Breaking the mold | by Pat

Most pre-season football articles follow a familiar pattern. There are the stories about the senior primed for his last shot, the backup looking to finally crack the starting lineup, the prized freshman looking to make an instant impact, etc... It's rather predictable.

Every now and again though, a new one comes along that breaks the mold of what you expect.

Yes, you heard that right. Ben Turk, the 5-foot-11, 193-pound newcomer – the punter, of all people – did twenty-six reps with 225 pounds on the bench.

Twenty-six. That’s not a typo.

“He’s a freak,” said freshman long snapper Jordan Cowart, who was also a teammate of Turk’s at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “He’ll out-bench anybody on the team. They call him 225. He’s got the nickname 225. So yeah, he’s just a freak.”

Just how freaky? Turk’s 26 reps would’ve ranked first at this year’s NFL Combine among specialists, cornerbacks and quarterbacks. He was one short of the leading wide receiver and two back of the best tight end. In fact, Turk would’ve been above the median at every position – even tying for 20th among 50 offensive lineman.

Among those who came up short of the Turk Line were USC standouts Fili Moala (25) and Rey Maualuga (23), as well as Ohio State stars Beanie Wells (25) and James Laurinaitis (22).

Yep, this is the first pre-season "freshman punter is a bench press savant" article. What does it mean for Turk's punting prospects? Probably nothing. If he pushes Maust for playing time in 2009 it will be due to his accuracy and hang-time as a punter, not his bench press. Either way, it was fun to read a pre-season article that didn't go quite according to the usual script.

A&P | by Jay

John Updike passed away early this year, and I thought of his short story, A&P, and stole it for the title of this post. There's absolutely nothing else connecting the two other than those two letters. I don't know if it works, but as Sammy says, it seems to me that once you begin a gesture it's fatal not to go through with it.

The preseason AP Poll came out this morning and it's pretty close to the Coaches', with the top seven teams perfectly identical. In fact, both polls include 24 of the same teams in their top 24, and in roughly the same order. (The Coaches picked Oregon State #25, while the AP has Kansas in the last slot). The Irish are #23 in both.

Hot on the heels of the first AP Poll, as usual, is our annual Pick Six contest. By now you know the drill: we divide the top 25 into five groups of 5; you pick one from each group, plus one team from the pool of the unranked. The goal is to predict which teams out of each group will be the highest ranked at the end of the season.

Sporadically during the season, we'll re-rank the field according to weekly AP poll. The #1 team gets 25 points, #2 gets 24, and so on to the 25th team, who gets 1 point. Your point total is the sum points of the six teams you picked at the beginning of the season. Make sense? Good. (For an example, see the link to last year's score sheet, here.) Typically, the winners have coasted to victory on the shoulders of that "unranked" selection (see Utah, last year) so consider your choice for that slot wisely!

And the best thing about the contest? It don't cost nuthin', and you may end up winning something like this.

Enter the 2009 Pick Six

Go ahead and plug in your picks, and after a few days we'll get the score sheet going. Thanks for playing!

P.S. If you are "Beekfather", please email us! We need to send you your prize for winning last year's contest.

Impound It | by Jay

For easy reference, all in one place: here's the full index for the Impound It series, a review of the Irish rushing attack from 2005-08.

• the Toss • the Jab • the Draw • the Sprint

• the Ride • the Look & Swing • Missing Pieces

Missing Pieces? | by Michael

Putting the Impound It series together generated some interesting food for thought in the BGS lab on the Irish offense: both in terms what the offense includes, and what it's missing.

Every Irish team since 2005 has tried to measure up to that inaugural Weis offense, a prolific attack that broke records by the boatload. 2006 was a less perfect facsimile of that first year, and 2007, as we know, was a disaster. But after hitting rock bottom in 2007, last year's offense began to exhibit some promising echoes of those Quinn and Walker offenses of Weis's first two years.

Echoes, yes, but not quite bona fide. A roster of inexperienced talent still hindered the offense, but at the same time, some essential, complementary plays were simply missing in action. This post is our end note to the Impound It series, and features some creative speculation on our part on five wrinkles that Charlie might introduce (or re-introduce) to the call sheet.

1. Yes, Virginia, There is a Fullback
What was the point of moving James Aldridge to fullback if not to utilize his strengths as a ball carrier? With Aldridge lined up in front of Armando Allen or Robert Hughes, defenses have to account for him, as opposed to their strategy of ignoring Asaph Schwapp, who touched the ball just three times in 2008. Mixing in a fullback once in a while is akin to a veteran pitcher adding another pitch to his repertoire. The fullback dive can operate as either a change-up or a fastball depending if it's first down or short yardage, and the double screen is like a sharp curveball.



2. Sprint Ahead
If an offense is going to rely heavily on Sprint runs, like the Irish did last year, then they better have a complementary play-action pass to keep the safeties at bay. Fear must exist in the safeties' minds that the quarterback just might pull back that ball, drop back a few steps, and fire it downfield to an open receiver. Unfortunately, last year the Irish offense didn't seem to have this play in its arsenal. The Irish ran outside zone after outside zone (88 times to be exact) and not once made the safeties pay with a deep pass. Not only can the play produce big gains, but even when it falls incomplete, the safeties are that much more hesitant the next time one of the Sprint runs is called.



3. Four of a Kind
Plays that look identical but can hurt the defense in multiple ways are ideal; with a run and its play-action counterpart, as above, the defense will have to think twice before selling out. This next play has the ability to attack a defense in four distinct ways. From a two-tight end, balanced formation, one of the receivers motions toward the formation and then, upon the snap of the ball, moves toward the backfield. From there, the play has several possibilities:

• a Halfback dive while the defense waits to see if the receiver in motion receives the ball;
• Fake the dive, hand the ball off to a receiver on an end-around;
• Fake the end-around, throw the deep post to second receiver; and,
• Fake the end-around, throw back to that same receiver in the flat

Irish fans are most familiar with the dive and the end-around, but a few times in 2005 and 2006 the Irish utilized the latter two aspects of this play. Essential to this play is the ability to protect the quarterback, which is why it has hibernated for the last two years. But the benefits of this playset are obvious, and while many believe that "take what the defense gives you" is a passive concept, this play suggests otherwise.



