Around the BigEast Conference
INSIDE SLANT It was a different face behind the podium at the University of Cincinnati on National Signing Day, but the message he delivered was largely the same.
First-year head coach Butch Jones, who took over shortly after Brian Kelly’s departure to Notre Dame, said the Bearcats will continue to pursue top-rate recruits, but only those who fit well into Cincinnati’s system.
“We don’t have to beg anybody to come to Cincinnati,” said Jones, who like Kelly came to Cincinnati by way of Central Michigan.
“You look at our national reputation and we’re very attractive. we don’t get caught up in rankings or who’s recruiting who. We’re looking for players we can develop.”
Cincinnati’s 22-member recruiting class was rated no. 59 by Rivals.com and no. 62 by Scout.com. Kelly’s recruiting classes posted similar marks and yet helped deliver consecutive Big East Conference championships and BCS bowl appearances.
the Bearcats finished last season ranked no. 8 in the associated Press poll, no. 9 in the coaches poll. they were one last-second loss by Nebraska to Texas from playing in the BCS national championship game, but instead lost 51-24 to Florida in the Sugar Bowl.
Jones and his staff had a difficult set of challenges to overcome in compiling the ‘10 recruiting class. for one, they didn’t assume control of the team until after new Year’s Day. but despite having to refine their sales pitch on the fly, Jones lost just two notable prior commits in running back Dominique Brown (Louisville) and quarterback Luke Massa (Notre Dame).
Cincinnati’s class, while not highly ranked nationally, is deep and designed to help fill needs at several key positions.
Dyjuan Lewis, a four-star recruit according to both Rivals and Scout, will help maintain some depth at wide receiver. a duo of three-star quarterbacks — Cody Kater and Munchie Legaux — will restock the most important position in the Bearcats’ spread offense.
Cincinnati’s defense got a boost with the signing of three-star defensive linemen Camaron Beard and Brad Harrah. Cincinnati also swiped defensive lineman Roney Lozano, who had an offer from Miami (Florida).
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Jones said. “We had to play a little bit of catch-up, but our coaches and staff did a great job. We’re excited about this class.”
NOTES, QUOTES—Coach Butch Jones has named Mike Bajakian as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Bajakian, who served under Jones at Central Michigan, takes over the Bearcats’ vaunted spread attack after guiding the Mid-American Conference’s top scoring offense at CMU. He’s had coaching stints with the Chicago Bears, Rutgers, Sacred Heart and Michigan.
—Jones also has hired seven assistant coaches: co-defensive coordinators Tim Banks and John Jancek, assistant head coach/defensive line coach Steve Stripling, running backs coach/recruiting coordinator Mark Elder, tight ends coach/special teams coordinator Phil Zacharias, offensive line coach Don Mahoney, and Dave Lawson, who will head the strength and conditioning program. all of the coaches worked with Jones at Central Michigan except for Jancek, who was the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Georgia.
—WR Dyjuan Lewis, Indianapolis — Some say Lewis, a four-star recruit according to both Rivals.com and Scout.com, might one day make Bearcats fans forget all about Mardy Gilyard. Lewis is ranked the 20th-best receiver by Rivals. He’s a 6-foot-2, 186-pound high-jumper who runs a 4.5 40-yard dash. Lewis is athletic and a smooth route-runner.
—LB Solomon Tentman, Cincinnati — Yet another local recruiting coup for the Bearcats, Tentman is ranked by Rivals as the no. 18 inside linebacker in the state of Ohio. He tallied 179.5 tackles during his high school career, including 42 for loss and 14 sacks. Tentman is the no. 28 player in Ohio, according to Rivals.
—QB Cody Kater, Montague, Mich. — Kater was firmly on Butch Jones’ radar while Jones was still head coach at Central Michigan. Rated the 26th-best player in the state of Michigan, Kater was a two-time state champion in high school and tossed a state-record 79 TD passes in his career. the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder also was an all-state basketball player.
—QB Benton Legaux, new Orleans — Legaux, nicknamed “Munchie”, was rated by Rivals as the nation’s no. 12 “dual threat” quarterback. a dynamic athlete, Legaux is a three-star recruit according to Rivals and Scout.com. He passed for more than 5,200 yards and 65 touchdowns and rushed for 2,000 yards and 20 TDs. He was among the Bearcats’ last acquisitions on Signing Day.
—OL Kevin Schloemer, Cincinnati — Schloemer has great size at 6-foot-7, 274 pounds. He was rated the 15th-best offensive tackle in Ohio.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We’re committed to building a wall around the Cincinnati area. With Cincinnati as our base and a 100-mile radius around our campus, we’ve got a great recruiting area.” — Cincinnati coach Butch Jones, on his continued focus on recruiting locally.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: First-year head coach Butch Jones inherits a team loaded with talent. Zach Collaros, who passed for more than 1,400 yards in 12 games including three starts, likely will be the starter at quarterback. Collaros will have plenty of weapons in running back Isaiah Pead and wide receivers Armon Binns, D.J. Woods and newcomer Vidal Hazelton, who sat out last season after transferring from USC. Defensively, the Bearcats hope to be much improved with five starters and several regular contributors returning.
SPRING SNAPSHOT: Spring practice tentatively begins March 17 and concludes April 24 when the team is expected to hold its annual scrimmage.
the introductory period begins in earnest for Jones and his staff, who’ll meet their team on the field for the first time.
—WR/KR Mardy Gilyard — He raised his stock immeasurably with a standout performance at the Senior Bowl. Gilyard earned Offensive Player of the Game honors after catching five passes for 103 yards, including a 32-yard TD. He had a 43-yard reception and a 33-yard kick return.
—QB Tony Pike — He didn’t play much in the Senior Bowl, but it was enough to make an impression on scouts. Pike went 5-for-12 for 45 yards, including one 13-yard completion. Gilyard, Pike’s favorite target with the Bearcats, caught two of those passes.
—DE Alex Daniels — Daniels, who led the team with 8.5 sacks last season, was scheduled to showcase his skills at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Challenge on Feb. 6 in El Paso.
—S Aaron Webster — He was to join Daniels at the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Challenge. Webster started all 13 games for the Bearcats last season, leading the team with four interceptions and ranking third with 69 tackles.
—LS Mike Windt — He participated in the Senior Bowl and snapped eight times for the North.
