NCAA - nesto o timovima pred sezonu 2011

By Ryan Faller

Oklahoma Sooners (2010 record: 12-2)

With receiver Ryan Broyles and linebacker Travis Lewis both deciding to return to school, the Sooners will have 18 total starters back for 2011, more than will be needed to compensate for the losses of DeMarco Murray, Jeremy Beal and Quinton Carter.

Oklahoma has little proven depth behind Murray, but sophomore-to-be Roy Finch showed promising flashes this season, carrying the ball 85 times for 398 yards and two scores. He’ll be joined by incumbent quarterback Landry Jones, a solid offensive line and a receiving corps that also returns Kenny Stills, James Hanna and Trey Franks.

Experience reigns supreme on defense, where the 2-deep is littered with players young and old who saw action in 2010. Barring any disastrous injuries or unforeseen upsets, there’s no reason why Bob Stoops and the Sooners shouldn’t contend for their fifth Big 12 title in six seasons and second national championship since 2008.

Oklahoma Sooners

Texas is struggling. Nebraska is off to the Big Ten. So the question, of course, is simple: How in the world can Oklahoma not win the Big 12 in 2011?

The Sooners, coming off an 12-2 season and Fiesta Bowl win, will unquestionably be the Big 12's most talented team next season. With quarterback Landry Jones and wideout Ryan Broyles leading the way, the Sooners figure to put up a whole bunch of points on offense. And the defense, paced by linebacker Travis Lewis and cornerback Jamell Fleming, won't be bad, either.

So, yeah, the Sooners are going to win the Big 12 title.

Can they also make a run at the national title? Find out here, in our 2011 Oklahoma preview.

OVERVIEW: Why does everyone seem so high on the Sooners? Well, pretty simple: Eighteen starters are back from a really, really good 2010 team. Among them is Jones (4,718 passing yards, 38 touchdowns in 2010), who may not be quite as good as the guy he replaced (anybody remember that Sam Bradford fellow?), but certainly has proven himself to be one of the better passers in the nation. Jones averaged about 330 passing yards per game in 2010 and should improve on those numbers in 2011. Besides, he's still got Broyles to throw to ... and an experienced line protecting him.

THE CEILING: Anything less than a Big 12 crown would have to be considered a disappointment. And given both the talent this team has coming back and the fact that the Big 12 is going to be weaker than it's been in years, an undefeated season--and national title run--isn't out of the question.

REASON FOR CONCERN: It's hard to find one, to be honest. The most glaring potential weakness is in the offensive backfield, where tailback DeMarco Murray departs after rushing for 1,214 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2010. Jones is good; that much is clear. But you have to figure he benefited at least a little bit from the fact that defenses had to pay so much attention to Murray. The Sooners always have talent, of course. But they probably don't have anyone good enough to truly replace Murray, who really was a unique talent.

THE SCHEDULE (key games in bold): 9/3 vs. Tulsa; 9/17 at Florida State; 10/1 vs. Ball State; 10/8 vs. Texas (at Dallas); 10/15 at Kansas; 10/22 vs. Texas Tech; 10/29 at Kansas State; 11/5 vs. Texas A&M; 11/12 vs. Iowa State; 11/19 at Baylor; 11/26 at Oklahoma State; vs. Missouri (TBD). NOTE: As of the publication of this article, the final 2011 Big 12 schedule had still not yet been determined. Check back here for updates.

THE VERDICT: Two games will go long way to defining the Sooners' season. The road date against a fast-improving Florida State team will be a massive test. Later, the Sooners will have to take on a Missouri team that might actually be their top competition for the 2011 Big 12 crown. Those are two tough, tough games. Should the Sooners survive both, they could be on their way to an undefeated season--and a possible BCS Championship Game berth. REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 11-1

By Amy Daughters

Oklahoma

Oklahoma, at least on paper, has the best shot of winning the national title in 2011.

QB Landry Jones, WR Ryan Broyles and 15 other starters are back from a team that finished 2011 at 12-2 and ranked No. 14 in offensive scoring and No. 33 in defensive scoring.

RB DeMarco Murray has gone to the NFL but this is a team that ranked only No. 83 in rushing yards versus No. 3 in passing yards, which makes the loss seem less devastating.

There is no longer a championship game to deal with and key games to winning it all include the September 17 road trip to Florida State, the meeting with downtrodden (but not out-trodden) Texas on October 8, a home game versus Texas A&M on November 5, and then a visit to Oklahoma State in Stillwater in the closer on December 3.

Though the Sooners haven't won the whole enchilada since 2000, this is a team that has won seven Big 12 titles and has been to eight BCS game since dawning of the new millennium.

