I can't tell if Kerry Meier is playing QB or WR here. What I can tell is that the guy on the ground probably didn't make the tackle.
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Mike took care of the defense. Now it’s time to score some points. Anyone that knows football better than Barbara Walters will tell you that this is a team sport, and it works better when everyone is playing together. That’s especially true on the offensive side of the ball.
Whether it’s the quarterbacks and running backs having their steps in sync and knowing when to look for an outlet pass, or the receivers running precise routes that stretch the defense’s elasticity to bursting point and knowing when to perform a perfectly executed “illegal” pick, or the offensive line stepping in rhythm to open a gaping hole or keep a frothing pass rusher at bay, everyone on the scoring side of the ball has to flow in unison.
So here they are, the best units in college football, ranked by position, so you know who to watch this season. The format’s a little different over here. We’ve got five teams to watch. One underrated squad that no one is talking about. One overrated squad that too many people are talking about, and three teams that deserve the prestigious distinction of being liked by me.
Backfields
Overrated
USC Trojans — Before the hate mail starts, and I know it’s going to, let me say that USC has plenty of potential in the backfield. It’s Los Angeles and Pete Carroll is an ace recruiter so there’s always going to be talent. But how much longer is Joe McKnight going to get a free pass based on his immense upside? The guy averaged 7.4 ypc last season, and that’s amazing, but he hasn’t been the second coming of Reggie Bush that he was advertised as. And Stafon Johnson and CJ Gable have been 500-600 yard steady producers as well, but not one of these running backs has been able to establish a solid stint as the unquestioned starter. USC has a great backfield, I know it’s tough for any of the three to beat out the other two, but I don’t understand how they’re being hailed as the top overall unit in the country. Matt Barkley is loaded with potential as well, but he hasn’t done anything yet. I’ll buy them as a top five unit, but they’re not the best, at least not yet.
Underrated
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets — Jonathan Dwyer isn’t “under-” anything. He gets plenty of press and he deserves it. He’s being touted as one of two serious Heisman candidates at RB (Jahvid Best is the other), and with a monster season from GT, that could happen. But it’s his teammates that are receiving less credit than they’re due. RB Roddy Jones is about as fast as they come. He’s an electric complement to the bruising Dwyer, and he’s literally a threat to score on every play. If you’re looking for college football’s version of LenDale White and Chris Johnson here they are. And QB Josh Nesbitt is getting overlook, too. His passing numbers won’t ever have the Brent Musburgers of the world forgetting about USC, but he does play in a true option system. So it’s not that bad to end up with almost 700 yards and seven scores on the ground.
The Best
3.) Oklahoma State Cowboys — Nothing real surprising here. Everyone knows about the Cowboys offense. Zac Robinson broke the 3000 yard passing barrier, ended up with a 166+ QB rating, and added almost 600 yards on the ground along with eight more scores. Kendall Hunter reminded the Big 12 that running backs were still allowed possession on offense with 1555 yards and 16 TDs. But the reason that I’m adding them here has less to do with the popular duo and a whole heck of a lot to do with perhaps the most underrated and unknown RB in the nation. Senior Keith Toston is the powerful complement to the dashing Hunter. At 6-01 205 he gives the Cowboys a short yardage option and a talented spell for their starter. He averaged 6.7 ypc last fall (slightly more than Hunter), and managed nine TDs giving him 18 total for his paradoxically quiet career.
2.) Florida Gators — Florida is receiving a lot of press for the loss of Percy Harvin, and he will certainly be missed. His dynamite ability in the backfield gave the Gators yet another option. But for the first time in the Tim Tebow/Urban Meyer era, the Gators appear set at the running back position, with actual results to back up that claim. Everyone knows about Tebow, and his 43 rushing TDs, and his Heisman, and his two national titles, and on and on and on. But somehow people aren’t ready to give the backs any credit. Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps are both under 5-09 and 200 pounds, but they make up for it with exceptional speed. Speed scary enough to combine for over 1200 yards and 11 TDs. Then there’s Emmanuel Moody who added 417 of his own while averaging over seven yards per pop. Thrown in the fact that Brandon James should see a bigger workload in Harvin’s absence, and the Gators have the inside track to leading the SEC in rushing.
