Ranking the Pitt recruiting class

27. Ryan Winslow P Wnydmoor, PA. - It is not everyday you sign a punter to a scholarship, but Pitt did just that. Paul Chryst had the numbers to make this happen. Winslow is a big guy at 6-5 215, and did well in preseason camps. He very well could be a four year punter after redshirting this season.

26. Chris Blewitt K Alexandria, VA. - Blewitt has a name that just screams that he will miss a big kick at some point, but until then.....  Pitt needed a Kicker, and Blewitt may be able to compete for the job right away.

25. Jeremiah Taleni DT Kailua, HI. - Hawaii typically is not a Pitt recruiting area, but they walk away with a big defensive tackle. Taleni was lightly recruited, but still picked Pitt over Hawaii and Washington State. He is big at 6-2, 315. Pitt needs interior linemen, and this risk may be able to pay off.

24. Terrish Webb Ath Clairton, PA. - Terrish Webb is one part of the "Killer T's" from Clairton. Obviously the kid is a winner, and was a big part of three straight state championships in high school. Webb picked Pitt after initially committing to Kent State. He was not highly recruited, but the kid has very good athletic ability. They may try him at either corner or receiver.

23. Zach Poker LB Ocononiwic, WI. - Paul Chrust was able to go to his home state for this prospect. at 6-4 220, Poker would be a very big outside linebacker. He is a very bright kid, as he was accecpted into West Point. He was another lightly recruited player, but has lots of potential. It is worth it, simply so Paul Chryst has some ties back home.

Jaymar Parrish

22. Jaymar Parrish FB Monroeville, PA. - Parrish will come to Pitt as a Fullback. Obviously with a pro style attack, the Fullback plays an important role. Parrish has good hands, and good size. He can be an offensive threat, and not just a blocker. Gateway is an important school to have a connection with, and having some players on the roster is a good start. He picked Pitt over his only other offer, Akron.

21. Carson Baker OL Fairborn, OH. - Buffalo and Toledo were the only other offers for Carson Baker. He brings good size into the program, at 6-6 315. He is definitely a Paul Chryst style linemen. Pitt needed to add depth up front, and Baker should add to that.

20. Aaron Reese OL Chambersburg, PA. - Aaron Reese is another big linemen that should help improve and replinish the line depth. Reese is listed at 6-5 290, so he can fit the big linemen role. He did not receive any other offers other than Pitt, but he committed very early, so some teams backed off early.

19. Jester Weah WR Madison, WI. - Chryst went back home, and came back with a very intriguing prospect. Jester Weah barely had any offers, but seems to possess plenty of athletic ability. He is a 6-3 receiver with a solid vertical. This could be one hell of a steal by Chryst. Pitt needs receivers, and Weah could potentially work his way into playing time sooner rather than later at Pitt.

Zach Challingsworth

18. Zach Challingsworth WR McDonald, PA. - Challingsworth has been a great recruiter and ambassador of the recruiting class. He seems to be ready to play for his hometown team. He is  fast, and has good size. I think he is pretty underrated. Pitt got a talented player from right in their backyard. Again, the Wide Receiver depth is nothing special at Pitt, he could challenge to play soon.

17. Titus Howard CB Clairton, PA. - Part two of the "Killer T's" Titus Howard could be a good corner down the road. He needs to add bulk, but all the tools are there otherwise. Howard has the frame to put on the size, and being 6-2 could make him a tough CB in the future. He can lay the wood, so maybe a Safety down the road.

16. Tony Harper TE Toledo, OH. - Harper could be moved to Safety, but Pitt thinks they may have found a versatile H-Back. Harper may not be an every down tight end, but he can bring something else to the table. He selected Pitt over some MAC offers.

15. James Conner  RB Erie, PA. - Conner comes from McDowell High School in Erie. Most websites list James as a Defensive End, but he will get a chance to play Running Back at Pitt. Conner is a big guy at 6-2, 230 and he had a very good campaign as a rusher this past season. Pitt missed out on some other backs, but Conner could be more than just a fall back plan. His size makes him very intriguing.

14. Rachid Ibrahim S Gaithersburg, MD. - Ibrahim could end up being another steal by Paul Chryst. He chose Pitt over Boston College and Iowa. He should be an athletic member of the secondary, and could see some time after a redshirt this season.