Oklahoma is no "new kid on the block" that won't know how to act when they get there (and games get close), and they also will more than likely understand that the opportunity that 2011 presents doesn't come around every season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
2011 PRESEASON TOP 25


Oklahoma Sooners

NATIONAL FORECAST #2
Big 12 PREDICTION #1

HEAD COACH: Bob Stoops, 129–31 (12 years) | OFF. COORDINATOR: J. Heupel, J. Norvell | DEF. COORDINATOR: B. Venables, B. Jack Wright

OFFENSE

Landry Jones made the leap among the quarterbacking elite last year, eventually leading the Big 12 in passing yards and touchdowns and winning the Sammy Baugh Award as college football’s top passer.

Stats aside, Jones’ greatest gains came mentally as he emerged as a better game manager and leader, revealing a confidence and poise that had been absent until the midway point of last year.Behind Jones and a high-charged offense, Oklahoma braces for a run at a national championship.
An easy target is wide receiver Ryan Broyles, a consensus All-American and Biletnikoff Award finalist who produced the greatest receiving season in school history a year ago, setting nine program records. But there’s quality help, too, with speedy Kenny Stills primed for a big season following a breakout as a freshman a year ago, when he started every game and provided a deep threat opposite Broyles. Even tight end James Hanna produced seven touchdown grabs.

Versatile running back DeMarco Murray has moved on to the NFL, leaving no single back with his varied skills. Still, the Sooners seem comfortable with a committee approach that will include sophomores Brennan Clay, Roy Finch, Jonathan Miller and touted true freshman Brandon Williams.

“We'll be good at running back,” Jones says. “All those guys are talented enough to play back there.”


DEFENSE

There’s no mistaking the confidence flowing through the Sooners defense, despite the loss of several standouts and questions at defensive tackle.

“This is Oklahoma,” says linebacker Travis Lewis, the unit leader and spokesman who has led the team in tackles each of his previous three seasons. “We restock with athletes and keep it rolling.”

While there’s youth, there’s also star power, starting with Lewis, a likely first-round NFL Draft pick. The line’s soft middle is buoyed by playmaking ends Frank Alexander and Ronnell Lewis, all-conference types who can rush the passer or halt running backs in their tracks.

The status of starting cornerback Jamell Fleming, who missed the spring with academic issues, remains uncertain. And yet his absence in the spring barely registered a blip on the radar, with rising sophomores like Gabe Lynn and Aaron Colvin solidifying the secondary.

Another sophomore, linebacker Corey Nelson, may have been the star of the spring.

“The sky’s the limit for this team,” Lewis says. “If we keep making strides in the right direction, at the end of the day we’re going to be a great defense.”

SPECIALISTS

Tress Way rates among the nation’s top punters, with stats to back it up. Jimmy Stevens finally provided some stability on field goals, at least from inside the 40. Broyles is almost as dangerous returning punts as he is running routes.

FINAL ANALYSIS

After Stoops won a national title in his second season in Norman, more titles were anticipated and expected. After more than a decade of disappointments and missed opportunities, this could be the year.

The pieces are in place, the schedule is manageable — although trips to Florida State and Oklahoma State are challenges — and the shrunken Big 12 also includes a vulnerable Texas and no conference title game.

“We’re optimistic,” Stoops says. “But there’s a lot of work to be done.”
FANTASY IMPACT

With Tulsa, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma possessing some of the top offenses in college football, the Sooner State will be one of the top places to turn for fantasy options. The Sooners finished No. 2 in the Big 12 in scoring offense last season and with eight starters back, should be near the top of the conference once again.

Quarterback Landry Jones will be one of the first passers off the board in fall drafts, with potential to toss 40 touchdowns in 2011. Receiver Ryan Broyles should be a first-round selection as well, especially with another season of 100 catches likely in the works. Kenny Stills should only get better as a sophomore and ranks as the No. 25 receiver in the preseason rankings. Tight end James Hanna should also be a solid selection in the mid-to-late rounds of fall drafts.

DeMarco Murray’s departure at running back is the biggest hole on offense to fill. Roy Finch rushed for 398 yards in limited work last year and should open fall camp as the player to beat. However, true freshman Brandon Williams and sophomore Brennan Clay will figure into the mix. Don’t be surprised if the Sooners use a committee approach in 2011.

Key Player

Landry Jones, QB Maturing into one of the Big 12’s best quarterbacks; can Jones lead a national title run?

Ryan Broyles, WR He was an All-American in 2010, and the senior wideout plans on being even better this fall.

Travis Lewis, LB Emotionally, physically and statistically, Lewis is the unquestioned leader of the Sooner D.

Oklahoma Sooners Football - 2010

ne znam da li opravdano ili ne Oklahoma je po americkim analiticarima no.1 odnosno no.2 (alabama) pre sezone. verovatno Huddle ili D-Lord ce o tome vise reci kada pocne sezona ali mali Larry Jones je jako dobar materijal.

