Perry Dorrestein appears to be the favorite to replace Jake Long at Left Tackle for Michigan.  The Redshirt Junior has been adding size (6’7”, 308) and appeared in four games last year, twice as the top backup at LT and two more times as the backup at RT.  He was the No. 11 prospect in the state of Illinois in high school.  He needs some seasoning and will need to work on his technique, but he is a promising athlete.

            Alex Field appears ready to take over for Chris Long in Virginia’s famous 3-man front.  Field has excellent size for a two-gapping Defensive End and managed 1.5 sacks last year as well as 2.5 tackles for loss.  Field has appeared in every game for the past two years and has shown remarkable durability.  He has big shoes to fill as a Senior, but tackles well and does the little things right.

            Chris Crane (6’5”, 220) threw a whopping four passes last year and inherits a mess at Boston College as Matt Ryan.  The team has lost their best Offensive Lineman in Gosder Cherilus and has little depth at the skill positions.  What we have seen of Crane (32 attempts in 2006) shows a good pocket presence.  He will need to make better decisions this year, as he will be asked to carry this team earlier than this Senior expected.

            Michael Smith  (5’7”, 173) breaks the mold for Arkansas Running Backs.  He replaces Darren McFadden and appears ready to start, provided that he could split carries with a larger back.  He had 46 carries for 319 yards and 3 scores last year.  He has elusiveness and flashes the ability to be a good receiver.  Bobby Petrino normally likes bruising Running Backs, but will find Smith’s talent hard to pass up.

            Drake Nevis (6’1”, 285) is only a Sophomore, but he is ready to line up aside Marlon Favorite in the spot vacated by Glenn Dorsey along LSU’s Defensive Front.  Nevis is a powerful force and will command the attention of multiple blockers.  He bench presses 435 pounds but has been timed at 4.85 in the 40.  Les Miles has a great deal of confidence in him.

            Lawrence Wilson (6’7, 276) is nothing like his predecessor Vernon Gholston at Ohio State.  He had 3 sacks as a Sophomore, but a broken leg in the opener caused Doug Worthington to take over opposite Gholston.  Worthington and Wilson are both bigger Defensive Ends, but Wilson has been clocked at 4.67 in the 40-yard dash and, if healthy, he could be a force off the edge. 

            Averell Spicer (6’2”, 280) is not as powerful as Sedrick Ellis, but will have enough quickness by play beside driving force Fili Moala on USC’s Defensive Line.  Spicer, a Junior, has seen a great deal of playing time over the past two seasons, but is still unproven.  He faces competition for Christian Toupu, but appears to be the favorite at this point.

            Carlos Dunlap (6’6”, 290) has the body that Derrick Harvey had at the Senior Bowl.  He had 1 sack and 6 solo tackles while making appearances in 13 games.  Coach Urban Meyer called him out after the Spring Game, saying that he had elite athleticism and the capability to be one of the best in the SEC, but needed to play better against the run and play his assignements better in the future.

            Brian Cushing, OLB-USC.  OK, all of you who seriously doubted that USC had a quality Linebacker waiting in the wings, please stand up.  That’s what I thought.  Darry Beckwith and Cushing could be competing to be the first Outside Linebackers taken in next year’s draft.  He battled ankle injuries last year and came back too soon, putting up average numbers in the process.  Expect him to rebound this year with his team not missing a beat after the exit of Keith Rivers.

            Nevin McKenzie, OLB-Tennessee is an undersized replacement for Jerod Mayo at Tennessee.  He had 20 solo tackles and 2.5 sacks last year but won’t be able to shed blocks the way that Mayo did.  McKenzie has blazing speed for an Outside Linebacker but needs to add bulk to hold up in the SEC.  He is one of the best Special Teams players in the SEC. 