13. Matt Galambos LB Havertown, PA. - Pitt added some very talented linebackers in the previous recruiting class, but Galambos could add some more young talent to the program. He will be an inside linebacker coming from the prestigious prep league in the Philadelphia area. He chose Pitt over Syracsue, Rutgers, Harvard, and Yale. So, yeah, he's a smart guy.

12. Luke Maclean DE Grand Blanc, MI. - Paul CHryst and his staff added another Midwestern kid, this time from Michigan. Maclean is 6-3 230. He will at least get a chance to see some time this season, because the defensive end spot is still rather thin. Maclean chose Pitt over Indiana, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, and Kansas.

Reggie Green

11. Reggie Green WR Cranford, NJ. - Pitt found a pretty good athlete from the Garden state. Green is a 6-3 200 athlete, that should get his first chance as a receiver. Despite his low ranking as a two star, he managed to get BCS level offers from Michigan State, NC State, Rutgers, and Boston College. Green is a little better than the amount of stars next to his name. I think he will be a good one for Pitt.

10. Tyrique Jarrett DT Pittsburgh, PA. - Jarrett is a big boy, 6-4 310. He hails from the Pittsburgh City League, but he is coming to Pitt after one season at Milford Academy of New York. Jarrett was originally committed last year, but never wavered from that verbal. He is already enrolled at Pitt, and will get a great chance to see some snaps this Spring.

9. Devon Edwards TE Columbus, OH. - It is always nice to step into the heart of Ohio, and pick up a quality player. Chryst is big on Tight Ends, and he sure is replenishing the position this class. Edwards is severely underrated as a two star, but holds offers from West Virginia, Nebraska, Purdue, NC State, and Kentucky. The offer sheet should be a more telling sign, than stars by the name. Edwards is a big guy at 6-5 240, and if Tight End doesn't work out, his size translates to Defensive End.

8. Justin Moody DE Philadelphia, PA. - Pitt was able to snag Justin Moody away from Rutgers and Syracuse. He is a tweener, in that, he could play interior line or end. He has good size, and played for a good George Washington HS team in Philadelphia. Moody will add depth, and should figure prominently into the future.

7. Alex Officer OG Rochester, NY - Officer is another big bodied linemen for the Panthers. He figures to be a Guard in college.Officer is a big presence at 6-4 320. Pitt needs to build that aspect up, and they were able to this recruiting class. Officer chose Pitt over Rutgers, Syracuse, UConn, Boston College, and Purdue.

6. Shakir Soto DE Wilkes Barre, PA - Shakir Soto is already enrolled at Pitt, and he could see the field this season. Soto has been a good ambassador for Pitt, and helped recruit some of his fellow classmates. Soto has good size, and he is a bright kid. He had offers from Virginia, Maryland, and Boston College, but opted for Pitt.

Jones-Smith

5. Jaryd Jones-Smith OT Philadelphia, PA. - Jones-Smith has not played football for very long, but he sure knows how to make an impression. He is a big 33 selction out of Philadelphia West Catholic. He is a giant, literally. 6-7 300. This is an excellent addition for Paul Chryst and his staff. He was a big win as he picked Pitt over fellow ACC program, Virginia. Jones-Smith also had offers from Michigan, Arizona, NC State, Wisconsin, and Vanderbilt. Philadelphia is a nice place to have some in roads, and Chryst landed a few of the bigger prospects from the area.

4. Scott Orndoff TE Pittsburgh, PA. - Scott Orndoff was the very first commitment of this class, and he was a good one. Orndoff picked Wisconsin very early in the process, but followed Chryst to Pitt. He had offers from Michigan, Michigan State, West Virginia, and Virginia. He is a big prospect at 6-6 245, and many believe he can play right away. Orndoff was not one of the absolute elite WPIAL players this season, but he was surely up there. It was a big signing for Pitt.

3. Tra'von Chapman QB Kent, OH. - Pitt was able to lock down a four star quarterback for the second consecutive season. Chapman is not a downfield gunner, but a very athletic QB. He can make plays on the run very well. Chapman is 6-2 200, so he is not a tiny player either. He picked Pitt over Arizona, Illinois, Northwestern, and Wisconsin. Chapman will likely redshirt, but he is enrolled early, and he is serious about competing this year. He is the type of player you would want in the program. He is the son of a coach as well, and very knowledgeable in the game.

