Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 26, 1995 TAG: 9508300019
SECTION: COLLEGE FOOTBALL PAGE: CF-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
1. Miami
1994 record: 10-2 overall, 7-0 Big East (first).
Coach: Butch Davis, first year.
Major losses: QB Frank Costa, WR Chris T. Jones, WR Jonathan Harris, WR A.C. Tellison, RB James Stewart, RB Larry Jones, RB Al Shipman, G Tirrell Greene, DL Warren Sapp, DL Pat Riley, LB Corwin Francis, LB Rohan Marley, CB C.J. Richardson.
Top returnees: QB Ryan Collins, C K.C. Jones, WR Jammi German, TE Gerard Daphnis, TB Trent Jones, OT Ricky Perry, DE Kenard Lang, LB Ray Lewis, LB Twan Russell, DE Kenard Lang, DE Kenny Holmes, CB Carlos Jones, S Earl Little, K Dane Prewitt.
Key newcomers: QB Scott Covington, FB Carlo Joseph, FB Nick Williams, DT Jason McCullough, CB Nathaniel Brooks.
Strengths: An offensive line anchored by Jones and a new two-back set featuring a ton of speed should open up the passing attack. As usual, Miami, led by Lewis, will be stout defensively.
Concerns: Collins is a strong - he can bench press 400 pounds - and inspirational leader, but not a prototypical Miami passer. The receiving corps is inexperienced. Defensively, the 'Canes will sorely miss Sapp's massive presence in the middle.
Projection: Defense is Davis' calling card and his first Miami club should be able to stop people. The Hurricanes ranked first in the nation in pass-efficiency, scoring and total defense in 1994, and this group could be almost as stingy. The 'Canes biggest worries come on offense, where Collins figures to be the survivor of yet another QB controversy. People at other skill positions need to emerge for this offense to strike fear in anyone. Nevertheless, Miami remains the beast of the Big East until proven otherwise.
2. Boston College
1994 record: 7-4-1 overall, 3-3-1 Big East (fifth).
Coach: Dan Henning, second year (7-4-1 overall).
Major losses: TE Pete Mitchell, RB David Green, G Greg Landry, LB Stephen Boyd, P Jeff Beckley, K David Gordon, DE Mike Mamula.
Top returnees: QB Mark Hartsell, OT Pete Kendall, WR Kenyatta Watson, WR Greg Grice, TB Justice Smith, OT Dan Oriskovich, NG Tim Morabito, DT Chris Sullivan, CB Daryl Porter, FS Terence Wiggins.
Key newcomers: OL Doug Brzezinski, RB Mike Cloud, WR Dennis Harding, P Jason Malecki, DL Greg Fisher.
Strengths: Under QB guru Henning, Hartsell has all the tools to follow such BC standouts as Doug Flutie and Glenn Foley. The Eagles are strong in the trenches, where Kendall leads a seasoned offensive line and Morabito heads a crew that set a Big East record with 47 sacks in '94.
Concerns: Replacing All-Americans Mitchell and Boyd might be too much to ask. Special teams pose a serious problem. The Eagles not only lost Beckley (43.9 yards per punt), but Chris Hackett, their projected kicker, has never attempted a placement in college.
Projection: Mamula and Landry left early for the NFL and their departure may cost BC a shot at the Big East title. Still, the Eagles will fly high behind a balanced attack led by Hartsell and a swarming defense. Say this for Henning: He is not hiding from anyone. BC plays one of the nation's most difficult schedules, taking on Ohio State (Sunday in the Kickoff Classic), Michigan and Notre Dame, in addition to its Big East menu.
3. Virginia Tech
1994 record: 8-4 overall, 5-2 Big East (second).
Note: See information on the Hokies beginning on F6.
4. West Virginia
1994 record: 7-6 overall, 4-3 Big East (tie for third).
Coach: Don Nehlen, 16th year (163-97-8 overall, 110-62-4 at WVU).
Major losses: WR Zach Abraham, G Tom Robsock, DT Barry Hawkins, LB Matt Taffoni, LB Puppy Wright, P Todd Sauerbrun.
Top returnees: QB Chad Johnston, QB Eric Boykin, TB Robert Walker, TB Jimmy Gary, FB Kantroy Barber, WR Rahsaan Vanterpool, TE Lovett Purnell, DE John Browning, CB Aaron Beasley, LB Canute Curtis, LB J.T. Thomas, CB Mike Logan, FS Vann Washington, SS Charles Emanuel, K Bryan Baumann.
Key newcomers: G Ted Daniels, C Eric DeGroh, G Randy Dunnigan, FB Mark Plants, LB Bernard Russ.
Strengths: In Johnston, Walker, Gary and Vanterpool, the Mountaineers have talent at the offensive skill spots. Defensively, Beasley leads what should be the best secondary in WVU history.
Concerns: On both sides of the ball, line play is Nehlen's biggest worry. Despite the presence of four seniors, Nehlen is looking for help on an offensive line that didn't show up at times last fall. The defensive line needs help, too. On special teams, there's simply no replacing Sauerbrun.
Projection: The Mountaineers were ambushed early in 1994, getting dismantled by Nebraska 31-0 in the Kickoff Classic en route to a 1-4 start. But WVU held its fist tight, and thanks to the emergence of Johnston, rallied to earn a Carquest Bowl bid. How far will WVU go this time? The answer lies in the trenches, where the Mountaineers desperately need more consistency.
