Post by dehayes35 on Apr 23, 2008 13:21:59 GMT -5
Here is my (Matt Hayes's) post-spring top 25, with each team's pre-spring ranking in parentheses.
1. Georgia (2)
2. Ohio State (7)
3. USC (4)
4. Oklahoma (1)
5. Missouri (3)
6. LSU (6)
7. West Virginia (9)
8. Texas (5)
9. Clemson (8)
10. Florida (10)
11. Kansas (17)
12. Illinois (19)
13. Virginia Tech (12)
14. Oregon (18)
15. Wisconsin (14)
16. BYU (16)
17. Arizona State (13)
18. Auburn (15)
19. Michigan State (24)
20. Tennessee (-)
21. Texas Tech (23)
22. Pittsburgh (25)
23. Wake Forest (-)
24. Penn State (11)
25. Fresno State (20)
Dropped out: Alabama, Virginia
Some thoughts:
• Why is Georgia No. 1?
At this point, the 'Dawgs are the nation's most complete team. My only reservation with Georgia: What happens to QB Matt Stafford in big road games. (South Carolina, Arizona State, LSU, Auburn; Florida in Jacksonville are all on this year's road slate)? He was hot and cold last year away from Athens, but he's got a ton of talent. He'll go one of two ways this fall: succumb to the preseason pressure, or develop into the No. 1 overall NFL pick. I'm going with the latter.
• Biggest riser:
Illinois (plus-7): The defense is going to be terrific. The recruiting work of Ron Zook and offensive coordinator Mike Locksley will pay off this fall with some serious young talent: linebacker Martez Wilson, cornerback Dere Hicks, safety Bo Flowers, defensive tackle Josh Brent. One key question: Who steps in at tailback? Daniel Dufrene isn't the pile-mover Rashard Mendenhall was, but freshman signee Mikel LeShoure -- who enrolled early -- has looked promising.
• Biggest faller:
Penn State (minus-13). The 'Nits are experienced, but the loss of star LB Sean Lee will hurt beyond performance on the field. He was the team's leader, a microcosm of what Joe Paterno wants out of his players -- players that, of late, have a growing number of off-the-field issues. Another problem: neither QB Daryll Clark nor Pat Devlin has embraced the role of starter.
• It's business time for the Jayhawks:
I was impressed by the business-like attitude at Kansas this spring. They're good and they know it. More importantly, they know everyone thinks last year was a fluke.
• Deal with it, people:
Ohio State is in the thick of the national title picture -- again. The Buckeyes replace four starters from last fall -- none at critical spots. The addition of uber-recruit QB Terrelle Pryor will give the offense balance, but more impressive is the attitude with which this team went back to work after a second-straight embarrassing loss in the national title game. The reality is this: No other team would've beaten Florida or LSU. The Bucks were the poor saps on the other sideline caught in the tidal wave of two teams with second chances and something to prove.
• Where's Michigan?
In the 40s. And falling.
• The new guys:
Tennessee and Wake Forest. There was a time last fall when the staff at Tennessee had serious concerns about QB Jonathan Crompton's development -- specifically, if sitting behind Erik Ainge for three seasons had stunted his physical and mental development. Then he played nearly flawlessly this spring, despite an elbow injury that needed surgery this week.
1. Georgia (2)
2. Ohio State (7)
3. USC (4)
4. Oklahoma (1)
5. Missouri (3)
6. LSU (6)
7. West Virginia (9)
8. Texas (5)
9. Clemson (8)
10. Florida (10)
11. Kansas (17)
12. Illinois (19)
13. Virginia Tech (12)
14. Oregon (18)
15. Wisconsin (14)
16. BYU (16)
17. Arizona State (13)
18. Auburn (15)
19. Michigan State (24)
20. Tennessee (-)
21. Texas Tech (23)
22. Pittsburgh (25)
23. Wake Forest (-)
24. Penn State (11)
25. Fresno State (20)
Dropped out: Alabama, Virginia
Some thoughts:
• Why is Georgia No. 1?
At this point, the 'Dawgs are the nation's most complete team. My only reservation with Georgia: What happens to QB Matt Stafford in big road games. (South Carolina, Arizona State, LSU, Auburn; Florida in Jacksonville are all on this year's road slate)? He was hot and cold last year away from Athens, but he's got a ton of talent. He'll go one of two ways this fall: succumb to the preseason pressure, or develop into the No. 1 overall NFL pick. I'm going with the latter.
• Biggest riser:
Illinois (plus-7): The defense is going to be terrific. The recruiting work of Ron Zook and offensive coordinator Mike Locksley will pay off this fall with some serious young talent: linebacker Martez Wilson, cornerback Dere Hicks, safety Bo Flowers, defensive tackle Josh Brent. One key question: Who steps in at tailback? Daniel Dufrene isn't the pile-mover Rashard Mendenhall was, but freshman signee Mikel LeShoure -- who enrolled early -- has looked promising.
• Biggest faller:
Penn State (minus-13). The 'Nits are experienced, but the loss of star LB Sean Lee will hurt beyond performance on the field. He was the team's leader, a microcosm of what Joe Paterno wants out of his players -- players that, of late, have a growing number of off-the-field issues. Another problem: neither QB Daryll Clark nor Pat Devlin has embraced the role of starter.
• It's business time for the Jayhawks:
I was impressed by the business-like attitude at Kansas this spring. They're good and they know it. More importantly, they know everyone thinks last year was a fluke.
• Deal with it, people:
Ohio State is in the thick of the national title picture -- again. The Buckeyes replace four starters from last fall -- none at critical spots. The addition of uber-recruit QB Terrelle Pryor will give the offense balance, but more impressive is the attitude with which this team went back to work after a second-straight embarrassing loss in the national title game. The reality is this: No other team would've beaten Florida or LSU. The Bucks were the poor saps on the other sideline caught in the tidal wave of two teams with second chances and something to prove.
• Where's Michigan?
In the 40s. And falling.
• The new guys:
Tennessee and Wake Forest. There was a time last fall when the staff at Tennessee had serious concerns about QB Jonathan Crompton's development -- specifically, if sitting behind Erik Ainge for three seasons had stunted his physical and mental development. Then he played nearly flawlessly this spring, despite an elbow injury that needed surgery this week.