Tyler Boyd

2. Tyler Boyd WR Clairton, PA. - Tyler Boyd gave Pitt quite the scare about switching schools, but stuck with the hometown Panthers. Boyd is a top 100 prospect, and was very highly sought after. He is the most important part of the "Killer T's" of CLiarton High School. He never lost a game at Clairton, and broke the all time touchdown mark in the WPIAL. Boyd is an absolute burner, and a game changer. He will play receiver at Pitt, but will see time in the return game, and may see snaps out of the backfield. He had offers ranging from the Big Ten, SEC, and Big 12. He was a national recruit, and a big plus for Pitt to keep him home.

1. Dorian Johnson OT Belle Vernon, PA. -  Way back when, Dorian Johnson pledged to Penn State, but the sanctions made him rethink that decision. Pitt beta out Ohio State and Virginia Tech for his services. Johnson played in the Under Armor All American game in Orlando and made quite an impression. He skyrocketed up the Rivals.com rankings, after frustrating one of the best recruits in the country. Johnson will get an opportunity to start right away. He certainly needs to bulk up, but Pitt's best recruit being an offensive linemen is tremendous.

College Football Preseason Top 25. Part Five.

DeAnthony Thomas

5. Oregon-It is a unique situation for a top 5 team to still be in a quarterback battle. Marcus Mariotta and Bryan Bennett are continuing to battle it out every single day.  Either one who wins the starting job will be walking into a powerful offense. Oregon is that one team outside the SEC, that has SEC speed. Kenyon Barner and DeAnthony Thomas are two quick little backs that will cause defenses to have fits. They can make plays in a variety of ways and will have Oregon's on warped speed all year long. The biggest issue with the Oregon defense is that it just has to be stable and in-shape. Oregon's offense scores at such a rapid pace, that the defense is on the field as much as any unit in the country. Dion Jordan is a hybrid end/linebacker that will be a very good player this season.  Oregon does not have the colossal opening game this season. They have a schedule that will allow them to break in a new quarterback and gain some confidence. The biggest game will be the November 3 date with USC in The Colosseum.

Sam Montgomery

4. LSU-LSU has a veteran offensive line. The Tigers have two experienced backs with Spencer Ware and Michael Ford. Zach Mettenberger will be the new quarterback. LSU proved last season that they do not need an outstanding quarterback, but just a game manager. The name of the game for the Bayou Bengals is the defense. LSU was the second rated defense in the country in 2011. They are missing some vital pieces from that unit. LSU will be breaking in two new cornerbacks with Morris Claiborne being drafted and Tyrann Mathieu being dismissed from the team. Sam Montgomery and Bennie Logan are All American candidates on the defensive line, and have been receiving plenty of preseason hype. Eric Reid is an experienced Safety, and he will be an All American candidate as well. They might not have the most experience, but LSU has arguably the best talent. This team will develop new stars, and they will be in the race towards the end.

Landry Jones

3. Oklahoma-The Sooners could be set to return to the national championship. Landry Jones is an All American quarterback, that will be in the Heisman running. Jones threw for over 4,000 yards last season. He will be throwing to Kenny Stills, who caught 61 passes last season. Oklahoma will also benefit from the transfer of Justin Brown, who came in lieu of the Penn State sanctions. The Sooner running game will be led the remarkable Dominique Whaley. Whaley is a former walk-on, that has set records in the Oklahoma weight room. The Defense returns seven starters, including all four members of the secondary. They were the number one rated scoring defense in the Big 12. That is an important stat, because everyone in the league scores at a high rate. The Sooners have a tough schedule, as does anyone in the Big 12. They will welcome Notre Dame to town in October in the middle of the Big 12 schedule.  They have the offensive firepower to outrun and outscore anybody they play. This team can make a run at a championship.

AJ McCarron

2. Alabama- The defending national champions will be right in the thick of that race again in 2012. They have all the talent in the world, as Nick Saban has been the top recruiter in the country for a few years now. The offense will be led by four returning linemen. Cyrus Kouandjio will eb the fifth starter on the unit, and he was a former top recruit. AJ McCarron will be back as the quarterback, and should be more comfortable running the show this time around.  The running game will be manned by Eddie Lacy, and true freshmen TJ Yeldon. The Alabama defense was the best in the country last season, but they will need to replace seven starters. The wonderful recruiting of Saban should offset those losses, but it will not be as good as last year. The schedule is tough once again. They start with Michigan in Arlington and play at Arkanasa two weeks later. They also get LSU on the road this season, so their three toughest games will not be in Tuscaloosa. They have the talent and coaching to overcome the obstacles.