—Twelve University of Cincinnati student-athletes were named to the Big East All-Academic Team. Quarterback Chazz Anderson, linebacker Alex Delisi, offensive lineman T.J. Franklin, defensive back Drew Frey, defensive lineman Dan Giordano, running back John Goebel, offensive lineman Alex Hoffman, offensive lineman Sean Hooey, offensive lineman Jeff Linkenbach, linebacker Collin McCafferty, linebacker J.K. Schaffer, and safety Aaron Webster were the Bearcats honored.
— WR Mardy Gilyard and QB Tony Pike have been invited to participate in the NFL scouting combine. the event runs from Feb. 24 to March 2, in Indianapolis.
— QB Zach Collaros, according to coach Butch Jones, will not play baseball for the Bearcats this spring in order to focus entirely on football. Collaros is the Bearcats’ projected starting quarterback.
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CONNECTICUT
INSIDE SLANT the Huskies don’t have one of the top recruiting classes in the country, according to the experts who keep tabs on those things. no matter. Coach Randy Edsall has the guys he wanted, and that’s been good enough to get the Huskies out of the doldrums and into bowl games every year.
getting disrespected is certainly nothing new for Connecticut. every year, the team is an afterthought all offseason, but under Edsall, it has always been ready to surprise once the season starts.
the Huskies are counting on the 20 players added to the program on Signing Day to continue the tradition. Though the group may not have gotten enough stars to be at the top of the recruiting lists, Edsall called this the most athletic class the school has had, and he said that the recruits addressed critical needs.
not surprisingly, the Huskies focused on players who could have an early impact in the secondary. the defensive backs struggled even before Jasper Howard’s tragic death during the season, and the team finished the year ranked 88th in pass defense. Andrew Opoku and Gilbert St. Louis have already enrolled for spring classes, and three other defensive backs will join them as newcomers this summer.
the class is also heavy in offensive linemen, with four players joining the squad. and there are three linebackers, a useful move since returning starters Scott Lutrus and Lawrence Wilson are seniors.
not that Rivals.com was impressed. It rated the Huskies’ incoming group last among the eight Big East teams. but no program knows more than this one that low expectations never are a guarantee of poor results.
NOTES, QUOTES—Randy Edsall filled two vacancies on his staff in early February. Darrell Perkins was named defensive backs coach, replacing the departed Scott Lakatos (who went to Georgia), and Jonathan Wholley replaces Dave McMichael (West Virginia) as tight ends coach.
—Greg Lloyd Jr. is out for the spring because of the torn ACL he suffered in November, and he may be at a new position when he returns. the linebacker reportedly could be switched to defensive end in an effort to use his pass-rushing skills to attack opposing quarterbacks.
—QB Scott McCummings, Natick, Mass. — McCummings was smart enough to consider Harvard, and good enough to get offers from Stanford and Syracuse, but he will stay closer to home and play for the Huskies. the 6-foot-2 signal-caller is a dual threat, athletic enough to draw interest from schools looking to move him out from under center, but a good enough passer to be a good fit in a more pro-style passing attack. He could be the quarterback of the future for UConn. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards and passed for more than 2,000 as a senior.
—DB Andrew Opoku, North Brunswick, N.J. — the 6-4, 226-pound safety already has the size to menace opposing receivers. He enrolled at Connecticut for the spring semester and will get a long look in March and April practices.
—DT Tebucky Jones Jr., Farmington, Conn. — the wide receiver has a familiar name, as his father was a defensive back in the NFL. unlike his father, a Connecticut native who went away to Syracuse for college, Jones elected to stay in-state and will be challenging for playing time in a deep field of wide receivers.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I could really care less where they rank it. I can just remember the morning of the Papajohn’s Bowl. When we got up, the Birmingham paper had the last five recruiting classes of South Carolina and UConn. South Carolina had all these recruiting classes that were in the top 35 or whatever. and we were 40s, 50s, 60s, whatever they were. Who won the game?” — Coach Randy Edsall, in the Connecticut Post, not caring about the experts’ take on his incoming class.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: the Huskies return many of their core players in 2010, and they will again be in position to contend for the Big East title. a key will be how well Jordan Todman responds to the increased workload at tailback, now that he isn’t involved in a job share at running back. the quarterback battle and the health of key defensive players like Scott Lutrus and Greg Lloyd will also be critical.
SPRING SNAPSHOT: Practice begins March 16, with the spring game to be held April 17.
the quarterback battle that was a pillar of the 2009 season is back again in March, with Zach Frazer and Cody Endres joined by redshirt freshman Mike Box. It is also a big time of year for the host of wideouts in the rotation looking to earn the starting job alongside 2009 breakout performer Marcus Easley.
Defensively, there will be position battles throughout the secondary, and a shuffle at the linebacker spot because of Greg Lloyd’s torn ACL.
PRO POTENTIAL: Connecticut doesn’t have anyone with the star power that Donald Brown showed a year ago, but the Huskies have four players who drew the attention of the postseason all-star games and are hoping to hear their name called at some point during the seven-round NFL Draft.
—DE Lindsey Witten — Witten showed the ability to provide pressure both during the season and in the East-West Shrine Game, where he had one tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries. the senior dominated against the weaker teams on the schedule, so testing well at the NFL Combine will be critical for his draft status.
—RB Andre Dixon — Dixon spent most of his time in Storrs in the shadows, backing up Donald Brown and sharing time with Jordan Todman. He was the leading rusher for the East team at the East-West Shrine game, though that was just 24 yards on seven carries.
—WR Marcus Easley — Nobody thought his name would be on this list a year ago, but the wideout came out of nowhere to have a breakout senior season. He’s another Husky who will need to impress in workouts, and he will get an early chance to do so in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Game.
—S Robert Vaughn — Vaughn is a little undersized for a safety, standing south of 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. He’s skilled enough that a team may want to try him at cornerback as well, and like teammate Marcus Easley, he will get the chance to strut his stuff at the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Game.
—Anthony Davis was not enrolled in school this spring for what coach Randy Edsall termed a university-imposed suspension. the fullback played in all 13 games as a redshirt junior in 2009.
—DE Mike Cox left the team, though the redshirt junior had one year of eligibility remaining. He will reportedly look to play at a lower level at whichever school he attends to get his graduate degree.