By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com


LSU Tigers
The Tigers exited spring practice feeling pretty confident about their quarterback situation, which had been a trouble spot during the past few seasons. Returning quarterback Jordan Jefferson picked up new offensive coordinator Steve Kragthorpe's system pretty well, and JUCO transfer Zach Mettenberger provided strong competition during the spring. Tailback Spencer Ware looked like a solid replacement for 2010 leading rusher Stevan Ridley, and Russell Shepard looked like a more polished receiver. Cornerback Tyrann Mathieu and safety Craig Loston emerged as big playmakers in the secondary, but replacing linebacker Kelvin Sheppard remains a legitimate concern heading preseason camp. The Tigers also will have a new punter and kicker this coming season.


By Ryan Faller

LSU Tigers (2010 Record: 11-2)

Drake Nevis and Patrick Peterson will be playing on Sundays in 2011, but they’re the only two notable losses—on either side of the ball—other than receiver Terrence Tolliver.

That leaves a loaded roster primed for overtaking Auburn and holding off Alabama for an SEC West title.

To get the job done though, the Tigers must find some semblance of a passing offense behind quarterback Jordan Jefferson, which is something the staff—whether it will belong to Les Miles or someone else—will have to feverishly address during the spring and preseason workouts.

By Tim Hyland

LSU Tigers

Les Miles is either the most underrated or most overrated coach in the country. I can't figure out which.

I do know this much, though: For a coach who has won a national championship and racked up a 62-17 record over the past six years, Miles takes an awful lot of criticism.

And the thing is, in a way, it kind of makes sense. In the years since he led the Tigers to their 2007-2008 national title, Miles has presided over, well, some rather middling results —at least in the context of modern-day LSU football. He was 8-5 in 2008, then 9-4 in 2009, before improving to 11-2 in 2010—a season that has raised expectations (significantly) down on the Bayou.

What can LSU fans expect in 2011? Find out here, in our 2011 LSU football preview.

OVERVIEW: With almost everybody (minus cornerback/return maestro Patrick Peterson, of course) back from last year's 11-2 squad, LSU is the trendy early pick to walk off with the SEC West (and, by extension, SEC) title in 2011. And on paper, yeah, this is the best team in college football's best division. But while last season's run was pretty darn impressive, there is no disputing the fact that, despite all of the talent this program has brought in over the past few years, the results have been less than overwhelming ... at least by the standard Miles himself set with that national title back '07. Will the Tigers actually play to their potential next season? Well, they certainly should. I'll leave it at that.

THE CEILING: The SEC championship. Though I have Alabama winning the SEC West next season, you can make a pretty good case for LSU as well. The departures, though few, are without a doubt important departures—Peterson, middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, tackle Drake Nevis and, well, yeah, Peterson—but over on offense, pretty much everyone is back (including quarterback Jordan Jefferson, though he will be pushed by incoming transfer Zach Mettenberger), and while LSU has failed to field a truly "scary" offense in recent years, that finally may change in 2011. As always, there is talent here. Let's just see how that talent is put to use.

REASON TO WORRY: The SEC West. Talent aside, coaching aside and Death Valley aside, let us just acknowledge that the Tigers have the misfortune of playing in college football's most brutally difficult division. This team is good. Really good, actually. But despite all the talent, they well could end up with as many as three losses, if only because they'll have to endure challenges from some Top 25-caliber teams within their own division—Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Auburn—not to mention that Week 1 showdown against Oregon. Which, in case you hadn't noticed, is my pick for preseason No. 1. Which means they should be pretty good.

THE SCHEDULE (key games in bold): 9/3 vs. Oregon (at Cowboys Stadium); 9/10 vs. Northwestern State; 9/17 at Mississippi State; 9/24 at West Virginia; 10/1 vs. Kentucky; 10/8 vs. Florida; 10/15 at Tennessee; 10/22 vs. Auburn; 11/5 at Alabama; 11/12 vs. Western Kentucky; 11/19 at Mississippi; 11/26 vs. Arkansas

THE VERDICT: Plenty of talent. Plenty of experience. Plenty of reason to believe that the 2011 Tigers can deliver yet another national title for their much-criticized coach. And yet ... well, I don't see it. The season opener against Oregon will pose a massive test, especially for a defense replacing some fairly key starters, and road dates against 'Bama, Mississippi State and even West Virginia will offer their own challenges. This is a really good, really talented team. But Miles does not exactly inspire confidence. The Tigers will have a very, very good season. But they will fall just short of greatness.

REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 10-2

By Amy Daughters

LSU Tigers

For a team that played like a contender all the way until the season-ending 41-24 thumping of Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, LSU has a bunch of question marks coming into 2011.

