Schlabach's best of the offseason and last-gasp picks - ESPN


Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Writer	9y
Farewell offseason, hello to our final last-gasp picks
College Football





The 2015 college football season kicked off Thursday night, with South Carolina defeating North Carolina 17-13 in Charlotte. The schedule hits full swing this weekend, so it's a good time to take one last look at the offseason that was and what might lie ahead over the next 3½ months. Here's a look at the best of college football's offseason, along with predictions for each of the FBS conferences and what to watch for across the country: Best headshots New stadium renovations 1. Auburn will unveil a new $13.9 million, 190-by-57-foot scoreboard that features one of the country's largest video boards. Infamous Alabama fan Harvey Updkye has already complained about seeing the lights from his home in Louisiana. 2. Kentucky's Commonwealth Stadium underwent a $120 million face-lift, including the installation of a new synthetic playing field. The end zones are patterned in blue checkerboard, which is supposed to mimic Secretariat's silks. 3. Texas A&M's Kyle Field is now the largest stadium in the SEC after undergoing a $485 million renovation. Capacity is now 102,512, making it the fourth-largest on-campus stadium in the country. 4. Central Florida has added beach-themed club seating at Bright House Networks Stadium. There's even a sundeck and frozen drinks. 5. Notre Dame announced plans last month to add a video board -- but not advertisements or commercials -- to its stadium by 2017. The north scoreboard will be removed to give fans a better view of "Touchdown Jesus." Best coach Tweets Best preseason drills Best stadium concessions 1. The Runza Sandwich at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium is a mixture of ground beef, onions and cabbage between two yeast-bread pockets. The sandwich originated in Russia but is a Cornhuskers staple. 2. Texas is adding Torchy's Tacos to the offerings at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium this season. If you're in Austin, try the brisket or fried-chicken varieties. 3. Texas A&M's "Howdy Dog" is a hand-battered, chicken-fried hot dog on a stick. There's even jalapeno-flavored cream gravy for dipping. 4. Arkansas is adding a quarter-pound hot dog covered in mac and cheese to the menu at Razorback Stadium. 5. For the second straight season, Maryland will sell the "Cheesie," a monster-sized, 24-ounce, hot, soft pretzel smothered in back-fin crab dip and melted cheddar cheese and dusted with Old Bay seasoning. Long-snapper tricks Guys we can't wait to see back on the field 1. J.T. Barrett & Braxton Miller, Ohio State Barrett is competing with Cardale Jones for the starting quarterback job, while Miller has moved to wide receiver. 2. Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss Treadwell's devastating leg injury was one of the worst moments of the 2014 season. He has reportedly fully recovered and is better than ever. 3. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson Watson missed Clemson's bowl game after tearing the ACL in his left knee. If he stays healthy, he might lead the Tigers to an ACC championship. 4. Taysom Hill, QB, BYU Hill might be college football's toughest quarterback since Tim Tebow, and he's healthy after breaking his left leg and tearing ligaments in his ankle against Utah State last season. 5. Chuckie Keeton, QB, Utah State Keeton, who missed 19 games the past two seasons because of knee injuries, is back for one more season after receiving a medical hardship from the NCAA. Best Twitter recruiting alerts NCAA rules prohibit coaches from publicly talking about prospective student-athletes, but that doesn't stop them from announcing commitments on Twitter. Freshmen to watch 1. Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA The "Rosen One" was the No. 2-ranked pocket passer by ESPN Recruiting, and he'll start Saturday's opener against Virginia at the Rose Bowl. 2. Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama Ridley was ranked as the No. 1 receiver by ESPN Recruiting, and Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin has compared Ridley's talent to that of former Alabama star Amari Cooper and ex-USC star Marqise Lee. 3. Mitch Hyatt, OT, Clemson Hyatt, ranked the No. 2 offensive tackle by ESPN Recruiting, will start at left tackle in Saturday's opener against FCS foe Wofford. It's believed he'll be the first freshman offensive lineman to start the opener in modern Clemson history. 4. Derwin James, S, Florida State James, ranked the No. 8 prospect in the ESPN 300, is expected to get significant time from the start for the Seminoles. He looks to be FSU's next great player in a long line of great safeties. 5. Daylon Mack, DT, Texas A&M The Aggies' 335-pound freshman is so strong that strength coach Larry Jackson reportedly had to order new bars to carry more weight. Mack will play early and often on new coordinator John Chavis' defense. Summer postcards Coaches on the hot seat 1. Paul Rhoads, Iowa State Since guiding the Cyclones to back-to-back bowl games in 2011-12, Rhoads has a two-year record of 5-19, 2-16 in the Big 12. Iowa State went 0-9 against Big 12 foes last season. 2. Darrell Hazell, Purdue Hazell looked like the next big thing after guiding Kent State to an 11-3 record in 2012, but his Purdue teams have dropped 20 of his first 24 games. The Boilermakers have defeated one Big Ten opponent during his tenure -- a 38-27 win over Illinois in 2014. 3. Al Golden, Miami It looked like the Hurricanes were finally starting to turn the corner after they went 9-4 in 2013. But then the Canes laid a 6-7 egg last season, falling to 28-22 (16-16 in the ACC) in Golden's four seasons. He might need to show marked improvement this season to save his job. 4. Steve Sarkisian, USC After Sarkisian's regrettable actions at a USC alumni function last month, he might have a short leash entering his second season. USC athletic director Pat Haden indicated Sarkisian has to earn back the trust of Trojans fans, who are expecting their team to compete for a Pac-12 title this season. 