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LOUISVILLE
INSIDE SLANT First-year coach Charlie Strong had a tough task this winter. the replacement for the fired Steve Kragthorpe had just a couple of months to lock up a recruiting class badly needed to build the talent level on campus, especially since Kragthorpe’s heavy reliance on junior college players left the cupboard relatively bereft of underclassmen.
the consensus among the recruiting gurus was that the commits Strong inherited added up to a class that would have been ranked somewhere in the 70s, not surprising considering the team’s struggles in recent years and the season-long speculation concerning Kragthorpe’s job security. but ultimately, the class he brought to campus was good enough to be rated at no. 45 by Scout.com and no. 51 by Rivals.com, each of which had it as the third-best group in the Big East. He even got a prime player from the backyard of a conference rival going through its own coaching change, as Cincinnati Northwest linebacker Preston Brown decommitted from the Bearcats and signed with the Cardinals instead.
the haul could have been better, as Strong’s late charge fell just short of three additional signees. Offensive lineman Torrian Wilson changed his mind at the last minute, withdrew his verbal commitment and stayed closer to his Miami home by signing with Central Florida, while Todd Chandler chose fellow Big East school South Florida, and Kadron Boone went with LSU.
Strong concentrated heavily on areas of need. six of the newcomers are wide receivers, and five play on the offensive or defensive lines. there are also two quarterbacks, although Marcus Smith likely won’t wind up there.
Moreover, the wide receivers have big-play potential, which was lacking in much of the Kragthorpe era. Louisville should be able to stretch the field in the coming years, a big plus for the fans of a team that was almost unwatchable a year ago.
Though it’s still a work in progress, and this spring should provide more clues as to Strong’s potential as a coach, the fact that the team recruited well both in the state of Kentucky and throughout the South gives a reason for optimism that has been a long time coming to campus.
NOTES, QUOTES—One of the biggest names on new coach Charlie Strong’s staff is Mike Sanford. the offensive coordinator used to run the show for Urban Meyer when the current Gators coach was the head man at Utah.
—Not included in the list of Louisville signees was defensive end Tyler Harrell. He transferred in from Iowa and will have three years of eligibility remaining.
—LB Deon Rogers, Port St. Lucie, Fla. — Rogers committed to Georgia last summer but changed his mind and was swayed by Charlie Strong’s pitch of his future plans for the Cardinals program. He’s the epitome of what the school was hoping for when it hired Strong: a top recruit from a big-time area that was stolen away from major programs and should be a fixture in the linebacking corps for years to come.
—LB Preston Brown, Cincinnati — Brown is a top talent at linebacker with excellent speed and tackling ability. his signing is more notable, however, because the Cardinals swiped the former Bearcat commitment at the last minute, sending an early signal that it would be prioritizing its Big East rivals’ own backyard.
—WR Michaelee Harris, Miami — Harris is the kind of wide receiver who could make a big difference for the Cardinals offense. the playmaker was a huge get for Charlie Strong in his first winter as Louisville’s coach.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “There’s some excitement around this city now, and this recruiting class adds to it. we want to get back to the top in the Big East, and with the players we have assembled, we feel like we can make that run.” — Coach Charlie Strong, to the Louisville Courier-Journal.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: the big change for Louisville in 2010 is the coaching staff. after a year spent wondering when the axe would fall on Steve Kragthorpe, the arrival of Charlie Strong brought a badly needed dose of optimism to the program.
SPRING SNAPSHOT: Practice begins March 24, with the spring game set for April 17.
the offense and defense will both be altered to affect the schemes of the new coaching staff. That alone will make the spring season more interesting, with the spring game serving as the true unveiling of the Charlie Strong era at the school.
PRO POTENTIAL: the Cardinals weren’t awash in pro prospects a year ago, so the departing seniors are all likely second-day picks or rookie free agent candidates.
—FB Joe Tronzo — Tronzo is one of the top fullbacks in the draft, a compact 5-foot-11 player who’s an excellent blocker. but he isn’t much of a threat otherwise, and he will likely have to make an NFL roster by climbing up a depth chart in training camp.
—WR Trent Guy — Guy is small for an NFL receiver, but he does have the breakaway speed that teams love. He’s one of many Cardinals who will need to be impressive on special teams to make it at the next level.
—LB Jon Dempsey — Dempsey was the rock of the Louisville defense as a senior and could get a look from the NFL because of his tackling ability.
—Luke Woodley was an early addition to the Cardinals squad. the quarterback who put up big numbers at Highland Park High School in Texas enrolled in school during the spring so he could participate in drills and position himself to challenge for playing time if the incumbents falter.
—Clint Hurtt was an unexpected addition to the coaching staff. the former University of Miami defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator replaced Jon Fabris, whom Strong originally hired but who decided to leave the program for personal reasons.
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PITTSBURGH
INSIDE SLANT
Dave Wannstedt believes he has come up with one of the best recruiting classes of his career at Pitt, and that says a lot, considering his 2006 class was among the nation’s best.
“This is a well-balanced group,” Wannstedt said on national letter-of-intent signing day. “I think it is our deepest class. I know academically, character-wise, I really like this class a lot. It is very well-balanced, and I think if you look at it, there are a lot of good players in there and I think they all have a chance to contribute.”
the Panthers landed 24 players, many of whom committed to Pitt several months earlier.
Losing two starting defensive linemen this year and a third next year sent Wannstedt looking for help at that position and he came away with some gems, headed by Paterson (N.J.) Catholic defensive end T.J. Clemmings, who was ranked by some scouting services as the top prospect in new Jersey.
In all, there were four defensive linemen, including another star in Bryan Murphy, a defensive tackle from Don Bosco Prep, who some thought was the second-best college prospect in the state.
“I think it’s far and away the best group we’ve brought in since I’ve been here,” Pitt defensive line coach Greg Gattuso told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “They’re very talented, very good players. T.J. is the prototypical defensive lineman — big fast, athletic, mean, aggressive — and Murphy and Aaron Donald, all you hear from their coaches is how their motors go crazy and they’re big-time playmakers and great pass rushers. and K.K. (Kaynin Mosley-Smith) is a bit undersized but, in our system, those guys do well.”
Wannstedt, who has never really had the top-line quarterback he wants, landed two in this class, headed by Mark Myers of St. Ignatius in Cleveland. Myers threw for more than 2,100 yards with 20 TDs and eight interceptions.