First, can QB Jordan Jefferson improve the Tigers' No. 107 passing ranking, and, if not, can Zach Mettenberger provide any relief?

Then you've go to replace Stevan Ridley at running back (this was a running dominant running team in 2010), MLB Kelvin Sheppard, Patrick Peterson (as a cornerback and return specialist), the kicker and the punter.

Why do we still want to be confident about the Tigers regardless of all the facts?

Because these guys flat found a way to win in 2010, which makes you believe that 15 returning starters and the No. 6 ranked recruiting class may equal more than 11 wins in 2011.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
2011 PRESEASON TOP 25


LSU Tigers
NATIONAL FORECAST #8
SEC West PREDICTION #2

HEAD COACH: Les Miles, 62–17 (6 years) | OFF. COORDINATOR: Steve Kragthorpe | DEF. COORDINATOR: John Chavis

OFFENSE

Coming off an 11–2 season with a veteran quarterback, there might not seem to be much cause for concern. But there is some concern for the Tigers as they begin the season with a maligned third-year starting quarterback in Jordan Jefferson, who enters his final season with plenty of reason to look over his shoulder. Georgia castoff Zach Mettenberger is on campus now and will undoubtedly push Jefferson if there is any sign of trouble.

Stevan Ridley’s departure threw the running back spot into an open audition, with sophomore Spencer Ware poised to take over after showing the ability to read blocks and find the smallest holes in a 94-yard, two-TD performance in the spring game.

Three returning veterans anchor the receiving corps — split end Rueben Randle had 33 receptions for 544 yards and three TDs; inside receiver Russell Shepard snared 33 balls for 254 yards; and hybrid tight end/receiver Deangelo Peterson pulled in 16 passes for 198 yards.

For stability’s sake, the offensive line should give LSU some comfort. Four spots feature returning starters, along with a handful of veteran backups. The key for the line will be to take another step forward as run-blockers with a less experienced group of running backs and make sure the quarterbacks aren’t constantly dodging the pass rush — particularly if the less-mobile Mettenberger slips into the starting spot.


DEFENSE

Stopping the run is always a staple for LSU under John Chavis, and there’s strong a pool of talent up front with an interchangeable crew of athletic ends and tackles, led by sophomore end Sam Montgomery and incoming 5-star freshman tackle Anthony “Freak” Johnson.

Departed senior Kelvin Sheppard was an anchor at middle linebacker, and replacing him is a major challenge. Senior Ryan Baker and sophomore Kevin Minter give the Tigers two building blocks and fit the linebacker mold Chavis likes — rangy, fast and sure tacklers.

The secondary has to replace lock-down cornerback Patrick Peterson but should be a major strength. Junior Mo Claiborne led the Tigers with five interceptions and six pass breakups last season. Sophomore Tyrann Mathieu was spectacular as a nickel back — almost always seeming to be around the ball when a big play was made. Craig Loston and Eric Reid are blossoming stars at safety, although senior Brandon Taylor will be the leader in the defensive backfield as long as he can return from a foot fracture that ended his season in mid-November.


SPECIALISTS

Filling three holes in the kicking game looms large if LSU has designs on making a national championship run. Junior kicker Drew Alleman and Australian-born punter Brad Wing will get their shots, and Randle, senior Ron Brooks and Mathieu will all take a turn at filling the void left in the return game by Peterson, a major threat on punts and kickoffs.


FINAL ANALYSIS

LSU’s 41–24 romp past Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl has whetted an already eternally famished fanbase’s hunger for what’s coming next. Now, fresh off that victory and a campaign in which LSU knocked off Florida in Gainesville and slammed the door on Alabama’s bid to repeat as national champions, there is a championship vibe engulfing the LSU program. The Tiger faithful are eager for another season that winds up down the road in New Orleans in the BCS National Championship Game.


FANTASY IMPACT

A similar story is unfolding for fantasy players surrounding LSU in 2011. The defense and special teams should rank among the top 10-15 options, but the offense will be a question mark. Quarterback Jordan Jefferson showed improvement over the final three games of 2010, but remains a shaky fantasy option outside of SEC-only formats. Receivers Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard are capable of working their way into fantasy consideration, but their value will hinge on Jefferson’s development. With Stevan Ridley gone, Michael Ford and Spencer Ware finished spring as the top two on the depth chart at running back. If Ware manages to hold off Ford for the full workload, look for his value to climb among the top 40 running backs for 2011.

Key Player

Jordan Jefferson, QB Senior is back as a third-year starter and will have to fight to keep his job if he stumbles at all.

Rueben Randle, WR After two years of making occasional big plays, it’s time for Randle to take next step as an All-SEC-caliber receiver.

Tyrann Mathieu, CB Gets a chance to take over for Patrick Peterson and build on his rookie season as a major playmaker.

