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College football primer

Randy Holtz, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 31, 2007 at midnight

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From Toledo to glory



Want to play in the NFL? Play left offensive tackle for the University of Toledo Rockets. Nick Kaczur, below, Toledo's 315-pound predecessor to current left tackle John Greco, is starting for the New England Patriots after being selected in the third round in 2005. Greco, who was moved from right to left tackle to replace Kaczur three years ago, is a senior and likely will go in the early rounds of the draft in April.



Guy to root for



In what should be an intriguing Heisman Trophy race, those without a favorite candidate could do worse than put their emotional mojo behind Darren McFadden, a speedy running back from Arkansas. McFadden is a nice, humble kid whose mother has overcome narcotics addiction and jail time to resume playing a major role in her son's life. Mom is special, and so is her son.



Guy not to root for



Giving guys second chances is fine, but Mike Price at Texas-El Paso is being a bit too kind these days. Price has agreed to take on perennially troubled receiver Fred Rouse, who was kicked off the team at Florida State for conduct detrimental to the team, then pleaded no contest to three felony counts after breaking into the home of a former teammate.

Somebody's gotta be the worst



Florida International, the Miami school infamous for its nasty on-field brawl with the Miami Hurricanes, is the consensus pick of the preseason magazines to be the worst of the 119 Division I-A teams in the nation this season.



Nonplussed by their 0-12 record last season, the Golden Panthers of the Sun Belt Conference are set to play an insanely ambitious nonconference schedule of Maryland, Penn State and Kansas, plus a rematch with crosstown rival Miami. New coach Mario Cristobal, a former Larry Coker assistant at Miami, hopes to instill discipline and a winning attitude. Good luck.



Wrote Sportsline.com: "The Golden Panthers will be retooling this season, and a lot of young players will be getting a trial by fire."



Hmmm. Retooling after an 0-12 season. Ouch.

Let the hype begin



Colt Brennan, the focal point of Hawaii's pass-happy run-and-shoot offense, also is the focal point of a full-court press by school officials in their quest to get the senior quarterback's name in every preseason Heisman conversation.



The school's athletic Web site, HawaiiAthletics.com, has huge photos, endless information and a video fans can click on to see Brennan in action. The video is titled, "A Colt Following."



At least the P.R. folks have someone who deserves the hype: Brennan set or tied 16 NCAA records last season in coach June Jones' dizzying pass-first offense, and three of the top receivers are back to create more aerial mayhem. Brennan finished sixth in last year's Heisman voting after putting up a touchdowns/interceptions ratio of 5 8/12.

Coming to a stadium near you



The 10 highest-regarded players who are scheduled to play in Colorado this season.



Player Pos. School Appearance



1. DeSean Jackson WR/KR California at CSU, Sept. 8 Comment: Electrifying talent can score from anywhere on the field.



2. Tommy Blake DE Texas Christian at Air Force, Sept. 13 Comment: Remarkably quick, Blake is in the backfield before you know it.



3. Myron Rolle SS Florida State at CU, Sept. 15 Comment: A surpassing talent in the Florida State defensive back tradition.



4. Reggie Smith KR/DB Oklahoma at CU, Sept. 29 Comment: Gifted Smith will play a hybrid CB/SS position and return kicks.



5. Chase Daniel QB Missouri at CU, Nov. 3 Comment: Set school records for touchdown passes, passing yards.



6. Jason Boone OT Utah at CSU, Oct. 27 Comment: Dominant lineman could have nice NFL future.



7. Matt Slauson G Nebraska at CU, Nov. 23 Comment: Well-fed junior is 6-foot-5, 335 pounds.



8. Aqib Talib CB Kansas at CU, Oct. 20 Comment: Talib, an extraordinary athlete, also has worked at receiver.



9. Andre Fluellen DT Florida State at CU, Sept. 15 Comment: A 290-pound force of nature for the Seminoles.



10. Bo Ruud LB Nebraska at CU, Nov. 23 Comment: Best of talented, experienced Cornhuskers' linebackers.

Five best coaches you've barely heard of



• Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia



A master motivator who knows his X's and O's.



• Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville



Late of Tulsa, his star has been on rise.



• Jeff Bower, Southern Mississippi



Year in, year out, Bower gets it done.



• Kirk Ferentz, Iowa



Could be headed for an NFL job.



• Jim Leavitt, South Florida



His Bulls have been to two straight bowls.

Mighty SEC



There once was a legitimate question, a lively and spirited debate. No more. The Southeastern Conference is the king of college football. Period. The Big Ten once could make a case for the throne, or at least a share of it. The Big 12 has had its big years. But not lately. The SEC rules, its best teams consistently among the best in the land, its midlevel teams hanging in the rankings and even its lower-rung schools showing occasional promise.



Numbers that show the SEC is king



41 SEC players taken in the 2007 NFL draft. It was the second time in three years the SEC has led all conferences in players selected. The 11 first-round picks from the SEC also led all leagues, and that number included No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell of Louisiana State.



7 SEC schools in the top 10 in the nation in a ranking of schools' 2007 recruiting classes by Rivals.com.



3 national titles won by SEC teams in the nine seasons since the advent of the Bowl Championship Series, most among conferences.

Rocky preseason All-America team



OFFENSE Pos. Player School Comment



QB Brian Brohm Louisville Perfect marriage of QB and system.



RB Darren McFadden Arkansas Surpassing talent who wants the ball.



RB Ray Rice Rutgers Putting once-woeful Knights on map.



WR DeSean Jackson California Speedster excels on returns, too.



WR Mario Manningham Michigan Wolverines always have wideouts.



TE Travis Beckum Wisconsin Converted LB a star in the making.



OT Sam Baker USC John David Booty's No. 1 bodyguard.



OT Ryan Clady Boise State Could be first-round NFL choice.



C Eric Wood Louisville Anchor of one of nation's best lines.



OG Will Arnold LSU Should rebound from injury-marred 2006.



OG Jeremy Perry Oregon State Giant junior remarkably strong.



K Sam Swank Wake Forest Five 50-yards-plus field goals in 2006.



KR Marcus Thigpen Indiana Fools kick to him.



DEFENSE Pos. Player School Comment



DL Bruce Davis UCLA Dynamic pass rusher had 12½ sacks.



DL Eric Foster Rutgers An emotional force for Scarlet Knights.



DL Tommy Blake TCU Senior is best defensive player in MWC.



LB Vince Hall Virginia Tech Hall makes running backs' teeth rattle.



LB James Laurinaitis Ohio State Might be most disruptive defender.



LB Keith Rivers USC Tough and fast in the USC LB tradition.



LB Jasper Brinkley South Carolina Led team with 85 solo tackles.



CB Antoine Cason Arizona One of best complete cover men.



CB Malcolm Jenkins Ohio State Excellent size, speed and smarts.



FS Kenny Phillips Miami Wonderful instincts and a hard hitter.



SS Tom Zbikowski Notre Dame Big-hitting senior leads Irish secondary.



P Jimmie Kaylor Colorado St. NFL has noticed his strong leg.