Wannstedt also recruited quarterback Anthony Gonzalez out of Bethlehem, Pa., Liberty where he threw for 5,311 yards and 61 TDs over his final two seasons, despite missing two games his senior year with knee surgery. He also is an outstanding runner and could wind up at a position other than quarterback.
the Panthers added depth at almost every position, also signing a handful of defensive backs, four offensive linemen, four receivers, two running backs and two tight ends. Linebacker is the only position Pitt didn’t recruit multiple players.
“We’re getting quality football players, guys that we’ve evaluated, guys that we know, and we’re really getting them out of quality programs — which I think goes a long way,” Wannstedt said. “It’s tough enough to mold a young man when he comes into the culture here at the University of Pittsburgh with how we do things off the field and on the field, let alone trying to convince him the importance of winning every day. When you get kids out of these programs, that’s one facet that you don’t have to worry about.”
NOTES, QUOTES
—Pitt has shuffled the dates of its nonconference football games for next year and the result is two are being played on Thursday night. the biggest change has the Utah game moving from Sept. 11 to Thursday, Sept. 2, making it the season opener, probably on CBS College Sports. That means the new Hampshire game moved from Sept. 2 to Saturday, Sept. 11. Also, the home game against Miami set for Saturday, Sept. 25, has moved to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 23.
—There was talk that offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. would bolt from Pitt for a professional job but he issued a statement saying he was going nowhere. Under Cignetti, Pitt’s offense was greatly upgraded last year and the Panthers wound up playing for the Big East championship.
—Scott Turner was promoted from an offensive graduate assistant to wide receivers coach by head coach Dave Wannstedt. Turner is the son of San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner, who served with Wannstedt on Jimmy Johnson’s staff in Dallas in the late 1990s.
—DE T.J. Clemmings, Teaneck, N.J. — although he played only two seasons of high school football, Clemmings was thought by some to be the top player in new Jersey, Scout raging him no. 1 in the state and the no. 6 defensive end in the country. Rivals.com had him as the no. 2 prospect in the state and the country’s no. 16 defensive end. He was also a Division 1 basketball prospect at 6-6 and 280.
—QB Mark Myers, Pepper Pike, Ohio — Rivals.com lauded Myers as the top quarterback prospect in the state of Ohio after an exceptional senior year and ranked him as having the country’s fourth strongest arm. He is a pro-style QB who fits Coach Dave Wannstedt’s style perfectly, throwing for 2,127 yards and 20 TDs with only eight interceptions at St. Ignatius. He is the Ohio quarterback in the Big 33 game between Ohio and Pennsylvania.
—OL Brandon Sacco, Long Valley, N.J. — Scout.com rated Sacco as the top offensive lineman in new Jersey. He was a star at offensive tackle for one of the nation’s top programs, one that finished no. 1 in the 2009 USA Today Super 25 poll. the Don Bosco offense rushed for 2,508 yards and passed for 2,088 yards while going 12-0 and winning a fourth straight state Non-Public Group 4 championship. Scout had him listed as the no. 11 prospect overall in new Jersey.
—DB Todd Thomas, Beaver Falls, Pa. — Thomas attending Milford Academy in new York and was rating the country’s no. 4 prep school prospect by Rivals.com. He had 66 tckles, 12 pass breakups and four interceptions, including one for a touchdown, playing mostly against collegiate competition. at Beaver Falls he was rated one of the country’s top 100 prospects by Tom Lemming. He medaled in two events at the Pennsylvania state track tournament and was second in the long jump at 22 feet, 10.25 inches.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We signed five guys from Ohio. we hadn’t done that before. we got three out of that area around D.C. and Virginia, and we’ve gotten nine kids from new Jersey over the past two years. but we’re still committed to going to Florida. we just have to find the right kinds of players because we’ve had a lot of great players from there.” — Pitt Coach Dave Wannstedt on not signing any players from Florida.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: Pitt was nationally ranked and went down to the season’s final weeks before being eliminated from the Big East race and brings much of that team back.
the biggest asset the Panthers have, of course, is running back Dion Lewis, the freshman sensation who rushed for an incredible 1,799 yards and 17 touchdowns. With his blocking back Henry Hynoski also back, as well as his backup in Ray Graham, who actually averaged more per carry than Lewis, Pitt will again be a run-first offense.
the quarterback job could fall into the hands of the experienced Pat Bostick, although Tino Sunseri was used as the backup last year.
there is some work that has to be done on defense as two starting defensive linemen and two starting cornerbacks, along with the starting middle linebacker, are gone but Coach Dave Wannstedt is confident he has not only replacements but the ability to control the ball and keep the defense off the field if it does have some weaknesses.
SPRING SNAPSHOT: Pitt has not yet announced the dates of its spring practice or of its spring game.
the biggest chore Pitt faces this spring is getting a quarterback ready to replace bill Stull, who started the past couple of years and was a controversial figure. Tino Sunseri is a sophomore who ran no. 2 last year, completing 10 of 17 passes. Pat Bostick, a senior who took a redshirt last year, started for an injured Stull in 2007 and completed 61.5 percent of his passes for 1,500 yards but threw 13 interceptions and only 8 TDs.
the Panthers also must do a lot of patchwork on the defense with the line losing nose tackle Gus Mustakas and DT Mick Williams along with its second MLB in two years in Adam Gunn and both CBs, Aaron Berry and Jovani Chappel.
Pitt has a number of professional prospects, some of whom could well wind up drafted in the NFL.
—TE Nate Bynam — He played in the East-West Shrine Game in Orlando, Fla. He is the first tight end to be named to the first team All-Big East squad. He wasn’t used much as a receiver when Dorin Dickerson emerged as a TE-H-back, but he is a strong blocker.
—DB Aaron Berry — Also in the East-West Shrine Game. Berry was a two-time All-Big East performer who finished this year with 31 tackles, 10 pass breakups and two interceptions, despite missing a couple of games with injury.
—TE Dorin Dickerson — Dickerson is a versatile player who played quarterback, wide receiver and TD/H-back for the Panthers. He was picked to the Football Writers Association of America first-team All-American team, the first Pitt tight end to earn first-team All-American honors since Mike Ditka in 1960. He set a Pitt record with 10 TD catches among his 46 receptions for 529 yards, 10.8 per catch.
—DE Greg Romeus returns after sharing Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors with teammate DT Mick Williams. It was the first time teammates shared the award.
