CFN: C-USA Preview

[Harry0569]

http://cfn.scout.com/2/1211225.html

Sometimes, success comes with a hefty price tag.

Conference-USA made national waves in 2011 behind the memorable campaigns of Houston and Southern Miss. The Cougars were on the verge of becoming the league’s first-ever representative in a BCS bowl before the Golden Eagles stunned them in the title game. The pair combined to go 25-3, with both schools finishing the year ranked. However, like a rising young coach at an off-the-radar program, keeping talent from wandering can be a daunting challenge.

Swept up in realignment, an already disparate C-USA is about to be turned upside down. When the Big East needed members late last year, it looked west, plucking Houston, SMU, UCF and Memphis, four big-market schools, away from a powerless non-AQ conference. In their place, the conference will add Florida International, Louisiana Tech, North Texas and Texas-San Antonio in time for the 2013 season. Old Dominion and UNC-Charlotte are expected to join the mix in 2015. All in all, not a positive trade for C-USA.

The upcoming season will be status quo in C-USA for one final year. No one is leaving. No one is coming. Just football for three months. Since last year’s powerbrokers, Houston and Southern Miss, lost star quarterbacks and prominent head coaches, the chase for a league crown has never been more wide open. In the East, the Golden Eagles hope to remain formidable behind the play of the defense and the running game. New head coach Ellis Johnson will spend the summer deciding on his quarterback, with prized recruit Anthony Alford set to enter the mix.

Schizophrenic UCF is determined to rebound from last season’s improbable 5-7 flop. Like the Golden Eagles, defense and the running game will fuel the Knights, even if they’re not eligible for the Conference USA title.

It’s Year 3 for Ruffin McNeill at East Carolina, and this could be his turning point. The D shows potential, but a quarterback needs to rise up and supplant Dominique Davis.

Marshall returns a lot of starters, especially on offense. In Rakeem Cato, does the Herd finally have an answer at quarterback?

Memphis and UAB will continue long rebuilding plans with new head coaches, Justin Fuente and Garrick McGee, respectively.

Not unlike last year, the West Division is split down the middle-three contenders for a title, and three also-rans holding out hope for bowl-eligibility. Houston may be the defending champ, but back-to-back titles will be challenging.

The Cougars were gutted of their star players, leaving new head coach Tony Levine with a long to-do list this offseason.

SMU is trendy because of the arrival of Texas transfer QB Garrett Gilbert and returns of RB Zach Line and WR Darius Johnson. However, holes on both lines must be patched up.

Tulsa is about to lean on a former Big 12 quarterback of its own, one-time Nebraska recruit Cody Green. As is often the case, the Golden Hurricane has no shortage of outstanding athletes on both sides of the ball. Rice, UTEP and especially Tulane do not appear to be threats to the division’s top three teams.

After basking in the glow of such a smashing year in 2011, C-USA is bracing for a big letdown in 2012. Oh, the league races will be competitive, and the points will come in flurries. However, none of the current dozen members looks capable of making national headlines this fall. And hanging over the league’s head is the stark reality that three of its more prominent football members are jumping ship once the regular season ends.

Team That'll Surprise
East Carolina - After feeling his way through the roster, head coach Ruffin McNeill might finally be ready to turn his Pirates into a winning product on the field. His kids have fully digested the Air raid offense and 3-4 D, and were playing their best football toward the end of the 2011 season. Both sides of the ball are flush with returning starters, particularly close to the line of scrimmage. Yeah, East Carolina needs to develop a successor for QB Dominique Davis, but wasn’t he the same guy who threw 35 interceptions over the last two seasons? If the offense needs to exercise a little more balance than usual, it’ll have access to a deep and talented backfield that includes up-and-coming Reggie Bullock, Torrance Hunt and speedy North Carolina transfer Hunter Furr.