            Chris Bowens has a great deal of Special Teams ability for Troy, but is slighter than Leodis McKelvin.  He has slightly better height and adequate leaping ability.  He made an appearance in 7 games last year and managed 6 solo tackles (1 for loss).  There is not much competition for his position, but Troy will miss their lockdown Corner and their homerun-threat of a Punt Returner.

            Matt Slater, a potential replacement for Ryan Clady at Boise State, demonstrates the youth and inexperience that exists on this line.  Slater is vastly undersized Sophomore and will receive a challenge from Nate Potter, a talented Freshman with slightly more size.  The battle in camp will be solid as the young Linemen battle for the right to protect new signal-caller Mike Coughlin’s blindside.

            Remene Alston still appears to be the starter in Oregon in the shadow of Jonathan Stewart, but reports from the Spring Game have LeGarrette Blount looking like a serious contender to be Stewart’s successor.  A Running Back-by-Committee approach seems likely, but the powerful Blount will be hard to ignore for an offense who watched Stewart grind out the tough yards between the tackles last year.  Jeremiah Johnson has missed most of this spring with an injury.

            Eric Hensley of Vanderbilt is poised to start at Left Tackle for the Commodores, occupying the seat vacated by Chris Williams.  Hensley has a long way to go in terms of overall technique, but will add an element of speed that Williams lacked.  Hensley is hopefully OK after an ankle injury in the Black and Gold scrimmage which left him unable to leave the field under his own power.

            B. J. Cabbell seems to be the best choice to replace Branden Albert at Guard for Virginia.  He is a little raw, but the Cavaliers have few options at this point.  He haven’t had a chance to see much of Cabbell is game action, but he has good feet and adequate technique.  He will become more of a force at Left Guard as he continues to add bulk and strength.

            Riley Howard is a vastly undersized Cornerback (5’11”, 175) for Tennessee State who has the daunting task of making the Tigers forget Dominique Rodgers-Cromarite.  Howard had 14 tackles, 2 Interceptions, and 2 Passes defended last season in reserve duty.  He should start opposite returning 1^st string Cornerback Larry Williford.  Nothing truly stands out about Howard other than his adequate speed and ability on Special Teams. 

            Richard Lapham is a mountain of a man at 6’8”, 336 lbs.  He is larger than last year’s leader of the Boston College Offensive Line, Gosder Cherilus.  Lapham, a Sophomore, should be able to dominate at the point of attack, but needs to work on his technique in order to lead this extremely inexperienced unit that will be forced to protect a first year starter  who may need extra time in the pocket to make decisions. 

          Rob Schoenhoft proves that Delaware is the prototype for the theory that every Quarterback may find a safe haven and still compete for the Division I FCS Championship.  The 6’6” Ohio State refugee realized that Todd Boeckman was there to stay and headed East.  Redshirt Freshman Lou Ritacco could also replace Joe Flacco. Neither has thrown a pass as a Blue Hen, as former backup Sean Scanlon has joined the secondary.

          Chase Clowser has been a valuable Reserve for the University of Pittsburgh for 3 years and now is the likely candidate to replace Jeff Otah. Jason Pinkston is in the mix, but may be a better fit at Right Tackle to replace Mike McGlynn.  Clowser is a wide powerhouse, but not as much so as Otah.  Few are, though.  He has played well on Special Teams and has good feet and has a fierce hand punch.

          Chris Harris and Kendrick Harper both started for Kansas at one point last year opposite Aqib Talib.  Harris had a stellar year and locked up one starting position.  Harper was a junior college transfer who made appearances in 7 games, making 19 tackles.  Harris is a true Sophomore with upside and Harper, who lacks ideal height, could hear his name mentioned as a draft prospect if he continues to improve.

          Charles Brown appears to be a candidate to start at Right Tackle, proof that USC needs to bulk up at the position.  An intriguing and likely choice to replace Sam Baker at Left Tackleis Nick Howell, who has spent time at Center and Guard.  The son of former Falcons Guard Pat Howell, he only has one obstacle: his versatility and experience at every position makes him too valuable as a reserve.  David Clinco is also in the mix.