1.) Oklahoma Sooners — It doesn’t get any better than Sam Bradford, Chris Brown, and Demarco Murray. Unless you throw in senior fullback Matt Clapp. Clapp won’t ever get the stats, but he’s a huge reason that Oklahoma just ended last season with two 1000 yards rushers despite also boasting a 4000+ yard passer. Bradford is the reigning Heisman trophy winner after tossing 50 TDs to only 8 INTs. Brown is a touchdown machine after racking up 20 of them in 2008. And Murray might be the most talented RB in the country when healthy. He managed to cross the goal line 14 times on the ground while adding 1000+ yards on his own, not to mention his 31 catches for nearly 400 yards and four scores. Oh yeah, he did all of this despite missing nearly three complete games last fall. I don’t expect Sam Bradford to do anything other than get better, but don’t be surprised if OU leans a little harder on the ground game.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Overrated
Illinois Fighting Illini — Arrelious Benn is perhaps the most physically gifted upperclassmen wide receiver in the nation. There’s no doubting that. But his value, and the value of every other Illinois receiver, is tied to the production of quarterback Juice Williams. It’s been an inconsistent intertwinement. I’m not down on Benn, and he’s got some decent talent around him, but until Williams can become a headier passer who better utilizes Benn, the talented target won’t be able to put up better numbers than the 67 catches and three TDs he ended up with as a sophomore.
Underrated
Florida Gators — Again, Percy Harvin and his early departure are stealing all of the headlines. Louis Murphy managed a pretty sweet season himself. All in all, the two long gone Gators combined for 1300 receiving yards and 14 TDs, but their impact went beyond stats. Of course, despite the fact that no one seems to have noticed, this is still the University of Florida, and there are still talented players waiting to step up. Carl Moore and Deonte Thompson are second-year players poised to break out. David Nelson is as lanky a target as a QB could want at 6-05 212 and put up five TDs in only seven games. Riley Cooper and Tebow are roommates, and that kind of relationship should pay huge dividends this season. And then there’s Andre Dubose, an extremely potent freshman who could become the next Harvin. And you can’t forget about TE Aaron Hernandez who pulled a Nelson and shined at the end of the season, grabbing three scores in his last five games.
The Best
3.) Notre Dame Fighting Irish — I know, it’s funny to see Notre Dame listed as the best anything. But these receivers are pretty damn legitimate. Golden Tate is entering his junior season, but he’s already being touted as a probable first round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft if he decides to declare. He’s a consummate playmaker who turned his 58 catches into 1080 yards and 10 TDs. That’s 18.6 yards per catch if you’re counting. Expect his targets to spike with a better Jimmy Clausen tossing him the ball. And then there’s Michael Floyd. The 6-03 220 pound sophomore was a pretty highly touted prospect himself, and he proved his mettle as a true freshman. He didn’t get the publicity of AJ Green or Julio Jones, or even DeAndre Brown, but his stats were comparable. 48 catches for 710 yards and seven TDs is a promising start.
2.) USC Trojans — The Trojans are always loaded at WR, and they always seem to have that one giant target who grabs footballs with one hand like Mr. Miyagi trapping flies with chopsticks. But after watching Dwayne Jarrett and Mike Williams struggle in the NFL, the plight of USC receivers in the NFL might be coming to a close with this crop. Damian Williams is the headliner, and certainly the better of the two Arkansas transfers (QB Mitch Mustain). He finished with 869 yards and nine TDs, though he should be even better this fall. David Ausberry dropped off some last season, but with Patrick Turner gone his role should increase. And Ronald Johnson is a blazing fast complement to both. At TE, Anthony McCoy has NFL size (6-05 250), and despite not being fully utilized last season, he has the talent to become a much bigger part of the offense with a true freshman quarterback who’ll need him as a safety net.
1.) Kansas Jayhawks — The Big 12 has been producing some big time seasons from some big time wideouts for a few years now. Michael Crabtree put up perhaps the most impressive numbers ever from a pass-catcher over his two seasons. Dez Bryant gets loads of press for his statistical prowess, and Jordan Shipley certainly holds his own. Jeremy Maclin is yet another former superstar from the league. But for my money, I’ll take Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier above all the others. Quan Cosby and Shipley came close last season, but no duo in the pass heavy Big 12 is as impressive as the two Jayhawks ball-hawks. Briscoe reminds me of a taller, leaner Hakeem Nicks with his exceptional body control and sure hands. And Meier is the epitome of a steadfast possession receiver. They’re both around 6-03 with decent, yet not spectacular speed, but that hasn’t stopped them from producing on an unparalleled level for a duo. Briscoe grabbed 92 passes for 1500+ yards and 15 TDs, while the former QB, Meier, caught 97 balls for eight scores in his first full season as a receiver. With QB Todd Reesing back for a third stint as the starter, both should flirt with similar seasons.