Team That'll Disappoint
SMU - It’s all relative. SMU will be in the hunt for the Conference USA title, and will have no problem with all the dregs, but it’s West title or bust and that might not happen. As Houston and Southern Miss adapt to life without star quarterbacks, the Mustangs are being held up as a possible frontrunner for Conference USA supremacy in 2012. But will they have enough proven talent to deliver? Sure, if Garrett Gilbert can deliver at quarterback, the trio of the Texas transfer, RB Zach Line and WR Darius Johnson is fantastic. However, SMU has holes at less visible spots of the two-deep that need to be shored up. The offensive line, for instance, which lost all five starters to graduation. No program returns fewer lettermen or starters than the Mustangs, who are going to need the first few weeks of the season just to adjust to all of the newcomers to the lineup.

Game of the Year
Southern Miss at UCF, Oct. 13 - While East Carolina and Marshall might still have something to say about the East Division race, the Golden Eagles and Knights will begin the season as the favorites. Southern Miss barely survived in last year’s 30-29 thriller in Hattiesburg, thwarting UCF’s two-point attempt with no time left on the clock. The Knights will be out for revenge at BrightHouse Networks Stadium, and a leg up in a race that could go from wire-to-wire. The programs are practically mirror images of one another, strong on defense, deep in the backfield, yet uncertain at the quarterback position.

5 Big-Time Players Who Deserve a Bigger Spotlight
1. Bandit Jamie Collins, Sr. Southern Miss
2. WR Aaron Dobson, Sr. Marshall
3. DE Margus Hunt, Sr. SMU
4. LB Jonathan Davis, Sr. UCF
5. S Dexter McCoil, Sr. Tulsa

Coach on the Hot Seat
Mike Price, UTEP - The game has passed by Price, now 66-years-old. Apparently, no one in El Paso is quite ready to accept it. The ninth-year coach-barely- survived after delivering a sixth consecutive losing season, but won’t be so fortunate if the Miners fail to qualify for the postseason. Not only is Price 45-52 overall, but he’s gone 17-31 in Conference USA games since 2006. That’s just not acceptable. There’s a general theme around campus that the program won’t do any better than what’s currently in charge. If that’s the case, why doesn’t UTEP just exit the FBS, and ask for inclusion in the Southland Conference?

5 Non-Conference Games Conference USA Had Better Take Very, Very Seriously
1. Louisiana Tech at Houston, Sept. 8
2. Appalachian State at East Carolina, Sept. 1
3. Southern Miss at Western Kentucky, Sept. 22
4. Louisiana-Monroe at Tulane, Sept. 29
5. Florida International at UCF, Sept. 15

Bold Statements

- The East Carolina D will-mercifully-be much-improved from the last two seasons, helping save the job of Ruffin McNeill for at least one more year.

- Now that Case Keenum is gone, Houston RB Charles Sims is set to become the face of the offense, and one of the league’s dynamic offensive stars.

- Rice RB Sam McGuffie will remain healthy long enough to create enough highlight reel plays to last two seasons.

- SMU QB Garrett Gilbert, a transfer from Texas, will perform better on the Hilltop than any current Longhorn passer does in Austin.

- Desmond Johnson, Kendrick Hardy and Jeremy Hester will afford Southern Miss a stable of backs as deep and as talented as many in the SEC.

- Former Nebraska QB Cody Green will excel as the successor to G.J. Kinne in Tulsa, leaving the Huskers wishing the multi-dimensional athlete had never left Lincoln.

- While thrilled to have former Mizzou QB Tyler Gabbert in Orlando, UCF will stick with Blake Bortles behind center

5 Best Pro Prospects
1. DE Margus Hunt, Sr. SMU
2. LB Jamie Collins, Sr. Southern Miss
3. WR Aaron Dobson, Sr. Marshall
4. S Dexter McCoil, Sr. Tulsa
5. CB D.J. Hayden, Sr. Houston

5 Biggest Shoes to Fill
1. QB David Piland for Case Keenum, Houston
2. DE Alex Bazzie for Vinny Curry, Marshall
3. QB Chris Campbell for Austin Davis, Southern Miss
4. CB Brandon Alexander for Josh Robinson, UCF
5. QB Cody Green for G.J. Kinne, Tulsa