4. Cross it Off
The inability to protect the quarterback has proven a major obstacle in returning to the offensive dominance seen in 2005 and 2006. Another concrete example of that dominance was the deep crossing route, which has been fairly non-existent in the Jimmy Clausen era. Only three times did I seen the route last season, twice against USC and once against Hawaii, but on all three plays the pass to the deep crossing route was not even attempted. In this play from the Hawaii Bowl, watch Mike Floyd (though it's nearly impossible to keep your eyes off Clausen's spectacular throw to Golden Tate in the endzone). The route that Floyd ran was a deep crossing route, and it was a staple of the 2005 offense.

A longer-developing play, the deep cross utilizes play action most of the time, which makes it a perfect complement to the running game. In 2005, Quinn completed ten of eleven deep crosses for a whopping 293 yards, which comes to 26.6 yards per pass attempt. The following year only two of seven attempts were completed, for 47 yards. The deep cross should have big-play capability if the protection is there, and if Clausen's pocket presence has improved. As you'll see in the clips below, Quinn's ability to move in the pocket enabled him the extra time to complete some of these passes. By contrast, the two attempts by Clausen against the Trojans never really had a chance with the pocket collapsing.



5. Snap, Crackle, and Pop
The last play in this brainstorming session, the Pop-Out, has been used occasionally the last two years, but it just hasn't been executed well. When it worked in 05-06, it was almost always the same; Quinn would fake the run hard, Samardzija would simultaneously set up for a block and then "pop" out at the last moment, where he'd make the easy grab for six points. Samardzija made it famous by catching nine touchdowns on this play alone.

Although it typically incorporates a Sprint fake, sometimes there's a Ride fake (inside run). Three times the Pop-Out was called in 2008, and it only worked once. Kyle Rudolph was on the receiving end of this play twice, and the other time it resulted in an interception, which is the last thing an offense needs inside the ten-yard line. As a complement to a legitimate red zone running threat, this play should resurface as the perfect antidote to a hard-charging defensive front.

Impound It - The Look and Swing | by Michael

The coaching staff signals in the play, and you look at your wristband and call out the formation and play in the huddle-- a strongside draw to the boundary. As you step under center to receive the snap, you observe that your opponent's safeties appear to be in a Cover 2 shell. The field corner is pressing your outside receiver and has inside leverage. And no one is within ten yards of your slot receiver.

• If you want to run the draw play, turn to page 4
• If you would rather throw a quick swing pass to your slot receiver, turn to page 5

This is the basic concept behind the Look and Swing passes, options for the quarterback on some (but certainly not all) running plays. The quarterback can hand off the ball to the back, or he'll have one of two choices available to him (but never both). The first is the Look pass, where a lone receiver will simply turn to the quarterback and await the ball. The second is the Swing pass, where a slot receiver will slide toward the sideline, catch the ball, and use the block of the outside receiver to head upfield. Meanwhile, the offensive line still blocks the original running play.

Although these passes are not technically runs except when the ball is thrown backwards, they are still included in the Impound It series because of how they complement the running game. It's truly a "take what the defense gives you" concept because of how the play forces the defense to account for every offensive player (save the quarterback). Some fans would prefer that the Irish stick to the original play and run the football, but it's hard to argue with a concept that averages over 5 yards per attempt and has a median of 6 yards during the 2005, 2006, and 2008 seasons. In all likelihood, fans would probably be more receptive to the play if the rest of the rushing offense didn't put up such putrid numbers.

Year	Comp	Att	Yards	Avg	Median
2005	34	37	250	6.8	6
2006	41	43	250	5.8	6
2008	22	25	130	5.2	6

The numbers declined a bit over the years, but a big reason for that is the production from the X receiver position. The X receiver is the split end. He's typically aligned on the line of scrimmage down from the left tackle. In 2005, Maurice Stovall caught 12 look passes; seven of those went for 11+ yards. The following year, Rhema McKnight was thrown eight and caught seven, though the longest was just ten yards. Last year's X receiver, Golden Tate, was rarely thrown the ball in the same situation. He caught four of four for 27 yards. Meanwhile, the other six occurrences all took place when the Irish were trying to run out the clock in the fourth quarter.

Otherwise, Mike Floyd was thrown two look passes, catching one for one yard against Michigan State. The majority of these plays went the swing pass route, where David Grimes or Duval Kamara would catch a swing pass and turn it upfield. Grimes caught nine balls for 47 yards, and Kamara caught seven for 37 yards.

The number of attempts is intriguing because it suggests one of several scenarios. Did a "Pound It" philosophy mean that Jimmy Clausen wasn't given the choice of having a built-in Look or Swing pass? Or were the plays not built in because of his relative inexperience? Did defenses play tighter on the receivers so that Clausen felt the running play was the better option? Or perhaps, were the plays available to Clausen, and he simply chose to hand the ball off instead?

Why the Irish failed to use the Look/Swing pass from Regular personnel (2 RBs, 2 WRs, 1 TE) is also mysterious. Take a look at the ratio of runs to look passes over the years (starters only, no back-ups):

Year	Rushes	YPC	Look Passes	YPA	% Look
2005	84	4.6	13	5.6	13%
2006	51	3.7	8	5.5	14%
2008	97	3.8	4	4.3	4%

It's almost as if a big chunk of the playbook was missing in 2008. Also consider that Tate and Floyd were never on the same side of a formation from Regular. Contrast that with 20% of the time for Stovall and Samardzija in 2005 and 28% for McKnight and Samardzija in 2006. Was this due to the inexperience of the young receivers? How much did it hurt overall to be so less dynamic and diverse than previous versions of the offense?

So as you watch these highlights from 2005 and 2006, focus first on the formations and personnel groupings. How often did you see these formations in 2008? And can you envision them in 2009 with Floyd and Tate taking over for McKnight, Stovall, and Samardzija?



Love 'em or hate 'em, history proves that the Look/Swing passes can be quite effective. Paired with an improved running game, these options become just another facet that a defensive coordinator must think about in preparation for playing Notre Dame.

Just the Links, ma'am | by Jay

Like you, I've been reading all the reports and watching the video clips from practice over the past week from a variety of news sources. Many of the media sites have an index or summary page, and I find that that's what I've been bookmarking. Here's my daily "hit list" of links for practice coverage. These will take you not to the front page of the sites, but rather a stripped-down index page for easy reference.