5. Mike London, Virginia London has recruited well for the Cavaliers, but his 23-38 record in five seasons has him firmly on the hot seat. The Cavaliers have had one winning season -- 8-5 in 2011 -- during his tenure. Best Cardale Jones tweets Transfers to watch 1. Vernon Adams, QB, Oregon Adams, who played the past three seasons at FCS Eastern Washington, needed only two weeks to win Oregon's starting job after arriving to preseason camp late. His first start will come in Saturday night's opener against his former team. 2. Everett Golson, QB, Florida State Golson, who transferred from Notre Dame this summer, has the unenviable task of replacing 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston. Golson has to take better care of the football after throwing 14 interceptions and losing eight fumbles in 2014. 3. Jason Smith, WR, Auburn Smith played quarterback at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College last season, but he'll play slot receiver for the Tigers. His speed and athleticism might make him one of Jeremy Johnson's favorite targets. 4. Greyson Lambert, QB, Georgia The former Virginia starter arrived on Georgia's campus about seven weeks ago and then beat out two other candidates for the starting job. At 6-foot-5, he's Georgia's tallest quarterback in quite a while. 5. Devonte Fields, LB, Louisville Fields, a former Big 12 defensive player of the year at TCU, will start at outside linebacker for Louisville in Saturday's opener against Auburn in Atlanta. Fields, who was dismissed from TCU following his arrest on domestic violence charges, might be an elite pass-rusher in Todd Grantham's 3-4 defense. Summer jobs The picks American Athletic Conference East Division winner: Cincinnati West Division winner: Houston Conference champion: Cincinnati Team poised to surprise: Temple Team poised to disappoint: USF Coach of the year: Tom Herman, Houston Offensive player of the year: Keenan Reynolds, QB, Navy Defensive player of the year: Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple Freshman of the year: Jae'lon Oglesby, WR, Memphis ACC Atlantic Division winner: Clemson Coastal Division winner: Virginia Tech Conference champion: Clemson Team poised to surprise: NC State Team poised to disappoint: Miami Coach of the year: Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech Offensive player of the year: DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson Defensive player of the year: Kendall Fuller, DB, Virginia Tech Freshman of the year: Mitch Hyatt, OT, Clemson Big 12 Conference champion: TCU Team poised to surprise: Kansas State Team poised to disappoint: Oklahoma Coach of the year: Bill Snyder, Kansas State Offensive player of the year: Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU Defensive player of the year: Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor Freshman of the year: Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma Big Ten East Division winner: Ohio State West Division winner: Wisconsin Conference champion: Ohio State Team poised to surprise: Northwestern Team poised to disappoint: Iowa Coach of the year: Urban Meyer, Ohio State Offensive player of the year: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State Defensive player of the year: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State Freshman of the year: Jabrill Peppers, DB, Michigan Conference USA East Division winner: Western Kentucky West Division winner: Louisiana Tech Conference champion: Western Kentucky Team poised to surprise: UTEP Team poised to disappoint: North Texas Coach of the year: Jeff Brohm, Western Kentucky Offensive player of the year: Brandon Doughty, QB, Western Kentucky Defensive player of the year: Xavier Woods, S, Louisiana Tech Freshman of the year: Shuler Bentley, QB, Old Dominion MAC East Division winner: Bowling Green West Division winner: Toledo Conference champion: Toledo Team poised to surprise: UMass Team poised to disappoint: Northern Illinois Coach of the year: Mark Whipple, UMass Offensive player of the year: Kareem Hunt, RB, Toledo Defensive player of the year: Jatavis Brown, LB, Akron Freshman of the year: Gus Ragland, QB, Miami Mountain West Mountain Division winner: Utah State West Division winner: San Diego State Conference champion: Utah State Team poised to surprise: Colorado State Team poised to disappoint: Air Force Coach of the year: Rocky Long, San Diego State Offensive player of the year: Rashard Higgins , WR, Colorado State Defensive player of the year: Kamalei Correa, DL, Boise State Freshman of the year: Cory Young, RB, Boise State Pac-12 North Division winner: Oregon South Division winner: Arizona State Conference champion: Oregon Team poised to surprise: Cal Team poised to disappoint: USC Coach of the year: Mark Helfrich, Oregon Offensive player of the year: Cody Kessler, QB, USC Defensive player of the year: Scooby Wright III, LB, Arizona Freshman of the year: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA SEC East Division winner: Georgia West Division winner: Auburn Conference champion: Auburn Team poised to surprise: Texas A&M Team poised to disappoint: South Carolina Coach of the year: Gus Malzahn, Auburn Offensive player of the year: Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia Defensive player of the year: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M Freshman of the year: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama Sun Belt Conference champion: Georgia Southern Team poised to surprise: Appalachian State Team poised to disappoint: Texas State Coach of the year: Willie Fritz, Georgia Southern Offensive player of the year: Matt Breida, RB, Georgia Southern Defensive player of the year: Gerrand Johnson, DL, Louisiana-Monroe Freshman of the year: Garrett Smith, QB, Louisiana-Monroe

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