Fifteen people who will have a major say over the course of the 2010 college football season:
Nick Saban, Head Coach, Alabama
Slick Nick has the best team in the country pound for pound, but he has to get nine new defensive starters up to speed quickly.
Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
Everyone knows about the Rodgers brothers, but Oregon State’s D will have to come through for the Beavers to challenge for the Rose Bowl.
Monte Kiffin, Defensive Coordinator, USC
He may be the best defensive coordinator ever, and he inherits tons of talent from Pete Carroll’s staff.
Jacory Harris, QB, Miami
Miami’s quarterback could vault his team into the national title game or INT The U out of it.
DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma
The Sooners have designs on making the fifth-year senior the featured back in an offensive attack grounded in the running game.
Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
Clayborn rebuffed the NFL for a chance to lead college football’s best front seven to a possible national championship.
Darron Thomas, QB, Oregon
With Jeremiah Masoli at the helm, Oregon had a legit shot at a national title.
Mark Herzlich, LB, Boston College
If Herzlich can make it back completely healthy this season, the Eagles could sneak away with the ACC crown.
Marquise Goodwin, WR, Texas
Forget Colt McCoy; Jordan Shipley is Texas’ biggest loss from last year, and it sounds like Goodwin is his most likely replacement.
Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia
Georgia’s hopes of unseating rest on the shoulders of a redshirt freshman under center.
Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia
Is he big enough to carry the Mountaineers to the Big East title?
Mark Stoops, Defensive Coordinator, Florida State
Seminole fans are hoping Bob and Mike’s little brother knows how to cure what ails FSU’s piss poor defense.
Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State
Pryor has all the potential in the world, but the Buckeye quarterback has yet to show he’s capable of Vince Young-ing a team to a national championship.
Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska
The Blackshirts’ new immovable object on the defensive line has to replace the ferocious presence of Ndamukong Suh.
Chris Petersen, Head Coach, Boise State
What’s in store for Virginia Tech on Labor Day?