SB Nation - George Selvie

Thursday night NFL Draft watch notes

Mocking Dan — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:40:12 -0000

More photos » by Kevin Rivoli - AP

2 months ago: South Florida's Nate Allen (5) reacts after his team recovered a fumble against Syracuse during the first quarter in an NCAA college football game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009. South Florida won 34-20. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli)

Browse more photos »

Tonight during the South Florida/Rutgers game, it will be typically filled with plenty of NFL scouts.

But according to Chris Steuber of Scout.com, several other notables will be attendance. Among them is Patriots director of player personnel director Jason Licht. Other lead personnel men there will be Terry McDonough of Jacksonville, Rick Spielman of Minnesota and Les Snead of Atlanta.

None of those top the New York Giants who will send general manager Jerry Reese, director of college scouting Mark Ross and an additional scout.

Why all the love? That's because South Florida could possibly send five defensive players to the NFL next year.

The best among them could be junior college transfer Jason Pierre-Paul. A tall, lanky defensive end, Pierre-Paul has 9.5 tackles for a loss this season and two sacks. But his upside is tremendous. He's 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds and all arms and legs. He could become a dominant force along the defensive line if he returns for his senior season.

Senior end George Selvie will also get plenty of attention. Steuber reported on his Twitter page that Selvie is a favorite of the Vikings. While Selvie's sack numbers are down this year, he's always a factor. Few ends possess his quickness at the snap and Selvie can make plays all over the field.

Safety Nate Allen also has plenty of intrigue, as do cornerback Jerome Murphy and linebacker Kion Wilson.

However, the best player in the stadium could be playing for the Scarlet Knights. That would be left tackle Anthony Davis. A junior, Davis is expected to declare early for the 2010 NFL Draft.

Considered by many evaluators as a possible top 10 pick, Davis made his name last season by shutting Selvie down.

"George can run," Davis told reporters about Selvie. "Looking at him on film, he can get from sideline to sideline. He’s a great player, a great pass rusher. I’m looking forward to going against him."

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Thursday (11/5/09) Edition

WVUIE97 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:50:18 -0000

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, brought to you today by Old Bob Ale. Twelve and counting.

I'm in a great mood today. All I'm gonna say about it is this: 27. I don't know about you, but I'm dying to see what the Krag's been putting down in his diary (hint, nudge, wink). Even so, there's plenty to keep you occupied below and don't forget to send in your tips and requests. On with it after the jump...

What You May Have Missed:

Louisville Preview - MSNsportsNET.Com

Preview: WVU - UofL - BlueGoldNews.com

Preview: WVU vs. UL - WVIllustrated.com

What to watch in the Big East, Week 10 - ESPN

Big East picks, Week 10 - ESPN

Devine Named Maxwell Award Semifinalist - MSNsportsNET.Com

Williams Named ARA Finalist - MSNsportsNET.Com

Men's Basketball: Butler Part of Lowe's Award List - MSNsportsNET.Com

Women's Soccer: WVU Ranked No. 24 - MSNsportsNET.Com
Next up: 10th-ranked Marquette at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, in Storrs, Conn. (BE semis)

Men's Soccer: WVU Falls to Rutgers - MSNsportsNET.Com

WVU ranked No. 1 in national rifle poll - Charleston Daily Mail

College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com

News of Note:

Mountaineers look to bounce back for stretch drive - ESPN

The six most memorable Louisville/West Virginia games - Card Chronicle
From their point of view, obviously.

Louisville undecided at quarterback for West Virginia game - PPG

Undersized walk-on among Louisville's three options at QB - Charleston Gazette

No changes for Mountaineers - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Williams' playing time necessarily curtailed - Charleston Gazette

WVU's Williams confident he can finish a game - Charleston Daily Mail

Devine, Williams semifinalists for awards - Times West Virginian
Hertzel's notebook.

Tandy not shying away after USF game - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

Mountaineer QB's fall was much like Major's - Charleston Daily Mail

Louisville Cardinal went from band to 'backer - Charleston Daily Mail

Let Him Hear It - WVMetroNews.com

Ready For Redemption - WVMETRONEWS.COM

WVU-Louisville on TV - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Looking at attendance in the Big East - ESPN
I would venture to guess the percentage is tickets sold, not butts in the seats.