LSU Tigers 2010

By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com


Boise State Broncos
The Broncos bring back quarterback Kellen Moore, a Heisman Trophy candidate, and underrated tailback Doug Martin. But the Broncos must replace record-setting receivers Austin Pettis and Titus Young, and they'll be without former offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin, who left for Texas. Receivers Geraldo Hiwat, a 6-foot-4 native of Amsterdam, and Kirby Moore, the quarterback's brother, emerged as potential playmakers during the spring. Tackle Charles Leno and guard Jake Broyles solidified the right side of the offensive line. Finding replacements for safety Jeron Johnson and end Ryan Winterswyk remains a concern heading into preseason camp. The Broncos open the season against Georgia in the Sept. 3 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Atlanta's Georgia Dome, which will be another chance for them to prove they're a national contender.


By Ryan Faller

Boise State Broncos (2010 Record: 12-1)

Chris Peterson has amassed 71 wins as head coach at Boise State, but he has his work cut out for him in 2011, when the Broncos enter the stingier Mountain West.

Kellen Moore is back, but his two favorite targets, Titus Young and Austin Pettis, are both gone, placing much of the offensive onus on backs Doug Martin and D.J. Harper.

By Tim Hyland,

Boise State Broncos

Boise State is the most consistent program in all of college football.

During the program's remarkable rise to prominence in the 2000s, the Broncos racked up a record of 112-17, best in the nation.

And with coach Chris Petersen spurning an offer from Stanford and choosing to remain in Boise this past winter, it seems unlikely that the Broncos' winning ways are going to change anytime soon. So for now, all of you Boise haters may as well accept the fact that this team is not going away.

They've been great for the better part of the past decade. They'll be great again in 2011. But how great? Find out here, in our 2011 Boise State preview.

OVERVIEW: One loss derailed what could have been a dream season for the Broncos in 2010. Boise came into the season with higher hopes than ever before--20 starters back, a Heisman-contending quarterback in Kellen Moore, and an opening-week showcase game against mighty Virginia Tech. What the Broncos didn't plan on was that meltdown by kicker Kyle Brotzman, which led to a heartbreaking late-season loss to Nevada. With that single loss, Boise went from national title contender to BCS outsider. They ended up playing in the Las Vegas Bowl. Not quite what they had in mind. So, suffice to say, they're probably looking at 2011 as an opportunity for redemption.

THE CEILING: A BCS bowl. The Broncos aren't quite as loaded heading into 2011 as they appeared to be heading into 2010, but Moore is back for a fourth year as the starting quarterback and underrated tailback Doug Martin returns, too. Much of the offensive line will remain intact, as will the core of the defense--including defensive end Shea McClellin and linebacker Byron Hout. The schedule also sets up nicely; the season opener against a rebuilding Georgia team should be a win, even though it's a de facto road game (in Atlanta), and the Broncos also get Nevada and Air Force at home. The entire season figures to hinge on the late-season showdown against TCU. A win there probably sends Boise to the BCS.

REASON TO WORRY: Moore is awfully good, but he'll need to break in a few new wideouts in 2011. Both of his favorite targets from last season--Austin Pettis and Titus Young--are gone, and yes, that's a concern. It will be interesting, especially, to see how the new wideouts react in that season opener against the Bulldogs. Georgia is hardly a powerhouse these days, but they've still got talent, and the Georgia Dome is sure to be rocking.

THE SCHEDULE (key games in bold): 9/3 vs. Georgia (at Atlanta); 9/17 at Toledo; 9/24 vs. Tulsa; 10/1 vs. Nevada; 10/8 at Fresno State; TBA vs. Air Force; TBA vs. New Mexico State; TBA vs. San Diego State; TBA vs. Wyoming; TBA at Colorado State; TBA at TCU; TBA at UNLV.

THE VERDICT: Given all of this program's success over the past decade, and given that the Broncos have already gotten over that BCS hump, it's quite clear that the only goal that remains for Petersen is the national championship. Just getting to a BCS bowl isn't enough these days, not for a program and a fan base that has come to expect only the best. A national title run certainly isn't out of the question in 2011--the talent is here, and the schedule is favorable--but as always, the Broncos are going to have be absolutely perfect (even "close wins" cost this team with the voters) and hope that pretty much everyone else in the nation stumbles, too. It didn't happen in 2010. I don't think it will happen in 2011, either.
REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 11-1

By Amy Daughters

Boise State

Though it would be irresponsible to declare Boise State as non-contenders for the BCS in 2011, it is important to make a couple of points against such another busting.

First, gone is offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin (now at Texas) along with the two top wide receivers and three starting members of the secondary.

This hardly means that the Broncos' dominance will come to an ugly halt next season; but none of these losses are worthy of whisking away as "nothing."