—Ten Panthers were named Big East All-Academic, including three-time winner MLB Adam Gunn, two-time winners K Luke Briggs, DL Myles Caragerin, QB Andrew Janocko, FB Henry Hynoski and DT John Malecki. the first-time honorees were WR Jonathan Baldwin, P Pat Costello, LB Steve Dell and WR Mike Shanahan.
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RUTGERS
INSIDE SLANT the recruiting services are mixed at how well Rutgers did on signing day. Tom Lemming rates the Scarlet Knights’ class in the lower 30s and the third best in the Big East, while Scout.com thinks it’s 48th nationally and fourth in the conference. Rivals.com is even less impressed, ranking the newest additions to the Rutgers family 63rd in the country and third worst in the league.
One thing that all the services agree on, however, is that the new class represents a geographic shift on the recruiting map. In addition to protecting its home turf, the Scarlet Knights looked to talent-rich Florida to bolster its talent base.
Rutgers signed nine players from the Sunshine State, eight more than it managed in 2009, when Antwan Lowery was the only Floridian to commit. considering this wasn’t considered to be a great year for high school talent in new Jersey, going outside his backyard was key for coach Greg Schiano.
Included on the list were three players from Jacksonville, where Schiano had never enjoyed recruiting success before. He filled key needs on both sides of the ball, increasing the talent base for a program still trying to get to the next level.
the Scarlet Knights are coming off four consecutive bowl wins, and they have averaged nine wins per season over that span. what they haven’t done is get into a major bowl game, always seeming to get hot too late or run out of gas too early in the year. Schiano is hoping that the players arriving on campus over the summer will be the crew that can help get the team to heights never before seen in the modest history of the program — a BCS berth.
NOTES, QUOTES—Kevin Haslam got invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game. the two-year starter at right tackle was looking to show he’s ready to compete at the next level.
—Tom Savage and Scott Vallone were both named first-team freshman All-Americans by the Football Writers Association of America. That puts Savage in elite company — previous members of the squad include Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford and Ben Roethlisberger.
—RB Casey Turner, Jacksonville, Fla. — Turner had better be an impact player, after the wringer the speedy running back put the school and its fans through. He committed to Florida International first, then changed to Rutgers, then decommitted and pledged his love to North Carolina, and finally changed his mind again to sign with the Scarlet Knights. given the school’s unsettled situation at tailback, that may have been a wise decision.
—WR Brandon Coleman, Forestville, Md. — Coleman was a late addition to the class, as the standout wideout from turned down his local Terrapins to become a Scarlet Knight. He’s the playmaking receiver to go alongside Mohamed Sanu that QB Tom Savage has been looking for.
—WR/S Jeremy Deering, Tampa, Fla. — Another playmaking wideout, and another late addition to the class, Deering picked Rutgers over Florida State. He’ll get the first crack at early playing time on offense.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We’ve always effectively recruited Florida, but we’re kind of spread out and recruiting more areas in the state of Florida. now we’re recruiting really the entire state other than the Panhandle. We’ve been able to do it very well.” — Coach Greg Schiano, to the Newark Star-Ledger.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: the Scarlet Knights lose 10 starters from the squad that reached the St. Petersburg Bowl a year ago. There’s talent on the roster to replace them, but it will make for an interesting spring.
SPRING SNAPSHOT: the Rutgers spring game is scheduled for April 24. It’s a red-letter day for those looking to fill the spots of the 10 departing starters.
Rutgers loses WR Tim Brown as well as three starters on the offensive line, so the battle to earn the resulting starting jobs begins in March. It’s a particularly important spring for Mark Harrison, who needs to seize the receiver position across from Mohamed Sanu before the incoming freshmen can challenge him for it.
Defensively, the team needs to replace linebackers Ryan D’Imperio and Damaso Munoz, defensive end George Johnson and defensive backs Devin McCourty and Zaire Kitchen.
PRO POTENTIAL: Rutgers has a number of players who will get a look at the next level, including a few who could be high picks in the NFL Draft.
—OT Anthony Davis — Davis declared early for the NFL Draft, thus ending the college career of the most heralded recruit in Rutgers history. He still needs some work to succeed at the next level, but he’ll be a high draft pick, and an NFL team will invest a lot of money to get a starter at the next level.
—CB Devin McCourty — He may have played himself into the first day of the NFL Draft with a strong performance at Senior Bowl week. the standout defensive back is especially attractive to the pros because he excels on special teams as well, so he should see the field right away regardless of which round he is picked.
—WR Tim Brown — Brown has been facing doubters all his life, people afraid that he’s not big enough for the next level. but he’s certainly fast enough, and he will get the chance to make an impact, at least on special teams.
—The Scarlet Knights got some disappointing news from the NCAA, as Shamar Graves was denied his request for a fifth year of eligibility. That leaves an inexperienced crew at tight end for spring practice, with D.C. Jefferson the most intriguing of the options heading into the 2010 season.
—Desmond Wynn had to undergo shoulder surgery before the team’s bowl game, and will likely miss or be limited for spring practice. the offensive lineman started three games in 2009 at right guard.
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SOUTH FLORIDA
INSIDE SLANT Skip Holtz apparently is very good at making a good first impression.
the first-year South Florida coach had less than three weeks to get his first recruiting class together, and though it likely wouldn’t cause any consternation for the neighboring Florida Gators just up the interstate in Gainesville, it is a class not without some distinction.
Holtz managed to bring in Terrence Mitchell, a cornerback who was once a Florida State commitment, and Todd Chandler, a defensive tackle who once seemed bound to join his former high school teammates at Miami, among the 15 signing-day newcomers who will join four early enrollees.
Overall, the St. Petersburg Times reported, Holtz got new commitments from seven players after his hiring.
“This has been a whirlwind, and we have been going 900 miles per hour since we had the press conference,” Holtz said, referring his debut with the media on Jan. 15. “We had the press conference on Friday, and then Friday night I was at a dinner with about 10 recruits selling South Florida and the dreams and visions of where we are trying to go here.
“I need to compliment and applaud this staff for the job that they did.”
the new signees include nine offensive players and five on defense. Of the four already enrolled, three are on defense, one on offense.
Significantly, Holtz did not pirate any players from among commitments at his former school, East Carolina.