Matt Barkley

1. USC-There is not a team in the country that can match the star power of the USC Trojans. They have All Americans all over the field, and they have the Heisman front-runner controlling the offense. Matt Barkley leads a group of eight returning offensive starters. The sure fire number one pick in next year's draft has all the tools to win the Heisman trophy. Robert Woods is arguably the best receiver in the country, and certainly one of the most productive. He will team up with Marquis Lee to form a lethal duo. The running game has two running backs coming off 1,000 yard seasons. Curtis McNeal will see plenty of touches, but Penn State transfer Silas Redd puts this offense over the top. Not to mention there are four linemen back from last year. The defense will be led by TJ McDonald, one of the best Safeties in the nation. Dion Bailey is already doing big things at inside linebacker.  This team has everything to win a National Championship. They get Oregon and Notre Dame in The Coliseum. The schedule is much more managable than anyone trying to come out of the SEC, and they have equal talent. USC is my pick to take home the National Championship trophy in 2012.

College Football Preseason Top 25. Part Four.

Geno Smith

10. West Virginia-West Virginia will have to adjust to the rigors of playing in the Big 12, luckily they have a pretty good team to do just that. The offense will be just as good, if not better, than any team in the high flying Big 12. Dana Holgorsen has a lot to do with WVU's offense being lethal, as he was a master coordinator for Oklahoma State. The offense starts with senior quarterback, Geno Smith.  Smith is a legitimate Heisman candidate after posting a 4,000 yard season in 2011. He has his two favorite targets with him again in Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin.  This team can score with anyone in the country. The defense is not quite as strong, but most Big 12 defenses are not strong. WVU's style matches well with the entire league, but do they have the horses to matchup week in and week out?  The schedule difficulty goes way up, I think the Mountaineers will be able to hold their own.

Tyler Wilson

9. Arkansas-Arkansas had its trouble in the offseason, not with a player, but Coach Bobby Petrino. Petrino has since been fired, and John L. Smith is back in the coaching game and finds himself in charge of a top ten program. The offense will be led by Tyler Wilson. Wilson is a senior quarterback that will be a Heisman candidate. Knile Davis was supposed to be a key player in 2011 at running back, but an injury forced him to miss the whole year.  Davis is back and appears to be healthy, and he should be among the better backs in the conference.  The defense has six starters back, but the defense was suspect last season. Alonzo Highsmith is a solid inside linebacker, and he will be the force on that side of the ball.  Arkansas has a very difficult schedule. They won every game on their schedule last season with the exception of Alabama and LSU. Those two teams will be the biggest challenges this season as well.

Braxton Miller

8. Ohio State- The Ohio State Buckeyes are not eligible to win the Big Ten or play in a bowl game, but as we saw with USC last year, teams under these circumstances can be very good. Ohio State will have a new coach, you might have heard of him....goes by the name of Urban Meyer.  The hiring of Meyer has everyone believing Ohio State will be a perennial championship contender year in and year out, and 2011 will be a good preview. Braxton Miller is a talented sophomore quarterback that has a chance to be very good under Meyer. Jordan Hall will be a valuable piece on offense this season, and will be getting the ball in a variety of ways. The defense is full of blue chip recruits, and with nine starters back they will be a strong unit. Meyer already has recruiting going way up for the Buckeyes, and the same effect Nick Saban had on Alabama is expected to happen in Columbus. The Buckeyes have tough conference road tests with Michigan State and Wisconsin, but they get to play spoiler and that should take off some pressure.

Brandon Jenkins

7. Florida State-Florida State has all the pieces to finally crack back into the national scene. They have 16 starters back and a favorable schedule. EJ Manuel is among the best quarterbacks in the country and is extremely valuable to the Seminole offense. The offensive line needs to do a better job all around, the running game finished 104th in the country in 2011. The defense is the real strength of this team. The unit finished 4th in the nation in 2011, and bring back nine starters. Brandon Jenkins is a big threat from defensive end. Lamarcus Joyner and Greg Reid have a ton of experience in the secondary.  The defense will need to play a big role again this season. EJ Manuel will hold things together on offense and the schedule could allow the Seminoles to be playing in a BCS Bowl.