• UND.com football news wire

• Irish Sports Daily story index (ISD)

• Irish Illustrated (Rivals) story index

• Irish Illustrated (Rivals) Video index

• Blue & Gold story links

• Scout story links

If you have any others to suggest, please leave them in the comments.

---

I've also been jotting a few notes on what I've seen and heard so far; obviously, a lot of the reports are full of fluff and filler ("During the stretches, Olsen stretched his right leg out...and then his left..."), and you get your share of rosy outlooks ("Riddick looks like a young Reggie Bush out there"), but every day there are at least a few nuggets of interest to uncover.

Here's one. In Charlie's presser on Friday, he talked about how current players on the roster are involved in the recruiting process. I'd never heard him describe this aspect of recruiting much, and it was illuminating to hear how integral the current players are, and how they help to shape the next class.

Q: How vital are the [current] players, especially in the summer, to the recruiting process?

Charlie Weis: I say to anyone who visits here when they're on campus, the number one reason why they'll end up coming here is because of our players [already on the team]. We don't ever tell the players what to say. We just say [to the recruits], 'Go ask 'em.' To a man, you can ask anyone who ever goes on a visit here, usually the greatest impression is made -- more than the coaching staff, more than the lady on the Dome, more than academic support, more than walking around on game day -- it's the players. It's the camaraderie, and how they feel around the players. Ninety percent of the time, that's the [greatest impression].

Q: When Justin Tuck was here, he seemed to host a lot of recruits. Are there guys who seem to do better in that role than others?

Weis: Well, we try to match personalities. It depends on the guy coming in here. Some guys come in who want to hang out in the dorms, and play video games. Well, we have some guys who think they are video game gurus [laughs]. We have other guys who want to see the town. We have those guys too. It's important to match up personalities...it's part of your due diligence when you study a recruit. What's the kid like? And you want to surround them with kids who are similar to them.

Q: Is there then a debriefing? Do you get together with your players after the visit?

Weis: I only really talk to them if there's a problem. If they go out on a Saturday night and it's not the type of kid we're looking for, they immediately get ahold of us and tell us. And we're out of it. We're done. So if a kid comes here on a visit, and our players come back and say hey, we had curfew, and the kid wouldn't go back, or something like that, well, we're out. We say thank you for the visit, and we're moving on.

You have to give your players a voice. We're holding them accountable, well then they have to hold me accountable. If someone's not going to fit what we're looking for at Notre Dame, then we're going to have to go in another direction.

Q: How often does that happen?

Weis: Seldom. But it certainly has happened. There are times where everyone says, "Well, Notre Dame lost that guy..." You're right, we lost him, but we lost him for the right reason. Seldom, but it does happen.

Super Savers | by Jay

We had sparser participation in this year's ticket lottery poll, but that's our fault for waiting a few weeks after the results were announced. Still, we had around 750 entries (after filtering for shenanigans), so it's a pretty good spread. Here are the results.

Game	All Apps			Regular Alum			Sorin Society			Monogram
	req	won	rate	req	won	rate	req	won	rate	req	won	rate
Nevada	658	647	98%	368	359	98%	237	235	99%	53	53	100%
@ Michigan	222	86	39%	130	40	31%	76	38	50%	16	8	50%
Michigan State	884	796	90%	494	408	83%	327	325	99%	63	63	100%
@ Purdue	82	75	91%	48	41	85%	26	26	100%	8	8	100%
Washington	544	536	99%	282	274	97%	215	215	100%	47	47	100%
Southern Cal	1150	686	60%	635	227	36%	428	374	87%	87	85	98%
Boston College	808	764	95%	432	392	91%	305	301	99%	71	71	100%
Wash. State (@ SA)	230	226	98%	144	140	97%	70	70	100%	16	16	100%
Navy	582	576	99%	282	276	98%	262	262	100%	38	38	100%
@ Pittsburgh	211	99	47%	119	53	45%	74	36	49%	18	10	56%
Connecticut	372	364	98%	159	153	96%	171	169	99%	42	42	100%
@ Stanford	94	92	98%	50	48	96%	34	34	100%	10	10	100%

It should be obvious to anyone browsing this table, but I'll spell it out: win rates were way up this year, with only Southern Cal falling below a 90% win rate for home games. In the three years we've done the poll, these are the highest win rates we've ever seen, including following the lackluster 2007 season. (Earlier polls available here: 2006, 2007, 2008). Last year, only one home game hit the 90% mark (Syracuse), while even less star-studded games were a tough ticket (Stanford, just 14%). This year, six of the seven home games were up over 90%, with Nevada, Washington, Navy, and Connecticut being damned near guaranteed admission, just for asking. Two years ago, the Southern Cal win rate was a measly 4%; this year, it's up to 60%.

And with the win rates being so high, it's safe to say that demand in this year's lottery was way, way down. In fact, we had more than a few comments from people submitting blank entries, with explanations that no application was sent this year.

What's the reason? The economy? Lack of disposable cash on hand this year? Or diminished expectations for the Irish, and a crummy slate of home games to boot? Probably a little of each.

2009 Opponent Position Preview: Wide Receivers | by Kevin

Kevin here chipping in as we move from quarterbacks to running backs to wide receivers...

A quick note: in these previews, the third receiver will usually have no "Returning/New Starter" designation, because, depending on the offense and formation, the third receiver still may not be fairly considered a "starter."

Also, we forgot to mention this in previous articles, but the number in parenthesis after a player's name, if there is one, is where he's ranked in Phil Steele's position preview. The total number of players ranked by Steele for each position varies so some will have more than others. For receivers he ranked 72 of them.

NEVADA

Chris Wellington (#68). Junior. Returning Starter.
2008 Stats: 42 receptions, 632 yards, 6 TDs.
Tray Session. Sophomore. New Starter.
2008 Stats: 1 reception, 6 yards, 0 TDs.
Brandon Wimberly. RS Freshman.
2008 Stats: N/A

Though Nevada analyses normally start with their unique Pistol formation and the Wolfpack's prolific running attack, the passing game hasn't been bad, either. Now-departed receiver Marko Mitchell was second in the WAC with 1,117 receiving yards last year. This season, Nevada must replace both Mitchell and last year's #3 receiver, Mike McCoy. Chris Wellington, a junior, will step into the #1 role. Wellington had seven touchdown catches last season, and six games with 60 or more yards receiving (including three consecutive games in November), but this unit is not particularly deep. The only other returning receiver with past statistics worth noting is Arthur King, who posted 292 yards last season. Speedy Juco transfer Maurice Patterson may line up in the slot; Junior split end Malcolm Shepherd and redshirt freshman Brandon Wimberly round out the Wolfpack receiving corp. While Nevada still has some weapons, the losses of Mitchell and McCoy leave the team less experienced and likely not as dangerous as it was last year.