WVU panel discusses playoff, paying athletes - Times West Virginian

Friendships Mean the Most to Crow - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

Recruiting:

Mississippi Wideout Talks West Virginia - EerSports.com
"The Mountaineers stand pretty high with Macon, Miss., wide receiver Vincent Sanders."

WVU Commit is Considering Other Schools in Light of Family Issues - WVIllustrated.com

What's On Tap:

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. East Carolina Pirates, November 5 2009 - ESPN
7:30 pm tonight on ESPN. The line has VPI by 15.

Around the League (and Beyond):

BIG EAST Slate: Week 10 - WVIllustrated.com

Robinson ready to make return - Courier-Journal

Suspect charged with lying to police investigating Jasper Howard's death - ESPN
Let's all hope and pray that they get the right person(s) responsible.

Norwin's Shanahan adds new dimension to Pitt - PPG

UC football sells out home games - Cincinnati Enquirer
What do they hold, 35K? Great support there, scooter.

Wanted: Syracuse Football Players - Three Idiots on Sports

Orange pulls together in the wake of crises off the field - syracuse.com

Bulls kicker Schwartz makes most of chance - Tampa Tribune

Potential first-round NFL picks clash next week when South Florida and George Selvie visit Rutgers and Anthony Davis - Star Ledger

Bottom 10 - ESPN
See number 5. Schlabach isn't so ignorant today in his assumption.

Video of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

It's SFW.

Expanding Cultural Understanding Gallery of the Week:

Double bonus, most pics inside lead to another gallery.

via coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is another Greek goddess. Say hello to Christina Koletsa.

via api.ning.com

Old Bob image via www.drinksdirect.co.uk

Revised Top 10 Prospects to Watch

Jonathan Loesche — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:30:31 -0000

More photos » by Phil Coale - AP

The only reason I tune in to FSU games anymore.

Browse more photos »

The college football season is beginning to make it's home stretch run and it's time to once again look at players who may find themselves in Black and Teal this upcoming season. In an attempt to keep this is true to form as possible, main stays Ndumakong Suh and Eric Berry sadly make their departure as the Jaguars are not nearly bad enough to even sniff them in next April's draft.

The more I've been thinking about it, the more I think a quarterback make's sense in the first round of the draft. To that end, the current Top 10 to watch is as follows

1. Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State, Jr

Anyone who can stomach to watch a full game of FSU football this season will come away utterly impressed with Ponder. The Junior QB has made a light year's worth of advances since his troubled sophomore campaign. Behind a now solid offensive line, Ponder has light up the NCAA, ranking in the Top 5 of virtually every relevant stat against BCS competition. If Ponder declares, expect him to have a Mark Sanchez like rise.

2. Jake Locker, QB, Washington, Jr

I went back and forth between putting either Locker or Tony Pike of Cincinnati at the #2 spot. In the end, Pike is injured and Locker has more upside, so I went with Locker. Locker may be something of a project for a first round pick, but I like the grit I see from him. Also, the last time the Jaguars had a scrambling QB from Washington, it worked out well.

3. Morgan Burnett, SS, Georgia Tech, Jr

Burnett may be the 2nd best safety in the draft with Taylor Mays' inconsistency. A big, strong, hard hitting SS, Burnett would be the 2nd coming of Donovan Darius for the Jaguars. If a QB isn't available, he may be the BAP in the 15-20 range.

4. Rolando McClain, MLB, Alabama, Jr

If the Jags are going to keep running the 3-4, they'll need to upgrade their personnel this offseason. McClain is a beast of a linebacker and may be the best natural 3-4 linebacker in the draft. Another tough decision here between McClain and Brandon Spikes, but I felt McClain works better in a 3-4.

5. George Selvie, DE, South Florida, Sr

Was it really just two years ago Selvie was the most feared pass rusher in college football? Injuries and lack of production have forced him off the map and out of the first round. Selvie projects as a 3-4 OLB in the NFL and unless he has an excellent offseason, may slide into the third round.

6.Matt Tennant, C, Boston College, Sr

A quality guy with a high motor, Tennant would fit the Gene Smith profile. Brad Meester isn't getting any younger, and some fresh blood in the interior is needed. Tennant is a 4th or 5th round prospect.