“It was an easy decision,” Holtz said of not going after them. “It was an easy decision, because it was the right decision.”
but that didn’t keep him from luring prospects from other schools.
In addition to Mitchell and Chandler, the St. Petersburg Times reported that Hans Louis, a linebacker from Hollywood, Fla., had committed to Marshall, and Deonte Welch, a wide receiver from Williston, Fla., had committed to Arkansas before signing with the Bulls.
NOTES, QUOTES—Five new assistants and four holdovers make up first-year coach Skip Holtz’s new staff. the newcomers are Todd Fitch, Vernon Hargreaves and Rick Smith, who were with Holtz at East Carolina; Peter Vaas, who has served as offensive coordinator at Notre Dame and Miami (Ohio); and Mark Snyder, former Marshall head coach. the holdovers are Kevin Patrick, Larry Scott, Carl Franks and Phil McGeoghan. Specific responsibilities have not been announced.
—QB Brion Carnes of Bradenton, Fla., who was the first player to commit to USF’s 2010 recruiting class under former coach Jim Leavitt, ended up signing with Nebraska after Holtz withdrew USF’s offer.
—CB Terrence Mitchell, Tampa — a solid all-around athlete who finished second in the state in long and triple jumps as a high school junior, Mitchell is considered the “crowning jewel” of the class. Rivals.com rates him in the top 100 prospects with four stars, and Scout.com has him the 12th best prospect at corner. He had previously committed to Florida State.
—DT Todd Chandler, Miami — Chandler (6-1, 290) comes from the same high school (Miami Northwestern) that had eight players sign with the Miami Hurricanes just two years ago. Rivals.com rates him a four-star prospect and the 20th-best player nationally at his position. He had committed to Miami but withdrew that commitment, and Louisville represented a strong possibility until he signed with the Bulls.
—LB Curtis Weatherspoon, Valdosta, Ga. — Weatherspoon has spent the last two seasons at Dean College in Franklin, Mass., where he was the Northeast Football Conference defensive MVP last season. his early enrollment addresses an area of critical need for the Bulls.
—DE Claude Davis, Lakeland, Fla. — Davis is another junior college transfer (East Mississippi CC) who will get an early opportunity with the Bulls losing both starters at his position. Scout.com rates him a four-star prospect. He will take part in spring drills.
—QB Jamius Gunsby, LaGrange, Ga. — a three-star prospect (Rivals.com), Gunsby has good size (6-4, 220) for the position. He struggled with an ankle injury last season but threw for 10 touchdowns on his 42 completions (83 attempts). He also gained 351 yards rushing.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We were involved in some battles, going down the stretch. I think we lost a couple here in the last couple of days. there were some high, very talented recruits, but we made them think. we made them look.” — Coach Skip Holtz, on the whirlwind of recruiting.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: USF has the offensive nucleus to contend in the Big East if the Bulls can get over the October slump that has hit the team over the last three years after 5-0 starts. there are some key losses on both sides of the ball, however, and especially on defense, where DEs George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul, LB Kion Wilson, and DBs Nate Allen and Jerome Murphy depart.
SPRING SNAPSHOT: Spring practice will begin March 16, and the spring game is set for April 17.
It’s going to have a distinctly different atmosphere with Skip Holtz taking over as coach from Jim Leavitt, who has been the Bulls’ only coach since the program was started in 1997. Both coaches and players are going to have to devote considerable time getting to know one another, but the period of adjustment shouldn’t be that difficult. “The offense that he runs at East Carolina is very similar to what we’ve done and what I’m used to,” QB B.J. Daniels told the Tampa Tribune. “So everybody’s really excited.”
PRO POTENTIAL: USF could have two players go in the first two rounds. the Bulls are losing a couple of underclassmen (Jason Pierre-Paul and Carlton Mitchell).
—DE Jason Pierre-Paul — Pierre-Paul played only one year for the Bulls after transferring from junior college, but it was good enough to make him a first-round prospect. He has the potential to be the highest draft pick in USF history.
—DE George Selvie — Selvie got a lot of attention from opposing blockers in the last two years, so his statistics were not as gaudy as they were in his sophomore season, when he had 14.5 sacks. but he is still considered a top-10 prospect at his position.
—S Nate Allen — Allen is considered one of the top safety prospects in the draft. He had four interceptions last season and was the team’s second-leading tackler. He also had a good week of practice at the Senior Bowl.
—CB Jerome Murphy — Murphy is ranked among the top 20 cornerback prospects but also hurts himself with some bonehead moves from time to time. He had four interceptions in 2009. Murphy also enhanced his draft stock with his play at the Senior Bowl.
—WR Carlton Mitchell — USF’s all-time leading receiver is passing up his senior season to enter the draft. He is a big-play threat who had 40 catches despite missing time because of injuries in 2009.
—QB B.J. Daniels had surgery on his left shoulder and will be held out of contact situations during spring practice. He will take part in seven-on-seven drills and will be full tilt for summer workouts.
“We are hopeful B.J. will be able to go through spring with it being his non-throwing shoulder and be able to participate in spring from a mental standpoint,” coach Skip Holtz said. “But he will not be able to go through any of the physical contact work, which I’m OK with that.”
—With the arrival of QB Jamius Gunsby to back up Daniels, Evan Landi looks likely to end up back at wide receiver. It all depends on how quickly Gunsby makes the adjustment with his arrival in the fall.
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SYRACUSE
INSIDE SLANT the theme for the Orange was speed, and coach Doug Marrone said the recruiting mission was accomplished as Syracuse officially welcomed 31 new players to the program.
It is also a class in which the Orange recruited players to fill every position on the team including kicker (Ross Krautman) and snapper (Macky MacPherson). Recruiting coordinator Greg Adkins told the Syracuse Post-Standard it a class that is “very diverse. we needed help in all areas, and we met that need.”
during a press conference at the football complex in Manley Field House, Marrone did not mention a single recruit by name. He left open the possibility of signing one more player with this class, but he said he could also hold the scholarship until next year when the Orange could sign as many as 24 players.
this huge class features seven players who enrolled in January — and count against last year’s class — and 24 players who will join the team in August. the NCAA limits teams to a maximum of 25 new participants for preseason camp and 85 players total on scholarship.
It’s also a class that features nine players from new York, four from Pennsylvania and three from new Jersey. Marrone mentioned that the heart of the recruiting effort is a 250-mile radius of campus. Adkins said the Orange started in new York and worked its way out from there.
