backups G Jake Andersen, Jr. - The 300-pound junior will push hard for time at either guard spot, but will see the most time behind Tagoa'i. OT Chris Loos, Sr. - He missed all of last year with a knee injury. If he can come back and contribute, he'll be a huge boost to an already good line. OT Jemayer Phillips, RFr. - The 370-pound "Big Smooth" redshirt freshman might have been a starting tackle if Incognito didn't move back. Instead, Phillips will be a big, and very good, backup. The defense struggled through some major growing pains last season and has to be far better this year. New defensive coordinator Bo Pelini is going to try and changed things up with his hard-nosed attitude and aggressive style. There aren't many standout players like a Chris Kelsay or a DeJuan Groce, but there are several good, rising playmakers.


Defensive Line Projected Starters - Defensive end Trevor Johnson, Sr. - A smart player as a three-time Academic All-Big XII performer, Johnson can play a little football as well. He became one of the team's better pass rushers as last season went on with 2.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss primarily filling in when Chris Kelsay went down on the right side before moving to the left. He'll play on the right side this year. Defensive tackle Ryon Bingham, Sr. - One of the better defensive tackles in the Big XII, Bingham has been a rock on the Husker like finishing with 67 tackles last season. He has nice quickness and a good burst off the ball. Defensive tackle Patrick Kabongo, Sr. - An extremely active tackle, Kabongo is a 320-pound player in the middle who made 62 tackles and nine tackles for loss last season. He's a decent pass rusher from the interior. Defensive end Bernard Thomas, Jr. - He sat out last season after primarily being used as a backup over his first two years. With an NFL type of body, he looks the part and now he has to play like it on the field.


Top Backups DT LeKevin Smith, Soph. - A big body in the middle, Smith ended up being a major player in the tackle rotation making 42 stops and has turned into a nice pass rusher. DT Seppo Evwaraye, Soph. - The 320-pound sophomore had a huge spring playing through an injured shoulder. By the time fall comes around, he'll be one of the mainstays on the line. DT Jason Lohr, Sr. - After getting a sixth year of eligibility, Lohr will find his way back into the mix in the middle after having major knee problems for two years. DE Adam Carriker, RFr. - Carriker was a terror at getting to the quarterback this spring and will push Thomas very hard for the starting spot. DE Titus Adams, Soph. - A tackle by trade, Adams has been moved to the end to give the Huskers a big body on the outside. Linebackers Projected Starters - Demorrio Williams, Sr. - Williams came out of junior college as everything the Huskers could hope for and more. He'll have the weak side job all to himself with T.J. Hollowell moving over to the strong side. The 210-pound Williams can fly all over the field leading the Huskers with 92 tackles last season - Barrett Ruud, Jr. - Ruud was good last year making 91 tackles and should be outstanding this season as he's more comfortable in the new defensive system. He'll get a chance to play more in space and will be able to use his running ability in the more in the middle. T.J. Hollowell, Sr. - After splitting time with Williams last season, Hollowell will get the first look on the strong side this season to better utilize his 230-pound frame against more physical teams. With sixty tackles last season and a good nose for the football, he'll make an impact in a full-time role.


Top Backups - Ira Cooper, Jr. - A big strong side linebacker, Cooper looked tremendous this spring and will make a big impact pushing Hollowell for time. Chad Sievers, Jr. - One of the more valuable backups on the team, Sievers can play any linebacker position and can even fill in at defensive end. He'll spend most of his time in the middle behind Ruud this fall after recovering from a knee injury. Chad Buller, Sr. - Buller will back up Williams on the weak side. He's not all that big, but he'll be a dependable backup.


Secondary Projected Starters - Cornerback Fabian Washington, Soph. - A star in the making, Washington has become the team's best cover-corner and a dependable all-around player. After taking over the starting job on the left side, Washington made 49 tackles intercepted four passes and broke up 13 in all. Even with his youth, he's a leader and a catalyst for the secondary. Free safety Josh Bullocks, Soph. - After working out some freshman mistakes, Bullocks should be a top player this season. He took over the starting job over the second half of the season finishing with 48 tackles and three broken up passes. - Strong safety Philip Bland, Jr. - Bland is one of the leaders in the secondary good enough to play free or strong safety. He's had some problems with a shoulder injury, but he'll be ready to go for the start of the season after finishing third on the team with 84 tackles last year. Cornerback Pat Ricketts, Sr. - Ricketts has the experience starting in eight games last season making 56 tackles and breaking up ten passes, but he lost the starting job to Fabian Washington. Now he's going to be battling Lornell McPherson for the starting gig on the right side.


Top Backups - CB Lornell McPherson, Jr.. - McPherson is just about neck and neck with Ricketts for the right cornerback job. McPherson makes plays all over the field with great speed and a nose for the ball. FS Daniel Bullocks, Soph - Josh's twin brother, Daniel is a little bit bigger, but not quite the overall player yet. His development was slowed a bit by an ankle injury and should become a force behind Bland this year. FS Jerrell Pippens, Sr. - A decent hitter and a top reserve, Pippens has been a valuable player for the Huskers. He'll be in the mix at safety.


Special Teams - Placekicker Sandro DeAngelis, Jr. - This could be a problem. DeAngelis and Dale Endorf have done nothing to make Husker coaches forge about Josh Brown. There's no consistency and little confidence in the placekicking game. Punter Kyle Larson, Sr. - Larson could potentially be one of the best punters in America. He had a good season averaging 43.2 yards per kick, and now he appears ready for a huge campaign after blasting the ball in practices. He also has nice placements on his kicks putting 23 inside the 20.


OKLAHOMA

HEAD COACH: BOB STOOPS

Here is an overview of the team as a whole, the offense and the quarterback position as Oklahoma looks forward to another winning campaign in 2003. Over the last couple years, Oklahoma has proved itself pretty good at the art of retooling. Despite the departures of several notables, including national award winners Rocky Calmus, Josh Heupel and Roy Williams, the Sooners have consistently remained one of the top five teams in the nation.


Although it never happens by chance, success does beget success. In 2003, particularly on offense, OU looks to again reach into its deep talent pool to fill key positions. The defense and special teams are almost carbon copies of last year's squad. The offense, which said good-bye to its top passer, top rusher and top receiver, will look different, at least from a personnel standpoint. Ironically, many of the names that may now be cast in more substantial roles are at least somewhat familiar. Jason White may be the best-known four-game starter in college football. Knee injuries have sidelined him each of the last two years, but he is the only OU quarterback with previous starting experience. He will have to compete for the job, but he does give the coaches an option if previous playing time becomes a determining factor.


Running back Kejuan Jones, a backup last season, who saw most of his action in short-yardage situations, still managed 613 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is far from green. The same can be said of Renaldo Works. In the area of pass-catching, it's rare when one school graduates its top four career receivers in one year (only two were wideouts), but that is precisely what occurred at Oklahoma. Still, the Sooners return players who spent last season combining for 95 receptions and 13 touchdowns. Moreover, behind returning starters Mark Clayton and Will Peoples, the young talent at receiver is thought to be among the best on the team. On defense, nine starters return, including Lombardi and Bednarik finalist Tommie Harris at tackle, Butkus finalist Teddy Lehman at linebacker, Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year Lance Mitchell at linebacker and Thorpe semifinalists Brandon Everage and Derrick Strait in the secondary. The Sooner defense, perhaps more than any of its peers, combines quality with experience. It could be a special year for that unit.