7.Vince Oghobaase, DT, Duke, Sr

Oghobasse is one of the best DT in the country not named Suh or McCoy. He projects as either a 3-4 DE or a 4-3 defensive tackle. Henderson was linked to several trade rumors in the last offseason and his stock has risen since with his terrific play this season.Ogho would be an excellent replacement paired with Terrance Knighton.

8. Josh Pinkard, SS, Southern Cal,Sr

Pinkard can play both corner and safety, making him a versatile player for the Jaguars secondary. He has some medicial and injury issues that may cause him to drop and make him a value pick.

9. Mitch Petrus, G, Arkansas, Sr

Petrus is a solid guard who plays with a mean streak against the run. However, he is somewhat undersized and that could cause him to drop.

10. Dennis Pitta, TE, BYU, Sr

Pitta served on his two year mission, making him older and more mature than most rookies. He's one of the best receiving tight ends in college and would add another weapon on the team.

-Jonathan Loesche

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Thursday (10/29/09) Edition

WVUIE97 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:28:41 -0000

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, brought to you today by Pfeiffer Beer. We've made it to seven.

I'm kinda speechless right now, so we'll just skip the pleasantries and get right to it. Send in your tips and requests and here.......we.......go....

What You May Have Missed:

Letter from Randy Edsall - WVMetroNews.com

USF Preview - MSNsportsNET.Com

Preview: WVU - USF - BlueGoldNews.com

GAME PREVIEW: USF - WVIllustrated.com

West Virginia Mountaineers vs South Florida Bulls Preview - SB Nation

What to watch in the Big East, Week 9 - ESPN

Big East stock report - ESPN

2009 CFN Big East Week 9 Staff Picks - Scout.com

Gold and Blue Report for Thursday - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Coach Bill Stewart - Twitter
Check out the list of former players in town this past week.

College Football Mailbag - Stewart Mandel - SI.com

News of Note:

West Virginia, Big East underdogs? - ESPN

Heisman light starting to shine on Devine - ESPN

Rank Truth, Heisman Heavily Favors Polls -- NCAA Football FanHouse

Devine's on USF's mind - Charleston Gazette

Stewart says honor is a tribute to his staff - Inter-Mountain

West Virginia's tackles take cue from Pitt on how to handle South Florida's defensive pair - PPG

USF pass rush one of the best - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

Interchangeable - Times West Virginian
"WVU’s Madsen, Jobe share positions"

WVU focused on South Florida, not headwear - Charleston Daily Mail
Casazza's Notebook

Yankees No More - WVIllustrated.com
This has nothing to do with Lee ~~shutting down~~ completely dominating my Yanks last night.

Mountaineers right at home in Florida - Register-Herald

Scary Thought: Huggins Installing Full-Court Press - EerSports.com

Granite-Built Jennings No Ordinary Freshman - EerSports.com

Recruiting:

Breaking News: Payne Set to Announce - EerSports.com
Register (free) and read the posting....all signs are pointing to him committing to WVU. If so....Welcome Home!!!!

Payne to announce college choice Thursday evening - High School Huddle

Cleaning up college basketball recruiting from within - ESPN

Fellow recruits acting as ambassadors for colleges - ESPN
Good read about committed recruits assisting on the recruiting trail.

What's On Tap:

North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Virginia Tech Hokies, October 29 2009 - ESPN
Tonight on ESPN, 7:30 pm (If you're not bothered about the World Series). VPI is giving 16.5.

Men's Basketball: Open Scrimmage on Saturday - MSNsportsNET.Com
WVU Coliseum on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. Admission is free.

Around the League (and Beyond):

Numbers are down but Selvie's still a force for USF - Charleston Gazette

Honoring Jasper - TheUConnBlog.com
"This press release from the UConn athletic department has details on how the school will honor Jasper Howard this Saturday at Rentschler Field."