MICHIGAN

Greg Mathews (#18). Senior. Returning Starter.
2008 Stats: 35 receptions, 409 yards, 2 TDs.
Martavious Odoms. Sophomore. Returning Starter.
2008 Stats: 49 receptions, 443 yards, 0 TDs.
Darryl Stonum. Sophomore. Returning Starter.
2008 Stats: 14 receptions, 176 yards, 1 TD.

Michigan's offensive struggles last year took a toll on their speedy young receivers, but most of them return for a second season under Rich Rodriguez. Pahokee, FL native Odoms, a quick player able to create yards after the catch, appeared at times to be a good fit in the spread option passing attack. Veteran Greg Mathews saw a slight dip in his production last year, but the big target (6'3", 210 pounds) should continue to pose a threat in the red zone. Junior Hemingway will likely back up Mathews at split end; Senior LaTerryal Savoy and freshman Roy Roundtree may also compete for action. The statistic that jumped out at me when reviewing these receivers was the dearth of touchdown catches. Mathews led all receivers with two touchdown grabs (running back Brandon Minor also had two). Additionally, only Mathews and Odoms surpassed the modest 400-yard receiving bar. One relevant quality not seen in the statistics: blocking ability. Receivers in the spread option must be able to block, or the attack will have trouble gaining the critical vertical yards that follow horizontal passes, pitches, and rushes. Michigan will likely need more balance and more passing game production to improve this season; although they will introduce another new quarterback (or two), the return of their top three receivers back should help the Wolverine air attack.

MICHIGAN STATE

Blair White. Senior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 43 receptions, 659 yards, 1 TD.
Mark Dell. (#19) Junior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 36 receptions, 679 yards, 3 TDs.
B.J. Cunningham. Sophomore. Returning Starter.

2008 stats: 41 receptions, 528 yards, 0 TDs.

Michigan State will field one of the more experienced receiving groups Notre Dame will face this season. Virtually every receiver (save Deon Curry, who had five receptions last year) is back, including Second Team All-Big Ten receiver Blair White and junior Mark Dell, who caught four passes for 80 yards against the Irish in 2008. Though the loss of Javon Ringer could produce a running back-by-committee approach, new starters Kirk Cousins or Keith Nichol may at least feel comfortable relying on their veteran receivers. This is not a team that has thrown for many touchdowns; Brian Hoyer threw nine touchdown passes in all of 2008, just four more than Jimmy Clausen completed in the Hawaii Bowl. However, this big, experienced group may be called upon to shoulder more of the offensive attack than in Mark Dantonio's first two seasons in East Lansing. Sophomores B.J. Cunningham and Keshawn Martin will provide even more depth behind the veteran starters.

PURDUE

Keith Smith. Junior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 49 receptions, 486 yards, 2 TDs
Aaron Valentin. Senior. New Starter.
2008 stats: 11 receptions, 224 yards, 2 TDs.
Royce Adams. Senior. New Starter.
2008 stats: converted cornerback

Purdue could be in for a rough season -- not only is top passer Curtis Painter gone, but so, too, are leading receivers Desmond Tardy (876 yards, five touchdowns) and Greg Orton (720 yards, 5 TDs). Junior Keith Smith is back; both he and tight end Kyle Adams must be reliable targets for new starting quarterback Joey Elliott if the Boilermaker passing game is to get off the ground. Purdue may also try to throw to running back Jaycen Taylor, although Taylor is a different type of player than was all-purpose back Kory Sheets (12 receptions for 253 yards and a touchdown last season). One or both of converted cornerback Royce Adams or Aaron Valentin will need to step into the void left by Orton and Tardy if the Boilers are to continue the passing success of the past decade. JUCO transfer Keith Carlos is also a potential instant contributor. Of course, that assumes new coach Danny Hope intends to continue playing basketball on grass. Reports from West Lafayette indicate Hope may seek to implement a more "balanced" offense, with greater emphasis on the running game.

Washington

D'Andre Goodwin. Junior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 60 receptions, 692 yards, 1 TD.
Jermaine Kearse. Sophomore. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 20 receptions, 301 yards, 2 TDs.
Devin Aguilar. Sophomore.
2008 stats: 20 receptions, 246 yards, 0 TDs.

Washington threw six touchdown passes last season. Not six in October, or six against Washington State. Six touchdown passes in the year 2008. If the top two guys weren't coming back, and junior D'Andre Goodwin weren't so promising, I would give Steve Sarkisian little chance to squeeze blood out of this rock. But Goodwin and sophomore Jermaine Kearse are back, and the Huskies lose very little from last season's receiving corp. Notre Dame fans know what "depth" teams generally have five years after hiring Tyrone Willingham; while that problem will plague Washington's offensive line, the receivers actually have a few serviceable backups for Goodwin and Kearse. Devin Aguilar started three games as a true freshman last year and hauled in 20 catches for 246 yards. Depth: Sophomore Cody Bruns, redshirt freshmen Anthony Boyles and Vince Taylor, sophomore Jordan Polk, and true freshman James Johnson provide reinforcement for the Huskies. While this group could double its 2008 output and still remain within the bounds of modesty, such improvement is possible with a veteran group and the return of quarterback Jake Locker.

SOUTHERN CAL

Damian Williams. (#12) RS Junior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 58 receptions, 869 yards, 9 TDs.
Ronald Johnson. (#48) Junior. New Starter.
2008 stats: 33 receptions, 570 yards, 8 TDs.
David Ausberry. (#31) RS Junior.
2008 stats: 6 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD.