          Brandon Barnett could be the short-yardage back in Arkansas, a larger back who could complete the role reversal in Arkansas.  Felix Jones was the second option in Arkansas as the speed back to Darren McFadden’s more powerful style.  Expect a change this year, as Michael Smith may be the favorite to be the starter.  Coach Petrino speaks highly of both players, so no decision has been made.

            Daniel Dufrene seems to be poised to start for the Fighting Illini next year.  He had an excellent 6.3 yards per carry average last year, but lacks ideal strength and fails to catch the ball as well as his predecessor, Rashard Mendenhall.  Dufrene will need to split carries with the even smaller Troy Pollard to hold up.  Expect Walter Mendenhall to be in the mix as a short-yardage back.  Illinois and Coach Ron Zook have boasted a top recruiting class for years.

          Jonathan Williams, a bulky Sophomore Running Back at East Carolina, has little experience after diminutive speedster Chris Johnson handled 236 carries and caught 37 balls by himself last season.  Williams is not a great receiver, but will run inside better than Johnson and should have the durability to keep going.

          Tyller Roberts must step up as South Florida must replace not 1, not 2, but their 3 top options at Cornerback, Mike Jenkins, Trae Williams, and Ryan Gilliam. Roberts has good height and leaping ability and has appeared in 38, registering only one pick.  Jerome Murphy will likely man the other side.  He is a little thin, but can support the run.  He had 31 solo tackles, 2 Interceptions, and 5 pass breakups as a reserve last year.

          Ed Wang will make the transition from Right Tackle to Left Tackle to replace Duane Brown for the Hokies.  Redshirt Freshman Blake DeChristopher will move into the Right Tackle spot.  Wang has a great work ethic and improved as the year went on.  Wang has bulked up his 6’5” frame to 312 lbs.  He has top athleticism but needs to continue working on his speed.  VT has a lot of question marks (Running Back comes to mind first), but the Offensive Line shows promise. 

Marquis Hundley and former receiver Mike Turner are candidates to start on the left side with Devin Ross on the right for Arizona.  Both Antonie Cason and Wilrey Fontenot have left a defense with only 4 returning starters.  Ross had 1 sack, 1 Interception, and 8 solo tackles last year while Hundley logged only one start.  Turner is by far the more athletic option for LCB, but Hundley will make fewer mistakes.

Everson Griffin appears ready to take over for Lawrence Jackson at USC.  With both Jackson and Sedrick Ellis gone, the Defensive Line may serve as the only question mark for a loaded and deep Trojan squad.  Griffin and Jackson have similar dimensions, but expect Griffin to struggle getting off the line consistently until the group learn to work as a unit with veteran powerhouse Fili Moala as the anticipated leader.  

Aleric Mullins undoubtedly has big shoes to fill with Kentwan Balmer leaving North Carolina behind.  Mullins does not have Balmer’s strength at the point of attack, but teammates praise his work ethic and motor.  Marvin Austin will start alongside Mullins.  He has contributed in the past but must step up on this inexperienced Defensive Unit as a starter as the younger players will require his guidance.

Kyle Adams must get open consistently for Purdue as Curtis Painter has lost former starter Dustin Keller as well as reliable target Dorien Bryant.  The True Junior has been working hard.  Adams only has 14 catches over the past 2 seasons.  He has great hands despite being known as a blocker as first (at the very least, he was better than Keller), but needs some time in the weight room before becoming a threat in that regard.

Randy Phillips and Lovon Ponder are both new starters for the Hurricanes in the Defensive Backfield.  Few Safeties are as good in coverage and in run support as Kenny Phillips, but Phillips is a confident and aggressive player.  Phillips is viewed as a leader and will be vocal when necessary.  Ponder has been a proponent of new Defensive Coordinator Bill Young and will have an easier time understanding a new Defense.