[Harry0569]

012 Preseason C-USA Offensive Player of the Year

RB Zach Line, Sr. SMU
Zach is back, and all is right with the SMU ground game heading into 2012. After missing the final three games of 2011 to a toe injury, Line is healthy again. The 6-1, 230-pound battering ram has rumbled for more than 2,700 yards on the ground over the past two seasons, while racking up 34 career touchdowns. He has a thick frame, particularly in the lower body, which he uses to shed tacklers en route to yards after contact. Like a smaller, quicker version of former Purdue great Mike Alstott, Line doesn’t make people miss often, but he hits the hole so quickly that he often doesn’t absorb contact until getting to the second level. If he can improve his pass-catching skills, there might be a job for him in the NFL.

2012 Preseason C-USA Defensive Player of the Year

DE/LB Jamie Collins, Sr. Southern Miss
The converted linebacker wound up being a perfect fit for the hybrid position, notching 98 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, a 97-yard pick-six and eight pass breakups. At 6-4 and 239 pounds, he has long arms and uncommon speed for a player his size. Collins also has a great work ethic and feel for the game, which has not been lost on the new coaching staff.

First Team Preseason
All-CUSA Offense
QB - David Piland, Soph. Houston
RB - Zach Line, Sr. SMU
RB - Charles Sims, Jr. Houston
WR - Darius Johnson, Sr. SMU
WR - Tracey Lampley, Sr. USM
TE - Vance McDonald, Sr. Rice
OL - Jacolby Ashworth, Sr. Houston
OL - OT Chris Hubbard, Sr. UAB
OL - Will Simmons, Jr. ECU
OL - Phil Smith, Sr. UCF
OL - Jason Weaver, Sr. USM
PK - Ty Long, Soph. UAB
KR - Rannell Hall, Soph. UCF

First Team Preseason
All-CUSA Defense
DL/LB - Jamie Collins, Sr. USM
DL - Troy Davis, Sr. UCF
DL - Victor Gray, Jr. UCF
DL - Khyri Thornton, Jr. USM
LB - Ja’Gared Davis, Sr. SMU
LB - Jeremy Grove, Soph. ECU
LB - Trent Mackey, Sr. Tulane
DB - D.J. Hayden, Sr. Houston
DB - Kemal Ishmael, Sr. UCF
DB - Dexter McCoil, Sr. Tulsa
DB - Deron Wilson, Jr. USM
P - Ian Campbell, Sr. UTEP
PR - Tracy Lampley, Sr. USM

Second Team Preseason
All-CUSA Offense
QB - Cody Green, Sr. Tulsa
RB - Orleans Darkwa, Jr. Tulane
RB - Latavius Murray, Sr. UCF
WR - Aaron Dobson, Sr. Marshall
WR - Justin Hardy, Soph. ECU
TE - Luke Willson, Sr. Rice
OL - Jordan Devey, Sr. Memphis
OL - Joe Duhon, Sr. USM
OL - Trent Dupy, Sr.Tulsa
OL - Rowdy Harper, Soph. Houston
OL - Jordan Raw, Sr. UCF
PK - Chris Boswell, Jr. Rice
KR - Andre Booker, Sr. Marshall

Second Team Preseason
All-CUSA Defense
DL - Michael Brooks, Sr. ECU
DL - Margus Hunt, Sr. SMU
DL - Torlan Pittman, Jr. SMU
DL - Jeremiah Taylor, Jr. Marshall
LB - Jonathan Davis, Sr. UCF
LB - Cameron Nwosu, Jr. Rice
LB - Phillip Steward, Sr. Houston
DB - Jacorius Cotton, Jr. USM
DB - Monterius Lovett, Soph. Mar.
DB - Damon Magazu, Jr. ECU
DB - Ryan Travis, Sr. Tulane
P - Tom Hornsey, Jr. Memphis
PR - Andre Booker, Sr. Marshall
Top 30 Preseason C-USA Players