“What happens is you have an ideal number,” Marrone told the Post-Standard. “You take a team and you have an ideal number of total, of what you want at each position, and that number obviously has to equal 85. Last year … coming in and really, I don’t even know if half the recruiting year would be accurate.”
this particular recruiting class is dominated by linebackers (six) and wide receivers (five), all of whom should have opportunities to get on the field quickest. While Syracuse returns two starting linebackers in Derrell Smith and Doug Hogue — and Marrone mentioned during his press conference he thought both were overlooked for postseason honors — there is room for new linebackers to play. if not on the defense, certainly on special teams, where the Orange struggled to cover kicks and punts last season.
the Orange signed two quarterbacks, John Kinder of Lawrence High School on Long Island and Jonny Miller of Mullen High School in Denver.
NOTES, QUOTES—Coach Doug Marrone completed his staff with the additions of assistant coaches Nathaniel Hackett and Roger Harriott. Marrone has also decided he will call the offensive plays. Hackett will mentor the quarterbacks and the passing game, while Harriott will coach the running backs. Hackett, the son of Oakland Raiders assistant Paul Hackett, comes to Syracuse after spending the last two seasons as a quality control assistant coach with the Buffalo Bills. Harriott comes to Syracuse after serving as athletic director and head football coach at University School in Fort Lauderdale. Fla.
—Starting TB Delone Carter explored the idea of jumping into the NFL Draft but decided to return for his final season of eligibility with the Orange. Carter led the Orange in rushing last season with 1,021 yards and 11 touchdowns.
—LB Marquis Spruill, Fork Union, Va. — the Orange’s highest rated recruit in the Class of 2010 and the only four-star signee. Spruill enrolled in January and will participate in spring drills. Recorded 110 tackles as a senior.
— DE Max Beaulieu, Pembroke Pines, Fla. — could get a chance to play immediately because of his speed and quickness. Beaulieu enrolled in January and will participate in spring drills. a Miami Herald All-Broward County second-team selection, Beaulieu recorded 32 tackles with 12 tackles for loss and five sacks as a senior.
—RB Dom Timbers, North Braddock, Pa. — the Orange backfield just got a little deeper. Timbers was selected to the prestigious Big 33 All-Star Game. He led Woodland High School to the 2009 WPIAL Championship as a senior and was named to the 2009 Tribune Review Elite 25 Team. In 2009, he rushed for 1,414 yards on 211 carries and scored 25 touchdowns. the Orange are shifting to a more run oriented offense, and the signing of Timbers is a big move.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I believe in getting people that can run. I look at this class, and the first thing that I look at as a coach, everyone can go out there and run, which is an important part of being a football player.” — Syracuse coach Doug Marrone.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: the Orange will have to break in a new quarterback, but they return a deep backfield led by Delone Carter. With Doug Marrone calling the plays, Syracuse won’t throw nearly as much as it did last season. With offensive coordinator Mitch Browning getting fired, Marrone plans to implement a new offensive system.
SPRING SNAPSHOT: Practice begins March 20 and ends April 15. the team scrimmage is scheduled for April 15. the emphasis will be finding a new quarterback, and Ryan Nassib appears to have the inside track. the Orange also have to find capable replacements at receiver for Lavar Lobdell and Mike Williams. Defensively, two new tackles are needed to replace Arthur Jones, the unit’s anchor, and Andrew Lewis.
—DT Arthur Jones — Arguably one of the top defensive players in the Big East the last two seasons, Jones has the size and strength to play tackle in either a 3-4 or a 4-3. Injuries have probably knocked him out of being one of the top 50 players selected.
—WR Mike Williams — One of the biggest enigmas going into the draft. Sat out all of 2008 because of an academic issue and missed half of last season after being dismissed from the team. put up huge numbers in 2007 and for half the season in 2009. Has first-round talent, but Williams has many questions to answer about his off-the-field problems.
—TE Mike Owen — Has good size (6-4, 251) and soft hands, but the scouts want to see better blocking skills. Will probably land somewhere as an undrafted free agent.
—Freshman Torian Phillips is transferring to Wagner to be near relatives who are battling illness. Phillips, who is from Port Richmond High School in Staten Island, N.Y., played wide receiver and defensive back last season as a true freshman for the Orange.
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WEST VIRGINIA
INSIDE SLANT With a veteran team returning, Mountaineers coach bill Stewart could concentrate on a rather esoteric recruiting approach, looking for “speed, height and athleticism.”
With 19 players signing letters-of-intent and a few more still out there dangling tantalizingly close, Stewart proclaimed the effort a success.
“We feel like we have a special class,” Stewart said.
at the top of the class is Parade All-America quarterback Barry Brunetti of Memphis University High, who hasn’t lost a game he started since the seventh grade.
With him on hand to join holdover Geno Smith and another highly regarded incoming quarterback, Jeremy Johnson from Texas, Stewart assured quarterback competition to keep everyone sharp.
the two surprises in the class were wide receiver Ivan McCartney and defensive back Qudral Forte, neither of whom had committed prior to the Feb. 3 start of the NCAA’s official signing period.
McCartney was a teammate of Smith at Miramar (Fla.) High, as was receiver Dante Chambers, although Stewart said none was “a package deal.”
Stewart did compare McCartney to former WVU receiver Reggie Rembert.
“He’s special,” Stewart said. “He can stretch the field and he can go get the ball.”
according to Stewart, Forte can run a 10.7 in the 100 meters.
“He’s good enough to play college quarterback,” Stewart said of the player who spurned offers from Georgia Tech, Ole miss and North Carolina.
Perhaps the major aspect of the spring was one that didn’t materialize. many felt that John (Doc) Holliday would take a number of recruits with him to Marshall, where he was named head coach. Three players who had given WVU a verbal commitment said they would attend Marshall, but only one did, while one, Florida safety Travis Bell, signed at West Virginia.
NOTES, QUOTES—Most people expected star RB Noel Devine to declare for the NFL Draft, but Devine, along with receiver Jock Sanders, opted to return for their senior seasons, a huge boost to the Mountaineer offense. Devine is fifth-leading rusher in school history and is always a breakaway threat. Sanders is the team’s leading receiver. With 55 more receptions, he would become WVU’s all-time leader. He caught 72 passes last year.