While most pre-season headlines have reasonably focused on the battle among Aaron Corp, Matt Barkley, and Mitch Mustain to replace Mark Sanchez as the Trojan quarterback, the identity of S. California's number 2 and 3 receivers could also play a critical role in the team's offensive success. After spring practice, Williams and Johnson appeared to have locked down the flanker and split end spots, respectively. Junior Travon Patterson may be next in line behind Williams, though he will compete with redshirt freshman Brice Butler. Behind Muskegon, Michigan native Ronald Johnson are Ausberry, sophomore Brandon Carswell, and junior Jordan Cameron. Southern Cal faces considerable uncertainty heading into this season. The quarterback who takes the first snap against San Jose State (likely Corp) may not be the same guy who takes the field in South Bend on October 17th. Though Williams' starting position seems safe as long as he's healthy, the Trojan receiving jobs should also be fluid. South. Ca. never lacks for talent, but Notre Dame may have bridged the gap at this glamour position.

BOSTON COLLEGE

Rich Gunnell. Senior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 49 receptions, 551 yards, 4 TDs.
Justin Jarvis. Senior, Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 25 receptions, 274 yards, 3 TDs.

While the most-encouraging BC development for Irish fans was the departures of BJ Raji and Ron Brace, the loss of Brandon Robinson should also impact the Eagles this season. Robinson had 646 receiving yards and five touchdowns as Boston College's #1 receiver last year. Rich Gunnell and Justin Jarvis, last season's #2 and #3 receivers, are back, as is Junior Ifeanyi Momah (11 catches, 149 yards, and 3 TDs) and Clarence Megwa, who had nine catches for 66 yards in 2008. Junior Billy Flutie and redshirt freshman Clyde Lee should also see substantial playing time. Gunnell is a veteran receiver, who had nearly 1,000 yards receiving in 2007, doing his part to fuel the high-powered Matt Ryan-led passing game that year. Jarvis and Megwa also saw substantial time in 2007, and all three receivers put up much better numbers that season than in 2008. This is a veteran group with a productive #1 receiver; if BC's quarterback -- whoever that may be -- can step up, this offense might be a pleasant surprise for Boston College fans.

WASHINGTON STATE

Jeshua Anderson (#37). Junior, Returning Starter
2008 stats: 33 receptions, 305 yards, 2 TDs.
Kevin Norrell. Sophomore. New Starter;
2008 stats: 11 receptions, 124 yards, 0 TDs.
Jared Karstetter. Sophomore.
2008 stats: 6 receptions, 90 yards, 0 TDs.

Junior Jeshua Anderson is fast. As a freshman and sophomore, he won back-to-back NCAA 400 meter hurdle championships, and he averaged a whopping 31 yards per catch as a freshman. After deciding to put a pro track career on hold for at least one more year, Anderson is back with the Cougar football team. Of course, "track guys" often fall short of realizing the hopes of fans and recruiting analysts, but anyone with Anderson's speed remains a constant big-play threat. Fortunately, Washington State is breaking in a new starter at quarterback, and I assume their offensive line is not strong -- if it were, they likely would have won more than two games last season. Finally, while Anderson returns, the Cougars must replace last year's #1 receiver and Washington State's career receiving yards leader Brandon Gibson (673 yards, 2 touchdowns in 2008). Jared Karstetter, who started three games as a true freshman, junior Jeffrey Solomon, and senior Michael Willis will likely round out the Washington State receiving group.

NAVY

Mario Washington. (85), Junior, New Starter
2008 stats: 3 receptions, 56 yards, 0 TDs.
Mike Schupp. (80), Junior, New Starter.
2008 stats: 1 reception, 14 yards, 0 TDs.

Obviously, Navy's is not a passing offense. However, even by Navy receiving standards, this could be a down year for the Midshipmen passing game. They have a new quarterback (Ricky Dobbs, replacing Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada), and they must replace last year's starters Tyree Barnes and Curtis Sharp. Navy receivers must be able to block -- Tyree's 400 yards receiving last year were the most by a Navy receiver in three years. If the new receivers struggle in that responsibility, the damage to Navy's rushing attack will be much more devastating than any pass-catching dropoff.

PITT

Jonathan Baldwin. Sophomore. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 18 receptions, 404 yards, 3 TDs.
Oderick Turner. (#24) Senior. Returning Starter
2008 stats: 21 receptions, 298 yards, 1 TD.
Cedric McGee. Senior.

2008 stats: 32 receptions, 201 yards, 0 TDs.

Every recruiting nerd remembers a few "guys who got away" from each class. Though ND is well-stocked at receiver, Pitt's Jonathan Baldwin remains one of those players I wish ND had. At 6'5, 220 pounds, with blazing speed, he is a potential nightmare anywhere on the field. Last season he averaged 22.4 yards per catch, which is even more impressive considering his potential as a red-zone threat. With two experienced quarterbacks at the Panther helm (Bill Stull and Pat Bostick), this could be the year the Pitt passing attack takes off. In fact, Baldwin may not even be the full-time split end. Redshirt senior Oderick Turner also typically plays the position, and the two may either share time or appear in three-receiver formations. Pitt does lose Derek Kinder, and senior T.J. Porter was kicked off the squad following a DUI arrest in the winterlast year's leading receiver, but part-time starter Cedric McGee is back. Rounding out the group are talented true freshman Todd Thomas, senior split end Greg Cross, sophomore Aaron Smith, and redshirt freshmen Cameron Saddler and Andre Wright.

CONNECTICUT

Brad Kanuch. Senior, Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 7 receptions, 69 yards.
Kashif Moore. Senior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 27 receptions, 273 yards, 1 TD.
Isiah Moore. Sophomore.

2008 stats: DNP

After a strong campaign in 2007 (433 yards and a touchdown) and an injury-halted 2008 season, senior Brad Kanuch broke his collarbone in the spring, but was expected to be ready to go for summer workouts and the fall. UConn must replace Ellis Gaulden, who had 214 receiving yards, but most of the receiver nucleus is back. Sophomore Michael Smith will likely back up Kashif Moore. Senior Marcus Easley and redshirt Freshmen Gerrard Sheppard and Brian Parker should also rotate through. A pair of newcomers, Dwayne Difton and Malik Generett, could also enter the mix. The UConn offense struggled to put up points in several games last season, losing 12-10 to Rutgers, winning just 12-9 against Temple, and also scoring fewer than 14 points against North Carolina, Rutgers, West Virginia, South Florida, and Pitt. Neither the new quarterback nor an unheralded group of receivers leads me to believe this offense will be particularly dangerous in 2009.

STANFORD

Ryan Whalen. Junior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 41 receptions, 508 yards, 1 TD.
Doug Baldwin. Junior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 23 receptions, 332 yards, 4 TDs.
Chris Owusu. Sophomore.
2008 stats: 5 receptions, 16 yards, 0 TDs.