Rutgers defensive tackle Blair Bines looks to once again answer the call against Connecticut - Star Ledger

Frustrated Pike unlikely to play against Orange - Cincinnati Enquirer

Using Baldwin - Pitt Blather

Improvements in pass defense key resurgence - PPG

E.J. Carter Ready To Hit Someone. Possibly You. - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

Mike Williams is back but mum or why he missed the Akron game - syracuse.com

Cardinals' Ashley running with fits and starts - Courier-Journal

Autzen Stadium has been house of horrors for two decades - ESPN
This is what we need Mountaineer Field to be.

Calipari fires the first practice shot - Courier-Journal
He may be a sleaze, but he's definitely got balls. This would be like Huggs taking our guys up to the Peterson Center and having practice.

Video of Interest:

Courtesy, as usual, of WVIllustrated.com.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Thanks to Jimmy Traina at SI's Hot Clicks for this one.

Sweater Gallery of the Week:

It's my sincere hope that this gallery is what WestVirginiaSweater had in mind when he chose his name...and not this.

via coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is a British soccer WAG and known for her lingerie modeling. I proudly present Miss Abigail Clancy.

via www.gossip-celebrities.info

This next one is part one of four. I highly suggest you watch them all.

Here are Part II, Part III and Part IV.

Pfeiffer image via www.toolonline.com

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Wednesday (10/28/09) Edition

WVUIE97 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:20:30 -0000

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, brought to you today by Miller High Life. Six and counting.

Part of me feels like I need to explain the Red/Gold beer logo streak. I am superstitious as hell when it comes to certain things. WVU football is definitely one of those things. If I let one slide by, we lose. It happened earlier this year and you all know what happened at Auburn. The team is on a 4 game winning streak and if I can get this streak over 10, that will cover the team through the season and past the bowl game. Yeah, I know, it's silly, but I'm funny that way. Where's the fun in being normal? Send in your tips and requests and see you ~~during visiting hours after my medication~~ after the jump....

What You May Have Missed:

Bill Stewart: Watch Out For The Bulls - WVMETRONEWS.COM
The weekly presser.

Stew's Views: No Bull, USF Can Compete - BlueGoldNews.com

Coach Bill Stewart - Twitter
"Owen came by my office & we had the best visit. He said to me if he could play 10 more years of football at West Virginia, he would do it." - We'd take him too.

Football: Selected Player Quotes - MSNsportsNET.Com

West Virginia / South Florida Preview - Games FanHouse

College Power Rankings - Andy Staples - SI.com
Mr. Staples has us at 18.

Mark Ingram leads Heisman Watch, but Ndamukong Suh is close - SI.com
The little guy is #5.

Mountaineers in the NFL - WVIllustrated.com

Forde Yard Dash - ESPN

News of Note:

Williams a game-time decision for WVU - ESPN

West Virginia wary of reeling South Florida - PPG

USF has held WVU offense in check - Charleston Gazette

South Florida trip may bring distractions, Stewart fears - Charleston Gazette
Hickman's Notebook

Selvie and Co. will test Mountaineers - Charleston Daily Mail

WVU must avoid upset Friday night - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

WVU, Stewart hope to confuse USF - Inter-Mountain

Stewart on Bryant Award list - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

Time to give coach Stew some credit - Register-Herald
Great article...here's a quote from Mike Tomlin: "I’ll tell you, he is a special man in my life for a lot of reasons," Tomlin said. "He gave me my first job. He showed me how to express the love and enthusiasm I have for the game as a coach. He cares about people. It oozes out of his everyday existence. He is an awesome coach. He is an awesome man. I am extremely happy for him. I am happy for West Virginia. They truly picked the right man for the job."

Preseason Observations - MSNsportsNET.Com
Our Jay Jacobs offers his views.

Basketball notes, football votes and a couple quotes - Charleston Gazette
Vingle's Notebook

Huggins has good problem with two point guards - Times West Virginian

Mountaineers have Big East title hopes - Cumberland Times-News

Recruiting:

WVU No. 1 Choice for New Jersey Standout - EerSports.com
"New Jersey standout Doug Rigg favors West Virginia."

Around the League (and Beyond):

Bulls have some issues to work out - Tampa Tribune

Bloomfield Man Charged With Murder Of UConn Player Jasper Howard - Courant.com

Quick thoughts on Cincinnati, Kragthorpe and the remainder of the '09 season - Card Chronicle
UL fans have all but given up.