The special teams feature game-breaking return specialist Antonio Perkins and returning performers at placekicker and punter in Trey DiCarlo and Blake Ferguson, respectively. Offense The 2002 season established a scary fact for Oklahoma opponents ... the Sooners are a two-headed monster on offense. OU threw for 2,828 yards and ran for 2,668 last year. Both are impressive numbers made even more so by the fact that they're separated by just 160 yards. In the previous three seasons, Oklahoma had gained at least 1,500 yards more through the air than it had on the ground. The balanced scheme will have a few new names at the controls, but there also are a number of key returnees. * Quarterback Players with starting experience at the position: Jason White. Nate Hybl was 20-3 as Oklahoma's starter and he guided the Sooners to a pair of Jan. 1 bowl victories. Replacing him will not be easy. In fact, OU offensive coordinator Chuck Long already has said that a final decision may not come until August. Four returnees, each with distinctive qualities, head the list of those who vie for the spot.


Jason White has been an Oklahoma starter in each of the last two seasons. In 2001, he won the job at mid-season. Last year, he emerged from a preseason competition. Each time, he went down in his second start with a torn ACL, one in each knee. White will go through spring drills, but like last year, will not participate in the scrimmages or any contact drills.


Brent Rawls is a sophomore who still has not logged any game time at Oklahoma. Last season, he battled a season-long series of ailments, which began with a thumb injury in August. The Louisianan's strength is his throwing arm. It remains to be seen if he has the other components needed for the position. Paul Thompson moved up to second team when White went out last season. He played sparingly, but impressed with raw talent and a quick release. The other returning candidate redshirted last season, but not in obscurity. Noah Allen raised eyebrows with his work on the scout team. He displayed resourcefulness and the ability to move an offense down the field.


As Oklahoma's football team prepares for spring practice, it is obvious that a fair amount of attention will be focused on the offense's skill positions. OU lost the top four receivers in school history and its top ground gainer from last season. Here is a closer look at the Sooner backs and receivers. Running Backs Players with starting experience at the position: Renaldo Works. Short yardage back. Goal line personnel. Backup. Kejuan Jones was all those last season. But unlike the implied status of the labels, Jones rushed for more than 600 yards while scoring 14 touchdowns. Not only that, but he managed to squeeze out those numbers while another player on the team, Quentin Griffin, rushed for 1,884 yards and 15 TDs of his own. Aside from Jones, the Sooners can look to Renaldo Works, the hero of last season's win over Alabama; Jerad Estus, a talented player still seeking his first big break and Donta Hickson, whose stock rose with several strong practice efforts last season. At fullback, J.D. Runnels returns after a stellar true freshman campaign. Much of Jones' success could be attributed to Runnels' work as the lead blocker. Griffin's departure can hardly be ignored. After all, he rushed for more yards as a senior than he did in his first three seasons combined. He also finished as OU's all-time leading receiver. And those are just the tangibles. *


Receivers -Players with starting experience at the position: Mark Clayton, Will Peoples. Oklahoma still has a lot of quality. What it might concern itself with is quantity, or more specifically, length. The two departed seniors, Curtis Fagan and Antwone Savage, distinguished themselves by going the distance. The former had OU's two longest receptions last season, the latter averaged more than 30 yards on his 14 career touchdowns. That said, the Sooners bring back three wideouts who averaged more yards per reception than either Fagan or Savage. Will Peoples ranked second on the team with 39 receptions last season, Mark Clayton pulled in 26 passes and five touchdowns and Brandon Jones caught just seven balls, but three of those were for touchdowns and his average per catch was a lofty 16.7 yards. Others who could figure prominently are sophomores Travis Wilson and Jejuan Rankins, redshirt freshman DaBryan Blanton and perhaps one or two from a much-heralded recruiting class.


To spend so much time on the wideouts is to almost neglect another significant loss in the receiving corps, tight end Trent Smith. Smith set a school record with 66 receptions in 2001 and stands No. 2 on OU's all-time receptions list. Three candidates - Lance Donley, James "Bubba' Moses and Chris Chester - are already in the program, while junior college transfer Willie Roberts, will join the team in August. Smith was unique as a pass catcher among tight ends and developed into a good blocker, but OU likes its list of candidates for the 2003 season.


Players with starting experience at the position: OT Jammal Brown, OT Wes Sims, OG Kelvin Chaisson, OG Davin Joseph, C Vince Carter, C Chris Bush. In 2002, it was easy to spot the improvement of Nate Hybl and Quentin Griffin. Hybl was more effective because he was on his back less and Griffin's productivity increased with more numerous holes in the opposing defenses. The party responsible for both was an offensive line that may have just scratched the surface of its capability. The coaches are downright excited about the development of the line. Both tackles return in All-Big 12 selection Jammal Brown and Wes Sims. Sims moved from the right side to the left after the 2001 season. Brown stepped in on the right for the '02 campaign. Another candidate is Bret Rayl. At guard, OU spent most of last season with seniors Mike Skinner and Brad Davis in the starting roles. Davis was felled in the ninth game by a broken leg, opening the way for then-redshirt freshman Kelvin Chaisson. Skinner had to fight all season to keep true freshman Davin Joseph at bay. Joseph eventually broke through when he got the nod over Chaisson in the Rose Bowl. Just based on last season, those two sophomores come in as top candidates. It may not be that simple, though. Players like Chris Bush and Abner Estrada both worked at center last season, but could play that position or possibly guard. Time will tell. The most experienced center is Vince Carter, who has 21 career starts in the middle of the OU line. Not bad for a junior who never took a redshirt season.


It is impressive that Oklahoma returns nine starters on defense. It is more impressive that the Sooners return five players who have been starters for two years. Beyond its experience, the OU defense is talented and deep. There have been a lot of good Oklahoma defenses over the years, including several during Bob Stoops' four seasons in Norman. This one could be in a position to stand with some of its greatest predecessors.


Defensive Line - Players with starting experience at the position: Tommie Harris, Kory Klein, Dusty Dvoracek, Lynn McGruder. The two interior positions return the entire four-man rotation. Tommie Harris and Kory Klein have taken the bulk of the starts over the past two seasons. Dusty Dvoracek and Lynn McGruder give OU a top four that rivals most in the college ranks. Harris is a headliner who looks to rebound after being slowed by a groin injury last season. The understated Klein is as steady as any player on the team. Dvoracek is as active as any of OU's defensive linemen and McGruder is a space eater with an explosive first step. Oklahoma's defensive middle will hold its own. Defensive Ends -Players with starting experience at the position: Jonathan Jackson, Dan Cody. When Jonathan Jackson had six tackles and two sacks in the Rose Bowl it was like a great finishing hole in golf. The result left Jackson and everyone else looking forward to the next round, or in this case, the next season. Just a junior, Jackson has the maturity and talent to become a dominant player. The other end position is vacant. Dan Cody has starting experience at OU and was the team's top player at the position more than once last season. Others with promise are sophomores Calvin Thibodeaux and Zach Latimer and redshirt-freshman Larry Birdine. - As Oklahoma prepares for the beginning of spring drills (Monday, March 10), it can do so secure in the knowledge that the team is particularly strong at linebacker and defensive back. Of course, that's not anything new. OU has had a Butkus finalist and a Thorpe semi-finalist (or higher) in each of the last three seasons. Linebackers - Players with starting experience at the position: Pasha Jackson, Teddy Lehman, Lance Mitchell.