Denard Robinson

6. Michigan-The most winningest program in college football history looks ready to be a national player again. The Rich Rodriguez era slowed things down a bit, but Brady Hoke has restored pride in Ann Arbor. Denard Robinson will be back for a Heisman campaign as the Wolverine quarterback. Robinson could be the most exciting player in football with exceptional running skills. He needs to improve as a passer for this offense to be lethal. Fitzgerald Touissant had an offseason DUI, but will be another solid running threat in the backfield after his successful 2011. Roy Roundtree will be Robinson's favorite target at receiver, and backup quarterback Devin Gardner will see the field one way or another.  The defense finally started playing like a Michigan defense. They finished 17th nationally after some embarrassing seasons. Hoke has things in Ann Arbor pointing in the right direction. They are recruiting as well as anyone right now, and the program should be top notch for years to come.  The schedule in 2012 is brutal, but Michigan has the talent to post a big year. Opening night against Alabama in Cowboys Stadium will be one of the games of the year.

College Football Preseason Top 25. Part Three.

Rex Burkhead

15. Nebraska-Nebraska had a respectable first season in the Big Ten, and now they will look to make a push for a conference championship. The Huskers have 14 returning starters, and some key players in important positions. Taylor Martinez is back at quarterback for his junior campaign. Martinez is an excellent runner that is improving his passing game. He will be joined in the backfield with underrated running back, Rex Burkhead.  Burkhead is a valuable player for Nebraska and is one of the better players in the conference. Kenny Bell is the top receiver back for Martinez. The Cornhuskers will be employing some new linemen, and it may take a while for the unit to gel. The patented "blackshirt" defense had a very average 2011 season. They bring back seven starters and should be better this time around. Cameron Meredith will be a big pass rushing threat on the defensive line. The schedule sets up nicely for the most part. They get Wisconsin and Michigan coming to Lincoln. Trips to Michigan State and Ohio State will be difficult. They have the talent to contend with anyone in the league, they need to prove it.

Marcus Lattimore

14. South Carolina-South Carolina is coming off an 11 win season, yet they failed to win the SEC East, and did not make a BCS Bowl. The SEC East will be very much attainable for the Gamecocks. They will be led by perhaps the best running back in the nation in Marcus Lattimore. Lattimore is returning from an injury, but he has all the tools when he is healthy. Connor Shaw takes the dubious task of playing quarterback for Steve Spurrier. That is often a tough position to hold, but Shaw showed signs of being pretty good in 2011. Th defense was among the nation's best in 2011, and will feature super sophomore, Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney came up with eight sacks as a true freshmen, and is expected to be a superstar. The schedule has the Gamecocks avoiding Alabama and Arkansas. They still have to play LSU, and of course the SEC East has plenty of skilled teams as well. South Carolina has the ability to win the SEC, they have recruited very well of late. South Carolina needs to get over the proverbial "hump" and get to a BCS game.

Logan Thomas

13. Virginia Tech-The strength for Virginia Tech rests with the defense. There will be right starters back for the Hokies, and they ranked 7th in total defense last season. James Gayle and J.R. Collins are two of the best defensive ends in the conference. Bruce Taylor is a tackling machine at Middle Linebacker, and Kyle Fuller is a stud cornerback. The defense will be among the nation's best, just as Frank Beamer would like it. The offense has only three starters returning.They at least have Logan Thomas back at quarterback. Thomas is rising up the charts as a draft prospect with his size and athleticism. He will need to have a monster season for the Hokies. Virginia Tech is one of the most consistent programs in the country, and they will be in the ACC race for this year and could be playing in the Orange Bowl once again.

Aaron Murray

12. Georgia-The Georgia Bulldogs may have all the pieces in place to be a championship contender. They have an experienced quarterback in Aaron Murray. Murray could be the best quarterback in the SEC after throwing 35 touchdowns last season.  They must find a new tailback, as Isaiah Crowell was dismissed from the team. Ken Malcome is expected to be the featured back. Tavarres King is back as Georgia's leading receiver, and should be poised for a big season as Murray's favorite target.   The defense returns ten starters from last year, and they should be among the SEC's best. Georgia should be set to compete with teams like LSU and Alabama. They are fortunate enough to not have Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas on the schedule. Georgia could make a run at a National Championship.

Montee Ball

11. Wisconsin-The Badgers have the easiest road to the Big Ten Championship as anyone.  Penn State and Ohio State are not eligible to play in the Big Ten Title game making Wisconsin the sure fire pick to win the Leaders Division.  The Badgers also have a pretty talented team that could have won it regardless of the sanctions. Montee Ball is one of the Heisman front runners. He is a do it all running back that could hear his name called at the Heisman ceremonies in December. Wisconsin will opt for another transfer quarterback after having great success with Russel Wilson. Danny O'Brien is the former Maryland quarterback that was the league's newcomer of the year a few season's back. He has a go to target in Jared Abbrederis, who caught 8 touchdowns last season.  The Badger defense has six starters returning and the unit will be among the conference's best. They have a trip to Nebraska is late September which could be difficult, but for the most part all their big games are in Madison.