Rutgers starting cornerback David Rowe enjoying challenges big and not-so-big - Star Ledger

Blogger debate: Penn State vs. Pitt - ESPN
This is the only Pitt football article I could find today.

BCS one game UC can't win - Cincinnati Enquirer
We're only just past the halfway point, they haven't played the tough part of their schedule yet, they're not getting completely jobbed yet, and they're already crying like they've been shut out of a shot.

Orange addressing technical issues to get Bartholomew snapping issue fixed - syracuse.com

Syracuse Students Officially Out Of Excuses - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
"Syracuse Athletics is offering free tickets to any SU student for the Cincinnati game."

Texas Tech coach Mike Leach hates "fat little girlfriends" - Guyism
The pic (attached to the article) alone makes this one worth the click.

BC's Josh Haden to Transfer, Offer Warning to 18-Year-Olds Everywhere - SB Nation
Who else was expecting an R Kelly type slant to this story after reading the headline?

Marion Berry Hates Syracuse Lacrosse - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Not THIS Marion Berry.

Video of Interest:

This week's Postgame Tailgate.

Today in Schadenfreude:

Educational Gallery of the Week:

Here at the Shotgun/Throwdown, it's our goal to increase your analytical/observational skills.

via coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown hails from Sin City and is a UFC ring girl. Say hello to Arianny Celeste.

via s2.largeimagehost.com

Miller image via brewskeeball.com

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Tuesday (10/27/09) Edition

WVUIE97 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:15:49 -0000

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, brought to you today by Stella Artois. That's five, is six possible?

South Florida preparation officially begins now. The guys have a lot of work to do and we'll try to keep up. Send in your tips and requests and see you after the jump....

What You May Have Missed:

Stew's Views: Bullish Defense - BlueGoldNews.com

Devine, Austin Honored by Big East - MSNsportsNET.Com

Stewart Named to Bryant Watch List - MSNsportsNET.Com

Connecticut Game Award Winners - MSNsportsNET.Com
Coaches announce their weekly awards.

Stewart praises fans, coaches and team in victory - Inter-Mountain

NCAA College Football Power Rankings Week 8 - ESPN

Big East power rankings, Week 9 - ESPN

WVU fans show their true colors - Daily Campus

Hoppy's Commentary - WVMetroNews
Last one, I swear.

Louisville Game Time Announced - MSNsportsNET.Com
Another Nooner.

On The Mark: Week 8 - ESPN
Look who's #1 on the Playmakers list.

News of Note:

Gold and Blue Report for Tuesday - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Initial Thoughts: USF - WVIllustrated.com

Will WVU switch gears again? - Charleston Gazette
The ability to adapt is CRITICAL.

At times, you stop passes by a nose - Charleston Gazette

Devine for Heisman? You'll never hear those words out of WVU officials - Charleston Daily Mail

Big Things in Small Packages - WVIllustrated.com

Devine piling up yards, honors - Register-Herald

Is WVU lucky or just plain good? - Charleston Daily Mail

Jeff Braun and John Bassler are a rare breed - Carroll County Times

Nothing settled for teams in Big East race - Times West Virginian

Tony's Take - MSNsportsNET.Com

2009 Big East Fearless Picks - Week 9 - Scout.com

Head Shaking Experience - MSNsportsNET.Com
New shooting guard Casey Mitchell is profiled.

College football fan survey - NCAA Football - SI.com
Take a few minutes and fill out this survey. I'll link to the results when they're posted.

Recruiting:

Finau to Enroll Next Semester - EerSports.com
There is a linked longer article. It's free, but you have to register.

Christian Finds a "Real Family Feel" at WVU - EerSports.com
"WVU's family environment and defensive backs coach David Lockwood impress Pittsburgh CB Cullen Christian." - Come on home, Cullen.

2011 Prospect Giorgio Newberry garnering strong interest from the Mountaineers - WVIllustrated.com

Around the League (and Beyond):

Selvie has been silent during Bulls' slide - Tampa Tribune

Friends, family pack Howard funeral service - ESPN

Another Emotional Week Begins for UConn Football Team - WVMetroNews.com

Tim Brown says freshman wide receiver Mark Harrison could be Rutgers' 'next Kenny Britt' - Star Ledger
Not THE Tim Brown, THIS Tim Brown.