How good were Oklahoma's linebackers last season? Teddy Lehman, a finalist for the Butkus Award, finished second on his own team in tackles ... to another OU linebacker, Lance Mitchell. Lehman was a first-team All-American. Mitchell earned Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors and probably deserved more. When the Sooners employed a three-linebacker set, Pasha Jackson was outstanding. He presented an enthusiastic and physical presence. Other players saw spot duty last season and those youngsters are an athletic and hard-hitting lot. Wayne Chambers, Russell Dennison and Clint Ingram will push hard. Also look for Rufus Alexander, a redshirt freshman, who received raves when the newcomers scrimmaged last fall.


Defensive Backs Players with starting experience at the position: FS Brandon Everage, CB Derrick Strait, SS Eric Bassey, S Antonio Perkins, S Matt McCoy. Free safety Brandon Everage and cornerback Derrick Strait both had six interceptions last season and both have been starters for two years. That alone would be enough to paint a bright picture. But that's a long way from the whole story. Strong safety Eric Bassey, a starter in all 14 games last season, also returns. Then there are players like Antonio Perkins, who can play every position in the secondary, and nickel back specialists Matt McCoy and Brandon Shelby.


Five players with extensive experience return along with a half-dozen or so talented youngsters who look forward to a competitive opportunity. Everage, who will not practice this spring while recovering from an injury, and Strait appear to be set. A new corner must be found to replace the departed Andre Woolfolk. That player could be one of several. Perkins is a candidate, but Bassey could be, too. Those two rate as the fastest players on the team and appear to make sense in the corner role. Mid-year transfer Donte Nicholson, considered one of the top junior college safeties in the nation last season, will make a push at strong safety as could sophomore Brodney Pool.



OKLAHOMA STATE

HEAD COACH: LES MILES

If the tackles can come through and be dependable, there might not be any way to stop this offense. Quarterback Jose Fields will once again put up some huge numbers throwing to the Woods brothers, while an extremely talented stable of backs will tear up defenses on the ground.


Quarterbacks Projected Starter - Josh Fields, Jr. - Fields had a huge 2002 forming working well with Rashaun Woods and the rest of the receivers. While he isn't mobile and doesn't have a huge arm, he can be deadly accurate with a great nose for getting the ball in the end zone completing 226 of 408 passes for 3,145 yards and 31 touchdowns with only ten interceptions. He throws a nice deep ball and doesn't get flustered when pressured.


Top Backups - Jamie Beeghley, RFr. - Beeghley doesn't have all the talent in the world, but he showed nice command of the offense this spring and overcame some rocky moments to cement himself as the No. 2 quarterback. Donovan Woods, Fr. - Woods is the younger brother of fellow OSU players Rashaun and D'Juan. Even though he has as much talent as any prep quarterback in America, it's asking too much for him to be the best of the brothers. He has a big arm and wonderful mobility throwing 37 touchdown passes as a high school senior to go along with 1,001 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.


Running Backs Projected Starter - Tatum Bell, Sr. - Bell turned into a workhorse over the second half of last year rushing for over 100 yards in five of the last six games. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry showing tremendous burst once he got through the line. At 210 pounds, he has decent power, but his game is all about speed tearing off an 88-yard run. Fullback Tim Burrough, Sr. - As the only fullback on the roster with the slightest bit of experience, he'll have to be a big-time player right off the bat. He was the starter last year before getting knocked out with an arm injury. He's a little bit of a runner spending most of his time as a run blocker.


Top Backups - Seymore Shaw, Soph. - The 220-pound Shaw is a great back between the tackles with great power and decent moves. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry rushing for 495 yards and five touchdowns last year. He isn't much of a receiver and doesn't have the speed of Bell or Vernand Morency, but he's vital to loosening things up for the speed backs. - Vernand Morency, Soph. - Morency is a speedy back trying to work his way into the mix after missing the second half of last year. He was third on the team in rushing with 269 yards and three touchdowns highlighted by a 76-yard dash against Louisiana Tech. - Shawn Willis, Soph. - He hasn't seen any work yet. He'll get plenty of chances this year if Burrough continues to have injury problems.


Receivers Projected Starters - Rashaun Woods, Sr. - Woods returns as one of the best players in college football. He's all but unstoppable in single coverage and is hardly contained when defenses provide safety help. Coming off a 107 catch, 1,695-yard, 17 touchdown season, he should be the target of every defense's game plan. - D'Juan Woods, RFr. - The younger brother of Rashaun, D'Juan is a little bit bigger, but not as explosive. He turned into a star this spring showing great potential with an ability to make the tough catch. The concern going into spring ball was whether or not someone could take the heat off of Rashuan with the loss of John Lewis and T.D. Bryant. D'Juan eased those fears. -


Tight end Billy Bajema, Jr. - Bajema turned into a solid receiving threat last season highlighted by a three catch, 99-yard day against Oklahoma. He's a decent blocker who's just now becoming a great all-around tight end. Top Backups - Kenneth Williams, Soph. - The former Howard transfer is 6-4 with great athletic ability, but he needs a lot of seasoning. Once he figures out how to go hard all the time and how to become a steady receiver, he'll be a top player. - John Wohlgemuth, Jr. - Wohlgemuth didn't see a whole bunch of action last year only making five catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. He's a big athlete missed most of this spring recovering from a knee problem. -


Tight end Charlie Johnson, Soph. - Johnson isn't quite the receiver that Bajema is, but he can catch making eight grabs for 109 yards and two touchdowns. At 275 pounds, he's a big-time blocker.


Offensive Line Projected Starters - Tackle Matt Hardison, Sr. - The 6-6, 285-pound Hardison will battle with Adam Gourley for the starting job on the left side. The former tight end has bulked up, but he hasn't lost his decent feet or lateral movement. - Guard Chris Akin, Jr. - Akin's a big, versatile player able to play guard or center. He's a good run blocker and growing into a dependable factor on the line.- Center Ben Buie, Jr. - Buie had a few problems with his shoulder missing time this spring getting it healed. At 310 pounds, he's one of the biggest players on the line able to move to any spot if need be. Guard Sam Mayes, Jr. - Mayes turned into the best player n the line last year as the driving force behind the running game. He earned a few all-conference honors and should be even stronger this year. Tackle Kellen Davis, Soph. - Davis missed valuable time this spring with a hand problem. He's one of the strongest Cowboy players with good athleticism. Top Backups - C Byton Machado, Soph. - Machado will push Buie for the center job after getting plenty of reps this spring. He isn't nearly as big as Buie, but he's a bit more athletic. - T Doug Koening, Sr. - Koenig adds quality, experienced depth to the line playing behind Davis. - G Corey Curtis, Soph. - Curtis should become more of a factor in the mix now that he bulked up twenty pounds. The 285-pound sophomore will play behind Akin on the left side. The defense wasn't all that strong last year, and that was with a ton of returning experience. It's never a good thing when you're counting on several true freshmen to play big roles.