5. Syracuse
1994 record: 7-4 overall, 4-3 Big East (tie for third)
Coach: Paul Pasqualoni, fifth year (62-29-1 overall, 33-12-1 at Syracuse).
Major losses: QB Kevin Mason, RB Kirby Dar Dar, OT Melvin Tuten, C Dave Wohlabaugh, LB Dan Conley.
Top returnees: WR Marvin Harrison, G Cy Ellsworth, WR Sir Mawn Wilson, TB Malcolm Thomas, LB Antwaune Ponds, CB Kevin Abrams, P Sean Reali.
Key newcomers: QB Kevin Johnson, QB Donovan McNabb, CB Phil Nash, CB Shawn Summerville.
Strengths: Harrison, an All-Big East performer, heads one of the league's best groups of receivers. Thomas, despite splitting time with Dar Dar, ran for 642 yards a year ago. Defensively, the Orangemen have a bevy of talented linebackers.
Concerns: For the first time in five years, the Orangemen are looking for a quarterback. The three candidates are young - sophomore Keith Downing and redshirt freshmen McNabb and Johnson. The defensive front must get tougher.
Projection: Two years ago, the Syracuse program appeared to be on the verge of becoming one of the country's powerhouses. Although it was 6-4-1 in '93 and 7-4 last year, the Orange has been frozen by its run-oriented ``freeze-option'' offense and a defense that in coach-speak ``doesn't get after it.''
6. Rutgers
1994 record: 5-5-1 overall, 2-4-1 Big East (sixth).
Coach: Doug Graber, sixth year (31-34-1 overall, 25-29-1 at Rutgers).
Major losses: OT Ken Dammann, DE Bob Sneathen, LB Alcides Catanho, DT Keif Bryant, DB Curtis Tribbitt.
Top returnees: QB Ray Lucas, TB Terrell Willis, TE Marco Battaglia, WR Reggie Funderburk, RB Bruce Presley, G Chris Kennedy, OT Robert Barr, DT James Guarnera, DE Rusty Swartz, SS Mark Washington, DT Rashod Swinger.
Key newcomers: DB Cameron Chadwick, DT Kerry Ware, RB Chad Bosch.
Strengths: The Scarlet Knights rolled up more 4,000 total yards for the third year in a row in '94, and this year's cast also should run on high octane. Health is the big question as Lucas (shoulder surgery), Willis (knee surgery) and Presley (groin) all missed spring drills.
Concerns: Defense, as usual. Graber has plenty of people who have played; the problem is they've never played very well. Three players are back from a secondary that ranked No.106 (next to last) in the national in pass-efficiency defense.
Projection: The Scarlet Knights will score. They have great skill personnel, led by Battaglia, a senior All-America candidate. If only Rutgers could find a way to stop somebody. ``Anything we do depends on our defense,'' Graber says. ``Do we have to talk about defense?'' If the defense does come around, Rutgers could have an outside shot at its second bowl bid in 128 years.
7. Pittsburgh
1994 record: 3-8 overall, 2-5 Big East (seventh).
Coach: Johnny Majors, seventh year (39-29-1 at Pitt, 179-121-10 overall).
Major losses: OT Reuben Brown, OT Matt Bloom, C Lawson Mollica, WR Billy Davis, DE Tom Barndt, K David Merrick.
Top returnees: RB Billy West, WR Dietrich Jells, QB John Ryan, DT Mark Halapin, DE Zatiti Moody, LB Tom Tumulty, CB Denorse Mosley, P Nate Cochran.
Key newcomers: FS Eric Kasperowicz, FS Chuck Brown, WR Dante Bryant, DE Maurice Harris.
Strengths: West, the Big East's offensive player of the year, could play for anybody. Ditto for Jells. The defense, a veritable sieve not long ago, actually has some players. Special teams are above average.
Concerns: Brown, an All-American, Bloom and four-year starter Mollica are gone. Will the replacements be able to open holes for West? Defensively, Pitt somehow has to shore up a unit that yielded 172.4 yards rushing per game in '94.
Projections: Pitt has made strides in Majors' second stint as coach. ``We have improved in virtually every area. We won't have a metamorphosis overnight, but I'm encouraged,'' Majors says. After a pair of 3-8 campaigns, above .500 is not out of the question. However, a non-conference schedule that includes Washington State, Texas and Ohio State won't help.
8. Temple
1994 record: 2-9 overall, 0-7 Big East (eighth).
Coach: Ron Dickerson, third year (3-19).
Major losses: TE P.J. Cook, FB Sidney Morse, LB Andrew Brown, DE Adrian Drones, K Rich Maston.
Top returnees: QB Henry Burris, G John Summerday, TB Juan Gaddy, FL Van Johnson, SE Marc Baxter, LB Lance Johnstone, LB Alsher Singleton.
Key newcomers: LB Willie Brown (transfer from Alabama), CB Deadrake Epps, WR Kevin Walker.
Strengths: Throwing the football is the one thing the Owls can do. Burris set eight school records while averaging a Big East-best 249.7 yards a game. Johnson and Baxter are Burris' main targets.
Concerns: Temple has no running game whatsoever. The Owls averaged 77.4 yards a game on the ground last year, next to last in the nation. Dickerson also somehow must plug the leaks in a defense that gave up 37.9 points and 445 yards a game.
Projection: The Owls are progressing slowly. Two years ago, Temple scored 63 points in seven league games. Last year the Owls scored 154. Two years ago, Temple yielded 50 or more points six times; last year it happened once.
by CNB