Coach Jim Harbaugh's power running game may temper Stanford's receiving numbers, but Ryan Whalen and Doug Baldwin are both formidable receivers. Stanford is also high on Chris Owusu, who was injured at the start of the year but worked his way into the lineup anyway. Warren Reuland, a 6'5" Sophomore and the brother of Tight End and ND transfer Konrad Reuland, may back up Whalen. Highly touted ND target Jamal Patterson could press for playing time, as might fellow recruit Jemari Roberts. If this unit and quarterback Andrew Luck can complement the potent rushing attack, fortunes could begin to turn in Palo Alto. And that would be great -- their coach is such a nice guy.

2009 Opponent Wide Receiver Analysis and Rankings

Notre Dame, which as recently as 2004 fielded a receiving group led by Matt Shelton, now has better receivers than any of its competitors. Given that one of those opponents is USC, ND may have the best group in the country. None of the teams featured here have a one-two punch as potent as Floyd and Tate, and save for USC and Michigan, none of these teams would find a Duval Kamara fighting like hell to crack the top three. This does not mean none of ND's opponents will provide stout tests for the Irish secondary. Damian Williams, Blair White, Greg Mathews, Rich Gunnell, and Jonathan Baldwin, among others, are elite players capable of hurting an opponent.

Notre Dame will face a variety of offenses with widely differing emphases on the vertical passing game. They will see big receivers (Baldwin), small (Odoms), and medium (Damian Williams). They'll see players I've heard of since they were in high school (Ronald Johnson) and people I'd never heard of before starting this preview (everyone who plays for UConn, Washington State, Navy, and Nevada). Most ND fans seem to share an expectation that the secondary will be the strength of the defense, and potentially the best unit on the team. Outside of a select few individual receivers, this is one season where I am not particularly concerned about ND's ability to match up in the passing game.

Here is my best shot at the wide receiver team rankings among ND opponents:

1. USC: Not as strong as the Jarrett-Smith days, but Williams is one dangerous receiver.
2. Michigan State: Proven veteran leadership is rare on this schedule, and White has it.
3. Pittsburgh: A very talented group. I may be under-rating them here.

4. Michigan: A lot depends on the non-Mathews receivers.
5. Boston College: Familiar BC story: experienced, solid, veteran group.
6. Washington: Washington and Nevada could be a one-man show, but that man is good.
7. Nevada: They have big shoes to fill, which could hurt the offense this season.
8. Stanford: Whalen and Baldwin could be formidable.

9. Purdue: I apologize, but I've already forgotten what I wrote about them.
10. Washington State: Watch out for the big play; otherwise, not particularly fearsome.
11. UConn: A solid but not spectacular group could make Zach Frazer's year a long one.
12. Navy: Like at running back, a new set of starters must quickly come up to speed for Navy.

2009 Opponent Position Preview: Running Backs | by Pat

On to the next position in our look at the various opponent position depth charts. With the QBs covered, here are the running backs. In years past, I tried to stick to listing one starter for each team. This year, in the case of the few opponents who split carries between a few different backs, I listed the main contributors and their 2008 stats.

NEVADA

Vai Taua (#57). Junior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 235 carries, 1521 yards, 15 TDs.

Only 7 runners in the nation ran for more yards per game last season than junior Vai Taua's 117.0. A tough, physical runner at 5'10" 225 pounds, Taua averaged an impressive 6.4 yards per carry in 2008. The kind of back that wears down a defense, Taua failed to score a rushing touchdown in only one game last season. When the team needs a few yards, look for Taua to get the call. Depth: Pairing up with Taua is the player who was ahead of him on the depth chart until hurting his knee in the second game of the season last year. 6th year senior Luke Lippencott led the team and conference in rushing in 2007 and was on his way for a repeat until shelved for the season with torn ligaments in his knee. Now back on the field, Lippincott gives Nevada their third 1,000 yard rusher along with Taua and Kaepernick. If he's fully healed from the knee injury that cost him the 2008 season, he will be a potent combination alongside Taua.

MICHIGAN

Brandon Minor (#31). Senior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 103 carries, 533 yards, 9 TDs.

Despite a wrist injury that affected him all season long, senior Brandon Minor was still Michigan's leading rusher last season. Presumably healthy now, he should see the bulk of the carries in the wake of freshman Sam McGuffie's transfer. A predominately north-south runner, Minor is very physical and is the kind of back that tries to run through tackles rather than around them. He technically only started four games last year, but has enough career experience to be considered a returning starter. Depth: Senior Carlos Brown is a faster compliment to Minor, but has missed games throughout his career due to injury. If he can stay healthy, he'll get plenty of carries. Behind Brown is a fairly deep depth chart that, while young, is full of athletic talent and speed. Sophomore Michael Shaw spent time injured and playing in the slot, but he's back at running back and recovered from postseason surgery. The one to watch out for is freshman Vincent Smith. An early enrollee, the 5'6" scatback impressed everyone who watched him during spring ball and ran for two touchdowns in the spring game.

MICHIGAN STATE

Edwin Baker. Freshman. New Starter.
2008 stats: N/A

It's a wide open race at Michigan State in the battle to replace Javon Ringer. Ringer took over 90% of MSU's rushing attempt last season, leaving no obvious heir apparent. That opens the door for incoming freshman Edwin Baker to take the job. It's probably only a coin flip if the former Top 100 recruit actually holds the job all season long or even starts at all, but the fact that he's still somewhat considered a favorite after the others held spring practice might say a bit about his competition. What helps is that the 5'11" 205 pounder is physically ready to play already. His biggest challenge will be learning the playbook. Depth: Coming out of spring practice, redshirt freshman Caulton Ray and redshirt sophomore Ashton Leggett were named co-starters, so if Baker is beaten out, it will likely be by one of these two. The 5'9" 195 pound Ray hasn't played a snap yet either while Leggett only had 6 carries last year in his first season of college football. At 5'11" 230 pounds, Leggett provides a bit more heft to the position. Freshman Larry Caper, a physical runner like Baker, is another newcomer expected to push for time right away. Rounding out the deep but inexperienced group of runners fighting for the starting spot are redshirt junior A.J. Jimmerman and redshirt sophomore Andre Anderson.