The run defense should be fine, but the pass defense could have problems breaking in new corners and with few pass rushing threats to put the pressure on.


Defensive Line Projected Starters - Defensive end Greg Richmond, Sr. - Richmond came on at the end of last year to become the team's best pass rushing threat from the outside. He's a quick player starting to shine finishing with 55 tackles and seven tackles last year. -


Defensive tackle Clay Coe, Jr. - Coe was a valuable reserve making 20 tackles and a tackle for loss. After playing as a backup in almost every game over the last two years, he appears ready to shine in a starting role. - Defensive tackle Kyle Hix, Soph. - Hix has gotten bigger and a little bit stronger to be ready to take on the starting job once he gets over a leg problem. After making seven tackles and a sack last year, he has a huge task trying to replace Kevin Williams.-


Defensive end Antonio Smith, Jr. - Smith came from the JUCO ranks to be a playmaker on the end. He's a 270-pound run stopper with a good ability at getting into the backfield. With his size, he could eventually get moved to tackle.


Top Backups - DE Khreem Smith, Sr. - Even though he had a few injury problems, Smith turned into a good all-around end making 24 tackles and a sack while breaking up three passes. He'll back up Antonio Smith if he's back on the team after getting suspended for allegedly threatening his girlfriend on two separate occasions - DT Xavier Lawson-Kennedy, Fr. - The Cowboys desperately need some newcomers to play a big role. The 305-pound freshman was one of the nation's top prospects and could turn out to be the biggest lineman in the rotation.


Linebackers Projected Starters - Paul Duren, Soph. - The 235-pound Duren took over as a redshirt freshman and was the team's top tackler making 84 stops. He isn't lightning fast and isn't all that great in pass coverage, but he's a rock against the run. - Lawrence Pinson, Soph. - Pinson turned into a star as a true freshman making 40 tackles and an interception. He got bigger over the past year to become stronger against the run.


Top Backups - Pagitte McGee, Soph. - McGee should be a solid reserve behind Duren after making 18 tackles last year. He's one of the quickest linebacker on the team with a good ability to shed blocks. - Glenn Jackson, RFr. - Jackson has outstanding speed, but he'll take a while to get into the mix coming off a problem with his back.


Secondary Projected Starters - Cornerback Darrent Williams, Jr. - Williams turned into a solid starter leading the team with 13 broken up passes and three interceptions to go along with 53 tackles. Even though he isn't huge, he's not only great at dealing with the speed receivers, he's able to hang with the bigger ones. - Free safety Thomas Wright, Soph. - The 185-pound Wright was mostly a special teams player last year. Now he'll have to take over for some of the lost production of Chris Massey. Wright has solid speed and should grow into a top defensive back. - Strong safety Vernon Grant, Soph. - Grant turned into a valuable player as a true freshman finishing the season 62 tackles and five broken up passes. With his hitting ability, he'll move from corner to safety.


- Weak safety Elbert Craig, Sr. - Craig has been a fixture in the OSU secondary for years with 262 career tackles. At 220 pound, he plays like a third linebacker against the run, while he's tremendous in pass coverage with two interceptions and ten broken up passes last season. -


Cornerback Robert Jones, Soph. - The JUCO transfer is expected to make an immediate impact. At 6-0 and 190 pounds, he's a big corner with good all-around athleticism.


Top Backups - SS Fath Carter, Sr. - Carter has been a regular in the defensive back rotation and a part time starter when needed. He's a big hitting 225-pound player with enough experience to be a key player behind Grant. CB Dan McLemore, Soph. - The former running back turned into a heck of a player as a true freshman making 21 tackles and an interception. He isn't big. but he's very, very quick. - FS Chase Holland, Soph. - The 295-pound sophomore saw plenty of action as a redshirt freshman making 18 tackles. He should grow into a top reserve playing behind Wright.


TEXAS

HEAD COACH: MACK BROWN

Texas might have the best offense in America, but the skill players won't be able to reach their potential if the young and inexperienced line doesn't come together. The quarterback situation will be fine with Chance Mock and Vincent Young each able to lead the team without a problem. The running backs and receivers should be killers.


Quarterbacks Projected Starter - Chance Mock, Jr. - Mock is an experienced backup with great athleticism and a huge arm. The 6-2 Mock might not be the prospect that Vincent Young is, but he's ready to lead the team right now and take over the job without any interruption in production. Compared to Chris Simms, Mock adds a rushing element that the offense has lacked over the last few years.


Top Backups - Vincent Young, RFr. - If Young doesn't take over the starting job, he's at least one of college football's future superstars. At 6-5 and 220 pounds, he's bigger than Mock and is just as strong an athlete. All he needs is a little bit of time. - Matt Nordgren, Soph. - At 6-5, Nordgren is a big and strong quarterback with a nice arm, but he'll have a hard time getting out of the No. 3 spot.


Running Backs Projected Starter - Cedric Benson, Jr. - Ricky Williams has all the talent in the world, but there seems to be something missing. Many in the Longhorn Nation are waiting for Selvin Young to eventually take over the job, but they'll have to wait as Benson has too much talent to take off the field. He led the team with 1,293 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, but he only averaged 4.2 yards per carry. He's also a solid receiver out of the backfield making 21 catches. - Fullback Ivan Williams, Sr. - Williams can play tailback if necessary, but he'll turned into a decent fullback with his blocking ability getting better and better as last year went on. His carries might be diminished, but he can be used as a receiver out of the backfield.


Top Backups - Selvin Young, Soph. - The 195-pound Young doesn't have the size of Benson, but he has a great speed burst and could be starting if Benson has any problems. Mostly used on kickoffs, Young was second on the team with 408 yards and five touchdowns. - Brett Robin, Sr. - Robin can be lined up at fullback or see carries as a tailback. He carried the ball 11 times for 43 yards last year, but is clearly in the back of the running back rotation. - Albert Hardy, RFr. - A solid all-around prospect, the 215-pound Hardy will start the season as a backup fullback, but he can play tailback as well.


Receivers Projected Starters - Roy Williams, Sr. - Without question, Williams is the single best receiver in college football and might be the best player in the nation. When healthy, he's a dangerous weapon from anywhere on the field with the quickness to handle the ball on handoffs and the deep speed to burn any defensive back. He's had problems with a hamstring injury, but that seems to be the only thing that can stop him. He caught 64 passes for 1,142 yards and 12 touchdowns last year and also carried the ball five times for 85 yards and a touchdown. - B.J. Johnson, Sr. - Overshadowed by Williams, Johnson has never seen the limelight that he deserves. He's a big receiver at 6-1 and 200 pounds with outstanding deep speed. He has caught 122 passes for 1,840 yards and 12 touchdowns over his career.