College Football Preseason Top 25. Part Two.

Stepfan Taylor

20. Stanford-There is an obvious piece missing for Stanford in 2012. Andrew Luck has moved on, and it is time to see if Harbaugh and current coach, David Shaw have actually built a strong program.  The offense will now go with either Brett Nottingham or Josh Nunes at quarterback. The offense should be fine with either one, as it loaded with weapons. Stepfan Taylor is one of the better backs in the Pac 12 and should have another big season. The Cardinal have three of their linemen back as well. The defense returns seven starters from a solid unit last year. Chase Thomas is a senior linebacker that will be all over the field leading a strong linebacker unit. The team will be tested with USC in Week three. They get the Trojans at home, and Stanford Stadium will be rocking.

Casey Pachall

19. TCU-TCU will be playing its first season as a BCS level team, and they have a solid group for their first Big 12 campaign. The offense will be led by Casey Pachall. He had a solid season with 25 touchdowns and threw for just shy of 3,000 yards as he was trying to replace Andy Dalton. The running game is led by two seniors with experience in Matthew Tucker and Waymon James. The Horned Frogs will bring back a productive receiver with Josh Boyce, who caught 61 passes for 998 yards last year.  The trademark for TCU is often defense, and they have five starters back. The defensive line will be the strength, but they will have to turn to some younger guys in the secondary. TCU has been an elite team for some time, and they should run up a good record early on. They close out the year with Oklahoma State, West Virginia, and Texas on the road and Kansas State and Oklahoma at home. Those are the five other best teams in the league. It will be a the toughest stretch for any team in the country.

William Gholston

18. Michigan State-Mark Dantonio is building something special in East Lansing. The Spartans are turning into an annual threat to win the Big Ten and the consistency is building. The next step will be if they can without Kirk Cousins at quarterback. Andrew Maxwell will take over for Cousins and will try to keep things rolling. The running game is led by big Le'Veon Bell.  He is one of the more underrated backs in the country and is poised for a big year in my opinion. Many of the 2011 play makers have graduated, but the consensus is that new one are ready to step up. The strength for the Spartans will be defense. They finished top ten nationally last season, and return right starters. William Gholston is one of the premier defensive linemen in the country, and Denicos Allen is a stud linebacker.  Michigan State can jump up the poles if the offense proves itself early on. Michigan State will be hosting Boise State week one in a huge match up.

Sammy Watkins

17. Clemson-Clemson most overcome an embarrassing loss to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl to end last season. The Tigers were torched for 70 points in the season finale and bring back eight starters from that team. The defense will need to play better for Clemson to have any chance of winning the ACC for a second consecutive year. The offense does not need to tweak much of anything. The offense is a well oiled machine led by Heisman candidate Sammy Watkins. Watkins is a do everything receiver that took the country by storm as a freshmen. He is joined by DeAndre Hopkins and Jaron Brown at receiver and both players are dangerous as well. Taj Boyd is the quarterback, and he had an explosive 2011 season. He will be among the better quarterbacks in the country. Andre Ellington is a solid running back that is coming off a 1,000 yard season.  The offense will be lethal, and may have to win plenty of games with shootouts. Clemson opens up in big fashion with Clemson in Atlanta.

David Ash

16. Texas-It is odd to see, but Texas has been mediocre for two consecutive seasons. The Longhorns are looking to return to national prominence in 2012. The offense will be led by sophomore, David Ash.  Ash played some in 2011, and had mixed results. He will need to play well to fend off Case McCoy.  The Longhorns have a stable of top recruits in their running back depth chart. Joe Bergeron, Malcolm Brown, and true freshmen Jonathan Gray will all see touches. They will run behind a line with four returning starters. The defense is loaded with potential stars and highly rated recruits, it is just a matter of them living up to the hype. The schedule is tough, as the Big 12 is loaded this season. They see Oklahoma State, West Virginia, and Oklahoma in consecutive weeks early in the season. That stretch will dictate how the season will go for Texas.

College Football Preseason Top 25. Part One.