1. DE/LB Jamie Collins, Sr. USM
2. LB Trent Mackey, Sr. Tulane
3. RB Zach Line, Sr. SMU
4. RB Charles Sims, Jr. Houston
5. RB Orleans Darkwa, Jr. Tulane
6. LB Ja’Gared Davis, Sr. SMU
7. WR Darius Johnson, Sr. SMU
8. S Dexter McCoil, Sr. Tulsa
9. WR Tracey Lampley, Sr. USM
10. LB Jeremy Grove, Soph. ECU
11. LB Cameron Nwosu, Jr. Rice
12. WR Aaron Dobson, Sr. Marshall
13. WR Justin Hardy, Soph. ECU
14. CB Deron Wilson, Jr. USM
15. P Ian Campbell, Sr. UTEP
16. RB Latavius Murray, Sr. UCF
17. FS Kemal Ishmael, Sr. UCF
18. OT Jason Weaver, Sr. USM
19. WR Mike Edwards, Sr. UTEP
20. LB Jonathan Davis, Sr. UCF
21. LB Phillip Steward, Sr. Houston
22. LB Devin Arrington, Sr. Marshall
23. DE Troy Davis, Sr. UCF
24. CB D.J. Hayden, Sr. Houston
25. DL Victor Gray, Jr. UCF
26. LB Shawn Jackson, Jr. Tulsa
27. S Jacorius Cotton, Jr. USM
28. OL Jacolby Ashworth, Sr. Hous.
29. LB Taylor Reed, Sr. SMU
30. LB Akeem Davis, Sr. Memph

[Harry0569]

1. Houston
2012 CFN Prediction: 9-3
2012 C-USA Prediction: 7-1

Offense: The faces have changed, including on the staff. The system remains virtually the same. Houston will be without record-breaking triggerman Case Keenum and most of his favorite weapons, but the Cougars still plan to air it with the same bravado as they did when Art Briles and Kevin Sumlin were the head coaches. While it’s going to be a transition year, there are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Keenum’s probable successor under center is David Piland, who redshirted in 2011, but threw 24 touchdown passes when pressed into action as a rookie two years ago. He’s no stranger to the offensive blueprint. His backfield mate will be first-team all-star Charles Sims, who’s ready to shed some anonymity. As a sophomore, he averaged 7.5 yards a carry, caught 51 passes and scored 13 times. The receiving corps is being stripped to the studs, which is why newcomers, like mega-recruit Deontay Greenberry, will be given every chance to scale the depth chart in the summer. Ronnie Williams is the veteran if 20 career receptions qualify a guy to be a veteran. The best news of all on offense is that four starting linemen are back, led by all-league T Jacolby Ashworth and underrated G Kevin Forsch. If the blockers can exceed their potential, the learning curve for the offense as a whole won’t be nearly as steep.

Defense: Unfortunately for the program, the wholesale changes taking place in Houston will not be relegated to the offense. The D is taking some hits as well, losing both of its all-conference linebackers, Sammy Brown and Marcus McGraw. With that in mind, now is as good a time as any to transition back to a 4-3 alignment under first-year coordinator Jamie Bryant. The linebackers actually won’t be as hamstrung as most would assume. Starters Derrick Mathews and Phillip Steward would have earned a lot more recognition in 2011 had they not shared the same locker room with Brown and McGraw. Plus, the defensive backfield could be a very pleasant surprise this fall to people who are unaware its exploits. Three starters are back from the crew that was responsible for a No. 12 national ranking in pass efficiency defense. CB D.J. Hayden was the Conference USA Defensive Newcomer of the Year in his first season out of Navarro (Tex.) College. The key for the Cougs will be to build up the new four-man front as quickly as possible. If they fail in this pursuit, the run defense will continue to get trucked on the ground by the opposition. Tackle Dominic Miller and ends Eric Braswell, Kelvin King and Zeke Riser will bring much-needed starting experience to the front wall.