—John (Doc) Holliday, considered one of the nation’s top recruiters, especially in Florida, left after serving as recruiting coordinator and tight ends and fullback coach to take the head coaching job at Marshall.
—An old face returned to take Holliday’s place: Dave McMichael, who left as offensive line coach at Connecticut to come back to the Mountaineers. He coached 18 years for Don Nehlen, under whom he played at Bowling Green. McMichael left Morgantown when Rich Rodriguez came in and purged the WVU staff. McMichael will coach the fullbacks and tight ends.
—QB Barry Brunetti, Memphis, Tenn. — the Memphis University High product was a Parade High School All-American and EA Sports second-team All-American, as he was rated as one of the top three dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation. Brunetti played in the 2010 All-American Bowl Game Classic. Rivals.com rated him the no. 3 dual-threat QB in the country after he led his team to consecutive 13-0 seasons and state championships in 2008 and 2009. Brunetti finished his career completing 240 of 432 passes for 3,882 yards and 43 touchdowns while rushing for 1,660 yards and 39 touchdowns.
—OL Quinton Spain, Petersburg, Va. — the 6-foot-6, 330-pounder played in the U.S. Army All-American game and was ranked as Rivals.com’s no. 2 offensive guard and in Max Emfinger’s top 150. used as a fullback in short-yardage situations, he scored four touchdowns and six two-point conversions. He had 54 knockdown blocks, and on defense, he compiled 103 tackles. Also a standout basketball player at a school that produced Ralph Sampson, he received offers from Maryland, N.C. State, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
—WR Ivan McCartney, Miramar, Fla. — Coached by former Mountaineer Damon Cogdell and a former high school teammate of Geno Smith, who figures to be next year’s starting quarterback, McCartney was in the Sporting News top 35 and the Mobile Press-Register’s Southeast top 20. McCartney finished the 2009 season with 37 catches for 747 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also ran back 16 punts for 625 yards, three for touchdowns. As a junior, he had 41 catches for 705 yards and 10 TD. As a sophomore, he caught 17 passes for 747 yards and eight touchdowns.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “These are not just good athletes, but neat, fine young men.” — Coach bill Stewart, on the quality of the character of the recruiting class he brought to West Virginia in 2010.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: When RB Noel Devine and SB Jock Sanders announced they would not leave early for the NFL, West Virginia’s chances for 2010 got a huge boost. the Mountaineers enter the spring with a deep, experienced roster on both sides of the ball.
Devine rushed for 1,465 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, and he has rushed for 3,381 yards in three years, fifth in school history. Sanders led the team with 72 receptions for 688 yards last year.
the major project is to prepare sophomore Geno Smith, who played well in place of Jarrett Brown when called upon as a true freshman, to take charge of the team at quarterback. He gives the team a different look, as he is not a Patrick White-style, run-first quarterback.
Smith, who played in Brown’s place in the Gator Bowl after Brown was injured early, finished his freshman year with 32 completions on 49 attempts with one touchdown. He was 8-for-15 for 92 yards against Florida State.
the Mountaineers also lost tackle Selvish Capers and wide receivers Alric Arnett, a deep threat, and Wes Lyons.
Defensively the Mountaineers must replace MLB Reed Williams, but he missed enough time last year that any of a number of players, headed by Anthony Leonard, can fill in.
the other potential trouble spot is at punter, where the Mountaineers must find a replacement for Scott Kozlowski, who was the Big East’s best punter and finished ninth nationally with a 44.4-yard average.
SPRING SNAPSHOT: Practice begins April 6 and ends April 23. the Gold-Blue scrimmage is scheduled for April 23 and will be the first one held at night.
With Patrick White and Jarrett Brown now gone, coach bill Stewart has a quarterback of his own in Geno Smith, but Smith is hobbled with a broken bone in his foot. this is a crucial spring for him, as he really is the only game-ready quarterback the team will have when the season opens.
beyond that, this is a veteran squad at every position on offense and defense. How the Mountaineers work Ryan Clarke, the fullback, in as a full-time running back will be of interest, but they plan to run him more often in the coming season.
Defensively, it is simply a matter of fine-tuning and improving, with only MLB Reed Williams among the full-time starters gone.
PRO POTENTIAL: there are no potentially high draft choices coming out of West Virginia this season, as the team gradated very few players off its starting units.
—QB Jarrett Brown — He started only one season after Patrick White left, and after an early-season concussion in the Marshall game, he did not perform as he had before. He went to the Senior Bowl and actually performed well in practice. his size and arm strength meet professional standards, and there is talk he could be a mid- to late-round draft pick. He will be further evaluated at the NFL combine.
—OT Selvish Capers — Converted from tight end while at West Virginia, he grew into the job and played well enough to get an invitation to the Senior Bowl. He was invited to participate in the NFL combine.
—WR Alric Arnett — He is a legitimate deep threat the NFL will look at carefully at the combine. With West Virginia sending the likes of Chris Henry and Darius Reynaud to the NFL as receivers, the league seems to have an interest in Mountaineers wideouts. Arnett caught 43 passes for a 13.6-yard average and three touchdowns as a senior.
—WR Wes Lyons — even though he was often injured and never caught a TD pass in his career, Lyons has caught some professional attention because of his 6-foot-8 size. He probably will get a chance to go to camp somewhere. Lyons caught 13 passes for a 13.1-yard average.
P Scott Kozlowski — Last year, West Virginia sent Pat McAfee to the Indianapolis Colts, and he became a Super Bowl punter. the pros will take a close look at the man who replaced McAfee and averaged 44.4 yards a punt, which is about the same as the 44.7 McAfee averaged last year.
—QB Geno Smith, who needs spring practice in the worst way, suffered a broken foot while working out. Surgery was performed to insert a screw, and the prognosis is the man expected to replace Jarrett Brown will be out until nearly the start of the spring. the spring game was pushed back to April 5 in part to give him more time to be ready.
—DT Scooter Berry was academically ineligible for the Gator Bowl against Florida State, which may have been a blessing, as he had been bothered by a bad shoulder. He probably will sit out spring practice to let it heal.
—WR Ryan Nehlen, grandson of former coach Don Nehlen, underwent offseason knee surgery. It’s hoped he will be ready for the spring.
—MLB Reed Williams was named Big East football Scholar-Athlete of the year, which carries a $2,000 scholarship for use toward an advanced degree or professional study.