At the end of the day Boise State is again primed to be a part of the national championship equation (a well earned honor) but the fact remains that since they play in a non-BCS-AQ conference all bets are off if they lose even one game.

Yes, the opener in Atlanta against Georgia is huge but so is every single contest on the slate, and each is a real step to the national title (refer to the Nevada game in 2010 as very real proof).

I personally can't help but thinking that maybe 2010 was destined to be Boise State's "year," but then again what they really need is a season when only one other team goes undefeated.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
2011 PRESEASON TOP 25


Boise State Broncos
NATIONAL FORECAST #5
Mountain West PREDICTION #1

HEAD COACH: Chris Petersen, 61–5 (5 years) | OFF. COORDINATOR: Brent Pease | DEF. COORDINATOR: Pete Kwiatkowski

OFFENSE

Senior quarterback Kellen Moore, who finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting last year, and senior tailback Doug Martin, who has a career average of 6.0 yards per carry, lead what should be another high-scoring Broncos offense.

Left tackle Nate Potter and center Thomas Byrd, seniors who earned All-WAC honors last year, highlight a strong offensive line that rarely allows defenders to touch Moore. The lefty led the nation in pass efficiency last year. He’s on pace to smash the FBS record for career wins by a quarterback, having posting a 38–2 mark in his first three seasons. His two losses were by a total of four points.

Moore does face some challenges this year, however. The Broncos lost standout wide receivers Austin Pettis and Titus Young, and offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin left to take a job at Texas. Former wide receivers coach Brent Pease, who served as a coordinator at Baylor and Kentucky, replaced Harsin in what should be a seamless transition. Pease, a former quarterback, will give Moore plenty of chances to chuck it, but he also wants to take advantage of Martin, who accumulated 1,598 yards from scrimmage last season.


DEFENSE

The Broncos return the bulk of a defense that ranked in the top seven in the nation in scoring defense (second), total defense (second), rushing defense (seventh), pass defense (fourth), pass efficiency defense (second), sacks (first) and tackles for a loss (second).
The line, regarded as one of the best in college football last year, returns all but one player. Ends Shea McClellin and Tyrone Crawford and tackles Billy Winn and Chase Baker combined for 25.5 sacks last year, more than nearly half of the FBS teams.

The question marks are on the back end, where the Broncos need to replace four-year starting strong safety Jeron Johnson, three-year starting cornerback Brandyn Thompson and two-year starting nickel back Winston Venable. Johnson led the team in tackles in each of the past three years. All-WAC safety George Iloka is back, and middle linebacker Byron Hout, whose 2010 season ended early because of a broken foot, is an important cog in the run defense.


SPECIALISTS

The Broncos must replace four-year starting kicker/punter Kyle Brotzman, which could lead to some adventures in the kicking game. The staff recruited Jake Van Ginkel to fill the kicking job, but the Broncos had four field goal kickers in spring ball, too. Senior punter Brad Elkin was redshirted last year to preserve him for this season. The Broncos should have outstanding return units but struggled covering kickoffs last season — an area of concern considering that their non-conference schedule is laced with some of the best kickoff returners in the nation.


FINAL ANALYSIS

For the third straight year, the Broncos open the season with a showcase game that could push them into the national title conversation. They face Georgia in Atlanta after beating Oregon (2009) and Virginia Tech (2010) in the past two openers. And the schedule should help the Broncos sway skeptics. All five non-conference opponents played in bowls last year, and the Broncos will host fellow BCS buster TCU in a November showdown in the schools’ only meeting as Mountain West Conference rivals. If the Broncos beat Georgia and TCU — and look good doing it — they might be able to finish the historic quest for a title shot that they began last year.


FANTASY IMPACT

Even though the Broncos must replace their top two receivers from last season, Kellen Moore remains one of the safest picks at quarterback in 2011. The senior should once again top 30 passing scores, while adding over 3,000 yards. Geraldo Hiwat and Tyler Shoemaker are expected to be the new starting receivers and both are solid sleeper picks to target in fall drafts. Running back Doug Martin should easily top 1,000 rushing yards this season and fantasy players should target him as one of the first 10-15 backs off the board. Even though the Broncos are known for their high-powered offenses, don’t overlook the defense on draft day. Boise State should be one of the top three fantasy defenses in 2011.

Key Player

Kellen Moore, QB Has 74 touchdown passes against nine interceptions over the last two seasons.

Doug Martin, RB Senior bruiser averaged 6.3 yards per carry last season.

Shea McClellin, DE Tenacious pass rusher on the nation’s best defensive line.