Cincinnati QB Tony Pike gets cast modified - SI.com (AP)

Syracuse University football team must prepare for two quarterbacks - syracuse.com

Pitt's Fields showing versatility - PPG

Babies recap the weekend in Louisville sports - Card Chronicle

Big East football weekly roundup - Star Ledger

Big East comes up big on national landscape - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Notre Dame likely to take a Big East bowl - Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Athletic directors recommending NCAA cost cuts - USATODAY.com

Georgia Tech prez identifies scofflaws behind goalpost caper - FanNation
They took the goalpost and dumped it on the university President's lawn. That's awesome! Video included.

Kiffin's fear of penalty fueled late call - The Tennessean
I don't like the guy, but I can't say I blame him.

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen warned by SEC over replay-official comments - ESPN
They reprimanded Kiffin as well.

Video of Interest:

Katz's full interview of Huggs, courtesy of ESPN. I was lucky enough to see practice and listen to him Friday night and I could sit and listen for hours.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

This Week in Bodypainting:

via coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is another Californian beauty. Give it up for Josie Maran.

via i54.photobucket.com

Stella Artois image via neatorama.cachefly.net

Saturday NFL Draft watch notes

Mocking Dan — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:22:20 -0000

More photos » by Keith Srakocic - AP

Browse more photos »

• If your team needs a defensive end, make sure to tune into the South Florida/Pittsburgh game. Pittsburgh's Greg Romeus has great power and speed on the edge. This game will allow him to showcase his gap discipline as USF quarterback B.J. Daniels can get out and move.

For the Bulls, senior George Selvie is seemingly in his ninth year of college. It seems like ages ago that he had 31.5 tackles for loss. But that was in 2007. Since then, Selvie has been solid. He's a 3-4 rush linebacker candidate, but could stick at end. He's been overshadowed this season by junior college transfer Jason Pierre-Paul. He's a physical freak with an 81-inch wingspan. Pittsburgh has a good offensive line so this could be a good test of Bulls' pass rushers.

• Clemson defensive end Ricky Sapp is having the best season of his college career. He has eight tackles for a loss and three sacks, which are decent numbers. But he's showed he can quickly fire off the ball and has deceptive strength. He's a good 3-4 outside linebacker option for teams. Against Miami, he'll have to quickly get around left tackle Jason Fox's good first step. Sapp can cement his draft status today.

• While it seems improbable, Tennessee's Eric Berry could be tested mightily against Alabama. Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram is a physical, aggressive runner. Berry blew some tackles last week and could use today to show that was a fluke. When Berry isn't hunting down Ingram, he might have to give help coverage against Julio Jones, the talented sophomore wide receiver.

• Although Florida might be without two of its defensive tackles, Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon can make his case as an early round draft pick today. He's run for 100 yards or more in five-straight weeks and is a powerful runner.

• Another player who could have a big-time game is Syracuse wide receiver Mike Williams. He's been explosive this season, finally healthy after injuries slowed him early in his career. If he doesn't get at least 100 yards receiving against a bad Akron secondary, Williams' play seriously deserves a second look.

• Connecticut senior defensive end Lindsey Witten has been a sensation this season. He has 10 sacks already, but seven came in the first two games. He can show that wasn't an aberration if he does well lining up against West Virginia's Selvish Capers. An above-average right tackle prospect, Capers can get out of the blocks smoothly and may give Witten trouble.

• The draft stock of Idaho guard Mike Iupati has been gaining steam of late. Today the Vandals play Nevada, a team that has potentially three NFL-caliber defensive linemen. The Nevada rush really gets after the quarterback. Iupati will have to be quick and decisive in his blocking. End Kevin Basped shifts inside on third downs and gives a lot of linemen trouble with his length and quickness.

• Lousiana-Monroe defensive end Aaron Morgan is arguably the best player in the Sun Belt conference. He projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker because of his size (6'4, 235 pounds) and speed. Kentucky might be seen as great competition, but SEC talent will be a good test for Morgan.

Huskers' Ndamukong Suh - Lombardi Award Finalist

Jon Johnston — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:42:03 -0000

Earlier today, the Rotary Club of Houston announced the Lombardi Award Finalists. Since 1970, the Lombardi Award has been presented to college football's top lineman (offense or defense).