PURDUE

Jaycen Taylor (#60). RS Senior. New Starter.
2008 stats: Torn ACL. Did not play.

It will be hard for Purdue to replace Kory Sheets, but there is a surprisingly deep depth chart in West Lafayette. The headliner is redshirt senior Jaycen Taylor. While perhaps technically a new starter, he split carries with Sheets in '06 and '07 and picked up over 1200 career rushing yards before tearing his ACL and missing the entire 2008 season. He's back on the field now, but it might take him some time to get back to pre-injury form. Depth: Sophomore Ralph Bolden took all the first team snaps in the spring and is a faster option than Taylor. Junior Dan Dierking and redshirt senior Frank Halliburton (#21 FB) provide even more depth. Most eyes, however, are already turning to Florida freshman Al-Terek McBurse. He's yet to play in a single practice, but already he's been mentioned as a possible instant contributor and future starter.

WASHINGTON

Chris Polk. RS Freshman. New Starter.
2008 stats: 20 carries, 33 yards, 0 TDs.

Prior to spring practice, Washington had eight scholarship running backs competing for the starting job. After a wave of injuries and academic issues, only four remain. Redshirt freshman Chris Polk, one of the highest rated recruits of the Willingham era, is the favorite to start. He started the first two games of 2008 before getting injured himself and missing the rest of the year. A mix of speed and size at 5'11" 205 pounds, Polk could turn into a very productive back, but it might not be right away. Depth: The three backups pushing Polk are young players themselves with redshirt sophomores Willie Griffen and Curtis Shaw joining grayshirt freshman Demitriuis Bronson. Griffen was second on the team in rushing yards last year and even if he doesn't start, will probably see his fair share of carries. Shaw last played running back early in 2007 before moving to receiver and missing the '08 season for personal reasons. At fullback, senior Paul Homer (#15 FB) is a two year starter and will likely be featured much more in the new offense.

SOUTHERN CAL

Stafon Johnson (#13). Senior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 138 carries, 705 yards, 9 TDs.
C.J. Gable (#21). Senior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 107 carries, 617 yards, 8 TDs.
Joe McKnight (#8). Junior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 89 carries, 659 yards, 2 TDs.

There isn't a deeper collection of running back talent anywhere in the country. Going six deep with high school All-Americans, the Trojans have a backfield filled with talent, speed, and now experience. On a team that will split carries, senior Stafon Johnson (left) is a decent pick for de facto starter. Averaging an impressive 5.8 yards per carry over his career, Johnson is one of the better running backs in the nation. Depth: Classmate C.J. Gable has actually started more games than Johnson, but has yet to top him in season rushing totals, save their freshman season. Junior Joe McKnight is one of the most electric players in the nation, but has had some minor injuries that slow him down at times. Senior Allen Bradford (#3 FB) hasn't seen as many carries as the other backs, but had a very strong spring and could move back up the depth chart this fall. Sophomore Marc Tyler (#44) might need to wait another year to see more than a few handful of carries, but Jimmy Clausen's former running back is a tough runner between the tackles. Redshirt freshman Curtis McNeal is also in the mix to earn a few carries in his first year of action. At fullback, Stanley Havili (#2 FB) is one of the most versatile fullbacks in the nation and a threat as a runner or receiver.

BOSTON COLLEGE

Josh Haden. Sophomore. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 120 carries, 492 yards, 1 TD.
Montell Harris. Sophomore. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 179 carries, 921 yards, 5 TDs.

Sophomore Josh Haden (right) was the official starter, but Boston College used two freshman backs last year with sophomore Montell Harris winding up with more carries and the title of team's leading rusher. Both are expected to continue to split carries, although it's possible with a new coaching staff one back might start to earn more of a primary role. Neither are very big backs at 5'8" 182 and 5'10" 190 but both are still physical runners who aren't scared to run between the tackles. Depth: Senior Jeff Smith might not get as many carries, but his real value to the team is as a kickoff returner. Redshirt junior James McCluskey (# 12 FB) is a load at 6'2" 246 pounds and has also shown the ability to haul in a few passes from his fullback spot. Entering his third year as a starter, McCluskey will add veteran experience to the Eagle backfield.

WASHINGTON STATE

Dwight Tardy (#52). RS Senior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 133 carries, 481 yards, 3 TDs.

Redshirt senior Dwight Tardy has a chance to do something very few running backs ever do, lead their team in rushing for four straight seasons. However, it hasn't taken many yards to accomplish this feat. His three year total of 1,824 rushing yards would have put him 3rd on 2008's single season rushing leaderboard. Still, Tardy is a veteran back that has started 26 games in his career. Now likely fully recovered from a torn ACL suffered in 2007, Tardy will be counted on heavily if WSU hopes to improve on offense. Depth: A transfer from Cal, redshirt junior James Montgomery will make a pushing for the starting job after being the offensive scout player of the year in '08 while sitting out his mandatory transfer year. Redshirt sophomore Logwone Mitz adds some heft to the depth chart, checking in at 6'1" 225 pounds. The Cougars's second leading rusher last season, Mitz might lose some carries to Montgomery, but should still see the field as an experienced runner.

NAVY

Bobby Doyle. Senior. New Starter
2008 stats: 16 carries, 174 yards, 1 TD.
Marcus Curry. Sophomore. New Starter.
2008 stats: 0 carries, 0 yards, 0 TDs.
Alex Teich. Sophomore. New Starter.
2008 stats: 7 carries, 24 yards, 0 TDs.

It's a brand new look for Navy as they will field one of their least experienced group of runners in the past few years. Slotback Bobby Doyle (right) is the only one of the presumptive starters to have started a game before. He's also the only non-sophomore of the two slotbacks and fullback who make up Navy's starting backfield. Marcus Curry didn't see any carries during eight games of action last season so it's hard to say just how effective he will be. He should be over the initial learning curve though by the ND game. Alex Teich is taking over the fullback job from long-time starter Eric Kettani. At a listed 6'0" 212 pounds, Teich is a good 30 pounds lighter than his predecessor Kettani. Depth: Senior slotback Cory Finnerty has the most experience of the bunch, with seven career starts to his name, but as of now is behind Curry on the depth chart. In addition to veteran leadership, he could supplant the sophomore if he struggles.