T2. SMU
2012 CFN Prediction: 7-5
2012 C-USA Prediction: 6-2

Offense: Having gone sideways in the last two years, head coach June Jones needs to find a way to ignite his inconsistent Run & Shoot attack on the Hilltop. His first move was to hire former Houston assistant Jason Phillips to be his new co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. His next will be to decide on a quarterback, particularly important in this system. As spring closed, redshirt freshman Conner Preston held a lead on the competition. However, all bets are off until Garrett Gilbert gets his chance to audition in the summer in front of the staff. The Texas transfer, with the cathedral ceiling, is almost at full strength following last September’s shoulder surgery. Speaking of recoveries, RB Zach Line is on the mend after undergoing foot surgery. The bruising 230-pounder played in pain throughout 2011, yet still rumbled for a Conference USA-high 1,224 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. While depth will be a worry at wide receiver, the Mustangs are comfortable with their starting four. Speedy Darius Johnson is an all-star, and Der’rikk Thompson showed an awful lot of promise in his first season. All the skill position talent in the world, though, won’t make a difference if SMU is unable to navigate a perilous situation in the trenches. All five of last season’s starters have graduated, forcing the staff to completely reshuffle the deck with a blend of reserves and newcomers.

Defense: Before even getting to the perennial need to plug certain holes on the depth chart, SMU must find a way to shift the turnover pendulum this season. The Mustangs were dead last nationally in turnover margin in 2011. In June Jones’ first couple of seasons in Dallas, his D was an attacking one that created chances for the offense. Last year, however, they had just 16 takeaways, lacking the tenacity or the ability to change the tenor of a game. Lining up from its usual 3-4, the team feels confident about its front seven. Yes, two terrific ends have graduated, but Torlan Pittman is an active plugger at the nose, and enormous DE Margus Hunt, the Estonia native, will be a hidden gem no longer. The foundation of the defense is clearly built around the linebackers. All but one full-time starter is back in the mix, headed by Second Team All-Conference USA seniors Taylor Reed and Ja’Gared Davis. Reed is the prototypical inside defender, manning running lanes to make a team-high 101 tackles. Davis is at his best flying off the edge, as his 30 career tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks will attest. Now that CB Richard Crawford and FS Chris Banjo are gone, the secondary that produced just three picks in 2011 is an even bigger worry now. Kenneth Acker returns at one cornerback spot, but second-year James Richardson could spend much of the fall on an island.

T2. Tulsa
2012 CFN Prediction: 7-5
2012 C-USA Prediction: 6-2

Offense: The Golden Hurricane is hopeful that the system trumps any one individual player. Tulsa hung up 440 yards and 33 points a game in 2011, but that was when senior G.J. Kinne was calling out signals. He’s gone, leaving high-profile Nebraska transfer Cody Green to try and keep the train on the tracks. He’s rich in physical ability, but still light in experience. Fortunately, the junior will have plenty of help running coordinator Greg Peterson’s balanced, fast-paced and unpredictable attack. Behind him will be one of the nation’s most underrated one-two punches, running backs Trey Watts and Ja’Terian Douglas, who both went for more than 800 yards a year ago. In the passing game, seniors Bryan Burnham and Willie Carter will contend for All-Conference USA honors. Besides the uncertainty at quarterback, Tulsa’s biggest concern will be at left tackle, where senior Jared Grigg expects to be a regular for the first time in his career.

Defense: Coordinator Brent Guy debuted to mixed reviews in Tulsa, smoothly transitioning from a 3-3-5 alignment to a more traditional 4-3, but also getting dissected by quality opponents. His Year 2 objective will be to raise the bar on a unit returning seven starters. The Hurricane boasts all-conference contenders at each level, from DE Cory Dorris and LB Shawn Jackson in the front seven to the dynamite safety duo of Dexter McCoil and Marco Nelson. Tulsa prefers to operate at a hyper pace, dictating the tempo of the game by flying to the ball, taking chances and applying pressure behind the line. The hectic approach will cost the defense from time to time, but it has a habit of compensating with the kind of big plays that quiet opposing crowds, and altering a game’s momentum.

