DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum 2011 College Football Thread - Teams, Rankings, Players

With football around the corner both for the pros and college, I thought it would be good to break out a college football column. I put together my Top 10 plus some players to watch that would look good in Orange and Brown in 2011.

1) Alabama - Will be strong on offense with all of their key starters returning on offense. Defense is Nick Saban's strong suit so I expect them to re-load and replace the 8 starters lost on defense
2) Ohio State - Defense is stacked although their secondary will be tested. If Pryor plays remotely close to his Rose Bowl game performance, the Buckeyes should get through the Big 10 undefeated. Running game is stacked with playmakers.
3) Boise State - Basically return the entire undefeated 2009 team....
4) Florida - Urban Meyer can recruit and with all the athletes he has, they'll figure out how to put up some points. Defense will be tested as they are young but talented
5) Iowa - a lot of starters returning from top 10 2009 team. Veteran QB in Ricky Stanzi and possibly the best defensive player (Adrian Clayborne) in Big Ten returning,,,will be tested early in trip out West to play Arizona.
6) Virginia Tech
7) Miami
8) Oregon
9) Texas
10) North Carolina

Players to watch:
QB - Ryan Mallett - Arkansas (Junior)
QB - Jake Locker - Washington
QB - Andrew Luck - Stanford (Junior)
DE - Cameron Heyward - OSU
DE - Jared Crick - Nebraska (Junior)
DE - Allen Bailey - Miami
DT - Marvin Austin - North Carolina
DT - Marcus Fortson - Miami (Junior)
DT - Jarvis Jenkins - Clemson
RB - Mark Ingram - Alabama (Junior)
RB - John Clay - Wisconsin (Junior)
RB - Evan Royster - Penn State
WR - Julio Jones - Alabama (Junior)
WR - A.J. Green - Georgia (Junior)
WR - Michael Floyd - Notre Dame (Junior)
LB - Von Miller - Texas A&M
TE - Kyle Rudolph - Notre Dame
CB - Patrick Peterson - LSU (Junior)
CB - Ras-I-Dowling - Virginia
OT - Gabe Carimi - Wisconsin
OT - Matt Reynolds - BYU (Junior)
OG - Mike Pouncey - Florida
OG - John Moffitt - Wisconsin
S - Mark Barron - Alabama (Junior)
S - Deunta Williams - North Carolina
S - Rahim Moore - UCLA (Junior)

I'm sure there are many others but tried to point out some of the top names based on what I've read online.

GO BUCKS!

oh man i can't wait for college football

thursdays fridays saturdays FTW

Don't forget about TCU... 17 starters are returning, including several key offensive players, also 4 of their 5 offensive lineman are returning.

Man I am glad football season is about to be upon us.

For me it's about to be watching Thursday & Friday night College football.

Getting up early Saturday for my Mens 8v8 Flag Football then home to watch more College football. Later playing in my CO-ED 4v4 Flag football league.

Next on to Sunday for All day NFL and finally ending with MNF.

Two days of rest and recovery and start all over again!!!! Can't wait.

I'm almost positive this is the year my Rockets shock the world and surpass TCU, Boise State and Utah as eveybody's mid-major darling and win the National Championship.

Then again, I've been wrong before.

GO ROCKETS

I got to talk to Cam a bit last fall after a volleyball game (his girlfriend plays). He assured me he was coming back for his senior season, no doubt, which was obviously true. I asked when he did get drafted, where he would like to play. He told me he loves cold weather and grew up a Packer fan. I asked him there was a decent chance the Browns could be in the Top 10, and he gave me a wink and said that wouldn't be too bad either.

By the way, the MNC Game will be back in Arizona again this year, so its pretty much a given my Bucks will be back there this year, just like the previous two title games in AZ.

GO BUCKSSSS WOOO!!!


PS- I think Iowa has a new QB now...pretty sure stanzi was a senior last year....i could be wrong tho...who knows

I wish we could get August over with is what I wish!

Hell No!


I love my football, it is what makes Winter tolerable. However, there is no way in hell I'll ever wish away my summer just so that football gets here sooner.

Aw phooey! I want some football!




Hmm.. Or at least sweep the yankees, but that notta lookin good now..

I like the schedule, a lot of things are going to shake out in the first couple weeks between some of the big teams..

On a side note I think you have UNC too high. I think they might have a top 10 defense but until they prove they can score some points, I just don't see them finishing that high.

so amped for football!!! go buckeyes!!!

as i read your list i notice it is devoid of wolverines...lol...another woeful year for the maize and blue...