PITTSBURGH

Dion Lewis. Freshman. New Starter
2008 stats: N/A

It's a wholesale change at running back for the Panthers with LeSean McCoy and valuable backup LaRod Stephans-Howling moving on to the pros. After enrolling early and playing in spring practice, 5'8" freshman Dion Lewis has the early lead on the starting running back job heading into fall camp. Anytime you have a freshman starter, the concerns about learning the entire playbook and pass protection crop up in addition to questions about how he will do against collegiate defenses. Depth: In what will likely be somewhat of a running back by committee approach in '09, redshirt freshman Chris Burns looks like the next guy off the bench to run the football. Another player without any game experience, it's easy to see why Pitt really is starting from scratch at the RB position. Redshirt sophomore Shariff Harris, the only scholarship running back to have carried the football in a game, and four-star freshman Ray Graham will also push for carries. At fullback, redshirt sophomore Henry Hynoski (#17 FB) only has one carry to his name, but at 260 pounds is one of the bigger fullbacks ND will face in 2009. Redshirt junior Kevin Collier is easily the most experienced back on the team, with 37 career carries, but after three years at running back he has been moved to fullback for the 2009 season.

CONNECTICUT

Jordan Todman. Sophomore. New Starter.
2008 stats: 47 carries, 296 yards, 3 TDs.

Like Pitt, UConn has to replace a star runner from the '08 season. In the Huskies's case, it is Donald Brown, the nation's leading rusher from last season. Next in line is sophomore Jordan Todman. As a freshman last season he was the main backup to Brown, where his speed helped him jump a few older players. As the new feature back, Tilman will be counted on in UConn's new, less run-heavy offense. Depth: Pushing Tilman will be redshirt senior Andre Dixon. UConn's leading rusher in 2007, Dixon fell behind Brown last season. If he pushes, he might be able to overtake Tilman by the time of the Notre Dame game. At the very least he will see his fair share of carries. Redshirt sophomores round out the top of the depth chart. Fullback Anthony Sherman, a team captain for the '09 season as a junior, will be back, although UConn to this point relies for their fullback more for receiving and blocking than rushing. Last season Sherman only had 6 carries, but was actually UConn's second leading receiver with 26 receptions for 270 yards.

STANFORD

Toby Gerhart (#46). Senior. Returning Starter.
2008 stats: 210 carries, 1,176 yards, 15 TDs.

Stanford has quickly established a quality running game, largely on the back of senior Toby Gerhart. Setting Stanford's single season rushing record last season, Gerhart was a 230 pound battering ram of a running back that still had enough speed to outrun unsuspecting linebackers. Because of the way he can wear down a defense, he will be one of the better backs that ND faces in 2009. Depth: Junior Jeremy Stewart is the backup to Gerhart, but saw 1st team snaps all spring while Gerhart was playing baseball. Like Gerhart, Stewart is a big 6'0" 220 pound runner that works well as a bruising runner. He's also Stanford's leading kickoff returner, giving him more opportunity to make an impact. Incoming freshman Tyler Gaffney hasn't had any collegiate practice yet, but the extremely productive California native will fit right in to Stanford's between the tackles rushing offense and is a good bet to be Stanford's next star running back. At fullback, Stanford has one of the better blocking backs in the nation in junior Owen Marecic (#7). He is rarely a threat to run the ball, but reportedly will see time at linebacker in addition to fullback for the Cardinal this season.

2009 Opponent Running Back Analysis and Rankings

It's quite the mixed bag this season with no real consistent look among the various opponents. All of the star power this season seems to be centered on the Trojan depth chart, with no real other proven All-American caliber backs on the schedule. Some teams have dependable but not flashy veterans while others are putting their faith in newcomers. There are also a few backs looking for a second chance following season-ending injuries in 2008.

Only 6 of the 12 opponents feature what I would classify as "returning starters" (although PU's Taylor have plenty of experience), so I suppose it is fair to say that the 2009 theme of inexperienced opponents carries through to the running back position. Given ND's own inexperience at linebacker and defensive line, coaches Tenuta and Hart will definitely earn their keep if ND can improve upon last season's 45th ranked rushing defense.

After last year's crop of speedy backs, there do seem to be more "big" backs in 2009. The first six opponents all feature backs over 200 pounds (assuming McBurse plays for PU) and ND finishes up the season with 230 pound Gerhart. Only BC features smaller backs and even they proved to have the strength to move the pile on occasion last season. As ND moves to get faster on defense, they will have to keep up the strength to not wear down as the bigger running backs hit them over and over. The good news is seeing likely starters like Kapron Lewis-Moore and Manti Te'o reporting at 270 and 245 pounds respectively. Having some depth in the interior of the D-line will help out too.

As the fullback position continues to vanish in college football, the Trojans appear to have the only real running threat in Stanley Havili and Allen Bradford. Navy as always will utilize the fullback, but at 212 pounds Navy's Alex Teich might not be quite as effective as previous Navy fullbacks. UConn's Sherman caught a lot of passes last year, but as the Huskies move to a new no-huddle offense, we'll have to see if he's still a vital part of the passing game. As for blocking, Stanford, Pitt, BC, and Washington all look to have a dependable lead blockers.

Looking at the rankings, there does seem to be a decent dropoff after the first five teams. Then again, I ranked BC low last season due to having to start true freshman and they were impressive all season long. Perhaps MSU's Edwin Baker or Pitt's Dion Lewis will have a similar impact. Assuming they can learn just the basic offense, freshmen can usually make a quicker impact at running back than just about any other position.

1. Southern Cal - Not much to say about the Trojans. They are loaded.
2. Nevada - The Wolfpack feature not one, but two runners who have led the WAC in rushing.
3. Stanford - Gerhart is one of the tougher runners in the country. Owen will open holes for him.
4. Michigan - No big names, but a lot of athleticism and speed.
5. Boston College - A tough but young duo in Haden and Harris.
6. Purdue - Taylor's recovery from ACL injury might be slow. Plenty of position depth helps though.
7. UConn - Todman and Dixon have the potential to be a dependable duo.
8. WSU - Tardy and Montgomery are quality backs, even if the rest of the offense hamstrings them.
9. Michigan State - Not much experience, but some decent options. Baker could be a good one.
10. Washington - Polk has potential, but the depth chart is very thin and inexperienced.
11. Pitt - A very young group of backs with barely any career carries to their name.
12. Navy - A brand new batch of runners with less size than usual at fullback.