[Harry0569]

4. Tulane
2012 CFN Prediction: 3-9
2012 C-USA Prediction: 3-5

Offense: Tulane plays in Conference USA, where a high-powered offense is needed to thrive. The Green Wave has had the individual parts in recent years, but the whole has been incomplete, rarely closing out drives with touchdowns. The new staff is installing a pro-style attack that will aspire to achieve balance behind a power running game and greater use of the tight ends. The backfield, while experienced, won’t be a finished product unless senior QB Ryan Griffin can deliver the best season of his career. He’ll have decent support from all-star RB Orleans Darkwa and an underrated corps of receivers. However, he’ll also have some scary moments, dropping back behind a patchwork line featuring three wide-eyed first-time starters.
Defense: Tulane has had a long history of getting trampled on defense, a track record that won’t be easy to reverse. The job of instituting changes now belongs to co-defensive coordinators Jon Sumrall and Lionel Washington. The coaches inherit a D that allowed more than 400 yards a game, and ranked 115th nationally in scoring. Suffice it to say that there’s plenty of work to be done here. The Green Wave is good in spots, such as linebacker, but simply lacks the depth, size and overall talent to compete with some of Conference USA’s more potent offensive attacks. While the coaches plan to employ a 4-3 alignment, they won’t rule out occasional 3-4 looks as well. They want Tulane to be unpredictable and very fast, upping the tempo in an attempt to outhustle the other guys.

5. UTEP
2012 CFN Prediction: 3-9
2012 C-USA Prediction: 2-6

Offense: The Miners really like the potential of their gunslinging QB Nick Lamaison, but will need to protect him better in 2012 in order to enjoy all of his passing skills. Last season’s front wall returns virtually intact, save for RG Nathan McCage, but also finished last in Conference-USA in sacks allowed. It’s imperative that this veteran unit, built around steady C Eloy Atkinson, gives Lamaison the time he requires to check down and locate one of his open targets. The fact that the quarterback had shoulder problems a year ago is just one more reason that the UTEP blockers need to keep him off the turf. His favorite receivers figure to be Mike Edwards and Jordan Leslie, with young Malcolm Trail earning an expanded role with his effort so far in the offseason. However, the star of the spring on this side of the ball was clearly sophomore RB Nathan Jeffery, who won the starting job and never looked back. He made plays throughout the month of March, capping the session with 123 yards in the spring game. If he’s able to keep the momentum going in the fall, it’ll not only take some heat off Lamaison, but the defense as well.

Defense: The Miners defense has never had much bite under head coach Mike Price. It figures to be toothless again this fall. It’s rare that NFL defenders make stops in El Paso, a city more accustomed to housing offensive playmakers during their college careers. With no star power back on campus, UTEP will be resigned to get its best athletes on the field, where they can hopefully create turnovers and other money plays. The staff does have high hopes for the interior of the line, which will include tackles Germard Reed and Marcus Bagley. Reed is the penetrator, while the 320-pound Bagley is more of a traditional space-eater in the middle of the line. The big news at linebacker surrounds the return of Jamie Irving, the program’s second-leading of 2010, who missed all of last year following shoulder surgeries. He and Josh Fely will bring senior leadership to the second level of the defense. The pass defense, which ranked 92nd in the country last fall, is going to sorely miss CB Antwon Blake and S Travaun Nixon. Veteran CB Drew Thomas did step up his play in the spring, lending a sliver of hope that the Miners can slow down some of the better quarterbacks on the schedule.

6. Rice
2012 CFN Prediction: 2-10
2012 C-USA Prediction: 1-7

Offense: Whenever the Owls have had a resurgence in their history, it’s been fueled by the play of the offense. The D is rarely good enough to fuel a rally. A year ago, though, the team ranked 91st nationally in total offense, which just isn’t going to cut it. The big news during the offseason was the relocation of playmaker Sam McGuffie from running back to wide receiver, an attempt to get him in space, where matchup problems are more likely to occur. The success of the unit, however, will hinge on the play of quarterback Taylor McHargue, who has held off young Driphus Jackson for now, but needs to rebound from a disappointing 2011. He can help his cause by looking for Luke Willson and Vance McDonald, Conference USA’s best tight end tandem. The biggest concern in Houston surrounds an O-line that’s painfully short on experience or proven talent.