Tight end Bo Scaife, Sr. - One of the biggest blows to the 2002 Longhorn season came when Scaife went down with a torn up knee. It remains to be seen if he'll be back to his old form, but he's expected to be back at 100% for the start of the season. When he was right, he was one of the best pass catching tight ends in America.


Top Backups - Sloan Thomas, Sr. - The 6-2 Thomas would probably start for any other team in the nation. With all the focus on Williams and Johnson, Thomas cleans up. Like Williams, Thomas has had problems with his hamstring. If need be, he's a lethal deep threat. Tony Jeffery, Jr. - A decent all-around talent, Jeffery will be the star of the show next season. He has a ton of experience, but he's had a hard time getting passes to come his way with all of the other stars. Robert Timmons, Soph. - The 6-2 Timmons is a big, strong receiver that started as a true freshman. He's expected to progress into one of the stars of the future.


Tight end Brock Edwards, Sr. - While it's hard to shine on this team with a receiving corps this good, Edwards is still a nice target to use catching 16 passes for 258 yards last year. He's also a solid blocker. After having problems with his ankle, he missed time in spring ball, but should be ready for the start of the season. Tight end David Thomas, Soph. - He played as a true freshman breaking out with a great Cotton Bowl performance. He'll be even more of a factor this year. Tight end Tony Hills, Fr. - The freshman is a freak of nature as a speedy 260 pound option. It might be hard for him to get on the field with this group of tight ends, but he's player to watch out for.


Offensive Line Projected Starters - Tackle Jonathan Scott, Soph. - Scott might be the next great Texas offensive lineman. He's a tall player at 6-7 and 297 pounds, but he's very athletic getting stronger in his run blocking. He was hurt a bit over his freshman season, but he's expected to be 100%.


Guard Tillman Holloway, Sr. - Holloway might not be the most talented player on the line, but he might be the leader. With 24 starts under his belt, he has the experience to be the one they run behind in a pinch. - Center Jason Glynn, Jr. - Glynn took over the starting job last season and became a solid producer. A two-time first-team All-Academic Big XII performer, he's one of the smartest player on the line.


Guard Terrance Young, Soph. - Young could end up playing tackle. The 350-pound sophomore was a backup guard last year and is expected to be a dominating run blocker this season. - Tackle William Winston, Soph. - At 6-7 and 350 pounds, Winston is a mountain of a player and saw time as a backup tackle last year. As big as he is, he's still relatively athletic and a powerful blocker. He could end up playing guard.


Top Backups - C Will Allen, Soph. - The 297-pound sophomore will push Glynn hard for the starting job. He could play guard if necessary, but he's expected to become a top player in the middle. - G Trey Bates, Jr. - Bates saw a little bit of time as a backup guard and should be more of a factor this year. He's a two-time first-team Academic All-Big XII performer. The defense loses three huge producers, but should be fine.


The secondary will be one of the best in the country with three returning starters, while the linebackers should be solid led by Derrick Johnson. The concern might be the size on the ends other than Kaylen Thornton, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem with the huge players at tackle.


Defensive Line Projected Starters - Defensive end Kaylen Thornton, Sr. - It took a while for him to get back in the lineup after a knee injury, but he got better and better as the season went on breaking out against Oklahoma with ten tackles. With Cory Redding gone, the job of being getting into the backfield with consistency falls to him. - Defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs, Sr. - Tubbs missed a ton of time last year with injuries, but he's one of the best in the Big XII when he's right. He's about as athletic a 305-pound player as can be found in college football.


Defensive tackle Rodrique Wright, Soph. - One of the superstars of an all-star recruiting class, Wright had a huge freshman season making 65 tackles and 4.5 sacks in the middle. He's one of the best money linemen in the Big XII and should be a dark horse All-American. - Defensive end Bryan Pickryl, Soph. - Pickryl became an important player as a freshman making 30 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 14 quarterback pressures. He's only 210 pounds and might not be able to take a consistent pounding on the end.


Top Backups DE Austin Sendlein, Jr. - A big hitter, the 265-pound Sendlein adds more size to the ends. A former linebacker, Sendlein made 24 tackles last year on the line. - DT Larry Dibbles, Soph. - A prize recruit a few years ago, Dibbles played in five games and made five tackles. He's expected to be a prominent player in the tackle rotation. DT Marco Martin, RFr. - He redshirted last season still overcoming a knee injury, but the 310-pounder should become an instant impact player. The Skinny: To listen to many insiders, the Texas line is a major concern. That's not true. The loss of Cory Redding hurts, but the ends should be decent even though they're small. The tackles will be tremendous as the top recruiting classes should pay dividends this year.


Linebackers Projected Starters - Derrick Johnson, Jr. - Johnson is one of the best linebackers in America and should be in the hunt for the Butkus Award. He made 120 stops including 73 solo tackles. He's very athletic, very fast and very, very good. On the weak side, he's deadly when he gets in space. - Reed Boyd, Sr. - After being a backup through most of his career, Boyd turned into a force in the middle last year leading the team with 123 tackles and making 16 quarterback pressures. He might not have the most raw talent of the Texas linebackers, but he's got the instincts and tackling ability that makes him an indispensable leader of the corps.


Aaron Harris, Soph. - Harris was a backup in the middle last season making 13 tackles. He might not start on the strong side, but he'll be one of the most important linebackers on the roster as the season goes on.


Top Backups - Eric Hall, Soph. - At 6-3 and 250 pounds, Hall saw a little bit of time at defensive end making seven tackles. He even has enough speed to be briefly considered at strong safety. Aurmon Satchell, Jr. - With his experience in the program, Satchell will get one of the first looks on the strong side. He played a little bit in the middle and could end up being a backup again if some of the young talent is ready to produce. - Braden Johnson, Soph. - He missed spring ball with a knee injury, but he could be a major factor at the start of the season on the strong side.


Secondary Projected Starters - Cornerback Nathan Vasher, Sr. - Vasher is one of the best corners in America and a sensational kick returner. His only problem last year was his ankle costing him two games and kept him from being his best. For a player that relies on his quickness, his ankles are his life and they need to be 100%. Vasher made 33 tackles last year, picked off four passes and broke up 15 others.


Free safety Dakarai Pearson, Sr. - A safety with cornerback speed, Pearson has turned into a star last season. He made 62 tackles and made some of the biggest plays in the biggest games highlighted by a two interception performance against Oklahoma. At only 185 pounds, he's not all that big, but he makes up for it with his speed.


Strong safety Cedric Griffin, Soph. - Griffin could play corner, but he might be more suited for safety. He saw time last year at strong safety and came in as a nickel back making 73 tackles and broke up four passes. He's the team's best run stopping defensive back.


Cornerback Michael Huff, Soph. - Huff played at strong safety last year, but might end up playing more at corner. He made 70 tackles and broke up ten passes as the team's next great defensive back. Huff can also get into the backfield making ten tackles for loss.