I like their QB...it will be interesting to see if he progresses as a true soph

Other then that, I'm not sure of anyone else on the squad that hasn't graduated, quit the program, or transferred

I figure if I'm going out I might as well go out with a bang with my final post about something I love. Here are predictions for next year:

ACC:
Florida State 8-4(6-2)
Boston College 8-4(4-4)
Clemson 7-5(4-4)
NCSU 7-5(3-5)
Maryland 5-7(3-5)
Wake Forest 4-8(2-6)

Virginia Tech 11-1(7-1)
Miami 9-3(7-1)
North Carolina 10-2(6-2)
Georgia Tech 7-5(4-4)
Duke 3-9(1-7)
Virginia 3-9(1-7)

Championship: Virginia Tech def Florida State

Off POY:Russell Wilson QB NCSU
Def POY:Robert Quinn DE North Carolina
Breakout Player:Greg Reid CB/PR Florida State
Coach:Butch Davis North Carolina

Big East:
Pittsburgh 9-3(6-1)
West Virginia 9-3(5-2)
Cincinnati 8-4(5-2)
UCONN 8-4(4-3)
Rutgers 7-5(3-4)
SOuth Florida 6-6(3-4)
Syracuse 4-8(1-6)
Louisville 4-8(1-6)

Off POY:Noel Devine RB West Virginia
Def POY:Greg Romeous DE Pittsburgh
Breakout:Vidal Hazelton WR Cincinnati
Coach:Dave Wanstead Pittsburgh

Conference USA:
Central Florida 8-4(6-2)
Southern Miss 7-5(5-3)
Marshall 6-6(5-3)
East Carolina 4-8(4-4)
UAB 4-8(2-6)
Memphis 0-12(0-

Houston 10-2(8-0)
Tulsa 7-5(5-3)
SMU 6-6(5-3)
UTEP 6-6(4-4)
Rice 4-8(3-5)
Tulane 1-11(0-

Championship:Houston def Central Florida

Off POY:Case Keenum QB Houston
Def POY:Bruce Miller DE Central Florida
Breakout:GJ Kinney QB Tulsa
Coach:Kevin Sumlin Houston

Big 10:
Ohio State 11-1(7-1)
Iowa 10-2(6-2)
Wisconsin 10-2(6-2)
Penn State 9-3(6-2)
Michigan State 7-5(4-4)
Northwestern 7-5(3-5)
Purdue 6-6(3-5)
Michigan 6-6(3-5)
Illinois 5-7(3-5)
Indiana 6-6(2-6)
Minnesota 2-10(0-

Off POY:John Clay RB Wisconsin
Def POY:Adrian Clayborn DE Iowa
Breakout:Robert Marve QB Purdue
Coach:Jim Tressel Ohio State

Big 12:
Nebraska 11-1(7-1)
Colorado 7-5(5-3)
Missouri 8-4(4-4)
Kansas 5-7(2-6)
Kansas State 5-7(2-6)
Iowa State 3-9(1-7)

Oklahoma 12-0(8-0)
Texas 10-2(6-2)
Texas A&M 9-3(5-3)
Texas Tech 8-4(4-4)
Oklahoma State 6-6(2-6)
Baylor 5-7(2-6)

Championship:Nebraska def Oklahoma

Off POY:Landry Jones QB Oklahoma
Def POY:Travis Lewis LB Oklahoma
Breakout:Rodney Stewart RB Colorado
Coach:Bo Pelini Nebraska

MAC:
Temple 8-4(7-1)
Ohio 8-4(6-2)
Akron 6-6(5-3)
Bowling Green 5-7(4-4)
Kent State 5-7(3-5)
Buffalo 4-8(3-5)
Miami OH 2-10(2-6)

Northern Illinois 8-4(7-1)
Central Michigan 6-6(5-3)
Toledo 5-7(5-3)
Western Michigan 4-8(3-5)
Ball State 4-8(2-6)
Eastern Michigan 0-12(0-

Championship: Temple def Northern Illinois

Off POY:Bernard Pierce RB Temple
Def POY:Nick Bellore LB Central Michigan
Breakout:Patrick Nicely QB Akron
Coach:Jerry Hill Northern Illinois

Pac 10:
Oregon 10-2(7-2)
Oregon State 8-4(6-3)
USC 9-3(6-3)
California 8-4(5-4)
Stanford 8-4(5-4)
Washington 7-5(5-4)
UCLA 6-6(5-4)
Arizona 6-6(4-5)
Arizona State 4-8(1-8)
Washington State 1-11(0-9)

Off POY:Jacquizz Rodgers RB Oregon State
Def POY:Vantaze Burfict LB Arizona State
Breakout:Markeith Ambles WR USC
Coach:Chip Kelly Oregon