Teddy Bridgewater

25. Louisville-Louisville enters the 2012 season as the preseason favorites in the Big East. They are coming off a 7-6 2011 campaign, but expectations are higher this time arounf.  Louisville's offense starts with the talented quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. He is just a sophomore and played very well in his true freshmen campaign.  Dominique Brown will handle the running duties for the Cardinals coming off a 533 yard season.  The offense will rely heavily on Bridgewater and his play making ability. They have a host of young receivers that will need to step up for Bridgewater.  Then Defense was ranked 17th nationally in 2011 and they bring back six starters. The entire secondary is coming back, and they are led by Hakeem Smith.  The Cardinals hold a favorable schedule and could post ten wins. The Big East is often unpredictable and a title contender could emerge. Pitt and South Florida figure to be the top candidates to take down Louisville.

Cierre Wood

24. Notre Dame-Notre Dame is becoming more and more unpredictable as each year passes. Brian Kelly has done alright in his first two seasons, but 2012 will be big for his future career in South Bend.  The Fighting Irish could realistically lose seven games this season, but they could win ten games, too. Michigan State, Michigan, Stanford, Miami,Oklahoma, and USC are not easy games. Pitt and Navy could be tough games also. Basically, they have very few sure wins. The Irish will need to establish a solid offense. Tommy Rees was supposed to be the quarterback, but some questionable off season decisions leave that in doubt. Andrew Hendrix and Everett Golson will be in the race to take the full time job.  Notre Dame has some good weapons on offense to aid the quarterbacks. Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick are two reliable backs, and Tyler Effert could be the best tight end in the country. The defense will be anchored by senior, Manti Te'o, and it will figure to be a strong unit this year. This season can go two ways for Notre Dame and it could decide Brian Kelly's fate.

DJ Harper

23. Boise State-The program is in place for Boise State to overcome all the personnel losses. The Broncos return just seven starters, but a new crop of stars will be ready to take over the Boise State tradition. DJ Harper will figure to be the star of the offense. The senior tailback scored nine touchdowns last season and has been a part of many wins. The new quarterback will have the benefit of three returning offensive linemen. Joe Southwick is expected to land the job and has big shoes to fill with Kellen Moore graduating. Jamar Taylor is a senior cornerback and is the only returning starter for Boise State on defense. Chris Petersen has maintained and even raised expectations for Boise State. They always have double digit wins and they score a lot of points. That will be the same model moving forward and the schedule sets up for a potential ten win season. The opening game with Michigan State on the road will be interesting to see where Boise State is as a program.

Keith Price 

22. Washington-Washington has a special quarterback. Keith Price is coming off a 33 touchdown season and played toe to toe with Robert Griffin III in the Alamo Bowl, as he led the Huskies to 56 points. He will be back for his junior season and will look to light up the Pac 12. Austin Seferian-Jenkins is his leading receiver from the Tight End spot, and he will be a big part of the offense again this season. Three offensive linemen will pave the way for a new running back. Jesse Callier and Bishop Sankey will get the bulk of the carries. The defense is on the hot seat after giving up 67 points to Baylor to end last season. They will need to get better for Washington to make a run at a Pac 12 crown.  The offense can win this team plenty of games, and football in the state of Washington is back after a few rough seasons.

Joseph Randle

21. Oklahoma State-Oklahoma State is coming off their best season in school history. The Cowboys went 12-1 and were oh so close to playing for a National Championship. Wes Lunt is a redshirt freshmen that will look to replace Brandon Weeden at quarterback.  Lunt was a heralded recruit and will have to keep the high flying offense rolling.  His job will be easier with running back, Joseph Randle. He is coming off a 24 touchdown season. The Cowboys lose an almost irreplaceable receiver in Justin Blackmon, but seniors Isaiah Anderson and Tracy Moore both started alongside the All American last season.  The defense brings back eight starters and it figures to have a better 2012 campaign. The schedule favors Okie State as they only have one tough road game in Oklahoma. They get Texas, TCU, and West Virginia at home.

Camp Davis Pays It's Hos and You Should Too [Guest Post]

The near-death of Miami football is a nasty omen for people with heavy investments in college football. But to me, it meant little or nothing.

The method of football operation at Carnegie Mellon was like a friendly, thirsty bouncer in one of New York's most exclusive night clubs. He'll get you in-- but the rest is up to you. And if you could bring him a beer every twenty minutes-- that would be great. Naturally, I spent all my money on over-priced drinks and things and never saw that poor bouncer again.