Top Backups - S Phillip Geiggar, Jr.. - Unlike the starting safeties, Geiggar is a pure safety and not a corner. He mostly played on special teams before redshirting last year. CB Edorian McCullough, Soph - One of the team's fastest corners, McCullough has all the makings of an extraordinary shut down corner. He played in every game as a true freshman and can return kicks. - FS Kendal Briles, Soph. - Briles was in the hunt for a starting safety job before hurting his ankle. After he came back, he hurt his shoulder. He was finally healthy by the end of the season and is expected to be a top backup this year.


The Skinny: Texas essentially puts four cornerbacks on the field and lines two of them up at safety. They aren't always the most physical of players, but they can lock down and any group of receivers and chase down any ball carrier. There's speed, depth and tons and tons of talent in this crew. The emergence of Griffin and Huff should ease the loss of Rod Babers.


Special Teams - Placekicker Dusty Mangum, Jr. - Mangum has experience, but he has to improve on his consistency only hitting eight of 19 between 30 and 49 yards. He doesn't have a big leg and doesn't handle kickoffs. - Punter Justin Smith, Jr. - Smith has to replace Brian Bradford and his 40.1 yards per kick average. He'll have to battle with sophomore Taylor Landin for the job, but he has a little bit of experience kicking twice last year and putting one inside the twenty yard line.


TEXAS A&M

HEAD COACH: DENNIS FRANCHIONE

A&M's offense was dying before Dustin Long and Reggie McNeal took over. When Long blew up for seven touchdown passes against Texas Tech, it might have sparked a new era of A&M football with an offense that actually moves the ball. The running backs and receivers need to provide a little more of a spark. The offensive line will be strong on the outside needing the guards to step up in the middle.


Quarterbacks Projected Starter - Reggie McNeal, Soph. - The starting spot could still go to Dustin Long, but that'll only delay the inevitable. McNeal is one of the best young stars in college football able to blow through the vaunted Oklahoma defense like it wasn't even there, while showing a maturity beyond his years. He's a big player with excellent mobility throwing for 456 yards and six touchdowns to go along with 137 rushing yards.


Top Backups - Dustin Long, Jr. - Mark Farris was supposed to be the starter and Reggie McNeal was the star recruit everyone wanted in the starting spot. As the forgotten quarterback, all Long did was set several school records in a great season throwing for 2,509 yards and 19 touchdowns. He isn't nearly the runner McNeal is, but he's a productive player that can run the offense. - Ty Branyon, RFr. - It'll be up to Branyon to run the scout team and get ready in case of an emergency. He won't get the number two job, but he can see time grooming for the future.


Running Backs Projected Starter - Derek Farmer, Jr. - Unless Courtney Lewis takes over, Farmer should be the team's leading rusher for the third year in a row. He combines nice power with a decent speed burst averaging 4.4 yards per carry so far in his career. He's a good back, but he's not a special player like Lewis might be. Fullback Keith Joseph, Jr. - The 241-pound Joseph isn't just a good blocker, he's an excellent receiver out of the backfield catching 13 passes for 126 yards. He was more of a tailback in 2001 finishing second on the team with 371 yards and four touchdowns.


Top Backups - Courtney Lewis, RFr. - Lewis redshirted last year after a stellar high school career. He looks ready to shine after having a monster spring game rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Look for him to push for the starting job. Oschlor Flemming, Sr. - He's a leader and a decent player. Now he has to make more of a impact after seeing his yard per carry average go down to 2.4. He hasn't found his way into the end zone yet and hasn't made much of an impact with only 323 career rushing yards.. Thomas Perry, Sr. - After mostly playing on the scout team, Perry will finally get a shot to see the field as a 234-pound backup fullback.


Receivers Projected Starters - Terrence Murphy, Jr. - The former quarterback has blossomed into one of the team's best targets catching 72 passes for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns over the last two years. He's a big player with good speed able to be the number one target when the other receivers are being shut down. - Jamaar Taylor, Sr. - Taylor had a huge season catching 44 passes for 760 yards and three touchdowns despite missing two games with a knee injury. The former Notre Dame transfer is A&M's top returning deep threat averaging 17.3 yards per catch - John Roberson, Soph. - Roberson was ineligible all of last year. Now he's ready to shine at one of the receiver spots as a very quick and very speedy starter with great open field moves. - Tight end Ryan White, Soph. - White took over the starting tight end job this spring as a decent receiver and fine blocker. There will be several players rotating in and out of this spot.


Top Backups - Anthony Wright, Soph. - Wright started his Aggie career as a receiver, moved to defensive back, and moved back to receiver. At 6-2 and 207 pounds, he's a big player with outstanding speed. He'll back up Murphy. Tim Van Zant, Sr. - Van Zant has worked his way up on the depth chart after spending his time on special teams. He made six catches for 67 yards last year as a reserve flanker. Jason Carter, Jr. - He started this spring as a quarterback before moving over to receiver, or A-Back, adding his sensational athleticism and quickness to the corps. He's also a decent kick and punt returner rolling for 181 yards of total offense in the spring game.


Tight end Taylor Schuster, RFr. - The 260-pound redshirt freshman came to AM as an offensive lineman and spent last year learning how to play tight end. He'll end up being A&M's best blocking tight end. Tight end Andy Matakis, RFr. - The redshirt freshman moves over from linebacker to tight end to add more athleticism and strength to the position. He's 240 pounds and extremely strong.


Offensive Line Projected Starters - Tackle Alan Reuber, Sr. - Reuber was solid in his first season as a starter. He became a dependable player on the right side and at 6-7, 310 pounds should be a force with more experience. - Guard Aldo De La Garza, Soph. - The 317-pound sophomore saw action in every game as a backup left guard. He'll start on the right side this year. - Center Geoff Hangartner, Jr. - Hangartner had to replace Seth McKinney in the middle and did a wonderful job. The 300-pound junior has come into his own as a blocker turning into a decent run blocker and a solid anchor.- Guard John Kirk, Sr. - Kirk was a reserve center in 2002 and will take over the starting job at left guard starting this year. He'll be pushed for time, but he's an experienced player that should be fine with more expectations heaped on him. Tackle Jami Hightower, Jr. - One of the better tackles in the Big XII, Hightower will be starting for the third year in a row at left tackle. He's 327 pounds with excellent feet.


Top Backups - G Andre Brooks, Sr. - If Brooks doesn't end up taking back his starting job, he'll be a key reserve behind John Kirk on the left side. He's can play tackle if needed. - T Dominique Steamer, Soph. - The 313-pound sophomore became a top reserve tackle in his redshirt freshman season. He'll backup Hightower to start the season, but he could end up moving over to the right side.. Several top players need to be replaced and the depth needs to be developed almost everywhere. Even so, Texas A&M, as always, has good defensive players and should be able to adjust from the 3-4 to the 4-3 without too much of a problem. Defensive coordinator Carl Torbush is a good one and should have this group humming.


Returning Leaders Tackles: Jared Morris, 73 Sacks: Marcus Jasmin, 5.5 Interceptions: Jaxson Appel & Byron Jones, 4 Star of the defense: Senior LB Jared Morris Player that has to step up and become a star: Junior SS Keelan Jackson Unsung star on the rise: Sophomore LB Archie McDaniel Best pro prospect: Senior DE Linnis Smith.