Defense: Porous defense. It’s a perennial problem around these parts. Recruiting in Texas at a school with a very high academic requirement, Rice simply doesn’t attract enough size or talent to compete effectively in a league brimming with high-powered passing attacks. The result? A lot of gaudy numbers that can get a coaching staff canned. The Owls actually showed hints of improvement in 2011, yet still ranked 111th nationally in total D, while allowing 33 points a game. A turnaround is unlikely, especially since six starters, including most of the D-line, have graduated. The team is going to struggle in the trenches, which will heap added pressure on LB Cameron Nwosu, KAT Paul Porras and FS Corey Frazier to press up in order to slow the hemorrhaging on running plays. Rice’s best approach might be to attack liberally, creating the kinds of momentum-changing takeaways that offset the final box score numbers. The most glaring exception to the defensive mediocrity is sophomore CB Bryce Callahan who appears to have a Big 12 skill set as a cover man.

[Harry0569]

C-USA Overall

Based on how good each team is and NOT the predicted finish

1 Houston
2 Southern Miss
3 SMU
4 UCF
5 Tulsa
6 Marshall
7 East Carolina
8 Tulane
9 UTEP
10 Rice
11 UAB
12 Memphis

Offenses

1 Houston
2 Southern Miss
3 SMU
4 UCF
5 Tulsa
6 Marshall
7 East Carolina
8 Tulane
9 UTEP
10 Rice
11 UAB
12 Memphis

Quarterbacks

1 Houston
2 Tulsa
3 SMU
4 UCF
6 UTEP
8 Tulane
9 Marshall
2 Southern Miss
7 East Carolina
10 Rice
11 UAB
12 Memphis

Running Backs

1 SMU
2 Houston
3 Southern Miss
4 Tulsa
5 UCF
6 Tulane
7 Marshall
8 East Carolina
9 Rice
10 UTEP
11 UAB
12 Memphis

Receivers

1 Tulsa
2 Marshall
3 Houston
4 East Carolina
5 UTEP
6 Rice
7 Southern Miss
8 SMU
9 UCF
10 Tulane
11 UAB
12 Memphis

Offensive Lines

1 Houston
2 Southern Miss
3 Tulsa
4 UCF
5 Marshall
6 East Carolina
7 UTEP
8 SMU
9 Tulane
10 Rice
11 UAB
12 Memphis

Defenses

1 Tulsa
2 Houston
3 SMU
4 UCF
5 Southern Miss
6 Marshall
7 UTEP
8 East Carolina
9 Tulane
10 UAB
11 Rice
12 Memphis

Defensive Lines

1 Southern Miss
2 SMU
3 UCF
4 Tulsa
5 Marshall
6 UTEP
7 Houston
8 East Carolina
9 Tulane
10 Rice
11 Memphis
12 UAB

Linebackers

1 SMU
2 Houston
3 Tulsa
4 Tulane
5 UCF
6 East Carolina
7 UAB
8 Southern Miss
9 Marshall
10 UTEP
11 Rice
12 Memphis

Secondaries

1 Houston
2 Southern Miss
3 UCF
4 Tulsa
5 SMU
6 Marshall
7 UTEP
8 East Carolina
9 UAB
10 Tulane
11 Rice
12 Memphis

Special Teams

1 Houston
2 Southern Miss
3 UTEP
4 SMU
5 Rice
6 Tulsa
7 Marshall
8 UAB
9 UCF
10 East Carolina
11 Memphis
12 Tulane

[PonyPlayer4]

Thanks for post counts, but the link would suffice.

[Harry0569]

Since we lost '94, someone has to build up some posts.

[The PonyGrad]

Wow, this has to be bulletin board material.

Receivers

1 Tulsa
2 Marshall
3 Houston
4 East Carolina
5 UTEP
6 Rice
7 Southern Miss
8 SMU
9 UCF
10 Tulane
11 UAB
12 Memphis