Boise State Broncos 2011

By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com


Florida State Seminoles
Myriad injuries on the offensive line thwarted FSU's offense during the spring, but quarterback E.J. Manuel looked ready to replace departed starter Christian Ponder on a full-time basis. The Seminoles might also start reaping the rewards of back-to-back nationally ranked recruiting classes. Linebackers Telvin Smith, Christian Jones and Nigel Terrell and safety Lamarcus Joyner looked like big-time impact players on defense. FSU's conference schedule is favorable -- it doesn't play Georgia Tech, North Carolina or Virginia Tech during the regular season -- and a Sept. 17 home game against Oklahoma might determine whether it's a legitimate BCS title contender.

By David Luther
Florida State

To buy into the hype or not to buy into the hype.

It's hard to ignore everything that's been said about the Seminoles thus far this offseason, but either way, Florida State is getting more than its fair share of press.

Jimbo Fisher certainly has all of the weapons he needed to mount a run for the ACC championship this season. The Seminoles fell just short of the conference championship last season, losing to Virginia Tech in the ACC title game, but FSU rebounded nicely with a Chick-Fil-A Bowl victory over South Carolina.

In 2011, the goal right from the start will be the ACC title and a return to the BCS. Florida State is hoping to recapture some of their past glory, and if ever there was a season in which that was possible, 2011 is it.

By Tim Hyland
Florida State Seminoles

It was time. Without question, it was time.

When Florida State forced coach Bobby Bowden to retire in 2009, the reaction from college football nation was utterly predictable. Pundits, writers, fans--they all excoriated Florida State for treating so shabbily the man who built the Seminoles program from the ground up.

Maybe these reactions were justified..

But this much is clear: Bowden's time had passed. And Jimbo Fisher's had arrived.

Almost immediately after taking over for Bowden, Fisher re-energized the slumbering giant that is Florida State football. He hit the recruiting trail with renewed vigor. He updated some out-of-touch schemes. And maybe most importantly, he won some football games. In his first season as the 'Noles leader, Fisher went 10-4, capping a successful season with a 26-17 win over South Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Can Fisher and Florida State improve in 2011?

Find out here, in our 2011 Florida State preview.

OVERVIEW: Of all of the things that stood out during Fisher's first season in Tallahassee, none was more promising for 'Noes fans than the improvement over on defense. The latter-day Bowden defenses seemed slow, vulnerable and entirely too timid; but under the direction of new coordinator Mark Stoops, the 'Noles defense of 2011 played with renewed intensity and physicality. They looked, in other words, like the 'Noles of old. Combine the defensive improvement with Fisher’s relentless recruiting efforts and that always-deep well of talent down in the Sunshine State, and one can't but help feel optimistic for the future of this program. The only question is how soon that future will arrive. This 2011 ‘Noles team will be good—potentially, very good. But I’m not sure they’re ready for greatness.

THE CEILING: Ten wins and another divisional title. Fisher's bunch won the ACC Atlantic with a 6-2 record in 2010, edging out Maryland and North Carolina State for the crown. Given the talent back on this squad, and the lack of talent elsewhere in the Atlantic, it's hard to see the 'Noles not winning the title again in 2011. The defense that allowed just 19.6 points per game in 2010 figures to improve even more this season, and though the offense is sure to miss the leadership of quarterback Christian Ponder, new signalcaller E.J. Manuel will be surrounded by enough returning starters (and enough speed and skill) to ease his transition. On paper, this team is clearly the best in the division. They just have to play like it.

REASON FOR CONCERN: Obviously, Ponder has to be considered a big loss; he was a solid leader and talented kid who did a lot of good for the program. But Manuel is no slouch, so Florida State should be fine behind center. A bigger issue might be found at linebacker, where the super-talented Nigel Bradham will have to make up for the loss of 2010 starters Mister Alexander and Kendall Smith. Fisher has been recruiting well ... but does he have anybody good enough to replace those guys? We shall see.

THE SCHEDULE (key games in bold): 9/3 vs. Louisiana-Monroe; 9/10 vs. Charleston Southern; 9/17 vs. Oklahoma; 9/24 at Clemson; 10/8 at Wake Forest; 10/15 at Duke; 10/22 vs. Maryland; 10/26 vs N.C. State; 11/3 at Boston College; 11/12 vs. Miami; 11/19 vs. Virginia; 11/26 at Florida

THE PREDICTION: This program is back on track. It is undeniable that Bowden let Florida State grow stagnant late in his tenure. It is also undeniable that Fisher has brought the energy and excitement back to one of college football's great programs. Given the way he's recruiting, and given the talent on his staff, Fisher will have this team back in the Top 10 soon. Very soon. The 'Noles are probably one year away from another ACC crown, and it’s probably too much to ask them to, for instance, knock off highly regarded Oklahoma in early September. But another satisfying season appears to be in store. Ten wins. Another ACC title game appearance. Another nice bowl bid. Could be worse.

REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 10-2

By Amy Daughters

Florida State

Whether Florida State is really ready to rejoin the elite group of teams at the top of college football may come down to how well QB EJ Manuel can manage to match up to the high expectations everybody has for him.

Overall, the Seminoles return 18 starters in 2011, which includes a big chunk of a defense that should do nothing but improve under second-year DC Mark Stoops.

All the pieces are in place and the schedule is dreamy by BCS standards, but a national title run will all come down to a critical two-game stretch: September 17 at home against Oklahoma (winner takes all) followed by a road trip to Clemson the following Saturday.

Clemson may not seem like a big deal until you consider the emotional hangover that could come after a win or loss against the Sooners and the fact that the Seminoles haven't won at Clemson since 2001, when they walloped the Tigers 41-27.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
2011 PRESEASON TOP 25


Florida State Seminoles
NATIONAL FORECAST #4
ACC Atlantic PREDICTION #1

HEAD COACH: Jimbo Fisher , 10–4 (1 year) | OFF. COORDINATOR: James Coley | DEF. COORDINATOR: Mark Stoops

OFFENSE

For all of the good things Christian Ponder accomplished in his three years as Florida State’s starting quarterback, a strange sense of excitement has surrounded his graduation. It’s not that FSU fans failed to appreciate Ponder’s ability or production; he was unquestionably the Seminoles’ best quarterback since Chris Weinke won the Heisman Trophy following the 2000 season. But there has been a buzz about new starter EJ Manuel since he signed with FSU in February 2008, and his limited playing time thus far has done nothing to diminish those expectations.

While filling in at various stages during Ponder’s injury-plagued junior and senior seasons, Manuel went 4–2 as a starter and was named MVP of the 2010 Gator Bowl. He also came off the bench to guide the Seminoles to a Chick-fil-A Bowl victory against South Carolina at the end of last season.

And when he takes over as the full-time starter, Manuel will be surrounded by perhaps the most talented offense FSU fans have watched in a decade. The Seminoles return their top five running backs, all of their top receivers, and they have a slew of talented newcomers entering the fold.


DEFENSE

Though he came up as an offensive coach, Jimbo Fisher knows full well the importance of quality defense — especially after serving for several years on Nick Saban’s staff at LSU. And when he talks about the Seminoles’ chances for success in 2011, the second-year head coach sounds more excited about that side of the ball than he does his own offense.

“On defense, we’ve got some very, very good people — up front, in the secondary and at linebacker,” Fisher says. “We’re athletic. We’re big. We’re long. We’re physical. We can run. We can cover. … I love the group of guys we’ve got. As much (talent) as I’ve been around on a team in a long time.”

Fisher’s excitement starts in the secondary, where the Seminoles are absolutely loaded at cornerback. They have Chick-fil-A Bowl Defensive MVP Greg Reid on one side and Xavier Rhodes, a 2010 Freshman All-American, on the other.

But FSU should be much improved in the front seven as well, and coordinator Mark Stoops should have more freedom to add wrinkles now that all of the key players are entering their second seasons in his system.


SPECIALISTS

Fisher believes he has the best punter-kicker combination in the country with senior Shawn Powell and junior Dustin Hopkins, and they both are coming off impressive seasons. Powell’s 44.3-yard average was the best in the ACC, and Hopkins finished second in the country with 41 touchbacks on kickoffs. Reid continues to be one of the nation’s top punt returners, but FSU will need to show more big-play potential on kickoff returns.


FINAL ANALYSIS

Florida State’s players, coaches and fans are confident this program is on the cusp of a return to national prominence, but those dreams will be tested during a crucial two-game stretch in late September. First, the Seminoles will play host to an Oklahoma team that simply dismantled them last year in Norman, Okla. Then, they will go on the road one week later to face Clemson, which always seems to give them fits; FSU hasn’t won at Death Valley since 2001.

A loss in either game will feel like a major setback, but the Seminoles still would have a strong chance to improve upon last season’s 9–3 regular season.


FANTASY IMPACT

Although Florida State should be one of the top teams in the nation, fantasy options from the offense requires a wait-and-see approach. Quarterback EJ Manuel looks like a rising star and has been solid in his previous playing time. Although Manuel should contend for All-ACC honors, his fantasy value will likely be limited to BCS-only leagues or as a spot starter in 120 formats. The Seminoles have a crowded situation at running back and receiver, which will make finding fantasy options difficult. Keep a close eye on these two positions early in the year to determine the best waiver wire pickup from Florida State. The defense showed major progress last year and projects among the top five at this position for fantasy players in 2011.

Key Player

Greg Reid, CB Can change games with big-play skills on defense and as a return specialist.

Brandon Jenkins, DE A dominating pass-rusher who also can drop back in zone-blitz packages.

Xavier Rhodes, CB A freakish athlete for his size (6'2", 205); can be a lock-down corner.