Defensive Line Projected Starters - Defensive end David Ross, Soph. - The 270-pound sophomore is a big end with good all-around athleticism. He was a key player last year when Ty Warren went down and ended up being a top reserve over the course of the rest of the season making 17 tackles. - Defensive tackle Johnny Jolly, Soph. - Jolly was a wonderful backup on the nose as a redshirt freshman making 26 tackles. He was great at getting into backfield and getting a push in the middle blocking two kicks. - Defensive tackle Marcus Jasmin, Jr. - The big-time recruit turned into a star in his sophomore season making 66 tackles and 5.5 sacks on the inside. The 318-pound junior is a great all-around tackle and should progress into one of the stars of the Big XII if he can work his way back up the depth chart. He was listed as a backup coming out of spring ball, but that might be done just to motivate him at bit. Defensive end Linnis Smith, Sr. - Smith became a top end using his 288-pound frame to power over stronger tackles. He's a tremendous run stopper making 61 tackles and led the team with eight quarterback hurries. Top Backups - DE Brandon Johnson, Jr. - Johnson has seen a little bit of time on the end making 13 career tackles and two sacks. He was going to push for time behind Ross, but he'll be academically ineligible for the season. - DT Brian Patrick, Soph. - Patrick moves over from the offensive line to start at tackle. He began his career on the defense before moving over to provide depth when injuries hit. At 293 pounds, he's a big body on the inside. - DT Julian "Ju" Parks, RFr. - The 356-pound Parks is a huge player on the inside expected to be one of A&M's top run stuffers.


Linebackers Projected Starters - Archie McDaniel, Soph. - McDaniel showed he was going to be a star of the future making 26 tackles as a true freshman. He has speed and big hitting ability on the strong side. Jared Morris, Sr. - Morris is a big, strong, ultra-productive player in the middle. He's a great run stopper making 73 tackles in each of the last two years. He got better at getting into the backfield as last year went on finishing with five sacks and six tackles for loss. Rover Nurahda Manning, Soph. - Part linebacker, part defensive back, Manning sat out last season working on his studies. The 230-pound sophomore is big, fast and should be ready to make an impact this year.


Top Backups - Blake Kendrick, Jr. - Kendrick spent last year as a top special teams player. He'll back up McDaniel on the strong side.- Scott Stickane, Sr. - He'll get the first shot at backing up Morris on the inside after mostly playing on special teams. JUCO transfer Wade Lightsey will push for the job. - Rover Randall Webb, Jr. - Webb was a big hitter and a great pass rusher making 59 tackles seven sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. He only started two games and will see more action to get his overall athleticism on the field. Secondary Projected Starters - Cornerback Sean Weston, Sr. - An experienced corner with nice tackling ability, Weston is one of the quicker defensive backs on the team and one of the most active. He made 40 tackles and two interceptions last year. Free safety Jaxson Appel, Soph. - One of the rising stars on the team, Appel had a great freshman season making 69 tackles and four interceptions despite missing three games. He's not a big player, but he packs a punch with his hits. - Strong safety Keelan Jackson, Jr. - Jackson was thrust into the starting role after injuries hit other several top defensive backs. The 219-pound junior is a big hitter starting in three games. He made 24 tackles and broke up four passes. Cornerback Byron Jones, Jr. - Jones is A&M's new star corner tying for the team lead with four interceptions in a reserve role last year. He's a good tackler with 86 tackles over the course of his career. He should be one of the better defensive backs in the Big XII.


Top Backups - FS Kevin Mangum, Jr. - He made eight tackles as a reserve even though he missed part of last season with a hand injury. He'll be a top reserve at free safety along with Brandon Leone. - CB Bryant Singleton, Soph. - A good young player, the former wide receiver saw a little bit of time in the secondary as a key backup corner. He'll play behind Jones on the right side.


Special Teams - Placekicker Todd Pegram, Soph. - Pegram was a huge recruit, for a kicker, and was expected to shine right away. He was good from close to medium range hitting 9 of 12 from within 40 yards, but 3 of 9 from beyond. He has a strong leg and got better as the season went on nailing seven of his final nine attempts. Punter Cody Scates, Sr. - One of the best punters in America, Scates averaged 43.7 yards per kick. He wasn't just a boomer showing consistency and direction by putting 22 kicks inside the 20.


TEXAS TECH

HEAD COACH: MIKE LEACH

Tech won't be quite as potent without star quarterback Kliff Kingsbury, but everyone else returns to what should be an explosive offense. With all four starting receivers returning and two great running backs working behind a decent line, it'll all be up to quarterback B.J. Symons to run the show. He should do just fine.


Quarterbacks Projected Starter - B.J. Symons, Sr. - Symons has spent years watching Kliff Kingsbury pile up numbers and accolades running the high-octane passing attack. Now it's his turn to shine. He has a little bit of experience throwing for 456 career yards and five touchdowns, but he's seen so much practice time that the offense should keep on humming. With a loaded receiving corps and two great running backs to help him out, he should be almost as effective as Kingsbury was.


Top Backups - Sonny Cumbie, Jr. - Cumbie was the third string quarterback last season completing five of six passes for 34 yards in mop up duty. He has enough experience in the offense that he should be ready to step in if anything happens to Symons. - Cody Hodges, Soph. - Hodges isn't as big as Symons or Cumbie and doesn't have the same arm, but he's a mobile quarterback with decent accuracy. The Skinny: Symons isn't going to throw for 45 touchdowns and 5,017 yards like Kingsbury did, but he should have a huge season. Cumbie, who looked wonderful this spring, and Hodges need to see time being groomed for the future.


Running Backs Projected Starter - Taurean Henderson, Soph. - Henderson came in as a true freshman and picked up where Ricky Williams left off leading the team with 98 catches for 633 yards and six touchdowns. He was also effective as a runner carrying the ball 153 times for 793 yards and seven touchdowns. Expect more of the same as he should be one of the nation's leaders in all-purpose running.


Top Backups - Johnnie Mack, Jr. - The JUCO transfer is ready to play after sitting out last season. He isn't the runner Henderson is even though he averaged 123 rushing yards per game, but he should be tremendous with the ball in his hands on the outside. He's one of the fastest players on the team clocking in a 4.35 40. Loliki Bongo-Wanga, Sr. - He missed all of 2001 with an Achilles injury and only played one game last season. He's expected to be ready to go this season as a bigger option behind Henderson and Mack.


Receivers Projected Starters Wes Welker, Sr. - Welker became Tech's most reliable receiver catching 86 passes for 1,054 yards and seven touchdowns. He's extremely quick player with wonderful open-field moves. Great with the ball in his hands, Welker is one of the nation's best punt returners averaging 13.2 yards per return with three touchdowns. - Mickey Peters, Sr. - Peters is a big player playing at the Y. A physical receiver with decent speed, he was the third leading receiver with 64 catches for 749 yards and eight touchdowns. - Nehemiah Glover, Jr. - Glover was the team's most consistent deep threat averaging a team-best 12.9 yards per catch. He had a huge game in the bowl against Clemson catching eight passes for 121 yards and a score finishing the season with 50 grabs for 673 yards and a team-leading ten touchdowns.