The University of Miami, though is different. It's a place where pimps thrive and NO ONE eats the complimentary buffet. The metaphor is this:

A vulnerable young girl pays a "club-owner" $100/night for the right to dance at a club. The club then charges a $20 cover to ravenous beasts for the right to come throw their money at the girls. The girls work hard to earn their money back and keep the slight remainder. The pimp is collecting cash all night, so, naturally, he pays no taxes. But the pimp is righteous, and condemns prostitution.

As luck would have it, I know such a "club-owner".

It was 3:30 on a dark Tuesday morning when I heard the phone ring on his personal line in New Jersey. "Too late?" I thought. No, never too late for capitalists or narcoleptics.

The phone rings three times and then:

SIMON:  Hello?
BRAD:   Hi, Simon it's Brad
SIMON:  Ahh, Brad -- you ravenous beast. What can I do for you?
BRAD:  Are you ready for a powerful idea? I wanted to warn you about a crazed sensation that's sweeping the country. It's called THE INTERNET-- and it's threatening to put you out of business...
SIMON:  The internet?
BRAD:  Yes, it's this new phenomenon that's popular with the kids. It lets you see all types of naked women at any time, from anywhere.... for free.
SIMON:   FREEE?!?
BRAD:  Yes, free. But I have an idea...
SIMON:  Well... go on.
BRAD:  Now, Simon what do men like more than anything in the world?
SIMON:   Umm.... Pasta? No, Cannolis.. No, No-- FOOTBALL!!
BRAD:  No, Simon. What men like more than anything in the world is having sex with little girls.
SIMON: OF COURSE!
BRAD:  Now Simon, What do girls like more than anything in the world?
SIMON:  Backhands!
BRAD:  No, Simon. What girls like more than anything in the world is money.
SIMON:   Ahh... precisely. I see where you're going with this...
BRAD:  You do?
SIMON:   Sure, what we need to do is create an internet strip club. So people can pay us ANY TIME FROM ANYWHERE!
BRAD:  Genius. But I was thinking more along the lines of letting men pay your girls to have sex with them. And then splitting the money in exchange for long-term stability and protection.

BRAD: Simon? Hello-- Simon??

SIMON: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR GODDAMNED MIND? You want me to pay MY CUTSOMERS?!? Do you even have the slightest fucking clue as to the implications of what you're suggesting? This is a goddamned institution of the goddmaned arts, and you want me to turn it into some 'revenue-sharing', 'stability-having', 'emancipation-proclamating' socialist dictatorship? Well, fuck you, Brad. Fuck you very much.

[Click]

At this, I felt ashamed or flustered. So I punished myself by drinking Vladimir Vodka and listening to local radio.... Maybe Simon was right though. Maybe it was wrong to pay strippers, especially if profiting profusely. And although I didn't feel it now, perhaps my college degree did make me better than everyone else-- especially if I'll be smothered in debt for the next 17-20 years. But so what? It's was time to focus on life's more meaningful pursuits. It was time to become a professional baseball player or plumber or something hip.

It was time to start a football farm league. To give kids the choice in the tag-team match between no-pay and degree vs. pay and trade-skill. It was time for a competitive (Eurpoean) alternative to college football, where teams could train future-professionals in their systems and sell their developed players to the highest bidders when the time was right. It was time to admit that money does not inherently breed corruption-- and if used without manipulation, breeds clarity. It was time to tell shitty players they were shitty. And not with the passive-aggressive, my $20 almuni-handshake was better than your $5 alumni-handshake bullshit. It was time to admit that no one gives a fuck about the University of Miami. That people came to see Ed Reed, Andre Johnson, Ray Lewis, and Ken Dorsey. It was time to admit that Ken Dorsey was shitty, too.

And so, without further adue, it brings me great pleasure today to announce the grand opening of two new football youth academies. The first will be located in Miami, Florida-- and will operate under the Miami Dolphins administration. The other, dubbed "Camp Davis" will be located in Oakland, California. Here, accepeted students will learn a trade during the day, and train with world-class coaches and athletes during the night. While the schools accept no external individual applications, they employ some of the nation's top football scouts. All players who meet the qualifications will be paid a yearly salary of $30,000/year while receiving tution-free training at local trade schools. "We see it as a paradigm shift in youth sport," said Al Davis, "because at the end of day it's about having a choice to pursue your path in life. And if you want to be a professional athlete, we believe we've created the best possible path."