The 12 semifinalists are (in alphabetical order):

Terrence Cody, Alabama, NG, #62, Sr., 6-5, 365, Ft. Myers, FL
Rennie Curran, Georgia, LB, #35, Jr., 5-11, 228, Snellville, GA
Carlos Dunlap, Florida, DE, #8, Jr., 6-6, 290, North Charleston, SC
Jerry Hughes, TCU, DE, #98, Sr., 6-3, 257, Sugar Land, TX
Rolando McClain, Alabama, LB, #25, Jr., 6-4, 258, Decatur, AL
Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma, #93, DT, Jr., 6-4, 297, Oklahoma City, OK
Eric Norwood, South Carolina, LB, #40, Sr., 6-1, 252, Acworth, GA
Russell Okung, Oklahoma State, LT, #76, Sr., 6-5, 300, Houston, TX
George Selvie, South Florida, DE, #95, Sr., 6-4, 250, Pensacola, FL
Brandon Spikes, Florida, LB, #51, Sr., 6-3, 258, Shelby, NC
Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, DT, #93, Sr., 6-4, 300, Portland, OR
Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri, LB, #12, Sr., 6-2, 245, Jasper, TX

The Big East Game Of The Year Is...Cincinnati vs. South Florida?

Sean Keeley — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:50:14 -0000

More photos » by Al Behrman - AP

Browse more photos »

If, in 1999, I would have told you that the Big East Football game of the year would be the University of Cincinnati vs. the University of South Florida, you would have:

A) punched me in the face

B) kicked me in the groin

C) dumped whatever beverage you were currently holding on me

D) all of the above

The correct answer? C. You're a lover, not a fighter. And plus, you would have seen me as a lunatic worthy of ridicule, not bodily-harm.

Yet...here we are. Cincinnati will take on South Florida on Thursday night and the winner will be in the driver's set for the Big East crown as the only unbeaten team left in the conference. Chances are that no game this season will feature two Big East teams with rankings this high (No. 8 for Cincy, No. 21 for USF). No Big East game this year will have the spotlight as firmly affixed on it as this one will when the Bearcats and Bulls showdown on ESPN in primetime.

Now take a moment to realize how ludicrous all of this sounds. Five years ago neither of these teams were even in the Big East Conference. Ten years ago one of these teams was in 1-AA and the other was lucky if it qualified for the Motor City Bowl. Fifteen years ago one of these teams didn't even exist!

So what is the Big East, and more importantly, the country, supposed to make of all this? Well as far as Cincinnati is concerned, they want to make sure everyone knows last season was no fluke.

Written off this preseason as a one-hit wonder, it was hard to find anyone who expected Cincinnati to follow up last year's 11-3 campaign that culminated in a Big East title and Orange Bowl berth. The Orange Bowl defeat to Virginia Tech seemed to reinforce to many that the Bearcats were just the latest in a line of pretenders from a conference that just couldn't measure up.

Unranked at the beginning of the 2009 campaign, Brian Kelly's squad has already put the team's misconceptions to bed. Whether or not they can change the outlook of the conference as a whole, well, that remains to be done.

The Bearcats are 5-0 this season thanks in large part to QB Tony Pike who has thrown for 1,493 yards and 13 TDs with only 3 INTs. To put things in perspective, as good as he was last season, he's already only six touchdowns shy of last year's 12-game total. It doesn't hurt to have targets like WRs Marty Gilyard (38 catches, 517 yards, 7 TDs) and Armon Binns (22 catches, 279 yards). Don't sleep on the Cincinnati offensive line either, which has allowed a mere three sacks so far this year.

The Bearcats are offensive-minded and currently ranked third in the country in scoring with 43.2 points per game. They're so proficient on offense that they often score too fast for their own good. In the last two games the offensive unit has spent a grand total of 35 out of 120 minutes on the field, putting the pressure on their defense to try and shoulder most of the burden. That defense has had trouble holding up over the game thanks to injuries and poor third-down stoppages, an area both teams will be focusing on before the game.