Carlos Francis, Sr. - Francis is one of Tech's most experienced receivers catching 141 career passes for 1,850 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has good size and is one of the team's fastest receivers as a former member of the Texas Tech track team.


Top Backups - Clay McGuire, Jr. - Texas Tech doesn't use a true tight end, but McGuire is close. He saw a little bit of time last season catching 20 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown. He'll play behind Welker at the H. - Gabe Hall, RFr. - Hall has bulked up to 270 pounds over the last year. He's more of a tight end than a true receiver backing up Peters at the Y. - Cody Fuller, Soph. - The Red Raider baseball player also got some time as a receiver making six catches for 60 yards. - Trey Haverty, Jr. - Haverty is a big, experienced backup behind Francis making 16 catches for 164 yards.


Offensive Line Projected Starters - Tackle Daniel Loper, Jr. - The 6-7, 325-pound Loper is the biggest player on the line and possibly the most talented. After starting every game as a sophomore, he's expected to grow into an All-Big XII caliber player as he gets stronger. - Guard Cody Campbell, Jr. - Campbell played in seven games with a start. He's a smart player with enough experience to be a factor at left guard. Center Toby Cecil, Sr. - A potential All-Conference performer, Cecil is starting for his fourth year as the team's center. His pass blocking technique has become nearly flawless with good strength and great feet. - Guard Manuel Ramirez, RFr. - Ramirez got in better shape since coming to Lubbock and now looks like he's ready to be a big contributor on the line. He'll start at left guard and can play center if needed. - Tackle Casey Keck, Sr. - Keck missed a little bit of time due to injury, but he was one of Tech's most dependable players. The 310-pound senior is a solid athlete for his size able to play on either side of the line at tackle or guard.


Top Backups T E.J. Whitley, Soph. - The 310-pound Whitley is a smart player with a ton of experience playing in every game last year. He's a big tackle with excellent strength and good overall ability. Even though Loper and Keck have a lock on the starting tackle jobs, Whitley will see plenty of action. C Dylan Gandy, Jr. - It'll be hard for him to see much time with Cecil holding down the center job, but he might end up taking over one of the guard spots. Even with all the experienced talent and playmakers, the Texas Tech defense was worse last year than it was in 2001.


Expect an even bigger drop-off this year with a terrifyingly inexperienced front seven. The secondary has a great pair of safeties, but the group isn't going to have problems against top passing teams. Returning Leaders Tackles: Ryan Aycock, 151 Sacks: Adell Duckett, 5 Interceptions: Vincent Meeks, 3 Star of the defense: Senior SS Ryan Aycock Player that has to step up and become a star: Redshirt freshman NT Chris Hudler Unsung star on the rise: Junior CB Jamaal Jackson Defensive end Seth Nitschmann, RFr. - After bulking up twenty pounds over the last year, Nitschmann will get the start on the left side. He's quick and athletic, now he has to be a pass rushing star.


Nose tackle Chris Hudler, RFr. - Hudler came to Texas Tech last year as a decent 265-pound prospect, now he's 296-pound run stuffer in the middle.


Defensive tackle Ken Scott, RFr. - Scott should be an effective player on the inside after sitting out last season in a redshirt year. He has excellent feet to go with his size.


Defensive end Adell Duckett, Jr. - The only returning starter on the line, Duckett will have to be the leader and anchor. He's a smart player with experience making 99 career tackles with 78 coming last year. He's a good pass rusher and solid at dropping back into pass coverage.


Top Backups - DE Randall Cherry, Soph. - Cherry is expected to be the star of the future at one of the ends. He's a natural pass rusher with a little bit of experience. - DE Marquis Turner, Jr. - Turner was a solid backup linebacker before getting hurt making 27 tackles. He'll move to the line to backup Duckett on the right side. - DT Fred Thrweatt, Soph. - The hope is for the 347-pound Thrweatt to become more of a factor in the middle. He didn't do much last year as a reserve making five tackles in ten games.


Linebackers Projected Starters - Mike Smith, Jr. - Smith will start again on the strong side after finishing fourth on the team with 104 tackles. He's not much of a pass defender, but he isn't bad. His strength is against the run with good instincts and decent hitting ability. - Brock Stratton, Fr. - Stratton originally signed with BYU before deciding to come to Texas Tech after a two-year Mormon mission. He's a mature true freshman with decent size and outstanding speed. - John Saldi, Soph. - Saldi had a huge freshman season making 73 tackles in an honorable mention All-Big XII season. He was all over the field on the weak side making 12 tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries and broke up six passes. With enough speed to be a safety and the tackling ability of a linebacker, he's a good mix of talents.


Top Backups - Geremy Woods, Jr. - Woods saw a little bit of time over the last few years playing behind Lawrence Flugence. The 238-pound junior will back up Smith on the strong side after making 54 tackles last year. - Fletcher Session, RFr. - Session is only 212 pounds, so he'll use his speed to make an impact in the middle.


Secondary Projected Starters - Cornerback Ivory McCann, Jr. - McCann has spent most of his time as a kickoff returner, but he has a little bit of experience in the secondary making ten tackles. He isn't all that big at only 5-8 and 176 pounds, but he has blazing speed.


Free safety Vincent Meeks, Soph. - Meeks isn't huge, but he makes plays picking off three passes and making 27 tackles. He'll be even better once he gets the hang of the position. The former running back ran for 102 yards and caught five passes before moving over to the defensive side.


Strong safety Ryan Aycock, Sr. - Aycock is a good hitter finishing second on the team with 151 tackles. He also proved to be an excellent pass defender as well breaking up 12 passes and picking off a pass. Expect him to be one of the top overall safeties in the conference.


Cornerback Marcus Boyd, Sr. - After spending most of his career as a backup safety and a special teams performer, the 6-0, 198-pound Boyd will get the start on the right side. He made 15 tackles and broke up three passes last season.


Top Backups - CB Jamaal Jackson, Jr. - The JUCO transfer could end up starting right away on the left side. He has decent size and is extremely productive breaking up 18 passes. A receiver as well as a defender, he caught 21 passes for 343 yards and six touchdowns as a JUCO All-American. - FS Byron Johnson, Sr. - Johnson has been a career reserve making 19 tackles last season. He's a speedy player with good size pushing for time behind Meeks.


Placekicker Ryan Bishop, Jr. - Bishop will take over for Robert Treece who hit 13 of 19 field goals. A straight on kicker, Bishop hit all eight of his extra point attempts last year including three in the bowl game against Clemson. He'll be strong from close to medium range.


Punter Wich Brenner, Jr. - Brenner and his huge leg replaces the sometimes strong Clinton Greathouse. Brenner had problems with tendonitis, but he should be ready to roll this season and should average more than the 39.7 yards per kick that Greathouse came through with.

[Dragon]

Now that's a write up! Good to see some relevant information in these forums. Can't get any more relevant than to talk about the games and teams at hand. Thanks Steve. Keep up the good work.

[STEVE TURNER]

Thanks Mr. Dragon, you fire breathing bookie killer.

[STEVE TURNER]

I am moving this up in case some of you BW faithful haven't logged in until now.