Independants:
Navy 10-2
Notre Dame 8-4
Army 6-6

Off POY:Ricky Dobbs QB Navy
Def POY:Manti Te'o LB Notre Dame
Breakout:Dayne Crist QB Notre Dame
Coach:Ken Niumatalolo Navy

WAC:
Boise State 10-2(8-0)
Fresno State 8-4(7-1)
Nevada 9-4(6-2)
Idaho 7-6(5-3)
Hawaii 6-7(3-5)
Louisiana Tech 4-8(3-5)
Utah State 4-8(3-5)
New Mexico State 1-11(1-7)
San Jose State 2-10(0-8)

Off POY:Kellen Moore QB Boise State
Def POY:Dontay Moch DE Nevada
Breakout:Nathan Enderle QB Idaho
Coach:Chris Peterson Boise State

SEC:
Florida 11-1(7-1)
Georgia 10-2(6-2)
South Carolina 7-5(4-4)
Tennessee 6-6(3-5)
Kentucky 5-7(1-7)
Vanderbilt 1-11(0-8)

Alabama 11-1(7-1)
Auburn 10-2(6-2)
LSU 8-4(5-3)
Arkansas 7-5(4-4)
Mississippi State 6-6(3-5)
Ole Miss 6-6(2-6)

Conference Championship: Alabama def Florida

Off POY:Ryan Mallet QB Arkansas
Def POY:Dont'a Hightower LB Alabama
Breakout:John Brantley QB FLorida
Coach:Gene Chizik Auburn

Mountain West:
TCU 12-0(8-0)
Utah 10-2(7-1)
Air Force 9-3(6-2)
BYU 7-5(5-3)
Wyoming 5-7(3-5)
Colorado State 4-8(3-5)
UNLV 2-11(2-6)
New Mexico 3-9(2-6)
San Diego State 4-8(1-7)

Off POY:Andy Dalton QB TCU
Def POY:Wayne Daniels DE TCU
Breakout:Jordan Wynn QB Utah
Coach:Gary Patterson TCU

Sun Belt:
MTSU 10-2(7-1)
Troy 7-5(6-2)
Florida Atlantic 6-6(6-2)
Florida International 5-7(5-3)
Louisiana-Lafayette 4-8(4-4)
Arkansas State 4-8(4-4)
Louisiana-Monroe 4-8(3-5)
North Texas 1-11(1-7)
Western Kentucky 0-12(0-8)

Off POY:Dwight Dasher QB MTSU
Def POY:Bryan Willis CB Troy
Breakout:Jeff Van Camp QB Florida Atlantic
Coach:Rick Stockstill MTSU


New Mexico:
Fresno State vs UTEP

Humanitarian:
Boise State vs Ohio

New Orleans:
SMU vs MTSU

St. Petersburg:
Southern Miss vs Rutgers

Las Vegas:
Washington vs Utah

Poinsettia:
Navy vs BYU

Hawaii:
UCF vs Nevada

Little Caesars:
USF vs Temple

Independence:
Air Force vs Georgia Tech

Champs Sports:
Miami vs Notre Dame

Insight:
Northwestern vs Texas Tech

EagleBank:
North Carolina State vs Marshall

Texas:
Purdue vs Colorado

Alamo:
Oregon State vs Texas A&M

Armed Forces:
Army vs Tulsa

Pinstripe:
UCONN vs Oklahoma State

Music City:
Boston College vs Tennessee

Holiday:
Missouri vs California

Meineke Car Care:
Clemson vs West Virginia

Sun:
Florida State vs Stanford

Liberty:
Houston vs Ole Miss

Chic Fil A:
North Carolina vs South Carolina

Dallas Football Classic:
Michigan vs Arizona

Outback:
Georgia vs Penn State

Capital One:
Auburn vs Wisconsin

Gator:
Arkansas vs Michigan State

GMAC:
Troy vs Northern Illinois

Cotton:
Texas vs LSU

Papa Johns:
Cincinnati vs Mississippi State

Kraft Fight Hunger:
UCLA vs Idaho

Rose:
Oregon vs Iowa

Fiesta:
Nebraska vs Pittsburgh

Orange:
Virginia Tech vs TCU

Sugar:
Florida vs Oklahoma

National Championship:
Alabama vs Ohio State


If Ohio State makes it to the national championship I will return. You can all debate and argue with it as you please however I won't respond.

No way we only go 5-7 this year. This is gonna be a good year for us.

8-4.

Beat Louisville, Western Kentucky, Akron, Ole Miss, Georgia, Charelston Southern, Vandy and Tennessee, I think.

We're not gonna be a bad football team this year,