One person in particular who will have his eye on Cincy's defensive unit will be Joe Tresey. Currently the USF defensive coordinator, Tresey held the same position at Cincinnati a year ago. Certainly there's going to be some tension on the sidelines, given that Kelly fired Tresey in the off-season. Despite the Bearcats' change to a 3-4 defense from Tresey's scheme, you can bet he has some insight in how to work Cincy's defensive unit.

"He gave us some insights on what they do. Some of their calls, stuff like that," Selvie added. "But you know in the end, it’s just going to be having to play football. They’re going to do what they do and we’re going to have to try and stop them."

Speaking of South Florida's defense, that's the unit most people are talking about when they mention the Bulls this year. Led by DL George Selvie, the Bulls once again feature a dominant defense, ranked third in the nation in forced turnovers, fifth in scoring defense and 10th in total yards allowed. In fact the Bulls didn't allow a passing touchdown until Syracuse's Greg Paulus slipped one by them two weeks ago. Mind you, Paulus also had five interceptions that day and the Bulls won 34-20.

Before the season started, this game looked to be a showdown of the conference's two best quarterbacks. Cincy's Pike and USF's Matt Grothe. Sadly for Grothe, he went down with a season and college career-ending injury earlier this season. While seemingly crushing, it opened the door for freshman quarterback B.J. Daniels, who many quietly whispered was actually going to be better than his predecessor.

Well all Daniels did in his first game was lead South Florida to the biggest win in its program's history, a 17-7 win over Florida State. The win shattered the status quo of college football in the state of Florida and marked the true arrival of the Bulls as they try to compete with the Seminoles, Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes (whom the Bulls will play November 28th).

To be fair, the Bulls have played a schedule consisting mostly of cupcakes otherwise. With two FCS teams (Wofford, Charleston Southern) and a winless Western Kentucky on the books, USF hasn't impressed many even with their 5-0 record. Some have their schedule ranked as low as 113th (out of 199 FBS teams) while the Sagarin rankings have them lower than a handful of FCS teams' schedules to date.

So far Daniels have delivered on his potential, throwing for 602 yards, 4 TDs and 2 INTs in five games, two as the starter. If he can lead the Bulls to victory, it will mark the end of a precipitous slide for the program since 2007. Since being ranked No. 2 in the nation and becoming a sensation for their rapid ascent, the Bulls have gone 6-8 in Big East play and taken on a reputation for starting strong in September and folding once October comes around.

They will have no better opportunity to reverse that trend than this Thursday. The Big East will be watching. So will the nation. Both teams would represent the conference well, the Big East just hopes everyone like what they see.

Syracuse Counting On The O-Line To Do Something, Anything, Against USF

Sean Keeley — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:52:57 -0000

More photos » by Phil Coale - AP

Browse more photos »

It's the match-up we've all been dreading. We knew it was coming sooner or later but we tried to deny it was there for as long as we could. Unfortunately, the time for shielding our suspect offensive line from the dangers of the world is done and the time to stand toe-to-toe with the South Florida D-line has begun.

Like the headline in Donnie's article yesterday, this D-line is not your mama's meatloaf (!?!?!).

The Bulls are led by All-American defensive end George Selvie and junior defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, just named the Big East Conference’s defensive player of the week. With nose tackle Terrell McClain and Aaron Harris, they combined to dominate Florida State’s offensive line last weekend in the Bulls’ 17-7 win at Tallahassee.

This line anchors a defense that held the Seminoles to 19 yards rushing and 288 yards of total offense. And that's a team that put up 54 points and 512 yards of offense on BYU.

You know Selvie. He's kinda good. Pierre-Paul was named the Big East's defensive player of the week after hs four tackles, three tackles for loss, and forced fumble performance against FSU. Junior defensive end Craig Marshall had two sacks as well in the FSU game.

The USF defense is currently ranked 2nd nationally in points-allowed, 11th overall in yards allowed per game and 11th overall in passing yards allowed per game. It presents a tricky deal for the Orange. USF is sure to bottle up the running game and force SU to rely on the pass. But they're also damn good against the pass. It just sounds less fun the more and more you learn.

While USF basks in the glow of their signature win last week, the Orange will just continue to do what they've been doing. Buckle down. Arthur Jones' status remains unknown, though as much as he means to the team it might not make a difference if the SU offense can't make something happen.